L.A. Green Bean

Hundreds of underground fuel tanks owned by the federal government could be leaking hazardous materials into drinking water, according to an Associated Press investigation. Of particular concern are steel tanks buried in the Cold War era, which are highly likely to have rusted and be leaking. One million gallons of water can be contaminated by just 1 gallon of fuel, posing health threats to folks who drink it. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has known about the situation since at least the 1990s, but has dragged its feet when it comes to remediation. At present, FEMA knows of at least 150 leaking underground storage tanks -- or LUST, if you prefer -- and "is trying to determine by September whether an additional 124 tanks are underground or above ground and whether they are leaking," according to the AP.

sources: Associated Press, Associated Press

The amount of old-growth forest designated as critical habitat for the northern spotted owl was slashed 23 percent, or 1.6 million acres, by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Tuesday. One might think that means that spotted owls are doing well for themselves, but no: the spotted owl population is dropping by 4 percent each year. Despite widespread efforts to protect their Northwest old-growth home, the birds continue to lose habitat to logging, wildfires, and the aggressive barred owl. A federal study released last month warned that the remaining spotted owls lack genetic diversity, which may send them even more quickly toward extinction. "I have not lost hope for spotted owls," says wildlife geneticist Susan Haig, "but I think we're at a pretty serious crossroads." The federal axing of critical-habitat acreage resulted from a settlement with the timber industry, which complained that the 5.3 million acres left as critical habitat is still too much.

sources: The Seattle Times, Associated Press, The Oregonian
see also, in Grist: Bush admin debuts final recovery plan for spotted owl

The Clinton-era "roadless rule" has been declared invalid by U.S. District Judge Clarence Brimmer. The rule, which prohibits development on 58.5 million acres of national forest, has had a long and rocky past. Brimmer first put the kibosh on it in 2003, and while an appeal was pending, the Bush administration switched it out for an alternative that required states to petition the feds for forest protection. The Bush rule was thrown out by a different district judge in 2006 and the Clinton rule reinstated -- until now. Ruling in favor of the state of Wyoming, Brimmer declared that the roadless rule violated two environmental laws and stymied forest managers from doing their jobs. "The Forest Service, in an attempt to bolster an outgoing president's environmental legacy, rammed through an environmental agenda that itself violates the country's well-established environmental laws," Brimmer wrote. (Wonder what he thinks of the Bush admin's attempt to gut the Endangered Species Act?) The roadless saga will continue: green group Earthjustice has promised to appeal.

sources: The New York Times, Associated Press

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said on "Larry King Live" Monday night that she would consider allowing a vote on offshore drilling, but only if it were part of an energy package that included renewable-energy investment and release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Pelosi has refused to allow a vote on offshore drilling as a stand-alone issue, despite Republican demands for one. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) responded to Pelosi by saying that Republicans would "welcome you and your Democratic colleagues to join us in our historic call to action on American energy," and declared that the GOP is "ready to vote on more energy production and lower gas prices right now, and we should not wait one more day to begin giving the American people the relief they expect and deserve." (Though actually the wait would be more like a decade, which is how long experts say it would take for new offshore drilling to affect oil prices.) Barack Obama indicated last week that he could be open to compromise on offshore drilling, but only in the context of a comprehensive energy bill that would ultimately reduce dependence on foreign oil.

sources: CNN, FOX News, The Hill
see also, in Grist: Coastal governors stand in the way of offshore drilling, even if Congress approves it

• Jewish groups voice green concerns.

• T. Boone Pickens invests in natural-gas-fueled taxis.

• Invasive snake causes problems in Guam.

• "Off-road rage" a problem on public lands.

• Australia may get world's largest solar plant.

• Technology could make wind turbines quieter.

U.S. scientists will head to the Arctic this week on a quest to map the ocean floor, and will collaborate with Canada on a surveying trip in September. The two nations -- and their Arctic-bordering compatriots Russia, Denmark, and Norway -- are scrambling to measure their respective continental shelves, with an eye to claiming as much as they can of the estimated 90 billion barrels of oil that could potentially become accessible if the Arctic gets melty enough. So how's the northern region doing these days? "We thought Arctic ice cover might recover after last year's unprecedented melting," says Mark Serreze of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, but, "it now looks as if it will be a very close call indeed whether 2007 or 2008 is the worst year on record for ice cover over the Arctic." Such conditions are, notes oceanographer Larry Mayer, "bad for the Arctic, but very, very good for mapping."

sources: Reuters, San Francisco Chronicle, Canwest News Service, Agence France-Presse
see also, in Grist: Russia plants flag under North Pole
see also, in Grist: Sights and sounds from an Arctic research vessel

There's bad news and good news from the world of marine megafauna. The bad: Almost a quarter of the 80 types of whales, dolphins, and porpoises are in trouble, with nine listed as "endangered" or "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Entanglement in fishing gear poses the main threat. The good: Thanks to a global hunting moratorium, humpback, common minke, and southern right whales have thrived enough to be downlisted to "least concern" by the IUCN. "The large whales, the commercially important ones, have for the most part responded well under protection," says IUCN's Randall Reeves. Norway, which along with Japan and Iceland has defied the whaling moratorium, called the IUCN report evidence that the ban should be lifted. Conservationists don't see it that way. "This strengthens our opposition to whaling," said Greenpeace's Frode Pleym. "While some species have started to recover, none of them are back to the levels they had before industrial whaling started."

sources: Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, The Age, Bloomberg, New Scientist
see also, in Grist: Japan says it won't hunt humpback whales, at least for now

When it comes to urging environment-mindedness, high oil prices have proven much more persuasive than green groups ever did. The U.S. economy, built on cheap, plentiful energy, is shifting into a new mode. Americans are driving less, riding transit more, ditching SUVs, and moving back into city centers. We're seeking energy efficiency in our appliances and our heating, cooling, and lighting. Solar energy is having its day in the sun. Companies are rethinking their global supply chains, and consumers too are seeing the benefits of staying close to home. "The environmentalists have always asked you to eat locally," says economist Matthew Kahn. "But now the businessmen will agree." The adjustment carries growing shrinking pains: layoffs, high food prices, and overwhelmed infrastructure, to name just a few. But many economists suspect that the era of cheap fuel has officially come to an end; it remains to be seen whether the American economy can run as well -- or better -- on efficiency as it did on profligacy.

source: The Wall Street Journal

• Corporate boards go green.

• California condors will go extinct unless lead bullets banned.

• Big-box stores go for solar.

• Chem industry tries to convince consumers that BPA is safe.

• Villages won't move for Sudanese dam.

• Is there lead in your garden?

We've all been there: You want to go green, but you also want to keep rollin' the streets in the biggest, blingiest vehicle possible. What's an eco-minded luxury-SUV driver to do? Well, stress no more: The 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, billed as the first luxury hybrid SUV, will hit showrooms later this month. The hybrid version of the Escalade gets 50 percent better fuel economy in city driving than its non-hybrid counterpart, bringing it up to a whoppingly unimpressive 20 miles per gallon. It'll put you back a bling-tastic $71,685 -- about $3,600 more than the regular Escalade and $18,390 more than the Chevy Tahoe Hybrid. Worth noting: Sales of the old-school Escalade have fallen 29 percent so far this year, consumers have largely been shunning other hefty hybrids, and even Shaquille O'Neal fits in a Smart car. Just sayin'.

sources: Associated Press, Edmunds.com, Detroit Free Press

The Bush administration is trying to push through changes to the Endangered Species Act that would -- surprise! -- be detrimental to endangered species. Under regulatory changes proposed Monday, tens of thousands of projects funded, built, or authorized by federal agencies each year would be exempt from currently mandated independent reviews. Instead, the administration has determined that federal agencies now have the know-how to decide whether highways, dams, mines, and the like would harm endangered species -- and the regulations would not allow agencies to include greenhouse-gas emissions in those calculations. "We believe federal action agencies will err on the side of caution in making these determinations," says the proposal. Ha ha ha! Oh, that's not a joke? The proposed changes require only a 30-day public comment period -- not congressional approval -- before being finalized.

sources: Associated Press, The Washington Post, National Wildlife Federation

Remember when President Bush designated the world's largest protected marine area in Hawaii in 2006? Environmentalists cheered, fish clapped their fins, and Bush aides crossed "burnish green reputation" off the presidential to-do list -- but the aftermath has been underwhelming. Tons of debris drift into the 140,000-square-mile Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument each year, posing a great threat to marine life. But the same year that Bush declared the area a monument and banned trash within it, the administration slashed the cleanup budget for the area by 80 percent. Before the monument designation, an average 102 tons of junk were collected each year; since then, debris removal has fallen to about 35 tons a year. While the lack of follow-through is frustrating (if expected), one Hawaii resident notes that blame is widespread: "We can pick up plastic off the beach from now until the end of time, but unless people stop putting it in the ocean our problem will never go away."

source: Associated Press

Twenty-one U.S. cities have agreed to measure and report greenhouse-gas emissions in partnership with Local Governments for Sustainability and the influential London-based Carbon Disclosure Project. "Over 70 percent of total global emissions are generated from cities, and if you don't measure these emissions, you cannot manage them," explains CDP CEO Paul Dickinson. Cities signed on to the effort include Denver, Las Vegas, New Orleans, New York City, St. Paul, and West Palm Beach, and at least nine more are expected to join. Dickinson is optimistic that the effort will lead to "the beginnings of a fundamental restructuring of how cities consume energy." The first results will be published in January.

sources: Reuters, Agence France-Presse

• Federal protection of Hawaii islands more in theory than actuality.

• Is London mayor backtracking on green goals?

• Protesters converge on site of proposed U.K. coal plant.

• Geothermal lease sale sets record.

• Great Salt Lake full of mercury.

• Organic garden blooms in front of S.F. City Hall.

As commuters continue to look for alternatives to high gas prices, increasing numbers are choo-choo-choosing Amtrak. A record 28 million passengers are expected to ride the train this fiscal year compared to 25.8 million last year. The House and Senate have passed bills that could boost Amtrak's funding by 33 percent, which has Amtrak prez Alex Kummant saying he's "optimistic" about the rail service's future. But he warns that aging trains, dilapidated tracks, and overcrowding are concerns. Nearly $5 billion would be needed just to get infrastructure up to snuff along the heavily traveled Northeast Corridor.

source: The Wall Street Journal (access ain't free)

Heading to IKEA for some meatballs and easy-to-assemble furniture? You may soon be able to pick up solar panels as well. The Swedish manufacturer plans to invest some $75 million in a handful of cleantech startups, focusing on the areas of solar energy, lighting, sustainable materials, energy efficiency, and water conservation. Ultimately, IKEA has a goal of stocking its shelves with products like ABBA smart meters and Ace of Base solar panels (OK, we made up the names). Any cleantech products offered by IKEA, which hosts half a billion shoppers in its 270 stores in 35 countries each year, will meet the company motto of "affordable solutions for better living," assures the company's Johan Stenebo. And what you come across at your hometown IKEA could be dependent on location, says Stenebo: "It's quite natural that, for instance, solar panels are more interesting to Spaniards and Californians and so forth than they would be to Swedes."

source: Cleantech Group
see also, in Grist: An interview with IKEA sustainability director Thomas Bergmark

Climate change will likely lead to more powerful rainstorms, says a new study published in Science. Computer models may "substantially" underestimate the number of heavy rainfalls that will occur in a warming world, say scientists who researched naturally occurring weather events during El Niño patterns between 1987 and 2004. "A warmer atmosphere contains larger amounts of moisture which boosts the intensity of heavy downpours," explains coauthor Brian Soden. Those deluges won't give relief to desert regions but will happen in rainy areas, say researchers, increasing the chance of flooding, crop damage, erosion, and spread of infectious disease.

sources: Environment News Service, The Guardian, National Geographic News, USA Today, ScienceDaily, The Telegraph

Australians who want to make a dent in climate change just need to eat more kangaroo, says a new study in the journal Conservation Letters. The methane-producing burps and farts of sheep and cattle contribute 11 percent of Australia's annual greenhouse-gas emissions. Kangaroos, however, emit little methane. Researchers say that 175 million kangaroos could produce the meat of 7 million cattle and 36 million sheep, and a switch-to-roo by 2020 could lower Australia's greenhouse-gas emissions by 3 percent each year. They also note that reducing the number of hard-hoofed livestock tramping around would reduce soil erosion. While some farmers think of 'roos as pests, getting most Aussies on board would require "large cultural and social adjustments and reinvestment," says the study, noting such wee potential problems as "protective legislation and the status of kangaroos as a national icon."

sources: Reuters, The Canberra Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Times

The Crow Tribe on Thursday agreed to host a massive new $7 billion coal-to-liquids plant on its reservation land in Montana. The plant would produce about 50,000 barrels a day of diesel fuel when it opens, and eventually up to 125,000 barrels a day. Coal for the plant would come from a yet-to-be-developed mine on nearby Crow land with an estimated 9 billion tons of recoverable, largely untapped coal reserves. The project is still many years from even the construction phase, but the deal could eventually become a major economic engine for the tribe's 12,000 members since, like most reservations in the United States, unemployment and poverty there are among the highest in the country. The project could eventually pay the tribe nearly $1 billion a year; their current annual budget is roughly $26 million. Tribe officials said the plant will be built to capture about 95 percent of its carbon emissions that could then, at least theoretically, be sequestered underground. When up and running, it will take roughly one ton of coal to produce one barrel of diesel fuel at the plant.

source: Associated Press

The Beijing Olympic Games have officially begun. The opening ceremony kicked off at 8:08 p.m. local time on 08/08/08. So far, pollution readings are said to be moderate, with various Olympic officials and health authorities declaring the Games largely safe for athletes and visitors -- as long as they're just passing through and their sporting events last less than an hour. Olympic officials admitted that longer events may have to be moved or postponed depending on pollution levels. International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge praised China for doing "everything that is feasible and humanly possible to address this situation. ... What they have done is extraordinary." Indeed, China's efforts to reduce pollution have been notable, and world health officials expressed hope the city would keep up its efforts to dramatically reduce pollution even after the athletes go home. "There is an air pollution problem in Beijing," said Hans Troedsson of the World Health Organization. "However, we are missing the point by having so much attention on the short-term exposure while the long-term exposure is really ignored."

sources: The Telegraph, Associated Press, Xinhua, Agence France-Presse, BBC News, CNN.com, The Washington Post
see also in Grist: Meet the eco-activist athletes who'll be competing in Beijing