COASTAL BEND GROUP SIERRA CLUB
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                                     "When we try to pick out anything
                                                by itself, we find it
                                                hitched to everything else
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                                                                              -John Muir


                            COASTAL BEND GROUP     
                                          South Texas Uranium News

COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB March 2009 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club (CBSC) met on Tuesday, March 3, from 11:30 am until 1:15 pm at the Central Library at 805 Comanche St.  After opening the meeting and reminding members that the minutes of monthly meetings are posted on the CBSC website, Chairperson Pat Suter asked Teresa Carrillo for the treasurer’s report.  Teresa reported that the only changes from last month were an expenditure of $547 for post office and other expenditures related to the newsletter and receipt of $250 from Lone Star Sierra as Coastal Bend Sierra’s share of the recent distribution of funds to local groups.

Pat and Hal Suter, Edith Cosgrove, and Judy Loverde reported on TCEQ’s recent Corpus Christi meeting in which the administrative judge granted standing to dozens of individuals as well as several groups for the contested case hearing on the application filed with TCEQ to build the coke fired Las Brisas power plant.  The hearing will be held in Corpus Christi in August 2009.  All were impressed with the large size of the crowd which appeared at City Hall to express their concern to the presiding judge, and Edith Cosgrove was especially interested and pleased that many citizens from neighboring communities were present to express their concern over potential health effects from air emissions if the plant is built.

Hal Suter, recently elected Chair of Lone Star Sierra’s Executive Committee, reported that an item he will soon place on the ExCom agenda for discussion will involve encouraging all Lone Star Groups, small and large alike, to make regular reports to the ExCom about issues of concern in their areas of the state.  Also, he will welcome regular reports from all of the Lone Star Issue Chairs.  Hal was pleased to announce that National Sierra will fully fund Lone Star’s priorities.

Hal summarized his February trip to the Green Jobs Conference in Washington D.C.  The three day conference was jointly sponsored by environmental groups and labor groups.  Of the 2500 delegates attending, approximately 300 were Sierrans and 700 were steelworkers.  A point emphasized was that a tremendous amount of work will need to be done as the transition from non-renewable to green energy takes place.   Thus, many jobs will be created during and after that transition.  Several western states have formed a coalition, the Apollo Alliance, of Sierrans working jointly with labor groups.  On March 6, Hal will meet in Austin with Becky Moeller, President of AFL/CIO in Texas.  They will discuss the possible formation of a Texas group to participate in the Alliance.

Teresa Carrillo, Venice Scheurich, and Mina Williams reported on their participation at the stakeholder meeting in Austin on February 4, hosted by the TCEQ uranium rule-writing committee.   Comments made for CBSC at this meeting, as well as those submitted on October 6, 2008, are posted on the CBSC website.  Also, Pat Suter and Teresa have recently corresponded with TCEQ commissioners and with the Coastal Bend legislative delegation on this matter.  Representative Abel Herrero has been responsive to our concerns.

Edith Cosgrove, Joyce Jarmon, and Pat Suter represent CBSC on the community’s Long Term Health and Industrial Committees.  Pat stated that the Long Term Health Committee will meet next on March 11, and Edith reported that attendees at a recent meeting were assured that refineries are doing their best to refine clean-burning gasoline so that harmful air emissions are kept to a minimum.

Linda May recently participated in a seminar at TAMU-CC hosted by the Harte Institute and Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries.  The group of about 70 area environmental leaders discussed not only the health of Corpus Christi Bay, but also the state of the region‘s wetlands and rivers which flow into area bays as far north as Copano Bay.  More meetings will occur in the future to decide how to proceed in assessing what must be done to protect these precious resources.

Lois Huff, Executive Director of Corpus Christi Bays Foundation (CBBF), reminded the group that Earth Day/Bay Day will be held at McGee Beach and McCaughan Park on April 14.  Planning is taking place, and she expects that kayaking will be available to attendees this year.  Lois also reported that the candidate’s forum at TAMU-CC on March 2, hosted by CBBF and other civic groups, was well attended and informative, and that a forum on Fuel Technology will take place on that campus on March 9.  For details, see the CBBF website.

(CBBF), reminded the group that Earth Day/Bay Day will be held at McGee Beach and McCaughan Park on April 14.  Planning is taking place, and she expects that kayaking will be available to attendees this year.  Lois also reported that the candidate’s forum at TAMU-CC on March 2, hosted by CBBF and other civic groups, was well attended and informative, and that a forum on Fuel Technology will take place on that campus on March 9.  For details, see the CBBF website.

Teresa Carrillo expressed her concern that storm water runoff is a major factor in bay contamination and that she favors a street sweeping policy in the city to minimize contamination reaching the bays.  Others shared this concern, and Lois Huff moved that CBSC encourage and back a city street sweeping program.   Linda May seconded the motion, which passed unanimously.

To expedite the city’s agreeing to start such a program, Lois Huff moved that Teresa Carrillo talk with Councilperson Nelda Martinez about the need for the city to start the street sweeping project.  Hal Suter seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.

Submitted by Venice Scheurich, March 3, 2009


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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 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   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             

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

      Addresses:

  • Texas State Legislature Online

    CORPUS CHRISTI MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL

    Mayor Henry Garrett                                           District 1 Bill Kelly
    Business: 826-3100                                               Business: 888-6600
    Mobile: 850-3113                                                  Mobile: 815-7314
    email: Lindale@cctexas.com                               email: BILL@BILLKELLYONLINE.COM

    District 2 John Marez
    Business:
    Mobile:
    email: JOHNMAREZDISTRICT2@YAHOO.COM

    District 3 Pricilla Leal                                         District 4 Mike McCutchon
    Home: 853-1748                                                  Business: 883-6211
    Mobile:537-1746                                                 Mobile: 853-4745
    email: pricillalealatdistrict3@yahoo.com           email: MMCUTCH@STX.RR.COM

District 5 Larry Elizondo                                    At Large: Nelda Martinez
Home: 844-5259                                                  Business: 779-7938
Mobile: 991-2680                                                Mobile (city) 826-3105
email: LRElizondoSr@Hotmail.com                   email: nelda@neldamartinez.com

At Large: Melody Cooper
Business: 887-8014
Mobile: 74-4170
email: JOE@MELODYCOOPERLAW.COM

At Large: Mike Hummell
Business: 883-3563
Home: 906-0782
email: mhummell@HDHLawFirm.com
       
         
STATE  ELECTED OFFICIALS ADDRESSES

Hon. Solomon Ortiz                         State Rep. ____
House Office Bldg.                           P.O. Box 2910  
Washington, D.C. 20515-4315       Austin, TX 78768-2910
                                                                Solomon Ortiz, Jr.
                                                                Abel Herrero
                                                                Juan Garcia


Hon. Kay Bailey Hutchison            Sen. John Cornyn
 Senate Office Building                   Senate Office Building
 Washington, D.C. 20510                Washington, D.C. 20510

        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        

        FEDERAL

        President George Bush
        The White House
        Washington, DC
        president@white-house.gov
                                             
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Coastal Bend Sierra Club E-Mail

This page was last updated on 05/28/09.

 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.

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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