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NEWS
June
2002
Page
4
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Kevin
to Testify at Senate Hearing
back up
Source: Just Within
Reach
BACKSTREET BOY KEVIN RICHARDSON TO TESTIFY THURSDAY BEFORE U.S.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COAL MINING AND VALLEY FILL
Richardson to urge leaders to stop further destruction of
Appalachian waterways. Press conference with fellow clean water
advocate, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., and Appalachian environmental
leaders to follow hearing.
WHO
Kevin Richardson, 30, who is a Lexington, Ky., native and member
of the pop group the Backstreet Boys, is an environmental advocate.
He also is president and founder of the environmental foundation,
Just Within Reach.
WHAT
Testimony before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Clean
Air, Climate Change and Wetlands of the Environment and Public Works
Committee. Immediately following the hearing, Richardson and Kennedy
will be keynote speakers at a press event to include remarks from
citizens groups. Kennedy's Waterkeeper Alliance will host the press
conference.
WHEN
Thursday, June 6, 2002 - Hearing at 10 a.m. Eastern. Waterkeeper
Alliance Press Conference immediately following.
WHY
In mountaintop removal mining, practiced most heavily in southern
West Virginia and eastern Kentucky, companies mine coal by blasting
off the tops of forested mountains. Hundreds of millions of tons of
waste from the blasted mountaintops are pushed into nearby valleys,
burying streams and creating valley fills. In West Virginia, over
1,000 miles of biologically-crucial headwater streams have already
been buried under valley fills. Over 500 miles of Kentucky streams
have been forever buried. The Army Corps of Engineers has been
permitting coal companies to dispose of removal waste into waterways
for years, even though the agency has had no legal authority to do
so. In a move that violates the Clean Water Act, the administration
recently redefined "fill" to include mining
"waste." This rule change represents the most significant
undermining of the Clean Water Act since the law was passed in
1977.
CONTACT:
For information on press availability or to schedule interviews on
site at the press conference, contact Vicki Hanna. To cover the
hearing, provide media agency credentials. For more information on
Kevin Richardson's environmental work, please visit www.JustWithinReach.org.
For more information on the Waterkeeper Alliance, visit www.Waterkeeper.org.
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Backstreet
Boy Joins Mountaintop Mining Fight
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Source: Charleston
Gazette
By Ken Ward Jr.
“Backstreet Boy” Kevin Richardson wants the coal industry to
quit playing games with the rugged mountains of his native
Kentucky.
On Thursday, Richardson will add his voice to the ongoing battle
against mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia.
The boy band member will join environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy
Jr. and other activists at a U.S. Senate hearing on mountaintop
removal rules.
Residents of Southern West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky have
planned a press conference following a Senate subcommittee hearing
on the regulation of valley fills.
Backstreet Boys of Orlando, Fla., first hit it big in the United
States with the single, “Quit Playing Games (With My Heart)” in
1997.
The group’s Web site, www.backstreetboys.com, includes information
about a variety of environmental issues, including beach pollution
and the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste site.
Richardson, a 30-year-old Lexington native, has spoken out about
mountaintop removal before.
In August 2001, he wrote a letter to the editor after reading a New
York Times Magazine article on the subject.
“As our government debates a national energy policy for our
country, they need to remember that coal is not really the ‘cheap’
source of energy proponents claim,” Richardson wrote.
“Right now, coal is cheaper than other energy sources because the
mining companies are allowed to rip off mountaintops, fill valleys,
and clog watersheds with dirt, and dump toxic soups of acids, heavy
metals and sludge in huge lakes,” he wrote. “Right now,
electricity from coal is cheap because old power plants get to
ignore clean air laws that others must abide by.”
The hearing Thursday is scheduled before the Clean Air, Wetlands and
Climate Change Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public
Works Committee.
Subcommittee Chairman Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., called the hearing.
Lieberman wants to examine a Bush administration rule change
designed to help legalize mountaintop removal valley fills.
Last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Army
Corps of Engineers made final changes to Clean Water Act permit
rules that govern the filling of streams.
Under previous rules, the corps could not authorize the burying of
streams with mountaintop removal waste. The new rule allows such
permits.
Shortly after the rule was final, Chief US District Judge Charles H.
Haden II ruled that the Clean Water Act itself generally prevents
the corps from issuing valley fill permits.
In addition to Richardson, witnesses at the hearing are expected to
include EPA Administrator Christie Whitman and Assistant Acting
Administrator of the Army R.L. Brownlee.
Michael Callaghan, director of the state Department of Environmental
Protection, is also scheduled to testify, as are Mike Whitt,
executive director of the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority, and
Joan Mulhern, a lobbyist with the group Earthjustice.
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Kevin
& Robert Kennedy, Jr. Joins Clean Water Protest
back up
Source: U.S. Newswire
Waterkeeper Alliance President Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and musician
Kevin Richardson of the Backstreet Boys, a native Kentuckian, will
join with residents of the coalfields of Kentucky and West Virginia
at a news conference and "citizen speak out" in
Washington, D.C., on Thursday, June 6, 2002. The event will focus on
recent changes to longstanding Clean Water Act regulations made by
the Bush administration to benefit coal companies and other mining
interests. The Bush administration's rule change will accelerate and
worsen the destruction caused by mountaintop removal coal mining.
The news conference and "speak out" will follow a hearing
of U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman's Environment and Public Works
subcommittee that will examine the regional and national effects of
the Bush administration's efforts to weaken protections for clean
water.
WHEN: Thursday, June 6 1 p.m. EST (or directly after the conclusion
of the subcommittee hearing should it run later than 1 p.m.)
WHERE: Dirksen Senate office building, Room 406 Washington,
D.C.
WHO: -- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. -- Kevin Richardson -- Residents of
the coal mining regions of Kentucky and West Virginia --
Representatives of local groups
VISUALS: Photographs of the environmental and human toll of
mountaintop removal coal mining, including recent flooding in the
region, will be displayed; b-roll will be available.
Note: The Environment and Public Works subcommittee hearing is at 10
a.m. in Dirksen 406.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Just Within Reach Foundation, Kevin Richardson, www.justwithinreach.org
Waterkeeper Alliance, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., 914-422-4343
Waterkeeper Alliance, Scott Edwards, 914-422-4410
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, Vivian Stockman,
304-927-3265
Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, Kevin Pentz, 606-632-0051
Coal River Mountain Watch, Judy Bonds, 304-854-2182
West Virginia Rivers Coalition, Nathan Fetty, 304-637-7201
Kentucky Riverkeeper, Heather Crawley, 859-622-1622
West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Cindy Rank, 304-924-6263
Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment, Joe Lovett,
304-645-9006
This event is also sponsored by Earthjustice, Friends of the Earth,
Natural Resources Defense Council, Clean Water Network, and Citizens
Coal Council.
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Willowbend
Pro-Am has Many Activities for Kids Including Watching the
Backstreet Boys
back up
Source: Willowbend
Development
On Monday, June 24th, 21 teams of five will take to the links for
the 11th annual Willowbend Children's Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament
to raise money for children's' programs on Cape Cod. In addition to
the outstanding playing field of professional golfers and
celebrities that will attend, this year's event sponsored by Credit
Suisse First Boston will feature more special events and
entertainment than ever before.
Paul Fireman, Founder of Willowbend and Chairman of Reebok
International, said, "This event is all about the kids and has
always been about the kids. Our goal is to entertain the spectators
and raise as much money as possible to benefit the children of Cape
Cod."
Kids of all ages will enjoy:
Watching the Golfers and their favorite stars -- Kevin Richardson
and A.J. McLean of The Backstreet Boys have joined the list of
well-known celebrities playing in the golf event.
Complimentary Junior Golf Clinics -- Beginning at 11 a.m., and for
three hours, Willowbend will offer juniors complimentary golf
clinics taught by PGA professionals from Willowbend Golf
Management's courses including: Willowbend (Mashpee, MA), The Ranch
Golf Club (Southwick, MA), Starr Pass Golf Club (Tucson, AZ) and Rio
Mar Golf Club (Rio Grande, Puerto Rico). What's more, as this is all
about the children of Cape Cod, PGA professionals from other Cape
Cod golf courses have volunteered their time including: Ballymeade
Country Club (N. Falmouth, MA), Quashnet Valley Country Club
(Mashpee, MA), Falmouth Country Club (E. Falmouth, MA) and Sandwich
Hollows (E. Sandwich, MA).
Golf trick-shot artist Chuck "the Hit Man" Hiter -- Known
for his miraculous feats and skill, Chuck will bring "the
greatest golf show on earth" to Willowbend. One writer said
this about him "consider the most amazing and absurd things a
person could possibly do with a golf ball and a set of clubs.
Multiply your imagination by a million."
Putting Contest -- In association with Charles River Broadcasting
(Classic Rock 104.7, The Rocket; Classical 107.5 WFCC, Cape Cod;
Classical 102.5 WCRB, Boston; and Classical 95.9 WCRI, Rhode
Island), the Willowbend Children's Charity Pro-Am will host a
putting contest throughout the day. Prizes will be awarded.
Andrew Taussig, Managing Director of Credit Suisse First Boston
said, "We're so proud to be associated with the Willowbend
Children's Charity Pro-Am and its efforts to raise money to benefit
the kids on Cape Cod."
This year's field includes: the current #1-ranked ladies' golfer in
the world and the first female to play the event, Annika Sorenstam;
two-time back-to-back U.S. Open Champion (1988 & 1989) and Ryder
Cup captain, Curtis Strange; the 1987 Masters Champion, Larry Mize;
and, one of the greatest players of all time, Greg Norman. Other PGA
TOUR players include: Joe Durant, Mark Brooks, Rory Sabbatini, Billy
Mayfair, Tom Byrum, Dave Stockton, Jr., and Bill Glasson.
Notable celebrities scheduled to appear this year include: the 2002
Olympic Pairs Figure Skating Gold Medallists from Canada, Jamie Sale
and David Pelletier; the only man to pitch a "no hitter"
in Fenway Park since 1965, Boston Red Sox pitcher Derek Lowe; two
Heisman Trophy winners -- Vinny Testaverde New York Jets'
quarterback and Tim Brown Oakland Raiders' wide receiver; former
American League Rookie of the Year, Mark "the Bird"
Fidrych; nightly anchor of CNN NewsNight, Aaron Brown; currently
appearing in CBS's Family Law, Salli Richardson; winner of 10 NBA
Championships with the Boston Celtics, Sam Jones; former New England
Patriots linebacker, Andre Tippet; and hockey legend, Bobby Orr.
Established in 1992 by Paul Fireman, Chairman of Reebok
International, and his wife Phyllis, and sponsored annually by
Credit Suisse First Boston, the Willowbend Children's Charity Pro-Am
has contributed more than $1 million to programs benefiting the
children of Cape Cod. Programs include: Boys & Girls Club of
Cape Cod, Cape Cod Children's Museum, the Mashpee and Cotuit School
systems.
General Admission tickets are $10 and children 18 and under are
free. Tickets can be purchased in advance by phone (508.539.5500),
at Willowbend's Golf Shop or at the gates the day of the event.
Gates open at 7:00 a.m. with Player introductions at 8:15 a.m.;
Professional Clinic at 8:45 a.m. and a shotgun start at 9:45 a.m.
More information can be found on the event's website http://www.willowbendproam.com
or by calling the Willowbend Pro-Am Hotline at 508.539.5030.
Willowbend, a private residential golf community located on Cape
Cod, offers upscale custom homes as well as unsurpassed amenities.
Its 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Michael Hurdzan,
is set in a traditional Cape Cod setting and features long rolling
fairways with elevated views, 11 active cranberry bogs and lush
island greens. Purchased by Paul & Phyllis Fireman in 1991,
Willowbend is privately owned and operated by Willowbend Development
Corporation.
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