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It is our responsibility to be prudent, productive, and efficient stewards of natural resources. This requires a proper and continuing dynamic balance between development and conservation, between use and preservation.
In keeping with this principle, I support realistic efforts to preserve the environment and reduce pollution - air, water, and land. I reject, however, the argument that this objective ought to be pursued by costly governmental interference, accompanied by multitudes of regulations and the heavy hand of arrogant bureaucrats spurred on by irresponsible pressure groups.
The Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution limits the federal power of eminent domain solely to the purchase of private property with just compensation for public use, such as military reservations and government office buildings - not for public ownership, such as urban renewal, environmental protection, or historic preservation. Under no circumstances may the federal government take private property, by means of rules and regulations which preclude or substantially reduce the productive use of the property, even with just compensation.
I support a return to the states and to the people all lands and offshore waters which are held by the federal government without authorization by the Constitution.
I oppose any attempt to designate private or public property as United Nations World Heritage sites or Biosphere reserves. I will reject any United States participation in UN programs such as UNESCO, Man and the Biosphere, and the UN Council on Sustainable Development. I oppose environmental treaties and conventions such as the Biodiversity Treaty, the Convention on Climate Control, and Agenda 21, which destroy our sovereignty and right to private property.