Michele Kearney's Environmental Blog - Environmental degradation and waning natural resources including energy resources threaten U.S. security. And the loss of renewable natural resources, including forests, fresh water, fish and fertile soils, can drive political instability and conflict in the developing world, and around the globe. In short, natural resoures, energy and the environment are national security issues.
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Saturday, October 15, 2011
Hidden 1987 EPA Report Reveals Fracking Causes Water Contamination
Hidden 1987 EPA Report Reveals Fracking Causes Water Contamination
Documents: A Case of Fracking-Related Contamination
Documents: A Case of Fracking-Related Contamination
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Climate Remediation Releases Report Calling for Federal Geo-Engineering Research Program
Blue Ribbon Task Force on Climate Remediation Releases Report Calling for Federal Geo-Engineering Research Program
Experts Caution Greenhouse Gas Mitigation and Adaptation Measures Must Take Priority; Recommend Full Evaluation of Long-Term Feasibility and Consequences; Too Little Known to Discuss Deployment at this Time
Oct. 4, 2011
http://www.bipartisanpolicy.org/news/press-releases/2011/10/blue-ribbon-task-force-climate-remediation-releases-report-calling-feder
Washington, DC – Leading experts on climate change science and technology comprising the Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) Task Force on Climate Remediation Research today released a report calling for a coordinated federal research program to explore the potential effectiveness, feasibility, and consequences of climate remediation technologies. [Read the full report here]
The group of 18 leaders from the natural science, social science, science policy, foreign policy, national security, and environmental communities was convened by the BPC in early 2010. This is the first expert report to address what the federal government should do about research in this area.
The BPC Task Force report argues that managing risk is a central principle of effective climate policy, and emphasizes that climate remediation is no substitute for controlling risk through climate mitigation (i.e., reducing emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases) and climate adaptation (i.e., enhancing the resilience of man-made and natural systems to climate changes).
Furthermore, the report emphasizes that it is far too premature to contemplate deployment of any climate remediation technology. However, the Task Force report finds that it is time for the U.S. to undertake a climate remediation research program to understand the risks, costs, and feasibility of these approaches.
“Most climate remediation concepts proposed to date involve some combination of risks, financial costs, and/or physical limitations that make them inappropriate to pursue except as complementary or emergency measures—for example, if the climate system reaches a “tipping point” and swift remedial action is required,” the report notes. “The United States needs to be able to judge whether particular climate remediation techniques could offer a meaningful response to the risks of climate change. But even if it decides not to deploy any climate remediation technology, the U.S. needs to evaluate steps others might take and be able to effectively participate in—and lead—the important international conversations that are likely to emerge around these issues and activities in the years ahead.
“With that in mind, the Task Force believes the federal government should embark on a focused and systematic program of research into climate remediation. The federal government is the only entity that has the incentive, responsibility, and capacity to run a broad, systematic, and effective program; it can also play an important role in effectively establishing international research norms.“
“This Task Force has not recommended deployment of climate remediation technologies, because far more research is needed to understand the potential impacts, risks, and costs associated with specific technologies. The purpose of this report, rather, is to describe how the Task Force believes the U.S. government should go about improving understanding of climate remediation options and how it should work with other countries to foster procedures for research based on that understanding.”
Two distinct rationales for a climate remediation research program form the basis of the report:
- The physical risks of climate change are real and growing.
- The geopolitical and national security risks of deployment of climate remediation technologies by some other countries or actors are real.
- Judge whether particular climate remediation techniques could offer a meaningful response to the risks of climate change; and
- Evaluate steps other nations may be in a position to take, and lead the important international conversations that are likely to emerge around these issues in the years ahead.
- Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR): CDR strategies aim to remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere, thereby addressing the root causes of climate change.
- Solar Radiation Management (SRM): SRM strategies aim to counteract or mask the effect of rising greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere by increasing the amount of solar energy that is reflected back into space.
- The Task Force recommends that the federal government embark on a focused and systematic program of research on climate remediation. The report argues that the federal government is the only entity that has the incentive, responsibility and capacity to run a broad, systematic and effective program, and that it can play an important role in effectively establishing international research norms. The report emphasizes the need for coordination, especially the need for the government to develop an overarching agenda and funding strategy as part of a coordinated research effort, rather than simply yoking together disparate programs and projects that emerge on an ad hoc basis.
- Specifically, the Task Force recommends that a climate remediation research program be coordinated by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The group finds that basing coordination in the White House can ensure that the larger goals of the program are maintained over the more narrow interests of particular agencies, and that the political support of the President is clearly established over the course of the initiative. Additionally, the report argues that coordination in the White House will help ensure that research is linked to other relevant government activities, such as international relations and environmental regulation. The Task Force states that any controversies over experimentation by the United States or by other countries could certainly require White House engagement, which would benefit from having been involved from the outset.
- The Task Force suggests that some research into climate remediation, not to mention climate remediation efforts themselves, could pose risks and raise new ethical, legal and social issues of broad public concern. For these reasons, the Task Force notes that some kinds of research will require more robust forms of oversight than usual, involving more diverse kinds of experts and more public involvement. Given these unique characteristics, the group recommends that OSTP should be guided by a diverse advisory commission. The Commission should report to the Director of OSTP, and be responsible for: (1) advising the government on how to set up an effective and adequately funded scientific program commensurate with the scale of the problem, and identify dimensions of the problem that are being overlooked; (2) identifying and recommending policies and practices that ensure effective scientific research is conducted in a manner consistent with the principles articulated in this report; (3) recommending criteria for federal agencies to use in deciding whether to approve field research based on the level of risk posed by the proposed activity. Such criteria could also become the basis for international norms; and (4) conducting public communication and engagement activities.
- The Task Force finds that aspects of climate remediation research will require international cooperation and consideration. Unilateral actions by one or more individual countries could have far-reaching consequences. A number of nations are moving forward with research programs. Early efforts by the U.S. to engage other major nations and launch an international dialogue on relevant policy issues are essential
- The Task Force recommends that the U.S. promptly commence working with nations that have the requisite scientific, technological, and financial qualifications to establish common norms and expectations for climate remediation research. Such a process would facilitate future formal or informal agreements among participating nations on norms for considering the deployment of climate remediation technologies. The Task Force recommends, however, that, for the foreseeable future, as a practical matter, a less formal process would be considerably more productive than a formal multilateral discussion or negotiation of climate remediation.
Dr. Jane C. S. Long, Task Force Co-Chair and Associate Director-at-Large at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, said “Society has thus far failed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stave off severe climate change—global emissions are actually accelerating, and climatic impacts are increasingly apparent. Reducing emissions must remain the fundamental aim of any approach to climate change. Some climate remediation ideas might offer temporary relief from devastating climate impacts, and others may help to remove the cause of climate change. The U.S. government needs to conduct important, focused research to determine if these proposals could be appropriate tools in a robust, equitable climate risk strategy.”
Stephen Rademaker, Task Force Co-Chair and Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, said “Some proposed climate remediation techniques, particularly solar radiation management, could be fast-acting, be deployed at very low cost, and have quite serious and uneven impacts—intended and unintended. The U.S. has the capacity to establish norms and facilitate international cooperation in this realm, as it has in other areas of scientific research of international concern. At this point, a number of nations have begun to conduct research in this space. A federal research program will help the U.S. government participate meaningfully in international dialogue about this important subject.”
“Our intent was to bring together leading experts from diverse disciplines to evaluate technical, diplomatic and practical aspects of climate remediation research,” said Jason S. Grumet, President of the Bipartisan Policy Center. “The report reflects a consensus view from experts in natural science, social science, science policy, foreign policy, national security, and the environment. We are deeply grateful for their efforts.”
Read the full report here.
Members of the BPC’s Task Force on Climate Remediation:*
Jane C. S. Long, Co-Chair
Associate Director-at-Large, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Stephen Rademaker, Co-Chair
Principal, Podesta Group
Former Assistant Secretary of State
James G. Anderson
Philip S. Weld Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry, Harvard University
Richard Elliot Benedick
President, National Council for Science and the Environment
Former Ambassador and chief U.S. negotiator for the 1987 Montreal Protocol
Ken Caldeira
Senior Scientist, Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution, Stanford University
Joe Chaisson
Research and Technical Director, Clean Air Task Force
David Goldston
Director of Government Affairs, Natural Resources Defense Council
Former Chief of Staff, House Committee on Science
Steven Hamburg
Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
David Keith
Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS); and Professor of Public Policy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Ron Lehman
Director, Center for Global Security Research, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Frank Loy
Former Undersecretary of State for Global Affairs and Chief U.S. Climate Negotiator, 1998-2000
Granger Morgan
Lord Chair Professor in Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University
Daniel Sarewitz
Director, Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes, Arizona State University
Thomas Schelling
Distinguished University Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland
John Shepherd
Professorial Research Fellow in Earth System Science, School of Ocean & Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton
David G. Victor
Professor, School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, University of California, San Diego; Director, Laboratory on International Law and Regulation
David Whelan, Ph.D., NAE
Boeing Defense, Space, and Security Chief Scientist and Vice President, Strategic Innovation, Phantom Works Former Director of the Tactical Technology Office of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
David E. Winickoff
Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley
*Affiliations are provided for identification purposes only.
Task Force On Climate Remediation Research
Task Force On Climate Remediation Research
Oct. 4, 2011
Geoengineering: A National Strategic Plan for Research on the Potential Effectiveness, Feasibility, and Consequences of Climate Remediation Technologies
A Task Force Is Wrongly Working to Change the Earth's Climate
A Task Force Is Wrongly Working to Change the Earth's Climate
LAW PROFESSOR OFFERS DIM VIEW OF FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
LAW PROFESSOR OFFERS DIM VIEW OF FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE
National Science Foundation: Ocean Acidification
National Science Foundation: Ocean Acidification
by: Michael Saunders
The National Science Foundation is an independent US agency that is mainly responsible for supporting fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields associated with science and engineering.
In keeping with its goals and objectives, the National Science Foundation has recently constituted a funding opportunity entitled Ocean Acidification Program.
The Ocean Acidification Program is geared towards the acquisition of a better understanding of the potentially adverse effects of slowly acidifying oceans.
The program is designed to develop strategies and practices that will help the sustainability of ocean resources by conducting fundamental research studies on nature, extent and the impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments.
With that, the National Science Foundation predicts that essential research studies will have to include:
a) Thorough understanding the geochemistry and biochemistry of ocean acidification
b) Thorough understanding of impact of ocean acidification on the physical and biological processes at the organism level, and how those interactions will affect the function and structure of ecosystems
c) Thorough understanding of how technology can utilize the information obtained from the earth system in acquiring better knowledge regarding the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future oceans.
The program also encourages research projects that could identify organisms and ecosystems that are vulnerable to the changes brought about by ocean acidification, as indicated by the current trends or by the earth's geologic records. (continued...)
by: Michael Saunders
The National Science Foundation is an independent US agency that is mainly responsible for supporting fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields associated with science and engineering.
| Sponsored Links |
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The Ocean Acidification Program is geared towards the acquisition of a better understanding of the potentially adverse effects of slowly acidifying oceans.
The program is designed to develop strategies and practices that will help the sustainability of ocean resources by conducting fundamental research studies on nature, extent and the impact of ocean acidification on oceanic environments.
With that, the National Science Foundation predicts that essential research studies will have to include:
a) Thorough understanding the geochemistry and biochemistry of ocean acidification
b) Thorough understanding of impact of ocean acidification on the physical and biological processes at the organism level, and how those interactions will affect the function and structure of ecosystems
c) Thorough understanding of how technology can utilize the information obtained from the earth system in acquiring better knowledge regarding the effects of ocean acidification on the present day and future oceans.
The program also encourages research projects that could identify organisms and ecosystems that are vulnerable to the changes brought about by ocean acidification, as indicated by the current trends or by the earth's geologic records. (continued...)
Spewing volcano forces Spain to close island port
October 15, 2011 10:51 AM
Spewing volcano forces Spain to close island port
Dangerous allegations in the Gulf of Mexico Gulf of Mexico residents accuse BP and their security company of harassment.
| Dangerous allegations in the Gulf of Mexico |
| Gulf of Mexico residents accuse BP and their security company of harassment. |
Don’t Count Oil Out Alternative energies won’t replace oil, gas, and coal anytime soon. By Robert Bryce
Don’t Count Oil Out
Alternative energies won’t replace oil, gas, and coal anytime soon.
By Robert BryceThe Gulf Oil Spill: Lessons for Public Policy by Richard L. Gordon
The Gulf Oil Spill: Lessons for Public Policy
by Richard L. Gordon
Do They Actually Cast These Votes? Yes, Virginia, They Do!
Do They Actually Cast These Votes? Yes, Virginia, They Do!
Report: Waste-to-energy plants emit more harmful emissions than coal-fired plants per hour of energy
Report: Waste-to-energy plants emit more harmful emissions than coal-fired plants per hour of energy
The Stench of Money Canada's Environment Succumbs to Oil Sands By Philip Bethge
The Stench of Money
Canada's Environment Succumbs to Oil Sands
By Philip Bethge
Japan Contamination Maps: Radiation is Spreading.... by Lucas W Hixson
Japan Contamination Maps: Radiation is Spreading....
by Lucas W Hixson
EPA's CO2 Endangerment Finding is Endangered By S. Fred Singer
EPA's CO2 Endangerment Finding is Endangered
By S. Fred SingerFriday, October 14, 2011
Pipeline Dreams from The American Prospect Articles Will Obama stand with or against environmentalists in opposing the Keystone expansion?
Pipeline Dreams
Will Obama stand with or against environmentalists in opposing the Keystone expansion?
Explainer: What Is the Keystone XL Pipeline—and Why Is It So Controversial?
Explainer: What Is the Keystone XL Pipeline—and Why Is It So Controversial?
Scientists find possible trigger for volcanic 'super-eruptions'
Scientists find possible trigger for volcanic 'super-eruptions'
Corvallis OR (SPX) Oct 14, 2011
The "super-eruption" of a major volcanic system occurs about every 100,000 years and is considered one of the most catastrophic natural events on Earth, yet scientists have long been unsure about what triggers these violent explosions. However, a new model presented this week by researchers at Oregon State University points to a combination of temperature influence and the geometrical conf
The "super-eruption" of a major volcanic system occurs about every 100,000 years and is considered one of the most catastrophic natural events on Earth, yet scientists have long been unsure about what triggers these violent explosions. However, a new model presented this week by researchers at Oregon State University points to a combination of temperature influence and the geometrical conf
Is Icelandic volcano preparing to blow?
Is Icelandic volcano preparing to blow?
Reykjavik, Iceland (UPI) Oct 14, 2011
Katla, one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland, appears to be preparing for a long overdue eruption, scientists say. The volcano has a history of erupting about twice a century. With its last eruption having come in 1918, 93 years ago, it is well behind schedule. Volcano experts point to signs like an increasing number of small earthquakes in the area around Katla, The Daily Tele
Katla, one of the largest volcanoes in Iceland, appears to be preparing for a long overdue eruption, scientists say. The volcano has a history of erupting about twice a century. With its last eruption having come in 1918, 93 years ago, it is well behind schedule. Volcano experts point to signs like an increasing number of small earthquakes in the area around Katla, The Daily Tele
Papua New Guinea jolted by 6.7 quake
Papua New Guinea jolted by 6.7 quake
Sydney (AFP) Oct 14, 2011
The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea was jolted by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake Friday, but no tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 45 kilometres (28 miles), 103 kilometres east of the mountain city of Lae and 326 kilometres north of the capital Port Moresby. Geoscience Australia, which measured the quake at 6.5 magnitude, said
The Pacific island nation of Papua New Guinea was jolted by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake Friday, but no tsunami warning was issued. The US Geological Survey said the quake occurred at a depth of 45 kilometres (28 miles), 103 kilometres east of the mountain city of Lae and 326 kilometres north of the capital Port Moresby. Geoscience Australia, which measured the quake at 6.5 magnitude, said
Energy, food security to dominate Rio+20: envoy
Energy, food security to dominate Rio+20: envoy
Paris (AFP) Oct 13, 2011
Boosting energy efficiency and renewables and providing food for a future world of eight billion will dominate next year's UN Rio+20 conference, the talks' co-coordinator said on Thursday. The June 4-6 event in Rio de Janeiro is taking place 20 years after the landmark 1992 Earth Summit that set down UN conventions for protecting biodiversity and tackling climate change. In
Feeding the world while protecting the planet
Feeding the world while protecting the planet
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 14, 2011
The problem is stark: One billion people on earth don't have enough food right now. It's estimated that by 2050 there will be more than nine billion people living on the planet. Meanwhile, current agricultural practices are amongst the biggest threats to the global environment. This means that if we don't develop more sustainable practices, the planet will become even less able to feed its
The problem is stark: One billion people on earth don't have enough food right now. It's estimated that by 2050 there will be more than nine billion people living on the planet. Meanwhile, current agricultural practices are amongst the biggest threats to the global environment. This means that if we don't develop more sustainable practices, the planet will become even less able to feed its
US to let BP bid on Gulf of Mexico leases
US to let BP bid on Gulf of Mexico leases
New York (AFP) Oct 13, 2011
The United States said Thursday it will allow British oil giant BP to bid on new oil-drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico due to go on sale later this year, less than two years after a devastating spill. US offshore safety chief Michael Bromwich told lawmakers that his agency had determined that BP should not be barred from obtaining new offshore drilling leases. Production on the avail
The United States said Thursday it will allow British oil giant BP to bid on new oil-drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico due to go on sale later this year, less than two years after a devastating spill. US offshore safety chief Michael Bromwich told lawmakers that his agency had determined that BP should not be barred from obtaining new offshore drilling leases. Production on the availNo oil is leaking from the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig - Transocean, USCG
No oil is leaking from the sunken Deepwater Horizon oil rig - Transocean, USCG
NASA Continues Critical Survey of Antarctica's Changing Ice
NASA Continues Critical Survey of Antarctica's Changing Ice
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Oct. 13, 2011
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081007/38461LOGO)
BP paid $7 bln in Gulf disaster claims: executive
BP paid $7 bln in Gulf disaster claims: executive
Washington (AFP) Oct 13, 2011 - Oil giant BP has so far paid out around $7 billion in compensation claims arising from the deadly oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, a senior executive told US lawmakers Thursday. "There has been a spend, a payment of claims about $5.6, $5.7 billion to individuals and businesses and about $1.3 billion to government entities," said Ray Dempsey, Vice President of BP America. A furt ... more
Washington (AFP) Oct 13, 2011 - Oil giant BP has so far paid out around $7 billion in compensation claims arising from the deadly oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, a senior executive told US lawmakers Thursday. "There has been a spend, a payment of claims about $5.6, $5.7 billion to individuals and businesses and about $1.3 billion to government entities," said Ray Dempsey, Vice President of BP America. A furt ... more
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Pipeline fight really over Canada climate stance: official
Pipeline fight really over Canada climate stance: official
Ottawa (AFP) Oct 12, 2011 - Opposition to Canada's oil sands will only intensify unless Ottawa takes strong action on climate change, said a Canadian official cited by local media Wednesday. "The oil sands are an issue in themselves, but just as much a proxy for the bigger agenda of 'off oil,'" Marc LePage, a special adviser on climate change and energy issues at the Canadian embassy in Washington, said in an email to ... more
Ottawa (AFP) Oct 12, 2011 - Opposition to Canada's oil sands will only intensify unless Ottawa takes strong action on climate change, said a Canadian official cited by local media Wednesday. "The oil sands are an issue in themselves, but just as much a proxy for the bigger agenda of 'off oil,'" Marc LePage, a special adviser on climate change and energy issues at the Canadian embassy in Washington, said in an email to ... more
video of lecture: Natural Gas: a Bridge to Nowhere?
video of lecture: Natural Gas: a Bridge to Nowhere?
Jan Lundberg spoke at the University of Oklahoma's petroleum engineering school for its Bridging Fuels for the Future Seminar Series, August 30, 2011. It was unusual for Oklahoma's petroleum academia to host a critic of something as popular as natural gas. But the hopes for graduates' entry into lucrative jobs in natural gas had to be tempered with the realities of fracking, peak oil, and climate change. This video will be available as a DVD at Culture Change's exhibit table at the Nov. 2-6 annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas, Washington D.C. Watch Jan's lecture:
COLUMN-Is fracking set to transform the oil market? John Kemp
COLUMN-Is fracking set to transform the oil market? John Kemp
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Arctic Ice Melting Rapidly - Yet Global Warming is Slowing
Arctic Ice Melting Rapidly - Yet Global Warming is Slowing
The numbers are in for this year’s summer sea ice extent in the Arctic Ocean. By most measures the ice loss in 2011 came in a close second to the current and still record holder, 2007.
But the failure to set a new record for the least amount of summer Arctic sea ice observed during the satellite era (which begins in 1979) has done little to alter the overall picture of what is going on there. Summer sea ice has been in decline in the Arctic Ocean since, conservatively, the mid-20th century, and it has been picking up steam. And
Read more...
But the failure to set a new record for the least amount of summer Arctic sea ice observed during the satellite era (which begins in 1979) has done little to alter the overall picture of what is going on there. Summer sea ice has been in decline in the Arctic Ocean since, conservatively, the mid-20th century, and it has been picking up steam. And
Read more...
Oil Boom in the USA
Oil Boom in the USA
The USA, largest consumer of oil and perhaps about fourth in production has entered an oil boom. Not only is it related to improvements in production technology, but U.S. demand for crude has also fallen. The U.S. is awash in oil. It’s the rest of the world that’s driving demand.
The past 25 years has seen world oil sales increase 50% since 1986. Freeing the communist block has consequences like consumers who can afford an energy-supported lifestyle. The forecast for this year is oil will be used at a daily rate of 89 million barrels a day. The increases aren’t likely
Read more...
The past 25 years has seen world oil sales increase 50% since 1986. Freeing the communist block has consequences like consumers who can afford an energy-supported lifestyle. The forecast for this year is oil will be used at a daily rate of 89 million barrels a day. The increases aren’t likely
Read more...
Fresh Messaging Needed For A Sustainable Energy Future
Fresh Messaging Needed For A Sustainable Energy Future
Volcanic Activity Continues At Chile’s Puyehue Corón-Caulle
Volcanic Activity Continues At Chile’s Puyehue Corón-Caulle
NASA satellite imagery shows that the eruption of Puyehue Corón-Caulle Volcano is continuing after more than 4 months of activity.
Snow in Tahoe Already: How Weird is That?
Snow in Tahoe Already: How Weird is That?
Meteorologists say it’s the shortest Sierra “summer” in four decadesGet ready for a frigid winter
Get ready for a frigid winter
Freezing temperatures, lots of snow expected thanks to another La Nina system
Biofuels helping make nearly one billion people go hungry, finds report - October 11, 2011
Biofuels helping make nearly one billion people go hungry, finds report - October 11, 2011
At nearly one billion, the number of hungry and undernourished people in the world remains “unacceptably” high according to the United Nations’ agricultural agencies in a report published yesterday. (Reuters, Financial Times)
Possible Trigger for Volcanic 'Super-Eruptions' Discovered
Possible Trigger for Volcanic 'Super-Eruptions' Discovered
ScienceDaily (Oct. 12, 2011) — The "super-eruption" of a major volcanic system occurs about every 100,000 years and is considered one of the most catastrophic natural events on Earth, yet scientists have long been unsure about what triggers these violent explosions.
Results of the research, which was funded by the National Science Foundation, were presented at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America in Minneapolis, Minn.
Changes in rainfall patterns are projected for next 30 years
Changes in rainfall patterns are projected for next 30 years
Manoa HI (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - Scientists at University of Hawaii - Manoa have projected an increased frequency of heavy rainfall events but a decrease in rainfall intensity during the next 30 years (2011-2040) for the southern shoreline of Oahu, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Chase Norton, a Meteorology Research Assistant at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Techno ... more
Manoa HI (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - Scientists at University of Hawaii - Manoa have projected an increased frequency of heavy rainfall events but a decrease in rainfall intensity during the next 30 years (2011-2040) for the southern shoreline of Oahu, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research. Chase Norton, a Meteorology Research Assistant at the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Techno ... more
Laying The Blame For Extreme Weather
Laying The Blame For Extreme Weather
Boulder CO (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - Floods, tornadoes, droughts and wildfires: They are all weather-related, but blaming the latest meteorological disaster on climate change has always been a tricky matter that climate scientists have been shy to do. After all, how can you point to a specific and local event, such as a tornado or dry spell, and say it is caused by something as long-term and huge as global warming? "Tha ... more
Boulder CO (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - Floods, tornadoes, droughts and wildfires: They are all weather-related, but blaming the latest meteorological disaster on climate change has always been a tricky matter that climate scientists have been shy to do. After all, how can you point to a specific and local event, such as a tornado or dry spell, and say it is caused by something as long-term and huge as global warming? "Tha ... more
Critical Minerals Ignite Geopolitical Storm
Critical Minerals Ignite Geopolitical Storm
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth minerals and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and th ... more
Washington DC (SPX) Oct 12, 2011 - The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth minerals and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and th ... more
Dominion files with DOE to export LNG from Cove Point terminal in Maryland
Dominion files with DOE to export LNG from Cove Point terminal in Maryland
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Could a Mega-Tsunami Wipe Out the Eastern Seaboard?
Could a Mega-Tsunami Wipe Out the Eastern Seaboard?
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 12, 2011
As scientists have been baffled by earthquakes in the U.S. and a tsunami in Japan, there is one thing some of them seem to agree on - something really bad is about to happen and it's going to happen soon. That's the news uncovered by New York Times best-selling novelist Steve Alten from the research he performed for his new book, Phobos: Mayan Fear, a fictional tale of the Mayan 2012 dooms
As scientists have been baffled by earthquakes in the U.S. and a tsunami in Japan, there is one thing some of them seem to agree on - something really bad is about to happen and it's going to happen soon. That's the news uncovered by New York Times best-selling novelist Steve Alten from the research he performed for his new book, Phobos: Mayan Fear, a fictional tale of the Mayan 2012 doomsHydraulic Fracking's Forerunner: Shooting the Well
Hydraulic Fracking's Forerunner: Shooting the Well
Mark Ruffalo: It's Time To Move On From Fracking And Fossil Fuels
Mark Ruffalo: It's Time To Move On From Fracking And Fossil Fuels
Shake, Rattle and Roll
Shake, Rattle and Roll
By C. CLAIBORNE RAY
Published: October 10, 2011
Q. Can human actions cause earthquakes?
Multibeam sonar can map undersea gas seeps
Multibeam sonar can map undersea gas seeps
Durham NH (SPX) Oct 11, 2011 - A technology commonly used to map the bottom of the deep ocean can also detect gas seeps in the water column with remarkably high fidelity, according to scientists from the University of New Hampshire and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This finding, made onboard the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer in the Gulf of Mexico, will lead to more effective mapping of these g ... more
Durham NH (SPX) Oct 11, 2011 - A technology commonly used to map the bottom of the deep ocean can also detect gas seeps in the water column with remarkably high fidelity, according to scientists from the University of New Hampshire and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This finding, made onboard the NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer in the Gulf of Mexico, will lead to more effective mapping of these g ... more
Prosperity and Peak Oil: Salvaging Your Economic Future
Prosperity and Peak Oil: Salvaging Your Economic Future
It is with some trepidation that I prepare for a trip that includes an appearance before college students who generally find the idea of peak oil so disturbing that they do not want to even hear about it. And, I can't blame them. They must think that I have come to destroy their dreams, dreams premised on a future of ever expanding material prosperity and career advancement.
Certainly, a persistent, irreversible decline in world oil production would reshape nearly every facet of our lives. I like to think that we don't need to give up on our dreams, just choose different
Read more...
Certainly, a persistent, irreversible decline in world oil production would reshape nearly every facet of our lives. I like to think that we don't need to give up on our dreams, just choose different
Read more...
Can the Keystone XL Pipeline Really Break America's Dependence on Middle East Oil?
Can the Keystone XL Pipeline Really Break America's Dependence on Middle East Oil?
The United States of America is in trouble… big time. And while the brunt of the damage is coming from a failed (and some would argue, criminal) banking and monetary system, an inconsistent and confused energy policy also tops the list of reasons a once admired nation suddenly looks as if it’s been caught with its pants down. Joining in chants of “hope and change,” millions of Americans elected leaders they thought would represent their best interests. Instead, petty bickering, inflated egos (not to mention bank accounts), and a very real neglect for the working class families the country was
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Power or poison? EPA rules could limit coal-fueled plants' emissions
Power or poison? EPA rules could limit coal-fueled plants' emissions
By forcing plants like Clinch River to curb emissions such as mercury, arsenic and acid gases, the EPA says it can prevent as many as 17,000 premature deaths a year caused by breathing air laced with coal-fueled pollution.
Special Report: Energy The Year of Peril and Promise in Energy Production
Special Report: Energy
The Year of Peril and Promise in Energy Production
Crude is on a fracking record pace michael vaughan
Crude is on a fracking record pace
michael vaughan
Monday, October 10, 2011
Keystone XL pipeline becomes a political headache for White House
Keystone XL pipeline becomes a political headache for White House
Southern California's tectonic plates revealed in detail
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Critical minerals ignite geopolitical storm
Critical minerals ignite geopolitical storm
The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth elements and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and the security of their supplies.
The clean energy economy of the future hinges on a lot of things, chief among them the availability of the scores of rare earth elements and other elements used to make everything from photovoltaic panels and cellphone displays to the permanent magnets in cutting edge new wind generators. And right out of the gate trouble is brewing over projected growth in demand for these minerals and the security of their supplies.
Energy: Friend or Enemy? William D. Nordhaus
Energy: Friend or Enemy?
William D. Nordhaus
Because energy is such a large part of consumer budgets and so central to our advanced economies, people are reluctant to allow energy prices to reflect the true social costs of energy consumption.
Mountaintop coal mining moves a step ahead
Mountaintop coal mining moves a step ahead
Washington (UPI) Oct 7, 2011 - In a major victory for the coal industry operating in the Appalachian region, a U.S. district judge ruled that environmental officials overstepped their authority by subjecting mountaintop-removal mining operations to more stringent permit reviews. In June 2009 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had established a new process for issuing clean water permits in an effort to protect ... more
Washington (UPI) Oct 7, 2011 - In a major victory for the coal industry operating in the Appalachian region, a U.S. district judge ruled that environmental officials overstepped their authority by subjecting mountaintop-removal mining operations to more stringent permit reviews. In June 2009 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had established a new process for issuing clean water permits in an effort to protect ... more
Ocean acidification – Curtis Deutsch, University of California, Los Angeles (video)
Ocean acidification – Curtis Deutsch, University of California, Los Angeles (video)
Union Leaders in Washington to Testify for Keystone XL Pipeline
Union Leaders in Washington to Testify for Keystone XL Pipeline
Project Could Mean Thousands of Jobs for Members
United Association Local Union 798 Says Program Needed in Difficult Economy
PR Newswire
TULSA, Okla., Oct. 7, 2011
"Union leaders will be testifying at a U.S. State Department hearing today in Washington in support of the 1700-mile, 36-inch crude oil pipeline that would transport bitumen processed from oil in Alberta, Canada, to refineries along the Texas Gulf Coast," said Danny Hendrix, business manager for Local 798.
"It is vital that union members make themselves heard on this issue," said Hendrix. "At a time when our nation is struggling with high unemployment and is concerned about having a dependable energy supply, the president should be working overtime to approve this $7 billion project, which is funded entirely by private industry."
"Our union has a state-of-the-art training facility, and we are committed to providing only the finest pipeline workers to help with this project," said Hendrix. "TransCanada is equally committed to making sure only the most highly-trained workers are used."
"The impact on Americans looking for work, as well as on the tax base of local communities, can be measured in the billions of dollars," said Hendrix. "Keystone will yield $6.5 billion in personal income for U.S. workers and produce $600 million in state and local taxes along the pipeline route."
Michigan Chamber of Commerce Announces Support for Keystone XL Pipeline, Says Pipeline Will Boost State and National Energy Security
Michigan Chamber of Commerce Announces Support for Keystone XL Pipeline, Says Pipeline Will Boost State and National Energy Security
ATA Urges State Department to Move Key Energy Project Forward
ATA Urges State Department to Move Key Energy Project Forward
PR Newswire
ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 7, 2011
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100129/ATALOGO)
"Diesel fuel is, and will likely continue to be, the lifeblood of the American trucking industry," ATA President and CEO Bill Graves said. "The State Department can help ensure that the 18-wheelers that deliver America's essential goods like food, fuel and medicine have reliable access to that fuel by approving the Keystone XL project. Approving this project would give a green light to thousands of new jobs and a much needed economic stimulus."
NPRA Urges State Department to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline
NPRA Urges State Department to Approve Keystone XL Pipeline
PR Newswire
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2011
(logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110309/MM60639LOGO)
The pipeline would transport oil from oil sands in Alberta in Canada to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. It requires State Department approval because it crosses the U.S. border.
Here are excerpts from the NPRA written comments:
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Gulf Coast Task Force Releases Ecosystem Restoration Strategy For Public Review
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 5, 2011
Gulf Coast Task Force Releases Ecosystem Restoration Strategy For Public Review
Agenda outlines blueprint for reversing decline of Gulf Coast ecosystem
WASHINGTON - The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, chaired by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, today released for public review and feedback its comprehensive preliminary strategy for long term ecosystem restoration. The strategy, which will be presented to President Obama at the end of the public review period, represents an historic opportunity for addressing long-standing issues contributing to the decline of the Gulf’s critical ecosystem. The preliminary strategy is the first effort of its kind to be developed with the involvement of parties throughout the region, including the states, tribes, federal agencies, local governments and thousands of interested citizens and organizations. The plan strategy, which builds upon on-going efforts underway in the Gulf Coast states includes specific steps for on-the-ground action and represents the Task Force’s commitment to putting Gulf coastal restoration on an equal footing with other national priorities.
One year ago today, President Obama established the Task Force by executive order, in response to recommendations from a report by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, to continue the Administration’s ongoing commitment to the Gulf region. The group is made up of representatives from the five Gulf States and 11 federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Council on Environmental Quality, Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science and Technology Policy and Domestic Policy Council.
"Even before last year’s oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico endured decades of decline that threatened the environmental and economic health of this region. This strategy is designed to prepare the region for transitioning from a response to the spill into a long-term recovery that supports the vital ecosystem and the people who depend on it," said Administrator Jackson. "The health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem starts and ends with its people and its communities. The individuals and families who visit the Gulf, who work in the region, who depend on its resources, and especially those who call it home, know its needs and challenges best. They will be integral to creating and executing this long-term strategy."
“The Task Force’s draft strategy identifies fundamental obstacles that have plagued restoration and protection efforts in Louisiana and other states for decades. The report attempts to begin reversing 80 years of mismanagement,” said Garret Graves, Task Force vice-chair and chair of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana. “It identifies critical issues such as changes in river management, the use of dredged sediment, navigation channel bank stabilization, and the need to expedite the snail’s pace process of implementing water resources projects. History has proven that being reactive on disaster mitigation costs exponentially more. This report is an important first step in moving toward a proactive strategy as recognized through the implementation of the state's coastal master plan. There is much work still left to be done and we look forward to continuing to work with Task Force agencies and our fellow Gulf States to finally stabilize our coast and protect the Gulf communities.”
The natural resources of the Gulf’s ecosystem are vital to many of the region’s industries that directly support economic progress and job creation, including tourism and recreation, seafood production and sales, energy production and navigation and commerce. Among the major initiatives with specific actions recommended by the preliminary strategy to protect and restore those natural resources are:
• Stopping the Loss of Wetlands
Stopping the loss of critical wetlands, sand barriers and beaches is a key recommendation of the preliminary strategy. Key habitats for a wide range of fish and other animals are being lost or reduced across the Gulf. The creation of channels and levees from dredging in the Lower Mississippi often can “disconnect” the vast wetland delta from the source of sediments that built the delta over thousands of years. The strategy aims to restore the supply of sediments needed to build up eroding wetlands and to ultimately reconnect these valuable resources to their historic source of sediments, particularly in the Lower Mississippi. To help do this, the strategy recommends placing ecosystem restoration on an equal footing with historic uses such as navigation and flood damage reduction by approaching water resource management decisions in a far more comprehensive manner that will bypass harm to wetlands, barrier islands and beaches. The strategy also recommends implementation of several congressionally authorized projects in the Gulf that are intended to reverse the trend of wetlands loss.
• Reducing the Flow of Nutrients into the Gulf
The strategy calls for working in the Gulf and upstream in the Mississippi watershed to reduce the flow of nutrients into the Gulf by supporting state nutrient reduction frameworks, new nutrient reduction approaches, and targeted watershed work to reduce agricultural and urban sources of nutrients. The strategy recommends addressing the complex issues surrounding the transport of nutrients in excess to our Gulf coast by broadly supporting action-oriented innovations from all sectors that address both the environmental as well as the economics of effective nutrient management.
• Enhancing Resiliency Among Coastal Communities
The strategy calls for enhancing the quality of life of Gulf residents by working in partnership with Gulf with coastal communities themselves -- the living laboratories for facing the challenges posed. The strategy specifically recommends working with each of the States to build the integrated capacity needed through effective coastal improvement plans to better secure the future of their coastal communities and to implement existing efforts underway.
Additionally, the Task Force will begin immediately reviewing existing policies, programs and regulations that are slowing down restoration progress, particularly in the habitat restoration area. The Task Force will also explore innovative ways to implement restoration, measure success and support the restoration with science.
The following are statements on the release of the preliminary strategy from representatives of the member states on the task force:
N. Gunter Guy, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said, “The combined efforts of the federal and state members of the Task Force have resulted in the release of a preliminary strategy focused on restoring the Gulf Coast ecosystem. Alabama looks forward to receiving feedback from the public on the strategy and commits to continue working to improve Alabama’s Gulf Coast communities and protecting its natural resources.”
Mimi A. Drew, Florida’s representative on the task force and Special Advisor to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. said, “Today’s release of this important report is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of collaboration and hard work to identify priorities and a strategy to improve, restore and protect the fragile and vital Gulf ecosystem. The Gulf of Mexico provides huge environmental and economic benefits to Florida and we look forward to input from the public to refine this plan.”
Trudy D. Fisher, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said, "The Task Force marked an unprecedented commitment at the federal and state levels to create a shared vision for a healthier Gulf Coast ecosystem. We are confident that the resulting strategy will set the stage for future cooperation and success. Mississippi will be a critical partner as the work continues."
Helen S. Young, Deputy Commissioner of Coastal Resources in the Texas General Land Office commented, "The collaborative federal, state, and local process that involved visits to the five Gulf states and listening sessions with locals highlighted the states' shared issues and unique needs. For instance, it emphasized the importance of Texas's barrier islands, which are the first line of defense against storm surge like Hurricane Ike produced in 2008, making it the second costliest hurricane in recent times with damage of $127 billion. The Strategy also underscores the significance of the Gulf of Mexico to the national economy and identifies the issues of greatest concern for the region. Restoration efforts based on the strategy will help ensure that these critical environmental and economic resources remain viable."
This preliminary strategy represents the Task Force’s strong commitment to the restoration of the Gulf Coast. The strategy was developed following more than 40 public meetings throughout the Gulf to listen to the concerns of the public. It is available to the public for review and feedback at www.epa.gov/gulfcoasttaskforce
October 5, 2011
Gulf Coast Task Force Releases Ecosystem Restoration Strategy For Public Review
Agenda outlines blueprint for reversing decline of Gulf Coast ecosystem
WASHINGTON - The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, chaired by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, today released for public review and feedback its comprehensive preliminary strategy for long term ecosystem restoration. The strategy, which will be presented to President Obama at the end of the public review period, represents an historic opportunity for addressing long-standing issues contributing to the decline of the Gulf’s critical ecosystem. The preliminary strategy is the first effort of its kind to be developed with the involvement of parties throughout the region, including the states, tribes, federal agencies, local governments and thousands of interested citizens and organizations. The plan strategy, which builds upon on-going efforts underway in the Gulf Coast states includes specific steps for on-the-ground action and represents the Task Force’s commitment to putting Gulf coastal restoration on an equal footing with other national priorities.
One year ago today, President Obama established the Task Force by executive order, in response to recommendations from a report by Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, to continue the Administration’s ongoing commitment to the Gulf region. The group is made up of representatives from the five Gulf States and 11 federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Council on Environmental Quality, Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, Department of Defense, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Department of Transportation, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Science and Technology Policy and Domestic Policy Council.
"Even before last year’s oil spill, the Gulf of Mexico endured decades of decline that threatened the environmental and economic health of this region. This strategy is designed to prepare the region for transitioning from a response to the spill into a long-term recovery that supports the vital ecosystem and the people who depend on it," said Administrator Jackson. "The health of the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem starts and ends with its people and its communities. The individuals and families who visit the Gulf, who work in the region, who depend on its resources, and especially those who call it home, know its needs and challenges best. They will be integral to creating and executing this long-term strategy."
“The Task Force’s draft strategy identifies fundamental obstacles that have plagued restoration and protection efforts in Louisiana and other states for decades. The report attempts to begin reversing 80 years of mismanagement,” said Garret Graves, Task Force vice-chair and chair of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority of Louisiana. “It identifies critical issues such as changes in river management, the use of dredged sediment, navigation channel bank stabilization, and the need to expedite the snail’s pace process of implementing water resources projects. History has proven that being reactive on disaster mitigation costs exponentially more. This report is an important first step in moving toward a proactive strategy as recognized through the implementation of the state's coastal master plan. There is much work still left to be done and we look forward to continuing to work with Task Force agencies and our fellow Gulf States to finally stabilize our coast and protect the Gulf communities.”
The natural resources of the Gulf’s ecosystem are vital to many of the region’s industries that directly support economic progress and job creation, including tourism and recreation, seafood production and sales, energy production and navigation and commerce. Among the major initiatives with specific actions recommended by the preliminary strategy to protect and restore those natural resources are:
• Stopping the Loss of Wetlands
Stopping the loss of critical wetlands, sand barriers and beaches is a key recommendation of the preliminary strategy. Key habitats for a wide range of fish and other animals are being lost or reduced across the Gulf. The creation of channels and levees from dredging in the Lower Mississippi often can “disconnect” the vast wetland delta from the source of sediments that built the delta over thousands of years. The strategy aims to restore the supply of sediments needed to build up eroding wetlands and to ultimately reconnect these valuable resources to their historic source of sediments, particularly in the Lower Mississippi. To help do this, the strategy recommends placing ecosystem restoration on an equal footing with historic uses such as navigation and flood damage reduction by approaching water resource management decisions in a far more comprehensive manner that will bypass harm to wetlands, barrier islands and beaches. The strategy also recommends implementation of several congressionally authorized projects in the Gulf that are intended to reverse the trend of wetlands loss.
• Reducing the Flow of Nutrients into the Gulf
The strategy calls for working in the Gulf and upstream in the Mississippi watershed to reduce the flow of nutrients into the Gulf by supporting state nutrient reduction frameworks, new nutrient reduction approaches, and targeted watershed work to reduce agricultural and urban sources of nutrients. The strategy recommends addressing the complex issues surrounding the transport of nutrients in excess to our Gulf coast by broadly supporting action-oriented innovations from all sectors that address both the environmental as well as the economics of effective nutrient management.
• Enhancing Resiliency Among Coastal Communities
The strategy calls for enhancing the quality of life of Gulf residents by working in partnership with Gulf with coastal communities themselves -- the living laboratories for facing the challenges posed. The strategy specifically recommends working with each of the States to build the integrated capacity needed through effective coastal improvement plans to better secure the future of their coastal communities and to implement existing efforts underway.
Additionally, the Task Force will begin immediately reviewing existing policies, programs and regulations that are slowing down restoration progress, particularly in the habitat restoration area. The Task Force will also explore innovative ways to implement restoration, measure success and support the restoration with science.
The following are statements on the release of the preliminary strategy from representatives of the member states on the task force:
N. Gunter Guy, Commissioner of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources said, “The combined efforts of the federal and state members of the Task Force have resulted in the release of a preliminary strategy focused on restoring the Gulf Coast ecosystem. Alabama looks forward to receiving feedback from the public on the strategy and commits to continue working to improve Alabama’s Gulf Coast communities and protecting its natural resources.”
Mimi A. Drew, Florida’s representative on the task force and Special Advisor to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. said, “Today’s release of this important report is the culmination of more than a year’s worth of collaboration and hard work to identify priorities and a strategy to improve, restore and protect the fragile and vital Gulf ecosystem. The Gulf of Mexico provides huge environmental and economic benefits to Florida and we look forward to input from the public to refine this plan.”
Trudy D. Fisher, Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality said, "The Task Force marked an unprecedented commitment at the federal and state levels to create a shared vision for a healthier Gulf Coast ecosystem. We are confident that the resulting strategy will set the stage for future cooperation and success. Mississippi will be a critical partner as the work continues."
Helen S. Young, Deputy Commissioner of Coastal Resources in the Texas General Land Office commented, "The collaborative federal, state, and local process that involved visits to the five Gulf states and listening sessions with locals highlighted the states' shared issues and unique needs. For instance, it emphasized the importance of Texas's barrier islands, which are the first line of defense against storm surge like Hurricane Ike produced in 2008, making it the second costliest hurricane in recent times with damage of $127 billion. The Strategy also underscores the significance of the Gulf of Mexico to the national economy and identifies the issues of greatest concern for the region. Restoration efforts based on the strategy will help ensure that these critical environmental and economic resources remain viable."
This preliminary strategy represents the Task Force’s strong commitment to the restoration of the Gulf Coast. The strategy was developed following more than 40 public meetings throughout the Gulf to listen to the concerns of the public. It is available to the public for review and feedback at www.epa.gov/gulfcoasttaskforce
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