Massive oil-skimmer latest weapon in fight

NEW ORLEANS — With hurricane-whipped waves pushing more oil onto the Gulf of Mexico’s once-white beaches, the government pinned its latest cleanup hopes yesterday on a huge new piece of equipment: the world’s largest oil-skimming vessel.

The Taiwanese-flagged former tanker named A Whale is the length of 3 1/2 football fields and stands 10 stories high. It just emerged from an extensive retrofitting to prepare it specifically for the gulf, where officials hope it will be able to suck up as much as 21 million gallons of oil-fouled water per day

read more   http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/07/01/massive_oil_skimmer_latest_weapon_in_fight/

Story courtesy of The Associated Press by Tom Breen and Jay Reeves

 

It's Important to Conserve Water

Water is a precious resource and even though it flows readily whenever we turn on a faucet, it’s important to conserve.  Water is vital to the environment and conserving water helps our critical ecosystems, and saves us money too. We don’t have to make major lifestyle changes to conserve water.  Listen to Marla Carter, education coordinator for the City of Everett Public Works.  To fine out more go to www.ci.everett.wa.us then type in public works or call 4255-257-8875 For more visit  http://livingsustainablyinsnohomishcounty.blogspot.com

 

Article courtesy of Living Sustainable in Snohomish County

NOAA botched decision to move Seattle fleet to Oregon, audit finds

Before deciding to move its research fleet from Seattle to Newport, Ore., the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) failed to adequately consider the possibly cheaper option of existing federal facilities in Seattle, a federal auditor's report says.

The report also takes NOAA to task for failing to analyze the total, long-term cost of moving the ships to Newport, which lacks major maritime facilities and is more than 200 miles from the Seattle-based researchers who commonly use the vessels.

read more  http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012239196_noaa30m.html

Article courtesy of The Seattle Times by Sandi Doughton

 

Report details efforts to prevent isotope from reaching Vt. water supplies

VERNON, Vt. — After pumping out 130,000 gallons of contaminated groundwater, removing 240 cubic feet of tainted soil, and spending about $10 million responding to a leak of radioactive tritium, Vermont Yankee officials said yesterday it will be at least three months before the cleanup is complete.

But they say that there is no evidence the isotope made it into drinking water supplies and that samples of water from the neighboring Connecticut River continue to show no detectable tritium levels. Continue story

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/06/23/report_details_efforts_to_prevent_isotope_from_reaching_vt_water_supplies/

Article courtesy of Associated Press by John Curran

Climate change panel taps experts in more fields

GENEVA — The UN science body on climate change, accused of ignoring its critics and allowing glaring errors to creep into its work, announced yesterday that a broader range of experts will write its next report on global warming.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change includes more women and scientists from developing countries, as well as authors with a wider range of backgrounds than previously — partly in response to recent criticism that earlier groups refused to address dissenting views.  Read more http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/06/24/climate_change_panel_taps_experts_in_more_fields/

Article courtesy of  Associated Press by Frank Jordans

 

 

 

BP reattaches dislodged containment cap

A temporary setback causes more leakage

BP’s effort to contain the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico suffered another setback yesterday when a discharge of liquid and gases forced the company to remove the containment cap that for three weeks had been able to capture much of the oil gushing from its damaged well.

Admiral Thad W. Allen of the Coast Guard, at a briefing in Washington, said a remote-controlled submersible operating a mile beneath the surface had most likely bumped a vent and compromised the system. Live video from the sea floor showed oil and gas coursing from the well unrestricted.

By evening, the cap appeared to be back on, nestled in place on the eighth try after about 90 minutes of effort. Live video showed remote-controlled submersibles frequently moving hoses out of the way so that the cap could be lowered over the spewing oil.

 Read more  http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/06/24/bp_reattaches_dislodged_containment_cap/

Courtesy of The Boston Globe by Liz Robbins New York Times

 

Green Teen Week: Tune Your Tech

Most teens love having the latest gizmos, so if it's absolutely necessary to buy a new iPod, camera, or cell phone, consider environmentally preferable options and products that contain fewer toxic elements, are energy-efficient, or use recycled materials to encourage manufacturers to design green. As for the stuff you're replacing, be sure to donate or recycle it. Used computers that still work can be given to families or schools that couldn't otherwise afford them, which would also prevent more e-waste from heading to the landfill. 

Article courtesy of The Green Life (green.life@sierraclub.org)