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The Lunz Group, S.C. |
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Conservation Priorities 2007 |
Steed Creek @ Hwy 17
Background URLs:
Steed Creek Road @ Hwy402/41 intersection
They will accept comments on the Steed Creek Environmental Assessment
(EA) until 15 days after the public hearing. 
Steed Creek Habitat
Here's a downloadable PDF of the current Environmental Assessment for the planned Steed Creek Road project. N.B. this document is 5.6Mb and roughly 100 pages.
The deadline for comments is June 15, 2007. Comments should go to:
Anthony Fallaw,
Project Manager at S.C. DOT,
P. O. Box 191
Columbia, SC 29202.
While the comments should be forwarded to FHWA (Federal Highway Administration) by SCDOT, you should cc any comments to FHWA directly. Daniel Hinton is their contact for the EA. His address is:
Daniel Hinton
FHWA
1835 Assembly St Suite 1270,
Columbia, SC 29201.
Steed Creek Road Bridge
Map From Google Map. Images from Google Earth.
MeadWestvaco announced plans to manage a large portion of land east of the Edisto River. The global packaging company in a spin-off division will manage over 70,000 acres straddling Charleston and Dorchester counties as mixed-use development. In a series of breakfast meetings with conservationists and preservationists, MeadWestvaco revealed a process to involve Lowcountry residents in the planning. They are pledging to maintain the land largely undeveloped. The portions that are developed will take into consideration existing conservation corridors and wildlife habitat. On the website www.eastedisto.com the company states that "An open, collaborative public planning process can greatly contribute to this region's need for growth management, balancing economic vitality with the preservation of what's best about the Lowcountry and we want to be part of the solution." A conservation-driven master plan for East Edisto will be provided by the internationally renowned consultants EDAW (www.edaw.com/). There have been few examples to compare the environmentally responsible development of such a large single-owner holding so close to a metropolitan area. On the East Edisto website the map shows a dramatic comparison of that tract of land to the entire Charleston and North Charleston incorporated area. All Sierra Club members have an opportunity to participate. The first public meeting is planned for the week of June 18.
The South Atlantic Fisheries Managment Council has recently proposed the creation of marine protected areas along the Southeast coast for snapper and grouper species. These areas would be prohibited for any type of bottom fishing in order to serve as refuges for the snapper and grouper species. The issue has received some coverage recently in the paper and is listed as an action on the Coastal Conservation League website. What is the group's view on this issue? I have already sent a letter to the chair of the council stating my personal support as an individual for the proposed protected areas. Would we like to send a letter from the group showing our support for the areas.
More information can be found at:http://www.safmc.net/ and at www.coastalconservationleague.org
California Out in Front on Climate Challenge Last month, the California legislature passed the most sweeping global warming measure in the nation. Assembly Bill 32, which was shepherded to the governor's desk by Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, calls for a 25 percent reduction in the state's global warming emissions by 2020. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the bill on the last day of August and the move was widely hailed as a major step forward in meeting the challenge of climate change. Of course, no single state can solve global warming, and leadership is still sorely lacking where it counts most -- in Washington. Still, as other states move to adopt similarly ambitious regulations, change is occurring from the bottom up.
Five Years After: Making America Safe for Tourism Five years after the 9/11 attacks, we should remember that our leaders compounded the horrendous damage done by the terrorists by willfully ignoring basic safety and health precautions at ground zero. Today, nearly 60 percent of the roughly 40,000 first responders and cleanup workers from the site are seriously ill as a result of their heroic efforts and largely abandoned by the federal government. Worse, it appears that it is now official U.S. government policy to weaken health and safety standards in the event of any future attacks.
A new Sierra Club report, "Harmful Legacy of Pollution and Deception at Ground Zero: How Post 9/11 Disaster Policy Endangers America," warns that federal policies for national disasters compromise worker safety, fail to require precautionary health warnings, and -- in the event of a "dirty bomb" attack -- allow for lower cleanup standards for radiological contamination. The report cites a new Bush Administration policy that balances public health concerns against a list of economic factors that even includes the impact on tourism. Is this really what we mean by Homeland Security?
In June the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California announced that they would be voluntarily undertaking a new plan to cut their diesel emissions. Diesel emissions come from trucks, trains, and cranes used to move cargo at the ports and from ships docked at the port. Their plans will reduce diesel emissions through cleaner diesel fuel, more efficient and cleaner engines, switches to other types of fuel, and requiring ships docked at the port to turn off their engines and plug into electric power supplied by the port. The world’s largest shipping company, Maersk, in an unrelated plan has recently decided to switch all of its ships to cleaner, low-sulfur fuel and to install some equipment which will remove some of the cancer-causing chemicals from the exhaust. Our local ports here in Charleston have no similar plan to reduce emissions or clean up pollutants from the ports. A representative of the port in correspondence with the Robert Lunz Group described the measures in California as “often draconian.” The representative also listed a number of steps the port has taken which reduced polluting emissions. However, the Charleston port has not yet required a switch to low-sulfur diesel fuel or having ships plug into electrical power while docked at the port. Taking these simple steps could further reduce the dangerous diesel emissions the port is responsible for. The Robert Lunz Group will remain in contact with our local ports and will push for a balance between promoting South Carolina’s economy through the ports and defending South Carolina’s natural environment and the health of its people. For more information on the conservation measures being implemented in California ports:
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/06/28/MNGBNJLFS21.DTL
A bill to end the moratorium on new offshore oil and gas drilling recently moved out of committeE in the House of Representatives. The movement of the bill out of committee represents a danger to our coasts, and our economy. Possible oil and gas drilling could negatively affect our state's and other coastal states' fishing and tourism industries. Despite the House's seeming support for new drilling there has been a recent outpouring of opposition from opponents of new drilling. Numerous governors have put themselves on record urging Congress to abandon this plan. Our own governor Mark Sanford said: "Energy independence is something we're all after, but we think it makes more sense in the long run to pursue that goal through focusing on alternative forms of energy rather than fossil fuels. Tourism is our state's number one industry, and we don't think it makes sense to undertake something that could potentially damage our coast" Call your Representatives early and often to voice your opinion about this issue. Call or e-mail your Senators or Representatives. Capitol Switchboard number for Senate is 202-224-3121 and for House is 202-225-3121.
Congressman Barton (R-TX) has introduced a bill in response to President Bush’s call for the authority to radically restructure Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards by replacing the current fleet wide average with size based standards. Congressmen Sherwood Boehlert and Ed Markey offered an amendment to raise fuel economy standards to 33 miles per gallon for both cars and trucks by 2016. The amendment failed in committee but is expected to come back for a floor vote next week. The amendment, similar to those proposed in previous years, picked up four additional votes in the Energy and Commerce committee--long known for its hostility on this issue, leaving supporters optimistic ahead of the floor vote. The biggest single step we can take toward saving consumers money at the pump and reducing our dangerous oil addiction is making our cars go farther on a gallon of gas. Implementing the Boehlert-Markey proposal to increase CAFE standards to 33 miles per gallon over ten years time would save the average driver nearly $500 a year at today's gas prices. By contrast, Barton's bill provides no minimum fuel economy standard, would require years of study and rulemaking before any action is taken, and promises no actual oil savings or savings for consumers at the pump.
Robert Barber, Democratic candidate for Lt. Governor, released a statement on alternative energy. In it he advocates incentives to encourage alternative fuel development and production. To see his campaign statement on alt e rnat ive fuels please v i s i t : http://www.robertbarber2006.com/news/newsletter/alternative_fuels/ The Sierra Club has endorsed Robert Barber for Lieutenant Governor.
CHEM NUCLEAR:
South Carolina's Nuclear Waste Burden
Sierra Club appealed the DHEC license renewal for the Barnwell Low Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility challenging the burial of most of the nation's highly radioactive waste in shallow unlined trenches which has contaminated ground and surface water for many years.
Administrative Law Judge John Geathers concluded 10/13/2005:
- Chem-Nuclear originally projected contamination would take 424 years to migrate offsite to nearest creek;
-radioactive materials have leaked from the Barnwell trenches for over 25 years,
-in only 20 years radioactive tritium migrated over ½ mile and contaminated Marys Branch Creek which flows to the Savannah River and downstream drinking water sources,
- burial trenches are open to heavy local rainfall during waste disposal,
- concrete burial vaults are subject to water intrusion with unsealed lids and drain holes in the bottom,
- rainfall accumulating in trenches percolates into soil and drives migration of radiation offsite,
- however, Chem-Nuclear only required to submit a study of possible new designs and procedures, Sier
ra Club requests:
Chem-Nuclear must submit to DHEC a set of designs and operational procedures that will:
- Shelter the trenches from rainfall and prevent rainfall from entering the trenches,
- Provide temporary dry storage facilities for storage of wastes received during wet conditions,
- Provide for new vaults that will be sealed and grouted to prevent the intrusion of water to the maximum extent feasible,
- or Provide for other barrier technology, above or below grade, which will be sealed and prevent the intrusion of water to the maximum extent feasible, and
- Provide a system for monitoring trenches and vaults for the intrusion of water and provide for the removal and treatment of any water that may enter any vault or trench,
- Stop receiving new waste until new design and procedures in place.
| Governor Mark Sanford | Attorney General Henry McMaster |
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Office of the Governor Post Office Box 12267 Columbia, SC 29211 |
Office of the Attorney General Post Office Box 11549 Columbia, SC 29211 |
Governor Sanford Signs $32M Conservation Bond Act; SC Project Key Component of 10-State Deal Nearly 39,000 acres of working forestland, recreation lands and wildlife habitat in South Carolina will be protected. The Conservation Fund and The Nature Conservancy announced that they would acquire two forest parcels, known as the Woodbury and Hamilton Ridge tracts, from International Paper. The organizations have agreed to split the acquisition cost and jointly hold these properties until the land can be transferred to the public for long-term stewardship. In addition to providing recreational opportunities, these forests protect large tracts of habitat for several important wildlife and aquatic species, including such birds as the Kentucky warbler, Louisiana waterthrush, rusty blackbird, swallow-tailed kite, Swainson’s warbler and others. These tracts will provide river corridor protection to 27 miles on the Great Pee Dee, 11 miles on the Little Pee Dee and eight miles on the Savannah River.
The SC Sierra Club chapter on April 13 issued a public comment to the Forest Service against the proposed sale of forest lands. The state executive committee had unanimously voted on April 8 to oppose the forest sales because it would negatively impact the environment and recreational opportunities. The chapter urges anyone concerned on the issue to notify the Forest Service of their opposition to sales. For more information on the proposed forest land sales see: http://www.sierraclub.org/forests/notforsale/ To request a copy of the chapter letter please email: fequinn@edisto.cofc.edu To submit comments to the forest service: Email: SRS_LandSales@fs.fed.us Mail: USDA Forest Service SRS Comments, Lands 4S 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Mailstop 1124 Washington, D C 20250-0003
The Democratic challenger for the First Congressional District of South Carolina, Randy Maatta, recently released a public statement of opposition against his opponent, Henry Brown’s, co-sponsorship of H.R. 4761 which would end a moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling on the Eastern Seaboard. Maatta was quoted as saying “This bill would impact our quality of life for generations to come. Henry Brown’s cosponsorship of this bill is totally irresponsible, and illustrates his shameful record on environmental issues that impact our coast.” The statement expressed concern over possible oil spills which would seriously hurt the coast’s important tourism industry. The statement also cited the negative impact drilling could have on the shrimping and recreational fishing industries. For the full statement and more information on Randy Maatta and his stand on the issues please visit: www.maattaforcongress.com.
Illinois Senator Barack Obama sat down with Grist magazine recently to discuss energy independence for the United States. The reason his discussion of the issues with Grist merits attention is that a presidential bid by Obama is considered inevitable and he also recently introduced an American Fuels bill with Dick Lugar. Obama seems to have an extensive knowledge of the issues. Specifically he is for an increase in CAFE standards but realizes that they face a tough political battle. Instead in the short term he is for switching over to cellulosic ethanol. He notes that Brazil was able to enact a major switch to ethanol in three or four years and cut their transportation gas use in half at the same time. To read the entire article please visit: http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/03/21/roberts/
The Bush administration plans to sell off 1,095 acres of the 250,000- acre Francis Marion Forest that covers the northeastern parts of Charleston and Berkeley counties. The proposed sale is part of a larger plan to sell more than 307,000 acres of national forestland in 32 states. President Bush's proposed 2007 federal budget includes a billiondollar public land sell-off scheme that flies in the face of widespread opposition to recent proposals to privatize some of this country's most treasured public lands. The President, ignoring the recent defeat of similar proposals in Congress, wants to sell off 800,000 acres of National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands to raise money to pay the annual bills. • Sign our petition at the National Sierra Club website opposing this proposal and other efforts to open public forest lands to private development. http://www.sierraclub.org/forests/ • Call or e-mail your Senators or Representatives. Capitol Switchboard number for Senate is 202-224-3121 and for House is 202-225-3121.
John Brubaker leads a group of Sierra Club hikers through the Francis Marion March 5, 2006. Photo by Christine von Kolnitz
The ex-com has decided that we have acquired conservation momentum, but that in order to maintain this momentum we need to have a conservation committee meeting independently of but reporting back to the ex-com. The conservation committee would take action on conservation issues, be involved in conservation issues on a much closer level than the ex-com, and make recommendations to the ex-com. Right now, the Robert Lunz Group is most involved in opposistion to S.304 the "Attack on Home Rule Bill," to the Lone Star - Rimini connector, Watson Hill development and in support of the boulevard alternative for 17 in Mt. Pleasant, and H.3881 the "Priority Investment Areas" bill. We are also trying to stay up to date on any possible conservation issues and in general advocate for environmental protections. We are looking for volunteers to join the conservation committee. The committee would meet once a month on the Thursday before the ex-com meeting from 7-9 at Port City Java. All other communication would be by e-mail and telephone. Members would possibly follow a certain issue and would communicated with officials and members on the issue. Your personal commitment and how involved you become would be up to you. If you have ever wanted to take a more active role in the Robert Lunz Group and make your voice heard this is your chance.
At the April 21st executive committee meeting, we voted to oppose S.304 , the "Attack on Home Rule Bill." S.304 was originally a bill that would prohibit local governments from enacting any business, industry, or agricultural industry ordinance/permit stronger than the state law or regulation. The main reason for this bill was to take away the ability of local governments to prevent large scale hog farming withing heir jurisdictions. Marborlo and Darlington have both passed laws limiting hog farming. However this bill would also apply to local wetland ordinances, dock ordinances, billboard/sign ordinances, casino boat docking ordinances, and even "adult entertainment" business permits. The bill has already died once in committee in part thanks to the efforts of mnany conservationists. The amended bill would (1) authorize cities and counties to enact setbacks for poultry that are three times the distance of current state regulations (2) prohibits local governments from enacting livestock ordinances stricter than state regulations (3) grandfathers existing farms and local ordinances relating to poultry and livestock (4) allows agreeable neighbors to establish easements on deeds allowing for lesser setbacks. We strongly oppose reverting back to the original bill and oppose the amended bill as well. Concerned members should contact their state senators and express their opposisiton to S.304.
Also at the April 21st ex-com meeting, we voted to support H.3881 which is a bill introduced by Rep. Ben Hagood of Mt. Pleasant. The bill would improve coordination between local governments when decisions are made on land use, transportation, and the placement of infrastructure. This bill is a step in the dirction of regional planning and would help in the prevention of sprawl. Traditional neighberhoods and affordable housing elements are included. The bill is a result of the Qulaity of Life Task Force and two years of work. The Robert Lunz Group would like to thank our local state representative Ben Hagood for introducing this bill. We would encourage members to contact their state representatives and ask them to join Rep. Hagood and support H.3881.
The ex-com recently voted to oppose this connector. It would be a 2.8 mile bridge across the Upper Santee Swamp which is a beautiful wilderness area treasured by hunters, fishermen, and nature lovers alike. The bridge would connect Lone Star to Rimini for an estimated price of $83 million. According to a SCDOT Feasibility Study this brudge would provide very little transportation improvement and generate very little economic development. Governor Sanford is quoted as saying, "We remain adamantly opposed to the Lone Star - Rimini bridge. I think it is symbolic of … the lack of priority setting that you too oftentimes see in government." Why should we taxpayers spend money on a bridge that would provide very little benefit and much harm, when our exisiting roads and bridges are facing a crisis with approximately 25% of the 8,000 bridges in the state being structurally deficient or functionally obsolete and 33% of state roads rated in poor condition. South Carolina should spend our money wisely. We urge members to contact Senators DeMint and Graham and ask them to remove funding for this bridge from any federal transportation bill, as well as contacting the governor and state legislature expressing your opposition to this bridge.
Mt. Pleasant Town Council voted to conduct a study of the Johhnie Dodds Blvd. Corridor to include not only fly-overs but also the multi way boulevard and roundabout alternatives which is great news. The first public meeting on the study is supposed to be held sometime in May but the exact date is not yet known. For more information including a great video on the issue and to read the East Cooper Planning Council's response to the study, please visit www.eastcooperplanningcouncil.com.
Some History for Watson Hill may be found at this Site http://www.smithwragg.com
As you know, Dorchester County was to have a public hearing on Watson Hill on April 18. Drayton Hall and Middleton organized hundreds of people to be transported to this hearing on buses to St. George where the hearing was to begin at 5:30 pm. On Friday afternoon, April 15, developers called this meeting off due to a study that was released by two professors at the Moore School of Business at USC that revealed that the development of Watson Hill would cost the County millions of dollars.
Indeed a study was conducted by two professors at the Moore School of Business at USC. Specifically it revealed that the development would cost the county over $30,000 per new household built at Watson Hill. That study was shared with all of the County Council members. However, there is little doubt that while the study was the excuse to call off the meeting, the developers' real incentive for calling the meeting off was their intention to annex into North Charleston.
Later in the week it was announced that the developers of Watson Hill attempted to purchase a piece of property between Ashley River Road and the Ashley River in order to establish connectivity between Watson Hill and North Charleston for the purposes of annexation. North Charleston City officials are supportive of this plan and say that if the property is successfully annexed, Watson Hill will be developed according to the developers' wishes. Furthermore, if North Charleston makes it across the Ashley River, just beyond Watson Hill lies thousands of undeveloped large acre parcels owned by MeadWestvaco ripe for annexation and development. These parcels extend the entire way to the Edisto River.
In response to the threat of a North Charleston annexation, many of the property owners along Ashley River Road united to sign an annexation petition requesting annexation to the Town of Summerville. This annexation petition DOES NOT include the Watson Hill property. The Dorchester County residents petitioning for annexation are only attempting to BLOCK the North Charleston annexation of Watson Hill (a municipality can not annex over another municipality). Town of Summerville council members should know that you all overwhelmingly support the annexation of the properties along Ashley River Road because it will block the annexation of Watson Hill by North Charleston.
There is STILL a public scheduled on May 16 at 5:30 pm. We need to contact them regularly (via letters, emails, phone calls and letters to the editor) to let them know that the stakes just got higher. The residents of the Plantation District are putting themselves on the line in asking for annexation into Summerville. Other residents of the Plantation District placed easements on their land limiting development. It is time for Dorchester County to support these people who were willing to put themselves out there to make a difference. Why should the voices and wishes of two out of state developers speak louder than the voices of the voters and property owners who live in the Plantation District?
These two ordinances were designed by Dorchester County in order to protect the Plantation District from development. The ordinances are in committee and should come out of the committee soon. Please let your officials know that you support these ordinances and that they should pass them through unanimously.
Dorchester County Council should say NO to Watson Hill for many reasons. Some are listed below:
1. Dorchester County does not have adequate infrastructure to service the Watson Hill development. Ashley River Road will be completely inundated with vehicles resulting from the Watson Hill development. The road does not have the capacity to handle the 12,000 additional vehicles that will result from phase 1 and phase 2 of the development. Phase 3 of the development will result in 36,000 additional cars. With the approval of Watson Hill, County Council will be allowing 48,000 more vehicles on Dorchester County roads per day. The roads do not yet exist to handle this road capacity. Dorchester County Council should not even consider granting approval to this development in a location where adequate road capacity does not exist.
2. Due to the lack of infrastructure, Dorchester County will be responsible for providing infrastructure to serve the development. A fiscal impact study was conducted by two professors at the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business. The study compared tax revenues generated by the development versus costs the county would incur in order to provide infrastructure to the development. The study revealed that over 20 years, the development would cost over $124 million and would bring in only $33 million in new tax revenues. This results in a net loss to the county of $91 million due to a new 5,000 unit development at Watson Hill.
3. Watson Hill's plan is not consistent with Dorchester County's Comprehensive Plan. Currently, Dorchester County's Comprehensive Plan calls for the Ashley River Plantation District to be a conservation district. The current plans for Watson Hill are not permitted within the Conservation District.
4. The developers of Watson Hill are bullying Dorchester County residents. A development company is coming in from out of state, bringing their lawyers with them and they are manipulating the elderly and double crossing Dorchester County Council. Dorchester County Council should not want to align themselves with people who operate unethically. They should not want people like this in Dorchester County.
For more talking points, please visit this link: http://scccl.org/pgm_programs.php?program=1&issue=68&update=128
Please communicate with County Council and other public officials to let them know that you are adamantly opposed to the approval of Watson Hill and support the Summerville annexation to block North Charleston from getting Watson Hill. Letters to the editor can be sent to letters@summervillejouralscene.com and editor@postandcourier.com. Dorchester County Planning Commission contact information can be obtained by clicking on the link: http://scccl.org/pgm_programs.php?program=1&issue=68&update=129. Contact information for Dorchester County Council can be obtained by clicking on the following link: http://scccl.org/pgm_programs.php?program=1&issue=68&update=130.