[Trees-list] National Monuments Call-In Day TODAY, Wednesday, June 12th

Wed, 12 Jun 2002 09:54:21 -0700

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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE -- AND CALL TOLL-FREE 1-888-213-4697
National Monuments Call-In Day this Wednesday, June 12th
Tell Gale Norton to Protect our National Monuments

The planning process that will determine the fate of some of our greatest
national treasures, our new National Monuments, has begun.  Over the
summer, as the planning process continues, proposals for oil and gas
drilling, grazing issues, right-of-ways for powerlines, and access for
off-road vehicles to these sensitive areas will all come under
consideration.  Unfortunately, the Bush administration and Secretary of
Interior, Gale Norton, have already made it clear that their main
interest in these and other public lands is resource extraction.

Fortunately, because of the letters and comments of people like you we
have been able to send a clear message to the administration that the
American people support strong protections for these special places.

Now, with so much at stake during the planning process, we need to let
the administration know that any back door attempts to open these
treasures to their friends in industry are unacceptable.  Gale Norton
recently announced her approach to managing the monuments, including some
very troubling possibilities.  For instance, Secretary Norton made
references to “creative nontraditional management” and “partnership
arrangement for management of ongoing traditional activities.”  In the
past, proposals like these have meant letting industry and user groups –
like dirt bikers - manage themselves; our National Monuments are too
important to let the fox guard the hen house. 

That’s why we are asking you to call Secretary Norton this Wednesday,
June 12th and tell her that you support strong and meaningful protections
for our national monuments.  We have set up a toll free number that will
connect you directly to the Secretary’s office at the Department of the
Interior in Washington.

Below is a straightforward message you might use when you call:

Hi, my name is ___ and I'm calling from (city / state).  I am calling to
let Secretary Norton know how important our newest National Monuments are
to me.  I am glad that the planning process for the monuments has begun,
but concerned that the department may allow industry and user groups to
control the process.  Inappropriate development, like oil and gas
drilling should not be allowed in the monuments, off road vehicle use
should be strictly limited, and the monument boundaries should not be
changed.  Our National Monuments are important national treasures that
deserve strong protections.

The toll free number is 1-888-213-4697, or you may dial (202) 208-7351. 
The toll free number will be activated during Interior business hours
Wednesday, June 12th- between 9am and 5pm Eastern Standard Time.

Thank you for taking the time to call. 

Sincerely,
Matt Hollamby
U.S. PIRG Public Lands Advocate
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PLEASE DISTRIBUTE -- AND CALL TOLL-FREE=20
1-888-213-4697
National Monuments Call-In Day this =
Wednesday,=20
June 12th Tell Gale Norton to Protect our National=20
Monuments The planning process that will =
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the fate of some of our greatest national treasures, our new National =
Monuments,=20
has begun.&nbsp; Over the summer, as the planning process continues, =
proposals=20
for oil and gas drilling, grazing issues, right-of-ways for powerlines, and=
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access for off-road vehicles to these sensitive areas will all come under=20
consideration.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the Bush administration and Secretary =
of=20
Interior, Gale Norton, have already made it clear that their main interest =
in=20
these and other public lands is resource extraction. Fortunately, =
because=20
of the letters and comments of people like you we have been able to send a =
clear=20
message to the administration that the American people support strong=20
protections for these special places. Now, with so much at =
stake=20
during the planning process, we need to let the administration know that =
any=20
back door attempts to open these treasures to their friends in industry are=
=20
unacceptable.&nbsp; Gale Norton recently announced her approach to=
=20
managing the monuments, including some very troubling possibilities.&nbsp; =
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instance, Secretary Norton made references to &#8220;creative =
nontraditional=20
management&#8221; and &#8220;partnership arrangement for management of =
ongoing traditional=20
activities.&#8221;&nbsp; In the past, proposals like these have meant =
letting industry=20
and user groups &#8211; like dirt bikers - manage themselves; our National =
Monuments=20
are too important to let the fox guard the hen=20
house.&nbsp; That&#8217;s why we are asking you to call =
Secretary=20
Norton this Wednesday, June 12th and tell her that you support strong and=20
meaningful protections for our national monuments.&nbsp; We have =
set up=20
a toll free number that will connect you directly to the Secretary&#8217;s =
office at=20
the Department of the Interior in Washington. Below is a =
straightforward=20
message you might use when you call: Hi, my name is ___ and =
I'm=20
calling from (city / state).&nbsp; I am calling to let Secretary Norton =
know how=20
important our newest National Monuments are to me.&nbsp; I am glad that the=
=20
planning process for the monuments has begun, but concerned that the =
department=20
may allow industry and user groups to control the process.&nbsp; =
Inappropriate=20
development, like oil and gas drilling should not be allowed in the =
monuments,=20
off road vehicle use should be strictly limited, and the monument =
boundaries=20
should not be changed.&nbsp; Our National Monuments are important national=
=20
treasures that deserve strong protections. The toll free =
number=20
is 1-888-213-4697, or you may dial (202) 208-7351.&nbsp; The toll free =
number=20
will be activated during Interior business hours Wednesday, June 12th- =
between=20
9am and 5pm Eastern Standard Time. Thank you for taking the time to=
=20
call.&nbsp; Sincerely, Matt Hollamby U.S. PIRG Public Lands=20
Advocate </BODY></HTML>

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