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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
July 18
"There's so much pollution in the air now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all." - Author Robert Orben
(1)CLEAN AIR: Georgia Keeps Clean Air on Their Minds
(2)CAFOs: More Good CAFO News from Michigan
(3)TAKE ACTION: Take Action to Reinstate Superfund's Polluter Pays Tax to Clean Up Toxic Waste Sites
1. Georgia Keeps Clean Air on Its Mind
Georgia has clean air on its mind. A public hearing to discuss a pulp mill's proposal to dramatically increase its air pollution was standing room only with Georgia Sierra Club activists fighting for public health and the environment. If Georgia Pacific, a pulp mill near the Chattahoochee River, had its way it would increase its air emissions by 3,000 tons per year-- polluting the surrounding communities' air with more soot and smog!
Poor air quality causes lung diseases such as asthma and lung cancer and also contributes to global warming. Thank goodness we have activists like these not wanting anything left up in the air!
For more information on clean air, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/cleanair/
2. More Good CAFO News from Michigan Activists
After recently busting a Dutch factory farm tour in their state, Michigan Sierra Club activists received more good news: a state commission approved stricter pollution practices for Contained Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO's), better known as factory farms. Michigan farmers will now have to limit odors and water pollution from the 250 to 300 mega-farms in their state.
Giant corporate-owned CAFO's produce staggering amounts of animal waste every year which often leaks into our rivers and streams, fouling our air, contaminating our drinking water and spreading disease. We hope more states will follow Michigan's lead in protecting public health and the environment from the polluting CAFO industry.
For more information on polluting CAFOs, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/faq.asp
3. Take Action to Reinstate Superfund's Polluter Pays Tax to Clean Up Toxic Waste Sites
One American in four lives within four miles of a Superfund site, which are the most dangerous toxic waste sites in the nation. It's critical to clean up these sites as quickly as possible to protect people's health and the environment, but the cleanup program has slowed to crawl because of lack of funds. President Bush has let polluting industries off the hook to pay for clean up of these dangerous site, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.
We need your help to reinstate the polluter pays tax so that the EPA can clean up toxic waste sites. The oil and chemical companies, not individual taxpayers, should pay to clean up these waste sites. Call toll-free number at (888) 569-8906 to connect directly with the capitol switchboard. Ask your Senator to co-sponsor S.2596 to reinstate Superfund's polluter pays tax for cleaning up Superfund toxic waste sites.
For more information on reinstating the 'polluter pays' funding mechanism for the Superfund program, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/superfund/
"...it is densely forested down to the waters edge with trees that never seem to have suffered from thirst or fire or the axe of the lumberman..." John Muir's description of the Tongass Rainforest in his novel Travels in Alaska (1915)
(1)WILD FORESTS: Alaskan Tree-Huggers
(2)CLEAN AIR:
(3)CAFOs: Michigan and Ohio Activists Teach the Dutch a Lesson
(4)TAKE ACTION: Take Action to Protect Our National Forests
1. Alaskan Tree-Huggers
In an effort to save their backyard, the Tongass National Forest, Alaskan Sierra Club activists have put 100% enthusiasm into tabling, organizing hearings, coordinating a hike, and letter-writing events. The activists even created the first annual "Chugach Day," celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Chugach National Forest on July 23rd. All of the events have one purpose in mind: to promote the Tongass Wilderness Plan, our last chance to permanently protect the remaining roadless areas of the Tongass National Forest.
The Tongass, occupying a 500-mile-long stretch of rugged coastline in Southeast Alaska, is the largest remaining temperate rainforest on Earth, full of grizzlies, salmon, and the world's densest population of bald eagles. Unfortunately, if the Forest Service has its way, 3 million acres of old-growth rainforest in roadless areas will be opened up to logging and other destructive activities. Join the Alaskan tree-huggers and let Congress know that you also support the Tongass Wilderness Plan!
For more information on the Tongass Wilderness Plan, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/wildlands/tongass/index.asp
2. Clean-Air Legal Action in Alabama
The Sierra Club and the Environmental Council of Alabama announced plans on Wednesday to sue the Tennessee Valley Authority over emissions at the Colbert Fossil Plant. "Over the last five years, the Colbert plant has been illegally belching smoke into the air in northwest Alabama, no less than 9,000 times," Said David Muhly, Sierra Club representative for the Appalachian Region.
The notice told TVA that the Colbert plant has failed to meet the Clean Air Act requirements that stack emissions be less than 20 percent opaque. Of 87,600 measuring periods in 2001, smoke from the exhaust stacks at the plant exceeded acceptable clean-air standards 1,126 times. The plant also exceeded acceptable levels an additional 9,790 times in 2001 during the process of starting or stopping generators when there were combustion problems with one of the burners.
For more information about Sierra Club's clean-air program, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/cleanair/index.asp
3. Michigan and Ohio Activists Teach the Dutch a Lesson!
Recruited farmers from the Netherlands came to Michigan to learn about factory farm opportunities, but instead were taught a more important lesson: smelly factory farms are not wanted in the US! Vreba-Hoff, a dairy factory farm outside of Hudson, Michigan, were surprised to see over 25 Michigan and Ohio Sierra Club activists protesting outside their megafarm, who had learned of their tour de Stench for Dutch farmers. "We're letting the folks at Vreba-Hoff and the folks that are coming to look at moving here understand there are serious problems with the existing factories and that we don't feel there is any need for confined animal feed operations in this area," said Anne Woiwode, director of the Michigan Sierra Club.
Sierra Club has documented Vreba-Hoff's illegal dumping of animal waster numerous times. Unfortunately, it is just one of many Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) around the country which produce huge amounts of animal waste, which leaks into our rivers and streams, fouling our air, contaminating our drinking water and spreading disease.
For more information on polluting CAFOs, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/factoryfarms/faq.asp
4. Take Action to Protect Our National Forests
Tomorrow the House of Representatives will vote on an amendment to protect 60 million acres of the last unspoiled roadless areas in our National Forests from logging and road-building, leaving them for Americans to enjoy. The measure would ensure the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule goes into effect for one year.
We need your help. Contact your representatives and urge them to stand up for our National Forests by voting for the Roadless Area Conservation amendment to the Interior Appropriations Bill. Americans have already made their feelings clear: they want our last remaining wild forests protected. Call the toll-free number to connect directly with the capitol switchboard at (888) 569-8906. Ask for your member of Congress. Deliver the message. Protect our National Forests.
For more information on protecting our National Forests, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/logging/
"The key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life -- for 8 billion or more people -- without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt." Biologist Edward O. Wilson ----
(1)POPULATION: World Population Day
(2)SMART GROWTH: If You Build It, More Will Drive
(3)CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY: Bush's Speech On Corporate Responsibility: Definitely Corporate--Not Responsible
(4)TAKE ACTION: Protect Our National Forests
1. World Population Day
Today is World Population Day! Sierra Club joins the United Nations in recognizing this day, which draws attention to the connections between population, development and the environment. Our growing population can lead to the destruction of habitat, the pollution of clean air and water, and the depletion and degradation of irreplaceable natural resources.
Our rapid population growth is predicted to reach 9 billion in only 50 years. Fortunately, we can counter this prediction by acting today. In our communities, we can help the environment locally by consuming less and recycling more, and globally by asking our local decision-makers to support domestic and international family planning and reproductive health programs. Take a moment today to discuss with your loved ones the importance of family planning and the need to keep our population into balance with our natural resources and environment.
For more information on World Population Day, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/population/populationday.asp
2. If You Build It, More Will Drive
If you build it, more will drive should be the motto of any freeway widening program. The Milwaukee metro highway system is struggling to keep up with the demand of drivers and the state's highway lobby solution is to simply add more lanes. To shave mere minutes off of commute time will waste billions of taxpayers' dollars.
Studies show that new and expanded roads cause an increase in traffic. Shortly after new roads open, traffic increases by 10% to 50%. Added lanes also bring increases in noise and air pollution and decreases in green space, without easing traffic congestion. A cheaper and greener solution is to build travel alternatives such as commuter rail, buses, bike paths and sidewalks.
For more information on the fight for smart growth in the Milwaukee metro region, go to https://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/jul02/56187.asp
3. Bush's Speech On Corporate Responsibility: Definitely Corporate--Not Responsible
The Sierra Club went to Wall Street on Tuesday to tell President Bush that corporate responsibility must include holding corporations accountable for the environmental messes they create. More than 40 Members of Sierra Club, the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) and others rallied outside the President's speech on corporate responsibility to remind people that the Administration is opposed to making polluters pay for toxic cleanup and is planning to make cuts to the Superfund program, which cleans up toxic waste sites.
The Bush Administration's protection of polluting corporations has left taxpayers to foot the bill of cleanup of toxic messes and has drastically slowed the pace of cleanup. "If President Bush is serious about corporate responsibility, then he needs to make polluting companies responsible for their toxic messes," said Norma Ramos, Senior Regional Representative for Sierra Club in New York.
For more information on toxic waste cleanup, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/toxics/superfund/
4. Take Action to Protect Our National Forests
The moment of truth for our National Forests is fast approaching. Next week the House of Representatives will vote on an amendment to protect 60 million acres of the last unspoiled roadless areas in our National Forests from logging and road-building, leaving them for Americans to enjoy. The measure would ensure that the popular Roadless Area Conservation Rule goes into effect for one year.
We need your help. Contact your representatives and urge them to stand up for our National Forests by voting for the Roadless Area Conservation amendment to the Interior Appropriations bill. Americans have already made their feelings clear: they want our last remaining wild forests protected.
Call the toll-free number to connect directly with the capitol switchboard at (888) 569-8906. Ask for your Member of Congress. Deliver the message. Protect our National Forests.
For more information on protecting our National Forests, go to https://www.sierraclub.org/logging/
To take action on all your favorite Sierra Club issues, please visit: https://www.sierraclub.org/action
"I think they're full of crap and you can print that in your paper." - Department of Energy Spokesman Joe Davis' opinion of Environmental Working Group's position on Yucca Mountain
(1)CLEAN WATER: Fishy Illinois River
(2)CLEAN AIR: A Breath of Fresh Air for D.C.
(3)MEMBERS: Sierra Club in Puerto Rico
(4)TAKE ACTION: Take Action to Hold Polluting Industries Accountable
1. Fishy Illinois River
Yikes! The Illinois River is unsafe for fish to live in and for humans to drink according to a Sierra Club Illinois Chapter study. The phosphorous and nitrate levels exceeded federal standards the year-long study revealed after the Chapter's volunteers' spent countless hours monitoring water quality at various points along the river. "Our tests clearly show that Illinois needs to do more to reduce nutrient pollution in the Illinois River," said Joe Laszlo, chair of the Heart of Illinois Group of the Sierra Club and coordinator of the Water Sentinels Project.
Sewage and fertilizers from farm fields and urban yards often contribute to the pollution of the river that threatens fish survival and harms the ecosystem. More alarming, what happens in the Illinois River often impacts communities downstream. The large dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico is the product of nutrients washed into the Mississippi River system upstream says scientists. "If we are not only concerned about ourselves but the entire United States, then we must recognize what we do here certainly impacts beyond our borders," continued Laszlo.
For more information on the Illinois Sierra Club's report, go to https://home.InsightBB.com, and search for Sierra Club
2. A Breath of Fresh Air for D.C.
The D.C. Metro area will be breathing a little easier thanks to a court decision ruling EPA violated the Clean Air Act by extending the clean air deadline. The extension would have allowed the D.C. area factories and power plants to continue contributing to smog pollution at their current rate until 2005. As a result of the decision, metro Washington faces reclassification for smog pollution from serious to severe.
Metro D.C.'s poor air quality has sent more than 2,400 people to the emergency room and has caused more than 130,000 asthma attacks during a typical smoggy summer. Because of this great clean air victory, "DC area governments can't point fingers at other states until they have done all they can to cut pollution locally," said Earthjustice attorney David Baron, on behalf of Sierra Club.
For more information on this good news for clean air, go to https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A16512-2002Jul2.html
3. Sierra Club in Puerto Rico
Bienvenidos Puerto Rico! Fishermen, professionals, students and many more packed an auditorium in Puerto Rico last week for one purpose-- to be a part of Sierra Club's first meeting ever on the Island. The meeting took place only a week after the Governor of Puerto Rico, bowing to pressure from developers, dismissed members of the Island-wide planning board who strictly enforce environmental permits. Participants, concerned with the Island's sprawl problem, loss of rainforest and coastline, and contamination of air and water, were ready for action.
Sierra Club members in Puerto Rico began to organize in March after Fermin Fontanez, Samarys Seguinot, and Carlos Bustos founded a chapter of Sierra Student Coalition on the Island. They'd come to the SSC's Public Lands Action Summit to DC to lobby on protection of the Northeast Ecological Corridor on the Island and wanted to do more. Now they are working to form a Chapter of the Sierra Club. Their work comes just in time to answer to the growing environmental concern on the island. Sierra Club gives their best to it's Puerto Rican Members!
For more information on this exciting news, go to https://www.endi.com/archivo/revdomingo/noticia.asp?newsid=25058
4. Take Action to Hold Polluting Industries Accountable
With all this talk of corporate responsibility, one would think the Bush Administration would crack down on corporate polluters who force taxpayers to cleanup their dirty messes. However, President Bush refuses to mandate polluting industries to fund the cleanup of toxic waste sites, slowing the pace of cleanup of these dangerous sites to a crawl and leaving American taxpayers, not corporate polluters, with the bill. Thank goodness Senators Boxer (D-CA) and Chafee (R-RI) and are leading a bipartisan way to reinstate taxes on corporate polluters. We need your help to force polluting industries accountable for their messy ways.
Urge your Senators to cosponsor Sen. Boxer and Sen. Chafee's bill, to ensure corporate polluters, not communities, pay for cleanup. Urge them to support efforts to strengthen corporate accountability and to stand up for our environment and public health.
Click below to send an email directly to your senators. There's a draft provided. https://whistler.sierraclub.org/action/?alid=172&st=curr
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