Complete list of press releases

(9 Dec., 1996 — Oakland) In its first opportunity to interpret California’s innovative anti-toxics law, Proposition 65, the state’s highest court today gave the law the widest possible scope, saying it was carrying out the will of the voters.

“Californians’ water supplies are now protected from the highest snowfield in the Sierra to the end of the kitchen faucet,” said David Roe, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) senior attorney and principal co-author of the ten-year-old law.

In a case attacking faucets that are made out of lead-containing brass, which leach lead into water drawn from the tap, a lower court had ruled that Proposition 65’s protections against drinking water contamination did not apply because faucets were not a “source” of drinking water that voters intended to cover when the law was passed as a ballot initiative in 1986. Today’s ruling by the California Supreme Court firmly reversed the lower court, saying that the law should receive a broad interpretation.

Related cases, brought by EDF and other environmental groups, have already succeeded in forcing national manufacturers to eliminate lead-containing brass from pumps and valves made for use in private wells. “This case should sound the death knell for lead in plumbing fixtures, not just here in California but nationwide,” said Roe. “A state law is doing what decades of federal law hasn’t: Getting rid of an unnecessary source of contamination of the natural resource that all of us use and depend on every day.”

The case, People v. Superior Court (American Standard) No. S047833, was brought by the California attorney general against major faucet manufacturers under Proposition 65 after an investigation and notice by several environmental groups led by the Natural Resources Defense Council.

(6 Dec., 1996 — New York) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) indicated support for proposed binding obligations to limit climate change set forth by the Clinton Administration today, but expressed concern over the lack of urgency in the schedule for implementing them. In preparation for a resumption of climate change negotiations at an international meeting in Geneva next week, the US offered a flexible, cost effective approach for capping emissions which would involve industrialized as well as developing countries. But the proposal would defer deadlines for attaining emission goals until at least 2010, and included no numerical emissions objectives.

“EDF is pleased that the administration has presented a comprehensive and flexible framework for cutting the emissions which are changing Earth’s climate. But the possibility that no nation will devote serious effort toward reductions for at least 14 years is troubling,” said Annie Petsonk, EDF’s international counsel who will attend the negotiations. “Reduction obligations which use emissions trading enable fast and economical pollution cuts. Since this proposal calls for countries to use trading, commitments should be made to earlier emissions reductions.”

Global warming and other climate changes arise from the buildup of greenhouse gases, particular carbon dioxide from burning coal, oil, and natural gas to generate electricity and power motor vehicles. If emissions are not reduced, climate change is expected to cause record heat waves, record drought in some places and flooding in others, sea level rise and inundation of coastal areas, the northward spread of tropical diseases, and the widespread destruction of ecosystems.

“In order to protect human health and natural ecosystems, global warming must be limited to two degrees Fahrenheit or less. That means global emissions must be cut by half over the coming century. The later that countries begin reductions, the steeper and costlier reductions will need to be to avoid serious harm,” said Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, an atmospheric physicist and EDF’s chief scientist. “Cost-effective actions should be taken now, instead of passing along higher costs to our children.”

“It’s time the administration put some specific numbers to the climate goals it wants to achieve. Only then can the US convince developing countries to assume greater responsibilties for controlling global climate change,” said Karan Capoor, policy analyst at EDF.

(5 December, 1996 — Washington, DC) A report released today by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) details how the Endangered Species Act has failed to protect endangered species on private land and offers solutions to rebuild and strengthen the act.

“We need to rebuild the ark to protect all endangered species, not just some of them, and the greatest challenge for the Endangered Species Act is saving species on private land,” said Dr. David Wilcove, EDF senior ecologist and co-author of Rebuilding the Ark: Toward a More Effective Endangered Species Act For Private Land. Based on data compiled by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the General Accounting Office, endangered species on private lands appear to be faring much worse than their counterparts on federal lands. Of the endangered species that live entirely on private lands, only 3% are improving. Even more troubling is the fact that the FWS does not know the status of nearly half of the species found exclusively on private lands.

“Most of our endangered species live on private land. If we fail to protect them on private land, we will surely condemn many animals and plants to extinction,” said Wilcove. “There is enormous potential for the Endangered Species Act to encourage landowners to create, restore and enhance habitat on their land, and reward them for doing so.”

In order to make the act work more effectively on private land, EDF proposes the following recommendations:

• Create incentives to reward good stewardship. The greatest gains for endangered species on private land will come from the creation of economic incentives that reward landowners for their good stewardship.
• Take action earlier to protect declining species. The FWS must be quicker to list disappearing plants and animals. Delaying protection until species are nearly extinct increases the cost of recovery and the risk of failure.
• Remedy existing enforcement problems. The FWS must provide landowners with better guidance on how to protect endangered species on their property. To date, it has developed detailed guidelines for only a few species.
• Build a scientifically-sound approach for protecting ecosystems and assemblages of species within the overall framework of the act. The goal should be to conserve entire assemblages of species — an ecosystem approach to conservation.

Under innovative “safe harbor” programs, landowners who agree to enhance habitat on their property for endangered species are given an ironclad assurance that they will not be subject to additional land use restrictions as a result of their good work. “The safe harbor program is evidence that with some creative thinking, both endangered species and private landowners can benefit from the Endangered Species Act,” said Wilcove.

(3 Dec., 1996 — New York) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) praised the House of Commons for voting late yesterday to ban the use of the controversial manganese-based fuel additive MMT in Canada. This additive, which has been used in Canadian gasoline for almost 20 years, boosts gas octane but does so by using manganese as its key ingredient. Airborne manganese at high doses has been found to cause disabling neurological impairments in movement and speech with symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease, but the public health impacts of the long-term, lower dose exposures resulting from MMT use are unknown. MMT is manufactured by the Ethyl Corporation, which produced leaded-gas additives for decades.

“Yesterday’s vote is a great victory for public health and the environment,” said EDF attorney Bill Roberts. “Persistent public health and air quality concerns clearly persuaded the House of Commons to remove this additive from the fuel supply. We hope the Canadian Senate will quickly follow the House’s lead.”

The US Environmental Protection Agency had refused to approve MMT for sale based on health concerns, but in December, 1995 was compelled to allow the sale by a narrow court ruling that did not address health issues. A recent EDF survey, however, shows that 85% of US oil refiners have confirmed they are not currently using MMT. In addition, the American Automobile Manufacturer’s Association has adopted specifications for US gasoline advising consumers not to use manganese gas additives due to possible damage to automotive systems.

“MMT is also considered to be a major problem for automakers who are convinced the additive fouls the sensitive diagnostic equipment on new model cars. Clearly, oil refiners in the US and automakers are continuing to rebuff MMT even though it has been legal to purchase it in America since last year. Until pending health and automotive concerns with MMT are resolved, this is a product that deserves to sit on the shelf,” said Roberts.

Adequate toxicity testing has never been completed on MMT. In the next few months the US Environmental Protection Agency is scheduled to order Ethyl to conduct such tests.

(27 November, 1996 — Washington, DC) Reacting to a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed rule for revising and replacing current health-based standards for two key air pollutants, smog (ground-level ozone) and particulates, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today praised the Agency’s smog control plan, but criticized its proposal for curbing particulate matter that is potentially life-threatening.

Under the Clean Air Act, EPA is required to establish health standards that states and cities must meet in limiting the build-up of ground level ozone smog and fine particles, among other pollutants. The Act specifies that standards must be set at the level necessary to protect public health. Smog is created by the mixing of chemicals produced through the burning of fossil fuels, like coal and oil burned by power plants, factories, automobiles and a wide variety of industrial activities. Particulate matter is associated with coal-burning, as well as with a wide range of industrial, transportation and agricultural activities.

“Smog presents a serious threat to asthmatics, young children whose lungs are developing, and the elderly. Particulate matter in the air has been linked by public health experts to 60,000 premature deaths every year. Unfortunately, today’s action can only be seen as a half step. In finalizing this proposal over the next several months, EPA must recognize that the public health stakes are too high to compromise or ignore the dictates of science in setting the health-based standard for these critical pollutants,” said EDF senior attorney Joseph Goffman.

“Not only must EPA set smog and particulate matter standards that are scientifically sound and that really will protect public health, but the EPA, states and cities must also create pollution control programs that limit air pollution that often travels over broad regions, crossing state lines and jurisdictions. Unless environmental laws and policies address this long-distance regional transport of pollution, the air quality in American cities may never be healthful, no matter how scrupulously the health-based standards are set,” said EDF chief scientist and atmospheric chemist, Dr. Michael Oppenheimer.

“Broad regional air pollution problems are beginning to be addressed by Northeast states, from Virginia to Maine, which are working together as the Ozone Transport Commission to create a cap on total emissions of the oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) which contribute to groundlevel smog. This approach, which should be expanded to include the 37 Eastern-most states, uses the same kind of environmentally effective and economically affordable emissions reduction and trading system that Congress adopted in 1990 to halve and cap emissions of chemicals contributing to acid rain,” said Goffman. “In resisting acid rain controls industry claimed that reductions would cost $1,000 a ton. Under the capped emissions reduction and trading system, however, emissions allowances are being bought and sold for less than $100 a ton. Similar dramatic reductions in smog precursors and particulates can also be achieved at low cost.”

(21 November, 1996 — Austin, Texas) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today applauded the recent decision by Texas-New Mexico Power Company (TNP) to withdraw its “Community Choice Transition Plan” application pending before the Texas Public Utility Commission (TPUC). The application, filed as a formal case before the TPUC in May of this year, sought regulatory approval for a transition to increased competition in TNP’s service territory. EDF was a party in the case and filed extensive testimony identifying major deficiencies in the proposal.

Responding to the announcement in a TNP press release issued on November 20, Karl R. R

(11 November, 1996 — Boston) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) suggests a few simple steps to protect the environment while enjoying your Thanksgiving celebration.

“When preparing for the Thanksgiving meal, remember to use a canvas bag to carry your groceries and buy food items that use the least amount of packaging. Be sure to look for packaging that contains recycled, post- consumer content,” said Jackie Prince Roberts, EDF senior scientist.

“If there are a lot of leftovers after Thanksgiving dinner, use this holiday as an opportunity to start composting food wastes, and consider donating extra food to a shelter. If you keep leftovers around the house, stock up on reuseable food containers that can save resources all year long,” said Roberts.

“Try not to use disposable utensils, plates, napkins or tablecloths during the holiday weekend,” said Roberts. “Bringing out dinnerware and silverware for the Thanksgiving meal is a tradition that is also good for the environment.”

“Another way to reduce solid waste and protect the environment is to recycle beverage containers and the aluminum foil used throughout the day,” suggests Roberts. Additionally, Roberts recommends that “consumers buy locally produced foods whenever possible,” since less energy is used for food transport.

If you are traveling during the holidays, take public transportation wherever possible. “Considering the usual Thanksgiving traffic, public transportation, while helping to reduce traffic and air pollution, may be the quickest way to get where you are going,” said Roberts. “If you take the car, carpooling is the best way to go, and a good way to spend time with family and friends.”

(11 November 1996 — Washington, DC) The World Bank is backtracking on earlier commitments to reduce pesticide use in agricultural projects, according to over 100 environmental, consumer and development organizations from the United States and around the world. In a letter sent to World Bank President James Wolfensohn, the groups call for the Bank to reinstate its earlier policy which gave specific direction to Bank staff on how to minimize pesticide use and to promote an ecologically sustainable approach known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Criticism of the Bank’s recent gutting of its pesticide and pest management policy coincides with the start of the UN World Food Summit meeting this week in Rome. At the Summit, World Bank Vice-President Ismail Serageldin will present non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and governments with the Bank’s vision of “Rural Well-Being.” Unfortunately, according to NGOs, the Bank, by lowering pesticide standards is showing little concern for poor farmers or the environment.

The World Bank recently issued a new operational policy which offers only vague guidance to its staff about what kinds of pest management practices should be funded, and says nothing about farmer participation in project design. “The World Bank has just taken a giant step backwards,” said Mimi Kleiner, a policy analyst with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

“The Bank appears to be weakening its policies, because it is under increasing pressure to actually carry them out,” said Kleiner. “For years, both NGOs and internal Bank reports have documented the World Bank’s failure to implement its own policies. Now an independent ‘Inspection Panel’ exists which can actually hold the Bank accountable for how its projects affect poor farmers around the world.” Along with their letter, the NGOs also provided as evidence an internal Bank memorandum which notes, “Our experiences with the Inspection Panel are teaching us that we have to be increasingly careful in setting policy that we are able to implement in practice.” According to Kleiner, “Rather than making an effort to live up to its own guidelines, the Bank appears to be lowering its standards.”

“The World Health Organization estimates that pesticides cause over 3 million severe poisonings and 220,000 deaths a year,” said Dr. Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, senior program coordinator at Pesticide Action Network North America, one of 5 regional centers in an international coalition linking over 400 organizations in 60 countries. “Most of these incidents occur in developing countries, where chemical products are aggressively pushed by industry, often with national and international support in the guise of development aid. The World Bank comes to the Food Summit talking about sustainable development and rural well-being. When will it stop encouraging the use of hazardous chemicals and instead seriously promote ecological alternatives?”

“It is ironic that the Bank appears ready to allow more pesticide use at a time when the failure of pesticides to control pests is becoming widely documented. Hundreds of species of insects, weeds and plant diseases worldwide are now immune to pesticides, and the number is growing,” said Dr. Michael Hansen, a biologist with the Consumer Policy Institute, an arm of Consumers Union (publisher of Consumer Reports). “In the US, we now lose about the same proportion of crops to pests as we did before we started using pesticides. The obvious alternative is IPM.”

IPM controls pest problems through biological controls (insects eating crop-damaging insects) and other natural means. IPM also emphasizes ecological education, with farmers taking the lead in developing locally appropriate pest control methods, often relying on traditional practices in combination with scientific analysis. This insures that agricultural projects actually meet the needs of the rural poor whom they are supposed to help.

The World Bank adopted its first guidelines on pesticide use and pest management in 1985, and reaffirmed its commitment to IPM in a 1992 operational directive. However, the new 1996 operational policy offers only vague guidance on IPM and pesticide use.

While the Bank claims that its environmental assessment procedures will promote sound pest management, a recent internal Bank study found that these procedures have almost no impact on project design. The study acknowledges that environmental assessments are most often conducted in isolation from the Bank’s major project planning efforts, and are completed too late in the project cycle for alternative approaches to be meaningfully considered.

“The World Bank’s response to our letter will indicate how serious it is about the reforms that President Wolfensohn is trying to promote,” said Bruce Rich, director of EDF’s International Program. “Unfortunately, the World Bank’s announcement on agricultural policies comes amid reports that a number of other social and environmental policies are also being diluted. This can only have negative repercussions for people and the environment.”

“The World Bank’s latest decision to abandon these earlier policies dims hopes that it will be a positive constructive force in carrying out ecologically sound pest management,” said Ishii-Eiteman.

(7 November, 1996 — Washington, DC) In a letter sent to Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and other leading US national environmental groups condemned the decision made by Germany’s export financing agency, the Hermes-Buergschaften, to grant loan guaranties totaling hundreds of millions of marks in support of China’s Three Gorges Dam project. The letter was signed by individuals from 35 organizations representing more than seven million people from 15 countries.

“The Hermes-Buergschaften decision defies international public opinion by supporting a project with well-documented environmental, economic and human rights problems,” said Bruce Rich, director of EDF’s International Program. “This decision, made in a closed-door meeting and revealed just days before a parliamentary debate on the issue, significantly undercuts international efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development and investment worldwide.”

In May of 1996 the US Export-Import Bank decided against supporting the Three Gorges Dam project following a review which highlighted serious questions about the dam’s environmental, social and economic sustainability.

“The Hermes-Buergschaften support for the Three Gorges Dam opens the competition for export credit agencies around the world to ignore the most minimal ecological, developmental and human rights criteria,” said Rich. “The tremendous economic and political repercussions of this decision, and the secrecy with which it was made, undercut Germany’s efforts since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to be a global environmental leader.”

“If this decision is not reversed, the environmental and socioeconomic impacts would be devastating,” said Rich. “1.3 million people will be forcibly displaced by the dam’s 350 square mile reservoir. Irreversible changes in river flow will destroy habitat in the Yangtze River watershed, in downstream lakes, and in the River’s estuary. Furthermore, the resettlement plans lack adequate provisions for compensation funding, population distribution and public health protection.”

“We strongly urge Chancellor Kohl to take immediate action to reverse the Three Gorges Dam decision of the Hermes-Buergschaften,” said Rich. “The German government should work with other governments to achieve the highest levels of environmental, developmental, and social standards governing the lending, investment, and risk insurance practices of its national export credit and investment insurance agencies.”

(7 November 1996 — Austin) As of today, nearly 2 million veterans in the State of Texas have a new reason to be energy efficient and environmentally friendly — money. Today the Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) announced that under a new “Greenbuilding Program” veterans can earn interest rate reductions of up to a full percentage point on new home and home improvement loans administered through the VLB. Karl R. R

(7 November, 1996 — Washington, DC) In a letter sent to Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and other leading US national environmental groups condemned the decision made by Germany’s export financing agency, the Hermes-Buergschaften, to grant loan guaranties totaling hundreds of millions of marks in support of China’s Three Gorges Dam project. The letter was signed by individuals from 35 organizations representing more than seven million people from 15 countries.

“The Hermes-Buergschaften decision defies international public opinion by supporting a project with well-documented environmental, economic and human rights problems,” said Bruce Rich, director of EDF’s International Program. “This decision, made in a closed-door meeting and revealed just days before a parliamentary debate on the issue, significantly undercuts international efforts to promote environmentally sustainable development and investment worldwide.”

In May of 1996 the US Export-Import Bank decided against supporting the Three Gorges Dam project following a review which highlighted serious questions about the dam’s environmental, social and economic sustainability.

“The Hermes-Buergschaften support for the Three Gorges Dam opens the competition for export credit agencies around the world to ignore the most minimal ecological, developmental and human rights criteria,” said Rich. “The tremendous economic and political repercussions of this decision, and the secrecy with which it was made, undercut Germany’s efforts since the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to be a global environmental leader.”

“If this decision is not reversed, the environmental and socioeconomic impacts would be devastating,” said Rich. “1.3 million people will be forcibly displaced by the dam’s 350 square mile reservoir. Irreversible changes in river flow will destroy habitat in the Yangtze River watershed, in downstream lakes, and in the River’s estuary. Furthermore, the resettlement plans lack adequate provisions for compensation funding, population distribution and public health protection.”

“We strongly urge Chancellor Kohl to take immediate action to reverse the Three Gorges Dam decision of the Hermes-Buergschaften,” said Rich. “The German government should work with other governments to achieve the highest levels of environmental, developmental, and social standards governing the lending, investment, and risk insurance practices of its national export credit and investment insurance agencies.”

The Environmental Defense Fund, a leading, national, NY-based nonprofit organization, represents 300,000 members. EDF links science, economics, and law to create innovative, economically viable solutions to today’s environmental problems.

(23 Oct., 1996- Montreal) Two leading US environmental groups, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Defenders of Wildlife, praised the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for adopting today a resolution that calls for the widespread use of measures that would prevent seabirds from getting hooked and drowned on commercial fishing lines. EDF and Defenders of Wildlife authored the resolution, which was cosponsored by 17 conservation groups and is strongly supported by the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other governments.

Scientists agree that longline fishing severely impacts at least 13 species, three of which are globally threatened with extinction. A longline can be up to 80 miles long, carrying several thousand baited hooks. Worldwide, an estimated 180,000 birds die on hooks each year in the tuna, swordfish, sablefish, and other longline fisheries. One of the birds most at risk if the Wandering albatross, among the world’s most magnificent birds. It has a 10-foot wingspan and can glide over thousands of miles of ocean in a month. “Tragically, about 10 percent of the world’s Wandering albatross population is killed each year by longlines, ” said Jim Wyerman, Defenders of Wildlife Vice President.

Dr. Rod Fujita, an EDF scientist, noted that, “Some fisherman are already trying hard to avoid killing seabirds. For example, fisherman of the North Pacific are adapting techniques that have worked elsewhere and are developing new methods to reduce seabird mortality.” He went on to say that, ” The North Pacific Longline Association (NPLA) has even proposed new regulations that incorporate many of the measures described in the IUCN resolution.”

Dr. Charles Wurster, an ornithologist and EDF trustee, emphasizes that, “These great oceanic birds are a visible signal of the health of the oceans — and many are in decline. Fortunately, practical solutions exist. By preventing birds form going after bait, more fish can be caught.”

Fisherman can minimize conflicts with seabirds by putting extra weight on lines to make bait sink faster, by setting hooks at night, and by using streamer lines that scare birds away.

Seabird bycatch and other international conservation problems have been considered at the IUCN assembly convened at Montreal’s Palais Des Congres form October 14 - 23. The largest gathering of conservationists since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, this IUCN meeting has attracted approximately 2,500 representatives form 144 nations.

Defenders VP Wyerman concluded, “Measures to avoid hooking seabirds need to become widespread throughout the global longlining fleet. The IUCN resolution is a positive first step.”

(10 Oct., 1996 — New York) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today expressed concern over the potential consequences of climate change for California. These concerns are based on EDF’s review of projections of global climate models which suggest that California could warm an average of 2 to 4 degrees Fahrenheit by the middle of the next century, and that California’s coastline could experience sea level rise due to climate change of 1 to 1 1/2 feet over the next century if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced. This and other information on impacts will be presented at a town meeting on climate change being held today, co- sponsored by EDF, UCS, NRDC, Sierra Club, Energy Foundation, the World Affairs Council, Sustainable San Francisco, EDGE, International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and the US Climate Action Network at the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

“Projections based on the global climate models used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, an international panel composed of over 2,000 scientists, show that the impacts of climate change on California include a risk of increased frequency and intensity of flooding, wildfires and droughts,” said EDF scientist Janine Bloomfield. “To protect the economy and the ecology of California, the burning of fossil fuels which contribute to global climate change must be reduced and the state’s commitment to clean, renewable energy must be increased. California industries at risk include agriculture, tourism, real estate, skiing, forestry and water resource management. Sea level rise threatens beaches and beach communities as well as wetlands, delta regions and drinking water aquifers in the coastal region.”

Sustained warming could lead to shorter winters and longer, hotter summers as well as the conditions that tend to lead to higher fire frequency and severity. Record high temperatures and dry brush from five years of drought contributed to the severity of the Oakland-Berkeley hills fire of 1991 which resulted in 25 deaths, 150 injuries and an estimated loss of over $1.5 billion dollars. To date, in 1996, drought conditions have contributed to forest fires that have burned more than 530,000 acres, causing losses in excess of $35 million. Although there is no evidence that either the Oakland-Berkeley hills fire or this year’s forest fires were related to climate change, they provide examples of events which could become more common in the future.

“California’s water supply system is very sensitive to climatic conditions. Longer summers and shorter winters would increase the risk of flooding in the early spring but lead to greatly reduced water flows in summer and early fall,” said Bloomfield. “The Sacramento Delta, which supplies much of the irrigation water for state agriculture, is particularly vulnerable to the combination of saltwater intrusion from sea level rise and decline in freshwater runoff during the dry season. Lower quantities and less predictable availability of water as well as decreased water quality could reduce agricultural productivity.”

“Tourism, including fishing, camping, hiking, hunting and skiing, are all vulnerable to climate change. Lower water quality, warmer water, lower stream flows and saltwater inundation could reduce fish and wildlife habitat. Ski seasons could be considerably shortened as warmer temperatures lead to later snowfall and earlier snowmelt. This would also result in decreased cover, depth and quality of the snow during the season,” said Bloomfield.

(9 October, 1996 — Oakland) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today applauded the Secretary of Interior’s decision on how to operate Glen Canyon Dam.

“Today is a victory for the Grand Canyon and all those who care about our natural heritage,”said Spreck Rosekrans, economic analyst in EDF’s Oakland, California office. “Given that the dam is in place, the secretary has made some great strides in protecting the Colorado River by implementing scientifically proven operating criteria for the dam upstream. For the foreseeable future, the protection and restoration of the canyon’s beaches and fish habitat will be considered a top priority in determining the pattern of flows released from Glen Canyon Dam. The devastating daily fluctuations, scheduled to meet the peak demands of designated electric power customers, will no longer be allowed to occur.”

Since 1988, EDF has worked with the Bureau of Reclamation and others to pioneer new water management methods to balance the ecological health of the Grand Canyon with the energy needs of the surrounding region. For decades, Glen Canyon Dam has been operated primarily to provide cheap electricity to preferred customers, who today pay about half the national average wholesale electric rate. Operations scheduled to coincide with electricity demand have resulted in large daily fluctuations, dramatically changing the flow patterns of the Colorado River, eroding its beaches, threatening archaeological sites, and destroying the habitat of native species downstream.

“We are pleased that occasional high beach and habitat-building flows, like the successful experimental flood last April, are part of the Secretary’s decision,” said Rosekrans. “Our only concern is that the ecosystem needs may not be the primary basis for determining whether some of these healing flows can occur. Instead, the regional water interests may be able to prevent many of the beach-building flows from occurring, even though these flows would have no impact on either the delivery of water or the end-of-year storage in Lake Powell or Lake Mead.”

(7 October, 1996 — Washington, DC) The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) supported the action taken by seventeen members of the US House of Representatives, led by Tom Lantos (D- CA) and John Porter (R-IL), in a letter sent to Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso urging rapid action to protect the land of the Macuxi Indians in the Raposa/Serra do Sol area of Roraima state in the northern Brazilian Amazon. The representatives expressed concern that Brazil’s Minister of Justice Nelson Jobim may turn much of the area over to ranchers and gold miners in response to pressure from Amazon politicians, precipitating violence in the region and setting a disastrous precedent for other Indian lands. The Minister is scheduled to make a decision by October 10th on whether to protect this key area. In separate correspondence, Representatives Porter and Lantos urged the State Department to raise the issue with Brazil’s government.

“The letter shows that US policy makers understand the importance of the decision Minister Jobim is about to take,” said EDF anthropologist Stephan Schwartzman. “The fate of another 177 Indian areas is hanging in the balance, and there is real potential for explosive conflict in Raposa/Serra do Sol. This decision will be the bellwether of the current government’s indigenous policy.”

The CIR vice-coordinator called on the government to honor the commitment in the 1988 Constitution to demarcate (or legally protect) Indian lands in Brazil, and denounced the government’s new regulations for Indian land demarcation, Decree 1775, as a delaying tactic that has provoked new invasions and heightened tension in the area. Adalberto further promised that if Minister Jobim does not sign the demarcation order, the Indians will carry out the demarcation themselves. “The government has the money to pay for an Amazon Week festival in New York,” said Adalberto. “We have the courage to demarcate our own land if the government won’t.”