Executive Order Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation

Another step forward for property rights It went completely unnoticed in the press amid the hoopla surrounding the swiftboat ads and the Republican National Convention. Nevertheless, on August 26, President Bush issued an executive order which could significantly change the way federal agencies do business. Federal agencies charged with the responsibility of implementing environmental laws and regulations are now required to cooperate with state and local government, for-profit, and not-for-profit organizations, and individuals who may be affected by federal action. It's a small step, long overdue, but welcome, nonetheless. Existing law already requires cooperation with local governments under certain circumstances, but federal agencies long ago devised procedures to bypass this requirement. During the Clinton/Gore era, vast stretches of land were put off-limits to human activity, with virtually no communication with local governments or the individuals who were dramatically affected....

President Bush issues executive order to consider local interests in environmental decisions Without much public notice, President Bush issued an executive order August 26, 2004, to the Departments of Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Defense and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to include local groups in decision-making that affects land use and environmental regulations. Specifically, the order calls for "cooperative conservation" among local, state, and tribal governments, and for-profit and non-profit organizations in carrying out the functions of the departments as they relate to the environment and natural resources. The order also requires that these federal agencies "take account" of the interests of local property owners, and include them in the decision making "to the extent permitted by law." According to the Associated Press, the Sierra Club claims the order is "part of the "shrink-the-federal-safety-net" efforts by the Bush administration."....