SIERRA

     If you're concerned about the environment, the Drake-Kellum race in Virginia's 2nd Congressional District provides a clear choice. Drake, who had a bad environmental record as a Virginia Delegate, has continued to disappoint in Congress. She received a 6% rating in 2005 from the League of Conservation Voters and is on her way to another bad year in 2006. She started this year by voting for a federal budget that cut critical environmental programs. The Budget Blll for 2007 was a carbon copy of President Bush's proposal. which hurt environmental programs of importance to Virginia.

     The Environmental Protection Agency lost $304 million with critical cuts of $199 million to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides money for states to upgrade sewage treatment plants. Virginia is struggling to clean up nutrients flowing into its rivers and the Chesapeake Bay, but Drake voted to cut this fund, costing Virginia by $4.6 million in sewage upgrades.

     The budget she supported cuts the Chesapeake Bay Program, including the elimination of the Chesapeake Bay Small Watersheds Grant Program of benefit to the Lynnhaven River restoration efforts. The Chesapeake Bay Program overall was cut $2 million, once a large proposed earmark for the Corsica River in Maryland was taken out.

     That same budget lowers funding for the US Army Corps of Engineers by $596 million. With the Craney Island Expansion on the table in addition to many Bay-wide environmental restoration programs, these cuts couldn't come at a worse time.

     Drake supported all of these cuts when she voted for the budget in May, 2006 (Roll Call #158).

     She voted against offshore drilling before she voted for it, a 2006 version of the "flip flop" charge used against Senator Kerry in his presidential bid. Having voted to uphold the ban on offshore drilling in the interior appropriations bill, Drake voted for offshore drilling in a separate bill, HR 2361.

     The Virginian Pilot coverage of the bill's passage covered Drake as follows: "This is an issue whose time has definitely come," said U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, R-2nd District, who has emerged as an outspoken supporter of drilling despite concerns about it in portions of her oceanside district.

     Other Republican Congressmen had a different view on the merits of the legislation: The bill "basically hands over our coastal waters to the oil interests," countered Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y. Offshore areas shouldn't be opened to drilling "when we have not taken the first step to conserve oil," he said . "I am not going to vote for any drilling, anywhere, until we have a rational plan for renewables," added Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md. (Virginian Pilot, June 30, 2006)

     In a region where natural resources are a critical part of our economy, it makes no sense to have a representative who doesn't understand the need to protect the environment.

Fred Adams [Click to email comments, or call 467-2775.]

     FISHERMAN'S ISLAND is one of our favorite outings. We get there with the assistance of a guide from the National Wildlife Refuge of the Eastern Shore. November can bring very fresh air to the exposed Eastern Shore and most particularly to Fisherman's Island.

     Here is the place that is the first thing you see when crossing the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, but you seldom have the opportunity to walk its beaches and see it up close. Now is your opportunity.

     The date is the 18th of November, the time is 8:30 AM and we will meet in the parking lot at the southern end of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. We will car pool over. Bring layered clothing and a good sized lunch. We will have lunch and return at about 12:30.

     SEE YOU THERE.

     For 2007, Sierra Club will offer the desk engagement calendar and the wilderness wall calendar. Both come in a gift box ready for mailing. These are great for gifts!

     The calendar sale is the Chesapeake Bay Group's primary fund raiser with profits used to help print and mail our newsletters and for environmental endeavors. Come to a monthly meeting to see the beautiful calendars. Perhaps you would be willing to sell some for the group as well as buy them for your own use and for gifts.

     If you cannot attend a meeting, calendars can be ordered by mail with a $2.00 shipping charge PER calendar. Click here to Order. For more information call Barbara at 483-1562.

     Beginning in January 2007, we will distribute our newsletter via the internet and the website.

     The distribution of the paper version of the newsletter all but totally uses up our budget. There are 1,300 local members and the expense is considerable.

     We do appreciate all of our members and their contribution to Sierra Club's efforts to preserve the outdoors. However, many of these members for what ever reason are not participating in our activities. That is no problem. But it is a problem of cost by sending everyone a newsletter.

     So this Fall we will be developing an email list of all those members interested in reading what's happening either on the website or an electronic version. You can sign up for the information by sending your EMAIL address to Ted Dupuy at tedupuy@cox.net or by coming to a meeting and signing up on the attendance sheet.

     We believe there is a method of sending the information one address at a time. We also assure you that the list will be used for only Sierra Club activities.