Forwarded from Jane Clark -- if you need more information, let me know at
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WHAT YOU CAN DO:   Send letters and cards to the White House

WHEN:               Immediately, no later than March 19th

WHY:                The Corps is threatening to further weaken its
Nationwide
Permits. The White      House needs to hear from you.

Because of the thousands of comments that the Army Corps of Engineers
received
on their initial proposal to replace Nationwide Permit 26, they issued a
"supplemental" proposal this fall that had several provisions that were a
step
in the right direction. They are now being heavily pressured to remove
these,
and other provisions. They need to hear from you!

ADDRESS YOUR MESSAGE TO:

George T. Frampton, Jr., Acting Chair, President's Council on Environmental
Quality, 722 Jackson Place NW, Washington, DC, 20503.


BACKGROUND

This month we expect the Corps to announce its latest proposal for
nationwide
permits. There are signs their proposal may, once again, weaken instead of
strengthen protections for wetlands.

Because President Clinton announced strengthening amendments to the Corps'
proposal last October, we are now asking the White House to ensure the
Corps'
next version does not create new loopholes that can be used to destroy
wetlands.
We are specifically concerned that: (1) local and regional Corps personnel
not
be permitted to waive the requirements the President laid out in October
that
would restrict the use of nationwide permits in 100-year floodplains,
critical
resource waters, and impaired waters; (2) permits E, and 40 be withdrawn*;
and
(3) public notice is strengthened.

(* Permit E allows mining in wetlands. Permit 40 allows destruction of
wetlands on agricultural lands).

THE MESSAGE

Please ensure that the Corps does not weaken the safeguards announced by
President Clinton in October to improve the nationwide permit
program. Nationwide permits should only be used for projects that have
minimal adverse impact on wetlands, that do not add to cumulative
effects on a waterbody, and that meet tests for avoidance,mitigation,
public
notice and other safeguards. We need a nationwide permit
program that provides more not less protection for wetlands.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND RESOURCES TO HELP YOU INFLUENCE THE PROPOSAL

* Please take a few minutes today to send a short note to the
White House at the address above and be sure to focus on  the key
points of the message above. They need to hear from us again.

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