Complete list of press releases
Environmental Defense Decries Administration Action on CA Offshore Drilling
June 11, 2002(10 June 2002 — Oakland) Environmental Defense today criticized the Bush administration for announcing that it will not buy back unused drilling leases off the coast of California. Oral arguments will be heard today in a legal challenge being brought by the State of California over 36 active-but-undeveloped offshore drilling leases.
A letter sent Friday from Interior Secretary Gale Norton to California Governor Gray Davis indicated the administration will not move to buy back active-but-undeveloped offshore drilling leases on the California coast near Pt. Conception.
“The administration has publicly argued that it would carefully respect the wishes of coastal governors when making decisions about offshore drilling. Unfortunately, the actual decisions on offshore drilling do not reflect those public statements,” said Environmental Defense marine advocate Richard Charter.
The Interior Department letter, which follows the recent announcement by the administration of a buyback of Florida offshore drilling tracts, cites Secretary Norton’s claim that “Florida opposes coastal drilling and California does not” as a reason for not granting similar protections to the California coastline. In fact, California Governor Gray Davis and members of California’s Congressional delegation in the U.S. House have requested the cancellation of the remaining offshore leases, and California has long opposed offshore drilling (see attached briefing paper). Governor Davis, the California Coastal Commission, the state attorney general and numerous conservation groups are suing the Department of Interior to prevent drilling on these undeveloped offshore leases. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Simon also opposes more offshore drilling on the state’s coastline, and has said that he supports a buyback of the undeveloped coastal leases in question.
“An important job of any Secretary of the Interior is to come up with a way to achieve constructive resolution for disagreements that often arise between the White House and states facing unwanted adverse impacts resulting from federal decisions,” said Charter. “This administration, having declined to amicably resolve the California drilling stalemate in the same manner recently so well-received in Florida, has now left it to the courts to determine the fate of the California coastline.”
EPA ISSUES TOXIC RELEASE INVENTORY FOR 2000
May 23, 2002(23 May, 2002 — Washington) Data from the 2000 Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) right-to-know program were made available to the public today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The data indicates that 7.10 billion pounds of toxic chemicals were released to the air, water, and land in 2000 from 23,484 facilities. But because of reporting requirements and EPA analysis, TRI data that is collected in a given year is not released until 18 months to two-and-a-half years later.
“While TRI has proven to be a powerful and popular environmental tool, it still takes far too long for the data to be made public,” said Environmental Defense economic development specialist Carol Andress. “That means residents don’t find out about pollution in their community until years after the fact. EPA should do everything in its power to get the data out in real time so that residents know the real risks they face today.”
For the first time, this year’s inventory includes persistent bioaccumulative toxic (PBT) chemicals which remain in the environment for long periods of time, are not readily destroyed or broken down, and accumulate in humans and other species. Data on mercury, a PBT chemical, is now reported at a lower level in recognition of its potential harm to humans and the environment. Mercury releases totaled 4.3 million pounds, much of which came from mining operations. Electrical utilities also contributed about 100,000 pounds of mercury to the air in 2000.
“Last year the Centers for Disease Control showed that the amount of mercury in the bodies of many women of child-bearing age was at or above levels of concern,” noted Dr. John Balbus, director of the environmental health program for Environmental Defense. “The TRI information released today will help us to understand where that mercury is coming from and to start taking steps to reduce it.”
For additional information and analysis of previous TRI data — as well as other sources of environmental pollution in communities — visit www.scorecard.org. The TRI right-to-know program is the only source of data from EPA that covers air, water, and land releases of more than 650 chemicals and chemical categories from industries including manufacturing, mining, electric utilities, hazardous waste treatment and other sources of pollution.CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY THE ENVIRONMENTAL WAY
May 20, 2002
(20 May, 2002 - New York) As Memorial Day approaches, Americans from coast to coast are preparing to head for the highway. Driving contributes to air pollution and smog, exacerbating respiratory problems and obscuring scenic vistas. Vehicles also produce greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. To help address these issues, Environmental Defense is providing tips to make travel this holiday lighter on the environment and lighter on the budget.
“There are simple steps that motorists can take to make their cars and their driving habits more efficient. That adds up to more money in your pocket and less pollution in the environment,” said Dean Menke, pollution prevention specialist at Environmental Defense.
Check the tires. Have your wheels aligned and keep your tires properly inflated. Low tire pressure wastes over two million gallons of gasoline in the United States every day.
Travel light and pack smart. Avoid hauling unnecessary loads; extra weight decreases fuel economy and increases pollutant emissions. Placing luggage inside rather than on the roof or trunk of the vehicle maintains an aerodynamic profile, minimizing drag and increasing mileage.
Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and gradually. Jack-rabbit starts consume up to 50% more fuel than slow, steady accelerations.
Know when to use the air. Air conditioning can decrease your fuel efficiency by as much as 12% in stop-and-go traffic, so consider cracking the windows. But remember, at high speeds, driving with the windows open can also decrease the overall efficiency of the vehicle.
Park it, once there. Once at your destination, consider parking your car and using other modes of transportation to get around. Walk to dinner, rent bikes to go shopping, or take the bus. Reducing the amount you drive can have the greatest benefit on the environment.
Support cleaner cars. Sign the Clean Car Pledge and express your support for cleaner technologies at http://actionnetwork.org/campaign/clean_car_pledgeCOMMUTER CHOICE BENEFITS RAISED FOR MARYLAND WORKERS, EMPLOYERS
May 16, 200216 May, 2002 — Washington) Environmental Defense today cheered the signing of a bill by Maryland Governor Parris Glendening that will increase tax incentives for businesses that provide transportation for workers and for programs that encourage employees to use mass transit or stop driving to work.
“Employees, businesses and the health of the public all benefit from investments in commuter programs,” said Environmental Defense transportation specialist Scot Spencer. “Increasing tax incentives for employers offsets the cost of providing van pools and other services in areas without mass transit, and businesses can pay more to those who are willing to give up their parking spot and ride, walk, bike or take the bus to work.”
Under the new new law, Maryland businesses and non-profits would be eligible for a 50% tax credit on the first $100 spent per individual, per month for employer-sponsored transit or vanpool passes, parking cash-out programs or guaranteed ride home programs. Under the previous law the benefit was capped at $60 per employee, per month.
“This program can be especially beneficial for low-income workers who may have limited choices about ways to get to work. And for those who already use transit, services like a guaranteed ride home for emergencies or overtime work provides an added level of comfort and convenience,” Spencer said.
The tax credit, which was passed earlier this year as Maryland House Bill 339, has also been added to the State Implementation Plan (SIP) for meeting the requirements of the federal Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.
“The success of the Commuter Choice programs is a critical part of the state’s plan to meet air quality goals and there must be aggressive outreach to all those who are eligible to take part,” Spencer said.
Maryland Commuter Choice builds on national Commuter Choice programs; these programs offer financial incentives for workers not to drive solo to work. Commuter Choice relieves congestion, improves air quality and offers more equitable transportation options for America’s workforce.Keep Antibiotics Working Campaign Praises Kennedy's Introduction of Bill to Fight Antibiotic Resistance
May 10, 2002(9 May, 2002 — Washington) Members of the Keep Antibiotics Working (KAW) campaign today joined the American Public Health Association (APHA) and other medical groups in endorsing a bill introduced by U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, to phase out the routine feeding of medically important antibiotics to healthy farm animals. The legislation, “The Preservation of Antibiotics for Human Treatment Act of 2002,” is similar to a bipartisan bill pending in the U.S. House (H.R. 3804, introduced by Rep. Sherrod Brown, D-OH), which has been endorsed by the American Medical Association, KAW, and others.
The Kennedy bill introduction coincides with the release of a new report by the Alliance for the Prudent Use of Antibiotics (APUA) that concludes antibiotic use in farm animals “contributes to the growing problem of [antibiotic] resistance in human infections,” which “limits treatment options, raises healthcare costs, and increases the number, severity and duration of infections.”
“The APUA report confirms that using medically important antibiotics in healthy farm animals contributes to antibiotic resistant infections in people. The science is clear, and the time for action is now,” said Tamar Barlam, M.D., an infectious disease physician at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and a former faculty member at Harvard Medical School. “Sen. Kennedy’s bill will help keep antibiotics working for people who depend on antibiotics for their very survival, such as cancer patients, premature babies, and seniors, but all of us will benefit.”
Both the Kennedy bill and the House bill also would ban the use of Cipro-like antibiotics to treat sick poultry because that use is promoting the development of potentially deadly Cipro-resistant food poisoning infections in people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed to ban the drug, but the sole remaining manufacturer of these drugs for poultry, the Bayer Corp., is fighting it.
The Keep Antibiotics Working campaign (www.KeepAntibioticsWorking.com), which includes Environmental Defense, is a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, environmental and other advocacy groups with more than nine million members dedicated to eliminating a major cause of antibiotic resistance—the inappropriate use of antibiotics in farm animals.ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ASKS GOVERNORS TO CLEAN UP DIRTY AIR
May 10, 200210 May, 2002 — Raleigh) Environmental Defense today called on the governors of Southeastern states to mount a coordinated and comprehensive attack on the region’s dirty air and adopt policies to improve air quality. N.C. Governor Mike Easley is hosting an annual air summit for Southeastern governors today in Charlotte, N.C.
“More than 33 million people in the Southeast live in counties with unhealthy, smoggy air,” said Jane Preyer, director of the North Carolina office of Environmental Defense, which this week issued a landmark report that recommends 11 strategies for improving Southeastern air quality. The report, “Blueprint for Breathing Easier: Southeast Energy Strategy for Clean Air,” is available at www.environmentaldefense.org.
“Air pollution is a public health issue in the Southeast. Tiny particles emitted from coal-fired power plants cause 11,000 deaths in the Southeast annually. Smog triggers 1.7 million asthma attacks in the Southeast annually. More than 13,200 infants are born in the Southeast each year with neurological damage due to mercury exposure,” said Preyer. “The air we are breathing is hazardous to our health. This is unacceptable by any measure.”
“Southeastern states cannot wait for guidance from the federal level to start cleaning up air pollution. It’s time for the Southeastern governors to line up and launch a coordinated and comprehensive attack that will improve air quality and reduce excessive energy consumption,” said Preyer.
“As a first step, every state should have clean smokestacks legislation to reduce pollution emitted from outdated power plants. Governor Easley’s efforts to get the Clean Smokestacks Bill passed in the North Carolina General Assembly this session is setting an example for other states to follow,” said Preyer. “Equally important, lawmakers and regulators must work together and adopt regional policies to make our air healthier to breathe.”L.A. AREAS WITH LIMITED OPEN SPACE LESS LIKELY TO GET PARK FUNDING
May 9, 2002(9 May 2002—Los Angeles) Environmental Defense and the Verde Coalition today praised Parks and Park Funding in Los Angeles: An Equity Mapping Analysis, a report by the Sustainable Cities Program at the University of Southern California (USC). The report is timely since “Bringing Community Back to the City” is the topic of the Urban Land Institute Mayors’ Forum, which Mayor Hahn will host in Los Angeles on May 15th. The report may be viewed at http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/ESPE/ on the web.
The report found that distribution of Proposition K funds has heightened existing inequities in park access. Low-income areas and minority neighborhoods have less access to park resources compared to areas with mainly white populations, according to the report. Proposition K, passed in 1996, provides $30 million for open-space development in Los Angeles every two years.
“The legislation USC looked at was intended to address park resource inequities. However, the exact opposite outcome has occurred,” said Misty Sanford, policy analyst at Environmental Defense and member of the Verde Coalition. “The fact remains that the complex distribution process of park funds makes them nearly impossible for community organizations to access.”
“The mechanisms in place to deal with disparity in park access are not working because of the lack of community participation and ownership in land use planning,” said Tricia Ward executive director of ARTScorpsLA and a commissioner on the Commission for Children, Youth and their Families.
Low-income communities and communities of color in the densely populated urban core of Los Angeles have an average of .455 acres of assessable parks space per 1000 residents, less than 5% of the national standard. After hearing testimony from community leaders, the Verde Coalition and Environmental Defense, the City Council agreed to set up the Walking to the Park task force to report on the use of an urban land trust to eliminate park access disparities.
“Future park projects should make certain that there is a strong commitment to community participation in every step of the process,” said David Marquez director of the Central City Neighborhood Partners. “The creation of an urban land trust by the City Council will help small non-profits, community groups and others gain access to park funds and act as a guide through the park development process.”
'SAFE HARBOR' OFFERS LANDOWNERS A CHANCE TO AID RARE SPECIES
May 9, 2002(9 May, 2002— Washington) Turning farmers and forest landowners from adversaries into allies for conserving rare species is the object of a unique conservation effort by Environmental Defense. Key to the effort is the Conservation Incentives Library, a virtual library of information about incentives for private conservation now available on-line.
The library includes the most extensive collection anywhere of information on one of the most effective tools for enlisting landowner cooperation — Safe Harbor agreements — which allow landowners to create or improve habitat for endangered species without fear of new restrictions on land use.
The Robert Mondavi wine company is the first in its industry to pursue a Safe Harbor agreement. This week the prominent vintner’s efforts to improve habitat at its vineyard in San Luis Obispo County moved forward with publication in the Federal Register of a proposed Safe Harbor agreement. Mondavi plans to improve habitat for two rare bird species and for the California red-legged frog, the subject of Mark Twain’s famous short story, “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.”
“This Safe Harbor agreement will uncork Mondavi’s ability to improve wildlife habitat at its vineyard, benefiting the California red-legged frog, which was immortalized by Mark Twain, and two important endangered bird species,” said Michael Bean, chair of the Environmental Defense Wildlife program and a leading authority on the Endangered Species Act.
Safe Harbor agreements have already been struck with several hundred landowners on approximately two million acres of land nationwide. The Mondavi agreement marks the first for a wine producer and is only the third developed in California. The agreement, which Environmental Defense helped to prepare, entails riparian restoration along a seasonal stream on the property to benefit the California red-legged frog and the least Bell’s vireo and Southwestern willow flycatcher — two local bird species.
Nationally, the Safe Harbor concept is responsible for the reintroduction of the Hawaiian goose (the state’s official bird) to the island of Molokai, after an absence of more than two centuries, and the return of the northern aplomado falcon, North America’s rarest falcon, as a breeding bird in Texas after an absence of several decades.STATEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE ON FARM BILL PASSAGE
May 8, 20028 May, 2002 — Washington) Environmental Defense today released the following statement from senior attorney Tim Searchinger on expected final passage of the farm bill conference report by the U.S. Senate.
“The farm bill represented a rare opportunity to reward farmers, ranchers and private forest landowners for taking steps to help the environment. Unfortunately, Congress decided instead to reward the nation’s largest farmers for plowing up environmentally critical grasslands and woodlands to grow ever larger surpluses of feed grains, rice and cotton.
“Under the new law, only 18% of payments to farmers support conservation — down from one-third in the last farm bill. And because Congress has failed to meet even current demand for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) conservation spending, at least one-third of farmers and ranchers seeking USDA assistance to protect water quality and curb sprawl will continue to be rejected in the coming years.
“While the Senate-passed Farm bill strongly supported the most valuable conservation programs to protect crop and grasslands from sprawl, restore wetlands and enhance wildlife habitat, the bill approved by the Senate today disproportionately cuts funding for the most valuable programs. Some of the ‘conservation’ spending approved by the Senate today will actually harm the environment by funding the construction of huge manure lagoons and dams.
“The most significant environmental problem is that the bill provides huge incentives to plow up native grasslands, in part because a key reform to curtail these perverse incentives was surrendered by Senate negotiators. The result will be the loss of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and increased runoff of pollution into our rivers, lakes and bays. The increases in conservation spending are outweighed by the environmental threats posed by the unprecedented incentives to overproduce feed grains, rice and cotton. For every acre of wildlife habitat saved as a result of this farm bill, two or more acres of habitat will be destroyed.
“Reasonable limits on subsidies designed to protect small farmers were also deleted. As a result, a small number of large farmers in a handful of states will continue to receive most farm spending, while the vast majority of farmers will continue to receive little or no USDA assistance. Thanks to this farm bill, large farmers will also have unprecedented funds to swallow up their smaller neighbors.”COALITION UNVEILS STRATEGY FOR IMPROVING SOUTHEASTERN AIR QUALITY
May 7, 2002(7 May, 2002 — Raleigh, NC) A coalition of environmental organizations today issued recommendations to help guide Southeastern states in the development of policies that will curtail excessive energy consumption and improve regional air quality and public health. N.C. Governor Mike Easley is hosting a Southeastern governors meeting to discuss regional air quality issues and adoption of state actions to curtail energy use and reduce air pollution in Charlotte, N.C., on May 10.
In a report titled “Blueprint for Breathing Easier: Southeast Energy Strategy for Clean Air,” Environmental Defense, the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) recommend 11 strategies that can be used by governors, lawmakers and regulators to ensure that energy generation is clean and air quality is healthier. Get complete report.
The report addresses air quality in 10 states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Among its recommendations, the report calls on states to reduce pollution from coal-fired power plants and set emission standards for nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. Unlike President Bush’s energy plan that encourages reliance on fossil fuels, the report emphasizes energy efficiency, conservation and the use of renewable resources such as wind and solar energy.
“The Southeast has the opportunity to lead the nation in developing an energy supply system that is reliable, economical and environmentally superior,” said Michael Shore, southeast air quality manager for Environmental Defense. “States must take responsibility for protecting citizen health by cutting harmful air pollution. As a first step, every Southeastern state should adopt a clean smokestacks plan for reducing harmful emissions from outdated power plants. Southeastern states also should work together to develop a regional, multi-pollutant plan to protect public health by improving air quality.”
“Last year governors from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee adopted a set of southern air principles designed to improve air quality in the region,” said Jeff Gleason, SELC deputy director. “That was a good beginning, but now is the time for coordinated and comprehensive action. Southeastern states have opportunities and obligations to their citizens to integrate energy and air quality planning and policy. As a starting point, states must work to reduce their reliance on coal.”
“Southeastern states are in a strong position to expand the use of clean renewable sources of power, such as solar and wind,” said Steve Smith, SACE director. “When championed by governors and other top leaders, sometimes even modest incentives to use these renewable resources can provide the impetus for changing to cleaner energy technologies. Energy in the Southeast can be produced in ways that are good for public health, the environment and the economy.”COURT AFFIRMS HISTORIC DIESEL TRUCK CLEAN AIR PROGRAM
May 3, 2002(3 May, 2002 — Washington, D.C.) Environmental Defense today praised a unanimous ruling by a three-judge federal court of appeals panel that affirms an historic clean air program to slash noxious air pollution from large diesel trucks and buses in communities across the country.
“The court’s action today clears the way for EPA to implement new clean air standards that will dramatically lower air pollution from large diesel trucks and buses,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Vickie Patton. “These new standards for large diesel trucks and buses are one of the single most important steps that can be taken to produce cleaner air in communities across the country.”
The court rejected challenges to the engine and fuel standards brought by a number of interests including the Engine Manufacturers Association, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, and the American Petroleum Institute.
The court’s ruling upholds rules established by U.S. EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) in 2001, that dramatically tighten particulate and nitrogen oxides emission standards for vehicles beginning in model year 2007. Requiring the use of cleaner low-sulfur diesel fuel will also aid the clean air technology needed in buses and trucks in order to meet the new emission standards.
Clean Air Benefits. Large diesel trucks and buses emit about 2.6 millions tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and about 130,000 tons of inhalable particulates each year. Numerous public health organizations, both in the U.S. and worldwide, have determined that diesel exhaust or the particulates in the exhaust are a potential or probable human carcinogen. Nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions also have harmful effects, contributing to unhealthy smog levels in communities across the country, acid rain in sensitive ecosystems, and pollution of premier coastal fishing and recreational waters. Cleaner Highway Diesel Fuel a Technology Enabler.
Cleaner highway diesel fuel that is low in sulfur content is a critical component of EPA’s emission standards. EPA’s rules limit the sulfur levels in highway diesel fuel to 15 parts per million, beginning in 2006. Previously, the allowable sulfur content for highway diesel fuel was 500 parts per million, and the actual average levels are about 340 parts per million. High sulfur levels can seriously impair the new pollution control devices necessary to remove pollutants from the diesel exhaust stream at high control efficiencies.
Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization based in New York, represents more than 300,000 members. Since 1967 we have linked science, economics, and law to create innovative, equitable, and cost-effective solutions to the most urgent environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.orgENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE PANS HOUSE PASSAGE OF FARM CONFERENCE REPORT
May 2, 2002
(2 May, 2002 — Washington) Environmental Defense today expressed regret that the House of Representatives agreed to pass an enormously expensive and environmentally damaging farm bill that will help the nation’s largest agricultural operations continue to swallow up family farmers.
“This Farm Bill fails the environment, taxpayers and the average farmer,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Tim Searchinger.
“Congressman Ron Kind deserves enormous thanks for the courage to stand up for conservation and family farmers,” said Searchinger in praise of the Wisconsin democrat. “The strong vote for his motion shows how many Congressmen recognized the farm bill’s terrible flaws. Unfortunately, many of these same members of Congress feared that the Agriculture Committee would delete their own favorite programs if they voted to reject this bill and send it back to the conference.”
“Farms occupy half the land in the U.S., and a meaningful farm bill would have rewarded farmers for how they protect the land instead of pushing overproduction and increased dependence on government aid,” said Environmental Defense water resources specialist Scott Faber. “It is particularly unfortunate that the so-called compromise between the House bill and the Senate bill actually combined the worst elements of both.”
“While it is true that the farm bill increases funding for conservation — it does far less than what is being claimed by Congressman Combest and Senator Harkin,” Searchinger said. “Much of the spending is too poorly focused to gain real environmental benefits, nor can it make up for the terrible effects of huge farm subsidies. These payments will only drive farmers to plow up valuable habitat and use more chemicals in order to meet the bill’s demands for more overproduction.”
“The real loser today is the nation’s environment and all those farmers and ranchers who are committed to being good stewards of the land. Farmers who want to play a role in protecting water quality, improving wildlife habitat or preventing sprawl have now been passed over in favor of large commodity crop producers in a handful of states,” said Faber. “Under this bill, the majority of farmers wishing to protect the environment will continue to be left empty-handed when they seek federal aid for conservation.”FARM BILL AGREEMENT WILL HURT THE ENVIRONMENT
April 26, 2002FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Scott Faber 202 387-3500<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = “urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office” />Tim Searchinger 202 387-3500
(26 April, 2002 — Washington, D.C.) Environmental Defense today said that a new farm bill agreement reached by House and Senate negotiators will harm the environment and most farmers.
“The conferees have eliminated any environmental balance in this farm bill by boosting subsidies for the biggest farms, scrapping key safeguards to protect the environment and by cutting funds for conservation,” said Environmental Defense senior attorney Tim Searchinger. “On balance, for each acre of habitat preserved, this bill will destroy at least two and for each ton of pollution spared, the bill will add at least two tons.”
“Both the Senate and House voted overwhelmingly to limit subsidies to the country’s largest farms and to boost conservation, but House and Senate negotiators have ignored their colleagues,” said Environmental Defense water resources specialist Scott Faber. “The country’s biggest grain and cotton farms get a visit from Santa, while farmers offering to help the environment get a lump of coal.”
The Senate-passed farm bill included key provisions that provided the legislation with some environmental balance. One key provision limited subsidies to existing cropland, as a way to discourage farmers from plowing up prairies and forests to produce larger crop surpluses that then lead to lower prices. The Senate also capped subsidies for the largest farms and boosted new funds for conservation programs significantly. But the conference agreement announced today, eliminated key limitations on crop subsidies and cut back conservation spending to levels near the unbalanced House bill.
“This bill will drive farmers in to overproduction on sensitive lands — a direction they do not want to go. Thousands of farmers who are willing to improve water quality, restore wildlife habitat, or serve as the frontline against sprawl will continue to be turned away,” said Faber.
“By bucking the will of their colleagues in both houses, the conferees have dedicated nearly all their funds to the largest farmers in a few states, while all but ignoring the vast majority of farmers in the vast majority of states,” said Searchinger. “These farmers do not benefit from traditional subsidy programs, but they appreciate help to be the best stewards of the land they can be.”
SENATE FAILS TO ADDRESS NATION'S ENVIRONMENTAL, ENERGY NEEDS
April 25, 2002(25 April, 2002 — Washington, D.C.) Environmental Defense today criticized energy legislation passed by the U.S. Senate for favoring fossil fuels over renewable energy and for lacking tough conservation measures — including a specific increase in gas mileage standards for America’s cars and trucks.
“Finding environmentally friendly provisions in this bill is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Knowing what is in the House energy package, the conference process could only make it worse,” said Environmental Defense legislative director Elizabeth Thompson. “This debate has been more painful than a root canal, and the end result is a bill that does little to promote innovation, conservation or energy security.”
One important provision that was rejected during debate on the energy bill was a mandatory increase in Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. Senators also turned back an attempt to increase the bill’s modest renewable energy provisions.
“By failing to increase gas mileage requirements and shortchanging investments in renewable energy, the Senate bill locks the U.S. into a future of continued dependence on foreign oil and dirty fossil fuels,” Thompson said. “If nuclear power, the coal industry, oil companies and ethanol producers are all pleased with the Senate’s energy package that says quite a bit about who is really going to benefit.”
ENVIRONMENTALISTS APPLAUD EPA ACTION ON WESTERN CLEAN AIR PROGRAM
April 25, 2002(25 April, 2002 — Boulder, Colorado) Environmental Defense and the Land and Water Fund of the Rockies strongly support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed approval today of a ground-breaking clean air program to clear the haze air pollution in western national parks and wilderness areas. The program would lower air pollution from western power plants and other large industrial sources through a cost-effective pollution abatement program.
“This ground-breaking program is the equivalent of a clean air bargain for the West,” said John Nielsen, Energy Project Director, Land and Water Fund of the Rockies. “It protects scenic vistas by lowering western air pollution from power plants and other industrial sources in a highly cost-effective manner.”
“EPA’s action today is a historic step that will help the West protect its revered national parks and wilderness areas from industrial air pollution,” said Vickie Patton, Senior Attorney, Rocky Mountain Office of Environmental Defense. “This western clean air program reflects years of hard work by states, tribes, industry, and citizens from across the West.”
The program would establish an emissions cap on the sulfur dioxide pollution from western power plants and other industrial sources. It will help curb the haze air pollution in western national parks and wilderness areas. The emissions cap is based on lowering sulfur dioxide pollution by 85% from uncontrolled western power plants. It was designed by the Western Regional Air Partnership, a cooperative air quality initiative of western states, tribes, EPA, and federal land managers.
To become fully effective, the program must be approved by EPA, after opportunity for public comment. The program must then be adopted by individual states as a pollution abatement strategy to mitigate haze air pollution. The program provides a highly cost-effective approach for western states to address their air quality planning obligations under the EPA regional haze program established in 1999. The states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming had a critical role in developing the program.