Out of the thousands of correlates and potential causative factors that aff= ect =93the environment,=94 why choose to examine divorce? If this is simply= basic research, it is not really that surprising or interesting. If it was= applied research, designed to influence policy, I don=92t see any good pol= icy resulting from this information. Are we to join forces with social cons= ervatives and advise people against a (sometimes very healthy) choice to ge= t divorced? =20 =20 Using the same logic as in this press release, increased crime rates are go= od for the environment because high crime leads to more people in prison, f= ewer households, and much lower per-capita consumption of prisoners versus = free citizens.=20 =20 There are many other controllable factors that affect resource use that war= rant extensive collaborative investigation. I=92m amazed that this particul= ar study was highlighted in PNAS.
************************************************ Lee Dyer Department of Eco= logy and Evolutionary Biology 310 Dinwiddie Hall Tulane University New Orle= ans, LA 70118 Web: www.caterpillars.org phone: 504-862-8289 (lab) 504-862-8= 288 (office) fax: 504-862-8940 > Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 10:39:06 -0500> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: FW: Environmental News 12-3-2007> To: ECOLOG-L@LISTSERV.UMD.EDU>= > > > -----Original Message-----> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]> [= mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Gary Whelan> Sent: Wed= nesday, December 05, 2007 9:13 AM> To: IFC> Subject: Environmental News 12-= 3-2007> > The Planet Feels the Pain of Divorce> EAST LANSING, Michigan, Dec= ember 3, 2007 (ENS) - Divorce is bad for the> environment finds the first s= tudy to link resource use with the ecology> of marriage and divorce. > > Ac= ross the United States and in 11 other countries studied, soaring> divorce = rates have created more households with fewer people. Each time> a family b= reaks up the individual members set up households that take up> more space = and consume more energy and water than the same people used> when living to= gether. > > The findings of Professor Jianguo "Jack" Liu and Eunice Yu at M= ichigan> State University are published in this week's online edition of th= e> "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." > > "Not only the Uni= ted States, but also other countries, including> developing countries such = as China and places with strict religious> policies regarding divorce, are = having more divorced households," Liu> said. > > "The consequent increases = in consumption of water and energy and using> more space are being seen eve= rywhere," he said.> > > Each member of a former couple uses more resources = living separately> than when living in the relationship. (Photo credit Kans= as State U.)> Broken couples also increase demand for housebuilding and inf= rastructure> such as new roads. > > In the United States and 11 other count= ries such as Brazil, Costa Rica,> Ecuador, Greece, Mexico and South Africa = between 1998 and 2002, if> divorced households had combined to have the sam= e average household size> as married households, there could have been 7.4 = million fewer> households in these countries. > > "A married household uses= resources more efficiently than a divorced> household," said Liu. > > In t= he United States alone in 2005, divorced households used 73 billion> kilowa= tt-hours of electricity and 627 billion gallons of water that> could have b= een saved if household size had remained the same as that of> married house= holds, the scientists found. > > Thirty-eight million extra rooms were need= ed with associated costs for> heating and lighting. The number of rooms per= person in divorced> households was 33 percent to 95 percent greater than i= n married> households. > > "People's first reaction to this research is sur= prise, and then it seems> simple, but a lot of things become simple after r= esearch is done,"> said Liu. > > A professor of fisheries and wildlife and = Rachel Carson Chair in> Ecological Sustainability at Michigan State, Liu ha= s spent more than two> decades integrating ecology with social sciences to = understand how those> interactions affect the environment and biodiversity.= > > "Our challenges were to connect the dots and quantify their> relations= hips," said Liu. "People have been talking about how to protect> the enviro= nment and combat climate change, but divorce is an overlooked> factor that = needs to be considered." > > When divorced people returned to married life,= the study found that> their environmental footprint shrank back to that of= consistently> married households. > > "Solutions are beyond a single idea,= " Liu said. "Consider the production> of biofuel. Biofuel is made from plan= ts, which also require water and> space. We're showing divorce has signific= ant competition for that water> and space. On the other hand, more divorce = demands more energy. This> creates a challenging dilemma and requires more = creative solutions." > > The research, Liu said, shows that environmental p= olicy is more complex> than one single solution. He suggests that governmen= ts across the world> may need to start factoring in divorce when examining = environmental> policy. > > New York Seeks to Block Nuclear Plant License Re= newal NEW YORK, New> York, December 3, 2007 (ENS) - New York state official= s took their> battle against relicensing of the aging Indian Point nuclear = power plant> on the Hudson River to another level today. > > New York Gover= nor Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, and> Westchester County E= xecutive Andrew Spano have submitted documents> asking the federal governme= nt to deny the relicensing of Indian Point> sought by owner-operator Enterg= y Corporation. > > The papers filed with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission,= NRC, identify> dangerous deficiencies in Entergy's relicensing application= for Indian> Point related to terrorism, earthquakes, evacuation plans, and= the> surrounding population density. > > "The Indian Point relicensing app= lication wholly fails to address a> number of crucial issues, and it should= not be granted in its present> form," said Governor Spitzer. > > In a stat= ement from its White Plains office, Entergy replied that a> forced shutdown= of the Indian Point Energy Center "would severely impact> the economic and= environmental health of the Lower Hudson Valley region> and New York City.= " > > > Indian Point nuclear power plant on the Hudson River at Buchanan, N= ew> York. (Photo courtesy NRC) "Fear-based rhetoric can not alter the fact>= that, depending on seasonal demand, the 2,000 megawatts produced by> India= n Point supplies between 18 percent and 38 percent of our region's> electri= city needs with zero greenhouse gas emissions that cause global> warming," = said the company. > > "I have repeatedly stated that we should close Indian= Point as soon as> there is sufficient replacement power available," the go= vernor said,> "and in the interim we will continue to insist that all envir= onmental,> safety and security issues are fully evaluated and addressed, in= order> to protect the health and safety of the communities surrounding the= > plant." > > "We cannot continue to roll the dice with the operation of In= dian Point> - there is simply too much at stake," said Cuomo. "The NRC has>= repeatedly ignored the danger that Indian Point poses to New Yorkers -> fr= om its vulnerability to a terrorist attack, to its incapability to> withsta= nd potential earthquakes, to its lack of a plausible evacuation> plan in th= e event of a catastrophe. We must do what is safest for New> York and close= Indian Point." > > "This is not only my position," said Spano, "but the po= sition of our> Board of Legislators which passed a resolution to that effec= t back in> 2003." > > The petition to intervene released today focuses on s= afety issues: > > Proximity to the most densely populated area in the Unite= d States:> About 20 million people * six percent of the nation's population= * live> or work within 50 miles of Indian Point. > > Susceptibility to a t= errorist attack and other security risks: The 9/11> Commission reported tha= t al-Qaeda terrorists had specifically> contemplated attacking nuclear powe= r plants with aircraft, and two of> the planes hijacked on September 11, 20= 01 flew near or over Indian> Point. The NRC refuses to require Entergy to s= afeguard Indian Point> against terrorist attacks from the air. > > Vulnerab= ility to geographic and seismic issues: Indian Point is located> near a fau= lt line in New York State and it was not designed to withstand> the seismic= forces that the U.S. Geological Survey says are possible. > > Lack of acce= ptable emergency warning system or evacuation plan: 2006> marked the fourth= straight year that Westchester, Rockland, and Orange> Counties refused to = certify county-based evacuation plans prepared by> Entergy, in large part b= ecause safe evacuation of the area has been> found to be highly unlikely, i= f not impossible. > > Indian Point is aging: After nearly 40 years of opera= tion, the> containment structure and reactor components have weakened, incr= easing> the risk of a radioactive leak. > Indian Point has a long history o= f safety incidents due to human error> and equipment failure, the New York = officials pointed out. > > "Leaks of tritium and strontium-90 have seeped i= nto the groundwater> underneath the plant and there is evidence they have r= eached the Hudson> River," they said. "In addition, the facility stores rad= ioactive> materials on-site because there is no long-term depository for hi= gh> level nuclear waste." > > Replacing Indian Point's emission free power = would mean a greater> reliance on fossil-fuel burning plants, countered the= company, "leading> to a 20 percent rise in carbon dioxide emissions, a 19 = percent jump in> nitrous oxide emissions combined with an 11 percent hike i= n sulfur> dioxide emissions." > > Since purchasing the two nuclear generato= rs in Buchanan, New York, more> than six years ago, Entergy says it has inv= ested hundreds of millions of> dollars in Indian Point as part of its ongoi= ng effort to improve and> maintain the plant's operating systems and to ens= ure that safety and> security levels are among the highest in the nation. >= > "That level of investment and commitment has transformed Indian Point> i= nto one of the most reliable and best performing plants in the region,> wit= h a capacity factor of 93 percent over the last three years," Entergy> said= . > > "When you consider that the New York City subways and the Metropolita= n> Transit Authority's Metro North trains are among just a few of key> gove= rnmental facilities that depend on power from Indian Point, the> importance= of a reliable, lower cost supply of electricity becomes> clear," said the = company. > > But the company's arguments failed to persuade U.S. Congressma= n John> Hall, who represents the district in which Indian Point is located.= > "Indian Point is everything a nuclear power plant shouldn't be. It has a>= history of operating problems, it has been leaking tritium and> cancer-cau= sing strontium-90 for several years, and it is located in the> most densely= populated region of the United States." > > "Today's announcement undersco= res that our local, state and federal> representatives are united in their = determination not to let these or> any other unsafe nuclear power plants in= our state get a new 20 year> lease on life from the NRC," Hall said. > > A= lex Matthiessen, president of Riverkeeper, a nonprofit that has been> worki= ng for years to shut down Indian Point, said, "With an evacuation> plan dec= lared 'unworkable and unfixable,' inadequate protections against> a terrori= st attack, and an abysmal safety record, Indian Point poses an> incalculabl= e risk to public health and safety." > > "With radiation leaking into the H= udson and outdated technology that> kills over a billion fish each year, In= dian Point is also a menace to> our natural environment," he said. > > Ente= rgy's initial 40 year operating licenses for its two reactors,> Reactor Uni= t 2 and Reactor Unit 3, expire in 2013 and 2015. > > On April 30, 2007, Ent= ergy applied to the NRC for a 20 year license> extension for its operating = reactors. On August 1, 2007, the NRC began> reviewing its application. Any = final decision by the NRC regarding the> relicensing of the Indian Point fa= cility is reviewable by the federal> Court of Appeals. > > The Indian Point= decision could have far-reaching effects since the> nuclear branch of the = corporation, Entergy Nuclear, is the nation''s> largest provider of license= renewal and decommissioning services to the> nuclear power industry. > > T= he Atomic Safety Licensing Board, a panel of three administrative law> judg= es, is expected to decide in March 2008 on whether to grant or deny> the pe= tition for intervention submitted today by the state of New York.> > > On N= ovember 15, Attorney General Cuomo and the attorneys general of five> other= states submitted a letter to the NRC expressing serious concerns> about th= e NRC's continued disregard of critical safety issues during its> relicensi= ng process. > > The NRC process for renewing power plant licenses has been = called into> question by the watchdog charged with oversight of the federal= agency. > > A report by the Inspector General for the NRC from September 6= , 2007> states, "Licensing reporting efforts need improvements," and "those= who> read reports could conclude that regulatory decisions are not adequat= ely> reviewed and documented." It also states that, "Licensees could enter>= into the extended period of operation without being in full compliance> wi= th license renewal terms." > > NRC's relicensing regulations were developed= in 1991 and 1995, when the> NRC decided that limiting the scope of its inq= uiry would make the> relicensing process "more stable and predictable" for = the licensees. > > Under these regulations, the NRC has granted 49 licenses= renewals and> has yet to deny one. > > Seattle Will Review City Projects f= or Climate Impacts SEATTLE,> Washington, December 3, 2007 (ENS) - Today the= Seattle City Council> unanimously passed landmark legislation committing c= ity agencies> responsible for reviewing projects under the State Environmen= tal> Protection Act to review those projects for their impact on climate> c= hange. > > "This is a milestone in our local efforts to stem global warming= ," said> Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck, the legislation's sponsor and cha= ir of> the Council's Urban Development and Planning Committee. "If we are t= o> mitigate the impact of greenhouse gas emissions we have to start by> acc= ounting for them." > > Eight local and regional environmental groups expres= sed their support> for the legislation during a hearing on November 28. > >= Organizational support for the legislation includes Futurewise, Climate> S= olutions, People for Puget Sound, the People's Waterfront Coalition,> the S= ierra Club, the Transportation Choices Coalition, and the> Washington Envir= onmental Council. > > "There is clearly a groundswell of community support,= " said> Councilmember Richard Conlin. "The people of Seattle understand tha= t the> time is now to begin moving on doing our part to challenge climate> = change." > > Council President Nick Licata said, "This is a positive local = step> toward dealing with a serious global problem." > > > Seattle is makin= g an attempt to control its contribution to global> climate change. (Photo = courtesy U. Washington) The legislation will take> effect on March 31 and w= ill require agencies in the city to begin> working toward accounting for em= issions in projects that are covered by> the State Environmental Protection= Act. > > The Council's action follows an executive order by King County Ex= ecutive> Ron Sims who ordered county agencies to begin reviewing projects f= or> their emissions. > > Governor Christine Gregoire's Climate Action Team = has made similar> recommendations. > > The most recent report by the Interg= overnmental Panel on Climate Change> characterizes climate change as a more= serious crisis than it had> previously stated. > > Unless action is taken = rapidly, impacts from human activities,> particularly the use of combustion= engine driven vehicles, the planet is> headed for calamitous and inevitabl= e changes that will impact millions> of people and cost millions of lives a= nd resources, the Council> concludes.. > > "This is just the beginning," sa= id Steinbrueck. "Seattle has always been> a leader in protecting our enviro= nment. This legislation continues with> that great tradition." > > Seattle = Mayor Greg Nickels has worked to make Seattle a leader in the> effort to fi= nd a solution to the threat of global warming. Since Nickels> launched the = U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement in 2005, 672> cities across the Un= ited States have joined Seattle in pledging to> reduce carbon emissions sev= en percent below 1990 levels by 2012. > > Today, about 24 percent of the co= untry's population lives in cities that> have decided to take action. > > I= n September, Mayor Nickels, other city officials, community and> business l= eaders launched Seattle Climate Action Now, a grassroots> campaign to encou= rage everyone in Seattle to reduce global warming> pollution at home, on th= e road and in their neighborhoods. > > "A lot of people want to do somethin= g about global warming, but they> aren't sure how or where to start," Nicke= ls said. "Seattle Climate> Action Now will bring saving the planet down to = earth. > > In November, Mayor Nickels released an update of the city's gree= nhouse> gas inventory that shows the city has made progress in the effort t= o cut> emissions and is on target to meet its climate protection goals. > >= The report shows that in 2005, the latest year studied, the city's> greenh= ouse gas emissions were about eight percent below 1990 levels. And> on a pe= r capita level, the reduction was about 11 percent below 1990. > > Conserva= tion and climate-friendly policies by Seattle City Light are> responsible f= or most of the reduction. > > The city has adopted the standards of the Kyo= to Treaty, which call for> reducing greenhouse gas emissions to five percen= t below 1990 levels by> 2012. > > "This is a remarkable milestone that show= s how cities can lead the way> in the fight against global warming," Nickel= s said. "It is a success> that we can all celebrate. But it is just the sta= rt of our work. To beat> global warming, we must not only maintain this ach= ievement but go a> magnitude beyond these numbers. That's why we need every= one's help in> taking action." > > EPA Orders Cleanup at Tyndall Air Force = Base PANAMA CITY, Florida,> December 3, 2007 (ENS) - The U.S. Environmental= Protection Agency, EPA,> is taking what the agency calls "a major step"> t= oward cleaning up Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City by compelling> the = Air Force to properly conduct the cleanup. The cleanup has been in> progres= s since 1981. > > In November, EPA issued an Order under the Resource Conse= rvation and> Recovery Act, RCRA, which requires the Air Force to investigat= e> contamination at the base and take action to clean it up. > > Located on= e mile southeast of Panama City, in Bay County, Tyndall Air> Force Base cov= ers 28,823 acres. The base was placed on the EPA Superfund> National Priori= ties List in 1997.> > > Fighter jets fly over Tyndall Air Force Base. (Phot= o courtesy U.S. Air> Force)> To date, more than 50 sites have been identifi= ed on the base as being> potentially contaminated, including municipal and = industrial waste> landfills, areas used for fire training and the explosion= of ordnance,> fuel storage, pesticide storage and mixing areas, and vehicl= e> maintenance shops. > > The contamination includes polychlorinated biphen= yls, PCBs, pesticides> such as DDT, heavy metals, volatile and semi-volatil= e organic compounds,> residues from exploded ordnance, jet fuel and oil. > = > These hazarous substances have been found in the soils, sediments,> surfa= ce waters, and groundwater at the base. > > The EPA will review future work= at the base to ensure that it is> conducted according to regulations and t= hat the cleanup is protective of> human health and the environment. > > The= Florida Department of Environmental Protection will review the> reports, t= he investigations, and proposed cleanup remedies for the base.> > > In Octo= ber 1985, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted sediment> sampling t= hroughout St. Andrew Bay, including Fred Bayou - also known as> Shoal Point= , which is used as a waterway for barges and small ships to> deliver produc= ts and building supplies. > > Analyses identified the presence of DDT and i= ts metabolites, which were> detected at levels higher than were found in sa= mples collected from any> other locations in the bay. > > The Order describ= es the steps the Air Force must take and the time> frames in which to compl= ete those steps, from initiation of an> investigation to actual cleanup mea= sures. > > In addition to the technical work, the Order requires that the A= ir Force> develop a community relations plan to involve the surrounding com= munity> in the cleanup process. > > The Air Force began its Installation Re= storation Program, IRP, at the> base in 1981. Presently, the program consis= ts of 37 IRP sites with 13> active sites - five of which are being investig= ated under the states> petroleum program. > > The majority of investigation= work at the installation was completed by> 2006 and cleanup is scheduled t= o be in place by 2008-2009. Selected> remediation implementation, monitorin= g and land use restrictions will> continue beyond this date. > > The goal i= s to have all response actions other than long term operation> or monitorin= g completed by 2014. > > The EPA says technical challenges at this site inc= lude groundwater level> changes from drought and flooding; technology appli= cations adjustments> and controlling contaminant migration during dredging.= > > The Tyndall is the home base for the 325th Fighter Wing, whose primary= > mission is to provide air dominance training for F-15C Eagle and F-22> Ra= ptor pilots and maintenance personnel and air battle managers to> support t= he combat Air Force. > > Extreme Rainstorms a New Texas Trend> DALLAS, Texa= s, December 4, 2007 (ENS) - During the past 60 years,Texas> has experienced= extreme downpours much more frequently than before 1948,> according to a n= ew report by the nonprofit Environment Texas. These> findings are consisten= t with the predicted impacts of global warming,> the group says. > > "Scien= tists expect some parts of the United States to receive more> precipitation= as a result of global warming, while other parts receive> less. But regard= less of the trend in total precipitation, scientists> predict that the rain= and snow that does fall will be more likely to> come in big downpours and = heavy snowstorms," the group says. > > Storms with heavy rainfall are now 2= 8 percent more frequent in Texas> than they were 60 years ago, the report f= ound. And in the Dallas-Fort> Worth area, storms with extreme precipitation= increased in frequency by> 42 percent from 1948 to 2006. > > "At the rate = we*re going, what was once the storm of the decade will> soon seem like jus= t another downpour," said Luke Metzger, director of> Environment Texas. > >= Metzger pointed to the rainstorms that hit Texas in the summer as an> illu= stration of what more extreme rainstorms could mean for the region.> Flash = floods and high water killed 59 people in Texas this summer and> caused mil= lions of dollars in damages to roads and buildings. > > "More frequent down= pours, fueled by global warming, will leave Texas> even more vulnerable to = dangerous flooding in years to come," said> Metzger.> > > Workers clear deb= ris from a creek in Marble Falls, Texas and replace a> broken water line af= ter record rainfall of 19 inches in one night. July> 2, 2007 (Photo by Bob = McMillan courtesy FEMA) The new Environment Texas> report, "When it Rains, = It Pours: Global Warming and the Rising> Frequency of Extreme Precipitation= in the United States," examines> trends in the frequency of large rain and= snow events across the> continental United States from 1948 to 2006. > > U= sing data from 3,000 weather stations and a methodology originally> develop= ed by scientists at the National Climatic Data Center and the> Illinois Sta= te Water Survey, the report identifies storms with the> greatest 24-hour pr= ecipitation totals at each weather station, and> analyzes when those storms= occurred. > > Nationally, the report shows that storms with extreme precip= itation have> increased in frequency by 24 percent across the continental U= nited> States since 1948. > > At the state level, 40 states show a signific= ant trend toward more> frequent storms with extreme precipitation, while on= ly one state,> Oregon, shows a significant decline. > > Dr. Radha Krishnan,= an assistant professor at University of> Texas-Dallas, said, "A vast major= ity of the climate scientists believe> that carbon dioxide accumulation in = the atmosphere due to human> activities is causing irrevocable changes to t= he Earth's climate. If we> reduce our energy consumption and therefore the = release of CO2, we can> begin to turn around the global warming that has be= en occurring since> the last century." > > CO2, or carbon dioxide, is emitt= ed when coal, oil and gas are burned.> It acts as a greenhouse, forming a l= ayer in the atmosphere, trapping the> Sun's heat close to the planet, and r= aising the planetary temperature. > > "Given the now overwhelming evidence = for the reality of global warming> and the growing clarity of what is at st= ake for humanity and for all> life on this planet if we still refuse to add= ress the threat facing us,> the time for action to be taken to prevent the = worse consequences from> climate change from happening is now," said Gary S= tuard, executive> director of the Interfaith Environmental Alliance. > > "P= eople of faith from the various religious traditions in Texas and> around t= he world are calling upon ALL clergy and lay women and men,> politicians, a= nd business leaders to take on the moral leadership to> courageously and se= lflessly address this pressing crisis," said Stuard.> > > Metzger was caref= ul to note that an increase in the frequency of extreme> rainstorms does no= t mean more water will be available in arid Texas.> Scientists expect that,= as global warming intensifies, longer periods of> relative dryness will ma= rk the periods between extreme rainstorms,> increasing the risk of drought.= > > "How serious this problem gets is largely within our control," said> M= etzger, "but only if our country acts boldly to reduce the pollution> that = fuels global warming." > > Battelle Energy Alliance Cited for Nuclear Safet= y Violations WASHINGTON,> DC, December 4, 2007 (ENS) - The U.S. Department = of Energy, DOE, Monday> notified Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC that it will= fine the company> $123,750 for violations of the department*s nuclear safe= ty requirements.> > > Battelle Energy Alliance is the DOE Idaho Operations = Office prime> contractor for the operation of the Neutron Radiography, NRAD= , reactor> at the Idaho National Laboratory. > > The Neutron Radiography Re= actor is used to examine irradiated materials.> The imaging technique utili= zes thermal neutrons and is used for quality> control in industries which r= equire precision machining. > > The Preliminary Notice of Violation issued = by the Energy Department> cited a series of violations that occurred on Aug= ust 20, 2006 during the> restart and subsequent automatic unplanned shutdow= n of the NRAD reactor.> > > Violations include failures to adhere to techni= cal safety requirements> and reactor operating instructions, inadequacies i= n the reactor> operating instructions, failure to correct known problems wi= th a reactor> component, and failure to adequately conduct management asses= sments in> reactor operations. > > In a letter dated December 3 to Battelle= President and Laboratory> Director John Grossenbacher, the DOE official in= charge of the Office of> Enforcement and the Office of Health, Safety and = Security says the> agency is "concerned with the lack of formality with whi= ch the NRAD> reactor was operated on August 20, 2006, and the extended dura= tion of> this condition prior to the unplanned shutdown of the reactor." > = > While recognizing that the NRAD reactor "performed as designed when a> lo= w-voltage condition was detected, and that reactor safety systems were> not= compromised," Director Arnold Guevara expressed concern about the> "lack o= f formality in reactor operations." > > The federal agency faulted Battelle= personnel, including the reactor> supervisor, for not applying some "funda= mental aspects of reactor> operations, such as logkeeping, effective commun= ication, alarm response,> and troubleshooting and maintenance." > > "Of par= ticular concern was the unauthorized manipulation that reactor> personnel p= erformed on the flux regulator, which plays an important role> in controlli= ng reactor power when the reactor is placed in the automatic> mode of opera= tion," the DOE said.. > > "Although this condition existed for several year= s, Battelle Energy> Alliance failed to appropriately address the problem in= the 18-month> interval since assuming responsibilities as the prime contra= ctor in> February 2005 and the occurrence of this event in August 2006," th= e DOE> said in its letter. > > The proposed civil penalty of $123,750 is ba= sed on the significance of> the violations yet reflects substantial mitigat= ion granted by DOE for> Battelle's identification of the issues and correct= ive actions they have> taken to prevent recurrence of the identified defici= encies. > > Battelle Energy Alliance will have 30 days to respond with any>= objections to the notice. > > > __________________________________________= _____> ifc mailing list> [EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://intranet.dnr.sc.go= v/mailman/listinfo/ifc _________________________________________________________________ Connect and share in new ways with Windows Live. http://www.windowslive.com/connect.html?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_Wave2_newways_1120= 07=
