AmeriScan: March 9, 2001

LEAD EXPOSURE AT WORK IMPAIRS MIND, BODY

BALTIMORE, Maryland, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - Factory workers who are exposed to lead on the job show increased signs of impaired thinking, reduced manual dexterity and diminished muscle strength, compared to workers who are not exposed to lead at work, a new study shows.

Investigators from the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health also found that workers with higher levels of lead in their blood evidenced reduced neurobehavioral function. The study was conducted with factory workers in South Korea, but the findings suggest that safety standards for workers exposed to lead in the U.S. and other nations may need to be modified.

"We found some workers with diminished cognitive abilities with blood lead levels of as low as 15 to 20 micrograms per deciliter," said lead author Dr. Brian Schwartz, associate professor of environmental health science at Johns Hopkins.

"The current safety standard for lead exposure in the U.S. is a blood level of 40 to 60 micrograms per deciliter, which may be too high," added Dr. Schwartz.

The researchers examined 800 factory workers in South Korea who were exposed to lead while manufacturing car batteries. The investigators compared these workers with 135 factory workers from other industries who were not exposed to lead at work.

The research team estimated the amount of lead in the blood, bone and tissue of the workers. The workers were then given the World Health Organization Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery, which is a set of eight standardized tests that measure memory, problem solving and other central nervous system functions.

Additional tests measured manual dexterity, motor skills and muscle strength.

Workers with higher blood levels of lead scored lower on almost all of the tests when compared to the workers who were not exposed to lead.

The study, funded by a grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, appears in the March issue of the "American Journal of Epidemiology."

BROWNFIELDS LEGISLATION PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE

WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - On a 15-3 vote, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has passed bipartisan brownfields legislation, the "Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001."

The bill would provide funds to assess and clean up abandoned urban industrial sites. By reusing these sites, communities can revitalize urban areas and preserve open space in suburbs.

The legislation would provide legal protections for innocent parties, such as contiguous property owners, prospective purchasers and innocent landowners. State cleanup programs would get new funding, and the bill would limit federal involvement in sites handled by the states.

"Communities will be better off, the environment will be cleaner," as a result of the bill, said Senator Bob Smith, the New Hampshire Republican who chairs the committee.

"Our industrial heritage left us with numerous contaminated, abandoned or underutilized 'brownfield' sites, hundreds in my own state of New Hampshire, and this important legislation will go a long way to preserve the environment, as well as local communities," Smith added. "By reducing the many legal and regulatory barriers that presently stand in the way of brownfields development, this bill will alleviate some of the pressure to consume existing green space, while strengthening local economies."

President George W. Bush made brownfields revitalization one of the platforms of his campaign, and has pushed brownfields legislation as a top environmental priority.

"It's certainly a good day for the cities and towns across America that urgently need this legislation," said Senator Lincoln Chafee, the Rhode Island Republican who chairs the Senate Superfund Subcommittee.

FORMER REAGAN INTERIOR OFFICIAL TO SERVE AGAIN

WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - Another Reagan era official has been nominated to serve in the Department of Interior.

J. Steven Griles, who held several positions under former president Ronald Reagan, was nominated by President George W. Bush to serve as Deputy Secretary of the Interior. The nomination is subject to U.S. Senate confirmation.

Griles was the Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management from 1984 to 1989, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Water from 1983 to 1984 and Deputy Director of the Office of Surface Mining from 1981 to 1983.

"I am exceptionally pleased with the President's nomination of Steven Griles as Deputy Secretary," said Interior Secretary Gale Norton. "Steve will bring enormous institutional knowledge as well as extensive experience in bringing all voices together to turn environmental and energy conflicts into sound solutions. Steve's work will be critical in building partnerships and trust with all people of goodwill. I'm confident the Senate will move quickly on his confirmation."

Griles is now a principal at National Environmental Strategies and president of J. Steven Griles & Associates LLC.

From 1985 through 1989, Griles was senior vice president of public, environment and marketing activities at The United Company in Virginia. Griles was also executive assistant director of the Virginia Department of Conservation and Economic Development in Richmond from 1970 to 1981.

The Deputy Secretary is second in command in the Department and has policy and administrative responsibility for assisting the Secretary in managing the Department's eight bureaus: the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Minerals Management Service, Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Geological Survey, Bureau of Reclamation and the Office of Insular Affairs.

SETTLEMENT WILL REDUCE LAKE OKEECHOBEE POLLUTION

TALLAHASEE, Florida, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - As a result of a settlement agreement between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and conservation group Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, the amount of phosphorus pollution permitted into Florida's Lake Okeechobee will be cut by 70 percent.

The announcement Wednesday is the culmination of a four year effort by Earthjustice on behalf of Florida Wildlife Federation and National Wildlife Federation to clean up and improve water quality in Lake Okeechobee.

"This is excellent science by the Department of Environmental Protection and it's a milestone toward protecting the lake," said David Guest, lead attorney for Earthjustice. "For years now, there's been almost 400 tons annually of phosphorus being absorbed into this most vital lake. It's been much too much for the lake to handle, and it has been slowly dying."

The agreement sets new guidelines for phosphorus intrusion into the lake. While current absorption ranges from 350 to 400 tons per year, the new standards will be set at 140 tons.

Included in that figure are 35 tons that may enter the lake from the atmosphere, leaving just 105 tons a year that can enter the lake from ground sources.

Cattle operations in and around Okeechobee County are the main source of pollution flowing into the lake. The contaminants enter the lake through water control structures such as canals and pumping stations managed by the South Florida Water Management District.

Those structures drain a watershed containing tens of thousands of acres of fertilized pastures, all of which contribute to the volume of phosphorus now in the lake.

"We've definitely taken a step in the right direction," said Manley Fuller of the Florida Wildlife Federation. "Now we need to focus our efforts toward cleaning up the contamination that is in there now."

TESTS FIND BIOTECH INGREDIENTS IN KELLOGG'S PRODUCTS

ANAHEIM, California, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - Laboratory testing has revealed that a Kellogg's product - the Morningstar Farms brand meat free Corn Dog - contains genetically engineered ingredients including StarLink corn, the conservation group Greenpeace announced Thursday.

StarLink is a genetically altered variety that is not approved for human consumption. In laboratory analyses, the Morningstar Farms Corn Dog tested positive for StarLink, and the corn dog and two other products tested positive for genetically altered soy.

Greenpeace filed notice with the Food and Drug Administration calling on the agency to order an immediate recall and health investigation of the Morningstar product.

"Kellogg's is selling genetically contaminated Morningstar Farms food and lying to consumers about it," said Charles Margulis, Greenpeace genetic engineering specialist. "Americans have asked Kellogg's over and over to stop this genetic experiment on our food, yet Kellogg's refuses to listen and tries to mislead consumers. No one should trust the Kellogg's or Morningstar names again."

Last October, Kellogg's was forced to stop production at a Memphis plant due to concerns about StarLink contamination, but the company claimed that no food products were affected. At the time, Kellogg's refused to respond to a Greenpeace survey asking about StarLink or other genetically engineered ingredients in its products.

After its 1999 purchase of Worthington Foods, the original maker of Morningstar Farms products, Kellogg's began telling consumers that Morningstar products would be made with non-engineered soy. In letters and emails last year, Kellogg's has told U.S. and British consumers that since April 1, 2000, the company has only been using non-engineered ingredients in its products.

Subsequent letters from Kellogg's to consumers admit that Harvest Burgers still contain genetically modified soy.

WESTERN GOVERNORS SUPPORT ENERGY DEVELOPMENT ON PUBLIC LANDS

WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - Three Western governors told Congress Wednesday that they would welcome expanded oil and gas exploration in their states.

The governors of Alaska, Montana and Wyoming testified before the House Resources Committee that the former Clinton administration had barred development of natural resources including coal, natural gas and oil in those states, hampering their economic development.

"Montana has a wealth of natural resources," said Montana Governor Judy Martz. "From vast super compliant coalfields in the east, to thousands of acres of timberland in the west, Montana can contribute to the economic health of this country through responsible and environmentally sensible development of our resources."

"Unfortunately, the federal government has systematically reduced the number of opportunities for responsible development of our natural resources in recent years," Martz added.

The hearing was held to review options for increasing power supplies in the American west and across the nation.

"I want to leave you with the message that the current energy crisis is an opportunity to break through the often unproductive deadlock that pits energy needs against environmental protection," testified Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer. "The Western electricity crisis has awakened us to how much we don't know about the energy resources of the nation and how little we have explored opportunities to meet the energy needs of a growing economy while protecting our environment. We need to seek out opportunities to promote energy development and environmental protection."

Alaska Governor Tony Knowles noted again his support for opening the North Slope of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas exploration.

On Thursday, a poll paid for by Alaska Senator Frank Murkowski, a Republican, was released to demonstrate that 75 percent of Alaskans also support opening the refuge to drilling. Previous polls, paid for by environmental groups and other parties, have found that a majority would oppose drilling in the refuge.

SHAREHOLDERS CHALLENGE BP AMOCO OVER ARCTIC DRILLING

WASHINGTON, DC, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - A coalition of 131 environmental groups, investors and religious organizations announced today that they are refiling their Arctic National Wildlife Refuge shareholder resolution with BP Amoco.

The resolution calls on the British based oil giant to respect the wilderness values found in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and review plans to drill for oil and gas in America's Arctic.

The resolution was first filed on January 31, but was rejected by BP Amoco. The company contended that U.S. owners of American Depository Shares do not have the same rights to file shareholder resolutions as investors with ordinary shares in the United Kingdom.

The 131 co-filers include U.S. PIRG, Greenpeace, World Wildlife Fund, Trillium Asset Management, Walden Asset Management, Green Century Balanced Fund, MMA Financial Services, Catholic Healthcare West and Ethical Funds of Canada, who are all owners BP Amoco common stock in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

"The tremendous response from shareholders around the world shows just how deeply concerned investors are about BP Amoco's plans to drill in the Arctic Refuge," said Athan Manuel, director of the Public Interest Research Group's (PIRG) Arctic Wilderness campaign and one of the authors of the resolution. "Instead of trying to censor their shareholders, BP Amoco should listen to this impressive coalition of investors and cancel drilling plans for America's Arctic and support wilderness designation for the coastal plain."

The resolution is also supported by more than 100 owners of BP Amoco shares in the form of American Depository Receipts, who filed this resolution in a previous action only to have BP Amoco challenge their status. These supporters own more than one million shares.

MINNESOTA PROTECTS MILLIONTH WOODED ACRE

DULUTH, Minnesota, March 9, 2001 (ENS) - In the 1980s, Dan and Vicki Knapp of Sandstone never realized the impact that their purchase of hunting land would have on their lives or the state of Minnesota.

The Knapps' Sandstone hunting land became the millionth wooded acre to be included in the Forest Stewardship Program in Minnesota. About 800 landowners and their foresters celebrated the millionth acre milestone of the Forest Stewardship Program Saturday in Duluth.

"We thought we were buying land," Vicki Knapp said. "We have come to realize that we really have only bought the right to care for the land, because 100 years from now we won't be here. Land ownership really truly is stewardship."

For years, the Knapps searched for forest management ideas for their land. Then they heard about the Forest Stewardship Program, a voluntary program that provides professional forestry advice to private landowners with 20 or more acres of land.

Landowners work with private and public forestry experts to improve the recreational, wildlife and economic benefits of their land, while at the same time protecting natural resources.

In the Knapps' case, a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) forester met them at their land, listened to their goals, and prepared a stewardship plan that combines the families goals with the capacity of the land.

"It was exactly what we were looking for," Dan Knapp said. "The DNR gave us a detailed plan and valuable resource materials that we could follow to properly manage the forest. Now, we are in the process of making that plan a reality. This plan makes us better landowners."

The Knapps are passing on their new appreciation for the land, the forest and its wildlife to their grandchildren.

"It actually instills a sense of stewardship through the generations," Vicki Knapp said.