Wednesday, 19 Nov 2003

Wetland's End

New Bush Plan Would Gut Wetland Protections

A draft rule under consideration by the Bush administration would remove so many streams and wetlands from protection under the Clean Water Act that enviros aren't the only ones upset -- even traditionally Republican hunters and anglers are hopping mad. Get the lowdown in this week's Muckraker column, plus a look at Sen. Kit Bond's (R-Mo.) move to undermine clean air protections in California and former Vice President Al Gore's latest high-tech green venture: waterless urinals. No, we're not making this up -- you'll find it all on the Grist Magazine website.

Warm Planet, Cold Shoulder

Bush Met in London by Environmental Protestors

Protesting the U.S. government's refusal to address the problem of global warming, environmental demonstrators gave President Bush a less-than-warm welcome yesterday as he arrived in London for a state visit. Up to 600 people noisily marched to the U.S. embassy to criticize Bush's rejection of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, carrying banners with such messages as, "Wanted for crimes against the planet" and "Bush go home." Tony Juniper, head of Friends of the Earth, told the crowd that Bush was "one of the world's arch environmental villains." And that's just the tip of the iceberg: As many as 100,000 people are expected to turn out for the biggest day of protests tomorrow, to lambaste Bush for the war in Iraq as well as for his environmental agenda and other policies.

Hasta La Vista, Regulations

Schwarzenegger Puts a Hold on Pending Environmental Regulations

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) was in office only a few hours before throwing a wrench into a number of environmental-protection efforts by placing a hold on all pending state regulations in order to review their potential impact on the state's business climate. Affected rules include building standards aimed at increasing the energy-efficiency of air conditioners; water-use and efficiency standards for washing machines; and restrictions on carcinogenic industrial chemicals. Schwarzenegger's move could also stymie rules related to disposal of old computers, pollutant levels in drinking water, the use of diesel engines, and more. "The effect of this is to basically undo legislation from the last two years that protects the environment, consumers, and public safety," said Jamie Court, executive director of the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights.

Fishing for Answers

Bush Administration Admits Role in Klamath Fish Die-Off

The Bush administration has finally admitted to its role in last year's die-off of more than 34,000 chinook and coho salmon in the Klamath River basin, which straddles the Oregon-California border: The massive fish kill was caused at least in part by the government's diversion of water for agriculture, which led to unusually low water levels in the river, according to an analysis released yesterday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal scientists reached this conclusion six months ago (and California state scientists found much the same thing even earlier), but the administration delayed release of the info to the public. Fish advocates hope the new report will bolster their efforts to get more water released from the Klamath dam system, but the federal Bureau of Reclamation still isn't anxious to increase the downstream flow.

The Wrath of Grapes

Ban on Biotech Crops Makes the Ballot in a California County

Voters in Northern California's Mendocino County will be the first in the nation with a chance to rebuff growers of genetically modified (GM) crops. Local anti-biotechnology activists gathered enough signatures to secure a spot on the March ballot for an initiative that would ban the raising of GM crops in the county. The campaign was started by the owners of an all-organic brewpub and framed as a way to protect the county's organic wine-grape industry from genetic contamination. The initiative is largely symbolic at this point, as there are no GM crops currently being cultivated in Mendocino County, nor are there are any commercially available GM versions of wine grapes or any of the county's other major crops. Still, the biotech industry could try to beat the measure; it spent millions in Oregon last year to squash a ballot measure that would have required the labeling of GM food.