Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District in Missouri to Pay $4.7 Billion to Cut Sewer Overflows

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7

901 N. Fifth St., Kansas City, KS 66101

 

Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

 

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District in Missouri to Pay $4.7 Billion to Cut Sewer Overflows

 

Contact Information: Chris Whitley, 913-551-7394, Blackberry: 816-518-2794, whitley.christopher@epa.gov

Environmental News

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

(Kansas City, Kan., Aug. 4, 2011) - The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD) has agreed to make extensive improvements to its sewer systems and treatment plants, at an estimated cost of $4.7 billion over 23 years, to eliminate illegal overflows of untreated raw sewage, including basement backups, and to reduce pollution levels in urban rivers and streams, the Department of Justice and the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. This injunctive relief is historic in its scope and importance to the people of St. Louis.

 

The settlement reached between the United States, the Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation and MSD, requires MSD to install a variety of pollution controls, including the construction of three large storage tunnels ranging from approximately two miles to nine miles in length, and to expand capacity at two treatment plants. These controls and similar controls that MSD has already implemented will result in the reduction of almost 13 billion gallons per year of overflows into nearby streams and rivers.

 

MSD will also be required to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to eliminate more than 200 illegal discharge points within its sanitary sewer system. Finally, MSD will engage in comprehensive and proactive cleaning, maintenance and emergency response programs to improve sewer system performance and to eliminate overflows from its sewer systems, including basement backups, releases into buildings and onto property.

 

"We are fully committed to vigorous enforcement of the Clean Water Act, and will continue to work in partnership with EPA to advance the goal of clean water for all communities in our nation's cities," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The people of St. Louis, including those who live in minority and low-income communities, will receive tangible, lasting benefits from this significant settlement."

 

"St. Louis, America's Gateway City, grew up alongside the Mississippi. Unfortunately, for too long it treated the river's tributaries as a dumping ground for sewage," EPA Regional Administrator Karl Brooks said. "By moving forward with this Clean Water Act settlement, the community is facing its responsibilities. This agreement will bring jobs and long-term economic investments while significantly improving the environment for future generations."

 

Today's settlement will also significantly advance the use of large scale green infrastructure projects to control wet weather sewer overflows by requiring MSD to invest at least $100 million in an innovative green infrastructure program, focused in environmental justice communities in St. Louis. Environmental justice communities include low-income or minority communities who have suffered a disproportionate burden from air, water or land pollution. Green infrastructure involves the use of properties to store, infiltrate and evaporate stormwater to prevent it from getting into the combined sewer system. Examples of potential green infrastructure projects include green roofs, bioretention, green streets, rain barrels, rain gardens and permeable pavement.

 

MSD, in conjunction with the city of St. Louis economic redevelopment authorities, will transform numerous vacant or abandoned properties to productive use – helping to revitalize disadvantaged communities and resulting in cleaner air and green space. MSD will conduct public education and outreach, and collaborate with local residents and neighborhood groups, including those representing minority and/or low-income neighborhoods, in selecting the locations of green infrastructure projects.

 

MSD has also committed to spending $230 million in a mitigation program to alleviate flooding and another $30 million in an enhanced pipe lining program, both of which are focused exclusively in environmental justice areas. These programs and the pioneering green infrastructure program of the settlement will further the Department of Justice and EPA's work to advance environmental justice.

 

In addition to improving its sewer system and treatment plants, MSD will spend $1.6 million on a supplemental environmental project to implement a voluntary sewer connection and septic tank closure program for low-income eligible residential property owners who elect to close their septic tanks and connect to the public sewer. MSD will also pay a civil penalty of $1.2 million to the United States.

 

MSD's sewer system collects and treats domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater from a population of approximately 1.4 million in the city of St. Louis and nearly all of St. Louis County. The system covers more than 525 square miles, and includes seven wastewater treatment plants, 294 pumping stations and more than 9,630 miles of sewer lines, making it the fourth largest sewer system in the United States.

 

The settlement resolves the claims brought by the United States in a lawsuit filed in June 2007 which the Missouri Coalition for the Environment Foundation later intervened under the citizen suit provisions of the federal Clean Water Act. In that lawsuit, among other things, the United States alleged that on at least 7,000 occasions between 2001 and 2005, failures in MSD's sewer system resulted in overflows of raw sewage into residential homes, yards, public parks, streets and playground areas.

 

Overflows pose a significant threat to public health and water quality because raw sewage can have high concentrations of bacteria from fecal contamination, as well as disease-causing pathogens and viruses. These overflows can occur in basements, backyards, city streets, and directly into stream and rivers. This settlement goes a long way in preventing these overflows.

 

Today's settlement is the latest in a series of Clean Water Act settlements that will reduce the discharge of raw sewage and contaminated stormwater into United States' rivers, streams and lakes. Keeping raw sewage and contaminated stormwater out of the waters of the United States is one of EPA's National Enforcement Initiatives for 2011 to 2013. The initiative focuses on reducing discharges from sewer overflows by obtaining cities' commitments to implement timely, affordable solutions to these problems, including the increased use of green infrastructure and other innovative approaches.

 

The settlement, lodged today in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, is subject to a 30-day public comment period and court approval. A copy of the consent decree and its appendices is available at www.justice.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html.

 

# # #

 

Learn more about the consent decree with the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District:

www.epa.gov/region7/enforcement_compliance/MSD_consent_decree_cwa.htm

 

Learn more about EPA's civil enforcement of the Clean Water Act

 

Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7

 

 

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

 

 

View all Region 7 News Releases

 

 

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Solar Tracker Information-Guide-WhitePaper

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Jerseyville gets 'net zero' energy subdivision

Rooftop solar panels and wind turbines mounted over garages power all 32 homes at Lexington Farms, a new Jerseyville subdivision designed to provide residents no-cost electricity.

MidAmerica Solar of Imperial, Sachs Electric of Fenton, and Capstone Development Group of Webster Groves built the subdivision, which is about 40 miles north of St. Louis.

"Over the course of a year the solar array and wind turbines provide all the energy needed to power heating and air-conditioning systems, along with other household electricity needs," said Jeff Lewis, president of MidAmerica Solar. "While similar technology has been used in homes, it hasn't been done on this scale in an entire subdivision."

Construction of Lexington Farms, an affordable housing project of rental homes, began last summer. Residents began arriving in December but landscaping is winding up now.

Each home can produce up to 7.2 kilowatts of energy from roof-mounted solar panels.

Wind turbines mounted on masts over garages provide up to 1 kilowatt of additional energy. Lewis said tests were conducted to make sure the turbines' vibrations were so slight as to be unnoticed by the homes' occupants.

Ground-mounted solar panels at the subdivision's entrance generate power for the community center.

Lexington Farms' three-bedroom homes rent for $590 per month to families with incomes of $41,000 or less. The houses have central air conditioning, heat, hot water and other appliances that are powered by electricity generated by the solar panels and wind turbines.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority provided more than $2.5 million in assistance for the project, including federal low-income housing tax credits and federal stimulus money. Funding also came from a $260,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity and financing from Sterling Bank.

Included in the project are 16 streetlights that operate entirely off the electrical grid.

The streetlights, made by MidAmerica Solar, have their own wind turbines and solar panels that provide electricity to energy-efficient LED lights and a backup battery. The lights used to come from China. Now they come from a small factory in Affton.

Lewis said Friday he moved streetlight production to the United States more than a year ago because of quality-control problems in China.

"I like to keep Americans employed," he said. "We're making the streetlights here for about the same price as in China, when you consider the shipping."

The lights are built at a plant owned by BZ Products, another solar energy firm that uses American-made components. BZ makes controls to charge batteries with electricity produced by solar panels. Frank Lewon, BZ's owner, said he has customers worldwide.

"Everything we make, we make in the United States," he said. "All the components, the circuit boards, everything, are made in the United States."

Final assembly is done by six workers at BZ's small plant.

"We cannot keep up with the demand," Lewon said.

Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/article_d6789801-8ed7-596e-bf0e-57b1c7b30c33.html#ixzz1U1WL1ClD

Jerseyville gets 'net zero' energy subdivision

MO Coalition for the Environment Monthly Digest - July 2011

Donate Now Become A Member Volunteer  Follow us on:     Facebook   Twitter MCE Monthly Digest   Once a month, MCE sends a brief update on the work of each of our program areas. If you'd like to receive a program's more frequent updates, click the "update profile" link at the bottom of this email.   Clean Energy Program Renew Missouri works to advance renewable energy and energy efficiency in Missouri. Solar stops in Missouri....and starts again: More than $2 million has been paid out in solar rebates by Ameren Missouri and Kansas City Power & Light since the programs began in January 2009 due to Proposition C.  This month, both utilities froze their utility programs for over 3 weeks, which threatened the future of solar in Missouri and the livelihood of over 35 solar businesses in Missouri.  Utilities blamed a court ruling which may have declared the rebates unconstitutional, however this week that same court reversed its decision and ordered the utilities to resume their solar rebate programs.  This means the utilities should have their programs back up and running by the time you read this email. Clean Water Program  The MCE Water Program works to promote Missouri's water quality, preserve and restore floodplains and wetlands, and advocate for sustainable stormwater management MCE joined members of the Mississippi River Collaborative in Chicago to discuss strategies for reducing the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico and restoring the Mississippi River. Also this month: We evaluated and prepared comments on Missouri's proposed revision of water quality standards. It is our conclusion that the proposed revisions are not even a half-measure when it comes to the protections promised by the Clean Water Act. Stay tuned for a sign-on letter you can sign to help support clean water in the coming months!    We are doing research into the impact of lost wetlands and floodplains in Missouri on water quality and flooding in the context of an increasingly widespread and persistent Gulf Dead Zone and the ever more frequent flooding in the Mississippi River Basin. The first Kiefer Creek Watershed Planning meetings was held in early July. Kiefer Creek is located in west St. Louis County at Castlewood State Park. At this meeting, we presented our water quality monitoring plan and an analysis of watershed issues. To get involved in the Kiefer Creek Restoration Project please contact Lorin Crandall at lcrandall@moenviron.org.  No-CWIP - MCE will do LIVE Debate with Ameren MCE's very own Ed Smith will debate a representative from Ameren about the risks of nuclear power. The event will take place September 6th at the Ethical Society in Clayton.  Check it out - don't miss this.   MCE Membership Program  Stay up to date and active in protecting the environment. you can personalize your membership by selecting to stay informed by the issues you care most about. Save the Date: Poured - A Taste of Space - MCE's 2011 Wine and Cheese Event in St. Louis, Missouri. Join us the Coalition for a night of delicious wine and cheese tasting, wine appreciation sessions, live music, auction and more.  Get your tickets now. Volunteer Opportunities are among us such as Loop Chalkfest, Green Homes Great Health Festival and our wine and cheese fundraiser. Please let me know if you want to join the Coalition at our upcoming events. Email dfarrand@moenviron.org for more information.  St. Louis: You should know... The Carter Carburetor Citizens Advocacy Group (CCCAG) hosted two panel discussions exploring "Carter Carburetor-Addressing Contamination and Beyond" July 6. The next CCCAG meeting will be August 10 at at 6:30 p.m. at the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club at 2901 N. Grand in St. Louis. The EPA plans to announce results from off-site testing of properties adjacent to the Carter Carburet or site at N. Grand and St. Louis Ave. at a meeting August 9 at 7:00 p.m. at Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club at 2901 N. Grand in St. Louis.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment | 6267 Delmar Blvd., Ste. 2E | St. Louis | MO | 63130

If you are interested in Green Building on an Investment Property Check out the Benton Gut Rehab Blog Series-Benton Gut Rehab Green Blog Series

Part 1: History

Part 2: Stone Foundation Repair

Part 3: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 1

Part 4: Tuckpointing the Brick Walls pt 2

Part 5: What were they thinking?

Part 6: Paint Pro Tip #35

Part 7: Repairing Water Damage-Exterior Wall

Part 8: 1st Floor Weatherization

Part 9: See the Difference a Little White Paint Makes

Part 10: Interior Framing-Plumbing-Laundry Room

Part 11: Kitchen Framing Tip #36-Benton Rehab Project

Part 12: Water Main Repair- Benton Rehab

Part 13: Benton Rehab Project Drywall Installation and Tip: Number 1172

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Roof Venting and Its Importance for your Home

A Crash Course in Roof Venting

Understand when to vent your roof, when not to, and how to execute each approach successfully

by Joseph Lstiburek

Article Re-Posted from: http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/articles/a-crash-course-in-roof-venting

So much information has been devoted to the subject of roof venting that it's easy to become confused and to lose focus. So I'll start by saying something that might sound controversial, but really isn't: A vented attic, where insulation is placed on an air-sealed attic floor, is one of the most underappreciated building assemblies that we have in the history of building science. It's hard to screw up this approach. A vented attic works in hot climates, mixed climates, and cold climates. It works in the Arctic and in the Amazon. It works absolutely everywhere—when executed properly.

Unfortunately, we manage to screw it up again and again, and a poorly constructed attic or roof assembly can lead to excessive energy losses, ice dams, mold, rot, and lots of unnecessary homeowner angst.

Here, I'll explain how to construct a vented attic properly. I'll also explain when it makes sense to move the thermal, moisture, and air-control layers to the roof plane, and how to detail vented and unvented roofs correctly.

Theory behind venting
The intent of roof venting varies depending on climate, but it is the same if you're venting the entire attic or if you're venting only the roof deck.

In a cold climate, the primary purpose of ventilation is to maintain a cold roof temperature to avoid ice dams created by melting snow and to vent any moisture that moves from the conditioned living space to the attic. (See Added  1/5/13- http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2013/01/ice-dam-prevention.html)

In a hot climate, the primary purpose of ventilation is to expel solar-heated hot air from the attic or roof to reduce the building's cooling load and to relieve the strain on air-conditioning systems. In mixed climates, ventilation serves either role, depending on the season.

Vent the attic

A key benefit of venting the attic is that the approach is the same regardless of how creative your architect got with the roof. Because the roof isn't in play here, it doesn't matter how  many hips, valleys, dormers, or gables there are. It's also easier and often less expensive to pile on fiberglass or cellulose insulation at the attic floor to hit target R-values than it is  to achieve a comparable R-value in the roof plane.

The success of this approach hinges on the ceiling of the top level of the house being absolutely airtight before any insulation is installed. (See "Attic-Insulation Upgrade" in FHB #200.) It's also important to ensure that there isn't anything in the attic except lots of  insulation and air—not the Christmas decorations, not the tuxedo you wore on your wedding day, nothing. Attic space can be used for storage, but only if you build an elevated platform above  the insulation. Otherwise, the insulation gets compressed or kicked around, which diminishes its Rvalue. Also, attic-access hatches are notoriously leaky. You can build an airtight entry  attic, but you should know that the more it is used, the leakier it gets.

How do people get this simple approach wrong? They don't follow the rules. They punch a bunch of holes in the ceiling, they fill the holes with recessed lights that leak air, and they stuff mechanical systems with air handlers and a serpentine array of ductwork in the attic. The air leakage from these holes and systems is a major cause of ice dams in cold climates and a major cause of humidity problems in hot climates. It's also an unbelievable energy waste no matter where you live.

Don't think you can get away with putting ductwork in an unconditioned attic just because you sealed and insulated it. Ductsealing is faith-based work. You can only hope you're doing a good-enough job. Even when you're really diligent about airsealing, you can take a system with 20% leakage and bring it down to maybe 5% leakage, and that's still not good enough. With regard to recessed lights and other ceiling penetrations, it would be great if we could  rely on the builder to air-seal all these areas. Unfortunately, we can't be sure the builder  will air-seal well or even air-seal at all. So we have to take some of the responsibility out of the builder's hands and think of other options.

In a situation where mechanical systems or ductwork has to be in the attic space or when there are lots of penetrations in the ceiling below the attic, it's best to bring the entire attic area inside the thermal envelope. This way, it's not as big a deal if the ceiling leaks air or if the ducts are leaky and uninsulated.

Vent the roof deck

If the attic space is going to be conditioned, either for living or mechanical purposes, or if a home design calls for a vaulted ceiling, provision R806.3 in the International Residential Code calls for the roof deck above the space to be vented continuously from the eave to the ridge. This is easy to accomplish in simply constructed roofs and difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish in roofs that have hips, valleys, dormers, or  skylights that interrupt the rafter bays.

If you choose to vent the roof deck, then be serious about it and really vent it. The code calls for a minimum of 1 in. of airspace between the top of the insulation and the back of the roof sheathing. That's not enough. For best performance, the airspace in the vent chute should be a minimum of 2 in. deep. Unless you're bulk-filling rafter bays between 2x10 or 2x8 rafters with closed-cell spray foam, this approach will likely require you to fur out the rafters to accommodate additional insulation to achieve desired R-values. That can be a pain, but you won't run into the problems associated with having too little air circulating under the roof. To be sure your roof is getting enough ventilation, there are simple calculations that you can follow.

Beyond the decreased capacity for insulation when venting the roof deck, venting the roof deck or the attic has some other drawbacks worth considering. In cold climates, snow can enter the soffit and ridge vents, melt, and potentially cause rot. Similarly, in coastal environments or in regions with lots of rain and wind, moisture can be forced into the vents and into the roof assembly. In hurricane-prone zones with frequent high-wind events, vented-soffit collapse can pressurize a building, which can cause windows to blow out and the roof to be blown off. Finally, in wildfire zones, floating embers can enter the vents and cause roof fires. If any of these issues are of concern, there is another option.

Create an unvented roof

Through provision R806.4, the IRC also allows you to build an unvented roof assembly. Unvented assemblies work particularly well on complex roofs that would be difficult or impossible to vent properly or on roofs where it would be difficult to insulate properly if the roof were vented.

It should be noted, however, that in high-snow-load areas, you still need a vented over-roof to deal with ice damming. In essence, you're creating a hybrid vented/unvented roof system.The goal in an unvented roof is to keep the roof deck—the principal condensing surface in roof assemblies—sufficiently warm through the year to prevent condensation from occurring. In most climates, builders have to insulate the roof sheathing to prevent condensation from occurring within the assembly. The exception is hot-dry climates such as in Phoenix, where condensation isn't as big an issue.

Condensation control is most often accomplished by installing rigid foam above the roof deck or by installing air-impermeable spray-foam insulation directly against the underside of the roof deck. The code also allows for air-permeable insulation, such as fiberglass or cellulose, to be used under the roof deck as long as rigid foam is used above the roof sheathing. Flash-andbatt (or flash-fill) assemblies are also allowed. Any of these approaches can adequately prevent condensation from occurring within the roof when the rigid foam or spray foam is installed at the appropriate thickness.

If you're spraying foam on the underside of the roof deck, be sure you're using the right product. Closed-cell spray foam works in all climates, but especially well in climate zones 5 through 8, where high R-values are desired and where airimpermeable insulation also must be a vapor retarder. Lowdensity, open-cell foam is permissible, but in climate zones 5 and above, it has to be covered with a vapor-retarder coating, like rigid foam or painted drywall.

Also pay attention to roofing materials. Asphalt shingles require special attention when installed on unvented roof assemblies in hot-humid, mixedhumid, and marine climates due to inward vapor drive. To keep moisture out of the roof assembly, a roofing underlayment with 1 perm or less (class-II vapor retarder) must be installed under the shingles. Also, check to be sure that you are in compliance with the manufacturer warranties when installing shingles over an unvented roof in all climates. Some manufacturers don't warranty or offer only a limited warranty when their products are used over an unvented roof assembly.

Shingles that are installed on unvented roof assemblies operate at slightly higher temperatures, roughly 2°F to 3°F warmer than shingles on vented assemblies. This can reduce  their service life by roughly 10%. You can vent the roof cladding, which will increase its  longevity, but the expense of fastening battens over the roof sheathing, then adding another layer of plywood over the battens as a nail base for the shingles, may not be worth the expense. After all, the shingle color and the roof orientation are much more significant concerns when it comes to shingle life.

Unvented roofs

Unvented roofs aren't nearly as common as vented assemblies, and builders may not be familiar with detailing them correctly. While there are certainly a variety of ways to build an unvented roof assembly that performs well, here are three examples worth considering

Option 1: Insulate below the roof The most conventional approach to insulating a roof is to put all the insulation below the roof deck. This approach is especially prevalent in retrofits when the existing roof is in good  shape but the attic is being conditioned

Prevent condensation with the right amount of insulation

An unvented roof assembly is possible only if you keep the roof sheathing warm enough to prevent conditioned air from condensing against it. The map at right, which is based on table R806.4 of the IRC, lists the minimum R-values required to prevent condensation in unvented assemblies in various climate zones. The thickness of the insulation will vary depending on the type. These R-value requirements are intended only to prevent condensation and don't supersede the code-required R-values for energy efficiency, which are also listed.

The success of a vented attic or roof deck relies on its airtightness. The space above the top plate of exterior walls—at the bottom of each rafter bay—is especially important. Baffles placed in this area channel intake air into either the attic space or vent chutes, and also prevent insulation from falling into the soffit and blocking airflow.

Site-built: 2-in. chutes and baffles Cut 1-in.-thick rigid polyiso insulation into 2-in.- wide spacer strips, and glue them to the inside face of each rafter with a spray-foam adhesive like Pur Stick (www.todol.com). Cut the polyiso insulation to fit snugly in each rafter bay, and foam it in place against the spacer to create a 2-in. chute or baffle.

Size: Custom-cut polyiso foam
Cost: $23 per sheet
Source: Dow
www.dow.com

Prefab: fast and functional The AccuVent soffit insulation baffle is made of rigid recycled plastic. It's more durable than other foam-based products and installs quickly with staples. These baffles should still be air-sealed with spray foam, but they're a good option if you're looking for a stock product.

Size: 41 in. by 22 in.
Cost: $1.68 each
Source: Berger Building Products
www.bergerbuildingproducts.com

Drawings: John Hartman

From Fine Homebuilding212, pp. 68-72

July 14, 2011

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Retiring Coal Plants, 5 Easy Ways to Clean Energy, Good News on Fuel Efficiency, Inner City Outings Hereos

On Tue, Aug 2, 2011 at 4:32 PM, Sierra Club Insider <insider@sierraclub.org> wrote:

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August 2, 2011: In This Issue º Take a Hike and Go to Prison? º 3 Deals for Muir Fans º Inner City Outings Heroes º Green Your Photography º The Worst Bill Ever  Share: EXPLORE Discover Something New Want to explore remote areas rarely seen by humans? Embark on a rugged wilderness backpacking trip. Eager to return from vacation feeling like you changed more than your tan lines? Join us on a fun and affordable volunteer vacation. Hungry to discover exotic, foreign lands? Let us whisk you away on one of many international journeys spanning the globe. Visit our homepage for a full list of trips, including international, lodge, kayak, and plenty more. And be sure to sign up for the Explorer newsletter for monthly updates on new and featured trips from Sierra Club Outings! Photo: Andy Johnson TODAY'S GREEN TIP Green Your Photography: Go Digital While film cameras have a certain nostalgic charm, it really is time to switch to digital. Film cameras produce more waste, thanks to the water, electricity, and hazardous chemicals needed for film development. More tips | Subscribe! ENJOY Three Deals for Muir Fans 1. Thanks to everyone who entered our John Muir T-shirt contest on Facebook. We had some very happy winners. Still want one? Check here! 2. Get an $8 discount on the DVD of the John Muir in the New World documentary this month by using the code SIERRA11 at checkout. 3. Listen to John Muir's My First Summer in the Sierra in a new audio book (25% savings on digital download or CDs this month if you use the code SIERRA). ON THE RADIO 1) Actor and director Harry Shearer on his documentary The Big Uneasy, which tells the real story of why New Orleans flooded during Hurricane Katrina 2) Kate Harrison, CEO of GreenBrideGuide.com, talks about trends in green weddings and a new green gift registry. Listen | Subscribe PROTECT The Worst Bill Ever Congress is considering a "slash-and-burn" appropriations bill that is the worst legislative attack on the environment we have ever seen. Tell your representative to defend America's legacy. Five Easy Ways to Get Clean Energy Love the idea of a clean-energy future but not sure what you can do about it personally? Here are five easy ways that regular folks can help move America toward a clean-energy  future right now. From our rooftops to our cars to our retirement accounts -- we've got the tools to create a cleaner, safer, healthier world. $50 Million to End the Coal Era Last week, the Sierra Club announced a partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies that will effectively retire one-third of the nation's aging coal fleet by 2020 and replace it with clean energy. The partnership includes a $50 million commitment over four years to the Beyond Coal Campaign that will fuel the Sierra Club's effort to clean the air, end the coal era, and accelerate the transition to cleaner, cost-effective energy sources. Read the op-ed on "Why America Must Get Off Coal," by Michael Brune, the Sierra Club's executive director, and Michael R. Bloomberg, businessman, environmentalist, and mayor of New York City. Take a Hike and Go to Prison? In July 2009, Sarah Shourd went hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan's Ahmed Awa mountains with her fiancé, Shane Bauer, and her friend, Josh Fattal. After accidentally crossing into Iran, they were arrested and charged with espionage. Sarah was detained in solitary confinement for 410 days before being released for health reasons. Josh and Shane have now been in prison for more than two years, in spite of international efforts to get them released. Later this week, an Iranian court is expected to finally rule on their case. Sarah sat down with Sierra magazine to explain how a hike into the wilderness turned into a Kafkaesque nightmare. Good News on Fuel Efficiency Last Friday, President Obama announced a proposal for strong fuel-efficiency and carbon-pollution standards for cars and trucks of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 -- an important step toward ending our dependence on oil. Together we sent nearly 300,000 messages to President Obama, the EPA, and the Department of Transportation in support of strong standards -- showing that reducing oil dependence and carbon pollution through better fuel efficiency is a high priority for Americans. Now let's thank the Obama administration and ask them to make sure that the proposed rule stays strong and free of loopholes. Inner City Outings Heroes Every kid deserves a chance to get outdoors. Each year, the Sierra Club's Inner City Outings program, which has 50 volunteer-run groups throughout the U.S., helps approximately 14,000 urban youth enjoy the outdoors safely and responsibly. To make the program's more than 800 trips happen takes a lot of great volunteers. Two of the most dedicated are Boston's Anne Monnelly Carroll and Chicago's Colin Tysoe, who each were honored with Sierra Club volunteer awards for their contributions. Congratulations to them both! Endangered Species Safe for Now, But... With overwhelming bipartisan support, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to preserve funding for the Endangered Species Act last week. The vote killed a measure added to the budget bill that would have prevented new listings under the ESA and the protection of key wildlife areas. Unfortunately, that measure was just one of nearly 40 anti-environmental riders that have been attached to the budget bill that would affect everything from clean water to fuel economy. Looks like it'll be a long, hot summer... From White House to Whitewater Rafting "The Best Internship on Earth" requires spending the summer video-blogging on different Sierra Club outings sponsored by our Inner City Outings, Building Bridges to the Outdoors, and Volunteer Vacations programs. Kokei Otosi's most recent adventures crisscrossed the country, from rock climbing on the White House Lawn to whitewater rafting down the American River. See what you're missing when you stay inside in the latest video posts from the Best Internship on Earth.

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