NJ Gov.
Says Sprawl Reduction Priority (NY Times 1/14/03)
Suburban sprawl will be weeded out in the Garden State by charging new
fees to developers, allowing towns to stop new building and boosting measures
to save open space, Gov. James E. McGreevey promised Tuesday in his first
State of the State message. To better manage development, McGreevey wants
more power for county planning boards and increased regional development.
That could mean an end to centuries of home rule, the tradition that allows
the state's 566 municipalities to govern nearly everything within their
borders. Towns would be given the power to halt all building for up to
one year. The state would also act to preserve 20,000 acres of farmland,
McGreevey said. Developers will face fees to cover increased costs for
roads and schools, he said. "Let me say to those who profit from
the strip malls and McMansions, if you reap the benefits, you must also
take responsibility for the costs," McGreevey said. New Jersey will
also see two new state parks, improvements to 200 local parks and a program
to plant 100,000 trees across the state, if the plan is approved. The
state will also provide $100 million more to open space programs, without
an increase to taxpayers, McGreevey said. "I know what I have outlined
here will not be easy to pass. There will be vested interests lined up
across this state and outside that door to oppose us," McGreevey
said. "It is the fight that will define and shape the New Jersey
we leave behind for our children and grandchildren." For more on
limiting sprawl in your state, visit http://www.serconline.org/sprawl/pkg_frameset.html. |
ALEC Launches
Bid Against CO2 Emissions Laws (NCEL, Inside EPA 1/17/03)
Last week, Inside EPA reported on a new study and model bill being pushed
by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) to their state legislators
in an attempt to weaken or stop carbon dioxide (CO2) emission regulations.
The study, which links increased mortality rates with increased environmental
regulation, was financed in part by the Edison Electric Institute, the
National Mining Association and Center for Energy & Economic Development.
The model legislation, called the "Conditioning Regulation of Non-Pollutant
Emissions on Science," would require a state environment commissioner,
prior to regulating CO2, to determine whether the regulation would have
a "substantial and significant adverse effect" on energy or
fuel availability or price, and to balance that impact against the proposal's
benefits, among other provisions. ALEC is attempting to derail CO2 emissions
bills, as many states, including California, are seeking to put in place
strict new emissions control regimes. Through the study and bill, ALEC
is trying to suggest that tough clean air rules could harm public health
by increasing energy costs (and thereby deepening poverty) and unemployment.
The study, "Mortality Reductions From Use Of Low-Cost Coal-Fueled
Power: An Analytical Framework," ignores the health impacts of global
warming, such as more human fatalities resulting from increasing summer
temperatures and disasters such as tornados and hurricanes, and the spread
of tropical diseases such as west nile virus and malaria. Global climate
change's economic costs include devastating droughts and associated
crop losses and forest fires, the destruction of infrastructure, and the
gradual loss of fish and game species. One environmentalist who works
on state-level issues is calling the study a coal-industry effort to broadly
avoid new controls. "If you are saying that burning more coal and
dirtier air is the solution to healthier living, you have to question
the motives behind the report," the source says. "It's obviously
out to give ALEC legislators something to use when four-pollutant legislation
or any legislation limiting coal use is debated by state legislators."
For more on ALEC's anti-environmental agenda visit http://www.serconline.org/watchdog/watchdogpage.html. |
Miss.
House Approves Compromise Environmental Audit Bill
(Clarion Ledger 1/15 &1/16)
The Mississippi House voted 117-0 last week for a bill to give plaintiffs
some access to companies' environmental self-audit records. The
bill makes it easier to use private companies' internal environmental
studies in a lawsuit against accused polluters who cause serious
health and environmental problems. Mississippi's current law prevents
such documents from being introduced in civil or criminal cases,
a provision that has drawn the ire of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency. Federal officials say the audit privilege could interfere
with prosecuting the state's worst polluters. The law has been the
center of a three-year, free-for-all fight that has pitted federal
regulators against state legislators, and business interests against
environmentalists and trial lawyers. There has been considerable
confusion over how audit privilege works and what it does. The law
was intended to encourage industry to police itself and voluntarily
clean up pollution. But a 1998 study by the National Conference
of State Legislatures suggests similar laws have done no such thing.
Louie Miller, state legislative director of the Sierra Club, calls
the current law the "pollution secrecy act." Miller
called the new bill "a reasonable compromise." For more
on Environmental Audit Privilege, see http://www.serconline.org/watchdog/watchdog_alerts.html#watchdog10.
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N.
Dakota House Panel Endorses Tobacco Ban
(Bismarck Tribune 1/16/03)
A House committee stunned the North Dakota Capitol last week by
endorsing a bill that would ban the sale and use of tobacco products
in the state. Rep. Mike Grosz, R-Grand Forks, was extremely proud
after the House Finance and Taxation Committee voted 9-4 in favor
of his bill, HB1174. He sponsored the bill and is a member of the
committee. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.
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Anti-Sprawl
Bills Build Momentum in Virginia (The
Virginian-Pilot 1/13/02)
A flurry of slow-growth bills has been filed in the Virginia General
Assembly this year. Several, called "adequate public facilities,"
would let local governments delay new developments – even
on land properly zoned – until the roads and schools to serve
them are in place. Significantly, the newly elected Speaker William
J. Howell, R-Stafford, is backing limits for his own fast-growing
district. The shift has caught the attention of deep-pocketed developers,
who are gearing for a fight. "We are not taking prisoners this
year on this matter," said Michael L. Toalson, executive vice
president of the Home Builders Association of Virginia. "The
defeat of this is the No. 1 priority of the housing industry for
this session of the General Assembly and a very high priority for
the broad-based business community as well." The defeat of
the sales-tax increase last fall is largely responsible for giving
the slow-growth initiatives more momentum this year, some say. "The
result of the sales-tax referendum sent a really clear message,"
said Laura Olsen of the Washington-based Coalition for Smarter Growth.
"Voters want to see growth managed better." Del. Robert
G. Marshall, a Republican from Prince William County, says he hears
the message – and wonders why others don't. He has introduced
four growth-control bills this year. He points to the Nov. 5 referendum
as a day of reckoning for the development community. "Because
of the response of the people, this thing has legs," Marshall
said. "And the members of the Assembly who can't see that won't
be here next year to figure out their mistake." For more information
on how your state can stop sprawl, please see http://www.serconline.org/sprawl/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Indiana
Environmental Agency Pleads for Fee Increases
(The Indianapolis Star, 1/15/03)
Lori Kaplan, commissioner of the Indiana Department of Environmental
Management, said that IN's ability to regulate pollution could be
jeopardized unless state lawmakers approve increases in permit fees
paid by industries and municipalities. It is predicted that without
the increases the $8.3 million generated now by fees for such things
as wastewater treatment plants, and solid and hazardous waste disposal,
would be depleted by mid-2005. If that happens, the agency would
be forced to eliminate 75 positions in its permit programs, have
difficulty issuing permits on time, and the state may lose its authority
to issue permits. Fees have not been increased since 1994, although
demands on the revenues generated by the current fees have increased.
In addition, the agency is seeking new fees to help it ensure that
drinking water systems meet health standards. Indiana's drinking
water program is smallest program in the Midwest and the state desperately
needs the fees to protect public health. |
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Virginia
Lawmaker Proposes Bills on Disposal of Computers
(Virginian-Pilot 1/15/03)
This session the Virginia state General Assembly will consider bills
HB 2375 and HB 2376, which ban the disposal of old computers, TVs
and other electronic equipment in landfills starting in July 2004.
The biggest concerns are cathode ray tubes, or CRTs, which help
convey images on computer monitors and TV screens, but are made
with toxic mercury, lead and other heavy metals that can contaminate
groundwater and soil. In the U.S., 315 million computers will soon
become obsolete, and 40 percent of lead found in landfills comes
from thrown-away electronics. Congress and many states have begun
considering ways to safely handle unwanted computers and other devices
that contain CRTs; Massachusetts and California have barred CRTs
from their landfills. For more information on how states are dealing
with electronic waste, please see http://www.serconline.org/ewaste/pkg_frameset.html. |
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States
Battle Invasive Species (Stateline.org
12/17/02)
Invasive species, such as gypsy moths, zebra mussels and west nile
virus, are an ever growing problem across the country, due in part
to increased travel and trade. Introduced from other continents,
these species have thrived and spread, causing environmental and
economic damage – to the tune of $137 billion a year. The
federal government adopted a national plan to control invasive species,
but has made little progress to date, leaving most of the burden
on states, which often are unprepared. Many states lack regulations
dealing with invasive species, or have insufficient funding. An
additional complication is the difficulty in predicting which introduced
species will become problems, though it's much cheaper and easier
to prevent an invasion than it is to try and control the species
after arrival. States are turning to tools like permitting or requiring
bonds or liability insurance for introduced species. In addition,
many states are creating councils to coordinate the response to
this biological invasion. To learn more about what states are doing
to combat invasive species, visit http://www.serconline.org/invasives/stateactivity.html.
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New
Jersey Issues New Waterways Rules
(Star Ledger 1/13/03)
Gov McGreevey has announced an expansion of rules aiming to reduce
pollution in New Jersey's waterways. This expansion will minimally
affect 22 rivers proposed for the designation, and potentially more
in the upcoming months. The Category 1 designation, restricting
any discharge that increases a toxin's level, is proposed
to be extended to waterways used for drinking water. Traditionally
Category 1 rivers were trout habitats. In a move prompting objection
from various groups, the Department of Environmental Protection
has proposed a ban on construction within 300ft. of a Category 1
river. Jeff Tittel, New Jersey Sierra Club Director, remarked, "Not
only is this an important tool to protect drinking water, it will
do more than 10 years of State Planning Commission meetings to bring
smart growth to New Jersey." For more information on how to
protect your state's waterways visit http://www.serconline.org/waterconservation/pkg_frameset.html.
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Lights
Cloud the Night Sky (NY Times 1/16/03)
Can you see the Milky Way from your house? About 60 percent of Americans
cannot, but the so-called Dark Sky movement is urging urban areas
to change that. Municipalities in at least seven states have regulations
on outdoor lighting. Last year, NY Gov. George Pataki vetoed a bill
that would have required local and state governments to phase out
most outdoor lighting that casts too much brightness into the night
sky. The bill had been pushed by citizens who argued that the measure
would increase energy efficiency and allow people to once again
see stars at night. About 30 percent of all outdoor lighting in
the U.S. is directed skyward, according to the International Dark-Sky
Association, a 9,000-member nonprofit group based in Arizona.
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CT
Treasurer and Utility Shareholders Demand Liability Disclosures
(NY Times 1/17/03)
A group of shareholders that includes the Connecticut treasurer's
office and several religious organizations have begun a campaign
to compel the largest electric utilities in the nation to publish
information about liabilities they might face because of their emission
of gases that contribute to global warming. Led by the State of
Connecticut Plans and Trust Fund and members of the New York-based
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, the shareholder coalition
has filed resolutions to be voted upon at the annual meetings later
this year of American Electric Power, the Southern Company, Xcel
Energy Inc., the TXU Corporation and the Cinergy Corporation. The
shareholders contend that there are hidden risks at the large power
companies because of their release of carbon dioxide, which is widely
thought to be linked to global warming, and the pollutants sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury. They contend that companies
could face risks if emissions of carbon dioxide were regulated and
limited, which many environmentalists and some power companies think
is inevitable. They also assert that the electric utilities may
have to grapple with litigation linked to the emissions. For more
on how your state can restrict greenhouse emissions, visit http://www.serconline.org/clean/index.html.
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Delaware
Senator Hopes to Preserve Land with Transportation Funds
(Dover NewsZap 1/8/03)
Delaware Republican state Senator Robert J. Valihura announced a
legislative push to shift 10 percent of Delaware's Transportation
Fund – totaling $450 million in fiscal 2003, not counting
federal aid – to the Open Space Council and the Aglands Preservation
Foundation. The measure's co-sponsor, Republican Representative
G. Wallace Caulk, a farmer and Delaware Farm Bureau official, stressed
the need for a steady source of preservation money since the budget
problems may force lawmakers to cut farmland allocations this year.
For more on conservation funding, visit http://www.serconline.org/conservationfunding/index.html.
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