cleaner air, cleaner cars, and other green legislation ......the permitting of a wind plant proposed...

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Cleaner Air, Cleaner Cars, and Other Green LegislationPending in Annapolis

Four Pollutants Bill to CurbEmissions at Power Plants

by Charlie Garlow —The CleanCars Act, Senate Bill 366 andHouse Bill 564, has been intro-duced, and the Sierra Club’s cam-paign has peeled out in first gear!

Our opening salvo was apoll showing that Maryland resi-dents support cleaner cars legis-lation and don’t trust the carcompanies to clean up their actwithout a kick in the tailpipe.The results were overwhelming80 percent or more support ourposition in favor of cleaner cars. We hope to use thisand other information to persuade the Legislature toadopt this bill after years of bottling it up in committee.

More welcome news: Our nearby neighbor NewJersey passed this same bill last year, effectively adopt-ing the more stringent multistate, low-emission vehiclestandards, level II (LEVII), first required by Californiaand now by several other states, including New Yorkand most of New England. Canada has pledged to dobetter than the weaker federal standards, too. We are ona roll. Adopting these cleaner standards will make it pos-sible for Marylanders to get more of the super ultralowemission vehicles and the even cleaner partial zero emis-

sion vehicles (PZEV) at their local auto dealers, usuallyhigh-mileage hybrids, without having to wait so long.

SB 366, introduced in the Judicial ProceedingsCommittee by Senator Grosfeld and ten other senators,is the companion bill to HB 564, introduced in theHouse Environmental Matters committee by thirty-twodelegates including Bobo, Bronrott and other friends ofenvironmental legislation.

We need this bill because the weaker federal carstandards have not been doing enough to clean up thesevere non-attainment (violation) status of the Baltimoreand Washington DC suburban air quality. Smog is fierce

(continued on page 3)

by Charlie Garlow —SB 744 and HB 1169, the “4Ps”bill, would require the best available control technologyon coal plants to reduce emissions of NOx, SO2, mer-cury and CO2. Here are a few of their effects: smog andnitrogen loading in the Bay, acid rain, neurological dam-age from mercury, and global warming from the carbondioxide.

But: good news! The president of the Senate, MikeMiller, said recently that the 4Ps bill will pass. This billis needed because coal-fired power plants are one of thebiggest sources of all four pollutants. If we can get thisbill passed into law, we will knock a large hunk out ofour air and water pollution problems, as well as provid-ing leadership to other states and, eventually, to the U.S.Congress. Wow. What a way to start the session, withthat kind of enthusiasm from the leadership!

This bill is akin to similar legislation proposed onthe federal level by Senators McCain and Lieberman,which would cut emissions of these four pollutants.Though the U.S. Senate bill failed last year, it got manymore votes than expected. In the House, a companionbill was introduced by two of Maryland’s own congress-men, VanHollen (D) and Gilchrest (R). It makes oneproud to be a Marylander!

Call the state legislature to support the 4Ps bill, 1-800-492-7122 or call Charlie at 301-593-9823. ■

Cleaner Cars Campaign Kicks into Overdrive!

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Letter from the ChairContents

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Letter from the ChairProtect the Crabtree Creek Old-GrowthForestCreating an Appalachian PreserveEnergy Saving Bill Poised for PassageSierra Club Opposes ICCICC 101: Hey, Maryland, It’s Not JustAbout Montgomery and PGNew Study Rates ICC As Worst OptionEmergency Contraception Withouta PrescriptionReports on SubsidiesBill Would Provide Public Funding forAssembly ElectionsKeep Program Open Space StrongHow Do I Contact My Legislators inAnnapolis?The Reality of Wind PowerFood and the Climate Crisis: What YouEat Affects the SkyHead for the PorousWe Are Called to Assist the Earth...Club Members to Consider 15Candidates and Three Ballot MeasuresMaryland Chapter LeadersInvasive Species Removal and HabitatRestoration EventsOutingsBICO OutingsCatoctin Group Plans Film FestivalLetter to the Editor: Box TurtleWatching

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There are no panaceas. I’m oldenough to know that everythinghas its ups and downs, its posi-tives and negatives. And throughthe years we have seen “solutions”

result in new problems that need to be solved. Fromhydroelectric and nuclear power to invasive plants andanimals that were introduced to solve specific problems,there is a long list of solutions that have resulted in newproblems—some severe, some only irritations. But, still,we tend to race to accept the next big engineering mar-vel, helped along by a hyperactive advertising industryand highly paid lobbyists.

Now we have wind turbines. Wind is proving tobe a promising part of our energy picture in certain partsof the country. The Sierra Club has a position in favorof wind energy as long as it is properly sited. And thereinlies the rub: What constitutes proper siting? This hasproved to be a controversial topic, and you may haveseen some news about this in the papers recently. Thisarticle intends to inform you about positions and ac-tions taken by your Chapter Executive Committee onthe subject of the siting of wind turbines.

In Maryland, there are three places that haveenough wind to make wind energy here economicallyviable*: the Appalachian ridge tops in Western Mary-land, the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean offthe coast of Ocean City and Assateague National Sea-shore. Since it is less expensive to develop the ridgesand no federal permits are required on these sites (thusavoiding NEPA safeguards), the wind companies aregoing there first.

Your Chapter Executive Committee has concernsabout this. The Appalachian ridges are long-time mi-gration routes for a number of species of birds. Bats arealso plentiful there, and recently completed studies haveshown that existing wind facilities in West Virginia andPennsylvania have significantly affected them. The for-ests on those mountain ridges constitute an ecosystemthat is important to a whole range of species. There areserious problems associated with forest fragmentationthat would occur as the roads and clearings are createdto support the wind projects. (See http://johnrsweet.com/Personal/Wind/windpix4.html.)

Moreover, as the chart on page 10 shows, even ifwe developed all of the potential wind facilities on theAppalachian ridges in the Mid-Atlantic region, the

Wind Is Proving To Be a Promising Part of Our Energy Picturein Certain Parts of the Country. But Is It Right for Marylandand the East Coast?

amount of available wind energy would provide only asmall portion of the electricity needed to supply theregion’s demands. We question whether that small in-crease in renewable energy justifies damaging an im-portant ecosystem.

Therefore, the Executive Committee has voted tosupport the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recommen-dations that three consecutive years of wildlife studiesbe completed before wind facilities are sited atop Appa-lachian ridges. We have also voted to be intervenors inthe permitting of a wind plant proposed by SynergicsWind Energy LLC.

As intervenors, we have learned that Synergics plansto use a one-year study commissioned by another com-pany, Clipper Windpower Inc, in its own applicationfor permits to build facilities on another Appalachiansite. The findings of the Clipper study have not beenreleased.

We do not feel that it is appropriate for Synergicsto use Clipper’s study, as it was done for a different site,and for only one year. Thus, we support the controver-sial position of four intervenors in the Clipper permit-ting case that the study not be released.

One of those intervenors is our Conservation Chair,Dan Boone. Dan, a conservation biologist, was involvedin the case before he become our Conservation Chair.The study results remain sealed because Clipper initiallyrequired that a non-disclosure clause be included in thesettlement agreement with the intervenors.

Unfortunately, some wind power enthusiasts havechosen to publicly attack only Dan Boone for not agree-ing to release the study data. In their attacks, they donot reveal the reason for Dan’s reluctance, which is thatthe study data would be used to further the permittingcase of a wind developer whose permit the MarylandChapter is contesting. Nor do they reveal that all of theintervenors must agree to release the study data. Thispublic attack diminishes all in the environmental com-munity, and we have requested that those responsiblecease and desist.

If you would like to comment on this issue wewelcome your remarks. ■* Utility-scale wind energy projects generate relatively large amounts ofelectricity and have considerable federal tax and other incentives tospur their development. However, there are substantial opportunitiesto install smaller turbines in Maryland that would have far fewer en-vironmental impacts and would significantly help to offset local de-mand for power.

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Betsy Johnson, Chair


Annapolis Watch: Forests, EnergyProtect the Crabtree Creek Old-GrowthForestDesignation as Wildland Would Grant Permanent Protectionby Bob DeGroot—The Maryland Chap-ter is supporting HB 1244,the bill thatwould permanently protect the CrabtreeCreek old-growth forest by designatingit as a “Wildland.” Under the Wildlandslaw, the legislature can protect certainpublicly owned areas from logging orother incursions, and thus preserve themfor future generations. DesignatingCrabtree Creek a Wildland will ensurethat this rare forest remains intact to nur-ture species that depend upon its condi-tions.

On a slope above Crabtree Creek isthe largest old-growth forest left in Mary-land—the only site where one can view

and enjoy an extensive area forest that hasremained relatively undisturbed by com-mercial logging activity throughout itshistory. This amazing natural area is notjust aesthetically pleasing. The conditionsfound in the old-growth forest supportan incredible diversity of species, provid-ing abundant food and shelter to a vari-ety of plants and animals that cannot findcongenial habitat in frequently logged ar-eas.

Please contact your legislators to ex-press your support for this bill. For moreinformation, contact Bob DeGroot, For-ests Chair, at [email protected] 301-340-8348. ■

by Bob DeGroot—An AppalachianWildlands Preserve is being proposed to

provide wildlifewith connectingcorridors fromGeorgia upthrough Pennsyl-vania. Only bydesigning largebioregions canwe ever hope toreturn balance tothe animal king-

dom and provide sufficient habitat for allspecies of plants and animals.

This bill will attempt to protect the43,000 acre Green Ridge State Forest inWestern Maryland as a step toward cre-ating the Appalachian Preserve. The NewYork State Legislature took a similar stepin 1892 when they created theAdirondack Forest Preserve, which nowcovers more than 6 million acres.

Many species of plants and animalsrequire mature forests of relatively large

acreage to ensure their survival. Thesespecies include a variety of birds thatspend much of their life in the tropics,but fly to the United States or Canadaduring the summer months to rear theiryoung. Many of the less common spe-cies of lichens are found only in matureforests. The richness of herbaceous plantslike ferns, especially those associated withsprings or wet areas, is consistently foundin greater abundance in older forests.Large mature forests occur infrequentlyin the East and old-growth forests (usu-ally considered to be forests over 200 yearsold) are the most rare type of habitat. Sci-entists have recommended that “diversitymaintenance zones” for species adaptedto old-growth conditions be preserved incontiguous blocks of at least 50,000 acresor more.

Please contact your legislators toexpress your support for HB 1240. Formore information, contact Bob DeGroot,Forests Chair, at 301-340-8348 or e-mailat [email protected]. ■

Creating an Appalachian Preserve

by Charlie Garlow —The Energy SavingsInvestment Program, HB 490, cross-filedwith SB 397, is another of the most im-portant bills for ensuring clean air andclean energy. For several years, the Mary-land Chapter of the Sierra Club hasworked on this bill, but today we are moreconfident of victory. Why? Because lastyear it did much better than we had everhoped, so we feel some momentum.

What will it do? It puts a small fee,one-tenth of a penny, on each kilowatthour of electricity and a similar fee oneach unit of natural gas, to be fed into afund that will be used to encourage en-ergy conservation/efficiency projects. Allinvolved parties agree that the best wayto reduce environmental harm from en-ergy production is to not waste energy inthe first place. Then there’s no need forinstallation of smokestack controls onthat energy.

In the House of Delegates, this billhas been referred to the Economic Mat-ters Committee, and in the Senate it wassent to the Finance Committee. SenatorsFrosh and Middleton, key leaders in theSenate, are sponsors, so don’t just keepyour fingers crossed. Let those fingers dothe walking over to your toll free phonenumber, 1-800-492-7122. Call now.

Questions? Call Charlie Garlow, AirQuality Chair, at 301-593-9823. ■

Energy Savings BillPoised for Passage

in Maryland. We also have most of thestate in violation of the new particulatematter (soot) standards. We have to dobetter, and we can. If the CO2 portion ofthis bill survives the court challenges al-ready mounted by the auto industry, thenthis bill will also help to curb globalwarming emissions.

The best thing you can do to help iswrite a personal letter, by hand or com-puter, to your delegates and senator. Theeasiest thing to do is to call them and leavea message of support for cleaner cars.Bombard them with opinions! Call tollfree: 1-800-492-7122. Ask for the opera-tor to connect. Get mailing and e-mailaddresses from the website:www.mlis.state.md.us. For further infor-mation, see our maryland.sierraclub.orgweb site, or call Charlie Garlow, Air Qual-ity Chair, at 301-593-9823. ■

(continued from page 1)

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Help Clear the Air:Write to Support theClean Cars Bill

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Please send candidate statements forWestern Maryland Group Executive Committee toSam White at [email protected].

For more information about the Western MarylandGroup, contact Sam White at 301-264-4162.


by Steve Caflisch— The Sierra Club op-poses the enormously expensive, ineffec-tive, environmentally destructive Inter-county Connector (ICC). We also believethat the Draft Environmental ImpactStudy (DEIS) is fundamentally flawed,both procedurally and substantively. TheDEIS ignores meaningful alternatives anduses flawed modeling techniques andfaulty land use assumptions. It system-atically overstates the ICC’s benefits andunderstates its adverse effects. The vari-ous glossy brochuresmailed in such vast num-bers at public expense,and those used at publichearings, are simply dis-honest propaganda. Thestudy and related docu-ments are so flawed thatnobody should believeany of the claims madefor the ICC.

SSSSState Mtate Mtate Mtate Mtate ModelingodelingodelingodelingodelingIrrIrrIrrIrrIrreparepareparepareparably Fably Fably Fably Fably FlawlawlawlawlawedededededEveryone realizes the ICCwould significantly in-crease development in thestudy area, but the StateHighway Administration’s (SHA) trafficmodeling assumes that the ICC wouldhave no impact on development. Whencombined with SHA’s use of a seriouslyoutdated version of the Council ofGovernments’s (COG) traffic model,SHA’s failure to include ICC-induceddevelopment in modeling the ICC pro-duces irreparably flawed modeling results.In particular, the DEIS substantially un-derstates the induced traffic the ICCwould create. Thus, there is no reason tobelieve any of the favorable claims made inthe DEIS.

The DEIS should be a full study ofmeaningful alternatives, with valid mod-els and land use assumptions, and a com-plete, honest presentation of the results.Since it fails to meet any of these basicrequirements, the DEIS is an elaborate,very expensive fraud.

EEEEEnd Gnd Gnd Gnd Gnd Gridlock? Oridlock? Oridlock? Oridlock? Oridlock? Oops. Jops. Jops. Jops. Jops. Just Kidding.ust Kidding.ust Kidding.ust Kidding.ust Kidding.Despite its flaws, the DEIS does revealtwo striking facts regarding the ICC’sineffectiveness. First, the ICC would have

a “negligible impact onfreeway operations, in-cluding the Beltway, I-270 and I-95” (pagesIV-343 to 344) andwould add traffic to theBeltway in Montgom-ery County (Table IV-91 at pages IV- 316 to317). Second, an analy-sis of the data, as op-posed to the claims,shows the ICC wouldprovide no meaningfulreduction in congestionat the vast majority ofintersections in thestudy area. We hope

ICC supporters will now drop their claimthat the ICC would “drastically ease traf-fic congestion and relieve gridlock for theentire region” (source: 2002 campaignmailer from the “End Gridlock Team”). ■

Steve Caflisch is the Transportation Chairof the Maryland Chapter. Parts of this ar-ticle were based on materials published bythe Montgomery & Prince George’sMonitor. For more information seewww.savecommunities.org.

by Steve Caflisch— What Is the ICC?The proposed Intercounty Connector(ICC) would be a six-lane tolled high-way from I-270 to I-95 near Laurel. Fed-eral agencies rejected it in the 1980s and1990s, largely because it would devastatea series of environmentally sensitive, for-ested stream valley parks containing someof the best habitat in the region. TheEhrlich and Bush administrations haverevived it and placed it on a fast track thatshortcuts environmental reviews and con-sideration of alternatives. The State High-way Administration (SHA) has produceda completely biased Draft Environmen-tal Impact Statement (DEIS) and is mov-ing toward approval of the ICC. Mean-while, ICC supporters are scrambling forways to finance the ICC’s ballooning cost.

Third most expensive road in U.S.jeopardizes other priorities

Maryland taxpayers will be obli-gated to pay for every cent of theICC. And from the moment thatburden is made legal, every othertransportation need in the statewill become hobbled for a long,long time—including roads thatrequire substantial safety im-provements.

— Michele Dyson, The Washington Post, 11/28/04

The projected cost of the ICC is now atover $3 billion and rising, excluding fi-nancing costs that would increase the costto $3.7 billion or more over time. Financ-ing would depend on massive borrowingto be repaid primarily by mortgagingMaryland’s future federal transportationfunds and Maryland’s toll revenues fromfacilities other than the ICC. It also de-

pends on charging substantial tolls on allvehicles using the ICC.

To cope with rising costs, ICC sup-porters are urging the legislature to dra-matically increase the amount Marylandcan borrow to finance the ICC.

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Take ActionWrite or call your state senator and del-egates. Tell them you oppose the ICC onits merits and because it would drain toomany resources. Ask them to oppose theICC and any attempts to increase bor-rowing to finance it. Urge friends andfamily from all parts of Maryland to writeor call their legislators, too. To find yourstate senator and delegates, see http://mdelect.net/. A letter or a call is best,but E-mail is ok, too.

See www.savecommunities.org orcall Brian Henry at 301-652-9188 ext 18for updates on what is happening or tosee what you can do. ■

ICC Would Be Expensive, Ineffective, and Destructive

Sierra Club Opposes ICCHey, Maryland, This Isn’t Just AboutMontgomery and PG Counties

ICC 101:

Annapolis Watch: ICC


Annapolis Watch: ICC

New Study Rates ICC as Worst Option, Finds Alternatives Perform BetterGroups Study Alternatives after State Refused

A new study of the ICC and alternativesfinds four less expensive, less environmen-tally damaging options perform betterthan the Intercounty Connector (ICC)on most measures, including reducingtraffic and air pollution. The report wassponsored by regional and national envi-ronmental, transportation and smart-growth groups and conducted by SmartMobility, Inc., a nationally recognizedtraffic modeling firm.

The groups commissioned the studyafter the state refused to look at mean-ingful alternatives and insisted on limit-ing the study to two alternate routes forthe ICC and a “No Build” alternative.

The cost estimates for each packageof alternatives range from $626 millionto $2 billion, all less than the $2.1to $2.4billion in construction costs (well over $3billion with financing costs) currentlyprojected for the ICC.

Results of the Study“This study shows that almost any otheroption performs better than the ICC forreducing traffic on local roads,” said NealFitzpatrick of Audubon Naturalist Soci-ety. Indeed, the ICC performed the worston almost every measure, including timespent driving, delay due to congestion,total amount of driving or vehicle milestraveled, the total number of trips madeeach day, and polluting emissions.

“The alternatives that performed thebest included a combination of increasedtransit with more jobs and housing neartransit, and a better east-west balance ofjobs and housing,” noted Steve Caflischof the Sierra Club.

ICC would cost more to build,mean more time spent drivingand create more pollution.“The results certainly show that a moremeasured analysis of alternatives such as

suggested by your necessarily quick studyand analysis, would be in order beforeembarking on construction of the Inter-county Connector,” noted Keith Lawton,a national traffic modeling expert andformer Director of Technical Services atPortland Metro, the regional entity simi-lar to the Council of Governments, whoreviewed the report.

Delegate Adrienne Mandel (District19, Montgomery County) noted, “Thereare alternatives to this destructive high-way that the state has not considered.”

Environmental ImpactWhile the state continues to claim theICC would be “environmentally sustain-able,” its study shows even more destruc-tion of forests, wetlands, and streams thanprevious studies. Compared to the ICC,the alternatives would not take thousandsof acres of forests and wetlands and wouldsignificantly reduce air pollution, thecause of much child-hood asthma and asignificant contributorto nitrogen pollutionin the Chesapeake Bayand Anacostia River.

“We analyzed airpollution and our bestalternative producesless NOx air pollution,by a half millionpounds/year, than theICC,” noted LeeEpstein of the Chesa-peake Bay Founda-tion.

The Report was com-missioned by Environ-mental Defense, Chesa-peake Bay Foundation,Audubon NaturalistSociety, Solutions Not

Sprawl, Sierra Club and the Coalition forSmarter Growth. The sponsors believe thearray of options and policies discussed in thereport deserve full evaluation in the envi-ronmental impact study of the proposed In-tercounty Connector as reasonably available,feasible, and prudent alternatives. Every

◆ In all alternatives to the ICC,less time is spent in cars thanwith the ICC.◆ All alternatives show fewerhours of delay due to congestionthan the ICC.◆ The ICC was the only alterna-tive that would increase vehiclemiles traveled and vehicle tripsmade each day.◆ The ICC ranks second to lastin removing traffic from localroads and major arterial roads.

◆ Three alternatives increaseaverage speed more than theICC.◆ All alternatives, except theICC, result in lower air pollutionemissions for the study area andthe region .◆ The two best performingalternatives include new railtransit, development of housingand jobs near Metrorail stations,and a better east-west balanceof jobs and housing.

Hybrid: Transit-Oriented Hot Lane Railand Express Bus

Transit Oriented Land Use & Investment

Add Toll Lane Express Bus

Convert HOT Lane- Express Bus

No Build

ICC Build

AvgRank

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Facilities

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S C E N A R I O SS C E N A R I O SS C E N A R I O SS C E N A R I O SS C E N A R I O S

Cardinal Scale Rankings for Alternatives to ICC

1=Best 6=Worst

*Vehicle Miles Traveled

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sponsor does not necessarily endorse every al-ternative or policy discussed in the report.

The full report and a summary can be ac-cessed online at: www.SmarterGrowth.netand www.environmentaldefense.org/go/iccoptions. ■

Key Study Findings


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Planning now may makeyour gift more meaningfuland reduce taxes on yourestate. We have many giftoptions available. We caneven help you plan a gift foryour local Chapter. For moreinformation and confidentialassistance, contact:

John CalawayDirector, Gift Planning85 Second Street, 2nd FloorSan Francisco, CA 94105415-977-5639 or [email protected]

Annapolis Watch: EC, Reports on Subsidies to Businesses

by Cliff Terry — SB 541 and HB 1145would allow women to buy emergencycontraceptive (EC) pills without a pre-scription.

EC pills, often called morning-afterpills, are ordinary birth control pills takenin special doses after unprotected inter-course (thec o n d o mbreaks, say, orintercoursewas notplanned) toreduce therisk of preg-nancy by upto 95 percent.They are notthe abortionpill.

It can be hard, especially on week-ends or holidays, to get a prescription andget it filled within the 72 hours after in-tercourse when the pills must be taken.

The bills would not allow over-the-counter sales. Pharmacists would be re-quired to screen customers to verify medi-cal appropriateness.

Half of the 6 million annual preg-nancies in the United States are unin-tended. The EC holds the potential to re-duce unintended pregnancies by half, soit could also cut in half Maryland’s abor-tion rate of three in every 10 pregnan-cies.

The American Medical Associationand the American College of Obstetri-cians and Gynecologists support makingemergency oral contraception available towomen without a physician’s prescription.Several states have allowed it for years.

Advisory committees for the U.S.Food and Drug Administration (FDA)voted overwhelmingly that the pills aresafe enough to sell without prescriptionnationwide, but the FDA keeps postpon-ing a decision. Right-wing political pres-sure is likely to affect that decision.

What makes EC a Sierra Club is-sue? Environmental concerns are only oneof the reasons easy access to EC is impor-tant, but they are important reasons. Allthose unintended pregnancies contribute,of course, to continuing populationgrowth. Maryland’s population grew by

11 percentfrom 1990 to2000. Thatmay notsound rapid,but at thatrate therewould betwice as manyof us in thestate every 63years. As youknow, growth

contributes directly to sprawl, road con-gestion, air pollution, and degradation ofour natural environment.

SB 541 is in the Senate Education,Health, and Environmental Affairs Com-mittee with no hearing scheduled as ofthis writing. Similar bills failed in the2003 General Assembly by the narrow-est possible margin. This year its spon-sors include only one senator short of acommittee majority. Two senators are newon the committee, so their votes may beup for grabs: Jim Brochin at 410-841-3648 and Allan Kittleman at 410-841-3671.

HB 1145 is in the House Health andGovernment Operations Committee withno hearing scheduled as of this writing.Please call committee members to urgetheir support. The committee office num-bers are 410-841-3770 (Annapolis/Bal-timore) or 301-858-3770 (Washington,D.C. area). For lots more informationabout emergency contraception, go tohttp://Not-2-Late.com. Or contact CliffTerry at 410-944-9477or e-mail [email protected]. ■

Emergency Contraception Without A Prescription

by Cliff Terry — The Maryland SierraClub advocates ending the practice ofgranting tax breaks and other subsidiesas incentives for businesses to move into,or expand within, the state or county. Itgrants rare exceptions, such as for thoseareas with exceptionally high unemploy-ment, for encouraging redevelopment, orfor environmentally beneficial businesses.

SB 780 (Economic Developmentand Tax Incentive Act) would requiredetailed annual reports of developmentsubsidies (expenditures of state funds tostimulate economic development) and oftheir benefits in terms of employment andwages. The reports would be readily avail-able to the public. We support the billbecause we believe increased public aware-ness of the costs and benefits of economicdevelopment subsidies would lead to areduction in such subsidies.

The usual argument for subsidies tolure businesses is jobs. But numerous stud-ies show that most of the new jobs in astate or locality generally go to new resi-dents, leaving the state’s or locality’s un-employment problem about as bad as be-fore. But its schools and roads are morecrowded and its natural environment isdiminished and impaired, thanks to theinflux of people to take the new jobs. Andthe state or local government is poorer,less able to pay for new schools and roads,due to the tax breaks or other subsidiesfor the new businesses that attracted thenew residents.

The bill is in the Senate Budget andTaxation Committee and is sponsored bya majority of the committee. Please con-tact them, because sponsorship doesn’t guar-antee they’ll vote for it: Senators Lawlah,DeGrange, Hogan, Jones, Kasemeyer,McFadden, and Ruben. No hearing isscheduled as of this writing. There willprobably be a House version of the bill.

For more information contact CliffTerry, Campaign Finance ReformChair,at [email protected] . ■

Create anEnvironmentalLegacy

equests haveplayed a key rolein theSierra Club’senvironmentalsuccesses overthe years.

B

Reports on Subsidies


Annapolis Watch: Public Funding for State Elections

by Cliff Terry — Many of the legislatorswhom you lobby on environmental issuesdepend heavily on contributions frombusinesses and industry trade associationsfor their campaign financing. And the fi-nancial self-interest of many of these bigcontributors puts them on the “anti-en-vironment” side of some of the issues youcare most about.

SB 725 and HB 1031 would pro-vide full public funding for campaigns forthe General Assembly.

Big campaign contributions cannothelp but influence General Assemblymembers’ votes on bills that will help orhurt the contributors.

No amount of tinkering with thecurrent systemof financingcampaigns willsolve this prob-lem. We need anew system.That new sys-tem is public fi-nancing of Gen-eral Assemblycampaigns, asrecommendedby the StudyCommission onPublic Fundingof Campaignsin Maryland. Itwould be simi-lar to systems working well in Maine andArizona.

All General Assembly candidateswho wish to receive public funding wouldfirst have to show broad public supportby collecting “qualifying” contributionsof at least $5 each from a specified num-

ber of registered voters in their legislativedistricts. They must then agree to abideby spending limits set for each office.

How can we afford this when thestate government is in dire budgetarystraits? Funding would come from clos-ing a corporate tax loophole.

SB 725 is in the Senate Education,Health, and Environmental Affairs Com-mittee and is sponsored by four of the sixmembers needed for a majority of thecommittee. The committee membersmost important to call are Chair PaulaHollinger, who has said she supports theprinciple but needs to be convincedthere’s money for it, at 410-841-3661;and Vice Chair Joan Carter Conway, who

has been a co-sponsor in thepast, at 410-841-3145.

HB 1031 isin the HouseWays andMeans Com-mittee with nohearing sched-uled as of thiswriting. Pleasecontact com-mittee membersto urge theirsupport. Thecommittee of-fice numbers are

410-841-3469 (Annapolis/Baltimore) or301-858-3469 (Washington, D.C. area).For more information contact Cliff Terry,Campaign Finance Reform Chair, [email protected] or 410-944-9477. ■

Bill Would Provide Public Funding for Assembly Elections

Sierra Club’s Global Population and Environment Program will pay for lodging and almost allof your meals. We encourage Sierra Club members to ask local chapters or groups forassistance in paying for travel costs to and from DC. For more details, please contact SarahFairchild at202.675.2396 or [email protected]. There are limited spacesavailable for the 2005 training.

April 2-4, 2005!

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Join us for the 2005 National PopulationActivist Training Event, featuring forumson the latest population issues. Don’t missthis opportunity! Now is the time for yourvoices to be heard!

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We cannot let the threats of the BushAdministration go unnoticed or unheardby the American public or by our decision-makers. Come to Washington to learn howwe can work together to


Annapolis Watch: Public Lands, How to Contact LegislatorsNot For Sale! Keep OurPublic Lands Off the Block!

If you know your state senator’s and delegates’ names,you can call 1-800-492-7122 from Maryland and askthe operator to connect you with the office of that sena-tor or delegate. Delegates aresometimes in the same office bayarea, so one call connects you toall of your delegates.

If you don’t know your sena-tor or delegates by name, but youknow what district you are in, youcan give your district number tothe operator, who will connectyou. If you don’t know your dis-trict, you may ask for help on thephone, but it is often faster to usethe web at http://mdelect.net.On this site, click on “Find yourFederal and State Elected Offi-cials.” Type in your address. Youwill find out what your district isand who your delegates are. Click on their names todisplay their addresses, e-mail addresses, and direct-dial,toll-free phone numbers.

When you call, usually you will get a voice-mailmachine or a secretary, not your senator or delegate,although you can ask to speak directly to them if theyare available. But even if you don’t talk directly to a del-egate or senator, it is still important to leave your mes-sage. Often, the secretary/aide will tell Delegate Joe thathe got ten calls on this issue and one call on somethingelse. Legislators pay attention to the number of callsthey are getting. It lets them know what the hot topicsare. Let’s FLOOD those senators and delegates withcalls for support for the bills that our chapter is sup-porting.

What should I say?You don’t have to be very eloquent, as the secretary willprobably just be counting calls, but do try to be clear.“Please tell my delegate that I live in District xx, at123Cherry St, Elkton, MD.” This lets them know you arereally one of his or her voters. “Please tell Delegate Joeto vote for the (fill in the blank) bill.” That’s all youhave to say, or words to that effect. ■

How Do I Contact My Legislators in Annapolis?

It is important that we tell elected officials where westand on issues. Our input on clean water, sprawl, trade,and other issues shapes the way our representatives cre-

ate and implement environmentaland social policy.

E-mails, postcards, and phonecalls are good communication tools,but letters and faxes are the most ef-fective and persuasive way of com-municating our views to elected offi-cials.

These tips will help you write a persuasive letter:

Keep it short.Limit your letter to one page and one issue.

Identify yourself and the issue.In the first paragraph of your letter state who youare and what issue you are writing about. If you

are referring to a specific bill, identify it by number (e.g.HB 2372 or S1287).

Focus on your main points.Choose the three strongest points to support your argu-ment and develop them clearly. Too much informationcan distract from your position.

Make it personal.Tell your legislator why the issue matters to you andhow it affects you, your family, and your community.Make a connection to the legislator. Did you vote forher? Did you contribute to the campaign?

Ask for a reply.Include your name and address on both your letter andenvelope.

Trust your voice.Be polite and take a firm position in your letter. Be con-fident in your understanding of the issue and remem-ber that the legislator may know less than you. Thankelected officials when they vote the way you want.

By Phone... Or By Mail...


Not only are Maryland’s land conservation programslosing their dedicated funding, now it looks as if pre-cious state lands that are already protected could be forsale. A recent secretive land deal in Southern Marylandwould have sold off critical land and wetlands purchasedfor land conservation without a guarantee of preserva-tion. In addition, the Department of NaturalResources has posted a “List of Potential Excess Prop-erty Candidates” identified by the state for possible saleor transfer.

Lands purchased for conservation should be pro-tected from development. These lands are important forprotecting the Chesapeake Bay, providing wildlife habi-tat, preserving farmland, providing recreation areas, andleaving a legacy for future generations to enjoy.

That’s why we’re asking you to support a constitu-tional amendment (Senate Bill 102 and House Bill 67)that would require the Governor to get approval fromthe General Assembly to sell any state lands bought withconservation funding. If this bill passes this session, citi-zens in Maryland would be able to vote on whether toadopt the constitutional amendment at the polls in 2006.According to a recent poll, 3 out of 4 Maryland voters(72 percent) say they would vote “yes” on such a pro-posed constitutional amendment.

The citizens of Maryland own theselands…shouldn’t we be the ones to decide if they aresold off?

Other bills designed to protect Program OpenSpace funds are in the works but do not have bill num-bers yet. When you contact your legislators please letthem know that you want Program Open Space moneyto be used for the purpose for which it was intendedand not to balance the budget. Our open spaces arerapidly being gobbled up by development. Land, oncedeveloped, is gone. We want to preserve as much of itas possible and as soon as possible.

Call or e-mail your state legislators and let themknow you want to preserve our public lands! ■

This piece was extracted from materials prepared by theMaryland League of Conservation Voters at www.mdlcv.org.


Go Online to Voice Your Concerns.While a personal letter is probably still the best and mosteffective way to communicate with your elected offi-cial, e-mail offers a new and easy tool for citizens. Re-member though, not all legislators have e-mail or theability to respond to it.

Some additional tips for e-mail users will help identifyyour message as one from a constituent:◆ Use the ‘subject’ line to identify yourself as a con-stituent.◆ Be sure that your name and return address (both mailand e-mail) are included.◆ Don’t write anything in an e-mail that you would notwrite in a personal letter or say in person. ■

Or By E-Mail...

Contacting Legislators


by Bob DeGroot—Wind power holds the promise ofproviding a clean, unlimited source of energy withoutthe pollution that comes from coal or gas/oil generatingplants. Almost everyone supports the transition to cleanenergy alternatives, but we need to take a close look atall aspects of the technology before concluding it’s apanacea for energy needs. Fifty years ago we thoughthydroelectric power was the clean, renewable energysolution. Later, we found the dams largely decimatedirreplaceable populations of migrating fish. If we findsimilarly that wind technologyhas too many drawbacks, thenwe need to continue looking forbetter energy sources that areless damaging.

Wind power will provideclean energy, but the newer andtaller 400-foot turbines seem to

have a greater impacton migrating birds andbats. This is becausethey are being sited in areas with high concen-trations of these creatures, specifically the high-elevation ridge tops. The ridge tops appear tobe the most problematic sites for wind plantsin our region. While some animal fatalities canprobably be tolerated, large numbers of birdand bat kills will likely jeopardize the entirewind industry. Some of the early wind powerinstallations in the east have resulted in muchlarger bat kills than ever recorded at other windplants studied in the U.S. Forty-four new windturbines on the Mountaineer Wind EnergyProject in West Virginia have been killing nearly4,000 bats each year during two years of op-eration. This is about 100 bats each year perturbine.

This high rate of mortality is probably be-yond acceptable levels. It also shows the im-portance of locating facilities away from mi-gration routes of birds and bats. Other facili-ties seem to be more benign, but studies thatwould reveal the true situation at each facilitywere often poorly done, or were not even re-quired. Potential fixes to reduce the numberof bat deaths have been proposed, but currently

there are no solutions that have proven effective. AtAltamont, California, the wind turbines constructed inthe 1980s continue to kill thousands of hawks, owls,and eagles each year despite the millions of dollars spenton research to reduce this high mortality.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that windpower development is constrained by the intermittentnature of wind. This leads to the need for backup ca-pacity from other power sources to ensure that consum-ers’ needs for electricity can be met at all times. Wind

energy is particularly fickleduring summer, when energydemands are greatest. This re-quires almost redundant gen-erating capacity for wind en-ergy in the summer time, whenthe average efficiency of windturbines drops to 15 percentor less.

There are no plans toclose down even the worst of

the polluting coal or gas/oil generating plants becausewind energy is being developed, so the suggestion thatpollution or global warming will be suddenly reducedby developing wind power is simply a false assumption.Although wind power may reduce the need for addi-tional conventional energy plants, newer conventionalplants are also much cleaner than older plants, and notthe cause of 80 percent of the pollution. Both energysources operating simultaneously means environmentaldamage will come from both sources.

The largest wind turbines now installed in our re-gion are rated to produce 1,500 kilowatts (1.5 mega-watts) at peak output. But their average output is onlyabout 30 percent of their capacity, because of wind fluc-tuations. The Mt. Storm coal-burning plant in WestVirginia, a single, relatively large conventional powerplant, produces 1,560 megawatts annually. It would takeover 2,500 turbines to produce a similar amount of elec-tricity each year. Even then, these 2,500 turbines wouldrequire nearly redundant conventional backup powerto keep power flowing during periods of peak consump-tion when turbine output is 15 percent or less.

Still, the damage done by 2,500 turbines might beacceptable unless you put them in the wrong locations.

Annapolis Watch Wind Power

The Reality of Wind PowerThe winds desert us in the summer when our energy needs are greatest


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If built in a place like the Mountaineer Project, theseturbines could be killing about 250,000 bats per year.This would be catastrophic when you consider bats caneat nearly 2,000 mosquito-like insects per hour whenhunting, keeping insect populations in check. The batsfrom one bat cavein Texas are re-ported to eat 200tons of insects pernight. Keepingdown mosquitopopulations re-duces incidents ofWest Nile virus andother diseasesborne by mosqui-toes.

At a countyhearing on a bill de-signed to promotewind energy inM o n t g o m e r yCounty, residentsfrom westernMaryland drove hours to testify that they didn’t feel ur-ban areas should be exporting power problems to themountains of Appalachia any more than they thoughturban trash should be sent to them. A realtor fromWestern Maryland reported that property values in thevicinity of a wind facilityhad plummeted 50 to 80percent. He mentioned thatnot only are the wind facili-ties an eyesore, but they pro-duce unacceptable noise lev-els and flickering shadowsannoying to nearby resi-dents. How would anyonefeel if a 40-story structurewas being built next door to their home?

Turbines are built at about eight per mile alongridgelines. In forested areas, about four acres are bull-dozed to erect each turbine. If placed improperly, theconstruction of 2,500 turbines could result inclearcutting of 10,000 acres of forests along more than300 miles of mountain ridgelines. Many current projectsare fragmenting large intact forests.

We need to carefully evaluate each new wind project

and determine if the resulting damage is acceptable. Butwhen Public Service Commissions issue permits to buildwind turbines without requiring environmental stud-ies, accurate damage assessment is impossible.

An examination of the best potential wind areasin the AppalachianMountains showsthat about 30,000wind turbines couldbe built atop ridgesthroughout themid-Atlantic states.This is equivalentto about 12 con-ventional powerplants. Knowingthat over 3,000miles ofmountaintop foresthabitat could be de-stroyed and frag-mented to buildthese 30,000 indus-trial wind turbines

makes a close look at benefits versus the damages im-perative.

Wind facilities also require new roads to access theturbine locations, and new transmission lines to sendthe electricity down the mountain. People might be

equally concerned to realizethat in spite of this destruc-tion, the power industry willstill insist on building severalnew conventional powerplants to back up the nota-bly unreliable wind facilities,and to meet the ever-grow-ing demand for electricity inour region, which is expected

to expand two percent each year in the foreseeablefuture. ■

Bob DeGroot is President of Maryland Alliance forGreenway Improvement and Conservation, 301-340-8348, www.Magicalliance.org, and Forests Chair for theMaryland Chapter.

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The Reality of Wind Power

Forest fragmented by installation of wind turbines.For additional pictures see http://johnrsweet.com/Personal/Wind/windpix4.html

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Projected Growth in Regional EnergyConsumption Exceeds Potential of WindPower Generation


by Mike Tidwell— Few of us realize it, but the food weput in our mouths each day dramatically affects the glo-bal climate. The typical American diet requires the stag-gering equivalent of 400 gallons of oil each year. That,in turn, generates nearly as much planet-warming car-bon dioxide as the average U.S. car creates.

We all know cars cause smog and contribute toglobal warming. But our chicken nuggets? Our winterstrawberries? Our Häagen-Dazs fudge swirl? Who knew?Our country derives almost all of its energy from fossilfuels—oil, coal, and natural gas—whose use generatesmillions of tons of CO2 annually. And nearly one fifthof that energy is devoted in some way to food.

How? Well, let’s start with fertilizer. Virtually all ofour food crops —those directly consumed by humansor diverted to meat production—are raised with petro-leum-based fertilizers. We actually extract the nitrogenwe need for plant stimulation from variouspetroleum products. This alone takes up 30percent of our energy budget for food.

Then there’s our complementary use ofpetroleum-based herbicides and pesticides, aswell as diesel fuel and gasoline for combines,tractors, and other farm machinery. We alsoneed fossil fuels to irrigate our crops beforeharvest and often to dry the same crops aftermaturity.

Our nation’s great consumption of meat,eggs, and dairy products amplifies all of theseenergy needs many fold since roughly 80 per-cent of all corn and other grains grown in this countrygoes to feed animals, not people. Not only does ourannual per capita consumption of about 230 pounds ofmeat require an ocean of oil, it leaves us drowning intwice the government’s daily recommended allowanceof protein.

Once shipped from the farm, of course, much ofour food is then refrigerated, processed, and packagedinto everything from Pop Tarts to Atkins-approved mi-crowave dinners. This requires—among other inputs—enormous amounts of electricity, which means burningwhole mountains of coal. Over half of our nation’s elec-tricity, after all, comes from the combustion of pulver-ized coal.

Finally, there’s the runaway explosion in food trans-portation. Thanks to globalization, artificially low gas

Food and the Climate Crisis: What You Eat Affects the Sky

The typical American diet creates nearly as much carbon dioxide as the typical car!But it’s easy to switch to a climate-friendly way of eating.

prices and massive government highway subsidies, theaverage kilogram of food in Maryland (and nationwide)travels at least 1,500 miles from farm to plate. That’s anincrease of 25 percent just since 1980. Indeed, the aver-age prepared meal in the United States includes ingre-dients produced in at least five other countries.In this modern food transportation system, wasted en-ergy reaches absurd levels. For example, a lettuce farmernear Atlanta, Georgia, who wants to sell lettuce to aSafeway in Atlanta must first ship the lettuce 621 milesto Upper Marlboro, MD for inspection, then ship itback down to Georgia. This transportation not onlyconsumes fossil fuel but takes up extra road space andleaves the lettuce less fresh!

It should be easy now to see that we’re basicallyeating fossil fuels when we sit down to dinner in America,the equivalent of 400 gallons of oil per capita. Yet even

people who consider themselves environmentalists andpolitical liberals, who use efficient light bulbs and jointhe Sierra Club, rarely consider the impact of their foodchoices. A person who drives a trendy Toyota Prius hy-brid car, for example, but who maintains a typical U.S.diet heavy on meats and processed foods, is actually gen-erating twice the annual CO2 from his diet than fromhis car.

Solution: Eat organic foods grown in your region.All of these diet-related impacts on our climate and natu-ral environment could be dramatically and painlesslyreduced if Americans took three easy steps.

1. Buy locally raised foods whenever possible.2. Buy organic foods. 3. Reduce meat and dairy consumption.Thankfully, buying local food that has not been

trucked thousands of miles gets easier every year. Ac-cording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, region-ally based farmers’ markets with a wide variety of fruitsand vegetables have grown from 300 in the mid 1970sto 3,100 in America today. That growth has certainlybeen seen in Maryland, D.C., and many other states.Such markets simultaneously decrease transportationinputs while increasing community interconnectedness.One study estimates that people have 10 times as manyconversations at farmers’ markets as they do at super-markets. (Visit www.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/map.htm for a farmers’ market near you.)

People across America can also buy directly from aspecific farm nearest their home thanks to a practicecalled “community-supported agriculture (CSA).” Fora set annual price, you essentially “subscribe” to a farm,receiving a standard weekly share of whatever the farm

produces during the growing season. For years,my family has been getting most of its annualfresh vegetables directly from Claggett Farmin Prince George’s County, Maryland. (Visitwww.nal.usda.gov/afsic/csa/csastate.htm for aCSA nearest you.)

A second important step, beyond buy-ing locally, is to buy organically raised food.Organic agriculture eschews petroleum-basedfertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides, relyinginstead on manure and plant-based fertilizersand reducing losses to insects by buildinghealthy soils and planting a wide diversity of

crops.On average, organic farms use 37 percent less en-

ergy than conventional farms. Also, unlike soils ren-dered nearly biologically lifeless from petroleum inputs,organic soils are full of plant matter and various bio-logical processes that naturally absorb carbon dioxideout of the atmosphere. According to a 23-yearstudy by the prestigious Rodale Institute, one acre oforganic crops “sequester” as much as 3,700 pounds peryear of CO2, the world’s leading greenhouse gas. Soorganic food consumers fight climate change with ev-ery meal they eat.

Both fresh and processed organic foods are nowwidely available in this country, including at many chainsupermarkets. Just as encouraging, Cuba, a nation where

Food and Farming



life expectancy is actually longer than in the UnitedStates, has made a nearly total national switch to or-ganic agriculture since 1991, disproving previous criti-cism that modern organic practices could not feed en-tire nations at affordable prices.

It’s easy to cut down on meat. The last criticalstep in the food/energy equation is reducing one’s con-sumption of animal products. Meat, eggs, and dairyproducts are high-energy, high-impact foods. It takes40 pounds of grain to produce one pound of beef, andevery kilocalorie of eggs produced in America requires39 kilocalories of energy. Simply put, America couldfeed most of Africa with the grains we feed to livestock.

A vegetarian diet also dramatically reduces yourrisk of heart disease, the nation’s number one cause ofdeath. You can choose to make the vegetarian switchgradually thanks to a host of great vegetarian “meats”now on the market, from veggie burgers to soy sausageto chicken-like nuggets.

Here’s the bottom-line good news: By making theswitch to mostly regionally raised, organic food—in-cluding savory vegetarian meat substitutes—each Ameri-can can reduce his or her personal food greenhouse gasbudget by at least 60 percent. That’s from around 400gallons of oil equivalent each year to around 160.

With even the oil industry_friendly Bush Admin-istration now openly admitting that fossil fuels are dis-rupting our life-giving global climate, and with a full17 percent of U.S. energy use now devoted to food, it’sclear we’ll never solve the climate crisis with wind farmsand hybrid cars alone. We must—and obviously can—cultivate and consume “clean-energy” food, grown closeto home for the benefit of the whole world. ■

Mike Tidwell, a vegetarian, is director of the ChesapeakeClimate Action Network in Takoma Park, MD. He can bereached at [email protected] or 301-920-1633. To learnmore about food and global warming, visitwww.chesapeakeclimate.org.

Endnotes supplied by the author were deleted for space con-siderations, but are available upon request. Please contactChesapeake editor at [email protected].

Foor and FarmingWhat You Eat Affects the Sky

(continued from page 11) by Annie Collier Rehill — Outside my office windowruns a road atop what used to be fields, part of a farmprobably. School buses cough by in the afternoon, fol-lowed by early commuters escaping back to their neigh-borhoods ahead of the metal floods. Every one of thesevehicles weighs a ton or more, and all that metallic obe-sity waddles down the road, back and forth, back andforth, all day long, beginning at dawn and into theevening. The road is allowed a few hours’ quiet betweencommuting, but mainly it’s a fast lane to the ozone hole.

Of course, this is just one more manifestation oftoo many people driving too many vehicles, urbansprawl, ruined old woods, and everything else that’squickly transforming country into condos. Staring outgloomily at my road, I real-ized I’d never given muchthought to what goes on un-derneath roads and parkinglots.

Can worms or insectslive down there? Have theyburrowed out little tunnelsfor furtive pass-throughs?Or has everything beencrushed by an ever-growingload of humans sitting inmillions of tons of metalspewing deadly gases into the heavens?

I ferreted around a bit and discovered that some ofthe new pavement may actually not be too bad—thatis, having accepted that cars are here to stay, and in grow-ing numbers. Many types of organizations have, for sometime already, been devoted to solving problems associ-ated with this grim reality. Lucie Griggs, executive di-rector for Georgia Cool Communities, delves into someof the technicalities:

“In addition to creating storm water pollution,urban sprawl is also upsetting the hydrologic cycle bycausing much higher flows than normal in streams dur-ing and after rainfall events, and causing much lowerflows in streams between rainfalls. The low flow occursbecause of less moisture available in the soils to helprecharge the streams.”1

I already understood that water seeps into theground slowly, when impervious surfaces don’t inter-fere, and that the more pavement there is, the faster rainand melting snow rush into rivers, lakes, and oceans,carrying oils and all the other debris that our cars vomit.

Porous Paving

But many of the efforts to cut down on pollutants werenews to me. The nonprofit, research-oriented Ameri-can Planning Association (APA) represents one.

For-profit organizations have also taken note, forinstance Cahill Associates, an environmental-consult-ing firm in southeastern Pennsylvania. (Among theiraward-winning projects is the parking lot at John HeinzNational Wildlife Refuge, Tinicum Cusano Environ-mental Education Center.) Engineer Michele C. Adamsobserves, “There is nothing very exciting about a park-ing lot.”2 But as she shows us how porous pavement isconstructed, using a “stormwater best management prac-tice (BMP) that reduces impervious areas, rechargesgroundwater, improves water quality, eliminates the need

for detention basins, andprovides a useful purposebesides stormwater man-agement,” she gives nature-loving readers a reason forhope.

“With the right soilconditions and careful de-sign, installations retaintheir ability to infiltrate,”assures a subheading. Thearticle illustrates how it’s allin the preparation.

First, the construction is planned using the land’snatural lines—“avoid excessive earthwork (cut and fill).Design with the contours of the site.” The targeted areais dug out and filled with layers of filters and stones;finally, the pavement itself is porous. Water drains di-rectly through it and seeps down over several days,thereby cutting down on the noxious waste that reachesour ground and surface water. Built-in contingency planshelp with storms and nearby rooftops: undergroundpipes feed directly into the stone layer, and gravel bedsborder the pavement to handle occasional overloads. Thestone also retains heat, so that the pavement doesn’t freezeas easily as impervious surfaces. Some of Cahill’s “sys-tems” are 20 years old, still functioning as planned, andhave yet to be repaved.

One drawback, though: Salt (which dissolves—andcan overload a natural ecosystem, at least temporarily)rather than sand must be used if the surface does freeze.It should be kept on the clean side with twice-yearlyvacuuming, so sand is counterproductive. Another short-

Head for the Porous



coming: This system isn’t up to major highways—yet.“Porous paving offers a solution for low traffic ar-

eas such as parking lots, access roads and bike paths,”says Griggs. “Parking lots, in particular, hold a tremen-dous potential for this material because of the amountof oil and other hydrocarbon liquids that seep fromparked cars. Porous pavements can be made of concrete,asphalt, open-celled stones, and gravel that are mixed ina manner that creates an open cell structure allowingwater and air to pass through.”

Researchers continue their work in the lab, withexperiments on “allowing runoff to return to soil afterpassive physical-chemical treatment”3 and ways to “im-prove porous pavement design (e.g., to assess the mini-mum thickness of an open-graded friction course neededto avoid surface runoff ).”4

Urges Georgia Cool’s Griggs: “A new mindset isneeded when designing stormwater management sys-tems . . . incorporating porous pavement will be muchmore effective in reducing total runoff and increasingthe amount of filtered groundwater. The material’s abilityto retain stormwater while improving water quality andenhancing tree and vegetation growth makes this mate-rial an innovative example of green and sustainable build-ing practice.”

Regardless of what we think of them, cars havebecome an integral aspect of the modern human condi-tion, almost globally. Naturally, because humans havesuch a profound effect on everything around us, theSierra Club and other environmental groups continueto push for cleaner cars and more effective roads.

“In many new development projects, two-thirdsof the new impervious surfaces are related to the auto-mobile,” Cahill’s Adams points out. “Lost recharge, de-pleted groundwater levels, low stream baseflows, erodedstreambanks, and degraded water quality all are effectsof this extensive paving program. Flood and droughtare both worsened by a development program of ‘seal-ing the earth’s surface.’ ” But, she adds: “We can putparking lots to work for better stormwater manage-ment.” It’s a good start, and routinely pro-environment-constructed highways are sure to follow at some point.

And what of my question about who lives under-neath these roads? Griggs offers some enlightenment.

“Unlike traditional concrete or asphalt, porouspavements typically provide a void content of 15–20percent, offering improved filtration and an enormousamount of surface area to catch oils and chemical pol-

lutants,” she says. “Some experts believe that the bacte-ria living in these spaces break down pollutants prevent-ing much of the polluted runoff that normally occurswith traditional pavements.”

So bacteria might survive in the layer of stone—good. That’s life, at least; probably the only life formthat can handle such a toxic environment. I haven’tfound out yet whether there are any worms and insectsdown there, but I doubt it. Too abrasive, compressed,and foul. They probably thrive in the surrounding ar-eas, though, marshes and wetlands and rivers receivingthe cleaner water more gradually.

I’d never paused to mull over who plans our roads,what factors those designers and builders take into con-sideration. But I see now that just as in politics, differ-ent philosophies lead down different roads, some lessharmful to the Earth than others. Which means we needto pay close attention to who is awarded contracts forbuilding our roads and parking lots, who their consult-ants are, and where they stand vis-à-vis environmentalstewardship. And, of course, we can also look right inour own yards, as we choose materials for driveways,walkways, and terraces. ■

Endnotes1 Lucie Griggs, “Innovative Air and Water Quality Solu-

tions,” American Planning Association (APA) Division

of Environmental, Natural Resources, and Energy

(ENRE), 2003: http://www.apa-enre.org/coolsol.htm.2 Michele C. Adams, “Porous Asphalt Pavement with Re-charge Beds: Twenty Years and Still Working,” Stormwater:The Journal for Surface Water Quality Professionals,May-June 2003: http://www.forester.net/sw_0305_porous.html).3 ” Z. Teng and J. Sansalone, “In Situ Partial Exfiltrationof Rainfall Runoff,” Journal of Environmental Engineer-ing, ASCE 130 (Sept. 2004): 1008-1020.4 V. Ranieri, “Runoff Control in Porous Pavements,” Bitu-minous Paving Mixtures 2002, Transportation ResearchBoard National Research Council, Washington DC: Trans-portation Research Record (1789) 46-55, 2002.

Porous Paving

(continued from page 12)Parking Lots with Open Pores

Chapter delegates will represent the MarylandChapter in two working sessions which willdetermine the Sierra Club’s strategic directionfor the next five years. This is an unprecedentedopportunity for our Chapter to influence thegoals of the Club. And did we mention that itwill be great fun?

Three at-large delegates will be elected at theexecutive committee meeting on May 21. Allmembers are welcome to attend the meeting andvote in the election of the at-large delegates. Ifyou would like to be considered as a delegate,please call Betsy Johnson at 301 656-4948.

For more information see our website,www.maryland.sierraclub.org.

AAAAArrrrre ye ye ye ye you acou acou acou acou activtivtivtivtive in thee in thee in thee in thee in theMMMMMarararararyland Cyland Cyland Cyland Cyland Chapthapthapthapthapter?er?er?er?er?

Would you like to attend Sierra Summit2005 as an at-large chapter delegate?


Oslo, 10 December 2004(Speech by Ole Danbolt Mjøs)

. . . In this year’s prize, the Norwegian Nobel Commit-tee has placed the critical issue of environment and itslinkage to democracy and peace before the world. . . .Recognizing that sustainable development, democracyand peace are indivisible is an idea whose time has come.. . . My inspiration partly comes from my childhoodexperiences and observations of Nature in rural Kenya.. . . As I was growing up, I witnessed forests being clearedand replaced by commercial plantations, which de-stroyed local biodiversity and the capacity of the foreststo conserve water. . . .

In 1977, when we started the Green Belt Move-ment, I was partly responding to needs identified byrural women, namely lack of firewood, clean drinkingwater, balanced diets, shelter and income.

Throughout Africa, women are the primary care-takers, holding significant responsibility for tilling theland and feeding their families. As a result, they are of-ten the first to become aware of environmental damageas resources become scarce and incapable of sustainingtheir families.

The women we worked with recounted that un-like in the past, they were unable to meet their basicneeds. This was due to the degradation of their imme-diate environment as well as the introduction of com-mercial farming, which replaced the growing of house-hold food crops. But international trade controlled theprice of the exports from these small-scale farmers and areasonable and just income could not be guaranteed. Icame to understand that when the environment is de-stroyed, plundered or mismanaged, we undermine ourquality of life and that of future generations.

Tree planting became a natural choiceTree planting became a natural choice to address someof the initial basic needs identified by women. Also, treeplanting is simple, attainable and guarantees quick, suc-cessful results within a reasonable amount time. Thissustains interest and commitment.

So, together, we have planted over 30 million trees

that provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to supporttheir children’s education and household needs. Theactivity also creates employment and improves soils andwatersheds. Through their involvement, women gainsome degree of power over their lives, especially theirsocial and economic position and relevance in the fam-ily. This work continues.

Initially, the work was difficult because historicallyour people have been persuaded to believe that becausethey are poor, they lack not only capital, but also knowl-edge and skills to address their challenges. Instead theyare conditioned to believe that solutions to their prob-lems must come from “outside.” Further, women didnot realize that meeting their needs depended on theirenvironment being healthy and well managed. They werealso unaware that a degraded environment leads to ascramble for scarce resources and may culminate in pov-erty and even conflict. They were also unaware of theinjustices of international economic arrangements.

In order to assist communities to understand theselinkages, we developed a citizen education program, dur-

ing which people identify their problems, the causes andpossible solutions. They then make connections betweentheir own personal actions and the problems they wit-ness in the environment and in society. . . .

On the environment front, they are exposed tomany human activities that are devastating to the envi-ronment and societies. These include widespread de-struction of ecosystems, especially through deforesta-tion, climatic instability, and contamination in the soilsand waters that all contribute to excruciating poverty.

They are the primary custodians and benefi-ciaries of the environment that sustainsthem.In the process, the participants discover that they mustbe part of the solutions. They realize their hidden po-tential and are empowered to overcome inertia and takeaction. They come to recognize that they are the pri-mary custodians and beneficiaries of the environmentthat sustains them.

Entire communities also come to understand that

We are called to assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the process heal our own—indeed, to embrace the whole creation in all its diversity, beauty and wonder.

Excerpts from Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2004 Lecture

Wangari Muta Maathai

Sustainable Development

Nobel Laureate Wangari Muta Maathai. Photo International Institute for Sustainable Development



while it is necessary to hold their governments account-able, it is equally important that in their own relation-ships with each other, they exemplify the leadership val-ues they wish to see in their own leaders, namely justice,integrity and trust.

It soon became clear that responsible gover-nance of the environment was impossiblewithout democratic space.Although initially the Green Belt Movement’s tree plant-ing activities did not address issues of democracy andpeace, it soon became clear that responsible governanceof the environment was impossible without democraticspace. Therefore, the tree became a symbol for the demo-cratic struggle in Kenya. Citizens were mobilized to chal-lenge widespread abuses of power, corruption and envi-ronmental mismanagement. . . .

Through the Green Belt Movement, thousands ofordinary citizens were mobilized and empowered to takeaction and effect change. They learned to overcome fearand a sense of helplessness and moved to defend demo-cratic rights. . . .

Using trees as a symbol of peace is in keeping witha widespread African tradition. . . . the elders of theKikuyu carried a staff from the thigi tree that, whenplaced between two disputing sides, caused them to stopfighting and seek reconciliation. Many communities inAfrica have these traditions.

Such practices are part of an extensive cultural heri-tage, which contributes both to the conservation of habi-tats and to cultures of peace. With the destruction ofthese cultures and the introduction of new values, localbiodiversity is no longer valued or protected and as aresult, it is quickly degraded and disappears. For thisreason, the Green Belt Movement explores the conceptof cultural biodiversity, especially with respect to indig-enous seeds and medicinal plants.

As we progressively understood the causes of envi-ronmental degradation, we saw the need for good gov-ernance. Indeed, the state of any county’s environmentis a reflection of the kind of governance in place, andwithout good governance there can be no peace. Manycountries, which have poor governance systems, are alsolikely to have conflicts and poor laws protecting theenvironment.

In 2002, the courage, resilience, patience andcommitment of members of the Green Belt Move-

ment, other civil society organizations, and theKenyan public culminated in the peaceful transitionto a democratic government and laid the foundationfor a more stable society. . . .

We are faced with a challenge that calls for ashift in our thinking, so that humanity stopsthreatening its life-support system.Activities that devastate the environment and societiescontinue unabated. Today we are faced with a challengethat calls for a shift in our thinking, so that humanitystops threatening its life-support system. We are calledto assist the Earth to heal her wounds and in the processheal our own—indeed, to embrace the whole creationin all its diversity, beauty and wonder. This will happenif we see the need to revive our sense of belonging to alarger family of life, with which we have shared our evo-lutionary process.

In the course of history, there comes a time whenhumanity is called to shift to a new level of conscious-ness, to reach a higher moral ground. A time when wehave to shed our fear and give hope to each other.

That time is now.The Norwegian Nobel Committee has challenged

the world to broaden the understanding of peace: therecan be no peace without equitable development; andthere can be no development without sustainable man-agement of the environment in a democratic and peace-ful space. This shift is an idea whose time has come.

I call on leaders, especially from Africa, to expanddemocratic space and build fair and just societies thatallow the creativity and energy of their citizens to flour-ish. . . .

There is also need to galvanize civil society andgrassroots movements to catalyze change. I call upongovernments to recognize the role of these social move-ments in building a critical mass of responsible citizens,who help maintain checks and balances in society. Ontheir part, civil society should embrace not only theirrights but also their responsibilities.

The extreme global inequities and prevailingconsumption patterns continue at the ex-pense of the environment and peaceful co-existence.Further, industry and global institutions must appreci-ate that ensuring economic justice, equity and ecologi-

cal integrity are of greater value than profits at any cost.The extreme global inequities and prevailing consump-tion patterns continue at the expense of the environ-ment and peaceful co-existence. The choice is ours.

I would like to call on young people to committhemselves to activities that contribute toward achiev-ing their long-term dreams. They have the energy andcreativity to shape a sustainable future. To the youngpeople I say, you are a gift to your communities andindeed the world. You are our hope and our future.

The holistic approach to development, as exem-plified by the Green Belt Movement, could be embracedand replicated in more parts of Africa and beyond. It isfor this reason that I have established the WangariMaathai Foundation to ensure the continuation and ex-pansion of these activities. Although a lot has beenachieved, much remains to be done. . . .

I reflect on my childhood experience when I wouldvisit a stream next to our home to fetch water for mymother. I would drink water straight from the stream.Playing among the arrowroot leaves I tried in vain topick up the strands of frogs’ eggs, believing they werebeads. But every time I put my little fingers under themthey would break. Later, I saw thousands of tadpoles:black, energetic and wriggling through the clear wateragainst the background of the brown earth. This is theworld I inherited from my parents.

Today, over 50 years later, the stream has dried up,women walk long distances for water, which is not al-ways clean, and children will never know what they havelost. The challenge is to restore the home of the tad-poles and give back to our children a world of beautyand wonder. ■

There can be no peace without equitable development; and there can be no development without sustainable management ofthe environment in a democratic and peaceful space.

General permission is granted for the publication in news-papers in any language.

Copyright © The Nobel Foundation, Stockholm, 2004

This excerpted version of Ms. Maathai’s speech was pre-pared by Annie Collier Rehill.

Sustainable Development



Another potentially contentious Sierra Club election isupon us. This year, 15 candidates are running for theboard of directors, and there are three ballot measures,two of which would alter rules for future elections, anda third about whether the Club should adopt a policyon limiting immigration into the United States.

The Sierra Club is a democratically structured or-ganization that depends on members to make impor-tant decisions about its governance. “Democracy works,”says Club President Larry Fahn, “but only if everyoneparticipates.”

Voting in elections at all levels of the Club is botha privilege and a responsibility of membership, he says,and the Club requires a free flow of views on policy andpriorities in order to function effectively.

Members will elect five representatives to servethree-year terms on the 15-member board, which over-sees staff and volunteer activities, sets conservation pri-orities, and approves the annual budget. The candidatesare listed below.

The Population Ballot Question asks members:“Shall the Sierra Club policy on immigration, adoptedby the Board of Directors in 1999 and revised in 2003,be changed to recognize the need to adopt lower limitson migration to the United States?” The Club board ofdirectors recommends a “no” vote on this question.

The two other ballot measures propose changes tothe bylaws that affect the election. Bylaws Change #1would remove the requirement to provide space forwrite-in candidates on the ballot. Bylaws Change #2requires one year of continuous membership in the Si-erra Club in order to run for the board. (Currently,members can file a petition to run for office on the sameday they become a member.) The board recommends a“yes” vote on the two bylaws changes.

Last year, shortly after the Club election cycleended, Fahn created the Sierra Election Reform TaskForce, chaired by long-time leader Susan Heitman, andincluding representatives from various groups within theClub. The task force recommendations led to the pro-posed bylaws changes.

In addition, the board adopted a new rule givingchapters the opportunity to endorse board candidatesand publish their endorsements in their newsletters andwebsites. (This is a one-year experiment.)

Two-thirds of the executive committee must vote

to endorse, and the statement of endorsement can onlybe one sentence: “The [name of chapter] recommendsa vote for [name(s) of candidates] in the upcoming elec-tion for the Sierra Club Board of Directors.” Chaptersand groups may take positions on ballot questions andpublish their recommendations in newsletters andwebsites as editorials. Other published material, such asletters to the editor or official statements by ballot ques-tion position coordinators, must be balanced for proand con views when published. Newsletters and websitescannot accept advertising promoting positions or can-didates.

Seven of the board candidates were selected by thenominating committee, an eight-member body that re-views aspiring candidates every year and puts forward aslate of candidates. Eight candidates are running as pe-tition candidates, which means that they have collectedsignatures supporting their candidacy from one-twenti-eth of 1 percent of members. (That’s 381 signatures forthis election.)

Overseeing the election to ensure fairness and re-solve disputes are three “inspectors of election” appointedby the board. Chief Inspector Marvin Baker, a retiredUniversity of Oklahoma geography professor and mem-ber since 1968, says that the board acted in response tocalls from grassroots leaders to involve the chapters in amore meaningful way in the election. “Our goal is tomake the elections as fair and participatory as possible,”he says.

Last year’s election controversy generated a spateof coverage in local and national newspapers, even a NewYork Times editorial. Due to the extensive publicity, moreClub members voted than ever before – 171,616 vot-ers, or 22.7 percent of Club members.

To find out more about the candidates and mea-sures, visit www.sierraclub.org/bod/2005election, whichwill include a candidates forum where candidates an-swer questions posted by members.

Club members should receive their ballots in themail by mid-March. Votes must be cast by noon easterndaylight time on April 25. To vote online, follow theinstructions in your printed ballot.

An independent company with long experience inconducting elections for national organizations willcount the ballots.

Here are the candidates for director:

Jim Bensman (petition candidate)Joni Bosh (nominating committee candidate)Gregory Bungo (petition candidate)Jim Catlin (nominating committee candidate)Jim Dodson (nominating committee candidate)Jim Dougherty (nominating committee candidate)Jennifer Ferenstein (nominating committee candidate)Richard Fiddler (petition candidate)Barbara Frank (nominating committee candidate)Christine Garcia (petition candidate)Alan Kuper (petition candidate)Jim McDonald (petition candidate)Chuck McGrady (nominating committee candidate)Robert Roy van de Hoek (petition candidate)Tony Ruckel (petition candidate) ■

National Elections for Sierra Club Board of Directors

Club Members to Consider 15 Candidates and Three Ballot MeasuresBallots Must Be Cast by Noon April 25

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Earth-Friendly Business?

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Maryland Chapter Leaders

On Friday, March 18, 2005, at2 p.m., the Sierra Club andWorldwatch Institute will presenttwo films highlighting how ourfood choices affect our planet andour health.

The bad news:Agribusiness is the number onedetriment to the planet, requiringmore energy, water and land thanany other industry.

The good news:We can roll back these effectsourselves by choosing to eat local,organic and low on the food chainevery time we sit down to a meal.

The films True Cost of Food and ThinkGlobally, Eat Locally will be followedby a discussion with Diana Artemis,Sierra Club Committee on Sustain-able Consumption; Maria Erades,Vice President and Senior Producer,Greentreks Network; Brian Halweil,Senior Researcher, WorldwatchInstitute, and author of Eat Here, andJonah Sachs, Principal, Free RangeGraphics.

Location:Charles Sumner School Museum andArchives on 1201 17th St., N.W.(nearest metro: Farragut North

For more information, visit:www.dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org

Food Featured inFilm Fest

March 18, Washington, D.C.The Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Clubcongratulates the three members of theExecutive Committee elected in January:Ellen Pepin, Jon Robinson, and MarcScott. Congratulations also go to BetsyJohnson and Jon Robinson, who will con-tinue to lead the Chapter as Chair andVice Chair, respectively.

EEEEExxxxxecutivecutivecutivecutivecutive Ce Ce Ce Ce CommitteeommitteeommitteeommitteeommitteeBetsy Johnson, Chair301-656-4948betsy.johnson@maryland.sierraclub.orgjon.robinson, Vice [email protected] Boone, At Large Del.,Conservation [email protected] DeGroot, At Large Del.,Forests [email protected] Pepin, At Large Del.,Membership [email protected] Scott, At Large Del.,[email protected] Bradley, Anne Arundel [email protected] Becker, Catoctin [email protected] Webb, Eastern Shore [email protected] Railey, Greater BaltimoreDel., Outings [email protected] Kruger, Howard [email protected]

Chapter LeadersGinny Barnes, Montgomery Del.301-762-6423 [email protected] Martin, Prince Georges [email protected] Bick, Southern MD [email protected] White, Western MD Del.,CAFO [email protected]

IIIIIssues Cssues Cssues Cssues Cssues ContactsontactsontactsontactsontactsDan Boone, Conservation [email protected] Garlow, Air and [email protected] Jones, Baltimore InnerCity Outings [email protected] Imlay, Biodiversity, InvasiveSpecies, and Habitat [email protected] Terry, Campaign FinanceReform [email protected] White, CAFO [email protected] DeGroot, Forests [email protected] Willey, Fundraising [email protected] Norling, Groundwater Chair410-734-7720

[email protected] Graham, Legislative [email protected] Railey, Outings [email protected] Luedtke, Political [email protected] Stennett, Population [email protected] Willey, Public Lands [email protected] Nash, Student SierraCoalition [email protected] Caflisch, [email protected] Merrifield, Water [email protected]

NNNNNon-Eon-Eon-Eon-Eon-Exxxxxcom Scom Scom Scom Scom SupporupporupporupporupportttttSherry Dixon, [email protected] Imlay, Chapter [email protected] Tewell, Newsletter [email protected] Andrews, [email protected]

OOOOOffice Addrffice Addrffice Addrffice Addrffice Addressessessessess7338 Baltimore Avenue #1ACollege Park, MD 20740Tel: 301-277-7111Fax: 301-277-6699


BaltimoreBaltimore City Recreation and ParksBecome an Urban Weed Warrior!Baltimore City Recreation and Parks hasstarted its own Urban Weed Warriors pro-gram. Weed warriors can come to any ofthe sessions listed below to learn aboutthe non-native invasive problem in Bal-timore City parks. Training will includeweed ID, removal techniques and nativealternatives to exotic flora. The trainingwill lead to certification as a weed war-rior, whereby volunteers can work on theirown to help control non-native invasivesin Baltimore City parks. There will alsobe information about organized weed-pull activities throughout the spring andsummer. Contact Janelle Burke, WeedWarrior Program Coordinator, [email protected] or 410-396-0359 for more information or direc-tions.Date: March 15, 2005Time: 4-6pmWhere: 3001 East Drive, in Druid HillPark. E-mail for detailed directions.Date: March 26, 2005Time: 10am-12noonWhere: The Conservatory in Druid HillParkDate: April 21, 2005Time: 5:30pm-7:30pmWhere: Herring Run Watershed Associa-tion, 3545 Bel Air Rd.Date: May 10, 2005Time: 5pm-7pmWhere: Carrie Murray Nature CenterDate: May 28, 2005Time: 10am-noonWhere: Leakin Park, Herb Festival trailoffice (admission fee for festival)

Invasive Removal Work DayGwynns FallsDate: March 19, 2005Time: 9am-12pmWhere: 4000 block of Clifton Avenue,near the Gwynns Falls Conservation Trail

sign. Email or call for directions. TheBaltimore City Office of Park Conserva-tion and Community Outreach has des-ignated this site a weed management area.Kudzu has taken over much of the sur-rounding vegetation. Come help to re-move this kudzu early in the season be-fore it takes over, and plant native treesand shrubs. Volunteers are encouragedto help out and rid our city park of the‘vine that ate the South’. Contact JanelleBurke at [email protected] 410-396-0359 for more informationor directions.

Caroline CountyAdkins ArboretumAdkins Arboretum onMaryland’s EasternShore is seeking vol-unteers to assist thestaff in the removal ofinvasive non-nativeson the Arboretum’s400-acre site. Volun-teers will be trained bythe Arboretum staff.

Workdays areWednesday from 1pmto 3pm. For more in-formation, contact Sylvan Kaufman at410 634-2847 ext. 13.

Charles CountyRuth Swann Park and Chapman ForestDates: First Sundays, monthlyTime: 10:00 am - 4:00 pmRemove invasive non-natives from the200-acre Swann Park and 800 acreChapman State Park. There will be timefor plant identification and a beautifulbeach lunch. Participating organizationsinclude MNPS and Sierra Club. To em-power ourselves, there are general meth-ods and species-specific methods such asbest season for species, wet soil conditionfor pulling, handouts, extent of area of

natives seen rescued, delayed gratification,targeted use of herbicides, and matchingfunds for staff to do what volunteers findhard to do.

Directions: Meet at the Ruth B. SwannPark-Potomac Branch Library parkinglot, 20 miles south of WashingtonBeltway (I-495) on Rt. 210 (Indian HeadHwy). Give yourself 30 to 40 minutesfrom the Beltway. Carpool Info: Meet atSierra Club Md. Chapter office at 9:00a.m.; return 5:00 p.m. Call Laurel Imlay

at 301-277-7111.Bring gloves, lunch,and water. Durablelong sleeves and pantsrecommended. Con-tact: Marc Imlay 301-283-0808. RSVP iswelcome.

Garrett CountySavage River StateForestBattling “BotanicalBullies” in the BearPen WildlandsVolunteers are neededto help control an in-festation of Japanese

spiraea in the Bear Pen Run area of Sav-age River State Forest. Bear Pen is desig-nated as a Type 1 Wildland according tothe Maryland Wildlands Act. Like othernatural areas around the state, Bear Penis threatened by a variety of exotic inva-sive species. However, Ed Thompson,Maryland Heritage and Wildlife Serviceecologist, recommended the removal ofSpiraea japonica from Bear Pen as a highpriority project. First introduced as anornamental in the late 1800’s, this peren-nial, deciduous shrub is still sold by manynursery centers. Dan Boone, Conserva-tion Chair for the Sierra Club’s MarylandChapter, describes the Japanese spiraea inBear Pen as a “mess”. It forms dense colo-

nies, displacing and reducing populationsof many native plants. Boone thinks thatthe timing on this removal projectcouldn’t be better.

We’ll try to reduce the infestationusing two mechanical control methods:cutting with loppers and pulling by handand/or four-prong spading forks. We’llcompare the effectiveness of both tech-niques. If neither works, we’ll consider achemical control method (pending ap-proval by Maryland DNR staff ). We’llbe working on Friday, April 15 and Fri-day, July 22 from 9 to 12. Mike Gre-gory, manager of the Savage River Com-plex, will provide free camping the nightbefore at New Germany State Park forout-of-town volunteers. We’ll providesnacks and drinks. Anyone interested inexploring the Bear Pen Wildlands withus following their volunteer work shouldpack a brown bag lunch. For more in-formation or to register, please contactRon Boyer or Liz McDowell at Elk RidgeNatureWorks, 301-895-3686 [email protected].

Howard CountyFort MeadeA partnership between the Departmentof the Army, the Maryland Native PlantSociety, the Maryland Chapter of the Si-erra Club, and volunteers.

Help remove Japanese stilt grass, Englishivy, garlic mustard, tree of heaven, multi-flora rose, crown vetch, Japanese honey-suckle, common privet, phragmites, Asi-atic tearthumb, etc. You will receive ashort training session from volunteersfrom the Maryland Chapter of the SierraClub or the Maryland Native Plant Soci-ety in the identification of, removal andcontrol techniques for non-native inva-sive plants. People of all ages, back-grounds and interests are invited to spenda day outdoors, hand-pulling some non-

Invasive SpeciesInvasive Species Removal and Habitat Restoration Events



What If I Hitan Animal?

native weed populations while learningabout the differences between native andnon-native plants and helping to preservethe health and native wildlife of the natu-ral areas located on a U.S. Army installa-tion.

Where and WhenFort Meade Army InstallationSecond Saturday of every month at 10:00a.m.Directions: Take Route 175 East from the295 Baltimore Washington Parkway. TakeLlewellyn Avenue South onto the instal-lation. A Ft. Meade representative willmeet you at guard station to escort youto work site.

Bring hand tools, gloves, lunch and wa-ter. Long sleeves and pants recommended.Contact Don Marquardt [email protected] or301-677-9185.

Middle Patuxent Environmental AreaConservation Stewardship Project at theMiddle Patuxent EnvironmentalArea(MPEA) and elsewhere in HowardCounty will be meeting on the fourthTuesdays of the month from 9:30am-noon. Each trip will have both an educa-tional component and a work compo-nent.

For information, directions or to reg-ister, contact Aylene Gard, 410-992-9889,or Robin Hessey, [email protected]. TheConservation Stewardship project is spon-sored by Howard County Recreation andParks and the Howard County Master Gar-deners.

Patapsco State ParkGarlic Mustard ChallengeThe next Garlic Mustard Challenge ison Sunday afternoon, May 1, in theAvalon Section of Patapsco State Park, offof Route 1. This is a fun family affair.We concentrate on removing the invasive

garlic mustard and teaching the dangersof invasive species to the park. Publicityincludes poster contests in local schools.

For information call Friends of thePatapsco Valley and Heritage Greenway,410-480-0824 .

Montgomery CountyBrookside GardensWeed Warriors are needed for the forestedareas surrounding the gardens. You willbe given directions so that you may workindependently, weekends or weekdays, onyour own schedule.

Contact: Stacy Parsons301-962-1417 [email protected]. Websites:www.BrooksideGardens.organd/or www.MC-MNCPPC.org/envi-r o n m e n t /w e e d _ w a r r i o r s /intro.shtm

Chevy Chase,Woodend SanctuaryThe Audubon Natu-ralist Society is seekingvolunteers to help re-move non-native plants from itsWoodend Sanctuary, in Chevy Chase,MD, every second Saturday of the monthbetween 9 a.m. and noon. Volunteers willbe trained by staff and/or experienced vol-unteers. Call 301-652-9188 x 30 for moreinformation or to sign up.

Montgomery County ParksWeed Warriors Wanted!The Maryland-National Capital Park andPlanning Commission’s (M-NCPPC)Forest Ecologist is assembling ateam of volunteers (Weed Warriors) tomonitor and remove non-native invasiveplant species in Montgomery CountyParks, and we need your help! As a Weed

Warrior volunteer, you will receive a shorttraining session from the forest ecologistin the identification of, removal and con-trol techniques for non-native invasiveplants. Weed Warriors can then work attheir own pace and choose a schedule thatbest suits them.

Many current Weed Warriors livenear a M-NCPPC Stream Valley Park orRegional Park and do their volunteerwork while walking their dogs or takingan occasional hike through their neigh-borhood park. Whether you choose to

work individually or ina group, your effortswill contribute to thecontrol of non-nativevegetation in the28,000 acres of Mont-gomery Countyparkland. Contact:Carole Bergmann, M-NCPPC Forest Ecolo-gist, at 301-949-2818for more info or to signup.

Sligo Creek ParkThe RIP Project inSligo Creek ParkFriends of Sligo Creek

expects to launch RIP, its Removing In-vasive Plants Project in April. RIP is anall-out effort to remove the invasive vinesand shrubs in Sligo Creek. We will gradu-ally build a corps of residents to come outfor regular organized events in each sec-tion of the park. We welcome anyone whowould like to take part in the fun! AllFriends of Sligo Creek plant removal ac-tivity is done under the auspices of theParks Department. For more informa-tion see www.fosc.org/RIPP.htm, or con-tact Sally Gagne, [email protected] 301-588-2071.

Prince George’s CountyGreenbelt Homes Inc Housing Coop-erative, GreenbeltThe Greenbelt Homes Inc. (GHI) hous-ing cooperative in Old Greenbelt has85.6acres of stewardship forest as well asother wooded parcels. The WoodlandsCommittee is actively involved with ur-ban forestry management. Regular worksessions for the removal/eradication ofnon-native invasive plant species arescheduled throughout the year. Alsoscheduled are bird counts and plant iden-tification seminars and field experience.The City of Greenbelt has passed, in prin-ciple, a forest ordinance for large parcelsof its woodlands. The City is establish-ing a committee to work out the man-agement details. For more information onGHI Woodlands Committee activities,contact Mary Kingsley [email protected]. Mary and herhusband, Roger, are also Sierra Clubmembers.

Greenbelt National Park, GreenbeltInvasive Plant Removal first Saturday ofeach monthLocated just 12 miles from WashingtonD.C., Greenbelt Park is a beloved retreatfrom the city and an important refuge fornative plants and animals. Come join usin defending Greenbelt Park from en-croachment by alien invasive plantgrowth. Volunteers will be hand pullingharmful non-native plants such as Japa-nese honeysuckle, beefsteak mint, mile-a-minute weed and garlic mustard. Peopleof all ages, backgrounds and interests areinvited to spend a fun day outdoors whilelearning about the differences betweennative and non-native plants and help-ing to preserve the health and native wild-life of this local natural area. Bring lunch,drink, appropriate clothing for weather.




Directions: From the Beltway, takeKenilworth Avenue south about 1/4 mileto Greenbelt Rd, MD 193 (Kenilworthgoes under 193). Stay to the right so youcan take MD 193 East (a left to go overKenilworth) for only a few hundred yardsto the park entrance. Follow the signs tothe Sweetgum picnic area. For any ques-tions and information about upcomingevents, contact Tom [email protected] or 301-864-1959 orKate Odell at [email protected]

St. Mary’s CountyMyrtle Point ParkDirections: From Washington, take Rt.4 south, crossing over the Patuxent Riverat Solomons. About two miles past thebridge, make a right onto Patuxent Blvd.Go about two miles to MyrtlePoint Park. Meet in the Park lot. For moreinfo, or to receive updates about work-days email or call Bob Boxwell, Execu-tive Director, Cove Point Natural Heri-tage Trust, P.O. Box 336, Lusby, MD20657, 410-394-1300, [email protected].

AAAAAnacnacnacnacnacostia ostia ostia ostia ostia WWWWWaaaaatttttershedershedershedershedershedSSSSSooooocietcietcietcietciety Ay Ay Ay Ay Assists ssists ssists ssists ssists WWWWWeedeedeedeedeedWWWWWarararararrrrrr iorsiorsiorsiorsiorsNon-native invasive species of plants suchas English Ivy, Japanese Stiltgrass andKudzu are covering the natural areas thatwe in the conservation movement haveworked so hard to protect from habitatdestruction, erosion and water pollution.Just as we are making progress on wet-lands, stream bank stabilization, and en-dangered species, these plants from otherparts of the world have covered 30-90%of the surface area of our forests, streamsand meadows. Many of us feel demoral-ized and powerless to combat these in-vaders that have few natural herbivoresor other controls.

The Anacostia Watershed Societyis establishing a program toprovide local friends groups andpublic and private landownerswith several models to drawupon in the Anacostia watershedand in the region.We are assisting in developing a majorwork effort (three to five years) at eachsite to remove massive populations ofabout a dozen species. Regular steward-ship projects are conducted in all seasonsincluding winter, early spring, late spring,summer, and late sum-mer. This high-inten-sity program is fol-lowed by a low-inten-sity annual mainte-nance program toeliminate plants wehave missed, plantsemerging from the seedbank, and occasionalplants migrating infrom neighboring ar-eas. Several ongoingprojects we are pres-ently assisting includeMagruder Park,Hyattsville, LowerBeaverdam Creek inCheverly, Little Paint Branch Park andCherry Hill Road Community Park inBeltsville.

Please contact Marc Imlay, PhD,Conservation biologist, Anacostia Water-shed Society (301-699-6204, 301-283-0808) for dates and times.

MMMMMaaaaay 7 is Ny 7 is Ny 7 is Ny 7 is Ny 7 is No Io Io Io Io Ivvvvvy Dy Dy Dy Dy Daaaaay 2005y 2005y 2005y 2005y 2005A De-vine Time to Save Our Trees

Portland, Oregon issues a challenge toweed-busters everywhereEnglish ivy is a green, viney villain hold-ing our trees hostage! On May 7, 2005,between 9 A.M. and 12 P.M. commu-

nity members will rise up against thispublic menace and fight back to restorehabitat health!

Hedera helix, the ivy species origi-nally used for landscaping, is infestingmore than 25,000 acres of parks andnatural spaces in the Portland metropoli-tan region and nearby areas. When leftunchecked, ivy shrouds trees, causingtheir premature death and the loss of for-est canopy. Ivy’s biological bullying willbackfire on No Ivy Day when Ivy Bust-ers strike a blow in the name of bio-di-

versity. Now in itsthird year, No Ivy Dayhas made great stridesinvolving the commu-nity in habitat recla-mation. In its first yearalone over 3,300 treeswere freed from ivy. In2004, 900 Ivy Busterscrashed ivy’s party ona total of 63 differentsites around the re-gion. Having heard ofour phenomenal suc-cess, people from theeast coast and BritishColumbia will trans-form No Ivy Day

2005 into a bicoastal, internationalpunch-out leaving ivy’s mat down for thecount! The Portland metro area will com-pete against all other combined sites tofree the most trees. In the end, our treeswill win!

Join the fight on No Ivy Day to stopthis threat to our natural beauty and en-vironmental quality. Together we are pull-ing for the future!

See www.NoIvyLeague.com formore information on the work party siteclosest to you. ■


(continued from page 19)Environmental Career

Program

Brookside Gardens VisitorsCenter

1800 Glenallan AvenueWheaton, Maryland

Wednesday, April 27,7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The Montgomery Group of theMaryland Chapter invites you tojoin us at our second Environmen-tal Careers program at the BrooksideGardens Visitors Center. The pro-gram will begin with a presentationby David Baron, attorney advocatefor Earthjustice, a non-profit publicinterest law firm dedicated to envi-ronmental protection. Other speak-ers will follow to give short reviewsof career options. A number of non-profits, universities and governmentagencies will be staffing tables to dis-seminate information and talk tohigh school and college students.

The Sierra Club encourages youngpeople to consider a career in an ex-citing, rewarding and increasinglyimportant field. Please inform yourchildren, grandchildren, friends,youth groups, churches and any edu-cators about this event….and bringthem!

For further information or to receive aflyer for the program, contactRon LaCoss 301-946-1106 [email protected]; B. J. Altschulat [email protected], orDawn Walker at [email protected].


Outings (March )

Sierra Club outings are open to everyone,and normally go, “rain or shine.” Reser-vations are not required, unless noted inthe announcement.

Each outing is intended to be awholesome, safe, and enjoyable experi-ence in the out of doors. For that to hap-pen, each participant must have the cloth-ing, equipment, and stamina suitable tothe event. Inexperienced/new partici-pants are encouraged to first join trips thatare rated “easy” or “moderate”, to evalu-ate their own individual suitability formore difficult adventures.

If you have questions about the ter-rain, the duration of the trip, or aboutrecommended clothing or equipment,please contact the outing leader.

Each outing participant should carryan adequate supply of food (lunch, snacksor more), a personal first aid kit, any per-sonal medications that may be neededduring the event, and at least one quartof water for every two hours that he orshe expects to participate in the event. Onhot days or on more strenuous outings,more water is likely to be needed.

Unless noted in the announcement,Club outings are intended for adults. Be-fore bringing a minor to an outing that isnot specifically designated for children,please consult the leader to determine ifit is appropriate.

Minors (under 18 years of age) mustbe accompanied by a parent or a legalguardian, or they must have both 1) asigned permission slip, and 2) the leader’sprior consent, to participate in the Clubouting.

All outdoor adventure activitiescarry some risk. Participants should beaware that Club outings are often toplaces where professional emergencymedical aid may be two or more hoursaway. All participants should consider theimplications of this fact. People withhealth concerns should consult their doc-tor to determine the advisability of par-ticipating in these activities.

Sierra Club outings normally beginand end at the trailhead, canoe put-in/take-out point, or some other similarstarting/ending point. Travel from theadvertised meeting place to the startingpoint and back, is the sole responsibilityof each participant. While the Club en-courages car-pooling, such arrangementsare strictly between the riders and thedrivers, and are not a part of the outing.Participants must assume full responsi-bility and liability for all risks associatedwith such travel.

All participants on Sierra Club out-ings are required to sign a standard liabil-ity waiver. If you would like to read thewaiver before you choose to participateon an outing, it is available on the SierraClub website, athttp://www.sierraclub.org/outings/chap-ter/forms/index.asp .

The following outings are plannedand managed by volunteers from theChapter’s local groups, and the Metro-politan Washington Regional OutingsProgram (MWROP). Each organizationis identified in the announcement by thefollowing abbreviation:

AA = Anne Arundel Co. Grp.CA = Catoctin GroupES = Eastern Shore GroupGB = Greater Balto. GroupHC = Howard Co. GroupMC = Montgomery Co. Grp.MW = M.W.R.O. ProgramPG = Pr. George’s Co. Grp.SM = Southern Md. GroupWM = Western Md. GroupSierra Club outings are free of

charge, unless specified in the announce-ment. However, the Club may ask for adonation to help defray the expenses as-sociated with the outingsprogram.

Take only pictures, leave only foot-prints, and have fun out there. ■

John Railey – Outings Coordinator410-752-0104 – [email protected]

MWROP’S HIKE RATING SYSTEMOne point is assigned to each mile & each 400 feet in elevation change(up and down) - the higher the points, the more difficult a hike. Forexample, a 5 mile hike with 1,200 feet of elevation change (400 feet upplus 800 ft. down), is given a total of 8 points and rated “B”; an 8 mile hikewith an elevation change of 3,600 feet is assigned a total of 17 points andrated “E”.

HIKE RATINGSRating Points Rating Points

A (Easy) 7 or less E (Moderate) 17 - 19

B (Easy) 8 - 10 F (Hard) 20 - 22

C (Moderate) 11 - 13 G (Hard) 23 - 25

D (Moderate) 14 - 16 H (Hard) more than 25

March

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 5 5 5 5 5GB – Moderate: North Point State Park/ Black Marsh WalkAbout 4 flat miles through woodlandsand marsh, and along the Patapscoshore, in what was the old “Bay ShoreAmusement Park”. As we walk, we willtalk about the history of the area, andthe wildlife that has resettled here.And, for those who want to add a littlemore to their outing, we will drive toFort Howard Park, after we havecompleted the North Point circuit andexplore this abandoned fortification.This outing is appropriate for children.Meet at the first parking lot, justbeyond the North Point entrancestation, at 11:00 AM. Nominal entrancefee.For more information, or directions, callJohn; 410-752-0104 (between 4 & 8PM).

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 5 5 5 5 5HC – Moderate: Catoctin National Park9 mile circuit hike along a trout streamand ridge top, to several rock outcropoverlooks. Bring lunch and water.Depart at 8:00 AM from the park & ridejust north of I-70 on Rt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected].

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 6 6 6 6 6HC – Easy: Oregon Ridge Pancake Hike5 mile hike, with some hills andstream crossings, optionally followedby pancakes. The park demonstratesthe boiling down of maple syrup, andhas a fundraising pancake breakfastfor $5.00. Depart at 8:30 AM from LongGate Parkway park & ride, off Rt. 100,just east of Rt. 29. Or meet us at thenature center at 9:15. Call Ken Clark,301-725-3306, [email protected].

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 12 12 12 12 12HC – Moderate: Middle Creek WildlifeManagement Area, PA.A 6 to 8 mile hike, observing snowgeese, swans and other waterfowl.


Bring binoculars, lunch, andwater. Depart at 8:00 AM fromLong Gate Parkway park &ride, off Rt. 100, east of Rt. 29.Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306,[email protected].

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 12 12 12 12 12GB – Moderate. YYYYYoungoungoungoungoungSSSSSierierierierierrrrrrans Gans Gans Gans Gans Grrrrroup Hikoup Hikoup Hikoup Hikoup Hike!e!e!e!e! The Group hosts socials andoutings for young people(‘20-30 somethings’) lookingto make in an impact on ourenvironment. During thismonthly outing we’ll do a 4-6mile hike different from the one wedid last month. Meet at 11:00 AM atthe parking area near the Forest GlenTrail in the Hilton Area of PatapscoState Park. We should finish by 4:00PM. Angela 410-783-0680.

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 13 13 13 13 13HC – Easy: Woodcock WalkA short walk starting around dusk, towitness the sky dance of woodcock inthe Middle Patuxent EnvironmentalArea in Columbia. Bring a flashlight.Limit of 15.Call for reservations, Sue Muller, 301-498-8462, [email protected].

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 19 19 19 19 19HC – Difficult: AT Shuttle / Mary’s Rock,VA.9 mile hike on the AT, crossing thethird highest peak in Shenandoah, thePinnacle. Lunch on Mary’s Rock. Departat 8:00 AM from the west lot of thepark & ride on Broken Land Parkway atRt. 32. Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, [email protected].

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 20 20 20 20 20HC – Easy: Rachel Carson ConservationPark.5-6 mile hike, looking for early springwildflowers. Bring lunch and water.Depart at 9:15 AM from the west lot of

April

Outings (March, April )

the park & ride on Broken LandParkway at Rt. 32.Call Sue Muller, 301-498-8462,[email protected].

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Ma ra ra ra ra r..... 26 26 26 26 26GB – Moderate: Gunpowder River HikeModerate 7 to 8 miles below PrettyboyDam. Expect some hills and a rockyarea. Meet at Mt. Carmel P&R at noon.Call Jack at 410-256-3963.

HC – Moderate: Annapolis Rock11 mile hike along the AppalachianTrail, from the historic WashingtonMonument State Park to AnnapolisRock and return. Meet at the Bagel Binoff Rt. 40 in the Enchanted ForestShopping Center, for an 8:30 AMdeparture.Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, [email protected]

MWROP – Difficult: Signal Knob onMassanutten Mountain, VA. 10-mile circuit hike with about 3,200ft elevation change. Exceptional viewsto west, north, and east. Meet at 8 AMat Vienna Metro station northentrance. Marcia Wolf 301/565-3165before 9 pm or [email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 2 2 2 2 2HC – Difficult: Rose River / Dark Hollow/ Lewis Springs Falls6 or 9 mile (your choice) figure-8circuit hike visiting two overlooks andseveral waterfalls.One steep climb out of Dark Hollow.Depart at 8:00 AM from the west lot ofthe park & ride on Broken LandParkway at Rt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

HC – Moderate: Project Clean Stream.Take part in this regional streamcleanup organized by Alliance for theChesapeake Bay and funded by theChesapeake Bay Trust. Clean a pondand the Little Patuxent River in Savage,9:00 to noon. Bring gloves. Call SueMuller for directions, 301-498-8462,[email protected]

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 3 3 3 3 3HC – Moderate: McKeldin area,Patapsco State Park4 mile hike along the Patapsco River,past McKeldin Falls. Bring lunch andwater.Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in theEnchanted Forest Shopping Center, fora 10:00 AM (change your clock!)departure. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, [email protected]

MWROP – Moderate: Rated B. RockCreek ParkExplore the beauty of Rock Creek Parkin “early Spring”. Meet next to theground level of the elevator at theCleveland Park Metro at 1PM (DaylightSavings Time). Bring water and a snack.Kids who can walk 7+ miles onrelatively level terrain are welcome.Leader: Jim Finucane 301/365-3485before 9pm

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 9 9 9 9 9GB – Moderate. Kelly Run and PinnacleHike7 to 8 miles with a good view of theSusquehanna River. Good chance ofseeing bald eagles. Will talk about theeagles decline and recovery in thisarea. Meet at K-Mart on Belair Road(Rt.1) just north of the Beltway Exit 32at 10:00 AM. Jack: 410-256-3963

GB – Moderate: Susquehanna StatePark Clean UpRSVP for April 16th Clean Up (seedescription)

HC – Strenuous: Overall Run, VA8.5 mile hike featuring wading poolsand Shenandoah’s tallest waterfall (90ft.). Footwear change suggested formultiple stream crossings. Bring lunchand water.Depart at 8:00 AM from the west lot ofthe park & ride on Broken LandParkway at Rt. 32. Contact MikeJuskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 10 10 10 10 10GB – Moderate: Wildflower HikeEnjoy the spring wildflowers along theGunpowder River. This is about 5 milesof moderate terrain with some hillsand stream crossings. Stronglikelihood of mud in the lowlands. Wewill talk about wildflowers, both nativeand exotic, and the impact ofdevelopment along riparian areas. Trailhas remains of mills and an old fortand dam. There will be a snack breakat Pot Rocks, an area of geologicalinterest. This trip is suitable for familieswith older children. Meet at theGunpowder Falls State Park parking lotat the Gunpowder River Bridge onBelair Road (about 10 minutes north ofthe beltway) at 9:00 AM. ALWAYS bringwater!Call Joyce at 410 254-7240.


Outings (April, May)

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 16 16 16 16 16HC – Moderate: Carderock Wildflowers8.5 mile hike on the C&O canaltowpath, and over rocky terrain by thePotomac River on the Billy Goat B andC trails. We will take a slow pace insome areas to identify and enjoy theprofusion of wildflowers. Bring lunchand water. Depart at 8:30 from thewest lot of the park & ride on BrokenLand Parkway at Rt. 32. Call Ken Clark,301-725-3306, [email protected].

GB – Moderate: Susquehanna StatePark Clean UpCelebrate Earth Day early by helpingto clean up a small, but important partof the earth. Susquehanna State Parkhas one of the best wildflower displaysin Maryland. However, due to theheavy use of Susquehanna State Parkin the spring a large amount of trashaccumulates. Most of the trashconsists of bottles and cans. Lunchand T-shirts will be provided for allvolunteers. Meet at the White MarshPark & Ride at 9:00 AM or meet atSusquehanna picnic area at 10:00 AM.White Marsh park and ride is locatedjust west of I95 next to Ikea and WhiteMarsh Mall. Susquehanna picnic area islocated about 15 miles north on I95.Take I95 and turn left on RT. 155 to 161

(right turn @ flashing lights) to RockRun Road and take a left on StaffordRoad. Picnic area on left before thebridge. RSVP by April 9. Wear oldclothing and bring gloves.Jack Wise: 410-256-3963

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-M.-M.-M.-M.-Mon.on.on.on.on. A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18 16-18HC – Moderate: North Fork Mountain,WV Car CampingCamping in Monongahela NationalForest, at modern Seneca Shadowscampground.Day 1: Set up camp and hike to SenecaRocks. Day 2: Moderate 10 mile shuttlehike to Chimney Rocks. Day 3: Breakcamp and head home. Reservationsrecommended.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 16 16 16 16 16MWROP – Moderate: NorthwestBranch Conservation HikeA leisurely 6-mi. walk through one themost beautiful stream valleys in theMetro area, with discussion of some ofthe conservation issues and potentialthreats (ICC) to this park. Leader: RonLaCoss, 301/946-1106 before 9pm [email protected]

May

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... A A A A Aprprprprpr..... 23 23 23 23 23GB – Moderate: Harford Glen.A 7-mile hike at a relaxed pace,looking at wildflowers and migratingsongbirds. We’ll hike around HarfordCounty’s Atkinson Reservoir. Mud islikely in spots. Bring lunch and water.Meet at 10:00 AM at Harford Glen (firstlot, on right, by pond) at the west endof Wheel Road. For details, call Betsy at410-569-5202.

HC – Strenuous: Harpers Ferry9 or 11 mile hike through 3 states, withspectacular overlooks of historicHarpers Ferry at the confluence of thePotomac and Shenandoah Rivers.Follow the C&O canal, walk throughtown, and ascend to Maryland Heights,Loudoun Heights, Split Rocks, andJefferson Rocks. Bring lunch and water.Meet at the Bagel Bin off Rt. 40 in theEnchanted Forest Shopping Center, foran 8:30 AM departure.Call Tim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, [email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-S.-S.-S.-S.-Sun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Apr 30-Mpr 30-Mpr 30-Mpr 30-Mpr 30-Maaaaay 1y 1y 1y 1y 1HC – Strenuous: Green Ridge Backpack4.5 mile backpack in and return onscenic Fifteen Mile Creek Trail. Campby beautiful Long Pond. Explore otherportions of Fifteen Mile Creek. Limit of10 participants.Contact Mike Juskelis to register, 410-439-4964, [email protected].

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Maaaaay 1y 1y 1y 1y 1GB – Moderate: Fundraising HikeGet out the winter kinks and help theclub to raise funds on this moderate 7mile hike. The trail rambles over rockyhills and streams in the GunpowderFalls Central area. We will talk aboutthe ecological impact of humanencroachment on wild areas and the

increasing necessity for buffers,corridors and greenways. We will havea brief snack break but no lunch asthere is an optional and reasonablypriced lunch stop afterwards at anearby inn overlooking the river. Onthis trip, the Greater Baltimore Group isrequesting a $10.00 donation (checksshould be made out to The SierraClub), to help defray administrativeexpenses (stationary, postage, first aidtraining, etc). As always, a donation isnot required to participate in Groupoutings.The outing meets at 9:00 AM, at theGunpowder Falls State Park parking lotat Gunpowder Falls bridge and BelairRoad. ALWAYS bring water. Call Joyceat 410 254-7240.

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Maaaaay 7y 7y 7y 7y 7AA – Moderate: Walk & Stretch at QuietWatersObserve and learn the beauty andpower of nature in land and water. 5+mile hike, mostly flat. Tai Chi stretchoverlooking South River - no Tai Chiexperience required. Meet 10:00 a.m.at Bay Ridge shopping plaza parkinglot across from park entrance.Call Young Lee-410 849-2720 (leavemessage) for information

GB – Moderate: Fair Hills/Big Elk CreekHike7 miles through forests and fields, andalong Big Elk Creek in the Fair HillsNRMA, near Elkton Md. This hike willvisit a covered bridge and several ruinsthat may date to colonial times. As weramble, we will talk about the historyand ecology of the area. NominalNRMA entrance fee. Depart the WhiteMarsh Park & Ride on Honeygo Blvd. at10:00 AM.Call John 410-752-0104 between 4and 8:00 PM.


Outings (May, June)

HC – Strenuous: Signal Knob, VA10.2 mile circuit hike with overlooks ofthe Shenandoah Valley. Trails areextremely rocky at times with a 1200-foot increase in elevation overapproximately 4 miles. Bring lunch andwater. Depart at 8:00 from the west lotof the park & ride on Broken LandParkway at Rt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Maaaaayyyyy..... 8 8 8 8 8HC – Moderate: Patapsco, Daniels Area7 mile hike along both sides of theriver, visiting ruins of the old mill town.Wade across the river or cross railroadbridge. Meet at 9:30 at the DanielsDam parking lot, on Daniels Rd. Bringlunch and water. Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306, [email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Maaaaay 14y 14y 14y 14y 14HC – Strenuous: Jeremy’s Run,Neighbor Mountain, VA13.5 mile circuit hike with 14stream crossings. Bring lunch andwater. Depart at 8:00 from thewest lot of the park & ride onBroken Land Parkway at Rt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, [email protected].

SSSSSaaaaat-St-St-St-St-Sun Mun Mun Mun Mun Maaaaay 14-15y 14-15y 14-15y 14-15y 14-15AA – Moderate: Canoe trip toDismal Swamp, N.C.For information and a reservation,call Liz Vanden Heuvel at 410-267-9009

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Maaaaay 15y 15y 15y 15y 15HC — Moderate: Gunpowder -Prettyboy Dam9 mile hike through Hereford area ofGunpowder Falls State Park, to thedam and back, following the river as ittumbles over granite boulders. Bringlunch and water. Depart at 8:30 fromLong Gate Parkway park & ride, off Rt.

100, just east of Rt. 29. Call Ron Arnold,410-767-0106.

FFFFFrrrrr i.-Si.-Si.-Si.-Si.-Sun.un.un.un.un. M M M M Maaaaayyyyy..... 20-22 20-22 20-22 20-22 20-22HC – Easy: Cape Henlopen Camping,DECamp under the full moon near thebeach at this Delaware state park.Various easy slow-paced walks,observing horseshoe crabs and birds.Sign up early to reserve a camp site.Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... M M M M Maaaaay 21y 21y 21y 21y 21HC – Moderate: Gunpowder, Sweet AirArea7 mile hike along the LittleGunpowder and Barley Pond. Bringlunch and water. Depart Columbia at9:30 from Long Gate Parkway park &ride, off Rt. 100, just east of Rt. 29.

Or call to meet at the trailhead. CallTim Ryan before 9:30 PM, 410-248-2974, [email protected]

WWWWWededededed..... M M M M Maaaaay 25y 25y 25y 25y 25GB – Easy: Gunpowder River SunsetHike.2 miles along the Gunpowder River.Meet at Gunpowder Parking Lot on

Belair Road (Rt.1) and the BigGunpowder River, just north of PerryHall at 7:00 PM.Jack: 410-256-3963.

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-M.-M.-M.-M.-Mon.on.on.on.on. M M M M Maaaaay 28-30y 28-30y 28-30y 28-30y 28-30HC – Strenuous: Canaan Mountain, WVBackpack22+ mile, 2 night, backpack throughthis under-utilized but beautiful partof the Monongahela NationaForestContact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964, [email protected]

June

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J June 4une 4une 4une 4une 4HC – Moderate: Mudhole Gap / BearWallow, VA10 mile circuit on some under-utilizedtrails on Massanutten Mt. Bring lunch

and water. Depart at 8:00 AMfrom the west lot of the park &ride on Broken Land Parkway atRt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J Jun.un.un.un.un. 4 4 4 4 4GB – Moderate: Soldiers DelightFive miles. Easy to moderatefigure-8 hike covering both theeast side and west side trails.Will discuss unique serpentinegeology and efforts to removeinvasive pines. Meet at VisitorCenter parking lot, off of DeerPark Road, at 1:00 PM.

Alan: 443-334-2190 (weekdays)

Sun. June 5Sun. June 5Sun. June 5Sun. June 5Sun. June 5HC – Moderate: Weverton Cliffs12 mile up and back hike along theAppalachian Trail from Gathland StatePark to Weverton Cliffs and return. Visitthe unique Ed Garvey Shelter andenjoy a sweeping view ofthe Potomac River valley. Bring lunch

and water. Depart at 8:30 AM from thepark & ride just north of I-70 on Rt. 32.Call Ron Arnold, 410-767-0106.

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J June 11une 11une 11une 11une 11HC – Moderate: Jug Bay, Patuxent RiverParkExplore this tidal marsh by canoe, thenhike a mile for a different perspective.Bring lunch and water. Depart at 8:30AM from the west lot of the park & rideat Rt. 32 and Broken Land Parkway.Sign up early to reserve a $15 canoe orkayak, or bring your own.Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-S.-S.-S.-S.-Sun.un.un.un.un. J J J J June 11-12une 11-12une 11-12une 11-12une 11-12HC – Moderate: Dolly Sods Backpack,WV14 mile Backpack with sweepingviews, vistas, streams and waterfalls.Will try to hike 7 miles each day.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

Sun. Jun. 12Sun. Jun. 12Sun. Jun. 12Sun. Jun. 12Sun. Jun. 12GB – Easy: Gunpowder Tubing TripTube the chilly Gunpowder for one ormore bridges. The river is not verydeep or wide but it is very cold. Climbup a slippery slope and walk back onthe NCR trail to warm up again. Bring atube or rent one at the trailhead. Wearplenty of sunscreen, old sneakers orwater shoes, and attach keys and othervaluables. We will talk about theimportance of adequate riparianbuffers and their role in erosioncontrol. You will see and feel thedynamics of flowing water, why andhow rivers can shift course over time.Meet at the north end of the DeercoRoad Park and Ride at 10:00 AM OR atMonkton Station on Monkton Road at10:30. Call Joyce at 410 254-7240.

TTTTThu / hu / hu / hu / hu / TTTTTuuuuu,,,,, J J J J Jun.un.un.un.un. 16 – 21 16 – 21 16 – 21 16 – 21 16 – 21AA – Moderate: Patuxent Sojourn


Outings (June, July, August)

July

Sojourners will travel down thePatuxent River, over a five-day period,from Jun. 16th through the 21st. Thetrip will follow the river from the 4HCenter near Central Avenue toBenedict. The theme will be 10,000Years of History on the Patuxent, withthe possibility of participating in somearchaeology. Children, youth, studentsand families are especially welcome!You may come for a day or two or theentire trip. Kayaks, canoes and non-motorized boats are welcomeCall Liz at 410-267-9009 for moreinformation.

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J June 25une 25une 25une 25une 25HC – Moderate: Hosack Run, MichauxForest, PA7.5 mile circuit hike featuring toweringhemlocks and mountain streamsbordered by rhododendron. Includesparts of Locust Gap Trail and theQuarry Gap portion of AppalachianTrail, 800 ft. elevation change. Bringlunch and water. Depart at 8:30 AMfrom the park & ride just north of I-70on Rt. 32. Call Ron Arnold, 410-767-0106.

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-M.-M.-M.-M.-Mon.on.on.on.on. J J J J June 25-27une 25-27une 25-27une 25-27une 25-27HC – Moderate: Rohrbaugh PlainsCamping, MNF, WVCamp at modern Seneca Shadowswith all facilities. Day 1: Set up campand hike to the top of Seneca Rocks.Day 2: Moderate 10 mile shuttle hike inDolly Sods featuring spectacular views,waterfalls and a few challenging creekcrossings. Day 3: Break camp and headhome. Reservations recommended.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected].

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J June 25une 25une 25une 25une 25GB – Easy: Gunpowder Tubing Trip.Bring a tube or rent one, wear oldshoes or water shoes and have a wayto keep keys from falling out of yourpocket. Water can sometimes be very

cold. Meet at Monkton Station at l:00PM. Jack: 410-256-3963

Sun. June 26Sun. June 26Sun. June 26Sun. June 26Sun. June 26HC – Easy: Flag Ponds Nature Park4 mile hike down to the beach on theChesapeake Bay, where we will huntfor shark teeth and other fossilseroded from Calvert Cliffs. Optionaltrip to Solomons for a restaurant lunch,then visit the Maritime Museum. Orbring lunch to eat on the beach.Depart at 8:00 AM from the west lot ofthe park & ride on Broken LandParkway at Rt. 32.Call Ken Clark, 301-725-3306,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J July 2uly 2uly 2uly 2uly 2HC – Strenuous: Pond Run / RacerCamp Hollow, VA/WV9 mile circuit hike with multiple streamcrossings and a visit to White Rocksvista. Bring lunch and water. Depart at8:00 from the west lot of the park &ride on Broken Land Parkway at Rt. 32.Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected].

GB – Easy: Gunpowder Tubing Trip.Bring a tube or rent one, wear oldshoes or water shoes and have a wayto keep keys from falling out of yourpocket. Water can sometimes be verycold. Meet at Monkton Station at l:00PM.Jack: 410-256-3963

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-M.-M.-M.-M.-Mon.on.on.on.on. J J J J July 9-11uly 9-11uly 9-11uly 9-11uly 9-11HC – Strenuous: Otter CreekWilderness Backpack, MNF, WV14+ mile backpack with several widestream crossings. Camp near beautifulwaterfalls and swimming holes. Limitof 10 participants.

Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

Sun. July 10Sun. July 10Sun. July 10Sun. July 10Sun. July 10 GB – Easy: GunpowderTubing TripTube the chillyGunpowder for one ormore bridges. The river isnot very deep or wide butit is very cold. Climb up aslippery slope and walkback on the NCR trail towarm up again. Bring atube or rent one at thetrailhead. Wear plenty ofsunscreen, old sneakers or water shoes,and attach keys and other valuables.We will talk about the importance ofadequate riparian buffers and theirrole in erosion control. You will see andfeel the dynamics of flowing water,why and how rivers can shift courseover time. Meet at the north end ofthe Deerco Road Park and Ride at10:00 AM Or at Monkton Station onMonkton Road at 10:30. Call Joyce at410 254-7240

TTTTThuhuhuhuhu.-S.-S.-S.-S.-Sun.un.un.un.un. J J J J July 21-24uly 21-24uly 21-24uly 21-24uly 21-24HC – Moderate: Tea Creek BackCountry Car Camping, MNF, WVPrimitive car camping at the junctionof the Williams River and Tea Creek.Hike 2 moderate 10 mile circuits withbeautiful streams and at least onevista. Chose one or both!Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt..... J J J J July 23uly 23uly 23uly 23uly 23GB –Easy: Daniels Trail6 mile out-and-back hike along thesouth side of the Patapsco River, withone climb to the top of the ridge. Willexamine remnants of the B&O railroadtrack and visit the Davis Tunnel. Maybe some muddy spots. Meet at thetrailhead by the small lot near the end

August

of Daniels Road, at 1:00 PM. Additionalparking is around the corner by thedam. Alan: 443-334-2190 (weekdays)

FFFFFrrrrr i.-Si.-Si.-Si.-Si.-Sun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Augugugugug..... 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7 5-7HC – Strenuous: North River Gorge CarCamping, GWNF, VAPrimitive car camping along the NewRiver. Strenuous 10 mile circuit hikefeaturing wooded paths and over 10challenging crossings of this beautifultrout stream (degree of difficultydepends on water level). Contact MikeJuskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Augugugugug..... 14 14 14 14 14GB – Easy: Gunpowder Tubing TripTube the chilly Gunpowder for one ormore bridges. The river is not verydeep or wide but it is very cold. Climbup a slippery slope and walk back onthe NCR trail to warm up again. Bring atube or rent one at the trailhead. Wearplenty of sunscreen, old sneakers orwater shoes, and attach keys and othervaluables. We will talk about theimportance of adequate riparianbuffers and their role in erosion


Outings (Aug., Sep.) BICO Outings

control. You will see and feel thedynamics of flowing water, why andhow rivers can shift course over time.Meet at the north end of the DeercoRoad Park and Ride at 10:00 AM OR atMonkton Station on Monkton Road at10:30. Call Joyce at 410 254-7240.

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-S.-S.-S.-S.-Sun.un.un.un.un. A A A A Augugugugug..... 20-21 20-21 20-21 20-21 20-21HC – Strenuous: Ramsey’s DraftBackpack, GWNF, VA14+ mile backpack with several streamcrossings (challenging if the water ishigh). Visit some of the oldest, mostmajestic hemlocks before they are nomore!Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected]

SSSSSaaaaattttt.-M.-M.-M.-M.-Mon.on.on.on.on. S S S S Sepepepepep..... 3-5 3-5 3-5 3-5 3-5HC — Strenuous: Roaring Plains/Hidden Passage/Canyon Rim Backpack13+ miles with packs plus an optionalside trip w/o packs along Long RunCanyon. Night #2 may be dry. Loads offantastic views!Contact Mike Juskelis, 410-439-4964,[email protected].

September

Sierra Club Inner City Outings is a community outreachprogram providing opportunities for urban youth andadults to explore, enjoy and protect the natural world.

BICBICBICBICBICO O O O O TTTTTeams:eams:eams:eams:eams:Choice = the UMBC Shriver Center’s Choice programDHH = Digital Harbor High SchoolLI = Learning, Inc.CG CC = College Gardens

For additional information on BICO (Baltimore Inner City Outings),see www.sierraclub.org/ico/baltimore. Call Walter Jones at 443-394-8192., or by e-mail at [email protected] for information onrain delays.

MARMARMARMARMARCHCHCHCHCHSSSSSaaaaat 5t 5t 5t 5t 5Migratory bird search ChoiceMaple sugaring & hike at Cunningham Falls State Park LIMMMMMon 7on 7on 7on 7on 7BICO Meeting AllSSSSSaaaaat 12t 12t 12t 12t 12tba CGCCSSSSSaaaaat 26t 26t 26t 26t 26Hike: tba DHH

APRILAPRILAPRILAPRILAPRILSSSSSaaaaat 2t 2t 2t 2t 2Canoeing on Potomac River LIProject Clean Stream (Norway Maple clearing) with theJones Falls Watershed Association ChoiceSSSSSaaaaat 16t 16t 16t 16t 16CBF’s Clagett Farm Study Center CGCC

MAMAMAMAMAYYYYYSSSSSaaaaat 14t 14t 14t 14t 14Backpacking on C&O Canal (tentative) LISSSSSaaaaat 21t 21t 21t 21t 21Hiking at Great Falls Choice

BICO Outings

Stream Monitoring Will Resume in the Spring

Volunteers have been monitoringstreams in Washington, Frederick andCarroll counties for years. TheCatoctin Group is working with otherorganizations in the region to putthe data to use improving the quality

of local and regional waterways.Monitoring will resume in the spring,and training is required. For moreinformation, please contact Marcia

Watters at [email protected] or301-790-3808.


Elaine Friebele’s article on box turtles inthe winter issue was extremely interest-ing. I am fortunate to find box turtleswandering about my property in westernHoward County fairly frequently, and afew years ago I decided to investigate howmany individuals were responsible forthese frequent sightings. I found thatadult individuals could be recognized bythe distinctive patterns on their shells. Itwas easiest to look at just the plate on thefront of the shell, just above the head: ex-amples from five turtles are shown here.By taking a digital picture of this plateon each turtle, I have been able to iden-tify 14 individuals, some of which havereturned several times in the four yearssince I started, others of which have beenseen only once.

I’m happy to say that I have alsofound young turtles on my property,some scarcely larger than a 25-cent coin,others about half the size of an adult.These young turtles do not yet have thedistinctive markings of the adults. How-ever, on the adults which have returnedafter several years, the markings haveshown absolutely no change.

So, if you are lucky enough to havethese animals on your property, take pic-tures of each one and later you will knowif an old friend has reappeared.

—Bob Schaefer

Box Turtle Watching

Photos of box turtle shells courtesy of Bob Schaefer

If you wish the Environmental Film Fes-tival in Washington D.C. were closer tohome, please join the Sierra ClubCatoctin Group as we present and dis-cuss four films in Washington, Frederickand Carroll counties in March, April andMay.

The films explore population issuesand the “growth is good” myth; the ef-fects of global warming on the Chesa-peake region and possible solutions forhalting or reversing climate change; oneman’s journey of turning his family’s farmaway from herbicides and pesticides intoa model organic farm; and the Gwich’inpeoples’ struggle to save the Arctic Na-tional Wildlife Refuge, their home forcenturies and “the place where life began,”from oil exploration.

March 3, 7 p.m.Westminster library, Carroll County: InGrowth We Trust, with a discussion ledby author and producer Edwin Stennett,president of Growth Education Move-ment, Inc.

March 10, 7 p.m.Hood College, Marx Center, FrederickCounty: We Are All Smith Islanders, witha discussion involving author and film-maker Mike Tidwell, founder and direc-tor of the Chesapeake Climate ActionNetwork.

March 17, 7 p.m.Hagerstown Community College, Class-room 111, Washington County: MyFather’s Garden, with a discussion led bylocal farmer, environmental lawyer andSierra Club Catoctin Group activistMarcia Watters, who will be joined byother members of the farming commu-nity.

April 7, 7 p.m.Westminster library, Carroll County: WeAre All Smith Islanders, with a discus-

sion involving author and filmmakerMike Tidwell, founder and director of theChesapeake Climate Action Network.

April 14, 7 p.m.Hood College, Marx Center, FrederickCounty: Oil on Ice, with a discussionabout national energy policy, the nation-wide debate on drilling for oil in one ofAmerica’s last great wild places and theSierra Club’s position on these issues.

April 21, 7 p.m.Hagerstown Community College, Class-room 111, Washington County: We AreAll Smith Islanders, with a discussion in-volving author and filmmaker MikeTidwell, founder and director of theChesapeake Climate Action Network.

May 5, 7 p.m.Westminster library, Carroll County: Oilon Ice, with a discussion about nationalenergy policy, the nationwide debate ondrilling for oil in one of America’s lastgreat wild places and the Sierra Club’sposition on these issues.

The Westminster library is located at 50 E.Main St. in Westminster. For more infor-mation about films being shown at this lo-cation or directions, please contact GregorBecker at [email protected] or 410-876-2182.

The Marx Center is located on the HoodCollege campus in Frederick. For more in-formation about the films being shown atthis location or directions, please contactKen Eidel at [email protected] or 301-696-5933.

Hagerstown Community College is locatedat 11400 Robinwood Drive. For more in-formation about films being shown at thislocation or directions, please contact An-drea Norouzi at [email protected] 301-834-7581. ■

Sierra Club Catoctin Group Announces Spring Film Series

Letter to the EditorCatoctin Film Festival


The Chesapeake is published quarterly by the Maryland Chap-ter of the Sierra Club. Annual Sierra Club membership dues payfor subscription to this publication. Non-members may sub-scribe for $20.00 per year.

The opinions expressed in this newsletter are in general alignedwith those of the environmental community in Maryland butare strictly those of the authors and not necessarily officialpolicy of local, state or national Sierra Club entities. The SierraClub prides itself on being a grassroots volunteer organization.The concerns and opinions of all its members are welcome inthese pages.

Items for publication are best submitted by email to<[email protected]>or <[email protected]> with “For Chesapeake” andtitle in subject line. Items must include the author’s addressand telephone numbers. Material may be edited for length, con-tent or clarity at the discretion of the editor. Photographs, illus-trations and other works of art are welcome. Materials cannotbe returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self addressedenvelope.

Change of address: send address changes to the Sierra Club, 85Second Street (2nd Floor), San Francisco, California 94705-3441.For fastest service, please include your old and new addressesalong with your 8-digit membership number. For local mem-bership information contact the Maryland Chapter Office 301-277-7111 or write: Maryland Chapter/Sierra Club, 7338 BaltimoreAve (Suite 101A), College Park, MD 20740.

Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and in-formation, contact:Editor, The ChesapeakeSierra Club Maryland Chapter7338 Baltimore Ave, Suite 101College Park, MD 20740

Credits Action Items

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The Maryland Chapter wishes to thankthose who contributed to this issue ofthe Chesapeake:

Writers and Contributors: CharlieGarlow, Betsy Johnson, Bob DeGroot,Steve Caflisch, Cliff Terry, Ed StennettMike Tidwell, Annie Rehill, Kim Stenley,Bob SchaeferEditors: Janis Oppelt, Annie Rehill, EdStennett, Laurel Imlay, Betsy Johnson,Dan Boone, Darla TewellHabitat Preservation Outings Editor:Marc ImlayOutings Editor: John RaileyLayout and Typography: Darla Tewell

Maryland Chapter of the Sierra Club Spring 2005

CCCCClean Clean Clean Clean Clean Cars Bars Bars Bars Bars Bill ,ill ,ill ,ill ,ill , F F F F Four Pour Pour Pour Pour Pollutanollutanollutanollutanollutants Bts Bts Bts Bts Bill ,ill ,ill ,ill ,ill ,FFFFForororororest Pest Pest Pest Pest Prrrrreseresereseresereservvvvvaaaaation Btion Btion Btion Btion Billsillsillsillsills,,,,, C C C C CampaignampaignampaignampaignampaignFFFFFinancinancinancinancinance Re Re Re Re Refefefefeforororororm Bm Bm Bm Bm Bill. . .Gill. . .Gill. . .Gill. . .Gill. . .Gooooooooood rd rd rd rd reasons teasons teasons teasons teasons tooooowrwrwrwrwrititititite or ce or ce or ce or ce or call yall yall yall yall your legislaour legislaour legislaour legislaour legislatttttorsorsorsorsors,,,,, and some and some and some and some and sometips ftips ftips ftips ftips for doing it effor doing it effor doing it effor doing it effor doing it effececececectivtivtivtivtivelyelyelyelyelyTTTTThe IChe IChe IChe IChe ICC:C:C:C:C: I I I I Ittttt ’’’’’s the wrs the wrs the wrs the wrs the wrong solution tong solution tong solution tong solution tong solution toooooMMMMMononononontttttgomergomergomergomergomeryyyyy ’’’’’s trs trs trs trs transpanspanspanspanspororororortatatatatation wtion wtion wtion wtion woooooeseseseses,,,,,and it will affand it will affand it will affand it will affand it will affececececect all of Mt all of Mt all of Mt all of Mt all of MarararararylandylandylandylandylandWWWWWind Pind Pind Pind Pind Pooooowwwwwererererer..... I I I I Ittttt ’’’’’s clean;s clean;s clean;s clean;s clean; wh wh wh wh why is ity is ity is ity is ity is itcccccononononontrtrtrtrtrooooovvvvversial?ersial?ersial?ersial?ersial?EEEEEvvvvvenenenenentststststs,,,,, outings outings outings outings outings,,,,, and mor and mor and mor and mor and moreeeee

Now:Call, write, or e-mail your delegates to urgetheir support for the Chapter-supported bills.The legislative session ends April 11.Call now!

By noon April 25:Vote in the Sierra Club national election

Anytime:maryland.sierraclub.org/action

cleaner air, cleaner cars, and other green legislation ......the permitting of a wind plant proposed...

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