Rep. holds environment forum

The flora isn't the only thing that attract crowds to the University's Matthaei Botanical Gardens.

About 20 environmental supporters attended a public forum last night with Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-Ann Arbor) to voice concerns about national, state and local environmental laws.

Rivers said the meeting served as an occasion for her local constituents to bring their ideas about environmental issues directly to her. She encouraged the crowd to offer suggestions about creating new laws that would reform current policies and possibly create new bills to more adequately protect the environment.

"Environmental problems are undeniable," Rivers said. "It's also hard to get people to change their ways of life."

AP PHOTO Bonita McAvoy of Jackson rakes leaves in front of her home yesterday. Jackson, who was raking leaves with her husband, said yesterday was her day off.

Issues of contention varied from concerns over local air and water pollution and wildlife control to the overwhelming approval of the nuclear waste bill by both the House and the Senate last week.

Some audience members expressed frustration at the country's somewhat "indifference" to environmental issues.

Art sophomore Cherie Beauton said she was appalled at last week's passage of the nuclear waste bill, which will allow a nuclear waste dump to be created in Nevada's Yucca Mountains and permit interstate transportation of nuclear waste to this destination.

"This waste will be travelling through 44 states," Beauton said. "I was shocked to find out that many students weren't even aware of the whole issue."

Beauton said she recently sent an e-mail to several campus groups about the nuclear waste depository issue. She said that while she had found some people were supportive of fighting the proposed nuclear dump, many were at a loss of how exactly to go about protesting it.

Rivers said she was not yet sure whether President Clinton will approve the bill. Rivers and Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit) were the only two members of the Michigan delegation to vote against the bill.

Rivers said many people feel there are few alternatives when it comes to dealing with nuclear waste.

"Many people will say that they would rather have a nuclear waste dump there, rather than here," Rivers said.

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