HomeMy WebLinkAboutCFE minutes 090913
FROM: Commission for the Environment
SUBJECT: Monthly Meeting Summary
DATE: September 9, 2013
LOCATION: Solid Waste Management Administration Building, Chapel Hill
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PRESENT: David Neal (Chair), May Becker, Terri Buckner, Peter Cada, Loren Hintz, Jeanette
O’Connor, Tom O’Dwyer, Jan Sassaman (Vice Chair), Gary Saunders, David Welch
ABSENT: Lucy Adams, Susie Enoch, Steve Niezgoda
STAFF: Rich Shaw, Tom Davis GUESTS: Donna Lee Jones (CFE prospect)
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I. Call to Order: Neal called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
II. Additions or Changes to Agenda – None
III. Approval of Minutes – The August 12 meeting summary was approved unanimously.
IV. Updates and Information Items – CFE members received updates and information on
the following: a) proposed screening of a film on industrial hemp, b) Orange Well Net –
2013 Annual Report, c) Duke Forest annual closure, d) native plants along Buckhorn
Road, e) Triangle smart grid dominance, f) OWASA’s treatment/recycling of wastewater
and biosolids, g) Town of Hillsborough’s stormwater newsletter, h) NC conservation trust
funds, i) NCDENR reorganization, j) food waste as a source of fuel, and k) Festifall.
CFE members discussed the CFE’s potential sponsoring of a screening of a new
documentary film advocating for the legal production of industrial hemp in the United
States. CFE members agreed view the film before considering whether to sponsor a
wider screening. A private viewing for CFE members will be scheduled for late Sept.
V. Committee Meetings – The CFE decided to forego committee meetings in order to carry
out a longer discussion of the format and content of the State of the Environment report.
VI. State of the Environment 2014 – Shaw provided an overview of the process and
timeframe for developing the State of the Environment report for Orange County. CFE
members provided further comments and ideas on the report format and content. They
discussed making the report less technical so that it can be geared toward county
residents, households, business, and secondary school children. Two members
(Saunders and Buckner) agreed to edit and reformat the Air Resources section for full
CFE consideration before further wholesale edits are made to the Land and Water
resources sections. Neal encouraged CFE members to continue reading the draft report
working with committee members to provide recommendations for further County action.
VII. Adjournment – Neal adjourned the meeting at 9:15 pm.
Minutes by Rich Shaw, DEAPR Staff