MVCAC May 2010

mvcac@lists.osenergy.org

3 participants
7 discussions

Fwd: FW: West Virginia air pollution
by James Kotcon 28 May '10

28 May '10

Anyone want to prepare comments to EPA? JBK ______________________________________________ From: David Baron Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 10:39 AM To: Steve Roady; Jennifer Chavez; Emma Cheuse Subject: West Virginia air pollution All, EPA has proposed to approve a West Virginia SIP that is supposed to provide for general implementation of PM2.5 standards in the state. This is not a SIP to bring nonattainment areas into attainment -- those are done separately -- … [View More]

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(no subject)
by duane330＠aol.com 27 May '10

27 May '10

Science 28 May 2010: Vol. 328. no. 5982, p. 1085 DOI: 10.1126/science.328.5982.1085 News of the Week - - - Climate Change: NRC Reports Strongly Advocate Action on Global Warming Richard A. Kerr and Eli Kintisch The three reports released last week by the National Academies' National Research Council (NRC) had a familiar theme—the human-induced warming of the planet—but the tone, especially as presented to the public, was less familiar. The 2-year effort involving 90 scientists "… [View More]emphasizes why the United States should act now," Ralph Cicerone, president of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), said at a public briefing. The reports also have a few words about how the nation should act, which might influence a lively debate on a proposed Senate climate bill. The science supporting the why of action on climate change recalled the 2007 report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). "Climate change is occurring, Earth is warming," said environmental scientist Pamela Matson of Stanford University in Palo Alto, California, chair of the NRC panel on advancing the science of climate change, one of three separate panels that produced the trio of reports. "These climate changes are largely caused by human activities." But this was no rehashing of the IPCC report, which has taken considerable flak of late. The new NRC reports draw on the past 5 years of peer-reviewed literature, which was published too late for inclusion in the IPCC analysis, Matson emphasized. They also reflect findings from more than a score of reports from the U.S. Global Change Research Program and earlier efforts from NAS. The membership of the three NRC panels also had little overlap with that of the IPCC's working groups, says economist Gary Yohe of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, an IPCC veteran who was on the NRC panel on adapting to climate change. Yohe says he was surprised to find at the panel's inaugural meeting that three-quarters of his fellow members were unfamiliar to him. Call to action. Ralph Cicerone introduced climate reports detailing why the nation should act now. [Larger version of this image] Although NRC tasked the panel on limiting the magnitude of future climate change with providing "policy-relevant (but not policy-prescriptive) input," the panel did recommend that "the United States set a future greenhouse gas emissions target in the form of an emissions budget," said panel chair Robert Fri of Resources for the Future in Washington, D.C. And the NAS press release said a "reasonable goal" would be emissions of 170 to 200 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2012 through 2050. In recommending a carbon budget and a target range, the panels "did go farther than IPCC could," says climate scientist Stephen Schneider of Stanford University, who was not involved in the NRC reports. "There were more words like ‘should’ than you normally have with IPCC." And the press release takes the emission budget goal a step further, noting that it is "a goal that is roughly in line with the range of emission reduction targets proposed recently by the Obama Administration and members of Congress." But can the report help bolster the proposals' chances of becoming law? "That's the $64,000 question," says ecologist Peter Frumhoff of the Union of Concerned Scientists in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The House of Representatives passed a bill that would probably keep the United States under the emissions budget, but action has been slow in the Senate. There, senators John Kerry (D–MA) and Joe Lieberman (ID–CT) have introduced a package with the same goals as the House version's but more flexibility and with subsidies for nuclear and fossil fuel industries. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–NV) recently announced a go-slow approach, which might see votes as late as July. But elections loom in the fall, and climate lobbyists worry that the closer elections get, the more hyperpartisan the atmosphere will be. It's unclear whether science can change that. Myron Ebell of the Competitive Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., rattles off a number of Democrats in the House who supported last year's bill but have either publicly repudiated their vote or retired. "Cap-and-trade is dead," he says. Said a Senate staffer: "I'm hoping this will help push the issue, but I don't think we are at a place where scientific reports can find that influence." [View Less]

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Pittsburgh's GASP report ..............
by duane330＠aol.com 27 May '10

27 May '10

Having trouble viewing this email? www.gasp-pgh.org GASPalerts Action and News from Group Against Smog and Pollution JOIN OUR LIST IN THIS ISSUE Upcoming Events Become a member of GASP today May 27, 2010 Take Action Join GASP, Pittsburgh United, Clean Water Action, and the Sierra Club for the introduction of important Clean Water and Clean Air Legislation in Pittsburgh. Councilman Bill Peduto, lead sponsor of the … [View More]legislation, will introduce two bills, one related to storm water run-off in major economic development projects and one related to reducing diesel emissions during construction of major projects on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010. We need you there to show support for these important pieces of legislation. Press Conference 9:30am, Tuesday, June 1st 5th Floor, City County Building 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, 15219 Let us know if you are able to attend by emailing gasp(a)gasp-pgh.org The Issues: Reducing Diesel Emissions Let us know if you are able to attend by emailing gasp(a)gasp-pgh.org The Issues: Reducing Diesel Emissions Diesel emissions harm our health, our environment and our economy. Publicly-funded development should be a partner in protecting our health and environment. Diesel soot cancer risk in Pittsburgh area is 408 times greater than EPA's acceptable cancer level of 1 in a million. Our risk is 1 in 2,449. Pittsburgh area workers are projected to miss 13,558 days of work in 2010 because of unnecessary exposure to diesel fine particles Kids' emergency room visits for asthma-like symptoms are 400% higher in Pittsburgh than other cities Black carbon, emitted by diesels, is one of the largest contributing pollutants to global warming This clean construction legislation will require that contracts for publicly-funded development in the City of Pittsburgh must ensure that all diesel vehicles on site have the Best Available Diesel Control Technology installed and that ultra low sulfur diesel fuel is used in construction vehicles. Mitigating Storm Water Run-off During heavy rainstorms, storm water run-off forces un-treated sewage into our rivers. Publicly funded development should lead the way in innovative techniques to control and drastically reduce this problem. During nearly two thirds of the days of our city's boating season, the water is not safe to touch. The current estimate for ALCOSAN's portion of the EPA mandated repairs to its system is estimated to be from $3 billion to as much as $20 billion. Most of us get our drinking water from the three rivers The Clean Water bill will require developments that receive our tax dollars to drastically reduce their storm water run-off. Upcoming Event GASLAND When: Saturday, June 5th 7:00pm-10:00pm, doors open at 6:15pm Where: Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St., Pittsburgh, PA 15222 What: Award-winning documentary on the impacts of drilling for natural gas Panel Discussion following movie featuring: Myron Arnowitt (Clean Water Action), Representative Dave Levdansky, Ned Mulcahy (Three Rivers Waterkeeper), John Stolz (Duquesne University), Conrad Dan Volz (CHEC) Moderated by Josh Fox, GASLAND filmmaker Admission is FREE For more information call 412-624-9379 or 412-765-3053 www.gaslandthemovie.com Thank you to everyone who attended, Before You Flip That Switch: The Hidden Costs of Energy. If you missed the event, the presentation by Dr. Jared Cohon, President of Carnegie Mellon University, can be found on the GASP website. Thanks to our event sponsors: AJ Stones - Master Green Remodeler, West Penn Energy Solutions & Vox Energy Solutions. Help us be as effective as possible by becoming a member or renewing your membership today. Over the last forty years, through education, advocacy, helping to set regional and local environmental policy, and at times entering into litigation, GASP has made a positive impact on our region's air quality and environment. Help us to continue this important work in 2010. Gift memberships also available! Membership details and instructions for donating can be found here. We appreciate your participation on the GASPalerts email list. Working together, we can make a difference in our region's environment. We won't trade or sell your address with other organizations or inundate you with mailings. Thank you. Sincerely, Group Against Smog and Pollution and Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition [View Less]

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Fwd: [PSC Docket] Activity on PSC Case 08-1521-E-C(Barbara Born, et al. v. Longview Power, LLC)
by duane330＠aol.com 27 May '10

27 May '10

TO: Members and friends of MVCAC. Email me your mailing address if you need a copy of the CD described below. Duane Nichols >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message----- From: WV Public … [View More]

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Public Coal Mine Waste Disposal Meeting
by Jonathan Rosenbaum 26 May '10

26 May '10

Meeting today with the DEP! A friend posted this on FaceBook: Public Coal Mine Waste Disposal Meeting The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public meeting for this coming Wednesday, May 26th. This will be an informal conference to discuss the proposed disposal of coal ash, starting at 6:00 pm at the Scott's Run Volunteer Fire Dept in Cassville. The purpose is to hear public comments and concerns about a new 225 acre surface mine and modifications to an … [View More]

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Informal Conference Announced for Cassville
by Duane330＠aol.com 22 May '10

22 May '10

Public Coal Mine Waste Disposal Meeting The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has scheduled a public meeting for this coming Wednesday, May 26th. The will be an informational meeting to discuss the proposed disposal of coal ash, starting at 6:00 pm at the Scott's Run Volunteer Fire Dept in Cassville. The purpose is to hear public comments and concerns about a new 225 acre surface mine and modifications to an associated National Pollution Discharge Elimination … [View More]

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Interactive power plant mapping.....
by Duane330＠aol.com 01 May '10

01 May '10

From: Carrie Traud <_carrie(a)theclean.org_ (mailto:carrie@theclean.org) > Date: Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 2:48 PM Subject: CLEAN unveils new interactive map of coal and nuclear plants To: mvcac Hello CLEAN friends! CLEAN is proud to unveil a great new tool - an interactive, detailed map of coal and nuclear plants in the US: _http://www.theclean.org/mapping.html_ (http://www.theclean.org/mapping.html) . I encourage you and your members to explore the map and see what's operating near … [View More]

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MVCAC May 2010