A bill before the House of Representatives this weekend is packed with dozens of anti-environmental provisions and unprecedented cuts to conservation and environmental protection. Because of partisan battles in Washington, the environment is on the chopping block.

If we don't stop this bill:

• Funding for land preservation from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) will be slashed by more than 80 percent, to its lowest level in 45 years. LWCF provides funding from off-shore oil drilling revenues to all levels of government, and includes the Forest Legacy program that preserves forested watersheds in New Jersey's Highlands;

• Endangered species protection programs will be gutted nationwide;

• No new land acquisitions will be permitted for national parks, wildlife refuges or forests;

• The federal Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate harmful greenhouse gases, air pollution, and coal mining and ash emissions will be severely limited.

• Part of the Grand Canyon National Park will be open to toxic uranium mining that could contaminate Colorado River water supplies and the Canyon's beauty.

There is much at stake for New Jersey. We urge our New Jersey Congressmen to vote no on the Fiscal Year 2012 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill. We should not play politics with our environment.

Michele S. Byers

Executive director

New Jersey Conservation Foundation