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

2006
• November 2006: Despite three years of formal protests by groups that included Rock the Earth, in
November the US Environmental Protection Agency issued a Final Rule allowing for the application of
pesticides to waterways, without needing a Clean Water Act permit. Rock the Earth commenced discussions
with other environmental organizations to form a coalition to challenge this rulemaking in court.
• December 2006: Rock the Earth legal and technical staff commenced review of a draft Environmental
Impact Statement by the Department of Defense to allow for the expansion of the Piñon Canyon Maneuver
Site (PCMS), a large-scale US Army training facility in Southeastern Colorado. The PCMS lands include
undisturbed, pristine natural areas with important ecological, archaeological and historical value. It is our
intent to file formal comments opposing the expansion in early 2007.
• December 2006: Rock the Earth legal and technical staff commenced review of a Draft Environmental
Impact Statement by the National Park Service’s new long-term Winter Use Plan for Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks. At issue is the continued use of snowmobiles in the park units, which Rock
the Earth has opposed repeatedly since 2002. It is our intent to final formal comments to the DEIS when
the public comment period commences in the Spring of 2007.
In addition to the formal comment letters that we submitted in 2006, our legal and technical staff members
reviewed or monitored the following issues:
• Rock the Earth and the Hawaiian Conservation Alliance commenced review of permits issued by state
and federal authorities in the newly established National Marine Monument off the Northwest Hawaiian
Islands. Many of these permits allow for activities specifically banned by state and federal law
• 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, Animal Liberation Orchestra (ALO);
• 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 of Derek Trucks and mother-in-law of Susan Tedeschi;
• Proposed statutory and regulatory changes to the National Environmental Policy Act.
As we look to 2007, 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 & Grand 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 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.
annual report