Fracking Litigation Conference in Dallas Dec. 13

DALLAS, TX - Responding to the controversy and need for clear legal perspectives around "hydraulic fracturing," commonly called "fracking," HB Litigation Conferences will hold its second conference on the subject in Dallas on Dec. 13, 2011, HB CEO Tom Hagy has announced. A panel of experts, including plaintiff and defense attorneys, will join chairs Marc Bern of Napoli Bern Ripka LLP and Joshua Becker of Alston & Bird LLP to discuss a variety of topics relating to hydraulic fracturing litigation. "The increased use of fracking to extract natural gas from underground rock formations raises environmental and legal challenges and will be the topic of discussion by attorneys, professors and scientists at this program," Hagy said. HB's first program, held in Philadelphia, drew more than 100 attendees. The "Gas Drilling Operations Conference" will be held Dec. 13, 2011 at the Cityplace Conference and Event Center in Dallas. The event is fully accredited for CLE. Experts include: John Imse, RG, Principal, Environ International Corp.; Gary Brown, PE, RT Environmental Services, Inc.; and Phillip Watters, P.E., Kleran Purcell, P.E. and John Orr, CPCU, all of Rimkus Consulting, Inc. Litigators include: Adam Orford of Marten Law; Keith Hall of Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann; Hope Friewald of Dechert; Corey Zurbuch of Thomas Genshaft; William Jackson of Jackson Gilmour & Dobbs.; Beverlee Silva of Alston & Bird; Allen Stewart of Allen Stewart; Jennifer Quinn-Barabanov of Steptoe & Johnson; Richard Faulk of Gerdere Wynne Sewell; John Nevius of Anderson Kill & Olick; and Steven Pate of Fulbright & Jaworski. Topics include: the fracking process; the role of government; shale gas plays; land valuations; health and environmental risks; remediation; case intake; discovery; damages; examining contamination and injury cases; insurance coverage implications, plus a mock session illustrating what can go right and wrong for landowners, drillers and brokers. Discounts are available for groups and based on need. Some sponsorship opportunities are still available. Press passes are available upon request. For more information call Brownie Bokelman at (484) 324-2755, x212 or email her at Brownie.Bokelman@litigationconferences.com. See the latest agenda at www.LitigationConferences.com. HB Litigation Conferences is a nationwide provider of continuing legal education for plaintiff, defense and in-house counsel, focusing on emerging issues in mass torts and insurance. HB is an independent provider of legal education, formerly operating as Mealey's Conferences. It is not funded or affiliated with any organization.

Melvin Wylie

Gardner Mountain Conserved, Lyman's Scenic Backdrop

More than 1,000 acres protect bat habitat, working forest LYMAN, N.H. - Critically important bat habitat and a significant portion of Gardner Ridge, the scenic backdrop for New Hampshire's Town of Lyman, have been conserved, Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust and The Trust for Public Land announced. The conservation of 1,081 acres on Gardner Mountain includes an easement, supports timber management, protects important habitat, and guarantees public access, while restricting development not related to agriculture or forestry. This property has been operated as a commercial forest for more than 200 years and the current owner, the Merrill Family Trust, wished to see the property conserved rather than developed. In 2004 a wind farm development along Gardner Ridge was proposed and rejected by Lyman voters. A conservation project was then proposed for a new town forest for Lyman, but residents voted down a bond for the purchase of the property in March of 2009. Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust (ACT), the North Country's land conservancy, and The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation organization, pursued an alternative conservation strategy, conserving the land with an easement but keeping it in private ownership. After three years working with ACT and TPL the land has now been sold to a new owner, who will operate it as a commercial working forest subject to the conservation easement. Continued forestry will be done on a sustainable basis and will continue to support New Hampshire's rural economies. ACT will manage the easement. "Land protection projects often take a lot of time and work, as this one did," said ACT Executive Director Rebecca Brown. "I'm sure we all wish John Merrill had lived to see this happen. It's a great tribute to him and his family, and a tremendous gift to people everywhere who care about seeing our landscape conserved for future generations." "Gardner Mountain is a remarkable Lyman landmark worthy of protection," said J.T. Horn, project manager for The Trust for Public Land. "Our sincere thanks to the Merrill Family, New Hampshire's LCHIP fund, our other funding partners, and the Ammonoosuc Conservation Trust for seeing this project through to the end." Gardner Mountain includes some of the most important wildlife habitat in New Hampshire. Paddock Mine, an abandoned copper mine on the property, is one of the largest bat hibernacula in New Hampshire. Bats are under severe stress from a new and mysterious disease known as White Nose Syndrome, which is causing high mortality rates among several common species of bats. New Hampshire Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service believe that conservation of the Paddock Mine hibernacula is a critical part of the response to White Nose Syndrome in New Hampshire. "We appreciate the work that The Trust for Public Land and ACT have done in protecting this land," said Emily Brunkhurst, wildlife biologist for the NH Fish and Game Department. "Conserving this hibernacula provides a safe wintering habitat for bats who survive white-nose syndrome and their offspring. As you enjoy this newly conserved land, please help save our bats by staying out of the mine to allow them to hibernate without disturbance." Lyman is a rural community that set goals to maintain its heritage of agriculture, forestry, and open recreational access. The property contains a significant portion of the Gardner Ridge, Lyman's scenic backdrop with western views from the church and fields in the center of the Town. The property will also remain open to pedestrian access for hiking, cross-country skiing and hunting. Visitors will be able to enjoy the dramatic views from the property toward Mount Moosilauke and the Kinsman Ridge in the White Mountain National Forest. Funding for the $600,000 project came from the New Hampshire Land and Community Heritage Investment Program (LCHIP), Open Space Institute - Saving New England Wildlife Fund, New Hampshire Charitable Foundation - Upper Connecticut River Mitigation and Enhancement Fund, the McIninch Foundation, Fields Pond Foundation, the Byrne Foundation, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department through the Landowner Incentive Program, and many private individuals.

Melvin Wylie

Pew Calls for Extra Resources to Protect Penguin Food

Actors Damon and Pitt Give Tiny Krill Big Exposure in New "Happy Feet" Sequel WASHINGTON, D.C. - Tiny krill are about to take centre stage at the 30th Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) meeting, where governments will consider greater protection for the shrimplike crustaceans that are the building blocks of the Antarctic food chain. The attention these little animals receive will be amplified in mid-November, when the sequel to the film "Happy Feet" opens, with Matt Damon and Brad Pitt playing krill characters. Krill, a largely unknown but critical ocean species, are the primary food source for penguins, whales, and seals in the Southern Ocean. However, demand for these animals as feed for industrially farmed fish and to produce high-value oils used in nutritional supplements is triggering an expansion of the fishery beyond a level that its population can sustain. Left unchecked, krill fishing in certain areas could outpace efforts to protect the well-known species that depend on it. "It is perfect timing that two of Hollywood's biggest names are portraying the smallest actors in one of the world's most pristine ocean ecosystems," says Gerald Leape, a senior officer at the Pew Environment Group. "Existing efforts to regulate krill catch must be sustained and enforced, so that animals such as penguins and seals are not competing against industrial fishing vessels just to survive." In the past decade, fleets from more countries have begun to fish for krill. Some have adopted fishing technologies and methods that allow them to catch and process this species continuously, resulting in much higher catches. These operations, combined with accelerating loss of the sea ice that provides essential habitat for krill, threaten to deplete stocks in key feeding areas for penguins, seals, and whales. From 24 October - 4 November 2011, CCAMLR, a regional fisheries management organization whose mandate is to conserve the marine life of the Southern Ocean, is meeting in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. Its 25 member governments include the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Argentina, the European Union, China, South Korea, Russia, Ukraine, Norway, and Japan. The Pew Environment Group is asking CCAMLR delegates at this month's meeting to:

• Require observers on all krill-fishing vessels.
• Set up a dedicated fund to monitor populations of krill predators.
• Maintain smaller sub-area divisions of the ocean to manage krill, in order to prevent local depletions that will harm animals such as penguins.

Melvin Wylie

Zidisha.org Facilitates $100,000 in P2P Microloans, "Turns Microfinance On Its Head"

While conducting fieldwork for a microfinance organization in West Africa in 2006, Zidisha.org founder Julia Kurnia noticed something startling. Loans that were funded at zero interest by well-meaning participants in the popular microlending website Kiva.org were costing the impoverished beneficiaries more than 35% on average in interest and fees. The exorbitant rates were charged by the local intermediary organizations that administered the loans, in order to cover their operating costs. It is generally assumed that such high interest rates are a necessary cost of making small loans in isolated and impoverished areas.  Microlending websites that administer "crowd-funded" loans through local intermediaries assume that the borrowers not only lack the necessary computer skills to communicate with lenders themselves, but also that they cannot be trusted to repay loans without constant visits by loan officers. Kurnia believed these assumptions were outdated, and to test her theory she founded Zidisha.org, a peer-to-peer microlending platform that turns the traditional approach to microfinance lending on its head. First, there are no intermediaries: instead, the entrepreneurs themselves post loan applications and communicate directly with lenders via facebook-style profile pages.  Zidisha does not outsource loan disbursements and repayment collection to local organizations either, but rather uses grassroots technology like mobile banking to conduct financial transactions with borrowers directly.  The result?  Radical transparency, and lower cost to borrowers than has ever before been possible in the developing world - even though Zidisha.org lenders earn interest as well. Zidisha is tapping into the growing population of computer-literate, but still economically disadvantaged, small business owners and explosive growth of internet access that have transformed developing countries in recent years.  Borrowers log in to Zidisha.org to share business updates with lenders from cheap internet cafés, old laptops donated to local schools, and solar-powered smartphones shared by entire villages. Today, loans funded through Zidisha.org surpassed the $100,000 mark. Since making their first microloans - to three nomadic herders in Kenya's remote Masai Mara - in October 2009, Zidisha lenders from around the world have financed 181 small business ventures in Burkina Faso, Indonesia, Kenya and Senegal. Zidisha's average lender interest rate is 2.96%, and the repayment rate to date is 99.5%. Zidisha believes in transparency. So ask questions, meet our remarkable entrepreneurs, and become part of the conversation. Join us at www.zidisha.org.

Melvin Wylie

National Race to End Women’s Cancer 2011

November 8, 2011 – This past Sunday, November 6, 2011, I was privileged to attend the National Race to End Women's Cancer. I was invited by Pam, a fellow high school graduate of Osbourn Park High School, to be part of her team "I Dream of Jeanie". It was a nice sunny brisk morning with a very large crowd of people from all over the country attending the event. Many had stores on how they got there. Some were there to honor loved ones, some cancer survivors, some still battling cancer and some for support. I was there to help celebrated the life of Pam's mother, Jeanie Nay Watson, who passed away from battling cancer. The love and encouragement from the attendees, onlookers, police, and support personnel could be felt in their cheers of encouragement. As we walked by, many cheered "Go team I dream of Jeanie", they clapped, nodded their heads in encouragement and some took pictures and video. The rout started in front of the Old Posts Office Pavilion, went up Pennsylvania Avenue, near the Capitol and wound its way back to the Old Post Office. The highlight of the race had to be nearing the finish line as the announcer said "Here comes Team I Dream of Jeanie, thank you for all your support…" Crossing the line was emotional as I have lost my mother who battled cancer for many years eventually passing away from the disease. After crossing the line Pam broke down as this race meant a lot to her. I've come to realize that cancer not only hurts the victim but also affects the family, loved ones and friends. It's a tough road filled with pain and hopefulness that everything will get better. If anyone had to be there for a parent or loved one can truly understand what it's like rushing to the hospital late at night because something went wrong. I'm happy I lived close enough to be a support for my mother who battled cancer and my father who needed the strength to cope with the situation.

I want to thank Mike, Teresa, Christina and Beth for showing up to making Pam's race a success. I also want to thank all the people and organizations that work day in and day out to help find a cure to end this disease.

It was great getting together with people I have not seen in over 20 years and making new friends. If you have not given to any causes I would encourage you to help support ending cancer. I will be running this race next year in Washington D.C. as part of Team I Dream of Jeanie and I will be asking the readers of GreenNews4U to help raise money for team I Dream of Jeanie.

Melvin Wylie

ENSO Biodegradable Bottles: Better for California, Better for the Environment

MESA, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In the face of what most would call overwhelming odds, an environmental company in Arizona has established itself as the leader in biodegradable plastics. Unfortunately, the waters were muddied when California recently filed a lawsuit to forbid the labeling of ENSO products as biodegradable, despite scientific proof of biodegradation by internationally recognized testing. The general public, legislators and the media continue to be confused about biodegradable plastics.

"History is full of examples where science has provided the facts to overcome false beliefs, a principle that ENSO will continue through the pioneering of new information, technology and education."

Danny Clark, President of ENSO, states, "Our industry is young, and we are still improving standards and dispelling false beliefs. Our products perform as we claim, and we have the data to prove it. The situation in California is a lack of education and misunderstanding new technologies; this is not an issue of false claims. We will take this opportunity to bring legislators up to speed with ENSO technologies and the value they bring to the environment." "The citizens of California and the environment deserve better," stated Del Andrus, VP of ENSO. "History is full of examples where science has provided the facts to overcome false beliefs, a principle that ENSO will continue through the pioneering of new information, technology and education." At ENSO, we stand behind our claims and our mission to solve the world's plastic pollution. Every one of us has contributed to this global problem, and it will take each of us, working together, to solve it. Companies like AQUAMANTRA and Balance should be recognized for rising above status quo and implementing environmentally sound solutions. We do not claim that biodegradability is a silver bullet, but it is a huge step in the right direction. Consumers should be educated on the true impact of the products they are buying and have the opportunity to take that step. For more information on how ENSO biodegradable plastics can help the environment, visit our website at www.ensoplastics.com. About ENSO Plastics Founded in 2008, ENSO Plastics develops environmental plastic solutions. ENSO supports effective recycling programs and the energy conversion of methane from landfill biodegradation. The company's long-term goal is to close the loop by creating renewable and biodegradable plastics with the same beneficial properties of plastics today. To learn more about how you can help reduce plastic pollution and improve our environment visit ensoplastics.com or call 866-936-3676  

Contacts

For ENSO Plastics Del Andrus, 866-936-3676 del.andrus@ensoplastics.com

Melvin Wylie

Massive Bird Kill at West Virginia Wind Farm

October 28 2011 - With the deaths of nearly 500 birds at the Laurel Mountain wind facility earlier this month, three of the four wind farms operating in West Virginia have now experienced large bird fatality events, according to American Bird Conservancy (ABC), the nation's leading bird conservation organization. "Wind energy has the potential to be a green energy source, but the industry still needs to embrace simple, bird-smart principles that would dramatically reduce incidents across the country, such as those that have occurred in West Virginia," said Kelly Fuller, ABC's Wind Campaign Coordinator. There were three critical circumstances that tragically aligned in each of the three West Virginia events to kill these birds. Each occurred during bird migration season, during low visibility weather conditions, and with the addition of a deadly triggering element – an artificial light source. Steady-burning lights have been shown to attract and disorient birds, particularly night-migrating songbirds that navigate by starlight, and especially during nights where visibility is low such as in fog or inclement weather. Circling birds collide with structures or each other, or drop to the ground from exhaustion. At the Laurel Mountain facility in the Allegheny Mountains, almost 500 birds were reportedly killed after lights were left on at an electrical substation associated with the wind project. The deaths are said to have occurred not from collisions with the wind turbines themselves, but from a combination of collisions with the substation and apparent exhaustion as birds caught in the light's glare circled in mass confusion. On the evening of September 24 this year at the Mount Storm facility in the Allegheny Mountains, 59 birds and two bats were killed. Thirty of the dead birds were found near a single wind turbine that was reported to have had internal lighting left on overnight. This incident stands in stark contrast to industry assertions that just two birds per year are killed on average by each turbine. Data from Altamont Pass, California wind farms – the most studied in the nation – suggest that over 2,000 Golden Eagles alone have been killed there. On May 23, 2003 at the Mountaineer wind farm in the Allegheny Mountains, at least 33 birds were killed. Some of the deaths were attributed to collisions with wind turbines and some to collisions with a substation. "The good news is that it shouldn't be hard to make changes that will keep these sorts of unnecessary deaths from happening again, but it's disturbing that they happened at all. It has long been known that many birds navigate by the stars at night, that they normally fly lower during bad weather conditions, and that artificial light can draw them off course and lead to fatal collision events. That's why minimizing outdoor lighting at wind facilities is a well-known operating standard. And yet lights were left on at these sites resulting in these unfortunate deaths. This reinforces the need to have mandatory federal operational standards as opposed to the optional, voluntary guidelines that are currently under discussion," Fuller said. A fourth wind farm in West Virginia, the Beech Ridge Wind Energy Project in Greenbrier County, has not experienced large mortality events, likely because it is currently prohibited by a court order from operating during nighttime between April 1 and November 15. "Some West Virginia conservation groups have suggested that other wind farms in the state should shut down their wind turbines at certain times and seasons to protect birds. Given the recurring bird-kill problems, that idea needs to be seriously considered, at least during migration season on nights where low visibility is predicted. A wind farm in Texas is doing just that, so it is possible." said Fuller. This article was written by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit membership organization whose mission is to conserve native birds and their habitats throughout the Americas. ABC acts by safeguarding the rarest species, conserving and restoring habitats, and reducing threats, while building capacity in the bird conservation movement.

Melvin Wylie