Mary Walsh
Mendocino Group Secretary

The Mendocino Group struggles with comprehending the events of early September in New Orleans. On the eve of the Great Event to occur in San Francisco, the Sierra Summit, all issues fall into the background, with the devastation that continues to evolve in the several Gulf states assuming center stage. Our government agencies have failed to provide protection to the wetlands that once buffered New Orleans from seawaters pushed inland by hurricanes. Indeed, development has been facilitated by government policy. The storm surge of Hurricane Katrina thus went unabated, leading to levee failures and subsequent flooding of the low-lying and most poverty-stricken areas of the city.

The Mendocino Group has joined with North Coast Action, a citizens group watchdogging the decommissioning the former Georgia Pacific Mill site in Fort Bragg, in appealing Coastal Development Permit CDP3-05 issued by the Fort Bragg Planning Department. The Appeal is being made to the Fort Bragg City Council. CDP3-05 presents a Workplan for Foundation Removal, Additional Assessment, and Interim Remedial Measures to be implemented on 29 structures on the former mill site. North Coast Action and the Mendocino Group contend this Workplan permit application inadequately addresses protection of rare plants and wetlands and does not provide for adequate protection of the local populace with regard to toxins identified and unidentified on the site. Neither does it address potential threats to kayackers, divers, fishermen and/or others that use the waters off the coast for recreation and food.

was in an incomplete form. Regional Water Quality Board was still in the process of evaluating responses to its queries for additional information and protective measures from Georgia Pacific. There has been no full site evaluation and there is no Environmental Consultant on hand to advise either Planning Department or the City of Fort Bragg. The 435+ acres represents 30-40% of the area of the City. It is a huge industrial site with a complex history spanning a century. Not only the present populace of Fort Bragg, but also future generations and untold numbers of tourists, deserve a more serious consideration than what has been given this Permit Application. The appeal will be heard by the Fort Bragg City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. For more information call 937-0572.

The Nominating Committee is looking for a few good persons to run for the Mendocino Group Executive Committee. Please call Bill Heil 937-0903.

Mendocino Group has endorsed the campaign to have the Precautionary Principle adopted for use in Mendocino County.

Mendocino Group congratulates Ellen and David Drell of Willits at their being named "Environmental Heroes" by the Wilderness Society. They were named such and awarded $1000 for their role in protecting and expanding the State's wilderness area.