HomeMy WebLinkAbout1970 City, County Officials Talk on EcologyCity, County
Officials rrallc
k n EcoloVA
By JANE HOWELL
Eagle Staff Writer
We have the privilege
tonight of hearing from ' those
who plot our community's
course," Dr. Richard B?idauf,
Texas A &M wildlife "ieree
professor, said as he introduced
the panel members of the Earth
Day evening program.
The program was sponsored
by the Symposium for En-
vironmental Awareness, the
League of Women Voters and
the American Associatinn of
University Women.
"Any chance to improve our
local ecology problems must
start with us in our community.
Not just from picking up. trash,
but from re- examining our
attitudes and ethics," Baldauf
explained.
Mrs. Betty Unterbe ger,
moderator, introduced the panel .
of local officials and state;
ageneys representatives, and
asked each member for a short
opening statement.
Dr. Rezneat Darnell of the
A &M Oceanography D.�part-
ment spoke first on why he
called himself an ecologist
"Ecology attempts to take a
broad look at things, ]c, ik at
all aspects, and take a long
range view of the physical
.conditions of our society," he
explained.
"As I look at things. they
don't look so good and they
haven't for a long time. The
Romans complained about their
environment even then, and
look what has been done,"
Darnell said.
He said the problem had
finally come to a head bvoause
the ecologists had finally gotten
somewhere by knockina, on
e n o u g h government doors,
preaching docm, and but-
tonholing students and com-
munity leaders.
Charles Bardon of the Texas
Air Quality Board spoke next
on his department's activities.
He compared the earth to a
spaceship because it has limited
capacity, expendibles, and its
crew live with uanger. "Co-
See OFFICIALS, Page 2
000— Ir 1 K A
Officials .Discuss
r
Pollution, Ecology
(Continued from Page 1) He explained the
operative action by the mem- council coordinates regional and
bers of the crew help limit the local planning. "We have found
danger," Bardon said. a need for more technical and
"I hope to turn out angry vocational education, for up-
young knowledgeable; people," dating our sewage facilities, for
Dr. William Davis of the En- development of better
vironmental Division of the civil agricultural policies, and for the
Engineering Department said. creation of adequate flood
"Each of us is involved in what control," Cook said.
may be called the `s:;( "The number of vacant seats
disease of the environment. It in this audience shows our first
is not fair to future generations problem we must face, public
to'permanently pollute the air." awareness," C o u n t y Judge
Davis said. William R. Vance said. The
Fred Sandlin, Bryan city local government must direct
manager, spoke on respon. and control our community's
sibility of city governmen*. The growth so that we can k>Pp up
city is concerned with waste with the desired standards,
d i s p o s a l and electric Vance said.
i distribution problems, h. said. Joe Sorrels of the Texas
"I think that we can raise our Water Quality Board outlined
standards only at the rate the t11e origin and purpose of this
community is willing to foot the board. "The board, created in
bill for these improvements. We 1967, issues permits to industry
5 need public education on these to use water areas. It has been
problems," Sandlin said. said that our permits permit
11 W e have made im- people to pollute -streams. This
i provements in this area, but is true to a point, but our
these usually go unnoticed. The standards are rigid," Sorrels
things that still need doing are explained.
the ones that are noticed," The last panel membe: was
Bryan Mayor Jerome Zubik Dr. William Clark of the A &M
said. He agreed with Sandlin Biology Department. "I'm
that it is a community -wide afraid many people bell eve we
responsibility to finance these have all the answers. Ecologist
projects. have the opportunity to
College Station Mayor D. A. recognize problems of
Anderson said he has been catastrophic nature and they
directly concerned with e;cclogy can look at the 'situation and
for many years and has been evaluate the choices. But the
aware of the problems. "This d.cisions are up to all of us,"
is an issue of discovery for Clark said.
some and a goal for others who Written questions from the
have worked for it, but it is audience were then answered.
important for all," Anderson The questions were first
said. "Let us develop a con screened by a committee. The
servation ethic," he said. questions concerned Gulf Coast
Purposes of the Brazos Valley (fisheries, cities downwind from
Development C o u n c i l were Houston, and establishment of-
explained b Glenn Cook. local recr areas. e