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Fwd: EPA News Release (HQ): EPA Increases Transparency on Chemical Risk Information
by James Kotcon 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Wonder if this covers fracking fluids in gas well drilling? JBK CONTACTS: Dale Kemery kemery.dale(a)epa.gov 202-564-7839 202-564-4355 Enesta Jones jones.enesta(a)epa.gov 202-564-7873 202-564-4355 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2010 EPA Increases Transparency on Chemical Risk Information Action part of continued comprehensive reform of toxic substance laws WASHINGTON — As part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s commitment to strengthen and reform chemical management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new policy to increase the public’s access to information on chemicals. Starting today, EPA has announced its intention to reject a certain type of confidentiality claim, known as Confidential Business Information (CBI), on the identity of chemicals. The chemicals that will be affected by this action are those that are submitted to EPA with studies that show a substantial risk to people's health and the environment and have been previously disclosed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Inventory. This action represents another step to use the agency’s authority under the existing TSCA to the fullest extent possible, recognizing EPA’s strong belief that the 1976 law is both outdated and in need of reform. “Assuring the safety of chemicals is one of Administrator Jackson's top priorities for EPA's future,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The American people are entitled to transparent, accessible information on chemicals that may pose a risk to their health or the environment. We will continue taking steps that increase transparency and assure the safety of chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies.” Under TSCA, companies may claim a range of sensitive, proprietary information as CBI. Under Section 8(e) of TSCA, companies that manufacture, process, or distribute chemicals are required to immediately provide notice to EPA if they learn that a chemical presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment. The Section 8(e) reports are made available on EPA’s Web site. However, until today, companies would routinely claim confidentiality for the actual identity of the chemical covered by the Section 8(e) submission, so the public posting of the information would not include the name of the chemical. The new policy announced today ends this practice for chemicals on the public portion of the TSCA Inventory. This new policy will increase the amount of information available by granting the public access to the chemical identification information submitted, along with other health and safety data under Section 8(e). In the coming months, EPA intends to announce additional steps to further increase transparency of chemical information. EPA’s new policy on TSCA Section 8(e) submissions is being published in the Federal Register. More information on the new policy: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/tsca8e/ More information on EPA’s principles for comprehensive TSCA reform: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/principles.html R016 Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355

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Fw: Report on future of Central Appalachian coal
by Jim Sconyers 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

FYI - very important new report on the future of coal in WV. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Wed, 1/20/10, Evan Hansen <ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com> wrote: From: Evan Hansen <ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com> Subject: Report on future of Central Appalachian coal To: "Jim_Kotcon" <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>, "Duane_Nichols" <Duane330(a)aol.com>, "Jim Sconyers" <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 6:13 AM Hi Jim, Duane, and Jim: I thought you might be interested in this report that we just released. Here’s a good description in the Coal Tattoo blog: http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/01/19/must-read-report-the-decli… Evan Evan Hansen, President Downstream Strategies 219 Wall Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304.292.2450 www.downstreamstrategies.com From: Downstream Strategies [mailto:info@downstreamstrategies.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:25 AM To: ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com Subject: Release: Report on Central Appalachian Coal Argues for Diversification FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2009 CONTACT Rory McIlmoil, Staff Research Analyst Energy and Climate Change Program (304) 292-2450 (o) (304) 376-0045 (c) rmcilmoil(a)downstreamstrategies.com New Report Warns of Decline of Central Appalachian Coal Argues for New Focus on Economic Diversification and Renewable Energy for the Region MORGANTOWN, WV - As the legislative season begins across Central Appalachia, a new report by Downstream Strategies details future challenges to coal production in the region and argues that policy-makers should strongly support renewable energy and the development of new economic opportunities for coal-producing areas. "Coal has contributed significantly to local and state economies in Central Appalachia, but production has fallen substantially over the last 12 years as other coal basins and sources of fuel have become more competitive," said lead author Rory McIlmoil. "This trend is expected to continue as mining costs increase due to the depletion of the lowest cost coal reserves, and as new environmental regulations are implemented. As this happens, local and state economies will need new sources of jobs and revenue to replace coal mining jobs and taxes." According to the report, Central Appalachian coal production is projected to fall by nearly 50% within the next ten years. Central Appalachia includes the coal-producing counties in southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and eastern Tennessee The report points to renewable energy and energy efficiency as two sectors where new jobs and tax revenues can be created, as the region has a wealth of clean energy resources. The report concludes that losses related to the decline of the coal industry can be recaptured by gains from wind, solar, low-impact hydro, and sustainable biomass production, and from a strong focus on energy efficiency improvements. To support the diversification of the regional energy economy, the report outlines a series of policy instruments, including requiring each state to provide 25% of their energy from renewable sources; the provision of grants, tax credits, clean energy bonds, or low-interest loans to support renewable energy development and manufacturing; the implementation and strengthening of net metering laws; and the development of workforce programs aimed at providing the skills and knowledge required for renewable energy industries. The study also argues for strong incentives for local ownership of energy development, to help maximize the local economic benefits of renewable energy projects. "Given that coal production is projected to decline significantly in the coming decades, diversification of Central Appalachian economies is now more critical than ever," said co-author Evan Hansen, President of Downstream Strategies. "State leaders should use this legislative session to increase support for new economic development across the region, especially in the rural areas set to be the most impacted by a sharp decline in the region's coal economy." In December 2009, West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd stated, "West Virginians can choose to anticipate change and adapt to it, or resist and be overrun by it. The time has arrived for the people of the Mountain State to think long and hard about which course they want to choose." According to McIlmoil, "The same is true for all of Central Appalachia, and we hope this report helps policy-makers understand the changes that are coming so that they can support new industries. The renewable energy sector offers one of the greatest opportunities for economic development." Downstream Strategies is an environmental consulting company in Morgantown, West Virginia, with program areas in environmental policy, environmental science, and geographic information systems. The company provides science, research, and tools to organizations, businesses, and agencies. It offers clients an alternative to mainstream environmental consulting by combining sound interdisciplinary skills with a core belief in the importance of protecting the environment and linking economic development with natural resource stewardship. Download the full report or visit the Downstream Strategies publications page. # # # Forward email This email was sent to ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com by info(a)downstreamstrategies.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Downstream Strategies | 219 Wall Street | Morgantown | WV | 26505

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Use of diesel fuel in gas drilling as fracing material
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

[image: Green Inc. - Energy, the Environment and the Bottom Line]<http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/> <http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=cookie&pos=Position1B> January 20, 2010, 9:20 am Gas Drilling Techniques Under Fire … Again By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF<http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/author/john-collins-rudolf/> Drilling companies are side-stepping regulations on use of diesel fuel in the extraction process, a new report suggests. Federal government oversight of hydraulic fracturing – a drilling technique that boosts natural gas extraction by blasting water, sand and chemicals underground at high pressure – is sorely lacking, putting drinking water supplies at risk, an environmental policy group claimed in a report<http://www.ewg.org/drillingaroundthelaw>released Tuesday. According to the Environmental Working Group <http://www.ewg.org/>, a research and advocacy group based in Washington, drilling companies are side-stepping a permitting requirement for the use of diesel fuel in their fracturing fluids by using similar petroleum distillates that contain the same toxins as diesel, but require no permitting. The report also cites evidence that drilling companies continue to inject diesel fuel underground without the proper permits. “The industry has been able to operate above the law,” said Dusty Horwitt, the group’s senior counsel. “They’re doing an end-run around what little oversight is left.” The use of hydraulic fracturing has vastly boosted the productivity of existing natural gas wells and opened new territory to drilling, helping lift natural gas reserves in the United States by nearly a third, and igniting a drilling boom from New York to Wyoming. Yet as gas companies explore drilling in sensitive regions like the New York City watershed in upstate New York, concern over the technology’s potential to pollute water supplies has mounted. The drilling boom – and the growing controversy over the risk of water contamination – was outlined in a December article<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.ht…>by Times reporters Jad Mouawad and Clifford Krauss. As they noted, the evidence of groundwater pollution attributable to fracturing is thin — though environmental groups contend that is because governments have been slow to react to the drilling boom and are not looking hard for contamination. Gas companies, meanwhile, acknowledge the validity of some concerns, but they claim that their technology is fundamentally safe. In 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a report<http://www.propublica.org/feature/buried-secrets-is-natural-gas-drilling-en…>declaring that hydraulic fracturing posed little threat to human health. The following year, drawing support from the E.P.A. report, Congress voted to exempt hydraulic fracturing from oversight under the Clean Water Act. The law made one exception, however – that companies acquire permits when using diesel fuel in their fracturing fluid. Diesel contains benzene and other cancer-causing agents. Obeying the letter of the law, many drilling companies switched from diesel to other petroleum distillates. Yet these distillates also contain toxics such as benzene, sometimes in even greater levels than the diesel they are replacing, according to the Environmental Working Group report. “These substitutes are extremely toxic,” Mr. Horwitt said. The group also contacted environmental agencies in New York, Pennsylvania, Montana, Texas and Wyoming – states where hydraulic fracturing has been used extensively – seeking information on the continuing use of diesel fuel in drilling. Only one state, Wyoming, provided information on permitting, the report states. “It’s not even clear if companies are getting permits if they’re using diesel,” Mr. Horwitt said. “This whole area has been shrouded in secrecy and lax regulation.” Drilling companies maintain that hydraulic fracturing is safe and have launched a fierce lobbying and public relations effort<http://www.energyindepth.org/projectbrief/record-of-safety/>to resist further regulation. Congress will have a chance to revisit the controversy over the safety of the technology this week as it weighs approval<http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/76831-exxon-ceo-to-tout-safety…>of the Exxon Mobil Corporation’s proposed $41 billion acquisition of XTO Energy, a major player in natural gas extraction. [image: DCSIMG] -- William V. DePaulo, Esq. 179 Summers Street, Suite 232 Charleston, WV 25301-2163 Tel: 304-342-5588 Fax: 304-342-5505 william.depaulo(a)gmail.com www.passeggiata.com This electronic mail is intended to be received and read only by certain individuals. It may contain information that is privileged or protected from disclosure by law. If it has been misdirected, or if you suspect you received this in error, please notify me by replying and then delete this message and your reply. These restrictions apply to any attachment to this email.

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Fw: New Community & Environmental Protection Resources
by Jim Sconyers 19 Jan '10

19 Jan '10

FYI Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Tue, 1/19/10, Richard Klein <Rklein(a)ceds.org> wrote: From: Richard Klein <Rklein(a)ceds.org> Subject: New Community & Environmental Protection Resources To: jim_scon(a)yahoo.com Date: Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 10:38 AM Dear Mr. Sconyers I wanted to make you aware of three new resources for citizens seeking to preserve communities and the environment from the impact of sprawl and other poorly planned projects... Citizen's Hotline 1-800-773-4571 for those concerned about flawed projects who need assistance in addition to that available from the Sierra Club and other not-for-profit groups; Coal-By-Wire & Transmission Lines webpage for citizens concerned about proposed high-voltage or extra-high voltage transmission projects facilitating more pollution from coal-fired power plants: ceds.org/tl; and Making Pollution Laws Work webpage providing guidance on reporting pollution problems so they are quickly corrected along with advice on identifying existing problems and managing watershed growth to prevent new ones: ceds.org/compliance. As a former Sierra Club group chair and National Sprawl Committee member, I know that the Club simply cannot help everyone who seeks our assistance. I created these and other resources to provide citizen activists with an alternative to hiring an expensive lawyer when they require assistance beyond that available through the Club's 63 Chapters and 274 Groups. I would deeply appreciate it if you would consider letting conservation chairs and others who receive requests for assistance know about these new resources. A complete description of all our no-cost citizen assistance is available on our main webpage: ceds.org. While more then half the folks we help find that our free assistance is all they need, a small portion of the remainder hire CEDS to manage their campaign, which is how we can afford to offer all the no-cost help. Our Politically Oriented Advocacy webpage describes the unique approach we developed which is achieving a 90% success rate while expanding the base of public (voter) support for responsible growth- and environmental-management. Thank you. -- Richard D Richard D. Klein Community & Environmental Defense Services 811 Crystal Palace Court Owings Mills, Maryland 21117 410-654-3021 410-654-3028 Fax 443-421-5964 Mobile Web Page: www.ceds.org/

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NYTimes.com: Luminous 3-D Jungle Is a Biologist's Dream
by william.depaulo＠gmail.com 19 Jan '10

19 Jan '10

This page was sent to you by: william.depaulo(a)gmail.com. If you want to persuade someone to join the fight against mountain top removal or global warming, send them to see AVATAR...a "Minds and Hearts" for the environment, if ever there was one. SCIENCE | January 19, 2010 Essay: Luminous 3-D Jungle Is a Biologist's Dream By CAROL KAESUK YOON The new film "Avatar" explores life forms both familiar and fantastic, but a viewer does not have to be a scientist to enjoy the experience. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/science/19essay.html?emc=eta1 ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

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Kennedy v. Blankenship MTR debate
by Frank Young 16 Jan '10

16 Jan '10

For those of you not attending this debate in person, it will apparently be available via WV Public Broadcasting, as well as on several websites. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Jan. 21: The Big Debate Broadcast on Radio, TV, Web As one news story said, it is the hottest ticket in town: "Forum on the Future of Energy." At 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 21, the University of Charleston will present a "public conversation" between Waterkeeper Alliance President and environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Massey Energy Chairman and CEO Don Blankenship. Tickets for seats in the auditorium have all been given away. The university will open up a gymnasium and broadcast the debate live there. West Virginia Public Broadcasting will air the debate live, so people anywhere can tune in. You can also watch the "Forum on the Future of Energy" on assorted websites, as noted here. __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group Start a New Topic Working since 1967 for the conservation and wise management of West Virginia's natural resources MARKETPLACE Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use. __,_._,___

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Storm No Problem For Houses "Off The Grid"- Public News Svc. story
by Frank Young 15 Jan '10

15 Jan '10

BlankWith apologies for dual postings: ------------------------------------------------------- CHARLESTON, W.Va. - This winter's unusually cold weather has created snarls around the nation. Here in Appalachia, a fierce December storm knocked out power to nearly 400,000 people and cost more than $60 million to clean up. Not everyone lost electricity, however, because some weren't connected to the power grid in the first place. Mary Wildfire lives with her husband in a house they built outside Spencer in Roane County. They run their lights, computers, appliances and the pump for their well on eight solar panels located in their front yard. "Our immediate neighbors were out of power for a week; they got it back Christmas Eve. And we did really pretty well, because there were some partly sunny days." She says the solar panels actually work better when it snows, because of the amount of light they get. Wildfire admits that anyone who heats with wood or generates their own electricity loses a lot in terms of convenience. In her household, they have to pay attention to how much power they use and how much sun they get, but it's part of a lifestyle that has advantages, despite the trade-offs. "We had to check whether we had wood in the shed, whether we were using too much power for how much light we'd gotten lately, but then to live on the grid we'd have to have, probably, full-time jobs." Wildfire admits the system was expensive to install, at about $4,000 after tax breaks. But she says they're counting on it lasting for decades. Dan Heyman, Public News Service - WV http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/12190-1

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Re: [EC] Fwd: MA Chapter Biomass Policy/Resolution
by Jim Sconyers 15 Jan '10

15 Jan '10

SC (Bill Price, Mary Ann Hitt, Bruce Nilles) have been, I believe, very supportive of that proposed facility. I agree that most biomass plants would cause deforestation, regardless of how they claim to use only "waste" wood. I don't like wood biomass at all. But this seems to be only about forest biomass. What about other biomass? switchgrass/kenaf/sugar cane/ethanol/etc? I don't know the numbers, whether burning switchgrass is carbon neutral or not... Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Fri, 1/15/10, James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu> wrote: From: James Kotcon <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu> Subject: [EC] Fwd: MA Chapter Biomass Policy/Resolution To: ec(a)osenergy.org, mwimmer(a)wvu.edu Date: Friday, January 15, 2010, 3:11 PM I guess we just don't have enough to do. The Massachusetts Chapter has adopted a policy to oppose biomass facilities and opposes designation of biomass as "renewable". Have they gone too far? Or are we behind the times? Does this mean I should stop using my wood stove? A wood-to-electricity facility in southern WV (I think Mingo or McDowell County) was recently announced. Do we have a position on it? JBK >>> James McCaffrey <director(a)SierraClubMass.org> 1/15/2010 2:12 PM >>> Dear Club Leaders and fellow state directors / lobbyists et al: Attached is the MA Chapter’s new biomass policy, as recently adopted, and a letter to our legislature. We are battling several large-scale biomass proposals. Incentives to develop biomass infiltrated various bits of MA legislation/regs and other initiatives, and a rush ensued. These plants could devastate the Massachusetts landscape and cause a huge net increase of CO2 at this time. There was a very vocal and intense outcry from both members and the general public in opposition to the proposals here in MA. Much of our research has been conducted by Alexandra Dawson (former Chapter Excom) and her colleague, Mary Booth, an environmental scientist. That combined with the extensive work and legacy of the Club on related issues (forestry, energy etc) provided us with a solid background to oppose the proposed facilities. I have spoken to a few other New England states that are tracking this issue, and the biomass momentum creates a significant threat nationwide. Biomass proponents are working hard to have the same kind of incentives that created our problems here written into the federal energy bill. A few key points to note about our policy/letter: • The Chapter policy is based heavily on very careful review of Club guidance documents and polices, including Energy Policies, Forest Policies, and the Biomass Guidance docs. The letter and policy borrow rather extensively from these existing Club polices and work. Many sections are exact wording from the existing Club policy/guidance docs. If there is interest in an annotated version that highlights Club polices and documents, I could generate a new version late next week. • The policy is specific only to woody biomass harvested from living forests and being used for utility-scale electricity generation. The Chapter has “reserved judgment” on small-scale combined heat and power facilities, while acknowledging that there is still every possibility of “death by a thousand cuts”. • The policy does not deal with other biofuels (switch-grass or algae crops etc) that are currently being reviewed by other entities within the Club. This is noted in the adopted policy. • Although our chapter also opposes the burning of C&D, and several of our proposed plants would burn C&D, that is being dealt with in separate chapter polices. Our Chapter leaders are hopeful that our work here will lead to the strongest possible stance by the Club on this issue. The support from our members has been very enthusiastic since release of the policy. In December, as a direct result of our work, our administration agreed to suspend the applicability of renewable energy credits for biomass plants pending the outcome of a sustainability study. There are more details about this in our letter to the legislature. Please respond if you have any comments or thoughts on the policy, and feel free to forward this info to anyone else in the Club who may find it helpful. Jay McCaffrey MA Chapter Director ________________________________ James McCaffrey Director Massachusetts Sierra Club 10 Milk Street, Suite 632 Boston MA 02108 617.423.5775 voice 617.890.0338 fax www.sierraclubmass.org director(a)sierraclubmass.org __________________________________ The Sierra Club is a non-profit environmental organization with 21,000 members in Massachusetts and 700,000 members nationwide dedicated to the preservation, protection, and exploration of the earth’s natural environment. Join us! www.sierraclubmass.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-FRED list, send any message to: CONS-FRED-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp -----Inline Attachment Follows----- _______________________________________________ EC mailing list EC(a)osenergy.org http://osenergy.org/mailman/listinfo/ec

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Fwd: MA Chapter Biomass Policy/Resolution
by James Kotcon 15 Jan '10

15 Jan '10

I guess we just don't have enough to do. The Massachusetts Chapter has adopted a policy to oppose biomass facilities and opposes designation of biomass as "renewable". Have they gone too far? Or are we behind the times? Does this mean I should stop using my wood stove? A wood-to-electricity facility in southern WV (I think Mingo or McDowell County) was recently announced. Do we have a position on it? JBK >>> James McCaffrey <director(a)SierraClubMass.org> 1/15/2010 2:12 PM >>> Dear Club Leaders and fellow state directors / lobbyists et al: Attached is the MA Chapter’s new biomass policy, as recently adopted, and a letter to our legislature. We are battling several large-scale biomass proposals. Incentives to develop biomass infiltrated various bits of MA legislation/regs and other initiatives, and a rush ensued. These plants could devastate the Massachusetts landscape and cause a huge net increase of CO2 at this time. There was a very vocal and intense outcry from both members and the general public in opposition to the proposals here in MA. Much of our research has been conducted by Alexandra Dawson (former Chapter Excom) and her colleague, Mary Booth, an environmental scientist. That combined with the extensive work and legacy of the Club on related issues (forestry, energy etc) provided us with a solid background to oppose the proposed facilities. I have spoken to a few other New England states that are tracking this issue, and the biomass momentum creates a significant threat nationwide. Biomass proponents are working hard to have the same kind of incentives that created our problems here written into the federal energy bill. A few key points to note about our policy/letter: • The Chapter policy is based heavily on very careful review of Club guidance documents and polices, including Energy Policies, Forest Policies, and the Biomass Guidance docs. The letter and policy borrow rather extensively from these existing Club polices and work. Many sections are exact wording from the existing Club policy/guidance docs. If there is interest in an annotated version that highlights Club polices and documents, I could generate a new version late next week. • The policy is specific only to woody biomass harvested from living forests and being used for utility-scale electricity generation. The Chapter has “reserved judgment” on small-scale combined heat and power facilities, while acknowledging that there is still every possibility of “death by a thousand cuts”. • The policy does not deal with other biofuels (switch-grass or algae crops etc) that are currently being reviewed by other entities within the Club. This is noted in the adopted policy. • Although our chapter also opposes the burning of C&D, and several of our proposed plants would burn C&D, that is being dealt with in separate chapter polices. Our Chapter leaders are hopeful that our work here will lead to the strongest possible stance by the Club on this issue. The support from our members has been very enthusiastic since release of the policy. In December, as a direct result of our work, our administration agreed to suspend the applicability of renewable energy credits for biomass plants pending the outcome of a sustainability study. There are more details about this in our letter to the legislature. Please respond if you have any comments or thoughts on the policy, and feel free to forward this info to anyone else in the Club who may find it helpful. Jay McCaffrey MA Chapter Director ________________________________ James McCaffrey Director Massachusetts Sierra Club 10 Milk Street, Suite 632 Boston MA 02108 617.423.5775 voice 617.890.0338 fax www.sierraclubmass.org director(a)sierraclubmass.org __________________________________ The Sierra Club is a non-profit environmental organization with 21,000 members in Massachusetts and 700,000 members nationwide dedicated to the preservation, protection, and exploration of the earth’s natural environment. Join us! www.sierraclubmass.org - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-FRED list, send any message to: CONS-FRED-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp

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Fwd: Fleischauer Bills
by James Kotcon 14 Jan '10

14 Jan '10

The top three bills mentioned are priorities for the WV Sierra Club. Unleash those letter writers and get letters of support to our Delegates. And for the policy wonks, new junkies, and legal beagles, go to the WV Legislature web page, type in the number of the bills, and read over HB 3254 and HB 3279. WOW! JBK >>> <dsgjr(a)aol.com> 1/13/2010 5:38 PM >>> Some of our bills were introduced today. HB 4001 Relating to water pollution control Pending House Government Organization -- TDS bill HB 4008 Green Buildings Act Pending House Government Organization HB 4012 West Virginia Energy Efficiency Act Pending House Government Organization also these others came up today HB 2314 Relating to a severance tax imposed on surface mining activities Pending House Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business 01/13/10 HB 2328 Increasing the Public Service Commission appointees and requiring that there be one appointee from each congressional district and two at-large appointments Pending House Government Organization HB 2764 West Virginia Public Campaign Financing Act Pending House Judiciary HB 3023 Relating to oil and gas surface owner's bill of rights Pending House Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business HB 3254 Requiring county commissions to adopt and implement county farmland protection programs Pending House Government Organization HB 3279 Prohibiting any permits authorizing the construction, enlargement or modification of any coal mine waste Pending House Energy, Industry and Labor, Economic Development and Small Business HB 4023 Relating to the Public Service Commission Pending House Government Organization

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