Resurrection Bay is precious. Glaciers spilling out of both the Harding and Sargent Icefields push down to treeline or tideline, unnamed peaks recede along the horizon and in the Bay itself, sea mammals, pelagic birds, and salmon do their thing. Perched on an alluvial fan at the head of the Bay, Seward hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors drawn by the same natural beauty and wildness that keeps locals here throughout the year.
Since the establishment of Kenai Fjords National Park in 1980, Seward's economic base has shifted toward tourism. Tourism relies on an intact ecosystem and all its attributes. That's what we try to protect.
Seen any insults or crimes against our environment that need to be addressed? Call our hotline 224-4621 or 224-7607. Anonymity guaranteed!
The Hidden Hazards of Coal Development in Alaska: Health Risks of Coal Combustion Waste, Teleconference, August 11
Date: Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Time: 9 am Alaska Time (10 am PST)
This call will last one hour.
To join this free call and receive the dial-up instructions, please RSVP to Alaska Community Action on Toxics at diana@akaction.org or (907) 222-7714.
Alaska currently has six coal-fired power plants, all located between Healy and Fairbanks in Alaska's Interior. Coal ash from these facilities may pose a health hazard to nearby communities.
Coal combustion waste, or coal ash, is the material that remains after coal is burned. Coal ash may contain a number of harmful substances including heavy metals like mercury and arsenic, radioactive elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and particulate matter. This waste from burning coal poses a risk to public health and the environment, yet is unregulated. Facilities in Alaska dispose of coal ash by giving it away as free fill and by placing the waste in holding ponds or landfill sites. These disposal methods may result in hazardous exposures to people unaware of the presence of coal ash nearby and unaware of the potential dangers.
Recognizing the dangers of coal ash, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently considering ways to regulate this dangerous waste stream.
Join us for a discussion of the hazardous chemicals in coal ash, how these chemicals may affect our health, air, water and food, and how you can help protect Alaskans from the health hazards of coal ash.
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Peace and Petals Garden Tour, Saturday July 31
Peace and Petals
Garden Tour and Luncheon 2010
Saturday July 31
9:30 AM
Sponsored by Seward People for Peace
All proceeds benefit The Peace Alliance & Seaview Community Services Domestic Violence Sexual Assault Program
Trolley Transportation to in-town gardens
Luncheon at Resurrection Lutheran Church
On your own tours for out of town gardens
Tickets available for $30 at Rez Art in Seward
Seaview Community Services in Seward
For more information contact Lori Draper 224-2220 Garden Tour Info
Gather at Resurrection Lutheran Church between 9:30 and 10:00. The first 20 people will be able to ride the trolley to the five in-town gardens. Others can follow along in their cars behind the trolley (car pooling encouraged). After the first four gardens we will be dropped off at Rez Art for a tour of their garden, and then walk back to the Resurrection Lutheran Church for lunch. At lunch a map of the five out of town gardens will be provided, and you will be welcome to tour those gardens on your own in whatever order you choose.
Bear-resistant garbage cans still available
We’re Down to Our Last Cans
The Seward Wildlife Community Conservation Program (WCCP) is on-going but we are down to the last EIGHT 32-gallon bear resistant garbage cans (BRGC). These cost $50. We know that RBCA members manage their bear attractants responsibly. Please encourage your neighbors to do their part, and get one of our BRGCs while they last. Meanwhile, here are some of WCCP's impressive statistics:
*650 bear-resistant garbage cans have been provided to residents at a quarter of their actual cost.
*25 bear-resistant dumpster lids have been provided in areas where bears are a repeat problem.
*11 “park setting” metal BRGC’s have been provided to the City at a quarter of their actual cost (there's one at the waterfront playground).
*Over 8,000 issues of the informative “Living In Harmony with Bears” booklet was mailed to all Seward and Moose Pass mail boxes in the spring of 2008 and 2009.
*Eight locally-designed WCCP signs (provided by Seward Public Works Dept.) have been mounted around town declaring Seward as a Wildlife Conservation Community
RBCA extends its thanks to our WCCP Partners: US Fish and Wildlife Service (provided $108,150 in grant funding), Conoco Phillips (provided $35,000), Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska SeaLife Center, Chugach National Forest, the City of Seward, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and Alaska Waste. Alaska Waste deserves special mention, since they have repeatedly donated funds and manpower to support the Seward WCCP.
If you need a BRCG call our Watershed Program Coordinator, Matt Gray at 224-4621.
More info: Bear Resistant Garbage Cans
