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Swill Waters Run Deep
Much of the groundwater and many of the streams in the U.S. are contaminated with pesticides and fertilizers, according to a study released last month by the U.S. Geological Survey. The study examined 20 important river basins and geographic areas and found that in most them, water contaminants threaten the reproductive capacity of aquatic species […]
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No Tax for Japanese Beetles?
A task force of Japan’s Environment Agency recommended yesterday that owners of old, heavily polluting cars be tapped for higher taxes and that those driving low-emission vehicles get tax reductions. The task force had initially intended to raise taxes on most cars but then limited its plan, in part because of pressure from automakers. Under […]
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Miners: Take a Dump Somewhere Else!
The House voted yesterday to back Clinton administration efforts to limit the dumping of mine wastes on public land, with more than a third of Republicans breaking with their party to support the measure, attached to a Department of Interior spending bill. The Senate version of the bill contains an amendment by Sen. Slade Gorton […]
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Water and Mohels Don't Mix?
Concern over water supplies in the Middle East is likely to complicate new Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak’s efforts to make peace in the region. Water resources there are stretched to their limits, while the population continues to grow, and the region is now experiencing its driest spell in 50 years. For decades, Israel has […]
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Serbing Up Poisons
The U.N. is sending a team of experts to Serbia next week to take measure of the environmental damage caused by NATO’s bombing campaign and the Serbian aggression in Kosovo. Despite NATO’s refusal to supply detailed information about the sites it targeted, the task force will try to assess the war’s impact on water resources […]
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Ahead of the Curve
The Union of Concerned Scientists yesterday unveiled its own redesign of the Ford Explorer sport utility vehicle that would get 50 percent better mileage, cut pollution by 75 percent, and cost only $715 more than the standard Explorer. The group emphasized that the improvements are possible with existing technology. UCS released its redesign in anticipation […]
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Milwaukee Bucks Highway Trend
Although officials in Salt Lake City and Milwaukee both claim to be concerned about sprawl, Utah is using federal funds for a huge highway expansion around its capital city while Milwaukee is using federal money to tear down a half-built highway as a step toward revitalizing the old center of town. The feds are offering […]
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Old MacMillan Had a Plan
U.S. logging giant Weyerhaeuser yesterday said that if it is successful with its takeover bid for Canadian company MacMillan Bloedel, it will adhere to MacBlo’s promises to use more environmentally sound methods in coastal British Columbia — phasing out clearcutting within four years, cutting fewer trees, and using alternate logging methods in sensitive areas. Enviros […]
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Recipe for Controversy
The Clinton administration yesterday finally announced that it would conduct long-term studies of genetically engineered foods, and said that it is considering asking the food industry to voluntarily label genetically modified products. But Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the government would still use all legal means to push genetically modified products into European markets. In […]
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Kakadu-dle-don't
Much to the dismay of environmentalists, the U.N. World Heritage Committee yesterday declined to put a prominent Australian wilderness area on its “in danger” list. Enviros had pushed for the U.N. committee to declare Kakadu National Park in danger because an Australian company plans to open a new uranium mine there. But the committee rejected […]
