The Swamp School » climate-change

Four Environmental Groups Seek To Defend Greenhouse Gas Rule in Court

julieclark — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 02:21:04 +0000

Four environmental groups, representing citizens concerned about climate change and forest resources in New England and the Southeast, filed a joint motion in federal court late yesterday to help defend the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision to count emissions from burning biomass when it begins regulating global warming pollution from large power plants and other large industrial facilities.

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ORV Kills Nesting Sea Turtle on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Mike Hayslett — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:43:35 +0000

CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—After a rare female loggerhead sea turtle was dragged and killed by an off-road vehicle while attempting to nest at night on the beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center today requested that the National Park Service immediately install barriers on all ramps to Seashore beaches from sunset until when the beach is cleared by the turtle patrol to that enforces beach driving restrictions to protect nesting sea turtles. The current practice of posting signs regarding the nighttime beach driving restrictions during turtle nesting season did not deter the off road vehicle (ORV) drivers and did not protect the turtle. According to the National Park Service, the female loggerhead was struck and dragged approximately 12 feet by an ORV and her eggs strewn across the sand on Ocracoke Island sometime between the night of June 23 and early morning of June 24, 2010. The resulting injuries were fatal. Another nearby loggerhead sea turtle nest was run over by an ORV or multiple ORVs crushing the eggs in that nest. Under an interim protection plan currently in place, driving on the National Seashore beaches is prohibited during evening hours in months when turtles are nesting. The National Park Service has proposed a final ORV management plan that would continue turtle protections and prohibit night beach driving during sea turtle nesting season. Dare County and other ORV advocacy groups oppose these restrictions. “This tragic incident demonstrates conclusively that there can be no unauthorized vehicles on Seashore beaches at night during turtle nesting season–period,” stated Derb Carter of the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents the conservation organizations working to protect wildlife and improve ORV management on Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Loggerhead sea turtles are protected as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is considering elevating the loggerhead to endangered status given its low numbers. Harming a loggerhead sea turtle is a federal violation subject to both civil and criminal penalties. “The death of this rare turtle could have and should have been prevented,” said Jason Rylander, staff attorney for Defenders of Wildlife. “Better management of beach driving is essential to ensure such a loss does not happen again.” The death of the sea turtle overshadowed good news this week that the federally threatened piping plover population on the seashore has fledged a record number of chicks in 2010. On June 24, the National Park Service reported that so far this breeding season 15 piping plover chicks have fledged, a record number since 1992 when intensive monitoring began. Three nests remain so the number could increase. Prior to an April 2008 consent decree, piping plover numbers within Cape Hatteras National Seashore reached the all time low of no chicks in 2002 and 2004. “The successful nesting and fledging of this threatened species on the seashore is further evidence of how reasonable restrictions on ORV use are necessary and can benefit birds and other wildlife,” stated Walker Golder, associate director of North Carolina Audubon. Under the interim protection plan, ORV use is restricted in designated bird nesting areas on the seashore. ### Note to Editors: Photos of the sea turtle are available from the National Park Service at 252-473-2111 ext. 148 About Defenders of Wildlife Defenders of Wildlife is dedicated to the protection of all native animals and plants in their natural communities. With more than 1 million members, supporters and subscribers, Defenders of Wildlife is a leading advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard our wildlife heritage for generations to come. www.defenders.org About Audubon North Carolina Audubon North Carolina is the state office of the National Audubon Society representing 10,000 grassroots members and nine local chapters across the state. With a century of conservation history in North Carolina, Audubon strives to conserve and restore the habitats we share with all wildlife, focusing on the needs of birds. Audubon North Carolina achieves its mission through a blend of science-based research and conservation, education and outreach, and advocacy. www.ncaudubon.org About the Southern Environmental Law Center The Southern Environmental Law Center is the only regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC’s team of 40 legal experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org

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ORV Kills Nesting Sea Turtle on Cape Hatteras National Seashore

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yanglulu47.blogr.com – stories – 2010-06-22-Wetland-mitigation-of …

dwzavaleta — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 00:00:16 +0000

Every year on February 2 was designated as “World Wetlands Day.” This year’s “World Wetlands Day” theme ” Wetlands , Biodiversity and Climate Change”, highlights the wetlands in maintaining water, biological relationship with the climate …

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yanglulu47.blogr.com – stories – 2010-06-22-Wetland-mitigation-of …

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SELC Cheers US Senate Rejection of Anti-Clean Air Act Resolution

Marc — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:51:48 +0000

The Southern Environmental Law Center applauds action by the U.S. Senate today voting down a proposal that would have prolonged the country’s addiction to fossil fuels even as oil continues to spew into the Gulf of Mexico in the worst man-made environmental disaster in U.S. history. The resolution proposed by Senator Murkowski (Alaska) would have overturned the Environmental Protection Agency’s recent scientific finding that carbon dioxide and other global warming gases endanger human health and the environment. Based on the finding, the Clean Air Act requires EPA to take steps to reduce those emissions. In April, the agency set higher miles-per-gallon standards for most vehicles, which will avoid burning some 1.8 billion barrels of oil and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from tailpipes equivalent to removing 50 million cars from the road-as well as save car buyers thousands in fuel costs. The agency has also begun the process to curb greenhouse gases from larger vehicles, and from power plants and large factories. The Murkowski resolution would have halted these much needed actions. Senators Mark Warner and Jim Webb of Virginia, and Senator Kay Hagan of North Carolina were among the 53 senators who took the right action today in voting against the proposal.

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Liberal group ad links Gulf oil spill with Murkowski climate plan – The Hill (blog)

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:44:15 +0000

USA Today Liberal group ad links Gulf oil spill with Murkowski climate plan The Hill (blog) Lisa Murkowski's (R-Alaska) bill to block EPA climate change rules to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill ahead of a pivotal Senate vote on the measure Thursday. … With friends like Lisa Murkowski, the climate doesn't need enemies Washington Post (blog) all 111 news articles

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Sen. John Kerry: Halt to offshore oil drilling ‘not going to happen’ – Christian Science Monitor

Wed, 26 May 2010 15:25:18 +0000

Sen. John Kerry: Halt to offshore oil drilling 'not going to happen' Christian Science Monitor Sen. John Kerry says the Gulf oil spill makes passage of his pending energy and climate change legislation more … and more

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Sen. John Kerry: Halt to offshore oil drilling ‘not going to happen’ – Christian Science Monitor

Wed, 26 May 2010 15:25:18 +0000

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The Compleat Wetlander: Taking Time to Talk About Wetlands and …

Toukatt355 — Sun, 23 May 2010 19:36:01 +0000

On behalf of the Association of State Wetland Managers I would like to endorse the comprehensive effort that is being undertaken by the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force. The Association of State Wetland Managers has been …

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Minerals Management Service’s complicity in Gulf oil disaster challenged in court

dvorikicom — Mon, 17 May 2010 23:53:38 +0000

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Groups Challenge Proposed Plant Washington Coal-fired Power Plant in Georgia

mkherring — Sat, 08 May 2010 02:00:49 +0000

Public interest groups today filed legal challenges to three state water and air permits for the proposed 850 mega-watt Plant Washington coal power plant in Sandersville, GA. According to documents filed in the Office of State Administrative Hearings, Georgia Environmental Protection Division permits for the proposed Plant Washington would illegally degrade water resources for users and downstream communities along the Oconee River, and allow high levels of harmful pollutants into the air residents breathe. The state air permit fails to set safe limits on harmful air pollutants that would be emitted by Plant Washington, including sulfuric acid mist and particulate matter. Particulate matter is linked to respiratory illnesses, heart disease and even premature death. The state water withdrawal permit fails to set necessary limits on the amount of water the plant can take from the Oconee River for use at a proposed plant located in the Ogeechee River watershed. Without adequate limits, communities such as Dublin, GA, area farms and other downstream users along the Oconee River would be left without sufficient water resources. The state water discharge permit fails to limit the temperature of heated wastewater discharged by the proposed plant into the Oconee River, changing the river’s ecology, depleting available oxygen in its waters, and harming fish and other wildlife that depend on the river system. Plant Washington is a project of Power4Georgians, a company organized by Cobb Electrical Membership Corporation (EMC) and four other EMCs. In the challenges to the air permit, GreenLaw and the Southern Environmental Law Center are representing the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment, Ogeechee Riverkeeper, Sierra Club’s Georgia Chapter, and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. In the challenges to the water permits, GreenLaw and the Southern Environmental Law Center are representing the Altamaha Riverkeeper, the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment, and Sierra Club’s Georgia Chapter. Quotes from the attorneys and groups represented in the legal challenges follow: “These permits as issued will not adequately protect the air we breathe or the water we drink,” said Justine Thompson, executive director of GreenLaw. “The law requires, and Georgians deserve, air permits that are based on the most modern pollution controls. These permits contain flaws for pollutants that are known to be hazardous.” “Just how valuable our water resources are has been made clear to Georgians in past droughts and through the ongoing water wars,” said Brian Gist, senior attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. “Yet in these permits for an unneeded coal plant the state has failed to adequately protect public waters crucial to local and downstream users and wildlife.” “The Oconee River is already stressed with pollutants and chronic low flow conditions during times of even moderate drought,” according to Deborah Sheppard, executive director of the Altamaha Riverkeeper. “The potential impacts on the river from the proposed water withdrawal and hot-water discharge can only increase these problems.” “Instead of a coal-fired power plant in Washington County, our EMCs could choose greater energy efficiency, such as customer incentives for home insulation which would create local jobs across the 43 counties in the participating EMCs,” said Schuyler Reynolds, director of the Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment. “Hazardous air pollutants from the plant will compromise the Ogeechee River basin,” said Chandra Brown, executive director, Ogeechee Riverkeeper. “Our recent report, Protect Yourself and Your Family from Mercury Pollution, shows that additional mercury deposition from Plant Washington would prevent people who fish from safely eating the fish they catch.” “Plant Washington is a dirty coal plant that is a financial risk for the community and for customers who will pay high rates due to the ever-increasing cost of coal and impending governmental regulations,” said Erin Glynn, Sierra Club regional conservation organizer. “Instead of a coal plant we have a vast portfolio of clean, dependable alternatives such as energy efficiency that are already affordable solutions for Georgia,” said Ulla Reeves, regional program director, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. ### About GreenLaw GreenLaw is dedicated to preventing air and water pollution that endangers human health and degrades Georgia’s natural resources. GreenLaw achieves these goals by providing free high quality legal and technical assistance to environmental organizations and community groups throughout Georgia. www.green-law.org http://www.twitter.com/grrrlaw About the Southern Environmental Law Center The Southern Environmental Law Center is the only regional nonprofit using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC’s team of 40 legal experts represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy, air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and land use. WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org FACEBOOK: http://www.fanofselc.org TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org About Altamaha Riverkeeper The Altamaha Riverkeeper is working to protect and restore the habitat, water quality, and flow of the mighty Altamaha from its headwaters in the Oconee, Ocmulgee, and Ohoopee Rivers to its terminus at the Atlantic Coast. Website: www.altamahariverkeeper.org For more information contact: Deborah Sheppard, executive director, (912) 437-8164 About Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment Fall-line Alliance for a Clean Environment (FACE) brings together citizens and community to protect and preserve our air, water and land from pollution so that we may live and grow in the beautiful hills and farmland of Georgia. www.facenvironment.org For more information contact: Schuyler Reynolds, director, (706) 872-9182 About Ogeechee Riverkeeper Ogeechee Riverkeeper (ORK) works with their members and supporters to protect the Ogeechee, Canoochee and coastal Georgia Rivers. www.ogeecheeriverkeeper.org FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/ogeechee For more information contact: Chandra Brown, executive director, (866) 942-6222 About Sierra Club Sierra Club, the oldest and largest grassroots environmental organization in the United States, has over 20,000 members and supporters in the state of Georgia. www.sierraclub.org/coal For more information contact: Erin Glynn, regional conservation organizer, (770) 598-6814 About the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a not-for-profit, non-partisan organization working to promote responsible energy choices that solve global warming problems and ensure clean, safe, healthy communities throughout the Southeast. www.cleanenergy.org For more information contact: Ulla Reeves, regional program director, (828) 713-7486

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Groups Challenge Proposed Plant Washington Coal-fired Power Plant in Georgia

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