Index - March 2007

5 Western States Come Together To Reduce Greenhouse Gases
Bolsa Chica Conference

Bush Administration in Bed with Big Oil (Literally!)

Bush Budget Includes Money to Study Hetch Hetchy

Celebration of Life of Bob Hattoy

ExxonMobil's $10,000 Bribes and Related Idiocy

New Angeles Chapter Office Holders

New Sierra Club Press Secretary

Pasadena's New Environmental Commission Ready to Go

Plugged In

Solis Named to Select Committee on Global Warming

We Like Our Condors Unleaded

Welcome New Conservation Coordinator

When Will Republican Lawmakers Catch Up to their Voters

 

Resolution (Passed by ExComm) San Clemente

 

Useful Information
Chapter Conservation Committees Calendar
Chapter Conservation Management Committee
Chapter Conservation Grants Committee
Chapter Conservation Committee Preliminary Agenda
Orange County Conservation Committee Preliminary Agenda

 

When Will Republican Lawmakers Catch Up To Their Voters
by Bill Allayaud, Sierra Club California State Legislative Director

Our 2006 Report Card for the California Legislature reveals that partisan division continues to mark our lawmakers on environmental issues. Not a single one of the Assembly's 32 Republicans voted for the pro-environment position on more than two of the eleven most important floor votes. Across the aisle, 46 of the House's 48 Democrats voted with the public interest at least five out of the eleven times, and 19 of them had 100% records. Records in the Senate showed an even starker partisan difference.

 

What is odd about this deep division is that it does not at all reflect the senitments of Republican voters who are almost as concerned about environmental protection as Democats, according to public opinion polls. For example, the Public Policy Institute of California found in its July survey that when asked "What about the proposal made by Governor Schwarzenegger and other legislators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state back to 1990 levels by the year 2020?" Sixty-five percent of Republicans said they favored it, compared to 67 percent of Democrats, and 68% of independens. Yet only one of the Republicans in the Assembly and none in the Senate voted for that proposal, the Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, which garnered votes from 46 of the 48 Assembly Democrats and 23 of the 25 Senate Democrats.

 

Attitude on air pollution were similar. When asked "Would you be willing to see tougher air pollution standards on ships, trucks, and trains that transport freight and cargo?" (If yes: "Would this be true, even if it made it more costly for these businesses to operate?). Sixty-eight percent of Republicans said yes, compared to 77% of independents and 83% of Democrats. But 100% of the Legislature Republicans opposed SB 927, which would have assessed a small fee on container cargo to pay for air quality, security and transportation improvements at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The bill passed with only Democratic votes. Then it was vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger.

 

The Sierra Club believes that protecting our air, water and wilderness for our families and for our future is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, Sacramento's Republican legislators are not listening to their own constituents on this issue.

 

The performance of our legislature makes a major environmental impact well beyond the borders of California. As the Bush administration and Republican Congress sink into a swamp of corruption and denial, other states, and even some foreign countries are increasingly looking to the golden state for leadership on many ecological matters. For example, ten other states has now adopted California's Clean Car standards, and other states are already considering taking action modeled on the new California Global Warming Solutions Act.

 

We Like Our Condors Unleaded

Lead poisoning is the primary threat to the wild condor population — and a major obstacle to a successful recovery. But thanks to new action in Sacramento and help from private landowners, California may soon get the lead out — and give a boost to these highly endangered birds.

California condors are obligate scavengers, meaning they only eat dead animals. They have been known to feed on animals killed by lead ammunition, ingesting toxic bullet fragments that can poison and kill these unique raptors.

A new bill introduced by Assemblyman Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) requires the use of non-lead ammunition for all big game hunting within condor range. In addition, the California Department of Fish & Game has proposed similar measures through their big game mammal hunting regulations.

But perhaps the most exciting development comes from private landowners in the heart of condor country. Tejon Ranch — the largest privately-owned parcel of land within condor territory with a substantial hunting program — will ban the use of lead bullets on its land starting with its 2008 hunting season.

Stay tuned for more on how you can help California’s condors!

ExxonMobil's $10,000 Bribes and Related Idiocy
Josh Dorner, RAW Contributor
February 08, 2007

In what may seem to many of us like a case of Captain Obvious reporting for duty, last week's report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said it was a virtual certainty that human activity was responsible for the unprecedented warming of the Earth in recent decades.

Not a good week to be a global warming denier it would seem. The American Enterprise Institute came up extremely short in its search for enough "scientists" to fill a book denouncing the report, despite the $10,000 ExxonMobil-funded bribes on offer (schadenfreude anyone?). For a brief moment in time, I even felt a pang of sadness for Senator "global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on mankind" Inhofe. He's like that awkward coworker you invite to a party out of politeness that ends up staying until well after the welcome mat has been rolled up and put back into the closet.

That sadness was quickly replaced with my standard head-shaking sigh, however, when I saw polls earlier this week that showed the global warming denier party is apparently still ragin' — at least in the Grand Old Party. This week's Insider's Poll in the National Journal asked Members of Congress whether they think it's been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that global warming is due to manmade causes. 95 percent of Democratic respondents said yes (phew!), 2 percent volunteered "scientific consensus" and a mere 2 percent remain unconvinced. Cross the aisle and you might as well be living in the 50s — the 1850s! Only 13 percent of Republican Members of Congress were convinced. That's shocking enough, but astonishingly that's actually TEN PERCENT LOWER than the number who were convinced when asked the same question in April 2006.

I mean, some Congressmen may be a little slow on the uptake sometimes, but talk about awkward.

Bush Budget Includes Money To Study Hetch Hetchy

The National Park Service FY 2008 budget proposal submitted by the Bush administration to Congress in early February contains a surprise — a request for $7 million "to conduct environmental and economic assessments of the potential removal of O'Shaughnessy Dam, which is located in Yosemite National Park's Hetch Hetchy Valley."

This proposal evidently arises from a study released in July 2006 by the California Department of Water Resources that deems restoration feasible, identifies critical information that would be necessary if it were decided to remove the dam, and estimates dam removal and restoration of the Valley would cost $3-10 billion.

The $7 million figure matches the DWR estimate of the next study phase of the project, which would have to have the support of the National Park Service if it were to proceed. The dam, completed 1923 after a bitter battle fought by John Muir and Sierra Club colleagues, supplies drinking water to the City of San Francisco and a number of communities on the San Francisco Peninsula.

In 2004 the Oalkand office of Environmental Defense, a national environmental non-profit, released a report, authored by staff economist Spreck Rosenkranz, that assessed the economics of removing the dam. The report concluded that the water and power supplied by O'Shaughnessy Dam could be provided by other sources at a reasonable cost without major economic and water supply impacts.

Announcement of the proposed budget item surprised and elated Restore Hetch Hetchy, a citizens environmental group founded a decade ago to seek removal of the dam and restoration of the valley. It is sure to aggravate Senator Dianne Feinstein, former mayor of San Francisco, who is adamantly opposed to the dam's removal.

Pasadena's New Environmental Commission Ready to Go

Pasadena's new Environmental Advisory Commission, authorized by City Council on September 18, is expected to hold its first meeting in early March. The final members of the nine-person commission were appointed by the Council on February 5 — the appointments were delayed by the need for the City Attorney's office to draft language for a new city ordinance creating the Commission, which replaces the Utility Advisory Commission.

The new Commission will help develop a comprehensive strategy in support of the city's participation in meeting the goals of the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords and the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, both of which the City Council agreed to comply with at its September 18 meeting.

Meanwhile an interdepartment committee has been established to coordinate the city's implementation of these two agreements. The committee, which includes representatives from the Planning , Public Works, Transportation, Water and Power, and Public Health Departments, prepared a 70-page report regarding existing the city's existing environmental programs.

The Planning Department has developed a "Green City" homepage on its website. The homepage includes links to the Green City Action Plan (also available as a 12-page glossy booklet) and information about the city's Green Building Program.

Also included is a calendar of upcoming green building workshops for both the residential (on 4/5, 5/3) and development (on 4/6, 5/4) communities, along with a followup Pasadena Green Building Tour on June 2.

The Pasadena Group of the Sierra Club has strongly supported the city's increasing environmental awareness, and intends to participate in the strategic planning process of the new Commission and in outreach efforts of city staff during plan implementation.

Plugged In
Your Source For The Latest Happenings With
The Sierra Club's Smart Energy Solutions Campaign

The 2006 elections proved that global warming and energy issues were and continue to be of primary concern to the voters and the public. The balance in Congress has shifted and a pro-environment majority is poised to make progress on climate change. The Sierra Club is in a unique position to shape the debate and use our grassroots and political power to advance our goals.

The goal of this bi-monthly communication is to keep you apprised of the various activities within Sierra Club's overarching Smart Energy Solutions Campaign. With so many moving parts across the entire Club, we wanted to provide regular updates that allow you to get a good snapshot of what's happening, where it's happening and how it fits into our overall strategy on global warming and energy. Each issue will provide timely (note: we realize that some of the information in this issue is a little dated, so please bear with us as we intend to provide "hot off the press" information as this publication evolves) information about what's going on with the intersecting issue campaigns within the Club, the latest on pertinent legislation and politics on the Hill, success stories, trainings, events and other energy related matters at the grassroots and national levels. While we can't cover everything in every issue, we hope to provide a centralized communication that integrates our energy work in an easy to reference newsletter. We'd love to get your feedback, so feel free to let us know if you have ideas for how to improve this communication!

And, in case you're not already familiar with the Smart Energy Solutions Mission and Action Objectives, we'll reiterate them here for future reference.

In order to get there, we've created several action objectives to put the mission in motion. We'll highlight one or more of these with each edition. The action objectives will be implemented through the following strategic themes:

a. Cool Cities: Solving Global Warming, One Community at a Time
b. Cut America's Oil Dependence with Clean Transportation Solutions
c. Promote Clean Electricity through Efficiency and Renewables
d. Stop the Coal Rush, Clean Up Existing Coal Plants and Pollution
e. Take Action to Curb Global Warming

Here's the teaser for our debut.

Sierra Club Announces Clean Energy Roadmap

On January 31, the Sierra Club joined with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) to release a report that details how the United States can curb global warming using existing clean energy technologies like wind, solar and efficiency. The report serves as the Sierra Club's roadmap for how the United States can make the necessary 60-80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050. Read the Sierra Club's press release to learn more.

Key Global Warming Report Released

 

The world's largest and most respected panel of climate scientists once again confirmed that human activity is changing our climate. In its latest report, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), states that the heat-trapping gases that result from burning fossil fuels like oil and coal is causing global warming. More importantly, the report makes it clear that we are already experiencing the effects of global warming and points to even more dire consequences unless we act soon to reduce our heat-trapping emissions.

Sadly, industry-front groups are still trying to convince the public that scientists disagree on whether global warming is occurring. A story in the Guardian on February 2, reports that the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) a front group tied to Exxon Mobil and other energy companies offered $10,000 to economists and scientists willing to question the IPCC report.

This report serves as yet another wake up call that it is time to put existing smart energy solutions to work to solve global warming. Read more about the solutions to global warming in the Sierra Club's press release heralding the IPCC's latest report.

Bush Administration In Bed With Big Oil (Literally!)
Josh Dorner, RAW Contributor
February 22, 2007

Faithful RAW readers know that the administration really had my head spinning last week, but the latest corruption yarn out of Washington makes me feel like a top spinning on a merry-go-round. Most days it just seems like the Bush administration is in bed with Big Oil and other polluters. Well ladies and gentleman, last week it was revealed that the former top environmental lawyer at the Department of Justice, Sue Ellen Wooldridge, was indeed in bed with one of superfraudster Jack Abramoff's cronies, former Deputy Interior Secretary turned oil and gas lobbyist J. Steven Griles. Griles has the dubious distinction of being the highest ranking Bush administration official to be targeted in the Abramoff probe. And it doesn't end there. Wooldridge and Griles own a Northern Virginia condo together and are part-owners of a luxurious $1 million South Carolina beach house with...wait for it...Don Duncan, a ConocoPhillips VP and the firm's top DC lobbyist.

Unfortunately, it doesn't end there either:

a. Eight months after the trio purchased the home, Wooldridge approved a consent decree with ConocoPhillips allowing it 2-3 additional years to implement a $500+ million agreement it made with the EPA in 2005 to address some of its violations of the Clean Air Act.

b. Before taking her position at DOJ, Wooldridge was Deputy Chief of Staff to then Interior Sec'y Gale Norton, later becoming the top lawyer at Interior. In that role she gave ethics advice to her boss — none other than one Steven Griles, her boyfriend since 2003. She specifically advised him on when it was necessary to recuse himself.

c. Griles is accused of taking over $1 million in payments from his former firm at the same time he dealt with the firm’s clients in his official capacity.

d. After Griles left Interior in 2005, Wooldridge belatedly disclosed their relationship and later filed amended disclosure forms showing thousands of dollars in gifts she and Griles had exchanged — all while she was contacting investigators and writing a memo defending his activities at Interior.

e. Shockingly, Wooldridge's lawyers assert that DOJ ethics officials advised her the real estate deal did not pose an ethical problem.

Thankfully, Congress is no longer asleep at the switch. Not one, but two committees in the House — Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform — are investigating this latest Bush administration corruption caper.

Welcome New Conservation Coordinator

Please welcome our new Conservation Coordinator — Robin Streichler — who started working on the Angeles Chapter staff team on March 1. She will be sharing the duties of Conservation Program Coordinator with Jennifer Robinson.

Prior to joining the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter, Robin has been a part of the Environmental Action Foundation in Washington DC. She has worked for National Geographic Television as a Writer/Producer, and she has also worked for the National Wildlife Federation as an assistant editor and has coordinated lectures and lead workshops at the Bodhi Tree.

You can reach her at robin.streichler@sierraclub.org or (213) 387-4287 x210.
You can meet Robin at our next Conservation Committee meeting on Wednesday, March 21 at the Chapter Office.

Celebration of Life of Bob Hattoy
by Marcia Hanscom

Join in a Memorial Honoring the Life, Inspiration, Wit and Wisdom of Robert Hattoy. He died Sunday, March 3, 2007 at the age of 56.

 

Bob was President of the California Fish & Game Commission and Chair of the Wildlife Conservation Board when he died; before that he was a long-time Sierra Club spokesperson who worked in the Regional office housed with the Angeles Chapter Sierra Club. In between these two California careers, Bob worked in the Clinton White House and the US Interior Dept. California's wild places and wildlife were greatly helped with Bob's leadership.

Wednesday, March 21, 2007 St. James Church 3903 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles CA 90010

it's just a couple of blocks west of Western and a few blocks from Sierra Club Angeles Chapter headquarters, which means it is close enough to walk from a Metro Red Line stop.

5 pm memorial followed by celebration (food, drinks, etc — a great party, as Bob would love!)
RSVP or info (323) 934-1933

Gifts in his honor for issues he cared about can be sent to Hattoy Memorial Fund c/o Liberty Hill Foundation 2121 Cloverfield Boulevard Ste 113, Santa Monica CA 90404 (310) 453-3611.

Solis Named to Select Committee on Global Warming

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has appointed Hilda L Solis to the newly created Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

 

"We are truly at an historic crossroad. The action that we take in the next two years has the possibility of moving our nation light-years forward in terms of protecting public health and ensuring economic and energy security for all, including minorities and low income communities." Solis said. "I am looking forward to working diligently with my colleagues to ensure we have the courage and vision to set our nation on the right path — the path forward.

 

Solis is only one of fifteen members who will be serving on the Committee. The Select Committee will hold hearings and investigations locally, nationally, and internationally to gather the information needed to protect our national security and the environment. It is charged with recommending to the Congress policies, strategies, technologies and other innovations to reduce the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy and to prevent global warming.

 

"Global warming may be the greatest challenge of our time, setting at risk our economy, environment, and national security," Pelosi said. "With the creation of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming on a strong, bi-partisan vote, the House is giving these issues the high visibility they deserve." This week, House members voted in favor of a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming with a vote of 269 to 150, with 44 Republicans breaking party lines.

 

Solis, who received the John F Kennedy Profile and Courage Award in 2000 for her groundbreaking work on environmental justice, is the Vice Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee's Environment and Hazardmaterials Subcommittee and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Task Force on Health and the Environment. She also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee.

 

New Office Holders
by Mike Sappingfield

At the February 25 Executive Committee meeting the following positions were appointed:

At Large Executive Committee Member........................ Joel Levin
Chapter Vice Chair.....................................................    Rudy Vietmeier
Alternate Delegate, Council of Club Leaders.................  Henry Schultz
Chair, Tejon Ranch Task Force....................................  Leah Russin

5 Western States Come Together
to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

On Monday, February 26, the governors of Oregon, California, Washington, New Mexico, and Arizona announced the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative, a regional program that will track and register greenhouse gas emissions across the five states. This Initiative is similar to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the Northeast, which mandates a cap and trade system among power plants.

 

Although the governors are still sorting out the details, they will use a market-based approach to set a regional cap on greenhouse gases, which the governors hope will influence Congress to enact a national cap. Similar to Renewable Energy Standards and Clean Car standards, this is another demonstration of how states are taking the lead to curb global warming and secure America's energy future while the Bush administration continues to idle.

New Press Secretary

Greetings everyone,

I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Kristina Johnson and I just started as the new Associate Press Secretary ("the new Annie") in the San Francisco Sierra Club office. I'll be working on media for public lands and wildlife, as well as offshore drilling and an assortment of other issues.

My background includes five seasons with the Forest Service in Oregon and Colorado as a wilderness ranger, and two years as a reporter covering water and mining (and a little bit of everything else) for The Crested Butte News in Colorado. I have a master's degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, where I wrote my thesis on media coverage of wildfire. I also have a little bit of legislative experience — I was a staff assistant to Congressman Peter DeFazio in 1999 and have worked on a few state political campaigns.

I am delighted to join the Sierra Club staff, and am especially happy that I'll be working on public lands issues. While I'm really excited to get started, I expect it may take a little while to get up to speed on the issues and the Sierra Club's processes, and I really appreciate your patience with me while I'm learning the ropes.

Kristina Johnson
Associate Press Secretary, Sierra Club
(415) 977-5619 — kristina.johnson@sierraclub.org

Passed Resolution (passed by Executive Committee 2/15/07)

The Sierra Club opposes the proposed land use rezoning on Pacific Golf Course from open space to a residential project at San Clemente, California. The Club opposes the certification of the draft recirculated Environmental Impact Report #00-02 for the project.