News Briefs...

May 21, 2008

Member To Donate Funds For an EIR

LegalizeFerrets.org has been fortunate enough to have a member come forward and donate enough money to fund an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).

The Department of Fish and Game wanted a California Environmental Quality Act performed before they would consider removing ferrets from the prohibited species list, but Governor Schwarzenegger called for an EIR when he vetoed SB89 on the last possible day in September 2004. 

The exact quote in the press was:

"I love ferrets. I co-starred with a ferret in 'Kindergarten Cop,' " Schwarzenegger insisted in his veto message. "However, this bill is too bureaucratic and it legalizes ferrets prior to conducting an environmental impact report."

An EIR is one step beyond a CEQA study.  In conversations with environmental consultants they all agreed that anything controversial would require a full blown EIR.

The last ferret bill to be introduced by Assemblyman Paul Koretz, AB 647 authorized $35,000 for a CEQA.  If the CEQA was positive, meaning further study was required; it authorized another $250,000 for an EIR. AB 647 never made it out of the state assembly.

However, our estimates from consultants were considerably less.  Because ferrets don’t cause traffic or noise problems we received estimates that were affordable.

There is no guarantee that a successful EIR would lead to ferret legalization.  As a candidate for Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger said he would sign any ferret legalization bill that reaches his desk.  To be frank, we have reason to doubt his sincerity on the issue.

But if we produce an EIR that states there would be no likelihood any environmental damages from legal domestic ferrets the Department of Fish and Game would find it difficult to continue to ignore our issue.

If the Governor or the Fish and Game Commission wouldn’t lift the ban on ferrets, we would be in a much better position to find a legislative sponsor.