RENewsletter | October 11, 2009
The Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/>
“Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”
[10/04/09– 10/11/09]
* Need to vent? | Go to my blog:
<http://rochesterenvironmentny.blogspot.com/> Environmental Thoughts -
Rochester, NY
* Found an important Rochester environmental story from a credible source
that you think needs attention?
<mailto:FrankRe...@RochesterEnvironment.com?subject=Got%20a%20Rochester%20ar
ea%20Environmental%20link%20for%20you> Please, SEND ME THE LINK.
Opening <> Salvo | NewsLinks <> | Daily Updates <> | Events <> |
Environmental Site of the Month <> | Take Action <> |
[Hyperlinks work by CTRL + click to follow a link]
__________________________________________
Opening Salvo: “Top Ten Things You Can Do for Rochester’s Environment”
Sure there are lots of top ten lists around. So why not one on the things
you can do for your local environment—that system that keeps us alive and
thriving? But, this list is different from the usual stuff. It’s not one
of those really easy, warm and fuzzy lists of fun activities you can do in
your spare time. It’ll be transformative.
This list assumes you are ready to take responsibility (as a member of the
only species capable of doing so) for your presence at this critical time in
our planet’s history. And, it isn’t about just your personal fulfillment
thing—our environment isn’t politics, religion, a fad, or a cause; it’s
science all the way down. Pollute the planet, stuff happens. Finally, in
order for the effects of this list to be effective a lot (I mean billions)
of humans need to do them too. In the deepest practical sense, everything
you do (where you live, what you eat, what you buy, what you throw away)
matters to our environment. Ready folks, here we go:
1. Be engaged with the issues surrounding our local environment by
monitoring the media, books, reports, and the Internet using the laws of
Nature as your guide to monitor how our lifestyle is affecting our
environment.
2. When you consume anything--food, water, cars, gadgets, whatever—do
so as though you were demonstrating how to consume for the rest of the
world—considering the lifecycle of the products you buy, how they are made,
how they are used, and how you get rid of them.
3. When you have someplace to go, consider all your options in order of
their affect on our environment: walking, biking, car-pooling, mass transit,
and lastly a personal vehicle.
4. Conserve energy until we find a non-polluting, renewable energy
source.
5. Vote. If you’re doing good for our environment and your
representative in government doesn’t get it, you’re just making yourself
feel good without much effect.
6. Recycle, reuse and encourage your local government to create a place
where recycling just about everything is the norm.
7. Think twice before using toxic chemicals that make your yard look
like a golf course and your house like a hospital.
8. Consider other species (plants and animals) and their role in
sustaining our environment. Some are annoying and critical. Some are cute
and a burden.
9. Adopt green business practices: your business will save our
environment and be able to compete with the rest of the world.
10. Communicate your concerns about the state of our environment to
everyone. Sustainability isn’t going to work unless everyone gets on board
quickly.
FrankRe...@RochesterEnvironment.com
<mailto:FrankRe...@RochesterEnvironment.com?subject=I'm%20contacting%20you%2
0from%20the%20RENewsletter> (Click on my email for feedback)
__________________________________________
NewsLinks – Environmental <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
NewsLinks – [Highlights of major environmental stories concerning our area
from the past week]
* Sustainability Leader <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
RIT College
* St. John Fisher <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> &
Cool Rochester
* NYS Fights Global <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Warming
* Hudson River - A DEC <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Education Moment
* Our Drinking Water <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> &
Gas Drilling
* Energy With Tax <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Credits
* Genesee River <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Improvements
* Coyote Dread <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Green Thumb Award <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Demand for Seasonal <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Flue Shots
* Cooling Off Rochester <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Environmental Health <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Issues
* Gov: Monies for <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Rochester Brownfields
* Gov: Monies for Solar <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Energy
* High Speed Train <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Corridor Update
* New Regulation on Open
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> Burning
* Learn about Community <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Supported Agriculture
* Fed Energy Grant for <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Perinton
* Price Increase for <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Bottled Water
* H1NI Vaccine Here <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Developing Wildlife <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Field
* EPA: Protect Children <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
from Environmental Risks
* Finger Lakes Gas <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Drilling?
* Around the State, <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Household Pharmaceutical Collections
* Carbon Credit Programs
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> for NYS Counties
* New Tool for Great <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Lakes Cleanup
* Lowering Carbone <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Footprint in Rochester
* Toronto Zoo Educates <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
on Climate Change
* Natural Gas Issue <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Update
* Mass Transit in <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Rochester
________________________________________
Updates – Daily Updates
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Daily%20Updates.htm> – [Connecting the
dots on Rochester’s environment. Find out what’s going on environmentally in
our area—and why you should care? Clicking on
<http://rochesterenvironmentny.blogspot.com/> -DISCUSSION – will take you to
my blog “Environmental Thoughts, NY, where you can add your comments.]
* 10/09/09 - Green
<http://rochesterenvironmentny.blogspot.com/2009/10/could-we-be-new-gr...
aders.html> Leaders? Could our region be leading the way to clean up
Brownfields and creating sites for renewable Energy? Green
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=green-shoots-from-brown>
Shoots from Brown Fields: Scientific American Uncle Sam looks to eliminate
the biggest hurdle to expanding renewable energy--the need for suitable
sites to place commercial-scale wind and solar farms--by reusing hundreds of
old mines, landfills and industrial sites When the Bethlehem Steel mill in
Lackawanna, N.Y., finally shut its doors for good eight years ago, it took
away thousands of jobs and left behind a polluted and unsightly mess.
Science News, <http://www.scientificamerican.com/> Articles and Information
| Scientific American
* 10/09/09 - Coyote Dread
<http://rochesterenvironmentny.blogspot.com/2009/10/coyote-dread.html> :
Because the issue of the Eastern Coyotes among us has come up in the news, I
wanted to make a reference to the New York State Department of
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/index.html> Environmental Conservation who reminds
us the coyotes are an ‘integral part of our ecosystem.’ As we have
exterminated most of the top predators in our area in the last couple of
centuries (bears, wolves, cougars used to rule), we have a proliferation of
deer and our environment has altered a lot. My point is that when it comes
to coyotes there are much misinformation and prejudice about this creature
whirling about—sometimes resulting in coyote killing contests. This is not
how we should be reacting to ‘integral part of our ecosystem’ in this time.
We should be reacting as stewards of our environment, which we are now.
Coyote Conflicts - NYS <http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6971.html> Dept. of
Environmental Conservation The Eastern coyote is firmly established in New
York. They live in New York as an integral part of our ecosystem. People and
coyotes can usually coexist if the natural fear of people that coyotes have
is maintained.
* 10/08/09 - No more Open
<http://rochesterenvironmentny.blogspot.com/2009/10/no-more-open-burni...
l> Burning: Long needed, I was surprised to see this new state regulation
from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC)
just appear on the DEC press releases. I haven’t seen a mainstream media
item on this, but it’s big news. Preventing the open burning of household
trash in outlying communities, in light of what we know about Dixons and
other air pollutants and global warming should have been enacted a long time
ago. So, without much fanfare and unlike the brouhaha over the new bottle
bill, this regulation, this new regulation should fill a gaping hole in our
state’s air quality laws. Check out: New
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/58544.html> Regulation on Open Burning Takes
Effect Oct. 14 - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Taking a step to
reduce harmful air pollutants and help prevent wildfires, the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has extended restrictions on
the open burning of residential waste effective Oct. 14. The open burning of
residential waste will be prohibited in all communities statewide,
regardless of population, with exceptions for burning tree limbs and
branches at limited times and other certain circumstances (detailed below).
Previously, the ban applied only in towns with populations of 20,000 or
more. The New York State Environmental Board approved this state regulation
on Sept. 1. (October 5, 09) Press Releases - NYS Dept.
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html> of Environmental Conservation
[more on Air Quality <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/air_quality.htm>
in our area]
* 10/08/09 -Event <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/calendar.htm>
Oct 24th It’s the Environment folks! If you are looking for a local event
for the 350.org <http://www.350.org/> string of environmental events
(October 24th) check out RIT’s program [4214] 350 Climate Action
<http://www.350.org/o24/action/4022> Festival | 350.org What is 350.org?
Mission | 350.org <http://www.350.org/mission> “350.org is an international
campaign dedicated to building a movement to unite the world around
solutions to the climate crisis--the solutions that science and justice
demand.”
* 10/08/09 - Event <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/calendar.htm>
notes from a friend: "As you may know, the Rochester Regional Community
Design Center has a great lineup of speakers booked for this year’s
“Reshaping Rochester” lecture series. Many of these speakers are national
leaders who focus on the built environment and public health, community, and
economic implications. The full schedule is posted at www.rrcdc.org
<http://www.rrcdc.org/> .
* 10/07/09 - Take Public Action
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/action.htm> Online for our
environment: If you are serious about taking action for our environment, one
may is to monitor and offer public comment on various governmental agencies,
like the EPA, responsible for sustaining our environment. This site is a
one-stop shop for monitoring all federal agencies and using your citizen
voice Regulations.gov <http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html>
Regulations.gov is your online source for U.S. government regulations from
nearly 300 <http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#aboutUs>
federal agencies. Regulations.gov is your source for U.S. government
regulations and related documents. On this site you can find, read and
comment on documents. Share your knowledge and make your voice count.
* 10/06/09 - Good encapsulation as to why we are not focusing on
something so important as Climate Change: Op-Ed
<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/opinion/28krugman.html?_r=1> Columnist -
Cassandras of Climate - NYTimes.com Every once in a while I feel despair
over the fate of the planet. If you’ve been following climate science, you
know what I mean: the sense that we’re hurtling toward catastrophe but
nobody wants to hear about it or do anything to avert it.National
<http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/index.html> News - The New York
Times (October 27, 09)
* 10/06/09 - Good Resource for finding out and doing something about
Climate Change: The Climate Project
<http://www.theclimateproject.org/aboutus.php> The Climate Project (TCP)
began in June 2006 as a commitment by former US Vice President Al Gore to
train 1,000 Americans to become Presenters and to give the slideshow from
his Academy Award-winning film An Inconvenient Truth. The class of "First
Fifty" Presenters were trained in Nashville, Tennessee, which is the home of
its international headquarters. TCP now has more than 3,000 Presenters who
have reached an audience of more than 5 million people worldwide and its
reach continues to grow.
* 10/06/09 - Find out what environmental issues may be facing our
National Parks do to Climate Change: NATIONAL
<http://rockymountainclimate.org/website%20pictures/National-Parks-In-...
final.pdf> PARKS IN PERIL THE THREATS OF CLIMATE DISRUPTION A Report by The
Rocky Mountain Climate Organization and Natural Resources Defense Council
* 10/06/09 - [Green
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Green%20Business.htm> Business]Good
help for businesses who want to become more environmentally friendly from
New York <http://www.dec.ny.gov/> State Department of Environmental
Conservation Check out: Help for Businesses - NYS
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/884.html> Dept. of Environmental
Conservation Across New York State we see examples that prove that
businesses that employ sound environmental decisions in their operations are
the strongest, most successful enterprises around. Whether you need help
with a permit application (contact the appropriate Regional
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/about/39381.html> Permit Administrator), or are
interested in finding ways to make your business more green (contact Allan
Geisendorfer, DEC's designee to the Pollution Prevention and Environmental
Compliance Coordinating Council, by email
<mailto:depp...@gw.dec.state.ny.us?subject=for%20Allan%20Geisendorfer> or
phone 518-402-9469), building a partnership with DEC early in the process is
the best way to achieve a successful outcome: one that's good for the
environment and great for your bottom line. --from New York State Department
of Environmental <http://www.dec.ny.gov/> Conservation
___________________________________________________
Events – Rochester <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/calendar.htm>
Environmental Events Calendar – [The most complete listing of all
environmental events around the Rochester, New York area.] If you don’t see
your event, or know of a local environmental event, please send me the info:
FrankRe...@RochesterEnvironment.com with (EV event) in the subject line.
* October 15: "The Ups and Downs of Cayuga Lake" Americana Vineyard
and Winery 4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken NY Details below/attached. FREE
and open to the public.
* "The Ups and Downs of Cayuga Lake" Bill Kappel, US Geological Survey
What/who controls the water-level fluctuations of the Lake? What is the
natural history of the Lake and the river that flows from it? How has the
intervention of people over the past 200 years affected the water-level
regime of the Lake? Join us for an evening with Bill Kappel, a hydrologist
with the U.S. Geological Survey. He will examine these and other questions
on the ever-changing water levels of Cayuga Lake. The presentation is the
third in a series of talks sponsored by the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
and Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Organization and local site partners
(Montezuma Wildlife Refuge, The History Center in Ithaca, Americana Winery
and Lansing Town Library). Thursday, October 15th, 2009 Talk begins at 6pm
Americana Vineyard and Winery 4367 East Covert Road, Interlaken NY Wine
tasting is available prior to the talk This event is free and open to the
public. For more information, contact Roxanna Johnston, 607-273-4680,
roxan...@cityofithaca.org
* Saturday, October 17th, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon at the town’s
Department of Public Works on 25 Kings Highway
* Brooks Announces <http://www.monroecounty.gov/?q=node/5491>
Household Hazardous Waste Collection in Irondequoit | Monroe County
Executive Maggie Brooks announced that the County’s Department of
Environmental (DES) services has partnered with the Town of Irondequoit to
hold a free, appointment-only Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) collection at
the town’s Department of Public Works on 25 Kings Highway, on Saturday,
October 17th, 2009 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon. Appointments must be made by
October 16th; and must be made by calling the Town of Irondequoit at (585)
336-6033 or by clicking on a link at www.MonroeCounty.gov/hhw.
* Sunday, October 18th St. John Fisher College
* Cool Rochester is hosting a Climate Café on Sunday, October 18th at
St. John Fisher College. The café will help train individuals who are
interested in starting an energy conservation program. The session will
empower individuals to become leaders in their community by providing them
with the knowledge and resources they need to organize climate cafés with
their friends, colleagues and neighbors. For more information on Cool
Rochester go to www.CoolRochester.org When: Sunday, October 18, 2009 from
1-3pm Where: St. John Fisher College in the Golisano Gateway Mid-Level
meeting Room Contact: i...@CoolRochester.org for further details and to
register
* Monday, October 19, 2009 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Brighton Town Hall
Downstairs Meeting Room 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
* PUBLIC FORUM: Natural Gas Production - At What Cost to NYS? What
impact will Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale have on our Water,
Environment and Economy? Monday, October 19, 2009 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Free)
Brighton Town Hall Downstairs Meeting Room 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester,
NY 14618 * Orientation to the Issues Wes Gillingham - Program Director of
Catskill Mountain Keeper http://catskillmountainkeeper.org
<http://catskillmountainkeeper.org/> Q&A with Expert Panel Dr. Diane Hope -
William A. Kern Professor in Communication Rochester Institute of Technology
http://www.rit.edu/cla/communication/kern/ Ashur Terwilliger - Chemung
County Farm Bureau President Dr. Ron Bishop - lecturer in chemistry and
biochemistry at SUNY Oneonta * Co-sponsored by Federation of Monroe County
Environmentalists ** League of Women Voters, Rochester Regional Group -
Sierra Club Genesee Valley Chapter - Adirondack Mountain Club Genesee
Valley Audubon Society ** Center for Sustainable Living Information:
www.fmce.org <http://www.fmce.org/> , Email: i...@fmce.org, Call: (585)
392-4918 Pre-register via email to receive Pre-Forum Reference Materials.
* Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, from 10 am -2 pm University at Buffalo
(UB) Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus
* Greener Shade of Blue and <http://www.pss.buffalo.edu/GSBandU.php>
You - UB Events Calendar On Tuesday, October 20th, 2009, the University at
Buffalo (UB) will host the first Greener Shade of Blue and You Day at the
Center for the Arts on UB’s North Campus from 10 am -2 pm. This event is
designed to raise awareness about environmental stewardship, particularly
how individuals can "green" their homes and reduce their personal
environmental footprint. Vendors will be on hand for University community
members to visit for ideas and solutions to making their communities more
sustainable, including ways to finance “green” projects.
* Wednesday, Oct. 21. 7-9pm Victor Free Library, 16 West Main St.
Victor.
* Wednesday, Oct. 21. 7-9pm, "Starting a CSA from the Ground Up"
Victor Free Library, 16 West Main St. Victor. Erin Bullock will tell of
starting Mud Creek Farm and a new Community Supported Agriculture model
growing organic vegetables for 65 families. Sponsored by CSL. Contact Erin
at erin.dandel...@gmail.com - from FMCE Member CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE
LIVING
* October 21st, 12-2pm Where: Healthy Home, 700 West Main St,
Rochester
* Our nation's laws on dangerous, toxic chemicals have failed to keep
them out of our everyday products. Someday, we'll walk into a store and
every product on the shelf will be safe for our families and the
environment. But until then, Rochester’s Healthy Home and Clean New York, a
non-profit environmental health and justice organization, are working
together to help you stay educated about the products you use at home. Join
us to learn how to protect your health and environment and get involved!
What: "Home Safe Home" House Party: Green Cleaning When: October 21st,
12-2pm Where: Healthy Home, 700 West Main St, Rochester Who: Friends,
family, and community. This issue affects all of us! Household cleaners can
contain ingredients with known links to serious health concerns such as
cancer and birth defects. These chemicals should not be in products we use
every day! Join us to learn about chemicals of concern and what to do!
Please RSVP to Katie Kelly at clean.katieke...@gmail.com or 734-646-2119 by
Monday, October 19th.
* Thurs., October 22 The workshop location is at MCC's Campus Center.
We send detailed location information to registrants. But you can include my
office phone number (753-2034)
* "Moving Toward a Sustainable Built Environment: Green Housing," on
Thurs., October 22 by Bruce Boncke and Peter Vars, engineers at BME
Associates. As described in the brochure, "This workshop will look toward
the future as we apply those green initiatives to create sustainable built
environments and green housing. The history, benefits and challenges of
transitioning to what is now described as conservation and sustainable
living environments include energy, maintenance and future cost
considerations. The new ANSI National Green Building Standard for Housing
will be presented as a helpful tool for builders and communities to work
together on improving and sustaining built environments, starting with
development of the land. Discussion will also include evolving State
incentives for energy reduction and the importance of addressing
sustainability of existing housing, which is aging." --all part of a series
THE
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/PDF%20files/Brochure%20F'09%20v4%...
7.pdf> MONROE COUNTY LAND USE DECISION-MAKING TRAINING PROGRAM
* October 10 & 24, 2009 (4 sessions) Perinton Community Center, 1350
Turk Hill Rd, Perinton, NY
* Perinton Recreation & Parks Registration and Information:
585-223-5050 Program Title: Discover the Season's Natural Wonders -
Series 1 Program Dates: September 12 & 26, October 10 & 24, 2009 (4
sessions) Event Times: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Ages: Adult and teen
Location: Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Rd, Perinton
Instructor: David Semple with four special guest presenters Cost: $51
($45 for Perinton residents) Registration is required: Code 465816-A
(Registration deadline - September 4) Description: Experience four
different natural wonders in Perinton as we ease into the spectacular fall
season. Each session starts with a slide show in the Perinton Community
Center, followed by an expert-guided field trip at a designated nature area
or park site. Topics covered in Series 1will be birds of prey, fall
songbirds, wetland ecosystems, and mushrooms and fungi. Additional Detail:
www.perinton.org (turn to page 26 of the Fall Recreation Brochure).
* October 24: "Phosphorus Inputs into Cayuga Lake" Unitarian Church
Annex, Ithaca NY Saturday October 24, 2009 9 am-12 noon Details
below/attached. FREE and open to the public.
* Phosphorus Inputs into Cayuga Lake Unitarian Church Annex, Ithaca NY
Saturday October 24, 2009 9 am-12 noon Program 9 - 9.30 "Phosphorous and
sediment monitoring results from three Cayuga Lake creeks," Roxy Johnson,
City of Ithaca. 9.30 - 9.45 "Volunteer monitors, certified lab tests and
USGS flow data: a solid basis for estimating nutrient and sediment loading
from tributary streams to southern Cayuga Lake," Steve Penningroth,
Community Science Institute. 9.45 - 10.30 "Estimating nutrient and sediment
loads to Cayuga Lake," Professor Doug Haith, Cornell University. 10.30
-10.45 Refreshments 10.45 - 11.15 "Do agricultural best management practices
work? Combining monitoring and modeling to find answers," Professor Todd
Walter, Cornell University. 11.15 - 12.00 Panel discussion with authors and
additional guests including Jose Lozano of the City of Ithaca and Bob
Johnson of Cornell University. The south end of Cayuga Lake has been listed
as impaired by the DEC in part because of excess phosphorous inputs.
Rectifying this situation requires a better understanding of what are the
main inputs of phosphorous to the south end of the lake and what can be done
to reduce them. The lake source cooling scheme of Cornell has been targeted
as a significant contributor, but is it? This public seminar at Ithaca's
Unitarian Church Annex (208 E. Buffalo Street) has been organized by the
Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and the Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal
Organization to address these issues. For more information contact: John
Mawdsley johnmawds...@frontier.net Hilary Lambert stew...@cayugalake.org
* Monday, October 19, 2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. George Eastman House
900 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607
* The <http://www.nycharities.org/beta/EventLevels.aspx?ETID=385>
Community Salute the the Environment is upstate New York's premier
environmental networking opportunity. The annual event hosts over 200
attendees from government, business, and the general public. This year's
event will be held at historic George Eastman House on Monday, October 19,
2009 from 6:00 - 9:00 pm. RECEPTION The reception and networking event will
be held in Potter Peristyle on the Museum's first floor, with its
architectural windows and view of the galleries. This year's event features
grazing stations serving hot and cold hors d'œuvres and cash bar. Seating
will be available for those who need it. PRESENTATION The evening
presentation will be held in the art deco styled Dryden Theatre. This year's
speaker is Dr. Joseph C. Makarewicz, Distinguished Service Professor, SUNY
Brockport, who will discuss the numerous challenges facing efforts to
improve Lake Ontario water quality. SELF GUIDED TOURS Self guided tours of
the mansion, grounds, and gallery are encouraged during the event. Get
reacquainted with this national historic landmark and a part of Rochester's
cultural history. . To attend the event, please register
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102676984637&s=849&e=001Ku4_WlxXCZ_nHVEuMM9...
VYRv73o77rnEHqzkzDxjtcI0qS-fDsctfmUJsasfXYFdcxt_gYmiV82JL5DYE0V--WERoO3qDLJ b
V9mXrbKY8OOvxX0rqZlf_PNMUfByi62BpDBPypWER8_y7j74Zk-WHQ_rq2ZKTys9CzvVNg=>
online via credit card (MasterCard or Visa) or complete the reply
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102676984637&s=849&e=001Ku4_WlxXCZ-YsmnfH8E...
OYRBMOuMXQgkm34XGLHrKVjkN4aiHL23I0g83MqE5khME0Gb-j0BJyjBK9e2Dz7pab3RZbOiQU- 5
eMM-KAXK5makJymc2bycqmAdH89miQ9ClAs_VtFCRtxQgW-5g==> form and return with
your check. Attendance fee of $50 per person include d'œuvres, presentation
and self guided tour.
* Monday, October 19, 2009 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Brighton Town Hall
Downstairs Meeting Room, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
* PUBLIC FORUM: Natural Gas Production - At What Cost to NYS? How will
Hydraulic Fracturing in the Marcellus Shale impact our Water, Environment
and Economy? Date: Monday, October 19, 2009 Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Group
Sponsoring the Event: Co-sponsored by the Federation of Monroe County
Environmentalists <http://www.fmce.org> , League of Women Voters
<http://www.lwv-rma.org/> , Rochester
<http://newyork.sierraclub.org/rochester/default.html> Regional Group -
Sierra Club, Genesee <http://www.gvc-adk.org/> Valley Chapter - Adirondack
Mountain Club, Genesee Valley Audubon Society <http://www.gvaudubon.org>
Cost: Free Age Group: Teens to adults Location: Brighton Town Hall
Downstairs Meeting Room, 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618 Contact:
www.fmce.org, Email: i...@fmce.org, Call: 392-4918 Pre-register via email to
receive Pre-Forum Reference Materials. Description: The forum will include
an orientation to the issues and a Q&A with an expert panel. Click
<http://www.fmce.org/Marcellus_Shale.html> for more information.
* Oct 20, 2009, Time: 7 - 8:30 pm Location: Brighton Town Park, Carmen
Clark Lodge, 777 Westfall Rd, Rochester NY 14620
* Chill The Drills! Join us for a Special Presentation: The Arctic
ecosystem on the North Slope of Alaska represents a microcosm of the
realities that society at large faces with regard to fossil fuel dependency,
climate change and the importance of protecting our last wild and pristine
places. Come learn what is being done to protect this iconic American
landscape and what you can do to help! Featured Speaker & Host Kit McGurn is
the National Arctic Organizer for the Sierra Club. He is working to educate
and engage citizens across the country in Arctic conservation issues in
order to build demand for protection of the unique ecosystems in America’s
Arctic. Prior to joining the Sierra Club, Kit worked for the Greater
Yellowstone Coalition where he organized around issues such as Northern
Rockies wolf protection and Roadless area preservation. Kit completed
degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies at Pacific Lutheran
University. CONTACT: 585-234-1056 or Sierra Club NW office, Kit McGurn,
206-378-0114 ext. 324 or kit.mcg...@sierraclub.org
* Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m Hyatt Regency Hotel,
Buffalo, NY
* Join us for the 4th Annual New York State Healing Our Waters
Coalition Conference. At the conference, you'll learn about achieving Great
Lakes Restoration, implementing the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Compact in New
York, and managing our Great Lakes ecosystem holistically. WHAT: Healing
Our Waters Coalition Conference: Uniting New York’s Great Lakes Communities
to Restore Our Freshwater Coast WHEN: Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:30 am -
4:00 pm WHERE: Hyatt Regency Hotel, Buffalo, NY There is no cost to attend,
but registration is required. Please visit
http://www.citizenscampaign.org/glconference/ for more information and to
register. Cosponsored by: Audubon New York, Center for Environmental
Information, Citizens Campaign for the Environment, Environmental Advocates
of New York, Great Lakes Research Consortium, and Great Lakes United.
* Saturday, October 24th will mark 350.org
<http://www.350.org/o24/action/4022> 's International Day of Climate Action
and the end of a week of climate action teach-ins at RIT. The culminating
event in Rochester will be a mass bike ride along the proposed Rochester
Greenway <http://RochesterGreenway.org> .
* The Rochester Greenway goes south from Downtown along the river,
past the University of Rochester, through the Genessee Valley Park, and on
down the Lehigh Valley North Trail to RIT. The draft GreenRide poster
sketches the route. Once at RIT, the Rochester Bike Summit will be held in
the new Center for Student Innovation. Its goal: to discuss a number of
exciting bicycle and alternative transportation initiatives, and to make
connections between the bicycle community, city planners, and
environmentalists. We might also consider the need for a “common cause”
organization that could help these initiatives become realities. For more
information, see the draft Rochester Bicycle Ecology Poster (attached), and
look for details coming soon to RochesterGreenway.org. Your input and
projects would be most welcome additions! Among the attractions planned for
the Rochester Cycle Summit volunteer-manned stations for free bicycle
maintenance exhibits on pedal power and bicycles as energy-conservation
solutions posters and exhibits describing numerous bike initiatives an
ultra-wide screen short describing the potential for making Rochester a
world class center for recreational and functional transport free rides on
electric bikes and recumbents · your bike shop, project, or proposal! Bike
the Greenway <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/images/BIKE%20POSTER.jpg>
Oct. 24 | RIT
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/images/GreenOrange%20350%20poster...>
Climate Action Awareness Week Oct 19-24 |
* October 24, 2009 http://www.350.org/
* October 24, 2009 is INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE ACTION DAY,
<http://www.350.org/> and is being coordinated by 350.org, the grassroots
organizing brainchild of Bill McKibben. The idea is to mobilize grassroots
groups all over the world to hold highly visible public / media events on
10/24/09. Each event should highlight the number 350—the maximum global
atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide (in parts per million- ppm) that
is safe for the long term. We are already up to 387, and increasing. For
more details: http://www.350.org/ We need to do something in Rochester, and
to be worth doing, it should be a coordinated effort between several groups,
and something creative, eye-catching…. Media-worthy! That’s the point—to
have media worldwide show that there is a groundswell of popular support for
a global treaty (successor to Kyoto), and that therefore world leaders must
craft a plan to bring levels down to 350 ppm by the time they leave the
international climate talks in Copenhagen in December of this year. Are you
interested in helping? If this is to be done, we would need people to: •
Reach out to other groups/ organizations to see what they are doing, and try
to coordinate (for all I know, there is already an effort planned that we
could work with) • Be creative- come up with a good location / “shtick” to
make it media-worthy • Recruit others • Contact media
* Wednesday, October 28, 2009, 7:30 p.m. Brighton Town Hall,
Downstairs Meeting Room 2300 Elmwood Avenue, Brighton
* GENESEE VALLEY AUDUBON SOCIETY October Program - FREE TO THE PUBLIC
As You Clean Your Garden by Christine Sevilla As you clean out your garden
this fall and start to plan for next season you might notice some plants
that you haven’t seen before. Some might be vines with long thin seed pods,
or they might have had small white flowers this spring and now have long
thin seed pods and the whole plant has turned brown. You might be thinking
about planting purple loosestrife or Japanese barberry this spring. These
plants and others cause damage to wildlife habitat by offering little food
or cover. We will explore how to get rid of them and suggest alternatives to
plant that offer more value to wildlife. We will also raffle off a
butterfly-weed (Asclepias tuberosa) and give away butterfly-weed seeds.
_________________________________________________
Action – Take <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/action.htm> Action -
Often, I receive request to pass on alerts, petitions, Public Comments on
local developments, and environmental items needing action by the Rochester
Community and around the world. I’ll keep Actions posted until their due
date.
* Action Due Date: November 10, 2009 --from the U.S.
<http://www.epa.gov/> Environmental Protection Agency
* Think EPP Brownfield sites cleanup are not stringent enough, let
them know: EPA Seeks Comment on Greener Site Cleanups WASHINGTON - The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is seeking public comment on a new strategy
that would make cleanups at hazardous waste sites greener. The Superfund
Green Remediation Strategy is an initial effort to outline key actions and
related activities that can be undertaken to promote green remediation and
to reduce energy use. EPA is taking comment on action items that fall into
three major categories: policy and guidance development, resource
development and program implementation, and program evaluation. The
strategy also contains several recommendations including a call for EPA to
implement a series of near-term program initiatives, and to establish a
baseline of Superfund energy usage. The public comment period is open for
60 days. Reducing the demands placed on the environment during cleanup of
contaminated land is a high priority for EPA. In addition to the new
strategy, EPA has developed Principles for Greener Cleanups. The principles
call for EPA’s cleanup programs to use greener approaches during any phase
of site work and establish the goal of evaluating cleanup actions to ensure
protection of human health and the environment while reducing the
environmental footprint of cleanup activities, when feasible. Cleanups that
do not satisfy threshold requirements for protectiveness or do not meet site
specific cleanup objectives, are not considered greener cleanups. More
<http://www.epa.gov/superfund/greenremediation> information on the
strategy: View
<http://service.govdelivery.com/service/edition.html?code=USAEPA_20&fo...
eb&email_type=bulletin> all news releases related to hazardous waste
* Action Due Date: October 24, 2009
* On October 24, 2009, millions of people around the globe will take
action in their own communities, and call on world leaders to sign a climate
agreement that leads us down the road to 350. We already have events planned
at some of the world's most iconic places -- Australia's Great Barrier Reef,
in front of the Pyramids in Egypt, in the Himalayas of South Asia and at the
Great Lakes in the USA -- but we need you to host an event in your
community. It doesn't have to be large (though that would be great), but it
does need to display the number 350 in some visual way. Be creative! You can
organize a rally, a hike up the closest peak, an educational forum, a
community art project, or anything else. Just make sure you have fun, and
represent 350 somehow -- on a banner or a sign, on your t-shirt, or by
spelling it out with your bodies. This may not sound like it could really
help, but it does--already we've had churches ringing their bells 350 times,
350 bicyclists circling through cities, even 350 people standing on their
heads. The resulting media coverage has helped spread the word fast, so that
many groups have joined this campaign. To sign up, please go to
http://350.org/oct24 And make sure you snap a photo of your event and upload
it to our website. We'll take those photos and pass them to our global
leaders. Together we can let them know: 350 represents safety, and anything
that doesn't meet the 350 test is gambling with our future. Take
<http://350.org/oct24> Action with 350 on October 24th
* Action Due Date: December 1, 2009 -from U.S. <http://www.epa.gov/>
Environmental Protection Agency
* EPA
<http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/ab2d81eb088f4a7e85257359003f...
7323a817211b6ca852576230052ff23!OpenDocument> Seeks Public Input on
National Enforcement Priorities Through Online Forum WASHINGTON - The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency has launched an online discussion forum to
receive public input on the future priorities for EPA’s national enforcement
program. The public will be able to provide feedback through the EPA Web
site until December 1, giving them a forum to submit ideas for EPA to
consider for new areas of enforcement focus. All ideas will be evaluated and
considered for recommendation to the EPA administrator about the future
direction of EPA’s national enforcement and compliance priorities. The
current enforcement priorities through 2010 focus on significant
environmental problems, including pollution from stormwater runoff, air
toxics, concentrated animal feeding operations, and mineral processing. To
submit suggestions for potential priorities: Information on the
enforcement priorities: (August 31, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency <http://www.epa.gov/> [[more on Action
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Frank\My%20Documents\Frank%20Web%20S i
tes\RochesterEnvironment.com\action.htm> in our area]
__________________________________________________
Award – Environmental
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Environmental%20Site%20Award.htm> Site
of the Month Award – [On the last Sunday of each month, we present an
environmental award for the Rochester-area environmental web site or blog
that best promotes the need to protect and offers solutions for our area's
environmental issues.]
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