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Fwd: FW: BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS INTRODUCE COAL ASH RECYCLING LEGISLATION
by Jim Sconyers 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

For shame. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Scott Stapf <sstapf(a)hastingsgroup.com> Date: Thu, Oct 20, 2011 at 3:46 PM Subject: FW: BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS INTRODUCE COAL ASH RECYCLING LEGISLATION To: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE(a)lists.sierraclub.org **** ** ** **** *For Immediate Release: *October 20, 2011**** **** *Contacts:***** Don Canton (Hoeven) (202) 224-8469**** Sean Neary (Conrad) (202) 224-2043**** Ron Eckstein (Nelson) (202) 224-5326**** Jeff Sadosky (Portman) (202) 224-5190**** Emily Bittner (Manchin) (202) 224-3954**** Sara Lasure (Boozman) (202) 224-4843**** Daniel Head (Enzi) (202) 224-3424**** **** *BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS INTRODUCE COAL ASH RECYCLING LEGISLATION***** Measure Will Save Jobs, Hold Down Energy Costs, Protect Local Oversight**** **** WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2011, legislation that will ensure the safe and effective disposal of coal combustion residuals, a byproduct of coal-fired electricity generation that is also recycled as a valuable building material. **** **** This effort was prompted by the EPA’s proposal to regulate coal ash as hazardous waste. Coal ash is a byproduct that has been safely used for buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure for years under state regulations. The agency’s new rule would add additional costs to recycling companies and power plants, thereby increasing the cost of electricity to consumers.**** **** Under this legislation, states could set up their own permitting program for the management and disposal of coal ash that is based on existing EPA regulations to protect human health and the environment. States will know where they stand under this bill, since the benchmarks for what constitutes a successful state program will be set in statute. This is a states-first approach that provides regulatory certainty.**** **** The bill would set up a state permitting program for coal ash under a section of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that would ensure sites have the adequate groundwater monitoring, protective lining, and properly engineered structures needed to protect communities. **** **** Hoeven outlined the new legislation on the floor of the U.S. Senate today, illustrating his comments with photos of Bismarck State University’s National Center of Energy Excellence and a rendering of the new North Dakota Heritage Center expansion, both of which incorporate recycled coal residuals in their construction.**** **** “North Dakota is a good example of how states can manage the disposal of coal residuals with good environmental stewardship, and at the same time, allow for beneficial uses like building roads, bridges and buildings that are stronger and less expensive,” *Senator John Hoeven* said. “Just as importantly, this legislation helps to preserve valuable jobs at a time when the nation so very much needs them.”**** **** “Years of research have shown that coal ash should not be regulated as a hazardous waste. Doing so would only force unworkable requirements on our state's utilities, resulting in serious economic consequences and the loss of good-paying jobs,” *Senator Kent Conrad* said. “While coal ash must be handled properly, there are less burdensome regulatory options that still protect public health and the environment and can be administered by state programs.” **** **** Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska pointed out that his state has 100 percent public power, meaning every utility customer in Nebraska purchases electricity from a public power, rural electric or municipal utility. **** **** “This legislation will help control rates for every Nebraskan who pays for electricity,” *Senator Ben Nelson* said. “It will prevent the implementation of new repetitive, burdensome, and potentially expensive EPA regulations, keeping the regulation of coal ash at the state level. Local control helps Nebraska’s publicly-owned utilities and municipalities manage their coal ash byproducts in a way that is cost-effective while ensuring the continued protection of human health and the environment.” **** **** “This bipartisan legislation will prevent serious government overreach that would negatively impact utility consumers, workers and our economy,” said *Senator Rob Portman* of Ohio. “It’s just another example of an out of control regulatory regime that has created uncertainty and threatened job growth in everything from farming to manufacturing and mining. By some estimates, the regulations EPA are proposing for coal combustion byproducts would eliminate 316,000 jobs over the next 20 years and cost hundreds of billions of dollars. Ohio’s economy, which is already struggling, would be heavily burdened by these regulations. This legislation, supported by a broad coalition of job creators, will provide a common sense framework that balances our economic, environmental, public health and energy security needs.”**** **** “This bill paves the way for states to manage coal ash in a safe, effective manner,” said *Senator Michael Enzi* of Wyoming. “It is a serious legislative effort that takes a unique approach to fixing a problem that industry and the states want to address.”**** **** “The bipartisan support for this commonsense legislation is so strong, and has been building for a long time because overregulation of coal ash by the EPA would threaten vital industries, as well as needlessly cost West Virginia and the nation more jobs - neither of which we can afford," *Senator Joe Manchin* of West Virginia said. “This legislation gives us a commonsense fix: let each state use existing EPA health and environment regulations to set up their own permitting program that allows them to recycle and reuse coal ash. This approach will protect jobs and our economy, and give families and businesses the certainty they need to help restore confidence.”**** **** “This is a commonsense approach to protecting jobs for hardworking Americans by empowering states to both protect our environment and keep electricity affordable,” said *Senator John Boozman* of Arkansas.**** **** The legislation was prompted by the EPA’s proposal to regulate coal ash as hazardous waste. Coal ash is a byproduct that has been safely used for buildings, roads, bridges and other infrastructure for years under state regulations. The agency’s new rule would add additional costs to recycling companies and power plants, thereby increasing the cost of electricity to consumers.**** **** The bill will set up a state permitting program for coal ash under a section of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act that would ensure sites have the adequate groundwater monitoring, protective lining, and properly engineered structures needed to protect communities. **** **** “This legislation represents a reasonable new approach to environmental law – a states-first approach,” Hoeven said. “It ensures good environmental stewardship, while helping to preserve jobs and ensure that a beneficial product is made available for worthy uses. Just as importantly, it ensures that Congress and the states hold the reins of environmental policy.”**** **** *-###-***** **** **** **** ** ** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE list, send any message to: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: WVU 2 day Oct 27th and 28th Marcellus info from WVU news (clarified)
by Jim Sconyers 20 Oct '11

20 Oct '11

You can skip the gag-me speech by Joe Manchin Thursday, and go to all the sessions Friday free (sans meals) if you follow the registration contact for nonprofits. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <WVABooks(a)aol.com> Date: Wed, Oct 19, 2011 at 4:04 PM Subject: WVU 2 day Oct 27th and 28th Marcellus info from WVU news (clarified) To: jimscon(a)gmail.com ** WVU College of Law to present two-day exploration of Marcellus Shale issues (Clarifies registration fees for the event)**** WVU's College of Law leaders have rounded up an array of experts from the public and private sector for an information-based two-day exploration of economic and regulatory issues surrounding one of the most significant energy developments in the history of Appalachia – Marcellus Shale natural gas recovery.**** Marcellus Shale drilling – its economic potential and the regulatory conundrums faced by state lawmakers in protecting the economy and the environment – is the subject of Drilling Down on Regulatory Challenges: Balancing Preservation and Profitability in the Development of Shale Gas Resources set for Oct. 27 and 28 on the WVU campus.**** There will be a reception and banquet featuring keynote speaker Sen. Joe Manchin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct, 27 at the WVU Erickson Alumni Center. Speakers and panel discussions will be held at the Marlyn E. Lugar Courtroom (room 165) at the Law Center from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The panel discussions on the 28th are free and open to the public. There is a fee of $150 for those registering to attend the reception and the banquet on the 27th; included in the that fee is a continental breakfast and lunch on the 28th. There is a fee of $25 for those wishing to register for the continental breakfast and lunch on the 28th only.**** More online: http://wvutoday.wvu.edu/n/2011/10/12/wvu-college-of-law-to-present-two-day-… **** -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Coresco hearing format editorial
by James Kotcon 19 Oct '11

19 Oct '11

Today's Dominion Post editorial. More local news attached. Jim Kotcon >>>>> DOMINION POST Wednesday 19 October 2011: EDITORIAL Public comment was not a wrap State DEP needs to put this experiment in its tape recorder and listen to it The public paid a call on the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Monday. The DEP’s representative said the session was just an experiment — an informal conference, not a public hearing. So, who were the 25 audience members to argue? They were the public, that’s who. And judging from their reaction, the DEP might want to think long and hard about experimenting on the public in Monongalia County again. Whether or not the meeting was an informal conference or a public hearing was really never in dispute. It was just the protocol the DEP used for conducting this meeting. Instead of letting members of the crowd address their peers and the DEP’s experts on a permit to renew and expand a coal ash refuse facility, they were ushered to an isolated table to address a recorder while videotaped. Though the DEP’s Division of Mining Reclamation permitting supervisor was on the other side of the table, the public was effectively prevented from hearing the “public” comments. For the more intrepid members of the crowd, who wished to address the crowd and the DEP, their remarks went unheard by all except the recorder and the lone official. The DEP said the meeting’s format was experimental. The idea was to not let members of the public address each other and to provide an outlet for shy members of the crowd. Instead, members of the crowd just raised its voice. For now, we’ll just call it a failed experiment. Perhaps this format has merit in taking testimony in judicial matters. But as it applies to any kind of public comment, it’s contrary to the notion of transparency that’s the cornerstone of our government. We realize that public forums are often marked by one or more speakers who may try to dominate the proceedings. And occasionally some comments are mere rants rather than reasoned pros and cons. But that’s open government — democracy. It’s more often than not messy ... and noisy. The issues before this “informal conference” were environmentally sensitive and could potentially have a major impact on residents, nearby property owners and others. We are not going to take sides on this permit — for now — to double the size of this refuse dump near tributaries of the Monongahela River. However, the DEP has another thing coming if it thinks it can mute public opinion or quietly channel it into its recorders at a public session. Though a measure of decorum and control to allow everyone to say their piece is vital at such meetings, public sessions cannot be reduced to virtual voice mail. The state DEP is a public agency, and it still answers directly to the public. UPDATE

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DP on ash hearing
by Jim Sconyers 18 Oct '11

18 Oct '11

All in all a pretty good article. "Smackdown" indeed! -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: FW: THREAT OF LAWSUIT LOOMS OVER TOXIC COAL WASTE IN WEST VIRGINIA
by James Kotcon 17 Oct '11

17 Oct '11

>>> "Avi Kramer" <akramer(a)publicjustice.net> 10/17/2011 6:28 PM >>> Here's the final release that went out just before 6 p.m. It's also on our website: http://www.publicjustice.net/Newsroom/News/Report-Cites-Coal-Ash-Polluti on-in-WVa.aspx Thanks again, all. From: Deborah Mathis Sent: Monday, October 17, 2011 5:56 PM To: Major Media (dmathis(a)publicjustice.net) Subject: THREAT OF LAWSUIT LOOMS OVER TOXIC COAL WASTE IN WEST VIRGINIA Importance: High NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 17, 2011 Contacts: Deborah Mathis, Public Justice - (202) 797-8600 or dmathis(a)publicjustice.net Mike Becher, Appa. Mtn. Advocates - (304) 382-4798 or mbecher(a)appalmad.org Jim Kotcon, Sierra Club W.Va. Chapter - (304) 293-8822 or jkotcon(a)wvu.edu Sean Sarah, Sierra Club - (202) 548-4589 or sean.sarah(a)sierraclub.org Cindy Rank, WV Highlands Conserv. - (304) 924-5802 or clrank2(a)gmail.com REPORT CITES DANGEROUS COAL WASTE POLLUTION OF W.VA. STREAM; NOTICE GIVEN OF POSSIBLE LAWSUIT According to a just-released report <http://www.publicjustice.net/Repository/Files/CORESCO_10_13_2011_FINAL. PDF> from Monongalia County, W.Va., coal combustion waste (CCW) and acid mine drainage (AMD) have seriously harmed aquatic life and ecosystems in a local stream, Crafts Run, which spans multiple miles and discharges into the Monongahela River. The report's data-gathered at specific monitor sites along Crafts Run and detailed in this map <http://www.publicjustice.net/Repository/Files/Coresco_MapwSample&Monito rSites.pdf> -shows elevated levels of dissolved solids, aluminum, iron and manganese in water samples collected from the stream. High amounts of boron and selenium indicated CCW pollution specifically, and in certain places, the concentration of iron violated state surface water quality standards. Self-monitoring data by Coresco LLC-the company that owns and runs the disposal sites adjacent to Crafts Run-showed that violations of state criteria have occured in the past for dissolved aluminum, iron and pH, all indicators of AMD pollution. Coresco's existing disposal sites were permitted and defined by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to accept CCW (commonly called "coal ash"), but Coresco is now asking the WVDEP to allow it to expand its disposal operations within the Crafts Run watershed. Local environmental groups, the Sierra Club, and the national public interest law firm Public Justice are opposing the expansion. The 46-page report states that "Coresco intends to drastically increase the amount of CCW disposed of through proposed revisions" to its existing permits with the WVDEP. As a result of those revisions, Coresco could potentially place 2.8 million tons of CCW and refuse waste within the watershed each year. "The report data shows unequivocally that coal ash dumping is destroying these streams," said Richard Webster, an attorney at Public Justice, which commissioned the report. "We're concerned that the WVDEP will allow Coresco to actually expand its dumping operations-when that is the last thing that biologically degraded Crafts Run needs." Webster and Public Justice, along with Mike Becher of the Appalachian Mountain Advocates, are representing the Sierra Club, West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Fort Martin Community Association against Coresco. "The Coresco operations are turning the Crafts Run watershed into one large dumping ground for coal waste," Becher said. "This is being done without stringent pollution controls or adequate monitoring, as demonstrated by the report's data." Said Jim Kotcon, Energy Chair for the West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club, "Coresco is trying to make the claim that dumping of coal ash is somehow a beneficial use. We want Coresco to clean up its pollution and operate the site without contaminating the water. Coal ash has to be handled responsibly and in compliance with the law-or else it endangers public health." A notice letter sent today <http://www.publicjustice.net/Repository/Files/Coresco_Final_Notice_Lett er_17Oct2011.pdf> details the groups' position that Coresco must come into compliance with water quality standards. The letter was written to coincide with a WVDEP hearing tonight concerning Area No. 4-the area into which Coresco is hoping to expand-and states that Public Justice and Appalachian Mountain Advocates plan to file a lawsuit if the stream is not cleaned up within sixty days. "After years of undemonstrated assumptions that dumping coal ash is a good thing, this report finally shows that there are indeed harmful impacts to waters downstream from mine and refuse sites," said Cindy Rank, Mining Committee Chair of the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy. "Expanding Coresco's current coal ash disposal practices will not only further pollute Crafts Run but will also add additional stress to the Monongahela River, a valuable resource for tens of thousands of people all the way to Pittsburgh, Pa." The potential lawsuit would allege multiple violations of the Clean Water Act by both Coresco LLC and Mepco LLC. (All of the waste disposal areas in the Crafts Run watershed are operated by Coresco on Mepco property. Both companies are subsidiaries of a common corporate parent, Mepco Intermediary Holdings.) The lawsuit would also claim violations of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) by Coresco solely, and would seek both civil penalties and injunctions compelling Coresco and Mepco to come into compliance with the Clean Water Act, and Coresco with the SMCRA. ### Public Justice is a national public interest law firm that fights injustice and holds corporate and government wrongdoers accountable. See www.publicjustice.net. Deborah Mathis Communications Director Public Justice Foundation 1825 K Street NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20006 Ph: (202) 797-8600 Ext. 246 Email: dmathis(a)publicjustice.net Web: www.publicjustice.net

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Scientific American: Top EPA scientist and Dunkard Creek
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 16 Oct '11

16 Oct '11

This is an interesting article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=epa-scientist-points-at-fr… -Jonathan

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Fwd: coal ash meeting in Granville
by Jim Sconyers 16 Oct '11

16 Oct '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Petra&John Wood <pbjmwood(a)gmail.com> Date: Sat, Oct 15, 2011 at 9:23 PM Subject: Re: coal ash meeting in Granville To: Betsy Breiding <betsy.breiding(a)gmail.com>, Elizabeth Jaeger < bjaegerart(a)gmail.com>, Laura Blackburn <lmblackburn(a)gmail.com>, michael blackburn <blackb23(a)gmail.com>, Martin Christ <mchrist(a)labs.net>, Dan Wheeler <WheelerD(a)monhealthsys.org>, Dee/Deb <dfvet(a)aol.com>, Eric Hopkins < ehopkins06(a)gmail.com>, Eva Thomas <Eva.Thomas(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Mike Furbee < pmfurbee(a)hsc.wvu.edu>, Gwen Jones <gwenjones23(a)yahoo.com>, Nicole Good < nicolegood.wv(a)gmail.com>, Jean Preckel <jpreckel(a)yahoo.com>, Rae Jean Sielen <rsielen(a)populore.com>, Paul Kinkus <pkinkus(a)comcast.net>, kfurbee(a)yahoo.com, "Kenneth St. Louis" <kstlouis(a)wvu.edu>, George Racin <gracin(a)comcast.net>, adavidroth(a)gmail.com, DaveS(a)labyrinth.net, mulkeenf(a)comcast.net, naoko0607(a)gmail.com, Tom Pue <tpue(a)frontier.com>, Mike Breiding < mike(a)epicroadtrips.us>, Ned Strauser <nestrauser(a)yahoo.com>, James Kotcon < jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>, Jim Sconyers <jimscon(a)gmail.com>, Anne_Hereford < ahereford(a)downstreamstrategies.com>, Evan Hansen < ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com>, Pam Kasey <pkasey(a)statejournal.com>, Linda Hagerty <linda.hagerty(a)comcast.net>, Kevin Leyden <kleyden(a)wvu.edu>, "j.or.n" <lynch59(a)frontier.com>, cash <cashvan(a)aol.com>, Betty Wiley < betty.w304(a)gmail.com>, andrew sandy liebhold <aliebhold(a)gmail.com>, leepetsonk(a)gmail.com, Michael Blumenthal <mcblume(a)attglobal.net>, John Souther <possumdee(a)gmail.com>, abyssfish(a)labs.net, "Duane330(a)aol.com" < duane330(a)aol.com>, theresa7700(a)hotmail.com, clock23(a)frontier.com, Cindy Rank <clrank2(a)gmail.com>, Michael Mackert <micmackert(a)frontier.com>, Susan Braidi <susan.braidi(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Peggy Pings <peggy.pings(a)mail.wvu.edu>, Ann Payne <paynestake(a)frontier.com>, chuck coole <chuckcoole(a)gmail.com>, Greg Morgan <cnci(a)mountain.net> just a reminder about the DEP fly ash public meeting on monday, Oct 17 at 6pm. hope to see you there. For information about the 2 sites, the extensive use of ash, and why dumping coal ash is a concern, see : http://www.westvirginia.sierraclub.org/announcements/flyash-northernWV.pdf http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/news_reports/documents/CoalAshMythFac… http://democrats.naturalresources.house.gov/content/files/2011-09-26_LTR_OS… On Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 10:33 PM, Petra&John Wood <pbjmwood(a)gmail.com> wrote: > WVDEP has scheduled a public meeting to hear comments and answer > questions about 2 Coresco coal ash dump permits near Maidsville across the > river from Morgantown. It will be Monday, October 17 at 6:00 pm at the > Granville Volunteer Fire Department's event hall. The fire dept is on Rt > 100 and the event hall is located across the street and behind some new > construction. > > One permit is a renewal of an existing site of ~140 acres where there is > already some evidence that water contamination is occurring. The second is > a new permit for ~338 acres. > > We hope to get a large turn-out so that we can impress upon WVDEP that many > people oppose dumping toxic fly ash into our environment. We expect the > mining and power company interests will try to pack the room with their > employees. > > -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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House Passes McKinley's on Coal Ash Biull - Will Cost Lives, Jobs
by Jim Sconyers 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

A shameful day for the nation, and especially for us in West Virginia for two reasons: Our own Congressman McKinley, tool of industry, is the author of the bill; and we will bear the brunt of the consequences as northern West Virginia accelerates its status as the nation's coal ash epicenter. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Jared Saylor <jsaylor(a)earthjustice.org> Date: Fri, Oct 14, 2011 at 2:18 PM Subject: FW: NEWS: House Vote on Coal Ash Will Cost Lives, Jobs To: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE(a)lists.sierraclub.org This press statement from Earthjustice on the coal ash vote just went out to about 300 reporters nationwide. _____________________________________________ *From:* Jared Saylor *Sent:* Friday, October 14, 2011 2:16 PM *To:* Jared Saylor *Subject:* NEWS: House Vote on Coal Ash Will Cost Lives, Jobs FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 14, 2011 Contact: Lisa Evans, Earthjustice (978) 548-8645 Jared Saylor, Earthjustice (202) 667-4500, ext. 5213 House Vote on Coal Ash Will Cost Lives, Jobs *Neutering EPA’s ability to regulate toxic coal ash serves only corporate polluters* Washington, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives voted *267-144* today to pass H.R. 2273, a misguided attempt to neuter the Environmental Protection Agency’s attempt to set the first ever federal regulations on coal ash. Despite evidence showing groundwater contamination from arsenic, lead and other toxic metals at hundreds of sites and a recent study showing that federal coal ash regulations would *create 28,000 new jobs*<http://sei-us.org/publications/id/410>every year, the House voted to put the interests of corporate polluters ahead of the American public. The following statement is from Trip Van Noppen, president of Earthjustice: “Nearly three years after the tragic spill of more than 1 billion gallons of toxic coal ash in Kingston, Tennessee, it’s obvious that federally enforceable safeguards for the disposal of this toxic waste are long overdue. In fact, 267 members of the House of Representatives have taken the disturbing step of moving us even further away from this important public safety goal. “This Congress is turning their backs on what hundreds of communities living near coal ash ponds and landfills really need. Instead, these elected officials are paying attention only to the needs of corporate polluters intent on preserving their old, dangerous way of doing business. Coal ash is a toxic menace. We cannot afford another spill like the one in Tennessee, and the cold truth is that there are dozens of sites that could become another tragedy any day. Moreover, at hundreds of other coal ash sites, drinking water is contaminated with toxic heavy metals that can cause cancer and other disease. “A recent study by *Tufts University*<http://sei-us.org/publications/id/410>found that federal regulations for coal ash could provide 28,000 new jobs every year. At a time when our economy is struggling and so many Americans are out of work and trying to make ends meet, it’s shameful that 267 members of the House are turning their backs on real jobs. Rather than acting to protect America’s health and environment, it’s obvious that some members of Congress are only acting to protect polluter profits.” ####### - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE list, send any message to: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: Congress should vote to protect renewable coal ash - The Hill's Congress Blog
by Jim Sconyers 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Breathtaking lies from my/our Congressman. ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Scott Stapf <sstapf(a)hastingsgroup.com> Date: Fri, Oct 14, 2011 at 11:07 AM Subject: Congress should vote to protect renewable coal ash - The Hill's Congress Blog To: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE(a)lists.sierraclub.org http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/energy-a-environment/187573-congress- should-vote-to-protect-renewable-coal-ash "Renewable" coal ash!? - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE list, send any message to: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: COAL ASH VOTE IN HOUSE TOMORROW (FRIDAY): Still time to make a call!
by Jim Sconyers 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Lisa Evans <levans(a)earthjustice.org> Date: Thu, Oct 13, 2011 at 8:42 PM Subject: COAL ASH VOTE IN HOUSE TOMORROW (FRIDAY): Still time to make a call! To: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE(a)lists.sierraclub.org Dear Friends-- Please remind your Representative to vote to protect health and the environment and OPPOSE H.R. 2273! There is still time to call or email. Urge your congressperson to vote NO on H.R. 2273-- the coal ash bill introduced by Rep. McKinley (R-WV), which threatens the health of thousands of Americans nationwide by allowing states to continue operating leaking and dangerous coal ash dumps without requiring basic safeguards. Please call and email your Representative as early as possible now or on Friday morning. A list of all house offices and environmental staffers is attached to this email. Simply ask your Congressman to stand for pubic health and a safe environment and oppose H.R. 2273. You may wish to tell your Representative that passage of H.R. 2273 will endanger Americans nationwide: -- By allowing the indefinite operation of dangerous coal ash ponds like the one that collapsed in Tennessee in 2008; -- By allowing the continued poisoning of drinking water and fouling of air with ash containing arsenic,hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury and other hazardous metals, and -- By preventing EPA from enforcing safety standards at coal ash dumps and preventing the Agency from ever regulating coal ash disposal in the future. And you may wish to tell your Representative that H.R. 2273 will not increase recycling (because it encourages wet disposal) and will not create jobs. A study released this week by a Tufts University economist concluded that a strong subtitle C coal ash rule would net as many as 28,000 jobs each year. Thank you in advance for making this important call and sending an email to your Representative. Please send this alert to your own lists for maximum impact. Sincerely, Lisa Evans Lisa Evans Senior Administrative Counsel Earthjustice 21 Ocean Ave. Marblehead, MA 01945 T: (781) 631-4119 www.earthjustice.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE list, send any message to: COAL-COMBUSTION-WASTE-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: Ad Campaign for Marcellus Gas
by James Kotcon 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Please excuse cross postings, I am not sure who is on the Energy Committee list, and I will be using gmail for this action. I have been working with Darla Gage of Growth Media Services on the ad campaign for Marcellus. They are the folks that did the PATH campaign, and Frank is correct, they are a pleasure to work with, and have done a lot on a very short timeframe. (The Marcellus-WV webpage has been a major resource). Below is a discussion of some advertising options. To summarize, newspaper advertising is a blackhole, don't waste your money. TV is good for visuals, but it is hard to motivate action from people once they sit down. A combination of billboards, radio, and internet advertising makes a cost-effective package that can be on-line is a short timeframe. In particular, an internet ad on a newspaper site would allow viewers to click on our link, which could take them to our web page that might direct them to more action. I propose a conference call Monday evening at 7 PM to brainstorm options and get consensus on what to do next. Darla is talking about having a film crew out as early as Tuesday so that material can be up by Sept. 5. Whaddya Tink? Jim Kotcon ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <darla(a)growthmediaservices.com> Date: Fri, Aug 26, 2011 at 6:52 PM Subject: Ad Campaign for Marcellus Gas To: jkotcon(a)gmail.com Hi there, Ok, I've checked out the website to familiarize myself more with the issues, and I have a few questions/thoughts for you. 1. You mention that you want the campaign to run Sept 5-12. Are you wanting it to run just that week, or are you looking for a more long term campaign? 2. Per our conversation, I understand that this is a public awareness campaign, similar to what we did for StopPATHWV. No politicizing, just making the public aware of the health, ecological and cost issues. The success of the StopPATH campaign relied on the fact that we conveyed the issues without appearing alarmist or radical, just calmly spreading the facts and making the communities aware of the issues. While the power company tried to stop the campaign, they couldn't because the basis of the information was 100% factual. They could not complain that we were crying "Fire" in a crowded theatre. We need to do the same thing here. We need to bring the reality of the situation home, explain the real world impact on their lives...this isn't something taking place halfway around the world, but something that could have an impact on the streams they fish, the water they drink, etc. Lots of different ways this can be done. One thing we would definitely want to show is the impact to the land. If there are any experts we could speak with regarding it, that would be a good option as well. I'll work this weekend on script ideas and avenues to pursue to have the most impact. 3. Given the quick turnaround time, your best bet to reach the most people is probably going to be online. Running a campaign on the Charleston Gazette site is probably a very good idea. (StopPATH got more responses from their video on the local paper's site than from the substantially more expensive local television networks.) The turnaround time for online advertising is also much more in line with the timeline we are looking at. 4. Google is a great fit for this. Placing the ads so that when someone does a search for Marcellus Gas, for fracking, and other critical keywords, they find your ad is a powerful tool. (Irritated Allegheny Power to no end that every time someone searched for Electric Company or Allegheny Power,they got an ad running against them!) Also, these are cost effective. Instead of paying for impression, you pay per response. With traditional media outlets (print, radio, television) you pay every time the ad runs. Through Google, you only pay when people click through to your website for more information. Definitely helps stretch the budget, and can reach ad locations that you couldn't reach on your own. (Google's network partners with major media outlets and thousands of websites to target the ads to the exact market...for example, a client who ran ads for a home show found their ads on HGTV's website. Perfect fit for their market.) 5. Direct mail is ridiculously expensive. Not really an option on this kind of thing. Billboards might be a good option. Affordable and broad reaching. And when done in a way to get their attention and make them think about it, can work well. 6. Radio may also be a good fit. If you do internet ads on the Gazette website, Google video ads and display ads, billboards and a radio campaign, you will have a great coverage area demographically. I need to double check some rates, but we should be able to do anywhere from a 30 day to 90 day campaign on all of these outlets for the budget you allocated. Let me know your thoughts. I know this is a lot of info and may seem like gibberish, so feel free to ask questions. If all of this looks good, I'll put together the official proposal and send it over...and with your go-ahead we'll start on some scripting this weekend. That way we'll be able to present you with an ad campaign on Monday. If it looks good, we'll need to get started first thing next week, in order to have the ads filmed, graphics designed, audio recorded, and everything edited approved and sent to the media outlets by the 5th. Best regards, Darla PS: One more question...need the verbage for the ad disclosure (This ad was paid for by a grant from....etc). To make sure we have all the legal avenues covered. Confidentiality Notice: The information in this e-mail and any attachments may be legally privileged and confidential. It is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, any disclosure, copying, distribution or any action taken or omitted to be taken in reliance on it, is prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender and permanently delete the e-mail and any attachments immediately. You should not retain, copy or use this e-mail or any attachment for any purpose, nor disclose all or any part of the contents to any other person.

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Re: [EC] U.S. House Passes ALEC-Inspired TRAIN Act
by Paul Wilson 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

U.S. House Passes ALEC-Inspired TRAIN Act by Rebekah Wilce On September 23, the House of Representatives passed the American Legislative Exchange Council-inspired "Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation (TRAIN) Act" and forwarded it to the Senate. Read this article on PR Watch at http://www.prwatch.org/node/11039 Please note the attached report came out and February and may have already been passed around. but the ALEC inspired legislation ignores that argument. enjoy, paul -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Bad news - Manchin is happy
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 06 Oct '11

06 Oct '11

Did you see this? http://manchin.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=302a2dba-6628-… and this isn't good either. http://earthjustice.org/news/press/2011/house-votes-to-increase-mercury-pol… -Jonathan

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Fwd: coal ash meeting in Granville
by James Kotcon 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

Please review the attached. We want a big turnout. \ Sally, could you forward this to the Mon Group list? Jim Kotcon >>> "Petra&John Wood" <pbjmwood(a)gmail.com> 10/4/2011 10:33 PM >>> WVDEP has scheduled a public meeting to hear comments and answer questions about 2 Coresco coal ash dump permits near Maidsville across the river from Morgantown. It will be Monday, October 17 at 6:00 pm at the Granville Volunteer Fire Department's event hall. The fire dept is on Rt 100 and the event hall is located across the street and behind some new construction. One permit is a renewal of an existing site of ~140 acres where there is already some evidence that water contamination is occurring. The second is a new permit for ~338 acres. For information about these 2 sites, the extensive use of ash, and why dumping coal ash is a concern, see the 3 attachments: -- flyash-northernWV.pdf -- CoalAshMythFactSheetMay10-2010.pdf -- 2011-09-26_MarkeyLtrToOSM.pdf We hope to get a large turn-out so that we can impress upon WVDEP that many people oppose dumping toxic fly ash into our environment. We expect the mining and power company interests will try to pack the room with their employees.

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Fwd: [Mountaintop Removal] Upcoming events to help stop mountaintop removal mining
by Jim Sconyers 04 Oct '11

04 Oct '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Dave Cooper <davecooper928(a)yahoo.com> Date: Tue, Oct 4, 2011 at 3:49 PM Subject: [Mountaintop Removal] Upcoming events to help stop mountaintop removal mining To: Mountaintop Removal Road Show list < mountaintopremovalroadshow(a)lists.riseup.net> Friends of the Appalachian Mountains, Here are some big upcoming events and conferences to help stop mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia and combat the impacts of climate change - our movement continues to grow and spread and we are now working with allies all across the country. If you want to be a part of the most vibrant, fastest-growing environmental campaign in the country, please join us - and attend one (or more) of these events. The people in this campaign are very friendly and we hope to see you there! All of the information below is also compiled on the Mountain Justice calendar - so if you have trouble with any of these links, try going to: http://www.mountainjustice.org/calendar/index.php and click on the event for more info. ------------------------------ This weekend - Oct 7-9 The Heartwood Reunion, Paoli IN. Workshops, speakers and entertainment in a lovely wooded setting in southern Indiana, about one hour from Louisville. Great food - wonderful place - highly recommended. Camping and low-cost cabins are available. To register or for more info, click here <http://www.heartwood.org/reunion/registration> ------------------------------ Also this weekend - Oct 7-9 The Changing of the Leaves Festival atop Larry Gibson's famous Kayford Mountain near Charleston West Virginia. This is a free event - See mountaintop removal at Ground Zero and hear good old mountain music. Potluck dinner and camping. For more information click here <http://mountainkeeper.blogspot.com/p/outreach.html> - for driving directions, go to google and search for "directions to Kayford Mountain." This is the best place to see mountaintop removal and you can meet the famous "Mountain Keeper" Larry Gibson. ------------------------------ There is also a work party this weekend (Oct 7-9) in Rock Creek, WV to prepare for the upcoming Mountain Justice Fall Summit. Volunteers and tools are needed - If you can help, please email David: mthegorilla(a)gmail.com ------------------------------ Oct 14-16 Mountain Justice monthly meeting in the mountains of eastern Kentucky. We will explore a historic local mining community and go up on the highest mountain in Kentucky. For more info, please email me back davecooper928(a)yahoo.com ------------------------------ Oct 15 - Kentucky Heartwood Benefit Dance, Millville KY (near Versailles and Frankfort) - old time contra and square dancing with live music. More info <http://www.kyheartwood.org/> ------------------------------ Oct 14-15 Kentucky Waterways Alliance Annual Retreat at beautiful Cumberland Falls State Park. More info<http://www.kwalliance.org/AnnualRetreat> ------------------------------ Oct 17-18 - Funeral for the Mountains, Richmond VA. Sponsored by Virginia Sierra Club. Info: glen.besa(a)sierraclub.org ------------------------------ Oct 20-21 - "Rooted in the Mountains" Symposium at Western Carolina University, Cullowee NC will examine the impacts of mountain destruction on communities. More info <http://www.wcu.edu/27734.asp> ------------------------------ Oct 21 - "Women of Appalachia" Conference - Ohio University-Zanesville, OH more info <http://www.zanesville.ohiou.edu/womenofappalachia> ------------------------------ Oct 20-23 - The Appalachian Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (APIEL) Knoxville TN at the UT Law School. This is gonna be big, with well-known speakers and an impressive lineup of noted environmental experts and field trips to learn about the life cycle of coal in Tennessee. Highly recommended. Click here <http://www.apiel.org> for more info and to register. Don't miss this! ------------------------------ Oct 28-30 - The Mountain Justice Fall Summit: Mountain Justice, Coal River Mountain Watch, and RAMPS Campaign are teaming up to present the 2011 Mountain Justice Fall Summit in Rock Creek Hollow, near Whitesville in southern WV. Learn organizing and direct action skills in the heart of the southern West Virginia mountains. See mountaintop removal and meet local West Virginia residents and activists fighting to save their mountains. For more information and to register click here<http://www.mountainjustice.org/> [image: Fall Summit 2011 flier]<http://rampscampaign.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/FALL-SUMMIT-FLYER-001.j…> ------------------------------ Nov 4-6 - The Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference (SSREC) at UNC-Asheville in North Carolina. Student-run and youth-led. This is always a great conference and a lot of fun. Click here<http://www.climateaction.net/ssrec>for more info. ------------------------------ Nov 11-13 Mountain Justice Annual Meeting. Plans are still in the works, but it will be in Eggleston VA near Blacksburg. Check the Mountain Justice website in a few weeks - we will have more details posted. ------------------------------ Nov 11-13 Kentucky Sierra Club Annual Meeting, Kentucky Dam Village State Park. Great speakers and entertainment again this year. More info<http://kentucky.sierraclub.org/TheCumberland.pdf> ------------------------------ Nov 19-26 - The Caravan in Support of Indigenous Communities On The Front Lines Of Resistance at Big Mountain, Black Mesa, Arizona. We are supporting our friends and allies in the indigenous communities who are opposing the deadly impacts of coal mining. For more information, click here.<http://blackmesais.org/take_action/caravan-of-support-to-big-mountain/> This is a large gathering and an annual event. ------------------------------ Thanks and hope to see you in the mountains! Dave Cooper The Mountaintop Removal Road Show www.mountainroadshow.com This is an informational monthly email about mountaintop removal. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to: mountaintopremovalroadshow-unsubscribe(a)lists.riseup.net Thanks! -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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Fwd: Scientists: Drilling threat to water
by Paul Wilson 27 Sep '11

27 Sep '11

Please fwd or post to the Fracking Activists. thx, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Fran Hunt <Fran.Hunt(a)sierraclub.org> Date: Tue, Sep 27, 2011 at 7:21 PM Subject: Scientists: Drilling threat to water To: CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Scientists: Drilling threat to water Municipal systems can't filter chemicals used in hydrofracking process By BRIAN NEARING Staff writer Published 12:00 a.m., Friday, September 16, 2011 ALBANY -- Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned Gov. Andrew Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking. Their letter to the governor, released Thursday, was signed by 59 experts from 18 states and seven foreign countries, included scientists from Cornell University, the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and the State University at Stony Brook. "We urge the state to reconsider its position that existing water filtration systems provide adequate protection against the risk of hydraulic fracturing, should materials from flow-back fluids migrate to lakes, reservoirs, or groundwater used for municipal water supplies," the letter states. Hydrofracking relies on a high-pressure blend of chemicals, sand and water, injected deep underground to break up gas-bearing shale rock formations. Trucks bring in million of gallons of water as well as heavy equipment to each well. Used drilling water, which can contain benzene and other volatile aromatic hydrocarbons, surfactants and organic biocides, barium and other toxic metals, and radioactive compounds, is later trucked to a disposal site. The state Department of Environmental Conservation, which is considering rules to permit hydrofracking, has vowed that treated wastewater from drilling could be discharged into rivers only after hazardous substances have been removed, spokeswoman Emily Desantis said. The governor's office did not respond to a request for comment. "The state plan will not allow anything to happen in this state that will damage the drinking water supply," said John Holko, secretary and board member of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, an industry lobbying group. One of the letter's signers, Cornell ecology professor Robert Howarth, said the letter was prompted by the state's decision to ban hydrofracking in watersheds that supply drinking water for New York City and Syracuse. Neither system is filtered. "Municipal filtration systems were not designed with such hazards in mind, and the ability of the filtration systems to remove such hazardous substances has received little, if any, study. ... The best available science suggests that some of these substances would pass through the typical municipal filtration system," the letter warned. "If the risk from shale gas is too high for the watersheds of New York City, then it is too high for any of the watersheds in the state," Howarth said. It would be "extremely expensive" to add additional filters that capture hydrofracking chemicals, and Howarth could not point to a single municipal drinking water system in other states where hydrofracking is used that has done so. Reach Nearing at 454-5094 or bnearing(a)timesunion.com. Letter to governor A copy of the letter can be found at the Green Blog: http://blog.timesunion.com/green/ Frances A. Hunt Director, Resilient Habitats Campaign Sierra Club 50 F Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 fran.hunt(a)sierraclub.org 202-675-2386- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS list, send any message to: CONS-AWL-RESILIENT-HABITATS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha "In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous" ~ Aristotle

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Fwd: An Invitation to Join the Tar Sands Action in DC
by Jim Sconyers 27 Sep '11

27 Sep '11

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Bill McKibben <info(a)tarsandsaction.org> Date: Mon, Sep 26, 2011 at 2:10 PM Subject: An Invitation to Join the Tar Sands Action in DC To: jimscon(a)gmail.com [image: Tar Sands Action]<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=%2BLJjRzhjTtBBtbmtr6MmCBwgZ…> Dear friends— Once again, we’re sending you another long letter to ask for your help. It’s been several weeks since the last people got out of jail in Washington DC, at the end of two weeks of civil disobedience that led to 1253 brave people ending up in handcuffs to stop the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It was the largest such action in decades, and because of their leadership lots has begun to happen. *# *The Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu along with seven other Nobel Peace Prize winners wrote a letter to the president asking that he block the pipeline. They acknowledged the actions of those of us in DC, saying: “These brave individuals have spoken movingly about experiencing the power of nonviolence in that time. They represent millions of people whose lives and livelihoods will be affected by construction and operation of the pipeline.” *#* At President Obama’s first public speech since the sit-ins ended, a hardy bunch of University of Richmond students unfurled a huge banner demanding that the president veto the pipeline – followed by similar actions in Columbus, Ohio, Raleigh North Carolina, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Wilmington, Delaware and many many others. *# *Meeting on the Rosebud Sioux reservation last week, Native tribal leaders from both sides of the border and private land owners from South Dakota and Nebraska signed a ‘Mother Earth Accord’ opposing Keystone XL and the tar sands. These are the people who started this fight; and they’re being joined by everyone right down to Nebraska Cornhusker football fans who booed lustily when a Keystone ad showed up on the Jumbotron at a recent game. The next day the university ended their sponsorship deal with Trans-Canada Pipeline *#* Even as we issue this letter, Canadian activists by the hundreds are risking arrest on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and brave protesters are trying to block shipments of heavy equipment to Alberta from Idaho and Montana–these are remarkable signs of continent-wide protest. *#* And on the not-so-good-side: huge wildfires driven by the worst drought in Texas history have destroyed towns and killed good people; the biggest rainfalls ever recorded have done similar damage in New Jersey, New York, and Vermont. So—there’s real momentum for action, and real need. We have less than 90 days to convince the President not to approve the pipeline. So here’s the thing: we need your help again. We need you to keep using your creativity and bodies as a part of this struggle—to fight this fight even though there’s no guarantee of victory. Here’s the plan, in three stages 1) Most important of all: *On Sunday November 6 we will return to Washington. Exactly one year before the election, we want to encircle the whole White House in an act of solemn protest*. We need to remind President Obama of the power of the movement that he rode to the White House in 2008. This issue is much bigger than any individual person, President or not, and that we will carry on, with or without him. We’re not certain this is the right plan. We don’t know if there are the thousands of people that it will take to encircle the White House—we’ve never tried something this ambitious before. And we worry that it’s too earnest and idealistic—that maybe we should be going back to jail. But unlike last time, this time we’re working from a position of strength, and we can firmly but peacefully remind the president that we were the real power behind his campaign. We’re not expecting any arrests at this action, but we are expecting to send an unmistakable, unavoidable message. *To join the action on the 6th, click here to sign up: ** http://www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up*<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Uctj6LyJlICjqVT0jBc6NhwgZCX…> 2) But we have to start building momentum now with action in our communities. Between now and October 7, the State Department is holding a series of hearings on its flimsy report on Keystone XL. Our colleagues in the environmental movement are doing a good job of organizing for those meetings, including the final one in DC—and we’ll be supporting a rally at the final hearing. *But starting on October 8, we’ll begin a rolling series of actions at key Obama campaign offices around the country.* We want these to be a bit bigger and more serious than what’s come before, so we’ll be doing training and providing materials to folks in those communities. We need to make sure that the message gets through to headquarters that people remember the promises from the 2008 campaign and want them kept. 3) *We need to keep showing up at the president’s public appearances* – just like what’s already been happening on campus after campus, town after town. (We especially like the chant that goes: “Yes We Can…Stop the Pipeline.”). Our organizing team is tracking the president’s every appearance to look for opportunities to act. If the President is coming to your neighborhood, we need you to get his attention. (We’ll help you do that). We’ve already shown we have the courage and the fortitude for civil disobedience.Now we need to mix it up and show a different side of the campaign. Many of us were sincerely moved by Barack Obama’s campaign for president. We’re not yet ready to concede that his promises were simply the empty talk of politicians. We’re not going to be cynics until we absolutely have no choice. It will be a beautiful and brave sight, the White House enclosed by the kind of people that put President Obama there. Since he’s said he’ll make up his mind by the end of the year, now’s the time. We know it’s hard to get to Washington, but if you can: this is the moment. Thank you. A lot. Tim DeChristopher, inmate, Federal Correctional Institution, Herlong California Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network Courtney Hight and Maura Cowley, Energy Action Coalition Jane Kleeb, Bold Nebraska Bill McKibben, tarsandsaction.org Gus Speth, former chair, president’s Council on Environmental Quality Becky Tarbotton, Rainforest Action Network Lennox Yearwood, Hip Hop Caucus Click here to unsubscribe<http://salsa3.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=gC40HvjoKTfWgARMnNJVLBwgZCX…> [image: empowered by Salsa] <http://www.salsalabs.com/?email> ** -- Jim Sconyers jimscon(a)gmail.com 304.698.9628 Remember, Mother Nature bats last.

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3rd Circuit approves Allegheny Forest drilling
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 26 Sep '11

26 Sep '11

The U.S. Forest Service overstepped its authority when it imposed a ban on oil and gas drilling in the Allegheny National Forest, according to a federal appeals court ruling issued last week. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11269/1177018-499-0.stm?cmpid=newspanel4 -Jonathan

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Fwd: Re: Fw: DEP Public Notice - Informal conference scheduled for Article 3 Permit No. O200709 and
by James Kotcon 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

FYI. We need to do some planning on this one. JBK >>> "Petra&John Wood" <pbjmwood(a)gmail.com> 9/23/2011 2:59 PM >>> The new "mining permit (actually for coal ash disposal) is for 337.62 acres for a Coal Refuse Disposal Area under Permit O200709 and is the one we mentioned often in the DC fly in. They are planning to use it as a flyash dump for 35 yrs and permitting it under smcra even though they explicitly stated in their application that no mining will occur (go figure!). We're going to need to get the word out for a lot of people to attend and give comments at the meeting. I'm sure the "other side" will be out in full force. - petra > ----- Original Message ----- From: <dep.online(a)wv.gov> > To: <curt1968(a)comcast.net> > Sent: Friday, September 23, 2011 12:03 PM > Subject: DEP Public Notice - Informal conference scheduled for Article 3 > Permit No. O200709 and Article 3 Permit No. O101593. > >> >> The following was sent to you because you are a >> Member of the DEP Public Notice mailing list. >> ==============================**============================= >> Friday, September 23, 2011 @ 12:03 PM >> ==============================**============================= >> >> The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, Division of >> Mining >> and Reclamation, 105 S. Railroad Street, Suite 301, Philippi, WV 26416, >> will >> hold an informal conference at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, October 17, 2011, in >> the >> Granville Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall, located on Route 100, in >> Granville, WV. The purpose of the hearing is to allow comments from those >> people having an interest which is or may be adversely affected by the >> Surface >> Mine Application by Coresco, LLC to permit 337.62 acres for a Coal Refuse >> Disposal Area under Permit O200709, located 2.0 miles northwest of >> Maidsville, >> WV in Cass District of Monongalia County and for the Renewal of Article 3 >> Permit Number O101593 to conduct surface mining, coal preparation, coal >> ash and >> coal refuse disposal, located 1.2 miles Northeast of Maidsville, WV in >> Cass >> District of Monongalia County. This meeting is being held in accordance >> with >> Chapter 22, Article 3, Section 20 of the Code of West Virginia. For >> further >> information, contact Permit Supervisor, WVDEP, at (304) 457-3219. >> Reference >> Article 3 Permit No. O200709 and Article 3 Permit No. O101593. >> >> ==============================**============================= >> To view past notices of open public comment periods or to unsubscribe >> from this Mailing List, login at: >> http://apps.dep.wv.gov//**MLists2/ <http://apps.dep.wv.gov//MLists2/> >> >> >> >> >

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FW: Seminar Oct 4th - The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction
by Grubb, Karen 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

Seminar at Fairmont State Biology Program. From: Flood, Mark Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 8:48 AM To: Huggins, Pamela; Roof, Steven; Gilberti, Anthony; Yeager, Phillip; Morris, Tony; Grubb, Karen; Trisel, Donald; Magro, Albert Cc: Hemler, Debra; McKeen, Angela; Harvey, Erica; Scanlon, Matthew; Baur, Andreas; Weekley, James; Baxter, Harry Subject: Seminar Oct 4th - The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction Everyone, Below is the information on the seminar (and the speaker) coming up on Tuesday October 4th at 12:30pm in 305ET. Please pass this along to any interested students. Thanks, Mark The Environmental Impacts of Marcellus Shale Gas Extraction The Marcellus Shale represents one of the largest reservoirs of unconventional natural gas in the world. It holds the potential to provide a source of energy and jobs. It's extraction, however, requires significant land area, millions of gallons of water, toxic chemicals, pipelines, compressor stations and processing plants. The full development of an unconventional gas play can result in habitat fragmentation, ecological damage, and the degradation of water and air quality. The produced water especially, presents a major challenge as it may contain upwards of 350,000 mg/l of total dissolved solids and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM). The use of open impoundments for recycling has provided a unique incubator for the enrichment of salt tolerant microbial species. The talk will provide an overview of the processes involved in shale gas extract and their environmental impacts. John Stolz is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology in the Department of Biological Sciences and Director for the Center for Environmental Research and Education at Duquesne University. He studies the microbial metabolism of metals including arsenic, selenium, and chromium. He is currently investigating the environmental impacts of shale gas extraction with emphasis on water issues. He has published 63 journal articles, 30 book chapters, and edited two books. Dr. Stolz has a BS in Biology from Fordham University and a PhD in Microbial Ecology and Evolution from Boston University and was an NRC Fellow at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Cal Tech, and an NSF Plant Biology Fellow at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

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Fwd: Fracking Webinar for Landowners 9/27: Register Today
by James Kotcon 23 Sep '11

23 Sep '11

FYI. From my certifier. Jim Kotcon >>> "Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association" <oeffa(a)oeffa.org> 9/23/2011 9:58 AM >>> FRACKING AND FARMLAND: WHAT FARMERS AND LANDOWNERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISKS TO AIR, WATER, AND LAND High-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF), also known as fracking, and the impact to farmers and landowners will be the subject of a webinar on Tuesday, September 27 at 6 p.m. This educational session, organized by the Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OEFFA) and featuring analysis by the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC), will provide information to Ohio farmers and landowners about the fracking process and potential environmental impacts. "It's important that farmers understand the risks to their farming livelihood when approached to sign a lease with an energy company," said OEFFA Program Director Renee Hunt. "It is our goal to give farmers the information they need to make informed decisions." "Shale Gas formations underlying farmland are being rapidly explored, as we attempt to satisfy our appetite for energy. Extracting this resource is an energy and resource- intensive process. We will discuss the process and potential risks to the air, land, and water, upon which we all rely," said OEC Agricultural Programs Director Joe Logan. For organic farmers, contaminated soil or water can jeopardize a farm's organic certification status. "OEFFA certifies farms across Ohio and the Midwest," said Hunt. "Before farmers sign on the dotted line, they need to understand the potential risks to their land and their livelihood." This free, web-based seminar will deliver the session through the internet directly to participants' computers. They will be able to view the presentation through their internet browser and listen to the audio portion through a call in phone number or through their computer's speakers. The session will be interactive and allow participants to ask questions and communicate with the presenter. The webinar will be recorded and available online in October. To register for the webinar, go to <https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/608082446> https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/608082446 For more information, contact Renee Hunt at (614) 421-2022 Ext. 205 or renee(a)oeffa.org. ### The Ohio Ecological Food & Farm Association (OEFFA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1979 by farmers, gardeners, and conscientious eaters who committed to work together to create and promote a sustainable and healthful food and farming system. For more information, go to <http://www.oeffa.org/> www.oeffa.org. The mission of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) is to secure healthy air, land, and water for all who call Ohio home. The OEC has a widely respected 40-year history of innovation, pragmatism, and success. For more information, go to <http://www.theoec.org> www.theoec.org.

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Fw: WV News Service- Next Week
by Frank Young 21 Sep '11

21 Sep '11

----- Original Message ----- From: "West Virginia News Service" <wvns(a)newsservice.org> To: "West Virginia News Service" <wvns(a)newsservice.org> Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2011 4:46 PM Subject: Next Week Hi folks, At the moment next week is all open. Anyone got a story they want to tell? drh

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wind / gas industry alliance?
by Frank Young 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

BlankThis could be an interesting potential alliance, politically. Maybe the wind industry could push the gas industry to accept some environmental toilet training, including reasonable regulations. The wind industry is realizing that to be credible in the marketplace of "green energy" it will need to address some of the most deleterious problems identified with wind energy- i.e. bat mortality, intermittency of wind, etc. . http://journalrecord.com/2011/09/16/roth-bode-reaching-out-to-industry-opin… "Last week in a speech to the Natural Gas Roundtable, Bode said opportunities abound for wind and gas to partner. While both are central parts of most utility generation planning, Bode said, they should rely on each other to continue their success."

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Fwd: report on the Facemire protest
by James Kotcon 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

See attached report from Denise Binion. Perhaps we need another action, the Marcellus Committee still is not done, and they now think it iwll be November before a special session is called. How about we shift the focus to Tomblin. He is running for Governor this month, and, notwithstanding his Executive Order, he doesn't seem to think this is an "Emergency". JBK

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Fwd: What, Me Worry?
by James Kotcon 19 Sep '11

19 Sep '11

This sentence is starting to hit home with me. JBK "Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned NY Gov. Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing,...." >>> Betty Wiley <betty.w304(a)gmail.com> 9/18/2011 12:34 AM >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Robert Donnan <redchief7(a)verizon.net> Date: Sat, Sep 17, 2011 at 6:21 AM Subject: What, Me Worry? To: Robert Donnan <redchief7(a)verizon.net> ** *SCIENTISTS: DRILLING THREAT TO WATER* September 16, 2011 - Dozens of scientists, including four from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, warned NY Gov. Cuomo that it will be practically impossible for municipal drinking water systems to protect against chemicals used in natural gas hydraulic fracturing, also called hydrofracking.**** Their letter to the governor, released Thursday, was signed by 59 experts from 18 states and seven foreign countries, included scientists from **** Cornell** **University**, the State University College of Environmental Science and Forestry, and the ****State** **University**** at Stony Brook.** ** http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Scientists-Drilling-threat-to-water… **** ** ** ** ** *SCIENCE LAGS AS HEALTH PROBLEMS EMERGE NEAR GAS FIELDS* ** September 16, 2011 – Hydraulic fracturing, along with other processes used to drill wells, generates emissions and millions of gallons of hazardous waste that are dumped into open-air pits. The pits have been shown to leak into groundwater and also give off chemical emissions as the fluids evaporate. Residents' most common complaints are respiratory infections, headaches, neurological impairment, nausea and skin rashes. More rarely, they have reported more serious effects, from miscarriages and tumors to benzene poisoning and cancer. **** ProPublica examined government environmental reports and private lawsuits, and interviewed scores of residents, physicians and toxicologists in four states -- **Colorado**, **Texas**, **Wyoming** and ****Pennsylvania**** -- that are drilling hot spots. Our review showed that cases like Wallace-Babb's go back a decade in parts of **Colorado** and ****Wyoming****, where drilling has taken place for years. They are just beginning to emerge in ****Pennsylvania****, where the Marcellus Shale drilling boom began in earnest in 2008. **** http://www.propublica.org/article/science-lags-as-health-problems-emerge-ne… ****

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