No. 339, July 22, 2003

MASSIVE SIERRA NEVADA TIMBER SALE STOPPED

   

VIDEO ON CAUSES AND SOLUTION TO ARIZONA’S DYING RIVER AVAILABLE

   

SUIT FILED TO JUMPSTART JAGUAR RECOVERY ON U.S./MEXICO BORDERLANDS

   

PROTEST CHALLENGES RADIOACTIVE MINE WITH LONG HISTORY OF SPILLS NEXT TO MOJAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT

   
SUIT FILED TO PROTECT SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SPINEFLOWER — ESA PROTECTION HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR 23 YEARS

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MASSIVE SIERRA NEVADA TIMBER SALE STOPPED

On 7-1-03, a federal judge sided with the Center for Biological Diversity, the John Muir Project, and the Sierra Club, temporarily halting logging on 4,309 acres of forest in the Duncan Canyon Roadless Area on the Tahoe National Forest.

Most scientists agree that fire suppression, old growth logging, and cattle grazing have caused pine forests in the interior west to have an excessive density of small trees under 12 inches in diameter. These trees increase fire danger and compete with large trees for nutrients and water. Thus environmentalists have supported thinning projects aimed at small trees, especially near fire-threatened towns. In contrast, the so called “Red Star Restoration Project,” shows how the Bush Administration is cynically using the fear of fire to log old growth trees many miles from any town. Instead of focusing on the small trees, the timber sale mandated the logging of all trees over 15 inches in diameter. Instead of directing resources to the needs of rural towns threatened by fire, the timber sale targeted a roadless area from human habitation.

In issuing the temporary restraining order, the federal judge agreed that the logging would likely increase rather than reduce the threat of fire because of the enormous amounts of slash that would be left over from the logging. The case was argued by Rachel Fazio of the John Muir Project with expert testimony provided by Center biologist Monica Bond.

Learn more about the Center's Ancient Forest Program.


VIDEO ON CAUSES AND SOLUTION TO ARIZONA’S DYING RIVER AVAILABLE

Tucson Center staffer Sonya Diehn has recently completed an independent video entitled Oasis Under Siege: A Journey Through the Dying River, exploring the causes and consequences of disappearing water in the southwest. Featuring Robin Silver, Conservation Chair for the Center for Biological Diversity, Oasis Under Siege highlights the Center's challenge to Arizona water law, which has failed to protect imperiled desert riparian areas -- ninety-five percent of which have already vanished -- from excessive groundwater pumping. Weaving together personal narrative, interviews with experts, and the story of a couple living on the Cañada del Oro Northwest of Tucson, Oasis Under Siege is not only testimony to the significance of water in the desert, but also an urgent call for the reform of water law in Arizona.

For the remainder of 2003, Sonya will be distributing copies and scheduling screenings throughout Arizona. Contact her sdiehn@biologicaldiversity.org if you are interested in purchasing a copy or hosting a showing in your community. The video is also available for ordering and viewing in streaming format at www.oasis.panleft.org.


SUIT FILED TO JUMPSTART JAGUAR RECOVERY ON U.S./MEXICO BORDERLANDS

On 7-21-03, the Center for Biological Diversity and Defenders of Wildlife sued the Bush Administration for failing to develop a recovery program for the endangered jaguar. Though the largest cat in North American was listed as an endangered species in 1969, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has yet to create a recovery plan, designate critical habitat, or plan for the species’s reintroduction to the borderlands of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.

Jaguar once roamed the hills of southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, and possibly as far west as Arkansas and as far north as southern Colorado. All U.S. populations were hunted down and killed by the livestock industry and government predator control programs set up to subsidize the industry. Habitat loss and decline of prey species such as mule deer, white-tail deer, and elk also caused jaguar populations to decline. Populations still remain in northern Mexico and individual jaguars have made forays into southern Arizona and New Mexico in recent years.

Though put on the endangered species list in 1969, the jaguar was removed from the list in the mid-1970's due to what the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service termed a bureaucratic "oversight". After two decades of failed promises to put the cat back on the endangered specie list, the Center for Biological Diversity filed suit in 1996, securing protection for the species in 1997.

To learn more about Jaguars.


PROTEST CHALLENGES RADIOACTIVE MINE WITH LONG HISTORY OF SPILLS NEXT TO MOJAVE NATIONAL MONUMENT

The Center for Biological Diversity, local citizens, and seven other conservation organizations including Great Basin Mine Watch, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club and California Communities Against Toxics, formally objected in June to the proposed expansion of a rare-earth metals mine adjacent to the Mojave National Preserve. Despite its track record of polluting the region’s air, land, and water, Molycorp, Inc. (owned by parent company Unocal) wants to expand and operate its Mountain Pass Mine for another 30 years.

Before ceasing full operations in 1997, the Mountain Pass mine was ranked as one of California’s worst polluters, amassing a dangerous track record of spilling radioactive and toxic wastes. Over 2,600 chemical, mining waste, and other spills were reported between 1982-1998. Molycorp has been subject to criminal investigation and charged with fines for its irresponsible and dangerous practices and the illegal storage of hazardous mining wastes at the mine site. In 1995 and 1996, Molycorp pipelines spilled hundreds of thousands of gallons of radioactive and toxic wastes including uranium, thorium, and radiumon on BLM lands neighboring the Mojave National Preserve that are critical habitat to the desert tortoise.

Molycorp’s evaporation, tailings, and process ponds have contaminated regional groundwater supplies and air quality. Several children contracted a serious illness while attending the school neighboring the mine. The California Department of Health found toxic contaminants such as strontium, arsenic, yttrium, and lanthanides were found in the carpet and the dust in the classrooms. Dust blowing from Molycorp’s mine, laden with rare-earth metals, has long been a top suspect as cause of illnesses in children at the Mountain Pass Elementary School and among area residents.


SUIT FILED TO PROTECT SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SPINEFLOWER — ESA PROTECTION HAS BEEN DELAYED FOR 23 YEARS

On 7-17-03, the Center for Biological Diversity, California Native Plant Society, Friends of the Santa Clara River, Heal the Bay, and Save Open Space/Santa Monica Mountains filed suit against the Bush Administration for refusing to protect one of North America's most endangered species- the San Fernando Valley spineflower.

Once found across Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties, San Fernando Valley spineflower populations were destroyed wholesale by urban and suburban sprawl. It was thought extinct until two populations were discovered in 1999- both of them on isolated pockets of undeveloped lands slated for California style mega-developments: the 3,000 home Ahmanson Ranch development and 21,000 home Newhall Ranch development.

The Department of Interior acknowledges that the spineflower is endangered and that massive developments are planned around them, yet claims it can not place the spineflower on the endangered species list because of “higher priorities.” Instead it has placed the spineflower on the “candidate” list which confers no protection. Like hundreds of other species spiraling toward extinction, the spineflower was first put on the candidate list in 1980 in response to a listing petition submitted by the Smithsonian Institution. Twenty three years later it still waiting for protection.

To learn more about the Center's Native Plant Conservation Program.

The case is being argued by John Buse of the Environmental Defense Center.


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