McCain Withdraws Bill Rider that Threatened Grand Canyon National Park

On Monday, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) was forced to withdraw his controversial 'Grand Canyon overflights rider,' which would have undermined the ongoing Federal Aviation Administration(FAA)-National Park Service rulemaking process for commercial overflight regulation at Grand Canyon National Park.  Senator McCain, along with Senators Kyl (R-AZ), Ensign (R-NV) and Reid (D-NV), had attempted to attach his rider to the FAA reauthorization bill, but McCain agreed to pull it after running into significant opposition from Sierra Club and the National Parks Conservation Association.

 
Photo Courtesy of the National Park Service

The issue of regulating commercial overflights at the Grand Canyon has been controversial since 1987, when Congress approved McCain's National Parks Overflights Act requiring the federal government to reduce noise pollution in the Grand Canyon by restricting aircraft.  Since then, FAA and the National Park Service have not been able to issue a final plan to manage the air traffic.  But the agencies are close to releasing a draft environmental impact statement on restricting flights over the park.  The McCain amendment would have undercut that ongoing rulemaking process by re-interpreting the 1987 Act and setting an arbitrary standard for "natural quiet."  It would have also changed the flight curfews to limit evening flights, while allowing more early morning flights.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) spoke against the amendment on the Senate floor, saying it does not make sense to legislatively enact new standards when the Park Service is close to releasing its new recommendations.  Bingaman also objected to the specific provision that would have prohibited a reduction in the current number of air tours over the park and prevented the government from considering sound produced by other sources, including other types of airplanes, when deciding whether natural quiet had been restored.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness Expansion Passes the House

Late last week, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and the Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act (H.R. 1769/S. 721) moved one step closer to final passage when the House of Representatives passed the bill on a voice vote.  The bill will protect an additional 22,000 acres of wilderness adjoining the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and would add 10 miles of the Pratt River and nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River to the National Wild and Scenic River System.  Sierra Club thanked Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA-08) for his continued leadership, advocacy and bipartisan approach to protecting the wilderness and free-flowing rivers in the North Cascades.

 
Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service 

Originally designated in 1976, the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area has since become one of the most popular wilderness areas in the country.  The legislation would add an additional 22,000 acres to the existing wilderness area.  These additions are comprised of diverse low-elevation forests with robust fish and wildlife populations that include cougars, black bears, elk and native trout.  The inclusion of low-elevation land will conserve diverse ecosystems, add to the biodiversity of the wilderness area and protect recreational opportunities such as hiking, backpacking, fishing, climbing, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing.

The legislation will keep the entire Pratt River and the upper portion of the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River in their present pristine condition.  These rivers are home to world-class fishing, kayaking and whitewater rafting, are within easy reach of Seattle and provide residents with easy opportunities to experience their free-flowing nature.

The protection of these valuable rivers under the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System would also safeguard high water quality for downstream residents and preserve critical wildlife and fish habitat.  Together, Congressman Reichert and Senator Murray have developed legislation that protects some of Washington's remaining wild resources while ensuring future recreational opportunities.  Strong support has also been provided by the Washington congressional delegation, including Senator Cantwell and Representatives Inslee, Smith, Baird and McDermott, who were original cosponsors of the legislation.  The final action that needs to be taken is for the Senate to pass the legislation before sending it to President Obama for his signature.

House Holds Hearing on Controversial Tongass National Forest Land Transfer Bill

Last week, the House of Representatives held a hearing on a piece of legislation that would transfer approximately 70,000 high value acres of the Tongass National Forest to the Sealaska Native Corporation.  Sponsored by Rep. Don Young (R-AK), the bill has sparked controversy in Alaska and drawn opposition from numerous local governments and concerns from the Obama administration's Department of Agriculture.  While the Sealaska Corporation has a right to select its remaining lands pursuant to certain withdrawal areas identified in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, this current proposal would drastically re-write the longstanding agreement and privatize some of the best wildlife habitat, undeveloped coves, bays, and recreational areas in the Tongass National Forest.

 
Photography copyrighted: John Hyde, Wild Things Photography

The Tongass is by far our country's largest and wildest national forest.  Comprising misty fjords and old-growth stands, the Tongass serves as unparalleled habitat for wildlife, stores huge amounts of carbon, and provides exceptional recreational opportunities.  It is rightly considered the crown jewel of the national forest system.

The Senate has introduced a companion bill (S. 881) to this highly controversial legislation.  Call your Senators today and urge them to oppose any efforts to privatize the Tongass.  Take action here.

New Bill For Oregon's Forests Needs Improvements

Last December, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) unveiled new legislation focused on the management of 8 million acres in six Oregon national forests.  While the bill has some promising restoration goals, it would lock in arbitrary annual acreage targets that could push the Forest Service towards harmful management practices, and remove the public's right to administratively appeal damaging timber sales on hundreds of thousands of acres of eastern Oregon national forests.  A congressional hearing took place on the bill on Wednesday.

Photo by John Craig, courtesty of the Bureau of Land Management

Sierra Club is suggesting modest changes that could significantly improve the legislation and better meet the needs of eastern Oregon forest job creation, old growth forest protection, and long-term ecological restoration.  In short, the Sierra Club believes that the way forward must be guided by science, and the current science tells us to protect the last remaining stands of old growth trees, to protect all remaining roadless areas, and to end the destructive practice of post-fire (salvage) logging.

Please take action and urge your senators to improve this bill and ensure that we are promoting true restoration jobs and protecting old growth forests, roadless areas, and biodiversity.

Sage Grouse Listed as "Candidate" Endangered Species

Late last week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finally announced its decision regarding the potential listing of the sage grouse under the Endangered Species Act.  The finding was "warranted but precluded" meaning that the bird is in need of protection but will not be listed yet, but rather put on a candidate list.  As such, states will be in charge of managing the bird.

 Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Sage grouse once roamed much of the West but the species has been in steep decline due to habitat loss, specifically the plains environment it requires to mate.  The gravest threat the bird currently faces, and the one that makes any decision listing it 'endangered' extremely controversial, is the oil and gas industry.  During the course of the last decade, oil and gas development has rampantly spread across the West, often coming into conflict with the grouse's habitat.

The "warranted but precluded" finding is an important first step toward protecting the bird and the open spaces it needs, but it will still require much work and proper management if the grouse is to recover.  The Department of the Interior has stated their commitment to expand efforts with state, local, private, and tribal partners to map lands that are vital habitat for the bird.  We will be watching to ensure that those efforts are successful and that management activities are properly balanced.

Read the Sierra Club's press release here.

Read the Fish and Wildlife's press release here.

Department of the Interior Announces Way Forward for Responsibly-Sited Wind Development

Late last week, a 22-member advisory committee reached a consensus on a set of draft recommendations designed to minimize the impacts of wind farms on wildlife and its habitat.  This is a vitally important step as we work to make our habitats resilient to climate change while balancing the need for renewable energy necessary to stop climate change.

According to the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Wind Turbine Guidelines Federal Advisory Committee report lays out a decision-making framework to guide all stages of wind energy development, looks at landscape-scale planning, and relies on the best available science.  Secretary Salazar has said that he will review these reommendations as DOI crafts its guidelines for wind development on public and private lands.

To read more about the committee and see the draft report click here.