• Rainstorms Pound Oahu, Flooding Theater, Mall, Homes
  
• House Budget Drops Land Sales, Arctic Drilling Revenues
  
• $7.3 Million Nebraska Ground Water Cleanup Settlement Reached
  
• Court Orders Energy Department to Buy Alternative Fuel Vehicles
  
• Environmental Justice Grants Open to Hurricane-Struck Communities
  
• Massachusetts Proposes Perchlorate in Drinking Water Limit
  
• Atlantic Salmon Suffer From Maine Blueberry Production Chemicals
  

Rainstorms Pound Oahu, Flooding Theater, Mall, Homes

House Budget Drops Land Sales, Arctic Drilling Revenues

The House broke with the Senate, which narrowly passed a budget resolution March 16 that includes $3 billion in expected revenue from ANWR in its instruction to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, called the House Budget Committee's resolution, "a victory for wildlife."

"The American people reject legislative tricks intended to enrich special interests while compromising our nation's conservation legacy," Schweiger said. "We're delighted that the House Budget Committee has chosen to work for the public interest, not special interests."

Both the Arctic drilling scheme and the public lands sell-off could be introduced during the conference process, when the House and Senate attempt to broker a compromise between their respective versions of the budget resolution.

Last year, in the name of deficit reduction, Arctic drilling proponents included "reconciliation" instructions in the House Budget Resolution - language intended to open the refuge to drilling. After public opposition, the attempt to push ANWR drilling through the budget process was defeated.

The absence of a similar budget reconciliation instruction to the House Resources Committee this year deals a major blow to the Arctic drilling push, although the drilling scheme remains a threat, said Schweiger.

The absence of such instructions also constitutes a setback for a Bush administration budget proposal to sell nearly a million acres of public lands to private interests in the name of funding rural schools and reducing the deficit.

House Budget Committee staff had previously indicated that the budget resolution would include instructions to sell public lands.

That proposal was opposed by the National Wildlife Federation and its nationwide network of 47 state affiliates and many other environment and conservation organizations.

Republicans for Environmental Protection (REP), a national grassroots organization, is one of the groups opposed to the Senate budget resolution because they say it harms Republican changes in the mid-term elections in November. "Unfortunately, the Senate has approved a cynical, backdoor maneuver that is a new low in ethical lapses and kowtowing to special interests," REP Government Affairs Director David Jenkins said.

"The Senate's action will reinforce voter impressions that our elected representatives are in thrall to special interests," Jenkins said. "This shortsighted action puts our Republican majority in Congress further at risk."

$7.3 Million Nebraska Ground Water Cleanup Settlement Reached

Notice of the settlement will be published in the Federal Register, followed by a 30 day public comment period, before the settlement will become final. A copy of the consent decree is available at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/open.html.

Court Orders Energy Department to Buy Alternative Fuel Vehicles

In a case brought by environmental groups, District Court Judge William Alsup on Thursday ordered the DOE to come into compliance with the Energy Policy Act of 1992. The law is designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil, lessen global warming and cut air pollution by mandating the purchase of alternative fuel vehicles.

The judge denied a government request for an additional three to four years of delay, instead ordering the DOE to revise the long-overdue petroleum reduction goal to an achievable number within one year, and in the following year to determine whether the alternative fuel vehicles purchase rules must apply to private and municipal vehicle fleets.

In a March 6 ruling in the same case, Judge Alsup rejected a DOE finding that federal agencies cannot take action to reduce fuel use because petroleum reduction goals mandated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 are unachievable.

The plaintiff environment groups were happy with the ruling.

“Urgent action is needed to reduce our dependence on oil, cut pollution, and address the impacts of global warming, which threatens our health, environment and future prosperity,” said Peter Galvin, conservation director for the Center for Biological Diversity.

"We are pleased the Court has ordered an end to the Bush administration’s foot-dragging on converting federal and private vehicle fleets to more fuel efficient and less polluting vehicles," he said.

“The DOE has been stonewalling progress on alternative fuel vehicles for years,” said Danielle Fugere, global warming director for the plaintiff Bluewater Network, a division of Friends of the Earth.

In passing the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Congress intended to replace 30 percent of petroleum vehicle fuel use with alternative fuels by 2010, through federal purchase of less polluting vehicles, and by using the purchasing power of the federal government to open the market for natural gas, propane, ethanol and electric vehicles, which produce less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline powered vehicles.

The Act requires all federal agencies with light duty fleet vehicles in major metropolitan areas to acquire at least 75 percent alternative fuel vehicles each year.

In November 2005, settlement of the purchasing component of the lawsuit was reached with the Departments of Commerce, Labor, Transportation and Veterans Administration, which admitted violations and agreed to increase their current alternative fuel vehicles acquisitions - 46, 3, 29, and 24 percent, respectively - up to the required 75 percent.

The federal government has over 600,000 vehicles, the largest fleet in the nation.

Environmental Justice Grants Open to Hurricane-Struck Communities

DALLAS, Texas, March 31, 2006 (ENS) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a new environmental justice grant opportunity for communities, rather than individuals, impacted by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita.

Organizations with projects to address local environmental or public health issues stemming from the hurricanes may apply by April 30, 2006.

The new grant program is titled, "Environmental Justice Grants in Support of Communities Directly Affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita." Total funding for the project is $150,000. EPA will make awards for the exact amounts of $25,000 or $50,000 only.

"We want to support the efforts of willing, knowledgeable and enthusiastic local partners in addressing public health concerns and restoring fragile ecosystems," EPA Regional Administrator Richard Greene said from his office in Dallas, Texas. "Working together, we will accelerate the pace of recovery in Louisiana and Texas."

Eligible applicants for this program are limited to local nonprofit community-based organizations and local environmental justice networks, local universities or colleges, and local churches located within the states of Louisiana and Texas. State and government entities are not eligible to apply.

The EPA defines environmental justice as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.

To help organizations prepare grant applications, the EPA will host grant writing workshops.

• Monday, April 3, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Shining Star Missionary Baptist Church, 590 Elgie St., Beaumont, Texas
• Tuesday, April 4, 1:30 to 3:30 pm McNeese State University, Alumni Center, Lake Charles, Louisiana.

In addition, EPA will host conference calls Thursday, April 6 and Wednesday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. CST. The conference call-in number is 1-866-299-3188. When prompted, callers should enter code 2146652713.

For more information, please visit: http://epa.gov/region6/6dra/ejtribal/ej/index.htm.

Massachusetts Proposes Perchlorate in Drinking Water Limit

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 31, 2006 (ENS) - The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has released the nation's first drinking water and waste site cleanup standards of 2 parts per billion (ppb) for the chemical perchlorate, which has been found in drinking water sources at 10 locations across the state.

Environmental Affairs Secretary Stephen Pritchard and MassDEP Commissioner Robert W. Golledge Jr. have established a public comment period that will run from April 10 until May 12, and six public hearings at sites across the state, including the town of Bourne, where the first perchlorate detection was recorded.

Solid perchlorates are reactive chemicals used mainly in fireworks, explosives, military munitions, and rocket motors. Drinking water contaminated with perchlorates is the most important route of exposure for the general population. High levels of perchlorates can affect the thyroid gland, which in turn can alter the function of many organs in the body, leading to impaired human development and metabolism. Developing organisms can be especially susceptible.

No federal standards regulating perchlorate levels in drinking water currently exist.

Massachusetts officials said the proposed state standard of 2 ppb will be protective of public health, especially for sensitive populations, such as pregnant women, nursing mothers, infants, and individuals with low levels of thyroid hormones.

"Perchlorate is an emerging contaminant that has raised a red flag for environmental agencies and public health officials across the country," Pritchard said. "These proposed standards ensure that the water is safe to drink for all citizens of the Commonwealth, requiring regular monitoring for perchlorate into the future."

"Testing results from studies across the country have found perchlorate in many things, including water, food and milk," Golledge said. "A perchlorate standard of 2 ppb provides the best overall protection of public health, while setting a cleanup standard that is feasible and attainable."

The proposed regulations require parties responsible for perchlorate contamination to cleanup the contamination and for all drinking water supplies to contain no more than 2 ppb of perchlorate. The regulations also require regular testing for perchlorate in all public water systems.

Pritchard and Golledge said MassDEP proposed the 2 ppb standard based on a thorough review of the scientific data available on perchlorate, including analysis performed by independent scientists at the National Academy of Sciences.

In setting the proposed perchlorate standard, MassDEP used long-standing protocols previously utilized in the setting of over 200 chemical standards for drinking water and for the cleanup of groundwater at waste sites.

Perchlorate was first detected in 2002 in the aquifer under the Massachusetts Military Reservation on Cape Cod, when it was found to be moving toward drinking water wells in the town of Bourne.

In 2004, MassDEP required all drinking water systems in the state to test for the presence of perchlorate in their drinking water sources. Test results indicated perchlorate above the interim state advisory level at sites in Chesterfield, Southbridge, Hadley, Williamstown, Boxborough, Millbury, Westford, Boxford, Tewksbury and Westport, and those sites were required to take specific actions to address the contamination.

MassDEP will be seeking public comment on the proposed regulations between April 10 and May 12. Public hearings will be held:

• April 10 - 5 p.m., Peebles Elementary School gymnasium, 70 Trowbridge Road, Bourne.
• April 11 - 3 p.m., MassDEP Boston Office, 1 Winter Street, 2nd floor conference room, Boston.
• April 19 - 4 p.m., MassDEP Northeast Regional Office, 205B Lowell Street, Wilmington.
• April 20 - 4 p.m., MassDEP Southeast Regional Office, 20 Riverside Drive, Lakeville.
• April 25 - 3 p.m., MassDEP Western Regional Office, 436 Dwight Street, Springfield.
• April 27 - 4 p.m., MassDEP Central Regional Office, 627 Main Street, Worcester.

Atlantic Salmon Suffer From Maine Blueberry Production Chemicals

The Environment Maine Research & Policy Center, the Maine Environmental Policy Institute, and the Toxics Action Center released the report entitled, Agribusiness and Atlantic Salmon: The Effects of Large-scale Blueberry Production on Endangered Atlantic Salmon."

"This report attempts to connect the dots between chemicals used and released by agri-businesses and threats to the endangered Atlantic salmon," said Will Sugg, one of the authors of the report and the director of the Maine Environmental Policy Institute (MEPI).

The authors said pesticides used on blueberry fields "have limited acute toxicity to Atlantic salmon, but indirect and chronic effects may be severe."

The report found that Hexazinone, a common herbicide, is likely to decrease the fitness of juvenile salmon, if it is present in high enough concentrations from drift, runoff and groundwater seep.

In addition, two organophosphate pesticides - Malathion and azinphos-methyl - may have direct, acute effects on Atlantic salmon physiology and survival, even in low concentrations, the report states.

Sulfur applications to increase acidic soil conditions are infrequent and sporadic, yet may be of concern for all life stages of Atlantic salmon, according to the report.

Other environmental contaminants that are not pesticides or herbicides are also detrimental to salmon, the authors found.

Sedimentation from low-maintenance roads throughout fields near Downeast rivers create increased problems with sedimentation of gravel beds, which are important Atlantic salmon egg and alevin habitat.

There is potential for fertilizer application to fields to cause algal blooms and decreased dissolved oxygen in nearby streams and rivers, and water withdrawal can affect Atlantic salmon and the entire aquatic ecosystem.

Discharges from processing plants and other wastewater may have adverse effects on water temperature and dissolved oxygen in rivers, but is limited to small portions of Atlantic salmon habitat, the report finds.

"Clearly there is a lot of work to be done to further protect salmon from chemicals used by agri-businesses," said Matthew Davis, one of the authors of the report and advocate with Environment Maine Research & Policy Center.

The report was released prior to today's Maine Board of Pesticides Control (BPC) hearing on banning aerial spraying, phasing out organophosphate use and increasing residents’ right-to-know about pesticide use in their communities.

"Today the Board of Pesticides Control will be holding a hearing on rules that will go a long way to solving a lot of our concerns with aerial spraying and the use of the most dangerous pesticides," said Will Everitt, associate director of Toxics Action Center. "Hopefully the Board will do the right thing and enact these protections."