Environmental Science and Policy

Environmental Science and Policy

Happenings & Events

At a Glance…
1. Internship and Public Input: Fort Monroe
2. Great Resource
3. Internship Opportunity
4. VA Environmental Law Journal Symposium
5. Volunteer Opportunities in Ecuador

Internship and Public Input: Fort Monroe Alerts

Students:
A group called "Citizens for a Fort Monroe national Park" is seriously looking for student interns, including for an inventory of natural resources on this amazing site just down the peninsula.  Contact Samuel Martin, 757-848-1163 or srmartinstudio@earthlink.net

This is a special update from Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park (CFMNP.org) asking you to help -- in two ways, in the coming days -- to ensure that Fort Monroe is protected in its entirety as a "Grand Public Place" for everyone.

All of Fort Monroe and Old Point Comfort, not just the moated fortress, is historic. That's why a half-century ago, our nation designated all of Fort Monroe, not just the moated fortress, a National Historic Landmark. (And if you haven't seen the new Fort Monroe documentary "Kingdom by the Sea," it's available online at http://wmstreaming.whro.org/whro/ftmonroe/ftmonroe.asf .)

Today, however, inappropriate development threatens this precious land. That's why the Civil War Preservation Trust, the nation's largest organization dedicated to preserving Civil War sites, has declared Fort Monroe "at risk" (http://www.cfmnp.org/fort_monroe_at_risk.htm). And that's why APVA Preservation Virginia included Fort Monroe among eleven "Most Endangered Historic Sites in Virginia for 2007" (http://www.cfmnp.org/APVA.htm).

In two ways, you can help ensure that the National Historic Landmark in its entirety is respected, and that is protected from inappropriate, financially unnecessary residential and commercial development:

1. Please express your views at one of the Army's upcoming public involvement meetings. At Citizens for a Fort Monroe National Park, we believe that the single most important thing you can say at these meetings is that you expect the entire National Historic Landmark, not just the moated fortress, to be respected and preserved. The meetings are explained in more detail at http://www.cfmnp.org/schedule_of_public_involvement.htm (and also at http://www.monroe.army.mil/monroe/sites/Section106/Section106.aspx). Here's the schedule, with links to an Army announcement for each one:
* 30 Oct., 7-9 P.M. in Hampton
(http://www.cfmnp.org/pdfs/106%20Flyer%20with%20Monroe,%20Hampton.pdf)
* 8 Nov., 6-8 P.M. in Norfolk
(http://www.cfmnp.org/pdfs/106%20Flyer%20with%20Monroe,%20Norfolk.pdf)
* 15 Nov., 6-8 P.M. in Richmond
(http://www.cfmnp.org/pdfs/106%20Flyer%20with%20Monroe,%20Richmond.pdf)
* 29 Nov., 6-8 P.M. in Washington
(http://www.cfmnp.org/pdfs/106%20Flyer%20with%20Monroe,%20Wash%20D.C.pdf)

2. Please spread the word about these public involvement meetings, especially those in Richmond and Washington. This is a chance for Fort Monroe's true friends to demonstrate that this national treasure is truly a national issue. 
I try to fashion these occasional updates to reflect the general outlook of the CFMNP directors, a diverse group of citizens from Williamsburg to Norfolk listed at http://www.createfortmonroenationalpark.org/BoD.htm. If you shouldn't be receiving the updates, or if you have a comment, please let me know by reply e-mail. Thanks.
-Steve Corneliussen
Vice President, Communications