Action Center: See Action Results

In early 2003 we asked you to send comments opposing the Bush administration's proposals to weaken a key provision of the Clean Air Act (called "new source review"). Although thousands of you (and hundreds of thousands of other concerned citizens) spoke out against the administration's plans, in late August 2003 the EPA announced it would no longer require more than 17,000 of the country's largest polluting facilities to install modern pollution controls when upgrading or modifying equipment and significantly increasing their pollution (some of the same companies that have been prosecuted for new source review violations are major contributors to the Bush campaign). The changes would mean thousands more asthma attacks, hospitalizations, and premature deaths across the country each year. In November 2003, NRDC and other environmental organizations sued to have this harmful rule change declared a violation of the Clean Air Act and, on December 24, 2003, a federal judge blocked the change from taking effect until our case is fully heard and decided. We'll keep you updated on developments; meanwhile, thanks to all of you who spoke out against this egregious rollback of one of our most fundamental environmental laws.

In August 2003 approximately 250,000 people, including tens of thousands of you, submitted comments on the Bush administration's proposal to remove the Tongass National Forest from protections under the landmark roadless rule. Even though all but about 2,000 comments supported keeping Tongass roadless areas protected, the Bush administration instead acted in favor of its industry friends and finalized its plans to allow logging to proceed. What's more, in an effort to obscure its actions amidst the holiday bustle, the administration waited until December 23, 2003 to announce this devastating policy change. The lands to be logged are spread throughout 2.5 million acres of the biggest, richest old growth in the crown jewel of public forests -- lands that provide the most valuable wildlife habitat for wolves, brown and black bears, bald eagles, salmon and other wildlife. You can be certain that NRDC will be fighting this deplorable policy in court and in Congress, and will again call on you for help when necessary.

As many of you may remember, in late 2002 the Bush administration chose to ignore overwhelming public opinion and reversed a Clinton administration plan to phase out snowmobiles in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks. NRDC joined dozens of other environmental and conservation groups in suing the administration, and on December 16, 2003 a federal judge ruled that the Bush administration's actions had violated National Park Service regulations as well as the National Environmental Policy Act, and ordered the Clinton rule reinstated. The rule calls for pollution-spewing snowmobiles to be phased out of the parks over three years, and for an expanded snowcoach system to transport park visitors. This is a huge and stunning victory for the parks and their wildlife, employees and visitors, but it is by no means the end of the matter. The snowmobile industry has already announced it will appeal, and Congress may decide to try to legislatively reverse or modify the court decision. We'll be sure to let you know if and when we need you to contact your senators and representatives about this, but for now we can all celebrate this terrific victory.

In mid-2003 the Bush administration, at the behest of developers and the oil, mining and chemical industries, initiated a process to narrow the scope of the Clean Water Act to allow industry to dredge, fill or dump waste into thousands of streams, wetlands and other waters without a permit and without notifying the public. The result would have undermined efforts to control pollution and floods, and seriously threatened wildlife habitat and drinking water supplies. After many months of public outrage, negative press and pressure from Congress and 39 state governments, EPA Administrator Leavitt announced on December 16, 2003 that the administration was reversing course and abandoning the effort to change the rules. NRDC Earth Activists sent more than 52,000 messages to your senators and representatives, urging them to register their opposition to the administration's proposal, and you clearly got their attention: 218 members of the House of Representatives (including 26 Republicans) sent an official letter to President Bush urging him to drop the plan. Even as we celebrate this good news, however, we remain concerned that the administration has not withdrawn a directive it issued in January 2003 that abandoned protection for 20 million acres of wetlands, as well as an unknown number of streams. So while this is only a partial victory, it's nevertheless a hugely significant one for clean water protections -- thanks to all of you who helped achieve it!

Throughout 2003 you sent thousands of messages to your senators and representatives as they worked on different versions of the Bush administration's misleadingly named "Healthy Forests Initiative." The House and Senate reached a compromise on a final bill, which President Bush signed on December 3, 2003. The bill undermines National Environmental Policy Act and other environmental protections and reduces public input for proposed logging projects, which will lead to more damaging logging operations. To make matters worse, the bill doesn't even require agencies to undertake proven methods to protect homes and communities from fire risks. NRDC will be working with local groups to closely monitor implementation of these new provisions and challenge the most damaging activities when appropriate. In the meantime, thanks to the many thousands of you who spoke out throughout the year against this harmful administration policy.

During the latter half of 2003 you sent more than 100,000 messages urging Congress to defeat the environmentally and economically harmful energy bill, which was opposed by conservation groups, unions and consumer groups for proposing to give billions of taxpayer dollars to polluting industries and failing to strengthen U.S. energy security. Many of you in states with crucial "swing" senators even made critical calls to your senator's office in the hours leading up to the vote. Your dedication and persistence seem to have paid off (at least temporarily). In late November 2003, the bill's supporters fell two Senate votes short of forcing an end to debate on the bill as a bipartisan coalition came together to block a final vote until some of the bill's many flaws were addressed. This is a huge victory for the environment, but it's by no means permanent. Republican leaders in the House and Senate have vowed to hold another vote on the bill in 2004, and will be arm-twisting furiously to attempt to persuade two senators to change their votes. We'll certainly need you to contact your senators again, but meanwhile, a hearty thank you to everyone who contacted your senators about this awful bill and helped achieve such an important win.

In the last few years, thousands of you have taken action and contributed financially to NRDC to help stop the Navy from deploying a harmful new sonar system across the world's oceans. In June 2003, after eight years and tens of thousands of pages of legal sparring with the Navy, our case was heard in U.S. District Court, and on August 26 2003, in a resounding victory for whales and other marine mammals, Judge Elizabeth LaPorte issued a ruling that will bar the Navy from deploying its high-intensity LFA sonar system across most of the world's oceans. In her historic ruling, Judge LaPorte agreed with NRDC that the sonar's booming noise could "irreparably harm" the marine environment and threaten the very survival of endangered populations of whales, sea turtles and other marine species. In October 2003 NRDC and the Navy agreed to settlement terms limiting LFA testing to specific areas along the eastern seaboard of Asia during times when whales are not migrating there. In a major setback for marine mammals, however, in November 2003 Congress passed a bill exempting the military from core provisions of the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. The exemptions will allow the military to use other types of sonar systems and underwater explosives that can harm whales, dolphins and other marine life. Although the exemptions are unlikely to affect our legal victory (which relied on other laws besides the Marine Mammal Protection Act), the Navy could decide to appeal the court's ruling. We'll keep you apprised of developments, but for now we want to celebrate this victory in defense of marine mammals around the world and thank you for your thousands of actions, contributions, and messages of encouragement.

In May 2003 we asked you to urge the United Nations World Heritage Committee to reject the Bush administration's request to remove Yellowstone National Park from the committee's "In Danger" list. More than 50,000 NRDC activists emailed the committee, prompting an unprecedented two-hour debate on the issue at the committee's July 2003 meeting in Paris. During its presentation, the Bush administration took a hard-line position that it is the U.S. government's right alone to decide whether or not Yellowstone remained on the list. The administration's representative even went so far as to apologize to the committee for the inconvenience caused by your emails (so much for your freedom of speech!). The controversy resulted in yet another precedent: a compromise where Yellowstone would be taken off the list, but with the requirement that the U.S. should next year submit a report on the problems at the park that includes input from independent scientists and organizations. Although we did not achieve our ultimate desired outcome, you can take pride in helping to focus the world's attention on the ongoing serious threats to Yellowstone and the need for continuing worldwide oversight. Many thanks to everyone who took action on behalf of this (inter)national treasure.

In January 2003 we asked you to oppose the Forest Service's proposal to waive environmental review for, and limit the public's ability to appeal, a huge category of logging projects. Although Earth Activists sent 10,000 official comments, the Forest Service basically ignored public opinion and in June 2003 announced its final adoption of the proposal. This latest environmental rollback uses fictitious problems and ignores science while damaging public forestlands and leaving homes and communities exposed to fire risk. A government report completely discredits the Bush administration's claims that it needs to expedite thinning projects because environmental reviews and appeals interfere with fire prevention. The report instead shows that 95 percent of thinning projects move forward quickly, and that only a fraction of the projects identified as hazardous-fuels reduction projects are appealed at all, with only three-tenths of 1 percent going to court. NRDC is currently considering options, including legal action, to continue the battle against these new rules. In the meantime, thanks to all of you who raised your voices in protest.

In May 2003 we asked Florida Earth Activists to call and urge Governor Jeb Bush to veto a bill that would allow the corporate sugar industry to continue to pollute the Everglades. Although the governor's office was reportedly besieged by calls, faxes and emails from you and other concerned Floridians, Governor Bush nevertheless signed the bill on May 20, 2003. The new state law is intended to delay pollution limits for phosphorus, a fertilizer applied on sugar plantations that harms native Everglades vegetation, and make the limits more difficult to enforce. Portions of the bill have drawn scathing public criticism from those who fear it will sabotage the landmark multi-billion-dollar federal-state project to restore the Everglades. Parts of the law must now be approved by the EPA and will undoubtedly be the subject of litigation. We'll keep you posted as developments progress; in the meantime, thanks to all of you who contacted the governor.

Way back in November 2001, we asked you to urge the Bush administration to issue strong rules to limit harmful diesel emissions from a variety of off-road vehicles, such as bulldozers, tractors, and other equipment used at airports, seaports, farms, and construction and industrial sites. Thousands of you sent comments, and in April 2003, EPA administrator Whitman announced proposed rules that would slash off-road diesel emissions by more than 90 percent over the course of the coming decade. Although diesel engines affected by the new rules account for less than five percent of the nation's vehicles, by 2007 they will emit roughly two-thirds of vehicle-related soot emissions (which cause cancer) and almost one-fourth of our total emissions of nitrogen oxides, the main ingredient in smog. Once the new rules take effect, they could prevent more than 9,600 premature deaths and hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and other respiratory symptoms every year. The EPA wants to finalize its proposal by spring 2004, but until then, industry lobbyists are expected to pressure the agency to weaken or add loopholes to the rules. We'll let you know when your comments in support of the proposed rules should be sent; in the meantime, huge thanks to all of you who helped persuade the EPA to propose rules that will make such great strides in protecting our health. [postscript -- The rules were finalized in May 2004, and should be fully implemented by 2014.]

In March 2003 we asked Californians to send comments urging the State Mining and Geology Board to adopt rules to lessen the damage of harmful gold mining practices. More than 1,500 of you responded and we're thrilled to report that, on April 10 2003, the board adopted the toughest restrictions on open-pit metallic mining in the entire country. The regulations require mining companies to refill new open-pit mines when they're depleted and flatten mine waste piles back to nearly the natural landscape. Among the areas that stand to benefit from the board's decision are wildlands that are sacred to the Timbisha Shoshone Indian Tribe in the dramatic Panamint Mountains, and approximately 1,500 acres of near pristine lands that include sacred Quechan Indian sites. Mining companies claim that the expense of complying with the new rules will put them out of business, and are considering a legal challenge. But for now, this is a huge victory for California's natural resources, as well as for its residents, who will no longer bear the burden of paying to clean up and repair the damage caused by the mining industry's abuse -- thanks to all of you who helped make it happen!

In June 2002 we asked you to send messages urging Interior secretary Norton to drop the Bush administration's appeal of a federal court ruling giving California the right to review federal proposals to extend 36 oil leases off the state's coastline. Nine months and 4,500 messages later, on March 31, 2003, Secretary Norton finally announced that the administration had reversed its decision to appeal the ruling. Thank you to everyone who pressured the administration to give California its rightful voice in deciding whether the leases should be extended. The matter is not yet closed, however, as the administration has yet to announce whether it will continue to push forward with these leases, or instead protect California's coast from the dangers of new oil drilling by allowing the leases to expire. We'll continue to closely monitor developments and let you know when your help is needed.

In February 2003 we sent an emergency alert asking you to urge your senators to strip a provision that would have opened the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling from the Senate version of the 2004 budget resolution. In the five days leading up to the vote, you sent more than 29,000 messages to your senators, and it clearly helped make a difference. On March 19, 2003, we won a huge (but close) victory when the Senate voted 52-48 to remove the drilling provision. The pro-environment vote was all the more remarkable coming as it did on the eve of war, with every senator under enormous pressure to approve this centerpiece of President Bush's energy plan. Thank you for your continued commitment to helping keep the Arctic's pristine wilderness off-limits to drilling. But the fight is far from over, and Senate champions of big oil have promised they will not rest until a pro-drilling bill succeeds, so stay tuned.

In February 2003 we sent a special alert asking Californians to urge Governor Davis to sign a bill that would shift a greater share of the costs to research, monitor and reduce pollution from California taxpayers to the polluters themselves. More than 3,000 of you sent messages urging the governor to resist intense corporate lobbying and to sign this "polluter pays" bill and on March 18th 2003, he did just that. This is a long overdue step that will send money back to the state at a time when it's needed more than ever to maintain education and health care funding. Thanks to everyone who contacted the governor about this important bill.

In March 2003 we asked those of you living in Maryland to urge your state senators to reject Governor Ehrlich's nominee for Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Lynn Buhl. Ms. Buhl had previously worked for the Chrysler Corporation and at the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, where she reportedly was hostile to the environmental community and rolled back numerous environmental protections. Ms. Buhl's record, coupled with her inexperience and unfamiliarity with Maryland environmental issues, generated tremendous statewide grassroots opposition and on March 11, 2003, the Maryland Senate voted to defeat her, 26-21. Thanks to all of you in Maryland who let your senators know that you deserve the best protection for the Chesapeake Bay and your environment, and helped achieve this important victory.

Way back in November 2001 we asked Californians to speak out for stronger environmental and health protections as part of the city's process of granting a permit to China Shipping Co. to build a massive shipping terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. After a lengthy legal battle and plenty of public input, NRDC and other environmental and community groups reached a groundbreaking settlement with the city and the port in March 2003. Under the terms of the settlement, the port will establish a $50 million fund to address the impacts of its operations in the community, fully evaluate and reduce the negative impacts of the proposed terminal, and commit to specific steps to address terminal pollution. Among other things, the port has agreed to use only cleaner alternative fuel trucks instead of diesel vehicles at the site, to enable ships to plug into electric power instead of idling their diesel engines while docked, to quickly develop and implement plans to decrease traffic in the area, and to replace the existing 16-story cranes that block community views of the harbor with shorter, lower-profile cranes. When it is completed, the new terminal should serve as a model for ports around the country. Thanks to everyone who helped achieve such a successful outcome.

In February 2003 we asked California activists to urge Governor Davis to sign emergency legislation to ensure the continued existence of the California Coastal Commission. After receiving several thousand messages, the governor signed the bill on February 20, 2003. Ironically, while the commission's opponents tried to strike down the state's coastal program by attacking its constitutionality, their legal challenge actually helped strengthen the program by forcing an improvement to the commissioner appointment process. Thanks to all of you who helped ensure this victory for the state's priceless coastline.

In June 2002 we asked you to urge the Environmental Protection Agency to ban the herbicide atrazine, which has been shown to cause cancer, as well as hormonal disruptions, in humans and animals. Although atrazine has already been banned in several European countries, on January 31, 2003, the EPA announced that it had determined that the chemical probably does not cause health problems, and that it will allow Syngenta, the Swiss company that manufactures atrazine, to monitor contamination levels in US water supplies. NRDC will redouble our efforts to publicize the dangers of atrazine (especially in the Midwest, where it is most widely used), as well as the EPA's abdication of its responsibility to protect the American public. In the meantime, thanks to the thousands of you who contacted the EPA.

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