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              COASTAL BEND GROUP

                     New!  South Texas Uranium News resurgence of uranium mining in South Texas

February NEWS 2007

Important Events

OUR NEXT COASTAL BEND GROUP SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Mar. 20,  2007
Time: 11:30AM
Place: The Central Library on Comanche

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COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB February 2007 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club met from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 20^th, at the Central Library on Comanche Street. After welcoming members, Chairperson Pat Suter asked for a report on Lone Star political actions.

Hal Suter, Political Committee chair, reported that two House bills merit our support. One is Representative Harvey Hildebran’s HB 6 on funding for state parks, and the other is Representative Robert Puente’s HB 3 on providing for in-stream water flows to maintain healthy estuaries. Hal moved, with a second by Joyce Jarmon, that Coastal Bend Sierra members contact South Texas legislators, asking them to support these bills. The motion carried, and Pat Suter distributed postcards and a list of the South Texas legislative delegation with their contact data.

Kenn Jobe, Recycling Committee chair, stated that he wished the city would publicize the hazardous waste recycling date more than just one day prior to the event. He also reported that students at Windsor Park School would have a poster contest on the theme of recycling, and that the contest would be in April to coincide with Earth Day/Bay Day.

Candace Mottet reported that 15 sponsors and 20 exhibitors had already agreed to participate in Earth Day/Bay Day on April 21^st. Also on that day, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) will hold a health fair, and shuttle bus services will be provided between the two event sites. Lois Huff moved, with a second by Candace, that Coastal Bend Sierra agree to become one of the Earth Day/Bay Day sponsors at the $500 level. The motion passed. For more information see www.baysfoundation.org.

Lois Huff, of the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation, will be sponsored by the Audubon Society to attend a national training conference in Washington D.C. on clean water from February 24^th to the 27^th.

Mina Williams summarized meetings that she, Pat Suter, and Venice Scheurich had attended in Goliad, Kingsville, and Austin on the uranium mining/possible groundwater contamination issue. The Austin meeting was organized by the Goliad group for the purpose of informing Texas lawmakers of the need for legislation to protect aquifers in areas where exploration and in-situ mining are occurring. Representatives Toureilles of Alice and Morrison of Victoria attended, as well as staff members from the offices of Representatives Escobar and Guillen and Senator Hegar. Mina reminded members that our website now has a link called "South Texas Uranium News."

Pat Suter reminded the group that city elections are coming soon and that we should be thinking of making endorsements for City Council at our next meeting on March 20^th. The League of Women Voters will host a candidates’ forum on March 8^th, as will Coastal Bend Bays Foundation on March 12^th.

Venice Scheurich circulated a copy of the Winter 2007 edition of Defenders (the magazine of Defenders of Wildlife) and called attention to the impressively illustrated article on Dr. Donna Shaver and the Kemp’s ridley sea turtles at Padre Island National Seashore. Venice also mentioned that most of the green sea turtles that were taken to rehab facilities at Flour Bluff and the Texas State Aquarium had recovered from their cold stunning and were being released at South Padre Island.

Joyce Jarmon, member of the Air Monitoring Committee, reported that even though Corpus Christi has the third highest average benzene emissions in the state, with only Baytown and Galena Park registering higher averages last year, our city is improving. For details, log on to http://www.tceq.state.tx.us

Submitted by Venice Scheurich

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STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES – 2007 SESSION – TENTATIVE (Adopted 7/2006)

Clean Air

Reduction of toxic and other harmful emissions from industrial plants and electric power
generating plants and prevention of air quality teterioration by a proliferation of new
coal-fired power plants.

* through enactment of legislation to tighten the review and regulation of the health impacts
   of air pollution sources and to respond more effectively to the continuing problem of
   "upset" air emissions; and
* through a moratorium on permitting of new coal-fired power plants in Texas to allow
   a thorough review of the proposed plant technologies and the cumulative air quality
   impacts of those plants

Environmental Flow Protection

Preservation and provision of instream flows and freshwater inflows to bays and
estuaries necessary to maintain healthy fish and wildlife populations.

* through enactment of legislation establishing a process to determine and to meet
  environmental flow needs necessary to maintain a sound ecological environment
   in Texas coastal bays & associated river basins


Smart Energy Solutions

More efficient use of energy and increased reliance on renewable energy sources

* through standards for greater energy efficiency for appliances sold in Texas and new buildings
   and homes built in Texas; and
* an increase in the renewable standard portfolio of electric power utility providers

State & Local Parks Funding

A dependable source of funding for acquisition, maintenance, and management of
Texas state & local parks to meet growing habitat preservation and outdoor recreation needs

* through raising or eliminating the cap on the revenue from the sporting goods tax that is
   allocated to state & local parks, supplementing sporting goods tax revenue with other
   fee revenue, and/or pursuing voter approval of bonds adequate to meet park repair and
   acquisition needs over the next decade

Water Conservation

More efficient use of water by Texas consumers, agricultural producers, businesses,
and institutions through conservation

* through enactment of the legislative recommendations of the Texas Water Conservation
   Implementation Task Force, including expansion of existing conservation planning
   requirements to a larger number or retail water suppliers

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                          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	State Delegate
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Venice Scheurich	241-4289	Conservation
Bill Alling		Air Quality
Kathy Griffith	578-5291	Membership/Publicity
Hal Suter and Mina Williams	852-7938	Political
Hal Suter	852-7938	Walks
Hal Suter	852-7938	Rep. to Lone Star Ch.
Kathy Griffith	578-5291	Field Trips
Teresa Carillo	882-3439	Field Trips
Cheryl McGrath		Webmaster

  Cheryl McGrath      Webmaster
  csmcgrath@earthlink.net             

..........................................................................................................................  

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

         Commissioner (Chairman)       President George Bush
          TCEQ                                        The White House
          P.O. Box 13087                       Washington, DC
          Austin, TX 78711                     president@white-house.gov
                                             
                             

Coastal Bend Sierra Club E-Mail

This page was last updated on 03/25/07.

 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.

As a grassroots-based organization, we rely on individuals for our resources, talent, and energy.  Our members are our most important assets.   


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