Canary News and Action

Report and Commentary From the Executive Director

Volunteers Needed for Coming Events

Nominations Open for Board of Directors Elections

Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, March 24, 7 PM

at the Montford Community Center, in Asheville, NC

membership renewal reminder

Report and Commentary From the Executive Director

Pat Yourself on the Back, Once Again

In the past few weeks there has been a flurry of activity on major air quality issues, most of it good news.  This positive movement flies in the face of strong industrial opposition and an Administration that tends to cater to the demands of powerful corporate interests to institute backwards environmental policies. How is this happening?  It's happening because you are making it happen. Believe it because it's true. You have power and your efforts and contributions are beginning to manifest themselves dramatically. The grassroots efforts of the Canary Coalition and other similar groups around the nation are working. We proved it in North Carolina, in 2002, when the Clean Smokestacks Act passed almost unanimously in the General Assembly.  Now we're proving it again on the federal level.

This past week the so-called "Clear Skies" legislation, a Bush Administration initiative, was defeated in the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Chairman James Inhofe (R-Oklahoma) pulled out all the stops to try to get this bill out of Committee and onto the floor of the Senate for a vote.  He delayed the vote for three weeks in which time arms were twisted, deals were offered, threats were issued against opponent testifying witnesses. Not one Democratic Senator budged from opposition. One Republican, Senator Lincoln Chafee (RI) switched over to vote with the Democrats and that was enough to tie the vote and kill the bill. How did this happen against such an intense effort by a President and Majority Party with seemingly limitless power? The Minority Democrats seem to be caving into the agenda of the Majority on so many other fronts. Why did they stand so strong on this issue? Because you and tens of thousands of others wrote letters, sent emails, made phone calls or visited your government representatives and told them to defeat the Clear Skies initiative. Because the Canary Coalition and many other groups organized this grassroots effort, informed the public, the business community, the news media and local officials of the negative impacts of poor air quality. Because it's a just cause and the ground is swelling and elected officials are feeling the rumblings of the deep tremor.  That's why.

Also in this past week the Environmental Protection Agency issued its long awaited Clean Air Interstate Rule.  The EPA is a regulatory agency in the Executive Branch, directly under the control of the current President and therefore less subject, although not completely immune, to public opinion and pressure. As a result this new rule is a mixed bag. It's good news in the sense that the EPA was compelled to act in some way in response to strong lobbying from Environmental Defense and other national environmental advocacy groups and powerful public sentiment. This rule is meant to address the issue of power plants and other polluting industries that affect air quality in downwind states from where they are located. EPA claims it will result in a sixty percent reduction of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions and extend the lives of more than 17,000 people annually  by the year 2015.  That remains to be seen.  The system outlined in the Clean Air Interstate Rule relies on an elaborate "cap and trade" system that allows some plants to buy clean air "credits" produced by cleaner plants elsewhere that exceed emission control standards. In general the Canary Coalition opposes the cap and trade system because it tends to create "hot spots" where plant owners decide to purchase credits rather than employ emission controls.  Sometimes there can be environmental justice issues involved in which certain indigenous, low-income or minority populations are more likely than others to be located in hotspots.  The new Clean Air Interstate Rule falls short of standards and timelines outlined in the existing Clean Air Act for power plants, factories and refineries. But, at least it is an acknowledgement by the EPA of the problem of interstate air pollution, and that has to be viewed as a positive development. There is still work to be done to strengthen this rule.

Several weeks ago the EPA settled with North Carolina on a schedule for acting on the 126 petition submitted by NC Attorney General Roy Cooper's office, last March, against industries in thirteen upwind states. Section 126 of the federal Clean Air Act allows a state with "non-attainment" areas to petition the EPA to act against industries in upwind states who are contributing to the problem. At first the EPA basically ignored North Carolina's petition, not acting within the legally prescribed 60 days of its submission, and using questionable legal authority to give itself a six-month extension to respond. Six months came and went, in November, with still no action by the EPA. Cooper then threatened to sue EPA to act. Finally, in February, EPA agreed to review the petition by this July, hold a public hearing on the matter in North Carolina next September and then decide on final action no later than July of 2006. While this seems like foot-dragging to me, at least there is movement. The active role of Attorney General Cooper should be noted here, to his credit. He has faithfully followed through on a process that pits him against powerful interests within and outside North Carolina's borders.  He also weighed in with a high-profile letter to Chairman Inhofe in opposition to key aspects of the Clear Skies legislation. This is in contrast to the passive role Cooper played when fourteen states, the District of Colombia and twenty major cities sued EPA over its revised NSR rules in 2002 and 2003. What happened to spring the North Carolina Attorney into action like this? Once again, you have to share in the credit. As a result of a statewide campaign led by the Canary Coalition, Cooper got an earful after sitting on the sidelines on NSR, coming under strong criticism from a broad spectrum of the public and private sectors. He may or may not acknowledge that this was a motivating factor, but since that time he has gone to great lengths to prove his dedication to air quality issues. He has succeeded in portraying a positive public image of himself in this way and that's fine with us. But, it's important for you, for us, to note the role our effort has played in turning things around and influencing public policy in a positive direction.

Still pending is the issue of North Carolina's PSD/NSR revised regulations. In early February the NC Environmental Management Commission issued a decision to lower North Carolina's PSD/NSR standards in conjunction with new lowered federal standards, allowing older power plants, factories and refineries to maintain emission control exemptions despite major renovations, modernization or expansion of operations. The Canary Coalition issued an Action Alert informing the public that ten "letters of objection" to the Rules Review Commission were needed demanding the new rule be submitted for Legislative Review. This action, according to law, will result in a delay of up to a year in the implementation of the new rule, giving us a chance to organize a legislative campaign to pass a Disapproval Bill that will kill the backward rule revision.  Thirty-three letters were sent last week, alone, just from people who came into our Sylva, NC office to sign-on. Dozens of others informed us by email they were sending in letters and informing their state legislators of their action. There are too many who say that people are powerless and who spread the idea and atmosphere of hopelessness. The successes of the Canary Coalition and others prove them wrong, again and again. Keep up the good work and thank you for your support.

Avram Friedman

Volunteers Needed for Coming Events

Spring is upon us and with that comes a host of outdoor events and festivals giving us an opportunity for tabling and public outreach. Among the upcoming events are several Earth Day related festivals in April around western North Carolina. Also, Smilefest, a grand music festival featuring many local, regional and nationally known artists will be moving into the Asheville area this year on May 27-29. Smilefest organizers have offered to make the Canary Coalition one of eight non-profit organizations to benefit from ticket sales. This will be a great volunteer opportunity for several Canary Coalition members who will get in for free in exchange for helping with our information booth.

Later this summer we will need volunteers to help with support during the second annual Relay for Clean Air, for the SEEEXPO and for many other events still in the planning stages.  Please call the office, toll free, 866-4CANARY or email canarycoalition@earthlink.net to volunteer.

Nominations Open for Board of Directors Elections

This year there are four positions opening on the Governing Board of the Canary Coalition that will turn over in June.  We need to put emphasis on cultural and gender diversity, specifically and especially we need more women.  Experience in fundraising would be particularly useful to the organization. If you are interested in serving on the Board or would like to enter a name of someone else for nomination please contact the office, toll free, 866-4CANARY, or email canarycoalition@earthlink.net

Monthly Membership Meeting

Thursday, March 24, 7 PM

at the Montford Community Center, in Asheville

The last  few membership meetings have  been sparsely attended.  This may be because of the season, the doldrums stemming from last November's election results or a number of other factors.  But, there are alot of things coming up and greater participation in organizational activities will be necessary to ensure we maximize our impact. There may be alternative ways of working together, other than monthly meetings.  All ideas are welcome, but, for now, we're structured to work out of our monthly meetings.  Please plan to attend this meeting and help with our organizational planning effort.  Pizza and beverages.

Send contact information and donations to:

Canary Coalition

PO Box 653

Sylva, NC 28779

or you can donate online