Santa Lucian • Jul/Aug. 2011 Lucian - Sierra Club · The Santa Lucian is published 10 times a year. Articles, environmental information and letters to the editor are welcome. The

Santa Lucian • Jul/Aug. 20111

DON’T MISS

July 20

A 500-Mile HikeAcross California

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The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, California

Protecting and

Preserving the

Central Coast

SantaLucian

IIIII n s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d e The real planning problem 2

At the ocean summit 4

The true cost of food 6

Lobby with SC in Sacramento 8

Classifieds 11

Outings 12

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Jul/Aug 2011Volume 48 No. 7

Santa LucianSanta Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club

P. O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

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PAIDPERMIT NO. 84

SAN LUIS OBISPOCA 93401

Let’s Eat RightAnti-hunger, nutrition, agriculturaland environmental organizations inSan Luis Obispo County have beenawarded a Hunger-Free Communitiesplanning grant from the U.S. Depart-ment of Agriculture. The Sierra Club is one of eighteenpartner agencies and five supportingorganizations and governmentofficials participating in the project.The key convening partners are theFood Bank Coalition of San LuisObispo County; Healthy Eating,Active Living San Luis Obispo (HEAL-SLO); San Luis Obispo County HealthDepartment; the Central CoastAgricultural Network (CCAN) and CalPoly’s STRIDE center. The project will bring together abroad range of local stakeholders toform a coalition to ensure sustainablefood systems in San Luis ObispoCounty. The first meeting of stake-holder groups was attended by morethan forty community representativesat the SLO headquarters of the FarmBureau on the morning of June 8.Joseph McIntyre of the Ag Innova-tions Network, who has participatedin the start-up of nine food systemscoalitions, shared inside knowledge ofhow other California communitiessucceeded or failed in the effort, andhelped the group “identify everythingnecessary to get food from farm tofork” in setting priorities for preserv-ing and enhancing the county’s foodsystem. McIntyre told the assembledparticipants they needed to “getoutside some of the traditionalarguments we have about food” andlearn to “believe in the superiority ofcollective wisdom.” The essentialstarting point, he said, is that “theU.S. has awakened to the fact that theway we eat is actually poisoning us,”and that between this health crisis,rising international demand andglobal climate change, “there is acrisis coming that you will not be ableto avoid.” Anne McDermott of STRIDE posedthe question “We recognize there arehaves and have-nots; how do we close

Sustainable food systems coalition forming in SLO

the gap?” About 40,000 San Luis ObispoCounty residents either go hungry ona regular basis or sometimes don’tknow when or where they’ll get theirnext meal. Despite its reputation asbeing a healthy community, nearlyhalf of all adults in San Luis ObispoCounty are overweight or obese anddo not eat the recommended fiveservings of fruits and vegetables daily,according to the 2007 CaliforniaHealth Interview Survey. In a 2009San Luis Obispo County studyconducted by Cal Poly and theDepartment of Public Health, 37% ofpreschool aged children were at the85th percentile or higher for BodyMass Index (BMI), a significantincrease from 2006. Over the next year and a half, theSan Luis Obispo County Hunger-FreeCommunity Project will oversee aFood Security Assessment conductedby community volunteers under theguidance of researchers at Cal Poly’sSTRIDE center to assess hunger andnutritional deficits among thecounty’s high risk populations; a FoodStore Survey conducted by Cal Poly’scommunity nutrition students toassess the availability and cost ofquality food; and a compilation oflocal data on Food ProductionResources by the Central Coast AgNetwork to determine the availabilityof local food resources to helpeliminate hunger and improvednutrition. Nationwide, food system allianceshave been successful in educatingcommunity leaders and the generalpublic, offering public policy ideas,improving coordination betweenexisting programs and starting new

Man with a plan Project director Diringer.

Sierra Club food activism on page 6

Historic Coastal Commission vote this month

By the Environmental Action Committee of West Marin

At its upcoming meeting in Santa Rosa on July 13, as part of a process that hasunbelievably dragged on for more than 20 years, the California Coastal Com-mission will make a momentous decision on the fate of Tomales Dunes, thelargest unprotected dune system in central California. About 90 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, this is one of California’sleast-known ecological treasures, a complex of several rich coastal environ-ments that includes coastal prairie, coastal scrub, salt marsh, tidal flats, bayand ocean. Tomales Dunes has the richest collection of seasonal dunes wetlands

Save Tomales Dunes

TOMALES continued on page 9

programs. The coalition will workwith the community to develop a planto improve food security and healthynutrition for low-income residents ofSan Luis Obispo County. Project Director Joel Diringer, alocal health research and policyconsultant, has organized andfacilitated several county-wideplanning processes in the health andnutrition sectors, including theHEAL-SLO coalition. The USDA’s Food and NutritionServices division selected San LuisObispo’s project through a highlycompetitive process in which severalhundred communities applied for 14grants. The $100,000 grant will fundthe local studies and the conveningand drafting of an anti-hunger plan.

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Santa Lucian

EDITOR

Melody DeMerittThomas A. CyrSteven MarxEDITORIAL BOARD

The Santa Lucian is published 10 times ayear. Articles, environmental information andletters to the editor are welcome. Thedeadline for each issue is the 11th of theprior month.

send to:

Editor, Santa Lucianc/o Santa Lucia Chapter, Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.

[email protected]

Santa Lucia Chapter

2011 Executive CommitteeMelody DeMeritt CHAIRSteven Marx TREASURER

Cal French MEMBERGreg McMillan VICE CHAIRPat Veesart

MEMBER

Jono Kinkade

MEMBER

Liz Tracy

SECRETARY

Cal French COUNCIL OF CLUB LEADERS

Committee ChairsPolitical Chuck TribbeyConservation Sue Harvey [email protected] Cal FrenchLitigation Andy Greensfelder

Nuclear Power Task Force Rochelle Becker

Other Leaders

Open Space Gary Felsman 805-473-3694Calendar Sales Bonnie Walters 805-543-7051Chapter History John Ashbaugh 805-541-6430

Activities

Outings Joe Morris [email protected]/Kayak open

Webmaster Monica Tarzier [email protected]

Chapter Director Andrew Christie 805-543-8717 [email protected]

[email protected]

Andrew [email protected]

[email protected]

Printed by University Graphic Systems

Office hours Monday-Friday,12 p.m.- 5 p.m., 974 Santa RosaStreet, San Luis Obispo

The Executive Committee meetsthe third Friday of every month at2:00 p.m. at the chapter office,located at 974 Santa Rosa St.,San Luis Obispo. All membersare welcome to attend.

Coordinator Kim Ramos, Admin and Development [email protected]

Assistant Coordinators Marie Clifford - correspondence Noelle Cirisan - social networking

Santa Lucia ChapterP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

Denny MynattPRINT MEDIA COORDINATOR

General MeetingWednesday, July 20, 7 p.m.

Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St., SLO. Info: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

How do egregiously unsustainable development proposals get to the pointwhere they require our local residents to dedicate a large portion of their livesto fighting them, devoting months or years to the task of becoming fluent inland use regulations and local, state and federal environmental laws? Because “client service”-oriented planning staff agree to send such projectsthrough the pipeline rather than telling the permit applicant and would-bedeveloper right up front “this won’t fly.” That’s a problem. Unfortunately, it is not the problem identified as theproblem in need of solving by the two streamlining committees consisting of(as The Tribune put it with a straight face) up to eight “planners, architects,developers and an environmentalist” tasked with advising the County Board ofSupervisors on how to improve “a turgid and off-putting land-use process.” Instead, when the committees’ work was presented to the Board of Supervi-sors at their June 7 meeting, the board heard tips on how to shake off peskywould-be project opponents: shorten the permit appeal period from two weeksto ten days, require all appellants to have first commented on a project atobscure, poorly noticed planning department hearings or else lose any stand-ing to file an appeal, and dictate the way in which appeals should be written byappellants, requiring lots of that aforementioned fluency in land use regula-tions and local, state and federal environmental laws. In other words, the Board got pretty much the kind of recommendations onewould expect from eight “planners, architects, developers and an environmen-talist.” A fundamental misreading of the problem was further apparent from the dais.As the Board tabled the report for more public input at the June 7 meeting,Supervisor Adam Hill, eager to adopt the proposals to restrict appeals and therole of the public in the public process, bemoaned the strife-ridden planningprocess and what he saw as an “increasingly destructive battle between peoplewho want growth at any cost and those who want no growth whatsoever.” While that is an impressive combination of the straw-man argument and thefake symmetry gambit in a single statement, we would point out that all themajor development fights in recent county history – the Hearst Ranch GolfResort, Cayucos Viewshed, Santa Margarita Ranch, San Miguel Ranch, theSalinas gravel mines, the proposed sale of County land in the Oceano Dunes,etc. – have indeed involved those desiring development at any cost, but none toour recollection have involved people seeking no growth at all. Rather, they have involved citizens who sought to defend the General Planfrom gross violations, protect water or air quality, defend the habitat ofthreatened species, etc. In every case, the objective has been to send an ill-conceived, poorly-designed, destructive plan back to the drawing board or thewaste basket (or the grand jury, in the case of the skullduggery that Countyplanning staff engaged in when trying to force the sale of that land in theOceano Dunes.) And in each case, opposition has been to a specific projectwith specific problems, an opposition formed by people who were seeking toprotect something precious, not seeking to engage in a simplistic philosophicaldebate on growth vs. no growth. (We don’t know if there is a group aroundhere somewhere that is dedicated to “no growth at all,” but if there is they arefailing utterly, as at least 85% of all projects get approved by the PlanningCommission and the Subdivision Review Board with no opposition whatso-ever.) The Board took a promising step toward fixing the real problem in 2009when it ushered former Planning Director Vic Holanda into an abrupt retire-ment, not a moment too soon. But Holanda’s wink-&-nod planning philosophyhad permeated County Planning for 12 years, and the Board did not proceed toclean house or otherwise make it clear to staff that Holanda’s laissez-faireplanning style was now inoperative. Hence the “client service” philosophy isstill very much in place; and hence the focus of the “streamlining” committeeon trying to find ways to make it easier for developers to get project permitsapproved by making it harder for citizens to fix the problems that inevitablyarise from that philosophy. It would be a lot simpler to make it clear toplanning staff that when they first glimpse a General Plan bunker busterheaving over the horizon, trailing clouds of significant environmental impacts,many future problems could be solved and many battles avoided if they couldlearn to just say no. That would do a lot more to streamline the process than continuing to putthe private developer in the catbird seat and the public interest out in the cold— a location that may soon feature a higher mountain to climb in order for acitizen to challenge the permit for a bad development.

Fixing the Fake Problem

Veteran Sierra Club conservationistand hardy outings leader, Cal French,backpacked 530 miles from theNeedles area of the Colorado River toMorro Bay this spring, walking muchof the way off-trail and using ultra-liteequipment. His trek across plains anddesert demonstrated the need forcontinuous public and conservancyland between the eastern and westernboundaries of California. Come hearhis stories, marvel at his slides, andgasp at some unexpected adventures,all told by a skilled raconteur.

A Hike Across California


As we report in “Fixingthe Fake Problem”(left), the proposal torestrict public access tothe County land usepermit appeal processhas been tabled forfurther review. This attempt tonarrow the “standing”and the time window tofile an appeal is not thefirst time the Countyhas sought a way tosqueeze the public outof of the public process.At the end of 2009, theBoard of Supervisorshiked the land useappeal fee by $200 andtried (and failed) to slapa fee on no-cost CoastalZone appeals, a guaranteedright of all citizens of Californiaunder the California Coastal Act. The County’s rationale for suchactions is the need to cut down onthe number of “frivolous appeals.” After the June 7 Board meeting,Santa Lucia Chapter ConservationChair Sue Harvey asked SLO CountyPlanning & Building Division Man-ager Warren Hoag to give her anexample of a “frivolous appeal” of thetype that the measure would halt.Hoag cited as an example the appealof the decision by a County Planningofficer (Mr. Hoag, as it happens) toissue a Coastal Development Permitfor the San Luis Coastal UnifiedSchool District’s solar power project.The permit required removal of

Sierra Club California has releasedthe 2010 California Coastal Commis-sion Conservation Voting Chart. This chart, now in its 23nd year, is acombined effort of various coastalenvironmental groups, and measuresthe pro-conservation scores of theCommission. The 2010 chart exam-ines 21 separate votes, which wereselected in consultation with coastalconservation activists, based on theirlikely impact on coastal resources andtheir potential to set statewideprecedent. “We are disappointed that theoverall conservation score for theCommission dropped from 66% in2009 to 61% in 2010,” said MichaelEndicott, Advocate for Sierra ClubCalifornia. “Commissioners ap-pointed by Governor Schwarzenegger,in particular, have backslid from gainsin 2009 to casting pro-coast votes in2010 only 43% of the time.” Though some votes show that theCommissioners are willing to supportstaff enforcement recommendationsand to honor past precedent fordevelopment standards like bluff topsetbacks, other votes demonstrate aninconsistent approach to protectingEnvironmentally Sensitive HabitatAreas and a failure to ensure longterm enforceability of agricultural andopen space permit restrictions.Still other votes allow high intensityprojects, specifically desalination andwastewater treatment plants, toproceed despite probable potential tosignificantly degrade the coastlinefeatures, habitat and surface and

Oh, Those Frivolous Appeals

mature native trees to allow maxi-mum sun exposure for solar panelarrays placed around the grounds oflocal schools. Two appeals were filed with theCalifornia Coastal Commission by theSierra Club and Los Osos residentJulie Tacker noting that the loss ofthose trees and the encroachment onwetlands -- classified by the CoastalAct as Environmentally SensitiveHabitat Area (ESHA) -- was a conse-quence of the array layout as ap-proved by the County. The CoastalCommission agreed, and directed thatone of the arrays be removed fromESHA and the trees spared (see “SolarProject Improved by ‘Opponents’,”February 2011).

Worthy of note:the Sierra Club’soriginal commentletter pointing outthe project’senvironmentalimpacts is on filewith the County,having been submit-ted prior to theproject hearingbefore the countyplanning officer, andis included in therecord of thehearing at which theCounty permit wasissued. Hence ourstanding to file anappeal of the permit-- no matter how“frivolous” -- would

have been the samewith or without the new proposeddefinition of “standing.” The outcomeof our appeal also would have beenthe same: we were right and theCounty was wrong in issuing a permitwithout sufficient conditions for theprotection of EnvironmentallySensitive Habitat Area, a violation ofour Local Coastal Plan. Because weappealed the permit, the problem wasfixed. Which has to make you wonder:How is the County defining the term“frivolous appeal?” So far as we cantell, it seems to mean an appeal thatdisagrees with the decision of aPlanning Department divisionmanager -- especially when thatappeal is upheld.

by Lisa Gravesfrom PR Watch/Weekly Spin, 5/6/11,reprinted with permission of theCenter for Media and Democracy

Editor’s note: Last year, the SLOCounty Planning Commission votedto adopt Open Space Policy 2.4,stating “The County shouldprohibit disposal of biosolids andcomposted bio-solids on open spacelands.” (“Biosolids” is the p.r. euphe-mism for sewage sludge invented byindustry lobbyists.) Under intenselobbying pressure, the Board ofSupervisors opted to omit the words“and composted biosolids” beforeapproving the update of the Conserva-tion and Open Space Element. Thefollowing article provides a goodreason why those words should nothave been omitted, and why theyneed to come back into the discussionnext year when the EnvironmentalHealth Division is expected to issue apermanent ordinance regulating theland application of sewage sludge inSan Luis Obispo County.

It’s not green to greenwash sewagesludge with “organic” school gardens Earlier this year, some ofHollywood’s “green” celebrities —Rosario Dawson and a bevy of starlets— thought they were promotingorganic school gardens for inner-citykids when the Environmental MediaAssociation (EMA) teamed them upwith a secretive corporation, KelloggGarden Products, whose main busi-ness is selling sewage sludge products. That company calls its Kelloggbrand “quality organics” and decep-tively labels bags sold at the gardenstore as “garden soil” made from“compost” — with no mention that itis made from industrial and humanwaste that contains tens of thousandsof contaminants. That’s why federallaw bars the use of sewage sludge-based products in organic gardens. So when news broke that KelloggGarden Products provided sewagesludge products to EMA’s “organic”school gardens — and its spokesper-son even posed with sewage sludge-derived products at the gardens —you’d think EMA and its stars wouldcut all ties to the sludge industry. But you’d be wrong. Instead ofdenouncing the contamination of thekids’ gardens and the corporation’seffort to “greenwash” its brandthrough associating with stars devotedto organic produce, EMA is stickingwith its corporate donor. So far.

ground waters that support thewildlife and activities that drive thesuccess of California’s coastaleconomy. “It’s also troublesome,” addedEndicott, “that the sites of theseprojects do not appear to have beenscrutinized for sustainability in theface of sea level rise. And theCommission’s two desalination plantvotes have respectively underminedCalifornia’s greenhouse gas reductionefforts and set a precedent forsegmenting impact assessments and

approvals for such projects. Thesedecisions highlight the importanceand value of ongoing public involve-ment to make sure that the Commis-sioners adequately and correctlyreview proposed projects againstCalifornia Coastal Act criteria. SierraClub California and activists from oureight coastal chapters are committedto continuing fulfilling this role alongwith our coastal allies.” For more information and thecomplete report card, go towww.sierraclubcalifornia.org/.

2010 Coastal Commission VotingChart Now On Line

Gone at last Former Coastal Commissioner Katcho Achadjian (lower right corner) endedhis Coastal Commission career in his traditional conservation vote ranking: dead last.

Don’t Be Dupedby the SewageSludge Industry’s“Compost”

SLUDGE continued on page 10

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by Judith Bernstein

Lucky me: I entered the Sierra Club Activist Network’s contest to win a tripto the Blue Vision Summit in Washington DC, May 20-23 and won! (see “HerBlue Vision,” May.) What did I have to do to get this honor? First, I had to have a vision of myown for improving the health of the ocean in my local area. Second, I had todescribe my commitment to environmental issues. Third, I needed the recom-mendations of local Sierra Club leaders. Thank you so much Andrew Christie,Karen Merriam and others who gave references. This was the third such summit, organized by David Helvarg, President of theBlue Frontier Campaign. In his welcome, he said: “We are here to show thatthere is a growing constituency for restoring the Gulf of Mexico, demonstrat-ing how health seas promote a healthy economy and seeing our national oceanpolicy launched at the local level where many of you are already working onlocal solutions to the challenges we face both on and offshore.” As part of mycommitment to working at the local level, I have joined the Marine SanctuaryAlliance (our local Sierra Club and Surfrider chapters), working to include thecoastal areas off our County in an existing Marine Sanctuary. I arrived in Washington already aware of the challenges to the health of theworld’s oceans: pollution (the ocean as worldwide garbage dump); warmingwaters in response to climate change resulting in coral bleaching and die-offs;melting icebergs raising the sea level with threats to islands and coastal areas;and the infamous “garbage patches” where plastic bottles and other debris swirlaround in gyres. The conference speakers and panels provided more specific informationabout these threats and their consequences. Unfortunately, I learned of morethreats I hadn’t known about. Fortunately, I heard about innovative waysscientists and other problem-solvers were dealing with them. So first the badnews, then the reasons to celebrate humanity’s ingenuity. The oceans are connected to the land, and although this may be obvious tomost people, the interconnections are not always clear. As a Saturday speakerput it, “whatever happens upstream, impacts downstream.” That is to say, whatgoes into streams and rivers goes into the ocean. And that includes agriculturalrunoff, sewer overflows during storms, toxic waste, soil turned over duringconstruction as well as erosion, and junk casually tossed anywhere that canwashed into the ocean. Although state and local land use laws as well as coastalregulations may prevent many of the past abuses in this respect (the EPA isrequired to look at water impacts in its evaluations), the world’s oceans bordermany countries that don’t have stringent regulations or lack the staff toenforce them. My initial inspiration for attending the conference was the growing PacificGarbage Patches that I had read about. The news about the effects of plastics onmarine life was truly horrendous. The Plastic Pollution Coalition, headed byDaniella Russo in Monterey, is part of a global effort to rid the world of plastic.Their staff pointed out the many ways that plastic is harmful both on land andsea, and the proliferation of products that use plastic. There are plastic pieces or micro-particles ingested by marine fish andanimals that fill up their stomachs so that they can’t eat properly, or chokethem, or leach PCB’s into their system. They also become entangled in nets orplastic items like soda can holders and drown. And there is more: invasivespecies are finding a home on floating plastic rafts; plastics can move up thefood chain as a bigger fish eats a smaller fish that has ingested plastic. Couple today’s plastic problems with a world population that is still growingand throwing, and you have a disastrous situation for the future. TheCoalition’s approach involves public education and lobbying for legislation tooutlaw plastic use of various types. Although California failed to pass a ban onplastic bags, out-lobbied by the usual suspects, other municipalities (SanFrancisco, San Jose, Marin/LA/Santa Clara counties) have passed laws againstsingle-use bags. A bill in Congress, HR 1628, proposes a tax on plastic bags. I was interested in laws or tax breaks that would encourage the developmentof alternatives to plastic, although most of the panelists were sure this wouldn’thappen in their lifetimes. I asked about alternative products now on the marketand was told that (1) many of them didn’t degrade for a long time, even if thattime was not as long as plastic and (2) corn-based products such as cups andplates sold at health stores, New Frontiers, etc. had their own negative environ-mental consequences since more and more acres of good soil that could be

by Jack McCurdy The EPA has published a proposed rule relating to the regulation of the use ofcooling water at existing U.S. power plants and other industrial facilities. Unfortunately, EPA’s proposal does little to protect our waterways from thedestructive impacts associated with once-through cooling. Once-through cooling is incredibly harmful because it relies on massivewater withdrawals – approximately 80 trillion gallons per year from ournation’s waters. Among other things, these withdrawals kill fish and aquaticorganisms by the millions by “impinging” them on intake screens (i.e., trap-ping them against the screens by the pressure of the intake flow) and by“entraining” them through heat exchangers where they die due to physical,thermal and toxic stresses. Readily-available modern technology – known asclosed-cycle cooling – recycles cooling water and reduces withdrawals and fish

A ComprehensiveConservation andManagement Planfor Morro Bay

by Lexie Bell, Assistant DirectorMorro Bay National Estuary Program

The CCMP update is in full swing! Forthose of you that were unable toattend the first public meeting onApril 14th, the meeting presentationand notes can be found in the bluebox on the right-hand side of this webpage: http://www.mbnep.org/ccmp/plan-progress-update.php. We have also scheduled the techni-cal workshops. During these work-shops, the Estuary Program will seekadvice and feedback from experts inspecific areas of the plan. The work-shop topics do not represent the onlyareas of the plan to be updated;instead, they are the areas in greatestneed of expert assistance. An invitedpanel of experts will participate ineach meeting, and members of thepublic are also welcome to attend. Because meeting space is limited,please contact me by email or phone(805-772-3834) if you wish to attend.Complete information on the techni-cal workshops can be found here:http://www.mbnep.org/ccmp/public_meeting_agenda.php. The remaining workshops arescheduled as follows:

Future Direction of MBNEP Monitor-ing – July 7, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Freshwater Flow – July 12, 12:30p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Sierra Club Takes to the Sea

CoolingIt

kills by 95 percent and is required fornew plants. EPA’s proposed rule is a stepbackward in our collective efforts tosafeguard America’s waters. Basically,EPA has chosen the path of leastresistance by caving into industrypressure and punting this issue tostate agencies – agencies that toooften lack the resources and theability to stand up to industry on thisissue. “The country is long overdue for aclear, consistent national policy thatprotects waterways and helps movethe nation toward cleaner, moremodern and more efficient energyproduction by phasing out theenvironmentally destructive once-through cooling systems,” said SteveFleischli of the Natural ResourcesDefense Council. “Without nationalstandards, the EPA remains inviolation of the Clean Water Act andstates continue to lack the politicalwill, resources, and clout to imposeuse of better technologies on thepower industry.”

The deadline for comments on thedraft rule is July 19. A final rule willbe issued by July 27, 2012. To com-ment, go to www.sierraclub.org/, type“Tell the EPA to Stop the FishMassacre” in the Search window, andthen click on “Attack of the Fish-Chopping Coal Plants!” (Take Action). More information on the impacts ofpower plant cooling water can befound on Riverkeeper’s campaignwebsite. Go to www.powerplantsthatsuck.org.

SEA continued on page 10

Ahoy The author, left, with Rep. Lois Capps’ legislative assistant Jennifer Salerno in D.C.

TAKE ACTION


Hey, bunky, are you getting a little tired of those commercials on every cablenews channel featuring handsome, sincere, down-home oil company execu-tives telling you how exciting it is that they are using the technique known ashydrofracking to pull natural gas out of the ground, and how clean, safe, andcarefully monitored it is? Yes, it’s all the opposite of true, as the New York Times has exhaustivelydocumented (search “drilling down” on the Times’ website). And you can dosomething about it. Fractivists can find and post templates for letters to repre-sentatives, and for use when encountering industry mouthwash in articlesthat need rapid response. Check out Sierra Club’s Activist Network onFacebook, and join up at sc.org/act-net/.

Frack Attack

Summary: The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s senior public affairsofficer in the NRC Region IV office takes on local critics of his agency and de-fends its reputation.

“Safety is paramount,” by Victor Dricks, New Times, June 9, 2011.

Upshot:

Taking Issue

PG&E saidthis in thecontext of theframe it wasthen tryingto put aroundthe Fukushima disaster -- one in which the nuclear reactorssupposedly came through the earthquake with no problems;all the damage came from the 30-foot tsunami (i.e. Diablo is85 feet above sea level so it can’t happen here) before it wasdiscovered that the quake knocked out vital systems at theFukushima reactors before the tsunami hit... so, yes, it canhappen here. And why is the NRC acting as an apologist fora utility it is allegedly monitoring as an impartial, indepen-dent regulator?

Despite Swanson’s claim, there was nothing“irrational” about the NRC’s refusal to pre-pare an environmental analysis on the con-sequences of a hypothetical terrorist attackon Diablo Canyon.

The NRC is an independent regula-tory agency respected around theword for its high standards and lowthreshold for concern.

“Federal reg-ulators havebeen workingclosely with thenuclear powerindustry tokeep the nation’s aging reactors operating withinsafety standards by repeatedly weakening thosestandards, or simply failing to enforce them.... Timeafter time, officials at the U.S. Nuclear RegulatoryCommission have decided that original regulationswere too strict, arguing that safety margins couldbe eased without peril.

“Again and again, problems worsened before they werefixed. Postponed inspections inside a steam generatorat Indian Point allowed tubing to burst, leading to aradioactive release in 2000. Two years later, crackingwas allowed to grow so bad in nozzles on the reactorvessel at the Davis-Besse plant near Toledo, Ohio, thatit came within two months of a possible breach, theNRC acknowledged in a report. A hole in the vesselcould release radiation into the environment, yetinspections failed to catch the same problem on thereplacement vessel head until more nozzles were foundto be cracked last year.”

- “Plants Crumble as Nuclear Rules Erode,” byJeff Donn, Associated Press, The Tribune, Jun. 20, 2011

The NRC has frequently beencriticized as too close to thenuclear industry. During the2008 campaign, PresidentObama called it “a moribundagency…captive of the industry it regulates.”

- “Cold Comfort at Senate Nuclear Safety Hearing,” GeorgeZornick, The Nation, Jun. 17, 2011

problematic environmental coverage & commentary in our local media

The Nuclear RegulatoryCommission travels to SanLuis Obispo (on our dime)to “listen” to questions fromour community on thesafety of aging reactors onthe west side of the PacificRim. Yet the NRC provided

answers to neither San Luis Obispo nor Santa Barbara residents’questions at their June performance review meetings on DiabloCanyon. The NRC has been a rubber stamp on every single nuclearreactor license renewal request it has ever received. On June 20, fivedays after the NRC’s meeting in SLO, the NRC and PG&E seismicexperts held a conference call with licensing and relicensing staff todiscuss an unprecedented License Amendment Request (LAR) forDiablo Canyon. The Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility will addressthis and other age/seismic/cost/reliability issues at a July 26 CaliforniaEnergy Commission nuclear workshop in Sacramento. On July 7 at theCalifornia Public Utilities Commission, the Alliance and co-intervenorsSierra Club, CalPIRG and Environment California will formally opposePG&E’s motion to suspend its request for ratepayer funding tounderwrite the utility’s quest to renew Diablo Canyon’s operatinglicense for another 20 years (see “Seismic Showdown,” March 2011).As funding for PG&E’s license renewal application should not beconsidered before the seismic studies are complete, we will argue fordismissal.

[After Fukushima], PG&E neversaid the plant is safe from earthquakedamage because it sits on a cliff 85 feetabove sea level. They said it’s safe fromtsunamis because of its location.

People who have questions and concernsshould attend a June 15 public meeting at 6p.m. at the Embassy Suites hotel in San LuisObispo, where the NRC staff will provide abriefing about the Diablo Canyon plant’s 2010safety performance.

The attorney forthe Mothers forPeace, the SierraClub and fomersupervisor PegPinard arguedthat “the terroristattacks of September 11, 2001, harve removed anyshred of credibility from the NRC’s stance thatterrorist attacks on nuclear facilities are ‘speculative’events that cannot be predicted.” The Ninth CircuitCourt of Appeals agreed.

Commissioners alsohad no answers abouthow to fix backuppower systems thatcontinue to coolnuclear material in theevent of a major poweroutage. The batteriesat Fukushima ran foronly eight hours—not

nearly long enough. In theUnited States, the standardlength is only four hours.“This is something we haveto look into and take actionon,” said commissionerGeorge Apostolakis. “I’m notsure what that action wouldbe.”

- “Cold Comfort at Senate NuclearSafety Hearing,” George Zornick,

The Nation, Jun. 17, 2011

“The AP found proof that aging reactors have been allowed to run less safelyto prolong operations. As equipment has approached or violated safety limits,regulators and reactor operators have loosened or bent the rules. Last year,the NRC weakened the safety margin for acceptable radiation damage toreactor vessels - for a second time. The standard is based on a measurementknown as a reactor vessel’s ‘reference temperature,’ which predicts when itwill become dangerously brittle and vulnerable to failure. Over the years,many plants have violated or come close to violating the standard. As aresult, the minimum standard was relaxed first by raising the referencetemperature 50 percent, and then 78 percent above the original -- eventhough a broken vessel could spill its radioactive contents into the environ-ment..... Unprompted, several nuclear engineers and former regulators usednearly identical terminology to describe how industry and governmentresearch has frequently justified loosening safety standards to keep agingreactors within operating rules. They call the approach ‘sharpening thepencil’ or ‘pencil engineering’ -- the fudging of calculations and assumptionsto yield answers that enable plants with deteriorating conditions to remain incompliance.”

- “Plants Crumble as Nuclear Rules Erode,” by Jeff Donn, Associated Press,The Tribune, Jun. 20, 2011

Our inspection process isdesigned to identify problemslong before they becomesafety significant.

6


The Sierra Club seeks to increase awareness of the environmental impacts ofour consumption practices, encouraging environmentally friendly consump-tion in energy and transportation, food, and forest products. We advocate specific changes in public policy that will promote more-sustainable consumption practices, and we provide information and resourcesthat can help us make more thoughtful, educated choices in satisfying dailyneeds. When it comes to food, we recommend a three-part policy:

l Eat LocalIf you care about global warming, don’t buy food that has traveled hundreds orthousands of miles by plane and truck to get to you. If you care about openspaces, buy food that is grown on small local farms, which help keep openspaces from being paved over. If you care about stopping sprawl, buy from localproducers rather than from big chain stores.

l Eat OrganicIf you care about biodiversity and endan-gered species, don’t buy food that is pro-duced with toxic pesticides, which kill allsorts of creatures. If you care about globalwarming, don’t buy food that is grown withpetroleum-based fertilizers. If you careabout clean air, water and soil, look for foodthat is grown on farms where farmers don’tuse chemical pesticides that are sprayedfrom the air and leach into the water andsoil.

l Eat more vegetables, fruits, nuts,grains, and seedsIf you care about forests, wild places,biodiversity and endangered species, you should know that a leading cause ofdeforestation in the Americas and elsewhere is the raising of cattle and theirfeed. If you care about clean water and soil, don’t buy meat from factory farmswhere animals are raised in confined operations so that their wastes poison the

Rachel’s Kidsby Michael Brune, Executive Director ofthe Sierra Club

Rachel Carson would be proud of thekids at Renaissance High School inWatsonville, California. Carson, of course, was the former U.S.Bureau of Fisheries biologist who,alarmed by the effects of DDT, wroteSilent Spring — the Big Bang of themodern environ-mental movement. Before Silent Spring appeared wayback in 1962, no one questioned the indiscriminate use of pesticides. Peopleassumed that better farming through chemistry was completely safe. Whowould dare challenge the inexorable march of “scientific progress?” Rachel Carson, that’s who. As a scientist herself, she was able to build adevastating and convincing case against DDT. The chemical industry cried foul,but when President Kennedy asked the President’s Science Advisory Committeeto report on Carson’s findings, they backed her up, DDT was eventually banned,and the rest is history. Which brings us back to Watsonville. Almost half a century after SilentSpring, we now have an Environmental Protection Agency that is charged withprotecting the health and safety of both consumers and agricultural workers by

TAKE ACTION

Since methyl iodide was approved as a strawberry fumigant in Californiaagainst the advice of the Department of Pesticide Regulations’ own scientificpanel (see “A Strawberry Statement,” January 2011), a threat has loomed forthe environment and residents of SLO. Some 2,418 acres of strawberries wereplanted here last year. This month, the SLO County Health Commission willdiscuss tentatively scheduling a panel discussion of the human and envrion-mental health risks of methyl iodide featuring staff from the Regional WaterBoard and members of the California Depatment of Pesticide Regulation’sScientific Review Committee. Public demand put this on the HealthCommission’s radar; public demand will be needed to keep it there. To tellthe Commission to schedule this panel, come to the Auditorium, County AgCommission Building, 2156 Sierra Way, SLO, at 6 p.m., Monday, July 11.

RACHEL’S continued on page 9

TAKE ACTION

From Field to ForkThe 3 questions to ask about your meal before it gets to your plate are how wasit grown, where did it come from, and what is it doing to the planet?

Get the Activist ToolkitConsumers hold a lot of power in determining how products are produced, andin turn how our environment and health fare. We can work to bring about aneconomic system that strives for the sustainability of our environment and ourcommunities. Here’s a list of activities to get started:www.sierraclub.org/sustainable_consumption/toolkit/

Learn the True Cost of FoodAn educational and entertaining animated short produced by the Sierra Club’sSustainable Consumption Committee, “The True Cost of Food” is part of acampaign to encourage people to think about the environmental impacts oftheir consumption choices and show how consumers, through our foodchoices, can stop the practices that harm our health, our planet and our qualityof life. “The True Cost of Food” is available as a 15-minute DVD or web download.E-mail [email protected] to get a copy of the DVD and discussion guide,or download a full-length or abridged version at www.truecostoffood.org/.

The EPA approved me-thyl iodide for agricul-tural use over the objec-tions of more than 50scientists who consid-ered it too toxic.

regulating pesticides andfumigants. But, in spite ofgreater awareness of thedangers, we still can’tassume that the fruit andvegetables on our supermar-ket shelves are safe. And forthe low-income workerswho do the back-breakingwork of harvesting our food,we actually can assume thatmany of them will be exposed to dangerous chemicals every working day. One of those chemicals is methyl iodide. In “Refusing to Bend,” a fine piece ofreporting by Rosie J. Spinks for Sierra magazine, we learn that the EPAapproved methyl iodide for agricultural use in 2007. The agency did so over theobjections of more than 50 scientists (including four Nobel laureates), whoconsidered it too toxic. We also learn that the California Department of

Worth Reading “Refusing to Bend” is a Sierra magazine on-line feature.

Row

an B

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Gardening season is in fullswing with deliciousbackyard mainstays liketomatoes, lettuce, androsemary. But if you’reready to try some quirkiercrops, check out Sierramagazine’s expert recom-mendations for offbeat buteasy-to-grow fruits andvegetables that you mightnot have tried yet ( www.sierraclub.org/sierra/201105/enjoy.aspx). If you want more funedible ideas, get the newedition of Edible Landscap-ing by Rosalind Creasy.Order online from SierraClub Books and we’llinclude a free garden totewhile supplies last.

by Joan Jones Holtz, Sierra ClubResponsible Trade Team

Between 1959 and 1972, millions ofdolphins drowned when they becameensnarled in mile-long fishing netsused to catch tuna. Fishermen in theEastern Tropical Pacific Ocean, whichincludes southern California, Mexicoand South American, would deliber-ately chase schools of dolphin toencircle them in these huge purseseine nets. Since dolphins tend tocongregate above schools of tuna, thefisherman knew they would lead themto the tuna. In 1972, in response to an outragedAmerican public who had refused tobuy tuna, Congress passed the MarineMammal Protection Act. The Actprohibited U.S. fishermen from usingpurse seine fishing nets to catch tuna. In 1988 Congress passedamendments to the MarineMammal Protection Actwhich banned tuna importsfrom countries whosefishermen used purse seinenets to catch tuna. Studieshad verified that at leastthree species of dolphin hadbeen severely depleted dueto this method of fishing. In 1990, Congress passedthe Dolphin ProtectionConsumer Information Actand created the popular“dolphin safe” label for cansof tuna. That label could bedisplayed only on canswhich certified that thetuna had not been caught using purseseine fishing nets. Sales for tunawithout the “dolphin safe” labelssuffered. During this period dolphindeaths dropped dramatically—from423,678 deaths per year in 1972to15,550 per year in 1992. In 1991, Mexico challenged the U.S.ban on tuna caught in Mexicanwaters. They contended that theprovisions in the Marine MammalProtection Act were not necessary toprotect tuna. A GATT (GeneralAgreement on Tariffs and Trade) panelbacked them up. That panel ruledthat a policy which treats physically-identical goods differently based ontheir production or method ofprocessing violated GATT rules. GATTrules require agreement of all GATT

nations to adopt a new ruling—thistime, in regard to dolphin safety.However, both the U.S. and Mexicoagreed to drop the matter. Why did both Mexico and the U.S.decide to stop the controversy?Because the North American FreeTrade Agreement was about to beintroduced to the U.S. Congress andits passage was in doubt. Bothcountries knew that the publicitygenerating from the dolphin safetycontroversy would likely doomNAFTA. In 1995, soon after the U.S. enteredthe World Trade Organization (WTO),Mexico again challenged the U.S.Dolphin Protection ConsumerInformation Act by threatening aWTO enforcement case against theU.S. for refusing to implement the1991 GATT ruling.

nets. If monitors stationedon sighting boats did notactually see dolphins killedor injured during thesetting of the lines, thenthat tuna could be labeled“dolphin safe.” The original championsof the Dolphin ConsumerProtection InformationAct, joined by the DolphinSafe Fair Trade Coalition,fought against the weaken-ing of the law, saying that a

Whatever Happened to Dolphin-Safe Tuna?Nothing good

Thanks a lot, WTO The World Trade Organizationstrikes again.

Anxious to be on good terms withour Mexican neighbors and newNAFTA partners, President Bill Clin-ton promised Mexican PresidentErnest Zedillo that weakening thedolphin protection standard wouldbe a top priority for his adminis-tration. After intensive lobbyingby the Clinton Administration,Congress passed the DolphinConservation Program Act (DCPA)which permitted imports of tunafrom other countries, even thoseusing the purse seine nets forcatching tuna. This new law, DCPA, allowed thenewly imported tuna to use the“dolphin-safe” label— even if the tunawas caught by the use of purse seine

One cannot understand the battle toprotect the “dolphin-safe” tuna labelwithout realizing the World Trade Orga-nization (WTO), and the wide-rangingcorporate establishment that supports it,views this fight as a symbol of how toget rid of environmental laws thatrestrict trade of any product, no matterhow it is produced or obtained.

-- “Killing Dolphins For Free Trade &WTO,” by David Brower, David Phillips,

and William Snape, Grist, Dec. 1999

rejected the Department ofCommerce’s attempt to weakenstandards on dolphin-safe labeling.This decision was hailed by environ-mental groups and lawmakers whohad worked to establish the dolphin-free label. They rebuked the ClintonAdministration for selling out dolphinprotections to accommodate ahandful of foreign fishing companies. However, corporate fisher groupshave never given up trying to weakendolphin safety rules. In 2008, thistime through the WTO, Mexicolaunched a new attack on the DolphinProtection Consumer InformationAct. The new attack alleged that U.S.dolphin protection standards violatedthe WTO agreement on “TechnicalBarriers to Trade.” The WTO agree-ment states that “technical regula-tions are not prepared, adopted orapplied with a view to or with theeffect of creating unnecessaryobstacles to international trade.Technical regulations shall not bemore trade restrictive than neces-sary.” Eyes on Trade reported on May 20that the U.S. dolphin-safe tunalabeling rule has been deemed aWTO violation. Purely voluntarydolphin-safe labeling might impedenon-labeled tuna from marketingopportunities in the U.S. Tunaconsumers who prefer to buy dol-

phin-safe tuna will no longer haveany means of determining which tunawas caught by dolphin-safe methods. Is this what “the race to the bot-tom” is all about? Does U.S. tradepolicy affect environmental protec-tions? You bet it does.

monitor on a fishing boatthe length of a footballfield could not possiblemonitor all activitiessurrounding the boat. In March 1999, President Clinton’sSecretary of Commerce Bill Daley(now President Obama’s Chief ofStaff) determined that there was

insufficient evidence that“chase and encirclement” bythe tuna purse seine fishingmethod had any effect on thesafety of the depleted dolphinstocks. A year later, thedolphin safe tuna labelregulations were formallychanged to allow tuna caughtwith purse seine nets to carrythe dolphin-safe label as longas the monitor on a tunavessel did not observedolphins being killed orseriously injured during thenetting. On April 11, 2000, the U.S.District Court for the North-ern District of California

We received the grant money in March. Since then we have purchased a seedwarming mat, temperature controller, fluorescent grow-light, and seed trays.We have also acquired potting soil and seeds through donations from FarmSupply in San Luis Obispo. Once our growing supplies arrived in the mail, we got to work. First we filledour seed trays with soil, gently compressed the soil, and saturated it with water.Then we carefully sowed the seeds (tomatoes, melons, squash, and broccoli)just under the surface of the soil. We used one seed for each seed-tray com-partment. We learned afterward that we should have used 2 or 3 seeds percompartment because not all or seeds germinated. Once the trays were planted, we placed them on top of the seed warming mat.The warming mat uses electricity to warm soil in the trays from underneath.Most seeds like the soil to be between 75 and 80 degrees to sprout. The tem-

Grow Your Own Groceries

From the GreenhouseSLO’s Outside Now Nature Academy reports on the progress of itsSierra Club eco grant-funded home grown sprouts project

SPROUTS continued on page 9

8


by San Luis Obispo RegionalRideshare

Until September 5, the Summer BreakPass allows K-12 Students to goanywhere the bus goes in San LuisObispo County including CuestaCollege, Cal Poly, downtown San LuisObispo and the beach. The Summer Break Pass is adiscounted regional transit pass for K-12 Students that works on all buses inSan Luis Obispo County including theAvila, San Luis Obispo and CambriaTrolleys. With gas prices predicted to spikeover the summer, the $30 SummerBreak Pass can help alleviate parents’financial constraints while teachingyouth how to use sustainable trans-portation. The Summer Break Pass can bepurchased online at www.summerbreakpass.com or at Regional TransitAuthority pass outlets. For each passpurchased, a free Regional Day Pass isavailable for parents or siblings whowant to accompany the pass holder ontheir first transit trip. For trip planning assistance, pass

Become part of a team will help Sierra Club California

pass our priority legislation during the most excitingand challenging time of the year at the State Capitol! You will have opportunities to interact with otheractivists and our professional lobbying staff, as well aswith legislators and their staff. This is a two-day event. On Sunday, starting ataround noon, our advocacy team will train you onhow to lobby and brief you on our priority bills so that

you can effectively advocate for them. On Monday, youwill work the halls of the Capitol as teams, with meet-

ings scheduled from morning through the afternoon. Sierra Club California will reserve beds at the Sacra-

mento Hostel for members who are joining us from out of town— you will have the option to sign up to stay in the Hostel, at no

cost to you, when you register for Lobby Day. As a courtesy to ourparticipants who would prefer more private accommodations at their own expense, Sierra ClubCalifornia is also looking into special group rates at a nearby hotel as well as special travel ratesfor the weekend. Additionally, limited travel subsidies are available by request, based on need anddistance traveled, with special consideration given to advocates from targeted districts. For questions, please contact Amanda Wallner at Amanda.Wallner@sierraclub california.org/.

Diverse coalition supportstighter pollution controls onpassenger vehicles and cleantech investment

On June 9, top consumer, health,business, government, faith andenvironmental leaders announced thelaunch of a broad-based campaignthat aims to tackle dangerouspollution from passenger vehicles inCalifornia. Pollution from cars is a significantthreat to public health, according torecent studies by Harvard and theAmerican Lung Association. TheCalifornia Clean Cars Campaign ispressing for adoption of the strongestpossible emissions standards to cleanup California’s passenger cars andlight-trucks. “More than 90 percent of Califor-nians live in areas with unhealthy airaccording to the American LungAssociation State of The Air Report,”said Jane Warner, co-chair of theClean Cars Campaign AdvisoryCommittee and CEO of the AmericanLung Association in California. “Ourresearch demonstrates that strongerstate standards that cut vehicleemissions and promote zero emissionvehicles could prevent more than$7 billion annually in health care andsocietal costs as well as hundreds ofhospital visits, heart attacks, earlydeaths and thousands of asthmaattacks every year in California.” Strong standards for new cars soldin California will not only reduce airpollution, they will also lowerconsumer costs, bring jobs andinvestment to California’s clean techeconomy and encourage automakersto build the advanced clean carsCalifornians want to drive, accordingto a recent UC Berkeley study. “Local governments all across thestate are struggling to maintain basicservices and restore their financialhealth,” said Los Angeles CityController Wendy Greuel, co-chair ofthe campaign Advisory Committee.“Cleaner cars help in two ways.They deliver direct jobs to California’sgrowing clean transportation sectorand help people spend less on fuel,pumping money into the localeconomy.” The California Clean Cars Campaignis revving up to push for tighterstandards for 2017-2025 model-yearcars in California as the California AirResources Board, federal Environ-mental Protection Agency and theNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration work together todevelop new car and light truckstandards that will be announced thisfall. “Dirty vehicles harm consumerstwofold by hitting their pocketbooksand damaging their health,” says KenMcEldowney, co-chair of the cam-paign Advisory Committee andexecutive director of ConsumerAction. “Low income families aredisproportionately affected bypollution because they often live inclose proximity to roadways in urbanareas. California has a chance to helpthese people by reducing the pollu-tion spewed from vehicle tailpipes.” As carmakers try to out-innovateeach other, using the latest cleantechnology to lure customers intoshowrooms, California policies can

purchasers are encouraged to callRideshare at 781-4362 or visitwww.summerbreakpass.com touse the online bus trip planner orview the How to Ride the BusVideo and the Places to Go Guide. San Luis Obispo County has sixfixed-route transit systems, threetrolleys and seventeen Park &Ride Lots. In addition, each RTAbus has room for six bikes. Thismeans there are a lot of transit

CaliforniaClean CarsCampaignKicks Into Gear

Sunday and Monday, August 28thand 29th

Join Us at Our annual LobbyDay in Sacramento!

Students: Travel Countywide for$30 All Summer

www.summerbreakpass.com

K-12 students can travel anywhere the busgoes in San Luis Obispo County with the heavilydiscounted Summer Break Pass. The $30 passworks on every bus and trolley in the countyfrom May 31-September 5.

training and encourage youthto use transit. SLO Regional Rideshare is dedicatedto reducing the number of singleoccupant vehicles on San LuisObispo’s roads and highways, reduc-ing Greenhouse Gas Emissions andmaking it easier for commuters to getto work or school. A division of theSan Luis Obispo Council of Govern-ments, SLO Regional Rideshare hasprograms for adults, youth andseniors in addition to information onall ways to get around – bus, bike,carpool, vanpool and walking. Formore information about SLO Re-gional Rideshare, visitwww.rideshare.org/.

help ensure cleaner air and greaterconsumer savings while creating jobsin budding cleantech economies hereand across the country. Since Cali-fornia’s groundbreaking actions toadopt the nation’s first Clean CarStandards, 13 other jurisdictions haveadopted California’s standards,including Arizona, Connecticut,Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New

Jersey, New Mexico, New York,Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode I sland,Vermont and Washington, DC. “China is spending around $12million an hour on clean technologyinvestments,” said Bruce Klafter, co-chair of the campaign’s AdvisoryCommittee and Managing Director ofCorporate Responsibility andSustainability at Applied Materials.

“We want the world market importingclean car technologies from Califor-nia, not China. Without strongpolicies and enforceable benchmarksthat drive innovation, new technolo-gies will take longer to develop andbring to market.” For a complete list of supporters ofthe California Clean Cars Campaignvisit www.calcleancars.org/docs/CCC_Supporters.pdf/.

options and routes available forcountywide travel. To help transitriders determine which route is bestfor them, Rideshare launched anonline bus trip planner using GoogleTransit at www.rideshare.org. The goal of the Summer Break Passis to enable youth with healthycommuting habits and reduce thevehicle trips, miles and emissionsthat parents would otherwise createdriving their kids around, therebyprotecting the environment andsaving families money. The Summer Break Pass is a not-for-profit program. The funds gainedfrom pass purchases are redirectedinto the program to provide travel

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in central California and supports atleast nine rare, threatened or endan-gered species. It is a wetland paradise, with therichest collection of these seasonaldunes wetlands - known as “duneslacks” - in central California. Anamazing “Grand Canyon of the Sands”is re-cut and reshaped by wet wintersby a rain-fed underground spring, theonly such dune canyon in CentralCalifornia. More than 40 species of waders andwaterfowl find their winter roostingand feeding grounds at TomalesDunes. It is one of only eight sites inNorth America where Pacific goldenplovers are known to overwinter. Tomales Dunes is an ancient system,but one that is perpetuallyforming itself anew. Since1954, more than half of theserare mobile dunes have beenlost, mostly to invasiveEuropean beach grass andiceplant.And in the last few decades,this ancient system has comeunder increasing pressurefrom ranching, quarrying,and recreational vehicles.

TAKE ACTION

Send a letter to the Coastal Commission! A personalized letter makes thegreatest impact; please take a few minutes now to write your letter and send itin! Please use the points above and below. Recreation and natural resourceprotection can co-exist at Lawson’s Landing, but only if the Coastal Commis-sion ensures that unpermitted uses do not continue once a coastal permit isissued, and that:

lAll wetlands and sensitive habitats are identified, protected, and givenappropriate buffers.

lA restoration, monitoring and management plan is put in place that willrestore the natural hydrology of the wetlands, reverse the loss of mobile dunes,and identify and protect listed and special-status species.

lAll camping spaces are open to the public, not reserved for the lucky few whohold private long-term leases over prime shoreline camping areas while beingserved by unpermitted cess pits.

Personalize your letter by adding your own thoughts and perspective. We needto show that our commitment level to protecting the precious Tomales Dunesis just as important and personal to us as RV users defending their “turf!”

Sample at www.santalucia.sierraclub .org/cccletter.html

Mail or fax your letter to the Coastal Commission today!

Mail to:The CommissionersCalifornia Coastal Commission45 Fremont Street Suite 2000San Francisco, CA 94105

fax: (415) 904-5400

How much longer can the TomalesDunes survive intact?

Facts about Lawson’s LandingLawson’s Landing at Tomales Dunes isthe largest RV campground onCalifornia’s Coast. Yet, it has operated without anyland use permits or an approved,permitted septic system for decades. Years of operation without therequired permits has caused signifi-cant degradation of wetlands andother environmentally sensitivehabitat areas. For years, up to 1000 RVs haveovernighted at a time, many of themparking in the sensitive duneswetlands. There are also 233 travel trailerspermanently parked adjacent to theshoreline that are served by over 100unpermitted cesspits.

Sproutscontinued from page 7

Tomalescontinued from page 1

perature controller has a littlethermometer we placed in one of theseed-tray squares. This caused themat to stay on when the soil tempera-ture was below 80 and turn off whenthe soil reached 80. We also turnedthe grow light on for 12 hours eachday to simulate daylight. We wateredthe soil twice a day, every day to makesure the seeds sprouted and to keepthe fragile seedlings alive. A couple oftimes we forgot to water the seedlingsfor half or a whole day and a few ofthem died. As the seedlings got bigger, it wastime to move them outside into thesunlight and out from under thefluorescent lamp. Some of the firstsprouts to pop up started getting verytall and falling over. We found outthat this is very common whengrowing plants with artificial lightsthat are too close. Next we transplanted the seedlingsinto larger 3-inch pots and movedthem outside. The larger pots give theroots more room to grow. Puttingthem outside will toughen them upand get them used to the changingclimate of a day and night. We’ve readthat this makes plants hardier whenthey are eventually planted in theground. Currently, we are watering thetransplanted sprouts and waiting forthem to grow large enough to putinto the ground. If all goes well, thiswill happen in three weeks. We founda good home for our seedlings whenthey are ready -- the Cuesta Collegesummer grogram, College for Kids.We met with the instructors for the“Greening the World” class. Theirclass teaches middle school kids howto be more sustainable and to takecare of the earth. Each student willget to make a planter, take it homeand enjoy home-grown food! We look forward to continuing togrow seedlings throughout the year,finding good homes for them andspreading the good feeling that comesfrom eating home-grown food. Thankyou Sierra Club for the opportunity tomake this project happen.

Sincerely,

Students of the Outside NowNature Academy

Isaac MoelterStar PendergastIssac TeixeiraGrant HeleteTroy Nino De RiveraAlexa Nino De RiveraDoran WensloffBrian C. Engleton

Pesticide Regulation approved methyliodide for use as a fumigant inDecember of last year. Again, thewarnings of scientists were ignored.As Spinks writes: Airborne transmission, groundwateraccumulation, developmental effects,thyroid disruption, cancer — theseare some of the potential conse-quences that led an independentscientific review committee, commis-sioned by the DPR prior to itsapproval of methyl iodide, to concludethat “there is little doubt that thecompound possesses significanttoxicity” and would thus result in an“adverse impact on the public health.” Methyl iodide has been used inCalifornia but — so far — not in theWatsonville/Salinas area that pro-duces half of California’s annualstrawberry crop. That is in partthanks to some remarkable activismby the students at Renaissance High— the heroes of Spinks’s article.These young people live at groundzero for this chemical. And they knowthat their parents will be on the frontlines of exposure, so they organizedsupport from farm workers andpersuaded Watsonville’s mayor andCity Council to support a methyliodide ban. Their advocacy is working, so far.Already, Governor Jerry Brown hasconceded that California should take“a fresh look” at methyl iodide. TheEPA also reopened public commentearlier this year in response to apetition filed by Earthjustice andother environmental groups callingfor the suspension and cancellation ofthe chemical. Will methyl iodide eventually findits way onto the strawberry fields ofthe Salinas Valley? It’s up to all of us.Let’s make Rachel Carson — and thestudents at Renaissance High School— proud. Please join them and takeaction now by sending a message toCalifornia Governor Jerry Brownthrough the Sierra Club’s MobileAction Network. Join the Netowork bytexting SIERRA to 69866.

Rachel’scontinued from page 6

In need of your assistance Tomales Bay wetlands.

Dan Howard

10


BlackHorse bull session Left to right: Kim Pasciuto of the Central Coast Ag Network, CongresswomanCapps, her San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara County District Representatives Greg Haas and RachelKondor, SLO CoastKeepter Gordon Hensley, SLO Surfrider Treasurer Carol Georgi.

A Congressional Coffeebreak

raising food are turned over to theproduction of corn for ethanol andcorn-based items. So if anybody everinvents a viable substitute for plastic,he or she will be a gazillionaire—local talent, get cracking! Overfishing of certain species maylead to depletion and eventuallyextinction, but I hadn’t thought outthe repercussions that might have forthe other species of both plants andanimals that depend on them. Onceagain, the intertwining and depen-dency of different life forms on eachother was emphasized during variousconference panels. Farmed fish was a topic of concern.The hazards of relying on farmed fishor other marine edibles was madeclear in terms of the known negativessuch fish have on wild fish stock, butthere were aspects of farming thatwere new to me. One of the otherSierra Club contest winners, LauraHendricks, has led a fight against alarge company, Taylor Shellfish, thatset up camp in the Puget Soundwaters (Washington State) to raise adelicacy appreciated by the Asianmarkets: geoducks, pronounced

gooey-ducks. Raising these clamrelatives involves both plastic stakesand netting, both of which arehazardous to the health of the waterand to other species. As the world’sdemand for seafood increases and thesupply of wild fish decreases, theremay be many more such situations—Does California have similarlyunprotected in its bays? There was also encouraging newsfrom different organizations andpanels. One useful panel, moderatedby Linwood Pendleton, Chief Econo-mist for National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration, dealtwith coalitions of interest, that is tosay organizations and businesses whohave an economic stake in healthyoceans and might partner withenvironmental organizations. The listincludes: surf shops, boat excursioncompanies; dive shops; sports fishinggroups; recreational boaters; yachtharbors, etc. as well as the businessesinvolved in restoring or preventingdamage to the oceans (“blue jobs”).One notable statistic was that divingcontributes $2.1 billion to the U.S.economy, and $9.6 billion worldwide!The presenter made the point thatsuch coalitions have to be a “two-waystreet,” with benefits accruing to allparties. What amazed me was the interest inchallenges to the world’s oceansshown by young people and by peoplewho lived far from the ocean. A groupof teenagers from the Ocean HarborSchool in New York City made apresentation about their school’sunique curriculum, based on oysters!Although I never learned whether theEnglish, civics or physical educationclasses were also oyster-based, surelymath, chemistry, biology and phys-ics— and even political science,might lend themselves to thisapproach. The School’s students areinvolved in every aspect of oysterproduction, from first propagating theyoung, tending the “spats,” transfer-ring them to some kind of oyster raftor floating bed in areas off long islandand other parts of the New YorkHarbor, and finally, harvesting theoysters. The students showed slidesdocumenting each step of the processand then talked about why they likedtheir school so much they hated tograduate! And what’s more, they lovedeach and every teacher in the pro-gram. The students were loved by allof us who heard their presentationand received a well-deserved standingovation.

Vicki Nikols Goldstein is head ofthe Colorado Ocean Coalition, anenthusiastic promoter of projects thatget land-locked people to care aboutand work for the health of oceans.Her high school students go todifferent areas to work on differentprojects. And then there was RobRyan from Boulder, Colorado, whorecently started Windhorse Light-ships, an organization removing deepsea debris and disposing of it properly.Although they also are based inland,they go anywhere that merits a diveand salvage operation. The last day of the Summit gotpolitical: regional teams were trainedto speak with Senators and congres-sional Representatives or theirlegislative aides about the NationalOcean Policy, as well as specific localprojects. Our Sierra Club group hadreceived excellent training fromAthan Manuel, the Club’s Lands TeamDirector in D.C., the day before theconference. On lobby day, Sierra Club ActivistNetwork Coordinator John Barry andI met with Congresswoman LoisCapps’ aide Jennifer Salerno andSenator Boxer’s top aide, Dr. LynnAbramson. Senator Boxer is one ofthe most active congressionalproponents of a national ocean policyand has worked for ten years onexpanding the Gulf of the FarallonesMarine Sanctuary in northernCalifornia. Dr. Abramson gave ushelpful advice about the steps neededto get our County’s coastal watersadded to a Marine Sanctuary. Looking back at the conferencepanels and presentations, I realizethere are many challenges to theworld’s oceans that are linked toclimate change impacts, land usepolicies, population pressures anddomestic politics, so that they cannotbe viewed as just a marine biologyissue. I also saw how many thrivingmarine-related organizations anddedicated public servants (so oftenunjustly maligned, I might add,having been one) are working to meetthe complex challenges to the oceans’health— today and in years to come.Whether these challenges are metbefore major, irreversible damage isdone is a $64 billion dollar question.And just as important is the questionas to whether individuals and groupscan work cooperatively and withoutthe usual silo or piecemeal or territo-rial approach. Next month: Our National OceanPolicy.

Seacontinued from page 4

Representatives of theSierra Club and otherlocal environmentalgroups met with Con-gresswoman Lois Cappsand her local district repsat the BlackHorse coffeeshop in SLO on June 17to discuss health, energy,climate, coastal andagricultural issues. “You guys have thelong view,” said Capps,who expressed relief atthe chance to take abreak from Congress andspeak with environmen-tal advocates who aremoving forward with thekind of local work thather more reactionarycolleagues are blockingat the federal level.

Outing the sewage sludge industry’slatest PR scam Every spring, the U.S. CompostingCouncil (USCC) pitches an annual PRcampaign, which it calls “Interna-tional Compost Awareness Week.” TheUSCC describes itself as a nationaltrade organization. USCC’s membersinclude Synagro, the largest processorof sewage sludge in the United Stateswith revenues of over $300 millionannually. “International Compost AwarenessWeek” is coordinated by JeffZiegenbein of the giant Inland EmpireUtility Agency (IEUA) in SouthernCalifornia. IEUA supplies the sewagesludge “compost” that is resold bycompanies like Kellogg GardenProducts, which supplies the sewagesludge-based products to local HomeDepot and Lowe’s garden centers. But you won’t find the word“sludge” on the bags of “soil,” “soilamendment,” “compost” or “fertil-izer” that are made from the sludge.Instead, you may find the word“compost” in the ingredients and eventhe word “organic” or “organics” onthe label. Unless the material has theOrganic Materials Review Institute(OMRI) certification, however, it isnot a certified organic product. Underfederal law, organic produce cannotbe grown in sewage sludge. Let your friends know that theyshould beware of any garden productthat uses the word “compost” or thathas a “seal” from the U.S. CompostCouncil, because it might be fromsludge. We need you to help spreadthe word.

You can help fight the sewage sludgescam!We think you have a right to know ifthe “compost,” “soil” or “fertilizer”marketed by your garden store isactually made from sewage sludgecontaining industrial and humanwaste. We also think you have a right toknow if the fruits and vegetables youbuy to eat more healthily are actuallybeing grown in sewage sludge. But wethink you have more than a “right toknow.” You have a right to demand astop to this deceptive practice thatexposes you and your family tocontaminants. Sewage sludge is not just being usedon so-called “conventional” producewithout telling you. Sewage sludgeproducts are increasingly beingmarketed as “compost” and green-washed as “organic” by the industryand its allies. Through our newly-launchedproject, The Food Rights Network, weare fighting this outrageous deceit!And we need your help to blow thewhistle on what may be the biggesttoxic scam in the United States andbeyond. Go to: www.foodrightsnetwork.org/.

Sludgecontinued from page 3

TAKE ACTION

While supplies last, you canreceive an autographed copy ofthe Guide as a gift for your dona-tion of $50 or more to the SantaLucia Chapter. Write “TREES” inthe memo section of your checkand mail to Sierra Club, P.O. Box15755, San Luis Obispo 93406.

When They Go, They’re Gone


ClassifiedsNext issue deadline is August 15. Toget a rate sheet or submit your ad

and payment, contact:

Sierra Club - Santa Lucia Chapter

P.O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

[email protected]

CYNTHIA HAWLEY

ATTORNEY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

LAND USE

CIVIL LITIGATION

P.O. Box 29 Cambria California 93428

Phone 805-927-5102 Fax 805-927-5220

A portion of any commissiondonated to the Sierra Club

Pismo toSan Simeon

GREEN HOMES

Les KangasSolar Energy ConsultantREC Solar, Inc.775 Fiero Lane, Suite 200San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Office: (805) 528-9705Cell: (805) 305-7164Toll Free: (888) OK-SOLAR (657-6527)

Fax: (805) 528-9701

12


Outings and Activities CalendarSeller of travel registration information: CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

This is a partial listing of Outingsoffered by our chapter.

Please check the web pagewww.santalucia.sierraclub.org for

the most up-to-date listing ofactivities.

All our hikes and activities are open to all Club members and the general public. If you have any suggestionsfor hikes or outdoor activities, questions about the Chapter’s outing policies, or would like to be an outingsleader, call Outings Chair Joe Morris, 772-1875. For information on a specific outing, please call the outingleader.

Island Hopping in Channel IslandsNational ParkReserve early!July 16-19; August 6-9; September 11-13; October 16-18.California’s Channel Islands are Galapagos USA! Marvel at the sight ofwhales, seals, sea lions, rare birds & blazing wildflowers. Hike the wild, wind-swept trails. Kayak the rugged coastline. Snorkel in pristine waters. Discoverremnants of the Chumash people who lived on these islands for thousands ofyears. Or just relax at sea. These fundraisers benefit Sierra Club politicalprograms in California. Cruises depart from Santa Barbara aboard the 68’Truth. The fee ($590 for May and Sept & Oct.; $785 for July & August) includesan assigned bunk, all meals, snacks & beverages, plus the services of a ranger/naturalist who will travel with us to lead hikes on each island and point outinteresting features. To make a reservation mail a $100 check payable to SierraClub to leaders: Joan Jones Holtz & Don Holtz, 11826 The Wye St, El Monte,CA 91732. Contact leaders for more information (626-443-0706;[email protected].

Sun-Tues., July 3-5, Black RockNational Conservation Area -Carcamp: Leader’s choice in theBlack Rock National Conservationarea about 100 miles north of Reno. Expect lots of people and fireworksduring this busy “4th of Juplaya”weekend on the Playa. We’ll probablycamp at a hot spring and take daytrips to other nearby locations. Expect good stars, as the new moon is7/1! Primitive camping, high clear-ance vehicles, 4WD preferred. Dogslimited, on leash, Leader David Book,775-843-6443. Great Basin Group-Toiyabe Chapter/ CNRCC DesertCommittee.

Mon., July 4th, 10 a.m. Guided Walkof Mission-Era San Luis Obispo. Doyou know where the city’s first doctorlived, the location of the “hangingtree,” and the building that may bethe oldest in the state? Find out andmuch more on an easy stroll past theMission, adobes, and Chinatown. Learn about the early days of SLO, theChumash, and its Gold-Rush pio-neers, famous and infamous. Famileswelcome. Meet NW corner ofMonterey and Osos Sts. Leader: JoeMorris, 772-1875.

Sat., July 9, 8:15 a.m. Hike theKirk Creek Trail to Vicente Flat. Out-and-back 10-mile hike on Big SurCoast, moderately strenuous, about2000 ft. of elevation gain. Enjoyincredible views of Big Sur Coast andwonderful redwoods. Lunch stop isVicente Flat, a delightful campgroundsurrounded by redwoods. There is apossibility of ticks and poison oak. Bring lunch, water, and dress for theweather Meet at Washburn day usearea of San Simeon State Park. Asyou leave Cambria, you will see theHamlet restaurant on the right. Theday use area is about another 200yards on the right. Trailhead is abouta 50-minute drive north on Hwy.1 from day use area. There is aprobability of eats following thehike. Info.: Chuck, 441-7597. (SLOResidents can carpool from SantaRosa Park and can leave at 7.20 a.m.sharp).

Sat., July 16th, 9:00 am, PointBuchon trail, Montaña de Oro SP. The Point Buchon trail stretchessouth along the coast at Montaña deOro State Park. It was recentlyopened by agreement of PG&E andoffers magnificent views of a previ-ously unseen portion of this ruggedCalifornia coastline. Total distance is7 miles, elevation gain of 400 ft.

Travel time is about 4 hours. Meet atparking lot, southern end of Montañade Oro SP at start of Coon Creek trail. Bring adequate water, snacks, anddress in layers for the weather. Hatand sturdy shoes are advised. Info.:Bill at (805) 459-2103, [email protected]. The plants, animals, andthe geology of the area will be topicsduring the hike.

Wed., July 20th, 7-9 p.m. BimonthlyMeeting: “A 530-Mile BackpackAcross California.” Veteran SierraClub conservationist and hardyoutings leader, Cal French, back-packed from the Needles area of theColorado River to Morro Bay this pastspring, walking much of the way off-trail and using ultra-lite equipment. His trek demonstrated the presence ofcontinuous public and conservancyland between these east and westpoints of the California border. Comeand hear his stories, marvel at hisslides, and gasp at some unexpectedadventures, all told by a skilledraconteur. Location: SteynbergGallery, 1531 Monterey St., SLO. Info.: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

Sat., July 23rd, 9 a.m. A walk in theClouds along East Cuesta Ridge.Moderate 8-mile round trip hikeabove San Luis Obispo, 1000 footelevation gain. Along the way, we willsee views of San Luis Obispo, Morrosand Pacific ocean. Bring water, snack,and dress for the weather. Meet at topof Cuesta Grade on northbound Hwy.101 side. For details, call Gary @ 473-3694.

Sat., August 6th, 9 a.m., PechoCoast Trail with Optional LighthouseTour. The Pecho Coast trail runssouth and then west along coast nearAvila Beach. This trail traverses theheadlands at Port San Luis, thenrounding the point to arrive at PointSan Luis Lighthouse, with sweepingviews of bay south to Point Sal inSanta Barbara Co. For those inter-ested, tour of the LighthouseHeadkeeper’s quarters is availablefor $5 fee ($10 for families) to supportbuilding restoration. For thosewishing to continue, we will hikefurther west along the coast. Totaldistance is 3.5 miles to the light-house, elevation gain 600 ft. Traveltime is roughly 4 hours (whichincludes the lighthouse tour, if youare interested). Meet promptly at8:45 a.m. in parking lot at Port SanLuis. Bring adequate water, snacks,and dress in layers for the weather. Hat and sturdy shoes are advised. To

join this outing, you must contact Billat [email protected] or (805)459-2103 in advance, as the hike has acapacity of 20. Plants, animals, andgeology of the area will be topicsduring the hike.

Sat., Aug. 13th, 9 a.m. She’ll becomin ‘round the mountain with theSierra Club. Meet at the parking lot/restrooms (dog park) at LagunaLake for a walk round Cerro San Luis.We will go at a moderate (not slow,not fast) pace, but there are a fewsteep uphills and a rocky section. Hike is 5 miles, about 2.5 hours tocomplete, depending on how muchtime we spend enjoying views. Dogsare allowed on leash. Info.: Mike Sims,459-1701 or email [email protected] cancels.

Sat., Aug. 20th, 9 a.m. Islay Road-Barranca Trail-Ridge Trail Loop inMontana de Oro State Park. Moder-ate 8-mile hike with about 1800 ft ofelevation gain. This is a wonderfulhike to explore backcountry ofMontana de Oro State Park. Thereare also great views of coastline fromHazard Peak Bring water, lunch, orsnacks and dress for the weather.There is a possibility of ticks andpoison oak. Meet at the Ridge Trailparking area, 2.3 miles from the parkentrance. There is a possibility of eatssomewhere in Los Osos afterthe hike. Info.: Chuck, 441-7597

Sat-Sun, Aug. 20-21, BristleconePines. Come to the beautiful WhiteMtns to camp, hike and just relax. OnSat, we’ll hike the Ancient BristleconePine Forest on a moderate 5-mile rtinterpretive trail, followed by picnic

lunch and short optional hike to anearby old mining cabin. Back atcamp, we’ll enjoy Happy Hour, apotluck feast and a campfire. Sun-day—pack up and head home. Groupsize strictly limited. Send $8 perperson, 2 large SASE, H&W phones,email address, rideshare info to Ldr:Lygeia Gerard, P.O. Box 294726,Phelan, CA 92329, 760-868-2179. CNRCC Desert Committee.

Tues-Wed, Aug. 23-24, PerseidMeteor Shower on the Playa -Carcamp. Full moon in the BlackRock Desert, about 100 miles north ofReno, Nevada. We’ll be camping witha group of people mid-Playa andwatching the meteor shower. Porta-Potty provided. Potluck dinner orbarbecue Saturday night, side trips tolocal hot springs. Expect your vehicleto get dusty! Dogs limited, on leash,expect to pick-up after your dog! Leader David Book, 775-843-6443. Great Basin Group-Toiyabe Chapter/CNRCC Desert Committee.

Sweet Springs Nature Preserve —Audubon Society, which manages SweetSprings Nature Preserve in Los Osos, will be receiving a grant to work onpathways, etc. Volunteers are needed on the second Saturday of the month 9a.m.-noon to help with watering, weeding, planting, etc. More informationat www.morrocoast audubon.org/.

Ventana Wilderness Alliance Trail Crew OpportunitiesTrail Crew Volunteers are needed for work in the Ventana and SilverpeakWilderness Areas. If interested or to get more information contact Dave Knapp,Trail Crew Leader at e-mail [email protected]/.

Outings Sponsored by other organizations

Documents

Santa Lucian • Jul/Aug. 2011 Lucian - Sierra Club · The Santa Lucian is published 10 times a year. Articles, environmental information and letters to the editor are welcome. The