> Below are excerpts from a San Francisco Chronlcle article of interest.
>
> You can obtain the entire article using www to access
> http://sfgate/com/ and then going to Chronicle/News for April 13, 1995.
> Peter

> The draft of the bill, which Gorton plans to introduce after Congress
> returns from its spring recess, was written by a group of Washington,
> D.C., lawyers who represent timber, mining, ranching and utility
> interests that have been most critical of the law.

Most notably Mark Reyes (think I got the spelling and all right), who
used to head the Oregon Timber Coalition (lobby group) and went on
to head a nation-wide timber industry lobby organization.

When with the OTC (which has alphabet-souped into a variety of
successors), his PR head, Jim Geisinger, allowed the Oregonian
to quote him as saying:

"We have not yet given up the dream of logging Wilderness and
National Parks"

This was after the USFW declined to list the spotted owl after
Bush told the head to ignore the advice the panel of USFW
scientists who had recommended listing. This action was later
deemed illegal by Judge Dwyer, who ordered USFS to make a
scientific decision as required by law, after which of course
they listed it.

Geisinger's crowing, arrogant remark was made before Dwyer
forced USFW to revisit the decision.

The threats are real, folks - they think it's payback time.

The ESA hearing in Vancouver, WA (they refused to do it in PDX
where all the conservationists lived) is going to be stacked with
timber types - they (Linda Smith's and Gorton's staff) are picking
those who will be allowed to comment.

I'm sure it will be the same elsewhere.

First details I've seen on the changes essentially places the
decision to list in the hands of a Presidential appointee, rather
than the USFW. He may choose to require a recovery plan, to
try to save a remnant, to take no action other than to prevent
direct physical harm (i.e. shooting), or to not list.

Without reference to the underlying science.

All this according to this AM's Oregonian, which was a bit sketchy.
Haven't read the proposed bill.

> In an interview yesterday, Gorton said he did not consult with
> environmentalists.
>
> ``I already know what their views are, and they don't want any changes
> (in the law),'' he said.

Out of touch with his consitutents, no surprise: conservationists
want the law STRENGTHENED. That implies changes.

-Don Baccus-