Hunting Sandhill Cranes?

Excerpt from an article in The New York Times
Friday, February 24, 2012

Wisconsin Consider Hunting of Sandhill Crane 

By MONICA DAVEY

In Wisconsin, a place where word of dwindling numbers of sandhill cranes set off elaborate conservation efforts decades ago, the birds — elegant, prehistoric-looking creatures that bugle hauntingly — are once more at the center of discussion among state leaders. This time, a member of the State Assembly wants to allow cranes to be hunted.

For some among the scores of volunteers who wake up before dawn on a chilly spring day each year to watch the skies for cranes as part of an Annual Midwest Crane Count, organized by the Wisconsin-based International Crane Foundation, the notion seems unthinkable.

But some farmers said they desperately need a reprieve from the cranes that, they complain, eat acres and acres of newly seeded cornfields. “The good thing is that there’s been a recovery here in the population of sandhill cranes,” said Paul Zimmerman, a lobbyist for the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “But when it gets to be too much of a good thing, it’s a problem.”

While Wisconsin’s sandhill crane population dipped to low levels in the 1930s, partly because of hunting, these cranes seem now to be flourishing. More than 600,000 exist worldwide, said Kent Van Horn, a migratory game bird ecologist from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and an estimated 72,000 — more than double the estimate from a decade ago — live along the migratory path that runs from states like Wisconsin down to the Southeastern United States.

News Release from EPA Region 2 - Green Practices

EPA and Hackensack University Medical Center

Team Up to Increase Green Practices

Contact: John Martin (212) 637-3662 (office), (646) 256-6710 (cell), martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y. – February 23, 2012) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Hackensack University Medical Center have entered into an agreement to enhance environmental practices at the hospital. The medical center has pledged to reduce its use of plastics, reduce and recycle solid waste, complete the final phase of its green roof, use nontoxic cleaning products, conserve energy and water, and reduce air pollution from its vehicles. The Hackensack University Medical Center is the first hospital in Bergen County to sign such an agreement with the EPA.

"Hackensack University Medical Center continues to distinguish itself as an environmental leader in New Jersey and beyond,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “The commitments they are making today will help create a healthier environment for their patients, staff and community. I am hopeful that other hospitals in New Jersey will follow the example set by the medical center. I am also honored to stand with Deirdre Imus, a trailblazer in the work to protect children’s health. Her work to promote nontoxic cleaning products is incredibly important.”

“HackensackUMC is proud to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency to increase our already aggressive energy conservation and sustainability efforts,” said Robert C. Garrett, President and Chief Executive Officer, HackensackUMC. “As one of the nation’s top 50 hospitals providing the largest number of inpatient and outpatient services in the State of New Jersey, our mission is to improve the lives of our patients, their families and the communities we serve. Becoming an even more environmentally-friendly healthcare institution allows us to further that mission.”

“For more than a decade, HackensackUMC has been the healthcare leader in environmental sustainability, beginning with the Greening the Cleaning program in 2001, which promotes the use of nontoxic cleaning products and in 2005 with the design and construction of one of the first green hospitals in the country,” said Deirdre Imus, Founder and President of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center at HackensackUMC. “By recycling more, consuming less and embracing environmentally-friendly practices, HackensackUMC is creating a healthier environment for everyone.”

Under its Memorandum of Understanding with the EPA, Hackensack University Medical Center has agreed to:

• Achieve at least a 10% reduction in energy consumption and become an EPA Energy Star partner.
• Reduce plastic bottle use by 15% by 2013 by using bottle-less water coolers.
• Increase the hospital's recycling rate from 14% of solid waste to 35% and continue to donate, sell or properly recycle all electronic waste.
• Recycle or reprocess laser toner and inkjet cartridges and reduce the use of mercury and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate/polyvinylchloride (DEHP/PVC) throughout the hospital.
• Use construction materials with reycled content.
• Recycle or reprocess equipment.
• Install water conserving equipment, including the installation of low-flow toilets and faucets.
• Reduce air pollution from construction vehicles and equipment by requiring the use of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel by promoting the use of best available pollution control retrofit technologies on construction equipment and by implementing a no-idling policy.
• Complete the medical center's 7,000 square-foot green roof and garden, which will reduce stormwater runoff.

Hackensack University Medical Center will submit an annual status report to the EPA, which the agency will use to determine the environmental benefits associated with the hospital’s “green” activities and provide feedback on ways to improve its environmental performance.

In 2006, the EPA awarded The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology at Hackensack University Medical Center an Environmental Quality Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions by organizations and individuals to protect public health and the environment. The center is one of the first hospital-based programs with the specific mission of identifying and ultimately preventing exposure to environmental factors that may cause pediatric cancer and other health problems in children. Leading by example, its “Greening the Cleaning” program eliminates the use of cleaning agents containing hazardous ingredients whenever possible and replaces them with environmentally responsible products.

EPA has similar agreements in place with a number of major sports organizations, universities, and businesses in New York and New Jersey.

For more information on EPA green agreements, visit http://www.epa.gov/region02/greenteam.

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eparegion2 and Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eparegion2.

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News Release from IBM - Smart Growth

City of Zhenjiang, China and IBM Collaborate to Build a Smarter City

IBM Smarter Cities Solution Helps Zhenjiang Boost Economic Development and Tourism Plans

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Armonk, NY & Zhenjiang, China - 24 Feb 2012: IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the City of Zhenjiang, China today announced that IBM is helping to transform the city’s public transportation system. Zhenjiang will use hardware, software, services and technologies from IBM's Research labs, all brought together through the IBM Intelligent Operations Center (IOC) for Smarter Cities – a solution that will serve as the central point of command for the city.

Zhenjiang is a renowned historical and cultural city in the eastern People's Republic of China (PRC), a region experiencing rapid economic growth.  Zhenjiang has an estimated population of three million people and has become an important regional transportation hub due to its location near the intersection of the Yangtze River and the Grand Canal, the longest canal in the world.  It is also considered a state model for environmental protection.

To bolster economic development, increase tourism and improve overall public welfare, the city initiated the “Smarter Zhenjiang, Smarter Tourism” project which includes plans to replace and upgrade more than 400 bus stations and over 1,000 public transportation vehicles. In conjunction with the system-wide upgrade, Zhenjiang will rely on IBM’s Intelligent Transportation solution to provide city managers with a consolidated view of the transportation network, and initiate a new bus scheduling system that will use analytics technologies to manage traffic patterns and over 80 routes across the city.

A First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) IBM Research-developed platform will increase traffic throughput and improve the efficiency of its public transportation system while anticipating traffic jams before they happen. The solution will build on services assets that simulate transit fleets and passenger flow across the transportation network, while tapping into IBM technologies that enable real-time bus monitoring and route and dispatch management for the vehicle fleet.

The overall solution will provide a comprehensive, real-time picture of the city’s traffic network to alleviate congestion, improve traffic management, maximize road capacity, rapidly respond to incidents and enhance the travel experience for citizens, business travelers and tourists.

“Building a smart city has become a strategic choice of the city's urban development as it creates profound impact on the city’s information management standard and contributes to the formation of a huge industrial chain,” said Mingnian Yin, Director of Reform Commission, City of Zhenjiang.  “Working with IBM, we will make our public transportation system faster and more efficient, while making our city a better place to live in.”

“Our collaboration with Zhenjiang exemplifies IBM’s commitment to supporting the government's agenda to build smarter cities in China,” said D.C. Chien, General Manager, IBM Greater China Group. “We expect this collaboration to help transform the transportation system, support the government's effort of building a harmonious society, and accelerate the economic growth and transformation of this vibrant country.”

According to Pike Research, by 2020 the Asia-Pacific smart city technology market will be worth $5.5 billion annually - a cumulative investment of over $36 billion between 2010 and 2020.  China represents the largest single market in Asia for smart city technology, roughly 30 percent of the total opportunity.

"It’s estimated that up to $30 trillion will be spent on transportation infrastructure globally in the next 20 years. Building new physical infrastructure only goes so far, especially with the ever-present debate on the best ways to maintain roads, rails and terminals in the face of strained budgets and resources. By integrating technology and intelligence into the physical transportation infrastructure, cities can improve capacity, enhance the traveler experience and make transportation systems more efficient, safe and sustainable for future growth,” said Gerry Mooney, General Manager, Smarter Cities, IBM. "With the IOC, Zhenjiang has access to advanced analytics technology that will make it easier for the city to predict potential disruptions so that they can minimize impact and deliver better services to people living in and visiting their city.”

IBM's Intelligent Operations Center and Intelligent Transportation solutions draw on experience gained from over 2,000 Smarter Cities projects with cities around the world, and assets from IBM's hardware, software, services and research divisions. With flexibility and scalability, the Intelligent Operations Center can be extended to support a wide range of city services such as water management and public safety among others. 

News Release from EPA

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012
Contact:  Dean Higuchi, 808-541-2711, higuchi.dean@epa.gov 

EPA funds University of Hawaii marine debris research project

Agency providing $15,000 to further the university’s efforts

HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recently provided $15,000 in funding to the University of Hawaii to further research efforts on marine debris.

The funding will be used to begin studying plastic debris caught in the filters of ship-board cooling systems – this project will develop methods and protocols to better monitor debris as the ships cross the Pacific. Investigation and study of plastic debris in filters of cargo ships will further the understanding of the nature and distribution of plastic debris pollution throughout the North Pacific Ocean.

“Plastic marine debris can have a large impact on the marine environment as it never really ‘goes away’ -- it eventually breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, and can be eaten by wildlife such as seabirds and fish,” said Dean Higuchi, EPA’s Press Officer for Hawaii and the Pacific islands. “Our funding will support the efforts of the university, which is a strong partner in marine debris research and a leader in creating forecasting tools for marine debris movements.”

Marine debris can damage wildlife habitats, transport chemical pollutants, threaten marine life, and interfere with human uses of marine and coastal environments. Plastic marine debris has great potential to alter the environment and impact humans and wildlife. Approximately half of all plastics are buoyant and float close to the ocean surface, are widely transported by ocean currents, and persist in the environment for years.

Some studies have concluded that much of the plastic debris found in the North Pacific consists of small pieces of plastic less than the size of a dime. These small pieces of plastic can be eaten by fish, birds and other marine life. Since plastic does not break down quickly, it displaces food in an animal’s stomach, and can lead to starvation.

Research has shown that persistent organic pollutants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) adsorb to and concentrate on plastic debris in the marine environment. Few studies, however, have examined the effects of ingestion of marine debris-borne contaminants on wildlife. Plastic debris in the marine environment poses the possibility of these types of pollutants associated with marine debris being transferred into the food chain.

For more information on the EPA Pacific Southwest Region’s marine debris efforts visit:

http://www.epa.gov/region9/marine-debris/
For more information on the NOAA Marine Debris Program visit:

http://marinedebris.noaa.gov/welcome.html

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News Release from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Gases drawn into smog particles stay there

February 22, 2012

• Mary Beckman, PNNL, (509) 375-3688

SPLAT helps pinpoint pollution particles to improve smog predictions

Download Original Image SPLAT II provides measurements of particles with unprecedented sensitivity and precision to scientists such as Alla Zelenyuk.

RICHLAND, Wash. – Airborne gases settle in smog particles from which they cannot escape, according to research published Feb. 21 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The results could explain why pollution computer models underestimate organic aerosols — the major component of smog particles and the least understood component in climate change calculations.

The study, led by University of California, Irvine air chemist Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, combined alpha-pinene, a common ingredient in household cleaners such as Pine Sol and outdoor emissions, with oxides of nitrogen and ozone to mimic smog buildup. Atmospheric chemist Alla Zelenyuk at the Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory evaluated millions of the artificial smog particles one-by-one using a one-of-a-kind, 900-pound instrument known as SPLAT (a single particle laser ablation time-of-flight mass spectrometer).
SPLAT lives at EMSL, DOE's Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory at PNNL. The researchers also employed a 26-foot-long "aerosol flow tube" at the AirUCI unit.
"Being able to study individual particles gives us so much detail about how pollution evolves," said Zelenyuk. "Incorporating what we found about these particles into computer models will help in modeling pollution and climate as well."
Read the entire release from the University of California, Irvine here.

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News Release from Exelon

February 22, 2012

Byron Station Awarded with Wildlife at Work Certification

 

BYRON, Ill. – Bluebirds and wood ducks and owls – they fly! A history of friendly co-habitation with birds of all feathers along with many other types of wildlife animals has earned Byron Station a special certification.

The Wildlife Habitat Council recently recognized Exelon Nuclear’s Byron Generating Station for its commitment to environmental stewardship by awarding it with the Wildlife at Work Certification. The facility was honored for its commendable wildlife habitat management and environmental education programs as well as a commitment to establishing long-term wildlife habitat enhancements that provide undisturbed habitats with food, water, cover and space for animal species living on Exelon property.

“Formed as an unbridled partnership between corporations, communities and conservation organizations, the Wildlife Habitat Council exemplifies the power of collaborative conservation as the foundation of environmental stewardship,” said Robert Johnson, WHC president. “Congratulations to Exelon for its commitment and contributions to wildlife habitat enhancement, community outreach and conservation education.”

Byron Station’s projects are as numerous and varied as the wildlife that co-exist with the employees on the facility’s 1,800-acre site. The Byron Environmental Stewardship Team (BEST) and its employee members have installed nest boxes for bluebirds, wood ducks and owls as a way of providing habitat for local birds that were in need of nesting areas. The group also partnered with Ducks Unlimited to install two new wood duck boxes in prime locations.

Local scouts have also partnered with the station on various projects. Among them were aspiring Eagle Scouts Cody and Adam Sarantakos of Boy Scout Troop 99 of Mt. Morris. They constructed and installed additional nest boxes, located the existing boxes, and mapped the location of all nest boxes with GPS. The plant’s BEST volunteers monitor the boxes during the nesting season. Over time, the team has seen an increase in the number fledglings from the bluebird nest boxes. The wood duck nest boxes also have been successful, fledging 18 ducklings.

Girl Scout Troop 3566 St. Rita (Rockford) partnered with the plant on a bat house project. Station employees had observed bats roosting under an awning at the main entrance to the power plant for several years. The BEST group wanted to encourage the bats to roost in a different location from this heavily trafficked area. The team installed bat houses in areas with high insect activity, and Troop 3566 constructed two additional bat houses from kits provided by the BEST group. Fewer bats are roosting by the main entrance, and the bat houses show signs of occupancy.

Byron Station has also partnered with the Hoo Haven wildlife rehabilitation center in Durand, Ill., on visits to schools in the area to educate the students on both green energy and taking care of local wildlife. Byron Station recently donated $35,000 to Hoo Haven to assist in the construction of in indoor wildlife aquatic rehabilitation center.

“We are pleased that our efforts to help wildlife near our plant have been a joint effort between station employees and some of the surrounding civic groups,” said Byron Site Vice President Tim Tulon. “We are committed to a lasting continuance of healthy wildlife around our plant, much like our dedication to safety as the overriding priority of everything we do at Byron Station.”

To date, nine of Exelon Nuclear’s 10 sites have been recognized by WHC for programs that minimize impact on the environment and promote local wildlife. Other stations holding the certification include Braidwood Generating Station in Braceville, Ill., Clinton Power Station in Clinton, Ill., LaSalle County Generating Station in Marseilles, Ill., Quad Cities Generating Station in Cordova, Ill., Limerick Generation Station in Pottstown, Pa., Oyster Creek Generating Station in Lacey Township, N.J., Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station in Delta, Pa. and Three Mile Island Generating Station in Middletown, Pa.

The Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) is a non-profit, non-lobbying organization dedicated to increasing the quality and amount of wildlife habitat on corporate, private and public lands. WHC devotes its resources to building partnerships with corporations and conservation groups to create solutions that balance the demands of economic growth with the requirements of a healthy, biodiverse and sustainable environment. WHC-assisted wildlife habitat and conservation education programs are found in 45 states, the District of Columbia and 12 other countries. To learn more, visit www.wildlifehc.org. 

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News Release from AT&T

New AT&T Eco-Rating System to Help Consumers Learn About Environmental Features of Mobile Devices

Wireless Shoppers Soon to Have Information on Device Materials, Energy Efficiency and Other Sustainability Attributes

Dallas, Texas, February 23, 2012

People eager to check out the newest, fastest and coolest mobile handset devices will soon be able to learn about its environmental features too.

That’s because a new eco-rating system is slated for launch later this year by AT&T*, which developed the system in collaboration with BSR, a global business network and consultancy focused on sustainability. Consumers will find AT&T eco-ratings on simple, easy-to-read-and-understand labels appearing on AT&T-branded mobile devices, once they are implemented in a few months.

The new system, which sets an example for industry-wide sustainability efforts, is a direct response to customer wants and needs. According to a Deloitte study* on consumer trends in the purchase of sustainable products, 54 percent of surveyed shoppers consider sustainability to be one of their decision making factors.

AT&T’s eco-rating system will cover attributes such as: environmentally preferable materials, energy efficiency, responsible end-of-life treatment and environmentally-responsible manufacturing. In assigning ratings, device manufacturers will submit an assessment of each device to determine how many of 15 key criteria are met. These criteria cover everything from the percentage of recycled metals used in the device, to restriction of compounds such as lead, cadmium, mercury, nickel and antimony trioxide/antimony compounds. The overall rating represents the composite score of these environmental attributes.

AT&T will add the ratings icon to in-store collateral later this year. Consumers will also be able to visit a website to obtain detailed information about how AT&T and BSR devised the ratings, learn more about what makes up the overall sustainability scale for mobile devices and see available products.

AT&T plans to evolve the rating system as technological innovations, industry norms and sustainability needs change.

“Increasingly, consumers are mindful of a product’s impact on the environment. We are excited to work with leading third-party organizations like BSR and our suppliers to help make it easier for our customers to learn about the environmental impact of products they plan to purchase,” said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president, Devices, AT&T Mobility. “Our new eco-rating system will make it easier for our customers to make more informed purchasing decisions.” 

“At BSR, we work hand in hand with companies looking to develop innovative business strategies to help create a more just and sustainable world,” said Vijay Kanal, BSR’s Director, Information and Communications Technology Practice. “This eco-rating system, which we worked with AT&T to develop, should not only have broad consumer impact, it should help accelerate the integration of sustainable business practices across the entire mobile device industry.” 

AT&T is committed to integrating sustainable business practices across its business and was recently added to Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s 12^th Annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List. AT&T was also included in the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI). Visit www.att.com/csrto learn more about sustainability at AT&T. Also visit www.att.com/csr to download the 2010 AT&T Sustainability Report. To watch a video about the rating system, please click here.

*AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.

**2009 Deloitte study, “Finding the green in today’s shoppers: Sustainability trends and new shopper insights”