RochesterEnvironment.com’s Newsletter

August 2006

Go to: News - What's New?- Events of the Month - Actions to take - Site of the Month

NEWS SUMMARY: Many of the news links below may already be out of date because these online news sources do not archive their stories.  To get the full articles, you can contact the news service and ask them for a copy. 

News for August 2006:

• Trickles of pollution: A path to a clean lake? SUNY effort to locate sources may lead to solutions - — GREECE — Northrup Creek flows wide and lazy along suburban back yards, carrying ducks and fish and the occasional canoe. It's also a conduit for the pollution that sullies Lake Ontario. Every time it rains, water flows across the surface of the land, picking up pesticides, loose soil, motor oil drippings and fertilizers in its path. The little rivulets collect in ditches and small streams, then in creeks like Northrup, eventually making their way into the lake. (August 30, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Shoreline cleanup coming - Volunteers sought to scour water's edge Sept. 16 New York had been coordinating an annual coastal cleanup for 15 years before the ICC started, an effort that has grown from a handful of volunteers to tens of thousands statewide, said state coordinator Barbara Cohen of the American Littoral Society, a group concerned with the ecology of coastal areas. (August 29, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• MPNnow.com: Can the skies help deflate energy costs in Webster? WEBSTER – A tower could soon pave the way for wind power in town. The town of Webster is hoping to construct a 164-foot tower to measure wind speed at the sewage treatment plant off Phillips Road. Webster has been looking into whether wind could effectively power the Walter W. Bradley Pollution Control Facility, thereby reducing energy costs. "(The facility has) extremely high energy use for the sewer department, with all the mechanical equipment and so forth, so what that would do would be to reduce the price of electric (for the town)," said Tony Casciani, Planning Board chairman. (August 28, 2006) Messenger Post Newspapers
• Local zookeeper wings to Panama to help save frog species— John Adamski spent his summer vacation walking through the thick underbrush along Panamanian streams and snatching dozens of tiny gem-colored frogs from the air as they leapt away from his footfalls. He put in hours of hard labor installing fish tanks in the tropical heat, spent his nights in a hotel suite bathing hundreds of frogs in an antifungal solution — and he can't wait to go back.  - (August 28, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Getting flu shot expected to be easier this year — Flu season last fall in the Rochester area was anything but orderly. Delays from manufacturers in getting flu vaccine to doctors' offices and public clinics caused people to swamp any local clinics that remained open. And when vaccine became plentiful in December and January, seemingly no one wanted it. - (August 26, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Schools to use 'green' cleaning supplies for safety Some urge tougher rules to reduce children's exposure to chemicals - (August 24, 2006) — ALBANY — Products with names like Earth's Choice, Sustainable Earth and Green Knight will fill janitors' closets this fall as schools around the state comply with a new law that requires "environmentally friendly" cleaning supplies. Concerns about the harmful health effects chemicals can have, especially on children, and a realization that cleaners with reduced amounts of potentially dangerous ingredients are increasingly available prompted the legislation, which takes effect Sept. 1. (August 24, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Funds Get a Boost for Lead Removal - The federal government is putting more money into paying for lead paint removal from homes across the country and in Monroe County. Democratic Congresswoman Louise Slaughter is making a formal announcement in Rochester on Thursday. The amendment she authored restores $35 million in federal funding to the Housing and Urban Development's office of lead hazard control. (August 24, 2006) R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
• WXXI: Area Reps Back Great Lakes Bill (2006-08-24) ROCHESTER, NY (2006-08-24) Congressman James Walsh was in Irondequoit Wednesday to announce his support for a bipartisan bill intended to promote cleanup and preservation of the Geat Lakes. Walsh was joined near the mouth of the Genessee River by representatives of a number of environmental groups to promote the Great Lakes Collaboration Implementaiton Act. (August 24, 2006) Public NewsRoom
• environment: it's not easy being green Last month The Green Guide, a New York City-based news and information source for green living, published its list of America's Top 25 Greenest Cities. It turns out grass and the leaves aren't the only things greening up around here this spring: Rochester debuted at No. 21. Mayors' offices in 251 metropolitan areas with populations of 100,000 or more were surveyed on issues like air quality, electricity use and production, environmental perspective, green design, green space, public health, recycling, water quality and transportation. (August 24, 2006) Insider: Rochester Remixed
• Building a better wheel: Wind legislation postponed - COHOCTON - In an effort to tighten legal enforcement regarding the construction of wind turbines, the Town of Cohocton decided to delay recommendations set by the planning board. The decision was announced Tuesday at the town board meeting, according to Supervisor Jack Zigenfus. (August 18, 2006) Hornell Evening Tribune Online
• 5,000 masks await bird flu: Hornellsville supervisor has boxes ready for residents at town hall - ARKPORT - Hornellsville town Supervisor Kenneth Isaman is taking the potential for a pandemic outbreak of bird flu seriously. Isaman, who happens to be chairman of the Steuben County Legislature's Health and Education Committee, said his interest stems from experience. (August 18, 2006) Hornell Evening Tribune Online
• Top Federal and State Health Officials Join Together at New York Pandemic Planning Summit Acknowledging that pandemics happen and require a strong local response, Dr. Dale Morse, Director of the Office of Public Health and Science of the New York Department of Health (DOH), John Gibb, Director of the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) and Dr. John Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary for Health of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today addressed federal and local public health officials, business, education, and community leaders and the public about pandemic flu preparedness. Dr. Agwunobi is in New York as part of a national tour of states, as the federal government prepares the country for a potential influenza pandemic. "Pandemics are global in nature but their effects are always local, so I am pleased that Dr. Morse and Director Gibb are taking leadership roles to prepare New York for this threat," Dr. Agwunobi said. "Pandemic planning needs to address how schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others participate in pandemic preparedness. With this meeting, local officials can identify needs specific to New York communities and begin crucial coordination to assure readiness if a pandemic outbreak strikes." - (August 16, 2006) New York State Department of Health
• Grants to fund water cleanup -$800,000 to cut pollution, restore habitat - — The streams of gray-brown soil and pollution that streak through the Genesee River and its tributaries with every heavy rain keep Rochester from taking full advantage of one of its greatest resources — a river at the heart of the city that could support a substantial ecotourism industry. However, local leaders believe that nearly $800,000 in local water quality preservation grants, announced Tuesday alongside the river at Genesee Valley Park, can make a big difference. (August 16, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• City buses to use cleaner fuel - Some experts say less-polluting diesel could improve health - — Rochester's public buses will be switching to a new, less polluting diesel fuel formulation this fall. A vote taken by the Rochester Genesee Regional Transportation Authority board of commissioners this week unanimously approved the switch to ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel. The change — which will affect all 225 public buses and the nearly 28,000 gallons of fuel they burn every week — should be complete by October, said Jacquie Halldow, director of communications for the authority. (August 12, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• New Adirondack museum celebrates the outdoors - — Making the Adirondack Mountains was a cold, noisy, dirty business. Like an icy bulldozer, a massive glacier scoured, shattered, pushed and punched miles of ancient rock, shaping what became New York's beloved Adirondacks, the largest park in the United States. At The Wild Center, a new science museum in the Franklin County village of Tupper Lake, a 15-foot-tall glacial ice wall brings that distant past to life. (August 13, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Flu pandemic readiness urged - Stockpiling food, water, drugs recommended - — BRIGHTON — New Yorkers should have a two-week supply of water and food on hand, as well as a stockpile of nonprescription drugs and other health supplies, in case a feared avian flu pandemic becomes reality. That was the message state Health Commissioner and former U.S. Surgeon General Antonia Novello brought Wednesday as she addressed the annual conference of Monroe Community College's Homeland Security Management Institute. (August 10, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• Botulism in Lake Ontario harming birds, fish — Botulism is back on Lake Ontario's shores, where invasive species are helping it thrive. Every summer, when water temperatures rise, thousands of fish and fish-eating birds such as gulls and terns succumb to the toxin produced by botulism bacteria across the Great Lakes. And in recent weeks, state Department of Environmental Conservation scientists have confirmed an outbreak at the east end of Lake Ontario that has killed hundreds of birds. They also have found the toxin in Sodus Bay, 40 miles east of Rochester. (August 9, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• West Nile found in crows here - Monroe just the third upstate county to discover virus this year — The West Nile virus, a potentially fatal illness spread by mosquitoes, is back in Monroe County, health officials said Friday. Two dead crows, a species used as an indicator because it is particularly vulnerable to the disease, this week tested positive for the virus — the first such test results for 2006. "It's been kind of a slow and late start" this year, said Monroe County Health Department spokesman John Ricci. "But this confirms for us that the virus is within our borders. From now until the killing frost, humans are most at risk" of infection. (August 5, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
• First Case of Person with West Nile Virus Reported in New York State This Year, Health Officials Stress Prevention ALBANY, NY, August 4, 2006 – New York State Health Commissioner Antonia C. Novello, M.D., M.P.H., Dr. P.H. today announced that a Staten Island resident has tested positive for West Nile virus and urged New Yorkers to take extra measures to protect themselves from this potentially serious illness. The individual became ill with flu-like symptoms in late July. Since July 26th, the New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Center reported West Nile virus positive results for 11 mosquito pools for Suffolk County and 1 mosquito pool each from Nassau, Rockland, and Westchester Counties. Two positive birds have also been reported since July 26 from Monroe County, and one from Tompkins County. To date, Ninety positive mosquito pools and six positive birds have been reported to the State Health Department statewide. With today's announcement, health officials are stressing the need for additional precautions. --New York State Department of Health

 WHAT'S NEW?  Each day RochesterEnvironment.com scours the Internet for all environmental articles, events, actions and issues pertaining to Rochester, New York.

 What's New in RochesterEnvironment.com for August 2006:

• 08/30/06 -- Looking for easy ways to ease your Energy Bill?  Check out this helpful article from: Energy bill burning you? - Orlando Sentinel : Home & Garden Energy bill burning you? - Orlando Sentinel : Home & Garden "It's not your imagination: Your electricity bills have been climbing steadily skyward. And as they do, you channel your father, with alarm: "You think money grows on trees? Turn out the lights!" With a bit of pruning, that money tree might bloom after all. Ever wonder where your money is going? Yes, some is heading down the drain (check your water-heating costs). And you might be surprised how the rest disappears. Here's where you can save on your energy bill."

• 08/22/06 -- On Wind Power: This just in from The NY Wind Power Education Project:

TO: Environmental & Community Organizations in NYS — As summer comes to a close, there are more and more meetings being scheduled around NYS to explore, discuss, and debate wind energy development. Please pass on this information to members of your organizations and consider attending the events list below. Also, after the UPCOMING EVENTS is a new section: SEQRA DECISIONS AND WIND PROJECT MILESTONES, see below.

UPCOMING EVENTS

8/22: Public Comments Deadline. August 22 is the last day for public comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed wind farm (86 1.5MW turbines) in the Town of Sheldon, Wyoming County, NY. A public hearing on this EIS was held 8/1. Copies of the EIS are available for review on www.Highsheldonwind.com and for more information, see http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/enb2006/20060705/not9.html Comments can go to Gertrude Hyman, Town of Sheldon, 1380 Centerline Road, Sheldon, NY 14145, (585) 535-7644

8/25: Offer Expiring. New York Interfaith Power and Light, an organization promoting faithful and just stewardship of God's creation through energy conservation and the use of renewable energy, is offering free of charge to any congregation requesting, a copy of An Inconvenient Truth. If there’s a way you can help spread the word…please do! This offer ends on August 25^{th. Congregations can simply go to the website and send their information. www.nyipl.org}

8/28: Public Comment for Windfarm Prattsburgh. The last date for submitting comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the UPC Windfarm Prattsburgh is August 28, 2006. Written comments can be sent to James P. Sherron - Executive Director - Steuben County Industrial Development Agency (SCIDA), 7234 Route 54 North, PO Box 393, Bath, NY. 14810-0393. This DEIS has been accepted by the Steuben County Industrial Development Agency, as lead agent under SEQRA, as complete. See the DEIS at ^{http://www.windfarmprattsburgh.com/about-rr.php -}

8/29: Wind Energy Conference. The Southern Tier West Regional Planning and Development Board is holding a Regional Wind Conference on 8/29, 9:00 am–2:00 pm at the Erie 2 BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia, NY. Presentations will be targeted to municipal officials and planners and will cover wind energy topics such as planning, construction, agricultural impacts, zoning, and the State Environmental Quality Review Act. For more information, contact Dan Reynolds, Regional Environmental Analyst, at 716-945-5301 or ^{dreynolds@southertierwest.org.}

8/31: Energy Expo – Croton-on-Hudson. Citizens Campaign for the Environment is hosting New York Kicks the Barrel on Oil Addiction! August 31, in Croton-on-Hudson, with a variety of renewable and alternative energy companies, including a presentation on wind energy by Noble Environmental Power. Congresswoman Sue Kelly will be speaking and receiving an award for her leadership. Tuesday, August 31, 2006, 11:00am-2:00pm, Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Contact Megan Smith, Citizens Campaign for the Environment: msmith@citizenscampaign.org or (914) 997-0946.

8/31: Seminar - Wind Works 4 LI is sponsoring a talk on the European experience with offshore wind power by Mr. Jens Larsen, Environment and Energy Adviser, Copenhagen Environment and Energy Office. Huntington Cinema Arts Center, 423 Park Ave, Huntington, NY 11743 at 8 p.m. on August 31st. For more information, please contact Kasey at kjacobs@citizenscampaign.org

9/7: Meeting – Buffalo Wind Action Group. The next Wind Action Group meeting is Thursday, September 7th at 5:30 at 812 Main in Buffalo. All welcome!

9/13-14: AWEA Wind Resource Assessment Workshop. This is a two day technical workshop in Syracuse (with a registration cost) sponsored by the American and Canadian Wind Energy Associations. For more information, see ^{http://www.awea.org/events/wra/.}

9/15: Comments Due for West Hill Wind Farm - The last day to submit comments on the West Hill Wind Farm, proposed for the Town of Stockbridge, is September 19th. Comments should be sent to Patricia Smith, Town of Stockbridge, 6193 Valley Mill Street, Munnsville, NY 13409, phone: (315) 495-6581. See below for more information. .

9/19: Wind Power Presentation - Oakfield. On September 19th at 7 pm there will be a presentation on wind power for the town of Oakfield, NY and interested members of the public, at the high school.

9/26-27: Empire Energy and Environmental Expo. The Environmental Business Association of New York State, Inc. (EBA/NYS) will host the 6th Annual Empire Energy & Environmental Exposition (E4) in Syracuse, New York on September 26th and 27th, 2006. See: ^{EBA Conference}

9/28: Wind Power Forum. On September 28th from 7-9 p.m., the Citizens Campaign for the Environment and UB Green is sponsoring a public forum on wind energy at the University of Buffalo. The public is very welcome. For more information contact Brian Smith at ^{bsmith@citizenscampaign.org.}

10/3: Wind Power Forum. On October 3rd from 7-9 p.m., the Citizens Campaign for the Environment is hosting a public forum on wind energy at Warsaw High School in the Town of Warsaw in Wyoming County. For more information contact Brian Smith at ^{bsmith@citizenscampaign.org.}

10/9: Public Hearing – Dairy Hills Wind Farm. Wyoming County - The Town of Perry Town Board, has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Dairy Hills Wind Mill Project and will hold a public hearing on the Draft EIS on October 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fireman's Building, Village Park, Lake Street, Perry, NY. The public comment period ends November 29, 2006. See below (SEQRA Decisions) for more information.

SEQRA Decisions & Wind Project Milestones

Orleans County - The Town of Ridgeway, as lead agency, has determined that the proposed Town of Ridgeway Local Law No. 3 of 2006 - Moratorium on Wind Energy Deriving Towers, Wind Energy Conversion Systems, Meterorological Towers and Transmission Facilities Law will not have a significant adverse environmental impact. This local law prohibits the approval and construction of wind energy towers, systems and transmission facilities in the town of Ridgeway for a one year period, excluding irrigation windmills and pond aeration windmills under 35 feet in height. During the moratorium, the Town of Ridgeway will prepare zoning amendments (or a local law) regulating the future construction of wind energy towers, systems and facilities in the town. Contact: Brian P. Napoli, Town of Ridgeway, 410 West Avenue, Medina, NY 14103, phone: (585) 798-0730.

Wyoming County - The Town of Perry Town Board, as lead agency, has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Dairy Hills Wind Mill Project. A public hearing on the Draft EIS will be held on October 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. at the Fireman's Building, Village Park, Lake Street, Perry, NY. The public comment period ends November 29, 2006. The action involves the construction of a wind-powered generating facility consisting of up to 60 wind turbines, each with a maximum height of 410 feet, which includes a system of 21 miles of gravel access roads, a 38 mile system of buried electrical cable, a 290-foot by 435-foot substation and two permanent 262-foot tall meterorological towers. The project is located in the Towns of Perry, Covington and Warsaw. Contact: James Brick, Town of Perry, 22 South Main Street, P. O. Box 205, Perry, NY 14530, phone: (585) 237-2241, fax: (585) 237-3074

Wyoming County - The Town of Eagle Town Board, as lead agency, has accepted a Final Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed Wind Mill Project. The action involves the construction and operation of an approximately 100 megawatt (MW) wind energy park in the Town of Eagle, including the installation and operation of 67 wind turbines within an approximately 5071-acre area, construction and use of 16 miles of access roads, construction and use of an electrical collection system with approximately 7.1 miles of overhead lines and 16.7 miles of underground lines, construction and use of a new substation on a 1.5-acre parcel that will tie into an existing 115-kV line, and construction and use of a 5.5 mile overhead transmission line that will connect to the newly constructed substation and an existing substation in the Town of Arcade, NY. Contact: Joseph Kushner, Town of Eagle, 3560 Main Street, Bliss, NY 14066, phone: (585) 322-7730, fax: (585) 322-9276.

Madison County - The Town of Stockbridge, as lead agency, has accepted a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed West Hill Wind Farm. Public comment period ends September 15, 2006. The action involves construction and operation of a wind-powered electric generating facility in the Towns of Stockbridge, Smithfield and Lincoln, Madison County, NY. The facility comprises of 25 wind turbines, access roads, electric utility lines, substation, and related infrastructure. Contact: Patricia Smith, Town of Stockbridge, 6193 Valley Mill Street, Munnsville, NY 13409, phone: (315) 495-6581.

About The NY Wind Power Education Project

The NY Wind Power Education Project is a collaborative effort of the Pace Law School Energy Project, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, and NYPIRG to increase the public's understanding of wind power issues, including its environmental benefits, in the belief that a better informed public can participate more meaningfully in the environmental review process and other public discussions surrounding proposed wind facilities.

Twice per month, the NY Wind Power Education Project will distribute this email bulletin on wind energy issues and events around New York State. If you would like to forward announcements for possible inclusion in the WPEP Bulletins, simply email Anne Reynolds, ^{areynolds@law.pace.edu. (The same address should be used if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)}

• 08/18/06 -- Why you should be concerned about Mercury pollution: Mercury pollution threatens health worldwide, scientists say (Aug 11, 2006)
• 08/18/06 -- Find out how 9 state are trying to curb Green House Gases: Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI or "ReGGIe") is a cooperative effort by 9 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states to discuss the design of a regional cap-and-trade program initially covering carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in the region. In the future, RGGI may be extended to include other sources of greenhouse gas emissions, and greenhouse gases other than CO2.

Events of the month:  Each Month I will post all up and coming environmental events until they are over.  Be sure to check the list often as events come and go and I only post this newsletter once a month. 

Events for September 2006 and beyond:  

When	What	Where
7:00 to 9:00 PM September 21, 2006	The Storm Drain on your Street: Stormwater, Illicit Discharges and Water Quality - 7:00 to 9:00 PM September 21, 2006, Brighton Town Hall auditorium - 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Brighton  --from Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club Does the term Stormwater get you to thinking of New Orleans and hurricane Katrina? We experienced a number of summer storms this year with heavy downpours that could have overwhelmed "the system". What does stormwater mean to the environment and water quality in Monroe County? Andy Sansone who is a Senior Industrial Waste Technician with the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services will present a program on Monroe County’s work to reduce storm related pollution. Most municipalities in the county have been working to comply with the new EPA Stormwater Phase II regulations. These regulations are intended to reduce non-point source pollution to the waters of the U.S. from such sources as construction sites and illicit discharges.	Brighton Library, 2300 Elmwood Avenue (In large public room off of magazine room) Map of 2300 Elmwood Ave Rochester, NY 14618-2145
September 28 - 6:30pm	Wondering About Wind: Helping Local Governments Deal with Wind Power - Finger Lakes Institute, Geneva, NY - September 28 - 6:30pm (fli.hws.edu) Wind development is sharply increasing in upstate New York, particularly in the Finger Lakes Region. Wind power can be a promising renewable energy source, but it can also create complicated issues of public policy and opinion. Municipalities across New York are navigating through an often complicated process, planning for and sitting wind power, a technology that most municipalities do not address in their zoning or comprehensive plans. Join Mark Denecke, Finger Lakes Energy $mart Coordinator at the Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council, to learn what local municipalities can do to prepare for and to deal with wind energy development. Also, below is an article to link to related to Tom Golisano's involvement in municipal cooperatives. http://www.eveningtribune.com/articles/2006/08/26/news/news02.txt -http://www.empirestatewindenergy.com/index.htm - Mark Denecke Finger Lakes Energy $mart Coordinator Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council 50 West Main Street, Suite 8107 Rochester, NY 14614 ph (585) 454-0190 ext 22 fx (585) 454-0191 www.gflrpc.org  www.getenergysmart.org  - www.powernaturally.org	Finger Lakes Institute, Geneva, NY
Saturday, September 30, 2006, 5 PM - 9 PM	Fall Festival 2006 The Rochester Sierra Club's annual Fall Festival-- Featuring: “Four on the Floor” Jazz Quartet Also, Celebration of Environmental Progress Nature Walk - Wine, Beer, Coffee, Tea - Desserts - Cheese & Crackers When: Saturday, September 30, 2006, 5 PM - 9 PM Where: at the Tay House* in Cobbs Hill Park - With the success of the Rochester Jazz Festival, we’ve decided to invite a Jazz Quartet to entertain us for an evening. Four on the Floor Jazz Quartet provides easy listening instrumental music including familiar standard jazz tunes as well as smooth original compositions. Dance if the feeling moves you, or just sit back and enjoy the groove. The quartet consists of piano/keyboards, bass, drums/percussion, trumpet/flugelhorn.	at the Tay House* in Cobbs Hill Park
March 15-18, 2007	-from Rochester Gardening The Gardenscape Professionals Association http://www.gardenscapepros.com/  announced that advance tickets for GardenScape 2007, Rochester's Flower Show, are on sale now until the end of 2006. These tickets offer a $2 savings on adult admissions to the March 15-18, 2007 event. Sounds like a gift idea for your favorite gardener - or yourself! http://www.RochesterFlowerShow.com/
September 15, 2006	**ACTION** The International Joint Commission (IJC) has extended the period for public comment on the report of its International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Study Board until September 15, 2006 following the release of the Annexes to the report. The Study Board reviewed the regulation of water levels and flows in the Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River system, taking into account the impact of regulation on affected interests. The Annexes provide the Technical Work Group summaries, descriptions of the new candidate regulation plans, discussion of mitigation and adaptive management action plans, and the pertinent background documents. The Commission will consider the options in the Study Board report as potential replacements for the current regulation plan, Plan 1958-D, and will also consider revising its Orders of Approval for regulation of Lake Ontario outflows. The public is welcome to provide comments on the Study Board report, the Annexes to the report, or any other relevant matters, to assist the Commission in its deliberations. Copies of the Study Board report and Annexes are available from either address below, or online at http://www.losl.org/reports/finalreport-e.html . Comments by letter, fax or email must be received by September 15, 2006 at either address below:   U.S. Section Secretary - International Joint Commission - 1250 23rd Street NW, Suite 100 - Washington, DC 20440 -Tel: 202-736-9024 -Fax: 202-467-0746 -commission@washington.ijc.org Canadian Section Secretary - International Joint Commission -234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor - Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6 - Tel: 613-995-0088 -Fax: 613-993-5583 -commission@ottawa.ijc.org Written public comments will become part of a public record that may be posted on the IJC’s website or otherwise made available to the public. The IJC requests that people who submit comments provide contact information so that the IJC can inform them of the outcome of the process. To protect the privacy of any person submitting comment, the IJC will remove the following identifying information from the incoming communication before making the comment available to the public: email address, street address, post office box, zip code, postal code, telephone number and fax number. The following identifying information will remain part of the record that is made available to the public: name, organizational affiliation, city, and state/province. The Commission will hold public hearings after making a preliminary decision on changes to the current regulation plan and Orders of Approval. The times and locations will be announced. For more information, visit the Commission’s website at www.ijc.org
Sept. 16.	**ACTION** Alliance for the Great Lakes - Adopt a Beach Alliance for the Great Lakes Be part of the world's largest shoreline cleanup, the Annual September Adopt-a-Beach Day on Sept. 16. Thousands of volunteers come out to area beaches to lend a hand to improve lake health and enjoy our Great Lakes.
every Saturday	Current Events with the Land Trust - Land Trust. Nature walks, cruises, birdwatching, luncheons and more go on throughout the year in the beautiful Finger Lakes Region. --from Finger Lakes Land Trust  Get the Summer Talks & Treks 2006 Schedule: (requires .pdf)
September 9th	-from Rochester Gardening Tickets are on sale for this year's Gathering of Gardeners seminar, held September 9th. The 2006 event features speakers C. Colston Burrell and Rich Eyre at the Eisenhart Auditorium in Rochester. There will be multiple presentations as well as the popular "parking lot sale" of plants and accessories. Program and registration details are found at: http://www.gatheringofgardeners.com/  Tickets orders postmarked on or before August 1 qualify for a $5 discount, and a ticket order form is found on the event's web site.	Eisenhart Auditorium in Rochester
a.m.-12 noon, Sat., Sept. 16.	**ACTION** -- fromThe City of Rochester: The City of Rochester along with Monroe County Pure Water Division, local business and community members are hosting the 14th annual International Coastal Cleanup from 9 a.m.-12 noon, Sat., Sept. 16. Rain or shine! Last year, over 595 volunteers picked up litter along area streams and the shorelines of the Genesee River and Lake Ontario. Volunteers collected and disposed of over two tons of trash from 47 miles of shoreline: Volunteers worked in teams to pick up litter and also record the types and amount of trash found. This data is entered into a national database that you can access at: www.alsnyc.org . Clean-up locations will again be: Hamlin Beach, Durand Eastman Beach, Turning Point Park, Ontario Beach park (Charlotte), Webster Park, Braddock Bay Park and the Seth Green Drive fishing site. Clean up begins at 9 a.m. at all locations and is followed by a free "trash bash" at Durand Eastman Park. Enjoy a picnic lunch, games, prizes, and entertainment to celebrate your efforts. This event is sponsored internationally by The Ocean Conservancy and throughout NYS by the American Littoral Society. Locally in the City of Rochester and Monroe County it is a true community effort, organized and coordinated with the support from local business and town municipalities. Walk-ins are welcome!! Registration is completed at cleanup sites as indicated below: Durand Eastman: Beach Captain Jamie Romeo (585) 309-8148 or (585) 753-1930 Hamlin Beach: Beach Captain Hilary Richardson (585) 395-5966 Seth Green Fishing Access: Beach Captain Ray Littlefield (585) 428-6523 Ontario Beach Park (Charlotte): Beach Captain Michael Parker (585) 621-2461 Turning Point Park: Beach Captain Brian Slack (585) 454-0190 Webster Park: Beach Captain Amy Crosby (585) 787-1002 Braddock Bay Park: Beach Captain June Summer (585) 865-6047 Volunteers may receive site information by contacting staff at the City of Rochester Recreation and Youth Services Department, 585-428-6770. Please note volunteers will be placed in contact with assigned Site Captains.
	Pittsford Plaza Cinema 9 Two Movies that are a must see this summer: Sony Pictures Classics Presents : Who Killed the Electric Car?  and  An Inconvenient Truth
October 25, 2006 at 6 PM	When: October 25, 2006 at 6 PM - What: Center for Environmental Information’s 32nd Community Salute to the Environment -Peter R. Smith President and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) will discuss the relationship between energy efficiency, the development of renewable resources, and climate change in a carbon constrained future. As third-party administrator of the five-year $175 million a year System Benefits Charge, as well as Central Procurement Agent for the more than $770 million Renewable Portfolio Standard, NYSERDA uses innovation and technology to solve some of New York's most pressing energy and environmental problems in ways that benefit the State's economy. -For more information check www.ceinfo.org  or contact Shirley Sherman at 585-262-2870 or cei@ceinfo.org . -Where: at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY.	at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, 125 East Main Street, Rochester, NY.
Monday, October 16  at 7 p.m.	Sierra Club Book Study Group Sierra Book Study Group has chosen to read Collapse, How Societies Choose to Fail Or Succeed by Jared Diamond. “compelling in its ability to relate the pandemonium of the present to the hushed agrarian sunrises of the far past” NY Times "The Icelanders..learned to adapt to living within the limits of their environment. a book to help us do the same" LA Times ---  and Monday, October 16 at the Winton Library, 611 Winton Road, North at 7 p.m. There are copies in the library system. Open to all. Hope to see you there.	at the Winton Library, 611 Winton Road, North
September 16, 2006	Help clean up our rivers: American Littoral Society Clean up with the AMERICAN LITTORAL SOCIETY - VOLUNTEER for the NEW YORK STATE BEACH CLEANUP at a beach near you. September 16, 2006 -Collect and record the litter around your lake, river, beach, sound or ocean. For information, contact: Barbara Cohen Beach Cleanup Coordinator American Littoral Society (718) 471-2166 e-mail: alsbeach@aol.com  Visit us on the web at www.alsnyc.org  HOTLINE: (800) 449-0790
	The latest Parks, Recreation and Human Services Calendar Update is available on the City of Rochester's web site. Click on the link below (or copy and paste the link into your browser) to view the document. http://www.cityofrochester.gov/prhs/updates/30JUNE06update.pdf
Proposals must be received by September 1, 2006.	GRANTS AVAILABLE TO IMPROVE ROCHESTER’S AIR - What: The Center for Environmental Information through its Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE) Program announces a grant program available to communities for projects that reduce human exposure to air toxics from mobile sources. The CARE Small Grants Program provides U.S. Environmental Protection Agency funding for local projects ranging from $1,000 to $15,000. Projects must result in a reduction of mobile source air toxics and/or an increase in public awareness of the sources and effects of mobile source air toxics. How: Contact Margit Brazda Poirier, CARE Program Manager at 585-314-7869 or www.ceinfo.org  for more information and an application. When: Proposals must be received by September 1, 2006. Why: Mobile source (from cars, buses, snowmobiles, lawn and landscape equipment, etc.) air toxics comprise approximately 56% of the total air toxics in the Rochester region (source: U.S. EPA). Toxic air pollutants, also known as hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), are those pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer or other serious health effects, such as reproductive effects or birth defects, or adverse environmental effects. The U.S. EPA is working with state, local, and tribal governments to reduce air toxics releases of 188 pollutants to the environment. Examples of toxic air pollutants from mobile sources include benzene, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, 1,3-butadiene, particulate matter, and others.	Contact Margit Brazda Poirier, CARE Program Manager at 585-314-7869 or www.ceinfo.org  for more information and an application.
Every Tue., 6:15 p.m. - 8 p.m., May 30 - Sept. 5.	TUESDAY NATURE NIGHTS "GUIDED BIKE RIDES - The City's Bureau of Parks & Recreation features outdoor trail activities which focus on the beauty of Rochester's natural surroundings and healthy living through its "Tuesday Nature Nights" series, every Tue., 6:15 p.m. - 8 p.m., May 30 - Sept. 5. City staff guide FREE tours for all ages on bicycles, on foot or in canoes to various natural areas within the city. The walks and rides are leisurely with slight grade changes and are mostly on paths or sidewalks. No pre-registration is necessary, except for the Outrigger Canoe Paddles. Due to quickly changing summer weather conditions, any cancellations due to weather will be made on site at start time. Tuesday Nature Nights – a component of the City's Flower City Looking Good Program for gardeners and environmentalists – are supported by Preferred Care, Democrat and Chronicle and Wegmans. For further information on any of these nature programs, call 428-6770, or visit www.cityofrochester.gov  or www.democratandchronicle.com/ads/flowercity/2006 . Nine leisurely, guided bike rides (on level terrain and under 10 miles) will focus on Rochester's outstanding trail system and the Genesee River and Erie Canal. Rides will leave from various departure points from a different neighborhood each week. They last approximately one hour, beginning at 6:15 p.m. Helmets are required.	will leave from various departure points from a different neighborhood each week.
Second Monday of every month at 7 PM	From Green Party of Monroe County, New York --  Check out their blog: Green Pages Newspaper    This Monday is the Green Party of Monroe County's Monthly Meeting. Our speaker this month is Elizabeth Henderson of Peaceworks Farms and Genesee Valley Organic Community Supported Agriculture (GVOCSA). Elizabeth will be talking about organic agriculture at the family level. Mothers & Fathers can learn how to help their children as well as themselves go organic. Also in attendance at this month's shindig will be Rachel Treichler, who has just been elected as the Western NY representative to the NYS Green Party Executive Committee. Come and give her feedback on the Greens at a state level. As if that weren't enough, we'll be voting on a platform plank, planning for upcoming events, elections and more. As always the meeting starts at 7pm at 179 Atlantic Avenue. It's handicap accessible and the meeting is free and open to the public so bring your friends!	179 Atlantic Avenue.
Last Friday of the month	Critical Mass - Rochester Wiki "Critical Mass is a monthly bicycle ride to celebrate cycling and to assert cyclists' right to the road. The idea started in San Francisco in September 1992 and quickly spread to cities all over the world. Critical Mass has no leaders, and no central organization licenses rides. In every city that has a CM ride, some locals simply picked a date, time, and location for the ride and publicized it, and thus the ride was born. CM is an idea and an event, not an organization." — criticalmassrides.info - To plan critical mass rides in Rochester or to find out when the next ride is happening, sign up for the - Rochester Critical Mass mailing list. Critical mass rides traditionally occur on the last Friday of the month. The ride departs from the Wilson Commons clock tower on the UR campus at 5:30 and from the Liberty Pole (downtown) at 6:00pm.
	Get the complete list of events for Rochester Birding Association:   2005 Rochester Birding Association / Genesee Ornithological Society Birding Field Trips   You many need this browser plug-in to read this document.  Free viewer software for Microsoft Office documents
	Lots of things going on over at Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club  -- Check out their meetings and outings.
On-going	Metro Justice: Every Tuesday., 7PM TV Dinner meetings, Metro Justice Office. 167 Flanders Street.   Every Thursday - 8:30PM TV Dinner cable program, Cable channel 15.
	Local Web sites that have their own continual updating of Rochester-area Environmental Events

**Action**  (The Internet makes environmental action easier.) Check out these items and help out ( http://rochesterenvironment.com/action_rochester.htm )   RochesterEnvironment.com has made it easy to act on environmental issue by searching for all online environmental actions pertaining to our area.

Actions you can take for September 2006:

•  **ACTION** The International Joint Commission (IJC) has extended the period for public comment on the report of its International Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River Study Board until September 15, 2006 following the release of the Annexes to the report. The Study Board reviewed the regulation of water levels and flows in the Lake Ontario–St. Lawrence River system, taking into account the impact of regulation on affected interests. The Annexes provide the Technical Work Group summaries, descriptions of the new candidate regulation plans, discussion of mitigation and adaptive management action plans, and the pertinent background documents. The Commission will consider the options in the Study Board report as potential replacements for the current regulation plan, Plan 1958-D, and will also consider revising its Orders of Approval for regulation of Lake Ontario outflows. The public is welcome to provide comments on the Study Board report, the Annexes to the report, or any other relevant matters, to assist the Commission in its deliberations. Copies of the Study Board report and Annexes are available from either address below, or online at http://www.losl.org/reports/finalreport-e.html . Comments by letter, fax or email must be received by September 15, 2006 at either address below:

   

  • U.S. Section Secretary - International Joint Commission - 1250 23rd Street NW, Suite 100 - Washington, DC 20440 -Tel: 202-736-9024 -Fax: 202-467-0746 -commission@washington.ijc.org
  • Canadian Section Secretary - International Joint Commission -234 Laurier Avenue West, 22nd Floor - Ottawa, ON K1P 6K6 - Tel: 613-995-0088 -Fax: 613-993-5583 -commission@ottawa.ijc.org

  Written public comments will become part of a public record that may be posted on the IJC’s website or otherwise made available to the public. The IJC requests that people who submit comments provide contact information so that the IJC can inform them of the outcome of the process. To protect the privacy of any person submitting comment, the IJC will remove the following identifying information from the incoming communication before making the comment available to the public: email address, street address, post office box, zip code, postal code, telephone number and fax number. The following identifying information will remain part of the record that is made available to the public: name, organizational affiliation, city, and state/province.

  The Commission will hold public hearings after making a preliminary decision on changes to the current regulation plan and Orders of Approval. The times and locations will be announced. For more information, visit the Commission’s website at www.ijc.org

•  **ACTION** Alliance for the Great Lakes - Adopt a Beach Alliance for the Great Lakes Be part of the world's largest shoreline cleanup, the Annual September Adopt-a-Beach Day on Sept. 16. Thousands of volunteers come out to area beaches to lend a hand to improve lake health and enjoy our Great Lakes
•  **ACTION** Don't let them disappear on the ballot box.  Green Party Ballot Status: New York State Election Law says that in order for political parties to maintain ballot status, it must have at least 50,000 votes in each gubernatorial election. For the major, corporate-driven parties, this is easy. For independent, third-parties this is more difficult. In 1998, the Green Party ran Al "Grandpa" Lewis for governor and he got 52,533 votes. For the next four years, the Greens had a ballot line in New York State, allowing citizens to register as Greens and making it immensely easier to run candidates for local office. In 2002, the Greens ran Stanley Aronowitz for Governor and received 41,797 votes, losing ballot status. The Green Party sued to allow people to remain registered Greens and won. In 2003, the Monroe County Board of Elections sent a letter to all registered greens erroneously telling us that we are now considered "blanks". Many Greens then registered in a different party, not knowing they did not need to. The Monroe BOE did not send a second letter correcting this error. People can still register in the Green Party, but must check "Other" on voter registration cards and write in "Green". This year marks another gubernatorial election. The Greens will hold its convention on May 20th, in which its slate for state offices will be chosen. Because the state does not recognize us as an “official” party (because we do not have ballot status), we cannot have a primary, so members of the State Committee will elect those who have collected petition signatures to run for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Comptroller and US Senate. Once the candidates are chosen, we will have to garner thousands of petition signatures from mid July to mid August across the state to get our people on the ballot in November. Any registered NYS voters are allowed to gather signatures. Contact the local Green Party at (585) 234-6470 if you are interested in helping the Greens get ballot status back. Once we regain our ballot status, people will be able to register Green easier. We will be able to run more candidates more effectively thus challenging the corporate-party system. Dave Atias Visit http://www.gpomc.org  and http://gpomc.blogspot.com

Rochester-area Website of the Month:  The Rochester area has over 80 environmental groups. Rochester Environmentalists http://rochesterenvironment.com/environmentalists.htm  Each Month, I highlight a Rochester-area website that helps promotes finding environmental information on the web.

• Animal Service League  Founded in 1953, the Animal Service League is an all-volunteer organization concerned with the rescue, care and welfare of homeless domestic animals in the Rochester New York area. Cats, dogs, birds and other domestic animals in need of shelter and veterinary help are cared for until they can be restored to their original owners or new homes found. No animal is ever destroyed for lack of a permanent home. The animals are cared for on a temporary basis in our Haven Homes until they are ready to be placed in a permanent home. When available for adoption, the animals are shown at "Adoption Day" events held most weekends at various area merchants. This web site and our business line (585) 234-7275 can give you the exact times and locations for these events.