Norton Threatened with Contempt (for not protecting manatees)

[Guest guest]

NORTON THREATENED WITH CONTEMPT:

Judge scolds government for refusing to protect manatees

 

A federal judge is threatening to hold Interior Secretary Gale Norton in

contempt of court for refusing to designate new sanctuaries to protect

endangered Florida manatees from boaters. The Interior Department agreed

nearly two years ago to designate new protection areas throughout

Florida to

settle a lawsuit by Defenders of Wildlife and other environmental

groups,

but Norton has refused to comply. Meantime, boat collisions are killing

more

manatees than ever before. Already this year, 71 manatees have died in

boat

collisions, only 10 fewer than the record number killed during all of

2001.

 

Norton is asking Judge Emmet Sullivan to set aside the agreement to

protect

manatees. But at a hearing last week, Sullivan called the government's

arguments " ludicrous " and said the Interior Department " is not above the

law. " He said the government is showing " total insensitivity to the

manatee. " Powerful special interests, including the boating industry,

are

against new sanctuaries for manatees, and the judge suggested that the

Bush

administration is refusing to act as a political favor to the

president's

brother, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. To sign our petition urging Secretary

Norton

to protect manatees, go to www.helpmanatees.org

<http://www.helpmanatees.org <http://www.helpmanatees.org/> > .

 

 

 

DeniseC

One Planet ~ One People