Arizona and New Mexico Ponderosa and Pinyon Pine Emperiled by Perfidy

The U.S. Forest Service has been caught in an insult against state environmental officials in Arizona and New Mexico, and assault on land in those states, a reckless endangerment of fragile ecosystems there, and a violation of a legal settlement, and a lie to the American people.

The U.S. Forest Service, in a 1996 legal settlement, agreed to protections for areas of ponderosa pine and other conifers in Arizona and New Mexico. However, in 2007, the Forest Service abruptly ended its adherence to the legal settlement, and changed the official rules for the management of that land.

Trying to blunt protest over this betrayal, the Forest Service claimed that state officials from Arizona and New Mexico had expressed no concerns about the changes. Records from the Game and Fish Department of Arizona show that’s just not true. State environmental officials expressed profound objections to the loosening of rules protecting the land. The Forest Service simply ignored their concerns.

This particular case shows how the right wing federal government’s refusal to accept its responsibility for environmental protections doesn’t affect wildlife. The neglect also affects relationships between the federal government and state governments. In both respects, the anti-environmental government set up by Republicans has failed to function.

(Source: Center for Biological Diversity, November 27, 2007)

Western States Take The First Step Against Global Warming

This week, the following states, along with the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Manitoba, announced the formation of the cross-border Western Climate Initiative, in which the member states and provinces agree to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 15 percent before the year 2020:

Arizona

California

New Mexico

Oregon

Washington

Utah

Many environmentalists are pointing out that the 15 percent reduction is just a fraction of what will be necessary to prevent catastrophic effects from global warming. However, other organizations are recognizing this agreement as a good first step until stronger accords can be reached.

The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club notes that this legislation, “will require Utah to adopt tougher tailpipe emission standards similar to California’s, which could help tremendously towards improved air quality,” and that 95 of Utah’s electricity is provided by one of the dirtiest sources available: Coal.

Providing some more legal pressure for a clean up of the energy industry in western states like Utah, which spew pollution that the prevailing winds take to most of the rest of the United States, is indeed something worth recognition. However, the pressure from activists seeking clean air and action to confront the growing threat of global warming needs to remain high as well.