Complete list of press releases

(15 April 2003 ? Washington, DC)  Environmental Defense today praised an historical proposal from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to curb harmful diesel exhaust from “nonroad” sources such as construction, industrial, mining, and agricultural equipment.  The proposal would also dramatically lower the sulfur content of nonroad diesel fuel, enabling the use of state-of-the-art air pollution control technologies. 

“We applaud EPA and Administrator Whitman for issuing a rigorous proposal that, if carried forward, will deliver meaningful public health benefits to communities across America,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton.  “EPA is advancing one of the single most important measures that can be taken by the federal government to achieve cleaner, healthier air.”  

“Diesel exhaust contains a host of harmful contaminants that together pose a cancer risk greater than that of any other air pollutant, and that contribute to unhealthy levels of smog and fine particles affecting millions of Americans,” said Dr. John Balbus, Environmental Defense public health program director and physician.  “Administrator Whitman deserves enormous credit for her leadership in crafting a proposal that would dramatically lower the most harmful airborne contaminant in our environment.” 

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Health Effects Institute, World Health Organization, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program, and the U.S. EPA have determined that diesel exhaust is a probable or likely human carcinogen.

The proposal consists of two core elements that will:  (1) require diesel equipment to meet protective standards for particulates and smog-forming oxides of nitrogen (NOX) by using state-of-the-art control measures and (2) slash the sulfur content of nonroad diesel fuel in two phases from its current average levels of about 3400 parts per million (ppm) to 500ppm in 2007 and 15ppm in 2010.   Once fully implemented, this program is estimated to annually lower fine sooty particles by about 150,000 tons, smog-forming NOX by more than 1 million tons, and harmful sulfur dioxide by nearly 400,000 tons.  

Today the American Lung Association and Environmental Defense also released a national report examining the host of public health and environmental benefits that can result from a rigorous federal clean air program for diesel equipment.

(11 April 2003 ? Washington, DC)  Environmental Defense today praised adoption of an amendment to the House of Representatives Energy bill removing a controversial provision that called for the use of seismic survey ships and other invasive technologies to look for oil and gas potential even within sensitive coastal areas long protected by a bipartisan congressional moratorium.

The amendment to the Energy bill, sponsored by Representatives Lois Capps (D-CA), Jeff Miller (R-FL), Jim Davis (D-FL), and Richard Pombo (R-CA) was successfully adopted as a “manager’s floor amendment” which deleted language already in the Energy bill that would have required an evaluation of potential hydrocarbon resources within coastal waters protected by a 21-year legislative moratorium and by executive leasing deferrals first put in place by former President George Bush, Sr.

“Today’s action protects America’s shores and beaches, which is good news for the tourism and fishing industries.  Keeping the offshore drilling moratorium in place will preserve America’s coasts for future generations,” said Richard Charter, marine conservation advocate with Environmental Defense.  Today’s congressional action maintains the existing offshore drilling moratorium that protects unleased coastal waters off of California, Oregon, Washington, Florida, Alaska’s Bristol Bay, and the entire east coast.  

(9 April 2003 — Washington, DC and Moscow, Russia)  The two organizations that are coordinating the upcoming Moscow Civil Society Round Table on Climate Change, The Center for Russian Environmental Policy and the U.S. based Environmental Defense, today launched global outreach with briefings in Moscow and Washington on preparations for the Round Table, which will be held from 1-2 October 2003 in Moscow.  

Today’s briefings initiated a very broad public outreach to establish working groups to prepare background materials, including papers, presentations, and informational brochures, for distribution at the Round Table.  The Round Table, a social forum for participation of civil society, will provide input into the World Climate Change Conference, to be held in Moscow from 29 September to 3 October 2003.  Similar briefings are under development for other regions of the world, to encourage global participation of civil society in the preparations for and conduct of the Round Table. 

The working groups will formulate recommendations for officials and decision-makers on the social aspects of climate change, including the impacts of climate change, mechanisms for combating climate change, and international agreements to address climate change.   Today the Center for Russian Environmental Policy and Environmental Defense invited the help of experts from various fields from around the world for the working groups, which will be formed over the next few weeks. 

Today’s announcement included the establishment of websites that will provide further information on the Round Table, in Russian at www.ecopolicy.ru, and in English at www.ecopolicy.ru/en.

The Center for Russian Environmental Policy was founded in 1993 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization, bringing together environmental specialists to search for solutions to urgent ecological issues on both global and Russian national levels.

(9 April 2003 — Washington) Environmental Defense today praised Senators Lincoln Chafee (R-RI), Judd Gregg (R-NH) and Thomas Carper (D-DE) for introducing a bill that would cut and/or cap four major pollutants from power plants: sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), mercury and the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂).

“While we will be pressing Senators Chafee, Gregg and Carper for major changes before we can support this bill, it is a major step forward,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Joseph Goffman.  “The bill’s aggressive sulfur dioxide reduction mandate and its mandatory cap on the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide prove that its sponsors are serious about protecting public health, acid-rain-sensitive ecosystems and Earth’s climate.”

“This bill sends a clear signal to the White House that the administration’s Clear Skies plan falls far short of the mark.  These three centrist politicians have shown a path toward winning the political battle,” said Elizabeth Thompson, Environmental Defense legislative director.

“By including a net cap on emissions of SO2, NOx and CO₂ - and embracing emissions trading - this bill has the potential to create a market for pollution clean up that will produce superior environmental results and real cost savings,” said Goffman.  “This bill stands in contrast to Clear Skies which while it has emissions trading in it does not use that tool to achieve superior environmental results. 

“The Chafee-Gregg-Carper bill remains a work in progress.  We will be working for significant changes in the bill’s language amending the Clean Air Act, a much more ambitious carbon dioxide emissions reduction target and legislative language specific enough to guarantee the environmental integrity of the carbon dioxide emissions credit trading system,” said Thompson.

(3 April, 2003 — Raleigh)  To promote good energy policy and increase use of clean, renewable energy sources, the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense, in conjunction with the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, today released a report that addresses key elements of landmark energy bills recently introduced in the N.C. General Assembly.  “Charting North Carolina’s Clean Energy Future” recommends six actions the General Assembly should take to increase the use of renewable resources, protect public health and the environment, and fortify the state’s economy.  None of the recommendations requires state funding.

The report recommends establishment of a Clean Air Trust Fund and a renewable portfolio standard, increased use of wind and solar power, adoption of a net metering policy, and creation of a state greenhouse gas registry.  Go to www.environmentaldefense.org/go/NCcleanenergy.

“The number of bills dealing with energy policy that have been introduced in the General Assembly this session confirms that 2003 is the year for legislators to concentrate on energy issues,” said Michael Shore, southeast air quality manager for Environmental Defense.  “Renewable energy sources — wind, solar, animal waste methane, landfill gas — are cleaner and more environmentally friendly than coal and other fossil fuels, and they should be providing a growing share of electricity generation in North Carolina.  Lawmakers can protect public health and build a clean energy future for North Carolina by adopting sensible, cost-effective policies that promote cleaner forms of energy generation and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”

“North Carolina’s Clean Smokestacks Act represents only a partial solution to energy challenges in the state.  If North Carolina continues to rely on high-polluting forms of energy generation to meet its growing needs, it will repeat the mistakes of the past and saddle future generations with dangerous air pollution, the burden of high energy costs and more regulations,” said Shore.

(2 April, 2003 — Honolulu)  Environmental Defense and a coalition of more than 90 other NGOs from two-dozen countries today called on the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to cancel $350 million in financing to expand Unocal Corporation’s West Seno offshore oil and gas projects in East Kalimantan, Indonesia.  The project involves the development of 40 new offshore wells and two proposed 60-kilometer pipelines under sea and over land.

“There are strong indications of serious environmental and human rights abuses associated with this project,” said Environmental Defense scientist, Dr. Stephanie Gorson Fried. “Already the expansion of Unocal offshore activities in East Kalimantan led to an August, 2002 deep water oil spill in which no notification was given to the public until weeks after the event, prompting accusations of a cover-up in the Indonesian press.”

In addition, Indonesian non-governmental groups have written to OPIC several times over the past year-and-a-half raising serious human rights problems with the project and calling for full participation by local residents in order to ensure environmental concerns are being addressed. 
 
“This project appears to be in violation of Indonesia’s environmental law requiring full citizen input into the structure and production of an environmental impact assessment prior to the commencement of new activities. The law also requires citizen participation in the development of the environmental management plan and the environmental monitoring plan,” said Dr. Fried.   

In a letter to Peter Watson of OPIC sent March 21, 2003, the non-governmental groups questioned whether the organization had met its own “due diligence” requirements to assess the environmental and human rights impacts of its loans (OPIC letter available upon request).

“We believe that a credible due diligence process, covering environmental and human rights aspects - including the apparent need for significant environmental remediation for existing Unocal operations - would yield a decision to reject project clearance for the West Seno projects.  We urge OPIC to cancel plans to support UNOCAL’s East Kalimantan operation,” the groups stated

(01 April 2003 — Washington, D.C.)  In response to a new federal rule that will incrementally increase fuel economy for light trucks, Environmental Defense today acknowledged the significance of beginning to upgrade Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, but urged the federal government to take much stronger action to stem years of steady increases in greenhouse gas pollution and oil use from the U.S. passenger vehicle fleet.

“Requiring manufacturers to produce light trucks that achieve better gas mileage in the near term acknowledges that design changes are available today that can decrease global warming pollution and reduce oil consumption,” said Kevin Mills, director of Environmental Defense’s Clean Car Campaign.  “However, the rule does not go nearly far enough to halt relentless increases in global warming pollution and oil use from light trucks, and much more can be done to increase fuel economy consistent with consumer desires for performance, safety and affordability.” 

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation, issued a final rule today increasing CAFE standards for light trucks, including most minivans, pickups, and SUVs, by 1.5 miles per gallon between 2005 and 2007.

According to an Environmental Defense analysis, fuel saving technologies and design changes are available today that can safely and affordably improve fuel economy by 5% per year for 10 years, preventing 100 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution per year by 2020 and cutting oil demand by 3.6 million barrels per day?more than the U.S. imports from the Middle East.

“The American public deserves a stronger national commitment to decreasing petroleum use and addressing global warming pollution.  The federal government needs to demonstrate the political will to require automakers to do their part to address the risks associated with rising oil consumption, and a legislative cap on greenhouse gas emissions would be an important step in achieving that goal,” said Mills.

(31 March 2003 - Salt Lake City, UT)  Today Environmental Defense testified at public hearings across the country - from Albany to Salt Lake City - urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw proposed loopholes to the Clean Air Act’s “new source review” program.  EPA’s own data indicates that pollution from industrial sources contributes to unhealthy air pollution levels nationwide, affecting millions of Americans.  EPA’s proposed loopholes will only hamper the ability of states and local governments to address this air pollution and achieve cleaner, healthier air.  

“EPA is proposing to eliminate a long-standing clean air safeguard at a time when millions of Americans live in areas with unhealthy levels of smog and fine particle pollution,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton.  “We are asking EPA to withdraw this proposal because instead of improving the program’s performance in protecting public health cost-effectively, EPA’s proposal eliminates critically needed public health safeguards.”

The Clean Air Act’s new source review program sets requirements to upgrade pollution control equipment at thousands of aging power plants and industrial facilities when they take action to significantly increase air pollution in surrounding communities. 

Under EPA’s proposal, these industrial facilities would be allowed to increase air pollution by thousands of tons so long as the changes that cause the increased pollution do not exceed an arbitrary cost threshold, rather than a health standard.  This cost threshold would be an annual or multiyear “maintenance” allowance that is the product of the total capital costs of the facility and a fixed maintenance percentage that could range as high as 20%.

Pollution emitted from industrial stacks includes nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur dioxides, and particulate matter.  These pollutants contribute to fine particles that have been associated with serious adverse health effects including premature death and hospitalization; ground-level ozone or “smog” that contributes to asthma, and decreased lung function, as well as haze and acid deposition in pristine wilderness areas and national parks.  Recent new source review enforcement actions against power plants will lead to a 90% reduction in sulfur dioxode and an 80% reduction in nitrogen oxides at PSEG’s Mercer power plant in New Jersey.  But under EPA’s proposal, the kinds of pollution-increasing activities that were the basis for these enforcement actions would become lawful. 

(13 March 2003 — Washington, D.C.)  Testifying today before a Senate subcommittee, Michael Replogle, Environmental Defense transportation director, assailed proposals from highway officials that would weaken Clean Air Act accounting requirements for transportation plans to respect pollution limits set in state air quality plans saying, “The results of this approach would be to turn back the clock to the days when highway builders could ignore pollution limits with impunity.”

Replogle said EPA has been derelict in not taking action as required by law to track the effectiveness of air quality plans and requiring corrective action if needed.  He called for Congress to protect and enforce clean air requirements as part of the reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21).

“Making sure air standards aren’t violated by analyzing motor vehicle pollution of transportation plans is like balancing your check book - not a fun way to spend time, but vital to your welfare,” said Replogle.  “Do it routinely, frequently and with current data and you avoid surprises and errors that can ruin financial health - just as frequent analysis of vehicle pollution can catch early errors in forecasting motor vehicle emissions that may harm public health.”  Replogle cited examples in metro Washington and Charlotte where long term planning and frequent air analysis allowed major transportation projects to go forward without exceeding pollution standards.

Speaking to members of the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety, Replogle stressed the benefits of conformity, which include support for timely implementation of cleaner vehicle technologies, adoption of strategies to reduced traffic and related pollution, and better interagency coordination.

The CAA Amendments of 1990 and ISTEA linked a region’s attainment of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQs) to its spending of federal highway dollars.  Regions that fail to adopt a transportation plan demonstrating how it will comply with air standards risk restrictions on the way it spends federal highway dollars.

To read Replogle’s testimony click here.

(6 March 2003 — New York)  Environmental Defense today called for the use of incentives, including expanded commuter choice and regional congestion pricing, to help offset the cost of the proposed transit fare hike, raise revenue and meet environmental goals.

“New York needs strong revenues to support transit investment, and New Yorkers need fair fares,” said Andy Darrell, Environmental Defense regional director.  “A fare hike alone is not the answer - the state and city should take full advantage of incentives like commuter choice and congestion pricing.”

One example of a commuter choice program is TransitChek, a federal tax incentive that can subsidize the cost of a transit pass.  With the TransitChek program, employees can save over $400 a year - by using pre-tax dollars to buy transit passes.  Everyone wins: employers pay less in payroll taxes, employees get a cheaper ride to work and the environment benefits when the incentive encourages people to leave their cars at home and use mass transit.

“TransitChek is used by only about 10-15% of the local workforce - expanding it to half the workforce would put hundreds of millions of dollars in New Yorkers’ pockets to offset the impact of any fare increase,” said Darrell.  “The state and city should launch a strong effort to get every local employer signed up for this program.”  Environmental Defense also called for expanded commuter choice incentives, like the parking cash-out programs, which are popular in other states.

Congestion pricing is another example of an underused incentive.  Today, traffic congestion costs the city over $7 billion a year in wasted time and fuel, and over 80% of the city’s added cancer risk from air pollution comes from car and truck emissions.  A comprehensive congestion pricing system would raise revenue to improve transportation choices, reduce traffic congestion and produce healthier air.

“By varying the cost of tolls according to congestion, drivers are given the incentive to leave their cars at home during rush hour.  On many East River bridges, driving into Manhattan is free, but taking a bus or train costs money - that’s the wrong incentive for the economy and for air quality,” said Darrell.  “The Hudson River crossings prove that congestion pricing works.  It’s time for a regional congestion pricing system, including the East River bridges.  Revenue from East River bridge tolls should support transit and bridge improvements that will benefit everyone and reduce the need for future fare hikes.”

Today’s Congressional hearing is being held to consider a bill, HR 793, authored by Subcommittee Chair Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-WY), which would delegate permitting authority over offshore wind-electric generation facilities, wave power projects, and various unidentified oil-related industrial facilities to the Minerals Management Service of the Department of Interior.

At a time when America’s oceans are in crisis, Congress should not be trying to find ways to circumvent existing laws which protect the marine environment, but unfortunately, that’s exactly what this bill does, said Richard Charter, marine conservation advocate with Environmental Defense. HR 793 tries to do an end run around the present orderly evaluation of how America’s oceans should be governed, disregarding the work of two national commissions on ocean policy. Unfortunately, this proposed legislation is exactly the wrong way to go about realizing the promise of a renewable energy future.

HR 793 centralizes leasing, permitting, and royalty collection under the Secretary of Interior and would leave affected coastal states with little authority over offshore energy facilities of various kinds. A similar bill, HR 5156, was hastily introduced during the last session of Congress, but died in the face of concern about centralizing too much new authority in the hands of the Secretary of Interior.

(6 March, 2003 — Raleigh)  Environmental Defense today called on the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission (EMC) to protect public health by adopting strict standards for emissions of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) when it meets March 12-13 in Raleigh.  H2S, familiar to many North Carolinians by its rotten-egg odor, is produced by pulp and paper mills and phosphate processing operations.  Industry is making a strong push to exempt portions of these facilities from new standards, although they are the major sources of unhealthy H2S in the state.

“For many North Carolinians, hydrogen sulfide doesn’t just smell bad, it feels bad,” said Michael Shore, southeast air quality manager for Environmental Defense.  “Hydrogen sulfide emissions irritate eyes and lungs and expose thousands of asthmatics to pollution that can trigger attacks.  The vote on hydrogen sulfide standards is the first important vote on air quality to come before the EMC in more than a year.  The EMC must not exempt any industries from new standards that will improve the quality of the air for all North Carolinians.”

“Some in industry would like to ignore the harmful effects of this pollutant and lobby for weak standards, including one that would exempt wastewater treatment processes from pulp and paper mills.  Wastewater treatment processes account for the majority of hydrogen sulfide emissions from many facilities,” said Shore.  “The human respiratory system does not make a special exception for hydrogen sulfide emissions that come from treating wastewater, and neither should the EMC.”

“The state Division of Public Health has documented the adverse health affects of breathing this pollutant and delivered its report to the EMC.  The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Scientific Advisory Board has made clear recommendations to the EMC on the standards needed to protect public health.  The EMC must remain steadfast and follow recommendations of the state’s own health and scientific boards by adopting a comprehensive rule that deals with all the processes at pulp and paper mills that emit dangerous hydrogen sulfide pollution,” said Shore.

(5 March 2003 —Washington, DC)  Environmental Defense today called for a renewed effort on the part of the chemical industry to honor its commitment under the High Production Volume (HPV) Challenge Program to provide data needed for basic hazard assessments of industrial chemicals that are produced annually in amounts of one million pounds or more in the U.S., and to meet a 2005 deadline for informing the public of the results. 

“Far too little information is available to the public about the hazards of the most widely used chemicals in the country.  The chemical industry volunteered in 1998 to gather existing data on these high-volume chemicals, fill specific gaps in the data, and make all of this information public by 2005.  While progress has been made toward reaching that goal, our status review points to several disturbing trends that could jeopardize on-time completion of the HPV Challenge Program if not immediately addressed.  Only a redoubling of effort by chemical companies will ensure that the program delivers on its promises,” said Environmental Defense Senior Scientist Dr. Richard Denison.

Environmental Defense, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Chemistry Council jointly developed the framework for the HPV Challenge Program, which was launched in 1998.  Today Environmental Defense released a detailed status report reviewing progress on meeting the goals of the program, available at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/HPVchallenge.

“Because these high volume chemicals were not required to undergo toxicity testing before they hit the market, it’s as if they’ve been given a clean bill of health without an exam.  We’re counting on the chemical industry to follow through on the HPV Challenge Program and make this critical information available to the public as promised,” said John Balbus, M.D., M.P.H., director of the Environmental Health program at Environmental Defense.

Under the program, more than 400 companies volunteered to sponsor 2,200 HPV chemicals, agreeing to submit plans for filling gaps in the data available for their chemicals by the end of this year.  “With less than a year to go, the promised plans for nearly half of the sponsored chemicals have yet to be submitted,” Denison said.  “More than 60 companies and consortia are more than a year late in submitting plans, contributing to a backlog of overdue plans for 325 chemicals.  And while some companies deserve kudos for submitting high-quality plans on time, other companies’ plans earned ‘F’s’, based on the grades we assigned to each plan we reviewed.  In addition, 500 ‘orphan’ HPV chemicals have yet to be sponsored at all, leaving in question how their data gaps will be filled.”

The HPV Challenge Program does not seek to comprehensively evaluate the potential health or environmental hazards of HPV chemicals, but is meant to provide a basic data set that can be used to identify those chemicals needing further scrutiny.

Of the 50 companies with at least 10 program commitments under the HPV Challenge Program, the following companies have to date met all of their commitments on time:

Of these 50 companies, the following companies rank worst, based on the percentage of their commitments that have not been met and are more than a year overdue:

(27 February 2003 - Washington, D.C.)  Environmental Defense today raised concerns that environmental and public health impacts were not effectively addressed in the fast track review of six new transportation projects, which the Bush administration announced today.

“Though some of the projects announced today provide models for good environmental stewardship, many threaten substantial environmental harm,” said Michael Replogle, transportation director of Environmental Defense.  “Fast-tracking is only appropriate in limited circumstances - where project reviews show that environmental and community concerns have been fully taken into account.  The fast-tracking of controversial and potentially harmful projects weakens environmental laws, cuts out public input and prevents consideration of less harmful alternatives.”

Today, the administration announced a list of six fast-track projects, some of which, such as U.S. 93 in Montana, have been extensively reviewed and are recognized as having made sound efforts to address environmental concerns.  Others, however, are highly controversial and likely to have severely negative environmental impact.  For example, the Inter County Connector (ICC) in Maryland is likely to spur significant sprawl, traffic congestion and air pollution.  The President’s September 2002 Executive Order on project reviews will be discredited if the ICC and similar projects are fast-tracked without full evaluation of alternatives and efforts to minimize adverse environmental impacts.  A complete list of the projects announced today is available on the Department of Transportation website at www.dot.gov/affairs/dot01503.htm.

“Using fast-track authority to shield bad projects from public review, risks adverse impacts on the environment, environmental justice, public health or local communities,” said Replogle.  “There is a better way to speed project delivery - by taking the environment and community concerns into account up front.   Environmental Defense would look forward to working with the Bush administration to make sure that fast-track review fully complies with environmental law.”

In September of last year, President Bush issued an Executive Order on Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews.  Contrary to a pledge made by the Bush administration in September 2002, environmental organizations were not given an opportunity to comment on the selection of the first set of fast-track projects, which were announced on October 31, 2002.  Information on the first set of seven projects, as well as additional information on transportation as it relates to public health and the environment, is available on the Environmental Defense web site at www.environmentaldefense.org/go/transportation.