- Cleaning
Up Brownfields
- Experts
estimate that this nation has more than 450,000
brownfields – vacant or underused industrial
sites with environmental contamination caused by
chemical compounds and other hazardous substances.
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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.
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- Electronic
Waste
- Each
year the U.S. generates 5-7 million tons of electronic
waste. About 2% of this is recycled, 30% is stored,
and the rest ends up in a landfill.
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- Green
Building
- Our
demand on natural and finite resources such as energy,
water, and building materials can be reduced and
our contribution to environmental quality enhanced
by incorporating green building principals into
the design, construction, and renovation of buildings.
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- Green
Infrastructure
- The
“green” infrastructure approach emphasizes
planning in order to maximize the benefit of conservation
efforts. Green infrastructure applies a systematic
approach to conservation and recognizes the importance
of conserving sufficient land to maintain ecosystem
services and provide habitat for wildlife.
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- Groundwater
Withdrawal Permitting
- It is in everyone’s interests to have accurate
facts as to who is using groundwater and how they
are using it.
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- Groundwater
Withdrawal Reporting
- Major
water withdrawals have the potential to do as much
harm to a stream as toxins. The public has a right
to know if someone is damaging their streams –
whether by dumping poisons or removing water.
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- Minimum
Stream Flow
- By ensuring
minimum flows are left in rivers, we recognize that,
in order to meet our future water needs, we must
provide for the water needs of the river, and the
wildlife and humans that depend on it.
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- Natural
Resources Sustainability
- Sustainability
is generally defined as meeting the needs of present
generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
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- Nutrient
Management
- For
years, agricultural operations have been among the
greatest contributors to non-point water pollution.
Agricultural runoff often contaminates both ground
and surface water, compromising our nation’s
drinking water.
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- Protecting
Isolated Wetlands
- Wetlands
prevent flooding, filter our water, and protect
wildlife.
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- Regulating
Pesticides
- There
is growing public concern regarding pesticide exposure,
and for good reason. Studies have shown that all
persons, but especially children, pregnant women,
farmers, farmworkers, and the elderly, may experience
negative health effects from exposure to pesticides.
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- Responsible
ORV Use
- While
ORV (off-road vehicle) use often appeals to outdoor
enthusiasts, many drivers are unaware of the irreparable
damage their vehicles may inflict on the landscapes
they enjoy.
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- Smart
Growth Tax Credit
- The
Smart Growth Tax Credit Act is a prime example of
how states can save money while making their cities
cleaner and greener. The proposed tax credit is
designed to give developers a break for building
in more densely-populated areas and for complying
with cutting-edge green building standards.
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- Stopping
“Takings” Legislation
- “Takings” proponents
demand payment in the form of our government tax
dollars when a law or regulation affects the use
of land.
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- Suburban
Sprawl
- As
large numbers of urban residents move out of cities,
suburbs have seized the opportunity to embrace endless
housing developments and strip malls with little
long range planning. But uncontrolled sprawl presents
more than just an “open space” problem,
it also affects our quality of life and the health
of all our communities – wealthy and lower-income,
urban, rural, and suburban.
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- Traffic
Congestion Relief
- Nearly 4 million
miles of roads and 200 million vehicles keep Americans
moving, but our mobility comes with a price. Highways
are a major cause of public health and haphazard
development problems.
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- Transfer
of Development Rights
- As the population
of the United States continues to grow rapidly,
state and local governments face a challenge in
encouraging development while preserving natural
resources, open space, agricultural land, and historic
sites. Transfer of development rights (TDR) programs
have been adopted throughout the country by both
local and state governments to maintain growth without
sacrificing sensitive lands.
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- Water
Conservation
- In
many cities and towns, aging infrastructure and
continued growth will require massive new expenditures
to keep the water flowing.
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- Water
Privatization
- One
of the most important trends in the water industry
is the transfer of the production, distribution,
or management of water or water services from public
entities to private corporations, broadly called
“privatization.”
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