Public Relations Disaster -- Help Please

[connie B Berto <cberto@juno.com>]

Friends,  I am seeing red.   In fact, I am beyond infra-red into the
sound waves.   How many of you belong to a national organization called 
"National Parks and Conservation Association" (NPCA)?    The latest
magazine (Jan./Feb. 99)  has just published a scurrilous hit piece on
equestrians written by Brian Huse, a Regional Director of NPCA.  This is
what it says.  Numbers in ( ) are explained below.
    "The National Park Service has allowed the unregulated operation (1)
of several private (2) horse stables to continue in Golden Gate National
Recreation Area (GGNRA).  The stables allow concentrated drainage (3)  to
flow into nearby stream systems in the park, which are home to at least
four endangered species  including the Calif. red-legged frog, coho
salmon, steelhead trout, and the tidewater goby  fish. (4)    NPCA argues
the stables are operating in violation (5) of the Clean Water Act, the
Endangered Species Act, and Park Service policies. (6)  TAKE ACTION: 
Write letters to the park pointing out their non-compliance and demand
that these polluting sources be closed immediately. (7) Address:  Brian
O'Neill, Superintendent, GGNRA, Bldg. 201, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA 
94123.  or email:  brian_o'neill@nps.gov
      I am incensed by the  rabble-rousing misinformation contained in
this paragraph. (1)  We equestrians, including reps. from all 3 stables,
have been meeting non-stop with the feds and with each other since last
May to insure that the stable operations are  monitored including water
tests at several locations at each stable.
(2)  The stables are open to any person who wishes to board a horse, when
there is room.   The public sector is handled this way:  at least one
stable operates a rent string as well as boarding facilities.  Another is
ready to sign a rent-string operator for the summer season AND is
spending money to maintain the last WW2 balloon hangar, a historic
building, on the West Coast.   The third stable has planned a detailed
schedule of working with disadvantaged and abused children to let them
grow back their self-worth by working with horses.
(3)  "concentrated drainage", my foot!    The stables have hay bales
along stream banks, they have moved pasture and paddock fences away from
drainage areas, they will be maintaining vegetated buffers when spring
comes.   Everything the Park has asked them to do, they have done.   The
water quality tests show good results and the operators are working hard
to make them better..
(4)  These species are not 'endangered' , they are on the 'threatened'
list, a less worrisome  category.  The tidewater goby was announced for
downgrading from the list by Secretary Bruce Babbitt last May.
(5)   The Clean Water Act and Endangered Species Act are NOT being
violated. None of the stream water is used for human consumption.   All
available research indicates that equine  e coli, etc., have no impact on
riparian species.
(6)   As for NPS policies, one of the stated mission goals of the NPS is
to provide recreational opportunities within the framework of resource
management.   THIS IS WHAT THE THREE STABLES ARE DOING!   The 1980
general management plan for the GGNRA and for Pt. Reyes National Seashore
 specifically states that the three stables "will continue to operate in
their present general locations..."   (P. 60)
(7)    YES!!!!    Can I ask you all to write to Brian O'Neill?   to punch
the "write" button on your computer for brian_o'neill@nps.gov and tell
him that you object to these untrue, inflammatory remarks, especially
when the negotiations between the stables and the NPS for continued
operations are progressing well and successful mitigation measure are
being implemented, that they should receive a commercial contract without
further delay, and that THE THREE STABLES SHOULD REMAIN OPEN  !!!
     Thank you all, so very very much....from .Connie Berto, who DESPISES
scumbag propaganda!    

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