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Transit
America Bikes (posted 05/11/2005)
Federal amendment for Complete Streets'
Phone calls and e-mails to all members of the U.S. Senate are needed. For more information and talking points for congressional contacts, visit www.americabikes.org.
Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) plans to introduce on May 11, 2005 a “Complete Streets Amendment” to the Senate transportationbill(SAFETEA). The amendment would help ensure that state and local transportationagencies build and maintain roads to serve everyone who uses them – including people of all ages and abilities who are walking, bicycling, or taking transit.
info@americabikes.org
Phone:
202-833-8080
Transit
Environmental Law & Policy Center (posted 06/20/2005)
Amtrak Alert
President Bush has proposed eliminating federal funding for Amtrak. If Congress accepts this budget cut, then virtually all intercity passenger rail in America would likely be eliminated. Passenger rail service gives Americans a travel choice they have used increasingly since September 11, 2001. It serves many smaller communities that have few transportation alternatives, and it provides an important framework for the Midwest High-Speed Rail Network and similar proposed corridor developments around the nation.
Members of Congress are organizing across party lines to save Amtrak and strengthen passenger rail in America. Please ask your Representative to join the new Rail Caucus and to support legislation to provide money for Amtrak and for high-speed rail.
Tell me more
Subject:
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
(Edit Letter Below)
America needs a balanced transportation network that includes passenger rail. For better or for worse, our nation's transportation policy is to subsidize ALL modes of transportation, including highways, airports and airlines, waterways, and transit. To single out Amtrak for zero federal support is to further skew our transportation priorities in the wrong direction.
I am asking you to do three things to support passenger rail. First, I understand that Congressmen Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Mike Castle (R-Del.), and Rob Andrews (D-NJ) are forming a new Rail Caucus to coordinate bipartisan support for strong passenger rail for America. I urge you to join this group and work on behalf of its goals.
Second, please co-sponsor H.R. 1630, the three-year reauthorization of Amtrak. This will provide Amtrak the necessary funds to avoid bankruptcy while larger issues of Amtrak's reform are debated.
Third, I also urge you to co-sponsor H.R. 1631. Known as
Contact Name:
Jesse Auerbach
jauerbach@elpc.org
Phone:
312-795-3701
Fax:
312-795-3730
elpc.org
Watershed Alerts
Summit County MetroParks (posted 08/11/2005)
Hydro dam on the Cuyahoga
Metro Parks is preparing a study request document. This is also the time to send in formal letters to FERC. Write your own but also consider the park's comments: Section 3.4 of the Preliminary Application Document (PAD)lists resources the applicant claims would not suffer significant impacts. We take issue with this list. Especially disturbing is the statement that the loss of 4-acres of mature forest within the Gorge valley is insignificant.Metro Parks considers the loss of 4-acres a huge impact. Many of the trees on this side of the Gorge valley are greater than 1-meter in diameter and indicate old growth conditions.
Public hearings concerning Gorge Metro Park and the proposal to construct a hydroelectric plant on the Cuyahoga River were very successful. Many local, state, and federal agencies spoke out against this proposal, as did numerous conservation minded NGO's, and many concerned citizens and park patrons.
Contact Name:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary, Magalie R. Salas, 888 First Street, NE, Room 1A, Washington, D.C. 20426 RE: Metro Hydroelectric Company, Project Number P-12484
mjohnson@summitmetroparks.org
Phone:
330-634-0287
www.summitmetroparks.org/
Watershed Alerts
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network (posted 08/12/2005)
Regional watershed restoration plan
In July, the group released a draft of the Restoration Action Plan for 60 days of public comment. Recommendations include cleaning up pollution, ending sewage dumping in the lakes, preventing invasive species and more. To learn more and send your comments, visit www.RestoreTheLakes.org
A regional collaborative, comprised of Great Lakes states, federal agencies, local communities, businesses, etc. recently issued a $20 billion action plan to restore the Great Lakes.
Contact Name:
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund
grubbc@nwf.org
www.restorethelakes.org
Watershed Alerts
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund (posted 08/12/2005)
Making wise use of Great Lakes water
A revised agreement, known as Annex 2001, was released by Great Lakes governors and Canadian premiers on June 30th for a 60-day public comment period. This binding 'responsibility pact' provides rules for the withdrawal of water. To learn more and to leave a comment, visit www.GreatLakesForever.org
The Great Lakes has seen a massive water withdrawal and export proposals while experiencing local water shortages. Without stronger protections, Great Lakes water can be siphoned off.
Contact Name:
Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund
jskelding@nwf.org
Watershed Alerts
Ohio Environmental Council (posted 09/06/2005)
Improved home septic systems standards
Currently they are holding advisory committee meetings; ODH hopes to have public meetings late fall 2005. For more information visit http://www.odh.state.oh.us/ and type
The Ohio Department of Health is in the midst of writing draft rules for implementation of HB 231. This new authority will begin to solve the problems from failing home septic systems by setting improved standards.
oec@theOEC.org
Community Organizing
The Cleveland Colectivo (posted 11/22/2005)
Group seeks projects to support
We are looking for innovative ideas in which to invest. That’s where you come in. If you have a project that you would like to make a reality, take the first step—visit www.clevelandcolectivo.org or email info@clevelandcolectivo.org with your answers to these three simple questions.
1)In a paragraph, what is your proposal?
2)Why has no one else done this?
3)What makes you the right person to do this?
We welcome individuals, new businesses, and community projects to participate. Grant amounts will range between $500 and $5,000.
The Colectivo is a new group of friends, neighborhoods and colleagues. We pool our funds and share our energy to invest it back into projects that we see as worthwhile and exciting in Cleveland. Each member contributes to the Colectivo quarterly and together we choose projects to support.
Contact Name:
The Cleveland Colectivo
info@clevelandcolectivo.org
www.clevelandcolectivo.org
Conservation
Buckeye Forest Council (posted 08/15/2005)
National Forest Protection Act
For a list of cosponsors go to: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR03420:@@@P To read the bill: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:h3420ih.txt.pdf
Representatives James Leach (R-IA) and Louise Slaughter (D-NY) introduced the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act (HR 3420) on July 26, 2005. The bill puts America's National Forests off-limits to commercial logging, which would save taxpayers billions of dollars by redirecting funds to restore forests and help diversify the economies of communities that receive revenues from federal logging activities.
info@buckeyeforestcouncil.org
Conservation
Ohio Environmental Council (posted 10/25/2005)
Keep Logging and Drilling Out of State Parks
Please take time to write a letter to the legislature http://www.theoec.org/greenup_alert_oil.html
The Ohio General Assembly wants to open up YOUR public lands to timbering and oil and gas drilling. These activities will ruin the character and integrity of pristine Ohio wilderness, and foul YOUR recreational and camping areas with the noise and filth of large-scale logging and drilling. Taking advantage of spiking natural gas prices, The Ohio Oil and Gas Association is using the public fear about heating costs to leverage their supply-side extraction opportunities. Ohio House hearings have been predicated on the false notion that drilling for oil and gas on public lands will relieve rising natural gas prices this winter. But that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Contact Name:
Micah Vieux
micah@theoec.org
Phone:
614-487-7506
www.theoec.org/greenup_alert_oil.html
Clean Air
Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign (posted 01/24/2006)
Free Radon Detection Kits Available While Supplies Last
Homeowners can call Linda D. Kimble, American Lung Association of Ohio, (216) 532-8211 to get a free kit while supplies last.
The Cleveland Clean Air Century Campaign (a division of the American Lung Association of Ohio), is urging homeowners to start the New Year by having their homes tested for radon, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can enter homes through the soil or well water. Long-term exposure to radon is believed to cause 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the United States, and the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States - second only to smoking. Funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency, a limited number of free radon detection kits are being made available to Cleveland homeowners while supplies last.
Because radon is not regulated in Cleveland, it is up to owners to test their homes for the invisible, odorless gas. After leaving the kit in the home for a few days, the test kit is mailed to a laboratory for analysis and a report on radon levels will be sent back to the homeowner. Radon test kits are also sold at most hardware stores for less than $20. Look for kits certified by either the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) or the National Radon Safety Board (NRSB).
Homes found to have elevated radon concentrations can easily be fixed by a qualified radon mitigation contractor. Repair options range from sealing cracks in floors and walls, changing the flow of air into the building, and depressurization systems that move radon away from the home to safely dissipate outdoors. In new homes, potential radon problems can be minimized through a few inexpensive changes during the first stages of home construction. Ask your builder for details or visit www.HealthHouse.org
Contact Name:
Linda D. Kimble
lkimble@ohiolung.org
Phone:
216-532-8211
www.ohiolung.org/ccacc.htm
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