UPDATE, 5/15/07:

See also: Support the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act, from the National Wildlife Federation.

Tiny Violin alert: If you do use the NWF’s sample letter, there’s one reference to fishing that you’ll want to edit out.

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Via the Natural Resources Defense Council:

Tell Congress not to let polluters weaken the Clean Water Act

Since the Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972, we have made great progress in cleaning up our nation’s waters. But polluters have tried repeatedly to use the courts to cut back on the law’s protections, and last year their efforts paid off when a Supreme Court decision left significant doubt about what kinds of water bodies remain protected by the Clean Water Act.

Now a number of small streams and other waters are in legal limbo. This uncertainty is enormously dangerous — 20 million acres of wetlands and nearly two million miles of streams are at risk of pollution or destruction if they lose their Clean Water Act protections. In response, concerned members of the House and Senate will soon introduce the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act to thwart polluters’ attacks by specifying the kinds of waters that the law must cover.

Americans need these water bodies to be protected — the small and seasonal creeks, brooks and streams that make up over half the river miles outside of Alaska contribute to the drinking water of roughly 111 million people. In addition, wetlands purify water, reduce the risk of flooding and provide important wildlife habitat.

Send a message urging your senators and representative to co-sponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act.

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Tagged: environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts NRDC Natural Resources Defense Council water pollution clean water clean water act Clean Water Authority Restoration Act congress 110th congress nwf National Wildlife Federation

Via the National Wildlife Federation:

Stop a Landing Strip from Destroying the Pocosin Lakes Refuge

The United States Navy is planning on constructing a jet landing field in eastern North Carolina within 3.5 miles of the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, one of the most critical wintering grounds for waterfowl in the Atlantic flyway and home to endangered red wolves.

This would be a disaster for the refuge and the hundreds of thousands of waterfowl that winter in the area, as well as the many sportsmen, birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts who regularly enjoy the refuge. The landing strip would not only put wildlife at risk. It would also pose unacceptable risks to the safety of Navy pilots.

Write your Members of Congress below and demand that the Navy select an alternative site for this jet landing field!

As always with action alerts and sample letters generated by enviro groups, be sure to edit out the whole part about how issue xyz will negatively impact hunters, anglers, and the like.

Read: if the Navy’s proposed landing strip kills any waterfowl, then there’s less left for “sportsmen” to blow away. Poor buhbies.

Tiny violin, anyone? (Via.)

Boo fucking hoo.

(And dontcha just love how they’re referred to as “sportsmen”, as opposed to the more generic term “sportspeople”? Way to go, NWF: speciesism and misogyny in one tidy little sentence. Blech.)

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts NWF National Wildlife Federation wildlife conservation birds Navy landing strip Pocosin Lakes Refuge Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge wildlife refuge

Via Defenders of Wildlife:

Bald Eagles - Do Not “Disturb”

Soon, the Fish & Wildlife Service is expected to issue a final rule on removing the bald eagle from the list of species protected by Endangered Species Act. The announcement will mark a successful end to a long journey back from the brink of extinction.

But we need to ensure the bald eagle’s future is adequately protected against reckless development and other threats that can disturb eagles and affect their survival.

Please tell the Fish & Wildlife Service why it’s important to you that proposed protections for eagles remain strong.

Also, from the National Wildlife Federation:

Make Sure Bald Eagles Get the Protection They Deserve!

Photo of bald eagle by Nova Development Corporation.The bald eagle is one of the most recent success stories of the Endangered Species Act. Any day now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be releasing the official delisting announcement for America’s symbolic bird, which will include a plan for the eagle’s continued success.

However, the National Wildlife Federation recently learned that Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne is considering overruling the recommendations of FWS experts. Instead, he is looking to adopt a plan based on a proposal preferred by developers. This plan would eliminate crucial protections for the bald eagle!

Please email DOI Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett below and urge her to make sure our national symbol doesn’t once again slide toward extinction! Ask the DOI to support the protection plan written by wildlife management experts–not developers.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts defenders of wildlife eagle bald eagle ESA Endangered Species Act conservation national wildlife federation nwf