Oregon Water Thorn

Water Headlines for the week of June 27, 2011

2011-07-08T08:27:00.000-07:00

This is a good synopsis of national water happenings from the EPA. You can subscribe yourself - there are directions at the bottom of the post.

Water Headlines is a weekly on-line publication that announces publications, policies, and activities of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water

In This Week’s Water Headlines:

1) Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban Waterways In Communities Across The U.S.
2) Update on Waters of the U.S. Draft Guidance
3) EPA Seeks Public Comment on the Draft Reasonable and Prudent Alternative in NMFS’ Draft Biological Opinion on the Proposed Pesticides General Permit
4) New Tool to Support Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative
5) “Sustainable Communities, Healthy Watersheds” 2010 Annual Report Available Online
6) Subscribe to Water Headlines

1) Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban Waterways In Communities Across The U.S.
U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, White House Domestic Policy Council Director Melody Barnes, Council for Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Housing and Urban Development announced a new federal partnership along the Patapsco River in Baltimore on Friday where they participated in environmental education activities with Baltimore students. The partnership aims to stimulate regional and local economies, create local jobs, improve quality of life, and protect Americans’ health by revitalizing urban waterways in under-served communities across the country.

The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies, will focus its initial efforts on seven pilot locations: the Patapsco Watershed (Maryland), the Anacostia Watershed (Washington DC/Maryland), the Bronx & Harlem River Watersheds (New York), the South Platte River in Denver (Colorado), the Los Angeles River Watershed (California), the Lake Pontchartrain Area (New Orleans, LA), and the Northwest Indiana Area. Each of the pilot locations already has a strong restoration effort underway, spearheaded by local governments and community organizations. Lessons learned from these pilot locations will be transferred to other cities in the country.

Americans use urban waterways like the Patapsco River as sources of drinking water and for a variety of activities including boating, fishing and swimming. Cleaning up and restoring these water resources is essential to protecting Americans’ health and improving their overall quality of life. Revitalizing these urban waterways will also reconnect citizens to open spaces, and will have a positive economic impact on local businesses, tourism and property values, as well as spur private investment and job creation in these communities.

For more information, visit www.urbanwaters.gov

2) Update on Waters of the U.S. Draft Guidance
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have extended the public comment period by 30 days for the draft guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act. In response to requests from state and local officials, as well as other stakeholders, EPA and the Corps will take additional comment until July 31, 2011 on this important draft guidance that aims to protect U.S. waters. These waters are critical for the health of the American people, the economy and ecosystems in communities across the country.

This change in the public comment period will not impact the schedule for finalizing the guidance or alter the intent to proceed with a rulemaking.

Public input received will be carefully considered as the agencies make final decisions regarding the guidance. These comments will also be very helpful as the agencies prepare a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking.

The original 60-day public comment period was originally set to expire on July 1, 2011. The agencies will be publishing a notice of this 30-day extension in the Federal Register.

More information:
http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/guidance/wetlands/CWAwaters.cfm

3) EPA Seeks Public Comment on the Draft Reasonable and Prudent Alternative in NMFS’ Draft Biological Opinion on the Proposed Pesticides General Permit
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently in consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to examine the potential impact of EPA’s pending Pesticide General Permit (PGP) on the nation’s threatened and endangered species and their critical habitat. As part of this consultation, on June 17, 2011, NMFS submitted to EPA a draft Biological Opinion containing a suggested “Reasonable and Prudent Alternative” (RPA) that NMFS believes would avoid the likelihood that endangered or threatened species or their critical habitat would be jeopardized by the permit. EPA is taking public comment for 30 days on the draft RPA proposed by NMFS and will provide the public comment to NMFS for review. EPA is not making any final decision on the terms of the PGP at this time. Comments are due no later than July 25, 2011.

For additional information, visit: www.epa.gov/npdes/pesticides or contact Jack Faulk, EPA Office of Wastewater Management via e-mail at faulk.jack@epa.gov.

4) New Tool to Support Community-Based Water Resiliency Initiative
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a new tool to support the Agency’s Community-Based Water Resiliency initiative. The tool will raise awareness of drinking water and wastewater (water sector) interdependencies with other community services to support emergency preparedness and response efforts. Critical infrastructure sectors have interdependencies with drinking water and/or wastewater services. Many community services fall under these sectors (such as hospitals and power plants), and their operations could be severely affected by a water service disruption.

The tool will assist water utilities and all community stakeholders in increasing their preparedness for all-hazards impacting the water sector and their ability to respond to and recover from water service interruptions. The electronic tool has a self-assessment feature which enables stakeholders to assess the strengths and weaknesses of current resiliency efforts, and provides a summary report with tailored recommendations for using resources within the tool that would aid in enhancing resiliency. Individual modules have been developed for water utility owners and operators; the healthcare and public health sector; the emergency services sector; state or tribal drinking water primacy agencies; elected officials; community members, and other non-water sector entities.

To access more information about the initiative and to download the new tool, go to: http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/watersecurity/communities/index.cfm

5) “Sustainable Communities, Healthy Watersheds” 2010 Annual Report Available Online
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds (OWOW) has released its 2010 Annual Report titled “Sustainable Communities, Healthy Watersheds.” Sustainable Communities and Healthy Watersheds are two major themes for EPA's national water program.

The report contains information about EPA's work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the development of new draft guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act (also known as the Waters of the U.S. Draft Guidance), progress in better protection of water quality in Appalachia from the harmful effects of surface coal mining operations, and advancement in the work of the National Ocean Council. The report also includes information about OWOW's response to the Deepwater Horizon/BP oil spill through data monitoring evaluation, design monitoring plans and other efforts. Information about efforts to address nitrogen and phosphorus pollution through the development of a recommended Framework for states as well as a new guidance that addresses polluted runoff from federal land management activity in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are also included in this publication

The report can be viewed at: http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/upload/owowannualreport2010.pdf

For information about the Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds: http://water.epa.gov/aboutow/owow/

6) Subscribe to Water Headlines
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Water Quality at the Head of the Deschutes River

2011-07-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

A committee that is continuing the interminable discussion about whether to protect water quality at the head of the Deschutes River is meeting on July 15, 2011. It took me three clicks through links to find the right place to find more information. A look at the most recent meeting notes (May 2011) were not illuminating because of the non-information that made it into the notes. No copies of the presentations provided... I guess the public is expected to listen to the recordings to get information. Notes from the June meeting are non-existent. Hard to say what to think about this other than this DEQ process is not what you could describe as transparent....meanwhile the reasonable person can only assume that the red blob on the map is only getting redder and bigger... and more and more public funds are swirling down the toilet...

The South Deschutes and North Klamath County Groundwater Protection Project Steering Committee will meet to discuss topics including:
• Strategic planning for communications and outreach
• Subcommittee Updates: Options, Domestic Well Sampling, Spray Field Well Data

For more information, please see the news release:
http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3656

Water, Volume 3, Issue 2 (June 2011), Pages 445-717 Released

2011-07-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Here's the latest from:

Water, Volume 3, Issue 2 (June 2011), Pages 445-717 at http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/

Table of Contents:

Michael D. Dettinger, Fred Martin Ralph, Tapash Das, Paul J. Neiman and Daniel R. Cayan
Article: Atmospheric Rivers, Floods and the Water Resources of California
Water 2011, 3(2), 445-478; doi:10.3390/w3020445
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/445/

Lisa J. Lucero, Joel D. Gunn and Vernon L. Scarborough
Article: Climate Change and Classic Maya Water Management
Water 2011, 3(2), 479-494; doi:10.3390/w3020479
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/479/

Erick Butler, Yung-Tse Hung, Ruth Yu-Li Yeh and Mohammed Suleiman Al Ahmad
Review: Electrocoagulation in Wastewater Treatment
Water 2011, 3(2), 495-525; doi:10.3390/w3020495
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/495/

Alvaro Calzadilla, Katrin Rehdanz and Richard S.J. Tol
Article: Trade Liberalization and Climate Change: A Computable General Equilibrium Analysis of the Impacts on Global Agriculture
Water 2011, 3(2), 526-550; doi:10.3390/w3020526
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/526/

R. O. Abdel Rahman, H. A. Ibrahium and Yung-Tse Hung
Review: Liquid Radioactive Wastes Treatment: A Review
Water 2011, 3(2), 551-565; doi:10.3390/w3020551
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/551/

Daniel J. Bain, Jennifer A. S. Arrigo, Mark B. Green, Brian A. Pellerin and Charles J. Vörösmarty
Communication: Historical Legacies, Information and Contemporary Water Science and Management
Water 2011, 3(2), 566-575; doi:10.3390/w3020566
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/566/

Olga E. Scarpati, Maria I. Botana, Alberto D. Capriolo, Veronica Pohl Schnake, Yamile Puga and Edgardo Salaverry
Article: Present Characteristics of Northwestern Patagonia (Argentina)
Water 2011, 3(2), 576-589; doi:10.3390/w3020576
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/576/

Joe Magner
Article: Tailored Watershed Assessment and Integrated Management (TWAIM): A Systems Thinking Approach
Water 2011, 3(2), 590-603; doi:10.3390/w3020590
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/590/

Manoj Kumar Jha
Article: Evaluating Hydrologic Response of an Agricultural Watershed for Watershed Analysis
Water 2011, 3(2), 604-617; doi:10.3390/w3020604
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/604/

Claudio Cassardo and J. Anthony A. Jones
Editorial: Managing Water in a Changing World
Water 2011, 3(2), 618-628; doi:10.3390/w3020618
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/618/

Yung-Tse Hung, Erick Butler and Ruth Yu-Li Yeh
Review: Chemicals and Allied Products Waste Treatment
Water 2011, 3(2), 629-648; doi:10.3390/w3020629
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/629/

Phil Rowland, Colin Neal, Darren Sleep, Colin Vincent and Paul Scholefield
Article: Chemical Quality Status of Rivers for the Water Framework Directive: A Case Study of Toxic Metals in North West England
Water 2011, 3(2), 649-666; doi:10.3390/w3020650
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/649/

Marko Stenroos and Tapio S. Katko
Article: Managing Water Supply through Joint Regional Municipal Authorities in Finland: Two Comparative Cases
Water 2011, 3(2), 667-681; doi:10.3390/w3020667
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/667/

John Crowther, Danyel I. Hampson, Ian J. Bateman, David Kay, Paulette E. Posen, Carl M. Stapleton and Mark D. Wyer
Article: Generic Modelling of Faecal Indicator Organism Concentrations in the UK
Water 2011, 3(2), 682-701; doi:10.3390/w3020682
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/682/

Ludovico Spinosa, Azize Ayol, Jean-Christophe Baudez, Roberto Canziani, Pavel Jenicek, Angelique Leonard, Wim Rulkens, Guoren Xu and Lex van Dijk
Article: Sustainable and Innovative Solutions for Sewage Sludge Management
Water 2011, 3(2), 702-717; doi:10.3390/w3020702
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/3/2/702/

End of the issue.

Foresight, nearsight, poor sight, sigh...

2011-07-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Here, Oregon lawmakers illustrate the breadth of their forward looking-ness, as do some citizens (in their comments) about the future of sustainability in our state. Obviously Oregon is no longer the home of forward thinking and innovation in terms of public services, policies, and rhetoric. The enemy is indeed us...

Nonpoint Source Outreach Tools

2011-06-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

I seem to be on a cumulative effects rant this week. Too many hours on the computer, too few steps by my body, each little tailpipe on the road, or as a previous post pointed out, too many bodies pooping. But this is not so much a rant as a point to tools to use while you rant in a politically correct manner. Public funds at work for you, so take advantage! Rant away!

Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox Upgrade Released

EPA has released a significant upgrade to its Nonpoint Source Outreach
Toolbox today. This new version is available online at www.epa.gov/nps/toolbox/.

This version includes two important new features, along with other improvements:

A robust new search feature to help you find the most applicable TV, radio or print materials in the Toolbox's product catalog to meet your specific nonpoint source/stormwater outreach needs (available directly at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npstbx/index.cfm)
Significant new content of outreach material—TV, radio and print ads on various nonpoint source and stormwater topics of concern.

The Nonpoint Source (NPS) Outreach Toolbox is intended for use by state and local agencies and other organizations interested in educating the public on nonpoint source pollution or stormwater runoff. The Toolbox contains a variety of resources to help develop an effective and targeted outreach campaign.

Water Fowl Foul Water

2011-06-26T07:32:00.000-07:00

This is the June challenge from the Love Your Rivers Campaign, which happens to speak to an issue dear to my heart. Hmm, I wonder what this says about me... Anyway, I have long been a loud complainer about poop of all kinds, so this really toots my horn, dog poop, bird poop, people poop:

June 2011 Challenge

Craptastic!

People and our furry and feathered friends contribute to the ickiest form of river pollution: number two. Many of Oregon's most common river problems—from unsafe bacteria levels to wildlife-choking algae blooms—are caused in part by poorly managed poo-lution. Ducks and dogs can’t help it, but you can: Take this month’s pledge.

Your challenge

Always pick up after your pet
Don’t feed the ducks
If your home has a septic tank, maintain it regularly

Take this challenge and you’ll be entered to win a a two-person basic skills kayak class from Alder Creek Kayak ($130 value). Take at least six monthly challenges before October 2011, and you’ll have a chance to win the grand Love Your River prize.

Exempt Wells

2011-06-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

I saw the advert for this gathering and wished I could go - this has long been on my radar as one of those elephants in the room that no one's looking at or talking about, the same way that people think that the cumulative effects of pollution from septic systems can't possible be a problem...

Thanks for the post, Rainbow

http://rainbowwatercoalition.blogspot.com/2011/06/exempt-wells-what-color-art-thou.html

Using residential history and groundwater modeling to examine drinking water exposure and breast cancer.

2011-03-29T17:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a study out of Massachusetts - I bet a number of folks' reaction to this will be to start drinking bottled water....

Conclusions

This analysis found evidence of a positive association between breast cancer and exposure to drinking water impacted by wastewater effluent from the BWPCF. The associations were strongest among women who were not regular bottled water users and among women exposed for long durations when latency periods were taken into account. The current exposure analysis expands on our earlier work to explore the spatial and temporal relationship between a source of environmental contamination and a route of exposure for this study population. Our prior spatial analysis identified groundwater plumes as a potential environmental exposure that had not yet been fully studied. We investigated this hypothesis using a detailed groundwater model and determined that contamination of drinking water by effluent from the BWPCF was plausible. Area groundwater sources for drinking water are subject to more protections now, and the impact of sewage on groundwater was carefully considered in recent expansion plans for the facility. However, this analysis suggests the sewage plume emanating from the facility may have had a significant historical impact on drinking water.

Sustainable Stormwater Classes for Homeowners & Others

2011-03-28T20:42:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in the benefits that stormwater management can bring to your community? Do you want to learn how you can implement practices in your everyday life that will improve water quality? The City of Newberg & Green Girl Land Development Solutions have partnered to bring you this series of classes to choose from.
March 30 Sustainable Stormwater

Apr 13 Rain Gardens

Apr 27 Rain Gardens for Challenging Sites

May 11 Landscaping to Conserve Energy

All classes:

Cost: $10/class

Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm

Location: Newberg Public Safety Building at 401 E. Third Street in Newberg, OR

For more info: www.greengirlpdx.com/Events.htm or see class descriptions below

To register: Contact Sonja Johnson at the City of Newberg at (503) 537-1282 or sonja.johnson@newbergoregon.gov

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Are you interested in learning more about stormwater? Do you want to install a rain garden? Unsure if you have the appropriate soil or yard size for low impact development? The City of Newberg is sponsoring classes by Green Girl Land Development Solutions to help you answer these questions and more. While the classes are designed as a series, you may participate in as few or as many as you wish for $10 per class. They will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Public Safety Building at 401 E. Third Street every other Wednesday night starting on March 30, 2011.

March 30 Sustainable Stormwater

Join the City of Newberg and Green Girl Land Development Solutions to find out why we have more stormwater in our streets. Learn how air, water, and soil are affected by landscaping and answer the question, “What is sustainable stormwater?” Each participant will receive the guide, Water Efficient Plants for the Willamette Valley.

April 13 Rain Gardens

Learn how to choose the right landscaping option, such as rain gardens or stormwater planters, to fit your site. We’ll answer questions such as, “Where should it go?”, “Where should it not go?”, “How big should it be”, and “How do I get stormwater to it?” Each participant will receive the Oregon Rain Garden Guide. This class provides a strong foundation for the following class on April 27.

April 27 Rain Gardens for Challenging Sites

Many of our yards have clay soil, high groundwater, or slopes that make it more challenging to have sustainable landscaping. In this class, we’ll discuss how to adapt designs for normal conditions for the unique conditions in your yard. Participants should be familiar with rain garden design and their normal landscape requirements.

May 11 Landscaping to Conserve Energy

Use micro-climate strategies to conserve energy inside your home. Learn how to incorporate shade, wind blocks, and cool pavements or roofs into your sustainable stormwater design. Save money while adding beauty to your yard.

Free Webinar on Nitrate in Groundwater - Focus on Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley Groundwater Management Area

2011-03-28T20:35:00.000-07:00

This is very short notice, but perhaps someone can take advantage out there?

There is a joint presentation on the issue of nitrate in groundwater – here is a fantastic opportunity to hear the latest information on the Southern Willamette Valley Groundwater Management Area - as well as views from Wisconsin’s Public Drinking Water Program and an update from USGS on their NAWQA project including national data on nitrate in groundwater.

Here is the EPA website information – and there is a link to register for this Webinar below.

+++++++++++++++++++++

EPA's Watershed Academy is pleased to sponsor its 57th free Webcast Seminar.

Webcast on Tuesday, March 29, 2011 - 10 AM PT

"Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution Series: Nitrate in Ground Water"
by Jill Jonas, Director, Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources,
Audrey Eldridge, Coordinator for the Southern Willamette Valley Groundwater Management Area, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and
Neil M. Dubrovsky, PhD, Chief, Nutrients and Trace Elements National Synthesis Project, National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA), U.S. Geological Survey

Please use this link to register

http://water.epa.gov/learn/training/wacademy/webcasts_index.cfm

Effects of the Japanese earthquake on a well in the Edwards Aquifer

2011-03-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

A nice little illustration of how connected we are to events on the other side of the world. Thanks, WaterDoc!

So much for the water they drink (Part 2)

2011-03-20T08:29:00.000-07:00

I have a bit of a correction to make from my previous post. I misinterpreted some comments/events and ascribed the pushover vote to the wrong pushover. The second vote to repeal the local ordinance to protect groundwater will come from the Republican party, not the Democratic party, in Deschutes County. I apologize for the error. Either way, I smell blood in the water but I be afeared it is the local habitat for endangered fish species that is food for the sharks and not the so-called higher thinkers that make the decisions for that region of Oregon.

By the way, the word on whether the Democratic vote on this issue will be a pushover as well is still out. The vote will purportedly take place on this Wednesday, March 23rd.

Further, the juiciest bit of gossip is that the local representative from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality expressed dismay at the possibility of this ordinance being repealed. From what I have read on the issue so far, which I am sorry to report has taken much more of my life than I intended (there is a huge amount of info available online, is that the DEQ has taken a completely milk-toast stance on the issue. They have been so politically correct in their verbiage that you can't tell if they support protecting groundwater quality or not. They say the right things over all in terms of DEQ's program goals, but when it comes to the specifics of this matter in Central Oregon that affects one of the major rivers in the state, the tone and words are best described as bland, almost to the point of indifference. What did we the people hire these "professionals" to do?

Anyway, it appears from this vantage point that the endangered fish species (steelhead) in this basin don't have a voice. Where are the advocates that will fight to restore and prevent the further decline what was formerly a world class trout fishing stream? Where are the folks that would take action under the Endangered Species Act and use this nice little Citizen's guide to better understand their rights?

Here is state and local government using public resources to work to ensure there is one more reason not to come to Oregon.

So much for the water they drink

2011-03-13T16:13:00.000-07:00

Last week was National Groundwater Awareness Week and while I exhort anyone out there reading to take a look at the website related to this event and do what they can, I have to bring the sorry news that a local jurisdiction in Central Oregon (Deschutes County) decided last week to roll back the clock on groundwater/drinking water protection for a portion of its population by rescinding a rule specifying that people need to clean up the sewage they are pumping into the ground. While I say this was "decided" last week, the vote of the three person commission is still to come, but based on the decisions last week, the deed is fait accompli. Lovely way to celebrate National Groundwater Awareness Week, Central Oregon! Rah, Rah, Go Team! ("Groundwater protection ordinance to be scrapped," Bend Bulletin, Thursday, March 10, 2011)

My local sources say that one of the three votes needed to rescind this rule is a mole in the Republican party installed by the local tea party ideologues and the other comes from a pushover posing as a Democrat. Good old boys to the core. The third vote, and I actually have not heard how this vote will go, is a good new girl that actually seems to think about issues rather than vote according to election statistics.

So, while I like to bring positive exhortations of how we can make a difference in this world, my first posting after a bit of hiatus is a look into short-sightedness and essential greed.

Oregon non-point source pollution project funding

2010-11-26T08:35:00.000-08:00

I got the following by virtue of being a subscriber to news releases from Oregon DEQ. This announcement comes out every year and I'm always interested in what the funding priorities are, not that they change much. Interesting to note that, projects in the Eastern Region of Oregon will focus on reducing nitrate loading from non-point sources of pollution that affect source water of public water systems, i.e. centralized water treatment systems. If you have your own well, you are out of luck in terms of the state helping your or your region out with non-point source pollution that affects your drinking water. I suppose the rationale is the typical "get the biggest bang for your buck" reason of helping the maximum number of persons possible (i.e. the concentrated populations using public water supplies, but it does seem to smack a bit of environmental inequity.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is requesting project proposals from government agencies, tribal nations and nonprofit organizations to address non-point sources of pollution affecting the state’s coastal, river, lake, drinking water and groundwater resources.

For more information, please see the news release:

http://www.deq.state.or.us/news/prDisplay.asp?docID=3483

God will save us from climate change: U.S. Representative - thestar.com

2010-11-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

I stole the premise for this post from WaterWired (Thanks WaterDoc) because it is interesting how language can be interpreted. I think it's interesting that the passage (as it has been translated in whatever edition Shimkus reads) could also be read to mean that God won't destroy the earth, but that doesn't automatically mean God won't prevent humans from destroying ourselves. After all, loving parents are often faced with the choice of being highly protective of their kids or giving them the freedom to learn life's lessons, in sometimes painful ways.

God will save us from climate change: U.S. Representative - thestar.com

U.S. Representative John Shimkus, possible future chairman of the Congressional committee that deals with energy and its attendant environmental concerns, believes that climate change should not concern us since God has already promised not to destroy the Earth.

Shimkus, an evangelical Christian and a Republican member of the House from Illinois, on Tuesday signalled his desire to become chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

The Energy and Commerce committee is among the most powerful in the U.S. Congress, with a wide-ranging purview over legislation touching on energy policy, environmental initiatives and public health.

Shimkus already serves on the committee. During a hearing in 2009, he dismissed the dangers of climate change and the warnings of the scientific community by quoting the Bible.

First, he noted God’s post-Flood promise to Noah in Genesis 8:21-22.

“Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though all inclinations of his heart are evil from childhood and never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done.

“As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, will never cease.”

“I believe that’s the infallible word of God, and that’s the way it’s going to be for his creation,” Shimkus said.

Then he quoted Matthew 24:31.

“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds from one end of the heavens to the other.”

“The Earth will end only when God declares it’s time to be over. Man will not destroy this Earth. This Earth will not be destroyed by a Flood,” Shimkus asserted. “I do believe that God’s word is infallible, unchanging, perfect.”

Following the Republican wave in the recent Congressional elections, the committee will shift from Democratic to Republican leadership.

On Tuesday, Shimkus sent a letter to his colleagues burnishing his credentials by saying he is “uniquely qualified among a group of talented contenders to lead the Energy and Commerce Committee.”

World Toilet Day 2010!

2010-11-19T07:40:00.000-08:00

Did you know that November 19 is World Toilet Day?

World Toilet Day is designed to acknowledge the life-saving power of the toilet and appreciate the toilets in our lives. Believe it or not, more people on earth have cell phones than have access to a toilet! Which may be a sad commentary on where our priorities are - but maybe this is a call to use that ubiquitous communication device to get the word out.

Not long ago, New York, London, and Paris were centers of infectious disease, facing the same water problems that cities like Mumbai, Lagos, and Rio de Janeiro face today. Life expectancy was low and child death rates were as high then as they are now in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It was sweeping reforms in water and sanitation that enabled human progress to leap forward.

This also ties into my post a couple days ago about the Paul Simon Water for the World Act that you can learn about here.

Lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection and a big cause of water pollution. This means people must relieve themselves in open streets, fields, or dangerous back alleys. In India alone, the number of people who practice open defecation is double the population of the U.S. You can imagine how this affects health not only because of direct contact with diseases from sewage but also from pollution of water supplies used for drinking, cooking and washing. And, it is sad to say, but there are still people in the United States that are not hooked to a sewer system or septic system that will help protect water quality or their health.

The purpose of World Toilet Day is to raise a stink about this lack of sanitation that causes not only embarrassment, concerns for safety, and lack of dignity, but preventable disease, illness, and all too often, death.

Water.org is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to providing safe drinking water and sanitation to people in developing countries. Learn more by visiting their website at www.water.org.

Water for the World Act Needs Your Help

2010-11-17T16:53:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Waterdoc:

The Sen. Paul Simon Water for the World Act unanimously passed the U.S. Senate (S. 624) last September. It now is in the House of Representatives (H.R. 2030), where the hope is that it will be passed during the current lame duck session of Congress. Most observers give the bill little chance of passage when the 112th Congress convenes in January 2011. So it's now, or perhaps never.

The bill would provide clean water and sanitation to 100M people.

Here is more information from Water Advocates:

Now is the most important time to contact your member of the House of Representatives to ask them to pass the Water for the World Act. The bill has already passed the Senate. We have an opportunity with one last push from all of you to make this work. Your member of the House of Representatives needs to hear from you during the lame duck Session, which begins on November 15 and may end in early December.

This lifesaving legislation would go a long way toward ending the world's largest health crisis - the diseases caused by the lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation. It would also give the United States an important leadership role in providing access to water, sanitation and hygiene for millions of the world's poorest people.

All House offices can be called through 202-225-3121, or more directly by getting their office numbers from www.house.gov. Even better, send them a short email: Go to www.house.gov to go to the Representative's site where they provide an email contact form (and sometimes an actual email address).

Friend, filmmaker, and hydrophilanthropist Jim Thebaut, whose visage has graced these pages a number of times, has prepared a brief video to promote the bill. It features former Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN), former Senate minority leader; Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR); Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL); and Patti Simon, the Senator's widow. Frist, Blumenauer, and Durbin played instrumental roles in getting the bill to where it is today, and Simon championed the cause as well.

Here is the link to Jim's video on You Tube (you will need Adobe Flash Player 10 to view it); you can also view a Quick Time 7 version on Jim's WWW site.

I would appreciate it if you would contact your representative and request that she or he vote for the bill, H.R. 2030. Thank you!

“This important legislation complements the efforts of US nonprofit development organizations, philanthropies, corporations, faith communities and civic groups, and could profoundly improve millions of lives.” -- David Douglas, President, Water Advocates

The Water We Drink

2010-11-15T10:32:00.000-08:00

The Water We Drink: Small Community Outreach Campaign, which offers information about maintaining safe, sustainable, and secure water supplies in small and rural communities, has added new content to its website.

The website, located at www.nesc.wvu.edu/waterwedrink/, is a joint effort by the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) and the National Environmental Services Center (NESC), located at West Virginia University, and is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

New articles about source water protection, setting water and sewer rates, water and energy, and the benefits of joining your state’s Water and Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) are available to complement previous articles related to pharmaceuticals and personal care products in our waters, impending labor shortages, and aging infrastructure. The articles are written especially for those who oversee local water and wastewater services, and may be downloaded at no charge and used for educational purposes, such as reprinting in newsletters and magazines, training sessions, and websites.

RCAP’s Director of Training and Technical Services Joy Barrett, Ph.D., says, “Our main message is that local leadership is essential in protecting water resources and maintaining critical water and wastewater services, and there are practical options for ensuring the short- and long-term viability of these systems. The new articles encourage local officials and small water utility board members to be proactive in working with local utilities to determine adequate rates, prevent water pollution, conserve water and energy, and partner with neighboring utilities to plan and respond to emergencies.”

The website also offers a brochure, a PowerPoint presentation and instructor’s guide, and fact sheets about keeping pharmaceuticals and personal care products out of our waterways. The Water We Drink project strives to raise awareness about crucial water issues and solutions, and invites everyone to use the articles and resources to support or complement state and local efforts.

Learn more by going to www.nesc.wvu.edu/waterwedrink/.

Taking Action

2010-10-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

Again in the spirit of construction action here is a great resource from the Oregon Environmental Council called "Love Your River." Check out the site, find out what you can do, take a little pledge, enter a drawing for cool stuff. This month features a drawing for a set of REI bike panniers (luggage for your bike, in case your curious). These are nifty enough that they might even get me off my sorry duff in the event I win them. No time like the fall to take up an outdoor sport, eh?

Perhaps it's the weather...

2010-09-28T09:57:00.000-07:00

In a perhaps vain attempt to get myself out of the end-of-summer, change-to-grey-and -cold funk, I forward the following in the spirit of "Let's find something constructive to do."

The Washington State Department of Ecology has a new video posted to its YouTube site.

You can check it out at http://www.youtube.com/ecologywa

The message is using alternatives to toxic household cleaners. The format is an infomercial spoof.

Enjoy!

Outside the Box - 2

2010-09-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

As promised, here is the next chapter in the story of blindered thinking and greed to follow up on "Outside the Box - 1."

To sum, my previous post presented the City of Bend's position on proposals by citizens or developers, or in this case, public entities, trying to make their dollars work for the general good. The City is opposed to having individual systems within reach of their sewer system because then they don't get their new cash cow. In this particular case we have a public entity that found out how much the city would charge to connect to sewer and is opting to do an individual system because they are actually in a location that allows them to avoid the duplicative fees the city would charge if they were in the city limits/service area. End of story, right?

Nope, this is just where it starts to get interesting because the state representative of the Oregon DEQ's Onsite Program (this is the program that issues permits and oversees individual wastewater treatment systems) is putting the heat on the public entity to connect to sewer.

What's wrong with this picture? DEQ is a state agency facing potentially significant budget cuts, along with all the other state agencies in Oregon, that is telling another public entity to pay permit fees and service fees (forever) to the city of Bend. I wish my budget were so healthy that I have the luxury to send business away. But I must say that I have a healthier belief in my own capabilities than this DEQ person. If this person is working in a job in which they so little belief in that program's capability to (in DEQ's case) protect public health and the environment, then that person is taking the public's money for doing work they either don't have the expertise to do or that they believe is work is not worth doing. In the first case, this person should be reassigned to a position for which they are qualified (perhaps this is the Peter Principle at work?), in the second case, they should be fired for ethics violations for taking public money under false pretenses.

Permeable Pavement Webinar

2010-09-01T15:57:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune to tune in to a webinar sponsored by the Center for Watershed Protection and the Chesapeake Stormwater Network. The webinar contained lots of practical information about performance, installation and maintenance of permeable pavement systems that can be used either on the homeowner or huge commercial scale. While I see many potential applications for the city surrounding me, my overwhelming feeling upon leaving the gathering place for the webinar was to break up concrete and invest in creeping thyme.

Pamplona has Nothing on this Bull Run

2010-08-20T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice piece on one of my favorite watersheds:

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/08/bull_run_watershed_journey_to.html

Earth Overshoot Day 2010: a full month earlier than EOD 2009

2010-08-18T19:11:00.000-07:00

Earth Overshoot Day is when we are living beyond our means from an ecological and resource standpoint - and we still have over a quarter of the year to go...

http://www.royte.com/blog/?p=749

Outside the Box - 1

2010-08-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

I've gotten a few heads' ups over the last few weeks that I've been turning around in my head (as opposed to getting things posted in cyberspace). One came from a professional venting a spleen about institutional stupidity, another from a resident venting along similar lines, and a third from a newspaper article that seemed remarkably well timed considering the first two events. Also coincidentally, each of these comes from Central Oregon, which makes me wonder what's in the wind. Or perhaps the folks that care about what I say are concentrated there. Dunno.

The first that I'll talk about comes from a citizen that had a conversation about a commercial development in Bend that often suffers from sewage overflows because the development was approved in an area that does not have the sewage line capacity to take what this commercial area doles out. This person asked why the city doesn't require that the commercial development treat its wastewater and reuse it on the landscaping that is required for all commercial developments. This approach has been taken in other places in the country and has the effect of reducing demand on an overloaded collection system and increasing capacity at the treatment plant to serve other areas that perhaps are more easily served.

Here is the City of Bend's response:

The City Engineer said that the City would allow alternate sewage treatment systems for these types of facilities, provided they met DEQ and EPA standards. However, the City would require a hookup to the City's system as a backup in the event of failure of the on-site system. The City does not want to be put into the position of having to take over these systems if they fail -- it would not be an efficient use of resources.

Any alternative system would have to meet standards. The water has to be treated to an appropriate level so that it meets the standards of wherever it will be discharged/applied. There will be solids that will have to be applied in a permitted location.

The City's existing treatment plant currently treats wastewater to a high level, and the solids and liquid are disposed of with minimal environmental impact. One concern the City has is whether any alternative system would meet the same standards as the City's treatment system. However, if the City is satisfied that the alternate system meets applicable standards, the City would cooperate in reviewing and approving the system.

In essence the City requires that the developer of such a system obtain the appropriate permits to operate a wastewater treatment system (perhaps under the same permit system that the city itself operates under) AND pay to hook up to the city system. Firstly, it appears that the city is assuming DEQ/EPA authority in specifying permits and permit requirements, which I would be curious if they in fact have that authority. That would take some more research on my part to figure out. Secondly, the city is requiring a hook up immediately, rather than waiting for a potential problem to manifest itself. This smacks of greed because they want the hook up fee now rather than later. Not surprising from a city that has exhibited similar greed in the past. Thirdly, there is a bald statement that a separate system would not be efficient if the city had to take over its operation. Why would the city ever have to take over operation of a private facility if the DEQ were doing its job? Why is this necessarily inefficient? I, for one, would be interested in seeing a cost-benefit analysis of operating a separate system versus blasting big holes for miles in bed rock to increase collection system capacity.

Stay tuned for part 2...