Keeping It Clean: Our Air, Our Health Opportunities for San Antonio Leadership in Sustainable Development
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KEEPING IT CLEAN: OUR AIR, OUR HEALTH OPPORTUNITIES FOR SAN ANTONIO LEADERSHIP IN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Printed on FSC Certified paper with soy-based inks and environment-friendly chemicals. clean air forum agenda keeping it clean: our air, our health keeping it clean: our air, our health What are the two most critical elements for a healthy life? That’s easy July 11, 2013 at Rackspace Castle – clean air and clean water; resources that many of us take for granted – particularly those who live and work in the San Antonio region. Historically, EXHIBITS San Antonians have enjoyed some of the cleanest air and water of any 10:00 am - 2:00 pm populated area in the world. Big Deal? Most people in the world would say it’s beyond a “Big Deal” - it is a matter of life or death. REGISTRATION 10:00 am - 11:15 am The World Health Organization reports four out of every 10 people in the 11:15 am All Audience Seated world do not have clean water to drink. More than 3.5 million people per year die as a result of water related diseases, making it the leading cause PROGRAM of disease and death around the world. 11:30 am - 1:30 pm Air pollution, including particulate matter and ozone, is a major environmental health problem 11:30 am Opening Remarks - Judge Nelson Wolff affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike. It is estimated to cause 1.3 million Moderator: Robert Rivard - Director, Rivard Report deaths worldwide per year. Because air pollution travels the globe, our 11:45 am Panel Discussion Begins challenge here is part of a much larger 1:30 pm Adjourn, 2:00 pm Exhibits Close challenge. PANELISTS It is clear that asthma has suddenly exploded as a major and growing Doyle Beneby, CEO-CPS Energy health problem in recent decades. Dr. Thomas Schlenker, Director-SA Metropolitan Health District In the U.S. alone, 22 million people now suffer from asthma, including 7 Elena Craft, Health Scientist-Environmental Defense Fund million children. That’s an increase of 75 percent among all Americans, and a Peter Bella, Natural Resources Director-AACOG stunning 160 percent increase among children in just 14 years. It is now the most chronic disabling disease of These five star books will be donated to 15 libraries throughout South Texas in the name childhood. of our Clean Air Forum’s Speakers, Participants, and Moderator. So it should be obvious that maintaining our clean water and clean air is imperative to good health. We should also become more aware that the economic health of our community can be seriously damaged if we don’t effectively manage our air quality. Our hope today is to raise awareness of the emerging problems, challenges and solutions relative to the quality of air in our region. We have been given much, it is our responsibility to protect it. Mike Burke Chair, Founder - San Antonio Clean Technology Forum Note: We are most blessed to have in our community Peter Bella, with his unique and very impressive capabilities. Please read his message in our booklet. The Prepper’s Pocket Guide: 101 Easy Things Science in Seconds for Kids You Can Do to Ready Your Home for a Disaster Jean Potter Bernie Carr and Evan Wondolowski peter bella robert rivard Natural Resources Director, AACOG Director, The Rivard Report Peter Bella is currently the Natural Resource Director for the Alamo Area Council of Governments Robert Rivard retired as editor of the San Antonio Express-News (1997-2011). He recently (AACOG) in San Antonio. He has been with AACOG for nearly fifteen years. As Natural Resource formed The Arsenal Group, which offers strategic communications consulting services, Director he provides strategic planning targeting air quality improvements within the 12-county and publishes The Rivard Report, a media website focused on the progressive growth and AACOG region of south central Texas. He is also a member of the AACOG Air Improvement development of San Antonio. He is joined by Monika Maeckle, his wife, a retired media Resources (AIR) Technical Committee. The AIR Committee is responsible for local air quality policy executive with Business Wire, a Berskhire Hathaway company. Rivard has moderated a development in the AACOG/Greater San Antonio region as required to meet federal standards for number of public policy forums in San Antonio, many of them broadcast on public television ground-level ozone. In addition, he serves on the San Antonio River Authority’s San Antonio River throughout the state. Basin Environmental Advisory Committee and is a member of the Mission Verde Alliance / San Antonio Clean Technology Forum Advisory Board. He also serves on the Urban and Regional Planning Advisory Council to the College Rivard is a political science graduate from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a graduate of Architecture at UTSA, is a Board member of imagineSanAntonio. He received a BS in Physics, Magna Cum Laude and a MS in of Northwestern University’s Executive Management Program. He was selected by UTSA, as Mathematics, both from the University of Texas at San Antonio. “Alumnus of the Year” in September 2000. He’s been married for 31 years to Monika Maeckle. They have two sons, Nick, pursuing his graduate degree in urban design at Harvard, and Alex, a senior at Texas State University in San Marcos. doyle beneby dr. thomas schlenker CEO, CPS Energy Director, SA Metropolitan Health District Doyle Beneby is President and Chief Executive Officer of CPS Energy, the largest municipal electric Thomas Schlenker is health department director and health authority for San Antonio and Bexar and gas utility in the nation. A veteran of the energy industry with over 25 years of experience, County. Dr. Schlenker received his BA from Antioch College, medical degree from Northwestern, Beneby has expertise in many facets of the electric & gas utility industry including strategic planning, Masters in Public Health from Harvard and trained in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. generation & delivery operations and asset acquisition. He has practiced general and hospital-based pediatrics in Wisconsin, led health departments in Madison, Milwaukee and Salt Lake City and worked in Latin America, including one year as Senior Since joining CPS Energy in August of 2010, Beneby has lead the transition to a lower carbon intense Fulbright Fellow at the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Subjects of Dr. generation fleet, utilizing clean coal, natural gas and nuclear combined with targeted renewables Schlenker’s published research include the epidemiology of measles, hepatitis A, immunizations, such as wind and solar. He has also brokered partnerships with multiple clean technology companies childhood lead poisoning, infant mortality and how to influence physician practice. Areas of bringing thousands of jobs to the Greater San Antonio area, increasing research and development concentration since becoming director of Metro Health in San Antonio in 2011 have been teen and enhancing educational investments. pregnancy, obesity, syphilis and neighborhood health strategies. Beneby is a graduate of Montana Technical College, earning a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Miami. Elena Craft nelson w wolff Health Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund Bexar County Judge Dr. Craft’s expertise is on air toxics issues, specifically reducing criteria and greenhouse gas emissions Nelson William Wolff was appointed Bexar County Judge in 2001 and has since been elected to the from the energy and transportation sectors. She has worked to reduce emissions around port areas position in November 2002, 2006, and again in 2010. He is the first County Judge who also served as and environmental justice communities and to reduce toxics from shale gas drilling practices. She Mayor of San Antonio in more than 100 years. has been an integral strategist in designing and initiating comprehensive clean air measures, as well as in developing standards to measure environmental performance. Her efforts led to the creation Judge Wolff has worked to promote greater economic development in Bexar County, including the of clean truck programs in Houston and other ports around the Southeast. Dr. Craft was appointed successful efforts to lure Toyota Motor Manufacturing and the PGA Village to locate here. In 2007, to serve a two-year term on the Environmental Protection Agency’s SAB Environmental Justice He led the Commissioners Court approval of a $500 million, 10-year regional flood control program. Technical Review Panel, and the University of Texas’ School of Public Health recognized her as an He has overseen the construction of up to 13 amateur sports facilities, a dedicated performing arts adjunct assistant professor of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences. venue, improvements to the San Antonio River and future improvements to the AT&T Center and a new trauma center. Dr. Craft works on projects that increase efficiency from goods movement operations. Her strategy includes forming partnerships with retailers and stakeholders, with the ultimate goal of incorporating clean air improvements into a sustainable business model. As Mayor of San Antonio, Wolff oversaw the establishment of the University of Texas at San Antonio Downtown Campus; construction Dr. Craft advocates for policies that increase efficiency, reduce toxic compounds exposure, and improve health. of the Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, home to the San Antonio Missions. Education: BS degree, UNC Chapel Hill; MS degree in toxicology, NC State University; and PhD, Duke University. sa2020 air quality indicator From SA2020′s Environmental Sustainability section. Graphic courtesy of SA2020.org. For 14 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from air quality monitors to compile the State of the Air report. The more you learn about the air you breathe, the more you can protect your health and take steps to make our air cleaner and healthier.