Posted on 08/26/2003 6:07:37 PM PDT by SandRat
Groups seek help to reject legislation: Want governor to ask McCain to save San Pedro
By ARTHUR H. ROTSTEIN
Associated Press
TUCSON -- Gov. Janet Napolitano is being asked by environmentalists to urge Sen. John McCain to reject a House-approved congressional rider and help save the San Pedro River.
Two dozen conservation and advocacy groups, including the Center for Biological Diversity(our local terrorists), Arizona League of Conservation Voters, Sierra Club and Defenders of Wildlife, wrote Napolitano on Monday.
They asked her to help stop a rider sponsored by Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., from being adopted by a House-Senate Armed Services conference committee when it reconvenes in September to take up the fiscal 2004 Defense Authorization Bill. McCain sits on the committee.
A press conference to discuss the issue was scheduled to be held at the San Pedro House this morning by a coalition of Cochise County residents.
Opponents asked Napolitano to "please publicly call on Senator McCain to stop any rider exempting the San Pedro" from critical provisions of the Endangered Species Act.
The legislation, referred to as the Renzi Rider, would exempt Fort Huachuca and other military bases from responsibility for mitigation requirements on off-post pumping of groundwater. It would preclude the Defense Department from responsibility for groundwater pumping for activities outside an installation.
It also would exempt a requirement under the ESA that the department consider the deteriorating environment in evaluating its activities.
Opponents contend that use of San Pedro largely would not occur without defense-related contracts and the fort's presence.
They also contend that such an exemption will result in an inexorable overdraft of the aquifer feeding the San Pedro River and will cause its demise.
McCain has said he remains undecided about the rider. A call to McCain's Washington office was not returned Monday night.
Napolitano is in Mexico City meeting with Mexican President Vicente Fox on trade and immigration issues. The Democratic governor has taken a strong public stance on the need to preserve all of Arizona's military bases during the next round of base closures.
In Phoenix, Paul Allvin, a spokesman for the governor, said, "The governor does appreciate the letter from the Center for Biological Diversity, and she is really interested in general in finding a way to save both the river and Fort Huachuca."
She'll determine what to do next when she returns from Mexico, he said.
Come on Arizona call, write, email, McCain and Kyle and tell them to get the Renzi Rider passed. Ignore the GREENS and do what's right!
If you're near Phoenix one to the leaders of this lovely band of ENVIROS is Dr. Robin Silver. He leads the Center for Biodiversity and is the biggest loudmouth of the bunch.
Butch, on the other hand, as AG, did not permit the military to perform certain exercises in deference to the enviro-lobby. You would think that after 9/11 AZ GOP could have capitolized on this issue; what a bundhof weenies!!
I know you were being serious but your misspelling made me think of "Bund" as in Amerikanbund from the late thirties.
Back on subject, If all of the AZFR and all their friends called, wrote, emailed McRINO he'd have to vote for the Renzi-Rider. He'd know then that if he didn't vote for it and fight to get it passed the next election for his Senate seat would go to someone else.
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