Markey: Obama Administration Everglades Protection Spurns GOP Attacks on Wetlands, Wildlife Refuges

GOP Looks to End Wildlife Refuge Designations to Push Oil Drilling Agenda

WASHINGTON (January 18, 2012) - Working with local ranchers and other private landowners, the Obama administration today announced it has received the first parcel of land to establish the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area in South Florida. When this new conservation area is complete, 150,000 acres north of Lake Okeechobee will be protected.

This effort stands in stark contrast to the efforts of Republicans in Congress, who have been attempting to open wildlife refuges to oil drilling, and to strip the ability of the executive branch to establish wildlife areas. While drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been pushed by oil companies and Republicans for years, the potential to drill in the Everglades was raised during the Republican campaign for president.

The Republican bill to limit Wildlife Refuge designations is H.R. 3009, and Republicans on the Natural Resources Committee held several hearings last year to attack the refuge system.

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member of the Natural Resources Committee, today issued the following statement in support of the efforts to protect the Everglades, and against Republican attempts to pollute our nation's last remaining wild areas:

"The Everglades are treasured by every American, and this new public-private agreement means farmers and families, ranchers and road-trippers can enjoy the land for generations to come. While these protected lands support wildlife and livestock, they also help provide drinking water supplies to South Florida residents, who can now be confident that the quality and quantity of their drinking water won't be compromised.

"Oil companies and other industries already have enough refuges-from taxes, from safety regulations, and other breaks. We shouldn't hand over our wildlife refuges in Alaska, Florida or anywhere else to industries that want to pollute our public lands to make a quick buck."