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Spring/Summer 2002 Newsletter
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Thanks and Special Recognition
Informing the public and taking timely action on major coastal policy issues
is a team effort. Without the generous help of an impressive array of
individuals and their diverse affiliations, the Center could not effectively
pursue its mission. By giving recognition to those who have assisted us, we
not only express fitting appreciation to individuals for their teamwork, but
also provide a sampling of the variety of relationships and tasks involved
in doing our work. We hope that you will be inspired by their example. The
Center looks forward to further successful activities with our many
colleagues, members, and supporters. If you would like to assist the
Center, give us a call at (912) 638-3612.
Appreciation to Center member Sara Barczak, who as the Safe Energy Director
of Georgians for Clean Energy, has so generously assisted us in
participating in statewide energy issues. In March, Sara encouraged us to
attend the Energy Summit in Atlanta, which was co-hosted by her
organization. Sara spoke out in favor of the Centeršs continuing involvement
in energy policy planning activities that were developed at the Summit.
Rita Kilpatrick, the director of Georgians for Clean Energy, was kind enough
to provide overnight lodging and 'taxi service' for us in Atlanta.
Sincere thanks to Helen Alexander, who has been providing administrative and
financial assistance to the Center for the past year. Helen has continued
to help enormously in smoothing out administrative snags, and working with
Center board member and secretary-treasurer, Alan Bailey, recently succeeded
in getting approval from the IRS for renewing the organization's 501(c) 3
designation. This will enable the Center to continue offering tax-deductions
for contributors supporting the Center.
Board member Venetia Butler, an environmental educator at the Oatland Center
in Chatham County, deserves our thanks for arranging several presentations
for the Center's executive director at conferences in recent months. For
providing a similar outreach opportunity, we also owe recognition to Center
intern, Kimberly Stewart, who scheduled a talk for the executive director at
a Georgia Southern University seminar. And we must also thank Clean Coast's
Clete Bergen for inviting David Kyler to speak at a March conference held on
Ossabaw Island.
We express our profound sorrow upon the death of Tom Cross of St. Simons
Island, who was very helpful to the Center by providing bookkeeping
assistance and related computer services whenever needed. Tom, who shared a
nearby office, always had a kind word and was an unusually patient man. We
were shocked and saddened by his untimely passing in March.
We are again grateful to Center advisor and supporter, John Train of Macon,
who represented the organization at several conferences, accompanying the
executive director to the Georgia River Network conference in Milledgeville,
the Clean Coast conference on Ossabaw Island, and the Georgia Energy Summit
in Atlanta.
Kudos to Harold Reheis, Director Georgia's Environmental Protection Division
who decided to deny a permit for water withdrawal from the Lower Floridan
aquifer in Richmond Hill (Bryan County) after considering extensive opposing
comments from hydrologists, geologists, and numerous others, including the
Center. Mr. Reheis acted responsibly in holding two public meetings on this
issue, which produced decisively valuable information. We also owe
gratitude to Ben Brewton Coastal Environmental Organization and Patty
McIntosh The Georgia Conservancy who were so instrumental in generating
public attention about this important issue. The Center is very thankful
for the assistance of our advisor and veteran geologist Rick Krause, who
kindly provided insightful help in our comments on this issue, which were
presented at the Board of Natural Resources in Atlanta as well as at the
public meetings in Richmond Hill. The incisive and influential public
remarks on this issue by hydrogeologist Dr. Jim Reichard (also a Center
advisor) deserve our praise as well.
Colleen Kiernan Sierra Club and Allie Kelly Georgia Environmental
Enforcement Project did an outstanding job in generating public involvement
on public health issues related to dirty power plants. Largely through
their initiative, assisted by testimony of the Center and other groups, EPD
agreed to hold public meetings in Savannah, Macon, and Cartersville, home to
the three plants that are violating the Clean Air Act. In Savannah, Colleen
and Allie organized a truly compelling display of public protest against
pollution caused by Plant Kraft. We are indebted to these two dedicated
environmental advocates for providing the opportunity for the Center to
participate. The three plants in question are owned by the Southern Company.
Our thanks to Center board member Alan Bailey for his generous donation of
six gift memberships in the Center to individuals concerned about coastal
issues.
We are especially grateful to the Glynn County Board of Commissioners for
their resolute protection of coastal water resources in a recent decision
denying a rezoning that would have allowed strip-mining on a tract near
Interstate 95. They expressed justifiable concern about the effects the
operation could have on water quality and remaining aquifer capacity by
soundly defeating the proposal in a vote of 6 to 1. It is clear that water
conservation has finally become a key issue for decision makers in our area.
Our friends and colleagues with the Southern Environmental Law Center have
earned our admiration for their intelligence and hard work on behalf of
coastal Georgians and the organizations that represent them. These
outstanding individuals include (alphabetically) Derb Carter, Chris
DeScherer, Blan Holman, Laura Jones, Amanda Lail, and Wes Woolf. Through
their tireless efforts, the Center and our fellow advocacy groups
represented by SELC have held forth on compelling legal arguments that are
likely to affect future interpretation of the Coastal Marshlands Protection
Act.
Congratulations to veteran staffer Susan Shipman at the Coastal Resources
Division of the Georgia DNR for being promoted to director of that division.
Center board members and staff have the highest regard for Susan's past work
and wish her every success. We look forward to collaborating with Ms.
Shipman and her staff in resolving various issues of common concern.
Nancy Thomason of Saint Simons Island, current president of Residents United
for Planning and Action (RUPA), deserves tribute for her persistence and
foresight in pressing for protection of marsh hammocks. Largely through
Nancy's efforts, a number of environmental groups, including the Center,
have become involved in legal actions and policy analysis related to these
ecologically significant areas.
We also wish to thank DNR Commissioner Lonice Barrett for holding public
hearings on hammock development and protection here on the coast,. These
hearings and the work of the Marsh Hammocks Council have helped expand
discussion of this critical issue.
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