Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Stephen Borgna|ThisWeek group

The Worthington Architectural Review Board and Municipal Planning Commission haveapproved a permit for Lifestyle Communities to begin demolition of the 15 buildings on the former United Methodist Childrens Home siteat 1033 N. High St.

According to the permit, which was approved Feb. 11, demolition of the first structure was scheduled to begin Feb. 15, starting with a residential home at 77 Longfellow Ave. Demolition of the remaining buildings is scheduled to take place over the course of the next two to three months.

Worthington planning and building director Lee Brown said the demolition schedule would begin pending weather conditions, considering the snow and winter conditions throughout central Ohio the week of Feb. 15.

Many of the structures scheduled to be demolished were constructed in the 1950s and 1960s, the application said. One was built in 1930, and a few others were constructed in 1988.

The buildings have fallen into a state of dilapidation following the closure of UMCH's residential facilityin December2010 and in the years prior.

There are 15 buildings on this site that have not been used probably in decades and are in poor repair, Brown said.

The demolition application was specific about the conditions.

"The current conditions of the buildings range from a general state of disrepair and functional obsolescence to an acute nuisance condition in several cases, including structural deterioration, collapsing floors and ceilings, mold growth, the need for controlled asbestos abatementand elimination of possible animal infestation, the application said.

The properties are owned by Worthington Campus, an LLC for Lifestyle Communities, according to the application.

According to Trevor Arnold, who works in land development for Lifestyle Communities, the companywill have the demolition sites reseeded with grass and restored to a natural state after the demolition work is complete.

On the surface, it would be restored to a grass condition and maintained by our property-management group, Arnoldtold ARB officials at the Feb. 11 meeting.

Lifestyle Communities proposed building a 730-home development on the site in October.

The proposal calls for a mix of apartments, townhouses, single-family homes and more spanning more than 40 acres.

The proposal has been in a holding pattern after Lifestyle Communities encountered some pushback from some Worthington officials and residents over whether the proposed community fits into Worthingtons architectural style, as well as traffic, crowding and environmental implications.

The project would require the site's zoning to be changed to a planned-unit development.

The company requested no vote be taken on the rezoning measure at an ARB and MPC meeting Jan. 14 . Its application was tabled for a later date.

Michael Bates, a member of the Worthington Alliance for Responsible Developmenta 501(c)(3) community organization advocating that property development within the city corresponds with the 2005 Worthington Comprehensive Plan and WARDs guiding principles said he thinks the ARB and MPC should have explored other avenues instead of approving the demolition procedures.

Bates said he wrote a letter to the MPC asking it not to approve the demolition. He said he suggested the buildings that are deteriorating be fenced off until the future of the property is more clear or that the commissions should have been "more selective" in what buildings are demolished and that other buildings be "secured."

The buildings are clearly a problem, so I understand why the owner would want to remove the buildings, he said. But my point with the Municipal Planning Commission was there should have been some discussion around alternatives before blanket approval of just the demolition.

sborgna@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekSteve

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Lifestyle Communities receives permission to demolish buildings at former United Methodist Childrens Home site - ThisWeek Community News

Work could begin this summer on the demolition of one of Rathcoole's iconic tower blocks.

The four Rathcoole tower blocks are a familiar site for many but the landmark high-rise buildings are set to be consigned to the history books.

As part of the Northern Ireland Housing Executive's Tower Blocks Action Plan, it is proposed that Monkscoole House and Abbotscoole House will both be demolished in the next five years.

They currently propose to retain Carncoole House and Glencoole House for a period of at least 10 years, and undertake associated improvement works.

Earlier this week, the tender for the demolition of Monkscoole House, which has been empty since late 2019, was advertised.

In a statement, the Housing Executive set out its timetable for the building's demolition. Once the contract is awarded, it is hoped work will begin on the site this summer and work will take around one year.

At the moment there is no timetable for the demolition of Abbotscoole House. Once it is demolished, the Housing Executive plans to build 50 social homes on the site of the two demolished tower blocks.

A spokesperson for the Housing Executive said: " The tender for the demolition of Monkscoole House was advertised on 17February 2021 and the last date for submissions is 18March 2021.

"Subject to the receipt of suitable tenders, we hope to award the contract in early May with work starting on site over the summer months. It is anticipated that it will take approximately 12 months to complete the demolition works.

"At present our proposal as set out in our Tower Blocks Action Plan approved by the Board of the Housing Executive and the Department for Communities is that Abbotscoole House would also be demolished and that 50 brand new social homes would be built on the combined cleared site of the two blocks. The current policy is that any new social housing is built by a registered housing association."

Residents were consulted on proposals for the tower blocks in 2018, but there is anger in the local area about the plans and many residents have been opposed to the demolition of the tower blocks.

Alliance councillor Billy Webb told Belfast Live there was a "lack of appreciation in the Housing Executive that this is not units of housing, it's people's homes".

"There was a public meeting held and residents of the mutli-stories were there and they were quite angry that their feelings of wanting to stay had not been taken into account," he said.

"It is going to cost a considerable amount of money to demolish a block, that money could have been put into upgrades. The people who have lived there for years could stay.

"There were people who had bought their flats in the multi-stories. One lady, she was not there that long, three years, but it was somewhere to retire to and was being faced with losing her home and it has a devastating effect on people."

The Housing Executive's Action Plan for its Tower Blocks Portfolio, has been developed on the premise that the Housing Executives aim remains the decommissioning of all of the 32 tower blocks.

The plan states: "The tower blocks represent a considerable ongoing financial liability for the Housing Executive - against a context of a significant projected shortfall in the funding that will be required for investment in the Housing Executives total housing stock - and in many cases are not meeting individuals and communities housing needs.

But UUP councillor Robert Foster said it was not too late for the Housing Executive to change its mind and instead use the money it would cost to demolish the block and instead renovate it.

He said the community were "up in arms" and he said the Housing Executive's decision was "short-sighted".

"People feel safe there," he said.

"There's no one banging down my door saying they want them gone."

Councillor Foster said numbers on the housing waiting list are rising with around 500 on the list in the Newtownabbey One district at present.

He added: "It is a landmark, people do identify with them coming in by boat or plane. They are Rathcoole's version of the cranes. The community has a lot of concern about it."

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Rathcoole tower block demolition work could begin this summer - Belfast Live

Parveen AroraTribune News ServiceKarnal, February 18

The Municipal Corporation (MC)s demolition drive in various parts of the city on Thursday has brewed resentment among BJP councillors.

Seven showrooms, two houses, several DPCs, boundary walls and road networks in four different parts of the city were razed. As per the MC sources, a showroom of a BJP leader and another of an ex-councillor were razed, which gave fuel to the fire.

We have apprised the CM about the officials demolishing the houses that have been constructed several years ago in illegal colonies, after which the CM had assured that no constructed house or establishment will be demolished. Despite this, several constructed establishments have been demolished by the MC and District Town Planner team, said Yudhveer Saini, councillor. He said several people had already deposited the development charges.

A meeting of Mayor Renu Bala Gupta and councillors was held with DC Nishant Kumar Yadav and MC Commissioner Vikram Kumar.

Gupta said they would pass a resolution in the House, requesting the government to regularise the colonies and not demolish the constructed buildings by charging development charges from them.

Denying the allegations, MC Commissioner said: Weve already served notices to all violators. We razed only under-construction buildings.

Meanwhile, DTP Vikram Kumar said they had conducted a fair and transparent demolition drive. We have adopted the proper procedure, he added.

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Demolition drive irks BJP councillors - The Tribune India

Youd expect Sentry Mode and Teslacam to protect your EV against vandals and unfair accident claims, but Julie McCuen learned these video recording features also help customers against Tesla itself. After the right rear window in her 2019 Model 3 SR+ shattered spontaneously and fell out of the car onto the middle of a freeway, Teslacam was her only resource to get Tesla to repair her vehicle under warranty.

If the story seems familiar, thats because it is. We have been covering spontaneous glass-shattering in Model 3 units since March 2020, and most of them have happened on the right rear window. However, this is the first case in which the problem occurred at high speed.

I was driving south on the 55 Freeway on February 2 in the city of Orange, Southern California. The incident happened just before the Chapman Avenue exit. I was in the carpool lane and there was no one around me at the time in any of the five lanes on that stretch of the freeway.

McCuen received a sound alert" about the problem, so to speak.

I heard a faint cracking sound behind me and when I looked back the entire rear passenger window was shattered. I immediately started to try to make my way to the slow lane to exit the freeway. I hit a bump while transitioning from the number 3 lane to the number 2 lane and that was enough to dump the shattered window out of the car and onto the freeway.

The video above seems to start when she received the "warning." You can see McCuen trying to change lanes and a Kia Sorento to the right suddenly slows down. The SUV is forced to make a brisk maneuver to avoid the shattered window on the ground. It dropped on the asphalt as a single piece because it had window film.

Had it not been for the tint on my windows, the glass would have immediately crumbled and likely would have entered the cabin while I was doing 70 mph on the freeway.

After she left the freeway, McCuen drove surface streets to the Tesla Service Center in Santa Ana. When she got there, the service department initially refused to replace the window under warranty. Luckily and ironically, Teslacam came to the rescue.

The Service Center was quick to assume that something hit the window. Then when I showed them the videos and they could see nothing did in fact hit the window, they turned their blame to the tint. They took no responsibility for the window spontaneously shattering. I had to become very vocal for them to agree to cover it under warranty. It was an awful overall experience.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, McCuen decided she would not leave the Service Center without getting her car fixed.

The Tesla Service Center replaced the window and the regulator the same day, but only because I pressured them to. They are still only offering Uber vouchers and I live 40 miles away from the Service Center. I was not comfortable being in a car with someone that long while COVID-19 is still pretty bad in our area. I showed up there at about 8:50 AM and they told me it would be about 2 hours to replace the window. I ended up sitting there until 1:30 PM.

McCuen already had a history with the Santa Ana Service Center.

I have been there three times now. All three times were bad experiences. After the second time, my husband and I said we would never go there again. Still, this incident happened a few miles from there so they were the closest location to get to safely. There was still broken glass in the window sill even after most of it fell out.

Her prior visits to the Service Center were due to a persistent humming noise that still has not sorted out. McCuen replaced the rubber window trim close to the A-pillar. That solved the issue for some days, but the problem came back.

I still have the issue to this day and I have no confidence in taking it back to them to get rid of it. I just turn up my music as loud as I can to drown out the noise. It's really sad because, overall, I love my car, but the service side of Tesla has been a disappointment.They have no idea how to properly treat a customer at that location. Not once in this last interaction with them did anyone ask if I was okay or apologized for what I experienced. They were more focused on trying to point the blame anywhere but on themselves for the window shattering.

Original post:
Watch This Tesla's Rear Window Fall Right Out On The Highway - InsideEVs

Pierce Land Clearing, a highly referred land clearing company in Austin, TX, has recently emphasized why people should seek forestry mulching services for their properties.

Austin, TX - In an exclusive update on their website, Pierce Land Clearing stressed the need for people to seek professional forestry mulching services whenever they are looking to clear their lands. The Austin land clearing team hopes that the update will help clients get the best forestry service in Austin.

This team started by mentioning that professional forestry mulching services are quick and cost-effective. This is because a forestry mulcher can handle many jobs, thus eliminating the need for other machinery. Therefore, theland clearing company in Austinemphasizes the need to seek such services to save time and money.

This group also added that professional forestry services could be carried out at any time of the year. Theland clearing company Austinaffirmed that the process could be carried out during chilly, hot, wet, or even dry seasons. This is because the process is versatile and easy.

Also, people should seek these services given that they prevent soil erosion. This is because the mulch keeps the soil intact hence minimizing the risk of erosion. Additionally, the services can minimize waste and reduce hauling costs in the long run.

About Pierce Land Clearing

Pierce Land Clearing is a highly referred group in Austin, TX that prides itself on offering the best forestry services. The team specializes in tree and stump removal, home demolition, tree pile shredding, lot clearing, cedar removal, utility rows, fence, and pond construction. The staff is fully insured and has machines capable of handling any land clearing project. For the best forestry services, contact this group today.

Media ContactCompany Name: Pierce Land ClearingContact Person: Taylor PierceEmail: Send EmailPhone: (254) 998-4468Address:900 Banister Ln Unit GCity: AustinState: TXCountry: United StatesWebsite: piercelandclearing.com/

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Pierce Land Clearing Stresses the Need to Seek Professional Forestry Mulching Services - Press Release - Digital Journal

SINGAPORE: Plots of land earmarked for the development of the Agri-Food Innovation Park in Kranji were "erroneously" cleared ahead of the conclusion of a commissioned study and a "stern warning" has been issued to the contractor involved, said JTC Corp on Tuesday (Feb 16).

In a statement, JTC referred to social media posts regarding the clearance of land at Kranji Road and Kranji Close, saying the area that had been cleared was earmarked for the development of the Agri-Food Innovation Park.

The Agri-Food Innovation Park is part of the Sungei Kadut Eco-District. About 18 hectares of land has been set aside for the first phase of development for the Agri-Food Innovation Park in the district to co-locate research and development, prototyping and high-tech farming operations such as indoor farming and aquaculture hatcheries.

As part of JTCs preparations to develop the Agri-Food Innovation Park, it had engaged an environmental specialist to carry out a biodiversity baseline study in December last year, and to work out an environmental monitoring and management plan for specified plots of land within the area, it said.

The study and the plan were expected to be completed around April, following which JTC would engage key stateholders, including nature groups, to discuss development plans, it said.

On Jan 13, however, JTC discovered during a site inspection that its contractor had erroneously begun clearing some plots of land prior to the conclusion of the baseline study and environmental monitoring plan for those areas, it said.

"Upon this discovery, JTC instructed the contractor to stop all clearing works immediately. Since then, no further clearing has taken place on site and the contractor has been issued a stern warning," it said.

In a separate statement, contractor Huationg said it has complied with JTC's instruction to stop all clearing works.

We apologise for the erroneous clearing of land and are working with JTC on ongoing investigations to determine the cause of this lapse, and to prevent future occurrences, said Huationg.

The company is also conducting an internal review and working with JTC to strengthen its project management processes, it added.

JTC said it "takes a very serious view of this incident" and is investigating how the error occurred before deciding whether further punitive measures need to be taken.

"Going forward, JTC will continue with the baseline study and environmental monitoring and management plan and will work closely with all relevant stakeholders, including URA, NParks, nature interest groups and the community, to ensure that the Sungei Kadut Eco-District redevelopment plans are carried out with due consultation and in an environmentally responsible and sensitive manner," it said.

The findings of the studies will be made public when ready, it added.

On Monday, the Nature Society Singapore shared a Facebook post showing cleared swathes of land in the area.

"This is a shocking and dreadful development in an important green area contiguous to the Rail Corridor," said Nature Society Singapore, referring to aerial shots of the area taken in May 2019 and February 2021.

The Sungei Kadut Eco-District is part of the Northern Agri-Tech and Food Corridor and is one of the nodes that will be connected via the 24km Rail Corridor. The land 15m to 20m to the left and right of the Rail Corridor has been "safeguarded to protect biodiversity within the belt of the existing forest", JTC said.

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Land earmarked for Agri-Food Innovation Park in Kranji 'erroneously' cleared: JTC - CNA

SINGAPORE:The error in clearing parts of the Kranji woodland area could undermine recent efforts by Singapore authorities to better engage nature groups, said conservation advocates who expressed shock and disappointment at the mistake.

The 70ha Kranji woodland area, about the size of Jurong Lake Gardens, is along a green artery known as the Rail Corridor.

About 18ha had been set aside for the first phase of development for the Agri-Food Innovation Park, but parts of it were mistakenly cleared by a contractor of JTC Corp before an environmental impact assessment could be completed.

Revealing this on Tuesday (Feb 16), JTC said it engaged an environmental specialist to carry out a study in December and to work out an environmental management plan for specified plots of land in the area.

The study was expected to be completed around April, but land was cleared before that.

JTC did not say when its contractor, Huationg, started clearing the area, but said it discovered the error on Jan 13 and instructed the firm to immediately stop all clearing work.

CNA has contacted JTC for further information, including details on the area of land that was erroneously cleared.

A CORRIDOR FOR WILDLIFE

When CNA visited the work site on Wednesday, it was quiet with construction equipment sitting idle.

Along the nature walk nearby, a glimpse can be caught of dark green hoarding, but it is not obvious that the trees and shrubs beyondhave been levelled.

Aerial photos posted byFacebook user Brice Li on Feb 14 showed swathes of land that have been cleared. Trees had been cut down on both sides with only a narrow strip of green remaining.

Following his post, some nature advocates chimed in on social media.

"This is a shocking development in an important green area of the Rail Corridor," said Facebook group We Support The Green Corridor in Singapore.

The forested area in Kranji is one of the few patches of woodland on the northern stretch of the Rail Corridor, said Mr Leong Kwok Peng, who chairs the Nature Society Singapores conservation committee.

The 24km rail corridor stretches from Tanjong Pagar in the south to Woodlands in the north of Singapore. The railway land, which belonged to Malaysia, was returned to Singapore in 2011 and it is seen as a green corridor that will link a number of future developments.

It is also a corridor for wildlife, said Mr Leong.

You can't just have a linear tree-lined area and hope that nature will just continue to move north and south. You must have some kind of forest patch in between for the animals to forage, he added.

Mr Leong said the nature society has discussed mitigation measures with JTC and hopes that the belt of green that remains can be retained and widened. Of course, it wont be the same, he said.

ONCE ITS GONE, ITS GONE

Other conservation champions CNA spoke to also expressed shock and disappointment at the erroneous clearance.

We cant afford to make this kind of mistake, said biological scientist N Sivasothi.

He added that the slip-up appeared to undermine efforts made by the authorities over the past few years to enhance consultations with nature groups.

Mr Sivasothi said once baseline studies are done, plans are usually discussed with nature groups to see how potential impacts can be mitigated or even avoided, which has been a move in the right direction.

Speaking of adetailed process of engagement, he said: The fact that this all just gets dismissed without proper consideration is quite criminal at this stage.

Conservation scientist and Nominated Member of Parliament Professor Koh Lian Pin added that baseline environmental studies help to highlight potential ecological impacts if the site is subsequently cleared or disturbed.

Since this part of Kranji woodland was cleared before the completion of its baseline study, we may never know the full extent of the ecological impacts of this clearance.

He added that these studies are key in providing policymakers with scientific insights to help them make more informed decisions and to consider the need for any mitigation actions.

This is especially important in Singapore where we have to balance the many priorities of our society, Prof Koh added.

MP Louis Ng (PAP-Nee Soon) added that he was shocked by the erroneous clearing, especially amid the recent public focus on the importance of conserving green spaces.

As (MND) put it then, any decision to clear land must be based on science, thats why these studies are important.

Now part of it is lost, and we might not know what we have lost, said Mr Ng, who is also the chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Sustainability and the Environment.

Mr Ng said he has filed a parliamentary question asking the National Development Ministry if it is investigating the error, and whether it will further strengthen the environmental impact assessment (EIA) framework to prevent any repeat of such mistakes.

The framework, first introduced in 2008, aims to determine and mitigate the potential impactof new developments on the environment.

Specifically, Mr Ng suggested codifying the framework into law.

He also said there is no use crying over spilt milk, and that it is more important to find out why it happened to make sure it does not occur again.

Prof Koh echoed this, adding that reviewing the failure would be in the interest of maintaining public trust in the integrity of the process of conducting environmental studies prior to development.

As for environmental remedial action, Mr Sivasothi warned that once (the greenery) is gone, its gone.

The next best course of action is to quickly re-examine the site for impact mitigation and this would include roping in nature groups as soon as possible, said the senior lecturer at the department of biological sciences in the National University of Singapore (NUS).

The environmental baseline would also have to be reviewed again now that the forest has been impacted, he said.

With that terrible scar, we will just have to reassess according to the current situation.

More:
Nature advocates call for mitigation measures after error in clearing parts of Kranji woodland area - CNA

After several early cases of COVID-19 were linked to a wet market in China, wildlife trade became central to discussions about links between public health and nature.

Some groups called for a complete ban on the consumption and trade of wildlife, with governments such as China and Vietnam acting decisively to introduce large-scale prohibitions.

The pandemic has brought humanitys strained relationship with nature into sharp focus. Its drawn public attention to links between environmental and human health, and led to calls for a green recovery that puts the environment at the heart of post-pandemic stimulus packages.

But the more pervasive environmental and health risks from animal agriculture which would probably replace wild meat have received little attention. My colleagues and I conducted a study to investigate the risks of removing wild meat from global food systems. Our results indicate large-scale prohibitions on wildlife use could have negative consequences for nature and human health.

While some wildlife trade drives biodiversity loss and increases the risks from emerging infectious diseases, these pale in comparison to the effects of animal agriculture.

Wildlife trade has been implicated in deadly disease outbreaks such as Ebola and Sars, with primates, bats and carnivores being high-risk species. But global analyses of emerging infectious diseases show that land-use changes, especially for agriculture, are the most significant drivers of zoonotic outbreaks diseases spread from animals to humans. More than half of zoonotic diseases are associated with agricultural expansion and intensification.

Human expansion into natural areas carries a greater risk of diseases crossing from wildlife into livestock or people, because of greater proximity between the two. Most zoonoses germs that spread between animals and people - are transmitted through livestock. Declines in diverse natural ecosystems help the spread of these germs. Intensive animal farming creates perfect conditions for the development of virulent strains with pandemic potential, such as animal influenzas like bird flu and swine flu.

While roughly 3,000 species are threatened by direct exploitation (hunting and fishing), wildlife trade is not all bad. Some forms of well-managed wildlife trade can be good for nature bighorn sheep in Mexico and crocodiles in Australia are two examples of this. In some cases, such as wild deer in the UK, wildlife trade can be a fundamental part of ecosystem management.

On the other hand, habitat destruction and degradation driven by agricultural expansion is the greatest threat to wild species globally. Over 13,000 species are threatened by agricultural land clearing and degradation alone, with future global food production on course to drive huge wildlife losses by 2050.

A narrow focus on wildlife trade may do more than just distract from more pressing concerns. Our study found it could create further risks for nature and human health.

Wildlife is an important food source in many parts of the world, including North America, sub-Saharan Africa and China. Heavy-handed restrictions on its use will leave a nutrition gap (reduced supply of important nutrients, such as protein and B vitamins). This gap will either be filled, most likely by increased production of domestic livestock, or people will go hungry. Both scenarios could exacerbate environmental and human health risks.

Since animal agriculture is a major driver of biodiversity loss and emerging infectious diseases risk, any increases in domestic livestock production may have serious consequences for nature and public health. For example, we conservatively estimate that over 450 million kilograms of protein would be needed each year to replace wild meat consumption globally.

This would need more than 124,000km of extra agricultural land globally (thats more than 23 million football pitches - an area almost the size of Greece). This could drive hundreds of species towards extinction, particularly in Latin America, sub-Saharan Africa and the US. This may also increase the risk of emerging infectious diseases, which would be highest in biodiverse forests which includes many of the countries where wild meat bans could lead to highest levels of agricultural expansion.

But if wild meat was not replaced by livestock, millions of people could be left without enough food. Estimated per capita protein intake could fall below healthy levels in several countries, which could increase the prevalence of chronic health issues related to malnutrition. This harsh reality, and limited viable alternatives, mean the costs of halting wild meat consumption will simply be too high for many people.

Previous experiences in West Africa and Vietnam suggest prohibitions can lead to the creation of informal networks of wild animal trade, with poorer monitoring and higher public health risks than legal trade.

A truly green recovery, which can save wildlife and prevent future pandemics, requires broader scrutiny of global food systems. This should include risk-based regulation of wildlife trade and a change in the agricultural sector.

Taking care of environmental and human health requires all of us to change what we eat and how its produced - especially with reductions in meat consumption in wealthy countries. Rather than acting as a cue for more scapegoating of those who hunt and eat wildlife, this is the urgent need that COVID-19 underlines.

See the article here:
We need a green recovery after COVID-19, but banning wildlife trade could do more harm than good - The Conversation UK

The Inter Tribal Association of Arizona, Inc. (ITAA), is an intertribal, nonprofit organization composed of 21 federally recognized Tribes with lands located primarily in Arizona, as well as in California, New Mexico, and Nevada. The ITAAs Member Tribes have worked together since 1952 to provide a united voice for Tribes on matters of common concern and have stood in united opposition to the Resolution Copper Mine and Land Exchange for over 15 years. The representatives of ITAA are the highest elected tribal officials from each of the Member Indian Tribes, including tribal chairpersons, presidents, and governors.

The Arizona Mining Reform Coalition is comprised of Arizona groups and individuals that work to ensure that responsible mining contributes to healthy communities, a healthy environment, and, when all costs are factored in, is a net benefit to Arizona. The Arizona Mining Reform Coalition expects the mining industry to clean up after itself, comply fully with the spirit of safeguards in place to protect Arizona, and to interact in a transparent and open manner with Arizona citizens.

The Sierra Club is one of the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organizations in the U.S., with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every persons right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. The Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, representing 16,000 members, has a long history of public education and advocacy to protect Oak Flat and other lands affected by this proposed mine. Its members recreate in these areas and enjoy hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, wildlife viewing, and more.

Earthworks is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting communities and the environment from the impacts of mineral development while seeking just, equitable, and sustainable solutions.

Access Fund is the national advocacy organization that keeps climbing areas open and conserves the climbing environment. Founded in 1991, Access Fund supports and represents millions of climbers nationwide in all forms of climbing: rock climbing, ice climbing, mountaineering, and bouldering. Six core programs support the mission on national and local levels: climbing policy and advocacy, stewardship and conservation, local support and mobilization, land acquisition and protection, risk management and landowner support, and education. For more information, visit http://www.accessfund.org.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Read more here:
Injunction Sought to Block Oak Flat Land Trade for Massive Arizona Copper Mine - Center for Biological Diversity

Satellite images of Kranji woodland show over 8ha of forested land cleared since last March.

This is almost half of the site slated for the future Agri-Food Innovation Park - the park is the size of 33 football fields - and more than 10 per cent of the 70ha woodland.

Developer JTC Corporation told The Straits Times on Tuesday that the "erroneous" clearing started last December, before environmental assessments were complete.

When contacted, JTC told ST it is still investigating.

Green patches totalling at least 8ha - or 11 football fields - were cleared by Jan 25 this year, according to satellite Sentinel-2B, used as part of the European Union's Copernicus earth-monitoring project.

Data on Global Forest Watch - a monitoring service run by the World Resources Institute that uses satellite data - also revealed forested land disappearing from March last year.

In addition, photos on Google Street View showed a sign saying "proposed site clearance and earth works at Kranji Road for Plot 9" at the deforested land next to Kranji Road last September.

On Tuesday, a JTC spokesman said the mistake was discovered on Jan 13, over a month before aerial images of the deforestation were posted on social media last Sunday.

JTC added that an environmental specialist was engaged to carry out a biodiversity baseline study last December to work out an environmental monitoring and management plan for specified plots of land within the area. These were expected to be completed in April.

Following these assessments, the statutory board said, it had "plans to engage key stakeholders, including nature groups, to discuss its development plans".

On discovering the error on Jan 13, JTC ordered all clearing works to stop and issued a stern warning to the contractor, it added.

According to a book published by Nature Society (Singapore) titled The Green Rail Corridor, the forested area cleared for the park is part of Kranji Woodland-Scrubland, spanning about 70ha.

A survey of the rail corridor found 47 species of birds - a mix of resident and migratory species - which account for 12 per cent of the total number of species recorded in Singapore.

On Tuesday, the National Parks Board said it was investigating the unauthorised clearance.

Under the Parks and Trees Act, it is illegal to fell a tree with a girth exceeding 1m growing on any vacant land, whether within or outside a tree conservation area, except with the board's approval.

See the article here:
Over 8ha of Kranji woodland cleared since March last year - The Straits Times