conservation

We are thrilled that Robin Mann (former president of the National Sierra Club, Gwyn Jones (chapter support representative) and Mike Kresowik (Beyond Coal campaign manager) were able to assist the Chapter in the development of our 2013 energy and climate strategy. Fun was had by all with lots of great food and candid discussion of our energy priorities and the best strategies and tactics to achieve our goals.

The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club is proud to join Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, the Delaware Coalition for Open Government, and the Progressive Democrats in opposition to the 2010 Supreme Court decision in the case of Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission.

On January 15, 2013 DNREC held a public hearing for Delaware City Refining Company’s Olefins Restart Application.  This project would restart the Olefins Unit, which has been out of service since May 2001, to produce a compound called “nonene.”

On December 3, 2013 the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club requested this public hearing for this project, but confirmation that there was a public hearing was only provided on the morning of the hearing, less than 9 hours in advance.

Shark fin soup is driving an international market in the trade of shark fins - a market that threatens the ocean as we know it. As top predators in the ocean, sharks serve an important function; they balance the ecosystem.

A Master Plan is currently being developed for the redevelopment of state land at Fort DuPont. The Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club has asked DNREC to include environment, health and sea level rise into the planning process.

On December 6, 2012 DNREC Secretary Collin O'Mara made the following presentation at the Sierra Club's membership social at the Chelsea Tavern in Wilmington. He was kind enough to provide us with a copy of the slides from his presentation.

The U.S. Office of Management and Budget will be deciding soon on its budget for 2013, and the Army Corps of Engineers is asking for funding to deepen the Main Channel of the Delaware River.

On December 11, 2012 Delaware's Attorney General Beau Biden announced his intent to file a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for violating the Clean Air Act by failing to include the methane emissions in its air pollution standards for the oil and gas industry.

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide.  During the process of fracking, methane escapes from wells and leaks into the atmosphere (this is called fugitive emissions).

The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, Division of Air Quality, conducted a public hearing at our request on an air permit application submitted by Delaware City Refining Company to restart the Ether Plant Cooling Tower which has been out of service since 2002.

On December 12, 2012 the University of Delaware provided UD Students with the following list of grounds maintenance products that are available for landscaping use: