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Sucker experts needed
On May 19, 2002, Bush appointee Steve Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ruled that there was no reason to reconsider the "endangered" listing for Klamath Basin suckers.
He rejected the congressional testimony of biologist David Vogel (hired by Klamath Water Users Association) that either the listing was a fraud to begin with, or there had been a remarkable recovery. Government biologists couldn't find suckers in 1988, when they listed them, and yet in the 1990s, they counted hundreds of thousands of them.
Six Klamath Basin residents challenged the Bush administration's denial of their petition in federal court.
On Jan. 14, the United States District Judge Anna Brown granted the federal government a protective order against any and all discovery in the case. Brown set a deadline of March 14 for the Bush administration to file for summary judgment dismissing the case; plaintiffs will have to file papers resisting the motion by April 11.
Unfortunately, the petitioners may not be able to rely upon Vogel to defend his congressional conclusions because local leaders deem the important task of fighting California's lies about the fish die-off to be a higher priority for his time. Nor can plaintiffs afford to hire other expert witnesses. However, federal law says that anyone may be "qualified as an expert by knowledge, experience, training or education."
Many of you in the community have personal experience and expert knowledge about just how abundant the suckers are. Or you know someone else who can testify that suckers are not endangered, and can encourage them to participate.
Local experts can explain to Brown that "threats" to suckers from water quality problems are not serious, because suckers as a species easily survive large fish die-offs.
Local experts can explain to Judge Brown that habitat problems do not threaten the suckers either. The Web page http://www.buchal.com/Klamath/de listing.htm identifies areas where testimony is needed, includes a declaration form for use in submitting testimony, and explains how easy it is for you to put your views on this important issue before the Court.
James L. Buchal
Portland
He rejected the congressional testimony of biologist David Vogel (hired by Klamath Water Users Association) that either the listing was a fraud to begin with, or there had been a remarkable recovery. Government biologists couldn't find suckers in 1988, when they listed them, and yet in the 1990s, they counted hundreds of thousands of them.
Six Klamath Basin residents challenged the Bush administration's denial of their petition in federal court.
On Jan. 14, the United States District Judge Anna Brown granted the federal government a protective order against any and all discovery in the case. Brown set a deadline of March 14 for the Bush administration to file for summary judgment dismissing the case; plaintiffs will have to file papers resisting the motion by April 11.
Unfortunately, the petitioners may not be able to rely upon Vogel to defend his congressional conclusions because local leaders deem the important task of fighting California's lies about the fish die-off to be a higher priority for his time. Nor can plaintiffs afford to hire other expert witnesses. However, federal law says that anyone may be "qualified as an expert by knowledge, experience, training or education."
Many of you in the community have personal experience and expert knowledge about just how abundant the suckers are. Or you know someone else who can testify that suckers are not endangered, and can encourage them to participate.
Local experts can explain to Brown that "threats" to suckers from water quality problems are not serious, because suckers as a species easily survive large fish die-offs.
Local experts can explain to Judge Brown that habitat problems do not threaten the suckers either. The Web page http://www.buchal.com/Klamath/de listing.htm identifies areas where testimony is needed, includes a declaration form for use in submitting testimony, and explains how easy it is for you to put your views on this important issue before the Court.
James L. Buchal
Portland
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| It's a punishment |
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