Top UN Official Calls for Global Ban on Plastic Bags

From Democracy Now:

In environmental news, a top UN official is urging a global ban on plastic bags, in part because plastic is the most pervasive form of ocean litter. Achim Steiner, executive director of the UN Environment Program, said, "Single-use plastic bags, which choke marine life, should be banned or phased out rapidly everywhere. There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere.” The campaign to ban plastic bags is gaining steam internationally. China banned plastic bags last year, saving the country an estimated 40 billion plastic bags. Here in this country, San Francisco is the only large city to have banned plastic bags.

SC Environmental Groups to Host News Conference on Climate/National Security Issues

Friday, May 29th
11 AM
Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial
Veterans Park, Columbia
(Washington & Gadsden Street)

Rain Standby site: SC League of Conservation Office, 701 Whaley St., Columbia

Last week in Washington, DC, the House Energy & Commerce Committee reported out the American Clean Energy and Security Act, sweeping climate legislation that sets mandatory caps on global warming pollution. The centerpiece of the legislation seeks to reduce American greenhouse gas emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent by 2050. Further action in the House is expected this summer.

This kind of legislation will pose new opportunities for American industry and new opportunities and challenges for our larger national foreign and military policies.

The military is a vitally important part of the Midlands community, home to Ft. Jackson and Shaw Air Force Base.

SC Sen. Phil Leventis (D-Sumter, Lee) and SC Rep. James Smith (D-Richland) will discuss aspects of this federal action for American energy independence going forward in conjunction with area veterans and a host of state environmental organizations. Sen. Leventis is a retired ANG general, fighter pilot and decorated veteran. Rep. Smith is a captain in the SCARNG, who returned last year from service in Afghanistan.

Environmental organizations represented Friday include SC Audubon, SC League of Conservation Voters, Pew Environment Group, Carolina Climate Network, the SC Nature Conservancy and SC Wildlife Federation.

Coastal Carolina University opens new Environmental Quality Lab

Coastal Carolina University officials cut the ribbon April 29 to open the new and expanded Environmental Quality Laboratory. The facility, which directs many analytical chemistry and microbiology research projects that impact the region, has moved from the R. Cathcart Smith Science building to its new location across U.S. 501 in the Coastal Science Center on the University’s East Campus.

The new facility is approximately three times larger than the former lab, with 2,674 square feet spread over five rooms. Established in 1991, the Environmental Quality Lab is one of the essential components of the University’s Burroughs & Chapin Center for Marine and Wetland Studies.

“The lab has played an important role in the life of the community and the university, linking education, faculty-student research, public outreach and technical services,” said Susan Libes, professor of marine science and program director of the lab. She says the new facility will position the lab to undertake higher level projects.

A number of long-term, community-based studies conducted through the Environmental Quality Lab have had far-reaching consequences for the Grand Strand/Waccamaw region. The lab has conducted many water quality monitoring projects along the local coastline, working with the state Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) to determine the public safety of area beaches and of stormwater draining systems. The Environmental Quality Lab was the first lab in the state to be certified by DHEC to measure enterococci bacteria.

The lab also handles all research conducted through the Waccamaw Watershed Academy, such as a large-scale volunteer pollution monitoring program encompassing the Waccamaw River system and the Murrells Inlet Estuary in Horry and Georgetown counties. More recently, the lab has begun a project that measures oxygen in the ocean water at the Apache Campground pier.

Joseph T. Bennett is the technical director of the Environmental Quality Lab.

Florence Attorney Wins Environmental Award

Benjamin T. "Ben" Zeigler has been named winner of the 2008 South Carolina Environmental Awareness Award. Mr. Zeigler is a shareholder of Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, P.A., where he practices public finance law in the firm's Florence office.

In a ceremony Friday, March 27, Scott English, Governor Mark Sanford's Chief of Staff, announced the winner at the University of South Carolina's West ("Green") Quad in Columbia and recognized Zeigler for outstanding contributions toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.

In July 2008, Ben Zeigler completed two consecutive terms (2004-2008) as Chairman of the Board of the Pee Dee Land Trust. During his tenure on the Board, Ben built unprecedented community support for natural resource protection throughout the Pee Dee region. "Ben's civic work, particularly on behalf of the Pee Dee Land Trust, is an outstanding example of his dedication. The cumulative impact of Ben's many accomplishments is truly greater than the sum of its parts, and for that, all South Carolinians should be grateful," English said.

The Pee Dee Land Trust enables a land owner to voluntarily and permanently protect his or her land for its natural beauty and function, its agricultural productivity and/or its historical significance. The Trust can accept donations of land or donations of easements on privately owned land in order to protect it. The public benefits from protected land, even when public access is not granted, because of the value of scenic beauty, water and air quality, potential for local crop production, habitat for flora and fauna, and much more. Find out more about the Pee Dee Land Trust at: www.peedeelandtrust.org.

"As a direct result of Ben's visionary leadership, the amount of land protected by the Land Trust increased from a mere 13 acres in 2005 to more than 10,000 acres in 2008," English added.
A native of Florence, Mr. Zeigler earned his Juris Doctor degree from Harvard University (1997), a Master of Philosophy degree from Oxford University (1994), and graduated magna cum laude from The University of the South (Sewanee) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1992. Mr. Zeigler also serves on the boards of Florence County Progress (Chairman, Relocation Task Force; Chairman, Membership Committee; Tourism Study Committee); Friends of Florence Stockade; Francis Marion University Foundation; Florence Center for the Arts; South Carolina Tourism Alliance; South Carolina Institute for Legal Investment (Steering Committee Chair); and moderator, Aspen Institute Global Leadership Network. He has also served on the Francis Marion Trail Commission (Chairman, 2005-2009), and the McLeod Health Community Board. A member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers (NABL), Mr. Zeigler is a member of the South Carolina Bar, the South Carolina Supreme Court Commission on Lawyer Conduct (2005-2009), and the South Carolina Eminent Domain Study Committee.

The South Carolina General Assembly established the S.C. Environmental Awareness Award, now in its 17th year, during the 1992 legislative session to recognize outstanding contributions made toward the protection, conservation and improvement of South Carolina's natural resources.

Each year the public is invited to submit nominations that are then reviewed by an awards committee, which includes representatives from the state's environmental and natural resource agencies. In judging nominees, the committee considers excellence in innovation, leadership and accomplishments that influence positive changes affecting the natural environment.

Members of the awards committee represent the S.C. Department of Natural Resources, S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, S.C. Forestry Commission and S.C. Sea Grant Consortium.

Previous winners include:
2007 - Dr. Richard Porcher Jr., professor emeritus at The Citadel
2006 - Rick Huffman, founder, South Carolina Native Plant Society
2003 - Burris Family, owners, Cypress Bay Plantation Tree Farm, Beaufort
2001 - James D. Elliott Jr., founder, South Carolina Center for Birds of Prey
1999 - Kenneth Strickland, environmentalist, Florence
1997 - Brad Wyche, president, Friends of the Reedy River, Greenville
1992 - Rudy Mancke, naturalist, S.C. Educational Television
DNR protects and manages South Carolina's natural resources by making wise and balanced decisions for the benefit of the state's natural resources and its people. Find out more about DNR at www.dnr.sc.gov.

Governor looks to a cleaner energy future for South Carolina

Conservation Voters of South Carolina commends Governor Mark Sanford for decisively opposing Santee Cooper’s proposed coal plant. Sanford’s opposition places him in the growing ranks of Republican and Democratic governors from around the country who have come out against new coal plants in their states.

“The Governor showed leadership today by calling on policy leaders to adjust to the changing economic and political realities. Now is the time for South Carolina to step forward and end its addiction to dirty and increasingly costly coal. It was heartening to hear the Governor personally challenge South Carolinians to be part of the solution,” said Ann Timberlake, Executive Director of Conservation Voters.

Although Sanford emphasized that his decision on the coal plant stems from his analysis of changed federal policies and the economic downturn, specifically the rising cost of coal and the decline in consumer demand, he admitted that increased mercury and particulate pollution have always been concerns. Conservationists have applauded the letter that the Department of Natural Resources filed earlier this week with the Department of Health and Environmental Control objecting to the approval of any environmental permits for the currently proposed coal plant on the bank of the Pee Dee River.

“John Frampton’s letter is clear in its warning that continuing down the path of coal presents ‘unacceptable impacts, costs and risks for the natural environment and the citizens of South Carolina.’ We hope that the DHEC Board will look beyond the narrow confines of the permitting process and make an historic decision tomorrow to deny the air permit and protect the health of South Carolinians,” added Timberlake.

Conservation Voters has consistently opposed the proposed coal plant and advocated that investment in efficiency and renewable energy sources can be both a bridge to new technologies and a boon to the local economy. Recent studies, for example, project that offshore wind could supply 20% of the state’s energy at a cost that competes with coal.

“If we can get coal off the table, there is no question that conservation and business leaders can sit down and have an intelligent conversation about all the other energy options. We welcome the Governor’s challenge to be part of a positive dialogue about supplying clean power for South Carolina’s future,” concluded Timberlake.

This Week in Congress

What U.S. Congress is expected to cover this week. More links and ifo here.

Economic Recovery The House of Representatives this week will debate a measure that sets parameters for distributing of the remaining $350 billion in funding from October’s Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

Health Care The House will consider a bill reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP. The reauthorization will expand the program to cover an additional 4 million eligible children; the cost will likely be fully offset primarily by raising the federal tobacco tax.

Equal Pay The Senate will consider the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and possibly the Paycheck Fairness Act at the end of this week after both bills passed through the House last week. The Ledbetter bill corrects a 2007 ruling by the Supreme Court that made it harder for victims of pay discrimination to bring a suit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act builds on this act by prohibiting employers from limiting workers’ ability to share salary information or retaliating against them for seeking that information.

Energy and Environment The Senate will continue debate on S. 22 this week after a successful cloture vote on Sunday; the package contains over 150 individual bills designating public lands and wilderness areas. A vote on final passage of the bill is expected on Thursday or Friday.

A Smart Car in Darlington

Don't let anyone tell you Darlingtonians aren't environmentally-conscious. I've seen my share of Toyota Prius in the area, but this is the first Smart Car.
The closest dealership is in Charleston.

Drinking Water in Danger?

The Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement's (OSMRE) proposes to revise the Permanent Program Regulations Implementing the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 Concerning the Creation and Disposal of Excess Spoil and Coal Mine Waste and Stream Buffer Zones.

What does that mean?

For the past 30 years this rule has prohibited mining activities within 100 feet of perennial or intermittent streams, which serve as habitats to a vast array of aquatic life and provide drinking water to local communities.

The rewrite of this rule could allow for waivers and effectively eliminate the buffer, giving mining companies the green light to mine through streams across the Appalachian region.

Download the proposal here and submit your comments there too.
Comments are due Nov. 23.