Yesterday, Neila sent the Sierra Club news release about comments on NEPA.
Below is more detailed information about the background and action you can
take. For more information on NEPA's numerous success stories and Sierra
Club's congressional testimony on NEPA, please visit:
www.sierraclub.org/nepa

Forwarded by Jane Clark--if you write comments by e-mail, be sure to include
your name and complete street address.

From:   American Lands Alliance

Last Chance to Comment on Changes to NEPA
Comments Needed by November 23, 2005

The Congressional National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Task Force,
chaired by Eastern Washington Representative Cathy McMorris (R), will be
holding their final wrap up hearing on November 17, 2005 in Washington DC
before issuing a report on their findings. The NEPA Task Force hearings are
a part of a plan by Representative Richard Pombo (R-CA) and other
pro-industry members of Congress to gut NEPA under the guise of "improving
and modernizing" the Act.   Congressman Pombo's NEPA Task Force has held 5
field hearings around the country to give big industry and other NEPA
opponents a platform to attack and mischaracterize the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).  The NEPA Task Force also held a hearing on
November 10th in Washington, DC on NEPA Litigation: The Causes, Effects and
Solutions where they sought to blame NEPA for the impacts of Hurricane
Katrina.

The NEPA Task Force Needs to Hear from You!

Throughout the field hearings, Representatives McMorris, Pombo and others
have publicly stated that they intend to seek legislative changes to our
bedrock environmental law. It is vital that we continue to build the public
record in support of NEPA and public participation in federal decision
making.

Comments Needed by November 23rd

In your comments, explain why NEPA is important to you. You are encouraged
to include specific examples of how public participation in the NEPA process
provided critical input to protect human health, the quality of life of your
community, and the environment, and how the choice of alternatives led to
informed decision-making and improved projects.

Please use the sample letter and talking points below to create your own
unique comments to be entered into the record for the hearing.

Use the sample letter below to comment on the importance of NEPA.  Send your
letter to: [log in to unmask] (or fax to 202-225-5929) and
send a copy of your comments to [log in to unmask]

Please also send a copy of your comments to your Representative/Senators, so
they know that this is important to you. Go to www.congress.org to look up
your Members of Congress.

SAMPLE LETTER

To:  House Resource Committee NEPA Task Force

Please enter these comments into the record for the NEPA Task Force Hearing
on November 17, 2005.  I hope my comments about the importance of the
National Environmental Policy Act are reflected in your final report.

At its most basic level NEPA is about having an informed democracy.  It is
the primary law that gives me a voice in decisions made by my government
that could harm the air I breathe, the water I drink and the bountiful
public lands that make up our American heritage. NEPA is also the guarantee
that Americans affected by a major federal action will get the best
information about its impacts on our community, a choice of good design
alternatives to minimize damage, and the right to have our voice heard
before the government makes a final decision. NEPA ensures balance, common
sense and openness in federal decision-making; it is an effective tool to
keep 'Big Government' in check.

NEPA protects and empowers the public.  It makes sure the local community is
not left out of decisions, and it requires the Government to base these
decisions on good information. Maintaining and strengthening the community's
voice in decisions on federal projects is critical to making wise choices
that enhance the quality of life in our communities.

At the heart of NEPA is its requirement that alternatives must be
considered - including alternatives that will minimize possible damage to
our health, communities, environment, and our quality of life. Comparing and
seeking input on the merits of several alternatives is a core requirement of
NEPA. It is the mechanism that forces federal agencies to think outside of
the box when approaching projects that may harm our environment or public
health.

By making sure that the public is informed and that alternatives are
considered, NEPA has stopped some unwise and harmful projects and made
countless projects better. Cutting corners on NEPA review can have
disastrous consequences for my community and the environment.  NEPA makes
sure we look before we leap, and any attempts to weaken it will take away
our safety net.

Putting limits on public involvement and our right to challenge harmful
projects or reducing adequate review of major projects won't avoid
controversy or improve projects.  NEPA saves time and money in the long run
by reducing controversy, building consensus, and ensuring that a project is
done right the first time.

Rather than making changes to the NEPA or its regulations, I urge you to
ensure that the federal agencies responsible for implementing the law get
the resources they need to do the job right and in a timely manner.

Sincerely,
NAME
ADDRESS
=======================================
BACKGROUND AND KEY POINTS ABOUT NEPA

NEPA - DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

The National Environmental Policy Act is the most important environmental
law that most Americans have never heard of.  Signed into law in 1973, it
requires the government to "look before it leaps."  Major federal projects
must be reviewed for the environmental and public health impacts.  If the
damage will be significant, alternative designs must be investigated to
minimize damage and these options must be shared with the public.
California Congressman Richard Pombo will use the NEPA hearings to build a
negative public record against NEPA and introduce legislation to overhaul
it.  We need your help to protect NEPA, so NEPA can continue to protect our
communities.

To read about the NEPA Task Force go to:
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/nepataskforce.htm

More information on NEPA can be found at:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lookbeforeyouleap/

Key Points for Comments

NEPA is the guarantee that Americans affected by a federal action will get
the best information about its impacts, a choice of good alternatives, and
the right to have their voice heard before the government makes a final
decision.

NEPA ensures balance, common sense and openness in federal decision-making,
it is an effective tool to keep 'Big Government' in check.

At the heart of NEPA is its requirement that alternatives must be
considered - including those that will minimize possible damage to our
health, environment or quality of life. NEPA also lets Americans have a say
before the government makes its final decision about a project.

By making sure that the public is informed and that alternatives are
considered, NEPA has stopped some damaging projects or made them better.

Cutting corners can have disastrous consequences, especially when it comes
to spending taxpayer money on projects that might harm citizens or their
environment.

There is no need to improve NEPA.because it works.

Limiting public involvement and weakening environmental review won't avoid
controversy or improve projects.

NEPA saves time and money in the long run by reducing controversy, building
consensus, and ensuring that a project is done right the first time.

NEPA's promise of project review and public involvement must be safeguarded,
not sacrificed in the name of speed.

For more information contact:  Anne Martin, American Lands Alliance,
[log in to unmask], 509-624-5657.

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