SF 344 is a regulatory reform bill. It has a lot of bad provisions, but one of the worst provisions relates to state endangered and threatened species (E&T). An original provision in the bill regarding E&T species was removed. **However, Senator Wieck from NW Iowa offered an amendment to address the E&T issue again. His amendment (3121) to SF 344 means that if Iowa DOT does a highway project using only state money, the state endangered/threatened species list would be used. But if the Iowa DOT uses federal money for a project, the federal E&Tspecies list would be used. *Since nearly every road project in Iowa uses some federal money, virtually every road project would be impacted by this bill. Conservation and environmental groups strongly oppose this section of SF344. The bill is currently eligible for debate in the House (it has already passed the Senate 26-24.) I urge you to communicate your concerns to your State Representative to either vote "against the bill SF 344", or to urge your Representative to "support the removal of the E&T species portion of this bill". To contact your Representative by e-mail, type his or her first name and last name, separated by a dot "."@legis.state.ia.us An example would be [log in to unmask] The House Switch Board is (515) 281-3221 In addition, please contact the Governor <[log in to unmask]> and urge his veto of the bill. It would indeed be a dark day in Iowa and a step backward if amendment 3121 remains in this bill. This is an assault on Iowa's natural resources and our heritage. Negotiations are taking place between the Republicans, the Democrats and the Governor. It is possible the bad provisions of SF 344 could be attached to the Iowa Values Fund. We cannot assume that anyone besides us is looking out for endangered and threatened species so I urge you to take action as soon as possible. Background Information: The state endangered species list is composed by DNR staff in consultation with experts in various branches of zoology and botany, by studying available scientific information and survey data, and by responding to trends in populations of plant and animal species. Any proposed list must be approved by the Natural Resource Commission and the Rules Review Committee through the normal rule-making process. No extinct species appear on the state list of threatened and endangered species (contrary to comments made during discussion of this issue in the Senate). No major highway construction projects have been blocked by state endangered species issues. Projects have been modified in design to avoid destruction of threatened and endangered species, but projects have never been completely stopped. The issues have been resolved in ways that allowed the projects to proceed. There are 238 species on the state threatened and endangered species list, which may seem at first impression to be a "large" number but consider these points: 1) there are over 5000 species of plants and animals in the state, so fewer than 5% appear on the list, 2) there are few occurrences of any individual listed species in the state (always less than 20, usually less than 10, and in some cases only 1 known location.) These species occur on only a modest number of sites in the state, and 3) with only about 5% of the state left in a natural condition, many species have in fact become rare. (We are widely considered to be the most altered state in the nation). 4) no major state highway projects have been blocked by the state list, rather alternative routes were considered or other changes were made. Many highway projects do not even wind up having state listed species within their routes or alternative routes. 5) no extinct species are on the list (this statement was made in the state senate). 6) state highway projects can have a major, permanent impact on state listed species, private homes, farm land, historic sites, archaeological sites, wetlands, public land, etc. Careful planning, including considering alternatives before a final route is chosen, can help reduce those impacts. 7) all Iowa citizens who drive in the state have to pay federal and state gas taxes which pay for highway projects. Citizens have a right to have a voice in deciding what factors should be considered when designing new highways or expanding existing highways. The amendment 3121 could eliminate the right of citizens to have a voice. 8) the state threatened and endangered species list changes over time. Species are removed from the list if they become significantly more common in the state, while species that appear to be declining may be added to the list. Jane Clark Chair, Iowa Chapter - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp