SIERRA CLUB, IOWA CHAPTER

Website Archive

 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

On December 6, 1960, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established the Arctic National Wildlife Range. The Range would later be doubled in size and renamed the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge under President Carter, but it was Eisenhower who began the bipartisan legacy of arctic conservation. According to Fred Seaton, the Secretary of the Interior under Eisenhower, the Arctic Refuge "offers the only opportunity for this Nation to preserve an undisturbed portion of the Arctic large enough to be biologically self-sufficient."

 

 

The Dirty Truth About Coal

From mining to burning to combustion wastes, using coal for electricity scars lungs, tears up the land, pollutes water, devastates communities, and makes global warming worse. Learn about coal's dirty secrets that have serious societal and economic consequences in Sierra Club's brand new report, "The Dirty Truth about Coal: Why Yesterday's Technology Should Not Be Part of Tomorrow's Energy Future."
Read the report.

 

 

 

Clean Power Comes on Strong

How Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Can Fuel Our Future

 

We have the potential to produce almost all of our electricity from clean energy sources.  Today, we have the technology and the know-how to move beyond our dependence on polluting power plants by using clean, safe and affordable renewable energy.  By harnessing renewable sources of energy like the sun and the wind, we can transform how we produce electricity.

 

Find out more here...

Download the "Clean Energy Comes on Strong" factsheet  here...

 

Liquid Coal is a Bad Deal for Global Warming

Although its proponents claim that liquid coal is a cure-all to our nation's energy problems, the truth is that liquid coal is plagued with economical and environmental downsides from the time coal is mined until long after the liquid is burned. Liquid coal releases almost double the global warming emissions per gallon as regular gasoline, making a hybrid filled with liquid coal as dirty as a Hummer H3 running on regular gas.

Liquid coal also requires huge amounts of water, and would lead to an over 40% increase in coal mining just to replace a mere 10% of our nation's transportation fuels. Proponents of liquid coal also want the government to funnel billions in subsidies and tax breaks to artificially create an entirely new industry. Liquid coal is arguably the dirtiest, most expensive energy gamble we could take.

Download Sierra Club's fact sheet, "Liquid Coal: A Bad Deal for Global Warming here...

 

 

March to Re-Energize Iowa Rally

The March to Re-Energize Iowa, August 2-5 from Ames to Des Moines, ended Sunday, August 5, with a rally at Nollen Plaza in downtown Des Moines.  The march's goal was to focus attention ion global warming and for Iowans to put global warming solutions on the agenda.   

James Hansen, a NASA climate expert and native Iowan, served as the keynote speaker.  You can read the address he gave at the rally here...

See photographs of the marchers' final stop in Des Moines prior to assembling at Nollen Plaza for a rally here...

Members of the Sierra Student Coalition have been in Iowa this summer organizing the event and recruiting participants.  See more about the Sierra Student Coalition's project at http://www.climatesummer.org/march

 

Drinking Water Report Released

The Sierra Club recently released its report indicating that EPA's destructive water policy could impact the drinking water of 111 million Americans.  Twenty one percent of Iowa's population is served by source water protection areas receiving water from streams potentially at risk from the EPA policy directive.  Read more...

 

A Major Energy Bill Victory

Last Saturday was a good day for the planet as the House of Representatives passed a landmark national Renewable Electricity Standard by a vote of 220 to 190 and then went on to pass the energy bill itself on a final vote of 241 to 172. This marks the first time in recent memory that, instead of simply blocking harmful legislation, Congress has passed a proactive energy bill.

The bill approved Saturday requires that 15 percent of every utility's power be generated by renewable energy by 2020 and includes tax incentives for wind-energy production and plug-in hybrid purchases.  Find out more here...

 

Anglers Trashing Shoreline is Major Problem

The Department of Natural Resources cautions that littering by anglers is causing shoreline problems.  Read more about it here... 

 

Mark Your Calendars

The Iowa Chapter’s annual meeting will be Saturday, September 22, at Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center in Toddville, north of Cedar Rapids. Please mark your calendars and reserve this date.

A buffet lunch will be served at noon. MJ Hatfield will be speaking about Species Diversity. There will be an awards program to honor outstanding environmentalists.

In addition, there will be a silent auction. Contributions of items for the auction are appreciated. If you have items to donate, contact Pam Mackey Taylor.

Click here for more information and to make reservations.

 

Call for Nominations

Iowa Chapter honors activists and volunteers for their efforts to protect the environment. Please consider nominating someone for an award. Winners will be presented with their award at the 2007 annual dinner held Saturday, September 22, at .Wickiup Hill Outdoor Learning Center in Toddville, north of Cedar Rapids.

Deadline for nominations is August 20, 2007.

Find out more here...

 

Tick Season

It's tick season again.  Click here to find out how you can protect yourself, your family and your pets from Lyme Disease and other problems associated with ticks.

 

Genetic Engineering and Bee Collapse Disorder

"One out of every three bites of food that we consume is due to the work of honeybees, serving as crucial pollinators in agriculture and farming communities," wrote Laurel Hopwood, chair of the Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee, in a letter to Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee.  "Yet agriculture and food production may be severely impacted by Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), a trend documented in honey bee colonies .... Beekeepers are reporting estimates as high as 80% loss of their honey bee colonies..."

Read Laurel's letter here...

 

Iowa Prairie Conference to be held in July

The 2007 Iowa Prairie Conference – Prairies on the Edge – will be held at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, Iowa, on July 13-14 with post-conference activities on July 15. The conference will focus on the Loess Hills of western Iowa and will include invited speakers, field trips, exhibits, and a banquet.  Find out more information here.

 

Loess Hills Prairie Seminar Scheduled

The 31st Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar – Prairie Portraits.  The event will be held at the Loess Hills Wildlife Management Area near Onawa and at West Monona High School in Onawa. Bring your camera, your pen, and your mind’s eye to collect prairie portraits – memories of the Loess Hills.  Click here for more information.

 

Bush proposes dismantling the Endangered Species Act        

"Today several news accounts have exposed what many wildlife agency managers and conservationists have known for years--the Bush administration is on a multi-year campaign to completely dismantle endangered species protections by suppressing scientific data and undermining the work of wildlife biologists..."  Read more here...

Learn more about the Endangered Species Act here...

 

Zoo Expansion Proposed

UPDATE:  The Blank Park Zoo Foundation's proposal to expand into Des Moines' Fort Des Moines Park is on track.  The Des Moines City Council, the Polk County Board of Supervisors and the Polk County Conservation Board approved a compromise deal at meetings in March.  Find out more here...

 

2007 Earth Day

Prairie Rescue.  Kids and adults, individuals and groups can get involved at any of the Prairie Rescue sites across the state. Each site is sponsored by public and/or private conservation groups, such as the Iowa Prairie Network, Loess Hills Preservation Society, several Iowa County Conservation Boards, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Earth Day in the Junction.  Show your support of our precious earth by attending Earth Day in the Junction in West Des Moines.  Ride your bike to the event and get a free tune-up from Rasmussen Bike Shop; run in the 5k; hang around to eat a Bocca Burger and enjoy the music provided by numerous acts all afternoon as you browse the many exhibits on display.

Blues for Greens.  On Saturday, April 21, the Iowa Clean Cities Coalition will kickoff "Blues for Greens," pre-celebration of Earth Day (April 22) from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Waterworks Park, 2201 George Flagg Parkway in Des Moines. This family-friendly event will include blues music, food from a variety of vendors, hands-on exhibits and test drives of some very cool "green vehicles" available in Iowa now that run on E85, electricity, hybrid engines, biodiesel, propane or natural gas.

Earth Day Hike. Sunday, April 22, 2007, Effigy Mounds, Harpers Ferry.  Join the Cedar Prairie Group for a birding hike and a woodland wildflower hike.  

Earth Week in the Quad Cities.  Check out the activities that are planned for the Quad Cities during Earth Week.

 

Sustainable Natural Resource Funding Study 

In 2006, in order to provide a proactive approach to addressing Iowa’s natural resource needs, the Iowa Legislature mandated, through HF 2797, that an advisory committee identify and evaluate sustainable natural resource funding to support Iowa’s needs. The mandate required this committee submit a report on its findings to the General Assembly by January 10, 2007.  Read the preliminary report here...

 

Legislative Pressure 

"...I'm just trying to take a stand and represent my people the way I want to..."

-Rep. Dawn Pettengill (D-Mt. Auburn) in The Des Moines Register, March 28, 2007

"You will know by the time you get this letter that I’ve joined the Republican House caucus."

Rep. Dawn Pettengill wrote to House Speaker Pat Murphy (D-Dubuque) after announcing April 30, 2007, that she was switching parties.

 

Iowa's Impaired Waters 

On November 14, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) partially approved and partially disapproved the Iowa Department of Natural Resources' (DNR) Final 2004 List of Impaired Waters.  EPA disapproved Iowa’s decision not to list 20 waterbodies and associated pollutants. EPA proposed adding six waterbodies that DNR had removed from the list, and adding 14 new waterbodies and associated pollutants. See the EPA’s decision documents here...

 

Congress Votes to Repeal Oil Subsidies -- Last Minute Attempt to Insert Arctic Drilling Defeated 

On Thursday, January 18, the House of Representatives voted 264-163  to pass HR 6, which in part redirects $14 billion in subsidies from Big Oil to support alternative energy sources.  Find out more here...

 

UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE & FISH REFUGE

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife & Fish Refuge is reminding people that the deadline for commenting on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement is August 31, 2005. You can return your comments to the Refuge either via e-mail or by mail.  Read more...

 

 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

The Senate voted 51-49 on March 16 to take the first step toward drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as part of the Federal Budget Resolution. Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin voted for the amendment while Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley voted against it.  Read more... The vote...

 


EPA’s "Safe Harbor" Agreement with the Factory Farm Industry
A get out of jail free card for big polluters


The public comment period began on January 31 for the EPA's safe harbor agreement for factory farms, and comments will be accepted until Wednesday, March 2nd.  Please take the time to write and submit some short comments. EPA needs to hear from Iowans that factory farm polluters have been let off the hook for long enough!

A deal of, for and by polluters.  Last year, livestock industry groups approached the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with a plan to monitor air pollution coming from factory pig, chicken and dairy operations in exchange for amnesty from enforcement of the Clean Air Act, Superfund and community right-to-know laws that have protected public health for decades. On January 21 of this year, EPA announced the deal.

Facilities can sign up to be part of a two-year monitoring study and will pay a small penalty to fund it. During the study, EPA has agreed not to enforce the law for violations at any of these facilities even though only 28 of the operations will actually be monitored.

A raw deal for rural Iowa.  Rural families have been suffering from toxic factory farm air pollution - including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia - for years. This backroom deal forces communities to wait while polluters continue to be let off the hook for at least another five years.

EPA has always had the authority under the Clean Air Act to monitor factory farm air pollution - it does not need to ask the industry for permission or to stop enforcing the law.

Now, not only will industry be given safe harbor from EPA lawsuits, but citizen nuisance suits and enforcement of Iowa’s new standard for hydrogen sulfide from factory farms may also be at risk. The National Pork Producers Council has already told its producers that signing up for the agreement will protect them from citizen suits and Iowa’s clean air rules. This interpretation of the agreement would strip citizens of two vital ways to protect our communities. 

Talking Points.  In addition to these talking points, feel free to talk about your own personal  experiences with factory farm air pollution.

How to weigh in.  Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. OAR-2004-0237, by one of the following methods:

· Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the on-line instructions.

· Agency Website: http://www.epa.gov/edocket, EPA’s electronic public docket and comment system, is EPA’s preferred method for receiving comments. Follow the on-line instructions for submitting comments.

· E-mail: a-and-r-docket@epa.gov.

· Fax: (202) 566-1741.

· Mail: Air Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460. Please include a total of two copies.

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Help Stop DNR from Caving into Industry 

on Clean Water Rules

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the pro-factory farm industry are at it again, attempting to stall and weaken the proposed clean water rules for factory farms. Factory Farm interests submitted a regulatory analysis request to the DNR in November.

The Regulatory analysis request is a little used provision in Iowa’s code that requires an agency to weaken proposed rules if industry can show that the rules will have a financial impact on “small businesses.”

Factory Farms know that these rules apply to facilities with over 1,000 animal units (2,500 head of hogs or more, 1,000 head of cattle or more, or 100,000 chickens or more) at any one time – not small farmers. This is just another tactic to avoid responsibility for the problems that these facilities create.

In addition, according to Iowa Code, in order for a regulatory analysis request to be valid, it must be submitted within 32 days of the posting of the rule, it must be requested by 25 small businesses (businesses that made less than $1 million in the past year), and it must illustrate the potential economic hardship.

The regulatory analysis request by industry failed to meet the statutory requirements. Therefore, the DNR should ignore it and move forward with the clean water rules. However, the DNR has stated that they will stall the process and accept the regulatory analysis request for “political reasons” – in other words to keep the Farm Bureau happy. This is just plain wrong!

Call DNR Director Vonk and Governor Vilsack today and tell them to throw out the regulatory analysis request and move forward with strong clean water rules now!  Throwing out the request will send a message to factory farms that the state is serious about clean water.

Call Vilsack and Vonk Today

Governor Tom Vilsack

c/o John Pederson

State Capitol Building

Des Moines, IA 50319

515/281-4495

 John.Pederson@igov.state.ia.us

 

Director Jeff Vonk

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Wallace State Office Building

502 E 9th Street

Des Moines, IA 50319

515/281-5385 

Jeff.Vonk@dnr.state.ia.us

 

Sustainable Natural Resource Funding Study 

In 2006, in order to provide a proactive approach to addressing Iowa’s natural resource needs, the Iowa Legislature mandated, through HF 2797, that an advisory committee identify and evaluate sustainable natural resource funding to support Iowa’s needs. The committee consists of diverse individuals representing 18 conservation agencies and organizations, which include members of the Iowa Legislature. The mandate required this committee submit a report on its findings to the General Assembly by January 10, 2007. It was directed that the report is to contain, but is not limited to, the following four components:

1. Information on what surrounding states have done to provide sustainable funding for natural resource conservation. 

2. Outline of a conservation funding initiative agreed upon by the advisory committee.  

3. Outline of the amount of revenue needed and what would be accomplished if the conservation funding initiative is implemented. 

4. Analysis of Iowa's citizens' willingness to pay for identified conservation funding initiative.

Read the preliminary report here...

 

Summer Positions with the Sierra Student Coalition (SSC)

The Sierra Student Coalition will be organizing a march from Ames to Des Moines August 3rd-5th to elevate climate change as a priority for Iowa and the upcoming presidential elections. SSC is hoping to get at least 1,000 people to the rally at the end of the march. For a more detailed description, check out the description below or at www.climatesummer.org.

In order to do this, SSC is going to have 7 stipended student fellows organizing all summer to do community outreach and education. The application deadline is Wednesday, March 28th.
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Apply to be a part of Climate Summer 2007!

The Sierra Student Coalition will be organizing in Iowa and traveling around the state making presentations on global warming to community groups and identifying local volunteers to help us, as well as building a coalition with labor groups, churches, etc. This will culminate in a three-day march to demand federal action, ending in a rally at the state capital. SSC will be working to bring the presidential candidates there and to get national media attention. The march will occur simultaneously with marches in New Hampshire and South Carolina (other early primary states).

Right now, SSC is looking for students (or recent graduates) interested in spending ten weeks this summer doing that. SSC will cover living expenses and provide a stipend for selected students, and they'll be living and working with other young climate activists.

Students interested in working on this should download an application at www.climatesummer.org. The deadline has been extended to Wednesday, March 28, but they should get them in as soon as possible.

Students with questions can contact Jared Duval at jared.duval@sierraclub.org.

 

CAIR/CAMR 

At its May 15, 2006 meting, the Environmental Protection Commission approved the Department of Natural Resources proposed Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) and the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR).  The Environmental Protection Agency promulgated the rules last year.  Read the CAIR rule here... and the CAMR rule here...  Sierra Club opposed the CAMR because it involves trading mercury pollution credits.  The rules now go to the Administrative Rules Review Committee, a legislative oversight committee, for final approval.  Learn more about the mercury here...

Read more about the lawsuit here...

 

 

Polar Bears Threatened

The US Department of the Interior announced on December 27, 2006, that it was recommending that the polar bear be officially listed at "threatened" under the Endangered Species Act. Citing the growing body of evidence that receding sea ice threatens the existence of the Arctic bears, Secretary Kempthorne stated "based on current analysis, there are concerns about the effect of receding sea ice on polar bear populations...I am directing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to aggressively work with the public and the scientific community over the next year to broaden our understanding of what is happening with the species..."

The proposal to officially list the polar bear as "threatened" can be found at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's website.

President Bush Lifts Ban on Oil Drilling in Fragile Alaska Waters

On January 9, 2007, President Bush exercised his executive authority to lift the ban on drilling off the southwest coast of Alaska in the fragile, salmon-rich waters of Bristol Bay. Bristol Bay, one of the world's most productive marine systems for fish, marine mammals and migratory birds, has enjoyed federal protection since the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989.  Read more here...

 

2006 Annual Awards Presented

Five awards were presented at this year's Annual Gathering and Awards Celebration held October 15 in Johnston. Find out more here... 

New Group Organizing

A new Sierra Club group is organizing in the Prairie Lakes region of northwest Iowa.  Click here to find out what they're planning for the next few months.

EPA Proposes Revised CAFO Rule

EPA is proposing to revise the NPDES permitting requirements and Effluent Limitations Guidelines for CAFOs in response to the order issued by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Waterkeeper Alliance et al. v. EPA. 

This proposed rule weakens the goal of restoring and maintaining the nation's water quality and ensuring that CAFOs properly manage manure generated by their operations.  Comments are due to the EPA on August 14.  

A public hearing on the proposed rule will be held in Ames on Tuesday, July 25, 2006, from 9 a.m. to noon at Iowa State Center’s Scheman Conference Center.  Sierra Club members are encouraged to attend and submit comments.  Contact Neila.Seaman@sierraclub.org for more information.

Find out more about the proposed rule here…  

Water Quality Standards Rules Pass

At its March 13 meeting, the Administrative Rules Review Committee (a bipartisan, legislative oversight committee) passed the DNR's water quality standards rule package.  The rules now go to the Environmental Protection Agency for approval.

 

Arctic Refuge Drilling Threatened ... Again

On May 25, 2006, the House approved by a narrow margin (225-201) to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Read more...

 

Consumption Advisory for Largemouth Bass Issued at Pierce Pond in Mason City

A fish consumption advisory for largemouth bass is being issued at Black Pit (also known as Pierce Pond) located in Lester
Milligan Park in Mason City by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.  Find out more here...

 

Is Your Home Cool? 

Walk through a real house on our Cool Home Tour with Sierra magazine's answer man, Mr. Green, and you'll learn how to have a "cool" house, save money, and help chip away at a problem facing us all. Download Mr. Green's Cool Home Checklist and tour your own abode to see what you're doing right and where you have room to improve. It's a great way to celebrate Earth Day.

 

2006 Earth Day

Across the country, 224 mayors representing more than 43 million people in 39 states have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement -- the first step to becoming a "Cool City." Frustrated by lack of action on the federal level, local leaders are moving forward with innovative energy solutions that cut our dependence on oil, benefit public health, and save taxpayer dollars.

Visit Sierra Club's new Cool Cities web site to see what cities are included. 

 

Is Your Tuna Family-Safe? 

Defenders of Wildlife's ground-breaking study shows that the FDA and EPA's light canned tuna recommendations do not adequately protect the American public from high levels of mercury. Find out more here...

 

Sierra Club Responds to Ethanol Projects Proposed for Des Moines' Agrimergent Technology Park

At a special meeting held November 1, the Des Moines City Council reviewed two proposals for ethanol plants to be constructed in  the city's Agrimergent Technology Park in southeast Des Moines.

Lincolnway Energy proposed a 100 million gallon per year coal-fired plant while Vision Fuels proposed a 110 million gallon per year natural gas-fired plant. The Council members stalemated with three votes going to each proposal.  

The Council directed City Manager Richard Clark to negotiate its concerns for coal versus natural gas, neighborhood participation in the process and the financial impact to the city regarding the franchise fee on natural gas.

Sierra Club responded to the Mayor, City Council and City Manager with a letter addressing its concerns.  Read the letter here...

UPDATE:  Lincolnway Energy withdrew its proposal for a 100 million gallon per year, coal-fired ethanol plant in Des Moines.  Read about it here...

 

2006 Annual Gathering and Awards Celebration

Make plans now to join Iowa Sierrans for our Annual Celebration and Awards Presentation on Sunday, October 15. "Grizzly Dave" Readinger will share experiences of his Appalachian Trail adventure. A former state legislator, Dave began his Appalachian Trail adventure in March 2004 and completed the 2,174-mile hike in the summer of 2006. Dave's PowerPoint presentation will allow us to join him on his Georgia-to-Maine journey with memories of the scenery and people along the trail.  Click here for more information.

 

Group Reorganizing

The Cedar Prairie Group, representing Black Hawk, Buchanan, Bremer, Butler, Grundy, Chickasaw and Hardin Counties in Northeast Iowa, is reorganizing  The next meeting will be held in October in Cedar Falls.  Click here for more information about what the group is doing.

 

Cedar Prairie Group Meeting

The Cedar Prairie Group will hold its next meeting on October 10. Find out more here...

 

Iowa Church and Fishing Groups Join Enviros Saying Federal Mercury Rule Inadequate

In a strongly-worded letter to Governor Tom Vilsack, faith, sporting and conservation groups called for stronger action on the largest, uncontrolled source of mercury – coal-fired power plants. Saying the federal mercury rule doesn’t adequately deal with the problem, groups want the Attorney General’s office to support the 14 states taking legal action to strengthen the rule.  Read more...

 

CAFO rule proposed 

At its December 19 meeting, Environmental Protection Commissioners heard information on  a  rule amendment regarding department evaluation; denial of or condition of construction permits or disapproval or modification of MMPs for confinement feeding operations.  Read the notice of intended action here...  The Legislature passed SF 2377 that would prohibit any action by the DNR until after a facility is in operation.  Read the bill here...  Sierra Club opposes this bill and asked the governor to veto it.  

UPDATE:  Gov. Vilsack vetoed the bill on May 31.  The rule now goes before the Administrative Rules Review Committee (ARRC) at its August meeting.  The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club supports the ARRC passing the rule as it is presented to the committee.

UPDATE: The ARRC formally objected to the rule at its August meeting.  The objection leaves the rule open to legal challenge forcing the DNR to prove the rule is in compliance with state law.

 

The Water Quality Standards Issues

In its responsiveness summary from the WQS hearings in October, DNR addressed commenter issues.  See a condensed version of those responses here...

Read water quality standards hearing comments and responsiveness summary here...

 

Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox in the Loess Hills

Join Sierra Club members across the state in celebrating the this year's Autumnal Equinox at the Homestead Bed & Breakfast in the Loess Hills.  Find out more information and a registration form for this free, week-long event here...

 

 

Re-energize America 

Town Hall Meeting September 7

The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the National Council of Churches are convening a panel of experts from many perspectives for an exciting "Re-energize America" town hall
meeting. Hosted by Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie, the goal of the meeting is to inform and engage the public on the need to reduce our dependence on oil while solving global warming.

The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.

The Town Hall meeting will be held Thursday, September 7th, at 
7:00 p.m., at Waveland Hall - Plymouth Congregational Church,
4126 Ingersoll Avenue (on the southeast corner of 42nd Street and Ingersoll) in Des Moines (click here for a map of the area),

Speakers will include:

 

2006 Iowa State Fair

The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club will not be exhibiting at this year's Iowa State Fair.  Thank you to the volunteers who have contacted the office about volunteering.  

 

2006 Legislation

Are you interested in what is going on with our lawmakers in Des Moines? See the Legislation that is of interest to you, your environment, and your community. Find out more... Last updated 05/01/2008

 

An Inconvenient Truth

Former vice president Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" looks at Gore's fervent crusade to halt global warming's deadly progress in its tracks by exposing the myths and misconceptions that surround it.  The film, produced by Davis Guggenheim and featuring Al Gore, will be presented in Iowa in June.  For more information about the movie, click here...

Theaters presenting "An Inconvenient Truth" are:

June 17 - Fleur Cinema, 4545 Fleur Road, Des Moines

June 17 - Century 20 Jordan Creek, 101 Jordan Creek Pkwy, WDM

June 24 - Campus 3, 201 South Clinton, Iowa City

July 1 - Cinemark Varsity 2, 2410 Lincoln Way, Ames

July 1 - College Square 8, 6301 University Cedar Falls

July 1 - Galaxy 16, 5340 Council Street, Cedar Rapids

Senate Passes Water Quality Bill

On March 16, the Iowa Senate unanimously approved SF 2363 with Senate Amendment 5080.  The Iowa Chapter opposes the bill because it's unnecessary and could provide limitations to implementing the rules as passed by the ARRC three days earlier.  Read the bill and the amendment here...

 

2006 Earth Day Activities

Sierra Club, Iowa Chapter, and Latino Youth Group members from Hoover High School in Des Moines participated in the Drake Relays Parade.  See more...

Loess Hills Featured in Sierra Magazine

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the Sierra Magazine's March/April 2005 issue and read about the Loess Hills, they're unique geology found only in Iowa and in China and much more.  Click here for the article...

More on Loess Hills

Lewis & Clark first stood on the Loess Hills 200 years ago and viewed the Missouri Valley.  At the time, Iowa was three-quarters prairie.  Now only 0.1% of that remains of which half is in the Loess Hills.  Read more about Loess Hills...

 

Arctic Refuge Drilling Stopped in the House - Bipartisan Opposition to Including Arctic in Budget Prevails

The Sierra Club expressed cautious optimism as bipartisan pressure to keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge out of the budget prevailed in the House. Read more...

 

 

Happy Birthday, Mr. Muir  The great man's birthday is April 21, but most folks are so focused on Earth Day that they forget to honor his memory. As the founding president of the Sierra Club, Muir was instrumental in the creation of Yosemite National Park and is considered by many to be the father of the conservation movement in America. Learn more about the man at our John Muir Exhibit Web site.

 

 

 

 


2005 Iowa State Fair Volunteers -- Thank you to the 52 volunteers who helped make this year's Sierra Club exhibit at the Iowa State Fair successful. More here...

 

 

REAP Assemblies Scheduled

Sixteen REAP Assemblies have been scheduled from February 2 to March 30 at various locations throughout the state.  All of the meetings are from 7:00-9:30 p.m.  

 

Real Solutions for High Winter Heating Costs: America’s Leaders Should Not Leave Consumers Out In the Cold This Winter 

A new report released January 18 by three environmental organizations documents this winter’s soaring natural gas and heating oil prices that are creating real hardships for many Americans.   The report, Stay Warm, Save Cold Cash, from the Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and U.S. Public Interest Research Group, identifies simple, immediate steps for consumers to reduce their heat and energy costs this winter.  The report also urges the federal government to increase investments in efficiency and renewable energy.  Read the report...

Superfund Notification Victory for Iowa City
The Iowa-Illinois Manor Apartment Building in Iowa City houses hundreds of college students.  Since it was built in 1983, every month, students signed new leases to live in this building not knowing that they were going to reside on top of a Superfund toxic waste
Read more....

Sierra Club Joins Others in Letter to EPA   In April 2004, the Sierra Club,  Iowa Chapter joined the Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates , Iowa Environmental Council and Hawkeye Fly Fishing Association in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting intervention with Iowa's Department of Natural Resources (DNR) water quality policies.   Read the letter...

Iowa Annual Awards Presented  On September 25, the Iowa Chapter presented five awards at its annual dinner in Fairfield.  Congratulations to all of them!  See who won here...

Lyme Disease -- Kathy Cuddeback, who with her husband, Larry, have been Washington County farmers since 1980, was diagnosed with chronic Lyme disease in 1993.  Knowledgeable Lyme physicians believe she was first infected in 1977 while working in KY and TN. She struggles with 15 symptoms including chronic spinal pain, seizures, tourettes, memory loss, tremors, and speech loss.  Of Kathy and Larry's three children, their  severely handicapped middle daughter, has been diagnosed with congenital Lyme disease.  Read more about Lyme disease...

 

Volunteer Feature -- Jack Eastman, vice-chair of the Chapter's Leopold Group, actively volunteers his time in southeast Iowa.  He was recently featured in an Iowa Sierran article written by Larry Stone.  Read more about Jack...


Sierra Club Launches its... "True Cost of Food" Campaign -- The United States, with less than 5% of the world’s people, consumes over twenty-five percent.... Read more....

 

Save the Swamps -- The Isle of Capri Gambling Casino Corporation and the town of Marquette, Iowa, have asked the state and federal governments to grant Clean Water Act permits to fill 3.1 acres of very valuable Mississippi River floodplain wetland adjacent to Blood Run Creek  Find out more...

Clean Water Rules Update  Find out more...

Clean Water Rules Update --The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established an April 2005 deadline for the DNR and other states’ agencies to start implementing the Clean Water Act for livestock facilities. The DNR planned to do the minimum work required to meet the new federal requirements, but a recent Circuit Court ruling means DNR will have to do better.  Learn more...

Mercury, Fish and Your Family -- The Iowa Chapter is reaching out to help educate Iowa's Asian population about the dangers of mercury consumption by the fish they eat.  See our message in English, Lao, Vietnamese and Cambodian here...

 

Intrepid Wind Farm Tour  In November 2005, MidAmerican Energy hosted a tour of its Intrepid wind farm in Sac County for environmentalists.  See photographs of the tour here...

 

Coalition Launches Landmark Campaign: "ExxposeExxon.com"  In July, a coalition of 12 of America’s largest public interest and environmental groups, including Sierra Club, launched a new campaign called “ExxposeExxon.com.”  Read more...

Arctic Refuge Under Threat Again -- How you can become involved in helping protect the refuge from oil drilling?  Read more...

Battle Looms Again Over Drilling Alaska Wildlife Refuge  Read more...

Poll Shows Majority of Americans Oppose Arctic Drilling -- Zogby Survey Finds 55 Percent Want Alaska Wildlife Refuge Protected; 80 Percent Continue To Favor Renewables, Greater Efficiency Over Drilling; Majority Oppose Tying Drilling to Budget.  Find out more...

Democracy Under Siege

The Iowa Chapter of Sierra Club co-sponsored a workshop on  Saturday, November 5, in Des Moines to address the power of big corporations and how that power threatens democracy.  Find out more and register for the conference here...

 

In Iowa Courts  See the status of environmental cases working their way through the Iowa court system.   Read more... 

 

 

 

Iowa Legislation Update  Are you interested in what is going on with our lawmakers in Des Moines?  See the Legislation that is of interest to you, your environment, and your community.   Find out more....