The Busy Lens : 2012-05-20

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Sights and Scenes Salem NH Memorial Day Parade 2012

©Dave Peatfield

Threatening Legislation Could Overturn Park Service Mandate To Protect America’s Heritage; Allow For Hunting, Trapping And Recreational Shooting In National Parks

New analysis reveals true impact of HR 4089, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act, to the National Park System

WASHINGTON--(ENEWSPF)--May 29 - According to a new legal analysis released today by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), national parks across the country are at risk from legislation that would change the fundamental purpose of the National Park System. Instead of protecting and preserving our national heritage and wildlife, most of the 397 units of the National Park System would be permitted to allow hunting, trapping and recreational shooting. The legislation has been touted as a tool to prioritize hunting and shooting on Forest Service and BLM lands, but it goes far beyond this goal by including the National Park System. If enacted, the Sportsmen’s Heritage Act (HR 4089) would be offensive treatment for our national treasures and the Americans who cherish them.

“This bill is a Trojan horse that, contrary to the claims of its boosters, would fundamentally alter the most basic protections in our National Park System and is a litigator’s dream,” said Craig Obey, senior vice president for government affairs at the National Parks Conservation Association. “Every national park site is at risk, from Yellowstone to Gettysburg to the Frederick Douglass house.”

As one of the greatest threats in modern times to the statutory regime governing management of the National Park System, the bill passed by the House includes an oddly written “exemption” for national parks and monuments, but ignores the many designations of national park units such as national historical parks, national military parks, national memorials, etc. Moreover, the exemption for national parks and monuments is written so as not to ‘require’ their opening. The effect of this language would be that hunting would be permitted, where currently these activities are prohibited unless authorized by Congress.

“Today, hunting, trapping and recreational shooting are prohibited throughout the National Park System except in places where they have been specifically authorized by Congress. Under this bill, the law regarding such uses would no longer be closed unless opened, but would instead be open unless closed,” said Obey. “National parks were set aside to protect the wildlife that roam and historic sites that preserve our nation’s history—not for using some of America’s most valued treasures as target practice.”

The legal analysis conducted by the law firm of Arnold & Porter, LLP, also finds that the bill would force national park managers to undertake lengthy and potentially costly analyses in order to justify closing park units, yet would open those units without any such analysis. For example, park managers would need to use the “best science” to justify prohibiting paintball games on the hallowed ground at Gettysburg. In a time of budget austerity, the National Park Service would be required to conduct lengthy, costly analyses to justify continuing to prohibit activities that common sense says should be prohibited in solemn places where so many Americans lost their lives in battle, or simply allow those activities because they lack the resources to conduct the requisite analyses.

Further, the legislation would also require the Park Service to permit the use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) anywhere they are needed to provide access for hunters to engage in trapping, shooting, hunting or fishing activities. It has long been recognized that ORVs cause serious environmental damage and interfere with the experience most visitors have at national parks.

“There are plenty of public lands where recreational shooting and sport hunting are a reasonable and appropriate use[s], but those lands do not include national parks, historical sites, or any unit of the park system where they’re not already permitted by law. There is no reasonable justification for including the National Park System in this legislation,” said Obey. “Those who think this bill is just about hunting opportunities haven’t read it. And if they’ve read it, they ought to re-read it.”

Now the bill has moved to the Senate and its advocates are working aggressively to get it to the Senate floor. NPCA is encouraging the public to contact their Senators to prevent this threatening legislation from damaging our National Park System. Take action here: http://ow.ly/beWqu.

To view a copy of the legal analysis, completed by the law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP, please visit: http://ow.ly/beVUx.

###
NPCA is a non-profit, private organization dedicated to protecting, preserving, and enhancing the U.S. National Park System.
Source: commondreams.org

At National Parks, where are all the young people?

"If we do not do a better job of inviting young people to the national parks and providing the funding to be able to do that the parks will become less relevant," said Tom Kiernan, president of the National Parks Conservation Association.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Visit the full story and slide show here: http://ow.ly/beTCA

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Red Sox, Rays Tangle With Bench-Clearing Brawl in Ninth Inning (Video)

Friday, May 25, 2012

Manchester NH Middle school students snare mysterious reptile

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Two Manchester middle school students got the catch of a lifetime at Steven's Pond on Friday.

They fished a reptile resembling a small alligator out of the pond.

Seventh-graders Eric Vaughan Jr. and Jesse Philbin love to fish, and they caught the big one Friday.

"I saw it today and we ended up getting it," Vaughan said.

It's not clear exactly what the reptile is yet, but police said it could be a Cayman.

"It was just a mean-looking creature," Philbin said.

For two weeks, the Manchester middle-schoolers have been wading into Steven's Pond looking for what residents referred to as an alligator.

They had been looking around Friday afternoon and baited a hook determined to reel in the reptile.

"He took it and the hook got hooked in his mouth, and we dragged him over, and we got him in the net," Vaughan said. "It's bigger than any fish I've ever caught."

The teens said the reptile put up a big fight.

Source: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Middle-school-students-snare-mysterious-reptile/-/9857858/14229604/-/x1cgra/-/index.html#ixzz1vwbgr28A

Mohawk Trail State Forest Reopen after Tropical Storm Irene

Photo Credit: Dave Peatfield

CHARLEMONT, Mass. — A popular state forest is back open after getting battered by Tropical Storm Irene.

The Mohawk Trail State Forest was closed for months after the storm, but campers are finally back on the grounds.

The Loftus family is enjoying a family camping trip at the Mohawk Trail State Forest.

“It’s really nice, my first time here, but it’s really cool to be on the river with the mountains in the backround,” says Sarah.

Photo Credit: Dave Peatfield

It wasn’t so peaceful here last August when Tropical Storm Irene hit.

Massive rain caused big flooding problems here, washing away some campsites and even part Route 2 leading to the state forest was washed away.

Brendan Loftus says they were here soon after that.

“We just went for a cruise, not specifically to see the damage kind of a fall foliage. We couldn’t get over how bad the damage was,” says Brendan.

Photo Credit: Dave Peatfield

A lot of Franklin County took a beating by the storm, especially here.

These camp sites weren’t open for the fall season because the damage here at the state forest was so bad, they couldn’t open until after the new year.

After months of clean up and repairs, it’s business, or camping, as usual.

” We did some hiking this morning and now we’re going kayaking have you noticed any damage along the way? Not really its been pretty good,” says Kate Loftus.

Photo Credit: Dave Peatfield

“It’s amazing how much they’ve accomplished in that amount of time. The way they rebuilt a lot of the area, like the rocks to channel the river and prevent future damage.”

Now the only worry here is having enough wood for the camp fire to keep the mosquitoes away.

Not only is the Mohawk tTrail State Forest open in time for Memorial Day, the campground is booked solid for the weekend.

Photo Credit: Dave Peatfield

2 car accident on 495S turns highway into a parking lot for over an hour in Haverhill

A two-vehicle crash with serious personal injury occurred on Interstate 495 South, just south of exit 52 in Haverhill, around 8:05 tonight, according to state police.

Both sides of the highway were closed for well over an hour for the landing of a medical helicopter and investigation.

The cars involved were a snarled mess and appears the occupants of one vehicle needed to be removed with the Jaws of Life.

The vehicles involved are a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am and a 2006 Hyundai Elantra. Reports were that a female alone hit the second car with a male driver and small child. All were sent / flown to Lawrence General Hospital.

My family and I had the misfortune of sitting in traffic less than a thousand yards from the crash site while the state police investigated the scene.

Traffic was reported to be backed up to 95S.

12 year old falls 30 ft off rock face on Mt Major

ALTON, N.H. - Rescuers from a number of Lakes Region communities rescued a 12-year-old and his 46-year-old uncle who were injured on Mt. Major this afternoon.

According to Fish and Game officers at the scene, the 12-year-old fell an unknown distance around 4 p.m. When his uncle rushed to help him, he fell 30 feet off a rock face. His fall was stopped by a tree, authorities said.

A registered nurse in the family who was hiking with them provided first aid. The family used a cellphone to call 911 and rescuers were able to track their GPS location through the phone.

Emergency crews reached them in about 3 1/2 hours.

They both had to be carried off the mountain and were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

New Hampshire Fish and Game provided assistance along with crews from Alton, Gilford, Gilmanton and New Durham.

Read more: http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Boy-uncle-rescued-on-Mt-Major/-/9857858/14219484/-/2m9u7sz/-/index.html#ixzz1vwBpyDvR