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Post by melody on Nov 11, 2013 19:21:42 GMT -5
Who exactly would be on this Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC)? It sounds to me like this bill would be giving the foxes charge of the henhouse. Yep, political appointees. Section 4. Composition of commission; membership, compensation; vacancies; removal. (a) The Independent Regulatory Review Commission shall consist of five members to be known as commissioners. One commissioner shall be appointed by the Governor to serve at the Governor's pleasure, one by the President pro tempore of the Senate, one by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one by the Minority Leader of the Senate and one by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. A member of the General Assembly or any other officer or employee of State Government may not serve as a commissioner; but a commissioner may serve on advisory boards and commissions, or on other boards and commissions which do not promulgate any rules and regulations which may come before the commission for review pursuant to this act. Here's the link to the current members: www.irrc.state.pa.us/commission.aspx
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Post by melody on Nov 11, 2013 19:23:09 GMT -5
LEGISLATORS URGE A HALT TO ENDANGERED SPECIES NOTIFICATION ACT LEGISLATION
Thursday, November 7th, Representatives Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), Steve McCarter (D-Montgomery), and Rick Mirabito (D-Lycoming) were joined by advocates in holding a news conference urging the House Game and Fisheries Committee to halt consideration of House Bill 1576, which is scheduled to be considered by that committee on November 13.
The legislation sponsored by Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong) provides for An Act standardizing a state process for listing of threatened or endangered species by formalizing existing resource agency authority via rulemaking, consolidating the listings into a centralized database managed by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, granting access to information in the database to planners required to consider the impacts that a project could have or to those involved in conservationist efforts, and protecting sensitive data by prohibiting the disclosure of the information to anyone not involved in a development or conservation project. More to the concern of those leading the press conference, the legislation would require designations of endangered species by the Pennsylvania Game Commission or the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the approval of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC).
Legislators speaking at the news conference suggested the legislation is a priority of the Marcellus Shale industry and would harm conservation efforts. Similarly, John Arway of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission argued the legislation is “critically flawed” and is a “huge step backward in conservation history.”
In a statement released following the press conference, Rep. Martin Causer (R-McKean), Majority Chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee said the following:
The purpose of House Bill 1576 is to provide consistency, transparency and accountability by subjecting all endangered species and trout streams designations to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) process. It is also designed to provide more efficient and timely access to sensitive species information, including avoidance and mitigation measures, for those involved in permitted projects that may be affected by those species. House Bill 1576 does not take the decision-making authority out of the hands of the Game Commission or Fish and Boat Commission. It simply requires the commissions to take the same steps as every other state agency that promulgates regulations – including the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources when it makes endangered species designations and the Department of Environmental Protection when it makes certain stream designations. The bill does not limit the state’s ability to designate threatened or endangered species not already designated as such by the federal government. And an internal review by House attorneys of our endangered species designation process under this bill versus those of other states also indicates there should be no loss of federal money should the bill become law.
As of this writing, the legislation is still scheduled for a vote in committee Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in Room 60 East Wing.
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Post by melody on Nov 11, 2013 19:31:17 GMT -5
Committee members:
MCauser@PahouseGOP.com; trock@pahousegop.com; glucas@pahousegop.com; jcox@pahousegop.com; Jemrick@pahousegop.com; HEnglish@pahousegop.com; geverett@pahousegop.com; mfee@pahousegop.com; Kgillesp@pahousegop.com; mhahn@pahousegop.com; dheffley@pahousegop.com; mkeller@pahousegop.com; dmaloney@pahousegop.com; dmoul@pahousegop.com; mpeifer@pahousegop.com; info@pfsc.org; ghaluska@pahouse.net; JGallowa@pahouse.net; GMullery@pahouse.net; FFarina@pahouse.net; MGergely@pahouse.net; KHaggerty@pahouse.net; DKula@pahouse.net; TMahoney@pahouse.net; PSnyder@pahouse.net; JWhite@pahouse.net; jpyle@pahousegop.com
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Post by melody on Nov 13, 2013 13:24:13 GMT -5
Op-Ed: Striking The Appropriate Balance With The Endangered Species Coordination Act Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:58 AM PST By Sen. Rich Alloway II (R-Adams), Majority Chair Senate Game and Fisheries Committee
As an avid sportsman and conservationist, I find the rhetoric surrounding opposition to SB 1047 and House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong), known as the Endangered Species Coordination Act, both disappointing and disingenuous.
Protection of Pennsylvania's most vulnerable species and preservation of the habitats that sustain them is one of the core functions of three Pennsylvania state agencies-the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
These agencies effectively protect the Commonwealth's threatened and endangered species, and they are undoubtedly the best equipped to continue to fulfill this critical charge. This legislation would not change that, rather it would simply establish a consistent, transparent and accountable framework for doing so. Senate Bill 1047 (Scarnati-R-Jefferson) and House Bill 1576 strike the right balance between species protection and economic considerations. Species are best protected when those industries that move earth can responsibly plan their development projects so that they can avoid them.
This legislation would ensure such a commonsense approach to project planning. As for designation of species and wild trout streams, the objective of this legislation is not to usurp authority from the agencies but to ensure that designations occur in a standard and transparent manner, similar to every other Pennsylvania state agency, including DCNR which also protects the state's threatened and endangered plant life.
Counter to the assertions of the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commissions' executive directors, an agency's independence does not determine whether or not it should be held accountable to the public for the regulations it promulgates.
As a legislator, I have never heard the Public Utility Commission or the Liquor Control Board, both independent state agencies, complain that they were unable to do their jobs because they were required to solicit and respond to public comments and provide the evidence underlying the need for their proposed regulations. That would be absurd.
Accountability and transparency is the backbone of good government, not a hindrance to it.
I have followed House Bill 1576's progression in the House and appreciate the thoughtful consideration that Chairman Causer and Chairman Haluska have afforded it with two public hearings.
I’m also currently planning a public hearing in the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee on the issue. I’m pleased that the valid concerns raised have been addressed through a bi-partisan amendment and strong committee vote.
As a result of this cooperative process that resolves the legitimate concerns with the bill, I urge my fellow sportsmen and conservationists to re-examine this legislation before allowing the politics and rhetoric to overshadow its merits.
Consistency, transparency and accountability are important tenets of government. They do not run counter to species designation and management, and in many ways they will actually augment it.
I look forward to seeing this bill move through the House so that we can continue to consider it, on its merits, in the Senate.
House Committee Amends, Reports Out Endangered Species Bill Posted: 13 Nov 2013 09:57 AM PST
The House Game and Fisheries Committee Wednesday amended and reported out House Bill 1576 (Pyle-R-Armstrong) making fundamental changes in the way threatened and endangered species are listed and protected in Pennsylvania by a vote of 16 to 8. The Endangered Species Coordination Act would require the Game Commission and the Fish and Boat Commission to submit proposed designations to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission.
IRRC already reviews regulations from every other state agency, including endangered species designations made by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and most stream designations made by the Department of Environmental Protection.
“Our ultimate goal with this legislation is to bring about the kind of consistency and transparency needed to better facilitate the co-existence of a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron), Majority Chair of the Committee. “IRRC has an established process for public comment and review of virtually every other state regulation that impacts our citizens. It only makes sense for the commissions to go through the same process.”
The bill also would require all information about threatened and endangered species, and others of special concern, to be placed into a centralized database and would require efficient and timely access to that information to authorized persons involved in permitted projects that may be affected by those species.
“In many cases, our industries and even local governments are embarking on projects without all of the information they need to make sound financial decisions, and that can cost us jobs and increase the burden on taxpayers,” Rep. Causer said. “If people have access to solid information from the start, they can determine if they want to continue with a project or move it elsewhere. There is no good reason to keep this information from the people who need it.”
Rep. Causer said he recognizes the importance of protecting streams and wildlife, and he believes requiring the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission to go through the IRRC process for endangered species and trout stream designations will have no detrimental effect on their efforts.
“DCNR and DEP have been making similar designations through IRRC for decades,” Rep. Causer said. “As long as the commissions have sound science to show the need for designations – and I have no doubt they do – going through IRRC will not hinder their ability to do their jobs.”
The bill generated significant opposition from sportsmens and environmental groups across the state during two joint public hearings held by the Game and Fisheries and Environmental Resources and Energy Committees.
Among the changes included in the amendment are: — Removing the requirement for the agencies to re-designate all currently listed species within a two-year time frame. — Expanding the proposed centralized database to include “other designated species” that are of special concern or rare species other than threatened or endangered species. — Ensuring access to information in the database is made available only to authorized persons and increases the civil penalties for unlawful use of sensitive database information. — Prohibiting the transfer of licensing dollars or federal funds for implementation of the act to further ensure there is no loss of federal funds as a result of the change. — Placing the requirement to do field surveys back on the permit applicant affecting the land and specifies that if field surveys are required, the state agency with jurisdictional authority for the protection of the species must within 30 days of receiving the survey results provide either clearance for the project, or detailed avoidance measures, detailed minimization measures or detailed mitigation measures to the permit applicant. — Clarifying that the requirement of the commissions to adhere to independent regulatory review does not apply to actions such as hunting seasons and bag limits or fishing seasons and creel limits.
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Post by melody on Nov 14, 2013 17:09:54 GMT -5
House Game and Fisheries Committee Approves Endangered Species Coordination Act
11/14/2013
HARRISBURG – The House Game and Fisheries Committee today approved legislation designed to bring consistency, transparency and accountability to the process of designating endangered species and wild trout streams in the Commonwealth, said Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint), chairman of the committee.
The Endangered Species Coordination Act would require the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to submit proposed designations to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC). IRRC already reviews regulations from every other state agency, including endangered species designations made by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and most stream designations made by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
“Our ultimate goal with this legislation is to bring about the kind of consistency and transparency needed to better facilitate the co-existence of a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” Causer said. “IRRC has an established process for public comment and review of virtually every other state regulation that impacts our citizens. It only makes sense for the commissions to go through the same process.”
The bill also would require all information about threatened and endangered species, and others of special concern, to be placed into a centralized database and would require efficient and timely access to that information to authorized persons involved in permitted projects that may be affected by those species.
“In many cases, our industries and even local governments are embarking on projects without all of the information they need to make sound financial decisions, and that can cost us jobs and increase the burden on taxpayers,” Causer said. “If people have access to solid information from the start, they can determine if they want to continue with a project or move it elsewhere. There is no good reason to keep this information from the people who need it.”
As a sportsman himself, Causer said he recognizes the importance of protecting streams and wildlife, and he believes requiring the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission to go through the IRRC process for endangered species and trout stream designations will have no detrimental effect on their efforts.
“DCNR and DEP have been making similar designations through IRRC for decades,” Causer said. “As long as the commissions have sound science to show the need for designations – and I have no doubt they do – going through IRRC will not hinder their ability to do their jobs.”
“I am gratified to see this bill voted on by the Game and Fisheries Committee, and I was proud to see both Republicans and Democrats working in a bipartisan effort,” said Rep. Jeff Pyle (R-Armstrong), prime sponsor of the bill. “I look forward to debate over this bill on the House floor, and believe that when signed into law, it will lead to greater transparency and consistency in the endangered species listing process.”
As a result of two public hearings held on the bill over the summer, the committee adopted a comprehensive amendment that addressed virtually every concern raised during those hearings. Among the changes included in the amendment are: • Removing the requirement for the agencies to re-designate all currently listed species within a two-year time frame. • Expanding the proposed centralized database to include “other designated species” that are of special concern or rare species other than threatened or endangered species. • Ensuring access to information in the database is made available only to authorized persons and increases the civil penalties for unlawful use of sensitive database information. • Prohibiting the transfer of licensing dollars or federal funds for implementation of the act to further ensure there is no loss of federal funds as a result of the change. • Placing the requirement to do field surveys back on the permit applicant affecting the land and specifies that if field surveys are required, the state agency with jurisdictional authority for the protection of the species must within 30 days of receiving the survey results provide either clearance for the project, or detailed avoidance measures, detailed minimization measures or detailed mitigation measures to the permit applicant. • Clarifying that the requirement of the commissions to adhere to independent regulatory review does not apply to actions such as hunting seasons and bag limits or fishing seasons and creel limits. House Bill 1576 passed the committee by a vote of 16-8.
The committee also approved the following bills today: • House Bill 1534, sponsored by Rep. Mike Peifer (R-Monroe/Pike/Wayne), which authorizes the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create a coyote control incentive program that would offer properly licensed hunters and furtakers an incentive of $25 for every coyote lawfully harvested. • Senate Bill 763, sponsored by Sen. Richard Kasunic (D-Fayette/Somerset/Washington/Westmoreland), which removes the required keeping and inspection of rosters of big game hunting parties by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. • Senate Bill 895, sponsored by Sen. Richard Alloway (R-Adams/Franklin/York), which reduces the length of each term for members of the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Board of Commissioners from eight years to four years, while allowing for multiple terms of continued service. This bill is similar to House Bill 828, sponsored by Causer, which previously passed the committee.
Representative Martin T. Causer 67th District Pennsylvania House of Representatives Media Contact: Patricia A. Hippler 717.772.9846 phippler@pahousegop.com RepCauser.com / Facebook.com/RepCauser
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Post by melody on Nov 15, 2013 14:15:19 GMT -5
Endangering governance
Published: November 15, 2013 thetimes-tribune.com/opinion/endangering-governance-1.1586058The state House Games and Fisheries Committee has managed to approve a bill that not only amends the state Endangered Species Act to endanger wildlife, but to endanger governance in the public interest. Under the bill, final determination of whether a species is endangered will be transferred from professional biologists for state fish and game agencies to the politically appointed Independent Regulatory Review Commission. Designations would shift from the realm of science to the realm of politics, from the realm of the public interest in species protection to narrow interests of developers. State Rep. Keith Gillespie, a York Republican and a hunter who is a member of the House committee, voted against the bill. It is "extremely dangerous," he said, to move away from a science-based approach to wildlife management. Also telling was an example offered by Republican Rep. Jeff Pyle of Armstrong County, a bill sponsor, who feared that a potential endangerment listing of bat populations that have been devastated by white-nose syndrome might adversely affect some development. Bats, however, are crucial to many other aspects of life statewide, including the state's largest industry, agriculture. The full House and Senate should leave endangerment decisions in the hands of biologists.
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Post by dennyf on Nov 16, 2013 17:08:46 GMT -5
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Post by melody on Nov 20, 2013 12:26:51 GMT -5
Alloway 'disingenuous' on endangered species (Letter) Chambersburg Public Opinion www.publicopiniononline.com/opinion/ci_24556344/alloway-disingenuous-endangered-species-letterThe recent essay by state Sen. Richard Alloway regarding the Endangered Species Coordination Act is just another example of his pandering to the oil and gas industry, surface mining, cooperate developers and party leaders for his personal and political gain. HB 1576 and SB 1047 do not ensure that the species designations occur in a standard and consistent manner. Rather the bill will usurp the responsible agencies their biologists', zoologists', ichthyologists' and foresters' recommendations. The bills are not about transparency, consistency or accountability. They are about winning, power and control. If the Game Commission, Fish and Boat Commission and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as claimed by Alloway in his essay ""¦protect the commonwealth's threatened and endangered species, and "¦ "are undoubtedly the best equipped to continue to fulfill this critical charge," then why meddle? Why impose mandatory review by a group of political appointees with very little or no scientific background or expertise? Why be so confused by the facts? The senator's rationale for the legislation is misleading and disingenuous. The two pieces of legislation serve no legitimate purpose. The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, The Sierra Club, the Audubon Society and most conservationists oppose the bills for just those reasons. They may believe, as I do, that the agencies and especially the Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists have done an extraordinary job using the Endangered Species Act to manage our resources. Witness the ongoing restoration of our Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon and osprey populations, to mention but a few successes. One cannot deny the Game Commission found the "right balance" in attaining those results. It certainly did not use or need a mandatory review by politicians. The senator could take a lesson from our Franklin County commissioners, who recently determined that they did not have the expertise to research and investigate the upsurge in our prison population. The commissioners instead contracted with the "experts" to make recommendations after study and analysis. Ronald Dixon, Chambersburg
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Post by melody on Nov 20, 2013 16:44:56 GMT -5
From Conservation Voters of PA: Rep. Mindy Fee is pushing a bill that will gut protections for endangered species in Pennsylvania – taking the decision about which species are endangered away from scientists and handing it directly to politicians. Her bill has the support of the oil, gas, and coal industry lobbyists. If those guys are on your side, it’s pretty clear that this bill is bad news for endangered species. Will you sign this petition to PA House Members asking them not to vote for this bill? Fee’s bill, HB 1756, is opposed by the scientists on the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Many fisherman and hunters have also expressed strong opposition. In spite of this strong, evidence based opposition, HB 1756 already sailed though its first committee and is headed for the floor. We must stop HB 1756 from gutting the endangered species act before it gets any further. Sign our petition to stop HB 1756 and protect PA’s endangered species. Thanks for all you do. To a greener future, Josh McNeil
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Post by galthatfishes on Dec 6, 2013 18:47:47 GMT -5
ALLOWAY on WTF radio station regarding IRRC.
No matter how many times he has been told the commissioners act as its own IRRC, he refuses to listen.
Check out the link. Just above "You may also be interested in" and you can listen to it.
Apparenly, we are all liars (those who do not support IRRC)- and its good for all of us when Govenment makes rules.
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Post by galthatfishes on Dec 6, 2013 18:53:34 GMT -5
We are LIARS again??? Cripes. Wonder if Alloway will keep his aliance a secret. I dont usually fall for this stuff, but he took an oath recently- and it didnt put "We the people" first. Read on.... PA Legislators asked to take pledge putting corporate front group before their oath of office Sen. Richard Alloway and Rep. Brian Ellis pledge fealty to American Legislative Exchange Council in their role as PA co-chairs (more here) keystoneprogressblog.blogspot.com/2013/12/pa-legislators-asked-to-take-pledge.html
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Post by melody on Dec 6, 2013 19:21:15 GMT -5
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Post by galthatfishes on Dec 6, 2013 20:33:52 GMT -5
Thank Mel. I left that out of the earlier post.
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Post by melody on Dec 23, 2013 17:27:37 GMT -5
FRIDAY - 1/10/14 Senate Game and Fisheries and Senate Republican Policy 10:00 a.m., Eberly College of Business and Information, Technology Auditorium, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 664 Pratt Drive, Indiana Joint public hearing regarding the issue of threatened and endangered species
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Post by melody on Jan 2, 2014 14:27:45 GMT -5
New Pa. endangered species rules are a necessary change: As I See Itwww.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/01/new_endangered_species_rules_are_a_necessary_change_as_i_see_it.html#incart_river_default1/1/2014 By Bill Miller, Steve Mohr and Dennis Wydra The legislative debate over two companion bills in the Pennsylvania General Assembly that would modify the way the commonwealth adds to its list of threatened and endangered species has, at times, been educated and rational. At other times, however, it has been relegated to posturing and fear-mongering, by both the state game commission and special interest groups. The two largest sportsmen's associations, the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania and the 50,000 member Pennsylvania State Camp Lessee’s Association, strongly support the passage of the Endangered Species Coordination Act (Read the House bill here and the Senate bill here), and encourage the public to look beyond what we believe are the bogus claims the bills would hurt plant and wildlife conservation and threaten federal funds. Our groups also count ourselves among the most committed conservation organizations in Pennsylvania, using the tools of research and science to guide decisions on land use, wildlife management, and habitat protection and development. It is these principles that are at the core of this legislation, which will require both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission to publicly provide the scientific reasons for proposing species for threatened and endangered status and subject those reasons to public scrutiny. It is also important to note that this proposed law does not impact federally listed threatened and endangered species – plants and creatures that are protected by federal law. Enacting this law would start to curb the constant harassment we have received from a specific state agency. This proposal brings much-needed independent agency oversight to these decisions now made with none by the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission. These commissions’ criticisms of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission as political appointees not to be trusted with reviewing these commissions’ species decisions protests too much – these commissioners are also politically appointed. Our research clearly reveals that federal Pittman-Robertson funds to Pennsylvania will not be affected by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission's involvement in these important decisions. The Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania believes, as one of Pennsylvania’s largest organizations representing hunters, trappers, and fishermen (the original conservationists), that it is possible to protect the environment and wildlife and at the same time safely grow industry and produce jobs for our economy, the primary goal of this legislation. The Pennsylvania State Camp Lessee’s Association joins our organization in supporting the bill. For too long, ‘extremist’ environmental organizations – lacking a basic foundation of education or scientific proof regarding the positions they advance – have been wrongly influencing state agencies in a goal to permanently prevent various groups from using our state forests. By using threatened an endangered species and other absurd excuses, they continue to strive at their goal to banish state camps from our state forests. These groups have members and individuals employed in key positions within our state agencies, including the Game Commission and Fish and Boat Commission. Enacting this law would start to curb the constant harassment we have received from a specific state agency. We, the public, own these forests. State Camp owners and our members have been conserving our forests for over a century. The Game Commission is disingenuous with its opposition to this proposal, as evidenced by its lack of action or even interest during a Five-Year Review of the Eastern Cougar in 22 states east of the Mississippi by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 2007. The game commission refused to cooperate and participate in this landmark study of the most well-known animal on the Endangered Species Act federal list. On June 28, 2007, Marvin Moriarity, Regional Director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, wrote in a letter to former U.S. Rep. Christopher P. Carney, D-Pa., that the game commission did not submit any information (to add to the five-year review), and that the Fish and Wildlife Service expected to complete the review in the fall of that year. Additional communication following this June affirmation by the Fish and Wildlife Service that no effort had been made by the Game Commission to participate in the five-year review revealed the service had sent further requests to the Game Commission for information on cougars and mountain lions in Pennsylvania. To quote a November 12 communication from Martin Miller, Chief, Threatened and Endangered Species: Dr. Wydra: “I can't remember if I ever got back to you with an answer as to whether PGC ever provided information for the eastern cougar 5-year review. They did not. Mark McCullough contacted the PGC to encourage them to submit information, but we did not receive a response.” The Game Commission deliberately declined to participate in this critical scientific study by the Fish and Wildlife Service, despite an 11-month window of time and repeated efforts to obtain comment. Sadly, this is but one example of the Game Commission’s lack of transparency and scientific study with endangered species. While the Game Commission sent press releases about the cougar study to every paper in Pennsylvania to inform citizens they can participate, the real purpose of this federal study by Fish and Wildlife Service was to collect scientific data and information from all 22 game commissions east of the Mississippi. The Game Commission does not practice what it preaches and it’s time to shed some light and heat on the commission’s underhanded dealings with the Commonwealth’s threatened and endangered species listing process through the participation of the Independent Regulatory Review Commission. Bill Miller is a former chairman of the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania; Steve Mohr is the group's current chairman and Dennis Wydra is the Marcellus Team Leader for the Unified Sportsmen of Pennsylvania.
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Post by melody on Jan 2, 2014 14:40:10 GMT -5
And another view point: Compiled, annotated and circulated (starting January 2, 2014) by Jerry Hassinger, Wildlife Biologist, Species of Lorax, and Tilter at Windmills SB 1047: ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY, BALANCE? A KNIFE THAT CUTS BOTH WAYS It took me about two weeks, off and on, to research this and write it. It’s a 10 minute read for most, more if you get unreasonably angry or are searching for next steps and solutions. What to do? This time I’ll not make recommendations other than: 1) please forward this to friends (the multiplier effect) and to your own legislators; 2) suggest to your legislator that if the shoe fits they reconsider their membership and support of ALEC; and 3) I hope you care enough to do some writing and lobbying of your own. I wrote this just to inform you what we are up against when we oppose HB 1576 and SB 1047. And be advised, the Senate chairman of the ALEC delegation in Pennsylvania, called our concerns re SB 1047 disingenuous. While he refers to himself as a conservationist, his attitude (documented in an interview) seems to be if a species goes extinct or is extirpated from the state, no big deal, another will take its place. He qualified this with an observation of Aristotle’s: “Nature abhors a vacuum.” In this instance I agree with the Senator, something will fill in the vacuum. I wrote a poem about it called: A PERVERSITY OF DIVERSITY (“Nature abhors a vacuum”) It’s a paradox no doubt, As ten species arrive, one species winks out. Holy feces, another alien species. Hell, extinction is no sin, Cockroaches will fill in. Stilt grass has a billion seeds, It out competes our native weeds. Conservancies are flustered, The roads are lines with garlic mustard. Seagulls at the 7-11 Are outnumbered by the tree of heaven. Purple loosestrife, a bazillion or more, Choke out natives by the score. Dead and dying native oak. We imported the gypsy moth, no joke There are English sparrows in every park Along with zebra mussels and big fat carp There are starlings, crows, And multiflora rose, There are feral cats And Norway rats, Son-of-a-niche, We’re species rich!THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL (ALEC) EXPOSED --- AGAIN ALEC EXPOSED BY THE “CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY” “The New York Times reported that special interests have "effectively turn[ed] ALEC's lawmaker members into stealth lobbyists, providing them with talking points, signaling how they should vote and collaborating on bills affecting hundreds of issues like [endangered species legislation], school vouchers and tobacco taxes."[11] Bloomberg Businessweek stated, "Part of ALEC's mission is to present industry-backed legislation as grass-roots work."[9] The Guardian described ALEC as "a dating agency for Republican state legislators and big corporations, bringing them together to frame rightwing legislative agendas in the form of 'model bills'."[7] Several liberal groups, including Common Cause, have challenged its tax-exempt status.” “ALEC” has long been a secretive collaboration between Big Business and “conservative politicians”(= oxymoron). Behind closed doors, they ghostwrite “model” bills to be introduced in state capitals across the country. This agenda - underwritten by global corporations - includes major tax loopholes for big industries and the super-rich, proposals to offshore U. S. jobs and gut minimum wage, and efforts to weaken public health, safety, and environmental protections. Although many of these bills have become law, until now, their origin has been largely unknown. With ALEC EXPOSED, the Center for Media and Democracy hopes more Americans will study the bills to understand the depth and breadth of how big corporations are changing the legal rules and undermining democracy across the nation.” The following three links expose the collaboration between legislators and big business for what it is and for what it does. These links will lead you to hundreds of model bills, a partial (who knows?) list of legislators from all states that currently belong or did belong to ALEC, a list of corporations that currently support or did support ALEC, plus details of their lobbying activities. Keep in mind the Pennsylvania specific link was written in 2011. Since this year some PA legislators have quit their membership in ALEC and others have joined. www.alecexposed.org/wiki/Environment,_Energy,_and_Agriculture www.scribd.com/doc/168857480/Behind-Closed-Doors-The-American-Legislative-Exchange-Council-and-Pennsylvania-Legislationlunaticoutpost.com/Topic-Shadow-Government-ALECTHE LINKS BETWEEN ALEC AND PENNSYLVANIA’S ENDANGERED SPECIES COORDINATION ACT (HB 1576 AND SB 1047)David Orr asked: “What is conservative about ‘getting government off the backs’ of citizens while leaving corporations there?” 1 But now, thanks to the agenda and goals of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) an unholy alliance of government and corporations conspires to pass legislation favoring a few at the expense of many; favoring business at the expense of our biological heritage and future generations. Pennsylvania’s “Endangered Species Coordination Act (HB 1576 and SB 1047) is a case in point. This Act if passed will coordinate the elimination of endangered species. Virtually the only supporters of this legislation are developers and resource extractive industries (for example see Attachment #1). The Game Commission (PGC), Fish and Boat (PFBC) Commission and virtually every conservation oriented organization in Pennsylvania are against it. This prompted Senator Alloway to characterize the concern and opposition of citizen conservations to SB 1047 as “disappointing and disingenuous.” Then the good Senator (see his web site) offers a number of specious (if I’m disingenuous, he’s specious) arguments in support of his position. For the most part, what he purports to champion already exists, and he knows it, and he ignores it. In each of four paragraphs he belabors “accountability” and “transparency.” I googled these buzzwords and got over 440 million hits. But it’s what he doesn’t say that is far more illuminating. Senator Alloway is the ALEC Co-chairman in Pennsylvania. State Chairmen duties include “recruiting new members and working to ensure introduction of model legislation.” ALEC has been referred to as “secretive,” “a shadow government, “and a “Trojan Horse;” there’s little transparent about this organization and they’re certainly not accountable to you or me. But given the millions of dollars they have to work with, they are accountable to their donor-corporations. First let’s take a look at following resolution first approved in 1995 and now reapproved by the ALEC Board of Directors on January 28, 2013. ALEC wants the listing of a threatened or endangered species in part (or in its entirety) dependent on economic consequences (see W 4, W 6 and R 2). This is the linchpin of HB 1576 and SB 1047. By requiring agency listing decisions to be vetted by Pennsylvania’s Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC), the financial and economic issues associated with protecting the troubled species can be used by politicians (beholden to and lobbied by business) to prevent or delay listing. Clearly the following resolution is designed to weaken endangered species protections at both the state and federal levels. ALEC --- ENDANGERED SPECIES RESOLUTIONW 1 WHEREAS, Congress enacted the Endangered Species Act in 1973 to conserve threatened and endangered plant and animal species. W 2 WHEREAS, the United States and the states have some of the world’s strictest laws which protect our environment, yet seek to strike a balance between environmental protection and resource production; W 3 WHEREAS, the Endangered Species Act may be reauthorized by Congress; W 4 WHEREAS, the current Endangered Species does not allow consideration of social or economic consequences in the listing of threatened or endangered species; W 5 WHEREAS, the current Endangered Species Act does not adequately consider a role for the states, nor the social and economic implications of critical habitat designation or recovery plan development and implementation; W 6 WHEREAS, the Endangered Species Act thereby presents significant potential negative social and economic consequences for every state of the union; now therefore R 1 BE IT RESOLVED, the American Legislative Exchange Council supports policies which balance the social and economic needs of people and communities in federal decision-making processes with the needs of environmental protection; and R 2 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Legislative Exchange Council urges Congress to amend the Endangered Species Act upon its re-authorization to require a stronger role for the states and a stronger consideration of the social and economic consequences, including takings, in whole or in part, in the designation of critical habitat and in the development and implementation of recovery programs for threatened or endangered species, and R 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be transmitted to all ALEC members, all state Governors, and Members of appropriate Congressional Committees THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT "A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH"If you don’t scare easy consider the following quote (in red) from ALEC’s 40th birthday party in Chicago. This was posted as one of a few “top quotes” by Brendon Fischer on August 22, 2013. At a Thursday luncheon, legislators were reminded that: “The private-sector members [corporations etc.] spent a lot of money to get your attention and let you hear their messages during this event." The message in this instance was delivered by an official from the Texas Oil and Gas Association who spoke about the dangers of the federal Endangered Species Act, quote: "…the Endangered Species Act threatens the economy of every single state in the nation. It's leading to high unemployment rates, threatens local economies, it doesn't allow growth ... this is a matter of life and death, to get rid of the Endangered Species Act, because every state's economy is going to topple if it remains in effect”BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE: the ALEC Verifiable Science Act is model legislation that may have influenced the wording in HB 1576 and SB 1047. You decide for yourself. But I find it curious that the wording and sequence highlighted in Section 3 of ALEC’s model legislation is repeated (almost verbatim) in the definition of “Acceptable data” in HB 1576 and SB 1047. “ ALEC VERIFIABLE SCIENCE ACTSummary: In order to protect citizens from arbitrary and capricious regulations promulgated without any impetus that is justified by pertinent, ascertainable, and peer-reviewed science, this act guarantees citizens the right to access scientific data that is used to develop public policies. “ALEC MODEL LEGISLATION SECTION 1.{Title} This act shall be known as the Verifiable Science Act. SECTION 2.{State rights.}Citizens have a right to access data from state funded studies in whole or in part, that are used for development of state law or regulation or enforcement action. Any regulations promulgated by the results of such studies shall be justified by pertinent, ascertainable, and peer-reviewed science. SECTION 3.{State responsibilities.} Any scientific documentation, statistics, reports, or research must be made available to the public through (provisions of the state Freedom of Information Act) whenever such scientific data is used, in part or in whole, as the basis for proposed statutes, regulations, guidance documents, policy statements, official reports, legislative studies, or any other pronouncements which might carry the weight of law or which might be intended to lead directly to new regulations or statutes. SECTION 4. {Severability clause.} SECTION 5. {Repealer clause.} SECTION 6. {Effective date.} Adopted by ALEC's Natural Resources Task Force at the Spring Task Force Summit May 5, 2000. Approved by full ALEC Board” PENNSYLVANIA’S ENDANGERED SPECIES COORDINATION ACT HB 1576 AND SB 1047, Section 2 Definitions: “Acceptable data.” “Current, best available scientific and commercial, empirical data as evidenced in supporting documentation, statistics, reports, studies or research. As it pertains to wild trout stream designation, such data that is replicable and testable. “EMPIRICAL, REPLICABLE AND TESTABLE DATA AS EVIDENCED IN SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION, STATISTICS, REPORTS, STUDIES OR RESEARCH.” If you compare ALEC’s Endangered Species Resolution and their model Verifiable Science Act with HB 1576 and SB 1047, its clear they’ve much in common. A coincidence, maybe? But it’s troubling that Senator Alloway, Chair of the Senate’s Game and Fisheries Committee is also listed as the ALEC Chair for Pennsylvania. As noted before, one of duties of an ALEC state Chair is working to ensure introduction of model legislation. Bummer! It’s also troubling that the only supporters of this legislation are businesses, see Attachment 1. Attachment 2 is an even more egregious example of how ALEC has influenced the legislative process in Pennsylvania to the benefit of corporations and detriment of citizens and the environment. Lest I be accused of picking on the good Senator, he has company. Because ALEC works behind the scenes and tries to maintain a low profile, it’s difficult to keep up to date with those (corporations and legislators) having ties to ALEC or with legislators that have officially cut those ties; and given the nature of this organization, some legislators probably keep their membership a secret. The indicated web site has the most recent list of Pennsylvania legislators that are known to be ALEC members or that have cut their ties with ALEC. www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Pennsylvania_ALEC_PoliticiansBriefly, the vast majority of ALEC members are republicans. The source-watch list consists of 46 PA representatives and 13 PA senators with current or past ties with ALEC. Of the 23 members on the House Game and Fisheries Committee, 4 have ties with ALEC. Of the 11 members of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, 6 have or had ties with ALEC. Senator Alloway is chairman of the Game and Fisheries Committee and he is the senate’s ALEC chair. This is troublesome on a number of levels. First 26% of the entire Senate has known current or past ties to ALEC; however, 54% of the senate Game and Fisheries Committee have such ties. I would point out that besides pushing model legislation; one of the duties of ALEC state chairs is to recruit new members. SEARCHING FOR BALANCE:Senator Alloway’s November 13 op-ed is titled, “Striking Appropriate Balance with the Endangered Species Coordination Act.” The “appropriate balance” he’s talking about is” between species protection and economic considerations.” Under the circumstances (ALEC, Corporations, campaign donations, stealth lobbyists, pandering politicians), pleas for balance, transparency and accountability ring hollow. Economic considerations: For over half the years in this Century, there’s been a recession that no one blames on the costs of caring for endangered species. In spite of this economic stress, since January 2000, over 41,311 gas wells have been drilled in rural PA; and since 2002, 262,809 building permits have been issued and trees have been removed from 475,500 acres of Penn’s woods. In a single year (2012), the PGC and PFBC received 3,840 projects for review. Keep in mind that a lot of development occurs without need for a permit. All of this activity creates habitat for a perversity of diversity at the expense of the critical habitats needed for the care and recovery of endangered species. Species protection: Rarely if ever have the conditions of a permitted activity resulted in more habitat or better habitat for an endangered or threatened species. Permit requirements (avoidance, mitigation, compensation) make things less bad for troubled species. And less bad may not be good enough to prevent the further decline of some species. Literally billions are behind the bulldozers and chain saws effecting habitat change in PA. On the other hand the taxpayers of Pennsylvania pay nothing for the care of State Endangered and Threatened species. Habitat is changed by billions of corporate dollars and “saved” with millions of sportsperson pennies. This is balance? The Endangered Species Coordination Act will only exacerbate this existing and already extreme imbalance. How appropriate is this? Enough is enough. We need legislation, but not this legislation. Oppose HB 1576 and SB 1047.
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Post by galthatfishes on Jan 2, 2014 18:45:27 GMT -5
And DEP has filed a challenge to Act 13 court ruling. Unreal. Two Pennsylvania agencies on Thursday filed an application to reconsider of the opinions and order entered by the state Supreme Court regarding its Act 13 ruling. The Supreme Court on Dec. 19 declared key provisions of Act 13 – the state’s law governing Marcellus Shale drilling activities – as unconstitutional, including portions that would have taken zoning control out of the hands of local government bodies. To read more about the Act 13 ruling, click here. The DEP and PUC hired an outside law firm, Conrad O’Brien, P.C., to handle the filing. One of the partners of the firm is Cristopher Carusone, who joined the firm after leaving his position as Gov. Tom Corbett’s chief of staff in July. Following the filing, general counsel to Corbett, released the following statement: Today, lawyers representing Commonwealth agencies and officials in the Robinson Township matter have sought reconsideration of the Supreme Court’s December 19, 2013, Opinions and Order. In the Robinson Township decision, the Court declared key provisions of Act 13 of 2012 (the Commonwealth’s oil and gas law) to be unconstitutional. In announcing a never-before-employed balancing test against which the constitutional validity of the law is to be judged, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court made its own sweeping factual findings regarding the impact of Act 13, none of which finds any support in the sparse and uneven factual record that was made before Commonwealth Court. The Supreme Court’s decision is a stunning departure from the historical practice of that Court, and an unrestrained venture into a fact-finding role that the Court always has insisted is not its proper place in the judicial system. Accordingly, today’s request for reconsideration seeks to give Act 13 its fair day in court, as every law of this Commonwealth deserves when challenged. We are asking the Supreme Court to follow its own established precedent and remand the case to Commonwealth Court for the development of an evidentiary record (through a fair and thorough process in which all parties have a real and equal opportunity to participate), application of the Court’s newly-pronounced standards to the facts as found by the Commonwealth Court (with legal briefs from all parties), and finally a fair and final determination as to whether Act 13 violates Article I, Section 27 based on a full record and formal findings. In addition, the Department of Environmental Protection is asking the Supreme Court to reconsider a decision that certain provisions of Act 13 that involve the agency’s responsibility to protect public resources (such as public parks) cannot stand separately from provisions that the Court has determined are unconstitutional. The Department contends that the Supreme Court misunderstood how the statutory provisions work separately from each other and asks the Court to direct Commonwealth Court to study that question as part of the other matters it must examine on remand. The SmithButz lawfirm handled the challenge to Act 13 on behalf of a handful of municipalities including Robinson, Cecil and Peters townships, a medical doctor and a nonprofit. Attorney John Smith said: “After more than 160 pages and more than a year of deliberation, I think the court sufficiently explained its reasoning and position with this case. A majority of the court found that portions of Act 13 are unconstitutional – end of question. Co-counsel, John Kamin, of Goldberg, Kamin & Garvin, said: The PUC’s and DEP’s Request For Reconsideration so that it can implement and utilize unconstitutional legislation is an affront to the Citizens of Pennsylvania, and truly demonstrates the Executive Agencies’ inappropriate stake in this legislation. – John Kamin, co-counsel Reached for reaction to the filing, state Rep. Jesse White, D-Cecil, who was vocal in his opposition to Act 13, said: It’s unconscionable that the state of Pennsylvania is looking at a $1.4 billion deficit, yet, Gov. Tom Corbett is wasting even more taxpayer dollars in a last-ditch desperation stunt to protect his wealthy donors in the shale industry. This has ‘sore loser’ written all over it. It’s mind-boggling to me that the DEP is taking such extraordinary steps to advocate for less environmental and constitutional protections. White also noted that it is highly irregular for appointed department heads in the Corbett administration to file a pleading of this nature, a responsibility that generally falls to the attorney general. Attorney General Kathleen Kane was a defendant in the Act 13 case but declined to defend the law. To read the entire court filing, click on the link below: marcellusmonitor.wordpress.com/2014/01/02/pa-puc-dep-seek-to-overturn-supreme-court-act-13-decision/
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Post by galthatfishes on Jan 2, 2014 18:47:57 GMT -5
§ 27. Natural resources and the public estate. The people have a right to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the natural, scenic, historic and esthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania's public natural resources are the common property of all the people, including generations yet to come. As trustee of these resources, the Commonwealth shall conserve and maintain them for the benefit of all the people. (May 18, 1971, P.L.769, J.R.3)
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Post by Dutch on Jan 5, 2014 6:55:56 GMT -5
If big business could arrange it, we would go back to the times when our rivers actually supported fire. Or to the time when acid mine drainage was acceptable and unchecked.
The reason business exists is to make a profit.
In these economic times, they now use jobs as an excuse to wage war on environmental laws and our environment. I'm not saying our state agencies are without blame in how they treat businesses with over regulation, but, the alternative isn't good either. Just look at what is happening now in China with pollution to see where we once were as a nation when we had no environmental laws.
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Post by melody on Jan 10, 2014 18:54:40 GMT -5
Outdoor groups protest bill on endangered species
January 9, 2014 5:12 PM By Don Hopey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2014/01/09/Outdoor-groups-protest-bill-on-endangered-species/stories/201401090279Legislative proposals that would make it harder to list and protect endangered, threatened and at-risk species in Pennsylvania and make it easier to develop Marcellus Shale gas well sites and pipelines, are attracting a growing list of opponents. Seven sportsmen’s groups today joined the state Fish and Boat and Game commissions and several environmental organizations in lining up against bills that seek to curb the independent commissions’ authority to protect threatened and endangered species, and give new oversight authority to legislative review committees. A hearing on both the Senate and House legislative proposals, S.B. 1047 and H.B. 1576, is scheduled for 10 a.m. Friday at the Eberly College of Business and Information Auditorium, 664 Pratt Drive, on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus in Indiana County. The bills, proposed by Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong, and Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, also would eliminate the need for state agencies to consider impacts on hundreds of species of special concern and rare species when reviewing environmental permits. And they would make it harder for the state Fish and Boat Commission to protect brook trout — the state fish — and prevent development from degrading the state’s purest waterways. A letter from the hunter and angler groups endorsing the scientific expertise of the fish and game commissions and questioning the politics behind the legislative proposals was delivered via email to all of the state’s legislators today. It was signed by the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs; the Pennsylvania Chapter Quality Deer Management Association; Pennsylvania Chapter Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever; Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited; Pennsylvania Chapter Isaac Walton League; Pennsylvania Chapter national Wild Turkey Federation; and the Pennsylvania Trappers Association. “The current process keeps the science in and the politics to a minimum,” the groups said in the letter. “The supporters of the bill want the reverse.” It went on to state that passage of the bills would end a long state tradition of sound, science-based management of animal and plant resources. John Arway, Fish and Boat Commission executive director, in testimony he will deliver at the hearing, defended the science-based criteria used by the commission to list and de-list species and its efficiency in conducting prompt and efficient reviews of gas well and pipeline development proposals. “To pass House Bill 1576 or Senate Bill 1047,” he said in his written statement, “would be to reverse 40 years of consistent, transparent and accountable conservation.” Responding to industry criticism that endangered species considerations have delayed gas well permits, Mr. Arway, said the average time for a Fish and Boat Commission review of a natural gas pipeline application has been reduced from 85 days to 10. And the average time for a Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory review, to determine if a Marcellus Shale gas project site impacts an endangered species, dropped from 30 to 15 days. Of the 16,600 PNDI searches in 2012, he said, only 124 or less than 1 percent, resulted in the commission requesting species surveys. Phone calls seeking comment from Mr. Scarnati and Mr. Pyle were not immediately returned Thursday afternoon. Mr. Pyle, in a phone interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette last September, acknowledged and strongly defended his legislation’s strong economic focus and its permitting benefits for the Marcellus Shale gas and coal mining industries. The Fish and Boat Commission has overseen the listing of state endangered and threatened species since 1974. Today’s list includes 62 endangered or threatened fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, including the shortnosed sturgeon, spotted gar, Massasauga rattlesnake, bog turtle and 10 freshwater mussels species. In the last five years, Mr. Arway said, the commission has added 13 species to its endangered, threatened and candidate list and removed 11. There are also 28 species of birds, bats and mammals on the state Game Commission’s endangered and threatened lists, including the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, northern flying squirrel, great egret, short- and long-eared owls and the small-footed and Indiana bats. Read more: www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2014/01/09/Outdoor-groups-protest-bill-on-endangered-species/stories/2014010903190000000#ixzz2q2if27I4
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Post by melody on Jan 10, 2014 18:57:48 GMT -5
January 9, 2014 Contact: Katy Dunlap, Trout Unlimited: 607-703-0256; kdunlap@tu.org Melody Schell, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs: 717-232-3480; info@pfsc.org FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Sportsmen call on Pennsylvania General Assembly to Protect Sensitive Fish and Wildlife
Leading sportsmen’s organizations urge legislators to oppose House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047HARRISBURG—Today, Pennsylvania’s largest sportsmen’s groups joined forces to send a strong message to members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly: Hunters and anglers throughout the Commonwealth oppose House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047. The Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited, the Pennsylvania Trapper’s Association, and the Pennsylvania Chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, the Izaak Walton League of America and Pheasants Forever, sent a letter to Pennsylvania legislators today urging them to put science before politics, when it comes to fish and wildlife conservation. Collectively, these groups represent more than 100,000 sportsmen and women in Pennsylvania—a constituency that generates nearly $1.5 billion annually for the state’s economy. At issue are House Bill 1576 and Senate Bill 1047—two bills that would fundamentally change how the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission and the Pennsylvania Game Commission operate, when it comes to establishing protections for sensitive fish and wildlife in the commonwealth. “Both the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission currently have a transparent, rigorous process for listing species and wild trout streams that is based on science, while at the same time limiting bureaucracy, and overregulation,” said Melody Schell of the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “These bills seek to bury our commissions in regulatory obstacles that will not fix the problems that the proponents of the bill are seeking to address.” The bills would eliminate the independence of Pennsylvania Fish and Boat and Game Commission by subjecting their decisions to designate wild trout streams, or to list threatened or endangered species, to review by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission and legislative committees. “It is clear that the proposed bills are intended to slow down, or even bring to a halt, the process of listing wild trout streams and as a consequence, streams where wild trout are present are left unprotected, ” said Brian Wagner, president of the Pennsylvania Council of Trout Unlimited. “As the recent Act 13 Supreme Court ruling pointed out, the Commonwealth has an affirmative duty to protect natural resources—including fish and wildlife—for current and future generations.” Pennsylvania has a long and proud tradition of allowing independent commissions staffed by nationally-recognized wildlife and aquatic experts to manage the fish and wildlife of the Commonwealth without undue political interference. These bills would end that tradition and undermine the longstanding independence of the Game Commission and the Fish & Boat Commission and severely limit their ability to protect Pennsylvania's threatened and endangered species—opening up the door for increased federal oversight and potential loss of federal funds under the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Funds. Trout Unlimited is the nation’s oldest and largest coldwater fisheries conservation organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s trout and salmon and their watersheds. Follow TU on Facebook and Twitter, and visit us online at tu.org. Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs is Pennsylvania’s oldest and largest conservation organization dedicated to insuring sportsmen’s rights and interests are protected; and protecting and enhancing the environment, our natural resources and our 2nd Amendment Rights. Follow PFSC on Facebook and visit us online at pfsc.org. Letter to General Assembly Attachment Deleted
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Post by melody on Jan 11, 2014 15:13:59 GMT -5
Protecting species must be balanced with job creation, senators say
January 10, 2014 11:39 PM www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2014/01/11/Protecting-species-must-be-balanced-with-job-creation-senators-say/stories/201401110103 By Don Hopey / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette INDIANA, Pa. -- Bald eagles, river mussels, spadefoot toads and other threatened and endangered species occupy a small but important ecological niche in Pennsylvania, but they're causing big problems for Marcellus Shale gas developers and other industries, according to many of the state senators at a hearing on proposed legislation that would make it harder to protect those species. Sen. Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson, who last year introduced Senate Bill 1047, titled the Endangered Species Coordination Act, said the legislation is all about adding "checks and balances" to the existing process of listing species and providing predictable, consistent and timely information to industries. "No one up here," Mr. Scarnati said, referring to the panel of Senate committee members, "wants to swing the pendulum away from protecting endangered species, yet we need the jobs." His bill seeks to curb the power of the state's fish and game authorities to protect threatened and endangered species and gives new oversight authority to legislative review committees and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission. It also would stop state agencies from considering how development proposals would impact hundreds of rare species and species of special concern when reviewing environmental permits. And it would make it harder for the state Fish and Boat Commission to protect brook trout -- the state fish. Sen. James Brewster, D-Monroeville, said the changes are needed. "We have to make sure that jobs and business don't become endangered, too," he said. "There's a price for progress. We have a tremendous industry with Marcellus Shale, and it's important we make way for progress." State Sen. Don White, R-Indiana, cited the shutdown of sand and gravel dredging on the Allegheny River due to restrictions to protect endangered freshwater mussels, and said, "There's got to be balance." Testimony at the hearing from the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry and the Pennsylvania Builders Association strongly supported the bill, which also has the endorsement of 25 industry and business trade associations and chambers of commerce in the state. But the Senate bill and a similar measure introduced in the state House throw a much wider net over endangered and threatened species listings and protections programs than warranted, according to testimony by John Arway, executive director of the Fish and Boat Commission, and Carl Roe, executive director of the Game Commission. Mr. Arway defended the science-based criteria used by the commission to list and de-list species and its efficiency in conducting prompt and efficient reviews of gas well and pipeline development proposals. "To pass House Bill 1576 or Senate Bill 1047," he said in his written statement, "would be to reverse 40 years of consistent, transparent and accountable conservation." Seven hunting, fishing and conservation groups sent an email to all the state legislators on Thursday, endorsing the long-standing scientific expertise of the fish and game commissions, questioning the politics behind the legislative proposals and urging the lawmakers to reject the proposed endangered species law changes. About 50 people attended the hearing on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania campus, including 10 wearing T-shirts and holding signs with anti-Senate Bill 1047 messages. "The politicians should not get involved," said Marianne Atkinson of DuBois. "The state's endangered species listing, the PNDI, is working and if it ain't broke, don't fix it." Sen. Richard Alloway II, R-Chambersburg, chair of the committee, noted the turnout was the largest he's had for a Senate Game and Fisheries Committee hearing and said he planned to hold at least one more and urged those interested to contact their Senate and House representatives to make their positions known. Read more: www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2014/01/11/Protecting-species-must-be-balanced-with-job-creation-senators-say/stories/2014011101030000000#ixzz2q7enT7Qa
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Post by TusseyMtman on Jan 12, 2014 20:44:07 GMT -5
So, we have the gas drillers, the river dredger, and the USP pushing for this. Well those are certainly people who have PA's best interests at heart. What could be the problem?
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Post by melody on Jan 14, 2014 13:10:33 GMT -5
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Post by TusseyMtman on Jan 14, 2014 16:05:46 GMT -5
This issue gets little concern compared to the semi-auto thread. To me, that fact is indicative of the real problems we face as hunters.
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