探花精选 Opposes Removal of Protections for Coastal Areas
Department of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's decision will allow sand to be removed from important bird and wildlife habitats.
WASHINGTON (Nov. 8, 2019) 鈥 The following statement was issued by Dr. Karen Hyun, Vice President for Coastal Conservation at the 探花精选, in response to (D-NJ) ruling that sand from places protected by the Coastal Barrier Resources Act can be mined for beach renourishment:
鈥淭he 探花精选 is deeply concerned about the recent decision by Secretary Bernhardt to overturn protections for pristine coastal areas that have been in place for a quarter-century. Undeveloped coastal islands and beaches will now be opened up to sand mining that will imperil birds and other wildlife, destroy important habitat, and reduce the protections these places provide against impacts of storms and erosion for coastal communities.
Secretary Bernhardt鈥檚 decision erases long-held protections for birds and taxpayers. This decision was made with no opportunity for public review or comment. It will use federal tax dollars to pay for sand mining that will harm habitat and threaten wildlife in areas that were made off-limits to taxpayer-funded activities by President Reagan when he signed the Coastal Barrier Resources Act into law.听 Secretary Bernhardt鈥檚 sudden erasure of decades听of policy places our tax dollars and vital coastal areas at risk.鈥
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Background information:
- (CBRA) was signed into law by President Reagan and expanded several times by Congress, most recently in December 2018.
- It is supported by conservative think tanks, sportsmen鈥檚 groups, environmental organizations, state officials and insurance industry organizations around the country, who recently urged the Department of the Interior to expand the law.听
- The CBRA:
- Saves federal tax dollars: It prohibits most federal expenditures on areas included in the Act鈥檚 System which covers 3.5 million acres along the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes. A March 2019 economic analysis concluded that the Act has saved the federal taxpayer more than $10 billion.
- Promotes public safety: The Act explicitly discourages development in hurricane- and storm-prone coastal areas by withdrawing most federal funds that support development. By prohibiting taxpayer-funded development, the Act protects islands and beaches that help protect inland communities from storms and sea-level rise.听
- Conserves the coastal environment: The Act protects coastal lands, wetlands, and waters that are essential habitat for wildlife and commercial and recreational fisheries.听
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Contact: Rachel Guillory, rachel.guillory@audubon.org, 504.708.5873