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Freedom
of Information Act
The Supreme Court has held that "The basic purpose of Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA) is to ensure an informed citizenry, vital
to the functioning of a democratic society, needed to check against
corruption and to hold the governors accountable to the governed."
Unfortunately, many states' open records laws do not provide adequate
access to government records vital to keep citizens informed. According
to surveys, many states fall very short of compliance. A recent
study in Connecticut showed that only 10 of 68 agencies followed
the law when asked to produce documents. There a few states that
allow for wide-ranging access to records and documents. This type
of access is necessary to keep the public informed about environmental
programs and polluter information. For more information on how your
state can enact an effective FOIA, visit http://www.serconline.org/FOIA/background.html. |
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Nevada
Assembly Approves Building Energy Savings
(Nevada Appeal 4/23/03)
AB398, unanimously approved by the Nevada Assembly, allows local
governments to contract industry to improve energy efficiency in
public buildings. The contracts, known as "performance contracts,"
allow public buildings to have equipment installed or to have sections
of government buildings improved to increase the overall energy
efficiency. Rep. Geddes, who sponsored the bill, said the upgrades
would be paid through the savings received through lower energy
bills. The legislation is designed to encourage creative methods
to save energy and reduce the operating costs that can burden local
governments. For more information on how your state can save energy,
visit http://www.serconline.org/cleanenergy.html. |
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ALEC's
Electronic Government Services Act
A new ALEC bill, the Electronic Government Services Act, has shown
up in eleven states, and is close to passage in Ohio, where it has
been included in a budget bill. This bill would, among other things,
prohibit states from duplicating electronic information services
offered by two or more private companies. This would include information
that is currently available for free on government websites, even
if the private companies charge for the same information. The types
of information affected could range from details about a state park
or festival (do you really want to have to pay a travel agent to
book you a camping site?) to environmental regulations, emissions
data, toxic release inventories, court opinions, and many other
important public records. Simply put, public records should be publicly
available to everyone. States should not be restricted from posting
their own records and information on their own websites. Consistent
with their pro-corporate ideology, ALEC is promoting this bill,
which would effectively increase the "privatization" of
public information and restrict access. Watch out for this Trojan
Horse bill in your state. |
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Tougher
Greenhouse Gas Limits Urged in NY
(Times Union 4/24/03)
A task force established by Gov. Pataki in 2001 will recommend
stiff cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, according to task
force members. If Gov. Pataki adopts the recommendations,
New York will have the toughest limits in the nation. The
report will call for a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse
gasses below 1990 levels within ten years. These reductions
would be accomplished by an in-state cap and trade system.
The report also recommends that ten percent of New York's
power come from renewable sources by 2012. According to the
task force, these moves should not dramatically increase energy
prices. Environmental advocates called on Gov. Pataki to implement
the recommend plan. |
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Defenders
of Wildlife Issues Transportation Report
(Defenders of Wildlife 4/03)
Defenders of Wildlife issued a report on transportation that
profiles innovative programs that seek to improve transportation
infrastructure while protecting biodiversity. The report states
that one of the greatest consumers of habitat, and thus a
threat to biodiversity, is poorly planed, sprawling development.
This development is largely spurred by transportation plans.
The report goes on to discuss several options available for
innovative transportation alternatives and makes recommendations
for future transportation plans that protect biodiversity.
This report may be accessed at http://www.transact.org/library/reports_pdfs/Biodiversity/second_nature.pdf. |
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Michigan
Bill Aims to Protect Even Tiny Wetlands
(Detroit Free Press 4/23/03)
Rep. Paul Condino announced a bill Tuesday designed to protect
Michigan's many small wetlands that currently lack regulation.
These small wetlands provide direct benefit as they filter
pollutants from soil, form barriers to erosion, provide habitat
for fish and wildlife and retain storm water to prevent flooding.
Previous bills addressing small wetlands (less than five acres)
have been opposed because of fears of the taking of private
property. For more on how your state can protect wetlands,
see http://www.serconline.org/wetlands/index.html. |
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Bill
to Limit Mercury Bound for Governor in Oregon
(Oregonian 4/23/03)
Washington's House and Senate have approved a bill aimed at
reducing mercury levels in the state through prohibiting the
sale and installation of certain mercury containing products
like thermometers and fluorescent light bulbs, and requiring
that others carry warning labels. If not managed properly,
mercury can build up in the environment over time, leaching
into groundwater systems and causing brain damage, especially
in children. The bill passed quickly in the House, but was
subject to deliberation and several alterations in the Senate.
Those changes were approved by the House last Tuesday and
the bill is now ready for review by Governor Gary Locke, who
concurred with the statues set forth in its original iteration
and will likely sign it into legislation if he agrees with
the Senate's changes. For more information on how to regulate
mercury in your state visit: http://www.serconline.org/mercury/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Invasive
Species Harming West Virginia's Economy
(Charleston Gazette 4/23/03)
The thousands of non-native species spreading across West
Virginia are causing significant economic damage, according
to a new report by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Invasive non-native species cause economic problems for the
state's forests, animals and industries. West Virginia forests,
long impacted by the gypsy moth, are also suffering from invasions
by purple loosestrife, Japanese stiltgrass, and fungi that
attack beech, dogwood, hemlock, and fir. "Without action,
we're likely to see the look of the forests change drastically"
said Phyllis Windle, a senior scientist at UCS. Government
agencies have spent $18 million over the last 20 years combating
gypsy moths alone, and the moths have done an estimated $17
million worth of damage to the state's timber. For more information
on what your state can do about invasive species, see http://www.serconline.org/invasives/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Wisconsin
May Revise Rules for Clean Air
(Wisconsin State Journal 4/21/03)
Early last week the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board reviewed
a proposed amendment to the air pollution rule NR 445. The
update would lengthen the existing list of 429 regulated toxic
air contaminants to 582 and impose stricter standards for
130 of those original 429. Caroline Garber, chief of the DNR's
environmental studies section, sited a recent study performed
by the state Department of Commerce that projected the cost
to be $2.5 million. Among the groups opposing the new rule
is Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce (WMC). Jeff Schoepke,
spokesman for WMC, claimed that the increased regulation would
allegedly cost Wisconsin businesses more than $100 million.
Many proponents of the provision maintain that the additions
to the 1988 rule, while welcome, do not cover the full extent
of pollutants that should be included. |
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Midwest
Megafarms Making Enemies
(Chicago Tribune 4/21/03)
Midwest megafarms, or concentrated animal feeding operations
(CAFOs), are again threatening the public water supply and
receiving thousands of dollars worth of environmental polluter
fees. Last month a 50,000 gallon manure spill into Indiana's
Little Sugar Creek killed 5,000 fish and proved the public
will no longer tolerate inaction. Indiana officials have moved
to shut down the 35,000 hog Pohlmann farm after similar incidents
in past years. The most recent spill will cost Klaus Pohlmann
$230,000, even though he contends the facility is state of
the art. These actions have prompted officials in other states
to look at their regulations that deal with CAFOs. In the
past citizens and environmental groups have been able to enact
rules blocking CAFOs, only to have state legislatures ignore
their concerns. Currently regulations vary state to state,
even though the Environmental Protection Agency recently handed
down new rules on the facilities. However, many critics feel
the rules do little to protect water quality and do not protect
air quality. For more information on how your state can deal
with CAFOs visit: http://www.serconline.org/cafos.html. |
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