THE GREEN SHEET

Vol. 9 - No. 12
December 2004

Lead Story: Web Slingers
On the Alert
For Your Information
Activists' Corner
The Month Ahead
Contact Information

web Slingers

Web Slingers Early in November, activists in the environmental community learned that the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) was about to implement a new plan regarding on-site environmental monitors. Gone would be a system that has worked for years where the operators of hazardous landfills and similar facilities pay the salaries of DEC employees charged with keeping an eye on their operations. Under the new plan, private monitors, hired by the monitored company, would replace the state’s workers. In the few days that remained of a short public comment period, Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY) and its members swung into action.

With time running out on Nov. 4, and the stakes high, EANY mobilized its web-based eAdvocacy members. As reported by the Associated Press that day, more than a hundred individual faxed letters were generated from the eAdvocacy website to DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty in the first hour of the campaign. Within a few days, the commissioner heard directly from 628 members of the network.

Then, on Nov. 16, with the state Senate due back in town two days later for a special session, EANY launched another eAdvocacy campaign in support of the wetlands protection bill, known as the Clean Water Protection/Flood Prevention Act (S.4480-a, sponsored by Senator Carl Marcellino). The goal of the campaign was to get members to write their senators, asking them to call Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, the main obstacle to passage of the wetlands bill, and urge him to allow a vote on the Senate floor. Demonstrating the power of web-based advocacy, over 500 network members responded within the first 18 hours of the campaign.

Will these campaigns succeed? The returns are not yet in. But EANY is convinced that adding members to the eAdvocacy network is a way to strengthen New York’s environmental movement and build participation in the democratic process. The recent presidential election demonstrated several ways web-based advocacy is growing as a much-needed participatory tool in government. Over 5,000 citizens will be part of EANY’s eAdvocacy network by the end of the month. With a new legislative session beginning in January, it’s time for more of you to join. For information, contact Laura DiBetta at ldibetta@eany.org or go to: www.eany.org.

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On the Alert

♦Chop Energy Pork: Anticipating efforts by the new Congress to enact a major energy bill next session, the Nuclear Information and Resource Service (NIRS) is already taking action. Predictions are that a new energy bill could include pork for the nuclear, coal and oil industries, taxpayer funding of new commercial atomic reactors, oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and reauthorization of the Price-Anderson limited liability scheme for nuclear utilities. Take the time now to write your representatives. Tell them that you opposed last year’s energy bill and will oppose any new bill that provides for taxpayer funding of new reactors, Price-Anderson reauthorization, or drilling in the Arctic, and that you expect them to do the same. Write: Hon. (name), US Senate, Washington, DC 20510 or US House of Representatives, Washington, DC 20515. For more information, contact NIRS at 202-328-0002 or nirsnet@nirs.org.

♦Jeers for CHEERS: The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has temporarily suspended plans to launch a new study in which participating families allow their children to be exposed to toxic pesticides over the course of two years. Funded in part by the American Chemistry Council, the Children’s Environmental Exposure Research Study (CHEERS) will look at how chemicals can be ingested, inhaled or absorbed by children up to three years old. Each family will receive $970, a free video camera, a T-shirt, and a framed certificate of appreciation. While the study does not require that participants increase their chemical use, chosen applicants will need to demonstrate that they regularly use toxic chemicals in and around the home. The concern is that low income applicants may increase their toxic chemical use for the sake of applying and being eligible for funding. EPA has suspended the study's launch until early 2005 for a final review. Visit: www.organicconsumers.org/epa-alert.htm to sign a petition calling on the EPA to forgo this project.

♦Attack Mode: A petition currently before the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) requests an upgrade of its Design Basis Threat (DBT) for nuclear power stations. The DBT defines the magnitude of threat that each nuclear facility’s security systems must be able to withstand. Originally crafted in the 1970’s, the DBT remains practically unchanged for more than 30 years. The petition requests that NRC require upgrades including construction of shields from aircraft attack – consisting of a system of steel I-beams and steel cabling – with sufficient forces to defend against at least the number of 9/11 attackers, 19 men in four coordinated teams, at reactor sites. The NRC has opened the petition for public comment. Send comments by Jan. 24, 2005 to SECY@nrc.gov, or to: Secretary, US NRC, Washington, DC 20555-0001, Attn: Rulemakings and Adjudications Staff. For more information, call NIRS at 202-328-0002.

♦Charter Members: The Alliance for a Toxic-Free Future has developed a Safer Chemicals Charter. To add your organization, send your name, title and organization to Kathy Curtis, Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, at ceckathy@igc.org.

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For Your Information

♦Green Dreams: Are you on a long waiting list for a hybrid car? Automakers just aren’t meeting the demand for fuel-efficient vehicles. Now you can do something to help reduce the wait as well as the nation’s oil dependence. Come up with a catchy slogan to convince automakers to sell more hybrids and you can win a 2005 Toyota Prius from the Center for a New American Dream. Visit: www.newdream.org/prius to learn more about the contest and enter.

♦ Lasting Bonds: The Nature Conservancy, NY League of Conservation Voters, Nassau Land Trust and Friends of the Bay were among a broad coalition of groups that backed successful election-day passage of environmental bond acts for Nassau and Suffolk Counties, and the Towns of Oyster Bay and Brookhaven. The Nassau County Bond Act, approved by 77% of voters, earmarks $50 million to ensure drinking water quality, open space preservation and the establishment and improvement of parks. The Town of Oyster Bay bond act, which 71% of voters approved, will provide $30 million to preserve undeveloped parcels of land. The Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven bond acts were approved by 67% and 69% of voters, respectively. For more information, visit: www.environmentalbondacts.org.

♦ Car Free: Do you know an environmental hero? Volvo Cars of North America is asking for nominations. There will be 100 semi-finalists and three finalists in the categories of environment, safety and quality of life. The panel of judges includes Bill Bradley, Caroline Kennedy, Maya Lin, Paul Newman, Sally Ride, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and last year’s winner Earnestine Russell-Drumgold. The winner receives $50,000 for the charity of his or her choice and a new Volvo every three years for life. The remaining two finalists will each receive a $25,000 charitable donation. Documentaries will also profile the winners. The deadline for nominations is January 10, 2005. Visit: www.volvoforlifeawards.com.

♦ Good Energy: The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) three-year strategic outlook for 2004-2007, Planning for New York’s Energy Future, is now available at www.nyserda.org/progplan2004.pdf. The plan presents NYSERDA’s goals and strategies for helping New York meet its future energy needs.

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Activists' Corner

Center of Town: Community Environmental Center (CEC) is a non-profit organization that provides energy, building performance and environmental services for residents in the New York metropolitan area.

CEC runs a solar-powered Learning Center called Solar 1 at Stuyvesant Cove Park in Manhattan. Solar 1 regularly hosts classes for school children on energy and environmental science. The building has also hosted open house gatherings on green buildings, as well as workshops and other programs for the community. In the coming year, CEC is also working to create a series of development workshops for professionals in the fields of architecture and design, construction, community development and real estate to learn about reducing energy and resource use in new and existing buildings.

Contact Community Environmental Center at 718-784-1444 or info@cecenter.org, or visit: www.cecenter.org.

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The Month Ahead

December

1: NYS Brownfields Cleanup Program: One Year Later, sponsored by the Environmental Business Association of NYS and others. Hear from the decision-makers in an interactive setting of presentations and Q&A. Albany Holiday Inn Turf, 205 Wolf Rd., Albany. 8:30AM–2:30PM. Also: 12/2, Buffalo University Inn Conference Center, 2402 North Forest Rd. (Amherst), Buffalo, 8:30AM–2:30PM. Fees vary. CLE, Engineering and AIA credits will be offered. Call 518-432-6400.

2: Energy Management Seminar, sponsored by Clearwater. Clearwater’s Intercollegiate Energy Initiative with Ryan Palmer, environmental associate, and Energy Audit Process with Walter Elyons-Loss, PE, including HVAC, building performance, lighting systems and appliances, understanding energy bills, and preparing user-friendly energy reports. Dutchess County Community College, Poughkeepsie. 6:30PM-8:30PM. Call 845-454-7673 ext. 116.

3-4: Metro Justice’s 23rd Annual Alternative Fair, featuring hundreds of fair trade, earth friendly, and/or locally produced goods that support a just and sustainable world. Food, entertainment, and free child care. First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 S. Winton Road, Rochester. $3 ages 12+, children under 12 free. 12/3: 5:00PM-10:00PM; 12/4: 9:00AM-3:00PM. Call 585-325-2560 or email: metroj@frontiernet.net.

6: Rising Salt Concentrations in Tributaries of the Hudson Estuary, conference sponsored by the Hudson River Environmental Society. Holiday Inn, Kingston. 8:30AM-4:30PM. HRES members: $20; non-members: $25; students: $10 (After 11/29 add $5; on site, add: $10). Visit: www.hres.org, or email: hres@nycap.rr.com.

9: Annual Winter Solstice Celebration, sponsored by the Sierra Club-Rochester. Bring a dish to pass. Chestnut Court, St. John’s Meadows. 5:30PM. Call 585-244-2625.

11: The Wildlife Along Dune Road, sponsored by Group for the South Fork. Search for wildlife such as American bittern, wintering waterfowl, snowy and shorteared owls, and harbor seals. Contact Steve Biasetti at 631-537-1400 ext. 15 or sbiasetti@hamptons.com.

14-1/5: The 105th Annual Christmas Bird Count, organized by the National Audubon Society. Visit: www.audubon.org/bird/cbc.

15: Federal and State Tax and Other Incentives to Promote Renewables, sponsored by the Renewable Energy Resources Committee of the American Bar Association. Seminar 12:00PM-2:00PM; Teleconference 12:30PM-1:30PM. Email Edna Sussman at esussman@hnrlaw.com.

January

1: 15th Annual Environmentalists’ New Years Day Walk, hosted by Protectors of Pine Oak Woods and Natural Resources Protective Association. Great Kills Park to Crooke’s Point, Staten Island. 12:00PM-2:00PM. Call Dick Buegler at 718-761-7496.

9: Wind Project Permitting: The Major Challenges and Potential Resolutions, seminar co-sponsored by the SEER Section Committee on Sustainable Development, Ecosystems and Climate Change, and others. 12:00PM-2:00PM Pacific Time; teleconference 12:30PM-1:30PM Pacific Time. Email Edna Sussman at esussman@hnrlaw.com.

22: A Growing Concern: Sustaining Healthy Food Systems, cosponsored by the Graduate Center of CUNY and the Baum Forum. Program features an overview of the region’s agricultural production and distribution, and local food and beverage tasting. 10:00AM-5:00PM. $50, $20 for students. To register, call 212-817-8215.

SAVE THE DATE - APRIL 19: Earth Day Lobby Day 2005. Email edld@eany.org for details and to join the mailing list.

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THE GREEN SHEET
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Environmental Advocates of New York.
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Managing Editor • Jeff Jones
Editor • Laura DiBetta

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Albany, NY 12248
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