Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom. Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of the Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.

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GOP Using Bills to Gut Environmental Rules

1. November 15, 2003
2. By Eric Pianin & Dan Morgan
3. Source: The Washington Post

"Moves Defended as Necessary to Retain Jobs"

WASHINGTON – Republican lawmakers are mounting their strongest bid sense regaining control of the Senate in January to overturn or postpone an array of environmental provisions.

With Congress trying to wrap up major energy and spending bills, GOP leaders are pressing to postpone implementation of tough smog rules for communities, ease restrictions on some energy exploration, and exempt deep-water naval activities for the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Last month, the Senate rejected a bill that would have begun controlling U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, which many scientists blame for rising temperatures on Earth. On a voice vote this week, the Senate approved a GOP amendment that effectively strips California and other states of their long-standing authority to exceed federal air quality standards for the vast majority of smaller, off-road engines.

Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., a champion of environmental causes, was replaced by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who recently dismissed warnings about global warming as “a hoax.” But some critics say the GOP is going too far in removing what they consider vital public-health safeguards.

Resistance Weak

With Democrats able to offer only token resistance, Republicans have sprinkled environmental provisions into a series of bills either enacted or in final stages.

This week, for example, the Senate approved an amendment to the fiscal 2004 veterans and housing spending bill that would prevent California from implementing tough air pollution standards for lawn mowers and other off-road equipment with engines of 50 horsepower of less. Sen. Christopher Bond, R-Mo., sponsored the amendment at the urging of Briggs & Stratton Corp., the largest manufacturer of lawn mower engines, which operates two plants in Missouri that employ 2,000 workers.

Bond, citing disputed study finance by Briggs & Stratton, said the California clean-air standard would lead to the loss of 22,000 manufacturing jobs in 23 states.

But Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and environmentalists warned that, even with last-minute changes agreed to by Bond, the amendment would dramatically rewrite clean air policy by denying several states their long-held authority to exceed Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards for small engines. Under Bond’s amendment, the EPA would have to write a new air quality rule for small engines by Dec. 1, 2004.

Further Cuts

As for environmental issues in other bills:

1. An amendment to the defense authorization bill, given final congressional approval this week, exempts the Navy from federal protections of whales, dolphins and other ocean mammals if they get in the way of important military operations and maneuvers.

2. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, tacked onto the bill financing the Commerce Department several special environmental provisions. One would cut off federal money for the identification and designation of sensitive marine areas, including cold-water coral beds.

3. In the 2004 Interior Department spending bill, enacted last week, a 14-year moratorium on oil exploration in Alaska’s Bristol Bay was dropped at Stevens’ insistence. The same bill contains provisions easing commercial logging in the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.

Environmentalists also oppose a provision in the pending energy bill that would enable some communities to postpone compliance with smog-reduction goals set by the Clean Air Act.

The provision, which was not in the original House and Senate versions, was added during subsequent negotiations at the behest of Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas.

Another provision in the energy bill could expedite oil, gas and coal exploration on Indian tribal lands, which until now had been subject to approval by the secretary of interior and a review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

Construction activities related to oil and gas development would be exempt from storm-water pollution control requirements of the Clean Water Act.