Complete list of press releases

(12 May 2004 — NY)  On May 28 the film The Day After Tomorrow is scheduled to open.  It depicts Earth in the very near future coping with the disastrous impacts of global climate change.  While the movie is entertaining fiction, global warming is a fact, and its impacts can be seen happening now.  People either accept this reality and are working toward solutions or are in denial.  A downloadable Public Service Announcement is available at www.undoit.org/psa.cfm and a downloadable video news release is available at www.undoit.org/dat.cfm.

“The Day After Tomorrow uses dramatic license and special effects to show people a very real problem.  Global warming isn’t just something happening in movie theatres.  It’s happening all around us, and will keep happening until we get greenhouse gas pollution under control,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense.

“The Day After Tomorrow is an exaggerated look at the impacts of global warming, but it’s no exaggeration to say that global warming is happening now, and that our children and grandchildren will have to live with the impacts,” said Dr. Michael Oppenheimer, Environmental Defense science advisor and a Princeton Professor.

“It won’t take as much flooding as in the movie to turn New York upside down.  The infrastructure that keeps the New York region going, the airports and the train, subway and automobile tunnels are all at serious flood risk in a greenhouse future.  Weather related shutdowns of these facilities could become the rule, rather than the exception, if global warming is not controlled,” said Krupp.

“While The Day After Tomorrow shows a cold future, in fact, the New York region of the future could be flooded with problems if the U.S. doesn’t take action to cut greenhouse gas pollution.  Our children and grandchildren could be faced with 90 degree-plus days nearly all summer long.  Heat waves of such persistence and intensity would pose a grave health threat for the very young, the elderly and the impoverished,” said Oppenheimer.

(11 May 2004 - Washington, DC)  Environmental Defense released a new analysis of the bald eagle’s status and called on President Bush to expedite the delisting of the bald eagle from the endangered and threatened species list.  The call for action came as Environmental Defense launched its national Back from the Brink campaign, a multi-year effort to recover 15 endangered species in more than 20 states.

“The only thing standing between the bald eagle and its official recovery is a mandate from the president,” said Environmental Defense president Fred Krupp.  “President Bush can make history by completing a recovery effort that began more than 30 years ago.”

The eagle was originally proposed for delisting in 1999, after the banning of DDT in 1972 and the enactment of the Endangered Species Act helped the species’ numbers increase from fewer than 500 breeding pairs in the continental U.S. to more than 5,700.  Today, the number exceeds 7,600 breeding pairs. The Eagle Is Back, a new analysis by Environmental Defense, documents the eagle’s progress since 1998 and is available at www.backfromthebrink.org.

“The recovery of the bald eagle is proof positive of the potential of America’s conservation and restoration efforts,” said Krupp.  “It is time to celebrate the comeback of our national symbol, declare victory for this treasured animal and set America’s sights on other species that can be put on the road to recovery.”

Officials from Environmental Defense were joined at the event by Sens. Michael Crapo (R-ID) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) and landowners who have enrolled in voluntary conservation projects with Environmental Defense - Bob Long of Bastrop, Texas, Herb Schmidt of the Robert Mondavi Company in California, Mark Clement of Norfolk-Southern in South Carolina and LeRoy Latham of Wisconsin.

The campaign will focus specifically on the restoration of private land habitat.  Environmental Defense will expand existing on-the-ground restoration projects, launch new initiatives with private landowners and help direct federal and private funding of incentive-based conservation projects that reduce bureaucratic red tape and land-use restrictions and provide economic incentives to landowners who volunteer to restore habitat on their land. 

The vast majority of wildlife and plants on the endangered species list will only recover if their habitat is restored and actively managed.  And because most of these species rely in whole or in part on private lands for their survival, private landowners will play a pivotal role in their recovery.

“Most species cannot be recovered simply by stopping destructive activity,” said Michael Bean, co-director of Environmental Defense’s Center for Conservation Incentives.  “Their habitat needs to be restored by the people who own it.  The good news is that this kind of restoration is already happening.  Our approach has worked everywhere we’ve tried it, and the easier we make it for landowners to participate, the faster real progress toward recovery will be made.”

At the center of Environmental Defense’s conservation projects are incentive-based tools like Safe Harbor, a volunteer program that significantly reduces landowners’ liability and regulatory burden if they agree to restore habitat for an endangered species.  Such agreements are already in place in a dozen states and cover nearly three million acres.  The newest Safe Harbor agreement was signed March 10, 2004 in Bastrop, Texas, home of the Houston toad, one of the 15 Back from the Brink species.

The 15 Back from the Brink species were selected based on:  their dependence on private lands and, therefore, the likelihood of benefiting from incentive-based, landowner-centric conservation tools; the potential to illustrate significant progress toward recovery in the next 10 years; and the availability of known and proven restoration techniques. Environmental Defense also selected species in regions where its staff can assist in the recovery efforts.

Visitors to www.backfromthebrink.org can:

• Download Environmental Defense’s new report The Eagle Is Back, including eagle data for all 48 contiguous states;
• Browse factsheets and photos of the 15 targeted species;
• View landowner profiles and interviews;
• Take the Back from the Brink Eagle Pledge to support endangered species recovery;
• Sign the online petition to help complete the delisting of the bald eagle;
• Learn about Environmental Defense’s incentive-based conservation tools like Safe Harbor; and
• Support Back from the Brink conservation efforts by donating online.

(20 April, 2004 - - New York) Environmental Defense today announced six consumer product brands are joining the organization’s undo global warming campaign, www.undoit.org.  The companies will help build public support for national legislation to cap U.S. greenhouse gas pollution.  They will, through advertising on products and elsewhere, direct individuals to www.undoit.org, where they can sign on as citizen co-sponsors of the Climate Stewardship Act, due for a U.S. Senate vote in May, and can contribute to the Undoit! Campaign.

The six new allies are Clif Bar, Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley, Odwalla, White Wave/Silk and Trinity Springs.  Clif Bar will distribute information about global warming on their package, at sporting events, green festivals and on its web site.  All companies will help drive individuals to www.undoit.org through consumer packaging, field marketing events and web site links. 

“People know that global warming is a problem, but they don’t know what they can do to help solve it,” said Environmental Defense president Fred Krupp.  “These companies will be strong allies in spreading the word that there are simple and effective steps we all can take to help undo the problem.” 

“Global warming is a huge issue that can seem paralyzing,” said Gary Erickson, owner and CEO of Clif Bar Inc. and Global Green USA award recipient for Corporate Environmental Leadership.  “We want to educate people about the ways everyone one of us can contribute to solving the global warming crisis.”

Global Warming:  Undo It! (www.undoit.org) is Environmental Defense’s campaign to build grassroots support for the McCain-Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act.  Senators McCain and Lieberman have pledged to secure a Senate vote on their bill by spring of 2004.  This comes after the act secured 43 votes in October of 2003, a tally that surprised most pundits and built momentum for further votes on global warming. 

The campaign is now taking its message beyond the Internet to retail stores with calls to action showing up on consumer products like energy bars, spring water or organic juice.  To date, Undoit! has secured more than 250, 000 citizen co-sponsors for the Climate Stewardship Act. 

(April 20, 2004 — Washington, DC) The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy released a preliminary report to the nation’s governors for comment today, marking the first federal review of ocean policy in 30 years.  It is the second major, non-partisan report within a year to conclude the oceans are in crisis and need government leadership.  Last summer, the Pew Oceans Commission called for “immediate reform of U.S. ocean laws and policies to restore ocean wildlife, protect ocean ecosystems and preserve the ecological, economic and social benefits the oceans provide.”

“Protecting the oceans should be a priority at the highest levels.  We need presidential leadership and a federal commitment to restructure our ocean management system and invest in ocean science, exploration and education,” said Environmental Defense president Fred Krupp. 

The 16-member commission, chaired by Admiral James D. Watkins, was mandated by the Oceans Act of 2000 to research and recommend a coordinated and comprehensive national ocean policy.  The commission was authorized by Congress and appointed by President Bush. 

The preliminary report is based on comments from public meetings, site visits, the latest scientific information on oceans and coasts and expert opinion.  The report addresses a broad range of issues including ocean governance, marine resource stewardship, pollution, aquaculture and enhancement of marine science, commerce and transportation.

Governors and interested stakeholders have 30 days to comment on the preliminary report.  Public comments will become official record and will be posted on the commission website, www.oceancommission.gov.  The governors’ comments will appear as an addendum in the final report that will make policy recommendations to the President and Congress. 

“Governors have an opportunity to stand up and urge the president to champion the oceans,” said Environmental Defense Oceans program manager David Festa.  “We call upon them to issue effective and explicit commitments to ocean restoration.”

Environmental Defense strongly advocates fundamental ocean reform measures that will:

• Protect fragile ocean habitats through the use of protected areas and other tools;
• Transform failing fisheries into sustainable ones to guarantee safe and abundant seafood:
• Reduce dead zones by curbing polluted runoff that creates lack of oxygen and kills marine life;
• Enforce conservation laws to protect ocean wildlife and essential ecosystems;
• Protect our shores from oil by maintaining a moratorium on offshore oil and gas drilling; and
• Explore ocean ecosystems by doubling federal investment in ocean science, exploration and education over next 5 years.

“Most of all, we must protect the full spectrum of ocean wildlife and the ecosystems that sustain them by aggressively enforcing existing laws and implementing new coordinated approaches,” said Festa.  “This can be accomplished by improving coordination of the hodgepodge of laws and agencies overseeing ocean management.”

(19 April, 2004 - - Washington)  On the eve of crucial April 22 climate treaty talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and European Union President Romano Prodi, Environmental Defense today released a new report effectively dismissing the claims of climate change skeptics in Russia and the United States.  The Environmental Defense report demonstrates that reducing greenhouse gas pollution in Russia supports President Putin’s goal of improving the efficiency of Russia’s economy, while protecting the health of Russia’s economy, its people and ecosystems.

“The climate change skeptics are sounding more out of touch every day,” said Environmental Defense international counsel Annie Petsonk.  “It’s clear that participation in the Kyoto Protocol will bring strong environmental and economic benefits to Russia, while the costs of inaction are continually growing higher.”

The new Environmental Defense report, “The Dangers of Climate Change and the Benefits for the Russian Federation of Participating in the Kyoto Protocol”  (www.environmentaldefense.org/go/kyoto), summarizes the overwhelming economic consensus that action on the climate problem will be advantageous for Russia and the scientific consensus finding that climate change is occurring and requires urgent action to avert dangerous global warming.  A key issue in the Putin-Prodi talks is whether, as the climate treaty’s chief Kremlin opponent Andrei Illarionov claims, the Kyoto Protocol will plunge Russia into poverty.

“Cleaning up greenhouse gas pollution can save tens of thousands of Russian lives and billions of rubles each year,” said Dr. Alexander Golub, Environmental Defense senior economist.

“If Russia ratifies the Kyoto Protocol, the difference between Russia’s allowable and its expected emissions will be a new resource that can leverage large investment in cleaner and more efficient energy in Russia,” said Environmental Defense Climate and Air Program director Peter Goldmark. 

(15 April 2004 — Washington)  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that 474 counties nationwide representing over 150 million Americans are out of compliance with the federal health-based smog standard, and initiated a plan to clean up the power plants and industrial sources that cast a haze over 156 national parks and wildernesses.  Both actions were required under legal settlement agreements with Environmental Defense and Earthjustice. 

“While EPA has taken a landmark step to protect millions more Americans who are at risk from unhealthy smog, it has also fallen short in leaving some children and communities behind,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney, Vickie Patton.  “EPA needs to put in place tough standards to clean up the harmful pollution from power plant smokestacks and the tailpipes discharging diesel exhaust to give communities across America the tools they need to safeguard children’s lungs and lift the veil of haze from our national parks.”

EPA strengthened the national health standard for ozone smog in 1997.  Enforcement of the standard was delayed until Environmental Defense and other groups took legal action forcing EPA to declare the areas nationwide that are out of compliance with the smog standard.  In December, EPA proposed to declare 506 counties with some 160.5 million people out of compliance.  But today, EPA significantly lowered the final number of areas protected, delineating about 470 counties in 31 states as unhealthy smog zones.   Affected states have three years to submit smog abatement plans.

Today EPA also proposed “best available retrofit technology” requirements for power plants and 25 other industrial source categories (industrial boilers, smelters, refiners, cement plants) that contribute to haze air pollution in 156 protected national parks and wilderness areas located in 35 states.  In particular, EPA proposed strict clean up guidelines for the haze-forming pollution from coal-fired power plants.   Protected areas include:  Acadia, Big Bend, Badlands, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, Great Smokies, Rocky Mountain, Shenandoah, Yellowstone, and Yosemite national parks.  The EPA rule will establish requirements for state clean up plans that are due by January 2008.

WASHINGTON (April 8, 2004) - The Bush administration’s acceleration of most transportation projects will result in highway and airport construction that threatens the environment and public health, according to a report released today by two national conservation groups. The groups, Environmental Defense and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council), found that 12 of the 13 projects they reviewed violate the spirit, if not the letter, of a presidential executive order that called for expediting transportation projects without sacrificing environmental protection and public participation. The report is available at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/fasttrack.

“By involving the public and environmental agencies, transportation projects can be done faster and better,” said Michael Replogle, Environmental Defense transportation director.  “When fast-tracking short changes critical reviews, it misses opportunities to reduce conflict and environmental harm. 

President Bush issued the executive order in September 2002 with the stated purpose to encourage a cooperative approach among federal and state officials and the public to expedite projects and promote “environmental stewardship.” (For the executive order go to http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/stewardshipeo/eo13274.htm) However, according to the report, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has failed to fulfill the executive order’s promise, largely because it accepted controversial projects that will endanger drinking water supplies, wildlife, and air quality. Moreover, in most cases, the agency cut short or avoided considering alternatives to highway construction, such as public transit.

“The Bush executive order paid lip service to protecting the environment, but the administration’s real goal is painfully apparent when you take a close look at what it is going on on the ground,” said Deron Lovaas, deputy director of NRDC’s Smart Growth and Transportation Program. “Time after time, the administration has cut the public out of the process and turned the steamrollers loose.”

The groups found only one of the 13 projects they reviewed met the executive order’s standards for public involvement, consideration of alternatives, and preventing harm to communities and the environment. The groups gave five other projects mixed reviews, warning that DOT should reconsider some aspects of them. DOT should pull back and reevaluate the remaining seven projects, the groups said, because of the lack of public participation and the threat they pose to the environment and public health.

“There’s still time for the Transportation Department to fulfill the promise of the executive order and make sure that projects that require fast-track reviews fully comply with environmental laws,” said Replogle. “We hope the Bush administration will do more to work with environmental interests, change course, and make this happen.”

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, non-profit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1 million members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Santa Monica and San Francisco. More information is available at NRDC’s Web site, http://www.nrdc.org/.

(8 April 2004 - Raleigh, NC)  Environmental Defense today criticized the N.C. Environmental Management Commission (EMC) for failing to protect public health by exempting wastewater treatment ponds at pulp and paper mills from new emissions standards set for hydrogen sulfide (H2S).  H2S, a toxic gas produced by pulp and paper mills and phosphate mining operations, is commonly identified by its rotten-egg odor.  The pollutant can make eyes and skin burn and trigger symptoms associated with asthma attacks.

“For many North Carolinians, hydrogen sulfide doesn’t just smell bad, it feels bad,” said Michael Shore, senior air policy analyst with the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense.  “The EMC failed to protect public health when it exempted wastewater treatment ponds at pulp and paper mills.  These ponds account for a staggering 89 percent, on average, of all hydrogen sulfide emissions from pulp and paper mills.  The EMC and the state must be vigilant so that ponds, which account for most of the harmful hydrogen sulfide emissions, will be included in future standards.”

“Some in industry want to ignore the harmful effects of hydrogen sulfide, and they successfully lobbied for weak standards that exempted wastewater treatment ponds from pulp and paper mills. Our bodies do not make a special exception for emissions that come from treating wastewater, and neither should the EMC. Exempting ponds from hydrogen sulfide standards will also exempt them from meeting standards for another dangerous pollutant, methyl mercaptan, for which North Carolina already has a strict standard,” said Shore.

“Hydrogen sulfide affects the daily lives of citizens living in six counties — Beaufort, Columbus, Craven, Halifax, Haywood and Washington — and the health of those who travel through these communities.  Even people who live up to 25 miles away from the source of hydrogen sulfide emissions can feel the effects,” said Shore. 

(07 April 2004 — Detroit) According to a new analysis by the Clean Car Campaign, a record 18,000 pounds of mercury pollution was released into the U.S. environment last year when scrap vehicles were recycled.  An estimated 259,000 pounds of mercury have been released into the environment over the past 30 years.  Most troubling, according to the analysis, is that approximately an equal amount could be released over the next two decades if action is not taken soon to recover the mercury in vehicles before they are scraped. To download a copy of the report, go to:
http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/mercuryupdate.shtml

“Automobile companies and lawmakers have ignored this serious public health threat for too long, and time is running short,” said Karen Thomas of Environmental Defense.  “Failing to adopt cost-effective programs to reduce mercury pollution in our lakes and waterways is unnecessary and irresponsible.”

Domestic automakers have used more than 200 million, one-gram mercury switches in vehicles since the early 1970’s.  In January 2001, the Ecology Center and Environmental Defense released reports documenting that the processing of scrap automobiles at steel manufacturing facilities was the 4th largest source of mercury emissions into the environment.  The reports called on auto manufacturers to take immediate steps to eliminate mercury use in new vehicles, and to remove, collect and replace mercury switches in vehicles already on the road.  Since the 2001 reports, automakers completed an accelerated phase-out of mercury switches in new vehicles, but have done little to encourage the recovery of mercury from the millions of vehicles still on the road.

“In the three years since the reports, less than one percent of the mercury in vehicles has been recovered nationally, resulting in the release of an estimated 54,000 pounds of mercury into the environment,” stated Jeff Gearhart of the Ecology Center. “It’s time for automakers to be part of the solution, not part of problem.”

Legislation requiring automakers to share responsibility for this problem has been introduced in several states, including New Jersey, Minnesota, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and is law in the State of Maine.  Maine’s legislation requires automakers to pay a minimum of $1 per switch to auto dismantlers that turn in switches to designated collection centers.  Earlier this year, the automakers’ trade association—the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM)— lost a legal challenge to Maine’s auto switch law.  The AAM has also hired high-profile lobbyists in states across the country to defeat similar legislative efforts to recover mercury auto switches. 

The Clean Car Campaign analysis highlights model legislation that would require automakers to help pay for the removal and collection of mercury switches from vehicles before they are processed for recycling.  This legislation was developed through a collaborative effort that included both industry and environmentalist organizations, the Partnership for Mercury-Free Vehicles. 

Mercury is a persistent heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans and wildlife and is dangerous in even tiny amounts.  The Environmental Protection Agency has recently estimated that one in every six women of childbearing age has enough mercury in her blood to pose a risk to her child - resulting in over 600,000 children being born each year overexposed to mercury.   Mercury contamination is bioaccumulative; therefore its concentration increases up the food chain.  As a result, top predator fish have mercury concentrations up to a million times higher than the surrounding water.

The Clean Car Campaign is coordinated by the Ecology Center and Environmental Defense.

The Ecology Center is a regional environmental organization based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which works for clean air, safe water, and environmental justice.  The Auto Project of the Ecology Center works to address the toxic and health issues related to the production of automobiles and promotes cleaner vehicle technologies. 

Sacramento, CA, March 30, 2004 — FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), has placed into service the first of its new, low-emission, hybrid electric powered delivery vehicles in concert with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, Environmental Defense and Eaton Corporation (NYSE: ETN).

The official roll out took place at a state capitol ceremony today attended by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid electric vehicle will decrease particulate emissions by 90 percent, reduce smog-causing emissions by 75 percent and travel 50 percent farther on a gallon of fuel, reducing fuel costs by one-third.

Two FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid electric vehicles have been tested in Sacramento since late February following an agreement with the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to demonstrate the commercial viability of the lower-emission powertrain in heavy-duty vehicles. The project was made possible in part by a grant provided by the AQMD.

FedEx Express will place 18 additional hybrid electric diesel delivery trucks into service in selected cities throughout 2004. New York City, Houston, Washington, D.C., Denver and several other cities are possible locations for future rollouts of the hybrid electric trucks. These hybrid electric vehicles will endure real-world FedEx operating conditions during 2004 to verify and prove their viability in commercial applications. As the trucks succeed in meeting project goals, FedEx OptiFleet E700 hybrid electric trucks are planned for the company’s pick up and delivery fleet on a normal purchasing schedule for routes in the U.S. and Canada, where medium-sized delivery trucks are used. This innovative program has the potential for 30,000 medium-duty vehicles.

“FedEx Express is proud to be the first company to make a long-term market commitment to develop and utilize hybrid electric delivery trucks,” said David J. Bronczek, president, FedEx Express.

“FedEx Express recognizes effective environmental management as a global corporate priority, and is actively involved in environmental innovations and technologies. Utilizing innovative technologies such as our hybrid electric truck, California is yet again leading the nation in protecting the environment,” Bronczek said.

“We are proud to work with FedEx Express, Environmental Defense and Eaton in bringing this advanced heavy-duty hybrid technology to Sacramento,” said Norm Covell, Sacramento’s Air Pollution Control Officer. “These clean, efficient vehicles are just another example of how Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District aims to deliver healthier air to our community. We want to thank the members of this project for working to make this technology commercially available so that the significant air quality and energy efficiency improvements can benefit the broadest possible market applications.”

FedEx Express also welcomed the opportunity to work with Environmental Defense, an organization recognized for its long history of working with industry leaders to leverage their purchasing power to create real environmental benefits that protect the bottom line.

“Four years ago Environmental Defense was looking for an innovative company to help us revolutionize truck technology in the U.S. and FedEx Express accepted that challenge,” said Fred Krupp, president, Environmental Defense. “Today, these two trucks put Sacramento on the leading edge of the effort for cleaner air and better mileage. Environmental Defense now challenges other companies to increase their fleet’s contribution to reduced air pollution, oil dependency and climate change impacts.”

Cleveland, Ohio-based Eaton Corporation, one of the world’s most recognized industrial manufacturers, produced the hybrid electric powertrain for the vehicle.

“Eaton is pleased to make this innovative, environmentally advanced technology available to FedEx Express and Environmental Defense for this ground-breaking project,” said Jim Sweetnam, senior vice president and group executive, Eaton Corporation, Truck Group. “Our team will continue to work closely with FedEx Express and Environmental Defense in Sacramento and additional markets as we take this innovative project to the next level.”

Power of Innovation Produces New Vehicle

FedEx Express and Environmental Defense began working together in 2000 to create a delivery truck that would dramatically decrease emissions and fuel use. Through a competitive process, Eaton Corporation was selected from more than 20 manufacturers who expressed interest in creating a cleaner vehicle using a variety of technologies. Since the beginning of the project, progress toward goals has been assessed against the 1999 FedEx Express W700 standard delivery vehicle, which represents the most common model in the FedEx Express fleet.

Eaton’s Innovative Technology Produces Hybrid Electric Powertrain Eaton’s hybrid electric powertrain effectively combines a diesel engine and electric motor to drive the vehicle. A computer determines the most efficient combination, depending on current operating conditions and driver demand. A four-cylinder engine replaces the six-cylinder version currently used in the FedEx Express W700 delivery vehicle. The engine size is reduced because of the added power provided by the electric motor. A particulate trap has been added to the truck to further reduce emissions.

Lithium-ion batteries capture and store energy during the “regenerative braking” phase of the vehicle’s operation, providing a source of stored electric power for the motor during future acceleration. Therefore, all electrical charging of the battery is provided by the hybrid electric powertrain, and no external electrical infrastructure, such as a power cord or electrical outlet, is needed. This balance between conventional and electric technology is an innovative method to improve environmental performance and decrease fuel use while eliminating the need for high electrical-demand infrastructure costs. The hybrid electric truck’s operating characteristics will remain virtually unchanged from that of a conventionally powered FedEx Express vehicle. Eaton’s hybrid electric powertrain has been placed in the standard white FedEx Express W700 delivery truck, which utilizes a Freightliner chassis. The hybrid electric delivery vehicle will be differentiated from the standard FedEx Express delivery vehicle only by an OptiFleet brand decal on the sides and rear of the vehicle. The hybrid electric E700 has a gross vehicle weight of approximately 16,000 lbs. and a cargo capacity of approximately 670 cubic feet.

About FedEx

FedEx Corp. provides customers and businesses worldwide with the broadest portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $25 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx and Kinko’s brands. Consistently ranked among the world’s most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 240,000 employees and contractors to remain “absolutely, positively” focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. For more information, visit fedex.com.

About Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District

The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District (AQMD) works cooperatively to coordinate the efforts of local, state and federal government agencies, the business community, and private citizens to achieve and maintain healthy air quality for Sacramento. This vision recognizes that the AQMD alone cannot achieve healthy air for Sacramento, but that combined with its regulatory role and its lead role in development of innovative programs, it can encourage the cooperative inter-agency and public effort that will be required to improve air quality. For more information, visit www.airquality.org.

About Environmental Defense

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. The work of Environmental Defense in this project was supported by a lead grant over three years from the Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund. Additional support was received from the Hewlett Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, and the David H. Smith Foundation. For more information, visit www.environmentaldefense.org.

About Eaton Corporation

Eaton Corporation is a global diversified industrial manufacturer with 2003 sales of $8.1 billion that is a leader in fluid power systems; electrical power quality, distribution and control; automotive engine air management and powertrain controls for fuel economy; and intelligent drivetrain systems for fuel economy and safety in trucks. Eaton has 51,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com.

# # #

For More Information:

Anthony Hicks, FedEx Public Relations, (901) 434-8100

Lori Kobza-Lee, Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, (916) 874-4888

Jessica Mendelowitz, Environmental Defense Media Relations, (212) 616-1219

Gary Klasen, Eaton Corporation Media Relations, (216) 523-4736

Attention Editor:

An online press kit, including downloadable photos and project background, is available at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/fedex. Press Releases are also available at www.fedex.com.

(30 March 2004 — New York)  Environmental Defense and the East of Hudson Rail Freight Operations Task Force today released a new report on freight rail investment in New York City and northern New Jersey, Investing in Mobility: Freight Transport in the Hudson Region.  The report outlines the region’s growing congestion problem and how to address it through investments in freight rail and roadway pricing that varies by time of day to maintain free-flow traffic speeds.  You can view the full report at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/railfreight.

“The New York region lags behind the rest of the country in terms of its freight-rail capacity,” said James T. B. Tripp, general counsel of Environmental Defense. “As a result, we have a system that chokes our air with smog, clogs our streets with heavy trucks and hurts business by slowing freight transport delivery times unnecessarily.  One truck on the road takes up about as much space as four cars.  Targeted investment in a package of rail freight improvements can fix the region’s mobility problem - but the region must begin seizing opportunities now.” 

Andy Darrell, director of the Living Cities program at Environmental Defense, added, “Truck diesel is a known trigger of asthma and other disease, and freight rail investment is an important measure in the region’s fight to improve air quality and reduce asthma rates.”

According to the report, about 16% of freight moves by rail nationally - but here, in the urban areas east of the Hudson River, rail carries only 1.7%, less than one tenth the national average.  The report identifies a series of specific investments needed to move forward, and recommends that these investments be paired with a congestion pricing system to manage all road traffic into the future.  “This combination is the best way to deliver clean air, faster deliveries and a safe transportation system,” said Tripp.

“This report highlights the absolute necessity of coordinated political activity by our region to address the inadequacies of our rail freight system,” said Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff, managing director of the East of Hudson Rail Freight Operations Task Force.  “Rail infrastructure improvements are needed in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, and indeed across the entire northeast.”

A number of major projects are recommended in the report, including construction of a trans-Hudson freight rail link connecting the urban areas of New York and northern New Jersey that would connect the east-of-Hudson freight rail system to the national freight rail network, expansion and modernization of cross-harbor float operations, construction intermodal rail yards east of the Hudson, and upgrading lines where necessary to ensure that shippers can take full advantage of the benefits of freight rail.  These improvements are intended to revitalize the freight rail network east of the Hudson River and improve regional mobility by shifting freight traffic from trucks to rail, taking thousands of trucks off the roads. Sources of funding for these projects are also proposed.

Together, the report states, these investments can relieve congestion, thereby improving air quality for millions of residents in the region.  Environmental Defense is working to address New York City’s dire asthma problem through a variety of efforts.  Investing in Mobility aims not only to show that the problem can be addressed by taking trucks off the road, but also aims to get regional transportation planners to start thinking about alternatives to massive investments in highway infrastructure - which often result only in more highway traffic - as a response to congestion.

“This report illustrates that investment in freight-rail, particularly a cross-harbor rail freight tunnel, is a must for New York,” said Congressman Jerrold Nadler.  “The roads of this region simply cannot handle the expected 79 percent increase in freight traffic over the next 20 years.  Today, there is virtually no way for rail freight to cross the Hudson River further south than a bridge near Albany, which is costly, and as a result, over 95% of all goods destined for New York City come in by truck via the George Washington Bridge.  If implemented, the recommendations of this report, especially the freight rail tunnel, would significantly reduce pollution, congestion, and lower the cost of manufacturing and consumer goods.  The cross-harbor rail freight tunnel is also an issue of national security, it would provide an alternate means to keep the supply of goods flowing into the City - it is a matter of saving our air, saving our roads, and saving us in the event of a terrorist attack.”

“Diversifying modes of transporting freight is smart policy,” added Congressman Christopher Shays. “It’s good for the environment and good for business, providing relief to commuters on our overburdened highways.  I appreciate the work of the East of the Hudson Rail Freight Operations Task Force and Environmental Defense on this issue, which is critical to New England and the northeast.”

The East of Hudson Rail Freight Operations Task Force, created in 1999 by the Norfolk Southern and CSX Transportation companies and 24 members of the United States Congress, is co-chaired by Congressmen Jerrold Nadler and Christopher Shays.  It is committed to the restoration of price- and service-competitive freight rail operations in the areas of the New York metropolitan region east of the Hudson River by bringing together elected officials, carriers and public agencies at regularly scheduled meetings.

Conscientious consumers got a new tool today as a coalition of Texas environmental and consumer organizations unveiled a new Power Scorecard^TM, an Internet-based rating tool to help area consumers shop for clean and green power.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />

?In many areas of Texas, consumers can now shop for electricity the way they shop for cars or clothes,? said Public Citizen?s Tom Smith.  ?Price matters, but so does the source of power and its impact on the environment.  The Power Scorecard^TM will help consumers make informed choices.?

The Power Scorecard^TM (www.powerscorecard.org) gives consumers clear, accurate, and reliable information about the real environmental differences among electricity products. It rates the comparative environmental performance of each of the products now available in competitive electric markets in Texas.

For example, powering the average 1,200-square-foot home for a month produces more pollution than a car in average use over the same period.  Powering an average household produces approximately 1,470 pounds of heat-trapping carbon dioxide per month, compared to less than 1100 pounds/month for an auto. A house also produces nearly the amount of smog-forming nitrogen oxides as an automobile.

The site provides differing depths of technical detail: For consumers seeking only a quick overview, the Power Scorecard^TM first offers overall ratings of the environmental friendliness and price of each available product.  Consumers wanting more information can pull up a detailed comparison of up to three products that rates how each product stacks up for its specific impacts on climate change, acid rain, air toxics, water quality and the land. 

After comparing products, consumers can examine a product?s specific profile, including links to its Energy Facts Label and the contact information needed to make a product selection. 

?Individual Texans really can make a difference,? said Jim Marston, regional director of Environmental Defense.  ?Electric competition is only two years old in Texas, but we?ve already seen an explosion in wind, solar and other renewable energy projects. By purchasing cleaner, greener electricity, Texans can help boost the Texas economy and clean up the environment.

The Power Scorecard^TM was developed by a coalition of national environmental organizations, including Environmental Defense, the Izaak Walton League, The Natural Resources Defense Council, the Northwest Energy Coalition, the Pace Law School Energy Project, and the Union of Concerned Scientists, to help consumers nationwide tap the power of choice offered by retail electricity competition.

“EPA’s momentous action is one of the most cost-effective and sensible steps that can be taken to help protect children with asthma, the elderly and the many Coloradoans that enjoy the great outdoors from the harmful smog pollution degrading their lungs, at a government estimated cost to consumers of only one half of one cent per gallon,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton.

Lower volatility gasoline is widely used to cut smog air pollution in some 18 states and 225 counties nationwide, protecting 42 million people. Other western cities using lower volatility gasoline include Salt Lake City, Utah and Phoenix, Arizona.

In the summer of 2003, the Colorado Front Range experienced some of the most unhealthy smog pollution levels in a generation. The Rocky Flats monitor, for example, recorded 15 days with pollution levels above the federal health-based standard for ozone smog and 12 days at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory monitor in Golden.

The harmful pollution levels were far-reaching with the Longs Peak Ranger Station at Rocky Mountain National Park recording 7 days with pollution levels above the national health-based standard for ozone smog. Based on the 2001-2003 monitoring data, the Denver area violated the national health-based ozone smog standard. The federal standard limits ozone levels to 0.08 parts per million based on the fourth highest maximum concentration averaged over a three-year period.

(24 March 2004 — Washington D.C)  As the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up a new six-year $275 billion transportation bill today, Environmental Defense hailed the committee leaders for striking a better balance than the recent Senate bill regarding protections for air quality, parks and wildlife refuges, and public involvement in transportation decisions.

“The recently passed Senate bill wipes out the balance and common sense that evolved over the last four decades of transportation,” said Michael Replogle, Environmental Defense transportation director.  “The new House mark-up does far less to roll-back current protections for America’s health and environment.”

The House mark-up bill keeps in place more long-standing provisions that hold transportation agencies accountable for the effects of road projects. Unfortunately the bill omits good provisions in the Senate bill that expand funding for water quality improvements, and ensure consideration of wildlife conservation in transportation plans. The House bill also sharply curbs options for judicial review of bad decisions, unlike the Senate bill.  

“The transportation bill is not just a jobs bill, but one of the most important bills affecting the environment and public health,” said Replogle.  “This bill ought to do more than it does to help clean the air, provide affordable and fair transportation choices, and strengthen the role of the public and local officials in transportation decisions. We urge the Senate and House to work together to advance those transportation measures that will best protect the environment and public health.”

The Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) is the key law that shapes the nation’s transportation investments.  Unlike the House bill, the recently passed Senate transportation bill would:
- weaken the Clean Air Act by allowing major highway expansions to proceed without regard to long-term air quality impacts,
- curb consideration of alternatives to road expansion that could protect health and the environment,
- remove long-standing protections to the country’s parks, wildlife and waterfowl refuges, recreation areas, and historic resources, and
- allow federal and state highway agencies to override local land use and transportation plans.  

(March 23, 2004 - Gloucester , MA)  By a vote of 8 to 5, and one abstention, the New England Fishery Management Council today agreed to include an option for sector-based allocations, more commonly called fishing cooperatives, in its draft amendment to the herring management plan.  Cooperatives encourage fishermen to limit their individual catches to a specific percentage of that fishery’s overall quota allowance, thereby managing the fishery in a more rational, effective manner. 

“The Council did the right thing by taking a proactive step toward maintaining the herring fishery, which has taken as much strain as it can withstand,” said Environmental Defense marine conservation advocate and council member Sally McGee.  “Fishing cooperatives are an effective way to ensure fishing effort doesn’t increase beyond a sustainable level.”

The New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC) is one of eight regional councils in the United States, established by the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 (since renamed the Magnuson-Stevens Act).  The NEFMC manages fishery resources within the federal 200-mile limit off the coast of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.  The public will have an opportunity to comment on the herring option and the rest of the plan in the coming months. 

Co-ops promote communities to work together to ensure they have access to an ecologically stable fishery throughout the fishing year, rather than encouraging competition that gluts the market.  Fishing communities that take advantage of co-ops also have the freedom to develop rules internally without high levels of government intervention. 

“It’s great for fishing communities, and an important step toward protecting a public resource,” said McGee.