| WASHINGTON
- May 4 - The nation's leading
conservation groups warned today that damaging congressional attacks
on the environment are expected to proliferate this summer as
Congress rushes to adjourn before the November elections.
The groups expect that most anti-environmental riders will be
added to "must pass" appropriations bills that Congress has to
enact in order to avoid a government shutdown.
"Polluters and their allies in Congress are trying to hide their
attacks on our environmental and public health protections in
massive federal spending bills," said Gene Karpinski, executive
director of U.S. PIRG and chairman of a task force comprising many
the nation's largest environmental organizations. The groups
identified in this release have agreed to jointly oppose all
anti-environment riders.
Last year, more than 70 riders were proposed for 11 appropriations
bills. Some of the most egregious riders were withdrawn or defeated
after being exposed to public scrutiny. Nevertheless, appropriations
riders remain the favorite tactic for sneaking through anti-environme
ntal provisions that would not survive as stand alone legislation.
"We successfully held off many of these environmental sneak
attacks last year and we are prepared to fight to the end again
this year if necessary," said Karpinski. "But we hope that won't
be necessary and that congressional leaders will respect the
public's overwhelming desire to keep environmental protection laws
intact."
One of the first appropriations bills of this year -- funding
the Department of Agriculture -- will be considered by House and
Senate subcommittees today. Environmental groups expect Rep.
Joseph Knollenberg (R-MI) to repeat his efforts to use the House
bill to block federal efforts to address global climate change and
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Other anti-environmental proposals that conservation groups
expect to be proposed this year include:
Accelerated destruction of wetlands -- The National Association
of Home Builders has vowed to block new Army Corps of Engineers
regulations that would reduce wetlands destruction caused by
nationwide development permits. Rep. Ron Packard (R-CA) may
attempt to attach this rider to the Agriculture or Energy and Water
spending bill.
Exploitation of national forests -- Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) is
expected to try to fatally delay a Forest Service proposal to
protect 40-60 million acres of national forests as roadless areas.
Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA) has also promised to undermine this
protection for old-growth forests and open up these ancient
woodlands to more clearcutting. This rider is expected to be
included in the Interior spending bill.
Blocking action on global climate change -- Rep. Knollenberg may
try to limit the government's ability to address climate change
issues and help other countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by attaching riders to several spending bills. A similar
Knollenberg rider became law as part of the Omnibus Appropriations
Bill last year. A rider attached to the Transportation spending
bill will likely try block new miles-per-gallon standards that
would help curb global warming and save consumers money at the gas
pump.
Expand toxic mine wastes -- Sen. Craig also is expected to
continue his efforts to weaken the 1872 Mining Law by legalizing
unlimited toxic mine waste dumping on public lands for the hardrock
mining industry -- our nation's largest toxic polluter. He may
attach such a rider to the Interior spending bill.
These are only a few of the dozens of anti-environmental
riders that conservation groups fear could be offered this year,
which means a particularly bad summer for the environment in
Congress. "In this election year, protection for the environment
is going to be a measuring stick for many members of Congress,"
said Karpinski. "We urge members of Congress to oppose all attacks
on environmental and public health protections," he added.
Riders that were proposed last year would have jeopardized
wildlife and wetlands, national parks, forests and public lands,
and would have put Americans at risk from dirty water, polluted
air, and global warming. Among the most damaging anti-environmental
riders last year were:
A global warming rider that prohibited the Department of
Transportation from increasing miles per gallon standards. This
rider, passed on the Department of Transportation bill, cost
consumers more money at the pump and contributed to global warming
pollution.
An anti-wildlife rider, attached by Sen. Craig to the Interior
spending bill but ultimately defeated, would have allowed federal
agencies to ignore the devastating effects of logging and mining on
wildlife in our National Forests.
A dirty air rider, pushed by Representatives Ted Strickland
(D-OH), Michael Oxley (R-OH), Todd Tiahrt (R-KS) and Richard Burr
(R-NC) but ultimately blocked, would have allowed electric power
plants to pollute without fear of enforcement action by the federal
government.
A grazing rider, enacted as part of the Omnibus Appropriations
bill after being attached by Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM),
automatically allowed destructive grazing on ecologically sensitive
land to continue regardless of damage to public resources.
A noise pollution rider, tried to delay National Park Service
efforts to reduce noise pollution in the Grand Canyon. This rider
was proposed by Senators Richard Bryan (D-NV) and Harry Reid (D-NV)
on behalf of the air tour industry that wanted to delay
restrictions on sightseeing overflights at the park.
A full list of the proposals that were opposed by the
environmental community last year can be found at
http://www.defenders.org/riders/riders.html.
American Lands; American Oceans Campaign; Center for Marine
Conservation; Citizens Coal Council; Defenders of Wildlife;
Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund; Environmental Defense; Friends of
the Earth; GREEN; Mineral Policy Center; National Environmental
Trust; National Parks Conservation Association; Natural Resources
Defense Council; Pacific Rivers Council; US PIRG; World Wildlife
Fund.
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