Dear SEPAC Members

[Eli]

Dear SEPAC Members,

The following was sent from Trout Unlimited in Pennsylvania.

Attached is a PA Hose Bill that would use very broad language to potentially have very negative impact on PA's aquatic resources in the future.  It essentially undermines the charter of the PA Fish & Boat Commission and limits the agency' s power to protect the aquatic resources of Pennsulvania.  The PA Fish & Boat Commission does not support this legislation and we need to speak up. .

If you support defeating this legislation, please send this along to your membership and ask them to take the time to mail or FAX copies of the attached letter to the members of the Fish & Game Committee.  Also, West Chester Fish, Game &  Wildlife Association is sending a letter on our letterhead representing the combined voice of our 350 members. The committee members are listed at the end of the attached document.

Glade Squires

[Eli]

From PA Trout Unlimited...
Your Support is Needed to Defeat PA House Bill 96!

As you might already know, PA Representative Staback (D-Lackawanna) has introduced HB 96 which calls for a revision to Section 1, Title 3, of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, adding the language, "In all fisheries and aquatic resource management decisions the commission shall be guided by the principles of best management practices utilizing scientific analysis supported by verifiable data with equal regard for the social, economic and recreational impacts of its decisions."

It is PATU's belief that if this proposed bill is enacted into law, the potential gains for our aquatic resources as envisioned in the PA Fish & Boat Commission's new "Resource First" policy (adopted April, 2008) will essentially be wiped out.  PFBC's policy is geared toward restoration of wild trout populations wherever scientifically feasible, rather than simply stocking hatchery fish indiscriminately in those streams which already harbor a sustainable wild trout population.  This policy re-establishes the agency's primary role as that of a conservation organization. 

If HB 96 becomes law, PATU also believes that there are much greater environmental implications than those affecting just our trout streams.  For example, "equal regard for  social, economic and recreational impacts" could be interpreted in such a way as to result in projects such as expansions of airports at the expense of valued wetlands, or mining, oil, or gas well developments in an Exceptional Value watershed.

HB 96 currently resides in the House Game and Fisheries Committee.  If you agree with your state council's position on this bill, we are asking that you take the time to contact as many of the members of this committee as possible and ask them NOT to support its passage.  If any of these members represent the district in which you reside (vote), then it becomes even more relevant that they hear from you.   Below are some "talking points" to consider when asking that they not support this bill.

•   Social, economic and recreational impacts of any and all decisions affecting our natural resources are already taken into account by the PFBC in managing the natural resources under its jurisdiction.

•   Social and economic pressures can be and are often used to justify bad environmental practices which, in the long run, are environmentally disastrous. At the time, the cost is always considered to be socially and economically justifiable.  But time proves otherwise.

•   Codifying the requirement to give equal weight to social and economic considerations in Section 1, Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute appears to be aimed at compelling the PFBC to render decisions that could be detrimental not only to our fisheries, but to wetlands and watersheds and all aquatic resources, the very resources the Commission is supposed to preserve and protect.

•   Not only does it tie the hands of the PFBC, but this addition could be used to force other state agencies to utilize these same considerations when making decisions meant to protect aquatic resources in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

•   What body or who would determine if "equal regard for the social, economic and recreational impacts" has been given?

•   By what measure would "equality" be determined?
If you would prefer to use the following sample letter which covers the above points, then simply insert the representative's name in the greeting and be sure to include your name, address and phone number before you mail, fax, or send electronically.  Phone calls work too, so if that is your preference, please don't hesitate to make the call.





Re: House Bill 96
Dear Representative,

I am asking you as a member of the PA House Game & Fisheries Committee to consider the implications of HB 96 which is purported to provide guiding principles to the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission in fisheries and aquatic resource management decisions. This bill adds the following language to Section 1, Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes: "In all fisheries and aquatic resource management decisions the commission shall be guided by the principles of best management practices utilizing scientific analysis supported by verifiable data with equal regard for the social, economic and recreational impacts of its decisions."

As someone who has worked with the management and employees of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC), I can assure you that social, economic and recreational impacts of any and all decisions affecting our natural resources are already taken into account by the PFBC in managing the natural resources under its jurisdiction. I see no need to codify these decisions.

This language, if added to Section 1, Title 3 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statute, could force the PFBC to render decisions that would be especially detrimental to our trout fisheries, wetlands and watersheds. Natural resources cannot be managed by popular vote. That is why Pennsylvania has an independent PFBC Board of Commissioners and a professionally trained staff to provide guidance on how best to manage the natural resources under its jurisdiction. Addition of this language to Title 3 would allow commercial and individual interests to trump efforts to preserve and protect Pennsylvania's precious natural resources and even endangered species.

Inserting this language into Title 3 opens the door to a host of special interests that would devastate our natural resources for personal gains.  We know this because of the disastrous effects of the past when first uncontrolled logging, then mining, rampant land development and other misuses of our landscape laid waste to many miles of wild trout streams and forests. Those more interested in exploiting natural resources than protecting them have had their way for far too long in Pennsylvania. Now, with the vast expansion of industries bent on extracting gas and other sources of carbon-based fuels in the Commonwealth, preserving and protecting our precious natural wild areas is especially critical to the citizens of Pennsylvania.

Please give my words some serious consideration. If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,


Time is of the essence.  Letters, faxes, emails and phone contacts from constituents do count.  Please contact your state representatives before it's too late!
Following is a list of the PA House Game & Fisheries Committee members.  With your Internet connection open, all you need to do is highlight the representative's name and click on the "Ctrl" key.
This will take you to that representative's website where you will find all the contact information.


PA HOUSE GAME & FISHERIES COMMITTEE
        Majority (Room 225 IOB)            Minority (Room 43A EW)
Staback, Edward G. , Chairman
Haluska, Gary, Vice Chairman
Murphy, Kevin P. , Secretary
Dally, Craig A. , Chairman

Costa, Dom
Daley, Peter J.
DeLuca, Anthony M.
Gergely, Marc J.
Goodman, Neal P
Hanna, Michael K.
Hornaman, John
Kula, Deberah
Levdansky, David K.
Mahoney, Tim
McGeehan, Michael P.
Readshaw, Harry
   Cutler, Bryan
Everett, Garth D.
Gillespie, Keith
Keller, Mark K.
Krieger, Tim
Moul, Dan
Peifer, Michael
Pyle, Jeffrey P.
Rock, Todd
Sonney, Curtis G.

[Eli]

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Legis/PN/Public/btCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&sessYr=2009&sessInd=0&billBody=H&billTyp=B&billNbr=0096&pn=0088

or

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/billinfo.cfm?syear=2009&sind=0&body=H&type=B&BN=0096