Complete list of press releases

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org
Vickie Patton, 720-837-6239, vpatton@edf.org

 (Washington, D.C. – April 13, 2012) The battle over clean air protections heads to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today, where a three-judge panel will hear arguments in lawsuits over the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.

The rule is designed to protect “downwind” states from pollution that is generated elsewhere – but then drifts across state borders.

“This rule provides extremely important clean air protections for children, families and communities across the eastern half of the United States,” said David Lifland, Legal Fellow for Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), which intervened in support of the rule. “The pollution reductions at stake today will save lives, and will protect Americans from asthma attacks, heart attacks and other serious health problems.”

EPA issued the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule under the “Good Neighbor” provision of the Clean Air Act, which prohibits emissions from state power plants that contribute significantly to harmful pollution levels in neighboring states. The rule reduces the sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen pollution emitted from coal-fired power plants across 28 eastern states. That pollution drifts across the borders of those states, contributing to dangerous — and sometimes lethal — levels of particulate and smog pollution in downwind states.

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule was adopted on July 6, 2011, and compliance with the rule was scheduled to begin January 1, 2012 – but several large power companies and some states, including Texas, sued to stop it. On December 30th, the court agreed to temporarily stay the rule pending further judicial review, and also called for an accelerated hearing schedule. (The same court similarly halted EPA’s first interstate air pollution protection program, and then later affirmed EPA’s action after a complete review of the facts and law).

EDF — together with the American Lung Association, the Clean Air Council, NRDC and Sierra Club — intervened in the case and submitted a brief in support of EPA. Nine states (Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, and Vermont), the District of Columbia, and five major cities (Baltimore, Bridgeport, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia) also intervened in support of EPA; they filed a brief emphasizing the importance of the rule for public health and Clean Air Act compliance in downwind jurisdictions. Several major power companies (Calpine, Exelon and Public Service Enterprise Group) also intervened in defense of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule. 

This morning, Judges Rogers, Griffith, and Kavanaugh will hear oral arguments in the case. Each of the three sets of intervenor groups supporting EPA will present oral arguments. Sean H. Donahue, counsel for EDF, will present arguments for the public health and environmental intervenors.

The Cross-State Air Pollution Rule would reduce power plant sulfur dioxide emissions by 73 percent and oxides of nitrogen by 54 percent from 2005 levels. These emissions and the resulting particulate pollution and ozone (more commonly known as soot and smog) impair air quality and harm public health — both near the plants and hundreds of miles downwind. While no one is immune to these impacts, children and the elderly are especially vulnerable. 

EPA estimates that the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, when fully implemented, will:

• Save up to 34,000 lives each year
• Prevent 15,000 heart attacks each year
• Prevent 400,000 asthma attacks each year
• Provide $120 billion to $280 billion in health benefits for the nation each year  

You can learn more about the state-by-state health protections of the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, and read the briefs that have been filed in the case, on EDF’s website.  

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund  

Contacts:
John Day, Mississippi River Delta Science and Engineering Special Team, 225-773-7165, johnday@lsu.edu
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601-642-7058, dringer@audubon.org
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202-550-6524, scrowley@edf.org
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225-253-9781, guidrye@nwf.org

(Baton Rouge, La.—April 11, 2012) Building a series of engineered structures called diversions along the lower Mississippi River will yield tens of billions of dollars in net annual benefits to the nation and hedge against future disasters, according to a new report co-authored by 22 prominent scientists and engineers.

The report, “Answering 10 Fundamental Questions about the Mississippi River Delta,” makes a scientific and economic case for restoring the Mississippi River Delta wetlands, which have shrunk in size by nearly 1,900 square miles since the 1930s. The report also makes the case for reengineering the aging lower Mississippi River flood-control and navigation systems, which are increasingly vulnerable to catastrophic failures.

“Our research reveals considerable consensus within and across scientific disciplines about how the Mississippi River Delta functions and what actions must be taken to ensure long-term sustainability,” the report says. “It is clear that immediate action is warranted and is essential to the future stability of our nation’s economy.”

The report projects annual losses to the United States of $41 billion dollars if the delta continues to collapse unchecked. Conversely, it estimates an annual net benefit of at least $62 billion if the delta can be maintained and expanded. The report also makes it clear that the only way to maintain delta wetlands in the long term is through the construction and operation of structures called diversions, which release water and sediment from the river into the wetlands, mimicking historical flows. The report concludes that the use of diversions will satisfy a number of interlocking demands.

The report is timely because the Louisiana legislature is currently considering the state’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan, which relies heavily on river diversions to turn the tide on the state’s ongoing land loss crisis. The plan lays out a 50-year vision for protecting and restoring the coast, including increased hurricane risk reduction for coastal communities and eventually reaching a net growth, rather than a net loss, of wetlands.

A recent telephone survey found that 67 percent of likely voters nationwide believe it is an “extremely” or “very” important priority for the federal government to take steps to restore the Mississippi River Delta and that overwhelming numbers (84 percent) believe the Mississippi River Delta and Gulf Coast affect the nation’s economy.

The Mississippi River Delta Science and Engineering Special Team, which produced the report, is a network of eminent scientists and engineers convened by the National Audubon Society, the Environmental Defense Fund and the National Wildlife Federation to provide objective and independent analysis pertaining to Mississippi River Delta restoration.

The report released this week is a precursor to scientific articles that will be published in peer-reviewed journals and a book slated for release in the coming months.

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What:

Three carbon market experts from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) will be participating in this week’s Navigating the American Carbon World (April 10-12), the leading carbon event in the climate policy and carbon market industry. 

Why:

In January 2013, California will be launching its cap-and-trade program, the first economy-wide program in the United States and the second largest carbon market in the world. Some experts have already labeled California’s program the best-designed program anywhere in the world, ever. This work further exemplifies California’s stature as a “first mover” on climate, continuing four decades of groundbreaking energy and environmental policies that have delivered billions of dollars worth of economic rewards. The work is not done though, and further developments are in progress to link with regional markets, create state-level initiatives related to Reducing Environmental Degradation and Destruction (REDD) in forests, and defend it against current and future legal challenges. A thriving, sustainable and scalable program here will ultimately prove that smart climate policy and economic growth go hand-in-hand.

Who and When:

EDF experts will be participating in the following panels:

·        On Wednesday, April 11^th, Eric Pooley, Senior Vice President for Strategy and Communications and author of the acclaimed book, The Climate War, will be moderating the plenary panel, “Guide Stars—State and National Leadership Across the Globe,” focused on the efforts and prospects for creating a network of trading programs and exploring linkages under a series of multi- and bi-lateral market linkages.

·        On Wednesday, April 11^th, Dr. Stephan Schwartzman, Director, Tropical Forest Policy, will be moderating a panel, “REDD Skies, Developing Sub-National REDD+ Policies,” that explores ongoing efforts to build sub-national carbon crediting policies and programs that reduce deforestation and link to markets in California and beyond.

·        On Thursday, April 12^th, Tim O’Connor, Director, California Climate and Energy Initiative, will be participating in the panel, “Rocky Shoals: Legal Issues Lurking in Shallow Water,” about current and future legal challenges to California’s program.

Where:

The Palace Hotel, 2 New Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94105

How: 

If you are interested in speaking with any of these experts before, during or after the conference, please contact Lori Sinsley, EDF, at 415-293-6097 (office), 415-902-8111 (mobile) or lsinsley@edf.org.

About EDF:

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org) is a leading national nonprofit organization that creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. Visit us on Twitter at @EnvDefenseFund and @EDF_CA, at our California blog, California Dream 2.0, and on Facebook at facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund. 

Contact: Jennifer Witherspoon, EDF Communications Director 415.293.6067

Captivate Network donates ad space in 43 buildings to time with environmental content

(San Francisco, Ca.- April 9, 2012) Starting today more than just avid bird watchers will have viewing access to the nest of San Francisco’s peregrine falcons, Dapper Dan and Diamond Lil, and their four falcon chicks nesting 33 stories above downtown San Francisco.

To time with Earth Day on April 22nd, the Captivate Network is running environmental content all month. EDF was granted a Public Service Announcement (PSA) to run for free in 43 buildings on 375 elevator screens from April 9 - April 29th. The PSA is expected to garner over 800,000 impressions and is worth approximately 18,000 dollars. The PSA can be viewed on YouTube. The PSA features some stunning photos by Glenn Nevill.

Environmental Defense Fund issued the PSA to raise awareness about the recovery of the peregrine falcons, using San Francisco’s nesting pair as emblems of wildlife recovery. EDF got its start in 1967 by working to ban the pesticide DDT that was weakening the egg shells of birds of prey, like the bald eagle and the peregrine falcon. To learn more about this environmental success story visit www.edf.org/falcons.

“It’s a wonderful daily reminder of why we do what we do,” said Lisa Moore, a scientist in the San Francisco office of the Environmental Defense Fund. “Every spring our office gets excited watching the peregrines fly right outside our office windows andwaiting for the chicks to hatch and later take flight. I hope that other San Franciscans get inspired by this environmental success story,” continued Moore.

EDF worked to get the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban DDT in 1972. The recovery of many bird populations, including peregrine falcons, can be seen today. While there were once only two breeding pairs of peregrine falcons in all of California, today more than 250 pairs thrive, according to the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group (SCPBRG).

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit www.edf.org/california. Follow us on Twitter @EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream.

Media Contact:
Mica Odom, 512-691-3451, modom@edf.org

Expert Contact:
Ramon Alvarez, 512-691-3408, ralvarez@edf.org
Steven Hamburg, 617-406-1832, shamburg@edf.org

(Washington, DC – April 9, 2012) A new scientific paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) offers an enhanced method for assessing climate impacts from natural gas development and use using a new approach called “Technology Warming Potential.”  Specifically, this approach reveals the inherent climatic trade-offs of different policy and investment choices involving electricity and transportation.  It illustrates the importance of accounting for methane leakage across the value chain of natural gas (i.e. production, processing and delivery) when considering fuel-switching scenarios from gasoline, diesel fuel and coal to natural gas.

A new methane leakage model released today, created by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and based on the science described in the PNAS paper, allows anyone to test a range of scenarios to quantify the climate benefits, or damages, of natural gas production and usage given specific methane leakage rates.  Users can vary the key system attributes independently to see how they affect net radiative forcing (the primary index used to quantify the effect of greenhouse gases [GHGs] on global temperatures) from U.S. emissions over time.

Natural gas burns cleaner than other fossil fuels when combusted, but methane leakage from production and transportation of natural gas has the potential to remove some or all of those benefits, depending on the leakage rate.  Methane is the main ingredient in natural gas and a greenhouse pollutant many times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO₂), the principal contributor to man-made climate change.  The paper uses the best available estimates on methane emissions from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  At the same time, EDF is working to obtain extensive empirical data on methane released to the atmosphere across the natural gas supply chain, since the climatic bottom line of fuel switching scenarios involving natural gas is very sensitive to this parameter.

“Measuring how much gas is lost to the atmosphere and where the leaks are occurring will help to further target leak reduction opportunities to ensure that natural gas will help mitigate climate change.  Such a strategy could yield enormous environmental and health benefits,” says Steve Hamburg, EDF’s chief scientist and coauthor of the paper.

The PNAS paper provides illustrative calculations with EPA’s current estimate of the methane leakage rate.  The model allows users to plug in different variables and observe the outcome.  Thus the paper does not draw hard and fast conclusions about the future implications of any kind of fuel shifting, nor does it answer the question of whether natural gas generation or natural gas-powered vehicles will be better or worse for the climate.  What it does do is provide those answers in terms of the leak rates at which fuel switching produces climate benefits at all points in time.  It introduces the science required to accurately identify where the challenges lie.

Key findings of the PNAS paper, based on the best available estimates on methane emissions from the EPA, include:

• Assuming the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2009 leakage rate of 2.4% (from well to city), new natural gas combined cycle power plants reduce climate impacts compared to new coal plants; this case is true as long as leakage remains under 3.2%.
• Assuming EPA’s estimates for leak rates, compressed natural gas (CNG)-fueled vehicles are not a viable mitigation strategy for climate change because of methane leakage from natural gas production, delivery infrastructure and from the vehicles themselves.  For light-duty CNG cars to become a viable short-term climate strategy, methane leakage would need to be kept below 1.6% of total natural gas produced (approximately half the current amount for well to wheels – note difference from well to city).
• Methane emissions would need to be cut by more than two-thirds to immediately produce climate benefits in heavy duty natural gas-powered trucks.
• At current leakage rate estimates, converting a fleet of heavy duty diesel vehicles to natural gas would result in nearly 300 years of climate damage before any benefits were achieved.

A number of scientific papers on the climatic implications of natural gas production and use have been published in the last year, inadvertently figuring into a growing sense of confusion due to conflicting conclusions.  The PNAS paper tries to clear up some of this confusion by addressing the analytical challenge of comparing the time-dependent effects on climate of methane by using the Technology Warming Potential approach.  The paper specifically illustrates this approach to compare the climate influence (i.e. changes in radiative forcing) of fuel switching scenarios involving natural gas.  

“Failing to reduce methane leaks has the potential to eliminate much, if not all, of the greenhouse gas advantage of natural gas over coal,” said Steven Hamburg, EDF’s chief scientist and coauthor of the paper.  “If we want natural gas to be an accepted part of a strategy for achieving energy independence and moving to a clean energy future, it’s critical that industry, regulators and other stakeholders work together to quantify the existing methane leakage rate and commit to reducing it to one percent or below if, as expected, the leakage is currently higher than that.  One percent is the magic number.”

EDF is currently collaborating with partners on a major scientific study designed to quantify the methane leakage rate across the natural gas value chain in five discrete modules, the first of which – emissions from the production sector – has already been launched.  EDF aims to complete the entire study by December 2013.

Authors of the paper include: Ramón A. Alvarez (EDF), Stephen W. Pacala (Princeton University), James J. Winebrake (Rochester Institute of Technology), William L. Chameides (Duke University) and Steven P. Hamburg (EDF).  The full text of the PNAS paper is available at http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/04/02/1202407109 and EDF’s methane leakage model is available at http://www.edf.org/methaneleakage.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/.

WALTHAM, Mass.— EMC Corporation, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and InnoCentive, the pioneer in open innovation, crowdsourcing, and prize competitions, today announced a new Eco-Challenge seeking solutions for tracking shipments of used electronic components and subsystems and ensuring that they are disposed of responsibly. Safe, legal and transparent e-waste disposal is an ongoing concern for both industry and environmental groups, which want to make sure heavy metals and chemicals are not released as part of the recycling process.

David Goulden, executive vice president and chief financial officer of EMC, said, “The long-term success of our company depends upon our ability to collaborate with others in our industry in the pursuit of a cleaner and more sustainable world. The proper handling of obsolete equipment is not only significant for human health and a cleaner environment, but it also protects data privacy and is simply an economically sound practice. With the unrelenting growth of data driving IT demand, it is incumbent upon the entire industry to continue to pursue ways to minimize the production and undesirable effects of e-waste.”

The Eco-Challenge, which will be open through April 30, 2012 and is open to the public, seeks ideas for a scalable system that will allow manufacturers to follow e-waste to its final destination, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. EMC plans to share the winning idea industry wide to help accelerate the adoption of more environmentally sustainable and innovative e-waste practices.

“Addressing the environmental problems we face as a society, at the scale and speed required, is going to take unprecedented levels of innovation,” said Beth Trask, who leads the Eco-Challenge Series for EDF. “Crowdsourcing is a promising new tool for companies to find innovative solutions, faster and less expensively.” While more and more companies are recycling electronic components and subsystems, it can be very difficult to ensure that they are handled properly, or even to know for certain where these components end up. The Challenge builds on EMC’s ongoing product take-back initiatives and is part of the company’s global sustainability program.

“EMC’s customers expect environmentally responsible handling of the company’s products when they reach the end of their planned use,” said Goulden. To meet this expectation, the company incorporates end-of-use considerations into the initial design process and implements a rigorous program to dispose of its products responsibly when their useful service life has ended.

The Challenge is part of the Eco-Challenge Series created by EDF and InnoCentive. Together, EDF and InnoCentive work with leading companies to tap the power of open innovation and crowdsourcing to address real-world environmental issues faster and more efficiently, while generating measurable business value. Challenges are posted to InnoCentive’s Global Solver Community comprised of more than 250,000 creative and diverse problem Solvers.

Previous EDF-InnoCentive Challenges have resulted in new ideas for the capture of toxic nitrate from agricultural processes, as well as novel ideas for recycling lead-heavy cathode ray tube (CRT) glass.

“The problem of electronic waste disposal is one that we’re seeing more frequently as the pace of innovation in the IT industry accelerates,” said InnoCentive CEO Dwayne Spradlin. “The environmental impact of this innovation is one that must not be overlooked. We applaud EMC’s leadership role in this initiative and are delighted that we can apply our expertise to solving this critical issue.”

About EMC
EMC Corporation is a global leader in enabling businesses and service providers to transform their operations and deliver IT as a service. Fundamental to this transformation is cloud computing. Through innovative products and services, EMC accelerates the journey to cloud computing, helping IT departments to store, manage, protect and analyze their most valuable asset — information — in a more agile, trusted and cost-efficient way. Additional information about EMC can be found at www.EMC.com.

About Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. For more information, visit edfbusiness.org. Read our blog at blogs.edf.org/business. Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/EDFbiz.

About InnoCentive
InnoCentive is the open innovation and crowdsourcing pioneer that enables organizations to solve their key problems by connecting them to diverse sources of innovation including employees, customers, partners, and the world’s largest problem solving marketplace. InnoCentive’s proven Challenge Driven Innovation methodology, network of millions of problem Solvers, and cloud-based technology platform combine to fundamentally transform the economics of innovation and R&D through rapid solution delivery and the development of sustainable open innovation programs. Leading commercial, government, and nonprofit organizations such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Eli Lilly & Company, Life Technologies, NASA, Nature Publishing Group, Popular Science, Procter & Gamble, Roche, Rockefeller Foundation, and The Economist partner with InnoCentive to solve problems and innovate faster, more cost effectively, and with less risk than ever before. For more information, visit www.innocentive.com or call 1-855-CROWDNOW.

Contacts:
Buster McKenzie, Southern Media & Opinion Research, 225-383-4509, mckenzie@smor.com
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601-642-7058, dringer@audubon.org
Scott Madere, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, 225-767-4181, scottm@crcl.org
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202-550-6524, scrowley@edf.org
John Lopez, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, 504-421-7348, johnlopez@pobox.com
Chris Macaluso, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, 225-344-6707, chris@lawildlifefed.org
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225-253-9781, guidrye@nwf.org
Karen Gautreaux, The Nature Conservancy, 225-788-4525, kgautreaux@tnc.org

(Baton Rouge, La.—April 3, 2012) Eighty-six percent of Louisiana voters say they want their legislators to approve the state’s 2012 Coastal Master Plan, according to a new poll [PDF] released today. The plan lays out a 50-year vision for protecting and restoring the coast, including increased hurricane risk reduction for coastal communities and reconnecting the Mississippi River with disappearing coastal wetlands. Overwhelming majorities of the voters surveyed in the poll believe the state’s coastal areas and wetlands are important to the state’s future and express optimism that the coast can be restored, despite decades of decline.

“This poll shows Louisiana voters feel strongly that our state’s coastal areas and wetlands are crucial to our future,” said Buster McKenzie, president of Baton Rouge-based Southern Media & Opinion Research, Inc., which conducted the poll. “An overwhelming majority of voters want their legislators to approve the 2012 Coastal Master Plan because they agree that coastal Louisiana can be saved if the projects in the master plan are implemented.”

The state’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority unanimously approved the 2012 Coastal Master Plan Mar. 21 and sent it to the state legislature Mar. 26. The legislature must approve the plan for it to take effect.

The poll found extremely high agreement statewide that Louisiana’s coastal areas and wetlands are “very important” to the state’s future:

• 91 percent of voters statewide
• 98 percent of coastal voters
• 87 percent of non-coastal voters (with an additional 11 percent saying “somewhat important”)

Additionally, the poll found that 88 percent of respondents express optimism that when adequate funding becomes available, coastal areas can in fact be saved. Two potential sources of funding include Natural Resource Damage Assessment dollars from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster and legislation in Congress that would dedicate 80 percent of expected billions in penalties from the disaster to Gulf Coast restoration, including in Louisiana. Both houses of Congress have approved similar versions of the legislation, the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act [PDF]. However, Congress still needs to resolve the differences between the two bills and get a final bill to the president’s desk before it can become law.

“Voters clearly realize that the state master plan is critically important to saving Louisiana as we know it because it will protect jobs, communities, fisheries and wildlife. That’s why it’s no surprise that such an overwhelming majority of voters in the state believe that coastal areas and wetlands can – and must – be saved,” said a joint statement by the Coalition To Restore Coastal Louisiana, Environmental Defense Fund, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, Louisiana Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy. “The message is clear: Let’s pass the 2012 Coastal Master Plan and get this vital work underway as soon as possible.”

The statewide telephone poll was conducted between Mar. 23 and Mar. 27, 2012. It sampled 801 registered, likely Louisiana voters, based on previous voting patterns.

The poll was funded by the National Audubon Society and has a margin of error of ± 4.0 percent.

Contacts:
Jocelyn Gibbon, (602) 510-4619-c, jgibbon@edf.org
Steve Pawlowski, (602) 254-9330, steve.pawlowski@sierraclub.org
Nikolai Lash, (928) 266-5606, nlash@grandcanyontrust.org
Ian Wilson, (520) 290-0828, x.1106, iwilson@sonoraninstitute.org
Linda Stitzer, (520) 488-2436, linda.stitzer@westernresources.org

(Phoenix, Ariz.—March 30, 2012) Five conservation groups today honored the Colorado River as their first “River of the Month” to launch a year-long series celebrating Arizona’s 100th year as a state.  The Colorado, often called the “lifeblood of the West” because it drains areas of seven U.S. and two Mexican states “has shaped nearly every aspect of Arizona’s history,” said the groups, including Environmental Defense Fund, Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust, Sonoran Institute, and Western Resource Advocates.   

The “River of the Month” series by the five conservation groups will feature fact sheets with graphics and photos profiling the geography, ecology, use, and threats to a different river every month for the next year to celebrate the state’s precious natural resources. “From the mighty Colorado to the smallest ephemeral streams, these waterways have supported Arizona’s people and places for thousands of years,” said the groups in the “Celebrating Arizona’s Rivers” introduction.  “With good stewardship and thoughtful planning, they will continue to flow into Arizona’s next 100 years.”

“The Colorado has enabled the development that has shaped the Arizona we enjoy today,” the Colorado River fact sheet notes.  “Although much of its water is diverted for urban and agricultural use, the river also nourishes vital habitat for diverse plant and animal species and is a place for recreation and refuge for many Arizona residents. Since Arizona lies almost entirely within the Lower Colorado River Basin, nearly all of the state’s waterways – from the largest rivers to the smallest perennial streams – eventually flow to the Colorado.”

“While 40% of Arizona’s water supply comes from the Colorado, more water is already removed [by the seven U.S. and two Mexican states collectively] from the river system and its reservoirs than is replenished in an average year,” the fact sheet adds.  “As increased demand is placed on the Colorado’s diminishing supply, the challenge will be to meet water needs while maintaining healthy river flows and the Basin’s rich ecology, recognizing that ultimately, human well-being is deeply connected to the health of rivers and the landscapes and communities they support.”

“The Colorado no longer reaches the sea; however, plans are underway to restore the Colorado River Delta, which once supported 3,000 square miles of wetland habitat,” the fact sheet concludes. “Similar projects are being undertaken throughout the Basin, including habitat conservation plans to protect endangered species and experimental flow management at Glen Canyon Dam to imitate pre-dam seasonal flooding. These efforts can ensure that the Colorado River will remain the lifeblood of the region’s landscapes, both urban and natural, and one of Arizona’s most defining and splendid natural features, for many years to come.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Jane Preyer, jpreyer@edf.org, 919-740-6727
Georgette Foster, gfoster@edf.org, 919-881-2927

(Raleigh, NC - March 28, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today said that North Carolina should take a “cautious and conservative” approach to natural gas exploration that prevents a rush to drilling and protects the state’s water resources, air quality and the well being of communities.  Rep. Mitch Gillespie held an afternoon press conference today on shale gas development at the NC legislative building.  The following statement may be attributed to Jane Preyer, Southeast director of Environmental Defense Fund:

“Lawmakers acknowledge the state does not have sufficient data about the impacts of gas drilling.  A cautious, conservative approach will help decision makers answer tough questions about the risks to human health, water resources and air quality.  Right now, there are more questions than answers. 

“Current gas production practices impose unacceptable impacts on air, water, landscapes and communities.  The public’s right to clean water and clean air cannot be compromised.  North Carolina will need strong rules and enforcement.  We can learn from the experiences of other states, and we can do better.”

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About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EDFEnergyEX; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; and http://blogs.edf.org/energyexchange/.

NEWS RELEASE — March 28, 2012

Joint statement by Aviation Environment Federation, Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, Environmental Defense Fund, Transport & Environment, WWF-UK

(Brussels/ London/ San Francisco/ Washington – March 28, 2012)  United, American Airlines, and their trade association, Airlines for America, gave up on a lost cause, a late and ill-conceived legal challenge to the European Union’s landmark law limiting global warming pollution from aviation.

While the airlines gave no explanation for abruptly dropping the case in the UK High Court in London, it’s likely their attorneys realized their efforts would be fruitless given the strength of the December 21 ruling from the European Court of Justice upholding the EU directive as consistent with international law.

After pursuing the case for more than two years and losing in the European court, the airlines filed papers asking permission to add new claims just before the case was scheduled to close. The High Court had planned to hear that request on Thursday, but yesterday the airlines withdrew this request. Although we are pleased this avoids a pointless legal challenge in the UK, it is disappointing that U.S airlines are refusing to accept the ECJ ruling, and may simply be moving the battlefield elsewhere.

Airlines, governments and non-governmental organizations agree that nations should reduce climate pollution from aviation through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  Europe has reiterated that a successful adoption of robust pollution reduction measures to address global aviation emissions at ICAO would enable the EU to amend its law.

Rather than continue to fight the EU, the airlines should use the opportunity to support a global deal for aviation, especially given the unexpected momentum created by ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin’s proposal to agree, by the end of the year, on global measures to reduce aviation emissions.

Ironically, some in the aviation industry now appear to be trying to pressure the Obama Administration to bring a challenge under ICAO’s Article 84 procedure based on the same losing arguments the airlines intended to use in the London court. These industry representatives are also pressing the U.S. Congress to prohibit U.S. carriers from participating in the EU law.

The ICAO Secretary General has already signaled that an Article 84 challenge would slow the organization’s momentum toward a new agreement. 

The better step is for the United States, Europe, and other countries to work together with airlines and civil society to craft a global solution and enforceable domestic measures.

Background 

Europe’s Aviation Directive, which includes aviation emissions within the European Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) from 1 January 2012, is a pioneering law that holds airlines accountable for emissions associated with their commercial flights that land at or take off from EU airports. Aviation is one of the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions, rising 3 to 4% per year. Until now, the sector has escaped regulations that would require emissions reductions.

Three U.S. airlines — United/Continental and American — and their trade association, Air Transport Association of America (ATA), challenged the legality of the aviation emissions trading system, as applied to non-EU airlines. On December 21, 2011, the European Court of Justice upheld the Aviation Directive, making clear that the pioneering law to reduce emissions is fully consistent with international law, does not infringe on the sovereignty of other nations, and is distinct from the charges and taxes subject to treaty limitations.

A transatlantic coalition of six environmental groups are intervenor-defendants in the litigation. The coalition includes three U.S.-based groups (Center for Biological Diversity, Earthjustice, and Environmental Defense Fund) and three European groups (Aviation Environment Federation, Transport & Environment, and WWF-UK).

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CONTACT

Tim Johnson, Aviation Environment Federation (UK)

+44 (0) 7710 381742, tim@aef.org.uk

Vera Pardee, Center for Biological Diversity (USA)

+1-858-717-1448, vpardee@biologicaldiversity.org

Sarah Burt, Earthjustice (USA)

+1-510-599-8573, sburt@earthjustice.org

Jennifer Andreassen, Environmental Defense Fund (USA)

+1-202-288-4867, jandreassen@edf.org

Bill Hemmings, Transport & Environment (BE)

+32 (0) 487 582706, bill.hemmings@transportenvironment.org

George Smeeton, WWF-UK (UK)

+44 (0)1483 412 388, Mob: +44 (0)7917 052 948, GSmeeton@wwf.org.uk

About Aviation Environment Federation

AEF is the UK’s only environmental organisation dedicated solely to addressing the aviation sector’s environmental impacts. Established in 1975, AEF’s members include the communities living around the UK’s airports and environmental organisations. www.aef.org.uk

About the Center for Biological Diversity
The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 320,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places. www.biologicaldiversity.org

About Earthjustice

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth, and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment. www.earthjustice.org

About Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund; edf.org/ClimateTalks

About Transport & Environment

Established in 1990, Transport & Environment (T&E) has grown to become the principal environmental organisation campaigning on sustainable transport at the EU level in Brussels.

Our primary focus is on European transport and environmental policy but our work in Brussels is supported by around 50 member organisations working to promote an environmentally sound approach to transport across Europe.

About WWF-UK

WWF is one of the world’s largest independent conservation organisations, with more than five million supporters and a global network active in more than one hundred countries.  We’re working to create solutions to the most serious environmental issues facing our planet, so that people and nature can thrive.  Through our engagement with the public, businesses and government, we focus on safeguarding the natural world, tacking climate change and changing the way we live. www.wwf.org.uk  

Contacts:
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org
Megan Ceronsky, 202-650-2277, mceronsky@edf.org

(Washington, DC – March 27, 2012) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is giving a “standing ovation” to today’s announcement of clean air standards for fossil fuel power plants, the single largest of source of carbon pollution in the nation.

“EPA deserves a standing ovation for today’s historic action to protect Americans’ health, strengthen our economy, and address the clear and present danger of carbon pollution,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “The bottom line for our nation is that cleaner power will cut harmful carbon pollution, protect our children from dangerous smog and other serious climate impacts, and help secure a safe and prosperous future.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed standards would establish the first nationwide limits on climate-destabilizing pollution from new power plants, essentially halving the emission rate for new coal plants relative to uncontrolled levels. EPA’s new standards are similar to clean air standards adopted in a number of states [PDF].

U.S. power plants emit about 40% of the carbon pollution [PDF] in the United States and are one of the largest greenhouse gas emission sources in the world. They are responsible for 2.3 billion tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide pollution annually, far exceeding other pollution sources.

EPA recently released national greenhouse gas emissions data identifying the largest emission sources in the U.S.

A wide variety of solutions are available today to meet the proposed standards, including more efficient use of existing electricity resources, electricity powered by the wind and the sun, highly efficient natural gas plants, and coal plants that permanently capture and store carbon pollution.

Today’s proposal will provide power companies with the certainty they need to invest now-sidelined resources in cleaner, safer and more efficient solutions to meet U.S. electricity needs – creating jobs in the process.

Research by the U.S. Global Change Research Program indicates that continued emissions of carbon pollution and other heat-trapping gases are very likely to cause increasingly grim impacts on American communities, including:

• Rising levels of ground-level ozone pollution – commonly known as smog — which causes an increased risk of respiratory infections, more asthma attacks, and more premature deaths
• An increase in the number and severity of heat waves, and an increased risk of illness and death from extreme heat
• More intense rainstorms, hurricanes, and storm surges
• More wildfires and increasingly frequent and severe droughts
• Increases in insect pests and in the prevalence of diseases transmitted by food, water, and insects

EPA’s proposal was required under a Settlement Agreement with EDF, NRDC, Sierra Club and numerous states including New York, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, and the City of New York.

The new standards follow the lead of states across the country [PDF] that have established or are developing limits on the carbon pollution from new power plants, including Oregon, Washington, California, Montana, Minnesota, and New York.

You can read more about the importance of the new standards [PDF] and see more about the effects of climate change on EDF’s website.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contacts:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.572.3331, scrowley@edf.org
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601.642.7058, dringer@audubon.org
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, guidrye@nwf.org
David Willett, Ocean Conservancy, 202.351.0465, dwillett@oceanconservancy.org
Laura Rusu, Oxfam America, 202.496.1169, lrusu@oxfamamerica.org

(Washington, D.C.—March 27, 2012) Capitol newspapers will run full-page color ads this week by six Gulf restoration advocacy groups thanking the 76 Senators who approved legislation to dedicate 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines from the parties responsible for the Gulf oil spill to restoring the Gulf.  

The ad copy says:

“On behalf of our members nationwide, we thank the 76 Senate leaders who voted in favor of restoring the ecosystems and economies of the Gulf region by passing the RESTORE Act as an amendment to the transportation bill.

The RESTORE Act will help repair and strengthen the environment, communities and businesses in the Gulf still suffering nearly two years after the unprecedented Gulf oil disaster.

We look forward to working with you to ensure final passage of RESTORE into law.”

The ads are paid for by: National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, Oxfam America, and Ocean Conservancy.  The ads will run on the following dates in the following newspapers:

• Tuesday, March 27, Roll Call
• Wednesday, March 28, Roll Call
• Thursday, March 29, Congressional Quarterly Today

The House already has approved a similar RESTORE Act amendment sponsored by Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) as part of the House transportation bill.

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Contacts:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.572.3331, scrowley@edf.org
David J. Ringer, National Audubon Society, 601.642.7058, dringer@audubon.org
Emily Guidry Schatzel, National Wildlife Federation, 225.253.9781, guidrye@nwf.org
Heather Layman, The Nature Conservancy, 703.475.1733, hlayman@tnc.org
David Willett, Ocean Conservancy, 202.351.0465, dwillett@oceanconservancy.org
Laura Rusu, Oxfam America, 202.496.1169, lrusu@oxfamamerica.org

(Washington, D.C.—March 23, 2012) Five Gulf state newspapers will run full-page color ads starting today thanking the nine Gulf senators who recently voted in favor of legislation to dedicate 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines from the parties responsible for the Gulf oil spill to restoring the Gulf ecosystem and economy.

The ads features a “thank you” from 62 Gulf businesses, business groups and restoration advocacy groups to the nine Gulf senators who “led an overwhelmingly bipartisan group of 76 senators to pass the RESTORE the Gulf Coast States Act [PDF] [to] help repair and strengthen the communities, businesses and environment…still suffering nearly two years after the unprecedented Gulf oil disaster.”

The full-page color ads, which cost a total of $45,000, are paid for by: National Wildlife Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, Oxfam America and Ocean Conservancy. The ads will run on the following dates in the following newspapers:

• Fri., Mar. 23, Houston [Tex.] Chronicle ad thanking Texas Senators *Hutchison & **Cornyn [PDF]
• Sun., Mar. 25, Baton Rouge [La.] Advocate ad thanking Louisiana Senators *Landrieu & *Vitter [PDF]
• Sun., Mar. 25, Mobile [Ala.] Press-Register ad thanking Alabama Senators Shelby & Sessions [PDF]
• Sun., Mar. 25, Pensacola [Fla.] News Journal ad thanking Senator *Nelson [PDF]
• Sun., Mar. 25, [Biloxi/Gulfport, Miss.] Sun Herald ad thanking Senators *Cochran & *Wicker [PDF]

*Cosponsored and voted for RESTORE Act
** Voted for RESTORE Act

The House already has approved a similar RESTORE Act amendment sponsored by Congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.) as part of the House transportation bill.

The Gulf businesses, business groups and restoration advocacy groups signing the thank you ads include:M

1. Alabama Coastal Foundation
2. Alabama Forest Resources Center
3. Alabama Gulf Coast Area Chamber of Commerce
4. Alabama Wildlife Federation
5. American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
6. American Shore and Beach Preservation Association – Texas Chapter
7. Apalachee Land Conservancy
8. Baton Rouge Audubon Society
9. Biohabitats, Inc.
10. Birmingham Audubon Society
11. Canal Barge Company, Inc.
12. Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana
13. Coast Builders Coalition
14. Coastal Bend Audubon Society
15. Coastal Resiliency Coalition
16. Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
17. The Conservation Fund
18. Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary
19. Dredging Contractors of America
20. Environmental Defense Fund
21. Florida’s Nature Coast Conservancy
22. Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
23. Florida Wildlife Federation
24. Francis M. Weston Audubon Society
25. Galveston Bay Foundation
26. Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company, LLC
27. Greater New Orleans, Inc.
28. Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association
29. Gulf Restoration Network
30. Gulf United Metro Business Organization
31. Houston Audubon Society
32. Houston Wilderness
33. Keith and Schnars, P.A.
34. Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
35. Land Trust Accreditation Commission
36. Land Trust Alliance
37. Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain
38. Louisiana Restaurant Association
39. Louisiana Wildlife Federation
40. Mississippi Coast Audubon Society
41. Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association
42. Mississippi Wildlife Federation
43. Mobile Bay Audubon Society
44. Mobile Baykeeper
45. National Audubon Society
46. National Parks Conservation Association
47. National Wildlife Federation
48. The Nature Conservancy
49. New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau
50. Ocean Conservancy
51. Oktibbeha Audubon Society
52. Orleans Audubon Society
53. Oxfam America
54. Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation
55. South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
56. St. Bernard Parish Government
57. Texas Conservation Alliance
58. Tierra Resources LLC
59. Weeks Bay Foundation
60. Weeks Marine
61. Weston Solutions, Inc.
62. Women of the Storm

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Jennifer Andreassen, 202-572-3387, jandreassen@edf.org

(WASHINGTON – March 20, 2012) New rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will save thousands of lives and protect children’s health and the environment, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) said in testimony before the Senate today.

In an oversight review of EPA’s new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS), which place the first-ever federal limits on mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants in the United States, EDF’s General Counsel Vickie Patton said these standards provide vital heath protections for millions of Americans.

“The Mercury and Air Toxics Standards are long overdue safeguards to protect the most vulnerable in our society, our infants and children, from the largest sources of toxic air pollution through proven, cost-effective solutions,” Patton said in her testimony.

“When implemented, the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards will annually prevent as many as 11,000 deaths each year, 4,700 heart attacks, 130,000 asthma attacks, over 500,000 missed work days due to illness, and over 3 million unhealthy air days, delivering vital human health protections valued at $37 billion to $90 billion each year they are carried out,” Patton said.

Patton testified today in support of the new rules at an oversight review by the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, under the Environment and Public Works Committee.

The Mercury and Air Toxics rules, which were published by EPA on Feb. 16, 2012, have broad public support and will deliver vital human health protections valued at $37 billion to $90 billion each year by deploying commonly available and widely implemented cost-effective clean air solutions.

Coal- and oil-fired power plants are the nation’s single largest manmade source of major toxic air contaminants, responsible for half of all mercury pollution, 77 percent of acid gases, and 62 percent of arsenic emissions. Mercury exposure can cause brain damage in infants, and can affect children’s ability to walk, talk, read and learn. Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of babies are born each year with potentially unsafe levels of mercury in their blood. 

Many of the other toxic pollutants also controlled by the new rules — such as chromium, arsenic, dioxin and acid gases — are known or probable carcinogens and can attack the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund

Testimony of EDF General Counsel Vickie Patton [PDF]

MEDIA ADVISORY: Tuesday March 20, 10 A.M.

Contact:
Jennifer Andreassen, 202-572-3387, jandreassen@edf.org

WHAT
Vickie Patton, General Counsel of Environmental Defense Fund, will be testifying tomorrow before the Senate on the health and environmental benefits of its new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) for power plants. The oversight hearing of the Environmental Protection Agency’s rule will be held in the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety.

Patton will be available to speak to reporters in-person after the hearing. Additional EDF experts are available to comment: contact Jennifer at 202-572-3387 / jandreassen@edf.org.

WHEN
Tuesday, March 20, 2012, 10:00 A.M.

WHERE
406 Dirksen Senate Office Building; or watch online: http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Home

WHO
Vickie Patton, General Counsel, Environmental Defense Fund

BACKGROUND
The Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety, under the Environment and Public Works Committee, is conducting an oversight review of EPA’s new Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which place the first-ever federal limits on mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants in the United States.

Unveiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December 2011, the rule will prevent up to 11,000 premature deaths each year.

Power plants are responsible for half of all manmade mercury emissions, as well as 75 percent of acid gases, and 60 percent of arsenic. Mercury exposure can cause brain damage in infants, and can affect children’s ability to walk, talk, read and learn. Experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of babies are born each year with potentially unsafe levels of mercury in their blood. 

Many of the other toxic pollutants also controlled by the new rules — such as chromium, arsenic, dioxin and acid gases — are known or probable carcinogens and can attack the brain, lungs, liver, and kidneys.

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Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund; facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund