Newsletter #16
Sierra Club - Chebucto Group
In this issue:
- upcoming events listing
- help wanted!
- new Chebucto Group excomm
- Outings!
- Cape Breton report
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But before we do any of that ... CONGRATULATIONS to the Sierra Club
volunteers who worked alongside other coalition members for the successful
re-listing of JIM CAMPBELLS BARREN as a protected area!!! Chebucto Group
will be issuing a media release commending the premier's decision.
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Chebucto Group Events calendar [see below for details]
date: event: contact:
Nov 3 Conservation WG meeting Cass
Nov 6 Excomm meeting Paul
Nov 8 ACE meeting Allison
Nov 9 Joggins "Limited Outing" Henrietta
Nov 13 SierraNite Aquaculture Seminar Paul
Nov 16 Pennant Point Outing Lola
Feb cross-country skiing? Outings WG
If you would like to see Sierra Club events in *your* area, RSVP!
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WELCOME to all new subscribers! Some of you may have noticed that the
automated info you received when you were added to the mailing list was
*wrong* ... because Chebucto Group now covers all 4 Atlantic provinces,
not just NS. That info has been corrected. Mind you, the expansion is of
limited tangible benefit because at the moment Chebucto Group still has no
active sections or volunteers outside Nova Scotia.
RSVP if you'd like to see that change!
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HELP WANTED! We are always looking for new volunteers. Right now we
could really use:
- people to help put up POSTERS
and - someone to spend an afternoon on office cleanup
RSVP or show up at any Club event if you are interested.
Everyone is welcome to join us at the Halifax Farmers' Market at 1:00p on
Sat 8 Nov near the Alexander Keith statue to talk about how we can get the
Group more involved in the Atlantic Coast Ecoregion task force. Contact
Allison for more info.
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Chebucto Group's new Excomm (steering committee) has been elected by
acclamation. Here is your new excomm:
Allison Denning 423-6486 adenning@is2.dal.ca
Jack Devenney 463-0090 jack.devdart@ns.sympatico.ca
Lola Doucet 455-6365 doucetl@is2.dal.ca
Paul Falvo 492-1995 pfalvo@chebucto.ns.ca
Arciris Garay 443-8472 af169@chebucto.ns.ca
Fran Morrison 737-2855 fran.morrison@ns.sympatico.ca
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Upcoming Sierra Club (Chebucto Group) Outings!
Everyone is welcome - no membership requirement.
[no scents please ... we want everyone to be able to enjoy our Outings]
p.s. We're always looking for new Volunteers for our Outings Committee!
__________________________
Sun Nov 16 - Pennant Point
Holly & cranberries -- easy hike from Crystal Crescent to Pennant Point.
Meet in Halifax at 12:30p sharp at the Unitarian Church (5500 Inglis St)
if you need or can offer a ride. Or join us at Crystal Crescent parking
lot (second one) at 1:30p. Bring a picnic lunch ... but remember that
there are no garbage cans 'out there' so everything you bring must leave
with you! Dress warmly!
Contact Lola (Outing leader) at 455-6365 [doucetl@is2.dal.ca] if you have
questions or to reserve or offer a ride.
__________________________
Sun Nov 9 - Joggins
A special "limited" Outing.
Sierra Club Volunteer & biologist Henrietta has space in her car for 2
people, going to Joggins to collect fossils of ferns and shells. Call
Henrietta at 496-8235 if you'd like to go along for the (2 hr) ride.
[More people can go if you have transportation.] Dress warmly!
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CAPE BRETON REPORT:
From: Frances Morrison [fran.morrison@ns.sympatico.ca]
The JAG meeting took place on Wednesday Oct.22 from 5:30-approx.10pm.
It was stated that the MOU is under review and the names of those who
submitted comments were read out.
Discussion took place about Incorporating as a Society and the proposed
Memorandum of Association was put forth to the group.
Announcement was made that EA was hired and so was a Public Information
Officer.
Site Security Group asked for additional $67,000 for site fencing so
that people are unable to walk through etc. That was approved.
Following resolutions were passed at RT:
1. All minutes of Steering and Roundtable meetings be present and
readily available at steering and roundtable meetings, until such a time
as the computerized database is available.
2. The Memorandum of Association as modified according to the
recommendations made by the Registrar of Joint Stock be returned to the
registrar with the added replacement of the word "individual" by the
word "person," as the submission of the MOA for JAG. This is done with
the acknowledgement that the more substantive modification suggested by
the partners in JAG be negotiated in accordance with the vehicles
(procedures) identified in the MOA.
3. JAG shall engage a lawyer on retainer, as per the outline of
qualifications adopted by the Governance Working Group (GWG) to be
available initially to assist on the finalization of the ARticles of
Incorporation.
4. Whereas concern has been expressed with respect as to how conflict
of interest situations are handled during a meeting; and
Whereas GWG is looking into procedures for dealing with conflicts
(within meetings),
Be it therefore resolved: that in the interim that the chairs be
diligent in the conduct of meetings with respect to the handling of
potential conflicts, and in having them declared by the person who shall
then withdraw from the discussion and from voting.
5. The Secretariat shall keep an up to date roster of eligible
membership of the Roundtable Steering and each subcommittee and that the
roster of the Roundtable and Steering Committees be available at those
meetings.
NEW INITIATIVES WITHIN MUGGAH CREEK WATERSHED
At the October 2nd Steering Committee meeting, Environmental Data
Gathering and Remediation (EDGAR) Working Group was given the following
direction by Steering.
"That EDGAR address the issue as to how the current new remediation
initiatives for medical waste management and the creation of a lined
landfill should be dealt with by JAG, and to assess the best
remediation options for these waste management issues."
Even though this issue will take quite some time to be dealt with by
EDGAR, an approximate timeline will be given at the next steering
committee meeting.
This issue has been discussed at length throughout the last several
EDGAR meetings, and to further continue, EDGAR requires clarification of
the steering committee on the following:
1 What exactly is meant by "how the current new remediation
initiatives ... should be dealt with by JAG" and "assess the best
remediation options for these waste management issues"?
2 What exactly are the boundaries that EDGAR is supposed to be using?
3 JAGS' definition of "remediation"
One member of EDGAR will be attending a conference November 10-12 on a
very timely and beneficial seminar on the topic of DNAPLs (Dense
Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids) in fractured bedrock. This 3-day seminar in
San Francisco will help EDGAR understand the difficulties of tracking
and remediating these contaminants in the Muggah Creek Watershed. Upon
their return, the attendees will be presenting a report on the
conference to all interested members of JAG.
A geophysical study will be taking place on the coke ovens site and
landfill areas.
--
Phone: (902) 737-2855
Snail Mail: RR1, Site 3, Box 7, Glace Bay, NS B1A 5T9
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From: Bradford Duplisea [brad@pei.sympatico.ca]
You Should Post The Most Intriguing Website on PEI
www3.pei.sympatico.ca/brad
IRATE
Island residents Against Toxic Environments
Bradford Duplisea
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The Mission statement of the Sierra Club ...
To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the Earth;
To practise and promote the responsible use of the Earth's ecosystems and
resources;
To educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the
natural and human environment; and
To use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.
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Sierra Club is North America's most effective grass roots environmental
group. Chebucto Group is the local branch, covering Atlantic Canada. To
subscribe to our bimonthly email newsletter, and receive regular updates
on conservation activities, outings, and get-togethers just send a message
with only the words "subscribe sierra-news" to majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Environment/Sierra/