What you can do to save the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Phyllis
Mains
Act for Alaska
Alaska Coalition News for Iowa
October 26, 2005
Contact me at 10368 Columbus Circle, Bloomington MN 55420 or 952-881-7282
[log in to unmask] or visit us at www.alaskacoalition.org
CONTENTS:
1. Arctic threat through Budget Reconciliation Bill Update
2. Tongass Update – with Sign on Letter
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1. Arctic threat through Budget Reconciliation Bill an unprecedented
threat
Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is at a crucial point.
Opening the coastal plain to development is at an unprecedented threat -
as you may have heard in recent coverage, Congress is pushing for selling
leases to oil drilling on the coastal plain, the biological heart of this
great Refuge. They have used a backdoor tactic of slipping this into the
Budget Reconciliation Bill because this bill cannot be filibustered and
drilling will be embedded in a measure with many other items instead of
debated on its own merits. Proponents of drilling know that it would not
pass by the American public if it was not hidden.
Never before has the threat been so high or the vote so final. This is
it!
We are expecting the Budget Committees in both House and Senate to report
out language this week with votes following in the next few weeks. The
House has tentatively set the date for votes as November 7, this might
change but we need to be prepared and the Senate has not given a schedule
yet.
Language from the Senate Natural Resources Committee also exempts
development in the Refuge from most environmental laws - eliminating any
protection for the wildlife and the ecosystem, and we expect the same or
worse in the House.
We cannot let this pass - our House and Senate members need to hear from
us, especially Representative Nussle.
This Bill is not good for many reasons. It has deep cuts to many vital
programs like Medicaid and student loan aid, reduces funding for Farm
Bill conservation money like the Conservation Security Program and it
includes oil leasing in the Arctic Refuge.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO:
We need to make sure Congress is hearing from us! only by overwhelming
them with constituents calling / writing are we going to see them stand
up and remember the importance of protecting our Refuge. For background
information and points to make in your call please go to
arcticrefugeaction.org
To find your House or Senate member call: Capitol Switchboard
202-224-3121 or use our toll free number.
Let you Representative and Senators know that America wants them to vote
against any budget reconciliation bill that includes Arctic Refuge
drilling. To contact your members of Congress, call: 1-888-8-WILD-AK.
(1-888-894-5325)
About Congressional Phone calling:
If you have never called your Congressperson's office before - here are
some simple tips. When you call you will generally be talking to a staff
person who knows nothing about your issue. They are friendly and
courteous and will take down your name, city, and the points that you
would like them to convey to the Member. They keep track of all of the
calls the office receives on a particular issue in a day and will keep a
"tally".
(Script: Hello my name is ____________ and I live at
______________________. I am calling to urge Senator/Representative to
vote No on the Budget Reconciliation Bill. We should protect our pristine
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This bill is not good for many safety
net programs, and would destroy a national treasure.)
If you are more comfortable with the issue you may ask for the person who
handles the environment - then either you are able to talk with this
staffer or their voicemail and leave your message as above. They will
have a better background on the issue and will be able to maybe answer
some of your questions, and/or ask questions of you in return.
You need not be an expert on the issue! The most important thing you are
conveying is that you are a Constituent, and you Care about this issue.
2. Tongass Update – Conservation Sign on Letter
Dear Tongass Supporter-
As the Forest Service begins the process of rewriting its forest plan for
the Tongass National Forest it will be critically important for a broad
coalition of organizations to send them a clear message about our vision
for the new plan. The new forest plan must reflect sound science,
promote the protection of remaining roadless areas, and be open to
meaningful public participation if it is going to live up to the
expectations and desires of the American people. As a first step in
articulating this vision to the agency - we are circulating this sign-on
letter with the hopes that it will be delivered in the coming weeks with
an impressive list of supporting organizations.
Please show your support for protecting and conserving the Tongass
National Forest by responding to this email and signing your organization
onto the attached letter.
Cheers-
DATE
The Honorable Dale Bosworth
Chief
U.S Forest Service
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250-0003
Dear Chief Bosworth,
The undersigned organizations respectfully request that the U.S. Forest
Service develop a new land management plan for Tongass National Forest in
Alaska that is both sensible and based on accurate data. The new
management plan must be grounded in sound science and up-to-date
economics. It must be a balanced plan that embraces the broad national
consensus to protect the remaining roadless areas in the Tongass,
maintains current environmental and regulatory safeguards, and allows for
a sustainable timber program using the current road system.
As your agency develops the new Tongass plan, we urge you to insist on a
decision-making process involving maximum public participation, in Alaska
and throughout the nation. The recent court decision requiring a new plan
provides the perfect opportunity for the Forest Service to fully engage
the American public and the many who hold a stake in the future of the
Tongass. Working together, we can develop a better forest plan which
meets and serves the true needs of people, communities, and fish and
wildlife—all of which depend on an intact and wild forest.
The Tongass is the crown jewel of our country’s National Forest System –
a remote coastal temperate rainforest, home to wildlife and fish
populations unparalleled anywhere else on the planet. As a result,
southeast Alaska contains vast resources upon which residents rely for
their livelihood, and is a destination of global significance which
continues to draw millions of visitors from around the world each year.
It is critical that the Forest Service develop a plan guaranteeing the
ecological integrity of this world-class rainforest for future
generations.
We look forward to working cooperatively with the Forest Service to craft
a forest plan for the Tongass which leaves behind the unsustainable
practice of logging inventoried roadless areas at a high cost to native
flora and fauna, local communities and U.S. taxpayers. Let us work
together using the best available science, the most accurate economic
forecasts, and a healthy dose of common sense to build a forest plan
which works for everyone.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
cc: Mr. Mark Rey, USDA, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the
Environment
Forrest Cole, Forest Supervisor, Tongass National Forest
Thank you,
Lois Norrgard
Regional Organizer
Alaska Coalition
952-881-7292
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