• July 2006 Broke U.S. Heat Records
  
• Corroded Pipe Stops BP Oil Flow From Prudoe Bay
  
• Maryland Seeks Emission Caps on Coal-Burning Power Plants
  
• New Jersey to Curb Emissions Of Small Stationary Diesels
  
• Ohio Updates Liner Rules for Industrial Waste Disposal
  
• Drilling Limits to Shield Colorado Animals Urged
  
• Lagasse Kicks It Up a Notch for Space Station Crew
  

July 2006 Broke U.S. Heat Records

ASHEVILLE, North Carolina, August 7, 2006 (ENS) - The continental United States sweltered through the second hottest July on record because of a blistering heat wave from California to Washington, DC, according to the the NOAA National Climatic Data Center in Asheville.

The hottest July on record occurred in 1936, during the Dust Bowl years, and the third hottest was 1934.

The July 2006 heat wave broke more than 2,300 daily temperature records for the month and eclipsed more than 50 records for the highest temperatures in any July, the data shows.

The first seven months of 2006 was the warmest January-July of any year the United States since records began in 1895, NOAA climate data indicates.

NOAA scientists said that no single episode of extreme heat can be blamed exclusively on human-induced global warming, but instead heat waves will become more likely and progressively more intense over the course of decades

The scorching temperatures, combined with a shortage of rainfall, expanded moderate-to-extreme drought conditions in areas already hard hit.

The average July 2006 temperature for the continental United States was 77.2 degrees F (25.1 C). More than 90 records for the highest night-time temperatures for July were broken.

The average January - July 2006 temperature was 55.3 degrees F (12.9 C), which beat the previous record set in 1934.

Lightning has killed at least 27 people this year, with 14 fatalities occurring since July 15. In addition, there were three fatalities during the last half of July where lightning is the suspected cause of death. This is more than double the number of fatalities seen in recent years for the last half of July.

"In the past two weeks, we've seen an alarming increase in the number of lightning deaths in this country," said John Jensenius, a lightning safety expert with the NOAA National Weather Service. "People are ignoring the common warning signs of thunderstorms or failing to get to a safe place when thunderstorms threaten."

In three separate incidents, four of the fatalities this year have involved teenagers playing soccer. Three fatalities were golf-related, two were related to camping and two were people killed while on riding lawn mowers.

Males have accounted for 22 of the fatalities, and five have been female. New Jersey and Colorado have each had three fatalities; Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Michigan have each had two fatalities. Single fatalities have occurred in Nebraska, Kentucky, Tennessee, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, Alabama, Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, Montana and Arizona.

The combination of outdoor summer activities and thunderstorms places people at risk of being struck by lightning. This year, most of the fatalities have been people caught outside in open areas or under trees. People often wait too long before seeking safe shelter from a thunderstorm and find themselves caught outside in a very dangerous and sometimes deadly situation.

"Unfortunately, the same fatal mistakes that have been made for centuries are being repeated today," said Jensenius. "With lightning, there is no safe place outside when a thunderstorm is nearby. If you can hear thunder, you're likely within striking distance of the storm and need to get to a safe place immediately. Anytime you're outside in the summer, you should watch the sky for signs of developing thunderstorms, especially if background noise interferes with your ability to hear thunder."

In the past 30 years, lightning has killed about 2,000 people across the U.S. with an average of 66 people each year. In addition, hundreds of people are injured each year by lightning.

Corroded Pipe Stops BP Oil Flow From Prudoe Bay

Shutting down the field will take days to complete, BP executives said Monday. Over time, these actions will reduce Alaska North Slope oil production by an estimated 400,000 barrels per day.

BP plans to replace 16 miles of corroded steel pipeline in the Prudhoe Bay oil field. Company officials offered no estimate of how long the field would be offline.

The low pressure, large diameter oil transit lines feed crude oil from Prudhoe Bay into the trans-Alaska pipeline, which carries all North Slope oil 800 miles south to the tanker dock at Valdez, Alaska.

Oil futures, already near record highs hit in July, shot higher on the announcement, and gasoline futures also rose.

"We regret that it is necessary to take this action and we apologize to the nation and the state of Alaska for the adverse impacts it will cause," newly appointed BP America Chairman and President Bob Malone said in a statement today.

Investigators from the federal Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration are on their way to Alaska to investigate, a spokesman said Sunday.

Malone said BP will conduct a parallel study with the agencies to determine if it is possible to safely continue operating portions of the field.

"We will not resume operation of the field until we and government regulators are satisfied that they can be operated safely and pose no threat to the environment," said Malone.

BP operates 22 miles of oil transit pipeline at Prudhoe Bay. Inspection has been completed over about 40 percent of that length, company officials said.

BP previously announced plans to replace a three mile segment of pipeline following inspections conducted after a large spill was discovered on March 2, 2006.

Prudhoe Bay is operated by a BP-led group that includes ConocoPhillips and Exxon Mobil Corporation, the company involved in Alaska's biggest oil spill of 11 million gallons when Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in 1989 in Prince William Sound.

Maryland Seeks Emission Caps on Coal-Burning Power Plants

These caps will reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) by 75 percent, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions by 85 percent and mercury emissions by 90 percent below current levels.

On July 31, the MDE submitted the emergency regulations regarding power plant emissions to the Maryland General Assembly's Joint Committee of Administrative, Executive, and Legislative Review.

The regulations are the first step in implementing the Healthy Air Act, which was signed into law by Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr., on April 6, 2006.

Once enacted, the final version of the regulations will constitute the most sweeping air pollution emission reduction measure proposed in Maryland history.

"These regulations are the key to bringing Maryland into compliance with new federal ozone and fine particulate air quality standards by 2010 and will also help clean up the Bay," said MDE Secretary Kendl Philbrick. 'We look forward making Maryland a national leader in air quality."

Philbrick says NOx is the most important pollutant contributing to Maryland's ground-level ozone or smog problem and also contributes to nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay.

He says SO2 is the most important contributor to Maryland's fine particulate air pollution problem and also has a role in creating regional haze that degrades visibility.

The emergency regulations are intended to get the requirements of the Healthy Air Act in place quickly, but they will have to be replaced by permanent regulations within six months.

MDE officials will host several listening sessions in the late summer and fall with affected stakeholders, such as environmental groups and the utilities, to discuss the permanent regulations and other provisions of the Healthy Air Act that are due to take effect in June 2007.

For more information or to obtain a copy of the proposed emergency regulations, go to: www.mde.state.md.us/Air/Md_CPR.asp or call MDE's Air and Radiation Management Administration at 410-537-3245.

New Jersey to Curb Emissions Of Small Stationary Diesels

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says it aims to reduce particulate matter for which the state is in non-attainment of federal air quality standards in many areas.

Current measures in the New Source Review sections of existing state regulations, or of the State-Of-The-Art and State Reasonably Achievable Control Technologies regulations in New Jersey do not enforce monitoring and controlling of all emissions from stationary diesel engines that are less than 100 kilowatts and/or have the potential to emit less than five tons per year.

In addition, the DEP says, the State Title V operating permit addresses only significant stationary sources that are located at major sources. Their emissions are based on a mass rate such as pound per hour or tons per year and not on engine power output such as grams per horsepower hour.

Retrofitting diesel engines greater than 50 hp with add-on controls, combined with the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel, should reduce particulate matter by 97 percent and nitrogen oxides, NOx, by at least 80 percent compared to uncontrolled levels, the agency proposes.

Emissions of sulfur dioxide, which contributes to acid rain will also be reduced through the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel.

The DEP has posted a white paper on its website that outlines these recommendations and welcomes public comment through Friday, August 25.

View DI014 – Control Measures for Stationary Diesel Engines online at: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/airworkgroups/comments.html. Email comments to: airworkshop@dep.state.nj.us

Ohio Updates Liner Rules for Industrial Waste Disposal

Ohio EPA Director Joseph Koncelik said the new requirements are based on the potential environmental impacts of the facility rather than its legal classification.

"The proposed system evaluates the potential for environmental problems and applies the best levels of protection for each circumstance without over-regulating," he said.

Ohio EPA began evaluating its liner requirements in 2004 in response to concerns about disposal requirements for industrial waste. Some of the concerns about over-regulation were legitimate, Ohio EPA acknowledged. While Ohio EPA was researching possible alternatives, the Ohio General Assembly passed two bills to strengthen regulations for construction and demolition debris landfills.

One bill requires Ohio EPA to develop rules to create a ground water monitoring fee and to establish what material can be disposed at a construction and demolition debris facility.

The other bill requires Ohio EPA to adopt rules to govern ground water and leachate monitoring, closure and post-closure care of construction and demolition debris facilities. Under the new measure the state EPA must prohibit pulverized debris, and require compliance history disclosures and reporting on rejected loads.

It also requires Ohio EPA to establish a permitting program for construction and demolition debris facilities, including expanded siting criteria.

The draft rules include 14 liner options for lagoon systems, 12 options for industrial waste landfills and seven options for construction and demolition debris landfills.

Requirements range from no liner at all to a five-foot thick recompacted clay liner combined with a dense plastic liner. Requirements for construction and demolition debris landfills range from a minimal recompacted soil liner to a five-foot thick recompacted clay liner combined with a dense plastic liner.

Information about these rules can be obtained on Ohio EPA's website at: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/dsiwm/ or by calling 614-644-2621.

To comment on the rules, contact Scott Heidenreich at 614-728-5333, or send written comments by email to scott.heidenreich@epa.state.oh.us, no later than Friday, September 1, 2006.

s Ohio EPA will consider all comments submitted prior to September 1 before formally proposing these rules. When the rules are formally proposed, Ohio EPA will hold a public hearing and offer another public comment period before adopting final rules.

Drilling Limits to Shield Colorado Animals Urged

DENVER, Colorado, August 7, 2006 (ENS) - A coalition of dozens of Colorado sportsman's and conservation groups is calling on federal and state agencies to require oil and gas drillers to use specific guidelines to protect Colorado's world-class wildlife they say is under siege throughout the state.

Spurred by higher prices and record profits, energy companies have announced plans to drill up to 15,000 more wells in northwest Colorado over the next 20 years, with forecasts of more than 50,000 statewide. Some of these wells are planned for the heart of habitat for the state’s biggest herds of deer and elk and amid streams that hold prized trout populations.

"We risk losing much of our wildlife heritage and the native habitats they need to survive unless we act now to make government regulators require that energy companies use some of its record profits to use the best drilling technology and to avoid sensitive areas critters can’t live without," said Bob Elderkin, a hunter, angler and former federal regulator now with the Colorado Mule Deer Foundation.

"These tens of thousands of new wells will have more impact on our land, water and wildlife habitat than anything that has ever happened before," said Dennis Buechler, who specializes in energy development for the Colorado Wildlife Federation, the state’s largest sportsman’s organization.

"We understand that energy development will occur, but the federal and state agencies responsible for regulating these companies need to be certain the needs of our wildlife and their habitats are protected before drilling begins, not as an afterthought," said, Buechler, a veteran wildlife biologist, hunter and angler.

Elderkin and Buechler have worked with other Colorado groups for more than two years to develop the set of wildlife guidelines they want government regulators to adopt and enforce. The guidelines, which focus on specific practices industry must follow when drilling and building roads and pipelines, have been endorsed by an array sportsmen and conservation organizations.

The guidelines will be delivered to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and other state and federal officials. Coalition members have already met with state and federal officials and plan future meetings to urge implementation and enforcement of the guidelines.

"In my 30 plus years working as a wildlife biologist in Colorado, this coalition matches or exceeds any I have seen in support of our wildlife resource," said John Ellenberger, the state’s former big game manager.

"These guidelines are exactly what Colorado needs if we’re to maintain wildlife populations that are the envy of the world," Ellenberger said. "Wildlife-based recreation brings more than $2.5 billion to Colorado every year according to state figures, and that’s a sustainable and growing industry.

Gene Byrne worked as a wildlife biologist for two decades in the White River National Forest and was based in Glenwood Springs. Now retired from the Division of Wildlife, he still works as a biologist and has seen the impacts of energy development.

"The oil and gas industry is very profitable," Byrne said. "The money is there to do the job right. Impacts need to be minimized and habitat protected and enhanced concurrent with energy development, not after the fact."

"Oil and gas drilling is moving into previously untouched areas in our national forests and close to streams and lakes that support trout and other species," said Eddie Kochman, the state’s former aquatic wildlife manager. "A single spill near a lake or stream or roads and pipelines that cut across waterways can have both an immediate and long-term impact on aquatic wildlife. Many of these streams simply can’t sustain trout without specific protections when drilling occurs and roads and pipelines are built."

But the coalition warns that state does not have the staff or budget to regularly inspect oil and gas development and production sites.

Lagasse Kicks It Up a Notch for Space Station Crew

NEW YORK, New York, August 7, 2006 (ENS) - The crew of the International Space Station will indulge this week in the ultimate "take-out" food, a meal delivered by a NASA space shuttle and designed by chef Emeril Lagasse of the Food Network show "Emeril Live."

After tasting several of Lagasse's creations, the three person crew will talk to the chef at 1:30 p.m. EDT August 10 in a special hookup carried live on NASA TV.

Lagasse sent NASA some of his special recipes for potential use in space. After the required testing and processing, five different meals were selected. Emeril's Mardi Gras jambalaya, mashed potatoes with bacon, green beans with garlic, rice pudding and mixed fruit were delivered to the station aboard the shuttle Discovery in July.

The station is home to NASA astronaut Jeff Williams, Russian cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov and European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter. Station crews usually live and work in space for six months.

"Our research has indicated that quality, appetizing food is important for the health and morale of astronauts during space missions, especially long ones," said NASA's Vickie Kloeris, who oversees the development and distribution of food on the space station.

Menu options for shuttle and station crews are more extensive than ever before, with about 200 U.S. food items available. Russian food also is available. For more information about food in space, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/formedia