Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 16, 1993 TAG: 9304160449
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BASE LAWS ON SCIENCE, NOT HYSTERIA
I MUST commend Patrick J. Michaels for his excellent article on March 30 in the Roanoke Times & World-News entitled, "Stop basing environmental rules on non-science." He hit the nail on the head, in his memo to Vice President Al Gore, when he urges Americans to reject the "precautionary principle." This principle demands the removal of something that may cause harm to the environment, regardless of whether there is any scientific evidence to back up these assertions of environmental degradation. Global warming and the spotted-owl controversy are two good examples.The so-called threat of global warming is one issue based on pseudoscience that all Americans will pay dearly for. If every bill introduced by then-Sen. Gore, former Sen. Timothy Wirth of Colorado and others were enacted to "solve" the very uncertain global-warming theory, it is estimated that it would cost American taxpayers from $800 billion to $3.6 trillion. Former Sen. Wirth has been quoted as saying: "Even if the theory of global warming is wrong, we will be doing the right thing anyway, in terms of economic policy and environmental policy." Truly, this chicken-little syndrome has very serious implications for economic well-being in this country.
The spotted-owl controversy in the Pacific Northwest is another example. The Endangered Species Act has been used to set aside almost 7 million acres of old-growth forest land for spotted owl habitat, where timber harvesting cannot occur. What are the implications of this decision based on pseudoscience? Tens of thousands of families have already lost their jobs and lumber shortages are occurring. The National Association of Home Builders recently reported that "the lumber price rise since October will add about $4,500 to the price of a 2,000 square foot house originally priced at $120,000." Saving the spotted owl is important. However, scientists have observed spotted owl nesting in second-growth forests and they're mating with other owl species. Why should we lock up millions of acres of forest land, force thousands out of work, and incur skyrocketing lumber prices to save a subspecies that supposedly can only survive in old-growth forests?
We must protect our environment, but decisions on environmental-protection measures must be based on scientific fact rather than environmental hysteria. STEVE JARVIS Division Forester American Pulpwood Association Inc. ROANOKE