Photo from the PA DEP

First, thanks to all who urged their State Representative to vote NO on HB 1904. This bill, with only a handful of co-sponsors, would outlaw all new federal requirements regarding oil and gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing on Allegheny NF. Apparently there was sufficient public outcry that instead of voting on May 9, possible action on HB 1904 has been delayed until after May 21. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET HAD A CHANCE TO DO SO, PLEASE CONTACT your State Representative now and urge her or him to vote AGAINST HB 1904.

In a May 10 NY Times Op-Ed titled ‘Game Over for Climate’, NASA’s Jim Hansen explains why he is troubled by President Obama’s recent statement that Canada would exploit its tar sand oil “regardless of what we do”. According to Hansen, “Canada’s tar sands, deposits of sand saturated with bitumen, contain twice the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by global oil use in our entire history.”

Hansen goes onto paint a dismal future if Canada does indeed fully exploit the tar sands. “If this sounds apocalyptic, it is,” he wrote. “This is why we need to reduce emissions dramatically. President Obama has the power not only to deny tar sands oil additional access to Gulf Coast refining, which Canada desires in part for export markets, but also to encourage economic incentives to leave tar sands and other dirty fuels in the ground.” Trouble is, no elected leaders seem to be listening to Hansen, not in Congress, and certainly not in Harrisburg. For a more hopeful Hansen, see a videoed interview with him in 2009.

On May 1 more than two hundred people gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol building to call on Gov. Corbett to promote administrative policies that strengthen Pennsylvania’s clean energy programs, bridges and rails, and education system. See the VIDEO. Representatives from Sierra Club, the Laborers union (LiUNA), NAACP, PA Council of Churches, and business leaders spoke about the need to kick-start Pennsylvania’s economy by taking action on several fronts including renewable energy, infrastructure projects, and education policies that will create jobs, improve our environment, and ensure that PA kids do not fall behind.

Since taking office, the Corbett Administration has slashed previously-successful programs to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency in the state, like the program that allows state owned buildings to use more renewable energy. Renewable energy supporters wielded red, white and blue pinwheels to symbolize a need for continued growth in renewable energy jobs in Pennsylvania.

“Prior to this administration, Pennsylvania was nationally, and even internationally renowned as a leader in renewable energy,” said Robin Mann, Sierra Club National President and resident of Delaware County. “Now, we are falling behind the rest of the country, resulting in lost jobs, and lost opportunity. This is a ‘mayday’ alert – we need Governor Corbett and all of our leaders to step up or Pennsylvania will continue to sink.”

According to the Labors International Union a recent study showed that 42% of Pennsylvania’s bridges are unsafe or functionally obsolete. In addition, Pennsylvania’s crumbing and inadequate rail system is a serious barrier to bringing businesses, and jobs, to the state.

“Hundreds of thousands of Americans drive over Pennsylvania bridges every year which Federal Highway Administration inspectors have deemed structurally deficient or functionally obsolete,” said Abe Amoros, PA Legislative Director for the Laborers International Union of North America (LiUNA.) “At best, these bridges are inefficient. At worst, they are deadly.”

Governor Corbett has a duty to ensure that the children of Pennsylvania are ready for their future by adhering to Pennsylvania’s Academic Standards. The academic standards are the benchmark measures that define what students should know and they must be examined regularly to ensure that we are keeping up with today’s science, technology and our changing environment.

“Our children must have the tools they need to succeed in life,” said Dwayne D. Jackson, Sr., First Vice President of the Pennsylvania State Conference of NAACP Branches. “All children — no matter their ethnic background, financial circumstance, intellectual ability, or neighborhood environment — are entitled to a free, public education. Our children deserve the best tools we can provide so they can compete in the market place with other states and other countries.”

Earth day was celebrated in Mt. Lebanon’s beautiful main park with joint tabling by the Endangered Species Action Team and the Global Warming Action Team. The two teams also participated in the first-ever “Polar Bear Petition”. Participants were asked to pose for a photo holding a polar bear mask. The photos will be sent to President Obama with a request to stop arctic drilling. The petition was sponsored by the Alaska Wilderness League. The day was cold and some snow was spotted but everyone had a good time.

Photo from the PA DEP

A vote is soon expected in the State House on H.B. 1904. This legislation would hamstring our ability to protect Pennsylvania’s only national forest—the Allegheny National Forest—from gas drilling. Gas drilling companies already have access to 700,000 acres of our state forests for drilling; they’re pressing for mineral rights that are held under our state parks; and they have ability to lease most of the private land that makes up the vast majority of property in the Marcellus Shale region. Why should our elected officials even consider removing federal protections for certain land within the Allegheny National Forest. PLEASE CONTACT your State Representative and urge her/him to vote AGAINST HB 1904.

Ted Popovich of Ben Avon delivers 800 surgical masks at Air Toxic Guidelines meeting. Photo: Tom Hoffman

Members of the ‘Breathe’ project turned out in force at an Allegheny County Board of Health meeting on May 2. The subject of the meeting was the updating of the 1988 Air Toxic Guidelines by a sub-committee appointed in January 2010. As reported by the Post-Gazette, there is a concern that the committee cannot reach a consensus on the new guidelines, especially a provision to consider the cumulative impact from existing sources when issuing a new permit. To make the point that people are suffering while the committee dallies, Ted Popovich delivered over 800 face masks with the names of county residents who had signed the Breathe petition.

Artwork: Mike LaMark

On May 4 the Interior Dept’s Bureau of Land Management issued their proposed rules for hydraulic fracturing on federal lands. In greeting these new rules, the Sierra Club’s Executive Director Michael Brune said “While it is deeply disappointing that fracking on sensitive public lands has been considered at all, we fully expect the administration to implement the toughest safeguards possible to rein in irresponsible practices and protect our public spaces.” No matter how strict these rules become, they will only apply to BLM lands in the West, and after the drilling is completed. There will be a 60-day period for comments.

Hillary Bright: ‘Beyond Gas’ campaign representative.

Sierra Club activists in Pittsburgh are very pleased that their friend Hillary Bright has accepted a job with the Sierra Club’s ‘ escalating Beyond Gas’ campaign. For a just over two years Hillary was with the Blue-Green Alliance with a desk in the Club’s Oakland office. “While I was with BGA, I had the privilege to work with an incredibly talented staff and an activist base of union members and environmentalists that inspired me everyday. I will take that knowledge and utilize it in my new position with the Sierra Club as the campaign representative for the Beyond Gas campaign.” Based in Pittsburgh, Hillary will spend most of her time helping SC activists in NY, OH, and PA with campaign strategies, developing technical expertise, funding, general organizing, etc.

Photo: Phil Coleman

Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald has created a number of Visioning Teams to help guide his administration. The Energy and the Environment team is charged with identifying “opportunities that these sectors (oil, gas, power, renewable energy, etc.) provide for economic growth and job creation in our region. On April 27 this team held a public hearing, at which 27 people testified. Twenty-three of those people lauded the benefits of the natural gas industry as well as Marcellus Shale drilling activities and jobs in Western Pennsylvania. Concerned residents of the county are urged to submit their comments without delay, to [ Amie dot Downs at AlleghenyCounty dot US ] under the heading Energy and Environment Visioning Team Comment, along with name and address.

The E&E Team will appreciate identification of issues that the County should be aware of, and specific suggestions that the County has the ability to pursue. The following are some sample topics for statements designed for specific County action.

Shale Gas Drilling Activities

• County air quality standards, particularly as related to shale gas drilling.
• Realistic assessment of economic benefits and risks of drilling in the County.
• Sustainable nature of employment opportunities.
• Overall risks associated with hydraulic fracturing in Allegheny County, including water quality, emergency evacuation plans, etc.
• Reasons for protecting County land and parks from the practice of horizontal hydraulic fracturing.

Energy Conservation and Use of Renewable Energy

• What the County can do to improve the public transit system and hence reduce overall energy consumption.
• Energy-efficient land use based on the County’s comprehensive plan ‘Allegheny Places’.
• Opportunities to expand and protect green space.
• Ways by which recycling may be increased with economic benefit.
• Renovation of County buildings to serve as models of energy efficiency and conservation.
• Need for County facilities to replace fossil-fuel generated electricity with electricity from renewable energy sources.
• Ways in which the County can advocate and facilitate greater use of renewable energy sources in non-County facilities.
• And lots more ………………..

In addition to the land use plan ‘Allegheny Places’, the E&E Team may be encouraged to use the ‘Greenhouse Gas Emissions Report‘ and the ‘Sustainability Plan’.

Progressives were pleased with the local results of the recent Primary Elections. In the 22nd House District Sierra Club-endorsed Erin Molchany comfortably increased her chance to take a seat in the legislature in January. In the 39th District Dave Levdansky did well, and in November he will try to unseat incumbent Rick Saccone, who beat Dave in 2010. Ed Gainey’s defeat of Joe Preston in the 24th House District showed that not all incumbencies are impregnable. In Congressional races incumbent Democratic Blue Dogs Jason Altmire and Mark Critz dueled to the last, with Critz inching out a surprise win. Elsewhere in the state Democratic Blue Dog Tim Holden was ejected from his 17th District Congressional seat by Matt Cartwright.

Rachel Carson

2012 marks the 50th anniversary of the publication Rachel Carson’s seminal book Silent Spring, considered the most significant influence in mounting an era of environmental awareness and action around the world. To commemorate the anniversary, the National Aviary and The Rachel Carson Institute at Chatham University
will hold a celebratory symposium May 11-12, 2012. The main sessions will cover:
• Award winning Natural History Writers
• Silent Spring’s Lessons- the predictions & state of the environment today
• Challenges for the 21st Century- preserving our life support system
• Green-washing and bridging the credibility gap
• Voices for the Future

For the full agenda click HERE

REGISTER NOW! $50 Friday only, $75 Saturday only; $100 both days; Student Discount Available at Registration.