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VOLUME 30 • NUMBER 6 N OVEMBER / DECEMBER 1998

Eleven Point National Scenic Riverphoto by Tom Kruzen

Nov/Dec 98 Ozark Sierran 1/25/16 10:33 PM Page 1

C h a p t e rE x e c u t i v eC o m m i t t e eA T L A R G E :

Keet Kopecky, Chapter Chair, Treasurer,9211 Olmstead, Kansas City, MO 64138(816)966-9544Andr ew Gondzur, Vice Chair4037 McDonald Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116Gale Burr us,Secretary, SC Council Delegate9828 Willow Avenue, #1A, Kansas City, MO 64134 (816)763-5120Ginger Harris 556 Oakhaven La., St. Louis, MO 63141 (314)432-2618Wallace McMullen2805 Mohawk Dr., Jeff. City, MO 65101 (573)636-6067Bob Sherrick, Newsletter Editor10807 E. 205th St., Peculiar, MO 64078 (816)779-6708Rebecca Schedler, Membership Chair,.1103 Jewell Avenue, Apt. 1, Columbia, MO 65203 (573)443-4401Claus Wawrzinek,P.O. Box 45542, Kansas City, MO 64171 (816)561-7863

G R O U P R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

Eastern Missouri Group: Ben Jones2001 Schaefer Pl., St. Louis, MO 63139 (314)645-2636Thomas Hart Benton Group: Gina DeBarthe2036 James Downey Rd., Independence, MO 64057 (816)383-6466 or (816)257-1198Osage Group: (vacant)Trail of Tears Group: Brian Alwor th2826 Whitener St., Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 (573)334-7978White River Group: Bob RodgersRR 5 Box 323, Rogersville, MO 65742 (417)753-5051

C hap ter Com mi t tee C hai r s Conservation: Caroline Pufalt13415 Land-O-Woods, #3, St. Louis, MO 63141 (314)878-3165

Transportation: Ron McLinden3236 Coleman Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111 (816)931-0498

Highlands Activity Section:Lori Anne Clark3027 Hogan Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109

Political: vacant

Population: Robert Elwor th, M.D.RR 2 Box 5324, Willard, MO 65781 (417)742-2775

Legal Chair, Deferred Gifts Officer: Roger Hershey18308 Hanthorne Drive, Independence, MO 64057 (816)795-7533

Legislative:Joe Engeln2407 Topaz, Columbia, MO 65203

Sierra Club Board of Directors:Roy Hengerson2201 Weathered Rock Rd., Jefferson City, MO 65105(573)635-8066

S t a ff C hap ter Of f i c eKen Midkif f, Program DirectorTerri Folsom, Administrative Assistant914 N. College, Suite 1, Columbia, MO 65203 (573)815-9250 voice/answering machine (573)442-7051 FAX/modem(800)628-5333 Water Quality Hotline

EM G O f f i c eClaralyn Price-Bollinger, Staff Member325 N. Kirkwood Rd., Suite 100St. Louis, MO 63122

(314)909-0890 (phone)(314)909-9770 (fax)

The Ozark Sierran is published sixtimes a year by the Ozark Chapterof the Sierra Club. Annual dues ofSierra Club members pay for sub-scription to this publication. Non-members may subscribe for $15per year.Items for publication: ContactBob Sherrick via E-mail at [email protected] or phone (816) 779-6708, PRIOR TO SENDING,for information on how to submit articles. The editors reserve the right to edit articles! Material may beedited for length, content, or clarity. It is our job to help youcommunicate. If you have strong creative ownership of your writ-ing, and wish to review your edited article before publication,consider your deadline 10 days prior to the published deadline.With notice, we will be happy to work with you.

Reproduction quality photographs (prints) or artwork are dearlywelcome. Pleeease: send us photos...

The published deadline is the real, honest-to-goodness,drop-dead deadline—not a couple of days or a weeklater! Submissions received after the deadline are sub-ject to the possibility they won’t appear in the issue:you will feel bad and we will feel bad. Call us nasty, butwe are determined this newsletter will come out on

time!TheOZARKSIERRAN is produced on a Macintosh computer, sowe strongly prefer to receive material electronically (E-mail), oron a Mac or PC disk (3.5“), WITH A HARD COPY OF THE TEXT.Typed articles are also OK (must be received a few days beforethe deadline). All submissions must include name, address, andphonenumber of the author. If you want your submissionreturned (including your disk), please include a SASE.H a rd-worki ng, All-volunteer Edi torial and Production Staff : B o bS h e rrick, Editor; K eet K opecky, a n d Claus Wa w rz i n e k


mailto:[email protected]

Ozark Sierran N ov. / D e c. .’983

by Ken Midkiff,Ozark Chapter Director

I t is finally over. Two and one-halfyears after the Doe Run MiningCompany made applications to

drill 200 exploratory holes on 7,900acres of National Forest lands justnorth of the Eleven Point River,theysaw that the odds against them werejust too great. On Monday, October26,Doe Run withdrew all of itsapplications. Nothing left hanging. It isover.

But, to quote the Grateful Dead,what a long, strange trip it's been..

Consider all that hashappened:

☛ The Forest Service took over a yearto prepare an environmentalassessment - that by almost anystandard was inadequate.The

"preferred alternative" was to grantDoe Run the permits to conduct thedrilling, with few conditions.-We released our 40-page compilationof the past ten years environmentalviolations history of the lead miningcompanies in the Spring of 1997 andreceived press coverage throughoutthe Midwest.☛ We sent out about 26,000 alerts inthe Spring of 1997 asking ourmembers and the members of theAudubon Society and the Coalitionfor the Environment to write theForest Service and ask that thepermits be denied.The Forest Servicereceived over 4,000 letters.☛ Doe Run employees thenmobilized People for the West!(PFW!), a right-wing mining industryfront group, to stage a series of ralliesin Shannon,Oregon,Ripley and Dent

DOE RUN BACKS DOWNNO DRILLING AND NO MINING INELEVEN POINT RIVER AREA.Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt holds tough - sides

with Sierra Club and other environmental groups

Mine tailings at the Fletcher Lead Mine Phote:Don Horton


Ozark Sierran N ov. / D e c.’984

counties to gain support for miningamong local residents. One of the VicePresidents of Doe Run serves asPFW! Chapter President.☛ A local Sierra Club activist in theOzarks,working on our campaign tocounter the PFW! hyperbole,in thesummer of 1997 was beaten,ducttaped inside her van,and leftovernight - with our anti-miningbrochure taped in her mouth.☛ A few weeks later,some derangedperson mailed a dead cat to our WestPlains Post Office box - the returnaddress label from our miningbrochure was cut out and used as theaddress label for the package.☛ Attorney General Jay Nixon wrotea lengthy letter to the Forest Serviceoutlining the objections of his office tothe Environmental Assessment andthe apparent willingness of the ForestService to go along with Doe Run'splans. The Attorney General ofArkansas then wrote a similar letter.☛ The National Park Service thenweighed in - stating objections to theproposed drilling permits on the basisthat mining activities might impactthe flow of underground waters thatfeed the springs of the Ozark NationalScenic Riverways.☛ Because of the massive outpouringof public opposition,and the officialobjections by the Attorneys Generaland the Park Service, the issue wasreferred to the Secretary ofAgriculture,Dan Glickman,and theSecretary of the Interior, BruceBabbitt,for a decision.☛ A small group of anti-environmental members of Congresswrote a letter to the Secretaries ofInterior and Agriculture demanding toknow why this "routine administrativematter" was being held up. Amongthose signing this letter were USRepresentatives Don Young, HelenChenowith, and Barbara Cubin aswell as our own Joann Emerson andUS Senator John Ashcroft.Eventhough Young requested anappearance by the Secretaries beforethe House Resources Committee,therequest was ignored.

☛ It was suggested in the Spring ofthis year -1998 - by officials with theNational Park Service that a meetingwith the legal counsel (the Solicitor)of the Department of the Interiorwould be well-received.Accompaniedby Kathryn Hohmann,Director ofEnvironmental Quality for theNational Sierra Club,I met withWendy Thurm, Special Assistant tothe Solicitor. Ms. Thurm gave us a30-page document outlining a legalopinion and detailing Interior'spositions and options.☛ Interior had several meetings withDoe Run attorneys and outlined theconditions that Doe Run must agreeto before any permits would beissued.(See sidebar)☛ Upon being apprised of Interior'splans,the Ozark Chapter releasedthese to the media,then began aseries of mailings that eventuallyamounted to over 36,000 alert lettersbeing sent out to our members andthe members of other organizations.Letters poured in to Interior.☛ An article appeared in the August1998 issue of VANITY FAIR detailingDoe Run's environmental record andthe battle for the heart of the Ozarks.☛ I had several meetings in DC withour congressional delegation to ensure

BABBITT’S CONDITIONS:1.That Doe Run must agree that

the issuance of drilling permits, andthe finding of "valuable deposits",didnot mean that any property rights tomine would be accrued.

2. That Doe Run must agree thatthe Secretary of the Interior coulddeny permits to mine (preferencerights leases) if there was adetermination made that miningactivities would negatively impact theOzark National Scenic Riverways.

Doe Run was unwilling to signthese agreements because the firstpoint meant that even if they foundvaluable deposits there was noguarantee that they could mine,andthe second point meant that Doe Runcould not sue if permits were denied.



that they were kept informed of thisissue.☛ A follow-up meeting by KathrynHohman and me with Babbitt's legalstaff in September revealed that DoeRun still had not agreed to the termsthat Interior was demanding, andthanks to the massive volume ofsupport - thousands of letters - theSecretary was holding firm.

VICTORY!Finally, on Tuesday, Oct.27,on

my cell phone while sitting in theparking lot at the Super 8 Motel inNeosho, Wendy Thurm of theDepartment of Interior called tonotify me that Doe Run hadwithdrawn its applications,ratherthan have the permits be rejected.Icalled back to the Chapter Office,andAdministrativeAssistant Terri Folsomcalled everyone who had beeninvolved in this campaign.Later inthe day, the Department of theInterior notified the press,as did we.

THANKS TOALL WHOHELPED:

This was truly a coalition effort.From local residents in the Ozarks -Tom and Angel Kruzen,Becky andDon Horton,Alan Peters, and all ofthe "Unleaded Ozarks" troops,SueSkidmore and Robert Pierce,Mikeand Linda Tanner - to the Coalition

for the Environment,MissouriAudubon,and the National Parks andConservation Association - all playedimportant roles. A special thanks toThe Donor,whose commitment tothe integrity of the Eleven Point Wildand Scenic River and the OzarkNational Scenic River was manifestedin substantial donations that allowedus to do all the mailings and make allthe trips to Washington,DC.Thanksalso to those in the National SierraClub who assisted in strategizing -Lois Snedden,Bob Bingaman - andespecially to Kathryn Hohmann,wholent her knowledge and expertise ofDC politics,mining laws,andregulations.

BUT MOSTLY THANKS TOTHE THOUSANDS OF YOUWHO TOOK THE TIME TOWRITE THE FORESTSERVICE AND THEDEPARTMENT OF THEINTERIOR.*

This issue would have beentreated as a "routine administrativematter" if it had not been for thosethousands of letters.

WE MADE ADIFFERENCE!! AND WEWON...!

The Ozark Chapter staff andConservation Committee, with theassistance of the "Unleaded Ozarks"folks (local residents of Shannon,Oregon, Ripley and Dent counties), puttogether a Campaign Plan shortly afterthe Forest Service released itsEnvironmental Assessment that pro-posed to grant the permits. This planwas comprehensive and detailed, usingthe Midwest A c a d e m y ’s methods foro rganizing a campaign. All participantshad a copy of the strategy document -and everyone had a role.This campaign plan was followed reli-

g i o u s l y, altered a bit after the decisionwas referred to DC (although we hadthat possibil i ty in the original plan),and eventually played out exactly asdesigned. From obtaining funding toalert letters to meeting with public off i-cials, all was carefully outlined and fol-l o w e d .The last section of the plan was"Celebrate Vi c t o r y." Secretary Babbitthas indicated that he wil l help out withthat as well - we look forward to hisv i s i t .

YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLAN


Ozark Sierran N ov. / D e c. ’986

Ozark Chapter Files Notice ofIntent to Sue the USE n v i ronmental Protection AgencyBy Ken Midkiff

The federal Clean Water Act hasa requirement that the USEnvironmental Protection

Agency (EPA) is to make a systematicassessment of the water quality inevery stream,river,and lake in everystate.If any of these waters are notmeeting their "designated use," thenthey are to be listed as "impaired",astudy is to be conducted,and a planput in place to clean them up.

This systematic assessment -referred to as the "303(d)List" (Section303(d) of the federal Clean Water Act)-was to have been conducted by 1981.

The EPA had failed to requirethe states to do this,andenvironmental groups - led by SierraClub chapters in many states - filedlawsuits to compel the EPA and thestate agencies to do their job.The firstof these suits was filed in 1993,andwith one lone exception,all have beensuccessful.

Consequently the EPA got themessage and is now requiring the stateagencies,including the MissouriDepartment of Natural Resources(MoDNR), to compile the list ofimpaired waters. The list for 1998 wasto have been submitted in April. TheMoDNR seemed to have muchdifficulty in admitting that many of ourstate's streams,rivers,and lakes are inserious trouble,and polluted frommany sources. Only after considerableprodding by the Ozark Chapter staffand representatives of Stream TeamAssociations was a list finally adoptedby the Missouri Clean WaterCommission at its meeting ofSeptember 23,1998.

The importance of the303(d)List cannot be over-exaggerated:it is a report card on the status of

protection of our nation's waters. Thelists that all the states have beensubmitting will be the first eversystematic attempt to determine howwell the Clean Water Act andregulations are being enforced.

These lists will indicate prior itiesfor clean-up and establish themaximum amount of contaminantsthat may enter each water body. Non-point sources of pollution are to beidentified and rectified.Permitteddischarges will be scaled back if thetotal load of pollutants causes thestream to not meet its designated uses.

But, even though MoDNR andthe state Clean Water Commissionhave now acted,there are still manyproblems with Missouri’s list (and withthe lists in other states).The schedulesfor conducting the studies andestablishing the total daily maximumload of contaminants are way too long-some are not scheduled forcompletion until 2008 or even longer.In some cases,the wrong sections ofstreams are listed.Severely impairedstreams and rivers were left off the list.A category was created that hedges onwhether a number of streams areactually impaired or not - merelyrecommending "further monitoring".

One of the hang-ups seems to bethat MoDNR has difficulty inaccepting data submitted by volunteerwater quality monitors.This isparticularly perplexing since MoDNRand Department of Conservation trainand certify these volunteers, supplysome of the water testing equipment,and MoDNR serves as a centralcollecting point for the data.

Another problem is that thereare those in MoDNR who only want touse "hard" numeric data,e.g.,theresults of long-term chemical orbiological sampling by professional



scientists. Records of spills,fish kills, orinformation submitted by US Fish andWildlife Service or MDC fisheriesbiologists were deemed unacceptablebecause this was "anecdotal," notnumeric data.But, the US EPAguidance documents specificallyrequire the use of "all availableinformation."

Consequently, one of the keypoints of the Ozark Chapter’s Noticeof Intent to Sue is that the listsubmitted to US EPA does not reflectthe use of all available data.The listprepared by the Ozark Chapter staffwas much more inclusive of the datafrom all sources,including otherresource agencies and data collected bycertified water quality volunteers.

Ironically, much informationwas gleaned directly from the MoDNRfiles.Terri Folsom,Ozark ChapterAdministrative Assistant,routinelysearches MoDNR central and regionaloffices' files in order for Chapter staffto provide comments on PublicNotices on various wastewaterdischarge permit issuances,re-issuances,and modifications. Copieswere made of the files of thecompanies and municipalities seekingsuch permit actions. These copies,

stored in the Chapter office,revealedlong-standing degradation of many ofour state's streams,rivers,and lakes.But, even though the MoDNR wasinformed of the source of theinformation and directed to the files,most of the recommendations foradding impaired waters to the list onthe basis of this agency informationwas ignored!

Since many future decisions ofthe MoDNR and the US EPAregarding our states waters will bebased on the 303(d)List,it isimperative that this list accuratelyportrays the true condition of thosewaters. That is why the Ozark Chapteris prepared to take this matter tofederal court. The courts have timeand time again ruled that the agenciesmust do their job in the manner thelaws require.

As citizens concerned aboutclean water,aquatic habitat, and thehealth and vibrancy of our state'swaters, we will insist that the publicagencies serve the interests of thepublic. If that means ratcheting backon the amount of pollutants that anindustry dumps into a stream,river,orlake,so be it.

Elisa Sconza on Creek Hike,catching (and releasing) aquatic creatures toasxertain the health of a creek..



C o n f e rence CritiquesB i o t e c h n o l o g yby Henry Robertson

For thousands of years mankindhas known how to breed newvarieties of plants and animals

by crossing closely related strains. Inthe last quarter century the techniquesof genetic engineering have expandedthe possibilities. Scientists can nowtransfer genes between completelyunrelated species;i.e. putting a fishgene into a tomato and a human geneinto a pig.

With new possibilities come newresponsibilities and new issues:ethical,medical,social,legal,andenvironmental.

Biotechnology in both itsagricultural and medical applications isnow big business. It promises to feedand heal the world and to improve onnature— even to enhance the humangnome.Carried to its logicalconclusion,human selection willreplace natural selection—assumingwe’re smart enough to guide theworld’s genetic destiny.

No company is bigger in cropbiotechnology than St.Louis’s ownMonsanto. So, St. Louis seemed likethe right place to ask questions like;What are the benefits to society?,and,Do they outweigh the risks to theenvironment? On July 17—19 some200 people from the U.S.,Canada,Europe,Japan,and India met atFontbonne College for the FirstGrassroots Gathering on GeneticEngineering to learn from an array ofscientists,legislative and legal experts,consumer and environmentaladvocates.The event was organized bythe Gateway Green Alliance.TheSierra Club EMG was a co-sponsor.

A major theme of the conferencewas:What happens when geneticallymodified organisms are released intothe environment? The truth is,wecannot always predict or control theireffects.

When farmers burn the crop

residue on their fields it creates airpollution.Geneticists devised a neatsolution—a modified form of the soilbacterium klebsiella planticolawhichwould not only end the need forburning but ferment a marketableproduct,ethyl alcohol.But there was aproblem as Elaine Ingham,a plantpathologist at Oregon State University,reported to the conference.She foundthat the engineered strain was killingplants in the lab. Another fact ofinterest:k.planticolahas been found onthe roots of every plant in the worldthat was ever examined.

This is not to say that the newstrain is going to replace all naturallyoccurring klebsiella, but it does give anidea of the scale of the risks that canbe involved with genetic engineering.

Our knowledge of thesubmicroscopic realm of DNA is lessimpressive than it appears at fir stblush.Transferring a single gene canhave unexpected and unrelated results(pleiotropic effects).RicardaSteinbrecher,a German geneticist nowworking in England,described anexperiment to turn white petunias redwhich, it turned out,also gave themmore shoots and leaves,made themless fertile, and enhanced theirresistance to fungi. The Green Giantsalmon,given growth hormone toincrease its size,also turned green—usually a sign of sexual maturity— butnot in this case.

In the present state of the art,biotechnicians cannot precisely targetwhere a transgene will end up on thehost organism's DNA chain.It is likelyto land in an unnatural location whereit may disrupt the surrounding genes(positional effects).In some cases atransgene fails to work because of“gene silencing”—a plant with twocopies of the same gene reacts byshutting both down. Geneticengineering can be stressful to theorganism:crops modified to resistpests or herbicides have been found to


Ozark Sierran N ov. / D e c. ’989

be more susceptible to disease.Geneticists can't see whether a

gene has been transferred at all. Inorder to tell if a splice has taken holdthey have commonly added genes forantibiotic resistance as “markers." Ifthe target DNA sequence survivesexposure to an antibiotic, then thesplice worked.But this is a dangerousgame.The spread of drug—resistantdiseases is a growing world healthproblem.Bacteria and viruses are ableto exchange bits of DNA or pick themup from their environment.MichaelHansen of the Consumers Union toldthe gathering that the NationalAcademy of Science has admitted thatexchanges of antibiotic resistance haveoccurred in this way.

Monsanto engineers crops totolerate sprayings of its best—sellingRoundup herbicide.But nature’sresponse is predictable;give weeds anobstacle and natural selection will startevolving ways around it.BillChristison,a farmer with MissouriRural Crisis Center,confirmed thatweeds are already becoming resistantto Roundup.

The biotech cure for insect pestsis a toxin from the bacterium Bacillusthuringiensis (Bt). In nature and asused by organic farmers,Bt avoids theresistance problem by being veryspecifically targeted—it is onlyactivated in the guts of certaincaterpillars. But agribusiness wants tosplice it into as many commercialplants as possible and keep it active allthe time.This leads to one of twoundesirable results—either the Bt toxinkills beneficial insects along with thepests,or the pests develop resistance.

In some cases transgenicallyconferred resistance can spread moredirectly. According to Sonja Schmitz,aPh.D. candidate in molecular biologyat the University of Vermont,eleven ofthe 18 worst weeds are related toplants that are grown as crops and cancross—pollinate with them.

The threat to biodiversity isespecially acute in areas of the worldwhere our common food cropsoriginated.The wild strains arereservoirs of genetic variation to which

we can turn if the commercial strainsare compromised by blight or pests.The spread of human—engineeredmonocultures with traits like pestresistance that improve theirsurvivability enables them,and anyrelative to which they pass on the trait,to out—compete the natural strains.

Release of genetically modifiedorganisms into the environment by theprivate sector is unregulated by US lawand only lightly regulated wherefederal funding is involved.In thewords of the conference’s keynotespeaker,Indian physicist,feminist,andenvironmentalist Vandana Shiva,biotechnology is “a Wall Streettechnology”—it has never beenadequately tested in the lab as profit—hungry corporations rush to getproducts to market.We might considera moratorium for further work both inthe lab and in the arena of publicdebate.

As the ripple effects of geneticengineering spread through theenvironment we are confronted withthe fact that nature has a three billionyear head start on us in the process ofnatural selection.Can we afford to getinto a genetic arms race in whichgenetically engineered resistances areovercome by nature’scountermeasures?

This article has only scratchedthe surface of a complex subject.Farmers, promised that they will beable to use fewer chemical inputs,findthat they are spraying more— but tono avail. The food industry vigorouslyrejects calls to label foods that containgenetically engineered ingredients.

Genes can be patented.Usefulproperties of plants that indigenouspeoples around the world have used formillennia are now monopolized byforeign corporations. The genes ofnative peoples themselves are beingcollected by the Human GnomeDiversity Project for possible patentingand commercial exploitation— arethese peoples now expendable?

Farm animals are being modifiedto secrete pharmacologically usefulproteins into their milk,but theunforeseen side effects of genetic



engineering can result in increasedanimal suffering. Genetic testing ofhumans can lead to discrimination byinsurers and employers. And there isthe ultimate nightmare of eugenics.

Genetic engineering is tooimportant to be left to the corporationsand scientists. Environmentalistsshould ask not only, What are the risksof a given genetic modification?,butalso, Does it benefit society at large,orjust a handful of investors profitingfrom a monopoly?

Monsanto now holds the rightsto a technique which casts some doubton the claim of biotechnology to be a“life science,” the savior of the world'sstarving poor.This technique has been

dubbed Terminator Technology— “theneutron bomb of agriculture.” TheTerminator patent describes a processfor equipping a plant (specificallycotton) with a gene coding for a toxin,together with an ingenious timingmechanism that represses the toxinuntil the plant has gone throughgrowth, pollination, and most of seeddevelopment.At that point the toxingene is activated and the seeds self—destruct.Farmers cannot save seed fornext year’s crop;they have to go backto the company for a new batch ofpatented,genetically engineered seed.Good for Monsanto— but for whoelse?

The Army Corps of Engineers isworking on a mater plan formanaging the Missouri River.

The master plan will cover the fullgambit of management issues,such asnavigation, recreation, wildlife habitat,flood control,etc. Readers may recallhearing about the controversyregarding water levels as those levelsrelate to navigation, wildlife habitat,and recreation. Several states areinvolved in the master plan and therehas been recognition that what seemsgood for one region may not be bestfor another. Upper Missouri riverstates have expressed an interest inkeeping summer reservoir water levelshigh for recreation purposes. But that

goal is not always compatible withflood control and good wildlife habitatdown river. It is these sorts ofconnections that the master plan willaddress.

The Corps has developed eightalternatives for the master plan and isseeking public input.There will be twoopen houses held in Missouri. They arescheduled as follows: Nov. 9, HolidayInn, 11832 Plaza Circle,Kansas City,MO; and Nov. 17,Holiday Inn ForestPark,5915 Wilson Ave,St.Louis,MO.At this writing scheduled times are 2–5and 7–10 p.m. For more informationvisit the Corps web page athttp//www.mrd.usaec.army.mil

A rmy Corps Open House OnMissouri Master Plan

Mark your calendars!The Sierra Club's Midwest Regional Conservation Committee will meet in

St.Louis and will host workshops on the above topics. Come and meet Sierransfrom the midwest and learn about how we can meet the challenges of global

warming and nuclear waste issues. For more information call Caroline Pufalt at(314)878-3165

When: Feb. 27-28,1999Where: Missouri Botanical Garden,St.Louis,MO

What: Global Warming/Nuclear Waste Local,regional,and globalperspectives



by Scott Dye

A s I roll my pickup to a stop inthe driveway I’m met by theomnipresent farm dog.He looks

fr iendly. His owner strides out of thetractor shed,wiping the grease fromhis hands. I extend my hand to greethim.

“My name is Scott Dye.I’m thenew Agriculture Coordinator for theSierra Club.”

Twenty-five years ago thatgreeting might have met with a coolreception.It might have even gottenyou pitched over the fence.But myhow times have changed.In 1998,it’ smore likely to get you invited in for pieand a cup of coffee.

In my new job,you’ll find meworking side by side with Missouri’sfamily farmers. Attending hearings,writing comment letters on federalpermits,engaged in the regulatorycircuit, and traveling the halls ofjustice.We’re working together onrestoring wooded streamside corridors,stream bank stabilization, andconservation reserve tree plantings.Farmers and Sierrans are joining forcesand working together to lobby EPA tolist streams as “impaired” by animalwaste.

Strange days indeed? Not really.Family farmers and

environmentalists have really neverbeen that far apart. After all, thefarmer was the earth’s firstenvironmentalist.From mankind’s firstcrop, the sustainable family farmer hasunderstood that you don’t conquernature,you coexist and cooperate withit.

Unfortunately, divisiveorganizations like the Farm Bureau,self-appointed spokesman for“agriculture,” successfully drove awedge between people of like mind.Family farmers and environmentalistshave always had the same goals - clean

air, clean water, sustainability, andquality of life. Increasingly, more andmore farmers are coming to therealization that a real farmer - a familyfarmer - has nothing to fear fromendangered species or the Clean WaterAct. And increasingly, we are learningthat what’s good for the family farmeris good for the environment.

We’re working with farmers andrural residents statewide to formStream Teams of water qualitymonitors. We’re also forging new tiesbetween hunters, anglers,and familyfarmers. It’s a natural fit.The farmernot only feeds the American people,they also feed and watch over ourwildlife resources. A renewable andsustainable natural resource benefitseveryone and everything in the naturalworld.

But something is terribly wrong“down on the farm.” The mood is darkand unsettled in the nation’s heartland.Farmers can see,all too clearly,another impending farm crisis.

Deflated land values,the lowestgrain prices in a decade,and livestockprices in the tank.Nationwide,the lossof valuable farmland to urban sprawlcontinues at an alarming rate.Todaywe face a growing threat to the nation’shistorically safe food supply.Theoveruse of antibiotics in corporatelivestock production and the geneticmutation of animals,plants,and seedstock threatens to open a Pandora’sBox of future public health andenvironmental disasters.

But, by far, the greatest currentthreat to America’s family farmstructure and the environment is theever-increasing plague of corporate-owned factory farms.Welcome to theera of the CAFO, or concentratedanimal feeding operation.Welcome tothe era of multi-national conglomeratesmasquerading as family farmers. It’ sabout ramming millions of animals ayear to their slaughter through

H e re a Pig. There a Pig.E v e ry w h e re a Pig Pig.


W hat wil l yours be? You joined theS i e rra Club because you are concern e d

about the well-being of the Earth. Continueyour involvement by remembering the Sierr aClub in your will. For more information andconfidential assistance contact John Calaway, S i e rra Club Planned Giving Program, 85 Second St., 2nd floor, San Francisco, CA 94109, (415) 923-5538, or l o c a l l y, contact Roger Hershey (816) 795-7533

Legacy

It’ s not too late to turn itaround..What you can do to help.

☛ Support politicians who support family farmers.☛ Buy organic.☛ Support your local farmers’ market and food circle co-ops.☛ At the meat counter,insist on environmentally sound and

humane livestock production.☛ Stop factory farms.

I don’t intend to see rural America turned over to Corporate Swine.Join me in the fight.

enormous metal and concrete “barns”and massive “f arms” that generatemore raw feces and urine than mostAmerican cities.

The intrusion of Wall Street“f armers” has been devastating toMissouri’s family farmers. Independentpoultry producers have been efficientlyobliterated; the survivors relegated toserf-like contracts with the industrygiants. Almost 60% of independenthog producers have been forced out ofthe business in the last five years.Nearly 5,000 Missouri family farmsgone forever.

The explosion of factory farmshas been an unmitigated environmentaldisaster for the state:hundreds ofthousands of dead fish from the

continuing spills;hundreds of miles ofimpaired waterways; and the chronic,habitual over-application of animalwastes to the land.The non-stopshenanigans have incurred the wrath ofcitizens,who are suing over nuisanceand pollution,and the state’s attorneygeneral.

I’ve got some experience withBig Pig.My family’s 120 year old farmis adjacent to a Premium Standard hogfactory of 80,000 head.I can tell you,from my soul,that no communityshould ever have to live with whatwe’ve lived through.Gut-wrenchingstench,polluted streams andgroundwater,and a bitter division ofstewardship ideology, pitting neighboragainst neighbor.




Sustainable Flood PlainDevelopment: Fact or Fiction?by Caroline Pufalt

The Missouri Department ofConservation (MDC) recentlyhosted a forum designed to

build common ground on flood plaindevelopment issues.The forumfocused on St.Louis area issues butaddressed widely applicable conceptsand problems. Kudos to MDC forhosting this event and making an effortto tackle an “urban” problem relatedto conservation.As we all know, oururban sprawl— be it flood plain orotherwise— has a negative impact onwildlife habitat and open spaces.

However,from this participant’sperspective,the forum lacked focusand balance.The opening speaker,Claude Strauser from the U.S.ArmyCorps of Engineers,tried to surprisethe audience by declaring that toomuch rain caused the big flood of1993.Strauser declared it was not thedams,levees,development’or lack ofwetlands at fault.The levees thatbreached did not fail.They just met aflood larger than they were designed towithstand.The levees and reservoirssaved us from much worse flooding.While there is obviously some truth tothese statements,Strauser's commentsdid little to help the audience deal withsome of the more difficult localproblems and options posed by floodplain development.

But Mr. Strauser was outdone bya St.Louis County housing developerwhose polemic and narrow visionedcomments couldn't have beenimproved on by a script writer. Briefly,he raised every red flag and redherring: jobs,housing, private propertyrights,etc. He claimed that withoutflood plain development the countrywill r isk a major recession.

The outlook for common ground

looked pretty bleak at this point,butlater presenters were able to addresssome serious and practical problemswith a broader perspective.Arepresentative from St.Louis Wateracknowledged the problem of urbanand suburban structures anddevelopment that affects local waterlevels and flows during flood events.We heard about the city of Arnold'sefforts to turn flood prone areas intogreen space for recreation and wildlife.That effort will save the cost ofrepeated residential flooding and be anasset to the city. Chad Smith fromAmerican Rivers talked of the historyof the Missouri river, its historicflooding patterns and how those havechanged due to our efforts. He spokefor renewal of wildlife and fish habitatalong parts of the river.

Later we were able to learnsomething of some of the regulationsand laws that govern flood plainactivities. We even heard a reasonedexplanation of some problems faced bydevelopers as they seek to deal withmultiple agencies,municipalities,andcommunity preferences.We discussedthe loss of valuable flood plain farmland to development.

The forum moderatorsummarized what he thought weshould learn from the day's experience.He hoped that we continue to educateourselves and reach out to morediverse groups with information andrequests for input.Also, we agreed thatplanning is critical so that communitiescan plan ahead for green space andflood mitigation measures. Despite thispositive summary, the business as usualapproach from many participants,especially the Army Corps,did little toindicate that they have learned thelessons of 1993.


Ozark Sierran N ov. / D e c.’981 4

by Ken Midkiff

While it may besometimesexaggerated,

there is definitely adisconnect between manyof those who have officesin our state and nationalcapitol buildings and thosethey purport to serve.Nodoubt there are a few self-serving special interestsgroups and influentialindividuals who benefitfrom the deluded beliefs of reality-challenged politicians,but the generalcitizenry is being, well...not well-served.

One would think that thefollowers of Newt Gingrich, DickArmey,Tom DeLay, Don Young, LarryCraig, Helen Chenoweth,and otherright-wing prophets of Profit andGreed would’ve learned from thefailures of 1994.There were majorattempts to roll back laws that protectcitizens from the avariciousness of bigbusiness and international cartelsposing as corporations.The onlyproblem was that the American publiclet Newt and Company know that thiswasn’t quite what they had in mindwhen they demanded a more efficientgovernment.

I have had occasion to spendtime recently in Washington,DC,andfor those of you who even occasionallyread my scribblings,you are aware thatI view visits there as akin to torture.One hundred square miles surroundedby reality is the way one wag describedthe city.

I had meetings with governmentofficials, mainly from the US EPA andDepartment of the Interior, and withother agencies as well. I also met withvarious elected officials and their staffs.We discussed many and sundry things,but the focus was on,naturally,

environmental protections.This country and

our state have acomprehensive set of lawsin place to protect ournatural resources and thehuman environment.TheNational EnvironmentalProtection Act, Clean AirAct, Clean Water Act,National ForestManagement andPractices Act, theResource Recovery andConservation Act, and

many, many others codify theambitions and desires of the citizens ofthis country to protect and preserveour national heritage and the publichealth and welfare.

Then there are the Code ofFederal Regulations and the Code ofState Regulations that detail how theresponsible agencies are to carry outthe laws. Procedures are established inthese rules and regulations for justabout every aspect of clean air,cleanwater,hazardous waste and publiclands management.

Impressive documents. Somelanguage is lofty and inspiring, somearcane and technical to a fault.This allcomprises years of work, beginning inthe 1960’s.Work that was built on oneassumption:the free market systemdoesn’t provide public protection inthe Industrial Age, particular with theadvance of Corporatism.

This is the background,andthere is no hue and cry in the realitysurrounding our state and nationalBeltways for “reform." In fact,thevoices in the hinterlands are crying outfor enforcement and protection,aswater quality continues to decline;asthe air in our cities continues to causeillness and disease,and as onslaughtscontinue on our national forests,parksand monuments. Citizens are notdemanding dirty air, or fouled water.

Chapter Staff Report: —WE WANT DIRTY AIR - AND WE WANT IT NOW!!



There is no public outcry for morelogging in our National Forests,or forselling the National Parks,or for oiland gas exploration in the ArcticNational Wildlife Refuge or theEscalante-Grand Staircase NationalMonument.

Yet the buzzwords in JeffersonCity and Washington,DC,are“regulatory reform" or for opening upour public lands to private profiteers.Somehow (and we know how) thepoliticians on the take have becomeconvinced that The Economy is beingstifled by onerous and burdensomeregulations. Since a full frontal assaulton natural resource and public healthprotection laws failed in 1994,the"reforms" have become more subtle.Smaller bites are being taken.

In Jefferson City, there have beenbills introduced to let industry keeppollution incidents secret,to restrictMissouri environmental protection tofederal standards even where those donot address our state's problems;andto put pollution permits on a fasttrack.In DC,there are bills that wouldlet local Planning and Zoningchallenges be taken directly to federalcourt; to let industry determine itsown procedures and standards forpolluting emissions;and tocompensate industries who claim thattheir schemes and dreams have beenthwarted by laws governing publichealth and the environment.

Given the mood of the GeneralAssembly and the Congress,our stateDepartment of Natural Resources andthe US Environmental ProtectionAgency are reluctant to enforce thevery laws and standards that protectthe public from degradation of our air,water,and lands.These agenciesmostly issue permits to pollute,andthen ask the polluters to pleasemonitor themselves and providereports to the agency.

Immediately upon returning

from DC - I hadn't even unpacked-phone calls were received from citizensof northeast Oklahoma informing methat water quality testing had revealedextremely high levels of bacteriologicalcontamination in Cave SpringsBranch,a "receiving”stream ofSimmons Industries in southwestMissouri. Simmons is a chickenprocessing plant that discharges overone million gallons of wastewater perday into this small creek.

The Oklahoma citizens turnedtheir data over to the Missouri DNRand the Missouri Department ofHealth,who ran their own tests andobtained similar results.Yet the HealthDepartment refused to issue anadvisory on this stream,claiming ifthey did it for Cave Springs,theywould have to do it for other streamslikewise contaminated.Well, yes,wereplied,that is what you’re supposedto do. Since the agencies wouldn't act,the Oklahoma citizens group and theOzark Chapter posted warning signs.

From local farmers concernedabout their local creeks and drinkingwater wells, to fisherman andrecreationists complaining about thedestruction of water quality, citizenswant strong environmental protection.Strengthening, not weakening, of lawsand standards is the call.

Issuing permits and monitoring(i.e.watching) the violations is notenough.Voluntary compliance doesNOT work.We had voluntarycompliance for the first severalhundred years of the industrial age -and we are still recovering from theeffects.

The "regulatory reform" that isneeded can be summarized in oneword:enforcement.It is time that ourstate and federal resource protectionagencies enforce the law. A radicalnotion? To some,it apparently is.



by Ron McLinden

Club Releases Sprawl ReportThe Sierra Club released a national report on urban sprawl in September.

Entitled "The Dark Side of the American Dream:The Costs and Consequencesof Sprawl," the report names the twenty American cities most threatened bysprawl. Missouri ranks at the top as the only state with two large cities in themost sprawl-threatened category: St.Louis was ranked second and Kansas Cityfifth. Note that these cities are threatened [[[italics]]] by sprawl. Cities such asLos Angeles,San Diego, Phoenix,and Salt Lake City are pretty much beyondhope.We should expect to see a heightened level of sprawl activism in Missourias a consequence.

Sprawl Ranks High as Club ConcernUrban sprawl ranked high as a conservation issue prior ity earlier this year

in a survey of Sierra Club groups and chapters. So high,in fact,that combatingurban sprawl might become one of the Club's top long range prior ities for thenext ten years.The Board of Directors is expected to set new short and long-term priorities at its December meeting in San Francisco.That doesn't mean theSierra Club will be abandoning its traditional wilderness and public lands focus,however. It just recognizes that factors such as sprawl directly and indirectlythreaten the natural environment.We can file lawsuits and people the barricadesto protect wilderness,or we can take strategic actions to lessen the need for thoseactions in the future.For the time being, we’ll have to do both.

Taking the Message OutThree Ozark Chapter transportation activists recently took our

transportation and urban sprawl messages to a new audience.Ginger Harris,Claralyn Price-Bollinger,and Rick Zbinden made presentations at the annualconference of the Missouri Association for Social Welfare in Springfield. Claralynand Rick spoke of the detrimental effects of continued sprawl on central cities,and consequently on the low-income and disadvantaged people who live there.Loss of entry-level jobs to remote suburban locations is just one of those effects.Ginger described the dilemmas transit agencies face in trying to extend busservice to suburban job sites,and the challenges transit riders face on their trip towork.

Tr a n s p o rtation Tax Expected in 1999Governor Carnahan is expected to ask the Missouri General Assembly for a

package of tax increases in 1999 to finance transportation needs identified by theTotal Transportation Commission last year. Such a tax increase would have to goto the voters for approval. Speculation is that there would be a package ofincreases,perhaps including a sales tax increase of 3/8 to 5/8 percent,plusincreases in the gas tax,vehicle registration fees,and truck taxes.The debate isexpected to be both very complex and very political,but chances are good thatthe result will include Missouri's first permanent funding for public transit andother non-highway modes.The Ozark Chapter Legislative Committee is draftinga position which Ken Midkiff will use to lobby in the Capitol next year. A strong

S h o rt Tr i p s



state commitment to "smart growth" principles is expected to be an integral partof our stance.Stay tuned.

S h o rt Tr i p sAll other things being equal,and when we have a choice,we should choose

the short trip. If my short trip doesn’t intersect your short trip, then we don'texperience each other’s trips as congestion.And if our short trips do intersect,chances are we might be neighbors. And if we’ve considered the environmentaleffects of driving short distances,we might both be on foot or bicycle. Ourintersection might result in a greeting that leads to conversation that contributesto the building of community. Hooray for short trips,and for the people whochoose them.

U n d e r s t a n d i n gF o re s t sby John Berger

reviewed by Caroline Pufalt

Understanding Forests is a veryuseful book.Its small size,166 pages,masks the breadth of the topics itcovers and the depth of theinformation it contains.This is a SierraClub book and it seems to be designedas an introductory book to forestrypractices and the often controversialissues surrounding forest conservation.Even those readers who have alreadyexplored forestry related issues arelikely to find interesting facts andviewpoints in its pages.

Berger’s book starts with a reviewof forest ecosystems and how theyfunction and respond to humaninfluence.He covers loggingtechniques and the history of thelogging on National Forests. Givensome of our past abuses of the land,sound forestry practices often requireefforts at restoration. Berger examinesrestoration and sustainable forestry.Since the products extracted fromforests— primarily lumber and fiber—are subject to world market pressures,Berger does not ignore that topic. Hediscusses the state of forests from aglobal perspective.He does notoverlook the topic of reducing demand

for forest products and alternativesources of fiber. He even has practicaladvice on how to plant a tree.Onecould not ask for more in this briefbook.But Berger does add more.Hebriefly discusses the development offorest policy within the Sierra Cluband includes a useful glossary of forestrelated terms.

I recommend this book foranyone wanting an overview of forestryissues. Look for it in your localbookstore or library. EMG has a copyin its library available for loan.



by Caroline Pufalt

The 12th annual Forest ReformRally met in New Hampshirethis fall to share information,

inspire each other,and grapple withthe hard choices involved in reformingthe U.S.Forest Service.Theconference included volunteers fromnational environmental groups,such asthe Sierra Club and folks involved inregional and local groups. Sierra ClubExecutive Director Carl Pope was thekey-note speaker.

The theme for this year’sconference was restoration.This wasespecially appropriate for theconference’s eastern location. Mostnational forests in the east andmidwest were acquired by the federalgovernment early this century.National forests in the west havealways been in the public domain.Eastern forests were often purchasedby the federal government after thelands had been overcut andovergrazed.They have since been inthe process of reforesting and are againsubject to the ax.

The conference discussed variedaspects of restoration. Many forestactivists are working to protect theirnational forest lands from even agedmanagement,or from all forms ofcommercial logging. Others arefocusing on protecting roadless areas,or on protecting more areas in awilderness status. Discussions alsoincluded the role of appropriaterecreation, including how to campaignagainst off road vehicle use.

One of the most exciting ideaswas the proposal for creating two newnational parks. Just before the start ofthe conference the New Hampshirechapter of the Sierra Club,along with

other interested citizens,proposed theconversion of the White MountainNational Forest to the White MountainNational Park.The WMNF is arelatively small national forest but itcontains much scenic beauty.The areaattracts seven million visitors annually.Its high elevations and rugged terrainmake logging in many areas marginal.The Sierra Club has argued thatprotection as a national park makessense for this special area.

That idea makes sense to manyin Maine also.There,conservationistsworking through a coalition calledRestore the North Woods,haveproposed a North Woods NationalPark.This park is envisioned as acombination of now private and publiclands brought under management as anational park.Much forested land inMaine is owned by large private timbercompanies. But their misuse of theland has caused several companies torelease many of those acres forpurchase.Maine citizens have beenhaving a public debate about how tomanage their state's forests. They nowhave a national park as one vision forthe future.

Carl Pope touched on themes ofrenewal and restoration in his talkcalled “The Rewilding of America.” Herecalled the ice sheets that oncescraped across much of North Americaand referred to the effects of ourindustrial civilization as the secondscraping.However,he saw hope in ourefforts to restore lands that were onceabused and in efforts to set asidewilderness and park areas. Mr. Popealso talked about what makes a healthyenvironmental movement.The full textof his talk is expected to be posted tothe club’s web site:www.sierraclub.org.

F o rest Activists EmbraceR e s t o r a t i o n



by Marge O’Gorman

The Cincinnati ICO hosted theBi-annual Midwest RegionalRetreat at the YMCA Camp

Kern located between Cincinnati andDayton,September 25-27.Two St.Louis ICO members,Tim Pekarek andMarge O’Gorman attended along withtwenty-three other ICO leaders fromseven cities in the Midwest.

Representatives were fromestablished ICO groups in Cincinnati,Cleveland,Grand Rapids,Minnesota,and St.Louis. Members from twonewly forming groups in Ann Arborand Louisville helped to make thegathering the largest of the ICOregional retreats this year.

Participants learned games toteach children about the environment."The games have many purposes,"explained Tim Pekarek,St.Louis ICOchair. "They help the kids getacquainted and learn to cooperate withone another.They also help the leadersto calm them down or let them workoff any excess energy they might have.But more important than that, many ofthe games demonstrate things like,thedanger that predators are to their preyor how animals interact with sources ofwater,food,and shelter in a givenenvironment."

Tammy Mills, the regionalcoordinator for the Midwest,led thegroup in thinking about how to planenvironmental education into eachouting.She said," I want to encourageeducational information and activitiesthat are hands on and active, relate totheir lives at home,teach attitudes,help the kids share their feelings andcommunicate joy and a sense ofwonder."

Tammy added,"Many of theideas we teach about how to relate toour environment are concepts we want

to get across to the kids about how wewant them to relate to each other andget along in life.We teach aboutadaptation, diversity, change andinterrelationships."

The meeting allowed some timefor participants to share ideas,helpeach other with problem solving andbrainstorm on ways to recruit andretain volunteers. ICO leaders did notspend all their time working.Theyengaged in hiking, canoeing, horsebackriding and wall climbing, were treatedto an evening with a storyteller andhad a chance to tell some tall talesthemselves around a campfire.

Tim Pekarek has plans to bringwhat he learned at the retreat back tothe St.Louis ICO. He commented,"Ilook forward to telling all our ICOleaders about environmentaleducation.We hope to incorporate it inall our outings."

Inner City Outings Teach Kids toLove Nature

ICO leader cllimbing wall during free timeat ICO retreat,YMCA,Camp Kern,Cincinnati. Photo :Marge O’Gorman



by Wallace McMullen

The Ozark Chapter has endorseda campaign to ensure that consumersand the environment are protectedwhen rules governing the electricutility industry are restructured.Ratepayers For Affordable & GreenElectricity (RAGE) held kick-off newsconferences on June 23,1998 at whichleaders such as David Brower,JimHightower,U.S.Representative DennisKucinich,and Senator Paul Wellstonespoke. Paul Wellstone said,“We musthave the courage and vision to putforward an agenda that protectsconsumers from rip-offs and cost-shifting, ensures that power generationis not harmful to human health or theenvironment ...and promotes a futurewhere clean and affordable energyoptions prevail.” David Brower statedin his announcement,”From thestandpoint of environmental impacts,power generation is unarguably one ofthe most worrisome industries in theworld.” With a Texas perspective,JimHightower declaimed,“The electricutilities want consumers to pay for thebillions of dollars in mistakes that theymade in building the big nuclear andcoal plants. They are holding lowerprices for electricity hostage until theyget a corporate welfare program fromCongress...Nobody bailed out Bubba’sBargain Barn on Main Street whenWalMart moved to town, so whyshould we bail out the big utilitieswhen competition comes to the electric

industry?” The details of RAGE’spositions are below.

Consumers Must BeProtected

The electric utility industry isundergoing a massive reorganizationthat will create long-term effects onour health,safety, environment,andpocketbooks. The changes in theindustry are supposed to make electriccompanies competitive businesses,resulting in lower prices and consumerchoices. But, across the nation, theopposite is occurring. In most of thestates where the industry has beenderegulated,existing electric utilitiesare using their political clout tomandate an outrageous bailout thatmay cost consumers as much as $300billion. Even worse,these energycompanies are gaming the system byrewriting the laws to becomeunregulated monopolies that will stiflecompetition.

BailoutsThe existing utilities have

invented a cash cow: a bailout for theiruneconomic investments,includingnuclear power plants. Despite warningsfrom citizens that nuclear power wouldbe expensive and dangerous,theelectric industry invested billions ofdollars in these high-cost plants andother expensive energy sources. Nowthe utilities want consumers to pay fortheir bad judgment.Unless citizens arevigilant, the utilities use their political

Electric Utility Dere g u l a t i o n

Dir ty Air and Toxic ChemicalsNation wide the electric industry is responsible for:• One-third of smog-forming pollution which causes health problems including

lung disease,emphysema,cancer,asthma,and premature deaths.• One-third of carbon dioxide emissions which is leading to global warming.• Two-thirds of sulfur dioxide which causes acid rain and deadly fine-particle

pollution.• Over 20% of toxic metal emissions including mercury, which pollutes our

waterways and has caused 20 states to issue warnings against eating fish.



clout to force a bailout onto consumersthat is twice the size of the S&Lscandal.

Higher PricesSome of the major forces behind

the reorganization of the electricindustry are giant corporations whowant to buy the cheapest electricityavailable.Even though many of thesebig companies argued in favor ofbuilding expensive power plants,theynow want no responsibility for payingoff power plant mortgages. Becausethese large companies use largeamounts of electricity, they are in aposition to obtain the cheapest poweron the market.This will result in cost-shifting to residential and smallbusiness consumers who will have nochoice but to buy expensive power. Inthe states where deregulation hasalready occurred,energy companiesare reluctant to market to theseconsumers.

Loss of Reliable,AffordableService

The least desirable customers forenergy companies are low-incomeindividuals and rural residents. Today,the monopoly utility that serves aparticular area must offer electricity toall consumers in its service territory.Many states protect their leastfortunate residents from servicedisconnections during severe weather.However, these guarantees of universalservice will be lost if they are notincorporated into the new lawsgoverning a deregulated electricindustry.

Utility deregulation is drivingenergy companies to sell the cheapest,dirtiest electricity. It also creates anincentive for selling more electricity,rather than encouraging more efficientenergy use.Six hundred coal and oilburning plants have been exemptedfrom the strict emission limits that

newer plants must meet under theClean Air Act. This exemption makes itcheaper to run these older,dirtierplants and rewards their owners forcreating more pollution.

Unfortunately, state deregulationlaws are providing a bailout for thenuclear plants that subsidizes theiroperation.This means more nuclearwaste and more safety threats fromaging plants.

Clean,Safe,AffordableEnergy is at Risk!

Over the last two decades,cost-effective and non-polluting energyalternatives have become available andaffordable,but deregulation isthreatening to marginalize them.Newenergy efficiency technologies canreduce the amount of electricity weneed in the U.S.by one-third to one-half, saving consumers $60-$100billion. Renewable energy sources suchas wind and solar power generateelectricity with virtually no pollution.But, large energy companies are greenwashing their products or resellingrenewable energy that has already beenpaid for by ratepayers. Renewableenergy is in danger of becoming agourmet option on the nation's energymenu.

We Must Act Now!All around the nation, citizens

are joining together to ensure that wehave a sustainable energy future whereaffordable,non-polluting electricity isavailable to all consumers. Federallegislation must be passed thatprevents a bailout of the electricindustry and provides far-reachingprotections for consumers and theenvironment.



Nuclear DisasterNuclear power is still a threat to our economy and our environment:• It creates 95% of the nation's lethal radioactive waste,which is being

stockpiled around the country and for which no safe method of disposal exists.

• The nuclear industry is attempting to force Congress to open a temporarystorage facility, permitting 100,000 shipments of nuclear waste to be moved through 43 states over a period of 30 years, exposing 50 million Americans to radioactivity.

• The U.S.Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) testified in 1986 that there was a 45% chance of a meltdown at a U.S.reactor in the next 20 years,with radioactive releases on a scale comparable to Chernobyl.

• In 1994,former NRC Chairman Ivan Selin acknowledged that economic pressure was providing utilities with an "incentive to cut corners" including those "corners" that ensure safety.

To order call your local GroupFundraising Chair .



A n d rew Gondzur (St. Louis) I have been a member of the Sierra Club for six years and am a currentmember of the Executive Committee of the Ozark Chapter. I have thoroughly enjoyed serving theclub in this capacity. It has been a very valuable and rewarding learning experience, and I would behonored to be given the opportunity to serve for a second term. I have also served on the EasternMissouri Group’s Executive Committee and as group representative. With the help of the OsageGroup leaders, I coordinated the Chapter's Annual Reunion & Campout last year at beautiful Lake ofthe Ozarks State Park. I have been a member of the Endangered Species and Bio-diversityCommittee, and, as such, have organized outings and hosted/co-led monthly meetings. I am stronglycommitted to environmental education and fostering positive values regarding the protection of theenvironment. Upon my reelection I will once again seek out and communicate your concerns toChapter leadership and give priority to those efforts that activate membership. I believe this is key togetting new members more involved which, in turn, helps spread word of the great work we are alldoing to explore, enjoy, and protect Missouri, as well as the rest of our precious planet.

Gina DeBarthe (Kansas City) My name is Gina De Barthe. I am a biology student at Missouri We s t e r nState Col lege in St. Joseph, Mo. I am currently working on a bachelors in science with an emphasis inconservation and wildl ife management. I am currently a member of the Thomas Heart Benton ExecutiveCommittee. I am the group representative to the chapter executive committee. I am also chair of the youthcommittee. As youth chair I have helped organize an environmental forum here at Missouri Western StateCol lege. The forum was on Confined Animal Feeding Operations and their impact on the environment. Iam currently putting together a forum on Superfund. I think that educating the public about current envi-ronmental issues is important. I f I am elected I wil l strive to work on public education at the chapter level.

C a roline Pufalt (St. Louis) The Sierra Club is a dynamic organization with a large and complex mis-sion: to preserve, protect, and enjoy the wild places. To d a y, so many things fall under the environ-mental agenda. As a primarily volunteer based group we must make hard choices about on what tospend our f inite time and energ y. I wil l work to help our chapter make those choices and to increaseour volunteer base so we can be the most effective in our conservation work.I am currently Ozark Chapter Conservation Chair. In the past I have served as chapter chair andnewsletter editor. The executive committee deals with the necessary business of the chapter. I ’ ll try touse my experience to see that we all work together as effectively as possible. I also hope that I canhelp group level activists get to know their counterparts across the state so we can share experiencesand increase our awareness of state level issues.

Bob Sher rick (Kansas City) I joined the Sierra Club in 1981 when Ronald Reagan and James Wa t tbegan their outrageous assault on our public lands. Recently it seems as if we’ re reliving those saddays. We must stay alert and informed in order to f ight off such efforts. I would be glad to assist byserving on the Chapter ExCom if elected.I have served on the Thomas Hart Benton ExCom two terms and was appointed to f i ll a vacated posi-tion on the Chapter ExCom in 1998.

Claus Wa w rzinek (Kansas City) I have been involved in environmental activities for more than 15years. I am currently involved in urban land-use planning, development, and transportation issues inKansas City. With Kansas City’s strong dependency on the automobile, clean air and urban sprawlare more and more becoming a problem. As one of the co-coordinator of the Metropolitan Coalitionfor Sensible Transportation, I hope to do my part by standing up for a better environment. I alsoserve as the current outings chair for the Thomas Hart Benton Group.As an environmentalist I feel there are many challenges ahead of us. Every one of us can do theirpart. It is never too late to start.

Ozark Chapter

Sierra Club Ballot 1999

Executive Committee Ballot Profiles

Your official ballot for the Ozark Chapter Executive Committee is on the back of thispage. The ExCom sets Chapter policy and oversees the business of the OzarkC h a p t e r. It is made up of nine members elected from the membership at large (you),plus one additional member appointed by each of the five Sierra Club groups inMissouri. ExCom members are elected to staggered two-year terms. Of the curre n tExCom members, Gale Burrus, Ginger Harris, and Keet Kopecky continue in office.That leaves four members to be elected this year. You may vote for up to four of thecandidates named on the ballot, or you may write in the name of another qualifiedm e m b e r. If yours is a joint membership, two members may vote. Write your 8-digitmembership number in the return address space of your envelope to validate yourballot. The number will be verified before the ballot is opened, and separated fro mthe rest of the ballot before counting to assure that your vote is secre t .

Aboutthis

ballot



Your official ballot for the Ozark Chapter Executive Committee is on the back of this page.The ExCom sets Chapter policy and oversees the business of the Ozark Chapter. It is madeup of nine members elected from the membership at large (you), plus one additional memberappointed by each of the five Sierra Club groups in Missouri. ExCom members are elected tos t a g g e red two-year terms. Of the current ExCom members, Gale Burrus, Ginger Harr is, andKeet Kopecky continue in office. That leaves four members to be elected this year. You mayvote for up to four of the candidates named on the ballot, or you may wri te in the name ofanother qualified member. If yours is a joint membership, two members may vote. Wri te your8-digit membership number in the return address space to val idate your ballot. The numberwill be veri fied before the ballot is opened, and separated from the rest of the ballot beforecounting to assure that your vote is secre t .

1999 Ozark Chapter ExCom Ballot instructions

To vote:1) Vote for up to four (4) people (you may write in additional

names)2) If yours is a joint membership, two (2) members may vote 3) Insert ballot into an envelope and address to

Alan Journet/Sierra Club Election Committee2756 Oakshire CircleCape Girardeau, MO 63701

4) Write your membership number (the 8 digit number on topof the computer address label) in the return address space ofthe envelope.

5) Affix 32¢ stamp and mail to us so it arrives by December 31, 1998

I vote for ...(see reverse side for personal profiles)

1st 2ndmember member

( ) ( ) Gina DeBarthe

( ) ( ) Andrew Gondzur

( ) ( ) Caroline Pufalt

( ) ( ) Bob Sherrick

( ) ( ) Claus Wawrzinek

( ) ( ) .......................................

( ) ( ) .......................................

✄



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Without their commitment to the wild places of this earth, photos like thiswould be impossible.Join us!



Nov. (first week) TheEndangered Species-Biodiversity Committee isplanning a Mt. Everestouting at the OmnimaxTheater at the St. LouisScience Center. Ifinterested, call AndrewGondzur (314) 772-8810.

Nov. 7 (Sat) St. Louis IronMountain & SouthernRailway in Jackson, Mo.Mur der Mystery dinnertrain - scary fun withfood, laughter, and goodcompany. What more coulda Sierran want? Join us forthis unusual railwayadventure, an afternoon-evening trip. $37. Pleasecall right away forreservations. Kathy Wodell,(314) 240-0675 (home) or(314) 946-7200 (ext 219).

Nov. 7-8 (Sat-Sun) OzarkTrail Maintenance trip. Wewill r eturn to Blair Creekand continue our workwhere we left off lastmonth. If we have a bigenough crew, some of uswill tr y to complete theconnector trail from Himont

Towerto

LaxtonSpring.

Common commissarySaturday night. Bob Gestel,296-8975 or PaulStupperich, (314) 429-4352.

Nov. 13 (Fri) Come join usto see Everest at theOmnimax. Limited seats,so call early and call before9 p.m. Diane Favier, (314)

894-5549.

Nov. 14(Sat)Highwaycleanup.

You mayhave never

consideredpicking up trashalong the road.That means that it's

your turn to don theorange vest. Diane DuBois,(314) 721-0594.

Nov. 14-15 (Sat-Sun)Overnight backpack tripsuitable for beginners.Ashort drive from St. Louisin beautiful Hawn StatePark, where we will hike toone of the back countrycamps. After we set upcamp, we can day hike onsome of the many scenictrails. Bob Gestel, (314)296-8975.

Nov. 15 (Sun) 10 mile hikeon the Green Rock Trail.Due to popular demand,this hike is being offeredagain this year. O. K. I'lladmit there was too muchmud and too many horsesthis spring but it's Nov. andit's all better now. Join the

ranks of those whohave come to love thistrail. The few ... theproud. Steve Viggers,(314) 984-8752.

Nov. 21-22 (Sat- Sun)Backpack trip at

Meramec State Park on theWilderness Trail. RichKrebs, (314) 939-4436 orGary Clifton, (314) 645-4077.

Nov. 22 (Sun) MeramecState Park.Dare to hike onthe wrong side of the river.Visit springs, caves, oldhomesteads, PlymouthPoint, and have a greatriver view from high on thebluff. Wayne Miller, (314)569-0094.

Nov. 22 (Sun) 3-mile hikeat Creve Coeur LakeMemorial Park. Visit oldgrowth threatened by PageAvenue Freeway. MarkKaufmann (314) 434-4743.

Nov. 27-29 (Thanksgivingweekend, Fri-Sun) Join usfor a backpack trip toHercules GladesWilderness.We will spend3 days exploring thebeautiful glades. PaulStupperich, (314) 429-4352, or Bob Gestel, (314)296-8975.

Dec. (and all winter) Crosscountry skiing will beavailable on short noticewhen Mother Nature offersthe opportunity . Call nowfor more information. JimNyberg, (314) 725-0767.

Dec. 5-6 (Sat-Sun) Gladerestoration.Help increasehabitat for the rare collaredlizard and hundreds ofnative plant species atWashington State Park.

Be sure to checkyour G R O U Pnewsletter

for m o re or c u rre n to u t i n g s !

E a s t e rn MissouriG ro u p



Come one day or both.Penny Holtzmann, (314)487-2738.

Dec. 5-6 (Sat-Sun) Ha HaTonka overnight backpack.Observe the effects ofcontrolled burning in thisunique state park.StephenFinch, (314) 644-2553 orJo Aerne (314) 664-8299.

Dec. 6 (Sun) ProffitMountain, 8 miles alongthe Ozark Trail.Spectacular views of theTaum Sauk valley. PaulStupperich, (314) 429-4352.

Dec. 12 (Sat) Highwaycleanup.It's always sunnyand warm when we pickup trash in December. Seefor yourself. Come join us.Diane DuBois, (314) 721-0594.

Dec. 12 (Sat) Morningtour of Faust ParkButter fly house with a talkby the staff. This is theannual December outing ofthe Endangered SpeciesCommittee. Diane Albright,(314) 966-3645.

Dec. 12 (Sat) Holidayparty and pot luck dinner.Bring a dish to share.Diane Favier, (314) 894-5549.

Dec. 13 (Sun) WeldonSpring's famous Lost-94-Katy-Quar ry Trail needsyour footprints. WayneMiller , (314) 569-0094.

Dec. 18 (Fri) Ho! Ho! HO!Holiday evening walk inKirkwood . Stop at Bordersafterward to listen tomusic. Suzanne Smith,(618) 281 4762 (after 6weekdays only).

Dec. 19 (Sat) Hike atMastodon State Park andeat in Kimmswickafterward. Diane Favier, no

calls after 9 p.m., (314)894-5549.

Dec. 20 (Sun) Solsticehike to Hawn State Park, 8miles. Paul Stupperich,(314) 429-4352.

Jan 1 (Fri) Meramec StatePark annual day hike.Please join me. PaulStupperich, (314) 429-4352.

Nov. 7 (Sat) Perry LakeTrail Maintenance. Aservice outing requiringsome hard work that resultsin a lot of fun. Call SteveHassler, (913) 599-6028.

Nov. 21 (Sat) Outingsleadership / backpackingworkshop. Participants learnoutdoor leadership skills.Claus Wawrzinek, (816)561-7863.

Nov. 28 (Sat) Squaw CreekEagle watch.Spectacularwildlife viewing at thefamous refuge north ofKansas City. Dan Fuller,(816) 779-7263.

Dec. 4-7 (Fri-Mon) WhiteRock Mountain,Mountainbur g, Arkansas.Breathtaking views andsolitude. Hibernate allweekend in the lodge ordayhike and backpack alongthe Ozark Highlands Trail.Limited space, call early.Jeff Pierce, (913) 599-3966.

O u t i n g s C o n t i n u e d

Thomas HartBenton Gro u p



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Eleven Point National Scenic River - Sierra Club · Eleven Point National Scenic River photo by Tom Kruzen ... content, or clarity. It is our job to help you communicate. If you have