KEMP'S RIDLEY GROUPS SEEK COALITION MEMBERS, PUSH FOR YEAR-ROUND CLOSURES
by Sarah Morgan

The endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles' nesting season on the Texas coast has begun, and conservationists are asking for help in continuing their push for an extended and expanded closure in the South Texas area to further protect the species.

In 2000, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department set up a 7-1/2-month closure for five nautical miles from Corpus Christi to the Mexican border, aimed to keep shrimpers out from December 1 until July 15. At that time, TPWD planned to re-evaluate the closure in five years. Now preservationists are concerned that what little protection these turtles have may be taken away altogether.

Groups such as HEART (Help Endangered Animals, Ridley Turtles) and the Sea Turtle Restoration Project are calling for a year-round closure extending for nine miles instead of five. The plan is to recruit as many organizations and individuals as possible to sign on in support of the extended closure, in order to make a strong showing at the TPWD meeting in August, said Carole Allen, chair of HEART and a 23-year turtle preservationist.

Currently, an additional closure covering the same area is in place, one that is supported by the shrimp industry, from May 15 to July 15, allowing the shrimp to grow so that shrimpers will have larger profits. But the TPWD closure also ends July 15, and shrimpers are piling into the Gulf in anticipation of work.

"Everybody that can get over to Texas is getting in that water because there hasn't been any shrimping for the past two months," said Allen.

Once shrimpers are free to trawl in the zone, turtle conservationists say the turtles are endangered, particularly in the south Texas area, a critical migratory corridor for the turtles. As the shrimping increases, so do the numbers of recorded turtle strandings. According to the National Park Service, from January 9 through 15, four stranded turtles were found. But, by the third week of April, 18 turtles were found dead or seriously injured, five of which were in the Galveston area. Many were missing heads and flippers, a sign that shrimpers' nets played a part in the turtles' injuries, said Allen.

The problem is compounded by shrimpers who fish without the mandatory turtle excluder devices on their trawls or who tie the exit hole shut with filament line, according to the Sea Turtle Restoration Project. The excluder devices are required by law and provide a way for turtles swept up during trawling to escape from the nets, but advocates say many shrimpers do not use the devices, and many turtles still die in the nets, especially larger turtles that cannot fit through the escape hatch.

"There are a lot of hard workers," said Allen, "but there are a lot of inhumane shrimpers out there also."

With an estimated 1,200 licensed shrimpers in the Gulf, problems associated with over-fishing and other damages caused by trawling are also a concern. The current 7-1/2-month closure was backed by recreational fishermen who complained that there weren't enough fish. Also, a moratorium on new shrimping permits for federal waters has been proposed and is currently waiting for Governor Rick Perry's approval. If it is approved, those who don't already have shrimping permits will not be allowed to obtain them. The moratorium is in response to out-of-state shrimpers trawling in Texas waters, as well as the decline of populations of certain species of fish.

Though the numbers of shrimpers are on the decline, Allen said her work never ends, as the Kemp's ridleys are classified as a "conservation dependant" species.

"That means if we don't protect them, then the whole thing's going to reverse and we're going to lose them," said Allen.

Federal biologist Donna Shaver told the Houston Chronicle that, as of 2003, the population of female turtles was about 3,200 worldwide, but would need to climb to about 10,000 to have the status of the species changed from endangered to threatened. In the 1940s, records estimate there were about 40,000 turtles nesting on the beaches of Mexico, but by the 1970s, population numbers were down to about 600, the Chronicle reported.

"The general population is getting better every year," Allen said, which is why the preservationists need to continue their work. If they let their guard down now, lawmakers might think the problem has gone away and protections can be cut back, she said.

That's why this year-round closure is so important, said Allen, and that's why they're asking for help. She stressed that groups wishing to support the request for a year-round, nine-mile closure do not have to be conservation organizations; any individual, family, business, church, Sunday school class, Boy or Girl Scout troop, school club, or any other group can add its name.

"Any group working to protect the quality of life can join," Allen said.

For more information, call Carole Allen at (281) 444-6204 or e-mail carole@seaturtles.org. More information is also available at http://www.seaturtles.org/actionalertdetails.cfm?actionAlertID=87

CLEAN AIR INTERSTATE RULE TAKES EFFECT, 2003 TRI DATA RELEASED
by Sarah Morgan

The US Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that the Clean Air Interstate Rule officially went into effect on May 12, with promises to reduce certain air pollutant emissions by more that 60 percent when fully implemented.

The EPA is touting the rule as "one of the top-five clean air regulations in US history," saying that CAIR will result in the largest pollution reductions and health benefits of any air rule in more than a decade.

The rule aims to control air pollutants across state boundaries, with estimates showing that by 2015, SO2 emissions in 28 eastern states and the District of Columbia will be cut by more than 70 percent and NOx emissions by more than 60 percent from 2003 levels.

According to an EPA press release, under CAIR, states will achieve the required emissions reductions using one of two options for compliance. The first requires power plants to participate in a two-stage, EPA-administered interstate cap and trade system. The second option requires facilities to meet air emission limits set by the individual state. More information concerning the rule can be found at http://www.epa.gov/cair/.

The EPA also announced the release of the 2003 Toxics Release Inventory, which shows a 6 percent decline in emissions from 2002, and an overall reduction of 42 percent since 1998.

The report also documented some increases in mercury emissions, PCBs, and dioxin since last year's reports, which the EPA attributed to "reporting anomalies."

The EPA said over 23,000 facilities reported on approximately 650 chemicals for the 2003 TRI, and the report includes toxics managed in landfills and underground injection wells as well as those released into the water and air.

The TRI data is available at http://www.epa.gov/tri/tridata/tri03/index.htm. A TRI explorer mapping tool is also available at http://www.epa.gov/triexplorer.

HOUSTON BIODIESEL BATCH PARTY

The staff at Houston Biodiesel will be brewing a small batch of biodiesel and exhibiting the process and benefits on Saturday, May 21, from noon to 5 pm, at 2970 Farrell Road. Homebrewed beer and snacks will be available, and biodiesel samples will be given out to those with diesel engines. Kids are welcome to join the party. For safety, the hazardous step in the biodiesel brewing process will be completed before the party begins. Green Mountain Energy will also have a booth at the event and will donate $25 to the Citizens' Environmental Coalition for every new customer that signs up during the event. Call (281) 443-9009 or visit http://www.houstonbiodiesel.com for more information.

GALVESTON BAY MARSH MANIA NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The Galveston Bay Foundation is in need of volunteers to help restore extremely valuable wetlands during the Marsh Mania event, May 21, at either the Armand Bayou Nature Center or the Sweetwater Nature Preserve. The event will include prizes, T-shirts, a free lunch, and lots of mud. The Galveston Bay Estuary Program is proud to support this great event, which helps implement The Galveston Bay Plan. Please see the Galveston Bay Estuary Program Events Calendar for more bay-related happenings. Visit http://www.galvbay.org/MarshMania_05.cfm for more information or to register.

LIVABLE HOUSTON MEETING: HOUSTON TRANSIT SOLUTIONS

Houston has six big "cities", each of which has more jobs than downtown Miami or San Diego. The Gulf Coast Institute and the Houston-Galveston Area Council host Livable Houston/Smart Growth lunchtime meetings, open to the public, on the fourth Wednesday of every month. At this month's meeting, Gulf Coast Institute president David Crossley will discuss his proposal for a backbone transit line to connect all of Houston's cities and create an urban zone that has 25 percent of all the jobs in the region in it - with easy connections for suburban areas. The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 25, from noon-1:30 pm, at the Houston-Galveston Area Council, 3555 Timmons, second floor. Bring your lunch. For more information, call (713) 523-5757 or visit http://www.gulfcoastinstitute.org.

TWO FULL-TIME, SALARIED POSITIONS OPEN AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM

School Programs Naturalist: The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center seeks a naturalist to create, implement, and evaluate multi-disciplinary, inquiry-based, and standards-based programs for school audiences, to increase students' understanding of and appreciation for the natural world. Responsibilities include developing, implementing, marketing, scheduling, and coordinating school programs and activities, summer, outreach, and other programs as needed; assisting with the evaluation of school curriculum for appropriateness, effectiveness, and support of the Arboretum's mission and conservation messages; and overseeing and supporting coordination of appropriate curriculum with national and state education standards. A bachelor's degree and a credential as a primary or secondary school teacher is preferred. Two years' experience in a formal or informal educational setting is required. Ability to read, write, and speak Spanish desired. The candidate must have considerable inter personal skills and an appreciation of customer service.

Interpretive Naturalist: The arboretum also seeks a naturalist to participate in and plan, develop, evaluate, and support the implementation of interpretive, conservation, and educational programs for schools, youth and adult groups, as well as the general public. The successful candidate will coordinate Scout Badge Programs, design and develop displays, exhibits, and interpretive facilities, as well as newsletters, marketing, promotional, or interpretive materials, such as flyers, brochures, event calendars, and training materials. Responsibilities will also include assisting in designing and implementing conservation projects on Arboretum grounds, and training and supervising volunteers. This position calls for extensive interaction with the public, requiring an appreciation of customer service and excellent teaching skills. A bachelor's degree in education, environmental education, science or related field, experience working with children in an educational or camp envi ronment, knowledge of principles of natural interpretation and of local flora and fauna are desired. Also, a minimum of two years' experience in program planning and implementation, recruiting and working with volunteers, and environmental/outdoor education with varying audiences is required.

To view full position descriptions and the application process, visit http://www.houstonarboretum.org.

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