Weekly Green: March 30, 2012

Hello and good morning all. In this week's headlines:

• Final push to urge FDA to ban toxic BPA;
• The buzz on bee decline;
• California cities most densely populated in U.S.;
• Some state parks out of the woods;
• Fear grows in O.C. cities near San Onofre nuclear plant;
• and much more.

Leading Off

FDA Close to Making a Decision on Toxic BPA in Food

BPA is so ubiquitous, it's on the lids of organic, non-GMO baby food containers. And lots and lots of other places it shouldn't be. It's time for FDA to do the right thing. BPA must be banned from our food supply, period.

The FDA's deadline to respond to the Natural Resources Defense Council's petition to ban BPA as a food additive is TOMORROW, MARCH 31. Click here to make your voice heard.

Pesticides suspected in mass die-off of bees

Scientists have identified a new suspect in the mysterious die-off of bees in recent years — a class of pesticides that appear to be lethal in indirect ways.

Conservative weatherman accepts climate change

"I’m going to tell you something that my Republican friends are loath to admit out loud: climate change is real. I am a moderate Republican, fiscally conservative; a fan of small government, accountability, self-empowerment, and sound science. I am not a climate scientist. I’m a meteorologist, and the weather maps I’m staring at are making me uncomfortable..."

11 state parks temporarily out of the woods

California has struck deals to keep 11 state parks open and more reprieves are in the works, whittling the number of parks that will be closed this summer because of budget cuts, officials said Tuesday.

More CA Environmental News

Bay Area inks $1.5 billion deal to electrify Caltrain for high-speed rail

Bay Area transportation leaders on Wednesday approved the region's deal with the state to split the $1.5 billion cost to electrify the Caltrain line that would ultimately be shared with statewide bullet trains.

State will start with a dry run while questions remain about how to spend the money

Mary Nichols, chairwoman of the California Air Resources Board (ARB) announced at a state senate hearing that the first carbon permit auction will be pushed back to November 14th.

Fear grows in O.C. cities near San Onofre nuclear plant

Concern over the safety of the San Onofre nuclear power plant is growing among Orange County cities closest to the facility, which has been shut down since January because of system failures.

San Onofre would be under microscope in cancer risk study

A new report lays out just how very hard it would be to determine if living near a nuclear plant is really hazardous to your health.

Prestigious panel agrees: Delta is stressed, with no easy fix

A comprehensive new study on the Delta's environmental problems concludes there is no easy fix, only hard choices, if California wants to restore fish species and still satisfy its water demands.

Water bond teeters, may be pulled from 2012 ballot

When state Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg briefly mentioned to reporters that the $11 billion water bond set to go before voters in November would probably be pulled off the ballot, the remark reverberated with city water managers, farm leaders and environmentalists.

California cities most densely populated in U.S.

California is home to the rugged Sierra Nevada, bucolic vineyards, wave-stroked beaches - and the most densely urbanized areas in the nation.

Strawberries face uncertain future: Fumigant alternatives fall short

For years, growers have fought disease with methyl bromide, a fumigant that sterilizes the soil before planting. But after decades of deployment, methyl bromide has been linked to ozone-depletion in the atmosphere and it's on the way out.

Chromium 6 study gets another look

The controversial chromium 6 background level study is going to get another look - scientists plan to see if there is anything about it that can be salvaged.

Farm bureau suffers setback in keeping solar projects off farmland

A Fresno County Superior Court judge told the California Farm Bureau Federation that it didn't have the right to sue Fresno County over a solar project the county approved in August.

National News

Obama: Oil companies 'hitting the American people twice'

President Barack Obama repeated his plea Thursday for lawmakers to repeal billions in annual incentives for big oil companies ahead of a doomed Senate vote on the matter.

Obama signs stop-gap transportation bill

President Barack Obama has signed a three-month extension of a transportation bill to keep federal highway and transit aid flowing. The move prevents a widespread shutdown of construction projects.

Kochs linked to $3.6M anti-Obama gas price ad campaign

The group launching a $3.6 million ad campaign hitting President Barack Obama on gasoline prices has deep ties to the billionaire libertarian industrialists Charles and David Koch.

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