Clean air

Mansfield Gas Well Awareness, a new group of Mansfield residents, is sponsoring what’s believed to be the first DFW presentation by a medical doctor on the health effects of fracking as part of a campaign to re-write the city’s six-year old drilling ordinance they say no longer reflects the best science, or provides enough public protection.

Dr. Anne Epstein, M.D. is an internal medicine specialist who graduated from Baylor Medical School and sits on the Lubbock County Board of Health. She’s a member of the Board’s Oil and Gas Advisory Committee that recently voted to recommend setbacks of 1,500 feet separating homes, workplaces, and schools from wells. Mansfield currently allows wells as close as 600 feet to residences, with post drilling development up to 100 feet.

READ Star-Telegram article.

DFW Clean Cities Coalition meeting is held in conjunction with the Pinnacle Propane Mower University event. In addition to the meeting agenda, attendees will also be able to learn about available incentives and test drive alt fuel commercial lawn equipment.

Info: cleancities@nctcog.org

The October meeting is a "triple-header."

There will be a multi-media presentation by some of the homeowners who hosted visitors. There will be an overview of tours sites while they describe what they've done for energy efficiency and solar energy, and answer your questions.

Larry Howe of  Plano Solar Advocates will provide an update us of Texas Home Owner Association legislation and recent Metroplex "solar ordinance" activity.

After the meeting, NTREG will host a lunch.

See Agenda.

The Regional Transportation Council (RTC) of the North Central Texas Council of Governments has served as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for regional transportation planning in the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 1974. The MPO works in cooperation with the region’s transportation providers to address the complex transportation needs of the rapidly growing metropolitan area. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area includes Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Parker, Rockwall, Tarrant and Wise counties. The RTC’s 44 members include local elected or appointed officials from the metropolitan area and representatives from each of the area’s transportation providers. More information can be found at www.nctcog.org.

Citizen's Climate Lobby (CCL) is a non-profit nonpartisan organization working on creating the political will for a livable world. CCL's mission is to empower normal citizens, who care about their world, to engage in conversations with their elected officials.

To dispel your climate despair and be part of a growing grassroots movement that is getting revenue neutral carbon fee and dividend legislation passed, join Citizens Climate Lobby.

Info: Shawn Reeder at dallas@citizensclimatelobby.org

To learn more about our organization, dial in to our intro call Oct 1/Oct 8 at 7pm. Conference number: 1-866-642-1665. Pass code: 440699#

Monthly gathering of green-minded folk.

Jim Shermbeck, community organizer and director of Downwinders At Risk, will update our group about the current state of affairs on air quality in DFW and the proposals from environmental and concerned citizens to TCEQ on how to fix our nonattainment with the Clean Air Act. Jim and Downwinders at Risk have led the fight against the dirty air created by cement kilns in Midlothian for more than two decades. The speaker is followed by refreshments and announcements. 

The Native Prairies Association of Texas Dallas Chapter now has a name: Blackland Native Prairie Association of Texas (BNPAT). This newly formed chapter is a branch of the Native Prairies Association of Texas and will represent 13 Blackland counties: Collin, Ellis, Fannin, Grayson, Henderson, Hunt, Kaufman, Lamar, Navarro, Rains, Rockwall and Van Zandt. 

At this meeting, members will be asked to give input on projects, workshops, field trips and other activities that they would like implemented in the coming year.

Info: Leigh Ann Ellis, laellis55@aol.com

Public welcome. 

Citizen's Climate Lobby (CCL) is a non-profit nonpartisan organization working on creating the political will for a livable world. CCL's mission is to empower normal citizens, who care about their world, to engage in conversations with their elected officials.

On June 24, five members of the DFW chapter went to Capital Hill in DC and met with Texan congressmen. http://greensourcedfw.org/articles/dfw-citizens-climate-lobby-activists-dc-lobby-congress-carbon-tax. If you care about the environment and want to get involved in getting an effective climate change policy created, come meet us. 

This month, we are meeting to listen to the monthly national call. This month the speaker is Gen. Wesley Clark (ret.), former NATO Supreme Allied Commander. The call starts at noon. 

Info: Shawn Reeder at dallas@citizensclimatelobby.org