June 1999

NO GENERAL MEETING FOR JUNE

The will be NO General Meeting of the Shawnee Group this month (June). In our hard copy US mail newsletter it was stated that there would be a regular meeting held in June. This was a mistake. Kindly let your hard copy friends know of our mistake. (We attempted to cross it out on all newsletters mailed out but may have missed a few...Ed)

EXCOM meeting

Our next ExCom meeting will be at Clara McClure house Thursday, June 17th, at 5:30 pm. All members are welcome to attend. For directions call Clara at 457-2026.

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE & FOLDING

Every month we get together to fold the newsletter for mailing. We welcome all the help we can get. The tentative deadline for the July newsletter will be June 20 with folding probably on June 24 at Don Lawrence's house at 5:30 pm. To check on directions call Don at 457-8989.

PICNIC POTLUCK!! PICNIC POTLUCK!! PICNIC POTLUCK!!

Stan Harris will be hosting a picnic pot luck on June 26. Start time is 4 pm. He says to bring a bathing suit and towel for swimming in his pool. Kids are welcome. Stan will supply soft drinks, hot dogs and hamburger. Bring your own service and dish to share. Also, bring some slides to show off after it gets dark. Stan’s directions to his house are as follows: At light, west side of C'dale by Krogers, turn north and go one and a half miles to Edgewood Lane on left, Charles Road is on right -just beyond. His house is at the first driveway on Edgewood. Stan asks that you call him daytime 457-7078, evening 457-2025, so he will know the approximate number of people.

Canoe Tours on the Cache!!

Join the Cypress Creek NWR folks for a series of guided canoe trips through the ancient cypress and tupelo swamps. Tours last about an hour and depart throughout the day (9 am--4 pm). RESERVATIONS REQUIRED (Call 634-2231 for details). Meet at the Lower Cache River Access.

HELP PROTECT ILLINOIS ENDANGERED SPECIES:

BE A TEN MINUTE ACTIVIST URGE GOV. RYAN TO USE AMENDATORY VETO - CALL, FAX OR E-MAIL

The Illinos State legislature last week passed HB1825, which allows the Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources (IDNR) to grant incidental take permits. This means that the IDNR can grant a permit for developers to cause the death of plants or animals on the Illinois threatened and endangered (T & E) species list if they decide that the species can still survive in the state, and mitigation measures can minimize the damage to the species. This bill is better than HB 2243 (Woolard & Granberg), which exempted three species from protection by the Illinois Endangered Species Act - a dangerous precedent. However, HB 1825 still greatly weakens protection of threatened and endangered species whenever a species blocks a development project. Currently, populations of the least brook lamprey and Indiana crayfish are threatened by a proposed dam on Sugar Creek, and the massasauga rattlesnake is threatened by a planned private resort on public land at Lake Carlyle.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Our last hope of strengthening this bill to give T & E species better protection is to flood the governor's office with calls, FAXes and e-mails. URGE GOVERNOR RYAN TO USE THE AMENDATORY VETO TO GIVE THE ILLINOIS ENDANGERED SPECIES BOARD (NOT THE IDNR) THE FINAL DECISION-MAKING POWER ON WHETHER OR NOT TO ISSUE AN "INCIDENTAL TAKE" PERMIT. We must take politics out of scientific species decisions. The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board consists of top biologists and wildlife specialists who are the most knowledgeable people in Illinois regarding threatened widlife. These scientific experts, rather than political appointees at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, should ultimately make decisions regarding actions impacting endangered species. These decisions should be based on sound science, and not on a political motivations. These species should be given the chance to recover and thrive, not just barely survive in Illinois. Some of the T & E species in Illinois may be able to qualify for nationally endangered or threatened status, but just not be on the federal list yet. In fact, the massasauga rattlesnake is currently being considered for listing as a federally endangered species, but the process takes a long time.

SEND YOUR MESSAGES TO GOVERNOR RYAN AT:
Phone (Springfield): (217) -782-6830
OR 1-800-642-3112
e-mail: Governor@state.il.us
PLEASE ACT A.S.A.P - TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!

LAST CHANCE TO REDUCE AUTO POLLUTION FOR OVER A DECADE!!!

WE NEED YOU TO TELL EPA YOU SUPPORT STRICTER AUTO POLLUTION STANDARDS!!! Please Call, Write or e-mail your comments:
Let'overwhelm EPA with comments!!!
ISSUE: With 31 states and the District of Columbia currently in violation of public health standards for clean air, over 117 million Americans are breathing unhealthy air. EPA has proposed standards for tailpipe emissions ("Tier 2" standards) that will be the last chance for many years to address this public health problem by reducing auto pollution across the nation. The EPA is accepting comments through August 1st, but act now while you are thinking about it! There is a national epidemic of children suffering from asthma, and almost 2 million children with asthma are potentially exposed to unhealthful levels of ozone. For children with asthma, senior citizens, and people who exercise outdoors on a regular basis, this could be life-threatening.

PLEASE COMMENT TO EPA EXPRESSING YOUR SUPPORT FOR STRICTER AUTO POLLUTION STANDARDS AND CLEANER GASOLINE:
Below are EPA proposed standards that need to be strengthened, followed by a discussion of points to use in urging the EPA to strengthen these standards.

1.) Narrow pollution loopholes for SUVs and light trucks:

Presently, SUVs and light trucks pollute three to five times more than other cars; but the technology exists today to enable even the heaviest and dirtiest SUVs to meet passenger car standards. To strengthen the proposal, EPA SHOULD close the loophole sooner than 2009 and plan to bring even the heaviest (8,500 -10,000 lbs.) SUVs, like the Ford Excursion, into the program.
2.) Require stricter standards for production of diesel passenger vehicles:

There is growing evidence indicating substantial cancer and other health risks from diesel exhaust. EPA SHOULD require diesel engines to meet the same standards as gasoline engines.

3.) Require cleaner, low sulfur gasoline nationwide:

Most of the country has high sulfur gasoline which damages auto emission control systems and leads to more pollution. EPA SHOULD resist the oil industry's pressure for a weaker regional program.

4.) Leave the door open for revisiting the standards in 2004:

The auto industry is asking for a review by a so-called independent body. This would threaten the program by giving them an opportunity to overturn these standards in 2004. EPA SHOULD reject the industry's proposal.

EPA will be receiving voluminous comments from industry groups and allied organizations - it is critical that we let EPA know that there is strong public support for tough standards. You must include your name, address, affiliation (i.e., organization, company, or private citizen) regardless of how you choose to submit your comments.

To submit comments by phone call toll-free:
1-888-TELL-EPA (1-888-835-5372) The comment line is open 24 hours a day - 7 days a week -just follow the instructions, you'll have 2 minutes to voice your opinion and it will be transcribed and put in the official docket.

To submit comments by e-mail: Go to www.epa.gov/oms/tr2-cmt.htm and fill out the e-mail form or send them to tier2.comments@epa.gov 
Written comments should be sent to:
Public Docket No. A-97-10
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Air Docket (6102)
Room M - 1500
401 M Street, SW
Washington, DC 20460

GOOD NEWS!

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY PASSES THE ILLINOIS OPEN LAND TRUST ACT!
The General Assembly passed Governor Ryan's proposal for $160 million in new funding for the purchase of natural areas over the next four years. The money will allow the state and local governments to purchase lands for open space in urban areas, and to add to the Illinois system of state parks and conservation areas. These funds are sorely needed, as there are 70,000 acres of wetlands, prairies, forests, and other natural areas in Illinois that are still unprotected from development.

UPDATE ON ON HORSES IN THE SHAWNEE

An agreement was worked out in the courtroom of U. S. District Judge J. Phil Gilbert concerning the trail ride in the Shawnee Forest next month (June 12--13). In exchange for having Joe Glisson drop his quest to have the Forest Service stop the proposed trail ride of the "Shawnee Trail Conservancy" the conservancy agreed to place limits on its plans for the ride. As of now 70 riders have signed up. The trail conservancy committed to limit the number of ride participants to 150, plus an agreement to stay out of the natural areas, especially Lusk Creek Canyon. (This information was gleaned from an editorial in the May 24 Southern Illinoisian. It was presented in the editorial as an example of an alternative "to bitter lawsuits and endless protests when both sides are truly interested in a fair solution".)