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CAPITOL FLYER
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
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Capitol
Flyer is intended to keep you abreast of the latest developments
in Washington affecting the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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Table of Contents:
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House subcommittee proposes largest refuge budget in history!
The House of Representatives Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment held its fiscal year (FY) 2008 "markup" May 23rd, with Chairman Norm Dicks (D-WA) announcing in his opening address that the subcommittee had proposed an increase to the Refuge System operations and maintenance (O&M) budget from $395 million in FY 2007 to $451 million for FY 2008. If enacted, this would be the largest annual Refuge System budget in history.
NWRA, Friends nationwide and our partners in the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) have been delivering a strong and unified message to lawmakers to fund the NWRS at $451 million for FY08.
As published in May's Capitol Flyer, five members of Friends Groups and the NWRA testified before the Subcommittee and at least 17 more submitted written testimony supporting $451 million. This, coupled with Friends nationwide urging their decision makers to increase refuge funding, made an obvious difference to members of the subcommittee as Chairman Dicks made a specific point to mention that the focus of this bill is on the Parks and Refuge Systems.
The bill will go to the Full Appropriations Committee June 7th and will then move to the floor of the House before being sent to the Senate. Stayed tuned!
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Legislative Action Would Bar Navy From Building OLF Next To Pocosin Lakes NWR (NC)
As reported in past issues of Capitol Flyer, a proposed Navy Outlying Landing Field (OLF) adjacent to the Pocosin Lakes NWR has seen increased resistance from wildlife advocates, sportsmen, agricultural groups and elected officials. This proposed OLF site would pose a threat to hundreds of thousands of birds and other wildlife. Senators Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC) are now working with bi-partisan members of the House and Gov. Mike Easley (D) to fight the proposed airstrip. Two legislative strategies are being pursued. The first would include language in the Defense Authorization bill that would prohibit the Navy from building the OLF at the site adjacent to the refuge; the second would ensure no funding in the Defense Appropriations bill goes toward any construction of an OLF next to the refuge. Both strategies are working.
On May 17th, the House of Representatives passed their version of the Defense Authorization Act with language that prohibits the Navy from building the OLF in Washington or Beaufort counties - their preferred site. The following week, on May 24th, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed a similar bill with added language that would allow the Navy $5 million toward researching another OLF site in VA or NC.
Further actions on the authorization and appropriations bills are expected in June.
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NWRA Advocates for Completion of FWS Tribal Agreement Policy
As reported in the January and May issues of Capitol Flyer, an Annual Funding Agreement (AFA) between the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) at the National Bison Range in Montana, was ended in December 2006. FWS Director Dale Hall terminated the AFA due to concerns about the tribal contractor's reliability, incomplete work, leadership and behavior. On the heels of this failure, NWRA has urged both the FWS and Department of the Interior (DOI) leadership to finalize a draft policy on the appropriate development of Tribal Annual Funding Agreements authorized under the Tribal Self-Determination Act (TSDA).
In May, the NWRA joined with Rep. John Dingell (D-MI) in opposing funding in the FY08 Interior Appropriations bill to implement a new AFA as proposed by the DOI. In testimony, NWRA recommended that no funds be allocated until an AFA policy is approved and grievances by FWS staff regarding tribal harassment are resolved.
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Border Fence Proposed on National Wildlife Refuges
In the fall 2006, Congress passed the Secure Fence Act, mandating that 700 miles of physical fencing be installed along the US/Mexico border by the end of 2008. The Act also gives the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) the ability to waive any law or treaty to erect the fence, including environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water and Clean Air Acts, Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and Endangered Species Act.
In early May, FWS officials learned that fence construction could begin on the Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR and the Santa Ana NWR in Texas. The government can appropriate federal lands, such as national wildlife refuges, for other public uses without first going through condemnation proceedings.
This fence could affect six refuges on the borders of Texas, Arizona and California and harm numerous species. In South Texas, the fencing will cut many animals off from their only source of fresh water, the Rio Grande. For species such as the endangered ocelot, a small cat, it means separating them from populations in Mexico, resulting in genetic isolation. As solitary animals, these cats often swim across the Rio Grande to find mates. A fence could also doom the flourishing ecotourism industry that has boomed over the past 20 years. Wildlife watching and its associated economic impact generates an estimated $150 million annually for the four southern-most border counties of Texas.
Fortunately, we can have a secure border and protect wildlife. NWRA supports a "virtual fence" with remote sensors, cameras and vehicle barriers. This would allow wildlife to pass through but still stop the most egregious illegal activities. Many leaders in the Border Patrol also support this option; it keeps the officers safer as they see from a distance who is the crossing the border (a family vs. an armed drug smuggler) and have more time to respond appropriately.
On May 23rd, in a Senate debate over immigration legislation, an amendment offered by a bi-partisan group of Senators was approved that would direct DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff to build consensus in local communities before fence construction and work with agencies such as FWS to minimize damage to wildlife habitat.
NWRA is working with other conservation organizations and refuge support groups such as the Friends of the Wildlife Corridor and Valley Nature Center to ensure the least disturbance to wildlife.
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Take
Action!
You can make your voice heard by utilizing the Refuge Action Network (RAN), a free, fast and easy way to respond to important national wildlife refuge alerts. Using the RAN system, you can send an e-mail or fax (even if you don't own a fax machine) to your elected officials with a click or two of your mouse. Just visit refugenet.e-actionmax.com to get started.
Please
visit the NWRA Web site, at www.refugenet.org, and click on "Take Action"
for more information.
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Capitol
Flyer, a monthly e-newsletter from the NWRA, is prepared by Desiree Sorenson-Groves, NWRA's Vice-President of Government Affairs. For additional information, please contact dgroves@refugenet.org. |
