Eco-Bulletin ~ June 15, 2007

Enter to WIN an eGO electric scooter with customized designs and help the Environmental Center. Find out more at www.ecoslo.org/raffle or contact ECOSLO.

ECOSLO relies on membership support, service contracts, and small grants to cover its operational costs. All contributions are tax deductible. Donate $50 or more and receive an ECOSLO tote bag! Click here to join ECOSLO.

1. 5% to ECOSLO at New Frontiers Natural Foods Market

2. Solutions for Climate Change and Free Concert at Mission Plaza

3. Irish Hills Docent-Led Hike

4. Action Alert: Public Comment on Diablo Canyon

5. Summer Fiesta Fundraiser

6. Volunteers and Coordinator Needed for New Pier Docent Program

Wednesday, June 20

5% to ECOSLO at New Frontiers Natural Foods Market

On Wednesday, June 20, New Frontiers Natural Foods Market in San Luis Obispo will donate five percent of the day's net sales to ECOSLO’s Garden Program. Support ECOSLO by shopping at New Frontiers on June 20 help us in our effort to raise $41,000 for the Garden Program by this Fall.

Click here for a map to New Frotiers Natural Foods Market at 896 Foothill Blvd.

Thursday, June 21

Solutions for Climate Change and Free Concert at Mission Plaza

The SLO County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) is sponsoring a free concert with the youth jazz band "In Black" at the Mission Plaza on Thursday, June 21, from 7pm to 9pm. In Black is from Sonoma County, California, and their Solutions Tour is designed to promote awareness of climate change and how individuals can take action to reverse its effects.

In Black will be promoting the Natural Resource Defense Council's Move America Beyond Oil petition, and promoting their own solutions to the issue of climate change. They will also be soliciting ideas from the general public, many of which will be posted at the website of the environmental on-line magazine Grist, at www.grist.org.

Hear some excellent Jazz/Fusion sounds and learn about climate change. Informational tables and alternative fuel cars will be on display, with many activities available during the concert. Parking is available in the parking structure located on Palm and Chorro St. Walking, biking, and carpooling is strongly encouraged. For more information, call the APCD at (805)781-5743 or visit www.slocleanair.org.

In Black's Solutions Tour to Southern California will take place June 20 to June 28. Traveling in a biodiesel van rented from VIP Greenride in San Francisco, this is In Black's first foray into Southern California, and is being sponsored in part by Clif Bar. For more information, visit their website at www.myspace.com/inblackjazz.

Saturday, June 23

Irish Hills Docent-Led Hike

Natural San Luis Docent-led hikes are free and held on Saturdays. Join them for a hike in the Irish Hills at 9am on Saturday, February 24th. Meet at the Prefumo Canyon trailhead. From Highway 101, take Los Osos Valley Road north, turn left onto Prefumo Canyon Road and stay on it for one mile. The trailhead is on the left after the bridge crossing. For more information, please call 781-7211 or 544-1777.

Tuesday, June 26

Action Alert: Public Comment on Diablo Canyon

The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will hold a public meeting on the Diablo Canyon draft supplemental environmental assessment beginning at 6:30pm on Tuesday, June 26 at Embassy Suites Hotel, 333 Madonna Road in San Luis Obispo. The agency is developing methods that will allow oral comments given at the meeting to become part of the official public comment record for the draft environmental assessment.

In May, the NRC reaffirmed its original finding that an above-ground storage facility for highly radioactive nuclear waste at Diablo Canyon Power Plant is safe in the event of a terrorist attack. The preliminary decision means the agency does not intend to require that plant owners Pacific Gas and Electric Co. make any changes to the facility. When it opens next year, the storage installation will consist of large steel-and-concrete canisters each containing 32 spent fuel assemblies bolted to a thick concrete pad.

To comment on the Diablo Canyon draft supplemental environmental assessment:

Send written comments to:

Chief Rulemaking, Directives and Editing Branch

Mail Stop T6-D59

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Washington, D.C. 20555-0001

Fax: 301-492-3342

Email: NRCREP@nrg.gov.

Sunday, July 1

Summer Fiesta Fundraiser

Support ECOSLO and Citizens for Planning Responsibly (CPR) at a Summer Fiesta on Sunday, July 1, from 4:30pm to 7:30pm, featuring speakers Gary Patton, Ken Haggard, and Polly Cooper, and music by Up in the Air.

Gary Patton, of the Planning and Conservation League, will discuss "Ways to Persuade Decision Makers to see the Light". Ken Haggard and Polly Cooper's talk will focus on "Pioneering in the Green Build Movement" and they will provide tours of their sustainable home/office complex and permaculture garden. Enjoy a Mexican buffet, gourmet desserts, and a no host bar. Music Courtesy of Up in the Air.

Tickets are $50 per person and reservations must be made by June 20. Send checks to CPR, PO Box 712, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406 or purchase tickets at ECOSLO. Parking is limited, so we ask that you meet in the Park-and-Ride lot at the Santa Margarita exit and carpool to Ken and Polly's home.

All proceeds from this fundraiser support CPR and ECOSLO, co-petitioners in the ongoing litigation aiming to overturn Measure J, the Dalidio Ranch Initiative. For more information, call (805)544-8365 or (805)544-1777 or email info@ecoslo.org.

Volunteers and Coordinator Needed for New Pier Docent Program

The City of Pismo Beach is looking for volunteer docents and a volunteer coordinator to help educate visitors at the Pismo Beach Pier about issues that affect our ocean water quality and human and wildlife safety. Educational topics include:

• Not feeding birds/wildlife

• Proper disposal of trash, fishing line & tackle

• No smoking ordinance

• Welcoming & directing visitors to local businesses

All docents will be provided training, a T-shirt and educational materials. Docents will be asked to volunteer at the Pismo Beach Pier for a 2-hour time period and can choose to volunteer during any time of the day - very flexible.

A Pier Docent Coordinator is also needed to help organize the new program. Volunteer from home or work, no on-site time is required. Flexible and only a few hours per month are needed. If you enjoy spending time at the beach and have a passion for protecting it, this is a wonderful & fun opportunity. Great for environmental or wildlife enthusiasts, retired educators or others looking to increase their experience with outreach and education. For more information or for upcoming training dates, email info@pierwatch.com or visit http://www.pierwatch.com