Write to your representative today about this anti-environment legislation

[baby_bear]

I hope the admins will forgive me for posting this in two places. I didn't think I could post in LBN, but it's urgent just the same. I just found out about this. It may be voted on as early as tomorrow, apparently.

http://www.commondreams.org/news2005/0209-07.htm

<snip>
Oppose Sensenbrenner Immigration Bill (H.R. 418)

WASHINGTON -- February 9 -- Measure needlessly suspends all environmental laws along all U.S. borders, endangering communities and natural resources.

Background
On January 26, House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-WI) introduced H.R. 418, the “Real ID Act of 2005.” Although the legislation primarily addresses national security and immigration issues, Section 102(c) of H.R. 418 also includes sweeping language allowing the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security to exempt itself from all federal, state and local environmental laws when constructing walls, fences, roads and other barriers along U.S. borders.

Applies To All U.S. Borders With Both Canada and Mexico, Nearly 7,500 Miles In All
Although Representative Sensenbrenner describes H.R. 418 as applying only to a border fencing project in San Diego1, section 102(c)1 would in reality waive laws in all areas not only along, but "in the vicinity of", U.S. international borders with both Mexico and Canada.2 Border construction has already done extensive environmental damage to many of these areas; the potential for increased damage would skyrocket if all environmental protections were waived.

</snip>

You can go to http://www.saveourenvironment.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=13010 and send a message to your representative to vote against this dastardly bill. It's even worse than what the Pentagon has been trying to do to avoid/evade environmental laws, and it's all been done under the mainstream press radar (unless I totally missed it). Sensenbrenner - need a better reason to suspect that this bill stinks to high heaven?

Please take action while there's time.....

b_b

[Massacure]

1. What kind of damage would it cause?

[baby_bear]

2. Here's an example, and glad you asked

Clean Water Act rules regulate runoff to surface water. Think of the Great Lakes along the Canadian border and many, many rivers. Think of a huge barrier or road construction undertaking that allows eroded soils and constructions wastes to run unabated into the surface water. This could include petroleum products, highly prohibited under Clean Water but, heck, who cares, this is Homeland Security.

Another potential: no need to protect endangered species such as salmon. Plow right through and take away their habitat as you install your fence or other barrier. To hell with shade that allows juvenile salmon to hide from predators and to cool the water.

And that's just surface water. Think about the Clean Air Act. Massive construction of these barriers could put tons of particulates into the air, with no requirements to capture or control them.

Then of course the entire humongous projects would be exempt from hazardous waste laws including RCRA and from liability under Superfund. Therefore there would be no recourse to get the government to compensate for damages to human health or the environment.

Not a pretty picture.

b_b