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CAPITOL FLYER
Wednesday, September 1, 2004
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Capitol Flyer is intended to keep you abreast of the latest developments in Washington affecting the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Table of Contents:
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Comment Period Open for Draft Agreement at National Bison Range
As reported in the August 2004 issue of Capitol Flyer, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has issued a proposed draft annual funding agreement (AFA) for the National Bison Range Complex (NBRC).
The National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) submitted official comments August 20 to the FWS opposing the agreement. The NWRA's comments, along with other information on the National Bison Range AFA, can be found on the Association's Web site, at http://refugenet.org/New-issues/bisonprinciples.html.
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The draft Tribal agreement would create an administrative nightmare for the FWS, affect the ability of volunteers to contribute to the refuge, potentially pull resources from other refuges and force taxpayers to write a blank check for undisclosed costs. As a result, the NWRA urges you to take action on this important issue by submitting comments on the agreement to the National Bison Range.
Thanks to the NWRA's all-new Take Action page at www.refugenet.org, the Association has made it easy and fast for people to take action on refuge issues. Simply go to http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com, enter your e-mail address in the login box (leave the password blank if you haven't signed up already) and follow the prompts.
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Appropriations Update
Congress is currently out of session for the August recess until September 7. Once Congress returns, the Senate is expected to act on the fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, followed by the other unfinished appropriations bills for agencies like the Department of the Interior (DOI). (The NWRA encourages you to contact you U.S. Senators about FY05 Refuge System funding using the Association's new Take Action Web page at http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com.)
In the meantime, the FY06 appropriations process continues to advance. According to sources, the FWS recently received the "passback" from the DOI (Once the DOI edits the FWS budget it gets "passed back" to the FWS.). Although actual figures are unavailable, the NWRA has learned that the FY06 budget is shaping up to be lower than the FY05 level proposed by the Bush Administration.
In September, the FWS will pass the FY06 budget to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for further review and edits. Join the NWRA's "Refuge Action Network" to receive information on how you can help encourage the DOI, FWS and OMB to submit a strong and consistent budget for the Refuge System to Congress next year, at http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com.
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Concerns Raised over Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge
An agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) urged federal officials not to create a wildlife refuge at the former Rocky Flats nuclear weapons facility in Colorado; however, he was ordered not to explain the reasons for his request. The agent led a raid of the facility in 1989 based on a tip that radioactive waste was secretly and illegally being burned.
"As a father and a fellow human being, I urge you not to allow recreation at Rocky Flats," said the agent.
The FBI agent made the comments at a press conference centered around a report written by a former Rocky Flats employee alleging the Department of Energy (DOE) lied to cover up contamination caused by improper disposal of waste. According to the report, illegal and unrecorded dumping of radioactive waste means some contaminated areas have not been included in the site's $7 billion cleanup.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, DOE and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have requested grand jury files related to an investigation of the cleanup at Rocky Flats.
Federal officials decommissioned Rocky Flats in 1989 and announced in August 2003 the completion of a cleanup project to remove 12 tons of weapons-grade plutonium from the former weapons plant. Contractor Kaiser-Hill completed the removal of plutonium 12 years ahead of schedule. After Kaiser-Hill removes 800 buildings from the 385-acre industrial complex by 2006, the site will be turned over to the FWS to use as a national wildlife refuge.
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Take Action, with the NWRA!
The National Wildlife Refuge Association is proud to announce its new and improved "Take Action" page on www.refugenet.org. Help make a difference on refuge issues by signing up for the NWRA's new e-advocacy tool at http://refugenet.e-actionmax.com.
The new system makes it easier than ever to help protect and enhance the National Wildlife Refuge System. Please contact Michael Woodbridge, Assistant Director of Government Affairs, at 202.333.9073 or mwoodbridge@refugenet.org.
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Capitol Flyer, a monthly e-newsletter from the NWRA, is prepared by Michael Woodbridge, NWRA's Assistant Director of Government Affairs. For additional information, please contact mwoodbridge@refugenet.org.
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