SOURCE: PPJ Gazette
by Debbie Coffey Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved.
In a 2011 article about Tetra Tech, a company hired by the BLM to prepare BLM Resource Management Plans and Environmental Assessments, it was revealed that Hugh Grant, the Chairman and CEO of Monsanto, is on Tetra Tech’s Board of Directors, and that Tetra Tech also has ties to mining interests.
In September, 2013, Tetra Tech was given a $48 million contract to help the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with it’s Superfund Program. Tetra Tech also received another contract in July, 2013, worth $50 million for “technical assistance” on Superfund sites.
In the EPA’s Superfund database, as of 2012, Monsanto is associated with 11 “active” Superfund sites and 20 “archived” sites in the United States. Monsanto has been sued, and has settled, multiple times for damaging the health of its employees or residents near its Superfund sites through pollution and poisoning.
Mining companies have also caused Superfund sites.
It seems the polluters are now cleaning up on the cleanup.
An article by Zachs Equity Research stated “Leading technical services provider Tetra Tech, Inc. (TTEK) received a contract to provide technical support to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (:EPA) regional Superfund Program. The five-year contract is valued at $48 million.
Per the EPA Region 5 Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (:START) contract, Tetra Tech will provide advisory and assistance services across six states — Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The company will be in charge of data management, emergency response support, emergency preparedness and prevention activities, removal actions, Superfund and brownfields site assessments and training.”
So, basically, who’s running the show? A private company.
Note that Tetra Tech is “IN CHARGE OF data management, emergency response support, emergency preparedness and prevention activities, removal actions, Superfund and brownfields site assessments and training.”
That sounds like Tetra Tech is doing almost everything. So what’s left for the EPA to do? Twiddle their thumbs?
Government agencies are paying good salaries to employees in an economy where many Americans are out of work, then outsource agency work to outside companies for millions of dollars. It’s no wonder the government is going broke.
Also, if you look at some of the contracts Tetra Tech has received from U.S. government agencies in 2013, you might wonder if special interests could gain undue influence in critical environmental issues.
Sources:
http://www.tetratech.com/investor-relations/press-releases.html
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/another-epa-contract-tetra-tech-214502143.html
http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/Pages/board-of-directors.aspx
http://www.tetratech.com/corporate-governance/board-committees.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto
http://waterlegacy.org/superfund_sites
Related Articles
- Tetra Tech Awarded $48 Million EPA Superfund Contract (virtual-strategy.com)
- Tetra Tech Announces Planned Dates for Fourth Quarter 2013 Results and Conference Call (virtual-strategy.com)
- During The Shutdown, EPA Is Prevented From Cleaning Up Almost Two-Thirds Of Toxic Waste Sites (thinkprogress.org)
Categories: Horse News
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
Another fox guarding the hen house.
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Unbelievable!!!
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The human species has not changed much since the middle ages and earlier than that. Scheming and control is one of the species’ specialties. When will they ever learn? When a denuded planet deprives them all of sustenance.
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Daaa. Ceo’s of many corrupt organizations sit on the boards of the agencies or manage the funds of agencies that are to monitor and regulate the corporations. The fox is watching the chickens. Unfortunately the American Mustang is insignificant to the money changers in the temple, as are “We the People”
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They call it “The Shadow Elite” from the book of the same name which explains how government agencies and corporate interests are staffed by the same individuals, sometimes simultaneously with the use of these “advisory boards.” Conflict of interest. Same with congress – who are given a substantial pension & family benefits for life after only serving two years – and then become high paid, influential lobbyists promoting corporate interests even when it is not in the best interest of Americans, like promoting tax breaks for off-shoring jobs. Good for greed, but bad for wild horses, people, and the environment.
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How is this “small government” and privatization working for us?
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How does one begin to fight this kind of corruption?
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Tom, once we find information, it is important to share it as many places as possible, including advocacy groups that are focusing on Monsanto and environmental issues.
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WE fight this together – as informed consumers! In addition to buying food grown without the use of pesticides, make sure processed items you buy – condiments, (nut) milks, etc., are labeled NON-GMO Verified. Monsanto, et. al. has so much $$$ that states will not be able to legislate labeling (2/3s of all food products contain GMOs now) so that consumers know what is in what they are buying, but companies that are of higher quality are proud to tell you they are both organic and Non-GMO. It will cost a little more, but think of it this way – you are paying for what you are not getting (adulterated food and higher health risks).
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I see Monsanto has their fingers in more of our lives-we need to be educated and educate others we know against this evil — I wil post a few videos for you all to ponder- the first is the documentay about Monsanto not new but everyone should watch
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and this one
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and this is only the tip of the iceburg of what I have
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Monsanto and their minions have been suing farmers for several years claiming that the farmers are planting GMO seed without getting it from a Monsanto company. Monsanto has claimed that the farmers are saving seed from the Monsanto crop they planted the year before to be used the following year without buying more seed from a Monsanto outlet. They have sued hundreds of farmers the past few years. I thought this was strange because I understood that the seed wouldn’t germinate that was saved from one crop to the next. This would keep farmers constantly having to buy seed from Monsanto forever. But seed from the Monsanto crops are reseeding themselves when they weren’t supposed too.
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Barbara, my understanding is that in at least some of these cases, it was Monsanto-origin DNA that was found in adjacent farmer’s crops, meaning it was transferred there in the form of pollen. Whether seed corn was saved or not I have no information, but the ghastlier truth is you cannot prevent the pollen from migrating wherever the wind blows, and its DNA is patented by Monsanto. I’ve read multiple sources now which mention it has been confirmed even in the high country of Mexico, the ancient homeland of Maize, threatening all heirloom varieties.
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Our Wild Burros and Tetra Tech
http://www.tteci.com/Natural-Gas-Pipelines-and-Storage/north-baja-pipeline-project.html
Tetra Tech negotiated and drafted a right-of-way (ROW) grant across federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.
Why was it so important and urgent to change the endangered species status of the wild burros so that the roundup could proceed? What entity could wield enough power to make a federal agency change its position on an endangered species listing?
The North Baja Pipeline Expansion Project – an international gas pipeline crosses through the Cibalo-Trigo and the Chocolate Mule Herd Management Areas. “Because the largest portion of this project was on federal land, TETRA TECH negotiated and drafted a right-of-way (ROW) grant across federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Bureau of Reclamation (BOR), and Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.” TETRA TECH is part of a giant conglomerate which is linked to Trans-Canada … the same corporation that is currently pushing the Keystone Pipeline.
Click to access fr128..pdf
ww.tteci.com/Natural-Gas-Pipelines-and-Storage/north-baja-pipeline-project.html
Click to access Keystone%20Final%20Report%20020912.pdf
http://www.aecom..com/What+We+Do/Economics/Market+Sectors/Utilities/Energy/_projectsList/North+Baja+Natural+Gas+Transmission+Line
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An interesting side-note about the Cibola-Trigo HMA and roundup: The roundup was scheduled to begin on April 9, 2012 but was postponed because of a private citizen’s Appeal and Petition for Stay to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). The wild burros had been discovered to be on the Endangered Species List “where found” per the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and Integrated Taxonomic Information System which gave substantial legal reason to stop the burro capture. But before the IBLA judge made his decision, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service promptly revised the endangered species listing by arbitrarily changing the burros’ scientifically accepted name and the wild burros then had a new, “un-endangered” name which then technically removed the wild burros from the endangered species list.
The IBLA denied the Petition for Stay on April 30, and the roundup went ahead as planned.
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Louie, this is appalling. How can a species’ name be changed arbitrarily, without any peer review or process? Surely this can’t be held valid by any scientific measure, or legal one. If this went on unchallenged what is to stop them doing the same for any other species which becomes inconvenient to someone’s profit motive? Who does the USFWS really work for??? Years past I worked for the USFS and was proud of my work. Something like this would have been unthinkable.
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It was an inter-agency governmental steam-roller action to remove the American wild burro from being on the endangered species list – which technically it was at that time. Equus asinus was endangered “wherever found”. More information: http://ppjg.me/2012/06/03/the-time-is-ripe-to-speak-for-our-burros/
Even though “significant adverse comments” were sent to the USFW by the public which they SAID would cause them to further review the proposal (see link below), they completely ignored the public and went ahead with their name change. Link to Federal Register with burro name change: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/06/05/2012-13421/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-technical-correction-for-african-wild-ass
171 public comments were sent to them and almost all (all but one?) questioned their authority to change the scientific name of the burro species. Read here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-R9-ES-2011-0095-0001
Here is the link to main page of the federal register where official announcements are made (it’s enough to drive you crazy but we need to be watching this and commenting). https://www.federalregister.gov/
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Thanks GranmaGregg (below), it seems the name change was spun as “a correction” which is maybe how they got away without much official review. It’s sickening to realize this has happened, and has now set a precedent so it could happen again, to another species. Yet another indefensible action of our Government, and yet another thing to be watchdogging. Thanks for the info.
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It’s appalling: These little animals are so diverse in appearance in the Herd Management Areas ‘where found’…
The Cibola-Trigo burros bear almost NO resemblance to the Twin Peaks burros. Some advocates have even expressed surprise at the physical differences between them (this is just two examples.)
The Cibola-Trigo burros are leaner, and almost without exception, grey. Dorsal stripes run down their backs and circle their legs, giving them a ‘zebra’ like appearance, and distinctly almond-shaped eyes.
Twin Peaks burros are stout, with longer, fluffier fur and rounder eyes, and tend toward darker browns, greys and black.
So little is published about these animals, yet they are even more severely managed than their taller cousins, which defies logic. Their forage requirements are less; by thousands of years of desert occupation, their water requirements are less; they don’t depend on a social structure in the manner of horses…and they certainly don’t breed at ‘20%’ like horses. Yet the BLM continues to treat them as if they were little horses – and tend to leave them every bit as unprotected as wild horses.
Because nobody Federal really wants to know anything about wild horses or burros. They just want them gone.
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The list is too long to post here, but you will see some familiar names included:
http://www.montanapetroleum.org/annual-meeting/
2013 Annual Meeting
Golf Tournament & Petroleum Industry Appreciation Day Luncheon
August 27th & 28th
The Northern Hotel, Billings
THANK YOU to all the 2013 MPA Annual Meeting Sponsors!
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http://www.wildhorsepreservation.org/media/arizona-burro-roundup-begins-updates-and-news-coverage
ARIZONA BURRO ROUNDUP BEGINS: UPDATES AND NEWS COVERAGE
Posted on June 9, 2012
The BLM’s Cibola-Trigo burro roundup in southwestern Arizona began at 7:30 a.m. on June 6,2012. On the first day, the BLM captured 62 burros in 4 helicopter runs. Included were a number of foals. On day 2, the BLM captured 12 additional burros before calling the roundup in the late morning. Day 3: BLM reporting the capture 36 additional burros for a total of 110 burros captured as of 6/8/12.
The capture operation aims to remove 350 wild burros living in this remote region of the southern Sonora desert. Although BLM claims that burros are overgrazing, burro experts have stated that these animals regulate their population numbers in accordance with water availability. One wild burro population studied in the Mojave Desert showed a 7 percent reproduction rate — a far cry from the 15-25 percent rate of increase claimed by the BLM.
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Cibola-Trigo Burro Roundup Ends with 350 Captured
http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6931/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1209240
The largest roundup of burros this year has concluded in the Cibola-Trigo Herd Management Area (HMA) in southwestern Arizona north of Yuma. The BLM is reporting that 353 burros were captured; 350 of these steadfast animals were removed from their home in the southern Sonora Desert, and just three burros were returned to the range. Although AWHPC was not able to stop this roundup, by teaming up with expert veterinarians, a local wild horse and burro advocate, and Tucson Congressman Raul Grijalva, we pressured the BLM to change its roundup protocol, which originally authorized helicopter stampedes in temperatures up to 105 degrees F. The BLM responded by revising its plan and requiring that capture operations cease when temperatures reached 95F degrees, which is still 5 degrees higher than experts recommend.
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IcySpots, in a nutshell….this is how it was done. I didn’t post the entire notice, as it would take up too much space:
http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfile/profile/speciesProfile.action?spcode=A00M
African wild ass (Equus africanus)
Listing Status: Endangered
Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND
CHANGED ON JUNE 5, 2012
Fish and Wildlife Service
ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES
Notice of Clarification of Status of Wild Burros
(emphasis added)
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/06/05/2012-13421/endangered-and-threatened-wildlife-and-plants-technical-correction-for-african-wild-ass
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical Correction for African Wild Ass
A Rule by the Fish and Wildlife Service on 06/05/2012
Action
Direct Final Rule.
Summary
We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, announce the revised taxonomy of Equus asinus (African wild ass) under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (Act). We are revising the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife to reflect the current scientifically accepted taxonomy and nomenclature of this species. We revise the scientific name of this species as follows: Equus africanus (formerly E. asinus).
Unified Agenda
Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Technical Correction for African Wild Ass
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Louie, I understand this already happened, but was any science used to determine this change, as in a DNA proof the species was African, not American? I have sent this information to an ecologist friend for further elaboration, it doesn’t seem it should be so easy to simply change an accepted taxonomy for a species, especially without compelling evidence to support the change.
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What Happened to checks and balances / . Our Oligarchy is so deviously obvious and the 1 % . We sit by and let them rape and pillage everywhere they go . Lets stop Monsanto / Tetra Tech / BP and others . We need transparency for everything . As for the BLM they must GO!
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Chinse buying into more and more
http://english.cntv.cn/program/bizasia/20120706/107384.shtml
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and the keystone pipeline connection
http://english.cntv.cn/program/bizasiaamerica/20131029/102203.shtml
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IcySpots, IF there was any science used in order to make this change, we are not aware of it.
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….and WHY would AMERICAN HERBAL PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION comment in support of the ruling change that would put Federally Protected Wild Burros in harm’s way?
Just follow that same old money trail:
http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-R9-ES-2011-0095-0001
Comment on FR Doc # 2012-13421
Please find attached the comments of the American Herbal Products Association, in support of the Direct Final Rule issued by U.S. FWS to make a technical correction to the…
Posted:
07/06/2012
ID:
FWS-R9-ES-2011-0095-0126
Agency:
FWS
Docket ID:
FWS-R9-ES-2011-0095
Organization:
American Herbal Products Association
Click to access Skye-Sturgeon-QM-Equus-07-2012.pdf
July 2012
In August 2010, two shipments of herbal products containing Colla Corii Asini, known by the pinyin name,ejiao, were seized at Mayway by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, who had determined that the herb came from a species protected under the 1973 Endangered Species Act
If/once the proposed FWS rule and technical correction for the African Wild Ass becomes effective on Aug 6, Chinese medicine will have dodged the bullet on losing yet another valuable herb.
http://www.mayway.com/product-updates/
E Jiao is Back!
On June 5th, 2012 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a proposed rule and Technical Correction for the African Wild Ass, which was published in the Federal Register at 77 Fed. Reg. 33100. As such, we have decided to make the following Plum Flower® products available for sale again:
Cultivate Splendor Teapills/Yang Rong Wan #3657
E Jiao, extract powder #5920C
E Jiao, unsulfured herb #5920SF
Fertile Fields Teapills/Fu Ke Zhong Zi Wan #3655
Jiang Ya Pian #3918
Jiao Ai San, extract powder #3340C
Qing Zao Jiu Fei San, extract powder #3342C
Zhi Gan Cao Tang Teapills #3396
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So the “glue” they use in these products comes from burros or donkeys? Plus removing the wild burros from the endangered list made it possible for this so-called “herbal” company to legally do business here in the US. (Am I understanding this correctly?)
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I think you got the basics right … as far as the “herbal” medicine goes. But we also know that thanks to the USFW and their changing of the name BLM/USFS re-affirmed that they could capture and remove and sell the burros … which they could NOT do if they were listed as an endangered species (except with special special permission – like they do with many endangered species) since the burros would be not ONLY protected by the WH&B Act (cough cough) but also by the endangered species act. I am not an expert on that but that is how I understand it.
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https://wdneoh.wordpress.com/2012/04/28/no-baby-burros-in-two-years/#more-222
NO BABY BURROS IN TWO YEARS? ~ NO ‘GATHER’ NEEDED!
BACKGROUND | CARL MROZEK PER TUESDAY’S HORSE
“Last week BLM officials indicated that they would know whether there would be an official stay of the scheduled Cibola-Trigo roundup by tomorrow, Friday 4/27. (Per Admin, there is Now a Stay Until May 2.)
That means that IBLA (Interior Board of Land Appeals) must soon decide whether
BLM’s claim that there would be no adverse impact from a 2nd roundup in less than 2 years (1 1/2) is sensible or credible.
More than 1100 persons submitted comments challenging BLM’s claim of “no adverse impact” which apparently triggered the IBLA to hold a hearing to examine the merits of BLM’s claim vs. that of burro advocates.
VERY SOON the IBLA meets to make a final decision: to grant a formal stay or not. I have spent the last few days tracking burros in the Cibola herd area and can definitively assert that if BLM is permitted to roundup the allotted 350 burros here that there won’t be a burro left in this ideal burro habitat -where conflict with peoples is minimal at best.
Moreover, this herd was aggressively ‘gathered’ in Sept 2010 and most jennies were removed and those released were treated with PZP.
This apparently was quite effective as I’ve seen no sign of a foal in several days of searching – not even tracks! Hence there is no conceivable justification for an additional follow-up roundup at Cibola now, or in the next several years.
The remaining burros spend most of their time on adjacent BLM land and only cross onto the (US) Cibola Wildlife Refuge at night to water and perhaps to browse on scores of acres of alfalfa planted for wildlife.
I have heard no complaints about adverse impacts of these nocturnal visitations not even from the refuge director who confided that he rarely sees burros himself.
In short, the BLM achieved their goal of restricting or halting reproduction at Cibola in 2010, and reducing the base population.
There is absolutely no justification for an additional roundup at this point or for the next 4-6 years, let alone next week as currently planned.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6718658n&tag=mncol;lst;1
Wild Burros of the Black Mountains
July 27, 2010 2:29 PM
This Sunday Morning nature piece offers a view of the wild burros in the Black Mountains of western Arizona.
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It certainly looks that way, Maggie….there could be other uses as well. As stated by Grandma Gregg in a previous comment
“171 public comments were sent to them and almost all (all but one?) questioned their authority to change the scientific name of the burro species.”
Read here: http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-R9-ES-2011-0095-0001
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