Action Alerts
"At some point we must draw a line across the ground of our home and our being, drive a spear into the land, and say to the bulldozers, earthmovers, government and corporations, `thus far and no farther.'" .......Edward Abbey
Endangered Wetlands
The Army Corps of Engineers has been in the process of trying to streamline the permitting process for developments that affect our nations wetlands. But instead of protecting already diminished wetlands, the Corps has made the matter worse and slanted the process in favor of those developers who would further destroy necssary wetlands.
TAKE ACTION
12 November 98
Please e-mail or snail mail the letter below to the President expressing your desire to save what wetlands remain:
(current date)
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
Attn: William J. Clinton
Office of the President
president@whitehouse.gov
Dear Mr. President:
In 1996, the Army Corps of Engineers, under strong pressure from the public, agreed to phase out Nationwide Permit (NWP) 26, the rubber-stamp, fill-and-destroy permit that has resulted in the loss of thousands of acres of wetlands, and miles of small streams, across the country.
But the public was in for a surprise: The Corps' proposed new program was worse than what it replaced. As drafted, it would make your own Clean Water Action Program goal of restoring 100,000 acres of wetlands per year impossible even though it does limit wetlands destruction in floodplain areas.
I welcome the fact that your administration heard some of our concerns. While withdrawing NWP B, and restricting the use of the permits in floodplains and other designated watersheds, does undo some of the damage, this proposal is still worse than NWP 26. Proposed NWPs A, C, E and 40 must be withdrawn. The remaining replacement permits must be redrafted to allow no more than minimal destruction of wetlands and streams.
Sincerely,
(your signature)
Thank you.
