Number: 2007-13   WHEREAS, the rich and diverse ocean and coastal resources shared by the states of Washington, Oregon and California provide tremendous environmental and economic benefits to these states and to the entire country; and WHEREAS, these rich resources are threatened on many fronts, including, but not limited to, polluted waters, declining populations of marine life, degraded nea ...[Read More]

Number: 2007-14   WHEREAS, The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council held public hearings in September 2006 in the management process to implement a series of eight (8) marine protected areas in federal waters in the South Atlantic; and WHEREAS, the proposed marine protected areas are the result of years of planning with recommendations from advisory panels and public input through worksh ...[Read More]

Number: 2007-06   WHEREAS, energy used in homes and commercial buildings is responsible for one-third of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, and buildings account for an even greater percentage of emissions when energy used from industrial complexes and for building construction are taken into account; and WHEREAS, the United States is the world’s largest contributor to global warming; ...[Read More]

Number: 2007-10   WHEREAS, mining of hard rock minerals in the United States is governed under antiquated 19th century rules that were signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant; and WHEREAS, the “General Mining Law of 1872” allows private mining companies to take valuable mineral resources like gold, copper, silver, and uranium from public lands without paying federal royaltie ...[Read More]

Number: 2007-12   WHEREAS, the Klamath River has a storied history as one of the best salmon-producing rivers on the west coast of the United States with historic populations of over 1 million adult Chinook, coho, pink and chum salmon returning annually, as well as abundant steelhead; and WHEREAS, Klamath River salmon and steelhead once supported a thriving ecosystem which in turn supported a ...[Read More]

Number: 2007-15   WHEREAS, navigable rivers have been declared public waters of the United States; and WHEREAS, hunting, fishing, boating, and furharvesting are activities that led to such waters being declared navigable rivers; and WHEREAS, recreational users have a right to access these resources that is rooted in federal common law, the Federal Navigational Servitude, the Public Trust Doct ...[Read More]

Number: 2006-01   WHEREAS, in a preliminary assessment of the Cherry Valley area of northeastern Pennsylvania, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ranked Cherry Valley very high as a potential national wildlife refuge; and WHEREAS, six species listed as endangered or threatened species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) have been documented within or nea ...[Read More]

Number: 2006-09   WHEREAS, the Central Valley Project (CVP) is a huge federal and state water diversion system that delivers water to farmers and cities in central California; and WHEREAS, the Project is a network of dams, reservoirs and canals in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins providing water in an area 400 miles long and 100 miles wide; and WHEREAS, the delta at the confluence ...[Read More]

Number: 2006-08   WHEREAS, coastal and wetland habitats on the islands of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John) provide critical nesting, breeding and foraging sites for threatened and endangered species such as the leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green (Chelonia mydas) sea turtles, West Indian manatee (Trichech ...[Read More]

Number: 2006-03   WHEREAS, public lands provide both seasonal and year-round habitat for a large number of wildlife species, including some of those listed as threatened or endangered; and WHEREAS, public lands provide millions of recreation days for millions of people, including the activities of hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking and camping; and WHEREAS, these recreational activities on pu ...[Read More]