"HISTORIC" CONSERVATION BILL PASSES HOUSE RESOURCES: A major compromise conservation bill has passed the House Resources Committee, according to the National Journal 11/10. The bill, which still must pass the full House and Senate, would use taxes from off-shore oil drilling to annually provide $1 billion for coastal impact assistance, $900 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and another $1 billion for a variety of other conservation programs. While many environmental groups welcome the promise of LWCF funding, major concerns remain that the bill would provide incentives for more drilling, especially in Alaska, and promote environmentally damaging coastal development.

FAST DRAW CRITICAL HABITAT: The FWS has agreed to draw up critical habitat designation for the "fastest snake in the west," says the San Jose Mercury News 11/9. The quick action from the usually lethargic FWS, is due to a settlement in a lawsuit brought by the Center for Biological Diversity and Christians Caring for Creation. Besides protecting the Alameda whip snake six other endangered species will benefit from critical habitat designation including the Zayante band-winged grasshopper and shoulderband snail.

GLOBAL WARMING LINKED TO MAJOR EXTINCTIONS: UPI reports 11/11 that ecosystem modelers at Rutgers University have linked global warming with the loss of "such charismatic animals as lions, tigers and humans." The scientists looked at how ecosystems with various levels of diversity responded to environmental warming. The findings were "alarming," in that many species at the top of the food chain went extinct and ecosystems with "temperature increases lost more species" than those which were stable.

NEW ALABAMA WILDERNESS IN THE WORKS: Congress has just passed bills designating a 9,200 acre Dugger Mountain Wilderness. According to GREEN sources, environmental groups have worked for a decade to protect this area which includes the second highest mountain in AL and habitat for the threatened blue shiner. With the expected presidential signature, Alabama's wilderness acreage will increase by some 30 percent.

LOOKING FOR THE BIG WORM: "Dr. Universe", a Washington State University website character, will be leading elementary school children in an expedition looking for the big American worm, says the Seattle Times 11/9. Also known as the giant Palouse earthworm, loss of habitat may have led to its extinction, with the last one seen in 1978. The whitish-pink, lily smelling worm is almost 2 feet long and the expedition is really designed to educate kids about soil communities, the "poor man's rain forest."

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