Hi Everyone,

* Posted with Norm's approval

The following message was compiled by Ross Geredien, who has been working
hard
to raise awareness about the Clean Water Protection Act and mountaintop
removal. Phone calls from the extended Maryland birding community will go a
long way to help. As someone who has only recently begun to regularly call
my
representatives, I appeal to the many others who have often considered doing

so. I've been surprised by how straightforward the process is, but I know we

join a powerful minority of active participants when we pick up the phone.
My
calls to Representatives Kratovil and Ruppersberger yesterday took about 10
minutes.

(Note: Please take further discussion of this topic off-line.)

Please read on. Thanks for putting this together, Ross.

*****

As many birders know, the forests of central and southern Appalachia are the

stronghold for nesting Cerulean Warblers and many other neotropical migrant
songbirds.  These Appalachian forests are also an important migratory
corridor
for raptors and songbirds alike.

Over the past 20 years, however, one of the worst environmental atrocities
in
our nation's history has taken place in the coal-mining regions of the
Appalachians.  Over 1 million acres of lush, native deciduous hardwood
forest
have been lost due to mountaintop removal coal-mining, a devastating form of

surface mining that not only destroys forest habitat, but pollutes rivers
and
streams and frequently leaves behind an unrecognizable moonscape of barren
bedrock, toxic sludge, and "reclaimed" areas of invasive exotic species.

Much of the debris and bedrock from mountaintop removal (MTR) is placed in
valley fills into adjacent streams.  This is what makes MTR economically
feasible.  Bush administration rule changes allowed this practice to occur
unchecked by the Clean Water Act, which the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals in
Richmond, VA has continued to undermine in several MTR court cases (see OVEC

vs. US Army Corps of Engineers:
http://pacer.ca4.uscourts.gov/opinion.pdf/071355.P.pdf).

About 200,000 acres of additional lands have been slated for mining, but
thankfully the EPA has JUST TODAY (March 24) placed many these permits on
hold, thanks to meetings held last week between senior EPA officials and
conservation leaders.  However, any regulatory action taken under the new
administration can be undone by future administrations.  That is why we need
a
law to uphold and protect the intentions of the Clean Water Act to ensure
that
MTR cannot resume in full force and permanently wipe out what is left of
these
forests and mountains.

The Clean Water Protection Act (CWPA) (H.R. 1310) will largely curtail MTR
over the long-term by preventing mining companies from depositing mine waste

into streams and valleys.  Last week, over 150 people from 20 states came to

DC to lobby on behalf of the CWPA.  The bill was re-introduced for the
FOURTH
time just three weeks ago with 115 original co-sponsors.  We now officially
are up to 122 with commitments from several more house representatives.  We
need to reach 180 in order for the bill to start moving through committee
and
to reach the floor for a vote.  We also need some attention in the Senate,
and
we are hopeful that Maryland's Ben Cardin, who is chair of the subcomittee
on
Water and Wildlife and who was a cosponsor of the bill while in the House,
will champion the issue in the Senate.

In the House, the Maryland delegation is largely on board. However, we still

need Rep's Kratovil, Ruppersberger, and Bartlett to become cosponsors.  Of
these three, it is unlikely that Bartlett will sign on, but Frank Kratovil's

office is our best chance to gain an additional cosponsor.  I encourage any
Marylanders, but especially constituents of Ruppersberger's and Kratovil's
districts, who are interested in conservation to contact these
representatives
and ask them to consponsor the CWPA sometime in the next week. By doing
this,
we will be turning up the heat following our meetings from last week.

Here is the info and instructions for contacting these members.  Emails to
the
staffers listed are perfectly acceptable, as are phone calls.  Note that
snail
mail to Congress takes at least 3 weeks now, so sending a letter is NOT as
effective as it once was.

Rep. Frank Kratovil (D)
202-225-5311
Environmental staffperson is Jamie McIntyre (man).
email:  

Kratovil is our #1 target for Maryland.  Gilchrest was a cosponsor of the
CWPA
since 2004, and it's tough losing him. However, Jamie McIntyre seemed like a

good guy, and Kratovil is expected to make his decision within the next 2
weeks.  Any calls from throughout Maryland are important, but if you know
birders who are constituents, please forwardto them as well, or feel free to

put them in touch.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger (D)
202-225-3061
Env. Staffer is Steve Jost, email:


Dutch has never been a cosponsor of the CWPA, but that does not mean we
should stop trying.

Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R)
202-225-2721
Env. staffer is Annie Baker email:


We met with Annie Baker in Bartlett's office and were not well received. But

enough outcry from constuents might make a difference here.  It would be
great
if birders in western Maryland contacted this office.

Senator Ben Cardin
202-224-4524
Staffer:  Sarah Greenberger
()

NOTE: Sarah is very nice, and Cardin was a cosponsor in the House.  We are
asking him if he will introduce a Senate version of the Clean Water
Protection
Act or at the very least hold an issue hearing in subcommittee, as he is
chair
of Water and Wildlife.


TIPS on what to say: When you call, say your name and where you're from
(Maryland!) and ask to speak to the appropriate staffer "about the Clean
Water
Protection Act".  Always mention the name of the bill.  Don't worry if
you're
not a constituent, as they will take calls from Maryland residents. But
constituents do carry some more weight.  If and when you get to speak to
them,
you can say why you're calling, once again that you're calling about the
"Clean Water Protection Act".  You can go into as much detail as you want
about why you think it's important to stop mountaintop removal.

Or you can keep it brief: just tell them why you're calling and make the
ask:
"I'm calling to ask Mr....... if he will cosponsor the Clean Water
Protection
Act, HR 1310".  If the staffer is unavailable, leave a voicemail mentioning
why you're calling (What's that Bill's name again?) and feel free to leave
your # asking for a callback.  Be persistent, and follow up with emails. One

thing I learned is that these are real people who take their jobs pretty
seriously, and most of the time they will listen to you, at least for a few
minutes.  After all, it's their job.  Be sincere and concerned yet don't be
shy about asking the Rep to cosponsor.

Finally, if you have the time and the passion and you live in any of the
other
districts, feel free to contact your Representative and THANK THEM for being
a
cosponsor!  Here is the info for the other Maryland delegates:

Rep. John Sarbanes
202-225-4016
Env. Staffer: Jim Notter email: 

Rep. Donna Edwards
202-225-8699
Env. Staffer: Terra Sabag email: 

Rep. Chris Van Hollen
202-225-5341
Env. Staffer: Karen Robb email: 

Rep. Elijah Cummings
202-225-4741
Env. Staffer: Jasmine Dickerson email: 

Steny Hoyer is NOT a cosponsor as Majority Leader.  However, you can call
his
office and tell him that this is an important issue to you and that he
should
help move the Bill (woops, you got it!) along in the House.

Steny Hoyer
202-225-4131
Env. Staffer was Jim Wood email: 

Thanks to everyone for your interest and help!  Feel free to contact me with

questions.

Ross Geredien
Annapolis
610-850-5035

*****

Bill Hubick
Pasadena, Maryland

http://www.billhubick.com