Thursday, 16 Mar 2006

Interior Secretary Gale Norton did her best to shift the department in a new direction: namely, toward more drilling, mining, and logging. Now she's on her way out, and greens are bracing themselves to see who President Bush will nominate next to oversee approximately one-fifth of all land in the U.S. Muckraker surveys the landscape to find out who's on the shortlist.

Critical Mass

Massachusetts proposes tough standard for perchlorate in drinking water

In a not-so-subtle jab at the Bush administration, Massachusetts has proposed a strict drinking-water standard for the toxic chemical perchlorate, which can disrupt metabolism, growth, and development, particularly in children. There is currently no federal limit on perchlorate in drinking water, though the U.S. EPA has a recommended safe limit. The Bay State's proposed mandatory standard would be more than 10 times as strict as the EPA's voluntary one. Separately, the EPA's advisory committee on children's health -- which includes industry reps, academics, and state regulators -- last week sent a miffed letter to EPA chief Stephen Johnson saying the feds' cleanup level for perchlorate at toxic-waste sites isn't strong enough to protect infants from brain damage. Perchlorate, which occurs in rocket fuel and munitions, is found most often on military bases -- which has nothing to do with the government's unwillingness to restrict it. Nothing!


Kids in Houston's Fifth Ward neighborhood are growing up surrounded by toxic waste, illegal dumps, and a Superfund site. Fortunately, they've also got Rhonda Adams in their midst, who's started a program through the Museum of Cultural Arts, Houston that encourages local youth to learn about the environment and their neighborhood and record what they see in photographs, drawings, and collages. Check out photos of the kids and their artwork.

Flame! I Wanna Log Forever

Congress debates measure that would speed up salvage logging

We interrupt our ongoing coverage of global-warming doom and gloom to update you on logging doom and gloom. A bill in the U.S. House would force the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and other agencies to issue decisions on timber sales on public lands that have been burned or hit by other disasters within as few as 30 days, speeding up a process that can now take months or years. The legislation would essentially void the comprehensive reviews of salvage timber sales that are now required under the National Environmental Policy Act. A similar measure has been introduced in the Senate. The House Resources Committee, which debated the bill yesterday, received a letter this week from 169 forest scientists warning that salvage logging damages delicate post-fire forest ecosystems by disturbing soils, removing wildlife habitat, and reducing the nutrients and shade needed to regenerate forests. We're sure the committee will take that info to heart.

Like a Good Neighbor, State Farm Is Scared

U.S. insurers wake up to financial risks of global warming

OK, pound a shot of espresso so you can stay awake for this story, 'cause it matters. Honest. Last week the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, an umbrella group of state insurance officials ... hey, come back here! ... voted unanimously to assess the potential impact of global warming on the insurance industry and its customers (i.e., most of us). In the wake of almost $100 billion in hurricane-related losses in the past two years, U.S. insurers are finally waking up to what European counterparts like Munich Re have known for years: Growing climate instability seriously threatens the industry's financials. If you're wondering what this means to you, consider the tens of thousands of policyholders in New York who got notices last week that Allstate will not be renewing policies in areas vulnerable to hurricanes. Some will lose their coverage as soon as May; at that point, the subject of insurance will no longer bore them at all.