Complete list of press releases
Environmental Defense Fund Applauds State Assembly Speaker
February 26, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:
John Bianchi/Bennett Kleinberg, 212-576-2700
(“We applaud Speaker Silver and the State Assembly for demonstrating leadership by proposing a compromise, focused on solving the immediate crisis, that fairly shares the burden of paying for the lifeblood of the city — mass transit — among everyone in the New York metro region,” said Andy Darrell, vice president for Living Cities at Environmental Defense Fund and a member of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Sustainability Advisory Board.“The positive environmental impact of mass transit in the region — reducing air and global warming pollution as well our dependence on foreign oil — cannot be overemphasized,” added Darrell. “This compromise, while painful for everyone, is really the only alternative that makes sense for drivers and riders alike. It is an important step towards a city with less traffic and cleaner air. We enthusiastically support Speaker Silver’s proposal and urge members of the State Legislature to rally behind it.”Duke Energy's Save-a-Watt Proposal Rejected by South Carolina Utility Regulators
February 26, 2009For Immediate Release: February 26, 2009Contacts:Gudrun Thompson (attorney) or Kathleen Sullivan, SELC, 919-967-1450 or ksullivan@selcnc.orgMichael Regan, EDF, 919-862-6593 or mregan@edf.orgBen Moore, SCCCL, 843-725-2063 or benm@scccl.orgChristina Honkonen, SACE, 865-228-1567 or christina@cleanenergy.orgThe commission’s concerns and desires are shared by clean energy advocates Environmental Defense Fund,The groups opposed the Save-a-Watt proposal because it would have yielded meager energy savings at an excessive cost to customers. To pay for the program, Duke Energy proposed a compensation scheme that would have billed customers an amount much higher than the actual cost of the measures—85 percent of the cost of new power plants the company would have built if not for the energy efficiency measures.A nearly-identical case is pending in###About Environmental Defense FundA leading national nonprofit organization, Environmental Defense Fund represents more than 500,000 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. For more information, visit www.edf.org.About Coastal Conservation LeagueThe Coastal Conservation League is a grassroots non-profit conservation organization, founded in 1989 to protect the natural environment of theAboutAbout Southern EnvironmentalFounded in 1986, Southern Environmental Law Center is the only non-profit regional organization dedicated to protecting the native forests, wetlands, air and water quality, wildlife habitat and rural landscapes inNational Environmental Group Applauds Mayor's Plans for Extensive Pedestrian Plaza in Heart of Times Square
February 26, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:
The pilot project, to be opened later this year, would create an extensive pedestrian plaza in the heart of“Less traffic and more public space: that’s a powerful vision for the future of Times Square,” said Andy Darrell, vice president for Living Cities at Environmental Defense Fund and a member of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Sustainability Advisory Board. “This pilot project is exactly the kind of innovation that can lead to a healthier and more livable city. The millions of people who pass throughDOT Adviser Praises Congressional Commission Proposal to Reform Transportation Financing
February 26, 2009
(The report, “Paying Our Way: A New Network for Transportation Finance,” was released today by a bi-partisan, congressionally-appointed National Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission. The report shows the growing consensus for implementing a comprehensive new transportation revenue system by 2020 or sooner. It recommends a temporary federal gas tax hike that transitions to a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) fee.“If we are serious about fixing our country’s transportation crisis, this report is a good place to start the debate,” said Michael Replogle, a civil engineer, transportation director for Environmental Defense Fund and an adviser to the U.S. Department of Transportation on intelligent transportation systems. “We applaud the Commission for introducing ideas, such as the VMT fee, that can both raise revenue and reward infrastructure and personal decisions that result in less environmental impact. New, innovative funding mechanisms like the ones proposed in this report — coupled with a cap on global warming pollution — could help finance a shift to a cleaner infrastructure.”“However, a great deal depends on how revenue is spent, not just how it’s raised,” Replogle added. “The report’s recommendations need to be paired with a new federal cap on global warming pollution and strong requirements that transportation plans and programs cut greenhouse gas emissions by cutting traffic growth and congestion.”“Otherwise, there is a danger that revenue increases will worsen our problems by wasting money on building new roads to crumbling bridges, fueling more sprawl, traffic growth and pollution,” concluded Replogle. “A portion of revenues from a carbon cap could be used to supplement transportation funding, expanding travel choices for Americans who are stuck in traffic without any alternatives to driving.”Environmental Defense Fund Welcomes EPA Clean Air Standards to Reduce Hazardous Diesel Pollution
February 26, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:(“Cleaning up these engines is one of the most important actions EPA can take to protect public health,” said Dr. John Balbus, chief health scientist at Environmental Defense Fund and a member of the EPA Children’s Health Protection Advisory Committee. “Stationary diesel engines are often located in populated areas where they can expose people to high levels of toxic diesel exhaust.”Diesel exhaust, which is emitted from a variety of engines, is associated with more cancer risk than any other airborne contaminant. The one million stationary diesel engines nationwide are used to generate electricity both as a prime and backup electricity generation source, in oil and gas extraction, and in a variety of other applications. EPA’s proposal was required under a judicial Consent Decree with the Environmental Defense Fund, which was court-approved on January 3, 2008.“EPA is deploying today’s cost-effective clean air solutions to protect human health from dangerous diesel exhaust,” said Janea Scott, a senior attorney at Environmental Defense Fund involved in negotiating the settlement agreement. “Fortunately, clean air solutions are at hand to protect the health of our neighborhoods and communities.”An Environmental Defense Fund analysis of the cancer burden associated with back-up diesel electricity generators inDiesel exhaust contributes more than 70 percent of the cancer risk from air pollution in theExisting stationary diesel engines can be cleaned up by using ultra low sulfur diesel and many of the same cost-effective technologies already being used to dramatically reduce pollution from mobile diesel engines, such as heavy-duty trucks and construction equipment. For example, installing advanced emission control technologies in a stationary diesel engine and using ultra low sulfur diesel fuel can more than halve emissions.In June 2006, EPA finalized protective standards for new stationary diesel engines that will reduce nitrogen oxides, particulate matter and other pollutants from each new engine by about 90 percent. EPA’s proposal today, addressing existing stationary diesel engines, is another important step in providing cleaner, healthier air for all Americans by reducing diesel pollution. Environmental Defense Fund legal action compelled both EPA rulemakings.Click here to learn more about stationary diesel engines and see photos of them. (If you are unable to access hyperlinks above to EPA proposal and stationary diesel engines fact sheet and photos, you can receive a copy of both by contacting Jenny Andreassen at 202-572-3387 or jandreassen@edf.org).Main U.S. Toxics Law Failing to Ensure Safety of Thousands of Chemicals
February 26, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(“It doesn’t take a scientist to realize that the Toxic Substances Control Act is badly broken,” said Dr. Richard A. Denison, a senior scientist at Environmental Defense Fund and former member of the EPA’s National Pollution Prevention and Toxics Advisory Committee (NPPTAC). “The now-daily barrage of headlines about the dangers posed by yet another chemical used in common consumer products – like the toxic flame retardants used in furniture that virtually all Americans now carry in their bodies – is a direct manifestation of the utter failure of our current chemicals policy.”“Congress needs to act now, lest the United States risk falling further behind the rest of the developed world, which has already taken steps to ensure the safety of the chemicals and chemical products we make and use every day,” noted Denison. “Without prompt action, we also risk becoming a dumping ground for unsafe products produced elsewhere in the world.”Citing EPA’s inability to use TSCA to restrict even highly dangerous chemicals such as asbestos and formaldehyde,- Fails to provide EPA with adequate authority to require companies to test their chemicals so that unsafe – as well as safer – chemicals can be identified;
- Forbids EPA from sharing much of the limited chemical information it does obtain; and
- Imposes an essentially impossible burden on EPA to prove actual harm before it can initiate any action to control or replace a dangerous chemical.
“Our outmoded policy is directly responsible for perpetuating a chemicals economy that is dysfunctional, ill-informed and unable to distinguish a dangerous chemical from a safe one,” concluded- Fails to provide EPA with adequate authority to require companies to test their chemicals so that unsafe – as well as safer – chemicals can be identified;
Obama Energy Adviser Elgie Holstein Joins Environmental Defense Fund
February 26, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Katharine Burnham, 202-415-5742, kburnham@edf.org(“Ensuring a secure water supply for people and the environment and restoring critical freshwater ecosystems are two of the most important challenges we face in the 21st century,” said EDF’s Senior Vice President for Programs Marcia Aronoff. “We are thrilled with the leadership skills and insights that Elgie will bring to our efforts. EDF wants to address these challenges by modernizing water policy and bringing economic rationality to decisions about how water resources are managed.”During theIn his new position, Mr. Holstein will utilize his broad experience on natural resource issues, economics and federal agency operations to lead EDF’s Center for Rivers and Deltas. The mission of the Center is to help ensure a secure water future for theStatement from Fred Krupp, President of Environmental Defense Fund, on President Obama
February 24, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense Fund, (202) 445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org(Washington- February 24, 2009) “President Obama made clear tonight that the Congress must act, and act quickly, to overhaul our oil-addicted economy with a cap on carbon pollution. His speech showed that that he really gets it: Our energy problems are a big part of our economic challenge and it’s going to take a major overhaul to fix them. That’s why he called on Congress for a cap — it’s a bold and critical step for our environment, and the next logical step for rebuilding our economy.“The President said, ‘To truly transform our economy, protect our security, and save our planet from the ravages of climate change, we need to ultimately make clean, renewable energy the profitable kind of energy. So I ask this Congress to send me legislation that places a market-based cap on carbon pollution and drives the production of more renewable energy in America.’“He captured the urgency of the problem and the real economic opportunity in solving it.“American manufacturers are ready to build the products that will make our nation more efficient and reduce global warming pollution. Cap and trade will deliver the customers they need to grow. The plan the President has talked about will also generate substantial new revenue for helping American consumers and investing in the country’s most pressing priorities. And it is the only approach that guarantees the pollution cuts our environment needs.“The President already has taken some important and common-sense steps to improve our climate and energy policies. We look forward to working with his administration and the Congress to pass strong cap that will address this environmental crisis and create new jobs and markets for American workers.”###Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 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. For more information, visit www.edf.org.U.S. Climate Change Science Program Must Focus on Health, Experts Say
February 23, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Jennifer Andreassen, 202-572-3387, jandreassen@edf.org(A memorandum signed by 22 medical experts and 10 groups recommends that CCSP correct the program’s historic “relative under-emphasis…on human health and human dimensions in general” and instead address “the important and growing gaps in knowledge and practice.”The 10 groups that signed the memo are: theThe memo, whose lead author was Dr. John Balbus, chief scientist for Environmental Defense Fund and a member of the- Explicitly state that one of the core goals of CCSP is the prevention of harm to human health due to climate change. Climate change poses a risk for
- Describe baseline conditions with respect to climate-sensitive risk factors, health outcomes, and current and planned public health interventions. Robust environmental monitoring and health surveillance data from across the
- Prioritize understanding and ameliorating the contribution of health disparities among subpopulations in the
- Develop and promote the implementation of standard methods for national, regional, and local health impact assessments for climate change. The current practice of using multiple units (e.g., use of different temperature scales), time frames, and baseline measures (e.g., underlying health status) among different assessments prevents easy comparisons.
- Develop a research program and set of standard methods for assessing the health impacts (both co-benefits and unintended harms) of interventions in energy, transportation, agriculture, and housing intended to mitigate or adapt to climate change. The disease burden affected to some degree by decisions in the energy and transport sectors is very large. Decisions made by water and agriculture agencies, including those made in response to climate change, also have the capacity to increase or decrease risks from a range of infectious diseases, undernutrition, and other health risks.
- Improve training of federal, state, and local health department personnel in the human health risks of and public health responses to climate change. The current public health system is greatly challenged to keep up with existing levels of health threats, including climate-sensitive ones. Additional training and capacity building are necessary to prepare public health professionals to deal with the urgent threats of climate change.
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Group Launches Major Ad Campaign in 3,000 Subway Cars
February 23, 2009For Immediate Release:Monday, February 23, 2009Contact:Bennett Kleinberg, (212) 576-2700, bkleinberg@goodmanmedia.com
(The ads, which can be seen today in 3,000 New York City subway cars – nearly half of all subway cars – urge riders to tell Governor Paterson and state legislative leaders to support a plan that would provide critical funds to close the MTA’s $1.2 billion operating deficit this year and fund the agency’s maintenance and rebuilding program.“Our ad urges transit riders to speak up,” said Robert Yaro, president of the Regional Plan Association, a civic group and co-chair of the ESTA coalition. “Lawmakers need to act now or else draconian cuts will go into effect. At a time when the American economy has hit a weak point, it would be a big mistake to let public transit falter. Doing so will hurt our struggling businesses and discourage new enterprises from starting. Transit cuts also place an undue burden on the City’s poorest workers who are already suffering tremendously. We hope this campaign will challenge riders to stand up and take action.”With a sharp, simple design, the ad humorously points to the economic burden riders will carry once fare hikes are in place. Below a photo of the subway staircase descending to the 21st and Van Alst station on the G line, the caption reads: “At $103 a month, you’d expect they’d have a sauna, a pool and Pilates classes down there.” The ad urges riders to go to a website – www.KeepNewYorkMoving.org – and send a message “to Gov. Paterson and your state legislators demanding more reliable funding for“The message of the ad is powerful: Act now or pay later in longer waits, more crowding, higher fares, crumbling stations, and aging subway cars, buses and commuter trains,” said Gene Russianoff, staff attorney for the Straphangers Campaign, a transit riders group.“Transit is the lifeblood ofThe MTA faces a huge capital shortfall – with no money in hand for its next $25 billion-plus five-year rebuilding plan – in addition to the projected $1.2 billion operating deficit for 2009.“We believe riders will respond strongly to the ads and speak up for funding better transit,” added Denise Richardson, president of the General Contractors Association of New York. “The time to act is now. Riders are facing cuts and construction workers are facing jobs losses.”“Adequate support for operating, maintaining, and expanding“We have a transit crisis on our hands with major service cuts, fare increases and no capital funding available,” said Kevin S. Corbett, co-chair of the Empire State Transportation Alliance. “The state is going to have to make tough choices for saving the transit system. We’re looking to“These 3,000 ads are a call to action,” says Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Transportation Alternatives. ““The ad is effective because we don’t have a luxury system and there are no frills to cut. Our transit system is a necessity, and riders must send that message loud and clear to their State elected representatives and demand that they take action now,” said William Henderson, Executive Director, Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA.“We need strong leadership in“Raising fares and cutting service is a double-whammy that is especially harsh in these tough economic times,” said Rich Kassel, Senior Attorney and urban transportation expert at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Our subways and buses are the key to the city’s future sustainability. Now more than ever,Produced by Robbett Advocacy Media, the ads are sponsored by ESTA, a coalition of nonprofit, business and civic groups supporting better transit forThe communications campaign cost approximately $120,000, which was raised through contributions from groups supporting transit. No funds were obtained from government sources. The groups’ efforts also included distribution of tens of thousands of leaflets toKKR and EDF Partnership Helps Companies Save Over $16 Million While Reducing Emissions and Waste
February 18, 2009(New York, NY – February 18, 2009) Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P. (KKR) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today released initial results of their partnership, confirming that environmental management can drive business success even in today’s challenging economic climate. At three companies – US Foodservice Inc., PRIMEDIA Inc. and Sealy Corporation – the partnership has already saved $16.4 million and prevented more than 25,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2008. KKR and EDF will soon implement the initiative at four additional KKR portfolio companies: Accellent, Biomet, Dollar General and HCA.
“These initial results provide a high note in this low economy,” said Gwen Ruta, vice president of corporate partnerships, EDF. “By generating cost savings through environmental innovation, these companies are improving their competitive position in today’s volatile marketplace.”
“One of KKR’s core strengths is driving operational improvements that build business value,” said Dean Nelson, Head of KKR Capstone. “By focusing on improving environmental performance across our portfolio and providing a framework to help companies take environmental initiatives to scale, we’re finding new ways to help the portfolio companies save money while simultaneously improving the environment.”
Ken Mehlman, Head of Global Public Affairs at KKR said: “Today’s announcements are good examples of how smart companies can cut costs and support the environment. Going forward we will continue to implement Green Portfolio Project tools to generate more cost savings and environmental benefits at other portfolio companies including Accellent, Biomet, Dollar General and HCA.”
KKR and EDF have been working together since May 2008 to develop and test a set of analytic tools and metrics to help companies improve in several key environmental performance areas, including greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water, forest resources and priority chemicals.
US Foodservice, PRIMEDIA and Sealy participated in the pilot phase of the project, using these tools to evaluate environmental impacts, identify areas for environmental and business improvement, establish baselines and metrics and develop goals and action plans for future improvement. The process helped managers to cost-effectively improve efficiency and reduce waste, while addressing the environmental impacts of their business.
Specific results to date include:
US Foodservice, one of the country’s premier foodservice distributors, implemented new driver policies, business processes and truck technologies to improve its operational efficiency and reduce emissions from its delivery fleet. During 2008, US Foodservice:
- Saved $8.2 million in fuel costs and avoided 22,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions (equivalent to more than 4,400 cars) by improving the efficiency of its fleet (gallons/ton of product moved) by more than 4% compared to a 2007 baseline.
This year, US Foodservice plans to further improve fleet productivity by scaling up successful initiatives, such as driver awareness programs, automatic idle shutoff, maximum speed controls and assessing and implementing new initiatives, including improved trailer cooling practices and other technology solutions.
PRIMEDIA, a leading provider of print, Internet and mobile solutions designed to enable consumers to find a place to live, increased online efforts and resized its publications to reduce its use of forest resources. During 2008, PRIMEDIA:
- Saved $2.9 million in material costs and reduced more than 3,000 tons of paper use (equivalent to over 40,000 trees) by improving efficiency (paper use/revenue) by 22% compared to a 2007 baseline.
This year, PRIMEDIA plans to reduce paper consumption an additional 20% by redesigning publications and pursuing additional online strategies and is exploring opportunities to expand publication recycling programs currently encouraged at all locations. Also in 2009, PRIMEDIA will focus on measuring and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 10% by improving sales and delivery routing and continuing efforts to consolidate office and warehouse space.
Sealy Corporation, the largest bedding manufacturer in North America, recycled raw materials used for producing bedding and improved delivery fleet efficiency through improved driver policies and truck technologies to reduce waste and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. During 2008, Sealy:
- Saved $1.2 million in fuel costs and avoided more than 3,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions (equivalent to more than 600 cars) by improving the efficiency of its fleet (gallons/stop) by almost 9% compared to a 2007 baseline. In addition, Sealy saved more than $4 million in material costs and avoided 650 tons of solid waste (equivalent to the capacity of more than 46 garbage trucks) by reducing scrap per bed (pounds/unit) by 16% compared to a 2007 baseline.
This year, Sealy plans to roll out improved fleet routing software, install speed governors on its trucks, reduce idling time and incentivize drivers to improve fuel economy. The company will continue reducing solid waste by improving manufacturing processes and reducing packaging. In addition, Sealy will focus on improving the energy efficiency of its facilities.
In 2009, KKR and EDF will continue to work together to extend the program across KKR’s U.S. portfolio. Already, KKR has launched a Web site that provides sample tools, best practices and case studies for cost-effectively improving environmental performance to promote action among its portfolio companies.
To drive broader change across the private equity and other industries, the tools and best practices developed through the partnership will be available through the EDF Innovation Exchange in the fall of 2009 and KKR and EDF will continue to publicly share results.
House-Passed Stimulus Conference Report Praised for Transit, High Speed Rail, and Flexible Transportation Funding
February 13, 2009Contact:Sean Crowley, 202-550-6524-c, scrowley@edf.org(“When it comes to job creation and reducing air and global warming pollution, investments in transit, rail, and fixing roads and bridges trump building new roads and bridges,” said Michael Replogle, a civil engineer, a member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Intelligent Transportation Systems for the U.S. Department of Transportation, and Transportation Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “The challenge now is educating states that will decide how to spend the bulk of these funds to recognize these facts, and to be transparent and wise about how they spend these tens of billions of taxpayer dollars.”The conference report includes the following transportation investments:• Provides $29 billion that can be used to build and repair roads and bridges, transit, passenger and freight rail, and ports.• Provides $8.4 billion for investment in transit and $8 billion for investment in high-speed rail, compared to investment in high-speed rail in the Senate bill ($2 billion) and House bill (none).
How Does California Avoid a Future Hijacking of the State Budget?
February 13, 2009Contacts:Jessica Lass, NRDC, 310/434-2300, jlass@nrdc.orgJenesse Miller, CLCV, 510/844-0235, jmiller@ecovote.orgLori Sinsley, EDF, 415/293-6097, lsinsley@edf.orgHow Does California Avoid a Future Hijacking of the State Budget?Environmental and health organizations say new laws needed to prevent lawmakers from holding budget negotiations hostage over pet issuesSACRAMENTO (February 12, 2009) – Add dirtier air, especially in the San Joaquin Valley, to the consequences of the California budget framework announced yesterday by the Governor Schwarzenegger and the state legislative leaders. Environmental and health groups say Republican legislative leaders exploited the state’s financial crisis to repeal laws that protect the health and safety of Californians, yet have nothing to do with the budget.
The groups called for new laws to prevent future repeat of this “hijack and hostage taking” of the state budget. Possible solutions include a law to make it illegal to modify state policies in budget talks and the repeal of California’s unique status as one of only three states requiring a supermajority (2/3rds vote) to pass a budget.
“A radical minority of Republican lawmakers hijacked not only the budget, but the constitutional process by which Californians enact environmental protections,” said Warner Chabot, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV). “They succeeded in delaying the clean-up of dirty diesel pollution. They used secret, closed-door negotiations to reverse environmental laws, established through a public, democratic process. We won’t let that happen again. Starting today, we will work for legislative solutions to make it unethical and unlawful for a minority of legislators who are out of step with the majority of Californians to modify laws in the budget process.”
The months-long budget stalemate brought massive public works projects to a halt, earned the state the lowest credit rating the U.S., and forced the Governor and Democratic legislative leaders to give in to the ransom demands of a small minority of Republican legislators in order to produce an agreement on the budget.
“Republican legislative leaders exploited California’s unusual supermajority requirement to push their unpopular policy agenda that fails to protect the health and safety of Californians or solve our economic problems. Now Californians have to pay the price,” said Ann Notthoff, California advocacy director at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
Republican legislators had insisted on weakening state rules and allowing more diesel pollution from construction equipment, allowing farmers to use more pesticides, and allowing more greenhouse gas emissions from development projects, in exchange for their willingness to consider new revenues for the state, which is facing a $42 billion shortfall through mid-2010. Their major success in the final framework was to allow more diesel pollution.
“Californians in every part of the state will suffer from the delay of the diesel cleanup in this framework agreement. But San Joaquin Valley residents, whose air is already among the worst in the nation, will especially feel the pain. These are the constituents of the two members of the Big 5 who demanded this deal,” said Kathryn Phillips, director of the California transportation and air initiative at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).“Valley residents’ lungs are not subsidies for the construction industry. The Valley’s own representatives, Senator Cogdill and Assemblymember Villines, have used the budget process to increase air pollution in the Valley, one of the most polluted air basins in the United States, usurping our democratic rights and inflicting harm on the most vulnerable people,” said Sarah Sharpe, Environmental Health Director at Fresno Metro Ministry.###About CLCVThe political muscle of the environmental movement in America’s leading environmental state, the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) is the nation’s oldest grassroots environmental political action organization. CLCV uses sophisticated campaign tools to help elect pro-environment officials – and to hold them accountable for passing legislation to protect health, communities and the environment. CLCV publishes the annual California Environmental Scorecard, which rates the actions of every state legislator and the governor on the state’s environmental priorities each legislative year. For the results of the 35th annual California Environmental Scorecard, and for information on CLCV’s election priorities and endorsements, visit www.ecovote.org.About NRDCThe 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 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.About EDFEnvironmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members nationwide and 100,000 in California. 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. For more information, visit www.edf.org.Safe Journeys for Western Wildlife
February 12, 2009FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact:Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org(In a new report, titled Safe Journeys: Opportunities for Wildlife Conservation Through the Farm Bill, EDF outlines ways to use Farm Bill programs to create or restore wildlife corridors across 18 western states.“Some of our most iconic and most vulnerable animals need to migrate across the West’s wide open spaces,” said Dan Grossman, EDF’sThe Western Governors Association (WGA), state and federal agencies, conservation groups, sportsmen, and many others have already recognized the importance of wildlife corridors in conserving land and protecting animals from extinction. EDF argues that conservation incentives built into the 2008 Farm Bill can play a pivotal role in the effort.“The Farm Bill can provide tens of millions of dollars for corridor conservation annually, so we need to take full advantage of the opportunities it provides,” said Sara Hopper, agricultural policy director for EDF. “Our report lists many effective ways to use Farm Bill funding to benefit landowners while protecting the great wildlife heritage of the American West. That support is vital for species now, and will become even more critical as animals are forced to adapt to ecosystem changes caused by global warming.”The reports’ recommendations include:- Western states should take advantage of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiatives in the Farm Bill to target restoration work to important wildlife corridors, and should reward land management practices that protect corridors.
- Western states should focus resources from the Farm Bill’s working lands programs towards creating and preserving wildlife corridors. That effort should include taking advantage of the new Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI), which allows state and local stakeholders to collaborate for better results.
- Western states should ask Congress to undo recent changes that make some working lands programs less valuable for improving wildlife corridors in the West.
- Western States should use State Wildlife Action Plans and maps of important wildlife corridors to target those private ranch and farm lands that would most benefit from conservation easements.
- Western states should use Farm Bill programs to create wildlife-friendly fence designs and reduce fencing where feasible for farmers and ranchers.
- Western states should take advantage of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) initiatives in the Farm Bill to target restoration work to important wildlife corridors, and should reward land management practices that protect corridors.
Green Group Urges City to Enforce New Laws to Cut Pollution in School Zones
February 10, 2009
Contact: Heath Fradkoff, 212-576-2700, ext 232, hfradkoff@goodmanmedia.com (New York – February 10, 2009) As Mayor Bloomberg signed legislation to reduce engine idling in school zones, Environmental Defense Fund today released a new report detailing other non-legislative ways to reduce idling as well as the health, climate and economic toll of idling in the city. Mayor Bloomberg signed a new law sponsored by Councilmember John C. Liu that cuts the amount of time drivers can idle their engines while parked in school zones from three minutes to one minute. He also signed a new law sponsored by Councilmember David Yassky that authorizes the Departments of Sanitation and Parks & Recreation to issue summonses for breaking anti-idling laws. Previously, only by the New York City Police Department and the Department of Environmental Protection had that authority. However, the city has restricted idling since 1971, but rarely enforced the laws. “We applaud the mayor and City Council for enacting these cost-free laws to improve air quality at the street level where our kids breathe, play and work, but they won’t mean a thing if the city doesn’t enforce them,” said Isabelle Bodmer Silverman, a mother of two school-aged children, an attorney for the Living Cities program at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) who authored the EDF study: Idling Gets You Nowhere. “Idling is an unnecessary source of roadside air pollution that increases the risk of health problems for all New Yorkers, including drivers of idling vehicles.” Idling Gets You Nowhere draws the following conclusions: 1. Health impacts: Idling vehicles in New York City annually produce 940 tons of smog-forming nitrogen oxides, the equivalent of 9 million large trucks driving from Hunts Point in the Bronx to Staten Island. Pollutants from idling are associated with a variety of health risks, including respiratory disease and impaired lung development, cancer, asthma, heart disease, lower IQ levels and prenatal complications. 2. Climate impacts: To offset the annual global warming pollution from idling cars and trucks in New York City -- 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide -- the city would need to plant trees covering an area the size of Manhattan every year. 3. Economic impacts: New York City vehicles annually waste approximately $28 million annually in fuel by idling, based on an average gasoline price of $2.00 per gallon and an average diesel price of $2.50 per gallon. Idling Gets You Nowhere proposes solutions to help improve idling practices that focus on three key targets: enforcement agencies, individual drivers, businesses and fleet managers. 1. Enforcement agencies. Authorize all 2,300 police traffic enforcement agents to ticket illegal idling and make it an option on handheld ticketing device. Currently, only about 100 traffic enforcement agents are authorized to issue idling tickets. Designate at least 10 percent of traffic enforcement agents or hire additional traffic enforcement agents to focus on anti-idling enforcement. 2. Individual drivers. The city has scheduled a public education campaign this spring focusing on the benefits of going idle-free for drivers of trucks, personal autos and car services. Photo by Isabelle Silverman 3. Businesses and fleet managers. Install anti-idling technologies such as auxiliary power units and automatic engine-shutoff devices. Investigate financing opportunities for anti-idling technology. Consider addressing idling as part of an overall approach to fleet management by communicating with drivers about the health impacts of idling and new technologies to reduce it. “People fall into the habit of idling because they are unaware of the law and the costs of idling, but the fact is that if you sit idle for more than 10 seconds, you save more gas by shutting off your engine,” concluded Silverman. “Shutting down and restarting your engine doesn’t hurt the starter in today’s high tech buses, cars and trucks and it actually decreases overall engine wear.” Co-authored by Edward Burgess and Mel Peffers and funded by The Hinkle Charitable Foundation and The New York Community Trust, the full report and summary of Idling Gets You Nowhere can be found online at the EDF website: www.edf.org/stopidling.