Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 21-27, 2009
Lightning Safety Awareness Week
The Nation will celebrate its eighth annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, June 21-27, 2009.
NOAA states that summer is the peak season for one of the nation’s deadliest weather phenomena lightning. But don’t be fooled, lightning strikes yearround. The goal of their Website is to safeguard U.S. residents from lightning. In the United States, an average of 62 people are killed each year by lightning
To find out more visit: Lightning Safety Awareness Week
Texas town ties gas drilling to earthquakes
Spat of seismic activity since June 2 has rural community concerned.
CLEBURNE, Texas — The earth moved here on June 2. It was the first recorded earthquake in this Texas town’s 140-year history — but not the last.
There have been four small earthquakes since, none with a magnitude greater than 2.8. The most recent ones came Tuesday night, just as the City Council was meeting in an emergency session to discuss what to do about the ground moving.
At issue is a drilling practice called “fracking,” in which water is injected into the ground at high pressure to fracture the layers of shale and release natural gas trapped in the rock.
Read More
http://www.timesleader.com/news/Texas_town_ties_gas_drilling_to_earthquakes_06-13-2009.html#
EPA Offers Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
Contact: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, smith.bonnie@epa.gov
EPA Offers Tips to Save Energy and Fight Climate Change this Summer
PHILADELPHIA (June 4, 2009) – – With summer and the high costs of cooling right around the corner, EPA is offering advice to help Americans reduce both energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions by one-third through Energy Star. The energy used in an average home costs more than $2,200 a year and contributes more greenhouse gas emissions than a typical car.
“A few simple changes will help create real reductions in high summer electric bills and provide a hefty cut in greenhouse gas emissions in the bargain,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “It’s important that we all do our part to confront climate change, especially when it can help save money during these challenging economic times.”
Here are some tips to save energy and help protect the environment at home and at work:
- Set your programmable thermostat to save while you are away or asleep. Using it properly can save up to $180 per year in energy costs.
- Run ceiling fans in a clockwise direction to create a wind-chill effect that will make you “feel” cooler. Remember that ceiling fans cool people, not rooms — so turn them off when you leave the room.
- Inspect your duct system for obvious signs of leaks and disconnections — most houses leak 20 percent or more. Seal any leaks with foil tape or a special sealant called “duct mastic.” Also, consider insulating ducts in attics, basements and crawlspaces.
- Seal air leaks around your home to keep the heat out and the cool air in. The biggest air leaks are usually found in the attic or basement, but also come in around doors, windows, vents, pipes and electrical outlets. Use caulk, spray foam or weather stripping to seal the leaks. And add more insulation to keep your home cooler this summer.
- Maintain your cooling system. Check your system’s air filter every month at a minimum and change the filter every three months. Remove leaves, dirt and other debris from around the outdoor components to improve air flow and efficiency. Have a qualified professional tune-up your system with a pre-season maintenance checkup and, if it’s time to replace your old system, look for models that have earned EPA’s Energy Star.
- Turn off lights and equipment when not in use so they don’t generate unnecessary heat.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs in your desk lamp with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs which use two-thirds less energy and generate less heat than conventional bulbs.
More tips on to how to save energy at home: http://www.energystar.gov
More tips on how to save energy at work: http://www.energystar.gov/bizcooling
USGS Release: Significant Gas Resource Discovered in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
This release can be found in the USGS Newsroom at: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2227.
May 29, 2009
Brenda Pierce 703-648-6421 bpierce@usgs.gov
Timothy Collett 720-936-2372 tcollett@usgs.gov
Clarice Ransom 703-648-4399 cransom@usgs.gov
Significant Gas Resource Discovered in U.S. Gulf of Mexico
The U.S. Gulf of Mexico contains very thick and concentrated gas-hydrate-bearing reservoir rocks which have the potential to produce gas using current technology.
Recent drilling by a government and industry consortium confirm that the Gulf of Mexico is the first offshore area in the United States with enough information to identify gas hydrate energy resource targets with potential for gas production.
Gas hydrate, a substance comprised of natural gas and water, is thought to exist in great abundance in nature and has the potential to be a significant new energy source to meet future energy needs. However, prior to this expedition, there was little documentation that gas hydrate occurred in resource-quality accumulations in the marine environment.
“This is an exciting discovery because for the first time in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, we were able to predict hydrate accumulations before drilling, and we discovered thick, gas hydrate-saturated sands that actually represent energy targets,” said U.S. Geological Survey Energy Program Coordinator Brenda Pierce. Read more
FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED
FAMILY FISHING PROGRAM TO BE OFFERED AT CARBON COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AND MAUCH CHUNK LAKE PARK
Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Carbon County Environmental Education Center (CCEEC) and the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will be conducting a Family Fishing Program on Sunday, June 7th from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
The program is designed for families wanting to learn more about fishing. Information and instruction will be provided on Pennsylvania fishes, basic fishing skills, regulations and safety. There is no fee and no fishing license is required. All equipment and bait will be provided.
The program will begin with an indoor portion at Carbon County Environmental Education Center. Participants will then get the opportunity to put their new fishing skills to use at Mauch Chunk Lake.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and all should dress appropriately for the outdoors. Participants can register by contacting the CCEEC at 570-645-8597 or CCEEC@ptd.net .
LAUTENBERG: SENATE PANEL PASSES BILL GIVING NEW JERSEY GREATER SHARE OF WATER FUNDING
By Michael Pagan
May 15, 2009
LAUTENBERG: SENATE PANEL PASSES BILL GIVING NEW JERSEY GREATER SHARE OF WATER FUNDING
N.J. Sen. Fought for Federal Funds for Garden State; With New Formulas, N.J. would receive $109 million under Obama FY2010 Budget
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation to increase New Jersey’s share of funding for wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities. The new formulas, coupled with increased funding under President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget, would give New Jersey $109 million next year. That would represent an increase of $81 million in funds from last year. Read More.
Growth of Renewables Transforms Global Energy Picture
http://stanford.wellsphere.com/green-living-article/growth-of-renewables-transforms-global-energy-picture/671595
Growth of Renewables Transforms Global Energy Picture
Posted May 13 2009 10:35pm
In 2008 for the first time, more renewable energy than conventional power capacity was added in both the European Union and United States, showing a “fundamental transition” of the world’s energy markets towards renewable energy, finds a report released today by REN21, a global renewable energy policy network based in Paris.
Global power capacity from new renewable energy sources in 2008 was up 16 percent over the world’s 2007 capacity from new renewable sources, the REN21 Renewables Global Status Report shows.
“This fourth edition of REN21’s renewable energy report comes in the midst of an historic and global economic crisis,” says Mohamed El-Ashry, chairman of REN21.
“Although the future is unclear, there is much in the report for optimism,” said El-Ashry, an Egyptian national who from 1991 to 2003 served as the first CEO of the Global Environment Facility, which provides grants to developing countries for environmental projects.
Today, at least 73 countries have renewable energy policy targets, up from 66 at the end of 2007. At least 64 countries now have some type of policy to promote renewable power generation.
Companies are devoting an increasing amount of capital to renewables. By August 2008, at least 160 publicly traded renewable energy companies worldwide had a market capitalization greater than $100 million, the report shows.
Globally in 2008, solar heating capacity increased by 15 percent, while biodiesel and ethanol production both increased by 34 percent.
China’s total wind power capacity doubled in 2008 for the fifth year running, and developing countries, particularly China and India, are increasingly playing major roles in both the manufacture and installation of renewable energy, the report shows.
“The recent growth of the sector has surpassed all predictions, even those made by the industry itself,” says El-Ashry. He attributed much of this growth to more favorable policies amidst increasing concerns about climate change and energy security.
In 2008, renewable energy resisted the credit crunch more successfully than many other sectors for much of the year and new investment reached $120 billion, up 16 percent over 2007. However, by the end of the year, the impact of the crisis was beginning to show.
In his remarks accompanying release of the REN21 report, El-Ashry stressed that “now is not the time to relax policies that support a global, expanding renewable energy sector.”
“By maintaining and expanding these policies, governments, industry and society will reap substantial economic and environmental rewards when the economic rebound requires energy markets to meet rapidly increasing demand,” he advised.
The report notes that in response to the financial crisis, several governments have directed economic stimulus funding towards the new green jobs the renewable energy sector can provide, including the U.S. package that will invest $150 billion over 10 years in renewable energy.
Global wind power capacity grew by 29 percent in 2008 to reach 121 gigawatts, or more than double the capacity in place at the end of 2005.
Grid-connected solar photovoltaic power continued to be the fastest growing power generation technology, with a 70 percent increase in existing capacity to reach 13 gigawatts.
Spain became the solar photovoltaic market leader, with 2.6 gigawatts of new grid-tied installations. The concentrating solar power industry saw many new entrants and new manufacturing facilities in 2008.
Solar hot water in Germany set record growth in 2008, with over 200,000 systems installed.
India emerged in 2008 as a major producer of solar photovoltaics, with new policies leading to $18 billion in new manufacturing investment plans or proposals.
Geothermal power capacity surpassed 10 gigawatts in 2008, led by the United States. Direct geothermal energy delivered by ground source heat pumps is now used in at least 76 countries.
Among the many new renewable energy targets set in 2008, Australia targeted 45 terawatt-hours of electricity by 2020.
Brazil’s energy plan sought to slightly increase through 2030 its existing share of primary energy from renewable energy (46 percent in 2007), and its electricity share (87 percent in 2007).
India increased its target to 14 gigawatts of new renewables capacity by 2012.
Japan set new targets for 14 gigawatts of solar photovoltaic capacity by 2020 and 53 gigawatts by 2030.
The EU formally adopted its target to reach a 20 percent share of renewable energy in final consumption by 2020, setting also country-specific targets for all member states.
Feed-in tariffs were adopted at the national level in at least five countries for the first time in 2008 and early 2009, including Kenya, the Philippines, Poland, South Africa, and Ukraine.
The report also shows that several hundred cities and local governments around the world are planning or implementing renewable energy policies and planning frameworks linked to carbon dioxide emissions reduction.
Help Raise the Voice for Environmental Education
The No Child Left Inside Act–a critical bill for getting environmental education back in America’s classrooms–has just been re-introduced in this year’s Congress.
By speaking up for environmental education, tens of thousands of National Wildlife Federation supporters like you helped the No Child Left Inside Act pass in last year’s U.S. House of Representatives.
Now it’s time to start setting the foundation to ensure this bill passes in both chambers of the new Congress.
Before the bill can even come to a vote, it needs supporters—senators and representatives who are committed to funding environmental education programs for our kids. And that’s where you come in.
Please ask your members of Congress to support the No Child Left Inside Act and become champions for environmental education.
Remind your senators and representatives that hands-on environmental education will prepare our kids to be well-equipped to understand and overcome complicated environmental challenges that face our communities, our nation and our planet.
Let your Members of congress know you’re counting on them to support the No Child Left Inside Act.
With your continued actions, we can pass this bill through the new Congress for the benefit of our children, grandchildren and the wildlife we all cherish!
Dominique Burgunder-Johnson
Online Grassroots Coordinator
National Wildlife Federation
alerts@nwf.org
Lehigh Gap Nature Center News
Lehigh Gap and our Naturalists Club are being featured in the current Audubon magazine. To see the article, go to: http://audubonmagazine.org/citizenScience/citizenscience0905.html
Lehigh Gap Nature Center
P.O. Box 198
Slatington, PA 18080
610-760-8889
www.lgnc.org
Cancer cluster Sen. Specter leads Hazleton meeting, battle plan detailed
http://www.tnonline.com/node/439799
May 4, 2009
Cancer cluster Sen. Specter leads Hazleton meeting, battle plan detailed
By DONALD R. SERFASS dserfass@tnonline.com
DONALD R. SERFASS/TIMES NEWS In announcing details of a rare cancer study Friday at Penn State University in Hazleton, Sen. Arlen Specter acknowledged the problem nationally with toxic dumps, stating “we have to respond to it as best we can.”
WEST HAZLETON – A $5.5 million grant will help launch a multipronged effort to find the cause of a rare cancer cluster impacting residents of Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.
Over 60 local residents turned out Friday afternoon to hear details and an update concerning the high incidence of polycythemia vera (PV), a rare blood disease found locally in an alarmingly high rate. The forum took place inside the Evelyn Graham Academic Building of Penn State University’s Highacres Campus near Hazleton.
The meeting was called by Sen. Arlen Specter and conducted by him on the 79-year-old senator’s first full day of work as a newly-proclaimed Democrat.
Many believe local cases of PV can be traced to contamination from McAdoo Associates, a longtime Superfund site. Specter said problems exist in other areas, too.
“We’ve had a problem nationally with toxic dumps … we have to respond to it as best we can,” said Specter, explaining that the funds would be funneled to appropriate PA state agencies, academic research institutions and health care organizations. “We’ve identified projects and have gone over them with the Department of Health.”
To outline the steps to be taken with the federal funds, Specter called on Dr. Vince Seamon, PV principal investigator with the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Speaking with Specter via speakerphone, Seamon told attendees that funds will be used for: 1) creating a tissue bank set up in the name of the late Betty Kester of Still Creek, a PV victim; 2) creating a formal community based organization to facilitate communications regarding PV and rare cancers; 3) setting up research of specific sites and location of affected residences along Ben Titus Road; 4) conducting an epidemiological study; 5) conducting a series of lab tests of patients to look for common patterns or common exposures; 6) creating an environmental exposure team to conduct appropriate studies; and 7) working with the Centers for Disease Control agencies and locally to improve the registry reporting system for PV and all cancers.
Seamon said the ATSDR plans to set up a local community meeting about PV by June.
Following the presentation by Seamon, Specter introduced Joseph Murphy of Hometown, whom he called “the champion of the citizens group” in reference to Murphy’s many years of dedication to the cause.
Murphy told Specter that precious time has been lost.
“It’s five years in the making. Five years is just too long. We need to bring a sharper magnifying glass here in a hurry,” said Murphy to Specter.
Specter then introduced Dr. Peter Baddick of West Penn Township, calling him “one of the original advocates.”
Baddick, a native of the Quakake/Still Creek area, serves as medical director of the Penn Medical Group, Weissport.
It was Baddick’s rallying cry of 5 Cs: “Covert Conspiracy Coverup of the Cancer Cluster,” that called attention to what many believe was an initial decision by the state Department of Health to deny that any problem existed.
“In 2005, the DOH conducted studies and I disagreed with several of their reports,” said Baddick, explaining that medical evidence of the cluster was apparent in the number of local resident becoming sick. “It ws difficult (for them) to hide a growing body count.”
I’d rather be correct than politically correct,” Baddick added. “We already know there’s a cancer cluster. The $5.5 million will help discover a cause and then hopefully discover a cure. It’s a cancer that’s fairly new and not very well understood.”
Another health advocate, Larry Levin, urged Specter to use the money in a way that would directly help those in need – the residents dealing with PV.
“My hope is that some of the money can be directed to helping them now,” said Levin, explaining that treatment costs can run $35,000 to $50,000.
PV patient Debbie Trently, 53, Freeland, said she’s been dealing with the illness for years and believes she’d be unable to secure necessary health care coverage. Trently also questioned Specter about the average expected life span.
In response, Dr. Paul Roda of Geisinger Health Center, said the average life span is 20 years and that many don’t require treatment until they’ve had the illness for several years.