Environment
Stop all Federal Contracts with BP
Written by Kristen French   
Wednesday, 07 July 2010

Iboycottbp-no_border.jpg recently started a letter writing/petition campaign calling for discretionary debarment of BP from all Federal contracts and leases.  Here is the text of the petition: 

"President Obama and members of Congress: British Petroleum (BP) has broken U.S. laws repeatedly and has jeapordized not only the safety of its employees but has caused extensive environmental damage in the Gulf of Mexico and in Alaska. In the case of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, they lied about whether they could contain an oil leak into the ocean. Throughout the current oil leak situation, BP has not only demonstrated a lack of will to prevent damage from oil by cleaning it up through proven tactics such as skimming and proper booming, they have also obstructed clean up efforts and efforts of citizens and media to witness the horrific destruction occurring in the ocean and on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. This shows that they hold no regard for the law and do not take seriously their responsibility for this disaster.

BP has a long history of proven criminal conduct in the U.S. and discretionary debarment from any federal contracts is completely justified and warranted. Please act as soon as possible to institute discretionary debarment for BP from all future federal contracts, including military contracts and all natural resource extraction contracts. In addition, make this debarment retroactive in order to cause cancellation of all current contracts with BP. Any current operations being run by BP should be halted and completely investigated rather than being sold or transferred in any way to any other corporation."

This Propublica article helps to explain the rationale for debaring BP and what it means: EPA Officials Weigh Sanctions Against BP's U.S. Operations.  Please go to the petition site to sign: Stop all Federal Contracts with British Petroleum .

 

 

 
 
Gulf Oil Spill
Written by Alan Shockley   
Wednesday, 02 June 2010
 
SPEAK OUT AGAINST PROPOSED NUCLEAR ENERGY PARK
Written by Anna Shockley   
Thursday, 13 August 2009

Tuesday, August 18, North Augusta, SC

The Department of Energy wants to make an Energy Park at Savannah River Site (SRS is the nuclear weapons production site, across the Savannah River from Augusta Georgia). This might be a good idea IF the focus were on renewable energy: but so far their secret plan is to build a NUCLEAR ENERGY PARK.

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Sonar Threat to Whales
Written by Kristen French   
Saturday, 20 September 2008

Public Hearing:  Sunday, October 6, 6:00pm

Sheraton North Charleston, Convention Center, 4770 Goer Drive

The Public Hearing will address the Navy Undersea Warfare Training Range revised draft environmental impact statement. 

This is a peace issue as well as an environmental habitat issue!

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Alternative Energy on the Outer Continental Shelf
Written by Kristen French, Ph.D.   
Wednesday, 13 August 2008

 

The Department of Interior's Material Management Service is proposing a rule for leasing portions of the Outer Continental Shelf for development of alternative energy projects such as wind farms, wave energy, and ocean current energy.  There are several public workshops being given around the country in August to help explain the new rule.  The closest workshop to Charleston will be in Savannah, GA , on August 28.

 

Offshore Alternative Energy Programs

Minerals Management Service

 

Draft Proposed Rule for Developing Outer Continental Shelf

Alternative Energy Resources

(Offshore Wind, Wave, and Ocean Current)

 

August 28, 2008 (Thursday)

Savannah, GA

Marriott Savannah Riverfront

Room Name: Oglethorpe

100 General McIntosh Blvd.

Savannah, GA 31401

Ph: 912-233-7722

Public Workshop:

2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

 

 

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Stop Incineration in Charleston County
Written by Kristen French   
Wednesday, 18 June 2008

Charleston County Council Pubilc Hearing:

6:30 pm, Tuesday, June 24

Gethsemane Community Center
2449 Beacon St., Charleston

An important issue impacting future air quality in North Charleston is before us.  The Montenay/Veolia Incinerator, which is located in the North Charleston neck area, has been burning Charleston County’s trash for the last 20 years, and they are currently negotiating with Charleston County Council to do the same for the next 20 years.

Incinerators are extremely dangerous to public health, and the County Council already realizes that the alternatives to the incinerator contract are more economically beneficial to the county.  In fact, after crunching the numbers and reviewing three other options, County Council voted unanimously last March to stop using the incinerator at the end of 2009.  Unfortunately, they are reconsidering this decision and putting the incinerator contract back on the table.

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“Bombplex” Public Hearings
Written by Tom Clements   
Sunday, 27 January 2008
Help change the course of U.S. nuclear weapon policy
February 21 – North Augusta, South Carolina


Oppose Rebuilding of a New Nuclear Bomb Complex at the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC

The Dept. of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration has released its draft plan to revitalize the nuclear weapons complex at 8 locations across the country, including SRS right here in South Carolina.  The DOE calls the plan “Complex Transformation” (formerly “Complex 2030”). We call it the “Bombplex.”  Efforts must be focused on clean-up at SRS, not expensive projects to revive the nuclear arms race. Voice your opposition to ongoing U.S. preparation for mass slaughter in a nuclear war!
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Bluffton Resident, Dept. of Energy Reach Settlement
Written by Liz Mitchell   
Saturday, 12 January 2008
On the surface, it didn't seem like a fair fight: a lone Sun City resident taking on the U.S. Department of Energy in a legal battle. But when Joe Whetstone heard the federal agency was not notifying Beaufort and Jasper county residents about efforts to reduce contaminants in the Savannah River -- a primary source of local drinking water -- he filed a lawsuit.     Beaufort Gazette
 
The Future of the Savannah River Site
Written by Mary Kelly   
Saturday, 22 December 2007
LWV   SC VOTER Fall 2007
South Carolina, the Nuclear Heart of the Nuclear South
Mary T. Kelly, Ph.D. Assoc. Director, LWVSC  

The Future of SRS:

          Now that Energy Solutions, the current owner of the Chem Nuclear site seems to have given up attempts to keep the Barnwell site open beyond the 2008 closure date for states that are not members of the Atlantic Compact - members are New Jersey, Connecticut as well as South Carolina) it is more than time to focus on the far more radiologically dangerous Savannah River Site and the Bush administration's multi-faceted plans for that site.
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Nuclear Waste Shipments Planned Through Port of Charleston
Written by Anna Shockley   
Sunday, 25 November 2007
CHARLESTON, S.C. — A company that disposes of radioactive nuclear waste by burying it wants to ship 20,000 tons of the material from overseas through ports in Charleston and New Orleans, raising fears because of the large amount. EnergySolutions Inc. wants to ship about 200,000 cubic feet of waste into the United States, process it in Tennessee before burying it at a site in Clive, Utah, where the company is based.
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Speak Out on Proposed Santee Cooper Plant
Written by Anna Shockley   
Sunday, 23 September 2007
Two important public hearings are being held on Santee Cooper’s misguided plan to build a coal-fired power plant on the Great Pee Dee River.  The plant would emit 300 pounds of mercury (a neurotoxin dangerous even in small quantities), 8.7 million tons of the global warming gas CO2, and thousands of tons of smog and soot-forming pollutants (SO2, NOx and PM2.5) every year.

Hearings will be held at Coastal Carolina University in Conway on Tuesday, September 25 and at South Florence High School on Thursday, September 27. For more information, see the Coastal Conservation League website.
 
Kinder Morgan: DHEC Hearing
Written by Kristen French   
Wednesday, 08 August 2007

  August 8, 2007                               Kristen French 

km-042-50-crop.jpg

 

Last night, August 7, DHEC held an informal public meeting to answer questions from the public regarding Kinder Morgan’s proposed expansion of its Shipyard Creek Terminal importing capacity.  There was a good turnout, approximately 80-100 concerned citizens attended, and many of those present asked questions.  Ample time was given to all who wanted ask questions, and the DHEC moderator, Nancy Whittle, did a nice job ensuring that all questions were addressed, although we weren’t always satisfied with the answers.

 

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Public Hearing Re Kinder Morgan: New Location
Written by Kristen French   
Tuesday, 31 July 2007


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July 31, 2007 

Kristen French

 

On Tuesday, August 7, 2007, at 6:30pm, DHEC will hold an informal public hearing regarding Kinder Morgan's proposed expansion permits for the Kinder Morgan Shipyard Creek facility.  The meeting HAS BEEN RELOCATED:

 
New Location:		Urban Alliance Studio (Storehouse 7)
Address: The Noisette Company, LLC
 			1360 Truxtun Avenue, Suite 200
			North Charleston, SC 29405
(843)554-2274
 
Time:			6:30pm

The information to be covered will include updates on:

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Kinder Morgan’s Abuse of Project SeaHawk
Written by Kristen French   
Wednesday, 25 July 2007

July 25, 2007

Kristen French

When Kinder Morgan called on Project SeaHawk to investigate what it called “an unknown subject taking photos of the ship at the Kinder Morgan Plant” last week, it abused the offices of this local pilot project of Homeland Security coordination.  This assertion is based on the fact that Ken Bonerigo (the “unknown subject”) has been taking pictures and video of the Kinder Morgan Shipyard Creek Terminal for months, and this is well known to personnel at Kinder Morgan.  Like others at the Cooper River Marina, Ken has repeatedly called Kinder Morgan to complain when coal and/or cement dust has drifted to the Marina from the Terminal, and he has been quite open about his video documentation.  For Kinder Morgan to assert that they were worried about the security of their facility based on these activities is disingenuous at best and at worst, a blatant attempt at intimidation.

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Update on Kinder Morgan
Written by Kristen French   
Wednesday, 18 July 2007

 Kristen French, July 21, 2007

km-cement-kb063.jpg
Cement Dust (Ken Bonerigo)

The Charleston County Sheriff's office handled the boarding of Ken Bonerigo's boat at the Cooper River Marina on Wednesday, July 18.  Deputy Adcock and another officer from the Sheriff's office were first on the scene.  During their initial investigation of the incident report submitted by Kinder Morgan, they treated Ken in a professional manner.  After their initial investigation, they were ready to release Ken but received word that they should hold him for Homeland Security.   According to Lt. Connelly, the Sheriff's office also handles Homeland Security for the Charleston area.  The Sheriff's office/Homeland Security was accompanied by representatives from customs and North Charleston (Police Department, we think).  Ken was informed on Friday that the Sheriff's office did not need Ken's permission to board his vessel.  While the Lt. informed Ken at that time that he is permitted to videotape Kinder Morgan now that his intentions are known, he was unwilling to provide legal backing, such as a law or statute, to justify the fact that he warned Ken to stop filming on Wednesday.  In addition, the Coast Guard has just recently informed Ken that there is no statute restricting filming around the Kinder Morgan Shipyard Creek Terminal.  As they put it, there is no 'exclusion zone.'

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Written by Anna Shockley   
Friday, 05 January 2007

NET METERING
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Corporate Hijack of Sustainable Agriculture
Backfires

Written by Anna Shockley   
Saturday, 19 February 2005
from the Organic Consumers Association

I first heard the term'ecoagriculture' used by a Chinese scientist on Australia's Radio National to describe an approach combining the best that modern science has to offer, i.e., genetic modification of plants, with traditional sustainable agriculture.

A few days later, a motion to promote ecoagriculture appeared on the agenda of the upcoming 3 rd IUCN (World Conservation Union) World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, (17-25 November 2004). Angry critics had described it as "an organic agriculture that is very friendly to agribusiness"...
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