And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: ************************************************************************** Send News Tips and Story Leads to [EMAIL PROTECTED] *************************************************************************** FUSS OVER ESTROGEN-MIMICKING CHEMICAL IN PLASTIC BABY BOTTLES WASHINGTON, DC, May 13, 1999 (ENS) - A little known chemical used in clear plastic baby bottles is shaking up consumer, health and environmental groups. A new study from Japan and recent re-analysis of previous government and industry studies show that the chemical, bisphenol-A, may be leaching out of clear plastic baby bottles made of polycarbonate plastic. Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 1999 For full text and graphics visit: http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may99/1999L-05-13-01.html *************************************************************************** AmeriScan: May 13, 1999 http://ens.lycos.com/ens/may99/1999L-05-13-09.html TOXIC RELEASE ANNUAL REPORT RANKS TEXAS 1ST, LOUISIANA 2ND Texas facilities continue to lead the nation with more than 260 million pounds in total releases in 1997 and Louisiana again ranks second with 186 million pounds, according to the latest Toxic Release Inventory released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) today. "This annual report was created to provide American families the information they need to make informed decisions about environmental issues affecting their neighborhoods. It has also served as an impetus for industries to reduce their chemical releases," EPA regional administrator Gregg Cooke said. The 14 percent reduction in total releases reported by Texas facilities did not affect the state's first-place ranking for total releases. The state led the nation in several categories of toxic releases: more than 240 million pounds of on-site releases, nearly 109 million pounds of on-site air emissions, and nearly 90 million pounds injected underground. In Louisiana toxic releases continue to increase. Facilities reported an almost five percent increase in total releases since 1995. While air emissions have been reduced, surface water discharges have increased. Louisiana leads the nation with 46.9 million pounds of toxic chemicals discharged to surface water in 1997. The state also ranks second in underground injection of toxic substances with nearly 55 million pounds. In Arkansas, concerns were raised as a 58 percent increase in reported releases vaulted the state from 24th to 16th in the national rankings. * * * NEEDED: AN INTEGRATED OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM The National Ocean Research Leadership Council has released a report to Congress calling for an integrated ocean observing system that would routinely gather ocean information similar to the information gathered for atmospheric weather forecasting. The Council consists of officials from 12 federal ocean agencies. An integrated ocean observing system would move ocean observations from a research focused activity towards an operational system. The report, "Toward a U.S. Plan for an Integrated, Sustained Ocean Observing System," calls for sustaining existing ocean observations, integrating new and existing observations, and adapting this system to meet evolving needs. It also calls for funding of these activities, organizing and managing them, and building private/public sector partnerships. The report addresses major national needs, such as detecting and forecasting the ocean's role in climate, facilitating safe and efficient marine operations, ensuring healthy and restored degraded marine ecosystems, mitigating natural hazards, and ensuring public health. Rear Adm. Paul G. Gaffney II, chief of naval research said, "We have some of the most comprehensive ocean and atmospheric data sets in the world today; however, we continue to need even more sophisticated and timely ocean data to ensure safe operations and to optimize performance." James Watkins, Admiral, U.S. Navy (Retired) and president of CORE, released a letter, signed by 1,800 individuals from a diverse and expansive ocean community, to the Congress and administration. The letter demonstrates that the oceanographic community is committed to implementing an integrated ocean observing system. CORE is the D.C. based organization that represents 59 academic institutions, aquaria, non-profit research institutes and federal research laboratories in the common goal of promoting the visibility and effectiveness of U.S. ocean research and education. * * * POLL SHOWS AMERICANS WANT CONTROLS ON FACTORY FARMS A nationwide poll of 1,000 registered voters indicates that the American public views animal factories unfavorably. Animal factories are agricultural production facilities that mass produce thousands of hogs, chickens and cattle in warehouse-sized buildings. The survey, conducted by Lake Snell Perry & Associates, finds that 66 percent of voters are likely to vote for a political candidate who will enforce regulations on pollution from animal factories.top concerns of voters include: unhealthy drugs and chemicals in our food; air, water and soil pollution from animal factory waste; the frequency and volume of small family farmers driven out of business by animal factories; and the abuse and inhumane treatment of animals. "We are very pleased that voters understand that animal factories harm our food, the environment, family farmers and the animals they raise," said Merritt Frey, feedlot campaign coordinator for the Clean Water Network. "It is clear that voters recognize that animal factories deteriorate quality of life for everyone. Independent family farmers can produce livestock in a way that can be more humane, produce healthier foods, better protect the environment, and promote more rural economic growth." Eighty percent of voters polled favor the creation of uniform, national standards to limit air and water pollution from animal factories. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Congress are all proposing tougher standards for the animal factory industry. * * * FLORIDA OFFERS CONSERVE WILDLIFE LICENSE PLATE On Monday, Florida drivers will be able to protect imperiled Florida wildlife by purchasing a new Conserve Wildlife specialty license plate featuring the state-threatened Florida black bear. The new plate is supported by Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Sierra Club, Florida Game & Fresh Water Fish Commission, and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida. Revenues from the $15 fee for the optional plate will boost funding for wildlife research, habitat management, environmental education and law enforcement programs undertaken by the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. The Habitat for Bears Campaign, a statewide citizen effort by Defenders of Wildlife and the Florida Chapter of the Sierra Club, initiated a two-year effort to gain approval for the specialty tag which included collecting more than 15,000 petition signatures, and raising a $30,000 application fee. Working with the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, the Campaign produced a statewide marketing plan and gained legislative approval for the specialty plate. Primary threats to the bear include loss and fragmentation of remaining habitat by increasing development and road construction. * * * FURNISH NAMED NEW FOREST SERVICE DEPUTY CHIEF Forest Service chief Mike Dombeck Wednesday announced that James Furnish has been selected as deputy chief, National Forest System. As deputy chief, Furnish is responsible for all forest interests to ensure the sustainability of National Forest System lands. The Forest Service is charged with the management of 192 million acres of publicly-owned forests and grasslands. Dombeck said, "Jim has the leadership skills and natural resource experience to meet the challenges facing the Forest Service. He is an out of the box thinker known for his creativity and can make the tough decisions required to maintain healthy, diverse, and productive lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations." Furnish, 53, an Iowa native, has 31 years of experience with the Forest Service. He is a 1968 graduate of Iowa State University with a B.S. degree in forest management. He has been forest supervisor of the Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon. Furnish was appeal coordinator, Forest Service Headquarters in Washington, DC from 1989 to 1991, staff officer in the San Juan National Forest 1984 to 1989 and district ranger, Bighorn National Forest from 1977 to 1984. * * * GEESE OVERGRAZING THE ARCTIC Annual winter population counts of mid-continent light geese show the population has more than tripled in the past 30 years, from 800,000 birds in 1969 to about 2.8 million today. Scientists believe the spring breeding population may be as high as 4.5 million. The spring population of greater snow geese has expanded from less than 50,000 birds in the late 1960s to 700,000 today. Growing at nine percent a year, the population could reach one million by 2002 and two million by 2010. The fragile Canadian arctic, with its short growing season, cannot support populations of that size, wildlife scientists say. Large areas of the breeding grounds around Hudson Bay have been cleared of all vegetation by grazing geese. Scientists believe this contributes to the decline of other migratory birds that share the breeding grounds and winter in the U.S. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said today that it will evaluate a range of ways to reduce the numbers of geese. The Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a long-term management strategy for lesser snow and Ross' geese, as well as the greater snow goose population. Public scoping meetings will be held in states with snow and Ross' goose migration and wintering habitat. The location, date and time of those meetings is to be announced. Legalization of additional hunting methods such as electronic calls, unplugged shotguns and expanded shooting hours are being considered along with trapping and culling programs. * * * NEW HAMPSHIRE'S VOTE AGAINST WOLVES CALLED HYSTERICAL The Washington based conservation group Defenders of Wildlife denounced the New Hampshire Senate today for voting last week to prohibit wolf reintroduction in the Live Free or Die state, and cutting off any further discussion of the issue. Reacting to last year’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) announcement of a plan to study potential wolf restoration in the northeast’s Great North Woods, the state Senate voted 14 to nine to allow for natural recovery, but ban any human assistance in returning wolves to New Hampshire. Superstitions about wolves are persistent, said Defenders’s associate director of species conservation Nina Fascione. "When a group of legislators pushes through a bill prohibiting species restoration before anyone even conducts a feasibility study, we are obviously dealing with some deep-rooted fears and misconceptions that need to be addressed," she said. FWS has not formally proposed wolf reintroduction for New England but made a preliminary announcement that it may look into the potential for wolf recovery there. FWS is expected to release a Federal Register notice in June discussing wolf reclassification and future recovery plans throughout the country. If the federal government should decide to reintroduce wolves in New Hampshire, the federal law could legally supersede the state law. Maine and New York contain the core of potential wolf habitat; New Hampshire is on the periphery. * * * CLEANUP AGREED FOR MASSACHUSETTS MILITARY RESERVATION The U.S. EPA has signed an agreement with the U.S. Air Force Center for Environmental Excellence for cleanup of contaminated surface soil at the former sewage treatment plant at the Massachusetts Military Reservation (MMR) on Cape Cod. The Superfund Cleanup plan Record of Decision was signed May 5 by EPA and the Air Force, with concurrence from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. The estimated $2.4 million agreement calls for excavating about 9,788 cubic yards of contaminated surface soil. Excavated soil that exceeds federal or state cleanup levels will be sent to a licensed off-site disposal facility. The remainder will be treated on site through a process called "asphalt batching." "Cleaning the soil around the demolished sewage treatment plant brings us another step closer to the environmental restoration of MMR," said John DeVillars, EPA's New England administrator. "This plan for excavation is the first of four Superfund cleanup plans we expect to approve this year for soil cleanup at the military base." The EPA will work with the Air Force to make sure that all health and safety measures, particularly air quality monitoring, are properly done during the excavation and treatment to protect base residents, workers and neighbors from contaminants. Soil that was treated at an asphalt batching plant on site was used as subgrade material for about 4.5 miles of roadways at MMR. That asphalt batching plant was dismantled. The Air Force will chose a new site and start-up date for an asphalt batching plant during the next phase of the project. The public will be kept informed during the design and construction phase through project updates and community meetings. * * * SEATTLE PARENTS PETITION, DON'T SPRAY OUR SCHOOLS Over 150 individuals and organizations signed a letter delivered to Seattle Public Schools superintendent Joseph Olchefske Friday, asking the school district to stop using pesticides that harm children's health and salmon. "Schools are no place for poisons," said Elizabeth Loudon, pesticide reform campaigner for the Washington Toxics Coalition. "The Seattle School District uses pesticides that can cause cancer and nervous system damage and can harm salmon. We are asking them to stop unnecessary spraying and where it is needed, to use least-toxic control." The letter was signed by 18 environmental, parent, and health groups. It called on the school district to end to the use of pesticides that cause cancer, nervous system damage, or disruption of the endocrine system, or are highly acutely toxic and to notify all parents and staff in writing at least 48 hours before pesticide applications. The Toxics Coalition and the PTA have been working with the Seattle School District since August 1998 to develop a pesticide policy. Progress has stalled because the district refused to include key provisions that environmental, parent, and health groups want. Pesticide industry representatives are lobbying for a weak policy, and are opposed to requirements for pesticide use reduction and least-toxic controls. "I've lost faith in the process," said Gail Gatton, the Seattle PTA representative to the committee and parent of two children in the district. 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