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National Information & News
State Trail Funding In Danger of Elimination
State Governor's are deciding which of the state's transportation dollars will be forfeited in response to a $3.47 billion national transportation budget cut mandated by Congress. Your immediate action is needed to protect Transportation Enhancements (TE), your state's leading source of trail funding. Last year, in dealing with similar federal orders, states slashed their TE programs - by far the nation's largest funding source for trails, walking, biking and historic preservation. TE cuts in 2006 were six times greater than the previous fourteen years' cuts combined. We lost over $600 million from the TE program. TE has funded more than 10,000 trail projects since 1992 (including 1,200 rail-trails). Cuts not only impact future trails, they cripple existing trails dependent on TE funds. Your Governor will decide how to apply this cut to your state's transportation budget. If not fairly allocated, this could be the end of programs that fund trails, walking and biking in your state. Learn more about this issue and how to TAKE ACTION by visiting the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's website at http://support.railstotrails.org/enhancements
Congressional Horse Caucus
The Congressional Horse Caucus is a bipartisan group of Members of the House of Representatives formed to educate Members of Congress and their staffs about the importance of the horse industry in the economic, agricultural, sporting, gaming and recreational life of the nation. This group of Representatives has an expressed interest in the industry and wants to support the issues important to it.Congressmen Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Ben Chandler (D-KY) are the Co-chairs of the Caucus for the 110th Congress.To read more... click here.
Making Tax Incentives for Conservation Easements Permanent
A bill to make the expanded tax incentive for conservation easement donations permanent was introduced in the House by Representatives Mike Thompson (CA) and Dave Camp (MI). Your support through contacting your representatives is important. To read more... click here.
Environmental Law Institute Publishes 'Lasting Landscapes: Reflections on the Role of Conservation Science in Land Use Planning
The Environmental Law Institute is pleased to announce the publication of Lasting Landscapes: Reflections on the Role of Conservation Science in Land Use Planning, a collection of essays authored by leaders in the fields of conservation biology and land-use planning. Reed Noss, Ph.D., provides an Overview and Commentary. The collection is a milestone in identifying opportunities to foster collaboration between the fields of conservation biology and land use planning. It offers concrete recommendations for how to advance the development of biologically defensible plans that support lasting landscapes and nature-friendly communities.
Environmental Law Institute
Contact Your Representatives
Use these tools to research and find contact information for your local, state, and national government representatives:
Congress Merge
Subaru of America and Leave No Trace - Traveling Trainers
Subaru of America and Leave No Trace have joined forces to promote responsible outdoor recreation across the U.S. Training has always been the foundation of Leave No Trace, and now their traveling trainers can bring that training directly to you. Visit their site for more information as well as a national calendar of events.
www.travelingtrainers.org
House Committee on Resources
The House of Representatives Committee on Resources has jurisdiction over the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Agriculture, as well as many more. This website offers a wealth of information regarding hearings and activities. You may also subscribe to an e-mail list for weekly updates.
Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency has a web site that combines water quality information previously scattered among individual state agency and other EPA Web sites. The Watershed Assessment, Tracking & Environmental Results site allows users to identify the status of individual water bodies and generate summary reports on all waters of a state. It includes information from EPA's new Water Quality Standards Database, which identifies a water's designated use - drinking water, recreation, or fishing - for waters in 16 states. It also lists impaired waters, for all except Alaska, that don't meet water quality standards and the status of pollution control and actions known as Total Maximum Daily Loads. The agency will update the site as data becomes available and eventually cover all 50 states. New links will be added to data on ambient water quality, consumption advisories, and facility discharge outfalls.
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