Austin American-Statesman from Austin, Texas • 10

A10 Austin American-Statesman Thursday, May 28, 1992 This section is recyclable vy out for endangered species law Financial incentive provided in exchange for your opinion on pain if you need the removal of wisdom teeth call 451-0411 BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH XrS GROUP Blinds, Verticals, Woods, Duettes, Even 50 -6 0 -7 0 Discounts Can't Beat Our BEST PRICE PROMISE tasS20.00 Offer On Any Purchase of S200 or More. 'Product for Product Service tor Service, We Can't Be Beat! Ghainsaws Continued from A1 lined up in Congress to push for the act's dismantling. On the other side, a powerful lobby of the nation's major environmental groups have made preservation of the Endangered Species Act an election-year issue. They say the law, with its simple and direct mandate backed by a 1978 Supreme Court ruling upholding the act's constitutionality, is a tool to save vanishing wild places as well as the plants and animals that live there. Both Democrats and Republicans are critical of the position taken by the Bush administration, which appears intent on crippling the Endangered Species Act.

The idea behind the act was to maintain some of the nation's natural diversity and avoid a future glutted with little more than pigeons, roaches and rats. In Austin, the law is a major factor behind the proposed Balcones Canyonlands Conservation Plan, which would set aside 60,000 acres in western Travis County for preservation of endangered species. The black-capped vireo and golden-cheeked warbler, songbirds that nest in Travis County, are listed as endangered. Several species of local cave invertebrates also are on the list. In 19 years, 727 species, nearly half of them plants, have been listed as threatened or endangered.

Another 16 species that were on the list have been taken off: Seven have gone extinct, and another nine have flourished to the point of full recovery. At least 3,000 species are candidates for the list. The bald eagle was nearly extinct in the mid-1960s but has bounced back to number 6,000 in the contiguous United States. Discussions are under way to take the bird off the list in some states. Once a species is listed, the law protects it against human en rCA'Y IV FREE "25 Mfc V.

I Indallaiion Installation "arkl Yl 4 I FREE 30 (CJ EmM WE'RE NOT JUST MINIBLINDS UM Bobby St. Pierre Owner Operator KIDNAPPING 5000 grizzly bears and grey whales. The California gnat catcher, which has held up construction of housing projects because it nests in areas coveted by developers, or the Oregon silverspot butterfly, which likes the same coastal areas desired by golf course developers, are seldom cited by the act's most passionate defenders. Some biologists, saying it is im possible to save the thousands of species facmg extmction, have urged that the government set up a priority list of plants or animals to be saved. While this could lead to popularity contests, with cuddly and lovable creatures winning out over ugly and unknown animals, it would at least get rid of the law's random nature.

Another approach would be to save entire ecosystems rather than focusing on the individual species that reside in them. By continuing to take a species-by-species approach to protecting plants and wildlife, the country faces years of political gridlock and court actions, some goverment officials and representatives say. But if the entire ecology of a region including the humans who work there are considered for preservation, there would be much less conflict, these leaders argue. This approach is similar to that taken by the Nature Conservancy, which has bought large working ranches in the West and managed to allow commercial grazing to continue while protecting rare plants and animals. "What we need is a new approach, taking into account exactly what it is we are trying to save and the people who work there," said Rep.

Jolene Unsoeld, whose district includes some of the most heavily logged national forests in the country. "What we have had so far is solution by press release." off the ballot. But he would have to act by Aug. 31. Garry Mauro, chairman of Clinton's campaign in Texas, said Perot's presence on the ballot in Texas is the president's "worst nightmare.

George Bush cannot draw a scenario up that makes him president of the United States without carrying Texas. And I think at the very least, Perot being on the ballot makes George Bush's possibility of carrying Texas very slim." But Jim Oberwetter, manager of the Bush-Quayle '92 campaign in Texas, said Mauro "is whistling through the graveyard. His candidate for the presidency is only able to achieve 20 percent of the vote in the latest Texas Poll." South at 501 Bastrop Hwy. 385-3452 big government that sacrifices hu man interests to those of animals. "If you listed all the species that are waiting to go on the list, you would shut down the natural resource industry in this country," said Charlie Jans, chairman of the Oregon Lands Coalition, a citizens group heavily financed by the timber industry.

"The flaw in the act is it makes no provision for people or economics." In the past decade, the government has added an average of about 50 new species to the list every year. It would cost an average of about $460 million a year over 10 years to come up with recovery plans for all the species that are candidates for protection, one government study has found. As it is, the Fish and Wildlife Service operates on an annual budget of about $60 million. In some more extreme cases, the heavy restrictions on development have come about because federal courts, acting on lawsuits brought by environmentalists, have forced the government's hand. "The Endangered Species Act is the pit bull of environmental laws," said Donald Barry, World Wildlife Fund vice president.

"It's short, compact and has a hell of a set of teeth. Because of its teeth, the act can force people to make the kind of tough political decisions they wouldn't normally make." As such, the law has been used as a surrogate by people who had other causes. The true intent of many people who want to save the northern spotted owl is to protect ancient forests and the dozens of other species that live there. But critics point out that the act was never intended to be a weapon to change the behavior of entire industries. What Nixon and other early backers had in mind was protecting much-loved big creatures like who had not cast a ballot in the primary.

The screening found that 66 "satisfied all requirements," the analysis said. "If we are strict and only include the 66 of the 115 as valid signatures, we still have very strong evidence that the petition has more than 54,275 valid signatures." The analysis concluded that the state could be "99 percent sure that the number of valid signatures on the petition is at least 103,868." Margaret E. Myers, a professor and statistics expert at UT, conducted the analysis. Hannah said Perot could still change his mind and pull his name Saturday 6 p.m. 183 REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE DISCOVERY OF SARAH LUCKIE AND THE ARREST OF HER NON-CUSTODIAL MOTHER, THERESA RENEE LUCKIE I Perot received more than enough signatures croachment, no matter the cost.

ThuB, snail darters delayed construction of a $100 million dam in Tennessee, grizzly bears stopped construction of roads in Montana, sea turtles changed the shrimping industry in the Gulf states, owls curbed the extensive logging in the Northwest, and smelt took water from farmers in California. But these are the exceptions. From 1987 to 1991, 34,203 projects were proposed in areas where there was a potential to harm endangered species, according to the government. In each case the developer had to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and perhaps slightly modify the projects, before going ahead. In parts of Travis County where endangered songbirds nest, property owners are required to conduct endangered species surveys before proceeding with development.

Last week, the Austin City Council approved spending an additional $25,000 on a sewer project to reroute a line because a golden-cheeked warbler was sighted during such a survey. Of the cases on file nationally, the government said in only 367 instances that the project would harm a species. And only 18 of those projects were actually canceled or stopped because of incompatibility with the act. "You wouldn't know it by what we've been hearing lately, but the Endangered Species Act has been very successful," said John Sa-whill, president of the Nature Conservancy, a private group that buys and protects land for wildlife. "In all but but a few cases, people have been able to work things out without a loss of jobs," he said.

"And in that time, we have kept at least 700 plant and animal species from going under." But in the cases that have led to economic sacrifice, the act has been vilified as an instrument of to Perot informing the computer magnate that "many more than the required 54,275 signatures on the petitions were valid and in accordance with state law." Rather than attempt to verify thousands of signatures, the secretary of state commissioned a University of Texas professor to perform a statistical analysis that relied on 115 randomly chosen signatures from the petitions, which contained 228,219 signatures. The 115 signatures were examined to see whether the signers had filled out the petition properly, whether they were registered to vote and whether they had voted in the March 10 Texas primaries. Signers had to be registered voters Square Monday thru 8 a.m. to 40 Off Regular Price All Felt Hats OFHaAL DEALER jiri'rnrn iTtiiiiiriirriliMliiri' "mi uir -iim SARAH NICOLE LUCKIE AKA: Sarah Age at disappearance: 6 yrs. Date of Birth: 10-10-85 Date Missing: 02-04-92 Missing From: Albuquerque, NM Sex: Female Height: 4 ft.

Hair Eyes: Dark Brown Race: White Weight: 52 lbs. I surgery. Certified Oral Surgeons. 473-3850 THERESA RENEE LUCKIE AKA: Renee Date of Birth: 07-02-61 Sex: Female Height: 5'8y2" Hair: GrayBrown Race: White Weight: 135 lbs. Eyes: Dark Brown Occupation: Accountant, Auditor Vehicle: 1979 Honda Accord, Maroon, NM License LLE718 HUNDREDS OF MINN BUSH BLACK BROWN RITZ GENUINE HANDSEWN SOFT 6-13 KIDSKINDRESSMOCWITH LEAlBLE LEA1HEK CLOSE Bosiamv "GEORGE" FRKMIl CAI.F l.KATHKR FASH10NABI.K Kll.

TASSH. BLACK. BROWN TWO BARTON CREEK MALL 328-0682 STORFS'" NORTHCROSS 454-6182 Sold in a week or another week FREE. Some restrictions apply. Call 445-4000 Austin American -Statesman B'ack "WWWrtJOXW Continued from A1 will be the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate, Andre Marrou of Nevada.

Not since 1980, when U.S. Rep. John Anderson of Illinois ran as an independent candidate, has anyone qualified for the presidential ballot in Texas by submitting a petition, Hannah said. Anderson drew 2.5 percent of the vote in Texas. Perot already has qualified for the ballots in Tennessee, Utah, Maine, Delaware, Kentucky and Wyoming.

New Jersey officials said he likely would qualify there, and petitions are awaiting certification in Alaska. In Texas, Hannah sent a letter 183 North in Cedar Park 335-8585 Wtengfer CALL CHILDQUEST INTERNATIONAL 1 (800) 248-8020 OR YOUR LOCAL FBI OFFICE SB5 of! Cowboy Cut Blue Denims Men'3 Reg. $18.95 Sale $16.88 Ladies' Reg. $26.95 Sale $21.88 Students' Reg. $17.95 Sale $15.88 YOUth 8-16 Reg.

$15.95 Sale $13.88 Kids' 4-7 Reg. $12.95 Sale $10.88 For 38 Lengths and 44 Waists up, add $2.00 For Fighting Fleas, Flies and Fire Ants 10 Lbs. Diazinon Granules 5 $8.95 10 Lbs. Dursban Granules $9.95 Callahan's Label Dursban 1E Qt $19.95 Callahan's Label Dursban 2E Gal $76.95 Callahan's Label Diazinon 4E Qt $19.95 Callahan's Label Diazinon 4E Gal $37.95 Logic Fire Ant Bait, 10 Oz $9.95 Logic Fire Ant Bait, 3 Lbs $34.95 Logic Fire Ant Bait, 25 Lbs $168.00 Golden Marlin Apache Fly Bait Available 20 Off Reg. Price Brushpopper Shirts BOSTON 28631 CALFSKIN WINGTIP LACE-UP FILL LEATHER HANDSTAINED SOLES BLACK Johnston (Murphy "BAXTER" OUR FINEST SAVE ON PREMIUM CALF LEATHER DRESS OXFORDS NOW SALE (WINGTIP ALSO AVAILABLE) 5 Come see our complete line of pesky critter control.

FOODSAVER COMPACT Xf $10.00 Off Regular Price All Bullhides by Tony Lama and Nocona Fitting Stool Selection may vary between stores. Sale prices limited to items in stock and good through June 3, 1992. Don't Just wrap it. Vacuum Pack it! Vacuum pack almost anything in your choice of Foodsaver bags, Foodsaver canisters or mason jars..