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Weekly News Roundup – March 30, 2012
Want to know what National Wildlife Federation was up to this week? Here is a recap of the week’s NWF news:
New Student Guide Offers Steps for Peer to Peer Campus Sustainability Training
March 30 – NWF and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) have released a new step-by-step guide to creating student peer-to-peer sustainability education programs—often known as “Eco-Rep” programs—on college campuses. Authored by Champlain College Sustainability Director Christina Erickson, “Student Sustainability Educators: A Guide to Creating and Maintaining an Eco-Rep Program on Your Campus” takes readers through the design, implementation and evaluation stages of an Eco-Rep program.
House Attacks on Wildlife, Air and Water Wouldn’t Close Budget Gap
March 29 – The U.S. House of Representatives today is expected to pass the budget plan written by House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI). A National Wildlife Federation analysis shows the plan would gut investments in natural resources that already make up only a tiny fraction of federal spending.
“The vast majority of Americans believe the federal government has a fundamental responsibility to help ensure that our air is clean, our water is safe to drink and our treasured National Parks, refuges and other public lands are protected for this and future generations,” said Josh Saks, legislative director of the National Wildlife Federation.
EPA Proposes Historic Limits to Industrial Carbon Pollution
March 27 – Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever national carbon pollution limits for new power plant smokestacks. These long-awaited new air pollution standards are essential for reining in the climate change-causing carbon pollution that is increasingly endangering the nation’s public health and wildlife. The new air pollution standards are the result of a 2007 Supreme Court ruling that found carbon dioxide and other air pollution from cars, power plants, and other sources is subject to the Clean Air Act. Despite that ruling and a subsequent 2011 Supreme Court ruling reinforcing the decision, it is expected that a number of big polluting utilities and coal interests will fight the standard.
Warming Winters Threaten America’s Outdoor Traditions
March 27 – Near-record warmth in the winter of 2011-2012 left both wildlife and outdoor enthusiasts scrambling to adapt – and it’s just a preview of what’s to come in a warming world, according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation. On Thin Ice: Warming Winters Put America’s Hunting and Fishing Heritage at Risk tells the stories of how 2011-2012’s warm winter impacted hunters and anglers across America and details the steps we need to take now to protect those traditions for future generations.
Hill Ads Praise 76 Senators for Passing Gulf Restoration Amendment
March 27 – Capitol newspapers will run full-page color ads this week by six Gulf restoration advocacy groups thanking the 76 Senators who approved legislation to dedicate 80 percent of the Clean Water Act fines from the parties responsible for the Gulf oil spill to restoring the Gulf.
The ad copy says:
“On behalf of our members nationwide, we thank the 76 Senate leaders who voted in favor of restoring the ecosystems and economies of the Gulf region by passing the RESTORE Act as an amendment to the transportation bill.
And here are highlights from NWF in the News:
- Politico: EPA hits greenhouse gas emissions from power plants
- Bloomberg: EPA Introduces First Greenhouse-Gas Limits for Power Plants
- The Los Angeles Times: Hunters, anglers report warming winters bad for wildlife
- Erie Times-News: Report examines effect of warmer winters on outdoor economy in Pa., other states
- Public News Service (NM): Warming Winters Hurt New Mexico Wildlife
- Public News Service (CO): Carbon Pollution Puts CO “On Thin Ice”
- The Times Picayune: Photos document BP oil still contaminates “cleaned” Louisiana marshes, state officials say
- Michigan Live: U.S. Coast Guard adopts ballast water standards to combat invasive species
For more, visit www.nwf.org/News