FMCA INFORMATION

SUPPLEMENT TO THE

MARCH 2001 NEWSLETTER

INTRODUCTION:

The Association’s 76 member firms, including contractors, associates, and professionals, are under a concerted attack on three fronts by federal, state, and local bureaucracies. Abusive, punitive, and unjustified excessive regulations are being imposed on the false premises that the manatee is an endangered species, that there is a hazard from CCA material being disposed of in landfills, and that the dinosaur USL&HW compensation excessive insurance premiums are justified. These attacks are exacting a toll on profits, financial viability, and, potentially, on survival. Your Association is there for you and has been fighting an aggressive defensive battle on all fronts.

This Supplement explores only one of the major issues, The Manatee War. The purpose is to inform the members on the past developments, as well as the existing state of affairs. To date, the well-funded environmental extremists and radical animal rights advocates have successfully enlisted the support of their ilk within the bureaucracies and have prevailed. Your Board of Directors has made the decision to launch a strong and continuing counter offensive. The FMCA is seeking the cooperation, coordination, and support of our sister associations with similar vested interests. If such is not forthcoming, we will go it alone without any compromises. This will be an up-hill fight against great odds.

Courses of action are being developed and will be tested for suitability, feasibility, and acceptability. They will cover a broad spectrum encompassing the political, administrative, public relations, and legal arenas. Such initiatives must be based upon policies and positions embraced by your Board of Directors. Upon ordering its conceptual framework of the manatee imbroglio, the eight-member Board made a unanimous landmark decision to adopt certain clearly defined policies and positions.