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NEWS
OF INTEREST
Updated 7/3/09
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Summary of June 22, 2009 Supreme Court Decision in Couer Alaska, Inc. v. Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, et al.
In 6-3 Clean Water Act ruling that could allow lakes and other waters to be more easily destroyed and polluted by mining and other polluting activities, the Supreme Court today upheld that an unprecedented agency permitting decision allowing the Couer Alaska mine company to avoid stringent permitting requirements and instead dump their waste directly into Alaska’s Lower Slate Lake. Lower Slate Lake is a small but relatively deep lake with a healthy fish population, in particular Dolly Varden. At issue is the disposal of mine tailings from Couer’s proposed operations at the Kensington Mine. Couer is proposing to mine gold through “froth flotation”, a process by which rock is crush in a frothy water solution that causes gold particles to rise to the top, where they can be collected. This process creates extensive waste resulting in tailing wastewater which can often contain heavy metals and other potentially toxic substances. The Clean Water Act provides for performance standards governing the disposal of this wastewater that prohibits it from being dumped into lakes, streams, and other waters. For the complete summary and decision, go to: http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:8KbGXp5lm9YJ:supremecourtus.gov/opinions/08pdf/07-984.pdf+Court+Decision+in+Couer+Alaska,+Inc.+v.+Southeast+Alaska+Conservation+
Council&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us
For a related news story, visit: http://www.adn.com/money/industries/mining/story/840031.html
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AK: Supreme Court declines Fairbanks wetlands permafrost case
Associated Press – June 23, 2009
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider a Fairbanks case focused on whether land with permafrost is subject to federal wetlands review. The Fairbanks North Star Borough in 2006 wanted to build a park on two acres west of Fairbanks. The Army Corps of Engineers said the borough needed a wetlands permit. Borough officials, with help from a private lands right group, challenged the Corps' jurisdiction. Attorney Daniel Schiff of the Pacific Legal Foundation says the decision Monday is a disappointment for property owners who will be precluded from getting a day in court. Corps' officials praised the decision. Spokeswoman Pat Richardson says the agency position is that jurisdictional determinations are not subject to judicial review. http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10583107 For a related news story, visit: http://www.newsminer.com/news/2009/jun/23/us-supreme-court-refuses-listen-fairbanks-borough-/ |
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 Lifetime Achievement: Jon Kusler Honored by the Society of Wetland Scientists
Jon Kusler, Associate Director and co-founder of the Association of State Wetland Managers, is this year’s winner of the Society of Wetland Scientist’s Lifetime Achievement Award. This special award is given biennially to individuals in recognition of a distinguished and extensive career in wetland science and management http://www.sws.org/docs/SWS0015.pdf,
[Read more on our Blog post]
http://www.urbangreenspaces.org/Jon-Kusler.htm |
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 Check out ASWM's New Blog:
The Compleat Wetlander
Recent blog posts:
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 Wetland Book List-On Amazon
ASWM offers a new service through its website! Now users may browse through our wetland book list and purchase books--on Amazon. Book titles have been sorted into topics—general, wetland science, watershed management, legal, wetland fiction and nonfiction. We are also going to include a reading list for children & teens in the future. Find it on our menu at the left-hand side of the website under publications, or visit: http://www.aswm.org/propub/bookservice/index.htm |
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| Third Draft “Recommendations for a National Wetlands and Climate Change Initiative” Available for Comment |
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 ASWM has posted the third draft “Recommendations for a National Wetlands and Climate Change Initiative” based on Wetlands 2008: Wetlands and Global Climate Change, held on September 16-18, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. The Association would appreciate receiving comments by April 1, 2009 by e-mail to Jon Kusler at aswm@aswm.org. ASWM is recommending that federal agencies and Congress create a cooperative National Wetlands and Climate Change Initiative with the states, tribes, local governments, and the private sector. It would build upon existing coordination mechanisms. Please see: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2008/recommendations_2008_112008.htm.
For a printable version, please see: http://www.aswm.org/calendar/wetlands2008/recommendations_2008_112008.pdf. |
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FUTURE
ASWM WORKSHOPS AND SYMPOSIA
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Senate Committee to Vote on Clean Water Restoration Act
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Contact: Aileo Weinmann - National Wildlife Federation – June 16, 2009
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will vote on the Clean Water Restoration Act (S. 787) on Thursday June 18, 2009 in a markup hearing beginning at 9:30 am. The bill has strong endorsements from leading conservation groups, including Ducks Unlimited, the National Wildlife Federation, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Trout Unlimited. Following the Senate EPW Committee vote find out the reaction of America’s leading sportsmen advocates for protecting clean, safe drinking water. Join the experts on clean water and wetlands from Ducks Unlimited, Trout Unlimited, National Wildlife Federation and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership for an update on what the committee vote means for wetlands and streams and what the next steps will be for clean water and wetlands.
More than 20 million acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams have lost their protection from drainage and destruction under the Clean Water Act. Two Supreme Court cases, and the regulatory guidance that followed from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency, stripped these protections. The Clean Water Restoration would restore these safeguards and ensure clean drinking water for all Americans, as well protect millions of acres of wetlands and thousands of miles of streams used by America’s wildlife. This will be a remote conference – members of the media are encouraged to call in to the conference. Speakers: Dr. Scott Yaich, Director of Conservation Programs for Ducks Unlimited, Jan Goldman-Carter, Wetlands and Water Resources Counsel, National Wildlife Federation, Steve Moyer, Vice-President for Conservation Programs, Trout Unlimited, Geoff Mullins, Policy Initiatives Manager, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
When: Thursday June 18, 2009 at 2 pm (Eastern time)
Call-in Number: 1-866-548-2699
Contact: Aileo Weinmann, National Wildlife Federation, 202-797-6801, weinmanna@nwf.org |
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EPA’s Watershed Academy to sponsor free July 1st Webcast on the Clean Water Act |
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EPA’s Watershed Academy sponsors free Webcasts to help build the capacity of watershed practitioners from around the globe. On Wednesday, July 1, 2009, the Watershed Academy will sponsor the first in a series of Webcasts about the Clean Water Act (CWA). This first Webcast will provide an introduction to the CWA including a brief history of the Act, an explanation of technology vs. water quality-based approaches, and a brief overview of key components of the Act and related EPA regulations. Future Webcasts will focus on key aspects of the CWA including water quality standards, monitoring and assessment, total maximum daily loads, programs for managing point sources and nonpoint sources, and wetland protection.
The Webcast will feature William (Bill) Painter, Environmental Scientist with EPA’s Watershed Branch. Bill serves as an expert trainer on the CWA and is the author of a popular online Watershed Academy Web module, “Introduction to the Clean Water Act,” posted at http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/cwa/.
Registration is now open at http://epa.gov/watershedwebcasts Archived audio versions of past Webcasts are also available at http://epa.gov/watershedwebcasts |
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Restoring wetlands not so costly, Univ. of Alberta study |
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By Hanneke Brooymans – Edmonton Journal – June 14, 2009
Wetlands in Western Canada could be restored at a much lower cost than might be expected, a University of Alberta study suggests. The wetlands that would be created are nothing fancy. Basically, a drainage ditch could be blocked to allow water to back up in a field. This is a method used by the conservation group Ducks Unlimited. Wetlands are vital habitat for waterfowl, but also act as buffers during times of flooding, allowing the landscape to hold extra water. They also clean bacteria and excess nutrients out of the water that flows into them. The cost for a test group of Manitoba farmers came out to an average of$400 per acre($1,000 per hectare) to restore a previously drained wetland on their properties, said Katherine Packman, a master's student in the department of rural economy. For full press release, go to: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/news/Restoring+wetlands+costly+study/1692635/story.html |
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| Damage to Ecosystems Can Lead to Financial Losses and Reputational Risks for Companies |
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By Robert Kropp – SocialFunds – June 10, 2009
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international treaty that entered into force in 1993, defines biological diversity (biodiversity) as "the variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are a part." One of the targets of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is to "reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss."
A recently published sector report by the European Sustainable Investment Forum (Eurosif) examines the risks associated with loss of biodiversity confronting five industrial sectors considered particularly vulnerable. Research for the report was compiled by oekom research. For full story, visit: http://www.wbcsd.org/plugins/DocSearch/details.asp?type=DocDet&ObjectId=MzQ3MjE |
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| Conservation Leaders Gather To Restore Iconic U.S. Waters |
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Contact: Aileo Weinmann – National Wildlife Foundation - June 10, 2009
Conservation leaders from across the country are gathering in New Orleans today to push for the restoration of iconic U.S. waters such as Chesapeake Bay, Coastal Louisiana, Florida Everglades, Great Lakes, Gulf of Maine, Long Island Sound, Puget Sound and others. “The summit has one goal: Unite America to protect the nation’s iconic waters from serious threats ranging from global warming to invasive species,” said Larry Schweiger, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, the host of the summit. “Restoring American’s great waters will benefit the country’s economy and environment—and will be vital in addressing the impacts of global warming.” The conference, June 10-12, comes as momentum is building in the nation’s capitol. In the current budget cycle, both Congress and the White House have acknowledged the vital importance of the nation’s great waters. For more information on the conference, go to: http://online.nwf.org/site/Calendar?view=Detail&id=102541 For the full press release, go to: http://www.nwf.org/news/story.cfm?pageId=CABEFEEF%2D5056%2DA868%2DA05550FADDED1D84 |
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| A Clearer Clean Water Act |
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Editorial – New York Times – June 1, 2009
The Obama administration has rightly declared its support for Congressional efforts to restore the broad reach of the Clean Water Act. The law, passed in 1972, was intended to protect all of the waters of the United States, large and small. That mission has since been muddied by two Supreme Court decisions that narrowed the law’s scope, weakened its safeguards against pollution and confused federal regulators. The administration has written to Senate and House committees urging them to act on bills that would restore federal jurisdiction over all wetlands and streams. All of the environmental big guns signed: Nancy Sutley, the chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality; Lisa Jackson, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; Ken Salazar, the interior secretary; Tom Vilsack, the agriculture secretary; and Terrence Salt, the acting chief of Army Corps of Engineers. For full story, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/02/opinion/02tue3.html?_r=1 |
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| Opening the USGS Landsat Archive to the world! |
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The Electronic access to the entire USGS Landsat 7 archive, enabling users to download standard-format scenes at no charge, has been an amazing success, with over 225,000 scenes downloaded since October 1st. Previously acquired imagery from Landsat 1 through Landsat 5, is also now available for download at no charge using the same standard processing format. Processing parameters and other details about the products can be found at http://landsat.usgs.gov/
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| Mountaintop Mining To Get More Scrutiny |
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By David A. Fahrenthold – Washington Post – June 11, 2009
The Obama administration will announce plans today to tighten scrutiny of mountaintop coal mining, in an effort to reduce environmental damage from operations that shear off peaks and fill Appalachian valleys, federal officials said. The policy changes, outlined in a new agreement among federal agencies, will not end the practice, also called mountaintop removal. But administration officials said their aim is to curtail its worst impacts: wooded peaks reduced to barren stumps and healthy streams buried under tons of rock. For full story, go to: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/10/AR2009061003984.html?nav=emailpage |
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| Paper Reports Sea Level could rise more than anticipated on Northeastern Coast |
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CSO Weekly Report – June 5, 2009
According to a paper in the May 29 edition of Geophysical Research Letters, sea levels off the coastline of the Northeastern United States and Nova Scotia could rise more than in other regions in the next century. The paper purports the cause of this accelerated rate will be the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet. According to the paper, New York, Boston, Halifax, and other Northeastern cities could see a sea level rise of 12 to 20 inches more than the average sea level rise by the year 2100. According to the paper's author, Aixue Hu, a scientist with NOAA in Boulder, Colorado, "If the Greenland melt continues to accelerate, we could see significant impacts this century on the northeast U.S. coast from the resulting sea level rise. Major northeastern cities are directly in the path of the greatest rise." To read the paper, visit: http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/. |
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| Editorial: Undoing the Damage, Step by Step |
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New York Times (Editorial) – April 29, 2009
The Obama administration is reversing many of the potentially damaging anti-environmental regulations rushed through in the Bush administration’s final months. This week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar withdrew a rule that would have weakened protections for endangered species. He also took the first legal step to revoke a rule that would have allowed the ruinous coal mining practice known as mountaintop removal to inflict even greater damage on Appalachia’s landscape. For full editorial, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/30/opinion/30thu2.html?_r=1 |
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This website last updated July 3, 2009.
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2 Basin
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207-892-3399; FAX: 207-892-3089; aswm@aswm.org
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