DRAFT LEGISLATION COULD WEAKEN ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
By Sarah Morgan

Draft legislation aimed at weakening the Endangered Species Act continues to gain momentum in congress, according to environmental activist groups.

The draft legislation was prepared by the Republican staff of the House Resources Committee and includes provisions that redefine conservation, limit the scope of what constitutes an endangered species, and call for the Act to expire in the year 2015, the New York Times reported.

The legislation "takes a wrecking ball to the whole Endangered Species Act" by changing its mission and cutting enforcement tools and controls on government agencies, Jamie Rappaport Clark, executive vice president of Defenders of Wildlife, told the New York Times.

The draft would require a species to be endangered throughout its entire habitat in order for it to qualify for protection. If such a provision had been in place when the Act was first implemented, the bald eagle, the grizzly bear, and the gray wolf would not have made the list, according to the Endangered Species Coalition, a group dedicated to protecting the Act. Although these and other species are endangered in the contiguous United States, they are not endangered in Alaska and Canada.

The legislation also calls for limited endangered listing of subgroups of a species of fish or wildlife.

Further, habitat protections would be weakened, requiring only occupied habitat to be protected, possibly shrinking the areas currently considered critical habitat. The current version of the law allows for the inclusion of areas historically used by a species.

Supporters of the draft legislation say the Endangered Species Act is producing limited results. Since its passage in 1973, more than 1,200 species have been listed as endangered, yet only a few have recovered enough to make it off the list, according to the New York Times.

However, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, in a 2003 review, said, "Recovery is on the horizon for many species on the list. Ninety-seven percent of US-listed species as of September 30, 2002, still survive and many of them are headed toward recovery." In fact, the Service considers over 500 listed species to be stable or improving in status."

The Act has also blocked dam constructions, logging, and other activities that could have forced endangered species into extinction. Conversely, because the Act has been a roadblock to such projects, it has drawn criticism from industry and developers, and many attempts to change the law have been made through the years.

Though these previous efforts failed to pass, according to the New York Times, Richard W. Pombo (R-CA), chair of the House Resources Committee, said Republican gains in the House and Senate in the last election could tip the scales in favor of the new bill.

For more information about the draft legislation, visit http://www.stopextinction.org/Team/Team.cfm?ID=1628&c=1.

SUNKEN, ABANDONED VESSELS TO BE REMOVED FROM GALVESTON BAY
By Sarah Morgan

The Galveston Bay Foundation will be removing hazardous sunken and abandoned vessels from Dickinson Bay, Dickinson Bayou, and West Bay this week, with plans to remove up to fourteen items.

"Most of it's been there for decades," said Courtney Miller, the Galveston Bay Foundation's project manager for the removal.

The debris items scheduled to be removed are one derelict barge from Moses Lake, seven abandoned fishing and shrimping boats in Dickinson Bay and Dickinson Bayou, and up to six sunken vessels in West Galveston Bay. Once removed, the items will be transported to an approved waste disposal facility.

T&T Marine Salvage, Inc., out of Galveston has the contract to perform the removal work. A crane-mounted barge will remove the items by breaking them into sections.
This debris cleanup will be the second phase of the GBF removal project, Miller said. During the first phase, which ran through the month of August 2004, six items were removed from Dickinson Bay.

"It's great work," Miller said, "but it's just barely putting a dent into what's out there."

Marine debris can affect water quality, impeding flow and circulation as well as releasing residual petroleum products. Some of the vessels are submerged below the surface of the water, posing a danger to boaters.

"The debris is marring the beauty of the bay for tourists and birders," said Miller, who also noted that some of the vessels sit in the middle of marshes and other ecosystems, impacting fisheries production and decreasing use by other wildlife.

Though the group hopes this will be an ongoing project, the grant from the General Land Office, administered through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, expires this fall. Once this second phase is completed, a total of $300,000 will have been spent on hazardous debris removal.

PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY IN HOUSTON

The Rice Design Alliance is hosting the first of a three-part series on prospects for sustainability in Houston, July 20, 7 pm, in the Brown Auditorium, Museum of Fine Arts, Bissonnet at Main Street.

Part 1, "People," will explore the health, safety, welfare, and happiness of human beings as we try to live our lives in a busy urban environment. How can we construct a society in which people can maintain good health? How are happiness and a sense of fulfillment tied to our natural environment, and how can we sustain the environment that sustains our lives? How can we meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs?

Part 2, "Planet," will discuss our earth as the source and sustainer of our lives.

Part 3, "Prosperity", will consider our economy and its effects on people and our planet.

Panelists for Part 1 are Dina Cappiello, Houston Chronicle environmental reporter; Rev. J. Pittman McGehee, DD Diplomate, Jungian analyst and director of the Institute for the Advancement of Psychology and Spirituality; Thomas H. Stock, PhD, MPH, associate professor, Division of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Texas School of Public Health; and Brian K. Yeoman, senior research scientist, Sustainable Technologies Group, Houston Advanced Research Center. For more information, contact (713) 348-4876 or visit http://www.rda.rice.edu.

HOUSTON AUDUBON SOCIETY: BEGINNING BIRDING CLASSES

The Houston Audubon Society is offering a beginning birding program that will consist of one informal classroom meeting and five field trips designed to share the joy and challenge of birding. Field trip participants will experience the amazing diversity of habitat on the upper Texas coast, which supports an impressive number of bird species. The field trips are designed to be active learning opportunities that provide immediate practice in the skills needed for birding. We will explore the habitat requirements and adaptations of different species, and discuss various identification techniques, bird behavior, and the migration patterns of birds on the upper Texas coast.

The first meeting is August 25. Class size is limited to 15 people and pre-registration is required. To register, contact Sam Barnett at (713) 932-1639. For more information about the classes, please contact Glenn Olsen at g.olsen@earth-comm.com or by phone or visit http://www.houstonaudubon.org.

GREEN HOMES 101: HOW TO SELECT AN ARCHITECT

Cultivate Green and The Houston Advanced Research Center are presenting a free workshop, "Green Homes 101: How To Select an Architect," July 19, 6 - 9 pm, at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture, room 150. Presenters will discuss what an architect brings to the table, how to know the architect is moving toward green, as well as what fees, costs, and energy and health savings to expect. Anyone interested in remodeling, building, or reducing their environmental footprint will benefit from this event. To register or for more information, contact tkurtin@harc.edu or call (281) 363-7926.

NOAA'S FLOWER GARDEN BANKS NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY SEEKS APPLICANTS FOR NEW ADVISORY COUNCIL

Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary, located 100 miles off the Texas/Louisiana coast and managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is seeking to fill seats on a new eleven-member council being formed to represent the public's interests in sanctuary matters and to provide advice to the sanctuary manager.

The advisory council will have eight voting non-governmental members and three non-voting federal government agency members. The sanctuary is seeking applicants to represent recreational diving, diving operations, the oil and gas industry, recreational fishing, commercial fishing, research, education, and conservation interests.

Applicants chosen as members should expect to serve three-year terms. Council meetings will take place at least once every three months and will be open to the public.

A council member application package may be obtained by calling (979) 846-5942. Applications must be received by August 15.

URBAN HARVEST SEEKS FARMERS' MARKET MANAGER

Urban Harvest is seeking to hire a 30-hour-per-week farmers' market manager for the Bayou City Farmers' Market. Deadline to apply is July 19. More information and application materials are available at the Urban Harvest Web site, http://urbanharvest.org/farmmarket/jobad.html.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND SEEKS TEXAS DIRECTOR

The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit land conservation organization, is seeking a director of the Texas office. The director leads all aspects of TPL's work in the state of Texas by building broad public awareness of TPL's mission; increasing public funding for land acquisition at state and local levels of government; assisting communities with land acquisition planning; building a diverse base of public and private financial support for TPL's work, both annually and for the long-term; and insuring a high quality, effective land acquisition program. In addition, the director will develop and periodically update the Texas strategic plan in cooperation with the Texas advisory board and the Central Region office. Requirements include a commitment to and passion for land conservation and excellent communication and organizational skills. A bachelor's degree or equivalent is required and a graduate degree is preferred. Normally requires five to eight years of related experience, including management experience; at least four years should be in government relations. Knowledge of real estate principles and practices and nonprofit land acquisition preferred. Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising techniques and experience with public affairs and media relations is a plus. Please send resume and cover letter to The Trust for Public Land, Central Texas Region, Texas Director Search, 2610 University Ave, Suite 300, St. Paul, MN 55114. For more information about TPL, visit http://www.tpl.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=264.

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