General Assembly Preview, GFG Holiday Party, GFG Elections, FOURTH NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT, Gov. Northum, Barbara Favola, Fairfax County
December 2018 Great Falls Group Cascade
* Happy Holidays! *
Calendar of Significant Events


Dec 1 - General Assembly session preview
Dec 15 - Great Falls Group Holiday Party
Dec 15 - deadline for January Cascade
Dec 31 - GFG elections: vote by this date

Coming Up
Jan 9 - EQAC Annual Hearing
Spring 2020 - Clean Air Advocates
Upcoming Events and Information
General Assembly Session Preview
WHEN : Saturday, December 1; 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM
WHERE : Local watch party will be held at National Wildlife Federation Reston Office, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA
(hosted by Choose Clean Water Coalition)
DETAILS: What's in store for our natural landscapes and resources? You are invited to learn about priority environmental topics and discuss a collective approach to advancing policy in the upcoming legislative session. 
RESOURCE: Check out the 2019 Environmental Briefing Book . This annual publication is written by the Virginia Conservation Network's Partners to showcase collective state-level priorities in the coming year.
Chesapeake Bay
Source: Virginia Conservation Network
You can view the 2018 Environmental Briefing Book by downloading it ( www.vcnva.org/learn ) or purchase/ download it as an eBook through Amazon. 
SPONSOR: Virginia Conservation Network
Great Falls Group Elections
The Great Falls Group is a local Sierra Club group within the Club’s Virginia Chapter. It is governed by a volunteer leadership group, the Executive Committee (ExCom).

There are nine positions on the Ex Com, and each year some of these spots come up for election; this year, four of the nine positions are up for election. Group members are eligible to vote in the election.

ExCom members meet monthly to set the Group's priorities, manage the Group's budget, collaborate with other local environmental organizations, and engage new volunteers. The ExCom also works with our local government on local environmental issues.

The Great Falls Group covers most of Prince William and Fairfax counties, and all of Loudoun and Fauquier counties.
The candidates are

  • Norbert Pink
  • Lisa Robinson
  • Helene Shore
  • Susan Weltz

Vote by December 31.


You can receive a paper ballot by regular mail at National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Dr., Reston, VA 20190,
Attn: Sierra Club Great Falls Group - Ballot email: robin.d.olsen@gmail.com.
FOURTH NATIONAL CLIMATE ASSESSMENT - just released
These reports are authoritative assessments of the science of climate change, with a focus on the United States. They are the first two volumes of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990, and Vol II was just released.

Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Update
Bulova, Smyth, and Hudgins will announce later whether they will run for another term.

Fairfax County Supervisor John C. Cook (R-Braddock) has announced that he will not run for reelection in 2019.

Sharon Bulova
EQAC Annual Hearing January 9, 2019
The Fairfax County Environmental Quality Advisory Council will be holding its annual public hearing on the environment on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

Gov. Northam Removes Members of the State Air Pollution Control Board
In a controversial decision, Gov. Northam removed two members of the State Air Pollution Control Board after the citizen review board delayed a key vote on whether to allow a natural gas compressor station in a historic African-American community. Read Del. Mark Keam's comment.


photo: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/
Great Falls Group Holiday Party Potluck
WHEN: Saturday, December 15, noon-3 pm

WHERE : National Wildlife Federation, 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston, VA 20190

PROGRAM: Enjoy great food and drink, socialize with like-minded people, and make some new friends for 2019. Please bring a dish to share and a card/paper sign with dish name and ingredients. We will have door prizes! Vegan dishes welcome but not required.

CONTACT : Feel free to email Robin with any questions and suggestions

RSVP by December 10
Senator Barbara Favola Receives Energy Freedom Award
‌
Sen. Barbara Favola and Ivy Main
The Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club presented Sen. Barbara Favola (D-31) with an Energy Freedom Award in recognition of her work for renewable energy.

The senator introduced a common-sense measure, SB191, a bill that would expand choices for anyone who wants to generate their own renewable energy. This bill would increase the limit on the amount of capacity a renewable electric generating facility may have and remain eligible to participate in the net energy metering program.
Mountain Valley Watch (MVW) Volunteers Exonerated
The Mountain Valley Watch (MVW) volunteers were recently exonerated in court of charges that they trespassed on a Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) right of way.

Source: Mountain Valley Watch
Summary of Past Events
Tree Forum November 7
At the Vienna Town Hall November 7, Fairfax Hunter Mill District and the Town of Vienna co-hosted a Tree Forum.

mountain-side.jpg
Look for Future Articles
Recycling Update
Send comments or questions to the editor .
Interested in more events? 
Please subscribe to our weekly environmental events email.