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COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB January 2009 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club (CBSC) met on Tuesday, January 6, from 11:30 am until 1:15 pm at the Central Library at 805 Comanche St. Chairperson Pat Suter welcomed members, reminded them that meeting minutes are on the CBSC website, and asked Treasurer Teresa Carrillo for a report. Teresa’s report indicated that expenses of $90.02 were paid last month and that the checking account balance is $1568.69. Three laddered CD’s totaling approximately $7080 are invested and mature between June 2009 and June 2010.

Pat Suter announced that geologist Dr. Richard Watson of Port Aransas would speak and show pictures of Hurricane Ike’s impact on the Texas Coast at 7 pm on January 15, at the Corpus Christi Science Museum.

Joyce Jarmon, Edith Cosgrove, and Pat Suter represent CBSC on the area’s three Industrial Advisory Committees. Joyce stated that the Long Term Health Committee will resume meetings on January 14, and that members are especially interested in air monitoring of benzene emissions.

Hal Suter, CBSC’s representative on the Lone Star Sierra Executive Committee, reminded members that the deadline for mailing ballots to vote for Teresa Carrillo as an at large member of the ExCom is January 8. The ballot is contained in the latest Lone Star Sierran. Teresa is a current member of the ExCom, and is running for reelection in a field of six candidates from which four will be chosen.

Hal Suter also serves as CBSC’s Political Chair and is active in the recently formed Clean Economy Coalition which is monitoring the efforts of Chase Co. to obtain permits from TCEQ to build the Las Brisas power plant. The Nueces County Medical Society will hold a press conference on Friday, January 9, to state their opposition to building the plant as now proposed. The plant would burn coke and would double local air emissions, which would cause the city to be out of compliance in some areas. Interested individuals are invited to attend coalition meetings which will be held at 3 pm every Sunday at 413 Waco St.

On a matter of statewide interest, Hal reported that the Sunset Commission voted to recommend a complete overhaul of TXDOT. They are calling for removing the positions for five commissioners in favor of one appointed position, and are also recommending that TXDOT be reviewed every four years in the future.

Mina Williams and Venice Scheurich represent CBSC on in situ uranium mining in South Texas and reported on their morning’s attendance in Goliad of that county’s Uranium Research and Advisory Committee. They also gave an update on recent news items and videos which have been posted on the CBSC website and reminded members that the website contains a category containing uranium news under the heading "South Texas Uranium News."

Lois Huff, Executive Director of Coastal Bend Bays Foundation (CBBF), announced dates and topics of several upcoming events sponsored by that organization. The January 12 forum at 5:30 pm on the TAMU-CC campus, will have as a guest speaker John LaRue of the Port of Corpus Christi. He will outline Port projects and will answer questions from the audience about activities which involve the Port. Lois also informed members that a forum on air emissions, featuring Dr. Martinez and Dr. John of TAMU, will be held in Sinton on January 26. Also, Dr. Martinez, whose specialty is mercury in emissions, will speak at the CBBF forum in Corpus Christi on February 9. Additionally, Lois stated that the annual Earth Day/Bay Day event will be on April 18 this year and she is hoping that CBSC will again lend its support.

Teresa Carrillo, who serves on the Region N Water Planning Group, announced that the Region’s 20-year plan has been posted on the Nueces River Authority’s website and that members who wish to comment on the plan may do so on the link provided at that site. Teresa will draft the official CBSC comment.

Pat and Hal Suter attended the December planning meeting in Palacios for the new nature preserve made possible by the Trull Foundation. More than twenty acres have been secured in that area which will provide the public an opportunity to observe and understand wetlands preservation.

Linda May has agreed to be the CBSC representative working with the Palacios group in the future. In addition, Linda will attend the Harte Institute’s workshop on habitat management in March.

Submitted by Venice Scheurich, January 6, 2009

COASTAL BEND GROUP

                       EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Pat Suter	852-7938	Chairman
phsuter@stx.rr.com
Mina Williams	882-1179	V.Chairman
Teresa Carrillo	361-672-4703	Treasurer
Venice Scheurich	241-4289	Secretary
Hal Suter	852-7938	Lone Star Chapter   Represent.
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Recycling	993-3737	Kenn Jobe
Venice Scheurich  & Mina Williams	241-4289 882-1179	Uranium Mining
Bill Alling	289-9090	Air Quality
Kathy Griffith	578-5291	Membership/Publicity/Audubon Club Liason
Hal Suter and Mina Williams	852-7938	Political
Hal Suter	852-7938	Walks
Hal Suter Teresa Carrillo	852-7938	Representataive to Lone Star Chapter
Joyce Jarmon		Refinery Emissions & Community Advisory Council/Long Term Health Care
Edie Cosgrove		Refinery Emissions
Cheryl McGrath		Webmaster

  Cheryl McGrath      Webmaster
  csmcgrath@earthlink.net             

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        Senator Juan "Chuy" Hinojosa    Commissioner Jerry Patterson
        P.O. Box 12068                            GLO 1700 Congress Ave.
        Austin, TX 78711-2068                 Austin, Texas 78701

         Commissioner (Chairman)                                          
         TCEQ                                       
         P.O. Box 13087                      
         Austin, TX 78711        

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        The White House
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This page was last updated on 02/07/09.

 Protect America's Environment.
For our families, for our future.
       
A Philosophy of Stewardship               
The Sierra Club's statement of Purpose is:  To explore, enjoy and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.

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This page was last updated on 02/07/09.