• U.S. Chemical Plants Get Anti-Terrorism Treatment
  
• Taxpayers Stuck with Forest Road Maintenance
  
• Stinging Jellyfish Forecasts for Chesapeake Bay
  
• Medical Sterilization Firm Dirties Illinois Air
  
• Urban Tree Farm Planted in Dallas
  
• Enviros Win Legal Protection for New Mexico Rivers
  
• Bronx Zoo Launches Emergency Gorilla Rescue Fund
  
• Harrison Ford Ad Highlights Biodiversity Hotspots
  

U.S. Chemical Plants Get Anti-Terrorism Treatment

As part of a project sponsored by the Department of Justice, Sandia physical security experts have developed a systematic, risk-based assessment process called a vulnerability assessment methodology that could be used to evaluate and improve security at more than 10,000 facilities in the U.S. that manufacture, store, or use hazardous chemicals.

A draft report has been submitted to the Department of Justice for review, and the Attorney General's office will prepare and submit the final report to Congress.

Sandia experts previously have helped U.S. government and industry assess the security of government buildings, dams, drinking water supplies, and other possible terrorist targets using some of the same systematic risk assessment tools that protect U.S. nuclear weapons facilities.

The chemical plant project began in January 2001. But the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 increased awareness of vulnerabilities not only of the physical security of the plants themselves but also of the transport of chemicals and of the cyber systems that control the plants, says Sandia project leader Cal Jaeger.

Since January 2001 Sandia experts have visited several U.S. chemical plants, discussing each plant's operations with security officials and touring the sites with a terrorist's eye. They review security plans, study plant layouts and access controls, evaluate the use of security technologies, gauge safety and other mitigation measures, and test and refine the methodology.

"We ask, if I am a bad guy, what could I do," says Jaeger. "Then we evaluate the effectiveness of current protection measures and the likelihood and consequences of each threat scenario."

The visits, along with the expertise of the chemical industry, have helped shape the prototype vulnerability assessment methodology (VAM). The long term goal is to create a methodology that, after some training, can be used by plant owners and security managers to assess the risk at their facilities for a wide range of threats, says Jaeger.

"The VAM prototype helps you identify critical areas and provides a means to not only assess the risk of an adversary attack but also helps in selecting the most cost-effective upgrade options for or those areas where the risk is unacceptable," Jaeger says.

Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the U.S. Department of Energy under contract, with main facilities in Albuquerque and Livermore, California.

Taxpayers Stuck with Forest Road Maintenance

"Corporate welfare for the timber industry is out of control," said Jill Lancelot, president of Taxpayers for Common Sense, as she released the report Thursday. "Taxpayers are shelling out big bucks for new road construction to facilitate commercial logging. To add insult to injury we are left with an eight billion dollar road maintenance bill."

During a year long investigation of fiscal mismanagement at the U.S. Forest Service, Taxpayers for Common Sense analyzed information obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests, and uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars in new road and timber subsidies that have not previously been disclosed.

The report, entitled "Lost in the Forest: How the Forest Service's Misdirection, Mismanagement, and Mischief Squanders Your Tax Dollars" alleges that taxpayers have provided more than $116 million in direct subsidies to the timber industry for the construction of logging roads.

The report states that only 21 percent of the 382,000 roads in the national forest system meet "adequate road maintenance standards."

"Roads in our national forests are crumbling, while the administration just sits on its hands and ignores the problem," said Lancelot.

Instead, the administration's response to this growing road maintenance crisis is to increase timber subsidies in the 2003 federal budget. "This spending only fans the flames of waste, fraud and abuse at this mismanaged agency," she said.

The Forest Service has been unable to provide data on the cost of its timber sale program since it reported a $126 million loss for fiscal year 1998. An independent analysis found losses to be more than three times that amount.

According to the General Accounting Office, the investigative branch of the U.S. Congress, it will be at least 2004 until the Forest Service has a new accounting system in place, making it difficult, if not impossible, for Congress and taxpayers to hold the agency accountable for the costs of its timber sale program.

"There is no difference between the fiscal abuses at the Forest Service and recent corporate scandals," alleged Lancelot. "Lawmakers should be climbing over each other to hold hearings on why billions of taxpayer dollars have been wasted."

To view the report or to access additional state specific information on subsidies to the timber industry and the road maintenance backlog, visit: http://www.taxpayer.net

Stinging Jellyfish Forecasts for Chesapeake Bay

A team of scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and several universities has developed a prototype forecasting system that predicts the likelihood of sea nettles, a stinging jellyfish, in the bay. Their findings are outlined in the July 23 issue of "Eos," published by the American Geophysical Union.

The forecasting technique takes advantage of new technology and improved communication that allow continuous monitoring of environmental factors in the bay, the east coast's largest estuary.

"Sea nettles are ideal organisms for evaluating this approach, because their occurrence is closely related to salinity and sea-surface temperature, two variables that are already observed in near-real time," writes oceanographer Christopher Brown, lead author of the study.

He hopes that once the forecasting model has been refined and validated, the same techniques can be extended to other noxious organisms, such as algal blooms, or red tides, that negatively affect tourism worldwide.

The economic effect of sea nettles is not limited to vacationers or weekenders who may shun Chesapeake Bay beaches to avoid painful allergic reactions from contact with their tentacles. Sea nettles are voracious predators, devouring tiny crustaceans, fish eggs and larvae, and comb jellies, affecting the food web and possibly, the overall abundance of fish in the bay.

Already, NOAA is preparing what Brown calls "nowcasts," maps showing the current likelihood of sea nettles in Chesapeake Bay and its major tributaries, such as the Susquehanna and Potomac Rivers. These maps are updated every Friday and may be viewed on the web at: http://coastwatch.noaa.gov/seanettles.

As the existing forecasting model is tested and refined, Brown and his colleagues will add to it other variables known to affect sea nettle concentrations, such as wind speed and depth of the water. Eventually, they hope to predict the effect of climate change on sea nettle concentrations, by analyzing the effect of that change on the specific variables relevant to the nettles.

Brown says the adverse effect of sea nettles may be mitigated if their presence can be monitored and predicted in near real time.

The study is funded by grants from NOAA's Ocean Remote Sensing Program, Maryland Sea Grant Project Development, and the National Science Foundation.

Medical Sterilization Firm Dirties Illinois Air

"We're alleging Cosmed of Illinois violated national emissions standards for the hazardous air pollutant ethylene oxide, which is used to sterilize medical products," said Steve Rothblatt, acting director of the regional Air and Radiation Division.

Exposure to ethylene oxide can cause irritation of the eyes, skin and mucous membranes, as well as brain and nerve function problems.

Specifically, the complaint alleges the company failed to test its emissions control equipment to see that it was working properly, install a continuous emissions monitoring system, and keep records documenting compliance with emissions standards.

Constructed in 1994, this Cosmed of Illinois facility services medical device manufacturers throughout the Midwest.

Cosmed has filed an answer to the complaint and requested a hearing. The EPA and Cosmed are scheduling a meeting to discuss the allegations and how to resolve them.

Urban Tree Farm Planted in Dallas

Volunteers from the Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation, Richland College and energy services company TXU joined forces to plant 4,000 trees on land at the southern edge of the Richland College campus.

The trees from the farm will be made available in late 2002 for public space planting projects sponsored by municipalities, area businesses, individuals, civic groups and other organizations.

The trees were chosen by the Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation for their resilience and adaptability to the Texas climate. The species chosen include bald cypress, burr oak, Chinese pistachio, chinquapin oak, live oak, Shumard red oak, and sawtooth oak.

Several hundred volunteers and local government officials from across the Dallas area pitched in including Lois Finkelman, Dallas City Council member and chair of the Health, Environment and Human Services Committee; Carol Wilson, Richardson City Council member, and Shane Johnson, mayor of Rowlett.

"This urban tree farm will go a long way in enhancing the lifestyle of our local communities," said Mike Bradshaw, executive director, Dallas Trees and Parks Foundation. "TXU and Richland College recognize the importance of trees in an increasingly urban environment and have stepped up to the plate to provide the assistance and resources to make this project happen."

"TXU has already planted more than 18 million trees, so this effort taking place today is consistent with our tradition," said Bill Driscoll, TXU vice president of environment health and safety.

Classes in horticulture and arboriculture that complement and support a tree growing facility are offered at the Richland Campus. The urban tree farm will demonstrate a state-of-the-art watering system that ensures an efficient and effective use of water for Dallas' long dry summer. Each tree will be watered for less than $1.00 a year.

Dr. Stephen Mittelstet, president of Richland College, said, "The urban tree farm is a significant enhancement to Richland's Horticulture tree propagation and landscape design study program, as well as a project consistent with one of Richland's community emphasis areas - sustainable community environment."

Enviros Win Legal Protection for New Mexico Rivers

The Forest concluded that 67 river segments are eligible for protection under the Act, and now must manage them so as to maintain their eligibility until Congress votes on whether to formally add them to the list of wild and scenic rivers.

Though over 10,500 miles on 150 river segments have been protected under the Act nationwide, very few New Mexico rivers have been included, according to the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD). Combined with those determined to be eligible by the Gila, Lincoln, and Cibola National Forests, the CBD lawsuit has brought protection to over 800 miles of public rivers in New Mexico.

On the Carson Forest, these include the Rio Tusas, Rio Vallecitos, Rio Pueblo, Arroyo Hondo, Canjilon Creek, El Rito Creek, Rio Chama, and the Red River; on the Gila Forest they include the Gila, Tularosa, and Negrito rivers; on the Cibola Forest they include the Canadian River; and on the Lincoln Forest they include the Sacramento River and Rio Peņasco.

Many of the eligibility determinations were based on the presence of imperiled native trout including the Gila trout on the Gila National Forest and the Rio Grande cutthroat trout on the Carson National Forest.

The Center is attempting to produce equally protective results for Michigan national forests with a similar lawsuit. Last November, the Center for Biological Diversity, Northwoods Wilderness Recovery, and the Superior Wilderness Action Network sued the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan for refusing to protect 300 miles of the Black, Ontonagon, Paint, Presque Isle, Sturgeon, and Yellow Dog Rivers.

All these areas were protected by Congress under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in 1992, but the Ottawa National Forest has continued to log the forests along their banks and has not developed a management plan to ensure their complete protection.

The nearly one million acre Ottawa National Forest is located in Michigan's western Upper Peninsula, and contains wildlife habitat in over 500,000 acres of second growth hardwood forests.

"They are just beginning to mature and regain characteristics of old-growth forest after being devastated by the logging era that ended in the 1930s," the CBD says. "Since the inception of the Ottawa's management plan in 1986, hardwood forests have been overcut by at least 60 percent." Threatened and endangered species affected by the logging are the Canada lynx, American bittern, American bald eagle, Northern goshawk, red-shouldered hawk, and Eastern timber wolf.

In June, the suit was expanded to protect 200 miles of the Whitefish and Tahquamenon Rivers on the Hiawatha National Forests, also in Michigan.

Bronx Zoo Launches Emergency Gorilla Rescue Fund

The emergency fund raised from contributions by zoo visitors will be used to support anti-poaching efforts in four African countries where illegal hunting of gorillas for food - called bushmeat- has reached crisis proportions, according to WCS field staff. The society has set a goal of raising $250,000 by the end of August.

"The Wildlife Conservation Society and its Bronx Zoo headquarters are uniquely positioned to help stop this crisis," said Dr. Steven Sanderson, president and CEO of WCS. "The creation of The Pattycake Fund will send real conservation dollars to real conservation projects, helping to protect these magnificent animals from the rampant problem of illegal hunting."

"The public right here in New York can really make a difference to protect wild gorillas half a world away," said Dr. Sanderson. "We encourage everyone to come out and help support The Pattycake Fund."

Visitors will contribute to The Pattycake Fund through the regular $3 exhibit entry fee to the zoo's Congo Gorilla Forest - the Bronx Zoo's 8.5 acre exhibit of western gorillas, okapi, mandrills and other wildlife.

Congo Gorilla Forest opened in 1999. It has already raised more than $3.5 million toward WCS's African conservation projects, and has inspired millions of visitors, including the President of the Republic of Congo, who came to the exhibit in 2000 and subsequently worked with WCS to protect a pristine 100 square mile rainforest from logging.

Congo Gorilla Forest's most popular resident is Pattycake, the first gorilla born in New York City, who turns 30 in September. Known for her gentle but firm manner, Pattycake is a mother of nine, including rare twins born in 1994.

"What better ambassador for gorillas in Africa, than Pattycake, the first gorilla born in New York?" said Richard Lattis, WCS senior vice president and general director of Living Institutions. "The Wildlife Conservation Society is delighted to offer this opportunity to Bronx Zoo visitors to make a difference, and help Pattycake save her cousins in the wilds of Africa."

WCS officials decided to create The Pattycake Fund following a meeting of western gorilla experts in May, who concluded that illegal hunting - not habitat loss as previously believed - was the primary cause of western gorillas' decline throughout their range. The group said that conservation dollars need to be more focused toward anti-poaching efforts to help western gorillas in the immediate future.

While western gorillas are more common than the mountain gorillas made famous by George Schaller, Dian Fossey and others, population estimates are sketchy at best. Most scientists agree that estimates of 100,000 animals made in the 1990s are probably too high.

WCS estimates that one million metric tons of bushmeat comes out of Central African forests alone, including gorillas, chimpanzees, elephants, and leopards.

"The bushmeat crisis is the most significant, immediate threat to wildlife in Africa today, and also has the potential to be a human tragedy of immense proportions," said Dr. Michael Hutchins of the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force, a program of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association. "Rural Africans may derive as much as 60 percent of their protein from wild animals. If over-hunting leads to empty forests, what will become of the people?"

Harrison Ford Ad Highlights Biodiversity Hotspots

"The human heart. Only one percent of your body weight, but critical to your survival. Our Earth has places, just over one percent of its surface, which are critical to our survival," says Ford in the ad.

"They're called biodiversity hotspots, and Conservation International is fighting to protect them before they disappear forever. These hotspots are home to over 60 percent of the world's species. Plants and animals that provide food and medicine that clean our air and water. That keep our planet alive," he says.

The 25 biodiversity hotspots cover just 1.4 percent of the Earth's land surface, yet claim more than 60 percent of total terrestrial species diversity. Under extreme threat, many hotspots have lost more than 90 percent of their original natural habitat.

Conservation International (CI) is a global, field based environmental group that works to protect biological diversity. By working through local and international partnerships, CI uses a strategic, scientific approach targeting the biodiversity hotspots, tropical wilderness areas and key marine ecosystems.

"Conservation International's message is positive, and I while think people need to understand the urgency of species extinctions, they also need to see that there is a solution that they can help support," said Ford.

Ford has served on Conservation International Board of Directors for more than 10 years and has actively participated in the strategic design and growth of the organization. Ford has been honored with a number of environmental awards including, most recently, the 2002 Global Environmental Citizen Award bestowed by the Harvard Medical School.