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Breaking News from America's Progressive Community... Latest Releases
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| SEPTEMBER
19, 1998 9:41 AM FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: California League of Conservation Voters Teresa Schilling, CLCV, (415) 896-5550 x310 Michael Paparian, (916) 557-1100, x104 Ted Nordhaus, Headwaters Sanctuary Project, (510) 444-4710 Rachel Dinno, PCL, (916) 444-8726 x124 |
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| Conservationists Call Wilson Environmental Record Poor; Signing of Headwaters Deal Gives No Boost | ||||
| SACRAMENTO
- September 19 - Calling Governor Wilson's signing of the Headwaters deal
"self-congratulatory," environmentalists said that while Wilson will point to
the deal as an example of his environmental record, environmentalists are highly critical
of Wilson's dismantling of environmental and public safeguards throughout his tenure as
Governor. "Governor Wilson is becoming politically extinct and now he's trying to make up an environmental legacy. The real legacy is that he has pandered to contributors, who are some of the state's worst polluters," said Sam Schuchat, Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Throughout his tenure he has failed to act in the interest of a public that continues to support strong environmental safeguards." "Signing one bill to protect one forest doesn't make one an environmental governor. The irony is that if Wilson had instructed his staff to follow the law, protecting these forests would not have been an issue,"said Rachel Dinno, Natural Resources Director for the Planning and Conservation League. "Governor Wilson deserves no credit for protecting the Headwaters Forest. The fact that there are any environmental safeguards at all in this legislation is due to the efforts of state leaders who insisted on protecting the trees over the Governor's objections," said Ted Nordhaus, Executive Director of Headwaters Sanctuary Project. "Pete Wilson's environmental record exists only in the minds of his PR staff," said Michael Paparian, Senior Regional Representative of the Sierra Club. "The Emperor has no clothes." The Wilson Record on the Headwaters Forest: Failed to Halt Logging in Ancient Redwood Forests The Governor's Board of Forestry has repeatedly refused to revoke "salvage logging" provisions that lift logging restrictions in old growth redwood forests. The Board held fast on rebuffing scientist and conservationist appeals, even when Charles Hurwitz began logging in the "lesser cathedrals" and was preparing to log Headwaters grove. The Board refused to stop Hurwitz' logging less than 2 weeks after the signature of the federal government-Wilson agreement in Sept, 1996. Logging began the very next week. These forests are now included in the 50-year protection of the improved agreement. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF), has continually approved Pacific Lumber's logging plans for the redwood forests, despite warnings about severe environmental impacts from state and federal scientists. In Dec. 1997 CDF backed down on a decision to deny renewal of Pacific Lumber's operating license. The company had received 103 citations for violations of state environmental safeguards for logging, more than any other logging operator in the state, and threatened to "log anyway" if the permit was denied. Governor Wilson Refused to Protect Coho Salmon Habitat Wilson actively objected to list the endangered coho salmon and is currently seeking to undermine the implementation of the federal listing in April, 1997. A listing would provide a foundation to enforce limits on logging and road building alongside streambeds. Furthermore, Wilson has refused to make any changes in the state forest practice rules to protect coho habitat. Wilson refused to complete Clean Water Act requirements for plans to protect streams. Citizen lawsuits were the only way to enforce him to do it. At a hearing in Dec. 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency noted that regional water quality officials review only 10 percent of proposed timber harvest plans (THPs) each year, yet the Wilson opposed efforts to have THPs reviewed by boards and Department of Fish and Game. Also at the hearing on forestry practices and flooding in communities, state and federal biologists -- fearing reprisals -- testified that CDF officials repeatedly ignore their warnings that approved practices have undermined the environment, led to mudslides, damaged streams and cut into salmon populations. ### |
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