Spring 2004 Gulf Currents Newsletter
Inside this issue: Liquefied Natural Gas in Mobile; the Corps releases Comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement with disturbing consequences for coastal Mississippi; Victory for the Clean Water Act; Mr. Bill fights for coastal LA wetlands; Texas Land Office has opportunity to protect sea turtle; Proposed nuclear; Corps Reform in 2004; Member Spotlight on the Ocean Conservancy
Content
GRN NEWS
Volume 8, Issue 1 MARCH 2004
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS: COMING SOON TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU?
By Casi Callaway, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper
Inside this issue:
Corps EIS reveals troubling trends in coastal MS Partial victory for Clean Water Act Mr. Bill is part of new America’s Wetland campaign Entergy nuclear power permit application challenged Member Spotlight: The Ocean Conservancy Take Action for Corps Reform
2 3 3 4 6 8
Both ExxonMobil and Cheniere Energy, Inc. have announced their desire to construct Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regassification facilities in Mobile, Alabama. ExxonMobil plans to place a facility at the old Navy Homeport, a location that sits 2,500 feet from the nearest business, 3,500 feet from the nearest home, and within one mile of an elementary school with 600 students. The area is also home to a number of industries that work with toxic and highly flammable chemicals. Cheniere intends to build their facility just across the river from Mobile’s Government Plaza and downtown business district, on property that is only a stone’s throw from the entrance to a tunnel that connects the eastern shore to Mobile.
Courtesy of http://hydro.marseille.free.fr/
These facilities are also on their way to a coastline near you. More than 35 applications have been made to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) around the country and every Gulf Coast state has at least one application pending.
Liquefied Natural Gas ship
Over the last six months, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper has conducted research into the effects that LNG facilities and the associated tanker traffic would have on the people of Mobile. The research shows there is reason to be concerned about the volatile nature of these facilities. The “worst-case scenario” described in a study used by the Department of Energy to justify locating these facilities in populated areas indicates that gas from a breached tank could spread up to 2.5 miles, catch a spark, and burn back to the source in a matter of seconds. Such a fire would last up to an hour and be almost impossible to extinguish.
Special points of interest:
♦ EPA and the Bush administration announce they will not go forward with a proposed rulemaking that would have weakened the Clean Water Act.
Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper believes that these facilities would not only threaten the safety of Mobile Bay area residents, they would also restrict access to the bay for commercial and recreational use. Mobile Bay is a valuable public resource. In addition, the January explosion that killed 27 people at an LNG facility in Algeria proves that LNG’s safety record does not guarantee an accident-free future. Simply put, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper agrees with the 62% of those surveyed in a recent Mobile Register poll who believe that LNG facilities are inappropriate for Mobile Bay. LNG facilities are supposed to be sited in remote locations to ensure safety, continued quality of life, and use of our water resources. Take the time to get involved in the
♦ Several groups file a
motion to intervene in Entergy’s application for a permit for one or more new nuclear power reactors at its Grand Gulf location.
♦ U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service mounts a new campaign to stop aquatic hitchhikers.
CORPS RELEASES DISTURBING COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
By Reilly Morse, Environmental Attorney
As coastal development in Mississippi mushroomed in the 1990s, local citizens raised an outcry that cumulative adverse impacts on our natural surroundings were being ignored or superficially evaluated in the permit process. Such impacts, insignificant in isolation, can reach a threshold where they cause an ecosystem to collapse.
opment practices. Without full cooperation, things will be much worse. Actual improvement would require us to restore resources instead of mitigating for their losses. Instead of a federally mandated zoning code, the Corps calls for joint cooperation with state, regional and local government to incorporate specific sustainable development values into all regulatory steps.
Courtesy of Terese Collins
In the late 1990s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) realized it had to more deeply assess While specific practices this problem. The Corps' newly might be debated, several released Comprehensive Envithings ought to be clear by ronmental Impact Statement now. Permitting develop(“Enhanced Evaluation of Cument before building the inmulative Effects Associated frastructure does not work. with US Army Corps of EngiA single zoning change or neers Permitting Activity for wetlands loss cannot be sancLarge Scale Development in tioned in isolation. Each deCoastal Mississippi”) reveals cision removes one piece troubling trends over the past 30 from the puzzle of our ecoThe Isle of Capri casino on the Mississippi coast. years and forecasts how they system. Overall, the Missismay be altered by sustainable development practices. sippi Coast picture is missing far too many pieces. We should be extremely reluctant to permit the holes to grow The study details significant damage, natural and man- larger, and we should work harder to restore some of the made, to vital resources in coastal Mississippi: missing pieces. • • Since 1968, we have lost 90% of seagrass vegetation, worsening our water clarity and quality. Since 1972, we have lost over 25% of emergent wetlands in the Bay of St. Louis and 39% in Biloxi Bay. Emergent wetlands are the kidneys to absorb and filter water and the cradle to protect fish and other seafood species. Currently the watershed extending from Turkey Creek to Old Fort Bayou is degraded because the amount of paved surface has exceeded 10%.
•
There are many who doubt that state and local governments are up to the task. Environmentalists and community groups have been ridiculed, cursed, threatened and sued by business interests and even some government officials. The ultra-close links between the business community and local government have resulted in a "growth-at-any-cost" philosophy on too many occasions. There is good cause for skepticism about depending so heavily upon state and local authorities to arrest the decline of our environmental health. For more information, contact Reilly Morse at [email protected], or visit his website at http://www.reillymorse.com. A media presentation on t h e E IS i s a v a i l a b l e f o r v i e w i n g a t http://www.reillymorse.com/links.shtml. Access the EIS at: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/reg/deis03.pdf. Contact Vicki Murillo at 504-525-1528 x 204 or [email protected] for factsheets summarizing cumulative impacts in coastal Mississippi.
MARCH 2004
The Corps hopes to slow these trends by 2025, but losses will continue, with Biloxi Bay expected to lose a stunning 46% of what it had in 1972 under likely growth projections. Water quality degradation from paved surfaces will occur in the Jourdan River and increase in the Turkey Creek-Old Fort Bayou watersheds. Just to keep future losses to these levels, federal and state authorities must enforce specific sustainable develPage 2
VICTORY FOR THE CLEAN WATER ACT
Our continued efforts to fight for clean water and wetlands protection were recently rewarded with a very important victory. The actions of many GRN members and others across the nation contributed to this win, and for that we are very thankful. Unfortunately, a battle won doesn’t mean the war is over. We must continue to pursue this issue and restore protections to streams and wetlands in the Gulf region as guaranteed under the Clean Water Act.
Courtesy of http://www.epa.gov/
In January of 2003, the Bush administration released an Advanced Notice of Proposed The Bush administration abandoned the ruleRulemaking (ANPRM) concerning federal making plan for two main reasons: public outcry regulatory jurisdiction over isolated wetlands. and opposition from members of Congress. This Simultaneously, the Environmental Protection past fall, 218 members of the U.S House of RepAgency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) sent a guidance memorandum to An intermittent stream resentatives and 26 U.S. Senators signed a letter calling on the President to drop the administratheir field staff regarding their jurisdiction over tion's proposed rulemaking to weaken the jurisdiction of certain non-navigable, intrastate, isolated waters. In Dethe Clean Water Act. However, their letter not only cember, the EPA and the Bush administration announced asked that the rulemaking be stopped, it also requested that they would not go forward with the proposed rulemaking to redefine many wetlands, streams and other wa- that the guidance be withdrawn. It is important that we ters as "out" of the Clean Water Act. This is a significant ask these members of Congress to continue their efforts to ensure protection is restored for our nation's wetlands achievement, stopping one of the most damaging proposand streams by insisting that the guidance be rescinded. als to weaken the Clean Water Act since the law was passed over 30 years ago. Adapted and excerpted from a Clean Water Network Unfortunately, we still have long road ahead of us. Many action alert. Go to http://www.cwn.org for more details.
of our precious waters are still endangered because the January 2003 policy guidance is still in place. This guidance directs EPA and Corps staff to ignore Clean Water Act protections for an estimated 20% of the nation's wetlands and hundreds of thousands of miles of headwater and seasonal streams across the country. Until the guidance is withdrawn, the Clean Water Act rollback continues and our streams and wetlands remain at risk. "No net loss" of wetlands (and streams) cannot be achieved as long as the policy guidance remains in effect.
MR. BILL FIGHTS FOR LA WETLANDS
Those of you old enough to remember Saturday Night Live in the 1970s (which does not include most of GRN’s staff) will also remember Mr. Bill, the clay character who was always being flattened, dismembered or decapitated. Mr. Bill is back, in an unexpected role: he is part of a new campaign to educate people about Louisiana’s coastal wetlands crisis. “Mr. Bill America’s Wetland World Tour” will be launched next summer. The internet-based campaign pairs Mr. Bill with a gang of new characters called “Estuarians”—Salty the Shrimp, Eddy the Eagle, and others. The campaign will be run by America’s Wetland, a coalition of interests that have pooled their resources to bring much needed attention to the problem of Louisiana’s wetland loss. They hope that Mr. Bill will draw worldwide attention to the problem of Louisiana’s loss of coastal marshes and swamps.
Mr. Bill (third from right) poses with his new pals, the Estuarians.
Mr. Bill’s intimate acquaintance with disaster does make him an apt symbol for the disaster facing Louisiana. So don’t be surprised when you hear “OOH NOO!! COASTAL EROSION!”
Volume 8, Issue 1
Page 3
TEXAS LAND OFFICE HAS CHANCE TO PROTECT SEA TURTLE
By Carole H. Allen, Gulf Office Director of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project
Right now, the Texas General Land Office (TX GLO) has a golden opportunity to develop guidelines that protect sea turtles and potentially give a shot in the arm to the state’s economy through increased tourism. The TX GLO is developing guidelines for stewardship of the coastal environment, including dune protection, coastal development, and beach access issues. Commissioner Jerry Patterson is to be congratulated for his attempts to clarify controversial beach issues. Only last summer, the commissioner ordered a delay for beach reKemp’s Ridley hatchlings at Padre nourishment proIsland National Seashore jects at Galveston, when tons of sand could have been dumped on sea turtle nests, hatchlings or even nesting turtles. As a result, those projects are being undertaken now, well before sea turtle nesting time.
Courtesy of www.nwrc.usgs.gov
Within the last five years, turtle nestings have increased at the Padre Island National Seashore, both north and south, and other nests and tracks have been found on Bolivar Island, the west beach of Galveston, Freeport and Matagorda Island. Studies done by Texas A&M University at Galveston have established the presence of juvenile Kemp’s Ridleys in the Sea Rim area near the Louisiana border. As the number of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico increases, so does the responsibility of the public, the federal government and the TX GLO to protect them. The TX GLO can look to Florida as an example: Florida has already established many measures to protect turtle nesters and hatchlings from traffic and development. Best of all, Florida has not only protected these turtles when they nest, it also has reaped a fortune in tourist dollars from visitors who want to see sea turtles. Instead of waiting until tragedies occur, we of the sea turtle conservation world call upon Commissioner Patterson to put in place guidelines that respect beach dwellers, visitors and endangered sea turtles alike.
PROPOSED NUCLEAR PLANTS CHALLENGED
The Claiborne County NAACP, the Mississippi Chapter of Sierra Club, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), and Public Citizen filed a motion on February 12, 2004, in Washington, D.C., to intervene in an application for an “Early Site Permit” for one or more new nuclear power reactors at Entergy’s Grand Gulf location. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network also plan to intervene in the permit proceedings. Entergy is seeking a permit that would allow the company to “bank” the site for 20 years, during which time it can apply for a combined construction and operating license in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Claiborne County is predominantly African American, with about an 84% minority population, and 32% of the population living below the poverty line. The interveners argue that there is a lack of financial resources to fund adequate emergency services. “The
Page 4
county doesn’t even have a hospital that is open 24 hours. And there is only one fire station in the entire county. This is the worst example of environmental racism I have ever seen.” said Rose Johnson, chair of the Mississippi Chapter of Sierra Club. Johnson said an accident or act of sabotage at this facility could contaminate the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. “It could wreak havoc on everyone downstream and downwind, including seafood industries that produce economic benefits each year totaling many millions of dollars,” she said. Currently 2.4 million pounds of extremely hazardous nuclear waste are being stored on site because of the lack of a permanent repository, with more being added every refueling cycle. Entergy has stated that by 2007 it will no longer have the capacity to store on-site the radioactive waste generated by the current Grand Gulf reactor.
MARCH 2004
AN INTERN’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GRN
Written by Meghan Morse, Hollins University student
When New Orleans is mentioned, most people think of Mardi Gras parades, bars, or the French Quarter. I spent the month of January in New Orleans as an intern with the Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) and I came away with a slightly different view. The Southern hospitality and the fact that dogs are welcome in the GRN workplace were just a few of the things that made my internship in New Orleans a more exciting experience than most. As I started my sophomore year in college, I still had not decided on a major. Although I had until the end of the school year to declare my major, this decision was a very daunting one for me. After considering many The GRN’s office dogs celebrate Mardi Gras. different options, I still had no particular focus. Fortunately, an Environmental Science class that I took to fulfill a course requirement sparked my interest. In order to decide if my enthusiasm for the class would extend to a possible career, I decided to do an internship in environmental advocacy. Fortunately, my university allows upperclassmen to intern full-time for the month of January. In order to make an informed career decision, I wanted to obtain experience in the types of activities that career environmentalists do on a daily basis. I decided to intern with the GRN, because they agreed to provide me with opportunities that seemed to be representative of the types of tasks required of an environmental advocate. Furthermore, growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, I have seen the Gulf Coast develop rapidly with casinos and other big developments. Therefore, the condition of the Gulf of Mexico is a subject that concerns me. I really needed the internship experience because I was not sure what types of tasks I would enjoy doing. My time at the GRN helped me figure these things out. I was
able to learn some completely new things, such as how to use Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Acrobat. I also worked on various aspects of an outreach campaign on Source Water Protection. I created a brochure to motivate people to attend workshops, as well as a handout for participants. My intention in taking this internship was to get real life experience working in the environmental field. I was able to gain this experience working on the Source Water Protection campaign because outreach programs are a major component of environmental advocacy work. I also worked on fact sheets based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Environmental Impact Statement, which allowed me to help in an area with which I am familiar. Because of the time limitations of the internship, I was not able to work on other issues in depth. However, I believe that I still acquired a good impression of what it is like to work in this field. The Director of Water Resources, Vicki Murillo, was willing to work with me on designing this internship so that it was mutually beneficial. We worked together to design an internship that would best meet my needs. The GRN staff was very helpful and supportive during my internship. They were willing to take the time to answer my questions about their GRN work, background experiences, and the job field. Even though I was only at the GRN for a month, I was given various responsibilities in keeping with the GRN’s mission of empowering people to protect and preserve the resources of the Gulf of Mexico. I also learned many things about the career field and about myself. I believe that the skills I learned during my time with the GRN will help me in whatever career I decide to pursue. When I started this internship, I just wanted to gain knowledge and experience about a career in environmental advocacy. In addition, I had a wonderful first internship experience in a warm, friendly work environment, and I feel better knowing that advocacy groups like the GRN are working to help protect the Gulf of Mexico for all of us.
GRN Action Alert list:
To stay updated on upcoming regional events, critical actions on Capitol Hill, and opportunities for public comment, join the GRN listserv by e-mailing [email protected] or visiting groups.yahoo.com.
Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 5
The Ocean Conservancy
The Ocean Conservancy (TOC) began in 1972 as the Delta Corporation. Starting with a single program to protest commercial whaling, the organization has expanded over the years to include program areas on all ocean issues. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, TOC’s Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regional office focuses on ocean conservation issues off the southeastern United States and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For example, they work to reduce threats to manatees by: helping to develop state and federal plans that establish speed zones in manatee habitats; proposing new areas for manatee sanctuaries; reducing the threat of entanglement in marine debris by conducting underwater monofilament clean-ups and educating fishers about the proper disposal of fishing line; and educating residents, visitors, industries and governments about manatees and their need for protection. TOC’s Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regional office also played a leading role in the multi-year process to establish the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a 2,900-square-mile marine protected area that includes the Tortugas. Designation of the sanctuary in 1990 and implementation of its management plan in 1997 provided important protections for the area, including the establishment of zones in which fishing is highly restricted and zones largely dedicated to research. The Ocean Conservancy 449 Central Avenue, Suite #200 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: (727) 895-2188 Fax: (727) 895-3248 Website: http://www.oceanconservancy.org
Founded in 1994, the Gulf Restoration Network is a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the resources of the Gulf Region, forever protecting it for future generations. Board of Directors
Casi Callaway Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile Baykeeper Mobile, AL Mark Davis—Chair Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA Robert Hastings Alabama Natural Heritage Program Montgomery, AL Rose Johnson—Vice-Chair Concerned Citizens Coalition Gulfport, MS Joe Murphy Sierra Club Tampa, FL Juan Parras TSU Law Clinic Houston, TX Bob Schaeffer Public Policy Communications Sanibel, FL Page Williams Sierra Club—Lone Star Chapter Houston, TX Robert Wiygul—Acting Secretary/ Treasurer Waltzer and Associates Biloxi, MS
STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS !
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mounting a national campaign to “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!” Aquatic hitchhikers are non-native harmful aquatic plants, animals or microscopic organisms that can be transported to other waters by recreational activities. Aquatic hitchhikers can catch a ride on boats or any item used in water. When that item is taken to another river, stream, or bay, the species is released and, if conditions are right, it will establish itself in that waterbody. The “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” campaign’s educational and outreach efforts are designed to elevate awareness and offer advice for aquatic recreation users. A new website (www.protectyourwaters.net) provides information on the nuisance species and their impacts as well as suggestions on how people can become involved.
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Staff
Cynthia Sarthou: Executive Director Sallie E. Davis: Director for Fisheries Vicki Murillo: Director for Water Resources Jill Jensen: Assistant Director for Fisheries Amy Gill: Office Administrator/ Bookkeeper Ellen Addington: Biodiversity Intern Rebecca Judd: Fisheries Legal Intern
MARCH 2004
Network Notebook: New literature and reports that GRN members might find useful
Body of Evidence: The Fragile State of America's Oceans. This new report from the Marine Fish Conservation Network offers a peer-reviewed quick reference to 75 scientific articles covering the most recent findings on the health of America's oceans. Available online at http://www.conservefish.org. Findings from the National Stormwater Quality Database (NSDQ). This Research Progress Report by the University of Alabama and the Center for Watershed Protection is available in PDF format at http://www.cwp.org. Source Water Stewardship: A Guide to Protecting and Restoring Your Drinking Water. This 2003 report was developed as a part of the Source Water Protection Initiative by Clean Water Fund, Clean Water Network, and Campaign for Safe and Affordable Drinking Water. Available online at http://www.cwn.org. Wounded Waters: The Hidden Side of Power Plant Pollution. This report from the Clean Air Task Force on the water impacts of power plants is available at http://www.catf.us. For more information contact Ellen Baum at [email protected]. The following are new documents available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242, 1-800-490-9198, or online at http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/index.htm: • • • Environmental Justice 2002 Biennial Report: Constructive Engagement and Collaborative Problem-Solving (EPA # 300R03001) Water on Tap: What You Need to Know (EPA #816K03007) What’s an Estuary? Now You Know {CD ROM} (EPA #842C03001)
Calendar of Events
MARCH 2004 8-11 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Adam's Mark Hotel, Mobile, AL. Contact: the Gulf Council at 1-888-833-1844. Law, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. Contact: Eric Dannenmaier, 504-862-8829 or [email protected] 19-23 Red Snapper Stock Assessment Data Workshop. New Orleans, LA. Contact: the Gulf Council at 1-888833-1844.
12-14
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Alabama Watershed Leadership Conference and ADEM Reform Summit. Joe Wheeler State Park, AL. Contact: Adam Snyder or Amy Sides at 205-322-6395 Earth Day. 22 or visit http://alabamarivers.org/conference.htm. MAY 2004 Lower Mississippi River Sub-Basin Committee on GRN/U.S. PIRG Save Our Seafood Dine Out. New Hypoxia Meeting. Baton Rouge, LA. Contact: Doug 6 Orleans, LA area restaurants. Contact: GRN or visit Daigle at 504-588-9008 or [email protected]. www.saveourseafood.net. Ecological Restoration of the Mississippi-OhioMissouri Basin Workshop. LSU, Baton Rouge, LA. 17-20 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Westin Beach Resort, Key Largo, FL. Contact: the Contact: Dr. John Day, Jr. at [email protected] or Dr. Gulf Council at 1-888-833-1844. Robert R. Lane at [email protected]. Audubon Zoo’s Earth Fest 2004. New Orleans, LA. Contact: Carol Hester at 504-212-5378. Deadline for educators to apply to participate in Down Under, Out Yonder. (hands-on workshop exploring the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary through lectures and diving). Contact [email protected] for more information. 21-25 National River Rally. Wintergreen Resort, Charlottesville, VA. Contact: River Network at www.rivernetwork.org or (800) 423-6747. JUNE 2004 2 The Marine Fish Conservation Network Annual Meeting. Marriott Metro Center Hotel, Washington, DC. Contact: John Marius at 202-543-5509 or [email protected]. World Ocean Day.
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APRIL 2004 2-4 The 9th Annual Tulane Environmental Conference on Law, Science, and the Public Interest. School of 8
Volume 8, Issue 1
“Working to Protect and Preserve the Gulf of Mexico”
P.O. Box 2245 New Orleans, LA 70176 Phone: (504) 525-1528 Fax: (504) 525-0833 Website: www.gulfrestorationnetwork.org
The GRN would like to thank the following foundations for making this newsletter, as well as the work of the GRN, possible: The Belvedere Fund, The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, The Booth-Bricker Foundation, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The Greater New Orleans Foundation, The Joe W & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The Moriah Fund, the Regional Marine Conservation Project, and The RosaMary Foundation.
HELP 2004 BECOME THE YEAR OF CORPS REFORM!
A steady stream of studies from the National Academy of Sciences, the General Accounting Office, the Army Inspector General, federal agencies, and independent experts have revealed fundamental and systemic flaws in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) planning process for flood control and navigation projects.
Courtesy of http://epw.senate.gov
and Public Works Committee is now working on their version of WRDA. Our Senators must fully consider and debate the important issues surrounding the Corps and water resources projects. It is critical that Congress include comprehensive reforms to the Corps’ planning and implementation process in the next WRDA.
These studies show that the Corps’ Please contact your Senators today. planning process is hopelessly biased Then, contact those on the Senate Comtoward construction of large-scale promittee on Environment and Public Works jects, does not adequately protect the [Senators Allard (CO), Baucus (MT), environment, and is based on flawed Bond (MO), Boxer (CA), Carper (DE); economic and scientific analyses. Chafee, (RI), Clinton (NY), Cornyn Comprehensive reforms are needed to (TX), Crapo (ID), Graham (FL), Inhofe Senators Inhofe, Jeffords, and Baucus at a ensure that water resource projects are meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on (OK), Jeffords (VT), Lieberman (CT), Environment and Public Works. environmentally sound, economically Murkowski (AK), Reid (NV), Thomas sound, and serve the American people instead of special (WY), Voinovich (OH), Warner (VA), and Wyden (OR)]. interests. Let them know that you oppose any WRDA in 2004 Last fall, the House of Representatives passed the Water that does not include MEANINGFUL reform of the Resources Development Act of 2003 (WRDA) with some U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its biased planning very weak reform provisions. The Senate Environment process!
Volume 8, Issue 1 MARCH 2004
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS: COMING SOON TO A LOCATION NEAR YOU?
By Casi Callaway, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper
Inside this issue:
Corps EIS reveals troubling trends in coastal MS Partial victory for Clean Water Act Mr. Bill is part of new America’s Wetland campaign Entergy nuclear power permit application challenged Member Spotlight: The Ocean Conservancy Take Action for Corps Reform
2 3 3 4 6 8
Both ExxonMobil and Cheniere Energy, Inc. have announced their desire to construct Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) regassification facilities in Mobile, Alabama. ExxonMobil plans to place a facility at the old Navy Homeport, a location that sits 2,500 feet from the nearest business, 3,500 feet from the nearest home, and within one mile of an elementary school with 600 students. The area is also home to a number of industries that work with toxic and highly flammable chemicals. Cheniere intends to build their facility just across the river from Mobile’s Government Plaza and downtown business district, on property that is only a stone’s throw from the entrance to a tunnel that connects the eastern shore to Mobile.
Courtesy of http://hydro.marseille.free.fr/
These facilities are also on their way to a coastline near you. More than 35 applications have been made to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) around the country and every Gulf Coast state has at least one application pending.
Liquefied Natural Gas ship
Over the last six months, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper has conducted research into the effects that LNG facilities and the associated tanker traffic would have on the people of Mobile. The research shows there is reason to be concerned about the volatile nature of these facilities. The “worst-case scenario” described in a study used by the Department of Energy to justify locating these facilities in populated areas indicates that gas from a breached tank could spread up to 2.5 miles, catch a spark, and burn back to the source in a matter of seconds. Such a fire would last up to an hour and be almost impossible to extinguish.
Special points of interest:
♦ EPA and the Bush administration announce they will not go forward with a proposed rulemaking that would have weakened the Clean Water Act.
Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper believes that these facilities would not only threaten the safety of Mobile Bay area residents, they would also restrict access to the bay for commercial and recreational use. Mobile Bay is a valuable public resource. In addition, the January explosion that killed 27 people at an LNG facility in Algeria proves that LNG’s safety record does not guarantee an accident-free future. Simply put, Mobile Bay Watch, Inc./Mobile BayKeeper agrees with the 62% of those surveyed in a recent Mobile Register poll who believe that LNG facilities are inappropriate for Mobile Bay. LNG facilities are supposed to be sited in remote locations to ensure safety, continued quality of life, and use of our water resources. Take the time to get involved in the
♦ Several groups file a
motion to intervene in Entergy’s application for a permit for one or more new nuclear power reactors at its Grand Gulf location.
♦ U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service mounts a new campaign to stop aquatic hitchhikers.
CORPS RELEASES DISTURBING COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT
By Reilly Morse, Environmental Attorney
As coastal development in Mississippi mushroomed in the 1990s, local citizens raised an outcry that cumulative adverse impacts on our natural surroundings were being ignored or superficially evaluated in the permit process. Such impacts, insignificant in isolation, can reach a threshold where they cause an ecosystem to collapse.
opment practices. Without full cooperation, things will be much worse. Actual improvement would require us to restore resources instead of mitigating for their losses. Instead of a federally mandated zoning code, the Corps calls for joint cooperation with state, regional and local government to incorporate specific sustainable development values into all regulatory steps.
Courtesy of Terese Collins
In the late 1990s, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) realized it had to more deeply assess While specific practices this problem. The Corps' newly might be debated, several released Comprehensive Envithings ought to be clear by ronmental Impact Statement now. Permitting develop(“Enhanced Evaluation of Cument before building the inmulative Effects Associated frastructure does not work. with US Army Corps of EngiA single zoning change or neers Permitting Activity for wetlands loss cannot be sancLarge Scale Development in tioned in isolation. Each deCoastal Mississippi”) reveals cision removes one piece troubling trends over the past 30 from the puzzle of our ecoThe Isle of Capri casino on the Mississippi coast. years and forecasts how they system. Overall, the Missismay be altered by sustainable development practices. sippi Coast picture is missing far too many pieces. We should be extremely reluctant to permit the holes to grow The study details significant damage, natural and man- larger, and we should work harder to restore some of the made, to vital resources in coastal Mississippi: missing pieces. • • Since 1968, we have lost 90% of seagrass vegetation, worsening our water clarity and quality. Since 1972, we have lost over 25% of emergent wetlands in the Bay of St. Louis and 39% in Biloxi Bay. Emergent wetlands are the kidneys to absorb and filter water and the cradle to protect fish and other seafood species. Currently the watershed extending from Turkey Creek to Old Fort Bayou is degraded because the amount of paved surface has exceeded 10%.
•
There are many who doubt that state and local governments are up to the task. Environmentalists and community groups have been ridiculed, cursed, threatened and sued by business interests and even some government officials. The ultra-close links between the business community and local government have resulted in a "growth-at-any-cost" philosophy on too many occasions. There is good cause for skepticism about depending so heavily upon state and local authorities to arrest the decline of our environmental health. For more information, contact Reilly Morse at [email protected], or visit his website at http://www.reillymorse.com. A media presentation on t h e E IS i s a v a i l a b l e f o r v i e w i n g a t http://www.reillymorse.com/links.shtml. Access the EIS at: http://www.sam.usace.army.mil/op/reg/deis03.pdf. Contact Vicki Murillo at 504-525-1528 x 204 or [email protected] for factsheets summarizing cumulative impacts in coastal Mississippi.
MARCH 2004
The Corps hopes to slow these trends by 2025, but losses will continue, with Biloxi Bay expected to lose a stunning 46% of what it had in 1972 under likely growth projections. Water quality degradation from paved surfaces will occur in the Jourdan River and increase in the Turkey Creek-Old Fort Bayou watersheds. Just to keep future losses to these levels, federal and state authorities must enforce specific sustainable develPage 2
VICTORY FOR THE CLEAN WATER ACT
Our continued efforts to fight for clean water and wetlands protection were recently rewarded with a very important victory. The actions of many GRN members and others across the nation contributed to this win, and for that we are very thankful. Unfortunately, a battle won doesn’t mean the war is over. We must continue to pursue this issue and restore protections to streams and wetlands in the Gulf region as guaranteed under the Clean Water Act.
Courtesy of http://www.epa.gov/
In January of 2003, the Bush administration released an Advanced Notice of Proposed The Bush administration abandoned the ruleRulemaking (ANPRM) concerning federal making plan for two main reasons: public outcry regulatory jurisdiction over isolated wetlands. and opposition from members of Congress. This Simultaneously, the Environmental Protection past fall, 218 members of the U.S House of RepAgency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) sent a guidance memorandum to An intermittent stream resentatives and 26 U.S. Senators signed a letter calling on the President to drop the administratheir field staff regarding their jurisdiction over tion's proposed rulemaking to weaken the jurisdiction of certain non-navigable, intrastate, isolated waters. In Dethe Clean Water Act. However, their letter not only cember, the EPA and the Bush administration announced asked that the rulemaking be stopped, it also requested that they would not go forward with the proposed rulemaking to redefine many wetlands, streams and other wa- that the guidance be withdrawn. It is important that we ters as "out" of the Clean Water Act. This is a significant ask these members of Congress to continue their efforts to ensure protection is restored for our nation's wetlands achievement, stopping one of the most damaging proposand streams by insisting that the guidance be rescinded. als to weaken the Clean Water Act since the law was passed over 30 years ago. Adapted and excerpted from a Clean Water Network Unfortunately, we still have long road ahead of us. Many action alert. Go to http://www.cwn.org for more details.
of our precious waters are still endangered because the January 2003 policy guidance is still in place. This guidance directs EPA and Corps staff to ignore Clean Water Act protections for an estimated 20% of the nation's wetlands and hundreds of thousands of miles of headwater and seasonal streams across the country. Until the guidance is withdrawn, the Clean Water Act rollback continues and our streams and wetlands remain at risk. "No net loss" of wetlands (and streams) cannot be achieved as long as the policy guidance remains in effect.
MR. BILL FIGHTS FOR LA WETLANDS
Those of you old enough to remember Saturday Night Live in the 1970s (which does not include most of GRN’s staff) will also remember Mr. Bill, the clay character who was always being flattened, dismembered or decapitated. Mr. Bill is back, in an unexpected role: he is part of a new campaign to educate people about Louisiana’s coastal wetlands crisis. “Mr. Bill America’s Wetland World Tour” will be launched next summer. The internet-based campaign pairs Mr. Bill with a gang of new characters called “Estuarians”—Salty the Shrimp, Eddy the Eagle, and others. The campaign will be run by America’s Wetland, a coalition of interests that have pooled their resources to bring much needed attention to the problem of Louisiana’s wetland loss. They hope that Mr. Bill will draw worldwide attention to the problem of Louisiana’s loss of coastal marshes and swamps.
Mr. Bill (third from right) poses with his new pals, the Estuarians.
Mr. Bill’s intimate acquaintance with disaster does make him an apt symbol for the disaster facing Louisiana. So don’t be surprised when you hear “OOH NOO!! COASTAL EROSION!”
Volume 8, Issue 1
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TEXAS LAND OFFICE HAS CHANCE TO PROTECT SEA TURTLE
By Carole H. Allen, Gulf Office Director of the Sea Turtle Restoration Project
Right now, the Texas General Land Office (TX GLO) has a golden opportunity to develop guidelines that protect sea turtles and potentially give a shot in the arm to the state’s economy through increased tourism. The TX GLO is developing guidelines for stewardship of the coastal environment, including dune protection, coastal development, and beach access issues. Commissioner Jerry Patterson is to be congratulated for his attempts to clarify controversial beach issues. Only last summer, the commissioner ordered a delay for beach reKemp’s Ridley hatchlings at Padre nourishment proIsland National Seashore jects at Galveston, when tons of sand could have been dumped on sea turtle nests, hatchlings or even nesting turtles. As a result, those projects are being undertaken now, well before sea turtle nesting time.
Courtesy of www.nwrc.usgs.gov
Within the last five years, turtle nestings have increased at the Padre Island National Seashore, both north and south, and other nests and tracks have been found on Bolivar Island, the west beach of Galveston, Freeport and Matagorda Island. Studies done by Texas A&M University at Galveston have established the presence of juvenile Kemp’s Ridleys in the Sea Rim area near the Louisiana border. As the number of sea turtles in the Gulf of Mexico increases, so does the responsibility of the public, the federal government and the TX GLO to protect them. The TX GLO can look to Florida as an example: Florida has already established many measures to protect turtle nesters and hatchlings from traffic and development. Best of all, Florida has not only protected these turtles when they nest, it also has reaped a fortune in tourist dollars from visitors who want to see sea turtles. Instead of waiting until tragedies occur, we of the sea turtle conservation world call upon Commissioner Patterson to put in place guidelines that respect beach dwellers, visitors and endangered sea turtles alike.
PROPOSED NUCLEAR PLANTS CHALLENGED
The Claiborne County NAACP, the Mississippi Chapter of Sierra Club, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS), and Public Citizen filed a motion on February 12, 2004, in Washington, D.C., to intervene in an application for an “Early Site Permit” for one or more new nuclear power reactors at Entergy’s Grand Gulf location. The Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Louisiana Environmental Action Network also plan to intervene in the permit proceedings. Entergy is seeking a permit that would allow the company to “bank” the site for 20 years, during which time it can apply for a combined construction and operating license in Claiborne County, Mississippi. Claiborne County is predominantly African American, with about an 84% minority population, and 32% of the population living below the poverty line. The interveners argue that there is a lack of financial resources to fund adequate emergency services. “The
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county doesn’t even have a hospital that is open 24 hours. And there is only one fire station in the entire county. This is the worst example of environmental racism I have ever seen.” said Rose Johnson, chair of the Mississippi Chapter of Sierra Club. Johnson said an accident or act of sabotage at this facility could contaminate the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. “It could wreak havoc on everyone downstream and downwind, including seafood industries that produce economic benefits each year totaling many millions of dollars,” she said. Currently 2.4 million pounds of extremely hazardous nuclear waste are being stored on site because of the lack of a permanent repository, with more being added every refueling cycle. Entergy has stated that by 2007 it will no longer have the capacity to store on-site the radioactive waste generated by the current Grand Gulf reactor.
MARCH 2004
AN INTERN’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE GRN
Written by Meghan Morse, Hollins University student
When New Orleans is mentioned, most people think of Mardi Gras parades, bars, or the French Quarter. I spent the month of January in New Orleans as an intern with the Gulf Restoration Network (GRN) and I came away with a slightly different view. The Southern hospitality and the fact that dogs are welcome in the GRN workplace were just a few of the things that made my internship in New Orleans a more exciting experience than most. As I started my sophomore year in college, I still had not decided on a major. Although I had until the end of the school year to declare my major, this decision was a very daunting one for me. After considering many The GRN’s office dogs celebrate Mardi Gras. different options, I still had no particular focus. Fortunately, an Environmental Science class that I took to fulfill a course requirement sparked my interest. In order to decide if my enthusiasm for the class would extend to a possible career, I decided to do an internship in environmental advocacy. Fortunately, my university allows upperclassmen to intern full-time for the month of January. In order to make an informed career decision, I wanted to obtain experience in the types of activities that career environmentalists do on a daily basis. I decided to intern with the GRN, because they agreed to provide me with opportunities that seemed to be representative of the types of tasks required of an environmental advocate. Furthermore, growing up in Gulfport, Mississippi, I have seen the Gulf Coast develop rapidly with casinos and other big developments. Therefore, the condition of the Gulf of Mexico is a subject that concerns me. I really needed the internship experience because I was not sure what types of tasks I would enjoy doing. My time at the GRN helped me figure these things out. I was
able to learn some completely new things, such as how to use Microsoft Publisher and Adobe Acrobat. I also worked on various aspects of an outreach campaign on Source Water Protection. I created a brochure to motivate people to attend workshops, as well as a handout for participants. My intention in taking this internship was to get real life experience working in the environmental field. I was able to gain this experience working on the Source Water Protection campaign because outreach programs are a major component of environmental advocacy work. I also worked on fact sheets based on the Mississippi Gulf Coast Environmental Impact Statement, which allowed me to help in an area with which I am familiar. Because of the time limitations of the internship, I was not able to work on other issues in depth. However, I believe that I still acquired a good impression of what it is like to work in this field. The Director of Water Resources, Vicki Murillo, was willing to work with me on designing this internship so that it was mutually beneficial. We worked together to design an internship that would best meet my needs. The GRN staff was very helpful and supportive during my internship. They were willing to take the time to answer my questions about their GRN work, background experiences, and the job field. Even though I was only at the GRN for a month, I was given various responsibilities in keeping with the GRN’s mission of empowering people to protect and preserve the resources of the Gulf of Mexico. I also learned many things about the career field and about myself. I believe that the skills I learned during my time with the GRN will help me in whatever career I decide to pursue. When I started this internship, I just wanted to gain knowledge and experience about a career in environmental advocacy. In addition, I had a wonderful first internship experience in a warm, friendly work environment, and I feel better knowing that advocacy groups like the GRN are working to help protect the Gulf of Mexico for all of us.
GRN Action Alert list:
To stay updated on upcoming regional events, critical actions on Capitol Hill, and opportunities for public comment, join the GRN listserv by e-mailing [email protected] or visiting groups.yahoo.com.
Volume 8, Issue 1 Page 5
The Ocean Conservancy
The Ocean Conservancy (TOC) began in 1972 as the Delta Corporation. Starting with a single program to protest commercial whaling, the organization has expanded over the years to include program areas on all ocean issues. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, TOC’s Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regional office focuses on ocean conservation issues off the southeastern United States and along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico. For example, they work to reduce threats to manatees by: helping to develop state and federal plans that establish speed zones in manatee habitats; proposing new areas for manatee sanctuaries; reducing the threat of entanglement in marine debris by conducting underwater monofilament clean-ups and educating fishers about the proper disposal of fishing line; and educating residents, visitors, industries and governments about manatees and their need for protection. TOC’s Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico regional office also played a leading role in the multi-year process to establish the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, a 2,900-square-mile marine protected area that includes the Tortugas. Designation of the sanctuary in 1990 and implementation of its management plan in 1997 provided important protections for the area, including the establishment of zones in which fishing is highly restricted and zones largely dedicated to research. The Ocean Conservancy 449 Central Avenue, Suite #200 St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Phone: (727) 895-2188 Fax: (727) 895-3248 Website: http://www.oceanconservancy.org
Founded in 1994, the Gulf Restoration Network is a section 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to uniting and empowering people to protect and restore the resources of the Gulf Region, forever protecting it for future generations. Board of Directors
Casi Callaway Mobile Bay Watch/Mobile Baykeeper Mobile, AL Mark Davis—Chair Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana Baton Rouge, LA Robert Hastings Alabama Natural Heritage Program Montgomery, AL Rose Johnson—Vice-Chair Concerned Citizens Coalition Gulfport, MS Joe Murphy Sierra Club Tampa, FL Juan Parras TSU Law Clinic Houston, TX Bob Schaeffer Public Policy Communications Sanibel, FL Page Williams Sierra Club—Lone Star Chapter Houston, TX Robert Wiygul—Acting Secretary/ Treasurer Waltzer and Associates Biloxi, MS
STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS !
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is mounting a national campaign to “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers!” Aquatic hitchhikers are non-native harmful aquatic plants, animals or microscopic organisms that can be transported to other waters by recreational activities. Aquatic hitchhikers can catch a ride on boats or any item used in water. When that item is taken to another river, stream, or bay, the species is released and, if conditions are right, it will establish itself in that waterbody. The “Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers” campaign’s educational and outreach efforts are designed to elevate awareness and offer advice for aquatic recreation users. A new website (www.protectyourwaters.net) provides information on the nuisance species and their impacts as well as suggestions on how people can become involved.
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Staff
Cynthia Sarthou: Executive Director Sallie E. Davis: Director for Fisheries Vicki Murillo: Director for Water Resources Jill Jensen: Assistant Director for Fisheries Amy Gill: Office Administrator/ Bookkeeper Ellen Addington: Biodiversity Intern Rebecca Judd: Fisheries Legal Intern
MARCH 2004
Network Notebook: New literature and reports that GRN members might find useful
Body of Evidence: The Fragile State of America's Oceans. This new report from the Marine Fish Conservation Network offers a peer-reviewed quick reference to 75 scientific articles covering the most recent findings on the health of America's oceans. Available online at http://www.conservefish.org. Findings from the National Stormwater Quality Database (NSDQ). This Research Progress Report by the University of Alabama and the Center for Watershed Protection is available in PDF format at http://www.cwp.org. Source Water Stewardship: A Guide to Protecting and Restoring Your Drinking Water. This 2003 report was developed as a part of the Source Water Protection Initiative by Clean Water Fund, Clean Water Network, and Campaign for Safe and Affordable Drinking Water. Available online at http://www.cwn.org. Wounded Waters: The Hidden Side of Power Plant Pollution. This report from the Clean Air Task Force on the water impacts of power plants is available at http://www.catf.us. For more information contact Ellen Baum at [email protected]. The following are new documents available from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications, P.O. Box 42419, Cincinnati, OH 45242, 1-800-490-9198, or online at http://www.epa.gov/ncepihom/index.htm: • • • Environmental Justice 2002 Biennial Report: Constructive Engagement and Collaborative Problem-Solving (EPA # 300R03001) Water on Tap: What You Need to Know (EPA #816K03007) What’s an Estuary? Now You Know {CD ROM} (EPA #842C03001)
Calendar of Events
MARCH 2004 8-11 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Adam's Mark Hotel, Mobile, AL. Contact: the Gulf Council at 1-888-833-1844. Law, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA. Contact: Eric Dannenmaier, 504-862-8829 or [email protected] 19-23 Red Snapper Stock Assessment Data Workshop. New Orleans, LA. Contact: the Gulf Council at 1-888833-1844.
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Alabama Watershed Leadership Conference and ADEM Reform Summit. Joe Wheeler State Park, AL. Contact: Adam Snyder or Amy Sides at 205-322-6395 Earth Day. 22 or visit http://alabamarivers.org/conference.htm. MAY 2004 Lower Mississippi River Sub-Basin Committee on GRN/U.S. PIRG Save Our Seafood Dine Out. New Hypoxia Meeting. Baton Rouge, LA. Contact: Doug 6 Orleans, LA area restaurants. Contact: GRN or visit Daigle at 504-588-9008 or [email protected]. www.saveourseafood.net. Ecological Restoration of the Mississippi-OhioMissouri Basin Workshop. LSU, Baton Rouge, LA. 17-20 Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council Meeting. Westin Beach Resort, Key Largo, FL. Contact: the Contact: Dr. John Day, Jr. at [email protected] or Dr. Gulf Council at 1-888-833-1844. Robert R. Lane at [email protected]. Audubon Zoo’s Earth Fest 2004. New Orleans, LA. Contact: Carol Hester at 504-212-5378. Deadline for educators to apply to participate in Down Under, Out Yonder. (hands-on workshop exploring the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary through lectures and diving). Contact [email protected] for more information. 21-25 National River Rally. Wintergreen Resort, Charlottesville, VA. Contact: River Network at www.rivernetwork.org or (800) 423-6747. JUNE 2004 2 The Marine Fish Conservation Network Annual Meeting. Marriott Metro Center Hotel, Washington, DC. Contact: John Marius at 202-543-5509 or [email protected]. World Ocean Day.
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APRIL 2004 2-4 The 9th Annual Tulane Environmental Conference on Law, Science, and the Public Interest. School of 8
Volume 8, Issue 1
“Working to Protect and Preserve the Gulf of Mexico”
P.O. Box 2245 New Orleans, LA 70176 Phone: (504) 525-1528 Fax: (504) 525-0833 Website: www.gulfrestorationnetwork.org
The GRN would like to thank the following foundations for making this newsletter, as well as the work of the GRN, possible: The Belvedere Fund, The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation, The Booth-Bricker Foundation, The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, The Greater New Orleans Foundation, The Joe W & Dorothy Dorsett Brown Foundation, The McKnight Foundation, The Moriah Fund, the Regional Marine Conservation Project, and The RosaMary Foundation.
HELP 2004 BECOME THE YEAR OF CORPS REFORM!
A steady stream of studies from the National Academy of Sciences, the General Accounting Office, the Army Inspector General, federal agencies, and independent experts have revealed fundamental and systemic flaws in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) planning process for flood control and navigation projects.
Courtesy of http://epw.senate.gov
and Public Works Committee is now working on their version of WRDA. Our Senators must fully consider and debate the important issues surrounding the Corps and water resources projects. It is critical that Congress include comprehensive reforms to the Corps’ planning and implementation process in the next WRDA.
These studies show that the Corps’ Please contact your Senators today. planning process is hopelessly biased Then, contact those on the Senate Comtoward construction of large-scale promittee on Environment and Public Works jects, does not adequately protect the [Senators Allard (CO), Baucus (MT), environment, and is based on flawed Bond (MO), Boxer (CA), Carper (DE); economic and scientific analyses. Chafee, (RI), Clinton (NY), Cornyn Comprehensive reforms are needed to (TX), Crapo (ID), Graham (FL), Inhofe Senators Inhofe, Jeffords, and Baucus at a ensure that water resource projects are meeting of the U.S. Senate Committee on (OK), Jeffords (VT), Lieberman (CT), Environment and Public Works. environmentally sound, economically Murkowski (AK), Reid (NV), Thomas sound, and serve the American people instead of special (WY), Voinovich (OH), Warner (VA), and Wyden (OR)]. interests. Let them know that you oppose any WRDA in 2004 Last fall, the House of Representatives passed the Water that does not include MEANINGFUL reform of the Resources Development Act of 2003 (WRDA) with some U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its biased planning very weak reform provisions. The Senate Environment process!
