News for May, 2006 - most recent stories are at the bottom.

•  Pulling CO2 out of thin air- scientists know how to return carbon dioxide to the earth, but nothing may come of it - ALBANY — Would you be willing to double the amount you pay for electricity if doing so would remove carbon dioxide from emissions generated by coal-fired power plants?  Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory- Albany have proven that carbon sequestration — pulling carbon dioxide out of the air and returning it to the earth — will work through several methods, but they doubt anything will come of it on a national scale unless federal regulations are enacted concerning fossil fuel greenhouse gas levels. (May 1, 2006) .: Albany Democrat-Herald :. democratherald.com
•  Environmental Protection Agency - EPA Press Release: EPA Unveils First-Ever Assessment of U.S. Wadeable Streams (Washington, D.C. - May 5, 2006) What's the state of the union's streams? EPA set out to answer that question in a just-completed, multiyear study of wadeable streams across the country. The study, Wadeable Streams Assessment (WSA), is the first consistent evaluation of the streams that feed rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. Alaska and Hawaii were not included in the report but have pilot projects underway. "Wadeable streams" are those which are shallow enough to be adequately sampled without a boat. They are essential natural resources that have been under-sampled in the past. "This scientific report card on America's streams will help citizens and governments measure the health of their watersheds, take actions to prevent pollution, and monitor for progress," said Assistant Administrator for Water Benjamin H. Grumbles. "Small streams are connected to the overall health of a community's ecology and economy and this report underscores their importance and identifies priority work ahead." Conducted between 2000 and 2004, the study was based on sampling at 1,392 sites selected to represent the condition of all streams that share similar ecological characteristics in various regions. It was a collaborative effort that involved dozens of state environmental and natural resource agencies, federal agencies, universities and other organizations. More than 150 field biologists were trained to collect environmental samples using a standardized method. (May 5, 2006) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
•  More than half of US streams polluted: EPA - Yahoo! News WASHINGTON (Reuters) - More than half of U.S. streams are polluted, with the worst conditions found in the eastern third of the country, according to a study by the Environmental Protection Agency. In its first-ever study of shallow or "wadeable" streams, the agency found 42 percent were in poor condition, and another 25 percent were considered fair. Only 28 percent were in good condition, EPA said. Another 5 percent were not analyzed because of sampling problems in New England. (May 5, 2006) The top news headlines on current events from Yahoo! News
•  2006-2007 Health Advisories: Chemicals in Sportfish and Game The New York State Department of Health (DOH) issues advisories on eating sportfish and game because some of these foods contain chemicals at levels that may be harmful to health. The advisories tell people which fish and game to avoid and how to reduce their exposures to contaminants in the fish and game that they do eat. These advisories are for sportfish and game that people take and are not for fish and game sold in markets. The health advisories are (1) general advice on sportfish taken from waters in New York State; (2) advice on sportfish caught in specific New York State waterbodies; and (3) advice on eating New York State game. Fish and game can be nutritious and good to eat. Fish are an important source of protein and are low in saturated fat. Naturally occurring fish oils lower plasma cholesterol and triglycerides and may have other health benefits. However, contaminated fish and game can be the main source of exposure to some contaminants. People can get the health benefits of fish and reduce their exposures to unwanted contaminants by following the advisories in this booklet. New York State Department of Health
•  IUCN News - Release of the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Release of the 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species reveals ongoing decline of the status of plants and animals The number of known threatened species reaches 16,119. The ranks of those facing extinction are joined by familiar species like the polar bear, hippopotamus and desert gazelles; together with ocean sharks, freshwater fish and Mediterranean flowers. Positive action has helped the white-tailed eagle and offers a glimmer of hope to Indian vultures. Geneva, Switzerland, 2 May 2006 (IUCN) – The total number of species declared officially Extinct is 784and a further 65 are only found in captivity or cultivation. Of the 40,177 species assessed using the IUCN Red List criteria, 16,119 are now listed as threatened with extinction. This includes one in three amphibians and a quarter of the world’s coniferous trees, on top of the one in eight birds and one in four mammals known to be in jeopardy.
•  City Newspaper: Cover Story: Cover story: The hots, for you The planet is warming up. What does that mean for Rochester? The short answer is that nobody really knows. A climate is a complex thing. Change one little part of it and you may change the whole thing --- and in unpredictable ways. Still, that doesn't mean scientists can't make some sound educated guesses about what could happen. And if any of those guesses prove accurate, the Rochester of tomorrow could be a very different place from the one we know today. May 3, 2006) City Newspaper
•  State spurs ethanol plant - Work at Orleans County site may start in June, be first in N.Y. -— SHELBY — Construction on the state's first ethanol plant could begin as early as next month, helping to turn New York into a leader in alternative fuel production, Gov. George Pataki and other officials said here Monday. New York will spend nearly $6 million to help the process along, officials said. (May 9, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Mom says company skirting pesticide law - Lawn care firm says its flag notices satisfy spraying rule — Dina Stein doesn't expect her neighbors to refrain from using lawn pesticides — that's their right, she says. But this Brighton mother wants the choice to shield her children, Emma, 4, and Sam, 2, from unnecessary exposure. She thought that's what the county's new neighbor notification law provided, and in her suburban neighborhood with its lush green lawns, she fully expected to receive a letter from a lawn care company at least once this spring. But when a company showed up to spray her neighbor's lawn last week, claiming that a small orange plastic flag spiked into the edge of her lawn a month ago constituted prior notification, Stein was shocked. - (May 9, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Four falcons hatch at Kodak — Peregrine falcons have started hatching in the nest box above Kodak headquarters in downtown Rochester.- (May 9, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  War on zebra mussels: 'Now or never' Small, striped shellfish that reproduce at explosive rates, zebra mussels have settled into the Mississippi River all the way up to the Twin Cities, killing native mussels and causing problems for anglers and river-related businesses. In the past few years, they've also reached deeper into Minnesota, finding life in the popular Brainerd lakes area and Lake Mille Lacs, the heart and soul of the state's walleye industry. Now the sharp-shelled creatures are poised to invade the rest of the state's 10,000-plus lakes. So forget leisurely wading in bare feet or a soft, sandy stroll along the shore.  (May 12, 2006) TwinCities.com : Minneapolis/St. Paul news, sports, entertainment, jobs and real estate
•  Area bird flu strategy forms - Counties set protocols for pandemic — Area health directors are working on preparations to deal with a pandemic of avian flu should the disease break out in this country. Comprehensive response plans for the region are expected to be finished by the end of August. Area counties are working on their own plans and on cooperative plans with other counties through the Finger Lakes Health Alliance. (May 10, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Ginna plant gets safety approval from NRC - Annual report has some 2005 concerns, none serious — The Robert E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in Ontario, Wayne County, has operated safely for another year. Inspectors from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission presented an annual report Tuesday listing 10 safety concerns that occurred during 2005, though none rose to the level of serious risk. The report was the result of "thousands of hours" of equipment inspections, environmental monitoring and constant observation, said Dave Holm, the plant's general manager. (May 10, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  School cleansers are eco-targets - Legislation that was approved in August 2005 required the state Office of General Services, or OGS, to adopt stricter and more environmentally friendly standards for cleaning supplies used in public schools. (May 16, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  WXXI: City Begins Rollout of Lead Safety Law (2006-05-17) - ROCHESTER, NYThe City of Rochester is holding meetings with landlords and property owners as it gets ready to put its new anti-lead law into effect. The law requires that all residential structures built before 1978 be tested for the presence of lead-based paint, and that any lead hazards be removed or made safe. (2006-05-17) wxxi NewsRoom
•  STATEMENT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL SPITZER REGARDING THE SUPREME COURT’S RULING ON HYDROPOWER PROJECTS The U.S. Supreme Court today ruled unanimously that the states have broad authority to regulate construction and operation of hydroelectric dams. (S.D. Warren Co. v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection, 04-1527.) Many of the more than 1,500 hydroelectric dams throughout the country affect entire river systems. While hydroelectric dams generate electricity without air pollution or global warming emissions, they can also alter the natural ecology of rivers and wetlands. Since the 1970s, states have used their regulatory authority to help minimize adverse impacts from such projects. In today’s decision, the Supreme Court ruled that such actions are not pre-empted by the federal government.Office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer
•  Attack on bird ruffles feathers - But biologists say mute swan a beautiful pest— Today, a state biologist is probably hiking somewhere along the shore of Lake Ontario and sneaking into swan nests to coat the large gray eggs with vegetable oil so the developing birds inside the eggs will suffocate. With nearly 1,500 mute swan pairs in New York, each capable of incubating as many as 10 eggs, it's a massive job. (May 18, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  City Newspaper: News & Views: News articles: Pataki's corny plan Is yellow the new green? Governor George Pataki thinks so. The gov came to Western New York last week to tout a plan to build a new ethanol plant in the town of Shelby in rural Orleans County, near the village of Medina. The plant will make the alcohol-based fuel from corn and be the first in the state to employ what Pataki calls "state-of-the-art dry mill" technology. When it's built --- the target is January 2008 --- it will produce 50 million gallons of "fuel grade" ethanol a year and employ just under 60 people. It will also churn out, as byproducts, a quarter of a million tons of distiller's grains and a little less than 100,000 tons of carbon dioxide (in a commercially resalable form, not as a greenhouse gas). About 30 percent of the estimated 20 million bushels corn it will use will come from local sources. http://www.rochester-citynews.com
•  SUNY prof - Gas polluting the lake - More study is needed to determine if gas spills from motorboats and jet skis on Canandaigua Lake pose a health threat. Daily Messenger
•  Wind farm would be visible in Naples - A study details how the project in Cohocton would look to someone standing on Main Street in the village. Daily Messenger
•  Ethanol plant to be developed in Orleans County Governor George E. Pataki announced nearly $6 million in State funding to assist Western New York Energy (WNYE) in the development of the first state-of-the-art dry mill ethanol plant in New York. The $87.4 million facility is to be located on 144 acres in the Town of Shelby, Orleans County. "Western New York Energy's new facility in the Town of Shelby will help us take advantage of this opportunity to reduce our dependence on unstable foreign energy supplies," Pataki said. "The new facility is expected to produce 50 million gallons of ethanol a year and create 58 new jobs and represents another significant step in our goal of developing a strong biofuel industry in the state which will not only provide an economic boost to our farming community, but keep our energy dollars here in New York." (May 14, 2006)  Westside News Inc.
•  Mill Seat Landfill to become energy producer A facility that will burn landfill gas to produce power will be constructed at the Monroe County-owned Mill Seat Landfill in the Town of Riga. The plant will produce between 4.8 and 6.4 megawatts of energy derived from the garbage decomposition process. Word of the approval of the construction of an $8.5 million plant came following the unanimous vote by the Monroe County Legislature on May 9. Waste Management, the company that leases and operates the landfill, and Monroe County will split both the construction costs and proceeds of the electricity sales.(May 14, 2006)  Westside News Inc.
•  Lake Ontario Initiative Announced - Environmentalists say a new initiative will help preserve the future of Lake Ontario. They unveiled a 15-year, multi-million dollar program Monday focusing on the north coast and coastal waters of Lake Ontario. May 15, 2006 R News: As It Happens, Where It Happens
•  Urban groups look to grants - State program sets aside $1M to aid environmental justice efforts — In urban areas, environmental problems are never as simple as a single pipe or a solitary smokestack. Industrial pollution is exacerbated by vehicle exhaust and by the lead paint and mold endemic to some neighborhoods. And too often, the children who develop asthma and other illnesses are those least able to afford medical care and to influence their lawmakers. (May 21, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  State Health Department Issues Precaution for New Yorkers to Help Avoid Potential Exposure to Rabies from Wildlife To help protect New Yorkers from the potential exposure to rabies from wildlife, the State Health Department today reminded the public to avoid handling wild animals. The practice of picking up wild animals, particularly offspring, because of their cute and cuddly appearance, often requires unnecessary rabies post exposure treatment for people. Individuals who touch wild animals may have to undergo a month-long series of rabies shots if they are bitten, scratched or had contact with the saliva or nervous tissue of a potentially infected animal, unless it can be euthanized and tested to rule out rabies. Rabies is a fatal disease unless post exposure treatment is given before symptoms occur. (May 31, 2006) - New York State Department of Health
•  Green machine is a winner - Irondequoit High team places first — IRONDEQUOIT — The Irondequoit High School solar car team is winding down from a big win and gearing up to put another car on the road next year. The team took first place in the one-person category of the solar-assisted electric division of the 18th annual Tour de Sol. The green-car show and competition was held May 10-14 in Saratoga Spa State Park, Saratoga Springs. Irondequoit competed with the Zodiac, a three-wheel, solar-electric vehicle that uses solar panels and batteries for power. - (May 25, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  www.ny.gov - GOVERNOR ANNOUNCES MAJOR INITIATIVE TO REDUCE MERCURY EMISSIONS Proposal Would Protect Public Health and the Environment by Cutting Mercury Emissions from Coal-Fired Power Plants by 90 Percent - Governor George E. Pataki today announced a new State proposal to reduce harmful mercury emissions from coal-fired utility power plants by approximately 50 percent from current levels by 2010 and 90 percent by 2015. “Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants can have severe environmental and public health impacts, and we must take aggressive steps to control these harmful emissions and reduce the presence of this pollutant in our air and water,” Governor Pataki said. “By adopting these new standards, all coal-fired power plants in the State would be required to use pollution control technologies to significantly reduce their mercury emissions. This initiative is another example of New York’s leadership in improving air quality and protecting our natural resources, and will help to ensure a healthy Empire State for all to enjoy.” (May 2006) http://www.ny.gov
•  Final Clean Sweep draws 1,000 - 50 tons of trash picked up in northeast neighborhoods- (May 28, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Store to put its lawn to the test - Pittsford Wegmans holds off pesticides — Stock rice noodles in aisle 12A. Carry out 15 bags of groceries for an overworked mom. Weed the lawn. Employees at the Wegmans Food Markets Inc. store in Pittsford will have new duties this summer, as the grocery chain experiments with a pesticide-free lawn care strategy that relies, instead, upon fertilizer, irrigation, horticultural oils and old-fashioned hand-weeding. As a rule, the store contracts with a lawn care company, which treats its trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns with chemical pesticides to kill weeds and grubs. Now, a 14,000-square-foot stretch of lawn that runs along Monroe Avenue is marked with large signs describing the company's experimental effort to go without chemical pesticides. - (May 31, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Heat causes unhealthy ozone levels — As the temperature topped 90 degrees during Memorial Day festivities Monday, Rochester marked another annual milestone — the first day of unhealthy ozone levels. The Buffalo-Rochester region's air quality is the worst in the state, according to Peter Iwanowicz, vice president of the New York chapter of the American Lung Association. - (May 31, 2006) Democrat and Chronicle
•  Still no lifeguards at Durand Eastman Beach - Summer is just around the corner and there is still no agreement to put lifeguards back at Durand Eastman Beach. Mayor Duffy surprised many people when he advocated restoring lifeguards this summer at Durand Eastman Beach in his state of the city address. Swimming at Durand Eastman Beach didn't look very appealing, even on a warm day like Wednesday. There was nasty-looking green stuff in the water all along the beach.10NBC / WHEC TV-10