News

WASHINGTON  -- The Wilderness Society and 19 other environmental organizations notched a huge victory today when the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco affirmed protection for almost 40 million acres of wild national forests and grasslands from new road building, logging, and development. The decision puts an end to the Bush administration’s efforts to open these last great natural areas to development. Today’s ruling protects the majority of national forest roadless areas in the country.

News Release: Wednesday, July 15th, 2009 Contact: David Ortman (Sierra Club): 206-354-2910 (mobile) deortman@msn.com

Sierra Club: No New Dams in Yakima River Basin Yakima - Today the Sierra Club issued a formal statement to state and federal officials that Sierra Club opposes new dams proposed for the Yakima River Basin as environmentally damaging and not cost effective. This was the second meeting of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project 2009 Work Group.

"Sierra Club opposes expanding the dam at Bumping Lake adjacent to the William O. Douglas Wilderness," said David Ortman representing Sierra Club and a long time environmental advocate in the Pacific Northwest. "The Bureau of Reclamation dropped the Bumping Lake Enlargement from its December 2008 Yakima Water Storage Feasibility Final Report. This report also confirmed that the proposed Black Rock Dam and Wymer Dam are huge money losers for taxpayers. In the face of climate change, the future of water for irrigators is conservation, water markets, and improved efficiencies."  Yakima River Basin's water future

 From the Washington State Department of Natural Resources:

OLYMPIA – This weekend, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will begin closing some of the off-road vehicle (ORV) trails in Reiter Foothills. The measures are necessary to reduce the loss of fish habitat and to protect downstream health.

ORV riding will still be allowed in many areas, specifically in places that are being considered as potential riding areas under a recreation plan for Reiter due out this summer.

Three weeks ago the EPA announced that it would hold two hearings on its endangerment finding, that global warming pollution is a threat to public health and welfare. The Sierra Club kicked into gear to demonstrate the outpouring of public support for fast, scientifically-based, and substantial actions on climate change. We turned to our volunteers, coalition partners and staff throughout the country to lead that effort. 

 

A spirited crowd estimated at 2,000 people gathered outside an EPA hearing in Seattle today, urging the Obama Administration to take action on reducing global warming pollution. Hundreds of children and students joined members of the faith community, health officials, business leaders, environmental leaders, and elected officials to call upon the administration and congress to address the threat to public health posed by global warming pollution, support real solutions to global warming, create more green jobs and opportunity in the growing clean energy economy and end America’s dependence on dirty energy sources like coal. The rally was kicked off by Sierra Club staffer Kathleen Ridihalgh rallying dozens of kids on the stage in a chant -- "Act Now! End Coal!"

Thankfully, the 2009 regular session is now over. The environmental community brought an ambitious agenda into the session and we ran into a buzzsaw caused by a deep recession, concern about unemployment, and an unprecedented budget deficit. We are disappointed only one out of the four environmental community priorities passed, but we survived this brutal session without any major rollbacks, and managed to pass some good legislation on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation.

Efficiency First plan would lower energy costs, create jobs and enhance energy security for Washington State

 OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The Washington State Legislature last night approved a bill to dramatically improve energy efficiency in buildings throughout the state. Now headed for Gov. Chris Gregoire’s desk, SB 5854 would gradually raise standards for new building construction, while improving energy efficiency in existing public buildings through insulation, better windows and improved heating and cooling systems.

Maybe you've already changed all your incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescents. And this past winter you turned down the thermostat by 2 degrees. You're saving energy and money, and reducing your carbon footprint. But we all need to go the extra mile to wrangle the climate-change challenge and create a clean energy future.

The coolest thing is: We've got what we need - the technology and "can do" spirit. Click here for information that could help you kick it up a notch in your home when it comes to energy savings and reducing your carbon footprint:

By Ethan Bergerman

Coal is so last century. Coal mining destroys mountains and prairies. Coal creates more global warming pollution than any other energy source. Coal spews toxins into our air, water, and communities. In Washington State, we still use dirty coal.

Washington State can move beyond coal with your help.

Click here to send a message to Governor Gregoire asking her to stand up for public health, clean renewable energy, good green jobs, and a green economy in the Northwest.

If you or your candidate would like to be considered for Sierra Club Cascade Chapter political endorsement, please let us know by May 1. If you know the leadership of your local Sierra Club group, you may contact them directly. Otherwise, you may notify the Cascade Chapter Political Chair, Scott Otterson

By Ben Greuel

On Monday, March 30th President Barack Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act (S.22) therefore designating over 2 million acres of wilderness in 16 areas and in 9 different states. The signing was a huge victory in the effort to protect our public lands. Though Washington State was left out of this round of wilderness bills, our wilderness champions are working hard at protecting our precious public lands.

On Thursday, March 26th, four days before President Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act, Senator Patty Murray and Congressman Dave Reichert introduced the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Additions and Pratt and Middle Fork Snoqualmie Rivers Protection Act” - this joint legislation will help ensure the future of some of Washington’s most popular backcountry recreation areas by designating more than 22,000 acres of wilderness adjacent to the existing Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area. The legislation will also protect nearly 30 miles of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie River and 10 miles of the Pratt River as Wild and Scenic Rivers.