April 2006 Newsletter

Suwannee-St. Johns Group Periodicals Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra Club U.S. POSTAGE NEWSLETTER PAID P.O. Box 13951 Gainesville FL 32608 Gainesville FL 32604 Sierra Club Newsletter Published monthly except June and August from Gainesville, Florida VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 4 • April 2006

Pence worked described as “rare”, “local and with Jaret Daniels uncommon”, and even and Stephanie “endangered” by a limited C Sanchez at the number of authors over the last McGuire Center for 60 years. Lepidoptera and Pence’s research encompassed five years Biodiversity of the of field trips to find colonies and observe Florida Museum of the hairstreak’s behavior, and raising sever- Natural History rais- al generations in captivity to learn the ing thousands of details of its life history and to determine Miami Blues for the precise niche requirements of the but- release in establishing terfly. new colonies. Though the species is not currently a Explore, enjoy and protect the planet The title of candidate for the endangered species his presenta- list, as rampant development, short- tion is: sighted management practices, and sea “Habitat level rise threaten habitat, the fate of Requirements CSweadner’s Hairstreak and myriad APRIL 2006 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sweadner’s Hairstreak for Sweadner’s cedar-associated species rests in the hands APRIL 6: SSJ Sierra Club general meeting, 7:30 p.m. See page 1 for details. KEEPING FLORIDA NATURAL Hairstreak, a Florida of the informed. APRIL 12: Deadline for May SSJ newsletter submissions. Endemic Lycaenid Butterfly” GENERAL MEETING APRIL 13: Executive Committee meeting at Santa Fe Community College Downtown BY COLIN WHITWORTH Thursday, April 6, 7:30 PM Gainesville campus, 7 p.m. Board meeting room. His presentation promises to be interesting. So much of the SSJ Sierra Club Entomology/Nematology Building on the UF campus kers Pence, the state coor- (Just east of the Performing Arts Center. Turn south off APRIL 21: SSJ Sierra Club newsletter folding party, 7:30 p.m., at the home of Scott Group’s work involves the slow grim grind Camil and Sherry Steiner. Call 375-2563 for info and directions. dinator of the Florida Hull Road on to Natural Areas Road.) of us vs. them environmental politics in HAIRSTREAKS AND APRIL 22: Earth Day celebration, all day, at the Harn Museum on the UF campus. Butterfly Monitoring which clear-cut victories are rare and hold- Free. Music, speakers, kids’ activities. Event is outside if weather is good, inside the A CEDAR TREES: ing the line against sprawl. museum if its raining. Network, will explain his disserta- KEEPING FLORIDA tion research at the April 6 gener- The squandering of natural Florida, and the loss of biodiversity, requires constant NATURAL al meeting of the SSJ Sierra Club. vigilance and painful compromise. Pence’s J. AKERS PENCE GAINESVILLE’S NONFRANCHISED ICE CREAM SHOP COORDINATOR FLORIDA BUTTERFLY Pence earned his Ph.D. in ento- presentation is a near allegory of this MONITORING NETWORK mology at UF, specializing in conser- struggle; it is the story of his disserta- Your choice for vation of endangered butterflies. tion research on the conservation biol- locally owned He has done field surveys of the Cogy of a beautiful little green butterfly N federally endangered Schaus’ that lives in native cedar trees. homemade ice Swallowtail, and baseline population stud- Sweadner’s Hairstreak was named in cream ies of the state endangered Miami Blue but- 1944 and for several decades was consid- terfly at its last known natural colony on ered a coastal species known from only a Bahia Honda Key. few widely-separated colonies. It has been Always serving Mike and Lisa Manfredi the freshest C.A.R.E. ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY ...... 2 3437 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607 GRU’S PROPOSED COAL PLANT MORE COSTLY THAN ADVERTISED ...... 4 ice creams 352-378-0532 and sorbets SALES TAX BAD CHOICE FOR SCHOOLS ...... 6 2 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club April 2006 April 2006 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club 7

carefully avoided. Nevertheless, I found it NEWS & NOTES, from page 3 But the current Bush administration just how “gentle” oil drilling operations astounding that there was evidence of poor wants a radical change to that policy. could be if allowed on the Arctic Refuge’s CARE About Your Town maintenance; on the top deck, there was a time ties to the SSJ Sierra Club. In February, the federal Mineral fragile Coastal Plain. BY ROB BRINKMAN Women for Wise Growth also unanimous- large pipe containing sensor wires for the Mastrodicasa handily Management Service released a new Five- On March 2, a BP oil operator discov- When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spoke at ly supported this effort. boiler below, it had corroded to the point defeated former City Year Leasing Plan that would open vast ered signs of an oil spill at a caribou migra- UF last month, his primary focus was pol- If enacted, the voters will be able decide where many small low voltage wires were Commissioner Tony areas off our coasts to oil and gas drilling. tion site on the snow-covered tundra of lution from coal-fired power plants. With if coal is worth the risk to our environmen- exposed to the elements. While there is no Domenech, 55 to 45 per- This plan would open up for the first time Alaska’s North Slope. Three days later, three sons struggling with asthma and mer- tal and economic health of our community safety risk, the lack of routine maintenance cent, for an At-Large seat. about two million acres known as Lease response workers finally uncovered the cury levels in his body twice that of safe lev- and the health of future generations. This is was disturbing, we were assured that cor- This is Domenech’s second Sale 181 in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico source of the spill—a breach in an oil tran- els, he well understands the danger of our an effort to empower the communi- rective measures were planned for consecutive unsuccessful Mastrodicasa and prepare for leasing areas off Virginia’s sit pipeline feeding into the larger trans- continued reliance on “cheap coal power.” ty to decide its energy future. CHAIR’S the next scheduled shutdown. campaign for a commission coast and in Alaska’s famous salmon fish- Alaska oil pipeline infrastructure stretch- He said the government has failed to pro- CARE needs both volunteers seat. She replaces Warren Neilsen, who ing grounds in Bristol Bay. For 25 years ing some 800 miles across the state. tect us because of the corrupting influence and contributions. Please help this SOLAR HOME TOUR was term-limited out. drilling in these areas has been banned by Clean-up crews have vacuumed up of business interests. grassroots effort. Contact CARE at Next month on Saturday April Henry beat Barbara Sharpe, a former both Congressional moratoria and more than 50,000 gallons of crude oil and Gainesville residents may have the [email protected] or write 8, I will take interested people to an Alachua County School Board member, in Presidential deferral orders. melted snow off the delicate tundra, but at opportunity to exercise the rights and CARE at P.O.Box 14544 off-grid home in Putnam County. a landslide, 67 to 33 percent. Henry The proposal is open least one report from an responsibilities of their ownership of GRU Gainesville, Fl. 32604-4544. Call CORNER Randy Cullom and Liz Seiberling replaces Charles Chestnut IV to represent to public comment, industry expert has indi- by voting on plans for an additional coal 352-337-1757 and leave a message. have built an energy-efficient house District 1. Like Neilsen, Chestnut had also though, and if citizens cated that up to 798,000 plant. The Gainesville Charter currently with many passive solar features. The served the maximum two consecutive express enough outrage, gallons could be unac- Last month, I mentioned that Citizens requires voter approval before the City house, near Interlachen, has a composting terms and could not run again. the agency may withdraw counted for, possibly for Affordable and Renewable Energy has Commission can sell GRU. Isn’t the deci- toilet (no septic tank) and 1,200 watts of The Hogtown Creek charter amend- its proposal. The com- making this the largest launched a ballot petition drive to amend sion to increase coal pollution just as photovoltaic power. It is situated on 60 ment passed easily, 58 to 42 percent. This ment period ends April crude oil spill in the his- Gainesville’s Charter; if passed, the amend- important? acres of mostly wooded land, adjacent to amendment revises a previous charter 10. Comments can be tory of the North Slope, two lakes. amendment to allow paving in city recre- submitted by mail to and second in Alaska only The property has been managed with ation areas for non-roadway, recreational Renee Orr, 5-Year to the 1989 Exxon Valdez this is an effort to empower the community prescribed burns to enhance habitat for uses, even if such development takes place Program Manager, oil spill. native wildlife. This could be the last in the Hogtown Creek watershed. Comments on Draft The accident is just to decide its energy future chance to visit this solar home, because The previous amendment, passed to Proposed 5-Year Program one in a long history of there is a sale pending. stop a proposed paved trail along the for 2007-2012, Minerals substantial spills seen on Please let me know if you would like to creek, prohibited any paving within the Management Service Alaska’s fragile North ment“ would require a referendum before Last month, SSJ Sierra Club Outings carpool to Interlachen to visit this super watershed, making it illegal to, say, add a Room 3120, 381 Elden Slope since development funds can be used for an additional coal Chair Karen Garren led a tour of the GRU green homestead. The meeting place will tennis court to a park in the watershed. Street, Herndon, Virginia, 20170. You began there. power plant. coal plant at the Deerhaven Power Station. be at the boat ramp at the south end of There were environmental arguments can also submit comments online at In fact, despite industry hype about the The SSJ executive committee voted I joined about a dozen others for a ”cursory Newnan’s Lake, on Hawthorne Road, at against the newest amendment, as www.mms.gov/5-year/2007- safety of development and new technolo- unanimously to endorse the petition drive. tour; all the dirty parts of the plant were 8:30 a.m. I hope to see you then. explained in last month’s newsletter. 2012main.htm. gy, the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and Trans- A final comment—a small percentage In an effort to advance their proactive Alaska Pipeline have caused an average of Visit the National and Local Sierra Club Websites! of eligible voters participating in the elec- vision for this Congress, on Feb. 1, Florida 504 spills annually on the North Slope FOLDING PARTY tion. Only 16 percent of voters went to the senators Bill Nelson (Dem.) and Mel since 1996, according to the Alaska’s own National: http://www.sierraclub.org • Local: http://www.gatorsierra.org Interested in hosting a newsletter folding party? polls. While this can benefit energetic Martinez (Rep.) proposed the Permanent Department of Environmental Conser- Contact Scott Camil at 375-2563 campaigns who can get out the vote, it Protection for Florida Act. This measure vation. Suwannee-St.Johns Group Chairs & Executive Committee does not make good democracy. provides permanent protection for Past spills have included a 300,000 gal- Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra Club Newsletter Chair Rob Brinkman 337-1757 [email protected] By Colin Whitworth (UPS 317-370) is published 10 months a year, except Florida’s coasts and extends the moratoria lon crude oil spill from the Trans-Alaska Program co-chair Bill Radunovich 375-2354 [email protected] June and August, by the Suwannee-St. Johns Group protecting the entire Atlantic and Pacific pipeline that was detected as far as 166 Program co-chair Anna Peterson 337-2957 [email protected] Sierra Club, 1024 NW 13th Ave, Gainesville, 32601. coasts through the year 2020. miles away, and the disastrous 675,000 Conservation Co-Chair Josh Dickinson 373-2377 [email protected] By Sierra Club Staff gallons that were leaked after a saboteur Conservation Co-Chair Paula Stahmer 373-3958 [email protected] Non-member subscription rate is $5.00. Periodicals Secretary Annette Long 352-490-8930 [email protected] Postage Paid is paid at the Gainesville, FL 32608 post BUSHES PUSH GULF DRILLING exploded a two-inch hole in the pipeline Treasurer Roberta Gastmeyer 336-2404 [email protected] office. Postmaster: Send change of addresses to just a few miles north of Fairbanks. Membership Chair Whitey Markle 392-0270 [email protected] Suwannee- St. Johns Group Sierra Club Newsletter, Both the first President Bush and As crews of up to 70 people work 12- Administrative Chair Russell Roy 372-7305 [email protected] c/o The Sierra Club, Member Services, P.O. Box President Clinton issued presidential ALASKAN PIPELINE SPILL hour shifts around the clock to clean up Outings Chair Karen Garren 371-0008 [email protected] 52968, Boulder, CO 80328-2968. Send both your old directives that banned oil drilling in the Last month, during the Senate Energy after this massive oil spill, we are sadly Events Coordinator Sherry Steiner 375-2563 [email protected] and new addresses and a Sierra address label, eastern Gulf of Mexico, in Alaska’s famous Committee’s hearing on the 2007 Budget, reminded that there is no such thing as Political Chair Dwight Adams 378-5129 [email protected] which contains your membership number. PLEASE Government Liaison Steve Williams 386-397-2945 [email protected] salmon-fishing grounds in Bristol Bay, off the chairman praised the Department of “environmentally gentle” oil drilling. Environmental Education Chair Rudy Rothseiden 352-318-3844 [email protected] ADDRESS ALL GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE the coast of Virginia, and up and down the Interior for promoting “environmentally- Some places, like America’s Arctic Refuge, Newsletter Folding Scott Camil 375-2563 [email protected] FOR THE SUWANNEE-ST. JOHNS GROUP OF THE east and west coasts. Congress also has gentle” oil development in the Arctic are just too important to be put at risk for Webmaster Louis Clark 373-5377 [email protected] SIERRA CLUB TO: P.O. BOX 13951, annually reaffirmed a moratorium on National Wildlife Refuge. Just days later, a speculative oil fix. Newsletter Editor/Design Colin Whitworth 372-2464 [email protected] GAINESVILLE, FL 32604. drilling off these protected coasts. America got an unfortunate preview of By Sierra Club Staff 6 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club April 2006 April 2006 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club 3 Sales Tax Bad Choice for Schools Juniper Springs Jaunt news¬es BY DWIGHT ADAMS because the added costs of gas tends to dis- would pay about 30 percent of the taxes. BY KAREN GARREN PAYNES PRAIRIE ALERT The broadened tax base created by courage unnecessary driving. Another This works only if Alachua County resi- Great day in the morning, and the evenings are pretty nice, too. If you The edge of Paynes Prairie may be at risk if certain growth means that it pays its own way, example are impact fees, which are assessed dents don’t spend much outside the coun- haven’t gotten your first mosquito bite of the year, yet, here are a few oppor- plans for increased development by the Gainesville doesn’t it? Yeah, right. That is why areas of solely on the growth that creates the need ty and therefore give sales tax revenues to tunities: Country Club come to fruition. As reported in the rapid growth can reduce their taxes. for the infrastructure. Much of the current other counties. APRIL 7-12: March 16 Gainesville Sun, some members of the club’s Where do you know that this has hap- school situation is the result of the board’s With impact fees, new-home buyers, Backpacking in the Board of Directors are contemplating development of pened? Nowhere, because it doesn’t work failure to act responsibly to help control most of whom are relocating here, would Juniper Wilderness additional golf course areas, as well as new condomini- that way. Instead, additional taxes are sprawl and to make use of impact fees. pay 100 percent of the fees. Impact fees in area. This beautiful ums. required to pay for the infrastructure that Sales taxes are paid primarily by indi- line with those in fast-growing counties scrub ecosystem is Two homeowners and club members addressed our growth requires. viduals. Businesses that are not selling would provide a few million a year. hunting-excluded— Sierra Excom meeting on March 9. They’re concerned The local-option sales tax is frequently retail, that provide a service, or that just Board members who do not want an important consid- about the potentially adverse consequences of such government’s choice for additional sources distribute products, such as distribution impact fees fear that voters would reject the eration for hikers. We development on the prairie. of funding. In the last few years, Alachua centers, do not pay sales taxes. This sales tax if impact fees were imposed at the can shuttle vehicles About 140 acres may be affected and could become County and the School Board have pro- explains the support for sales taxes over same time. They have “compromised” and hike through, or the site for the building of one-to-four units an acre, posed extra sales taxes (added to the regular more appropriate means of funding within with Eileen Roy, a School Board member we can hike in, estab- with the usual road building and other infrastructure as 6 cents) for all sorts of projects: recreation, the business community. who advocates impact fees, telling her that lish a base camp and well. No homes have been built on the property since roads, low-income health care, etc. Sales taxes are regressive. Those with they would ask the County Commission to then explore the area. This outing will be moderately strenuous. Some 1963. Now, the School Board wants an extra low incomes pay a disproportionate share consider them after the sales tax vote. equipment can be borrowed and shared, but all participants must have stur- At present, there is legal ambiguity about covenants cent for school construction. dy shoes, a sleeping bag, food, water, and a flashlight. contained in most deeds pertaining to the property. The sales tax is certainly effective in sales taxes provide no feedback mechanism APRIL 22: Basic Birding at Split Rock Park, 8:00 a.m. to approximate- These covenants prohibit development except for producing additional revenue—one cent ly 1:30 p.m.. Do you have a pair of binoculars? Well, come meet the feath- recreation. However, some claim that the covenants brings in roughly $35 million a year in to discourage sprawl, which further adds ers residents of this city-owned wetlands west of the Hogtown Creek. It has were subsequently removed with regard to some of the Alachua County. planted pines, and oak hammock and sinkholes. Get pointers on bird iden- acreage, although this change was not recorded in the All it takes is convincing voters that to the infrastructure needs tification by sight and sound. We will shuttle in and may have to climb over chain of title. they should vote themselves more taxes, “ the gate, but there’s a rumor that a pedestrian walk-through gate will soon Opponents to the project argue that the club and its and government rarely hesitates to ignore of their income in taxes. While sales taxes Yeah, right; what would motivate them be installed. I’m in the process of arranging for a city naturalist meet us surrounding houses were only permitted because of the state laws prohibiting government from are not paid on groceries, they are on fast to seek impact fees if voters approve the there. land set aside to serve as a buffer and as protection of promoting issues that have been placed on food meals, where someone of modest sales tax? The school board has this back- the prairie. Inasmuch as development everywhere has the ballot. means might want to eat. The extra sales wards. Voters are likely to reject ”the sales UP AND COMING OUTINGS increased, the pressure on the prairie is also more Sales taxes—rather than the easy first taxes are doubly regressive because there is tax unless impact fees have been enacted so JUNE 10: Blueberry picking/picnic at Knox’s Berry Farm. intense. Therefore, opponents assert that retaining the choice on which politicians seize—should a cap at purchases of more than $5,000. those creating the need help pay for it. JUNE 23-25: Camping at Rainbow Springs State Park, paddle the current buffer is imperative. be the last-resort source of funding for For example, a single working mom would The SSJ Sierra Club has taken a posi- Withlacoochee and hike the scrub trails. Contact Karen Garren at Watch the paper for possible hearings before the infrastructure. Sales taxes provide no feed- pay the same in sales tax on a $5,000 used tion against the sales tax, and spirited oppo- [email protected], or call (352) 371-0008 for more information or Alachua County Commission in the event the club’s back mechanism to discourage sprawl, auto that’s needed to get to work as would sition to it can be expected, especially in the additional outings suggestions. board decides to petition for a zoning change that which further adds to the infrastructure the buyer of a new $40,000 vehicle. This absence of impact fees. A large-turnout in Our tour of the GRU Deerhaven Power Plant would allow more development. I will also try to alert needs. cap at $5,000 is the car dealers’ SUV and the November election does not bode well was very interesting, as was the people should the matter move forward. Other revenue sources make more Lexus subsidy. for passage of the tax. Politicians prefer brown bag lunch discussion. At By Paula Stahmer sense. For example, a gas tax is a very An argument given in support of the low-turnout voting situations such as a pri- the facility, we were shown a pro- appropriate way to fund transportation sales tax is that people outside the county mary runoff for sales tax referenda. motional video in the conference room. Then we were given hard GAINESVILLE ELECTION RESULTS hats and conducted through the The March election in Gainesville produced two “coal crushing” room, up the elevator to the catwalk, through the operations new city commissioners, as well as the passage of the monitoring center, and back to the conference room. Hogtown Creek amendment. During our picnic lunch at Northside Park, we discussed GRU’s pro- The new commissioners, Jeanna Mastrodicasa and posed additional coal-fired plant expansion, the cost to the taxpayers and the Scherwin Henry, promised to consider environmental City Commission’s reluctance to consider alternatives, such as aggressive issues seriously when making decisions. Mastrodicasa energy conservation measures and construction of smaller distributed gen- argued for better transportation alternatives. eration centers. As the main contributor to city coffers, GRU’s voice is high- There is the potential to form a pro-environment ly influential. But, as an incorporated municipality, final decisions rest with coalition on the seven-member board, if we can keep in the voters. Please sign the petition adding to the November ballot the refer- touch with them. Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan has long- $500/wk endum putting to the electorate decisions concerning coal or pet-coke electricity generation. see NEWS & NOTES, page 7 4 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club April 2006 April 2006 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club 5

remained supportive. However, S&P expressed doubt as to whether the city could maintain its current bond rating Blowing Smoke? because “increases [in utility rates] needed Appalachian Treasures THE BAD ECONOMICS OF GRU’S PROPOSED NEW COALFIRE POWER PLANT to provide adequate debt service coverage SOMETIMES WE DON’T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL ITS GONE over the next several years may be unusual- BY PAULA STAHMER have already seen 2 percent of that 16 per- ly high.” cent. As most readers already know, the BY JERRY ROSE Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee. an unjust, destructive, and short-sighted The Sword of Damacles hangs over the Moody’s also stated that, in the same Alachua County Environmental Advisory The oldest mountain range on earth is Families and communities near these mines enterprise is happening on our soil. community with regard to GRU’s pro- time period, GRU is planning other rate Committee issued a superlative analysis of the Appalachian Mountains. Coal compa- are forced to contend with appalling condi- The goal of Appalachian Treasures is to posed coal-fired utility power plant. Why increases of 11.75 percent for gas, 44 per- the coal plant/ future energy needs issue. nies are systematically destroying this tions, including the destruction of water educate the public and decision makers so dramatic a metaphor? Because the pro- cent for water, and 48 percent for waste- The report is available on the web (Google ancient treasure to fuel our insatiable supplies. There’s also the continual, daily about mountain top removal coal mining posal could mean a ruined and bankrupted water. All of this is to merely float our cur- “Alachua County, Florida and EPAC”). appetite for so called cheap energy. dynamite blasting, which damages homes and about efforts to stop the practice. economy for Gainesville. rent debt and does not include any Although the report is more than 170 Mountain top removal coal mining is a and wells and creates Most coalfield com- Sierrans need not defend themselves as allowance for investment in a new power see SMOKE, page 5 relatively new type of strip mining that choking dust, not to men- munities are rural and iso- impractical, dreamy-eyed tree-huggers on plant. involves blasting up to 1,000 feet of moun- tion the fear of fatal, cata- lated. In states where big this issue, but rather as hardheaded, parsi- It was Moody’s tain top into rubble, then dumping the strophic floods with every coal companies hold over- monious penny-pinchers who believe in expectation that, debris into nearby valleys and streams. rainfall. whelming political power, notions like thrift. between 2005 and This practice, dubbed “strip mining on The practice is destroy- the opposition of coalfield Let us start with the $450 million min- 2011, GRU would steroids” by nearby residents, has already ing a rich culture and her- citizens alone is not imum capital investment. It is generally have to impose a turned 400,000 acres of forested moun- itage, as well as our enough to stop mountain conceded by proponents of the GRU plan rate hike on elec- tains into barren moonscape in West nation’s oldest mountains. top removal. that the ultimate costs with interest charges tricity alone of 40 Virginia alone. Estimates are that at least a There are other ways of mining coal that Appalachian Voices will bring the tour could rise to $1.5 billion. Critics say the percent if it moves for- million acres of Appalachia’s mountains are safer for surrounding communities, to five Florida cities, including Gainesville reality could be closer to $3 billion. ward with the current have been destroyed this way. provide exponentially more jobs, and do on Thursday, March 30, at the Fellowship This expense would be devoted to the proposal. Across the Appalachian coalfields, more not destroy the beauty of the Appalachian Hall of the United Church of Gainesville, purchase and construction of already anti- Standard & Poor’s than 1,200 miles of streams are now buried mountains. located at 1624 NW 5th Ave. quated technology. Credit Outlook Rating due to mountain top removal. About 2,500 Since the 1990s, Appalachian Voices The program will be presented by Although coal is relatively inexpensive provides further con- tons of explosives are consumed daily—the has worked with coalfield residents to end Lenny Kohm, a long-time activist on behalf today, forecasters see prices rising sharply firmation of the jeop- equivalent of a Hiroshima-size bomb every mountain top removal. Over the course of of Canadian and Alaskan natives peoples and dramatically thanks to politics, both ardy of Gainesville’s week. those years, AV came to realize that moun- and advocate for protection of the Arctic foreign and domestic, and competition. A financial stability. Mountaintop removal coal mining taintop removal will end only if the National Wildlife Refuge. He is the cam- commitment to coal is no guarantee of low On November 7, presently occurs in West Virginia, American people become aware that such paign director for Appalachian Voices. rates, contrary to the propaganda eagerly S&P noted that promoted by electric utilities and the coal Gainesville’s capital SMOKE, from page 4 The EPAC analysis makes abundantly that our city commission seems committed industry. debt had increased clear that GRU has not substantiated the to taking an up-or-down vote in mid- If the power plant is built, as proposed, from 30 percent in pages, do not feel daunted. Start with claim that Gainesville needs a new power April, with only two commissioners actu- Gainesville will experience dramatic rate 2003 to 62 percent Chapter One: Report Overview, for the plant. The EPAC report is rather liberat- ally expressing significant doubt about the increases in addition to GRU’s currently in 2005. According layman’s discussion. Indeed, the entire ing because it demonstrates clearly that we project. planned rate hike of 16 percent over the to S&P, GRU has report does not require scientific back- have available to us numerous common If you have an opinion on the matter, next five years for electricity alone, accord- been able to sustain ground for understanding the issues and sense, low-cost alternatives that will keep you should make your voice heard since ing to Moody’s October 2005 review such debt because the implications for the economy, politics, the lights on while reducing costs, con- the ultimate decision remains very much (www.ratingsdirect.com). Supposedly, we the city has and the environment. sumption, and pollution. It is distressing in doubt.

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If you The edge of Paynes Prairie may be at risk if certain growth means that it pays its own way, example are impact fees, which are assessed dents don’t spend much outside the coun- haven’t gotten your first mosquito bite of the year, yet, here are a few oppor- plans for increased development by the Gainesville doesn’t it? Yeah, right. That is why areas of solely on the growth that creates the need ty and therefore give sales tax revenues to tunities: Country Club come to fruition. As reported in the rapid growth can reduce their taxes. for the infrastructure. Much of the current other counties. APRIL 7-12: March 16 Gainesville Sun, some members of the club’s Where do you know that this has hap- school situation is the result of the board’s With impact fees, new-home buyers, Backpacking in the Board of Directors are contemplating development of pened? Nowhere, because it doesn’t work failure to act responsibly to help control most of whom are relocating here, would Juniper Wilderness additional golf course areas, as well as new condomini- that way. Instead, additional taxes are sprawl and to make use of impact fees. pay 100 percent of the fees. Impact fees in area. This beautiful ums. required to pay for the infrastructure that Sales taxes are paid primarily by indi- line with those in fast-growing counties scrub ecosystem is Two homeowners and club members addressed our growth requires. viduals. Businesses that are not selling would provide a few million a year. hunting-excluded— Sierra Excom meeting on March 9. They’re concerned The local-option sales tax is frequently retail, that provide a service, or that just Board members who do not want an important consid- about the potentially adverse consequences of such government’s choice for additional sources distribute products, such as distribution impact fees fear that voters would reject the eration for hikers. We development on the prairie. of funding. In the last few years, Alachua centers, do not pay sales taxes. This sales tax if impact fees were imposed at the can shuttle vehicles About 140 acres may be affected and could become County and the School Board have pro- explains the support for sales taxes over same time. They have “compromised” and hike through, or the site for the building of one-to-four units an acre, posed extra sales taxes (added to the regular more appropriate means of funding within with Eileen Roy, a School Board member we can hike in, estab- with the usual road building and other infrastructure as 6 cents) for all sorts of projects: recreation, the business community. who advocates impact fees, telling her that lish a base camp and well. No homes have been built on the property since roads, low-income health care, etc. Sales taxes are regressive. Those with they would ask the County Commission to then explore the area. This outing will be moderately strenuous. Some 1963. Now, the School Board wants an extra low incomes pay a disproportionate share consider them after the sales tax vote. equipment can be borrowed and shared, but all participants must have stur- At present, there is legal ambiguity about covenants cent for school construction. dy shoes, a sleeping bag, food, water, and a flashlight. contained in most deeds pertaining to the property. The sales tax is certainly effective in sales taxes provide no feedback mechanism APRIL 22: Basic Birding at Split Rock Park, 8:00 a.m. to approximate- These covenants prohibit development except for producing additional revenue—one cent ly 1:30 p.m.. Do you have a pair of binoculars? Well, come meet the feath- recreation. However, some claim that the covenants brings in roughly $35 million a year in to discourage sprawl, which further adds ers residents of this city-owned wetlands west of the Hogtown Creek. It has were subsequently removed with regard to some of the Alachua County. planted pines, and oak hammock and sinkholes. Get pointers on bird iden- acreage, although this change was not recorded in the All it takes is convincing voters that to the infrastructure needs tification by sight and sound. We will shuttle in and may have to climb over chain of title. they should vote themselves more taxes, “ the gate, but there’s a rumor that a pedestrian walk-through gate will soon Opponents to the project argue that the club and its and government rarely hesitates to ignore of their income in taxes. While sales taxes Yeah, right; what would motivate them be installed. I’m in the process of arranging for a city naturalist meet us surrounding houses were only permitted because of the state laws prohibiting government from are not paid on groceries, they are on fast to seek impact fees if voters approve the there. land set aside to serve as a buffer and as protection of promoting issues that have been placed on food meals, where someone of modest sales tax? The school board has this back- the prairie. Inasmuch as development everywhere has the ballot. means might want to eat. The extra sales wards. Voters are likely to reject ”the sales UP AND COMING OUTINGS increased, the pressure on the prairie is also more Sales taxes—rather than the easy first taxes are doubly regressive because there is tax unless impact fees have been enacted so JUNE 10: Blueberry picking/picnic at Knox’s Berry Farm. intense. Therefore, opponents assert that retaining the choice on which politicians seize—should a cap at purchases of more than $5,000. those creating the need help pay for it. JUNE 23-25: Camping at Rainbow Springs State Park, paddle the current buffer is imperative. be the last-resort source of funding for For example, a single working mom would The SSJ Sierra Club has taken a posi- Withlacoochee and hike the scrub trails. Contact Karen Garren at Watch the paper for possible hearings before the infrastructure. Sales taxes provide no feed- pay the same in sales tax on a $5,000 used tion against the sales tax, and spirited oppo- [email protected], or call (352) 371-0008 for more information or Alachua County Commission in the event the club’s back mechanism to discourage sprawl, auto that’s needed to get to work as would sition to it can be expected, especially in the additional outings suggestions. board decides to petition for a zoning change that which further adds to the infrastructure the buyer of a new $40,000 vehicle. This absence of impact fees. A large-turnout in Our tour of the GRU Deerhaven Power Plant would allow more development. I will also try to alert needs. cap at $5,000 is the car dealers’ SUV and the November election does not bode well was very interesting, as was the people should the matter move forward. Other revenue sources make more Lexus subsidy. for passage of the tax. Politicians prefer brown bag lunch discussion. At By Paula Stahmer sense. For example, a gas tax is a very An argument given in support of the low-turnout voting situations such as a pri- the facility, we were shown a pro- appropriate way to fund transportation sales tax is that people outside the county mary runoff for sales tax referenda. motional video in the conference room. Then we were given hard GAINESVILLE ELECTION RESULTS hats and conducted through the The March election in Gainesville produced two “coal crushing” room, up the elevator to the catwalk, through the operations new city commissioners, as well as the passage of the monitoring center, and back to the conference room. Hogtown Creek amendment. During our picnic lunch at Northside Park, we discussed GRU’s pro- The new commissioners, Jeanna Mastrodicasa and posed additional coal-fired plant expansion, the cost to the taxpayers and the Scherwin Henry, promised to consider environmental City Commission’s reluctance to consider alternatives, such as aggressive issues seriously when making decisions. Mastrodicasa energy conservation measures and construction of smaller distributed gen- argued for better transportation alternatives. eration centers. As the main contributor to city coffers, GRU’s voice is high- There is the potential to form a pro-environment ly influential. But, as an incorporated municipality, final decisions rest with coalition on the seven-member board, if we can keep in the voters. Please sign the petition adding to the November ballot the refer- touch with them. Mayor Pegeen Hanrahan has long- $500/wk endum putting to the electorate decisions concerning coal or pet-coke electricity generation. see NEWS & NOTES, page 7 2 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club April 2006 April 2006 Suwannee-St. Johns Sierra Club 7 carefully avoided. Nevertheless, I found it NEWS & NOTES, from page 3 But the current Bush administration just how “gentle” oil drilling operations astounding that there was evidence of poor wants a radical change to that policy. could be if allowed on the Arctic Refuge’s CARE About Your Town maintenance; on the top deck, there was a time ties to the SSJ Sierra Club. In February, the federal Mineral fragile Coastal Plain. BY ROB BRINKMAN Women for Wise Growth also unanimous- large pipe containing sensor wires for the Mastrodicasa handily Management Service released a new Five- On March 2, a BP oil operator discov- When Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., spoke at ly supported this effort. boiler below, it had corroded to the point defeated former City Year Leasing Plan that would open vast ered signs of an oil spill at a caribou migra- UF last month, his primary focus was pol- If enacted, the voters will be able decide where many small low voltage wires were Commissioner Tony areas off our coasts to oil and gas drilling. tion site on the snow-covered tundra of lution from coal-fired power plants. With if coal is worth the risk to our environmen- exposed to the elements. While there is no Domenech, 55 to 45 per- This plan would open up for the first time Alaska’s North Slope. Three days later, three sons struggling with asthma and mer- tal and economic health of our community safety risk, the lack of routine maintenance cent, for an At-Large seat. about two million acres known as Lease response workers finally uncovered the cury levels in his body twice that of safe lev- and the health of future generations. This is was disturbing, we were assured that cor- This is Domenech’s second Sale 181 in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico source of the spill—a breach in an oil tran- els, he well understands the danger of our an effort to empower the communi- rective measures were planned for consecutive unsuccessful Mastrodicasa and prepare for leasing areas off Virginia’s sit pipeline feeding into the larger trans- continued reliance on “cheap coal power.” ty to decide its energy future. CHAIR’S the next scheduled shutdown. campaign for a commission coast and in Alaska’s famous salmon fish- Alaska oil pipeline infrastructure stretch- He said the government has failed to pro- CARE needs both volunteers seat. She replaces Warren Neilsen, who ing grounds in Bristol Bay. For 25 years ing some 800 miles across the state. tect us because of the corrupting influence and contributions. Please help this SOLAR HOME TOUR was term-limited out. drilling in these areas has been banned by Clean-up crews have vacuumed up of business interests. grassroots effort. Contact CARE at Next month on Saturday April Henry beat Barbara Sharpe, a former both Congressional moratoria and more than 50,000 gallons of crude oil and Gainesville residents may have the [email protected] or write 8, I will take interested people to an Alachua County School Board member, in Presidential deferral orders. melted snow off the delicate tundra, but at opportunity to exercise the rights and CARE at P.O.Box 14544 off-grid home in Putnam County. a landslide, 67 to 33 percent. Henry The proposal is open least one report from an responsibilities of their ownership of GRU Gainesville, Fl. 32604-4544. Call CORNER Randy Cullom and Liz Seiberling replaces Charles Chestnut IV to represent to public comment, industry expert has indi- by voting on plans for an additional coal 352-337-1757 and leave a message. have built an energy-efficient house District 1. Like Neilsen, Chestnut had also though, and if citizens cated that up to 798,000 plant. The Gainesville Charter currently with many passive solar features. The served the maximum two consecutive express enough outrage, gallons could be unac- Last month, I mentioned that Citizens requires voter approval before the City house, near Interlachen, has a composting terms and could not run again. the agency may withdraw counted for, possibly for Affordable and Renewable Energy has Commission can sell GRU. Isn’t the deci- toilet (no septic tank) and 1,200 watts of The Hogtown Creek charter amend- its proposal. The com- making this the largest launched a ballot petition drive to amend sion to increase coal pollution just as photovoltaic power. It is situated on 60 ment passed easily, 58 to 42 percent. This ment period ends April crude oil spill in the his- Gainesville’s Charter; if passed, the amend- important? acres of mostly wooded land, adjacent to amendment revises a previous charter 10. Comments can be tory of the North Slope, two lakes. amendment to allow paving in city recre- submitted by mail to and second in Alaska only The property has been managed with ation areas for non-roadway, recreational Renee Orr, 5-Year to the 1989 Exxon Valdez this is an effort to empower the community prescribed burns to enhance habitat for uses, even if such development takes place Program Manager, oil spill. native wildlife. This could be the last in the Hogtown Creek watershed. Comments on Draft The accident is just to decide its energy future chance to visit this solar home, because The previous amendment, passed to Proposed 5-Year Program one in a long history of there is a sale pending. stop a proposed paved trail along the for 2007-2012, Minerals substantial spills seen on Please let me know if you would like to creek, prohibited any paving within the Management Service Alaska’s fragile North ment“ would require a referendum before Last month, SSJ Sierra Club Outings carpool to Interlachen to visit this super watershed, making it illegal to, say, add a Room 3120, 381 Elden Slope since development funds can be used for an additional coal Chair Karen Garren led a tour of the GRU green homestead. The meeting place will tennis court to a park in the watershed. Street, Herndon, Virginia, 20170. You began there. power plant. coal plant at the Deerhaven Power Station. be at the boat ramp at the south end of There were environmental arguments can also submit comments online at In fact, despite industry hype about the The SSJ executive committee voted I joined about a dozen others for a ”cursory Newnan’s Lake, on Hawthorne Road, at against the newest amendment, as www.mms.gov/5-year/2007- safety of development and new technolo- unanimously to endorse the petition drive. tour; all the dirty parts of the plant were 8:30 a.m. I hope to see you then. explained in last month’s newsletter. 2012main.htm. gy, the Prudhoe Bay oil fields and Trans- A final comment—a small percentage In an effort to advance their proactive Alaska Pipeline have caused an average of Visit the National and Local Sierra Club Websites! of eligible voters participating in the elec- vision for this Congress, on Feb. 1, Florida 504 spills annually on the North Slope FOLDING PARTY tion. Only 16 percent of voters went to the senators Bill Nelson (Dem.) and Mel since 1996, according to the Alaska’s own National: http://www.sierraclub.org • Local: http://www.gatorsierra.org Interested in hosting a newsletter folding party? polls. While this can benefit energetic Martinez (Rep.) proposed the Permanent Department of Environmental Conser- Contact Scott Camil at 375-2563 campaigns who can get out the vote, it Protection for Florida Act. This measure vation. Suwannee-St.Johns Group Chairs & Executive Committee does not make good democracy. provides permanent protection for Past spills have included a 300,000 gal- Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra Club Newsletter Chair Rob Brinkman 337-1757 [email protected] By Colin Whitworth (UPS 317-370) is published 10 months a year, except Florida’s coasts and extends the moratoria lon crude oil spill from the Trans-Alaska Program co-chair Bill Radunovich 375-2354 [email protected] June and August, by the Suwannee-St. Johns Group protecting the entire Atlantic and Pacific pipeline that was detected as far as 166 Program co-chair Anna Peterson 337-2957 [email protected] Sierra Club, 1024 NW 13th Ave, Gainesville, 32601. coasts through the year 2020. miles away, and the disastrous 675,000 Conservation Co-Chair Josh Dickinson 373-2377 [email protected] By Sierra Club Staff gallons that were leaked after a saboteur Conservation Co-Chair Paula Stahmer 373-3958 [email protected] Non-member subscription rate is $5.00. Periodicals Secretary Annette Long 352-490-8930 [email protected] Postage Paid is paid at the Gainesville, FL 32608 post BUSHES PUSH GULF DRILLING exploded a two-inch hole in the pipeline Treasurer Roberta Gastmeyer 336-2404 [email protected] office. Postmaster: Send change of addresses to just a few miles north of Fairbanks. Membership Chair Whitey Markle 392-0270 [email protected] Suwannee- St. Johns Group Sierra Club Newsletter, Both the first President Bush and As crews of up to 70 people work 12- Administrative Chair Russell Roy 372-7305 [email protected] c/o The Sierra Club, Member Services, P.O. Box President Clinton issued presidential ALASKAN PIPELINE SPILL hour shifts around the clock to clean up Outings Chair Karen Garren 371-0008 [email protected] 52968, Boulder, CO 80328-2968. Send both your old directives that banned oil drilling in the Last month, during the Senate Energy after this massive oil spill, we are sadly Events Coordinator Sherry Steiner 375-2563 [email protected] and new addresses and a Sierra address label, eastern Gulf of Mexico, in Alaska’s famous Committee’s hearing on the 2007 Budget, reminded that there is no such thing as Political Chair Dwight Adams 378-5129 [email protected] which contains your membership number. PLEASE Government Liaison Steve Williams 386-397-2945 [email protected] salmon-fishing grounds in Bristol Bay, off the chairman praised the Department of “environmentally gentle” oil drilling. Environmental Education Chair Rudy Rothseiden 352-318-3844 [email protected] ADDRESS ALL GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE the coast of Virginia, and up and down the Interior for promoting “environmentally- Some places, like America’s Arctic Refuge, Newsletter Folding Scott Camil 375-2563 [email protected] FOR THE SUWANNEE-ST. JOHNS GROUP OF THE east and west coasts. Congress also has gentle” oil development in the Arctic are just too important to be put at risk for Webmaster Louis Clark 373-5377 [email protected] SIERRA CLUB TO: P.O. BOX 13951, annually reaffirmed a moratorium on National Wildlife Refuge. Just days later, a speculative oil fix. Newsletter Editor/Design Colin Whitworth 372-2464 [email protected] GAINESVILLE, FL 32604. drilling off these protected coasts. America got an unfortunate preview of By Sierra Club Staff Suwannee-St. Johns Group Periodicals Suwannee-St. Johns Group Sierra Club U.S. POSTAGE NEWSLETTER PAID P.O. Box 13951 Gainesville FL 32608 Gainesville FL 32604 Sierra Club Newsletter Published monthly except June and August from Gainesville, Florida VOLUME 36 • NUMBER 4 • April 2006