Complete list of press releases

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@edf.org

(Washington, DC—November 8, 2010) A bipartisan, Senate committee-approved bill that would authorize $180 million to help restore the nation’s largest fresh water estuary – the Chesapeake Bay – should be a priority for Congress to pass during its upcoming lame session, according to Environmental Defense Fund. The bill is sponsored by U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (MD).

“Sen. Cardin’s bill authorizing $180 million in financial assistance to help farmers and forest owners meet their clean water goals is a critical to cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay,” said EDF’s Working Lands Deputy Director Suzy Friedman. “We urge Congress to pass this carefully-crafted legislation during the upcoming lame duck session. Otherwise, the bill will die, and thelengthy legislative process would have to start all over again in the next Congress.”

The bill, The Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act (S. 1816), was approved last June by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee – with broad bipartisan support – after committee members agreed to drop or modify controversial provisions opposed by farmers and other stakeholders, while maintaining strong provisions to ensure real progress in achieving Bay restoration goals. While state governments, communities, farmers, and others have been working hard for 25 years to reverse the decline of the Bay, these efforts have not been enough to bring back the Bay.

“Farmers have been critical and active partners in efforts to restore the Bay for decades, but agriculture remains the region’s largest contributor of excess nutrient and sediment runoff that degrades the Bay,” added Friedman. “The bill approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee will provide farmers the strategies, tools, and human resources they need to help them accelerate their accomplishments, while maintaining a thriving farming economy.”

“The revised bill also provides a balanced approach to ensure that all pollution runoff sources – urban and rural; municipal, industrial, and agricultural – do their fair share to make clean water and healthy ecosystems a reality locally and regionally,” concluded Friedman.

The modifications to S. 1816 by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee provide new resources and benefits to the agricultural sector, including:

• $80 million funding minimum over 5 years for implementation grants to develop and implement state watershed implementation plans, with a requirement that at least 20 percent of the funding is dedicated to providing technical assistance to farmers and forest owners. This provision is critical since technical assistance funding often is severely lacking.
• $10 million in grant funds for Centers of Excellence to develop and advance innovative and effective agricultural conservation technologies, policies and practices.
• $30 million to fund an agricultural animal waste-to-bioenergy deployment program.
• Basin-wide database for improved tracking of all agricultural conservation practices—not simply those supported through public funds—to ensure that farmers get the credit they deserve for reducing nutrient and sediment runoff.
• Safe Harbor provision to ensure that EPA enforcement cannot target farmers in full compliance with conservation plans and practices required by their state-developed watershed implementation plan.
• Interstate nutrient trading program that offers farmers a voluntary opportunity to participate and benefit economically from nutrient reductions through the marketplace. Participation is 100 percent voluntary.

In addition, to address concerns from agriculture community members, the bill was revised so that the current version does not:

1. Codify the Total Maximum Daily Load (an estimate of the maximum amount of nutrient and sediment runoff that a body of water can receive and still meet clean water goals),
2. Provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unlimited permitting authority
3. Allow EPA to substitute its policy choices for state policy choices.

###

A leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. Twitter: http://twitter.com/EveryDayFactoid; Website: www.edf.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund  

Contact:
Michael Regan, 919-881-2917, mregan@edf.org
Georgette Foster, 919-881-2927, gfoster@edf.org

(Raleigh, NC – November 3, 2010) An energy efficiency program launched by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in 2009 is helping North Carolina participants reduce energy use more than 45 percent and save $15 million in energy costs in five years. EDF Climate Corps Public Sector uncovered ways to make lighting, computer equipment, and heating and cooling systems more energy efficient in North Carolina universities, Raleigh public buildings and a Raleigh church.

The program matched MBA students, specially trained by EDF in energy analysis, with the City of Raleigh Fire Department, Johnson C. Smith University, NC Central University, St. Paul AME Church and Elizabeth City State University. EDF’s focus on minority serving institutions is part of a broad commitment to increasing diversity in environmental leadership.

The fellows showed partners how to save 54 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually – enough to power 5,000 homes – and cut 30,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to taking more than 5,000 SUVs off the road.

“Saving energy means saving money, and that’s a cornerstone of a sustainable business plan for a company or a campus,” said Michael Regan, EDF Energy and Air Policy Manager and former EPA manager. “The public sector uses a tremendous amount of energy, and it can take advantage of smart energy investments just like major corporations.”

EDF will expand the fellowship program to universities, public buildings and houses of worship in Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas in 2011 and other states in 2012.
###
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 www.edfclimatecorps.org/public. Twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contact:
Michael Regan, 919-881-2917, mregan@edf.org
Georgette Foster, 919-881-2927, gfoster@edf.org

(Raleigh, NC – November 3, 2010) An energy efficiency program launched by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in 2009 is helping North Carolina participants reduce energy use more than 45 percent and save $15 million in energy costs in five years. EDF Climate Corps Public Sector uncovered ways to make lighting, computer equipment, and heating and cooling systems more energy efficient in North Carolina universities, Raleigh public buildings and a Raleigh church.

The program matched MBA students, specially trained by EDF in energy analysis, with the City of Raleigh Fire Department, Johnson C. Smith University, NC Central University, St. Paul AME Church and Elizabeth City State University. EDF’s focus on minority serving institutions is part of a broad commitment to increasing diversity in environmental leadership.

The fellows showed partners how to save 54 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually – enough to power 5,000 homes – and cut 30,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to taking more than 5,000 SUVs off the road.

“Saving energy means saving money, and that’s a cornerstone of a sustainable business plan for a company or a campus,” said Michael Regan, EDF Energy and Air Policy Manager and former EPA manager. “The public sector uses a tremendous amount of energy, and it can take advantage of smart energy investments just like major corporations.”

EDF will expand the fellowship program to universities, public buildings and houses of worship in Florida, New Jersey, New York and Texas in 2011 and other states in 2012.
###
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 www.edfclimatecorps.org/public. Twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

Contact:
Lori Sinsley, (415) 902-8111(mobile), lsinsley@edf.org
Tony Kreindler, (202) 445-8108 (mobile), tkreindler@edf.org
Wade Crowfoot, (415) 702-5212 (mobile), wcrowfoot@edf.org

(Sacramento — November 2, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) joins businesses, environmental activists and individuals across the country today in celebrating California’s defeat of Prop 23.

The industry-backed ballot measure would have suspended implementation of the state’s landmark global warming law, AB 32, which EDF cosponsored. Its defeat is a clear win for the climate and clean energy jobs.

“Millions of voters said they see clean energy jobs as the path forward through a tough economic climate,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “That sends a strong message far beyond California. Voters asked their leaders to chart a future toward clean energy, less pollution, and less dependence on imported oil. Congress should pay attention.”

Supporters of the failed Prop 23 claimed that growing clean energy industries would cost jobs. But Californians — who support AB 32, the most forward-thinking energy policy in America, and who are witnessing job creation in clean energy sectors – rejected that claim. Instead, they embraced the potential for vast economic growth in clean energy markets.

In 2010, the global clean energy market was $10 billion. By 2020, it will reach $80 billion, becoming the world’s third-largest industrial sector. China is spending millions of dollars a day to control its energy future. Last year, China invested more money in renewable energy than the U.S. and is now considered the world’s clean energy powerhouse.

“If America follows California’s lead, it can be one of the biggest winners in this growing, multi-billion-dollar economy,” said EDF California Climate Initiative Director Derek Walker. “Our energy, economic and environmental future depends on us seizing this opportunity.”

The measure’s failure shows the tremendous broad and bi-partisan support for a clean environment and a healthy economy.

“The No on Prop 23 campaign brought together an unprecedented bi-partisan coalition which represent the ‘new face’ of our clean energy movement: large and small business leaders, Republicans and Democrats, organized labor, communities of color, public health and environmental groups,” said EDF West Coast Political Director Wade Crowfoot. “These disparate entities recognize that clean energy fuels job growth, cuts pollution and increases our energy independence.”

###

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 at EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream.

Contact:
Tony Kreindler, 202-572-3378, akreindler@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington, D.C. – October 25, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT) for their joint proposal to adopt the nation’s first-ever greenhouse gas and fuel economy standards for freight trucks and buses.

Medium- and heavy-duty vehicles, which include everything from the largest pickups to 18-wheelers, are the transportation sector’s second-largest users of oil, after cars. America’s trucks and buses use more than one hundred million gallons of oil per day. Trucks and buses are also responsible for about 20 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions from the U.S. transportation sector.

“We are in a race against time to reduce America’s dependence on oil,” said Steve Cochran, EDF’s Vice President of Climate and Air. “Today’s historic proposal is a critical step in the right direction. More efficient trucks and buses will use less imported oil, and that will help strengthen our economy, increase our national security and reduce our air pollution.”

The proposed new standards would apply to trucks and buses manufactured in model years 2014 to 2018. They would create significant benefits over the lifetimes of the vehicles from those five model years — including reducing oil consumption by more than 500 million barrels.

This chart illustrates that by 2030 the projected daily oil savings from the proposed standards will entirely offset our nation’s Iraq oil imports.

The proposed new standards would also reduce carbon dioxide pollution by 250 million metric tons, and would provide $41 billion in net benefits to operators, over the lifetimes of the same vehicles. As one example, EPA estimates that an operator of a semi truck could pay for the technology upgrades in under a year, and save as much as $74,000 over the truck’s useful life.

Today’s proposal follows recent two announcements by EPA and DOT about better fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions standards for passenger cars and trucks. The first announcement was in April, when the Obama administration adopted the first-ever national greenhouse gas emission standards for model year 2012-2016 cars and light trucks. The second announcement was earlier this month, with the announcement of a blueprint for new standards for model years 2017 to 2025. Today’s proposed standards for freight trucks and buses will add to the enormous benefits expected from the new standards for cars.

Another huge benefit from today’s announcement is the potential for job creation. The proposed new standards will increase demand for the innovative technologies that make trucks and buses more efficient, including hybrid electric engines. According to a analysis, the U.S. virtually owns the global market on these technologies in the medium- and heavy-vehicle categories,.

“American-made technologies — from advanced diesel engine systems to hybrid electric commercial trucks – will be deployed to achieve these new standards, and that is great news for U.S. jobs,” said Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies for EDF. “From Compact Power in Troy, Michigan to Cummins in Columbus, Indiana, American companies are already leading the way in supplying cleaner, more efficient commercial trucks — and there is an incredible potential for growth.”

The first commercially available medium-duty hybrid trucks hit the road in 2005 through a partnership between FedEx and EDF. There are nearly 3,000 of these vehicles on the road today, and they can slash greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 50 percent and decrease particulate pollution (also known as soot) by 90 percent over traditional diesel vehicles. UPS, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Purolator Courier, AT&T, and Florida Power & Light are among the 200 companies that have hybrid trucks in their fleets.

###

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; blogs.edf.org/climate411/.

Contacts:
Lori Sinsley, 415-293-6097, lsinsley@edf.org
Erica Morehouse, 919-971-6419, erica.morehouse@gmail.com

(Los Angeles – October 21, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are holding a public hearing in Los Angeles today about their plans to redesign the fuel economy labels for passenger cars and trucks. This will be the first time in 30 years that the label design will be changed.

Passenger cars and trucks are responsible for around 44 percent of all U.S. oil consumption, and for nearly 20 percent of the pollution that causes climate change. The new labels are designed to provide Americans who are shopping for new vehicles with key information on fuel efficiency and air pollution.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) consultant Erica Morehouse will be testifying in Los Angeles today in support of new labels that will empower consumers who are buying new vehicles. “It’s widely known that we need to kick our addiction to oil and consumers want to play a part helping to protect the environment. These new fuel economy labels will provide information that consumers can use to buy new cars that can save them money and save the planet at the same time.”

EPA and DOT are holding public hearings to get input on the labels before picking a final design. The previous hearing was in Chicago on October 14th. Those who cannot attend the hearing but want to view and comment on the labels can click here.

EPA and DOT conducted a series of focus groups held across the country as part of the redesign process. The groups helped identify consumer use of current labels and generated feedback on consumers’ understanding of, and preference for, metrics on advanced technology vehicle labels. The participants asked that the agencies provide labels that:

• Create an immediate first impression for consumers
• Are easy to read and understand quickly
• Clearly identify vehicle technology (conventional, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles)
• Group information to allow people to deal with ‘more information’
• Are consistent in content and design across technologies
• Allow for comparison across technologies
• Make it easy to identify the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles

The EPA and DOT then developed two new label designs. They are in the process of gathering public input about the two choices through the public hearings and website comments before picking the final version. The proposed new labels will have expanded information for car buyers, including ratings on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the proposals features a letter grade based on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions performance, and an estimate of cost savings at the gas pump over five years compared with the average gasoline-powered vehicle.

The goal is to make it easier for consumers to compare all types of vehicles, including electric vehicles, and to help buyers make more informed choices when they’re shopping for new passenger cars or trucks.

“EDF strongly supports this effort to provide vital public information that is more useful and easier to understand” said Morehouse. “We are advocating for additional information on the proposed new labels – including a letter-grade label that people are familiar with and help them rate performances on how well a vehicle will help protect our economy, security and environment.”

More information about the public hearings is available on EPA’s website. 

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. Follow us on Twitter at EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/.

Contacts:
Derek Walker, (916) 492.7169 (o), (410) 980.0939 (m), dbwalker@edf.org
Lori Sinsley, (415) 293.6097 (o), (415) 901.8111 (m), lsinsley@edf.org
Jessica Lass, (310) 468.2300 (o), 202.468.6718 (m), jlass@nrdc.org

(Sacramento–October 14, 2010) California could soon lose out on $33 million in federal stimulus money that was awarded to improve energy efficiency and support in-state jobs if a court decision made today is allowed to remain in place.

“The CEC worked hard to design a program that would create jobs in California and protect the environment while meeting tight federal deadlines. ‘Energy Upgrade California’ is exactly the type of program we need to deliver these benefits and was the only and best option that the CEC had given the circumstances. If California loses the money, we all lose out,” said Derek Walker, California Climate Initiative director at Environmental Defense Fund.

The program was initiated by the California Energy Commission so that it could keep $33 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for energy efficiency upgrades, energy reduction measures and related job creation.

The money was initially to be used for Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy systems for property owners. Many of these were halted due to Federal Housing Finance Agency decisions, and are still awaiting federal action. Energy Upgrade California is designed to meet the goals of the original plan without wading through the uncertainty surrounding PACE financing.

“Today’s decision jeopardizes $33 million in funding to support an innovative statewide water and energy efficiency program that will benefit all Californians,” said Lara Ettenson, director of NRDC’s California Energy Efficiency Policy. “California leads the nation in energy efficiency and we must protect programs that will reinvigorate our state’s economy by developing clean energy jobs and reducing pollution, while putting money in the hands of consumers through lower energy bills.”

###

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 at EDF_CA and read our blog at http://blogs.edf.org/californiadream/.

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.3 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Chicago – October 14, 2010) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) are holding public hearings in Chicago today about their plans to redesign the fuel economy labels for passenger cars and trucks. This will be the first time in 30 years that the label design will be overhauled.

Passenger cars and trucks are responsible for about 44 percent of all U.S. oil consumption, and for almost 20 percent of the pollution that causes climate change. The new labels are designed to provide Americans who are shopping for new vehicles with key information on fuel efficiency and air pollution. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) expert Peter Zalzal was among those testifying in Chicago today in support of the move to empower consumers.

“These proposed new labels have more information and they’re easier for consumers to understand,” said Zalzal. “They’ll make it easier for Americans to comparison shop. We’re all looking for ways to spend less money at the gas pump, and many of us would like to reduce our addiction to imported oil and to fight climate change. The new labels give us the tools we need to make informed choices.”

EPA and DOT are holding public hearings to get input on the labels before picking a final design. The next public hearing will be in Los Angeles on October 21st. You can also view the proposed new labels on the web and offer your comments.

EPA and DOT previously conducted a series of focus groups, held across the country, as part of the redesign process. The focus groups helped identify consumer use of current labels and generated feedback on consumers’ understanding of, and preference for, metrics on advanced technology vehicle labels. In the focus groups, consumers asked that EPA and DOT provide labels that:

• Create an immediate first impression for consumers.
• Are easy to read and understand quickly.
• Clearly identify vehicle technology (conventional, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles).
• Utilize color.
• Group information to allow people to deal with ‘more information.’
• Are consistent in content and design across technologies.
• Allow for comparison across technologies.
• Make it easy to identify the most fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

EPA and DOT then developed two new label designs. They are now gathering public input about the two choices, through the public hearings and website comments, before picking the final version. The proposed new labels will have expanded information for car buyers, including ratings on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions. One of the proposals features a letter grade based on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions performance, and an estimate of cost savings at the gas pump over five years compared with the average gasoline-powered vehicle.

The goal is to make it easier for consumers to compare all types of vehicles, including new technologies like electric vehicles, and to help buyers make more informed choices when they’re shopping for new passenger cars or trucks. EDF testified about the benefits of the letter-grade version.

“EDF strongly supports the effort to convey vital information to car buyers in ways that will be more useful and easier to understand” said Zalzal. “The additional information on the proposed new labels – and especially the clear and familiar presentation of the letter-grade label — will help consumers buy new cars and trucks that more fully reflect their preferences. The labels will help us protect our economy, our security and our environment.”

More information about the public hearings is available on EPA’s website.

NEWS RELEASE

(Raleigh, NC – Oct. 12, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), widely recognized for its innovative private sector partnerships with business, is now working with universities in the public sector to reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and increase the number of diverse environmental leaders. A video released today documents EDF’s landmark work with minority-serving institutions, or MSIs, and showcases the roles of EDF Climate Corps Public Sector and Alpha Goes Green in increasing student involvement and integrating green business strategies into college courses.

EDF has been working with MSIs in North Carolina since 2009. The program will expand to Texas and New York in 2011. Plans call for the program to expand to other states in 2012.

MSIs include historically black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities. In North Carolina, universities are the largest energy users in state buildings. The 16 campuses in the University of North Carolina system account for more than 50 percent of energy use in the state’s public buildings. MBA students specially trained by EDF Climate Corps Public Sector showed two campuses how to save $14 million in energy costs in five years.

“Universities are in a unique position to teach sustainable business strategies and demonstrate the results from those practices,” said Michael Regan, EDF Energy and Air Policy Manager and former EPA manager. “Partnerships with minority-serving institutions help broaden environmental leadership by harnessing the power of diversity. Campuses offer lifelong lessons on better ways to protect communities, public health and the environment.”

In addition to universities, EDF Climate Corps Public Sector places fellows in municipalities and places of worship. Alpha Goes Green is an EDF partnership with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., to educate the fraternity’s student and alumni chapters about sustainability practices.

###

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 and facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund.

CONTACT:
Jennifer Haverkamp, 202-316-4914, jhaverkamp@edf.org
Annie Petsonk, 202-365-3237, apetsonk@edf.org
Jennifer Andreassen, 202-288-4867, jandreassen@edf.org

(TIANJIN, China – Oct. 9, 2010) Countries at the UN climate negotiations this week made only limited progress narrowing their differences in preparation for next month’s Conference of Parties (COP-16) in Cancún, Mexico.

As the first China-hosted UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks concluded Saturday night, countries are still struggling with some major overall structural issues, and have made disappointing progress on important forestry and land use policies.

“This meeting exposed the deep structural issues of the UN climate negotiations, and it’s unclear whether countries will be able to rise above these issues by Cancún,” said Jennifer Haverkamp, Environmental Defense Fund’s managing director for international policy and negotiations.

“Success in Cancún will be measured by adoption of a strong and balanced set of decisions, as well as a workplan for a way forward to South Africa in 2011,” Haverkamp said. “Cancún must put us back on a track to an eventual comprehensive approach to reducing global emissions and achieving climate safety.”

Setting a troubling precedent, the parties appear poised to finalize in Cancún accounting rules for emissions from forest management that would allow developed countries to claim carbon credits or avoid debits without changing their activities on the ground.

“Although negotiators spent the week crafting a mechanism to make this accounting method more transparent, the review process would do little more than make a bad approach transparently bad,” said Haverkamp.

Similarly disappointing was the lack of progress in the REDD+ Partnership, which 50 countries launched in May 2010 to provide billions of dollars to reduce deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries.

“We’re dismayed that a process that was launched with high hopes earlier this year got bogged down by debates over procedural hurdles, whether NGOs should be allowed into meetings, and whether donor countries have the funds available for partnership meetings,” Haverkamp said. “Donor countries must stop dickering and start releasing the funding needed for this partnership to make REDD+ a reality.”

News Release

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  

(Washington, DC–October 5, 2010) President Obama’s signing today of an executive order to create a Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force is a key first step to fulfilling his promise to restore the Gulf and to make it even better than it was before the BP oil disaster, according to five local and national environmental groups.

“Moving forward quickly with a robust task force is a key first step to fulfilling the President’s promise to restore the Gulf and to make it even better than before the BP oil disaster,” said a joint statement by the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Environmental Defense Fund, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, National Audubon Society and National Wildlife Federation. “The task force can help expedite projects to restore protective wetlands in coastal Louisiana that Congress authorized even before the BP oil disaster.”

The executive order creating the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force—which will be led by EPA Administrator and New Orleans native Lisa Jackson—was one of the recommendations in a long-term Gulf Coast recovery plan that was released last week by Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Governor Ray Mabus.

Secretary Mabus’ report recommended:

“…that the President urge Congress to dedicate a significant amount of any civil penalties recovered under the CWA [Clean Water Act] from responsible parties toward assisting the region where the damage from the spill occurred…[and] that Congress establish a Gulf Coast Recovery Council to coordinate the federal, state, local, and tribal actions that will be taken, funded in part with financial support from Clean Water Act civil penalties that BP will have to pay to restore the Gulf Coast…The function of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force will be to coordinate the recovery of the region’s ecosystem. If Congress acts to establish the proposed Gulf Coast Recovery Council, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force could be modified or dissolved, with its duties and coordinating bodies subsumed by the Gulf Coast Recovery Council as directed by Congress.”

“The task force’s success depends heavily on Congress establishing a Gulf Coast Recovery Council, as well as prompt congressional approval of a dedicated, long-term funding stream—whether it is with BP financial penalties or another funding source—to design and implement already authorized wetland restoration projects in a timely manner,” the groups concluded. “We call on politicians–-elected and those running for office–-to embrace the Mabus plan and commit to enacting a dedicated fund to restore the wetlands of the Mississippi River Delta.”

Nearly eight out of 10 voters (78%) in Gulf region states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) say they favor creation of a separate fund for the Gulf region and the Mississippi River Delta that includes penalty payments from BP for violating the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act, according to a bipartisan poll the groups released last week.

The poll was funded by the Walton Family Foundation and conducted by the Democratic firm Lake Research Partners and the GOP firm Bellwether Research and Consulting.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: 

Tony Kreindler, 202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
Sharyn Stein, 2020572-3396, sstein@edf.org

(Washington – October 1, 2010) The Obama administration today announced a blueprint for a joint policy initiative by the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation to adopt greenhouse gas reduction and efficiency standards for new passenger vehicles in model years 2017-2025.

Passenger vehicles account for about 40 percent of all U.S. oil consumption and nearly 20 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) praised today’s announcement as a great step forward for America’s economy and its environment.

“This will move us solidly in the right direction to achieve fuel savings that offset our dependence on oil imported from the Middle East, reduce harmful pollution and save Americans money at the gas pump,” said Steve Cochran, Environmental Defense Fund Vice President.

This clean car initiative would build from the foundation forged on April 1, 2010 with the adoption of the first ever national scale greenhouse gas pollution reduction and efficiency standards for model years 2012-2016, an outcome that won broad support from the nation’s automakers, the United Auto Workers, states, and conservation groups.

Today’s announcement explains the major elements of the new policy initiative, including a rigorous examination of available technologies and a range of potential progress in reducing pollution and improving efficiency (from 3 percent to 6 percent annually). The administration also announced that the new clean car standards would be proposed in the fall of 2011 and finalized in the summer of 2012.

This chart depicts the oil savings that could be secured through strong policy leadership. The underlying analysis assumes, for illustration, the pace of pollution reduction and efficiency progress in the new phase II initiative (model years 2017-2025) is a little less than 5 percent annually.

###

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;

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Sean Crowley, Environmental Defense Fund, 202.550.6524, scrowley@edf.org  

(Washington, DC–September 30, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund praised two new federal rules that will help improve drilling safety by strengthening requirements for safety equipment, well control systems, blowout prevention practices on offshore oil and gas operations, and improve workplace safety by reducing the risk of human error. The Drilling Safety Rule is being issued under an emergency rule-making process.

“By using the emergency rule-making process, the Interior Department has responded to the BP oil disaster in a responsible way to both minimize the chance of another drilling catastrophe and minimize job losses associated with bureaucratic delays in the reform process,” said EDF’s oil spill response coordinator Elgie Holstein, a former Chief of Staff at the Department of Energy who coauthored aBipartisan Policy Center report about the deepwater drilling moratorium for the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling.

The Workplace Safety Rule makes mandatory American Petroleum Institute (API) Recommended Practice 75, which was previously a voluntary program to identify, address and manage safety hazards and environmental impacts in their operations.

“By making voluntary best industry practices mandatory, Secretary Salazar, Deputy Secretary Hayes and Bureau of Ocean Management Director Bromwich are meeting the public demand to make deepwater drilling demonstrably safer for workers with a minimum of economic impact,” concluded Holstein.

###

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;http://blogs.edf.org/restorationandresilience/

Contact:
Laura Williamson, 512-691-3447, lwilliamson@edf.org
Jim Marston, 512-691-3402, jmarston@edf.org

(Austin – Sept. 29, 2010) Today Governor Perry’s appointed commissioners at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) ignored state recommendations and granted an air pollution permit to the White Stallion Energy Center.

The following statement can be attributed to Jim Marston, the Texas Regional Director and National Energy Program Director at the Environmental Defense Fund:

“Once again, Perry’s appointees have failed to protect the health of Texas children. TCEQ blatantly ignored the recommendations of state judges who reviewed the permit application evidence.

“We will appeal to the courts to protect our children from dirty air. Governor Perry’s rubber-stamp TCEQ must stop endangering our children by allowing big polluting plants to make Houston air even dirtier.”

News Release

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  
Matt Tinning, Ocean Conservancy, 202.286.6498, mtinning@oceanconservancy.org
Daphne Davis Moore, Walton Family Foundation, 479.464.1578, dmoore@wffmail.com

(Washington, DC–September 29) Nearly three out of four voters (72%) in Gulf region states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) say they’d be more likely to vote for federal legislators if they support funding to restore the environmental health of the Gulf, according to a new poll released today. The poll was funded by the Walton Family Foundation on behalf of a coalition of environmental, business, fishing, and anti-poverty groups dedicated to restoring the Gulf Coast.

The poll is timely because yesterday a working group named by President Obama to create a long-term Gulf recovery plan—headed by Navy Secretary and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus—recommended that a “significant amount” of the penalties collected from BP for this summer’s oil spill should be dedicated to repairing the region’s ecological, economic, public health and psychological damage. While the U.S. House of Representatives has passed an oil spill response bill that directs funding to Gulf Coast restoration, the Senate, even with the elections fast approaching, has yet to act on oil spill response legislation.

The poll by Democratic polling firm Lake Research Partners and GOP polling firm Bellwether Research and Consulting found that—regardless of political affiliation—voters across the Gulf region have a deep commitment to restoration and see it as key to the economic health of the region. In fact, majorities of Independents (67%), Democrats (82%) and Republicans (67%) said they are more likely to support federal legislators who will make new investments in restoration.

“This new polling confirms what common sense already told us. Voters overwhelmingly believe restoring the Gulf environment will also strengthen the region’s economy, and make it more resilient when facing future storms or manmade disasters,” said Scott Burns, director of the Walton Family Foundation’s Environment and Conservation Program. “This is a clear message that restoration in the Gulf region is a high priority.”

Across the Gulf region, more than two out of three voters (68%) recognize that degradation to the Gulf Coast as a result of man-made activities had occurred even before the recent oil spill, and more than three out of four voters (77%) believe it is important for the federal government to take steps to restore the health of the Gulf region, making this a strong voting issue in the upcoming elections.

“This poll shows Gulf Coast senators that restoring the environmental health of the Gulf’s wetlands, marine and coastal areas is both good public policy and good politics,” said Paul Harrison, senior director for the Mississippi River at the Environmental Defense Fund. “Gulf Coast voters recognize that it is critical to their economic future, especially for the region’s huge fishing and tourism industries.”

“The people of the Gulf want and deserve a comprehensive plan that creates new job opportunities as part of environmental restoration,” said Minor Sinclair, Oxfam America’s US Regional Director. “The Federal Government needs to invest in the Gulf, for the good of the people who live there and for the nation as a whole.”

Additional key findings of the survey include:

• More than three out of five voters (62%) in Gulf Coast states say they are less likely to vote for federal legislators who do not support funding Gulf restoration
• Nearly nine out of 10 poll respondents (87%) across the five Gulf states agree that the environmental health of the Gulf Coast region affects their state’s economy very much or somewhat.
• Nearly eight out of 10 poll respondents (78%) favor creation of a separate fund for the Gulf region and the Mississippi River Delta that includes penalty payments from BP for violating the Clean Water Act and the Oil Pollution Act.

The full polling information is available at the Walton Foundation website: http://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/gulf-region-poll-results/  

The telephone survey of 2,061 voters from all five Gulf region states (Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas) was conducted between September 7 and September 13, 2010. The polling margin of error is +/-2.2%.

###

About the Walton Family Foundation
The Walton Family Foundation’s environmental giving focuses on achieving lasting conservation in some of the world’s most important ocean and river systems. Desired outcomes are designed to benefit both people and wildlife by aligning economic and conservation interests. Accordingly, the Foundation invests in projects that create new economic incentives for sustainability and biodiversity protection, and in projects utilizing other conservation tools where needed.

The Walton Family Foundation supports projects and organizations that are making a positive difference for individuals, communities and the environment in the areas in which we concentrate our efforts. During 2009, the Foundation invested more than $378 million in charitable initiatives, including those within our core Focus Areas: Systemic K-12 Education Reform; Freshwater and Marine Conservation; Quality of Life Initiatives in our Home Region. For more information, visit www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org.

About the coalition
A coalition of environmental, business, fishing, and anti-poverty groups dedicated to restoring the Gulf Coast has formed to jointly present this poll. The groups include: The Walton Family Foundation; Oxfam; Alabama Coastal Foundation; America’s WETLAND Foundation; Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana; Environmental Defense Fund; The Fishermen’s Alliance; Florida Wildlife Federation; Franklin County Seafood Dealers Association; Galveston Bay Foundation; Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Shareholder’s Alliance; The Gulf Restoration Network; Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation; Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation; Mobile Baykeeper; National Audubon Society; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy; The Ocean Conservancy; Organized Fishermen of Florida; Reef Relief; Save our Gulf; and Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.