The Niagara Group of the Sierra Club
Minutes of the March 26, 2002 Meeting

Mike Kukla President, Presiding; called to Order 7:03 PM
Location, Amherst Community Center


Business Reports

1. Treasurer Report: Steve Burns: Onhand: $14.59.28
2. Membership Report (Robins): February Membership: 2042
3. Secretary's Comments (Klein): February Minutes entered in Secretary's Log
unchanged
4. Newsletter: Final Decision to give Steve Rost at practical Type a one year
trial. Steve will mail under his permit pick ups and printer stuff will be
decided as we continue. Next mailing will be in June. Current mailing will
finish the Niagara Group account.

1. CWM Resolution - Hudson Rver PCBs to Niagara County as a Dump site
(Charles Lamb)
Purpose of the Niagara Excom review was to test if the subject was
appropriate to forward to the Atlantic Chapter for their support and possible
National consideration.
Long and wide ranging review of the problems of the site itself, the problems
of trnasporting to the county and the environmental reviews of such actions.
The dredging study will take about three years and implementation could take
at least that long. Two key facts are that the DEC has an unofficial policy
of not concentrating toxics in any single region or area but the CWM site
appears to be the sole secured site that can accept the PCB's.
A resolution was proposed by Beahan seconded by Ursitti
And passed concerning the action. A copy of the resolution will be availabe
at the web site. Mike Kukla will present the resolution at the Atlantic
Chapter Executive meeting. The past resolution is
http://www.atlantic.sierraclub.org/niagara/documents/resolutions/againstCWMrezoning.asp.
2. A proposed Sanctuary in Beaver Island State Park. The project will be
studied.
Also Quality Quest of Grand Island (Lamb): Requested support of annual
canoe paddle to Motor Island. Motion carried.
3. State of the Waters Conference by Great Lakes United (kukla) all were
encouraged to attend the conference. A report on the conference will be
reviewed at the May meeting.
4. Allegany State Park Trails Committee
(Art Klein) reported the results of the first meeting of the Allegany State
Park Trails committee. Art circulated the Draft document and has copies
available for any interested members. The purpose of the committee is not to
resolve problems on the trails of the park but rather to set policy for
trails their uses and future development of trails. Art attended the
conference as a representative of the Adirondack Mountain Club and discerned
the Committee is mostly active park users representing Horse Council,
Snowmobile and bicycle groups. The excom will pursue obtaining an
explaination from the Park about this imbalance and seek a place on the
Committee.
5. Corps of Engineers Great Lakes navigation study- Pros and cons discussed
without a firm conclusion. Basic information An investigation is underway by
the Executive Committee to develop a position.