October 2022 Newsletter

October 14, 2022

October 2022     Join Our Monthly Meeting to Hear From Sequim and Jefferson County Elected Officials October 20th at 7PM on Zoom, RSVP Required The Sierra Club works each year to elect environmental champions at all levels of government but that's only the beginning of the process.  Once elected, it's important to hold them accountable for results.  This month we'll hear from two elected officials, Lowell Rathbun of the Sequim City Council and Jefferson County Commissioner, Heidi Eisenhour.  Join us to find out what they view as the most pressing environmental concerns and use it as an opportunity to voice some of your own.   RSVP HERE Miller Peninsula State Park Is a Paradise of Quiet, Let's Keep It That Way   Washington State Parks invites the public to an in-person open house regarding the Miller Peninsula State Park Property. The open house will begin with a brief introduction and overview of the planning work to date, current status of the project, and anticipated next steps.  The public is welcome to attend and provide comments to Washington State Parks Director Diana Dupuis and staff.   Tuesday, October 18, 2022 from 6:00-7:30PM 7 Cedars Hotel, Blynn-Bay Event Room, Sequim   Read Sierra Club's Position Here   Join the Quimper Wildlife Corridor Challenge   The Quimper Wildlife Corridor is a broad swath of connected forests, meadows, and wetlands home to hundreds of species of shrubs, trees, animals and birds.  Using the corridor, a variety of wildlife can migrate from Fort Worden to Discovery Bay and then venture on to the larger forested areas the Olympic Peninsula.  Over the past 30 years, thanks to the work of countless community advocates, volunteers, donors and willing landowners, The Jefferson Land Trust has protected more than 169 acres.  Another 107 acres are temporarily protected with a DNR lease.  The DNR lands are now available for a land transfer that would place them in permanent protection.  Find out how you can support this important effort here:   Join the Challenge Become a Monthly Donor to the Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club This October, we're asking everyone to consider a monthly gift to the Washington State Chapter of the Sierra Club. Monthly gifts are one of the most effective ways for you to help us continue our vital work.  As we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we are putting more time, energy, and resources into our advocacy and lobbying efforts than ever before - and we need your help!  Support from our monthly, sustaining donors allows us to remain nimble and ready to respond to threats to our environment and communities whenever they arise.   Donate Here Don't Fall for the Plastics Recycling Scam   Companies are set to start labeling many plastic products as "widely recyclable," but only 2.7% of them are actually recycled. This designation allows plastic manufacturers to continue to produce single-use plastics that we just don't need under the guise that they're recyclable.  Rather than let companies make the rules, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be working to create a recycling program that incentivizes the production of truly recyclable materials. Call on the EPA Administrator Michael Regan to stop misleading recycling claims and to develop a label to show what (few) plastics are actually recyclable.     Email EPA Local Environmentalists in the News Environmental advocate Lorna Smith was recently recognized for decades of conservation work when she was given the 2022 Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership Award during a Port Townsend Marine Science Center ceremony.  Lorna worked with Eleanor Stopps to establish the refuge on Protection Island that is home to 70 percent of the seabirds that nest in Washington state’s inland waters.  Smith was also given the award for her long-standing environmental advocacy, including her campaign against the Northern Tier Pipeline, a proposed oil export terminal in Port Angeles.   Let us know how if you have any suggestions or if you want to volunteer to help protect the Olympic Peninsula's environment.  We promise to keep you busy!    Contact Us/Volunteer   The North Olympic Group's website contains a blog that's updated to reflect current environmental issues and events.  Members are encouraged to periodically check it out.   North Olympic Group Website