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DEFENDING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
August 23, 2000
"You could destroy every environmental value in the Mississippi and Illinois rivers and turn them into nothing more than barge canals and that still wouldn't solve the problem of South American competition."
--- Carl Zichella, the Sierra Club's Midwest staff director regarding a new report that says expanding navigation locks on the Upper Mississippi and Illinois rivers would not help Midwest soybean growers compete with Brazil
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1) HUMAN RIGHTS: MEXICO PRESIDENT-ELECT FOX MEETS WITH NGOs
2) CAFO: KANSAS TELLS SEABOARD TO REDUCE POLLUTION
3) ECL: SPI TO REDUCE CLEARCUTS IN CA
1) HUMAN RIGHTS: MEXICO PRESIDENT-ELECT FOX MEETS WITH NGOs
Mexican President-elect Vincente Fox arrived in Washington, DC on Wednesday for a 2-day visit. During his time in the US, the Sierra Club will hand deliver a letter to Fox asking for the release of Mexican environmentalists Rodolfo Montiel and Teodoro Cabrera. Montiel and Cabrera were arrested 15 months ago by Mexican soldiers for their efforts to stop the logging of old-growth forests in southern Mexico. The two were beaten and tortured into confessing to trumped up charges of illegal drug and firearm possessions by the Mexican military.
Additionally, participants from the Sierra Club, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch will meet with Fox on Thursday to discuss environmental standards in economic and trade agreements and ask him to follow through on his verbal statements to create a "bi-national authority" to enforce environmental laws along the border.
On July 2, Fox won his election that overturned 70 years of domination by Mexico's ruling party. During his campaign he said he will emphasize environmental and human rights issues during his presidency.
2) CAFO: KANSAS ACTIVISTS TELL SEABOARD TO REDUCE POLLUTION
The Kansas chapter released a new study on Tuesday detailing the risks of CAFO facilities on the state's air and water. The report stressed that Kansas regulators have made an effort to regulate CAFOs but do not properly address concerns of odors, air pollution, or disease transmission resulting from wastewater spraying.
Seaboard has been building CAFOs in Kansas without implementing any meaningful regulations in regards to air and water pollution. Additionally, no on-site tests have been conducted to measure air and odor pollution or the CAFOs' effects on human health.
New draft rules to regulate CAFOs in Kansas are expected to be issued for public comment by early fall.
3) ECL: SPI TO REDUCE CLEARCUTS IN CA
Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) announced Tuesday plans to scale back clear-cutting in Calaveras County in response to public opposition. SPI's initial plans were to cut as much as 70 percent of its 1.5 million acres over the next century. In this plan, SPI was to cut 884 acres in Calaveras County, near Calaveras Big Trees State Park and its giant sequoias. SPI declined to specify how many acres would be cut under the new plan saying only that it would be reduced in size and scope.
Warren Alford, Sierra Club organizer, said opposition to the clear-cut has grown even as SPI officials have met with community and business groups over the last month to try to improve relations. SPI's plans to reduce clearcutting show that the company has listened to the community but not heard what they have said - that they want an end to clear-cut logging practices.
SPI is the largest private landowner in California and the second in the nation, right behind Ted Turner
QUOTE OF THE DAY "...monument designation will protect these great natural areas for today's users and as a lasting legacy for future generations."
-Carl Pope in a letter to President Clinton urging the establishment of two new national monuments.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FEATURED ITEM: Interior Secretary Babbitt recommends two new national monuments.
1) ALASKA WILDERNESS SUMMIT: BIGGER, LARGER AND MORE WILD!
2) TAKE ACTION: NO GLOBALIZATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
3) TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND -- NO "GLOBAL GAG RULE"
4) TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR WILD HERITAGE - STOP LOGGING OUR NATIONAL FORESTS
5) TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR WATER FROM ANIMAL FACTORIES
FEATURED ITEM: Interior Secretary Babbitt recommends two more National Monument designations to President Clinton!
This week, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt recommended a new national monument to protect the east side of the Grand Canyon: The Vermilion Cliffs in northern Arizona. He also recommended expanding the Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.
To learn more about the proposed designations, surf to:
https://www.doi.gov/news/monument811.htm.
ALASKA WILDERNESS SUMMIT: Bigger, Larger and More Wild!
Join Sierra Club activists from all over the country for this exciting event.
September 16 - 20, 2000 Washington, DC
Twenty years ago, President Jimmy Carter signed into law the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), protecting 104 million acres of public land in Alaska as a natural legacy for future generations to experience and enjoy.
Together with the Alaska Coalition*, the Sierra Club is pleased to announce an Alaska Wilderness Summit to recognize the triumphs of this monumental legislation and create a new enthusiasm in Congress, in the Administration, and among the public for the future of wilderness in Alaska. We will also emphasize the unfinished business of the Alaska Lands Act, including Wilderness designation for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The Summit will feature:
- A reunion of some of the heroes of ANILCA - activists and staff who contributed to the passage of this historic act - who will share their experiences with the next generation of Alaska lands advocates
- An opportunity for participants to make history as they pound the halls of Congress, and cut: to take their wilderness message all the way to the White House
- A focus on the importance of grassroots activism, and workshops on effective advocacy and media techniques
- An opportunity to prepare the environmental community for the opportunities and challenges Alaska's public lands will face in the next Congress and Administration
- A celebration of one of the greatest single lands conservation act in U.S. history. And we do plan on celebrating!!!
Time is running out -- don't wait to let us know YOU want to come to the Alaska Wilderness Summit! Space is limited, and a limited number of scholarships are available. Contact Jen Schmidt with the Alaska Coalition to request your application packet today! (202) 544-5205, jens@alaskawild.org
Or register at our new website: www.alaskawild.org/ANILCA/Summit
*The Alaska Coalition is a coalition of over 400 local, state, and national groups, including environmental and social justice groups, sportsmen groups, and religious, civic, and native organizations, who have endorsed permanent protection for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain. Member organizations include Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, The Wilderness Society, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Parks and Conservation Association, Public Interest Research Group, World Wildlife Fund, and Defenders of Wildlife.
2) TAKE ACTION: NO GLOBALIZATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
President Clinton promised to clean up America's polluted international trade policy at the Seattle Summit of the World Trade Organization (WTO) last November. But every time we turn around, the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) -- which answers to the President -- has taken another whack at environmental protection in the name of "free trade" for corporate polluters.
Already, the USTR has:
* weakened a new global agreement to control persistent organic pollutants, such as PCBs and dioxins, to protect the trade interests of the chemical industry;
* dirtied our air by weakening the US clean gasoline program to comply with a WTO ruling; and
* weakened protections for endangered sea turtles to comply with another WTO ruling.
With the stroke of a pen, the President could loosen the grip of global corporations on our trade negotiators. To help make American trade policy clean, green, and fair, call, fax or e-mail President Clinton today. Urge him to require the USTR to develop a strong environmental review policy that requires public release of all draft trade agreements.
White House Comment Line - 202-456-1111 White House Fax Line - 202-456-2461 Clinton's e-mail - president@whitehouse.gov
3) TAKE ACTION: SUPPORT THE UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND WITH NO "GLOBAL GAG RULE"
The fate of international family planning funding and policy will be determined in September when a conference committee, comprised of House and Senate members, will forge a joint document to be sent to the President.
The House version (H.R. 4811) passed with funding levels of $385 million for international family planning assistance and $25 million for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). These represent no increase from the funding levels of last year. The House also voted to retain the Global Gag Rule which disqualifies overseas family planning associations from receiving U.S. funds if they, with their own money, lobby to change laws on abortion or provide abortion services in their own countries where it is legal to do so.
The Senate passed their act (S.2522) with increased funding levels and removed the Global Gag Rule restrictions from the legislation. The Senate requested $425 million for international family planning assistance and $25 million for UNFPA.
President Clinton has threatened a veto if the Global Gag Rule restrictions and low funding levels remain. Therefore, difficult negotiations will have to be made to produce a bill that the President will sign.
TAKE ACTION: The following Senators are key players for successful negotiations:
Specter (PA), Leahy (VT), Inouye (HI), Lautenberg (NJ), Harkin (IA), Mikulski (MD), and Murray (WA). If you live in one of these states, please contact your Senator and ask them to stay in strong support of the Senate language and funding levels.
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
4) TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR WILD HERITAGE - STOP LOGGING OUR NATIONAL FORESTS
Protecting forests make environmental and economic sense. The Forest Service predicts that in the year 2000, recreation, hunting and fishing in National Forests will contribute 38 times more income to the nation's economy than logging, and will create 31 times more jobs. More than 3,000 species of fish and wildlife and 10,000 plant species -- including 230 endangered plant and animal species -- rely on National Forests for habitat.
The National Forest Protection and Restoration Act would eliminate the commercial logging program on federal public lands, promote restoration, and help communities that receive logging revenue develop a more diverse and stable economy.
** Call your Member of Congress through the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and urge them to cosponsor HR 1396, the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act. **
5) TAKE ACTION: PROTECT OUR WATER FROM ANIMAL FACTORIES
The EPA is in the process of developing a "Guidance Document" for a permitting system for large concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs). These massive animal factories have fouled America's water and air from coast to coast, and have run family farmers off the land. Several court cases have clearly found that these facilities, including land application of wastes, are to be regulated under the federal Clean Water Act.
But the US EPA seems not to understand the import of the court decisions or the impact of the CAFOs on water quality. There are three major positions that the Sierra Club (and allied groups) have been asserting:
1) Every CAFO with more than 1000 "animal units" (2500 hogs, 30,000 chickens, and 750 dairy cows) must OBTAIN a federal wastewater discharge permit.
2) The permits must contain binding, enforceable and water-quality protective conditions.
3) CAFOs must land apply wastes at agronomic rates, as determined by a soil test and the optimal rate of growth (or production) of the specific crop. (EPA is proposing to allow rates of application based on "soil assimilation" which essentially means wastes can be applied right up to the point where runoff occurs).
Please call EPA Administrator Carol Browner at 202-564-4700 (FAX - 202-501-1450) and urge her to issue a Guidance Document incorporating the above points.
"As President, Governor Bush will maintain a strong federal environmental role but will return significant authority to states and local communities. Under Governor Bush, the federal government will set high environmental standards and provide market-based incentives to develop new technologies and approaches so that Americans meet -- and exceed -- those standards. He will also ensure that the federal government, which is the country's largest polluter, complies with all environmental laws."
From the "issues" section of www.georgewbush.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. UTAH SPRAWL-FIGHTERS PREVAIL
2. MARYLAND CURBS 'BIG CHICKEN'
3. EJ ACTIVISTS GET TOUGH AT WATER HEARING
UTAH SPRAWL-FIGHTERS PREVAIL: MEGA-MALL DEVELOPER BACKS HIS BAGS
Opponents of a 500-acre mega-mall in Salt Lake City needed to change the mind of at least one city council member in order to defeat the project, proposed to be built at the future interchange of the Legacy Highway and Interstate 80. Members of the Utah Chapter went to work, along with coalition partners Future Moves, Vest Pocket Coalition, Downtown Alliance, UPNET, Workers Justice and Great Salt Lake Audubon. They let council members and the public know that the mall project would spawn more than 71,000 new vehicle trips per day, and lead to unimaginable sprawl growth far west of downtown Salt Lake City and more than 40 blocks from any current residential development.
Apparently the activists applied pressure in all the right places, because this week, when the mall developer requested a formal council vote on the project, not one, but TWO council members announced their opposition. The mall's Southern California developer rapidly withdrew his request for the vote and left.
Marc Heileson, Utah Chapter conservation organizer, gave a big pat on the back "to our sprawl-fighting champ mayor Rocky Anderson and his staff for their unyielding, outspoken opposition to the sprawl-mall."
MARYLAND MOVES TO CURB 'BIG CHICKEN' POLLUTION
In Maryland as in other states, factory-farm corporations employ many small farmers as "contract growers." The companies provide growers with chicks, feed and medicine, but assume little risk. If the bird is alive, it's the corporations' property; dead birds and manure are the growers' problems. The corporations reap the profits, while the growers are left with dead chickens and, in the case of Maryland, 75,000 tons of manure, which eventually ends up polluting the Chesapeake Bay.
But some heartening news appeared in a Washington Post article today that said Maryland regulators have drafted new operating permits that will "force large poultry companies to take responsibility for the mountains of chicken manure their animals produce, shifting the burden away from the small contract farmers who raise the birds." In short, the companies will have to make sure their contract farmers dispose of waste and in a non-polluting manner.
Maryland will soon join Kentucky, the only other state that currently holds poultry companies responsible for the waste their birds produce. This is a huge victory in Maryland for the environment, the growers and corporate accountability.
To find out more about factory farms and how you can take action in your state, please visit the Sierra Club website www.sierraclub.org/CAFOs.
EJ ACTIVISTS ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS AT D.C. WATER HEARING
Washington, D.C., is one of the four cities -- along with Detroit, Los Angeles and Memphis -- where the Sierra Club has funnelled environmental justice resources. One of the issues taken on by activists in the nation's capital is drinking water.
In a meeting last week with the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), more than 40 residents of Southwest Hill and participants in the Club's Environmental Justice Program asked tough questions about their water, health and safety. Said Southwest Hill resident Shania Flagg: "Our tap water has stuff floating in it -- brown and black flecks, and sometimes looks oily. What is that? Is it drinkable? And are we the only folks that have to put up with it?"
The meeting was a follow-up to a previous Sierra Club/Southwest Hill action last May, when 15 residents boarded a bus and attended a hearing about the nearby Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment Plant. At last week's meeting, questions ranged from addressing water quality, water pressure and WASA billing, to the hot topic of the night -- the health effects of living next to the plant.
"I'm just wondering if you know whether your plant's stong odor has something in it that causes my asthma," asked Myra Riggs, a resident and asthma sufferer. "We want to know what's in the odor and whether it affects our health." WASA said there's no evidence pointing to health problems in their long-time employees.
Julie Eisenhardt, environmental justice organizer for the Sierra Club's New Columbia Chapter, said local residents felt more informed about WASA after the meeting, but wanted more chances to have their concerns addressed.
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