BROADSIDES VOLUME 30 | NO. 2 | SUMMER 2020 While You Were Masked STOP THE by Susan Kearns ROLLBACKS ou may have had a brief chuckle The proposed and deceptively named Find an updated if you saw a cartoon of President Scientific Transparency Rule would restrict list of rollbacks Trump with a mask over his the use of scientific studies that have not Y at https://bit.ly/ListRBs eyes as a comment on his response to the been published. This limits the data allowed coronavirus. As the pandemic raced through for consideration and opponents say it will the country, however, skew the science to support deregulation. the mask was pulled The White House Office of over our eyes and Management and Budget cinched tight by an is looking at implementing administration eager a similar rule to constrain to slash environmental the use of science in regulations. decision making. As people hunkered COVID-19 inspired down in their homes, EPA to “temporarily” or worse, dealt directly suspend oversight and with the onslaught enforcement. While of the virus, the feds industrial facilities are took full advantage by obliged to keep a record Enough is accelerating initiatives of non-compliance, they enough! to nullify or rewrite do not have to disclose regulations that protect that information to the public health and the environment. public—nor report it to the EPA! Eliminating BROADBANDS supervision without mandating reporting IN ACTION EPA Leads the Parade to ensure accountability is reckless and Members go PAGE The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) irresponsible. virtual in their advocacy efforts. 6 seems to be working at odds with its name— Furthermore, the EPA is making it more putting forth a plethora of proposals that difficult for public engagement by reducing contribute to, rather than reduce, pollution comment periods to 30 days, rather than 60 BROADER and greenhouse gas emissions. to 90 days. WILDERNESS In April, the agency finalized a revision to Critical bills are There’s a reason for the agency’s push for PAGE the way costs and benefits of public health languishing. It’s deregulation—any rule finalized before about time they are calculated for Mercury and Air Toxic 8 June will be difficult to reverse through started moving. Standards. This revision increases the the Congressional Review Act—should amount of mercury and 80 other dangerous Democrats win control of the Senate in the pollutants spewed into the air by coal- and coming election. (The Trump administration CES DEBUTS oil-fired power plants. It contradicts the used the 1996 Congressional Review Act ONLINE agency’s own findings in 2015 that the 14 times to overrule regulations from the PAGE The first Climate standards significantly reduced hazardous Obama administration. Prior to that, it had emissions—without increasing costs to Education & 12 only been successfully invoked once.) Stewardship industry. training inspires leaders. (Continued page 14) In a Great Old Broads for Wilderness BROAD PO Box 2924 • Durango, CO 81302 970-385-9577 Sense [email protected] www.greatoldbroads.org STAFF Shelley Silbert Mission Critical for Uncertain Times Executive Director Lauren Berutich Associate Director t may be hard to remember what day Broads has worked to prevent fragmentation Susan Kearns it is in this brave new world we are of wild lands by roads, fossil fuel extraction, Communications Director living in, but none of us will forget this water development, logging, and overgrazing. Lisa Pool Imomentous, tumultuous year. Our hearts We’ve commented, testified, and rallied to Grassroots Leadership Director have sped up as our lives have slowed down. protect public lands for native wildlife and Kaye Berman Development Director The new mantra in the era of COVID-19: plants, including predators and endangered Katya Spiecker Befriend uncertainty. I ponder, how can species. We’ve sweated through restoration Grassroots Regional Coordinator this 2020 pandemic help us gain 20/20 projects to build the land’s health, and Sally Sharp vision–the power to see our way through proposed policies for a livable climate. Grassroots Regional Coordinator challenges and envision what the world Claire Attkisson Fragmentation, biodiversity loss, and might look like on the other side? Can we Communications Assistant climate change are among the biggest factors intensify our focus so the pandemic is both Jason Vaughn impacting natural systems and leading to Climate Education & Stewardship prelude and preparation for other crises we dangerous “spillover,” the jumping of disease Communications Coordinator are already living, such as climate change from wildlife to humans. Nearly half the Alyssa Rainbolt and plummeting biodiversity? Can we as Membership & Events Manager new diseases that spilled over since 1940 global citizens apply lessons learned to these Rachel Green resulted from wildland destruction, leading challenges that are hurtling towards us like Climate Education & Stewardship to increased Program Manager meteors? density and the BOARD OF DIRECTORS Unfortunately, intermingling of Rynda Clark, OR - Co-Chair these crises are not wild and domestic Micky Ryan, OR - Co-Chair Suez Jacobsen, CO - Vice Chair distinct. They are one animals—and Cristina Harmon, CO - Treasurer catastrophe created by humans—in new Antonia Daly, NY - Secretary Julie Weikel, OR all of us, the human ways. The media Mary O’Brien, UT species. What’s the has reported on Gary Skiba, NM most critical thing we wet markets and Anne Heikkila, GA can do to stop this wildlife trade in COUNCIL OF ADVISORS cluster from hitting Asia, but the killing Steve Allen, Joe Breddan, Rose Chilcoat, Dave Foreman, full force? Believe of predators closer Maggie Fox, Ginger Harmon, it or not, it’s the to home also leads Vicky Hoover, Libby Ingalls, “ Here is a prediction: the decade Frandee Johnson, Matt Kenna, very mission of our to unnaturally ahead will be one of the most Linda Liscom, organization: Protect inflated Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk crucial breakdown or breakthrough Marcey Olajos, Tim Peterson, wild places. Our populations of Lois Snedden mission could not be moments in the history of our prey species, which Great Old Broads for more relevant at any species. It is not a game of paper, act as reservoirs Wilderness is a national other point in history. rock or scissors.” and spreaders of grassroots organization, disease. led by women, that engages From our origins more – Terry Tempest Williams and inspires activism from Erosion, 2019 to preserve and protect than three decades ago, (Continued page 15) wilderness and wild lands. Please credit Broads 2 Summer 2020 for reprinted articles. It’s been a roller coaster ride in the Broads’ event planning department over the past few months. But when the going gets Events Update tough, the Broads get going. Check out the latest line up and sign up today! JUNE 23 • JULY 30 OCTOBER 2–4 Climate Change & Coasts Pam Houston Mountain Retreat Summer Webinar Series Writing Workshop FUNdraiser In lieu of the June 2020 High Camp Hut, Telluride, Colorado Maine Broadwalk, we There is still space available for this “Rocky Mountain present two virtual events High” trip, Broads style! Sharpen your writing skills with featuring experts on celebrated author Pam climate change and coastal Houston, who will ecosystems. Get a taste coach you to tap into for what you’ll learn at sensory details and the upcoming Broadwalk bring richness to your rescheduled for June 2021 writing. (see below right). Held at the world- These 1-hour webinars are FREE to members and up to renowned High Camp 100 people can attend each session. There’s still time to Hut in the beautiful San Juan Mountains, this hideaway register, so get your name on the list tout de suite. offers incredible mountain vistas and a wood-fired hot Learn more about the speakers and register at tub and sauna to enjoy at the end of your creative writing https://bit.ly/ClimWebinars sessions. $1065 per person - single bed $1000 per person - shared queen (2 queens) RESCHEDULED, NEW LOCATION! Find out more and register at http://bit.ly/PHWrite SEPTEMBER 3–7 Women’s Watercolor RESCHEDULED FOR 2021 Workshop on JUNE 3–7, 2021 the Green River Climate Change & Coasts: FUNdraiser The MAINE Reason to Act Broadwalk …through Labyrinth Canyon, Utah Blueberry Cove Summer Camp, Holiday Rivers Expeditions St. George, will take you on a magical Maine trip to experience smooth red and orange walls encasing a tranquil, lush river corridor studded with sandbars and Open for registration enchanting side canyons. There are no rapids on this trip, for next summer, join and that is exactly why it’s so good. The scenery is the us on the coast at Blueberry Cove, featuring a beautiful main attraction; the calm and quiet are the main event. swimming beach, tidal flats, hiking, canoeing, and more. Acclaimed artist Suze Woolf will teach you foundational We’ll explore coastal ecosystems and climate change with watercolor methods that you’ll have plenty of opportunity regional experts such as Oceanographer Deborah Bronk, to practice as you capture artistic memories of this Ph.D., and conservationist and right whale expert Mark amazing adventure. Dittrick. Treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Tent camping: $275 • Shared cabins: $315 No-share single cabins: $350 $1450 per person More info: http://bit.ly/MaineBwalk Learn more and register at http://bit.ly/lcynfun greatoldbroads.org 3 Advocacy corner Mobilizing from Your Home by Lauren Berutich he New York Times posted development, to engaging communities there are several important bills that are alarming statistics on May 9, through climate education and ecological languishing in the House and Senate? T 2020. The headline read, “The restoration programs. We offered (See Broader Wilderness, page 8). Your Trump Administration Is Reversing webinars open to members on NEPA voice is needed.