WSNetwork News

On July 19, 2004, the Brown County Harbor Commission voted 4 to 3 to abandon future Great Lakes shipping opportunities on the Fox River in De Pere, to make way for capping in place PCB hotspots dumped by certain paper industries. The Commission is supporting the industries’ petition to Congress to modify the federal shipping channel from an authorized 18 foot depth, to only a 6 foot depth.

“This modification will drastically limit future uses of the Fox River in De Pere. We believe a public hearing should be held before such a major decision is finalized,” stated Rebecca Katers, Executive Director of the Clean Water Action Council, a local citizen organization based in Green Bay. “We also question the long-term safety of leaving the PCBs in the river."

Citizens can send comment letters to the Brown County Board of Supervisors, at 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. In addition, U.S. Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold can be contacted at their e-mail addresses: russell_feingold@feingold.senate.gov and http://kohl.senate.gov/gen_contact.html

For more information, contact: Rebecca Katers, 920-437-7304 (work), or 920-468-4243 (home).

New Website: Environmental Profile of PCBs in the Great Lakes

A new website on PCBs in the Great Lakes, including the U.S. and Canada. called "Environmental Profile of PCBs in the Great Lakes." can be accessed at:

http://www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/pcb/

It was prepared at the Great Lakes Center for Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

Restore Wisconsin's Public Intervenor

Listen to a Jim Packard interview with Melissa Scanlan, Midwest Environmental Advocates, on the Ideas Network of Wisconsin Public Radio July 28, 2004. Subject: Is it time to bring back the office of Public Intervenor in Wisconsin?

http://clipcast.wpr.org:8080/ramgen/wpr/mlr/mlr040728f.rm

Read the report prepared by MEA, At a Loss: The State of Wisconsin after Eight Years without the Public Intervor Office (Mar. 2004) (PDF)

Environmental Damage = Wasted Taxpayer Dollars

WISPIRG is asking for info on Government programs that harm the environment and waste taxpayer dollars for its second annual Green Scissors report.

WISPIRG plans to release the report out mid-to-late September to coincide with the deadline for agency proposals into the Governor.

If you have any suggestions of specific programs and projects from the 2003-2004 budget that should be included, please send them to:

Jennifer Giegerich
WISPIRG State Director
1050 Regent St. Suite L2
Madison, WI 53715
(608) 251-1918

You can see last year's Green Scissors Report at www.wispirg.org.

Health Experts, Sierra Club Release Report Showing Highways Linked to Asthma, Heart Attacks, Cancer

On July 28, Madison health researchers and the Sierra Club released the report: "Highway Health Hazards" stating that air pollution from vehicles increases a wide range of health risks from asthma to lung cancer. Highway Health Hazards summarizes 27 peer-reviewed, scientific studies that document health hazards caused by pollution from busy roadways.

Read the Press Release (PDF)

Stewardship Fund applications available - Deadline for Application is October 15, 2004

Applications for the 2004 Stewardship Fund Grant are now available from Sheboygan County’s Planning and Resource Department, room 335 of the Administration Building, 508 New York Avenue or on the Internet at www.co.sheboygan.wi.us

Read the Sheboygan Press Article

Job Opening at Clean Wisconsin

Clean Wisconsin Inc., a statewide environmental advocacy organization based in Madison WI, is seeking a full-time Legislative Director. Salary is commensurate with experience. Duties (See www.cleanwisconsin.org) include planning and coordinating Clean Wisconsin's legislative activities.

Submit by August 16th - cover letter, resume, and two writing samples to Liz Wessel, Executive Director, Clean Wisconsin, 122 State Street, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53703 (info@cleanwisconsin.org). Clean Wisconsin is an equal opportunity employer. Women, minorities and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

See Wildlife Now on Camera on the Web

SeeMore Wildlife Systems creates robotic camera systems for monitoring wildlife in remote locations. Their camera systems are wireless, solar and wind powered, and designed to operate in extremely foul-weather environments.

Seemore Wildlife Live Streaming Video at
http://www.seemorewildlife.com/streaming.php

Let's get this technology going in Wisconsin to promote our beautiful forests and wildlife! If you're interested working together on a project to make this happen, email Alice McCombs, webmaster@wsn.org

Protect Wetlands while Drinking Coffee

Do you drink coffee regularly at home or work? Do you enjoy supporting local, organic and fair trade businesses? If you answered yes to either of these questions, then your next “cup of joe” should be Marsh Grounds coffee!

For more information see http://www.wiscwetlands.org/coffee.htm

Order Online Here