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It's Not Easy Being Spotted
Marking the first time the agencies have come together to help preserve a declining amphibian species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife yesterday announced a 10-year agreement to study and protect the beleaguered Oregon spotted frog. Historic populations of the red-bellied frog have […]
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Not Allot of Water
The long-running and bitter conflict over Southern California’s overuse of water from the Colorado River may be nearing an end as officials from seven states today present a compromise deal to Interior Department officials. Under the plan, California would agree to put conservation measures in place and reduce its consumption of river water over the […]
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Baca to the Future
Ending 40 years of negotiations, President Clinton signed a bill yesterday that will have the federal government pay $101 million to acquire the Baca Ranch in northern New Mexico, a 95,000-acre site rich in wildlife. The area, which some call “the Yellowstone of the Southwest,” contains the 14-mile-wide collapsed crater of an ancient volcano and […]
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The Yicky Lake Show
Toxic pollution in the Great Lakes has reached such high levels that the International Joint Commission (IJC), a U.S.-Canada scientific advisory board, is warning people against eating fish from the lakes. Several states in the region routinely advise residents not to consume too much fish, but about 5 million people still fish in the Great […]
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Nothing Could Be Refiner
Thanks to an EPA crackdown on the oil refining industry, two of the largest oil refiners in the U.S., BP Amoco and Koch Industries, have reached a breakthrough agreement with the government under which the companies will spend nearly $600 million to tackle air-pollution problems at 12 facilities around the nation. EPA Administrator Carol Browner […]
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A Manatee of His Word
Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) surprised enviros yesterday by taking a tougher stance on protecting manatees than had been expected. He announced that the state won’t approve any more boat slips unless counties have strong plans in place to protect the endangered sea animal, which Bush said is his favorite mammal. Ten years ago, under […]
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Tanning Their Hides
For the first time, a Mexican factory yesterday was fined for violating a U.S. environmental law. Maquiladora Chambers de Mexico, a leather belt manufacturer south of the Arizona border, consented to pay a $3,164 penalty for improperly disposing of hazardous waste in the U.S. and agreed to train its personnel in waste disposal laws. Two […]
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Beyond Belief
BP Amoco unveiled a plan yesterday to spiff up its image and portray itself as a progressive, eco-friendly energy company. A new motto, “Beyond Petroleum,” is accompanied by a new sunburst logo designed to evoke thoughts of the company’s investments in solar energy. The company will open up a line of new gas stations that […]
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A Case of Bad Judgment
Federal judges who have accepted all-expenses-paid trips to seminars that tout “free market” solutions to environmental problems have also struck down protections in some of the most notable environmental court cases of the last decade, according to a new report by the Community Rights Counsel (CRC), a public interest law firm. Last year, nearly 100 […]
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Hell Freezes Over?
In a recent preliminary ruling, the World Trade Organization upheld France’s ban on asbestos imports from Canada, a decision that has some enviros and labor rights activists wondering whether the global trade group is becoming a little more sensitive to their issues. The ruling is expected to be made final by September. This is the […]
