[enviro] AmeriScan: December 8, 2000
Mark Graffis
FOREST SERVICE HALTS LOGGING IN SEVEN NATIONAL FORESTS
WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - The U.S. Forest Service
(USFS) has suspended logging on 34 sites in seven national forests
located in Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi and Arkansas. The action
came in response to a lawsuit filed by Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund
on behalf of the Sierra Club and other environmental groups. "We are
quite pleased that these sensitive areas of our national forests - and
the animals and plants that live in them - are now going to be
protected from clearcutting and other destructive logging practices,"
said Eric Huber, attorney for Earthjustice. The suit argued that
current logging practices, if allowed to continue, would cause serious
harm to a range of wildlife in the region. The 11th Circuit Court of
Appeals in Atlanta had already concluded, after a previous suit filed
by Earthjustice, that the USFS did not maintain adequate data about
rare wildlife species that live in the Chattahoochee National Forest
in Georgia.
This victory expands that ruling to the USFS' s 13 state southern
region. "The bottom line here is that wildlife, such as wood warblers
and various darters and other fish, will now have a fighting chance to
recover without constant attacks on their habitats," Huber said.
"Clearcutting wipes out forests and destroys important habitat for
wildlife. Hopefully the Forest Service will now follow through and
withdraw the other 22 timber sales they are still trying to defend in
this suit." This week's action will ban logging in 21 areas on the
Chattahoochee and Oconee National Forests in Georgia; 10 areas on the
Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee; five areas on the Bienville,
Homochitto and DeSotto National Forests in Mississippi; and seven
areas on the Ouachita National Forest in Arkansas. "The Forest Service
is supposed to be in the business of conserving our national
treasures, not selling them off to the top bidders," said Rene Voss of
the Sierra Club board of directors. Joining Sierra Club as plaintiffs
in the suit were the John Muir Project of Earth Island Institute, Wild
South, Wild Alabama, Southern Appalachian Biodiversity Project,
Friends of Georgia, Rabun County Coalition to Save the Forests,
Cherokee Forest Voices, Forest Conservation Council and Ouachita Watch
League.
* * *
PESTICIDES HARM CALIFORNIA AMPHIBIANS
SACRAMENTO, California, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Scientists have
confirmed that agricultural contaminants may be an important factor in
amphibian declines in California. A study by scientists of the U.S.
Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that
organophosphorus pesticides from agricultural areas, which are
transported to the Sierra Nevada on prevailing summer winds, may be
affecting populations of amphibians that breed in mountain ponds and
streams. Population declines in threatened red-legged frogs, foothills
yellow-legged frogs, mountain yellow-legged frogs and Yosemite toads
have occurred in California over the last 10 to 15 years, but no
single cause for these declines has been identified. Many of these
declines occurred in some of the state's most pristine areas. Declines
have been drastic in the Sierra Nevada, which lie east of the
agricultural San Joaquin Valley.
"While crucial to the agriculture industry, pesticides by their very
nature can result in serious harm to wildlife both by directly killing
animals and through more subtle effects on reproduction, development
and behavior," said Dr. Donald Sparling, a research biologist and
contaminants specialist at the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS)
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. "Unfortunately, now there appears
to be a close correlation between declining populations of amphibians
in the Sierra Nevada and exposure to agricultural pesticides." The
scientists found proof that pesticides are being absorbed by frogs in
both aquatic and terrestrial systems and are suppressing an enzyme
called cholinesterase, which is essential for the proper functioning
of the nervous system. "Melting of pesticide contaminated snow could
provide a pulse of toxic chemicals at a critical time in the life
history of these frogs," said Dr. Gary Fellers, a research biologist
and amphibian specialist at the USGS Western Ecological Research
Center. The research is detailed in an article accepted by the journal
"Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry."
* * *
RARE MUSSEL FOUND IN CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER AFTER 150 YEARS
ATLANTA, Georgia, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - The purple bankclimber, a
threatened freshwater mussel, has been found in the Chattachoochee
River for the first time in about 150 years. Carson Stringfellow, an
environmental consultant and part time environmental studies
instructor at Columbus State University who specializes in freshwater
mussels, documented the presence of the mussel in October. "When I
first saw it I was looking straight down on the top, and I thought it
was a washboard," said Stringfellow, referring to one of the six other
mussel species that he has documented in this section of the river.
"But when I reached down and picked it up, I immediately knew it
wasn't. I thought, Oh my, that's a purple bankclimber!"
Stringfellow recorded the physical description of the mussel and took
digital photographs from many different angles, which he sent to Dr.
Jim Williams, a mussel biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. "I
couldn't believe after all these years that a purple bankclimber could
still be in the Chattahoochee," said Williams. "I immediately looked
back through historical records, and found only two other records of a
purple bankclimber in the Chattahoochee - and the most recent one was
from about 1850." But Bob Butler, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service who is writing a recovery plan for the purple
bankclimber and several other southeastern mussel species, says it is
too early to tell whether the discovery of this individual mussel is
significant to the recovery of the species. "A single individual does
not mean there is a viable population," said Butler. "We need to
conduct surveys to find out if there are more individuals, and if they
are recruiting young individuals into the population. Mussels can live
over 50 years, so this could just be an individual that has survived
since before the dams were constructed in the 1900's."
* * *
$1.2 MILLION SUPPORTS INTERNATIONAL SUSTAINABLE ENERGY PROJECTS
WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - A new Hemispheric Sustainable
Energy Fund (HSEF) will help prepare and define sustainable energy
projects throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. The $1.25 million
fund was announced by U.S. Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and
Interamerican Development Bank (IDB) president Enrique Iglesias at a
meeting of the IDB's executive directors. It enables the creation of a
multi-million-dollar 'family of funds' to help move sustainable energy
projects from the idea stage into marketable operation. "This fund is
an important tool to help develop and evaluate clean energy projects,"
said Richardson. "These projects are key to economic growth and
improving environmental quality in developing countries."
"This is an important contribution for sustainable energy and
transportation projects and sets the stage for other countries to join
this effort," said Iglesias. Following last year's meeting of Western
Hemisphere energy ministers, the Department of Energy (DOE) and the
IDB formed a partnership to help clean energy projects in the region
access international financing. HSEF was developed to help these
projects to overcome financing difficulties by preparing and defining
projects that can be marketed and executed. HSEF will finance
consulting services for preparation of feasibility studies, market
analysis, financing mechanisms and project appraisals for projects
that use sustainable energy, renewable energy and clean energy
technologies. The IDB will administer the funds for eligible
institutions such as national and local governments, non-governmental
organizations and regional organizations. The DOE will have oversight
in the process.
* * *
CLEAN AIR ACT GETS 30 YEAR REVIEW
WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Environmental Defense has
released a report marking the 30th anniversary of the Clean Air Act.
In December 1970, this historic legislation was enacted to protect
public health by cleaning the nation's air. The report examines some
of the Act's groundbreaking successes and also focuses on the
particular problem of nitrogen oxides (NOX) air pollution, which has
increased by 3.5 million tons between 1970-98, a rise of 17 percent
since the Act was adopted. The report, "Building on 30 Years of Clean
Air Act Success: The Case for Reducing NOX Air Pollution," is
available at:
[26]http://www.environmentaldefense.org/programs/GRAP/CAAReport.PDF.
The Clean Air Act has reduced several major air pollutants while the
nation's economy has grown briskly, and gross domestic product has
risen by more than 114 percent, the report reveals. For example, since
1970, emissions of lead have been cut by 98 percent, due to the
national unleaded gasoline program. But at the same time, serious air
pollution challenges remain. "The Clean Air Act has been very
effective in producing a healthier environment for millions of
Americans, and we need to build from these successes in addressing the
serious air pollution challenges we face today," said Environmental
Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton. "It is critical that the
Environmental Protection Agency be allowed to finalize protective
emission standards to clean up the carcinogenic exhaust and NOX
(nitrogen oxides) pollution from large diesel trucks and buses, and
deliver healthier air to communities across the country. The Act's 30
year history has repeatedly shown that important steps can be taken to
protect our citizens' lungs without harming our nation's economy."
* * *
$5 MILLION DEVOTED TO NATIONAL PARK ACCESSIBILITY
WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - The National Park Service
(NPS) will dedicate $5 million from the Recreational Fee Demonstration
Program to improve accessibility throughout the National Park System
for the nation's 54 million citizens with disabilities. "This funding
will help provide much needed assistance for non-fee collecting park
units to make one-time accessibility corrections," said NPS Director
Robert Stanton. "These projects include modifications to buildings and
recreational facilities such as fishing piers, trails, wildlife
viewing platforms, and in hiking, boating and camping areas to provide
public access to these magnificent sites."
Parks that do not collect fees often do not have the revenue base to
implement accessibility modifications. By setting aside a portion of
the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program receipts for improving
accessibility, the NPS helps these parks to apply for money to
expedite accessibility projects. "The National Park Service is
committed to ensuring that all citizens, including those who have a
disability, are able to enter and enjoy all aspects of our national
parks," said Stanton. "This has been a particularly high priority for
the National Park Service since 1980 and is further reinforced and
supported in the recent Director's Order for Accessibility for
Visitors with Disabilities." The Recreational Fee Demonstration
Program allows federal land management agencies such as the National
Park Service to charge fees at selected demonstration park units. The
agencies retains all of the recreational fees and can use them to
address high priority maintenance, infrastructure, resource management
and visitor service needs. Some groups object to the fees, saying that
taxpayers already pay to support the management and maintenance of
public lands.
* * *
CONNECTICUT BOASTS EIGHT NEW NATURAL AREA PRESERVES
HARTFORD, Connecticut, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Connecticut Governor
John Rowland has designated eight parcels of state owned land as
Natural Area Preserves, a special designation to protect the unique
ecological characteristics and species of an area. The parcels,
totaling 1192 acres, raise the amount of Natural Area Preserves in
Connecticut to more than 6,700 acres. The eight areas are Bluff Point
in Groton, Duck Island in Westbrook, Gold's Pines in Cornwall, Roger
Tory Peterson Wildlife Area in Old Lyme, Lord Cove in Lyme/Old Lyme,
Matianuck Sand Dunes in Windsor, Merrick Brook in Scotland, and Sandy
Brook in Colebrook. "This is another major step toward better
stewardship of our land for future generations," Rowland said,
"Today's designations will forever preserve the environmental balance
in several key areas of our state."
The Natural Area Preserve designation requires a detailed management
plan for each preserve to protect each Preserve's unique species and
communities. The designation allows only non-motorized recreation. The
Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will not develop roads or
permanent structures on the sites. Access trails and simple paths may
be developed and maintained to direct visitors to areas appropriate
for scenic, scientific, educational and recreational uses. Hunting and
fishing will continue where they are now allowed. To become part of
Connecticut's Natural Area Preserve System, an area must be an area of
land or water containing species or features of biological,
scientific, educational, geological, paleontological or scenic value
worthy of preservation in their natural condition. "Each preserve has
specific quality, be it scenic landscape or critical habitat, which is
essential to the survival of a number of threatened or endangered
species," said DEP commissioner Arthur Rocque, Jr.
* * *
YOSEMITE CONCESSIONS OPERATOR HONORED FOR RECYCLING PROGRAMS
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, California, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Yosemite
Concession Services Corporation (YCS) was named one of the Top 10
companies in California for its outstanding waste reduction, recycling
and reuse practices. YCS, an authorized concessionaire for the
National Park Service, received the "Waste Reduction Awards Program
(WRAP) of the Year" award from members of the California Environmental
Protection Agency's Integrated Waste Management Board. Ten businesses
are selected each fall for their dedication to reducing waste, finding
creative reuses for materials that might otherwise end up in
landfills, and preventing additional waste through good environmental
and business practices. YCS has earned WRAP award recognition for
eight consecutive years since the program's inception. "We're glad to
recognize the creative and innovative efforts of these companies to
cut down on the trash they produce," said Waste Board member Dan
Eaton.
YCS diverts 41 percent of waste from its facilities through the Waste
Diversion Programs. The company has formed a managerial Green Team to
develop new environmental initiatives and operating procedures,
several of which already have been instituted. YCS recycles 25
different materials, including items such as fluorescent lamps, Freon,
propane canisters, kitchen grease and automotive fluids. YCS
accommodations encourage the voluntary reuse of linens and towels.
Recycling containers for glass, aluminum, plastic and paper are
standard in guests' rooms and throughout YCS operated facilities. "It
takes the efforts of all of our employees, managers, and front line
personnel to operate a comprehensive recycling and waste reduction
program, and we're very proud to receive this award," said YCS
president Cindy Bower. "Recycling is an everyday standard at YCS, and
we continue to generate ideas and develop procedures that will reduce
the amount of resources we use and the amount of waste we produce. We
strive to serve as a model for other companies and park operators."
* * *
WILD SEED POACHERS HIT HANFORD REACH
RICHLAND, Washington, December 8, 2000 (ENS) - Federal law enforcement
officers have uncovered an illegal harvest of sagebrush seed on the
Hanford Reach National Monument /Saddle Mountain National Wildlife
Refuge, located in south central Washington. U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS) officers encountered individuals in the process of
harvesting seed on Monument lands, then traced the activity to a local
contractor and seed company. No arrests have yet been made. The
investigation is continuing, with leads being pursued on other public
and private lands regionwide.
Disturbing or removing plants, animal, minerals, and cultural and
historic artifacts is prohibited on public land. Violators may receive
fines up to $5000.00 and/or six months in jail. Large wildfires across
shrub-steppe habitats and subsequent vegetation replanting needs have
prompted increased demand for native seed throughout the western U.S.
"Native seed is a hot commodity in the marketplace right now," said
FWS biologist Heidi Brunkal. "However, if the seed is not collected
under the right circumstances with proper technique, it will not
germinate. As a result of this illegal operation, many healthy
sagebrush plants were damaged and much of the harvested seed is
unusable." About 1,500 pounds of illegally harvested seed have been
recovered so far. Any salvagable seed will be used in future
vegetation restoration projects. The Monument consists of about
195,000 acres of the Department of Energy's Hanford Site, and includes
some of largest remaining undisturbed shrub-steppe habitats in the
Columbia Basin. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the
majority of the Monument under agreement with the Department of
Energy.