Some of the grant recipients include The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Children's Environmental Health Network, Environmental Defense, Inc., The Tides Center, Consumer Federation of America, World Wildlife Fund, the Friends of the Earth, World Resources Institute, National Wildlife Federation, and STAPPA-ALAPCO.
A group cited as a "likely" recipient of the funds earmarked for research is the League of Conservation Voters.
LCV's membership includes representatives of the Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, Sierra Club, Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, The Wilderness Society, Trust for Public Lands, Defenders of Wildlife, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, National Wildlife Federation, and the Environmental Working Group. It sounds like a group that might be engaged in legitimate research.
But, LCV is best know for their list of the "Dirty Dozen" legislators. A list that's overwhelmingly Republican and conservative legislators - who have been the targets of the LCVs political activity. In 2000, the LCV took credit for having "turned out" a pair of Republican Senator; Abraham of Michigan and Slade Gorton of Washington with extremely active - and expensive - opposition campaigns.
Instead of work for the environment, the groups listed in the Oversight Committee report appear to trade on what the Sacramento Bee called "the commodity of crisis"; using "slogans and sound bites as masquerades for scientific facts."
Rather than working for the environment, it appears at least a large portion of the EPA discretionary funding grants have been used to fuel the ultimate blood sport: power politics. And through those grants, it's become politically hazardous to oppose these groups.
U.S. Senator James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), the chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has called for an investigation into the EPA, their grant process, their recipients and - results. Casual Friday's not a gambling guy, but there's better than even money that says Inhofe will make the next "Dirty Dozen" list. If, however, he can clean up this dirty deal, he'll deserve a special place in the outdoor community.
We'll keep you posted.
see part 1 of this article >>>>>>>>>>>>
