• Crude Oil Spill Closes Part of Delaware River
  
• Peace Corps Collaborates With UN Food Agency
  
• EPA Issues Advance Data on Toxic Releases, State by State
  
• Sunken Staten Island Ferry Could Obstruct Busy Waterway
  
• Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Draws $10 Million Fine
  
• Organic Foods Market Booming
  
• New York City Sales of Community Gardens Halted
  
• New Jersey Safeguards Whale Creek Wetlands
  

Crude Oil Spill Closes Part of Delaware River

The Athos I, a Cyprus flagged vessel, lost the oil from a rupture in its hull as it was enroute to the Citgo Facility in Paulsboro in southern New Jersey, the U.S. Coast Guard said Sunday.

Two tugs were helping the tanker move to the facilities pier when it listed eight degrees to the left and lost power.

The Delaware River is closed to all commercial and pleasure craft from the Tacony Palmyra Bridge to the Commodore Barry Bridge. U.S. Coast Guard and New Jersey State Police boats and helicopters have been monitoring the quantity and impact of the oil spill, which stretches from the Tacony Palmyra Bridge to Tinicum Island.

About 20 vessels are delayed moving into or out of the Port of Philadelphia, Coast Guard spokesman Lieutenant Buddy Dye said Sunday.

Personnel and resources from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the New Jersey and Pennsylvania departments of environmental protection, the New Jersey State Police, representatives from the ship's owner and Citgo are all being used to clean up of the spill and minimize the environmental impact.

About two miles of protective boom has been set up around the Athos I and 12 neighboring creeks as a preventive measure. Additional protective booms will be set up to the north and south of these areas as oil continues to move, authorities say.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reported 50 birds have been found dead from the effects of the oil and another 300 are injured. People who see affected wildlife should call the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at 215-365-1558.

"Any amount of oil in our waterways is a serious matter." said Captain Jonathan Sarubbi, captain of the Port of Philadelphia. "We are committed to cleaning up the oil and and ensuring the Delaware River is open to commerce."

Private contractors hired for cleanup operations include The O'Brien's Group, Miller Environmental, Delaware River and Bay Co-Op and Clean Ventures. There are currently 110 people and 10 skimming boats working on the spill.

The Athos I was carrying 325,000 barrels of oil from Venezuela, Jim Lawrence, a spokesman for the vessel's owner the Greek shipping company Tsakos Shipping and Trading SA, told the AP. The 30,000 gallon spill amounts to 715 barrels.

Lawrence said the 750 foot (230 meter) tanker, built in 1983, has never previously spilled oil.

Peace Corps Collaborates With UN Food Agency

The two agencies will cooperate on food production, distribution and access, and the Peace Corps will support activities of the FAO Special Programme for Food Security (SPFS) in low income countries where food is in short supply.

The organizations will partner on small-scale irrigation projects, school gardens, and the protection of natural resources as well as animal and plant protection, women in rural development, and planning and management in the agricultural sector.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed at FAO headquarters in Rome on Thanksgiving Day by FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf and Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez.

"Alone, the Peace Corps and the FAO have both made a real difference in the world," said Vasquez. "Now, as partners, we will combine our expertise, strengthen our partnership, and take our volunteer projects in exciting new directions to continue on the common goal of helping feed the world."

Today, more than 7,700 Peace Corps volunteers are serving in 71 countries in fields such as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment and agriculture. Peace Corps projects are developed locally in each country in collaboration with host country agencies and focus on pressing needs at the community level.

"FAO and the Peace Corps have a history of working together at country level," said Diouf. "Increased collaboration will enhance our understanding of each other's work and allow us to share our respective skills and experience. It is also an important investment in human resources, which will support FAO's efforts to help rural people build a better life."

EPA Issues Advance Data on Toxic Releases, State by State

The eFDR provides facility-by-facility reporting for reporting year 2003. Find it here: http://www.epa.gov/tri-efdr/

The traditional public Data Release, which includes more quality checks, national trends and analysis, is expected in spring 2005.

Sunken Staten Island Ferry Could Obstruct Busy Waterway

The hull lies on the bottom alongside a pier at the foot of 2nd Street in Bayonne, New Jersey, where it potentially threatens shipping and recreational boating in one of the world's busiest waterways, according to U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie.

The suit, filed November 23 in U.S. District Court in Newark, accuses the Bayonne Durable Construction Company, Inc. of creating an obstruction to navigation in the waters of the United States.

Bayonne Durable purchased the ferry boat for scrap and placed the hull in the Kill Van Kull alongside the pier in July 2003, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The vessel was partially disassembled but sank before salvage was completed. The government claims the sunken vessel could move into the busy federal waterway, a deep channel dredged in the Kill Van Kull that is used by large vessels.

Christie credited the United States Army Corps of Engineers with developing the case in the course of their responsibilities for maintaining New York Harbor.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Neil R. Gallagher, who is prosecuting the lawsuit, said that a "storm or something similar" could cause the sunken hull to move into the channel."

Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Draws $10 Million Fine

"In imposing the highest ever fine in an oil spill case in New England, the Court today has raised the stakes for shippers who fail to take the necessary steps to prevent oil spills like that in Buzzards Bay," said U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan. "The U.S. Attorney's Office is pleased that the Court adopted its recommendation that $7 million of the total fine be used for wetlands conservation projects in Southeastern Massachusetts - the region that bore the full brunt of the spill."

Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler handed down the sentence on November 18 after Bouchard Transportation Company (BTC) pled guilty to violating the Clean Water Act by negligently causing the discharge of 98,000 gallons of oil into Buzzards Bay.

The oil was spilled on April 27, 2003, when the oil barge towed by a BTC tug traveled outside the marked Buzzards Bay channel and struck rocky shoals lying at a depth of 22 feet.

BTC negligently caused the oil spill because its employee, the mate in charge of the vessel, operated the tugboat in a negligent manner and because BTC allowed this employee to remain at the helm of one of its tugboats despite repeated concerns that were raised about his competency, Sullivan said. The employee left the wheelhouse for an extended period of time and failed to monitor radio communications, court documents state.

"The well known environmental risks associated with the shipment of oil and other hazardous substances on our waterways requires that mariners exercise the highest degree of caution through professional seamanship. Disregard for the safety of others as well as our natural resources needs to be taken very seriously," said Captain Mary Landry, commanding officer of the Providence Coast Guard Marine Safety Office who was also the federal on scene coordinator for the spill response.

BTC also pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by killing protected bird species as a result of this oil spill. According tocourt documents, the spill killed hundreds of federally protected birds, caused the closure of thousands of acres of shellfish beds in Buzzards Bay, and affected 90 miles of Massachusetts' beaches and coastline.

"This is one of the largest criminal fines to be imposed under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is exceeded only by the penalty paid following the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska," said Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent Thomas Healy.

Seven million dollars of the fine have been deposited in the North American Wetlands Conservation Act Fund, which is used by the Interior Department to finance public-private conservation partnerships that enhance habitat for the migratory birds, fish and wildlife. The court endorsed the government's recommendation that the money ought to be spent in the Buzzards Bay Watershed, the area directly affected by the spill.

The other $2 million will be directed toward the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund for BTC's violations of the Clean Water Act. The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is administered by the U.S. Coast Guard and used to pay clean up costs and damage claims for oil spills in which the responsible party is unknown.

BTC will also be placed on probation for a period of three years. The final $1 million portion of the criminal fine will be suspended and will be imposed only if BTC fails to comply with the conditions of probation. The conditions of probation imposed through the plea agreement include remedial measures to prevent this type of oil spill from occurring again.

Organic Foods Market Booming

"The U.S. Market for Organic Foods and Beverages," a $3,000 report issued by Packaged Facts, says the organic foods industry has been experiencing annual growth between 17 and 22 percent over the past few years, compared to just two to three percent growth in the conventional food industry.

The mass marketing of organic foods in supermarkets, which accounted for 37 percent of organic sales in 2003, and expansion by mainstream food companies into the organic market are driving growth.

Today’s organic food market is no longer confined to small natural foods stores and co-ops. Organic products now are marketed nationwide in major supermarkets and are available in most food and beverage categories.

"Organic foods and beverages have come of age," said Don Montuori, acquisitions editor for Packaged Facts. "Many of the obstacles to wider market penetration – price, quality, distribution – are starting to break down, and with the full implementation of the National Organic Standard, consumers are starting to recognize, seek and find organic products."

The report is written by organic industry columnist Elaine Lipson, author of "The Organic Foods Sourcebook." It presents the latest on market size and shares, consumer preferences, marketing strategy, competitor profiles, and regulatory issues. Market projections are made through 2009.

An abstract and searchable database of the report's contents are available without charge at: http://www.packagedfacts.com/pub/977845.html

New York City Sales of Community Gardens Halted

The petitioners in this case, community gardeners and an organization representing community gardeners, South Bronx United Gardeners, Inc. (SBUG), represented by the Urban Justice Center, brought a lawsuit against the city for its failure to comply with procedures in the City Charter for disposing of city owned lots.

Judge Eileen Branston, who issued the temporary restraining order against the sales on November 24, will hear arguments in the case on Wednesday morning.

The most public housing projects, the South Bronx is one of the most densely populated sections of New York City. Area young people suffer from high rates of asthma, and the rate of green space per person is one of the lowest in the city.

Sunshine Garden is a working farm - the members are mostly elderly men who come from different countries in Latin America, master gardeners with an interest in growing vegetables and fruit for their community. There are fig, apple, and peach trees, roses and blueberries.

Family Group Garden is open to several daycare centers, as well as to students from P.S.29 who garden and build structures for playing and celebration, and to the Boy Scouts for picnics, storytelling, and garden workshops.

Latinos Unidos is a family oriented garden across the street from the Andrew Jackson Housing Development, an enormous project filled with people who have no access to other community green space. Founded by Juan Bolanos, an immigrant from Cuba, who wanted to offer the community a place to relax and enjoy beauty, this garden is known for its cookouts and music. It is open for a few hours after every working day, as well as on Sundays.

The gardeners affected by the city's plans to demolish the gardens say they are willing to consider alternate sites in the community for their gardens. The gardeners have proposed a comprehensive plan, the Homes and Gardens Plan, that they say would preserve community garden space and promote more affordable housing than is now planned by the city.

New Jersey Safeguards Whale Creek Wetlands

Last week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Green Acres Program purchased the $1.1 million Whale Creek property through a partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The DEP Green Acres program contributed $613,000 and U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Frank Pallone provided a $487,000 NOAA Federal Assistance Award to the DEP Coastal Management Program.

"By preserving these nine acres as part of the Cheesequake State Park, we're placing a priority on protecting our precious water resources in Central Jersey," Pallone said. "I'll continue to work with Senator Lautenberg, the DEP and the NY/NJ Baykeeper to protect open spaces throughout our state."

"This nine acre treasure is home to many species of birds, fish and turtles," said Lautenberg. "Its permanent preservation will also help protect area water quality. I am very pleased that the money I fought for in Congress will be used to acquire this high priority parcel."

The DEP and the nongovernmental organization NY/NJ Baykeeper will jointly manage the property as part of Cheesequake State Park on Cheesequake Creek in Old Bridge Township, Middlesex County. Lautenberg and Pallone added to the park last year as well by providing funding for the acquisition of a 67 acre addition.

Whale Creek discharges into the Raritan and Sandy Hook Bays. The Baykeeper identified parcels surrounding the creek in need of permanent protection as high priority acquisitions and helped secure federal funding for the project.

"This acquisition is a perfect example of strong leadership on the part of local, state, and federal officials who worked together and took action to protect natural land that is valued both as regionally significant habitat and local open space," said NY/NJ Baykeeper Preservation Director Greg Remaud.

The wetland and woodland areas on Whale Creek serve as a foraging ground for shorebirds and waterbirds, nesting and foraging habitat for terrapins and a migratory and wintering stopover habitat for songbirds and raptors.

"The protection of this parcel on Whale Creek reflects New Jersey's commitment to protecting natural resources in our coastal region," said DEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell. "Preserving habitat and water resources is among our highest priorities. I greatly appreciate the work of Senator Lautenberg, Congressman Pallone and the NY/NJ Baykeeper in making this acquisition possible."

"The purchase of this property through the DEP Green Acres Program prevented the development of 20 new homes in Aberdeen," said Aberdeen Mayor David Sobel. "This acquisition provides an example of government taking decisive action to protect New Jersey's water resources."

The DEP Green Acres Program purchases land to protect environmentally sensitive open space, water resources and other natural and historical open space. As it is acquired, land becomes part of the statewide system of parks and forest, wildlife management areas and natural areas.

"This coastal acquisition highlights the diversity of New Jersey's natural resource protection efforts," said New Jersey Acting Governor Richard Codey. "From the mountains to the shore to our urban parks, the Green Acres Program protects recreational lands and preserves ecological habitats for future generations."

To date, the Green Acres Program has protected more than 551,358 acres of open space and provided funding to develop hundreds of parks statewide. The statewide system of preserved open space and farmland now totals more than 1.27 million acres.