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Audubon Washington Audubon
Washington E-Newswire Audubon Washington
E-Newswire April 2007 Volume 3 Number 4
Citizen Action
Needed on Climate Bill
OLYMPIA - The good news on global warming is that Washington
is acting: last year we passed I-937, the Clean Energy Initiative;
earlier this year, Governor Gregoire launched her Climate
Challenge to develop a comprehensive climate policy; and SB
6001, an important climate bill, has passed the Senate with
a bipartisan vote of 35-13 and is now in the House.
SB 6001:
- Sets targets for reducing global warming
pollution, reducing energy import costs, and increasing
clean energy jobs.
- Establishes an emissions performance
standard which limits the amount of pollution from new power
sources and protects Washington ratepayers from future costs
that will be imposed on fossil fuel power plants.
- Authorizes additional financial incentives
for utilities to invest in energy conservation.
- Allows electric utilities to continue
to invest in reducing global warming pollution.
Your representatives need to hear from
you that Washington wants to avoid major new additions of
carbon pollution from power plants while the state develops
a more comprehensive long-term policy. Tell
your representative that you support SB6001.
Copper Mine on
Mt. St. Helens?
LONGVIEW - The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest
Service have released an Environmental Assessment outlining
their preliminary decision to grant a lease to Idaho General
Mines for land north of Mount St. Helens. They are proposing
to lease 217 acres of the approximately 900 acres the company
was hoping to lease, while leaving the option for leasing
the remaining 600 + acres for a later date. The public has
until April 12th to flood the BLM & USFS with comments
asking them not to grant this lease. That is only a 30-day
comment period - the minimum amount under the National Environmental
Policy Act. Tom Uniack, Conservation Director of Washington
Wilderness Coalition, has urged conservation organizations
to sign on to a letter requesting an extension of the comment
period, allowing time to mobilize stakeholders to weigh in
opposing this proposal. Audubon Washington and all 26 chapters
are on-board supporting the extension request. Willapa Hills
Audubon Society was one of the first groups to get involved
in this issue, and they are making it a top priority. Information
about the mine proposal is here.
Comments can be sent to: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office, P.O. Box 2965,
Portland, OR 97208.
“Fighting
Global Warming” Presentation for Earth Day
SEATTLE - Join Audubon Washington for a special Earth Day
presentation, “Unleashing the Power of Audubon –
Fighting Global Warming.” John Flicker, National Audubon
Society’s President and Gordon Orians, Professor Emeritus
at the University of Washington will discuss global warming
and its affects birds and other wildlife. This free event
will take place Monday, April 23, 2007 from 6:30 – 8:30
pm at REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave N. Seating is limited so please
RSVP to Christy Wood email
or (206) 652-2444 ext. 102.
Join Breakfast-and-Boat-Tour
Celebration
SEATTLE - Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day with
the Seward Park Environmental & Audubon Center aboard
the M/V Fremont Ferry. Join local migratory bird and
global warming experts on Saturday, May 12, 2007, 8:00 - 10:00
A.M., for breakfast and a boat tour around Lake Washington.
Learn about the incredible journeys of migratory birds along
the Pacific Flyway as they return to their breeding grounds
in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest from their winter homes
in warmer climates. Talk with experts about impacts of global
warming on birds and also hear about ways to act decisively
and creatively to address global warming. Cost: $100. For
more information or to register, contact Gail Gatton at (206)
652-2444 x101 or email.
State House Approves
Audubon Washington Priorities
OLYMPIA - Audubon Washington’s Policy Team, together,
with help from the board, has succeeded in influencing the
State House to fund several AW priority areas including:
- $540K for Bird-friendly wind power siting guidelines @ DNR
- $700K for Important Bird Area program implementation @ DNR
- $289K for Nature Tourism Infrastructure @ WDFW
- $1M for Environmental Education @ St. Parks
- $100M for Parks & Habitat
In order to ensure that the final budget
bill the Governor signs includes these elements, a letter
has been circulated to Senate budget leaders requesting that
these levels be maintained or enhanced.
Seattle Audubon
Celebrates FSC Certification
SEATTLE - On March 6th, Seattle Audubon saw the fruition of
four years of effort when the Department of Natural Resources
announced plans to pursue Forest Stewardship Council certification
for management of the 141,000 acres of forested state trust
lands in the South Sound Planning Unit - from the Kitsap Peninsula
to the foothills of the Cascade Mountains east of Seattle
and Tacoma. As the largest FSC certification in the state
to date, this move will provide an incredible increase in
the ability of consumers and builders alike to purchase FSC
wood products and signals a true shift in the thinking of
state agencies in Washington. Seattle Audubon’s Executive
Director, Shawn Cantrell, says, “This certification
is the result of hundreds of hours- emails, calls, meetings,
letters and support from volunteers. (It is) a true testament
to the abilities of our community and a tremendous victory
for Seattle Audubon. While not the end, it's an incredibly
important step toward more sustainable logging practices in
our state.”
New Birding Guide
Map Book for Pacific County
LONG BEACH – While gathering information for the Southwest
Washington Birding Trail in 2005, Audubon Washington’s
Birding Trail Director, Christie Norman, suggested a birding
map book devoted to the unique ecology of Pacific County.
This idea became a dream for Patricia Cruse, Discovery Coast
Audubon’s founder and President. She saw the trail as
a fundraiser for Discovery Coast and a wonderful way to share
her love of the county’s birds. Patricia shared her
dream with Discovery Coast member Rosemary Hallin, who grasped
the potential immediately and volunteered to make the dream
a reality. Five months, many miles on the car and many cups
of coffee later, the Birding Guide for Pacific County is ready
for publication. The guide divides Pacific County into four
sections, each with a list of birds, tips on the best time
of year for viewing them, easy-to-read maps and other information.
The maps will be available around May 1st at a price of about
$10. Copies of the map will be available through Discovery
Coast Audubon and merchants in Pacific County, but you
can order advance copies now by contacting Patricia
Cruse.
Summer Camp at
Seward Park
SEATTLE - Sign up now for summer camp at Seward Park! Day
camps for students entering 5th–8th grades include opportunities
to learn about life in the mysterious old-growth forest, prepare
meals using traditional techniques, explore the water and
near-shore environment, and bicycle to neighboring parks to
observe and draw plants and wildlife just like John James
Audubon himself! Scholarship funds for summer camp are available
and provided by National Audubon Society, Wild Birds Unlimited
and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation. Camp sessions
are July 23-27 (Forest Frenzy), August 6-10 (Camp Discovery),
and August 20-24 (Camp is for the Birds!). To download camp
and scholarship applications, click here.
Tidbits
for the Flock: Audubon Washington’s membership
has grown to over 20,000, including chapter-only members.
The public is invited to attend the next meeting of the Washington
Invasive Species Council as it develops its strategic plan
on May 17th – see here
for details.
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