THE GREEN SHEET

Vol. 8 - No. 3
March 2003

Lead Story: We Do Declare
On the Alert
For Your Information
Activists' Corner
The Month Ahead
Contact Information

We Do Declare

Before the month is over, representatives of communities from the Hudson River, to Anniston, Akwesasne and Alaska will have declared their independence from PCB pollution. Of course, it will take more than a simple statement to end decades of exposure to toxic chemicals, but in a development of major national importance to the environmental movement, the first PCB Health Congress is taking place March 26 - 27 at Fairfield University in Connecticut.

The brainchild of Pittsfield, Massachusetts activist Tim Gray and his partners in the Housatonic River Initiative (HRI), the idea for the Congress quickly caught on. HRI led the successful fight for a cleanup order in Pittsfield, where the Housatonic River, like the Upper Hudson, was fouled with PCBs dumped by General Electric (GE). In New York, groups participating in the Friends of a Clean Hudson coalition like Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY), Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson and Clearwater have joined in, along with HudsonCARE, the citizen’s group representing residents of PCB-impacted Upper Hudson communities. The PCB Congress is designed for representatives of the various contaminated communities to spend time together, sharing experiences and working on joint strategies to fight for cleanups and to save the federal Superfund program, which is under attack by the Bush Administration and its Congressional allies in Washington. Clean Hudson advocates, for example, will be able to meet people from Anniston, Alabama, where the Monsanto Corp. is responsible for major PCB contamination. Other participants are expected from Brockport, NY, New Bedford, MA, and Alaska.

Fairfield University, the site of the PCB Congress, is only a few miles from GE’s world headquarters. While the company is being invited to send representatives to the meeting, participants expect to deliver the Declaration of Independence from PCBs directly to GE’s front gate at the end of the Congress’s first day. The meeting will include reports from leading PCB researchers, like New York’s Dr. David Carpenter, and representatives of the impacted communities.

For more information about the Congress, contact Tim Gray (HRI) at 413-243-3353, Janet MacGillivray (Riverkeeper) at 718-768-7131 or Jeff Jones (EANY) at 518-462-5526, ext. 233.

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On the Alert

♦Spring Fling: Spring is coming to Albany and so is Earth Day Lobby Day. Join hundreds of students and citizen activists at the state Capital Monday April 28 to lobby and be heard on issues like closing Indian Point, expanding the bottle bill, generating clean energy and saving the state Superfund. This year’s event will include a noon rally. Join Environmental Advocates of NY (EANY), NYPIRG, Citizen’s Environmental Coalition, the NYS Greens, Scenic Hudson, Federated Conservationists of Westchester County and others for this annual event. Contact Laura DiBetta, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 221 or edld@eany.org. For more information, visit: http://www.eany.org/takeaction/earthday.html.

♦Money for Nothing: In his State of the Union address, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion dollar initiative to research hydrogen-powered fuel cells. Bush’s plan will funnel money to automakers without actually requiring them to produce a single fuel cell vehicle for public purchase. Instead of increasing energy independence, the plan increases the nation’s reliance on polluting fuel sources. In his budget, Bush gives millions of dollars to the coal and nuclear industry to develop systems to produce hydrogen. He also includes $19.6 million to extract hydrogen from gasoline. Send a letter to Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham at the Department of Energy (DOE) and urge him to cut pollution by putting cleaner cars on the road today. To submit comments to the DOE, visit: www.ma.doe.gov/energy/comments.html. For more information, contact Ariana Silverman of the Sierra Club at ariana.silverman@sierraclub.org.

♦To the Source: President Bush’s proposed changes to the federal Clean Air Act would relax the rule — called New Source Review — that forces old, dirty power plants to upgrade to modern pollution controls when expanding. Environmentalists fear the Bush plan will mean more emissions of harmful pollutants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until May 2. To send a fax to EPA Administrator Whitman, visit: www.eany.org/clean_air_action_alert. Call Anne Reynolds, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 238 or email cvanderlan@eany.org.

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For Your Information

♦Run NYC: New York City will see its 1st annual Race to Stop Global Warming in June. Supported by companies actively developing environmentally sensitive practices, the race brings together the fitness, business, and environmental communities in a new event raising both awareness and dollars to support education and action directed toward addressing global warming. The Race to Stop Global Warming will be held in eight cities in 2003—Denver, Portland, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Boston, Seattle, NYC, San Francisco and Chicago. Registration is $20; 18 and under, $12. For more information or to register, visit: www.racetostopglobalwarming.org or call 866-STOP-CO2.

♦Moving Information: Be on the lookout for The Movement, an inspirational news and arts magazine that unifies and amplifies today’s movements toward peace, creative expression, spirituality and sustainability. The premier issue features articles on war and simplicity, health care and green buildings. For more information, email themovement@hvc.rr.com or visit: www.themovementmagazine.org.

♦Play it Safe: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced in February that arsenic-treated lumber routinely used in outdoor playsets can cause cancer. It is the first time the government has so clearly recognized the danger of this common wood preservative. Arsenic-treated lumber is used in nearly 90 percent of all backyard decks and wooden playsets. It can leach out of wood for up to 20 years. The Environmental Working Group offers simple home tests for a small fee that can tell how much arsenic is on a deck, playset, or picnic table, and in the soil below. Visit: www.ewg.org to order a kit and for more information on pressure-treated lumber.

♦Land Sakes: How To Win Land Development Issues is available on the Community and Environmental Defense Services (CEDS) website and can be downloaded free. This new 101-page book is a comprehensive citizen’s guide for resolving concerns about sprawl, highways, commercial and residential projects, landfills and a number of other development types. How to Win Land Development Issues is available in PDF at www.ceds.org/publications.html.

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Activists' Corner

This Stinks: Mohawk Valley Organics (MVO) was granted a permit from the small rural town of Minden in early 2000 for the composting of cow manure, wood products and paper mill residue. The company began operations in the spring of 2001. That summer nearby residents first began to detect foul odors in the air. Fearful of potential health risks, concerned area residents formed the Good Air Group (GAG).
   Late in 2002, state environmental regulators inspected MVO and found the company in violation of its permit—which by then had been expanded—on several counts.
   GAG has sued the facility and a judge issued a temporary restraining order in February and MVO was forced to shut down operations for three days. The company has also been ordered to accept only wastes outlined in its first permit. GAG was back in court on February 27, hoping to obtain a more permanent solution.
   For more information on GAG, email Sandy Smith at slsmith@capital.net.

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The Month Ahead

March

2: What Water Crisis? Global and Local Perspectives, a public forum sponsored by Mohonk Consultations. Mohonk Mountain House Resort, New Paltz. 4:00PM-6:00PM. Suggested donation $10; $5 students/seniors. Reservations required. Call Sandra at 845-256-2020.

4: Can Environmental And Business Goals Be Aligned? The Quest For A Clean Car, sponsored by The Nonprofit Group of the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College. Baruch College Library, 151 East 25th St., 7th Floor Conference Center, Manhattan. 6:00PM-7:30PM. Call 212-802-5914.

6: SouthSide: Environmental Justice from South Africa to the South Bronx. Art exhibit opening, with live music, food and testimony. Sustainable South Bronx, 889 Hunts Point Ave. Call 718-617-4668.

11: Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer (CRAAB) lobby day. Keynote by Dr. Phil Landrigan - Environmental Links to Disease: What We Know and Can Do. Hearing Room B, Legislative Office Building, Albany. 10:00AM-3:00PM. Call 518-462-4472.

11-12: Wetlands Development and Conservation Issues in NY, New York State Wetland Forum’s annual conference and meeting. Keynote address by DEC Commissioner Erin Crotty. Prime Hotel and Conference Center, Saratoga Springs. Fees vary. Call 518-783-1322.

13: Celebrating the Best of the Hudson Valley and NYC, a benefit and silent auction for the Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition. Featuring cuisine and instruction by Chef Andrew Selz, art by Arnold Newman, Caio Fonseca, and more. Jacob Burns Film Center, Pleasantville. 7:30PM-10:30PM. Tickets: $80.00; $100.00 at door. Call 212-544-0045.

13: From Mountain Harvests to Mountain Havens: Changing Land Use in the Northern Shawangunks. Local author Robi Josephson gives a slide presentation from her book. Ellenville Public Library & Museum, 40 Center St. 7:00PM. Call Hatti Langsford, Minnewaska State Park Preserve, at 845-255-2011.

15: Protecting New York Aquatic Habitats: Emerging Issues and Political Opportunities, sponsored by Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network and Fund. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, 140 Baker Hall, Syracuse. 12:30PM-5:00PM. Call 716-886-0142 or visit: www.esf.edu/glrc and click on “Annual Conference.”

20-21: Hudson River Fishes and Their Environment, presented by the Hudson River Environmental Society. Marist College, Poughkeepsie. Fees vary, but go up after 3/10. Email: stephenwilson1@compuserve.com.

25: Towards an Auto-Free Governors Island, Auto-Free New York meeting with Robert Pirani, Regional Plan Association. 104 Washington St., Manhattan, Police Station, ground fl. community room. 6:00PM-8:00PM. Call 212-475-3394.

26: What's Funny About Global Warming?, an evening of humor and drama presented by Human Nature Theatre Company and sponsored by Great Lakes United, UB Green, UB Environmental Network and WBFO. Environmental Info Fair and refreshments to follow. Allen Hall, University at Buffalo South Campus. 7:30PM. Free, donations are optional. Call 716-829-3535 or email: ecala@facilities.buffalo.edu.

26-27: PCB Health Congress founding convention. National gathering of representatives from communities harmed by PCBs. Fairfield University, Fairfield, CT. Call Tim Gray at 413-243-3353. (See lead story.)

April

22: NYC Earth Day Lobby Day, sponsored by the NY League of Conservation Voters. Lobby NYC Council members on key environmental issues. Participation in one Environmental Advocacy Workshop required to attend (4/8: Urban Center, 457 Madison Ave., Paley Room, 3rd floor, 6:00PM-8:00PM. 4/9: 4 Washington Square North, Commons Rm., ground fl., 8:00AM-10:00AM). Call Mark Caserta at 212-361-6350 ext. 209.

28: Earth Day Lobby Day in Albany. Contact Laura DiBetta, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 221 or edld@eany.org. (See On The Alert.)

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

To Contact Elected Officials:

Governor George E. Pataki
Executive Chamber
State Capitol
Albany, NY 12224
518.474.8390
www.state.ny.us/governor

New York State Senate
Albany, NY 12247
518.455.2800
www.senate.state.ny.us

New York State Assembly
Albany, NY 12248
518.455.4100
www.assembly.state.ny.us

US Capitol Switchboard
202.224.3121