October 5 2009 RENewsletter

RENewsletter | October 5, 2009

The Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com

“Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”

[09/27/09– 10/05/09]

* Need to vent? | Go to my blog: Environmental Thoughts - Rochester, NY

* Found an important Rochester environmental story from a credible source that you think needs attention? SEND ME THE LINK.

[Hyperlinks work by CTRL + click to follow a link]

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Opening Salvo: “The Great Conceit”

In this wonderful and expert article on bird migration [City Newspaper “A bird in the hand” 9/30/09], something hauntingly familiar struck me from the section: “Why protect birds?” Birds have a right to live; birding helps our economy because birders buy binoculars; birds are an early-warning system, etc. I’ve come across this apparent need for reporters and scientists to justify the need for other species in many articles on our environment: why we need biodiversity (lots of different species), why we need wolves, why bears, whales, or those darn mosquitoes, whatever. Basically, I guess, the assumption is why the rest of us who are driving around in our hot new clunkers, making a living, or watching the latest ‘reality’ on TV, and doing just fine should care about birds, which may not be our ‘thing.’

Here’s what strikes me: To pose such a question in the media at all reveals a great human conceit that humankind should relieve itself of. Feeling compelled to prove the existence of birds is like having to explain the existence of the third floor in a high-rise. Answer: You don’t get to live on any of the above floors if there is no third floor. Birds and other species don’t simply exist at our pleasure; they and our environment are One. Birds are so woven into the fabric of our present environment as to cause serious structural damage if they were somehow removed.

This great conceit that we humans can casually sit back and calculate and consider the worth of the other biological components on this planet is sheer irresponsible lunacy. We forget ourselves, what we learned in biology, and who we are. The media and the public should take responsibility for informing themselves on how this planet operates (because we are at the helm as never before) so we don’t have to keep explaining why other creatures are valuable. That birds are important is an absolute no-brainer. Our culture should have advanced to the point where implicit in every article on other species is that they are not at the mercy of our false belief in the preeminence of our economy.

I’ll unpack that last point. Our economy doesn’t rule, Nature does. Denying the critical role of birds would be like the crew on a space ship suddenly seized with the fancy that it didn’t need air and began jack hammering the oxygen tanks. Birds are not only really neat, our environment will be different when they are gone—and you probably won’t like the results.

FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com (Click on my email for feedback)

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NewsLinks – Environmental NewsLinks – [Highlights of major environmental stories concerning our area from the past week]

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Updates – Daily Updates – [Connecting the dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care? Clicking on -DISCUSSION – will take you to my blog “Environmental Thoughts, NY, where you can add your comments.]

10/04/09 – We’re passing this note on: We just received this announcement - we hope you can tune in to 60 Minutes tonight. Over the summer, the Appalachian Voices Watauga Riverkeeper crew has been working with 60 Minutes to do an investigative story about coal ash waste. We are happy to report that the show will air this Sunday, October 4, 2009. The 60 Minutes crew will provide the public with an overview or a “coal ash 101″ report. It comes in the wake of the 1 billion gallon TVA coal ash spill that occurred in December of 2008 in Harriman, Tennessee. Note: Highly recommended "latest news" reading appears at: http://www.ilovemountains.org/

10/01/09 - Where's that pollution? A report (37 pages) that should be on your reading list this week is the new report by the International Joint Commission because it's about "programs to abate, control and prevent pollution from municipal sources entering the Great Lakes System.” The report’s object: The objective was to survey existing programs aimed at controlling surface-water pollution and to provide an overview of the current situation." And, he current situation is not pretty. Not only is one of the largest fresh water systems in the world, which is in and is our backyard, being compromised, the municipal sewage overflow, which is integral to our environmental health (a point that doesn’t usually get high prominence in mainstream media because they don’t know how to quantify it) is also affecting the fishing and tourist industries—which do get a high profile in our mainstream media. Anyway, if you don’t have time to read this report, you should see that your congress person does. International Joint Commission - News room IJC Releases 14th Biennial Report WINDSOR, Ontario - The International Joint Commission today released its Fourteenth Biennial Report on Great Lakes Water Quality. Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (Article VII), the International Joint Commission reports to the federal, state and provincial governments biennially concerning its findings on their progress toward achieving the Agreement’s general and specific objectives. The Commission’s report, which is released to the public, is also to assess the effectiveness of programs and other measures undertaken pursuant to the Agreement
9/30/09 - Arctic snow and ice is melting fast and portents change from global warming. Get the facts from the experts as they monitor this concern National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) "We support research into our world's frozen realms: the snow, ice, glacier, frozen ground, and climate interactions that make up Earth's cryosphere. Scientific data, whether taken in the field or relayed from satellites orbiting Earth, form the foundation for the scientific research that informs the world about our planet and our climate systems. "
9/30/09 - Finally our Genesee River is getting some specialized attention with this group: Genesee River Wilds Project "The Genesee River Wilds Project is a coalition of groups and individuals who invest time, energy, funding, and other resources in the development of an environmentally sustainable system of natural parks concentrated along the Genesee River in the “Genesee River Wilds.” This phrase refers to the Genesee River and its watershed from the river’s sources in Potter County, Pennsylvania, to the southern boundary of Letchworth State Park in New York State. The Genesee River Wilds Project represents and partners with federal, state, county, municipal, and non-profit organizations; business corporations; educational institutions; landowners; farmers; anglers; hunters; hikers; mountain bikers; kayak and canoe enthusiasts; and many others who participate in various official and unofficial ways. The coalition works to improve the health of the upper Genesee River and its watershed; protect them from future environmental threats; and enhance their recreational potential. "
9/29/09 - Turn off your TV and turn on your podcasting. One of the sources for global environmental news that I check often is this weekly podcast fromhttp://www.dw-world.de/dw/0,,266,00.html called: Living Planet: Environment Matters Around the World | Living Planet | Deutsche Welle | 21.05.2009 "Explore the environmental issues facing the world today. This prize-winning weekly program brings you environmental news, background reports, interviews and features from our international network of correspondents."
9/29/09 - Malaria could be here too: It's interesting to see this in the news Roberts Wesleyan students to raise awareness of malaria - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow (September 26, 09) as one of the predictions of Global Warming for the Northeast is the possible emergence of malaria. Warmer temperatures in our area will allow the vectors for malaria, mosquitoes carrying the virus, to move into areas previously too cold. Those thinking that Global Warming might be a respite from our nasty winter have to think of other things that come with a warmer climate. For more about the consequences of thing warming up in NY, read: Confronting Climate Change in the U.S. Northeast --from Union of Concerned Scientists
Night of Nets - What is Night of Nets? Through the Night of Nets, you'll be part of a movement to end malaria by organizing an event to raise awareness and, when possible, inviting participants to sleep the entire night under a bed net. By raising funds to provide nets for children in need and calling on our elected leaders to take action, we'll help stop this child killer in our lifetime.
9/27/09 As if it weren’t enough: Besides all other reasons why getting our way of life to be sustainable is going to be problematical (the dysfunctional media, political agendas, bug-eyed ideology, people too busy, too many people wanting stuff, over population, other grave issues ((like war, poverty, Recession, disasters, you name it)), we cannot forget simple everyday evil. Those dedicated to flaunt and circumvent humanity’s efforts to make our existence sustainable to make a quick buck will undermine much of what the rest of us are trying to do. Just making laws to protect our environment is one thing; getting everyone to comply is another. For whatever reason some people transgress attempts by the rest of us to curb our footprints on our planet, it’s quite outside the whole spectrum of reason, science, education, and the collected efforts of millions to clean up our environment to deal with outright criminality. It’s as if it weren’t difficult enough to change the habits of six billions peoples so that life can thrive, we have to do this while a relative few purposely work against all mankind’s good efforts. I know, it’s human nature. But, one way or another Nature will weed out these quirks in our species. Check out this sad news: Smuggling Europe’s Waste to Poorer Countries - NYTimes.com Exporting waste illegally to poor countries has become a vast and growing international business, as companies try to minimize the costs of new environmental laws, like those here, that tax waste or require that it be recycled or otherwise disposed of in an environmentally responsible way. (September 26, 2009) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia

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Events – Rochester Environmental Events Calendar – [The most complete listing of all environmental events around the Rochester, New York area.] If you don’t see your event, or know of a local environmental event, please send me the info: FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com with (EV event) in the subject line.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:00 – 9:00 PM First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd, Rochester, NY
- BLUE GOLD: World Water Wars Presented by Dr. Linda MacCammon Director of the Peace and Social Justice Studies Program at SJFC Tuesday, October 6, 2009, 7:00 – 9:00 PM First Unitarian Church, 220 S. Winton Rd, Rochester FREE and open to the public. Blue Gold documents the privatization of city water supplies and mishaps from resulting mismanagement. The film also tells of bribery and corruption of public officials leading to the privatization of municipal water supplies, and grassroots fights to block the sale of local water to companies that bottle and sell it for huge profits across the globe. Some success stories are also told, most notably the water riots in Bolivia, leading to Bechtel being banished from that country. Blue Gold also dispels the myth that water is never lost in the hydrological cycle. Water is not technically “lost,” but clean, usable water is. We’re also pumping groundwater about 15 times as fast as it can be naturally replenished, which, if not reversed, will lead to a major collapse of the world’s water resources. Dr. Linda MacCammon is an associate professor at St. John Fisher College and the director of their Peace and Social Justice Studies Program
7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6th 6th Room 202 Schenk Hall Daemen College 4380 Main Street, Amherst
- The WNY Sustainable Energy Association presents: Building New York's Solar Economy Where We Are, Where We Need to Go, and How to Get There A talk by Ron Kamen President, New York Solar Energy Industries Association, http://www.nyseia.org/ Senior Vice-President, EarthKind Solar 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 6th Room 202 Schenk Hall Daemen College 4380 Main Street, Amherst Schenk Hall is across from the Wick Campus Center. See campus map for location and free parking on campus: The Map. Ron Kamen, President of the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, NYSEIA, http://www.nyseia.org/, is senior VP of EarthKind Solar (http://www.earthkindenergy.com/), the leading solar thermal energy company in New York. Ron began his career as an energy policy expert in the 1980s when he worked to create Demand Side Management programs that gave the utility industry a financial incentive to invest in energy efficiency, spurring New York's current multi-billion dollar efficiency programs. In the 1990s, Ron developed energy efficiency projects with Fortune 1000 companies and government entities, and from 2000 - 2006 he played a key role in creating NY's wind power market, helping propel growth from 50 MWs to over 1,000 MWs of wind energy today. For more information, contact Walter Simpson at enconser@buffalo.edu or (716) 839-0062. Event co-sponsored by the WNY Climate Action Coalition.
October 7, 2009 PROCTORS Theatre, 432 State St Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 346-6204
- Summit on sustainable development on October 7, 2009 in Schenectady . PROCTORS Theatre, 432 State St Schenectady, NY 12305 (518) 346-6204 This Summit is being organized and sponsored jointly by Empire State Future (www.empirestatefuture.org) and the New York Department of State (http://www.dos.state.ny.us/). This Summit will discuss revitalization of New York State through sustainable economic and community development. It is designed for government officials, practitioners of economic and community development, planners, educators, health professionals, students, persons concerned about the environment, and any other New Yorkers interested in building a stronger and more sustainable Empire State . We plan to discuss the many innovations and ideas that are taking root, and also those that have yet to be actualized. We also strive for a Summit that not only informs and inspires, but that also strengthens the connections among those working on common quests. Click here for more Summit information and to register. Register now for a low fee of $40! After September 10th, the fee will be $60. And attached is an updated Summit program, which includes speakers/ panelists, and a morning Downtown Schenectady walking tour! Note also that the starting time for the Summit has been moved later into the morning to better accommodate train travel. As you’ll see on the site, we’re encouraging attendees to travel green to the Summit by rail—we’ve arranged discounted fares, and have sited the Summit just two-tenths of a mile from the Schenectady Amtrak Station! We look forward to seeing you soon in Schenectady . If you have any questions, please contact me at Katie@rpa.org or 917-546-4312.
Thursday, October 08, 2009 CCE Monroe 249 Highland Ave Rochester, NY 14620
- Emerald Ash Borer Seminar Emerald Ash Borer Seminar for Arboriculture &Landscape Thursday, October 08, 2009 CCE Monroe 249 Highland Ave Rochester, NY 14620 General Cost: $ 35.00 Register by Thursday, October 01, 2009
Sat, Oct. 10 FLCC
- Sat, Oct. 10 "FLCC Go Green Tour" including state of the art waste recovery center, worm farm, large scale wind farm and a home off the grid including battery-powered car! Gourmet, local lunch included in $45 ticket. Contact Kim Babcock, Sustainability Coordinator at babcocka@flcc.edu . - from FMCE Member CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING (sign up for email list http://www.living-sustainably.org/contact.php )
Monday, October 19, 2009 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Brighton Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
- PUBLIC FORUM: Natural Gas Production - At What Cost to NYS? What impact will Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale have on our Water, Environment and Economy? Monday, October 19, 2009 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Free) Brighton Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618 * Orientation to the Issues Wes Gillingham - Program Director of Catskill Mountain Keeper http://catskillmountainkeeper.org Q&A with Expert Panel Dr. Diane Hope - William A. Kern Professor in Communication Rochester Institute of Technology http://www.rit.edu/cla/communication/kern/ Ashur Terwilliger - Chemung County Farm Bureau President Dr. Ron Bishop - lecturer in chemistry and biochemistry at SUNY Oneonta * Co-sponsored by Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists ** League of Women Voters, Rochester Regional Group - Sierra Club Genesee Valley Chapter - Adirondack Mountain Club Genesee Valley Audubon Society ** Center for Sustainable Living Information: www.fmce.org, Email: info@fmce.org, Call: (585) 392-4918 Pre-register via email to receive Pre-Forum Reference Materials.
Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, from 10 am -2 pm University at Buffalo (UB) Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus
- Greener Shade of Blue and You - UB Events Calendar On Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, the University at Buffalo (UB) will host the first Greener Shade of Blue and You Day at the Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus from 10 am -2 pm. This event is designed to raise awareness about environmental stewardship, particularly how individuals can "green" their homes and reduce their personal environmental footprint. Vendors will be on hand for University community members to visit for ideas and solutions to making their communities more sustainable, including ways to finance “green” projects.
Wednesday, Oct. 21. 7-9pm Victor Free Library, 16 West Main St. Victor.
- Wednesday, Oct. 21. 7-9pm, "Starting a CSA from the Ground Up" Victor Free Library, 16 West Main St. Victor. Erin Bullock will tell of starting Mud Creek Farm and a new Community Supported Agriculture model growing organic vegetables for 65 families. Sponsored by CSL. Contact Erin at erin.dandelion@gmail.com - from FMCE Member CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING
October 21st, 12-2pm Where: Healthy Home, 700 West Main St, Rochester
- Our nation's laws on dangerous, toxic chemicals have failed to keep them out of our everyday products. Someday, we'll walk into a store and every product on the shelf will be safe for our families and the environment. But until then, Rochester’s Healthy Home and Clean New York, a non-profit environmental health and justice organization, are working together to help you stay educated about the products you use at home. Join us to learn how to protect your health and environment and get involved! What: "Home Safe Home" House Party: Green Cleaning When: October 21st, 12-2pm Where: Healthy Home, 700 West Main St, Rochester Who: Friends, family, and community. This issue affects all of us! Household cleaners can contain ingredients with known links to serious health concerns such as cancer and birth defects. These chemicals should not be in products we use every day! Join us to learn about chemicals of concern and what to do! Please RSVP to Katie Kelly at clean.katiekelly@gmail.com or 734-646-2119 by Monday, October 19th.
Thurs., October 22 The workshop location is at MCC's Campus Center. We send detailed location information to registrants. But you can include my office phone number (753-2034)
- "Moving Toward a Sustainable Built Environment: Green Housing," on Thurs., October 22 by Bruce Boncke and Peter Vars, engineers at BME Associates. As described in the brochure, "This workshop will look toward the future as we apply those green initiatives to create sustainable built environments and green housing. The history, benefits and challenges of transitioning to what is now described as conservation and sustainable living environments include energy, maintenance and future cost considerations. The new ANSI National Green Building Standard for Housing will be presented as a helpful tool for builders and communities to work together on improving and sustaining built environments, starting with development of the land. Discussion will also include evolving State incentives for energy reduction and the importance of addressing sustainability of existing housing, which is aging." --all part of a series THE MONROE COUNTY LAND USE DECISION-MAKING TRAINING PROGRAM
October 10 & 24, 2009 (4 sessions) Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Rd, Perinton, NY
- Perinton Recreation & Parks Registration and Information: 585-223-5050 Program Title: Discover the Season's Natural Wonders - Series 1 Program Dates: September 12 & 26, October 10 & 24, 2009 (4 sessions) Event Times: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Ages: Adult and teen Location: Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Rd, Perinton Instructor: David Semple with four special guest presenters Cost: $51 ($45 for Perinton residents) Registration is required: Code 465816-A (Registration deadline - September 4) Description: Experience four different natural wonders in Perinton as we ease into the spectacular fall season. Each session starts with a slide show in the Perinton Community Center, followed by an expert-guided field trip at a designated nature area or park site. Topics covered in Series 1will be birds of prey, fall songbirds, wetland ecosystems, and mushrooms and fungi. Additional Detail: www.perinton.org (turn to page 26 of the Fall Recreation Brochure).
Monday, October 19, 2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. George Eastman House 900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
- The Community Salute the the Environment is upstate New York's premier environmental networking opportunity. The annual event hosts over 200 attendees from government, business, and the general public. This year's event will be held at historic George Eastman House on Monday, October 19, 2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. RECEPTION The reception and networking event will be held in Potter Peristyle on the Museum's first floor, with its architectural windows and view of the galleries. This year's event features grazing stations serving hot and cold hors d'œuvres and cash bar. Seating will be available for those who need it. PRESENTATION The evening presentation will be held in the art deco styled Dryden Theatre. This year's speaker is Dr. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Distinguished Service Professor, SUNY Brockport, who will discuss the numerous challenges facing efforts to improve Lake Ontario water quality. SELF GUIDED TOURS Self guided tours of the mansion, grounds, and gallery are encouraged during the event. Get reacquainted with this national historic landmark and a part of Rochester's cultural history. . To attend the event, please register online via credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or complete the reply form and return with your check. Attendance fee of $50 per person include d'œuvres, presentation and self guided tour.
Monday, October 19, 2009 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Brighton Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
- PUBLIC FORUM: Natural Gas Production - At What Cost to NYS? How will Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale impact our Water, Environment and Economy? Date: Monday, October 19, 2009 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Group Sponsoring the Event: Co-sponsored by the Federation of Monroe County Environmentalists, League of Women Voters, Rochester Regional Group - Sierra Club, Genesee Valley Chapter - Adirondack Mountain Club, Genesee Valley Audubon Society Cost: Free Age Group: Teens to adults Location: Brighton Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618 Contact: www.fmce.org, Email: info@fmce.org, Call: 392-4918 Pre-register via email to receive Pre-Forum Reference Materials. Description: The forum will include an orientation to the issues and a Q&A with an expert panel. Click for more information.
Oct 20, 2009, Time: 7 - 8:30 pm Location: Brighton Town Park, Carmen Clark Lodge, 777 Westfall Rd, Rochester NY 14620
- Chill The Drills! Join us for a Special Presentation: The Arctic ecosystem on the North Slope of Alaska represents a microcosm of the realities that society at large faces with regard to fossil fuel dependency, climate change and the importance of protecting our last wild and pristine places. Come learn what is being done to protect this iconic American landscape and what you can do to help! Featured Speaker & Host Kit McGurn is the National Arctic Organizer for the Sierra Club. He is working to educate and engage citizens across the country in Arctic conservation issues in order to build demand for protection of the unique ecosystems in America’s Arctic. Prior to joining the Sierra Club, Kit worked for the Greater Yellowstone Coalition where he organized around issues such as Northern Rockies wolf protection and Roadless area preservation. Kit completed degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies at Pacific Lutheran University. CONTACT: 585-234-1056 or Sierra Club NW office, Kit McGurn, 206-378-0114 ext. 324 or kit.mcgurn@sierraclub.org
Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Hyatt Regency Hotel, Buffalo, NY
- Join us for the 4th Annual New York State Healing Our Waters Coalition Conference. At the conference, you'll learn about achieving Great Lakes Restoration, implementing the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Compact in New York, and managing our Great Lakes ecosystem holistically. WHAT: Healing Our Waters Coalition Conference: Uniting New York’s Great Lakes Communities to Restore Our Freshwater Coast WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:30 am - 4:00 pm WHERE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Buffalo, NY There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Please visit http://www.citizenscampaign.org/glconference/ for more information and to register. Cosponsored by: Audubon New York, Center for Environmental Information, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates of New York, Great Lakes Research Consortium, and Great Lakes United.
October 24, 2009 http://www.350.org/
- October 24, 2009 is INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE ACTION DAY, and is being coordinated by 350.org, the grassroots organizing brainchild of Bill McKibben. The idea is to mobilize grassroots groups all over the world to hold highly visible public / media events on 10/24/09. Each event should highlight the number 350—the maximum global atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (in parts per million- ppm) that is safe for the long term. We are already up to 387, and increasing. For more details: http://www.350.org/ We need to do something in Rochester, and to be worth doing, it should be a coordinated effort between several groups, and something creative, eye-catching…. Media-worthy! That’s the point—to have media worldwide show that there is a groundswell of popular support for a global treaty (successor to Kyoto), and that therefore world leaders must craft a plan to bring levels down to 350 ppm by the time they leave the international climate talks in Copenhagen in December of this year. Are you interested in helping? If this is to be done, we would need people to: • Reach out to other groups/ organizations to see what they are doing, and try to coordinate (for all I know, there is already an effort planned that we could work with) • Be creative- come up with a good location / “shtick” to make it media-worthy • Recruit others • Contact media

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Action – Take Action - Often, I receive request to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on local developments, and environmental items needing action by the Rochester Community and around the world. I’ll keep Actions posted until their due date.

Action Due Date: During the week of October 4 to 10, 2009
- Curb Your Car Week - Color Brighton Green “Way to Go” is a nationwide program encouraging the use of cheaper, healthier, and more earth-friendly transportation alternatives. During the week of October 4 to 10, 2009, if you normally use an automobile for daily transportation, please consider walking, biking, car pooling, or riding the bus as alternatives. --from Home Page - Color Brighton Green
Action Due Date: Soon -- from the Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet.
- Congress, "Don't Stand in the Way of EPA Action on Climate Change!" The Senate is currently considering legislation that will fund the EPA for the next year, and opponents of action on climate change are looking to prevent the EPA from acting to curb global warming pollution or accurately measure the potential climate impacts of biofuels. It is vital that both Congress and EPA work quickly together if we are to make real progress on global warming. Prohibiting EPA from addressing global warming pollution ignores science and undermines existing laws. It also takes away some of our country's most valuable tools for curbing global warming. Tell the Senate to move us towards a clean energy economy, and not to stand in the way of EPA action on climate change: http://tinyurl.com/nntmom Warm Regards, Christina Marie Yagjian National Conservation Organizer Sierra Club, Global Warming and Energy 202.675.7911
Action Due Date: November 10, 2009 --from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- Think EPP Brownfield sites cleanup are not stringent enough, let them know: EPA Seeks Comment on Greener Site Cleanups WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a new strategy that would make cleanups at hazardous waste sites greener. The Superfund Green Remediation Strategy is an initial effort to outline key actions and related activities that can be undertaken to promote green remediation and to reduce energy use. EPA is taking comment on action items that fall into three major categories: policy and guidance development, resource development and program implementation, and program evaluation. The strategy also contains several recommendations including a call for EPA to implement a series of near-term program initiatives, and to establish a baseline of Superfund energy usage. The public comment period is open for 60 days. Reducing the demands placed on the environment during cleanup of contaminated land is a high priority for EPA. In addition to the new strategy, EPA has developed Principles for Greener Cleanups. The principles call for EPA’s cleanup programs to use greener approaches during any phase of site work and establish the goal of evaluating cleanup actions to ensure protection of human health and the environment while reducing the environmental footprint of cleanup activities, when feasible. Cleanups that do not satisfy threshold requirements for protectiveness or do not meet site specific cleanup objectives, are not considered greener cleanups. More information on the strategy: View all news releases related to hazardous waste
Action Due Date: October 24, 2009
- On October 24, 2009, millions of people around the globe will take action in their own communities, and call on world leaders to sign a climate agreement that leads us down the road to 350. We already have events planned at some of the world's most iconic places -- Australia's Great Barrier Reef, in front of the Pyramids in Egypt, in the Himalayas of South Asia and at the Great Lakes in the USA -- but we need you to host an event in your community. It doesn't have to be large (though that would be great), but it does need to display the number 350 in some visual way. Be creative! You can organize a rally, a hike up the closest peak, an educational forum, a community art project, or anything else. Just make sure you have fun, and represent 350 somehow -- on a banner or a sign, on your t-shirt, or by spelling it out with your bodies. This may not sound like it could really help, but it does--already we've had churches ringing their bells 350 times, 350 bicyclists circling through cities, even 350 people standing on their heads. The resulting media coverage has helped spread the word fast, so that many groups have joined this campaign. To sign up, please go to http://350.org/oct24 And make sure you snap a photo of your event and upload it to our website. We'll take those photos and pass them to our global leaders. Together we can let them know: 350 represents safety, and anything that doesn't meet the 350 test is gambling with our future. Take Action with 350 on October 24th
Action Due Date: December 1, 2009 -from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
- EPA Seeks Public Input on National Enforcement Priorities Through Online Forum WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched an online discussion forum to receive public input on the future priorities for EPA’s national enforcement program. The public will be able to provide feedback through the EPA Web site until December 1, giving them a forum to submit ideas for EPA to consider for new areas of enforcement focus. All ideas will be evaluated and considered for recommendation to the EPA administrator about the future direction of EPA’s national enforcement and compliance priorities. The current enforcement priorities through 2010 focus on significant environmental problems, including pollution from stormwater runoff, air toxics, concentrated animal feeding operations, and mineral processing. To submit suggestions for potential priorities: Information on the enforcement priorities: (August 31, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [[more on Action in our area]

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Award – Environmental Site of the Month Award – [On the last Sunday of each month, we present an environmental award for the Rochester-area environmental web site or blog that best promotes the need to protect and offers solutions for our area's environmental issues.]