Weekly Green: September 23, 2013

This week's environmental headlines include:

• Obama administration presses ahead with first-ever carbon limits;
• Brown's signature on fracking bill comes with a twist;
• LA Times urges signature on lead ammo ban bill;
• Court upholds California's low carbon fuel standard;
• Delta tunnel, Rim Fire, and more!

» Welcome to another edition of the Weekly Green, a no-frills news roundup provided free of charge by the California League of Conservation Voters. If you're not a regular subscriber, sign up today! Get your free subscription here: http://ecovote.org/wg

Above the Fold

Obama copies California greenhouse rules, takes on coal with first-ever carbon limits
Linking global warming to public health, disease and extreme weather, the Obama administration pressed ahead Friday with tough requirements to limit carbon pollution from new power plants, despite protests from industry and from Republicans that it would mean a dim future for coal.
http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_24140743/obama-copies-california-greenhouse-rules-takes-coal-first

Calif. governor's signature on fracking bill comes with a twist
Until now, the state had no rules governing fracking. Pavley and supporters of new oil and gas rules argue that they are important because of the size of California's Monterey Shale formation, a swath of land stretching from the middle of the state south to Los Angeles County that geologists believe holds 15.5 billion barrels of recoverable petroleum.
http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059987668
See also: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/21/us-usa-california-fracking-idUSBRE98K00C20130921

(Editor's note: Take action! Urge Governor Jerry Brown to declare a moratorium on fracking: http://ecovote.org/Fracking).

Editorial: Ban lead ammo, Gov. Brown: It's good for all California
A bill that would ban the use of lead ammunition by all hunters throughout California awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature. There’s no question that he should sign AB 711 into law. It’s smart, it’s measured and it protects animals and people from potential lead poisoning from animal meat.
http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-lead-out-hunting-ammo-bill20130920,0,4724459.story

(Editor's note: Take action! Tell Governor Brown to sign AB 711: http://ecovote.org/LeadAmmo).

California's Environment

Court upholds California's low carbon fuel standard
A panel of federal judges on Wednesday upheld California's first-in-the-nation mandate requiring fuels producers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_LOW_CARBON_FUELS_CAOL-?SITE=CASON

Sen. Ted Lieu concerned about effects of aviation fuels
For more than two decades, almost no one has driven a car in California with leaded gas. And yet most of the state’s general aviation aircraft still use the fuel, and that’s something Sen. Ted Lieu wants to change.
http://www.sbsun.com/article/20130921/NEWS/130929890

Chemical odor, kids' nosebleeds, few answers in South L.A. neighborhood
An oil pumping operation in South L.A., newly ramped up after years of dormancy, has neighbors worried despite officials' assurances.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0922-oil-20130922,0,5218288.story

Who will pay for Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta tunnel project?
Hints have been dropped that to keep the water project alive, urban ratepayers in Southern California may pay more than their share, in effect subsidizing San Joaquin Valley agribusiness interests.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-delta-cost-20130923,0,267619.story

Skelton: Buffaloes threaten pristine landscape
Construction of two giant tunnels to funnel water to the Central Valley and Southern California would disrupt farming and despoil the delta.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-cap-water-20130923,0,2269382.column

Southern California water users view Delta tunnel plan as key to reliable future
When it comes to water supply in California, nothing is easy or cheap.
http://www.sacbee.com/2013/09/22/5756636/southern-california-water-users.html

Rim Fire's next fight: Controlling erosion
Perched atop a charred ridge, scientist Brad Rust stares at a tiny bead of water -- which sits, motionless, glistening like a perfect pearl in a sea of ash.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_24144977/rim-fires-next-fight-controlling-erosion

Risky measures to save big trees from Rim fire worked
Firefighters were fearful as they set backfires to save giant sequoias and a stand of giant pines standing in the way of the third-largest blaze in California history.
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-rim-fire-giant-sequoias-20130923,0,7271147.story

San Francisco Most Energy-Efficient California City
San Francisco is the most energy-efficient city in the state, according to a new ranking by a national energy efficiency advocacy group, and ties with New York City for third-most efficient city nationwide. But the rest of California's cities didn't do so well in the ranking.
http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/conservation/san-francisco-most-energy-efficient-california-city.html

Japanese tsunami debris: Where is it?
Not long after a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan in 2011, washing whole towns out to sea, concerns grew that huge amounts of debris could wash up on California's coast.
http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_24131414/japanese-tsunami-debris-where-is-it

Deal To Clean Up San Diego Bay Moves Forward
It's a picture perfect view looking over San Diego Bay just south of the Coronado Bay Bridge, but lurking below the surface around the shipyards is decades of toxic materials from industrial waste and urban runoff. It has also contaminated sea life in the area where fisherman are often seen.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/sep/19/deal-clean-san-diego-bay-moves-forward/

Study of hydraulic fracturing in state puts off suit
The Obama administration has tentatively settled an environmental lawsuit over oil and gas drilling in Monterey and Fresno counties with an agreement to conduct a statewide study of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and its possible effects on water and wildlife.
http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Study-of-hydraulic-fracturing-in-state-puts-off-4822735.php

If you missed it: CLCV: Legislative session concludes with environmental progress and hurdles

Climate Change

IPCC report: skeptic groups launch global anti-science campaign
Leading scientists will soon tell the world they're 95% certain that humans are driving global warming. Skeptics are busy trying to sow any doubt.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/19/ipcc-report-sceptic-groups-anti-science-campaign

Major fossil fuel reserves must be left in the ground, senior diplomat warns
Mary Robinson says governments must confront this harsh reality if runaway emissions are not to threaten the climate.
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/sep/23/fossil-fuel-reserves-left-in-ground

Global warming 'hiatus' puts climate change scientists on the spot
Theories as to why Earth's average surface temperature hasn't risen in recent years include an idea that the Pacific Ocean goes through decades-long cycles of absorbing heat.
http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-climate-change-uncertainty-20130923,0,791164.story

Climate Change Aggravates Triple Threat Of Natural Disasters
While the Southwest is fixated on the devastating floods in Colorado and New Mexico, the death toll and damage from flooding in Mexico far surpasses our domestic problems.
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2013/sep/19/climate-change-aggravates-triple-threat-of/

"Wonkblog": Fracking may not be as bad for the climate as we thought
At first glance, the shale-gas boom in the United States looks like good news for efforts to tackle global warming. This study, though significant, isn't the final word.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/09/18/fracking-may-not-be-as-bad-for-the-climate-as-we-thought/

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