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COALITION NOTES Fables of the Restoration The Sierra Club will kick off its fall schedule of restoration work days with an outing to Mary See Prairie on Saturday Sep 7. The prairie is being restored for environmental and scientific research and the protection of biological diversity. Volunteers will spend the day removing brush and Chinese tallow that obscure beautiful wildflowers. The group will meet on the Rice University campus at entrance eight, just off of University Boulevard at 7:30 am. Lunch will be provided, but volunteers should bring their own water, comfortable shoes, long pants, a hat and sunscreen. For more information call Brandt Mannchen at 713-640-4313. An Intoxicating Comedy Join Mothers for Clean Air for a special screening of Blue Vinyl, a feature length comedy that documents the serious environmental and health effects of the world’s second largest selling plastic. Armed with a piece of vinyl siding from her parents’ home on Long Island, the filmmaker Judith Helfland embarks on an international mission of environmental justice, revealing a complex web of alleged corporate conspiracies and tragic deaths from toxic exposure. The screening will begin at 7pm on Friday September 6 at the University of Houston in Agnes Arnold Hall, room 104. Movin’ On Up Former executive director of Friends of Herman Park, Roksan Okan-Vick was appointed by Mayor Lee Brown to director of the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. While with FHP, Okan-Vick handled many projects including a $29 million revitalization for Herman Park. Chairman of the of FHP Chris Knapp said, "(The appointment) is a meaningful recognition that all parks in Houston matter and that HPARD-in tandem with grassroots initiatives like FHP-can dramatically impact Houston’s quality of life." Starting September 1, Jim Lester will leave his position as environmental studies professor and director of the Environmental Institute of Houston at The University of Houston-Clear Lake, to become director of the Environmental Group at the Houston Advanced Research Center. Lester is no stranger to the city’s environmental community. He is a past President of the Texas Environmental Education Partnership, a trustee of the Galveston Bay Foundation, serves on the advisory committee of the Texas Sea Grant College Program, and chairs the Research Committee of the Galveston Bay Estuary Program. In his new position, Lester will be responsible for expanding environmental programs and integrating environmental science into HARC's sustainability mission. LOCAL Meet Your Rep Environmentalists concerned with the proposed Katy Freeway expansion will have a chance to address U.S. Representative John Culberson at a special Spring Valley City Council meeting. In addition to discussing the environmental impacts of expansion, the Council will consider action regarding freeway design, detention pond and drainage issues and noise barrier walls. The meeting will be held on Friday, August 30 at 12 pm at 1025 Campbell Road. Please contact the City Secretary's office at 713-465-8308 for further information. Take Students out of the Classroom Eco-conscious teachers can learn how to create a school habitat by attending a workshop sponsored by the Environmental Institute of Houston, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Topics covered by this introductory class will include creating ponds, wetlands, wildflower areas and butterfly and hummingbird habitats, selecting native plant species based on growing conditions and much more. This is a great way to teach students your curriculum while in the natural environment. The workshop will be held on Saturday September 7 from 9 am to 3:30 pm, in Southeast Houston. To register, call 281.283.3045. Registration deadline is Friday August 30. How to be a Player On Tuesday, September 10 and Wednesday, October 9 the National League of Conservation Voters Education Fund will a host workshop on electoral activities for non-profit organizations. The first session on Tuesday, "Rules of the Game: Non-profits and Election-Year Advocacy," will cover the federal tax and election laws affecting the political activities of nonprofit organizations in an election year, from voter registration to candidates’ forums. On Wednesday, the follow up training, "Being a Player: Lobbying Rules for Non-Profits," will address the legal restrictions on lobbying for 501(c) (3) and how to work within them. If your group is planning election activities this year, the workshop will provide information you need to know. If you are not planning election activities, the TLCV training may just inspire you to do so. The workshop will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Austin on 1201 Lavaca St. To register, contact Margot Clarke at 512-479-0077 or margot_clarke@lcvef.org. Registration deadline is September 2. Bayport Update This week, the Environmental Protection Agency became the third major resource agency to challenge the draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Port of Houston Authority’s proposed Bayport container terminal project. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service previously recommended that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers deny the Port’s permit application. The 17-page EPA report criticized the draft EIS for lacking adequate and accurate analysis of air and water quality, land use, and treatment of the wetlands. According to EPA findings, the draft EIS failed to address particulate emissions, provided "limited and inaccurate" consideration of coastal zone management and made comparison of impacts for different sites impossible. Meanwhile, the Corps announced a January 3, 2003 release date for the final EIS. The deadline for public comment on Public Notice 2, which involved a revised permit application was postponed form August 22 to September 5. The Port’s revised application reduces the proposed number of cruise terminal berths from five to three, among other changes. 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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