Reports from the front-line of Alabama's fight against tar sands
from Adam Johnston
Despite the state Oil and Gas Board postponing oil (tar) sands regulations, Mobile's Planning Commission continues to propose more oil storage tanks and mining continues at a Lawrence County location known to contain these oil (tar) sands deposits.
On Thursday, January 7th, the Mobile Planning Commission approved changes to an ordinance that would allow controversial above ground oil storage tanks around the historic Africatown Community. Mobile Environmental Justice Action Coalition (MEJAC) and the Mobile County Training School Alumni Association held a community tour January 16 for residents from Fairhope to see how close the proposals are to homes and schools. Please continue to stay aware of the fight in Mobile to keep the tanks off the banks and attend the Mobile City Council meetings. For more information please visit the MEJAC website, https://mejac.wordpress.com/
On January 26th, the Shoals Environmental Alliance hosted landowners and residents in Florence, AL to discuss the current mining taking place in Lawrence County, its state-issued permit, and concerns over water quality. Citizens remained cautious of the plans to mine anything where oil (tar) sands exists, the company, MSI, has just increased its size and number of pollution discharges from the site.
Keep vigilant and well informed with these recent articles:
- 1/7 WBRC Fox 6 News "Planning Commission approves controversial oil storage tanks"
http://www.wbrc.com/story/30903695/planning-commission-set-to-vote-on-controversial-oil-storage-tanks- 1/9 Florence Times Daily "State Oil and Gas Board no longer developing oil sands mining regs"
http://m.timesdaily.com/news/state-oil-and-gas-board-no-longer-developing-oil-sands/article_29dab5d2-fbd4-5c41-bde8-73b4a15d924f.html?mode=jqm- 1/10 Florence Times Daily "ADEM issues pollution discharge permit for MS Industries mine site"
m.timesdaily.com/news/adem-issues-pollution-discharge-permit-for-ms-industries-mine-site/article_3044d5c3-414d-5bf6-b189-2fb132e410db.html?mode=jqm- 1/16 Fox 10 TV "Tour of Africatown features future site of storage tanks"
http://www.fox10tv.com/story/30985207/tour-of-africatown-features-future-site-of-storage-tanks- 1/27 Florence Times Daily "Shoals Environmental Alliance praised for oil sand mining opposition"
http://www.timesdaily.com/news/shoals-environmental-alliance-praised-for-oil-sand-mining-opposition/article_04126067-3548-5bc5-893e-c331ef167a66.html
Alabama Chapter Sierra Club’s CCL Delegate Report
By Carol Adams-Davis
The annual meetings of the Sierra Club’s Board of Directors, the Sierra Club Foundation Board, and the Council of Club Leaders were held in September 2016, in San Francisco.
The Council of Club Leaders (CCL) functions as an advisory body to the Sierra Club’s Board of Directors and its governance committees on chapter and regional concerns. The CCL is composed of a delegate from each chapter and a delegate from both the Sierra Student Coalition and Sierra Club California. The CCL meets in joint session with the Board of Directors in the Annual Meeting. The CCL has a 7-person Executive Committee (ExCom) that is voted on by the CCL. We interacted with National staff and Chapter leaders from across the country and shared ideas, experiences, and key state issues. Our meeting started with a “State of the Club Message” presented by Sierra Club President, Aaron Mair. He asserted that “The Sierra Club is a family and we must recognize that and not take our frustrations out on one another. The moment that you throw your family to the enemy is the moment we all lose the battle. He ended by stating that we are not an organization of hate and disrespect.”
The Sierra Club is in the process of lengthy updates and upgrades to the tools available to its chapters and leaders. The logo is getting an update, and the tools for volunteer recruitment and fund raising are being developed by the Chapter Capacity Building team. The Club is also in the midst of a huge and deliberate Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiative.
The Board has recently approved our first-ever Strategic Plan, which is available to view in pdf on the Clubhouse website. It highlights diversity, equity, and inclusion in our environmental endeavors.
2016 will bring us a number of new digital platforms to help extend our reach and streamline our work.
This year's Sierra Club Awards Ceremony was well attended with a guest list that included United States Senator Harry Reid. He received the Edgar Wayburn Award. For a complete list of recipients, http://content.sierraclub.org/press-releases/2015/09/sierra-club-announces-annual-awards.
I got to watch Alabama Chapter Sierra Club’s own Bob Hastings accept the Sierra Club’s Special Service Award (for strong and consistent commitment to conservation over an extended period of time). Michael Brune and Aaron Mair presented the award and shared with the attendees the great work Bob has done in New Jersey, Louisiana, and Alabama. Congratulations, again, Bob!
The Council of Club Leaders (CCL) considered 12 resolutions and here are the results. The resolutions that passed were forwarded to the Sierra Club board of directors for consideration.
- Redistricting Reform: Seeking support for Club to lobby for redistricting commissions (Ohio and Missouri Chapters) PASSED
- Communication: Seeking to re-emphasize Club policy to prioritize improved communications (Lone Star Chapter) PASSED
- Anthropocene terminology: Seeking the Club to encourage use of the term “Anthropocene” to refer to the current geologic epoch (Toiyabe Chaper) TABLED
- NERC reinstatement: Seeking the Club to allow the chapters in the former Northeast Regional Committee (NERC) to work together officially on issues affecting the states and provinces in the region (Atlantic, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Vermont Chapters) PASSED
- Response to CCL Resolutions: Requesting the BOD to respond to CCL resolutions before the next CCL meeting with reasoning on disposition (New Jersey Chapter) PASSED
- Communication: Seeking to increase communication between national and chapters with a formal network of activist liaisons to facilitate communication and cooperation (Loma Prieta Chapter) FAILED
- Organizing Skills Training for Volunteers: Seeking Club financial and staff support for a volunteer-led organizing skills training program to empower volunteers to assist staff in organizing people to win campaigns (Illinois Chapter) PASSED
- Sierra Club and IPCC 2C Threshold: Asking the Club to reject the IPCC’s proposed temperature threshold of 2 degrees centigrade (Atlantic Chapter) FAILED
- Drinking water standards: Seeking Club approval to adopt position to ask EPA to establish specifc drinking water standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (Ohio Chapter) PASSED
- Burn policy: Seeking Club approval to adopt a position that USDA policies and actions of national and state public western forests should not be a policy of public eastern forests. (Ohio Chapter) PASSED
- Sierra Club Merchandise and Gifts: Recommending that Club souvenirs, wearables and gifts be made in the USA (Atlantic Chapter) FAILED
- Initiation of a Youth educational program: Seeking to start a program to expose youth to the Sierra Club mission in three phases aimed at education in high schools and elementary schools throughout the country (Connecticut Chapter) FAILED
Please contact me, Carol Adams-Davis, mcadamsdavis@earthlink.net , if you would like to create a resolution for potential passage by the Alabama Chapter Sierra Club Executive Committee, then to the CCL, then to the Sierra Club’s national board of directors.
Alabama Sierra Club Resolution Adopted At Executive Committee Meeting
David Underhill introduced a resolution for adoption regarding Gulf of Mexico offshore drilling leases being auctioned at the Superdome in New Orleans on March 23rd. There is an online petition presented by The Louisiana Bucket Brigade to President Obama, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz. Please pass petition on to individuals in your groups.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/573/424/821/new-lease-on-life-join-the-historic-call-for-the-end-of-new-oil-drilling-in-the-gulf-of-mexico/
The resolution, adopted at the January 2016 meeting follows:
- Despite the persistent damaging effects from the 2010 explosion of BP's oil well in the Gulf of Mexico, and
- Despite the declared policy of the U.S. government, as a signatory to the final declaration of the global climate conference in Paris last month, to undertake a substantial decrease in the output of greenhouse gasses, and
- Despite the decision this month by the U.S. government to halt new leases for coal mining on federal lands,
- The U.S. government now proposes to lease 43 million acres in the Gulf of Mexico for oil well drilling. A sale of these leases is scheduled at the Superdome in New Orleans on March 23, 2016.
- Opponents of this foolhardy course will call for a New Lease on Life by surrounding the Superdome in protest against the leases and by advocating alternatives to expansion of the fossil economy.
- The Alabama Chapter of the Sierra Club supports this demonstration and calls upon its members to participate in New Orleans on March 23 and to advance a New Lease on Life in lawful ways.
Congratulations, Welcome and Thanks to the Newly Elected Alabama ExCom!
Congratulations and thanks to our newly elected Alabama ExCom members, Rob Burton, Charlie Cohen, Bob Hastings, and Adam Johnston. And a special thank you to Casie Jones, who also ran for office.
Saturday, March 19 - Hike Leader Training.
The North Alabama Sierra Club needs new hike leaders at all skill levels. Most of our new members come from our outings. You must be a Sierra Club member to lead hikes and membership will be verified prior to the training. Your help would be appreciated in introducing people to hiking. This is an opportunity to share your favorite hike with others. The training will be held Saturday, March 19th at 8:30am in Huntsville at the Huntsville/Madison County public library to certify new hike leaders to lead dayhikes. Basic Red Cross First Aid certification will be covered in the morning. Hike leadership, hike planning, and hiking etiquette will be covered during the remainder of the day. We have to pay a certification fee to the Red Cross so please do not sign up if you do not plan on leading outings. You will be asked at the training to sign up as an assistant leader on one of the upcoming outings for your provisional hike. Bring your lunch but drinks will be provided. For more information contact Tom Burley at tdburleyhiker@bellsouth.net or 256 883-4267.
Coal Ash Update from the January ExCom Meeting
New ExCom member Rob Burton reported that Adam Johnston will be in Washington DC with Esther Calhoun of Uniontown, Al and president of Black Belt Citizens Fighting for Health & Justice. Esther will be giving testimony to the US Commission on Civil Rights February 5 about her experience living around coal ash and other environmental burdens.
On January 15-17th, Project South joined Black Belt Citizens and others in Uniontown for sessions and skill-based trainings for a more effective and unified organizing effort for the people of Uniontown. Rob and others from Birmingham attended this conference and shared information about possible solutions to their injustices. Rob said the company that operates the coal ash landfill is named Green Group Holdings, LLC., it is a solid waste company involved in similar situations in many other states.
The Arrowhead Landfill is adjacent to a very-old cemetery. The compant may have been involved with building illegal roads through the cemetery without permission. Learn more about the struggle here:
https://www.facebook.com/Black-Belt-Citizens-753236721412415/?fref=ts
http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2016/jan/editorial-remember-martin-luther-king-jr.-dont-forget-environmental-justice
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34552-environmental-justice-what-the-candidates-missed-in-flint-michigan-and-the-rest-of-the-country
Environmental Events in February
Submitted by Adam Johnston and Joe Watts
AL Cup Racing Association's Locust Fork Invitational
Feb 6-7
Kings Bend in Cleveland, Alabama, just north of Cleveland off Hwy 231/79
http://www.alabamacupraces.com/races.html
Friends of Turkey Creek Nature Preserve Monthly Meeting
Feb 9, 6:30 PM
Turkey Creek Nature Preserve, Pinson
https://www.facebook.com/events/569718959844856/
Cahaba Group of the Sierra Club with Cahaba Riverkeeper
Feb 11, 6:00 PM
Birmingham Zoo
https://www.facebook.com/events/1189352271104333/
2016 Great Backyard Bird Count.
February 12 - February 15
How many birds will you find? The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is a free, fun, and easy event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of bird populations.
http://birminghamaudubon.org/event/2016-great-backyard-bird-count
February Field Trip: Coleman Lake, Shoal Creek District, Talladega National Forest
February 20 @ 7:00 am- 5:00 pm
http://birminghamaudubon.org/event/february-field-trip-coleman-lake-shoal-creek-district-talladega-national-forest/
POWER-UP Energy Forum hosted by Alabama Environmental Council
Feb 23, 8:30 AM
Birmingham Southern College
http://www.aeconline.org/powerupenergyforum
2016 Environmental Educators Association of Alabama's annual conference
Feb 25-27
Camp McDowell
http://eeaa.us/2016-conference/
PROCEDURE FOR SENDING MATERIAL TO THE ALABAMA SIERRAN
Many thanks to Roe Hyche, Bob Hastings, Lucina Horner, and Peggie Griffin for agreeing to be the new newsletter committee.
The newsletter is put together monthly, and material for the newsletter should be sent to plgriffin@comcast.net, with a subject line of "For the Editorial Board" no later than the 15th of the month.
Group newsletter editors may continue sending group meeting information and calendars of events to Joe Watts at joe@joewatts.com, no later than the 25th of each month.
Guidelines for Material:
- The newsletter committee is seeking articles about Alabama environmental issues, articles highlighting Alabama’s special beautiful places, and engaging write-ups about group and chapter activities.
- Articles should be originally written for the Alabama Sierran, factual, and timely.
- A link to another publication should only be used rarely, but if a link is to be used, a full summary of the information (at least a paragraph long) should be written, with the link provided for more detailed information.
- The newsletter committee has the right to make any changes, so that material will meet these guidelines.