Stop New Federal Land Grab

Britt Weygandt
News Blaze

Congressional leaders say they will ram through an omnibus public lands package in a "lame duck" session of Congress coming up during the week of November 17th. The Roundtable is rallying Westerners to oppose this huge federal land grab.

Take action here right now: http://www.westernroundtable.com/oppose+federal+land+grab.aspx

This 1,000-page package includes more than 150 bills that would:

-- create more than a million acres of wilderness;
-- restrict the development of energy resources on various federal lands;
-- place hundreds of thousands of acres under new or enhanced federal control; and
-- further restrict many forms of use and access to public lands.

Not only that, but this bill would lock in, by statute, the Clinton Administration-inspired "National Landscape Conservation System" (NLCS) within the BLM. The bill would give federal land managers the ability to alter the long-standing multiple use management philosophy of the BLM by elevating the purposes to "conserve, protect, restore" above other purposes for NLCS units.

This could mean agriculture, energy exploration and production and other economic uses could become imperiled on huge swathes of Western public lands. To see the acreages impacted by NLCS in the West, go here: http://docs.westernroundtable.com/public_lands/BKGR_OmnibusLands_REVISED_10-08.pdf.

Please take 60 seconds and send a pre-drafted communication to your elected official here: http://www.westernroundtable.com/oppose+federal+land+grab.aspx

Thank you for helping to stop this very bad legislation.

Britt Weygandt
Western Business Roundtable
bweygandt@westernroundtable.com
www.westernroundtable.com

The Roundtable is a non-profit, 501(c)(6) organization that unites a wide variety of business and industry leaders to work on a bipartisan basis for public policies that promote a common sense balance between economic growth and environmental conservation.

Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008

by CEI Staff
Competitive Enterprise Institute

To: All members, U.S. Senate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid recently announced his plans to call back the Senate for a lame duck session to pass a massive land grab bill that will restrict property rights and hamstring energy exploration in the United States. On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing hundreds of thousands of taxpayers, small businesses, shareholders, consumers, and senior citizens, we strongly urge you to oppose the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008.

This legislation contains over 1,000 pages and is comprised of more than 100 different land grab bills. From wilderness areas to heritage areas to wild and scenic rivers, this omnibus bill advances a centralized command-and-control vision of American lands. The federal government already owns over 650 million acres of land, much of which is experiencing severe maintenance backlogs or has already gone into disarray. We are concerned the omnibus bill would lock millions of additional acres of land into government regulation, preventing American citizens from exercising their right of property ownership.

By restricting access to land for energy exploration, this legislation is limiting the potential of the economy and directly interfering with America’s entrepreneurial drive. Through the creation of unnecessary new “conservation” programs, millions of additional acres of land will be managed by a vast government bureaucracy and its additional levels of “red tape.” This bill would ultimately force the American taxpayer to fund the purchase of land that could have otherwise been utilized in the private sector.

Furthermore, this $4 billion omnibus package contains a multitude of pork-barrel spending projects. At a time when taxpayers around the country are struggling to make ends meet, asking them to shoulder an even higher spending burden is unacceptable. Birthday celebrations for cities, tropical botanical gardens, and a study determining whether Alexander Hamilton’s boyhood estate is suitable to become a new National Park unit clearly are not national priorities, and treating them as such is an affront to your constituents.

As a matter of principle, property rights should be protected by recognizing the right of citizens to utilize and prosper from the land in this country. Legislation should never arbitrarily attempt to seize land from the public and restrict its use, as the omnibus package would. We urge you to stand up and reject Senator Reid’s effort to force this larded-up land grab down taxpayers’ throats.


Sincerely,

60 Plus Association, Jim Martin, President
Alaska Land Rights Coalition, Paula Easley, President and Ray Kreig, Vice Chairman
Albemarle Country Republican Committee, Christian J. Schoenewald, Chairman
Alliance for Worker Freedom, Brian Johnson, Executive Director
American Civil Rights Union, Susan A. Carleson, Chairman/CEO
American Conservative Union, David Keane, President
American Energy Alliance, Thomas Pyle, President
American Family Business Institute, Dick Patten, President
American Land Rights Association, Chuck Cushman, Executive Director
American Legislative Exchange Council, Alan B. Smith, Executive Director
American Policy Center, Tom Deweese, President
American Property Coalition, Linda Runbeck, President
American Shareholders Association, Ryan Ellis, Executive Director
Americans for American Energy
Americans for Forest Access, Inc., Eddie Philips, Sr., Chairman
Americans for Limited Government, William Wilson, President
Americans for Prosperity, Tim Phillips, President
Americans for Tax Reform, Grover G. Norquist, President
Americans for the Preservation of Liberty, Mark Chmura, Executive Director
Backcountry Horsemen of California, Redshank Riders Unit, Peter Spencer, Public Lands Liaison/State Director
Black Hills Regional Multiple Use Coalition, Tom Troxel, Executive Secretary
Buncombe County GOP Action Club, Kathleen R. Lack, President
California Land Institute, Sharon Bolton, President
Campaign for Liberty, David Wahlstedt, Congressional District 5 Coordinator
Center for Fiscal Accountability, Sandra Fabry, Executive Director
Center for Individual Freedom, Jeffrey Mazzella, President
Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, Ron Arnold, Executive Vice President
Citizen Outreach, Chuck Muth, President
Citizens Against Recreational Eviction-USA, Candace Oathout, Chair
Citizens for Property Rights, Jack Shockey, President
Citizens for Property Rights, Loudon County, VA, Phil Sandoe
Citizens for Limited Taxation, Barbara Anderson, President
Citizens for Responsible Zoning and Landowner Rights, Inc., Marilyn F. Hayman, Chairman
Citizens United, David N. Bossie, President
Coalition for a Conservative Majority, Ken Blackwell, Chairman
Coalition of Concerned Citizens, Meade, KS, Ellen Verell, Chairman
Competitive Enterprise Institute, Myron Ebell, Director, Energy and Global Warming Policy
Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, Tom Schatz, President
Deschutes County Farm Bureau, Deschutes County, OR, Matt Cyrus, President
Empower Texans, Michael Quinn Sullivan, President
Environmental Community Outreach Services, Eureka, NV and Juno, AK, Liz Arnold
Environmental Perspectives, Inc., Michael S. Coffman, Ph.D., President
Ethan Allen Institute, John McClaughry, President
Fish & Wildlife Conservation Council, Leonard C. Harwood, Chairman
Formation Capital Corporation, US, “The Idaho Cobalt Project,” Jerry S. Hamilton, Environmental Coordinator
Freedomworks, Swain County Chapter, Bryson City, NC, William T. Dills
Free Enterprise Action Fund, Tom Borelli, Managing Partner
Frontiers of Freedom, George Landrith, President
Government Pirates: The Assault On Private Property Rights – And How We Can Fight It, Don Corace, Author
Gun Owners of America, Larry Pratt, Executive Director
Hocking Valley Motorcycle Club, Reynoldsburg, OH, James E. Kenny, Vice President
Idaho Valley Farm Bureau, Jeanne Amzen, Women’s County Chairperson
Illinois Policy Institute, Greg Blankinship, President & Founder
Institute for Liberty, Andrew M. Langer, President
International Liquid Terminals Association, R. Peter Weaver, Director of Regulatory Compliance and Safety
Iowa Wednesday Meeting Group, Dr. Don Racheter, Founder and Moderator
JB’S Construction, James Gallaway, President
League of Private Property Voters, Chuck Cushman
Let Freedom Ring, Colin Hanna, President
Liberty Coalition of Free Citizens, Dan Goulet, Chairman
Maryland Center-Right Coalition, Richard Falknor, Chairman
Merced Dirt Riders, Inc., Turlock, CA, Michael Damaso
Montana Association of State Grazing Districts
Montana Multiple Use Association, Tim Ravndal, Board of Directors
Montana Public Lands Council
National Center for Public Policy Research, Amy Ridenour, President
National Tax Limitation Committee, Lew Uhler, President
National Taxpayers Union, Duane Parde, President
NC OHV Association, Nancy Minard, President
New Jersey Off Highway Vehicle Association, James Parrinello, Vice President
New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association, Alisa Ogden, President
New Mexico Federal Lands Council, Mike Casabonne, President
New Mexico Wool Growers, Inc., Joan Kincaid, President
North Dakota Farm Bureau, Brian Kramer, Public Policy Director
North Shore Road Association, Linda G. Hogue, Chairman
Northwest Mining Association, Laura Skaer, Executive Director
Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, Kay Teisl, Executive Director
Oregon Hunters Association, Fred Craig, President
Oregonians In Action, Bill Moshofsky, Vice President
People for the West – Tuscon, Inc., Jonathan DuHamel, President
People for Wyoming, Dorothy Bartholomew, President
Project 21 Advisory Council, Mychal Massie, Chairman and Deneen Borelli, Fellow
Property Rights Alliance, Kelsey Zahourek, Executive Director
Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc., Carol W. La Grasse, President
Providence City, Utah, Randy Simmons, Mayor
Public Lands for the People, Inc., Gerald Hobbs, President
Pulp and Paperworkers’ Resource Council, James Randy Bowen, Southern Pine Region Director
Rhode Island Wise Use, Brian Bishop
RI Farm Bureau, Al Bettencourt, Executive Director
RightMarch.com, Dr. William Greene, President
Ruffed Grouse Lodge, John D. Reardon
Rule of Law Committee, William H. Shaker, Volunteer President
Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, Karen Kerrigan, President & CEO
South Dakota Stockgrowers Association, Margaret Nachtigall, Executive Director
Southern Appalachian Multiple-Use, Steve Henson, Executive Director
Stewards of the Sequoia, Chris Horgan, Executive Director
Take Back Pennsylvania, Fred V. Grau, Jr., Executive Director
Taxpayers for Accountable Government, Jim Vogt, President
Tennessee Tax Revolt, Ben Cunningham
Tradition, Family, Property, Inc., C. Preston Noel, III, President
Turn Bull Lumber Company, Doug Clark
U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation, Dane vonBreichenruchardt, President
Virginians for Property Rights, Patricia Bradburn, President
West 65, Inc., Carla Harper
Western Business Roundtable, Darrell Henry, Director of Federal Government Affairs
Washington Farm Bureau
Water for Life, Inc., Bill Wilber, President
Wisconsin ATV Association, Inc., Randy Harden, President and Rob McConnell, Vice President

Individuals:

Alice Jean Avery, Lava Hot Springs, ID
James & Joyce Bant, Hazelhurst, WI
Judy Boyle, Representative-Elect, Idaho Legislature
Robert E. & Carol L. Brown, Vancouver, WA
Shannon Chastain, AERC Member, AHA Member, MOTDRA Member
Odell Christman, Soda Springs, ID
Connie Cyrus
Genda Frei, Farm Bureau Member, Grangerville, ID
Kim Frei, Playwright, Grangerville, ID
Ronald Frei, Farm and Ranch Owner, Grangerville, ID
Diana Furchtgott-Roth
Ted Graham, NC Registered Forester
Boyd & Shirley Hardy, Farmers
Craig A Harber, Professor, Extension Wildlife Specialist, Department of Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries, University of Tennessee
Paul & Kathleen Hayden, Baker, NV
Sierra Dawn Stoneberg Hold, Ph.D.
John Hutchings, Las Vegas, NV
David B. Isner, North Carolina Registered Forester
Donald B. Jeakins, Mining Industry (Retired), Fallon, NV
Mary Ann Jeakins, Banking Industry (Retired), Fallon, NV
Maxine Korman, Korman Ranch, Hinsdale, MT
Dennis LaBare, Upper Tract, WV
Tim LaFarge, Ph.D., Forest Geneticist (Retired)
Nancy Landt, Santa, ID
Terry McKinney, American Motorcyclist Association Member, Blue Ridge Coalition Member, Tobaccoville, NC
Milari Madison, Property Owner, Waterford, PA
Ed Martin, St. Louis, MO
Carl Meyers
Vernon L. & Susan K. Moore, Phillips, WI
Mrs. Alexandra H. Mulkern, Mechanicsville, MD
Stephen L. Ralston, Columbia, PA
Floyd Rathbun, Fallon, NV
Tim Ravndal, Townsend, MT
Cliff Rexrode
Gary E. Sattler, Freelance Writer, AOL Network
R.J. Smith, Environmental Consultant, WDC
Rachel Thomas, Property Rights Leader, Huachuca City, AZ
Teresa & John Whitmore

Land grab bill laden with earmarks and anti-energy

Staff Report
Tulsa Today







U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK)



U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) released the following statement regarding the Senate Democrat Majority’s plan to devote a week or more of the Senate’s post-election special session debating a 1,082 page, $3 billion earmark-laden omnibus bill that expands federal land control over millions of acres of U.S. property, and restricts energy exploration over millions of acres of U.S. territory.

“Congress’ approval ratings are at an all-time low because the American people understand that never before in our nation’s history have the priorities of the United States Congress been more at odds with the priorities of the American people. The majority’s willingness to spend a week or more debating a lands bill loaded with frivolous projects and radical environmental provisions when we are facing our greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression is a case study in Congress’ misplaced priorities,” Dr. Coburn said.

“While the Senate would prefer to pass this omnibus package after the election, the American people have a right to understand the Senate’s post-election agenda before they go to the polls,” Dr. Coburn said.

Egregious bills and provisions contained in the omnibus package include the following:

• Bill S. 2229 that takes about 8.8 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of oil out of production in Wyoming, according to the Bureau of Land Management. The energy resources walled off by this bill would equal our domestic natural gas production for 15 years.


• Bill S. 27 that would spend $1 billion on a water project designed to save 500 salmon in California. At $2 million a head, each salmon would be worth far more than its weight in gold.


• Bill S. 2359 to spend $3.5 million to celebrate the 450th birthday of St. Augustine Florida in 2015.


• Bill S. 2875 that spends $4 million to protect livestock from wolves.


• Bill S. 1969 that spends $250,000 to help bureaucrats decide how to designate Alexander Hamilton’s boyhood home.


• Bill S. 2220 to spend $5 million on botanical gardens in Hawaii and Florida.


• Bill S. 1680 to spend $3 million on a “road to nowhere” through a wildlife refuge in Alaska.

“I’ve objected to wasteful, pork-barrel spending bills for many years whether offered by Democrats or Republicans. This bill is among the most egregious I’ve seen not just because of what it contains but because it blatantly puts short-term parochial politics ahead of the long-term interests of the country in a moment of national peril. The American people want Congress to address our economic crisis, not erect new barriers to energy exploration and reward special interests in their states,” Dr. Coburn said.

“Voters who are eager for real change should tell their elected representatives it’s time to set common sense priorities. Treating salmon as worth more than their weight in gold is not change. Change also means focusing on the long-term health of our economy rather than the short-term politics of parochialism. If Congress had approached the housing bubble and mismanagement at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with as much foresight as we do the upcoming birthday of St. Augustine Florida in 2015 we would be in much better shape financially,” Dr. Coburn said. “And can we wonder why the public distrusts Congress when we are asking taxpayers to spend $250,000 not on the task of protecting their homes, but the boyhood home of Alexander Hamilton?”

“While the majority may complain about my ‘unprecedented obstruction’ I make no apologies for denying Senators the privilege of passing this reckless and irresponsible bill by a secret non-recorded voice vote that allows for no debate and no amendments. The Majority Leader, who sets the Senate schedule, could have forced an open debate and vote on this package whenever he wished this past year. Unfortunately, the majority wanted to delay action on this bill until after the election precisely because they did not want voters to hold them accountable for erecting new barriers to American energy exploration and spending billions on ridiculous pet projects,” Dr. Coburn said.

“The greatest obstruction to our economic recovery is not any one Senator’s insistence that the Senate do its job and debate bills in the open, but short-sightedness of members of Congress in both parties who have lost the will and ability to set common sense priorities,” Dr. Coburn said.

Editor's Note: Detail summary of the more than 100 provisions of the bill here.

Activists assail final Arizona Strip plan

Associated Press
Deseret News







PHOENIX — Environmental groups sharply criticized a final federal management plan Friday for millions of acres of rugged and remote public lands in northern Arizona's Arizona Strip.

Groups including the Wilderness Society and the Center for Biological Diversity said the plan allows too much off-road vehicle use, livestock grazing and oil and gas development on the 2.8 million acres of public lands.

The Arizona Strip stretches for miles north of the Grand Canyon National Park and includes the Vermilion Cliffs and Grand Canyon-Parashant national monuments.

There are no paved roads on either monument, but several graded gravel roads on the latter. "They mostly are primitive two-track roads that are very infrequently traveled," said Scott Florence, BLM district manager for the Arizona Strip.

Critics contended that the plan, which took effect Friday upon being published in the Federal Register, would not prevent habitat fragmentation for such key wildlife species found in the region as deer, elk and mountain lions.

It also would do little on behalf of the desert tortoise and other threatened, endangered and sensitive species, they said.

Wildlife habitat and archaeological sites will be sacrificed to oil and gas development, off-road vehicles and livestock grazing under the plan BLM issued, members of several environmental organizations said.

"Page after page, the BLM finds ways to promote continued off-road vehicle use in places that were set aside for their ancient artifacts, rugged landscapes, and habitat for desert species," said Nada Culver, Wilderness Society senior counsel.

The BLM's 3,000-page plan ignored why national monuments were created and disregards the wishes of the public to protect them, she said.

But federal officials defended the plan as the most practical, saying it allows people to use the land while protecting it. It has been debated for several years.

Florence said his agency was trying to be as proactive as possible and that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a no-jeopardy biological opinion concerning the plan's impact on the desert tortoise.

"It isn't surprising that they would take that position because they did in their comments and protests on the final plan," he said.

"In developing the plans, we looked at the monument proclamations and feel that we developed plans that will adequately protect those monument objects while allowing for other uses out there.

"They seem to be focused a lot on the route designations, and in developing the plans we did close several hundred miles of routes to vehicle use."

Florence said a total of 290 miles of roads and trails on the two monuments would be closed under the plan, along with another 17 miles under National Park Service administration on the Grand Canyon-Parashant.

Nearly 1,650 more miles will remain open on the two monuments, along with more than 275 miles for administrative use only, he said.

Environmentalists fear the land will come under increasing pressure from thousands of tourists and off-highway vehicle enthusiasts in the next 20 years. The surrounding communities in Nevada and Utah are expected to grow by an estimated 1.4 million new residents in that time.