A Plea For Help
"Some 200,000 acres are now targeted for removing the people to restore the Everglades." Henry Lamb, executive vice president of the Environmental Conservation Organization
"Our residents and farmers are being flooded and forced from their properties by federal agencies. So far there have been fourteen flood-related deaths and more than $1 billion in flood-related losses." Madeleine Fortin, president, East Everglades Legal Defense Foundation
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is accelerating these problems by attempting to circumvent a direct congressional directive and expand its project authorization by language placed in the House version of the current Department of the Interior appropriations bill. This bill could be voted on as early as the week of July 8th.
Thousands of citizens in south Florida will be devastated if this language is not removed from the appropriations bill. You may read about our plight at: Trouble Brewing In Florida's Swamps http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28194
Transforming America http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=28187
I know that you receive dozens of requests for help by email each week. However, we are desperate. Please take time to read the following information and draft a short letter to the Department of the Interior appropriations members listed below. Please send this information to your lists.
We are in your debt.
Madeleine Fortin, president, East Everglades Legal Defense Foundation 21801 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33187; Phone 305-255-7098; E-mail: mfortin@bellsouth.net
The following language appears as a Rider in the House version of the current Department of the Interior appropriations bill: "In response to a local magistrate's ruling, the Committee makes clear Congress' intent regarding the expeditious completion of the flood protection system for the 8.5 Square Mile Area and further clarifies that Congress intended the Army Corps of Engineers to implement a flood protection system known as 'Alternative 6D' which combines both land acquisition within the 8.5 Square Mile Area and construction of an interior levee and seepage canal."
Background: In 1989 Congress passed the Everglades Protection Act which ordered the Army Corps of Engineers to provide Everglades National Park with a natural hydrologic regime and to protect the 8.5 Square Mile Area community that would be affected by this. The language in this law was very specific: "The Secretary of the Army is authorized and directed to construct a flood protection system to protect the developed land within such area."
Congress intended that the entire community be provided with structural flood protection. Rather than do as they were ordered by Congress, the Corps has embarked on a "compromise solution" called "Alternative 6D." This "Alternative" will protect only one-third of the community -- at three times the cost -- and will result in condemnation of hundreds of homes and farms and flooding of most of the community.
In response to the Corps actions, area residents have filed a lawsuit in federal court. The magistrate's initial opinion in this case is that the Corps lacks Congressional authority to condemn land outside the footprint of the originally authorized project, and has failed to fulfill its Congressional directive to protect the entire community. Now it appears the Corps is attempting to circumvent this legal opinion by adding the above Rider to an appropriations bill. As long as this project remains unfinished, water cannot be released into the park in the volume necessary for ecosystem functioning. This water is being stockpiled north of the park. It has overloaded the canal system and raised the level of groundwater throughout the entire Miami-Dade County area, flooding urban and agricultural areas. So far there have been fourteen flood-related deaths and more than $1 billion in flood-related losses.
We would like your assistance in getting the above Rider removed from this bill for the following reasons: * A Department of the Interior appropriations bill is an improper vehicle for the Corps of Engineers to seek to circumvent a direct Congressional directive while at the same time expanding its project authorization. * The Corps' selection of "Alternative 6D" will cost at least $90 million and protect only one-third of the community. Adhering to the original project will cost $30 million and protect the entire community. "Alternative 6D" will result in condemnation of hundreds of homes and farms, but will not delivery any added environmental benefits. "Alternative 6D" will take years to implement, while the original project could literally be started tomorrow. Most of the people in the 8.5 Square Mile Area community are low-income, minority farmers who have no place else to go. * Without serious debate, the above Rider would repeal the part of the 1989 Everglades Act which required the Corps to construct flood protection for the 8.5 Square Mile Area. * The Rider is an attempt to circumvent a preliminary judicial decision that found the Corps' proposed action illegal. * The Rider also attempts to circumvent environmental laws such as the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act, and judicial review of the proposed action under these laws. * The Rider ratifies a flawed, controversial, and unnecessary action.
Please call, email, or fax the above letter to the following Congressmen. The toll free number for all of them is 800-648-3516.
Congressman C.W. Young, (R-FL), Chairman of the Appropriations Committee; Attention: Brian Walsh; Fax 202-225-9599 Bill.Young@mail.house.gov
Congressman Joe Skeen (R-NM); Attention: Paul Ostrowsky; Fax 202-225-9599; E-mail Paul.Ostrowsky@ mail.house.gov
Congressman Henry Bonilla (R-TX); Attention: Jim Richards; Fax. 202-225-2237; E-mail Jim.Richards@ mail.house.gov
Congressman Ralph Regula (R-OH); Fax 202-225-3059; E-mail: Go to http://wwwa.house.gov/regula/
Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-AZ); Attention: Kevin Messner; Fax 202-225-0378; (No Email Available)
E-mail: Kevin.Messner@ mail.house.gov Congressman Norman Dicks (D-WA); Attention: Pete Modaff; Fax 202-226-1176; E-mail: Pete.Modaff@mail.house.gov
Congresswomen Carrie Meek (D) Florida; Attention: John Shelble; Fax 202-226-0777; E-mail: John.Shelble@mail.house.gov