Michigan Chapter Update
June 7, 2015
In this Issue:
- Pipeline Secrecy Bill: Your Voice Still Needed
- Palisades Nuclear Plant Owner Seeks "Regulatory Relief"
- Shut Down of Enbridge Line 5 at Mackinac Straits Called For
- Aaron Mair Elected as Sierra Club President
- Less=More Working to Address Lake Erie Toxic Algae Bloom
- Help the Less=More Campaign and Sustainable Agriculture in Michigan
- Chapter Retreat in August Includes Live Wildlife
- Cecilia's Pathetic Plea for a Laptop
- Enjoy and Explore: Sylvania Wilderness
PUBLIC OPPOSITION HOLDS UP PIPELINE SECRECY BILL: YOUR VOICE STILL NEEDED!
Thanks to an outpouring of
outrage and concern across the state, the
Pipeline Secrecy Bill, HB 4540 has been
stalled in the House Oversight and Ethics committee! Massive energy corporations, including
Enbridge and
Michigan's utilities, are putting a tremendous amount of pressure on legislators to pass this bill.
Supporters of HB 4540 seek to
shut down the public's right to know potential health, safety and environmental risks posed by oil and gas pipelines, power plants, transmission lines, and refineries.
In today's edition of the
Michigan Chapter Update you'll read about Sierra Club's work to move our state to clean energy and off dirty, polluting fossil fuels.
Your right to know what is happening with these kinds of facilities is being threatened by HB 4540.
This bill is clearly a test case - if HB 4540 passes in the Great Lakes state we expect it to show up throughout the country. Communities and citizen organizations are fighting back nationwide against property rights violations, environmental threats and health concerns raised by the
massive acceleration in pipeline building and natural gas boom. Let's stop this bad idea from becoming law in Michigan to protect our economy, our communities and our children's future!
Take action now to stop the Pipeline Secrecy bill proposed in the Michigan House! With your help, we can stop this legislation! Visit this link to tell your representatives to protect the safety of their constituents and the environment!
PALISADES NUKE OWNER SEEKS "REGULATORY RELIEF" TO EXTEND PLANT LIFE BY DECADES
Owners of the Palisades Nuclear Plant are seeking "regulatory relief" to keep this plant running despite a litany of serious problems. Photo BeyondNucelar.org
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Palisades Nuclear Plant, considered by experts to pose one of the
greatest risks to public health and the environment of any such plant in the country, is seeking
unprecedented "regulatory relief" from the federal
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) which would allow the plant to extend its operations for decades beyond its current retirement date.
The power plant, located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Covert Township, Michigan, has a
long, troubled history of safety and environmental concerns. The current owner,
Entergy Nuclear has failed to provide upkeep and maintain safety standards for Palisades, including failing to test the safety of its reactor pressure vessel, the nuclear heart of the plant. Now, Entergy has applied for further and unprecedented "regulatory relief," which includes
lowering the safety standards of its already-embrittled reactor and extend its operation date.
The plant hosts grave risks, where
an accident at Palisades could ruin a significant portion of
Michigan's agricultural industry and
contaminate drinking water for millions who live in the Great Lakes region. A
coalition of environmental organizations, including
Beyond Nuclear and
Don't Waste Michigan, has intervened to urge that the NRC deny Entergy's proposal for regulatory relief.
You can take action: ask Michigan's US Senators Stabenow and Peters to request that
Palisades Nuclear Plant safety be investigated by the Government Accountability Office and investigate the raiding of Palisades' decommissioning fund. In addition, the plant should be banned from storing its
hundreds of tons of dangerous radioactive waste in defective containers just 150 yards from Lake Michigan's water.
The Sierra Club policies call for wastes to be stored in Hardened On-Site Storage at a less risky location.
Contact Senator Debbie Stabenow at (202) 224-4822 and Senator Gary Peters at (202) 224-6221 to voice your concerns about this plant's danger and demand action!
Want to do more?
Contact Mark Muhich to find out more about formation of a Michigan Chapter Nuclear Free Committee.
REPORT: SHUT DOWN ENBRIDGE STRAITS PIPELINES PENDING FULL ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
MI Chapter Chair David Holtz (second from right) on
Mackinac Island with (from left) Gary Street of For
Love of Water (FLOW), Kate Madigan of Michigan
Environmental Council (MEC), volunteer Deb Hansen,
and Jim Lively of the Groundwork Center for Resilient
Communities. |
On a cold, rainy day on Mackinac Island,
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter Chair David Holtz joined with tribal and environmental representatives to call
Governor Rick Snyder, Attorney General Bill Schuette and DEQ Director Dan Wyant to
shut down Enbridge's two 62 year old crude oil pipelines running through the Straits of Mackinac pending a full look at environmental threats and alternatives. A
report prepared for (FLOW)For Love of Water by engineers and scientists was publicly released at the May 27th event at the beginning of the Detroit Regional Chamber's Mackinac Policy Conference.
Gary Street, former Director of Engineering, Dow Environmental–AWD Technologies, spoke at the press conference
on behalf of the expert team which prepared the report
. Street explained that conditions in the Great Lakes themselves have changed dramatically in the past sixty years, creating
problems never anticipated when the pipelines were designed and built. In particular, the report cites the presence of
zebra mussels on the pipeline, an invasive species which entered the Great Lakes through ballast water after the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened up in 1959. Zebra mussel excrement has a
corrosive effect on exposed steel, according to scientific studies, and
video footage of the Line 5 pipelines taken in 2013 by the
National Wildlife Federation clearly shows them covered in growth and debris, including zebra mussels.
"It’s clear from these scientific findings that Line 5 should be shut down and an open, public process immediately begun to consider the best way to avoid a catastrophic oil spill into the Great Lakes, home to 20 percent of the world’s fresh surface water," said
Liz Kirkwood, Executive Director of FLOW. "The public has a right to know the risk and to expect leadership from the governor and his task force led by
Attorney General Bill Schuette and
DEQ Director Dan Wyant." The Task Force, which has been meeting behind closed doors since June 2014, has not yet announced a date for release of their recommendations.
Street, Kirkwood and Holtz were joined by
Aaron Payment, Tribal Chairman, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, and
Bruce Wallace, national board chair of the National Wildlife Federation. The
Groundwork Center for Resilient Communities(formerly known as Michigan Land Use Institute) and the
Michigan Environmental Council were also instrumental in the press conference and release of the report. Read the
full press release and
FLOW's report. If you would like to join or support this work, please contact
David Holtz or
Anne Woiwode.
Aaron Mair of New York was elected
President of Sierra Club's national Board
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NEW SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT SEEKS TO EXPAND DIVERSITY
The
Sierra Club's newly elected president Aaron Mair hopes to
challenge the historical norms and goals associated with the American environmental movement. As the
first-ever African American president of the Club, Mair sees the need for a more diverse crowd to possess a greater say in grassroots activity and overall goals at Sierra Club for years to come.
For Mair, this perspective stems from over
three decades of environmental justice work. 31 years ago, he began grassroots environmental justice organizing, including rallying a community in Arbor Hill, New York, a city where
a toxic incinerator was causing respiratory illnessesamong local residents. Two of these residents were Mair's own daughters.
"Nature knows no difference between black and white,
" Mair said. "… It's about the people bringing about change.
The climate movement isn't about politicians; it's about the grassroots."
Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune shared in this optimistic attitude, similarly hopeful about expanding the voices within Sierra Club. "With [Mair's] leadership, we're making progress toward becoming
an organization that empowers everyone affected by climate disruption, including those on the front lines of environmental injustice," Brune said. "This is a historic moment for the Sierra Club."
Photo courtesy of Jeff Vanuga, USDA/NRCS |
LESS=MORE WORKING TO ADDRESS LAKE ERIE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOM
It's that time of year when
factory farm operators empty lagoons that have held the waste of thousands of animals all winter and spread it on fields to dispose of it in a supposedly ecologically sound manner. Unfortunately, this waste—
a toxic brew of pathogens, antibiotics, and chemicals in addition to manure—often gets into nearby waterways due to
spills, leaks or the occasional intentional dumping. When that happens, it sets up a chain of events that can lead to disasters like
last summer's Lake Erie algae bloom, which involved the growth of a toxin that poisoned the drinking water for more than 400,000 people in Toledo, Ohio, and southern Michigan for two days in August.
The
story of how dangerous levels of microcystin ended up in the water supply of Ohio's fourth-largest city is in large part the story of how we grow our food today. We like cheap food and
most of us buy meat, dairy, poultry and eggs at the supermarket or restaurant that come from heavily-subsidized, industrial-scale livestock facilities.Phosphorus in the animal waste from these facilities as well as crop fertilizer from operations growing corn to feed these animals in southern Michigan runs off into local waterways that lead to Lake Erie where, in warm temperatures, it can nurture microcystin.
Even if we go out of our way to buy
local, sustainable products from farmers markets and local sources,
our tax dollars still go to support polluting factory farms and the crops that fuel the animals. Sierra Club has been battling this kind of pollution since the late 1990s, fighting for stronger laws, regulations and enforcement of animal factories. And we spearheaded Less=More,
a coalition that seeks to end subsidies to polluting factory farms and shift support to sustainable agriculture.
HELP THE LESS=MORE CAMPAIGN AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
What happened in Lake Erie wasn't a fluke. It will happen again there or somewhere else, because industrial agriculture dominates our food landscape. We're working hard to change that reality, and you can help. Get involved in Less=More today!
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WILLIAMSTON BASED "NATURE DISCOVERY" BRINGS WILD ANIMALS TO ANNUAL RETREAT
Join us to see Jim McGrath present
Michigan's wild, native species! |
This year's
annual retreat will include various recreational activities to appeal to all age groups, including wildlife presentations from
Nature Discovery based out of Williamston, Michigan. The organization works to educate audiences about indigenous wildlife and
the importance of protecting biodiversity.
A wildlife expert will focus on the
diverse group of animals that the state of Michigan hosts. This will include over 40 species of turtles, frogs, salamanders, and other species native to the state. Presentations include live
predator/prey relationships, real representations of each
animal's habitat and how each occupies its niche.
The activity allows the audience to
participate by closely inspecting the animals as well as asking questions about their traits and the most effective ways that humans can ensure their protection. The presentation will show retreat participants
how climate change affects these especially vulnerable creatures.
Don't forget to register for the retreat soon so that you can enjoy this activity and
many more!
Visit our eBay page to help us provide scholarships for those who want to attend this year's retreat. Contact Cecilia Garcia for more information.
CECILIA'S PLEA FOR A LAPTOP
Help Cecilia Get Back to Work with a New Computer! |
Cecilia Garcia, a
dedicated member of our Michigan Chapter staff takes care of our everyday logistics, including organizing our annual retreat, managing member concerns and just about everything else. Unfortunately, what Cecila also deals with is an archaic laptop that gives her daily struggles.
We're asking supporters to
spare a few dollars if possible to help this overachieving member of the team purchase a new laptop that will speed up efficiency in the office and make her life a little easier.
As a non-profit, Sierra Club works to
serve both the environment and the people who occupy it. However, we need the critical tools to continue carrying out these missions.
It's everyday people who make our everyday work fighting for environmental protection a success!
Thanks for helping out and allowing Cecilia to do what she does best!
Contact Jan O'Connell at 616-956-6646 or jan.oconnell@sierraclub.org to help, OR just send a check made out to
Sierra Club Michigan Chapter to 109 E. Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906. Donations to the Sierra Club are not tax-deductible because they support our effective citizen based advocacy and lobbying efforts! You can also
click here to make a secure donation online.
EXPLORE AND ENJOY! SYLVANIA WILDERNESS
Sierra Club is committed to "exploring, enjoying and protecting the planet." The Michigan Chapter Update includes features on exploring and enjoying places in Michigan. Chapter Conservation Director Anne Woiwode talks about one of her favorite places: Sylvania Wilderness in the Ottawa National Forest
Sylvania wilderness is a paddler's paradise, with thirty-
four named lakes. Photo by John Rebers
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The
Sylvania Wilderness, on the Wisconsin border near
Watersmeet, sits on the divide between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basins, making the
crystal clear waters in the extraordinary complex of lakes found there almost
chemically identical to rainfall. With
no motors allowedwithin the wilderness boundaries, paddlers enjoy an exquisite sense of solitude on the
thirty-four named lakes found in the
18,327 acre wilderness. Sierra Club was instrumental in securing Congressional designation of Sylvania and nine other Michigan Forest Service wildernesses in 1987, and the wisdom of that designation becomes more apparent every year.
Please plan your trip carefully - make sure you obtain up to date
maps, carry a compass and be prepared with whatever gear you will need for your planned activities, with a margin for error to protect against unforeseen mishapsdominated by
ancient red and white pines surround the lakes, and at times visitors will delight in
rare orchids and wildflowers.
Common loonsclaim these lakes as their own, so during the summer months you can almost guarantee that you'll hear their haunting calls.
Wolves, eagles, and
ospreyare also found in the area.
Visitors can enjoy this area all year round with
skiing and
snow shoeing as an option in the winter, as well as
hiking trails. Most visitors enjoy the area from
kayaks or
canoes, starting their adventure at the carry down boat ramps on
Clark Lake or
Crooked Lake. Nearby outfitters are available to provide gear and guidance on enjoying Sylvania.
Fishing is allowed with a state permit and special regulations for the area available at the Entrance Station. A limited number of well dispersed
campsites are found within the wilderness in order to protect the delicate ecosystem, and must be reserved. Drive in camping is also available outside of the wilderness at the
Clark Lake campground. Part of Crooked Lake is outside the wilderness and a handful of homes and a small non-motorized resort occupy part of the northern lobe of the lake. You may encounter small motorized boats outside the wilderness boundary on Crooked Lake.
Visiting Sylvania wilderness should be on the list for everyone who wishes to know parts of Michigan that are
virtually unchanged from the time of first human habitation. Our efforts under state and federal laws to
protect exquisite areas like this pay off for generations yet to come, but
vigilance is essential to defend and protect them into the future.
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