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                                     "When we try to pick out anything
                                                by itself, we find it
                                                hitched to everything else
                                                in the universe."
                                                                              -John Muir

              COASTAL BEND GROUP

                     South Texas Uranium News Violations in Goliad 04/03/07

MAY NEWS 2007
We had a very successful EARTH DAY - BAY DAY celebration with more than 10,000 people attending!  Mina Williams and  Venice Scheurich had prepared an excellent exhibit on uranium mining in Goliad county and we ran out of handouts.  All are beginning to get interested in this activity. 

Important Events

Sept. 11, 2007 meeting with Coastal Bend Bays Foundation

OUR NEXT COASTAL BEND GROUP SIERRA CLUB MEETING
Sept. 18,  2007
Time: 11:30AM
Place: The Central Library on Comanche

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COASTAL BEND SIERRA CLUB May 2007 Meeting Minutes

The Coastal Bend Sierra Club met from 11:30 am until 1:30 pm on Tuesday, May 15, at the Central Library on Comanche Street. Chairperson Pat Suter welcomed members and reminded them that this would be the last meeting until September 11, when we would meet with the Coastal Bend Bays Foundation. All summer contact with members will be via e-mails and some items may be posted on the Coastal Bend Sierra Website.

Teresa Carrillo gave the treasurer’s report and stated that approximately $440 was made at Saturday’s garage sale. Additionally, $155 was donated to the newsletter fund.

Hal Suter, Political Committee Chairperson, reported that Saturday’s City Council election was good news to members of the Beach Access Coalition and that BAC would continue meeting for the purpose of putting together a list of priorities for city attention. Those who have issues they would like to see included are invited to e-mail Hal or Pat Suter with their suggestions. At the state level, environmental water flows seem to be losing ground to the creation of reservoirs, but some land owners and ranchers at designated reservoir sites are offering some resistance to the senate bill which would create them.

Additionally, Hal alerted members to the problems with funding for state parks. For background information, see http://www.texas.sierraclub.org/ActionAlert/20070514.1.asp
Hal urged members to contact Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and request that he lift the cap on the sporting goods tax revenue dedicated to parks and to assure that the appropriations bill includes money for parkland acquisition and state park operations.

Kenn Jobe reminded the group that when the city first started recycling, there were many incentives and reminders in the media of benefits. At the present time, not much publicity exists. He hopes to regenerate interest by reminding city officials that radio and TV stations give free publicity through public service announcements. He will urge the city to use these outlets to remind citizens of the importance of recycling.

Venice Scheurich reported that 29 Kemp’s ridley sea turtle nests have been found on the Texas Coast to date and that most of them were in Padre Island National Seashore. She also reported that the transition from ATV vehicles to UTV’s is now complete and patrollers are out every day searching for more nests. Four turtles have been outfitted with transmitters and their progress can be followed at seaturtle.org.

Mina Williams reported on efforts by citizens in Goliad and Kleberg Counties to formulate and pass legislation which would protect groundwater from potential contamination by uranium exploration and mining. SB 1604 and HB 3837 and HB 3838 were discussed. Teresa Carrillo, member of the Region N Water Planning Group, reported that Region N had passed a resolution to be forwarded to state legislators on the concerns that uranium exploration and mining could have on the state’s water supply.

After considerable discussion on the water/uranium issue, Senator Carlos Truan moved that Coastal Bend Sierra sponsor an environmental summit with emphasis on uranium exploration and mining and its potential impact on groundwater. Teresa Carrillo seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. Pat Suter agreed to contact leaders in the Coastal Bend Environmental Coalition and officials with Lone Star Sierra to ask for their participation.

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 09/19/07.

 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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