WVEC Action AlertSeptember 9, 2005
Call Byrd, Rockefeller to Stop Toxic Mercury Pollution ! Protect Women and Children. What the Bush Administration is Attempting is Equivalent to Environmental Terrorism! Chemical Warfare! In July, over 6000 people spoke out in support of reducing toxic mercury pollution and the Leahy-Collins-Snowe resolution, which would send the Bush administration back to the drawing board to write a mercury plan that COMPLIES with the law and protects public health - convincing 2 more Senators to oppose the Bush administration's plan to delay reductions in mercury pollution from power plants. We are now within striking distance of victory, and expect the Senate to vote on the Leahy-Collins-Snowe resolution shortly after Labor Day. It's time to step up our efforts to ensure that we win what will be a very close vote! PLEASE CALL BOTH YOUR SENATORS TODAY and ask them to protect Americans from mercury pollution by voting for the Leahy-Collins-Snowe resolution. Senator Byrd's vote is especially needed. You can reach your senators by calling the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. You'll need to call twice, once for each senator. Here's a sample message you can leave: "Hi, my name is _____ and I'm from _______. I urge you to take action against toxic mercury pollution from power plants by voting for the Leahy-Collins-Snowe resolution." After you call, please let us know so we can keep track of the number of calls made and use it in our lobbying. This is an important part of our work! To report your call, click on the link below or paste it into your web browser: http://pirg.org/alerts/route.asp?id=1127&id4=ES Background Toxic mercury pollution is so pervasive that many Americans cannot safely eat fish caught in local waters. Mercury causes learning disabilities, developmental delays, and other serious problems in women and children. But rather than crack down on the largest manmade source of mercury pollution in the U.S. - coal-fired power plants - the Bush administration recently gave polluters a pass, delaying reductions in mercury emissions from power plants for years to come. In June, Senators Patrick Leahy (VT) and Susan Collins (ME) introduced a bipartisan joint resolution to overturn the Bush administration's mercury plan and send the administration back to the drawing board to write a rule that complies with the law and protects public health. Coopers Rock State Forest Management Plan Open Meeting Find directions to the meeting and the draft plans at: http://www.wvforestry.com/coopersrockstateforest.cfm This management plan will determine the management priorities for the fabulous Coopers Rock State Forest. If you care about this unique and beautiful place, it is critical you come to this meeting. We will be asking the Division of Forestry to give recreational values their due by providing more complete research. The State Division of Dorestry allocated $75,000 to study the timber resources, and despite the 250,000 visitors per year they dedicated nothing, $0 to research the economic benefit of this recreational resource. This plan cannot be a valid, balanced plan without the full understanding of the value of preservation and stewardship of this natural wonder. Take action: come to the meeting, write a letter. Written comments on the plan are due to Barb Breshock by Sept 27th. Again, details and a PDF copy of the Plan are available at the DOF site. Web Action and DC Sept. 20 Action for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Not only are the fossil fuel cronies getting away with blowing up Central Appalachian mountains and burying our streams, they just can't stand to be kept out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Watch a bit of Oil on Ice to remind yourself why the Refuge is so important and to see how the Exxon Valdez spill still pollutes the Alaska. You are invited to join thousands of Americans for Arctic Refuge Action Day on September 20 in Washington, DC. Show your support for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in person! Why September 20? Congress could vote as soon as the end of September on whether to open the heart of the Arctic Refuge to roads, oil rigs, and pipelines. For more information, click here. Goldman Prize winner and Gwich'in nation member Sarah James is already in DC, holding vigil to protect the Arctic Refuge. She's set up in a tent on the National Mall, and she intends to stay as long as it takes. Years of work to protect the Refuge have come down to the vote expected in September. On September 20, we can stand with the Gwich'in nation, and make clear to Congress that drilling the Refuge would be a grave -- and irreversible -- mistake. We can convince Congress to save the Refuge, but only if our lawmakers feel the heat -- from us. So sign the pledge now, and consider coming to DC on Sept. 20. By the way, OVEC's co-directors Dianne Bady and Janet Keating (formerly Fout), along with the late Laura Forman, met and fell in love with Sarah when they all won the inaugural Leadership for a Changing World Award from the Ford Foundation. Coal River Mountain Watch's own Goldman Prize winner Judy Bonds also knows Sarah. Here's to Native Americans and Appalachians standing together for human rights and the environment in the face of the fossil fuel industry! And An Important Reminder........Deadline is November 14th.......Keep Mon Forest Wild and Wonderful! Take Action to Protect the Monongahela National Forest The US Forest Service's official public comment period for their newly released draft plan ENDS ON NOVEMBER 14TH. This is our big chance to tell them we want Wilderness, clean water and wildlife habitat protected for all, including future generations, to enjoy. The Forest Service's Preferred Alternative (#2) threatens the future of the Mon's wild lands by rolling back protections for roadless areas and failing to recommend an adequate number of new wilderness areas. Only Alternative 3, with changes, goes the furthest in recommending new wilderness areas and protecting the Mon's remaining special wild places. YOUR COMMENTS are crucial to the preservation of this jewel of nature. Letters count.......... Please take a moment to write your letter to the Forest Service and tell them you want them to keep the Mon wild. The public has 90 days to comment to the Forest Service (Again....Deadline: November 14, 2005)). Please go to http://www.wvwild.org/mon_05.htm for an overview and talking points to compose your letter. The Forest Service needs to hear from you so that this treasure may be cherished by future generations. And, if you're in the Charleston area, come to the Forest Service Open House The Forest Service is holding five open houses on the Monongahela Draft Plan. This will be the only urban one. It is critically important we have a good showing. Teddy Roosevelt will make his final appearance tonight, after traipsing through Elkins, Richwood and Pocahontas County. We will have a hospitality suite in the hotel so look for our location on the TV monitors. If you are interested in helping with this event please contact Sierra Club's Vicky Mattson Vicky.mattson@sierraclub.org or 304-342-3182 Additional Open Houses
WV Wilderness Coalition will be organizing conservation events to coincide with the open houses.
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