CDC Releases
Largest Survey Ever of Toxic Chemical Exposure (Washington Post
2/1/3)
Over the past decade, Americans were exposed to an unprecedented array
of toxic and potentially health-threatening chemicals, according to a
government study released yesterday. In a surprising twist, researchers
for the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that
levels of a nicotine-related chemical called cotinine in young children
were more than twice the levels found in nonsmoking adults. Experts said
the discrepancy is the result of physiological differences in adults and
children, and the fact that anti-tobacco campaigns are largely geared
to adults in the workplace or in restaurants – and that far less was
done to discourage parents from smoking at home around children. The $6.5
million, two-year study tested the blood and urine of 2,500 volunteers.
It is the most exhaustive and detailed survey undertaken to determine
the extent of human exposure to potentially harmful toxic chemicals. The
study uncovered other troubling evidence: Of the 116 chemicals for which
the volunteers were tested, positive results were found for 89, including
PCBs, dioxins, phthalates, selected organophosphate pesticides, herbicides,
pest repellents and disinfectants. Federal environmental agencies have
conducted risk assessments on lead, tobacco, cadmium, mercury, certain
pesticides and other chemicals, but most of the chemicals have been tested
for toxicity only in animals. For more on health tracking in the states,
visit http://www.serconline.org/trackingbirthdefects.html. |
Montana
Bills Would Protect Farmers from Genetically Modified Losses
(Billings Gazette 2/6/3)
Two bills were recently introduced in Montana that would protect
wheat farmers from economic loss due to contamination from genetically
modified (GM) crops. Senate bill 266 would require companies seeking
to introduce GM wheat into the state to post a $10 million bond
for five years and House bill 409 would require companies to obtain
a permit to introduced GM wheat, the application for which would
have to certify that the crop could be successfully segregated from
other wheat, among other things. Montana exports around 90 percent
of its wheat crop (worth $200-$500 million a year) to Asian countries,
which have made it clear that they will not buy wheat with even
trace amounts of GM grain. Lawmakers are seeking to protect this
important part of the state's economy before Monsanto's anticipated
2005 release of "round-up ready" wheat. For more on how
states are dealing with GM crops, see http://www.serconline.org/geFoods/index.html. |
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Arkansas
Farmers Say Proposed Phosphorus Rules Too Limited
(Arkansas Democrat Gazette 2/6/3)
Farmers in the state of Arkansas are voicing concern over proposed
legislation that may require certain individuals to adjust their
litter and fertilizer applications because of growing concerns over
excessive phosphorous in some of the state's scenic waterways. One
of the proposed bills would require poultry farmers in the Northwest
part of the state to limit their nutrient applications according
to a nutrient management plan. Farmers contend that the proposal
unfairly targets one group of farmers while the Director of the
Soil and Water Conservation Commission contends the proposal is
targeting high priority areas. The farmers would prefer to see rules
targeting all farmers and all of Arkansas – including cities and
individuals who use lawn fertilizer. However, the current priority
areas exist because the watershed drains into the neighboring states
of Oklahoma and Missouri causing problems with their water. For
more information on what states have done about excessive nutrients
visit http://www.serconline.org/cafos.html. |
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Connecticut
Bill Would Make All Share in Pollution Burden
(New Haven Register, 2/5/3)
A new bill introduced in the Connecticut Public Health Committee
by Rep. Art Feltman would require several state entities to develop
an environmental justice action plan that "identifies and addresses
disproportionately high and adverse human health or environmental
effects of a program, policy or activity on minority and low-income
populations." During a Committee public hearing, a statewide
coalition of individuals, nonprofits and grassroots community groups
unveiled a state map that showed a correlation between the sites
of power plants, transfer stations and other "pollution sources"
and census tracts with the highest minority populations. State Sen.
Toni Harp said there is evidence that air pollution from treatment
plants and motor vehicle exhaust are related to asthma rates and
asthma attacks which are the No. 1 cause of absenteeism in schools.
New Haven has a 25 percent asthma rate, she said, which is three
times the national average. The bill also calls for the state Commission
on Human Rights and Opportunities to review each department's
environmental justice plan, identify barriers to achieving environmental
justice, and then make recommendations for implementing the plans. |
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EPA
Inspector Blasts Dallas Arm (The
Times-Picayune 2/5/3)
A report issued last week by the U.S. EPA disclosed that the regional
office in Dallas failed to provide oversight of Louisiana's compliance
with federal air, water, and hazardous waste programs, resulting
in the failure to ensure that Louisiana was "operating programs
in a way that effectively protects human health and the environment."
The report states that the regional office did not set oversight
goals for the state's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ),
did not hold the DEQ accountable for goals it did set, and did not
correct bad data reported by the DEQ. To solve the problem, the
report states that the regional office should develop an oversight
plan, account for federal funds used in regulatory programs, and
that strong goal language be included in state grants. For more
on enforcement, visit http://www.serconline.org/enforce/stateactivity.html. |
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California
Coalition Proposes Eco-Friendly Budget Cuts
(San Jose Mercury News 2/7/3)
As California struggles to close a $35 billion state budget deficit,
a coalition of roughly 35 environmental and other non-profit groups
have outlined 10 ways it says California can save $1 billion a year
and improve the environment at the same time in the third annual
Green Watchdog Report. Some of the suggestions include increasing
state permit fees for air polluters, loggers and water polluters;
boosting fees on farm pesticides; eliminating a tax credit for factory
equipment; and making landowners share state costs of putting out
wildfires. Another proposal outlined in the report includes requiring
computer companies to pay to take back and recycle old computers.
Gov. Davis already supports several of the report's proposals
but does not support, or is neutral, on other suggestions. For more
on green budget cuts, visit http://www.serconline.org/greenscissors.html. |
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Wind
Power – A Win-Win in Colorado
(Denver Post 2/7/3)
Colorado HB 1295 would set a goal for Colorado to generate 900 megawatts
annually from renewable energy by the end of this decade. Wind would
be the main source, but the bill encourages solar and biomass electric
generation, too. The measure contains carrots, not sticks, by offering
major investor-owned utilities incentives to use renewable energy.
HB 1295 has garnered remarkable, early bipartisan and top-level
support. Its primary sponsor is Speaker of the House Lola Spradley,
a Republican from Beulah. Her co-sponsor is Minority Leader Jennifer
Veiga, a Denver Democrat. In the Senate, the bill is championed
by a similar bipartisan team: Ken Kester, a Las Animas Republican,
and Terry Phillips, a Boulder County Democrat. On Colorado's Eastern
Plains, where the wind is almost always blowing, many farmers would
welcome the extra income from leasing part of their land to wind
farms. The Independent Bankers of Colorado says HB 1295 could be
an inventive economic-development program for the financially struggling
Eastern Plains communities. In addition, since wind farms are taxed
as industrial facilities, they add an important element to the underfunded
rural tax base. For more on how your state can plan its energy future,
see http://www.serconline.org/cleanenergy.pdf. |
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Mercury
Free Vehicles Legislation Introduced in Rhode Island
Rhode Island legislators have introduced H 5356 the Mercury-Free
Vehicle Act in the Rhode Island General Assembly. The bill would
reduce mercury in the RI environment by removing mercury from end-of-life
vehicles, create a collection and recovery program for mercury switches
removed from vehicles in the state, and establish systems to deal
with mercury storage and the phasing out of mercury in future vehicles
models. The bill is being supported by Clean Water Action and the
RI Auto Recyclers Association. For more on mercury legislation,
visit http://www.serconline.org/mercury/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Group
Says Texas Being Invaded by Harmful Plants and Animals
(Houston Chronicle 2/6/03)
A medley of 122 harmful invasive species of plants and animals from
such far flung places as Africa and the Far East have infiltrated
Texas, threatening native species, crops and industries dependent
on the state's natural resources, the Union of Concerned Scientists
reports. The 16-page report documents 67 terrestrial plants, 12
aquatic plants, 10 mammals, four birds, seven fish, 11 insects and
11 mollusks. It is based on the contributions and reviews of 21
experts from Texas A&M University, state and federal agencies.
All of these groups play different roles in the regulation and control
of invasive species statewide, which is part of the problem. For
more on legislative actions your state can take to meet the challenges
of invasive species, see http://www.serconline.org/invasives/pkg_frameset.html. |
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Coalition
to Monitor Florida Water Issues (St.
Petersburg Times 2/4/3)
Environmentalists have formed a coalition to keep an eye on legislation
they believe threatens supplies of water and to promote bills to
better protect its purity. Among issues the Florida Water Coalition
will follow are efforts to privatize public water supplies. The
group also wants to make sure developers consider wildlife as existing
or competing water users when they apply for permits. |
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New
Hampshire Could Study Chemicals' Effect on Health
(Nashua Telegraph 2/4/3)
An environmental health group wants New Hampshire to become one
of six states to obtain a $1 million grant to examine the impact
of specific chemicals on human health. The state Bio-Monitoring
Council will apply in April to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention to examine the effects on humans of arsenic, mercury,
phthalates and persistent bioaccumulative toxics, or PBTs. Previous
studies have shown high levels of arsenic found in drinking water
wells. Last year, state public health authorities advised pregnant
women and small children to limit consumption of freshwater fish
due to mercury levels found in small NH lakes and ponds. Far less
is known about the impact of phthalates, which are chemicals used
to soften plastics, and PBTs, chemicals emitted at very low levels
that take many years to have an effect on humans. Dr. Jeffrey Colman
Salloway, professor of health management and policy at the University
of New Hampshire, said state lawmakers should adopt a [precautionary]
principle that requires manufacturers to prove a new product doesn't
harm humans. "If we are in doubt about toxicants, we should
do the research first," he said. |
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Report
Released on Federal and State Cogeneration/CHP Policies and Programs
(ACEEE 1/21/3)
Five years ago, when President Clinton first expounded the promise
of combined heat and power (CHP) to cut power plant energy waste
in half, key market barriers blocked the mainstreaming of CHP. These
included utility charges prohibiting grid interconnection, too long
tax depreciation schedules, emissions regulations that do not recognize
the efficiency benefits of CHP, and an environmental permitting
system that is too cumbersome. In the intervening five years, some
progress has been made on breaking down these barriers, including
a federal legislative effort and the formation of a national association.
Yet important barriers remain: utility practices and tariffs that
discourage CHP; burdensome emissions regulations; and federal and
state-level legislative and regulatory issues. The American Council
for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) new report, CHP Five Years
Later: Federal and State Policies and Programs Update, reviews progress
toward decreasing market barriers, identifies areas where work is
still required, and includes policy recommendations for federal
and state governments. The CHP report is available at http://www.aceee.org/pubs/ie031full.pdf. |
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