| You've Got Jail Forest Service official threatened with jail time over fish-killing fire retardant Mark Rey, the undersecretary of agriculture in charge of the U.S. Forest Service, has been threatened with jail time or house arrest for his agency's attempts to continue using a flame retardant on forest fires that's toxic to fish. In 2002, fire retardant was dropped on a blaze in central Oregon, killing about 20,000 fish. Soon after, green group Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics sued. As a result, in 2005, U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy found that the Forest Service violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act when it failed to properly conduct public reviews of the fire retardant chemical. Then this Friday, the same judge noted that the agency still hadn't completed the reviews, ruling, "The Forest Service, throughout these proceedings, evidenced a strategy of circumventing, rather than complying with the law." Rey and the Forest Service have one more chance to explain themselves at a hearing late next month, but if the judge isn't convinced of the agency's progress in complying with the law, Rey could see jail time or the agency could be ordered to use only water on fires until review of the retardant is complete. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The Missoulian, Associated Press, The Sacramento Bee |
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TODAY'S NEWS
| Cars and Effect Automakers unveil greener vehicles at Detroit auto show In advance of the 2008 North American International Auto Show that opens next weekend in Detroit, automakers announced plans to roll out greener vehicles as well as other greenish initiatives. On the hybrid front, market leader Toyota has said it will offer a plug-in hybrid to government and corporate customers by 2010; the plug-in will run on lithium-ion batteries instead of the nickel-metal hydride ones that help power its popular Prius model. Toyota hasn't yet announced when it expects the plug-ins to be available to the general public, but the news has plug-in enthusiasts salivating. Meanwhile, General Motors has announced it's invested in a start-up company aiming to produce ethanol from non-corn sources such as wood chips, plastic waste, and trash. The company is also showcasing a Saturn Vue two-mode hybrid at the show. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: The New York Times, The New York Times, Associated Press |
| Nobody's Fuel Romney, McCain spar over fuel-efficiency on campaign trail John McCain and Mitt Romney have been sparring over fuel-efficiency standards lately (among other things) as the two seek to position themselves to win tomorrow's Republican presidential primary in Michigan. Recent polls have forecast a close race between the two in the state. For his part, McCain has been vocal about supporting the new vehicle fuel-efficiency standards that were passed by Congress and signed into law late last year. "I have great faith in the automobile industry that they'll be able to meet these CAFE standards," McCain said. Romney, who has been trying to cast himself as a champion of the auto industry, criticized McCain for supporting the tougher standards, saying they would handicap the industry. "Look, you can't keep on throwing anvils at Michigan and the auto industry and then say, how come they are not swimming well?" he said. The two campaigns have also been feuding over SUVs, with McCain's camp accusing Romney of supporting a tax increase on SUVs while campaigning for governor of Massachusetts. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] |
| Not in a Bind Mayoral climate-protecting agreement hasn't necessarily translated into action Mayors across the country have signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, a nonbinding initiative encouraging city leaders to meet or beat the greenhouse-gas reductions outlined in the U.S.-shunned Kyoto Protocol. So about that nonbinding part: While some city officials have taken concrete steps to reduce emissions, others haven't followed through at all. "I remember at the time I thought it was a good idea," says Vista, Calif., Mayor Morris Vance, who asked city staff to "come back with some recommendations" which have not yet emerged. Jim Janney, mayor of nearby Imperial Beach, says "It's not like we've ignored it completely, but we haven't pushed real hard." Many mayors plead tight budgets as a constraint to climate action. Mayor Mary Sessom of Lemon Grove, Calif., who didn't sign on to the agreement, tells the unfortunate truth: "Signing a piece of paper doesn't mean we intend to do anything about climate change." [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Voice of San Diego see also, in Gristmill: Climate treaty among mayors often honored in the breach |
| Sands Between Your Woes Exploiting Canada's oil sands not good for the environment, says study To absolutely no one's surprise, Canada's oil-sands operations have been given poor environmental marks in a study by green groups Pembina Institute and the World Wildlife Fund. Ten oil-sands ventures in the province of Alberta, including seven that have not yet started producing, were rated on their pollution of (or potential to pollute) the land, air, and water, as well as their greenhouse-gas emissions and overall environmental management. The leader, Royal Dutch Shell's Muskeg River mine, barely squeaked past average with a mark of 56 percent; the average score was 33 percent. If each company adopted the best practices of its rivals, the impact would be significant, say the green groups -- especially as Alberta's oil-sands output is expected to triple within a decade. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] sources: Edmonton Journal, The Canadian Press, Reuters see also, in Gristmill: Climate treaty among mayors often honored in the breach |
 On Spins and Needles Knitters seek out eco-friendly yarn Knitting is a hot hobby these days -- raise your hand if you received a hand-knit scarf as a holiday gift -- and stitch 'n' bitch regulars are eager to break out from toxic-dyed, pesticide-sprayed cotton yarn. The next time you're in the yarn store, keep an eye out for a to-be-sweater of soy, corn, bamboo, or milk fiber, organic wool, or recycled crustacean shells (really!). Of course, many yarns are still shipped from afar, and some chemicals are necessary for anything dyed. "You really want to be really environmentally friendly?" says Clara Parkes, author of The Knitter's Book of Yarn. "You raise your own sheep. You spin it, and you knit your own wool." Not a baaad idea. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] source: Columbia News Service see also, in Gristmill: Climate treaty among mayors often honored in the breach |
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GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES
 For Give On green donations Q. Hey Umbra, With strict instructions from me, my parents decided to skip most of the presents this Christmas and give me the big-ticket item I had requested: money to give away. They've given me $1,000, far more than I expected, to donate to the charity of my choice. What environmental organizations would you recommend? Emily Ojai, Calif. A. Dearest Emily, Holy cow. Genius. Great idea, and good follow-through by parents. You reversed the normal eco-gift dilemma ... Read the rest of Umbra's answer. [ email | discuss | + digg | + del.icio.us ] new in Grist: On green donations |
Coming Tuesday: An interview with Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican climate crusader
Grist: Environmental News and Commentary
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