The proposed coal strip mine project by PacRim LP would mine through 11 miles of active salmon streams in Alaska’s Chuitna River. It is hard to believe but there is NO law that bans mining through a salmon stream. To date, no permit allowing mining operations to mine through and destroy a salmon stream has even been issued by the Alaska Department of Natural Resources. Such a permit would set a precedent. Planet Check uncovers the threat to the one of the last bastions of wild, sustainable salmon. Mo sits down with Cook Inlet Keeper’s Communication Director, Michael Sharp in Homer, Alaska. (Interview Part 1)

GOOD NEWS!

As predicted earlier today, the US EPA has come forward with final standards designed to slash mercury and other toxic emissions from cement plants.

Details are available on EPA’s website here http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html

We are still going through all the details, but generally this is an extremely positive step towards cleaner air, taken despite scare-mongering by the cement lobby.

The rule will eliminate more than 8 tons (more than 16,000 pounds) of toxic mercury as well as make steep reductions in particulate soot, hydrocarbons, sulfur dioxide and toxic gases from cement plants.

We encourage the cement industry to spend more money on cleanup – and less on lobbying.

Support family farmers and catch an amazing day of music, good food and family farmers. Get the best seats through their members-only ticket pre-sale on FarmAid.org starting this Friday, August 6, at 10am CDT/11am EDT.

LISTEN to NEIL YOUNG speak about the plight of the American Farmer
PC_Neil_Young

We are receiving reports that Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) is circulating a “dear colleague” letter which reportedly would interfere with the EPA’s ongoing effort to set a tougher national smog standard.

You will recall that his Ohio colleague, Rep. Steve LaTourette, recently tried through a spending bill rider to block the EPA from setting a new smog standard.

It is unfortunate to think that Ohio could be the origin of such dirty-air pool.

Those of you who have been around awhile may recall that Senator Voinovich tried more than a decade ago to block EPA setting a tougher smog standard. In fact, he railed against tougher standards in his previous job as governor.

Just when you thought that the oil spill dramas couldn’t possibly get worse… Last week there was a massive oil spill in China. A pipeline exploded resulting in an estimated 48,000 gallons of crude spreading over a 165 square mile stretch of the Yellow Sea near the northeastern city of Dalian, one of China’s major ports and strategic oil reserve sites. The explosions at an oil terminal near Dalian set off a fire that raged for 15 hours and took 2,000 firefighters to extinguish.

Officials announced today that the clean-up has concluded and the spill had been contained before any of the oil could reach international waters. The clean-up consisted of spraying oil-dispersant chemicals, planting oil-consuming bacteria and scooping up the thickest part of the oil into plastic barrels. Many of the beaches along Dalian’s long shoreline have been closed indefinitely after winds washed the oil toward land last week. The thick, sticky black substance covered rocks and pebbles on the land, and thin patches of oil could be seen in the water. Fishing in the waters around Dalian has been banned through the end of August. There were no casualties in the explosion and ensuing fire, though one firefighter drowned after being swept from a boat by a wave.

The Obama Administration today issued new suspensions on deepwater drilling on the OCS that will last until Nov 30, 2010.

Last week a federal appeals court rejected the federal government’s effort to impose an offshore deepwater drilling moratorium, opening the door to resumed drilling in the Gulf while the legal fight continues. Today, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) to issue new suspensions of deepwater drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), saying a pause is needed to ensure that oil and gas companies first implement adequate safety measures to reduce the risks associated with deepwater drilling operations and are prepared for blowouts and oil spills.

Those of you in the DC area know it’s been a very tough month for breathers. We’ve already had 9 “code orange” days for ozone, commonly known as smog, in June. http://air.mwcog.org/

But some relief may be on the way.

The US EPA is expected soon to unveil its proposed plan to reduce dangerous power plant emissions that cross state lines.

The proposed “transport rule” has been under review by the White House Office of Management and Budget for more than two months. We hope the official proposal will be made pubic before the 4th of July.

There is a bit of background here:

http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201004&RIN=2060-AP50

This will be one of the most significant steps EPA can take to clean up the air and improve public health. This cleanup plan could literally prevent thousands of premature deaths each year and make it possible for tens of millions of others to breathe easier. We will be looking closely at the proposal’s details.
www.cleanairwatch.org.

Please let me know if you need more.

–Frank O’Donnell
Clean Air Watch
www.cleanairwatch.org