HOLNAM UPDATE: INDIANA BATS FOUND. An article in the Post-Dispatch on 9/3/01 reported that the Corps of Engineers would not complete its Environmental Assessment report by September, as previously anticipated. Yvonne Homeyer called the Corps and learned that the reason for the delay is that Holnam has not completed the biological assessment of its property. Holnam's bat consultant has found INDIANA BATS, a federally endangered species, on its property, a 4000 acre site along the Mississippi River in Jefferson & Ste. Genevieve Counties where it proposes to build the largest cement plant in the world and a 2000 acre quarry. Meanwhile, no permits have been issued by the Corps giving Holnam the go-ahead to construct the plant. A water certification has been issued to Holnam by the Missouri Dept. of Natural Resources and WGNSS is appealing that certification (along with Missouri Coalition for the Environment, American Bottom Conservancy, and Sierra Club) to the Clean Water Commission.

This is an opportune time to again ask SEN. JEAN CARNAHAN (D-Mo.) to request the Corps to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project. In last month's report, I listed all the elected officials, government agencies (federal, state and local), and environmental organizations that have pressed the Corps to do an EIS. Absent from that list, which includes Mo. Gov. Bob Holden, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Congressman Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), is Sen. Jean Carnahan. A sample letter is attached at the end of this newsletter. Please write your own letter if possible. If you wish to use the sample letter, please take a few moments to write your own comments at the bottom. It would be helpful if I could track how many letters are being sent to her, so if you could send me a COPY of your letter, I would appreciate that. All addresses are on the sample letter. Thank you for helping in this important effort.

EQUILON PIPELINE/CARLYLE LAKE: On Sept. 6, WGNSS met with representatives of the Equilon Co., based in Houston, to discuss the company's plans to construct an underground 58-mile petroleum products pipeline running east from Wood River through the Upper Wildlife Management Area of Carlyle Lake (near Parking Lot 3 and levee). In late August, the Corps of Engineers issued a Public Notice about the proposed project. Yvonne Homeyer called the company to get more information and Equilon offered to meet with us in person. On Sept. 6, five company officials from Houston and a community relations consultant from Chicago flew in to St. Louis for the meeting. Also present were Yvonne Homeyer for WGNSS, Sue Gustafson for St. Louis Audubon Society, Jim Ziebol for North American Butterfly Association & WGNSS, Kathy Andria for American Bottom Conservancy, Ted Heisel for Missouri Coalition for the Environment, and Jack Norman for Sierra Club and American Bottom Conservancy. The discussion centered on our concerns about impacts to wetlands and trees, the importance of Carlyle Lake to migrating shorebirds, and the best time of year from the standpoint of birds, Indiana Bat and other wildlife for tree removal and laying the pipeline. Mitigation alternatives were also discussed. The meeting was cordial, informative, and productive. We will continue our dialogue with Equilon and we want to thank them for their prompt and courteous response to our concerns.

DOGWOOD ALLIANCE: In June, Dogwood Alliance invited WGNSS to become a member of this umbrella organization fighting chip mills and promoting legislation to protect forests and restrict clearcutting. At the Board meeting on 9/5/01, the Board unanimously approved WGNSS's membership in the Dogwood Alliance. Other organizations in Missouri that belong to Dogwood Alliance are Missouri Coalition for the Environment, Missouri Heartwood, and Ozark RiverKeeper Network. We are pleased to be a member of Dogwood Alliance. For more information, check out their web site at: www.dogwoodalliance.com.

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