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Environmental News Update 9/7/01 COALITION NOTES Katy Prairie Picnic and Tour The Katy Prairie Conservancy and Master Birder Bob Honig will host an exploration of the Katy Prairie’s natural history and wildlife on Saturday, September 15 at Nelson Farms Preserve from 4 to 8 pm. Participants will learn about more than 200 species of migratory waterfowl, shore and song birds, and other prairie wildlife. Bring food and drinks for a sunset picnic dinner. Pants, long sleeved shirts, close-toed shoes, and a flashlight are suggested. For more information, visit http://www.katyprairie.org. To reserve a spot, contact 713-523-6135 or aherrera@katyprairie.org. Fall Forestry Study Group Planned The forestry Committee of the Houston Sierra Club is starting a Forestry Study Group. The group will read, discuss, watch videos, and take field trips in order to enhance their appreciation of Texas’ forests and their protection. The first meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 12 at 7:30 pm at Kathleen Bungard’s home, 6015 Moonmist. For more information, contact Jimmy Pryor at 713-861-5133 (day), 713-869-7824 (evenings), or Jimmy@sunbody.com. LOCAL Clean-up Event Scheduled The Huffman/Crosby Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a litter clean-up event on Saturday, September 15. Volunteers should meet at 8 am at the Crosby Fairgrounds on FM 2100. The group will clean FM 2100 and FM 1960, east of Lake Houston. For more information, call the Huffman/Crosby Chamber of Commerce at 281-328-6984 or Joe at 281-328-7173. Committee to Discuss Parks Plan The Neighborhood Protection and Quality of Life Committee will discuss the City of Houston's Parks and Recreation Master Plan at their meeting on Monday, September 10. The current version of the plan, drafted in March 1999, calls for the acquisition of 10 pocket parks, two neighborhood parks, and one regional park along Buffalo Bayou, and for the expansion of existing parks, inside loop 610; some are saying that these plans are not adequate and more open space should be acquired. The Master Plan can be found online at http://www.ci.houston.tx.us/departme/parks/masterplan/table.htm Alvin Goes Propane As of this year, all Alvin Independent School District (ISD) vehicles, including 121 school buses and 40 support vehicles, will operate on propane. Alvin ISD bought its first propane-powered vehicle in 1980; this year they added five more propane busses to complete the fleet. One of the main reasons for the switch is that burning propane is less hazardous to children’s health than burning diesel. A recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Coalition for Clean Air found that children who ride diesel school buses may be exposed to up to four times more toxic diesel exhaust than when riding in a car. http://www.hgac.cog.tx.us/transportation/pdfs/newsletters/cc2001.pdf NATIONAL Denver Meets Clean Air Standards The Denver area recently became the first urban region with poor air quality to return to acceptable standards for the six most important pollutants the environmental agency monitors — ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxides, sulfur dioxide, lead, and particulate matter. At one time, Denver was out of attainment for ozone, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, they have met the standards for ozone and carbon monoxide, and approval for sustaining an acceptable level of particulate matter is pending. The levels of pollutants in the metropolitan area, while sometimes still visible, have remained within prescribed safe limits for human health for more than three years. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/01/national/01DENV.html RESOURCES Rate Your State Environmental Agency Had any dealings with the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) lately? You can now rate the service you received from them and make other comments through their online Customer Service Survey available at http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/input.html. ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION CEC Environmental News Update is a weekly publication by the Citizens' Environmental Coalition, a 501(c)3 dedicated to fostering dialogue, education and collaboration about environmental issues in the Houston-Gulf Coast Region. Visit the CEC online at www.cechouston.org. To subscribe or unsubscribe, or to suggest items for inclusion, send your request via e-mail to Sarah Doss at sarah@cechouston.org. |
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