Weekly Green: June 29, 2012

A note to our readers: The Weekly Green will be on vacation next week. Have a wonderful Independence Day!

In this week’s headlines:

CLCV Honors Environmental Champions

Fracking moratorium advances in California Legislature
In testimony before the state Senate Natural Resources Committee, Assemblywoman Betsy Butler (D-Marina del Rey) pushed a moratorium on "fracking," echoing the concerns of environmentalists and community activists who fear the potential environmental and public health hazards of a procedure that involves injecting chemical-laced water and sand deep into the ground to tap oil.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/california-politics/2012/06/fracking-moratorium-advances-in-california-legislature.html

California Moving To New Rules on Flame Retardants
This week Tonya Blood, the head of the department that oversees furniture regulations, told a state senate committee the agency is committed to getting rid of the old standard and replacing it with new fire-safety rules that can be met without the use of chemicals.
http://blogs.kqed.org/stateofhealth/2012/06/27/california-moving-to-new-rules-on-flame-retardants/

California parks get reprieve, won't close Sunday
A year after Gov. Jerry Brown announced that 70 state parks would be closing to save money, state officials Thursday said that none will close by Sunday's deadline after all.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_20963657/california-parks-get-reprieve-wont-close-sunday

State parks ‘partner up’ in fruitful quest for money
To save $22 million out of an $86 billion general fund, 70 of the state’s 278 parks -- 25 percent -- were consigned to closure beginning July 1, 2012. The original closure list can be seen here. A June 20 Parks Department memo on the closures can be seen here.
http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=10obp71e2p5lq54

Some senators want dramatic shift in bullet train plan
Three months ago, Gov. Jerry Brown hit the reset button on the California bullet train, slashing $30 billion from its $98 billion budget and promising to reorder the controversial project’s priorities. Now, some Democrats in the state Senate want to hit the reset button again.
http://californiawatch.org/dailyreport/some-senators-want-dramatic-shift-bullet-train-plan-16794

Global visions of bullet trains
In the international race to build bullet trains, California is not only getting crushed by the likes of France and Japan, but also Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/politics-government/ci_20927265/global-visions-bullet-trains

California budget would indefinitely extend ban on dredge mining
Suction dredge mining foes are crowing following news that an addition to the California budget bill will effectively extend indefinitely a moratorium on the controversial practice.
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/29/4598196/hed-here.html

Climate change would lead to increased fire activity, study shows
Climate change is likely to alter fire patterns around the world, including a potential increase in the number of fires for much of California in the next 30 years, according to a new study led by UC Berkeley researchers.
http://www.baycitizen.org/climate-change/story/climate-change-would-lead-increased-fire/

When nature adapts: Pests thriving on Monsanto GMO corn
While controversy and opinions continue to swirl around the hot-button topic of genetically modified produce, a new report from biotech firm Monsanto sounds like the premise of a Stephen King story.
http://www.scpr.org/blogs/environment/2012/06/25/6778/when-nature-adapts-pests-thriving-monsanto-gmo-cor/

Condors' comeback imperiled by lead poisoning
The California condor's return from near extinction is threatened by persistent exposure to lead-based bullets, despite intensive efforts to treat and care for poisoned birds each year, scientists say.
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Condors-comeback-imperiled-by-lead-poisoning-3662188.php

Hinkley residents face Aug. 31 deadline on life-changing choices
For some 300 residents who have spent years - perhaps decades - drinking water laced with chromium 6, decision time is fast approaching for choosing either a newly pioneered whole house water replacement system or selling their home to Pacific Gas & Electric Co., which will bulldoze it.
http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_20925515

Court Backs E.P.A. Over Emissions Limits Intended to Reduce Global Warming
A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a finding by the Environmental Protection Agency that heat-trapping gases from industry and vehicles endanger public health, dealing a decisive blow to companies and states that had sued to block agency rules.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/science/earth/epa-emissions-rules-backed-by-court.html