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Community
Revitalization
Although the issue of community revitalization may at first appear
somewhat removed from environmental concerns, closer examination
reveals that there is a strong relationship between the strength
of cities and the health of the environment. Community revitalization
is the process of turning economically weak and physically deteriorating
urban areas into healthy, vibrant neighborhoods. However, many neighborhoods
in U.S. urban areas are in a state of economic stagnation or decline.
As middle and upper class residents move farther away from downtowns
and into distant suburbs, businesses tend to follow. This process
pulls tax dollars and employment opportunities away from the centers
of cities causing infrastructure to deteriorate, public schools
to be under-funded, and unemployment levels in existing communities
to increase. In many metropolitan areas development is expanding
so far out onto new acres and financial resources are getting spread
so thinly that neighborhood deterioration is a problem that now
faces many inner suburbs as well as central cities. Without state
action, this cycle of urban decay and suburban sprawl will continue
to perpetuate itself leading to increased traffic congestion, higher
levels of pollution, and loss of farmlands, forests, and wildlife.
For more information on how your state can revitalize communities,
visit: http://www.serconline.org/community/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Utahns
Support Water Rules (Salt Lake Tribune 6/11)
According to a new poll, 74 percent of Utah residents are in favor
of mandatory water restrictions and the fines that accompany them.
With the state poised on the verge of its fifth consecutive summer
of draught, Utahns are ready to take action. Their elected officials,
on the other hand, may not be. At the present time, only 2 of the
14 cities in the Salt Lake Valley have codes that punish water wasters
(neither of which actually enforce them), while the other 12 simply
issue advisories and hope for the best. Of course, even if such
codes are implemented, uncertainty lingers over whether they would
be as well received as the data suggests. As Stephanie Duer, Salt
Lake City's water-conservation coordinator, points out, advocates
of water restrictions may find themselves questioning their resolve
when the fines start flying. Nevertheless, the "74 percent"
figure is arousing change in the political arena where it was previously
slow to occur, and communities across the state are beginning to
write sharper teeth into their water rules. To find out more about
how your state can conserve water, visit: http://www.serconline.org/waterconservation/pkg_frameset.html. |
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The
Public's Right to Protest, After a Fee Is Paid?
In a move that would stifle public participation, Texas House member
Sid Miller introduced two bills during the most recent session complicating
the public process to file a complaint against and to protest permit
renewal for a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO). HB1357
requires that a person pay a $30 deposit at the time of filing a
complaint against the permit holder of a CAFO. The money will be
returned to the individual only if the commission determines the
complaint is not frivolous and intentionally filed to harass the
permit holder. The money not returned would be used to investigate
other complaints. HB1358 requires that an individual must file a
written notice with the commission and CAFO permit holder if they
intend to protest the amending or renewal of a CAFO permit. The
bill goes on to require a discovery period of evidence, but if the
permit is renewed or amended by the commission the individual who
files the protest would be required to pay "reasonable attorney
fees." Beyond the ambiguity of what is reasonable and what
the commission may consider as harassment, the bills were clearly
introduced to intimidate citizens and hinder them from filing complaints
against facilities known for their extreme environmental destruction.
Although the bill's sponsor may have good intentions, it is clear
he is willing to protect a narrow, controversial special interest
and compromise citizens' rights to protect their environment. |
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States
in Forefront of Agricultural Biotech Debate
(Stateline 6/12, Rutland (VT) Herald 6/11)
States took the lead in the debate over regulating genetically
modified foods last year, according to a new report by the
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology. In the 2001-2002
session, the report says, 39 different states introduced a
total of 158 bills relating to genetic modification of crops.
The majority of the 45 bills that passed had to do with protecting
or promoting biotechnology, but the introduced bills covered
a wider variety of topics, including increasing regulation,
banning certain crops, and clarifying legal liability for
the use and misuse of genetically modified crops. Vermont,
for example, considered a bill that would have required all
genetically modified seeds to be labeled and registered with
the state. Oregon voters considered a ballot initiative that
would have required labeling of all genetically modified foods
offered for sale in the state. Gregory Jaffe, director of
the biotechnology project for the Center for Science in the
Public Interest, said he's not surprised that states are becoming
more active on the issue. "The federal government has
not been updating its regulatory system to adequately regulate
biotechnology," Jaffe said. "And when the federal
government doesn't act, people are going to look toward the
states to fill that void." For more information on how
states are dealing with genetically modified crops, visit:
http://www.serconline.org/geFoods/index.html. |
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California
Bill Would Eliminate SUVs from Fleet
(San Francisco Chronicle 6/2, San Diego Union-Tribune 6/12)
California legislators need to "walk the talk" about
SUVs, according to Assembly Rules Committee Chairman Joe Nation,
"If we are going to continue to push the envelope on
fuel efficiency and air quality (legislatively)." About
half of California's lawmakers drive state supported SUVs,
and about 10% of California's state fleet consists of SUVs.
Nation wants to do something about this, as does Senate President
Pro Tem John Burton. Both the Senate and Assembly Rules Committees
are looking at ways to encourage legislators to use hybrid
or alternatives fuels vehicles. Burton also hopes to introduce
legislation that would limit the purchase of SUVs for the
state's fleet to emergency and law enforcement purposes. Doing
so could save the state - and taxpayers - $14.3 million over
5 years, as well as reducing air pollution and increasing
road safety. Several other states have considered limiting
SUV purchases as well, but none with a fleet as large as California's
73,000 state-owned vehicles. For more information on how your
state can save money and help the environment at the same
time, visit: http://www.serconline.org/greenscissors.html. |
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Non-Native
Plants Use Roads as Pathways, Study Finds
(Contra Costa Times 6/11)
Unwanted invasive species spread along roads, according to
a recent study published in the journal Conservation Biology.
The more developed a road, the more likely there are to be
invasive species along it, both because of increased traffic
and because road building and improvement disturbs the habitat
of native plants and gives non-natives a foothold. Invasions
by non-native plants are rampant in this country, claiming
1.7 million acres a year and costing $138 billion to control.
Invasive species are among the greatest threats to forest
and rangelands, causing the loss of grazing land and raising
the risk of fires. Allowing more road building on federal
lands will only increase the problem, according to the study's
authors. For more information on how your state can fight
invasive species, visit: http://www.serconline.org/invasives/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Massachusetts
Gov. Favors Directing Growth to Developed Areas
(Boston Globe 6/11)
Gov. Romney's administration has been circulating a list of
guidelines intended to direct future development in the state
regarding the location and style of commercial and residential
projects. The principles signal the dedication the administration
has towards conserving open space, protecting water supplies,
and encouraging alternative transportation, instead of driving
automobiles. One of the first principles emphasizes directing
growth towards areas that are already developed. Another principle
encourages "fostering a sense of place" by concentrating
development that allows people to walk in their neighborhoods.
The guidelines also include encouraging regional planning,
spreading the burdens of development to ensure environmental
justice, utilizing green building standards, and increasing
the amount of open space. For information on how your state
can accomplish similar measures, visit: http://www.serconline.org/community/pkg_frameset.html. |
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New
Hampshire Considers Groundwater Withdrawal Bill
(Foster's Online 6/11)
A battle between three New Hampshire towns and the USA Springs
water bottling company over groundwater has led to Senate
Bill 155, which is now awaiting the governor's signature.
The bill establishes a 21-member commission tasked to examine
groundwater withdrawal and its impact on regional water supplies
and, hopefully, come up with recommendations to improve the
state's management of water resources. The commission will
have members representing the regional planning commission,
public water supply interests, and the bottled water industry,
along with environmentalists, scientists, and elected officials.
It is hoped that the commission can adequately and fairly
balance environmental and business interests. A final report
of the committee's findings would be due November 30, 2004. |
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Restoring
the Dead Zone May Require $80 Million
(The Times-Picayune 6/10)
According to wetlands expert William Mitsch, professor and
co-author of "Wetlands," the $14 billion federal-state
plan to rebuild Louisiana's coastal wetlands is just the first
step and, in the end, up to $80 billion may be required to
cure the dead zone. Every year, nitrogenous run-off from the
Mississippi River basin fuels massive algae blooms in the
river's delta. When the algae dies, it sinks to the bottom
and decomposes, using up available oxygen. The tiny organisms
that form the base of the food chain die off and organisms
such as fish and shrimp avoid the area or die. In 2002, the
dead zone covered a record 8,000 square miles. Restoring life
to the dead zone will require the rebuilding of 24 million
acres of wetlands throughout the basin, which includes all
or part of 31 states and two Canadian provinces. The plan
would require diverting the water into areas east and west
of the river, thereby diluting the effect by reducing the
burden on the Mississippi delta. Along the upper portion of
the Mississippi, wetlands should be restored to help strain
nutrients out of rainwater run-off; along the river and its
tributaries, swamps and bottomland hardwood forests should
be restored to act a nutrient sinks. Of course, wiser use
of fertilizers must be part of the solution. |
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New
York Considers Two Net Metering Bills
(EANY.org)
New York currently allows net metering for residential solar
electric generating systems. Net metering measures the difference
between customer-generated electricity and that which is derived
from the electric company; customers pay only for their net
electricity consumption. Assembly Bill 4245/Senate Bill 3055
would expand the existing provision, allowing residential,
farm, and commercial customers to connect their wind and solar
energy generators to the electric power distribution system.
Additionally, the bill eliminates the ability of electric
corporations to penalize wind or solar power-generating customers
with higher rates, backup fees, or other such fees. Expansion
of net metering could reduce the consumption of nuclear power
and fossil fuels, and the dangers and pollution associated
with each. For more information on net metering and what your
state can do visit: http://www.serconline.org/netmetering/index.html. |
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Wisconsin
DNR Seeks Large Cut in Mercury
(The Capital Times 6/9)
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is proposing
regulations that would require the state's biggest utility
companies to cut the amount of mercury emitted from smokestacks
by 40 percent in 2010 and 80 percent in 2015. The regulations,
if approved later this month by the Natural Resources Board,
are an effort to make it safer to eat fish caught in Wisconsin's
waters. There are no similar federal requirements. The DNR
estimated that meeting the 40 percent reduction could cost
the four utilities $28 million to $33 million a year - or
$6 to $7 per year for the average residential customer. Mercury
is a by-product of burning coal at power plants. Mercury that
goes up smokestacks eventually settles on land and water.
In water, bacteria convert mercury to a more toxic form, methylmercury,
which accumulates in fish. Eating too much mercury-laden fish
can damage kidneys and the nervous system. In 2001, the DNR
broadened its fish consumption advisory from 341 lakes to
all of Wisconsin's 15,000 plus lakes. The DNR also urges people
younger than 15, nursing mothers and women of childbearing
years not to eat more than one meal a week of panfish and
no more than one meal a month of larger fish. For more information
on how your state can reduce mercury poisoning, visit: http://www.serconline.org/mercury/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Mayors
See Money, Jobs in Brownfields
(Environment News Service 6/9)
A new survey released today by the U.S. Conference of Mayors
finds that redeveloping contaminated vacant lots and industrial
sites, known as "brownfields," could generate more
than 575,000 new jobs and $1.9 billion annually in new tax
revenue for the nation's cities. The U.S. Conference of Mayors
represents some 1,100 U.S. cities with 30,000 or more residents.
Its brownfields' survey identified 922 sites within 153 cities
that have already been redeveloped and provide evidence of
the possible financial gains. This redevelopment of some 10,600
acres has brought in $90 million revenue to 45 cities and
more than 83,000 jobs in 74 cities. The survey finds 205 cities
with some 25,000 brownfield sites awaiting development, and
of these 148 cities reported that 576,373 new jobs and as
much as $1.9 billion annually could be generated if their
sites were redeveloped. The organization wants Congress to
provide $250 million in annual funding for the program, in
line with the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields
Revitalization Act, which was signed into law by President
Bush in 2002. The law created a formula for rehabilitating
properties that would permit a federal liability waiver and
authorized up to $250 million per year for brownfields grants,
including up to $50 million for the assessment and clean-up
of low-risk petroleum contaminated sites. Redevelopment of
brownfield sites is not just good for the economy - there
is evidence it can help ease the pressures of urban sprawl.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that every
acre of reclaimed brownfields saves 4.5 acres of green space.
For more information on how your state can revitalize brownfields,
visit: http://www.serconline.org/brownfields/index.html. |
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