recent news on reptile Ban!!

[Jendee]

I had a question about this earlier and I just so happened to get a recent email from usark


FWS Files Final Rule/ Constrictor Ban

US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) has filed a final rule with the White House Office of Management & Budget (OMB). This filing has no material changes from the proposed rule that would add 9 constricting snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. This would make import or interstate transport of the 9 constrictors a felony with heavy fines and potential jail time. This is the final stage of the rule making process. OMB's role is to review the proposed rule to ensure that the costs to businesses do not outweigh the purported benefits. In spite of USARK's information to the contrary, and the Small Business Administration's findings that FWS did not do its due diligence in determining economic impact, we remain unsure of OMB's position. As many as a million American citizens could be negatively impacted if this rule is enacted. It would create a whole new class of criminal out of law abiding citizens engaged in what is now a perfectly legal trade.

There is also likely to be an oversight hearing at the US House Natural Resources Committee because of the potential to destroy a viable $1.4 billion cottage industry; and the flagrant disregard by FWS for mandated process and procedure under the Administrative Procedures Act and Information Quality Act. USARK has uncovered evidence that appears to point to an intentional effort to manufacture science to support a policy directive based on staff preference at FWS. This preference by FWS could mean the loss of thousands of jobs and the destruction of viable sector of our nations economy in a time of hardship.

Members of the Reptile Nation should prepare themselves for the “Big Fight”. This process should take about 45 days to unfold. USARK calls upon the OMB, the US House of Representatives and the US Senate to look closely at how FWS has circumvented due process to create policy based on staff preference. USARK believes that these actions by a government agency, upon close examination, will be found to be arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.

USARK needs the Reptile Nation to pull together as never before. This is our chance to overcome unfair regulation. Please stay tuned to USARK alerts and forward this communique to you circle of influence.

Questions:
Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org

We havent been told yet on what to do. But If you want to get crackin on it now, spread the news! and stay tuned on our next move, get ready to email, phone, petition, donate/join!!

another write up from the usark forum

ALERT: New Python Ban/ HR511 (http://www.usark.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=302#p471)

http://www.usark.org/forum/styles/prosilver/imageset/icon_post_target.gif (http://www.usark.org/forum/viewtopic.php?p=471#p471)by USARK Admin (http://www.usark.org/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=507) on Fri Feb 04, 2011 9:21 pm
On January 26, 2010 Congressman Tom Rooney of Florida introduced HR511. To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the importation of various injurious species of constrictor snakes. This bill if passed would add 9 constrictors to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. We were informed of the introduction within minutes of the bill being filed. At that point there was no bill text or Committee assignment. We received the text and full Committee assignment Monday and the Subcommittee assignment today.

HR511 has been assigned to the US House Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security. Over all this is a very reasonable committee that needs to be educated to the facts surrounding this issue. This is a committee USARK is familiar with. USARK CEO Andrew Wyatt provided expert testimony to this committee in 2009. Much misinformation has been spread; intentionally by special interest groups opposed to the Reptile community, and unintentionally by well meaning politicians that have been given poor information by staff and special interest groups.

It is clear that there is little justification for a Lacey Act listing which would kill thousands of jobs while failing to have any real world effect in south Florida where a population of pythons is struggling to survive. The few pythons that are left are still limited to the 3 southern most counties and have never demonstrated an ability to move further north. The state of Florida has already banned many of these animals from private ownership. Congressman Rooney stated that Florida needed Lacey Act protection to keep pythons out of the state. But it is already illegal to bring these pythons in from out of state because Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) put a statute in place last summer. State law has already done what Congressman Rooney states he wants to duplicate with HR511

FWC has estimated that as many as 90% of the feral python population in south Florida have already died due to the cold in winter of 2009- ’10 and 2010- ’11. Cold weather studies done by the US Dept of Agriculture, University of Florida and Savannah River Ecological Lab have confirmed that pythons exposed to cold die unless artificially kept warm. The USDA is on record stating that they dont believe pythons can exist for any length of time outside of south Florida.

Mother Nature and Florida FWC are doing what the Lacey Act could not do in south Florida; address the small python population in an effective way. At stake is a $1.4 Billion industry in captive bred reptiles with no environmental benefit to Florida. We feel confident that once Congressman Rooney and Committee Members understand the job killing nature of this bill proposal, coupled with the ineffectiveness of Lacey Act to address invasive species issues in a meaningful way, they will do the right thing and KILL HR511


View text of HR511. Click Here:

http://www.usark.org/uploads/HR511.pdf (http://www.usark.org/uploads/HR511.pdf)

STAY TUNED FOR ACTION STEPS IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS!

Andrew Wyatt
president@usark.org (president@usark.org)


These things do take a really long time to process, but it doesnt mean we should sit around and wait for it to knock on our door : )

heres something jeremy stone is doing as a good example of stepping up :)
YouTube - stonereptiles's Channel (http://www.youtube.com/user/stonereptiles#p/u/4/LmSpGdlFbSw)
jeremy is putting together a video comprised of pictures of snake owners and their snakes and has set a goal of 1000 pictures. he has asked that along with the picture, you send your name and permission to use the name and picture in the video and supporting the message. he has also asked that you get 5 friends/family members to allow you to take their picture with a snake and send their name/permission as well.

email pictures/names/permission to the following email address:
vpdproductions@gmail.com (vpdproductions@gmail.com)


you can also join PIJAC:

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) is a nonprofit, service-oriented organization comprised of Members who care about pets, the pet industry, and the environment.
PIJAC's mission is to:

PROMOTE responsible pet ownership and animal welfare
FOSTER environmental stewardship &
ENSURE the availability of pets
For more than 40 years, PIJAC has served its Members and mission through world-renowned advocacy, animal care programs and environmental stewardship campaigns.
PIJAC Membership is open to pet enthusiasts, all segments of the pet industry, and organizations affiliated with companion animal ownership and welfare.

Reptile & Amphibian | Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (http://pijac.org/reptileamphibian/)

k now your all up to date!! no excuses guys : )

[Jendee]

this took me a whole 5 mins people lol

[zer213]

While I don't agree with government intrusion I do see where they are coming from. They are trying to stop people who don't comprehend/research just how big some snakes can get. Idiot buys snake for kid, snake outgrows kid, idiot releases snake into the Everglades.
Still doesn't make it right though.

[Jendee]

This is a problem with florida..not the rest of the world though. Most large contrictors cant live outside of florida so I feel they are wrong in all accounts. As far as florida goes they need to inforce micro chipping and proper education before liscencing and such. Much more resonable then the proposed ban

[zer213]

Id rather have a free'er society with little rules and regulation and let common sense dictate our lives but it isnt up to me. I dont agree with bans or regulations but I do see the "why" in it.
That being said, if I lived in Flo-Rida I'd sign up/write my congressmen/whatever so that bans like this dont happen. Cant ban stupidity though. And not being a resident I dont see how I can do much. Id be more then happy to keep the government out of civilians lives as much as possible.

[Jendee]

umm well the ban isnt for florida, its for the whole US so yes you can do alot, and should or you really have no business in this hobby

[zer213]

Sorry, I keep seeing florida pop up in your posts. Ill be sure to join up. Thank you!

[Jendee]

Oh its ok no need to apologize thats why it is posted to inform people :) florida is what started the whole thing thats why it is mentioned alot, its really their only arguement but they are trying to pass the bill to include the whole US

[Jay]

well if you look hard enough there are plenty of bi laws on keeping snakes

[Jay]

Many just complaint driven

[marvelfreak]

When you hear something let us know i am ready to do my part.

[Jendee]

awesome!! I figured I would have heard from usark by now..I hope things are going good :/

[Jendee]

USGS Denies Due Process to Reptile Industry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

On April 15th, the US Association of Reptile Keepers (USARK) received a response from the US Geological Survey (USGS) to a long standing appeal and Request for Correction under the Information Quality Act (IQA). In rejecting USARK’s contention that the USGS failed to maintain a high standard of quality for their work as required by IQA, the USGS stated, “This document was not designated by the USGS as a highly influential scientific document”, and therefore subject to IQA standards. USARK rejects this statement as self serving and believes the document to be “highly influential” based on the exact criteria laid out by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and, therefore, subject to the IQA standards.

The USGS report serves as the sole document being used to justify a federal rule making by US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) to add nine constrictor snakes to the Injurious Wildlife list of the Lacey Act. If enacted, the rule would prohibit interstate trade, imports and most exports of the listed species, thereby destroying thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in trade, putting over a million reptile breeders, collectors and pet owners in jeopardy of felony prosecution. USARK considers this response irresponsible and in direct conflict with guidelines set by forth the OMB.

In addition to the potentially devastating economic impact of the proposed rule, the report itself is highly controversial as to the science. The data set on which the conclusions of the 2009 Constrictor Report are based has been demonstrated to be so mischaracterized as to suggest either incompetence or an intentional attempt at deception. Michael Cota, researcher at the Thailand National Natural History Museum, stated in his public comment to FWS, with specific reference to the USGS climate data set, “With a 60% error rate for just one country (Thailand), how many imaginary data sets were used for these reports?” The Constrictor Report is NOT a peer-reviewed scientific document. It is an internal report authored by strongly biased USGS biologists. In fact, a panel of 11 independent experts from the National Geographic Society, University of Florida, Texas A&M and others stated in a letter to the US Senate Environmental & Public Works Committee that this report was “not scientific”, and “not suitable as the basis for regulatory of legislative policy decisions”.

In an ironic attempt to divert attention from his Department’s dismal public image and failure to bring change, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar gave the “Partners in Conservation Award” to the Giant Constrictor Risk Assessment Partnership for their work regarding constrictor snakes.

The Partners in Conservation award is the highest award granted by the Department of Interior (DOI). The Giant Constrictor Risk Assessment Partnership (ridiculously referred to as Giant CRAP or GCRAP) comprises a small number of government biologists employed by FWS, the National Park Service (NPS), and USGS. USARK CEO Andrew Wyatt commented, “How can the Secretary honor a group of government biologists who give their committee the acronym of Giant CRAP? It may be a joke to them, but it is certainly not a joke to the millions of pet owners and reptile keepers whose livelihoods are at stake.”

This prestigious award was given to GCRAP even though the work they had done has been questioned from its inception and continues to be mired in controversy. USARK feels the Award given by Secretary Salazar rewards GCRAP for its concerted effort to ruin decades of successful business, conservation efforts, and education initiatives by private citizens.

“The hubris and unbridled contempt shown by USGS and FWS for the reptile industry is disheartening and without basis”, said Wyatt. “It took two appeals before Gordon Rodda saw fit to finally retract his statement that ‘southern Florida has an acknowledged reputation for unsavory characters, both reptilian and otherwise’.” Wyatt added, “We have created a clear public record of the problems with the science and economics, but USGS and FWS seem determined to ignore the facts in favor of their own preference.” Wyatt went on to say, “Art Roybal from FWS and Gordon Rodda and Robert Reed from USGS have made a mockery of due process. I hope they will be held accountable.”



this is the most recent I got, not sure where that puts us at the moment. It wouldnt hurt to start sending letters to your senate before the alram rings you know??

[marvelfreak]

^ Say what we want you to say and we'll give you a award. Sounds like a bunch of train monkeys to me. Now to sit down and write myself up a rough draft.