U.S. Government Departments Join in Observing Earth Day

By Ralph Dannheisser
Washington File Staff Writer

Washington – The U.S. departments of Agriculture, Justice, Defense and Education joined in governmentwide observances of Earth Day, the annual event that focuses attention on the need to preserve the Earth’s fragile environment.

One day before the 37th official Earth Day commemoration April 22, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns celebrated the occasion by signing two Colorado Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) partnerships, valued at $91.6 million, designed to conserve water and improve wildlife habitat.

"Through these CREP agreements covering 65,000 acres in eastern Colorado, farmers and ranchers will conserve water use while enhancing habitat for declining fish species and other wildlife," Johanns said during a signing ceremony near Wiggins, Colorado.

"I'm proud to celebrate Earth Day by expanding our partnerships with farmers and ranchers who are among America's very best stewards of the land," the secretary said.

Following the signing ceremony, Johanns was joined by state officials and members of the Future Farmers of America in planting hackberry and juniper trees.

One of the partnerships, the 35,000-acre Colorado Republican River CREP, is to conserve agricultural irrigation water use in the Republican River basin by 5 percent on the eligible 30,000-acres, according to a news release issued by the department.

The second agreement, the Colorado High Plains CREP, is to increase populations of ring-necked pheasants and other ground-nesting birds by planting habitat, food plots and vegetative covers on the eligible 30,000 acres. The High Plains CREP is intended to reduce soil erosion by 160,000 tons each year and reduce the application of chemicals by 750 tons over a 15-year period, while boosting public access and recreational opportunities, such as hunting and bird watching.

More broadly, Johanns announced $115.1 million in investments to 28 states for loans and grants to assist over 50 rural communities with environmentally sound waste disposal and safe drinking water systems.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Sue Ellen Wooldridge, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said the celebration of Earth Day prompts Justice officials to "renew our commitment to enforcing the laws that protect our environment and our beautiful and valuable natural resources."

A statement issued by the department reported that over the past five years, the division "has worked tirelessly to enforce the nation's civil and criminal environmental laws, resulting in numerous accomplishments, and tangible benefits that protect and restore America's natural resources."

During fiscal year 2005, it said, the division had obtained "unprecedented civil relief "and achieved a criminal conviction rate of almost 90 percent in environmental crimes cases."

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

The American Forces Press Service quoted Alex Beehler, assistant deputy under secretary of defense for environment, safety and occupational health, as saying that the Defense Department is intent on conserving and improving the environment, even while accomplishing its mission of maintaining the nation's military readiness.

"It is imperative that we manage our assets in a sustainable manner so we can support the warfighter not only today, but also tomorrow and into the future," he said.

The press service reported that all branches of the service would be holding their own celebrations of the 2006 Earth Day.

Weeklong Air Force activities started April 19 with an Earth Day display in the Pentagon, it noted. Air Force installations across the country are conducting their own Earth Day activities, which include school presentations, tree planting and fundraisers.

The Army's Earth Day theme is "sustaining the environment for a secure future," the press service said, with about 200 Army major commands, installations and organizations around the world observing the occasion.

The Navy was marking Earth Day 2006 by reaffirming its commitment to protecting the nation's air, land and sea resources, which are essential to the health, safety and defense of all Americans, according to a Navy news release.

Still upcoming as part of the Navy’s environmental efforts: On May 17, the Oriskany, a retired aircraft carrier that saw service during the Korean and Vietnam conflicts, is scheduled to be sunk off the coast of Florida to create an artificial reef to benefit marine life, fishing and recreational diving.

The Marine Corps will partner with schools nationwide to promote Earth Day and environmental responsibility, the AFPS report said.

"Environmental stewardship and defense readiness go hand in hand for the nearly 900,000 men and women of the United States Navy and Marine Corps," Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter said in a prepared Earth Day statement. "Our unwavering commitment to our mission sustains our environment and national security on Earth Day and every day."

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings issued a statement April 21 in which she termed it "rewarding to see our nation's students so actively involved in protecting the environment."

"The young men and women honored with the President’s 200 Environmental Youth Awards yesterday have shown an extraordinary commitment to their schools, communities and planet. Whether building a ‘rain garden’ to catch waste runoff, racing a zero-emissions hybrid car across the Salt Flats, or cleaning a stream with fellow  ‘Creek Freaks,’ these students have demonstrated the importance of science with creativity and teamwork," she said.

The full text of releases from Agriculture, Justice, Defense and Education are available on the departments’ Web sites.