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July 23, 2013

Houston Environmental News Update July 23, 2013

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Houston Environmental News Update July 23, 2013

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CEC NOTES

  1. CEC & Civic Engagement

COALITION NOTES

  1. CWI Workshop: MS4 MCM Industrial Stormwater Permits
  2. Regional Flood Management Council
  3. Prairie Restoration Roundup
  4. GBF’s Ladies Casting for Conservation Fishing Tournament
  5. Summer Color Conference and Plant Sale at Mercer
  6. Urban Harvest Class: Fall Vegetable Gardening
  7. Purple Martin Watch Party
  8. Art By Architects Exhibition and Fundraiser
  9. Public Meetings Set for Bacteria TMDL
  10. RDA 2013 Design Charrette: “RE-CRAFT: A New Palette for HCCC.”
  11. SXSW Eco
  12. Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award
  13. TFH Free Tree Giveaway Success

COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Lords of Nature Screening @ HMNS, coupon for CEC members
  2. Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter Meeting
  3. Applications for The Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Donations
  4. OHBA Sustainability Scholarship Fund
  5. Houston Urban Food Production Conference
  6. Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas
  7. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants
  8. Gulf Coast Restoration Fund
  9. Project Ideas Request for Sea Grant’s Restoration Projects Inventory
  10. Urban Photography Contest
  11. Upcoming TCEQ Workshops
  12. Solicitation: DOE Loan Guarantee for Advanced Fossil Fuel Projects

NEWS HEADLINES

  1. Interactive: Texas vs. the Federal Government (Becca Aaronson, Alexa Ura, Chris Chang, Ben Hasson and Todd Wiseman – The Texas Tribune, 7/17/2013)
  2. Five Ways Climate Change Threatens Energy in Texas (Michael Marks – StateImpact, 7/18/2013)
  3. Montgomery County shares Greenway with Bayou Land Conservancy (Chris Cotelesse – The Potpourri, 7/21/2013)

GREEN JOBS

  1. NEW! Houston Audubon seeks Conservation Specialist (Sanctuary Management)
  2. NEW! H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner
  3. City of Mansfield, Texas, seeks Nature Education Specialist
  4. Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) seeks Houston Area Program Director
  5. The Energy Corridor District seeks Intern
  6. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center seeks Horticultural Coordinator
  7. Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park
  8. Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director
  9. Public Citizen (Austin) seeks Project Media Coordinator

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

UPCOMING EVENTS

SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE INSTRUCTIONS

CEC NOTES CEC & Civic Engagement. Would we get your attention if we said “candidates forum” or “civic engagement workshop”? Be on the lookout, because we plan to announce two programs this fall on these very topics–with a local environment focus. If you would like to be involved in the planning, please contact Rachel (713-524-4232 or rachel@cechouston.org). Back to top

COALITION NOTES

  1. CWI Workshop: MS4 MCM Industrial Stormwater Permits. Please join H-GAC for the next CWI Workshop: Industrial Stormwater Permits. This workshop will be part of the MS4 Minimum Control Measure Series, and will be held on Wednesday, July 24, 2013, from 1:30-4:30pm at the Houston-Galveston Area Council offices. Speakers for this workshop inlcude World Environmental, City of Houston and Harris County Polution Control Services. Register at www.h-gac.com/cwi.
  2. Regional Flood Management Council. Wednesday,  July 24 at 1:30 pm at H-GAC offices, conference room C. Featured speakers include staff from the Texas General Land Office on the Homeowner Opportunity Program (HOP) and Kim Mickelson from Olson and Olson, LLP on Land Use Regulation and Enforcement in Floodplains. The Council’s purpose is to assist and advise elected officials in their decision-making responsibilities by making recommendations on issues related to all aspects of flood management in the Gulf Coast Planning Region. The Council addresses flood and floodplain management issues for the thirteen-county region. These issues include, but are not limited to, flood hazard mapping studies and funding; multi-jurisdictional flood management districts; and authorities for counties, drainage districts and cities, where needed, to effectively manage the floodplain and provide coordination to address entire watersheds. More information is available on the RFMC web page.
  3. Prairie Restoration Roundup. It is time to register for the Prairie Restoration Roundup! Join the best restorationists in southeast Texas for a day of hands-on demonstrations and insightful discussions about restoring prairie to farms, ranches, private residences, parks, and more! Prairie plants are drought resistant, don’t need large inputs of fertilizer, and can be a boon to both cattle and wildlife. The roundup is on July 26, 2013, 9am-3pm at the Texas City Prairie Preserve. Cost is $35 for general public and professionals and $25 for students and Texas Master Naturalists. Registration is required. Register at http://prairiepartner.org/.
  4. GBF’s Ladies Casting for Conservation Fishing Tournament. Saturday, July 27, 2013. Have you signed up for Galveston Bay Foundation’s very first Ladies Casting For Conservation fishing tournament on 7/27 yet? GBF has some great prizes lined-up including a full-day offshore fishing trip for 3 to the top fundraising team! Sign-up by Friday to be guaranteed a t-shirt! http://galvbay.org/events_fishingtournament.html.
  5. Summer Color Conference and Plant Sale at Mercer. Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens is once again teaming up with The Mercer Society (TMS), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, to present the Summer Color Conference and Plant Sale on Saturday, July 27, 2013, from 8am-3pm. The one-day workshop focuses on ideal plant varieties that offer outstanding summer color in Houston’s challenging heat and humidity. Expert horticulturists and designers will share advice on plant selection and garden design to make gardens pop with color all summer long. The fee for the symposium is $70 for TMS members and $80 for nonmembers, which includes informative handouts, lunch, and entrance to the plant sale before it is open to the public. For more information and to register, please call 281-443-8731. http://cechouston.org/
  6. Urban Harvest Class: Fall Vegetable Gardening. After the dog days of summer comes the perfect time to toss together iron rich salad greens, sauté veggie shish kabobs or simmer hardy vegetable soups that your whole family will enjoy. Come learn about vegetable gardening in the fall with Urban Harvest! The class will be held on July 27, 2013, from 9am-noon at UH Main Campus. The cost is $24 for members and for $36 non-members. More at http://urbanharvest.org/.
  7. Purple Martin Watch Party. Houston Audubon is holding two Purple Martin Watch Parties in the upcoming weeks. The peak of Purple Martin season occurs in July and August when thousands of Martins flock together in preparation for migration. An amazing spectacle that engulfs the sky. Come out and see the sight! The first watch party will be held on July 26, 2013 at The Fountains shopping center in Stafford at Hwy 59 and Kirkwood. The second watch party will be held on August 2, 2013 at the Willowbrook Mall. Both events will begin at 7:30pm. Visit http://www.houstonaudubon.org/ for more information.
  8. Art By Architects Exhibition and Fundraiser. AIA Houston Art by Architects is a juried exhibition showcasing art by local AIA members and architecture students. Select works will be available for sale with a portion of the sales benefiting Architecture Center Houston Foundation. The exhibition will be held from July 26, 2013 to July 31, 2013. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  9. Public Meetings Set for Bacteria TMDL. H-GAC, in conjunction with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research, will host three public meetings about the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) analysis currently underway for the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto River. Bacteria levels in the East and West Forks of the San Jacinto River are too high and area governments, individuals, community groups, and business and industry must work together to restore and maintain water quality. The meetings will show bacteria TMDL findings, give stakeholders and the public an opportunity to provide feedback, and outline next steps.
  10. RDA 2013 Design Charrette: “RE-CRAFT: A New Palette for HCCC.” Rice Design Alliance’s 2013 design charrette, “RE-CRAFT: A New Palette for HCCC,” will focus on the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft. HCCC is a nonprofit arts organization located in the Museum District on Main Street. Charrette participants will be challenged to brainstorm general solutions for integrating the campus. HCCC is hoping to implement a design, so participating in the competition could result in a very real impact on this world-class destination.The charrette will be held Saturday, August 3, 2013 from 8 am to 4 pm. RDA also invites you to a site visit on Saturday, July 27, 2013 from 9:00 am to 10 am at the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, located at 4848 Main Street, to learn more about the charrette. A reception where the winning entries will be announced will be held on August 5 from 6 pm to 8 pm. Learn more on the RDA website.
  11. SXSW Eco. Following an amazing second year, SXSW Eco has quickly become a significant connector for professionals working to solve the complex challenges facing civil society, the economy and the natural world. Hosting an international audience of thought leaders and decision makers, this three-day event serves as the platform to evolve these critical matters towards actionable and profitable solutions. SXSW Eco 2013 will be held from October 7, 2013 to October 9, 2013 at the Austin Convention Center. Houston locals, Brian Yeoman and Laura Spanjian, will be speaking on “One Bin for All.” Register now for $275. Prices increase on August 24th ($325), and again on September 21st ($375). More at http://sxsweco.com/.
  12. Apply for Mayor’s Proud partners Award. Keep Houston Beautiful is now accepting applications for the 29th Annual Mayor’s Proud Partner Awards. If you know of a friend, family member, group or organization that deserves recognition for a beautification or clean-up event, an environmental project or program, or a community improvement initiative, please nominate them today (or at least by August 19, 2013) at www.houstonbeautiful.org.
  13. TFH Free Tree Giveaway Success. Trees for Houston held its Free Tree Giveaway on Saturday, July 13th, at the Chevron-sponsored tree farm in Humble. Staff members and volunteers helped distribute over 500 free trees to be planted for community projects, to beautify streets, or in yards.  TFH was thrilled by the overwhelming positive response, and hope to have another Free Tree Giveaway in the fall!

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COMMUNITY NOTES

  1. Lords of Nature Screening @ HMNS, coupon for CEC members. Could the survival of birds, butterflies, beaver, antelope, wildflowers and trees possibly be connected to top predators like the wolf and cougar? Lords of Nature explores the role that top predators play in their ecosystems. In areas where wolves and mountain lions were wiped out, see the remarkably restored biodiversity achieved with the reintroduction of these predators. Join ecology and predation researcher Volker H. W. Rudolf, Ph. D., of the Rice University Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology for the Houston premiere the film of Lords of Nature, Life in a Land of Great Predators. This is a one-time-only film screening.  Tuesday, July 30, 2013, 6:00pm at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Tickets can be purchased in advance online or at 713-639-4629. Citizens Environmental Coalition Members receive $5 off regular ticket price to Lords of Nature with coupon code NCM$5 (Coupon accepted at box office and 713.639.4629, not accepted online).
  2. Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter Meeting. The Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter is excited to host Cody Dennison, Waller County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and County 4-H Coordinator, as the speaker for the monthly program. Cody has a B.S. degree in Food Science, Texas A&M, with a specialization in Meat Science and a M.S. degree, Texas A&M, Kingsville in Soil Science. He is a special friend to the Coastal Prairie Chapter having been an integral advocate for the establishment of the chapter as well as the Prairie Heritage Festival, now held annually at Seabourne Creek Nature Park in Rosenberg. The topic for the August program is “Edible Plants.” This meeting will be held on August 1, 2013, at 6:30pm at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center (1330 Band Rd). More at http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/.
  3. Applications for The Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Donations. The Green Mountain Energyâ„¢ Sun Clubâ„¢ is now accepting applications from not-for-profit organizations interested in receiving solar array donations in 2014. Green Mountain is looking to work with organizations that value the environment and want to make an impact, both in best business practices and as an example to their community. Applications for solar donations will be accepted through August 2, 2013. Let the sunshine in! Learn more at http://greenmountaincleanertimes.com/.
  4. OHBA Sustainability Scholarship Fund. Four $1,000 Scholarships Available for Fall Semester 2013. Pass on the word to college students! Any student who is a resident of Texas is eligible to apply. Application deadline is August 2, 2013. Application includes: Full name of applicant and parent names; contact information for applicants and parents (email, phone, home address); name of school attended, year in school as of Fall 2013, average college GPA to date, major & minor; most recent transcript/grade report; and an essay: your opportunity to share your focus to help communities be more sustainable. Email the application to Kyler Fields, OHBA Scholarship Fund Chair, at Kyler.Fields@thegroundup.com.
  5. Houston Urban Food Production Conference. The Houston Urban Food Production Conference will be held on August 17, 2013 at United Way of Great Houston. Some of the educational trainings include Organinc Certification, Beekeeping, Poultry Production, Goat Production, Integrated Pest Management, Soil Building, Fruit & Nut Production, Vegetable Production, Practical Weed Control, Efficient Irrigation, and more! 1 IPM and 1 General TDA CEUs available. Call Diana at 281-855-5614 to register for this program and for booth registration. Before August 1, $35 registration fee; after August 1, $50 registration fee. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  6. Workshop on the Ecological Importance of Streamside Areas. Texans love our many miles of beautiful streams. But how well do we really understand the inner workings of creeks and rivers? This workshop will help you to appreciate these waterways in a new and different way. The main presenter, Steve Nelle, has 37 years of direct experience working with Texas landowners and private lands conservation as a Range Conservationist and Wildlife Biologist, and he has led around 50 workshops of this kind. The workshop will be held from noon-4pm on August 27, 2013, at the Brackenridge Park Hafernick Center in Edna, TX. There is no cost for the workshop and BBQ lunch, but please RSVP to Sylvia Balentine at the Lavaca-Navidad River Authority either via e-mail sbalentine@LNRA.org or telephone (361) 782-5229. More at http://cechouston.org/.
  7. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants. FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs provide funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages. Currently, FEMA administers the following HMA grant programs: Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM); and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). Prospective subapplicants should contact their State Hazard Mitigation Officer for further information regarding specific program and application requirements. More at http://www.fema.gov/.
  8. Gulf Coast Restoration Fund. EarthShare is pleased to announce another grant cycle for its Gulf Coast Restoration Fund and is seeking grant applications from eligible organizations. The fund will provide grants of up to $5,000 to qualified organizations that are restoring natural areas, habitat and fisheries in the Gulf States (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida) that were impacted by the B.P. oil spill of 2010. Projects must address harms and risks to communities and communicate the anticipated project results. The deadline for submissions is August 30, 2013. If you have any questions, email or call Perry Bird, perry@earthshare.org, 240-333-0309. The RFP is available on the CEC website.
  9. Project Ideas Request for Sea Grant’s Restoration Projects Inventory. The Gulf State Sea Grant College Programs and the NOAA Restoration Center have partnered up to collect information about restoration projects that accomplish ALL of the following:
    1. Remove or modify anthropogenic barriers
    2. Restore historic tidal estuarine and freshwater exchange
    3. Benefit coastal and marine fisheries habitat
      Projects can cost up to $5 million. For more information or to share a project idea in your area, please contact: Karen Bishop from Texas Sea Grant at karen.bishop@tamu.edu or (210)557-6795. http://masgc.org/gulfhydrorestoration/index.htm
  10. Urban Photography Contest. CBRE is accepting submissions for its 2013 Urban Photographer of the Year competition “Cities at Work.” The Urban Photographer of the Year will be the person who, in the eyes of the judges, has best captured the life of a town or city at a given time of day. The application deadline is Aug. 31. For more information, visit http://ijnet.org/ and http://www.cbrephotographer.com/.
  11. Upcoming TCEQ Workshops. The TCEQ has a few notable conference coming up this fall:
  12. Solicitation: DOE Loan Guarantee for Advanced Fossil Fuel Projects. As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the U.S. Department of Energy has announced a draft loan guarantee solicitation for innovative and advanced fossil energy projects and facilities that substantially reduce greenhouse gas and other air pollution. The Advanced Fossil Energy Projects solicitation, authorized by Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 through Section 1703 of the Loan Guarantee Program, does just that. The draft solicitation will be open for comments from industry, stakeholders, and the public until early September. Read the DoE press release.
  13. 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).
    • Adventure Racing
    • Parks & Wildlife People: Ronnie Sladek
    • Big Spring State Park
    • Billion Dollar Bats
  14. Air Quality Forecast. http://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/monops/forecast_today.html. Houston Clean Air Network and Realtime Ozone Mapping: http://houstoncleanairnetwork.com.
    • July 23, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. African dust should spread rapidly northward and could raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to “Moderate” levels over most of the eastern half of the state.
    • July 24, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. African dust should cover most of the state except far West Texas and could raise the daily PM2.5 AQI to “Moderate” levels over most of the affected area.
    • July 25, 2013: Yellow–Moderate–Ozone. African dust should diminish in South Texas but may continue in most of the remainder of the state except far West Texas.

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ECONOTES Featured News Articles–For dozens of additional headlines, visit the CEC website. (You can let us know about articles, too. E-mail news@cechouston.org).

  1. Interactive: Texas vs. the Federal Government (Becca Aaronson, Alexa Ura, Chris Chang, Ben Hasson and Todd Wiseman – The Texas Tribune, 7/17/2013)
    Led by Attorney General Greg Abbott, Texas has fought the federal government for control over various issues, including environmental regulation and oversight of voting laws. This interactive highlights the 18 lawsuits that the state currently has pending against the federal government. The Environmental Protection Agency continues to be Texas’ most frequent opponent in legal battles under Abbott, with 14 active lawsuits.
    https://www.texastribune.org/
  2. Five Ways Climate Change Threatens Energy in Texas (Michael Marks – StateImpact, 7/18/2013)
    The Department of Energy released a report recently looking at how climate change and extreme weather could make our power supplies more vulnerable. Given that it’s the nation’s leader in energy production, Texas was prominently featured. The report looks at both current and future threats to the energy sector from climate change. The three major trends include: increasing temperatures of air and water; decreasing water availability in certain regions; and increasing frequency and intensity of storms and flooding.
    http://stateimpact.npr.org/
  3. Montgomery County shares Greenway with Bayou Land Conservancy (Chris Cotelesse – The Potpourri, 7/21/2013)
    An occupancy agreement between the Montgomery County Commissioners and Bayou Land Conservancy will save taxpayers between $80-90,000 annually on staffing the Spring Creek Greenway Nature Center. Montgomery County Commissioner James Noack said his plans for the center’s future funding could save additional revenue. The center will also receive its own line item on the county’s next budget if Noack is successful in funding Greenway with floodplain mitigation credits instead of Precinct 3’s general fund. Those credits are created when protected land is developed for commercial or residential uses. The county must create a new protected area of comparable size, and the developer must pay a fee — part of which could fund Greenway.
    http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/
  4. Scoop.it Page. The CEC is now maintaining a page on Scoop.it. Check it out! http://www.scoop.it/t/citizens-environmental-coalition-houston

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GREEN JOBS Tell them you heard about it from us! Job listings can be found at CEC’s Green Jobs page.New

  1. NEW! Houston Audubon seeks Conservation Specialist (Sanctuary Management). Houston Audubon is seeking a full time Conservation Specialists (sanctuary management). Responsibilities include: working with the Director of Conservation; guiding and providing day-to-day management of Houston Audubon sanctuaries (3,400 acres); assisting, coordinating, and executing various projects, including native habitat restoration, exotic and invasive species control, infrastructure maintenance, bird and vegetation monitoring, interpretation/education related to visitor services, and volunteer/intern training and oversight. The application deadline is August 9, 2013 at 5:00pm. Visit http://www.houstonaudubon.org/ for more details.
  2. NEW! H-GAC seeks Senior Air Quality Planner. The Senior Planner will serve as a primary staff for Transportation Air Quality Implementation Programs which may include Clean Air Action, Clean Vehicle and/or Commute Solutions activities.  Coordinates and supports the efforts of local, state and federal agencies in complying with the various federal and state alternative fuel mandates and trading regulations.  This position will support regional efforts to meet attainment of federal air quality standards by assisting in creatively analyzing and promoting transportation-related air quality programs and investigating other potential measures to help reduce ground level ozone. More at www.h-gac.com/careers.
  3. City of Mansfield, Texas, seeks Nature Education Specialist. The Nature Education Specialist is responsible for the programming and scheduling of outdoor science and education programs and events throughout the City of Mansfield’s park system. The goal of this position is to encourage awareness and appreciation of the environment, broaden the knowledge of natural science concepts and foster commitment to the protection of the natural environment. Full job description posted on CEC website. Mansfield is near Fort Worth.
  4. Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) seeks Houston Area Program Director. Experienced strategically-minded activist wanted for position available with Texas Campaign for the Environment (TCE) and TCE Fund, the state’s leading canvass-based environmental group. This person will work with the Executive Director and other program staffers to develop organizational corporate and legislative strategies, including evaluating and researching specific issues TCE works on at the local, state and federal levels and translating goals into winnable campaigns that motivate canvassers and the public. Experience in planning and executing creative direct actions is important. Currently, the top priority for Houston-area organizing is to stop a plan to do away with curbside recycling and have residents throw recyclables, organics and trash in one bin to be mechanically sorted at a “dirty Municipal Recycling Facility.” TCE needs a good strategic thinker who learns quickly and can work well with diverse stakeholders. This person will lead efforts to translate the success of the canvass operations into effective campaigns that get results by convincing government and corporate decision-makers to take the actions TCE advances. A qualified candidate must be able to identify, recruit and work with a broad spectrum of allies that share TCE’s interests, including community activists and organizations, businesspeople, elected officials and their staff members, and other government officials. This will require engagement outside of normal work hours and beyond the confines of the office. Flexibility and a strong work ethic are a must. If interested, email cover letter, resume, and contact information of two references to robin@texasenvironment.org. The deadline for applications is July 31, 2013.
  5. The Energy Corridor District seeks Intern. The Energy Corridor District is seeking a paid part time Intern to help with administration and marketing of the Federal Grant Programs. Responsibilities include: assisting District Staff in developing plans; organizing materials and implementing programs to promote the Energy Corridor District community and provide administrative support for the ECD office; promoting JARC Grant bus route to provide route information and seek promotional ridership; and assisting in implementing Energy Corridor CMAQ Grant CarShare Project by planning outreach activity, promoting Car Share Project at business work sites, developing web content, and responding to inquiries. To apply, send your resume and cover letter to jnunez@energycorridor.org or Energy Corridor District / Attn: John Nunez / 14701 St Mary’s Lane Suite 290 / Houston, TX 77079.
  6. Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center seeks Horticultural Coordinator. Under the direct supervision of the park superintendent, the horticultural coordinator plans, implements and maintains aspects of Jones Park’s native landscaping, heirloom garden and fruit trees, botanical identification, herbarium and seed collection, and greenhouse growing. This position requires a self-motivated, friendly and patient individual with a can do attitude, willing to work indoors or outdoors in all weather conditions, not afraid to get their hands dirty, and capable of conducting a variety of tasks in the course of a normal day. Responsibilities include growing and maintaining native plants, developing and maintaining the park’s landscape, presenting natural history programs, developing interpretive signage, using communication skills with the general public and volunteers. A four-year B.S. degree in horticulture, natural or environmental science, or comparable experience desired. Work varying shifts including weekends and evenings. The starting salary is commensurate with experience.  Contact Darlene Conley Hostetler at 281-446-8588 or DConley@hcp4.net for a full job description and Harris County Precinct 4 employment application. For more information about Jones Park check the website at www.hcp4.net/jones.
  7. H-GAC seeks Air Quality Coordinator.  Provides day-to-day oversight of the Clean Vehicles grant program and support to related programs including the region’s Clean Cities Coalition and H-GAC’s Drayage Loan Program. Supervises both technical and administrative aspects of the program, coordinates program staff, and tracks/analyzes metrics to ensure overall objectives are achieved.  Reports to the Air Quality Program Manager, Transportation Department. More at www.h-gac.com/careers.
  8. Uptown Houston seeks Project Manager for Memorial Park. Uptown Houston, through its tax reinvestment zone (TIRZ), recently incorporated Memorial Park into its service area. Memorial Park is among the largest urban parks in the U.S., and is Houston’s largest inner city park covering almost 1,500 acres. The Memorial Park Project – a twenty-year, $100 million park improvement program – is just now being launched as part of Houston Parks And Recreation Department’s, Memorial Park Conservancy’s and Uptown Houston’s partnership to make vital improvements in Memorial Park. Specifics of the Project will be determined by the proposed master plan for Memorial Park, which will be developed in 2013 – 2014. Responsibilities of the Project Manager for Memorial Park include: to serve as the Project Manager for the master plan and park improvement projects; to manage the execution of the master plan in accordance with its phased construction; To manage day-to-day operational aspects of the planning and construction stages; to manage the procurement of consultants and advisers throughout the planning and construction stages; to identify resources needed and assign responsibilities; and more. To apply, send responses to 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 1580, Houston, Texas 77056; Attention: Betsy Kirkgard bkirkgard@uptown-houston.com. Include your resume, cover letter, and minimum of 2 references.
  9. Memorial Park Conservancy seeks Conservation Director. The Conservation Director of Memorial Park Conservancy (MPC) is primarily responsible for restoration and enhancement of Memorial Park’s natural environment through the use of trees and plants that are native to the area. Duties and responsibilities include: developing and maintaining inventory of park forest that identifies trees by species, area of the park and estimated age; planning and implementing plantings and irrigation within the maintained areas of the Park; planning and implementing reforestation where appropriate; working with Houston Parks and Recreation (HPARD), technical experts and consultants to study Memorial Park’s ecology and identify today’s and future requirements and constraints to restore the park’s natural ecology within the context of the long-range Master Planning process; implementing ecosystem management regimes contained in the approved Master Plan; and more. If interested, email cover letter, resume, references and compensation requirements to: Shellye Arnold, Executive Director, Memorial Park Conservancy at sarnold@memorialparkconservancy.org.
  10. Public Citizen (Austin) seeks Project Media Coordinator. Public Citizen (Austin, TX) is seeking a Project Media Coordinator to be a part of the Clean Coastal Commerce Coalition, committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through a reduction of coal exports.  The coalition seeks to get our message out in print, radio, television and online.  We are looking for an applicant who is adept at using a multi-media and communications strategy that will provide information to local and national reporters, and maintain a significant presence and following online using new media to advocate for public health and safety, government accountability, and clean and safe energy. This is an opportunity to make a difference.  For more information on this job posting go to http://www.citizen.org/Page.aspx?pid=5960.

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LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

CEC is sharing information during the session about what bills our member groups and readers are tracking. More information is available at cechouston.org/category/texas-legislature/. The last day of the regular session was Monday, May 27, 2013, followed by a special session for redistricting. On June 12, 2013, the Governor called for additional legislation to be considered during the special session. Learn more at www.legis.state.tx.us.

CEC will provide additional updates from our member groups soon. Websites with updates on environmental legislation:

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UPCOMING EVENTS If you attend one of these events, please let them know you heard about it here! Visit the new calendar at cechouston.org.

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Sunday, July 28, 2013

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ABOUT THIS PUBLICATION This weekly update is brought to you by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition, established as a 501(c)3 in 1971. CEC is a coalition of over 100 environmental organizations dedicated to fostering dialogue, education, and collaboration on environmental issues in the Houston / Gulf Coast region. Visit the CEC on line at cechouston.org. Do you know of something great going on? News? Events? Accomplishments? Jobs? Let us know! Send submittals to news@cechouston.org. If possible, send information by Friday for inclusion the following Tuesday. We especially like short paragraphs, catchy titles, third person, and links to more information, but we will work with whatever you send us. Calendar items can be submitted up to two years in advance. We are always looking for volunteers to help keep our calendar up to date.

CEC and other leading environmental organizations participate in payroll contribution plans at many Texas workplaces through Earth Share of Texas. Find out how you can support CEC at 800-GREENTX or www.earthshare-texas.org.

CEC agencies receive donations when you choose Green Bank. Visit www.greenbank.com for more information about the program.

Rachel Powers, Executive Director
Page Slocum, Newsletter Editor
(713) 524-4232
news@cechouston.org
cechouston.org
www.facebook.com/cecHouston

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