Saturday, September 10, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Green Mail Delivery Saves Postal Service Millions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Delivering more than 40 percent of the world's mail and reaching every business and residential address in America six days a week requires the dependable, ubiquitous vehicle fleet of the U.S. Postal Service. The world's largest civilian fleet delivers more than 167 billion pieces of mail to more than 150 million addresses, along 230,000 routes, logging 4 million miles a day, with 215,000 postal vehicles, of which more than 44,000 are alternative fuel-capable. "The Postal Service's fleet of alternative fuel-capable vehicles is the nation's largest green fleet, and uses a variety of alternative fuels including electricity, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquid propane and bio-diesel," said Dean Granholm, vice president, Delivery and Post Office Operations. "These vehicles allow us to deliver mail in a more environmentally responsible way." From fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2010, USPS replaced nearly 6,600 older gasoline-powered vehicles with more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased use of alternative fuels in postal vehicles to 2.2 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE), a 9-percent increase. "Green mail delivery methods helped the Postal Service increase alternative fuel use 133 percent from an FY 2005 baseline, well ahead of the goal of 10 percent by 2015," said Thomas Day, chief sustainability officer. "The Postal Service has a long, proud tradition of testing and using more efficient methods of transportation, including the first electric delivery vehicle, in 1899. It's all part of the Postal Service's leaner, greener, smarter, faster sustainability call to action." A Fleet of Feet and Bicycles Help Keep Fuel Use and Costs Down As suggested by the recently issued Choose to Walk and Ride a Bike Go Green Forever stamps, USPS delivers mail using nearly 9,000 "fleet of feet" walking routes and nearly 70 bicycle routes. Add to that 31 propane vehicles, 30 electric step vans, 13 three-wheeled electric vehicles, 5 electric long-life vehicles (LLVs) and 10 mules on one contracted mail delivery route in the Grand Canyon, and these green mail delivery methods help USPS avoid the use of nearly 18,000 gallons of petroleum fuel each day. With 303 delivery days a year, green mail delivery helps USPS avoid using nearly 5.5 million gallons of petroleum fuel per year, which adds up to millions in savings. The Postal Service joined forces with the National Environmental Education Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the spring issuance of the Go Green Forever stamps. "The Go Green Forever stamps reflect the Foundation's commitment to minimize our ecological footprint, while also encouraging everyone to learn about the environment and how our daily lives can affect it," said Diane Wood, president, National Environmental Education Foundation. "Many of our staff members walk or bike to work, and we also offer opportunities for the public to get active and be outdoors. We are excited about the Go Green Forever stamps which help raise awareness about our environment." Details of USPS fuel savings results can be found in the FY 2010 Annual Sustainability Report. For additional information about USPS sustainability initiatives and the Go Green Forever stamps, visit usps.com/green and the Green Newsroom. USPS has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo awards, Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year and Climate Registry Gold Status Recognition. USPS participates in the International Post Corporation's Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System, the global postal industry's program to reduce its carbon footprint 20 percent by 2020 based on an FY 2008 baseline. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. Melvin Wylie
Nature Conservancy Interns Serve up Adventure
AUSTIN, Texas - They are young, fun and they toughed it out in the Texas wilderness over the summer break in the name of protecting the planet. Meet Matt and Riley, The Nature Conservancy's roving field correspondents. With camera and notebook in hand, early in the summer the guys set out to explore the largest state in the lower 48, capturing video and writing about their experiences along the way. The project is called Everybody in the Wild with Matt and Riley and Nature Conservancy has been posting a dispatch from their adventures on its website and Facebook throughout the summer. So why were these guys coerced into tromping through nature preserves during the hottest summer on record? To get their generation excited about the great outdoors so they become invested in protecting it. While the main purpose of the series is to use a fresh approach to educate teens and young adults about important environmental issues (ala rebuilding oyster reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and protecting wildlife along the U.S. Mexico Border) the duo's love of film and the written word, which is evident throughout the pieces, also gives the series an artistic flavor that's hard to ignore. "Las Estrellas has a Sophia Coppola-esc vibe to it and the Davis Mountains piece has a real mystery to it," said Laura Huffman, executive director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. "But the pieces are also true to the Conservancy's work and really capture the passion that Texans feel about our land, which is why kids young and old love Matt and Riley." Matt and Riley's Big Adventures: - Explore an archeological find and a desert oasis in West Texas.
- Hit the Gulf coast where you'll stumble on a family of gators and learn what the Conservancy is doing to keep the ocean's most tasty appetizer on your plate.
- Embark on a spiritual quest for an endangered cactus that looks like peyote with the nuns of Starr County.
- Swing down to the southmost tip of Texas to learn about conservation along the Rio Grande.
Melvin Wylie
California's Water Prospects Remain Stormy
LOS ANGELES - The future of California's water supply is anything but clear. A recent survey from infrastructure firm HNTB Corporation finds that just one-third of the Golden State's residents realize flooding is a threat, and many Californians aren't aware levees play a crucial role in preventing them. "Failure of the earthen levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta alone would not only cause overwhelming devastation to homes and businesses in the region; it also could result in the loss of the state's biggest source of fresh water for at least a year and a half," said Rob Vining, HNTB national director water resources practice. And while federal officials have determined the state's capitol of Sacramento has the highest flood risk of any U.S. city outside of New Orleans, millions of Californians haven't prepared their homes for such flooding, nor have they considered the depleted water supply that would follow such a disaster. "Our state's water issues can be resolved from a technical standpoint," Vining said. "The biggest stumbling blocks are a lack of awareness regarding the severity of the situation and a lack of consensus about what to do." Before and after the flood If a major flood event were to occur in California, millions would be affected. And in fact, close to one in two (45 percent) Californians predict that their area would experience severe damage if there was an extreme storm or flooding this year. Perhaps they predict so much destruction because more than half (53 percent) fear their communities are unprepared to deal with such an event. According to the survey, while a solid minority thinks floods are a big threat to the Golden State, about 25 million Californians have not braced their homes for such a disaster. Specifically, approximately 1 in 3 (34 percent) Californians agree flooding is the biggest natural hazard in the state and about one-third (37 percent) think it's likely their area will experience an extreme storm or extensive flooding in the next five years. Yet less than 1 in 10 (8 percent) have done something to prepare for extensive flooding. That's far fewer than those who have prepared for an earthquake (53 percent). The aftermath of a flood likely would include water shortages throughout the state, yet conserving fresh water isn't top of mind for many Californians either. Seventy percent of Californians don't think state officials are doing their part to conserve water. Individual residents haven't done much to address the situation, either. Fewer than 3 in 10 (28 percent) have ever worried about a fresh water shortage where they live. Less than 1 in 4 (22 percent) have actually taken steps to prepare for a shortage. Lessons in levees Much like the devastation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the majority of the destruction facing the state likely would be due to the failure of levees: vital structures many people don't truly understand. Nearly 2 in 5 (37 percent) of the state's residents think there are no levees in California. In fact, the Delta has 1,600 miles of levees, some of them having failed 162 times in their history due mostly to intense rains. Levees also are susceptible to damage by earthquakes, mountain snow melt, high tides, foundation movement and burrowing rodents. Funds not flooding in Despite many Californians expressing a concern about flood damage, a majority are not ready to chip in dollars and cents to protect against such wreckage. Two in 3 (66 percent) in the state are not willing to pay even a dollar extra in their annual taxes to ensure they are protected. Citizens do feel strongly, however, that flood or storm management systems should be a locally funded and managed issue. More than half (51 percent) believe that city or state funds should allocated to these effort, rather than federal, private funds or bonds. And more than 1 in 3 (34 percent) Californians think it would be better to improve existing dams and levees to solve long-term water shortage problems in the state rather than take other actions, such as enforcing stricter conservation measures (25 percent) or creating a new aqueduct system (13 percent). Geographic differences of opinion More Northern California residents (11 percent) than Southern Californians (5 percent) have prepared for a big flood. Likewise, more Northern Californians (16 percent) have worried about a levee mishap than those in the southern part of the state (3 percent). There is even a difference of opinion on whether water issues in the north and south are interconnected and if funding should be used collaboratively (54 percent) to solve them, or if they should be dealt with separately (46 percent). More of those in Southern California (59 percent) than the northern part of the state (46 percent) see water issues as interconnected. Delta delusions Such results mirror water resource opinions nationally. A recent national survey from HNTB showed more than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) do not recognize that flooding is the biggest natural threat to their home or property. Fewer than 1 in 10 (7 percent) have prepared their homes for extensive flooding. And more than 3 in 5 (63 percent) would not put more money toward their annual taxes to help ensure measures are in place to protect their neighborhoods. Vining says when it comes to California, perhaps residents would be more concerned and ready to address the state's water resources issues if they better understood where their fresh water comes from and the fragile state of its availability. "Whether they've realized it or not, water from the Delta sustains the health and well-being of most Californians – in the north and the south," Vining said. "It's own health is at threat. We must move to protect it. Rather than ignoring these issues, we should work together to address our crumbling infrastructure and sustain our natural water resources." About the survey HNTB's America THINKS California water resources survey polled a random nationwide sample of 542 Californians April 29-May 5, 2011. It was conducted by Kelton Research, which used an e-mail invitation and online survey. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total California population ages 18 and over. The margin of error is +/- 4.2 percent. About HNTB HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving federal, state, municipal, military and private clients. With nearly a century of service, HNTB has the insight to understand the life cycle of infrastructure and the perspective to solve the most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide provide award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management services. For more information, visit www.hntb.com. Related Links: HNTB California Water Resources survey fact sheet Rob Vining expert source sheet Vining levee lowdown viewpoint America THINKS national Water Resources survey HNTB news room Melvin Wylie
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Montgomery County Transfer Station Recognized With Highest Health and Safety Honor by the Maryland Department of Labor
DERWOOD, Md. - Covanta Energy, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Covanta Holding Corporation (NYSE: CVA) and a world leader in the development and operation of Energy-from-Waste and other renewable energy projects, announced that the Montgomery County Transfer Station operated by Covanta Montgomery, Inc. has earned Star status in Maryland's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) administered by the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MOSH). An official flag-raising ceremony was held onsite. VPP Star status is the highest honor given to worksites with comprehensive, successful safety and health management systems. Sites such as the Montgomery County Transfer Station have demonstrated their commitment to effective employee protection beyond the requirements of state or federal standards and participants develop and implement systems to effectively identify, evaluate, prevent and control occupational hazards to avert injuries and illnesses. "This achievement was made possible by the steadfast commitment to health and safety by those working at the Montgomery County Transfer Station. I salute this group of employees for their accomplishment in obtaining this prestigious recognition," said Seth Myones, President, Covanta Americas. "As a company, we are proud to reach the milestone of having 40 facilities achieve VPP Star status. The achievement reinforces our unwavering focus on the continuous improvement of health and safety programs at all Covanta worksites." In awarding this elite status, MOSH gives strong consideration to the level of employee engagement and ongoing involvement in on-site health and safety program development combined with long term commitment and support from management. Star recipients routinely incur injury and illness rates that are at or below the state average for their specific industry. As of July 23, the transfer station has not had a recordable accident for two years. Continuous improvement of health and safety programs is central to Covanta's corporate and workplace cultures and has lead to a majority of Covanta's North American facilities earning the prestigious VPP Star status. The transfer station joins 39 other Covanta sites in North America. Covanta is among the top 10 companies in the United States to enter the majority of its operating locations in the OSHA VPP Star Program. An integral part of the Montgomery County community, the Montgomery County Transfer Station has processed more than 9 million tons of trash since 1993. After processing, all trash is transported by railroad to the Covanta-operated Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility in Dickerson, where it is converted into clean energy and used to power local homes. The Energy-from-Waste facility processes up to 1,800 tons-per-day of solid waste, generating up to 55 megawatts of renewable energy or enough power for 40,000 homes and recycles more than 10,000 tons of metal annually. About Covanta Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Covanta's 44 Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually, Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely convert more than 20 million tons of waste into 9 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and create more than 9 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com. Melvin Wylie
Ukraine Offers United Nations to Create World Grain Reserve
KYIV, Ukraine - The Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine Mykola Prysyazhnyuk informed that his country had initiated the creation of the world's grain reserve under the auspices of the United Nations. Ukraine would take on the responsibility to form the reserve of 10 to 12 mln tons of grain, preserve it and make grain interventions on the market following the respective decisions by the UN. Ukraine's 2011 grain crop at the moment is 35.6% larger than the amount of crop harvested by August of 2010. According to the Minister, these indicators allow Ukraine to create the world grain reserve fund. "We brought a motion to the UN suggesting to create the world grain reserve on the territory of Ukraine," said Prysyazhnyuk. The Minister also noted that Ukraine can now position herself as one of the world grain market leaders. World grain reserve would presumably be used to regulate world grain prices by intervening in the market in times of low grain supply. This would provide for the stability of the world grain prices as well as guarantee food security of the global population. Given the ongoing famine in Africa and global food insecurity, the creation of the world grain reserve is expected to be a useful tool for the UN in its struggle to provide humanitarian assistance in line with the UN World Food Programme. Ukraine used to bear the title of the breadbasket of Europe in the past and has been referred to as such ever since. It is estimated that Ukraine produced approximately one quarter of all agricultural output of the Former USSR. Experts believe Ukraine's annual grain production to be at least 33-35 mln tons per year, which leaves a substantial amount of grain for export considering the fact that the domestic consumption is set at the mark of 25-26 mln tons. Ukraine expects to harvest over 40 mln tons of grain in 2011. Earlier, the President of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine Mykola Bezuhly said that the future world grain reserve is to be managed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations while international financial institutions will sponsor the fund. Melvin Wylie
Tropical Storm & Hurricane: The Importance of Having a Disaster Plan For You, Your Loved Ones and Your Pets
All too often when a disaster strikes, pets are left to fend for themselves and end up lost, injured or killed. The best way to avoid this tragic scenario is to have a well-thought out disaster plan that includes your pet, so that you know where to go and what to take, according to the Insurance Information Institute (I.I.I.). "Many public shelters that are set up for disaster victims don't accept pets so you need to find out in advance which shelters or hotels along your evacuation route will accept pets," said Jeanne M. Salvatore, senior vice president and consumer spokesperson for the I.I.I. "It is tragic, but people have actually died because they were ordered to evacuate and did not want to leave their pets behind." Disasters do happen—and advance planning is best way for everyone to survive the catastrophe and get their lives back to normal as soon as possible. The I.I.I. offers the following tips to protect you, your loved ones and your pets in the event of a disaster: 1. Have a Disaster Plan - Plan in advance where you will go and how you plan to get there.
- Map out your primary route and a backup route in case roads are blocked or impassable. Make sure you have a map of the area available.
- Put together a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians along the evacuation route and outside your area that might be able to shelter your pets in an emergency. Include emergency phone numbers.
- Talk to your vet, the humane society or the local emergency management agency for information regarding community evacuation plans that include pets.
- Make advance arrangements to have a friend or neighbor pick up your pets in the event you are not at home when a disaster strikes. And, plan where you will meet or how you will reach each other.
- Review the I.I.I.'s five step evacuation plan and consider downloading the I.I.I. podcast on evacuation so you have it for easy reference on your PDA.
- Take the Ten Minute Challenge to seeing how long it would take to get you, your family, your pets and all of your important items out of the house.
- Medication and medical records (including proof of rabies vaccination) in a waterproof container.
- Pet first aid kit
- Leashes, harnesses, crates and carriers for transporting pets
- A muzzle, if your pet requires one
- Food and water for at least three days; a manual can opener
- Cat litter and litter box
- Comfort toys
- Recent photo of you and your pet in case you become separated
- Name and phone number of your veterinarian
- If you have pet insurance, the insurance company contact information and policy number
- Be prepared to leave early; do not wait for an official evacuation as you might be ordered to leave your pets behind.
- Keep pets on leashes or in carriers at all times.
- Make sure your pet is wearing up-to-date identification. Include the phone number of a friend or relative outside your area in case your pet gets lost and you cannot be reached. And mark the crate or carrier with similar information.
- Birds should be transported in a secure travel cage or carrier. During warm weather, carry a plant mister to mist the bird's feathers periodically. Do not put water inside the carrier during transport; instead provide a few slices of fresh fruit or vegetables with high water content.
- Review the I.I.I.'s article on pet evacuation which includes more detailed information as well as evacuation tips for reptiles and pocket pets such as hamsters and gerbils.
- Once you return to your home, do not allow your pets to roam loose right away. While you assess the damage, keep dogs on a leash and other animals in their carriers.
- Familiar landmarks and smells might be gone, and your pet may become disoriented. Pets can easily get lost in such situations, so give them some time to get used to their "new" surroundings.
- Be patient. Try to get your pets back into their normal routines as soon as possible, and be on the lookout for stress-related behavioral problems; if these persist, talk to your veterinarian.
- First, contact your insurance agent to make sure that you have both the right amount and type of insurance protection. You should have enough insurance to rebuild your home and replace all of your personal belongings. And, ask about both flood and earthquake insurance as these disasters are not covered under standard homeowners or renters insurance policies. Separate coverage is available for both disasters, however. The I.I.I. has a brochure on insurance for your house and personal possessions. More information on flood insurance can be found at www.floodsmart.gov
- Second, make sure you have an up-to-date home inventory. This will help you purchase the right amount of insurance and will make the claims process faster and easier. The I.I.I. has free Web-based home inventory software at KnowYourStuff.org.
- Third, take reasonable steps to make your home disaster-resistant. The I.I.I. has a video outline five key steps for Making Your Home More Hurricane Resistant. For detailed information on how to disaster-proof your home or business, go to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety.
- ASPCA
- American Kennel Club
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- The American Red Cross
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Humane Society of the United States
Melvin Wylie
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