Sale of Public Land Proposal Withdrawn
by
Mary Jane Williamson
December 16, 2005—Alexandria, VA—Yesterday,
a provision in a House budget reconciliation bill that would have made
possible the sale of public lands to mining and other companies was
pulled from the bill. The American Sportfishing Association joined
forces with 24 other fishery and conservation groups in a united effort
to have the provision removed. A joint letter was sent to members of
Congress opposing the sale of public lands to mining companies and
other developers because it would “open these previously public
lands to development, fragmentation, habitat loss and potential pollution.”
“The language was complex, but the bottom line is that selling public
lands for any reason hits a sensitive nerve in the angling community,” said
Gordon C. Robertson, ASA’s vice president.
The letter requested that the measure “…be done in a stand-alone
bill as part of regular legislative order with opportunity for public
hearings and input, thorough public exposure and scrutiny, and open
debate on the details and merits of the proposed legislation.”
While the groups are pleased that the sponsors pulled the measure, it is
expected to return in the next session of Congress and the groups which
signed the letter will now have time to study its potential impact and offer
constructive comment for its improvement.
Groups signing the letter were: American Fly Fishing Trade Association,
American Sportfishing Association, Archery Trade Association, Bear Trust
International, Berkley Conservation Institute, Boone and Crockett Club, Bowhunting
Preservation Alliance, Campfire Club of America, Congressional Sportsmen's
Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, ESPN/BASS, Federation of Fly Fishers, Houston
Safari Club, International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, International
Hunter Education Association, Izaak Walton League of America, North American
Bear Foundation, North American Grouse Partnership, Northwest Sportfishing
Industry Association, Orion, The Hunters Institute, Quality Deer Management
Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation
Partnership, Trout Unlimited, Wildlife Forever and Wildlife Management Institute.
The American Sportfishing Association is the sportfishing industry’s
trade association, uniting more than 650 members of the sportfishing
and boating industries with state fish and wildlife agencies, federal
land and water management agencies, conservation organizations, angler
advocacy groups and outdoor journalists. The American Sportfishing Association
safeguards and promotes the enduring social, economic and conservation
values of sportfishing.
