 |
| |
 |
Tracking
Birth Defects
One in every 28 infants born in the United States is born with some
type of birth defect -- approximately 150,000 babies each year.
Because some birth defects are less visibly noticeable than others,
research that enables early detection and treatment of birth defects
is critical to providing viable care and a healthy future for these
children. The Trust for America's Health, a Washington, D.C.-based
advocacy group, notes that, "[b]ecause the causes of about
70% of all birth defects are unknown, the public continues to be
anxious about whether environmental pollutants cause birth defects,
developmental disabilities, or other adverse reproductive outcomes."
Data collected through comprehensive registries can be used to help
researchers understand and potentially mitigate contributing health
and environmental factors. Because many birth defects necessitate
long-term care, they can place a great burden on state health and
welfare programs; registries are an effective way to help reduce
this burden. Cancer, which accounted for nearly 23% of all deaths
in the U.S. in 2001 and constituted the second highest cause of
death the same year, is another disease that is often undetectable
in early stages. Prevention, detection, and treatment can be greatly
informed by accurate, uniform, and reliable data collection. All
50 states in the U.S. currently have or are developing cancer registries.
Data collected by these registries are crucial to learning more
about the causes and effects of different types of cancers and the
risk factors, including environmental factors, associated with them.
Such information can be used to help communities and workers know
their cancer risks and possibly take steps to reduce those risks,
and help cancer treatment providers know where to focus their resources.
For more information, visit: http://www.serconline.org/trackingbirthdefects.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
Illinois
Legislature Passes Mercury Bill (NCEL 6/1)
http://www.ncel.net
On May 25, both houses of the Illinois legislature passed the Mercury
Reduction Act, SB 2551. The bill creates the Mercury-Containing
Products Act and is intended to help protect the state's citizens
from dangerous mercury contamination. Effective July 1, 2005, the
legislation will bar schools from purchasing elemental (metallic)
mercury, chemical mercury compounds, and mercury-added measuring
devises for use in classrooms. Beginning July 1, 2007, the bill
will prohibit the sale of most mercury thermostats, switches, and
relays, common in standard consumer products, although the ban will
not apply to the sale of replacement switches or relays for existing
equipment. Manufacturers of such items could petition the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency for exemption from the sales prohibition,
if they provide convincing evidence of an effective recycling program
for their products. In addition, the legislation will require the
Illinois Pollution Control Board to alter universal waste rules,
aiming to facilitate the collection and recycling of dangerous mercury-containing
products. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency will be asked
to submit a report by January 2005 outlining recommendations for
reducing and recycling mercury-containing thermostats and mercury-containing
vehicle components. At high levels, metallic mercury can cause serious
damage to the nervous system and is particularly harmful to pregnant
women and young children. Other forms of mercury can damage other
organs, particularly the kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. Even
at low levels, metallic mercury can cause health problems such as
tremors, changes in vision or hearing, insomnia, weakness, memory
loss, headache, irritability, shyness and nervousness, and a health
condition called acrodynia. For more information on the dangers
of mercury and how states are addressing those dangers, visit: http://www.serconline.org/mercury/pkg_frameset.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
Farm
Bureau, a Farmer's Friend or Foe? (E/Magazine March/April
04)
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?1384
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) presents itself as an
organization for small family farmers, but many of its actions suggest
otherwise. Even its touted membership of 5.4 million members is
coming into question -- the U.S. Department of Agriculture reports
only 2.3 million Americans meet the definition of being a farmer.
John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, says that
"the vast majority of members are people who just joined for
the insurance benefits," and these members have no say in AFBF
policy. Critics say that AFBF promotes a corporate, rather than
family, farm agenda, and allies itself with non-farm-related industries.
In recent years, the group has taken anti-environmental stances,
including endorsing major changes to the Endangered Species Act,
supporting the United States' withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol
global warming treaty, and opposing predator reintroductions. Interestingly,
there is little agreement regarding at what level the organization's
policies are made -- locally or nationally. The current president,
Bob Stallman, claims that AFBF's positions come from the grassroots
membership and states that he wishes he had more control over policy.
Hansen, however, charges that AFBF policies are dictated from the
Washington headquarters. Small farmers have been hit the most by
AFBF farming and trade policies. According to a 2000 Defenders of
Wildlife report, "Amber Waves of Gain," AFBF "is
allied with some of the nation's biggest agribusinesses,”
and has "large investments in the automobile, oil, and pesticide
industries." The environment most definitely takes a hit from
the American Farm Bureau. "It's no coincidence that the erosion
of family farm income parallels rapid species decline, water pollution,
and food chain toxicity," says Defenders' Scotty Johnson. It
seems clear from the Farm Bureau's positions that they are not a
friend of either the family farm or the environment. To read the
full Defenders report, visit: http://www.defenders.org/fb/awg.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
 |
Arizona:
Brush Clearing Tax Break Signed by Governor (Arizona
Daily Star 6/4)
http://www.dailystar.com/dailystar/news/24772.php
Arizona companies that locate in forest communities to help
clear out small trees and underbrush will get a tax break
under legislation signed into law on June 3. Governor Janet
Napolitano said that the measure approved by lawmakers does
not include all of the things she wanted. However, she said
it is part of what she hopes will become a more comprehensive
forest management plan next session. The legislation allows
firms that hire at least 20 new people to get a state corporate
or personal income tax credit that could be equal to up to
half of the salary paid to these workers. There are also sales
tax exemptions for the purchase of certain equipment. Backers
said the idea is to replace the state's now-defunct logging
industry with companies that process wood, helping to reduce
the fuel that feeds fires. Critics noted that only half of
what these companies harvest would have to be from small trees
and brush, with the rest potentially being larger trees if
they can get permission of the U.S. Forest Service. The measure
also seeks to create a market for some of what is manufactured
by requiring the state to contract to buy electricity generated
by the burning of "biomass" produced from forest
products. For more information on biomass, visit: http://www.serconline.org/biomassdefinition/index.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Delaware:
Bill Would Make Recycling Mandatory (Delaware News
Journal 6/3) http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/local/2004/06/03billmaymakerecy.html
Recycling would become mandatory for Delaware households,
with curbside pickups statewide, under draft legislation to
be released later this month. Draft versions of a feasibility
study supporting the plan will be made public next month.
Residents could pay for the service though county tax bills
or other county or municipal assessments. Haulers could be
assigned exclusive contracts by district or municipality to
pick up recyclable goods. Delaware has one of the East's lowest
residential recycling rates, estimated at only about a third
of the nationwide goal of 35 percent. Most household wastes
are recycled through a network of drop-off centers, under
a program that requires a yearly subsidy of roughly $3 million.
Release of the details of the pending legislative proposal
helped sidetrack a separate and more general bill, SB 245,
which would make recycling mandatory statewide and require
the authority to divert 30 percent of residential wastes from
landfills by July 1, 2007, up from the current 12 percent.
For further legislative resources on recycling, visit: http://www.serconline.org/bottlebill/index.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Hawaii:
New Law to Require Use of Renewable Energy (Honolulu
Advertiser 6/3)
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2004/Jun/03/ln/ln38a.html
On June 2, 2004, Governor Linda Lingle signed the "20/20"
bill into law. This legislation requires electric utilities
to generate at least twenty percent of their energy from renewables
by 2020. Currently, only seven percent of Hawaii's energy
is derived from renewable sources. Under the new bill, companies
will be forced to phase in renewable sources meeting targets
of 8 percent renewable energy sales by 2005, 10 percent by
2010, and 15 percent by 2015. Renewable energy is defined
as wind, solar, ocean, geothermal, waves, and conversion of
agricultural and other waste to energy. The bill is designed
to reduce the state's dependence on foreign oil. Environmentalists
have expressed concerns about loopholes afforded to companies.
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is charged with implementing
a rate structure by Dec. 31, 2006, and then determining impacts
on utility profit margins. PUC would also be responsible for
issuing temporary waivers if utilities are unable to meet
the new standards in a cost-effective manner. Under the bill,
companies failing to meet the goals can be fined as much as
$25,000 a day. Despite apparent loopholes, the burden will
fall on future administrations in seeing this bill come to
fruition. For more information on how your state can promote
renewable energy visit: http://www.serconline.org/RenewableEnergyIncentives/pkg_frameset.html
and http://www.serconline.org/RPS/pkg_frameset.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
West
Nile Buzzes in Early This Year (ENS 6/4)
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-02-04.asp
West Nile virus is appearing earlier this year than ever before,
according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. Last year, the first human
case of the virus was confirmed on July 8 in South Carolina.
This year, human cases already have been reported in Arizona
and New Mexico. Since it was first discovered in New York
in 1999, West Nile virus has killed more than 560 people in
the U.S. Last year was the first year the virus appeared in
regions west of the Continental Divide. West Nile virus is
transmitted when an infected mosquito bites a human to take
in blood. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected
birds, which may circulate the virus in their blood for a
few days. This year, infected animals or birds have been reported
by Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia,
Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said, "Public health
workers across the country have been preparing for this moment
for several months. It is impossible to predict what this
year's season will hold. Knowing how rapidly West Nile virus
spread last year, we urge everyone who spends time outdoors
to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites."
For more information on how your state can prepare or respond
to West Nile virus, visit: http://www.serconline.org/westNile.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
Florida:
Effort to Derail High Speed Train Hits Milestone (St.
Petersburg Times 6/2)
http://www.stpetetimes.com/2004/06/02/State/Derail_train_effort_h.shtml
Florida elections officials recently verified 55,000 signatures
on a petition submitted by Derail the Bullet Train, an organization
led by state Financial Officer Tom Gallagher. This is roughly
ten percent of the 489,000 signatures necessary to put the
group's proposal on the ballot. The proposed ballot measure
aims to repeal Florida's voter-mandated high-speed rail project.
In 2000, voters approved a ballot measure that ordered the
state to build a high-speed train, with links to various Florida
cities like Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami. Gallagher
and opponents of the high speed train, like Governor Jeb Bush,
argue that the cost of the project is too high and back the
repeal drive. Not only does Florida law require at least half
a million petition signatures to get the issue before the
voters, but the initiative also needs to be evaluated by the
state high court to ensure that it focuses on only one subject
and is fairly described in the title and summary. This review
is enacted when groups produce ten percent of the signatures
needed. Gallagher and Derail the Bullet Train have until August
3 to produce all the necessary verified signatures to get
on the November 2 ballot. |
| back
to top |
| |
Oregon
Governor Supports Ocean Commission Report (Statesman
Journal 6/4)
http://news.statesmanjournal.com/article.cfm?i=81385
Governor Ted Kulongoski told the U.S. Commission on Ocean
Policy last week that he supports the creation of a trust
fund to provide $4 billion per year to protect oceans and
coastlines, but he warned against providing incentives for
development that threatens the environment.
Governor Kulongoski's comments came in Oregon's formal response
to the commission's draft report issued in April on the state
of the nation's oceans and coastal areas. Among the commission's
recommendations was creation of a trust fund from $4 billion
per year in royalties on oil and gas development. Governor
Kulongoski said the single most important action was to reauthorize
and strengthen the National Coastal Zone Management Act, which
has protected local interests in a flexible framework for
working with state and federal authorities. The governor said
that he strongly supports the commission's emphasis on a watershed
and ecosystem approach to protecting, managing, and restoring
coastlines and oceans, and the creation of a National Ocean
Council and Presidential Council of Advisors on Ocean Policy.
He also supported recommendations to broaden representation
on federal fishery management councils, which set ocean fishing
seasons and quotas and now are dominated by the fishing industry,
and increase funding to states to help them handle the immense
workload generated by the fisheries councils. |
| back
to top |
| |
Illinois
Legislature Passes Updated Building Efficiency Standards (ELPC
May newsletter)
http://www.elpc.org/
On May 20th, the Illinois General Assembly passed the Illinois
Energy Efficient Commercial Building Act, HB 4099, which now
goes to Gov. Rod Blagojevich for final approval. The new code
will apply to all commercial, industrial, and multi-unit residential
buildings, but not single-family homes. It requires all new
construction or substantial rehab of such existing buildings
to meet the International Energy Conservation Code standards.
Implementing energy efficiency strategies during the new construction
and major rehab stage is by far the most cost-effective way
to reduce energy consumption and encourage investment in new
technologies. According to the Environmental Law and Policy
Center, this strategy is the single most important policy
step that a state can take to increase energy efficiency in
buildings and reduce pollution through avoided electric power
and natural gas use. Illinois is the largest energy consuming
state in the nation without a statewide energy efficient building
code, and one of only twelve states with no energy code for
commercial construction. For more information on energy efficiency
and building codes, visit: http://www.serconline.org/efficiencystandards/pkg_frameset.html. |
| back
to top |
| |
EPA
Will Not Fine Municipal Polluters If Improvements Made (Greenwire
6/4)
http://www.eenews.net/Greenwire/Backissues/060404/060404gw.htm#1
State governments can waive penalties for municipal governments
that violate the nation's environmental laws, if local leaders
agree to develop detailed environmental management systems
(EMSs) to avoid future problems, according to a new U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) policy -- Small Local Governments
Compliance Assistance Policy -- announced last week. While
often overlooked as significant polluters, local governments
are responsible for many of the nation's largest point-source
pollution problems, especially to water. Municipally-owned
wastewater treatment plants, for example, release millions
of tons of treated sewage daily into the nation's waterways.
Some municipalities also own and operate coal-burning electric
power utilities, while others manage solid waste incinerators
and landfills that can release pollutants to the air and groundwater
supplies. To ensure that local governments adopt environmental
systems consistent with EPA standards, the new policy contains
17 requirements for governments to meet under EMSs, in order
to receive penalty waivers. These include providing statements
of local governments' environmental effects, establishing
specific pollution reduction goals and targets, and identifying
government actions to achieve pollution reduction goals. Local
governments also must train and assign staff to handle environmental
problems, develop communications strategies for those employees,
and compile lists of corrective actions when in violation
federal environmental laws. |
| back
to top |
|
|
