Complete list of press releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
Contact:

Jerry Karnas, Environmental Defense, 941-587-1803 

Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense, 202-210-5791

(Washington – July 11, 2007) Environmental Defense today applauded bold action by Florida Governor Charlie Crist to cap greenhouse gas pollution and direct state agencies to take immediate action to reduce emissions through tighter auto efficiency standards and energy efficiency measures.

“This is what leadership is all about,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp. “Charlie Crist understands that the risks of climate change are great but the opportunities for action are greater, for Florida and the entire country.”

Florida, a politically crucial state in the 2008 election and one of largest economies in the nation, becomes the first state in the Southeast to adopt a greenhouse gas emissions cap. Crist will detail his plans for reducing global warming pollution through a series of executive orders this week at the Florida Summit on Global Climate Change in Miami. The Executive Orders are expected to set greenhouse gas emission reduction targets that will bring statewide emissions 80 percent below 1990 levels by the middle of this century, which is consistent with the reductions most scientists say the U.S. must achieve nationally to help avoid the worst consequences of climate change.

Those consequences – rising sea levels, drought, and stronger storms – could have particularly severe impacts on Florida’s natural resources and economy.

The executive orders also are expected to direct state agencies to implement the clean cars standard adopted by California and 11 other states, limit emissions from electric utilities, set efficiency standards for buildings and appliances, and require a percentage of power generation to come from renewable energy sources.

“Governor Crist has hit a grand slam, putting Florida on the map as a true leader on global warming,” said Jerry Karnas, Florida climate project director at Environmental Defense. “We look forward to working with Governor Crist and leaders from across the state to move them forward and make the state a role model for the country.”

The governor’s announcement comes close on the heels of two other states – Hawaii and New Jersey – enacting their own tough statewide emissions caps. Seventeen others have adopted or are working on greenhouse gas emissions limits, and state leaders from across the country have said they must take steps now absent federal action.

“These states’ actions are critical, but they can only go so far. It’s time for Congress to build on their efforts with a national emissions cap – we have a window of opportunity for action, but it won’t stay open forever,” Krupp said.

Joining Governor Crist in Miami on Friday  at the Summit will be California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the first to sign a statewide emissions cap for greenhouse gases. Environmental Defense is  the lead sponsor of the Florida Summit on Global  Climate Change.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Tony Kreindler, Environmental Defense, 202-572-3378 or 202-210-5791

(Washington – July 10, 2007) Senator Jeff Bingaman tomorrow is expected to introduce the 9th significant climate change bill in the Senate this session, reflecting continued growth in bipartisan support for mandatory limits on global warming pollution.

But despite improvements from previous drafts, Senator Bingaman’s bill still contains a fatal flaw that would seriously undermine climate protections.

“The safety valve is a dangerous kill switch that could turn off the whole program,” said Steve Cochran, national climate campaign director at Environmental Defense. “There are much better ways of managing costs than giving up on the environmental goal altogether.”

The safety valve in Senator Bingaman’s bill would put a price ceiling of $12 per ton of carbon dioxide under an emissions cap and trade system. If emissions allowances traded by companies reached the price ceiling, companies could buy unlimited cut-rate emissions allowances from the government – effectively jettisoning the bill’s mandatory emissions limits.

The safety valve included in Senator Bingaman’s bill:

• Undermines the fundamental goal of an emissions cap. Fixing the climate problem means capping and reducing carbon emissions. Previous government analysis of similar legislation has shown that the operation of a safety valve prevents climate bills from achieving their own emissions reduction targets. 

• Limits investment in new low-carbon technologies. Putting a ceiling on the price of emissions allowances puts a ceiling on the amount of private-sector capital that could flow to the development of the clean energy technologies needed to make deep reductions in U.S carbon emissions.

• Is bad for farmers and Rural America. A cap and trade system will create a major new market for emissions allowances, and anyone who can make emissions reductions can profit. If companies can buy allowances from the government at a below-market price, they have no incentive to buy allowances from farmers who could generate more than $8 billion worth of reductions through no-till farming, methane capture and other practices.

Senator Bingaman’s bill will be referred to the Environment and Public Works Committee, where subcommittee Chair Joe Lieberman and Ranking Member John Warner are preparing comprehensive climate legislation. The two senators recently announced that they expect to bring legislation to a markup in their subcommittee before the August congressional recess.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Joe Rudek, 919-881-2913
Tanja Vujic, 919-881-2916

(Raleigh, NC - July 10, 2007) Environmental Defense today released an economic analysis that shows North Carolina can gain the equivalent of 7,000 jobs and add $10 billion to its economy if the hog industry moves from open-air lagoons to innovative systems for treating swine waste. The study confirms that public and private investment in innovative waste systems will bring economic benefits for both farmers and the communities that surround them. The study provides further evidence that incentives and cost-share programs can help make new systems that protect the environment and public health affordable for farmers.

“This study should end debate over the affordability of cleaner systems and refocus efforts to get these systems on the ground and develop markets for byproducts. Bottom line is that the hog industry will remain economically strong, and communities will become healthier places to live and work,” said Joe Rudek, senior scientist with the NC office of Environmental Defense. “Now policy makers have reliable data showing that incentives and cost-share programs can help make cleaner waste systems affordable for all farmers. Public investment in cost-share programs will deliver big benefits to North Carolina, especially to the eastern region of the state.”

“This is good news for hog farmers and for communities. Economic progress and environmental progress go hand in hand,” said Tanja Vujic, attorney with the NC office of Environmental Defense. “Lawmakers now have solid evidence to guide them in making North Carolina the cleanest hog-producing state in the country. It’s time to sharpen the pencils and design meaningful programs to put innovative systems into farmers’ hands.”

The study was conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates in collaboration with the NC office of Environmental Defense. Wilbur Smith Associates is a leading provider of economics and market analysis consulting services to various government agencies, including federal, state, local and regional agencies, as well as private sector clients.

The study is available at www.environmentaldefense.org/nchogeconomics.

MEDIA ADVISORY

July 6, 2007

What:

Teleconference releasing the results of a landmark analysis that documents the significant economic benefits of replacing outdated hog lagoons with clean, innovative systems for managing waste.  The analysis, conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates, goes beyond previous research on economic impacts conducted by NC State University.

When:

Tuesday, July 10 at 11:00 am.  Call 866-740-1260 and enter conference code 881-2922.

Who:

Joe Rudek, senior scientist, NC Office of Environmental Defense

Tanja Vujic, attorney, NC Office of Environmental Defense

Background:

Environmental Defense will release an analysis that shows significant economic opportunities for North Carolina if the state’s hog industry replaces lagoons and sprayfields with new, clean systems for treating hog waste.  The results clearly indicate that investment in innovative systems that generate marketable byproducts can help the hog industry and the eastern region of the state by creating thousands of jobs and boosting the regional economy by billions of dollars.  The study’s design projects that new technologies would be installed on all NC hog farms over four years.

Visuals:

Hog farm tours with excellent visuals can be arranged upon request.

Contact:

For an embargoed copy of the economic analysis, contact Georgette Shepherd, 919-881-2927 or gshepherd@environmentaldefense.org.  Environmental Defense experts are available for interviews today through the public release of the report. 

WHAT:            Shifting subsidy payments to voluntary U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs that provide cleaner air, energy and water would support more farmers in 36 of the 55 districts represented by freshmen members of the U.S. House of Representatives, according to an analysis by Environmental Defense. If Congress enacted this reform proposal when it reauthorizes the Farm Bill this summer, districts in the following states would receive a larger share of federal farm spending:  

Arizona (Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Tucson/Sierra Vista)

California (*Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton/Stockton)

Florida (*Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Port Charlotte/Martin/Highlands)

Hawaii (*Rep. Mazie Hirono, D-Honolulu)

Idaho (Rep. Bill Sali, R-Boise/Caldwell/Coeur d’Alene/Lewiston)

Nevada (Rep. Dean Heller, R-Reno/Elko/Las Vegas)

Ohio (Rep. Zachary Space, D-Dover/*Rep. Charles Wilson, D-Canfield/Marietta/Bridgeport)

Pennsylvania (*Rep. Chris Carney, D-Clarks Summit/Shamokin/Williamsport)

Texas (*Rep. Ciro Rodriquez, D-San Antonio/Fort Stockton/Eagle Pass)

Vermont (*Rep. Peter Welch, D-Burlington)

*Supports legislation to increase conservation funding

WHY:              Renewal of farm and food policies in the 2007 Farm Bill provides a chance to help many more farmers who offer to clean up the environment. Currently, farmers in 20 districts collect half of all Farm Bill spending and two-out-of–three farmers offering to clean up the environment are rejected because of misplaced spending priorities.  A majority of House members support bills that would dramatically increase conservation funding.

WHO:              Scott Faber, Farm Policy Campaign Director, Environmental Defense

                        (Read Scott’s Farm Bill blog: http://environmentaldefenseblogs.org/healthyfarms)

WHEN:            Monday, July 9, 2007, 12:30pm ET

HOW:              News Conference/Teleconference call (800) 804-0064; passcode: 6460177

CONTACT:     Sean Crowley, (202) 572-3331-w, scrowley@environmentaldefense.org  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Michael Shore, 828-582-3141 (c)
Jane Preyer, 919-740-6727 (c)

(Raleigh, NC — July 3, 2007) Environmental Defense today applauded the North Carolina Senate for passage of Senate Bill 3, which would establish a 12.5% renewable energy and efficiency standard (REPS).

Passage of an REPS bill by the NC General Assembly would make North Carolina the first state in the Southeast to require that a percentage of its electric demand be met with clean energy sources.

“The key to a clean and cost-effective energy future is for North Carolina to develop its abundant renewable and efficiency resources,” said Michael Shore, senior air policy analyst with Environmental Defense. “It is critical that the General Assembly pass a renewable and efficiency standard this year to clean the air, reduce global warming pollution, and put off the need to build expensive coal and nuclear power plants.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Katharine Burnham, (202) 415-5742

(Washington, DC - June 29, 2007) The following statement can be attributed to David Festa, director of the Oceans Program at Environmental Defense. Prior to joining Environmental Defense, Festa was director of policy and strategic planning at Department of Commerce working on U.S. fisheries issues among others.

“This decision by the FDA indicates the importance of getting it right when it comes to fish farming. Fish farming – or aquaculture – can ease the strain on our oceans caused by the increasing global demand for seafood. But when environmental and food safety controls are lacking, we are all at risk.

Close to 80% of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported, with China the largest provider of all. And this demand will only continue to grow as the health benefits of seafood are more widely recognized.

There are three steps in getting fish farming right: information, innovation and vigilance. First, consumers need to know where their seafood comes from. The USDA has a chance right now to improve requirements for Country of Origin food labeling and recently re-opened the existing rule for comment. Government and industry have great opportunities to step up. Second, innovation and technology can minimize the need for antibiotics and additives in the first place and ensure that the environmental impacts of fish farming are negligible. Finally, inspectors should improve testing protocols to keep consumers safer and provide a strong incentive for good aquaculture.

We don’t need to turn our rivers, bays and seas into vast aquatic feed lots. With good aquaculture and better management of our wild fish, we can have our fish and save the environment too.”

To speak with David Festa, please contact Katharine Burnham at (202) 415-5742.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:   

Melanie Janin, Environmental Defense, 202-572-3240, mjanin@environmentaldefense.org

Michelle Reardon, DuPont, 302-774-7447, michelle.s.reardon@usa.dupont.com                               

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 21, 2007 – Environmental Defense and DuPont today released a comprehensive framework to assist with the responsible development and use of nanotechnology and to help inform global dialogue on its potential risks.  The Nano Risk Framework is intended for use around the world by small and large companies, regulatory agencies, universities, and others with an interest in commercializing nanoscale materials.

Environmental Defense and DuPont began a partnership on nanotechnology in September 2005, creating a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in science, engineering, law and business.  The goal was to develop a systematic and disciplined process for evaluating and addressing the environmental, health and safety risks of nanomaterials across all stages of a product’s lifecycle – from initial sourcing through manufacture, use, and recycling or disposal.  

The resulting Framework offers a thorough and usable six-step process for organizations to identify, assess and manage potential risks.  The six steps within the Framework include: describing the material and the intended application; profiling the material’s lifecycle in this application; evaluating the associated risks; assessing risk management options; deciding and documenting actions; and regularly reviewing new information and adapting actions accordingly. 

“Nanotechnology has the potential to unleash innovations in materials, energy, and other fields that could lead to powerful environmental and health benefits,” said Director of Corporate Partnerships at Environmental Defense Gwen Ruta.   “Our intent is to help reap the full promise of this technology without creating unintended consequences.  We want to get this right the first time around.”  

“This Framework outlines a disciplined process for the responsible development of nanomaterials,” said DuPont Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Linda Fisher.  “At DuPont, we have adopted this approach as a part of our mandatory product stewardship process, and we encourage others to do the same.  While we do not see this Framework as a substitute for regulation, we hope that it assists governments in drafting appropriate regulations.”

In developing the Framework, Environmental Defense and DuPont solicited and received significant feedback from a broad range of interested parties, including other companies and NGOs, government officials and academics. The Framework uses proven risk-management techniques in order to fully integrate with any current environmental, health and safety practices in place within companies.  It also provides several new elements that can be instrumental in understanding the unique potential risks of nanomaterials, including: the recommendation to develop informational profiles (or “base sets”) regarding the properties, hazards, and exposures associated with a given nanomaterial; and guidance on developing more detailed information on physical-chemical properties, ecotoxicity and environmental fate than has typically been used in existing risk management profiles.  

In order to evaluate the effectiveness, flexibility and practicality of the Framework, DuPont conducted three demonstration projects on three different classes of nanoscale materials: a new titanium dioxide-based product, carbon nanotubes and zero valent iron. 

“These projects were selected not only because they are of interest to DuPont, but also because they represent a good test of the Framework,” DuPont Global Regulatory Affairs Director Terry Medley said.  “Each represents a different position for DuPont in the value chain and is at a different stage of development.  The projects required different resources, produced varying outcomes, and each demonstrated different aspects of the Framework.”  The three projects were:

·         A new titanium dioxide-based product, called DuPont™ Light Stabilizer 210, which is designed as sun protection for plastics.  An announcement about this product and its commercial availability will be made in the near future.  Not all of the particles in this product fit the specific definition of nanomaterials, since a significant fraction is larger than the threshold 100 nanometer size.  However, this material proved to be a good test of the Framework’s methodology.  The Framework helped DuPont develop a comprehensive exposure and hazard profile for this material prior to commercialization.

·         Carbon nanotubes incorporated into polymer nanocomposites to improve mechanical and electrical properties of engineering thermoplastics.  DuPont currently conducts basic research and development using carbon nanotubes for potential future product applications.  The company used the Framework to refine internal management procedures and to identify questions to be answered for such applications before they move from R&D toward commercialization. 

·         Nano zero valent iron, which DuPont was evaluating for potential use in groundwater remediation. Use of the Framework identified a number of questions regarding the physical safety, fate and transport of the material for this environmental application.  DuPont chose not to pursue use of this material until these questions could be addressed. 

Environmental Defense, a leading national non-profit organization, represents more than 500,000 members.  Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction; communications; and transportation.

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6/21/07

Editor’s Note: To learn more about the Framework or to download a copy, see www.NanoRiskFramework.com .