Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club
Outings Newsletter Local Action Resources Membership
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National |
 | Clean Air |
| Energy |
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| Wildlands |
General Meeting
Each month, on the second Thursday, the Shawnee Group holds a general meeting to discuss local, national, and international environmental issues. This meeting is open to all Sierra Club members and the general public.
The highlight of the general meeting is usually a guest speaker knowledgeable in a particular field relating to a healthy environment.
The meeting serves as an excellent venue to meet others with common interests related to the environment.
The January general meeting of the Shawnee Group will take place at the Unitarian Fellowship building, at 7:30 PM on January 8, 1998. The Unitarian Fellowship is located at the corner of University Avenue (Hwy 51 south) and Elm Street, in Carbondale, Illinois.
This months featured speaker will be Cathie Hutcheson of Makanda presenting on "Birds and Flowers of Southern Illinois." A slide presentation showcasing Cathie's eye for photography and the beauty of the birds and flowers of southern Illinois will compliment her vast knowledge of the subject.
You won't want to miss this meeting, to start the new year "green." Dinner Before Meeting
Join some of the Executive Committee, the speakers for the evening's program, and other members for dinner at The Italian Village restaurant at 5:45 PM before the meeting. The Italian Village is located at 405 S. Washington St. in Carbondale.
The end of Nationwide Permit 26: We are almost there! Your help is needed to drive the final nails in the coffin of NWP 26!
BACKGROUND:
The Army Corps of Engineers is again seeking comment from the public on Nationwide Permit 26, a quick permit for destroying wetlands and other aquatic resources in isolated headwater areas. Tens of thousands of wetland acres are destroyed each year under NWP 26, with little or no regulatory review, no analysis of alternatives, and no public notice or input. There is no limit on the kinds of development activities that can proceed under NWP 26; the permit allows for the destruction of wetlands to build shopping centers, parking lots, industrial facilities, and more.
Tragically, much of this wetlands destruction is concentrated in the areas of the nation facing the most intensive development pressure (that means more flooding of homes, etc.).
When the Corps sought to reissue NWP 26 in 1996, the agency was met with an outcry from the public, and irrefutable evidence from within the EPA, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Thanks, in large part, to all of the letters and comments from you and fellow conservationists, the Corps announced its decision in December 1996 to eliminate NWP 26 after two years, and to modify it in the meantime to be less damaging.
The National Association of Homebuilders, unhappy at losing the most popular shortcut to wetlands fills, sued the Corps, arguing that the agency had not adequately sought public input on either the phase out of the permit, or the interim changes. The Sierra Club, along with the National Wildlife Federation, intervened on behalf of the government, arguing that the Corps' decisions on NWP 26 were fully justified.
The U.S. District Court decided not to rule the Corps' decision as unjustified, nor to require that the changes to NWP 26 must be withdrawn.
Instead, the court ordered that the Corps seek additional public comment on the three issues raised by the Homebuilders: first, the phase out of NWP 26 after two years; second, the limit of 500 feet placed on activities on streambeds; and third, the prohibition against bundling NWP 26 permits to authorize fills over 3 acres in size. The new comment period is in progress and will run until February 24, 1998. That means this is your last chance to kill NWP 26!
We need your help to generate as many letters as possible supporting the Army Corps' decision to phase out this most destructive of the Nationwide Permits.
Send letters to:
Sam Collinson, Office of the Chief of Engineers,ATTN: CECW-OR, 20 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, D.C. 20314-1000
Please direct any questions to Jeff Bocan in Sierra Club's DC office [jeff.bocan@sierraclub.org ] or Robin Mann, chair of the wetlands and clean water campaign steering committee [robin.mann@sierraclub.org ].
Today in Illinois when you turn on the lights, your electricity is coming either from coal or nuclear power. Burning coal pollutes our air, causing smog, acid rain, and global climate change. Nuclear power plants produce dangerous wastes and pose safety hazards for their neighbors. In short, no industry in Illinois impacts our environment like electricity production. Southern Illinois could be especially impacted in the future.
Because our ambient air quality is good right now, pollution from coal fired plants could cause our air to get much worse before ambient air quality standards are violated. Many coal fired plants are not working to capacity, so these plants could burn much more coal, if needed, to provide more electric power to the grid.
The electricity deregulation bill just passed by the Illinois legislature and signed by Gov. Jim Edgar does include a provision requiring power companies to inform consumers, on their electric bill, what the source of their power is and what pollution is associated with it. In a competitive market, consumers who want to choose a cleaner power company will need this information to make an educated choice. However, it does not include the provisions environmentalists wanted to provide for funding for renewables and energy conservation.
In fact, our last I-TAN action alert concerned this very issue. You may remember that we were calling our state representatives to urge them to support provisions for clean power in the electricity legislation.
Thanks to your calls, 72 Illinois State Representatives, a majority of the Illinois House, signed on to a letter supported by the Sierra Club and other environmental groups calling for environmental protections in the electricity industry.
Specifically, the letter signed by the 72 representatives called for adequate funding for cleaner power sources such as wind and solar energy, so that Illinois will not have to rely solely on nuclear and coal power in the next century. The letter also called for energy efficiency tax credits to encourage the purchase of energy efficient products. For example, if you chose the most energy efficient refrigerator, you would get a sales tax credit from the state.
Despite the support from these legislators, the final bill passed by the Illinois House did not contain adequate environmental provisions. While this is disappointing, several legislators have promised to pursue the clean power package in the legislature in 1998. In order to pass the clean power legislation next year, we will need a lot of help from the legislators who supported us this fall. For this reason, if your legislator was among the 72 who signed the letter this fall, we need you to call him or her this month to thank them for their support, and ask them to work for clean power legislation in the Spring.
If your Illinois State Representative did not sign this dear colleague letter, please call him or her and express your disappointment. Urge your Illinois State Representative to work to pass clean power legislation in 1998.
Representatives Bost, Woolard, and Phelps did not sign the letter. You can reach your Illinois State Representative's Springfield office by calling the capitol switchboard during business hours at 217-782-2000 and asking to be transferred to your Illinois State Representative's office. For information on how to make a local phone call to your Illinois State Representative, please listen to the recorded message in mailbox 2 on the Hotline at 549-9684.
Submitted by Barb McKasson
Our nation's imperiled fish, plants and wildlife were granted a reprieve last month when the Senate adjourned without taking up S.1180, the Kempthorne bill to reauthorize the Endangered Species Act. The Senate was poised to vote on that bill that would substantially weaken our nation's premier wildlife protection law, the ESA. Senate Bill S.1180 was being pushed through at a breakneck speed without adequate opportunity for public scrutiny or review. When pro-environment Senators heard of this attack on the ESA, they helped stave off a floor vote and urged more time to consider this critical rewrite of the law.
Unfortunately, the lineup of support for this bill is daunting and it is very likely that proponents to weaken the ESA will muster the votes to bring this bill to a vote when they return in February. In the meantime, activists around the country are educating the public and their legislators about the flaws of S.1180. Activists must urge their legislators to strengthen the law that protects our unique natural heritage of fish, wildlife and plants, not cripple it.
In the House, Rep. George Miller has introduced a bill that would do just that. H.R.2351, The Endangered Species Recovery Act has garnered 90 cosponsors and recently picked up two new Republican cosponsors--Forbes (NY) and Johnson (CT). The Miller bill is based on common sense and sound science. HR.2351 emphasizes preventative medicine--protecting species before they reach a situation where they need to be listed. The bill also focuses heavily on recovery planning to help endangered species thrive not just survive on the brink of extinction.
We are currently faced with an extinction crises. In the US alone, more than 500 native plants and animals have vanished during the last 200 years--250 of them since 1980. At a time when so many of our imperiled species are slipping though the fragile safety net provided by the ESA, we should strengthen the law that protects our threatened and endangered
species not weaken it. The Kempthorne bill, S.1180 takes us backwards; real ESA reform is embodied in House Bill 2351, the Endangered Species Recovery Act. Please call or write your U.S. Representative to support H.B.2351. Call Rep. Costello at (202)225-5661, or locally at 529-3791.
Call Rep. Poshard at (202)225-5201 or locally at 993-8532. Many Thanks!
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Slide Show
Photojournalist Lenny Kohm will be presenting a multimedia event to celebrate Alaska's arctic wilderness, at Lawson Hall, SIU, on February 16th at 7:30 pm.
"The Last Great Wilderness", is a spectacular multimedia slide presentation on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The program is given by nationally known photojournalist Lenny Kohm, who has extensively documented life in the Arctic Circle. He will discuss the controversy over oil development vs. wilderness protection of the refuge's coastal plain.
Admission is free. This event is sponsored by the Student Environmental Center, SIU Recreation Society, Phoenix Audubon Society, Peace Coalition of Southern Illinois, RACE, and the Shawnee Group of the Sierra Club.
January 1, 1998
Stone Soup Picnic at Giant City State Park. This annual event is a great way to start the new year. Meet at Shelter #2. Bring something to add to the soup pot or anything else you like. There will be fire to keep warm and some short hikes around the bluffs.
January 24, 1998
Cedar Falls Hike. The first hike of the new year is sure to stave off that cabin fever. Meet at 9:00 AM at the First National Bank parking lot in Carbondale. We'll carpool to the trailhead. The hike will take most of the day, so bring a lunch and water. It could be muddy in spots so wear your boots. For more information call leader Sandy Anderson at 618-893-4545.
February 14, 1998
Eagle Outing. This annual outing will bring us through the Union County Conservation Area and down to Horseshoe Lake Wildlife Refuge. Meet at the First National Bank parking lot in Carbondale at 9:00 AM. A van, courtesy of the Shawnee Group, will be available for carpooling. Bring your binoculars and lunch. For more information call leader Sandy Anderson at 618-893-4545.
Recycle your Christmas Cards
If you don't keep your Christmas cards, here's a chance to recycle them and donate to a good cause. The Born Again CardTM recycling program of St. Jude's Ranch for Children uses the card fronts to make Christmas cards and ornaments. They can also use other types of greeting cards. The children cut the card fronts and glue them on preprinted card backs. Sale proceeds are divided between the child who made the card, his or her savings account, the cottage fund for special group outings, and reimbursement for expenses.
Send your greeting card fronts to: St. Jude's Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude's St., Boulder City, NV 89005-1618.
To purchase a pack of ten Born Again CardsTM, send $6.50 per package and specify religious Christmas cards, non-religious Christmas cards, and all-occasion cards (2 birthday, 2 get-well, 2 sympathy, and 2 general with no inside verse) to: St. Jude's Ranch for Children, P.O. Box 60100, Boulder City, NV 89006-0100.
Senator Dick Durbin, 267 Russell Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510, (202) 224-2152 (D.C. Office), 250 West Cherry, Rm. 115B, Carbondale, IL 62901, (618)457-3653.
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, 320 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20510, (202)224-2854.
U. S. Congressional Dist. 12, Jerry Costello, 2454 Rayburn Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, (202) 225-5661, 250 W. Cherry St., CarbondaIe, IL 62901, (618) 529-3791.
US. Congressional Dist 19, Glenn Poshard, 2334 Rayburn Office Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515, (202)225-5201, New Rt. 13 West, Marion, IL 62959, (618)993-8532.
Illinois (Government)
Governor Jim Edger, State Capitol, Room 207, SpringfieId, IL 62706, (217) 782-6830, 1-800-642-3112.
Illinois Senatorial Dist. 59: Senator Jim Rea, State House Rm. M103F, Springfield, 62706, (217) 782-5509, 112 E. Market, Christopher, IL 62822, (618) 724-9444.
Illinois Senatorial Dist. 19: Senator David Leuchtefeld, State House, Rm., SpringfieId, IL 62706, (217)782-8137, (618)529-3866, Local address same as Bost.
Illinois Representative Dist. 115: Representative Mike Bost, William Stratton Office Bldg, Room 2002-G, Springfield, IL 62706, (217) 782-0387, 300 E. Main St., Carbondale, II, 62901, (618) 457-5787.
Illinois Representative Dist. 117: Representative Larry Woolard, William Stratton Office Bldg., Room 2050-L, Springfield, IL 62706, (217) 782-1051, Williamson County Airport, Terminal Drive Suite 106, Marion, IL 62959, (618) 997-1171.
Illinois Representative Dist. 118: Representative David Phelps, William Stratton Office Bldg., Room 2059, Springfield 62706, (217)782-5131, 617 E. Church St., Suite 8, Harrisburg. IL 62946, (618) 253-8001.
President Bill Clinton, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20500, (202) 456-1414, e-mail. President@whitehouse.gov .
Vice President Al Gore, Same address & phone # as President, Vice President e-mail: Vice.President@whitehouse.gov .
**If not sure which Congressional or legislative district you are in, you can call your county clerk's office. The staff there should be able to give you that information, or look on your voter's card.
The Shawnee group now has a phone tree of over fifty households. Also, we are now part of the action alert system of the Illinois Chapter, the Illinois Telephone Action Network (I-TAN). Each group in Illinois is notified when there is an important, timely piece of legislation (state or national) that affects natural areas or the environment. Thus, Sierra Club members can act in concert to most effectively influence votes on legislation important to our members and the environment. We hope even more of you will decide to join our action system. To sign up contact Barbara McKasson, 899 Rowan Rd., Makanda, IL 62958, 618/529-4824, e-mail babitaji@aol.com .
SHAWNEE GROUP HOTLINE
The Shawnee Group's official phone number is (618) 549-9684. There is a message machine hooked up to the hotline. A detailed explanation of the current Priority One I-TAN action alert will be in mailbox # 6. Explanations of secondary priority I-TAN action alerts will be in mailbox #7. Information on how to contact your elected representatives will be in mailbox #2. Mailbox #4 contains information about Shawnee Group meetings. Other mailboxes will contain information on group outings, local action alerts, information about Sierra Club and how to join, etc. We will also have our phone number in both the white and yellow pages.
National and Group WWW and E-Mail Resources
The National Sierra Club office maintains both a World Wide Web site (http://www.sierraclub.org ) and an e-mail list to distribute action alerts. The home page includes a club history and conservation policies.
Documents on the page include the club's activist newsletter The Planet, Sierra magazine, listings of club chapters and groups, listings of outings, action alerts, and a membership form.
The Shawnee Group's homepage is on the Shawnee Free-net at http://www.shawnee.org . Log on as visitor, then select "Community Resource Center", then select "Associations," then select "Shawnee Group, Sierra Club." You're There!!!
Handy e-mail addresses include address.changes@sierraclub.org ,where you can update your name or address information (remember to include your membership number) and sierra.letters@sierrclub.org for sending letters to the editor of Sierra magazine. To receive the Shawnee Trails newsletter via e-mail, send request to lccw@midwest.net. Ex-com members e-mail addresses are listed on page 4.
Chair, Laurel Toussaint, 964-1339, laurel.toussaint@sierraclub.org
Vice Chair, Mary Campbell, 549-1837, dandmcamp@midamer.net
Secretary, Clara McClure, 457-2025
Treasurer, Mary Swindell, 549-2720, mswindel@siu.edu
Conservation, Barbara McKasson, 529-4824, babitaji@aol.com
Wetlands and Clean Water, Mary Dresser, 827-4529
Shawnee Forest, Ed Cook, 995-9309, ed.cook@sierraclub.org
Web Master, Don Lawrence, 457-8989, donaldlaw@aol.com
Shawnee Trails, Jim Balsitis, 893-4570, lccw@midwest.net
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