• USDA Inspector Arrested for Illegal Wildlife Imports
  
• EPA Defers Oversight of Some Nuclear Sites
  
• El Niño Will Affect Winter Weather
  
• California Treesitter Falls to His Death
  
• Suit Challenges Plans to Destroy Prairie Dog Colony
  
• Getting Rid of Mold Easier with New EPA Guide
  
• Electronics Recycling Works in Mid-Atlantic States
  
• American Chestnuts Waged Chemical Warfare
  

USDA Inspector Arrested for Illegal Wildlife Imports

Last week, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) special agents arrested Wahab Omotayo Alaga, an American citizen originally from Nigeria, for allegedly importing protected birds in violation of federal law. Alaga was arrested at his job as a USDA inspector at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

According to court documents, Alaga brought six African grey parrots into the United States in early March from Nigeria without a valid export permit required for importing the birds. He obtained the birds from relatives who took them from nests shortly after the birds hatched.

Records show that Alaga brought nine gray singing finches into this country in 1998, also without a valid permit.

As a USDA inspector, also known as a plant protection and quarantine officer, Alaga handled bird shipments and had training in regulations governing bird importation into this country, according to court documents.

Thomas Healy, special agent in charge of law enforcement for the USFWS in the Northeast, said African gray parrots are protected in four ways: the U.S. Endangered Species Act; the U.S. Wild Bird Conservation Act, which prohibits importing certain exotic birds; the Nigerian Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Act; and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, an international treaty governing trade in protected species.

Alaga has been charged with violating the Lacey Act and with making false statements to a law enforcement officer. The Lacey Act prohibits, among other actions, illegal transport or commerce in wildlife protected by U.S. or foreign laws. The maximum penalty for a felony conviction for either violation is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

EPA Defers Oversight of Some Nuclear Sites

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) provides that the EPA will defer exercising its authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act - also known as the Superfund law - for the majority of facilities decommissioned under NRC authority.

The MOU includes provisions for NRC and EPA consultation for certain sites if, at the time of license termination:

1. groundwater contamination exceeds EPA permitted levels;
2. NRC is contemplating restricted release of the site for redevelopment; or
3. residual radioactive soil concentrations exceed levels defined in the MOU.

The MOU responds to a 1999 report from the House Committee on Appropriations that stated: "In the interest of ensuring that sites do not face dual regulation, the Committee strongly encourages both agencies to enter into an MOU which clarifies the circumstances for EPA's involvement at NRC sites when requested by the NRC."

The MOU does not fully meet the intent of the Appropriations Committee because the threat of dual regulation remains for certain licensees. While the MOU reduces dual jurisdiction, the NRC said it will continue its efforts to seek legislation that would eliminate the possibility of dual regulation of all NRC decommissioning licensees.

The MOU does not impose any new requirements on NRC licensees and will reduce the involvement of the EPA with NRC licensees who are decommissioning. Most sites are expected to meet the NRC criteria for unrestricted use, and the NRC believes that only a few sites will have groundwater or soil contamination in excess of the levels specified in the MOU, which would trigger consultation with the EPA.

If there are other hazardous materials on the site, the EPA may also be involved in cleanup.

El Niño Will Affect Winter Weather

Forecasters at the National Weather Service said the Pacific Northwest will feel El Niño's influence during the 2002-03 winter in the form of drier and warmer than normal conditions, but climate and weather experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say the region still could face damaging storms.

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center issued its monthly El Niño update, highlighting the expected weather impacts in the United States and throughout the world. Wayne Higgins of the Climate Prediction Center met with Seattle, Washington's emergency managers and other local officials at a climate workshop on Thursday and said El Niño's impact in the region will be weaker than the 1997-98 version.

"The current El Niño, while still holding the potential to bring strong storms, will continue the trend of below average precipitation in the region," said Higgins, NOAA's principal scientist and an expert in long range forecasting. Higgins added El Niño is at moderate strength.

Christopher Hill, meteorologist in charge of the National Weather Service Seattle forecast office, said, "The impact of a moderate El Niño on winter precipitation in the Pacific Northwest is not straightforward. There is a slight tendency for precipitation to average a little below normal, but that does not mean we won't see significant storms with heavy precipitation and flooding."

While the 2002-03 El Niño is weaker than the powerful 1997-98 version, forecasters said "strong impacts" are still likely in a few areas.

NOAA issued its official winter outlook on September 12, predicting drier than average conditions in the Northwest, including Washington, northeast Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, western parts of North Dakota, and northwest South Dakota. The agency predicted drier than average conditions throughout the northern Rockies and the Ohio Valley states, wetter than average conditions along the southern tier states, and warmer than average conditions along the northern tier of the United States.

California Treesitter Falls to His Death

Robert Bryan, a 25 year old man from Salt Lake City, Utah, had just joined a seven week old tree sit in the Santa Cruz Mountains protesting logging by timber company Redwood Empire. The cause of the fall is unknown.

Bryan was found after his fall by a logging crew who heard him moaning, according to a statement from Redwood Empire. The crew contacted emergency personnel, who transported Bryan to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Bryan's heart stopped during the helicopter ride to the hospital, and doctors there were unable to revive him.

Earth First! said Bryan, who went by the activist name Naya, had arrived in Santa Cruz last Monday, where he contacted members of Earth First! Santa Cruz. He said he had participated in other Earth First! protests in other areas, and asked to participate in the protest against Redwood Empire's activities in Ramsey Gulch, outside Corralitos, California.

By Wednesday morning, Bryan was dead.

Earth First! representatives said they were shocked at the news, and puzzled by how the accident could have happened. The loggers who found Bryan said he was not wearing a harness, though all Earth First! tree sitters are instructed to remain in their harnesses and clipped to a safety tether at all times. They said Bryan told them his rope net had broken, a statement that has not been confirmed.

"This tragic accident should not have happened," Redwood Empire said in a statement. "The man and others were illegally trespassing upon private property for which there is a state approved harvest for second growth trees."

The company said it was surprised by "the apparent lack of training and disregard for safety considerations by these tree sitters and their supporters which would result in an untethered person falling from a tree."

Redwood Empire has defended its logging activities as environmentally sound. Critics of the Ramsey Gulch project say the site's steep slope could lead to erosion if the stabilizing trees are removed, which could damage the watershed below.

Earth First! Santa Cruz has scheduled a memorial service for October 19.

Suit Challenges Plans to Destroy Prairie Dog Colony

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), Defenders of Wildlife, The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and others charge that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) improperly approved a plan by the city of Lubbock to eradicate up to 50,000 prairie dogs in a misdirected effort to address the city's growing groundwater problems.

The colony on the Lubbock Land Application Site (LLAS) has been at the heart of a statewide controversy since June, when TCEQ declared that prairie dogs were a threat to groundwater underneath the site, and ordered their removal. The city responded with a "compliance plan" featuring "chemical and/or concussive control" to exterminate the colony.

The state's wildlife experts condemned the plan. In September, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department fired off a critical letter stating that "TCEQ admitted having no evidence that prairie dogs were creating problems at the LLAS," and asked the agency to "revise" its notice of violation to the city.

To date TCEQ has ignored these pleas, along with multiple attempts by local conservation organizations to suggest alternative plans that would not threaten prairie dog populations.

The suit, filed in Travis County Superior Court, cites the absence of scientific study to support the plan and demands a halt to the prairie dog removal action.

"When the gas clears and there are 200,000 pounds of dead prairie dogs in the ground, Lubbock's water will still be polluted," said Texas PEER director Scott Royder. "We hope that this lawsuit will force the city to admit that the 14 million gallons of wastewater dumped daily is the true contamination source."

Black-tailed prairie dogs are considered a candidate species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Three years ago, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided that full threatened species protection for the dogs was "warranted but precluded," meaning that, while scientific data justifies listing, the agency did not have the resources to do so.

Large scale eradication efforts have imperiled the black-tailed prairie dog in Texas. More than 150 species of plants and wildlife are associated with black-tailed prairie dogs, and many of these are declining as well.

"It is outrageous that the TCEQ would allow the mass carnage of ecologically important prairie dogs on state lands that will inevitably lead to the deaths of other wildlife species such as the imperiled burrowing owl," said Defenders of Wildlife's vice president William Snape.

Getting Rid of Mold Easier with New EPA Guide

"A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home" provides information to homeowners and renters on how to clean up residential mold problems and how to prevent mold growth.

There are more than 100,000 species of mold. Mold is most likely to grow where there is water or dampness - such as in bathrooms and basements.

"Molds have the potential to cause health problems and allergic reactions such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rash," said EPA Administrator Christie Whitman. "If you already have a problem, act quickly, mold damages what it grows on, the longer it grows the more damage it can cause."

Molds are part of the natural environment that help to break down dead organic matter such as fallen leaves and dead trees. Even though molds are usually not a problem indoors, they can have the potential to cause problems if spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing.

Molds produce tiny spores to reproduce that can grow on wood, paper, carpet and foods. When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed.

Stachybotrys is a type of mold that has been associated with severe health effects in people. This greenish-black mold can grow on materials with a high cellulose content such as drywall sheetrock, dropped ceiling tiles, and wood that become moist or water damaged, due to excessive humidity, water leaks, condensation, or flooding.

Many molds are black in appearance but are not Stachybotrys. The black mold commonly found between bathroom tiles is not Stachybotrys, which can be positively identified only by trained professionals through a microscopic exam.

If mold is a problem in a home, the homeowner should clean up the mold promptly and fix the water problem. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth.

People cleaning mold should be allergy free. Small areas of mold should be cleaned using a detergent solution and thoroughly dried. Gloves should be worn during cleaning, and any sponges or rags used to clean mold should be discarded.

The guide is online at: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/moldresources.html

Electronics Recycling Works in Mid-Atlantic States

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in partnership with state environmental agencies in the mid-Atlantic region, announced the results of eCycling, the nation's first of a kind partnership to promote reuse and recycling of old computer equipment, televisions and electronics.

"We are proud to bring recycling to the electronic age. By safely recycling old computer and electronic equipment, this project is paving the way to sustainable eCycling and helping to save precious landfill space," said Donald Welsh, the EPA's mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Using funds from the EPA, mid-Atlantic state environmental agencies, and manufacturers Panasonic, Sharp, Sony and other members of the Electronic Industries Alliance, eCycling prevented more than 21,000 cathode ray tubes (CRTs) from going into regional landfills and incinerators.

eCycling is a year long pilot project to evaluate different methods of collecting end of life electronics from residents and small businesses. The project is intended to reveal the costs and the best processes for electronics recycling, and define the roles and responsibilities of government, consumers, and electronics manufacturers, retailers and recyclers.

Electronic equipment collected during 45 eCycling drop off events in 31 counties and cities included televisions, monitors, computers, printers, keyboards and scanners. Both government and manufacturers shared the cost to transport and process the equipment collected through eCycling.

Other electronics manufacturers who contributed financially to eCycling included Canon, Hewlett Packard, JVC, Kodak, Philips Consumer Electronics - North America, and Thomson Multimedia.

Electronics recyclers who helped to transport, recycle, and refurbish three million pounds of eCycling electronics were Envirocycle, Inc., Elemental, Inc., and Waste Management, Inc. - Recycle America.

In a meeting held in the EPA regional office in Philadelphia on October 9, these government and industry partners agreed to continue offering mid-Atlantic residents electronics reuse and recycling opportunities for another year, and to try recruiting additional television and computer manufacturers to join eCycling.

American Chestnuts Waged Chemical Warfare

Research by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), Clemson University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill tested the effects of fallen chestnut leaves on five tree species that once competed with the American chestnut before chestnut blight destroyed almost all of the great trees.

"American chestnut reached its greatest size and stand density in the southern Appalachians, where it may have taken up almost 50 percent of the forest canopy," said USFS Southern Research Station ecologist Barry Clinton. "Chestnut's dominance has traditionally been attributed to its rapid growth rate, resistance to rot and fire, and ability to thrive on poor soil. Our experiments show that allelopathy may also have contributed to its dominance."

Allelopathy is the secretion by plants of chemicals that inhibit the growth or reproduction of competing plant species. Black walnut is a prime example of allelopathy: the tree produces the chemical Juglone, which suppresses the growth of trees, shrubs, and other vegetation.

Other allelopathic trees include sycamore, eucalyptus and hackberry.

Clinton and his fellow researchers tested the effects of an extract made from the leaves of young American chestnut trees on the seeds of red maple, eastern white pine, eastern hemlock, yellow-poplar, and the native shrub rosebay rhododendron. Under laboratory conditions, the researchers found that the extracts inhibited the germination of eastern hemlock and rosebay rhododendron.

Eastern hemlock is a major species along the mountain streams of the Southern Appalachians. Rosebay rhododendron has become the dominant shrub on moist sites, where it interferes with hardwood regeneration and threatens the diversity of cove forests.

"Our results suggest that chestnut may have had a controlling effect on rhododendron germination and growth in the past," said Clinton, "and that the rapid encroachment of this shrub in the 20th century may be largely due to the end of the tree's allopathic influence."

A report on the study is available at: http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/pubs/viewpub.jsp?index=4723