PUBLIC COMMENTS: Save the Endangered Species Act DUE SEPT 24

The Department of the Interior has proposed new regulations which would dramatically weaken the Endangered Species Act. Please leave a public comment opposing these regulations BEFORE MIDNIGHT ON SEPTEMBER 24. Leave your public comment HERE.


SAMPLE COMMENT FROM HSUS:

The proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act regulations by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service would weaken the ESA regulations by making it harder to secure and maintain federal protections for imperiled species. The FWS and NMFS should keep the existing ESA protections to save threatened and endangered animals from extinction.

SAMPLE COMMENT FROM XERCES SOCIETY:

 I strongly oppose the proposed rule changes to the Endangered Species Act proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Despite the claim from politicians that only a minority of species have recovered after endangered species listing, the fact is the Endangered Species Act is our nation’s most effective law for protecting wildlife in danger of extinction, and has prevented 99 percent of listed species from going extinct. Weakening the Act with the proposed changes will have dramatic implications for species conservation at a time when the threats to all species are increasing, and an increasing number of species are imperiled.

I especially oppose that listing decisions would be coupled with a study on the economic impacts (not benefits) to listing the species. An economic impact analysis could easily influence listing decisions, not to mention be a waste of taxpayer funds.

The Endangered Species Act is a hallmark piece of legislation that has had tremendous benefits for this nation’s iconic wildlife. The proposed changes to the ESA would weaken the law, change the clearly stated and intended purpose of the law, and have negative lasting impacts on our environment for future generations. For these reasons, I strongly oppose the suggested changes.

SAMPLE COMMENT FROM HOWLING FOR WOLVES: 

1. Give economic impact over consideration in decisions about protecting wildlife. Species listing decisions are currently made based solely on scientific considerations–as it should be. The new rules will give veto power to specialist interests over protecting endangered animals.
2. Make it much more difficult to protect plants, fish, and wildlife impacted by the effects of climate change. Species such as wolverines or lynx that are now losing their fight against a warming world will continue to be denied protections;
3. Put enormous roadblocks in the way of protecting habitat needed by endangered and threatened species;
4. Weaken the longstanding requirement that federal agencies work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to assure that projects do not hurt or kill endangered species;
5. Drastically weaken protections afforded to species designated as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Florida manatees, gray wolves in Minnesota, marbled murrelets, and hundreds of others could face new threats.
6. States can open hunting and trapping seasons to kill these animals if Zinke's plan is enacted.

PETITIONS: Please sign and share the following public comments from conservation groups. (updated Sept 10)

Center for Biological Diversity
Audubon Society
National Anti-Vivisection Society
Sierra Club
Animal Welfare Institute
Endangered Species Coalition
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Oceana
Defenders of Wildlife
League of Conservation Voters
EarthJustice
National Wildlife Federation
Ocean Conservancy 
IFAW
Wilderness Watch
Environment California
Audubon Society 
WildEarth Guardians
Oregon Wild
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Food and Water Action
NRDC

Public Comments: Save Red Wolves from Extinction DUE JULY 30

Photo from USFWS

Submit your public comments HERE. If you write them elsewhere and save them, they can also be sent as an email to your Members of Congress or as a letter to the editor of a local paper. Public comments are DUE JULY 30 before midnight.

Talking Points can be found HERE and HERE.

PETITIONS:
Please also sign and share the following petitions.

Animal Welfare Institute
Endangered Species Coalition
Friends of the Earth
Environmental Action
Defenders
Center for Biological Diversity

CLICK TO TWEET:

.@Interior @SecretaryZinke your plan to reduce endangered red wolf habitat is a surrender to extinction and a betrayal of his responsibilities under the Endangered Species Act is outrageous. #redwolfbetrayal pic.twitter.com/Bgwg4e5Rg7

.@USFWS announced their plan today to cut red wolf habitat by 90% and allow private landowners to kill wolves that wander onto their property. #disgraceful #stopextinction #firezinke #redwolfbetrayal pic.twitter.com/b6zNg0j2Qt

Tell the Senate to Pass a Clean Farm Bill

Last week, the House passed a disastrous Farm Bill. The bill is a massive giveaway to the pesticide industry and a blow to endangered species. Many say that it would be the final nail in the coffin for many species. The House version of the bill:

• Repeals the Clean Water Rule’s safeguards for critical water bodies, including streams that help supply one-third of Americans with drinking water.
• Exempts companies that spray dangerous pesticides into waterways from Clean Water Act permitting requirements.
• “Poisoned Pollinators Provision” exempts dangerous pesticides from protections to safeguard endangered or threatened species, including some species of bees.
• Exempts chemical makers from enforcement when pesticides harm or kill endangered species. (Read more here.)
• Prohibits local governments from adopting pesticide laws that are more protective than federal rules and gives state pesticide agencies a secret chance to block EPA protections. 
• Exempts public lands from important land, wildlife, and water conservation safeguards.
• Disallows states from enforcing their own laws against out of state products that are dangerous or unsanitary.

CONTACT YOUR SENATORS AND ASK THEM FOR A CLEAN FARM BILL without any poison pills or damaging environmental riders. Contact information can be found HERE.

SIGN AND SHARE THESE PETITIONS:

Sierra Club
Humane Society

Stop Unethical Hunting Practices in Alaska - PETITIONS & PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE JULY 23

Ryan Zinke wants to allow extreme hunting methods in Alaska including hunting and trapping of bears, wolves, and other animals, baiting bears with bacon and donuts, wolf pups in their dens, and blinding hibernating bear cubs with bright spotlights and shooting swimming caribou from motor boats. Please leave a public comment and sign and share all of the petitions. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Submit your personalized public comment HERE before July 23. 

TALKING POINTS (taken from Humane Society of the United States and Project Coyote):

• I oppose the National Park Service's plan to repeal the 2015 rule which bans the killing of wolf and coyote families in their dens, the killing of hibernate bears and cubs in their dens while using artificial light, baiting of black and grizzly bears, shooting swimming caribou from motor boats and using dogs to hunt black bears. 
• The practices outlawed by the 2015 rule are widely considered to be unethical and inhumane. They are also inconsistent with the Service's statutory conservation mandate. Consequently, the Service must not repeal this law. 
• Native carnivores play a critical role in our ecosystem. They should be treated humanely and the important role that these animals play in balancing a healthy ecosystem should be acknowledged. 
• The original rule was carefully deliberated and was based on the best available science. It was written after extensive public input. It should not be reversed.
• The rule only prohibits practices in national preserves which is less than 6% of Alaska. This is not an unreasonable limitation on Alaskans access to hunting.
• Baiting of bears is a dangerous practice. It can sicken bears, exposing them and other wildlife to human foods that can be deadly to them. This can also increase the likelihood of parasite transmission of other disease. It is not uncommon for adult or larger bears to prey on cubs or smaller bears at bait sites. Moreover, hunters usually stock bait sites for a month or longer prior to the commencement of hunting season to ensure that bears get used to coming. This eliminates any notion of "fair chase" hunting. Finally, baiting can be dangerous to other humans if hikers or unaware hunters accidentally come across a bait site as brown bears are known to aggressively protect a food source. 
• For the foregoing reasons, please keep these prohibitions in place. 

PETITIONS:
** UPDATED JULY 21

Animal Welfare Institute Friends of the Earth

Sierra Club

Daily Kos

Care2

NPCA

MoveOn.Org

Center for Biological Diversity 

Born Free

Endangered Species Coalition

Wilderness Watch

Force Change
Defenders
Animal Welfare Institute
EarthJustice
Alaska Wild
Wilderness Watch
NRDC

PUBLIC COMMENTS: #SaveStumpy and the Wild Horses of Muddy Creek DUE MAY 20

Speak out for Stumpy and the wild horses of Muddy Creek! BLM is planning to round up these horses to make way for cattle. Please submit your public comments BY MAY 20 .

EMAIL YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS: blm_ut_pr_whb@blm.gov.  Write: 'Muddy Creek Wild Horse Gather Plan EA' in the subject line

WHAT TO SAY:

- 210,000 acres were lost when BLM merged Sinbad and Muddy Creek HMAs in 2008. Those 210,000 acres should be returned to wild horses. 

- Follow §4710.5 of the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burro Act of 1971, which pertains to the closure of (legally designated) wild horse and burro herd area for livestock grazing. It states in part that, "if necessary to provide habitat for wild horses and burros from disease, harassment or injury, the authorized officer may close appropriate areas of the public lands to grazing use by all or a particular kind of livestock." Grazing on public lands is a privilege, not a right. 

- Follow advice from geneticist Dr. Gus Cothran regarding maintaining genetic viability. Managing wild horses at low population levels leaves them vulnerable to a long range loss of genetic diversity. Per geneticist, Gus Cothran, the minimum wild horse and burro herd size is 150-200 animals. The AML recommendation of 75-125 will destroy the herd over time.

- There should be no roundups or use of PZP until BLM proves that there is overpopulation of wild horses.

- How many cattle are on the public lands at issue? If only 195 wild horses are allowed on 283,400 acres? Will only a similar number of cattle be permitted? How does BLM ensure that ranchers accurately report the correct number of livestock?

- There should be an absolute ban on removing horses between foaling season which is between March and June.


SIGN AND SHARE THESE PETITIONS:

American Wild Horse Campaign

SPREAD THE WORD ON SOCIAL MEDIA: 

TWITTER: Retweet this account: Freedom4Horses
INSTAGRAM: DontDelistGrizzlies

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Save the California Desert DUE 3/22/08

The Trump administration wants to undo protections for 4.2 million acres of public lands in the California desert. Public comments are due before midnight on March 22, 2018. Please send your comments by email to BLM_CA_DRECP@blm.gov. Consider making a copy of your comments and also sending them to your members of Congress.

WHAT TO SAY:

I oppose the re-opening of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP).

** IF YOU ARE A RESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA, please so indicate.

- The land at issue is the most intact wildlife habitat in the lower 48 state. It is critically important to keep this land protected, as laid out in the DRECP and as agreed to just 18 months ago by the federal agencies, the state of California, tribes, conservation groups, recreational groups and renewable energy developers.

- The DRECP is a carefully balanced plan which ensures continued protected of important habitat for wildlife while ensuring energy development on public land. 

- This unique desert landscape which is the subject of the DRECP is easily damaged and slow to heal. This was taken into account through eight years of intensive data collection and scientific studies as well as hundreds of public meetings and tens of thousands of public comments. All of these were ultimately considered and became the DRECP which has never been challenged in court. This is almost unheard of. 

- Reopening the plan would waste taxpayers money. The plan was just agreed upon less than 18 months ago and there have been no challenges to the plan. 

SIGN AND SHARE:

Center for Biological Diversity

Wilderness Society

CalWild

Defenders of Wildlife

California Desert National Conservation Lands

NRDC

Pew Trusts

NPCA

PUBLIC COMMENTS DUE 2/20: BAN NEONIC PESTICIDES

The EPA is taking public comment on four separate pesticides. You will need to compose a SINGLE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT CAN BE COPIED AND PASTED INTO THE FOLLOWING FOUR SEPARATE COMMENT FORMS. Comments are due by 11:59PM EDT on February 20, 2018

HERE

HERE

HERE 

and

HERE.

TALKING POINTS:

- I am very concerned about the use of neonic pesticides. Studies have shown that these pesticides have a detrimental impact on pollinators. Our food supply relies on pollinators to help produce fruits and vegetables. By negatively impacting bees - both managed and wild - neonic pesticides puts at risk not just bees but also our food supply. Bees and other pollinators supply up to 1/3 of the world's food supply.

- Studies have shown that neonic pesticides can drift and contaminate other areas as well as leach into the soil and our waterways. Once there, these pesticides can kill aquatic life and birds. Further, a study has recently shown that these compounds can cause migrating birds to lose weight and their sense of direction. 

- "Twenty-nine independent scientist who conducted a global review of more than 1,000 independent studies of neonicotinoids found overwhelming evidence linking [these] pesticides to declines in populations of bees, earthworms, butterflies and other wildlife." Accordingly, we should move to ban neonic pesticides at this time and no extend the use of these compounds in our environment. 

- Studies have found that neonicotinoids can be found in our drinking water and is found in many of our watersheds. The wide-spread use of these compounds is having a devastating impact on our ecosystem and should be restricted.

- Some studies have even questions whether neonicotinoids can harm developing brains of unborn human babies. This is simply too big of a risk to continue to allow these compounds in our environment without further research and further protection.

- For the foregoing reasons, I oppose the continued use of neonic pesticides.


SIGN AND SHARE ON TO THESE PUBLIC COMMENTS:

Center for Food Safety

Organic Consumer Association

Sierra Club

Center for Biological Diversity

Petitions: Offshore Drilling

** UPDATED MARCH 7 (New Petitions Added to Bottom)

Center for Biological Diversity 

Friends of the Earth

Pacific Environment

League of Conservation Voters

Greenpeace

Sierra Club

NRDC

Care2

Surfrider

Ocean Conservancy 

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

Defenders

Clean Water Action

Environment California 

350.org

Audubon Society

NPCA

SeaSave

NextGen America

Heal The Bay Petition

Credo

Amazon Watch

Alaska Wild

Oceana

Cascadia Wildlands

Clean Water Action

EarthJustice

Oregon Wild

Next Gen America

Wilderness Society

Pacific Environment

Courage Campaign

Wildlife Conservation Society

Price of Oil

PETITIONS: Bears Ears and Grand Staircase

Patagonia (tweets)

Pew Charitable Trust

NPCA

Sierra Club

Center for Biological Diversity

IFAW

NRDC

CALL TO ACTION: VOTE NO HR 424 WAR ON WOLVES

Gray Wolf State Management Act of 2017

HR 424 is a bill that requires the Department of the Interior to reissue two rules that removed protections under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 for the gray wolf populations located in Wyoming and the western Great Lakes (all of Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota, as well as portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio). In addition, this bill prohibits judicial review of the reissued rules.

H.R. 424 will set the stage for trophy hunters and commercial trappers to kill grey wolves.   This bill is a war on wolves and anti-wolf legislation disregards our government’s system of checks and balances by blocking citizens from using federal courts to challenge this politically-motivated and unscientific action by Congress.

Tweet: Please quote THIS TWEET and then tag your Representative (find his or her Twitter ID HERE) and ask him or her to vote NO. 

Tweet sheet is HERE.

Email/Phone Calls : Take Action calling and emailing your Representative

Contact forms for your Representative HERE. Write, in your own words, why you want him or her to vote NO on HR 424 or copy and paste the following:

I am your constituent. Please oppose H.R. 424  which would expose wolves in four states to cruel trophy hunting without judicial review of the reissued rules."

PETITIONS TO SIGN:

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/413/107/388/oppose-the-war-on-wolves-bill-hr-424/

http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/51421/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=23134

https://secure.humanesociety.org/site/Advocacy?cmd=display&page=UserAction&id=7301

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/legislation.php?p=5921&more=1

https://www.change.org/p/paul-ryan-stop-hr-424-it-will-remove-federal-protection-for-gray-wolves-in-mn-wi-mi-and-wy

Campaign for Yellowstone's Wolves

Sign this petition below and take the Tourist Pledge to cut your spending in Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming until these states end trophy hunting and trapping of Yellowstone National Park wolves

https://www.thepetitionsite.com/488/206/287/stop-yellowstone-wolf-hunting-with-your-tourist-dollars/

INSTAGRAM: Follow us on Instagram and re-gram our posts (@ecouprising2016)

PETITIONS to Save The Arctic

The proposed budget would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Please sign and share the following petitions to stop it.

Wilderness Society
Audubon Society
NextGen America
Sierra Club
Earthworks
League of Conservation Voters
National Wildlife Refuge Association
Center for Biological Diversity
Alaska Wilderness League
NRDC

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Save Alaska's Bristol Bay

Please comment on proposal to withdraw proposed Clean Water Act restrictions for mining the Pebble ore deposit. Comments are due October 17, 2017


ELECTRONIC COMMENTS: Submit HERE. Copy and paste your comments into the contact forms for your Senators and your Representative. What to say:


- Don’t put the interests of a foreign mining company above thousands of American jobs and keep the EPA’s Clean Water Act protections for Bristol Bay in place.

- I oppose this plan which basically puts the interests of a foreign mining company above those of two-thirds of Alaskans, 80% of Bristol Bay residents and indigenous communities, and 85% of commercial fishermen.

- The EPA has previously determined that the planned pebble mine would cause great damage to the unparalleled salmon runs and local fisheries as well as to local Native communities. 

- The foreign owned pebble mine would cause significant damage to the world-renowned salmon runs of Bristol Bay. This fishery is worth moth than 1.5 million dollars a year and supports 14,000 jobs. All of this would be put at risk for the interests of a non-American mining company.

- More than 1.5 million Americans have previously submitted public comments opposing this pebble mine.

- Please listen to the local communities, the best available science and the American people and do not reverse course on this pebble mine.


POSTCARDS: Write "I oppose the EPA proposal to withdraw proposed Clean Water restrictions for mining the Pebble ore deposit in Bristol Bay."
Water Docket, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mail Code 28221T
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20460
Attention: Docket ID No. EPA-R10-OW-2017-0369

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THESE PETITIONS:

Pacific Environment

Center for Biological Diversity

NRDC
EarthJustice

League of Conservation Voters
Wilderness Society

CALL TO ACTION: Stop the SHARE Act

The House is expected to vote on the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, or  SHARE Act, this week. This bill would delist wolves permanently and prohibit bans of lead ammunition or fishing gear - among other disastrous impacts to wildlife  Please take the following actions to ensure that your Representative votes NO on the SHARE Act.

CALL: Find your Representative's phone number HERE and tell him or her to VOTE NO ON THE SHARE ACT (HR 3668). 

EMAIL: Find your Representative's contact form HERE. Tell him or her in your own words to oppose the SHARE Act or copy and paste the following:

Please vote NO on the SHARE Act, HR 3668. This law would undermine the Endangered Species Act by legislatively delisting gray wolves in the Great Lakes permanently. This would preclude judicial review and also prevent the USFWS from ever re-listing the wolves if science indicated that they had become endangered. This is a recipe for extinction.

The SHARE Act would also expand trapping which is an indiscriminate and barbaric method for killing wildlife. Expanded trapping not only increases the number of wildlife that would suffer needlessly and cruelly but it increases the odds that non-target wildlife, including endangered species, as well as family pets could be trapped.

Finally, this terrible bill would ban any regulation of lead ammunition or fishing gear, both of which are responsible for poisoning birds and wildlife by the millions each year. 

The SHARE Act has been through Congress many times and has always been rejected. Please make sure that the House rejects this very bad bill again. PLEASE VOTE NO ON HR3668, THE SHARE ACT.

RESISTBOT: Text 504-09 and type RESIST. The ResistBot will convert your texts to faxes or mailed letters to your Representative. Write your own message asking your Representative to vote NO On HR3668 (The Share Act) or copy and paste the message above.

TWEET SHEET: HERE

SIGN AND SHARE PETITIONS:
Endangered Species Coalition
Defenders of Wildlife
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Humane Society
CalWild
Wilderness Watch

CALL TO ACTION: Public Comments on the Clean Water Rule

The EPA is seeking to repeal the Clean Water rule of 2015, which clarifies which streams and wetlands qualify for protection under the Clean Water Act. This proposed repeal threatens drinking water for 1 in 3 Americans as well as millions of acres of important habitat for fish, birds and other wildlife. 

Public comments must be submitted by September 27. Public comments have repeatedly been shown to be one of the most impactful actions an advocate can take.  Public comments slow down the roll back of regulation, buying us time, and provide fodder for lawsuits. Please take five minutes to speak up for clean water! Directions on how to comment and what to say below:

COMMENTS DUE BY SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 at 11PM EDT.  Please prepare your comment in a document where you can save it. Once it is complete, submit your comment HERE and please also email it to your Senators (contact info HERE) and to your representative (contact info HERE).

WHAT TO SAY:

Thank you for accepting comments on Docket Number EPA-HQ-OW-2017-0203 which would repeal the 2015 Clean Water Rule. I write because I strongly oppose repeal of this rule.

Repeal of this rule would impact drinking water for 117 million Americans. Clean and safe drinking water is a basic human right. Unsafe drinking water can have wide-ranging health impacts, ranging from cancer to serious birth defects, and is simply not worth the risk. We ALL suffer when American communities do not have access to clean and safe drinking water.

Repeal of this rule would threaten habitat for wildlife by redefining "waters of the United States" to exclude wetlands, headwaters and some ponds. There are about 110 million acres of wetlands affected and 60% of US stream miles - all of which provide critical habitat for birds and wildlife. The outdoor recreation economy is worth $887 billion each year and repeal of this rule puts that industry at risk.

Repeal of this rule would put at risk millions of acres of wetlands. Healthy wetlands reduce the risk of flooding. The storms that we experienced this summer and the ongoing sea level rise drive home the importance of maintaining wetlands to absorb flood waters. Lives are literally at risk when we do not protect wetlands.

ADD YOUR PERSONAL STORY. FOR EXAMPLE:

• I LIVE NEAR A FLOOD ZONE AND RELY ON HEALTHY WETLANDS TO REDUCE MY PERSONAL RISK OF FLOODING. 
• AS A LOVER OF WILDLIFE or AS SOMEONE WHO FISHES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT WE MAINTAIN SAFE HABITAT TO PROTECT OUR BIODIVERSITY. 
• SHARE ANY HEALTH ISSUES YOU OR A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND HAVE THAT MIGHT BE IMPACTED BY LACK OF ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER 

TWEETS:

.@EPAScottPruitt Drinking water of 1 in 3 Americans depends on continued enforcement of WOTUS. #cleanwaterforall pic.twitter.com/ZGIgsRGhFM

.@EPAScottPruitt WOTUS rule protects 110 acres of critical habitat for birds, wildlife. Don't abandon clean water pic.twitter.com/XE6mvEbnvM

.@EPAScottPruitt As an American who drinks water, I demand that you continue to enforce 2015 Clean Water Rule! pic.twitter.com/zJYSji9Wm2

Public comments to protect clean water for 1 in 3 Americans, million of habitat DUE SEPT 27 http://bit.ly/2v9CIPe pic.twitter.com/Ooro7fX8Sp

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE THESE PETITIONS:
Sierra Club
EarthJustice
American Rivers
Friends of the Earth
Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Environmental Action
Credo Action
Earthworks
National Park Action Fund
American Rivers