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1671 . . .. c. '* ., ': I . I " C'.,. ,. ' ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND SUBSEQUENT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATE- MENTS HAVE BECOME THE TOOLS TO DELAY OR STOP NEEDED PROJECTS IN THE HANDS OF RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND BUREAUCRATS, ALL AT THE EX- PENSE OF THE CONSUMER. THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, AS ADDRESSED IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS, BEGAN WITH A MUCH NEEDED EFFORT TO PROTECT VARIOUS LARGE WILD ANIMALS FROM EXTINCTION AND HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL LIFE FORMS. LISTS OF ENDANGERED SPECIES NOW INCLUDE MANY OBSCURE AND QUESTIONABLE PLANTS AND ANIMALS SUMMARILY ADDED WITH LITTLE PUBLIC REVIEW AND SUBSEQUENTLY USED TO HALT MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS....WITNESS THE . TELl CO DAM AND THE SNAIL DARTER, THE HOUSTON TOAD, THE FURBISH LOUSE- WORT, AND MANY OTHERS.- ~, THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ACT, AS AMENDED, CREATED THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGNECY, SET OUR SHORT AND LONG TERM WATER QUALITY ,GOALS FOR THE, NATION ,AND ,HAS BEEN RELATIVELY EFFECTIVE IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF NATIONAL WATER QUALITY THROUGH THE INFUSION OF MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF FEDERAL DOLLARS AND THE IMPOSITION OF A HUGH BUREAUCRACY TOUCHING ALMOST EVERY FACET 'OF AMERICAN LIFE., ,.wHY OUR LOCAL TAX. DOLLARS MUST TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON TO BE LAUNDERED BEFORE THEY CAN BE USED FOR LOCAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND PLANNING, I DO NOT KNOW. I AM SURE THE COST TO THE TAXPAYER IS EXCESSIVE AND EQUAL PROGRESS COULD BE MADE CLEANING UP OUR LAKES AND STREAMS THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES. INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL WATER POLLUTI'ONo-C-QNTROL ACT IS A -SECTION DEALING ,WITH THE DISPOSAL OF"DREDGE AND FILL' MATERIALS IN THE WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. KNOWN AS SECTION 404, THE COURTS HAVE RULED THAT PERMITS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL DREDGE AND FILL OPERATIONS....EVEN FOR SMALL FARM PONDS AND FOR DRY STREAM BEDS IF THE AVERAGE FLOW IS FIVE (5) CUBIC FEET PER SECOND OR MORE. FURTHER, THE ISSUANCE OF A "404" PERMIT REQUIRES THE REVIEW OF ALL FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES EACH OF WHICH CAN EFFECTIVELY BLOCK THE PERMIT OR CAUSE THE PREPARATION OF A COSTLY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT. THE FULL IMPACT OF THIS REGU- LATORY LAW AND THE MASSIVE BUREAUCRACY REQUIRED TO ADMINISTER IT HAS NOT YET BEEN RECOGNIZED BY LOCAL PEOPLE BUT THE PRICE TAG IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT LOCAL POCKETBOOKS THROUGH INCREASED UTILITY RATES AND LOCAL PUBLIC. SERVICE CHARGES. THE NATIONAL WILDLIFE COORDINATION -ACT IS ANOTHER LAW WITH BASIC MERIT AIMED AT THE PROTECTION OF ENDANGERED WILDLIFE SPECIES AND NATURAL HABITAT. IN THE HANDS OF THE ~EDERAL FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE THE CONGRESSIONAL INTENT HAS BEEN ABUSED WITH THE DEMAND THAT MASSIVE PRIVATE LAND HOLDINGS BE PURCHASED FOR FEDERAL OR STATE CONTROL TO MITIGATE THE LOSS OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT LOST BECAUSE OF PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS. THIS IS POOR PUBLIC POLICY... ,IT NOT ONLY REMOVES LAND -FROM PRIVATE OWNERSHIP, WORKING A HARDSHIP ON THE--LANDOWNER AND ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT, BUT ASSUMES THAT LOST HABITAT CAN MAGICALLY BE REPLACED BY SUPERIOR FEDERAL STEWARDSHIP. THE COST AGAIN IS REFLECTED IN HIGHER UTILITY BILLS AND OTHER CHARGES TO THE CONSUMER. REORGANIZATION OF THE FEDERAL AGENCIES IS WARRANTED BUT SIMPLE COORDINATION AMONG THE AGENCIES IS THE ONGOING RESPONSIBILITY OF THE - 3 -