Thompson, legislators introduce bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act
WASHINGTON D.C.
Earlier this week Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), co-chairs of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus, announced the introduction of the bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act. This legislation grants authority to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to collect civil damages to repair and restored damaged wildlife refuges.
“Wildlife refuges represent some of the very best of our nation’s public lands. Sadly, when they are damaged, the USFWS must use taxpayer money to conduct needed repairs instead of holding the responsible parties financially responsible. That’s why I introduced the bipartisan Refuge System Protection Act that would allow USFWS to seek civil damages from people who damage refuges. Those fines will be used to restore our public lands,” said Thompson.
“The First District of Virginia is home to unique and special ecosystems. As a former state health official who conducted field research in the Chesapeake Bay, I am aware of the ecological challenges facing Virginia waters, wetlands, and refuges and I know the importance of taking care of our environment for future generations. Providing for the protection and security of these resources is absolutely vital.” said Wittman. “This legislation will help ensure that our nation’s refuges are protected for years to come.”
Wildlife refuges sustain thousands of dollars in damage each year and the USFWS has no way under current law to recover the costs needed to conduct repair. In fact, between 2014 and 2016, at least 1,787 acts of vandalisms and 127 acts of arson were committed to refuges, which cost more than $395,000. This bipartisan bill gives the USFWS authority to collect civil damages from those responsible and use those funds to repair damages.
—Submitted
CALIFORNIA
Virus, fire, infected birds
Just when it seemed like it was getting safe to go out in public again, California’s summer started to resemble scenes from an Alfred Hitchcock movie.
With COVID-19 rates surging, the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday recommended that all Californians wear face masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. The department also warned that birds infected by West Nile virus could end up dead in residents’ yards, two weeks after confirming the first human death caused by the virus. Meanwhile, clouds of smoke from the monstrous Dixie Fire — the 14th-largest in state history, and which has already scorched an area bigger than New York City — descended on Sacramento, pushing air quality into unhealthy territory.
Also Wednesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak toured the site of the Tamarack Fire, which is 59% contained and has destroyed at least 23 buildings. The governors called for more firefighting assistance from the federal government, and Newsom emphasized the importance of understanding the West’s prolonged fire season as a product of climate change.
So far this year, wildfires have charred 228,066 acres in California — more than double the 104,711 acres burned during the same period last year, which was the state’s worst fire season on record. That’s especially sobering when one takes into account recently released statistics from last year’s fire season, as compiled by CalMatters’ Julie Cart: 4.2 million acres burned, 112 million tons of greenhouse gases spewed into the atmosphere, 11 million gallons of fire retardant released on the flames, $1 billion spent in emergency funding and 31 lives lost.
Then there’s the drought of historic proportions — which Californians are most likely to identify as the most important environmental issue facing the state, according to a Public Policy Institute of California poll released late Wednesday night. Last year, residents named climate change as the top issue.
—Hoeven, CALMatters
—Compiled by Ariel Carmona Jr.
