Victory For Santa Clarita
Cemex mining contract canceled in Soledad Canyon

In 1990, the Bureau of Land Management awarded two 20 year contracts that were then purchased by Cemex to mine 56.1 million tons of aggregate in Soledad Canyon. The City of Santa Clarita, the Sierra Club, SAFE Inc, and many businesses and private citizens opposed it for many reasons. The Cemex site sits just southeast of the City of Santa Clarita, adjacent to the Santa Clara River, and threatens the air and water quality of the entire area.

An environmental impact report was required, and it found that, “Even with the implementation of all proposed mitigation measures, air quality impacts remain unavoidable, significant, and adverse.” The Sierra Club worked with the City of Santa Clarita, and other entities for several years until in 2018 a bill got through to prevent any future mining on the site, once the current contracts were either fulfilled or canceled.

Early this year, a request for a ruling in favor of upholding the BLM's decision to cancel Cemex contracts was put in place. Consequently, the Interior Board of Land Appeals issued the ruling canceling their two mining contracts in Soledad Canyon.

Real the full story

Phase Out Oil in Inglewood

Culver City to Phase Out Oil Extraction on Inglewood Oil Field (IOF)

For nearly 100 years, residents of the Greater Baldwin Hills region in South Los Angeles have borne the brunt of significant environmental and health impacts as a result of the operation of the Inglewood Oil Field. This 94-year-old urban oil field has a long legacy of failures that have polluted our local environment and impacted the health and safety of our community while providing little benefit in return. Most recently, on April 1, 2019, there was an oil-water spill from the Block #31 well where hazardous overflow made its way to the storm drain.

Such events serve as unfortunate reminders that oil and gas operations are inappropriate for urban areas. Consequently, in June 2018, the Culver City City Council unanimously voted to develop a plan to phase out oil drilling in its 10% of the IOF. Likewise, the Sierra Club Clean Break Team is working to encourage the County of Los Angeles to phase out oil and gas operations in the other 90% of the IOF, clean up the field, and convert it to the long-awaited 1000-acre Baldwin Hills Park.

You can get involved and take action to help us urge the LA County Board of Supervisors to choose the 100% renewable energy default for our community choice energy program.

Read the full sotry and get involved

Take action

Help Us Ban Deadly MHF
MHF threatens the well-being of tens of thousands of people in Torrance and Wilmington

How dangerous is modified hydrogen fluoride (MHF)? We know the answer because of a series of tests done in 1986.

From the official Risk Management Plans submitted by the refineries, it can be calculated that people within a range at least 3 miles away (smaller, dashed circles on map) could be at risk of serious or irreversible injury if there were a major release of MHF, with life-threatening health effects for a one-hour exposure within a range of 1.5 miles.

To protect the people that live within 3 miles of the Torrence and Valero refineries from this dangerous chemical, the SCAQMD Board must act now and pass regulations to phase out MHF. Make your voice heard by signing our petition and urge the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board to ban deadly MHF. The AQMD Refinery Committee will be meeting on a Saturday in late June. Please join us to speak for public safety. Email us at PVSB.SierraClub@gmail.com for details.

Make your voice heard and sign our petition

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Protecting the Mojave Desert’s Wildlife

Sierra Club Fights to Stop Dangerous Mojave Desert Water Mining Scheme Backed By the Trump Administration

The Sierra Club is fighting back against one of the biggest threats faced by our Southern California deserts, a plan by corporate water raider Cadiz Inc to extract 16 billion gallons of water a year from under public land in the Mojave Trails National Monument. The monument, located near Joshua Tree National Park, is one of the driest places on earth. Cadiz hopes to sell its expensive product to water districts across the southland, potentially driving up water rates.

As the federal government is falling down on the job, the state of California is stepping up, with new legislation (Senate Bill 307), which passed in the Senate with the exact minimum number of votes needed. The next challenge it getting the bill through the State Assembly.

If you want to help out, join the Water Committee or contact the author of this piece at wildernessjfm@aol.com.

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The Keeling Curve
Where are we now?

Keeling, a scientist whose research on carbon dioxide (CO₂) gave the world its first early warnings of global warming. CO₂ is a greenhouse gas -a byproduct of burning fossil fuels - which traps heat from the sun and the more it gets released into the atmosphere, the warmer the planet gets. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the increases of atmospheric CO₂ are responsible for about two-thirds of the total energy imbalance causing Earth’s temperature to rise. The past few decades are proof of the rapid warming of the planet with the 10 warmest years in the 139-year record all having occurred since 2005, with the five warmest years being the five most recent years.

With the Keeling Curve only increasing,we are running out of time to address the climate emergency we are currently face resulting in an progressively unstable climate.

The good news is that at the state level as California is leading the way in our efforts to combat climate change, and you as an individual can also help. Contact Steve Wicke to get involved and learn more.

Read the full story and get involved

“Trailies” of the Santa Monica Mountains
Preserving the Santa Monica Mountains Trails

If you have ever been hiking in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, you've probably marveled at how such boundless nature exists in the urban sprawl of Southern California. For almost a hundred years, a ceaseless battle raged between local conservationists and land developers in the Santa Monica Mountains. Sue Nelson, a longtime local in the area, was the first to speak out. Nelson founded a group she named "The Friends of the Santa Monica Mountains, Parks, and Seashore," whose effective politicking resulted in the establishment of the Santa Monica Mountains Task Force, along with a nature preserve stretching from Franklin Canyon to Point Magu as a part of the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978.

After the establishment of the Preserve, nature enthusiasts Ron and Mary Ann Webster were then tasked with designing a trail system that would open up the area to the hikers and campers for which the area had been created. With that, the Santa Monica Mountain Task Force Trail Crew was born.

While the building of trails in the Santa Monica Mountains is nearly complete, volunteers are needed to maintain the many miles of existing trails. If you are interested in joining, visit their website and learn more.

Read the full story and join the Task Force Trail Crew

California Sellers of Travel # CST 2087766-40
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE CUBA
NOV. 15 - 23, 2019
Join us for an 8-day cruise aboard the Royal Caribbean. Travel to Havana, Santiago de Cuba and the “Pearl of the South” in Cienfuegos. More info and RSVP Here

VOYAGE ALASKA ON THE WILD
MAY. 15 - 22, 2019
Travel with your Sierra Club friends to see the "wilder" side of Alaska! Come cruise aboard the Radiance of the Seas from Vancouver, B.C. to Seward, AK. Sailing though the Insinde Passage. More info and RSVP Here

PAC 2020: Countdown To a Green Future. August 11, 2019
Help keep California Green! This is the premiere fundraising event for the Sierra Club's political activities In Los Angeles and Orange County and we need your donation to support environmentally friendly candidates at the local and state level. Our Sierra Club Political Leadership award will be given to outstanding political leaders from Los Angeles and Orange Counties along with the Inland Empire. Get Your Ticket and Learn More

Program: Death Valley National Park - Magnitude and Mystery. July 11, 2019,
Join professional photographic artist Michael E. Gordon for a presentation that will feature images and stories from Death Valley National Park, the largest and most awe-inspiring National Park in the lower 48. RSVP & Details

Program: What is Environmental Geology and Why Your Life Depends Upon It. Jun 22, 2019
In modern society, an increasing number of geologists are engaged in the practice of environmental geology. RSVP & Details

Hike for Clean Air . September 28, 2019
LA is one of the most polluted regions in the country. But we know we can do something about it. So, we’re launching our first-ever City Hike fundraising event. This special city hike will take you through various neighborhoods as you visit some of LA's most famous parks, such as Grand Park, Vista Hermosa, Pershing Square, MacArthur Park, and Echo Park Lake. Sign Up & Details

Harwood Lodge Fall Festival. September 21 - 22, 2019
Enjoy clear mountain air, hiking, music, relaxation, blue skies and beautiful mountain views and celebrate the beginning of Fall at Harwood Lodge. RSVP & Details

Looking for more adventures, outings and events? Check out our Schedule of Activities for the full list.

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