Environment

The good news at press time is that the spill at the Deepwater Horizon oil well in the Gulf of Mexico has been plugged. Whether it will hold or not has yet to be seen, and what will ultimately be done with the well is also unknown. However, it's a great piece of news after 90 days of this environmentally devastating disaster.

NEW YORK, NY--"Cleaning up heating oil is essential to improving poor air quality in New York City's most crowded neighborhoods," according to testimony about how to improve a bill (Int. 194) to clean up the second dirtiest heating oil (No. 4 oil) burned in city buildings.

CAMBRIDGE, MA-- As summer approaches and people head outdoors to open spaces, the nation is reminded about the importance of land conservation. The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy released a report highlighting new grassroots and collaborative strategies for managing large areas for the enjoyment of generations to come.

SWANTON, VT -- This May, AllerAir is supporting Multiple Chemical Sensitivities and Chemical Injury Associations worldwide in their effort to spread Multiple Chemical Sensitivity Syndrome awareness

HOUSTON--TTI Exploration, a privately held geosciences technology company based in Houston, is beginning operations to support environmental surveillance efforts in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill that followed the explosion of Transocean's Deepwater Horizon drilling unit operated by BP and supported by Halliburton and Cameron International. 

WASHINGTON-- The State Department announced the formal submission of two proposals by Canada, Mexico and the U.S. seeking action to phase down global production and use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol. If agreed to by other nations, an international phase down of these powerful greenhouse gases (GHG) could begin almost immediately.

MOBILE, AL-- The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has the potential to destroy the most productive fishery in the world, according to Mobile Baykeeper, the largest environmental advocate in the Gulf Coast. At the same time, Mobile Baykeeper is calling on the government to demand transparency, monitoring and caution in implementing crisis clean-up solutions that could make the situation worse, such as controlled burns and chemical dispersants.

The impact from last week's oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico cannot be overestimated. There was loss of life as well as untold damage to the environment. The oil spill currently measures 1,800 square miles and it is headed toward the United States coastline. Where this ultimately ends nobody knows for sure. Transocean Ltd. owns the oil rig and BP PLC operates it. One imagines that these two companies are doing their best to stanch the gushing of 42,000 gallons per day.

SAN FRANCISCO--Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is joining the California State Parks Foundation (CSPF) on Saturday, April 17, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. More than 1,000 company employees, retirees and their families and friends will volunteer at 10 state parks in Northern and Central California. In addition, PG&E is granting $200,000 to CSPF for restoration and environmental improvement projects at these parks.