News
New Guidance On Climate Change to Improve National Environmental Policy Act
Posted by Terri Morgan on February 18, 2010 - 3:38pm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 2010
CONTACT: Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
Washington, D.C.-- The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) today issued three new draft guidance documents with regards to the implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act, which has now been protecting our environment for 40 years. In addition to the draft guidance on global warming emissions and climate change, CEQ also issued guidance on mitigation and monitoring and establishing and applying categorical exclusions.
Full details on all three are available at: http://bit.ly/clfwZB
Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
"The National Environmental Policy Act is one our nation's most important and most successful environmental laws. It's very encouraging to see that after 40 years of success in protecting our environment, the Obama administration is adapting the law to help it better address the greatest environmental challenge of today--climate change. Given the impacts of global warming pollution, considering these emissions under NEPA is clearly the right thing to do.
Oil Lobby Descends On Olympia to Oppose Gas Tax
Posted by Terri Morgan on February 8, 2010 - 4:50pmby Sara Kiesler on Mon, Feb 8, 2010
Big Oil dug its hands into Seattle last year, helping defeat the disposable bag fee with an unprecedented dump of cash—and they’re putting similar pressure on the state capitol right now.
In Olympia, two bills (one in the house and senate) introduced last Friday would raise the tax on oil imported into the state. The update is called the Clean Water Act of 2010, but the original 0.7 percent tax on hazardous materials was passed by voter initiative in 1987 as part of Initiative 97.
Your Local Sierra Club: New Places, New Faces
Posted by Terri Morgan on January 26, 2010 - 12:41pmby Trevor Kaul, Cascade Chapter Director
The Cascade Chapter has long been a leading voice for environmental protection in Washington. With your help, we have won protections for special places like the Reiter Foothills and Wild Sky Wilderness Area. And over the years, we have helped change the way our state’s leaders think about urban issues like transportation and city planning.
Now your local chapter is making some changes that will help us even better represent the interests of our state’s environment.
Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to State's Municipal Water Law
Posted by Terri Morgan on January 11, 2010 - 12:19pm
Media Advisory for Monday, January 11, 2010
For additional information: Rachael Paschal Osborn (director, CELP)
509.954-5641 (mobile), rosborn@celp.org
Supreme Court to hear challenge to state's municipal water law
Overpumping threatens Washington rivers, drinking-water aquifers
OLYMPIA – On Tuesday, January 12, the Washington State Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in a landmark lawsuit challenging municipal water rights. The plaintiffs include individual water right holders who claim injury to their water rights as a result of the law, conservation groups, and Indian Tribes.
The 2010 Legislative Session
Posted by Terri Morgan on January 10, 2010 - 2:16pm
In many ways, the upcoming 2010 Legislative Session will be even more challenging than what we encountered last year. When lawmakers return to Olympia in January, they will be dealing with a $2.6 billion budget deficit.
Even though it is less than the budget shortfall last year, this year's problem is actually more challenging in many respects. Last year, there was the assistance of federal stimulus money. Not so, this year. Last year, there were opportunities to find more efficient ways to spend money and get similar outcomes. This year, those opportunities are pretty much gone.
No more tweaks available--whole programs are on the chopping block.
Furthermore, we are heading into what promises to be another contentious midterm electoral cycle.
2010 Environmental Priorities
Posted by Terri Morgan on January 4, 2010 - 2:42pm
In these challenging economic times, our leaders in Olympia need to stand up and make smart decisions that not only support economic recovery but also protect our environment.
This year, the Environmental Priorities Coalition has chosen three priority proposals to support during Washington State's legislative session that aim to meet this need. Together, they will deliver healthy communities and sustainable green jobs.
Our 2010 Priorities help ensure clean water, create new jobs, reduce the threat of toxic chemicals, and maintain core environmental protections in a time of slashed budgets.
In addition, the coalition is dedicated to maintaining the strength and integrity of the Citizen's Clean Energy Initiative, I-937. We will ensure that the Legislature delivers on the commitment to building a clean energy economy and supporting green jobs. By doing so, we will decrease both our fossil fuel dependence and climate pollution. Click here to check out dates for several ways you can help directly impact the legislative session!
Goldmark Designates Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA)
Posted by Terri Morgan on December 8, 2009 - 5:33pm
December 3, 2009
10,270 acre site links Mount Si to federal forests
OLYMPIA – At the annual Mountains to Sound Greenway Dinner last night, Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark designated the new Middle Fork Snoqualmie Natural Resources Conservation Area (NRCA). The river valley was identified as ecologically distinguished, featuring patches of natural-origin forests, important fish and wildlife habitat, and scenic views.
This natural area, with 10,270 acres within its boundary, is nested along Interstate 90, and flanked by the Mount Si NRCA and federal forests. It will offer habitat corridors for many large and small animal species alike, and it will support the vision of the Mountains to Sound Greenway.
Twenty Percent of Washington's Electricity Comes From Dirty Coal. . .
Posted by Terri Morgan on November 24, 2009 - 3:52pm
The TransAlta coal plant is the largest source of global warming pollution in Washigton State. It is also the largest source of toxic mercury pollution, which is especially dangerous to children and future mothers, and is responsible for haze pollution which destroys the beauty of 12 wilderness areas, including Mt. Rainier.
We can do better! Washington can be a national leader on clean energy.
Click here to learn more about the campaign to make Washington coal-free. We can replace coal with clean, renewable forms of energy like wind, solar and efficiency that will create jobs and reduce global warming.
Click here to volunteer!
Help Us Protect Washington Wolves - Attend a Hearing And/or Submit a Public Comment Letter!
Posted by Becky Stanley on November 1, 2009 - 12:19pm
Let the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife know that you value wolves and their positive effect on ecosystems and wish to see their recovery to Washington's wildlife and habitat. The wolves will thank you for ensuring a wild future for our corner of the world! Click here to learn more about how you can help, talking points & how to submit written comments!
Sierra Club members in Washington State care passionately about protecting the Northern Gray Wolf, an endangered species that faces extinction from human predators. Our Fall 2009 edition of the Cascade Crest included a postcard for members to fill out and return for our use in organizing for the public comment period of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife regarding their draft policy on Gray Wolf management for our state. Soon we will deliver your postcards to the WDFW. The postcard response has been extraordinary, send in yours today! We have posted comments from some of the postcards at the end of this article. To acquaint yourself with some background on the Gray Wolf, some important “talking points” for speaking publicly at the public hearings, and other pertinent materials.
Attend the Seattle Wolf Hearing and Show Your Support for Protecting Wolves and Wolf Habitat! Nov. 2nd
Posted by Becky Stanley on October 29, 2009 - 12:29pm
Let the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife know that you value wolves and their positive effect on ecosystems and wish to see their recovery to Washington's wildlife and habitat. The wolves will thank you for ensuring a wild future for our corner of the world! Click here to learn more about how you can help, talking points & how to submit written comments!




