COMMUNITY GROUPS RAISE AWARENESS THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL THEATER PROGRAM
by Sarah Morgan

Successes may often seem few and far between for those fighting for environmental justice, but area groups and activists, with support from the US Environmental Protection Agency, are touting one success story in a way that creatively educates and encourages more involvement.

Mothers for Clean Air and the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch are collaborating with community activists and the U.S. EPA to bring a one-act play, "Restricted Area," to Houston communities. The play, written by local playwright and Texas Southern University instructor Thomas Meloncon, focuses on lead poisoning, air pollution, and environmental justice issues associated with the Many Diversified Interests EPA Superfund site in Houston's Fifth Ward.

The MDI site has a long history, starting out in 1926 as the site of the Texas Electrical Steel Casting Company's foundry. Located on what is now an abandoned 36-acre tract of land at 3617 Baer Street, the site was eventually purchased by MDI in the 1990s. After the company filed for bankruptcy in 1992, the on-site facilities were demolished under order of the bankruptcy court in 1995. Since then, the Fifth Ward community has been trying to work with the EPA to develop a clean up and redevelopment plan that meets the community's needs.

Currently, the site is adjacent to Blanche K. Bruce Elementary School, as well as several residential areas. The EPA estimates that the population near the site is about 50,000. Contaminants at the site include lead, arsenic, asbestos, according to the EPA.

"There are houses that are built right next to it. There was contamination there for a long time that no one ever paid attention to," said Jane Laping, executive director for Mothers for Clean Air. "Restricted Area" tells the story of area residents who became involved by attending meetings, making plans, and helping to educate and organize the community.

Laping said community residents eventually developed their own plan, which did not match up with the EPA's plans. Through discussions and meetings, the EPA agreed to work more closely with the community, and to a more extensive clean up of the site.

Meloncon, a Fifth Ward resident, visited the MDI Superfund site, incorporated information and feedback from an NIEHS Community Environmental Forum Theater event produced at Blanche K. Bruce Elementary, and interviewed Superfund site neighbors before writing the play. Meloncon also collaborated with John Sullivan, co-director of the Public Forum & Toxics Assistance Division at the NIEHS, in translating toxicological data and concepts from environmental risk assessment into the plot and dialogue of the play.

These factors make the play unique, according to Sullivan. He said "Restricted Area" is part of an ongoing pilot project aiming to demonstrate that community theater may be used as a means to provide accurate information about environmental health and to encourage collaboration among citizens, community organizations, physicians, and scientists.

Though the clean-up is moving along, Laping said the battle is still not over.

"There's still work that needs to be done," she said. "The big question remaining is how the property will be developed. Will there be a developer who wants to develop in accordance with the community's wishes?"

Several performances of "Restricted Area" have been scheduled throughout May. The first will be May 6 at 10:30 am, followed by a 3 pm show on May 7. The 3 pm show will be followed by a special Community Forum Theater performance at 5 pm, at which audience members will be encouraged to participate and express their own views. These performances are free and will be at the Julia C. Hester House gymnasium, 2020 Solo Street. Shows are scheduled for May 13 and May 14 at 7pm at Talento Bilingue de Houston, 333 South Jensen Drive. A question and answer session featuring the playwright (as available), cast, and representatives from Mothers for Clean Air and the NIEHS center will follow each performance.

For more information, call Mothers for Clean Air at (713) 526-0110 or NIEHS at (409) 747-1246.

SUPREME COURT SAYS CITIZENS CAN SUE FOR PESTICIDE DAMAGES
by Sarah Morgan

Despite the Bush administration and Dow Chemical Company's push to protect chemical manufacturers from lawsuits, last week the Supreme Court ruled that citizens damaged by pesticides have the right to sue companies manufacturing these products.

Dow Chemical Company argued that, because its products are registered with the Environmental Protection Agency, they should be protected from lawsuits, but the Court decided federal pesticide law does not provide adequate protection for individuals.

According to the daily Internet fact sheet Beyond Pesticides, the case, Bates et al v. Dow AgroSciences LLC, involves Texas peanut farmers, who argued the Dow herbicide Strongarm (diclosulam) ruined their crops. The farmers were prevented from suing after Dow successfully argued in a lower District court that registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act protects the manufacturers from lawsuits.

The Bush administration sides with Dow, reversing the position of the Clinton administration as set in Etcheverry v. Tri-Ag Service, Bayer Corp, et al in March of 2000.

Dow supporters argue that such a ruling would open the floodgates for frivolous lawsuits, but the Court disagreed, saying in the written statement that, "We have been pointed to no evidence that such tort suits led to a 'crazy-quilt' of FIFRA standards or otherwise created any real hardship for manufacturers or for EPA."

To read the full decision, visit this website .

WATER FESTIVAL 2005

Join downtown workers, school groups and others to discover more ways to protect our water resources at the 12th annual City of Houston Water Festival, Thursday, May 12th, from 10 am to 2 pm at City Hall Hermann Square. The festival will feature more than 40 exhibitors stationed around the City Hall reflection pool, lunch items from festival food vendors, and city and county water professionals and other environmental experts will be on hand to answer questions. Get your hands wet conducting experiments, cheer on students competing in water relay races and other exciting activities. For more information, visit http://www.houstonwaterconservation.org or call the Water Conservation Hotline at (713) 837-0473.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP: ANYTHING THAT FLOATS PARADE AND GARDENING VOLUNTEER DAYS

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership is gearing up for a busy season. Starting May 2, the Partnership will host Mondays in the Garden volunteer days. BBP conservation director Scott Barnes and conservation biologist Charriss York will meet volunteer gardeners at the Tapley Tributary every Monday at 9 am. The Tapley Tributary area has wildflower fields, a small prairie, wetlands, and riparian zones. With so much diversity, fabulous opportunities abound for weeding, pruning, planting, staking, watering, mulching, and other fun in the dirt. Tools and gloves will be provided, but participants are welcome to bring their own as well. Gardeners may also want to bring walking shoes, bug spray, and a hat. To sign up or find out more, contact Charriss York at cyork@buffalobayou.org. And BBP's 13th Annual Anything that Floats Parade in conjunction with Orange Show's Art Car Parade will be Saturday, May 14. The Anything That Floats Parade challenges you to bring your wildest, wackiest floating sculptures to Houston's own Buffalo Bayou. This year's festivities take place at Sesquicentennial Park, the parade starts at 3 pm and the Art Car/Anything That Floats After Party follows with food, drinks, music, Buffalo Bayou ArtPark performance artists, and a chance to see the wacky boats and cars up close. For more information or to sign up, please contact Buffalo Bayou Partnership at (713) 752-0314 or http://www.buffalobayou.org.

NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY: FIELD TRIP TO CANDY ABSHIER WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area is 207 acres along Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay, near Smith Point in Chambers County. The sanctuary is mostly coastal prairie with a 60-acre stand of live oaks along with several fresh-water ponds. The wildflower and coastal grass diversity along the way and within the sanctuary make it a favorite destination for our group. All NPSOT field trips gather for carpooling and directions at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center at 4501 Woodway. They will depart at 8:30 am. Bring a sack lunch, water, and shoes for all weather conditions/terrains. We normally return to the Arboretum parking lot following our picnic lunches. For more information, contact Glenn Olsen at (281) 345-4151 or http://www.npsot.org.

NATURE DISCOVERY CENTER SEEKS STAFF NATURALIST

The Nature Discovery Center crew is searching for an energetic and dynamic individual to join us as a staff naturalist. The applicant should have a college degree, preferably in biology, education, or a related field. Most importantly, the applicant should enjoy working with people, especially children, families, and teachers. This new staff member will become the coordinator of our Exhibits in Schools program. In addition to conducting trainings, responsibilities will include setting up and taking down installations and repairs of traveling exhibits. S/he will also help curate collections and Discovery Room displays as well as participating in other programs, including school field trips, special events, and summer and school-break camps. Pay begins at $18,000 per year, rising to $20,000 after a three-month training period. Perks include congenial coworkers and a great view of the park grounds. Please visit to learn more about the organization. Applicants should send CV or resume to Jenni Gillespie-Malone, Executive Director, at jmalone@naturediscoverycenter.org by May 30, 2005.

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