Post by Woody Williams on Nov 20, 2006 21:23:37 GMT -5
The TRCP Fish, Wildlife and Energy Working Group is hailing the Senate's recent unanimous passage of the Valle Vidal Protection Act of 2005, a measure that restricts energy development of a 101,794-acre parcel of land in New Mexico's Carson National Forest.
"Name an animal valued by western sportsmen and chances are you'll find it in the Valle Vidal," said TRCP Vice President of Policy Terry Riley, who lives in Tijeras, N.M. "For years, conserving this special place has been a priority of the hunting and fishing community – with leadership from the Valle Vidal Coalition – and we're incredibly happy that Congress has listened to our concerns. Our deepest thanks go to the act's sponsor, Senator Bingaman, for extending his leadership and support, which built on the momentum built by Representatives Udall, Wilson and Pearce on the House side.
We particularly want to thank Sen. Domenici, who was critical in getting the measure across the final hurdles and to the finish line."
The Valle Vidal Protection Act will next be considered by President Bush. "We're extremely hopeful that the president will sign this bill into law," Riley continued. "In so doing, he can signify to hunters and anglers that he has heard their concerns that some areas of the West, no matter how much oil and gas may lie beneath them, are too important for their renewable fish and wildlife resources to ever be developed."
This belief, that some areas of the country are too valuable for their fish and wildlife resources to be developed for their energy resources, is a central tenet advanced by the TRCP Fish, Wildlife and Energy Working Group. The working group has been meeting for more than a year in an attempt to strike a balance between our nation's need to promote domestic energy sources while protecting fish and wildlife. It includes representatives from several of the country's leading hunting, fishing and conservation organizations.
The working group's core principles, which are encapsulated in its "Energy FACTS for Fish and Wildlife," have been submitted for consideration to senior administration and agency officials. "We're advocating that our standards for energy development be based on the FACTS," Riley said. "Making the Valle Vidal Protection Act the law of the land will prove to be an important step in the right direction."
"Name an animal valued by western sportsmen and chances are you'll find it in the Valle Vidal," said TRCP Vice President of Policy Terry Riley, who lives in Tijeras, N.M. "For years, conserving this special place has been a priority of the hunting and fishing community – with leadership from the Valle Vidal Coalition – and we're incredibly happy that Congress has listened to our concerns. Our deepest thanks go to the act's sponsor, Senator Bingaman, for extending his leadership and support, which built on the momentum built by Representatives Udall, Wilson and Pearce on the House side.
We particularly want to thank Sen. Domenici, who was critical in getting the measure across the final hurdles and to the finish line."
The Valle Vidal Protection Act will next be considered by President Bush. "We're extremely hopeful that the president will sign this bill into law," Riley continued. "In so doing, he can signify to hunters and anglers that he has heard their concerns that some areas of the West, no matter how much oil and gas may lie beneath them, are too important for their renewable fish and wildlife resources to ever be developed."
This belief, that some areas of the country are too valuable for their fish and wildlife resources to be developed for their energy resources, is a central tenet advanced by the TRCP Fish, Wildlife and Energy Working Group. The working group has been meeting for more than a year in an attempt to strike a balance between our nation's need to promote domestic energy sources while protecting fish and wildlife. It includes representatives from several of the country's leading hunting, fishing and conservation organizations.
The working group's core principles, which are encapsulated in its "Energy FACTS for Fish and Wildlife," have been submitted for consideration to senior administration and agency officials. "We're advocating that our standards for energy development be based on the FACTS," Riley said. "Making the Valle Vidal Protection Act the law of the land will prove to be an important step in the right direction."
