Audubon Advisory
June 12, 2009
Vol 2009 Issue 6

Clean Energy Plan Marches to the House   Birds that nest on beaches, like this Snowy Plover, are at risk due to rising sea levels.   Just before Memorial Day weekend, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) Act of 2009 by vote of 33-25. The sweeping energy plan, which aims to reduce global warming pollution, cut our dependence on oil, and boost our economy, is now slated to move quickly to the House floor for a vote before the end of June. The central component of the ACES Act is a program that will reduce global warming pollution by 83 percent below current levels by 2050. In addition, the legislation includes several forward-thinking policies that will drive investments in clean and renewable energy, ensure that we are using energy more efficiently, and reduce our dependence on dirty fossil fuels like oil and coal—all policies that help reduce global warming pollution. The legislation also includes critically important provisions that will provide funding to protect our natural resources and help birds and wildlife adapt to a changing climate. The ACES Act seeks to establish the groundwork for a comprehensive clean energy plan that will revitalize our faltering economy, create millions of new jobs, build the clean energy economy of the future, and protect our communities and the environment. In order to maximize the environmental and economic benefits of such a plan, Audubon is working to defend, improve, and pass this critically important legislation.   Migratory Bird Conservation Bill Moving through Congress   Bobolink Credit: Steve Maslowski/USFWS.   Each spring, millions of birds travel thousands of miles from Latin America and the Caribbean to their breeding grounds as far north as the Arctic. When winter returns, these migrants make the long trip back to warmer southern climates. Along their journey, neotropical migrants face dangers from development, invasive species, avian diseases, and climate change. In order to protect these incredible birds, such as the Western Tanager, Wood Thrush, and Bobolink, there must be international cooperation to establish conservation projects throughout their migratory path. The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) supports vital conservation projects in 44 U.S. states and territories, 33 Latin American and Caribbean countries, and 12 Canadian provinces and territories, benefiting roughly 3 million acres of migratory bird habitat. The NMBCA grant program is an innovative, cost-effective approach to bird conservation. But right now, this program can only support a fraction of the projects in need of funding. Bipartisan legislation has been introduced in the House (HR 2213) and Senate (S 690) would triple the size of the grant program by increasing the authorized funding from the currently authorized level of $6.5 million to $20 million in 2015. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is expected to consider the bill soon.   New Initiative Aims to Restore Coastal Louisiana Wetlands   Credit: Ryan Hagerty/USFWS   The DC Policy Office, working in partnership with other groups, has been making headway in defining the federal funding needs for the restoration of Coastal Louisiana as well as communicating those needs to Congress and the Obama Administration. Audubon's goal is to secure funding for several projects that help stop land loss in Coastal Louisiana and eventually begin to rebuild valuable wetlands and marshland. Congress will soon act on the Fiscal Year 2010 Energy and Water appropriations bill—the source of funding needed for these wetlands projects. With dollars in hand, the US Army Corps of Engineers can begin construction on a set of restoration priorities, including the beneficial use of dredge materials to help restore marshland, as well as water and sediment diversions from Bayou LaFourche, Myrtle Grove, and the Hope Canal. Coalition partnerships, combined with strong support from the Louisiana Congressional Delegation, will help ensure that the Army Corps receives funding as well as a mandate to move quickly on these and other projects.   Arctic Refuge Survives New Threat   Credit: Chuck Young/USFWS   This week, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski attempted to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to "directional drilling" through an amendment to the Senate energy bill. Thankfully, her amendment was voted down 13-10 in committee. This amendment would have allowed damaging seismic exploration and exploratory drilling within the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge—the biological heart of the Refuge. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been called "America's Serengeti" because of its tremendous biological productivity and diversity. The Arctic Refuge is home to animals such as caribou, wolves, and millions of migratory birds; and is also a critical denning site for threatened polar bears. "Directional drilling" from the borders of the refuge would require the same infrastructure and have the same environmental impacts as conventional wells—including busy airports, permanent gravel roads, and pipelines. As documented by the National Academy of Sciences, the impacts of development extend far beyond the direct footprint where the drill touches the ground. Furthermore, the amendment would have waived key environmental laws, removing important legal safeguards for these sensitive wild lands by waiving the protections of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the National Wildlife Refuge Administration Act, setting a dangerous precedent for the management of our public lands. This new ploy to open the Arctic Refuge to directional drilling is likely to come up again at a public hearing and possibly for a vote as a stand-alone bill, so stay tuned for future alerts about how you can help protect America's largest wildlife refuge!   Briefly Noted   Construction begins on the border wall north of Audubon's Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville, TX. Credit: Jimmy Paz/Audubon   Audubon Leader Chosen for EPA Post President Obama has announced his intent to nominate Audubon COO Bob Perciasepe as Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Upon Senate Confirmation, Perciasepe will serve as the number two person in an agency with over 17,000 employees and a budget of $10.5 billion. The EPA has jurisdiction over air and water pollution, toxic substances, and waste. Paradise Lost: Construction proceeds on border wall We are sad to report that construction of a border wall along the U.S.-Mexico border is proceeding. The border wall directly impacts critical habitat for endangered species such as the ocelot, and blocks the area's only reliable source of water for wildlife, the Rio Grande. It leaves Audubon's own Sabal Palm sanctuary in a "no man's land" south of the wall. The sanctuary is now closed to the public from May through October due to an inability to raise funds with construction of the wall looming. Industry responds to Audubon's petition to stop bird deaths at communications towers Thanks to the more than 8,000 of you who submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in support of our petition to get the agency to implement rules to reduce the number of bird deaths at communications towers! Audubon, Defenders of Wildlife, and the American Bird Conservancy are working on a response to the industry's comments, and then will await the FCC's final decision. We will be sure to keep you updated on the process! June Mystery Bird Congratulations to Frederick A. of Oakton, VA, who correctly identified this Wood Thrush (at left). Good luck with this month's challenge (below)—Plume-tacular! HINT: Audubon's campaign to restore coastal Louisiana will help this "red" Watchlist species. The winner will receive a plush Audubon singing bird and will be chosen at random from all correct entries received (NAS employees can play but not win). One entry per person please! Please e-mail us your entry, being sure the words "Mystery Bird" appear in the subject line. Deadline for entering is Sunday, July 5. Photos courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.