WVEC Action Memo

May 10, 2006

Below:

• Protect the Ohio River- Vote No, ORSANCO!
• STOP THE USDA’S LATEST SNEAK ATTACK ON ORGANIC STANDARDS

Protect the Ohio River- Vote No, ORSANCO!

ORSANCO's proposal to lower water quality standards permits more sewage in the Ohio River. It's bad for public health, the economy, and the river.

The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO); the interstate compact designed to protect the Ohio River, is planning to lower Water Quality Standards at its June 2006 meeting. This means more raw sewage polluting our local rivers, lakes and streams.

Presently, ORSANCO is in the process of reviewing current Water Quality Standards which they plan to vote on by June 2006. This is NOT a solution! ORSANCO’S proposal to lower water quality standards permits more sewage in the Ohio River. It’s bad for public health, the economy, and the river.

Take Action!
Stop ORSANCO from using our Ohio River as a toilet. Send a message to ORSANCO Commissioners.

More Actions
Please help us express our concern and opposition by writing to ORSANCO. Below are a list of talking points and contact information for ORSANCO commissioners organized by state.

• Make a formal comment on the ORSANCO website
• Talking Points
• Commissioner Contact Information

Important News:
ORSANCO has now released the dates for their upcoming public hearings to consider revisions for water quality standards for the Ohio River. Public attendance and participation is crucial. Public Hearings are set for the following:

Monday, May 22 2006, 4-7 pm, Charleston, WV
West Virginia DEP
601 57th Street, Charleston, WV
With video conferencing held simultaneously at the Northern Panhandle Regional Office, 131A Peninsula St., Wheeling, WV.

Thursday, May 25, 2006, 4-7 pm, Louisville, KY
Galt House on 4th Street in Louisville

Additional information, from the Ohio Chapter of the Sierra Club:

• Public Hearing Announcement
• Initial Comment Period
• Summary of Comments and Commissioners Responses
• Background Summary of Proposed Revisions
• Comments Received on Wet Weather Proposal
• Issues for Which Additional Comments are Sought
• Pollution Control Standards with Appendices Showing Proposed Revisions
• Q & A on ORSANCO's Standards

For more information or to find out how you can help, contact Tim Guilfoile at (859) 331-0565

For updates on this, see http://www.sierraclub.org/cleanwater/orsanco/

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STOP THE USDA’S LATEST SNEAK ATTACK ON ORGANIC STANDARDS
The U.S. Department of Agriculture, no doubt hoping to limit public controversy, has announced a very short public comment period (ends May 12, 2006) on proposed new federal regulations that will weaken organic standards. USDA’s proposed amendments, supported by grocery store chains and large food corporations, will allow so-called organic dairy feedlots to continuously import calves from conventional farms—where the calves have been weaned on blood, dosed with antibiotics, and fed genetically engineered grains and slaughterhouse waste. USDA’s new rules will also allow over 500 artificial (synthetic) substances in organic processed foods without prior scrutiny and review by the National Organic Standards Board. USDA’s latest efforts are basically an attempt to codify last fall’s controversial “Sneak Attack” in Congress, when industry players and the Organic Trade Association convinced the Republican Party majority to attach a last minute rider to the 2006 Agricultural Appropriations Bill. Take action now and tell the USDA to back off on lowering standards! http://www.organicconsumers.org/sos.cfm

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