Posted on 01/30/2014 9:56:26 PM PST by george76
It’s no coincidence that sage grouse habitat also happens to intersect both the largest untapped coal deposits in the country as well as large parts of the Bakken oil field. It’s clear the primary motivation to focus on sage grouse for ESA listing is to provide yet another tool for special interest groups to block energy development. And in this obstructionist toolbox, there’s no heavier sledgehammer than the Endangered Species Act.
What an interesting irony, then, that so much effort is going into “protecting” one bird from energy development, when the Obama administration is turning a blind eye to hundreds of thousands of other birds being killed by wind energy turbines each year- including protected birds like bald eagles.
Recent research puts the annual butcher’s bill by wind farms at 573,000 birds. Included in that number are 83,000 hunting birds, like eagles and hawks.
Most bird deaths are violations of the ESA, the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, or other protective acts. Indeed, there are examples of the Obama administration prosecuting power companies for birds killed by power lines and oil companies for birds that drown in waste pits. But to date, not a single wind energy company has been prosecuted for bird deaths.
...
the Obama administration has been granting renewable energy companies “take” permits that allows them to kill bald eagles with impunity for up to five years. On December 6, the Interior Department announced they were extending the length of those permits for up to 30 years.
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Let’s be honest about what’s driving this process—a political agenda that cares much more about putting shackles on energy development than it does about protecting birds.
(Excerpt) Read more at vp-mi.com ...
Yes, I know about that, but I just don’t like the Feds owning all this land. It becomes a hot potato for cronyism and corruption of the process. America is designed as a continent-wide free trade zone.
Have you read this guy ever?: http://www.coyoteblog.com/
He does just what you suggest, but left California. They killed his business.
Seeing as I published a book on that very topic 13 years ago, one would think I knew that.
I don't want the States owning it either. State offals are if anything easier to buy than are the Feds. Control is effective ownership. I think we can get more land into de facto private ownership more quickly by fracturing the Federal estate through use and management contracts than we can by turning it over to the States and then trying to do the same thing. The Feds have so many financial levers they exert upon the States that I really don't think you'll see that much of a substantive change under State "control."
America is designed as a continent-wide free trade zone.
Which did more to destroy Federalism than an army ever could. I'm more of a fan of natural law competition allowing the States to learn about the fruits of protectionism the hard way.
Have you read this guy ever?: http://www.coyoteblog.com/
No. Looked at his page. Don't need to. I'm way ahead of him. Ever read my patent? It gives me standing with which to establish such a market free of Federal controls. The key is the citation to "market failure" found in most environmental laws as the nexus of a public claim to usurp powers in the name of public health and safety.
He does just what you suggest, but left California. They killed his business.
I doubt seriously he was doing what I suggest because he would have to abide by dysfunctional laws, regulations, and bureaucratic whims. Nor do I believe you under 'what I suggest' as you haven't read my book. Still, do I know people personally who are doing very well in private management of public land, including in California.
Like taking away children's lunches in Salt Lake City???
The Feds control about 87% of the land in Nevada & they control about 84% in Utah.
The federal government shouldn’t control land long-term. Dispose of it either via open auction or by giving it to the states.
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