Australia fails to plug oil leak

A second attempt to stop oil pouring into Australian waters after a rig accident in the Timor Sea has failed.

It is almost two months since oil began flowing from the West Atlas drilling platform that lies about 200km (125 miles) off the West Australian coast.
The rig's operators have said that plugging the leak is an "extraordinarily complex" task.
Environmental groups have warned that the slick is threatening wildlife, including endangered turtles.
Conservationists have said this is Australia's most damaging oil spill in 25 years.
Each day for almost two months, hundreds of barrels have been flowing into the Timor Sea, although officials have conceded that it is impossible to know just how much oil has been spilt.
The slick is about 160km from the Western Australian mainland, and slightly further from the Indonesian coast.
Two attempts to plug the leak have failed.
Engineers have tried to cap a small hole 25cm wide that lies deep beneath the seabed.
Extraordinary difficulty
They are expected to have another go towards the end of the week.
Scott Ludlam, a Senator for the Australian Greens, says it is a complex task.
"It underlines the extraordinary difficulty that they are facing in plugging the well," he said of the latest failure.
"They are trying to hit a needle in a haystack 2.5km below sea level. So, it is not surprising, I suppose, that they've failed to plug the well on their second attempt.
"This is the worst oil spill in Australian waters since the mid-1980s and it really does not give us high hopes for the huge expansion of the oil and gas industry that is planned in the region," he added.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has said the flow of oil from the damaged well appears to be slowing.
Boats have been spraying chemicals to help disperse the slick and stop it spreading.
A spokeswoman has insisted that the impact on wildlife had been minimal.
Environmentalists, however, worry about the long-term effects of contamination on vulnerable marine species, including flat-back turtles, dolphins and whales.

Analysis of cellphone studies finds tumor risk

The answer to the question of whether cellphones increase the risk of brain, head and neck tumors is truly a matter of whom you ask.

An analysis published Tuesday of data from 23 epidemiological studies found no connection between cellphone use and the development of cancerous or benign tumors. But when eight of the studies that were conducted with the most scientific rigor were analyzed, cellphone users were shown to have a 10% to 30% increased risk of tumors compared with people who rarely or never used the phones. The risk was highest among those who had used cellphones for 10 years or more.

"The other group of 15 studies were not as high-quality," said study coauthor Joel M. Moskowitz, director of the UC Berkeley Center for Family and Community Health. "They either found no association or a negative association or a protective effect -- which I don't think anyone would have predicted."

The main message of the analysis, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, is that studies should be conducted so that findings are harder to refute, he said.

In recent years, concerns have arisen that the radio-frequency energy emitted by cellphones may be high enough to cause tumors and other health problems. But the risks are hotly debated.

"I went into this really dubious that anything was going on," Moskowitz said. "Overall, you find no difference. But when you start teasing the studies apart and doing these subgroup analyses, you do find there is reason to be concerned."

All of the studies were case control studies, which means researchers interviewed people on their past use of cellphones. Some of the people, referred to as controls, had no history of brain tumors; others, known as cases, had been diagnosed with brain tumors. The studies encompassed 37,916 people.

Eight of the studies were singled out as more reliable because the researchers were not told which people had tumors and because the studies were not supported with mobile phone industry funding. However, seven of those eight studies were conducted by a single researcher, Dr. Lennart Hardell, an oncologist in Sweden.

Some of the less-stringent studies were part of the Interphone project coordinated by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. Interphone is funded in part by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum and the Global System for Mobile Communication Assn.

"Hardell had the higher-quality studies in which he was blinded to the cases and controls," Moskowitz said. "Presumably, he would have less opportunity to bias the results. But was it better methodology? Or was it something about Sweden? More people there live in rural communities, and maybe they were exposed to higher levels of energy."

More radio-frequency energy is typically needed to operate cellphones in rural areas.

Interphone study investigators are not influenced by the funding source, said Michael Milligan, secretary-general of the Mobile Manufacturers Forum, based in Hong Kong.

"The Mobile Manufacturers Forum has provided part funding for the Interphone study that has complemented other public sources of funding -- such as the European Commission and other national bodies," Milligan said in an e-mail. "In providing funding, we have done so on terms that guarantee Interphone's complete scientific independence."

The bulk of all scientific studies, Milligan said, reveals no increased risk of head and neck tumors. However, conclusions should await higher-quality studies that follow diverse groups of people, both phone users and nonusers, over a long period of time, said Dr. Seung-Kwon Myung, lead author of the meta-analysis, from the National Cancer Center in Goyang, South Korea.

"Larger, prospective, cohort studies, independently conducted from the mobile industry, are required to confirm the relationship between mobile phone use and tumor risk," he said.

Texas heavy industries worry about EPA crackdown

For 15 years, environmentalists have complained that state regulations have allowed the powerful oil and chemical industries to skirt Clean Air Act standards in Texas, the nation's foremost producer of industrial air pollution.
But the Environmental Protection Agency last month scrapped several aspects of the state's air-pollution permitting program, including "flexible" permits that have allowed about 140 plants and refineries to exceed toxic emissions limits in the short term as long as they complied to overall federal averages in the long term.
Federal regulators say the move, set to take effect next year, is designed to cut toxic emissions and bring Texas in line with the Clean Air Act. And environmental groups say it will help improve the state's ecology and the health of Texans and those living nearby.
Industry groups, however, warn that getting rid of the state program in favor of more rigid standards will hurt industries crucial to the Texas economy, and that the costs of compliance may hit consumers.
"If there is a cost associated with it, it is very likely that it could cost the consumer more," said Debbie Hastings, vice president for environmental affairs for the Texas Oil And Gas Association, whose members provide about 25 percent of the nation's gasoline supply and include industry giants including Exxon Mobil Corp. and ConocoPhillips.
It's too early to know precisely how the rules will change or how much it will cost, but there's worry in the heavy industries that billow tons of toxins but employ thousands of people and pay billions in state and local taxes. Texas has more oil refineries and chemical plants than any other state, and the permit ruling comes as Gov. Rick Perry and industry officials are railing against a climate bill pending in Congress.
Plants could be forced to spend millions of dollars to upgrade pollution control equipment. Industry groups say that in turn could jack up the prices of gas, tires, carpet, upholstery and other products that pass through Texas factories.
"The prices have to keep up with the cost of doing business," said Mike Meroney, a spokesman for Texas Chemical Council, which represents about 80 companies with 200 sites that produce the state's leading export. "Every site's different — it could be very, very costly."
States are required to enforce the Clean Air Act, but they're given some flexibility in how to do it. The EPA approved Texas' major clean-air permitting plan in 1992, and the state has since submitted more than 30 regulatory changes.
The EPA issued its ruling last month as a result of a lawsuit settlement that forced the agency to approve or disapprove aspects of the Texas permitting process, agency spokesman Dave Bary said. The EPA said no other state offered polluters such flexibility, and cited problems with the permit program's enforcement, monitoring and record keeping, among other reasons.
The EPA held its first meeting last week with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which issues the permits, to work on getting the program into compliance. The commission's executive director, Mark Vickery, said the state permit rules have helped cut down on pollution and said the agency would work with the EPA to resolve the problems. The agencies are working through a 60-day comment period before the rules become final next year.
Fadel Gheit, an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co. in New York, said the permitting problem is just one more bit of bad news for industries that are already struggling. Several major oil companies are coming off second-quarter profit declines of more than 50 percent, although the oil industry posted record gains in 2008.
"It's bad, but how bad is the question?" Gheit said. "The outlook couldn't be more grim, and yet the government finds a way to kick them when they're down."
Bary, the EPA spokesman, said there's no way to know exactly how much cleaner the air would have been under federally approved permits.
But Neil Carman, an air specialist with the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club who spent years as an industrial plant inspector with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, said he's certain ending the program will cut emissions. He said it will prove costly to the companies, but not as costly as treating long-term health problems caused by toxic emissions.
Al Armendariz, a chemical engineering professor at Southern Methodist University who is an expert on air pollution and an environmental advocate, said smaller and older facilities could face hefty costs, but major companies won't feel a thing.
"They'll say, 'Look, if we have to spend half a million dollars to re-permit, big deal.' They probably spend more than that on toiletries for those facilities," he said, noting that even multimillion-dollar expenses would be a "one-time capital blip" for major companies. Armendariz also said he doubts industry claims that consumers could feel any pain.
The oil and gas industry provides about 190,000 Texas jobs and paid about $10 billion in state and local taxes and royalties last year, according to the oil and gas association, which represents almost every producer and refiner in the state. The chemical industry employs about 74,000 Texans and last year paid $1 billion in state and local taxes.
The chemical industry is the top air polluter in the state, producing about 16,000 tons of toxic emissions, according to the most recent EPA toxic release inventory in 2007. Oil ranked third, behind power plants, with about 4,500 tons.
Both groups and state regulators say flexible permits have helped, and point to reductions of cancer-causing chemical benzene and ground-level ozone levels in the Houston area that's home to the bulk of the state's oil refineries and chemical plants.
But Carman said it's silly to be content with the progress because Texas is still so polluted.
"That's like somebody going before a judge and saying, 'Your Honor, I know I've had a DWI problem, but I brought it down from 50 DWI's a year ago to 30 now,'" said Carman, who like other environmentalists has long derided the permitting process as a rubber stamp in an industry-friendly state. "That's just not enough, especially when you're talking about things that cause cancer."

Williamston, North Carolina, Earns Audubon Sustainable Community Certification

The Town of Williamston, North Carolina, has earned the Audubon Sustainable Community Certification from Audubon International, a non-profit environmental organization.  Members of Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program are eligible for the designation, which recognizes dedication to the process of becoming a sustainable community by completing a Vision 2020 plan. The plan covers 15 focus areas and members, like Williamston, must choose timelines and measurable goals. Once progress is documented, members can earn certification.  As Mayor Tommy Roberson states, “Audubon International and the Sustainable Communities Program has provided invaluable guidance, a useful framework for action, measurable goals, and third-party verification of our efforts to truly embrace sustainability as a core principle for our policies, plans, and practices.”

“As the first municipality to receive the Audubon International Sustainable Community Certification in the state of North Carolina, the Town of Williamston has demonstrated a strong commitment to the ideals of sustainability – economic vitality, environmental protection, and social responsibility,” says Suzi Zakowski, Manager of the Sustainable Communities Program.  “With the surrounding natural landscape of Eastern North Carolina and a rich heritage, Williamston has much to celebrate. It is a unique place filled with residents, businesses and community organizations that care deeply about the place they call home.”

Williamston’s accomplishments on their way to earning this certification include, but are not limited to, the following:

·      Roanoke River Projects- The Town has completed several projects along the Roanoke River that both attracts visitors and preserves the natural elements. Several birding paths linked to the North Carolina Birding Trails, educational signage that highlights the historical significance, camping platforms, and recreational opportunities along the newly constructed boardwalk are just a few of the completed projects that draw residents and visitors.

·      Environmental Education in Local Schools- The school system has introduced a mandatory new class into the high school curriculum called Earth and the Environment, and students have constructed and continue to maintain a water quality project on campus including cisterns, rain gardens, eco-swales, permeable pavement, and riparian buffers. The project further calls attention to the diminishing fresh water supply in Williamston.

·      Water Quality and Stormwater Management- To address the large amounts of runoff from parking lots and roads, the Town has constructed numerous eco-swales and bio-retention ponds. All new developments must use permeable pavement, as adopted in the Town Code. The Town has worked with the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect wetlands and natural areas surrounding the Roanoke River and has held several educational seminars for residents.

·      Health and Quality of Life- Several new trails link Williamston’s recreational opportunities, including new rail trails, bike paths, and river boardwalks. All of these links are mapped and available to the general public. Also, North Carolina State students have developed a trail system that links all trails through residential areas. A comprehensive physical fitness program has been implemented through the Recreation Department and Senior Center in which a significant amount of the population participate.

·      Historical Preservation– The Town has an active Historical Society which holds outreach events, develops educational materials and publications, documents the heritage, and preserves properties. To date, in addition to the downtown, which is a walkable, mixed use area, sixty-six pieces of property have been acquired and preserved. Several area organizations participate in festivals that attract tourists and revenue, highlighting the history of the region.

·      Infill- The Town has implemented codes to reduce sprawl and encourage the use of existing structures. The Arts Council and Technology Center, Economic Incubator, and the Roanoke Landing and Technology Center have occupied existing buildings, and the Downtown Facade Grants Program encourages the use of downtown buildings. A down payment assistance program encourages the purchase of existing homes.

·      Agriculture- Williamston is located in rural Martin County, with a lot of the land dedicated to agriculture. The Cooperative Extension has helped with outreach and education so that seventy-five percent of the farms use strip-till or no-till farming methods. A farmer’s market venue has been constructed so area farms can sell excess produce.  Many of the Town’s initiatives seek to preserve farmland and the rural heritage.

·      Economic Development- A large percentage of equestrian tourists has led to the construction of an Equestrian Center, and several area businesses have adjusted hours to accommodate the tourism. Several new trails and bus tours have led to an increase of nature enthusiast in the area. The Community College has created incentive programs for local businesses to provide hands-on learning for students with the promise of employment.

Members maintain certification status in the Sustainable Communities Program by demonstrating continuous progress towards goals in the plan under a set of fifteen types of sustainability indicators.  “The community leaders and citizens in Williamston have understood the value of outside help, credible third-party oversight of their sustainability efforts, and a process to help identify clear and measurable goals” states Kevin A. Fletcher, Ph.D., Executive Director of Audubon International.  “This is their community and their success to be proud of and to relish.  We’re happy to be helping them along the way.”

About Audubon International

Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources, thus leading to more sustainable communities.  To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities.   Through the Community Engagement, Planning & Action Initiative, and the Sustainable Communities Program, Audubon International works to help community leaders and stakeholders embrace environmental stewardship and sustainability as a central element of planning, policies, and practices.

Climate denial's Michael Moore

The Society for Environmental Journalists' annual meeting is took place in Madison, Wisconsin, this weekend. (And, yes, there was early snow there: See here.) Al Gore was the keynote speaker.

Mr. Gore met with a self-styled "inconvenient question" from filmmaker Phelim McAleer, whose documentary, "Not Evil, Just Wrong," will premiere later this month (H/T Huff Post). The film posits itself as the antidote to Gore's "Inconvenient Truth."

McAleer asked Gore to address a British high court ruling that found some factual errors in the former veep and Nobel-winner's Oscar-winning film.

The lawsuit in question objected to the use of Gore's film in British schools. The "errors" identified were fairly technical in nature and do not undermine the thrust of the film: that humans are causing significant climate change that will change the face of the planet we inhabit. (Whether or not one can claim with any certainty that Hurricane Katrina was caused by climate change, as the film did, is another matter.) Gore told McAleer that the court allowed for the film to be used in schools and declined to address the specific errors.

McAleer's video of the event, below, posits that the Society of Environmental Journalists "protected" Gore by cutting off his mic as he became increasingly agitated that Gore wouldn't address the specifics. Yet, McAleer had also complained that environmental journalists don't ask hard questions of their sources, and his mic was cut only after (a) it was clear he and Gore were in a standoff, and (b) moderators reportedly saw that a dozen other reporters had lined up behind McAleer to ask questions.

The SEJ has also posted a thorough debunking of McAleer's assertion that polar bear populations are growing. (For the record, it's also absolutely possible for the numbers of an animal to increase while it remains endangered: Only after numbers reach a viable point are animals delisted

We've taken steps to conserve the environment, President says

The Government has put in place measures aimed at ensuring sustainable natural resource utilization in order to reduce poverty and abate continued environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources, President Mwai Kibaki has said. The President said a Climate Change and Coordination Unit has been established at the Prime Minister's Office to deal with high-level political coordination of climate and environmental change through mainstreaming into the broad political and development agenda. President Kibaki was speaking Tuesday at the United Nations Office Nairobi where he officially opened the African Parliamentarians Summit on Climatic Change. In addition, the Head of State said the Government has developed a forest master plan to restore degraded forest cover and quality of the environment that will cover all the five major water towers in the country. ‘Global policy change' To enhance the supply of environmentally friendly and affordable energy in the country, President Kibaki said his Government is investing in the development of renewable energy technologies such as geothermal, solar-based, bio-fuels and wind technologies. "These energy sources are expected to reduce over-dependence on fossil fuels which has impacted negatively on the environment through release of substantial amounts of greenhouse emissions," President Kibaki said. The Head of State, at the same time, challenged legislators in Africa to lead the crusade against actions that lead to adverse climatic change. The President said parliamentarians in the continent have the legitimacy to enact policies and laws aimed at ensuring a safe, healthy and sustainable natural environment that serves the needs of current and future generations. "You should push for a global policy change, based on rebuilding the damaged ecosystems and communities," President Kibaki said. Greenhouse gas emissions Noting that the path to greener world is not easy, President Kibaki asked the legislators to take aggressive initiatives to provide for the reduction of greenhouse gases and domestication of international and regional convention and protocols on climate change. "I urge you in your capacity as political leaders to accept more responsibility in combating global problems associated with climate change. We count on your support, as success requires cooperation, networking and participation from all stakeholders," said the President.  In this regard, President Kibaki urged African political leaders to work together in defining the continent's agenda and destiny as they prepare for the global conference on climate which will be held in Copenhagen in December. "The outcome of this parliamentary forum will be expected to strengthen Africa's position on climate change in preparation for the Conference of Parties to be held in Copenhagen in December this year," President Kibaki said. The Head of State underscored the importance of developing appropriate policies, laws and strategies that would conserve the environment. He emphasized that African states should monitor the driving forces, pressure and impacts of climate change in order to develop appropriate response measures. The President observed that domestication of multi-national environmental agreements required collaboration and partnerships among governments, relevant ministries, parliaments, scientists and civil society for just and sustainable environment. Said President Kibaki: "As a continent, we should be fully involved in the climate debate and negotiations aimed at agreements to give us a fair and just deal that caters for our interests and needs."  Climate change Noting that developing countries accounted for only 20 percent of the cumulative greenhouse gas emissions yet they suffered severe effects of climate change, President Kibaki said those responsible for the greatest greenhouse gas emissions should take the issue of equity more seriously. The President, once again, pointed out that the ability of countries to mitigate the Climate Change effects is dependent on mechanisms put in place to address impact of Climate Change, noting that its impact has become a critical political, economic and social issue worldwide. "The impact of climate change is mainly greatest on environment, agriculture, health, water, infrastructure and energy sectors. It has been projected that agricultural production and food security in many African countries and regions are likely to be severely compromised by climate change and climate variability," President Kibaki observed. ‘African position' In his address, the Executive President of the Pan African Parliamentarian's Network on Climate Change Mr. Awudu Mbaya reaffirmed that the African position in Copenhagen Summit in December would be greatly influenced by the Nairobi forum. He said, "The eyes of Africa and the world are directed towards Nairobi, expecting the outcome. We shall make or mar the African position in Copenhagen at this conference." Mr. Mbaya commended Kenya for hosting the forum which, he termed as one of the greatest efforts aimed at supporting global commitment towards combating Climate Change which has become a serious threat to the survival of mankind. The Executive President of the Pan African Parliamentarian's Network on Climate Change asked parliamentarians to ensure that Climate Change is integrated into individual countries' national laws for it to be managed without affecting nations' path towards prosperity. He said that African negotiators during the forthcoming United Nations Conference in Copenhagen must be guided by benchmarks aimed at achieving results that are fair, equitable and effective in the African situation. On his part, Kenya's National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende termed the forum an assembly of premier African leadership aimed at exploring means of mitigating effects of Climate Change as well as domesticating the concept in the African context. The Minister for Environment and Mineral Resources John Michuki called for a strengthened and elevated United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Kenya. Other speakers during the forum were the Summit Vice-President Prof Margaret Kamar and UNEP Deputy Executive Director Angela Cropper.

Indian minister urges pared down climate deal

Nations should scale down ambitions for a global climate deal in Copenhagen in December rather than have "exaggerated expectations," India's minister of state for environment and forests said on Saturday.
Jairam Ramesh said climate talks in Bangkok, which ended on Friday, had left a big gap in trust between developing and industrialized nations.
"We have to be realistic, we have to be pragmatic," Ramesh said. "We should not derail Copenhagen by having exaggerated expectations. Let us clinch those elements of the deal that we can clinch."
He said countries may need to come back to Copenhagen after December to reach a wider deal.
India insists it will not accept binding greenhouse gas emissions cuts but will adopt nationally appropriate mitigation actions.
Ramesh suggested instead of binding emissions cuts, governments should now focus on agreeing on three main areas: finance for adaptation to climate change, a deal to combat deforestation and promote forestation, and technology sharing.
"Even the United States is in agreement on these three issues," Ramesh told an editors' meeting in the Danish capital with 57 days left until about 190 governments are due to convene the U.N. climate change conference there on December 7-18, seeking a deal to replace the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012.
Ramesh warned against what he called the "mistake of the Doha round" of trade talks. "The basic problem of the Doha round was 'all or nothing,'" he said. The trade talks began in 2001 and there is still no deal.
Ramesh said India would go a step beyond nationally appropriate mitigation actions, dubbed "NAMAs," and pass domestic legislation in areas such as fuel efficiency standards and possibly environmental building codes.
Ramesh blamed the European Union for abandoning the basic structure of the Kyoto Protocol and said it was up to the EU to bridge the lack of trust after the Bangkok talks.
The Kyoto pact contains binding emissions reductions targets for rich countries but does not include hard targets for developing countries.
"It is the European Union that has given the impression in Bangkok that it is ready to abandon the basic architecture of the Kyoto Protocol to accommodate the United States," he said.
"Recent events in Bangkok have cast a long shadow over what is going to happen in the Copenhagen negotiations," Ramesh said