October, 1997
Table of Contents
DATCP - Weak Pesticide Proposal
Children at RiskMining Moratorium - Important Public Hearing
1. Children Not Protected
2. Exposures Not Reduced
3. Posting Fails to Protect
4. Limits Our Right to Know
Did You Know?
For more information
Pesticide Hearings
Please write a Letter
Pro-Moratorium RallyKidney Island & Bayport Disposal
Flowages May Be Classified “Outstanding Waters”
Public Hearings on Outstanding WatersWisconsin Stewardship Network Chooses Four Priority Issues
Please Write a Letter
Restoration of the Public IntervenorMinergy Incinerator Update
Restoration of DNR Independence
Proposed Legislation
What You Can Do
Sulfide Mining Moratorium
Land-Use Action Alert
Public Trust ViolatedThank You Volunteers!
Toxic Pollution
Supreme Court Will Take Our Case!
Can Private Citizens Defend Public Rights?
Phony Intervenor Kept Out of Case
State Gives $265,000 to Minergy
Door-to-Door Organizing Update
DATCP - Weak Pesticide Proposal
Wisconsin’s major pesticide rule (called Ag 29), which regulates most
aspects of pesticide use, is undergoing revisions by the Dept. of Agriculture,
Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP).
Unfortunately, while “clarifying” the rule, DATCP has failed to make
important and necessary changes:
Pesticides should be prohibited from sensitive areas like schools, daycare
centers and playgrounds.
At a time when other states are re-evaluating their pesticide policies
based on the growing body of literature documenting the adverse impacts
of pesticides on children and the unborn, DATCP has done nothing to reduce
children’s exposure to pesticides.
The DATCP’s standards are based on cancer risks and gross birth defects
for a 150-pound adult male.
They do not take into consideration the special vulnerability of children
before birth and early in life, as their bodies are growing rapidly and
chemical exposure can disrupt normal body signals at critical development
stages.
The DATCP proposes education and “voluntary minimization” programs
to encourage schools to reduce pesticide use, but this is obviously inadequate.
DATCP needs to require the elimination of pesticides from ALL sensitive
areas.
The rule proposed by DATCP does nothing to reduce risks from and exposures
to pesticides.
Pesticides are poisons. Mounting evidence of the adverse impacts on
human health (hormone disruption, cancers, decreased fertility) and the
environment (contaminated drinking water, birth defects in wildlife) illustrate
the need to reduce overall risks from pesticides and to support the broader
goal of reduction and prevention.
DATCP should develop a statewide pesticide reduction initiative, and
use the AG 29 revision process to:
- Increase families’ right to know about pesticides.
- Reduce risks from pesticides.
- Encourage alternatives to chemical pest control.
- Decrease day to day citizen exposure to these harmful substances.
DATCP proposes changes to requirements for posting notices of pesticide applications --- but these changes fail to protect public health and the public’s right to know.
a. Changes would eliminate posting along public roads. Under current rules warning signs must be posted along public roads following an application of the most toxic pesticides. Proposed changes eliminate this requirement, leaving those who recreate or work along the road, or wander by accidentally, with no warning. DATCP should protect the public’s right to know about pesticide applications applied along public roads by maintaining current posting requirements.
b. Warning signs need to be improved to keep families, and
especially children, off treated lawns.
DATCP should make warning signs larger and more noticeable. The symbol
should be replaced with a more recognizable one (skull and crossbones,
“Mr. Yuck”). The signs should be two-sided. Advertising and corporate logos
should be prohibited.
a. DATCP proposes to eliminate the “adjacent block” concept
--- which is an unacceptable weakening of families’ right to know.
Current rules allow families to sign-up with the state to receive pre-notification
of a commercial lawn application on their block or on any adjacent block.
This “pre-notification registry” is an important tool for families to protect
themselves from exposure. Proposed changes would limit the registry to
just adjacent lots.
This is an unacceptable weakening of families’ right to know --- because
of the well-known drift of pesticides through the air, and the potential
for children to run across yards throughout a neighborhood while playing
with friends.
The National Academy of Sciences has found that 10-15% of the population
tends to be more chemically sensitive than “normal” people. Often, these
sensitive individuals have toxic (allergic) reactions to even small pesticide
exposures.
These sensitivity reactions are in addition to the “normal” cancer
and other long-term toxicity reactions.
b. DATCP proposes to tighten the state deadline for registering
for notice of pesticide spraying. The current deadline is March 1. The
proposed deadline is January 15, a time when no one is thinking about pesticides
(in the winter and during the busy holidays). It’s only when pesticide
season begins that people think about the registry and wish they had remembered
to sign up.
In addition, if someone moves to Wisconsin anytime after January 15
they would have to wait an entire year to get warnings of toxic applications
in their neighborhood.
DATCP should have an initial February 1 deadline to allow people to
get notifications of pesticide applications in March and April. But then
a May 1 updated sign-up period would allow new residents and people who
heard of the registry after Feb. 1 to receive notifications of mid-to-late
season applications.
95% of lawn care chemicals in use today are possible or probable carcinogens, according to the U.S. EPA.For more informationThe National Cancer Institute reports that children are 6.5 times more likely to develop leukemia if their families use pesticides at home. The risk is 9 times as great for children whose mothers regularly use pesticides outdoors.
At least 1 out of 7 people are significantly harmed by pesticide exposure each year, according to the National Academy of Sciences.
More children with brain tumors and other cancers had been exposed to insecticides than children without, according to the American Journal of Epidemiology.
Studies by the National Cancer Society found a link between fatal non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and exposure to the commonly used insecticide Diazinon
A University of Iowa study found a 2 to 20 times higher risk of infertility among women who work in farm related industries. Researcher said the most likely suspects were pesticides.
This pesticide information has been provided by Citizens for a Better Environment (CBE), and by Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade.
For more information, call Zev Ross, at CBE, at (608) 251-2804, or Wisconsin’s Environmental Decade at (608)251-7020. In Milwaukee, call CBE at (414)-271-7280.
Please attend one of these public hearings to show your support for strong regulation of these poisons.
Tuesday, Oct. 13
Holiday Inn, 150 Nicolet Road
Appleton
Wednesday, October 14
Comfort Suites, 300 Division St.
Stevens Point
Thursday, October 15
Quality Inn, 809 W. Clairmont Av.
Eau Claire
Wednesday, October 22
DATCP Prairie Oak State Building
2811 Agriculture Dr., Madison
Thursday, October 23
State Fair Park Youth Center
620 S. 84th St., Gate 5, West Allis
To: DATCP Secretary
PO Box 8911, Madison, WI 53708
Mining Moratorium - Important Public Hearing
Tuesday, Oct. 14
1:00 - 8:00 p.m.
State Fair Park in West Allis
in the Trade Mart Building
(This is just outside Milwaukee.
Take the 84th Street exit off I-94)
at 12:00 noon
Wear Blaze Orange!
Kidney Island & Bayport Disposal
~~~ Continuing Issues of Concern ~~~
Clean Water Action Council - General Membership Meeting
You’re Invited --- Bring a Friend!
Please join us for a special presentation by our Executive Director, Rebecca Katers, on the environmental risks posed by several local projects for disposal of contaminated sediments from the Brown County Harbor Shipping Channel. Though our lawsuit was successful in stopping the expansion of the Kidney Island disposal site, the existing site must be addressed. The alternative Bayport Disposal site also raises concerns about leakage and future landspreading of contaminated sludges. Come learn the details, and find out how you might be able to help.
Wednesday, October 15
Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary --- Green Bay
7:00 p.m. --- Meeting and Issue Reports
7:30 p.m. --- Program on Sediment Disposal
Popcorn, coffee, tea, and cider will be offered as refreshments
Flowages May Be Classified “Outstanding Waters”
The DNR proposes to designate four beautiful flowages as “outstanding resource waters” (ORW) under Wisconsin rules.
They would add the St. Croix Flowage in Douglas County, the Gile Flowage
in Iron County, the Willow Flowage in Oneida County, and the Caldron Falls
Flowage in Marinette County to the list.
ORW waters get the highest protection possible under our Wisconsin
laws -- with no water degradation allowed in the future. Any discharges
into ORW waters must be as clean as the background water quality.
In 1987, Wisconsin’s ORW policy was initiated when a federal judge
ordered the state to comply with the revised federal Clean Water Act which
instructed states to protect their most outstanding lakes, flowages and
streams from the dumping of polluted wastewaters.
DNR staff twice ranked the Willow Flowage as an ORW according to a
diverse set of 16 criteria. Unfortunately, the Willow Flowage had failed
to receive ORW classification because of pressure from the mining industry.
The 6,000 acre Willow Flowage is the largest remaining undeveloped
body of water in the state. Its wild shoreline, clean water and adjoining
wetlands are home to many species of wildlife, especially wolves, eagles,
osprey, waterfowl and loons.
The other three candidates are also gorgeous flowages --- some of the
best scenic beauty, recreation and wildlife habitat in our state.
ORW classification has been very controversial in recent years, with
business interests fighting against the listing of valuable lakes and streams.
For years, DNR’s Natural Resources Board put a hold on further listings,
and set up several studies to look at ORW economic impacts. Not surprisingly,
these studies found that the Tourism economic impacts of clean water are
substantial and well worth extra protections.
Public Hearings on Outstanding Waters
Please attend a hearing, and give your opinions on these ORW nominations:
Tues. Oct. 28 --- Council Chambers, City Hall, 1407 Hammond Ave., Superior, at 2:00 p.m.
Tues. Oct. 28 --- Co. Board Rm, Iron Co. Courthouse, 300 Taconite St. Hurley, at 7:00 p.m.
Wed. Oct. 29 --- Conference Rm #1, DNR No. Region Headquarters, 107 Sutliff Ave. Rhinelander, at 10:00 a.m.
Wed. Oct. 29 --- Co. Board Rm, Marinette Co. Courthouse, 1926 Hall Ave., Marinette, at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Ron Martin --- WDNR
Bureau of Watershed Management
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
Wisconsin Stewardship Network Chooses Four Priority Issues
The following 4 issues are priorities chosen at a recent meeting of the Wisconsin Stewardship Network, attended by 70 leaders of environmental and conservation clubs.
Restoration of the Public Intervenor
The Wisconsin Public Intervenors were created because of conservationist
concerns in 1967 as part of a compromise. They were a small office with
two attorneys advocating for public rights in the natural resources of
Wisconsin.
Two years ago, as part of the State Budget, Gov. Thompson eliminated
the Intervenors. A compromise in the Legislature kept one attorney,
but took away all legal powers, making the Intervenor only advisory
(worse than nothing because it gives the impression the original service
still exists.)
The office was also moved from the Justice Department to DNR, though
the Intervenor’s purpose was to watchdog DNR, not work for them.
For years, thousands of concerned citizens, even legislators, were
provided experienced consultation and referrals through the Intervenors.
Now Wisconsin citizens have no public source of legal advice and assistance
for important conservation and environmental issues. Most citizens and
groups can’t afford expensive private legal fees.
In addition, most private attorneys lack the political stature, technical
legal standing, and agency connections which the Intervenors had. Some
argue that only the Intervenors represented true “public rights” in the
legal sense.
The Intervenors often brought different parties together to negotiate
reasonable compromises. They also provided important legal and technical
comments on proposed regulations. By their presence, they prevented many
bad policies from getting proposed for Wisconsin law.
Restoration of DNR Independence
The 1995-96 Budget also gave the Governor power to appoint and control
the DNR Secretary and District Supervisors. Though seven private
citizens who serve on the Natural Resources Board still decide DNR policy,
they no longer oversee implementation of policies.
This creates the potential for serious conflicts between the Board
and Governor’s Office, and introduces direct political pressures into the
agency. (Though Gov. Thompson has appointed all the members of the current
DNR Board, and they tend to agree with Thompson’s decisions, future Governors
and Boards could be very different, because Board members serve for 6 year
terms which often extend beyond a single Governor’s term.)
As a result of the takeover of the DNR, Governor Thompson appointed
his own people to key management positions within the DNR, positions which
used to be filled based on agency experience, technical training, and merit.
In addition, DNR Secretary George Meyer has become much more vulnerable
to political pressures. DNR staff morale is so low that Wisconsin is losing
its best staff in a steady stream. These changes threaten the quality of
natural resource protection in Wisconsin.
Three bills have been proposed in the Wisconsin Legislature:
AB 71 --- This assembly bill would restore both the DNR and Intervenor’s
Office to the status they had prior to the 1995-96 Budget.
AB 71 has been held up in the Joint Committee on Finance. No hearings,
votes or other actions have been scheduled .
SB 5 --- This senate bill would restore only the DNR Secretary’s independence. SB 5 has been passed by the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee, and it could be considered for a full legislative vote in the fall session.
SB 8 --- This senate bill would restore only the Intervenor’s Office. SB 8 is in the Senate Agriculture and Environment Committee. It had been included as part of the Democratic version of the state budget, but was eliminated before the Budget passed. The Senate Committee will now consider passing it as separate legislation..
1. Write to your Senator and Assembly Representative and tell them what you think. (If you don’t know who your elected representatives are, call the Legislative Hotline 1-800-362-9472 on weekdays.)
State Rep. (Last Name, A thru L)
P.O. Box 8952
Madison, WI 53708
State Rep. (Last Name, Mc thru Z)
P.O. Box 8953
Madison, WI 53708
State Senator
P.O. Box 7882
Madison, WI 53707
Write a “Letter to the Editor” of your local newspaper expressing your views (Look up their address in the Yellow Pages under “Newspapers.”)
The Mining issue promises to heat up this Fall, as the Wisconsin Legislature
debates AB 70, the Sulfide Mining Moratorium Bill. It passed the Senate
by a vote of 29 to 3 last Spring after it was weakened at the last minute
from it’s original version.
There are plans to amend the bill again in the Assembly to strengthen
it before passing it back to the Senate for joint action.
The intent is to prevent any metallic sulfide mines in Wisconsin until
there is proof that such a mine has operated safely for 10 years and been
reclaimed for at least 10 years without causing environmental damage.
This seems a reasonable compromise if you consider that the technologies
and pollution prevention designs must work for hundreds of years.
AB 70 is being held up in the Assembly Environmental Committee, chaired
by Republican Representative Marc Duff. He has scheduled a hearing in Milwaukee,
and there is speculation that he chose this time and place to allow for
two shifts of the Harnischfeger Manufacturing Company to have their workers
attend and register against the bill. (The company makes mining equipment,
and is located very near the fairgrounds.)
There will be a moratorium support rally at 12:00 and attendees are
asked to wear blaze orange.
This is one of the most important mining events of the year and may
carry a lot of influence over the fate of this legislation.
Open spaces, wetlands, hunting access, fishing streams, and farmlands are ALL threatened!
Wisconsin’s new Department of Commerce (DOC) wants to open huge areas
of our beautiful state to new development!
The DOC has proposed new rules to eliminate most of the current limits
on siting private wastewater treatment systems. The change opens some 8.8
million acres in Wisconsin --- nearly 25% of Wisconsin’s land! --- to development
for the first time.
These are lands with high water tables, wetlands, thin soil, and vulnerable
water supplies --- where soil tests show that the land “doesn’t perc” enough
to allow proper filtration of wastewater before coming in contact with
underground drinking water supplies or lakes and streams.
Threatened lands include many currently unfragmented rural lands which
would be ripe for scattered subdivisions and rapidly multiplying vacation
homes.
This development would fragment valuable farm and forestry lands, and
cut off access to handy hunting grounds and fishing sites. It is also likely
to destroy water quality in many streams and underground water supplies
due to construction erosion, household chemical run-off, and loss of permeable
surfaces for groundwater recharge.
The proposed rules do not improve groundwater protection. They allow
a wide variety of new alternative private septic systems to be used without
having been tested in Wisconsin’s field conditions. The rules also set
out new groundwater standards without any enforcement system in place.
The rules would shift the burden of proof for failing systems to local
governments, thus making enforcement even more difficult, and costing local
property taxpayers.
The rule would exempt new systems from meeting water quality standards
for nitrates, chlorides and total dissolved solids, threatening the health
of any nearby water users. Unfortunately, these are the chemicals most
likely to cause water problems from human and household sewage.
Nitrates are serious toxins if found in drinking water --- especially
dangerous to unborn children. Nitrates cause “blue baby” syndrome, where
unborn children or newborns are oxygen-starved, brain-damaged, and sometimes
die.
It makes no sense to exempt this wastewater from health standards.
Further, the rule would allow private septic systems to discharge their
wastes onto the land or to “confined” surface water bodies.
These are land-use and water quality decisions at their worst!
The areas most at risk from this proposal include some of Wisconsin’s
most treasured: Door County, the Driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin,
and the wetland-rich area of northern Wisconsin. Opening these vast areas
to development will be a n urban sprawl nightmare.
The economic impacts are also substantial. By allowing sprawled growth
patterns, local governments (and taxpayers) will be bankrupted trying to
extend city services over wide areas. (Fire, police, schools, medical,electrical,
water, etc.) Highway congestion, construction and maintenance costs will
increase, as more people drive farther for work, school, shopping, recreation,and
daily needs.
Let’s stop this now!
Last summer, Clean Water Action Council joined with local Neenah citizens John and Ann Gillen, William Dunwiddie, and a local group called Friends of Our Neenah Parks in a legal challenge of a city permit to allow construction of a huge private sludge incinerator on top of Public Trust Land on the edge of Little Lake Butte des Morts, in downtown Neenah.
The land was created by filling into the lake, starting in the 1950’s,
after a lakebed grant was issued by the Wisconsin Legislature with the
understanding that the new land would only be used for public purposes
and a public park forever into the future.
This is an important legal definition under Wisconsin’s Public Trust
Doctrine, which holds all lake and stream beds in public ownership forever.
It is critically important for our government to respect and abide by this
doctrine, to protect the future of Wisconsin’s water resources. The Minergy
Incinerator sets a terrible precedent.
Unfortunately, the DNR, under Governor Thompson’s control, signed a
stipulation and agreement with the company and city allowing this improper
use of public trust land --- before the public was even aware of the effort.
In the past, citizens have relied on DNR to be a staunch supporter
of the Public Trust Doctrine, so this marks a major negative shift in policy
for the agency. (... just one of many under Gov. Thompson.)
Clean Water Action Council is also concerned that the incinerator will be a major new source of toxic air pollution (without a scrubber) in the already polluted Fox River Valley, and that the filled area of the Lake (the building site for the incinerator) contains hazardous waste levels of PCBs in contact with groundwater supplies, and these toxic chemicals needed to be cleaned up, not simply built on.
Supreme Court Will Take Our Case!
Last summer the local judge refused to hear our case, claiming we should
have challenged DNR and not the City. We were never allowed
to present our arguments. When our attorney, William O’Conner, appealed
to the next higher court, they decided the issues raised in the case represent
significant issues of statewide concern and sent it to the Supreme Court
without making a decision.
Now, we’ve just been notified that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has
agreed to take the case, an exciting but nervewracking development. It
may be many more months before they reach a final decision.
Can Private Citizens Defend Public Rights?
One of the big legal questions, and one of the most disturbing, is whether
any of us has the legal “standing” or right to argue on behalf of the general
public’s rights.
Private citizens may not be allowed to defend the Public Trust Doctrine.
We might only be allowed to challenge actions where we can prove we are
personally injured, a more difficult test.
This was a key issue when Gov. Thompson and Republicans in the
state legislature, in a straight party-line vote, destroyed the Wisconsin
Public Intervenor’s Office two years ago.
For 27 years, the Intervenors had been charged with protecting public
rights in Wisconsin natural resources, and had been champions of the Public
Trust Doctrine on many occasions, but now they are gone.
The Wisconsin Dept. of Justice (DOJ) also has legal standing to protect
public rights, but seldom does, because they have a conflict of interest
--- the DOJ is charged with defending the DNR’s decisions, and in this
case DNR violated the Public Trust Doctrine. So who’s protecting our public
rights?
Phony Intervenor Kept Out of Case
When the Republican’s destroyed the Intervenor’s Office they created
a phony Intervenor Office in the DNR. The attorney is a sincere and well-meaning
person, but she has no power or support for true Intervenor legal actions.
Recently, she requested permission to file a “Friend of the Court”
brief in support of our legal effort, to help shore-up our legal rights,
but the appointed Board which controls her work turned her down. She argued
that “Friend of the Court” briefs are only advisory or informative documents,
and would not make her a formal party to the suit, but her Board felt it
was the kind of “legal action” that Republicans abolished.
The five Board members are Thom Ciske of Menasha, John Rose of Green Bay, Don Mills of Madison, Louis Andrew of Fond du Lac, and State Assembly member Tom Hebl of Sun Prairie.
State Gives $265,000 to Minergy
To add insult to injury, the construction has proceeded despite our
unresolved legal efforts.
And now, the Wisconsin Recycling Market Development Board (also under
Republican control) has awarded a $250,000 grant to Minergy Corporation,
to assist with the construction and operation of the 1,000 ton per
day paper sludge incinerator. DNR is also giving $15,000 to help
Minergy market the final bottom slag as a construction aggregate. The state
funding will help purchase the plant’s boiler system, where the sludge
will be burned.
This is disturbing for obvious environmental reasons , but the taxpayer
issues are just as alarming.
1. The company doesn’t need this taxpayer handout. Four major paper companies and the largest utility in Wisconsin (WEPCO) are invested in this project. They can afford the costs. It’s ironic that Wisconsin Republicans are ending welfare for children, while continuing Corporate Welfare.
2. It’s outrageous to define a sludge incinerator as a “recycling” operation. We have supported market development for recyclables, but this is not what taxpayers consider recycling. This is a misuse of public funds.
This year’s Pedal, Paddle, Plod Triathlon was a great success, with
100 different racers participating in (mostly) beautiful weather at Green
Isle Park. This is a great way to call attention to the recreational
and scenic value of the East River, and the need to support non-point pollution
clean-up efforts through the Priority Watershed program. We provided background
information at the race on how area residents can help protect the river’s
water quality.
We want to extend our thanks for the hard work of many volunteers ---
Steve, Kate, Leslie & Becca Abitz, Skip Conrad, Millie & Bob Schmitz,
Karen Early, Katy Johnstone, Ann & Jerry Miller, Becky & Mike Katers,
Laura Manthe, Willie Harris, Bill Hurrle, Curt Andersen, Matt Greget, Angela
Grant, Brian Turk, John Hermanson,Tom & Barbara Sydow, Sandy Kallunki,
Terry Davison, Ken & Sako Duellman, Charlie Frisk, Tom Dobesh, Dorothy
Summers, Nancy Asplund, Deb Stumpf, and Mark Ernst.
Special thanks go to Mike Gerke, our Race Official, to the Town of
Allouez for their tolerance and beautiful facilities at the Park, and to
Jim Rivett, who once again provided an exciting new design for this year’s
T-shirt.
(We had a mishap this year, as one of the bikers collided full-speed
with the rear window of a parked car. After a check-up at St. Vincent Hospital,
he rejoined us at our Booyah Lunch, stitches and all. We are very grateful
he wasn’t more seriously injured.)
We want to thank our sponsors for their generous support of the Triathlon
--- KI provided the bulk of funding, followed by substantial support
from our printer, Q-Print, and Life Tools Adventure Outfitters, and lots
of bagels from Lox, Stock & Bagels. Our other important sponsors include
The Country Woodworker, Bay Area Garment Specialities, In Competition Activesports,
Los Banditos Restaurants, F& M Bank, Moski Corporation, EarthHeart
Deli, Sentry Foods, and Bayport Chiropractic.
Door-to-Door Organizing Update
Our crew of organizers is doing a fabulous job --- distributing
Clean Water Action Council information door-to-door throughout Northeast
Wisconsin. Our current focus is to present facts about the need to clean
up the Fox River and Green Bay, and about the many health risks of PCB
chemical contamination.
As a result of this valuable work, we’ve added more than 1,300 members
to our group, and have reached many thousands more with important information.
We’re very excited about the positive impacts this educational effort will
have.
Many thanks to Jack Young, our Organizing Director, for his training
and leadership!
A remarkable, fast-paced show is about to be aired on Public Television, called “Affluenza,” which gets to the heart of many of our environmental threats.
“Affluenza” is defined as:
1. An epidemic of stress, over work, shopping and debt caused by the dogged pursuit of the American Dream.
2. The bloated, sluggish and unfulfilled feeling that results from one’s efforts to keep up with the Joneses.
3. An unsustainable addiction to economic growth.
4. A film that could change your life.
Affluenza will be aired on PBS, on October 31, at 9:00 p.m. Please watch it with your family! You won’t regret it.
Climate and global environmental change are debated hotly in national
and international policy setting.
Increasing population and resource consumption are altering our world
--- and not for the best.
Informing the public of scientific findings and encouraging the examination
of individual choices are necessary to promote global sustainability and
stewardship.
To meet this need, several agencies are cooperating to provide training
workshops and background materials for Wisconsin educators. (UW-Sea Grant
Institute, UW Center System, Wisconsin DNR, Wis. Center for Environmental
Education at UW-Stevens Point, the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board
(created by the Legislature), and NASA.
Instruction is through lectures, discussions, educational simulations,
and active demonstrations on these topics:
- Greenhouse gases and changes in the global climate
- Ozone depletion and related increases in ultra-violet radiation
- Degradation and depletion of essential resources
- Declining biodiversity and natural ecosystem stability
- Human health and population dynamics
The Global Environmental Change Education Workshop for Secondary and Post-secondary Educators will be:
November 11-13
Tuesday thru Wednesday
UW-Fox Valley
Menasha
Registration costs only $25, which includes more than $250 worth in reference and teaching materials.
For more info, or to register, call 608-262-0644, fax 608-263-2063 or
e-mail: ahmiller@seagrant.wisc.edu
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