May 2003
Welcome to e-Sierra
The email newsletter of the Sierra Club North Star ChapterMay 2003 / Issue 14
SierranACT ACTIVIST ALERT SYSTEM: Block the All-Coal "alternative"
Xcel Energy's voluntary Metro Emissions Reduction Plan (MERP) is currently before the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval. This significant clean up would convert St. Paul's High Bridge and Minneapolis' Riverside coal plants to natural gas while installing best available control technologies at the Stillwater area's Allen S. King coal plant. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the health and environmental benefits of MERP outweigh the costs and MERP should be implemented. However, currently the PUC is considering an ALL-COAL "alternative." Encourage the PUC to approve the cleaner, healthier, more cost-effective coal plant clean up: http://northstar.sierraclubaction.org/showalert.asp?preview=1&aaid=324
YOU CAN'T CLEAN WATER OR CAN YOU?
Care about our lakes and rivers; challenges to the Clean Water Act; loss of wetlands; strengthening environmental review; stormwater runoff; agricultural practices or other water issues? On Wednesday, May 28 at 5:30 at the Sierra Club office people concerned about protecting our water will be meeting to form a Sierra Club Water Committee. If you are interested please mark your calendars and come by for a one hour meeting. For more information contact Karen Harder at ktharder@efg.com.
A TRIP IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS
http://www.sierraclub.org/outings/featured/lewis-clark.asp
CONGRESS VOTING ON NATIONAL FOREST DESTRUCTION
Congress is voting as soon as TUESDAY on the most frightening logging increases in decades. The ill-named "Forest Health Restoration Act" increases logging on national forests, leaves communities at risk from forest fires, and reduces our ability to study environmental consequences of logging. Please urge your Representative to OPPOSE the McInnis/Walden anti-community, pro-logging bill. Let them hear you, at http://www.sierraclub.org/logging/ or for more information contact Joshua.Davis@sierraclub.org.
HELP KEEP SOME OF EDEN PRAIRIE
Start the morning off right with an interactive (and free!) Open Space Preservation workshop in Eden Prairie on Saturday, June 28 at 10am. Join local residents as we learn and discuss how to protect open spaces, parks and wetlands in our hometowns. For more information contact Trevor Russell at 612-659-9124 or Trevor.Russell@sierraclub.org.
NOMINATE YOUR SCHOOL FOR A CLEANER BUS SCHOOL RECOGNITION
Has your school taken action to reduce children (and bus drivers) exposure to diesel emissions from idling school buses? If your school has adopted a no idling policy, posted signs, redesigned parking, or taken any of a number of steps to clean up the air students are breathing, please let us know so we can award the school with a Cleaner Bus School recognition. If your school hasnt taken action yet, please engage school decision-makers in a discussion about the importance of reducing childrens exposure to diesel emissions. For more information and resources, please visit www.northstar.sierraclub.org/schoolbus. To nominate your school, please send an email with a description of what your school has done to michelle.rosier@sierraclub.org.
MORE THAN A FEELING - BOSTON AND THE SIERRA CLUB
As part of its first national tour since 1997, classic rockers Boston are donating a portion of their concert proceeds to help further the work of the Sierra Club. Minnesota concert on Friday, July 11 at the Moondance Jam in Walker, Minnesota. http://www.sierraclub.org/boston/index.asp
HELP GET THE LEAD OUT
Gone fishin? Help out our water birds and consider using non-lead alternatives for fishing tackle. http://www.moea.state.mn.us/reduce/sinkers.cfm
PRESIDENT BUSH AND CONGRESS WATCH
Seeking Balance? Ah No.
http://www.sierraclub.org/wwatch/
VoteWatch - We Can Do Better.
Keep tabs on our Congress members at
http://www.sierraclub.org/votewatch/.
SCHEDULE OF UPCOMING EVENTS
May 20: International Committee
May 21: Inner City Outing Committee
May 23-25: Cane BWCAW Gunflint District
May 28: Excom Meeting
May 28: Water Committee Kickoff
May 26-30: Midwest Forest Watch
June 1: Forest Watch Learning how to Write Comments
June 4: Forestry Committee
June 4: Air Toxics Committee (Matthew Parks Community Cntr)
June 9-12: Midwest Staff Retreat
June 11: Communications Committee
June 12: Land Use Committee
June 17: International Committee
June 18: Communication Committee
June 25: Excom
June 28: Eden Prairie Land Use Workshop
For More Calendar Information Contact:
vicki.munson@sierraclub.org
For Interesting Submissions:
heather.cusick@sierraclub.org
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Heather Cusick
Conservation Director
Sierra Club - North Star
2327 East Franklin Ave. Suite 1
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55406
phone: 612.659.9124
fax: 612.659.9129