Weekly News Roundup- June 28, 2013

Coalition Supports New Great Lakes Bill

St Mary's River

June 26- The Healing Our Waters Great Lakes Coalition is supporting a new bill in the U.S. Senate that would help bolster federal efforts to restore the Great Lakes, the source of 20 percent of the world’s surface fresh water which provides drinking water to more than 30 million people. The legislation would authorize the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at $475 million annually to help continue successful programs to clean up toxic pollution, combat invasive species, restore fish and wildlife habitat and reduce runoff from cities and farms.

The Great Lakes Ecological and Economic Protection Act of 2013 was introduced today by U.S. Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and included co-sponsors Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Al Franken (D-Minn.) Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Charles Schumer (D-N.Y) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

 

Forty Thousand-Pound Tar Mat Discovered on Louisiana Barrier Island

Bay Jimmy Oiled Grass

June 26-  Recent news reports have  have confirmed the discovery of a massive 40,000-pound tar mat directly offshore of Grand Terre, a barrier island about 90 miles south of New Orleans. This announcement comes on the heels of a declaration earlier this month by the Coast Guard and BP that cleanup from the 2010 Gulf oil disaster is over in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. Meanwhile in Louisiana, crews are still monitoring more than 80 miles of coastline.

Today, Environmental Defense FundNational Audubon Societyand National Wildlife Federation issued the following joint statement:

“A twenty-ton tar mat on Grand Terre is a vivid reminder that the effects of the 2010 Gulf oil disaster are far from over, despite BP’s glossy ad campaigns saying otherwise. It is time for BP to be held accountable for its lasting damages to Gulf ecosystems, economies and communities.”

 

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell Helps Connect Kids With The Great Outdoors At Fun-Filled Event On The National Mall

June 26- Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell spent Wednesday afternoon walking, talking and having fun with 100 local youth at the “Kids, Youth and the Great Outdoors Festival” on the National Mall. Part of Great Outdoors America Week, Secretary Jewell was joined by White House Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality Nancy Sutley, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune, The Wilderness Society President Jaime Williams, and members of the Outdoors Alliance for Kids.

“When children get outside, they build a healthy lifestyle at a young age and create connections with nature that last a lifetime,” said Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. “We have a responsibility to connect kids to nature so that they grow up to be our next generation of business leaders, scientists, and conservationists.”

  •  Check out more Great Outdoors America Week events here!

 

Obama Climate Plan a Key Milestone on Path to Secure Climate Future

Smoke stacks at sunset

June 25- President Obama today unveils his plan to confront climate changeby cutting industrial carbon pollution, ramping up clean energy, and using climate-smart conservation strategies.

Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, is attending the release event at Georgetown University and said today:

“President Obama is following through on his pledge to act and this is an important step in the journey to end industrial carbon pollution. Cutting the pollution that’s fueling global warming is critical to protect not only the communities, infrastructure and economy that support our livelihoods, but the wildlifebirds and fish that sustain our spirits.

 

And now here are highlights from NWF in the news

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