Forwarded by Jane Clark at [log in to unmask] for the Clean Water Network

National Call-in Day on Nationwide Permits
Wednesday, October 27


On Wednesday, October 27, we are asking all wetland and stream advocates to
send a message to President Clinton asking him to better protect our
country's wetlands and streams by closing the loopholes in the Corps of
Engineers proposed new Nationwide Permits.  Please note: If you can't make
a call on Wednesday, please do so on Thursday or Friday.

The Corps of Engineers received approximately 1,650 comments during the
public comment period on the proposed new Nationwide Permits.  Of these
comments, about 60 percent were pro-environment comments calling for
strengthening the rules to better protect wetlands and streams.  With
negotiations continuing between agencies involved in developing the final
rules, the White House will play a key role in coordinating final decisions
on the permits.  We need to make our voice heard on this issue if these
permits are to be improved before their final publication next month.

To contact the White House:

Comment line: (202) 456-1414
[follow the prompts, pressing "1" several times, to leave a message with an
operator]

Fax: (202) 456-2461
or
[log in to unmask]

For more information on the Corps proposed new NWPs, go to
http://www.audubon.org/campaign/wetland/action.html

Suggested message:

I am calling to urge the President to take action to safeguard the nation's
wetlands.  The new nationwide permit regulations proposed by the Army Corps
of Engineers have serious loopholes and weaknesses that would actually
invite more wetlands destruction.  I urge the President to reaffirm his
committment to no net loss of wetlands and assure that the flaws in the
Corps' proposal are removed.

"Specifically, I would like to ask the President to close the worst
loopholes in these permits:
      -revoke permit 40, which would allow agribusiness to destroy wetlands
so important to ducks and other wildlife in order to marginally increase
production;
     -require developers to fully mitigate their impacts by restoring at
least the same amount of wetlands as they destroy;
     -do not allow any of the new or modified permits to be used in
floodplains where development only puts more people and property at risk.

The President's goal in the Clean Water Action Plan to achieve a net gain
of wetlands cannot be accomplished if the Corps doesn't close these
loopholes.  Too many wetlands have already been lost, and it's time to turn
the tide on this destruction for the sake of our children, clean water, and
healthy wildlife habitat.

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