Land Rights Network American Land Rights Association PO Box 400 - Battle Ground, WA 98604 Phone: 360-687-3087 - Fax: 360-687-2973 E-mail: alra@pacifier.com Web Address: http://www.landrights.org Legislative Office: 507 Seward Square SE - Washington, DC 20003 Interior IG NLCS Investigation, Senate BLM NLCS Vote Looming See House Natural Resources Committee Press Release At Bottom. See Complete Environment & Energy Newsletter Story at bottom. -----Immediate Action Required -----Please forward this message to your entire e-mail list. Urgent. ------Call both your Senators every day this week. Call your friends and neighbors to get them to call. Any Senator may be called at (202) 224-3121. You must bury them in calls, faxes and e-mails opposing the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill (NLCS and 190 other bills). It has not been assigned a number yet. -----It is hard to imagine a larger threat to you. -----Go to www.landrights.org for a map of the huge NLCS (National Landscape Conservation System). Congress Back In DC - Limited Days Left To Vote - House Corps EPA Land Grab (HR 2421) Wetlands Vote Any Time. Senate Omnibus Federal Lands (NLCS) Vote imminent. (No new number yet) Bill now includes 190 different bills. It was "only" 90 bills before. We are highlighting only the NLCS part of the giant Omnibus Bill. There are 190 others. The danger is alarming. Alert - Alert - Alert The Senate Omnibus Bill will have a new number that has not been designated yet. Action Items (Part 1) -----1. You must call it the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill that includes the NLCS. It is urgent that you call both your Senators immediately. Tell them you will hold them responsible in the election if the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill and the NLCS passes. -----2. Tell him about the investigation by the Interior Department Inspector General into what appears to be illegal activities by BLM NLCS staff. Ask that the NLCS be removed from the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill at least until the Interior Department Inspector General's report is completed. -----3. Any Senator can put a "hold" on a bill and stop it or at least delay it for a few days. New Side By Side Report Comparing Obama and McCain Votes on your issues coming from American Land Rights soon. You can look at the 2006 and 2007 Private Property Congressional Vote Index at www.landrights.org. See how your Congressman voted. Look to see how John McCain and Barack Obama scored on their votes. The Vote index covers private property, multiple-use, Federal lands use, access and environmental issues. More Action Items below. Dear Ally: You need to act fast. Congress is rushing to pass bills without carefully reading them or analyzing their threat to you. Your calls, faxes and E-mails to your Congressman and both Senators are critical to pressure your legislator to look carefully at these dangerous bills. They are the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill (No new number designated yet) and the Corps of Engineers and EPA Wetlands Land Grab Bill (HR 2421 - S 1870). -----Congress returned September 8th and is in a huge rush because of the looming election. They will want to get business done and get out of town. They only have a few days left. They are supposed to go home Friday, Sept. 26th but it will likely go longer, at least through the weekend. We could possibly have a lame duck session after the election. -----Your next week must be devoted to calling, faxing and e-mailing both Senators and your Congressman at least once a day or more about the Senate Omnibus Federal Land Bill and HR 2421. All Senators may be called at (202) 224-3121. Any Congressman may be called at (202) 225-3121. Call your neighbors, friends and business associates also. This is an all out call to action. When you call, get their e-mail and fax number of the staff person who handles the Omnibus Federal Lands Bill in the Senate and HR 2421 in the House. Congress is in a rush to pass legislation and they're very short of time. You can be sure they will not have time to read carefully the many bills they will have to vote on. -----This is the time when bad legislation that hurts you passes Congress. -----The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will likely vote shortly on HR 2421, the Clean Water Restoration Act (We call it the Corps of Engineers/EPA Land Grab bill). -----That is the Democrat effort to reverse two Supreme Court Wetlands decisions favorable to private property owners and seize control of all US watersheds. -----That means all Federal and private lands. In other words, National Land Use Controls. HR 2421 would give control over Wetlands and other lands back to the Corps of Engineers and EPA. The Corps of Engineers and EPA would control your land. Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) is hoping to slip HR 2421 in for a quick vote in the full House before they leave so you must act fast. -----The Senate vote on the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill will also come sometime before September 26th. It could happen later if Congress does not go home right away. That's the new Omnibus Federal Lands Bill. It is also called the giant Public Land Management Act of 2008, which includes the BLM National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS). -----It also includes numerous new Wilderness areas and has been increased in size to 190 other Federal lands and parks bills put together as one giant omnibus bill. Think of it as the Omnibus Federal Lands NLCS bill. Imagine Congress passing 190 bills at one time in a huge Federal Lands Omnibus bill. That is what is going to happen if you fail to act. Call Now! Congressional staff will be there and they must hear from you quickly. -----I cannot overstate how critical the NLCS is to you. The NLCS was created in 2000 by Bruce Babbitt. The NLCS has sat quietly for eight years as the Democrats waited under the radar for an opportunity to pass it through Congress and make it permanent. -----The NLCS will impose a preservationist National Park type regulatory overlay over 26,000,000 acres of BLM land including all BLM National Monuments, Wild and Scenic Rivers, Wilderness Study Areas and much more. -----Senator Diane Feinstein (D-CA) plans to add 6,000,000 acres of the California Desert to the bill taking it up to 32,000,0000 acres. It threatens access and use by property owners, ranchers, miners, forestry advocates, recreationists and many other Federal land users. With fall here, the Democrat promoters of these land grab bills hope you will be distracted by the election and other things and not paying attention. There will be so many bills rushed to a vote that many Senators and Congressmen will not have time to read them. That means your friends in Congress could easily allow bills to pass that would threaten you. They would not be aware of it. -----Your Senator may not notice a threat to you in the 190 different bills included in the Omnibus Federal Lands Bill. -----There is no way for us to stress too strongly how critical your calls, faxes and e-mails are to your Congressman and both Senators during the coming three weeks opposing the Senate Omnibus Lands Bill and HR 2421, the Wetlands Corps of Engineers EPA land grab in the House. -----If these bills pass, they'll be a regulatory noose around your neck for generations. They'll strangle local business, small towns, counties and generally give the greens control over your land and all Federal lands. Your calls, e-mails and faxes can make the difference. -----You must make controversy. When your legislators get lots of calls, they'll be so busy they'll likely to put the threatening bills away until they have more time to examine them. That gives you more time to fight. -----Tell your Senator to oppose any Omnibus Bill that puts a bunch of bills together (190 separate bills). You get locked out if they package the bills in an Omnibus bill. Oppose any omnibus bill. You must raise the devil over this kind of back room, dark of night double dealing. It is undemocratic and you must make sure your Senator gets credit for voting for the Omnibus Federal Lands Bill if he or she does. They must know and be told by you that you are watching this vote before the election. Action Items (Part 2) -----1. You must call, fax or e-mail once a week your Congressional Representative. Call at (202) 225-3121 to insist that he or she oppose HR 2421, the giant Wetlands Corps of Engineers EPA land grab. Make sure you tell your Representative that you oppose the giant Wetlands Corps of Engineers EPA Watershed Land Grab Bill, HR 2421 (The official name is the Clean Water Restoration Act). Ask for a written confirmation of your phone call when you call. You should also ask for the e-mail and fax number of the staff person who handles Wetlands and keep that information for future reference. -----2. Call, fax or e-mail both your Senators at least once a day or more to ask them to oppose the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill. Get the e-mail and fax number for the staff person who handles Federal lands. All Senators may be called at (202) 224-3121. -----Get a commitment from your Senator that he or she will oppose the new Omnibus Federal Lands Bill including the 26,000,000 acre BLM NLCS and all the new Wilderness areas. Senator Feinstein (D-CA) will add 6,000,000 acres of the California Desert to the NLCS. Ask for the e-mail and fax of the staff person. Be sure to fax or e-mail a letter weekly to both your Senators opposing the Senate Omnibus Federal Lands Bill. -----Everyone should oppose this new way the Senate is passing bills by packaging them into huge omnibus bills where so many Senators have a bill included that nobody looks closely at the other parts of the overall bill. Tell them you want votes on each individual bill and they must read each bill. -----Stop HR 2421, The Clean Water Restoration Act. HR 2421 is really a massive Federal land and watershed power grab. It must be stopped. It will use "wetlands," the Corps of Engineers and EPA to take control over every farm, ranch, and piece of private property with any water on it or even if you only engage in activities that might affect water. -----It expands the authority of the Federal government under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972 (Clean Water Act) to include all waters of the U.S. and activities affecting these waters. It drops the limitation to just navigable waters. It will give the Corps of Engineers and EPA control over your land. You'll get tied up in a nightmare of red tape and bureaucracy. Help stop the Senate Omnibus Land Bill, that is the giant new Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2008. It includes the BLM National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS), new Wilderness areas, all BLM National Monuments and many other Federal lands and parks bills. That is over 190 separate bills combined together. Why you and American Land Rights (ALRA) should be on the same team. -----ALRA is your political insurance policy; -----ALRA has a powerful record of accomplishment in Congress; -----Through ALRA, your voice is loudly heard in Washington, DC; -----ALRA is known for its aggressive protection of members' rights; -----You have access to our full time office and staff in Washington, DC; -----You have a full time Headquarters in Battle Ground, Washington to help you; -----Hundreds of thousands of allies in ALRA e-mail, fax and mail lists to help you win; -----ALRA offers crisis management services to members and allies; -----Day-to-day consulting on land use and environmental issues is available; and -----Grassroots organizing and coalition building to help you save your property or interest. Chuck Cushman American Land Rights Association (360) 687-3087 ccushman@pacifier.com For more information or to support American Land Rights, go to www.landrights.org Press Release Natural Resources Committee -- Press Release U.S. Rep. Don Young, Ranking Member 1329 Longworth H.O.B. Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-7749 www.house.gov/resources/republicans Contacts: Steve Hansen (Republican Communications Director) (202) 225-7749 Meredith Kenny (Communications Director/Rep. Don Young) (202) 225-5765 September 18, 2008 -----Must Read----- -----Rep. Rob Bishop Calls On Interior Department To Act On Possible Misconduct At National Landscape Conservation System; -----Inspector General Starts Investigation Into Improper Coordination Between NLCS Employees & Environmental Advocacy Organizations Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep Rob Bishop (R-Utah), called on the Interior Department to act quickly to halt any improper activities involving the National Landscape Conservation System (NLCS) and environmental advocacy organizations. Bishop is the Ranking Member on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee. Department officials have told Bishop's office that the Department's Inspector General has started an investigation into the NLCS, a division of the Bureau of Land management, after reviewing documents related to the agency. Bishop further asked that employees involved in the investigation step aside from their positions and relinquish their duties until the investigation is completed by the Inspector General. Federal law generally prohibits federal employees from using appropriated funds or their official positions to lobby Congress. Emails and other documents being reviewed by the Department show extensive coordination between top NLCS officials and lobbyists for environmental groups. "The Department must insist that any employee involved in violations of the Anti-Lobbying Law step aside until the Inspector General or the Justice Department has reviewed his or her conduct," Bishop said. "Just as the employees of the royalty-in-kind program at MMS learned, we will not tolerate misconduct by public officials." For more information, access the Committee on Natural Resources' Minority website at: http://republicans.resourcescommittee.house.gov/default.aspx # # # Steve Hansen Director of Communications Republican Staff U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources 1329 Longworth HOB Washington, D.C. 20515 (202) 225-7749 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - >From Environment & Energy Newsletter INTERIOR: IG investigating coordination by BLM and enviro groups, congressman says (09/19/2008) Noelle Straub, E&E Daily reporter The Interior inspector general is investigating possible illegal coordination between lobbyists for environmental groups and federal officials of the National Landscape Conservation System, Rep. Rob Bishop said yesterday. Interior officials informed his office about the investigation into the NLCS, which is a division of the Bureau of Land Management, the Utah Republican said in a statement. E-mails and other documents show extensive coordination between top NLCS officials and environmental lobbyists, said Bishop, the top Republican on the National Parks, Forests and Public Lands Subcommittee. The main groups involved appear to be the Wilderness Society and the National Wildlife Federation, a House GOP aide said. At some point NLCS officials had weekly meetings with these and other groups, often at the Wilderness Society's office, to coordinate lobbying strategy and messaging, the aide said. E-mails show that NLCS officials requested environmental groups to write budget language, the aide added. E-mails also talk about coordinating lobbying efforts, setting up NLCS events, sending out draft memorandums for each other to review and preparing for congressional hearing. The federal and advocacy officials exchanged resumes and job announcements in their respective organizations and BLM, the aide said. Travel documents are still being collected and reviewed and will be part of the investigation, the aide added. Federal law generally prohibits federal employees from using appropriated funds or their official positions to lobby Congress. Kevin Mack, NLCS campaign director with the Wilderness Society, said he was unaware of the investigation. "I don't know what the investigation is about, have not been called by the IG, so I can't say anything more than that," Mack said. Both his groups work on public lands issues and are in contact with many people related to their work, Mack added. "I don't know what 'there' is there." NWF spokeswoman Jennifer Jones said the group has not been contacted by the IG's office. Interior spokeswoman Tina Kreisher said the department had no comment at this time. An inspector general spokesman could not be reached by press time. Bishop said the Interior Department should act quickly to halt any improper activities involving advocacy groups and the NLCS. He also called on employees involved in the investigation to step aside from their positions until the inspector general finishes his work. "The department must insist that any employee involved in violations of the anti-lobbying law step aside until the inspector general or the Justice Department has reviewed his or her conduct," Bishop said. "Just as the employees of the royalty-in-kind program at MMS learned, we will not tolerate misconduct by public officials." Bishop was referring to a sex, drugs and financial favors investigation of Minerals Management Service employees recently completed by the Interior inspector general, on which the full committee held a hearing yesterday (E&ENews PM, Sept. 18). Former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt established NLCS during the Clinton administration to grant protections to ecologically and historically valuable lands controlled by BLM. But Babbitt's designation did not codify the system, meaning a later Interior secretary could dissolve it. When the House approved a bill in April codifying it, Bishop complained the House Rules Committee blocked GOP amendments, including one by him that would have addressed the private property rights he said were threatened by what he called a "vague legislative entity." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - If you wish to unsubscribe, reply to this e-mail with "unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you know of others who would like to receive these alerts, reply with their e-mail addresses. Please forward this message as widely as possible. It is incredibly important for you to forward this message. By forwarding the message, you can help get many thousands of copies of this e-mail distributed. Thank you in advance for your help.
