The Eco-Regulatory Conspiracy

By Doug Fiedor

Here’s another major federal government scandal crying to get legs in the press. Under a law known as the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, the federal government “lends out” 1,200 to 1,500 well paid federal bureaucrats to left-wing non-profit organizations each year.¹

If anyone wonders how the United Nations Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) fit in with the federal government’s regulatory agencies, there is a simple answer: They often trade employees back and forth—most of whom are on the federal payroll.

A while back, we reported that the relationship between eco-whacko groups and United Nations NGOs and federal agencies, like the EPA, was so tight it appeared there was a revolving door between them.

Fact is, most of these people are kept on the federal payroll, even while working for the NGOs. They can even get overtime and promotions while working for private groups.

Some over budgeted federal agencies give grants to nonprofit groups. Often, federal regulatory agencies even offer grants to nonprofit organizations that use the money to sue the granting agency. It’s all a big game, with a well orchestrated game plan. The bureaucratic plan is to grab more power, and their game plan works quite well.

The idea is for nonprofit NGOs to use taxpayer funds to force federal agencies to regulate the American public in ways the NGOs desire. Many of the laws, rules and regulations these NGOs want promulgated would be much too harsh to get passed through normal means. So, they trump up some “need” or “violation,” whether environmental or health, and the NGO sues the regulatory agency in court.

It’s a synergistic relationship. As is part of the arrangement, the federal agencies intentionally lose in court. Because, by losing in court, the regulatory agencies gain more power over the American people.

The courts “force” the federal regulatory agency to regulate whatever. The federal regulatory agency ends up with more power and churns out even more regulations, forcing American citizens to act according to the wish of the NGO. It’s all very simple and very effective. And, our elected representatives in Congress are kept completely out of the loop.

For instance, over the years, a not-for-profit organization called STAPPA/ALAPCO—two groups sharing the same offices and staff—has received 49 grants from the EPA, totaling $13,190,826.²

What does this organization do to earn those grants? They held a few useless (and lightly attended) forums over the years. Mostly, though, they schedule regular appearances before congressional committees to promote and implement the policies of the EPA—and lobby for more tax dollars to do it.

And, of course, they pay staff workers in selected areas around the country to do the same at the state level. Mostly, though, the paid staff at state levels is but a lobbying ploy. They are there simply to give the appearance, in Washington, of having a large grass roots presence.

Many environmental groups have a revolving door relationship with the federal enforcement agencies like EPA and Fish and Wildlife. The agencies want “experienced people” and the environmental groups provide them.

So, it’s really no surprise that many millions of tax dollars go out in grants each year to the very environmental groups wanting every little critter and bug in the world protected by law. In fact, it is quite common in Washington for a department or agency to give funds to private, nonprofit groups, which then turn around and spend the money to advocate and lobby for more funds for the granting agency. That taxpayer funded a merry-go-round is the big joke among eco-whackos. They got us coming and going.

Again, the most egregious agency practicing this sort of scam is the Environmental Protection Agency. Over the past few years, EPA gave tens of millions of dollars to nongovernmental organizations directly involved in very liberal political advocacy. For instance, from 1993 through 1995, the Environmental Defense Fund received over $1.8 million, and the Natural Resources Defense Council—both environmental advocacy organizations—received nearly $1-million. In return, both groups have attacked all congressional efforts to reduce EPA funding and fought proposals by Congress to require federal agencies to examine the costs of public regulations.

Environmental groups also used their federal grants to fund lawsuits to increase the protected species rolls—and hence to further increase the powers of federal regulatory agencies. Just last week, a cabal of eco-whacko groups appealed in court to stop the federal government from allowing 226 acres in Montana’s Gallatin National Forest from being logged. Apparently, said the complaint, the government did not do enough to adequately review the plight of grizzlies, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Dr. Reed F. Noss of The Wildlands Project clarifies the radical environmentalists’ position nicely: “The collective needs of non-human species must take precedence over the needs and desires of humans.”

As nonprofit organizations, these NGOs may receive donations from any source, including United Nations organizations and multi-national corporations. So it is no surprise that these nonprofit groups sometimes receive donations from businesses and business organizations wanting to force specific actions by the federal government. In these instances, the nonprofit NGO may then act as a “backdoor” lobbyist, appearing as a nonprofit citizen’s group while actually doing the work of a professional lobbyist organization. And, because these nonprofit groups have such close ties with regulatory agency personnel, their lobbying efforts are usually very fruitful.

Which means United Nations and UNESCO programs are being implemented in the United States even though, officially, the federal government has approved no formal agreement. Congress abdicated its duty to make law to the regulatory agencies years ago. Over the years, these federal regulatory agencies have become infested with personnel who have very close ties to many of the United Nations Non- Governmental Organizations. Therefore, treaties and agreements are not always necessary for the United Nations and UNESCO to work their will on the American people. The huge number of acres dedicated to biospheres and wildlands throughout the United States is a major example of how well that nefarious scheme works.

Congress, as mentioned above, is completely out of the loop. There is no longer anything they can do about any of this except to watch. Unless, that is, they again begin to honor each and every word of our Constitution, as written—which is not likely.

1. http://www.opm.gov/PROGRAMS/IPA/Index.htm

http://www1.od.nih.gov/ohrm/hrinfo/IPA/IPA-FAQs.htm

http://aspe.os.dhhs.gov/cfda/p27011.htm#i11

2. http://www.cleanairworld.org/stappa/comments.html#climate