THE GREEN SHEET

Vol. 9 - No. 9
September 2004

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

Crisis Management

A growing body of scientific evidence points to water scarcity – or, more accurately, water mismanagement – as a top environmental and social issue of the 21st Century. In August, two major news stories punctuated this looming threat. The Pacific Institute, a leading California think tank, released a report showing that U.S. businesses have failed to prepare for inevitable shortages of fresh water over the next few decades. And a conference in Stockholm of 50 international organizations and 1,200 water experts from more than 100 countries warned that future water wars between nations are becoming almost inevitable. A major component of the problem, according to many scientists and policy-makers, is that highly industrialized, water-rich countries and regions don’t understand their vulnerability. One such region is the Great Lakes Basin, parts of eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces that make up a watershed that is home to 20 percent of the world’s available fresh surface water, and 95 percent of the freshwater in the United States. In 1998, the basin received a major wake-up call when a Canadian company acquired a permit to ship a million gallons of Lake Superior water a day to Asia. The permit was eventually rescinded, but the incident served notice that the waters of the Great Lakes are not necessarily secure.

In fact, scientists who have studied the watershed say that withdrawals or diversions amounting to more than 1 percent annually will cause Great Lakes water levels to drop. In June, 2001 the eight governors and their Canadian counterparts met in Niagara Falls, New York and signed a document called Annex 2001 – an outline for amending the Great Lakes Charter, the international agreement that regulates water issues in the basin. Among the principles they agreed to were holding to a set of strict regulatory standards that would give preference to conservation methods in preventing any net water loss, preclude individual or cumulative impacts to the quantity or quality of the waters, and improve the natural resources of the basin.

A draft of the new agreement was released for public comment in July. Although many of the details are very good, the document needs some revision. For more information, and details about public meetings in September and how to can get involved, visit www.eany.org or www.speakongreatlakes.org. Or contact David Higby at: dhigby@eany.org 518-462-5526 ext. 239.

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On the Alert

♦Time to Renew: New York State seems poised to establish an aggressive 25 percent green energy requirement in September. But there is still no such requirement at the national level. Proposed federal legislation — the Udall-Leach Bill (HR 1294) — would require electricity suppliers to generate 15 percent of their power from new renewable energy resources like wind and solar by 2020, rising to 20 percent by 2025. This type of measure would move the US away from dependence on foreign oil and towards a clean and sustainable energy future. It will also open up exciting economic opportunities for American farmers, especially through the siting of wind turbines on agricultural land. Urge your US Representative to cosponsor HR 1294 to make electricity cleaner and greener. For information, contact Anne Reynolds, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 238 or areynolds@eany.org.

♦On the Roads: In July, the Bush Administration proposed to permanently alter and weaken the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, placing 58.5 million acres of national forest lands at risk to destructive road-building, logging and drilling. Without the Roadless Rule’s restrictions, management of roadless areas would revert to the management direction contained in local forest management plans. Nationwide, forest plans allow road building in about 59 percent of the 58.5 million acres of inventoried roadless areas. Thus, once the draft regulations are finalized, most roadless areas will become vulnerable to new road construction for logging, energy development, and other commodity uses. A public comment period ends on September 14, 2004. Send comments to: Content Analysis Team, ATTN: Roadless State Petitions, USDA Forest Service, PO Box 221090, Salt Lake City, UT 84122; Fax: 801-517-1014; statepetitionroadless@fs.fed.us. For more information, visit: www.biologicaldiversity.org.

♦Acid Test: In May, a state court struck down on a technicality the acid rain rules finalized by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) last year. The department recently acted to implement these regulations through an emergency rulemaking process and is also appealing the court case. DEC will also begin to re-promulgate the rules. In this second round, the state should cut sulfur dioxide even more than originally proposed, and should enact regulations to control carbon dioxide and mercury emissions, two pollutants that are currently unregulated. Urge Governor Pataki to enact a comprehensive power plant cleanup plan. For more information, contact Christine Vanderlan at EANY, cvanderlan@eany.org.

♦Transit in Transition: The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) is seeking public input on its new transportation plan. Visit: www.dot.state.ny.us/tranplan/index.html for a status update. Submit written testimony to: NYS Advisory Panel on Transportation Policy for 2025, c/o Paul Hoole, NYSDOT 1220 Washington Avenue Albany, NY 12232-0445, or via email to PHoole@dot.state.ny.us.

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For Your Information

♦Ground Down: Picking up where the US Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General’s report left off, a new Sierra Club report takes a comprehensive look at the health impacts of the attacks of 9/11 and how the Bush Administration’s mistakes in the aftermath are in danger of being institutionalized as policy for the handling of any future attacks. Air Pollution and Deception at Ground Zero: How the Bush Administration’s Reckless Disregard of 9/11 Toxic Hazards Poses Long-Term Threats for New York City and the Nation is available at www.sierraclub.org/groundzero.

♦ Back to School: Just in time for the upcoming school year, the Center for a New American Dream launched a new website, www.shopbacktoschool.org, to help parents and students meet most of their back-to-school shopping needs. The site includes tips for re-using last year’s supplies and links to finding environmentally preferable ones online. An Activist Toolkit (www.newdream.org/consumer/toolkit.html) includes a Green Buying and Action Guide with an in-store shopping list, as well as tips for getting retailers, school administrators and local PTAs to make better choices when they stock and buy supplies.

♦ Families Valued: American Farmland Trust (AFT) is currently accepting nominations for its Steward of the Land Award for 2005. For the past seven years, AFT has presented the $10,000 award to a farming or ranching family that best exemplifies leadership in protecting farmland and caring for the environment. To nominate a farmer or rancher, download nomination materials from www.farmland.org or call 202-331-7300 ext. 3044 to receive a nomination kit in the mail. The deadline to submit nominations is 5:00PM EST on November 1, 2004. The award will be presented in 2005.

♦ Green Island: Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) customers can now enroll in a Green Choice program and choose alternative sources of energy generation that are less polluting. Customers may choose from three Green Marketers (Community Energy, Sterling Planet and Envirogen), each offering unique renewable energy options including wind, bioenergy and small-scale hydro. Visit: www.lipower.org/residential/green.html for more information.

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Activists' Corner

Lead Story: National Lead (NL) owned and operated an 11-acre site at 1130 Central Ave., in Colonie, NY from 1958 to 1984. The NL plant used depleted and enriched uranium in its manufacturing process, and released illegal levels of depleted uranium in the 1970’s. In a health survey conducted by volunteers last fall, more than 350 people who lived near the plant during its years of operation reported illnesses and diseases.

Residents concerned that their health problems may have been caused by NL’s pollution have formed Community Concerned about NL (CCNL). The group is seeking a comprehensive health study, as well as an investigation into whether any depleted uranium contamination remains in the soil.

CCNL will hold its next board meeting on Oct. 14 in Loudonville. Contact Sharon Herr at 518-477-5771 or sherr@nycap.rr.com.

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The Month Ahead

September

2: Environment and women’s health talk sponsored by Capital Region Action Against Breast Cancer! (CRAAB!). Cheryl Osimo, Silent Spring Institute, will discuss research being conducted to identify links between the environment and women’s health, especially breast cancer. The Crossings of Colonie town park, 580 Albany Shaker Rd., Colonie. 6:30PM-8:00PM. Free. Call 518-435-1055 to register.

4: Zoar Valley Hike, organized by Friends of the Ancient Forest. Hike to the south rim for amazing views of Zoar Valley. Meet at the Springville Park n’ Ride. 11:00AM. Bring lunch and a camera. Call 716-592-7547.

5: Understanding Farm Ecology Hands-On, sponsored by the Regional Farm & Food Project. Explore the relationship between one farm and the natural environment using living indicators. Hawthorne Valley Farm, 327 Route 21C, Harlemville. 2:00PM-4:00PM. Bring your boots and binoculars. Contact RFFP at 518-271-0744 or farmfood@capital.net (subject: Farm Tours).

8: Sustainable Hudson Valley’s First Annual Sustainable Business Sunset Sail aboard the Sloop Clearwater. Reception at Hudson River Maritime Museum, Kingston. 5:00PM; Board at 5:30PM. $40. Reservations required. Call 845-679-9597.

12: NYC Century Bike Tour, sponsored by Transportation Alternatives. 15, 35, 55, 75 and 100 mile routes. Linking NYC’s breathtaking bridges and beautiful parks to its incomparable neighborhoods and famous waterfronts, see NYC like you’ve never seen it before. Visit: www.transalt.org.

14: Public Hearings on the Great Lakes Annex (see Crisis Management). Niagara Falls Public Library, Niagara Falls. 6:00PM-8:45PM. Also: 9/15, Rochester Institute of Technology’s Hotel and Conference Center, West Henrietta, 6:30PM-9:00PM; 9/16, Dulles State Office Bldg., Watertown, 6:30PM-9:00PM. Call David Higby, EANY, at 518-462-5526 ext. 239, or visit: www.dec.state.ny.us/website/greatlakes/draftannex.html.

14: Preserving Land and Quality of Life Through Public and Private Partnerships, sponsored by the Hoffman Center, Nassau Land Trust, North Shore Land Alliance and Peconic Land Trust. Stephen J. Small, Esq., author of Preserving Family Lands, will speak about community growth and the importance of land conservation. Call 631-367-3605.

18: South Bronx People’s Environmental Bike Tour. SOBRO Venture Center, East 138th St. and 3rd Ave. 12:30PM. Call 212-802-8222 or email: timesup@panix.com.

21: Boiling Point: What’s Fueling Global Climate Change and What We Must Do, lecture by author Ross Gelbspan followed by a book signing. Allen Hall, UB South Campus. 7:30PM–9:00PM. Contact UB Green at 716-829-3535 or ubgreen@facilities.buffalo.edu.

26: Albany County Land Conservancy’s Annual Gala at the Historic Wemp Barn on the Onesquethaw Creek. 4:30PM-7:30PM. Albany County. Includes tour of beautiful estate gardens. $100. Contact ACLC at 518-436-6346 or email: aclc@albanylandtrust.org.

28: Promoting safe walking and cycling to improve public health, an Auto-Free NY lecture. Conference room, NYPD downtown center, 104 Washington St., Manhattan. 6:00PM-8:00PM. Call 212-475-3394 or visit: www.auto-free.org.

October

1: Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Conference, sponsored by The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. SUNY Purchase. $25. Call 718-920-5016.

3: Feast of St. Francis and Annual Blessing of the Animals. The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, Manhattan. 1:30PM-4:30PM. Call 212-316-7540.

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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

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