Catoctin Group

The Sierra Club is a 132 year old, non-partisan organization with 4 million members that champions a clean environment, environmental justice and solutions to the climate crisis. The Sierra Club motto is: Explore. Enjoy. Protect.

The Sierra Club has a national office and is organized by state Chapters and regional Groups within the Chapters. Each year the Maryland Chapter, with its 75,000 members and supporters, engages in a comprehensive effort to pass strong environmental legislation and promotes many environmental causes. A major element of Sierra Club mission success is collaboration with other environmental organizations at the State, local, and national level.

There are ten Sierra Club Groups in Maryland. The Sierra Club Catoctin Group (SCCG) encompasses Carroll and Frederick Counties. The Catoctin Group offers many opportunities for citizens to engage in outings, environmental issues and projects. There is literally a niche for anyone who loves the outdoors and wants to protect its myriad resources. The geography and 1,100 square miles of these two counties offers enumerable choices to explore, enjoy and protect nature.

A monthly member meeting of the SCCG, open to the public, is usually held first Saturday mornings at 11 AM IN The Common Market, Community Room, 927 West 7th Street, Frederick, MD. More details, including a recent agenda, may be found at the monthly meetings link, below.

We’d like to hear about your interests so we can best connect you with related issues or programs. If have any questions or would like to get involved, we encourage you to visit our Contact Us page. 

Membership inquiries may be sent to Membership Chair Cindy Poole cpoolemd@gmail.com, or, Group Chair Paul Walker at pwsccg@yahoo.com.

Please read on to see SCCG 2021/2022 priorities and activities and 2020 accomplishments:

Maryland Chapter Sierra Club Priorities and Activities May be found at: 

https://www.sierraclub.org/maryland

Sierra Club Catoctin Group (SCCG) 2021/2022 Priorities & Activities

Proposed Roadway through Ft Detrick Superfund Site
Background: From WWII through the Viet Nam War Area B was used for biological warfare testing and as a disposal area for chemical, biological, and radiological material. The pits used for disposal of hazardous materials were not lined with impermeable material. Contaminants from the waste flowed into the groundwater over time. Between 2001 and 2004, only a portion of the hazardous waste was excavated, including but not limited to vials of dangerous bacteria, test animal carcasses, anthrax, radiological material, and phosgene. In 2009, Area B’s contaminated groundwater was put on the National Priorities List of the Superfund program.

The Sierra Club Catoctin Group (SCCG) opposes the construction of a highway through Ft. Detrick’s Area B planned by the City of Frederick. The 4-lane divided highway would run in between and within 10 yards of the known hazardous waste landfills. Construction could disrupt the protections in place and unleash environmental hazards. Presently the contamination site is “uncharacterized” meaning the amount and full nature of the contamination is not fully known. The City of Frederick is acting recklessly in pursuing this construction project.

For more information on Area B see:
https://cumulis.epa.gov/supercpad/SiteProfiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=second.Cleanup&id=0304606#bkground

Rockwool Mineral Wool Factory WV
Danish company, Rockwool, has built a plant in Ranson, West Virginia (WV) to make mineral insulation. The process will dump millions of pounds of toxic and particulate waste into the air directly west of Frederick County, and other contaminants will reach groundwaters which drain quickly through karst geology into the Potomac River.

The SCCG continues to support the efforts of the Jefferson County Foundation and others in WV opposing the plant by raising awareness with Maryland elected officials. In June/July, Frederick County Council Member Jessica Fitzwater, Maryland state Senator Ron Young, and US Congressmen Jamie Raskin and David Trone each sent letters of support to the EPA, to require the WV Department of Environmental Protection (WV DEP) to enforce compliance to the Clean Air Act. Under the previous administration, both the EPA and WV DEP ignored violations of the Clean Water and Clean Air Act related to the plant’s construction and planned operations. These appeals to the new EPA administrator are hoped to generate required oversight and compliance.

Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup
The Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup (CEMWG), authorized by the Climate Emergency Resolution adopted by the Frederick County Council and Frederick City Aldermen in 2020, is finalizing its recommendations. The CEMWG final report will be posted on August 17th, and presented to the County Council during a workshop at 5:00 PM on August 24th. Sierra Club members are encouraged to review the final report and submit comments to the County Council by August 24th, by email or oral comments at the end of the workshop. The City Aldermen will host a workshop in September (tentatively Sept. 29th) and comments from City residents are also encouraged.

The report will be posted August 17th: https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/6511/Agendas-and-Minutes linked from the agenda set for August 24th. Directions for observing and offering comments during the workshop are also posted here. The City Aldermanic workshop can be watched on Channel 99, at 3:00 PM on September 29th.

Zero Waste
The Zero Waste Team is exploring ways to recognize businesses that strive for sustainability and zero waste. One of our goals is to educate various groups and citizens on the problem of single use plastic and the limitations of recycling. When needed we are educating and reminding businesses about the expanded polystyrene ban that went into effect last year at the state level. We are working to support legislation to reduce waste, such as a plastic bag bill.

Political and Upcoming Elections
So that we can help elect local environmental champions, the SCCG political team will evaluate, via questionnaires and interviews, all candidates for City offices in 2021 and County offices in 2022. Following our endorsement decisions and announcements, we will organize campaigning efforts for our endorsees. Please join us this fall for activities such as postcard writing, canvassing voters, and demonstrating outside the polls.

Forest Conservation Campaign
Goal, developed by The Climate Emergency Mobilization Workgroup (CEMWG), Forestry sub group: optimize and increase natural climate benefits provided by County Forest Canopy from 15 to 20% of annual emissions, by implementing best forest management practices (BMP) and increasing canopy by 10% by 2050 (plant or rewild a net 640 acres yearly 2023 - 2050). Protect existing forests, help identify planting locations using GIS, connect and educate landowners on benefits and programs appropriate for their circumstance, keep score of all sources of gross Forest loss and gains in Frederick County to report on Net gains.

Details, metrics, maps, materials, activities, links to relevant legislation and programs, and, links to alliance members may be found on the (under construction) SCCG Forest Conservation Campaign link, starting October, 2021.

Membership and Outings

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2020 Group Accomplishments

People, new roles:
1. Appointed Steve Luke Membership Coordinator.
2. Appointed Mike Koob Treasurer.
3. Appointed Kerri Hesley Secretary & Zero Waste Lead.
4. Barb Trader joined ExCom.
5. Paul Walker voted ExCom Chair.
6. Assigned Patti Fredericks Group Representative at Chapter ExCom meetings.

Advocacy, Outreach, Action
1. Many members advocated for proposal and adoption of a Climate Emergency Resolution (CER) in Frederick City and County by providing templates for letter writing; writing letters; meeting with County Council members; attending CER meetings & providing testimony at County Council and City Aldermen forums; submitting Letters to the Editor of the Frederick News Post (FNP); and soliciting support from other local environmental groups.
2. Conducted weekly sidewalk demonstrations outside Winchester Hall in support of CER.
3. Members advocated for an update of Frederick County’s Forest Resource Ordinance (FRO)/Zoning ordinance change. Support included providing templates for letter writing: writing letters; writing letters to the County Council; providing testimony at Council meetings/workshops; submitting Letters to the Editor of the Frederick News Post (FNP) , and soliciting support from other groups.
4. Participated in regional opposition to controversial Rockwool Insulation Plant in Ransom, WV regarding violations of the Clean Water Act and air pollution laws.

Legislative Accomplishments and Ongoing Community Action
1. Passage of Climate Emergency Resolution (CER) in Frederick City & County.
2. Acceptance & passage of Forest Resource Ordinance (FRO).
3. Many members have been active all year in Climate Emergency Mobilization Work Groups (CEMWG), writing recommendations to reach Zero CO2E emissions by 2050 (following IPCC Paris Schedule). Recommendations will be submitted at County Council Workshop August 24.
4. Collaborated with many like- minded groups such as the Smarter Growth Alliance, Clean Water Action, Sustainability Councils, Multifaith Alliance of Climate Stewards (MACS), Climate Change Working Group (CCWG), Jefferson County (WV) Foundation, Envision Frederick, Healthy Soils Frederick & the Climate Reality Project.
5. Held discussions to assure our actions in support of the environment will help combat social & racial inequities.

Events, speakers, education
1. Sponsored American Conservation Film Festival “Best of Fest” at Weinberg Center.
2. Presented overview of controversial road plan in Ft Detrick Area B.
3. Sponsored virtual “Drawdown” training, presented by Pachamaya Alliance.
4. Presented virtual “Pollinators in Peril”.
5. Hosted viewing & discussion of “The Story of Plastic”.

Operations
1. Conducted 12 monthly meetings, 3 in person, 9 virtual.
2. Updated Group listservs (electronic mailing lists) assuring emails consistently reach 900 addresses. 3. Spun off Washington County Group.

Communications and Media
1. Published four quarterly SCCG Newsletters.
2. Newsletter articles contributed by nine members.

3. Created Interactive Facebook Group discussion forum.

Political
1. Established Group elections committee.
2. Participated in Lobby night in Annapolis
3. Took many actions in support of Biden-Harris election & Georgia Senate run-off.

Click on the links below for more information about our Group and activities:

• Monthly Meetings
• Quarterly Newsletter
• Like our Facebook page

Calendar (Meetings, Events and Outings)

See the calendar below for a complete list of Catoctin Group events.. (You can also view the full calendar for the Maryland Chapter.)