Number: 1989-01
WHEREAS, the dramatic events of the past year remind us that our nation’s environmental quality programs are incomplete and inadequate; and
WHEREAS, medical waste and sewage on our beaches, severe drought, holes in the stratospheric ozone layer, and unprecedented levels of smog in our cities should serve as a warning that our environment is close to the breaking point;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia calls upon the new President, Congress, government agencies, and private organizations at all levels to renew our nation’s commitment to strong programs for protecting the environment.
The Atmosphere
WHEREAS, Congress continues to fail to enact a strong clean air act; and
WHEREAS, there is increasing concern among scientists that carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse” gases being emitted into the atmosphere are warming the earth, perhaps by as much as an average 5 degrees celsius (9 F) by 2050; and
WHEREAS, the predicted average global temperature increases could dwarf all environmental issues by flooding coastal wetlands, producing droughts and stronger hurricanes, causing massive forest dieback, increasing the loss of endangered species, and otherwise causing numerous unexpected ecological changes;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia calls on Congress to enact a clean air law that controls acid rain, reduces toxic air pollution, prevents chemical accidents, and deals with the nation’s serious smog and carbon monoxide pollution problem; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls on government officials from all nations to begin immediately to develop programs for significantly reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges that an international summit be convened to discuss global climate issues.
Pesticides, Groundwater, and Herbicide-tolerant Plants
WHEREAS, precious groundwater resources continue to be polluted by pesticides and other wastes; and
WHEREAS, some chemical companies are developing herbicide-tolerant crops that as an indirect effect will prolong or perhaps even increase our dependence on herbicides;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia urges Congress to enact comprehensive Federal legislation to protect our country’s groundwater from pesticides and other contaminants; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges Congress to enact legislation addressing the unwanted environmental consequences of herbicide-tolerant crops.
Enforcement and Institutional Structure
WHEREAS, the increased environmental threats facing our nation demand stronger institutional structures and greater resources for responding to those threats; and
WHEREAS, although the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for implementing and enforcing 13 major laws and his decisions affect every American, he does not sit at the cabinet table when the President seeks advice on critical national policies; and
WHEREAS, there have been dramatic enforcement breakdowns under Superfund and the Safe Drinking Water Act; and
WHEREAS, there were over 100,000 violations of the drinking water law in FY 1987 affecting over 37 million Americans, in the face of which state governments took only 2,544 enforcement actions and EPA only 50;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia calls upon the President of the United States to promptly and vigorously support and Congress to approve a law elevating the EPA to a cabinet department of the Federal government; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon EPA and state officials to begin agressive enforcment of the Safe Drinking Water Act, Superfund, and other major environmental laws and regulations, where necessary requesting additional funds but also considering new approaches to funding enforcement efforts.
Toxic and Municipal Waste
WHEREAS, more efforts must be devoted to reducing the quantity and toxicity of hazardous waste being generated by industry; and
WHEREAS, of the 1,175 sites on EPA’s National Priorities List of Superfund sites, actual cleanups have been begun at about 20% of the sites and completed at only 43; and
WHEREAS, citizens have a right to know what hazardous chemicals are stored and released in their neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the nation is on the verge of a municipal waste crisis; and
WHEREAS, by the middle of the next decade, it is predicted that the majority of the existing landfills will be full; and
WHEREAS, waste continues to be dumped into oceans; and
WHEREAS, numerous concerns have been expressed over the potential problems of waste incinerators;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 16-19, 1989, in Arlington, Virginia calls upon the EPA to devise a new strategy for implementing the Superfund law aimed at accelerating the pace of site cleanups, bringing additional private funds to bear on the problem, and improving the quality of site cleanups; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation calls upon EPA to require those who release oil or hazardous chemicals into the environment to pay for the full costs of cleanup, including damage done to fish and wildlife and other natural resources; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges EPA to insist that the “Citizen’s Right To Know” provisions of Superfund be fully and fairly implemented and that EPA improve its efforts to prevent and respond to chemical emergencies; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation urges Congress to develop an aggressive national program for coping with our municipal waste crisis, which should have as its cornerstone vastly expanded programs for source reduction in the volume and recycling and reuse of consumer and commercial waste.