Missouri Coalition for the Environment

#COVID19 is still a public health risk without adequate protections. Workers need a COVID-19 Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) now. This science-based, enforceable regulation will reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 at work and save lives. Smithfield Foods must be held accountable - all essential workers deserve a safe workplace! Contact President Joe Biden at http://ow.ly/t91Z50EY3JZ, and tell him we need a comprehensive ETS that covers all essential workers now. #ProtectWorkersNow #StandWithLabor HEAL Food Alliance

Eleven of Missouri's largest concentrated animal feeding operations are seeking less stringent regulation under General NPDES permits. Visit http://ow.ly/jgIp50Fa308 to learn more and demand better protection for Missouri residents and our natural resources. Photo by Socially Responsible Agricultural Project

MCE is currently looking for a Communications Intern to assist in maintaining internal and external communications for the organization and the Known & Grown STL program. Read full position description and apply at http://ow.ly/kVIY50EXbIT. Deadline to apply is June 7th. Photo by Christen Commuso.

MCE is thrilled to introduce Jared Opsal as the organization’s new Executive Director, effective March 30, 2021. In this role, Opsal brings a personal passion to the environmental movement, as well as 19 years of professional experience, with 11 of those years spent working in the nonprofit sector. Learn more about Jared and read the official press release at http://ow.ly/dWhs50EdSgf.

Take action now to help save Gans Creek Wild Area: the 750-acre area in Rock Bridge State Park near Columbia, Missouri is being threatened by a proposed 65+ acre housing development on its northern border called Canton Estates. The development of this property is contingent upon the City of Columbia approving annexation of this property from Boone County into the city, and rezoning 65 acres from Agricultural (A-1) to Residential (R-1) land use. This is a terrible idea for man...y reasons. Due to its proximity to the park and proposed density, the Canton Estates development would upset the goals of solitude and preservation of the wild area in a number of ways. Noise from traffic and lawn equipment will interrupt the sense of solitude this designated wild area is intended to provide. Invasive plants will likely have an easier time gaining a foothold in the park. Free roaming pets may disturb or kill wildlife. Light pollution will affect the natural behavior of insects, bats, and night hunting birds. Being only one of twelve wild areas designated in the state, this is truly a statewide issue. Visit http://ow.ly/4QTg50F8KGH for many ways you can take action.

MCE, along with other environmental organizations, have been actively fighting the proposed change to the concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) design rule that would take perched water out of the definition of groundwater table. Activating our members through the CAFO Advocacy Network and our partners in the CAFO Collaborative provided incredible contributions to the 850 comments that were submitted regarding the proposed rule. The outpouring of public comments a...nd action around the proposed rule-making is a testament to the many groups now working together to organize Missourian around CAFO activities in our state. Join MCE's CAFO Advocacy Network at http://ow.ly/kD0b50EX5TG. See more

Check out our recent article on how our gleaning program is connecting farmers to their community in the June issue of The Healthy Planet Magazine. Visit http://ow.ly/c0WS50F8yQ8.

On May 27th at 10am, MCE will be co-hosting a virtual Solar Power Hour presentation by Grow Solar St. Louis. Solar is a great way to reduce your energy bills, support the local economy, and help create a healthier environment! Learn more at http://ow.ly/Uqng50EN3ST and register to attend here: http://ow.ly/KjUu50EN3SU.

See our Board Vice President and founder of blackpeoplewhohike, Debbie Njai featured in St. Louis Magazine on how she's helping other people of color embrace the great outdoors. Read more at http://ow.ly/EKVq50F7CUS

We offer our deepest condolences and respect to the family, friends and colleagues on the passing of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Director, Carol Comer. You all remain in our thoughts during this difficult time. MCE would also like to acknowledge our appreciation for the many years of honorable dedication and the lasting impact Carol has made. Photo: Carol Comer by Missouri DNR.

Vacancy has many negative impacts on individuals and entire communities, including an environmental one. The St. Louis Vacancy Collaborative is currently searching for a director. Those interested may learn more or apply by visiting http://ow.ly/JODp50EW599. The collaborative exists to harness the power of coordination to create new forms of equitable development, support neighborhood-led planning, improve community health, and encourage alternative land uses that create community assets.

Our gleaning program, in partnership with Operation Food Search is still looking for volunteers to help glean at Three Rivers Community Farm on June 15th. Those interested in signing up can visit http://ow.ly/aEfo50ESHRh. The program "is designed to reduce food loss on local farms, brings volunteers to harvest what farmers cannot on their own. Gleaning increases access to healthy and fresh local food for those individuals and families experiencing food insecurity." Learn more about the program at http://ow.ly/t0ma50ESHRg.

Tomorrow at 10am, MCE will be co-hosting a virtual Solar Power Hour presentation by Grow Solar St. Louis. Solar is a great way to reduce your energy bills, support the local economy, and help create a healthier environment! Learn more at http://ow.ly/QOpM50EQvpm and register to attend here: http://ow.ly/3Cul50EQvpn.

On May 18, the Missouri Clean Water Commission voted 5 to 1 to remove perched water table from the definition of groundwater table in the design rules for concentrated animal feeding operations. Perched water is especially vulnerable to pollution from manure lagoons since it can be found just feet below the surface. For millions of Missourians who rely on groundwater sources of drinking water, this level of risk is completely unacceptable. http://ow.ly/NTqY50EV6Aj

Our partnership with StraightUp Solar means that for each person that has a solar system installed, part of the proceeds will go to supporting our 50 years environmental action! Visit https://straightupsolar.com/powerup-mce/ to learn more.

We need your help to tell to DNR to deny the Opal Foods, LLC, Anderson Farm Permit! Opal Foods LLC, Anderson Farm is a Class IA poultry concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) the largest class of CAFOs, located in McDonald County. DNR issued a Notice of Intent to renew their permit and upon review of the draft permit, MCE found several concerns. Visit https://conta.cc/36myeGa to learn more and take action now.

With Operation Food Search, this past week we had our last two gleaning events of the year. We were able to glean 1,080 lbs of apples at Liberty Apple Orchard in Edwardsville, IL and about 312 lbs of greens, peppers, turnips and radishes at CAASTLC's Seeds of Hope Farm in Spanish Lake, MO. The gleaning program brings positive impacts as it reduces food loss on farms, increases access to healthy, fresh food for food insecure individuals and families, and increases connections between gleaning volunteers and their local farmers. Thank you again to gleaning experts After the Harvest KC for mentoring us and helping launch this program in St. Louis earlier this year!

Known & Grown STL is launching a new local food contest! To participate, post a photo of a meal using at least one of their farmers' products, tag the farmers whose products you've used, and use the hashtag #KnownandGrownEats for your chance to win a prize! Finding ingredients from Known & Grown farmers is easy just use their Local Food Locator to find products near you: http://ow.ly/NaQE50ChV5T. Winners will be chosen by a random number generator during the first week of ...December! Known & Grown STL farmers don't use pesticides or other synthetic chemicals on their crops or pasture and they pasture-raise their animals.

MCE’s Action Guide to Environmental Advocacy is designed to help communities across Missouri take on local environmental issues. This guide is divided into the following seven parts: 1) Staying in the Know, 2) Accessing Public Records and Public Meetings, 3) Reporting Environmental Problems, 4) Influencing Decision-Makers, 5) Taking Legal Action, 6) Using the Media, and 7) Organizing and Building Public Pressure.

The Washington University Climate Change Program is hosting a climate change speaker series. Tomorrow at 6pm, join Scott W. Tinker, the director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at UT-Austin, the State Geologist of Texas, and the chairman of the Switch Energy Alliance. He works in energy and the economy in 65 countries integrates industry, government, academics and NGOs. Tune in for a presentation on Sustainable Energy Future: Balancing Environment, Energy and Economy. Register at http://ow.ly/NYUZ50CgP2u.