Redistributed as a Service of the National Library for the Environment*
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Redistributed as a Service of the National Library for the Environment* |
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A Directory of Some Interest Groups and Governmental Organizations Concerned With National Environmental PoliciesLinda-Jo Schierow September 21, 1993 93-831 ENR SUMMARY This report briefly describes selected associations that have demonstrated strong and continuous interest in environmental protection policies of the United States. It provides background information on some of the active participants in national policy discussions. The set of organizations abstracted for this report is not comprehensive; many groups necessarily have been omitted, often because they failed to respond to our request for information. An attempt was made to balance divergent political opinions and to include groups with different perspectives. All associations included in the report have nationwide membership, maintain an office in the vicinity of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, and actively seek to influence national (as opposed to international or regional) environmental policies. The financial information provided varies depending on what was available to CRS. For information about other groups, the reader may wish to consult the Encyclopedia of Associations, 27th Edition, published by Gale Research, Inc., Washington, D.C., in 1993. Copies of the Encyclopedia are available for reference in the CRS reference centers. NOTE David Bearden of the Environment and Natural Resources Policy Division of CRS provided the research, drafting, and technical assistance for this report. PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS
BUSINESS/COMMERCIAL ORGANIZATION
GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
1025 Vermont Ave., N.W. Telephone: (202) 547-6900 Northwest Office Telephone: (206) 213-0330 Southwest Office 4120 N. 20th Street, Suite G Telephone: (602) 234-3946
Center for Marine Conservation 1725 DeSales Street, N.W. Telephone: (202) 429-5609
Citizens Clearinghouse for Hazardous Waste 150 S. Washington, Suite 300 Telephone: 703/237-CCHW (2249)
1101 14th Street, NW #1400 Telephone: 202-682-9400
Student Environmental Action Coalition P.O. Box 31909 Telephone: 215-222-4711
Louisiana Environmental Action Network P.O. box 66323 Telephone: (504) 928-1315
257 Park Avenue South, Telephone: (212) 505-2100 MEMBERS: More than 300,000. FUNDING: Non-profit. $23.5 million total program and supporting services for fiscal year 1997. Supported primarily by member donations and foundation grants. STAFF: 163, including more than 60 full-time scientists, economists, and attorneys. OFFICES: Five regional offices
PUBLICATIONS: Bimonthly newsletter; annual report; books and reports; news releases; committee testimony; environmental fact sheets and brochures. HISTORY: Founded in 1967 by volunteer conservationists on Long Island to ban the use of the pesticide DDT. ISSUES: Broad range of regional, national and international environmental issues. In recent years EDF has become a leading advocate of economic incentives as a new approach to solving environmental problems.
1025 Vermont Avenue, NW Telephone: 202-783-7400 Friends of the Earth - Northwest Telephone: 206-633-1661
1436 U Street, NW Telephone: (202) 462-1177
Izaak Walton League of America1401 Wilson Boulevard, Level B Executive Director: Maitland Sharpe Telephone: (703) 528-1818 Membership: Members of IWLA mainly are hunters, anglers, and outdoor enthusiasts who believe in responsible stewardship of the Nation's natural resources. Programs and Resources: IWLA staff and members are involved with environmental legislation on national, state, and local events. The IWLA has organized a strong, stable, nationwide grassroots effort in its State and local chapters. IWLA chapters are actively "green". They plant trees, sponsor river cleanup campaigns, attempt to restore prairies and wetlands, create winter feeding areas for wildlife, and advocate conservation and preservation in State legislatures and courtrooms. On the Federal level, IWLA representatives have presented their views to Members on wetlands, water quality, clean air, grazing reform, and toxins issues. Educational Outreach: Through workshops, environmental guidebooks, and programs like Save Our Streams and Outdoor Ethics, the League educates the public on ways to conserve, maintain, protect, and restore the Nation's natural resources. The IWLA also publishes newsletters and involves citizens in local projects. Selected Publications:
Public InterestLeague of Conservation Voters1707 L St., N.W., Suite 550 Executive Director: Jim Maddy Telephone: (202) 785-8683 Membership: LCV describes its members as individual voters concerned that environmental issues and candidates do not receive adequate support in the current political system. Programs and Resources: LCV describes itself as the national, bi-partisan political arm of the major environmental community. Leaders of that community serve on LCV's Board of Directors. The group provides financial support, personnel, and publicity to pro-environmental Senate, House of Representatives. LCV works to educate voters through nationwide press releases, mailings of voting results on environmental legislation, and in New Hampshire, by door-to-door canvassing. Educational Outreach: LCV sees its role as changing the face of Congress to reflect an increased concern for the environment and not as changing the environmental opinions of individual members. LCV regularly informs Members and the media of its current interests and campaigns. Selected Publications:
Public InterestNational Audubon Society666 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E., Suite 200 President: Peter A Berle Telephone: (202) 547-9009 Membership: Members of NAS are citizens who are concerned with issues which affect the preservation of wildlife. Programs and Resources: NAS attempts to educate citizens about the issues affecting ecology, energy, and the conservation and restoration of natural resources, with an emphasis on wildlife, wildlife habitats, soil, water, and forests. NAS conducts research programs to aid endangered species such as the bald eagle, whooping crane, eastern timber wolf, and bog turtle and supports a force of 35 wardens to patrol wildlife sanctuaries. NAS annually bestows the Hal Boreland Award to the artist, writer, or photographer who demonstrates the best understanding of nature; the Audubon Medal for distinguished service to conservation; and the Palladium Medal for the best conservation efforts made by an engineer. NAS operates a hot line on legislative issues affecting wildlife preservation (202-547-9001, ext. 3456) and the hot line "Rare Bird Alert" (202-832-6523). Educational Outreach: NAS sponsors summer ecology camps for teachers and youth leaders, clubs for children, and the Audubon Expedition Institute for teenagers and adults. The Society publishes a variety of books, pamphlets, and educational materials for elementary and secondary schools. Selected Publications:
Public InterestNational Coalition Against the Misuse of Pesticides701 E St., S.E., Suite 200 Executive Director: Jay Feldman
Telephone: (202) 543-5450 Membership: NCAMP is a broad coalition of health, environmental, labor, farm, consumer and church groups as well as individuals, who all share concerns about the potential hazards associated with pesticide use. Programs and Resources: The purpose of NCAMP is to stop pesticide poisoning of the environment, homes, workplaces, schools, food, and water. Educational Outreach: NCAMP operates a practical information hotline on toxic hazards and non-chemical pest control. Selected Publications:
Public InterestNational Wildlife Federation1400 16th St., N.W. President: Jay D. Hair
Telephone: (202) 797-6800 Membership: NWF consists of State and territorial conservation groups, as well as conservation-minded individuals. NWF has cultivated a large membership of children through a variety of publications, hands-on, in-class activities, and outdoor conservation education programs. Programs and Resources: NWF describes its purpose as promotion of the intelligent use, management, and conservation of natural resources through an extensive public educational program as well as lobbying and litigation efforts on a range of environmental policy issues. NWF is concerned with all legislation which relates to or affects conservation and environmental quality. NWF has been active in the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, Superfund, and "takings" legislation. Educational Outreach: NWF operates ten Natural Resource Centers to facilitate knowledge of regional environmental issues. To convey its views to corporate America, NWF has formed the Corporate Conservation Council, a forum in which senior-level executives voice environmental concerns of the industrial community. The Federation produces and distributes educational materials, including NatureScope, for schools and parents. Selected Publications:
Public InterestNatural Resources Defense Council1350 New York Ave. NW, Suite 300 Executive Director: Michael Fischer
Telephone: (202) 783-7800 Membership: Members of NRDC are professionals (lawyers, scientists, public health officials, and resource development specialists) in addition to concerned families and individuals. Programs and Resources: NRDC uses the judicial system to enhance environmental quality by engaging in litigation that relates to resource use, pollution control, and public safety. In the public's interest, NRDC monitors Federal environmental and regulatory agencies as well as industry, lobbies at every governmental level, and conducts research projects, policy analysis, and technology demonstrations. NRDC is committed to a deeply held moral belief in preserving natural resources and animal and plant species for the future. NRDC is active on a broad array of environmental issues to fulfill this belief. NRDC hopes that its work with nuclear weapons, pesticides, air pollutants, water quality, toxic chemicals, hazardous waste, public lands, and rainforests has aided and will aid in the formation of precedents and legislation that guarantee the presence of these natural resources for the future. Educational Outreach: NRDC publishes a journal and occasional reports. Selected Publications:
Public InterestRocky Mountain Mineral Law FoundationPorter Administration Building Executive Director: David P. Phillips Telephone: (303) 321-8100 Membership: Members of the Foundation include: law schools; bar associations; mining oil and gas associations and companies; natural resources lawyers; and landmen. Programs and Resources: The Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation is an educational organization dedicated to the practical and scholarly study of the legal system and issues affecting natural resources, including oil and gas, mining, water, public land management, land use, conservation, environmental protection, and other related areas. It functions as a collection, compilation, and dissemination center for research, pertinent Federal and State laws and regulations, unpublished administrative decisions, and other related materials. A Natural Resources Law Teachers Program was initiated in 1978 to improve law school education in natural resources law. Scholarships are awarded to law students each year who show promise in the field of natural resources law. Grants are awarded to persons or organizations for the preparation of teaching materials; research; law school seminars, lectures, short courses, and symposia; and publication of articles. Educational Outreach: The Foundation conducts institutes, short courses, and workshops; develops and publishes treatises, books, forms and model forms, substantive newsletters, and other special materials; and administers scholarship and research grants, and programs for natural resources law teachers. The Foundation holds an annual institute in July. Selected Publications:
Public InterestSierra Club408 C St., N.E. Executive Director: Carl Pope
Telephone: (202) 547-1141 Membership: The Sierra Club depicts its members as individuals who love nature for its multifaceted relationship to humans more than for its own sake; thus the large concentration of outdoor sports lovers in the membership. Programs and Resources: The Sierra Club sees its role as the preservation of natural resources and ecosystems through education and advocacy. The Club participates in the formation of public policy, lobbies at all levels of government, often testifies at congressional hearings, and operates a political action committee. The Sierra Club concerns itself with a wide range of environmental legislation. In the last two years, the Club's interests included the Clean Air Act Amendments, global warming, preservation of national parks and coastal areas, public lands, military impacts on the environment, wetlands, solid waste, and Federal facility cleanup proposals. Educational Outreach: To increase public awareness of the environment, the Club sponsors wilderness outings, exhibits, and conferences; maintains a library of 5,000 topical holdings; conducts research; and runs letter and petition campaigns. Selected Publications:
Public InterestU.S. Public Interest Research Group215 Pennsylvania Ave., S.E. Executive Director: Gene Karpinski Telephone: (202) 546-9707 Regional Offices: 25 State PIRGs are autonomous organizations which may voluntarily participate in U.S. PIRG. Many have campus chapters which take part in various community outreach programs. Membership: According to U.S. PIRG, its members consist strictly of individuals, including college students, and families, as U.S. PIRG specifically advocates the causes of citizens, not those of industry or of government. Programs and Resources: U.S. PIRG describes its main purpose as promoting the adoption of legislation endorsed by the group. More than 80 percent of U.S. PIRGs resources are utilized for research, education, and promotion of environmental legislation. U.S. PIRG concentrates on energy (generation, alternative sources, nuclear power), solid and toxic wastes, the Clean Water Act, and global climate change. Issues to receive attention are chosen by the Board of Directors, composed of the executive directors and board members of the State PIRG's. Educational Outreach: The majority of the organization's time and resources is devoted to providing information to Congress and the general public. Members receive a quarterly newsletter and can obtain investigative reports written on specific issues (approximately 70 per year). Selected Publications:
Public InterestThe Wilderness Society900 17th St., N.W. President: Karin Sheldon
Telephone: (202) 833-2300 Regional Offices: 10: New England, South Appalachians, Everglades (2), Colorado Plateau, Northern Rockies (2), California, Pacific Northwest, and Alaska Membership: TWS portrays its members as individuals who consider the United States' past record in land management disappointing and who are committed to the preservation and conservation of our present wilderness areas and to sustainable development. Programs and Resources: The Society focuses on issues involving management of the Federal public lands: national parks, national forests, national wildlife refuges, and Bureau of Land Management acreage. This work includes strong programs in endangered species protection and biodiversity. Increasingly, TWS stresses the importance of taking an ecosystem-wide approach to land management. Among its long-term goals is fostering a land ethic, under which humans are part of a community with land rather than conquerors of it. Areas of greatest involvement include the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, the Everglades, the Rockies, California Desert, the Southern Appalachians, and northern New England. Activating grassroots support, economic and ecological analysis, and public education are key elements in TWS's advocacy. More broadly, TWS advocates protecting our natural legacy for the benefit of future generations. Since 1990, TWS has been actively recruiting people of color and increasing contacts with minority communities. Educational Outreach: Reports by the Society's economists are showing the growing potential of tourism and recreation in the Pacific Northwest, the Rockies, and elsewhere as extractive industries lose strength. The organization also has been documenting the taxpayer subsidies for mining, logging, and grazing on the public lands and pushing for reform in Congress. Selected Publications:
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