Boy Scouts Land Conservation Far from Good

In my post about the Boy Scouts possibly taking over Cement Lake, I wrote: "BSA has an excellent reputation for land conservation." But do they? In fact, are they not better land developers and tree farmers than conservationists or preservationists?  Read the NBC/Bay Area Report: Dispute Between Boy Scouts, Whistle Blower Rooted in Rare Plant's Destruction.  That report states: 

"While the Boy Scouts have drawn national attention for their intolerance toward gays, the organization also has compiled a poor record on environmental protection. In 2009, Hearst Newspapers reported that the Scouts clear-cut tens of thousands of acres of forestland across the country and operated a dam at Camp Pico Blanco that killed at least 30 federally protected steelhead trout. The camp installed a fish ladder as part of a no-fault settlement."

The NBC Report discusses not only the destruction of the endangered lousewart by the Boy Scouts, but their clear-cutting old growth trees including redwoods.

The Parks and Recreation Management Program of Northern Arizona University revealed how some scouts tossed a 190 million-year-old set of dinosaur tracks into a reservoir, leaving deep scars in the fossil beds.

Now take a look at this video of scout leaders destroying a 200 million year-old rock formation. Let's call this elpasonaturally's Friday video: 



Read and view a commentary about this Boy Scout vandalism HERE and further story HERE.

After I published the blog post about Cement Lake mentioned above, a friend emailed to say: "Activities with lots of young people wandering around, as children are wont to do even when they are supervised, would do a lot of damage.  Campsites for overnight stays, activity areas, trails, restroom facilities, kitchen and dining halls, etc, all adds up to a lot of impact which goes beyond the definition of open space. I imagine this and possibly more would be in the plan."

And what about the issue that BSA bans gay scoutmasters and what does that have to do with conservation? I find that there is a direct correlation between people who discriminate against other people and those who oppose conservation. Those who disrespect human rights will invariably disrespect the environment also. Hate people. Hate Mother Earth. Or love people and love the planet. Simple as that. The question must be raised as a good reason to oppose a lease agreement between the Texas Transportation Commission and the Boy Scouts of America for Cement Lake and the surrounding area - 222 acres in all. There should first be a conservation easement along with a statement by the Yucca Council of El Paso that it is okay to be a scout leader and to be gay.

The Boy Scouts may have an excellent reputation for land conservation - at least if never examined. No one dares speak badly about this American shibboleth. But who was it who said that sacred cows make great hamburger?

Boy Scouts to Take Over Cement Lake?

In case you missed the story in last week's EP Times, the Texas Transportation Commission okayed leasing 222 acres of public land to the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) for what might be the largest urban BSA camp in the country. The land between Executive Blvd. and Sunland Park and I-10 and Paisano includes Cement Lake, one of the priorities for preservation by El Paso's Open Space Advisory Board.

Marty Schladen, who wrote the Times article, included the angle that the International AIDS Empowerment of El Paso and Las Cruces opposes the lease because the BSA discriminates against gay men. Openly gay youth may join the scouts but a ban on gay scoutmasters persists. (If you are a gay Eagle Scout and want to continue in the organization as a volunteer leader, you are suddenly unworthy.) The BSA policy may be based on the irrational fear that gay men are sexual predators - a notion that is easily dismissed by the facts and statistics. There may also be something akin to "don't ask/don't tell" at work here.

Skip Rosenthal, the Executive Director of International AIDS Empowerment of EP and Las Cruces, points out that El Paso has a policy of non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation. The municipal code reads:

"The City shall afford equal employment and benefit opportunities to all qualified individuals in compliance with all applicable laws, without regard to their race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, color, religion, ethnic background or national origin, age, disability, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law."

Putting aside the issue of discrimination for a moment, there is the matter of preserving this spring-fed lake and the land around it.  The proposed lease is for 25 years with an option to go another 25 years after that. How well can we expect the Boy Scouts to preserve and conserve Cement Lake? 

BSA has an excellent reputation for land conservation. They even have an "idea sheet" about conservation planning for boy scout properties. The "sheet" mentions that land will not be abused but it also discusses resource management and it does suggest land development and the use of "heavy equipment". So can the local Yucca Council of BSA be trusted to be good stewards of Cement Lake and its pristine surroundings?

If the Texas Transportation Commission truly cares about the preservation of this land, one way to ensure it is to place the land under a conservation easement. That way there would be precise preservation language in the lease agreement and a third party overseeing the easement to make sure that neither TxDOT nor the Boy Scouts violates that language. A conservation manager can be a land management organization such as Frontera Land Alliance or even the City of El Paso.

Something tells me that the Transportation Commission will never enter into any kind of conservation agreement. So, no matter how good the reputation of Scouts may be, without solid assurances that the land will be carefully conserved and preserved, there is good reason to oppose any kind of lease especially if there are no non-discrimination assurances by BSA. 

elpasonaturally will keep an eye on this one.

Bicycle Community Stresses Action Now

What we, Velo Paso: El Paso Bicycle Pedestrian Coalition, are telling people is . . . 

1. Read and respond to the El Paso Times article:

http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23860793/txdot-denies-funding-el-paso-bicycle-sharing-program

If you have Facebook, please respond to the El Paso Times article. Important points to make:

1. This isn't just about bikes, this is about the health of our community. I want my children to be able to bike safely to school and programs like Bike Share would put MORE riders on the road. 

2. The real question is why is TxDOT taking this away from our city after local agencies and elected officials already agreed to move forward on it? TxDOT is merely the fiduciary agent - the middle man. Bike share meets all qualifications for the funds. 

3. Fort Worth Bike Share was funded by TxDOT. What makes El Paso different from Fort Worth? 

Your own points. This is about solidarity and not ceding any money when it comes to bikes and pedestrian initiatives. This whole process is being obstructed by two individuals who simply don't believe bikes are a viable form of transportation. PROVE THEM WRONG RIGHT NOW. 

2. Write a letter to the editor:

SUBMIT A LETTER TO THE EDITOR: 

http://www.elpasotimes.com/townhall/ci_14227323

3. Email Rep. Pickett

Email Rep. Joe Pickett and tell him:

I live in El Paso and I want Bike Share. Don't treat El Paso differently from Fort Worth or any other city in Texas. Ask TxDOT to fund our Bike Share program.
http://www.house.state.tx.us/members/member-page/email/?district=79&session=83 

4. Attend our Velo Paso Community Meeting, Saturday, 8/24 10am-12pm at the main branch of the El Paso Public Library, downtown. Food will be provided. 

5. Contact TxDOT and tell them El Paso wants a bike share pogram!

(512) 486-5003.  http://www.txdot.gov/contact-us/form.html?id=tpp-email

Take Action Now: Support Bike Share

The Velo PasoBicycle-Pedestrian Coalition attended the Camino Real Regional Mobility Authority's (CRRMA) monthly meeting to support the city-wide Bike Share program after Bike Texas and the League of American Bicyclists sent out an urgent 24-hour action alert. 

The CRRMA announced that TxDOT would not be issuing the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding that it controlled.  Funding which the bike share program fully qualifies for. When asked why, it was reported that TxDOT did not believe this was an appropriate use for these funds.  
Raymond Telles, Executive Director of the CRRMA, said that without the $1.6 million from TxDOT, the funding available for the program was now down to just $400,000.  All interested stakeholders not only still support the Bike Share project, but Telles announced that Fort Bliss, the Army's second largest military installation in the country, has also expressed interest in joining the Bike Share program.

So, is Bike Share dead?  At this point, it isn't, but what will happen next is unclear. 

"No final decision has been made yet," said Veronica Beyer, a TxDOT spokeswoman. "TxDOT plans to coordinate conversations with transportation partners to garner more information on how we can dedicate those limited funds to important congestion-mitigation projects around the state."

Community members are disappointed that the funding is being withheld, especially after local agencies and elected officials conducted the required due diligence.  Now it seems that bike share has been thwarted by just one or two individuals who are hiding behind the facade of the state agency.

El Pasoans demand to know why TxDOT refuses to fund El Paso's Bike Share program when they funded Forth Worth's bike share with Transportation Enhancement money.

More importantly, community members want to know why TxDOT is telling local governments, regional agencies and the University of Texas what to do.

If you want to save bike share, tell Rep. Joe Pickett, former chair of the powerful transportation committee, and Ted Houghton, chair of the Texas Transportation Commission, that you live in El Paso and see the valuable health, environmental and quality of life benefits bike share would bring to El Paso. Tell them that we deserve bike share just as much as Fort Worth, Austin, Houston or San Antonio.

Email Ted Houghton or call him at (512) 305-9509.

Email Joe Pickett, visit his district office at 1790 Lee Trevino #307, call him at (915) 590-4349 or fax (915) 590-4726.

Follow the local media coverage as this story continues to evolve.

EPTimes: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23860793/txdot-denies-funding-el-paso-bicycle-sharing-program

El Diario: http://diario.mx/El_Paso/2013-08-14_ff1795d4/retira-txdot-fondos-para-programa-que-fomenta-uso-de-bicicletas/

KVIA: http://www.kvia.com/news/rma-state-denies-bike-share-funding-state-no-decision-made/-/391068/21472060/-/rekturz/-/index.html

KTSM: http://www.ktsm.com/news/txdot-holds-16-million-back-el-pasos-bike-share-program

KINT Univision: http://www.kint.com/2013/08/14/buscan-iniciar-con-proyecto-de-trasporte-en-bicicleta/

KTDO Telemundo: http://www.holaciudad.com/suspenden-programa-bicicletas-compartidas-n343736