Iowa has lost much of its wetlands. This is one of the efforts to stop
this from continuing.

To: Wetlands Activists
     Fr: Robin Mann and Dirk Manskopf
     Re: "Tulloch" loophole public comments

     Our Streams and Wetlands Need Your Help!

     Developers are turning wetlands into strip malls, tract housing and

     golf courses. Mining companies are dredging streams for sand and
     gravel---all without any environmental review. Why? They are
     exploiting a 1998 court ruling that struck down the "Tulloch Rule"
and
     opened a loophole in the Clean Water Act enabling developers and
     others to do various ditching, draining and excavating projects
     without even needing a permit or telling anyone of their actions.

     With no oversight or notification, no one knows exactly how many
     wetlands and streams are being destroyed.  But since the loophole
     opened the EPA estimates developers and mining interests have
drained
     and destroyed more than 20,000 acres of wetlands and channelized
more
     than 150 miles of streams all with out any environmental review.

     Destroying these wetlands and streams harms the quality of our
     nation's water, aggravates flooding, robs a wide array of birds,
fish
     and wildlife of critical habitat and invites sprawling development
in
     sensitive ecosystems.

     The good news is that in early August the Army Corps of Engineers
     published a rule that would limit the damage from this loophole.
Your
     help is needed to show support for this rule.

     We have set up several convenient ways that activists can join in
the
     comment period and hope that you will take a few minutes to let the

     Army Corps know you support protecting our nation's streams and
     wetlands. There, however, is a tight timeline -- the deadline for
     comment is October 16th.

     Individual letters to the Corps are most effective, but if you or
your
     friends are too busy, here are 2 ways you can help:

     1) SEND POSTCARD(S): We have available a "Protect our Streams and
     Wetlands" postcard that you can send to the Corps. Contact either
     Robin Mann at [log in to unmask] or Dirk Manskopf at
     [log in to unmask] or 202.675.7915 and request postcards
for
     yourself, your friends, colleagues and neighbors.

     2) TAKE ACTION ON OUR WEBSITE: Visit our web site at
     http://www.sierraclub.org/wetlands/tulloch/ to find a sample letter

     and sample email to the Army Corps. On the site there is a very
     convenient way to email the Corps. Please visit the site also for
more
     details.

     Your help with this important issue is greatly appreciated.

     If you would like more information, please feel free to contact
either
     of us at the contact information above.

     Thanks again!

     Robin Mann and Dirk Manskopf

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