Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 2011 Lucian - Sierra Club · Morro Bay/Cayucos sewer project is still on the road to failure In November 2010, the Morro Bay ... The answer is hinted at

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 20111

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The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, California

Protecting and

Preserving the

Central Coast

SantaLucian

IIIII n s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d e Stop Keystone XL 4

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Nov./Dec. 2011Volume 48 No. 10

Santa LucianSanta Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club

P. O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

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PAIDPERMIT NO. 84

SAN LUIS OBISPOCA 93401

Morro Bay Digs Deeper Hole

The time is now for National Marine Sanctuary protection for the Central Coast

One high-paid consultant and “alternative site study” later, theMorro Bay/Cayucos sewer project is still on the road to failure

In November 2010, the Morro BayCity Council overrode the judgmentof the city planning commission andthe pointed critiques of dozens ofcitizens, several environmentalgroups, the County Public WorksDepartment and the Regional WaterQuality Control Board, and approveda woefully deficient plan for the newMorro Bay/Cayucos wastewatertreatment plant. (See “A Tale of TwoSewers,” January.) The citizens of Cayucos and MorroBay were promptly handed thepredicted result: an epic fail. (See“Morro Bay and Cayucos Will Have toDo Better,” April.)  The most expen-sive public works project in thehistory of either community wasimmediately dismissed by TheCalifornia Coastal Commission andreturned to Mayor Bill Yates & co. fora complete re-do. A Commission staff report spelledout in detail what the communitieshad to do to gain a Coastal Develop-ment Permit. The primary problem:an alternatives analysis that didn’t somuch analyze alternatives as it said,in effect, “yeah, we looked at some

other places, but this is the one wewant — right where the current plantis, with an outfall pipe to dump thesewage into the ocean.” Morro Bay and Cayucos staffregrouped. By late June, trouble wasobviously looming when they held aseries of public workshops on the newDraft Rough Screening AlternativesSites Evaluation. In our comments,the Sierra Club said “We are con-cerned that the City and the [CayucosSanitary] District may again bepreparing an overly narrow alterna-tives analysis, essentially repeatingthe fatal flaw identified by the CoastalCommission.” Specifically, the draftappeared to be “ignoring the require-ment to include an evaluation ofalternative designs and technologiesas well as alternative sites, despitedirectives from the Commission andstaff.” Those directives included the needto “coequally evaluate against thesame evaluation criteria...alternativedesigns that incorporate the technol-ogy and infrastructure necessary to

MORRO BAY continued on page 10

The Road to Sanctuary

Putting theCart Beforethe CowWill the Dept. of Fishand Game ever get itright on the Carrizo?

87 miles to the left, please The current boundary of the Monterey Bay NationalMarine Sanctuary stops off Cambria’s Fiscalini Ranch. Let’s move it to Point Conception.

SANCTUARY continued on page 5

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COWS continued on page 5

In 1972, exactly one hundred yearsafter the first national park was cre-ated, the nation made a similar com-mitment to preserving its marinetreasures by establishing the NationalMarine Sanctuary Program. Sincethen, thirteen national marine sanc-tuaries and one marine nationalmonument, representing a wide vari-ety of ocean environments, have beenestablished. Many of our members are awarethat a bill that would have createed aCentral Coast National Marine Sanc-tuary was before Congress in 1991.Another bill creating the MontereyBay National Marine Sanctuarypassed; the Central Coast bill failed. Ever since then, coastal activistshave been trying to correct that over-sight, which essentially made the Cen-tral Coast the doughnut hole inCalifornia’s National Marine Sanctuar-ies. Four Sanctuaries protect coastalareas between the Marin Headlands and Hearst Ranch in Cambria, and

the Channel Islands off Santa Bar-bara. But nowhere in between. At this year’s annual summit meet-ing of the National Marine SanctuaryAdvisory Councils, representing all ofAmerica’s National Marine Sanctuar-ies, there was an item on the agenda

titled “Sanctuary Designation andExpansion.” Council chairs and repre-sentatives urged the Office of NationalMarine Sanctuaries “to work withpartners, communities, etc. to iden-tify and evaluate potential new sanc-

When Los Padres ForestWatch andthe Sierra Club successfully sued theCalifornia Department of Fish andGame to prevent the destruction ofthe Carrizo Plains Ecological Reserveby rampant, mismanaged cattlegrazing (“Reserve or Feedlot?,” Nov./Dec. 2009; “Lawsuit Halts Grazing inCarrizo Reserve,” February 2011), theDepartment agreed to terminate thegrazer’s lease and prepare a long-delayed land use management plan toassure that such harms would neveragain be inflicted on this land en-trusted to their care.

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Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

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Santa Lucian

EDITOR

Melody DeMerittThomas A. CyrSteven MarxEDITORIAL BOARD

The Santa Lucian is published 10 times ayear. Articles, environmental information andletters to the editor are welcome. Thedeadline for each issue is the 11th of theprior month.

send to:

Editor, Santa Lucianc/o Santa Lucia Chapter, Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.

[email protected]

Santa Lucia Chapter

2011 Executive CommitteeMelody DeMeritt CHAIRSteven Marx TREASURER

Cal French MEMBERGreg McMillan VICE CHAIRPat Veesart MEMBERJono Kinkade MEMBERLinda Seeley SECRETARY

Cal French COUNCIL OF CLUB LEADERS

Committee ChairsPolitical Chuck TribbeyConservation vacantMembership Cal FrenchLitigation Andy Greensfelder

Nuclear Power Task Force Rochelle Becker

Other Leaders

Open Space Gary Felsman 805-473-3694Calendar Sales Bonnie Walters 805-543-7051Chapter History John Ashbaugh 805-541-6430

Activities

Outings Joe Morris [email protected]/Kayak open

Webmaster Monica Tarzier [email protected]

Chapter Director Andrew Christie 805-543-8717 [email protected]

[email protected]

Andrew [email protected]

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Printed by University Graphic Systems

Office hours Monday-Friday,12 p.m.- 5 p.m., 974 Santa RosaStreet, San Luis Obispo

The Executive Committee meetsthe fourth Friday of every monthat 5:30 p.m. at the chapter office,located at 974 Santa Rosa St.,San Luis Obispo. All membersare welcome to attend.

Coordinator Kim Ramos, Admin and Development [email protected]

Assistant Coordinators Marie Clifford - correspondence Yvonne Yip - events & social networking

Santa Lucia ChapterP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

Denny MynattPRINT MEDIA COORDINATOR

In Memoriam

We gratefully acknowledge receipt of donations

from Denise Fouri, Jesse Arnold, and Mary and

Jerry Lodge in memory of Karl Krupp.

Lessons Learned from the Tortoise

by Kathryn Phillips, Director, Sierra Club California

I’ve been thinking a lot about theendangered California deserttortoises and wondering whatlessons they might reveal. Thesevery private creatures have beenmaking news lately even thoughtheir natural approach to attentionis more in tune with Greta Garbo’s. First there was the revelationthat construction of the Ivanpahlarge-scale solar plant proposed inthe Mojave Desert would wipe outnearly 550 juvenile tortoises. Thenthere was Governor Brown’s wink-wink quip to a Fresno audience

that, by siding with large-scale solar development, he planned to take care ofthe tortoise. “We’re going to give it a lot of shade,” Brown said, according topress reports. California desert tortoises have managed to adapt to some of the most brutalsummer conditions on the continent and survive as a species for eons. Humanactivities ranging from off-road vehicles to mining and development havecarved away their quiet home and their numbers have dwindled. Large-scalesolar development, and a governor who seems bent on crushing environmentalreview, are just their latest challenges. How, I wonder, do these terrapins manage to persist? The answer is hinted at in Aesop’s fables and is something that could helpCalifornia environmentalists who are wondering how to recover from the lastfew months of the legislative session this year. We advanced some modest butimportant bills that included a shark fin ban, funding to keep oil spill preven-tion programs going, and a step toward more reliable funding for publictransit, among others. But we had to tangle with the Governor’s staff andDemocratic legislative leadership to protect Californians’ rights under theCalifornia Environmental Quality Act, and we lost some ground. If it seems tempting to give up on the legislative process—and let’s face it, itoften does—then consider the keys to the tortoise’s persistence: The tortoise isan incrementalist, slow, steady and persistent in its march. Its moves arestrategic. It remains undistracted by flashy competitors who might takeadvantage of some temporary turn of events (e.g. a down economy) to getahead. It knows what it must do and it keeps doing it until a window of oppor-tunity opens up. In the end, it will win the race. Now and when the legislature returns in January, we environmentallycommitted Californians need to keep pressing for policies that give us cleanerair, healthier waters, protected forests, and livable cities. Recommit to beingstrategic and persistent. Most of all, we can’t allow ourselves to be dissuadedfrom our commitment by false claims that environmental progress and healthprotections hurt the economy. To the contrary, environmental protectionsbring more prosperity to the state. After all, everybody wants a clean environ-ment, even the hares. 

Bimonthly General Meeting: “Earth’s First Billion Years!” 

Cal Poly geology professorDr. Scott ohnston describesthe violent transformationof our planet from a moltenmass to one with oceansand the first life,and then how the moon’scollision 4.5 billion yearsago changed a helluva lot. Come and view slidesof Scott’s pioneeringfieldwork in East Greenlandand hold one of the 3.5billion-year old rockfragments he brought back. 

General MeetingWednesday, November 16, 7-9 p.m.

Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St., SLO.  Info: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 20113

Thank the Partyof No Right: theenvironmentalconsequences ofmercury pollution.Below: a victim ofindustrial mercurypoisoning, Japan,1956.

North County Watch and CarrizoCommons have reached settlementagreements with Topaz Solar Farmand California Valley Solar Ranch. As a result, when the permits forboth solar projects expire severaldecades hence, tens of thousands ofacres of land will be permanentlyprotected for the numerous specialspecies found only here. But much ofthat land will have to be restored tocreate suitable native habitat. An important aspect of bothsettlements is a provision for re-sources for “Visioning the Carrizo.”The solar companies have committedmoney and in-kind resources for thisprocess. This process will answer questionssuch as what does a Carrizo nativegrassland look like? The vernal pools,the natural watercourses? How willthe native plants re-inhabit the land? The Carrizo is the last intact

The birds have vanished into the sky,And now the last cloud drains away.We sit together, the mountain and me,Until only the mountain remains.                 Li Po, 701-162.

Translated from the Chinese by Sam Hamill

By Sue Harvey, President, North County Watch

The Last, Best Hope for the CarrizoWe need a vision

remnant of the formerly vast SanJoaquin Valley grasslands. Accordingto The Nature Conservancy, it sup-ports the highest concentration ofthreatened and endangered species inthe continental United States. It is animportant wildlife corridor connect-ing species in the Panoche Valley,west Kern and western San LuisObispo. Indigenous peoples have inhabitedthe Carrizo for perhaps 10,000 years.Farming and ranching have domi-nated its history for the last twocenturies. The establishment of theNational Monument was integral torestoration of the Carrizo Plain. In his1910 book, The Painted Rock, MyronAngel described the Carrizo:

Through the eastern part of thecounty of San Luis Obispostretches the Carrisa Plain…The Plain is a basin, a thousand

feet or more above the level ofthe sea, with drainage to thecenter, where a shallow lake isformed, in seasons of excessiverains, which is bed of salt andsoda when dry, as is usual insuch formations. The Carrisais a grassy plain, formerlyabounding in wild horses, elk,deer, and antelope in countlessnumbers, and myriads ofmigratory birds of the arctic intheir season, feeding upon itsherbage. In the bordering hillsare ever-running rivulets ofpurest water, and a sparsegrowth of trees….

Making a 2011 Donation?Thanks!...but do not wait until Christmas

Please think about including your Sierra Club chapter in your holiday giving.And when you do, there are two imporant things to keep in mind when you do:

1) Donations to the Sierra Club are not tax-deductible; donations to the SierraClub Foundation are. To make a tax-deductible donation: Make out your checkto “The Sierra Club Foundation,” and write “Santa Lucia Chapter Fund” in thememo section.

2) All offices of the Sierra Club close for the holidays. The Chapter has toprocess your check here, then send it to the Foundation for deposit, so it’s agood bet that if you wait to mail your check until the week before Christmas,it won’t be deposited until after New Year’s, turning your 2011 donation into a2012 donation.

Mail your donation to:Sierra Club

P.O. Box 15755

San Luis Opispo, CA 93406

It can be difficult to look out uponthe battlefield and see the possibili-ties for recovery. Our hope is that avisioning process will help all partiestake the long view for the recovery ofthe Carrizo.

On October 13, the U.S. House ofRepresentatives passed legislationthat would block critical protectionsagainst toxic mercury and otherdangerous chemicals and metalsemitted by industrial boilers, whichare among the nation’s biggest anddirtiest sources of mercury pollution. Boilers are situtated in and aroundhospitals, schools and communitiesacross the country, exposing Ameri-cans to toxic mercury pollution, aknown brain poison that threatensthe development of young children.

House leadership scores points for polluters, endangers public health

Congress Blocks Mercury Protections

The bill was the latest in a series ofattacks waged by House RepublicanLeadership on public health protec-tions and the Clean Air Act. “By passing H.R. 2250, the Househas again voted to put polluterinterests over the public’s health,”said Sierra Club Executive DirectorMichael Brune. “H.R. 2250 blockstoxic mercury protections that havealready been delayed more than twodecades and allows industrial boilers,some of the nation’s biggest, dirtiestsources of mercury pollution, to

continue spewing toxic mercury intoour air and water without limits.This action will create zero jobs, andserve only to advance the HouseLeadership’s pro-polluter, anti-publichealth agenda.” The Sierra Club applauds PresidentObama’s commitment to veto thesereckless bills. We urge the Senate toreject these attacks on public health. See “Taking Issue” on page 9 for ananalysis of the pollution lobby’s anti-regulatory spin, as it recentlyappeared in The Tribune.

CoastalCommissionTells ArmyCorps toShape Up orShip OutCorps can’t cut cornersin Cambria desal saga

The determination of the CambriaCommunity Services District tocommit residents to the world’s mostexpensive form of water hit anothersnag in September when the Califor-nia Coastal Commission told the U.S.Army Corps of Engineers that thesupporting documentation the Corpshad submitted in the effort to get agreen light to drill desalination testwells on Santa Rosa State Beach wastotally inadequate. In a ten-page Sept. 30 letter to theCorps’ Thomas Keeney, the Commis-sion told the Corps it needs to provideactual evidence that the project isconsistent with the California CoastalManagement Program, not simplyclaim that it is; stop contradictingitself and state the actual purpose ofthe project; include the results ofwater quality tests for the 100+potential contaminants they said theywere going to test for (not the fewerthan 20 they submitted); and addressconcerns about chain-of-custody forcore samples tossed into the back of atruck in open bags and allowed to situnattended in Shamel Park. In February 2010, Keeney fired off anotorious internal e-mail to ArmyCorps staff that blasted the SierraClub for underwriting the efforts ofLynne Harkins, a retired Cambriaschool teacher who took watersamples from the area and sent themto a lab for mercury testing on herown after the Corps failed to do so.Keeney dismissed Harkins’ efforts dueto the “lack of chain of custodydocumentation” of the water samples.

When to mail your check:

Now Not now

Mail your check to:

Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Opispo, CA 93406

(If you are over 70 and have an IRA, youcan meet the minimum distributionrequirement by making a tax-free charitable rollover contribution ofup to $100,000 directly from your IRA. Check with your tax advisor.)

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Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

The Honorable Barack ObamaPresident of the United StatesThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, D.C. 20050

August 3, 2011

President Obama:

We are researchers at work on the science of climate change and allied fields. We are writing to add our voicesto the indigenous leaders, religious leaders, and environmentalists calling on you to block the proposedKeystone XL Pipeline from Canada’s tar sands.

The tar sands are a huge pool of carbon, but one that does not make sense to exploit. It takes a lot of energy toextract and refine this resource into useable fuel, and the mining is environmentally destructive. Adding this ontop of conventional fossil fuels will leave our children and grandchildren a climate system with consequencesthat are out of their control.

It makes no sense to build a pipeline system that would practically guarantee extensive exploitation of thisresource.

When other huge oil fields or coal mines were opened in the past, we knew much less about the damage that thecarbon they contained would do to the Earth’s climate system and to its oceans.

Now that we do know, it’s imperative that we move quickly to alternate forms of energy—and that we leave thetar sands in the ground. We hope those so inclined will join protests described at tarsandsaction.org.

If the pipeline is to be built, you as president have to declare that it is “in the national interest.”

As scientists, speaking for ourselves and not for any of our institutions, we can say categorically that it’s notonly not in the national interest, it’s also not in the planet’s best interest.

Sincerely,

James HansenResearch ScientistThe International Research Institute for Climate and SocietyThe Earth Institute, Columbia University

John AbrahamAssociate Professor, School of EngineeringUniversity of St. Thomas

Dean AbrahamsonProfessor Emeritus Energy & Environment PolicyUniversity of Minnesota

David ArcherProfessor, Geophysical Sciences DepartmentThe University of Chicago

Jason BoxAssociate Professor, Department of GeographyAtmospheric Sciences ProgramResearcher at Byrd Polar Research CenterThe Ohio State University

Ken CaldeiraSenior ScientistDepartment of Global EcologyCarnegie Institution

Peter GleickPresident and Co-founderPacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security

Richard A. HoughtonSenior ScientistWoods Hole Research Center

Robert W. HowarthDavid R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology & Environmental BiologyCornell University

Ralph KeelingDirector, Scripps CO2 ProgramScripps Institution of Oceanography

What’s That Smell? Keystone XLBy Michael Brune,Executive Director of the Sierra Club

Last summer,Secretary ofState HillaryClinton saidthat herdepartmentwould leave“no stone unturned” as it prepared itsenvironmental impact report on theKeystone XL Pipeline project. But when the report appeared, therewere unturned stones everywhere:l No study of the consequences of araw tar-sands oil spills or the difficul-ties of cleaning up the inevitable spillswas done.l No analysis of the clean-energyalternatives to the pipeline or of howextracting Canadian tar sands oilwould affect their development.l No serious assessment of alterna-tives to a route that crosses theOgallala Aquifer (which underliesmore than a quarter of our country’sirrigated land).l No study of how more pollutionwould affect Gulf refinery towns likePort Arthur, TX, already one of ourcountry’s most polluted communities.lNo analysis of the impact onwildlife, such as the lesser sandhillcranes that use Nebraska’s centralPlatte River valley as a stopover ontheir migration north.l An incomplete and faulty analysisof how extracting and burning tar-sands oil will affect climate disrup-tion.  There’s more, but you get the gist.How could the Department of Statehave gotten it so wrong? Keystone XL,after all, is a 1,700-mile pipeline thatwill do nothing for Americans exceptseize their land through eminentdomain, expose them to catastrophicoil spills and toxic pollution, andmake domestic gas more expensive —all so a foreign oil company, TransCanada, can ship its tar-sands oiloverseas from our ports. Sorry to say, the answer is that thiswas government at its most tawdry.The Department of State allowed aformer Clinton campaign staffmember, working as a TransCanadalobbyist, inappropriate access to highlevel officials within the Departmentand hired a biased pro-oil contractingfirm to do the actual evaluation andrun public hearings. The more Americans learn aboutKeystone XL and the big-moneycampaign behind it, the worse thewhole thing smells. Whether or not topermit this travesty is still one of themost important decisions facingPresident Obama. It’s time for him toclear the air, kill this Koch brothers-backed pipeline, and let the StateDepartment get back to issuingpassports and visas.  

Donald KennedyPresident Emeritus and Bing Professor of EnvironmentalSciences, EmeritusInstitute for International StudiesStanford University

Michael MacCrackenChief Scientist for Climate Change ProgramsClimate Institute

Michael E. MannProfessor of MeteorologyDirector, Earth System Science CenterThe Pennsylvania State University

James McCarthyAlexander Agassiz Professor of Biological OceanographyHarvard University

Michael OppenheimerAlbert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences andInternational AffairsWoodrow Wilson School and Department of GeosciencesPrinceton University

Raymond T. PierrehumbertLouis Block Professor in the Geophysical SciencesThe University of Chicago

Steve RunningProfessor of Ecology, Director of NumericalTerradynamics Simulation GroupDepartment of Ecosystem and Conservation SciencesCollege of Forestry and Conservation, University ofMontana

Richard SomervilleDistinguished Professor Emeritus and Research ProfessorScripps Institution of Oceanography

Ray J. WeymannDirector Emeritus, Carnegie ObservatoriesMember, National Academy of Sciences

George M. WoodwellFounder, Director Emeritus, and Senior ScientistWoods Hole Research Center

Whose world?Our world!Tar SandsStudents, anewly formedgroup of highschool studentswho opposeconstruction ofthe Keystone XLpipeline, partookin its first actionon October 6:a meeting withAssistant Sec-retary of StateKerri-Ann Jones.

November 6th: Tar Sands Action Returns to DC

Exactly one year before the next election, Tar Sands Action willreturn to DC to encircle the White House and ask PresidentObama to reject the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, live up tohis promise to free us from the tyranny of oil, and remind himof the power of the movement that he rode to the White Housein 2008.

To join the action in DC on the 6th, go to:www.tarsandsaction.org/sign-up

High School Students Take It to the State Department

TAKE ACTION

Obama had mojo when he knew it wasn’t about him, that it wasabout change. But when you promise change, you have to deliver.His last best opportunity may come with that Keystone Pipelinedecision, which he can make entirely by himself, without our inaneCongress being able to get in the way. So on November 6th,exactly one year before the election, we’re planning to circle theWhite House with people. And the signs we’ll be carrying willsimply be quotes from his last campaign — all that stuff about thetyranny of big oil and the healing of the planet. Our message willbe simple: If you didn’t mean it, you shouldn’t have said it. If youdid, here’s the chance to prove it.  Nix the pipeline.- Bill McKibben, 350.org

Josh

Lopez

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 20115

   Then DFG promptly turned aroundand prepared a new lease with thesame grazer and said they’d getaround to a management plan whenthey get to it. Instead of the publicgetting a comprehensive look at all ofthe management issues, we get aonce-over-lightly Mitigated NegativeDeclaration by way of environmentalreview of a new grazing permit. DFGis piecemealing management of thereserve by failing to evaluate theimpact of grazing on public access;failing to evaluate cumulative impactsof grazing operations on the reserveand on adjacent federal lands; failingto implement adequate monitoring;failing to conduct adequate surveysand consultation for a federallyendangered species, the Kern mallow;and failure to mandate protections forother special-status plants fromgrazing impacts between emergenceand flowering. Acquisition of the 31,000-acreChimineas Ranch by the people ofCalifornia occurred in two phases.The State of California created theCarrizo Plain Ecological Reserve in2001, adding the Chimineas to otherlands held by DFG in the area andexpanding in 2004. DFG was given$12.7 million by voters via The WaterSecurity, Clean Drinking Water,Coastal and Beach Protection Fund of2002 (commonly known as Proposi-tion 50). Fish and Game got moremoney from the Habitat ConservationFund, which was established for the“acquisition of habitat to protect rare,endangered, threatened, or fullyprotected species.”This represents asubstantial publicinvestment. State lawrequires DFG,through a publicprocess, to developa Land UseManagement Plan— something DFGwas supposed to doa decade ago. Theplan must evaluatelivestock grazingsolely for itseffectiveness or

lack of same in the context of overallmanagement of the reserve to achievestated management objectives. Instead, Fish and Game, behind thepublic’s back, authorized a grazinglease for a grazer who had basicallystrip-mined the property with cows. Ten years have passed, we still don’thave a management plan, and, absentthe light that public review of theplan would shine on this property,DFG is again proposing to authorizegrazing – this time with abbreviatedenvironmental review and reducedpublic scrutiny – to accommodate thesame grazer. State law does notstipulate hard deadlines for develop-ment of a management plan, but theintent is clear: conservation landsacquired with public funds andmanaged by a state agency must havea management plan, reviewed by thepublic, that complies with state andfederal law, in order to protectresources.    The two big issues on theChimineas are resource protectionand public access. DFG has failedmiserably on both counts. There isvirtually no public access, and grazingpractices have badly damaged asignificant area of the reserve. Sincethe public has had little access and noopportunity to review a managementplan, DFG is operating with very littlepublic oversight.   The agency should not be approvingmore grazing on the Reserve before ithas completed a land managementplan and an Environmental ImpactReport — the highest level of envi-ronmental review — for that plan.The plan and the EIR should address

the degree to whichgrazing is affecting, or islikely to affect, publicaccess and other resources.   Making the decision nowto resume grazing inadvance of a completedLand Use Management Planplaces constraints uponfuture development of theplan and on the futuremanagement of naturalresources and publicaccess. The public boughtand paid for this land andare entitled to have say inits management.

Cowscontinued from page 1

tuaries and address boundary expan-sions,” as there is “a general recogni-tion that it was time to look at poten-tial new sanctuaries and reactivate theSite Evaluation List (SEL).” This is opportunity, knocking. From Mill Creek in Monterey Countyto Point Conception, there is no suchdesignation, despite the fact that thisarea is rich in the characteristics thatmeet the criteria for National MarineSanctuary designation, includingChumash archaeological sites con-tinuously occupied for 9,000 ormore years, three major nutrient up-wellings vital for near-shore marineecosystems, 52% of the sea otterpopulation in the Southern Californiarange, a major elephant seal haul-out,10% of California’s vanishing coastalkelp forests, a coastal dune system,two estuaries, cetacean gatheringareas and migration lanes, rocky in-tertidal regions with world-class fishbiodiversity and densities, spawning

   Driving Through Bunny Land I call it Bunny LandThe name is sweet and the animals so preciousbut traveling through it is treacherousOn early misty morningsbunnies shoot out across the roadkamikaze rabbits on a missionto zoom over to the shangri-laof the bushes on the other sideThey escape my car wheels by just a fractionI creep along the lanetense and alertdodging and brakingpraying earnestly I won’t flatten another onefor that tragedy one dawn was nearly unbearableI went from feeling cheery and joyfulto sobbing with remorseIt took me monthsnot to dreadthe lovely morning drivethrough Montana de Oro

            Kalila Volkov

Sanctuarycontinued from page 1

TAKE ACTION

areas and nurseries, and activitiesattended by millions of visitors. There is no question of the valuethese waters hold. And as pressuregrows to step up domestic offshore oilproduction, it will focus on this in-valuable resource. This vulnerabilityhas already led the Bureau of Recla-mation — twice — to attempt pump-ing contaminated agricultural waste-water from the San Joaquin Valleyinto Estero Bay. Massive local resis-tance twice defeated this initiative,but the only way to ensure future pro-tection is to designate these waters asa National Marine Sanctuary.

You can help get this ball rolling Boundary expansion and thedesignation of new sanctuaries are onthe radar of the National MarineSanctuaries Program. Now they needto hear from you that you want to seethe National Marine Sanctuaries SiteEvaluation List (SEL) reauthorizedand the borders of the Monterey Bayor Channel Islands Sanctuary ex-panded to include the waters of SLO.

COMMENT LETTER TEMPLATE (always best to use your own words): Dr. Jane LubchencoUndersecretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere1401 Constitution Avenue, NWWashington, D.C. 20230 Dear Dr. Lubchenco: I urge you to heed the strong public support in San Luis Obispo County andSanta Barbara County, California, for Sanctuary protection of our shores andmarine resources.  This is a special and unique ecosystem deserving of National Marine Sanctu-ary protection. Just a few of the features of these California central Coastalwaters are major nutrient upwellings, kelp forest habitat, gray whale migrationroutes, abalone aquaculture, and the largest coastal dune habitat in California.This region is also home to the largest population of the federally threatenedWestern Snowy Plover, and its many miles of seabird nesting and marinemammal habitat are home to a substantial portion of the population of thethreatened Southern Sea Otter. Conferring sanctuary protection on the Central Coast will fill the gap be-tween the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Monterey BayNational Marine Sanctuary, while enhancing the protection of existing sanctu-ary waters, and bolster Ecosystem Based Management, minimizing hazardousimpacts. Given the positive public response to the recent addition of the DavidsonSeamount to the MBNMS, providing sanctuary protection to the Central Coastwill strengthen public support for the Sanctuary program locally, statewide andnationally. I would like to see current sanctuary boundaries expanded to encompass thewaters of California’s Central Coast, and the Site Evaluation List reactivatedwith this region made a priority for its significance as a unique ecological andbiological area. Thank you for your attention to these matters,

YOUR NAME HERE  cc: Dan Basta, DirectorOffice of National Marine SanctuariesNational Ocean Service1325 East-West HighwaySilver Spring, MD 20910-3282 Bill Douros, Acting Deputy DirectorOffice of National Marine Sanctuaries1305 East West HighwayN/NMS, Room 11537Silver Spring, MD 20910 Bill Douros, West Coast Regional Director99 Pacific Street, Bldg 200KMonterey, CA 93940 Paul E. Michel, SuperintendentMonterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary299 Foam StreetMonterey, CA 93940

U.S. Rep Kevin McCarthy5805 Capistrano Avenue, Suite CAtascadero, CA 93422 U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein1 Post St., Suite 2450San Francisco, CA 94104 U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer1700 Montgomery St., Suite 1748San Francisco CA 94111

Supervisor Frank Mecham            [email protected]

Supervisor Bruce Gibson    [email protected]

Supervisor Adam [email protected]

Supervisor Paul [email protected]

Supervisor James [email protected] 

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps1411 Marsh St., Suite 205San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

For links to the Marine Sanctuary Alliance and SLO Coast Journalarticles on the need for Sanctuary protection for the Central Coast,go to santalucia.sierraclub.org/mbnms/mbnms.html

6

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

Our fOur fOur fOur fOur featureatureatureatureatured red red red red readereadereadereadereaders:s:s:s:s:

Catherine Ryan HydeThe author of Pay It Forward will bereading from her new, unpublishedbook of essays and present a multime-dia show of photographs and films thatshe’s taken while hiking, canoeing andkayaking around the County and inNational Parks.

1:00 p.M. - 5:30 p.m.Admission $75, $35 students.Tickets on sale nowSeating is limited

Call to reserve: 805-543-8717

Send check to:Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo,CA 93406(Memo: “xx tickets, Sierra Club Benefit”)

Readings from local authors

Book signings

A Plein Air art talk

Chamber music by musiciansfrom the SLO Symphony

Dinner

Raffle

Silent auction

Vicki LeonThe author of How to Mellify aCorpse will be reading from hernew book,4000 Years of UppityWomen.

Plus: Q&A, good food, greatmusic, and an art exhibit and saleof superb local landscape paint-ings.

Join us at the historicMasonic Temple859 Marsh Street

downtown San Luis Obispo

YYYYYououououou’’’’’rrrrre Ine Ine Ine Ine InvitvitvitvitvitedededededJoin Us On SaturJoin Us On SaturJoin Us On SaturJoin Us On SaturJoin Us On Saturdadadadadayyyyy, Januar, Januar, Januar, Januar, January 28, fy 28, fy 28, fy 28, fy 28, for aor aor aor aor acelebrcelebrcelebrcelebrcelebration of enation of enation of enation of enation of envirvirvirvirvironmentonmentonmentonmentonmental Lital Lital Lital Lital Literererereraturaturaturaturature,e,e,e,e,Music and ArMusic and ArMusic and ArMusic and ArMusic and Arttttt

Sierra Club 2012 Calendars

Now Available

Buy from the Santa LuciaChapter and get 11% off!

Wall $12.50Desk: $13.5050 or more: 15% off

Call Bonnie to order::543-7051

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 20117

By Jesse Arnold

In two separate tests, rats and micefed corn genetically engineered toproduce the pesticide Bt has shownharmful effects. If genetically modified Bt corn washarmful to rats, it may also be harm-ful to humans. French researcher Dr. Gilles-EricSeralini at the University of Caen inFrance conducted tests on threestrains of Monsanto Bt corn in whichrats suffered signs of organ damageafter just three months. He concludedthat rats which ate the geneticallyengineered Bt corn had “statisticallysignificant” signs of liver and kidneydamage compared to rats given a non-genetically engineered diet. He feltthese signs of toxicity and liver andkidney damage call for further studiesto check for long-term damage. A study commissioned by theAustrian Agency for Health and FoodSafety conducted a long-term feedingstudy confirming genetically engi-neered Bt corn seriously affectsreproductive health in mice. Feedingmice Monsanto’s Bt corn led to lowerfertility in the mice. Mice fed non-genetically engineered corn repro-duced more quickly. Opponents ofgenetically engineered crops whohave warned about this infertility link,along with other health risks, nowseek an immediate ban of all geneti-cally engineered crops to protecthuman health and fertility. A study conducted at the Universityof Sherbrooke in Canada found the Bttoxin found in genetically engineeredBt corn in human blood samples forthe first time. Set to be published inReproductive Toxicology, the newstudy shreds the belief that Bt isbroken down by the digestive systemand instead shows that the toxinpersists in the bloodstream. The Canadian study evaluated 30pregnant women and 39 non-pregnant women who had come tothe Quebec hospital for tubectomy.Upon taking blood samples, research-ers detected Bt toxin in a shocking93% of maternal and 80% of fetalblood samples. Sixty-nine percent ofnon-pregnant women tested positive.All women in the study consumed atypical Canadian diet, which, as in theU.S., is riddled with geneticallyengineered materials and toxins. Bttoxin was detected even in unbornbabies, showing the toxin is easilypassed from mother to child. Labeling genetically engineeredcrops is not required becauseMonsanto and the proponents of agbiotech don’t want you to know whatyou’re eating. For information on buying non-genetically engineered food, go to:www.HealthierEating.org

Jesse Arnold has a degree in Orna-mental Horticulture from Cal Poly.He has taught a course in organicgardening at Cuesta College, and is ahobby grower of Indian corn andsweet corn in Cambria.

Is Bt Corn Safe For Human Consumption?

Now that we know that geneticallyengineered corn may not be safe forhuman consumption, isn’t it time toban it at local farmers markets.The people who need to get thatmessage are:

Peter Jankey, Administrator, San LuisObispo County Farmers Markets, P.O.Box 16058, San Luis Obispo, CA93406. Phone: 544-9570.

Sandra Dimond, Manager, NorthCounty Farmers Markets, P.O. Box1783, Paso Robles, CA 93447. Phone:748-1109; [email protected]

Consumers may also voice theirconcerns to any of the vendors atthese markets. If you have anyquestions or suggestions, please callJesse Arnold at 927-3096.

TAKE ACTION

Evidence mounts against genetically modified organisms

illum

inating9_11

GMO Statement:Arcata CAFarmers MarketThe North Coast Grower’s Association in Arcata, California, is opposed tothe use of genetically engineered seeds and crops. We believe that GMOtechnology goes against the very foundations of sustainable agriculture.

GMOs are a strong component of industrial agriculture; they boastunsubstantiated promises of increase yields. In reality they increase theuse of pesticides and show no increase in yield while increasing andconsolidating corporate control of agriculture. GMOs threaten the diversity of our seed base and the status of theworld’s seed seed banks. GMO crops threaten family farmers by holding them liable under strictpatent laws for pollen contamination that is uncontainable and overwhich farmers have no control. The agencies responsible for regulating agricultural biotechnology, theUSDA, FDA and EPA have failed to properly monitor the technology.

8

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

The Planet, Moving

Above: The Santa Lucia Chapterfunded dinner at the SteynbergGallery for the the intrepid, hugrybikers and hosted the local premiereof the educuational TV series MovingBeyond the Automobile.

Left: SLO County Bike Coalition’s Brian Kurotsuchi and SLO CountyRideShare’s Morgen Marshall addressed the throng.

It’s a good kind of tired The SLO bike run participants preparing to translate theiractions into demands on Moving Planet day.

Holding forth Current Em-power Poly Coalition PresidentVictoria Carranza (left), FormerPresident, Sam Gross andExternal Vice President YaminaPressler.

The Empower Poly Coalition, Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club,Central Coast Clergy & Laity for Justice and the SLO County Bicycle Coalitionorganized the September 24 Moving Planet Day climate rally in SLO – part ofan international day of action that took place on September 24 calling for theworld to go beyond fossil fuels and move the planet forward to a clean energyfuture. After a bike run through the city and a Steynberg Gallery gathering, wedelivered a letter with fifty signatures to the office of San Luis Obispo CityManager Katie Lichtig urging the city to accelerate its efforts “to create acomplete connected network of bike paths throughout our city as a criticalcomponent of our local efforts to curb the impacts of global climate change.” The letter called inparticular for the comple-tion of the city’s RailroadSafety and Bob Jones Trailsas a local priority. “Completing this pathwill lead directly to morepeople riding their bikesfor transportation whilesimultaneously improvingour economic and environ-mental health,” the letterread. “Any measure thatwill contribute to the goalof leaving fossil fuels in theground is a measure thatshould be implementedimmediately.” The signatures on theletter were gathered at theMoving Planet bike runthrough the city andevent at the SteynbergGallery in SLO following.More than 2,000 MovingPlanet events in 175countries took placethroughout the day, withhundreds of thousands ofpeople putting the demand forclimate action into motion whilemarching, biking or skating.  “The planet has been stuck for toolong withgovernmentsdoing nothingabout thebiggestproblem we’veever faced,”said BillMcKibben,founder of350.org, theinternationalclimatecampaign thatcoordinatedthe globaldemonstra-tions.More atwww.moving-planet.org/.

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 20119

Taking Issueproblematic environmental coverage & commentary in our local media

Upshot: You are entitled to your own opinions. You arenot entitled to your own facts. When the political friends ofbig polluters write opinion pieces based on inflated data frombogus industry studies that “no serious economist wouldconsider credible” -- as if the numbers and “facts” deployedconstituted legitimate support for a valid argument -- thepublic dialogue is polluted.

“We can’t afford new regulations,” by John Peschong, The Tribune, Sept. 25, 2011

Summary: The Tribune inaugurated its liberal-vs.-conservative Opinion page feature with apoint/counterpoint on the question “Are environmental regulations killing jobs?” the conservative,John Peschong, late of the Reagan and G.W. Bush administrations, answered that question in theaffirmative, citing many scary, official-looking numbers without bothering to cite his sources. Sowe tracked them down. All responses below labeled “NRDC” are from the blog of Dr. Laurie Johnson, Chief Economistat the Climate Center of the Natural Resources Defense Council and formerly a professor in theeconomics department at the University of Denver. Her full text dismantling the industry reportsused as economic justifications for Mr. Peschong’s anti-regulatory argument can be read at

Now on Faceboook

search: “Santa Lucia” and become our friend!

Rather than hurtingthe economy,pollution stand-ards improvesociety’s well being.EPA has fourdecades of experi-ence issuingpollution standards that have delivered enormous net benefits. [Since the creation of the EPA in 1970, wehave seen] an economy with a GDP three times its 1970 size, household incomes that are on average 45%higher, the creation of tens of thousands of jobs in the environmental protection industry. The Clean AirAct alone has saved millions of lives and prevented as many chronic illnesses, with benefits exceedingcosts by more than 26 to 1 in 2010 alone. - NRDC

Careful oversight of publicinvestment is a great idea --including the loans theDepartment of Energyissued to Solyndra, and the$557 billion in federalsubsidies the U.S.government pays to the fossil fuel industry each year. Solarinvestments create seven times more jobs per megawatt than naturalgas, nuclear or coal investments. Each dollar invested in solarprojects by the Department of Energy leverages $13 in privateinvestment. Solar jobs are going up, and dirty energy jobs are goingdown. In the past year the fossil fuel electricity industry shrank by2%, while the solar industry grew by nearly 7%. In the last twoyears, 27 new U.S. solar manufacturing facilities began operationsacross the country.

If a White House backed solar panel company that receivedover half a billion dollars in government loans could not beviable, it is dubious to belieive in the hope of “green” jobs toreplace jobs lost by extreme environmental regulations.

The solar industry is the fastestgrowing industry in America,with more than 5,500companies employing morethan 100,000 Americans. Forevery Solyndra, there are adozen successful companies.

SolarCity added more than 500 newemployees in the last year, and expectsto hire 300 more employees before theend of 2011.

Supporters of the EPA will argue that the jobs lost by environmental regulationsare offset by new “green” jobs or jobs that are created as a result of complyingwith the regulations. However, the recent bankruptcy of California-basedSolyndra that laid off over 1,000 employees refutes that argument.

Survey results from the 1970s,1980s, and 1990s have consis-tently found gross employmentlosses on the order of 1,000 to3,000 jobs per year nationwideresulting from pollution controlrequirements. Relative to other

reasons for job losses, these are practically invisible:every year approximately 9,500 layoffs result fromadverse weather events, and over 450,000 from seasonalchanges in employer demand for workers (U.S. Bureauof Labor Statistics, 1995-1997 survey data). Contrast thisto claims by opponents of environmental regulation(“millions” of job losses), and the annual 50,000+ jobscreated in environmental protection, and one can onlyconclude that the catastrophic job losses predicted byclimate obstructionists are just plain wrong. - NRDC

Republicans arecorrect that environ-mental regulationscost money, and some-times those costs arepassed on to con-sumers. Yet they areoblivious to thepublic-health con-

sequences of pollution and theeconomic costs of inaction.- “A GOP assault on environmentalregulations,” L.A. Times, Oct. 10, 2011

The odious new rule will impose billions ofdollars in compliance costs and put at risk over200,000 jobs. It’s estimated that in the paper millindustry alone, 36 mills across the country wouldclose because of the new regulations governingboilers, resulting in nearly 90,000 lost jobs.

Regardless ofpolitical party,we all sharethe goals ofcleaner air,water andland.

By the EPA’s own estimate, thenew rule [for smog regulationsordered withdrawn by PresidentObama] would have cost theeconomy $90 billion a year.

Peschong here cites theupper end of a range ofestimates and fails tomention that fact. Per theEPA, the costs of reducingozone to a standard of 0.060ppm could range from $52billion to $90 billion --

numbers that are far from firm, which the EPA notes butPeschong does not. The other thing the columnist doesn’tmention, aside from the jobs created in the pollution control andabatement industry, is the value of mortality benefits and otherhealth improvements of reducing ozone to 0.060 ppmm whichwould range from $35 billion to $100 billion, according to thesame EPA estimate. If you are going to take one high-end numberfrom an estimate as a quantitative absolute, you have to take all ofthem the same way. Instead, Peschong reports a $10 billionbenefit as a $90 billion deficit.

This figureis from astudyfunded bythe PortlandCement

Association. “PCA’s study is not credible: only acursory examination reveals gross exaggeration ofcompliance costs and employment impacts, and aneconomic analysis that is fundamentally flawed—i.e.an analysis that is not based upon basic principles ofeconomic theory and analysis. ... How is it that PCAestimates for compliance costs are almost 7 timeshigher than EPA’s? And the job loss estimates sonegative relative to EPA’s modest projection of 350 netnew jobs? Perhaps it’s because EPA is required to useestablished economic methodology, and justify anddocument all of its assumptions to economists at theOffice of Management and Budget—ensuringindependent review by the career economists thatevaluate all government regulations. In contrast, PCAis accountable to no one.... No serious economistwould consider PCA’s analysis credible; in fact, it is embarrassing.” - NRDC

A recent study concluded [the EPA’sproposed cement plant regulation]would force the closure of nearly 20percent of America’s cementmanufacuring plants

Wind the tapeback to beforeenvironmentalregulations werepassed, and wesee that theopponents of theday, just like today’s climate obstructionists, made dire jobloss forecasts. They never came true. Consider the

Unfortunately, sensible regula-tions have lately given way tooverreaching and burdensomeenvironmental regulations thatcost American jobs.

following claim from a study sponsored by the U.S. Business Roundtable in1990, typical of industry-backed studies of past environmental regulations:“Across the [1990] Clean Air Act Amendments titles studied...this study leaveslittle doubt that a minimum of 200,000 (plus) jobs will be quickly lost, withplants closing in dozens of states. This number could easily exceed one millionjobs-and even two million jobs-at the more extreme assumptions about residualrisk.” (Hahn and Steger, 1990). - NRDC

theAmericanForest andPaperAssociation(AFPA)released a‘study’... projecting massive job losses from the proposed standards. …

The Ameri-can Forestand PaperAssociation(AFPA) justreleased a‘study’ projecting massive job losses from the proposed standards. …How is it AFPA estimates compliance costs for one industrial sector aremore than twice as high as EPA’s estimates for all affected industriescombined? Even worse, how is it that AFPA’s job loss estimate for onesector is almost 12 times as high as EPA’s for all affected industriescombined?... Polluters’ sole aim in studies like this is to produce alarmistnumbers and fear. We have seen this pattern time and time again fromindustry: every time EPA proposes new standards, it responds withhysterical prognostications. But they never come true, and they won’there either. - NRDC

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/ljohnson.

10

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

accommodate both wastewater flowsat build-out as well as reuse ofreclaimed water” and give theCommission “clear and documentedinformation about the costs andbenefits of alternative projectlocations…including with respect tothe manner reclamation for beneficialuses could be accommodated for each(for agricultural irrigation, landscap-ing, groundwater augmentation....” There are other problems with the“keep it right where it is” scenario.The current plant is in a 100-yearflood plain, beset by known seismichazards and likely to be inundated byrising seas and significant shorelineerosion within the life of the plant.The mandated “thorough” alterna-tives analysis, far from counting anyor all of these deal-breakers aseliminating the site from furtherconsideration, rated the current plantsite as the preferred location. Commission staff warned Morro Bayand Cayucos staff of another problemwith their preference for maintainingtheir sewer-plant-by-the-sea:  incon-sistency with requirements forrecreational coastal access mandatedin both the California Coastal Act andMorro Bay’s Local Coastal Plan (LCP).Specifically: “The project wouldreduce the availability of scarceoceanfront land for potential publicrecreational purposes, and it couldcause adverse impacts to nearbyexisting public recreational accessopportunities due to both construc-tion activities and operation of thenew WWTP.” A project that would bein violation of an LCP does not get aCoastal Development Permit. Thatwarning and this fact appear to havefallen on deaf ears. The Commission also told theapplicants their project must includea plan to recycle treated effluent, justas Los Osos was required to do.

and relies on a 12-year-old study —the opposite of “updated.” The “clearand documented information aboutthe costs and benefits” required by theCommission devolved into a statementthat all the studied alternative sitescould theoretically produce recycledwater, but it would cost more. The Coastal Commission had spelledout the problem, as the communityspelled it out before the project wentto the Commission the first time, butagain community leaders seem not tohave understood what they’ve beentold. The steepness of the learningcurve was indicated by this passage inthe draft alternatives analysis: “In the preparation of this report,discussions with the RWQCB indicatethat a salt management plan would berequired to support permitting processfor the WDR relative to salt andnutrient (namely nitrogen) loadingson the groundwater basin.” The Water Board had in fact toldMorro Bay and Cayucos about thisparticular deficiency in the plan inOctober 2010. That fact was men-tioned on the front page of the January2011 Santa Lucian (“A Tale of TwoSewers”). Their project consultantsinformed Morro Bay and Cayucos inAugust 2011. Once more, Morro Bay and Cayucosappear to be headed for a game ofchicken with the Coastal Commission.The assumption seems to be that theCommission might suddenly decide itdoesn’t care about sea level rise, floodplains or coastal recreational access,and that they won’t point to the regu-latory writing on the wall  for waterrecycling and the end of the road forwastewater ocean outfalls (Florida hasprohibited the construction of newocean outfalls, ordered the eliminationof all existing outfalls by 2025, andrequired that a majority of thewastewater previously discharged bebeneficially reused. But, hey: maybethe Coastal Commission will say  itprefers dumping high-quality treatedeffluent in the sea rather than recy-cling it.)  Someone should spell it out for thestaff and officials of the City of MorroBay and the Cayucos Sanitary District:in sending back their deficient sewerupgrade plan, patiently listing every-thing that needed to be done to designa project in conformity with theCoastal Act — that is, everythingMorro Bay and Cayucos should haveincluded in their submission the firsttime around if they wanted to get apermit for their project — the CoastalCommission was being nice. Theycould have simply denied the permit.It’s the difference between yourteacher grading your paper “incom-plete” and getting an “F.” The submis-sion of a second deficient application ishighly unlikely to produce the same ora better result. The alternatives evaluation is a“rough screening,” which is nowproceeding to a fine screening. Unlessthe refinements are drastic, theoroblems with this project will bebeyond the power of the public and theCoastal Commission to fix, whichmeans the stand-off between theenvironmentally progressive regula-tory measures demanded by theCoastal Commission and the regres-sive resistance of local staff and electedofficials m ay prove fatal. 

6 p.m., Thursday, November 10

The fine screening analysis of alternative sities will be presented at a JointPowers Agreement (JPA) meeting of the Morro Bay City Council and CayucosSanitary Disrtict. This is the last stop before the second try at the CoastalCommission, and the last chance for the citizens of Morro Bay and Cayucos toprevail upon their representatives to get it right. Check the website to confirmand get location: www.cayucossd.org/JPABOARDMEETINGS.htm/.

TAKE ACTION

Specifically:

“The Applicant must also providea complementary, updated waterreclamation feasibility study thatexplores all potential demand forreclaimed water, including foragricultural irrigation inside andoutside of the City limits, and theway in which the project could bereconceived to dispose of treatedeffluent in this manner. The studymust evaluate the feasibility ofconstructing infrastructure toaccommodate such a water recla-mation program, and it mustevaluate the benefits of a waterreclamation program, includ-ing potential benefits to streamhabitats and water supply, poten-tial revenue generation fromproviding such water to users andoffsetting the need for purchasedState Water credits, and thepotential for elimi nation of theexisting ocean outfall.” 

Instead of an updated feasibilitystudy laying out “the way in whichthe project could be reconceived,” thedraft alternatives analysis includes a“Wastewater Disposal and Reclama-tion Discussion,” which essentiallyrestates the issues in the aboveparagraph, extended over forty pages,

Morro Baycontinued from page 1

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Sierra Club National Awards Two congressman and two people who have written extensively about globalwarming were among those receiving awards from the Sierra Club this year.Most of the awards were presented September 23-24 in San Francisco. The Club’s top award, the John Muir Award, went to Bill McKibben, who hasauthored 13 books and founded the international organization 350.org.McKibben’s 1989 book, The End of Nature, is regarded as the first book for ageneral audience about climate change, and has been printed in more than 20languages. Elizabeth Kolbert, a former New York Times reporter, received the David R.Brower Award, which recognizes outstanding environmental reporting.Kolbert’s 2006 book Field Notes from a Catastrophe, which was based on anaward-winning three-part series for the New Yorker, is one of the mostpowerful commentaries to date on global climate shift. Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey received the club’s Edgar WayburnAward, which honors outstanding service to the environment by a person ingovernment. Since being elected to Congress in 1976, Rep. Markey has been atthe forefront of environmental campaigns, pressing for increased fuel efficien-cy standards for our cars and light trucks, defending the Arctic NationalWildlife Refuge from proposed oil drilling, pushing for tougher clean airstandards, advancing renewable energy and energy efficiency proposals, andauthoring legislation to tackle global warming. Congressman Keith Ellison from Minneapolis received the DistinguishedService Award, which recognizes individuals in public service for strong andconsistent commitment to conservation. Rep. Ellison has been a strongsupporter of the environment and environmental justice since was in theMinnesota state legislature. He has carried forward legislation to protectchildren from lead poisoning and to ban the use of the weed-killingagricultural pesticide known as atrazine due to its documented toxicity. The Club’s Ansel Adams Award, which honors excellence in conservationphotography, went to Ian Shive of Los Angeles. Shive’s 2009 book, TheNational Parks: Our American Landscape, highlights the rich diversity ofthe American ecological landscape and Shive has used it in a “wildernessdiplomacy” project designed to promote cultural understanding worldwide bysharing images of America’s national parks. Shive also has used his photos toremind lawmakers of the importance of preserving our outdoor resources andto address the environmental impact of the U.S.-Mexico border fence. The Club’s William Douglas Award, which recognizes individuals who havemade outstanding use of the legal/judicial process to achieve environmentalgoals, went to Sharon Duggan of Oakland. Duggan has litigated on a broadvariety of issues, including state and federal forestry, water quality, endangeredspecies and environmental quality. She was the attorney for the Sierra Cluband Los Padres ForestWatch in our recent legal action to protect the CarrizoPlains Ecological Reserve (see page 1). She is best known for her work on aseries of cases involving the ancient redwood groves of the Headwaters Forestin Northern California. In a landmark 1983 case, EPIC v. Johnson, Dugganestablished that California state agencies must consider the cumulative effectsof logging in a watershed on water quality, soils and wildlife habitat whenreviewing logging plans. Since that victory, the Environmental ProtectionInformation Center in Humboldt County has successfully enforced this rulingin nearly two dozen lawsuits to protect biodiversity, endangered species andthe redwood ecosystem. For information on all awards and the Sierra Club awards program, visitwww. sierraclub.org/awards.

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec. 201111

ClassifiedsNext issue deadline is December 12.

To get a rate sheet or submit your ad

and payment, contact:

Sierra Club - Santa Lucia Chapter

P.O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

[email protected]

CYNTHIA HAWLEY

ATTORNEY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

LAND USE

CIVIL LITIGATION

P.O. Box 29 Cambria California 93428

Phone 805-927-5102 Fax 805-927-5220

A portion of any commissiondonated to the Sierra Club

Pismo toSan Simeon

GREEN HOMES

Les KangasSolar Energy ConsultantREC Solar, Inc.775 Fiero Lane, Suite 200San Luis Obispo, CA 93401  Office: (805) 528-9705Cell: (805) 305-7164Toll Free: (888) OK-SOLAR (657-6527)

Fax: (805) 528-9701

12

Santa Lucian • Nov./Dec 2011

Outings and Activities CalendarSeller of travel registration information: CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

This is a partial listing of Outingsoffered by our chapter.

Please check the web pagewww.santalucia.sierraclub.org for

the most up-to-date listing ofactivities.

All our hikes and activities are open to all Club members and the general public.  Please bring drinking waterto all outings and optionally a lunch. Sturdy footwear is recommended. All phone numbers listed are withinarea code 805 unless otherwise noted. Pets are generally not allowed. A parent or responsible adult mustaccompany children under the age of 18. If you have any suggestions for hikes or outdoor activities, ques-tions about the Chapter’s outing policies, or would like to be an outings leader, call Outings Chair Joe Morris,772-1875.  For information on a specific outing, please call the listed outing leader.

Outings Sponsored by other organizations

Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. The Audubon Society, which manages SweetSprings Nature Preserve in Los Osos, has received a grant to work on pathwaysand restoration. Volunteers are needed on the second Saturday of the monthfrom 9-12 to help with watering, weeding, planting, etc. More info atwww.morro coastaudubon.org.

Ventana Wilderness Alliance Trail Crew OpportunitiesVolunteers are needed for work in the Ventana and Silverpeak Wilderness Wilderness Areas. Rain Cancels. [email protected] to Carrizoafter rain begins in earnest. E-mail: Betsy MacGowan [email protected], for info.  

Nov. 4th-7th Carrizo Trail Esperanza Trail work. Needs assistantE-mail leader [email protected] for info. 

Nov. 9th-17th Cone Peak CMH ACE hitch on Cone Peak project.E-mail: Mike Heard at [email protected] for info.

Nov. 11th-13th Puerto Suello Robert B Trail salvation on PuertoSuello. E-mail: Robert Barringer [email protected], for info.

Nov. 12th-13th, 19th, 20th Marble Peak bmac Trail work camp at willowsprings. Rain Cancels - switch to Carrizo after rain begins in ernest E-mail:Betsy MacGowan, bmacgowan@ hotmail.com, for info.

Nov. 23rd-Dec 1st Cone Peak CMH ACE Hitch on Cone Peakproject. E-mail: Mike Heard at [email protected] for info. 

Sat., Nov. 5th, 8:30 a.m.  Beginner’sBird Walk, Oso Flaco.  Can’t tell agoose from a grouse?  Then come andlearn the great fun of birding, co-led with Audubon Society expertsJennifer Moonjian and MaggieSmith, in the Oso Flaco Natural Area. We’ll follow the boardwalk trailthrough riparian, dune, and shorelinehabitats to look for fall migrants andoverwintering birds.  Scopes andsome binoculars provided if you don’thave your own.   Wear sturdy shoesand layered clothing.  Kids withparents welcome.  Meet at the OsoFlaco parking lot.  $5 parking feecharged, though limited free parkingoutside the gate is available.  Raincancels.  Info.: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

Sat., Nov. 5th, 9:00 am, RinconadaTrail.  Hike to Bell Mountain viaRinconada trail in Los Padres Na-tional Forest, arriving at ridge-topwith 360o views from Paso Robles toN. Santa Barbara County.  Totaldistance is 5 miles, elevation gain of800 feet, and  total hike time of 3hours.  Meet at trail head, approxi-mately 10 miles east of Hwy 101 onPozo Rd. (3 miles beyond the turnofffor Santa Margarita Lake).  A signmarks to turn off from Pozo Road onthe right hand side.   Bring adequatewater, snacks, and dress in layers forthe weather; a hat and sturdy shoesare advised.  For info, call Bill at (805)459-2103, [email protected]. Plants, animals, and geology ofthe area will be topics during thehike.  This is a joint hike with theCalifornia Native Plants Society.

Sat., Nov. 12th, 8:30 a.m. WestCuesta Ridge Hike. Explore the farreaches of Stenner Creek drainage as

we hike to the top of West CuestaRidge via Shooters, traverse alongroad to the Botanical Area, thenreturn via Morning Glory Trail tostarting Point. This is a moderatelystrenuous 8-mile hike with 2000 footelevation gain. Bring water, snack anddress for the weather. Meet at the CalPoly Ropes Course Parking Area onStenner Creek Road, about 2 milesfrom Highway 1 heading towardsMorro Bay. Details: call Gary (805)473-3694. Rain Cancels.

Wed., Nov. 16th, 7-9 p.m.  Bi-monthly Meeting: “Earth’s FirstBillion Years!”  Dr. Scott Johnston, apopular Cal Poly geology professor, describes the violent transformationof our planet from a molten mass toone with oceans and the first life,and then how the moon’s collision 4.5billion years ago changed a helluvalot.  Come and view slides of Scott’spioneering fieldwork in East Green-land and, hold one of the 3.5 billion-year old rock fragments he broughtback.  Conservation news will beginthe meeting.  Location: SteynbergGallery, 1531 Monterey St., SLO. Info.: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

Sat., Nov. 19th, 10:30 a.m. CerroSan Luis Picnic Viewpoint.   4-mile,1000 ft. gain hike to view geographi-cal wonders of the area from succes-sion of the Nine Sisters to LagunaLake and also enjoy potluckpicnic.  Bring a serving for 5 people toshare, your own plate, utensils, andwater.  Dress appropriately for theweather and moderately rocky trailconditions.  Meet in Maino OpenSpace parking lot at base of themountain. Take Marsh St. and turn offinto parking lot on right, immediately

before getting onto Hwy 101 South. Info.: Franca Rossi, 831-229-9062. Asst.: Joe Morris, 805-772-1875.

Sat., Dec. 10, 9:00 a.m. Anniver-sary hike on the Cerro Alto longloop. Join the leader on this moder-ate 7-mile hike which has about 1900ft. of elevation gain. We will begin atthe Cerro Alto campground and as-cend to Cerro Alto Peak. From thethere we will descend through theeucalyptus grove and finish by com-ing down the Boy Scout trail. Fromthe top of Cerro Alto there is a won-derful 360 degree view which in-cludes the coastline. Bring water,lunch, or snacks, and dress for theweather. There is a possibility of poi-son oak. To get to the campground,travel about 7 miles east of MorroBay on Highway 41 or about 10 mileswest of Atascadero on Highway 41.Turn onto the road where you see acampground marker. Go to the end ofthe road. There is a $5.00 parking fee.There is a strong probability of eats atTaco Temple following the hike.Heavy rain cancels. For info, callChuck @ 805-441-7597.

Sat., Dec. 17th, 10 a.m.  City Walk ofSan Luis Obispo: Jazz Age to theFifties.  Where is the hotel whereHearst entertained his guests, thelocation of the red light district in thetwenties, the USO dance hall for GIsafter Pearl Harbor, and the originalFrench Hospital?  Find out and muchmore on a guided downtown strollpast historic stores, theaters, andhotels.  Learn about SLO city life fromyears of the Model T to Prohibitionand World War II, starting with a visitto building designed by Frank LloydWright.  Meet at corner of Santa Rosaand Pacific Sts., SLO.  Rain cancels. Info.: Joe Morris, 772-1875.

Thurs-Mon, Dec. 29th, 2011-Jan.2nd, 2012, Holiday Service InCarrizo Plain.  Once again we returnto the Carrizo Plain to celebrate theend of the year and to offer service to

the pronghorn antelope in thisNational Monument. Lying betweenBakersfield and San Luis Obispo, thisvast grassland is home to pronghornantelope, tule elk, kit fox, and a widevariety of birds. A welcome hike Dec.29, two and a half days of servicemodifying barbed wire fencing, and afull day for hiking and exploring areplanned. Use of accommodations atGoodwin Ranch is included. Limitedto 14 participants, $30 covers fourdinners and breakfast on New Year’smorning. For more information, con-tact leader: Craig Deutsche, [email protected] (310-477-6670).

Fri-Sun, Jan 20th-22nd - DeathValley National Park WildernessRestoration.  Come help restorewilderness values in this beautiful andremote desert area.  We will workwith Death Valley Wilderness Coordi-nator Charlie Callagan on a project inone of the parks many wildernessareas.  Past project have included re-landscaping former OHV routes thatare now in wilderness, trail repair andcleaning up around historic cabins. Work will start on Friday afternoon. Happy hour potluck Saturday night. Leader:  Kate Allen, [email protected], 661-944-4056.

Dec 2nd-5th Carrizo Trail Esperanza trail work. E-mail David Knapp [email protected] for info.

Dec. 3rd-5th Marble Peak bmac Trail work camp at willow springs. RainCancels - switch to Carrizo after rain begins in ernest, Betsy MacGowan,[email protected], for info. After enjoying the October 11 Bomber’s Run in hike El Chorro Regional Park.

Gary Felsman