SAGINAW, MI — In an appeal to stop a class-action lawsuit by residents of the Tittabawassee River flood plain, Dow Chemical has promised to develop a plan to clean up a park contaminated with dioxin, a byproduct of a chemical manufacturing process that disrupts hormones and causes cancer, according to the Michigan Messenger.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dioxin levels almost six times the federal limit have been detected in soil at West Michigan Park.
The contamination stems from decades-long production of products such as Saran Wrap, Agent Orange and pesticides at Dow’s Midland plant, from which dioxin has spread into the Tittabawassee River and at least 50 miles downstream through the Saginaw River watershed, the story stated.
Repeated flooding of the river has spread dioxin-contaminated sediments into nearby low-lying areas, including the park which borders the river, the story noted.
According to Sonny Grunwell, director of Saginaw Township Public Services, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) has installed hand-washing stations and posted signs recommending people use them after contact with the soil.
Dow will come up with a plan to remove soil from the park, replace some concrete with asphalt and stabilize the river bank. The company has also proposed to remove the playground equipment and have it cleaned, the story added.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Movement pushes for environmentally-safe toilet paper
NEW YORK — Environmentalists are now taking on the toilet paper industry and pushing for paper made from recycled materials, the New York Times reported.
The Feb. 25 story said millions of trees are harvested in North America and Latin American countries to make the paper which can also waste water and require the use of polluting chlorine-based bleach.
The environmental group Greenpeace has issued a national guide which lists and rates toilet tissue brands. Spokespeople for Georgia Pacific and Procter & Gamble were interviewed for the article, defending their company's alleged negative environmental impact.
James Malone, a spokesman for Georgia Pacific, which makes Quilted Northern, said in the story that customers “demand soft and comfortable. Recycled fiber cannot do it.”
Lisa Jester, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble which makes Charmin, said they have not switched to recycled material because recycled fibers are shorter than those that come from "standing trees" and longer fibers can be fluffed to make for softer tissue paper.
However, Tim Spring, the cheif executive of Marcal, the nation's oldest recycled-paper maker, said the company will be introducing a new toilet tissue this April, around Earth Day, and will spend around $30 million on a national ad campaign regarding the tissue's environmental friendliness. Spring said in the story, “Our idea is that you don’t have to spend extra money to save the Earth. And people want to know what happens to the paper they recycle. This will give them closure."
The Feb. 25 story said millions of trees are harvested in North America and Latin American countries to make the paper which can also waste water and require the use of polluting chlorine-based bleach.
The environmental group Greenpeace has issued a national guide which lists and rates toilet tissue brands. Spokespeople for Georgia Pacific and Procter & Gamble were interviewed for the article, defending their company's alleged negative environmental impact.
James Malone, a spokesman for Georgia Pacific, which makes Quilted Northern, said in the story that customers “demand soft and comfortable. Recycled fiber cannot do it.”
Lisa Jester, a spokeswoman for Procter & Gamble which makes Charmin, said they have not switched to recycled material because recycled fibers are shorter than those that come from "standing trees" and longer fibers can be fluffed to make for softer tissue paper.
However, Tim Spring, the cheif executive of Marcal, the nation's oldest recycled-paper maker, said the company will be introducing a new toilet tissue this April, around Earth Day, and will spend around $30 million on a national ad campaign regarding the tissue's environmental friendliness. Spring said in the story, “Our idea is that you don’t have to spend extra money to save the Earth. And people want to know what happens to the paper they recycle. This will give them closure."
Teen drinks carpet cleaner to get out of classes
CENTER, MO — A 14-year-old middle school girl was hospitalized after drinking carpet cleaner to try and get out of having to go to her classes, a Fox4KC story reported.
The Feb. 27 story said the incident, which took place Feb. 26 occured at the Mark Twain Junion High School.
Middle School Principal Jake Moss apparently stripped the cleaner bottle from the girl's hand and is credited for keeping her from ingesting even more liquid.
According to police, the girl, who is expected to recover, also made several thefts to harm herself.
The Feb. 27 story said the incident, which took place Feb. 26 occured at the Mark Twain Junion High School.
Middle School Principal Jake Moss apparently stripped the cleaner bottle from the girl's hand and is credited for keeping her from ingesting even more liquid.
According to police, the girl, who is expected to recover, also made several thefts to harm herself.
Syracuse University seeks LEED certification
SYRACUSE, NY — Syracuse University is seeking Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for a new building that will house a bookstore, a fitness center and retail space, according to The Daily Orange.
Spread out on four floors, the new recreation space will consist of two levels of exercise rooms and dance studios, one floor of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of cardiovascular machines, and another similarly sized floor consisting of weight machines, the story stated.
According to previous coverage from The Daily Orange, Cameron Group LLC, a commercial development, management and leasing organization, will front the money for the building, and the university would pay it back over time from the university's operating budget.
The total cost of the 123,768 square foot building is unknown as a final agreement between the Cameron Group and the university has yet to be reached, the story noted.
Spread out on four floors, the new recreation space will consist of two levels of exercise rooms and dance studios, one floor of 10,000 to 12,000 square feet of cardiovascular machines, and another similarly sized floor consisting of weight machines, the story stated.
According to previous coverage from The Daily Orange, Cameron Group LLC, a commercial development, management and leasing organization, will front the money for the building, and the university would pay it back over time from the university's operating budget.
The total cost of the 123,768 square foot building is unknown as a final agreement between the Cameron Group and the university has yet to be reached, the story noted.
Utah's four-day workweek draws attention
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's decision to adopt a four-day workweek for municipal employees is paying dividends and attracting attention from other states, according to an Associated Press article hosted by Google.com.
Utah switched to a four-day week last year primarily to save money on electricity, gasoline and other energy expenses; the change affected 17,000 state employees who now work 10 hours a day, four days a week, the story stated.
Danielle Downey, a compliance specialist for the state's insect programs, said: "I don't have kids, so it doesn't complicate my personal life. It actually frees up my weekend, and I like that more. This way I've got that extra day to do things at home and then I have two recreation days."
An interim report released earlier this month by Governor Jon Huntsman shows that the initiative will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons, reduce gasoline consumption among commuting employees by 744,000 gallons annually and pump as much as $3 million into the economy from workers who have to spend less money on gas, the story noted.
Governor Huntsman, who introduced the initiative with little-to-no input from state workers, residents or lawmakers, is urging patience, the story added.
According to the story, observations from officials in Washington mirror those of officials in Utah, where overtime and absenteeism have been cut by about nine percent since the four-day workweek was adopted.
Utah switched to a four-day week last year primarily to save money on electricity, gasoline and other energy expenses; the change affected 17,000 state employees who now work 10 hours a day, four days a week, the story stated.
Danielle Downey, a compliance specialist for the state's insect programs, said: "I don't have kids, so it doesn't complicate my personal life. It actually frees up my weekend, and I like that more. This way I've got that extra day to do things at home and then I have two recreation days."
An interim report released earlier this month by Governor Jon Huntsman shows that the initiative will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 12,000 metric tons, reduce gasoline consumption among commuting employees by 744,000 gallons annually and pump as much as $3 million into the economy from workers who have to spend less money on gas, the story noted.
Governor Huntsman, who introduced the initiative with little-to-no input from state workers, residents or lawmakers, is urging patience, the story added.
According to the story, observations from officials in Washington mirror those of officials in Utah, where overtime and absenteeism have been cut by about nine percent since the four-day workweek was adopted.
unclean conditions at McLaurin High School
FLORENCE, MS — Parents with children who attend McLaurin High School claim the school is not a safe and clean learning environment and that something needs to be done, according to WLBT-TV.
Parents claim the Rankin County School District is spending millions on new facilities for administrators while ignoring needed repairs, something the district adamantly denies, the story stated.
Parent Mary Aycock said: "The restrooms are unacceptable. The gymnasium windows are knocked out. Some of the windows inside the classroom are knocked out. They have to put cardboard in the windows. We just want to know how the Rankin County School Board can justify building a $7 million dollar building when the conditions at the high school are unacceptable."
Mary and her sister-in-law Christine Aycock have drafted a letter alerting other parents about the deplorable conditions that exist at the school; they plan on presenting the letter and signatures to the school board during its March 11 meeting, the story noted.
A spokesperson for the school said that they have a professional cleaning crew who cleans the entire building each night, and a faculty and staff who are dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe, clean learning environment for our students, the story added.
Parents claim the Rankin County School District is spending millions on new facilities for administrators while ignoring needed repairs, something the district adamantly denies, the story stated.
Parent Mary Aycock said: "The restrooms are unacceptable. The gymnasium windows are knocked out. Some of the windows inside the classroom are knocked out. They have to put cardboard in the windows. We just want to know how the Rankin County School Board can justify building a $7 million dollar building when the conditions at the high school are unacceptable."
Mary and her sister-in-law Christine Aycock have drafted a letter alerting other parents about the deplorable conditions that exist at the school; they plan on presenting the letter and signatures to the school board during its March 11 meeting, the story noted.
A spokesperson for the school said that they have a professional cleaning crew who cleans the entire building each night, and a faculty and staff who are dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe, clean learning environment for our students, the story added.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Proposal increases mandatory furlough days for Oregon state workers
SALEM, OR — In an effort to help Oregon cope with its deepening budget crisis, Governor Ted Kulongoski has proposed that state workers lose 24 days of pay over the next two years, according to The Oregonian.
Included in the unprecedented proposal are plans for workers to get a mixture of unpaid holidays and days off without pay and eliminating the salary increases that many state workers get annually, the story stated.
Both the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the two unions representing the majority of state workers, had expressed a willingness to accept eight furlough days, the number Governor Kulongoski proposed in December, the story noted.
The furloughs would save the state's general fund $105 million over the next two years while eliminating cost-of-living increases would save an additional $56 million, the story added.
Included in the unprecedented proposal are plans for workers to get a mixture of unpaid holidays and days off without pay and eliminating the salary increases that many state workers get annually, the story stated.
Both the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the two unions representing the majority of state workers, had expressed a willingness to accept eight furlough days, the number Governor Kulongoski proposed in December, the story noted.
The furloughs would save the state's general fund $105 million over the next two years while eliminating cost-of-living increases would save an additional $56 million, the story added.
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