Sasquatch
06-27-2008, 01:03 AM
Link: http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/1109468.html
Here are some snippets:
Now environmentalists want to see these deepwater reefs protected, and they're hoping a president possibly looking to spruce up his environmental legacy before he leaves office might help them do it. The reefs cover an area nearly the size of South Carolina
Oh goodie, let's decree an underwater 51st state and call it "East Busholina".
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which manages fishing in federal waters in the Southeast, is looking at declaring the coral reefs "Habitat Areas of Particular Concern." But a presidential declaration, such as one declaring the reefs national monuments, would add even more layers of protection although Rader stressed that no one was pushing to have fishing outlawed around the reefs.
Yeah, my ass.
President Bush hasn't exactly been seen as a friend of the environmental movement during his nearly eight years in office. Presidents, however, have a history of wanting to leave a lasting legacy, and that's what the environmental community is banking on.
There also is recent precedent for this. Two years ago, Bush created the 140,000-square-mile Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, which is the world's largest protected marine area. The White House has yet to take a position on the idea of designating the Southeast's reefs a marine national monument. But last month South Carolina's Republican Gov. Mark Sanford came out in favor of the proposal, calling the deepwater habitats a "national treasure on par with Yosemite Valley and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands."
Rader said officials also have been in touch with Gov. Mike Easley here in North Carolina and his compatriots in Georgia and Florida to see about garnering their support.
Okay, SE divers and fishermen, call/write the governor's office and say you are totally against any Federal mucking with our state's environment, livelihood, and potential energy/economic benefits.
Here are some snippets:
Now environmentalists want to see these deepwater reefs protected, and they're hoping a president possibly looking to spruce up his environmental legacy before he leaves office might help them do it. The reefs cover an area nearly the size of South Carolina
Oh goodie, let's decree an underwater 51st state and call it "East Busholina".
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, which manages fishing in federal waters in the Southeast, is looking at declaring the coral reefs "Habitat Areas of Particular Concern." But a presidential declaration, such as one declaring the reefs national monuments, would add even more layers of protection although Rader stressed that no one was pushing to have fishing outlawed around the reefs.
Yeah, my ass.
President Bush hasn't exactly been seen as a friend of the environmental movement during his nearly eight years in office. Presidents, however, have a history of wanting to leave a lasting legacy, and that's what the environmental community is banking on.
There also is recent precedent for this. Two years ago, Bush created the 140,000-square-mile Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, which is the world's largest protected marine area. The White House has yet to take a position on the idea of designating the Southeast's reefs a marine national monument. But last month South Carolina's Republican Gov. Mark Sanford came out in favor of the proposal, calling the deepwater habitats a "national treasure on par with Yosemite Valley and the Northwest Hawaiian Islands."
Rader said officials also have been in touch with Gov. Mike Easley here in North Carolina and his compatriots in Georgia and Florida to see about garnering their support.
Okay, SE divers and fishermen, call/write the governor's office and say you are totally against any Federal mucking with our state's environment, livelihood, and potential energy/economic benefits.