Environmental Safeguards Under Attack

clipped from www.commondreams.org WASHINGTON, DC - February 8 - In a move that could prove disastrous for America’s forests, open lands and wildlife, Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D.) introduced a bill late Wednesday to strip environmental safeguards from the recently signed Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, according to scientists and policy experts from leading environmental and conservation organizations. “The Herseth bill would convert an important step forward on the environment into a giant leap backward. When accompanied by strong safeguards, renewable biofuels can help fuel America, curtail global warming, and reduce America’s dependence on oil. “But the Herseth bill would strip critical environmental protections from the Energy Bill and turn biofuels done right into biofuels done dirty. “Now, less than two months later, a few voices are trying to turn Congress’ environmental victory on its head by stripping critical safeguards that keep biofuels from resulting in widespread environmental damage.