Sierra Club Secures Monumental Settlement that will Protect Wetlands and Wildlife in Florida
February 21, 2012 - In a monumental settlement and overall victory for Sierra Club and local environmental groups, several thousand acres of wetlands have been preserved in DeSoto County, Florida. Sierra Club and its allies fought for the last 18 months against phosphate mining giant, Mosaic, in a bid to correct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers flawed permit to mine the massive South Fort Meade Extension mine in Hardee County.
The settlement includes several major victories, such as the creation of hundreds of acres of additional conservation easement buffers along the Peace River, which will protect additional bayhead wetlands and stream areas in and around the mining site.
Mosaic also purchased the 4,171-acre Peaceful Horse Ranch at the confluence of the Peace River and Horse Creek, which includes more than 3,000 acres of wetlands. The property was then donated to the State of Florida for use as a new state park. In addition to this environmental win, Mosaic will also contribute $2 million to cover startup and initial maintenance costs of the park.
Along with these major concessions from the mining giant, the settlement also established a long-term water monitoring program that will involve review of Mosaic's monitoring and restoration by an independent panel that will be allowed to make recommendations for improvements to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
To see more, including more photos of beautiful Peaceful Horse Ranch, click here!
Sierra Club Joins Local Groups in Opposing Trucking Superhighway in Maine Woods
Sierra Club is opposing a proposed $2 billion superhighway that would carry truck traffic between New Brunswick and Quebec, through the heart of Maine’s North Woods.
The latest concept calls for a 220-mile truck highway extending from the Maine communities of Calais in the east to Coburn Gore at the border with Quebec. Private investors would bankroll the project, with estimated costs in the range of $2 billion, and maintain it with tolls paid by trucking companies.
Much of the traffic would be Canadian truckers moving their products from the Maritime Provinces to Quebec and Midwestern points, proponents say.
Club members have joined a groundswell of local groups and residents in opposing the proposed highway.
Sierra Club members don’t oppose broadening Maine’s industrial base, but see many problems that the highway would create, including harm to water quality, wetlands, critical wildlife habitat, local communities, and public recreational lands.
The Club will meet on May 17 to discuss assembling a study that would show how revitalizing a cross-state rail line would create the same economic benefits as a highway, while avoiding the serious harms associated with a superhighway through the heart of the Maine Woods.
To read more, click here!
EPA Announces First-Ever Carbon Pollution Safeguards for New Power Plants
On March 27, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obama Administration issued draft language to establish the first-ever carbon pollution protections for new power plants. These new carbon pollution safeguards will protect clean air and the planet, while also spurring innovation and creating jobs in the clean energy economy. Carbon pollution is the main contributor to climate disruption and is linked to life-threatening air pollution like smog – which triggers asthma attacks – making it a serious hazard to Americans’ health and future. Once finalized, these protections will ensure that new power plants meet public health standards and protect Americans from dangerous pollution. To read more, click here!