National Call-In Day on Bad Fire Bill - Tomorrow - November 7

**It is critical to call both the key congressmen (below) and your own
congressperson, (202-224-3121 -- Capitol switchboard or call local offices)
and respectfully urge them to oppose H.R. 5319.

Congressman Scott McInnis' bad fire bill is likely to be pushed for a vote
next week during the lame duck session of Congress. The McInnis bill passed
through committee before Congress broke for the election recess. Key
democrats including Mark Udall (D-CO) voted for the bill.

The bill would drastically limit citizen watch dogging by shortening time
for review and appeal, eliminating consideration of alternative actions, and
reducing time for judicial review to the point that it will be next to
impossible to effectively challenge ecologically destructive projects. The
bill also pushes provisions allowing trade of large valuable trees for
logging and other services.

Negotiations on this destructive bill continue with other key democrats such
as George Miller (D-CA) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and moderate republicans
including Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). Congressmen Miller and DeFazio declined
to vote for the bill earlier but have indicated a deal is still possible.

It is critical to call both the key congressmen (below) and your own
congressperson, (202-224-3121 -- Capitol switchboard or call local offices)
and respectfully urge them to oppose H.R. 5319 and specifically to:

Oppose any expedited procedures for hazardous fuels projects. The Forest
Service is already abusing this program to justify old growth logging and
entry into roadless areas Additional discretion for the agency is likely to
cause additional harm to the forests. There is no justification for
expedited procedures because there is no evidence that conservationists have
been stopping legitimate fuel reduction projects.

Oppose goods for services stewardship contracts that create an incentive to
log old growth and other commercially valuable trees.

Oppose any limits on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Without
alternatives, NEPA is essentially gutted. In this case, it will allow the
Forest Service to offer just one brand of fuel reduction projects
(industrial logging grade) with little or no analysis about the potential
environmental harm.

Oppose any limits to judicial review
For more information or to review the bill.


  Phone Fax Staff
Rep. Sherwood Boehlert  202/225-8772  226-0113  David Goldston
Rep. George Miller  202/225-2095  225-5609  Amelia Jenkins
Rep. Peter DeFazio  202/225-6416 225-0032 David Dreher
Rep. Mark Udall  202/225-2161  226-7840  Stan Sloss

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