Environment

Mountain Top Mining Removal has been suspended by the Obama administration. President Obama. The Environmental Protection Agency is putting on hold hundreds of mountaintop coal-mining permits until it can evaluate the projects' impacts on streams and wetlands. Thanks to all of you who have supported the need to halt this disastrous mining of the land and the consequent pollution of the environment. Although many of us do not live in Appalachia, our electricity can be produced from the coal mined under such conditions. The Wheaton Franciscans know that some of our electricity results from such practices. To learn more about the mountain top removal visit http://www.ilovemountains.org/. Also you can visit http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-03-24-mountaintop-mining-epa_N.htm to read about The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) putting mountaintop coal mining on hold for review.

Here's a little good news--this "finding," which is required under the Clean Air Act before regulatory action can be taken, is a big milestone, and breaks the barrier that has stymied staff and managers for years. Regulatory actions will not happen fast; we can expect an enormous number of transactions and iterations, but at least they will proceed. EPA remains obligated to be circumspect and transparent in its decision making process, and that takes time. Economic impact (especially on small enterprises) is routinely analyzed and considered for all of our major decisions, and the Clean Air Act requires EPA to factor in costs and other secondary factors when establishing air quality standards. But this action represents a huge shift in the (pun alert!) atmosphere at EPA. You may also read a related article from the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/science/earth/18endanger.html?_r=1&hp

The Ecumenical Advocacy Days-(EAD), Enough for All of Creation, March 13-16 in Washington, D. C. focused on the environmental issues. Nearly 900 persons gathered from many church denominations to work together on social justice. The days were rich with input on the concerns for the environmental devastations in the developing countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa as well as in the United States and the developed world. Many issues were interwoven with such areas as the economy, conflicts, climate change, trade agreements, and debts, to name a few. Attached is the document that was left with the various legislator offices and some talking points for the Capitol Hill visits. (Here are some pictures of the days)

Please note this information for April 22, Earth Day will be observed with the promotion of the Climate Change Covenant with the St. Francis Pledge. The Catholic Coalition on Climate Change is launching a unique and unprecedented initiative to demonstrate a commitment to care for God’s creation and to stand with the poor and vulnerable.  For more information please go to http://www.catholicsandclimatechange.org