REPORT BLAMES POWER PLANTS FOR DEATHS AND HEALTH PROBLEMS
by Sarah Morgan

Power plant pollution causes 24,000 deaths and 38,200 heart attacks per year including 203 premature deaths in Texas alone, according to a new report released this week that attacked the Bush administration�s policies on air quality.

The report, "Dirty Air, Dirty Power," was commissioned by Clear the Air, a cooperative project between Clean Air Task Force, Texas Public Interest Research Group and the National Environmental Trust, and was conducted by Abt Associates, the consultant the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses for its air quality analyses.

According to the report, fine particle pollution from U.S. power plants is responsible for hundreds of thousands of asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, as well as thousands of cases of lung cancer.

Fine particles are a mixture of pollutants, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, that are so small, they can be inhaled and absorbed into the bloodstream, according to the report.

In Texas, the report states that coal-fired power plants cause 6,915 asthma attacks and 334 non-fatal heart attacks. Texas ranks sixth in mortality, hospital admission, and heart attack rates, with Houston ranking nineteenth for metro areas.

"We have the technology to clean up these dirty power plants," said Luke Metzger, advocate for the Texas Public Interest Research Group at a press conference announcing the release of the report of Wednesday.

The studies, which focused only on power plant emissions, state that, "The Bush Administration�s so-called "Clear Skies" proposal would result in 4,000 additional preventable, premature deaths each year," touting that another plan, the Jeffords bill, would be more effective in eliminating the harmful pollutants.

In addition to the health risks enumerated, the study referenced environmental issues including Ozone damage and Mercury pollution

"There�s no safe level of exposure," said Rebecca Jensen, project manager for the Environmental Health Section Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine who also spoke at the press conference. She emphasized that this study actually underestimates the complete effects of pollutants because it focuses on certain pollutants only. "They�re fairly conservative in their estimates," said Jensen. "Hopefully this report will encourage people to take some action."

To view the full report, visit http://www.cleartheair.org/dirtypower

HOUSTON CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS TRANSPORTATION PROPOSAL
by Sarah Morgan

The 2025 Regional Transportation Plan, which looks ahead to the year 2025 to identify long-range transportation needs in the Houston-Galveston area, was up for debate again at the Houston City Council meeting on Thursday.

The Citizens� Transportation Coalition, along with other environmental organizations, conducted presentations encompassing a myriad of concerns. Though opponents have spoken about these concerns before City Council in the past, this was the first time the group was actually included on the Council�s agenda, a good sign for opponents who feel that this opportunity edges their concerns into the spotlight, instead of keeping the issue along the sidelines.

Catherine Pernot of the Gulf Coast Institute and John Wilson of the Galveston-Houston Association for Smog Prevention presented concerns, while Alan Clark, chief transportation planner for the Houston-Galveston Area Council, touted the plan�s necessity. Problems discussed included the lack of public review, a major concern with the RTP, as well as basic quality of life issues, flooding, and budgeting shortfalls.

The City of Houston�s budget doesn�t allow for the Texas Department of Transportation to maintain the existing roads, let alone the additional roadwork allotted for in the RTP, said Robin Holzer, CTC member.

Furthermore, opponents contend that the revised RTP, which was supposed to be revised in accordance with public response and was released on June 3, only changes the wording of the proposal, and does very little about the actual road projects that are proposed.

The draft 2025 RTP includes more than a hundred new road and toll road projects for Houston. These are part of thousands of individual projects proposed across the eight-county region. Hundreds of streets -- such as Gessner, Tidwell, Main Street, and Kirby Drive -- have been earmarked for expansion.

"Nobody�s safe," said Polly Ledvina, CTC member. "Pulling out one part of the plan doesn�t really solve the problem." She explained that one part of the plan facilitates the need for another and so on.

"We need to clear off these projects that have not had public review," said Ledvina, "There really needs to be a comprehensive response to what the communities are asking for."

Council Member Ada Edwards requested that the HGAC produce copies of the RTP for distribution to local civic clubs in an effort to gauge the public response, but opponents feel that this may not be enough.

"We need to pass a plan. There�s no question about that," said Ledvina, who added that some mayors of small cities are just now finding out about this plan.

Public comment was allowed, but not until about two hours after the end of the hour-long presentation. The draft RTP will be voted on at the end of June.

For more information on the RTP, visit:
http://www.h-gac.com/HGAC/Departments/Transportation/RTP

BLUEPRINT HOUSTON’S NASHVILLE PERSPECTIVE
by Sarah Morgan

Planning a city should be proactive, not reactive, said Rick Bernhardt, executive director of the Nashville metro-planning department, at a conference for Blueprint Houston, a group dedicated to building community support for a planning process in Houston.

Houston is not a perfect city. From flooding and traffic, to air and water quality, the city has her fair share of problems to contend with. As part of their effort to develop a plan, Blueprint Houston has hosted a series of planners from other cities around the nation to speak about their experiences in planning. The most recent, What is the Citizens� Role in Planning Houston�s Future: The Nashville Perspective, presented the planning model for Nashville, Tenn.

"Our job as planners is to educate people," said Bernhardt, who emphasized the fact that the plan should not be the city�s or the government�s plan, but that it should essentially be created by the community.

"Our mission is not to tell people what they ought to do, but to provide information," said Bernhardt.

Bernhardt detailed the process that Nashville has undergone to generate public participation. The metro-planning department has approached the public in a multitude of ways including everything from mail-outs and newspaper notices to actually setting up a mini-office within a community so residents can come in and speak to someone about their concerns and suggestions.

For Houston, the concerns are obvious. At a Blueprint Houston meeting in 2003, Houstonians discussed what their vision for the city was, resulting in a list of priorities. Better transportation, government, streets and sidewalks, cleaner air and a vibrant economy topped the list, according to Blueprint Houston.

To confront these problems head on, Bernhardt suggested a series of actions. Among them was a concept he termed, "smart growth." Smart growth should encompass a plan to handle the city�s growth over the next 20 years including calculations on how much land will be used and how much road work will be required. Using these numbers now, as opposed to waiting 20 years when the growth problems are at the door, allows for more concise planning which would require less land and less road work.

Houston has a long way to go before such a concise plan can be created. However, Robert Eury, chariman for Blueprint Houston, feels that Houston�s future is promising.

"There�s a very strong level of interest within our city government," Eury said, "There�s a lot of room to do something really wonderful here."

NATURAL LEGACY TRANSITION AND NEW PROGRAM

Natural Legacy is a non-profit organization focused on raising the level of awareness in education for schools concerning the environment through areas of land stewardship, nature education, and hands-on experience in programs that allow the students to artistically express themselves. Debbie Rhodes, Founder and executive director for the past four years, is leaving for Sydney, Australia in June and passes the torch to the new director, Lisa Caruthers. In a farewell letter posted on their Web site, Caruthers says, "Through Natural Legacy, I was able to take small steps towards this vision. I am happy to have discovered countless others in this community who are helping Houston's youth learn about and conserve our natural environment." Along with a new director, beginning June 12, Natural Legacy begins a new program with the Harris County After-School Initiative - a program focused on the nature education and creative use of green space. Lisa Caruthers believes "the program will broaden their services to the communities and serve as a clearinghouse for after school programs." For more information, contact Lisa Caruthers at (713) 696-1336, email: lcaruthers@hcde-texas.org or visit http://www.naturallegacy.com/index.htm

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION TURNS 100

Sunday, June 6 marked the one hundredth birthday of the American Lung Association. ALA is one of the oldest health organizations that promote the prevention of lung disease. Originally established in 1904 to find a treatment and cure for tuberculosis, the ALA of Texas has been established by the state as a quasi-branch of the Texas Department of Health. Within 50 years, TB was almost eradicated in Texas as well as in the United State. ALA continues to fight lung diseases like asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory aliments, and to promote lung health. For more information on the Houston and Southeast Region contact, (800) LUNG-USA, or visit http://www.texaslung.org

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP

Non-profit organizations like Buffalo Bayou Partnership serve as an advisory resource and liaison among groups pursuing urban development and design, flood management, landscape, access and transportation, and other various bayou functions and events. Together with civic, environmental, governmental and business representatives, they collaborate to seek ways to increase community involvement and develop and facilitate improvements to Buffalo Bayou and green space. Some of Buffalo Bayou Partnership�s major accomplishments include raising over $40 million in private and public funds for Buffalo Bayou's improvement over the past six years. Buffalo Bayou�s events include their canoe tours and, to recognize Father's day, a canoe outing is scheduled for Sunday, June 20, 1-5:30 pm. Also, the Bayou Buddies will host the "Blues on the Bayou" in October. For more information about Buffalo Bayou Partnership and events contact, (713) 752-0314 or visit: http://www.buffalobayou.org/

CANON ENVIROTHON

Annual competition for high school students throughout North America, designed as a way to teach kids about environmental education. The best teams from 47 states and Canadian provinces compete at a summer play-off during July or August on a selected topic. To expose students to diverse environmental issues, ecosystems, and topography, a different state or province hosts the Canon Envirothon each year. In addition to the actual competition, the event also includes social, cultural, and educational activities organized by the Canon Envirothon Host Committee.
http://www.envirothon.org/competition/Canon2004/index.htm

CONSUMER GUIDE DETAILS ILLS AND ALTERNATIVES FOR COMMON PRODUCTS

A free online consumer guide published in March by the Worldwatch Institute describes the environmental, social, and health harms associated with a wide range of products, including appliances, baby products, DVDs, clothing, cell phones, and food. The guide takes a behind the scenes look at how products are made, and offers simple advice and alternatives that enable people to reduce some of the ills associated with the things they buy.
For each product, the guide also describes successful efforts by governments, businesses, and nonprofit groups around the world to reduce negative impacts associated with common products.
http://www.worldwatch.org/pubs/goodstuff

NEW REPORT IN PARKS FOR PEOPLE SERIES

The Trust For Public Land’s Parks for People initiative works in cities across America to ensure that everyone--in particular every child--enjoys access to a park, playground, or open space. A new Parks for People report by Peter Harnik, director of TPL's Center for City Park Excellence, highlights the need for parks in Newark, New Jersey. The report's release follows by several months the publication of TPL's Parks for People white paper, which makes the case for new city parks nationwide. Upcoming Parks for People publications will focus on other US cities.
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=13843&folder_id=175

A HANDBOOK FOR ACTIVISTS

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Wilderness Act, Wilderness Forever has created a handy-dandy guide to taking action. Learn how to draft your own action letters, organize enjoyable activism events, and get in touch with local media.
To obtain your own tree-free version of the guide:
http://www.wildernessforever.org/action/index.html
Learn more about the Wilderness Act:
http://www.wilderness.org/OurIssues/Wilderness/act.cfm

CONSERVATION ACROSS BOUNDARIES EDUCATION COURSE

Conservation Across Boundaries’s Enhancing Wildlife Conservation through Education is a fully-funded, two-week course for junior and senior high school science teachers. The course is being held June 12-25, 2004. To download a brochure and application, visit www.boone-crockett.org, http://www.eih.uh.edu/education/bboard/cabflyer_2004_small.pdf or contact Selma Glasscock, Welder Wildlife Foundation, selmaglass@aol.com for more information. Application deadline: March 30, 2004. $125 application fee.

SEASIDE CLUB BECKONS TO TEXAS TEACHERS

Texas A&M University's Marine Advisory Service (MAS) will be hosting two development workshops for Texas educators on the environment, and natural resources in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Participates who are teachers, science curriculum specialists, or department heads working in public and private schools are encouraged to register. Training sessions for elementary school educators are June 28-30; training for secondary school educators will take place July 7-9. For more information or to enroll, contact (979) 863-2940 or email lbeach@neo.tamu.edu.

EPA SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS

The EPA Summer Opportunities for Students website is now up and running. The site provides a web portal through which students may enter to learn about EPA programs, offices, and summer employment opportunities. They also will be able to submit a job application directly to the EPA location where there is a vacancy.
http://www.epa.gov/ohros/student