Carolinian

Issue date: 12/6/05 Section: Campus News

Current supporters of environmental restoration found a new ally in their battle for coastal conservation on November 8th, 2005. Robert Young, PhD, a professor of geosciences at UNCG's sister school Western Carolina University, appeared before congress to provide his geological expertise in the form of a proposal to extend the coastal Barrier Resources Act (CBRA). This extension, initially intended by Young to rectify possible economic injustices, would also result in long-term ecological effects on the coastal land of most of the southern and eastern United States, including North
Carolina.

Since its enactment on October 18th, 1982, the CBRA designated various undeveloped coastal barrier islands as areas that would be declared ineligible for Federal financial assistance that might be used to support development. The assistance includes flood insurance, utilities and construction.

Young's advice to Congress was to create a new commission of scientists and coastal managers dubbed the Shoreline Retreat Advisory Commission (ShRAC). The commission would be charged with extending the CBRA restrictions to include some already developed coastal towns and cities which would make them also ineligible for Federal financial assistance. This would include Federal dollars that would be used in rebuilding businesses and houses after another hurricane like Katrina or Rita inevitably strikes an area.

In a telephone interview, Dr. Young stated that:

"There was of course, a secondary benefit of coastal conservation - we all (scientists) are innately supporters of ecological conservation"

This made the proposal even more enticing to some members of the community who agree with Young's original intent when he stated:

"Our beeches have become a construction zone, not just buildings but the beeches themselves, bulldozers and equipment are all along the coast, they are there just to rebuild the beech's sandbars, not just the buildings on the beach."

Dr. Young's description depicts the money that must be spent each year by taxpayers to rebuild and upkeep the coastal cities like North Topsail Island in North Carolina. Dr. Young adds a second facet to his argument primarily designed at removing wasted tax dollars, by stating:

"In the long-term, yes, we would get environmental benefits."

As is the case with any attempt at the creation of legislation, the ShRAC proposal must receive support from politicians before it can become law.

"So far, I have received at least a hundred e-mails, tons of support for ShRAC," he said.

But he reminds excited environmentalists that his advice to Congress is just that - advice!

"There is no next step as of yet and Congress may or may not choose to do something with the proposal." he said.

When asked what students at UNCG can do to support or combat the legislation, Dr. Young laughed and said,

"Write your Congressman and read the legislation, know what is going on!"

With regards to combating the legislation, Dr. Young responded,

"You ought to ask what aspects of your school's budget got cut when both WCU and UNCG had to give five percent back to support rebuilding efforts on the coast after hurricane Floyd."

Students who wish to know more can find information about the CBRA at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service's web page: http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/coasbar.html. A copy of Dr. Young's proposal can be found on Congress' web page: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/archives/109/testimony/2005/robertyoung.pdf.

To write a letter to a congressman or woman, students can use Congress'
web page at http://www.house.gov/writerep/.

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