Spring 1999 SEJournal The Quarterly Publication of the Society of Environmental Journalists Vol. 9 No. 1
Urban growth issues will not go away soon Considering sprawwwl By JIM SCHWAB AND Why does sprawl matter? These ately poor inner-city neighborhoods. STUART MECK factors make it important to readers: Large numbers of children in low- Urban sprawl is one of the hottest ¥ Quality of life. Who wants to income families pay the price by attend- topics in the land, gaining prominence as spend his or her life in traffic? In Atlanta, ing underfunded, crime-ridden schools. an issue suitable for major attention where the average daily commute to ¥ Environmental impacts. Paving from presidential candidates. This atten- work is now 31 minutes, an anti-sprawl paradise and putting up parking lots tion would have been hard to imagine political movement is afoot to avert a results in rapid increases in polluted just a few years ago. predicted rise to 44 minutes by 2010. stormwater runoff. All those commuters The issue has become hot for a ¥ Social stratification. The flight to idling their engines during the slow- number of reasons that deeply affect the suburbs that began in the 1950s has crawl hours on the interstate highways readersÕ lives. The sheer scope and com- left decimated central cities with desper- (Continued on page 19) plexity of the problem poses challenges for reporters, however, because they must find ways to humanize a subject that is often argued in terms of statistical data concerning infrastructure costs, air quality indices, and commuter travel times. Thus, it is essential for reporters
to get to the point quickly. Photo by Chris Rigel In this issue SEJ News Stars take green roles n Preview of the Ninth National Conference in Los Angeles...... page 4 Do celebrities impact on the environment? Features By DAVID LISCIO director Robert Redford speaks out for n How do biologists rank journalists as edu- Actors John Travolta and Robert the preservation of lakes and streams, cators?...... page 8 Duvall star in the 1998 film, A Civil urging all to find out Òhow greenÓ their Action. Their presence brings sudden candidates are before voting. n Reporter turns policy wonk ...... page 9 and widespread attention to a case of Singers, songwriters, actors and Online Bits & Bytes corporate irresponsibility and deadly actresses, politicians from famous fami- n Computer-assisted reporting is key to environmental pollution that previously lies, people carrying the clout of name quick-access research ...... page 11 managed to attract only a handful and face recognition are increasingly ReporterÕs Toolbox of wire service journalists and a becoming spokespersons and banner n In this third part of a seriesÑworst-case book author. wavers for dozens of environmental scenarios of toxic spillsÑPaul Orem antici- Actor Woody Harrelson risks arrest movements and causes throughout the pates partial disclosures...... page 17 to save old-growth redwood forests. United States and abroad. Some journal- Viewpoints Actor Ted Danson donates money, ists are concerned. n What is the media missing in covering makes public appearances, and takes James Bond and Superman are genetically modified crops? Peter Fairly an active role in trying to keep our among the front-line crusaders. offers food for thought ...... page 18 oceans healthy. Pierce Brosnan, who plays 007 in The Beat Singer Don Henley holds a concert the movie GoldenEye, was in March n State-by-state roundup ...... page 23 to benefit Walden Woods. Actor and (Continued on page 20)
© Copyright 1999 the Society of Environmental Journalists, P.O. Box 27280 Philadelphia, PA 19118 Now itÕs time to grow WasnÕt it Woody Allen who said heÕd could join the business writers group at a your organization improve itself. Think never want to belong to a club that would reduced rate. about your competitors or colleagues who have him as a member? ¥ A direct-mail campaign, targeting donÕt belong to SEJ but who would bene- Of course, he was trying to make us journalists across North America. fit. (And if youÕre worried about the com- laugh. WeÕve always known that it is the ¥ An adopt-a-member program, in petition think about how it will challenge quality of SEJ members that makes the which members can sponsor a new mem- you to do even better.) Think about the organization great. bership for someone who has expressed editors who might be interested in learning IÕll admit I used to think that the hardship about the cost. Some board more about the environment beat. Think Society of Environmental Journalists was members at our recent meeting in Ann about the journalism professors you know such a wonderful organization that the Arbor, Mich., adopted a group of students. who would love to read the SEJournal but nationÕs journalists would naturally be ¥ A ÒMember-Get-A-MemberÓ cam- just donÕt know about it. attracted to it. Indeed, that had already paign, in which board members, regional DonÕt limit your thinking to those occurred. What started as a dozen or so representatives and other SEJ volunteers writing strictly on the environment. The dedicated journalists in the Washington pledge to recruit a new member. Each environment, as we all know, is too big to area quickly grew and grew until we hit board member has already pledged to confine to a single slot. Even newsrooms about 1,000 members in 1994. with more than one writer find the beat For a while we shook our heads, Report from the bleeding over into politics, business, and smiled and marveled at how this once-tiny local government beats. group had blossomed into a national orga- societyÕs president IÕd also ask for your suggestions. nization with an office staff in Anyone with other ideas about increasing Philadelphia, many successful national our numbers should contact me or Jim conferences and on and on and on. Bruggers. I can be reached at Today, we hover around 1,100 mem- [email protected]; JimÕs email is bersÑthe place weÕve been for about [email protected]. three years. ItÕs become clear that itÕs time And, please remember what Woody to change the way we have thought about said, because a club or organization truly this issue. MembershipÑor increasing By is no better than its members. itÑno longer will take care of itself. The SEJ board recently adopted as Mike n n n one of its key priorities for 1999 the Mansur launching of a major membership recruit- Just to show how great some of our ment effort, headed by SEJ vice president meet that goal by this yearÕs end. members are, I thought IÕd pass on some and membership chair Jim Bruggers. The This recruitment effort doesnÕt spring tidbits from the essays written by mem- first goal the board set: attract 100 new from worry or desperation. Indeed, SEJ bers applying for SEJÕs upcoming leader- members by the close of 1999. If youÕve has had great success and its board has no ship retreat in Missoula, Mont. read the SEJ listserv announcements of grave concerns about its membership ÒAfter years of being a non-joiner IÕve late, youÕve seen a couple postings from numbers. But itÕs also true that SEJÕs found SEJ to be a supportive and support- Jim. One tells of one key plank in the new membership has hit a plateau. And we able club and IÕm excited about the possi- effort to recruit new members: our first- know the organization has not made a bility of making some humble contribution ever, half-price membership drive. strong membership recruitment effort to the organizationÕs future,Ó writes Randy Until June 1, journalists who have since its earliest days. Edwards of the Columbus Dispatch. never been an SEJ member can join the Under the guiding hand of executive Or this from Deborah Schoch of the organization for only $20. This member- director Beth Parke, SEJ has been success- Los Angeles Times: ÒI believe strongly ship, like any other, includes an ful at attracting a number of significant that environmental journalism is going to SEJournal subscription, the SEJ TipSheet, grants from foundations. We hope to be in grow in importance, with the 2000 presi- and reduced registration rates for our line for a number of future grants. dential campaign ahead and with complex national conference. Increasing our numbers can only help issues like global warming and extinction The Membership Committee is con- us with those efforts. It can only further gaining more and more prominence.Ó sidering a number of other initiatives to our mission of increasing the accuracy, And Chris Bowman of the increase our numbers. They include: quality, and visibility of environmental Sacramento Bee, who wrote: ÒBy the year ¥ Cooperative membership efforts journalism. We know that this beat will be 3000, I cautiously predict that news man- with other journalism organizations. A a key position in every newsroom in com- agers will understand that environmental member of the business writers group, for ing years and decades. Our continued reporters need on-going, multidisciplinary example, could join SEJ at a reduced rate membership growth should reflect that. training to stay current with their sources for a year; and an SEJ member, in turn, So I am asking each member to help and readers. Until then, we have SEJ.Ó v
2 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Letters SEJ ournal To the Editor: SEJournal (ISSN: 1053-7082) is published quarterly by the Society of I have not read Todd WilkinsonÕs Science Under Siege, but Environmental Journalists, P.O. Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118. IÕm nevertheless disappointed at Amy GahranÕs review of the Membership $40 per year (student rate $30). Subscription fee $50; $30 book in the Winter 1999 SEJournal. I believe she mistakenly library rate. © 1999 by the Society of Environmental Journalists. applied to books the very legitimate standards of daily newspa- pers that reporters shouldnÕt take sides. Editor I have read dozens of environmental books, and few if any Noel Grove Editorial Board didnÕt take sides, whether it was Dixy Lee Ray or David Kevin Carmody, Noel Grove, JoAnn Valenti Helvarg. Is Ms. Gahran questioning whether environmental Design Editor journalists should write books in anything but a value-free, neu- Chris Rigel tral tone? Ms. Gahran says, Òwhenever a journalist slips into the realm Section Editors of sympathizing with one side of the issue, no matter how well- BookShelf Mark Neuzil founded or carefully considered that decision is, it automatically Calendar Janet Raloff puts readers or other journalists on guard.Ó Media on the Move George Homsy Check out the recent list compiled by New York University New Members List Jutland Medina and published in the New York Times, of the 100 best works of On-line Bits & Bytes Russ Clemings journalism of the 20th century. Anywhere from one-third to one- Science Survey Sara Thurin Rollin The Beat Chris Rigel half of those journalists Òtook sides,Ó among them Rachel Viewpoints Peter Fairley Carson with her Silent Spring, which ranked number 2. Would environmental journalism, to say nothing of the environment, SEJournal will accept unsolicited manuscripts. Send story ideas, have been better off if she had stayed on the sidelines? articles, news briefs, tips, and letters to the editor to Noel Grove, [email protected], P.O. Box 1016, Middleburg, VA 22118. Send ÑTony Davis calendar items to Janet Raloff, Science News, [email protected], 1719 N Arizona Daily Star Street N.W., Washington, DC 20036. For The Beat, contact Chris Rigel, [email protected], P.O. Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118, To the Editor: (215) 836-9970. I write to take issue with Amy GahranÕs unforgiving review For inquiries regarding the SEJ, please contact executive director Beth of Todd WilkinsonÕs book Science Under Siege in the Winter Parke at the SEJ office, P.O. Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118; Ph:(215) 1999 issue. Gahran castigates Wilkinson for having taken a 836-9970; Fax: (215) 836-9972. E-mail: [email protected] stance in support of the whistleblowers whose stories he tells in the book. She argues, in effect, that heÕs lost his objectivity, and The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) is a non-profit, tax exempt, that there is no worse sin. 501(c)3 organization. The mission of the organization is to advance public understanding of environmental issues by improving the quality, accuracy Hundreds, maybe thousands, of journalists have written and visibility of environmental reporting. We envision an informed society books in which they take a stance, stated or implied. That does through excellence in environmental journalism. As a network of journal- not mean that they are subjective in their newspaper and maga- ists and academics, SEJ offers national and regional conferences, publica- zine reporting. I have read WilkinsonÕs work for years in The tions and online services. SEJÕs membership of over 1,100 includes journal- ists working for print and electronic media, educators, and students. Non- Christian Science Monitor and various magazines and have members are welcome to attend SEJÕs national conferences and to sub- always found him leaning over backward to be fair to all sides. scribe to the quarterly SEJournal. To suggest that high-profile writers canÕt wear two hats on different occasions is demeaning to them. When people buy SEJournal on the World Wide Web: http://www.sej.org nonfiction books, they expect to read the authorÕs point of view. SEJ Board of Directors: President, Mike Mansur, Kansas City Star, (816) 234-4433; vice president, David Ropeik, WCVB-TV, Boston, (617) ÑGlenn Himebaugh, PhD 449-0400; vice president, James Bruggers, Contra Costa Times, (734) Middle Tennessee State University 763-8874; secretary, Gary Polakovic, The Los Angeles Times, (800) 528- 4637; treasurer, Sara Thurin Rollin, The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc. (202) 452-4584; Kevin Carmody, Chicago Daily Southtown, (708) 633- Amy Gahran responds: 5970; Russell Clemings, Fresno Bee, (209) 441-6371; Marla Cone, The In my review of this book, I included an excerpt in which Los Angeles Times, (800) 528-4637 ext. 73497; Ann Goodman, Wilkinson explained his journalistic perspective of whistleblow- Tomorrow Magazine, (212) 243-4327; Gary Lee, The Washington Post, ers, and how that perspective evolved in the course of his report- (202) 334-4457; Jacques A. Rivard, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, ing work. Several such references are scattered through the book. (514) 597-5085; Peter Thomson, NPRÕs ÒLiving on Earth,Ó (510) 644- Clearly Wilkinson views his own role mainly as a journalist. 0890;. Representative for Academic members: Kris Wilson, University of Texas at Austin, (512) 471-0412; Representative for Associate members: Had he presented himself as, say, an activist or scientist, Colony Brown, Radio and Television News Directors Foundation, (202) then indeed I would have taken a different approach in 659-6510; Jim Detjen, ex officio board member, Michigan State my review. University (517) 353-9479. SEJournal is printed on recycled paper ÑAmy Gahran
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 3 Attractive choices for meeting in LA Lights, action, conference... NobodyÕs claiming it will be more glamorous, but SEJÕs beaches in Santa Monica Bay, to some of the most expensive real annual conference will undergo a slight facelift when it meets in estate-turned-battleground over an imperiled songbird, to infinity Los Angeles September 16-19. and beyond in a look at the intergalactic environment at the Jet ÒConference has never been held on the ocean, so a number Propulsion Laboratory. of marine and coastal issues will be explored,Ó said board mem- The conference features seven themes, and the theme room ber Gary Polakovic, one of the conference planners. ÒAnd concept of last year will be continued to help participants navi- because itÕs in a megalopolis, weÕll be exploring more issues on gate the subject matter. The themes are the West, the the urban environment.Ó Craft, the Globe, the Economy, the Nation, the Lab, Three topics will dominate the conference pro- and the Campus. In the theme room devoted to the Lab, gram: The megalopolis and the new millennium; for example, panels will be held on subjects such as smog Hollywood and the environment; and the Pacific research, bioremediation clean-up, and impacts of pesti- Ocean. Two plenaries will focus on what happens in cides. The theme room for the West, on the other hand, the next century when most of humanity concen- will have panels such as environmental law enforcement, trates in megacities like Los Angeles. recreational impacts on public lands, and water politics. Urban environmental problems? LAÕs a text- SEJ News There will be 30 panels on a variety of subjects. One book case: smog, sprawl, species extinction, water will explore what part celebrities play in the environment, wars, coastal destruction. Panel discussions are planned dis- and celebs are being solicited to take part. More about that in the cussing them all. Their very existence has helped make summer issue. Speakers for all sessions are still being lined up, California a world leader in environmental protection. If an envi- with David Brower and Denis Hayes confirmed so far. ronmental dispute is happening in LA, odds are it may arrive Attendees will get a taste of the Pacific when the LA Times soon at a location near you. hosts a Saturday evening dinner reception at the Long Beach As usual, the Thursday tours will be a big part of the pro- Aquarium. Sunday morning has several sessions at the Streisand gram, with more field trips planned than ever before. Road trips Center on the Barbara Streisand ranch in Malibu, where Barry will take participants to the nationÕs most popular and polluted Lopez and other authors will talk about writing. v No easy road for Polish journalism Two SEJ members cross the sea to teach seminars By DAVID HELVARG Our groups in the two towns contained both mid-career and Ten years after the fall of communism, environmental beginning journalists from environmental magazines, mainstream reporters in Poland are trying to figure out how to carry on their newspapers, radio and television, and included several well- work. They were left with a legacy of massive industrial pollu- known authors. Along with many informal discussions in nico- tion and a freewheeling consumer economy thatÕs changing con- tine-flavored pubs, we reviewed key elements of environmental ditions in every sector of society, including journalism. Do for- journalism such as basics of good reporting, new approaches to eign take-overs, consolidation, lay-offs, and no firewalls between reaching audiences, story development, and issues of journalistic editorial, advertising, and news coverage sound familiar? ethics and practices. We formed reporting teams for field trips. Fellow SEJ member Monica Allen of the New Bedford We also spent a day visiting one of PolandÕs national parks, which Standard Times and I conducted a couple of environmental included clearing snow off a picnic table for an outdoor snack of reporting seminars for two weeks last November in Kaziemerz cognac, tea, and pretzels in refreshing zero-degree ice fog. and Krakow, Poland, sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based Poland remains 30 percent forest, mainly 20th-century International Center for Journalists and the Polish Journalists growth of spruce, larch, beech, birch, and parasitic balls of Association (SDP). The five-day programs certified 26 reporters. mistletoe, topped by fat crows. Among the story topics we More than a dozen of them were from the 100-member Ekos focused on were a controversial plan to reprivatize the forests, a Club, which is something like SEJ if SEJ had survived tanks in proposal to hold the 2006 winter Olympics in Tatra National the streets. Park, traffic and pollution (Western Europe dumped over a mil- ÒThe Ekos Club was part of SDP but really became active lion lead-burning used cars here between 1989 and 1990), and around 1982 after the SDP was banned under martial law,Ó the social cost of reducing industrial pollution. recalled Krzysztof Mering, over vodkas and Donald Duck orange While our Polish colleagues were from a more advocacy- juice in KrakowÕs Hotel Vera bar. ÒWe found that by writing oriented tradition of journalism, they agreed that researching about the environment we could write negative things about and reporting all sides of a story can only strengthen its impact. Poland and the authorities didnÕt get it. So writing about the envi- Their courage, passion, and commitment revived my faith in ronment became a way for journalists to dissent.Ó our profession. v
4 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 SEJ News
Francesca Lyman has joined the ations won Ken Ward Jr. of The leave since last September. He spent that ranks of the ÒE-Columnists.Ó A few Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette two awards. time working with young journalists at months ago, she started ÒYour In March, he was recognized with the the University of Rhode Island. While EnvironmentÓ for MSNBC.com. The col- Stokes Award for energy and conserva- there, Lord helped establish the Metcalf umn is found in the Web siteÕs Health tion reporting, and in April Ward cap- Institute for Marine and Environmental Section on Wednesdays, and focuses on tured the Scripps Howard FoundationÕs Reporting and is also designing a minor issues of environmental health. Lyman Roy Howard Award for Public Service in environmental journalism for the recently finished a childrenÕs book called Journalism. schoolÕs journalism department. Inside the Dzanga Sangha Rain Forest The series sparked four federal inves- Fourteen journalists are the first class and is now working on one for adults tigations (all of which confirmed the of fellows for a four-day workshop at the about revitalizing cities. paperÕs criticisms of the permitting Metcalf Institute for Marine and Every year, Peter Dykstra will over- process) and a lawsuit that has resulted in Environmental Reporting at the see the production of 500 stories in his an injunction temporarily halting the per- University of Rhode IslandÕs Graduate new position as CNNÕs executive produc- mitting process of the biggest mountain- School of Oceanography (see workshop er for Science, Technology and top operation to date. ÒIt is one of the rare details, page 9). Environment. It is an expanded manage- times that you write about corruption and The first fellows are: Larry Davey ment role for Dykstra that also puts him someone does something about it,Ó Ward of Interlock Media, (Cambridge, Mass.); in charge of two weekly half-hour shows. says, Òit was very gratifying.Ó (Go to Bits Florangela Davila of the Seattle Times; Dykstra expects he will be doing a & Bytes, p. 11, to see how Ken used com- Heather Nann Davis of The Journal Day little less journalism, but because his crew puter-assisted reporting to research his (Manchester, Conn.); Richard Gaffney is made up of Òrelatively low-mainte- stories). of Rick Gaffney & Associates, (Kailua- nance grownups who know what theyÕre Kona, Hawaii); Luis Grimaldi, Prensa doingÓ he hopes to keep his hand in the Libra, (Guatemala City, Guatemala): Joe writing and producing end of things. Media on the Move Haberstroh, Newsday, (Melville, N.Y.); This spring finds Orna Izakson Janine Landry, Newport Daily News, Òback home.Ó She has moved to Oregon to Compiled by George Homsy (Newport, R.I.); Amy Nevala, freelance become the assistant director of the new (Seattle); Alex Pal Visayan, Daily Star, Pacific Northwest Institute for Journalism Monica Allen and David Helvarg (The Philippines); Debi Pelletier, Stuart and Natural Resources. (a wing of Frank are heading overseasÑagain. This time News, (Stuart, Fla.); John Richardson, AllenÕs Montana-based IJNR.) the pair, joined by videographer Robert Portland Press Herald, (Portland, Maine); Izakson will also be a contributing Nesson, will be running a reporters work- Ariel Sabar, Providence Journal, editor for the Cascadia Times, a monthly shop on environmental issues of the Black (Providence, R.I.); Paul Tolme, newspaper out of Portland. Although she Sea. It is part of a six-nation conference Associated Press, (Providence, R.I.); had a great time as the environmental in Turkey, which is sponsored by the Chris Woodside, The Day, (New reporter for the Bangor (Maine) Daily European Union and the Patriarch of the London, Conn.). News, Izakson writes, ÒIÕm ecstatic about Orthodox Church. Every year, a handful of reporters try being back in the Northwest and I hope Allen, the environmental reporter for to turn themselves into scientists for a few never to leave again.Ó the New Bedford (Mass.) Standard-Times weeks during the Science Writing ÒPlayful and ironicÓ is how editor hopes the weather will be nicer than in Fellowship sponsored by the Marine Chip Giller describes his on-line start-up Poland where she and freelancer Helvarg Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Grist Magazine. ÒWeÕre all familiar with last helped journalists learn the finer Massachusetts. This spring and fall, doom and gloom [of environmental points of the environmental beat. (See Perry Beeman, the environment reporter coverage]Ñso I want to make fun of opposite page.) for the Des Moines Register will spend all that and then move on and provide Those teachers among us may want two weeks working with researchers at useful information people can act on. to check out a new writing textbook co- Woods Hole, then will spend this another Sassy and serious.Ó authored by Mark Neuzil at the two weeks, this fall conducting experi- Grist (www.gristmagazine.com), University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, ments in the Brazilian Amazon. which is a project of the Earth Day Minn. The book is called Writing Across Network, will be on-line by the end of the Media and was published by May. Giller, who was the editor of Bedford/St. MartinÕs. It comes with a 60- Did you get a new job? Are you start- Greenwire until he went to Seattle to start minute videotape, instructorÕs guide, and ing a fellowship? Helping to teach or Grist, says the project will be Òthe first access to a Web page with discussion writing a book? Let your colleagues original-content environmental magazine questions and assignments. know! Send all professional news to developed for the Web.Ó It is back to the beat for Peter Lord. George Homsy, phone: (617) 520-6857, An exposŽ on the federal permitting The environmental writer for the email: [email protected], fax: (617) process of mountaintop coal mining oper- Providence (R.I.) Journal has been on 868-8810.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 5 SEJ News First Stolberg award at LA Speakers set for The first David Stolberg Meritorious and displayed during national conferences. MSU Institute Service Award will be awarded at the SEJ Current members of the SEJ Board of national conference in Los Angeles this Directors are not eligible. Prior board Steve Curwood, host of National fall, and SEJ members or others may sub- members are eligible, but only for work Public RadioÕs ÒLiving on Earth,Ó will mit nominations until July 15. The award done prior to or after their tenure on give the keynote address at the fourth will be given annually to the SEJ member the board. Great Lakes Environmental Journalism whose service to the organization and fel- Nomination letters should be no Training Institute to be held June 1-5 at low members epitomizes the volunteer longer than one typed page and should Michigan State University. spirit on which SEJ was built. summarize the nomineeÕs volunteer contri- Curwood is one of more than 20 top It is named in honor of Scripps Howard butions to SEJ. Supplemental materials journalists and environmental experts who news executive David Stolberg, who pro- may be submitted. The selection commit- will speak to the 25 journalists selected to vided the encouragement and financial sup- tee will consist of three judges appointed attend the institute at MSUÕs Kellogg port that allowed a group of environmental annually by the SEJ president. Conference Center. Among other top journalists to found SEJ in 1990. Nominations should be mailed or e- journalists scheduled to speak are The winner will be presented with a mailed to Stolberg Award Nominations, Mike Mansur, Pulitzer Prize-winning plaque. Names of winners will also be SEJ, P.O. Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA environmental reporter at the Kansas City recorded on a plaque kept at the SEJ office 19118 or [email protected]. v Star and president of the SEJ; Keith Schneider, former national environmental New Bookshelf editor joins SEJournal team writer for the New York Times; Bud Ward, editor of Environment Writer and execu- Mark Neuzil, a reporter and editor articles have appeared in Better Homes tive director of the Environmental Health turned academic, has been named the new and Gardens, the Christian Science Center in Washington, D.C.; David editor of the Book Shelf section of the Monitor, Field & Stream, and others. He Hammond, managing editor of the Great SEJournal. He replaces Nancy Shute of received a Ph.D. from the University of Lakes Radio Consortium; and Jim Detjen, U.S. News and World Report, who gave up Minnesota. His book, Mass Media and director of MSUÕs Knight Center for editing the book review section after three Environmental Conflict: AmericaÕs Green Environmental Journalism. yearsÕ service, because of an increased Crusades (co-written with Bill Kovarik) Other confirmed speakers include daily work load. was named an outstanding academic book Mike Donahue, executive director of the ÒNancy did a great job, with erudite of 1997 by Choice magazine. Great Lakes Commission; Tom Baldini, reviews of her own and careful editing of He has reviewed books for both chairman of the U.S. Section of the those by others,Ó said SEJournal editor newspapers and academic journals, and International Joint Commission; James Noel Grove. ÒWith MarkÕs experience and has served as a book proposal reviewer Teeri, director of the University of professionalism, Book Shelf continues in for McGraw Hill and Iowa State MichiganÕs Global Climate Change good hands.Ó University Press. His responsibilities as Project; and Renata Claudi, an expert on Mark, an associate professor in the Book Shelf editor begin with the Summer zebra mussels and other exotic species for Department of Journalism and issue of SEJournal. Ontario Hydro. Environmental Studies Program at the Suggestions for books to be reviewed Journalists from the eight Great Lakes University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and offers to review books should be sent states and the Canadian province of worked as an editor and reporter for the to Mark at the following address: Ontario are invited to apply. Those inter- Associated Press, The Star Tribune University of St. Thomas, 2115 Summit ested in attending next yearÕs institute may (Minneapolis) and several other daily Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105-1096. contact Jim Detjen at (517) 353-9479, or newspapers in the Midwest. His freelance E-mail: [email protected]. v visit Web site www.journalism.msu.edu/ environment/. Applications must be post- Elections Committee will issue a call for candidates marked by March 15. No more than 25 SEJÕs elections committee will issue about August 14. To be eligible to vote in applicants will be selected. on June 11 a call for candidates to run for the 1999 Board election, active members An effort will be made to train jour- the Board of Directors. Candidates must must be in good standing (that is, current nalists with little formal background in be active members in good standing. with dues) as of July 16. environmental journalism, but those at all Candidate statements must be returned to Four seats will be up for reelection. levels may apply. Those attending this the elections committee by July 26. Associate and Academic representa- yearÕs institute will participate in hands-on The election will take place at SEJÕs tives to the Board are elected every three computer-assisted reporting training ses- Ninth National Conference in Los years. The next election for these seats sions, visit an ecological research vessel Angeles, Sept 17, 1999. Absentee ballots will be in 2001. on Lake Michigan and see how endan- will be mailed to eligible voters on or Watch your mail for details. gered trumpeter swans are being re-intro- duced into the Great LakesÕ region. v
6 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 SEJ News Hot stories on AntarcticaÕs ice By DAVID HELVARG on New YearÕs eve I boarded the 240-foot penguin colonies and Tad Day was study- There I was, on Torgersen island in orange and yellow research/supply ship ing AntarcticaÕs only two flowering the southern ocean, doing the first-ever Laurence M. Gould. In Punta Arenas I plants, pearlwort and hair grass, with his recording of a penguin puking for science. was also provided with a duffel bag full main ÒgardenÓ on Stepping Stone island, After the bird, held tail-up over the buck- of ECW (Extremely Cold Weather) gear south around the cold choppy waters of et, was released, it shook its head, splash- for the duration of my trip. Four days Bonaparte Point. ing regurgitated krill all over my boat- after departure we arrived at Palmer, With 37 other people on station (27 pants. Talk about getting too close to men, 10 women) I found a companion- your story. able atmosphere in which people Then there was the time I was tak- Grin & Bare It worked hard six days a week, and ing pictures of a leopard seal on an ice played hard on the seventh, climbing floe when a panicked penguin jumped which looks like a combination low-rent the glacier, visiting ice caves, taking the into the Zodiac with us. Another time, ski resort and outdoor heavy equipment Zodiacs out in search of whales. They while moving along at 15 knots two dealership on a rocky boulder field below tended to be multi-talented for survivalÕs miles off the blue-white face of the Marr the ice of Anvers island. In the austral sake. Sheldon Blackman, the base glacier our small rubber boat was summer there were 23 hours of light per communications man, for example, turned bumped by a minke whale. day and balmy weather, mostly in the 30s, out to be a good video shooter with his Sometimes you can have own DVD camera. Between so much fun working as an that and my radio mike environmental journalist itÕs (jury-rigged as a boom) we hard to believe people pay you were able to shoot a couple for the adventure. of segments for CNN, one One of those times for me on giant petrelsÑalbatross- was the six weeks I spent this like scavenger birdsÑand past winter (which is the aus- another on rapid climate tral summer) at Palmer Station, change taking place on Antarctica, the smallest of the peninsula. three U.S. science bases on the In such a bracing envi- coldest, highest, driest of con- ronment itÕs easy to be pro- tinents. I was there as part of a ductive and I was able to National Science Foundation achieve a kind of freelance program that facilitates several perfecta, doing an online professional journalists visiting Internet diary for Slate, print Antarctica each year. IÕd sub- David Helvarg goes for the big picture stories and photos for maga- mitted a two-page proposal in zines including Sierra, April, explaining what I wanted to cover, with occasional snow, rain, wind, and gale Sports Afield, and Travel & Leisure, an where I wanted to cover it (Palmer, on the force storms, often on the same dayÑkind opinion piece for the NY Times, TV island-studded, wildlife rich Antarctic of like the Bay Area on steroids. (CNN) and radio (Marketplace, ÒThe Peninsula) and what outlets IÕd be report- At Palmer I shared a room in GWR EnvironmentÓ show). ing for. (Garage, Warehouse & Recreation) and The competition for the limited num- I was told the visit would be 10 days an office with a view in the Biolab build- ber of NSF journalist slots to Antarctica to two weeks. In September I got a call ing. There I parked my laptop, had access remains fierce but the rewards are consid- back saying that I was on for six weeks. to the internet eight hours a day (when the erable. There is also an NSF program for The trick to Antarctic travel, I learned, is satellites dipped far enough south) and writers and artists (making us what, to go with the ice flow. I then took a bat- kept my hip packs containing notebooks, chopped seal liver?). tery of medical and dental exams. Those still camera, and radio gear. In the hall- For more information contact NSF at who Òwinter overÓ also have to take psy- way I also kept my fleece, parka, sorel (703) 306-1031. chological tests, which struck me as boots, and boat-pants. When the winds pointless since anyone volunteering to were below 20 knots (boating weather) spend five months in the dark and cold IÕd usually try and get out with one of the David Helvarg is an independent TV would by definition have to be nuts. two lead scientists and their teams. Bill producer, journalist and author who is One of the magazines I was writing Frasier, a 25-year ice-veteran was study- working on a new book, Blue FrontierÑ for flew me to Punta Arenas, Chile, where ing climate and other impacts on Adelie The fight to save AmericaÕs living seas.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 7 Features Biologists rank reporters as educators Missing the boat on marine science By SARA J. MCKINSTRY acting with the media, if any? Do scien- questioned such scientistsÕ research as By reaching a large and diverse audi- tists feel they have a responsibility to having an agenda. ence, the media have become a form of interact with the media and to get While most scientists will not go out public education on the environment. involved in marine policy making? of their way to contact the media or legisla- According to one Roper survey, 68 per- In general, media coverage of marine tors, over 70 percent are willing to partici- cent of the American public gets most of and environmental issues was its environmental information from televi- rated poorly by the scientists in News outlets need to allow sion, 59 percent from newspapers, 32 per- my survey. Fifty-five percent cent from magazines, and 30 percent from said television does not cover journalists more time and space radio. Policymakers also get environmen- the issues very well, and 38 per- tal information from the media. cent said the same of newspa- While public interest in and support pers. Of other media, 35 percent for environmental stories. of environmental issues has grown since of the scientists disparaged radio cover- pate in interviews, act as sources, or consult the 1970s, the understanding of such age, 23 percent did the same for Internet in the policy-making process if asked. issues has not grown concurrently. In a sites, and 13 percent gave magazines a Over 60 percent of the scientists saw public poll on knowledge of environmen- failing grade. the media as an intermediary between the tal issues, conducted in December 1998 While no direct causal relationship public and scientists. As such, they sug- by The National Environmental Education can be determined, media coverage of gested ways to improve media coverage of & Training Foundation and Roper Starch marine issues can lead to differences in environmental and marine issues. They Worldwide, the average score was 2.2, opinion. Nearly 60 percent of the respond- also suggested that the media employ less than the 2.5 score generated by ran- ing scientists said that scientists and the reporters who are environmentally and dom guessing. public disagree on important issues facing scientifically educated. News outlets also To study the role of both the media the oceans. need to allow journalists more time and and scientists in educating the public on For example, the scientists cited over- space to devote to more in-depth environ- environmental issues, I teamed up with fishing and habitat alterationÑthrough mental stories, they said. The New England Aquarium in Boston, coastal development and urban and agri- Journalists should cultivate more con- Mass., and the Pew Fellows Program in cultural runoffÑas the biggest problems tact with scientists, including witnessing Marine Conservation. We mailed an 11- facing the oceans today. In a 1996 opinion scientific research as it occurs. The scien- page survey to 300 marine scientists poll of over 1,000 Americans by SeaWeb, tists also requested guidance on how scien- across the U.S.; 136 responded. The scien- the public, on the other hand, cited tists themselves can give better interviews tists, mainly white males with doctorates oil spills, chemical runoff from large and report their findings more clearly. in oceanography, biology, and ecology, corporate farms, seafood contamination, If the public is to become more envi- work in the National Oceanic and and trash on beaches as some of the ronmentally literate, the scientists feel, Atmospheric Administration, in marine biggest problems. scientifically accurate stories that convey laboratories and aquariums, and in univer- More than 50 percent of my respon- complex scientific issues must replace sities and private firms. dents agreed that the media do not under- sensationalized, dramatized sound bites. stand the science behind environmental Renowned biologist Jane Lubchencko has The two highest issues, are only interested in portraying called for a ÒSocial Contract for ScienceÓ environmental issues in antagonistic ways, in which scientists actively share knowl- challenges scientists and write about environmental issues edge, risks, uncertainties, and solutions crudely and confusingly. The with policymakers, managers, the media, face with media are scientists say the two highest challenges and the public. Nearly 80 percent of the they face when dealing with the media are scientists in my survey agree. misquotation and misquotation (88 percent of scientists getting the agreed) and getting the media interested in their work (61 percent). Sara McKinstry, a former reporter for media interested. But there is encouraging news for the the Southbridge News in Southbridge, future. Over 90 percent of the scientists Mass., graduates this May with a masterÕs Questions included the following: said they felt it was a scientistÕs responsi- degree in Environmental Economics and What are the greatest problems facing the bility to educate the public on marine Policy from the Nicholas School of the oceans today? How well does the media issues. Nearly 70 percent said that scien- Environment at Duke University. She cover these and other environmental tists who interact regularly with the media hopes to write for magazines and newspa- issues? What is a scientistÕs role in inter- are just doing their job; only 30 percent pers on environmental issues.
8 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Features From newswriter to newsmaker With wolves at the door, former reporter turns policy wonk By MARK NEUZIL Resources, Rod Sando, created a citizen For years, I told a good story about an advisory board called the Minnesota Wolf encounter I had with a wild wolf in the Roundtable. The group was to write the Arrowhead region of Minnesota. A pho- management plan for the timberwolf once tographer and I were stumbling along a it came off the ESL and reverted to state deer trail on one of those bitterly cold control. Thirty-two Minnesotans repre- spring days when we rounded a sharp bend senting views from the Safari Club to the and almost ran over a wolf, going our Sierra Club were appointed to the panel, direction. By the look of it, the animal had including me, one of three at-large mem- barely survived the winter. Skinny as a bers without a Òvested interest.Ó pipe cleaner and covered with mange, it After leaving daily journalism in 1993 Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Olson/Wildlife Science Center limped off the trail into the woods almost to teach at the University of St. Thomas, I as soon as it saw us. had developed an interest in wildlife law. People listened not because it was a Sando picked me because heÕd read my story well-told, but because they had not book, Mass Media and Environmental heard anything like it. A run-in with a Conflict: AmericaÕs Green Crusade, and timberwolf was a rarity. wanted someone with knowledge of Not anymore. Minnesota now has touchy subjects and media. And the wolf 2,445 wolves running all over the upper in Minnesota is a hot button. This is the one-third of the stateÑup from perhaps same state where a person or persons Mark Neuzil examines a wolf skull 350 at the end of the last bounty, in 1965. unknown captured a wolf, slit its throat You canÕt swing a dead cat in the north and left it on the steps of the state capital As a neutral member, my primary woods anymore without hitting a wolf. in St. Paul to bleed all over the granite. role was as a deal-maker between the ani- The animalsÕ time on the Endangered After many months of meetings, the mal rights representatives and the farmers Species List in Minnesota is coming to an Roundtable elected to apply most of the and hunters. In one instance, I supported a end, probably next year. same rules that the federal ÒexperimentalÓ five-year ban on hunting and trappingÑat All of which makes for good copy. species designation uses for the which time the issue can be reconsid- Normally, IÕd be either reading the copy Yellowstone wolves and othersÑno pub- eredÑwhich satisfied both sides. For or writing it. But I ended up making it. lic taking, an aggressive damage control dealing with the most contentious cases, a In late 1997, then-commissioner of program, and state compensation for lost compromise allowed livestock owners to the Minnesota Department of Natural or injured livestock and dogs. defend their animals against an attacking wolf providing they meet certain report- ing conditions after the event. No one was Hands-on activities at Metcalf Workshop entirely happy with the proposal, but all The first fellowships for attending a Systems lab, and conduct geologic sur- 32 voted for it. At this writing, itÕs being workshop at the Metcalf Institute for veys of the southern Rhode Island coast. debated at the state legislature. Marine and Environmental Reporting Scheduled talks included Sandy I stayed out of the news as much as I were awarded to 14 journalists writing for Tolan, producer for National Public could, and found it rather easy to do; broadcast, print, and electronic media Radio (NPR), speaking on ÒFrom reporters covering the regular meetings (see Media on the Move, p. 5). The 14 Gloucester to Gaza: Social Tensions and public hearings always sought out the were named to participate in a workshop Over Scarce Resources.Ó Cory Dean, extreme positionsÑthe trappers associa- May 22-26 at the University of Rhode science editor of The New York Times, tion or the Farm BureauÑand left a guy in Island Graduate School of Oceanography, would address how science is translated the middle of the road like me alone. At on a theme of ÒMeasuring Change in the to the public. David Baron, science the end of the process, I was left with a Coastal Environment: Water Pollution, reporter for NPR, was named moderator feeling of satisfaction, not unlike the feel- Fisheries, Beach Erosion.Ó of a debate entitled ÒGetting It On ing I got as a daily journalist retelling a Housed at the University of Rhode The Table: Why CanÕt Scientists good story about an encounter with a wolf. Island, the Metcalf Fellows were to work Speak English, Why CanÕt Journalists with scientists in the laboratory and in Get It Right?Ó the field, and hear lectures and a debate. The Metcalf Institute for Marine Mark Neuzil, a former reporter and The schedule called for them to conduct and Environmental Reporting, named in editor for the Associated Press and the a fish trawl on Narragansett Bay, kayak honor of the late publisher of The Minneapolis Star Tribune, teaches jour- and collect water samples on Narrow Providence Journal, Michael Metcalf, nalism and environmental studies at the River, visit a Geologic Information was formed in 1997. University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 9 Features Cruising trouble spots in Borneo By WARIEF DJAJANTO BASORIE The water was black before it was made into coffee. The pilotÕs mate on the riverboat I traveled on reached over the side, scooped a pot-full from the dark waters of a tributary of the Sekonyer River, and boiled it on a kerosene stove. In 30 minutes the boatÕs cook served steamy cof- fee, which I drank with no ill effects. Photo courtesy of Budi Utomo/Konphalindo The color comes from the plants sub- merged along both banks of this river in south central Kalimantan, known to most people around the world as the Indonesian part of Borneo. In this area, the darker the water the better for drinking. ItÕs the dull brown in the riverÕs main body that signals troubleÑpollution from upstream. A klotok heads up the Sekonyer In December 1998, I was in a party of environment workers who traveled the milligram per liter of waterÑ95 times Peat is plant material partly decom- 37.2-mile length of the Sekonyer to wit- greater than the amount acceptable for posed by the action of water. When people ness the problems of the Kalimantan interi- human health. overturn the soil and expose the peat to the or. Our two klotoksÑ15-meter-long wood- Besides pollution from mining, illegal sun, it can catch fire even more easily. The en motorized boatsÑstarted from the small logging is another concern within the park. widespread clearing of swamps in but bustling port of Kumai tucked in a Men hired by a town-based log merchant Kalimantan for rice fields and palm oil bight that faces south to the Java Sea. Its seek ramin, a tropical hardwood used for estates were a major cause of the big fires. mouth features kilometers of nipa palms fine furniture. They come at night to avoid At the height of the forest fires in and mangrove swamps on both its banks. park rangers, explained chief ranger Herry October 1997, Jakarta phoned Susilo to ask The Sekonya serves as the western Djoko Susilo, who earned a masterÕs how he was coping. ÒThe only thing we border of 1,025,050-acre Tanjung Puting degree in parks and recreational areas from can do is pray,Ó Susilo replied, referring to National Park in Kalimantan. Polluted Michigan State in 1989. And they take full the underground fires. Perhaps in answer water is not the only problem in this largest advantage of natureÕs ways. When the to prayers, December rains drenched the protected area of tropical peat swamp and river flooded in November, the high level burning peat, but more than prayers will be heath forest in Southeast Asia. Peat enabled the illegal loggers to cut trees and needed in the future to remedy all the swamps cover wide parts of lowland move their timber more swiftly downriver, parkÕs problems. Kalimantan, particularly along the west an activity known as Òflood felling.Ó With trips such as ours, at least the and south coasts. The park holds sought- Susilo says it is difficult to check on problems are coming to light. after but dwindling tree species such as forest poachers with only 40 rangers to meranti, jelutung and ulin (ironwood). Its guard the vast park. ÒMust we keep alert fauna include orangutans, gibbons, and 24 hours a day?Ó he asks in exasperation. Warief Djajanto Basorie, former envi- hooked-nosed proboscis monkeys. As if pollution and tree stealing ronment writer with the KNI News Service We reached the source of the brown- werenÕt headaches enough, damage by fire and the Manila-based DEPTHnews, now water contamination after four hours of was hot on the chief rangerÕs problem teaches journalism at the Dr. Soetomo steady chugging upriver. There small-time plate. The great forest fires in Kalimantan Press Institute in Jakarta. miners prospecting illegally on state land in 1997 that caused haze in Malaysia and dig for gold, overturning the ground and Singapore more than a thousand kilometers creating sandpiles. Loose soil and sand away did not spare Tanjung Puting. The SEJournal deadlines wash into the water, causing the river to park lost thousands of acres of forest in its Summer Ô99 ...... July 15, 1999 become shallow. southern quadrant. Fall Ô99 ...... October 15, 1999 The miners also use mercury to bond SusiloÕs men and teams of volunteers Winter Ô00...... January 15, 2000 with the grains of gold they collect, and could manage small outbreaks of fires, Spring Ô00 ...... April 15, 2000 residual mercury ends up in the river, using water pumped from the river. But which local people use for drinking water. they would contain one area above ground Send submissions to Noel Grove, A 1995 study revealed that the mercury only to have flames spring forth again editor, [email protected] or P.O. content in the Sekonyer was 0.095 from the complex of peat burning beneath Box 1016, Middleburg, VA 20118. the surface.
10 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The reporterÕs big time-saver CAR makes project possible By KEN WARD JR. mines did not have plans for future development. Employees at Environmental journalism has always been a hotbed of the state Division of Environmental Protection said they didnÕt computer-assisted reporting (CAR). A reporter who wants to know about plans for all mountaintop removal mines, but they analyze thousands of toxic chemical emissions had better learn would have field inspectors go through permits to find out. CAR or face spending a couple years with a notepad and Going through dozens of paper files promised to be an exercise calculator. A newspaper that wants to give its readers the that could take months. locations of hundreds of hazardous waste dumps might never So I huddled with a of couple guys in the DEP computer get the story in print without a database manager and map- record-keeping section who told me they had a system ping software. that maintained information about mines permitted in My own experience with environmental CAR dates Online the state. After acquiring a copy of parts of their data- back to 1991, when I first came to the Charleston (W.Va.) bits & bytes base, I started doing my own research, and found a Gazette. At the time, we had only one old computer that number of disturbing trends: had a decent-sized hard-drive. I learned to do a few crude ¥ The state didnÕt know how many mountain- searches on the National Library of MedicineÕs ToxNet top removal mines it had authorized. Permit writers service, and put together the standard ÒTop 10Ó pol- and inspectors never bothered to fill in the database luters stories. Later, I used ToxNet to compare the field that indicated what type of mine they were potential emissions from a pulp and paper mill pro- permitting. posed here to similar mills across the country. ¥ Environmentalists had told me that mountaintop removal My CAR work got a major boost over the past two years. was increasing. Industry officials said it wasnÕt. By running a The Gazette bought decent computers for four reporters, includ- few queries in FoxPro on a state database, I wrote a story ing me. Then I attended the National Institute for Computer- explaining which side was right. Assisted Reporting (http://www.nicar.org) national conference in ¥ Most importantly, most of the 134 mountaintop removal Indianapolis in March 1998, and got training in spreadsheets, mines I was able to identify did not submit post-mining develop- database managers, and the Internet. I also learned how other ment plans when they were given permits by the state. reporters are using computers. The results were two lengthy Sunday features published in Since then, IÕve produced a variety of CAR stories. For May and August 1998. The articles prompted an investigation by example, last summer there was a trial in federal court in the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, and by at least one congress- Charleston of a toxic tort case filed against a Rhone-Poulenc man, Rep. Nick J. Rahall, D-W.Va. Now the state DEP is modi- chemical plant for a chemical leak a few years ago. A jury found fying its database and completing a project to fix the record- for the company, but when the verdict came out the lawyer rep- keeping problems I identified. My stories are available on the resenting folks who live near the plant claimed his suit had GazetteÕs website at http://wvgazette.com/mining. forced the company to clean up its act and operate more safely. I Last September, Gardiner Harris of the Louisville Courier- was skeptical. Journal conducted a similar investigation of mountaintop With a few hours research on the EPA Emergency Response removal mining in Kentucky. Harris, who used CAR to produce Notification System web site, http://www.epa.gov/docs/ERNS/, I a landmark series in April 1998 on black lung disease among was able to download local chemical accident reports and show coal miners, examined computerized state mining permit data- that the company had continued to have leaks, some bigger than bases. He found the same types of problems, and his article has the one that prompted the lawsuit. We published a neat little side- prompted an investigation by OSM officials in Kentucky. bar the day after the verdict, complete with a chart showing infor- Even if youÕre not up toÑor given time forÑa big project, mation about all of the leaks I found in the ERNS database. This you can use CAR to help with environmental reporting. For added punch to our coverage of the trial and was a story that our example, in writing about the ongoing debate over EPAÕs ozone afternoon newspaper competition didnÕt have. transport regulations, I have used the agency web site to down- I have also found that CAR is the only way to do long-term load lengthy documentation about the issue. This gives me environmental reporting projects in a manageable or timely way. quicker access to the primary sources, rather than relying on Last year, the Gazette published a series of articles called ÒMining regional EPA flacks to send me press releases or industry lobby- the Mountains,Ó examining mountaintop removal strip mining. ists to provide their take on the controversy. Unlike old-time strip mining which chipped away at hill- Also, keeping all those hefty reports on my hard drive sides to uncover coal, this technique blasts away entire moun- instead of in piles on and around my desk has cut down on the taintops to reach paydirt. Normally, strip mines must be cubicle clutter substantially, something every environmental reclaimed to their Òapproximate original contour,Ó or AOC. reporter I know would welcome. Mountaintop removal mines can ignore that standard and flatten out land if they submit plans showing how the area will be used for future economic development. Ken Ward writes about the environment for the Charleston Like others, I suspected that most mountaintop removal Gazette in West Virginia.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 11 Calendar JUNE 15-17. Agricultural Biotechnology: Food, Feed, & Fiber (fea- turing sessions on introducing transgenic foods, handling ques- 5-11. American Industrial Hygiene Conference (including ses- tions about risk, intellectual property issues, and recent genetic sions on electric and magnetic field effects, groundwater and soil developments). San Diego. Contact: Laura Powers, International remediation, noise pollution, cleaning up indoor-air problems, Quality & Productivity Center, 150 Clove Rd., P.O. Box 401, and controlling air pollutants). Toronto. Contact: AIHCE Ô99, Little Falls, NJ 07424-0401. Phone: (800) 882-8684. Fax: (973) 1200 G St., NW, Ste. 800, Washington, DC 20005-3967. 256-0211. E-mail: [email protected]. URL: http://www.iqpc.com URL: http://www.aiha.org 20-24. Air & Waste Management AssociationÕs Annual 6-11. Subsurface Remediation: Improving Long-term Meeting (sessions on particulates and regional haze, ozone, bio- Monitoring and Remedial Systems Performance (with focus mass burning, air toxics, control technologies, indoor air pollu- on describing natural and chemical technologies to protect or tion, greenhouse gas emissions, municipal waste treatment, med- clean up polluted soils and groundwater). St. Louis. Contact: ical wastes, emissions inventories, health effects of air pollu- Rebecca Glos, SAIC, MS R-4-3, 11251 Roger Bacon Dr., tants, compo). St. Louis. Contact: Sandra Provenzo, A&WMA, Reston, VA 20190. Phone: (703) 318-4797. Fax: (703) 736- One Gateway Center, 3rd Fl., Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Phone: 0826. E-mail: [email protected]. (412) 232-3444, ext. 3159. E-mail: [email protected]. URL: http://www.clu-in.org URL: http://www.awma.org 7-9. Intersessional Meeting on the Operations of the 21-24. Fire & Grit: Working for Nature in CommunityÑA Convention on Biological Diversity. Montreal. Contact: Millennium Conference (sponsored by the Orion Society, this Biodiversity Secretariat, World Trade Center, 393 St. Jacques conference seeks to initiate ÒdialogsÓ led by grassroots environ- St., Ste. 300, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H2Y 1N9. Phone: (514) mental leaders and others on subjects related to conservation, 288-2220. Fax: (514) 288-6588. E-mail: [email protected]. restoration, education, environmental justice, and economic URL: http://www.biodiv.org reform). Shepherdstown, WV. Contact: Lauire John Lane- Zucker, The Orion Society, 195 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 7-9. An international congress on industrial ecology, sustain- 01230. Phone: (413) 528-4422. Fax: (413) 528-0676. E-mail: able development, environmental diplomacy, achieving zero- [email protected]. URL: http://www.orionsociety.org emissions industries; and strategies to introduce Òeco-competi- tivenessÓ to transportation, pulp and paper, chemicals, and elec- 23-25. International Conference on Phytoremediation (with tronics industries. Paris, France. Contact: Penny Allen, sessions on how to use growing plants to collect or break down Association for Colloquia on the Environment, 2 Avenue de la pollution). Toronto. Contact: Abby Votto, IBC USA. R•publique, 92340 Bourg-la-Reine, Paris, FRANCE. Phone: Phone: (508) 481-4473 (33)-1-4542-8964. Fax: (33)-1-4543-1187. E-mail: cbona@club- internet.fr 23-26. International Interdisciplinary Conference on the 9-11. Ag BioTech World Forum: New Frontiers in Environment. Baltimore. Contact: Demetri Kantarelis or Kevin Agricultural Biotechnology (sponsored by several biotech and L. Hickey, IEA, Assumption College, 50 Salisbury St., seed publications, this conference will focus on such topics as Worcester, MA 01615. Phone: (508) 767-7557 or 7296. Fax: transgenic fruits and vegetables, the status of labeling policies (508) 767-7382. E-mail: [email protected]. and regulations, food safety, and developing human pharmaceu- URL: http://champion.iupui.edu/~mreiter/iea.htm tical proteinsÑ including edible vaccines). Las Vegas. Contact: IBC, 458 Park Ave., Worcester, MA 01610-1227. Phone: (508) 24-25. International Conference on Asthma and 481-6400. Fax: (508) 481-7911. E-mail: [email protected]. Environmental Pollution. Houston. Contact: V.M. Bhatnagar, URL: http://www.ibcusa.com/2313 Alena Chemicals of Canada, P.O. Box 1779, Cornwall, Ontario, Canada K6H 5V7. Phone: (613) 932-7702 13-16. Environmental Vehicles and Alternative Fuels Conference. Ypsilanti, Mich. Contact: Geraldine Robak, The 27-30. Forest Ecology into the Next Millennium (including Engineering Society, 26100 American Dr., Ste. 500, Southfield, sessions on biodiversity, modeling forests under climate change, MI 48034. Phone: (248) 355-2910, ext. 11. Fax: (248) 355-1492. conserving invertebrates, roles of pollinators, and plantation E-mail: [email protected]. designs). Orono, Maine. Contact: Jane Walsh, University of URL: http://www.esd.org/conf/env_conf.html Maine, 2nd NAFEW, Catering and Conference Services, 5780 Wells Conference Center, Orono, ME 04469-5780. URL: 15-16.Implementing the Kyoto Protocol (a conference spon- http://www.umaine.edu/fes/nafew sored by the Royal Institute of International Affairs). London, England. Contact: Royal Institute of International Affairs, JULY Chatham House, 10 St. James Square, London, United Kingdom SW1&Y 4LE. Phone: (44)171-957-5754. Fax: (44)171-321- 11-14. International Low-Level (Radioactive) Waste 2045. E-mail: [email protected]. Conference (with sessions on treatment, shipments, and disposal URL: http://www.riia.org/Conferences/cond.html of fuels). McAfee, NJ. Contact: Michele Samoulides, Electric
12 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Calendar Power Research Institute, P.O. Box 10412; Palo Alto, CA 94303- and responders, civilian and military environmental coordinators, 0813. Phone: 650) 855-2127. Fax: (650) 855-2166. medical and industry personnel). Washington, D.C., at the E-mail: [email protected] Washington Hilton and Towers Hotel. Contact: Diane Varhola, KRA Corporation, 1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 890, Silver 24-27. Fifth Biennial Conference on Communication and Spring, MD 20901. Phone: (877) 804-CEPP. Fax: (301) 495- Environment (Interdisciplinary conference that examines histor- 9410. E-mail: [email protected]. ical and contemporary perspectives on environmental communi- URL: http://www.epacepp.com cation). Flagstaff, Arizona. Contact: Brant Short, School of Communication, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 20-23. International Conference on Environmental 86011. Phone: (520) 523-4701. Fax: (520) 523-1505. Radioactivity in the Arctic. Edinburgh, Scotland. Contact: E-mail: [email protected]. SEPA Public Affairs. Phone: (44) 1786-45-7700. Fax: (44) 1786- URL: http://www.nau.edu/~soc p/ecrc/confer.html 44-8040. E-mail: [email protected]
AUGUST 30-Oct. 2. The Greening of the Campus: Theory and Reality (exploring opportunities for college and university campuses to 1-7. International Botanical Congress (only convened three provide environmental awareness and sensitivity). Muncie, Ind. times in this century, these international botanical congresses are Contact: Becky Amato, University College NQ323, Ball State major events, with this one focusing on conserving endangered University, Muncie, IN 47306-0220. Phone: (765) 285-2385. plants, risks of biotechnology, harmful algal blooms, unintended Fax: (765) 285-2384. E-mail: [email protected]. URL: introductions of non-native plants, and how plants and climate http://www.bsu.edu/greening change converge). St. Louis. Contact: Ellen Wilson, Burness Communications, 7910 Woodmont Ave., Ste. 1340, Bethesda, OCTOBER MD 20814. Phone: (301) 652-1558 ext 108. Fax: (301) 654- 1589. E-mail: [email protected]. 18-20. International Workshop on Ultraviolet Radiation URL: http://www.burnessc.com/press Exposure, Measurement, and Protection (including sessions on health effects of exposures from lasers, sun lamps, and out- 9-12. 1999 Stockholm Water Symposium: Urban Stability door exposure, and the efficacy of protective measures such as Through Integrated Water-Related Management (focusing on shade, clothing, sunglasses and sunscreens). Chilton, England. future strategies for urban water management; using a systems Contact: Colin Driscoll, National Radiological Protection Board, approach, the Ô99 Symposium will identify and formulate criteria Chilton, Didcot, Oxon, United Kingdom OX11 0RQ. Phone (for and strategies for urban planning and development, paying ade- press): (44) 1235-822744. Fax: (44) 1235-822601. E-mail: quate attention to different perspectives, stakeholder groups, and [email protected]. URL: http://www.nrpb.org.uk the environmental preconditions as defined by the Òwater 18-21 15th Annual Conference on Contaminated Soils addressÓ). Stockholm, Sweden. Contact: Dave Trouba, (including sessions on bioremediation, chemical analysis, case Stockholm International Water Institute, 106 36 Stockholm, studies, brownfields, military installations, chlorinated pesticides SWEDEN. Phone: (468) 736 20 78. Fax: (468) 736 20 22. and other chemicals, jet fuel, MTBE, and role of growing plants E-mail: [email protected]. in cleanups). Amherst, Mass. Contact: Denise Leonard, URL: http://www.siwi.org/sws1999/sws1999.html Environmental Health Sciences, N344 Morrill, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003. Phone: (413) 545-1239. 29-Sept. 2. Biomass: A Growth Opportunity in Green Energy Fax: (413) 545-4692. E-mail: [email protected]. and Value-Added Products (sessions on carbon credits from URL: http://www.aehs.com biomass, biofuels for electricity, biomass conversions to chemi- cal and fibers, environmental ramifications, gasification for utili- NOVEMBER ties, and challenges in valuing biomass for green electricity mar- 16-17 Wetlands and Remediation: An International kets). Oakland. Contact: Fourth Biomass Conference of the Conference (encompassing the remediation of contaminated Americas, 1617 Cole Blvd, MS 1613, Golden, CO 80401-3393. wetlands and the use of natural and constructed wetlands for the Fax: (303) 275-2905. URL: http://www.nrel.gov/bioam remediation of contaminated waste and wastewater). Salt Lake City, Utah. Contact: Karl Nehring, Battelle, 505 King Ave., SEPTEMBER Columbus, OH 43201. Phone: (614) 424-6510. Fax: (614) 424- 3667. E-mail: [email protected]. 16-19. Society of Environmental Journalists (the ninth national URL: http://www.battelle.org/conferences/ conference of the Society, hosted by the University of California- Los Angeles). Los Angeles. (See story, p. 4.) Contact: Beth Parke, executive director, PO Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118-0280. Phone: (215) 836-9970. Fax: (215) 836-9972. Check SEJÕs web site at www.sej.org for calendar E-mail: [email protected]. URL: http://www.sej.org/conferences updates. On the home page, click on the link: ÒSEJÕs environmental events calendar.Ó 20-23. EPA Region III Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Conference (of interest to emergency planners
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 13 writer with the American Automobile economics, history, politics, ethics, and Advocacy manual Association, and long stints as a columnist religion. It is not necessary to know them Green Ink: An Introduction to for American Forests and Field and all, but the ability to ask questions and Environmental Journalism Stream. Eventually new editors at both digest answers is a skill in itself, the basis by Michael Frome magazines nudged him out when they con- of writing with breadth and perspective . . . University of Utah Press, Salt Lake City, cluded his commentary on political matters It plays by a set of rules based on a con- 1998 was rubbing their subscribers the wrong sciousness different from the dominant 195 pp., $19.95 (paperback) way. He went on to write several books modern American society.Ó about public land issues, including the ÑKathie Durbin If youÕre among the environmental classic Strangers in High Places, a history journalists who find themselves ready to of the Great Smoky Mountains. nnn leave mainstream journalism, this book is In one of the bookÕs most useful sec- for you. tions, Frome offers practical advice for the Frome, one of the nationÕs foremost journalist who chooses the rocky path of Handling the media authors on nature conservation, turned to free-lance writing, drawn from interviews The Piracy of America: Profiteering in the teaching journalism late in his career. In with those who have made it, or at least Public Domain. Green Ink, he offers a provocative mes- have not yet given up the Edited by Judith Scherff sage: Advocacy journalism on the environ- struggle. Perhaps the most Clarity Press, Inc., Atlanta, Ga., 1999 mental beat is a venerable and worthy pro- succinct advice comes from 278 pp., $18.50 (paperback) fession. Whether or not you agree, Frome Journalism Dictionary offers insights that will enrich your under- Environmental Learn how corporations completely standing of the genre. Directory Book Shelf circumvent the media. Find out more For several years, until his retirement, writer T.H. Watkins: ÒRead absolutely about the Wise Use movement that coun- Frome taught a popular course in advocacy everything on the subject you can find, then teracts the efforts of environmentalists. environmental journalism at Western unearth another way of presenting it, anoth- Read about rent-a-scientist and news pollu- Washington University in Bellingham, er angle, better research, a legitimate chal- tion. Wash.,Ñwithout apologies. He acknowl- lenge to accepted truthÑor find yourself ItÕs all contained in The Piracy edges that by doing so he violated princi- another Love Canal.Ó of America, a collection of searing articles ples held dear by many practitioners of the Frome inevitably offers a roster of by such authors as David Orr, Conger profession. ÒAdvocacy writing is to the martyrs on the environment beat. Full dis- Beasley Jr., Douglas Trent, Wes Jackson, mainstream media and to many journalism closure demands that I mention my inclu- and John Stauber. schools sheer anathema,Ó he writes. ÒThey sion on that list. In March of 1994, I The piece entitled ÒNews Pollution,Ó want writing to be free of Ôvalue judg- appeared with Frome on a panel at an acad- by Stauber and co-author Sheldon mentsÕ, without evidence of imagination or emic conference in Reno, Nev., entitled Rampton, is particularly riveting. Both sense of person.Ó ÒMedia and the Environment: Passion, men work for the non-profit Center for Frome sees it differently: ÒThe best Politics and Empowerment.Ó I was candid Media & Democracy in Madison, Wis., journalism carries authority and a sense of about the challenges I faced in setting aside and edit the investigative quarterly purpose. Literate writing, advocacy writ- my feelings about the logging of old- PR Watch. They are also co-authors of ing, contributes to a view of the world that growth forests in order to maintain my pro- Toxic Sludge is Good for You: Damn Lies is more rather than less complicated.Ó fessionalism as an environmental reporter. and the Public Relations Industry, and To this reader, what Frome calls advo- Too candid, as it turned out. Four months Mad Cow U.S.A.: Could the Nightmare cacy journalism sounds closer to investiga- later, I was reassigned, and I subsequently Happen Here? tive reporting or interpretive writing than left my newspaper job. To my surprise, I The section on video news releases flat-out advocacy. ÒWhen reporters cover found my words at that long-ago confer- (VNR) produced by PR firms offers a environmental issues, they go mostly to ence quoted in FromeÕs book. detailed inside look at how these pre- accepted authorities and official sources, My story is hardly unique. It is worth packed promotions get used as legitimate accessible and respectable,Ó he complains. asking what it is about advocacy and the news by deadline-maddened or budget- ÒThe independent-minded, irreverent environmental beat that prompts some strapped TV stations. reporter who digs through files and inter- reporters to forfeit professional advance- An excerpt: ÒVNRs are as much a pub- views dissenters is apt to pay the price of a ment and financial security so they can lic relations fixture as the print news complaint from the editor for that unforgiv- keep doing what they love. Perhaps, as release,Ó stated George Glazer, a senior able sin, Ôlosing objectivity.ÕÓ Maybe, but Frome suggests, it is that environmental vice president of Hill & Knowlton. ÒIn fact, that could also mean that he or she is work- journalism is a calling. many public relations firms are well into ing for the wrong newspaper. ÒEnvironmental writing reaches deep- the second generation of VNR technology. Frome offers a distillation of his own er, with beginning, middle, and end inte- We use satellite transmissions from our experience here, including a brief but grally joined,Ó Frome writes. ÒIt examines own facilities almost on a daily basis, and promising stint at the Washington Post interlocking systems that touch every wait eagerly for fiber optics systems to after World War II, 10 years as a travel aspect of life: science, botany, biology, allow us to dial into nationwide networks.Ó
14 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Journalism Dictionary Environmental
Directory Book Shelf ÒNews PollutionÓ points to databases porate board rooms and the courts to clean that PR firms keep on environmental jour- waters polluted by urban growth and nalists. For example, former Wall Street industrial success. Journal reporter Dean Rotbart runs a firm The idea of a riverkeeper started with called TJFR Products and Services, Hudson River fisherman Bob Boyle in Òwhich compiles dossiers on his former 1969. The Hudson River fishermen knew colleagues so that corporate clients know people were concerned about the environ- how to manipulate individual members of ment as Earth Day 1970 dawned. Hatched the media,Ó according to Stauber. over coffee and beer, the idea of river- One edition of RotbartÕs TFJR keeping became reality in 1983 when the Environmental News Reporter notes that Hudson River FishermenÕs Association Peter Dykstra, from CNNÕs environmental began the Riverkeeper program, and the unit, worked for Greenpeace for 11 years. two organizations merged in 1986. From John PassacantandoÕs piece, ÒHow New YorkÕs Hudson River, the Industry Combats Climate Protection,Ó Riverkeepers spawned branches from San spotlights among many things how an ad Francisco and San Diego to New Jersey agency with a $500,000 budget placed a and Georgia. 60-second spot on the Rush Limbaugh First, John Cronin tells his story from Show to counter global warming theorists. the standpoint of his career as a commer- The bill was paid by the Information cial fisherman who worked in all hours Council for the Environment (ICE), which and in all weather until he became the first ment to democracy and the land. It is had on its board key players in the fossil Hudson Riverkeeper in 1983. The fisher- refreshing to read how communities come fuel industry. ICE hoped to show evidence men believed in their fundamental rights together to tackle environmental problems. of global warming was lacking, and to to protect themselves from pollution spew- ÑMary Manning nudge the public away from alternative ing from factories, landfills, and toxic fuel sources. dumps. ThatÕs why they organized and Tarso Luis Ramos discusses the Wise knocked on doors of young, eager lawyers CEO Epiphany Use movement in his article ÒMobilizing such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Mid-Course Correction Against Environmentalism.Ó An excerpt: Raised in wealth, but with a sense of by Ray C. Anderson ÒBy characterizing environmental regula- public responsibility, Kennedy recounts The Peregrinzilla Press, Atlanta, 1998 tions as a principal cause of job loss and the same love as Cronin for fishing and 208 pp., $17.95 (softcover) economic dislocation, and promoting wading and swimming in the Hudson. activism as the only defense against eco- Whether battling the Edison Electric This is succinct evangelism at its best. nomic ruin and government tyranny, Wise Institute, a powerful representative of You can tell this Georgia carpet manufac- Use organizers have spawned anti-envi- major utilities, or corporate giants such as turer has Òseen the lightÓ and wants to ronmental citizens groups in communities General Electric, Cronin and Kennedy spread the gospel. But what makes this throughout the West and the nation, domi- delved into the muck pouring from a hid- book unusual and worthwhile reading nating local politics with an industry agen- den pipe in the dead of night to bring evi- is hearing such sophisticated environmen- da and building a power at the state and dence of environmental crimes to an often tal preaching from a businessman, in national levels.Ó indifferent judicial system. And some- the language business people like best: the Piracy belongs on every journalistÕs times, to their surprise, they won. bottom line. bookshelf. The Hudson River environmentalism Anderson draws on, and credits, the ÑDavid Liscio has become a national model for activists work of othersÑnotably Paul Hawken, trying to protect ecosystems anywhere. Bill McDonough, Daniel Quinn, and Karl- nnn The striking thing about the book is its Henrik RobertÑbut his voice is that of a wealth of knowledge about environmental CEO of a billion-dollar company in the Water warriors law from the Magna Carta to the current middle of its own mid-course correction state of environmental justice. These and partway to becoming sustainable. The Riverkeepers themes flow along with the Hudson River, There are a lot of Big Ideas hereÑ By John Cronin and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. giving the reader a feel for the urgency familiar to most environmental journalists, A Touchstone Book Published by Simon and power rooted in the lives of ordinary but probably not to most corporate execu- & Schuster, 1997 men and women who search for environ- tives. Among them: 302 pp., $14 (paperback) mental order. (Continued next page...) The authors say at the end that This is a story of grassroots activists, Americans do not share a common culture, These and other books are available fishermen, boaters, and blue-collar work- history, language, race, or religion, but on the web at www.sej.org. Click on the ers who join scientists and lawyers in cor- what makes one an American is a commit- ÒSEJ StoreÓ link.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 15 Journalism Dictionary Environmental
Directory Book Shelf ¥ the notion that it took the first bil- Suggestions and Teamwork) and PLET- pet sales and instead toward carpet leas- lion years for the toxins of planetary cre- SUS (Practices LEading Toward ing, with Interface taking back the carpet ation to sink safely below the EarthÕs SUStainability). But what saves and recycling it at the end of its life. crust, while in the blink of an eye since AndersonÕs book from being just another AndersonÕs ultimate goal is to extract zero the industrial revolution, humans have flavor-of-the-month business reinvention materials and emit zero waste sometime in mined, drilled, and excavated those same how-to is his comprehensible style andÑ the 21st century. In other words, to recycle toxins back up to the surface; for the most partÑgraphics. Even the everything to close the loop. ¥ the need for a more honest account- preachiness works. By the time I put the Ironically, while capitalism went ing system for business and government, book down, I was almost ready to go up to global in search of greater profits, global- one which includes the true value of natur- the pulpit and deliver my own sermon. ization may end up driving the green busi- al resources and the cost of cleanup neces- The fact that Anderson has actual ness agenda by making the interconnec- sary after extracting and using them; results to show the economic value of run- tions and limits of EarthÕs ecosystem more ¥ an action plan for businesses that ning an environmentally responsible cor- obvious. As business increasingly has to equates waste with inefficiency and lost poration gives the proselytizing a real- solve costly problems of emissions and profits. world punch. He claims that in just the toxics, energy efficiency, and transporta- There is a cult-like tone to second year of doing business more sus- tion to stay competitive, Mid-Course AndersonÕs book. It is replete with lists of tainably, his carpet companyÑInterfaceÑ Correction has the potential to become a things like the 3 P s (people, product, increased sales by $200 million without key road map for CEOs. In the meantime, place), the 4 system conditions and the 7 extracting any additional petrochemicals itÕs an excellent primer on the emerging Fronts (to sustainability) and acronyms or raw materials from EarthÕs lithosphere. green business philosophy for journalists. like QUEST (Quality Utilizing Employees One key shift was moving away from car- ÑChristy George
New SEJ members from 2/8/99Ñ5/12/99 COLORADO Biology, Ann Arbor ALASKA ¥ Jennifer Bowles (Active), Associated NORTH CAROLINA ¥ Doug OÕHarra (Active), Anchorage Press, Boulder Bureau ¥ Baltazar P. Quinain (Active), The Anson Daily News, We Alaskans Magazine, ¥ Laura L Levaas (Active), The Greeley Record, Wadesboro ARIZONA Tribune, Greeley NEW York ¥ Jennifer E. Sterba (Active), Casa DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ¥ Wayne A. Hall (Active), Times Herald- Grande Dispatch, Casa Grande ¥ Britt Erickson (Active), American Record, Editorial Department, Cornwall- CALIFORNIA Chemical Society, Analytical Chemistry, on-Hudson ¥ Andrew D. Bridges (Active), Pasadena ¥ Caron Gibson (Associate) Negative ¥ Keith Kloor (Associate) Audubon Star News, Pasadena Population Growth, Population Ltd, Magazine, New York ¥ Frances Fernandes (Active), Press ¥ Kivi Leroux (Active) TEXAS Enterprise, Riverside ¥ David Whitman (Active), US News & ¥ Ingrid Truemper (Active), Steven ¥ Matt Fitzsimons (Active), The Desert World Report Publishing Corporation, Environmental Sun, Palm Springs FLORIDA Protection Magazine, Dallas ¥ Jackie Alan Giuliano (Active), ¥ Tressa Whalen (Academic), University VIRGINIA Environment News Service, Venice of South Florida, St. Petersburg ¥ Ron Geatz (Associate), Nature ¥ Matt Golec (Academic), University of GEORGIA Conservancy Magazine, Arlington Calif. School of Journalism, Berkeley ¥ Juliet Charney (Active), Atlanta ¥ David L. Haase (Active), National ¥ David Gross (Academic), University of ILLINOIS Journal, Greenwire, Alexandria Calif. School of Journalism, Berkeley ¥ Melissa Ramsdell Knopper (Active), ¥ David Hosansky (Active), Falls Church ¥ Tony Hopfinger (Active), Redding The Daily Herald, Chicago WASHINGTON Record Searchlight, Redding MASSACHUSETTS ¥ Christina S. Johnson (Active), North ¥ John Loretz (Active), Medicine & ¥ Orlando De Guzman (Active), KUOW County Times, Editorial Dept, San Diego Global Survival, Cambridge Public Radio, Seattle ¥ Lesley Kirk (Academic), San Diego ¥ Tom Walsh (Active), Patriot Ledger, WISCONSIN State University Journalism Department Newton ¥ Nikki Kallio (Active), Wausau Daily ¥ Robin Musitelli (Active), Santa Cruz MARYLAND Herald, Wausau County Sentinel, Santa Cruz ¥ Brian J. Hewitt (Active), Finger Lakes WEST VIRGINIA ¥ Emily K. Noha (Academic), University Productions International, Silver Spring ¥ Jack E. Fayak (Active), WCHS TV8, of California, Ecology, Evolution and MICHIGAN Charleston Marine Biology, Santa Barbara ¥ Gregory Dunn (Associate) Acton AUSTRALIA ¥ Mitch Tobin (Active), Napa Valley Institute, Acton Notes, Grand Rapids ¥ Murray Griffin (Active), Asia Register, Yountville ¥ Kelly A. MacVoy (Active), Cedar Environmental Review, Marrickville ¥ Anita Wadhwani (Academic), Springs Post, Grand Rapids VIRGIN ISLANDS University of California School of ¥ Chris M. OÕNeal (Academic), ¥ Dana Anderson-Villamagna (Active), Journalism, Berkeley University of Michigan, Department of Virgin Islands Daily News, Christiansted
16 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Chemical companies resist accident inquiries Anticipating partial disclosures By PAUL ORUM Management Plans (61 FR 31726). puter failures that may cause an accident As stipulated by the Clean Air Act, The EPA is taking sufficient steps ¥ Hold government accountable for reduc- 112(r), an estimated 66,000 facilities that to reduce chemical hazards. ing hazards nationwide use extremely hazardous chemicals have The U.S. EPA has never used its clear ¥ Link other national environmental, work- until June 21 to report to the EPA what legal authority under the Clean Air Act, er safety, and public health databases could happen in a chemical accident, from 112(r)(7)(A) and 112(r)(9), to reduce the ¥ Conduct efficient education and training the most-likely accident to a worst-case hazards that the chemical industry brings across many jurisdictions scenario. Much of the information will be into communities. Nor do the security ¥ Analyze trends by geographic area, available to the public on the Internet. agencies, Congress, or industry have a chemical, company, or industry Some in the chemical industry and gov- serious, quantifiable program to prevent ¥ Obtain timely access to information in ernment are resisting full disclosure and these hazards. all localities in the needed format-on-line, are working to restrict communication The industry is taking sufficient on diskette, or on paper about chemical hazards. (See editorÕs steps to reduce chemical hazards. ¥ Avoid needless information access bur- note, below.) The industry has no quantifiable pub- dens on local governments The Working Group on Community Chemical accidents are infrequent. Right-to-Know in Washington, D.C., Every 15 minutes in the U.S., on believes that their arguments are not valid, ReporterÕs average, a chemical fire, spill, or explo- and that full disclosure of accident scenar- sion is reported through the EPAÕs ios is necessary to overcome institutional Emergency Response Notification complacency, to encourage safer technolo- Toolbox System, or 38,305 incidents in 1997. Of gies, and to honor the publicÕs right-to- these incidents, more than 1,000 caused know. For journalists planning on inter- lic pledge and timeline to reduce worst- death or injury. Further, current trends in viewing company spokespersons about the case vulnerability zones. Yet companies infrastructure disinvestment and corporate June disclosures, following are some sam- can reduce hazards by using safer chemi- downsizing are eroding safety. ple objections you may hear, and possible cals, reducing process pressures or vol- A reader survey by Industrial Safety responses to them. More may be seen at umes, adding secondary containment or and Hygiene News found that Ò78 percent the web site: www.rtk.net/wcs. automatic shut-off devices, and widening believe accidents are more likely as Worst-case scenarios provide a buffer zones. employees work longer hours, handle new ÒblueprintÓ on how to sabotage indus- An EPA-funded study says putting assignments, and fear for their jobs.Ó In trial facilities. information on the Internet increases addition, Òyear-2000Ó computer problems Risk Management Plans (RMP) do risks. pose new hazards. The Gartner Group, not include any information about how to The study, by AEGIS, estimated rela- which advises businesses worldwide, esti- sabotage an industrial facilityÑno techni- tive risk using an undefined ÒxÓ as the mates that 50 percent of companies in the cal data about how to cause a Òworst- baseline riskÑbut if ÒxÓ is very small (as chemical processing industry Òwill experi- caseÓ event, no tank locations, no plant experts believe), then two times ÒxÓ is ence at least one mission-critical system security information, and no classified also tiny. Remarkably, AEGIS omitted failureÓ due to date-related computer fail- information. from its analysis any benefits from dis- ures, which can lead to chemical acci- Keeping information off the closing chemical hazards to workers, fire dents. Finally, health and safety figures Internet will prevent ÒterroristsÓ from departments, and the public. Further, the often exclude both long-term health targeting chemical plants. report did not explain why use of the effects and contract employees (who are Anyone can get information about the Internet would be necessary to target an less familiar with facilities and have high- largest and most dangerous facilities industrial facility, nor did it identify any er rates of accidents). storing chemicals without using the examples of people using the Internet to Internet (or using information already on do so. The chemical industry funded a the Internet). People can obtain informa- subsequent AEGIS study. Paul Orum is associated with the tion from the telephone book, direct Providing only local worst-case sce- Working Group on Community Right-to- observation, trade publications, industry narios satisfies the publicÕs right-to- Know in Washington, D.C. public relations events, common sense, know. and other sources. Without ready access to national EditorÕs note: At this writing, the House Disclosing worst-case scenarios will information people wonÕt be able to: subcommittee for Health and Environment compromise national security. ¥ Learn about hazards in other jurisdic- plan hearings on HR 1790, a bill to withold The U.S. EPA has specifically pro- tions where relatives live or children go to worst-case scenario information from the hibited facilities from including any clas- school Internet. The senate environment commit- sified information in their Risk ¥ Prioritize correction of Òyear-2000Ó com- tee approved such language May 11.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 17 Should we look Hi-tech surprises: before we leap? By PETER FAIRLEY change, the large number of small farms trolled gut, researchers at two state New technologies often come with still run by families, and EuropeÕs experi- research institutes in the Netherlands have unintended consequences. Take the ence during the Holocaust that genetics found that DNA may survive longer in the destruction of the ozone layer, for exam- can be abused. human gut than previously believed. The ple. The possibility of such impacts sim- As an afterthought, the story mentions research, reported this January, suggests ply was outside of the realm of possibili- EuropeÕs recent experience with mad cow that DNA from transgenic commoditiesÑ ties considered by chemical companies disease showing that regulatorsÕ assur- including antibiotic resistance genes used when they introduced Òwonder productsÓ ances of safety could be wrong. That is as in the genetic engineering processÑcould such as chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, far as the 2,257-word story delves into the pass to bacteria in the gut. brominated flame retardants, and other possible ecological and health threats ¥ A toxicologist at the U.K.Õs state- halogenated compounds. Avian reproduc- from these crops. funded Rowett Institute found that geneti- tion was similarly off the radar screen It is true that science has not yet cally-engineered potatoes containing when DDT made its debut. proven that there is a threat. But that is not lectins, natural plant defense peptides, can Yet, as the end of the 20th Century surprising, since the technology has only weaken the immune system of rats and approaches, I wonder whether we have been widely used for a few years. Plus, lit- stunt their growth. learned a most important lesson from tle independent research has been done on Whereas the U.S. press has largely these technological surprises: to anticipate ignored these results, many European the unexpected, to expect the unpre- Viewpoints reporters have hyped it as evidence of cer- dictable, and respect those possibilities tain doom. This is particularly evident in that appear unlikely. Reporting on the is a regular feature offering a the case with the lectin-enhanced potatoes. introduction of genetically engineered forum to those who deal with Leading newspapers in the U.K. interpret- crops makes me think not. environmental issues in the media. ed the research as a broad indictment of Most reporting on these cropsÑplants Opposing viewpoints are welcome. transgenic crops (the researcher fanned the that are engineered to, for instance, toler- flames by attacking the safety of geneti- ate herbicide or resist attack by insectsÑ transgenic cropsÑa problem that has long cally modified foods, while Rowett helped has been either hysterical or dismissive. plagued pesticide science, particularly by sacking him). Meanwhile, the science regarding health when risks rather than benefit are at issue. The studies merely confirmed the and ecological threats from these crops But the limited independent research obvious fact that harmful traits can be paints a less certain picture. Worry tends available, while inconclusive, has cast genetically spliced from one plant to to dominate European reports, reflecting doubt on sweeping safety claims put for- another. Naturally occurring lectins in strong consumer concern there over genet- ward by boosters of the technology such beans contribute to a regular stream of ically-modified crops. In contrast, many as crop innovator Monsanto. Here are a gastric upsets among people who under- U.S. reports reflect the relatively low pro- few recent reports: cook their beans, just as the lectins added file the issue has garnered here. ¥ University of Chicago ecologists to the potatoes upset lab rats. A front-page story that ran in The New reported in Nature last fall that transgenic The lectin-modified potatoes caused York Times last July is a particularly strik- mustard crops are 20 times more likely to more harm to the rats than did convention- ing example. The story, ÒEurope, Bucking interbreed with wild relatives than are al potatoes spiked with lectins. But more Trend in U.S., Blocks Genetically Altered mustard crops modified through tradition- research is needed to explain this; at the Food,Ó opens with Kaspar Gunthardt, a al breeding. The results suggest that very least, the original study needs to be Swiss potato farmer. After describing genetic engineering increases the likeli- peer-reviewed and published. efforts by companies such as Monsanto hood that engineered traits such as insect Reporters covering such a new tech- and Novartis to get their crops approved in resistance and herbicide tolerance will nology must be patient as the science Europe, the farmer flatly rejects their use. spread to wild plants. gathers, while insisting that science ÒThey are changing the basic rules of life ¥ A New York University biologist explores both the intended and unintended and they want to try it all out on us... But it found that Bt toxins in transgenic crops products of the seeds it sows. As with per- wonÕt happen on this farm. Here we are can accumulate in soil, threatening desir- sistent toxins such as PCBs and DDT, going to live like God intended.ÕÕ able soil insects. The researcher found that these plants, once released, could prove From there the article describes other metabolic activity was lower in soil hard to shove back in the bottle. Europeans, including several notables containing husks and other remains from such as Prince Charles, who are as Bt crops. This accumulation is unlikely ÒinflexibleÓ as Gunthardt, and seeks when Bt sprays are applied (as opposed Peter Fairley manages the technology to understand why they have dug to the use of engineered crops) because and environment coverage for Chemical in their heels against agricultural the sprays contain a pro-toxin that Week, edits SEJournalÕs Viewpoints col- progress. The explanations focus on Òcul- becomes active only upon digestion by umn, and occasionally eats processed turalÓ factors, including a strong environ- targeted insects. foods chock-full of genetically-modified mental movement, a fear of drastic ¥ Using a simulated, computer-con- soybeans.
18 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Cover Story
Sprawl...(from page 1) Sprawl Studies help keep major metropolitan areas in sprawl development patterns, and of 26 ¥ Burchell, Robert W., Naveed A. nonattainment for air quality standards. percent for local road infrastructure. These Shad, et al. 1998. ÒThe Costs of ¥ Land supply. Open space and farm- costs translate into real estate taxes and Sprawl Revisited.Ó (Washington, D.C.: land disappear in the face of bulldozers utility rates, the classic stuff of local polit- Transportation Research Board). preparing the way for development of new ical uprisings. ¥ Burchell, Robert W., et al. 1992. residential subdivisions, strip malls, and An interesting story lies in comparing ÒImpact Assessment of the New Jersey office buildings. your metropolitan areaÕs governance State Development and Redevelopment ¥ Transit viability. The main reason structure with those in areas pursuing Plan, Report III: Research FindingsÓ it is so hard to keep transit systems solvent growth management strategies. Just last (Trenton, N.J. Office of State Planning). is that we do not build neighborhoods year, Tennessee enacted new planning ¥ James Duncan and Associates, et with enough density to support transit rid- legislation requiring municipalities and al. 1989. ÒThe Search for Efficient ership at an economically viable level. counties to develop urban growth bound- Urban Growth PatternsÓ (Tallahassee, So how do you get an angle on such aries, which establish outer limits for per- FL: Florida Dept of Community Affairs). issues? There is one aspect of the story missible new development. Other cities ¥ Real Estate Research Corporation. that appeals to taxpayers, utility rate pay- and counties use urban service areas 1974. ÒThe Costs of Sprawl: ers, public officials, and developers all at beyond which they will not extend vital Environmental and Economic Costs of the same time. Sprawl costs moneyÑ public infrastructure upon which new Alternative Development Patterns at the buckets of money. development relies. Regional governance Urban Fringe,Ó three vols. (Washington, Various researchers, including Robert structures have existed in the Twin Cities D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office). Burchell, a professor of urban planning at and Portland, Or., metropolitan areas since Rutgers University, and study groups with the 1970s and help to reduce the fragmen- one community to reap the economic ben- the Bank of America, the Maine State tation otherwise inherent in much local efits while others get to share the pain? Planning Office, and the American government planning. What roles do states play in legisla- Farmland Trust have studied the fiscal and Even if your area is pursuing such tion on planning? Through enabling legis- economic impacts of sprawl and found strategies, the story may be instead, how lation, states delegate their authority to them costly and a potential deterrent to a well is it working? local governments to plan and control land metropolitan areaÕs long-term economic Reporters can extract great stories use. Enabling legislation allows local gov- competitiveness. The sidebar included from one simple question: What do neigh- ernments to do something, but in a certain here on the best of the sprawl studies boring communities in an area get to say way and through certain mechanisms. highlights some of these resources. about a proposed new development whose Sometimes the local government will One Burchell study of New Jersey impacts extend well beyond the bound- already have this power delegated directly showed savings of eight percent for utility aries of the community that is approving to it through the state constitution or costs in compact growth, compared to it? What are the implications of allowing through a statutory grant of power by the state legislature. In some states municipal- ities have home rule charters that allow them to operate differently than state law would normally require. Two standard acts published by the
Photo by Chris Rigel U.S. Department of Commerce in the 1920s laid the basic foundation for zoning and for planning in the U.S. One was the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act (1922-26) and the other was the Standard City Planning Act (1928). When drafted, the acts were extremely popular, particularly the zoning act, and for much of the nation, the acts still supply the insti- tutional structure for planning and land use control. The acts were formulated during a period in which American cities were undergoing tremendous expansion. Then- Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover was particularly interested in ensuring that Two acres of farmland disappear each minute, says American Farmland Trust (Continued on next page)
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 19 Cover Story goals that have been adopted by the land (from page 19) conservation and development commis- Sprawl... sion. All local governments must adopt cities had the tools to cope with this surge tionality of zoning came before them. comprehensive plans, and all municipal of growth and to protect private invest- While planning legislation worked plans must include urban growth areas. ment, particularly residences, from nui- fairly well during the early years of the Florida also began revamping its sys- sance-like problems. post-WWII period, by the 1960s, states tem in the early 1970s and has continued At that time, zoning itself was a rela- began to consider and adopt legislation that over the years. In addition to reviewing tively new concept and, in the early 1920s, strengthened the role of the state protecting local comprehensive plans, the state desig- cases involving zoning were just beginning key state resources and overseeing, in nates areas of critical concern, such as the to come before the state and federal courts. some cases, local planning and land devel- Everglades, that are subject to special devel- Thus, the drafting of the acts was also moti- opment control. Hawaii, for example, opment controls. Through ÒconcurrencyÓ vated by a desire for uniform national adopted statewide zoning. New York State requirements in its state statutes, Florida framework that courts would be reluctant to created the Adirondack Park Agency to requires that local governments ensure that set aside when questions of the constitu- control development in the area around a public facilities are in place before the state park in upstate New York. effects of new development are felt. Some local governments began to There are many states with laws that Monitoring experiment with development timing or address development issuesÑstates with sprawl issues growth management systems that were comprehensive plans that can be studied ¥ U.S. EPA, Antidotes to Sprawl: intended to control the rate, as well as the for comparison to oneÕs own region. http://www.epa.gov/region5/sprawl/ location and character, of growth. These ¥ Sprawl Busters Web Site: systems were enacted, in part, to ensure http://www.sprawl-busters.com/ that when development occurred, the Jim Schwab is a senior research asso- ¥ Sierra Club: http://www.sierra- infrastructure capacity to support it would ciate for the American Planning club.org/transportation/index.html be there, either financed by the local gov- Association and co-editor of its monthly ¥ Sprawl Watch Clearinghouse: ernment or other governmental units, or by newsletter, Zoning News. Stuart Meck is http://www.sprawlwatch.org/ the developer. the principal investigator for Growing ¥ Smart Growth Network: State planning reform got an early Smart (SM), an APA project funded by http://www.smartgrowth.org/ start in Oregon, which began working on HUD and other federal agencies, and part- ¥ American Farmland Trust: its land-use planning system in 1973. The ners to develop model state planning and http://www.farmland.org/ state-administered system is guided by 19 zoning legislation.
involved. But if the end result is an increased awareness about Stars...(from page 1) environmental problems, then itÕs a good thing anyway.Ó Danson has shown that his interest in the environment goes 1998 part of a protest group of celebrities attempting to stop beyond the superficial, personally lobbying congressmen on the seal kill off CanadaÕs Prince Edward Island. Capitol Hill. In an interview with E Magazine, he said, ÒOne of Christopher Reeve, known for his role in the 1978 film the reasons that we picked oceans is that itÕs a great metaphor for Superman, joined Robert F. Kennedy Jr.Õs effort in 1993 everything that happens environmentally. Global warming, the to protect the Hudson River. In 1995, he aired a PBS ozone-layer, everything has an impact on the ocean. ItÕs like a documentary on gray whales. He also received an award mirror, reflecting the health of the planet.Ó from DansonÕs American OceanÕs Campaign. Harrelson became actively involved in ecological issues after Environmentalists seemingly have embraced filling in for Danson at an AOC event. Since then Harrelson celebrity intervention. Jan Schlichtmann, the real-life has made it clear heÕs willing to tangle with the government attorney in the now well-known Civil Action case, said, and big business in an effort to protect the environment and ÒJohn Travolta arrives on the scene and suddenly every- spark advocacy. bodyÕs interested in the case. Now that the movie is out, Cindy Delpapa, organizer for the grassroots Saugus River everybody wants to talk to me. IÕve had all kinds of offers Watershed Council near Boston, said, ÒIf people believe in it to speak, university lecture invitations, been on all kinds
. (environment), I donÕt care if they are a celebrity or not. If their
p
r of talk showsÑCNN, NPR, public television, and every- o C name will help bring awareness, thatÕs great. I donÕt think too
s
e
thing in between.Ó r u
t many stars do it for their own self interest. They could do some
c
i
James McCaffrey, executive director of the Sierra P
n horrible childhood illness and get more brownie points.Ó
o
i ClubÕs Massachusetts chapter. said, ÒAs long as the r O The Los Angeles-based Environmental Media Association f celebrityÕs interest is sincere and they are educated o
y
s (EMA), describes itself as Òthe premier organization of celebrities
e t
enough about the issue that they can educate the public, r u
o supporting the environment.Ó In 1991, the EMA launched the c
fine. IÕm sure some celebrities do it to make themselves o
t
o Environmental Media Awards. Among those soon recognized
h feel good. In some cases, self-promotion is probably P Òfor their strong ecological messagesÓ were the feature films
Kevin Costner
20 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Cover Story Ray Baron spent four decades as president of Baron, Hillman and Melnick, Inc., a Boston public relations firm. ÒSelling an Stars...(from page 20) environmental idea to the public is no different,Ó he said. ÒBut Dances With Wolves and A River Runs Through It. Television youÕd have to find a celebrity who has credibility. When I say series such as ÒNorthern Exposure,Ó ÒL.A. Law,Ó and ÒThe that, I think Paul Newman, or maybe Robert Redford.Ó SimpsonsÓ were also honored. According to Baron, Newman has mass appeal that spans Sev Williams, former EMA development director and current borders of age and gender. ÒEverybody can relate to Newman. director of the Earth 911 Promotions Group, said his previous There arenÕt many actors you can say that about.Ó mission was to Òget the environmental message into films, Christopher Callahan, associate dean of commercials and television programming.Ó The EMA contends the Journalism Department at the University it assisted with development of the story line in the film Free of Maryland and a former AP reporter, said Willy, which promoted Òharmony between man and animalsÓ celebrities are unlikely to affect policy through the tale of a young boyÕs friendship with an orca whale. change. ÒIf a celebrity came to town, sure, itÕs It also takes credit for providing producer-director Rob Reiner effective from a PR standpoint, at least for the with the exact words promoting the environment from a speech tube. But for print, itÕs hardly effective at all.Ó by Dr. David Suzuki, which actor Michael Douglas quoted while William Ketter, chairman of the journalism playing the President of the United States in the film, An department at Boston University, former UPI American President. reporter and president of the American Earth 911 gives consumers access to telephone hotlines and Society of Newspaper Editors from 1995-96, on-line Internet information about environmental issues in their said, ÒI think in some cases, celebrities get localities. ÒWhen celebrities first became aware of Earth 911 in involved as part of a publicity stunt. ThatÕs late 1998, there was a tremendous wave of support to get behind unfortunate if they have a shallow knowl- the movement,Ó said Williams. edge of the subject. But in other cases, it The movement received a boost from Julia Louis-Dreyfus, can help generate public interest.Ó then a cast member of ÒSeinfeld.Ó She agreed to record a public Without Don HenleyÕs fund-rais- Photo by Chris Rigel service announcement for radio, as did Wendie Mallick, of the ing to benefit ThoreauÕs Walden Robert Redford TV show ÒJust Shoot Me.Ó Woods and the volume of publicity it generated, the outcome ÒIf a celebrity supports the environment, but also wants to get might have been different, said Ketter, explaining that Òas a jour- into the headlines, itÕs a win-win situation,Ó said Williams. ÒThey nalist you look with skepticism at celebrity involvement with can get out there and do something they believe in, and let people issues like the environment. But you also realize that their know about it.Ó celebrity status has public interest, and if they are genuine about TV station managers can download the public service it, then you look at the news value.Ó announcements free from Earth 911. ÒThe PSAs get excellent air- Ellen Ruppel Shell, associate professor of journalism at play from media outlets,Ó Williams said. Boston University and co-director of the graduate program in sci- Do such efforts lead to changes in public policy? ence journalism, questioned HenleyÕs intervention. ÒDon Henley ÒI donÕt know if it can be directly correlated into policy sings a few songs, gets people riled up, and charges $1,000 or changes, but it does help,Ó said Williams. ÒIt shows the public $10,000 a plate for these fund-raising dinners. But the people who that Hollywood endorses the environmental movement. It shows rely on Walden Woods as a resource are being done quite a dis- the public and those people working in government who feel service, and that has happened in other areas,Ó she said. ÒCity slickers come in and say, this pristine environment needs to be protected from loggers or whomever because weÕve As a Journalist, you look with skepticism at got a vanishing species here, but the celebrity involvement with issues like environment local people are not given the same voice. Sometimes, they are not even asked for their opinion.Ó But you also realize that celebrity status has In ShellÕs view, the hit-and- run approach Òcan undermine the less public interest, and you look at the news value. sexy movements. Cleaning up a toxic waste dump or some of the Superfund nothing is getting done, that they are not fighting the environmen- sites isnÕt as sexy or romantic as saving the whales. The tal battle alone but are joined in the trenches by some of celebrities would probably save the whales first because of AmericaÕs most respected icons.Ó the photo opportunities it presents. ItÕs worrisome from a journal- ÒThe fact is, celebrities are figureheads in our culture,Ó he istic perspective.Ó added. Ò And for better or worse, celebrities are promoting envi- ronmental issues and environmental action, which does help get people off their butts,Ó he said, noting that the 1997 event featur- David Liscio is the environmental reporter for the Daily ing Louis-Dreyfus attracted more than 2,000 new members to the Evening Item of Lynn, Mass., and the SEJournalÕs Beat corre- Environmental Defense Fund. spondent for Massachusetts.
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 21 THE SOCIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS
UCLA Welcomes SEJ N I N T H N A T I O N A L C O N F E R E N C E September 16-19, 1999
hink your town is TOPICS ON THE TABLE FOR SEJÕS 1999 LEARN FROM THE EXPERTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE INCLUDE: environmentally challenged? Talent from some of the worldÕs leading T Then youÕve got to come to Hollywood and the Environment: Find out research institutions will be on hand, includ- ing the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Los Angeles in 1999 for SEJÕs Ninth what stars are doing for the environment and UCLAÕs Institute of the Environment, Rand how the press responds. Annual Conference, with hotel-style Corporation, Stanford University, and lodging and meeting space on the Cleaning the Air: Discover what works, what Monterey Bay Aquarium. lovely Westwood campus of doesnÕt, and whatÕs next as California leads the JOIN US AT SEJÕS FIRST NATIONAL way in the fight for clean air. the University of California at Los CONFERENCE ON THE WEST COAST Angeles, SEJÕs sponsor and host. The New Millennium: Join futurists, business, AT UCLA, SEPTEMBER 16Ð19, 1999 and environmental leaders for a look at where the Los Angeles is a microcosm of AmericaÕs environment is headed in the 21st century and Find out whether Southern California is an environmentÑa land of overwhelming ecological what we have learned this century. urban aberration to be avoided at all costs or the template for the future to be used in ills and breathtaking beauty. Behind palm-stud- Forests, Parklands, and Open Space: Can local your home town. ded beaches and celebrity glitz is a region of envi- mountains, deserts, and preserves survive the ronmental superlatives: worst smog, textbook onslaught of 15 million Angelinos? A look at sprawl, epicenter of species extinction, and a coast attempts to save wildlands from twin threats of besieged by civilization. Yet those challenges and love and neglect. more produce far-sighted remedies mimicked Visit us on the Web at around the world. If an environmental dispute is Beach Blues: An examination of coastal issues, www.sej.org from depletion of Pacific fish stocks to playing here, odds are it may soon arrive where Society of Environmental Journalists you live. And if itÕs happening where you live, it pollution in Santa Monica Bay, home of the P.O. Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 probably already played in LA. nationÕs most popular and famous beaches. (215) 836-9970
22 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The Beat Correspondents Contribute to The Beat North GeorgiaÑVacant 89107, [email protected], (702) HawaiiÑVacant 259-4065 The Beat is designed as an idea IdahoÑRocky Barker of the Idaho North CarolinaÑStuart Leavenworth, The exchange for environmental journalists and (Raleigh) News and Observer, PO Box 191, educators. It relies on information submitted Statesman, 2875 Harmony Street, Boise, ID, 83707, (208) 377-6484, rbarker@ Raleigh, NC, 27602, (919) 829-4859, stuartl by reporters about important issues, out- @mindspring.com standing coverage, and developments in micron.net environmental education and the communi- IllinoisÑJonathon Ahl, WCBU 89.9, 1501 W. Ohio, IndianaÑCharlie Prince at Ohio cations profession on a state-by-state basis. Bradley Avenue, Peoria, IL, 61625, Environmental Reporter, 516 Ludlow Ave. To submit ideas for possible mention [email protected], (309) 677-2761 Cincinnati, OH 45220, [email protected], (513) 221-0954 in The Beat, contact the SEJ correspondent IowaÑPerry Beeman at the Des Moines for the appropriate state(s) or contact Beat Register, P.O. Box 957, Des Moines, IA OregonÑOrna Isakson, 40013 Little Fall editor Chris Rigel at (215) 836-9970 or 50304, [email protected], (515) Creak Rd., Fall Creek, OR 97438, (541) 726- [email protected]. 284-8538 1578, [email protected] AlabamaÑVacant KansasÑMike Mansur at the Kansas City PennsylvaniaÑJohn Bartlett, Erie Daily Star, 1729 Grand Ave., Kansas City, MO Times, 513 13th St., Franklin, PA 16323, (814) AlaskaÑElizabeth Manning, Anchorage 64108, [email protected], (816) 234-4433 437-6397 Daily News, 1001 Northway Drive, Anchorage AK 99508, [email protected], (907) 257- KentuckyÑAndrew Melnykovych, Louisville Puerto Rico/Caribbean IslandsÑVacant 4323, fax: (907) 258-2157 Courier-Journal/Metro Desk, 525 West South CarolinaÑVacant Broadway, Louisville, KY 40201, Arizona and New MexicoÑPatti Epler, Tennessee and MississippiÑDebbie Gilbert, [email protected], (502) 582- Phoenix New Times, PO Box 2510, Phoenix, The Memphis Flyer, 460 Tennessee Street, 4645 AZ 85002, [email protected], (602) 229- Memphis, TN 38103, (901) 521-9000, 8451 LouisianaÑMike Dunne, Baton Rouge [email protected], Advocate, Box 588, Baton Rouge, LA 70821- ArkansasÑRobert McAfee, Thinking Like A Texas and Oklahoma: 0588, [email protected] (504) 383- Mountain Institute, 2610 West Hackett Rd, North Texas and OklahomaÑRandy Hackett, AR 72937, [email protected], (501) 0301 Loftis, The Dallas Morning News, 638-7151 Maine, New Hampshire, VermontÑRobert 508 Young St., Dallas, TX 75202, Braile, Boston Globe correspondent, P.O. Box California: [email protected], (800) 431-0010 1907, Exeter, N.H., 03833, [email protected]. Northern CaliforniaÑMark Grossi, com, (603) 772-6380 Central and West TexasÑRobert Fresno Bee, 1626 E Street, Fresno, CA 93786- Bryce, The Austin Chronicle, 3812 Maryland and DelawareÑTim Wheeler, The 0001, [email protected], (209) 441-6316 Brookview, Austin, TX 78722, rbryce@com- Sun, 501 N. Calvert St., Baltimore, MD 21278, puserve.com, (512) 454-5766 San Francisco Bay AreaÑJane Kay at [email protected], (301) 332-6564 the San Francisco Examiner, Box 7260, San East and Coastal TexasÑBill Dawson, MassachusettsÑDavid Liscio, Daily Evening Francisco, CA 94120, janekay@examiner. The Houston Chronicle, Box 4260, Houston, Item, 38 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01903, com, (415) 777-8704 TX 77210, bill.dawson@ chron.com, (713) [email protected], (781) 593-7700 Southern CaliforniaÑMarni McEntee, 220-7171 MichiganÑJeremy Pearce, Detroit News, Los Angeles Daily News, 20132 Observation UtahÑBrent Israelsen, Salt Lake Tribune, 615 W. Lafeyette Boulevard, Detroit, MI Drive, Topanga, CA 90290, (805) 641-0542 143 South Main, Salt Lake City, UT 84111, 48226, (313) 223-4825 ColoradoÑTodd Hartman, Colorado Springs [email protected], (801) 237-2045 Minnesota, North Dakota, South DakotaÑ Gazette, 30 S. Prospect St., Colorado Springs, VirginiaÑJeff South, Virginia Commonwealth Tom Meersman, Minneapolis Star Tribune, CO 80903, [email protected], (719) 636- University, 21st Century News Center, 10215 425 Portland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55488, 0285 Windbluff Drive, Richmond, VA 23233, [email protected], (612) 673-4414 Connecticut, Rhode IslandÑPeter Lord, [email protected], (804) 827-0253, fax: (804) Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., MissouriÑBill Allen, St. Louis Post- 827-0256 Dispatch, 900 N. Tucker Blvd., St. Louis, MO Providence, RI 02902, [email protected], Washington, WyomingÑMichelle Nijuis, (401) 277-8036 63101, [email protected], (314) High Country News, Box 1090, Paonia, CO 340-8127 District of ColumbiaÑCheryl Hogue, BNA, 81428, [email protected], (303) 527-4898, Daily Environment Report, 1231 25th St., MontanaÑTodd Wilkinson, P.O. Box 422, fax: (303) 527-4897 N.W., Room 361-S, Wash., DC 20037, Bozeman, MT 59771, [email protected], (406) West VirginiaÑKen Ward,Charleston [email protected], (202) 452-4625, fax (202) 587-4876 Gazette, 1001 Virginia St. East, Charleston, 452-7891 NebraskaÑJulie Anderson, Omaha World- WV 25301, [email protected], (304) Florida and Georgia Herald, 1334 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 348-1702 68102, [email protected], (402) 444-1000 North Florida and South GeorgiaÑ Wisconsin Wisconsin ext. 1223 ÑChuck Quirmbach, Deborrah Hoag, 727 Egret Bluff Lane, Public Radio, 111 East Kilbourn Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32211, [email protected], New JerseyÑVacant #1060, Milwaukee, WI 53202, quirmbach@ (904) 721-3497 New YorkÑErik Nelson, Long Island Voice, vilas.uwex.edu, (414) 271-8686 or (608) 263- South FloridaÑAndrew Conte, Stuart P.O. Box 583, Miller Place, NY 11764, envi- 7985 News, 1591 Port St. Lucie Boulevard #K, [email protected], (516) 744-5161 CanadaÑDoug Draper, The Standard,17 Stuart, FL 34592, [email protected], NevadaÑMary Manning, Las Vegas Sun, Queen Street, St. Catherines, ON L2R 5G5, (561) 337-5827 800 S. Valley View Blvd., Las Vegas, NV (905) 684-7251 x229
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 23 The Beat sources? Will the land be contaminated ARIZONA CALIFORNIA forever? With some counties and cities balking over such questions, Kern, Kings, ä Homebuilding giant Del Webb ä A government study released in and Riverside counties become far more Corporation announced a $2.5 million gift March says construction that churns up important to Los Angeles County, which to kick off a fundraising drive to benefit naturally occurring asbestos creates a contracts with those counties to spread the Grand Canyon National ParkÑand potentially significant health hazard to sewage of 5 million people. The wet and touched off another controversy over those living in California foothill commu- composted sludge is hauled away and commercialization of the nationÕs parks. nities. The report focused on Eldorado spread on private lands, usually belonging Environmental reporter Steve Yozwiak of County in Northern California. The report to farmers. Contact Wendy Owen, The the Arizona Republic reported on the also said quarries that crunch greenish, Bakersfield Californian, at (661) 395- donation on Jan. 29 in a story that also asbestos-laden serpentine rock for gravel 7376 or [email protected]. delved into the increasing reliance by the and decorative landscaping may increase National Park Service on the largess of health risks of surrounding residents. The ä Clothes with built-in pesticide private businesses. For information con- Asbestos Task Force of local, state, and detoxifiers may soon be available to pro- tact Yozwiak at (602) 444-8810 or federal officials and scientists from a tect agricultural workers from exposure to [email protected]. dozen agencies was launched last year some carbamate pesticides, researchers after a March 12 Sacramento Bee story with the University of California at Davis ä The Wildlands Project is a new exposed the hazards of asbestos in the announced March 23 during the American initiative aimed at establishing broad construction. For more information con- Chemical Society conference in Anaheim, swaths of wilderness across North tact Chris Bowman, Sacramento Bee, Calif. Louise Ko, a UC Davis graduate America in a patchwork of regional habi- [email protected] or (916) 321-1069. student, developed a treatment for cotton- tats. The fledgling ÒrewildingÓ movement, based textiles based on chlorine and the born in Tucson by former Earth First! ä Yosemite National Park is still compound hydantoin, which can decom- members, got an early public airing in the reeling from the aftermath of a record pose up to 99 percent of methomyl and Jan. 28 Tucson Weekly in a story by Tim flood in Jan. 1997. Business and visitor- aldicarb within five minutes. Contact Vanderpool. Vanderpol can be reached at ship continue on a downward trend. The Janet Byron Pesticide and Toxic Chemical (520) 792-3630. visitor total for 1998 was 3.79 million Ñ News at (510) 848-4008 or bjanet@earth- lowest since 1991. With rebuilding of link.net for this March story. ä A proposed Sonoran Desert Yosemite Lodge held up by an inadequate ä U.S. EPA Region IX will con- National Park would cover 5,000 square environmental study, it may be 2002 miles along the Arizona-Mexico border. before the concessionÕs business returns to tribute $100,000 to help California deter- Organizers are already trying to figure out normal levels. mine why residents of Lompoc have high- how best to ease the proposal through a Looming later this year is a deadline er-than-expected rates of respiratory ill- politically tough Congress. Their answer, to file the preferred alternative for restor- nesses. Lompoc residents believe that pes- according to a March 15 story in the ing sensitive Yosemite Valley. The plan is ticide drift from the regionÕs farms is Arizona Daily Star by Tony Davis: the likely to include a controversial busing making them sick. Last year, CaliforniaÕs militaryÕs practice bombing runs and most plan that will eventually force many auto- Office of Health Hazard Assessment hunting could continue, but no racing mobiles out of the valley. Bottom line: (OEHHA) released a study showing that around offroad in four-wheel-drive vehi- Another lawsuit and further delay seem Lompoc residents suffered from lung and cles. Contact Davis at (520) 573-4220 or unavoidable on a plan that has thus far bronchus cancers at a 37 percent higher [email protected]. taken 19 years to get off the ground. For rate than surrounding communities, as more on this Feb. 22 story, contact Mark well as 85 percent more bronchitis and ä The San Carlos Apache Indian Grossi, Fresno Bee, at (559) 441-6316 or asthma. The story ran in the March issue of Pesticide and Toxic Chemical News. tribe settled a longstanding water-rights [email protected]. Contact Janet Byron at (510) 848-4008 or claim with the federal government, free- [email protected]. ing up enough water to serve 300,000 ä Southern California is watching as people a year. The claim also means the more counties and cities ban the commer- ä Cattle readily pick up dioxin from tribe can access $50 million in develop- cial spreading of biosolids, or sewage ment funds Congress and the state agreed sludge. Sutter, Stanislaus, and San pentachlorophenol (PCP)-treated woods in to give the tribe more than seven years Joaquin counties already have forbidden barns, enclosures, and fence posts on the ago. The settlement is expected to clear it. Now, Lancaster, a city about 30 miles farm, a USDA researcher told the the way for similar resolutions of about south of Mojave in Los Angeles County, American Chemical Society March 23. 65,000 water rights claims in central and has banned it. There are simply too many Furthermore, individual animals will have southern Arizona, according to reporter unanswered questions about biosolids and different dioxin exposures depending on Steve Yozwiak of the Arizona Republic. their impact on the environment, officials how accessible and weathered the treated Contact Yozwiak at (602) 444-8810 or say. What happens to the heavy metals wood is and how likely the animal is to [email protected]. and pathogens? How safe are water lick and chew it, said Vern Feil of the
24 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The Beat Agricultural Research ServiceÕs employees who manage AmericaÕs booming Front Range. But in the sagaÕs Biosciences Research Laboratory in national forest system. The new focus latest turn, ColoradoÕs newly elected Fargo, N.D. The story ran in the April reverses 50 years of practice in which Attorney GeneralÑDemocrat Ken issue of Pesticide and Toxic Chemical Ògetting the cut outÓ has been a dominant Salazar Ñhas warned the water develop- News. Contact Janet Byron at (510) 848- incentive across 191 million acres of ers theyÕll face a long and costly legal 4008 or [email protected]. national forests in the United States. This battle from the state. ÒWe are going to San Jose Mercury News story ran March fight them with all the resources that we ä The population of sea otters along 29. Contact Paul Rogers at (408) 920- have within the attorney generalÕs office,Ó the California coast is dropping so quick- 5045 or [email protected]. he told the Denver Post in April. ly that scientists fear it could be a SalazarÕs warning comes despite the fact approaching extinction. After a calami- ä The San Jose Mercury News some Denver-area politicians think the tous century-long decline, then a revival, revealed the dramatic last-minute behind- water will be necessary to fuel more the numbers started falling again in 1995 the-scenes wrangling as CaliforniaÕs giant growth. For more information contact by about 90 per year. The most recent redwoodsÑthe largest remaining private Mark Eddy at [email protected]. count late last year estimates only 1,937 groves known as the Headwaters forestÑ survive. The otter, the smallest marine move into public hands. The story con- ä Efforts to reintroduce lynx in mammal species on earth, is believed tains provisions of the $492 million deal, Colorado have begun disastrously. As of partly to be the victim of infectious dis- a map, and a 15-year timeline of protests mid-April, four of the first five reintro- ease, water contaminants, and fish nets and political markers. The March 3 story duced lynx died, apparently of starvation. and fishing pots. The San Francisco was written by Paul Rogers with aid from State wildlife officials, however, are not Examiner story ran May 2. Contact Jane Jim Puzzanghera, Washington bureau, ready to call the program a failure. They Kay at [email protected] or (415) and Hallye Jordan, Sacramento bureau. said from the beginning of the program in 777-8704. Contact Rogers at (408) 920-5045 or February that some of the 50 lynx it hopes [email protected]. to release this year would die and that ä Most of CaliforniaÕs rivers would there was no way to know if the reintro- be controlled by a Maryland-based com- CONNECTICUT duction would be successful. Because the pany if giant utility Pacific Gas & Electric reintroduction is experimental, biologists gets its way to transfer 68 hydroelectric ä Plans to re-open a second reactor will decide in late summer whether or not facilities to its unregulated affiliate U.S. at the Millstone Nuclear Power Station in to continue next year. Animal-rights Generating. Along with the dams, which Waterford nearly floundered in April after activists have criticized the release pro- control flows on 30 rivers and streams in a state judge granted a temporary restrain- gram, saying itÕs cruel to pull the tuft- this arid state, PG&E would also transfer ing order to block the start-up of the eared cats from their Alaska homeland 136,000 acres of watershed lands to U.S. Millstone Unit 2 by a Long Island-based and place them in unfamiliar territory. Gen. From there, environmentalists worry environmental group. A lawsuit by Fish Todd Hartman can be reached at (719) 636- the land would be sold to timber compa- UnlimitedÑlater dismissedÑcharges that 0285 or [email protected]. nies. Special to San Francisco Examiner, starting up the reactor too soon would April 25, by J.A. Savage of California damage flounder larvae in the Niantic ä ColoradoÕs first wind farm was up Energy Markets, (510) 534-9109 or hon- River, which feeds into the Long Island and running in February after encounter- [email protected]. Sound next to the plant. Winter flounder ing some initial turbulence, with 15 wind- in the river are a tenth of what they were mills generating electricity for about ä After one year of experience with in 1987; environmentalists blame the 6,000 customers. Public Service a deregulated electric industry, only about decline on cooling pipes sucking up lar- Company of Colorado expects to have 21 1 percent of residential consumers have vae. State environmental officials say the windmills producing wind power by late chosen green power. Despite the lack of cause of the decline is unclear. Contact spring at its facility in the northeast part interest, new renewables developers are Christine Woodside and Paul Choiniere, of the state, near the Wyoming border. lining up to build new plans with state The Day (New London), (860) 442-0401. The program fell behind schedule because subsidies. Special to San Francisco Ñno jokeÑexcess wind hampered con- Examiner, March 28, by J.A. Savage of COLORADO struction of the wind turbines. The tur- California Energy Markets, (510) 534- bines are about 260 feet tall and the 9109 or [email protected]. ä In a water war that environmental- blades about 150 feet in diameter. Contact Roger Fillion at the Denver Post, (303) ists have compared to Los AngelesÕ infa- 820-1577 or [email protected]. ä Shifting priorities for millions of mous grab of Owens Valley, developers acres of forests and rangelands, the in Colorado are proposing pumping water Clinton administration announced that from a massive aquifer under an agricul- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA environmental health of public landsÑ tural community in the southern part of rather than logging targets or cattle graz- the state to feed thirsty homes and busi- ä Locally produced sewage sludge ing totalsÑwill become the primary yard- nesses cropping up along ColoradoÕs compost was a favorite of home gardeners stick for measuring the success of and groundskeepers for golf courses and
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 25 The Beat professional baseball and football fields in tory would produce. Despite public opposi- reported that on Central FloridaÕs the Washington-Baltimore areas. Even the tion, the Florida Department of Kissimmee Prairie, a pair of 4-year-old White House used it. But, as an A-1 story Environmental Protection has maintained whooping cranes produced the first two in the April 10 Washington Post reported, that so long as the company limits pollu- eggs laid in the wild in the United States in only a few bags of ComPRO are left on tion to certain levels, the agency must by 60 years. Although the eggs later van- store shelf since the Washington Suburban law issue a permit. Contact Craig Pittman ishedÑprobably due to predatorsÑbiolo- Sanitary Commission recently shut down at (727) 893-8530 or [email protected]. gists are encouraged by what they see as a the smelly composting plant after years of milestone for FloridaÕs experiment in complaints from nearby residents. Staff ä The endangered northern right reviving a species that had nearly disap- writer Scott Wilson can be reached through whale that normally migrates to winter peared. Contact Craig Pitman at (727) 893- (202) 334-6000. grounds on the Florida and Georgia coasts 8530 or [email protected]. failed to arrive this year, the Times-Union ä Disappearance of 20 frog species in reported on Feb. 2. Scientists are con- IOWA Costa Rica apparently stemmed from a cli- cerned with this second year of low birth mate shift, according to a report in the rates, and are discussing moving the ä Older earthen manure lagoons are April 15 Washington Post. The piece by whale-scouting efforts further north. polluting shallow Iowa aquifers, and the William Souder, a Post stringer, discusses Contact Steve Patterson at (904) 359-4280. wastes could be threatening drinking-water recent scientific findings connecting the supplies, according to studies discussed in loss of frog diversity in mountain Òcloud ä On March 31, The St. Pete Times a Feb. 19 article in The Des Moines forestsÓ to El Ni–o and the rise in sea-sur- reported that the Florida Game and Fresh Register. Most Iowans get their tap water face temperatures. The PostÕs national Water Fish Commission will vote to from under ground. Manure seeping out of desk is at (202) 334-7410. change the listing process, requiring them lagoons also could pollute streams and to consider the Òsocial and economic reali- lakes, contributing to excessive algae and FLORIDA tiesÓ of protecting animals. The last time fish kills. Iowa State University researcher the commission tried to add a few new Stewart Melvin said scientists arenÕt sure ä Lawmakers in Tallahassee are close species to its list of protected animals, state how far the pollutants get once they seep to developing a proposal to build a state senators threatened to slash the agencyÕs out of the clay-lined lagoons. Follow-up park or recreational area next to the contro- funding. They contended that protecting tests are planned. Contact Perry Beeman, versial Rodman Reservoir in Putnam the white ibis, the bird in question, would Des Moines Register, (515) 284-8538 or County. Such a proposal would be a major badly damage the stateÕs economy. But the [email protected]. setback to environmentalists who have for game commission held firm, and four years 30 years fought for the restoration of the later there has been no ibis-related finan- ä The Des Moines Register reported Ocklawaha River, dammed in 1968 as part cial disaster. Contact Craig Pittman at March 15 on new approaches to environ- of the doomed Cross-Florida Barge Canal (727) 893-8530 or [email protected]. mental protection under newly named Iowa project. The Florida Times-Union reported Department of Natural Resources director on this story March 26. Contact Thomas B. ä In what is being hailed as a victory Paul Johnson. Farmer-conservationist Pfankuch at (904) 359-4280. for opponents of offshore drilling, Coastal Johnson has been on the job for a few Petroleum, who wanted to sink wells along months and already heÕs growing impatient ä The Times-Union and the St. the Gulf Coast from Apalachicola to that the changes arenÕt coming fast enough. Petersburg Times have reported extensively Naples, suffered a setback in court. The He wants to help businesses cut pollution, on the Lake Apopka crisis, where a combi- company has leases to 800,000 acres of fine them if they deserve it, and teach nation of pesticides have killed around submerged land all along the Gulf Coast. It Iowans what the land is all about. Contact 1,000 white pelicans and fish-eating birds. has spent years battling state officials and Perry Beeman, Des Moines Register, (515) The toxic mix includes DDT, banned in the environmental groups over permission to 284-8538 or [email protected] 1970s, as well as toxaphene and dieldrin, drill there. The ruling affirmed the state pesticides previously used on farmland in Department of Environmental ProtectionÕs ä Nitrates in some of IowaÕs water- Orange County. Contact Steve Patterson at right to demand a wide range of informa- ways reached near-record levels early this the Times-Union, (904) 359-4280 for Feb. tion from Coastal about its plans to drill. spring, The Des Moines Register reported 27, March 10, and March 18 stories. Coastal was seeking 12 drilling permits for March 14. The director of the Des Moines waters off some of FloridaÕs prettiest Water Works said heavy fertilization of ä The St. Pete Times reported March beaches, including Anclote Key near cropland last fall is largely to blame. 27 on the impact of a proposed $130,000 Tarpon Springs and Sanibel Island near Contact Perry Beeman at (515) 284-8538 cement plant three miles from pristine Fort Myers. Craig Pittman reported this or [email protected] Ichetucknee Springs, where 200,000 peo- story for the St. Pete Times on March 30. ple recreate and spend more than $1 mil- Contact him at (727) 893-8530 or ä The Ipsco Steel Inc. steel-recycling lion each year. Park officials are concerned [email protected] plant near Montpelier in eastern Iowa has about the tons of polluting by-products sent 14 times more toxic pollutants into the from the 1 million tons of cement the fac- ä A St. Pete Times April 13 story air than its state permit allows, The Des
26 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The Beat Moines Register reported March 12. The environmental activism,Ó Golsby said. according to an LSU analysis. Gov. Mike firm set unusually strict standards for ÒYou cannot win an argument on emo- Foster ordered a testing program for oil- itself based on new technology, but has tion. What would be effective would be field waste last year in the wake of a con- had trouble meeting them. When the Iowa great science.Ó In the March 29 Baton troversy over oilfield waste disposal in Department of Natural Resources told the Rouge (La.) Advocate story, reporter the Lafourche Parish community of Grand company to fix the problem, Ipsco Vicki Ferstel looks at problems assessing Bois. The next step is for a Houston con- responded by applying for a permit the risks from pollution. For more infor- sultant, Dr. Ben Thomas, to validate the change that would allow the extra emis- mation, contact Ferstel at (225) 383-1111 study and then determine what health haz- sions of lung-irritating sulfur dioxide and or [email protected]. ards the wastes pose. Contact Mike nitrogen oxides. If the state stands by cur- Dunne, Baton Rouge Advocate, (225) rent permit limits, Ipsco could face fines ä Only about half the 2,300 samples 388-0301 or [email protected] or other legal action. Contact Perry taken last summer in a review of oilfield Beeman at (515) 284-8538, waste are valid, but enough good ones MASSACHUSETTS [email protected]. should be available to determine whether the waste needs to be handled as toxic, ä BostonÕs newly-built secondary KENTUCKY officials said. Oilfield wastes are one of sewage treatment plant is a gardenerÕs several types of waste exempted from the dream, according to the Massachusetts ä Kentucky officials, coal and tim- nationÕs hazardous waste disposal laws. Water Resources Authority (MWRA). ber companies, and environmentalists That exemption came under attack during The solid waste stream runs through an reached an agreement to limit strip min- a controversy in Grand Bois in Lafourche Òenrichment processÓ at the Deer Island ing and logging on Black Mountain, the Parish, where some people claim a nearby facility before the sludge is shipped to a highest point in the state. The deal was oilfield waste site is ruining their health fertilizer factory. When the sludge arrives struck after a group of local schoolchild- and property. Louisiana Gov. Mike Foster at the Fore River plant, it is de-watered ren began protesting plans to mine near ordered the Department of Natural and baked at a high temperature in large the summit. For more information, con- Resources to test waste for 120 days and rotary kilns to kill bacteria and shape the tact Judy Jones, hazard reporter from the determine the hazard potential and devise material into pellets. Most of the fertilizer The (Louisville) Courier-Journal, at (606) regulations if necessary. For details on is shipped for use in out-of-state commer- 436-6060. this March 9 Baton Rouge Advocate story, cial agriculture. However, some is donat- contact Mike Dunne at (225) 388-0301) ed by the MWRA to the ÒcontributingÓ ä Peregrine falcon reintroduction is or [email protected]. communities to be used on parks, ball working in Kentucky. Half of the stateÕs fields, for landscaping and other munici- second nesting pair of the rare raptors ä The Agency for Toxic Substances pal projects. Some of the sludge has been appears to be a male bird released into the and Disease Registry revealed in April sold at Boston-area nurseries and land- wild a few years earlier. In other avian that blood tests of 28 residents in scaping businesses. Last year, customers news, a colony of black-crowned night Mossville, La., showed higher than nor- purchased approximately 66 tons of Bay herons was evicted from the Louisville mal amounts of dioxin in 12 of those test- State fertilizer. Customers can obtain Zoo and is now causing problems ed, some with levels 2-3 times higher than complete information on the fertilizer in nearby neighborhoods. For more infor- normal. In response, Gov. Mike Foster testing programs, its results and applica- mation on these and other examples of announced the formation of a multi- ble regulations at www.mwra.com. urban ornithology, contact Andrew agency task force to address health con- Contact: David Liscio, Daily Evening Melnykovych at The (Louisville) cerns of those who live in the community. Item, Lynn, MA 01901. (781) 593-7700, Courier-Journal, (502) 582-4645 or The Department of Environmental ext. 236. Email: [email protected]. [email protected]. Quality plans to review the permits at all of the area industries and improve parish ä Leading Massachusetts environ- LOUISIANA air monitoring, and the U.S. EPA will mental activists are alarmed by word that include dioxin testing as part of a compre- a top lawyer for state transportation czar ä Marsanne Golsby has jumped out hensive study to find out just how much James J. Kerasiotes has made Gov. Paul of airplanes, rafted down rapids, and dri- pollution is in the Calcasieu Estuary. The CellucciÕs short list for state environmen- ven motorcycles. So, eating two forkfuls story ran April 15 in the Lake Charles tal protection commissioner. The lawyer, of pan-fried catfish caught from a pollut- American Press. Contact Sunny Brown at Lisa Liss, currently general counsel for ed bayou during a March 3 protest at the (318) 494-4081. the Executive Office of Transportation GovernorÕs Mansion did not seem to her and Construction, is largely unknown on an unreasonable health risk, the press sec- ä Three in 10 samples of the most Beacon Hill. However, she has links to retary to Gov. Mike Foster said. Golsby, common oil-field waste produced in Kerasiotes, whom many environmental- 44, said the point she wanted to make by LouisianaÑsalt water produced with the ists consider hostile to government regu- eating the fish is that many claims of ill oil and gas flowing from wellsÑcon- lation, mass transit, and efforts to curb health from pollution are based on emo- tained levels of benzene high enough to highway-induced sprawl. Stephanie tion, not science. ÒWe need responsible be classified as a hazardous waste, Pollack, a senior attorney at the
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 27 The Beat
Conservation Law Foundation, said the Pingrees would essentially be receiving to sell Lake Superior water to Asia. The appointment of a key player at the EOTC $28 million for agreeing not to develop International Joint Commission, which to commissioner of the DEP could Òcreate land that would likely never be developed includes American and Canadian officials a perception the fox is in charge of the hen anyway, and that conservation easements to oversee the lakes, is preparing an opin- house.Ó Contact Peter Howe, Boston are not as protective as outright land pur- ionÑexpected in AugustÑon all sales. In Globe, (617) 929-3000 for details on this chases. Contact Robert Braile, Boston the meantime, commission members have April 14 story. Globe, (603) 772-6380. held public meetings throughout Great Lakes states to gauge public opinion. To ä Federal officials in April gave the MICHIGAN date, the majority of voices have been Charles River a B-minus for cleanliness, against any sale. These and other environ- up from near failing grades four years ago. ä Open a jar of sediment from mental stories can be found on the GLRC The healthier condition was attributed to MichiganÕs Horse Creek, and the petrole- website at www.glrc.org. Or for more partial elimination of CSOs and industrial um fumes sting your nostrils. Dry out the information, contact managing editor discharges. John Devillars, regional sediment, and it will burn. In a continu- David Hammond at (734) 7641-9210. administrator for EPA in New England, ing series of stories, Saginaw News said the cleanup initiative hopes to sign up reporter Carrie Spencer is covering the ä Ornithologists are concerned 100 businesses as part of a new coalition. removal of 260,000 cubic yards of heavi- about the fate of thousands of robins that To boost the effort, five area universities ly polluted muck from the Pine River remained in Michigan because of bizarre and a few businesses have formed the and its tributaries. River sediments are winter weather patterns. A statewide bird Clean Charles 2005 coalition. Contact rife with benzene, the pesticide DDT, census in February counted robins in Peter Howe, Boston Globe, (617) 929- and oil wastes. Since 1977, the Pine has numbers three times higher than expected, 3000, for details on this April 14 story. had the nationÕs only health advisory according to Muskegon Chronicle based on DDT and PBB, a flame retar- reporter Jeff Alexander. Scientists were MAINE dant: residents should not eat fish of any unsure whether to encourage birdwatchers length. In part, the contamination is due to feed the robins or let the birds struggle ä Media outlets from across the to Velsicol Chemical Co.Õs dumping on unassisted. An unusually warm country covered a March 3 announcement between 1936 and its state-mandated autumn and good supplies of food lulled by Maine Gov. Angus King, the New closing in 1978. For more information the birds into delaying migration until late England Forestry Foundation, and the about the EPAÕs cleanup plans, call December. When temperatures fell and Pingree family of Maine, of what environ- Spencer at (517) 776-9682. heavy snow arrived in January, the birds mentalists touted as the largest conserva- were stranded. Experts had suggested that tion easement deal in U.S. HistoryÑan ä From the snowbound hills and feeding by humans might further interfere agreement by the Pingrees to sell devel- cedar swamps it calls home, the lordly with natural migration. Others argued that opment rights to 754,673 acres of land, a profile of the moose is emerging to feeding would be critical to keep robins tract larger than Rhode Island. change the lives of the residents, hunters, alive. The robin is MichiganÕs state bird. Coverage of the $28 million deal and scientists who are its closest neigh- For more information about AlexanderÕs included national newspapers such as The bors. Michigan officials, warily watching Feb. 2 report, call him at (616) 725-6370. New York Times, The Boston Globe, The rising moose numbers, have embarked on Washington Post, and USA Today, as well a plan to capture 46 of the half-ton ani- ä Three years and $2.3 million after as many regional and local news outlets, mals and attach radio collars to study Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer created a most notably The Portland (ME) Press- them. Driving the study are urgent ques- special city department to clean and reuse Herald. The Pingrees have owned and tions that may decide the future of the vacant urban land, environmental officials managed about 1 million acres of Maine stateÕs herd, reintroduced from Canada a donÕt know the number or location of timberland since 1840. decade ago. In his Feb. 15 story, Detroit hundreds of polluted sites. The lack of a The deal would allow the Pingrees to News reporter Jeremy Pearce looked at brownfields inventory remains a profound continue to own and cut timber on the scientistsÕ attempts toward an accurate bar to the cityÕs renewal and is speeding land. But it would prohibit develop- moose census, plans to reduce moose-car sprawl toward the suburbs, writes Detroit mentÑreflective of an emerging trend in accidents, and the possibility of a hunting News reporter Jeremy Pearce. In a March the Northeast and across the countryÑof season to control numbers. Contact 9 story, Pearce found state and federal timber companies selling off assets on Pearce at (313) 223-4825. officials have mistakenly relied on Detroit their lands, like development rights, while officials for brownfields information. The retaining ownership and the right to con- ä The diversion and sale of Great sites are suspected of harboring PCBs, tinue logging. Lakes waters was examined in a series of oils, solvents, and other serious chemical The coverage of the Pingree deal stories in February and March by hazards. Residents complain little is being tended to be glowing. But many stories reporters of the Great Lakes Radio done to clean neighborhoods blighted by did note criticism from some of the more Consortium (GLRC). Controversy began dirty open land. City officials have preservation-minded environmentalists in in 1998 after a Canadian company agreed responded with a call for patience and New England, who argued that the more time, but havenÕt announced a
28 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The Beat timetable for the inventoryÕs completion. ing to send up to 15 percent of the cityÕs drinking water safeguards at highway rest For more information, contact Pearce at 12,000-tons of daily trash upstate. New areas, churches, and convenience stores. (313) 223-4825. York plans to close its Fresh Kills Landfill For more information, contact staff writer on Staten Island by the end of 2001, and James Eli Shiffer at [email protected] MISSISSIPPI state officials like Virginia Gov. James or (800) 365-6115, ext. 5701. Gilmore donÕt agree with GulianiÕs ä The April 11 Sunday edition of January remark that Virginians should feel PENNSYLVANIA The Clarion Ledger printed a special honored to receive New York trash in eight-page pullout called ÒA Flood of their stateÕs giant regional landfills. City ä Two stories running March 5Ñ6 Development: In HarmÕs Way.Ó Written officials hope that sending some trash to in the Philadelphia Inquirer described a by Bruce Reid, the story package, com- landfills and incinerators upstate and on Montgomery County agricultural night- plete with color photographs, maps, and Long Island will Òdeflate some of the mare of deformed calves, discolored charts, looks at the Easter Flood of 1979, argumentsÓ other states have made against crops, and purple pigs dying by the hun- when the Pearl River inundated Jackson, receiving the Big AppleÕs cores, stems dreds and then quickly decomposing. Miss. Twenty years later, commercial and and seeds. (See ÒVirginia,Ó page 30.) For Many of the areaÕs farmers complain of residential development is rampant in the details, contact Lisa Rein, city hall bureau, nausea and feeling faint while working in floodplain, with apparently little thought New York Daily News, (212) 210-2214. the fields. The long series of problems, given to the potential for another disaster. first noted in the early nineties and occur- To get a copy of the story, call Bruce at ä Some Democratic lawmakers in ring throughout the mid-Atlantic region, (601) 961-7063. Albany have thrown down the gauntlet has left environmental and agricultural amid suspicions that state hazardous waste officials baffled. The EPA has visited four NEW MEXICO site cleanup standards would be weak- of the Montgomery County farms for soil ened. Assemblyman Richard Brodsky, D- and water testing, but so far have no indi- ä The long-awaited opening of the Westchester County, chairman of the cations of environmental or human health AssemblyÕs Environmental Conservation controversial Waste Isolation Pilot Plant emergencies. Some farmersÑwhose dis- Committee, released a draft report in near Carlsbad, N.M., attracted much press trust of government officials was evident February from a panel appointed by Gov. coverage in March. On March 28, envi- during EPA visitsÑquestion why the George Pataki to come up with a funding ronmental reporter Mike Taugher of the nearby Limerick nuclear-power plant, a mechanism for the stateÕs superfund pro- Albuquerque Journal detailed the 25-year Cabot Corp. chemical plant, and several gram. The report recommends the adop- debate over nuclear waste disposal poli- landfills have not been investigated more tion of risk-based cleanup standards, cyÑand the discussion that continues to thoroughly. The story was reported by which Brodsky pledged to oppose. Some loomÑjust days after Òthe first box of staff writer Matt Stearns, The InquirerÕs of the changes may be administrative, radioactive trashÓ was deposited in the main number is (215) 854-2000 however, and not subject to legislative underground dump. Mark Hummels of the approval. As of mid-April, the panel had Santa Fe New Mexican reported on emer- TENNESSEE not released its final report. Contact gency precautions before the waste began Matthew Cox, Newsday, (518) 465-2311. to move through the state in a March 24 ä Finally justifying her employer-subsi- article. Contact Taugher at (505) 823- dized trip to the Chattanooga SEJ confer- 3833 or [email protected]. NORTH CAROLINA ence, Debbie Gilbert wrote the cover story Contact Hummels at (505) 986-3030. ÒCan the Smokies Be Saved?Ó for the Feb. ä Big polluters rarely have to pay in 25 issue of The Memphis Flyer. The arti- ä Radio personality Don ImusÕ plan North Carolina, according to stories pub- cle looks at various problems facing the to establish a working cattle ranch for can- lished in May in The News & Observer of Great Smoky Mountains National ParkÑ cer-stricken children is the center of a Raleigh. An investigation of Gov. Jim poor air quality, forest decline, traffic, water-rights debate. Santa Fe New HuntÕs Department of Environment and lack of fundingÑand examines possible MexicanÕs Ben Neary reported on ImusÕ Natural Resources revealed that DENR solutions. You can read the story online at plans to secure the water rights from an old allowed polluters to violate their permits www.memphisflyer.com, or contact pickle manufacturing plant in the March for years. Spreadsheets generated from a Gilbert at (901) 521-9000 or 18 issue. Contact Neary at (505) 986-3030. dozen separate databases, along with [email protected] analyses of more than 100 individual pol- luters, showed how assessed fines are usu- NEW YORK ä After devouring much of the ally a small fraction of the legal maxi- forests in Alabama, Mississippi, and mum, and even those penalties plummet ä In the wake of efforts in Virginia, Georgia to feed their chip mills, pulpwood during settlements with state lawyers. companies are moving into Tennessee, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Follow-up stories examined intervention West Virginia to limit the amount of out- where logging is virtually unregulated. by politicians in penalty cases, a loophole Complaints resulted, however, when an of-state trash dumped in their states, New in which polluting schools get their fines York City mayor Rudolph Guliani is look- Alabama-based logging firm made the back and the stateÕs failure to enforce mistake of clear-cutting a 1,200-acre tract
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 29 The Beat right beside heavily traveled I-40 in West the BLM study are being vigorously Giuliani then created an uproar by saying Tennessee. Motorists, noticing the logged opposed by Utah politicians and rural Virginians should accept his cityÕs area, notified regulatory agencies, whose Utahns, who believe wilderness will garbage because they enjoy Big Apple only possible response was to cite the impede their ability to make a living from culture. The upshot: The General company for violating water-quality laws the land. For more information, contact Assembly passed and the governor signed (allowing sediment to wash into streams; Jim Woolf or Brent Israelsen at The Salt restrictions on the stateÕs garbage indus- channelizing without permits). Several Lake Tribune, (801) 237-2045. try. The laws, effective July 1, ban bills have been introduced to the garbage barges, restrict the construction of Tennessee legislature which would, if ä On several occasions in March and landfills and cap the amount of garbage passed, require loggers to take more April, a mysterious stink wafted over dumped in Virginia Ôs seven giant Òmega- responsibility for their actions. Right now, north Salt Lake City, prompting dozens of fillsÓ at last yearÕs levels. environmental compliance is mostly vol- calls to state and county environmental Several in-depth reports complement- untary. Memphis reporter Tom Charlier regulators. Theories for the malodorous ed the day-to-day coverage: On Jan. 10, wrote about this in the April 19 air have been many: a deteriorating Great Scott Harper and Ledyard King of The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at Salt Lake, a venting of smells from deep Virginian-Pilot reported that more than (901) 529-2572. in the Earth through Wasatch Fault, 150 landfills across the state were leaking hijinks by the oil refineries. To date, an pollutants and contaminating groundwa- TEXAS EPA air-quality sleuth has been unable to ter; on Jan. 14, Rex Springston of the identify the nature or source of the smell. Richmond Times-Dispatch published a ä The Texas Legislature is debating The Salt Lake Organizing Committee for primer on the issue, explaining the science a bill that will allow industrial plants that the 2002 Winter Games has not been ruled and symbolism of landfills; on Jan. 22, are exempt from the stateÕs clean air laws out as a suspect. Contact Jim Woolf, Salt Patrick Plaisance of the Daily Press of to voluntarily comply with state regula- Lake Tribune, at (801) 237-2045. Newport News reported that despite the tions. The grandfathered facilities emit controversy, a landfill company was buy- nearly a third of the industrial pollutants ä Six Mapleton, Utah, residents, ing $3 million cranes and other equipment in the state. Gov. George W. Bush strong- three of whom suffer from non-HodgkinÕs to expand operations; and on Jan. 31, the ly backs the voluntary program, saying he lymphoma, have filed suit against the Times-Dispatch reported how once-needy believes Òbusiness and a healthy environ- neighboring Trojan Explosives plant, counties have received millions of dollars ment can co-exist.Ó Environmental groups alleging the company polluted the ground- for schools and other projects by allowing are insisting that the industrial plants be water for more than a decade with disre- the landfills. For more information, con- made to conform with the latest clean air gard to health and the environment. The tact Harper at (800) 446-2004, extension regulations. And they are criticizing the plant in 1986 was the site of a catastrophic 2340, or [email protected]; program because it doesnÕt require the failure of a waste pond, which poured tens Plaisance at [email protected]; plants to install any pollution controls in of thousands of gallons of nitric acid into or Springston at (804) 649-6453 or order to gain a permit from the state. the ground. But the companyÕs polluting [email protected]. Recent documents obtained by them show of the groundwater goes back further, that the bill now pending in the legislature according to the lawsuit. The plantÕs ä A series Nov. 22-24 in the was written by industry lobbyists. For owner, Ensign-Bickford Industries Co., of Roanoke Times explored the question: more information, search for stories writ- Connecticut, refused to comment on the ÒWill forests survive the new timber ten by Ralph Haurwitz of the Austin lawsuit. For more information, contact rush?Ó Reporters Mike Hudson and Ron American-Statesman or Bill Dawson of Brent Israelsen, Salt Lake Tribune, (801) Nixon wrote that nearly a century after the Houston Chronicle. Or contact Robert 237-2045. being devastated by clear-cutting, Bryce at [email protected]. VirginiaÕs forests are ready for harvest. VIRGINIA Loggers, critics, and the state argue UTAH whether enough is being done to protect ä Trash has been the top environ- natural resources. Among the seriesÕ major findings: The amount of sediment ä The U.S. Bureau of Land mental story in Virginia, which imports put into rivers and streams by logging Management completed a new study of more garbage than any state except operations has increased every year since federal lands in Utah and found that an Pennsylvania. The issue emerged last fall 1993; many logging sites violate the additional 2.6 million acres have wilder- with reports that when New York closes stateÕs anti-erosion guidelines; and viola- ness characteristics. The new inventory of its Fresh Kills Landfill, Virginia could tors often fail to correct the pollution UtahÕs 22 million acres of BLM land receive 13,000 more tons of trash a day. problems theyÕve caused. For more infor- found that about 5.8 million could be set (See ÒNew York,Ó page 29.) The topic mation, contact Hudson at (540) 981-3332 aside for wilderness designation, which stayed in the public eye when state inspec- or [email protected], or Nixon at prohibits vehicles and development. A tors found medical waste in a landfill (540) 981-3347 or [email protected]. coalition of environmental groups, mean- designed for household garbage and when while, has introduced a bill in Congress a trash-hauling truck overturned on an ä Developers and landowners are calling for 9.1 million acres. That bill and interstate. New York Mayor Rudolph
30 Spring 1999 SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 The Beat rushing to exploit a little-known crack in wildlife. If the land is purchased, locals federal regulations that has allowed the WASHINGTON will still be able to hunt, fish, and bike in draining of thousands of acres of wetlands the Loomis. Rebecca Clarren reported on in Virginia and North Carolina, according ä The federal government has denied this story in the March 24 edition of High to a March 16 article in The Virginian- the plan of operations for the proposed Country News. For more information, Pilot. The rush stems from a court deci- Crown Jewel open-pit gold mine in north- contact HCN at [email protected] or (970) sion in Washington last year that freed central Washington, saying it failed to 527-4898, or find the story at property owners to cut ditches and drain meet the requirements of the 1872 Mining www.hcn.org. certain wetlands without permits or over- Law. Attorney Roger Flynn of the sight from the U.S. Army Corps of Western Mining Action Project argued WEST VIRGINIA Engineers. Officials blamed the decision that the law does not allow for the huge for the loss of up to 10,000 acres of wet- millsites required by modern mining tech- ä Mountaintop removal mining con- lands in coastal North Carolina, where niques, and the agencies agreed. Flynn tinued to be a major news story in West state officials have closed the loophole. In hopes to apply his argument to other min- Virginia. (See page 11.) In March, a feder- Virginia, about 1,700 acres of wetlands ing proposals in the West, but the Battle al judge issued an injunction which have been lost to development and 4,300 Mountain Gold Corp. plans to challenge blocked the largest mountaintop removal acres might be drained soon. Contact the decision on the Crown Jewel project. permit in state history. The order prompt- Scott Harper at (800) 446-2004, extension Michelle Nijhuis reported on this story in ed repeated protests outside the federal 2340, or [email protected]. the April 12 edition of High Country courthouse, the state Capitol, and the News. Contact HCN at (970) 527-4898 or offices of The Charleston Gazette, which ä In the Zephyr community in south- [email protected], or find the story at published a series about the issue in 1998. west VirginiaÕs Floyd County, residents www.hcn.org. In early May, the Charleston Daily Mail donÕt get electric billsÑbecause the published a series of articles about the his- homes are powered by solar energy, Ron ä In March, the U.S. Fish and tory of coal and its influence on the stateÕs Nixon reported March 21 in the Roanoke Wildlife Service listed nine species of development. Contact Ken Ward Jr. at the Times. The community began in 1983 salmon and steelhead trout under the Gazette for information, (304) 348-1702 when five families bought 30 acres and Endangered Species Act. One is the Puget or email [email protected] placed the land in a trust. The residents Sound chinook, a threatened salmon share a commitment to living as environ- species whose range extends from the ä Paul Nyden of the Charleston mentally consciously as possible, so they Canadian border to just beyond the south- Gazette produced a lengthy Sunday article have kept their houses off the electrical ern extent of Puget Sound in Washington May 9 which examined the lax enforce- power grid. Instead, they use solar panels, state. One run of these fish in the White ment of coal truck weight limits under backed by propane generators. Nixon said River dwindled to less than 50 before ris- Republican Gov. Cecil Underwood, a for- the residents live a modern lifestyle but ing recently to a few hundred fish; once, mer coal executive. UnderwoodÕs must conserve energy: There are no elec- the river was home to thousands of chi- Division of Highways has pulled all tric clocksÑand no light inside the refrig- nook. Meanwhile, the human population inspectors off smaller highwaysÑwhere erator. Contact Nixon at (540) 981-3347 of Puget Sound is expected to grow from most coal truck traffic isÑand put them or [email protected]. 3 million to 4 million by the year 2020. on interstates, which have fewer over- Dustin Solberg reported on this story in weight truck problems. Contact Nyden at ä Cleanup efforts have begun on the the April 12 edition of High Country (304) 348-5164. Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River, News. For more information, contact HCN one of the most contaminated waterways at (970) 527-4898 or [email protected], or ä The Clarksburg Exponent- on the East Coast, Scott Harper reported find the story at www.hcn.org. Telegram published a series of articles Feb. 22 in The Virginian-Pilot. about electric deregulation which included Environmentalists hope to reverse more ä WashingtonÕs Loomis State Forest discussion of the possible environmental than a century of pollution beginning with has 25,000 roadless acres, and environ- implications. For details, contact Julie ChesapeakeÕs Scuffletown Creek, which mentalists say theyÕll spend millions to Cryser at (304) 626-1149. flows into the Southern Branch. The creek preserve it. In just a few months, the is the first site on the Elizabeth River Loomis Forest Fund has raised $3 million, ä Plans for a huge resort develop- where engineers and scientists will but contributors say they need $10.1 mil- ment in the Blackwater Canyon, near attempt to purge bottom sediments coated lion more to compensate the state for the Canaan Valley, received lots of media with tar-like creosote, chemicals, and cash it could make from logging. The for- attention. Allegheny Wood Products heavy metals including lead, zinc, and est, which borders Canada, is part of an wants to build a 600-acre development, chromium. The experiment is sponsored endowment of state lands where logging including 280 residential lots and a large by the Elizabeth River Project, a grass- revenue is used to build new public resort lodge. The company revealed its roots environmental group. Contact schools. ItÕs home to the healthiest lynx plans in permit applications filed with the Harper at (800) 446-2004, extension 2340, population in the lower 48 and also serves state DEP. Jeff Young of West Virginia or [email protected]. as a critical habitat corridor for Canadian Public Radio broke the story, which then
SEJournal, P.O.Box 27280, Philadelphia, PA 19118 Spring 1999 31 The Beat received coverage in the Gazette and by tal issues. The Shepherd Express, which Sheridan-based company Little Horn Brian Farkas of The Associated Press. occasionally featured lengthy environ- Energy wants to build two reservoirs on Contact Ward at the Gazette for more mental features and offered a semi-regular the river, but some critics say the dam information, (304) 348-1702 or email round-up of environmental tidbits, will would sacrifice valuable wildlife habitat. [email protected]. join forces with Metro. Metro did less Members of the Crow Tribe, who live coverage of the environment, and that about 15 miles downstream, worry that ä Jenni Vincent of the Morgantown paperÕs editor will head the joint publica- the reservoir will leave their reservation Dominion Post (formerly of the Fairmont tion. Contact the publisher, Louis Fortis, with reduced flows and muddy irrigation Times-West Virginian) has been covering at (414) 276-2222. water. The U.S. EPA has also been criti- state hearings about acid mine drainage cal of the project. However, the Federal problems in Grassy Run, a Marion WYOMING Energy Regulatory Commission is paying County stream in north-central West an estimated $500,000 for an environ- mental impact statement, due out in the Virginia. The DEP cited Martinka Coal ä In northeast Wyoming, millions of spring. Gabriel Ross reported on this story for polluting the stream with acid pounds of explosives are detonated each drainage from an abandoned mine in the in the March 1 edition of High Country week in the Powder River BasinÕs 17 News. For more information, call HCN at area. Martinka is appealing the citation. open-pit coal mines, creating clouds of Contact Vincent at (304) 292-6301. (970) 527-4898 or [email protected], or nitrogen oxide gases which can cause res- find the story at www.hcn.org. piratory problems and lung damage. WISCONSIN Although the clouds have some residents ä A lone wolf howl was heard in worried, the coal industry says that the Jackson Hole, Wyo., for the first time in ä The Milwaukee Journal-SentinelÕs risks to people are small. The federal over 50 years this November. Since then, environmental coverage developed into a Office of Surface Mining has been crack- 11 wolves have been sighted, some of two-pronged approach during the week ing down on the mines in the state, how- them only five miles from the town of of April 11-17. Tom VandenBrook ever, and the industry has created a task Jackson. Reactions to the arrival range reached the front page of the Sunday force to consider ways to reduce nitrogen from ecstasy to grim resignation; while paper, with a story on a state proposal to oxide emissions. Eric Whitney reported some residents and visitors flock to the set up a hunting season on sandhill on this story in the May 10 edition of nearby National Elk Refuge, hoping for a cranes. A few days later, Don Behm had a High Country News. Contact HCN at sighting, others fear the wolves will wipe front page story on low water levels in the (970) 527-4898 or [email protected], or out the elk herd. Biologists say itÕs too Great Lakes. Both reporters can be find the story at www.hcn.org. early to predict the wolvesÕ impact on the reached at (414) 224-2000. herd. Rachel Odell reported on this story ä A private companyÕs plans to dam in the Feb. 15 edition of High Country ä Two alternative weeklies in a river on WyomingÕs Bighorn National News. Contact HCN at (970) 527-4898 or Milwaukee are merging, leaving unclear Forest has not found many fansÑeven [email protected], or find the story at the new paperÕs coverage of environmen- among government agencies. The www.hcn.org.
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