Obama's Green Team & UN Failure in Poland
EarthBeat Radio — ... engineer and a Clinton confidant. Host Daphne Wysham discusses if they've got the right stuff to overcome what Obama himself calls thirty years of broken promises. Kate Sheppard is the political reporter for the online magazine Grist. David Sandretti is the communications director for the League of Conservation Voters. Anjun Makhijani is the president of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research. Jeff Ruch is the executive director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. At the crucial UN climate ...

Obama's Cabinet Choices: Eco Friendly or Not?
Greenopia Environmental News — ... and now southwest regional director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility . Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary The ...

EPA Science Program Scrambled by Last Minute Moves
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... not support the ORD research base. In order to survive, ORD must broaden its constituency and strengthen its "brand' identification among those making funding decisions. "It is stunning how little analysis, consultation or collaboration has gone into this scheme to redirect all EPA scientific research," added Ruch. "This makeover needs to be put on hold so the new administration and Congress together with the scientific community have a chance to soberly consider its merits." ### View "Transforming ORD" PowerPoint excerpts (Complete ...

Bush Plan for National Park Mountain Bike Expansion Unveiled
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... why the Park Service adopted regulations for mountain bikes on backcountry trails only after a stringent decision-making process." The fate of this proposal will be up to the Obama administration, as the public comment period on the Laverty rule closes on February 17th, after Bush has left office. PEER will ask the new Secretary of the Interior to abandon this proposed rule and discontinue other park-hostile Bush policies. ### Read the new proposed mountain biking rule Trace the lobbying effort behind this proposal Compare the current NPS ...

New Jersey Greenhouse Gas Plan Full of Holes
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... gases in the near term,” Ruch added, noting that EPA and Jackson may be bypassed on developing climate strategy by the new White House office to be run by Carol Browner. This would leave Jackson to deal with more conventional pollution problems where her record has drawn criticism, although her defenders pointing to her work on climate change as her key qualification. “Reading this plan, it is hard to justify putting Lisa Jackson in charge of our nation’s response to global warming.” Examine some particularly questionable ...

Global Warming Progress Under Bush Illusory, Audit Finds
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... state environmental commissioner and new EPA Administrator-designate."The approach put forward by New Jersey earlier this month appears to repeat the same mistakes as those made by the Bush administration - heavy on aspiration but short on implementation," Ruch added. "It is one thing to set a goal but quite another to lay out a concrete plan that gets the job done." ### Read the EPA Inspector General report on ENERGY STAR Look at dependence on ENERGY STAR by New Jersey See crippling vagueness of New Jersey global warming plan ...

Interior Department Needs New Brooms to Sweep it Clean
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... with a slate of agency veterans and experts who exhibit what the President-elect calls "a new kind of leadership". Most have made career sacrifices to advance the stewardship principles that are the cornerstones of their agencies' missions. The PEER "nominees" include -"Many of these agencies have been gutted, not just by the Bush appointees but, in some cases, by the Clintonites before them," Ruch added. "To repair the damage, we need a new direction, not just placeholders." ### Find out more about these individuals ### Public ...

Drilling and Mining in Store for Two Iconic Southwest Parks
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... problem is that the Bush administration has siphoned away funds for park acquisitions, leaving vital in-holdings and subsurface rights in the hands of private interests,” stated PEER Board Member Frank Buono, a long-time former National Park Service manager, noting that NPS today has only a small fraction of funding it had before Bush for land acquisition. “Using stimulus funds to buy out these interests now will both raise local land values and leave a gift for future generations.” See the Interior briefing on the two parks ...

Ten Questions the Senate Should Ask Lisa Jackson
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... hope the Committee soberly advises before rushing to consent." On a policy level, PEER points to instances where Jackson criticized Bush administration EPA proposals on issues where New Jersey was even more culpable, for example -"How can Lisa Jackson be expected to exercise oversight of states that are doing what she has until recently been doing herself?" asked Ruch. "Our concern is that national efforts to combat pollution will be limited to the low bar set in New Jersey." ### Read the ten Questions the Senate ...

Climate Scientists Freed from Agency Gag Order
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... any relevant information, even if prepared and delivered on their own time as private citizens, which has not been approved by the official chain-of-command: The Obama campaign had pledged to embrace principles of transparent government as well as to end political interference with official science. “President Obama could outlaw gag orders such as these as a matter or policy or by Executive Order,” Ruch added. “We hope that these actions take place early in his administration.” ### Read the e-mail announcement that the prior review policy does ...

Republican Appointees Reject Chambers Appeal
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... have spoken out for Chief Chambers and decried punishing public servants for "telling the truth"."How the incoming Obama officials act to resolve the case of Chief Chambers will say a lot about how transparent the new administration will be," commented PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "In the coming weeks, the new administration will have to decide whether to defend these actions taken by Bush appointees or whether Teresa Chambers should still be Chief of the U.S. Park Police." ### See a copy of the latest MSPB Chambers ruling ...

Feds Intervene to Set Florida Water Quality Standards
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... to Restore Florida’s Surface Water”, which seeks to portray the federal intervention as a cooperative venture. It was issued on January 16th, the last full working day of the Bush administration. “This press announcement is an ardent attempt to put a lot of lipstick on a very big pig,” Phillips added. “When the Bush EPA is forced to step in is a sign that things are really bad.” Read a copy of the EPA determination letter See the “happy talk” joint EPA/DEP release Note the series of adverse court rulings against EPA oversight in ...

Radiation Exposure Limits Weakened in Departing Bush Move
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... arose in Department of Homeland Security "dirty bomb" policies designed to provide broad flexibility in the aftermath of an attack. EPA has now expanded the relaxed dirty bomb standards to include virtually every type of radioactive release."This is yet another lovely parting gift from the Bush administration," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "The Obama administration can pull this back in the next few days before it gets published and we strongly urge them to do so." ### Read the new pre- publication EPA ...

Lisa Jackson Should Fulfill EPA Confirmation Promises Now
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... I embrace this philosophy." Yet, she does not commit to officially re-adopt the "fishbowl" policy. PEER advocates that Administrator Jackson take that next step and move beyond the purely philosophical plane during her first days in office."In New Jersey, Lisa Jackson invoked executive privilege to block our records request for a copy of her calendar," Ruch added. "At EPA if she wants to promote transparency, Ms. Jackson should post her daily calendar on the agency website." Read the PEER letter to EPA Administrator ...

Dow Dioxin Deal Flying Under EPA Radar
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Obama appointees have weighed in or are even aware of the confidential Dow negotiations which officially began on December 15, 2008. "How Dow is handled may signal whether we can expect stronger anti-pollution enforcement under the Obama administration than we saw under Bush," Ruch added. "The economy of Michigan is not well served by having to continue absorb toxins in its rivers, wildlife and people while an effective clean-up would put create green jobs for local residents." ### Read newly uncovered letter showing Dow backdoor lobbying of ...

California Desert Wins New Protection Via Feinstein Amendment
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... to documents received by PEER through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against BLM, "disadvantages" perceived by agency leadership to including CDCA within the NLCS are that it -"BLM headquarters still does not seem to understand that the reason the California Desert Conservation Area was created actually had something to do with conservation," Ruch added. "BLM regarding public expectations that public land should be protected as a ‘disadvantage' is just plain perverse." ### See the Feinstein amendment ...

NOAA Sea Grant Seeks to De-Fund Scientist for Advocacy
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... debate." Significantly, the dean did not mention the quality or quantity of Prof. Steiner's award-winning marine conservation extension efforts."The present crisis in our nation's marine and coastal ecosystems requires a clear and urgent national response," said Prof. Steiner. "But instead of responding to the ocean crisis, this new de facto gag order from NOAA Sea Grant will have a chilling effect on scientists who want to advocate for greater ocean protection and restoration." Read the e-mail describing the NOAA Sea Grant pique with Prof. ...

Forest Service at Sea on Status of Vast Mineral Rights
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... on an experimental forest (managed for sylvicultural research) in the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, PEER obtained documents indicating that -"These are the last places on which the Forest Service should turn its back," Ruch added, observing that beyond its natural resource responsibilities, the agency is risking decades of research in its network of experimental forests. "The question is not whether private rights will be honored but in what manner, subject to law." See the Federal Register notice ...

Ridership for Stoughton Line Falls as Costs Rise
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Environmental Notification Form without the ridership figures and then requested an extension citing the lack of ridership figures. Now that the paltry ridership numbers are in, the state will have a hard time justifying the destruction of one of the most ecologically important wetlands in the northeast."MBTA is already facing a projected $142 million deficit for the coming year," Bennett added. "Using federal stimulus money on this project will stimulate us all to the poorhouse." Look at declining ridership estimates ...

Why the Obama Climate Change Plan Won't Work
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Look at tracking and enforcement weaknesses of cap & trade ### Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Links: ...

Michigan Threatens to Fumble Obama Great Lakes Initiative
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... to step up, Michigan is turning its back," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that not only are federal wetlands rules substantially weaker than Michigan's but federal wetlands law is currently in chaos, leaving a big question mark over the legal status of millions of acres of Michigan wetlands. "Michigan cannot benefit from a partnership if it has closed up shop." The state legislature begins consideration of the wetlands repeal next week, starting on March 10th. ### Read the Michigan DEQ analysis of impact of state ...

Air Force Wiping Out Rare Wildlife Of Guam
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Locations in the Air Force which support bomber crews deploying overseas. Plans are underway for the U.S. Navy to take over Anderson AFB."Andersen is so remote that there is a feeling of invulnerability reported by staff about the command - a sense that rules do not apply on the island," Dinerstein added. "Until our Defense agencies start holding officers to account for environmental violations, the vast trove of vital natural resources in military custody can never be secure." ### Read the disclosure ...

Michigan Torpedoes Its Own Great Lakes Restoration Plan
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Read the Michigan Stormwater and Floodplain Association white paper on flood damage ### Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) Links: ...

Gas Drilling Divides Another National Forest
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... on adopting a ‘don't ask, don't tell' posture even when the problems are patently obvious," Ruch added, noting that President Obama pledged last week that "The work of scientists and experts in my administration...will be respected". "If the Forest Service is going to move forward as a science-based research agency, it is important that the managers on this forest, the regional office and headquarters who are responsible for this state of affairs be identified and removed." ### Read the PEER Inspector General complaint ...

Former Governor Milliken Speaks Up To Save Wetlands Program
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... with the wisdom of what he calls ‘the long view of what is best for the state and its natural resources'," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that experts estimate that the state will lose much more money from higher flood damages due to wetlands losses than it will save from repealing the program. "Michigan's recovery depends upon clean waters that spring from safeguarding the state's base of wetlands." Legislative hearings on the wetlands program begin tomorrow. ### Read the full statement by former Governor Milliken ...

$100 Million Still Owed From Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... to environmental enforcement. In addition, once secured these funds would be almost immediately translated into new environmental restoration jobs."It is mystifying that our government has not lifted a finger in the past three years to collect millions that one of the biggest polluters in history has agreed to pay," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "At this moment, the $92 million payment would be a corporate-financed stimulus package, giving taxpayers a welcome break." Read the Steiner/PEER letter ...

Boca Raton Tap Water Violations Trigger Health Probe
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... of Environmental Protection investigated many of these matters but concluded that it did not have jurisdiction but it is unclear whether it ever formally referred the matter to the county Health Department."Boca Raton utilities staff has been raising these concerns from more than two years and it appears that the only result has been their removal," stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch. "Candor about water contamination is extremely dangerous for Florida public servants." Read the Palm Beach County Health Department letter on ...

Lawsuit Ends Genetically Engineered Crops on Wildlife Refuge
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... Wildlife Refuges," said Kevin Golden, Staff Attorney for the Center for Food Safety. "Prime Hook is the tip of the iceberg of a nation-wide problem which needs to be addressed at refuges around the country." The court ruling blocks future agricultural operations on Prime Hook until compatibility determinations required by the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act and environmental assessments required by the National Environmental Policy Act have been completed. Read the court ruling ...

Lake Okeechobee Flow Cutoff Looms
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... region's natural hydrology and degrade aquatic resources. "There is no reserve left for lean times because the system is managed to accommodate agriculture while fueling unfettered urban sprawl. Public agencies have not demonstrated they are capable of effectively managing the system, much less ‘restoring' it," Phillips added. "Even though this region is on the verge of an ecological meltdown, consumptive use permits continue to be issued for water-intensive uses like golf courses." Read the Lee County letters ...

National Park Lead Ammo Ban in Doubt
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... adopted a partial ban while in Minnesota the NRA blocked a legislative effort to outlaw lead ammunition. "The issue with non-lead ammo is cost. There are readily available alternatives, such as tungsten, copper, and steel, but they are a little more expensive," added Ruch, commenting that hunting has not decreased in states or countries that restrict lead ammunition. "It is obviously not a good idea to pump loads of lead into the environment, let alone across national parks." Look at the National Park Service "Get the Lead Out!" Directive ...

Oil & Gas Drilling Labeled Major Threat to Eastern Forests
Commondreams.org Newswire — ... participants. PEER is submitting the workshop materials to the USDA Office of Inspector General to supplement an earlier complaint it had filed about malfeasance on the Monongahela NF."The Forest Service operates under an unhealthy ‘don't-ask-don't-tell' regime when it comes to oil and gas drilling," Ruch added. "This tortured stance forces the agency's own scientists to ignore obvious problems, putting them in an intolerable conflict between their careers and their consciences." ### Read the list of drilling impact "Information Needs" ...

Interior Sued to Obtain Oil Royalty Revenue Information
Red, Green, and Blue — ... wrongly withholding information that will reveal whether taxpayers are being ripped off in a controversial oil and gas royalty program? Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) seem to think so, according to a lawsuit they filed today. Interior claims that disclosure of bidding and contracting information about its ...

E.P.A. Intervenes on Video by 2 Employees
Dot Earth — ... . In an interview Monday, Ms. Williams described herself as being “very anxious” about how her superiors might react to the video’s still being out there. She said she and her husband had informed the agency about the other postings of the video as soon as they knew of them and were doing everything they could to comply with the directive. A watchdog group, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), is accusing the E.P.A. of muzzling two career employees. “E.P.A. is abusing ethics rules to gag two conscientious employees who have every right to speak out as ...