With various stimulus packages being proposed for banks, insurers, the auto industry and homeowners, the Conservation Law Foundation in Rhode Island has made yet another suggestion — it is calling on the state’s congressional delegation to try to get federal dollars to shore up the state’s battered infrastructure.

The environmental advocacy group proposed that more than $116 million be earmarked for various specific projects ranging from sewer services to the state public bus fleet.

“In these difficult times, it is essential that dollars dedicated to economic stimulus be wisely appropriated to most effectively create jobs, help residents and rebuild our economy and, at the same time, to solve — and not exacerbate — two of the most significant environmental problems facing our state and region: climate change and water pollution,” wrote Jerry Elmer, staff lawyer for the CLF’s Rhode Island office.

“To achieve these goals, we recommend that any economic stimulus package include serious investment in public transit, coupled with a fix-it-first policy of maintaining highway infrastructure, as well as needed projects to assist municipalities in protecting water quality.

CLF asked for:

•$10.8 million to prevent cutbacks in service by the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority.

•$3.9 million to buy 10 compressed natural gas buses for RIPTA. The buses emit 90 percent less particulate matter and 58 percent less oxides of nitrogen than conventional diesel buses.

•$1.4 million to continue for two years the summer ferry service between Providence and Newport.

•$4.96 million to provide diesel particulate filters for all 620 heavy and light-duty diesel vehicles in the state’s fleet.

•$784,000 to retrofit additional 98 municipal diesel garbage trucks and recycling vehicles.

•$35.95 million to help pay for Phase 1 of the state’s combined sewer overflow construction project.

•$59.5 million to help pay for the tunnel pump station in the CSO project.

Ringing the bell to reduce CO{-2}

The Rev. Scott A. Gunn announced that the tower bell of Christ Church, 1643 Lonsdale Ave., Lincoln, will ring out 350 times today at noon to support a healthier planet by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Scientists have said that levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere need to be reduced to 350 parts per million to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Currently, carbon dioxide levels are approaching 390 and rising.

Mr. Gunn directs interested persons to the Web site www.350.org for information or call the church at (401) 725-1920.

Audubon Center offers programs

On Friday , the Audubon Environmental Education Center, 1401 Hope St., Bristol, is offering day-after-Thanksgiving activities for families, including crafts, nature stores and animal interviews, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

They include a nature craft table, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; tide pool talk, 10:30 a.m.; nature story, 11:30 a.m.; owl presentation, 1:30 p.m.; and nature story, 3 p.m.

Programs, suitable for all ages, are free with admission. No registration is necessary.

Save the Bay hosts seal watch tours

The 2008-09 Save The Bay Rhode Island seal watch tours opens this week with special two-hour tours. Save The Bay educators host an up-close look at Narragansett Bay’s migratory seals. Binoculars are provided; the boat is partially heated.

Education vessel Alletta Morris departs Bowen’s Ferry Landing, Newport. Two-hour cruises include a tour of Rose Island Lighthouse.

The trips are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 29 and 30, leaving at noon and 1 p.m. Cost is $30; $25 for members of Save The Bay and Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, seniors and children ages 5 to 12. Reservations recommended.

Visit www.newportseals.org or call Save The Bay at (401) 324-6020.

Waterfowl, seabird tour on Saturday

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island will host a winter waterfowl and seabird caravan tour on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for ages 12 and up.

Meet at Salty Brine State Beach parking lot in Galilee, between the breachway and George’s Restaurant. A team of Kimball’s naturalists will lead the caravan to all of the birding hotspots along the South County shore, including Point Judith, Sand Hill Cove, Cards Pond, Moonstone Beach and Trustom Pond. Bring binoculars and dress warmly.

Fee is $8 for adult members and $4 children members; $12 for other adults and $6 for children. To register, call (401) 949-5454, ext. 3041 or e-mail programs@asri.org. The Web site is www.asri.org.

Canonchet Farm walk on Sunday

The Friends of Canonchet Farm are sponsoring a two-mile guided walk of the Narragansett property, off Anne Hoxsie Lane, on Sunday, Nov. 30, at 1 p.m.

Featured will be views of Pettaquamscutt Cove, Narrow River and Little Neck Pond. For details, call Kathie Kelleher at (401) 783-3951.

EPA calls for grant applications

The call is out to educators, educational institutions, public/state environmental agencies and nonprofit organizations that the federal Environmental Protection Agency is seeking applications for environmental education grants for fiscal 2009. The applications must be postmarked by Dec. 18.

EPA finances environmental education projects that focus on educating teachers, students, parents or the public about human health problems. These issues range from pollution; improving teaching tools and techniques for educators through workshops; building state or local capability to develop and deliver environmental education or public outreach programs; or promoting environmental careers and stewardship among students through hands-on activities.

The program encourages projects that educate members of a community through community-based organizations or educates the general public through print, film, broadcast or other media to be more environmentally aware and make environment-friendly decisions in their day-to-day lives.

Last year, EPA awarded $189,000 in environmental education grants to nine New England organizations. Most of the grant awards range from $10,000 to $30,000. To apply, get a copy of the solicitation notice at www.epa.gov/enviroed or by contacting the EPA New England contact, Kristen Conroy, at conroy.kristen@epa.gov, (617) 918-1069).

New England applicants seeking $50,000 or less should send the application directly to Kristen Conroy, U.S. EPA, One Congress St., Suite 1100 (RAA), Boston, MA 02114. Projects requesting more than $50,000 should be mailed to EPA Headquarters at the Office of Environmental Education, 1704A, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.

Climate change conference set

The second annual interfaith conference on developing a religious community response to climate change in Rhode Island will be held Jan. 8 at La Salle Academy, 612 Academy Ave., Providence. “Faith Lights Our Way” is a conference for clergy, lay leaders, parents, educators, business people, students and other interested persons.

Exhibits open at 5 p.m. with registration from 5 to 7 p.m. The keynote speech by the Rev. Canon Sally Bingham, president and founder of Interfaith Power and Light, will begin at 7 p.m.

The Interfaith Power and Light campaign and Ms. Bingham have received numerous awards including the 2007 U.S. EPA Climate Protection Award, the Purpose Prize, the Energy Globe Award and recognition as a “sacred gift to the planet” by the World Wildlife Fund. Ms. Bingham was recently named one of the top 15 green religious leaders by Grist magazine and was installed as Canon for Environmental Ministry in the Episcopal Diocese of California.

Concurrent workshops, led by local schools, students and organizations, will be held from 8:30 to 9:20 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

Suggested donation is $10 at the door. (No donation is suggested for students.)

For information or registration, call (401) 338-3916, e-mail info@riipl.org or register on-line at riipl.org/pre_register.htm .

Business park green plan pushed

The board of directors of the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island (EDFRI) has adopted a “Call to Action & Strategy for the Greening of the Highland Corporate Parks in Cumberland and Woonsocket.” The green initiative incorporates several strategies pertaining to energy demand management, renewable energy resources, quality building and site design and organizational approaches to facilitate collaborative efforts among Highland businesses to effectively and efficiently manage various issues including solid waste management, recycling and energy purchasing.

The Environmental Journal is a listing of brief news items about the actions of individuals, organizations and businesses that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the landscape that surrounds us. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact environment reporter Peter B. Lord at (401) 277-8036, or by email at plord@projo.com or by writing him, care of the Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, R.I. 02902.

plord@projo.com