 Stories from July 24, 2008
In Brief
Snippets from the news
• Voluntary programs to cut greenhouse-gas emissions not working, says watchdog.• Judge allows some haying and grazing on conservation land.• California requires ships to cut pollution.• Brooks introduces running shoe with biodegradable midsole.• Motor fuel made from waste gets running.• E.U. says level of BPA in baby bottles poses no risk.• Big Ag defends ethanol.
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
The Powers of Darkwoods
Canada protects B.C. caribou habitat
A giant tract of land in southeastern British Columbia will become protected habitat, the Canadian government and Nature Conservancy Canada announced Thursday. The so-called Darkwoods area, purchased from a private forester, adds up to 550 square kilometers of mountains, valleys, and wetlands (that's 212 square miles, for metric-system hatas). The area is home to endangered mountain caribou, grizzly bears, bull trout, red-tailed chipmunks, and 100,000 migratory birds of 265 different species. The Canadian government and the Nature Conservancy Canada jointly paid $125 million to both purchase the land and pay into an endowment fund to ensure the area continues to be protected in the future. "Darkwoods is a conservation initiative of global significance," says the Nature Conservancy's John Lounds. "It's part of a greater vision that will set new standards for conservation success."
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
West Foot Forward
Western states unveil draft cap-and-trade scheme
The Western Climate Initiative has unveiled a draft proposal for a regional cap-and-trade program that would kick off in 2012. The 11 states and provinces involved -- Arizona, British Columbia, California, Manitoba, Montana, New Mexico, Ontario, Oregon, Quebec, Utah, and Washington -- would impose an as-yet-determined greenhouse-gas emissions limit on industries and utilities, then allow laggards to purchase carbon credits from those that cleaned up their acts. States and provinces would decide individually whether to freely hand out credits or to auction them. Reactions to the draft proposal were mixed; industries craved more detail, while environmentalists expressed concern that companies would be allowed to offset up to 10 percent of their emissions and that transportation and heating fuels would not be regulated until 2015. After a period of public comment, the final proposal is due in September; state and provincial governments will have to OK the plans before they become official.
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
Who Needs a Microwave?
Your granite countertop may emit radon and radiation
Heads up, yuppies: Must-have granite countertops may emit worrisome levels of radon and radiation. While granite is known to contain radioactive uranium, which emits radon gas as it decays, the vast majority of countertops emit far less radiation than what we're constantly exposed to from outer space and the earth's crust. But as demand for granite countertops soars and vendors expand their selection -- some now stock hundreds of types of the rock from dozens of countries -- a small number of countertops have been found to emit radiation at a level that could conceivably pose a health risk. "It's not that all granite is dangerous," says one radon measurement and mitigation technician. "But I've seen a few that might heat up your Cheerios a little." You're more likely to be struck by lightning than to get cancer from your countertop, says radiation expert David J. Brenner; but, he adds, "If you can choose another counter that doesn't elevate your risk, however slightly, why wouldn't you?"
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
U.S. Geological Survey Says ...
Arctic holds vast untapped oil and gas reserves
The Arctic Ocean holds up to 20 percent of the world's undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and gas reserves, according to new research from the U.S. Geological Survey. A four-year study found that the region contains up to 90 billion barrels of oil and almost a third of the world's undiscovered natural gas -- about 1,670 trillion cubic feet. However, even with climate change improving drilling conditions in the Arctic (i.e., melting more and more of that pesky ice), it will be decades before the oil and gas there could be developed. While environmentalists and others want to try to limit the impacts of Arctic drilling before it happens, the USGS characterized the oil and gas survey as a precursor to such protections. "Before we can make decisions about our future use of oil and gas and related decisions about protecting endangered species, native communities, and the health of our planet, we need to know what's out there," said USGS Director Mark Myers. So now that we know, where are those protections already?
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
Be a Dolly and Cancel My Trip, Will You?
Hurricane Dolly cancels McCain's trip to offshore oil rig
John McCain had planned to visit an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico on Thursday to tout offshore drilling and the industry's environmental friendliness, but Hurricane Dolly canceled his plans. Dolly hit land in Texas Wednesday as a Category 2 storm, cutting oil and gas production by some 5 to 8 percent overall. McCain and other Republicans have been pushing to allow more offshore drilling in U.S. waters, and emphasizing the environmental safety of offshore drilling is one part of the strategy. In a recent speech, McCain said, "As for offshore drilling, it's safe enough these days that not even Hurricanes Katrina and Rita could cause significant spillage from the battered rigs off the coasts of New Orleans and Houston." Which, it turns out, isn't actually true. According to government figures, storms in 2005 caused 146 small spills in federal waters, and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita completely destroyed 113 oil rigs and damaged 457 pipelines; the resulting oil spills were large enough to be seen from space. (But apparently not from campaign headquarters.)
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2008, Grist Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved
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