Under the guise of "National Security and Federal Lands Protection," the Act by that name would do anything BUT protect federal lands!
Indeed, Act co-sponsor Denny Rehberg brags the Act will allow the Border Patrol to re-open roads other agencies have rightly closed to motor vehicles in order to protect water quality, fish and wildlife. Rehberg falsely claims people cannot hunt, fish or hike on roads closed to motor vehicles! Read Rehberg's claims here.
HR 1505 would exempt Customs and Border Protection agents from 36 laws written to protect the public, its lands, and its fish and wildlife within 100 miles of the US-Canada and US-Mexico borders. (Including the National Environmental Policy Act, Endangered Species Act and Clean Water Act)!
Rehberg's promotion of the Act appears to use the Border Patrol to undo environmental protections and expand access for ATVs and other motor vehicles, ignoring the clear fact that such access makes drug smuggling, poaching and other illegal activities easier.
Millions of acres of habitat critical to threatened grizzly bear, bull trout, lynx and other fish and wildlife would be at the mercy of the Department of Homeland Security with virtually no environmental public controls!
Do we really need unregulated "border" roads, patrols and outposts as far south as Polson, Condon, and Big Prairie in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, especially when authorities say they don't really have significant problems along the US-Canada border?
See the map above (or this larger version) then contact your US Senators and Representatives, asking them to oppose HR 1505 and any similar legislation in the Senate!
Here's the contact info for Montana's Representative Denny Rehberg, a co-sponsor of HR 1505, and Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus:
Email comments to Rep. Rehberg at http://rehberg.house.gov or phone 202-225-3211.
Email comments to Senator Tester at http://tester.senate.gov or phone 202-224-2644.
Email comments to Senator Baucus at http://baucus.senate.gov or phone 202-224-2651.
Don't let "Big Brother" and anti-environment extremists seize control of your public lands under the guise of "homeland security."
Missoulian article about local authorities questioning need for the border bill.
USA Today article says the Obama administration opposes the border bill.
