February 2012 NewsLinks Archived

RochesterEnvironment.com

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More gas wells planned to control Ontario County landfill smell - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Odor remains an issue at the Ontario County facility | Ontario County, N.Y. — The issue Odor has been an ongoing problem at the Ontario County Landfill in the town of Seneca, where landfill manager Casella Waste Systems Inc. recently installed 13 new gas wells and an additional flare. Flares and gas wells are used to contain odor by burning off landfill gas, as well as channeling it to the gas-to-electricity plant adjacent to the landfill. (February 29, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Recycling in our area]
New York to Renew Push for Wind Power - NYTimes.com Despite Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s long-expressed dream of putting wind turbines on skyscrapers and bridges, the constraints of an urban landscape have so far proved too challenging for reliable wind power in the city, energy experts said. As a result, New York City has been largely inactive — and behind the national curve — in embracing wind power. But that is about to change. This spring, the city’s Department of Environmental Protection will solicit plans for the first major wind project, the installation of turbines atop the Fresh Kills landfill in Staten Island. And city planners are working on zoning changes, now under review by the City Planning Commission, to allow turbines up to 55 feet high on the rooftops of buildings taller than 100 feet, and even taller turbines on commercial and industrial sites along the waterfront. (February 29, 2012) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia [more on Wind Power in our area]
Feds aim to boost clean air, but slash environmental protection budgets. The federal government is adding millions of dollars in new spending to support its "clean air agenda" and boost Canada's environmental reputation on the world stage, while dramatically decreasing funding to clean up industrial development projects, according to estimates tabled Tuesday in the House of Commons. (February 29, 2012) The Edmonton Journal
EPA, N.J. agree: 2,112 waterways polluted | The Asbury Park Press NJ | APP.com New Jersey faces serious water quality challenges, including sewage pollution, but upgrading old infrastructure can help address them, according to federal officials. On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its approval of New Jersey’s latest list of streams, lakes, rivers, bays and other waters that are considered impaired or threatened by pollutants. (February 29, 2012) The Asbury Park Press NJ | New Jersey News | APP.com
Poll: Americans' belief in global warming rises with thermometer | HeraldNet.com - Nation/World WASHINGTON -- Americans' belief in global warming is on the rise, along with temperatures and surprising weather changes, according to a new university poll. The survey by the University of Michigan and Muhlenberg College says 62 percent of those asked last December think the Earth is getting warmer. That's up from 55 percent in the spring of that year and 58 percent in December 2010. It's the highest proportion in two years. (February 29, 2012) Everett and Snohomish County news from The Herald | HeraldNet.com [more on Climate Change in our area]
Fukushima, a year on: 3,000 workers take on the twisted steel and radiation | Environment | The Guardian Out in the evacuation zone, cars lie abandoned and groceries sit untouched – but the mangled nuclear plant is alive with activity | The remains of the shattered reactors are still some distance away when you first notice the sheer destruction of Japan's nuclear disaster. The journey into the heart of the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl 26 years ago begins much earlier, in the towns and villages that exist in name only, their residents having been sent fleeing a year ago. Homes and shops lie empty, the roads are deserted. In the town of Naraha, groceries sit untouched on the shelves of a convenience store; a handful of cars punctuate a supermarket carpark, abandoned by their owners amid the panic that followed the first explosion at one of the Fukushima Daiichi plant's reactor buildings. (February 28, 2012] Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian [more on Energy in our area]
Monster weed threatens Finger Lakes | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com Advocates are warning the Finger Lakes and other upstate water bodies lakes could be overrun by a hyper-aggressive invasive plant unless more money is found for a major eradication effort. The plant, hydrilla, was found late last summer in two creeks at the south end of Cayuga Lake at Ithaca. An initial effort last fall to control it failed to beat it back. (February 29, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Invasive Species in our area]
Unprepared for shale boom: N.Y., Pa. have no severance tax on oil, gas | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com But the new boom has the states struggling to figure out how to tax and regulate the drilling so the new-found wealth isn't just shipped via pipeline to Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. In the most obvious example: Pennsylvania and New York have no severance tax on oil and gas. Ohio has a tiny one that covers only the cost of regulating the industry. (February 25, 2012) Press & Sun-Bulletin | Binghamton news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Binghamton, New York | pressconnects.com [more on Fracking in our area]
NY green groups call solar energy a top priority - troyrecord.com ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Solar energy, climate change and gas-drilling wastewater are the top legislative priorities for New York's leading environmental groups this session in Albany. Environmental Advocates has released a list of so-called "Super Bills" for 2012. Those are the bills identified as the most crucial for addressing New York's top environmental challenges. (February 27, 2012) The Troy Record - Latest News, Sports, Opinion, Entertainment, Business [more on Energy in our area]
Second court favors fracking ban, appeals may be combined | Innovation Trail In a decision released Friday, acting Supreme Court Justice Donald F. Cerio, Jr. ruled that the Town of Middlefield can ban oil and gas drilling within its borders. The decision is virtually identical to one from earlier in the week in Tompkins County. In both cases, the judges decided that the state maintains control over "how" drilling can be done while local governments keep control of "where" it can happen. (February 27, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Fracking in our area]
DEC Hosts State of Lake Ontario Meeting - YNN, Your News Now The DEC is hosting a State of Lake Ontario meeting at RIT Tuesday night. (February 28, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more in Great Lakes in our area]
New York Pursues Uniform, National Ballast Water Requirements - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation In comments filed today with the Environmental Protection Agency, DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens indicated that New York will pursue a uniform, national ballast water standard that will leave in place the EPA's current standards in New York for the remainder of EPA's current Vessel General Permit through December 2013. "New York remains concerned about the introduction and spread of invasive species in the state's waterways and we hope that a strong national solution can be achieved," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "At the same time, shipping and maritime activity is critical to New York state and international commerce. A technically feasible national standard which recognizes the critical economic role played by our waterways is the only viable way to address the spread of destructive aquatic invaders through ballast water." (February 27, 2012) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more in Invasive Species in our area]
02/27/2012: EPA Requests Comment on 17th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on the annual “Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2010” (Inventory) draft report. The Inventory is the United States’ official estimate of total national greenhouse gas emissions, and is developed annually to meet commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The draft report will be open for public comment for 30 days. 2012 Draft U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report | Climate Change - Greenhouse Gas Emissions | U.S. EPA (February 27, 2012) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases
Canadian firm to proceed with southern leg of Keystone pipeline - latimes.com Blocked for now in the northern U.S., TransCanada aims to start on a stretch from Oklahoma to the Texas coast. Environmentalists vow to fight. Reporting from Seattle— The Keystone XL battle isn't over. The Canadian company behind the controversial pipeline announced Monday that it would proceed immediately with a shorter version of the project south of Oklahoma — even as it seeks a new permit for the segment through the northern U.S. Opponents immediately vowed to fight on both fronts. "TransCanada is hell-bent on bringing tar sands, the world's dirtiest oil, through America to reach foreign markets. They can't wait for a fair, scientific environmental review they know their pipeline would fail," Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement. (February 27, 2012) Los Angeles Times - California, national and world news - latimes.com [more on Energy in our area]
Obama supports TransCanada's bid to push ahead with part of oil pipeline | Environment | guardian.co.uk White House welcomes construction of portion of pipeline between Oklahoma and Texas, but activists condemn 'betrayal' Barack Obama helped put the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline back on track on Monday, endorsing construction on a key southern portion of the controversial project. The White House support for construction of a southern portion of the pipeline, running from Cushing, Oklahoma to Port Arthur, Texas, essentially unravels its rejection of the entire project just one month ago. (February 27, 2012) Latest US news, world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian [more on Energy in our area]
NCPR News - NY scraps tough ballast water regs, prompting praise and rebuke (02/27/12) On Friday, we reported that New York state is pushing Federal officials to toughen proposed new standards for ballast water pollution on freighters using the St. Lawrence Seaway. In that report, we mistakenly reported that the Cuomo administration is still planning to implement its own set of ballast water regulations, scheduled to go into effect next year. (February 27, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Invasive Species in our area]
NCPR News - NY pushes Obama administration to toughen ballast water protections (02/24/12) A state vs. federal feud over ballast water carried by ocean-going freighters is heating up again. New York is steward of a long stretch of the St. Lawrence River. Since the St. Lawrence Seaway was opened to international shipping in the 50s, it's been a major route for invasive species that have ended up in the Great Lakes and their tributaries. (February 24, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Invasive Species in our area]
Study: From Forest to Faucet, Fracking's Impact Weighed ALBANY, N.Y. - As New York considers the pros and cons of allowing hydraulic fracturing - or fracking - for natural gas exploration, a new study looks at its potential impact on the state's forests, which are crucial to clean water. The report, by the Nature Conservancy, considers the potential cumulative effects of high-volume hydraulic fracturing in Tioga County, 61 percent of which is forested. It concludes that the forest disturbance will be extensive. Report co-author Cara Lee says concern over fracking usually centers on protecting clean, safe water, but people should not overlook the role intact forests play in filtering water. (February 27, 2012) Public News Service [more on Fracking in our area]
Contamination haunts Holley 10 years later | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com More than a decade after the spill — and more than $10 million in federal toxic cleanup program money spent so far removing chemicals from the site — it is still unclear what, if any, long-term health hazards the company’s decades-long history of air and water pollution might pose to Holley residents. Mike Basile, an EPA spokesman, said the agency expects to issue a study later this spring that outlines the extent of Diaz-related contamination as well as potential cleanup alternatives and their costs. That study will be used to help the agency decide what its next steps will be. (February 26, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Brownfields in our area]
EERE News: Energy Department Launches New Research Program to Advance Solar Technologies As part of the Obama Administration's blueprint for an American economy built to last, Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced $3 million available this year to support research to significantly lower the cost of solar energy. The funding will enable collaborative research teams from industry, universities and national laboratories to work together in the Energy Department's research centers including the Scientific User Facilities to develop solutions to drive down the cost of solar energy. By accelerating scientific breakthroughs, these research teams support the Department's SunShot Initiative goal to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade – creating jobs, enhancing U.S. energy security, and boosting American competitiveness in the global clean energy economy. (February 23, 2012) Energy.gov | Department of Energy [more on Solar Power in our area]
Canada Applauds NY on BWT Decision Government of Canada applauds New York State for withdrawing its ballast water requirements. Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, Pierre Poilievre, welcomed yesterday’s decision by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC) to remove a threat to shipping on the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System. In a press release issued yesterday, NYDEC Commissioner Joe Martens — recognizing that shipping and maritime activity are critical to New York State and international commerce — agreed to a national approach to ballast water regulation in the United States. (February 24, 2012) Maritime News, Maritime Reporter, Marine News, Shipbuilding [more in Invasive Species in our area]
DEC Announces Proposed Changes to Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation DEC Announces Proposed Changes to Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations Changes to the current freshwater fishing regulations designed to enhance fishing opportunities and protect the state's freshwater fisheries were announced today by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). DEC will accept public comments on the proposals through April 2, 2012. "New York provides some of the best fishing in the nation and every two years DEC modifies existing freshwater sportfishing regulations and proposes new regulations to help ensure this remains the case," said Assistant Commissioner for Natural Resources Kathleen Moser. "We encourage anglers to review these proposed changes and provide DEC with comments." (February 16, 2012) Fishing - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Wildlife in our area]
Left and Right Both Upset by Transportation Bill - NYTimes.com CHICAGO — In contrast to the hundreds of pieces of legislation that cleave Congressional Republicans and Democrats, the one that pays for transportation projects has traditionally drawn a warm embrace from both parties, largely because of the giant piles of cash it bestows on states and communities to repair and maintain their roads, bridges and transit systems. (February 24, 2012) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia [more on Transportation in our area]
Judge Upholds Hydrofracking Ban in Middlefield, N.Y. - NYTimes.com A New York State judge ruled on Friday that Middlefield, in Otsego County, can ban natural gas drilling within its borders. It was the second court ruling this week that affirmed local authority over the process known as hydrofracking. Middlefield, with about 2,100 residents, passed a zoning law last June prohibiting heavy industry uses of land, including oil and gas drilling. Three months later, a landowner who had leased 377 acres of land to a gas company for drilling sued the town, arguing that only the state could regulate natural gas drilling. (February 24, 2012) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia [more on Fracking in our area]
Another hydrofracking ruling backs home rule | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY — For the second time in a week, a state Supreme Court judge has upheld the ability of municipalities to ban hydraulic fracturing and gas drilling within their limits. Otsego County Acting Supreme Court Justice Donald Cerio ruled late Friday that the town of Middlefield was within its rights under state law when it passed a ban on oil and gas drilling in June. (February 25, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Erie's mild winter affects beaches, plants and animals | GoErie.com/Erie Times-News "This is unbelievable," said Presque Isle State Park naturalist Anne DeSarro, pointing at Lake Erie, lapping at the shore on Beach 1. Normally, she said, the water would have frozen out to the break walls. This year, the sea gulls never left to fish in warmer climes. Coots and mallards have hung around because the bay never froze them out of their feeding grounds. Beavers never holed up inside their lodges. "In 18 years here, I don't remember the lake not freezing," at least a few feet from shore, she said. That's not necessarily a good thing. (February 22, 2012) GoErie.com: Erie's #1 Source for News and Information [more on Great Lakes in our area]
New York professor, pollution institute study plastic in the Great Lakes from on board sailing vessel | Great Lakes Echo Sherri Mason once watched a plastic bag blow around Niagara Falls and drop into the water far below. Although the water looks clean, she knows plastic pollutes the Great Lakes. The chemistry professor at the State University of New York, decided to study the problem after discovering that it hadn’t been done before. (February 23, 2012) Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news across the basin [more on Great Lakes in our area]
Feds plan to spend $51.5 million in 2012 on protecting Great Lakes from destructive Asian carp - The Washington Post TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — The Obama administration will spend $51.5 million this year to shield the Great Lakes from greedy Asian carp, including first-time water sampling to determine whether the destructive fish have established a foothold in the lakes, officials said Thursday. Officials released an updated strategy that also includes stepped-up trapping and netting in rivers that could provide access to the lakes, as well as initial field tests of scents that could lure carp to where they could be captured. An acoustic water gun that could scare carp from crucial locations will be tested near a Chicago shipping lock some want closed because it could serve as a doorway to Lake Michigan. (February 23, 2012) National: Breaking National News & Headlines - Washington Post [more on Invasive Species in our area]
Le Roy students update: Test results from NJ doctor are in | www.WHEC.com Many News10NBC viewers have been e-mailing our newsroom asking about the Le Roy students who are suffering from mysterious tics and spasms. Now, test results from a New Jersey doctor are in. Dr. Rosario Trifiletti agreed to get involved after several parents did not believe the original diagnosis of conversion disorder. (February 24, 2012) Rochester, NY News | www.WHEC.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Brockovich Says EPA 'Dropped the Ball' - YNN, Your News Now An environmental activist is speaking out about the EPA's cleanup in LeRoy. Erin Brockovich says the EPA dropped the ball, waiting until Wednesday to begin removing 235 drums from the Lehigh Railroad Derailment Site in LeRoy following a December 1970 train derailment (February 24, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Environmental Health in our area]
State of the Climate Global temperatures 19th warmest on record for January The globe experienced its 19th warmest January since record keeping began in 1880. Arctic sea ice extent was the fourth smallest extent on record for January at 7.5 percent below average. Additionally, La Niña conditions continued during January 2012. According to NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, La Niña is expected to dissipate during the Northern Hemisphere spring. January 2012 marks the coolest month since February 2008. However, January 2012 also marks the 26th January and 323rd consecutive month with a global temperature above the 20th century average. The last month with below average temperatures was February 1985. NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration {more on Climate Change in our area]
Court: Town of Dryden can ban fracking | Innovation Trail In a decision released Tuesday, the state Supreme Court in Cortland County upheld the Town of Dryden's ban on drilling. In his decision, Supreme Court Justice Phillip R. Rumsey says New York's oil and gas law gives the state the authority to decide how, but not where, drilling can be done. (February 22, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Fracking in our area]
New York Pursues Uniform, National Ballast Water Requirements - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation DEC Will Work with Other States and Stakeholders to Advocate a Strong National Standard In comments filed today with the Environmental Protection Agency, DEC Commissioner Joseph Martens indicated that New York will pursue a uniform, national ballast water standard that will leave in place the EPA's current standards in New York for the remainder of EPA's current Vessel General Permit through December 2013. "New York remains concerned about the introduction and spread of invasive species in the state's waterways and we hope that a strong national solution can be achieved," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "At the same time, shipping and maritime activity is critical to New York state and international commerce. A technically feasible national standard which recognizes the critical economic role played by our waterways is the only viable way to address the spread of destructive aquatic invaders through ballast water." (February 22, 2012) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Invasive Species in our area]
Large areas of open ocean starved of oxygen - Science - News - The Independent Large regions of the open ocean are being starved of oxygen because of warmer sea temperatures according to studies showing that fish and other marine creatures are moving into narrower habitats to avoid suffocation. Marine researchers said they have discovered growing areas of the ocean that suffer from hypoxia - oxygen depletion - which they believe is the result of warmer sea temperature caused by global warming. (February 23, 2012) The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper [more on Climate Change in our area]
Falling natural gas prices may slow fracking issue in New York | The Poughkeepsie Journal | poughkeepsiejournal.com ALBANY — Energy companies swept through the Southern Tier and into the Catskills in 2008, eager to lease natural-gas rights from landowners sitting above the resource-rich Marcellus Shale formation. Close to four years of regulatory review and a de facto moratorium later, New York’s portion of the Marcellus remains untapped by high-volume hydraulic fracturing. Now, natural-gas giants like Chesapeake Energy and Consol Energy are pulling back on shale-gas drilling in other states and focusing on so-called “wet gas” not found in New York. It’s largely because natural-gas prices have dropped to lows not seen since 2002. (February 21, 2012) The Poughkeepsie Journal | Poughkeepsie news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Poughkeepsie, New York | poughkeepsiejournal.com [more on Fracking in our area]
New York Court Affirms Towns’ Powers to Ban Fracking - ProPublica In a decision that could set a national precedent for how local governments can regulate gas drilling, a New York state court yesterday ruled for the first time that towns have the right to ban drilling despite a state regulation asserting they cannot. At issue was a zoning law in Dryden, a township adjacent to Ithaca and the Cornell University campus, where drilling companies have leased some 22,000 acres for drilling. In August, Dryden's town board passed a zoning law that prohibits gas drilling within town limits. The next month, Denver-based Anschutz Exploration Corp. sued the town, saying the ban was illegal because state law trumped the municipal rules. (February 22, 2012) ProPublica [more on Fracking in our area]
Court rules for town in hydrofracking ban In a case of first impression, a judge in Tompkins County Supreme Court affirmed the right of a municipality to use its zoning laws to ban hydrofracking anywhere within the town. In Anschutz Exploration Corp. v. Town of Dryden and Town of Dryden Town Board, Judge Phillip R. Rumsey found state law does not preclude the ... (February 22, 2012) NY Daily Record [more on Fracking in our area]
NCPR News - Dryden court decision could open door for local fracking bans (02/23/12) A judge in Cortland County has upheld the Tomkins county town of Dryden's ban on gas drilling within its borders. As the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports, this is just the first step in what could be a long process. (February 23, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Fracking in our area]
EPA removing drums from Le Roy railroad derailment site - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Le Roy, N.Y. — Today the Environmental Protection Agency announced that the removal of 235 drums from the Lehigh Railroad Derailment Superfund site in Le Roy will begin today. (February 22, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Environmental Health in our area]
EPA removes barrels near NY school, outbreak site | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com LE ROY, N.Y. (WTW) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has begun removing barrels from a Superfund site in western New York near a school where about 15 girls recently were treated for an outbreak of tics and verbal outbursts. The EPA says the barrels, leftover from a train derailment in 1970 about 3 1/2 miles from Le Roy High School, are not hazardous. The train crash spilled more than 30,000 gallons of an industrial solvent. (February 23, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
NY environmental chief calls for ballast standards | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY, N.Y. (WTW) — New York's environmental chief is calling for stronger national standards for ship ballast water blamed for spreading invasive species in the Great Lakes and other U.S. waters. Ballast water stabilizes ships while they take on or unload cargo. But ships can take on live organisms along with the water and carry them to new places. (February 22, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on invasive Species in our area]
N.Y. hydrofracking opponents hope ruling fuels drilling bans | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY — Opponents of hydraulic fracturing said Wednesday that a judge’s decision to uphold a small town’s gas-drilling ban may put more pressure on municipalities to enact their own bans. Drilling supporters, meanwhile, expect a court appeal. Judge Phillip Rumsey, a Supreme Court justice in Tompkins County, ruled Tuesday that the town of Dryden just east of Ithaca had the legal authority to use its zoning laws to ban gas drilling and heavy industry within its boundaries. (February 22, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Gas boom could pass New York by as regulators mull drilling | Innovation Trail DEC commissioner Joe Martens has said that some drilling applications could be processed this year - but gas drillers are starting to look elsewhere as New York's regulatory process continues. (February 21, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Fracking in our area]
Status quo on fracking » Today's Top Stories » Tonawanda News North Tonawanda and Niagara Falls are the only municipalities in the state with the capabilities to process contaminated water used in hydraulic fracturing, though as it stands there are no plans in place to allow it to happen. Yet. Waste water treatment plants in both cities were outfitted with the capacity to handle heavy industrial waste in the 1970s, following federal legislation that created the U.S. Clean Water Act, which led to the expansion of the facilities’ capabilities to use carbon filters in a chemical process that cleans the water. (February 22, 2012) Homepage » Tonawanda News [more on Fracking in our area]
Taking the bait to save the great lakes As Asian carp creep closer to the Great Lakes from the Mississippi River basin several prominent senators from the region are urging the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to finish a five-year study on the matter. The federal agency is conducting the study to determine whether a permanent hydraulic separation would prevent the invasive species from spreading into the lakes. (February 21, 2012) Homepage » Tonawanda News [ more on Invasive Species in our area]
Birders beware: climate change could push 600 tropical birds into extinction There may be less birds for birders to see in the world as the planet warms. Climate change, in combination with deforestation, could send between 100 and 2,500 tropical birds to extinction before the end of century, according to new research published in Biological Conservation. The wide range depends on the extent of climate and how much habitat is lost, but researchers say the most likely range of extinctions is between 600 and 900 species, meaning about 10-14 percent of tropical birds, excluding migratory species. (February 21, 2012) Environmental news and information - mongabay.com [more on Climate Change in our area]
Judge rules in favor of Dryden in gas-zoning dispute | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com Judge Phillip Rumsey found that a clause in the New York's oil and gas law that gives regulatory power to the state does not prohibit municipalities from banning gas drilling or using its zoning laws to prohibit it. He cited case law that allowed a town to issue zoning regulations for the mining industry, and said the "supercedure clauses" in the state laws governing the mining and gas industries serve the same purpose. (February 22, 2012) Press & Sun-Bulletin | Binghamton news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Binghamton, New York | pressconnects.com [more on Fracking in our area]
GOP Not Listening to Its Own Scientists on Climate Change | InsideClimate News GOP scientists say their attempts to talk about climate dangers with their party's politicians and their aides have largely fallen on deaf ears | A number of prominent U.S. climate scientists who identify themselves as Republican say their attempts in recent years to educate the GOP leadership on the scientific evidence of man-made climate change have been futile. Now, many have given up trying and the few who continue notice very little change after speaking with politicians and their aides. "No GOP candidates or policymakers want to touch the issue, and those of us trying to educate them are left frustrated," Kerry Emanuel, an atmospheric scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a registered Republican, told InsideClimate News. "Climate change has become a third rail in politics." (February 22, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Climate Change in our area]
New York judge upholds fracking ban in towns | Reuters (Reuters) - In a blow to the oil and gas industry, a judge has ruled small towns in New York have the authority to ban drilling -- including the controversial method known as fracking -- within their borders. In a ruling released late Tuesday, state Supreme Court Justice Phillip Rumsey of Tompkins County held that the Ithaca suburb of Dryden's recent ban on gas drilling falls within the authority of local governments to regulate local land use. (February 22, 2012) Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com [more on Fracking in our area]
BREAKING: Court Rules Town of Dryden Can Ban Fracking « EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement New York Supreme Court Justice Phillip R. Rumsey ruled today in favor of the right of the Town of Dryden to adopt zoning that prohibits natural gas drilling within its borders in Tomkins County. In the case of Anschutz Exploration Corporation v. the Town of Dryden and the Town of Dryden Town Board, the judge concluded that the town zoning ordinances is not preempted by the state Oil, Gas and Solution Mining Law. (February 21, 2012) EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement [more on Fracking in our area]
NCPR News - IJC wants water levels to consider eco-system costs (02/21/12) When spring comes, water levels rise. The spring thaw naturally fills-up lakes and rivers. But you might not know it by looking at Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. For fifty years regulators have been tempering extreme high and low water levels. And shoreline property owners, shippers, and dam operators like it that way. They don't like big fluctuations. But now a new proposal by the International Joint Commission recommends a more natural approach. (February 22, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Great Lakes in our area]
Wildlife: For some animals, climate change offers a chance to flourish -- 02/20/2012 -- www.eenews.net Imagine a planet where jellyfish rule the seas, giant rodents roam the mountains and swarms of insects blur everything in sight. It may sound far-fetched, but enough global warming is likely to change the distribution of wildlife on Earth. While species that are under threat, such as the polar bear, seem to get all the attention, others are beginning to thrive like never before. In the past three months, new studies have been published about killer whales, wandering albatross and trumpeter swans -- all of which appear to be benefiting from climate change. (February 20, 2012) E&E Publishing -- The Premier Information Source for Professionals Who Track Environmental and Energy Policy. [more on Climate Change in our area]
Wastewater a key issue in NY's fracking debate Fracking wastewater disposal a key issue in NY's debate over Marcellus Shale gas drilling | One of the most contentious issues in the debate over shale gas drilling in New York's share of the Marcellus Shale region -- how to handle millions of gallons of contaminated wastewater -- remains unsettled. As the state ponders final regulations, environmental advocates say the issue is a glaring gap in preparations. (February 20, 2012) Newsday - The Long Island and New York City News Source [more on Fracking in our area]
Photo Shows Shrinking Lake in Southern Sahara Desert : e360 Gallery A new photo taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station shows the extent to which Lake Fitri, a terminal lake in the southern Sahara Desert in Chad, has diminished as a consequence of climate change. (February 20, 2012) Yale Environment 360: Opinion, Analysis, Reporting & Debate [more on Climate Change in our area]
Debate Surrounds Race to Export America's Natural Gas Supply | InsideClimate News Some U.S. manufacturers, utilities and consumer advocates worry exporting gas will drive up electricity prices and deepen reliance on coal. Energy companies are honing plans to export natural gas faster than President Obama can call the United States the "Saudi Arabia of natural gas," and that's raising new questions about the country's energy policies. Multinational energy firms and some economists say exporting natural gas is a no-brainer: the cost of producing natural gas in the United States has plummeted with the explosion in shale gas production, while prices remain high elsewhere in the world. That means exports could ease the U.S. trade deficit while stimulating job growth. (February 21, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Fracking in our area]
NCPR News - For gardeners, a warning as spring approaches (02/20/12) The equinox is a month away, and the winter has been on the mild side. Even so, Cornell Cooperative Extension horticulturist Amy Ivy sounds a note of caution for gardeners thinking about getting an earlier than usual start on the planting season. (February 20, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Plants in our area]
NCPR News - 60,000 acre Adirondack land deal "still a priority" for Cuomo administration New York's top environment official says the Cuomo administration plans to move forward with a big expansion of the forest preserve in the Adirondacks. (February 21, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Parks in our area]
Hydrofracking wastewater issue remains unsettled in N.Y. | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY — One of the most contentious issues in the debate over shale gas drilling in New York’s share of the Marcellus Shale region — how to handle millions of gallons of contaminated wastewater — remains unsettled. As the state ponders final regulations, environmental advocates say the issue is a glaring gap in preparations. “What’s disconcerting is that while the state raises a number of possibilities, there isn’t any real clear sense as to what the path forward is going to be,” said Mark Brownstein, deputy director of the Environmental Defense Fund’s national energy program. “On an issue as important as this, all of us who commented from the environmental community are looking for greater clarity.” (February 21, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Coalition: Expand nuclear safety zones - Times Union Disaster in Japan offers lessons for Indian Point site, group tells NRC | ALBANY — If there was a nuclear accident at the Indian Point plant in Westchester County, water, milk, crops and food as far north as Kingston could be checked for radioactivity under federal safety rules. On Wednesday, a national coalition of clean energy and environmental groups asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to move that line up to the Greene and Columbia counties in the southern edge of the Capital Region, based on lessons from last year's nuclear disaster in Japan. (February 16, 2012) Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga News, Weather, Sports, Capitol | timesunion.com - Times Union [more on Energy in our area]
Carbon Dioxide Breaking Down Marine Ecosystems - Science News Scientists capitalize on 'natural' experiment to chronicle how ecosystems will change as oceans continue to acidify VANCOUVER — If carbon dioxide emissions don’t begin to decline soon, the complex fabric of marine ecosystems will begin fraying — and eventually unravel completely, two new studies conclude. The diversity of ocean species thins and any survivors’ health declines as the pH of ocean water falls in response to rising carbon dioxide levels, scientists from England and Florida reported February 18 at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. What’s more, affected species aren’t restricted to those with shells and calcified support structures — features particularly vulnerable to erosion by corrosive seawater. (February 19, 2012) Science News [more on Climate Change in our area]
Cuomo Unveils I-390 Improvement Plan - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com Rochester, N.Y - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo unveiled plans to modernize and rebuild the I-390 interchange in Rochester. A key phase of the project will involve a new ramp from Kendrick Road to I-390 northbound and a new direct access ramp from East River Road to I-390 southbound. (February 20, 2012) [more on Transportation in our area]
Alliance between natural gas industry, environmental groups fractures New friendships grew old, then cold. Environmental groups that once took money from McClendon — or considered doing so — to make a common cause against coal power, have stepped back as they weigh the environmental perils of extracting natural gas from shale, a business in which McClendon’s Chesapeake Energy is a leader. The Sierra Club took $26.1 million in contributions from McClendon and Chesapeake-affiliated companies between 2007 and 2010, a fact that its executive director, Michael Brune, first disclosed to Time magazine earlier this month. Last year, Brune walked away from Chesapeake and an offer of an additional $30 million in donations. (February 19, 2012) National: Breaking National News & Headlines - Washington Post [more on Fracking in our area]
As Bear Population Grows, More States Look At Hunts : NPR Wildlife officials don't usually base hunting policies on how the public feels about an animal. But the black bear seems to be different. The revered king of the forest has bounced back from near-extinction to being a nuisance in some areas. Some states are trying to figure out if residents can live at peace with bears, or if they'd rather have hunters keep numbers in check. (February 20, 2012) Environment : NPR [more on Wildlife in our area]
Canandaigua ordinance committee to discuss possible pesticide ban - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — The Canandaigua city ordinance committee will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, at the Hurley Building on 205 Saltonstall St. On the agenda is a discussion of an ordinance that would prohibit the use of pesticides on city-owned property. (February 19, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Pesticides in our area]
DEC survey: No NY moose population explosion yet | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com RAY BROOK, N.Y. (WTW) — A biologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation says the Adirondack moose population explosion predicted a few years ago hasn't happened yet. DEC's Ed Reed tells the Adirondack Daily Enterprise (http://bit.ly/AvPPnu ) that biologists haven't seen a great increase in moose numbers since they started doing aerial surveys in 2007. (February 20, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
Legislators want fracking ban on county-owned land - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York Should Oneida County allow hydraulic fracturing on county-owned land? A pair of county legislators is pushing for a bill that would ban the practice, commonly known as fracking, until all health and environmental impacts have been identified and addressed. So far, no one has approached the county to obtain a lease. But legislators Emil Paparella, R-Utica, and Chad Davis, D-Clinton, want to be prepared if that happens. (February 15, 2012) Legislators want fracking ban on county-owned land - Utica, NY - The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, New York [more on Fracking in our area]
Marcellus Shale gas drillers are recycling more but other wells still pollute rivers, streams | StarTribune.com PITTSBURGH - Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale gas drilling companies are recycling more and more of their briny, chemical-laden wastewater, in most cases complying with a request from state officials to keep the pollutants from being discharged into rivers that supply drinking water. But experts are wondering if a loophole in disposal regulations is still allowing significant quantities of one of the worrisome compounds_ salty bromides_ into rivers and streams, or if shale gas drillers were only part of the problem. (February 17, 2012) StarTribune.com: News, weather, sports from Minneapolis, St. Paul and Minnesota [more on Fracking in our area]
BBC News - Canadian government is 'muzzling its scientists' The Canadian government has been accused of "muzzling" its scientists. Speakers at a major science meeting being held in Canada said communication of vital research on health and environment issues is being suppressed. (February 17, 2012) BBC News - Home
This Week in Clean Economy: Wind Supporters Mobilize to Save Federal Tax Credit | InsideClimate News Down but not out, the wind industry vows to keep a federal tax credit alive. Plus, InsideClimate News breaks down Obama's clean energy budget. Supporters of a federal wind subsidy vowed Thursday to double down on their effort to keep the tax credit alive for at least one more year. The message came hours after Congress killed what was seen as the incentive's last best chance for survival. "Our campaign continues," Denise Bode, chief executive of the American Wind Energy Association, a trade group, said in a statement. "By all reports, wind champions on both sides of the aisle in both the Senate and House ... are now working to get the job done by other means." (February 17, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Wind Power in our area]
UT study finds no direct link between fracking and groundwater contamination | McClatchy Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to groundwater contamination, according to a study by the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin. The study, released at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Vancouver, British Columbia, found that many problems ascribed to fracking actually have other causes, such as "casing failures or poor cement jobs." (February 17, 2012) McClatchy | News Politics Nation World Washington Economics Environment Opinion [more on Fracking in our area]
ENVIRONMENT: The unseen enemies Public concern about bisphenol A reached a tipping point several years ago. Cities, stores, even the Canadian government began banning or phasing out reusable water bottles and children's products that were made using the chemical. BPA is an endocrine disruptor. Some scientists and health researchers suspect that the chemical is linked to a broad range of health issues, including developmental problems in children and reproductive problems later in life. (February 15, 2012) [more on Environmental Health in our area] Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper
Developer wants to put 36 windmills in central NY | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com MADISON — A wind farm developer is floating a plan to build 36 turbines on 7,500 acres in Madison County. The Syracuse Post-Standard reports that Rolling Upland Wind Farm would be built in the town of Madison, which welcomed the state’s first seven windmills in 2000. The town has a special planning board meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss the project. (February 16, 2012)Press & Sun-Bulletin | Binghamton news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Binghamton, New York | pressconnects.com [more on Wind Power in our area]
Erie Community College expansion fight centers on sprawl | Innovation Trail A fight over a small item in Governor Andrew Cuomo’s budget proposal has been building for months. At issue is $15 million in a $130 billion budget. But for two opposing factions in Buffalo, it’s symbolic of the city’s path forward. To sprawl or not to sprawl? That’s the question. And today’s the last day Governor Cuomo can change his mind. (February 16, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Urban Sprawl in our area]
DEC'S Saratoga Tree Nursery Kicks off Annual Tree and Shrub Seedling Sale and Giveaway - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Landowners Can Take Advantage of Low-Cost Native Plants, Schools Can Get Them Free More than 50 species of trees and shrubs are now available to schools and public and private landowners at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation's (DEC) Saratoga Tree Nursery, DEC announced today. The Saratoga Tree Nursery provides trees for erosion control, wildlife habitat, reforestation and other uses. (February 14, 2012) New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
Plotting a road map for a low-carbon future The idea that scientists will lead humanity through our most daunting challenges is an appealing one. Faced with threats of catastrophic climate change, new global pandemics and a growing food crisis, researchers around the world are pursuing technological advances that would, if fully deployed, allow us to contain those risks. And in the process, sleep easier. (February 17, 2012) Home - The Globe and Mail [more on Climate Change in our area]
Natural gas: New regs needed to deal with shale -- report -- 02/16/2012 -- www.eenews.net Antiquated regulations originally designed for conventional oil and gas operations need to be redesigned for the newer era of unconventional shale, according to a report released today by the University of Texas, Austin. The report finds that there are relatively few baseline measurements of water quality in an aquifer before drilling begins to draw on for scientific analysis. (February 16, 2012) E&E Publishing -- The Premier Information Source for Professionals Who Track Environmental and Energy Policy. [more on Fracking in our area]
Methane, Soot Are Targets Of New U.S. Climate Initiative : The Two-Way : NPR The United States and five other nations are embarking on a new program to limit pollutants connected to global warming. But they're not targeting carbon dioxide with this effort — instead, they're looking at methane gas, and soot. (February 16, 2012) Environment : NPR [more on Climate Change in our area]
Assembly Passes Key Fracking Waste Bill | New York League of Conservation Voters The New York State Assembly has passed legislation (A.7013) that closes a loophole in Department of Environmental Conservation regulations that exempts fracking waste from treatment as hazardous waste -- even though much of the waste meets the current definition of hazardous. This legislation is one of NYLCV's four top priorities for Albany this year, and lawmakers' support for it will factor into NYLCV's environmental endorsements and political campaign decisions later this year. (February 14, 2012) New York League of Conservation Voters | Electing for the Environment [more on Fracking in this area]
Federal Rules to Disclose Fracking Chemicals Could Come with Exceptions - ProPublica Last week several [1] media [2] outlets [3] obtained the federal Bureau of Land Management's draft of proposed rules [4] requiring fracking companies to disclose the chemicals they pump into the ground. Such disclosure requirements have been championed by environmentalists for years and were endorsed by President Obama in the State of the Union [5], but critics say the rules may not go far enough. In the process of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, millions of gallons of highly pressurized water, mixed with sand and other chemicals, are injected into the ground to extract natural gas from rock. As we've noted before, some of these chemicals are toxic to humans [6] and have contaminated nearby groundwater [7]. Some energy companies have voluntarily made their chemical information public [8], but others have fought to keep them secret. (February 16, 2012)ProPublica [more on Fracking in our area]
Ontario County supervisors defend landfill expansion - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — With public comment on the Ontario County landfill expansion plan open until Feb. 21, Canandaigua city Supervisors David Baker and Rich Russell, along with Seneca Supervisor John Sheppard, met with the Canandaigua City Council Thursday to discuss the draft environmental impact statement. One of the primary questions — posed by councilmember Maria Bucci —was what exactly is driving the need for a landfill expansion. “There’s about three years left of the landfill at the current rate,” Baker said. “When the new cells are open, it doesn’t mean that there’s more waste that’s coming in; it’s just an expansion of the size of the landfill.” (February 17, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Recycling in our area]
Secrecy Loophole Could Still Weaken BLM's Tougher Fracking Regs | InsideClimate News The gas industry wants to protect its trade secrets, but watchdogs want full disclosure of chemicals that can cause blindness, organ failure and cancer. New regulations drafted by the federal Bureau of Land Management would increase pressure on energy companies to disclose information about the chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing, a process that extracts oil and natural gas from deep inside the earth. Nine states already have disclosure laws for hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. But only one state—Colorado—requires what the BLM would require: the names and concentrations of the individual chemicals pumped into each well. Colorado's hotly-contested rules go into effect in April. (February 15, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Fracking in our area]
Coalition to Congress: ‘Do Not Waver in Support for Great Lakes Programs’ | Healing Our Waters Coalition Days after the Obama Administration released its fiscal year 2013 budget, the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition is urging the U.S. Congress to hold the line against cuts to Great Lakes restoration programs that are producing results in communities across the region. “President Obama’s budget keeps Great Lakes restoration on track,” said Jeff Skelding, campaign director for the Healing Our Waters-Great Lakes Coalition. “Now we’re looking for the U.S. Congress to not waver in its commitment to restore a resource that more than 30 million people depend on for their drinking water, jobs and way of life.” (February 15, 2012) Healing Our Waters Coalition | Healthy Lakes, Healthy Lives [more on Great Lakes in our area]
Group: Sewer upgrade cuts would hurt Great Lakes | www.WHEC.com Federal funding of sewage system improvements in the Great Lakes region would drop about $110 million next year under President Barack Obama's proposed budget. The spending plan released this week seeks a 20 percent reduction in low-interest loans for communities to upgrade sewer infrastructure. The Great Lakes region gets roughly one-third of that money under a fixed formula. (February 15, 2012) Rochester, NY News | www.WHEC.com [more on Great Lakes in our area]
BP's Oil Slick Set To Spill Into Courtroom : NPR A federal court in New Orleans is preparing for one of the largest and most complex environmental lawsuits ever to come to court. It stems from the worst oil disaster in U.S. history: the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon nearly two years ago and the resulting oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico. Testimony is scheduled to begin at the end of the month. The case combines more than 500 lawsuits in one proceeding designed to determine who's responsible for what went wrong. (February 16, 2012) Environment : NPR
Revealed: How fossil fuel reserves match UN climate negotiating positions | Environment | guardian.co.uk New figures calculate how much CO2 each country could emit in the future and asks how their fuel reserves affect their position at the UN climate negotiations | Want to understand why we're not solving climate change? Then follow the money – which in this case means following the carbon. I've spent much of the past 24 hours crunching data and it turns out there's a very striking – and oddly overlooked – correlation between fossil fuel reserves and national negotiating position on climate change. First, though, some background. Last year I wrote about the emerging concept of a "carbon bubble" and the risks for investors of putting money into companies that hold fossil fuel reserves. After all, if the world is to meet its stated 2C target for limiting global warming, most of those fuels will need to be left in the ground. (February 16, 2012) Environment blog | Environment | The Guardian [more on Climate Change in our area]
Canandaigua City Council to discuss landfill expansion - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — The Canandaigua City Council will meet Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the Hurley Building (205 Saltonstall St.) to discuss the landfill expansion draft environmental impact statement. (February 16, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Recycling in our area]
Meetings set on status of fish | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com State environmental officials will hold three public meetings to discuss fish populations in Lake Ontario. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says its annual "State of Lake Ontario" meetings will be held in Oswego, Monroe and Niagara counties in the coming weeks. Biologists will give status updates on the trout and salmon fisheries as well as information on stocking and fisheries management programs. Members of the public will be able to ask questions. (February 16, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
More Environmental Testing In Le Roy | Local News - ROCHESTER'S NEWS LEADER NEWSRADIO 1180 WHAM The Le Roy School Board approved air and soil testing at its Tuesday night meeting. (13-WHAM) The Le Roy School Board approved air and soil testing at its Tuesday night meeting. It's another effort to explore a possible cause of the Tourette's-like illness affecting at least 12 students. Pittsford-based Leader Professional Services will start testing air quality later this week. (February 15, 2012) WHAM-AM - ROCHESTER'S NEWS LEADER NEWSRADIO 1180 WHAM [more on Environmental Health in our area]
RGRTA launches new text message bus tracking system | www.WHEC.com Today, RGRTA will officially launch the company’s new text message bus tracking system. “Where’s My Bus?” integrates GPS and smartphone technology so that riders know exactly when the bus will arrive at their stop. (February 15, 2012) Rochester, NY News | www.WHEC.com [more on Transportation in our area]
Hearts and air pollution: Five deadly air pollutants on five continents — Environmental Health News Around the world, breathing a variety of air pollutants – in some cases for a single day – increases the chance that people will suffer heart attacks, according to a new analysis published Tuesday. For the first time, scientists analyzed previous studies from five continents to verify and quantify the links between air pollution and heart health. They found that short-term exposure – less than seven days – to all major air pollutants except ozone was associated with an increase in heart attacks. The team from France and the U.S. reported in the Journal of the American Medical Assn. that the magnitude of the risk “is relatively small” compared to other factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure and diabetes. But they stressed that so many people worldwide are breathing fine particulates, carbon monoxide and other pollutants that the numbers of people at risk are substantial. Dr. Jesus Araujo of UCLA said there is now “more than enough evidence” that air pollution kills. “We don’t have to be exposed for weeks or months or years,” Araujo said. (February 15, 2012) Environmental Health News: Front Page [more on Environmental Health in our area]
NCPR News - Ottawa exhibit considers the "Urban Forest" One city's relationship with trees is explored in a new museum exhibit in Ottawa. Six moments in the history of an urban forest is the brainchild of Carleton University history professor Joanna Dean and graduate student Will Knight. Present-day Ottawa began as rough riverside lumber shanties in the early 1800's. It grew to become the nation's capital, with various trends in tree clearing and tree planting along the way. More recently, the area has faced damage from natural disaster and invasive pests - like the emerald ash borer, which threatens perhaps 30% of Ottawa's existing tree population. (February 15, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Environmental Education in our area]
NY Air Pollution Lawsuit Gets Companion on Valentine's Day NEW YORK - Love wasn't the only thing in the air on Valentines Day. Soot, smoke and other airborne particles are the target of a lawsuit which parallels one filed a few days ago by New York's attorney general and his colleagues in 10 other states. The American Lung Association and the National Parks Conservation Association are suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency to force it to update air-quality standards as required every five years. (February 15, 2012) Public News Service [more on Air Quality in our area]
City of Canandaigua to discuss hydrofracking - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — High volume hydraulic fracturing — hydrofracking — will be discussed Tuesday at the Canandaigua City, said Councilmember Meg Reston. No action will be taken, but Reston said a possible moratorium on the controversial gas drilling procedure would be part of the conversation. “We’ll be discussing whether a moratorium is something the city would consider; it’d give us time to look at our zoning ... If (fracking) is going to happen, we want to know how it’ll affect the city,” Reston said. “We’re still in the embryonic stages of talking about it.” (February 14, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Fracking in our area]
City of Canandaigua ponders moratorium ban - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Canandaigua, N.Y. — A possible moratorium on high volume hydraulic fracturing in the city of Canandaigua was discussed Tuesday during an environmental committee meeting. City Attorney Michele Smith said that before a moratorium can be constructed, specifics need to be put into place on what exactly would be temporarily banned. She added that in order to pass a moratorium, there would need to be a detailed analysis why one would be needed in the first place. (February 14, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Fracking in our area]
Environmental tests OK'd at Le Roy High in tic case | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com The LeRoy school board has approved a second round of environmental testing at the high school where several students have been suffering from uncontrollable tics. The district has decided to move forward with additional soil and air testing after some parents refused to accept the diagnosis of conversion disorder and asked the district to look further into possible environmental causes. (February 15, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Crow hunt causes a flap in Schuyler County - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader Montour Falls, N.Y. — American crows are highly intelligent, fascinating creatures, Cornell University ornithologist Kevin McGowan told dozens of birders and nature lovers Saturday afternoon at a “crow appreciation talk” at the Montour Falls Library. The event was organized to counter Saturday’s crow hunt in Schuyler County, hosted by the Millport Hunting and Fishing Club. McGowan said he didn’t want to talk about Saturday’s hunt, but he shared interesting, funny and sad stories from his nearly 25 years of research on crows. (February 11, 2012) Homepage - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader [more on Wildlife in our area]
Groups seek to protect NY environment fund | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY, N.Y. (WTW) — More than 100 demonstrators representing 50 environmental groups are seeking to protect the state's Environmental Protection Fund, traditionally a target in state budget negotiations. The groups on Monday urged lawmakers to save the fund from cuts that would reduce money for closing landfills, opening recycling facilities and creating new parks. Rob Moore of Environmental Advocates noted a new study by the Trust for Public Land that found New York's economy receives $7 in financial benefits for every dollar spent on environmental protection. (February 14, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com
Hydrofracking: Two Scientists Split - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com Ithaca, N.Y. – Hydraulic fracturing – the process of extracting natural gas from the ground using a mixture of water, sand and chemicals – has actually been used in New York for decades. Why it’s so controversial now is the relatively new form of drilling that accompanies it. In the past, gas companies would drill a well straight down, then frack. Today, crews can drill down, then over, in a process called horizontal drilling. (February 13, 2012) Home - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Changes to Liquid Petroleum Gas Storage Plans - YNN, Your News Now Some changes to plans to store liquid petroleum gas in Schuyler County have been announced. Inergy is responding to concerns from people who live near the site. (February 14, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Energy in our area]
Obama Announces Funding for Great Lakes Initiative - YNN, Your News Now President Obama announced more funding to fight the spread of Asian Carp as part of the effort to restore the Great Lakes. The President announced an additional three hundred million dollars for Great Lakes projects. (February 14, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Great Lakes in our area]
DEC Announces "State of Lake Ontario" Meetings - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced three upcoming public meetings to discuss Lake Ontario fisheries. The annual "State of Lake Ontario" public meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties during February and March. "DEC is committed to science-based management of Lake Ontario fisheries to maintain high-quality angling opportunities and associated economic benefits," DEC Commissioner Joe Martens said. "The State of Lake Ontario meetings provide an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in the lake to interact with the scientists who study its fisheries." (February 13, 2012) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Great Lakes in our area]
Fighting to keep Asian carp out of Lake Erie - 13abc.com: Toledo Breaking News, Weather and Sports BOWLING GREEN, Ohio - It's a problem that threatens thousands of jobs and a multi-million dollar industry in Ohio. Asian carp and how to stop the species from invading the Great Lakes continues to fuel plenty of debate. On Monday, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur held a public meeting at BGSU's Firelands Campus to talk about the threat. Asian carp is such a major problem, the White House has appointed a special council to deal with the issue. (February 6, 2012) 13abc.com: Toledo Breaking News, Weather and Sports - Home [more in Invasive Species in our area]
02/13/2012: EPA’s FY 2013 Budget Proposal Focuses on Core Environmental and Human Health Protections / EPA budget supports President Obama’s vision of an America that is built to last WASHINGTON – Today the Obama Administration proposed a FY 2013 budget of $8.344 billion for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This budget reflects a government-wide effort to reduce spending and find cost-savings, and is $105 million below the EPA’s enacted level for FY 2012. The FY 2013 budget is the result of EPA’s ongoing efforts to carefully consider potential cost savings and reductions while continuing its commitment to core environmental and health protections -- safeguarding Americans from pollution in the air they breathe, the water they drink and the land where they build their communities. (February 13, 2012) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases
Study: Coal tar-based pavement sealants expose children to toxic chemicals - chicagotribune.com Study comes amid attempts across U.S. to ban use on playgrounds, parking lots and driveways | Children living next to driveways or parking lots coated with coal tar are exposed to significantly higher doses of cancer-causing chemicals than those living near untreated asphalt, according to a study that raises new questions about commonly used pavement sealants. Researchers from Baylor University and theU.S. Geological Survey also found that children living near areas treated with coal tar-based sealants ingest twice as many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs, from contaminated dust tracked into their homes than they do from food. (February 15, 2012) Chicago Tribune: Chicago breaking news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and traffic - chicagotribune.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Natural Gas Boom Energizing The Chemical Industry : NPR Just outside of West Virginia's capital city, Charleston, on the banks of the Kanawha River, sits the Institute Industrial Park. Chemical plants have operated here continuously since World War II, when the local factories cranked out synthetic rubber. Today there are industrial pipes, tanks and buildings stretching in just about every direction. Soon, there could be more. U.S. chemical companies are the latest beneficiaries of the nation's natural gas drilling boom. Long focused on cheap gas sources elsewhere in the world, companies are now looking to expand here. A surplus of natural gas has pushed down prices, making it more attractive for chemical companies that use lots of gas to reopen shuttered plants and build new ones. (February 13, 2012) Environment : NPR [more on Energy in our area]
Environmental Organizations Unite in 24-Hour Drive to Stop Keystone XL « EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement It’s Feb. 13, and just over an hour ago 350.org and a coalition of more than 30 progressive groups, environmental campaigns, businesses and blogs launched a 24-hour drive to send more than 500,000 messages to the Senate opposing the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. The timing is crucial—starting today, oil-soaked Republicans are going to be attempting to saddle a transportation bill with an amendment that would override President Obama’s decision to reject Keystone XL and push approval of the project. (February 13, 2012) EcoWatch: Uniting the Voice of the Grassroots Environmental Movement [more on Climate Change in our area]
Gillibrand: Funds needed to handle major disasters - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Finger Lakes, N.Y. — U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand released a letter today urging Senate and House negotiators trying to agree on details of extending the payroll tax cut, to include funds that she said would help first responders in dealing with major disasters. (February 14, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow
NY to host annual State of Lake Ontario meetings | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WTW) — State environmental officials will hold three public meetings to discuss fish populations in Lake Ontario. The state Department of Environmental Conservation says its annual "State of Lake Ontario" meetings will be held in Niagara, Monroe and Oswego counties in the coming weeks. (February 14, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Great Lakes in our area]
A.G. SCHNEIDERMAN FILES AIR POLLUTION LAWSUIT TO PROTECT PUBLIC FROM BREATHING SOOT Attorney General Leads A Coalition Of 11 States Responding To EPA's Failure To Comply With Federal Clean Air Act, Adopt Air Quality Standards That Protect Public Health Under Current Lax Standards, Roughly 2,000 Die Annually In NYC-Area From Heart and Lung Disease Related To Soot Schneiderman: Clean Air Is A Public Right [En Español] NEW YORK – Leading a coalition of 11 states, New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today filed a lawsuit to compel the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promptly revise national air quality standards for air pollution involving soot. The coalition took legal action after the EPA failed to meet an October 2011 deadline for revising the existing lax standards, as required by the federal Clean Air Act. (February 10, 2012) HOME - OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL [more on Air Quality in our area]
New York leads 11 states in suing EPA over soot pollution rules | syracuse.com New York and 10 other states filed a lawsuit Friday designed to force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue new regulations on soot pollution. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said the lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan comes after the federal agency failed to meet a statutory October deadline to revise soot standards. Soot is produced by diesel vehicles and power plants and has been linked to chronic respiratory disease, impaired lung function, heart disease and asthma. “Every day, air pollution, from soot risks the health of more than one-third of Americans, including our most vulnerable — children, the elderly and the sick,” Schneiderman said in a prepared statement. “These risks are simply unacceptable. The EPA must take prompt action to reduce pollution now, and safeguard the health of the public and the air we breathe.” (February 10, 2012) Syracuse NY Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - syracuse.com [more on Air Quality in our area]
Going Green: Ban on bottled water - YNN, Your News Now In this week's Going Green, Terry Ettinger tells us how Upstate Medical University is making the effort to reduce the use and purchase of bottled water. “There’s a challenge in the clinical environment to maintain patient care and practice sustainability, there seems to be an inherent conflict in the minds of many people. We’re proving that to be untrue. We’re taking a holistic approach and doing a number of things,” said Thomas Pelis, Assistant Vice President for Facilities and Planning of Upstate Medical University. Such things as reducing the use of purchased bottled water. (February 13, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Water Quality in our area]
Medical mystery draws national attention - The Stylus - The College at Brockport The small, nearby town of LeRoy, N.Y. has been thrown into the national spotlight, as major media outlets across the country have picked up the mysterious story of 16 people who have inexplicably developed Tourette-like symptoms. The story is shrouded in mystery and speculation. Different parties with different interests have made varying claims about the severity of the situation and the possible causes of the uncontrollable tics, which have developed in 14 girls and one boy at LeRoy Junior-Senior High School, and a 36-year-old woman. (February 6, 2012) The Stylus - The College at Brockport [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Keystone pipeline opponents fight on with petition challenge | Environment | guardian.co.uk Drive to gather 500,000 signatures is timed to stop the latest push from Republicans to overturn the president's decision Opponents of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline set themselves a new challenge on Monday – to gather 500,000 signatures in a single day – and block Congress from reviving the project. Barack Obama formally rejected the proposed pipeline last month, elevating a once obscure project to a leading issue in the 2012 elections. (February 13, 2012) Latest US and world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian [more on Climate Change in our area]
Battling The Bottle: Students And Industry Face Off Over Water : The Salt : NPR Bottled water is trickling away from college campuses nationwide, thanks to the efforts of student activists and the non-profit groups that support them with campaigns like Ban the Bottle. But that's not going over too well with the International Bottled Water Association. The industry, which had $10.6 billion in revenue in 2010, went on the defensive this month with a YouTube video to counter what it calls "misinformation" used to turn college students against bottled water. (February 12, 2012) Environment : NPR [more on Water Quality in our area]
Waterloo board will get wastewater update - Finger Lakes Times: Local WATERLOO — The Village Board Monday will receive an update on its ongoing efforts to correct problems with the wastewater collection and treatment system. Engineers from MRB Group will evaluate new discharge permit limits imposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its impact on the work plan included in the draft consent order. (February 12, 2012) Finger Lakes Times: Finger Lakes Times [more on Water Quality in our area]
Is 'Genetically Modified' the Future of Our Food? NEW YORK - The rise of genetically modified foods has put agriculture at a crossroads in New York and around the nation, and some believe it is also putting food safety at risk. Andrew Kimbrell, founder of the Center for Food Safety, says genetically modified (or "GMO") crops can contaminate organic and conventional crops, hurt other organisms and affect human health. Kimbrell says GMO crops also are becoming more resistant to pests and weeds, leading to greater use of pesticides and herbicides. (February 13, 2012) Public News Service [more on Food and Environment in our area]
GBBC News Release - Feb 2012 — Great Backyard Bird Count February 6, 2012—Warmer temperatures and lack of snow in parts of North America are setting the stage for what could be a most intriguing 15th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, coming up February 17-20. Bird watchers across the U.S. and Canada are getting ready to tally millions of birds in the annual count coordinated by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Audubon, and Canadian partner Bird Studies Canada. (February 6, 2012) Welcome to GBBC — Great Backyard Bird Count [more on Wildlife in our area]
Brockovich Investigator Releases Preliminary Groundwater Testing Results in LeRoy - YNN, Your News Now Preliminary test results on groundwater testing in LeRoy, by Erin Brockovich's team, are in. Environmental Investigator Bob Bowcock says so far test results show TCE from the 1970 Leghigh Train Derailment has not moved toward LeRoy High School. (February 11, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Consumption of Locally Caught Fish in Rochester, New York: Report on a Rapid Assessment | Happenings by Katrina Smith Korfmacher, PhD, Director, Community Outreach and Engagement Core, Environmental Health Sciences Center and Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Medicine; and Valerie Garrison, Program Manager, Community Outreach and Engagement Core, Environmental Health Sciences Center Introduction Fishing in the Finger Lakes and Lake Ontario is widely perceived as a primarily recreational activity dominated by “catch and release” fishing, although some anglers may eat their catch. Because of contaminants in many waterbodies, the New York State Department of Health recommends limiting consumption of certain fish taken from various waters of the state. However, researchers in many areas of the country have found that certain population groups – often minorities, immigrants, and low-income urban populations – consume excessive quantities of contaminated fish taken from local waters. We report here on a pilot study to assess the extent of subsistence fish consumption in Rochester. The full report can be viewed at Subsistence consumption of locally caught fish in Rochester, New York: 2009 Rapid Assessment Report
The Environmental Injustice of Landfill Sitings and Expansions | Happenings by the Finger Lakes Zero Waste Coalition, Inc. and Concerned Citizens of Seneca County, Inc. The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) definition of environmental justice is “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people” with respect to environmental laws, regulations, and policies. “Fair Treatment means that no group of people should bear a disproportionate burden of environmental harms and risks, including those resulting from the negative environmental consequences of industrial, governmental, and commercial operations or programs and policies.”-US EPA, Plan EJ 2014, September 2011 (February 3, 2012) Happenings | the monthly newsletter of the Finger Lakes Institute [more on Recycling in our area]
Pennsylvania Fracking Bill Sent To Governor Tom Corbett HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett is expected to sign a sweeping bill that could force Pennsylvania's booming natural gas industry to help pay for a wide range of state and local government programs, toughen safety standards and limit the ability of local officials to keep drilling out of their towns. The state House of Representatives' vote came more than three years after the exploration industry, armed with new technology, descended on Pennsylvania and began pouring billions of dollars into tapping the Marcellus Shale natural gas formation, the nation's largest-known natural gas reservoir. (February 9, 2012) Green News and Opinion on The Huffington Post [more on Fracking in our area]
As Gray Wolves Return, So Does Debate Over Hunting - NCPR News from NPR Back from near-extinction, the gray wolf will soon be removed from the endangered species list. Now, Wyoming has struck a deal with the federal government to allow trophy hunting of the predator in certain parts of the state. But the move has drawn the ire of environmentalists. Gray wolves were taken off the endangered species list in Idaho and Montana last year and put under state control. But they're still on the list in neighboring Wyoming. That's because Wyoming has been the most aggressive about wanting to kill wolves. (February 11, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Wildlife in our area]
Deconstructing Dengue: How Old Is That Mosquito? - NCPR News from NPR Dengue fever, a nasty disease caused by a virus, is just beginning to show up in the U.S. It's carried from person to person by mosquitoes, and one researcher studying the spread is looking for clues in the age of the insects. But it's not very easy to tell how old a mosquito is. Here's why. There's a nasty disease called dengue that is just beginning to show up in the United States. It's caused by a virus, and it's transmitted from person to person by a mosquito. A mild case of dengue is no worse than flu. A serious case can mean death. (February 11, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Environmental Helalth in our area]
Future of renewable energy uncertain as tax breaks fade | Innovation Trail It's not looking good for subsidies for renewable energy. A 30 percent upfront tax credit for commercial renewable power projects known as the 1603 program expired at the end of 2011. Another 30 percent credit for wind projects, that's a part of the long-debated payroll tax bill, is scheduled to expire at the end of 2012. (February 9, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Solar Power in our area]
Alternate Le Roy theories abound | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com Medical experts may believe they know the cause of the cluster of stricken students in Le Roy, but there are plenty of theorists both mainstream and not with ideas of their own. For instance, I’ve had two calls from people who insisted the symptoms could be caused by Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a relative of mad cow disease. And a journalist in Uganda recently wrote a piece, brought to my attention Tuesday by a caller, suggesting the Le Roy illnesses were what’s known as Ugandan nodding disease, a very real and horrible health problem now affecting thousands in that African nation. (February 9, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Eric Sharp: Good, bad news on lampreys | Detroit Free Press | freep.com Tests of chemical signals called pheromones prove they can trick sea lampreys to avoid streams that offer good spawning habitat and lure them to streams where baby lampreys won't survive. "It's hard to see any good news when it comes to invasive species, but the sea lamprey is one case where we're winning the battle," Dr. Marc Gaden said this week during a briefing on new lamprey control efforts by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission and other agencies. That's the good news. The not-so-good news, at least in the short run, is what the scientists learned when they tried a full-count press on the handful of rivers and creeks that were thought to produce most of the lampreys in Lake Erie. (February 9, 2012) Detroit Free Press | Detroit news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Detroit, Michigan | freep.com [more on Invasive Species in our area]
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA’s Fisheries Service Extend Comment Period on Proposed Policy to Improve Implementation of Endangered Species Act |The Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries), the two federal agencies responsible for administering the Endangered Species Act (ESA), today announced a 30-day extension of the public comment period on a draft policy interpreting the phrase “significant portion of its range” (SPR) in the ESA’s definitions of “endangered species” and “threatened species.” The public comment period on the draft policy will now close on March 8, 2012. Information about this policy and how it will improve administration of the ESA can be found at http://www.fws.gov/endangered/improving_ESA/spr.html. Considering the complexity of the issues addressed in the draft policy and the level of public interest, FWS and NOAA Fisheries determined that additional time for public comment will be particularly valuable for this action. The draft policy and supporting materials are available for review, and comments can be submitted for consideration, at http://www.regulations.gov under the docket number [FWS–R9–ES–2011–0031]. Information already submitted does not need to be resubmitted. The notice will publish in the Federal Register on February 07, 2012. Comments must be received on or before March 08, 2012. The Service will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means the agency will post any personal information provided through the process. The Service is not able to accept email or faxes. (February 2, 2012) Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Opposition rising against U.S. Arctic drilling Drilling in the Arctic waters of the U.S. may become as contested an issue as the Keystone Pipeline XL in up-coming months. Scientists, congress members, and ordinary Americans have all come out in large numbers against the Obama Administration's leases for exploratory drilling in the Beaufort Sea and the Chuckchi Sea. Last month 573 scientists signed a letter against opening the Arctic up to drilling until more research can be done in the sensitive area. In addition, a letter signed by 60 Congress members has been sent to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar noting that the Deepwater Horizon disaster occurred only two years ago. Finally, nearly half a million Americans (400,000) signed a petition against drilling in the Arctic. Critics of the Obama Administration's leases say there is no coherent plan to clean-up a spill in the icy, remote Arctic ecosystem, which already embattled by climate change. (February 9, 2012) Environmental news and information - mongabay.com [more on Energy in our area]
Gas Drilling May Be Leaking Twice as Much Gas as Previously Thought, Study Finds | InsideClimate News Research suggests that emissions of methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times more potent than CO2, far exceed current estimates for gas drilling and production. Weeks after Barack Obama promoted natural gas as a key part of U.S. energy policy in his State of the Union address, new research says gas drilling may be emitting far more methane and other pollutants into the atmosphere than current estimates suggest. The work, performed by scientists with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, focused on Weld County, Colo., home to more than 20,000 gas wells. After years of monitoring and study, the researchers estimated that about 4 percent of the methane produced by these wells is lost to the atmosphere. (February 9, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Fracking in our area]
What does new glacier data mean for the climate debate? | Leo Hickman | Environment | guardian.co.uk Research showing that the Himalayas and nearby peaks have lost no ice in past 10 years has been met with relief and surprise – but scientists warn against jumping to simplistic conclusions | The rivers and glaciers that descend from the steep slopes of the Himalaya mountain range help to provide water for the 1.4 billion people that live in its shadow. Any interruption in this flow could have severe implications in a region blighted by political tension and poverty. A paper published in the science journal Nature this week which revealed that there has been no appreciable loss of ice from the region's glaciers over the past decade has been met with relief and surprise. The findings have also been greeted with delight by climate sceptics who have long viewed claims made about the melting of Himalayan glaciers as unfounded and alarmist. (February 10, 2012) Latest US and world news, sport and comment from the Guardian | guardiannews.com | The Guardian [more on Climate Change in our area]
Ousted Maldives Pres. Mohamed Nasheed a Leading Voice for Island States Threatened by Global Warming For years, Mohamed Nasheed was the most vocal world leader on the threat climate change poses to residents of small island states. After becoming the first democratically elected president in Maldives, he pledged to make the nation the first carbon neutral country and once held a cabinet meeting underwater. We discuss Nasheed’s ouster and his outspoken campaigning on global warming with environmental activist Bill McKibben, whose group 350.org has collected some 30,000 signatures on a petition in support of Nasheed. We also speak with Jon Shenk, director of the new documentary film, "The Island President," which chronicles Nasheed’s rise from jailed pro-democracy activist to the Maldives presidency and island-state champion. McKibben says Nasheed was "in certain ways, the first precursor of the Arab Spring, the Mandela of the Indian Ocean, who really brought democracy to a country where it hadn’t been before," as well as "the most outspoken head of state around the issue of climate change on our planet." McKibben further argues Nasheed "was a thorn in the side [of the U.S.], because he kept bringing up the topic of climate change, a topic they’re not that keen on (February 9, 2012) A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 900 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the United States. [more on Climate Change in our area]
EPA: US needs $300B in sewer, water work - Times Union ALBANY, — A federal study shows municipalities nationwide need more than $300 billion worth of essential upgrades to long overlooked water and sewer systems over the next 20 years. The need is acute in Northeastern states with older systems like New York, which needs $29.7 billion worth of improvements, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said Wednesday. But he said that price is a "just a drop in the bucket" compared to the higher cost of continuing to upgrade parts of sewer and water systems when emergencies strike. He is pushing a bill that would counter planned funding cuts in the federal transportation bill now being negotiated in Washington. (February 9, 2012) Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga News, Weather, Sports, Capitol | timesunion.com - Times Union [more on Water Quality in our area]
New Air Testing For LeRoy High School - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com LeRoy, N.Y. - New air testing could begin this week at LeRoy High School. Leader Professional Services in Pittsford will test the air quality inside and outside the school. The testing will happen while students are in class and when the school is closed. (February 9, 2012) Home - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Pro-fracking movie gets $22K on Kickstarter - latimes.com In what may be interpreted as a backlash against the Oscar-nominated environmentalist film “Gasland,” a new production titled "FrackNation" has received an eye-popping $22,000 in donations during its first two days on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. "Gasland"is a searing critique of the oil and gas drilling practice known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, which has come under intense scrutiny by environmental groups and the EPA. "FrackNation" co-creator Phelim McAleer says that his new film seeks to give voice to those longtime residents in gas-drilling areas who support fracking. (February 8, 2012) Los Angeles Times - California, national and world news - latimes.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Pa. House approves fee on Marcellus Shale gas HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania is a signature away from imposing a fee on natural gas extraction in the Marcellus Shale. After three years of debate and false starts, the House voted, 101-90, Wednesday to approve a compromise plan for a "local impact fee" on natural gas drillers. With the Senate's approval in hand, the measure goes to Gov. Corbett, who said he would sign it. (February 9, 2012) Philly.com: News from the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly Sports [more on Fracking in our area]
Nuclear Commission Expected to Vote on New Reactors - NYTimes.com WASHINGTON — For the first time in over three decades, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is expected to decide to grant a license to build a nuclear reactor — a milestone for an industry whose long-hoped-for renaissance is smaller and later than anticipated. The vote, set for Thursday, is on two new reactors at the Southern Company’s Alvin W. Vogtle plant near Augusta, Ga. It would be the first vote on a construction license since 1978, a year before the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania. (February 8, 2012) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia [more on Energy in our area]
A shipment from Le Roy goes awry | Watchdog | Rochester Democrat and Chronicle A second school district in western New York has fallen down the rabbit hole created by the appearance of unusual neurological symptoms in Le Roy, Genesee County. That would be the Lewiston-Porter Central School District in Niagara County, which moved to block shipment of supposedly harmless soil from an old chemical spill in Le Roy. Barrels filled with soil were to be sent to the Chemical Waste Management hazardous waste landfill in Porter, just a mile or so from the Lewiston-Porter campus. (February 8, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Politics may be real climate hazard - experts - AlertNet LONDON (AlertNet) - Climate change impacts – from worsening droughts to new pots of climate-related cash for fragile states – may turn out to be a catalyst for worsening conflict. If so, keeping an eye on local politics and the quality of governance could be as important in heading off climate crises as breeding drought-resistant crops or protecting forests, climate security experts said at a recent meeting in London. Growing climate change-related tensions “are not simply about climate change but about… the weak social contract between government and people,” said Janani Vivekananda, who works on the issue for International Alert, a London-based international peace-building organisation which hosted the gathering. How are such tensions playing out around the world? (February 6, 2012) AlertNet - A Thomson Reuters Foundation Service - AlertNet [more on Climate Change in our area]
Drinking water, sewer projects compete with other priorities | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com WASHINGTON — With President Barack Obama scheduled to release his proposed fiscal 2013 budget Monday, Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer says he's prepared to lobby for more money to repair New York's aging sewer and drinking water systems. The financial needs are staggering. An estimated $36.2 billion in sewage system improvements are needed over the next 16 years, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. Drinking-water systems need another $38.7 billion, according to the state Department of Health. (February 9, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Water Quality in our area]
USDA working to rid of excessive crow population in Rochester - Webster, NY - Webster Post Rochester, N.Y. — USDA biologists are working to disperse about 20,000 crows from City of Rochester. (February 7, 2012) Homepage - Webster, NY - Webster Post [more on Wildlife in our area]
Hydrofracking Permits Could be Issued in NY - YNN, Your News Now Hydrofracking permits could be issued in New York State sometime this year. Speaking at a budget hearing, DEC Commissioner Joe Martens told the panel that at least 200 people would need to be hired in order to properly oversee high-volume hydrofracking. Martens did not rule out the possibility of issuing fracking permits by the end of this year. (February 8, 2012) TOP STORIES - Rochester - YNN, Your News Now [more on Fracking in our area]
Much work needed on ‘fracking’ regulations ALBANY — New York’s environment commissioner told lawmakers Tuesday that the proposed state budget doesn’t include money for regulating hydraulic fracturing because it’s uncertain when — or if — the natural gas drilling technology will be allowed in the state. Commissioner Joe Martens said at a legislative budget hearing that the Department of Environmental Conservation has almost 60 staffers working to review and respond to about 61,000 public comments submitted on the agency’s environmental review and proposed regulations for “fracking” in the Marcellus Shale. The state hasn’t allowed the controversial technology since the review started in 2008. (February 7, 2012) NY Daily Record [more on Fracking in our area]
NCPR News - McKibben sees losses, victories in climate change fight It's been a big year for author and climate change activist Bill McKibben. His organization, 350.org, led a series of national protests against an oil pipeline from Canada known as Keystone XL. (February 8, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Climate Change in our area]
Schumer: Upstate needs money to upgrade water and sewer - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow Finger Lakes, N.Y. — U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer wants the House and Senate to agree on funding Schumer said is essential to repair upstate New York’s aging sewer and water systems. (February 8, 2012) Home - Canandaigua, NY - MPNnow [more on Water Quality in our area]
Joseph Martens says some hydrofracking permits possible in 2012 | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY — The state’s top environmental regulator said Tuesday that it’s “conceivable” a handful of permits could be issued this year for high-volume hydraulic fracturing, but he said a final decision is “months, not years” away. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe Martens told a panel of state lawmakers that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2012-13 budget proposal does not seek any funds for additional gas-drilling regulators because of “the considerable work that remains before we finalize our regulatory framework.” (February 8, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Fracking in our area]
Advocates seek more testing in LeRoy | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com In Le Roy, debate flared Tuesday over environmental testing and medical diagnoses in relation to the cluster of students with unusual neurological symptoms. A trio of environmental and health advocacy organizations told the Le Roy Central School District that more thorough testing is needed in and around the district’s high school to ensure that there are no environmental contaminants that could be triggering the symptoms. The district did one set of indoor air tests in December and on Saturday said it had commissioned a second set of tests that would check more parts of the school. (February 8, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
DEC to Host National Public Meeting on the Draft National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Fish, Wildlife & Marine Resources and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies will co-host a public meeting to discuss the draft National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy. The public meeting will take place at DEC's central office, 625 Broadway, Albany on Thursday, February 9th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is geared toward providing a unified approach-reflecting shared principles and science-based practices-to reduce negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants and the natural systems they depend. Federal, state and tribal partners, with input from many diverse groups across the nation, are collaborating to develop a common strategy to respond to the challenges a changing climate poses for our nation's species, ecosystems and natural resources. (February 6, 2012) Press Releases - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation [more on Climate Change in our area]
Engines idling in New York despite law - CNN.com Passing laws is one thing; enforcing them is another. Enter New York City's idling rule, meant to improve the city's air quality by prohibiting drivers from running their engines when they're not moving. Toxic tailpipe fumes have been shown to increase rates of asthma and put children at risk of developmental delays, environmental studies show. When cars and buses line up outside of schools, all those idling engines can worsen the quality of air both inside and outside the school, as children and parents come and go. (February 6, 2012) CNN.com - Breaking News, U.S., World, Weather, Entertainment & Video News [more on Air Quality in our area]
China Bans Its Airlines From Paying EU Carbon Emissions Fees - WSJ.com SHANGHAI—China on Monday said it prohibited its airlines from paying for carbon emissions under the European Union's new system to limit greenhouse emissions, in an escalation of Beijing's opposition to the plan. (February 7, 2012) Business News & Financial News - The Wall Street Journal - Wsj.com [more on Climate Change in our area]
Keeping climate change on regional agendas despite public apathy | Great Lakes Echo While environmental organizations and agencies try to bring attention to climate change in the Great Lakes region, the public apparently doesn’t care much about it. Two weeks ago, a Pew survey showed global warming ranking last among public priorities. That comes as the National Wildlife Federation and EcoAdapt release a climate-driven guide for Great Lakes restoration. It draws from peer-reviewed science and summarizes what’s happening with the region’s changing climate, including: warmer temperatures and increased precipitation, and environmental effects like more sedimentation, spreading of invasive species, decreased wetlands and evolving vegetation. (February 6, 2012) Great Lakes Echo - Environmental news across the basin [more on Climate Change in our area]
Crow hunt is target of criticism | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com As Rochester begins its assault on crows, a different kind of crow elimination scheme is generating backlash in Schuyler County, where a shooting competition on Saturday has come under fire. The crow hunt is being organized by Troy Taylor, a board member of the Millport Hunting and Fishing Club, and while the club is not sponsoring the event, it is providing the facilities. Teams of hunters will fan out across the county, and the team that comes back with the most crows will win a cash prize. (February 7, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
Crew rousts crows with noisemakers | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com For more than a half-hour they came, circling, gliding, cawing and calling, turning the barren treetops along Mt. Hope Avenue into a raucous roost of crows. Then, spooked by a series of whistling "screamers" — bottle rocket-like shots that left swirling trails of sparks in the night — the birds were off. Thousands scattered over the Genesee River just after 6:30 p.m. Monday. And the chase was on. (February 7, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
Lyme disease risk area expanding - DailyFreeman.com CONCORD, N.H. — Researchers who spent three years dragging sheets of fabric through the woods to snag ticks have created a detailed map they claim could improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of Lyme disease. The map, which pinpoints areas of the eastern United States where people have the highest risk of contracting Lyme disease, is part of a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. Though the areas highlighted as high-risk likely won’t surprise anyone familiar with the disease, the research also showed where the disease likely is spreading, and it turned up some surprising information about the rate at which ticks are infected with the bacteria that causes it, researchers said. (February 6, 2012) Lyme disease risk area expanding - DailyFreeman.com [more on Lyme Disease in our area]
Weather Could Affect Maple Syrup Production Some local maple syrup producers began tapping trees this weekend, earlier than usual because of the mild winter. Some fear warmer temperatures may effect sugar content and the quality of syrup. (February 6, 2012) Home [more on Climate Change in our area]
Research team monitors disappearance of Arctic tundra in Canada's Yukon EDMONTON — Research from University of Alberta biologist Isla Myers-Smith and about 30 other researchers from 10 countries suggests that sizable chunks of the alpine/tundra world are being taken over by shrub cover that is increasingly crowding out those plants that many Arctic animals depend on. “Climate warming may well be a reason why this is happening,” said Myers-Smith, who is the lead author of a paper published recently in the scientific journal Environmental Research Letters. “But snow cover, nutrient availability, and interactions with other plant species may also be important.” (February 5, 2012) Times Colonist [more on Climate Change in our area]
Businesses, nature try to weather the warm winter | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com From bugs to buds, and lots of flora, fauna and financial enterprises in between, this season's unusually warm weather could have a big impact. For example, bait shops that depend on ice fishing to make ends meet in the winter months have taken a huge hit. (February 5, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Climate Change in our area]
Panel's meetings on hold as DEC reviews fracking comments | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com ALBANY — The state's hydrofracking advisory panel is in flux as the Department of Environmental Conservation wades through tens of thousands of public responses it received on the much-debated drilling technique. The work of the panel is considered crucial if the state is to move forward with hydrofracking. It was set to meet three times through April, but now that schedule is under review, said agency spokeswoman Emily DeSantis. (February 6, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Franking in our area]
Allendale Columbia students win contest with documentary about recycling | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com A sixth-grade earth science class at Allendale Columbia School in Pittsford has won some green for a documentary about the environmentally friendly practices implemented at their school. The 26 students in Tina Duvar's class received a $100 Wegmans gift card in early January for winning the contest sponsored by the Western New York Chapter of America Recycles. The students plan to donate the card to a charity. (February 6, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Recycling in our area]
Assemblyman wants air monitoring equipment on West Side - West Side - The Buffalo News The Clean Air Coalition and a state lawmaker this morning announced they want state environmental regulators to place air monitoring equipment on Buffalo's West Side. Assemblyman Sean Ryan, D-Buffalo, joined representatives of the group and some West Side residents to call for the move from Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joseph Martens. (February 1, 2012) The Buffalo News - breaking local news, sports, business, entertainment, weather and multimedia [more on Air Quality in our area]
Watertown Daily Times | New York ballast rules battle may end soon, says U.S. Seaway head The head of the St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. believes Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo will help the shipping industry fight New York state’s “scientifically unachievable” ballast standards. “We met on Tuesday with the Cuomo folks,” said Collister W. Johnson Jr., U.S. Seaway administrator, on Thursday. “We had a very good conversation. Cuomo ran on ‘I’m going to change the culture of New York and we’re not going to be the most unfriendly business state in the country.’ And I think in respect to this issue, he gets it.” Ships carry ballast water to maintain stability while under way. (February 3, 2012) Watertown Daily Times | Local News, Sports, Features, and Community Information for Jefferson County, St. Lawrence County, and Lewis County in Northern New York [more on Invasive Species in our area]
NYS Health Department releases report on LeRoy girls A doctor in Buffalo said today, he’s treating four more young girls with tics in LeRoy. He’s diagnosed three of them with conversion disorder. Meanwhile, the New York State Health Department released a preliminary report today on the 12 original cases at LeRoy High School. It spells out, in detail, why certain environmental factors are not to blame for these symptoms. (February 4, 2012) Rochester, NY News | www.WHEC.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Nuclear waste fracas that just won't go away Politics has left a confusing trail on Yucca Mountain, writes Paul McGeough in Nevada. Pahrump people can tell the significance of a hole in the ground - such as the one just off the main road through this Nevada town, in which Ted Binion, a drug-addled casino heir, buried silver bars and rare coins worth up to $15 million. The American media feasted on that one in the late 1990s. But they have become curiously inured to another local hole - this one drilled for 8 kilometres into the bowels of nearby Yucca Mountain, in which successive presidents, starting with Ronald Reagan, have flamed more than $US15 billion. (February 4, 2012) Sydney Morning Herald - Business & World News Australia | smh.com.au [more on energy in our area]
RPT-US to require disclosure of fracking fluids on public land | Reuters WASHINGTON, Feb 3 (Reuters) - The U.S. government will require natural gas drillers to disclose which chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing on public lands, according to draft rules crafted by the Interior Department. President Barack Obama pledged in the State of the Union address last week that the government would develop a road map for responsible natural gas production and roll out new rules to ensure drillers protect the environment. (February 3, 2012) Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com [more on Fracking in our area]
This Week in Clean Economy: Pressure Is on Obama to Finalize National Solar Plan | InsideClimate News Advocates trumpet the nation's first solar plan on public lands and urge quick action. Election-year debate over jobs spills into U.S.-China solar spat. Pressure has begun to build for President Obama to make good on his State of the Union pledge to greenlight vast solar installations on public lands by year's end, with supporters seemingly growing antsy that it's either that or nothing in 2012. On Monday, about 20 solar industry advocates, electric utilities and major environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, urged Obama to formally put into effect rules for the country's first solar program on government-owned lands by this fall. (February 3, 2012) | InsideClimate News [more on Solar Power in our area]
ENVIRONMENT: Lake-level plan coming - News Articles - Rochester City Newspaper The International Joint Commission is taking another stab at a plan to regulate Lake Ontario and St. Lawrence Seaway water levels. | The IJC today released an overview of its approach and is accepting public comments on it. Comments received before June 15 will be considered while IJC develops its draft plan, says a press release from the commission. (January 30, 2012) Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper [more on Great Lakes in our area]
More mystery illness details emerge in Le Roy | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com With the number of known or suspected cases of unusual neurological illness in LeRoy now standing at 19, officials offered the first detailed look Friday at their inquiry into the cluster and announced a public meeting for this morning. The meeting at LeRoy Junior-Senior High School is to discuss additional testing at the building. All but one of the afflicted people is a student. (February 4, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Indian Point fire rules affirmed - Times Union WHITE PLAINS — Federal regulators said Wednesday they have denied most of the fire-safety exemptions sought by the owner of the Indian Point nuclear plants near New York City. The state attorney general called the rulings "a major victory for the safety of millions of New Yorkers." The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it turned down 42 of the 50 exemptions requested three years ago by Entergy Nuclear after new NRC standards were imposed. (February 2, 2012) Albany, Troy, Schenectady, Saratoga News, Weather, Sports, Capitol | timesunion.com - Times Union [more on Energy in our area]
Painted Post water deal moves forward - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader Painted Post, N.Y. — The Village of Painted Post is closing in on a deal that could earn it $2.6 million annually by selling water to companies drilling for natural gas in Pennsylvania, officials said Tuesday. The potential deal recently cleared another hurdle when Ingersoll-Rand officials signed off on a plan to develop a facility that will fill railroad tanker cars and tanker trucks at the company’s old foundry site, located at the end of West Water Street near Hodgman Park. (January 31, 2012) Homepage - Corning, NY - The Corning Leader [more on Fracking in our area]
Bird numbers plummet around stricken Fukushima plant - Asia - World - The Independent Researchers working around Japan's disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant say bird populations there have begun to dwindle, in what may be a chilling harbinger of the impact of radioactive fallout on local life. In the first major study of the impact of the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years, the researchers, from Japan, the US and Denmark, said their analysis of 14 species of bird common to Fukushima and Chernobyl, the Ukrainian city which suffered a similar nuclear meltdown, showed the effect on abundance is worse in the Japanese disaster zone. (February 3, 2012) The Independent | News | UK and Worldwide News | Newspaper [more on Energy in our area]
"Gasland" Director Josh Fox Arrested at Congressional Hearing on Natural Gas Fracking The Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Josh Fox was handcuffed and arrested Wednesday as he attempted to film a congressional hearing on the controversial natural gas drilling technique known as fracking, which the Environmental Protection Agency recently reported caused water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming. Fox directed the award-winning film, "Gasland," which documents the impact of fracking on communities across the United States, and is now working on a sequel. (February 2, 2012) A daily TV/radio news program, hosted by Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez, airing on over 900 stations, pioneering the largest community media collaboration in the United States. [more on Fracking in our area]
NCPR News - Climate action plan still on the table in St. Lawrence County St. Lawrence County legislators are scheduled to take another look at a Climate Action Plan next week. When legislators asked the County Planning Department to write the plan last March, they wanted ways to save money by being more energy efficient. The climate plan was tabled last summer, when students and professors at the four universities in Canton and Potsdam started a cost-benefit analysis of some ideas in the plan. (February 2, 2012) NCPR: North Country Public Radio [more on Climate Change in our area]
Federal Government Opens More Ocean to Wind Projects - NYTimes.com Enthusiasm for offshore wind projects may have cooled among developers in the United States these days, but the Obama administration is still trying to make a ribbon of wind farms off the Atlantic Coast a reality. On Thursday, Ken Salazar, the secretary of the interior, and Tommy P. Beaudreau, the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, said the government had completed an environmental review and found that selling leases for wind energy would not create environmental problems in the designated “wind energy areas” off the coasts of Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey and Delaware. (February 2, 2012) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia [more on Wind Power in our area]
Scrappin' for a tidy profit | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com Their number has grown — and continues to grow, they say — as a bad economy, a growing need for recycled metals and high prices paid for scrap drive competition. They know the tricks of the trade — head out early in the day, disassemble appliances to cull out the most valuable metals from the least — and they acknowledge they are sometimes looked upon with suspicion and wariness due to myriad news reports of the theft of copper piping from vacant homes, steel grates from city streets and aluminum tables from town parks. (February 3, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Recycling in our area]
Clarkson receives $1.4 million to study contaminants in Great Lakes fish | NorthCountryNow POTSDAM -- Clarkson University has received $1.4 million to monitor formerly untraceable contaminants to water supply by studying the effects on fish in each of the Great Lakes. The Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes Program grant, for $1,407,003 will not only follow and research long-documented substances and contaminants, but unlock information regarding undiscovered, low-level contaminants. (January 31, 2012) News & Info for Potsdam, Massena, Ogdensburg, Canton, Gouverneur & St. Lawrence County, NY | NorthCountryNow [more on Great Lakes in our area]
Southern Tier sees increase in bobcat population | Press & Sun-Bulletin | pressconnects.com Reports of bobcat sightings have surged in the Southern Tier and elsewhere over a few short years, spurring state officials to propose a dramatic expansion in the swath of New York where the rare felines can be hunted and trapped. The state Department of Environmental Conservation's five-year bobcat management plan, released late last month, proposes a harvest expansion area that includes parts of 24 counties. (February 1, 2012) Press & Sun-Bulletin | Binghamton news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Binghamton, New York | pressconnects.com [more on Wildlife in our area]
Solar firm courting foreign investment for Rochester facility | Innovation Trail Executives from foreign solar companies are descending on Rochester over the next couple of weeks, to hear a pitch from Natcore Technology. “What we’re saying is, ‘If you want our technology, you have to take a hard look at it here,’ ” says Natcore CEO Chuck Provini. (February 1, 2012) Innovation Trail [more on Solar Power in our area]
Ohio Tries to Escape Fate as a Dumping Ground for Fracking Fluid - Businessweek The millions of gallons of chemical- laced wastewater that fracking produces must flow somewhere, and Ohio is trying not to be that place. The oil and natural-gas drilling boom spurred more permits for disposal wells there during the past two years than during the previous decade combined. The volume injected into them was on a near-record pace last year, according to the Department of Natural Resources, and more than half was from out of state. That included 92.6 percent of the water sent to a Youngstown well closed last year after 11 nearby earthquakes. (February 2, 2012) Businessweek - Business News, Stock Market & Financial Advice [more on Fracking in our area]
NIH offers to evaluate Le Roy students for free | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com LE ROY — The National Institutes of Health has offered to evaluate the LeRoy High School students exhibiting involuntary tics and verbal outbursts for free, and state Health Department tests of the school's drinking water turned up nothing out of the ordinary, the state health commissioner said Wednesday. Dr. Nirav Shah, the commissioner, announced in a written statement released late in the day that an agreement had been struck with the NIH that would allow the students to travel to Bethesda, Md., for testing at no cost to their families. February 2, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Le Roy officials: Speculation harmful | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com Although some environmental activists continue to link a cluster of afflicted students in Le Roy to a spill of toxic chemicals in the Genesee County town 41 years ago, school officials reiterated Monday there is no evidence the two situations are connected. They said the school is safe, and that continuing national attention to the students' unusual neurological symptoms is distracting the student body and setting back the recovery of those who are afflicted. (January 31, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
EPA Doing Testing In LeRoy In Response To Community Concerns! - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com LeRoy, N.Y. - On the very day two environmental groups called for more testing in LeRoy, we learned the EPA is testing drums of soil on the site of a 1970's train derailment. The drums contain rocks and soil taken during groundwater testing at the derailment site. It is a Superfund Clean-up site and is located off of Gulf Road, about four miles from the high school. EPA Spokeswoman Mary Mears told us she doubts the material is hazardous but says the EPA agreed to the testing "in response to community concerns." (January 31, 2012) Home - Rochester, News, Weather, Sports, and Events - 13WHAM.com [more on Environmental Health in our area]
01/31/2012: EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation/The agency launches improved website for beach advisories and closures WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it will provide $9.8 million in grants to 38 states, territories and tribes to help protect the health of swimmers at America’s beaches. The agency also launched an improved website for beach advisories and closings, which will allow the public to more quickly and easily access the most current water quality and pollution testing information for more than 6,000 U.S. beaches. The website, called BEACON, has the capability to update as frequently as every two hours based on new data provided by states, territories and tribes. Users will have access to mapped location data for beaches and water monitoring stations, monitoring results for various pollutants such as bacteria and algae, and data on public notification of beach water quality advisories and closures. For the first time, users can also access reports that combine notifications and water quality monitoring data. The enhanced system also uses enhanced map navigation and report display tools. (January 31, 2012) U.S. EPA Newsroom - News Releases [more on Water Quality in our area]
Earth's Energy Budget Remained Out of Balance Despite Unusually Low Solar Activity A new NASA study underscores the fact that greenhouse gases generated by human activity — not changes in solar activity — are the primary force driving global warming. The study offers an updated calculation of the Earth's energy imbalance, the difference between the amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth's surface and the amount returned to space as heat. The researchers' calculations show that, despite unusually low solar activity between 2005 and 2010, the planet continued to absorb more energy than it returned to space. James Hansen, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) in New York City, led the research. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics published the study last December. (January 30, 2012) NASA - Home [more on Climate Change in our area]
The World Today - 25,000 ducks killed in avian flu campaign 31/01/2012 ELEANOR HALL: In Victoria, authorities are working to contain the first confirmed outbreak of the avian flu in Australia for 15 years. Twenty-five-thousand ducks are being killed at a farm north of Melbourne after the virus was detected there last week. Victoria's Department of Primary Industries says there's no risk to human health but that they need to kill the birds to stop the virus from spreading. (January 31, 2012) The World Today - News & Current Affairs Radio [more on Environmental Health in our area]
Negotiations: U.N. pitches Rio+20 talks as a departure from political strife over climate change -- 01/31/2012 -- www.eenews.net UNITED NATIONS -- This summer's sustainable development conference in Brazil, known as Rio+20, is emerging as an overt attempt by U.N. officials to shift away from the divisive politics of climate change to a broader debate on the green economy and how to bring it to developing nations. On the heels of arguably little movement on an international climate pact during U.N.-sponsored talks in South Africa, Mexico and Denmark, officials here now say they view Rio+20 as a way to get past intractable policy fights between developed and developing nations over greenhouse gas emissions cuts, to focus on core issues like trade and technology. (January 31, 2012) E&E Publishing -- The Premier Information Source for Professionals Who Track Environmental and Energy Policy. [more on Climate Change in our area]
Fracturing site to detail what's in the water - Houston Chronicle Companies working in Texas oil fields must disclose the amount of water and the mix of chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing starting Wednesday, under a new rule heralded by industry and environmentalists as a big transparency improvement. The rule, passed in last year's legislative session, requires service companies or suppliers to provide the well operators with the name of each chemical ingredient and to register this information on a national website, FracFocus, created for this purpose. (February 1, 2012) Houston News, Sports, Business, and Entertainment - The Houston Chronicle at Chron.com - Houston Chronicle [more on Fracking in our area]
How the Stimulus Revived the Electric Car - ProPublica A common criticism of President Obama's $800 billion stimulus package has been that it failed to produce anything – that while the New Deal built bridges and dams, all the stimulus did was fill some potholes and create temporary jobs. Don't tell that to Annette Herrera. She was 50 when the auto supplier she worked for in Westland, Mich., closed its factory and moved the work to Mexico. Then, after being unemployed for 2½ years, she got a job in October 2010 with A123 Systems, which had received $250 million in stimulus money to help open a new lithium-ion battery plant in nearby Romulus, Mich. (February 1, 2012) ProPublica [more on Transportation in our area]
House plan drops high-speed rail | Democrat and Chronicle | democratandchronicle.com WASHINGTON — House Republicans unveiled a five-year, $260 billion transportation plan Tuesday that would drop further development of high-speed rail and give governors more say in how to spend federal money. The percentage of federal transportation money New York would receive for highways, bridges and mass transit won't be released until today. (February 1, 2012) Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York | democratandchronicle.com [more on Transportation in our area]

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RochesterEnvironment.com

February 2012 NewsLinks Archived

RochesterEnvironment.com