Complete list of press releases

  • Environmentalists Praise Bush's Action to Create the World's Largest Marine Protected Area: Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Sanctuary

    June 15, 2006
    Kathleen Goldstein, Environmental Defense, 202-841-0295, kgoldstein@ed.org
    Elliott Norse, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, 425-968-0449, elliott@mcbi.org
    Cha Smith, KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance, 808-277-5362, cha@kahea.org
    Vicky Holt Takamine, `Ilio`ulaokalani Coalition, 808-754-2301, vickyt@hawaii.rr.com
     
    (June 15, 2006 – Washington, DC) President George W. Bush will announce today his intention to establish the world’s largest marine protected area – over 84 million acres - to safeguard a remote, biologically rich string of islands and submerged lands known as the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). These are the most intact tropical marine ecosystems under US jurisdiction. There have been endeavors to protect the area since the days of President Teddy Roosevelt, including the designation of the area as an ecosystem reserve by President Bill Clinton, Hawai’i Governor Linda Lingle’s action last year to protect all state waters in the region from commercial activities and efforts by Hawai’i’s Congressional delegation. The Bush-proposed NWHI national marine sanctuary is the lynchpin to giving the federal area more permanent and stronger protections. Environmental Defense, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, KAHEA: the Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance and the `Ilio`ulaokalani Coalition praise President Bush’s bold actions. The groups will closely examine specific proposed measures to ensure that they are consistent with the visionary purpose of the sanctuary. It is essential that destructive practices are not allowed under the guise of “research”.
     
    “This an unprecedented win for endangered Hawaiian monk seals, green sea turtles, black-footed albatrosses, tiger sharks, the incredible reef corals in these waters, the people of Hawai’i and all Americans, now and in generations to come,” said Marine Conservation Biology Institute President Dr. Elliott Norse. “It’s the start of a new era of protecting places in the sea before they’re degraded beyond recognition. In my opinion, this is the best thing President Bush has done for the environment.”
     
    “The President is creating the world’s largest marine protected area. It’s as important as the establishment of Yellowstone,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp. 
     
    At over 84 million acres in size, the proposed marine sanctuary is more than 38 times larger than Yellowstone National Park, and larger than Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park. Following the process for scientific and public input outlined by Congress, the Bush Administration has developed a plan that will manage the sanctuary to protect the marine animals, coral reefs and seabird breeding habitat in one of the most remote coral reef ecosystems on Earth. Over 7,000 species are found in the region, at least one-third of which are unique to Hawai’i. 
     
    President Bush will make the announcement with the release of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) notice to the public outlining the availability of draft management regulations for the proposed NWHI Sanctuary. In addition, a draft management plan and environmental impact statement will be released for public hearings later in the summer. The Bush Administration signaled its intent in 2004 to manage the sanctuary so as to provide strong and long-term protection of its marine ecosystems in their natural character.
     
    “The Native Hawaiian community has been at the forefront of protection efforts,” said `Ilio`ulaokalani Coalition President Vicky Holt Takamine. “If these rules can be strengthened to prevent commercial activities in the NWHI, to maintain existing protections, and to match the stringent rules for state waters of the NWHI, we have a good chance of protecting this sacred place.”
    “The Northwestern Hawaiian Islands are fast becoming a magnet for large research vessels and questionable research,” said KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance Executive Director Cha Smith. “It will be of great importance to ensure that research is limited to activities necessary for management and restoration efforts and that educational activities bring the place to people and not take people to the place. “
    Marine Conservation Biology Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the new science of conserving life in the sea and to protecting, recovering and sustainably using our ocean ecosystems. Its headquarters are in Bellevue, WA. www.mcbi.org
     
    KAHEA is an alliance of Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) cultural practitioners, environmental activists and others concerned with protecting customary and traditional rights and Hawai`i’s fragile environment. www.kahea.org
     
    `Ilio`ulaokalani Coalition. is an island-wide grassroots organization comprised of kumu (master teachers) and loea (cultural experts) whose purpose is to link and apply traditional Hawaiian cultural principles, practices and skills to effect educational, social, environmental and economic change for the betterment and advancement of native Hawaiians and the community at large.

  • Environmental Defense Launches Million Light Bulb Campaign

    June 7, 2006
    With a goal of preventing more than a billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the Earth’s atmosphere, Environmental Defense today launched a major campaign encouraging Americans to replace one million standard light bulbs with energy efficient models.  In just the opening hours of the online campaign, Americans pledged to replace bulbs that will save thirty-five million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution.
     
     “Americans are increasingly concerned about climate change and they’re looking for ways to make a difference – we’re really excited about the response so far,” said Dr. Bill Chameides, Chief Scientist of Environmental Defense.
     
    The “Make the Switch” campaign asks citizens to replace standard incandescent light bulbs with new compact florescent models that use at least three times less energy. The campaign’s web site www.environmentaldefense.org/go/maketheswitch also provides a buying guide for choosing the latest generation of compact fluorescents and as well as discounts for purchasing bulbs.
     
    “Consumer action can make a big difference in the fight against global warming,” said Dr. Chameides. “If every household replaced just three 60-watt incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, we would reduce as much carbon dioxide pollution as if we took 3.5 million cars off the roads.”
     
     “Make the Switch” is part of a major campaign by Environmental Defense to convince government, industry, and the general public that the United States must take bold action to address climate change. 

    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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.
     
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  • Environmental Defense, Transportation Groups Call for Public-Private Partnerships to Cut Congestion and Protect Environment

    June 6, 2006
    WASHINGTON — The national environmental advocacy group Environmental Defense today joined with highway and public transportation industry groups to encourage wider use of public-private partnerships to spur investment in transportation, reduce congestion, and protect the environment, noting that environmental performance and community benefit agreements could be helpful in expanding public support for mobility improvements.  
     
    “It’s time for America’s transportation agencies to maximize highway system performance rather than just trying to build more roads. Better traffic management, market incentives like time-of-day tolls, and new performance-based contracting methods are key to getting the job done,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director for Environmental Defense. “Private firms can help governments accelerate innovation and ensure performance, but these deals need to be done in the open and include environmental performance and community benefit agreements if they are to sustain public support.”
     
    Environmental Defense released a report today, No More Just Throwing Money Out the Window: Using Road Tolls to Cut Congestion, Protect the Environment, and Boost Access for All, which discusses how toll roads and public-private partnership contracts and legislation can promote environmental stewardship and equity. The report is posted at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/highperformancenetworks.
     
    Replogle noted that if public-private partnership road projects apply tolls only to new lanes and use toll revenues only to build more roads, they will tend to exacerbate environmental and equity problems. But if tolls are used to manage both new and existing lanes for higher performance and to fund public transit and impact mitigation, equity and the environment can benefit greatly. Recent experience from San Diego and New York to Stockholm, London, and Singapore shows that toll traffic management of existing highways can produce huge time savings for motorists and substantial benefits for transit, walking, bicycling, the environment, and public health.
     
    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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.

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  • Environmental Defense, Transportation Groups Call for Public-Private Partnerships to Cut Congestion and Protect Environment

    June 6, 2006
    WASHINGTON — The national environmental advocacy group Environmental Defense today joined with highway and public transportation industry groups to encourage wider use of public-private partnerships to spur investment in transportation, reduce congestion, and protect the environment, noting that environmental performance and community benefit agreements could be helpful in expanding public support for mobility improvements.  
     
    “It’s time for America’s transportation agencies to maximize highway system performance rather than just trying to build more roads. Better traffic management, market incentives like time-of-day tolls, and new performance-based contracting methods are key to getting the job done,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director for Environmental Defense. “Private firms can help governments accelerate innovation and ensure performance, but these deals need to be done in the open and include environmental performance and community benefit agreements if they are to sustain public support.”
     
    Environmental Defense released a report today, No More Just Throwing Money Out the Window: Using Road Tolls to Cut Congestion, Protect the Environment, and Boost Access for All, which discusses how toll roads and public-private partnership contracts and legislation can promote environmental stewardship and equity. The report is posted at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/highperformancenetworks.
     
    Replogle noted that if public-private partnership road projects apply tolls only to new lanes and use toll revenues only to build more roads, they will tend to exacerbate environmental and equity problems. But if tolls are used to manage both new and existing lanes for higher performance and to fund public transit and impact mitigation, equity and the environment can benefit greatly. Recent experience from San Diego and New York to Stockholm, London, and Singapore shows that toll traffic management of existing highways can produce huge time savings for motorists and substantial benefits for transit, walking, bicycling, the environment, and public health.
     
    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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.

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  • NC Public School Children Face High Exposure to Toxic Air Pollution from Cars and Trucks

    June 1, 2006

    (May 31, 2006 - Raleigh, NC) More than 50 percent of North Carolina public school students sit in classrooms that are within one-quarter mile of a major roadway, increasing their exposure to elevated levels of toxic air pollutants and raising the risk of respiratory problems.  For children with asthma, pollution from the tailpipes of cars and trucks can increase asthma attacks, emergency room visits, respiratory infections and hospitalizations.  The findings are part of  “School Days and Roadways,” an analysis conducted by the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense and Resource Data Inc. (www.environmentaldefense.org/go/cleancarsnc).  NC lawmakers are considering clean car bills (HB 2185 and SB 1560) in the current session.

    “From playing kickball in kindergarten to running track in high school, public school students face a higher risk for breathing problems every day they go to school,” said Michael Shore, senior air policy analyst for Environmental Defense.  “We can’t move the schools.  We can’t re-route the roads.  But North Carolina should set stricter limits on the pollution that comes out of tailpipes and enters our children’s windpipes.”

    To reduce dangerous emissions from automobiles and trucks, the analysis concludes that North Carolina should adopt clean car standards, which would set a pollution limit that is stricter than federal standards. 

    Because of their size and breathing rates, children are more vulnerable than adults to the air pollution that comes from mobile sources such as cars and trucks, which account for 60% of the state’s toxic air pollution.  All told, about 85 percent of children in the state who attend public kindergarten through twelfth grade go to schools that are within one mile of a major road.  Major roads include US highways, NC highways and interstates. 

    “Although it makes sense from a planning and transportation standpoint to build schools close to roads, the unintended public health consequence is that many children spend a lot of time in areas with elevated pollution levels.  Children and tailpipe pollution just don’t go together.  One plus the other equals too much exposure to dangerous pollutants,” said Shore.  “The most important step that North Carolina can take to reduce tailpipe pollution and protect our children is to adopt tighter emissions standards.”

    Eleven states have passed legislation that reduces emissions from cars and trucks beyond federal standards.  The report says North Carolina should join those states and maintain its reputation as a leader in improving air quality.

  • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE WELCOMES CLEANER DIESEL FUEL

    May 31, 2006
    NEW YORK — On June 1, 2006, cleaner diesel fuel will be introduced nationwide, clearing the way for far-reaching human health benefits.   This cleaner fuel reduces harmful pollution and is essential for getting state-of-the-art diesel engine technology onto new buses and freight trucks manufactured in model year 2007 and later.   These new diesel buses and trucks will slash soot and smog-forming pollution by 90 percent. Diesel engine exhaust is associated with thousands of premature deaths annually from lung cancer as well as asthma attacks and other respiratory disease.   Starting June 1, 80 percent of the diesel fuel produced in America or imported from other countries must be “ultra low sulfur,” meeting a 15 parts per million (ppm) standard. Because it takes several months for that fuel to reach diesel consumers, however, EPA estimates the new low sulfur fuel won’t be available until October, 2006. 

    “Cutting the pollution from diesel engines is one of the most important steps America can take to address the death and disease from air pollution,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp.   “This new clean air program will help save thousands of lives and demonstrates American ingenuity in tackling pressing human health and environmental challenges.” For many years, Environmental Defense has worked with government officials, refiners and diesel engine manufacturers in advocating measures to lower the harmful pollution from diesel fuels and engines
     
    Diesel exhaust contains a host of harmful contaminants that together pose a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant.  Under the program required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, in parallel, the nation is embarking on the transition to cleaner diesel fuel for construction and agricultural equipment, locomotive, and marine engines. This fuel is often referred to as “nonroad” diesel fuel. Nationally, the sulfur content of nonroad diesel fuel has traditionally averaged 3000 ppm. By June 1, 2006, nonroad diesel fuel produced or imported must meet a 500 ppm low sulfur fuel standard. By 2010, nonroad diesel fuel must meet a 15ppm ultra low sulfur diesel fuel standard. 
     
    EPA has adopted modern clean engine standards for all major diesel engine applications except locomotive and marine engines. Environmental Defense is encouraging EPA to adopt pollution control standards for locomotive and marine engines to fully leverage the human health and environmental benefits from the nation’s transition to cleaner diesel fuels.   
     
    The widespread availability of ultra low sulfur highway diesel fuel has important collateral public health and environmental benefits.   Diesel engines are long-lasting.   Modern pollution control technologies are available today for cost-effective application to existing diesel engines.   These retrofit solutions can have important human health benefits in curbing harmful pollution from the diesel engines.   The nationwide availability of cleaner diesel fuels will help communities across the country take sensible steps to reduce harmful soot from the fleet of diesel engines operating today.  

    Environmental Defense has issued several major reports calling for clean air solutions including: “Closing the Diesel Divide: Protecting Human Health from Diesel Air Pollution,” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/2738_DieselDivide.pdf; “Smog Alert: How Commercial Shipping is Polluting our Air” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentid=3812; “Cleaner Air for America: The Case for a National Program to Cut Pollution from Today’s Diesel Engines” available at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/4488_cleanerairamerica.pdf.
     
    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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. www.environmentaldefense.org

  • Environmental Defense Statement on Introduction of NC Hog Farm Bills

    May 25, 2006

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    May 25, 2006

    Environmental Defense Statement on Introduction of NC Hog Farm Bills

    Two bills to reduce pollution from large scale hog operations in North Carolina were introduced in the General Assembly today.  The bill introduced by Representative Carolyn Justice (“Extend Moratoria/Cost-Share Funds”) would implement the key recommendations made by NC State University researchers (Dr. Mike Williams) and represents a big step forward on this issue.  The bill introduced by Representative Russell Tucker ignores most of the researchers’ recommendations and would delay for many years any meaningful progress on addressing environmental problems with hog waste. 

    The following statement may be attributed to Dan Whittle, senior attorney for Environmental Defense.  He may be contacted at 919-931-9677.

    “The Justice bill sets the stage for putting cleaner hog waste systems on farms across Eastern North Carolina.  Putting these systems on a significant number of farms as soon as possible is the best way to reduce costs for all farmers and help develop potentially lucrative new markets for waste byproducts.  The Tucker bill does not provide the state with a plan for helping farmers get new technologies on their land – technologies that will help them keep their farms clean and profitable.”

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  • New Report Details Impacts of Global Warming on Texas

    May 23, 2006
    (Austin – May 24, 2006) Environmental Defense today released “Fair Warning: Global Warming and the Lone Star State,” which examines the impacts global warming will have on Texas’ economy, public health and safety, natural resources and coastal communities.
     
     
    “Global warming isn’t coming to Texas, it’s already here,” said Jim Marston, director of the Texas office of Environmental Defense. “We emit more greenhouse gases than any other state – more than most countries – and we’re years behind other states who are tackling this problem. It’s time for our leaders to act.”
     
    The report details three specific categories of global warming impacts and how they are expected to alter life in Texas:
    - Temperatures will be warmer and precipitation patterns will change, affecting human health, air quality, natural resources, wildlife, the economy and other quality-of-life issues. Heat waves are likely to be longer, hotter and more frequent, increasing heat-related deaths, wildfire risk and air conditioning bills.
    - The sea level will rise, threatening low-lying communities along the Texas coast, many species that rely on coastal and wetland ecosystems, and the multibillion-dollar coastal economy.
    - Warmer ocean water will increase the severity of hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, and an increase in sea level will virtually eliminate the protection offered by Texas’ barrier islands and coastal wetlands.
     
    Perhaps the most dramatic impact on Texas will be the increase in sea level. Most scientists predict a sea level rise of between one to three feet over the next 100 years. Some predict an increase of as much as 10 feet. Maps in the report illustrate how much of Texas would be underwater with one-, three- and 10-foot increases. With a three-foot increase, South Padre Island would be lost. Much of Galveston Island would be uninhabitable.
     
    Coupled with sea level rise, stronger hurricanes fueled by a warmer Gulf of Mexico will cause billions of dollars of property damage and change the lives of the 1.6 million residents of Texas’ coastal counties.
     
    The report also includes specific steps state legislators could take to reduce Texas contribution to the global warming problem and steps they should take to prepare for the changes that are already underway. Consumers are provided six easy steps they can take to lessen their greenhouse gas emissions at home or on their way to work without sacrificing convenience, cost or comfort.

  • House Magnuson-Stevens Bill Weakens Fish Conservation

    May 17, 2006
    Contact: Amanda Leland, Environmental Defense, 202-258-6589
     

    (May 17, 2006 – Washington, DC) The House Committee on Resources voted today to advance Rep. Richard Pombo’s (R-CA) bill - H.R. 5018 – to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), which governs fishery management activities within the federal 200-mile limit, through eight Regional Fishery Management Councils. This bill will significantly roll back current law, reducing the economic and social benefits healthy fisheries provide. 

     

    “It’s been 10 years since Magnuson-Stevens was reauthorized, we should be making progress not moving backwards,” said Ocean Policy Specialist Amanda Leland. “We’ll need strong leadership on the House floor to win an alternative — one similar to Senator Stevens’s bipartisan bill — which maintains current protections and provides conservation and economic tools that offer the right incentives to protect our marine resources.”

     

    Pombo’s deceptively named American Fisheries Management and Marine Life Enhancement Act would weaken important conservation and management protections. Key conservation rollbacks include the delayed rebuilding of fisheries and reduced environmental review. This is a big departure from Senator Stevens’ bill that passed the Senate Commerce Committee in December 2005 with broad bipartisan support and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate soon. Senator Stevens’ bill maintains current protections and aims to provide new tools for improving fisheries. 

     

    Pombo’s bill would significantly slow the restoration of our fisheries by undercutting a key conservation measure of the MSA that rebuilds overfished stocks by providing three new broad exceptions to the current requirements. This would greatly reduce the economic and conservation benefits of restored fisheries.

     

    The bill would also limit environmental review and public participation, allowing circumvention of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in fisheries management. NEPA is critical to ensuring the consideration of reasonable alternatives and the impacts of proposed action, and providing public input and review. Other MSA proposals, including one offered by the Bush Administration and the Senate bill, address concerns that NEPA and MSA processes be better integrated without fully exempting fisheries from the environmental review under NEPA. 

     

    Pombo’s bill does take positive steps to improve science in fisheries management, and it authorizes limited access privilege programs, which help fishermen cut costs, improve the quality of their fish, maximize dockside prices and prevent the waste of millions of fish each year that must be discarded. Also, during the mark up, Pombo removed bad sanctuary provisions and agreed to take the issue up during national marine sanctuary act reauthorization.

     

    “Overall, Pombo’s bill greatly reduces the economic and conservation benefits of restored fisheries,” said Leland. “It puts the health of our oceans and the future of our working waterfronts at risk.”

     

    www.oceansalive.org

  • Environmental Defense Praises the Administration's Strategy To Reduce Congestion on America's Transportation Network

    May 16, 2006
    WASHINGTON — The announcement today of a new national initiative to tackle highway, freight, and aviation congestion by U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta was praised by Environmental Defense, a national environmental advocacy group.  
     
    “We support the Administration’s commitment to use market incentives and advanced traffic-management technology to help make America’s transportation network more efficient,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director for Environmental Defense.
     
    “Experience in many cities shows that congestion pricing, toll-managed lanes and information technology can speed commutes, reduce congestion, reduce wasted fuel, and cut smog and soot emissions,” said Replogle. “As a next step, it is most important that these tools be actively deployed toward the goals of better transportation performance and reduced environmental impact – and not simply used to finance road expansion in ways that generate more congestion.”
     
    Environmental Defense is a leader in promoting market incentives, such as congestion pricing, pay-as-you-drive insurance, and commuter choice benefits to protect the environment and public health. For more information, please visit our website: www.environmentaldefense.org/go/transportation/.
     
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    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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.
     
     

  • Massive Water Projects Legislation Ignores Lessons Of Hurricane Katrina, Will Increase Flooding

    May 16, 2006
    Even as hurricane season begins, the Senate is poised to pass a massive new bill to authorize $12 billion in flood control and other water projects that would repeat the mistakes of the past. By failing to respond to the lessons from Hurricane Katrina, the bill would spend vast sums of money while making the country more vulnerable to floods by encouraging people to develop structures in flood-prone areas, increasing the devastation when a flood eventually hits. 
     
    On Tuesday, May 9, Environmental Defense, the National Taxpayers Union, Taxpayers for Commonsense, and the National Wildlife Federation released a report documenting the flaws with the existing system and highlighting lessons to be learned from Hurricane Katrina. The Washington Post published two articles this weekend detailing the government’s contribution to the disaster – the true scandal of Hurricane Katrina. Links to all materials follow.
     
    Not only have the government’s flood-control projects encouraged development in flood-prone areas, but the Army Corps of Engineers has no method for prioritizing its $58 billion backlog of water projects. As a result, Congress typically finances projects that have the most political backing rather than the greatest need. Moreover, the Corps cannot rely on its own project analyses, since the agency’s justification and design of projects is often “fraught with errors, mistakes and miscalculations,” according to the Government Accountability Office.   All of these flaws contributed to the devastation from Katrina. The Senate will debate amendments to correct these mistakes and avoid future catastrophes. “Katrina’s Costly Wake” discusses these problems at length.
     
    For more information
    ·        Environmental Defense, Taxpayers for Commonsense, National Wildlife Federation and National Taxpayers Union, “Katrina’s Costly Wake: How America’s Most Destructive Hurricane Exposed a Dysfunctional, Politicized, Flood-Control Process,” May 2006 (Available online at http://www.environmentaldefense.org/article.cfm?contentID=5236)
     
    ·        Michael Grunwald, “Par for the Corps: A Flood of Bad Projects,” Washington Post, May 13, 2006, at B01. (Available online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051300037.html)
     
    ·        John M. Barry, “…And How To Stop It,” Washington Post, May 14, 2006, at B01. (Available online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/13/AR2006051300038.html)
     
    Contacts
    Tim Searchinger, Senior Attorney, Environmental Defense (202-572-3344)
    Chelsea Maxwell, Legislative Director, National Wildlife Federation (202-797-6800)
    Kristina Rasmussen, Sen. Govt. Affairs Mgr., National Taxpayers Union (703-683-5700)

     
    Environmental Defense is a leading national nonprofit organization representing more
    than 400,000 members. Since 1967, we have linked science, economics and law to create
    innovative, equitable and cost-effective solutions to society’s most urgent environmental problems.
     
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  • Statement by Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp on Agricultural Carbon Offsets in Carper-Alexander Clean Air Bill

    May 15, 2006
    WASHINGTON – Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp today issued the following statement on provisions for agricultural carbon offsets in the Clean Air Planning Act of 2006, introduced today by Sens. Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN):
     
    “This bill reduces the cost of carbon cuts by allowing American farmers to sell low cost carbon offsets that they produce by changing their farm practices or planting new crops that soak up carbon from the air.   Think about it –markets can bring in farmers to help solve global warming. Some other climate bills fail to tap into this way to lower carbon levels in the atmosphere.”
     
    “From the farms of Kansas to the coal fields of Illinois, cost-effective solutions to deliver a cleaner, healthier environment for America are at hand.”

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  • Supreme Court Grants Environmental Defense Request To Hear Challenge to 4th Circuit Decision Weakening Clean Air Act

    May 15, 2006
    WASHINGTON —  Today the U.S. Supreme Court granted Environmental Defense’s request to review the merits of the Fourth Circuit’s June 2005 decision weakening the Clean Air Act’s “new source review” rules.   The Court’s review of the case, Environmental Defense, et al. v. Duke Energy Corporation (No. 05-848), represents only the third environmental law case in 35 years to be taken up by the high Court where environmental groups alone sought review.   The “new source review” program requires industrial facilities to modernize air pollution controls when they expand operations and increase pollution.   It has been the subject of repeated, controversial rollbacks by the Bush administration.  Most recently, on March 17, 2006, the federal court of appeals in Washington, D.C. overturned U.S. Environmental Protection Agency exemptions to the new source review program that the court ascribed to EPA’s flawed “Humpty Dumpty” world-view.
     
    Environmental Defense asked the United States Supreme Court to review the case after the federal government sharply reversed course by declining to further pursue its Clean Air Act enforcement matter against Duke Energy, opposed our request for review by the high Court, and embarked on a national rulemaking initiative to codify the flawed Fourth Circuit exemptions.  
     
    “We’re very pleased that the Court agreed to review the Duke Energy decision, which rests on a flawed interpretation of the Clean Air Act, and which industry has been citing in numerous other cases in an effort to undermine essential pollution controls applicable to some of the nation’s largest sources of air pollution” said attorney Sean Donahue who is the lead attorney in the case.  
     
    “Over 160 million Americans, more than half of the country, live in communities out of compliance with the nation’s health standards and today the Supreme Court took a big step toward aiding those communities in their efforts to restore healthy air,” said Environmental Defense attorney Vickie Patton. 
     
    In 2000, the United States filed a Clean Air Act enforcement action against Duke Energy in federal district court in North Carolina alleging the electric utility expanded operations at 30 coal-fired electric generating units (eight power plants) in North Carolina and South Carolina resulting in significant increases in particulate- and smog-forming pollution without updating pollution controls.    The federal district court for the middle district of North Carolina granted summary judgment for Duke Energy and a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit unanimously affirmed the lower court’s ruling on June 15, 2005.   On June 24, 2005, only nine days later, the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. reached a contrary result in reviewing industry challenges to national new source review rules.   The Fourth Circuit subsequently denied the United States’ and Environmental Defense’s request for rehearing and rehearing en banc.
     
    Two other petitioners joined in the case including the North Carolina Sierra Club and North Carolina Public Interest Regulatory Group.   The Southern Environmental Law Center is also on the briefs for the petitioners.  
     
    Environmental Defense and the co-petitioners presented two issues to the high Court:
     
    1.  Whether the Fourth Circuit impermissibly allowed Duke Energy to collaterally attack the legality of national rules that may be reviewed solely in the U.S. Court of Appeal in Washington, D.C.
     
    2.  Whether the Clean Air Act requires EPA to interpret the term “modification” in the new source review program to encompass changes that result in an actual overall increases in air pollution.  
     
    Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 400,000 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.
    www.environmentaldefense.org

  • Entergy Announces a Second Five-Year Commitment to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Signs Memorandum of Understanding with Environmental Defense

    May 12, 2006
           New Orleans, La. – Entergy Corporation (NYSE:ETR), one of the nation’s leading electricity providers, has pledged – for a second time – to make a voluntary commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its operating plants and stabilize those emissions at a level 20 percent below year 2000 from 2006-2010. This second commitment is part of Entergy’s long-term reduction target, which was originally announced in May 2001 and was implemented in partnership with Environmental Defense, a national environmental advocacy group.
          Entergy was the first U.S. electric company to publicly announce such a greenhouse gas emissions target in 2001. The New Orleans-based company partnered with Environmental Defense to develop a program to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from Entergy’s plants in the United States that generate electricity through burning fossil fuels.
          In recognition of the first commitment made in May 2001, Entergy and Environmental Defense signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the second commitment on May 1, 2006, five years after the first commitment.
          “Under the first voluntary greenhouse gas-limiting commitment that Entergy made in May 2001, the company exceeded its stabilization commitment and reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 23 percent under the established target, while simultaneously increasing its electrical sales by 21 percent over the same time period. That kind of progress is exactly what our company, and hopefully others, needs in order to achieve emission reductions that will address climate change. We are very pleased with the progress we have made and are pushing forward with our second commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions even further in the 2006-2010 time frame,” said Gary Serio, vice president of Safety and Environment for Entergy. “We appreciate, in this period of major uncertainty in the electric generation sector, how important it is for a leading company like Entergy to step up and guarantee that it will reduce its emissions even while
          “Entergy is proving every day that it’s possible to cap and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, make money, and provide power for jobs and growth,” said Environmental Defense President Fred Krupp. “Their leadership has been exemplary and we’re pleased to be working with them.”
            The first commitment Entergy made from 2000-2005 was met through both internal and external greenhouse gas reduction projects, including 61 internal reduction projects and 13 external projects, which encompassed carbon sequestration on company-owned property and greenhouse gas emission trades. The second commitment will also be a mix of internal and external carbon-reducing projects beneficial to Entergy’s generation plants, as well as to the company’s customer service territory.
          Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of over $10 billion and approximately 14,000 employees.
          Environmental Defense, a leading nonprofit organization based in New York represents more than 400,000 members. Since 1967 it has linked science, economics and law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to the most urgent environmental problems.
         
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  • Environmental Defense Announces Initiative to Restore Long Island

    May 10, 2006

    Historically, migratory fish, including alewives, American eel, and the majestic brook trout, made their way from the sea into the rivers of the South Shore Estuary Reserve to use freshwater spawning and nursery grounds. However, nearly 60 miles of the best quality upstream habitat are currently inaccessible to these fish because of more than 30 obsolete dams. Environmental Defense is launching an initiative to restore these migratory fish runs, with a goal of giving fish access to at least 30 new river miles over the next 10 years. This will be achieved by dam removals, where possible, or installing fish ladders.

    As a first step, Environmental Defense worked with Suffolk County, the Town of Brookhaven, the South Shore Estuary Reserve, The Nature Conservancy and Trout Unlimited to win nearly $1.5 million through the 1996 Clean Air/Clean Water Bond Act to open the Carmans River, Swan River and Mud Creek to fish passage. Now, Environmental Defense is leading a stakeholder work group in identifying and prioritizing the next generation of fish passage projects on Long Island.

    Once fish can again migrate up rivers, we must ensure they have clean water and quality habitat. To that end, Environmental Defense is supporting a variety of efforts by Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and Brookhaven Supervisor Brian Foley and their respective Boards. Both have acquired property to protect as open space within our watersheds, particularly along the Carmans River. And, both are going beyond open space protection to active watershed restoration efforts.

    Environmental Defense comments

    “At this time of year on Cape Cod, families gather along the banks of rivers and welcome the return of alewives from the vast Atlantic Ocean,” said renowned actress and Environmental Defense member Isabella Rossellini, “By restoring open rivers on our Island, we can share this same enchanting experience that we have missed out on for so long.”

    “Long Island’s brook trout streams once offered fishing that was among the best in the world, because trout could freely access both clean, cold-water spawning grounds and rich, productive estuarine feeding grounds,” said Environmental Defense marine scientist Dr. Jake Kritzer, “Restoring that connection will restore those fisheries to their former splendor.”

    “The roots of Environmental Defense lie on Long Island in an effort to save our beloved ospreys from the effects of DDT,” said Environmental Defense general counsel Jim Tripp, “Faced with a declining food supply, our new initiative will again help ensure that these birds always soar in our skies by rejuvenating depleted alewife runs.”

    “The history of Environmental Defense is one of a close relationship with Long Island communities,” said Dr. Kritzer, “We are excited to have Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven supporting our fish restoration initiative, and we are equally excited to support their important watershed projects that will protect key habitats we will open once again to fish.”