Priority Legislation

Look up your lawmakers

Legislative Tracker

Action Alerts

U.S. Senate Bill 2834 Needs More to Protect Utah's Wildlands
Right now the U.S. Senate is considering legislation (Senate Bill 2834) that would protect Utah's redrock canyonlands, but there are major flaws that should be corrected before a vote is taken. Off-road vehicles should not damage Zion National Park and the habitat of desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert should be protected. Study the issues and speak out!

URGENT ALERT: U.S. Senate Amendment #4720 Would Hurt Environment
As soon as Tuesday, May 13, the Senate will vote on an amendment to the national Flood Insurance Bill that threatens wildlife (like polar bears) and wilderness. Rather than addressing high oil prices and dependence on foreign oil by moving toward better alternatives and practical solutions, this amendment promotes more drilling in more places for more oil profits. This is not a solution, it’s a sell off! Have your lawmakers heard from you?

Save Indiana Wildlife from Blood Sport
In much of the South and elsewhere, live coyotes and foxes are released inside a fenced enclosure where hounds are judged on how they chase down the penned animals. The coyotes have nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, no escape. Soon, they are cornered and torn apart by the dogs. Wildlife penning is really a perverse form of staged animal fighting. Show your support for ending this cruel practice by submitting your comments.

> More

Indiana Chapter Calendar

> More

 

A Daily Look at Nature

 

Working to Keep Indiana Green!

Choose one or more topics for periodic email updates. You may cancel or modify these choices anytime.  

In The News

The Truth Behind Coal

Coal-fired power plants are one of our nation's largest—and dirtiest—sources of energy. 

With new laws to fight global warming expected on the horizon, the coal industry is in a rush to build as many new plants as possible before pollution safeguards are in place.  This is an industry motivated by the bottom line.  Find out more in questions and answers and in the articles below. 

> More

Top Stories from the Indiana Chapter

South Bend Becomes a Cool City
On Earth Day 2008, the mayor of South Bend signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement. In doing so, South Bend joined with these Indiana cities in making a commitment to stop global warming: Bloomington, Carmel, Columbus, Evansville, Fishers-Geist, Fort Wayne, Gary, Hobart, Indianapolis, Lowell, McCordsville, and Michigan City. The Sierra Club was instrumental in bringing this about.

Questions Remain About IDEM's Handling of BP Air Permit Hearing
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management refuses to answer certain questions about the timing of a public hearing on BP's air permit. Who at IDEM was responsible for ignoring state law and providing inadequate notice of the hearing?

EPA Official Fired While Fighting Dow Chemical?
The Chicago Tribune reported that an EPA worker was ousted for her efforts to fight dioxin contamination and make Dow Chemical clean-up soil and sediment contamination that flowed from its Midland, Michigan, plant into Saginaw Bay and Lake Huron.

Indiana Court of Appeals Sends CAFO Approval Back to Jackson County Zoning Board for Reconsideration
Citizens fighting a proposed 8,000 hog CAFO (Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation, i.e. Factory Farm) in Jackson County, Indiana, were given a second chance by the Indiana Court of Appeals.

Earth Day 2008
Every day is Earth Day for Sierra members, but April 22 is the specific time set aside to remind others about the importance of taking care of our planet. Many Earth Day events are planned throughout the state, and we have the resources to help with your Earth Day celebration!

Sierra Club Challenges Duke Energy
Breaking News! The Sierra Club has taken steps to hold Duke Energy accountable for failing to install modern pollution controls at its coal-fired power plant in Edwardsport, Indiana. Specifically, Sierra Club filed a citizen enforcement action in federal court in Indiana seeking an order prohibiting Duke’s illegal pollution.

Earth Hour 2008
On March 29, from 8-9 p.m., millions of people around the world joined together in making a statement about climate change by turning off their lights for Earth Hour.

Climate and Health
National Public Health Week was April 7 to 13. There is a direct connection between climate change and the health of our nation today. Yet few Americans are aware of the very real consequences of climate change on the health of our communities, our families and our children.

Save Our Forests
When Governor Mitch Daniels took office, he appointed a timber industry lobbyist over Indiana's Division of Forests. This was shortly followed by a new timber harvest plan that increased logging of Indiana state forests by 500%. Not only was an environmental impact statement not prepared, but the new harvest area now included designated Back Country areas. Read a report by Chapter Chair, Bill Hayden.

Bush Administration Pulls Trigger on Wolves
Last month the Bush administration announced that it would remove the wolves of the northern Rockies from the Endangered Species List. Under existing state management plans, all but 300 wolves could be killed - that's 80% of the wild wolves in Greater Yellowstone and the Northern Rockies! The only chance to stop the slaughter of this iconic species is immediate action in court.

> More