More news from today

Tamiflu-resistant swine flu causes new worry. A cluster of four Tamiflu-resistant cases of H1N1 flu at Duke University Medical Center has raised concerns that changes in the virus may make severe infections more difficult to treat. McClatchy Newspapers. 21 November 2009.
Gene silencing predicted to improve drug manufacturing. The burgeoning science of RNA interference, touted as the next frontier in pharmaceutical treatment, is now being directed at increasing the efficiency of drug manufacturing processes. Nature. 21 November 2009.
More conflict of interest problems for NIH. The National Institutes of Health is not paying close attention to how institutions are managing potential conflicts of interest by their NIH-funded researchers, according to a report released Nov. 19 by the Inspector General of the Department of Health & Human Services. Chemical & Engineering News. 21 November 2009.
Funeral workers risk cancer from formaldehyde. Morticians who use formaldehyde to embalm bodies have a higher risk of leukemia, researchers reported on Friday. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
In cancer testing, less is now better. Worries that widespread screening for breast and cervical cancers can yield limited benefit and lead to unnecessary harm prompted decisions this week by two medical organizations to recommend less preventive testing. Wall Street Journal. 21 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
Women in 20s can go 2 years between Pap smear test. New guidelines by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say most women in their 20s can have a Pap smear every two years instead of annually to catch slow-growing cervical cancer. Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
The myth of the mammogram. Many American women are resolutely rejecting the new mammogram recommendations, despite mixed reaction in the medical community. Newsweek. 21 November 2009.
Getting to the facts in the debate on mammograms. It's such an appealing idea - catch breast cancer early, treat accordingly and your patients will live. So perhaps it's no wonder the new federal guidelines for mammograms were met with a maelstrom of impassioned reaction from doctors. Los Angeles Times, California. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Tamiflu-proof flu? Not much yet. Experts worry they could signal the development of a Tamiflu-resistant pandemic virus with the ability to spread from person to person -- at least under certain circumstances. All Things Considered, NPR. 21 November 2009.
H1N1 flu spreading east, peaking in some areas. The H1N1 flu is moving eastwards across Europe and Asia after appearing to peak in parts of western Europe and the United States, the World Health Organisation said on Friday. Reuters Health. 21 November 2009.
Norway says found H1N1 mutation in flu fatalities. Norwegian health authorities said on Friday they have discovered a potentially significant mutation in the H1N1 influenza strain that could be responsible for causing the severest symptoms among those infected. Reuters Health. 21 November 2009.
Worst case H1N1 may cut UK economy by 4.3%. A severe H1N1 flu pandemic could cost the UK economy 72 billion pounds ($121 billion), British scientists said on Friday, but advised against closing schools even if the current mild pandemic takes a turn for the worse. Reuters Health. 21 November 2009.
Did US make a swine flu mistake? As U.S. health officials struggle to vaccinate tens of millions of Americans against the pandemic of swine flu, some are looking regretfully at one easy way to instantly double or triple the number of doses available -- by using an immune booster called an adjuvant. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Swine flu may be peaking in US, reports indicate. The pandemic of swine flu may be hitting a peak in the United States, health experts said on Friday. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Tamiflu-resistant swine flu strain found in North Carolina. Four North Carolina patients at a single hospital tested positive for a type of H1N1, or swine flu, that is resistant to Tamiflu, health officials said Friday. Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
China vows to punish H1N1 death cover-ups. hina has promised severe punishment for officials caught concealing deaths from H1N1 swine flu after a medical expert said suspect cases may have been held back by local governments. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Tamiflu-resistant swine flu spreads 'between patients.' Health officials say a Tamiflu-resistant strain of swine flu has spread between hospital patients. Five patients at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, were infected and are thought to be the first confirmed cases of person-to-person transmission of a Tamiflu-resistant strain in the world. BBC. 21 November 2009.
In Ukraine, much panic and politicking over H1N1 virus. One night at the height of the panic over what people here call the California flu, Ukraine's prime minister rushed to the airport to greet a shipment of Tamiflu as if it were a foreign dignitary. Washington Post. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
When solving H1N1, flu facts are in short supply. The flu returns every season and the world periodically experiences catastrophic pandemics, but epidemiologists still do not understand why some strains evolve to infect people and others do not. Newsweek. 21 November 2009.
Swine flu seen as cresting. The current wave of swine flu may have peaked in most of the U.S., but the illness remains widespread and the threat of another wave remains, officials said Friday. Wall Street Journal. 21 November 2009. [Subscription Required]
H1N1 cases fall in US but could rise with Thanksgiving travel, gatherings. The level of swine flu activity in the US appears to be declining, although officials are worried about another increase of cases during the Thanksgiving holiday when many people travel and families gather. Washington Post. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
The state of wildlife in the midst of a mass extinction (now). They're cute, they're fuzzy, they're important to the ecological functioning of the Earth ... and we humans are both their biggest enemies and their last chance at survival. Daily Green. 21 November 2009.
Will the Katrina ruling prevent another disaster? The blistering ruling validates the rage felt by so many survivors — and it could help spread a message to millions of Americans who still think the tragedy of Katrina was the government's response to the disaster rather than the government's creation of the disaster. Time Magazine. 21 November 2009.
Biodiversity loss is Earth's 'immense and hidden' tragedy, Darwin's 'natural heir' warns. The diversity of life on Earth is undergoing an "immense and hidden" tragedy that requires the scale of global response now being deployed to tackle climate change, according to one of the world's most eminent biologists. London Guardian, United Kingdom. 21 November 2009.
Where's the clean energy? Feed-in tariffs transform the economic function of the electrical grid: no longer is it a centralized technological embodiment of corporate power and hierarchy. Perhaps that's what's keeping feed-in tariff legislation from spreading in the United States. Nation. 21 November 2009.
Zombie nuke plants. In the face of climate change, many people who are desperate for alternatives to fossil fuels are considering the potential of nuclear power. More than half of America's nuclear plants have received new twenty-year operating licenses. These undead nukes are highly dangerous. Nation. 21 November 2009.
A big loophole in cap and trade. Nearly 3,000 miles from the U.S. Capitol, where lawmakers are debating landmark climate legislation, a crucial aspect of the national campaign to limit greenhouse gas emissions is taking shape at the headquarters of Sierra Pacific Industries. Business Week. 21 November 2009.
Climate goal needs more than technology: Shell. Action to limit global warming to 2 degrees Celsius is beyond simply inventing new, low-carbon technologies and depends on wider changes to behavior and the way communities are built, said a Royal Dutch Shell executive. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Deforestation emissions should be shared between producer and consumer, argues study. Under the Kyoto Protocol the nation that produces carbon emission takes responsibility for them, but what about when the country is producing carbon-intensive goods for consumer demand beyond its borders? Mongabay. 21 November 2009.
Canada needs 40 years to stabilize greenhouse emissions, Environment Minister says. Acting on climate change is urgent, but Canada needs 40 years to succeed in its own part of a global plan to stabilize the emissions that are warming the atmosphere, Environment Minister Jim Prentice said Friday. Canwest News Service. 21 November 2009.
Curbs to ship pollution would stoke global warming, study says. Shipping is slowing climate change by spewing out sunlight-dimming pollution but a clean-up needed to safeguard human health will stoke global warming, experts said Friday. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Auto parts makers transform into green machines. Ontario auto parts manufacturer Linamar Corp will be making a 2-megawatt "nacelle," the heart and brains of a wind turbine that houses all the mechanical gear used to generate electricity. Toronto Star, Ontario. 21 November 2009.
Clean-Energy programs booming at community colleges. For many students enrolling in alternative energy programs at community colleges, it's not about some greater environmental ethos. It's about jobs. New York Times. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Momentum returning to oilsands. Feel it? Suddenly, there's a buzz in the air. Alberta's big, bad oilsands are back in vogue. Edmonton Journal, Alberta. 21 November 2009.
Wind power project hits snag. The fate of Kenya’s 300-megawatt Lake Turkana Wind Power project, the largest of its kind in Africa, hangs in the balance after a potential financier pulled out of the deal. The project had the capacity to produce 17 per cent of Kenya's current power supply. Nairobi Daily Nation, Kenya. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Middle East coastline faces devastation if climate warms by a single degree. Lebanon may see parts of its coastline vanish if climate change continues unabated, according to a landmark report on the evolving environment of the Arab world. Beirut Daily Star, Lebanon. 21 November 2009.
Rainfall gets more severe as climate heats up. The record rainfall that caused yesterday's devastating floods cannot be blamed directly on climate change, experts said. But they warned we were likely to see more extreme weather of this kind in the coming years as a result of global warming. Dublin Irish Independent, Ireland. 21 November 2009.
Are the Earth's oceans hitting their carbon cap? While the ocean is now absorbing more carbon in total than ever before, the waters are sucking up a smaller percentage of the CO2 emitted by humans. That could mean that there's a limit to the ocean's capacity — and that we might be hitting it. Time Magazine. 21 November 2009.
Gore to techies: Shake off the lethargy. Former Vice President Al Gore was given the Global Humanitarian Award 2009 for his work drawing attention to the global warming crisis. In his acceptance speech, he emphasized that fundamental shifts in policy are required to stave off environmental disaster. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 21 November 2009.
After the thaw. Keen skier? Thinking of buying a snow-covered chalet in the Alps? Then think hard before making a decision. According to a recent report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, melting snow caps will result in the closure of many winter sports resorts in the coming decades. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 21 November 2009.
Carbon saturated ocean. New research suggests that the world’s oceans, responsible for absorbing a quarter of all our CO2 emissions, are maxing out and may not be able to keep soaking up our excess carbon. Living On Earth. 21 November 2009.
The scary math of warming. A splash of cold reality on the linked tasks of slowing climate change and protecting biodiversity. Toronto Star, Ontario. 21 November 2009.
Harnessing the Severn. A tidal project that would put a 10-mile concrete barrier across the UK’s longest river is generating controversy. The proposed Severn barrage would help the UK produce reliable, renewable energy in its efforts to combat climate change. But critics say it will harm the river ecosystem. Living On Earth. 21 November 2009.
Scientific evidence supports carbon storage technique. While full carbon capture and storage systems have yet to be proven on an industrial scale, scientists say all the technology is in place for the technique to become a major player in the battle against climate change. Yorkshire Post. 21 November 2009.
As electric cars arrive, where will they plug in? Already, utilities, retailers, hamburger joints and others are scrambling to prepare for the swarm of electric and hybrid vehicles, and several are market-testing on-site charging stations. Time Magazine. 21 November 2009.
Biofuels targeted by oil companies. The claim that biofuels are a threat to food security comes from multinational oil companies, who fear that biofuels are a threat to their business, alleged Jose Bellini, coordinator for agrobusiness of the Brazilian Agriculture and Livestock Research company, EMBRAPA, in Maputo on Thursday. All Africa. 21 November 2009.
The wind may carry a solution for Kenya. Kenya's Chalbi Desert is a bleak, forbidding stretch of coarse sand and ash-gray ridges broken by clusters of tiny huts. It is also one of the windiest places on Earth, experts say, and it soon will be the site of Africa's largest wind farm. Washington Post. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
India to spend $900 million on solar. Ending months of speculation about exactly what it was planning to do to boost the use of renewable sources of energy, India said this week that it will spend about $900 million on solar energy. New York Times. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Model predicts future deforestation. A computer model that predicts future changes in the world's forests could strengthen the case of Central African nations that are calling for compensation in exchange for protecting their natural resources. Nature. 21 November 2009.
Hornblower going hybrid for fleet with electric power. The signature roar and smoke of a harbor boat pulling away from the dock were missing as the Hornblower Hybrid’s big diesel engines remained silent. Instead, electric motors driven by battery power pushed the boat through the water. San Diego Union-Tribune, California. 21 November 2009.
Coastal carbon sink. A new report put out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature demonstrates that coastal marine environments are highly efficient at sequestering carbon, so are vitally important to protect. Living On Earth. 21 November 2009.
Atlantic Canada braces for climate change. Next month's global climate change talks in Copenhagen could help avert environmental catastrophe. Or, the sessions could bring on financial Armageddon for business and industry. Saint John Telegraph-Journal, New Brunswick. 21 November 2009.
Canada welcomes U.S. move to set a target for cutting gas emissions. Washington's move toward a target for slashing greenhouse gas emissions is "good news" on the eve of next month's Copenhagen climate change summit, federal Environment Minister Jim Prentice says. Toronto Star, Ontario. 21 November 2009.
Top U.N. scientist laments U.S. pace on climate actions. The United Nations' top climate scientist does not expect any major breakthroughs on global warming next week when President Obama hosts Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Greenwire. 21 November 2009.
McCain doesn't love climate bill. Sens. Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman have been working overtime to craft a climate bill that can attract significant GOP support. But they aren't exactly scoring points with their mutual best friend in the Senate, John McCain. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania. 21 November 2009.
Lugar team crafting cap trade alternative. As climate-change legislation in the Senate sputters and stalls, Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., has asked his staff to come up with a range of alternatives for reducing greenhouse gases. Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Indiana. 21 November 2009.
Chamber wants 'war on coal' halted with health-reform vote. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce wants the state's federal lawmakers to block health-care reform until the Obama administration and Congress end what the chamber says is a "war" on coal and domestic energy. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia. 21 November 2009.
How will California's new TV energy standards affect you? On Wednesday, the California Energy Commission approved new energy-efficiency standards to regulate how much electricity television sets sold in the state can consume. Christian Science Monitor. 21 November 2009.
Leading British climate centre hacked. One of Britain's leading climate-research centres has had more than 1,000 files stolen from its computers and republished on the Internet. Nature. 21 November 2009.
Hackers steal electronic data. Hackers broke into the electronic files of one of the world's foremost climate research centers this week and posted an array of e-mails in which prominent scientists engaged in a blunt discussion of global warming research and disparaged climate-change skeptics. Washington Post. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Disunity damages deal on ETS. Disunity within the coalition is hobbling efforts by both sides of politics to achieve a deal on emissions trading, Labor's junior climate change minister Greg Combet says. Australian Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
Malcolm Turnbull confident of ETS deal. Anti-emissions trading scheme forces within the Coalition are ramping up their demands in a bid to make it impossible for the Liberal Party to back a climate change deal with the government, as the issue reignites speculation over the leadership of Malcolm Turnbull. Sydney Australian, Australia. 21 November 2009.
Indigenous leaders want ETS bill shelved. Indigenous groups have called for the deferral of the Rudd government's emissions trading scheme legislation because of fears Aboriginal landholders will be blocked from getting hundreds of millions of dollars in carbon credits from the new green economy. Sydney Australian, Australia. 21 November 2009.
Turnbull threatens to dump rebels. Malcolm Turnbull will enforce a rule to sack from the frontbench anyone who dissents from party policy as he hits back at a renewed assault on his leadership caused by the emissions trading scheme. Sydney Morning Herald, Australia. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Quebec hints at strong climate stance ahead of Copenhagen conference. The province will announce an "ambitious" target for greenhouse gas reduction, Environment Minister Line Beauchamp said yesterday, hinting Quebec's 2020 target would be at least 25 per cent below 1990 levels. Montreal Gazette, Quebec. 21 November 2009.
Canadians chagrined over status as climate-change dawdlers. On the eve of major UN climate change talks next month in Copenhagen, a major survey of Canadians has found that more than three quarters of the public feel embarrassed that the country hasn't been taking a leadership role on reducing emissions. Toronto Globe and Mail, Ontario. 21 November 2009.
Climate change survey says 83% willing to make sacrifices. More than 80 per cent of people believe climate change is a serious threat and are willing to make sacrifices to combat it, a survey by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) showed today. Press Association. 21 November 2009.
India 'should fund environment projects.' India’s government should tap some of the $400bn it has locked up in state enterprises to invest in projects to clean up its environment and combat global warming, a top economic official said on Friday. London Financial Times, United Kingdom. 21 November 2009.
Climate sceptics claim leaked emails are evidence of collusion among scientists. Climate change sceptics allege the emails provide "smoking gun" evidence that some of the climatologists colluded in manipulating data to support the widely held view that climate change is real, and is being largely caused by the actions of mankind. London Guardian, United Kingdom. 21 November 2009.
Dell makes new green move with bamboo packaging. Now, computer maker Dell Inc. is using the fast-growing member of the grass family as a replacement for paper, plastic and plastic foam packaging materials. Cheyenne Tribune-Eagle, Wyoming. 21 November 2009.
Growing crops in buildings proposed as solution to world's food woes. Vertical farms would grow crops hydroponically, or perhaps aeroponically, using a mist of nutrient-laden water. Is it an elegant solution to pressing problems related to the food supply, or another example of putting too much faith in technology? CBC Canada. 21 November 2009.
USAID projects help rural communities adopt water demand management solutions. A USAID-funded project is linking households in Megebleh and other villages to the sewage network and sealing foul-smelling cesspits. Jordan Times, Jordan. 21 November 2009.
Punish Newmont Now, EPA told. Nature Aid Ghana has called on the Environmental Protection Agency to immediately impose sanctions against Newmont Ghana Gold Ltd. mining company for its negligent cyanide spill last month that polluted waterways and killed fish. Ghanaian Chronicle, Ghana. 21 November 2009.
Gales, storms leave 7 dead. Seven people died in strong winds and heavy rain that lashed KwaZulu-Natal yesterday. Roads and rivers were flooded, vehicles were swept away, walls collapsed, cars collided and roofs were blown off. Durban Mercury, South Africa. 21 November 2009.
Unsupported health charges spoil bun sales. The Shanghai Food and Drug administration has begun examining Yang's Fried Buns, a chain selling a traditional snack likely to be served inside the 2010 World Expo site, after an unsubstantiated Internet report claimed the buns contain cancer-causing pork. Shanghai Daily, China. 21 November 2009.
Sky's the limit as Beijing's smog lifts. Beijing residents are taking a collective deep breath and enjoying the best air the city has had for 11 years. China Daily. 21 November 2009.
Private sector defeats efforts to protect environment. Indonesia is fighting a losing battle in protecting the environment against abuses by powerful business interests according to two former state environment ministers. Jakarta Post, Indonesia. 21 November 2009.
More groups urge Arroyo to ban aerial spraying. More groups have joined the call for Malacañang to issue an executive order banning aerial spraying in Mindanao farming communities. GMA News, Philippines. 21 November 2009.
Bangalore's farm fair promotes organic farming. Experts at the ongoing Krishi Mela or agricultural fair here are trying hard to convince farmers of Karnataka about the benefits of switching to organic farming, which is high yielding and eco-friendly. Indo-Asian News Service. 21 November 2009.
New air quality norms to burn hole in govt's pocket. The new notification issued by the Centre on air quality standards after a gap of 15 years has turned to be costly affair for the state government as it needs fund to upgrade each of the ambient air quality stations in Bengal to measure the new parameters. Bombay Indian Express, India. 21 November 2009.
Celebrity gardener to appeal 'extreme' bail conditions. Celebrity gardener Peter Cundall and others charged after being arrested during a Hobart anti-pulp mill protest have been banned from entering the city's waterfront area as a condition of their bail. Australian Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
State prepares for fires. Up to 100 fires are burning across NSW as a large swathe of the state begins a day of total fire bans. Record-breaking hot temperatures, storms and wild winds on Friday sparked and fuelled a series of bushfires, mostly in remote and inaccessible terrain. Australian Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
El Niño intensifies Latin American drought. From a devastating food crisis in Guatemala to water cuts in Venezuela, El Niño has compounded drought damage across Latin America this year. London Daily Telegraph, United Kingdom. 21 November 2009.
Big city, big impact. Big cities can make big strides in protecting the environment. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has ambitious plans for the city’s green future, as well as high hopes for the ability of big cities in general to initiate environmental change. Living On Earth. 21 November 2009.
A solution made in Niagara. A new trash-to-energy technology claims to avoid the dirty environmental reputation of incineration. St. Catharine's Standard, Ontario. 21 November 2009.
Gone to market. Faced with competition from commercial farms in Canada, U.S. and Mexico, local organic farmers struggle to produce organic fruits and vegetables most Vancouverites can afford. Vancouver Courier, British Columbia. 21 November 2009.
Congress scrutinizes US chemicals policy. Chemical manufacturers and environmental activists agree that the nation’s primary law for ensuring the safety of industrial chemicals needs reform, but differences over how much change is necessary were evident this week. Chemical & Engineering News. 21 November 2009.
New mine-safety director to target causes of black-lung disease. The nation's new top mine-safety regulator plans to move quickly on a plan to lower coal miners' exposure to dust that can cause crippling black-lung disease. Lexington Herald-Leader, Kentucky. 21 November 2009.
New rules coming on coal-dust exposure. New regulations to reduce miners’ exposure to coal dust will be proposed within a couple of weeks, according to the nation’s top mine regulator. Louisville Courier-Journal, Kentucky. 21 November 2009.
USDA puts beetle shots on menu. The U.S. Department of Agriculture will exclusively use trunk injections to treat trees that could become infested with the Asian longhorned beetle, a USDA spokeswoman said yesterday. Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Massachusetts. 21 November 2009.
Department of Environmental Conservation gets Niagara message. The message to state environmental regulators was clear Thursday night—stop treating Niagara County as New York’s toxic waste dump. Buffalo News, New York. 21 November 2009.
Dolgeville continues to try to solve problem of organics in drinking water. The village of Dolgeville is continuing in its battle against elevated levels of haloacetic acids in its drinking water. Little Falls Evening Times, New York. 21 November 2009.
New York pedicabs are now inspected and licensed. From bohemian beginnings in the mid-'90s came an unlikely pairing: green transportation and unbridled capitalism, a pollution-free way around town that, in good times, earned its proprietors upward of $1,000 a week. New York Times. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
State rules against wood-burning plant planned for Rockaway Twp. The chances for a 30-megawatt biomass-fueled electricity plant to be built in Rockaway Township appear to have diminished Thursday when the state determined the plan did not meet water standards. Parsippany Daily Record, New Jersey. 21 November 2009.
Pennsylvania residents sue over gas drilling. Residents of a small rural Pennsylvania town sued Cabot Oil & Gas Corp, claiming the company's natural-gas drilling has contaminated their water wells with toxic chemicals, caused sickness and reduced their property values. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Pennsylvania residents sue gas driller over polluted wells. Pat Farnelli and her neighbors are plaintiffs in a lawsuit that alleges Houston-based Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. polluted their wells with methane gas and other contaminants, destroying the value of their homes and threatening their health. Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
Conoco to pay air quality fine to Pennsylvania. ConocoPhillips Corp will pay $38,137 for 2009 air quality violations at its 190,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Trainer, Pennsylvania, state environmental regulators said on Friday. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Delco refinery is fined for air-quality violations. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, which announced the fine yesterday, the refinery failed to report emissions, incorrectly reported emissions, and exceeded emission limits. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Delco refinery is fined for air-quality violations. The ConocoPhillips refinery in Delaware County has been fined $38,137 for air-quality violations. Philadelphia Inquirer, Pennsylvania. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Annapolis to test floating islands to clean water pollution. Annapolis Mayor Ellen Moyer said the city intends to test a floating island in a local lagoon that, if successful, could help clean water in the Chesapeake Bay. District of Columbia WTOP Radio, Washington, DC. 21 November 2009.
EPA investigating Massey's Coal River Mountain mine site. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials have launched an investigation of Massey Energy's Bee Tree Mine, the mountaintop removal operation where local citizen groups had hoped to instead locate a wind-energy facility. Charleston Gazette, West Virginia. 21 November 2009.
W.Va. lawmakers end special session with passage of gas tax, energy policy, road fund measures. West Virginia's Legislature ended its special session Friday with tweaks to the gas tax and state energy policy among the final bills to pass. Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
Colored-creek mystery solved. University of Georgia workers tracked the source of red and white paint that discolored Tanyard Creek on Thursday to a sink drain in Sanford Stadium. Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia. 21 November 2009.
EPA ruling unlikely to affect AVX. Efforts to strengthen cleanup standards for trichloroethylene pollution probably will not impact Myrtle Beach-based AVX Corp. because any new regulations would not be retroactive, according to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control. Myrtle Beach Sun News, South Carolina. 21 November 2009.
Buried LP gas tanks raise stink. It was discovered that there was a 1,000-gallon LP gas storage tank buried in front of a neighboring home and a second tank was buried partially next door and under the yard. Highlands Today, Florida. 21 November 2009.
Drug use on cows draws warning. Two Minnesota cows that could have ended up on a dinner plate were pulled from slaughter lines after federal inspectors discovered dangerously high levels of antibiotics in both animals. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota. 21 November 2009.
Saving the shoreline. Over the years, the soil that has eroded along Lake Ocheda’s shoreline has ended up at the bottom of the lake. The sand and silt has made the prairie lake shallower, but more importantly, has led to water clarity and water quality problems. Worthington Daily Globe, Minnesota. 21 November 2009.
New ballast water permit protects Great Lakes. Wisconsin will join New York, Michigan and Minnesota in regulating ballast water but the Wisconsin permit sets some of the highest standards in the country to encourage the industry to reduce permanent damage to the Great Lakes from invasive species. Duluth KDLH/KBJR TV, Minnesota. 21 November 2009.
Dreaded carp near Lake Michigan. The Asian carp may have slipped through a $9 million barrier designed to protect the Great Lakes and a $7 billion sport fishery from the voracious invader. Minneapolis Star Tribune, Minnesota. 21 November 2009.
Scientist: 'Don't give up' on stopping Asian carp. Fish that have the potential to devastate the Great Lakes ecosystem may be just a few miles from Lake Michigan. All Things Considered, NPR. 21 November 2009.
Voracious invader may be nearing Lake Michigan. Evidence of Asian carp, a fish that some fear could destroy the ecosystem of Lake Michigan, has been found beyond a barrier intended to keep the fish out. New York Times. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Feared Asian carp may be near U.S. Great Lakes. There are signs Asian carp may have breached barriers designed to keep the prolific fish out of the Great Lakes, which could spell ecological disaster for the vital source of fresh water, authorities said on Friday. Reuters. 21 November 2009.
Clean Ohio grant will speed recovery of neighborhood. A $2 million state grant will help clean up a former West Columbia Street neighborhood, a project that could be completed by the end of next year. Marion Star, Ohio. 21 November 2009.
Vigo Air Pollution Control to be dismantled. A revised county air pollution control ordinance that would have provided for collection of fees from manufacturers with a federal air permit is dead, dismantling the Vigo County Air Pollution Control Department. Terre Haute Tribune Star, Indiana. 21 November 2009.
IEPA warns Rockford of contaminated groundwater. The Illinois EPA issued a news release Friday stating that it has informed the city’s Public Works Department via certified mail that there has been a confirmed detection of trichloroethylene, or TCE, in the city’s groundwater and treated water supply. Rockford Register Star, Illinois. 21 November 2009.
Closing of incinerator delayed. The last waste to be burned at the federal government's 20-year-old toxic waste incinerator is apparently proving to be some of the most difficult. Knoxville News Sentinel, Tennessee. 21 November 2009.
Dangerously 'hot' water in Hudson Oaks. The drinking water for the entire City of Hudson Oaks was harboring dangerous levels of radioactive particles until March of this year. That's when state officials notified Hudson Oaks city officials of their findings. Fort Worth WFAA TV, Texas. 21 November 2009.
Victoria officials worry Corps is washing its hands of airport mess. The public is being asked to help airport officials find potential environmental problems at the Victoria Regional Airport stemming from when it was a military base. Victoria Advocate, Texas. 21 November 2009.
City to consider off-site PCE comparison study. The Bozeman City Commission will consider authorizing a second, off-site study in conjunction with its investigation into whether dry-cleaning fluid vapors migrated from a Superfund site into nearby homes. Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Montana. 21 November 2009.
Monsanto aims to stop leaks at Idaho mine dump. Monsanto Co. is installing a water management system at an Idaho phosphate mine the company depends on to make its Roundup weedkiller to stop the leakage of selenium and heavy metals into a tributary of the Blackfoot River. Associated Press. 21 November 2009.
Wyoming challenges Yellowstone snowmobile rules. The state of Wyoming filed a federal lawsuit Friday seeking to block the National Park Service from further restricting snowmobile numbers in Yellowstone National Park. Modesto Bee, California. 21 November 2009.
Uranium mill may be built in Paradox Valley. The first uranium mill to be built in the United States in at least 25 years is now before Colorado officials, who have a little more than a year to act on it. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Colorado. 21 November 2009.
Fort Collins builds on clean tech. Fort Collins is positioning itself as a city of the future: It’s staking out a position as a nexus of clean and renewable energy. Christian Science Monitor. 21 November 2009.
Belen looking to lower arsenic levels in industrial park. The city of Belen took a step toward meeting a federal mandate geared to lowering arsenic levels in drinking water for three groups at the Belen Industrial Park. Valencia County News-Bulletin, New Mexico. 21 November 2009.
Courthouse project a polluted money pit. Santa Fe County picked a spot in downtown Santa Fe to build a new $38 million courthouse, but a year and $14 million later all the county has to show for its effort is a big, contaminated hole in the ground. Santa Re KRQE, New Mexico. 21 November 2009.
Chemical cleanup. A school lab’s outdated supplies are discarded — carefully. Eugene Register Guard, Oregon. 21 November 2009.
Chemist named director of Lawrence Berkeley lab. Paul Alivisatos, a chemist whose pioneering research seeks promising new low-cost sources of solar energy, was named the director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory on Thursday. San Francisco Chronicle, California. 21 November 2009.
FAA changing departure procedures at SM Airport. There could be fewer delays and less pollution emitting from Santa Monica Airport and Los Angeles International Airport as the FAA prepares to roll out new departure rules aimed at cutting down idling on runways. Santa Monica Daily Press, California. 21 November 2009.
Dioxins issues spur regional workgroup. With the high cost of dioxin testing and the controversy that seems to accompany dioxin cleanup projects, North Coast agencies are looking for a way to pool resources and establish a dioxin sampling protocol. Eureka Times-Standard, California. 21 November 2009.
Radiation overdoses found at second hospital. A second hospital in Los Angeles County has discovered that patients were receiving overdoses of radiation from CT scans used to diagnose strokes. Los Angeles Times, California. 21 November 2009. [Registration Required]
Public land gone to pot. For the past three years more marijuana plants have been eradicated in the county than anywhere in the state. In fact, so far this year the state, county and federal authorities have confiscated more than 500,000 plants in Lake County. Lake County Record-Bee, California. 21 November 2009.
Calif. Air Board may rethink diesel retrofit rules. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) may take another look at diesel retrofit rules adopted a year ago because the lead researcher overstated his credentials. One San Diego member of the board says he would support a new study. San Diego KPBS, California. 21 November 2009.
Great American Smokeout 2009: Which states have most smokers? Those promoting Thursday's Great American Smokeout 2009 have their work cut out for them. That's because cigarette use among Americans, after declining for decades, has remained virtually unchanged for five straight years, according to the CDC. Christian Science Monitor. 21 November 2009.
Ban on smoking in apartments gets a boost. If Rent Control Board member Robert Kronovet has his way tenants who smoke will no longer be able to do so in the comfort of their own homes. Santa Monica Daily Press, California. 21 November 2009.
Cigarette butts toxic to fish, say researchers. Cigarette butts are toxic to fish and should be labeled as toxic hazardous waste, U.S. researchers say. CBC Canada. 21 November 2009.
Organic turkeys see the sun again. Janice and Matthew Dick wasted no time reintroducing their turkeys to pasture after the Turkey Farmers of Ontario announced it would exempt organic turkeys from a rule requiring they be raised under a solid roof. Toronto Star, Ontario. 21 November 2009.