2005 RESOLUTIONS
GLOBAL
CLIMATE CHANGE
WHEREAS, there is agreement within the scientific community that human activities are sending tremendous quantities of carbon dioxide and other heat trapping gases into the atmosphere and that the buildup of gases is causing the average global surface temperature to rise and is altering the earth’s climate—affecting temperature and rainfall patterns, causing a rise in sea level, and possibly increasing the frequency and severity of extreme weather events; and,
WHEREAS, there is scientific evidence of change across a broad range of environmental systems including melting glaciers, thawing permafrost, earlier spring migration dates for birds, and bloom dates for vegetation, range movements up slopes and pole-ward for butterflies, bleaching of coral reefs, and reduced lake and sea ice cover; and,
WHEREAS, it is certain that various wildlife species and ecosystems will be affected by changes to both the mean and variable state of the climate system and the rapid rate of these changes in the coming century; and,
WHEREAS, in response to projected climate changes in the next 100 years, the geographic ranges of North American flora and fauna are expected to shift upwards in elevation and northward; and,
WHEREAS, that if action is not taken soon, changes in climate patterns could have increasingly severe impacts on fish and wildlife, habitats, and aquatic and human life, health, and property: and,
WHEREAS, among the species that could be negatively affected by climate change are, marine mammals, migratory birds, fish, and the many plants and animals of our National Parks, wildlife refuges, and backyard habitats; and,
WHEREAS, the sustainability of human communities could be imperiled by expected changes in weather patterns and consequent drought, blizzards, floods, hurricanes and tornadoes, as well as rises in sea level due to melting ice caps, and thermal expansion of the oceans, which could drastically affect North Carolina coastal areas; and,
WHEREAS, if sea level rises at the high end of the projected range, thousands of square miles of U.S. coastal land could be inundated; and,
WHEREAS, it is predicted that sea level will rise along the Mid-Atlantic coast by 19cm (7.6 inches) by 2030, and 66 cm (26.4 inches) by 2095; and,
WHEREAS, the exact impact of global climate change on North Carolina’s wildlife and its habitat or its human community cannot be known; and,
WHEREAS, numerous studies show that reductions of greenhouse gas emissions of 20 percent (nationally) or more are possible without disrupting the economy and with technology improvements in the next few years, exceeding such reductions could be expected.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation in convention assembled at Research Triangle Park on February 19, 2005, urges the North Carolina General Assembly to establish a high level Global Warming Task Force to assess the impact of global warming on North Carolina fish and wildlife, aquatic and terrestrial habitat and the human community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the General Assembly direct the Global Warming Task Force establish a voluntary state global warming goal, identify and quantify the sources global warming gases and develop a plan laying out the ways and means to reduce the emissions of green house gases within the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Commission and appropriate agencies take into account the impact of global climate change on the management of North Carolina’s wildlife and its habitat and take action to mitigate detrimental consequences.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS,
The National Wildlife Federation projects the loss in the United States of more
than 22,000 acres of wildlife habitat around 35 major metropolitan areas during
the next 25 years; and,
WHEREAS,
all of North Carolina’s metropolitan areas are projected by numerous studies to
experience massive growth during the next decade; and,
WHEREAS,
the finite nature of the landscape will dictate that North Carolina cannot
continue to grow its population indefinitely and expect our citizens to
continue indefinitely to rely primarily on single-occupancy automobiles; and,
WHEREAS,
continuing to build new roads on new sites has the effect of fragmenting
wildlife habitats, which is particularly harmful to species such as the black
bear and wild turkey which need larger, unbroken, tracts of habitat to survive;
and,
WHEREAS,
there is evidence that public transportation generates 95 percent less carbon
monoxide, 92 percent less volatile organic compounds, and about 50 percent less
carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide per passenger mile than private vehicles;
and,
WHEREAS,
there is a social as well as an economic need to provide better transportation
options for people who cannot afford to operate an automobile, for the elderly,
for the handicapped, and for all others who do not have access to a private
vehicle; and,
WHEREAS,
the Surface Transportation Policy Project has shown that investment in public
transportation creates 51,300 jobs for every $1.25 billion invested as opposed
to 43,200 jobs created for the same investment in new roads; and,
WHEREAS,
The Texas Transportation Institute has documented an annual national savings of
$20.6 Billion in congestion costs from an investment of only $7 Billion in
public transportation, a finding which was further supported by a UNC -
Charlotte transportation expert who showed that vehicle miles traveled drop by
10 to 17 percent when viable transit options are available; and,
WHEREAS,
855 million gallons of gasoline, (equivalent to 45 million barrels of oil a
year), are already being saved by public transportation systems.
NOW,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation in
convention at the Research Triangle Park, NC on February 19, 2005 calls upon
all state agencies and elected officials to support the establishment of viable
public transportation systems throughout North Carolina for the benefit of our
citizens and our wildlife.
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, mercury is
scientifically recognized as a damaging contaminant to wildlife and humans;
and,
WHEREAS, mercury
exists naturally in the environment but is amplified by emissions into the air,
land, and water during fossil fuel combustion, waste incineration, chlorine
production, petroleum refining, mining, and other industrial processes, as well
as the production and use of products containing mercury; and,
WHEREAS, mercury
poses this threat because it is a potent neurotoxin that bioaccumulates in the
food chain; and,
WHEREAS, this
bioaccumulation poses particular risks to small children, women of child
bearing age, and pregnant women that may consume tainted fish; and,
WHEREAS, this
bioaccumulation also threatens fish, as well as raccoons, alligators, otters,
mink, panthers, osprey, wood storks, egrets, great white herons, bald eagles,
black skimmers, Foster's terns, and common loons, among other species; and,
Whereas, in North
Carolina there are mercury advisories warning against fish consumption in six
lakes totaling 43,077 acres, three river advisories impacting 139 miles, there
is one coastal advisory covering 1,877 miles of coastline, and there is one
regional advisory that covers all fresh water south and east of Interstate
Highway 85; and,
WHEREAS, the highest
mercury level measured in North Carolina rain is nearly 50 times higher than
the US Environmental Protection agency
human health standard for mercury in lakes, and 88% of North Carolina
rain samples exceed this standard; and,
WHEREAS, commercial
and recreational fishing and fish consumption are inherent parts of North
Carolina's culture, tradition, and economy; and,
WHEREAS, there are
effective and affordable mercury pollution control and reduction technologies
and techniques commercially available on an industrial scale for major sources
of mercury emissions; and,
WHEREAS,
alternatives exist for nearly all mercury-containing products that are
equivalent in price and performance; and,
WHEREAS, North
Carolina's Clean Smokestacks Bill, which was a major accomplishment,
established limits on sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), it did
not establish limits on mercury emissions but left that issue to future
negotiation.
THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation gathered in convention at
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, February 19, 2005, urges Governor
Easley and the North Carolina General Assembly to reassemble the coalition that
made the Clean Smokestacks Bill possible and finish the work on the Clean
Smokestacks Bill by putting in place rigorous limits on mercury emissions.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the adoption of rigorous limits on North Carolina
sources of mercury, the North Carolina Wildlife Federation urges the Attorney
General to petition the US Environmental Protection Agency under section 126 of
the Clean Air Act to require other states that contribute mercury to North
Carolina’s air to adopt limits on their emissions commensurate with North
Carolina’s efforts.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation encourages the North
Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources to develop a strategy
within one year for minimizing or eliminating, where feasible, mercury use in
products.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation urges the North Carolina
Wildlife Resources Commission and state public health agencies to increase
their efforts to inform the public of the sources and dangers of consuming
mercury contaminated fish.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation encourages the North
Carolina Wildlife Commission and state public health agencies to expand their
analysis of North Carolina waters so that the extent of mercury contamination
can be known and avoided.
WHEREAS, some sewer authorities have recommended to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that the answer to insufficient maintenance of aging sewer systems and capacity problems at some treatment plants during wet weather events is to relax current treatment requirements under the Clean Water Act; and,
WHEREAS, the EPA’s proposed change in federal wastewater policy would allow sewage treatment plants, during peak flow wet weather events, to divert sewage past secondary biological treatment units and “blend” it with fully treated wastewater before releasing it into surface waters; and,
WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act requires all wastewater to meet secondary treatment standards prior to discharge, and blended sewage does not meet current statutory or regulatory requirements; and,
WHEREAS, the EPA has taken several enforcement actions against sewage treatment operators in which EPA has clearly stated in writing that sewage blending constitutes a “bypass” violation of the Clean Water Act: and,
WHEREAS, blended sewage has significantly higher levels of pollution than sewage that has undergone full secondary biological treatment; and,
WHEREAS, sewage in our waterways can close beaches, kill fish, shut down shellfish beds, and cause hypoxic or “dead” zones where there is not enough oxygen to support life; and,
WHEREAS, solids removal and disinfection without the required secondary biological treatment step is not effective at removing viruses and parasites, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium; and,
WHEREAS, the Centers for
Disease Control estimates 7.1 million cases of mild to moderate and 560,000
cases of moderate to severe infectious waterborne disease in the U.S. each
year; and,
WHEREAS, current North Carolina state policy does not allow eliminating any treatment step and requires treatment plant operators to report unexpected releases of sewage.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation gathered in convention at the Research Triangle Park, NC on February 19, 2005 urges the Bush administration to withdraw its proposal to change EPA policy that would allow blending of fully treated wastewater and partly treated sewage during peak flows.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the U.S. Congress is urged to
fully fund at current levels the Clean Water Act State Revolving Fund which loans money to North
Carolina to help pay for required sewage treatment.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources is urged to keep in place a standard in which blended sewage discharges do not occur in North Carolina waterways notwithstanding the weakening of any Federal law regulations or guidance changes that may transpire.
RESOLUTION
SUPPORT FOR A SWAIN COUNTY
SETTLEMENT ACT
IN
LIEU OF NORTH SHORE ROAD THROUGH GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK
WHEREAS, the Little
Tennessee River was dammed in 1943 to generate war-time electricity thereby,
creating Fontana Lake in Swain County, NC, the southern boundary of the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park; and,
WHEREAS, on July 30, 1943 the Department of the Interior
(DOI), the Tennessee Valley Authority, Swain County, and the state of North
Carolina entered into a memorandum of understanding containing a provision
requiring DOI to replace submerged NC Highway 228; and,
WHEREAS, NC has built NC 28 south of Fontana Lake that
effectively replaced NC 228; and,
WHEREAS, a 1962 National Park Service study of the proposed
road concluded that the construction of the road would have severe negative
environmental ramifications on the landscape; and,
WHEREAS, there are many environmental concerns relating to
the road construction, including concerns relating to the exposure of Anakeesta
rock formations which are extremely acidic rocks and may produce acids and
release heavy metals that leach into streams, and degrade and compromise
aquatic life; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed road would pass through one of the
largest remaining roadless areas in the southeastern United States; and,
WHEREAS, road building invariably causes a reduction in
wildlife and its habitat, most notably the regions’ black bear and elk
populations, which require large blocks of non-fragmented, undeveloped
wilderness to survive; and,
WHEREAS, the proposed road would pass through the most
visited national park in the United States – a national treasure for future
generations to enjoy; and,
WHEREAS, the public review process conducted by the National
Park Service found that an overwhelming number of respondents would prefer a
cash settlement option in lieu of construction of the North Shore Road; and,
WHEREAS, on February 11, 2003, the Swain County Board of
Commissioners passed a resolution supporting a financial settlement as a
substitute, which would satisfy any debt in lieu of construction of the road;
and,
WHEREAS the 108th Congress of the United States
introduced “The Swain County Settlement Act of 2004” to provide for the
settlement of the claims of Swain County, North Carolina, against the Untied
States under the agreement dated July 30, 1943.
NOW, THEREFORE LET IT BE RESLOVED, that the North Carolina
Wildlife Federation gathered in convention at the Research Triangle Park, NC on
February 19, 2005 restates its opposition to the construction of the North
Shore Road in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and urges the United
States Congress to pass a "Swain County Settlement Act" - in
lieu of any building of said road.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED,
that the NC Wildlife Federation urges the Office of the Governor and the NC
General Assembly to formally confirm a position not to have said road built in
order that water quality and in specific pristine trout waters not be degraded.
RETENTION OF CURRENT TAX INCENTIVES FOR THE DONATION OF CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
WHEREAS, North Carolina is losing farmland and natural areas to development at an alarming rate, and
WHEREAS, a large percentage of North Carolina’s farmland and natural areas are in the hands of private landowners, many of whom will help to determine what sort of rural landscape we will leave for our grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, a conservation easement administered by a local land trust is a uniquely innovative and effective legal instrument – an option which permits a citizen to voluntarily save and protect family lands for the benefit of future generations; and
WHEREAS, the preservation of open space provides benefits for society as a whole, including, as studies have shown, the creation of healthier local economies; and
WHEREAS, the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation has suggested the removal of some tax incentives now offered to private landowners who choose to donate conservation easements to protect their land;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the North Carolina Wildlife Federation meeting in convention at Research Triangle Park, NC on February 19, 2005 requests that the Congress retain the tax incentives currently in place which help to encourage private landowners to save and preserve their family farms and natural areas, this being a benefit to both human society as well as to our native wildlife species.