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========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
November 16, 2007
========================================
Special alert: Tell the Bush administration not to let mining
companies destroy valleys and streams with mining waste
Comments are due November 23rd, so take action now at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_111407
======================================================
The Office of Surface Mining is proposing changes to its stream
buffer zone rule, first adopted in 1983, that would make it
easier for mining companies to bury natural streams and valleys
under piles and ponds of mining waste. The changes would relax
environmental standards for the same mountaintop removal mining
operations that, even under the stricter existing buffer rule,
have flattened over a half-million acres and buried hundreds of
miles of streams. The headwater streams threatened by the rule
changes provide valuable habitat and feed larger waters that
provide drinking water, fishing and other recreational
opportunities.
In 2004, when the Office of Surface Mining first proposed
relaxing the buffer rule, NRDC urged the agency to abandon its
proposal and to focus instead on better enforcement of the
existing rule. The agency responded by conducting an
environmental review of its proposal, which was released in
August. The review confirms that the proposed changes would
result in the destruction of hundreds more miles of streams and
valleys in Appalachia, a region already hard-hit by mining
practices. But despite these conclusions, the agency is pressing
ahead with its proposal.
The Office of Surface Mining is accepting public comments on its
proposed rule change through Friday, November 23rd.
== What to do ==
Send a message, before the November 23rd comment deadline,
urging the Office of Surface Mining not to allow mining
companies to profit by destroying America's streams.
== Contact information ==
You can send an official comment to the Office of Surface Mining
directly from NRDC's Action Center at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_111407
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Attn: RIN 1029-AC04
Brent Wahlquist, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation
and Enforcement
1951 Constitution Avenue, NW, Room 252 SIB
Washington, DC 20240
Fax: 202-219-0253
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Don't change the current stream buffer zone rule
Dear Director Wahlquist,
I urge the Office of Surface Mining to abandon its proposal to
relax the decades-old stream buffer zone rule to make it easier
for mining companies to fill natural streams with mining waste.
Your proposal would destroy the headwater streams that support
important drinking, fishing and recreational uses; is at odds
with the Clean Water Act and other laws; and endorses decades of
destructive mining practices.
Your agency's environmental impact analysis on the proposed rule
changes estimates that over 700 miles of streams in central
Appalachia have already been buried by valley fills, and that
over 1,200 miles of streams in the region were directly harmed
by mining activities, including waste disposal, between 1992 and
2002 alone. The analysis also estimates that mining projects
approved between 2001 and 2005 will directly affect over 500
miles of streams. The rule changes would accelerate these trends
by relaxing the conditions under which mining companies,
particularly those engaged in mountaintop removal mining, may
obtain approval to permanently bury streams and fill valleys
with rock, soil, mining sludge and other wastes.
Instead of turning its back on the existing buffer zone rule,
which was adopted in 1983 to protect natural streams from the
most direct impacts of mining, the Office of Surface Mining
should commit itself and the state mining agencies it oversees
to strictly enforcing that rule. Mountaintop removal mining has
already flattened a half-million acres and buried hundreds of
miles of streams. Mining companies should not be given a new
opportunity to profit at the expense of America's fragile
headwater streams.
I urge you to abandon your proposed changes to the stream buffer
zone rule and to instead focus the Office of Surface Mining's
efforts on better enforcement of the existing rule.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
========================================
Natural Resources Defense Council's
CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK SPECIAL ALERT
NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize and
provide action tools to Californians and others concerned with
protecting the state's extraordinary wealth of natural treasures
and the health of its citizens.
November 14, 2007
========================================
Special alert for California activists:
Help gather signatures for real land use reform and protect the
environment!
========================================
As you may have heard, property rights extremists are attacking
California's environment again. They are circulating another
ballot initiative like last year's Proposition 90 that claims to
reform "eminent domain" -- the government's authority to
designate and purchase private property for public use,
typically for large public projects like a freeway or a stadium
-- but is really about decimating environmental protection. NRDC
is part of a broad coalition supporting a measure that would
stop the phony initiative while enacting genuine eminent domain
reform and protecting the environment. But we need your help to
qualify this measure -- the Homeowners Protection Act -- for the
June 2008 ballot. Please sign up today to add your signature and
help us gather others.
Go to http://eminentdomainreform.com/petitionRequest_2/
to obtain official petitions that you can sign along with family
members, friends and coworkers. The deadline for returning
signed petitions is Tuesday, November 20th, so please don't
delay! Thanks in advance for your help (we really need it!).
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
California Activist Network email: wildcalifornia@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
October 18, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alert--
Urge your senators to make sure the new farm bill protects the
environment
Plus: Two upcoming opportunities to speak out to stop global
warming
======================================================
You will also find this alert in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
============
Action Alert
============
Urge your senators to make sure the new farm bill protects the
environment
The Senate has begun considering the farm bill, which is
reauthorized only once every five years. As farm bill programs
typically provide billions of dollars in payments to farmers who
adopt practices to reduce pollution or provide wildlife habitat,
this is one of the most important environmental bills in this
decade. But existing programs are woefully inadequate to help
farmers protect land, water and wildlife.
More than two thirds of the farmers who apply for conservation
assistance are turned away; many more never apply at all because
they know they're unlikely to be successful. In the meantime,
runoff from farms has degraded water quality throughout
agricultural regions. In the Midwest, the toxic pesticide
atrazine is pervasive in surface waters, and fertilizer runoff
from the Mississippi River Basin contributes to an ever-larger
"dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico.
Senator Harkin, chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has
proposed a set of reforms to improve conservation programs. But
faced with hard-ball politics from farm bill subsidy recipients,
Senator Harkin is now struggling to find the money needed to
strengthen these programs. In addition, pesticide manufacturers
were successful in winning a harmful amendment to the House
version of the farm bill that would thwart attempts by the
Department of Agriculture to promote environmentally friendly
pest control practices and possibly even organic farming
assistance programs; a similar provision must be kept out of the
Senate version.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators to make sure the
reauthorized farm bill provides adequate funding for strong
conservation programs and helps farmers promote organic farming
and environmentally friendly pest control practices.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators directly from NRDC's
Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_101607a
If you prefer to call your senators, the Capitol switchboard
number is 202-224-3121.
====================
Special Announcement
====================
Two upcoming opportunities to help stop global warming: Power
Shift and Step It Up!
As attention to climate issues continues to grow, NRDC is
supporting two major events in early November to further engage
and mobilize the public. We hope you'll get involved:
Power Shift -- November 2-5
Thousands of students will gather at the University of Maryland
from November 2nd through 5th to participate in Power Shift, the
first-ever youth summit on global warming. Participants will
hear from expert panelists on global warming science,
legislation and technological solutions, and will participate in
workshops to develop advocacy and lobbying skills. If you are a
student (or know one that might be interested), you can find out
more information and register for the event at
http://powershift07.org/
Step It Up -- November 3
Back in April, Step It Up was officially launched as a national
campaign calling on Congress to reduce global warming pollution
by 80 percent by 2050. On November 3rd thousands of people will
participate in local events around the country, demanding
leadership to slow, stop and reverse global warming. To find out
about local events near you or to register your own event, visit
the Step It Up website at http://stepitup2007.org/
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places A project of the
Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.savebiogems.org
China: The Real Cost of Pollution
The New York Times talks to NRDC attorney Alex Wang in Beijing about China's efforts to balance economic growth with environmental progress.
 See the interview
Toyota: Not So Green?
 If you're a fan of Toyota's 55 mpg Prius, you might be suprised to know that Toyota is lobbying against major improvements in fuel economy standards.
Tell Toyota to get it in gear
Grim News (and Hope) for Polar Bears
"We've known for some time that global warming spells big big trouble for the world's polar bear populations," blogs Andrew Wetzler, head of NRDC's Endangered Species Project. "But just how grim
the picture is was made stark by the U.S. Geological Survey... the agency is now predicting that two-thirds of the world's polar bears will be extinct by mid-century..."
There is hope for polar bears -- read Andrew's full post on Switchboard
========================================
Natural Resources Defense Council's
CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT
NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize and
provide action tools to Californians and others concerned with
protecting the state's extraordinary wealth of natural treasures
and the health of its citizens.
October 1, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alerts--
1. Urge Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign bills that protect our
environment and health
2. Tell state officials not to allow a toll road through San
Onofre State Beach
3. Urge officials restoring the Presidio to fully clean up a
toxic waste site in the park
--Updates on Previous Alerts--
1. State environmental bills
2. Marine life protection
3. Delta Smelt
======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
=============
Action Alerts
=============
1. Urge Gov. Schwarzenegger to sign bills that protect our
environment and health
The California legislature finished its work on September 12th
and sent hundreds of bills to Governor Schwarzenegger for his
signature, including several that would benefit the environment.
One bill would ensure that state efforts to promote cleaner
alternative fuels do not interfere with efforts to protect air
quality, while another would help clean the air in the heavily
polluted Central Valley by adding a doctor, a scientist and
members of the public to the regional air board.
Other important bills would provide basic water quality test
results (similar to those provided by water utilities) to
bottled and vended water consumers, and bring recycling services
to multi-family dwellings of five or more units. Another bill
would ensure adequate clean-up of a contaminated Los Angeles
site that previously was a field laboratory for rocket and
reactor testing.
Two bills would help address the state's water needs by
directing money from recently passed water bonds to critical
ecosystem needs in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and by
increasing the efficiency of toilets and urinals installed in
California.
Yet another critical bill would help protect the endangered
California condor from lead poisoning by banning the use of lead
ammunition in condor habitat.
Governor Schwarzenegger has until October 12th to sign or veto
these bills, but is making decisions every day.
== What to do ==
Send a message today urging Governor Schwarzenegger to sign
these eight important environmental bills.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to Governor Schwarzenegger directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email: governor@governor.ca.gov
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Sign SB 210, 719, 220, 990, 1002; AB 715, 548 and 821
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
As you consider the hundreds of bills on your desk, I urge you
to sign eight of critical importance in protecting California's
public health and environment.
Two bills would help protect the state's air quality. SB 210
would promote alternative, low-carbon fuels in an
environmentally responsible way, while SB 719 would add a
doctor, a scientist and members of the public to the Central
Valley Air Board.
SB 220 would provide consumers of bottled and vended water with
water quality information so they could make informed decisions
concerning what type of water to drink.
SB 990 would help protect those who live near the Santa Susana
Field Laboratory from chemical and radioactive contamination by
ensuring adequate clean-up of the site.
SB 1002 would direct money from water bonds to critical
ecosystem needs of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, while AB
715 would promote water conservation by increasing the
efficiency of toilets and urinals.
AB 548 would bring recycling to multi-family housing.
Finally, AB 821 would help protect the endangered California
condor from lead poisoning.
Again, I urge you to sign these eight important bills before
your October 12th deadline.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
2. Tell state officials not to allow a toll road through San
Onofre State Beach
On October 11th, the California Coastal Commission will decide
whether to allow a six-lane toll highway to run right through
the center one of California's most popular coastal parks. This
destructive project would violate federal and state coastal laws
that the commission is responsible for upholding.
San Onofre is an irreplaceable natural treasure -- a beloved
recreation spot for millions of visitors each year and home to
11 threatened or endangered species. Surfers, swimmers, campers,
kayakers, birders, anglers, cyclists and sunbathers derive
countless hours of pleasure and enjoyment from all the park has
to offer. The park also includes seven archeological sites,
including the Native American Village of Panhe, and world-famous
Trestles Beach, one of the finest surfing beaches in the United
States.
According to state park officials, the toll road would force the
abandonment of nearly 60 percent of the park. It would destroy
the San Mateo Campground and sensitive wildlife habitat, fill in
wetlands, cause visual blight and noise in the park, reduce
water quality and threaten the surfing conditions and wave
formations at Trestles Beach.
There's no land in the region to create another park, but there
are alternative traffic solutions. Improvements to Interstate 5
and some surface streets would provide equal or greater traffic
benefits compared to the toll road, but without sacrificing the
coastal park at San Onofre.
The Coastal Commission is accepting comments on the toll road
proposal through October 8th.
== What to do ==
Send a message *right away* urging the California Coastal
Commission to reject the Foothill-South Toll Road as
inconsistent with the California Coastal Act and federal laws.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the California Coastal Commission
directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
The public is also welcome to testify on the toll road project
at the Coastal Commission hearing:
Thursday, October 11, 9:00am
Crowne Plaza Los Angeles Harbor Hotel
601 S. Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro
For a map and directions, go to
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/laxpv/transportation
California Coastal Commission
Attn: Patrick Kruer, Chair
45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000
San Francisco, CA 94105
Email: tollroad@coastal.ca.gov
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Objection to the Foothill-South Toll Road
Dear Chairman Kruer and Commission members,
I strongly urge you to reject the consistency certification for
the Foothill-South Toll Road. This destructive proposal would
devastate the state park at San Onofre State Beach, one of our
most important coastal recreational resources in southern
California. San Onofre is an irreplaceable coastal treasure that
should be preserved for all Californians and future generations.
The proposed multi-lane toll road is inconsistent with the
protections provided by the California Coastal Act. It would
destroy sensitive habitat areas for endangered and threatened
species, take and degrade wetlands, diminish water quality and
threaten the wave formations at Trestles Beach. It also would
cause the abandonment of the low-cost San Mateo Campground,
which was set aside by the commission to compensate for lost
public access to the coast resulting from the San Onofre Nuclear
Power Station. This is exactly the type of project that our
federal and state coastal laws were designed to prevent.
There is no question that we need to solve future traffic
congestion -- but we also need to protect our coastal resources.
Better solutions exist, like improving the I-5 and selected
surface streets, that, unlike the toll road, would both reduce
traffic congestion and protect our coastal parks.
Californians rely on the Coastal Commissioners to be good
stewards and protect the coastal resources that make our state a
great place to live. It is unacceptable and completely
antithetical to the Coastal Act to sacrifice San Onofre State
Beach for a toll road development.
Please vote to reject the consistency certification for the
Foothill-South toll road when it comes before you.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
3. Urge officials restoring the Presidio to fully clean up a
toxic waste site in the park
The Presidio of San Francisco is truly unique. No other national
park setting contains such a rich mixture of cultural and
natural resources. Before becoming part of the national park
system in October 1994, the Presidio operated continuously for
over 200 years as a military base under the flags of Spain,
Mexico and the United States. In addition to hundreds of
historic buildings, the Presidio contains rare vestiges of San
Francisco's natural environment -- all in one of the world's
most spectacular and well-known settings, California's Golden
Gate. It is home to a remarkable concentration of 39 rare and
endangered plant and animal species. Unlike any other national
park, however, the core area of the Presidio is managed by the
Presidio Trust, an agency created by Congress in 1996.
The Presidio Trust has just proposed a new plan for the first
phase of the most ambitious natural restoration project in the
Presidio, the unburying and replanting of the Tennessee Hollow
creek system. This waterway, which lies entirely within the
park, was the source of the first water supply for the Spanish
fort, and provides an opportunity to educate thousands about
watersheds.
This is an important and exciting plan, but it is also flawed.
In one branch of the creek, the plan calls for "capping" a toxic
waste site and putting a recreation field on top of it, rather
than fully removing the waste and restoring the site. This
shortsighted proposal could damage the success of the whole
project, as water contaminated with toxic waste would likely
seep out of the landfill and enter the creek system.
The Presidio Trust is accepting comments on the proposed plan
through October 9th.
== What to do ==
Send a message, before the October 9th comment deadline, telling
the Presidio Trust that you support its plan to restore the
park, but want the toxic waste site completely cleaned up.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the Presidio Trust directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Presidio Trust, Tennessee Hollow Project
34 Graham Street
P.O. Box 20052
San Francisco, CA 94129
Fax: 415-561-2790
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Completely clean up toxic waste in Landfill E
Dear Presidio Trust managers,
I enthusiastically support the environmental restoration called
for in Alternative 2 of the Tennessee Hollow Upper Watershed
Revitalization Project, especially moving the Morton Street
soccer field to the Julius Kahn playground site. Adopting and
implementing this ambitious plan will highlight the Presidio's
natural resources by providing an opportunity to educate
thousands about watersheds, as the entire Tennessee Hollow creek
system lies within the park. While your plan is exciting and
appropriate, it nevertheless needs to be improved in one
important respect relating to Landfill E.
Landfill E is currently a toxic waste site in one branch of the
creek. Your proposal calls for "capping" this site and putting a
recreation field on top of it. If this approach is adopted, it
could damage the success of the whole project, as water
contaminated with toxic waste would likely seep out of the
landfill and enter the creek system.
To prevent this result, I urge the Presidio Trust to completely
remove all the waste at Landfill E and to restore the site to
its natural conditions. Future generations will thank you for
your leadership and vision in restoring this unique area of the
park.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
=========================
UPDATES ON PREVIOUS ALERTS
=========================
1. STATE ENVIRONMENTAL BILLS
Last month we asked you to urge state legislators to pass six
priority environmental bills before the end of this year's
session. Hundreds of you took action, and we are pleased to
report that five of the six bills are now sitting on the
governor's desk. SB 719 would add health experts and members of
the public to the air pollution control board in the heavily
polluted Central Valley, while AB 1109 would require light bulbs
sold in California to be more energy efficient and contain lower
levels of toxic materials. SB 210 would help reduce global
warming pollution from transportation fuels by at least 10
percent by 2020, while AB 118 would provide financial incentives
for research, development and deployment of alternative fuels
and vehicles. Finally, AB 1420 would require urban water
agencies to enact conservation measures before receiving state
grants or loans. The bill that did not pass this session (due to
pending negotiations between supporters and the governor) would
ensure clean air around the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and
Oakland. The bill is still alive, however, and will be taken up
again when the legislature reconvenes in January. We'll let you
know when the bill is back in play; in the meantime, thanks to
all of you who contacted your legislators (and be sure to urge
the governor to sign these important bills by taking the action
above).
2. MARINE LIFE PROTECTION
You've sent thousands of messages during the last five years
urging California officials to set aside a network of marine
protected areas off the state's coastline that would provide
havens for ocean wildlife and help restore damaged ecosystems.
In April the California Fish & Game Commission unanimously
decided to establish a network of marine protected areas along
the central coast, from Point Conception to just north of Half
Moon Bay, and on September 21st, these new protected areas
officially took effect. The state is now looking to repeat this
process and expand protection from Half Moon Bay north to Point
Arena, so stay tuned for more updates. In the meantime, thanks
to all of you who helped achieve much needed protection for
these underwater parks and wilderness areas!
3. DELTA SMELT
In June we asked you to send a message urging Governor
Schwarzenegger to instruct state agencies to act now to save the
delta smelt from extinction; thanks to everyone who sent
messages to the governor. We're happy to report that, while we
were waiting for executive branch action, on August 31st a
federal district court judge in Fresno ruled to protect the
threatened delta smelt from the risk of extinction caused by the
diversion of massive amounts of fresh water from the
Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The ruling will help protect the
smelt, which live only in the San Francisco Bay Delta and are
uniquely adapted to its mixture of saltwater tides and
freshwater flows, and will improve the quality of drinking water
drawn from the Delta. Delta farmers who struggle to irrigate
their crops with water that's too salty from the overdrafting of
the Delta will also benefit, and the ruling will help protect
the Delta recreational fishing economy and the jobs of North
Coast salmon fishermen.
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax) California Activist
Network email: wildcalifornia@nrdc.org http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places A project of the
Natural Resources Defense Council http://www.savebiogems.org
Dear Tom,
I am writing to tell you about the powerful new environmental
film by NRDC Trustee Leonardo DiCaprio.
The new film, "The 11th Hour," documents the environmental
crises we face and the solutions we must begin to implement.
Please take a look at the trailer here:
http://www.11thhouraction.com/trailer
Featuring reformer Mikhail Gorbachev, physicist Stephen Hawking
and Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai and fifty other
intriguing thinkers, "The 11th Hour" documents the grave
problems facing the planet's life systems. Global warming,
deforestation, mass species extinction and depletion of the
oceans' habitats are all addressed.
I'm sure you'll agree, however, that the most powerful element
of "The 11th Hour" is not a portrait of a planet in crisis, but
an offering of hope and solutions. The film ends with a call for
restorative action through reshaping human activity.
"The 11th Hour" is opening today in New York and Los Angeles. On
August 24th it opens in other cities, and in the following weeks
across the country. It would be great if you could go see it and
bring a friend. You can go to http://www.11thhouraction.com
to get more information on the movie and when it will play near
you.
We need the message of this movie to hit as far and wide as
possible.
Thank You,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council
P.S. The DiCaprio Foundation urges you to use the code here
http://www.11thhouraction.com/trailer
to embed the trailer on your website if you have one.
=======
Dear Tom,
I have terrific news to share about two of our most important
courtroom battles.
First, a federal court has temporarily blocked the Shell oil
company from drilling exploratory wells this summer off the
coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Just last month I alerted you that we were rushing to court to
stop the drilling before it could start -- and prevent any
chance of an oil spill blanketing the shore of the Arctic Refuge
and turning it into a long-term toxic waste site.
By putting Shell's operation on hold until the full case can be
heard, the court has granted an eleventh-hour reprieve to polar
bears and other wildlife, and shown its concern about the
impacts of drilling. We're gearing up for a full hearing next
week in federal court.
Now the second -- and equally dramatic -- victory: with the U.S.
Navy about to train with dangerous, mid-frequency sonar during
nearly a dozen upcoming exercises off the southern California
coast, a federal judge has stepped in -- at NRDC's request --
and blocked the use of the sonar!
We are demanding that the Navy put common-sense measures in
place to protect whales and other marine mammals from a lethal
technology that has caused whale strandings and deaths around
the world.
The court's injunction is "preliminary," which means that this
fight is far from over. Nevertheless, it is a stunning setback
for the Navy, and it supports our contention that whales should
not have to die for military practice.
These twin victories are very important steps forward in our
campaign to thwart the Bush administration's ongoing assault on
America's wildlife and wild places.
And you made them possible -- through your unflagging and
generous support of NRDC. I want to thank you, on my own behalf
and on behalf of all the attorneys and staffers who are working
so tirelessly on these cases.
What a great day for the environment!
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council
Dear Thomas,
The House of Representatives could vote as early as Friday on
legislation that would pave the way to a cleaner energy future.
Please send an online message right now urging your own
Representative to vote Yes on the energy bill (H.R. 3220) and to
make it even stronger. Click here:
http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/energybill_nsb
We've got to generate massive pressure over the next 24 hours if
we're to make this energy bill even greener -- and keep the oil
and auto industries from hijacking it.
As it now stands, the basic legislation takes important first
steps toward a sustainable energy future. But if Congress is
serious about reducing global warming pollution and slashing our
dependence on oil and other fossil fuels, then it needs to
strengthen the bill with the following provisions:
* CLEANER ELECTRICITY: We need a national standard that requires
utilities to produce 20 percent of their electricity from
renewable energy sources by 2020.
* CLEANER CARS: We need a fuel economy standard to ensure that
new vehicles get at least 35 miles per gallon within ten years.
* CLEANER ENERGY DEVELOPMENT: We need to protect public lands
and wildlife from rampant exploitation and from the potentially
devastating impacts of global warming.
Tell your Representative to obey the will of the people -- not
the polluters -- by passing an energy bill that includes ALL of
the above provisions.
Click here to send your message to Congress now:
http://www.nrdcactionfund.org/energybill_nsb
This energy bill will help determine our environmental future
for decades to come. Make your voice heard today!
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
NRDC Action Fund
. . .
To update your email address or other information, visit your
subscription management page at http://www.nrdconline.org/nrdc/smp.tcl?nkey=w6u6kix4vxdnxd7&. To unsubscribe from
Earth Action, reply to this message with "remove" or
"unsubscribe" in the subject line.
The NRDC Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
========================================
Natural Resources Defense Council's
CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT
NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize and
provide action tools to Californians and others concerned with
protecting the state's extraordinary wealth of natural treasures
and the health of its citizens.
July 10, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alerts--
1. Tell state officials to protect Californians from dirty
diesel exhaust
2. Speak out to clean up truck pollution from California's ports
--Updates on Previous Alerts--
State legislation
======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
=============
Action Alerts
=============
1. Tell state officials to protect Californians from dirty
diesel exhaust
The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to vote later
this month on a landmark rule to clean up off-road equipment
used in construction, mining and other industrial activities.
The board has delayed adopting this rule several times, most
recently in May when construction industry groups released
vastly inflated cost estimates of implementing the rule.
Construction equipment is the second largest source of diesel
pollution in the state. Exposure to smog caused by diesel
pollution can cause shortness of breath, throat irritation,
chest pains and coughing, and can lead to asthma attacks and
emergency room visits. The soot from diesel pollution can be
inhaled deep into the lungs, enter the circulatory system and
damage blood vessels. Soot pollution can contribute to heart
attacks, irregular heartbeat, asthma attacks, bronchitis and
even premature death. Children are especially vulnerable because
their lungs are still developing.
The proposed new rule would prevent more than 50 tons per day of
diesel pollution from entering our air by 2020. These pollution
reductions would prevent 4,000 premature deaths and result in
health benefits and reduced health care and hospital visits
totaling $18-26 billion. In addition, the rule would help bring
the most polluted areas of the state, the Los Angeles/Long Beach
air basin and the San Joaquin Valley, into compliance with
federal air quality standards. Without the rule, old, polluting
off-road equipment will remain in use, completely uncontrolled
for decades to come.
The board is scheduled to vote on the proposed rule at its July
26th meeting, and is accepting comments from the public through
July 24th.
== What to do ==
Send a message, before the July 24th comment deadline, urging
the Air Resources Board to adopt the off-road cleanup proposal
at its July 26th meeting.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the Air Resources Board directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
California Air Resources Board
1001 I Street
Sacramento, CA 95812
Fax: 916-322-3928
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Adopt the clean construction and off-road equipment
rule
Dear Air Resources Board members,
I strongly support the landmark off-road diesel reduction rule
proposed by your staff on May 25th. This rule is a very
important step toward protecting public health and meeting clean
air standards throughout California. Without strong diesel
cleanup rules, California will continue to lead the nation with
the smoggiest, dirtiest air.
Although construction equipment is the second largest source of
diesel particulate matter in the state, more than half the
construction equipment used in California today has absolutely
no pollution controls and can be used for 30 years or more. The
new rule would reduce harmful diesel soot from off-road
equipment covered by the rule by 75 percent. These pollution
reductions are essential to help California meet federal clean
air standards.
The new rule also would prevent 4,000 premature deaths and
hundreds of thousands of respiratory hospital admissions between
now and 2025. Although off-road industry groups complain that
the cost of the rule is too high, these health benefits add up
to $18-26 billion dollars -- more than five times the estimated
cost of the regulation over the same time period.
By adopting this important regulation, California can once again
demonstrate its national leadership in protecting the public
from harmful diesel pollution. Once again, I urge the board to
adopt the new regulation, as proposed by staff.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
2. Speak out to clean up truck pollution from California's ports
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the two busiest
container ports in the nation, are a huge source of air
pollution in southern California. The old, dirty diesel trucks
that service these twin ports cause myriad health problems for
local communities in the most polluted air basin in the nation.
Largely in response to community and environmental concerns, the
two ports came together to address pollution from their
operations in a joint program called the Clean Air Action Plan.
The first major action in the plan is to develop a comprehensive
program to stem the tide of dirty diesel pollution from the
trucks servicing the ports. For too long, the burden of
providing clean equipment and trucks has been placed on the
backs of truck drivers, who are least able to afford it. The
ports have therefore proposed a "concessionary model," which
would require trucking companies to employ their drivers and be
held accountable for environmental standards before they can do
business with the ports. This approach would place the burden of
maintaining clean trucks and equipment on trucking companies,
where it belongs.
Port officials will decide whether to adopt the plan in
September, but some industry groups are opposing the program.
The commissioners need to hear a strong message urging them not
to succumb to industry pressure to maintain the current system
that dirties our air.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging the port executives to adopt a strong
program to clean up diesel pollution from the ports' truck
fleet.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the executives directly from NRDC's
Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Dr. Geraldine Knatz, Executive Director
Port of Los Angeles
425 S. Palos Verdes Street
San Pedro, CA 90731
Fax: 310-831-6936
Email: caap@portla.org
Richard D. Steinke, Executive Director
Port of Long Beach
925 Harbor Plaza
Long Beach, CA 90802-6411
Fax: 562-901-1733
Email: caap@polb.com
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Adopt a strong clean trucks program
Dear Dr. Knatz and Mr. Steinke,
I strongly support the efforts of the ports of Los Angeles and
Long Beach to clean up the dirty trucking fleet that services
the twin ports. For too long, the burden of providing clean
equipment and trucks has been placed on the backs of truck
drivers, who are least able to afford it. For this reason, I
support the use of a concessionary approach that requires
trucking companies to employ their drivers and agree to meet
environmental standards before being permitted to do business
with the ports. This concessionary approach would place the
burden of maintaining clean trucks and equipment on trucking
companies, where it belongs.
We need greater accountability to combat harmful air pollution
from port trucking, and the concessionary approach is the best
means to do that. I urge you to stand strong against industry
pressure to maintain a program that dirties our air. In fact,
the ports should strengthen the plan by requiring companies to
use the cleanest trucks and equipment available, including
alternative-fueled trucks.
Please stand up for our communities by adopting a strong clean
trucks program for the ports.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
==========================
Updates on Previous Alerts
==========================
STATE LEGISLATION
Last month we asked you to contact your California
assemblymember and senator about four environmental bills that
needed extra help to survive tough floor votes. You sent more
than a thousand messages to Sacramento, and we are pleased to
report that legislators passed three of the four bills: AB 1420
would require water agencies to implement conservation measures
in order to receive state grants or loans; SB 375 would
establish incentives for communities to promote compact
development, reduce driving and conserve farmland and wildlife
habitat; and SB 974 would establish a funding program to clean
up the overwhelming air pollution from the ports of Los Angeles,
Long Beach and Oakland. Opposition from auto dealers helped
defeat AB 493, an Assembly bill that would have created a
program to provide rebates on new clean cars funded by
surcharges on higher polluting cars; the bill's supporters have
pledged to introduce it again next year. The three bills that
passed have now been sent to the other respective chamber for
consideration, so we'll be asking for your help again soon. In
the meantime, thanks to all of you who contacted your state
legislators about these important bills.
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
California Activist Network email: wildcalifornia@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
Dear Thomas,
What a fantastic victory for our environment! And your flood of
phone calls to the Senate helped make it happen.
Last night, the U.S. Senate passed an energy bill that would
greatly improve the fuel economy of our nation's cars for the
first time since 1975 -- cutting America's oil dependence and
global warming pollution in the process.
By a 65 to 27 vote, the Senate adopted a measure that would
require cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles to get 35 miles
per gallon by 2020 -- compared with a paltry 25 miles per gallon
today.
It was a stunning setback for the auto companies, who fought
tooth and nail against an energy bill that will drag America out
of our gas guzzling past and into a more energy efficient
future.
And what a historic moment for millions of us who have worked so
hard -- for so many years -- to break the automakers'
stranglehold on Washington for the sake of a healthier planet.
Thousands of you exemplified that can-do spirit yesterday when
you received my emergency alert and swamped the Senate with
phone calls in opposition to the automakers' latest amendment.
You spoke out for the vast majority of Americans who are sick
and tired of our oil habit and the terrible price we pay for it.
And that's why the Senate, after decades of doing Big Auto's
bidding, made a sudden U-turn last night.
What a difference five years makes! The last time we fought this
battle, in 2002, the automakers barely broke a sweat. But since
then, the American people have glimpsed an oil-dependent future
of skyrocketing gas prices, catastrophic global warming and
unending wars over fossil fuels.
America does not want to go there. You delivered that message to
the Senate loud and clear, and the Senate heard you.
We still have to fight this battle all over again in the House
before this fuel economy measure becomes law. And we'll be
calling on you to make your voice heard in that chamber at the
critical moment.
But you and I deserve one day to savor a victory that has been
so many decades in the making. Thank you for doing your part to
make it happen.
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
NRDC Action Fund
. . .
The NRDC Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Natural
Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
June 12, 2007
========================================
Action is heating up in Congress on several important
environmental issues this week, and we need your help on these
two urgent alerts right away:
1. Tell your senators to pass a strong, clean energy bill
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_061207
2. Tell your representative to protect the Tongass and other
national treasures
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_061107
======================================================
1. Tell your senators to pass a strong, clean energy bill
In the next few weeks the Senate has the opportunity to deliver
on its promise to move our country toward a cleaner, more secure
energy future by enacting legislation that would help solve
global warming and reduce our dependence on oil. The current
energy bill, however, needs to be strengthened in order to
guarantee progress on critical issues like global warming,
increased fuel economy standards and clean, renewable energy
sources.
Specifically the energy bill should: require 20 percent of the
nation's electricity to be produced from renewable energy
resources by 2020; guarantee vehicle fuel economy standards of
at least 35 miles per gallon over the next decade; require a 10
percent decrease in total electricity consumption by 2020; and
require environmental safeguards for biofuels to ensure
substantial reductions in global warming pollution and to
protect land, air and water quality in our communities. At the
same time, senators also must oppose any attempt to include
damaging provisions, such as those promoting liquid coal fuels,
that would increase global warming pollution.
Debate on the energy bill has already begun, and votes on
proposed amendments could occur at any time.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators to support amendments that
would strengthen the Senate energy bill and oppose amendments
that would promote polluting energy sources like liquid coal.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators directly from NRDC's
Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
If you prefer to call, the Capitol switchboard number is
202-224-3121.
2. Tell your representative to protect the Tongass and other
national treasures
The House of Representatives will vote this week on two critical
appropriations bills that will determine how much to spend on
our most important environmental programs, including those that
protect the Tongass National Forest and other public wildlands.
One important amendment would stop the Forest Service from
spending our tax dollars to build logging roads through pristine
forestlands in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. For decades
American taxpayers have been forced to subsidize nearly a
billion dollars worth of clearcut logging in the Tongass -- our
country's largest national forest and the world's largest intact
coastal temperate rainforest. Now the Forest Service has
proposed increasing logging to five times current levels -- and
building thousands of miles of new roads at a cost of tens of
millions of dollars every year. The Andrews-Chabot amendment to
the Interior appropriations bill would end these harmful
subsidies and protect the Tongass.
Following the vote on the Tongass amendment, the House will vote
on final passage of the Interior appropriations bill, which
provides funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Forest Service and the Department of the Interior. Although
these agencies have been severely underfunded for the past
several years, this year's bill would significantly increase
funding for their vitally important environmental protection
programs.
The House also will vote on an amendment to the Energy and Water
appropriations bill that would delay, for one year, funding for
two huge multi-state energy transmission corridors. Together the
proposed corridors -- one in the east and one in the southwest
-- cover 11 states and more than 200 counties inhabited by
nearly 75 million Americans. Once these areas are designated,
utility companies will be able to site high-voltage transmission
lines across national parks, wildlands, wild and scenic rivers
and other fragile public lands within them, and could also use
eminent domain authority to site transmission lines on private
lands -- even if state and local governments object. The
one-year delay would give Congress, state and local governments
and the public adequate time to ensure that the final corridor
plans respect our treasured natural resources and state and
federal laws protecting private property.
== What to do ==
Send a message right away urging your representative to vote Yes
on 1) the Andrews-Chabot amendment to the Interior
appropriations bill; 2) final passage of the Interior
appropriations bill; and 3) the Hinchey-Wolf amendment to the
Energy and Water appropriations bill.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your representative directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
If you prefer to call your representative, the Capitol
switchboard number is 202-224-3121.
Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers,
and urge them to contact Congress as well.
Thank you!
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
========================================
Natural Resources Defense Council's
CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT
NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize and
provide action tools to Californians and others concerned with
protecting the state's extraordinary wealth of natural treasures
and the health of its citizens.
June 5, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alerts--
1. Don't let California's delta smelt disappear forever
2. Urge your assemblymember to vote Yes for global warming and
water conservation bills
3. Urge your state senator to vote Yes for clean air and global
warming bills
4. Speak out for a state budget that protects California's
environment
--Updates--
1. Coastal commission appointment
2. Cabrillo Port offshore gas project
======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
=============
Action Alerts
=============
1. Don't let California's delta smelt disappear forever
A cute little fish with a funny-sounding name, the delta smelt
is found only in the open waters of the San Francisco Bay-Delta,
the west coast's largest estuary and a major source of drinking
water for more than 23 million Californians. But the Bay-Delta
is approaching the brink of collapse, as pollution, habitat
loss, invasive species and increased water diversions imperil
the ecosystem's future.
Delta smelt populations are a crucial barometer of estuary
health; the loss of the fish would indicate irreversible damage
to the Bay-Delta and could signal the potential extinctions of
other delta fish species. Spring trawl surveys found just 25
juvenile smelt this year, the smallest number ever recorded and
92 percent fewer than the previous record low in 2006. But as
this important fish faces the brink of extinction, state
agencies are evading their legal obligations and failing to take
action to protect the few smelt that remain.
Despite the smelt's astonishing population decline, California
officials have allowed record levels of water to be pumped from
the Delta without a required permit. To add insult to injury,
the smelt's decline was preventable. Scientists have been
warning state officials for more than three years that the smelt
population was perilously low, and have recommended specific
management measures -- many of which were ignored.
California has a proud history of environmental stewardship and
a right to expect state agencies to show strong leadership in
defending our natural resources, something our agencies are
presently failing to do. Although Governor Schwarzenegger has
made developing a long-term plan for the delta a priority for
his administration, to date he has not directed state agencies
to implement efforts to reverse the decline of the smelt and the
Delta ecosystem.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging Governor Schwarzenegger to instruct state
agencies to act now to save the delta smelt from extinction.
== Contact Information ==
You can send a message to Governor Schwarzenegger directly from
NRDC's Earth Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email: governor@governor.ca.gov
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Save the delta smelt
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
I am seriously concerned about the decline of the delta smelt,
the broader deterioration of the critically important San
Francisco Bay-Delta ecosystem and the irresponsible behavior of
state agencies in failing to respond adequately to this crisis.
The delta smelt is a key indicator of the health of the west
coast's largest estuary, which is an important source of
drinking water for millions of Californians. The smelt's
extinction would mark a dramatic environmental protection
failure and would signal the broader decline of the delta. This
extinction, the first in California in the last quarter century,
would be a particular tragedy because state agencies have played
a critical role in the smelt's decline.
The smelt is just one of many imperiled delta fish. Actions to
protect the delta could also protect Chinook salmon, green
sturgeon and other endangered and threatened species, as well as
increase the reliability of water supplies from the delta.
Specifically, I urge you to:
** fully implement the water management actions recommended by
the scientific community, including the Delta Smelt Working
Group;
** require those who draw water from the Delta to ensure that a
sufficient amount of water remains so that the smelt can
recover;
** immediately halt discretionary "surplus" pumping of water
from the Delta;
** instruct your agencies to comply fully with the requirements
of the California Endangered Species Act; and
** direct the Department of Water Resources to develop a
long-term plan to meet California's water needs while reducing
delta diversions.
Losing the delta smelt would be an irreparable blow to
California's environment. I urge you to immediately take all
necessary measures to prevent its extinction and ensure its
recovery.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
2. Urge your assemblymember to vote Yes for global warming and
water conservation bills
The California Assembly is considering two important bills that
would help the state fight global warming and conserve precious
water resources.
AB 493 represents a common-sense, market-based solution to
global warming. The bill would provide one-time rebates on the
purchase of the cleanest new vehicles. The rebates would be
funded by one-time surcharges on new vehicles with the highest
global warming emissions. Several vehicles, including many
family-oriented minivans and smaller SUVs, would fall into a
"zero band" receiving neither a surcharge nor a rebate.
Another bill, AB 1420, would require water agencies to implement
conservation measures, including programs targeting large
landscapes and commercial, industrial and residential water use,
in order to receive state grants or loans. The bill also would
give special recognition to agencies that achieve a higher
standard of excellence in water conservation.
Both of these bills must pass out of the Assembly by this
Friday, but opponents have redoubled their efforts to stop them.
== What to do ==
Send a message today urging your assemblymember to vote "Yes" on
AB 493 and AB 1420.
== Contact information ==
You can contact your assemblymember directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
3. Urge your state senator to vote Yes for clean air and global
warming bills
The California Senate is holding marathon sessions this week to
meet Friday's deadline for passing bills to send on to their
next stop in the Assembly. Two particularly important
environmental bills would implement last year's historic global
warming law and clean up air pollution at state ports.
The first bill, SB 375, would provide incentives to communities
that plan for compact development that reduces driving and
conserves farmland and wildlife habitat. Preparing properly for
expected population growth and related transportation
infrastructure could have a huge impact on whether California
can meet the global warming targets established by the Global
Warming Solutions Act. SB 375 would promote land use and
transportation planning that reduces, rather than contributes
to, global warming pollution.
SB 974 would reduce air pollution caused by the ports of Los
Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland, which receive more than half
the goods shipped to retailers throughout the entire country.
Such huge amounts of cargo transport generate staggering levels
of air pollution and associated health problems, including
asthma, cancer and premature death. SB 974 would collect a $30
fee on each shipping container processed through the three ports
to fund measures to reduce pollution, including plugging in
ships to electric power and upgrading port equipment to use
cleaner fuels.
Both SB 375 and SB 974 are opposed by big business and industry
groups, so state senators need to hear that their constituents
support these two key environmental protection bills.
== What to do ==
Send a message right away urging your state senator to vote Yes
on SB 375 and SB 974.
== Contact information ==
You can contact your state senator directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
4. Speak out for a state budget that protects California's
environment
California's legislative leaders and Governor Schwarzenegger are
meeting this month to craft a state budget for next year. State
officials continue to grapple with budget shortfalls and rely
increasingly on bonds to fund key environmental programs. Bond
funding helps, but we still need long-term funding to best
protect the state's air and water quality and other natural
resources.
Legislators must ensure that state agencies charged with
implementing California's landmark Global Warming Solutions Act
have sufficient resources and accountability to do the job. In
order to meet the goals of the act, they also must reject the
governor's proposal to strip more than $1.3 billion from public
transit.
In addition, legislators should support funding to add more fish
and game wardens, especially for coastal waters. These wardens
are the front line of defense in protecting California's
wildlife and water quality, but currently there are only 200
wardens for the entire state. And legislators should support
funds to restore the San Joaquin River, but reject funding for
costly and environmentally destructive dams.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging legislative leaders and Governor
Schwarzenegger to develop and pass a state budget that protects
our environment and helps reduce global warming pollution.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center
at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-4633
Email: governor@governor.ca.gov
Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata
State Capitol, Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-327-1997
Email: Senator.Perata@sen.ca.gov
Senator Dick Ackerman
State Capitol, Room 305
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-9754
Email: Senator.Ackerman@sen.ca.gov
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0046
Fax: 916-319-2146
Email: Assemblymember.nunez@assembly.ca.gov
Assemblymember Mike Villines
State Capitol, Room 3104
Sacramento, CA 94249-0029
Fax: 916-319-2129
Email: Assemblymember.villines@assembly.ca.gov
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Protect California's environment and reduce global
warming in the state budget
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Perata, Senator Ackerman,
Speaker Nunez and Assemblymember Villines,
As you consider the state's budget, I urge you to provide
adequate funding for programs that protect the environment and
combat global warming.
Specifically, I urge you to approve funding for implementation
of AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act, and to restore the
$1.3 billion for public transit that was proposed to be
redirected to other purposes in the governor's budget.
California should continue to fund restoration of the great San
Joaquin River, and should increase funds for more fish and game
wardens who protect our wildlife and public lands every day. But
please reject expenditures of public funds on shortsighted,
expensive and environmentally destructive dams; less costly
alternatives are available.
California's natural resources and innovative environmental
solutions promote a thriving economy by attracting tourists and
spurring investment in clean, efficient technologies. Again, I
urge you to pass a budget that protects and funds programs
critical to a clean and healthy environment for all
Californians.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
==========================
Updates on Previous Alerts
==========================
1. COASTAL COMMISSION APPOINTMENT
Last month we sent a special alert asking you to urge State
Senator Perata to reappoint Sara Wan to another four-year term
on the California Coastal Commission, where she has worked hard
and successfully to protect whales and other marine life and to
improve public access to the state's beaches. You sent more than
2,300 messages to Senator Perata, and we're thrilled to report
that, on May 21st, he reappointed Commissioner Wan for another
term. Thanks to everyone who helped keep this strong voice for
coastal protection on this important commission.
2. CABRILLO PORT OFFSHORE GAS PROJECT
In our May alert, we asked you to urge Governor Schwarzenegger
to veto BHP Billiton's proposed offshore industrial gas terminal
at Cabrillo Port, which would have worsened air quality for
millions of California families and harmed nearby marine life.
We're extremely happy to report that the governor heeded your
hundreds of messages, and on May 18th he vetoed the project,
stating that it failed to meet "the strict environmental
standards California demands." The project cannot proceed over
the governor's objection, so this effectively spells the end of
the terminal and represents a decisive victory for southern
California communities. Thanks to everyone who helped make it
happen!
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
California Activist Network email: wildcalifornia@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
May 8, 2007
========================================
Special alert:
Tell the EPA to protect children from rat poisons
Take action now at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_050807
======================================================
Every year tens of thousands of small children are poisoned by
chemical rat poisons, and several hundred require
hospitalization. Poisoned children can suffer from nosebleeds,
bleeding gums, bloody urine, gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia
and bleeding into the skin, eyes and joints. Rat poisonings
disproportionately harm African-American, Latino and low-income
children.
Almost two years ago a federal court ordered the EPA to develop
safety measures that would protect children from rat poisons
after NRDC and West Harlem Environmental Action successfully
sued the agency over its failure to safeguard kids from these
serious health risks. In response to our court victory, the EPA
has finally proposed important two safety measures that would go
a long way toward protecting kids from rat poisons.
First, the EPA would require child-safe packaging known as
"tamper-resistant bait stations," to make it much harder for
children to be able to access rat poisons. The EPA also would
forbid the sale of rat poison in the form of brightly colored
loose pellets -- which children mistake for candy -- and instead
require solid bait blocks, which would not fit into a child's
mouth.
Although the EPA asserts that these proposals would
"dramatically decrease" the number of children poisoned every
year, chemical companies that make rat poisons are fighting
these safety measures, calling them "burdensome" and claiming
that they would cost too much.
The EPA is accepting public comments on the proposed safety
measures until May 18th.
== What to do ==
Send a comment, before the May 18th deadline, urging the EPA to
finalize these safety measures and protect children from rat
poisons.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to the EPA directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at
http://www.nrdconline.org/campaign/nrdcaction_050807
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message (postal mail only).
Docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0955
Office of Pesticide Programs (7502P)
Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460-0001
== Sample letter ==
Re: Docket # EPA-HQ-OPP-2006-0955 - Protect kids from rat
poisons
Dear Administrator Johnson and EPA staff,
I urge the EPA to finalize the proposed safety measures to
protect children from chemical rat poisons. Poisoned children
can suffer from nosebleeds, bleeding gums, bloody urine,
gastrointestinal bleeding, anemia and bleeding into the skin,
eyes and joints. The EPA has long acknowledged these serious
threats of child poisonings, and the proposals to require
child-safe packaging and solid bait blocks for all
residential-use rat poisons are necessary steps to protect
children's health.
Protecting kids from rat poisoning is also an environmental
justice issue: African-American, Latino and low-income children
are disproportionately harmed by these dangerous chemicals. The
proposed safety measures will protect people of color, people
living in public housing and low-income communities.
Please don't cave to pressure from the chemical industry.
Finalize the proposed safety measures to protect children from
rat poisons.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers,
and urge them to contact the EPA as well.
Thank you!
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
May 2, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alerts--
1. Urge Congress to help bring clean drinking water to the
world's neediest children
2. Tell Congress not to let polluters weaken the Clean Water Act
======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
=============
Action Alerts
=============
1. Urge Congress to help bring clean drinking water to the
world's neediest children
More than one billion people around the world are without access
to safe drinking water, and 2.6 billion are without basic
sanitation. Each day 5,000 children die from water-borne
diseases stemming from lack of safe water and adequate
sanitation. While this picture of immense human suffering is
almost beyond comprehension, cost-effective solutions are
available right now.
Investments in drinking water and sanitation are among the most
effective measures that can be taken to reduce disease and
death, especially in children. Public health experts in
developed nations attribute more lives saved over the past 150
years to the provision of clean drinking water than to any other
medical or health advance, bar none. With enough political will,
similar gains can be realized in developing nations: for a few
pennies per life saved, simple sanitation improvements and
existing, off-the-shelf water treatment and delivery
technologies can rescue millions of children from misery or
death from water-borne disease.
In 2005 Congress passed and President Bush signed the "Water for
the Poor Act," which recognizes the global water crisis and the
need for greater American involvement in solving it, and directs
the U.S. government to develop a strategy to provide safe water
and sanitation to the countries in greatest need as a
cornerstone of our foreign aid efforts. While the goals of the
act are commendable, Congress has yet to appropriate any funds
to implement them. Senators and representatives will soon be
drafting spending bills for the next fiscal year, so this is
their opportunity to finally direct funds to be spent for this
vital program.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators and representative to
include funding for the "Water for the Poor Act" in the FY08
foreign operations appropriations bill.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators and representative
directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action/
If you prefer to call, the Capitol switchboard number is
202-224-3121.
2. Tell Congress not to let polluters weaken the Clean Water Act
Since the Clean Water Act was enacted in 1972, we have made
great progress in cleaning up our nation's waters. But polluters
have tried repeatedly to use the courts to cut back on the law's
protections, and last year their efforts paid off when a Supreme
Court decision left significant doubt about what kinds of water
bodies remain protected by the Clean Water Act.
Now a number of small streams and other waters are in legal
limbo. This uncertainty is enormously dangerous -- 20 million
acres of wetlands and nearly two million miles of streams are at
risk of pollution or destruction if they lose their Clean Water
Act protections. In response, concerned members of the House and
Senate will soon introduce the Clean Water Authority Restoration
Act to thwart polluters' attacks by specifying the kinds of
waters that the law must cover.
Americans need these water bodies to be protected -- the small
and seasonal creeks, brooks and streams that make up over half
the river miles outside of Alaska contribute to the drinking
water of roughly 111 million people. In addition, wetlands
purify water, reduce the risk of flooding and provide important
wildlife habitat.
== What to do ==
Send a message urging your senators and representative to
co-sponsor the Clean Water Authority Restoration Act.
== Contact information ==
You can send a message to your senators and representative
directly from NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action/
If you prefer to call, the Capitol switchboard number is
202-224-3121.
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
Dear Thomas,
Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court finally set the Bush
Administration straight on global warming.
In a 5-4 vote, the Court agreed with NRDC and our partners that
carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions are
"pollutants" under the Clean Air Act.
And in a stunning rebuke to the Bush Administration, the court
ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency ALREADY has the
authority to start curbing those pollutants, which are wreaking
havoc with our climate.
This landmark victory belongs to NRDC activists like you, who
helped us launch this case four years ago and allowed us to play
a leading role in a winning coalition of nearly 30 states,
cities and environmental groups. We could not have prevailed
without you!
And I know you want to hear exactly what the Court's decision
means to our fight against global warming.
First, it obliterates the Bush Administration's leading excuse
for doing nothing about global warming: namely, that it has no
power to control carbon pollution. The Supreme Court has now
ordered the EPA to stop relying on illegal excuses and to start
getting serious about the problem of global warming pollution
from new cars, SUVs and trucks.
Second, it removes the major obstacle to measures in California
and ten other states that would slash greenhouse gas emissions
from car exhaust.
Third, it adds immeasurably to the history-making momentum we've
been building -- month by month, victory by victory -- for
Congress to pass strong global warming legislation. Consider
what's happened in just the last 90 days:
* Ten of the most influential companies in the world joined with
NRDC and other leading environmental groups to call on Congress
for a mandatory approach to cutting global warming pollution.
* NRDC helped spur a pioneering clean energy accord with TXU, a
giant utility, which marks the beginning of the end of America's
investment in dirty coal.
* NRDC helped persuade Arizona, New Mexico, Washington and
Oregon to commit to mandatory caps on global warming pollution,
bringing the latest total to 15 states.
* On April 14th, tens of thousands of Americans will mobilize
for StepItUp rallies, creating a groundswell of support for
global warming legislation.
A nationwide chain reaction has been unleashed, and yesterday's
Supreme Court ruling is going to focus new and intense heat on
Congress, which is just gearing up for serious debate on global
warming. The timing could not be better.
If you haven't already, I urge you to join that chain reaction
by making your own voice heard in Congress. Go to
http://www.nrdcaction.org/gwtakeaction and send a message
telling your Senators and Representative to pass a bill that
cuts global warming pollution 25 percent by 2020 and 80 percent
by 2050.
It will take overwhelming public support to pass the kind of
bold legislation that our planet so desperately needs. But if we
can prevail over the Bush Administration in the Supreme Court,
then anything is possible on Capitol Hill.
Let's take the fight to Congress!
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
April 9, 2007
==================================
This is a status report on congressional action on the
environment. The information in this bulletin is also available
on our website at http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/legwatch.asp
(the web version links to the text of bills and congressional
web pages). To take action on these and other environmental
issues, visit NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action/
==================================
In the rush of activity leading up to Congress' spring recess,
the House approved a bill to reduce pollution from sea vessels
and passed a budget resolution that would expand funding for
conservation and renewable energy. Meanwhile, Senate committees
approved bills that would outfit thousands of government
buildings with energy-saving technology and reauthorize programs
for flood control and shoreline protection.
===
Budget
On 3/29, the House, by a vote of 216-210, approved a $3
trillion budget resolution (H.Con.Res. 99) that would set
spending caps for fiscal year 2008. Representatives defeated
three different alternative budgets that were offered as
substitute amendments, including a proposal from progressive
Democrats that would have directed an additional $28 billion to
renewable energy and climate change programs. The final budget,
sponsored by Rep. Spratt (D-SC), Budget Committee chair, would
provide $32.8 billion in the account that provides funding for
most of the federal environmental and natural resource programs.
The House resolution now heads to conference with the Senate,
which approved its budget resolution a week earlier. The Senate
version would provide about $31 billion for environmental
projects, an increase over both last year's levels and the
president's request. The Senate resolution also includes a $20
billion "deficit-neutral reserve fund" for the farm bill that
would provide some leeway for the Agriculture Committee to
include new programs in the next farm bill as long as the money
was offset elsewhere.
===
Appropriations
On 3/29, the Senate approved a $123 billion war supplemental
spending bill that also includes significant funding for
environmental and agricultural programs. The measure (H.R. 2863)
passed by a final vote of 51-48 and paves the way for a
conference with the House to reconcile differences between the
bills passed by each chamber. Overall, the Senate and House
bills contain billions for firefighting, salmon fishers,
agriculture disaster relief and other domestic programs. Both
bills endorse the establishment of a $500 million reserve
account for emergency wildland firefighting, as well as about
$60 million for salmon fishers and Indian tribes that depend on
salmon fishing in northern California and Oregon. These fishers
have been harmed by the recent failure of the salmon fishery on
the Klamath River. The Senate bill also includes $94 million
for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair 213 sites in the levee
system on the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers that were
damaged by storms last year. The Senate bill also includes a
chemical security provision that would largely prevent the
Department of Homeland Security from pre-empting state chemical
security rules when DHS implements its forthcoming security
program, which has been criticized as not stringent enough.
President Bush has threatened to veto the legislation due to its
cost and non-war-related spending items.
===
Energy
On 3/29, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
unanimously approved a bill (S. 992) to outfit the 8,500 federal
government buildings with energy-saving technology. The
bipartisan bill, sponsored by Sen. Boxer (D-CA) and Sen.
Alexander (R-TN), would direct the General Services
Administration to retrofit all federal buildings with advanced
lighting systems, energy-saving furnaces and other cost-cutting
devices over the next five years. The bill also would help state
and local governments do the same by providing them with grants
of up to $1 million. The U.S. federal government is the largest
energy consumer in the world, with a total energy bill of about
$14.5 billion each year. Sen. Boxer, chair of the Senate
Environment and Public Works Committee, said S. 992 is one of
several green building bills her committee will consider this
session. Among the other bills likely to be acted on are S. 489
and S. 506, both of which would create an Office of
High-Performance Buildings to coordinate sustainable design
research and implementation in new federal buildings.
===
Water
On 3/29, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
approved a long overdue bill (H.R. 1495) to reauthorize the
Water Resources Development Act. The act was due to be
reauthorized in 2002 but has been held up by political wrangling
over funding and discontent with the Army Corps of Engineers,
whose water projects the bill funds. The version of the bill
approved by the committee is virtually unchanged from a bill
that cleared the Senate last year and would cost about $13.2
billion through 2022. The bill would authorize more than 200
projects to deal with flood control, inland navigation and
shoreline protection. It also attempts to establish an
independent peer review process for all Army Corps projects
costing more than $40 million. Senate Majority Leader Reid
(D-NV) has indicated that the bill is one of his priorities, but
has given no timeframe for an eventual vote.
On 3/26, the House approved, by a vote of 359-48, a bill that
would reduce pollution from sea vessels. The "Maritime Pollution
Prevention Act" (H.R. 802), sponsored by Rep. Oberstar (D-MN),
would help protect the marine environment by limiting emissions
of nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and ozone-depleting
chemicals from ships. The legislation would bring the United
States into agreement with MARPOL Annex VI, the international
shipping treaty that the Senate accepted in 2006. The president
is expected to sign the bill into law.
===
For information on the environmental voting records of members
of Congress, see the League of Conservation Voters' National
Environmental Scorecard at
http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with more than 1.2 million members
and online activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
===========
========================================
Natural Resources Defense Council's
CALIFORNIA ACTIVIST NETWORK ACTION ALERT
NRDC's California Activist Network was formed to mobilize and
provide action tools to Californians and others concerned with
protecting the state's extraordinary wealth of natural treasures
and the health of its citizens.
April 2, 2007
========================================
In This Issue:
--Action Alerts--
1. Tell state wildlife officials to protect California condors
from poisonous lead bullets
2. Speak out to require California's utilities to reduce global
warming pollution
--Updates on Previous Alerts--
1. California clean car discount bill
2. State water board appointments
Reminder: Last chance to use your state tax refund to help
California otters
======================================================
You will also find these alerts in NRDC'S Earth Action Center,
which includes tools for taking action easily online, at
http://www.nrdc.org/action
=============
Action Alerts
=============
1. Tell state wildlife officials to protect California condors
from poisonous lead bullets
Lead ammunition is threatening to wipe out the last surviving
California condors. After several public hearings, the
California Fish and Game Commission is poised to vote this month
on whether to ban this poisonous hunting ammunition in counties
where condors live.
The California condor, North America's largest bird, is one of
the most endangered animals on earth. Today there are 138
condors in the wild, 61 of which fly free in California. One of
the leading causes of condor deaths is lead poisoning, which
occurs when the birds accidentally ingest lead bullet fragments
found in their prey. Lead poisoning has caused nine confirmed
condor deaths since 1992 and has been implicated in the death or
disappearance of at least 15 more condors. Other birds, such as
golden and bald eagles, are also susceptible to lead
contamination from ingesting lead fragments in ammunition.
The California Fish and Game Commission is considering changing
its hunting regulations to ban lead ammunition in counties with
condor populations. Such a ban would help protect these birds
and others from lead contamination and bring them back from the
brink of extinction.
The commission will vote on the ban at its April 12-13 meeting
in Bodega Bay.
== What to do ==
Send a message, before April 12th, urging the California Fish
and Game Commission to ban the use of lead ammunition in
counties where condors live.
== Contact information ==
You can send an official comment directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
Doug Updike, Acting Chief, Wildlife Programs
California Department of Fish and Game
1812 Ninth Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-445-4048
Email: dupdike@dfg.ca.gov
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Ban lead ammunition in condor habitat
Dear Acting Chief Updike,
I urge the California Fish and Game Commission to ban the use of
lead ammunition for hunting activities in California hunting
zones where condors are found.
Leading scientists have concluded that lead poisoning is a major
obstacle to the recovery of the California condor. In addition
to condors, other birds, such as golden and bald eagles, also
are poisoned by ingesting lead shot and lead bullet fragments.
Alternatives to lead ammunition for many hunting activities are
already widely available.
Please act now to protect the natural heritage of all
Californians and save the California condor.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
2. Speak out to require California's utilities to reduce global
warming pollution
Last fall California passed the world's first law limiting
global warming pollution from electricity generation. The law
prohibits new long-term investments in any baseload electricity
power plants (those workhorse power plants that run around the
clock) that emit more global warming pollution than an efficient
natural gas power plant. A new conventional coal-fired power
plant, for example, emits more than twice as much global warming
pollution as a new natural gas plant.
In March, the California Energy Commission proposed regulations
to implement and enforce the law for the state's municipal
utilities, like the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. The proposed
regulations are consistent with those already adopted by the
California Public Utilities Commission for the state's
investor-owned utilities (like Pacific Gas & Electric and
Southern California Edison), in order to ensure that utilities
across the state are held to the same standard. Nevertheless,
the California Energy Commission faces continued pressure to
weaken its proposed enforcement regulations.
The commission will consider the proposed regulations at its
April 25th meeting, and is accepting public comments until that
date.
== What to do ==
Send a message, before the April 25th meeting, urging the
California Energy Commission to adopt the proposed global
warming pollution performance standard regulations for municipal
utilities.
== Contact information ==
You can send an official comment directly from NRDC's Earth
Action Center at http://www.nrdc.org/action/
Or use the contact information and sample letter below to send
your own message.
California Energy Commission
Docket No. 06-OIR-1
1516 9th Street, MS-4
Sacramento, CA 95814
Fax: 916-654-4354
Email: SB1368@energy.state.ca.us
== Sample letter ==
Subject: Docket No. 06-OIR-1-- Comments on proposed GHG
emissions standard regulations
Dear Commissioners,
I strongly support the proposed "Regulations Establishing and
Implementing a Greenhouse Gases Emission Performance Standard
for Local Publicly Owned Utilities." These regulations would
ensure that utilities are required to place their long-term
investments in clean energy sources, thus helping California
meet its global warming emissions reduction targets under the
Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) and avoiding the
unnecessary exposure of Californians to hundreds of millions of
dollars in extra costs resulting from new investments in highly
polluting energy sources.
We must protect all Californians equally from the financial and
reliability risks of continued reliance on electricity sources
that produce high amounts of global warming pollution. The
California Public Utilities Commission has already adopted
strong rules to implement and enforce SB 1368 for the state's
investor-owned utilities, and the California Energy Commission
is obligated to adopt consistent regulations for the state's
local publicly owned utilities.
The proposed regulations provide for necessary state oversight
to ensure compliance with the standard, while allowing the
publicly owned utilities enough flexibility to continue
purchasing the cleanest, most affordable power for their
customers. In addition, the proposed regulations would ensure a
consistent statewide standard for all California utilities. I
strongly urge the commission to adopt the proposed regulations
to implement and enforce SB 1368 for California's local publicly
owned utilities.
Sincerely,
[Your name and address]
==========================
Updates on Previous Alerts
==========================
CALIFORNIA CLEAN CAR DISCOUNT BILL
Last month we asked you to urge the leaders of the Assembly
Transportation Committee to help pass AB 493, the California
Clean Car Discount. More than 2,900 of you sent messages, and we
are pleased to report that the bill passed the Transportation
Committee on March 26th by a vote of 8-6, mainly along party
lines. The bill would make cleaner cars more affordable by
establishing one-time rebates or one-time surcharges on new car
purchases based on the amount of global warming pollution the
vehicle emits. We will keep you posted on the progress of this
important bill; in the meantime, thanks to all of you who took
action.
STATE WATER BOARD APPOINTMENTS
In February we asked you to urge Governor Schwarzenegger to
appoint proven water quality advocates to the State Water
Resources Control Board. You sent almost 2,200 messages to the
governor, and we are happy to report that he responded by
appointing one of the top candidates recommended by
environmental groups, Fran Weber, who worked previously for the
Mono Lake Committee and the National Audubon Society. The
governor also re-appointed attorney Arthur Baggett, who during
his tenure has led the way on key water quality initiatives,
including improved storm water controls. We are hopeful that
these appointees will add to the board's commitment to
protecting California's vital water resources -- thanks to all
of you who contacted the governor!
===========================================
Last chance to use your state tax refund
to help California otters -- check line 63!
===========================================
Ok, the bad news is that you waited until the last minute to do
your tax returns, but the good news is that you can still help
California otters before you run to the post office (or press
the 'send' key). Help save otters and their ocean habitat by
donating part of your California tax refund to the California
Sea Otter Fund, which supports research into declining sea otter
populations and helps clean up coastal waters. Just check line
63 of your state tax return. Thanks!
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
California Activist Network email: wildcalifornia@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
===========
Natural Resources Defense Council's
LEGISLATIVE WATCH
March 19, 2007
==================================
This is a status report on congressional action on the
environment. The information in this bulletin is also available
on our website at http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/legwatch.asp
(the web version links to the text of bills and congressional
web pages). To take action on these and other environmental
issues, visit NRDC's Earth Action Center at
http://www.nrdc.org/action/
==================================
The House passed a trio of clean water bills, and House leaders
announced the members of the new Select Committee on Climate
Change.
===
Climate Change
On 3/9, House leaders announced the members of the newly created
House Select Committee on Climate Change. Rep. Markey (D-MA)
will chair the panel of nine Democrats and six Republicans, with
Rep. Sensenbrenner (R-WI) filling the role of ranking
Republican. The remaining committee members are Democrats Rep.
Blumenauer (D-OR), Rep. Cleaver (D-MO), Rep. Hall (D-NY), Rep.
Herseth (D-SD), Rep. Inslee (D-WA), Rep. Larson (D-CT), Rep.
McNerney (D-CA), and Rep. Solis (D-CA); and Republicans Rep.
Blackburn (R-TN), Rep. Miller (R-MI), Rep. Shadegg (R-AZ), Rep.
Sullivan (R-OK), and Rep. Walden (R-OR).
===
Water
During the week of 3/5, the House passed three bills aimed
primarily at upgrading the nation's aging wastewater treatment
infrastructure. The largest of the three, H.R. 720, would
authorize $14 billion over four years for the Clean Water State
Revolving Fund, a federal low-interest wastewater loan program.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Oberstar (D-MN), seeks to make up
for funding shortfalls in the Bush administration's fiscal 2008
budget request for water programs. The measure passed 303-108.
The House also passed H.R. 569, the "Water Quality Investment
Act of 2007." This bill would address the problem of sewer
overflows by authorizing $1.8 billion in grants over five
years. Sponsored by Rep. Pascrell (D-NJ), the measure seeks to
help cities address severe funding shortfalls for upgrading
aging sewer systems that carry sanitary waste and stormwater
runoff to treatment plants through the same pipes. The bill,
which passed by a vote of 367-58, now heads to the Senate, where
companion legislation has been introduced by Sen. Snowe (R-ME)
and Sen. Lautenberg (D-NJ).
The third bill, H.R. 700, would revive an Environmental
Protection Agency pilot program that funds projects intended to
provide new drinking water sources for communities. The "Healthy
Communities Water Supply Act," sponsored by Rep. McNerney
(D-CA), would approve $125 million for the program. The bill
passed by a margin of 368-59. Senate plans to take up these
water bills remain unclear. President Bush has threatened to
veto all three bills, citing the cost as "unrealistic in the
current fiscal environment."
===
For information on the environmental voting records of members
of Congress, see the League of Conservation Voters' National
Environmental Scorecard at
http://www.lcv.org/scorecard/
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with more than 1.2 million members
and online activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcinfo@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
===========
Dear Thomas,
As the Arctic continues to melt, time is running out for polar bears, who could lose 100 percent of their habitat in our lifetime.
Make no mistake: We can still come to their rescue, but we've got to mobilize at least 500,000 Americans over the next 30 days, while the Bush Administration is taking public comments on a plan for polar bear protection.
With your help, that's exactly what we're going to do!
NRDC has produced a gripping TV ad that will sound the alarm about the plight of polar bears -- and let caring Americans speak out with one powerful and effective voice on their behalf.
The ad is ready. But we need to raise $300,000 this week to run the ad for a full 7 days in all 50 states -- and generate overwhelming pressure on the Bush Administration.
You can make it happen. If just 12,000 of our supporters donate $25 each, we will be on the air next week -- all week -- for the sake of polar bear survival!
Click here to view the TV ad and make your donation.
Millions of Americans who care about wildlife do not yet realize that polar bear populations are already suffering the effects of global warming and melting ice: birth rates are falling...fewer cubs are surviving...more
bears are drowning.
They don't know that virtually all of the polar bear's summer sea ice could be gone by 2040. They don't know that a human child born 33 years from now could enter a world without polar bears!
But with your help, millions of Americans will know...starting next week.
Our TV ad will make it easy for them to get online and send an Official Citizen Comment to the Bush Administration, demanding that polar bears be protected under the Endangered Species Act.
The result? A national blizzard of Citizen Comments that will greatly increase the odds of polar bears finally winning the protection they need and deserve.
We've only got 30 days to answer the Polar Bear's S.O.S. and save this magnificent species from extinction.
Please make an online contribution that will wake up and rally America before it's too late. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council
Global Warming Archive 2006
Global Warming Archive 2005
Environmental News from 2004
What Animal do I Favor?
EPA : Global Warming : Climate
NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council
Sierra Club Home Page: Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet
Lexus takes the wraps off its next-generation IS and the
innovative GS 450h hybrid.
========================================
NRDC's EARTH ACTION:
The Bulletin for Environmental Activists
March 6, 2007
========================================
Urgent alert:
Call your senators to stop a dirty liquid coal bill
The Senate is scheduled to vote this week, so please call your
senators right away and urge them to oppose the Inhofe Liquid
Coal Amendment to S.4
Senator Boxer:
(202) 224-3553
Senator Feinstein:
(202) 224-3841
========
The Senate plans to vote this week on legislation to implement
the 9/11 Commission recommendations. Although the bill has
nothing to do with global warming or coal plants, Senator Inhofe
(R-OK), a vocal global warming skeptic, plans to offer an
amendment to the bill that would provide a range of taxpayer
subsidies and a long-term federal commitment for "liquid coal,"
an expensive and dirty technology that would increase, rather
than reduce, global warming pollution.
The process of making liquid coal (i.e., turning coal into a
transportation fuel) could result in twice the global warming
pollution per gallon compared with the fuels we use today.
That's simply incompatible with our urgent need to reduce global
warming pollution. In addition, coal mining already causes
devastating harm to the land, water and air quality of
communities from Appalachia to the Rocky Mountains; producing
liquid coal fuels would mean even more coal pollution in these
communities.
To add insult to injury, liquid coal is a bad investment for
America's taxpayers. Instead of helping build a commercial-scale
liquid coal industry (which is the intent of Senator Inhofe's
amendment) taxpayer dollars should be invested in clean energy
resources that would reduce both oil dependence and global
warming pollution.
== What to do ==
Call your senators today at the numbers listed below. When you
reach your senator's office, tell the person you speak with that
you want the senator to oppose the Inhofe Liquid Coal Amendment
to S.4
Senator Boxer:
(202) 224-3553
Senator Feinstein:
(202) 224-3841
Please also forward this message to your friends and co-workers,
and urge them to contact their senators as well.
Thank you!
==========
About NRDC
==========
The Natural Resources Defense Council is a nonprofit
environmental organization with 1.2 million members and online
activists, and a staff of scientists, attorneys and
environmental experts. Our mission is to protect the planet's
wildlife and wild places and ensure a safe and healthy
environment for all living things.
For more information about NRDC or how to become a member of
NRDC, please contact us at:
Natural Resources Defense Council
40 West 20th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-727-4511 (voice) / 212-727-1773 (fax)
Email: nrdcaction@nrdc.org
http://www.nrdc.org
Also visit:
BioGems -- Saving Endangered Wild Places
A project of the Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.savebiogems.org
===========
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