• Line Break Turns Honolulu Canal Into an Open Sewer
  
• National Forests Now Allow Corporate Ads
  
• U.S. and Mexico Designate Seven Sister Parks
  
• EPA Cap on Fluoride in Water Not Protective
  
• Washington State to Revise Water Quality Standards
  
• Cement Silo Removal Launches Detroit Riverfront Revitalization
  
• Agricultural Plastics Recycling Grows in New Jersey
  

Line Break Turns Honolulu Canal Into an Open Sewer

National Forests Now Allow Corporate Ads

The holder of a permit may advertise products and services inside buildings or other interior spaces, including chair lift restraining bars facing the rider. Outdoor advertising is allowed in connection with a specific event, such as a race.

The Forest Service says its shield or any other symbol identified with the agency cannot appear in conjunction with product or service names and advertisements and "care shall be taken to avoid any other appearance of agency endorsement of product or services."

In its policy statement, approved last October by Associate Deputy Chief Gloria Manning, the Service says the purpose of the ad program is to, "Encourage cooperative relationships and sponsorships that promote public participation in the management of National Forest System lands, including programs or projects that propose public services, evaluate solutions to specific natural resource management problems, or promote conservation awareness or public health and safety."

But Forest Service employees and other government workers object to the new ad policy. "Vistas of our national forests may soon include giant inflatable beer bottles, banners for chewing tobacco and snack food kiosks," said attorney Director Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), a national association of government workers in natural resources agencies.

"Under this plan, every tacky commercial promotion will be welcomed, subject only to approval by a Bush administration appointee," Ruch complained.

The focus of the plan is to encourage corporate donations to support "special events, such as races, competitions [and] festivals" on national forest lands. The proposal liberalizes "sponsor recognition" rules so that, for the first time, a corporation could display banners, signs and other advertisements on forest trails, along roadways and inside concessions.

Rules restricting banners, billboards and other "exterior" signs in the forests would be waived for a "special project" deemed to "promote public participation" in national forests.

Sponsors could advertise without any limitation inside lodges and marinas, on ski gondolas and within ski areas operated by concessionaires.

The only limit on ads would be the discretion of a designated "authorized officer."

Public comment on the plan concluded on Monday but the rules have been in temporary effect since November 25, 2005.

The Forest Service action is similar in scope to a pending plan by the National Park Service that encourages park officials to directly solicit contributions and offer "donor recognition" packages, including plaques and limited naming rights, in return.

"First the Bush administration wants to sell off national forest land, now they propose to rent out whatever is left," said Ruch, referring to an administration plan to sell 300,000 acres of national forest land to pay for ongoing programs.

U.S. and Mexico Designate Seven Sister Parks

EPA Cap on Fluoride in Water Not Protective

According to the most recent data, just over 200,000 Americans have drinking water sources containing fluoride levels at 4 mg/L or higher.

The committee that wrote the report concluded that children exposed to the current maximum allowable concentration risk developing severe tooth enamel fluorosis, a condition characterized by discoloration, enamel loss, and pitting of the teeth.

A majority of the committee also concluded that people who consume water containing that much fluoride over a lifetime are likely at increased risk for bone fractures.

The report does not examine the health risks or benefits of the artificially fluoridated water that millions of Americans drink, which contains lesser concentrations of fluoride from 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L.

Although many municipalities add fluoride to drinking water for dental health purposes, certain communities' water supplies or individual wells contain higher amounts of naturally occurring fluoride. Industrial pollution also can contribute to fluoride levels in water.

Because high amounts of fluoride can be toxic, the EPA places a cap, or maximum contaminant level, on fluoride concentrations in drinking water in order to prevent adverse health effects.

The 12-member panel did not recommend a specific fluoride concentration that would be protective against severe dental fluorosis and bone problems but urged the EPA to set a lower level after updating its fluoride risk assessment.

The panel concluded that the "prevalence of severe enamel fluorosis is very low (near zero) at fluoride concentrations below 2 mg/L."

In the EPA's first six year review of regulations completed in 2003, the agency said it would await completion of the NRC report before considering possible changes to the fluoride standards.

Washington State to Revise Water Quality Standards

OLYMPIA, Washington, March 28, 2006 (ENS) - The Washington state Department of Ecology plans to revise a portion of the water quality standards it submitted to the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval in 2003.

This decision, announced Thursday, follows an EPA ruling that Ecology's 2003 standards did not sufficiently protect salmon and bull trout to satisfy the requirements of the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) and the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

The upcoming revision by Ecology will redesignate a number of stream and reach segments to more stringent temperature and dissolved oxygen standards.

"We are committed to developing standards that are protective of fish, especially those species that are threatened or endangered," said Jay Manning, Ecology director. "We have worked closely with EPA and will soon propose revised rules that make habitat designations more accurate."

One change in the 2003 standards is a shift to a system that identifies the beneficial uses such as fish habitat, drinking water or recreation of each water body, and the standards needed to protect those uses.

Ecology had planned to enact the standards in a two-step process, by first adopting the standards needed for different uses, and then spending the following two to three years going basin-by-basin examining whether the fisheries uses were as accurate as possible.

The EPA concluded that the standards failed to accurately designate fish habitat in a number of rivers and streams. Now, Ecology intends to propose rules to fix these problems. The formal rulemaking process will begin in early April.

The rule revisions will affect major rivers that drain into Puget Sound, such as the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, Green, Puyallup and Nisqually Rivers. These rivers include important spawning, rearing and migration habitat for ESA threatened species of Chinook salmon and bull trout.

Many activities contribute to water temperature problems. Over the last century, trees that provide shade along river banks have been removed due to forestry and agricultural practices and urban development. Rivers have been altered by dams to store water and levees for flood control.

Industrial and municipal discharges can warm a stream. Although some programs are already in place to restore temperatures and meet existing standards, the more protective water quality standards will help focus needed improvement.

In addition to concerns about the temperature standards, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have expressed concerns that even the dissolved oxygen standards that apply to the revised uses may not be protective enough. Ecology will engage in further study in coordination with federal fish agencies and EPA to determine the most appropriate standards for dissolved oxygen to protect salmon during spawning and egg and fry development. Ecology will share the results with the public in a series of technical workshops.

If results of the study and workshops indicate that the dissolved oxygen criteria should be corrected, Ecology will begin a follow-up rule-making process by summer 2008.

"We believe Washington did a fine job in revising the majority of their standards in 2003, and we anticipate moving these through our approval process, including ESA and tribal consultations," said Michael Bogert, administrator for EPA's Region 10. "Today's partial disapproval is narrowly targeted to specific water bodies where additional work is needed to ensure the protection of known salmon and bull trout populations."

Cement Silo Removal Launches Detroit Riverfront Revitalization

DETROIT, Michigan, March 28, 2006 (ENS) - The last of three cement silo structures along the Detroit River has been demolished, making way for a host of new riverfront projects in Detroit.

A two ton wrecking ball demolished the 175 foot Cemex-Medusa cement silo structure last week, following the work the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) carried out earlier this year with the demolition of the nearby 125 foot LaFarge and the 175 foot Holnam Detroit River silos.

"We’re proud to be a catalyst for Detroit’s riverfront revitalization," said DEQ Director Steven Chester. "A shared spirit of environmental stewardship and hometown pride by all of the partners on this project has truly made it a success."

The DEQ dedicated more than one year and $2.7 million in cleanup funds to the silo project, and will be able to recycle nearly 90 percent of the concrete and steel structures from the sites. The work to completely remove the materials from the site is expected to be completed in May, with work on redeveloping the sites beginning soon after.

"In just a few short months, the landscaping along the riverfront has changed dramatically, opening up all sorts of new possibilities for development," said Faye Alexander Nelson, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. "And now the work begins to transform this wide open space into residences, retail, and green spaces that reconnect people to the riverfront."

The demolitions are part of the ongoing transformation of the riverfront, and were made possible by another cleanup and redevelopment effort downriver at the former Detroit Coke site.

The Detroit Coke site provided the LaFarge Corporation with a place to relocate its silo operation and construct a new 185 foot cement silo, the largest in North America.

"We are experiencing significant transformation on our riverfront," said Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. "The demolition of the cement silos puts us one step closer to opening our riverfront to the people of Detroit and our surrounding communities."

The $2.7 million silo demolition project follows a previous commitment by DEQ to Detroit’s riverfront transformation in which the DEQ provided a $6.2 million grant that assisted in the restoration of 3,500 feet of Detroit River walkway between the Renaissance Center and Riverfront Apartments. The grant facilitated a project connecting Cobo Hall, Hart Plaza, Ford Auditorium, and Veterans Memorial to the riverfront.

Agricultural Plastics Recycling Grows in New Jersey

"It is in everyone’s best interest to keep plastics out of landfills, especially those containers that once held pesticides," said New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Charles Kuperus. "Since there is no cost to participate in the pesticide container recycling program, farmers can benefit from the savings while contributing to our state’s recycling goals."

Non-refillable, high-density polyethylene #2 (HDPE #2) containers used by agricultural, professional and commercial pesticide applicators will be accepted at the collection sites. In addition, HDPE #2 plastic pails, bulb crates, and similar items will be accepted.

Pesticide containers must be no larger than 55 gallons and triple rinsed. The instruction booklet, lid and metal handles must be removed.

The program is open to anyone who holds a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection pesticide license, including state, county and municipal government agencies. Participants must follow the processing guide or the material will be rejected. A pesticide license is not needed to participate in the program if non-pesticide containers are recycled.

"This program is an excellent example of the ways in which government agencies are working together to enable the agricultural community and other licensed pesticide applicators to realize the environmental and economic benefits of recycling," said DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson.

More than 4,000 plastic pesticide containers were recycled last year under this agricultural conservation program offered by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. In 2005, there was a 66-percent increase in the volume of plastic pesticide containers recycled over 2004 figures.

In addition, New Jersey is extending its nationally recognized nursery and greenhouse film collection and recycling program for a 10th year. Growers may take their nursery and greenhouse film to two regional collection sites year-round - the Cumberland County Solid Waste Complex in Deerfield and the Burlington County Occupational Training Center in Mount Holly.

"New Jersey is a leader in film recycling and federal and state government agencies and non-profit organizations have sought our assistance in setting up their own programs," said Kuperus. "Not only does the recycling of these materials keep them out of landfills and out of the environment, but it can save growers money in disposal costs."

Since New Jersey implemented this successful program in 1997, growers have recycled more than four million pounds of nursery and greenhouse film, saving Garden State farmers $60,000 in landfill tipping fees.

During the 2005 greenhouse and nursery film recycling program, Garden State growers recycled 374 tons of used film, a 36 percent increase over the tonnage recycled in 2004 and the most film recycled since the program was initiated in 1997. Growers who participated in the program in 2005 saved $11,224 in avoidable landfill costs.

Both white and clear nursery film and clear multi-season greenhouse covers may be recycled. Film must be free of lathing, staples and saran. Loads containing other agricultural plastics will be rejected at the collection sites.

The Department continues to evaluate the possibility of implementing a program to recycle nursery pots and clam netting.

For more on the nursery and greenhouse film recycling program, or the DEP's other plastics recycling programs, visit: www.state.nj.us/agriculture/recyclingpestcons.htm.