August-September 2007
Upcoming Earth Friendly Fridays: Focus On Public
Lands
AUGUST 10 - 6:30 PM - "THE
FOREST IN OUR BACK YARD"
FROM HIS
RURAL HOME in Bland County, David Muhly can practically throw a
rock to the Appalachian Trail. He need only step over his
property line to be standing in Jefferson National Forest, and
he's just up the road from the breathtakingly beautiful
Dismal Falls.
But Dave does more than admire and enjoy
these marvelous wonders. For his day job, he works
for the Sierra Club as a Senior Regional Representative,
and he is a critical part of the Club's Southern Appalachian
Highlands Ecoregion team.
Dave will be our guest speaker for Earth
Friendly Friday on August 10. He'll be showing the
short film "Simple Gifts", a beautiful visual reminder
of why we work to save the forests and other natural resources of
the Southern Appalachians. He'll also give us an update
on the George Washington National Forest plan, and explain how
you can have a say in how OUR national forests are managed.
Earth Friendly Friday (EFF) is a monthly program series to
celebrate the natural wonders of the earth and to mobilize our
community for needed action to protect our environment.
This series is sponsored by the Roanoke Sierra Club and the
Environmental Concerns Committee of the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Roanoke.
LOCATION: At the UU Church, 2015
Grandin Rd., Roanoke (at Brandon Ave., across from
PHHS).
DATE/TIME: August 10,
2007 6:30 PM, bring a snack dish to share; program starts at
7:00 PM.
SEPTEMBER 14 - 6:30 PM - "WILD SECRETS OF
NEVADA"
Say
"Nevada" and the first image that comes to mind is the
glitzy gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. But Nevada has a
well-kept secret: It has the largest amount of wild, undeveloped
land in the continental US, as well as the most mountains.
For our September EFF program, we
present "Wild Secrets of Nevada", a 57-minute film that
takes viewers on a journey to Nevada's best wild
places.
Much more than a travelogue, the film presents
commentary by biologists, geologists, and historians to help
unravel the many secrets of this starkly beautiful land. In the
many wilderness areas around the state are a multitude of
surprises awaiting the adventurous. It is a land of contrasts and
an unusual diversity of ecosystems. And luckily for those who
want to visit this virtually unknown "other" side of
Nevada, most of these wild lands are easy to get to and are open
for exploring and camping, because nearly ninety per cent of
Nevada is publicly-owned.
The film traces the fascinating
historical interplay of people and wilderness, from Native
Americans living in harmony with the land through the Gold Rush
days when pioneers mined it for silver and regarded the rest as
wasteland, to modern times and a revival of interest in
preserving Nevada's remaining wild territory.
Not unexpectedly, much of the wild land
of Nevada is under assault by mining and other interests.
The Sierra Club and other groups are Club is working hard to
protect what's left of the "Wild Secrets of
Nevada".
Date: September 14, 2007. Doors open at 6:30, program
starts promptly at 7:00 PM. Everyone is invited to bring a
snack dish for sharing, and to enjoy socializing, music and
refreshments before and after the program.
LOCATION: At the UU Church, 2015 Grandin Rd., Roanoke (at Brandon
Ave., across from PHHS).
PROPOSED INTERMODAL
FACILITY: SOOT AND CITIES DON’T MIX
By Diana Christopulos
Air Quality Chair, Roanoke Group
As we go to press, Norfolk
Southern is preparing a proposal to locate the Roanoke Regional
Intermodal Facility (a truck-rail transfer station) inside the
City of Salem, near Colorado Street and the Roanoke River. The
Sierra Club generally supports the use of rail instead of trucks,
since they yield an overall reduction in harmful emissions,
including the carbon dioxide that is a primary cause of global
warming.
But carbon dioxide is not the only issue. Diesel engines are a
major source of soot (PM 2.5 particulates). The EPA notes the
following links between exposure to soot and public health:
• Premature death
• Aggravation of respiratory and cardiovascular
disease
• Lung disease
• Cancer
• Decreased lung function
• Asthma attacks
• Heart attacks
• Irregular heart beat
At least one out of every three people is at a higher risk of
such health effects, including:
• Children (especially children who are active
outdoors)
• Older adults
• People with heart or lung disease
• People of all ages who are active outdoors
Salem and the Roanoke Valley
already have a problem with soot. In 2005, the PM 2.5 monitor in
Salem had the highest average readings in the entire state, and
the monitor in Raleigh Court ranked third, behind Salem and
Arlington. Both exceeded the EPA limit.
The main source of the problem is
probably truck traffic. A Virginia state air quality working
group concluded in 2003 that, “the Interstate 81 corridor
and other transportation emission sources must constitute the
majority of PM 2.5 emissions in the Roanoke area, because the
point source emissions comprise 20% or less of total emissions in
these counties.”
The proposed intermodal facility would be located near Andrew
Lewis Middle School and the nearby neighborhoods on each side of
the Roanoke River. Trains using the facility would also travel
and idle next to the softball fields at the Moyer Complex. While
soot can travel, it is most dangerous to those who live, work and
play close to its source.
The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation notes
this additional drawback to the Salem location:
"The Union Street at-grade
crossing might be blocked for long periods of time when trains
are switching in and out of the facility. The facility access
road would also be blocked at that time."
(SOURCE: http://www.
drpt.virginia.gov/studies/
files/Colorado-Street-Site.pdf)
The resulting traffic jams would
add even more air pollution.
Intermodal facilities are much
more appropriate in rural or semi-rural areas, close to
interstate highways, rather than several miles away on city
streets in heavily populated areas.
Salem would not be the only place
affected. Eventually the soot would diffuse throughout the
valley, causing a further increase in already high readings and a
possible “non-attainment” designation, resulting in
economic curbs.
Some day, perhaps by 2020 or 2030,
overall diesel engine emissions will be much cleaner than they
are today. The technology already exists. But it is not required
for older engines.
The Roanoke Sierra Club Group
ExCom will consider taking formal action on this proposal at its
August 8 meeting. Sierra Club members are welcome to
attend, or feel free to share your thoughts with me at:
dianak16@earthlink.net
Roanoke Group Hosts "Town Meeting" Sept. 27: Virginia
Citizens' Energy Plan to be Unveiled
Global
warming, looming shortages of fossil fuels, increasing air
pollution. These are the threats that prompted the Sierra
Club to launch an all-out campaign to influence national energy
policy.
Recognizing that this campaign must be
waged at every level of government, the Virginia Chapter of the
Sierra Club is taking the lead. Chapter leaders have
created the "Citizens' Energy Plan", a
comprehensive statement of our vision and strategy for
Virginia's energy future.
Not content to sit back and be defensive
or simply support friendly legislation that comes along, the
Sierra Club will help frame the agenda and garner support for our
vision in the General Assembly. We aim to be at the
forefront of the movement for conservation, energy
efficiency, and clean, renewable energy.
On September 27, state environmental
leaders will team up with local activists and experts to unveil
the Citizens' Energy Plan. Hosted and co-sponsored by
Hollins University, this event will include a review of the plan,
a panel discussion, and audience participation.
Hollins is a pre-eminent leader for
environmental responsibility in our community. Hollins
president Nancy Gray recently joined more than 260 other college
presidents in signing the American College and University
Presidents Climate Commitment. Says Gray, "Hollins has
a unique responsibility as a role model for our community and in
preparing those who will help find solutions to reverse global
warming."
When: September 27, 2007, 7:00
PM
Where: Richard Wetherill Visual Arts
Center, Hollins University Campus
