Santa Lucian - Sierra Club...The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, California October 2005 Volume 42, No. 9 Santa Lucian

I n s i d eI n s i d eI n s i d eI n s i d eI n s i d eDiablo’s Dual Dilemma 4

Money Well Spent 5

Paddler’s Corner 7

Oaks & Open Space 9

Duke’s Out: Speak Up! 10

Classifieds 11

Outings 12

GENERAL MEETINGGENERAL MEETINGGENERAL MEETINGGENERAL MEETINGGENERAL MEETING

October 18:A Journey through the Arctic Wild-life Refuge

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SantaLucianProtecting and

Preserving theCentral Coast

The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, CaliforniaOctober 2005

Volume 42, No. 9

Santa LucianSanta Lucia Chapter of the Sierra ClubP. O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

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SAN LUIS OBISPOCA 93401

This newsletter printed on100% post-consumer recycled paper

with soy-based inks

Please recycle

continued on page 3

Not shown: A 50-foot antenna/flagpole that will not be greeting you as you enter Los Osos.

People Power vs. Cell Tower

Coming in November :

“Global EnvironmentalOptions 101: What weall need to know!”

continued on page 6

County just says “no” to Los Osos eyesore

continued on page 7

What’s for Dinner?And why can’t you be told?

On September 13, the County Boardof Supervisors, in a stunning reversalof a County approved project tobuild a 50-foot Sprint PCS cellphone antenna at the entrance to LosOsos, bowed to the will of local citi-zens and upheld an appeal of thecoastal development permit filed bythe Coastal View Protection Coali-tion. The Planning Commission hadrecommended approval of the SprintPCS project on the basis of a staffreport that said it conformed withthe county’s Local Coastal Plan. Afterhearing cogent arguments to thecontrary from a number of residentsand the Sierra Club, the Supervisorspronounced themselves satisfied thatthe area is already adequately servedby four different carriers (contrary tosubsequent statements in the press,there is no “gap” in cell phone cover-age in Los Osos) and expressed con-cern over the unsettled and growingscientific debate over potential ra-diation hazards posed by the towers,especially one located in the midst ofhomes and businesses. Only theSprint representative spoke in favorof the project. The vote to uphold the appeal anddeny the permit was unanimous. TheSupervisors agreed the projectwould have had significant impactson public views and the visual char-acter of the surrounding area. B. Blake Levitt, in the paper “Cell-Phone Towers and Communities: TheStruggle for Local Control,” notesthe Telecommunications Act of 1996was “the biggest land-grab in one

industry’s favor at the federal levelsince the build-out of the railroads atthe turn of the last century” and ef-fectively hamstrung local communi-ties in the siting of cell-phone tow-ers, creating “a planning and zoningnightmare—and perhaps a publichealth problem, according to somescientists, journalists, and activ-ists…. The situation is dividing com-munities around the country, oftenpitting neighbor against neighbor

when one is tempted by the licensingrevenues of siting such a facility ontheir property, while adjacent land-owners raise concerns about propertydevaluation and health endanger-ment.” “What’s important to know, as plan-ners,” says Levitt, “is that althoughyou can’t set more stringent standardsat the moment, you can site installa-

A ChillGrows inCambriaOnce upon a time, Cambria wantedto expand its water storage tanks. Itwanted to expand them very, verymuch – beyond the required watercapacity to serve current residentsand fight fires, building up “qualityof life”capacity – i.e. the longed-forday when the building moratoriumwill lift, the growth cap will ease,and a development gold rush willwash over Cambria. But then the neighbors com-plained about the idea of giant tanksin their back yard, so the CambriaCommunity Services District de-cided to move the tanks into anEnvironmentally Sensitive HabitatArea (ESHA), which would have

The Sierra Club, the largest grass-roots conservation group in theUnited States, joins with the manyenvironmental, consumer, religious,and community groups concernedwith the safety of genetically modi-fied organisms (GMOs), particularlyin regards to their use in agriculture.Our purpose is to protect the ecosys-tem. We believe that the rate of ap-plication of this technology far ex-

ceeds our ability to understand theenvironmental and public healthrisks and to avoid potentially seriousimpacts. The biotechnology industry makesthe misleading claim that geneticengineering is a simple extension ofthe traditional crossbreeding thatnature and farmers have been usingfor thousands of years. However, there

The 2006 calendars are here The 2006 calendars are here The 2006 calendars are here The 2006 calendars are here The 2006 calendars are here

- page 5- page 5- page 5- page 5- page 5

(Comments delivered by the Santa Lucia Chapter to the County Board of Su-pervisors, September 20, 2005)

2 Santa Lucian • October 2005

SSSSSanananananttttta a a a a LLLLLuuuuuccccciiiiiananananan

Andrew Christie EDITOR/[email protected] MerriamJack McCurdyTarren CollinsEDITORIAL BOARDMariko Fujinaka GRAPHIC CONSULTANT

The Santa Lucian is published 10times a year. Articles, environmentalinformation and letters to the editorare welcome. The dead-line for eachissue is the 1st of the prior month.

send to:Editor, Santa Lucianc/o Santa Lucia Chapter of the SierraClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA [email protected]

Santa Lucia Chapter

2005 Executive CommitteeKaren Merriam CHAIR

Steven MarxTREASURER

Eliane Guillot [email protected]

VICE CHAIR

Cal French COUNCIL OF CLUB LEADERS

Standing CommitteesPolitical Sarah ChristieConservation [email protected] Pam [email protected] Cal FrenchActing Program Chair Letty French [email protected] Jan Marx [email protected] Canyon Task Force Rochelle Becker [email protected] Task Force Jack & Bea Morrow [email protected] LeadersSpeakers BureauIra Winn 805-781-9466Open SpaceGary Felsman 805-473-3694Calendar SalesBonnie Walters 805-543-7051Chapter HistoryJohn Ashbaugh 805-541-6430PublicityMargaret Hennesey 805-481-2240

ActivitiesOutingsEliane Guillot [email protected] Felsman 805-473-3694Canoe/Kayak [email protected] Beigle 805-773-2147Equestrian [email protected] Denneen 805-929-3647

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

Chapter [email protected] Christie 805-543-8717

Chapter office hours are Mon-day-Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. 1204 Nipomo St., San LuisObispowww.santalucia.sierraclub.org

Santa Lucia Chapter General Meeting

F94Q W2500 1Enclose check and mail to:

Sierra ClubP.O. Box 52968Boulder, CO 80322-2968

Change of Address? Mail changes to:

Sierra Club National Headquarters85 Second Street, 2nd FloorSan Francisco, CA 94105-3441

or e-mail:[email protected]

Visit us onthe Web!

wwwwwwwwwwwwwww.s.s.s.s.sananananantttttalualualualualuciciciciciaaaaa.....sierrsierrsierrsierrsierraaaaaccccclublublublublub.or.or.or.or.orggggg

Outings, events, andmore!

Beyond ImaginationA journey through the heart of the Arctic Wildlife Refuge

[email protected]

Cal French [email protected] MEMBER

The Executive Committee meetsthe fourth Friday of everymonth at 5:00 p.m. at thechapter office, located at 1204Nipomo St., San Luis Obispo. Allmembers are welcome toattend.

October 18, 7-9 p.m.

John Ashbaugh MEMBER

Santa Lucia Chapter

Tuesday, October 187 - 9 p.m.Ludwick Center864 Santa Rosa Street (corner of Mill)San Luis Obispo

Jack Morrow [email protected]

By Steven Marx

The Sierra Summit that took placein San Francisco , September 8 to 11.My wife Jan and I had decided to attendto strengthen our connection to thenational organization in this dark timeand to learn from a luminary lineupof scheduled speakers. When some ofour chapter representativescouldn’t go, I became adelegate in return for halfprice on the registration fee.The delegate’s job was tobridge a gap between lead-ership and grassroots and todemocratically select goalsguiding the Club’s actionsand budget decisions over thenext five years. We drove up on Thursdaymorning with Chris Wassenberg,who’d agreed to become a much in-demand under-30 delegate, checkedinto a cheap hotel in Chinatown,walked to the Moscone Conventioncenter, and fell in with thousands ofwell-dressed members of theCalifornia Dental Association.Finally we found our way to“Moscone North” and what wasbilled as “Sierra Club’s First EverNational Environmental Conventionand Expo.” The prospect of a four-hourpriority setting session after a longdrive and no lunch in a cavernousbanquet hall was not enhanced bylengthy “motivational” harangues bytwo professional facilitators withdeep southern accents. Though theleader admitted that he had noenvironmental involvement of hisown, he assured me that he did notnormally work for energycompanies like Exxon. Sitting attables in groups of ten, the sevenhundred delegates were put througha series of ill-conceived icebreakingexercises and endless question-

naires, and asked to prioritize vague,confusing and overlappingly phrasedgoals. After three hours of this, delegatesstarted speaking up, expressingbewilderment and frustration. CarlPope, Sierra Club Executive Director,

convinced the audience not togive up and the facilitators totalk less and listen more. By theend of the session a generalconsensus did emerge: the firsttwo priorities for future nationalaction and budgeting were1)build a clean and safe energyfuture with improved efficiencyand renewable resources, and2)build vibrant communitiesassuring environmental justice

and reducing sprawl. This selection makes significantchanges in sequence and wording toconclusions drawn from pre-summitsurveys. It signals a shift from primaryemphasis on recreation and wildernesspreservation and clearly reflects theimpact of Hurricane Katrina. Thatimpact was reinforced by the surpriseannouncement that the Conventionwould be addressed at 8:30 nextmorning by Al Gore. He had first turneddown the Club’s invitation because of aprevious commitment on the same dayto talk about global warming to aninsurance industry convention in NewOrleans. The onslaught of Katrina is an aptmetaphor for the Bush administration’sonslaught on the world environment.The speeches I heard at Sierra Summiton Friday and Saturday gave evidenceof an energy that might be able to resistand protect from these storms.Gavin Newsom, the radiant mayor ofSan Francisco, welcomed the SierraClub to his “49 square milessurrounded by reality” by asserting that

From the Summit

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Filmed & presented by Walter Robie.

Join Chapter members on Tuesday, October 18th, at 7:00 p.m. at theLudwick Center in San Luis Obispo, to enjoy this remarkablepresentation of Walter’s life-changing experience in ANWR.

Walter writes:

“I floated through the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, down the HulaHula River, from the headwaters in the Brooks range to the ice-cloggedBeaufort Sea. My camera burned through film. It was an awesomeexperience—like the first day of creation. Here nature still rules. I sensedI was only a visitor—even an intruder—in this land of the 130-thousandPorcupine Caribou herd, of polar and grizzly bears, wolves, muskoxen,millions of birds, and zillions of mosquitoes. Everything about this landhas the feel and the sound of the wild.”

Santa Lucian • October 2005 3

continued from page 1Cambria

decimated one of the world’s rareststands of Monterey pines, protectedby a conservation easement. Theeasement had been purchased by theNature Conservancy and the peopleof California from the rancher whoowned the land. The CCSD invokedeminent domain, seized the land andproposed to violate the conservationeasement. “Fire!,” they cried. “Earth-quake! Flood! Any minute now, wecould burn to the ground!” Theyapplied for an emergency permit toescape Coastal Commission review. The Coastal Commission pointedout that emergency permits are onlyfor actual emergencies, issued acease and desist order, madeCambria’s emergency permit goaway, and told the CCSD to scaleback their plan for giant water tanksand get them out of the ESHA. This made the CCSD very un-happy. They sued the Coastal Com-mission and the County, claiming theCoastal Commission had no jurisdic-tion over water projects in theCoastal Zone. This was very silly, sothey lost, but the judge held the caseopen so the court could assure itselfthat the parties cooperated in mov-ing towrd an approved tank design. Because the case was technicallystill open, the CCSD took the oppor-tunity to cooperate, brandishingsubpoenas and depositions, by goinghunting for private citizens who hadspoken against the now defunctESHA-bashing tank plan. In public meetings, Board Presi-dent Greg Sanders has attempted topresent the CCSD as defending itselfagainst the legal assault of the Cali-fornia Coastal Commission, makingthe eyebrow-raising claim that it wasthe Commission who sued the CCSDover the water tanks.Legal counsel ArtMontandon hasstated that the CCSDBoard has spent“around $50,000”on the matter, de-spite the Tribune’sreporting more than$400,000 ofCambria ratepayers’money expended asof last February, andthe fact that the

since the statement of SupervisingDeputy Attorney General JohnSaurenman was read back to them at

August 25, 2005

To: the Cambria CSDPresident Greg SandersVice President Don VilleneuveDirector Peter ChaldecottDirector Joan CobinDirector Ilan Funke-Bilu

From: Jan Howell Marx, Esq.

Re: Threatened subpoena of Eric Greening and Pam Heatherington

I urge the Cambria Community Services District (“CCSD” or “District”) withdraw your statement to the California AttorneyGeneral’s Office that you intend to subpoena Eric Greening and/or Pamela Heatherington. I am an attorney, but do not represent EricGreening and/or Pamela Heatherington at the present time. You are urged to make such withdrawal by resolution or by letter of in-struction to your contract attorney David Cumberland, copy to the Attorney General’s office and Eric Greening and/or PamelaHeatherington. Failure to do so will risk liability on the part of the CCSD under the US and California Constitution, the Brown Actand the Anti-SLAPP Act.

During the CCSD meeting of July 28, 2005, which I have reviewed on videotape, a number of CCSD Directors questioned whetherthe District ever really did threaten to subpoena Eric Greening and/or Pamela Heatherington. Several of you accused citizens testify-ing to that effect of lying. Perhaps the District’s legal counsel does not keep you fully informed. It is a matter of Public Record thatthe District has threatened to subpoena Eric Greening and/or Pamela Heatherington. Attached is the Declaration of John Saurenman,Deputy Attorney General dated June 23, 2005, which at page 3 states that contract legal counsel for the CCSD did indicate thatthey did indeed intend to subpoena both Eric Greening and Pamela Heatherington. Either your legal counsel did not keep you fullyinformed, or various Directors were being untruthful at the July 28, 2005, meeting. Either way, you cannot now deny that theCCSD has made this threat; you have it in writing right in front of you.

There is no doubt that since June of 2005, the CCSD has been threatening to subpoena Eric Greening and Pam Heatherington totestify regarding the Cross Complaint of the California Coastal Commission (“CCC”) to the lawsuit filed by the CCSD against theCCC, regarding the Pine Knolls tank project, San Luis Obispo County Superior Court case no. CV 041032. The threat of subpoenahas been hanging over their heads like a Sword of Damocles. The purpose of a threat is to intimidate, and when it comes from apublic entity against a citizen who has merely testified, it chills Freedom of Speech for all citizens. This threat must be withdrawn.

There is no viable legal basis for deposing either Eric Greening or Pam Heatherington. The CCSD lost the Pine Knolls lawsuit andhas appealed it. The cross-complaint was dismissed by the CCC. Furthermore, neither the testimony of Eric Greening nor of PamelaHeatherington has any relevance to the case. All they did was testify before the CCSD in public hearings, which is protected speechunder the US and California Constitutions. The threat of deposing them must be withdrawn.

The CCSD’s threat to depose Eric Greening and Pamela Heatherington is intended to intimidate them, make them (and everyoneelse) fearful about testifying and retaliate against them for criticizing the CCSD during public hearings. “The use of the machinery ofthe legal system for an ulterior motive is a classic indicia of the tort of abuse of process.” Coleman v. Gulf Ins. (1986) 41 Cal. 3d782, 792. Abuse of the subpoena power constitutes abuse of process under the law. This kind of abuse of power has become fash-ionable today among certain extreme legal litigants, in the tradition of the House Un-American Activities Committee of the 1950’s.

Whether a governmental entity threatening to depose someone—who has only testified at a public hearing andwhose testimony has no relevance in a lawsuit which is on appeal and therefore cannot take further testi-mony—constitutes abuse of process is an interesting legal question. But does the CCSD really want to be atest case?

If the CCSD had subpoenaed either Eric Greening and/or Pamela Heatherington, you would have been quicklyserved with a Motion to Quash and Motion for Protective Order. And you would lose, big time, because 1) thematter is on appeal (thus all testimony has been already entered); and 2) Eric Greening and/or PamelaHeatherington’s testimony has no relevance. A motion to quash will be granted where there is no informationsought reasonably calculated to lead to discovery of admissible evidence in the pending action. Not that therereally is a pending action, in this case, because the CCSD has lost the case. Plus, it is entirely possible thatbesides losing such a motion to Quash, the District would be subject to sanctions for its intentional conduct.

Furthermore, the Anti-SLAPP statute protects any written or oral statement or writing made in a place open to the public or publicforum in connection with an issue of public interest or any other conduct in furtherance of the exercise of the constitutional right offree speech in connection with a matter of public interest. It protects against the use of the courts or the discovery process to dis-courage free speech. California Civil Code section 425.16(e}. Does the CCSD want to be a test case in this regard as well?

In addition, by threatening to subpoena citizens for testifying at a public hearing the CCSD risks liability under the Brown Act,Government Code section 54954.3(c), which states that ”the legislative body of a local agency shall not prohibit public criticism ofthe policies, procedures, programs or services of the agency, or of the acts or omissions of the legislative body…” For you to retali-ate against members of the public who criticize the CCSD in any way, including threat of subpoena, violates the Brown Act.

No other governmental entity in this County has ever abused the subpoena power the way the CCSD is doing right now. The com-munity will not tolerate this kind of governmental intimidation against citizens who are exercising their freedom of speech. TheCCSD is urged to withdraw its threat to subpoena Eric Greening and/or Pamela Heatherington immediately. Failure to do so willdemonstrate the District’s deliberate intent to violate the First Amendment rights of Eric Greening and Pamela Heatherington andchill the freedom of speech of those testifying at public hearings.

Sincerely,

Jan Howell Marx

right to subpoena, Board memberIlan Funke-Bilu, at their July meeting,memorably likened this to the neces-sity of investigating a terrorist. TheCCSD Board has become somewhatless stout in denying their intentions

their August 25 meeting. Deputy AGSaurenman testified that CCSD coun-sel notified him of his intent to takedepositions from Ms. Heatheringtonand Mr. Greening. Mr. Sauren-man“informed Mr. Cumberland that this

discovery did not seek relevant evi-dence.” (See Jan Marx’s letter to theCambria CSD, above.)

Meanwhile, the CCSD continues topush back against its now CoastalCommission-approved revised watertank site plan — still lobbying forstorage capacity beyond that re-quired for daily services and emer-

gencies — continues to pour resi-dents’ money down a legal rat hole,and continues to send a message the

length and breadth of the CentralCoast: Planning to testify against theplans of a local government agencyin a public meeting? Get ready foryour subpoena.

NGK&E works to “overcome the raft of legal, environmental and political obstacles that stand in the way of development...” and “has a national reputationfor the successful defense of large infrastructure and development projects against environmental challenges.”

-- website of real estate law firm Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott, employers of CCSD President Greg Sanders

CCSD has lavished fur-ther funds on lobbyists and the ser-vices of two outside legal firms sincethen in the quest to make the Califor-nia Coastal Act not apply to them. They are also making the claimthat the $400,000 spent by the dis-trict in ongoing redesign and engi-neering fees is the fault of the CoastalCommission rather than the CambriaCSD, which could have avoided theexpense by submitting for countyreview a project designed to complywith San Luis Obispo’s Local CoastalPlan in the first place. In addition to taking these posi-tions at odds with reality, the CCSDBoard stoutly maintained that it hasmade no move to subpoena PamHeatherington and Eric Greening,two of the most effective environ-mental activists on the Central Coast,who spoke against the District’s now-discarded tank siting plan in publichearings. In defending the CCSD’s

Jan Marx explains it to the CCSD

AGP Video


Over five years ago, the Central CoastRegional Water Quality ControlBoard ordered the Diablo CanyonNuclear Power Plant to cease & desistin the destruction of marine wildlifevia the plant’s cooling system, whichsucks in sea water, along with a fewmillion fish and crab larvae andplankton, and then spews it outagain, dead, in water 20 degrees hot-ter. These destructive “once-through”cooling systems are now under stifflegal challenge nationwide as a viola-tion of the Clean Water Act, and, bythis time next year, the EPA is likelyto bar power plants from using theantiquated technology or presumingto mitigate its damage — settingaside land in conservation easements,funding artificial reef habitat or nofishing reserves while continuing torip a large hole in the web of near-shore marine life. But PG&E and the Water Boarddrafted a settlement that proposedprecisely that kind of mitigation dealin an effort by the utility to avoidhaving to spend the money to installclosed-cycle cooling towers at DiabloCanyon. Closed-cycle coolingwouldn’t suck in marine life or heatthe water for miles around the plant. On September 9, the Water Boardmet to review the situation. TheDepartment of Fish and Game, SierraClub, Surfrider, the Ocean Conser-vancy and other groups and individu-als testified against signing off onany plan that would allow PG&E toclaim mitigation of all their nuclearplant’s present and future destructionof marine life and habitat while itcontinues to destroy it. We pointedout that no mitigation can providethe equivalent of the 60 to 90% re-duction in impacts required by cur-rent EPA rules, and that those ruleswere likely to get even tougher oncethe 2nd Circuit Court of Appealsrules on a pending lawsuit that couldoutlaw the cooling system used byDiablo Canyon. The court’s ruling isexpected next summer. At the meeting, the Water Boardsettled for pursuing the conservationeasement as mitigation for past —

A report released in September by TheSierra Club Southern California For-ests Campaign takes an in-depth lookat numerous challenges facing thefour national forests of southern Cali-fornia. The report, “At Risk: SouthernCalifornia’s Magnificent NationalForests,” documents the damagingimpacts of several proposed projects,including plans to flood a popularrecreation area for a private hydro-electric plant, build a toll roadthrough wilderness-quality lands, drillfor oil in condor habitat, and con-struct massive power transmissionlines along a spectacular scenic vista. “The national forests of SouthernCalifornia face new and rapidly grow-ing threats to their long-term healthand natural beauty. The Forest Servicemust act decisively so that these spec-tacular, unspoiled places are con-served for future generations of south-ern Californians,” said Doug Hansen,President of the California Chapter ofREP America (Republicans for Envi-ronmental Protection —www.rep.org). The report was issued as the ForestService prepared to release its finalLand Management Plans for the LosPadres, Angeles, San Bernardino, andCleveland National Forests. Stretching from Monterey to Baja,the forests are visited by over eightmillion people a year—twice thenumber of visitors to Yosemite Na-tional Park. These local forests arewhere many children play in snow forthe first time, see their first pineconesand deer, and wade in their first creek.“So many people come up here onweekends with their kids, their bikes,to find some peace and get in touchwith nature,” said Chay Peterson, amountain biker and resident ofSilverado Canyon, which neighbors anarea of the Cleveland National Forestthreatened by a proposed toll road.“What is sacred and special about thisarea, and so beneficial to the residentsof southern California, is going to belost forever if it’s paved over.” The report illustrates how majornew developments are encircling ourforests, threatening vital wildlife mi-gration trails, increasing the risk offire, and threatening recreation oppor-tunities. As the amount of open space

not future — thermal impacts ofDiablo’s cooling water. (The conser-vation easement is highly fraught inits own right, as, at PG&E’s insis-tence, it can be revoked at any timeif the state or feds pass any regula-tions that “would require the Com-pany to comply with a more strin-gent standard with respect tothermal effluent limitations thanexists in the Plant’s currentPermit...or that would require acooling water system technologythat is more costly or burdensomethan the [present] cooling waterintake and discharge system....”) TheChapter duly warned the Board ofthe trap awaiting them there. Beyond that, the board decided toawait review of two studies of justhow much damage Diablo is doing— one by independent scientists andone by PG&E. The scientists con-cluded that PG&E is doing a lot ofdamage off the Central Coast. Theutility concluded that it’s not, andthat any compensation they are re-quired to make should be minimal.At the meeting, their representativestestified that under the economictheory of “non-use value,” they arenot destroying anything unique.That is, lakes, rivers, streams, trees,marine wildlife, etc., all exist inother places, and, as they are allsubstitutes for each other, no claimto special value can be made whenthey are destroyed somewhere else. As the day wore on and it becameclear that there was no action theWater Board could take that was notlikely to be rendered moot by thecourt in short order, the meeting’smost refreshing exchange transpiredbetween frustrated board memberGary Shallcross and Chairman Jef-frey Young, when Shallcross said theboard should simply once again tellDiablo to cease & desist destroyingmarine life with its fatal coolingwater, and mean it. “They can’t cease,” replied Young. “They can’t cease?,” saidShallcross. “No, they can’t cease.” “Sure they can,” said Shallcross.“They can throw a switch.”

SouthernCaliforniaForests FaceUncertainFutureReport Identifies Leading Threatsto Region’s Last Natural Areas

Saving Los PadresBy Barbara BoxerUnited States Senator

Los Padres National Forest stretchesfrom Monterey County to the edgeof Los Angeles County, encompass-ing about 1.75 million acres of cen-tral California’s most scenic areas.Residents of Monterey, San LuisObispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura andKern counties can all easily enjoythis wonderful natural area, andpeople come from all across thenation to enjoy the hiking, fishing,camping and other activities it of-fers. Besides first-class recreation,the Los Padres watershed also helpsto provide California with rich, purewater resources. I am pleased to join forces withCongressmembers Lois Capps andSam Farr and Senator Dianne Fein-stein in introducing legislation toprotect Los Padres National Forestfrom the damage that would resultfrom mining and oil and gas drill-ing and development. A proposal was recentlyannounced that would open newsections of Los Padres to oil and gasdrilling. The expansion of oil andgas claims or mining in Los Padreswould result in limited supplies ofnatural gas or gasoline whilecausing permanent damage in pris-tine, wild areas. And the damagedoes not end with environmentaldegradation because there wouldalso be a loss to the economicvitality of this region that dependson tourism and fishing. Our billwould ban further development ofmining and oil and gas claims in allof Los Padres National Forest. Los Padres National Forest pro-vides diverse wildlife habitat, richwater resources and pricelessrecreation and wilderness exper-iences. I am pleased to work for itsprotection from the damage that oiland gas drilling and mining wouldbring.continued on page 9

The California Energy Commissionhas released a report on the future ofnuclear power that emphasizes thehigh hurdles utilities must surmountif they wish to continue operatingnuclear power plants in the state --and, by extension, the rest of thecountry. The report examines issues such astransportation and disposal of thespent fuel,replacement ofaging plantcomponents,and potentialextensions ofoperatinglicenses. The Alliancefor NuclearResponsibilityparticipated intwo days ofworkshops inSacramento lastmonth thatserved as thebasis for theEnergy

Energy Commission RaisesNuclear Concerns for CaliforniaAlliance calls for review of license extensions for nuclear plants

Commission’s report. “The Alliance is pleased that itsefforts to convince state regulatorsand legislators that the economicrisks of continuing to operateCalifornia’s nuclear plants beyondtheir current licenses has resulted ina active and informed dialogue on

Patty Andreen, David Weisman and Rochelle Becker at a meeting of theAlliance for Nuclear Responsibilty

continued on page 9

Diablo’s Other ProblemBy Andrew Christie, Chapter Coordinator


In September, the Chapter waspleased to be able to pledge amatching grant of $2,500 to Save thePark, the group of Morro Bay citizenswho are suing the State Departmentof Parks and Recreation over unper-mitted tree removal and habitat

destruction infive State Parkunits in SanLuis Obispo, inviolation of theLocal CoastalPlan. The suitalso seeks tocompel theCounty and theCoastal Com-mission to en-force the rou-tinely ignoredconditions of theCoastal Development Permits issuedto the Parks Department. For the past year, the Parks Dept.has been throwing up a barrage of“demurrers” — legal delaying tactics— requiring Save the Park to expendmoney and resources on filing replybriefs. The citizens’ group has raisedand spent $20,000 for legal costs viabake sales and local fundraisers andis now close to getting its day incourt. “It is a shame that our citizensmust sue public agencies to forcethem to protect public lands, just asthe Chapter had to sue State Parks tobuy adequate studies and somebreathing room for the snowyplover,” said Chapter Chair KarenMerriam. “We commend Save thePark for seeking to compel adequatepublic review and enforcement of thelaws that protect wildlife and habitaton our coast.” The Chapter also pledged $500toward the preparation of a legalopinion on the proposed Rural

Putting Money to Work

Condemned to die: These trees at Morro Bay State Park (left) andMontana de O ro (right) are a f ew of those “girdled” and p oisoned bythe State Department of Parks and Recreation.

Worthy causes win fundingPlanned Development ordinance.Paso Watch is organizing oppositionto perhaps the worst land usemeasure ever to come down the pike.The RPD ordinance is a developer’s

Out of destruction — the denuding and erosion of more than 200 acres near Creston, choking atributary of the Salinas River with silt and obliterating wildlife and fish — there shall comerestoration, via $100,000 in local environmental projects.

brought a civil liability actionagainst the two for allowing massiveerosion and discharge of silt into ablue line creek, but sought to fine thedischargers only $25,000 each —

simply reimbursement for staff costsincurred in handling the cases. Wetestified that that wasn’t nearlyenough, and the Board agreed,directing staff to go back and tryagain. Staff came back with fines of$100,00 for Haig Kelegian and$125,000 for David Pierson. Kelegian’s fine was allowed to bewhisked out of the County and into ageneral state fund in Sacramento (anaction we are appealing to the stateWater Board), but Pierson wasallowed to designate most of his finefor “Supplemental EnvironmentalProjects,” a Regional Water Boardprogram that allows fines fordischarge violations damaging awatershed to go to local projects

designed to restore that samewatershed. Chapter staff and volunteerspariticipated with Water Boad staffand the discharger’s representative inthe process of identifying andprioritizing appropriate projects andsetting funding levels for nearly$100,000 from the Pierson fineearmarked to go toward the com-pletion of selected local projects. Innegotiations, three nominees werefound acceptable to the Chapter, theWater Board staff and the discharger,and their restoration projects wereratified at the Board’s September 9meeting: - $7,314 to the Atascadero LandPreservation Society’s Stadium Parkfencing project - $70,586 to the San Miguel/Salinas River Riparian Restorationand Bank Stabilization Project (withpipe fencing to keep out determineddirt bikers intent on trespassing) - $19,050 to the County ParksFoundation to purchase surplusBureau of Land Management parcelsaround Santa Margarita Lake. The third project will do the mostto restore the watershed, foreclosingfuture development and all theimpacts it would bring at theheadwaters of the Salinas River. In a time of scarce funding forprojects seeking to improve waterquality and restore habitat in theCounty, the Chapter was pleased toparticipate in a process that makesup that shortfall by collecting signifi-cant fines from the environmentalgross malefactors who make suchprojects necessary.

dream that would blast open virtuallyall remaining ag land and open spacein the county to L.A.-style sprawl. The legal opinion, relatedmaterials and backgroundinformation (See: “The RPD MustDie!” at www.santalucia.sierraclub.org) will be presented to localadvisory councils in advance of anupcoming public meeting betweenall the councils and the CountyPlanning Department.

Ever since a pair of L.A. landspeculators “grubbed” 239 acres ofprime grasslands near Creston in2002, violating the Clean Water Actin the process, the Santa LuciaChapter has steadily pressed forjustice and restitution. After two years, the staff of theRegional Water Board finally

$100K Secured forSalinas WatershedRestoration

10-15% off for Santa Lucian readers!

The 2006 Sierra Club calendars are now available, and they are gorgeous.Your purchase goes directly to funding the Santa Lucia Chapter’s efforts forour land, air, water, and quality of life in San Luis Obispo.

Wilderness wall (spiral bound, cover 1-4 5 or morepicture every month) $11.95 $11.53 $10.89

Engagement (spiral bound, $12.95 $12.50 $11.81picture every week)

- price includes tax and 10% discount (1 to 4) or 15% discount (5 or more).

For mail orders, write or call the Chapter office, p.o. box 15755, San LuisObispo, CA 93406; (805) 543-8717. For in-town pick up, call Bonnie at543-7051.


Dinner?continued from page 1

is a drastic difference. While conven-tional breeders face natural barriersthat prevent unrestricted gene trans-fer between unrelated species, ge-netic engineers bypass this protectivebarrier by combining genes fromtotally unrelated species. Further-more, the technology involved intransferring foreign genes is impre-cise, unstable, and unpredictable, sothat engineers have no way of pre-dicting how GMOs will behave oncereleased into the environment. The Sierra Club calls for:

* Extensive, rigorous research onthe potential long term environmen-tal and health impacts of GMOs be-fore they are released into the envi-ronment.* Use of the precautionary principle,whereby: (1) harm is avoided beforescientific certainty has been estab-lished, and (2) the burden of proof ison those with the power and re-sources to prevent harm.* Mandatory environmental impact

statements to be made for every eco-system into which any new GMO is tobe introduced. These should bebased on rigorous science and openpublic debate.* An end to the concept of “substan-tial equivalence” by our regulatoryagencies as a ploy to sidestep safetystudies and oversight responsibili-ties. For example, toxins meant tokill insects are being geneticallyengineered into plants, yet the conse-quences of these toxins in the diets ofhumans, livestock, beneficial insects,and wildlife are unknown.* Mandatory labeling of geneticallyaltered products in a manner that iseasily discernible. All consumers,both citizen and corporate, shouldbe given the right to choose whatthey buy.

This county needs to make it clearto Washington and federal regula-tory agencies that it affirms this ba-sic principle.

What’s Up with the GMO Task Force?Preordained conclusions on genetically engineered foods seem nigh

By Andrew ChristieChapter Coordinator

The County Health Department’sGMO Task Force – tasked with deter-mining whether the County shouldsupport the labeling of geneticallymodified organisms, aka geneticallyengineered (GE) food – met on Sep-tember 6. The task force seemed uncertain asto its mission and reason for being.Members expressed and agreed withthe perspective that exploring theissue of health concerns related togenetically engineered foods is sim-ply a matter of “which lie you want tobelieve” and that the task force couldfulfill its mandate by simply present-ing to the Health Commission thearguments for and against geneti-cally engineered foods, conclude thatthere are two sides to the issue, andleave it at that. Should this course be followed, thetask force will not be telling theHealth Commission, the Board ofSupervisors, or San Luis Obispo resi-dents who followed last year’s Mea-sure Q debate anything they do notalready know. Much in evidence at the meetingwas a belief that holds that scientistswho report problems with GE tech-nology or its products “have anagenda,” whereas those who defendthe technology, dismiss concerns,perceive no problems, or attack themethodology and competence ofcritics, do not. The work of Dr. Arpad Pusztai, asubject of debate in the task force, isa case in point. The world’s leadingauthority on lectin proteins, he wasaccused of making an elementaryblunder, using a known toxic lectinin a research experiment that foundtoxic effects on rats that were fedgenetically engineered potatoes. Thecharge was false — he had used aharmless snowdrop lectin — but hewas gagged by his employers whilebeing attacked in the press on thebasis of the false charge. Later, his

Engineering ConsentBy Elizabeth Johnson

All those who voted for Measure Qlast year — over 43,000 voters —expected those numbers would countwhen it came to settingfuture official policy ongenetically modifiedorganisms in this county.I regret to state that theopposite has happened. Under the banner ofthe SLO County HealthCommission, the FarmBureau and its pro-GMOfriends have managed toco-opt the discussion onhealth and safety issuesin GE food in the HealthCommission’s GMO Task Force. Howdid this happen? Measure Q was citi-zen/consumer-based, a people’s at-tempt to move local laws to protect

Read The Sierra Club Genetic EngineeringCommittee’s report “Genetic Engineering

at a Historic Crossroads,” atwww.sierraclub.org/biotech/report.asp

ents was later discovered by theGuardian of London — afterChapela, despite the unanimousrecommendation of his depart-ment, had been denied tenureand fired by UC Berkeley, whichhad recently signed a $50-mil-lion research contract withbiotech giant Syngenta. It is not surprising that themajority of researchers in-volved with and heavily in-vested in their vocation willdefend against anything theyperceive as an attack, nor thatan industry would move to pro-tect a multi-billion dollar in-vestment. Any study or method-ology can be picked apart foralleged flaws, and whistle-blow-ers are never in a majority. Therein may lie the answer tothe question asked at the meet-

our food security. It was completelyvolunteer and those of us who spentcountless hours in the trenches

needed to work andattend to our familiesafter the election.Some of us appliedfor the Task Force.All were rejected. In August, I startedattending the TaskForce meetings whenMark Phillips gavehis presentation onlabeling of GE foodproducts. We were

told by the Chair that the groupwould not take any stance on label-ing, period. The mission statementincluded labeling as a ‘consideration.’Something was amiss. I got copies of

findings were con-firmed by an AberdeenUniversity pathologist,published in the Britishmedical journal Lancetand supported by a 20-member internationalscientific panel, after a

Tarren Collins, Coastal C

By Sandra Sarrouf

The movement to support local agri-culture in our County has gained mo-mentum over the past few years. Weare blessed in San Luis Obispo Countywith some of the best agricultural landin the world, a climate that supportsyear round growing and a number offamily farms stillin operation. Likemany rural com-munities, we areat risk of losingour agriculturallands and openspace to urbansprawl. One wayof ensuring theviability of oursmall farms is todirectly supportthem. Many farm-ers sell at Far-mer’s Market’s orthrough otherdirect markets,including farm

Support YourLocal Farm

Health Commission minutes andpublic comment statements to try tosee what happened. All 43,000 of us have been had. Itturns out that “stakeholders” arepeople who collect a salary whilethey lobby. As such, they are allowedto direct the discourse, unless toomany citizens complain. This is nota small matter. As a public-acces-sible Task Force, this committee hasweight and will be allowed to reportits findings to both the Health Com-mission and the county Board ofSupervisors. We hoped to enter aresolution for labeling of GE foodsin this little committee and let itwend its way toward the more pow-erful voices, onward to state andnational politicos. This will never

year of relentless indus-try attack had alreadydestroyed his career. This was similar to theattacks on Dr. IgnacioChapela after he re-ported the spread oftransgenic genes of cornimported from the U.S.to native Mexican maize.Conclusive evidence thatthe attacks were orches-trated by a Washingtonp.r. firm that specializesin biotech industry cli-

A recent Greenpeace report gives a clue as to the nature of the resistance tolabeling genetically modified food.

stands, Community Supported Agri-culture Programs (CSA) and directsales to local vendors such as restau-rants and grocery stores. As a con-sumer it is always a benefit to yourfarm to ask where the produce youbuy comes from, or where the

veggies in your mealcame from and pro-mote the buying oflocal produce. The Cal Poly Or-ganic Farm (CPOF)has started workingwith various organicgrowers in theCounty to develop anetwork of farmersproviding local pro-duce to its CSA Pro-gram, to the Cal PolyCampus, as well as toGrocery Stores in-cluding Vons in SanLuis and Food 4 Less.Creating a network

Mark Phillips

continued on page 9

continued on page 9


Cell Towercontinued from page 1

By Cornell University News Service

Organic farming produces the sameyields of corn and soybeans as doesconventional farming, but uses 30percent less energy, less water andno pesticides, a review of a 22-yearfarming trial study concludes. David Pimentel, a Cornell Univer-sity professor of ecology and agri-

tions in a way that accomplishes thesame thing. It often takes decades forpublic policy to catch up with scien-tific research. We need to err on theside of caution as best we can in writ-ing zoning by-laws. It’s the one realhandle we actually have.” “I have learned a vital lessonthrough this experience,” said coali-tion member Judy Vick. “It is impor-tant for us to know one another and itis important that we speak up whensomething as important as our healthis jeopardized, even when we are told‘You can’t win, the Board rarely up-holds appeals.’” The success of a scrappy group ofLos Osos residents is an example ofthe power of local organizing and thedifference it can make when youshow up to look decision-makers inthe eye when they have to vote on acontentious issue. The Coastal ViewProtection Coalition had no experi-ence in lobbying or local politics;they were just local residents whoknew they didn’t want a cell tower intheir neighborhood and set about thetask of informing themselves as towhat they could do about it. And then they did it.

culture is the lead author of a studythat is published in the July issue ofBioscience (Vol. 55:7) analyzing theenvironmental, energy and economiccosts and benefits of growing soy-beans and corn organically versusconventionally. The study is a review

for local distribution or organic andsustainably farmed products is anexciting opportunity for the CPOF. The CPOF is just ending theirSpring/Summer 26 week seasonCSA season with members receivingseasonal fruits and vegetables everyweek. We had about 180 members,successfully networked with countygrowers and began our Free RangeEgg program. The CPOF will bestarting their Fall and Winter SeasonOctober 17th and welcome newmembers to the farm. It is a greattime to start as the Fall season is 9weeks and is a good trial period forfolks who want to experience a CSAprogram. Each week members willreceive a harvest box of freshly har-vested produce, a newsletter withrecipes and can also sign up to re-ceive free range organic eggs.

Community Supported Agriculturecreates a direct relationship betweenyou and our farm – a partnership, ifyou will. In essence, it is a mutuallybeneficial arrangement, where inexchange for your commitment tobuy a share in our farm’s harvest,students and staff commit to growhigh quality vegetables, herbs andfruit, and deliver a bountiful portionof it to you every week of the season.All the produce is harvest the sameday you receive it so freshness andnutrition is at it’s peak. In additionmembers receive a weekly newsletterwith recipes and farm news.

If you would like to learn moreabout the Cal Poly Organic Farm orabout CSA programs please contactus at 756-6139 or visitwww.calpoly.edu/~sarc/csa.htm.

of the Rodale Institute Farming Sys-tems Trial, the longest running com-parison of organic vs. conventionalfarming in the United States. “Organic farming approaches forthese crops not only use an average of

Organic Farming Produces Same Corn andSoybean Yields as Conventional Farms

By Jack Beigle

Dinner Picnic on theSandspit

30 percent less fossil energy but alsoconserve more water in the soil, in-duce less erosion, maintain soil qual-ity and conserve more biologicalresources than conventional farmingdoes,” Pimentel added.

But consumes less energy and no pesticides

One of my favorite canoe sayings isthat you never place your paddle inthe same river twice. The idea is thatNature is constantly changing. If youare observant you can see changes allaround you. We didn’t have to look hard to seethe changes on Morro Bay Estuary theevening of our dinner picnic on thesandspit. We launched eleven boats at5:00 on a cool Saturday evening. Wecould see the sandspit but light fogwas blowing our way. In our skipper’smeeting I asked everyone to stay in atight group in case the fog becamethicker. We had several boats withcompasses and we were set for deadreckoning if necessary but all boatshad to stay in sight of each other atall times. When we were halfway across theestuary, the fog did thicken and wecould no longer see the spit. After aquick count of the boats (we still hadeleven boats in sight), it was evidentthat we could no longer see the main-land nor any moored boats or land-marks in any direction. We couldonly see fog in every direction out-side our small cluster of boats. Itgives you an odd feeling. We confi-dently paddled our compass courseand landed on the sandspit rightwhere we wanted to be. After beaching our boats, we founda warm spot in the wind shadow of alarge dune. We enjoyed a good din-ner picnic and good conversation. Aswe launched our boats for the returntrip, what appeared to be a very largesea otter floated by. It seemed extralarge because in the dense fog oureyes had no reference points to indi-cate how far the otter was from us. It

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was big because it was close to us butit seemed far away in the fog and ourminds were telling us that the ottermust be over six feet long. As we paddled our compass courseback to the marina, we again lostsight of everything but our group. Itgives you a warm feeling to see themarina materialize out of the fog. Wereturned with eleven boats and a lotof good memories of our adventurethat we can share when friends ask“why do you enjoy going to the sameplace every year?” Check the outing schedule and joinus on the water.

Chapter Resolutions passed bySierra Club Cal-Nev Committee

continued on page 8

The Sierra Club’s California NevadaRegional Conservation Committeemet at Rancho El Chorro Educa-tional Center September 24 and 25. Four important workshopsoccupied Saturday morning, whereenergy, population, political, andagriculture were discussed at length.After lunch, a lengthy agendaoccupied the 45 delegates until noonon Sunday. The election of officers for thefollowing year produced thefollowing results: Chair – CalFrench; Vice Chair North – Pat Jones;Vice Chair South – Ken Smokoska;

Conservation Committee Liaison –Allen Eberhardt; North Secretary –David Underwood; South Secretary –Lorraine Unger; Treasurer – DanSullivan. Congratulations to ourchapter ExCom member Cal French. The CNRCC then approved ourCharter, including our chosen nameof California Nevada RegionalConservation Committee. Thecharter will function similar tobylaws, since there is now no systemof regional conservation committeesnationally. As this entity we will nowseek funding from national com-

By Louise “Letty” French, CNRCC delegate

CPOF workers consult on small farming issues.


Summitcontinued from page 2

cities can act when federal and stategovernments fail to addressenvironmental issues. San Franciscohas required allretired city ve-hicles to bereplaced by hy-brids, has em-barked upon anaggressive greenbuilding program,and has been thefirst US city toadopt thePrecautionaryPrinciple as aguiding policy. Bill McDonough,the author ofCradle to Cradleand prophet of theSecond IndustrialRevolution, asked “how do we loveall the children of all species for alltime?” McDonough often works withpeople the Sierra Club is alignedagainst, such as the Ford MotorCompany, for which he designed agreen assembly plant in DearbornMichigan. McDonough and hiscompany devise products, buildings,industrial processes and citiesaccording to standards that requirezero waste and zero pollution. Heshowed us some of his ecotopianplans for the construction of sevennew cities commissioned by thegovernment of China which he saidhas adopted Cradle to Cradle as theirindustrial policy. Less optimistically,he alerted us to the fact that theworld’s oceans are rapidly loweringin Ph, and that if the present trendcontinues, by the year 2100, calciumcarbonate willdissolve, destroy-ing all coral andmolluscs—thebottom of the foodchain. WhileMcDonough spoketo an audience of800, six otherpresentations weretaking place simul-taneously. For thelate afternoon ses-sion, I attended asmall one on“engaging youth”mounted by theSierra StudentCoalition. Theseyoung people organize projects like“Victoria’s Dirty Secret” exposing thepractices of the catalog industrywhich is destroying boreal andAppalachian forests to produce junkmail. SSC may be able to help us starta local group bringing together highschool, college and universitystudent allies. Delegates convened againSaturday morning from 7:30 to 11:30to prioritize means to achieve goalsprioritized the day before. Firstplace went to organizing peoplelocally to take action. Second wascreating new allies and coalitions.Others included supplyingenvironmental expertise, gettingpeople outdoors, public education,bringing legal action and creatingmedia visibility. Delegates were thentreated to a lengthy study by HarvardProfessor Marshall Ganz on how theclub could increase generaleffectiveness (NPLA). He concludedwe need motivated well trainedleaders and lots of attention toengaging new members in clubactivities. If interested, seewww.clubhouse.sierraclub.org/committees/oegc/workplan/index.html Saturday’s highlight for me was theplenary session featuring Robert F.Kennedy Jr. Security was extensive

and the great hall was even morepacked than for Gore. Hoarse withlaryngitis, at times desperate with

anger at others ecstatic with ardor,Kennedy repeatedly brought me totears. This is a personyou could follow to thebarricades. Presentedwith the Sierra Club’sWilliam O. Douglasaward, he spoke atlength about hischildhood relation withDouglas and then wenton to indict the presentadministration—headed by the worstenvironmental presi-dent in history who has corrupted allagencies by heading them with thebought dogs of the corpora-tionswho finance his campaigns. A formerNY state assistant attorney generalwho spearheaded the salvation of

New York’s Hudson River, Bobby’s sonspoke about his three sons who sufferfrom asthma brought on by theunprosecuted criminal activities ofcorporate polluters. He talked aboutthe subversion of the free market bythe corporations that now controlgovernment. He talked about theignorance of what’s going on causedby the corporate media’s refusal toreport it. He talked about his ownsuccess at awakening and convertingRed-state audiences. And finally herhapsodized at length about SaintFrancis, the Bible, religion and nature.You can find an early version of thisspeech at www.common dreams.org/views03/1120-01.htm A quiet and lyrical coda to thisRiverkeeper’s jeremiad came in apresentation by Robert Hass entitled“River of Words.” Another local as wellas national hero, Hass used his positionas former US poet laureate to create an

organization promotingenvironmental educationfor children. His objective,following Aldo Leopold, isto get them to “think like amountain.” As he does withhis students at UC BerkeleyHass encourages teachersto take their studentsoutdoors, to cultivate theirsenses and encourage theirobservations of nature, andthen to have them write

poems and draw pictures about theirexperiences. This traditional butnowadays rare approach has generatedthousands of submissions from aroundthe world which his organizationmakes available on-line and in

published collections, and whichin turn generate more rivers ofwords. Hass spent the hourshowing and commenting uponexquisite examples of thechildrens’ work. For moreinformation on this project see,www.riverofwords.org/index.html There was much more at thisamazing conference than can fithere. The impact of what I heardand saw is still not absorbed. Thesensation of simply beingtogether with so many people oflike mind, common loss andshared aspiration—people forwhom I immediately felt affectionand respect—will nourish me fora long time.

Resolutionscontinued from page 2

Phot

o: T

im L

esle

Al Gore’s speech is at www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/gorespeech/

Robert Hass

Santa Lucia Chapter delegate Steven Marx weighs in on natinoal priorities

mittees to fund our necessaryprojects. Dan Sullivan chaired thecommittee that slaved to producethis document and truly deserves alot of credit. This charter still needsapproval from Toiyabe Chapter,Sierra Club California ExCom, andthe national Board of Directors. Seven resolutions were presentedfor approval. Many lacked details forfunding or implementation and weretabled until problems could beresolved. Two resolutions proposedby our Santa Lucia chapter wereapproved in modified form. Theysupport the prohibiting of re-licensing of existing nuclear plantsuntil the problem of nuclear wastedisposal is solved, and oppose the useof once-through cooling for any ofthe 21 existing power plants on theCalifornia coast. Cal Frenchshepherded these resolutions toapproval. A group from Napa, Sonoma, andMedicino counties called FishFriendly Farming had a Powerpointpresentation of their environmentalcertification program, which helpsthe landowners comply with water

Films in October. $5 donation suggestedto cover expenses and help HopeDancewith its varied activities.

Soldiers Speak Outplus Caught in the Crossfire:The Untold Story of FallujaSat., Oct. 8, 7:00pm, SLO Library.

Screening of a work in progress to raisefinishing funds for Barbara Trent’sEmpowering Project, a voice for theanti-war and anti-occupation movementwithin the military and among militaryfamilies. It will be a tool for organizing,mobilizing, and counter-recruitment.Trailer can be seen atwww.empowermentproject.org/trailer.html. Suggested donation $10.Monies go to the filmmakers. Also a 30-minute film on Fallujah by SantaBarbara filmmaker Mark Manning.

Trudell the movieThurs., Oct. 13, 7:00 p.m., SLO Library.

The passionate, painful and multi-dimensional life of John Trudell, whowent from being a spokesperson for theIndians of All Tribes occupation ofAlcatraz Island in 1968 to Chairman ofthe American Indian Movement to aninternationally recognized poet,recording artist and actor. Includeshistoric footage that documents the riseof the American Indian Movement(AIM). Featuring Cherokee Chief WilmaMankiller, Jackson Browne, RobertRedford, Kris Kristofferson and others.Go to www.trudellthemovie.com to seethe trailer. A portion of the proceedsgoes to the filmmaker.

quality laws, pesticide and localregulation and the EndangeredSpecies Act. With voluntary enroll-ment, the landowners get a lot of helpfor compliance and recognition fortheir efforts. Our state director, Bill Allayaud,reported on the few successes andmany close misses of the legislativeyear. The Cache Creek Wild andScenic bill still is awaiting signing byGovernor Schwartzenegger, who hasproven to be less and less green. On apersonal note, Bill is getting married,and looked very happy. Harry Love from Bakersfieldreported on the success they have beenhaving on getting developers andsolar engineers together to attempt toget solar onto every new house andschool built in the area. One of thebiggest builders has decided to gosolar. A solar conference providedinformation and contacts for many ofthe businesses on how to get started. That’s a short summary. The truevalue of this meeting is the comingtogether and networking of devotedSierra Club members, sharing andworking together.

Internationally SpeakingWed., Oct. 19, 7:00pm, SLO Library.

See the view from outside the mediabubble. Voices from around the worldaddress America’s foreign policy,government, and people. In the midst ofgrowing international “anti-Americanism,” real people tellAmericans what they think and why inan attempt to further understanding.

Greg Junell’s 2nd Animation FestivalThurs., Oct. 20th, 7:00pm, SLO Library.

Since the first one last year was sosuccessful we asked Greg to return withmore of the same animations... and heagreed, armed with more potent andhumorous animations and short videostreams.

An Evening of Film & Discussion onAffordable HousingWed., Oct. 26, 7:00pm, SLO Library

With “Jerry” Rioux, Director of the SanLuis Obispo County Housing TrustFund. The featured film “Homes andHands: Community Land Trusts inAction” is an award-winning video thatintroduces and promotes the commu-nity land trust (CLT) model. CLTs createpermanently affordable housing bycombining community ownership ofthe land with individual home owner-ship. The film shows how the CLT ap-proach works in different kinds of com-munities. For clips from this film, go towww.womedia.org/hh_clips.htm

Latino Film FestivalSun., Oct. 30”Soldados” 1:30pm and 3:30pm , SLO Library”Macario” 1:30pm, Palm TheatreReception at 5:30pm

Presented by the Latino OutreachCouncil. Reception with author CharleyTrujillo at the new Gov. Center onMonterey from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.(Details in the current issue ofHopeDance).


The City of San Luis Obispo is com-ing down to the finish line in theeffort to “streamline” portions of theCity’s General Plan into the Conser-vation and Open Space Element(COSE), essentially a digest versionof open space provisions adopted bythe City in 1994. The update process began in late1998, halting in February 2003 asresidents raised concerns over thecontent of the Draft Element and theway the Commission was goingabout it. The process resumed inSeptember 2003 with provisions formore public participation.

San Luis Obispo is the first county inCalifornia to implement the OakWoodlands Conservation Bill, whichwent into effect on the first day of2005.

Authored by AssemblymemberSheila Kuehl, the new law appliesspecial provisions to projects that aresubject to the California Environ-mental Quality Act and projected toconvert or remove significant por-tions of oak woodlands. On-site re-planting of replacement trees cannotbe used for more than half the miti-gation of impacts, and the other halfmust be accomplished through eitheran off-site tree replacement fee orconservation easement. On the down side, alas, the newstate law does not provide guidanceon the calculation of how much re-placing a destroyed oak tree shouldcost. Left to their own devices, CountyPlanning staff have estimated thereplacement value of an oak tree at$662. The message to developers –cut all you want, they’re cheap! – isnot one this county should be send-ing, nor would it seem to be a veryeffective way to preserve oak wood-lands. The County’s calculation is basedon a SLO Land Conservancy oak re-placement budget spreadsheet. At the

County Moves to Protect Oaks (Cheaply)

City Moves to Protect Open Space from Open Space PlanActivist watchdogs, Planning Commission ride herd on unruly General Plan update

SLO first to enact state law, but...

ing by Task Force member Dr. ScottSteinmaus, who noted that GE criticsseem to “have this agenda,” and ifthey’re right, “why isn’t everyone elsehopping on board?” In commentingon the enormous pressures broughtto bear on him, Dr. Chapela said“They have made an example of me.Other scientists see this and decidethat maybe they should go back tostudying the bristles on the back of abug.” We would propose that the task ofthe GMO Task Force is relativelysimple. It need not devote time toexhaustive descriptions of RDNAtechnology delivered to support thecase for “substantial equivalence” norcompile the particulars of the debatenor find ways to attack the researchand researchers that have foundproblems with these foods. Rather, itneed only note theexceedingly smallnumber of peer-reviewed studies

start speaking up.The GMO TaskForce is a localversion of the kind of politicalcronyism that created the humantragedy in the Gulf states. If you can talk about food securityand what you expect from a balancedcommittee charge with studyinghealth effects from GMO food prod-ucts, then you should start writingthe Health Commission, the Board ofSupervisors, and Letters to the Edi-tor. Without your input, the HealthCommission GMO Task Force willreport to the Health Commissionthat GE food is safe, then do a jointpresentation to the Board of Supervi-sors in December, saying that GE

food and GE crops aresafe in every respect. Tellthem you disagree, andsay it loud. Ask the Health Com-mission to consider three

options in dealing with a Task Forcethat is functioning as a special inter-est group: 1) Disband the GMO Task Forceimmediately, based on its overwhelmingly biased membership. 2) Remove the Health Com-mission sponsorship and suggest that the meetings be held at the FarmBureau for the benefit of its membership. 3) Disband the Task Force andcreate a new, transparent and morerepresentative group that clearly hasits priorities in public health issues.

that have sought to measure the ef-fects of these foods on human health,that even among that small numberred flags have been raised, and con-clude that far more study needs to bedone and should have been donebefore the first such product wasallowed onto the market. When one side is saying thatthere’s absolutely no cause for con-cern when the most powerful tech-nology ever devised is creating neworganisms and unleashing themwithouat adequate testing for poten-tial effects on the environment orhuman health, and the other side issaying maybe it would be a good toknow what you’re eating before youbuy it, how hard is it to pick the rightside? Uncontested facts that werebrought forward in the course of themeeting — that the commercializa-

tion of GE foods has beena “large, unregulatedpublic health experi-

ment,” and that recombinant DNAtechnology differs from traditionalbreeding techniques in that it intro-duces foreign genes into organismsand these new organisms into theenvironment, and an inevitable resultis unforeseen consequences (see:increased lignin in Bt corn, unpre-dicted and undetected for five years).This should be sufficient cause forthe task force to report to the healthCommission that there are obvious,legitimate health concerns with GEfoods. Contact Mark Phillips for dates oftask force meetings and SLO GE-Freepresentations at the Board of Super-visors that you can come out to sup-port: [email protected], 461-0376.

In seeking to cut fat, Planningstaff’s scalpel has frequently slippedand cut bone, blurring definitionsand inserting new language thatwould allow, or cutting existing lan-guage that would prevent, “activerecreation” in undeveloped openspace — that is, activities appropriateto city parks, but which would de-grade areas meant to remain as muchas possible in a natural state for thebenefit of wildlife. When these instances have beenpointed out to the Planning Commis-sion at public meetings by represen-tatives of the Sierra Club, ECOSLO

and others, Commissioners and staffhave been prompt in rectifying theproblems and sharpening those blur-ring definitions back up. Unfortunately, the Conservationand Open Space Element is a massivedocument, and there are a lot ofplaces for “slips” to slip by. All con-cerned SLO residents should reviewthe COSE documents at www.slocity.org/communitydevelopment/cose.asp and plan on attending thePlanning Commission review at SLOCity Hall on October 26. The openspace you save may be your own (ornext to your house).

Planning Commission’s September 8meeting, the Sierra Club pointed outthat the Conservancy’s figures wereplainly labeled “Calculates costs forplanting, maintenance, monitoringonly. Model not intended to assignvalue to actual trees.” In other words, the County hascalculated what it costs to acquireland, pay for planting materials, in-stallation labor and maintenance tore-establish an oak tree, without ref-

erence to how much anoak tree is worth-- avalue of which anyrealtor is acutely aware. Suggestion to CountyPlanning: Watch thedoughnut, not the hole!

beyond forest boundaries dwindlesand the population grows, protectingthe unspoiled scenic beauty and rec-reational opportuniwildlife is strug-gling just to survive. SouthernCalifornia’s national forests providethe core refuge for many of theseanimals, and the Forest Service has aresponsibility not only to protect theforests for wildlife but also to main-tain crucial connections to othernatural areas.” The Forest Service’s final manage-ment plans affect 3,530,723 acres offorest land, guiding decisions oneverything from mining and drillingto off-road vehicles and hiking trails.The Service’s final preferred land usealternative has been dubbed “Alterna-tive 4a.” Remarkably, in the face ofpublic demand for more wilderness,the Forest Service has reducedits recommended acreage from96,000 in the draft plans to 87,000 inthe final plans. The agency is onlyrecommending 2.5% of total forestacreage for new wilderness. A newland use designation, BCMUR (BackCountry Motorized Use Restricted),allows for agency administrativeaccess for fuels reduction and otherpurposes. This new zone — 13% ofthe four forests — does not allow foroff-road vehicles, but doesallow utility corridors and newagency roads. Sadly, the Forest Ser-vice seems to be pitching BCMUR asa substitute for wilderness protec-tion, which it is not. As the threatsreport points out, the future of thefour Southern California forests liesin these plans. “The Forest Service has a chanceto provide 21st-century leadership forprotecting our forests for a genera-tion to come,” said Bill Corcoran,Sierra Club Senior Regional Repre-sentative. “It needs to adopt a morebalanced approach that better servesthe vast majority of forest visitors.” The report is available online atwww.sierraclub.org/ca/socalforests.To request a copy by mail, call JuanaTorres at (213) 387-6528 x226.

Consentcontinued from page 6

Task Forcecontinued from page 6

Forestscontinued from page 4

happen unless anumber of citizens

Nuclearcontinued from page 4

this important issue,” said RochelleBecker, the Alliance’s executivedirector and chair of the Santa LuciaChapter’s Diablo Canyon Task Force. California has an ongoing role inprotecting public health and safetyand assuring the economic cost-effectiveness of investments inelectricity generation. Given thesafety issues, as well as the long-termaccumulation of spent fuel and ad-verse thermal impacts on the marineenvironment from the cooling tech-nologies used at coastal facilities, itis appropriate that the state under-take a thorough review of the costsand benefits of license extensions fornuclear power plants. The legislatureshould develop a framework for sucha review, including delineation ofagency responsibilities, theappropriate scope of review andcriteria for assessment. “We intend to take the EnergyCommission’s Report and presen-tations to state lawmakers andrequest that legislation be introducednext year which will restrict theproduction of high-level radioactivewaste on California’s coast to currentlicense terms,” said Becker.


As the scope of the unprecedentedenvironmental catastrophe in theGulf Coast widens, the Sierra Club isfocusing on real solutions that couldhelp prevent future tragedies. Sadly,our government has instead beenfocused on trying to pin the destruc-tion of New Orleans on others. The Mississippi Clarion-Ledgerreported that a leaked Justice Depart-ment e-mail reveals attempts to tar-get environmental groups and en-forcement of environmental laws forblame. In reality, engineers from theHurricane Center at Louisiana StateUniversity concluded that “cata-strophic structural failure” of barriersand levees were the main culprits forthe flooding of New Orleans. It is clear that some leaders inWashington are trying to use the GulfCoast disaster to further their ownagendas rather than to identify whatreally went wrong and how our na-tion can keep people safe. Proposalshave been floated that would open upAmerica’s coastlines to oil and gasdrilling, waive key environmentalsafeguards for oil and gas activities,and put communities at risk by build-ing new refineries without properenvironmental and safety reviews.These proposals will do nothing tohelp consumers at the gas pump orwhen they face high heating costs thiswinter. What’s important now is to helpthe people and communities thathave been devastated by the environ-mental negligence that compoundedthe hurricanes’ consequences. Youcan help by supporting the SierraClub’s Gulf Coast environmentalrestoration project. Go to

https://ww2.sierraclub.org/foundation/katrina

Your gift will help the Sierra Clubin Louisiana, Mississippi, and Ala-bama work with our neighbors torebuild local communities, clean uppollution, restore devastated wet-lands, and ensure that rebuildingplans call for hurricane and floodprotection, conservation, and othergreen building and planning ap-proaches.

Dear Sierra Club Members,

Like the rest of the nation, we watched inhorror at the death, damage, and destruc-tion Hurricanes Katrina and Rita havecaused in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast.Not only has this dobuble disaster taken ahuge human and economic toll, it has un-leashed an unprecedented environmentalcatastrophe.

Many Club leaders, staff, and membershave contacted me with their expressionsof concern and offers of help. I’m writingthis memo to summarize the initial stepsthe Club is taking as the country beginslooking to recover from this tragedy. Theseare only initial steps — the Club will soonconvene a task force to develop a longer-term rebuilding and environmental resto-ration plan.

By the time you receive this memo, wewill be posting these steps on our publicWeb site. I encourage you to take actionand share this message with other con-cerned Sierra Club members.

1) Donate to the Red Cross to help pro-vide immediate relief. A link to the Red Crossis on the Club Web site or contact themdirectly here.

LETTER FROM SIERRA CLUB PRESIDENT LISA RENSTROM

The Sierra Club’s Response to the Hurricanes — Three Things Sierra ClubMembers Can Do

2) Offer to house those displaced throughMoveOn.org. That link is also on the ClubWeb site.

3) Help rebuildthe Gulf Coast bycontributing tothe Sierra Club’snew “Gulf CoastEnvironmentalR e s t o r a t i o nFund.” We will usethese funds tosupport the workof Club staff andvolunteers in theGulf Coast states ofLouisiana, Missis-sippi, and Alabama as they begin restora-tion work. This fund will be a priority for

Find a Way to BlameEnvironmentalists

our ongoing “Building EnvironmentalCommunity” program as we work with lo-cal communities to address this tragic

event, and seek op-portunities for re-newal.

We will showcaseour vision of re-en-ergized, civically en-gaged environmen-tal communities allacross this countryby starting in NewOrleans and inother Gulf Coastcommunities. Wehope to help bring

citizens together to rebuild their commu-nities in ways that (a) strengthen local civic

Post-Duke

engagement, (b) restore the environmen-tal integrity of coasts and wetlands (c) re-build in environmentally clean and effi-cient ways that use renewable energy,green-building techniques, and smart-growth policies in development and trans-portation.

As we embark on these and even morechallenging steps ahead, we will be notify-ing you through various Sierra Club com-munications, listservs and e-mails, andwe’ll be asking for your help and feedback.If you have questions or ideas about howyou can help, please feel free to contact meat [email protected] or contact Na-tional Field Director Bob Bingaman [email protected].

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

It’s time to think

PETITION TO SUPPORTDISCUSSION OFALTERNATIVES TO A NEWMORRO BAY POWER PLANT

Morro Bay residents have never hadan opportunity to express theirwishes on the future of the MorroBay Power Plant site. They inheritedthe plant from the county whenMorro Bay incorporated as a city in1964 before relevant environmentalprotections existed. Duke Energy announced on Sep-tember 13 that it plans to sell theplant. Therefore, now is an appropri-ate time for Morro Bay citizens tolearn about potential alternatives toa power plant that could be placedon the 107-acre site, discuss a rangeof options and make their prioritiesknown to the Morro Bay City Coun-cil, which should play a central rolein deciding whether a new plantshould be built and whether the ex-isting plant should continue to oper-ate.

Morro Bay: Clip, copy,circulate, and send!

Also recognizing the now well-docu-mented harm that a new plant couldrender to the marine life of the Estu-ary and to public health from smoke-stack emissions, the community de-serves the opportunity to reviewpossible alternatives to a new plant,including restoration of the duneshabitat, world-class aquarium, mari-time museum, open space, parkland,

a combination thereof, or others. THEREFORE, the undersignedurge the Morro Bay City Council toengage residents in a systematic,open and thorough discussion of thealternatives to the existing plant orbuilding a new one before the Cityenters into any agreement affectingthe future of the property or its use.

Name Address Phone

Send to: Sierra Club, P.O. Box 15755, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406


ClassifiedsNov/Dec issue ad deadline is Oc-tober 14. To acquire a rate sheetor submit your ad and payment,contact:Sierra Club - Santa Lucia Chapterp.o. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA [email protected]

A Will . . .. . . is a way to protect the environment as well as yourself. If

you do not have a will, the state decides how your property andother affairs are handled. Decisions made now can later providefinancial security for family, friends, and the Sierra Club. You mayeven direct your bequest to a specific Club program or your homeChapter.

For more information and confidential assistance, contactJohn Calaway

Sierra Club Planned Giving Program85 Second Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105-

3441(415) 977-5538.

Executive Committee MeetingAugust 26, 2005

Chair Karen Merriam called themeeting to order at 4:10 pm in SanLuis Obispo, California. Present:Karen Merriam, Jack Morrow, JohnAshbaugh, Cal French, Eliane Guillot,Susan Harvey. Staff, Andrew Christie;guests Letty French, Gail McPherson,Joey Racano, Judy Vick.

The minutes of the July meeting wereapproved.

Old BusinessCal French reported on some finalissues regarding Sierra Summit. Cali-fornia Department of Fish and Gamedid not vote to limit the duck hunt-ing in the Morro Bay estuary. Activ-ists are organizing a hunt watch forthe first day of the hunt. AndrewChristie presented information onDF&G’s incorrect basis for the deci-sion to change the start time andseason start of the hunt.

It was agreed to end the Google chatroom for lack of participation.

The Committee discussed the Goalsand strategic Plans for 2005-6 docu-ment. Cal French moved to acceptthe document as modified as a work-ing plan with the understanding itcan be modified. John Ashbaughseconded and all agreed.

Chair Karen Merriam met with As-semblyman Sam Blakeslee’s repre-sentative, Christine Robertson, andwith Greg Haas, representative forRepresentative Lois Capps. The com-

mittee agreed to have Karen ask As-semblyman Blakeslee and Represen-tative Capps to speak at a GeneralMeeting on environmental issues.

New BusinessSteven Marx gave the Treasurer’sReport and it showed that the Chap-ter was in better financial shape thanlast year. Karen Merriam will con-tinue to explore the possibilities of aURL bike ride as a fundraiser and thepossiblitiy of a joint fundraiser withHospice of SLO and The Chapter.

Application fee for a booth at theGreen Earth Festival authorized.

Judy Vick gave a presentation for thegroup Coastal View Protection Coali-tion asking for support of their reso-lution opposing the proposed celltower to be located in Los Osos. TheCommittee authorized AndrewChristie to speak at the upcomingBoard of Supervisors meeting oppos-ing the cell tower.

The ExCom endorsed the Conserva-tion Committee approval of theChapter’s inclusion in the list of op-ponents to oil drilling in the LosPadres National Forest.

The ExCom voted torequest the Board ofDirectors of the SierraClub make a commen-dation of the life workof the late BLM CarrizoPlain National Monu-ment Manager MarleneBraun.

Local Government Meetings

City of SLO--1st & 3rd Tues., 7:00 p.m.; 781-7103

Arroyo Grande--2nd and 4th Tues., 7:00 p.m.; 473-5404

Atascadero--2nd & 4th Tues.; 466-8099

Cambria CSD -- 4th Thurs.; 927-6223

Grover Beach--1st & 3rd Mon., 6:30 p.m.; 473-4567Grover Beach Planning Commission-- 2nd Tues.

Morro Bay--2nd & 4th Mon.

Paso Robles--1st & 3rd Tues., 7:00 p.m.; 237-3888

Pismo Beach--1st Tues., 5:30 p.m.; 773-4657

Los Osos CSD board-- 1st Tues. & 2nd Mon., varies

California Coastal Commission-- 3rd Tues., varies

SLO County Board of Supervisors-- every Tues.; 781-5450

SLO Council of Governments; 781-4219 SLOCOG Citizens Advisory Committee--1st Wed. every other month, 6:00 p.m. SLOCOG Board--1st Wed. every other month, 8:30 a.m.

Meeting Minuteshighlights from recent Chapter meetings


Photo by Joaquin Palting

Outings and Activities Calendar

Hiking Classifications:

Distance: 1 = 0-2 mi., 2 = 3-5 mi.,3 = 6-9 mi., 4 =10-12 mi.,5 = 12 mi. or more.

Elevation Gain: A = 500',B = 1000', C = 1500', D = 2000',E = 2500', F = 3000' or more.

All of our hikes andactivities are open to all Clubmembers and the generalpublic. If you have anysuggestions for hikes oroutdoor activities, questionsabout the Chapter’s outingpolicies or would like to be anoutings leader, call OutingsLeader Gary Felsman (473-3694). For information on aspecific outing, please contactthe outing leader. OutingsLeaders please get youroutings or events in by the 1stfor the next month’s outings.

This is a partial listing ofOutings offered by our

chapter.Please check the web page

www.santalucia.sierraclub.orgfor the most up-to-date

listing of activities.

Sat., Oct. 1 SURF BEACH:Celebrate the opening of Surf Beachby walking south 3.5 miles. Meet at1pm in Surf Parking Lot west ofLompoc where West Ocean hasturned southward near Surf RailroadStation. Bring water and a snack. Lowtide is at 3:32pm. Dogs welcome. Al-ways contact the leader; hike particu-lars can change. CONNIE 735-2292(AR).

Oct. 2nd, Sun, 0930 MUS-SEL ROCK: We’ll hike along coast,into dunes, see Chumash midden,track mountain lions and (hopefully)get to the top of Mussel Rock to readpoetry & HDT. Dogs on leash permit-ted at this time of year. Call or e-maila few days before for details:929-3647 or <[email protected]>

Wed., Oct.. 5, 12, 19, 26.5:30 p.m. Informal 1-2 hour hikesaround San Luis Obispo. CheckWebsite at http://santalucia.sierraclub.org/index.html,or e-mail [email protected] meeting location.

Sat., Oct. 8th, 9 a.m., SantaMargarita Lake Exploration. Comeexplore the County’s biggest parkSanta Margarita Lake. We will ex-plore the Grey Pine Trail, hike upinto the Crags, and out to Vaca Pointon this 6 - 8 mile hike. Bring lunch,water, and dress for the weather.There is a $5.00 per car entrance fee.Meet at the Pacific Beverage Com-pany, in Santa Margarita. Details callGary at 473-3694 (3C).

Sun., Oct. 9th, 9:30 a.m.,COAST HIKE: Call or e-mail a fewdays before for details: 929-3647 [email protected]

Sat-Sun., October 15-16.Panamint Valley Exploration. Comewith us to this spectacular, seldomvisited, desert landscape just west ofDeath Valley. Camp at the historicghost town of Ballarat (flush toilets &hot showers). On Sat, do a challeng-ing hike to Lookout City, followed byHappy Hour, potluck and campfire.On Sun, more short hikes to visitother historic ruins. Group sizestrictly limited. Send $8 per person(Sierra Club), 2 sase, H&W phones,

email, rideshare info to Ldr: LygeiaGerard, 1550 N. Verdugo Rd. #40,Glendale, CA 91208; (818-242-7053).Co-Ldr: Bill Spreng, (760-951-4520).Mojave Group/CNRCC Desert Com

Sat-Sun., October 15-16.Turtle Mountains Rescue. The TurtleMountains, in the low desert north-east from Joshua Tree, are known fortheir colorful volcanic peaks and forthe wide variety of minerals foundthere. Unfortunately visitors alongthe northern end of this wildernesshave left an appalling quantity oftrash. We will assist the BLM in col-lecting the larger objects and bag-ging smaller debris in preparationfor removal. Recreation will includea dayhike to the interior of the area,but our reward will be in knowingthat we have helped restore a trulybeautiful place. Contact Leader:Sandy Suzanne Swedo,[email protected], (818-781-4421).Angeles Chap/CNRCC Desert Com.

Oct. 15th, 9 a.m., Cerro SanLuis Work Party. Come help the Cityof SLO maintain its local trails. Bringwater, pants and sturdy shoes. Snackswill be provided. Meet at Maino OpenSpace Area at the Marsh and Higueraonramp. Call 781-7300, or visit theCity’s website at www.slocity.org/parksandrecreation/parkrangers.aspfor more information. Sponsored bythe City of SLO.

Sat., Oct. 22, 9:00 a.m.Cerro Alto. Now that the hills havecooled off a bit join us on this 7.5mile, 1700 ft. loop hike. Carpool at8:30am from large dirt pullout onright past Miners Hardware as youleave Morro Bay on Hwy 41. Meet atCerro Alto campground, on Hwy 41 8miles east of Morro Bay, 12 mileswest of Atascadero. Park at headquar-ters parking lot at end of camp-ground road ($5 parking fee or USFSpass). Bob Schwartz, 441-9508,<[email protected]> (3D).

Sat., Oct. 22nd, 9:30 a.m.CANOE/KAYAK OSO FLACO LAKE.Join us on this leisurely tour of OsoFlaco Lake. We will check out the lo-cal wildlife as we paddle around thisbeautiful freshwater lake in thedunes. NOTE: There is a parking feeof $5.00 pre car and a ¼ mile portagefrom the parking area to the lake. Wewill help you portage your boats.Please allow an extra ½ hour for theportage. Bring your boat and equip-ment, PFDs, binoculars and your pic-nic lunch that you can eat in yourboat. PUT IN 10:00 AM at Oso FlacoLake Causeway. Please call JackBeigle, 773-2147 for details.

Sun., Oct. 23rd, 9:30 a.m.,KAYAK OSO FLACO: Meet in parkinglot with kayak, pfd and paddle. I havea extra kayak for someone to help meload and transport (I have wheels).Call or e-mail a few days before fordetails:929-3647 [email protected]

Fri-Sun., October 28-30.Whipple Mountain Carcamp. For thistrip in the far eastern San BernardinoCounty, we will need 4X4 vehicles.Bring all your drinking water asthere is none available. We will ex-plore Whipple Wash which is sup-posed to rival the Zion Narrows. Toget on the trip, send $20 made to Si-erra Club to David Hardy, Box 99,Blue Diamond, NV 890004. If youshow up or cancel more than 10 daysbefore the trip, you get the $20 back.Ldr: David Hardy,

[email protected], (702 875-454). Toyaibe Chap/CNRCC DesertCom.

Sat, Oct. 29th, 9:00 a.m.,Islay Creek - Ridge Trail-BarrancaLoop. Stay cool on the coast on thismoderate 7-mile, 1500 ft. loop hikein Montana de Oro SP. Meet at IslayCreek Road Trailhead, 2.3 miles pastpark entrance. Park in large pulloutacross from the trailhead. Possiblelunch after for those interested. De-tails call Chuck Tribbey, 927-3769(3C).

Oct. 29th, 9 a.m., BishopPeak Work Party. Come help the Cityof SLO maintain its local trails. Bringwater, pants and sturdy shoes. Snackswill be provided. Meet at the top ofHighland Drive in SLO. Call 781-7300, or visit the City’s website atwww.slocity.org/parksandrecreation/parkrangers.asp for more informa-tion. Sponsored by the City of SLO.

Sun., Oct. 30th, 8 a.m.,Bishop Peak. Join us for this 2 hour, 5mile roundtrip hike with 1300 feet ofelevation gain. Everyone is welcome,but beginners will fall way behinddue to the fast pace and elevationgain. Meet at the trailhead in the 800block of Patricia Drive in SLO.Leader: Al (534-0462) (2B) Note: Day-light Savings time change.

Oct. 30th,,0930: BLACKLAKE CANYON HIKE: Meet at junc-tion of Guadalupe Rd. and LegunaNigra to hike down Xenon Way, seeoak-woodland, a man-made canyon,giant crab-grass and protected areas.We will see how well the counties“soft” blockade of Zenon works (theLand Conservancy used big rocks butwas told to take them out). Call or e-mail a few days before for details:929-3647 [email protected]

Nov. 5th, 9 a.m., Irish HillsWork Party. Come help the City ofSLO maintain its local trails. Bringwater, pants and sturdy shoes. Snackswill be provided. Meet at the top ofHighland Drive in SLO. Call 781-7300, or visit the City’s website atwww.slocity.org/parksandrecreation/parkrangers.asp for more informa-tion. Sponsored by the City of SLO.

Sat-Sun., November 5-6.East Mojave Primitive Carcamp. Joinus on this weekend near the darkmoon to hike 1 mi, 700’ gain to thetop of beautiful Kelso Dunes wherewe’ll enjoy the desert panorama andhear the booming caused by thegrains of sand sliding together. Satnight Happy Hour, potluck andcampfire. On Sun, we’ll do anotherbeautiful hike through a Joshua Treeforest. 2WD ok. Group size strictlylimited. Send $8 per person (SierraClub), 2 sase, H&W phones, email,rideshare info to Reserv/Co-Ldr: BillSpreng, P.O. Box 129, Victorville, CA92393; (760-951-4520). Co-Ldr:Lygeia Gerard (818-242-7053).Mojave Group/CNRCC Desert Com.

Sat-Sun., November 19-20.Antelope Protection Carcamp. Withlittle rainfall and few water sources,the species on the Carrizo Plain areboth hardy and endangered. Particu-larly beautiful are the pronghorn an-telope which evolved in these wild,open spaces. Then cattle ranching lefta legacy of endless fences - which aredeadly to the pronghorn. Join us for aweekend in this remote area remov-ing fencing for their benefit. Camp at

KCL campground, bring food, water,leather work gloves, and campinggear for the weekend. Potluck Satnight. Rain cancels. Resource special-ist: Alice Koch. For more informa-tion, contact Leaders: Cal and LettyFrench, 14140 Chimney Rock Road,Paso Robles, CA 93446, (805-239-7338). Prefer e-mail:[email protected]. Santa Lucia Chap/CNRCC Desert Com.

Sun., Nov. 20th, 10 a.m.,CANOE/KAYAK MORRO BAY. Here isa chance to get a little exercise beforethat Thanksgiving Dinner. Join us fora picnic and a short hike on the sandspit. Bring your boat and equipment,PFDs, binoculars and your picniclunch. HIGH TIDE 11.38 AM 5.3'LOW TIDE 7.47 PM 0.2' PUT IN 10:00AM, LAUNCH AT MORRO BAY STATEPARK MARINA. Details call JackBeigle 773-2147.

Thurs., Nov. 24, THANKS-GIVING LAND CONSERVANCY HIKE:Call Land Conservancy of SLO at544-9096 for details.

Sun., Dec. 25, CHRISTMASDUNE CENTER HIKE: Call DunesCenter at 343-2455-105 for details.

Sun., Jan. 1, 0930, AN-NUAL NEW YEAR’s DAY MUSSELROCK HIKE: This will be the 29thNY’s attempt at MR Peak. Last yearrain turned most of us back. Call ore-mail a few days before for de-tails:929-3647 [email protected]

Santa Lucian - Sierra Club...The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, California October 2005 Volume 42, No. 9 Santa Lucian

Documents