Number: 1986-01
Concerned that scientific management of natural resources is being relegated to an importance secondary to that of production and development, the National Wildlife Federation calls for conservationists throughout the country to remain vigilant, vigorous, and dedicated in united efforts to protect the environment.
An association of independent state organizations and their affiliated local groups and individuals, the National Wildlife Federa- tion believes that an alert and fully-informed public will demand sound management of natural resources. Therefore, conservation practices must be taught as an integral part of public education, emphasizing the science of ecology, wise use and management of natural resources, and the interdependence of all life. The Federation also believes that all citizens should participate in the governmental processes which help determine resource policies.
The National Wildlife Federation believes that suitable regulations must be vigorously enforced to protect the environment, and that adequate federal funds be appropriated to implement our environmental laws. Studies show that pollution abatement creates job opportunities, rather than reduces them. Further, natural resource conservation programs merit adequate federal funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 20-23, 1986, in Seattle, Washington, invites the attention of all Americans to what it considers the major issues of 1986:
Natural Resource Budgets under Gramm-Rudman-Hollings Legislation. Under new budget-cutting legislation, funding for natural resource programs is more vulnerable than ever to severe contractions. Congress and the President must agree on a budget before October 15, 1986 or there could be cuts in expenditures of 25% or more. Thus the Environmental Protection Agency budget would be reduced from $1.3 billion to less than $1 billion resulting in less enforcement of clean air and water laws, few Superfund site cleanups and less research on critical problems like acid rain. For the Interior Department, across-the-board cuts will mean less protection and management for wildlife habitat, further reductions in strip mining enforcement, and fewer endangered species listed and protected. Fisheries programs by the Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service could be crippled.
The Federation urges Congress and the President to work together to pass a budget which maintains vital conservation programs and eliminates subsidies for such activities as timber harvesting, public land grazing and unnecessary water projects and highways.
Loss and Degradation of Fish and Wildlife Habitat. Habitat destruction is the most serious problem facing fish and wildlife populations due in part to human population increases and commensurate demand on resources. Such loss is compounded by poorly-planned government-sponsored projects, inappropriate government incentives to the private sector, and poor land use planning and practices. Wetlands, which are a particularly important habitat type, continue to be drained, filled or eroded at unacceptable rates. The majority of endangered species problems are due to the loss or degradation of habitat. The National Wildlife Federation believes that most habitat problems can be prevented or mitigated. All segments of our society have a responsibility to protect and enhance the environment, and maintain a wide diversity of habitats. It is important that in responding to national budgetary problems Congress should seek first to curtail government projects and incentives to the private sector which increase habitat loss. Congress should provide adequate funding for natural resource programs to stop or forestall further habitat loss.
Water Resources Management. Reduced federal funds for new water resource development will require greater emphasis on improved management of existing water supplies and innovative approaches toward meeting future needs. Subsidized construction of impoundments and other water resources development projects, and underpricing of water and water-related services, have contributed to a growing imbalance between supply and demand. With the 99th Congress expected to enact the Omnibus Water Resources Bill and hydropower licensing legislation, there is an unprecedented opportunity to reform and improve the management of the nation’s water resources via adoption of (a) cost sharing with beneficiaries for all new federal water projects; (b) user fees for existing and future federal navigation projects; (c) flexible rules for reallocating flows of water from existing reservoirs to meet contemporary needs, including habitat restoration and instream flows; (d) improved planning and evaluation procedures for all federal water projects; and (e) concurrent and proportionate mitigation for the damages to wildlife habitat resulting from water project construction.
Energy. The National Wildlife Federation calls upon Congress and the Administration to protect the environment from the adverse impacts of energy development. Both must urgently address the failure of the Office of Surface Mining to enforce the Surface Mining Act, end the continuing damage to the environment which results from the growing number of unreclaimed mines, and ensure the existence of an effective abandoned mine reclamation program in every state.
The public land management agencies should end their persistent pursuit of maximizing lands leased for energy development, which puts irreplaceable resources needlessly at risk. The Congress, and the agencies, must restore balance to our search for energy. Energy leasing and development policies must ensure the protection of critical fisheries, wildlife habitat, and other sensitive natural resources.
While federal agencies have aggressively pursued the leasing of our nation’s oil and gas deposits, the Congress and the Administration have shown no similar sense of urgency in pursuing increased energy efficiency or the development of renewable energy resources. The Federation continues to support the development of safe and renewable energy resources, and calls upon Congress and the Administration to reverse the systematic dismantling of energy conservation and renewable energy programs which has occurred over the past several years. In an effort to restore balance to our nation’s energy policies in this time of fiscal austerity, the Federation calls upon Congress to abolish subsidies for the development and use of conventional fossil fuels.
Public Lands. The nation’s public lands hold an immense wealth of wildlife and other natural resources. The Congress has repeatedly emphasized the need to manage these resources under the principles of multiple-use and sustained yield. In recent years, the administration of these lands by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service has emphasized commercial development over multiple-use management. Both agencies must restore a balance between resource exploitation and environmental protection in their planning and management of the nation’s public lands.
As a first step towards restoring balanced management, the Bureau of Land Management should comply with the Congressional directive to place a high priority on the designation and protection of Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. It should also begin, in earnest, to meet its obligations under the law to develop, with public involvement, quality land-use plans.
The Forest Service should initiate efforts to restore balanced management by recognizing the unique value of old growth forests. The nation’s remnant old growth forests are important habitat for a variety of fish and wildlife species, and are under increasing pressure from logging activities. The Forest Service should manage the remaining old growth forests for their irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat values, implement management practices to restore old growth forest stands and enhance their essential role in maintaining the health of the forest ecosystem. The Forest Service should also discontinue its aggressive policy of timber road construction into environmentally sensitive areas.
Both the Forest Service and the BLM need to evaluate carefully the condition of public lands and prevent and remedy livestock overgrazing.
Toxic Pollution of the Environment. Toxic chemical contamination continues to be one of the major environmental problems facing the nation. Toxic pollution threatens our food, air, water, and fish and wildlife habitat. Unfortunately, key legislation to deal with this problem remains stalled in Congress. The National Wildlife Federation urges the Administration and Congress to break the current series of deadlocks and enact reauthorized and improved legislation in this area. Specifically, we urge prompt action on the Superfund legislation, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Clean Water Act, Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, and the Safe Drinking Water Act. In addition, we urge both increased Congressional and state government attention to the growing problem of groundwater contamination.
In light of the tragic leak of poison gas in Bhopal, India in 1984, and similar — although less catastrophic chemical leaks in the United States — the Federation remains extremely concerned about the ability of government officials to respond to large scale toxic chemical emergencies. The Federation strongly urges the federal Environmental Protection Agency and other relevant federal, state, and local officials to continue efforts to develop effective plans for dealing with the emergency release of acutely toxic materials into the environment.
Clean Air Act. Since 1981 Congress has debated but has failed to reauthorize the Clean Air Act. The National Wildlife Federation urges that top priority be given to passing improved and expanded Clean Air legislation. Such legislation should include an effective acid rain control program with a goal of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions by at least 12 million tons within 10 years. Such legislation should also seek significant reductions in nitrogen oxide emissions. It should include strong and effective provisions to accelerate and improve the listing, monitoring, and regulation of hazardous air pollutants. New clean air legislation should also improve the protection afforded National Parks and other national treasure areas, increase the pollution controls required in those areas not yet in compliance with applicable standards, and strengthen the standards governing automotive and truck sources of air pollution.