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Archive for July 21st, 2015
Hillary Dodges Questions on Climate, Keystone and Fracking in Facebook Q&A
Posted by EcoWatch: Peter Rugh on July 21st, 2015
EcoWatch: Hillary Clinton fielded questions from voters on Facebook Monday afternoon and many of the queries posed to the Democratic presidential frontrunner centered on environmental issues, including climate change, Keystone XL and fracking. Clinton chose to direct her responses mainly toward economic questions. Nonetheless, the Facebook chat highlights the environmental concerns voters are raising ahead of the 2016 election.
“My biggest concern is the health of our Planet,” wrote Jess Barnett, who according...
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California Almonds Have Less Environmental Impact Than Many Foods
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2015
Yale Environment 360: California almonds could become carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative if growers were to make full use of practices such as shell, hull, and biomass recycling, according to new research in the Journal of Industrial Ecology. Eighty percent of the world's almonds come from the drought-stricken state, and production operations there have drawn much ire since studies showed that almonds are a particularly water-intensive crop. However, the new research shows that the energy and greenhouse gas footprints...
Drought dings quality of winter wheat in Northwest
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2015
Associated Press: Intense drought conditions have shrunk the kernels and disrupted the proteins of winter wheat crops in Montana, Washington, Oregon and Idaho, the region that produces a fifth of the U.S. harvest.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service classified a large percentage of the region's winter wheat as below-average quality on Monday.
Farmers in the Northwest are nervous that the uncharacteristically low quality of their product could slash the crop's already declining prices.
"The problem...
Quebec agrees to meet with Innu to discuss hydro dam
Posted by Montreal Gazette: Christopher Curtis on July 21st, 2015
Montreal Gazette: After a three-day standoff with aboriginal protesters last week, Quebec`s Liberal government has agreed to meet with the Nutashkuan Innu Wednesday in hopes of moving ahead with an $8-billion hydroelectric dam project.
But the scope of the negotiations and their exact purpose remain unclear, as neither group would agree to an interview with the Montreal Gazette. What is certain, however, is that the Innu`s direct-action tactics to interfere with a plan they say is damaging their traditional fisheries...
New Mexico Dems call for tough new methane rule
Posted by Hill: Devin Henry on July 21st, 2015
Hill: Four New Mexico Democrats are encouraging the Obama administration to release a strong rule regulating methane emissions at oil and gas drilling sites. “We recognize that oil and gas producers have an economic incentive to minimize methane losses and the industry is improving its practices,” the Democrats — led by Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich — wrote in a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). “However, federal action is necessary to ensure that steps to limit methane releases...
California irrigator faces record $1.5 million fine for drought violation
Posted by Washington Post: Juliet Eilperin on July 21st, 2015
Reuters: State regulators on Monday proposed a record $1.5 million fine against a northern California irrigation district accused of defying emergency drought restrictions by continuing to draw surface water placed off-limits for such diversions. The penalty, if approved by the state Water Resources Control Board, would be largest ever levied against a water user for an alleged unauthorized diversion during a drought, agency officials said. It also marks the first such enforcement action facing any of California's...