Clean Water Act muddied due to controversial bill

Removing the word “navigable” from the definition of federal waters will make all waters subject to federal law and regulation, something the Texas Wildlife Association says is unacceptable and will result in an obvious intrusion on states’ rights and individual property rights. 

TWA has in a letter asked Texas Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn to oppose the provision in S.R. 787, the Clean Water Restoration Act.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee marked-up, amended and approved on Thursday, June 18, the controversial bill along party lines (with 12 Democrats for and 7 Republicans against).  The bill aims to “clarify” the scope of federal wetlands regulation following several U.S. Supreme Court decisions.   S.R. 787, sponsored by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.), would amend the Clean Water Act by removing the term "navigable waters" in defining "waters of the United States."  Controversy over the exact meaning of the phrase has persisted since the act's 1972 passage.  

TWA announces Wind Energy position paper

The Texas Wildlife Association favors reasonable wind industry regulation that protects Texas’ natural resources and provides permanent bonding authority for remediation, as well as voluntary efforts to develop wind farm standards. 

The statement is part of a Wind Energy position paper adopted by the TWA Executive Committee on June 3  after several months of discussion and research.  The organization offers six recommendations in the document, along with supporting background and information.

TWA is a strong advocate of wildlife stewardship on our private lands and habitat in rural areas.  It believes this is best accomplished through a combination of regulatory certainty and secure private property rights.

Texas has surpassed California as the nation’s leading producer of installed wind energy capacity, changing Texas’ rural landscape in the process.

TWA highlighted at Governor's bill signing

The Texas Wildlife Association was prominently mentioned by Governor Rick Perry, and TWA representatives were interviewed extensively by San Antonio media outlets at the June 15 bill signing ceremony for HJR 14, the state constitutional amendment to help protect private property owners from eminent domain abuse.   

TWA supported HJR 14 by Rep. Frank Corte and Sen. Robert Duncan during the recent legislative session, and it will campaign for passage of the constitutional amendment by Texas voters on the November ballot. The amendment limits the ability of the government to take private land by eminent domain for economic development.

Gov. Perry highlighted TWA first among the list of groups supporting the measure during his remarks.  The San Antonio Express-News, KSTX FM/KPAC FM (Texas Public Radio), and three San Antonio television station interviewed TWA representatives following the Governor’s signing ceremony.

TWA's support for the constitutional amendment and comments from TWA Vice President of Public Policy Kirby Brown are featured in this report from KENS-TV.   

McAllen teacher training draws huge turnout

Over 40 teachers gathered in McAllen on May 23 at the World Birding Center for a L.A.N.D.S. Teacher Training, sponsored by the Texas Wildlife Association, the first such training session in the Rio Grande Valley.  KGBT-TV covered the event and aired this report featuring TWA Education Program Specialist Koy Coffer on its evening newscast. 

If you are a teacher and interested in learning how to bring nature and wildlife into your classroom, please plan on joining us at an upcoming L.A.N.D.S. Teacher Training.