|
|
 Urgent: Wilderness Act and Drake’s Estero Threatened!
An earmarked "rider" amendment has been attached to the Senate's proposed National Park Service budget. This amendment provides exorbitant benefits to a single company - the large-scale privately-owned commercial oyster farm currently operating in Drake’s Estero — by allowing the company to continue profiting from publicly-owned resources in a designated wilderness area without any public input. This would set a dangerous precedent for numerous other situations where commercial interests seek to exploit resources within federally protected areas - such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Drake’s Estero is the only estuary on the California coast designated by Congress as wilderness. Known as "the Heart of Point Reyes" by the National Park Service, it is home to the largest harbor seal population in Northern California. We need to immediately contact Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, (representing Marin and Sonoma Counties) or the spectacular Drake’s Estero will not attain wilderness status in 2012. Congresswoman Woolsey opposed this amendment last year but has indicated support for it this year. Unless Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey hears from you immediately, it is virtually certain that the amendment will be enacted by Congress before the end of July. Don't let this happen Tell Ms. Woolsey that no amendment affecting Point Reyes National Seashore should be included in the Park Service budget. Tell her that the amendment is an outrageous violation of the public’s right to comment at public hearings, and it would do terrible damage to Point Reyes National Seashore and the Wilderness Act. Write to:
Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey For additional information, go to www.savedrakesbay.org. Or contact , Sierra Club Marin Group or call (415) 663-1881 Many thanks for your help!
|