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/* Written  5:58 PM  Jun  6, 1995 by edc in igc:ca.environment */
/* ---------- "Stop Channel Island NP grazing" ---------- */
Santa Rosa Island:  Resources vs. Wranglers

A private cattle ranch and commercial elk hunting operation continue to 
jeopardize rare native plant and animal communities on Santa Rosa Island.  The 
Island was purchased by the public as part of the Channel Island National Park 
in 1986 for $30 million.  Concurrently with the purchase, however, a Rspecial 
use permitS granted by the National Park Service allows the 7,000 animal cattle 
ranching and elk hunting operation to continue.  The Park Service is allowed to 
grant permits for ranching and hunting on Park land, but only when such 
activities are consistent with the maintenance of a ParkUs natural resources.  
Since discovering that NPS has failed to fulfill this mandate, EDC and its 
client organization National Parks and Conservation Association (NPCA) have been
pressuring the Park Service to defend the IslandUs unique resources.  Other than
acknowledging the seriousness of the problems facing the IslandUs plant life, 
the Service has taken very little action.  Meanwhile, conditions on the Island 
continue to deteriorate.  Because of the growing threats to the Island and the 
lack of an adequate response by the Park Service, EDC and NPCA are gearing up 
for legal action to protect this public asset from the impacts of a private 
cattle ranch. 

Santa Rosa Island and the Channel Islands National Park generally represent a 
local environmental struggle that parallels battles raging nationwide over 
public lands, ranching, federal regulation and resource conservation.  Ranching 
activities on publicly owned Santa Rosa Island are a clear example of publicly 
subsidized Rwelfare ranchingS operations that are the subject of widespread 
media attention.  Instances of this type of publicly subsidized private 
enterprise provide an interesting perspective on those interests calling for an 
end to government intrusion into RprivateS affairs.  If Congress members want to
reduce federal government activity in private citizenUs lives, then federal 
subsidies for private use of public land and resources must also be reduced.  

In what will hopefully be an isolated example of opportunism and Rdrive byS  
analysis, local Congress member Andrea Seastrand spoke before the House of 
Representatives in early May, suggesting that protections for the threatened 
snowy plover shorebird is Rdestroying [Santa Rosa] island.S  Of course, it is 
the plover and other natural resources that are being destroyed, and the 
resource protections Ms. Seastrand refers to are simply not being enforced.  One
can readily see that Santa Rosa IslandUs ranching operators have quick access to
high levels of political power.  Action Alert:  Supporters of public lands 
protection from destructive private uses should call Congress member Seastrand 
at 805/899-3578 or 541-0170 to indicate that brushing aside averse impacts to a 
National Park to protect a private cattle companyUs public subsidy and help gut 
environmental laws is not a part of her mandate from the electorate.  Also 
indicate that taxpayer subsidies for private ranching on public land are 
Runfunded mandatesS too.  Econet users:  please RccS edc.  thanks.