• Powell Says U.S. Ready to Lead Fight Against Deforestation
  
• U.S., Japan Agree on Integrated Ocean Drilling Program
  
• Conservationists Headed for the Courts To Save Florida Panther
  
• San Joaquin Restoration Battle Flows Back to Court
  
• California Brokers $800,000 Sawmill Pollution Settlement
  
• Maryland To Reduce Mute Swan Population
  
• Minnesota Warns of Mercury in Fish
  
• College Students Fund Air Pollution Cut
  

Powell Says U.S. Ready to Lead Fight Against Deforestation

At an Earth Day forum on deforestation, Powell said the administration will be holding ministerial meetings in Asia, Africa and Latin America to discuss the international and national challenges of this and other environmental problems.

"Deforestation not only decimates plants and animal species, it destroys livelihoods, spreads disease, undermines societies, erodes economies, and can destabilize entire regions" Powell said.

Partnerships between governments and other organizations are necessary to confront these challenges, Powell said, and he cited the U.S. led Congo Basin Forest Partnership as a working model.

Powell announced U.S. support and funding for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership at last year's World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg. The effort includes 29 partners is designed to help protect the world's second largest block of intact and interconnected tropical forest.

The Bush administration plans to commit $50 million to the plan through 2005, Powell said.

Environmental issues have far reaching implications in other "spheres of diplomacy," Powell explained.

"It is no coincidence that in places where conflict, chaos and humanitarian crises reign, where governments are corrupt and unaccountable to citizens, where citizens struggle to scratch out an existence, it is there that we also tend to find the severest environmental problems that have to be dealt with," Powell said.

The U.S. Secretary of State outlined the scope of the global deforestation problem. Half of all the Earth's forests are gone, Powell said, and every year an area of forest three times the size of Belgium is cut down.

"There is simply no way to replace completely that, which has been lost," Powell said.

With global wood consumption expected to double over the next 30 years, the cause for action is great, Powell said, and the administration is committed to it. He cited the administration's involvement in illegal logging and said the State Department is working with other federal agencies including the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, as well as with the private sector and non governmental organizations.

"President Bush and every member of his administration understands these complex interconnections," Powell said.

"We understand their far-reaching implications for our country and for the world that we live in," said Powell. "We are deeply committed to forging partnerships among nations and between public and private sectors across the globe for the sake of our forests, our flora, our fauna, and above all, our future."

U.S., Japan Agree on Integrated Ocean Drilling Program

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program will be coordinated by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport, Science and Technology (MEXT). In addition, the governments expect significant scientific and financial participation from European and Asian nations.

The 10 year program will officially begin on October 1, 2003.

"Ocean drilling has become an essential capability in modern geosciences research and education, and is used to examine processes ranging from changes in the Earth's climate to the movements of continents," explained Rita Colwell, director of NSF. "Drilling is the primary tool for sampling sediment and rock from the 70 percent of the Earth's surface covered by oceans, and is the only technique for sampling more than a few meters below the ocean floor."

The project will have three areas of emphasis: the deep biosphere and the sub seafloor ocean; the processes and effects of environmental change; and solid Earth cycles and geodynamics.

It will expand scientific understanding of the architecture and dynamics of the sub seafloor "plumbing system," according to NSF, and will unearth sediments that can provide a unique record of the planet's climate fluctuations.

"These sediment records will allow a sophisticated and detailed analysis of the causes, rates and severity of changes in the Earth's climate system and their relation to evolution," Colwell said.

MEXT is completing construction of the heavy drill ship to address deep drilling objectives in the new program.

The National Science Board has approved release of a solicitation for a U.S. contractor to manage the scientific and drilling operations of the light drilling vessel to be supported by the NSF.

The U.S. and Japan have been cooperating on ocean drilling research programs since 1976.

Conservationists Headed for the Courts To Save Florida Panther

Only 50 to 80 adult Florida panthers are believed to remain in the wild.

In an announcement that concerns two separate impending court challenges, the conservation groups said they are prepared to take "emergency legal action urgently needed to protect the endangered Florida panther from extinction."

One action, seeks to force the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to halt construction of the Florida Rock Industries' Ft. Myers Mine #2. The mine will be used to extract and process limestone, but it is located in the center of land the Fish and Wildlife Service has deemed essential for sustaining the Florida panther population.

The construction should not go forward until its effect on the Florida panther is more thoroughly investigated, according to the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the Florida Wildlife Federation (FWF) and the Florida Panther Society (FPS). The groups issued a 60 day notice of intent to sue Wednesday.

"Permitting a huge open pit mine to be dug in essential panther habitat is an abuse of discretion that cries out for legal remedy," said Manley K. Fuller, president of the Florida Wildlife Federation, NWF's state affiliate.

The company has proposed to mitigate the damage to Florida panther habitat by setting aside some 800 acres of the project site as protected habitat, but the conservationists say this is far from adequate.

"The Corps and FWS have given their blessing to a preposterous plan to destroy more than 5,000 acres of Florida panther habitat while leaving a small area of 800 acres off to the side for the cats," said John Kostyack, NWF senior counsel. "This five to one ratio of destruction to conservation is a recipe for extinction. The numbers simply don't add up for the Florida panther or for the Americans who care about them."

In a second action, NWF and the FPS filed a notice of intent to force the Army Corps to discontinue its use of Clean Water Act permits to allow development in Florida panther habitat. The federal agency, the groups say, has never evaluated the impact of these permits on the panther, which has resulted in the loss of substantial tracts of habitat considered essential to the panther's survival.

NWF and FPS issued a 60-day notice of intent to sue the Corps to compel it to assess the cumulative panther impacts of the four Nationwide Permits process and to consult with FWS about how to avoid jeopardizing the panther.

"Panther recovery depends on the vitality and growth of its south Florida population," said Karen Hill, FPS Vice President. "The future of this magnificent cat hinges on whether the Corps and FWS provide for panther habitat needs in the agency's development permitting process."

San Joaquin Restoration Battle Flows Back to Court

The proposed settlement could have marked an historic agreement between conservationists, fishing groups and farmers to restore flows and salmon populations to California's second largest river, which currently runs dry below Friant Dam.

The dispute is over whether the federally owned dam should release water for the environment, as laws require of other dams. Conservationists say that before the dam was built in the 1940s, the river supported hundreds of thousands of spawning salmon every year and was the southernmost Chinook salmon run in North America.

"By rejecting the settlement proposal, Friant is trading a world of cooperation - where partnerships with conservationists, government agencies and other water users, coupled with major funding for environmental and water management initiatives from Proposition 50 and other sources, would help support a smooth transition to restoring the river - for a world of non-cooperation where the river will have to wait for a solution from the court," said Gary Bobker, program director of the Bay Institute and one of the lead negotiators for the coalition.

This latest development continues a legal dispute that began as early as 1988. The water districts and their codefendant, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, have lost repeated rulings until they decided to work on a settlement in 1999.

"Historically the upper San Joaquin River was a major source of water to the delta," said Tom Zuckerman of the Central Delta Water Agency, which represents farmers in San Joaquin County. "Friant Dam cut off those flows and caused harm all the way downstream. This was aggravated by the export of water from the delta to the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and the return of polluted drainage water back into the river. The Bureau of Reclamation's management has had a terrible impact on the health of the river and downstream agriculture - all the way through the delta."

"We are disappointed and puzzled that Friant rejected this historic opportunity to restore the San Joaquin River," added Jared Huffman, NRDC staff attorney and San Joaquin River project manager. "After swallowing the entire river for more than 50 years, the Friant water districts just can't swallow the idea of changing business as usual."

California Brokers $800,000 Sawmill Pollution Settlement

It brings to a close a three year investigation by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board that brought to light discharges by the company's Arcata Division Sawmill of a long list of pollutants into the Mad River Slough, which is an estuary area connected to Humboldt Bay.

Under the terms of the settlement, the company will clean up the pollution and pay $500,000 to fund environmental restoration projects. The remainder will be paid for civil penalties and costs to the State Water Resources Control Board's Cleanup and Abatement Account and DFG's Wildlife Pollution Account where it will be available for use by the State to fund other restoration and cleanup actions.

In addition, SPI must take actions to prevent the pollution from occurring again, and to cleanup residual woody debris remaining from prior discharges.

"This settlement holds Sierra Pacific accountable for the pollution it caused, prevents future contamination of the Slough and funds important wetlands projects in the Humboldt Bay," said California Attorney General Bill Lockyer.

The state attorney general's office represented the North Coast Water Board and the state Department of Fish and Game (DFG) in the legal action and settlement.

The investigation was triggered when a DFG wildlife biologist observing the area from an airplane noticed a dark plume being released from the SPI sawmill, which is located on the west bank of the Slough.

The sawmill was found to have improperly discharged sawdust, petroleum and petroleum by-products, zinc copper and other metals, pentachlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol, associated wood treatment chemical by-products such as dioxins and furans, and other pollutants into the Mad River Slough.

"These estuaries are fragile," said Susan Warner, Water Board executive officer. "The beneficial uses of the Humboldt Bay ecosystem require that every community and industry properly control their waste discharges to protect this important resource, and that strong regulatory action be taken when they pollute our waterways."

Maryland To Reduce Mute Swan Population

The decision has been based on science, Ehrlich said, and is necessary because the swans are harming the Chesapeake Bay.

"The overwhelming evidence shows that mute swans contribute to the deterioration of the Bay by consuming its vital submerged aquatic vegetation," the Republican governor said. "Failure to act now would be simply irresponsible."

Bay grasses are an important part of the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem, providing food and shelter for marine species and improving water quality. In his announcement, Ehrlich cited a study that found the density of juvenile blue crabs is 30 times greater in grass beds than in unvegetated areas of the Bay.

"This plan is the product a two-year process with public input from several advisory committees and hundreds of citizens," said

"Mute swans are a nonnative species that are disrupting the overall restoration of the Bay," said Maryland Department of Natural Resources Secretary Ronald Franks. "The current population of 3,600 birds is eating 10.5 million pounds of submerged aquatic vegetation each year."

A species native to Europe and Asia, mute swans were introduced to estates and parks in the eastern United States beginning in the 19th century. Maryland's population of mute swans originated when five birds escaped from captivity in 1962.

Maryland state officials say scientists believe that the current population is on the verge of an exponential increase in numbers and could reach 20,000 birds by 2010.

In addition to eating bay grass, the DNR say the population of mute swans is causing other adverse ecological impacts, such as driving out nesting native waterfowl.

The aggressive behavior of mute swans also causes problems for people, Maryland officials said, sometimes preventing them from using waters or shoreline near nesting swans.

The plan will designate swan free areas to afford protection to habitats critical to the Bay's living resources and will include lethal control of the Maryland mute swan population.

"This is a complex issue with no easy solutions. Mute swans are beautiful birds and are appreciated by many people. However, the grave danger that mute swans present to the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem requires that we take action," said DNR Wildlife and Heritage Service Director Paul Peditto. "In many situations, removal of birds by shooting or lethal injection by trained wildlife professionals will be necessary."

Minnesota Warns of Mercury in Fish

Individuals keen to eat the fish they catch from the state's lakes and rivers should in particular take note of the threat from mercury, state officials said.

The advisory addresses consumption of both commercially-sold fish and fish taken by anglers from local waters.

"All fish tested in Minnesota have mercury," said Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) environmental scientist Patricia McCann. "In fact, all fish, whether store bought or sport caught, have some mercury. The amount depends on what the fish feed on, how old the fish are and to some degree the water they live in."

The primary health risk from mercury emerges when airborne mercury falls into surface waters where it can accumulate in streams and oceans. Bacteria in the water transform mercury into methylmercury, which fish absorb when they eat aquatic organisms and humans absorb when they eat fish.

Scientists have shown that methylmercury can cause brain and nerve damage and studies indicate children and women of childbearing age are at a disproportionate risk.

Minnesota state officials say that results from an ongoing study by the federal Environmental Protection Agency, find that Minnesota fish are low in most contaminants tested, except for mercury.

The MDH fish consumption advisory provides special precautions for women of child bearing age who are pregnant or are planning to be pregnant, and for children under age 15. Overall, it suggests the consumption of smaller fish, fewer predator fish and that individuals trim fish skin and fat.

"While most mercury exposure is below a level of concern, some groups of people may be exposed to more mercury than is considered safe," McCann said. "Choosing which fish to eat for those meals is important to minimize exposure to mercury and other chemicals in fish."

The strictest general warning in the MDH guidelines advises individuals to eat only one meal a month of shark, swordfish, tile fish and king mackerel.

College Students Fund Air Pollution Cut

"We are not going to resell it, so that ton of sulfur dioxide will never be emitted into the atmosphere," said Lynne Lewis, associate professor of economics at Bates and the originator of the college's annual bidding effort.

This is the third year students from the college's environmental economics course have bid on and purchased a government sulfur dioxide (SO2) permit. SO2 causes acid rain and is considered a harmful air pollutant.

Each year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) auctions off SO2 permits through the Chicago Board of Trade. Held in March, the auction is part of the EPA's Acid Rain Program, which uses a market-based cap and trade approach to curtail air pollution.

"There is something very tangible about seeing Bates' name on the actual auction," said Bates student Mark Thomson. "And the fact that we obtained a permit is excellent, because you study different market-based incentive programs to reduce pollution, but to actually do it - and to say that we're willing to pay because we don't want acid rain in Maine - is a great opportunity."

This year's lowest successful bid was $171.80 and Ohio-based American Electric Power, the nation's largest electrical supplier, won 99.9 percent of the 125,000 permits on offer.

Bates' bid was $185.50, fourth-lowest of the 20 successful bids.

Student contributions left over were donated to the Acid Rain Retirement Fund, a program at the University of Southern Maine that was the only other Maine bidder this year.

"It is great to do this exercise not only for learning purposes, in terms of how economic ideas get applied to the real world, but also in terms of giving students a sense of environmental responsibility and a connection to environmental stewardship," said Christopher Westcott, a student who participated in the project.