PRESIDENT BUSH SIGNS WETLANDS ACT

The Democrat.com ^ | January 07, 2003 | James L. Cummins

[Uncle Bill]

Bush Signs Bill to Preserve Wetlands

FOX NEWS
Monday, December 02, 2002
Source

(AP)WASHINGTON — President Bush, hoping to burnish his environmental record, signed legislation Monday to continue a program aimed at preserving America's wetlands.

"The federal government will continue its partnership with land owners, conservation groups and states to save and improve millions of acres of wetlands,'' the president said in a White House ceremony.

The legislation extends a program under which the federal government matches donations from sportsmen, state wildlife agencies, conservationists and land owners who pledge to protect wetlands.

Bush said the government has contributed $462 million since 1981 under the program.

Bush also was signing several other bills Monday, including defense spending legislation and a measure in honor of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., who died in an Oct. 25 plane crash that also killed his wife, their daughter and five others.

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President Bush Signs Wetlands Conservation Act

President Bush Signs Wetlands Conservation Act

Presidential Hall

Eisenhower Executive Office Building

9:30 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Please be seated. Thank you. Glad you're here. Welcome to the White House.

Today, we're taking important action to conserve North America's wetlands, which will help keep our water clean and help provide habitat for hundreds of species of wildlife. Through this legislation, the federal government will continue its partnership with landowners, conservation groups, and states to save and improve millions of acres of wetlands. The North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act shows our concern for the environment and our respect for future generations of Americans.

I appreciate two members of my Cabinet who are here today. I'm honored the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton is with us, the Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, thank you both for coming.

I appreciate the ambassador, Ambassador Kergin from Canada, for being here as well. Mr. Ambassador, glad you're here. Thanks for coming.

I want to thank Bob Smith, senator from New Hampshire, for being here, and for his work on this bill. I want to thank Wayne Gilcrest from Maryland -- he's got a big interest in wetlands as well as the Chesapeake Bay -- for coming here. I appreciate so very much Robert Underwood, ranking member from Guam for coming. I'm sorry that Jim Hansen is not with us today. He was the Chairman of the House Committee on Resources, who helped write and sponsor and get this legislation passed through the Congress.

I appreciate Steve Williams, who is the director of the Fish and Wildlife Service, for coming today. Where are you, Steve? There you are. Thanks for coming.

And I want to thank the president of Ducks Unlimited, John Tomke, thanks for coming, John. I'm glad you all are here. And I want to thank you all for coming as well.

With this signature today, the North American Wetlands Conservation Act will be reauthorized for five years. The law authorizes federal money to match donations from sportsmen, state wildlife agencies, conservationists and landowners. Since 1991, more than $462 million in federal grants have helped to encourage $1.3 billion in contributions from others.

Together these funds have restored streams and rivers, re-established native plants and trees, acquired land that is home to more than a third of America's threatened and endangered species. Because about 75 percent of the wetlands are held privately, we need to encourage cooperation with our landowners. This legislation shows that when government and landowners and conservationists and others work together, we can make dramatic progress in preserving the beauty and the quality of our environment.

I want to thank the Congress for supporting this legislation. And I ask the members of the Congress and the two Cabinet members who are here today to join me as I sign this important piece of legislation.

(The bill is signed.) (Applause.)

Thank you. Thank you.

END 9:33 A.M.

[Uncle Bill]

"Do you think the pubbies might change that?"

Hi Fred, hope all is well. No, I don't.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Hey Bill...still lying?

This isn't Clinton's Wetland Bill...it's Reagan's Wetland Bill.

[Jhoffa_]

Now, before I jump in and call Dubya names over this.. It says "voluntary"

Is this the kind of "voluntary" where you get tossed in the klink for killing an endangered salamander in your own backyard or is it a legitimate, bona-fied kinda "voluntary" agreement..

[Savage Beast]

"acquired land that is home to more than a third of America's threatened and endangered species"

Is this politicianese for government theft of private property?

[billbears]

On this issue, HE is a sellout. SELLOUT...

On this issue? What about his suggestion to offer those out of work 3 grand for a 'job search' account on top of being able to sit on their arses for 6 months? And the incentive is that if you find a job before then, you get to keep the money!! Saw that on Brit Hume tonight. And the only protection apparently is Sec. Chao's hope that 'most' of the unemployed wouldn't use $3,000 tax free dollars to go on a cruise or buy a vehicle

[Uncle Bill]

Bush reauthorizes widely praised wetlands act (Endangered Species)

The Something Undermining Our Nation

Almost Paradise

The Greatest Story Never Told

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The Spring Pond Beavers

The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 1998 Review & Outlook

Not for commercial use. Solely to be fairly used for the educational purposes of research and open discussion.

The Spring Pond Beavers

Now that the Academy Awards have been handed out, we are proud to present the Award for Environmental Lunacy to the obscure Michigan bureaucrat who sent the following (abridged) letter to a landowner last December:

"It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. . . . The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris dams and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. . . . Failure to comply with this request, or any further unauthorized activity on the site, may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. . . ."

The landowner's response (also abridged) just about says it all:

"[A] couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, nor authorize their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natural building materials 'debris'. . . . As to your dam request the beavers first must fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity, my first dam question to you is: are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or do you require all dam beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, please send me completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits. . . . I seriously hope you are not selectively enforcing this dam policy--or once again both I and the Spring Pond Beavers will scream prejudice!"

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality informs us that the case has been closed.

Copyright © 1998 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[TLBSHOW]

so it is Bushs bill! LOL

[TLBSHOW]

CLINTON AND GORE CONTINUE

REAGAN

/BUSH


WETLAND LOSS POLICIES

[Uncle Bill]

"Is this the kind of "voluntary" where you get tossed in the klink for killing an endangered salamander in your own backyard or is it a legitimate, bona-fied kinda "voluntary" agreement.."

EPA says "we haven't decided on the rules but we will prosecute you"

[Luis Gonzalez]

Reagan's bill "T"...you can try and duck it, but it's Reagan's.

Was Reagan not a conservative "T"?

[Jhoffa_]

They also warned that with release of these rules, the Endangered Species Act allows citizens to file lawsuits against anyone who hurts listed salmon or steelhead or damages habitat.

OMG! (gosh)

Why in the world did he re-sign this horrible thing?

[Jhoffa_]

Check out the link in #30.. this does not sound good.

[TLBSHOW]

WETLAND MITIGATION & MITIGATION BANKING

Pres. BUSH
Feb. 1990 Memorandum of Agreement signed between Army Corps of Engineers and EPA on mitigation under the 404(b)(1) Guidelines

· Avoidance of wetland impacts set aside when a Corps/EPA plan (e.g. Special Area Management Plan) is approved

· Wetland mitigation banking deemed appropriate compensatory mitigation.

· Wetland mitigation may not be practicable where there is a high proportion of land that is wetlands.

Pres. CLINTON/GORE

· Did not repeal this MOA.

NATIONWIDE PERMITS (37 Different NWPs)

Pres. BUSH
Nov. 1991 Nationwide Permit Program - Final Regulations

· "Mitigation banks" deemed to be appropriate mitigation for NWPs

· Fifteen calendar days for natural resources to notify Corps of comments on NWPs

· Corps will not respond to comments of natural resource agencies on NWPs

· Authorization of NWP activities in a state that has denied 401 water quality certification for NWPs

Pres. CLINTON/GORE
· Did not repeal Nov. 1991 Nationwide Permit Program regulations changes

· 23 Aug 1993 - EPA/ Corps sign Memorandum of Agreement on establishment and use of wetland mitigation banks in the Clean Water Act Sec. 404 Program for NWPs.

· 20 Nov. 1995 - Revised and reissued Nationwide permits including NWP 26.

· 17 June 1996 - Promised to repeal NWP 26 but later reissued all 37 NWPs and add four new ones.

AGENCY WETLAND PERMIT ELEVATION

Pres. BUSH
August 1992 Memorandum of Agreement signed between Corps/EPA concerning Sec. 404(q) elevation.

· Limits EPA elevation of individual permits to aquatic resources of national importance (defined by the Corps).

· Basically hamstrings EPA's ability to request review of Corps wetland fill decisions

Pres. CLINTON/GORE
· Did not repeal this August 1992 MOA

WETLANDS AND WATER QUALITY

Pres. BUSH
Corps Regulatory Guidance Letter RGL No. 90-04, 13 March 1990

· Even when EPA advises Corps of water quality problems, Corps makes its own independent judgment

Pres. CLINTON/GORE
· Did not repeal RGL No. 90-04. It apparently expired after five years.

[Enough is ENOUGH]

Re: Post #10 ...is he a liberal or a conservative?...

- Same suit, different tie

[TLBSHOW]

Bush and Clinton as Ann Coulter said

[Uncle Bill]

Bush is going to save the forests too.

The Rainforest’s Fine! - "But now, two of the world's top eco-scientists, Patrick Moore and Philip Stott, say the save-the-rainforest movement is wrong: at best, vastly misleading; at worst, a gigantic con." - New York Post

[Luis Gonzalez]

Nothing sounds good when you read Bill's headlines, until you start digging a little.

The Bush Environmental Budget
Building a Bridge to the 19th Century

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The Bush administration budget proposes significant reductions in environmental programs across a range of agencies. The cuts in fiscal year 2002 would deal serious blows to efforts to raise environmental protection for the nation, and the long-term funding trend would leave no room for offsetting these decreases in the future.

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Ask yourself, if Bush is a socialist greeney, why would the National Resources Defense Council be so pissed at him?

[Uncle Bill]

Does Anybody Care?

[TLBSHOW]

its a 24/7 job holding republicans feet to the fire!