Director's Message
Such a showing of love and support is truly a strong indication of the commitment so many people have to preserving Texas natural beauty and unique ecosystems, protecting the health and well being of Texans, and helping achieve a vision of Texas as a clean energy leader with strong jobs in a modern economy, and wise water use. If Texas could coordinate the exploration of space from Houston, we can darned sure inspire, by example, the preservation of this space. Thanks to all who share and support that vision.
Update: Forest Service Cancels Planned Fracking Leases, Fate of Lakes Unknown
More than 1,300 emails have been sent to the Bureau of Land Management's New Mexico office from Texas Sierra Club members and supporters, urging them to stop the planned auction of public lands in Texas for oil and gas development. Last week, the U.S. Forest Service, who owns land above the minerals the BLM controls, pulled 31,000 acres that were slated for fracking in Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Sabine National Forests. Great job! Now we have to work to protect the waters of Lake Lewisville, Lake Somerville, and Choke Canyon Reservoir. The Sierra Club, along with the Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Water Action, and Environment Texas, filed a formal protest of the remaining 5,700 acres up for lease on April 20 ( press release here). If you have not already done so, please email the BLM today and urge them to stop fracking on public lands!
New EPA Recommendations Address Unsafe Texas Coal Plant Pollution
On February 17, the EPA moved to protect communities near coal-fired power plants from dangerous sulfur dioxide pollution by designating areas with unsafe levels of the pollutant as out of compliance with clean air standards. The EPA identified high levels of sulfur dioxide pollution in East Texas surrounding Luminant's Martin Lake, Big Brown, and Monticello coal plants. This preliminary decision is an important step in compelling the state to create a plan to address the problem and also helps communities living in the designated areas better understand the dangerous pollution. Exposure to elevated levels of sulfur dioxide pollution for just a short time can make it hard to breathe, and prolonged exposure to persistent levels of sulfur dioxide can make it easier to get sick and harder to smell over time. Children, the elderly and people with asthma are most affected by high levels of sulfur dioxide pollution. Chronic exposure is associated with deadly lung and heart conditions.
Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium - March 9
The Sierra Club is partnering with National Wildlife Federation, Galveston Bay Foundation, and others to present the 5th Annual Gulf Coast Water Conservation Symposium: New Frontiers in Water Conservation in Houston on March 9. While this symposium is specifically geared towards water managers, water conservation staff, and decision makers, it is a great place for advocates that use and care about the environment and how their water supply is managed to gain valuable knowledge to inform your advocacy work and to better understand the challenges your water utility faces. What will you learn? Topics include: American water demand trends and the future of water conservation. water conservation's role in the Gulf Coast's future water supply, how assessing deferred costs can lead to big savings in water and money, how to use digital marketing to influence behavior and attitudes, strategies from leaders to access big savings from outdoor water users, and much more. Registration is $45 (lunch included). Register at www.texaswater.org. We hope to see you in Houston on March 9th. Please contact jennifer.walker@sierraclub.org with any questions.
Remembering Lorraine Bonney
On February 9, 2016, Lorraine G. Bonney died in British Columbia at the age of 93. Lorraine, along with her husband Orrin, was an original founder of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter and the Houston Regional Group. The Lone Star Chapter's highest award is named the "Orrin Bonney Award." It could just as well have been named the "Lorraine Bonney Award." She is the last of the Lone Star Chapter's founders to depart. Forest Committee Chair Brandt Mannchen takes a fond look back at the life and contributions or Lorraine Bonney.
It's Time to Amplify Austin!
The Lone Star Chapter and the Austin Regional Group are taking part in Amplify Austin 2016 - Austin's 24-hour day of giving to area non-profits. This year, our goal is to raise $7,000! Why give? Because every dollar raised through Amplify Austin helps support our work to ensure Austin's low and moderate income residents do not bear the brunt of our city's energy choices - particularly when it comes to high bills, air pollution, and health. Working with stakeholders, from community groups to city task forces, we also support improving access to low-cost energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, like solar rooftops and community solar, and advocate they should be affordable and accessible to all. We're also playing a leading role in supporting visionary water conservation and water resources management decisions in Austin that support both people and the environment. Though the drought may be technically over, the next one may soon be here and wise water decisions, like once-per-week lawn watering, is a central facet to our educational outreach in Austin and Central Texas.
Chapter Award Nominations Now Open!
Know someone who did outstanding work last year worthy of recognition? Let's recognize them! Each year, we take some time to look back at the previous year and recognize the great work of inspiring environmental activists and innovators from around our state with awards to show our appreciation. Nominate that awesome person who does awesome things here. Our award categories inspire nominations to honor not only Sierra Club volunteers and staff, but also other individuals and organizations who have done so much to defend, improve, and celebrate the Texas environment. The Awards Committee seeks your assistance in selecting those individuals or groups who in the previous year, on the local/Group or state/Chapter level, have excelled in some conservation, outings, administrative, or media capacity and deserve special recognition. In 2016, we will honor award recipients for work in 2015 at a special banquet Austin on April 30 at Chez Zee (stay tuned for RSVP info). If you would like to nominate someone for an award, download our nomination form here. The nomination period will be open until March 21, 2016.
Kleburg Institute, Do the Right Thing and Return Annova LNG's Oversized Novelty Check
Five prominent environmental organizations in South Texas' Lower Rio Grande Valley publicly called upon the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute to return a recent donation from Annova LNG, and join them in opposing plans to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals on lands that are critical to the survival of ocelots. Ocelot numbers have been so reduced in the U.S. that they are now listed under the Endangered Species Act, and fewer than 75 remain in South Texas. Annova LNG, one of the companies proposing to build LNG facilities, recently held a press conference, where they presented the Kleburg Institute's Dr. Michael Tewes with a check for $40,000. This followed an industry-funded pro-LNG event where the Institute's Dr. Michael Tewes reportedly said that, despite U.S. Fish and Wildlife's claims to the contrary, Annova's LNG site is not important ocelot habitat, and Texas' ocelots are doomed to extinction anyway. The organizations wrote a letter to the Institute but did not receive a response or even an acknowledgement.
Regional Roundup
- If you're a birder, watch this video of coastal birds on Green Island in Laguna Madre to prep for the 20th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic.
- Texas wind power just keeps on breaking records! On February 18, it was providing 45% of all the power on the grid (ERCOT). Something tells us that record won't last long.
- Although new nuclear plants are still too expensive to build, the NRC still approved two new reactors near Matagorda Bay.
- WFAA-TV in Dallas aired an outstanding investigative piece uncovering what appears to be "numerous violations by drillers apparently ignoring mandates to seal wells with cement in order to protect groundwater."