Inside the Beltway: Mission creep

The Washington Times ^ | 10/11/04 | John McCaslin

[Pfesser]

Beware of being designated a World Heritage Site.

"World Heritage Sites in the United States were noncontroversial until the Clinton administration and overzealous environmental groups used Yellowstone National Park's World Heritage Site designation to stop a proposed gold mine located on private property outside the boundaries of the park," notes Rep. Richard Pombo, California Republican.

In 1972, the United States ratified the World Heritage Convention. Since then, 20 properties in the U.S. have been designated as World Heritage Sites, operated under a worldwide program administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), based in Paris.

"Many in Congress joined me in believing this mission creep of the World Heritage Convention was never envisioned when the United States ratified it over 30 years ago," says Mr. Pombo, who adds that the National Park Service has developed a "tentative list" of cultural and natural properties in the United States it considers suitable for inclusion on the World Heritage List.

"Presently, this list contains 70 properties in over 30 states and the District of Columbia," says the congressman. "Based on the experience during the Clinton administration ... America must be very cautious when it proposes new areas for designation as World Heritage Sites."

Case in point: Alaska's oil-rich Arctic National Wildlife Refuge appears on the "tentative list," which the congressman says could jeopardize U.S. national security and international competitiveness.

[HowardLSmith.ô¿ô]

Yes Beware !!

Vermont got the whole state on the list to save themselves from the horrors wrought by Walmart enfestation!!!

Save the World!!!