• Kerry Outlines Plan to Fight Bioterrorism
  
• Court Blocks EPA Snowmobile Emissions Rule
  
• 27 Roads Make Most Wasteful List
  
• Ag Department Keeps Secrets of Biopharm Crops
  
• Washington State Ferries Switch to Low-Sulfur Diesel
  
• Biodiesel Business Booms
  
• Design-Build Saves Millions at Tex Tin Superfund Site
  
• Grants Available to Restore Oxygen in Hood Canal
  

Kerry Outlines Plan to Fight Bioterrorism

Kerry's concern is that a bioterrorist attack could kill or endanger millions of Americans. "One hundred kilograms (220 pounds) of anthrax aerosolized over an American city could kill as many as three million people," he said. "As biotechnology advances, the threats we face only grow."

Nearly three years after anthrax attacks in letters to members of Congress and the media "there are significant gaps in our efforts to prevent bioterrorism. There is no national strategy and no high-level individual in charge of coordinating efforts across multiple agencies."

Currently, the Department of Homeland Security relies on the Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center (CBAIC), operated by Battelle Memorial Institute, and based at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to deal with chemical and biological security threats.

Government agencies and private industry under contract to the government can use CBAIC services, which include identifying and acquiring relevant data; identifying, developing, and applying analytical tools and techniques for the interpretation and application of stored data; and disseminating focused information, data sets and technical analyses to managers, planners, scientists, engineers and military field personnel.

On June 12, 2002 President George W. Bush issued a BioDefense Fact sheet that outlines the administration's work to reduce the threat of bioterrorism.

In line with that plan, the administration has established BioWatch, a program that monitors the air over major cities for biological releases and requested $118 million in fiscal year 2005 to support and expand BioWatch, including developing improved monitors. Funding has also been requested for planning and exercises that will prepare first responders and hospitals for a surge in the need for their services.

But Kerry says the Bush administration is not doing enough. "While funding for biopreparedness has increased since 2001, President Bush is now proposing cuts in key areas," Kerry said. "Our hospitals are overburdened, and there has been inadequate development of essential drugs and vaccines."

"Too many hospitals and emergency rooms are overwhelmed, staggering beneath the every day burdens of our broken health system," Kerry said. "And our states and cities and towns need leadership and guidance from Washington, not more of the same policy that says, 'Figure this out on your own.'"

His message resonated with the International Association of EMT's and Paramedics, whose 7,000 members work in 14 states. The organization endorsed Kerry's run for the White House on Wednesday.

Kerry said that we should put America's bioscience genius to work to make sure our defense is always stronger than the terrorists' offense. Calling for the creation of a "Medical Arsenal of Democracy," he stressed the need to speed drug and vaccine development .

President Bush's budget requests for increased funding for BioWatch and other bioterrorism countermeasures in FY 2005 are contained in a bill that has been passed by the Senate but not by the House.

Kerry also pledged to appoint one person to be charge of overseeing all bioterrorism programs, budgets and strategic priorities. This person would be responsible for working with state and local leaders to "establish the benchmarks for state and local preparedness required by law," he said.

Kerry says his plan to make health insurance more affordable and accessible would shorten lines in emergency rooms, relieve pressure on state budgets and allow greater focus on health challenges like bioterrorism.

To reduce the bioterrorism threat, Kerry said we must work with U.S. allies. As one of his four national security imperatives, Kerry said he would build and lead a new era of alliances to combat bioterrorism and other threats across the globe.

Court Blocks EPA Snowmobile Emissions Rule

The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit blocks a rule finalized by the EPA in 2002 that requires 70 percent of snowmobiles use cleaner engines by 2012 - it would reduce harmful emissions of carbon monoxide by 30 percent and hydrocarbons by 70 percent.

That is not good enough, according to conservationists, who believe manufacturers have ample technology to transition all snowmobiles into cleaner models with four stroke engines – most existing models use two stroke engines.

The conservationists sued on the basis that the Clean Air Act requires EPA to set standards reflecting the greatest degree of emission reductions achievable through technology that will be available.

"Over and over, EPA has argued that its 2002 emissions standards for snowmobiles are as protective as they can possibly be," said Earthjustice attorney Jim Pew, who represented Bluewater Network and Environmental Defense. "The court has disagreed, and sent EPA back to the drawing board."

The ruling calls on the EPA to explain its decision to exempt 30 percent of the industry from the stricter emissions standards.

Snowmobile emissions are not currently regulated by the EPA.

Industry groups have argued that it would be too costly for them to apply the rule to all models sold on the market.

But the EPA's own economic analysis shows that the net increase in the cost of a cleaner engine is more than offset by the significant fuel savings realized during the life of the engine's use.

"The federal court of appeals has given EPA its marching orders: to put in place tough standards that will protect public health and the environment from snowmobiles," said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton. "The court's decision shows that there is no place for these high-polluting engines when cost-effective clean air solutions are at hand."

27 Roads Make Most Wasteful List

View the list of roads in the "Road to Ruin" report at: http://www.taxpayer.net/road2ruin/roads/i-81.htm

Ag Department Keeps Secrets of Biopharm Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has received 16 new applications for biopharming permits in the past 12 months. About two-thirds of those applications involved a food crop such as corn, rice or barley, but no other detail about the application, including the name of the drug or chemical being produced, is kept from the public.

"It is impossible to know whether these biopharmed crops present any food safety or environmental risk, since the whole process is shrouded in secrecy. Even the Food and Drug Administration is out of the loop," said Gregory Jaffe, director of CSPI’s biotechnology project and the author of the report.

"What is clear is that the biopharming industry has been given a big green light by federal regulators, even though there is great concern among food producers and consumers about using food crops to produce drugs," Jaffe said.

According to the report, six permit applications involved genetically engineered (GE) corn, two involved GE barley, and one permit application each involved GE rice, safflower, and Indian mustard. Five permits involved tobacco, a non-food crop.

"When non-food crops like tobacco can be used for biopharming, it is unnecessarily risky to use crops like corn or rice without a much stronger and more transparent regulatory system," said Jaffe. "It would be a public relations catastrophe for both the biotechnology industry and the food industry if even minuscule amounts of vaccines or other drugs ended up in cereal."

Although the public portions of the permit applications do not disclose the proposed acreage of the crop, they do list states. Four permit applications identified Kentucky as the location; three identified Texas; Missouri, South Carolina, California, and Iowa were each identified on two applications; Hawaii, Florida, Washington, Nebraska, and Arizona were each identified on one.

Nothing in the public parts of the applications details whether the permit would be for a field trial or for full scale commercial production. Nor do the applications fully disclose which organism's genes are being spliced into the crop or what substance the company hopes to produce.

Judging from USDA's past record, the CSPI expects that most of the outstanding permit applications will be approved. While CSPI advocates for strict regulatory oversight of genetically engineered crops, it believes that agricultural biotechnology holds great promise for human health and the environment.

The CSPI's report recommends that food crops should not be used for biopharming unless protection is assured through a strong regulatory system. The group also recommends that the USDA conduct environmental risk analyses before permits are issued, and that the Food and Drug Administration conduct food safety risk analyses if a food crop is to be used to produce substances commercially.

An incident in 2002 set alarm bells ringing even for major manufacturers of processed foods who may support genetic engineering to improve crop yields or resist insects. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service identified two violations of ProdiGene, Inc.’s field test permits - one in Nebraska and another in Iowa. Volunteer corn in both locations contained traces of unidentified biopharmaceuticals from 2001 field trials.

The National Food Processors Association said at the time that it "finds there is an unacceptable risk to the integrity of the food supply associated with use of food and feed crops as 'factories' for the production of pharmaceutical or industrial chemicals."

Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) Director of New Technologies and Environment Karil Kochenderfer said at the time, “These incidents reaffirm GMA’s concerns about the use of food crops for the development of plant-made pharmaceuticals.”

The CSPI report, "Sowing Secrecy: The Biotech Industry, USDA, and America’s Secret Pharm Belt" is online at: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/pharma_report.pdf.

Washington State Ferries Switch to Low-Sulfur Diesel

Twenty-five ferries cross Puget Sound and its inland waterways, carrying over 26 million passengers to 20 different ports of call.

The entire ferry fleet will begin using low-sulfur diesel fuel this year. This fuel produces fewer fine particles and less sulfur dioxide than the fuel used by the ferries in the past.

As a result of the switch, ferries will reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 412 tons - a 90 percent reduction - and particulate matter by 75 tons - a 30 percent reduction.

The new fuel will take its toll on the company's bottom line. Low-sulfur fuel costs less than a penny more per gallon than the fuel the ferries used in the past. Total cost of using the low-sulfur diesel will be about $150,000 a year for the fleet.

Governor Gary Locke praised Washington State Ferries and the state Department of Transportation for taking steps to reduce air pollution. "Washington citizens value our unique and special ferry system," he said. "Now we can be even more proud of our ferries because of this innovative program that will improve air quality, benefiting public health and the environment."

The voluntary changes made by the the state agencies came soon after the EPA announced the Clean Air Nonroad Diesel Rule, and issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking on new emission standards for diesel engines used in marine vessels.

The ferry system is ahead of the curve on this issue said John Iani, EPA's Pacific Northwest Regional Administrator. "The steps being taken by Washington State Ferries are very significant. The ferry system is far ahead of other marine fleet operators in addressing diesel emissions. We hope they will serve as an example to the rest of the nation," Iani said.

Kim Field, vice chair of the American Lung Association of Washington, said that the association's State of the Air in Washington 2004 Report identifies diesel emissions as a major problem in the Puget Sound area.

Diesel emissions contain fine particles that can become embedded in lungs and cause health problems. Diesel exhaust also contains toxic substances that contribute to environmental problems such as reduced visibility.

Washington State Ferries will conduct a year-long test, starting this summer, of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel on the M/V Elwha, which sails from Anacortes through the San Juan Islands.

The sulfur content of this fuel ranges from 15 to 30 parts per million, compared to about 350 parts per million in low-sulfur fuel and 3,500 parts per million in the fuel ferries used in the past.

EPA Region 10 and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency are helping to fund the test of ultra-low-sulfur diesel. The test will help the ferry system determine if it is feasible to convert other vessels in the fleet to this cleaner burning fuel.

A test of the biodiesel fuel blend B20, will begin this summer on the Triangle Route between Fauntleroy, Southworth and Vashon Island. Biodiesel is a renewable fuel made from virgin or recycled vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases. B20 is a blend of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent low-sulfur diesel.

Seattle City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco announced that City Light will fund the additional cost of the biodiesel test as part of its Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Program. City Light will receive the greenhouse gas credits resulting from the use of B20.

Carrasco said, "We want to help diesel fleets convert to biodiesel, and to build a market for biodiesel that will help bring down its cost."

Biodiesel Business Booms

Some 50 U.S. cities currently use biodiesel commercially, but Denver is the largest city to use B20 to date. More than 400 major fleets use biodiesel nationwide.

Biodiesel is a cleaner burning fuel that can be made from domestic renewable resources such as vegetable oil. It can be used in any diesel engine with few modifications or none at all. The fuel can be burned in its pure form, known as B100, or blended with petroleum diesel at any level.

Denver's biodiesel pump opened for public sale on May 19, with the enthusiastic support of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, whose official car is a gas-electric hybrid vehicle from the city’s fleet.

“This is a giant step forward in terms of the city’s commitment to conservation, energy efficiency and environmental health,” said Hickenlooper, “I commend our Public Works and Fleet Management Departments for their innovation and look forward to the results of this pilot project."

Blue Sun Biodiesel, the Colorado company that is supplying biodiesel to both the city and the Offen Petroleum pump, also announced nine other pumps opening on the same day throughout the state.

"Biodiesel represents a tremendous opportunity – both environmentally and economically – for the region," the mayor said.

“Colorado’s beauty would inspire anyone to become an environmentalist, and it has become a leading state in retail biodiesel pumps as well fleet users,” said Joe Jobe, executive director of the National Biodiesel Board.

Other users in the state include the town and ski resort of Breckenridge, the City of Lakewood, the University of Colorado, Littleton Public Schools and Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs.

Tim Cunningham, Denver Metro Clean Cities coordinator and air quality program manager the American Lung Association of Colorado, is hopeful the availability of biodiesel will encourage more drivers to use the cleaner fuel.

“The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment estimates that diesel exhaust is responsible for 60 to 80 percent of urban air toxics, and the use of biodiesel is one tool that people can use to reduce air pollution and protect public health,” Cunningham said.

“The station is conveniently located near a major interstate and in an area of the Denver region that has a high concentration of diesel vehicles. I am hopeful that public demand will increase biodiesel fueling stations in and around the Denver metro region," he said.

Biodiesel reduces emissions such as carbon monoxide, unburned hydrocarbons and particulate matter. It is nontoxic, biodegradable and essentially free of sulfur and aromatics. Biodiesel offers similar fuel economy, horsepower and torque to petroleum diesel while providing superior lubricity.

In Tennessee, managers at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (NRRA) are convinced of the benefits of biodiesel, and this season they have begun to use the fuel to run their fleet of maintenance vehicles.

Big South Fork NRRA vehicles will be using B20 to fuel its vehicles. Low-NOx additive is being added to the B20 to reduce the formation of ozone gases and increase overall fuel efficiency.

Several public biodiesel pumps have opened in Tennessee and Arkansas. McNutt Oil recently opened the first public B20 pump in Tennessee at the Mr. Gas Texaco fuel station in Alcoa. Another B20 pump opened in Newport and a B100 pump opened in Loudon.

In neighboring Arkansas, a biodiesel pump recently opened in Stuttgart.

Biodiesel will soon be even more readily available. World Energy Alternatives, LLC has announced the re-opening and upgrading of the largest multi-feedstock biodiesel production facility in the United States, the National Biodiesel Board reports. The 18 million gallon per year plant located in Lakeland, Florida is managed by Purada Processing, LLC, a World Energy subsidiary.

Gene Gebolys, founder and CEO of World Energy, said, “Biodiesel is booming because it is the easiest, most effective, and most affordable way available today to integrate renewable energy into our main stream energy supply.”

For a map of biodiesel retail stations, visit: http://www.biodiesel.org/buyingbiodiesel/guide/

Design-Build Saves Millions at Tex Tin Superfund Site

"We used a design-build approach," says Sanchez. "We divided the construction work into five phases. We'd design in one area while working in another. There was no waiting around."

The Texas City site originally was a U.S. government tin and copper smelter built during World War II. After the war, the government sold the facility. In 1991, after five decades and four name changes, Tex Tin shut down all smelting operations.

Though legal disputes delayed action for several years, in 1998 the EPA added Tex Tin to the Superfund List, the list of the worst hazardous waste sites in the U.S.

Some 30 major responsible parties, including the federal government, paid for the cleanup.

An estimated 25,000 people live within a three-mile radius of the Tex Tin site, located in a mixed industrial, petrochemical, residential area about 10 miles north of Galveston, Texas. The city of LaMarque is located approximately half a mile northwest of the site.

The EPA had a team of remedial project managers, Sanchez and Philip Allen, at Tex Tin. Usually, a site has only one project manager, and EPA hires a contractor to oversee the day-to-day operations.

"In most cases, we only show up at the site to make the tough decisions," said Sanchez. "But this time we did our own oversight, and we saved maybe another million dollars."

"EPA, the state, Texas City, the responsible parties, all were very supportive," he said.

The smelter clean up was completed nine months ahead of schedule, with polluted soil, acid ponds, slag piles and contaminated ground water all cleaned up.

Remedial work on the final unit, a salt marsh, was completed in January 2004 after rock breakwaters were built to prevent further erosion and protect the marsh from contaminated sediments.

Now, with an EPA redevelopment grant, Texas City wants to turn the site into a 100 acre transport container storage area to serve railroads and the nearby I-45 interstate highway. It would be part of a project to upgrade the Port of Texas City to a megaport to handle large cargo ships.

"We can expect to hear more about the megaport in 2004," predicts Sanchez.

Grants Available to Restore Oxygen in Hood Canal

The Puget Sound Action Team is offering up to $600,000 for innovative and effective projects to help improve oxygen levels in Hood Canal. The longest fjord in the United States, the Hood Canal separates Washington's Olympic Peninsula from the mainland.

The winning projects must address at least one of the key sources of nitrogen in the canal - human sewage, agricultural manure, chum salmon carcasses and stormwater runoff. Scientists identified these factors as sources of the problem in the Hood Canal Low Dissolved Oxygen Preliminary Assessment and Corrective Action Plan released last month.

"Now that we know what the problems are, we need creative solutions and new ways of doing old business. We must reduce the nitrogen that has been entering the canal and contributing to fish kills," said Brad Ack, director of the Action Team.

The U.S. Congress appropriated $500,000 and the Washington state legislature appropriated $100,000 for this funding. The federal funding, in particular, requires that the projects be innovative and demonstrate how to do further project work.

"This funding is comparable to venture capital in how it will develop new approaches and processes that can be expanded and replicated in the canal," Ack said.

Innovative demonstration projects will share in up to $400,000 dollars of the total funding, with awards of $25,000 to $100,000 for each project. Innovative demonstration projects will not be required to have matching funds, but the Action Team encourages them to have a funding match.

Urgent and obvious corrective actions and education efforts will share in up to $200,000 of the total funding, with project awards of $10,000 to $50,000 each. Proposals for this funding will need to match funds by a minimum of 10 percent of the overall award.

Projects must either test or demonstrate innovative approaches to solving problems, implement urgent and obvious actions or provide education and public involvement that reduces nutrient pollution.

The deadline for applications is June 28. For more information, visit www.psat.wa.gov or call 800-54-SOUND.