• California Blue Ribbon Fire Commission Appointed
  
• Atlanta Escapes Full Fine for Failure to Finish Sewer Upgrade
  
• Christina Basin Clean Water Partnership Receives $1 Million
  
• Energy Department Seeks Public Input on Mexican Power Plants
  
• Defense Department Tests ChemBio Radar in Oklahoma
  
• Truckee River Whitewater Park Opens in Reno
  
• Solar Energy Lights Florida Classrooms
  
• Disappearing Birds of the Sagebrush
  

California Blue Ribbon Fire Commission Appointed

In the last 10 days of October, the largest wildfires in state history swept the southern part of California from Los Angeles south to the Mexican border. Governor Davis declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.

The fires claimed 18 lives, destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres, and burned more than 2,000 homes.

"We need to take a hard look at what we can do to minimize the loss of life and property from wildfires," said Davis. "A disaster of this magnitude should never happen again."

The 18 member Blue Ribbon Commission will consist of federal, state, tribal, and local partners, including Jerry Williams of the U.S. Forest Service, and Larry Hamilton from the Department of Interior.

The commission will evaluate reducing and eliminating jurisdictional and operational barriers that prevent the expeditious response of military resources necessary to combat wild fires.

Members will review readiness training of personnel and military equipment approved for use within the California incident command system. They will look at development of an interstate and/or regional master mutual aid system similar to California's.

The commission will consider updating local building and planning regulations to include more stringent construction standards for high fire threat zones, requirements for brush clearance and fuel modification, and land use planning techniques that protect property. It will make its report within 120 days.

The Governor's Office of Emergency Services routinely conducts reviews of firefighting and emergency efforts following catastrophic fires. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the U.S. Forest Service participate in these studies.

Atlanta Escapes Full Fine for Failure to Finish Sewer Upgrade

The city notified the U.S. EPA and the state Environmental Protection Division (EPD) in February that the Indian Creek Sewer Relief Project would not be completed on schedule. The deadline was February 28, 2003, but substantial completion was not accomplished until July 18, 2003. Completion of the project was necessary to eliminate the historical overflows of raw sewage into neighboring streams.

The Indian Creek Relief Project is located in the Lenox area of Atlanta, just east of Interstate 400 and Lenox Road.

The consent decree provides for options to penalize the city for this violation and to deter future violations that include penalties up to $8,500 per day. Based on the 140 day completion delay, the total could have resulted in a total penalty of up to $890,000; a moratorium against any new sewer connection in the affected area; a flat monetary penalty of $1,000,000; or a combination of a connection moratorium and the monetary penalty.

But during a review of the project delay, the state and federal agencies noted that the city took a comprehensive look at the factors leading to the failure to meet the project deadline and had made an effort to minimize the delay and to mitigate its effect.

The EPA and EPD elected to assess the $100,000 in stipulated penalties, but reserve the right to assess the remaining $790,000 in penalties contingent upon the city's future compliance with the consent decree.

If the city completes the Nancy Creek Tunnel and Pump Station, a project similar to the Indian Creek Project, by its December 31, 2005 deadline, the remaining $790,000 penalty will not be assessed.

But, the agencies warn, failure to meet the deadline may result in the assessment of the penalty as well as any penalties which may be assessed for failure to meet the Nancy Creek Project deadline.

Christina Basin Clean Water Partnership Receives $1 Million

The Christina Basin is largely a rural watershed that is on its way to suburban development. It covers 565 square miles and includes four major watersheds: Brandywine Creek, Red Clay Creek, White Clay Creek, and the Christina River.

The Christina Basin provides water to over 500,000 people, including 75 percent of the water supply for New Castle County, Delaware and more than 40 percent of the water supply for residents in Chester County, Pennsylvania. In addition, Brandywine Creek is the source of drinking water for Wilmington, Delaware.

The watershed also provides important wildlife habitat. But with rapid growth spreading into the basin from the cities of Wilmington and Philadelphia, the Christina has experienced toxic substances and nutrient pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus in fertilizers.

The Christina Basin Clean Water Partnership, begun in 1995 as the Christina River Basin Water Quality Management Committee, is a cooperative partnership among multiple levels of government, along with private groups and the academic community. It develops a coordinated, scientific approach to improving water quality and meeting the water needs of the region

The Christina group is one of 20 community groups receiving federal funding under the $15 million national watershed initiative, which President George W. Bush announced in his State of the Union speech last year.

"The Christina River Basin Clean Water Partnership is a wonderful example of partnerships working together to identify real problems in real places and then fixing them. This funding recognizes their efforts and progress toward improving the environmental health of the Christina watershed," said Donald Welsh, regional administrator for EPA's mid-Atlantic region, which presented a check to the Partnership today.

Following presentation of the check, the watershed group and fifth graders from Caravel Academy in Bear, Delaware demonstrated water monitoring by testing water samples from the adjacent Red Clay Creek.

Grant recipients were selected from 176 nominations nationwide that were reviewed by regional and national experts. The selectees were chosen because they best demonstrated the ability to achieve on the ground environmental results in a short time. Each of the watershed organizations exhibited strong partnerships, showed innovation, and demonstrated compatibility with existing governmental programs. Grant totals ranged from $300,000 to $1 million.

Grant funds will be provided over three years. The major areas to be studied are agricultural best management practices, storm water control, stream bank restoration, and residential landscape and runoff control.

Energy Department Seeks Public Input on Mexican Power Plants

Last July, a federal judge in San Diego ruled that the Department of Energy (DOE) did not adequately assess the health and environmental threats posed by the Sempra Energy and InterGen power plants located near Mexicali, Mexico.

The plants, built by Sempra Energy and InterGen, are expected to deliver about 1,600 megawatts of electricity to U.S. consumers, enough to power more than a million California households. The facilities began operating in test mode earlier this year.

Federal law requires such study before the agency can permit the importation of power from Mexico for sale in the United States. Judge Irma Gonzalez ordered the agency to carry out further study, but did not specify the scope of such study.

In June, the San Diego based Border Power Plants Working Group, represented by Wild Earth Advocates and Earthjustice, argued in federal court that the agency should consider public health and environmental impacts caused by these plants.

Julia Olson, an attorney with Wild Earth Advocates, citing declarations from members of the Salton Sea Authority and the Colorado River Basin Water Quality Control Board, said the companies' use of Mexicali waste water to cool the plants will harm the New River and the Salton Sea.

She said plant emissions of ammonia and carbon dioxide, will hurt local air quality.

Attorneys for Sempra and InterGen contended that the flow of electricity through power lines should continue while further environmental studies are done.

"There is no irreparable harm. There is no showing of substantial harm . . . that would result with the use of the transmission lines within the 24 month period we are talking about," said attorney David Milliken, who represented Sempra Energy.

But Judge Gonzalez ruled that the Energy Department must conduct studies based on the environmental and health conditions existing before this controversy began.

"Comprehensive impact review is critical when you consider that the children of Imperial County, California suffer from one of the highest asthma rates in the nation," said Bill Powers of Border Power Plant Working Group.

"DOE is finally getting the message that it cannot allow big business to pollute our air and water without regard to health and environmental standards," said Marcello Mollo, an attorney with Earthjustice, representing Border Power Plant Working Group.

"It is a shame the agency didn't do the job right in the first place," said Olson. "But the public should be comforted to know that the courts have intervened to force the agency to do its job."

The Energy Department welcomes written comments on the health or environmental impacts of the power plants by December 1, 2003. Submit comments to: Ellen Russell, Office of Fossil Energy (FE-27), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW. Washington, DC 20585-0350. Tel: 202-586-9624 Fax: 202-287-5736, or Email: Ellen.Russell@hq.doe.gov

Read the Federal Register Notice online at: http://www.earthjustice.org/news/documents/11-03/BPPEISFedReg.pdf

Defense Department Tests ChemBio Radar in Oklahoma

The U.S. Army, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lincoln Laboratory, Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will begin the third in a series of weather radar tests in the Canadian River Valley and in the vicinity of Camp Gruber, Oklahoma. The tests will be run from November 13 to 17.

The materials selected to simulate a chemical threat release are ethanol and a 1:1 solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 200 and water. The materials selected to simulate a biological threat release is clay dust.

During these tests the simulants will be disseminated from a crop duster flying specific routes utilizing predetermined release rates, aircraft speeds of 100 mph and at an altitude of 1200 feet above ground level.

Chemical and biological simulants are routinely used in detection and protection capability studies conducted by the Department of Defense. These simulants have been selected for their ability to represent a spectrum of possible chemical and biological threats, in addition to accepted safety in regards to human health and the environment, the Army said.

The Defense Department says it has evaluated possible environmental impacts as required by the National Environmental Policy Act, and determined that the testing will produce "no immediate or long term impact to the environment." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety & Health Administration have also cleared the substances for safety.

The testing is designed to evaluate the potential of employing various operational radar systems located in the vicinity of Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and the Canadian River to provide an early warning capability for ground and aerial release of a chemical or biological warfare agent, or public health threat event.

The initial test period was March 24 - April 14, 2003, and a second test took place May 19 - May 24, 2003.

Information about the test including schedules and maps will be available on the Internet at http://www.jpeocbd.osd.mil/CA_Infopaper.htm.

The public can also call the U.S. Army's toll free Multi-Mission Sensor Test Information Line at 1-866-223-1101 for a daily recorded message about scheduled test sites and times.

Truckee River Whitewater Park Opens in Reno

The whitewater park on the Truckee River will be open year-round. It features 11 drop pools and boulders for kayaking maneuvers, a slalom racing course, and 7,000 tons of smooth flat rocks along the shores for easy river access and spectator seating.

“Nevada now has an exciting whitewater park that already is attracting a lot of enthusiastic kayakers and spectators,” said Lt. Governor Lorraine Hunt, chair of the Truckee River Whitewater Steering Committee and Nevada Commission on Tourism (NCOT).

The park is the first project in Washoe County to be financed under a 2002 statewide voter approved bond that allocated $10 million for Truckee River improvements.

Mayor Bob Cashell described the whitewater park as a great milestone for the city of Reno and the northern Nevada region, which includes Sparks and Lake Tahoe.

The whitewater course is 2,600 feet long, rated a class 2 to 3 for difficulty, on a scale of 1 to 6, and includes north and south channels that surround a city park on an island in the river that is the site of festivals, concerts and other outdoor activities, and now also will host competitive kayaking events.

Bruce Bommarito, executive director of NCOT, which began to promote a whitewater park for Reno in 1999, said the park is the jewel in a 24-mile long whitewater course on the Truckee River, which the state is marketing worldwide as a new attraction.

“Today’s highly competitive tourism business demands that Nevada expand our visitor attractions, and the whitewater park provides an excellent new dimension for our state’s No. 1 industry,” Bommarito said. “The value of Reno’s new whitewater park extends far beyond the city limits. It is an attraction that NCOT will promote around the world to underscore Nevada’s image as an exciting outdoor adventure destination.”

The whitewater park, formally named Truckee River Park at Wingfield, is Nevada’s first, and is unique in the nation because of its large size, variety of features, year-round use, and fresh water supply.

Construction of the whitewater park began in August. Some work still to be finished on land includes planting vegetation and installing irrigation, lighting and drinking fountains. Construction activities are expected to be completed by Thanksgiving, November 27, although some planting will wait for spring.

The new park cost $1.5 million to build, including a $1.2 million for construction and $300,000 for on-site contract management.

The architect is Gary Lacy of Boulder, Colorado, who has designed 30 whitewater parks. For 20 years, Lacy, through his Recreation Engineering and Planning company, has been in the business of river restoration, whitewater park design, boating safety and riverside greenways and trails. Kayaking since the age of four, he has been a whitewater competitor on two national teams.

Lacy's work varies from small projects with a single play wave for small towns like Steamboat Springs or Gunnison, Colorado to large projects like the $21 million whitewater park being installed in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Recreation Engineering and Planning is online at: http://www.wwparks.com/

Solar Energy Lights Florida Classrooms

The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), together with Gulf Power, the Florida Solar Energy Center and Escambia County Schools, participated in the opening ceremony for the newly installed solar electric system.

This first solar electric system installation launches Florida’s Solar for Schools Program, which aims to place 29 solar electric systems in schools throughout the state. A first of its kind in Florida, the public-private partnership combines clean energy production with science in schools. The system will provide an on-site classroom for students to learn more about solar power and the benefits of energy conservation.

“The solar facility will be a valuable teaching tool and will give students an opportunity to view energy from another perspective,” said West Florida High School Principal Lesa Morgan.

“Planning for future energy needs ensures a brighter tomorrow for Florida,” said Allan Bedwell, DEP deputy secretary for regulatory programs and energy. “Installing solar technology in our schools protects our environment and quality of life and also provides an unparalleled educational opportunity for students.”

Unlike fossil fuels, the energy created by the solar unit emits no noise or pollution. The electric power generated by the system will be used to power the school’s classrooms, with excess energy returned to the local power grid.

“Florida’s energy and environmental futures are inextricably linked,” said Bedwell. “The most important source of energy is the energy we conserve. Advancing clean energy technology conserves resources, prevents pollution, saves taxpayer dollars and, in this case, teaches valuable lessons to the leaders of tomorrow.”

West Florida High School is the only school in Escambia County participating in the Solar for Schools Program. The school integrates traditional academic subjects with technical training to prepare students for employment or post-secondary education.

The program will extend to Bradenton next week when the DEP, together with Florida Power and Light and the Manatee County School Board will install a solar electric system at Sara Scott Harlee Middle School on November 12.

The Florida Energy Office is funding the installation of solar electric systems in Florida Schools as a part of the Florida Solar for Schools Program. Florida’s Solar for Schools Program is funded by the Florida Energy Office and managed by the Florida Solar Energy Center. The Center is providing the engineering design for system installations and inspections, and posting select metered data online at: http://www.fsec.unf.edu

Disappearing Birds of the Sagebrush

Their report, "Teetering on the edge or too late? Conservation and research issues for avifauna of sagebrush habitats," was published in the November issue of the international peer reviewed journal "The Condor." The authors are members of the Cooper Ornithological Society Committee on Conservation of Sagebrush Ecosystems.

Steve Knick, USGS scientist and lead author on the article, says the problems are difficult to address. "The reality is," said Knick, "that almost all sagebrush habitats are suffering consequences of heavier use than they can take. At present, we don't have a handle on how to address the problems existing in this habitat because they are so diverse and widespread."

David Dobkin, director of the High Desert Ecological Research Institute in Bend, Oregon, editor-in-chief of "The Condor" and co-author on the report, noted that when habitats change, wildlife populations also tend to change.

Today, Dobkin said, populations of many species of shrubland and grassland birds are declining, some severely. The Gunnison sage grouse, for example, is a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act, and the greater sage grouse is also being considered for listing.

Because less than three percent of the entire sagebrush habitat is protected in parks or reserves, the resources in almost all sagebrush ecosystems are heavily used.

Some uses, such as mining, energy development, urbanization, or conversion of sagebrush habitats to agriculture cropland, vary regionally, but others, such as livestock grazing, are widespread across the entire range of sagebrush. These uses, without proper management, can significantly affect sagebrush birds by fragmenting or completely removing their habitats, the authors report.

Restoring these habitats will be difficult or, in some cases impossible, they write, either because the habitat has already been converted or because many of the essential components required by birds, such as cover to protect nests against predators, are no longer present.

Individual land uses often interact synergistically, compounding their negative effect on habitats and birds, the authors write. Land uses that cause spread of fire-prone invasive plants, such as cheatgrass, can result in increasing the size and frequency of fires that ultimately convert even more sagebrush habitat to grasslands.

The authors recommend four areas in which future research should be focused to improve the chance of conserving birds living in sagebrush ecosystems.

"First and most critical, we need to know precisely how our use of sagebrush habitats affects the dynamics of these systems," said Knick. "All uses, whether livestock grazing, mining, energy development, or even treatments by land managers to improve habitats, influence the way the system functions. These uses are not necessarily negative, but conducted improperly can create habitats that are unsuitable for native birds and other native wildlife."

Conservation also depends on identifying habitat components most critical to birds, designing better survey methods and techniques to estimate bird population trends, and determining the importance of wintering grounds and migration pathways for these birds.

Dobkin said, "We hope that this broad but detailed analysis will be a crucial step toward raising awareness in the scientific community, among land managers, and ultimately of the American public, about the potentially overwhelming challenges to ecological integrity and function faced right now by these vast western landscapes."