 |
|
|
 |
Conservation
Funding
In recent years, several state governments have made conservation
funding a priority. This dedication to funding demonstrates states
commitment to preserving natural areas while also acknowledging
the key role all local governments, private landowners and non-profit
organizations play in conservation. Unfortunately, the budget shortfalls
many states are currently facing may jeopardize current conservation
funding levels. However, it is important to look for creative ways
to preserve conservation because protected lands are an important
way of preserving a state's biodiversity and ecological integrity.
Everyone benefits from the improved air, soil and water quality,
expanded opportunities for outdoor recreation, improved wildlife
habitats, and pristine waterways these areas provide. For more information
on how your state can preserve conservation funding visit: http://www.serconline.org/conservationfunding/index.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
North
Carolina Votes to Protect Freshwater Turtles (Raleigh News
& Observer 5/14)
The North Carolina House recently voted to expedite HB1100, which
places a moratorium on commercial trapping of freshwater turtles.
The bill has already passed through the Senate. Sen. Charlie Albertson
introduced the bill after presenting evidence that thousands of
freshwater turtles were being taken by out-of-state trappers. Twenty-three
thousand turtles were taken in 2000 and sold as pets, for food,
and for use in folk medicine. The trapping ban is set to take effect
on July 1, rather than October 1 as initially stipulated in the
bill. The bill also gives the Wildlife Resources Commission the
authority to set limits on the collection of non-endangered amphibians
and reptiles, rather than just those that are endangered. For more
information on how your state can protect wildlife, see http://www.serconline.org/biodiversity/index.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
Just
a Spoonful of Sugar Helps the Everglades Go Down
The 1994 Everglades Forever Act (EFA), which established a 2006
deadline for the reduction of phosphorous levels (primarily in runoff
from sugar production) to 10ppb and a state-federal joint agreement
that allocated $8.4 billion to everglades restoration efforts marked
a turning point in the history of Florida's famed river of grass.
Compliments of a new sugar-industry-backed bill, the landmark EFA
faces amendments that threaten to undermine the efforts to protect
water quality and possibly the success of the joint project that
is recognized as the most ambitious restoration effort this country
has ever witnessed. The new bill calls for a 10-year extension of
the 2006 deadline established by the 1994 EFA, and a 50 percent
increase in allowable pollutants. The bill also takes the teeth
out of the EFA. For example: "These changes shall be designed
to achieve state water quality standards, including the phosphorus
criterion and moderating provisions, to the maximum extent practicable."
Dione Carroll, an attorney for the Miccosukee Indian tribe, said,
"they've essentially removed the enforcement standards and
replaced them with 'do your best.'" The bill passed though
the Florida State Legislature exceptionally fast, in spite of bipartisan
criticism from more than a dozen members of Congress and a Federal
Judge. It appears that Gov. Jeb Bush intends to favor the bill.
He has stated that he will make his final decision on the legislation
within the next two weeks. If enacted, it will seriously undermine
a landmark effort to restore and protect an important piece of our
nation's precious natural heritage. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
Washington
Environmental Bills Become Law
(Seattle Post Intelligencer 5/15)
Gov. Gary Locke recently signed a handful of bills that will
have a positive effect on Washington's environment. The bills
include a mercury reduction measure which phases out the sale
of some mercury-containing products and establishes an education
program; incentives for bio-diesel production; a provision
for updating shoreline protection measures; and a program
to reduce pollution from school busses. Environmental leaders
are calling the legislative session a successful one, despite
the budget issues the state is facing. For more information
on how to reduce mercury in your state, see http://www.serconline.org/mercury/pkg_frameset.html.
For more information on reducing pollution from school busses,
see http://www.serconline.org/schoolbus/index.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Minnesota
Senate's ATV Bill Keeps Environmentalists Happy
(Duluth News Tribune 5/14)
Minnesota's Senate passed a bill this week that will allow
the DNR to decide which lands should be protected and which
should be designated as ATV recreation areas. The resolution
strikes a compromise between conservationist and recreationalist
interests. While it disallows ATV users from traveling anywhere
they like in state forests, it mandates that the DNR designate
at least 1,500 miles of trails for ATV use within the next
three years. The Senate's version of the bill conflicts with
the House's, which favors leaving all state forest trails
currently used for ATV riding open until the DNR decides they
should be closed. For more on how your state can encourage
responsible ATV use, see http://www.serconline.org/orv/pkg_frameset.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Alaska
Bill Changes Primary Purpose of State Forests
(Miner Juneau Bureau 5/13)
Alaska's Senate recently approved a bill that changes the
primary purpose of state forests from multi-use to timber.
Currently, state forests are managed to accommodate diverse
activities such as mining, dog mushing and other recreational
activities. The bill would make timber the primary use of
the forests, thus giving the industry the upper hand in conflicts
with other uses. The bill will also require the Department
of Natural Resources to publish a five-year list of timber
sales every other year, and would eliminate the five-year
review schedule for forest management plans. |
| back
to top |
| |
Handful
of States Lead the US in Prospecting for Renewable Energy
(Union of Concerned Scientists, 5/13)
The Union of Concerned Scientists published a study early
last week that reveals a gross disparity between states concerning
their commitment to adopting renewable energy. More than half
the states in the country haven't even begun to pursue renewables
and, among those that have, only five account for 80 percent
of all clean energy generated. The study makes clear the extent
to which our potential as a nation to reduce our dependence
on fossil fuels and nuclear power goes largely unfilled, a
problem some say could be rectified through federal mandates.
Progress may be just around the corner, though, with energy
policy ranking high on the list of topics slated for discussion
in this year's federal legislative forums, and two senators,
James Jeffords (I-VT) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), preparing
to introduce amendments establishing a national renewable
electricity standard. For more information about promoting
renewable energy in your state, please see http://www.serconline.org/cleanenergy.pdf. |
| back
to top |
| |
New
Jersey Bill Tackles Residential Mold
(Philadelphia Inquirer 5/7)
The New Jersey Assembly has introduced a bill aimed at alleviating
the problem of toxic mold. The bill would require home sellers
to disclose in writing the presence of known mold and allow
the buyer 10 days to conduct an inspection. The bill also
calls for allowing the buyer to get out of a contract if the
rules are not followed and would require landlords to perform
mold inspections every five years. |
| back
to top |
| |
Cities
and States Kick the SUV Habit
(TomPaine.com 5/12)
SUVs have become increasingly popular in the past decade,
to the point where even state and local governments bought
SUVs in lieu of regular passenger cars. But SUVs are expensive,
and cash-strapped states and cities are rethinking the presence
of SUVs in their fleets. Philadelphia, which may have the
largest city fleet of SUVs in the nation, is replacing SUVs
that are not needed for off-road functions. Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney, whose state is facing a $3 billion budget
deficit, is also replacing SUVs with sedans which are cheaper
to purchase, run, maintain, and insure. As states search for
ways to save money, one of the easiest cuts to make may be
to eliminate unnecessary SUVs from their fleets. |
| back
to top |
| |
Study
Finds Sprawl Effects Similar in Cities and Suburbs
(The Trenton Times 5/12)
A New Jersey study has revealed that cities are not the only
ones who suffer from blight – suburbs are beginning
to show the same effects. A coalition is now calling for regional
planning, tax-sharing urban redevelopment, and affordable
housing developed near jobs to prevent unchecked sprawl. The
immediate suburbs of major cities have seen their tax bases
dwindle and jobs decrease in recent decades as newer developments
sprang up. This movement out of old areas and into newer areas
is overwhelming the new ones and creating new problems, such
as longer commutes. Effects are being felt by both the lower
and middle classes as property taxes in some of the developments
closer to major cities are twice the national average. For
more information on how your state can deal with uncontrolled
development visit: http://www.serconline.org/sprawl/pkg_frameset.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Tougher
Rules Aim to Clear the Air in New Jersey
(The Herald News 5/14)
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has
announced new air pollution rules, which would more than halve
the limit for a smog-causing chemical released by power plants,
and reduce benzene and other carcinogens at gas stations,
auto repair shops, and other businesses. The new rules cover
two key ingredients of smog: nitrogen oxides and volatile
organic compounds, a group of chemicals also linked to cancer
and other ailments. The rules cut the statewide limit on nitrogen
oxides to 8,200 tons this year, from about 17,000 tons last
year. The regulations, which took effect May 1, are part of
an effort by mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states to cut levels
of what's officially called ground-level ozone, the lung-burning
stew of pollutants that brews in the sky during hot summer
days. The chemical soup has been linked to rising asthma rates,
heart ailments, and even declining crop yields. |
| back
to top |
|
|
