Hydrofracking around the watersheds of New York City and Syracuse have been banned by the governor and state legislature because of how it pollutes the water. The same consideration for the quality of life of the residents and tourists in the Finger Lakes should be legislated. The Finger Lakes are the source of water for municipalities, tens of thousands of individuals, farms, vineyards, recreation, and tourism.

Instead of using take out containers - Even if they are re-cycleable, BYO - Carry in your car your own Coffee Mug , Smoothie Mug, Containers to take home leftovers , or purchase deli foods , and your own utensils - Have a picnic basket in your trunk !!!

Andrea Lani has been an employee in good standing with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection since 1999. On March 29, she testified before a legislative committee, warning about the risks of Governor Paul LePage's efforts to weaken protections for the chemical BPA, which has been linked to developmental problems in kids, heart disease, and cancer. In retaliation, Andrea was demoted and replaced by a far less qualified individual who had been hired in January for an entry-level clerical position.

3.7 billion prescriptions were filled in retail pharmacies in the United States in 2010 (1). That is an awful lot of plastic. Unfortunately, the bottles used for these prescriptions are often not recyclable (2). Many states also prohibit pharmacies from reusing prescription bottles (3). (1) http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?sub=66&rgn=1&cat=5 (2) http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/recycling/questions/can-i-recycle-my-used-prescription-bottles (3) http://www.suddenlyfrugal.com/2008/10/random-reusables-follow-up-on-prescription-bottles/

Our lakes are having toxic algae blooms... development and the human impact are the main culprits. And the data clearly shows long-term deterioration. It will take some time and education to turn this around. Ask the County to fund an increased community outreach plan. The monies are already there... collected by state law specifically for the protection of the environment in the Stillaguamish Clean Water District. Ask them to use it... or lose our lakes!

The City of Salem is proposing to build a 1.5-megawatt wind turbine at Winter Island. The turbine would produce enough energy to power approximately 300 homes, creating a revenue stream for the city and helping to move our state away from reliance on fossil fuels, the major cause of global climate change. Over the course of its 30-year lifetime, the turbine would reduce our city’s carbon emissions by 80,000 tons, the equivalent of taking about 13,000 cars off the road. The City conducted a thorough study of all city-owned lands to determine the best site for a wind turbine. After analyzing the best wind locations with an outside consultant and considering a range of factors–including proximity to residences, access to the power grid, topography, and other impacts–it was determined that the best location for the project was Winter Island.

Oil is detrimental to the environment from pollution problems to disastrous oil spills; despite the five biggest oil companies making astounding profits of over $67 billion in just the first half of 2011, oil and gas companies continue to receive $15.6 billion each year in federal tax breaks. We want Senator Murray to encourage the debt-reduction Super Committee to stop these wasteful subsidies to Big Oil.

A systemic pesticide moves inside a plant following absorption by the plant. With insecticides and most fungicides, this movement is usually upward (through the xylem) and outward. Increased efficiency may be a result. Systemic insecticides, which poison pollen and nectar in the flowers, may kill bees and other needed pollinators. In 2007 with the use of Bayer's systemic pesticides, as occurred in France 10 years prior, over one billion honey bees were killed within a one year period prompting the California Almond crisis. Since this time, the French minister of agriculture has banned the use of systemic pesticides in France. We will have no more fruits and vegetables in the US if we continue the use of systemic pesticides because all the native bees will be killed except for a small number. What happens to a human DNA when system pesticides, that cannot be washed off produce, is ingested in our bodies? When our bees die in multitude, isn't that a serious omen? Please pass legislation to ban system pesticide use NOW!

Manor School has been a leader in the national Safe Routes to School Program, and we can continue to be a model in this movement. However, our streets are marginally safe, even very unsafe for kids. The Town of Fairfax has applied to Transportation Authority of Marin for a $100,000 grant to make the route safer by painting "sharrows" and increasing signage. We're calling on TAM to stand up for safe and green transportation for kids and approve the Bikespine grant.

The Delaware River Basin Commission postponed their vote which had been scheduled to take place last November 21, 2011. The current temporary ban (moratorium) on Fracking in the Delaware River Watershed could be lifted at any time, and with very short notice, by a vote of the DRBC. This would threaten the environment and endanger the water supply of millions of people in parts of 4 States. The severity of the threat has now been broadened and increased by the recent enactment of PA Act 13. Review some concerns about Fracking at my "FRACKING-AWARENESS INFO DOCUMENT-5" (copy, paste address as hyperlink is disabled)-- https://docs.google.com/document/ d/1jNRoQUiIufCjTWCaEdfEsDOq1nlLHKQU9SM2bxa2E20/edit?pli=1# ...Google Document "FRACKING-AWARENESS INFO DOCUMENT-5" is also available for review at: http://tinyurl.com/Fracking-Awareness

We need our energy to come from America; it's foolish to depend upon another nation for our power. We need a clean energy source; we're not going to do any more harm to our old nuclear test sites by turning them into solar power farms!

A federal appeals court ruled last month that oil and gas companies can begin drilling in the Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania. The ruling says that the government only controls the surface rights in the national forest, not the mineral rights under the surface. While the ruling only affects the Allegheny National Forest, this could set the stage for opening up drilling in ALL National Forests. This means they start drilling immediately unless we act now. There are two ways we can stop this: 1) The Obama Justice Department must appeal this ruling and ask for an injunction to halt drilling; and 2) Congress must pass legislation to stop drilling in all National Forests.