Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Court decision vindicates activist

Paula DelGiudice

Friday, Feb. 18, 2000 | 9:41 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors notebook appears weekly. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com.

It took nearly 10 years for Las Vegan Jeff Van Ee to get his relief in court. The District of Columbia Circuit Court recently ruled that he is entitled to be an active citizen in our community.

Van Ee is an employee with the Environmental Protection Agency. An active member of environmental and conservation groups in Southern Nevada, Van Ee had been told that he could not represent the Sierra Club or any other organization on issues that involved any arm of the federal government (even for an agency for which he did not work). He was told he couldn't represent the Sierra Club or any other organization on any issue, even if it was unrelated to his job.

Van Ee has been a strong, active advocate for a clean, healthy environment for years. He is one of the most well-respected environmentalists in Southern Nevada. Caught up in a scenario that seemed unreal in a country that prides itself on its First Amendment rights, Van Ee felt the lawsuit was his only choice.

After all these years and endless scrutiny, the three-member panel of the Circuit Court ruled unanimously that EPA and the Office of Government Ethics' interpretation of Title 18 Sec. 205 of the U.S. Code could not be supported by an examination of the legislative history. In other words, federal workers can be a member of a nonprofit environmental group and represent that group before other parts of the federal government on issues unrelated to their job.

An appeal is considered unlikely at this point, but is not totally out of the question. Hopefully, federal workers will feel that they can become active in issues relating to the federal government without worry of retribution.

* WEBSITE LAUNCHED: A new website devoted to helping outdoors people hook up with outfitters who provide services to hunters, anglers and other outdoors enthusiasts recently was launched. For those looking for more information about these services, check out www.webSportsman.com.

* TAKE A HIKE: Hopefully the weather will cooperate for the extended weekend coming up. The plans for family hikes at Red Rock Canyon are under way. A wide variety of adventures is available.

Today, those 10 to adult can explore the base of Mount Wilson to the glen at the mouth of Oak Creek Canyon. Beautiful Permian age, red-bed formations and water-sculpted rock reward the hiker on a moderate three-mile route. Also on Friday, a sunset hike for ages 8 to adult is scheduled.

Saturday should be fun for wildlife fans. Have you ever wondered what happens to the animals and birds in winter? Learn how they adapt to the cold of winter on a moderate two-mile hike.

Also on Saturday there will be an introduction to the Mojave Desert for ages 8 to adult. Were you expecting blowing sand, no vegetation except cactus, a rattlesnake under every rock and weather that's hot, hot, hot? Try a short hike to dispel these common misconceptions.

Sunday's presentations include "Plants, Petroglyphs and Ancient People." In this presentation, hikers will learn about ancient people and how they could survive in a harsh land. They will visit an agave roasting pit, a rock shelter and listen to a Native American flute on a moderate 2.5-mile hike with some rock scrambling involved.

My favorite hike to the Calico Tanks is on tap for Monday. Travel through the heart of sandstone formations on the way to a natural tenaja and a great view on this moderately strenuous three-mile hike Some rock scrambling is involved.