--- [log in to unmask] wrote: > From: [log in to unmask] > Date: Thu, 23 Jan 2003 17:37:25 EST > Subject: Bush's questionable appointee > To: [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask], > [log in to unmask] > > > from EARTHJUSTICE > > > Bush Announces Nominee for Army Corps Job > Spotty environmental record raises concerns > January 23rd, 2003 > > Contact Info: (202) 667-4500 / Maria Weidner x237 / > Suzanne Carrier x213 > > Washington, DC-- The Bush administration late > yesterday announced their > intent to nominate John Paul Woodley to the position > of Assistant Secretary > for the Army, Office of Civil Works. The job > oversees the Army Corps of > Engineers and carries responsibility for executing > civil works programs such > as locks, dams and levees on the nation¦s rivers > and for administering the > laws that are meant to protect and preserve our > rivers, streams, and > wetlands. > > "This appointment is key to the future of our > nation's waters and requires > someone dedicated to the protection these valuable > resources," said Maria > Weidner. "Mr. Woodley's environmental record raises > questions about whether > he is committed to this task." > > Woodley previously served under both Governor Allen > and Governor Gilmore of > Virginia, both administrations known for > anti-environmental policies. In > 1997, during Allen's tenure, the Environmental > Protection Agency threatened > to take over Virginia¦s environmental programs > because of concerns that the > state was unwilling or unable to enforce > anti-pollution laws. > > Woodley served as Secretary of Natural Resources > under Governor Gilmore from > 1998 through 2001, overseeing eight state agencies > responsible for > environment and natural resource protection, > including the Virginia > Department of Environmental Quality. While Woodley > touted clean water as a > priority, several troubling policies were proposed > by the state and agencies > he oversaw on environmental quality matters, > including: > > --- An effort by the DEQ in May 2001 to allow > elevated levels of fecal > bacteria in some streams; > > --- A proposed $13.6 million cut in funding for > environmental programs in > January 2001, and; > > --- DEQ's decision to bow to the poultry industry in > December of 1999 by > choosing not to issue regulations to track poultry > manure, thus seriously > harming the effectiveness of a state law meant to > keep poultry fecal matter > out of Virginia waters. > > As Deputy Attorney General for Government Operations > under Governor Allen > from 1994 to 1998, Woodley provided day-to-day legal > advice to the state's > environmental agencies and managed all litigation in > which they were > concerned. He also led legal efforts to oppose > adoption of "California car" > requirements to reduce air pollution in Northern > Virginia. Once Woodley is > officially nominated, the Senate must approve him. > > "We urge all Senators to carefully review Mr. > Woodley¦s record to ensure that > he is indeed committed to protecting the health of > our nation¦s waters," > concluded Weidner. > > http://www.earthjustice.org/news/display.html?ID=532&friend=1 > > > > [NOTE: Earthjustice is the nonprofit law firm for > the environment, > representing —without charge— hundreds of public > interest clients, large and > small. Earthjustice works through the courts to > safeguard public lands, > national forests, parks, and wilderness areas; to > reduce air and water > pollution; to prevent toxic contamination; and to > preserve endangered species > and wildlife habitat. Founded in 1971 as Sierra Club > Legal Defense Fund, > Earthjustice has played a leading role in shaping > the development of > environmental law.] > > > __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]