 |
| Modules | |
| Big Story of Today | |
|
There isn't a Biggest Story for Today, yet. | |
| Old Articles | |
|
There isn't content right now for this block. | |
| |
 | Guam: Guam Military Plans Would Restrict Public from Hiking Land |
 Five natural sites in Guam will become more difficult, impossible, or illegal to visit when the military buildup arrives in Guam. Guam Boonie Stompers, a hiking group, is offering a series of hikes in January to take as many people as possible to the places before DoD makes use of the areas. The group hopes charmed hikers will join their cause to preserve the local access residents now have. Among the sites is Pagat Cave, a sinkhole and stone cavern in Yigo filled with waist-deep water, where locals and tourists swim and explore almost every day. An ancient Chamorro village once drew fresh water from the cave, and artifacts can be found on the ground. A firing range is planned for right next to the cave. Because of the military buildup, DoD will acquire or convert large tracts of land for its increased needs. There are lots of hiking sites on the land, three of which (Pagat Cage, Ague Cove, and the Lajuna area) are on land that the public will lose access to. Access to Mount Lamlam and other southern mountains won’t be significantly restricted, but it may be in the future.
Guam Pacific Daily News: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Tuesday, December 29 @ 13:45:05 EST (95 reads)
(Read More... | 1683 bytes more | Guam | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Del Sur Honored for Water Efficiency |
Early this November the community of Del Sur, located in northern San Diego, was honored for its outstanding water conservation efforts. Del Sur is the first private community to receive the water efficiency award. It was presented to the community at the California Water Policy 18 conference by POWER, Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform. “This prestigious award helps demonstrate that Del Sur is a good steward on its water resources and reinforces that the environmental community sees us as a viable partner in the quest for sustainable living and efficient water use in new home development,” said Fred Maas, president and CEO of Black Mountain Ranch LLC, developer of the residential community. The 1800-acre community of Del Sur has adopted green standards for any development in the community. This includes hot water recirculation; drought-tolerant landscaping; low-flow toilets, faucets, and showerheads; and a community-wide reclaimed-water irrigation system. Del Sur has plans to expand by adding close to 3,000 homes, business space, a transit center, schools, a fire station and more than 2,000 acres of open space. The developer for the project, Black Mountain LLC, has received numerous “green” awards, including a Platinum LEED Certification for Del Sur’s ranch house.
Market Watch: Article
|
|
|
Posted by Becca on Tuesday, November 25 @ 09:09:20 EST (380 reads)
(Read More... | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Everglades-Sugar Buyout Changes Made |
After five months of negotiation, Florida has developed a “lite” version of the U.S. Sugar Corp buyout. The state will still purchase the sugar company’s extensive land for Everglades restoration, but the company will now keep the high-tech sugar mill in Clewiston, a citrus processing plant, and a railroad. These changes will allow the company to stay in business and will reduce the cost of the buyout. Environmentalists say that these new terms won’t alter the benefits, and in fact may make the deal simpler. It would call for the state to buy 182,000 acres of U.S. Sugar lands and lease the property back to the firm for at least 6 years, phasing out fields as Everglades restoration projects are built. U.S. Sugar would retain ownership of 5,000 acres (most of them containing mills, plants, and railroads), allowing them to stay in business and save jobs. Florida Crystals, the region’s other major sugar grower, owns land in a key spot between the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. The land would be necessary to construct reservoirs and pollution-filtering marshes to restore the flow of clean water into the Everglades, but water managers have some other concepts for getting around the need for land swaps.
Miami Herald: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Tuesday, November 18 @ 09:32:27 EST (436 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 5)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Green Space Narrows Health Gap between Socioeconomic Groups |
A study released on Friday shows that parks, playing fields, and forests narrow health gaps between the rich and poor. The head researcher of the study, from the University of Glasgow, says that the impacts of green space are much bigger than previously thought and that the government needs to promote green space and outdoor recreation. The study was conducted by dividing England into five sections based on the amount of adjacent green areas and then comparing death rates between the rich and poor. The health gap (measured by death rates) between the richest and poorest were about half as big in the greenest areas as opposed to the least-green areas.
Reuters: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Tuesday, November 18 @ 09:31:00 EST (453 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Green Movement: Bush's Ocean Protection Plan Criticized, in Jeopardy |
President Bush’s plan to protect two huge areas of the Pacific Ocean from fishing and mineral exploitations is running into resistance. The original plan for four potential “marine monuments” has been scaled back, but officials are still trying to execute a plan to protect diverse underwater ecosystems. Vice President Cheney and officials of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands fear the plan would hurt the region’s economy. Laura Bush and environmentalists are pulling for the conservation, pointing out that the region’s natural attributes could attract tourism.
Washington Post: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, November 10 @ 08:07:54 EST (402 reads)
(Read More... | 1146 bytes more | Green Movement | Score: 5)
|
|
|
| Animal Protection: Beluga Whales in Alaska Get Protection |
The administration named the beluga whale in Alaska’s Cook Inlet an endangered species. NOAA will now conduct a research effort to find out why the species is on the decline and whether human activities need to be cut to protect its habitat. The Cook Inlet beluga population is now about 375, as opposed to 1,300 in the 1970s, due to subsistence hunting. Between 1999 and 2006, beluga whale hunting was limited to just five, but the population has continued to decline by about 1.5 percent annually (as opposed to a predicted growth of 2–4 percent annually). It is believed that killer whales, a predator, may be a factor in the decline, in addition to underwater noise, contamination, and a decline in the salmon population, which is a food source for beluga whales. Alaska’s four other beluga whale populations are not classified as endangered. Cook Inlet is about 10 square miles in area.
Washington Post: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, October 27 @ 11:20:36 EDT (315 reads)
(Read More... | Animal Protection | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Water Issues: Appeals Court Rules EPA Must Limit Construction-Water Pollution |
A federal appeals court ruled that the EPA is obligated to protect the nation’s waterways, beaches, and drinking water from pollution caused by real estate development under the Clean Water Act. The agency will need to set standards for limiting construction runoff by the end of next year. Nine years ago the EPA began work on setting limits for building-site runoff but then reversed course and eliminated construction from the list of activities it regulates. The Natural Resources Defense Council sued the EPA in 2004 for failing to set effluent limits for builders.
Los Angeles Times: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, October 20 @ 10:49:56 EDT (365 reads)
(Read More... | Water Issues | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Water Issues: Rainwater Collectors Work to Ease Shortages |
The harvesting of rainwater dates back to the American frontier and before that, to the Roman Empire. Now, with the current drought in California and other states, collecting rainwater is making a comeback. On average, one person uses 101 gallons daily, and combining that with agricultural and industrial use of water brings the total to 1,430 gallons of water per person daily. In California this spring was the driest it has been in 114 years, so the government is doing what it can to promote rainwater collection. This fall San Francisco will be spending $100,000 dollars on how-to workshops and offering rebates and discounts on rainwater collection equipment.
Associated Press: Article
|
|
|
Posted by Becca on Monday, September 08 @ 10:47:52 EDT (428 reads)
(Read More... | Water Issues | Score: 5)
|
|
|
| Green Movement: New Certification for Commercial Kitchens |
FoodServiceWarehouse.com, an online kitchen equipment retailer, recently launched a Going Green program to give restaurant operators the chance to meet LEED standards and the opportunity to save money during a time when rising food costs are threatening restaurants’ ability to operate. The FoodServiceWarehouse has asked Energy Star and the U.S. Green Building Council to compile a list of efficient kitchen equipment and supplies for a new green catalog that will make it simple for restaurants operators to find everything they need in one place. In addition to the catalog, FoodServiceWarehouse is also developing a Green Certification System that will evaluate water and energy conservation, waste reduction, green cleaning, and education. Restaurants operators can apply for free certification from FoodServiceWarehouse, and those who purchase their efficient equipment from the company will earn money-saving rewards.
Green Biz: Article
|
|
|
Posted by Becca on Monday, August 25 @ 09:11:54 EDT (431 reads)
(Read More... | Green Movement | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Water Issues: Long Beach Slashes Water Use, Offers Efficiency Rebates |
In late 2007, The Long Beach Board of Water Commissioners issued a Declaration of Imminent Water Supply Shortage. In response to the water shortage, the commissioners thought of new ways to get businesses and residents involved in saving water. The Board’s first step was to place water restrictions on outdoor usage. Once the restrictions were in place they began to think more creatively of ways to get residents and businesses to conserve. They constructed a 10-step conservation plan; offered generous rebates to companies that used low-flow appliances and water saving landscaping; and placed ads on the Internet, in newspapers, and on television to emphasize how important it is to conserve in a time of drought. The hard work paid off: the water usage in Long Beach is 13 percent lower in July 2008 than it was in July 2007 and 16.1 percent lower than the 10-year average.
Green Biz: Article
|
|
|
Posted by Becca on Monday, August 25 @ 09:08:43 EDT (387 reads)
(Read More... | Water Issues | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Real Estate Slump Benefits Conservation Deals |
Decreasing property values is good news to conservation groups, as thousands of historic and scenic properties may become more readily available. The Trust for Public Land has preserved almost 1,000 acres that was slated for housing development in Georgia, New Hampshire, Oregon, Minnesota, and Massachusetts since last fall. Permanently protecting land from development also typically drives up the value of property nearby. Many conservation groups, including the Land Trust Alliance and The Nature Conservancy, are watching regional markets for opportunities to buy prime real estate from worried landowners as prices per acre decrease.
Business Week: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, August 04 @ 08:49:43 EDT (406 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Green Movement: UC San Diego Will Generate 10 Percent of Its Own Power |
The University of California – San Diego is in the process of implementing many environmentally sustainable projects that would make it the greenest campus in the country. UC San Diego is in the process of generating 7.4 megawatts of green energy—which would provide 10 to 15 percent of its own electrical use—by using solar energy, methane gas, and wind power. It is also conducting many experiments on developing biofuels from algae and wood debris. The university will eventually be able to produce enough energy to power 4,500 homes, and this amount of renewable energy would have the same beneficial effect as removing 1,500 cars from the road each year. This size project has never been attempted before on a campus, perhaps because of the sizable amount of money it would cost to carry out, but UC San Diego is completing this project cost free. The university has entered long-term contracts with three solar power companies that will provide, install, and maintain all the solar panels throughout the campus.
Environmental News Service: Article
|
|
|
Posted by Becca on Monday, July 21 @ 12:41:29 EDT (366 reads)
(Read More... | Green Movement | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Deal Could Open Montana Forestland to Development |
A deal struck between the U.S. Forest Service and Plum Creek Timber Co., a former logging company turned real estate investment trust, may allow hundreds of thousands of acres of mountain forestland to become residential subdivisions. The deal will allow logging roads running into areas controlled by Plum Creek to be paved – logging roads are typically restricted by the Forest Service – allowing easier access to deep-woods summer homes that are increasingly being built in the Montana wilderness. Plum Creek owns 1.2 million acres in Montana and over 8 million acres nationwide. Missoula County, MT, is threatening to sue the Forest Service for skipping environmental assessments or other measures that would have given the public a voice in the decision. Environmentalists are concerned that the forestland is looking more and more like a housing subdivision. Plum Creek’s shift from logging to real estate is part of a trend in the West and may have negative impacts on natural areas.
Washington Post: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, July 14 @ 08:58:32 EDT (380 reads)
(Read More... | 1808 bytes more | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Florida to Restore Everglades; Purchases Sugar Corp. |
On Tuesday the nation’s largest sugarcane producer agreed to sell its assets to Florida for $1.75 billion. United States Sugar will have six more years to farm before they turn their property over to the state, including 187,000 acres north of Everglades National Park, two sugar refineries, 200 miles of railroad, and some other assets. This will be Florida’s largest land acquisition ever and will be critical in the restoration of the Everglades. The natural flow of water will be restored, and about a million acre-feet of water storage will be gained. This amount of water is enough to keep the Everglades wet during a dry season. The hope is to return the wetland to its natural state.
New York Times: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, June 30 @ 10:30:33 EDT (379 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Congress May Protect Millions of Acres of Wilderness |
Congress has started a drive to protect about a dozen pristine areas around the country, and it is predicted that as many as 2 million acres could be protected under federal control by the end of the year (a total that is more than all the wilderness acreage set aside over the past five years). Twelve bills are expected to pass this year, and another seven have recently been introduced. All 12 of the bills slated for this year have bipartisan support. Several factors are driving this “wilderness renaissance,” including a shift in party control in Congress, environmentalists willing to make concessions to opposing interests, and community recognition that intact ecosystems can offer a greater economic payoff than industry. The bill to protect the Virginia Ridge and Valley (43,000 acres of wilderness) has passed the House.
The Washington Post: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, June 23 @ 09:09:10 EDT (772 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: National Park Service May Give Half of Badlands to Indian Tribe |
The southern half of Badlands National Park, South Dakota, may be given back to the Oglala Sioux tribe. The land was confiscated from the tribe by the U.S. military during WWII for use as an artillery range. Now the National Park Service is considering giving the 133,000-acre southern half of the Badlands National Park back to the tribe. The northern half will remain in the park system. Since 1930, the park service has disbanded 23 parks and historic sites, but this would be the first to be returned to a tribe. The transfer is still in early stages and would require congressional approval.
Los Angeles Times: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, June 16 @ 10:24:35 EDT (410 reads)
(Read More... | 1410 bytes more | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Administration Considering Unmatched Conservation Program |
The Bush administration may launch one of the largest conservation programs in U.S. history. The initiative would protect large areas of U.S. territorial waters from fishing, oil exploration, and other forms of commercial development. Details are still under review, but the proposal has strong support from conservationists and opposition from localities, industry groups, and some members of Congress. The law lets the president protect areas of “historic or scientific interest” under the Antiquities Act, which was used in 2006 to establish one of the world’s largest marine reserves around the northwestern Hawaiian Islands. “Marine monuments” can be established under the Antiquities Act without congressional approval.
NPR: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, June 02 @ 14:14:10 EDT (286 reads)
(Read More... | 1757 bytes more | Score: 0)
|
|
|
| Land Conservation: Wild Sky Wilderness in Washington Gets Congressional Approval |
Six years after first being introduced, a bill to create a wilderness area northeast of Seattle has cleared Congress. The Wild Sky Wilderness Area would be the first new federally designated wilderness area approved for Washington State since 1984. On Tuesday the House approved the bill to designate 167 square miles in Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest as federal wilderness. The measure includes 62 proposals on public lands nationwide and needs to be signed by President Bush to become law law. The administration has not taken a position on this bill so far. The wilderness designation would prevent development and other economic activity in the area.
Tri-City Herald: Article
|
|
|
Posted by elizabeth on Monday, May 05 @ 09:54:32 EDT (443 reads)
(Read More... | Land Conservation | Score: 0)
|
|
| |
|
|
