Conservation Chair Jim Hines' "Chronicles" and Condor Call Editor John Hankins' "Sightings" columns give excellent overviews of the environmental events of the last two months, June/July 2024
Jim Hines' Chronicles, June/July 2024
Editor’s note: So much has happened over the last two months (June/July) but the popular Chronicles gleaned from Jim Hines’ emails give a look back and forth. Expect joy and sorrow, success and disappointments. Jim is vice-chair of our Chapter and Ventura Network. He is available as a speaker. Email is jhcasitas@gmail.com
By Jim Hines
We get mail, thanks to the people who read our Condor Call newspaper. Over the years I've received many emails and/or phone calls after each Condor Call. They are wonderful comments of thanks for our advocacy, but every now and then I do get some criticism who apparently are not Sierra Club members.
But just yesterday I received a beautiful handwritten letter of thank you from one of our members in Westlake Village; she mailed her letter to Condor John who kindly forwarded the letter to me.
Nice to know that people care about the work we do.
July 26: Little actions are making a big impact in a negative way. Such as allowing lead bullets for hunting, a legal rodenticide kills a gopher who is then eaten by a mountain lion, a humpback whale is entangled in nylon line, a burrowing owl awakes to a bulldozer.
Our Wildlife Committee's summer of discontent is determined to do all we can to put a stop to those seemingly small actions..
July 22: Four years ago, when the U.S. Government initiated a proposal to create a Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary the Sierra Club was one of the first supporters.
So, what's the holdup? As usual politics, due to a claim of intertribal disputes, and interference from congress and the looming election.
July 21: Taking a short break from time out among my gardens and greenhouse to share my enthusiasm for Kamala Harris for President.
I first met then U.S. Senator Kamala Harris a month after she took office in January 2017. I was in Washington DC on behalf of the Sierra Club Protect Wild Utah campaign. She turned out to be one of our biggest supporters in the U.S. Senate for protecting America’s national public lands and waters.
July 17: Santa Barbara folks, you are so fortunate to have mostly environmentally friendly local government officials. We here in Ventura County have mostly MAGA controlled local government from the Board of Supervisors to the majority of the 11 city councils around the county. It is difficult for us with relatively so few people advocating for environmental protection and others discouraged at MAGA-like policies, rolling along with seemingly little or no opposition.
Oh, to be like Santa Barbara.
July 10: Start a lobby campaign at the city hall level to stop the endless approvals who keep approving new gas stations, usually as part of new strip malls. We can build gas stations but can't build EV charging stations? I sent this idea to the EV Advocates group.
We could also start an auto dealer incentive program to benefit the Sierra Club. We spend a lot of time promoting EVs but when someone walks into a dealership and buys an EV we do not get any credit for it. We’re acting as sales agents.
July 8: We are supporting the CA Coastal Commission letter to Space X at Vandenberg AFB regarding the massive negative impacts of increased Space X launches on the beaches of northern Santa Barbara county and the ocean environment. Maybe it's time to look at the environmental impacts of missile launches from Pt Mugu Naval Air Station in Ventura County as well.
June 28: Ten years ago, two commercial fishermen off the east coast went to court suing the U.S. Government for requiring "observers" on their fishing boats, to guard against overfishing and that marine mammals are not entangled in commercial fishing nets.
Today the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the commercial fishermen and in fact basically ruled that numerous environmental rules and regulations by the U.S. Government to be unconstitutional -- in the court's words. This ruling also applies to other federal agencies besides environmental agencies, the so-called Chevron Doctrine.
The Sierra Club strongly condemns that decision and noted that the same court also ruled that the government cannot enforce protections of wetlands, and the so-called “Good Neighbor" policy requiring states to work together to stop air pollution across state lines.
Without an environmentally friendly partner in the U.S. Government our work will be more challenging than ever.
June 26: There was much talk and celebration regarding the county of Ventura dropping proposed new regulations to be imposed on the county’s oil and gas industry, notably ensuring oil wells are capped and cleanup. The County Planning Director said these actions were not needed as the State would do the above.
Except that the state has a budget deficit and the projected cost to plug idle oil and gas wells in Ventura County alone would be around $800 million. Needless to say, the oil industry seemed happy.
June 17: Our members love to camp, so why not camp for a purpose? I am going to ask the national Sierra Club staff to sponsor a peaceful encampment and/or a peaceful occupy in DC.
June 14: Marine areas are under study and scrutiny over protections by the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife. There are about a dozen changes for marine reserves offshore of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Here’s the info sheet and how to comment:
https://tinyurl.com/SeeSeaChanges
June 10: Voter Drive: I have been passing out voter registration forms when I engage various groups and individuals across Ventura County.
It is time the Santa Barbara-Ventura chapter mounted an aggressive voter registration drive because we lost battles, notably the oil industry. I am finding that many voters are NOT thinking about the environment; it is all about the economy, public safety and immigration issues.
~ Edited by John Hankins
SIGHTINGS for Aug-Sept 2024
By John Hankins
We are here to Explore, Enjoy and Protect the planet (Sierra Club’s motto), despite turmoil in the political and environmental realms. Check out the stories and links below on what happened in the last two months.
July 31: “Plastic People,” a landmark feature documentary that chronicles humanity’s fraught relationship with plastic and one woman’s mission to expose shocking new revelations about the impact of microplastics on human health. The video was brought to you by the SB Community Environment Council, and can be viewed here: www.cecsb.org
July 27: Free educational event to reduce your energy bills, steps to energy independence, safeguard your family's health, and reduce our carbon footprint, sponsored by the Ventura County Chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby. https://www.cclventura.org/
July 25: Tunnel Trail is closed for up to six months starting today! It’s due to SoCal Edison’s Restoration Project.
July 24: Ormond Beach Wetlands National Wildlife Refuge proposal was unanimously approved by our Executive Committee from both SB and Ventura.
July 21: “Joe Biden’s legacy as the greatest president for climate and environmental action is etched in stone,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Ben Jealous in a statement. “America’s air and water is cleaner because of him. Our future is more secure because of him. The Sierra Club and the country will celebrate his legacy now and forever . . . the Sierra Club will marshal its resources and grassroots power to guarantee the Biden-Harris legacy continues.”
July 19: Heal the Bay’s annual report card for California beaches gives high marks for cleanliness at County Line Beach in Ventura County and no dirty, bad beaches in either Ventura or Santa Barbara. Find out the best and worst here: https://healthebay.org/
July 18: Wind Power got a huge boost from the California Energy Commission which unanimously approved a sweeping plan to develop a massive floating offshore wind industry in ocean waters — a first-of-its-kind undertaking that will require billions in public and private investments and could transform parts of the coast. “The climate crisis is upon us. Offshore wind is a real opportunity for us to move forward with clean energy,” said energy commissioner Patty Monahan. However, a first wind turbine isn’t expected until at least 2030.
July 18: Chumash uprising of 1824, a look-back by Ryan Cruz in the SB Independent. It chronicles the largest indigenous revolt of the Mission Period. Read it online at:www.independent.com
July 16: The Plastic Crisis: Science and Solutions is a webinar by the SB Community Environmental Council via Zoom. It features Plastic Free Future founders Alejandra Warren (CEC’s 2024 SB Earth Day Festival Environmental Hero) and Dr. Matt Warren. You can view it on CEC’s website (among other webinars) here: https://cecsb.org/
July 17: Santa Barbara Green Guide, a collaboration between the Santa Barbara Independent and Bluedot Living, with lead sponsorship from the Community Environmental Council (CEC). This handbook is a guide to living sustainably in Santa Barbara. It includes info on how to recycle, compost, volunteer, shop secondhand and more. Also, it’s available at the Independent, CEC and online: Santa Barbara Green Guide
July 9: Your comments wanted about the General Plan Update to prepare Gaviota State Park (SP), Refugio State Beach (SB), and El Capitán State Beach (SB) for the future. Informed by community input, the plan will include recommendations for protecting significant resources, modernizing park infrastructure, adapting to climate change impacts, and providing sustainable recreational opportunities. Learn more and get involved here: https://ecrgplanupdate.com/
July 7: An injured hiker was airlifted from Seven Falls while hiking the Tunnel Trail after emergency personnel received a report of a 24-year-old female hiker sustaining a leg injury from a fall. Let’s all give a shout-out and/or donations to the Search and Rescue teams in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties!
July 4: EVs and Classic Cars were on display downtown Ventura during and after its annual Street Fair & Pushem-Pullem Parade. Thanks to our Transportation Chair Kent Bullard of EV Advocates for informing the public about these clean cars. Lots of local music, eats and treats.
June 26: “Good news! This is a HUGE deal and defeat for the oil industry! Now communities finally will get the SB-1137 protections (3200 ft setbacks) from oil drilling,” wrote our Chapter Chair Katie Davis when she heard that the oil industry was dropping its initiative for the November ballot that would not have given such protection.
June 15: Cougar found dead on the 101 Freeway in Agoura Hills, not far from the Annenberg wildlife crossing being built to reduce the number of wildlife fatalities. Already, there are signs that other animals are using the crossing, expected to be finished by 2016.
June 14: Newly restored trails at West Mesa provide expansive views from the San Marcos Foothills as the efforts continue to restore native habitats and species, noted Ray Ford, outdoor writer for Noozhawk. “The hike along the Westside Trail is as easy on the eyes and the feet as it gets,” he writes. Read his story about the new changes at the San Marcos Preserve. https://tinyurl.com/TrailsAtPreserve
June 11: Carpinteria Bluffs got a line item for $800,000 when the County Board of Supervisors approved the funding to preserve a part of the bluffs. Good news but our SB Group chair Jim Taylor said, “It’s a drop in the bucket. The developer is still full speed ahead, unfortunately, and the City has very limited grounds on which to deny it.” To learn more, or make a tax-deductible donation, the public is encouraged to visit: www.carpinteriabluffs.org.
June 4: Zero Emissions by 2030. That’s the goal of SB Metropolitan Transit District which will purchase eight new electric buses and charging stations. Cost is $14.97 million, funded by grants etc.
June 6: Pot enterprise in Lompoc fined $1.4 million for repeated air quality violations. Central Coast has agreed to settle the penalties associated with its cannabis manufacturing facility. Meanwhile, it has met APCD’s requirements which will likely reduce its emissions by 90%.