1 • January 2010 Santa Lucian - Sierra Club the unblinking gaze of the great-horned owl€from...

Santa Lucian • January 20101

The official newsletter of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club • San Luis Obispo County, California

Protecting and

Preserving the

Central Coast

SantaLucian

IIIII n s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d en s i d eWhat Ag policy? 2

Gouged: How to stop appeals 3

Smart growth’s I.Q. slips 4

Sign up to save our parks! 5

Sarah’s farewell 8

Classifieds 10

Outings 12

Please recycle

This newsletter printed on100% post-consumer recycled paper with

soy-based inks

January 2010Volume 47 No. 1

Santa LucianSanta Lucia Chapter of the Sierra Club

P. O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 84

SAN LUIS OBISPOCA 93401

continued on page 6

DON’T MISS

January 16:Sharing the Dream

Laguna Middle School

- see page 11

January 25:Environmentalists

Rendezvous

Steynberg Gallery

- see page 2

Diablo and DesperationPG&E’s move to relicense the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant 15 years ahead of schedule isa case of spend first, study later

The Year in Review

Don’t panic! The year got off to a great start with the break-up of the developer-fueled Ovitt/Lenthall/Achadjian power trio on the County Board of Supervisors.

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By the Alliance for NuclearResponsibility, www.a4nr.org

When the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.held a surprise pre-Thanksgivingpress conference announcing that ithad filed to renew its license tooperate the Diablo Canyon NuclearPower Plant for another twenty years– a renewal of a license that is stillfifteen years away from expiration —it was clear that the folks in the exec-utive suites of PG&E are sufferingfrom a severe case of prematureapplication. Just days before Thanksgiving,PG&E sent a press release to themedia that they were going “to makea major announcement regardingCalifornia’s energy future.” Any hope

that their vision ofCalifornia’s energyfuture would involve,say, a wind farm at theDiablo Canyon nuclearsite were soon dashed.In an attempted full-court press, PG&Etrotted out local schoolofficials, the tax asses-sor, and Greenpeaceturncoat Patrick Mooreto trumpet their beliefthat adding twentymore years to DiabloCanyon’s lifespan would be a boon forcounty coffers. The Alliance forNuclear Responsibility was tipped offto the press conference and spoiledPG&E’s fun by making sure that the

media knew the utility’s action flew inthe face of the interests of consumers,state regulatory agencies and the

JANUARYThe Sierra Club submitted commentson the Draft Environmental ImpactReport for the Los Osos WastewaterProject calling for the following:ltertiary— not merely secondary —treatment of effluent,l increased water conservation,labandonment of water-wastingsprayfields for disposal of treatedeffluent outside the groundwaterbasinlan “ag exchange” program for thateffluent that would reduce pumpingof the stressed lower aquiferla pressurized effluent collectionsystem and ponding to reduce sludgeproductionlmoving the treatment plant from itsproposed Tonini Ranch site to thesmaller Giacomazzi site, over thebasin. (See August entry.)

The Sierra Club joined with NorthCounty residents to successfully

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Change of Address?

Mail changes to:

Sierra Club National Headquarters

85 Second Street, 2nd Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105-3441

or e-mail:

[email protected]

Visit us onthe Web!

w w ww w ww w ww w ww w w. s a n t a l u c i a .. s a n t a l u c i a .. s a n t a l u c i a .. s a n t a l u c i a .. s a n t a l u c i a .s i e r r a c l u b . o r gs i e r r a c l u b . o r gs i e r r a c l u b . o r gs i e r r a c l u b . o r gs i e r r a c l u b . o r g

Outings, events, and more!

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Santa Lucian

EDITOR

Karen MerriamMelody DeMerittJack McCurdyEDITORIAL BOARD

The Santa Lucian is published 10 times ayear. Articles, environmental informationand letters to the editor are welcome. Thedeadline for each issue is the 11th of theprior month.

send to:

Editor, Santa Lucianc/o Santa Lucia Chapter, Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406.

[email protected]

Santa Lucia Chapter

2009 Executive CommitteeMelody DeMeritt ACTING CHAIR

Cal French MEMBERDawn Ortiz-Legg MEMBERSteven Marx TREASURER

Linda Seeley

MEMBER

Cal French COUNCIL OF CLUB LEADERS

Committee ChairsPolitical Chuck TribbeyConservation Sue Harvey [email protected] Cal FrenchLitigation Andy Greensfelder

Nuclear Power Task Force Rochelle Becker

Other Leaders

Open Space Gary Felsman 805-473-3694Calendar Sales Bonnie Walters 805-543-7051Chapter History John Ashbaugh 805-541-6430

Activities

Outings Joe Morris [email protected]/Kayak open

Webmaster Monica Tarzier [email protected]

Chapter Director Andrew [email protected]

[email protected]

Andrew [email protected]

[email protected]

Printed by University Graphic Systems

Office hours Monday-Friday,11 a.m.- 5 p.m., 547-B MarshStreet, San Luis Obispo

The Executive Committee meetsthe third Friday of every month at12:00 p.m. at the chapter office,located at 547-B Marsh St., SanLuis Obispo. All members arewelcome to attend.

Coordinator Kim Ramos, Admin & Development [email protected]

It’s Getting Ridiculous

EnEnEnEnEnvirvirvirvirvironmentalists Ronmentalists Ronmentalists Ronmentalists Ronmentalists Rendeendeendeendeendezvzvzvzvzvousousousousous

continued on page 10

General Information

Santa Lucia ChapterP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

Supervisors are watching ag policy drift away

Two articles from the Santa YnezValley News were reprinted in thisspace in our last two issues (“Are We‘Protecting Agriculture?’,” Oct., Nov./Dec), providing a helpful viewpointfrom south of SLO County on the veryfamiliar problems that Santa BarbaraCounty has been experiencing byallowing commercial events onagriculturally zoned land, and theinevitable end point of this laissez-faire policy: Ag land turning into defacto commercial zoning, acceleratingthe loss of active agriculture. At the end of the second install-ment, we learned that Santa Barbara’sBoard of Supervisors had finallyacknowledged the problem andmoved decisively to head it off. Would that we could say the same. On October 6, the San Luis ObispoCounty Board of Supervisors inter-preted the County’s Temporary EventsOrdinance on agricultural lands.Overturning their Planning Com-mission’s interpretation on everycount, they ruled that the PlanningDepartment, not the AgriculturalCommissioner, has final say onwhether a site has enough agricul-tural use to qualify for an eventpermit, as required by County policy;that it’s okay to convert barns andother ag structures to supportcommercial events so long as thefootprint of the building does notincrease (and disregarding the factthat many of these structures neverreceived a building permit because Agstructures are “exempt”); and that asite can be graded for parking lots,roads, landscaping, etc., even thoughthe ordinance specifically prohibitsalteration of the site through grading.And they decided that the require-ment to be engaged in productionagriculture on site could be waived ona case-by-case basis, depending onwhether or not Ag production is“feasible.” The only Planning Com-mission recommendation theysupported was that temporary eventsshould be just that—temporary. Butthe definition of “temporary” was leftup to staff. The impacts of that decision in thereal world quickly made themselvesfelt. On October 30, a County Plan-ning Department hearing was held ona request for a Minor Use Permit fortemporary events for a site onHighway 46 West at Dover CanyonRoad. The applicant wanted to hold

15 commercial events per year, withup to 250 attendees. With only threeacres of grape vines and no winery,the applicants did not meet theminimum requirement to have atleast five acres of active agriculturaluse to qualify for a temporary eventpermit. Nor did they qualify for eventsunder the Winery Ordinance –allowing six events per year, with upto 80 people – because they don’thave a winery. The events requestedwere more than twice the levelallowed under the Winery Ordinance. The neighbors objected, the localadvisory council objected, and theproperty is subject to a deed restric-tion that prohibits using a well forcommercial purposes in this water-stressed area. Undeterred, staff forged ahead andapproved a permit. “Staff is not boundby the advisory council’s actions,” saidstaff planner Karen Nall. Also: “TheBoard in the October 6 meetingindicated a primary ag use is not arequirement to have temporaryevents on the site.” But that’s not what the Board saidon October 6. They said the primaryag use requirement can be waived if itis not feasible to have five acres of thesite in agriculture. Such use is morethan feasible on the 40-acre site inquestion, as evidenced by the fact thatPhase II of the permit includes awinery and tasting room. Thus, noexemption from the “5 acres of ag”requirement applies. Lacking any specific direction fromthe Board, the hearing officer ignoredthe findings of the County Agricul-tural Commissioner’s Office thatevents cannot be permitted if agricul-ture is not the primary use of the site,that events must be secondary andincidental to that agricultural use,and commercial events have nothingto do with agriculture. He granted afive-year permit and threw in a five-year renewal. “The direction we got from theBoard is that temporary events needto have a time limit placed on them,”explained Nall, “so this would have aten-year time limit.” That’s a ten-yearterm for a temporary event. Ten yearsof weddings, concerts and othercommercial events is now defined as atemporary use of the site. In response to the vigorous protests

Bi-Monthly General Meeting

7 p.m.,Tuesday, January 26 Steynberg Gallery, SLO What are the major environmental groups in SLO Countyup to? Here’s a unique opportunity to meet seven keyplayers, all in one place. Theroundtable confab will feature stafffrom the Alliance for Nuclear Respon-sibility, Audubon Society, ECOSLO,Morro Bay National Estuary Program,SLO Land Conservancy, Sierra Club,under the unblinking gaze of the great-horned owl from Pacific WildlifeCare. Each will discuss their premierprojects and plans for 2010. Q&Afollows. Free. For more info, call Joe,772-1875.


continued on page 8

The worst vote of 2009 from the County Board of Supervisors:Sticking it to the public on land use sppeals

On November 24, the Board of Supervisors voted to hike the fee for appealing aCounty land use permit decision by more than $200. It will now cost you $850to appeal to the county Planning Commission or the Supervisors when plannersmake a bad call on a project. The vote placed the public process out of reach of a large segment of thepublic. The Supervisors have built inequity into the system, seemingly unableto grasp their responsibility to protect the interests of the public. An increase of$200 for appeals will do next to nothing in terms of replenishing the GeneralFund, but imposes a significant burden on the public, on top of a fee that isalready beyond the reach of many. The increase is not likely to net the county more than $2,000 a year, but itwill cut way down on appeals — the obvious goal of County Planning staff, whohad originally proposed an even bigger hike. This will serve to assure developers(who, of course, can continue to afford to appeal any decision they don’t like) ofthe smoothest path to building whatever they want, wherever they want. The appeals process has been the means by which the general public has beenable to bring information to bear that has stopped wildlife habitat from beingpaved over, traffic from mounting to intolerable levels, water from disappear-ing, and air and water quality from deteriorating. The board has implementedan increase in bureaucratic efficiency at the cost of a decrease in democracy. There were bigger issues before the Board in 2009, and decisions made thatmay have more significant effects (see “It’s Getting Ridiculous,” at left), but novote was more jaw-droppingly pointless. There was no pressure on the Boardfrom any sector or interest group to do what they did. Not a single member ofthe public spoke in favor of increasing the land use appeal fee; all spoke againstit. In discussing the issue immediately before they voted to increase the fee, themajority of the Supervisors clearly were themselves in favor of leaving the feewhere it was, with no increase. Then, inexplicably, they voted the other way. It is saddening to note that is was Supervisor Bruce Gibson who led thecharge for the fee increase. For good measure, Gibson also set the County on acourse to sponsor legislation to amend the California Coastal Act so that theCounty may charge the public to file an appeal on Coastal Zone land usedecisions. Such appeals may be filed free of charge by any California resident, aright that was written into the Coastal Act and voted into law by the people ofCalifornia to ensure the greatest access for the public to that public process. In proposing to overturn a key measure of state law, the County basicallychose to start a war in Sacramento, setting off alarm bells statewide -- adoomed effort that will cost tens of thousands of dollars in lobbying fees. That forthcoming plunder of the general fund would be the ultimate irony ofthe way the Board concluded it deliberations on the issue of raising fees tooffset costs to the general fund.

Gouged

The Sierra Club has a strong policyagainst genetically modified organ-isms released into the environment asgenetically engineered food, apractice that constitutes an ongoingscience experiment that has draftedall consumers and ecosystems asguinea pigs. The rush to permit thesale of genetically modified foodswithout the usual scientific testingrequirements has been driven by thecorporate bottom line of Monsanto.That bottom line: Create an ever-growing market for the company’sRoundup herbicide and take owner-ship of the world’s seed stock. On November 11, the North CountyFarmersMarket Board,sponsor of theTempletonFarmersMarket, votedunanimously torequire thelabeling ofgeneticallyengineeredproduce.NCFMA BoardPresident MikeBroadhurst toldthe Sierra Club,“Our Boarddiscussed theissue at length and concluded thatensuring our customers’ choice wasthe right policy for NCFMA. There-fore, at future markets you will findthat any produce resulting from GMOcrops will be so labeled.” Thanks to the 20 people who sente-mails to the board prior to thatmeeting, and to the people who spokeat the meeting, including Karen Swiftof Bear Valley Ranch. The Santa Lucia Chapter workedwith the late Dr. John DiVincenzo,owner of the Avila Valley Barn, tobring about the first known instanceof the labeling of a geneticallyengineered consumer product in theU.S. when the Avila Valley Barn finallylabeled Monsanto’s Bt corn as “Ourown G.E. corn” in 2007. Since hisdeath last fall, it is not known if Dr.DiVincenzo’s labeling policy willcontinue. We encourage readers tocall the manager of the Avila ValleyBarn at 595-2816 to ask what theBarn’s policy regarding geneticallyengineered Bt corn will be. We can all thank the North County

GMO Update

Farmers MarketAssociation for theirdecision on labeling. However, as Monsanto’sworld-beating GMO businessplan is no friend to consumers orsmall farmers -- and if fully realizedwould spell the demise of organicfarming -- genetically engineeredproduce should be excluded from allFarmers Markets in the county. OtherFarmers Markets, such as the NorthCoast Growers Association ofHumboldt County, quite logicallytake an anti-genetic engineeringstand. Ours should, too. Tell NCFMAmanager Sandra Dimond that

Monsanto and Farmers Markets don’tmix. Call her at 748-1109, or e-mailher at [email protected]. Youcan also get this message to PeterJankay, Market Administrator for theSouth County Farmers MarketAssociation, at 544-9570. Cal Poly grew Monsanto’s Roundup-Ready silage corn this year. We don’tknow if Cal Poly is continuing togrow Monsanto’s Roundup-Readyalfalfa or if they grew Bt sweet corn.The Cal Poly students at FarmersMarkets say they are not selling Btcorn. Questions regarding Cal Poly’sMonsanto crops should be directed toDr. Jeff Wong at 756-2428. Hayashi and Sons continued togrow Bt corn in Arroyo Grande andsell it at Farmers Markets in ArroyoGrande, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispoand Templeton. Over the summer,thanks to stalwart volunteers, wewere able to leaflet on the Bt cornissue at all of those markets. For more information call JesseArnold at 927-3096 or go towww.slogefree.org.

North County Farmers Market labels geneticallymodified produce

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Did you know that the Sierra Cluboffers 350 trips to amazing outdoordestinations annually? Each year, the Sierra Club’s Outingsprogram leads nearly 4,000 outdoorenthusiasts on exciting, award-winning excursions in North Americaand beyond. With more than 100years of experience, we’re the oldestoutfitter specializing in environmen-tal travel. Our dedicated volunteerleaders are passionate about thespectacular places they visit and aboutsharing these special locations withyou. Vacations range from soft adven-

Bill Denneen presented the 69th and70th awards of the Bill DenneenEnvironmental Awards Trust onDecember 5. Recipients DavidWeisman (right) of the Alliance forNuclear Responsibility and AndrewChristie of the Sierra Club’s SantaLucia Chapter received a cash award, aframed limited-edition David Stroupphotograph of the Oceano Dunes, andthe environmental book of theirchoice. The presentation took place at theannual holiday Peace Potato Partyheld at the Grover Beach home oflongtime anti-nuclear activist Roch-elle Becker. Per Elder Bill’s preferredmodus operandi, the surprised

recipients didn’t know it was coming. The Bill Denneen EnvironmentalAward Trust began in the NipomoChamber of Commerce in 1996. Thefirst recipient, Steve Aslandis ofRalcco Recycling of Nipomo, receivedstate and national recognition for his30,000 tons of recycling that year. “The person most responsible formy Trust is Virginia Perry Souza,”says Bill, “who took my originalinvestment and continues it eachyear, and will even after I die. She wasin my Ecology Class at Hancock longago and started the Natural HistoryMuseum in Santa Maria next to the

Your Next Trip

continued on page 8Surprise! David Weisman (right) gets thenod from Elder Bill.

Bill Denneen EnvironmentalAward Winnersby Tony Rango, Director

National Outings Program

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By Eric Greening

The Doughnut with Too Many HolesShow up on Jan. 12 to ask the supervisors not to make smart growth stupid

The Board of Supervisors has em-barked on a countywide General PlanUpdate process that threatens tomake a mockery of its adoptedStrategic Growth Policies. Until now, updates of the Land Useand Circulation Elements have beendone by official planning area. Thereare 19 of these, such as Estero,Adelaida, and Salinas River. Theupdate process has encouragedmaximum participation by the peopleof that locality, leading to theresultant plan incorporating as much

of the community’s vision as would beconsistent with the rest of the GeneralPlan. Now, the 19 planning areas havebeen collapsed into five, and theBoard has authorized the rural partsof all five to be updated at once,creating a document that will super-sede all existing area plans, at least asthey apply to rural portions of theareas. Anything inside an urban orvillage reserve line is to be left as ahole in the multi-holed doughnut,awaiting future update of the relevantcommunity plans. (One communityplan update – Shandon’s — is already

in progress. Appar-ently, the rest are inlimbo until the LandUse and CirculationElement for therural areas iscompleted.) While PlanningStaff claims thishelps enact recom-mendations of theWater ResourcesAdvisory Committee(WRAC) in redraw-ing area planboundaries to reflectwatersheds, there

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are two important differences fromthe WRAC recommendation: WRAChad envisioned a considerably greaternumber of planning areas, and hadnot envisioned separating communi-ties from their hinterlands. Water-sheds do not have doughnut holes. If watershed planning is awkwardaround these holes, circulation

planning is even more so, as mosttrips will be to and from areas notscrutinized. To make the process even moreawkward, areas for future growth areto be identified, presumably adjacentto existing communities…but how do

The consequence is likely tobe a surge of applications forleapfrog development in themidst of our rural and agricul-tural lands, with the attendantimpacts of habitat and wildlifecorridor fragmentation, addedtraffic on rural roads, and in-creasing stress on farmers andranchers who want to stay inagriculture.


A note from Karen Merriam, Chapter Chair I’m writing this note to you from a little cabin in the rainforest on the Puna coast, Big Island,Hawaii. At night tree frogs sing me to sleep. Each morning I greet my two gecko families, onegreen, one tan, as they climb about my walls and screens (there are no windows here) praisingthem for their handiwork of keeping the insect population in balance. In the distance I hear theocean break against the lava laden cliffs, and later I will watch the surfer turtles troll the foam fortreasures. I’ve come to this place for refreshment: for renewal of physical strength, emotional resilience, andintellectual vigor. While two weeks is not enough time to accomplish all this, it is time enough tore-open my senses, my thoughts and my heart to the wisdom of the world around and within me.From that wisdom, new growth and direction will come. In December 2004, I agreed to serve the Santa Lucia Chapter and its Executive Committee asChair. What I have wanted most to accomplish as a leader of the Chapter is to set a positive,progressive course, providing expertise and intellectual rigor that can be a resource to others, andextending a hand of friendship to other organizations and individuals who share our basic goals ofconservation and sustainability. I am so proud of the work of our Chapter during these past five years. We have gained the respectof state and national Sierra Club leaders. We have formed coalitions of local organizations topromote smart energy solutions, and we have worked with local business and civic organizationsto promote our cities and county as leaders of a new, green economy. Our Chapter Director isrecognized as one of the most well-informed and talented writers and analysts of key environmen-tal issues that face all communities: land use, water,wastewater, energy, trade, transportation, andfood. Before I traveled here to Hawaii, I realized that my time of leadership is complete. I’ve given theChapter my best. My dear colleagues on the Executive Committee have been steadfast, generousand diligent. We work as a team, and count on each other for honesty and balance, humor andpoetry. But five years is long enough. I will be leaving the ExCom as of December 31st. In a few days I will leave this Hawaiian island paradise and return to SLO to celebrate the holidaysand begin a new year. I will bring with me the serenity of the rainforest stillness filled with lifeand a renewed appreciation for the wisdom of nature. These renewed perspectives will inform andhelp me to remain open to change; to resist fear; to seek the right course, not the expedient; tolisten deeply; to keep all my senses attuned. I welcome your companionship along this path.

With sincere good wishes,

The View from Here


Call for CandidatesIn February, Chapter members willvote for the candidates who will leadthe Santa Lucia chapter on itsExecutive Committee in 2010. We encourage our members to runfor the ExCom and become a part ofthe dynamic action of Sierra Clubleadership on energy, global warming,water and land use issues. The ExCom meets in February toappoint the chair, vice-chair, secretary

and treasurer, as well as program,conservation and outings chairs. We also appoint a delegate to theCouncil of Club Leaders, a liaison tothe national Sierra Club. Candidates are elected for a term ofthree years. Deadline for nominationsis January 12. Contact Cal French [email protected] or call theSierra Club Office at (805) 543-8717.

Park lovers are gathering signaturesfor a state initiative to provide stablelong-term funding for California’sendangered state parks. Your help isneeded now. How did California’s 278 state parks,once the best in the country, sink tobeing among the shabbiest? Call it death by a thousand budgetcuts. Our parks are falling apartbecause of persistent underfunding.The state still owns the lands—thespectacular vistas, historic sites, andbeaches—but roofs and sewagesystems leak, restrooms aren’t washedout regularly but trails are, andcampgrounds and visitor centers areshuttered. The repair backlog inCalifornia state parks tops $1 billion,and it’s growing. Twice in the past two years, thewhole state-park system was on theverge of being shut down. Only last-minute budget reprieves kept it open.But nearly 60 state parks are to havereduced hours or calendars because oflast year’s budget cuts, and morereductions are expected this year. That’s why park supporters areplacing a statewide initiative on theNovember 2010 ballot called theCalifornia State Parks and WildlifeConservation Trust Fund Act of 2010.It will protect state parks and con-serve wildlife by establishing a trustfund in the state treasury to be spent

only on state parks, wildlife andmarine conservation, and stateconservancies. It will only get on theballot if volunteers collect thethousands of signatures necessary. Funding will come from an $18surcharge on the registration fee forCalifornia vehicles, including motor-cycles and recreational vehicles butnot larger commercial vehicles,mobile homes, and permanenttrailers. Surcharged vehicles willreceive free admission to all stateparks. In comparison, park visitorscurrently pay up to $125 for anannual pass or $10 to 15 per day atmost parks. In exchange for this small feeincrease, California vehicles would beallowed free Day Use entry to ourState Parks and Wildlife Preserves.Since many Californians visit a StatePark or Beach more than once a year,this is a very fair exchange. The trust fund will be sufficient toadequately fund state parks, freeingthem from annual budget cuts andthreatened closures. Money from thegeneral fund currently spent on parkswill be available for other vital needs,including schools, health care, socialservices, and public safety.

WHAT YOU CAN DOFill out and send in the postcardincluded in this issue today!

For the ParksInitiative would secure funding for state parks -Help gather signatures now!

Montana de Oro

by Citizens for Planning Responsibly

Although the California SupremeCourt has decided not to review theAppellate decision upholding MeasureJ, the struggle to save the City of SanLuis Obispo’s 1994 vision regardingthe Dalidio property is far from over.The developers now have to decidewhether to annex into the City andfollow the rules, or to develop in theCounty, and follow only Measure J. If the developers decide to proceedin the City, they will be required todedicate one half of the land intoagricultural open space, just as thetwo other property owners in thatarea have already done. This willresult in preservation of a total of 90acres of agricultural open space and

What’s Next for theDalidio Shopping Mall?

Thank You On November 24, we sent a letter to many of our regular contributing mem-bers explaining the current financial straits of the Santa Lucia Chapter: * National Sierra Club is cutting funding to chapters by as much as 80%. * Grants once available through national Sierra Club and local foundations are not available in 2010.* Charitable donations are down at national and local levels. To cope with this dramatic loss of revenue, the Chapter’s Executive Committeehas voted to do the following:* Eliminate one half-time paid AmeriCorps member.* Cut staff time by 20%. Our Chapter Director may be less available to assist our members and work on essential projects.* Sublease up to 2/3 of our office space.* Decrease the yearly number of Santa Lucian newsletters printed.* Freeze all expenditures other than core functions. We are very happy to report that, at press time, we have received generousdonations from the following members:

Alexandra WydzgaBarbara WeymannBarbara WilsonBeverly DeWitt-MoylanBob and Laverne McDonnellC. and F.J. CollieCalvin and Letty FrenchCharles FrilotCheryl ZiehlCleve and Ann NashDavid HanningsDavid WeismanDenny and Kitty MynattDirk and Bonny WaltersDominic and Christine PerelloDonald SauerEliane GuillotElli and Gerhard RehkuglerEugene and Sally Kruger (in memory of Ann Ricards)F.J. NolanFrancis ReithFranklin FrankGary SteinGeorge and Gwenn TaylorHenry HammerIrv and Coralie McmillanJ.R. and E.A. LandrethJaime and Melinda AvilaJames and Jilda TateJames and Norma ColeJan and Clifford OjerholmJean WhiteJoan CarterJoan O’KeefeJohanna Rubba

Thank you, thank you! Your donations will help us weather the next fewmonths, but more is needed to ensure our continuing operation. Anyonereading this should consider doing whatever you can to support the SantaLucia Chapter so we may continue our important work this year. You can mail a check, contribute online at our website –

to Santa Lucia Chapter members!

John TurrillJoe MorrisKenneth WatteletKim RamosKurt KupperLeland and Valerie EndresLionel and Sally LernerLori SlaterLouise PeriniLuke and Mona LorgeMaria JuncoMark and Elana ShefrinMaureen KokkasMelody DeMerittP. and S. LemieuxPaul and Barbara MurphyPeter ReynoldsPhilip and Christina BaileyRalph BishopRandall JostRichard AlbertsRichard and Susan HarveyRichard KranzdorfRobb MossRobert and Jamie CarrRobert and Marilyn McclellanRobert and Penny BaronShields AbernathySteven and Jan MarxSteven and Myra DouglassSusan CalladoSusan PielTom WiltzenbachValerie BenzWalter SanvilleWatson GoochWendy McKeown

implement the City’s 1994 GeneralPlan. Optimistic that annexation is areasonable possibility, the City iscreating a Master Plan for an urbanfarm on these 90 acres. Otherprojects in this area, which havefollowed the rules and have dedicatedone half of the land to open space,have met little opposition and wereapproved quickly. The fastest, leastexpensive, and most efficient way toprovide automobile access, water,sewer, and police/fire protection forthe project would be to annex it intothe City. Annexing would be a goodbusiness decision. But, of course, developers, like all of


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Year in Reviewcontinued from page 1

demand the denial of a permit for asand and gravel mine before theCounty Planning Commission. Themine would have had unmitigatableenvironmental impacts on the SalinasRiver.

On January6, at thefirst meet-ing of thenewlyelectedCountySupervi-sors, wepresentedeach super-visor withhis own bound copyof our “Messages tothe New Board” asthey appeared inNew Times over theprevious fivemonths, offeringpolicy prescrip-tions on sustainablefood production, affordable housing,local political reform, energy use, andthe preservation of agricultural land.

Sierra Club’s California-NevadaRegional Conservation Committeevoted to endorse the “Carbon-Free,Nuclear-Free Statement of Prin-ciples.” The CFNF campaign has

created a blueprint for a clean energyfuture free of both coal and nuclearpower. The Cal Poly Chapter of theSierra Student Coalition and theAlliance for Nuclear Responsibilitygave local residents a preview of thatfuture when we brought CFNFfounder Dr. Arjun Makhijani of theInstitute for Energy and Environmen-tal Research to Cal Poly in October2008.

FEBRUARYOn February 6, the Strategic EnergyAlliance for Change, co-founded bythe Santa Lucia Chapter, presented aRenewable Energy Education Forumat the SLO Vets Hall, a review of localrenewable energy projects and energyefficiency opportunities on the centralcoast.

On February 19, we brought ourEnergy Town Hall series to MorroBay, updating attendees on currentstate energy legislation, the need todevelop a Climate Action Plan and theSierra Club’s work on local greenhouse gas emission inventories.

The team that put together theRESCO grant (Renwable-BasedEnergy Secure Communities) for SLOCounty got together with us to lay outtheir plans. Their proposal eventuallywon approval and $100,000 from theCalifornia Energy Commission – oneof 13 awards made statewide out of 54applications — and they are nowgathering data on the county’s solar,wind, biomass, landfill and energy

efficiency potential. They are nowconducting their inventory of ourcounty’s portfolio of resources,culminating in recommended pilotenergy projects.

MARCHAfter multipleSierra Clubpresentationsover the courseof two years, onMarch 24, theAtascadero CityCouncil voted tojoin ICLEI/LocalGovernmentsfor Sustainabil-ity, a primary

goal of the Sierra Club’sCool Cities campaign.

APRILThe Departmentof Fish and Gamerescinded its ideafor a black bearhunt in SLO afterletters from Los

Padres Forest Watch, theSanta Lucia Chapter,and many others pointedout they had no scien-tific basis for theirassertion of a bearsurplus.

On April 24, a committee exploringthe feasibility of establishing acounty-wide agricultural and openspace district along the lines of thesuccessful modelestablished bySonoma County,hosted a meetingattended by repre-sentatives ofranchers, farmers,the vineyard/wineryindustry, localgovernments, theAir PollutionControl District,parks commission-ers, business,development andlegal entities,

MAYOur Energy Town Hall series contin-ued in Atascadero on May 6,with Supervisor Jim Patterson andAtascadero Mayor Ellen Beraudassisting us in addressing the audi-ence.

On May 8, the California EnergyCommission ruled that proponents ofsolar power plants on the CarrizoPlain would not be allowed to keepsecret the results of a wildlife corridorstudy, citing extensive comments onbehalf of the need for full disclosurefiled by the Santa Lucia Chapter.

The Chapter’s annual awards banquetand fundraiser was held at the SLOBotanical Gardens on May 30. MichaelFitts of the Endangered HabitatsLeague and national Sierra ClubPresident Allison Chin keynoted with

speeches onland useactivism andorganizingas high-lights.StevenMarx, theChapterTreasurerand Execu-tive Com-mitteemember,

received the Chapter’s highest awardfor service to the Chapter and thecommunity.

The series of “energy summits” stagedby Republican Congressmen over thesummer in an effort to block theAmerican Clean Energy andSecurity Act came to SLO on May28, when Rep. Kevin McCarthy andthree of his Republican Housecolleagues tried to persuadeattendees that nuclear power and oildrilling should be part of our energyfuture. They were fully rebutted bySierra Club California Energy/Climate Committee member KenSmokoska in the June 16 edition of

The Tribune

County’s estimates of sea level risewere overly conservative, out of date,and represent global averages. Wefurnished current numbers from aCalifornia coastal-specific studyshowing likely sea level rise of nearlyfive feet by the end of the century. As aresult, the Planning Commission toldthe Public Works Department to sealpipes throughout the sewer’s collec-tion system in all areas less than fivefeet above sea level.

JUNEOur Energy Town Hall in GroverBeach, featuring Dave Erickson,Technical Director of the SonomaCounty Climate Action Plan, kicked offa week of SLO county meetings forErickson, sponsored by the SantaLucia chapter. His message: the best,fastest, cheapest way to get to a cleanpower economy is with local power –generating energy as close as possibleto where it’s used.

Confirming disturbing findings firstbrought to light by the Sierra Club,the SLO County Grand Jury issued itsreport “Staff Report on the Sale ofOceano Dunes Parcels: Error orDeception?” The grand jury investi-gated the circumstances in which theCounty Planning Department issued aseriously flawed staff report on theproposed sale of County land in theOceano Dunes to State Parks’ OHVDivision. The grand jury found strongevidence of County Planning staffmisconduct in the creative editing ofland use policies in an apparent effortto back up a finding of “no conflict”with the County’s General Plan. Thefinding would have helped the OHVDivision tighten its grip on its off-

Feb. SLO County’s RESCO team laying plans on our patio.

Apr. Exploring an agricultural and open space district.

environmental andconservationorganizations (TheNature Conservancy, Sierra Club,SLO Coastkeeper, SLO Land Conser-vancy, North County Watch) andResource Conservation Districts. Theformer general manager of theSonoma district presented theirfindings to the group, looking towarda future ballot measure campaign tofund such a district. The committeecontinued to meet throughout theyear, and has identified priority tasksand a timeline for completion.

(“Strengthen,Don’tWeaken,Energy Act”).

Sierra Clubbrought sealevel rise tothe attentionof the CountyPlanningCommissionas theycontinued todeliberate onthe Los OsosWastewaterProject. Wepointed outthat the


road playground. A $5-million landdeal would have quietly transpiredhad the Sierra Club not caught thecrucial policy information deletedfrom the staff report.

The California Energy Commissionfound that “photovoltaic solar arrayson rooftops and over parking lots maybe a viable alternative” to conven-tional power plants. The historicruling, known as “the Chula Vistadecision,” should weigh heavily in theproposed upgrade of the Morro BayPower Plant and possible furtherextension of its life, the proposals tobuild solar power plants in theCarrizo Plain, and many otherproposed utility-scale energy projectsstatewide.

JULYIn its ongoing deliberations on theLos Osos Wastewater Project, thePlanning Commission sensiblydecided to move the treatment plantfrom where the Public Works Dept.wanted to put it — a location thatwould have destroyed hundreds ofacres of prime ag land and disposed oftreated water outside of the basin – toa modestly sized, none-prime-aglocation inside the basin. Site-adjacent resident Barry Branin, sayingthat Los Osos Wastewater Projectmanager John Waddell called him and“asked me to alert as many people aspossible regarding the change inlocation that the Planning Commis-sion has made,” tried to whip upopposition in the local press. Manywere saddened to see Public Worksengaging in sewer obstructionismwhile publicly professing cooperationwith the Planning Commission on theproject.

In the wake of the County grand jury’sreport of skullduggery surroundingthe proposed sale of County land inOceanoDunes(see Juneentry), alocal off-roadactivisttried tokick upsome sandwithfeverishconspiracytheoriesthat he got into The Tribune, havingidentified two members of the 19-member grand jury as card-carryingmembers of the Sierra Club. Hismoment of media glory resulted in asmack-down by The Tribune’seditorial board for his “creepy,McCarthyesque” take on reality and

his belief that membership in theSierra Club renders a juror “unfit” toserve, constitutes “gross conflict,” and“taints” the grand jury’s reports(when those reports come to conclu-sions that make off-roaders unhappy).

On July 10, La Perla del Mar Chapel inShell Beach was packed to the raftersfor a Sierra Club/Surfrider sponsoredshowing of HD under-water footage ofmarine life shot by biolo-gist TerryLilley off the SLO coast -- making thebest argument for why we need toextend the Monterey Bay NationalMarine Sanctuary, which currentlyextends to Cambria, to include all thewaters of San Luis Obispo County.Making SLO part of the Sanctuarywill facilitate a proactive approach toocean protection, enhancing publicunderstanding of marine resources,helping fund scientific research, andallow local stakeholders to present aposition on oil and gas development,ocean dumping and marine mammalissues.

The County granted a lot line adjust-ment to Hearst Ranch at San SimeonPoint, the first stirrings of thecorporation moving to take advantageof the many promises for coastaldevelopment it wrote into the deal fora conservation easement in 2004. TheSierra Club and SLO LandWatchappealed the County’s permission toreconfigure the lots as inconsistentwith our Local Coastal Plan. At a July14 appeal hearing, the Board ofSupervisors dismissed our appeal on a5-0 vote. We appealed to the Califor-nia Coastal Commission, as did twoCoastal Commissioners who gave theCounty Supervisors a quick lesson inthe Coastal Act. The Commissionfound that our appeals raised substan-tial issues concerning the County’sapproval of the lot line adjustment. ACoastal Commission hearing ispending.

AUGUSTAfter four months ofanalysis and review andproductive publichearings, the CountyPlanning Commissiontold the Public WorksDept. that theirproposal for a Los OsosWastewater Projectcould notbe ap-proved as

submitted. The Com-mission re-made theproject to requiretertiary — not merelysecondary — treatmentof effluent, the abandon-ment of the County’sproposed water-wastingsprayfields for disposalof treated effluentoutside the groundwaterbasin, the addition of anag re-use program for

SLO Green Build, the San Luis BayChapter of Surfrider and the SantaLucia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Thisis the first guide to installinggraywater systems in the county.

The Sierra Club joined the over-whelming majority of speakers at ameeting on the proposed upgrade ofthe Morro Bay/Cayucos WastewaterTreatment Plant, urging the commu-nities to re-think as dictated by thesuddenly changed plans – the projectis now a tear-down and rebuild, notan upgrade, in a floodplain, eliminat-ing current sludge handling facilitiesand lacking any recycled watercomponent.

OCTOBEROctober 24 wasClimate ActionDay worldwide,and the Chap-ter helpedpromoteevents inCambria,Atascadero,SLO and AvilaBeach,coordinated by350.org tounderline thesafe thresholdfor carbon diox-ide in the atmos-phere: 350 parts per million. After the“most widespread day of politicalaction in the planet’s history” (CNN),ninety-two nations, all poor andvulnerable to the early effects ofclimate change, endorsed that 350target.

Santa Lucia Chapter Director AndrewChristie attended the NuclearRegulatory Commission’s westernU.S. hearing on proposed changesto the Environmental ImpactStudy for nuclear reactor licenserenewals, held in Pismo Beach.He pointed out that the NRC’sassessment of alternative energysources was pathetic. (“The EIS’sversion of wind and solar powerand renewable energy storagetechnology is cursory, severelyout of date or wholly lacking. It isof no use in an alternativesanalysis that should evaluate theviability of nuclear power plants over

a 20-year period that will be markedby increasing cost and scarcity ofnuclear fuel and increasing costs ofplant maintenance and repair,simultaneously with smart grid andrenewable energy storage technolo-gies coming on line as the price ofsolar and wind power continues todrop.”)

NOVEMBERLocal signature gatherers startsoliciting pedestrians for the anti-public power ballot initiativebankrolled by PG&E. They tout the

initiative as “inspiring more ethicalbusiness practices for selling power.”Those who read “The PG&E Plan:Trick the Voters and Make Them Cry”in the October Santa Lucian knewbetter than to sign.

The Appropriate Technology Cam-paign brought a seminar on graywatersystems to the Morro Bay Vets Hall,and on rainwater harvesting to PasoRobles City Hall.

Sierra Club filed an opposition brief inFriends of Oceano Dunes v. County ofSan Luis Obispo and Sierra Club v.California Dept. of Parks and Recre-ation, challenging arguments thatState Parks can declare that itspolicies at the Oceano Dunes State

Vehicular Recreation Area preemptCounty policies and state-mandatedLocal Coastal Plan provisions thatrestrict OHV activity on County landin the dunes. They dropped their“preemption” argument.

DECEMBERThe County Air Pollution ControlDistrict released its follow-up study

on the particulate air pollution, theworst in the county, afflicting theresidents of the Nipomo Mesa,confirming that the culprit is off-roadvehicle use at the Oceano Dunes StateVehicular Recreation Area. The SantaLucia Chapter pointed to the sameconclusion in 2003 in our videoEasing the Throttle: Issues in Man-agement of the Oceano Dunes SVRA,which presented David Chipping’stestimony on how vehicles break thesurface crust of the dunes, makingthe sand more easily airborne.

On December 13, four days before thePlanning Commission finalized itsupdate of the Conservation and OpenSpace Element, Chapter Chair KarenMerriam’s Tribune viewpoint (“A NewReality of Solar Power”) got out thelatest word on locally distributedenergy generation such as rooftopsolar: It’s far more capable of meetingthe state’s renewable energy goalsthan previously thought (and as it isstill characterized by its competitor,investor-owned utilities.)

The Chapter filed a protest with theBureau of Land Management over itsscientifically unsupportable grazingpolicies in the proposed ResourceManagement Plan for the CarrizoPlain National Monument.

Oct. Climate Action Day in Atascadero.that effluent in order toreduce pumping of thestressed aquifer, andmuch more water conservation – allthe things that concerned Los Ososresidents, the Sierra Club and othershad long been advocating must bepart of the project while the Countysteadfastly maintained that they couldnot be. Now they are. This is whatactivism is about. (See January entry.)

SEPTEMBERThe SLO Coalition of AppropriateTechnology published “San LuisObispo Guide to the Use of Gray-water,” a two-year effort by theAppropriate Technology Coalition –

Nov. Rainwater harvesting seminar at Paso City Hall.

8


ture, such as lodge-based family outings, to rugged athletic challenges, likewilderness backpacking. We also run special interest trips such as birding, artand writing, and women-only backpacking. For winter and early spring, we feature both warm weather destinations andsnow trips. Here are just a few to choose from:* Snow: ski, snowshoe, or dog mushin Alaska, Canada and the Lower 48* Backpack: trek through untouchedwilderness with a team of hardyexplorers* Lodge: enjoy the outdoors by dayand return each night to thecomforts of home* Service: mix work with play on a funand rewarding volunteer vacation* National Parks: see the best of ourspectacular national parks* International: visit exotic localesfrom Central America to the Far East If you’d like to learn about upcoming trips, or receive the inside scoopon the latest outdoor vacations, be sure to add your name to our list atwww.sierraclub.org/outings/national/. We promise not to bombard you withemails - just periodic roundups of the very best getaways, including bargainadventures, domestic excursions, and expeditions in far away lands. No matter what your passion, we’ve got a trip to satisfy youradventuring appetite. We hope to see you on an outdoor adventure soon!

Your Tripcontinued from page 3

70. Andrew Christie69. David Weisman68. Hilda Zacarias67. Terry Lilly & Sue Sloan66. Russ Hodin65. Dave Georgi64. Karen Merriam63. Betty Faas62. Jane Swanson61. David Gonzalez60. Mariah Gonzalez59. Sasha Stackhouse58. Laura MacCarley57. Dennis Apel56. Sarah Christie55. Mark DiMaggio54. David Broadwater53. James Murr52. Silvia Toscano51. Ian Wells50. Brianna Martin49. Charles Wells48. Gwen Tindula47. Clark Campagna46. Katherine Greig45. Monica Cruz44. Jan Marx43. Roger Wightman42. Donna Gilbert41. Lisa, East Fork Farm, OR40. Jack Beigle39. Peter Douglas38. Peg Pinard37. Jim Patterson36. Richard Kranzdorf

35. Bill Robinson34. Pam Heatherington33. Cindy Cleveland32. Susie Aguilar31. Eric Greening30. Rochelle Becker29. Larry Veheilig28. Marla Morrissey27. Patty Herrera26. Mary Caldwell25. Save the Mesa24. Dirk & Bonnie Walters23. Amy Shore22. Raye Fleming21. David Chipping20. Bud Laurent19. Bob Banner18. Tim Gallager17. Jim Blakley16. Vie Obern15. Jean Barry Schuyler14. Jim & Sue Higman13. Pat Veesart12. Anne Stubbs11. Jim Merkel10. Herb Kandel9. Charlie & Cindy Gulyash8. Klaus Schumann7. Ernie Simpson6. David Blakely5. Kathy Diperi4. Gary Felsman3. Geof Land2. Janice Fong Wolf1. Steve Aslandis

BILL DENNEEN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARD WINNERS

Denneen Awardcontinued from page 1

Lawn Bowling. She will be the 71st recipient of this award at their big EarthDay celebration in April.” Now, for the first time in print, we are pleased to publish the full honor roll ofthose who have been recognized for their work over the years by the CentralCoast’s godfather of environmental activism:

“Painting with Light”Notecards Available

Celebrated local photographer PaulMcCloskey has created notecardsfrom prints of dozens of his mostremarkable photos. Notecard sets areavailable from the Santa LuciaChapter office @ $6.00 each. For allnotecards purchased through theChapter, Mr. McCloskey donates onethird of your purchase price to theSierra Club. Drop by our office at 547-B MarshStreet in downtown SLO, or contactKim Ramos at [email protected], or 543-8717.

OurLossAt the end of the County PlanningCommission’s December 17 meeting,Commission Chair Sarah Christieannounced her resignation after fiveyears of service. Following is the textof her remarks.

Commissioners, before we adjourn Ihave some news to share with you andstaff and members of the public. I amresigning today as District 5 PlanningCommissioner, effective upon ad-journment of this meeting. As you know, we all serve at thepleasure of our Supervisor. Unfortu-nately, Supervisor Patterson has madeit clear that he no longer supports mycontinued service on this Commis-sion, so I am stepping down. He hasgrown weary of defending me againstthe criticism that has been lodgedagainst me from the start, which hasescalated in intensity since the newBoard and the new Commission wereseated in January. He says he can nolonger defend me because, more oftenthan not, he now finds himself inagreement with my critics. This is troubling to me, because Ihave been nothing if not consistenton this Commission. I have been anadvocate for affordable housing,public transportation, clean air andwater, ag land protection, open spaceand habitat preservation, and publicaccess to a fair and transparentdemocratic process. These are thevalues I have always held, andmoreover, they are the values onwhich the Supervisor ran when hedefeated Mike Ryan in 2004. Unfortu-

ing our work on the Grading ordi-nance, the Conservation and OpenSpace Element, our courageousdenial of the sand and gravel minesand the San Miguel Ranch, and ofcourse our work on the Los Osossewer. Gene, you were here when I gothere and you’re here to see me go,and every day in between you havebeen a consummate gentleman and aquiet and steadfast voice for smartgrowth and agriculture, and I appreci-ate your contribution. Carlyn, I’ve known you since longbefore you took this appointment, andI am so pleased we got to serve to-gether as colleagues for the year. It’sbeen a pleasure. Bruce, you have been such awonderful surprise. You had trepida-tions about taking this job becauseyou hadn’t done this kind of workbefore, but you do your homeworkand you ask good questions, youadvocate for your position and keepan open mind, and I don’t thinkanyone can ask for anything morefrom their planning commissioner. Anne, I almost feel like we’refoxhole friends at this point, we’vebeen in the trenches together for solong. And I think we’ve made a reallygood team as we’ve taken on some of

nately the manufactured controversyfomented by a small group of specialinterests in this county who havehistorically maintained a strangle-hold on the decision-making machin-ery of county government hassucceeded in perpetuating what isnow a self-implementing myth: that Iam not fit for public service. That said, the work of this Commis-sion is too important, and thecommitment of time and energy istoo great for me to continue torepresent a Supervisor who no longersupports that work. And it’s a sad day for me, because Iam deeply committed to protectingand conserving this county’s naturaland human resources throughenlightened land use planning. Thelast five years have been a deeplyrewarding and challenging experiencein which I take great pride. This lastyear in particular has been a pleasureand a joy, because I have so enjoyedworking with the four of you. And“work” is the operative word here. Inall the years I have been observing,serving on, and interacting with theplanning commission, I have neverseen a harder working group, or amore thoughtful and substantivecommission. I’m proud to have beena part of it. I’m proud of the accom-plishments of this commission andstaff over the last 12 months, includ-

Growth amendments. In particular,you had my back through the SantaMargarita Ranch hearings, and I willalways remember that. Thank you. And I can’t leave without acknowl-edging all the members of the publicwho come to these hearings year afteryear to participate in the decisionsthat shape our communities. Youinform those decisions, you improvethe outcomes, and you make adifference. And while you may notalways get the result you want, youhave to know that San Luis ObispoCounty would not be the lovely,livable place that it is today withoutyour continued advocacy and engage-ment, and I look forward to joiningyou, again, shortly. The silver lining here is that I knowthat I am leaving the county’s re-sources in competent, compassionatehands. I know that you will welcomemy replacement warmly and you willmentor him as he works his way upthe learning curve. And I hope youknow that you can call on me if I canever provide a perspective or institu-tional recollection that you may finduseful. I only hope I have contributed tothe future well-being of this countyhalf as much as I have been personallyenriched by this experience. It’s beenan honor, and it’s been a labor of love. Namaste.

the challenges like theViewshed ordinance,the condo conversion,temporary events andmobile home ordi-nances, and the Smart

I have been nothing if notconsistent on thisCommission.


Last year, the state Assembly andSenate passed Assembly Bill 42, whichwould have required three-dimen-sional seismic mapping of the areaaround the Diablo Canyon NuclearPower Plant, a very good idea in lightof the newly discovered earthquakefault less than a mile offshore, whichis only the latest previously unknownfault to have been discovered aroundDiablo. In October, for no good reason,Governor Schwarzenneger vetoed thebill. It remains a very good idea, sothe Santa Lucia Chapter and theAlliance for Nuclear Responsibilitygave the bill’s author, AssemblymanSam Blakeslee, a copy of a verylimited, hot off the press edition ofDiablo CanyonArea: SeismicHazard of theGeologicalBedrock, ahighly detailedphoto-docu-mented geologi-cal tour of thearea preparedfor ANR and theSanta LuciaChapter byRalph Bishop, alocal geologistwith fifty yearsof field studyexperience. Bishop alsoprovidedpolishedmineral spheresfor a modelaccompanyinghis report of the“network ofchaotic multi-

Try It Again, Sam

Diablocontinued from page 1

dimensional faulting” around Diablo.The spheres — brecciated jasper fromthe saddle of Prefumo Canyon, justnorth of the power plant, and brecci-ated rhyolite from Avila Bay, justsouth of the power plant – graphicallyshow the crushing effects of thePacific tectonic plate as it movesagainst the American plate and theresulting shattered bedrock thatmakes up the geological profile ofDiablo Canyon. Call it 3-D seismic mapping,grassroots style. We hope that Mr.Bishop’s independent efforts will keepthe very good idea of the 3-D mappingof Diablo, and a determination to getthe real thing done, foremost in themind of the author of AB 42.

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democratic processes which havehistorically eluded the nuclearindustry. And that, as Alliance outreachcoordinator David Weisman explainedto reporters at the scene, is where thestory gets interesting. PG&E wasgranted $16.8 million in ratepayerfunds in 2007 by the California PublicUtilities Commission (CPUC) to studythe feasibility of renewing DiabloCanyon’s license for 20 years. At thesame time, Assemblyman Sam Blakes-lee sponsored legislation, AB 1632,which required the California EnergyCommission (CEC) to conduct a fullcost/risk/benefit study of continuingto operate the nuclear reactor. Thatstudy continues to be a work inprogress, but a year ago, the CEC saidthis:

The Energy Commission, with theCPUC, should develop a plan forreviewing the overall costs andbenefits of nuclear plant licenseextensions, the scope of the evalua-tion, and criteria for theassessment….The review shouldinclude: plant safety culture andmaintenance, waste storage, trans-port and disposal plans, seismichazards, comparison with generationand transmission alternatives, andcontingency plans for long-termoutages. This is the information thestate must evaluate to determine ifCalifornia should continue to rely onaging reactors and a co-located high-level radioactive waste facility sitedwithin two and a half miles from twooffshore active earthquake faults.

In granting PG&E the ratepayerfunding for their internal feasibilitystudy, the CPUC added: “PG&E shoulddefer to the extent feasible its work onits own study, and associated spend-ing, until after the CEC issues itsfinding and conclusions. PG&Eshould incorporate the findings andrecommendations of the CEC study inits own work.” The most pressing concern forresidents of the Central Coast shouldbe PG&E’s failure to complete theseismic studies required by AB 1632.Blakeslee — a Ph.D. in seismology —raised questions about the effects onCalifornia’s economy if Diablo werestruck with a devastating earthquakelike the one that crippled theKashiwazaki reactor in Japan in 2007. At that site, which the utilitybelieved had been designed for everyconceivable seismic event, a 6.8earthquake on an unknown fault shutdown the facility, costing Japaneseratepayers over $12 billion in replace-ment power and related repairs. It has

only regained limited use today. Withthe discovery of the new and unstud-ied “Shoreline Fault” half a mile fromDiablo in 2008, this took on newurgency. However, in recent com-muniqués to the CEC, PG&E saysthey are still a few years away fromcompleting the high-tech 3-D seismicmapping studies requested byBlakeslee and the CEC. (The point ofAB 42, Blakeslee’s bill mandatingsuch studies — see “Try It Again,Sam,” below— was that PG&E mustdo the studies before filing for licenserenewal.) Why, then, would PG&E takeshareholder money and file arelicensing application with the NRCbefore all the answers needed firsthave been presented to Californiastate oversight agencies? PG&E maybe hoping that they can precludepublic participation in the process,because on issues of safety, securityand health, the federal NRC pre-empts all state authority and control.Historically, of the more than 50license renewal applications filed withthe NRC, none have ever beenrejected—including those from statesthat raised seismic concerns. TheNRC also accepts PG&E’s currentclaims, without conducting any newstudies, that the “Shoreline Fault”poses no threat. However, California is a specialplace. As a result of a famous casefrom 1983 known as “Sun Desert”(and more formally as Pacific Gas &Elec. v. Energy Resources Comm’n,461 U.S. 190), the U.S. SupremeCourt ruled that, nuclear or not,“States exercise their traditionalauthority over economic questionssuch as the need for additionalgenerating capacity, the type ofgenerating facilities to be licensed,land use, and ratemaking.” And thosedecisions reside at the momentparticularly with the CaliforniaEnergy Commission and Assembly-man Blakeslee’s study. The state hasasked “how much” continued relianceon the aging reactors will cost,especially if a Kashiwazaki-style quakeevent occurs. In a statement to theSan Francisco Chronicle on the day ofPG&E’s announcement, Commis-sioner James Boyd wrote: “TheCalifornia Energy Commission isconcerned that PG&E has notcompleted all of the studies... norhave they provided state officials andthe public an opportunity to reviewthe overall economic and environ-mental costs and benefits of a licenseextension for Diablo Canyon.” PG&E can thumb their noses at ourstate legislators and regulators; theycan trot out discredited former

environmentalists like Patrick Moore,now a paid spokesman for the nuclearindustry; they can say they’ll show ustheir economic feasibility study—which we paid for—sometime nextyear; they can hope Californians willforget that the last time they tried toclaim there were no earthquake faultsworth investigating near Diablo,ratepayers ended up forking over $4billion dollars to repair PG&E’s goofs.They can do that, all the whileclaiming that nuclear power is“affordable.” But they can only do that if weforget; if we let them. The Alliance for Nuclear Responsi-bility is prepared to take on a leader-

ship role in pressing the CPUC andthe CEC to assert our state’s rights—but massive public pressure will benecessary. At some point, PG&E willhave to file with the Public UtilitiesCommission if they want to recoupratepayer funding, and we will need tohire lawyers and intervene in thisprecedent-setting case. The issues ofstate’s rights and local control versusfederal pre-emption will be on trial. California has the legal tools toprevail in that fight. We can lead thenation in creating the progressiveenergy model of the future. This is notime to let that tool be wrested fromour hands.

Lose the ‘foamBy Kim Ramos

According to Seba B. Sheavly of TheOcean Conservancy, in a report to thePlastic Debris Rivers-to-Seas Confer-ence, “Marine debris is one of themost pervasive and solvable pollutionproblems plaguing the world’s oceansand waterways.” The major sources ofdebris come from consumptionactivities taking place on land that getwashed into our waterways and intothe ocean, and include food wrappers,beverage containers, cigarettes andrelated smoking materials. Although plastic food containers are

bad, polystyrene (a product familythat includes Styrofoam) is muchworse. Styrene, recognized by theEPA as a carcinogen and neurotoxin,can leach into the food and drink thecontainers hold and the water bodiesin which they frequently end up.Styrene mimics estrogen in the bodyand can disrupt normal hormonefunctions, possibly contributing tothyroid problems, menstrual irregu-larities, and other hormone-relatedproblems, as well as breast cancer andprostate cancer. It doesn’t biodegrade,but breaks down into smaller andsmaller pieces which often end up in

the marine environment and areeaten by fish and birds. The plastictoxins accumulate in their tissues andare then taken up by humans whenthey in turn eat the fish and birds. An accumulating body of researchand a greater understanding of theproblems of marine debris haveconvinced the California OceanProtection Council and numerousenvironmental groups to focus on astrategy to reduce plastic waste, andalmost 100 municipalities to banpolystyrene and plastic bags. The Morro Bay High SchoolEnvironmental Club is working toaddress the problem of plasticpollution through a campaign to:

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(1) Raise awareness about theproblems caused by single-usepolystyrene containers in our coastaland marine environment and theavailability of alternatives. (2) Persuade businesses on theEstuary that provide take out foodand drink in polystyrene food andbeverage containers to switch tobiodegradable alternatives. (3) Produce educational andpresentation materials to share withbusinesses and the public. If you would like more informationor to sign up for a presentation foryour group, please send an email [email protected]. Andlose the foam.

10


It’s Getting Ridiculouscontinued from page 2

Alarmed at the number ofwineries now on VineyardDrive in Paso Robles —seven in a four-milestretch, and six more inanother two miles —concerned neighborsweighed in late lastyear when anotherVineyard Drive landownerrequested a permit for yetanother winery. Local resident AlisonDenlinger requested ahearing on the Minor UsePermit requested for the TeckmanWinery proposal. She got thathearing, before a County Planninghearing officer, on December 4. Among her, and our, major con-cerns: The County’s plan to removetwo large oak trees so that thedriveway could be widened, and the

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cumulative traffic impacts of all theevents and all the public tastingrooms that would be concentratedinto the area. A dozen letter-writers, including theSanta Lucia Chapter, weighed in.Planning staff visited the site, and

we avoid a bias toward identifyingareas for growth outside reserve linesinstead of inside, where our StrategicGrowth Implementations call forthem to be? After all, we tend to findthings where we are looking, notwhere we avoid looking! But perhaps the greatest affront toour “Strategic Growth” principles isthe open window, until November2010, for “Property Owner Requests.”Rural landowners who wish to upzonewill get a subsidized ride as passen-gers on a train that is already moving.While rural applicants will still pay aflat fee, they will not have to arrangeand pay for their own individualenvironmental review, nor for theconsultants who normally shepherdindividual applicants through allstages of the process. This courtesy is not to be extendedto those inside existing towns andvillages; even though they live whereour policies say growth should beencouraged, they get to pay for thesubsidizing, not to be subsidized. Theconsequence of this on the ground islikely to be a surge of applications forleapfrog development in the midst ofour rural and agricultural lands, withthe attendant impacts of habitat andwildlife corridor fragmentation, addedtraffic on rural roads, and increasingstress on farmers and ranchers who

want to stay in agriculture. So far, the authorization to moveforward with this contrary process hasbeen a matter of generalities. TheBoard approved a work plan whileleaving many details for futuremeetings. At press time, the nextmeeting at which such a discussion istentatively scheduled is that ofJanuary 12th. (It would be good todouble-check this and all agendas, asitems are sometimes shuffled to otherdates.) It is important for the publicto show up and to ask how the LandUse and Circulation Element’s rural-specific process can be reconciledwith policies encouraging growth inexisting communities, how communi-ties that do not wish to expand out-side their reserve lines can make theirwishes clear, and how the perverseimpacts of economic incentives forrural upzonings can be mitigated. We also need to monitor standardsprotecting biological and culturalresources; now that standards in allarea plans will be superseded, we needto be sure that their protectiveness isalso superseded, not undermined.Most of all, we need to remind theBoard that even though this dough-nut is being designed with holes, theyare only holes in our minds; in reality,it is in those holes that most of thesupervisors’ constituents live!

Doughnutcontinued from page 4

agreed. Upshot: No oak trees will beremoved, no tasting room, productionlimited to 2,500 cases, no amplifiedmusic, not open to the public. “Just goes to show that together wecan (sometimes) make a difference,”wrote Denlinger.

In our October issue, Jeff Kuyper ofLos Padres Forest Watch reported onthe shocking state of the CarrizoPlain Ecological Reserve , portions ofwhich have clearly been allowed tobecome a commercial feedlot forcattle, with severe environmentaldegradation – erosion, trampledwetlands, hillside terracing, and otherevidence of grazing inside the Reservewhere cattle are prohibited — all inviolation of the lease agreementadministered by the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish and Game. Los Padres ForestWatch, the SantaLucia Chapter of the Sierra Club andfive other conservation groups sent aletter to DFG and the WildlifeConservation Board detailing thedestruction and demanding action toprotect Reserve resources. On October 30, Fish and GameRegional Manager Jeffrey R. Singlewrote back to say that the Depart-ment is “actively working with theoperator to rectify this issue and havedirected the lessee to remove thecattle from all pastures which do notmeet minimum standards for thatpasture. We have directed him torepair fences which are in disrepair ifcattle will be present.”

of neighbors, who pointed out thesite’s problematic water restrictions,the lack of analysis of the cumulativeimpacts of all the wineries proliferat-ing in that area of Highway 46, andthe lack of a traffic analysis fromCalTrans, the hearing officer scaleddown the request slightly. Based on“what feels better in my gut,” hedecided to permit 12 events per year,with up to 150 people in attendance.“I can’t point to any science,” he said,“but that’s what feels better to me.” The irony here is that the WineryOrdinance was created to make iteasier for wineries to hold commer-cial events, because such events arecritical to the successful marketing oftheir agricultural product: wine. If theapplicant had invested in the con-struction of a winery and/or tastingroom on site, he would have onlybeen eligible for 6 events of 80 peopleper year. If he wanted more, he wouldhave been subject to a hearing beforethe Planning Commission for aConditional Use Permit—a higherlevel of review than a Minor UsePermit, which is decided by a hearingofficer; that is, a single staff planner. This process has now been turnedon its head. Unless the Board over-turns this decision on appeal, ownersof ag land can now qualify for anunlimited number of events withvirtually no on-site agricultural usewhatsoever, and -- depending on ahearing officer’s “gut” -- they cancount on getting at least twice asmuch development with a simpler,cheaper Minor Use Permit. If theBoard upholds the decision, commer-cial event centers will proliferate onAg land through the less-than-rigorous Minor Use Permit process. Because the Supervisors did notuphold consistent planning standardsand make the protection of agricul-ture paramount in their interpreta-tion of the Temporary Events Ordi-nance, permit requests are nowstampeding into the temporary eventspermit process, where they can takeadvantage of the Board’s declarationof open season on Ag land. So why does it matter if farmersmake a few extra bucks by rentingtheir land for a wedding or a rockconcert now and then? Because for the most part, it isn’tfarmers who are cashing in on thispolicy. It is people who own ag-zonedland and see the potential for biggerprofits in commercial events insteadof orchards or row crops. Ag zoned land is zoned that way fora reason. We need active agricultureto maintain a balanced economy,healthy watersheds, and the ability toprovide food for our communities.When entrepreneurs can buy cheap agland and turn it into corporateretreats and event centers, it drives upthe price of all ag land, virtuallyassuring that no young, enterprisingfarmer will ever be able to afford thedown payment and make the land payas agriculture. Under the scenario the Supervisorscreated last October, our agricultureis on track to being reduced to ascenic backdrop for a proliferation ofgazebos, dance floors and parkinglots, set to amplified music. For thatto happen, all you need now in SLOCounty is three acres of grape vines. The County can’t force a land ownerto plant tomatoes or raise cattle. Butthe County can make sure that ourultimate ag resource—the land—remains viable, intact and availablefor agriculture. This can be achievedvia the mechanism known as “land use planning.” The Board ofSupervisors should look into it.

Update: Reserveor Feedlot?

us, are free to make bad businessdecisions. Measure J now allows theDalidio developers great freedom tomake bad business decisions. Theycould decide to build a 560,000square foot shopping mall and hugesewer plant next to establishedhomes, without mitigating thenegative impacts, including gridlock. But if they build the mega-mall,how could anyone get there? Noone—not the County, the City, CalTrans, nor the developer—can affordto construct the approximately $72million Interchange necessary to

prevent gridlock generated by aproject that size, in that location. Ifthey go the Measure J route, thedevelopers willface yet another groundswell ofcommunity opposition and constantmonitoring by CPR.

CPR & the urban farmWe are happy to announce that CPRhas been named a stakeholder in thecreation of the Master Plan for the 90acres. What form should the urbanfarm take? See the SLO City website,www.slocity.org/naturalresources/

agreferencematerials.asp You are invited to join us and otherstakeholders on January 14, 2010, at5:30 pm in the Council HearingRoom at City Hall. If you are inter-ested in being a part of a group thatreceives periodic email updatesrelating to this project, email AprilRichardson ([email protected]).After creation of the Master Plan, CPRwill continue to work hard to supportits implementation and make sustain-able urban farming on City land forthe public good a reality here on theCentral Coast.

Dalidiocontinued from page 5


ClassifiedsNext issue deadline is January 12. To

get a rate sheet or submit your ad

and payment, contact:

Sierra Club - Santa Lucia Chapter

P.O. Box 15755

San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

[email protected]

541-2716 [email protected]

Law Offices of Jan Howell MarxA Client Centered Practice

BusinessMediation

Environmental LawElder LawReal Estate

Wills and Trusts

Got Graywater if You Want ItThe Sierra Club has on hand alimited supply of The San LuisObispo Guide to the Use ofGraywater, the new manual pro-duced by the Appropriate Tech-nology Coalition -- SLO GreenBuild, the Santa Lucia Chapter ofthe Sierra Club and the San LuisBay Chapter of Surfrider. Graywater systems turn a wasteproduct that can comprise up to80% of residential wastewater into avaluable resource for irrigation andother non-potable uses. Harvestinggraywater to meet your non-potablewater needs utilizes an appropriatetechnology that can recover initialcosts quickly. No permit required.

$10 each, while supplies last. E-mail [email protected], or call (805)543-8717 to reserve your copy.

Sharing the Dream invites you to the 15th annual Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday event

When: Jan. 16th 2010 11- 5 pm.Where: Laguna Middle School Multi-Purpose room.Activites: Music by: Louie Ortega, Al “Shival” Redwine, Higher Movement dancers, California ArtsInternational, David Smith, Tim Jackson, & House of prayer choir plus Martin Luther King Videos.Entrance Fee: $10

Lunch provided by Bon Tempe Creole Cafe, served for $5 a plate.

Contact: [email protected]

CYNTHIA HAWLEY

ATTORNEY

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

LAND USE

CIVIL LITIGATION

P.O. Box 29 Cambria California 93428

Phone 805-927-5102 Fax 805-927-5220

12


Outings and Activities CalendarSeller of travel registration information: CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

This is a partial listing of Outingsoffered by our chapter.

Please check the web pagewww.santalucia.sierraclub.org for

the most up-to-date listing ofactivities.

They’re here, they’re gorgeous,

you have to have one for your

desk, one for your wall, and a

great many more for friends and

family! And when you buy direct

from the Chapter, you support

the Sierra Club’s conservation

work in

San Luis Obispo County.

wall calendar: $12.50

desk calendar: $13.50

To order, call 543-7051

2010Sierra ClubCalendars

All our hikes and activities are open to all Club members and the general public. If you have any suggestionsfor hikes or outdoor activities, questions about the Chapter’s outing policies, or would like to be an outingsleader, call Outings Chair Joe Morris, 772-1875. For information on a specific outing, please call the outingleader.

Island Hopping in Channel Islands National Park, May 7-9; Jul 16-19; Aug 6-9; Sep 10-12.

The Channel Islands are Galapagos USA! Marvel at the sight ofwhales, seals, sea lions, rare birds & blazing wildflowers. Hike thewild, windswept trails. Kayak the rugged coastline. Snorkel inpristine waters. Discover remnants of the Chumash people wholived on these islands for thousands of years. Or just relax at sea.These 3 & 4-day “live aboard” fundraiser cruises are sponsored bythe Angeles Chapter Political Committee & Sierra Club CaliforniaPolitical Committee. Depart from Santa Barbara aboard the 68’Truth. $590 for May and September; $785 for July & August,includes an assigned bunk, all meals, snacks & beverages, plusthe services of a ranger/naturalist who will travel with us to leadhikes on each island and point out interesting features. To make areservation mail a $100 check payable to Sierra Club to leaders:Joan Jones Holtz & Don Holtz, 11826 The Wye St., El Monte, CA91732. Contact leaders for more information (626-443-0706)jholtzhln @aol.com

Sat., Jan. 9th, 9:30 a.m. Cerro SanLuis Hike. Start the New Yearoutdoors with a hike up Cerro SanLuis for a look at all of SLO in 2010.Meet at the Fernandez Road parkingarea (Marsh Street to 101 south on-ramp) at 9:30 A.M. for an energeticand just a little strenuous hike to thesummit (1000 ft. elevation gain). Trailis rough in places, just over 4 milesround trip. Boots or sturdy hikingshoes are recommended. Leader: MikeSims, 459-1701, [email protected]

Sun., Jan. 10th, 10 a.m. Eagle RockNature Trail. Pole Cats is dedicated toleading local Sierra Club day hikesand modeling the benefits of usingtrekking poles. 2.2 miles/720 feetelevation change. The trailhead islocated across from Cuesta College atEl Chorro Regional Park. From SLO,take Highway 1 North and turn east(right) at the first of two turn signalsto El Chorro Regional Park. Followthe signs to the Day Use area, passingthe ball fields and Botanical Garden.Park in the Day Use area at the end ofthe road, just before the locked gate.Confirm with David Georgi atpolecatleader @gmail.com 458-5575for upcoming activities. Bipedswelcome.

Fri-Sun, January 22-24, WildernessRestoration - Death Valley NationalPark. Come help protect Death ValleyNational Park from abuse by illegaloff-road traffic. This wildernessrestoration project along the park’sscenic eastern boundary in theAmargosa Valley involves installationof signs, raking out vehicle tracks andmoving rocks. Meet late Fridayafternoon, or early Saturday morning,work Saturday and part of Sunday. Camping Friday and Saturday nightswill be in a Park Service camping area(no water, portable toilets). Leader: Kate Allen, [email protected],(661-944-4056). CNRCC DesertCommittee.

Sat., Jan. 23rd, 10 a.m. Quarry Trail.Pole Cats is dedicated to leading localSierra Club day hikes and modelingthe benefits of using trekking poles. 2miles/320 feet elevation change. Meetat the at the Cabrillo Peak trailhead.From SLO, go 12 miles north on Hwy1 to Los Osos/Baywood Park exit justbefore Morro Bay. Go south onSouthbay Blvd. and drive .7 miles tothe State Park entrance. Continuestraight for .2 miles and look for thedirt parking lot on the left. It is easyto miss. Do not wait at the Live Oaktrailhead, which is shortly after theQuarry trailhead. Confirm with DavidGeorgi at [email protected] or 458-5575 for upcom-ing activities. Bipeds welcome.

Tues, January 26, 7 p.m. BimonthlyGeneral Meeting: 1st Annual Envi-ronmentalists’ Rendezvous! Whatare the major environmental groupsin SLO County up to? Here’sa unique opportunity to meetseven key players, all in oneplace. The roundtable confab willfeature staff from the Alliance forNuclear Responsibility, AudubonSociety, ECOSLO, Morro Bay Nat.Estuary Program, SLO LandConservancy, and our own Sierra Club

chapter. Each will mentiontheir premier projects and plans for2010, allowing time for questions. --all under the gaze of the great-hornedowl from Pacific Wildlife Care.Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St.,SLO. Free. Info: Joe, 772-1875.

Sat-Sun, January 30-31,Fencing aWilderness – Golden Valley Wilder-ness Area. During the past year, along fence has been constructed alongthe northern boundary of the Golden

Valley Wilderness to prevent illegalvehicle entry. Where this fence is stillhigh above the ground, we will assistMarty Dickes of the Ridgecrest BLMoffice in placing reinforcements. Forthose who wish to stay over onMonday, there will be a hike up one ofthe nearby peaks. Car camping;potluck Saturday evening. Contactleader: Craig Deutsche, (310-477-6670), [email protected]. CNRCC Desert Committee

Jan. 1, 9:30 a.m. Mussel Rock Hikewith Kara Blakeslee. You areinvited on the annual Bill Denneenhike to Mussel Rock/Paradise Beachin the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes,on New Years Day. Bill has led thishike for countless years, but may notgo the whole distance this time. (We’llsee about that!) Meet at GuadalupeBeach (take Main Street to the westfrom Santa Maria to parking lot onthe beach, or drive south on Highway1 through Guadalupe, turning right/toward the west on Main Street).Bring: water(!), food, layered clothing,sunscreen, hat, and shoes comfortablefor a beach and dune hike. If you feellike it, perhaps bring a poem, orsomething inspirational to share withfellow hikers. Expect a moderatelystrenuous hike of 4-5 hours, depend-ing on your speed. Kids are welcome,and there’s no problem turning backearly. Sadly, Fido has to stay athome. We will lunch afterwards at agreat restaurant in Guadalupe. If youdo come, please let us know so wehave an idea of what to expect. If youare willing to help as a leader or“sweep,” let us know, or if you haveany questions. [email protected].

Ventana Wilderness Alliance TrailWorkdays in the Big Sur Area. TheVentana Wilderness Alliance ishosting many volunteer opportunitiesto help clear and maintain trails on

the Big Sur Coast. No experience isnecessary, just the desire to beoutdoors and work with others. Youmay be able to just come for the dayor spend the weekend, depending ontrip location.Steve Benoit: Jan. 2nd, Pine RidgeTrail, Day Trip, (831-394-4234Dave Knapp: Jan. 22-24, Brushingon the Gamboa TrailTo sign up or to get more informationcontact Dave Knapp, Trail CrewLeader at [email protected].

Central Coast Concerned MountainBiker Trail Workdays around SanLuis Obispo County. The CentralCoast Concerned MountainBikers host many volunteer opportu-nities to help clear and maintain trailson the Central Coast. No experience isnecessary, just a desire to be outdoorsand work with others. You may beable to just come for the day or spendthe weekend. depending on tripLocation.Saturday, January 9th, 9 a.m. -Morning Glory Trail. Meet at the endof Stenner Creek Road.Sunday, February 7th, 8 a.m. -Montana de Oro State Park. Meet atthe Visitor Center.

To sign up or to get more informa-tion, contact Greg Bettencourt, TrailCrew Leader at [email protected]

Outings Sponsored by Other Organizations

1 • January 2010 Santa Lucian - Sierra Club the unblinking gaze of the great-horned owl€from...

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