Is the Bush turning Green?

[catbirdseat]

Wetlands Protection

[cracked]

It's all PR, but still,

[MrDoolittle]

I'm sure that if you read the fine print, there's a provision that allows Haliburton access to bog methane extraction or some shit like that. Bush is a fuck, and whatever he does licks the balls of his corporate masters, garunteed.

[Ratboy]

A token effort for Earth Day.

[catbirdseat]

You fellows seem so jaded. You must think that Bush is not sincere.

[Alasdair]

You fellows seem so jaded. You must think that Bush is not sincere.

Bush is a cunt. He can go fuck himself. Fucking token jestures to make the stupid soccer moms fell better about themselfs.

[glacier]

And who says science and religion can't get along?

 

Church leaders ream Bush on 'Clear Skies' initiative

[Off_White]

To quote Peter Puget, one of my favorite Republicans, "The answer is NO"

[willstrickland]

Wetlands in danger

 

By GREG HARMAN

 

THE SUN HERALD - Dec 01 2003

 

 

A diverse chorus of objections is being filed with the Bush Administration these days over proposed changes to the Clean Water Act that would leave 20 million acres of wetlands across the country open to development and increased levels of pollution.

 

From duck hunters and sport fishers to bird watchers and conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts in Mississippi and elsewhere are joining forces to oppose a change to federal law that some say would decimate the nation's water fowl population and create serious water quality issues.

 

Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Corps of Engineers have been considering loosening the Clean Water Act since January. A leaked internal document released to the Los Angeles Times earlier this month states that "ephemeral washes and streams" with no direct groundwater source would lose all protection under the recommendation.

 

This concerns hunters because most of the critical breeding areas for waterfowl takes place in this type of "isolated" wetland habitat in other states. Chuck Manlove, a Jackson-based biologist with Ducks Unlimited, said the shift would be a "serious blow" to sportsmen and wildlife in Mississippi.

 

"You could almost think of it as a death blow to waterfowl," Manlove said.

 

Don Young, Ducks Unlimited vice president, said scientists "estimate that 96 percent of the habitat most important to ducks could lose federal protection" from the proposed change.

 

The International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the American Sportfishing Association and the National Shooting Sports Association joined Ducks Unlimited in July in a letter of protest.

 

And the sporting groups have been joined by a broad array of environmental groups, too, such as the Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation and Audubon, who say that more than hunters and wildlife will suffer if the rule is passed.

 

"There are a lot of human values with wetlands that are not often recognized," said Bruce Reid, deputy director of Audubon Mississippi. Wetlands are credited for reducing flooding, cleaning water supplies, as well as the habitat it offers a variety of plants and animals.

 

"We think the Clean Water Act needs to be as strong as it can be for a lot of reasons, for wildlife habitat, for clean water, and not be weakened in any way."

 

Reid said that already half of the wetlands in the nation have been lost to development because of a "lack of controls."

 

"We're really just trying to hold on to the little we have left."

 

Though the current federal and state goal is for "no net loss" of wetlands, the ecosystem is still taking a punishment.

 

Between 1973 and 1999, wetland loss in Mississippi was about 112 acres per year, according to DMR's report Mississippi's Coastal Wetlands. Overall, wetland acreage in the state declined from 66,931 in 1973 to 64,000 in 1999.

 

The push to change the act dates back to a 2001 Supreme Court ruling that found that "nonnavigable, isolated, intrastate" wetlands were not protected by the Clean Water Act though they had been regulated that way for decades.

 

More than 200 members of Congress got the message last week, signing off on an objection to the Administration's plan.

 

Chris LaGarde, special assistant on natural resources to U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, D-Mississippi, said the changes would have less of an effect in Mississippi than in other states.

 

"Down here it's extremely difficult to find something that doesn't have a connection to a body of water," said LaGarde.

 

But all agreed there would be some impact on the amount of land in Mississippi that would qualify as protected wetlands should the act be amended. "The best thing waterfowlers can do is get connected about this issue," said Manlove. "It is very, very serious.

 

"We won't have a duck season. That's how important this is."

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

Just figured out what your title means, Strickland.

 

 

Funny!

[Dr_Flash_Amazing]

You fellows seem so jaded. You must think that Bush is not sincere.

 

 

Priceless sarcasm!

[catbirdseat]

Well honestly, when has Mr. Bush even gone against his word?