Wednesday, 18 Jul 2007

Pretty Please, With Cuomo On Top

New York state sues ExxonMobil over oil spill foot-dragging

A shot has been fired in the quiet oil-spill battle in Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Greenpoint neighborhood: the state has sued ExxonMobil to force the cleanup of the estimated 8 million gallons of oil and petroleum byproducts still underground after a 1950 explosion. The spill, larger than the Exxon Valdez debacle, was found in 1978; in 1990, the state asked ExxonMobil nicely to please take care of the 17 million remaining gallons. Since then, the company has reportedly cleaned up about 9.3 million gallons. But New York wants the rest gone soon, and is asking ExxonMobil -- as well as BP, Chevron, utility KeySpan, and mining company Phelps Dodge -- to treat contaminated soil and groundwater and restore nearby Newtown Creek. The suit follows two others filed since 2004 by citizens and the advocacy group Riverkeeper. "This suit sends the message that even the largest corporations in the world cannot escape the consequences of their misdeeds," says state Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. Well, only for 57 years or so.

Deader Than Ever

Biofuels could contribute to historically big Gulf of Mexico dead zone

Still think corn-based biofuels will save the world? Here's another piece of the no-they-won't puzzle: Researchers say more intensive farming of more land in the Midwestern U.S. -- in part a result of the push for more corn production -- could contribute to the largest-ever "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico this summer. The zone is created when fertilizer and other runoff find their way down the Mississippi River and into the gulf, encouraging algae to grow. The algae's decay process sucks up all the available oxygen, leaving none for the poor little fishies. Last year's dead zone was 6,662 square miles; scientists modeling the zone for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration say this year's could be as big as 8,500 square miles. "I am anticipating a historically large [dead zone] this summer," says Eugene Turner from Louisiana State University, noting that the change could be due to weather, love of biofuels, or other farming practices. Tom Philpott surveys the unseemly scene in Gristmill.

Can't They Just Use the Ocean?

Schwarzenegger announces $5.9 billion plan to battle drought

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a $5.9 billion plan to prepare for his state's almost-certain continued drought and population boom. Taking the need to douse Big Agriculture as a given, Schwarzenegger called for construction of new reservoirs and dams -- but, true to his Greeninator reputation, he also gave a nod to river restoration and conservation. California water policy is famously controversial, with farmers, greens, and local water districts often vehemently disagreeing; the San Joaquin Delta, source of water for two-thirds of Californians and home to endangered salmon and smelt, is a particular hotspot. Schwarzenegger has recently hinted at building a peripheral canal to carry water around the delta, an idea that came up in 1982 and was trounced by greens who feared diverted water would suck the delta dry. The leader of the state Senate has offered a competing water plan; once a final proposal is hammered out, voters could have their say as early as February.


What's warm and quiet and lives under your floor? No, not Uncle Herb. It's radiant heating! A homebuilder asks advice maven Umbra Fisk for her take on the pluses and minuses of this alternative to convoluted systems of ducts and radiators, and Umbra wiggles her toes excitedly just anticipating the answer.

Jam Plan Is Toast

NYC mayor's traffic-reducing proposal shot down, for now

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's congestion-fee proposal, reportedly down to the wire on Monday, is now just down, period. The plan would have charged a fee for Manhattan-bound vehicles during peak hours, but the state Senate adjourned without voting on the measure after Democrats made it clear that they would vote as a bloc against it -- arguably just as much out of distaste for Bloomberg as opposition to the fee. Is NYC congestion pricing dead? Said one senator supportive of the plan, "It doesn't sound like it's alive, that's for sure." The state may create a commission to study the issue and suggest other options, which some hope will keep New York City qualified for $500 million in federal funding being offered to cities that implement a congestion fee pilot program -- but seeing as there will be no congestion fee pilot program, chances of getting the moola seem slim. And if the city doesn't get the funding, the commission will disband in October. Ah, the sweet smell of status quo.