Victory in the Verdugos

Culminates Six Year Grassroots Effort by the Sierra Club and Others in Preserving Oak Woodlands

By Fred Dong

The Glendale City Council on Tuesday, December 10, voted 5 to 0 to allocate $13.25 million for the purchase of the 238 acres in the Verdugo Mountains known as Oakmont View V. The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority and the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy will spend an additional $12 million to make the total price of $25.25 million. This caps a nearly six year battle by the Sierra Club, other citizen organizations, and citizens working together in a grassroots effort to stop the development.

Originally proposed by the developer in 1992, the project would have created sites for 572 homes with about 150 million cubic feet of grading and filling hillsides and canyons and destroying as many as 3,000 native California trees, eliminating an important ecosystem and burying a blue-line stream. The project process was delayed until 1997 when the City of Glendale agreed to let the project to proceed.

A scoping meeting was attended by almost 200 people on January 27, 1997 where our involvement in battling this project first began. A subsequent workshop was held on March 3, 1997 with more attendees than the first meeting. The Sierra Club led its first hike organized in April 1997 to oppose Oakmont V and show what would be lost. More than 200 hikers interested in viewing the Oakmont land participated. In May 1997, the Sierra Club voted formally to oppose the development and encourage the purchase of the property by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy on June 16, 1997 voted to add the Oakmont land to their "high priority" property acquisition list.

The environmental impact report was drafted by Rincon Consultants with some citizen and developer input. It was released on December 23, 1999 with a 90 day comment period. The draft EIR had over 200 written responses to it due to the efforts of the Sierra Club, the Glendale-Crescenta VOICE, Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council, and others to orchestrate this response.

This coalition of groups turned out hundreds of project opponents for the public EIR hearing that heard several hours of testimony on the impacts of the project. The responses to the EIR pointed out critical deficiencies in the report's discussion of significant impacts of the project. The City of Glendale determined that these inadequacies warranted the EIR to be redone and re-released as a new draft. It is extremely rare that an EIR would be redone due to deficiencies, but our successful grassroots effort produced results.

A new consultant, Jones & Stokes, was chosen and a new draft EIR was released on July 3, 2001. We obtained a 75 day comment period this time. The second draft garnered over 200 responses due to the efforts of our grassroots organizations. The Sierra Club helped in having about 1,000 project opponents attend the public EIR hearing, giving over seven hours of oral comments.

A final EIR was released on February 21, 2002 incorporating our comment letters and hours of testimony on the development's impact on our community. The Glendale Planning Commission voted 5 to 0 to recommend rejection of the development following over eight hours of testimony by almost all project opponents and almost 800 opponents in attendance. Again, the efforts of the Sierra Club, the Glendale-Crescenta VOICE, Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council, and others were important in this crucial vote.

The Glendale City Council on March 5, 2002 held a record 11 hour session to decide the fate of the development. An estimated 800 opponents showed up for this session telling the city council why the development should be rejected. After all the opponents and proponents of the project spoke, the City Council voted 5 to 0 to reject building the development.

The developer did not give up and later proposed a cemetery development later in 2002. He later withdrew this application after the City determined that a new EIR would have to be done for this project.

The developer, Gregg's Artistic Homes, Inc and Benvani, Inc, sued the City of Glendale with 3 different suits for various reasons concerning the EIR process and finally a "Takings" suit. These were done in August 2000, November 2001, and April 2002 respectively. These suits were eventually merged and the City and developer went through Court ordered mediation starting in about September 2002. This mediation process led to the purchase of the Oakmont land.

Our battle to save this important oak woodland area was multifaceted. At the same time we fought to oppose the project, we worked to find a way to make this public land. Our first champion for a workable solution was former Assemblyman Scott Wildman. He started the process in 1997 to obtain funding from the state to purchase the land. He was joined by then State Senator (now Congressman) Adam Schiff. After three tries by Wildman and Schiff to obtain funding, finally in June 1999, Governor Davis signed a bill allocating $5 million towards the purchase of the land. This was after we helped with a grassroots phone and mail campaign to urge the governor to provide funding.

Our then newly elected Assemblyman Dario Frommer was instrumental in obtaining an additional $3 million of state funding for the purchase in 2001. He was also successful in obtaining the last $4 million to raise the State's stake in the purchase to $12 million in December 2002. This additional funding was necessary to help complete the sale agreement.

The Glendale City Council made a prudent decision to allocate its $13.25 million to complete the agreement. The developer originally wanted $46 million for the land.

We helped make the preservation of the Oakmont land as important political issue. Starting with the 1998 congressional and state elections, Oakmont was an important topic addressed by the candidates. The Sierra Club endorsed 2 Glendale City Council candidates in 1999 that opposed the development and got one elected. By the 2000, the candidates running for Congress, State Assembly, and State Senate would not survive unless they were opposed to the Oakmont development. The Sierra Club endorsed and helped elect legislators that would be important in the preservation of the Oakmont land. The Sierra Club in the 2001 Glendale City Council election endorsed 3 candidates and was successful in helping to get 2 elected. When the vote to deny the project was made by city council, 3 of the 5 council members that made the decision had been Sierra Club endorsed and supported.

Throughout the process, the Sierra Club and the Glendale Crescenta VOICE raised public awareness about the development. We held public workshops and meetings about the project and its impact. These helped people write critical analysis of the EIRs. We conducted many hikes and other visits to the area and surroundings to raise awareness of the value of the property. The grassroots organizations had favorable press coverage in local news and used numerous opportunities to have important editorials and letters to the editor published.

Our campaign included distributing literature to neighborhoods that would be heavily impacted by the development. We also orchestrated important phone and mail campaigns to let key legislators know how we felt concerning key decisions and allocations of money. City Councilmen, state legislators, and our governor received thousands of postcards and letters from concerned Sierra Club members.

Most importantly, we would not have succeeded without the help of the thousands of hours spent by the countless volunteers of the Crescenta Valley and Verdugo Hills Sierra Club groups. Our local groups banded together to pool our resources for the project. Our groups were successful with staff support aiding the volunteer efforts. Our campaign also succeeded through the efforts of the Glendale Crescenta VOICE, the Glendale Homeowners Coordinating Council, and others that were spearheading similar grassroots campaigns opposing the development. We thank everyone for their hard work in this great success!!

We now can all enjoy this new parkland with this rich habitat for tens of thousands of plants and animals preserved forever.

Return to Index 

Conservation Committee Officers

The Executive Committee appointed Gordon LaBedz as Chair of the Chapter Conservation Committee and Bonnie Sharpe as Vice-Chair. The Conservation Committee had previously appointed Jay Matchett as Treasurer, Jeff Yann as Secretary, and Robin Ives as Newsletter Editor.

Return to Index 

Central Group Announces Program

"Parks in Peril"

Monday, January 27, 7 pm, Williams Hall, Barlow Hospital, 2000 Stadium Way, Los Angeles (Elysian Park). Note change of date from Southern Sierran notice.

Speaker: Manuel Mollinedo, General Manager Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Department.

Our City, County and State Parks are threatened with a loss of maintenance and program funding. They are being taken over for special uses such as schools, fenced high use recreation, and memorials that take large amounts of recreation lands for private office space.

In the case of Lincoln Park, one acre is being taken for an AIDS cemetery wall. South Park is threatened with a High School and leased recreation. Belvedere Park was to be taken for East LA High School #1 and a 5000 seat football stadium. It has been proposed that a fenced single use baseball field with high lights be placed in Elysian Park. More paving and buildings are proposed for Griffith Park.

Please join us to find out what we all must do to save our open space and parks in perpetuity for the people, for families and for children. Call (213) 250-3233.

Return to Index 

Endangered Species Task Force Meeting

"Site Stewardship and Monitoring Activities at Archeological Sites in the California Desert"

The Governor’s Historic Preservation Award was given, on December 16, 2002, to our guest speakers Judyth Reed and Russell Kaldenberg from the Bureau of Land Management Field Office in Ridgecrest, California. Russell is a California State Archeologist and Judyth is the Ridgecrest Field Office Archeologist. Here’s your chance to ask them about how humans impact sensitive areas in our fragile ecosystems! Join us on Sunday, February 2, from 10 am to 2 pm in the Grande Room of the Los Angeles Zoo, located in Griffith Park. Contact: Rosemarie White, 818-769-1521

Return to Index 

Forest Task Force Meeting to Discuss Fire Impacts

The recent Curve and Williams fires burned in an area covering almost 10% of the Angeles National Forest. Join us on Wednesday, January 22, for the Forest Task Force meeting as Angeles Forest Supervisor Jody Cook and her fire staff discuss the impact of the recent fires on everything from watershed and wildlife to hiking trails and wilderness. After the presentation by Supervisor Cook, National Sierra Club Board member Chad Hanson will join the discussions as we explore what fire management policies are best for the long-term health of our national forests. There will also be an update on wilderness legislation and strategies to combat new Bush Administration efforts to undermine environmental laws protecting our forests. The program will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Sierra Club Offices at 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 320. Contact John Monsen at wildernessjfm@aol.com for details.

Return to Index 

Activists Needed To Defend Watershed

Please come out to public meetings this January to help defend the Dominquez Watershed.

The watershed is located in the southern part of Los Angeles County around the Dominquez Channel. It includes all of or parts of the South Bay area, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Gardena, Carson, San Pedro, Wilmington and our harbors.

This is an important watershed area that has been more than 96% developed. Its waterways, which once included the Los Angeles River, its flood plains, marshes and wetlands have almost all been channelized or drained. It faces continued pressure for further development.

According to activists in the area, meetings to protect this watershed have been dominated by refinery folks who are concerned about regulations that might affect their discharges and by many of the smaller cities who are nervous about any increased costs they may face if they need to improve their protection for the watershed.

We need activists to show up at the public meetings that will be held this January to voice a pro-environmental viewpoint to protect this watershed. You don't need to be a watershed expert to attend. These meetings are open to the public. Simply saying you want to help protect the watershed and to enhance its natural condition is sufficient. Your voice here could really be heard. The chairman of the council, David Rydman, is described as an enlightened public official by local activists.

Meeting dates and locations are:

1/23/03:    Carson Community Center (Hall C), 1:30-4:00 pm
                801 E. Carson St., Carson, CA 90745

1/23/03:    Bannings Landing Community Center, 6:30-9:00 pm
                100 E. Water St., Wilmington, CA 90744

1/29/03:    Inglewood City Hall (1st Floor Council Chambers), 1:30-4:00 pm
                One Manchester Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90301

1/29/03:    Torrance High School (Little Theatre), 6:30-9:00 pm
                2200 West Carson St, Torrance, CA 90501

If you attend, you'll learn about the history of the Watershed Management Master Plan and the process for completing the study. You'll also able to put in your two cents.

For more information about the meeting schedule please contact:
    Dave Rydman, Chairman,
    Los Angeles County Department of Public Works
    DRYDMAN@ladpw.org
    (626) 458-4335

If you want more information from the Sierra Club about the watershed, please contact Tom Politeo at 562-618-1127.
If you plan to attend a meeting, please let Tom know so we can track our club's participation.

Return to Index 

Correction

The December edition of this Newsletter announced prematurely that President Bush had already signed into law Rep. Sam Farr's legislation designating 54,473 acres of federal land on the Central Coast as protected wilderness. Actually, he signed the bill on Thursday, December 19, 2002.

Return to Index 

Grant Application Dates

The Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter has included funds in its annual budget for Chapter grassroots environmental projects. These funds will be distributed in three cycles in 2003.

Application for Cycle 1 of the Angeles Chapter’s Conservation Grants Process are due on Friday, January 31 at 5:00pm. Send your applications to Johanna Zetterberg at the Chapter Office or by email to johanna.zetterberg@sierraclub.org

The Grants Committee will meet on Wednesday, February 12, in the Chapter Office to consider the applications. The meeting will be open to all Chapter members. The Grants Committee will only consider the written applications that had been received by the deadline. Visitors can not make additional testimony in behalf of their applications, or in opposition to other applications. The Grants Committee may wish to direct questions to visitors to clarify certain aspects of their applications.

To learn more about the grants process or to seek aid in preparing an application, contact Johanna Zetterberg or Rachel Oshry Myers at the Chapter Office.

Return to Index 

The Chapter Conservation Committee for 2003

By Gordon Labedz, Angeles Chapter Conservation Chair

Although the nation's economy is in a deep recession, Southern California is experiencing an active real estate boom. Although we had economic problems in the 90's with the shut down of the aerospace/war industries, there are still plenty of jobs in our area. We continue to have a constant influx of immigration from other states and other countries. This means that the Sierra Club will have to deal with growth issues.

Urban growth will be a big challenge. What is an environmentally friendly city? Parks, open space, nature nearby, transportation, traffic, smog, wetland protection, beach protection are just a few of the challenges that our Chapter activists will have to tackle. The other big growth issue will be suburban sprawl.

For the past three years, our chapter priority campaigns have faced these growth issues head on. Our Santa Clarita Group is valiantly defending the Santa Clara River. Our Sierra Sage Group and Orange County Group continue to make strides to protect the last open spaces in Orange County. A consortium of Sierra Club Groups, the San Gabriel River Task Force, works to protect and restore the channelized urban river: the San Gabriel River—from the Mountains to the Sea.

The Chapter Conservation Committee will stress activist training this year. We want to empower our local grass roots activists with skills that enable them to be more effective protectors of our Earth and our environment. Every Conservation Committee meeting will have an educational component. We will also set up local trainings on an ad hoc basis. We will work on attracting new conservation activists to our Regional Groups. We will work to improve political activism and conservation outings to insure that there will be a skilled body of activists in the Chapter for our future. We will also stress fund raising training and the use of environmental protection laws.

The Conservation Committee looks forward to increasing activism on regional and national issues: population, consumption, global warming, transportation, air and water pollution. We will also work hard to empower and train local Group and Section Conservation Committees so that they can more effectively carry out their issues.

Return to Index 

Red Rock Canyon

Red Rock Canyon California State Park is back. The second public meeting for the General Plan for the 1994 Addition will be Jan. 18, 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm at Ridgecrest City Council Chambers, 100 West California Ave, Ridgecrest CA 93555

Please attend if you can. We predict a lot of our opponents will. Feelings are deep. Many support inappropriate OHV use and recreation through sensitive areas. Rock hounds too favor more motorized access. We have concerns about mining on private land within the park as well.

Even if you can't be there, please consider writing a letter to
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Southern Service Center
8885 Rio San Diego Drive Suite 270
San Diego CA 92108
Attn: Red Rock Canyon General Plan Team

Jeanie and Stan Haye 760-375-8973  jeanie.stillwell@sierraclub.org, adit@ridgenet.net
Red Rock Canyon State Park Task Force

Return to Index 

Peter Douglas — California Environmental Battles

By Jack McCurty

The battle to save the environment in California and elsewhere is being lost, says Peter Douglas, executive director of the California Coastal Commission and one of the world's premier environmental leaders. Unless we get tougher, become more aggressive and mobilize in collaboration with others and other groups, we face "committing social and environmental suicide," he told the second annual Ecosummit at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria on December 7.

Douglas was blunt and uncompromising is his remarks to the gathering of county-area environmentalists, and coming from him, the message carried force. That's because of his experience and record: he co-authored the 1972 statewide citizens initiative that established the Coastal Commission, was a principal author of the Coastal Act that made permanent California's coastal management program in 1976, has headed the Coastal Commission staff since 1985 and received the first "Champion of the Coast" award at an international symposium on coastal zone management in 1995.

Douglas said environmentalists are "losing ground" and recited a litany of failings as the reason: Ignorance and apathy ("our greatest enemy"), poor political organization, absence of unity, egos, multiple agendas, individualism, lack of vision, too willing to compromise, no strategic thinking, little participation in local politics ("local politics is where it's at"), fragmentation, the loss of  our ability to talk plain and tough.

On the last point, Douglas pointed out that sustainable development is the creation and goal of environmentalists, but developers have countered by promoting property rights. "People have rights, not property," he said. "Now they have come up with the 'taking' of endangered species. They're not being taken anywhere. They're being killed. We've got to take back our own language."

Douglas said environmentalism is handicapped by too much "fragmentation—groups taking on others instead of working together. Environmentalists eat their young." Egos "tend to get in the way of common cause," Douglas said. "I've seen more well-laid plans founder on the rocks of egos." He also mentioned the influence of "American individualism" that works against a "sense of collective well-being" for health care, education, the poor, housing as well as environmental protection. Many environmental activists also "are getting on in age and need to pay the mortgage, which makes them more cautious. Ask yourself, "Am I still willing to take risks?" From outside, environmentalism also is hampered by the high cost of resources to compete in elections, term limits, lack of political leadership, a "shackled and lazy" press, corporate takeover of government, court decisions and misuse of science-based policy, Douglas said. "Politicians seem to think they can't have vision and get elected," he noted. "Some think if people aren't flopping in the streets, there is no environmental emergency."

But he said environmentalists can be more effective and urged:

1. "Don't let the politics of fear distract us from fighting the war on the environment," citing drilling in national parks, the assault on clean air rules and weakening of clean water protections.

2. "Make common cause" with other groups and build alliances to sustain the environmental movement on issues of "human and fundamental rights."

3. "Work at capacity building" and sharing resources by "marshaling facts—knowledge and information are the best weapon."

4. Recruit and train new activists and build bridges to other grassroots groups.

5. Find new ways to "get people involved so they know what we are trying to save."

6. Be clear about our mission and stay focused on the environmental agenda.

7. Avoid the "institutionalization of compromise. It's not the job of activist groups to compromise. Environmentalists need to be radical. We need strong hearts."

8. A "working summit" of environmentalists and organizations to chart a new "Magna Carta" for environmental and human rights.

"The environment is never 'saved,'" Douglas concluded. "We must keep working. Never give up."

Return to Index 

Coastal Commission Stands Up for Native Americans

Protects Their Ancestors from Hellman's Bulldozers

Longtime CoastWatcher readers will recall the multi-year Commission and legal battles surrounding protection of wetlands in Seal Beach from a project which included a gated community of over one hundred houses and a golf course. Originally approved by the Commission in 1997, environmentalists prevailed in subsequent wetlands litigation and the golf course and dozens of homes were eliminated from the project. In 1998 the Commission approved a smaller, 70-home tract, along with wetlands protections and a community park on the Hellman Ranch on Seal Beach Blvd, in Orange County. Throughout all the hearings, one elderly Native American woman, Lillian Robles of the Gabrieleno/Tongva Nation, captivated Commissioners and members of the audience with tales of her people and the importance of the Hellman Ranch to their history. "As we have respected you, and fought in your wars, and worked in your factories, please respect what this land was to our ancestors," Robles admonished the Commissioners.

Last year, Lillian Robles passed away.

Then, beginning in July 2002, John Laing Homes began construction of houses and almost immediately began unearthing Lillian Robles' ancestors. Laing Homes didn't stop bulldozing until 22 human bodies had been recovered. Grading was halted on September 16, 2002 after Coastal Commission staff informed the developers that they were in violation of their coastal development permit (CDP) provisions. But on September 16 & 17 the developer informed the Commission that the work stoppage was "voluntary" and "temporary." On September 18 the Commission's executive director issued a cease and desist order (CDO) stopping all further grading and construction activities until all provisions of the CDP had been complied with.

On Tuesday, December 10, the Commission was to consider an extension of the CDO. Coastal Commission staffed recommended extending the CDO because the developers are still disputing the extent to which the CDP requires them to protect Native American archaeology sites. Sierra Club, local environmental groups and the Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribe all encouraged the Commission to extend the CDO.

The crux of the argument involves what, exactly, to do about the significant Gabrieleno/Tongva archaeology sites that have been discovered. The developer clearly wants to pursue a plan whereby grading and construction are resumed, and whereby all Native Americans discovered are boxed up and moved away, either into storage or to an agreeable receiver site.

The Commission is most definitely leaning toward a plan proposed by the Gabrieleno/Tongva where a small part of the land is dedicated to the native cemetery. Under the Gabrieleno/Tongva plan, seven houses in the 70-unit subdivision would be eliminated (10% of the project) to make way for a memorial.

The Sierra Club expressed surprise that the developer would even want to start grading burial sites again, or that they had refused to voluntarily accept an extension of the CDO until an appropriate resolution acceptable to the Gabrieleno/Tongva people is achieved. Elimination of a small portion of the project (10%) for a memorial seems reasonable and appropriate.

In the end the Commission approved the CDO 8-0, with Commissioners Nava, Dettloff, Rose, Wan, Kruer, Hart, Burke and Ruddock all supporting staff. It remains to be seen if the developer will embrace a memorial before the end of the next CDO in March 2003. For the full text of the staff report, go to: http://www.coastal.ca.gov/legal/CCC-02-CD-05.pdf 

Mark Massara, California CoastWatcher, December 2002

Return to Index 

Coastal Commission Approves Sea Turtle Protection Resolution

There are seven species of sea turtles in the world; all seven are facing extinction. Four of the world's seven species of sea turtles frequent the California coast; all are listed as endangered or threatened under the US Endangered Species Act. These include the Olive Ridley, Loggerhead, Leatherback and the Green turtle. These turtles migrate between California and Central America, Japan, Indonesia and Mexico. The most critically endangered are Leatherback turtles. Leatherback turtles are the largest reptile on earth. Scientists estimate the Leatherback turtle may be extinct within ten years.

Just three weeks ago an Olive Ridley turtle showed up in the Tomales Bay in Marin County. Other turtles are found in and known to frequent San Diego Bay, San Francisco Bay and other beaches in California.

Sea turtles are among the longest lived of all reptiles, with some species living up to 100 years. They reach reproductive maturity between 15 and 30 years of age, and require remote, sandy beaches for digging shallow nests and laying eggs. It is estimated that 1 in 3,000 eggs will produce an individual that will mature to reproductive age.

Sea turtles are nomadic and regularly traverse the world's oceans alone, routinely traveling thousands of miles between feeding and nesting areas. Turtles feed on a variety of jellyfish, crustaceans, mollusks, plankton, algae, urchins, starfish, sponges and fish.

According to the National Academy of Sciences, shrimp trawling kills 150,000 turtles every year. Long line fishing kills another 40,000. Ingestion of plastic debris, ocean pollution and commercial harvesting of turtle eggs and loss of beach habitat from development also are contributing to the plight of the sea turtle.

Amazingly, a relatively simple device called a turtle exluder device (TEC) can be placed at the mouth of shrimping nets that blocks turtles from entering the nets. In 1995 the US Endangered Species Act was amended to require all nations exporting shrimp to the US to utilize TECs. Unfortunately, a World Trade Organization (WTO) panel ruled that environmental protections cannot interfere with free trade and the US State Department responded by revising the Turtle-Shrimp law to weaken its provisions.

The resolution passed by the Coastal Commission states in the strongest terms possible the Commission's commitment to conservation of sea turtles and urges members of the public and responsible agencies to do likewise. You can see the resolution at http://www.coastal.ca.gov/legal/seaturtle-mm2.pdf.

Mark Massara, California CoastWatcher, December 2002

Return to Index 

Surfrider Foundation Launches Baja Protection Campaign

Surfrider Foundation, a national nonprofit organization engaged in coastal and oceans protection work, has launched a new campaign to protect numerous beaches throughout Baja California, Mexico. FONATUR, the tourism development agency of the government of Mexico, is currently pushing plans to develop a dozen marinas on some of Mexico's most fragile coastline along the Baja California peninsula. While the region is in clear need of economic development, the Escalera Nautica Project, as the project is called, will do the region more harm than good, both environmentally and economically. Surfrider is urging Mexico to halt development plans at the following sites: Bahia de los Angeles, Cabo Colonett, Puerto Canoas, San Luis Gonzaga, Santa Rosalita, Bahia Tortugas, Punta Abreojos, San Juanico, Puerto San Carlos, and Puerto Loreto. These areas stand out among the proposed sites as particularly fragile in both environmental and socio-economic terms.

For the campaign Surfrider has developed a fast and easy way for activists to contact the Mexican government via email. To be heard, go to http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/escalera and sign on! For more information on Surfrider Foundation, go to www.surfrider.org

Mark Massara, California CoastWatcher, December 2002

Return to Index 

Mind Blowing Proposal by Southern California Edison
to Drive Nuclear Reactor up the Beach at Trestles

Some people cheered when Southern California Edison announced it was going to be closing down the San Onofre Nuclear Generation Station (SONGS) in Orange County, California. Now for the rest of the story.

First came Edison's plans a year ago to "temporarily" store nuclear waste on the beach for the next 50 years. SONGS is located on the ocean adjacent to San Onofre State Park.

Now comes Edison's wacky proposal to haul a 1.9 million pound (950 ton) nuclear reactor on a 192-wheel, 16-axle low-bed trailer (with 10,000 lbs. per wheel) towed by a giant "Prime Mover," all in an enormous caravan of 5-ton support trucks, front loaders and a 107,000 D9 tractor over a 7-day period from the SONGs facility. Up the beach, through coastal sage scrub habitat, across numerous creeks and along the California Coastal Trail Edison will go, pulling, pushing and thrusting it's nuclear reactor across the bluffs and through the surf. Assuming they make it (a very big assumption), the goal is to get the nuclear reactor to the Del Mar Boat Basin at Camp Pendelton where the reactor will be loaded onto a barge and shipped through the Panama Canal to New Orleans where it is proposed to be carried by railroad to a low level radioactive waste disposal facility in South Carolina.

Among the most dangerous development proposals ever considered for the California coastal zone, Edison thought so little of the project they proposed it as an "immaterial permit amendment" that, had it been approved by staff, the matter would have never been submitted for public review or Commission deliberations.

Now however, due to efforts of coastal watchdogs, the matter is set to go before the California Coastal Commission at its February 2003 meeting in San Diego. Among other problems, the project will roll right through environmentally sensitive habitat areas (ESHA), will trample critical nesting habitat for Western snowy plovers and California least terns, will run over foraging habitat for White-tailed kites and ospreys, and often be near the mean high tide line along the beach.

In addition, hauling a nuclear reactor up that stretch of beach means crossing at least 12 streams, including the Santa Margarita river mouth and estuary, which can sustain large waves and huge tidal surges during storm events. Think about this: what is the chance the nuclear reactor will fall off the 192-wheel cart and end up bobbing around in the waves offshore? How do you spell nuclear disaster? Look for this project on the Coastal Commission's February 2003 agenda.

Mark Massara, California CoastWatcher, December 2002

Return to Index 

Green Fiction

Those of you interested in exploring a different way to govern that puts the environment front and center might want to pick up a copy of the Science-fiction book Green Mars by author Kim Stanley Robinson. In it, he has a complete, annotated copy of a proposed constitution that makes any proposal put forth by the Green party look like it was done by rank amateurs. It also has the strongest anti-corruption provisions (e.g., a randomly selected executive) of any "government" I've ever seen. You can buy this book at any bookstore or order it online from Amazon.com

Harlo Lenning

Return to Index 

The Administration Can't See the Forest for the Sequoias

By Chad Hanson chadhanson@juno.com,
Executive Director of the John Muir Project and a national director of the Sierra Club.

In the spring of 2000, then-President Bill Clinton issued a proclamation establishing the Giant Sequoia National Monument east of Bakersfield, ensuring that the giant sequoia groves and their surrounding ecosystems would be forever protected, or so we thought. This month, the Bush administration announced its draft management plan for the 329,000-acre monument, which proposes a commercial logging program that includes patch clear cuts within the sequoia groves and large-scale removal of big, green trees. Even century-old giant sequoias would be logged. That the Bush administration would target such a revered refuge for logging raises a serious question: If the Giant Sequoia National Monument isn't safe under this administration, what is? Though shocking, the move comes as little surprise, given that the sequoia monument is still managed by the US Forest Service, which, in turn, is overseen by a former timber industry lobbyist, Bush appointee Mark Rey. The plan cavalierly ignores the fact that the monument proclamation was clearly intended to prevent continued logging and designed to ensure far greater protection than the area previously had as a national forest. Instead, the Bush administration's proposal turns this goal on its head. What's even more disturbing is that the plan claims such logging of large trees is necessary to prevent severe forest fires. The federal government's own scientists have consistently found that removal of large trees increases severe fire risk by removing the most fire-resistant elements — big trees — from the forest and by reducing the cooling shade of the forest canopy.

The logging of mature trees also increases sun exposure, causing more rapid growth of highly flammable brush within a few years. Indeed, the comprehensive Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Report, which was produced by university and Forest Service scientists, concluded that "timber harvest, through its effects on forest structure, local microclimate and fuel accumulation, has increased fire severity more than any other recent human activity." The report recommended thinning of undergrowth and prescribed burning as appropriate fire management tools. It strongly opposed the removal of mature trees.

The Forest Service's own National Fire Plan, which again was developed by government scientists, warned that the Forest Service  "should not rely on commercial logging or new road building to reduce fire risks" because the "removal of large, merchantable trees from forests does not reduce fire risk and may, in fact, increase such risk."

The Bush administration doesn't appear to care what the nation's top scientists — even the government's own researchers — are saying. For this administration, it's all about pleasing big timber industry campaign contributors, and logging corporations have no interest in underbrush. The timber industry wants economically valuable big trees, and lots of them. The Giant Sequoia National Monument was established for the protection of the sequoia ecosystem and the species it supports, including the California spotted owl and the mink-like Pacific fisher. The fisher is nearly extinct in the Sierra, in large part because of habitat degradation from logging. Bush's new logging plan may well drive the remaining fisher population to extinction in the Sierra Nevada range.

This plan to "save" the Giant Sequoia National Monument by allowing logging corporations to clear-cut within sequoia groves and remove big trees is more than a little disingenuous. It is a shameless political move loaded with enough hypocrisy and cynicism to flatten a forest.

Return to Index 

Roadless Rule Now in Effect as Bush
Tries to Implement Healthy Forests Initiative

By Steve Holmer

In a strongly worded repudiation, the 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals overturned the preliminary injunction on the roadless rule by an Idaho judge. This makes the popular roadless conservation rule, which provides additional protection for 58 million acres of National Forest, the law of the land. The decision halts over 30 Forest Service timber sales on the Tongass National Forest. In its decision, the court stated that the merits of the timber industry case were very weak, and not likely to succeed in the long-run even if the Idaho Judge rules in their favor again.

This now puts the spotlight on the Bush administration which has announced it plans to revise the rule to allow for continued logging and road building on at least 10 million acres now protected. In recent days the administration has also proposed to undermine the National Forest Management Act with harmful new planning regulations and to administratively implement much of the Healthy Forests Initiative using categorical exclusions for hazardous fuels projects, including commercial timber sales.

You can help turn the tide against this Administration's assault on forests by contracting your elected officials at 202/224-3121, by email at http://www.congress.org, or by calling their local district or states offices and urging them to:

1. Support the roadless area conservation rule by cosponsoring the Roadless Area Conservation Act (S. 2790 and H.R. 4865 in the 107th Congress).

2. Oppose the administration's forest planning regulations that threaten to weaken public involvement and environmental protection.

3. Oppose the administration's categorical exclusion for hazardous fuels projects that opens the door to uncontrolled and irresponsible logging at the expense of real community protection from forest fires.

Please ask your Republican Representatives and Senators to speak out publicly against the administration's forest policy and to privately urge them to support the roadless rule and halt the rollbacks by withdrawing the forest planning regulations and categorical exclusion rule for further review.

For additional information on the roadless decision please see: http://www.ce9.uscourts.gov/

Return to Index 

Environmental Resolutions Passed by Angeles ExComm, January 5, 2003

Chapter Sponsorship of Azusa Area Open Space Study

The Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club authorizes Chapter sponsorship of a study of open space enhancement, including trail and wildlife connectivity, in the Azusa area. The study will be performed by Studio 606, of California Polytechnic University, Pomona. The Chapter pledges up to $8,000 in Chapter funds, with an objective, as was done in the San Gabriel Confluence Park Study, to raise these funds through external pledges and grants.

Restoration of Conservation Funds to Three Chapter Campaigns

The Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club authorizes restoration from the Chapter Conservation Budget of $500 each for the Friends of the Foothills Task Force, the Forest Task Force, and the San Gabriel Valley Task Force.

Sponsorship of Legislation on High-Speed Roads Through State Parks

The Executive Committee of the Angeles Chapter of the Sierra Club authorizes the Angeles Chapter to take an active role in generating grassroots support for State legislation to prohibit construction of high-speed roads through State Parks, and further authorizes, subject to approval of an appropriate campaign plan, the Chapter use of 501(c)(4) funds to promote the grassroots support of this legislation.

EPEC Grant Applications

The Executive Committee approved applications for EPEC grants from the San Gabriel River Campaign and the Santa Clarita River Campaign.

Return to Index 

Action Directory

Sierra Club Legislative Hotline: 202-675-2394
Sierra Club National Office: 415-977-5500
Sierra Club Sacramento Legislative Office: 916-557-1100; fax 916-227-9669
Sierra Club WorldWideWeb: http://www.sierraclub.org

White House: 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, Washington DC 20500; 202-456-2461(fax); 202-456-1111 (Comment Line);
Bush's e-mail: president@whitehouse.gov; Cheney's e-mail: vice-president@whitehouse.gov

Legislative Addresses:
      US Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
      House Office Bldg, Washington DC 20515
      Senate Office Bldg, Washington DC 20510
      California Capitol: 916-322-9900

Return to Index

E-mail Discussion Lists

There are two important discussion lists for Angeles environmental activists:
      the Angeles Chapter Conservation list <angeles-conservation@lists.sierraclub.org>and
      the California/Nevada <calif-activists@lists.sierraclub.org>

To subscribe to a list, send an email message to <listsserve@lists.sierraclub.org>
      with the message “subscribe angeles-conservation”  or “subscribe calif-activists”.

To leave a list, send an e-mail listserv@lists.sierraclub.org and, in the text of your message (not the subject line), write:
    “signoff calif-activists” or “signoff angeles-conservation”

The Angeles Chapter’s website is www.angeles.sierraclub.org

Return to Index

Sierra Club Committee Contacts

Air Committee, Bob Palzer bob.palzer@sierraclub.org
Wetlands Working Group, Robin Mann robin.mann@sierraclub.org
Water Committee, Albert Ettinger aettinger@elpc.org
Environmental Justice Committee, Phaedra Pezzullo phaedra@email.unc.edu
Genetic Engineering Committee, Laurel Hopwood laurel.hopwood@sierraclub.org
Waste Committee, Jim Mays jmays@ulster.net
Sprawl Committee, Tim Frank tim-frank@msn.com
CAFO/Clean Water Committee, Hank Graddy hank.graddy@sierraclub.org
Community Health Committee, Michael McCally michael.mccally@mssm.edu
Workplace Environment Committee, Les Reid lesreid@frazmtn.com
ECL/End Commercial Logging on Federal Public Lands Cmte, Connie Hanson chcccpn@aol.com

Return to Index

Parking at the Chapter Office

Visitors must park inside the building weekdays and week-nights. The outside lot is reserved for monthly parking and requires a keycard entry through a gate. There is no attendant. Gates are closed 24 hours a day during the week.
Weeknights: You may park free inside the building after 5:30 pm. Be prepared to show your membership card or one of our parking passes, available at the front desk in the Chapter office. Take a ticket when you enter through the gate; present it at the parking office near the elevators, and sign it. The ticket machine at the front gate may be turned off after 7 pm. If so, buzz the attendant and say you are going to a Sierra Club meeting. There is no entry after 8 pm. The outside gate is up after 8 pm.
Weekends: No parking inside the building.
Saturday: Attendant is expected to be on duty from 8 am to 3 pm. You may park free, showing Sierra Club affiliation as above. Tickets may be validated at the Chapter office. Outside gates are down all day.
Sunday: Outside gates are up; there is no attendant.
Linda Hoyer

Return to Index

Angeles Chapter Conservation Management/Grants Committee (2002)

Gordon LaBedz/Chair, Bonnie Sharpe/Vice Chair, Jay Matchett/Treasurer, Jeff Yann/Secretary, Robin Ives/Newsletter,
Judy Anderson, John Monsen, Lynne Plambeck, Rudy Vietmeier
Lori Ives (non-voting) Publisher/Circulation

Motions should be submitted in advance, together with objective background material and supporting and opposing arguments, both to the Committee Chair and Newsletter Editor, for distribution with the agenda. Other motions will be postponed for action at a later meeting unless the motion is submitted in writing and unless the Committee votes an exception to ordinary procedure. Motions needing further action by the Angeles Chapter ExComm or some higher level of the Sierra Club should start out: “The Angeles Chapter Conservation Committee recommends that the Sierra Club...”

Conservation Committee Meeting

Agenda — January 15, 2003

Gordon LaBedz, Chair, 562-494-6368 GlaBedzMD@aol.com
Angeles Chapter Office, The Equitable Building
3435 Wilshire Blvd #320, Los Angeles CA 90010-1904
7:30 pm

• Welcome and Introductions

• Reports from Group, Section and Committee reps—2-3 minutes each on the conservation campaigns and the needs

• Owens Valley Restoration  Los Angeles Took the Water-Now What?  (Mike Prather, Sierra Club)

• The Conservation Grants Process
  How Does My Campaign get Chapter Funding?
  Hard Money? Soft Money? What's the difference?
  All campaign money this year must be soft 501c(3).

• Conservation Coordinators Report

• Orange County Report

• Adjourn

Return to Index

Return to Index

OC Native American Sacred Sites TF 2nd Monday Feb, May, Aug, Nov Contact chair, Rebecca Robles 949-369-0361