Entries For: June 2007
House Interior Appropriations: an Oil Shale Win, and a Roan Plateau Loss
Congressman Mark Udall (D-CO) introduced an amendment to slow down the rush to approve commercial oil shale mining on public land in Western Colorado, and despite some touch-and-go moments late on Wednesday, the amendment was passed. The amendment will stop the BLM from issuing final regulations for oil shale mining in the next year. That, in combination with Shell's recent announcement that it will not seek research and development approval on public land until at least 2009 puts the looming threat of oil shale mining in several sensitive spots on the West Slope a little further out on the horizon.
In less happy news, Congressmen Mark Udall and John Salazr (D-CO) tried to introduce an amendment to defund drilling on the Roan Plateau but were thwarted at the 11th hour. Their amendment represented a significant opportunity to protect the Roan Plateau, as so many in Colorado and on the West Slope in particular want to see happen. It also represented a bold statement of support from both members of Congress, and they both deserve praise from conservatoin-minded citizens for their effort.
Many other amendments both positive and negative for the environment failed, and the main elements of the spending bill include both some encouraging attempts to adequately fund conservation (including an $8 million increase for the Fish and Wildlife Service to spend on its endangered species programs) and some status-quo spending levels for other programs that were defended from attack during the House deliberations.
Environment & Energy Daily has reported on the full results of the Interior appropriations approval.
Saga of Political Interference at Interior Continues
According to the latest installment in a Washington Post series on the vice president, Cheney reached "far down the chain of command" to interfere in the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision about protecting the two imperiled fish species on the Klamath River. The Post reports that the vice president was behind the Service's challenge of the science supporting protection for the fish species. He looked for "a way around" the law on protecting the fish and, in order to do so, convinced the National Academy of Sciences to issue a report refuting the existing science on the fish and the water levels they needed for survival. The Post story notes the fate of the lead biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service team assigned to review the science academy report: after his team's objections to the report were overruled and their dissenting critique was edited out, he resigned and has filed a whistleblower claim about the tampering from "someone at a higher level" that his work was subject to.
The revelation in the Post story that is perhaps less surprising but could have more political reverberation is that of former EPA head Christie Todd Whitman. She told Washington Post reporters that she left the EPA not for the personal reasons she cited at the time but because of vice president Cheney's insistence that the agency weaken air pollution standards.
All this is being reported on the same day that Steven Griles was sentenced for his role in the Jack Abramoff scandal. When you pull back and look at the situation in the Interior Department as a whole, with the combination of former Deputy Assistant Secretary Julie MacDonald's interference in endangered species protections for so many species and apparently even tampering from the vice president himself, it begins to look like serious clean-up is needed. The Interior Department under the Bush Administration is clearly compromised beyond any levels we previously suspected. Center for Native Ecosystems has long echoed the call of members of Congress and other conservation groups for the Interior Department to fix the corrupted decisions Julie MacDonald and others interfered with. In addition, it would seem some deeper cultural or systemic changes are in order.
Pollinator Protection Act Introduced
Our friends at Xerces Society released this information about the Pollinator Protection Act today. As Xerces Society points out, while the European honey bee will continue to be the number one pollinator for our agricultural crops, native bees and other pollinators are an important piece of the puzzle and could become even more important as honey bee populations decline:
For immediate Release
Date: June 26,
2007
Contact:
Scott Hoffman Black, Executive Director Xerces
Society: 503-449-3792
Natalie Ravitz (Boxer) 202-224-8120
Kyle Downey (Thune) 202-228-5939
Kendra Barkoff (Casey) 202-228-6367
Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 Introduced into the Senate
Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) along with eight other co-sponsors introduced the Pollinator Research Act of 2007 into the Senate today. This bill provides significant funding for research that will improve the security of crop pollination and support strong populations of honey bees and native bees.
The recent widespread loss of honey bee colonies from Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) has received a lot of media coverage. At this time the cause of CCD remains a mystery. It may be one or more factors, such as parasitic mites, disease, pesticides or diet.
The European honey bee is-and will continue to be-the most important single crop pollinator in the United States. However, with the decline in the number of managed honey bee colonies from diseases, parasitic mites, and Africanized beesas well as from Colony Collapse Disorderit is important to increase the use of native bees in our agricultural system as well. Research into Colony Collapse Disorder, as well as the biology of crop-pollinating native bees is vital to this effort.
The Pollinator Protection Act is a modified version of Congressman Hastings’ Pollinator Protection Act (H.R. 1709), which addresses Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). This bill not only addresses Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bees, but also the decline of native pollinators in North America. This bill will enhance funding for research on the parasites, pathogens, toxins, and other environmental factors that affect honey bees and native bees. It supports research into the biology of native bees and their role in crop pollination, diversifying the pollinators upon which agriculture relies.
“This bill can help to improve crop security and the sustainability of agriculture, by helping farmers in the United States diversity their pollinator portfolio” said Scott Hoffman Black, executive director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. “The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 will provide the financial support needed to strengthen the honey bee industry and the role of native bees in crop pollination.”
The Pollinator Protection Act provides for:
- $25.25 million to the Agriculture Research Service over five years for research, personnel, and facility improvements regarding honey bee and native bee biology, causes/solutions for CCD, and bee toxicology, pathology, and physiology.
- $50 million to the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service over five years to fund research grants to investigate honey bee and native bee biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, bioinformatics, parasites, pathogens, sublethal effects of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, native bee crop pollination and habitat conservation, and effects of genetically modified crops.
- $11.25 million to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service over five years to conduct a nationwide honey bee pest and pathogen surveillance program.
- Annual reporting to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on the status and progress of bee research projects.
The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 works in conjunction with Senator Baucus’ Pollinator Habitat Protection Act (introduced May 24, 2007), of which Senator Boxer is a co-sponsor. The Pollinator Habitat Protection Act addresses an important aspect of CCD and the decline of pollinators in general: the continued loss of pollinator habitat due to development. The Pollinator Habitat Protection Act leverages existing conservation efforts to improve the health of our nation’s pollinators.
Senator Boxer’s Pollinator Protection Act differs in that it directly applies research funding to strengthen honey bees and native bees, the foundation of crop pollination in the U.S. Honey bees and native bees are vital for $15 billion and $3 billion in crop production each year, respectively, yet research in these fields has received little funding and attention throughout its history. No other industry or service that provides such vital services to this nation is as under-funded as beekeeping and native bee management and habitat conservation.
In conjunction, these two bills take major steps to focus resources and conservation efforts on the decline of honey bees, native bees, and other pollinators, and provide a foundation for further study into a service we have often taken for granted. In supporting funding for research, we provide avenues to further understand the problems facing our crop pollinators, and in turn ensure the health of our nation’s food supply.
"Almost all of our pollination eggs are in the honey bee basket," says Mace Vaughan, conservation director of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. "The Pollinator Protection Act of 2007 will support honey bees and greatly expand our understanding of bumble bees, sweat bees, mason bees, squash bees, sunflower bees, and miner bees. This bill strengthens the honey bee basket and adds additional pollinator baskets for agriculture."
Importance of Protecting Pollinators
Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is important for the reproduction of nearly 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants. This includes more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species, and one in three mouthfuls of the food that we eat. The United States alone grows more than one hundred crops that either require or benefit from pollinators.
Beyond agriculture, native pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major part of the diet of approximately 25 percent of birds, and of mammals ranging from deer mice to grizzly bears.
Why are native bees so helpful? Collectively, native bees are more versatile than honey bees. Some species, such as mason bees, are active when conditions are too cold or wet for honey bees. Many species also are simply more efficient at moving pollen between flowers. Bumble bees and several other native species can buzz pollinate flowersvibrating the flower to release pollen from deep inside the pollen-bearing antherswhich honey bees cannot do. Crops such as tomatoes, cranberries, and blueberries produce larger, more abundant fruit when buzz pollinated.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international non-profit organization that protects the diversity of life through the conservation of invertebrates. The Society advocates for invertebrates and their habitats by working with scientists, land managers, educators, and citizens on conservation and education projects. Its core programs focus on endangered species, native pollinators, and watershed health.
For more information on pollinator conservation go to: www.xerces.org
Pollinator Protection Act Cosponsors
Sponsor: Boxer, Barbara- (D - CA)
Casey, Robert P., Jr.- (D - PA)
Thune, John- (R - SD)
Nelson, Bill- (D - FL)
Menendez, Robert- (D - NJ)
Clinton, Hillary Rodham- (D - NY)
Durbin, Richard- (D - IL)
Brown, Sherrod- (D - OH)
Kerry, John F.- (D - MA)
Tell your Senators Today: Protect Pollinators
The Pollinator Protection Research Act of 2007 will be introduced by Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) in the next several weeks.
This bill not only addresses Colony Collapse Disorder in honey bees, but also the decline of native pollinators in North America. This bill will enhance funding for research on the parasites, pathogens, toxins, and other environmental factors that affect honey bees and native bees. It supports research into the biology of native bees and their role in crop pollination, diversifying the pollinators upon which agriculture relies.
The Pollinator Protection Research Act provides for:
- $25.25 million to the Agriculture Research Service over five years for research, personnel, and facility improvements regarding honey bee and native bee biology, causes/solutions for CCD, and bee toxicology, pathology, and physiology.
- $50 million to the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service over five years to fund research grants to investigate honey bee and native bee biology, immunology, ecology, genomics, bioinformatics, parasites, pathogens, sublethal effects of insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides, native bee crop pollination and habitat conservation, and effects of genetically modified crops.
- $11.25 million to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service over five years to conduct a nationwide honey bee pest and pathogen surveillance program.
- Annual reporting to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate on the status and progress of bee research projects.
The Pollinator Protection Research Act of 2007 works in conjunction with Senator Baucus’
Pollinator Habitat Protection Act (introduced May 24, 2007), of which Senator Boxer is a cosponsor.
The Pollinator Habitat Protection Act addresses an important aspect of CCD and the
decline of pollinators in general: the continued loss of pollinator habitat due to development. The
Pollinator Habitat Protection Act leverages existing conservation efforts to improve the health of our
nation’s pollinators.
Senator Boxer’s Pollinator Protection Research Act differs in that it directly applies research
funding to strengthen honey bees and native bees, the foundation of crop pollination in the U.S. Honey
bees and native bees are vital for $15 billion and $3 billion in crop production each year, respectively,
yet research in these fields has received little funding and attention throughout its history. No other
industry or service that provides such vital services to this nation is as under-funded as beekeeping and
native bee management and habitat conservation.
In conjunction, these two bills take major steps to focus resources and conservation efforts on the
decline of honey bees, native bees, and other pollinators, and provide a foundation for further study
into a service we have often taken for granted.
Current cosponsors include: Casey (PA), Thune (SD), Clinton (NY), Bill Nelson
(FL), Menendez (NJ), Durbin (IL), and Brown (OH)
To find contact
information for your Senator go to: To find contact information for your senator
go to: www.senate.gov/index.htm .
For more information about the Pollinator Protection Research Act of 2007 and for information about native pollinators, see the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation.
Good News for a Critical Lynx Corridor
In the context of really ludicrous ideas like oil shale freeze walls and leaching uranium out of drinking water aquifers, building a new 10,000 person city on the Continental Divide in the middle of a critical lynx habitat corridor seems merely crazy. But even if it doesn't top the list of really bad ideas, it's still pretty darn bad. We celebrated a nice victory last week when a U.S. District Court judge recommended the continuation of an injunction preventing the Forest Service from moving forward with plans for the new city.
Although the lawsuit pertains specifically to two proposed roads, they are required for the developer to move forward with the project. The billionaire developer, Red McCombs, predictably has ties to the Bush administration. Evidence continues to surface that McCombs had an improper relationship with the environmental consultant hired to analyze the proposal for the Forest Service (including, if you can believe it, rewarding the consultants who helped the Forest Service reach the right decision with NFL game tickets). Hats off to our colleagues with Friends of Wolf Creek for leading the fight.
The fight to protect this key lynx corridor underscores just how important it is for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to adopt a lynx recovery plan here in the Southern Rockies and to identify and protect critical lynx habitat.
