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October 1, 2012

Community Notes 10-01-2012

  1. SXSW Eco – October 3-5. SXSW Eco is a 3 day conference designed for professionals in business, government, non-profits and academia who want to look at environmental and sustainability issues through a fresh lens and contribute to innovative solutions to the most pressing challenges facing the environment, the economy and civil society. Through this collaboration, diverse networks are able to converge here in Austin, Texas to think differently about the key issues that affect us all. This year, SXSW Eco is proud to announce Senator Byron Dorgan, Annie Leonard, and Bill McKibben as the keynote speakers. The conference will run from Wednesday, October 3 through Friday, October 5. The full schedule can be found at: http://schedule.sxsweco.com/.
  2. OHBA Annual Organic Pesticide CEU Event. Have fun, earn CEU’s, and gain valuable information at this annual event! The Organic Horticulture Benefits Alliance (OHBA) will be hosting the event on October 5th from 7:30am-4:30pm. Topics include Soil Microbiology, Plant Diagnostics, Laws & Regulations, Earthkind Landscapes, and Environmental Sound Turf Management. Registration costs $60 and includes light breakfast, delicious lunch buffet, and hand-outs. Participants will also earn 5 TDA CEU’s & 5 SPCS CEU’s. Register at http://organicpesticide.eventbrite.com/.
  3. EVs for Trees Program. The EVs for Trees Program provides drivers with an added incentive to test drive an electric vehicle (EV). When Houstonians test drive a 100% electric Mitsubishi “i” or Nissan LEAF between now and December 1st at a participating EVs for Trees dealership, the dealer will donate $25 to Trees for Houston. Additionally, if the driver is a Green Mountain Energy or Reliant customer, these companies will donate an extra $25. Throughout the program, EVs for Trees test drive vouchers will be available for download online at http://www.evsfortrees.com/. No purchase is necessary; drivers can simply take the voucher to a participating dealer and test drive an electric car to generate a donation to Trees for Houston, which will provide funding to care for distressed trees and plant new trees. To find participating dealerships and for more information on the EVs for Trees program, visit www.greenhoustontx.gov/, http://www.evsfortrees.com/ or contact Lisa Lin at lisa.lin@houstontx.gov or 832.393.0850.
  4. Free rides on METRORail. “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and KHOU 11, Houston’s CBS affiliate, have teamed up to offer four days of free rides on the Houston area’s METRORail. The effort hopes to encourage riders to take advantage of public transit as a fast, convenient and environmentally friendly transportation option. The free rides will take place on October 7 and 28, from 5:30am to 11:40pm each day. Read more at http://www.khou.com/.
  5. Texas State Parks Geocache Challenge. Discover hidden items while revealing exciting facts and stories about Texas State Parks! Geocaches are hidden in many state parks, historic sites, and natural areas. The Texas Geocache Challenge began on October 1st. View the coordinates at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/.
  6. Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas. Ever encountered a weird sea creature that defies description? Caught a saltwater fish but don’t quite know what kind it is? Now there’s an easy way to identify whatever it is you’ve run across. The Identification Guide to Marine Organisms of Texas has been compiled from decades of data by TPWD Coastal Fisheries biologist Brenda Bowling and is a great resource for anglers, biologists, beach combers and others who want to know more. The new online tool uses photos, detailed descriptions and other descriptors so that users can identify and learn more about the mystery creature they have found. Read more about the guide at http://tpwd.state.tx.us/. Access the guide at http://txmarspecies.tamug.edu/.
  7. Back the Bay Pledge. Celebrate National Estuaries Day, which was on September 29th, by pledging to Back the Bay at backthebay.org/pledge! Simple ways you can Back the Bay include: 1. Stop litter and harmful runoff at its source by not dumping trash or chemicals in storm drains and creeks. 2. Reduce water waste at home and at work. 3. Help preserve Bay habitats by supporting land preservation and reducing the spread of invasive species. See more tips and learn more about the Back the Bay campaign at backthebay.org.
  8. 15th Annual Texas Recycling and Sustainability Summit. The State of Texas Alliance for Recycling (STAR) is hosting its 15th Annual Texas Recycling and Sustainability Summit in the beautiful beach town of Corpus Christi, Texas from October 21st-24th. This year’s conference theme is “New and Emerging Trends and Technologies,” providing Summit sponsors, exhibitors, speakers and attendees the opportunity to network with and communicate to prospective clients, partners, stakeholders and policy makers in Texas what is upcoming on the recycling and sustainability horizon. For more information, visit http://recyclingstar.org/summit.html.
  9. Texas Superfund Registry. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ or commission) is required under the Texas Solid Waste Disposal Act, Texas Health and Safety Code (THSC), Chapter 361 to identify, to the extent feasible, and evaluate facilities which may constitute an imminent and substantial endangerment to public health and safety or to the environment due to a release or threatened release of hazardous substances into the environment. The first registry identifying these sites was published in the January 16, 1987 issue of the Texas Register (12 TexReg 205). The current notice includes facilities that have been proposed for listing, have been listed, or where state Superfund action has ended, or where cleanup is being adequately addressed by other means. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/. Five of the 26 listed sites are in the 13-county region. Three of the 24 sites that have been proposed for listing are in the 13-count region. No new sites have been proposed since the 2011 notice was published.
  10. Vote with Your Lips Campaign – Sea Turtle Restoration Project. The Sea Turtle Restoration Project has been nominated to participate in the “Vote With Your Lips” campaign by the Body Shop. The charitable organization that receives the most votes will receive the largest grant. Voting continues through October 28th. Visit http://action.seaturtles.org/ for more information.
  11. 9th Annual ASES Houston Solar Tour. Saturday, October 20, 2012. The 2012 9th Annual Houston Solar Tour is a self-guided tour that offers visitors the opportunity to learn about solar energy systems, energy-efficiency and sustainable building technologies by visiting residences and businesses in the Houston area that use these technologies in real world applications. The Houston Solar Tour is a self-guided driving tour. Carpooling is encouraged. Tour sites are open from 9am-1pm. More at http://www.houstonsolartour.com/.
  12. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Seabrook, and on HCC. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). This week’s broadcast will include:
    • The Rise of the Forgotten Flounder
    • Outdoor Info: Leave No Trace
    • When Plants Attack
    • Martin Dies Jr. State Park
  13. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • October 2: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” on the south and southeast side of the Houston area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
    • October 3: Orange–Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” on the north side of the Houston area and “Moderate” in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.
    • October 4: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. Winds may be light enough and incoming background levels high enough for ozone levels to reach “Moderate” or possibly higher on the north and northwest side of the Houston area and in the Beaumont-Port Arthur area, with highest concentrations in the afternoon and early evening.