“In these times of record-breaking unemployment in the United States (to say nothing of record-breaking costs for energy and landfill space), few solutions are more urgent–and none more logical–than creating jobs out of what we are otherwise throwing away.” – “Returning to Work”

Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers

All Metropolitan Washington area decision makers, government agencies and advocates are invited to this important green jobs webinar:

On February 16th at 10:00 am, join the DC Environmental Network for an important green jobs webinar.

Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) and Clarissa Morawski of CM Consulting will go over the details of the new CRI Report “Returning to Work: Understanding the Domestic Jobs Impacts from Different Methods of Recycling Beverage Containers.”  (Clarissa Morawski, CM Consulting and Jeffrey Morris, Ph.D., of Sound Resource Management Group in Olympia, Washington, are the primary authors of this report.)

RSVP here to recieve webinar information!

Key findings of “Returning to Work” include:

- Deposits create more jobs than curbside recycling relative to beverage containers.

- Recycling creates more jobs than disposal, and CDR creates the most jobs of all.

- Material throughput is the primary driver of recycling jobs.

- The secondary driver of container-recycling jobs is the number of workers required to collect, sort and transport the containers.

 - Jobs gained in recycling far outweigh any jobs lost in extraction of virgin materials.

- U.S. PET (PolyEthylene Terephthalate) reclaimers currently operate at less than 60 percent of capacity. Increasing to capacity–that is, processing an additional 230,000 tons annually–would create nearly 500 new jobs, based on an employment factor of 2 FTEs per 1,000 tons. Yet the United States exports 400,000 tons of PET to overseas markets each year–the equivalent of 800 jobs.

- Jobs gained from recycling far exceed any jobs lost in virgin extraction, land-filling or domestic manufacturing.

Susan and Clarissa will describe the potential of green jobs and reference case studies of successful programs in the United States and Canada.

After the presentations participants will have an opportunity to ask questions.

Our panelists:

- Susan Collins, Executive Director, Container Recycling Institute, San Diego, CA – Susan has spent 20 years advising over 80 municipalities on municipal solid waste and recycling programs and sustainability issues. She recently completed an extensive international research project comparing the financial, operational and policy aspects of container deposit and packaging systems in California, Germany and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. She spent nine years on the board of the California Resource Recovery Association, has a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Boston University and an M.B.A. from UCLA.

- Clarissa Morawski, Principal, CM Consulting, Ontario, Canada – CM Consulting provides research, analysis, communications and strategic planning services in the area of waste reduction and regulatory affairs. Clarissa Morawski works with industry, federal, provincial and municipal governments as well as the not-for-profit sector, and has more than sixteen years of technical, analytical and communications experience in waste-minimization policy and operations. She has built her career around understanding the various program elements that make up empty-beverage-container management in terms of reuse, recycling and disposal. Ms. Morawski is a contributing editor to Solid Waste and Recycling Magazine and has written for Resource Recycling and Biocycle magazines.

RSVP here to recieve webinar information!

All are welcome!

All Metro-Washington environmentalists are invited to an important brown-bag, networking opportunity:

On February 2nd at Noon (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) will host an important and critical discussion about plans to implement the District’s NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) Permit. This permit authorizes stormwater discharges but more importantly requires implementation of stormwater controls that may help in keeping pollution out of our rivers and creeks.

RSVP for this Discussion Here!

The current permit includes a list of control measures to implement including green roof installation requirements, tree canopy enhancements, and other programs and activities to curb polluted stormwater. Some of these measure include specific targets and dates to complete while others do not have much specificity as to when or how they will be implemented.

Representatives from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) will brief DCEN on the details as to what we need to achieve in 2012 and how they will implement the most important stormwater control measures.

Our DDOE panelists will include:

- Christophe Tulou, Director, District Department of the Environment

- Hamid Karimi, PhD., Deputy Director, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment

- Jeffrey Seltzer, Stormwater Administrator, Stormwater Management Division, Natural Resources Administration, District Department of the Environment

The health and economic vitality of our city is tied to our rivers and creeks.

Aggressive implementation of this permit could be the most important determining factor in the next few years towards making real progress to restore the Anacostia River, Potomac River and Rock Creek.

All are welcome and urged strongly to attend.

RSVP for this Discussion Here!

On January 5th the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) convened a discussion on Rock Creek sustainability. Our mission was to figure out what challenges Rock Creek was facing and what can we do to protect this important resource. Another goal was to highlight a very important waterway that sometimes is forgotten, even neglected by the broader environmental community as we focus our attention and energies on the Anacostia and Potomac rivers. Communicating the importance of including Rock Creek as we develop our environmental goals, particularly as Mayor Gray moves forward with his Sustainable DC initiative, is critical.

Our discussion included presentations by Beth Mullin, Executive Director of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Tara Morrison, Superintendent of Rock Creek Park, one of the many National Park Service green spaces in the District.

Beth Mullin, Executive Director, Rock Creek Conservancy:

Beth gave participants an overview of the size of Rock Creek which includes over 5,000 acres of parkland, around 2,000 acres in Rock Creek Park (including sections outside of the watershed) and about 3,000 acres in Montgomery County and City of Rockville. Beth shared many of the benefits Rock Creek brings to area residents including recreation, history, nature, learning, community and tranquility to name a few. Beth stressed the importance of creating the next generation of environmental stewards by figuring out how to bring more young people to Rock Creek. She also highlighted some of the sustainability challenges including old facilities, trash, erosion & flooding, disappearing tree canopy, invasive plants and an expanding deer population.  Beth shared what the Rock Creek Conservancy is doing to meet these sustainability challenges including stream teams, partnerships with government agencies, “extreme” trash cleanup’s and supporting the District’s RiverSmart Washington program. It was clear that much needs to be done and that we all need to chip in to put Rock Creek on a path to sustainability. See Beth’s PowerPoint Presentation.

Watch Beth’s Presentation:

Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park:

Superintendent Tara Morrison, who joined Rock Creek Park in May of 2011, thanked Beth for bringing up many important sustainability issues for Rock Creek. Tara stressed the importance of Rock Creek Park as a resource to the region. She stressed the importance of working together to make sure the park survived for future generations. She shared that the National Park Service is responsible for quite a bit of parkland outside of Rock Creek Park. Tara talked of recent successes including the re-opening of Pierce Mill, opening of the final phase of Georgetown Waterfront Park, re-opening of Battleground Cemetery and the re-dedication of the Khalil Gibran memorial. She talked about numerous friends groups that Rock Creep Park works with including the Rock Creek Conservancy, Dumbarton Oaks Park Conservancy, the Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Park, Friends of Pierce Mill, Friends of Montrose Park and others.

“Working to address a mandate by the Environmental Protection Agency to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the Chesapeake Bay, the park recently evaluated the merits and feasibility of hundreds of possible stream restoration, trash and stormwater management projects proposed by the District of Columbia Department of the Environment for Rock Creek land. These projects included rain gardens, bio-swales, reforestation and regenerative stormwater conveyances to slow stormwater flows into Rock Creek and remove nutrients before they enter the creek.” – Tara Morrison, Superintendent, Rock Creek Park

Tara identified non-native invasive plants as an extremely important issue and outlined plans to protect the park from this threat. She talked about a growing partnership with the District Department of the Environment including efforts to restore tributaries to Rock Creek. This includes the Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) and efforts to reduce nutrient and sediment flow into the creek. She expanded on the impacts of too many deer on the parks environment and talked about soon to be implemented deer management plans.

Watch Tara’s Presentation:

Both presentations were positively received and were followed by an open discussion in which DC Environmental Network participants shared their ideas about what Rock Creek needs to do to become more sustainable. Check back to view this discussion!

In the last decade and 1/2, DCEN has engaged numerous times on behalf of Rock Creek and the surrounding open spaces. Our clean water campaign has worked hard to curb the amount of raw sewage and polluted stormwater that make its way into the creek. DCEN was also a leader in efforts to close a dangerous and expensive road and create a hiker/biker trail in Klingle Valley. DCEN has also supported efforts to increase access to Rock Creek Park for schools, residents and visitors by closing Beach Drive to vehicular traffic on weekdays. DCEN has also promoted policies to reduce invasive plant species and restore and increase the tree canopy on park-lands throughout the District. We also support humane management methods for dealing with wildlife. We have an established track record on these issues which is why we strongly support many of the sustainability efforts of the Rock Creek Conservancy and Rock Creek Park.

We will most likely be holding a smaller discussion for the most interested parties to formulate some goals in 2012 we can all work on. If you are interested give me a call at 202-518-8782 or send an email to cweiss@dcen.net.

Re-Posted from DC Sun Blog

Now is the time to get in line for a DC Solar Rebate – before the funding is gone!  Prices of solar panels are at an all-time low, making the decision to go solar a great long-term investment.  A recent comparison of solar costs in the District indicates that the return on investment from installing solar panels varies from 6-10%.  The existing 30% Federal tax credit, along with renewable energy credits that accrue with your solar project, make the economics of solar very favorable.

Strengthening the economic case for solar even more is the District government’s rebate program.  These DC rebates are designed to encourage renewable energy and foster a new homegrown industry (jobs in DC!!).  If you are able to get in on the DC solar rebate, your rate of return rises into the double digits, and your initial investment can be paid back in 6-7 years.  For many DC homeowners on the fence about going solar, the DC rebate is the incentive that motivates them to move forward.  Below, I examine your chances of getting a DC solar rebate – and it looks like time is running out!

As background, realize that the DC rebate program is a four-year program, which is now in its last year. DC is authorized to release $2 million dollars this year for rebates.  Rebates for a typically-sized system are about $6,000.  Rebates are issued on a first-come, first-served basis from a waiting list that you can join on the DDOE Website.

Last week, I asked the DC Department of the Environment for an update on their progress for releasing those funds now that we are one quarter of the way through the fiscal year.  It is important that these projects continue to be funded at a rapid pace, otherwise the program will expire before funding is released to those on the waiting list.  DDOE reports as follows:

•  $25,000 has been paid out (5 requestors have received checks)
• $598,000 are in the final approval stages (86 requestors will receive checks soon)
• 383 additional projects are on the waiting list.
• DDOE reports that usually about 40% of those that submit the initial application actually decide drop out of the process.

Projections

• Assuming that 230 of the 383 people on the waiting list are funded at an average of $6,000, then the full $2 million will be expended and new entrants to the waiting list will not be funded.
• If the average rebate award and/or the acceptance rates are higher, some at the bottom of the existing waiting list may not receive funding from the $2 million pot.
• If the average rebate or acceptance rate is lower, new entrants to the waiting list may get funding (so act fast and get your name on the list). 

What If You Miss Out???

• It is possible that the DC Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) will add funding for additional solar rebates – they added a small amount last year.
• Community activists with DC SUN are calling upon the DC Council, Mayor, Department of Environment, and the SEU to work together to renew the DC solar rebate program for another four years.
• DC SUN’s proposal is discussed in this blog post.

To help demonstrate the effectiveness and interest in this program, DC SUN urges residents to put their names on the DC Renewable Energy Incentive Program Waiting List (Click Here for a step-by-step guide on how to reserve your place the list).  This will help in our effort to get this great job creating program back on track for those residents that were not able to participate in the first four years of the program.  Because the solar rebate program is funded by electricity surcharges that are NOT scheduled to go away, DC SUN thinks that the extension of the program is an important way to promote a sustainable future for DC — a future that involves renewable power coming from the people of the City.

All metro Washington area environmentalists and others are welcome to our monthly brown-bag networking opportunity!

On January 5^th at Noon at Global Green USA (1100 15^th Street NW, 11^th Floor), please join the DC Environmental Network and Rock Creek Conservancy for a discussion of the many issues facing Rock Creek. Rock Creek Conservancy Executive Director, Beth Mullin, will lead a discussion about your interest in or activities related to the park, and your ideas about how we can work together to take advantage of opportunities and promote sustainability for this vital green space in the heart of the DC metro area. Tara Morrison, Rock Creek Park Superintendent, will also be participating in the discussion. The Superintendent will give us updates on Rock Creek Park.

Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.

Background:

“Location, location, location.” Rock Creek is a natural treasure, just a walk or metro ride away for millions of people, many of whom care deeply about the 5,000 acres of parkland that border the creek and its tributaries in DC and Montgomery County. This is both a threat and an opportunity.  The surrounding development creates a green island in a sea of pavement, subject to polluted runoff, sewage overflows, stream bank erosion, damage to fish and wildlife habitat, and invasive species, including vines that kill trees.

At the same time, there are wonderful opportunities for recreation, relaxation, education, community-based environmental stewardship, and engendering a love of nature and history in the next generation.

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly FORCE–Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment) is dedicated to protecting and restoring Rock Creek and its waters, parks, and lands.  Multiple agencies, non-governmental organizations, property owners, and groups—including many DC Environmental Network members–also have an interest in Rock Creek.

Beth’s Bio:

Beth first joined Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment (now Rock Creek Conservancy) as a volunteer working to protect her local creek, the Pinehurst Branch tributary of Rock Creek.  She became the organization’s Executive Director in October 2007.  She is an environmental attorney with a law degree from New York University and a master’s degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.  She has worked for the Natural Resources Defense Council in New York, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Denver, and the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, DC.

Tara’s Bio:

Morrison comes to Rock Creek Park from the position of Superintendent of the NPS’ African Burial Ground National Monument in lower Manhattan, a site where free and enslaved Africans and African Americans were buried in a 6.6-acre site. Prior to her position as Superintendent, Morrison served for about two and one-half years as Management Assistant at the NPS’ Northeast Regional Office, leading the African Burial Assistance Project, coordinating communication with various NPS offices, the General Services Administration and the public regarding the development of a memorial and Interpretive Center at the Monument, including construction and curation of project collections.  Before the African Burial Ground National Monument positions, Morrison served as Acting Assistant Superintendent at the NPS’ Gateway National Recreation Area in Sandy Hook, NJ, where she reviewed and assisted in developing park-specific project requests, budget prioritization and recommendations for revision.

Morrison began her NPS career in 1998 as a Park Ranger at NPS’ Boston African American National Historic Site. Morrison joined the NPS’ National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program as the NPS’ Northeast Region Coordinator where she provided advice, subject matter expertise, and technical matter support toward the implementation of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Act.

Please RSVP Here if you would like to attend this discussion.

“In terms of the sustainability of the economy, having businesses that are operating at the appropriate scale, when you can have a neighborhood where there are 3 or 4 different grocery stores as opposed to one big Wal-Mart, that’s a much more diverse and competitive and resilient economic model.”

- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher, New Rules Project

Earlier this month the DC Environmental Network hosted a extremely important discussion about the future of economic and environmental sustainability in our nation’s capital city. What made this particular discussion unique was that it was the result of a new and emerging partnership between environmentalists and organizations and individuals who represent workers in the District of Columbia.

This coalition was formed out of the understanding, based on research and data collected from the experiences of hundreds of communities throughout the United States, that Wal-Mart’s current economic model, unless enhanced by a Community Benefits Agreement, will result in an unsustainable economic situation that will hurt both the environment and the quality of jobs in the District.

With Mayor Vincent Gray experiencing only a 34% approval rating (53% disapprove) and the DC Council with an even smaller approval rating of 30% (55% disapprove) (Clarus Research Group, 12/2011), it did not bode well that segments of the environmental and labor community, two significant blocks of voters who helped Mayor Gray, Chairman Kwame Brown and others get elected, expressed strong disagreement with Mayoral action, and Council inaction in representing District citizens interests relating to Wal-Mart.

It seems the only decision maker who has done something substantive to represent the interests of District citizens has been At-Large Councilmember Phil Mendelson who introduced legislation that could help push Wal-Mart to embrace more sustainability in their business model in Washington, DC.

Our discussion featured two experts, one from the environmental community and one from labor, who gave a concise picture of Wal-Mart’s record on economic sustainability:

– Stacy Mitchell, a national expert on the economic impacts of retail on our neighborhoods, representing the New Rules Project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, shared the hard cold facts about Wal-Mart’s probable impacts on our local economy. Stacy also talked about the significant disconnect between what Wal-Mart tells the public about its environmental sustainability initiatives and reality.

You can listen to her entire presentation and see some pictures from the DC Environmental Network’s campaign efforts here:

–Joslyn Williams, President, Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO, poked holes in Wal-Mart’s claims about the quality and impact of the jobs they would bring to the District.

You can watch his entire presentation here:

At the end of these two presentations, participants were left with a clear and focused understanding that we all need to renew our efforts to make sure we end up with economic development that helps, not hurts District residents.

The DC Environmental Network is committed to participating in the efforts of the Living Wages Healthy Communities campaign to force Wal-Mart to respect the District and do what is necessary to make sure our environment is protected and our economy is not damaged by Wal-Mart’s unsustainable business practices.

On December 15 at Noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor) join author, illustrator, originator, producer and director, Lynne Cherry, for a very special DC Environmental Network event!

Lynne Cherry, is founder and director of the organization, Young Voices for the Planet. Young Voices for the Planet is a film series featuring young people who are making a difference. They are shrinking the carbon footprint of their homes, schools and communities. These films demonstrate that you, too, can do something about global warming. As Alec Loorz says, “Kids Have Power.”

• Date & Time: December 15th at Noon
• Featured Panelist: Lynne Cherry, Young Voices for the Planet
• Location: Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor (near Farragut North & McPherson Square Metros)
• RSVP for this event HERE!

Part One – Overview on Young Voices for the Planet!

Lynne will share some of her most recent films and engage the DC Environmental Network in a conversation about how to tap into the power of kids!

Goals of Lynne’s Films & Project:

• to document youth success stories about reducing CO2–to give young people a voice;
• to alleviate children’s fear about climate change and move them towards hope, empowerment and action by inspiring them through these youth success stories;
• to document stories of youth using scientific data to argue their position in order to help other young people and adults understand the role of science in sound decision making;
• to reach and encourage a critical mass of young people to teach their parents and schools how to reduce their carbon emissions in order to galvanize the US public–adults and kids alike–and create a paradigm shift in the way that society views, and acts to abate, global warming;
• to encourage youth and adults to speak to elected officials about supporting sustainable energy;
• to create an interactive website infrastructure to help youth adopt carbon reduction projects;
• to provide teachers with materials to augment the films to facilitate students involvement in carbon reduction projects;
• and to have the films seen by as many young people as possible through distribution, dissemination and web-streaming of the films.

Part Two – Book Signing: Lynne Cherry as Author & Illustrator:

The Young Voices for the Planet films were inspired by the book Lynne Cherry wrote with photojournalist Gary Braasch, How We Know What We Know About Our Changing Climate: Scientists and Kids Explore Global Warming.

Book Description: When the weather changes daily, how do we really know that the Earth’s climate is changing? Here is the science behind the headlines – evidence from flowers, butterflies, birds, frogs, trees, glaciers and much more, gathered by scientists from all over the world, sometimes with assistance from young “citizen-scientists.” And here is what young people, and their families and teachers, can do to learn about climate change and take action. Climate change is a critical and timely topic of deep concern, here told in an age-appropriate manner, with clarity and hope. Kids can make a difference! This book combines the talents of two uniquely qualified authors: Lynne Cherry, the leading children’s environmental writer/illustrator and author of The Great Kapok Tree, and Gary Braasch, award winning photojournalist and author of Earth Under Fire: Global Warming is Changing the World.

RSVP for this event HERE!

Lynne will also talk about her many illustrated children’s books and how they help her work.

To facilitate your holiday shopping Lynne will bring copies of these books (and others) and make them available for purchase.

All are welcome!

REPORT: DCEN Briefing on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganizing Act of 2011.

It has been a month since I strolled into the Urban Forestry Brief organized and hosted by the DC Environmental Network with Councilmember Phil Mendelson and Mark Buscaino of Casey Trees. I was curious, how did the District intend to increase the urban canopy? This represented a notion that would exemplify to the rest of the country that the built environment and urban forests will coexist.

“D.C. has a rich history of trees,” expressed Buscaino. “And I think all of us here are a testament to the fact that we really need to hold on to that history…”

The room was full of stakeholders – residents, environmental organizations, arborists, Casey Trees volunteers, and other District employees – sitting shoulder to shoulder listening to Councilmember Mendelson speak on behalf of the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act of 2011. His bill cites amendments to the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002 and transfers the Urban Forestry Administration from the DDOT to the DDOE. He emphasized, “The goal here is the macro, not the micro.” When it comes to expanding the District’s current 35% canopy cover to 40% by 2035, there isn’t time to necessarily be concerned about preserving individual trees. “Simplicity, in any kind of legislation, is key,” said Buscaino.

Buscaino had his own recommended actions about the macro goal. He refreshingly described with candor and laconic humor that the size limit for trees covered by the UFPA, currently 55 inches, needed to be reduced and was set by a man hugging a tree at breast height. I had to watch the briefing video again to make sure I heard correctly. View Mark Buscaino’s portion of the brief for yourself.

Mary Lightle Up in the Tree Canopy

Decreasing the average tree circumference to the recommended 29 inches would allow for trees to grow closer together with a more intact canopy. A large gap in the canopy would occur if a tree of 55 inches were removed. An increased tree canopy would not only sequester more carbon emissions, but it would also slow stormwater with foliage and root systems, shade streets, regulate urban heat island temperatures, and improve aesthetics.

The macro is not only about the District either; it is about the global commons.  Where the wind blows, emissions are sure to go. What kind of neighbor do you want D.C. to be? Take your part in being a stakeholder on Wednesday, December 7^th, at the Urban Forest Administration Reorganization Act hearing.

Walmart’s Sustainability Record: Not Good for DC Jobs or the Environment!

Dear District of Columbia Environmental Community:

A Disappointing Start:

Sustainability calls for policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Mayor Gray, so far, seems to be trying to do something else.

In July, 2011 Mayor Vincent Gray  announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation. The Mayor mobilized his agencies to move forward with a new Sustainable DC initiative.  This sustainability  initiative would strive to merge the need to create jobs AND make our nation’s capital city more livable.

This Sustainable DC initiative would be implemented  in a way that would benefit current residents AND future residents. This is a core principle of sustainability.

Just four months later Mayor Gray made another announcement. He announced that the District would be welcoming with open arms as many as six WalMart stores that would impact many neighborhoods.

With the increase from four to six new stores, many labor, environmental and human service organizations (and other District citizens) continued questioning Mayor Gray’s commitment to building a strong local economy and a real sustainability plan. It became even more clear that a WalMart presence in the District, without an aggressive sustainability plan focused on quality jobs and a livable environment, only keeps us from these important goals.

Even with these concerns many of us gave Mayor Gray the benefit of the doubt as he assured District residents he was negotiating with WalMart to create a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA), to lock in at least a few community benefits that could be sustained over time for all.

Instead, what the Mayor presented on November 22nd, was Walmart’s very own blueprint called the “WalMart Washington, DC Community Partnership Initiative”, a non-binding list of WalMart’s public pronouncements with arguably zero concessions on their part. What was really sad was that it did not include any substantive environmental commitments beyond following laws already on the books.

Needless to say this is a very disappointing start for Mayor Gray’s first term. The fact that the Mayor does not seem to grasp how important it is to harmonize his sustainability initiative with his efforts to bring jobs to the District is disheartening to say the least. This is not the type of leadership District residents were looking for during last year’s election.

Rev. Kendrick Curry summed it up:

“As a Ward 7 resident, I am very disappointed,” said Rev. Kendrick Curry of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church. “This (WalMart Plan) has no teeth. This will allow WalMart to drain what is already in the community to nothing.”

Next Steps:

On December 1st @ noon, at Global Green USA (1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor), join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self Reliance and others for a special briefing on why WalMart’s plan is unsustainable unless the city requires a real Community Benefits Agreement with real input from the people who live here. RSVP for this discussion here!

Our panel will feature:

- Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher of the New Rules Project: Stacy will share the real story regarding WalMart’s sustainability initiatives. Stacy is also the author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses. Stacy Mitchell Bio.

- Joslyn Williams, President of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO: Joslyn will discuss how unsustainable WalMart’s employment practices are and how District residents will be locked into economic insecurity for many years after our countries economy turns around unless we all work together to come up with a meaningful Community Benefits Agreement. Joslyn Williams Bio.

RSVP for this discussion here!

Both will demonstrate the importance of developing sustainability policies and strategies that meet society’s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Conclusion:

What it comes down to is for all of us, the citizens of the District of Columbia, to decide what kind of city we want to be. Are we a WalMart city or are we a Sustainable DC. The evidence is clear that we cannot be both.

We can have WalMart in our city and be sustainable but we need to stand up to this very powerful corporation and tell them that they cannot use our countries economic woes to leverage advantageous development terms and that greenwashing will not be allowed in the District of Columbia.

We have lot’s of opportunities to achieve our goals:

1. Please come and learn why Walmart & Sustainability is a tricky combination that needs our attention. RSVP for this discussion here!
2. Support Councilmember Mendelson’s legislation, Bill 19-170, “Large Retailer Community Agreement Act of 2011″ to require that large retailers (stores over 75,000 sq. ft) enter into a Community Benefit Agreement and Bill 19-171, “Large Retailer Accountability Act of 2011″ to establish standards for responsible business practices by large retailers by ensuring that they pay living wages and provide benefits. More to come.
3. Join the RespectDC campaign.

Hope to see you on November 1st at Noon at Global Green USA!

Chris Weiss, DC Environmental Network

The DC Environmental Network has worked hard to promote the Mayor’s Sustainable DC initiative. We have held over 15 meetings, forums and other events, some open to the public, with hundreds of DC environmentalists sharing their vision for a sustainable DC. We are hoping the Mayor will come to understand how true sustainability will only come when we utilize the leverage we have to make sure the interests of District residents are taken seriously by corporations that come into our city to make profits.

How Mayor Gray’s Plan to Bring WalMart to the District, Without a Strong Community Benefits Agreement, is Incompatible with a Sustainable DC

On December 1st at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other metro region environmentalists for a discussion on Mayor Gray’s Sustainable DC initiative and how it may not be compatible with his efforts to bring six WalMart’s to the District.  We will talk about how a strong, well designed, people driven  Community Benefits Agreement might help.

Our panel will include Stacy Mitchell, Senior Researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and author of the book, Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses.

RSVP for this discussion here!

Background:

In July, 2011, Mayor Gray announced his intention to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation.  In the four months since his announcement District residents have not heard all that much from the Mayor himself on this new initiative. What District residents have heard more frequently from Mayor Gray are plans to bring anywhere from 4-6 brand new WalMart stores to the District.

As environmentalists and others start to look closely at WalMart’s record on sustainability many are finding it hard to reconcile Mayor Gray’s vision for a Sustainable DC with the reality of what has happened at the thousands of WalMart stores world-wide.

Walmart’s six-year-old sustainability campaign has helped improve its public image, enabling the company to grow bigger and faster. That growth, ironically, has dramatically increased the retailer’s environmental footprint, and hurt local economies and the U.S. job market along the way. - Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance

Even on an issue many would consider the greatest environmental challenge of our time, climate change, Walmart’s sustainability efforts have not come close to mitigating for the over 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases their facilities contribute to the planet each year.

While the company has been talking big about renewable energy, its greenhouse gas emissions have been rising steadily. Between 2005 and 2009, Walmart’s reported emissions in the U.S. grew by roughly 7 percent. In Asia, they doubled. The company says its operations produced 21 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2009, and it expects 30 million metric tons of cumulative growth in emissions by 2015. -Stacy Mitchell, Institute for Local Self Reliance

Stacy Mitchell and other panelists will help us get behind WalMart’s public relations campaign and demonstrate how the District will need a strong community benefits agreement to make sure the public good is served more than corporate profits and in a way that helps, not hurts the environment we live in.

Our panelists will make 15-20 minute presentations and then open up the discussion for questions and comments from the audience.

Stacy Mitchell Bio:

Stacy Mitchell is a senior researcher with the New Rules Project and directs its initiatives on community banking and independent business.

Stacy has served as an advisor to numerous community and small business organizations, and has helped cities and states implement new land use and economic development policies that curb the power of big-box retailers and strengthen locally owned businesses.

Her latest book, Big-Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America’s Independent Businesses (Beacon Press, 2006), has appeared on several top-ten lists and was described by Bill McKibben as “the ultimate account of the single most important economic trend in our country.”

Stacy is frequently interviewed by news media and has contributed articles to a variety of publications, including Business Week, The Nation, Grist and others. She also writes about banking issues for The Huffington Post and produces The Hometown Advantage Bulletin, a popular monthly newsletter.

An engaging speaker, Stacy has given presentations for many organizations, including the American Booksellers Association, American Planning Association, National Main Street Center, and National Trust for Historic Preservation. See details of upcoming speaking engagements.

In addition to her work with the New Rules Project, Stacy chairs the American Independent Business Alliance and is a founding board member of the Portland Independent Business & Community Alliance. She lives in Portland, Maine.

In the last three months the DC Environmental Network has held over 15 meetings and discussion bringing over 600 District residents and environmental leaders together to talk about sustainability in the District.

Photo by USFWS/Terry Cacek

How do we sustain wildlife and natural systems in the face of climate change? That question was considered by over 20 local leaders, climate and sustainability experts, and students from the DC metropolitan area who came together in late October at the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

The recommendations from the group will be submitted to the DC Office of Planning and the DC Department of the Environment as part of the process to develop a city-wide sustainability plan.

In particular, participants focused on the ways that natural systems approaches can be used to provide benefits for both people and wildlife.

USDA NRCS Photo

Many people at the meeting indicated that education and outreach to residents is critical, and one suggestion included the development of programs to help the public understand the ways in which protecting and enhancing the city’s green infrastructure can not only support habitats, but can also reduce private property loss from flooding.  Active education was emphasized, including outreach and education to residents about street tree health and maintenance to reduce tree mortality.

Some other Ideas included mapping the location of habitat corridors and open existing spaces, identifying the ability of different habitats to attract certain birds, butterflies, etc. and quantification of the ecological values of trees and plants.

Photo by Carine Thomas

The District of Columbia’s Wildlife Action Plan will be updated in 2015, so it presents an opportunity to incorporate climate change vulnerability data into the plan to make it a “climate-smart” approach.

Meeting participants acknowledged that although much work remains, the meeting represents an important first step to make DC a “climate smart city” that supports people and wildlife.

Please contact Kara Reeve with any questions: reevek@nwf.org

The event was co-sponsored by NWF and the DC Environmental Network (DCEN).

A discussion about the profound connection between our high-consumption carbon intensive lifestyles, climate change and poverty in the global south.

On November 11th at Noon, join the DC Environmental Network, Urban Solar Solutions LLC, Global Green USA and other DC based climate organizations and activists for an important opportunity to meet with African faith communities as they work to persuade U.S. constituencies of the reality and urgency of acting on climate change. RSVP for this event here!

“Climate change is already a reality in Africa, it is a profound existential threat, we are well past the stage of debating whether or not it is happening, and we urgently need developed countries to commit to changing lifestyles, reducing consumption and most particularly, carbon emissions. If you care about African poverty, you have to change your ways, now.” – Green Anglicans

Background:

The world urgently needs to adopt dramatic and sweeping cuts to carbon emissions in the context of a fair, adequate and legally binding deal.

One of the greatest current obstacles to progress in the international climate negotiations is the resistance of the United States to adopting any targets for emissions cuts. This resistance reflects the fact that human-driven climate change is for most Americans either a low priority, or a phenomenon whose existence they dispute altogether. Therefore, if there is to be any significant shift in domestic US politics on this issue, it is vital that Americans accept the reality of climate change and the urgency of acting to deal with it.

Representatives from African faith communities will discuss the profound connection between high-consumption carbon intensive lifestyles, climate change and poverty in the global South.

All are welcome! RSVP for this event here!

On November 16th at 10:00 AM, join the DC Environmental Network for a special opportunity to polish your advocacy skills and learn about a new resource available to help guide your efforts to influence decision makers here in the District of Columbia.  Susie Cambria, a public policy consultant, will share more than 15 years of experience working on public policy and budget advocacy issues and talk about her new book, “Communications for DC Advocates: How-to’s and Lessons Learned Over 15 Years.”

RSVP Here & Learn More About Communications!

Background:

As environmental advocates in the District of Columbia it is often necessary to communicate our story and ideas to decision makers and the staff they work with. We communicate in many ways including through letters, meetings, fact sheets and briefings, to name a few. We often ask ourselves questions like (partial):

• What is the best way to write a letter to the Mayor or DC Council member?
• How do I prepare and deliver testimony and statements for the record?
• How do I create a fact sheet?
• What is the best structure for a meeting with an elected official or their staff?

Susie Cambria will share her insights and experiences that have made her one of the most effective advocates walking the halls of the John A. Wilson Building.  She will talk about the communications tools outlined in her new book, “Communications for DC Advocates” designed to give advocates a fundamental advantage when they walk into the legislative offices of our decision makers.

About Susie Cambria:

“The guide reflects the years of experience I have in advocacy and the many lessons learned doing public policy and budget advocacy work nationally, in Connecticut and most extensively in the District of Columbia.

I have more than 15 years of experience in DC Children’s policy and budget issues. In my work at DC Action for Children (1997-2008), I helped create a robust budget analysis and advocacy operation by establishing and maintaining relationships with elected and appointed officials and engaging the community in the work of protecting and nurturing children and youth across the District. I also created public education materials, trained others on effective budget and policy practices, and was (and remain, I am told) a respected advocate and analyst.”

RSVP Here & Learn More About Communications!

DC Environmental Network Training Opportunities: The DC Environmental Network has held many training opportunities over the years on grassroots organizing, working with the media and to educate about important environmental initiatives. In the last decade the number of environmental advocates roaming the halls of government in DC has increased ten fold. This is a special opportunity to meet with a very effective District advocate and to learn about communication practices that are easily transferable to our environmental advocacy efforts. It is strongly recommended that you take advantage of this opportunity.

All are welcome.

Invitation & Background:

On November 4th join the DC Environmental Network, Casey Trees and other interested environmentalists for a special briefing featuring Councilmember Phil Mendelson. This event will take place at the John A. Wilson Building, offices of our Council and Mayor, in Room 120.

RSVP for this event here.

The DC Environmental Network, Casey Trees, Sierra Club and many others have worked hard over the years to stop the decline of the District’s tree canopy. In the 1950′s DC had a tree canopy that covered approximately 45%. Today the canopy is 35% and continues to decline.  See Casey Trees Urban Forestry Brief.

In 2002 the District passed the “Urban Forestry Preservation Act of 2002.” This act protected trees of a certain size and should have resulted in significantly more trees being planted the last eight years. Most environmental organizations feel that this law was never adequately implemented, and additionally, with the creation of the District Departmet of the Environment (DDOE) and other changes, is already outdated and needs fixing.

The DC Environmental Network believes that trees should be a central component of the District’s new Sustainable DC plan. Trees have many benefits including combatting greenhouse gases, cleaning our air, providing oxygen, cooling our streets, conserving energy, saving water and preventing water pollution. Trees also provide food, protect children from ultra-violet rays that can cause skin cancer and can even bring communities together. We saw this in 2002 when hundreds of District residents and organizations testified in support of trees at the biggest hearing on an environmental issue of the last decade.

The good news is the District has extremely dedicated organizations like Casey Trees working to reverse the decline of the tree canopy. In fact, in recent years, Casey Trees convinced the District government to adopt a goal of 40% tree cover by 2035.

Councilmember Mendelson, who has championed protection of trees over the years, recently introduced legislation, the “Urban Forestry Administration Act of 2011″ to start fixing the District’s broken and minimally implemented tree regulations. Mendelson’s bill increases necessary protections for smaller trees to help them reach the state of development that gives District residents the most benefits from tree cover. Mendelson’s bill also transfers the Urban Forestry Administration to the District Department of the Environment.

The environmental community has lots of ideas on how we might fix our dated tree bill. See Casey Trees Recommended Modifications. Introduction of this new legislation and our discussions with Councilmember Mendelson and others are important steps to finally having tree protections that make sense.

RSVP for this event here!

All are welcome.

Global Green USA and the DC Environmental Network hosted a roundtable discussion on the recycling of bottles, cans, plastics, and packaging with Susan Collins, director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI) in Culver City, California, on October 18, 2011.  Susan was in Washington DC to speak at the 6^th annual “Trash Summit” the following day organized by the Alice Ferguson Foundation regarding efforts to limit trash pollution in the Potomac River Watershed.

Susan described four models of recycling: (1) refillable glass and plastic containers such as used for beer and other drinks in Germany; (2) container deposits which provide financial incentives for consumers to return their bottles and cans; (3) secondary and transport packaging; and (4) actual voluntary recycling including curbside “blue bin” programs.

She explained that the carbon footprint of these liquid containers comes mainly from production of their primary packaging – glass and plastic bottles and aluminum cans – and their need for refrigeration.  She also explained that 29.5% of our yearly waste in the US comes from such packaging.

Recycling rates (2009) vary tremendously in the US from a high of 95.7% for car batteries to a low of 21% for plastic containers.  Tires, for example, remain at 35.3%.  In most cases, these rates could be considerably higher if recycling initiatives were more widely promoted and written into law.

The ten US states – California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont – which currently have deposit laws which place a five-, ten-, or fifteen-cent deposit on various beverage containers now account for 50% or more of the recycled containers in the whole country.  This points to the remarkable effectiveness of deposit laws, commonly called “bottle bills.”  An eleventh state, Delaware, recently repealed its deposit law which had very limited coverage.  Six of the deposit-law states have recently expanded their systems to cover more beverage containers, including bottled water, sports drinks, liquor, wine, and even milk.  And two deposit-law states – Iowa and Maine – recently defeated repeal efforts.  Massachusetts is currently seeking to expand its 40-year-old law.

Internationally there are about 40 extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs and 45 container deposit laws.  New laws have recently been enacted in Australia, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Turks & Caicos, and the US (Guam and Hawaii).  Susan particularly praised strong recycling efforts in Germany and Canada.

Typically, deposit-law states recycle 75-90% of the covered containers, greatly limiting trash pollution, saving valuable landfill space, reducing carbon emissions, and producing additional state revenue.  The 40 states without deposit laws, even those with strong public education and curbside recycling programs, produce recycling rates of 20-40%.  More statistics on these programs can be found from a Global Green USA study, the “BEAR (Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling) Report, at http://www.thecorr.org/Bear.pdf.

More information can also be found at www.bottlebill.org and www.container-recycling.org.

Natural Systems & Climate Adaptation in Mayor Gray’s Sustainability Plan

On October 25th at Noon, please join the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the DC Environmental Network (DCEN), and other climate experts for an informal brown bag discussion about the ways that DC can be a “climate-smart” city that utilizes natural systems to build resilience to climate change, providing benefits for both people and wildlife. Ideas generated at this discussion will be submitted to the DC government as part of its effort to develop a sustainability plan for the City.

• DATE& TIME: Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 12:00 Noon to 1:00 PM
• PLACE: National Wildlife Federation, 901 E Street NW, Suite 400
• RSVP for this Discussion Here!

Please come prepared to share your ideas for local policies, ordinances, and demonstration projects, as well as ideas for implementing your suggestions (e.g., Who would need to be involved to make this idea work? How could revenue be generated to implement the project?). Here are some things to think about to get the wheels turning:

*What deliverate steps can the DC government take to build resilience to climate change and improve the city’s adaptive capacity in ways that support human and ecological systems?

*How can more open space provide recreation benefits and support wildlife?

*How can climate change vulnerability data be used to enhance land use planning and accomodate shifts in wetlands coverage? What kinds of tools could the city develop to enhance decision-making in these areas?

*What are other cities doing, and how can DC learn from them?

*How can transportation projects support species migration?

*How can vacant lots be used to support local wildlife and make the city more “climate ready?”

*How can the city use LID (low impact development) strategies for stormwater management to reduce property damage and protect wildlife?

You may work on climate change every day, but are you thinking about how your neighborhood could be better suited to cope with the impacts of climate change? Here’s your chance to put your skills to use in your own city.

A representative from the DC Department of Environment will also be on hand to answer questions.

RSVP for this Discussion Here!

For more information, please contact Kara Reeve at (202) 797-6653 or at reevek@nwf.org .

All are welcome!

Dear District of Columbia Environmental Leader:

I am writing to invite you to participate in our upcoming discussion, this Thursday, October 20th, at 8:00 am, on how we can help Mayor Gray design a Sustainable DC plan that we can implement and ultimately be proud of. You have been in the trenches advocating to green the District and understand the challenges we all face to protect the environmental health of everyone in DC and ultimately on the entire planet. That is why I need your help to formulate a plan that will really work.

The District of Columbia government has done a good job so far of reaching out to District residents and the environmental community for ideas and a vision for a sustainable District of Columbia. If you look on the Sustainable DC website you will find an excellent list of existing and new policy initiatives. What you won’t find is a clear road map on how we can actually make that vision a reality.

Our discussion this Thursday will look at how we might create a road map to success using a framework based on accountability, transparency and good governance.

The truth is it has been a struggle over the last decade to properly implement sustainability initiatives. Most of the environmental initiatives that we have all worked hard on have had limited success and many lacked the true comittment of decision makers and sometimes even the broader community necessary for implementation. This time we have to get it right and the only way we can make sure this new plan works is for all of us to work together to help the Mayor put a structure in place that is strong enough to be carried on through future administrations.

I hope you will consider coming to this discussion. If you cannot make it we will be having additional meetings to continue this process over the next six months. Sign- Up here to participate!

Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network

Accountability & Process in DC’s Sustainability Plan

On October 20th at 8:00 AM please join this DC Environmental Network (DCEN) discussion to help figure out ways to structure the process to ensure performance over time of Mayor Gray’s new Sustainable DC plan. Let’s make ourselves and the District accountable for implementing a bold and aggressive vision for a Sustainable DC. RSVP Here!

Background:

Performance and process and the District’s sustainability plan “If done right” should be our theme to creating and implementing the District’s new sustainability initiative. The interests of the District, over time, will be best served by a sustainability plan that maximizes results by taking a look at the way we can create the process that will insure performance and accountability in the ways the Sustainable DC plan is implemented.

From a process perspective we will have a discussion to develop recommendations to develop guidelines that might:

- Make it common practice to assess environmental, economic and social performance as compared

to baselines;

- Ensure that the management and accountability structures and systems and the resources to support them are in place;

- Find a way to assess sustainability risk and opportunity for each policy and practice put in place;

- Not only look at what we produce but how;

- Leverage partnerships with business, nonprofits and academic institutions; and

- Engage stakeholders from those who live and work in the District, local and federal government agencies and employees, nonprofits, labor unions and visitors.

This presentation will be moderated by Patty Rose (Greenspace, NCR, Inc.) and Chris Weiss (DC Environmental Network).

Details:

• Thursday, October 20th, 8:00am until 10:00am
• Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor (near Farragut North & McPherson Square metro stations)
• Sign- Up here to participate!
• Call-In Number: (775) 269-3893, when prompted enter 399602#

All are welcome to attend!

Invitation & Background:

Join Global Green USA and the DC Environmental Network on October 18th @ 4:00 for an informative briefing on the many efforts nation-wide to maximize container and package reuse. Our panel of experts will be headlined by Susan Collins, Executive Director of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI).

RSVP for this event here!

Susan Collins:

Susan has spent 20 years advising over 80 municipalities on municipal solid waste and recycling programs and sustainability issues. She recently completed an extensive international research project comparing the financial, operational and policy aspects of container deposit and packaging systems in California, Germany and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. She spent nine years on the board of the California Resource Recovery Association, has a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Boston University and an M.B.A. from UCLA.

Container Recycling Institute Vision & Mission Statement:

CRI’s very own vision statement states: “CRI is the model organization instrumental in bringing about a rapid increase in recycling for a world where no material is wasted, and the environment is protected. We succeed because companies and people collaborate to create a strong, sustainable domestic economy.”

CRI’s mission is to make North America a global model for the collection and quality recycling of packaging materials. We do this by:

• Producing authoritative research and reporting and education on policies and practices that empower communities to reduce waste (and related emissions) and increase recovery, reuse, and high-end/closed loop recycling of beverage containers, packaging and printed paper.
• Creating and maintaining a database of information on container and packaging generation, disposal, recovery and recycling in the United States and abroad.
• Studying container and packaging reuse and recycling options and legislation, including deposit systems, and their environmental and economic impacts. These include state, national and international programs and policies.
• Educating on recycling options for local, state and national government agencies and elected officials, for citizen groups, the print and broadcast media, community groups and public and elected officials considering a deposit system to recycle or reuse containers and packaging.
• Creating and sponsoring national networks for mutual progress (for customers and stakeholders).

Global Green and the DC Environmental Network, among many other District based organizations, are looking to bring the District into the next century with cutting-edge, effective strategies to increase recycling of the ever-increasing amounts of containers and packaging that is being generated by our consumption driven society.

This will be the first of many sessions, open to all, to help the District and surrounding jurisdictions come up with the right plan. We will also discuss how to implement any new strategies that the local environmental community evolves into Mayor Gray’s new Sustainable DC initiative.

RSVP for this event here!

All are welcome!

Invitation & Background:

Join the DC Environmental Network, Casey Trees and other interested environmentalists for a special briefing featuring Councilmember Phil Mendelson. This event will take place at the John A. Wilson Building, offices of our Council and Mayor, in Room 120.

RSVP for this event here.

The DC Environmental Network, Casey Trees, Sierra Club and many others have worked hard over the years to stop the decline of the District’s tree canopy. In the 1950′s DC had a tree canopy that covered approximately 45%. Today the canopy is 35% and continues to decline.  See Casey Trees Urban Forestry Brief.

In 2002 the District passed the “Urban Forestry Preservation Act of 2002.” This act protected trees of a certain size and should have resulted in significantly more trees being planted the last eight years. Most environmental organizations feel that this law was never adequately implemented, and additionally, with the creation of the District Departmet of the Environment (DDOE) and other changes, is already outdated and needs fixing.

The good news is the District has extremely dedicated organizations like Casey Trees working to reverse the decline of the tree canopy. In fact, in recent years, Casey Trees convinced the District government to adopt a goal of 40% tree cover by 2035.

Councilmember Mendelson, who has championed protection of trees over the years, recently introduced legislation, the “Urban Forestry Administration Act of 2011″ to start fixing the District’s broken and minimally implemented tree regulations. Mendelson’s bill increases necessary protections for smaller trees to help them reach the state of development that gives District residents the most benefits from tree cover. Mendelson’s bill also transfers the Urban Forestry Administration to the District Department of the Environment.

The environmental community has lots of ideas on how we might fix our dated tree bill. See Casey Trees Recommended Modifications. Introduction of this new legislation and our discussions with Councilmember Mendelson and others are important steps to finally having tree protections that make sense.

RSVP for this event here!

All are welcome.

On October 20th at 8:00 AM please join this DC Environmental Network (DCEN) discussion to help figure out ways to structure the process to ensure performance over time of Mayor Gray’s new Sustainable DC plan. Let’s make ourselves and the District accountable for implementing a bold and aggressive vision for a Sustainable DC. RSVP Here!

Background:

Performance and process and the District’s sustainability plan “If done right” should be our theme to creating and implementing the District’s new sustainability initiative. The interests of the District, over time, will be best served by a sustainability plan that maximizes results by taking a look at the way we can create the process that will insure performance and accountability in the ways the Sustainable DC plan is implemented.

From a process perspective we will have a discussion to develop recommendations to develop guidelines that might:

- Make it common practice to assess environmental, economic and social performance as compared to baselines;

- Ensure that the management and accountability structures and systems and the resources to support them are in place;

- Find a way to assess sustainability risk and opportunity for each policy and practice put in place;

- Not only look at what we produce but how;

- Leverage partnerships with business, nonprofits and academic institutions; and

- Engage stakeholders from those who live and work in the District, local and federal government agencies and employees, nonprofits, labor unions and visitors.

This presentation will be moderated by Patty Rose (Greenspace, NCR, Inc.) and Chris Weiss (DC Environmental Network).

Details:

• Thursday, October 20th, 8:00am until 10:00am
• Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor (near Farragut North & Mcpherson Square metro stations)
• Sign- Up here to participate!
• Call-In Number: (775) 269-3893, when prompted enter 399602#

All are welcome to attend!

The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) works with citizen advocates and community groups worldwide to give them the tools and skills they need to achieve change.  Since 2006, through a grant from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), we have provided grants and training to nonprofit organizations in Serbia, including environmental groups, to build their capacity as advocates for their causes.  In past years, ISC grantees have organized grassroots campaigns to clean up the illegal waste dumps that literally litter the Serbian landscape.  But although citizens turn out to volunteer at these one-day events, our grantees still struggle to find a way to improve the systemic issues that contribute to the existence of these dumps in the first place.  ISC is now supporting a coalition of Serbian nonprofits called the Green Initiative who want to change this.

Green Initiative is a newly formed network of 22 citizen’s organizations of whose activities in the following 16 months will be oriented towards improvement of the waste management system.

The network consists of the following organizations:

1. Balkan Community Initiative Fund (BCIF)
2. Young Researchers of Serbia (YRS)
3. European Movement in Serbia (EMINS)
4. Group 484
5. IDC Serbia
6. Center for development of Social entrepreneurship (CDSE)
7. YUROM Center Nis
8. Center of Modern Skills (CMS)
9. Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence (BFPE)
10. Network of local environmental organizations called the Green List of Serbia

Twelve representatives of the Green Initiative travelled to Vermont and Washington, DC as part of ISC’s Advocacy Fellows Program.  Participants explored best practices, models and lessons learned related to waste management policy and practice meeting with a variety of stakeholders, advocates and practitioners.

The groups’ first meeting in Washington, DC was a dynamic panel discussion at the DC Environmental Network.  The discussion focused on how to build effective networks and coalitions to advance environmental issues and included organizations and individuals with a wide range of experience such as: Global Green USA, Friends of the Earth, DCEN, DC Jobs with Justice and more.  The group gained valuable insights into the challenges, lessons learned and best practices in coalition building from leaders in this field which will help them as they work to further develop and sustain their own national level environmental network.  In addition, Serbian participants had a chance to share their experiences and discuss possibilities for ongoing dialogue and partnership between US and Serbian organizations.

The DC Environmental Network was very pleased to host this important discussion and hopes to support the work of the Institute for Sustainable Communities in the future as well as continue to connect and share experiences with the Serbian organizations and activists that visited us here in Washington, DC.

Washington DC, the nation’s capital, has a new goal of becoming the most sustainable city in the United States. Mayor Vincent Gray has therefore launched a series of community discussions throughout the District, and the DC Environmental Network, working with Global Green USA, was fortunate to host one of the first of these dialogues.

At a packed roundtable at Global Green USA’s Washington office, the District’s environmental director, Christophe Tulou, and the planning director, Harriett Tregoning, explained that DC is ranked #8 among the 25 greenest cities in the US and Canada, and #4 for green jobs in the 100 largest US metro areas. It has the nation’s largest bikeshare program with over 15,000 members and new bike lanes throughout the city, and ranks #2 nationally for the number of public transit commuters. The District has 170 certified “green” buildings, second only to New York City, and is #2 nationally with over one million square feet of green roofs. Over 19% of DC area is green space, home to over 780 species of wildlife, and it’s set a goal of 35% tree canopy coverage by 2025. It purchases over 50% of its power from “green” sources, making it the #1 Green Power city in the nation.

Even though these are excellent steps forward for a very urban area, the District of Columbia still has many challenges. For example, DC’s recycling rate was 34% in 2009, far lower than those ten states with container deposit laws but slightly higher than the national average. It’s recent plastic bag deposit law, however, has caused a drop of some 50% in use of plastic bags. DC’s combined sewer system sends untreated water into the Potomac and Anacostia rivers many times annually during storms, typical of most major cities in the country.

It buys only 8% of its electricity from wind power today, a major step forward but one leaving much room for further expansion. And the average greenhouse gas emission per person still remains high — about 18 tons/year, although this is below the national average of 19.6 tons/year.

Global Green USA and the DC Environmental Network congratulate Washington DC Mayor Gray and his team for launching this important campaign and we all pledge to work to indeed establish our nation’s capital as the greenest city in the United States.

The DC Environmental Network will be holding a series of additional conversations about Mayor Gray’s Sustainable DC initiative in October.

“This room is filled with extraordinary people – we could do things today guys, we could have initiatives out of a group such as this,” exclaimed Anne Lewis, President, City Wildlife, Inc. Looking around the room, one would agree the meeting held an impressive gathering of top-tier environmental and wildlife specialists, including representatives of the National Park Service, Environmental Protection Agency, and Environmental Law Institute. The DC Environmental Network discussion held Thurday, Sept. 8th, hosted by Global Green USA, focused on the intersection of humans and wildlife, and the concerns surrounding these issues; from raccoon and bird behavior, to political strategies.

“This room is filled with extraordinary people – we could do things today guys, we could have initiatives out of a group such as this,” exclaimed Anne Lewis, President, City Wildlife, Inc.

We can begin protecting urban wildlife through slight adjustments in the way we live. The three speakers advocated a multilateral approach to conservation. Tying in popular consumer interests (such as health and safety, as well as the protection of “cute animals,”) with other important, less-relatable wilderness protection demands, can be a powerful tool to implement holistic change. The interconnections between environmental issues are limitless and ingraining seeds of thoughts – intentionally or not – into each other’s minds is a powerful form of action. DCEN hopes this will be the first of many of these kinds of dialogues.

———————————–

The first presenter was Dr. John Hadidian, director of the Urban Wildlife chapter of the Humane Society. Wildlife makes DC beautiful, but we often face challenges when these critters take up residence in our homes. Dr. Hadidian presented a case study in which the results of ten years of research on raccoon behavior in the greater DC area has resulted in the knowledge of a humane way to remove them from our houses. Inspired by a service in Toronto, the Humane Wildlife Services hopes to be an adoptable business model for other wildlife rescue services.

Wildlife conflict resolution is an emerging and increasingly important scientific field. “There’s an idea out there right now that we need to recognize, acknowledge and deal in a different way with: what are called ‘wicked problems’ . . . what it means is problems that don’t have technical solutions.”

Dr. Hadidian believes many of the issues we face in this field can be prevented through smart urban ecology. He touched on the concept that wildlife issues are a means to an end; we must think first about the larger ecosystem – the foundations upon which wildlife builds itself. However, we can use animals to focus peoples’ attention and energy: this is where we can all work together to solve the larger problems.

Anne Lewis is President of the newly founded City Wildlife, Inc. which aims to work in conjunction with the DC Wildlife Protection Act, and hopes to soon be the first official wildlife rehabilitation center within the DC limits. The closest licensed center, Second Chance Animal Sanctuary, currently resides in Gaithersburg, one hour away. However, there is one obstacle in the way of their opening, says President Lewis, and that involves legislation: current laws prevent wildlife from crossing state lines. “We can’t open until we have some kind of understanding among the jurisdictions that wildlife can be brought across state lines for purposes of wildlife rehabilitation, by specific people.”

In the meantime, City Wildlife, Inc. has created two side projects to tackle problems associated with our built environment: Quack FAQs helps trapped ducks and geese and Lights Out DC aims to reduce the deaths of migrating birds through the reduction of light pollution.

Councilmember Mary Cheh was the last to speak. She provided a view on the politics behind wildlife preservation; the process it takes to get legislation such as the DC Wildlife Protection Act and the Animal Welfare Act passed, and the opposition she faces publicly and personally. Yet she was enthusiastic, and supportive, “If you have a good idea – and all of you have great ideas – I’ll enact it! I’m your instrument, I will get it done . . . DC is both the state and local legislature, it’s unicameral, one house; there are 13 of us. If I get six other people to agree with me, I can pass a law, and we can lead the country in many areas.”

Groups represented at the presentation included: Humane Society of the United States, City Wildlife, DC Council, Environmental Health Group, National Park Service, District Department of the Environment, EnviRelation, Environmental Law Institute, Environmental Protection Agency, Global Green USA, Capitol Sun Group, Friends of Lower Beaverdam Creek, Wholeness for Humanity, Friends of the Earth, Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, DC Water & Sewer Authority, League of Women Voters DC, Anacostia Watershed Society, DC Office of Planning, DC Greenworks (partial).

Malini Suri graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Zoology, and currently volunteers with DCEN doing communications work and conducting research. She can be reached by email at malinisuri@gmail.com.

Washington Post blogger Michael DeBonis shared Councilmember Cheh’s recent DC Environmental Network presentation on urban wildlife issues.

“People don’t understand we’re all part of this habitat and we all thrive or not depending upon how all of it thrives or not,” she said, describing the measure’s benefits to humanity. - Councilmember Mary Cheh

On September 23rd at 11:00 AM, join environmental leaders for an important planning session and first step towards helping Mayor Gray create the best sustainability plan in the country!

This planning session will feature:

• Harriet Tregoning, Director, DC Office of Planning (OP)
• Christophe Tulou, Director, DC Department of the Environment (DDOE)
• Michelle Bennett, Environmental Sustainability Consultant (DCEN Discussion Facilitator)

Join the DC Environmental Network (DCEN) in making DC the cleanest, greenest, most sustainable city in the United States! Mayor Gray recently announced an ambitious initiative to create a comprehensive sustainability strategy for the District called “Sustainable DC.” The planning process for this unprecedented strategy will kick-off with a DC Environmental Network discussion to hear how environmental activists and District residents envision their Sustainable DC.

As a environmental leader in the District, we need your participation! RSVP for this Sustainable DC Planning Session!

The DC environmental community has been at the forefront of efforts to make the District of Columbia a green and sustainable city. With this new initiative early in the first term of Mayor Gray, we all have a unique opportunity to help develop a plan and environmental vision for the next decade. This meeting will be the first step in a process to develop joint recommendations from a large coalition of environmental NGOs and activists.

At this inaugural DCEN sustainability planning meeting, Christophe Tulou (DDOE) and Harriet Tregoning (OP) will update us on Mayor Gray’s most current plans to implement this new initiative. Participants will have an opportunity to suggest courses of action and start sharing some of the broader themes that might be incorporated into this plan. We will then roll up our sleeves and coordinate with our panel a process and design for both development of coordinated recommendations and stategies for helping Mayor Gray reach out beyond the traditional environmental community.

• When: Friday, September 23rd @ 11:00 AM
• Where: DC Environmental Network Headquarters @ Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor
• Near Farragut North & McPherson Square Metro Stops (Walking Distance from Five BikeShare Stations!)
• Call-In Number: 775-269-3893, when prompted enter 399602#
• RSVP for this Sustainable DC Planning Session!

This planning session is co-sponsored by the Sierra Club: Washington, DC Chapter.

All are welcome!

featuring:

- Srdjan Stankovic, Supernatural Festival (Panelist & Moderator)

- Boris Camernik, Director, Danube Competence Centre (The Danube Competence Centre (DCC) works to build and support networks of tourism stakeholders from the Danube region by investing in people and skills, enhancing regional cooperation, and promoting the mutual interests of our members in order to create a single tourism brand for the Middle and Lower Danube region.)

- Dina Vukovic, Coordinator, National Tourist Organization of Serbia

- Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network

Background:

The DC Environmental Network (DCEN) and Supernatural, an environmental NGO in Serbia, are partnering to present a webinar on Danube River restoration efforts in Serbia.This webinar will feature environmental organizations and activists participating from both the United States and Serbia.

This is the second in a series of webinars that will continue over the next year. (Our first webinar featured DC Water and the Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant in Washington, DC. Watch this presentation on YouTube!)

Sign-Up to Participate in the Awaking the Danube Webinar!

On September 16th and 17th Supernatural and the Diving Club Amfora (and the broader diving community in Serbia) will be involved in a massive clean-up effort at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. This special event will also feature educational programs and opportunities designed to heighten awareness and connect more people to the Danube River.

The DC Environmental Network will benefit with participation in a briefiing on Danube River restoration efforts in Serbia from the perspective of Serbian organizations and activists in the Danube region. Some questions that will be answered by our panelists:

• How do Serbian tourism stakeholders connect economic goals with Danube river restoration?
• What are the main sources of pollution in the Danube River?
• How are Serbian environmental NGOs, government bodies and corporations participating in restoration efforts?
• How are Serbian river activists and others coordinating restoration efforts with the many different international jurisdictions along Danube River banks?
• What are some of the important historical, cultural dynamics that connect Serbians to the Danube and Sava rivers?

We will start with a presentation and then open up the webinar to questions and comments. This is a great opportunity to learn about some of the best practices, strategies and history of an amazing river and the cultures that live on its banks. Srdjan Stankovic of Supernatural will moderate the discussion.

• Friday, September 16th
  
• Noon until 1:30 pm (tentative)
  
• Sign-Up to Participate in the Awaking the Danube Webinar! (We will send you webinar log-in/call-in information a few days before the event.

All are welcome!

The DC Environmental Network (DCEN) is proud to be a global partner with Supernatural: Supernatural is an environmental movement leader in Serbia. They are members of the United Nations Global Compact, Slow Food and partners of World Wildlife Fund, Europarc Federation and other renowned institutions.Their activities include organization of Supernatural festival that celebrates Mother Earth Day, 22 April, production of the Supernatural FM radio program, production of environmental documentaries, environmental education and corporate environmental responsibility projects.

Conservation groups and state & local government programs have been working over the past decade to restore the marshy tidal wetlands that once spanned the mouth of the Anacostia River – digging into the muddy and polluted waters, replanting native vegetation and analyzing land and water management issues. However, a competition has emerged with a growing population of non-migratory geese who gorge on this delicious salad of restored native wild rice and other rare plant species. A controversy over how to deal with these large birds has arisen, and some extreme management practices in the past have involved the culling – capture and euthanization – of adult geese.

“A controversy over how to deal with these large birds has arisen, and some extreme management practices in the past have involved the culling – capture and euthanization – of adult geese.”

As a result of public concern, and a realization of the serious impacts of the wetland restoration projects, the National Park Service (NPS) has released a series of detailed proposals for a long-term, science-based management plan known as the Anacostia Park Wetland and Resident Goose Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement. A draft of this document is currently under review, and open for public comment until September 26^th.

The Anacostia Watershed, which once contained over 2500 acres of marshy tidal wetlands, has suffered a history of pollution and change. With an increase in European settlement and farming in the 19^th century, the problem arose of agricultural runoff settling within the wetlands, creating extensive, sewage ridden, silty mud plains. In 1902 the US Army Corps of Engineers received funding to dredge the wetlands, creating controlled river systems and islands of dry land such as Kingsman Park. The National Park Service has since taken control of the area, and in the late 1980’s a decision was made to restore the tidal wetland marshes in an effort to combat extreme water pollution issues.

Populations of non-migratory, mid-western and Canadian geese were first introduced to the Anacostia by humans as hunting decoys in the 1900’s, and then again as an effort to re-populate the geese from over-hunting. These non-native species have since continued to reproduce, and due to a lack of natural predators in the area, an increasing population of geese have become more than just pests on near-by golf courses. Intensive restoration efforts in 2000 created a buffet of sensitive, native and nutritious wetland plants. The birds subsequently gorged on this newfound abundance, leaving behind destructive and encroaching non-native, invasive species, and decimating the conservation efforts.

Therefore, a dilemma now rests on the shoulders of the National Park Service. How do we stop a population of geese from being geese? A slew of solutions have been proposed. They include: altering vegetation, fencing land plots, egg addling (a form of population control that prevents the development of the embryo within the egg), and using visual deterrents or trained dogs to scare the geese away. Many of these practices are already being implemented, but some worry these methods are cumbersome and passive. On the other hand, lethal control of an otherwise innocent bird population has gained attention from animal activists and groups such as the Humane Society and PETA.

The National Park Service has identified the need to approach the restoration of the Anacostia wetlands carefully and alongside scientific research. We urge the public to continue to participate in a long-term plan for our vital tidal marshes. 

Join park staff at the Anacostia Operations Facility on September 7^th from 6:30 – 8:30 to learn about and discuss the Wetland Management Plan. Those interested in local conservation issues can join the DC Environmental Network and Humane Society on September 8^th at noon for a presentation and discussion about the importance of protecting urban wildlife. RSVP & Details Here.

Malini Suri graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a degree in Zoology, and currently volunteers with DCEN doing communications work and conducting research. 

Michelle Bennett, Environmental Sustainability Consultant, shares observations about both Sydney, Australia and Washington, DC in this first in a series of comparing and contrasting the environmental scene of the District with a variety of urban areas around the globe.

With the spate of natural disasters in Washington DC this summer, I sat down to compare our troubles with those in a very different part of the world: Sydney Australia. I studied Environmental Studies there for two years and came to appreciate a fundamentally unique and fragile continent.

The east coast of Australia receives reliable rainfall, unlike the Red Center, so it is characterized by Eucalypt forest and littoral rainforest. The local climate around Sydney might compare to mid-California: summers are hot and it rarely frosts in the lowlands come winter. Typhoons rarely veer so far south; flooding is controlled with a huge system of dams; and earthquakes are rare and weak. The area is prone to fire, like parts of California. Drought comes in cycles, both short and unbearably long, all across the ancient continent.

But Australia, and especially Sydney, is prone to bizarre natural hazards  – damaging phenomenon so strange and alien that the first settlers felt they had landed on another planet. The local fauna didn’t help, of course, because most things in Australia, including adorable koala bears and their vicious cousins the dropbears, can kill you. Sydney is home to two varieties of deadly spiders, and kangaroos are as dangerous as deer on the road.

Even the soil can be dangerous. Over millennia, peat deposits absorbed iron sulfide minerals. When these soils remain under the water table they are benign. But expose them to the air and they react with oxygen to ooze sulfuric acid, arsenic, and even heavy metals. In parts of Australia, especially along the east coast, the land bleeds poison when disturbed.

The water table that covers these deposits can also be problematic. Most of Australia is composed of porous sedimentary rock, which in turn sits atop the salted crust of an ancient shallow sea. That means there are large aquifers beneath the surface, which feed or deprive whole watersheds. If too much water is pumped out of the ground, the water table falls and regions dry up. If not enough water is used, the water table will rise and bring salt with it, indefinitely decimating scarce arable land.

The endemic species of Australia evolved in this hostile situation, and have devised clever ways to moderate or survive the many excesses of the land. Some species of eucalypt grow their roots just deep enough to sip from the water table during drought, and to drain it during times of rain. With just enough trees across a landscape, the water table is managed. But grow too many trees and precious water drops beyond reach; chop down too many trees and water rises to salt the watershed. Talk about the value of ecological services!

“I was surprised that the Chesapeake is still unable to filter enough nutrients and pollution through its world-famous shellfisheries. Clearly more habitat restoration, or “bush regeneration”, as the Aussies call it, is needed.”

Australians also contend with many of the same issues we face in the D.C. watershed. Agriculture and household wastewater dump too many nutrients into rivers, causing eutrophication and toxic algal blooms. As a recent D.C. transplant, I was not surprised to learn about the industrial and agricultural pollutants that local water sheds struggle with, but I was surprised that the Chesapeake is still unable to filter enough nutrients and pollution through its world-famous shellfisheries. Clearly more habitat restoration, or “bush regeneration”, as the Aussies call it, is needed.

We can learn a thing or two from Sydney’s reaction to water quality issues. Most dish soaps, detergents and other cleaning agents are now nitrogen- and phosphate-free. Local environmental groups and the government spent years educating citizens and forged partnerships with businesses and industries. New products were not mandated, but encouraged, marketed and rewarded. It was a slow, sometimes halting process, but through consistent, multi-pronged efforts, these products are becoming the new norm. Sydney residents were doubtful, at first. It took several years for new products to attain comparable quality, but now a major source of water pollution is declining. I can assure you that the products work just as well as their polluting counterparts.

It’s not uncommon to see locals swimming in the surf for their morning exercise, regardless of the air or water temperature. Every popular beach has an active swimming, surfing and water rescue club. When water quality is poor, residents notice.

Over the years, many diverse groups have banded together to protest and demand better water quality: from young surfers to wealthy residents who can afford beachfront property. Australians enjoy and appreciate aspects of the natural environment around them, but they also participate in their democracy. They are required by law to vote, and they get a day off work to do so. They demand comparatively high standards of their politicians, media, business and non-profit organizations. They appreciate the role of each in society.

Some helpful links:

• Office of Environment & Heritage – New South Wales
• Australia’s Acid Sulfate Soil
• Water Quality Issues – Sydney Catchment Authority

Many, though not all, also experience huge fluctuations, both natural and man made, that occur on their continent and understand that without a healthy environment, their economic and personal well-being are exposed to greater costs and risks.

Look for other knowledgeable DCEN participants writing about how Washington, DC and the surrounding region compare to Buenos Aires, London, Belgrade and other cities around the world.

The DC Environmental Network (DCEN) and the Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) are partnering to sponsor a special discussion and opportunity to connect face to face with individuals from Serbian civil society organizations who will be visiting Washington, DC in September.

featuring:

• Mackenzie Baris, Lead Organizer, DC Jobs with Justice
• Chris Weiss, Executive Director, DC Environmental Network
• Other coalition leaders to be invited!

Sign-Up Here to Participate!

Background:

The Institute for Sustainable Communities (ISC) mission is to help communities around the world address environmental, economic, and social challenges to build a better future shaped and shared by all. They are in the business of unleashing the power of people to transform their communities. Their approach ensures solutions emerge from within the community, rather than being imposed from the outside. By combining technical expertise and leadership training with strategic investments in local organizations, they aspire to create sparking creative solutions and lasting change.

The ISC and their Serbian guests will be in the US to explore advocacy and models for coalition and network building. There will be ten representatives from Serbia’s civil society visiting Washington, DC representing Smart Kolektiv, Balkan Community Initiatives Fund, Civic Initiatives, Young Researchers of Serbia, Center for Modern Skills and IPC.

The goal of this informal discussion is to share our experiences with our environmental work and whatever insights we can muster as to how we form and sustain environmental coalitions.

We will start with short presentations and finish with an open discussion.

• Wednesday, September 28th
• 1:30pm until 3:00pm
• Global Green USA, 1100 15th Street NW, 11th Floor, Near Farragut North & McPherson Square Metro Stops
• Sign-Up to Participate!
• Call-In Number: 775-269-3893, when prompted enter 399602#

All are welcome to participate in this important conversation!

The Army Corps of Engineers has spent more than $200 million over the last 18 years cleaning up chemical munitions and chemical contamination from World War I activities at the American University Experiment Station.  Come learn about the most recent stage of the Spring Valley cleanup.

At the September 7 ANC3D meeting, the Army Corps will make a brief presentation on their plans to tear down the house at 4825 Glenbrook Road in order to clean up a World War I chemical munitions burial pit under the house.  Some of the Johns Hopkins team that is conducting a health study will also be at the meeting.

Over the past ten years, Army Corps contractors have removed more than 500 munitions, 400 pounds of laboratory glassware and 100 tons of contaminated soil.  This includes 75 mm rounds filled with arsine and mustard agent, bottles containing mustard agent, lewisite and arsenic trichloride, several 55 gallon metal drums, and the necks of several large glass containers.  Some believe this is the Sargeant Maurer Burial Pit.

The ANC3D meeting will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, September 7 at Sibley Hospital’s new medical office building, 5255 Loughboro Road, NW.

If you are unable to join us there is another opportunity to learn about the cleanup plans at the Spring Valley Restoration Advisory Board meeting at 7 pm on Tuesday, September 13 in the basement meeting room of Saint David’s Church, 5150 Macomb Street, NW.

Global Green USA & the DC Environmental Network are strong supporters of neighborhood efforts to require clean up of WW1 munitions that contaminate District neighborhoods.