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“Enforcement of anti-pollution laws in Florida have plummeted to historic low levels during the second full year of Governor Rick Scott’s tenure, according to agency figures released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Unprecedented deep across-the-board declines occurred in all areas of enforcement activity in nearly every district and division within the state …
“The nation’s 28 National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERR) are experiencing the negative effects of human and climate-related stressors according to a new NOAA research report from the National Ocean Service. The national study, Climate Sensitivity of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, points to three East Coast reserves, Sapelo Island NERR in Georgia, ACE Basin …
By Dr Bryan Watts, Director, The Center for Conservation Biology “The bald eagle population along the historic James River has exceeded 200 pairs for the first time in written history. The 2013 aerial survey conducted by The Center for Conservation Biology recorded 205 pairs that produced 267 young. Areas supporting the highest densities include Charles …
CRS – The 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Natural Resource Damage Assessment Under the Oil Pollution Act. Adam Vann, Legislative Attorney; Robert Meltz, Legislative Attorney. July 24, 2013 “The estimated 4.1 million barrels of oil released during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill is considered to be the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry …
“Commercial honey bees used to pollinate crops are exposed to a wide variety of agricultural chemicals, including common fungicides which impair the bees’ ability to fight off a potentially lethal parasite, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The study, published July 24 in …
Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Children Aged 3‒19 Years With and Without Asthma in the United States, 1999‒2010 – Number 126, August 2013 Key findings – Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999‒2010 “From 1999 to 2010, the percentage of children without asthma exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) decreased from 57.3% …
Indicators of Climate Change in California – California Environmental Protection Agency, August 2013 – characterizes the multiple facets of climate change in California. “The report tracks trends in greenhouse gas levels that influence climate, changes in the state’s climate, and the impacts of climate change on California’s environment and people. The report does this by …
Ocean Acidification. Harold F. Upton, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy; Peter Folger, Specialist in Energy and Natural Resources Policy. July 30, 2013 “With increasing concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, the extent of effectson the ocean and marine resources is an increasing concern. One aspect of this issue is the ongoing process (known …
By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun: “Some of springtime’s more notable heralds appear to be fading away, as a new study finds frogs, toads and salamanders disappearing at an alarming rate across the United States. In what they say is the first analysis of its kind, scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and a …
“The International Energy Outlook 2013 (IEO2013) projects that world energy consumption will grow by 56 percent between 2010 and 2040. Total world energy use rises from 524 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) in 2010 to 630 quadrillion Btu in 2020 and to 820 quadrillion Btu in 2040. Much of the growth in energy consumption occurs …
Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies. Francis X. McCarthy -Analyst in Emergency Management Policy; Jared T. Brown – Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy. May 24, 2013 “Before and after a disaster strikes, it may be helpful to understand the broad outlines of the national emergency management structure and where authority rests at …
News release: “Halliburton Energy Services Inc. has agreed to plead guilty to destroying evidence in connection with the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the Department of Justice announced today. A criminal information charging Halliburton with one count of destruction of evidence was filed today in U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. Halliburton has signed a …
