Houston Environmental News Update November 16, 2016

1. Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour: Local Film Screening Tonight!
   

   Please join the CEC and the Houston Green Film Series to see a variety of short, local environmental films tonight, Nov., 16, 2016, starting at 6:30 pm tonight at the Rice University Media Center.

   Film topics include:

   • The Grease Monster
   • Environmental Justice & the San Jacinto River
   • The Houston Bike Plan
   • Road Warriors
   • (Un)flushable wipes
   • Open architecture
   • Armand Bayou Nature Center
   • Swallows & Coneflowers
   • Google Trekker
   • The Bus Lady

   For the third time, on January 25 & 26, 2017, the CEC will host the Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour at the River Oaks Theatre. But before then…

   CEC is using this festival to tell local environmental stories, highlight the work of CEC’s member organizations, and inspire our residents and visitors to make a difference in the environment and quality of life. To that end, in partnership with the Houston Green Film Series, CEC will host a one-night screening of local environmental films on November 16, 2016, to help select the local films that will be shown each night at the January WSFF On Tour. In addition to selecting the local films to include in January, CEC hopes to expose a wider audience to local environmental stories and to honor the top films.

COALITION NOTES.

1. EPA Refinery Sector Rule Hearing. On Thursday, November 17, 2016, from 2:00 to 8:00 pm, the Environmental Protection Agency will hold a public hearing on the reconsideration of the Refinery Sector Rule for which EPA did not provide adequate opportunity for notice and comment. This rulemaking is the result of a lawsuit filed by Air Alliance Houston, Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, Community In-Power and Development Association, and the Louisiana Bucket Brigade, who are collectively represented by Earthjustice.Air Alliance encourages you to attend. This is is our only chance to tell EPA we are concerned about pollution from oil refineries and its impact on our health. This is the only public hearing EPA will hold anywhere in the country, and public comment will be taken for six hours, from 2-8 pm. We’d like EPA to hear from us and our allies in refinery communities throughout the entire hearing, so please sign up to speak today. Learn more at airalliancehouston.org.
2. SPARK Week. Join the SPARK School Park Program the week of Nov. 14, 2016, at six school parks celebrating dedications and groundbreaking. Details will be posted soon at sparkpark.org.
   • Thursday, Nov. 17 - Winborn Elementary – Katy ISD – 9:30 AM
   • Friday, Nov. 18 - Bush Elementary (groundbreaking) – Alief ISD – 9:30 AM
   • Friday, Nov. 19 - Mandarin Immersion Magnet School (groundbreaking) – Houston ISD – 1:30 PM
   • Saturday, Nov. 20 - Houston Academy for International Studies – Houston ISD – 9:30 AM
3. Webinar: Combined Heat and Power (CHP) in Breweries – Better Beer at Lower Costs. Presented by HARC’s Gavin Dillingham and Siemens Energy. The U.S. Department of Energy Southwest CHP TAP, in partnership with Siemens Energy, will present CHP in Breweries and Distilleries on Nov. 17, 2016, at 2:00 pm. Learn more at harcresearch.org.
4. NPSOT – Houston Chapter Plant/Seed Swap & Potluck Dinner Celebration. Join the Native Plant Society Houston Chapter on Thursday, November 17, 2016, at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center, 4501 Woodway Drive, 77024, starting at 6:30 PM, for the annual Seed & Plant Swap. Learn more at http://npsot.org./wp/houston/.
5. Energy Corridor Recycles Day. The Corridor’s 8^th Annual Recycles Day will be hosted on Nov. 19, 2016, 9 am – 2 pm, at the Addicks Park and Ride, 14230 Katy Freeway, Houston TX 77079. Sustainably purge your home/office electronics, textiles, toys and more, plus security shred sensitive documents. Check out the facebook event for updated information and a full list of items that can be recycled. Visit energycorridor.org to learn more about the management district.
6. Complete Communities and Public Education Lecture and Workshop. Join the Rice University Shell Center for Sustainability and Lester King, Ph.D. On Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, 4 pm – 8 pm, at the Interfaith Ministries Great Hall, 3303 Main St. Houston TX 77002. A Meet and Greet will start from 4:00 – 4:30, with the Report Presentation by Lester O. King starting at 4:30, Panel discussion will begin at 5:00 pm, titled “Factors Influencing Complete Communities.” From 5:30 – 6:30, the event will break up into work group small sessions and reports, and from 6:45 -8:00 pm , a closing reception with light bites and libations. Learn more at shellcenter.rice.edu.
7. Call for Donated Auction Items. The Houston Regional Group of the Sierra Club will be hosting their Annual Auction on Dec. 8, 2016. They are seeking auction items to be donated as early as possible. For more information about the auction and how to donate, please contact one of the following: Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896 (central Houston); Art Browning at art.browning@gmail.com or 281-728-6327 (Cypress area), or Lorraine Gibson at 281-384-4104, or raineygib@aol.com (Pearland area). Visit sierraclub.org for more information.
8. Call to Action: San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site. On Sep. 28, 2016, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed removing the dioxin-contaminated wastes from the San Jacinto River Waste Pits Superfund Site. The Galveston Bay Foundation enthusiastically applauds that proposed plan because removal is the only correct and permanent cleanup solution, while no containment alternative can be shown to reliably contain the waste over a long-term basis. However, the battle has not been won just yet and GBF needs your help! The EPA will base their final decision in part on comments it receives during the official public comment period that began on Sep. 29 and ends at midnight on November 28, 2016.  GBF encourages you to send your official comments supporting EPA’s plan to remove the dioxin waste TODAY, but be sure to send in your comments by Nov. 28. Visit GBF’s  Remove San Jacinto River Toxic Waste webpage to learn more about the issue, learn how to comment, and review sample comments.
9. HGOC – Food Composting. The Houston Green Office Challenge will present this workshop on Nov. 29, 11 am – 1 pm, at Two Allen Center. This interactive workshop will teach how to start composting at your facility, track waste diversion and cost savings, and train employees to promote an effective programs, and to test a pilot food testing program in downtown Houston. Learn more at houstongoc.org, and reserve your spot on eventbrite.
10. SCA Seeks School Year Conservation crew. SCA Houston Community Programs aim to build the next generation of conservation leaders and environmental stewards by getting local Houston youth out into their community and environment to do hands-on service to the land. The School-Year Program is voluntary and occurs on weekends, from Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon. During the course of the School-Year Program, youth attend five camping weekends at parks and nature areas around Houston. Applicants must be 15-19 years of age and be enrolled in school. Learn more at www.thesca.org.
11. Save the Date: Holiday with the Cranes. As Sandhill Cranes begin to arrive on Galveston Island to roost and forage, the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council opens registration for Holiday with the Cranes, Dec. 10 – 11, 2016. Several of the events sell out rather quickly so learn more and sign up soon at www.galvestonnaturetourism.org.
12. Additional Upcoming Events
    • 12/1/16: HGOC Benchmarking
    • 12/1/16 (Deadline): TWA Teacher Award Application
    • 3/25/17: River, Lakes, Bays ‘N Bayous Trash Bash®
    • 4/22/2017: ABNC Party for the Planet

COMMUNITY NOTES.

1. SEED: The Untold Story. This award-winning film is a feature-length documentary featuring Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbell, and Winona LaDuke, following passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000-year old food legacy. They need to sell 57 more tickets to meet the threshold to show the film at theHouston Merq’E Stadium 23 & Imax theater on December 1, 2016. Learn more, view the trailer, and purchase tickets at gather.us/screening
2. EPA’s EJ 2020 Action Agenda. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Environmental Justice 2020 Action Agenda (EJ 2020), the Agency’s environmental justice strategic plan for 2016 to 2020. EJ 2020 will further integrate environmental justice considerations in all of the Agency’s programs, strengthen EPA’s collaboration with partners, and demonstrate progress on significant national challenges facing minority and low-income communities. EJ 2020 builds on the foundation established by EPA’s previous strategic plan, Plan EJ 2014, as well as decades of significant environmental justice practice by the Agency, communities, and other environmental justice stakeholders. The EJ 2020 Action Agenda has three overarching goals:
   • Deepen environmental justice practice within EPA programs to improve the health and environment of overburdened communities.
   • Work with partners to expand our positive impact within overburdened communities.
   • Demonstrate progress on critical national environmental justice challenges.

   Learn more about the plan and download a copy at www.epa.gov.

3. Japhet Creek Clean-ups. Japhet Creek Nature Conservancy is hosting several creek clean-ups this fall, on Nov. 19, 2016. Learn more about how to help at japhetcreek.org.
4. Plan Houston 2016 Plan Survey and Update. In 2015, Houston’s City Council took the groundbreaking step of adopting the city’s first general plan, Plan Houston. The Plan describes a vision and goals for our community and identifies twelve core strategies that represent the City’s approach for achieving the vision. The City of Houston is now actively working towards achieving the community goals laid out in Plan Houston. The next step is to understand the community’s interests so that policy makers can consider them as they develop City priorities for the next budget year. The City’s next fiscal year begins July 1, 2017. Your input, coupled with Plan Houston’s strategic guidance, ensures that the City will use its limited resources in the most effective means possible to improve our community. You can share your thoughts on what the City should be focusing on by responding to a brief survey. Learn more and take the survey at planhouston.org/
5. NOAA Marine Debris Research Federal Funding Opportunity. Deadline: December 19, 2016. NOAA’s Marine Debris Program is pleased to announce the FY2017 Marine Debris Research Federal Funding Opportunity. Proposals are due December 19, 2016.  The announcement can be found on Grants.gov at www.grants.gov.
6. TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife. Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3:00 PM each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.
   • Coastal Birds
   • Horned Lizards
   • Desert Plants