a n n u a l re p o rt - Rock the Earth

2007annual report
change in the law that is contrary to both the letter and intent of both the federal Surface Mining Act and
Clean Water Act.
• October 2007: At The Echo Project, a new environmentally-themed music festival outside of Atlanta,
Georgia, Rock the Earth hosted daily environmental panels and interviews on a solar stage in the Echo-System
tent, featuring Adrian Zelski (Dubconscious), Futureman (Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Black Motzart
Orchestra), Matt McDonald (Perpetual Groove), John Medeski (Medeski, Martin & Wood),
Brendan Bayliss (Umphrey’s McGee), JJ Grey (MOFRO), Neal Turley (Sustainable Waves), Paul
Diaz (Tree Sound Studios), Andy Bernstein (Headcount), and moderated by RtE Executive Director Marc
Ross. The weekend was highlighted by a panel discussion of environmental professionals working to protect
the Chattahoochee River, featuring Sally Bathea (Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper), Allison Hughes
(Rivers Alive) and Jeff Margolin (Environ), and sponsored by Sweetwater Brewing Company.
• October 2007: Attorneys for Rock the Earth and its plaintiff partners went before United States District
Court Judge David G. Campbell in Phoenix, Arizona, for oral argument in the lawsuit over the Colorado
River Management Plan.
• October 2007: Rock the Earth deepened its partnership with Gulf Restoration Network, undertaking a
public text messaging campaign to members of Congress to petition the federal government to
support increased efforts to restore critical wetlands and other environmental controls and remediation in
the Katrina-ravaged Gulf Region.
• December 2007: Rock the Earth volunteers and staff collaborated with John Butler Trio, Brett Dennen,
CLIF Bar Green Notes, Surfrider Foundation, and Save the Bay, on a beach cleanup and
concert at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California.
• December 2007: Judge David G. Campbell of the U.S. District Court of Arizona ruled against Rock the
Earth and its plaintiff partners on their challenge to the Colorado River Management Plan. Rock the Earth
intends to appeal the District Court decision to the 9 th Circuit Court of Appeals in early 2008.
In addition to the formal legal and educational activities that RtE conducted in 2007, our legal and technical
staff members reviewed or monitored the following issues:
• Rock the Earth and the Hawaiian Conservation Alliance (KAHEA) continued review of “research” permits
issued by state and federal authorities in the newly established Papahnaumokuakea Marine National
Monument. Many of these permits allow for activities specifically banned by state and federal law. This
work was partially funded by Jack Johnson.
• Non-compliant discharges from publicly owned sewage facilities along the Chattahoochee River in the Atlanta
metropolitan area, an issue suggested to us by fans of Jack Johnson during our 2005 Summer Tour;
• The declining water levels in the Great Lakes, an issue suggested to us by Steven Page of the Barenaked
Ladies;
• The construction of the Sevier Power Company’s coal-fired electric generation facility in southern Utah, an
issue suggested to us by the San Francisco band, ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra);
• Identification of large emitters of pollution in the San Joaquin Valley in California, an issue also
suggested to us by ALO;
• The disposal of nuclear waste on Native American lands, an issue suggested to us by Peter
Rowan;
• Various issues concerning development in the headwaters of, and wetlands tied to the St.
Johns River in northern Florida, as well as large water diversions from the river, issues suggested
by Debbie Trucks, mother to Derek Trucks and mother-in-law to Susan Tedeschi;
• Proposed statutory and regulatory changes to the National Environmental Policy Act.
As we look to 2008, it becomes clear that we are moving closer to our vision for Rock the Earth to
become the pre-eminent environmental advocacy organization to work with the music
community. As we continue to prosecute our first case against the National Park Service over the
Colorado River Management Plan, we are already looking towards potential litigation to challenge
eco-prospectors in the NW Hawaiian Islands, snowmobiles in Yellowstone & Teton National Parks,
communities applying pesticides to waterways without permits required by the Clean Water Act,
and inadequate studies for the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
In addition, we will continue to investigate several of the issues listed above as well as continue to
solicit new issues from the music community. As we begin campaigns on various issues, we will
seek to elevate their importance to the public by reaching out to members of the music industry to
assist us in publicity and fundraising efforts.