AltWeeklies Wire
San Diego Sues Navy, Shipbuilders and Port District to Pay for Bay Cleanupnew
For nearly 30 years after the end of World War II, Naval personnel hosed down trucks and heavy machinery with diesel fuel, then dunked them in a tributary of San Diego Bay. It was all done in the name of "decontamination" -- ironic, because a new suit alleges this is one of dozens of practices cited as primary causes of sediment contamination in the bay.
San Diego CityBeat |
Dave Maass |
10-21-2009 |
Environment
New Mexico's Youth May be its Best Chance for Transforming its Economy -- and Futurenew
Many on the local frontlines of the green-jobs movement believe the chasm between rhetoric and reality is growing. They say the state's best hope for transformation -- environmental and economic -- may lie with its youth.
Santa Fe Reporter |
Laura Paskus |
10-01-2009 |
Environment
As More Companies Shoot for LEED Certification, More Ask What it Really Meansnew
An environmentally friendly casino has to be a contradiction in terms. Giant buildings that welcome and encourage the extravagant, wasteful behavior of thousands of guests at the same time hardly seem like a recipe for saving Mother Earth. But on the Strip, even sustainability can be made into a virtue, provided the example is sufficiently large.
Las Vegas Weekly |
T.R. Witcher |
09-24-2009 |
Housing & Development
Tides and Waves Could Be a Key Source of Power for British Columbianew
As the climate-change crisis continues to grow, the search for alternative sources of energy is intensifying. If proponents of ocean energy have their way, B.C.'s coastal waters will become a key power source for the province.
The Georgia Straight |
Dawn Paley |
09-22-2009 |
Environment
The Natural Burial Eco-Trend Reaches Montananew
Every year, traditional burials put an estimated 30 million board feet of casket wood, 1.6 million tons of concrete from burial vaults, more than 800,000 gallons of embalming fluid and 90,000 tons of steel from caskets into the ground. Whatever happened to naturally returning to the earth?
Missoula Independent |
Skylar Browning |
09-17-2009 |
Environment
Nukes Mean Mines: Are We Digging a New Toxic Legacy Before the Last One's Filled In?new
The risks involved in uranium mining and processing should be a starting point for any debate about the promise and peril of nuclear power. The aftermath of our last uranium boom still echoes loudly in South Texas.
San Antonio Current |
Greg Harman |
09-17-2009 |
Environment
The Harshest Cut: Brutal Devastation of Clear-Cutting in the Sierra Continuesnew
A decade ago, logging and forestry practices in the Sierra were big news. Media reports, protests, and legislative action focused on Sierra Pacific Industries' practice of slicing through entire large tracts of land, hacking down every tree, bush, and seedling and leaving nothing but devastation behind. But most of the news media have long since moved on to other issues -- and the clear-cutting continues.
San Francisco Bay Guardian |
Cecile Lepage |
09-10-2009 |
Environment
Decision on Offshore Drilling in South Carolina Nears the Surfacenew
The U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service is drafting up a plan that could open the South Carolina coast to offshore oil and natural gas exploration in five years.
Charleston City Paper |
Dan McCue |
09-09-2009 |
Environment
Advocates Hope That With Incentives, Someone Will Save the Prairie Dogsnew
Though prairie dogs are in contention for federal listing as a threatened or endangered species, Crawford worries this group could soon die under heavy equipment when the Milton E. Proby Parkway is built.
Colorado Springs Independent |
Anthony Lane |
08-27-2009 |
Environment
Conservation May be the Key to Georgia's Water Warsnew
Environmentalists say Georgia is overlooking a low-cost and common-sense approach that could save money, help the environment, and show metro Atlanta's downstream neighbors that it understands the dire situation. That solution is conservation.
Creative Loafing (Atlanta) |
Thomas Wheatley |
08-25-2009 |
Environment
Another Reason to Ditch Coal: The Ashnew
When wet coal-ash sludge dries, it becomes toxic dust. The particulates are so small that they can burrow deeply into the lungs.
INDY Week |
Lisa Sorg |
08-21-2009 |
Environment
Duke Scientists: Dried Coal Ash Highly Toxicnew
An Aug. 15 Duke University study details just how toxic coal ash is: Samples taken from the Dec. 28, 2008, coal-ash spill near Kingston, Tenn., contain high levels of toxic metals and radioactive elements, including arsenic, mercury and radium. As the sludge dries, risk of exposure via inhalation increases dramatically, the Duke team found.
Mountain Xpress |
Margaret Williams |
08-20-2009 |
Environment
New England Plays Catch-Up in the Green Energy Racenew
New England may be used to being the birthplace of revolutions, but in the case of wind power, that ship has sailed. States out West are far outproducing us, and will likely continue to. That said, we still could be a player in the nascent wind industry; we've just got some catching up to do.
Boston Phoenix |
Mike Miliard |
08-19-2009 |
Environment
Why Wind Power Blowsnew
Those who want to run straight for the first ridgetop and put up a turbine might want to slow down a second. In addition to its distinct advantages, wind power has real drawbacks that must be addressed before it is hailed as our global-warming savior.
Boston Phoenix |
Deirdre Fulton |
08-19-2009 |
Environment
Cash for Clunkers: Ugh!new
While the know-it-alls in Washington try to satisfy the taxpayers by giving them back some of their hard-earned cash, they didn't really think this whole thing through very well.
Artvoice |
Jim Corbran |
08-17-2009 |
Transportation
