RENewsletter | October 18, 2009
The Free environmental newsletter from RochesterEnvironment.com
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/>
“Our Environment is changing: Keep up with the Change.”
[10/11/09– 10/18/09]
* 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: “350 Why It Matters”
“350 <http://www.350.org/> is the number that leading scientists say is the
safe upper limit for carbon dioxide—measured in ‘Parts Per Million’ in our
atmosphere. 350 PPM—it's the number humanity needs to get back to as soon as
possible to avoid runaway climate change.” –from Understanding 350 | 350.org
<http://www.350.org/understanding-350>
Several events are going on in Rochester this coming Saturday for the
350.org and we hope you will attend one. If enough people demonstrate in a
positive way that they acknowledge the problem of Climate Change and are
willing to make their voice heard, it might make a difference. It’s all on
350.org.
I personally think it matters that we act in some concerted effort now to
raise our voice because of the cloud of indifference that wafts over
environmental matters. So much irrational and ideological dust has been
kicked up over global warming that we have lost the moral point. It goes
like this: Only in the last couple of decades has there been overwhelming
evidence that we –Homo sapiens—are affecting the planet’s environment.
Up to this point, only a few believed we were doing great damage. But the
majority of humanity didn’t really think our puny little species and our
busy machinations could actually steer the course of the planet’s biology
enough to affect how it all works. Now, no well-informed person can deny
that we’ve not only trashed the place, we are on Earth’s board of directors.
Way beyond our Peter Principle
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle> .
This changes everything. Morality itself takes on a new meaning because our
choices aren’t simply about us or our personal salvation. Our choices have
a tangible affect on the workings of our planet, even threatening our future
and the lives of other beings on this planet. So, if you follow my logic,
our sense of Morality must include our responsibility to our environment
because we now realize we can actually change it.
It’s a profound idea. This wouldn’t have occurred to Aristotle, Plato,
Marx, or even Darwin because they didn’t have computers and satellites to
access the data from a far enough vantage point to reach this conclusion.
Our ancestors would not have deduced from watching a campfire in a cave that
several millennia later, with billions of people and zillions of fires, we
can raise the temperature of the planet, so they had better cool it. But,
our generation does know.
In the same way that other great ideas have transformed the way we view the
world—evolution, monotheism, fire, agriculture—manmade Climate Change will
forever change how we see ourselves. Once you realize that we are altering
the planet, you must, like a Kantian imperative, acknowledge your
responsibility.
One way to act on that responsibility is to attend a 350.org event and get
heard by the rest of the world.
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]
* Bill McKibben |350.0g <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
| Oct 24
* Wind Farms <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> & Weather
Radars
* Great Lakes At Least <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
One Inch Higher
* Appliance Rebate <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Program - NYS Gov
* Results Victor Plume <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Cancer Study
* Blocking Flu Mandate <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Learning about Gas <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Drilling
* Victor Plume Update <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Pittsford Recycling <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Ethanol Project <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Honored
* Issues with H1N1 <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Vaccine
* Gov Signs Green Jobs <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Bill
* RIT Helps Fuel <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Efficiency
* Sustainable Award to <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Local College
* DEC Pharmaceutical <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Collection
* Marcellus Drilling <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Public Hearings
* SUNY's <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/index.htm> Flu
Strategy
* Monthly Recycling <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Collection in Canandaigua
* Victor Plume No <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Cleanup Needed
* Major Environmentalist
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> Visits Rochester
* Nature Lowers Stress <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* NYS Fights Global <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
Warming
* Canandaigua Decides on
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm> Lawn Chemical Use
* NYS Energy Institute <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Monies for Solar Power
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Monies for Batteries <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Wind Decision <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
* Global Warming Talks <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
by Chu
* Ontario Landfill News <http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/news.htm>
________________________________________
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.]
___________________________________________________
* 10/17/09 - Keep up on all the Swine Flu News at the New York Times:
Swine
<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/i/influe...
ine_influenza/index.html> Flu (H1N1) - The New York Times " The outbreak of
swine flu that was first detected in Mexico was declared a global pandemic
on June 11, 2009, in the first designation by the World Health Organization
of a worldwide pandemic in 41 years. The heightened alert followed an
emergency meeting with flu experts in Geneva that convened after a sharp
rise in cases in Australia, and rising numbers in Britain, Japan, Chile and
elsewhere. But the pandemic is "moderate" in severity, according to Margaret
Chan, the organization's director general, with the overwhelming majority of
patients experiencing only mild symptoms and a full recovery, often in the
absence of any medical treatment " - The New York Times - Breaking News,
<http://global.nytimes.com/> World News & Multimedia
* 10/16/09 - Because we don't get it on energy, have we left ourselves
vulnerable in the world economy? Check out this interesting article:
America's
<http://solveclimate.com/blog/20091015/americas-offshore-wind-race-can...
mpete-canada> Offshore Wind Race is On: Can the US Compete with Canada? |
SolveClimate.com For years the promise of North America's first offshore
wind farm has been just that – a promise. The reality has been a big
disappointment: proposals pigeonholed by Bush-era dirty energy policies and
NIMBY (not-in-my-backyard) opposition. (October 15, 09) Solve Climate
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/solveclimate/blog> Chronicles for a New
America
* 10/16/09 - Tracking those Green Jobs: How many jobs have created
using Federal Stimulus monies in Monroe County? Zip. Check it out and keep
track here: AP
<http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/files/specials/interactives/wdc/stimulus...
index.html?SITE=OHLIM> News : LimaOhio.com
* 10/16/09 - Note from a friend: Some programs to education yourself
on the Marcellus Gas Shale Drilling: Essential
<http://essentialdissent.blogspot.com/2009/06/marcellus-shale-gas-dril...
nd-water.html> Dissent: Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling and Water (1) | WAMU
88.5 FM American <http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/09/23.php> University
Radio - The Diane Rehm Show for Wednesday September 23, 2009 | Supplemental
Generic <http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/47554.html> Environmental Impact
Statement on the Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Regulatory Program - NYS Dept.
of Environmental Conservation | New
<http://www.propublica.org/feature/new-york-state-paves-way-for-gas-dr...
-with-release-of-review-930> York State Paves Way for Gas Drilling With
Release of Environmental Review - ProPublica | Water
<http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113142234>
Contamination Concerns Linger For Shale Gas : NPR | Marcellus Shale - NYS
Dept. <http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/46288.html> of Environmental
Conservation
* 10/15/09 - Ways you can help our Parks:
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/parks.htm> New round of funding
available for park and trail groups Grants aim to boost organizational
capacity Parks & Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102706291987&s=1979&e=001-QG5x_Bi0NITdcbY62...
KKVDkFg9BoxWuio1V51ShkjZ3a_wml4dRyTiIvC6TVfdBv3v8OFGpkx8j5hwOJWnQIFf0B3PVsO d
gi7rodkrgoTUoDcWYJB8j_neW4qrvFqddHL3tCA=> Building Grants for park and
trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen
not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and
trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide
places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate
additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies. The goal of the
program is to enable not-for-profits to: better fulfill their missions;
improve their reach, effectiveness, and impact; leverage more resources; and
increase community support for and involvement in park and trail planning,
development, and stewardship. Funds can be used to assist with activities
associated with organizational start-up and development, training,
communications, and volunteer recruitment and management. The deadline for
submitting applications
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102706291987&s=1979&e=001-QG5x_Bi0NIZdi5468...
KfHN8K8xs4lFCZT_o2or3_xAFSwEjY4BodrBCQ9k_bmpM0v8-IKzp6K5MgGoKpRNI4uW8bUPW32 u
HJS8fOjy8jl3vkanytOpmwTtNocWKfo-82lb30WhiuaSgnpyTA==> is November 20, 2009.
For more information, email <mailto:gra...@ptny.org> Parks & Trails New
York or call 518-434-1583. --from Parks <http://www.ptny.org/index.shtml> &
Trails New York - expanding, protecting and promoting a network of parks,
trails and open spaces
* 10/14/09 - Please note: Donate
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Donate_Recycle_%20Reuse.html> Recycle
Reuse has been updated on our Recycling page. Use Donate
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Donate_Recycle_%20Reuse.html> Recycle
Reuse to find Rochester-area places to easilty recycle various items.
* 10/14/09 - Be a part of monitoring Climate
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/weather&climate.htm> Change: Climate
Interactive <http://climateinteractive.org/> "Climate Interactive is
building a community that creates, shares, and uses credible models,
accessible simulations, and related media in order to improve the way
leaders and citizens around the world think about the climate. Our purpose
is to get these sims and insights into the world as accessible products so
they can be tweaked, enhanced, translated, distributed and used to power
change around the world. We’re building sims that are easy to use by climate
analysts, communicators, and leaders of many types, and that provide
immediate feedback, so users can see the results of different scenarios on
atmospheric carbon levels and temperature. And we're sharing our own
analysis so that leaders have access to powerful insights. In particular,
the "Climate Action Initiative" which includes policy leaders such as Dr.
Robert Corell is using our simulations to make change at the highest levels
of governments."
* 10/13/09 - H1N1 Updates": There's a lot of hype and misinformation
about the H1N1 flu, so stay abreast of this issue from the New York State
Department of Health <http://www.health.state.ny.us/> : Press
<http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/influenza/h1n1/media>
Releases
* 10/13/09 - Get the facts on lawn chemicals from the EPA: The
<http://www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox/other/marc_lawnchemicals.pdf> Facts About
Lawn Chemicals Lawn chemicals are the fertilizers, herbicides and
insecticides used in lawn and garden care. When lawn chemicals are applied
improperly, they can run off into streams, harming fish and other animals
and contaminating our drinking water.
* 10/12/09 - Good way to help monitor our environment and have fun:
Project FeederWatch <http://www.birds.cornell.edu/pfw> Project FeederWatch
is a winter-long survey of birds that visit feeders at backyards, nature
centers, community areas, and other locales in North America. FeederWatchers
periodically count the birds they see at their feeders from November through
early April and send their counts to Project FeederWatch. FeederWatch data
help scientists track broadscale movements of winter bird populations and
long-term trends in bird distribution and abundance.
* 10/12/09 - Message from Al Gore: 350.org <http://www.350.org/> "On
October 24th ordinary citizens will come together in a series of events,
rallies, demonstrations and public art projects all designed to do one
thing: bring awareness to an important number -- 350 parts per million of
carbon dioxide. During the last two years, the scientific community has made
very clear that it's the maximum safe level for carbon in the atmosphere, at
least if we want to have a planet "similar to the one on which civilization
developed and to which life on Earth is adapted." In more than 130
countries, people are organizing thousands of actions that will take those
three digits and sear them into the planet's consciousness. Visit
http://350.org and find an <http://350.org> event near you. "
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.
Special Calendar notice: Thank you for your overwhelming response to the
forum on natural gas production in New York State on October 19th!
Pre-registration is closed (as of 10/17 afternoon) because we have exceeded
the room capacity. We are adding a follow-up meeting later in October. To be
invited to the follow-up meeting, email i...@fmce.org with Subject="NYS
Natural Gas - Follow Up Meeting". More action items and information on our
Announcements page. Doors open to the public at 6:30pm. If you are already
pre-registered, please arrive promptly. At 7pm, "No Show" seats will be
released to "walk-ins" on a first-come, first-serve basis. http://fmce.org/
Also: RIT Climate Change Action Awareness Week – Monday Oct. 19th –
Saturday Oct. 24th: Are you ready for an ambitious, fair and binding global
climate deal? Join us as we call on world leaders to pass climate policies
grounded in the latest science and strong enough to get us back to 350ppm.
http://www.rit.edu/academicaffairs/gwteachin/350/
* 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 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.
* 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.
* 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
* 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.
* Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. DEC Region 8 Offices 6274
E. Avon-Lima Rd., Avon Contact: Lisa Porter (585) 226-5402
* DEC Slates Pharmaceutical <http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/58645.html>
Collection Events - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis
today announced seven collection events taking place this month to encourage
the proper disposal of unused and unwanted household pharmaceuticals. The
collections will take place between Oct. 19-24 in communities throughout the
state as part of DEC's "Don't Flush Your Drugs" campaign to raise awareness
about the impacts of pharmaceuticals in water. |Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 9
a.m. to 1 p.m. DEC Region 8 Offices 6274 E. Avon-Lima Rd., Avon Contact:
Lisa Porter (585) 226-5402 Press <http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html>
Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Recycling
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Frank\My%20Documents\Frank%20Web%20S i
tes\RochesterEnvironment.com\recycling.htm> in our area]
* 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
* 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
* 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
* October 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 27, 2009 - 7:00PM to 9:00PM Unitarian Church of Ithaca, 306
N. Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY
* Introductory Program on Marcellus Shale Natural Gas Exploration
October 27, 2009 - 7:00PM to 9:00PM This free public meeting will introduce
residents to the issues associated with the development of natural gas
production in the Marcellus Shale. The program will provide an overview of
the relevant geology, water issues related to drilling and hydrofracking and
the potential economic benefits and community impacts. Location: Unitarian
Church of Ithaca, 306 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca, NY. This introductory
session will be good preparation for the program on legal issues offered
Oct. 29. For more information, contact: Cornell Cooperative Extension of
Tompkins County at (607) 272-2292 or email s...@cornell.edu
* 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.
November 2009
* 9:00am-12:30pm Sunday, November 1st 2131 Elmwood Ave, Rochester, NY
* Electronic Recycling Event _ Computers and electronics may contain
hazardous waste elements such as lead solder, cadmium, and beryllium.
Monitors, Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs), and Televisions have anywhere from 4 to
8 pounds of lead. These types of equipment need to be recycled properly in
an environmentally sound fashion. Find out more HERE
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/Stuff/Dropofftemple8X10.pdf> .
* Monday, November 16 at 7:00pm Brighton Town Hall Auditorium 2300
Elmwood Ave. Rochester, NY
* Please join the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) for a
breathtaking journey through the famous Redrock country of Southern Utah.
Presented by SUWA’s National Grassroots Organizer Jackie Feinberg, Wild
Utah: America’s Redrock Wilderness is a multi-media slide show featuring
stunning images by noted wilderness photographers and narrated by Robert
Redford. Attend a unique multimedia slideshow on Utah’s threatened Redrock
Country...Educate and activate yourself in 2009! Hosted by RRG Sierra Club
For more information, contact Jackie Feinberg at jac...@suwa.org
December 2009
* DEC Releases Revised Draft <http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/58489.html>
Hazardous Waste Facility Siting Plan - NYS Dept. of Environmental
Conservation Second Round of Hearings Scheduled; Public Comments Due by Dec.
14, 2009 The New York State Hazardous
<http://www.rochesterenvironment.com/chemical/9054.html> Waste Facility
Siting Plan and Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) have been
revised and are now available for public review, Department of Environmental
Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today. Both documents
are available on the DEC website. (October 1, 09) Press Releases -
<http://www.dec.ny.gov/press/press.html> NYS Dept. of Environmental
Conservation[more on Brownfields
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Frank\My%20Documents\Frank%20Web%20S i
tes\RochesterEnvironment.com\brownfields.htm> in our area]
_________________________________________________
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: The deadline for submitting applications
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102706291987&s=1979&e=001-QG5x_Bi0NIZdi5468...
KfHN8K8xs4lFCZT_o2or3_xAFSwEjY4BodrBCQ9k_bmpM0v8-IKzp6K5MgGoKpRNI4uW8bUPW32 u
HJS8fOjy8jl3vkanytOpmwTtNocWKfo-82lb30WhiuaSgnpyTA==> is November 20, 2009.
* Ways you can help our Parks:
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\Frank\My%20Documents\Frank%20Web%20S i
tes\RochesterEnvironment.com\parks.htm> New round of funding available for
park and trail groups Grants aim to boost organizational capacity Parks &
Trails New York is offering a new round of Capacity
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102706291987&s=1979&e=001-QG5x_Bi0NITdcbY62...
KKVDkFg9BoxWuio1V51ShkjZ3a_wml4dRyTiIvC6TVfdBv3v8OFGpkx8j5hwOJWnQIFf0B3PVsO d
gi7rodkrgoTUoDcWYJB8j_neW4qrvFqddHL3tCA=> Building Grants for park and
trail groups in New York State. The grants, of up to $3,000, will strengthen
not-for-profit organizations that are working to build and protect parks and
trails in communities across the state --- helping to not only provide
places for close-to-home, healthy physical activity but also generate
additional tourist dollars to strengthen local economies. The goal of the
program is to enable not-for-profits to: better fulfill their missions;
improve their reach, effectiveness, and impact; leverage more resources; and
increase community support for and involvement in park and trail planning,
development, and stewardship. Funds can be used to assist with activities
associated with organizational start-up and development, training,
communications, and volunteer recruitment and management. The deadline for
submitting applications
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1102706291987&s=1979&e=001-QG5x_Bi0NIZdi5468...
KfHN8K8xs4lFCZT_o2or3_xAFSwEjY4BodrBCQ9k_bmpM0v8-IKzp6K5MgGoKpRNI4uW8bUPW32 u
HJS8fOjy8jl3vkanytOpmwTtNocWKfo-82lb30WhiuaSgnpyTA==> is November 20, 2009.
For more information, email <mailto:gra...@ptny.org> Parks & Trails New
York or call 518-434-1583. --from Parks <http://www.ptny.org/index.shtml> &
Trails New York - expanding, protecting and promoting a network of parks,
trails and open spaces
* 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
<http://www.epa.gov/> Agency [[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.]
|
