On November 10th, the Sustainable Sites Initiative will release the Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 for public comment. This important milestone builds on the initial Standards and Guidelines: Preliminary Report released in November of last year and will focus on measuring a site’s ability to protect, restore and regenerate sites by harnessing ecosystem services – benefits provided by natural ecosystems such as cleaner air and water, climate regulation and health benefits.

The new draft will contain over 50 proposed prerequisites and credits ranging from site selection to sustainable maintenance practices. The metrics’ format will be similar to existing LEED tools in structure and will include the following components:

Credit intent
Ecosystem services addressed
Social and economic benefits
Requirements
Submittal documentation
Technologies and strategies
Resources

The Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks Draft 2008 will be available for download and public comment beginning on November 10, 2008 at www.sustainablesites.org/report. The public comment period will close January 20, 2009.

Public review and comment is essential to the successful development of these guidelines and performance-based benchmarks. As part of the ongoing development effort, the Initiative invites you to join the review process by visiting: www.sustainablesites.org/review.

From the article:

"New Orleans voters agreed Tuesday to amend the City Charter to give the city's forthcoming master plan the force of law, meaning that all zoning and land-use decisions will have to conform to the plan.

With all 442 precincts reporting, voters favored the charter change by a margin of 51 percent to 49 percent.

The master plan is supposed to guide the city's development for the next 20 years, creating a framework to promote goals such as economic development, better housing, improved infrastructure and environmental quality.

The City Planning Commission has hired a team of consultants to create the plan, which is expected to be finished by late 2009.

The charter amendment also requires the city for the first time to create "a system for organized and effective neighborhood participation in land-use decisions and other issues that affect quality of life."

Read the full article here.

From the article:

"The cypress forests of Louisiana have suffered much devastation from human development, coastal erosion, and exploitation by the lumber industry. Now, vast tracts are being clear cut for the production of cypress mulch. A new online campaign — saveourcypress.org — is seeking to reform the Louisiana cypress mulch industry."

Read the full article here.

From the article:

"Mel Chin is a Houston-born conceptual artist known for politically engaged work in unconventional settings. Now he wants schoolchildren in his hometown and around the country to collaborate with him on his latest effort: tackling lead pollution in New Orleans and other cities through a project that combines art, science, education and advocacy."

Read the full article here.

From the article:

"Obviously, something must be worked out here. The coastline is disappearing at an alarming clip, and there's no room for error on coastal restoration. If New Orleans and surrounding towns are to remain viable places to live, ambitious projects must get underway immediately. And the ones already in place must stay open."

Read the whole article here.

From the article:

"Hundreds of oil drums, paint cans and propane tanks are being hauled from the levees and waters of Lafourche and Terrebonne parish by cleanup crews, who began work shortly after hurricanes Gustav and Ike did their damage."

Read the full story here.