U.S. Declares a Disaster for Fishery in Northeast

BOSTON — The Commerce Department on Thursday issued a formal disaster declaration for the Northeastern commercial groundfish fishery, paving the way for financial relief for the battered industry and the communities that depend on it.  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/us/commerce-dept-declares-northeast-fishery-a-disaster.html?ref=earth&_r=0

Article courtesy of The New York Times by Jess Bidgood and Kirk Johnson

Robo-sharks: Robots used to track movement, behavior of sharks

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Sharks are among the most mysterious and elusive creatures on earth. No one really knows how great white sharks mate, where they give birth or even why they sometimes attack humans.

But two Southern California scientists and their young students are making breakthroughs in their respective fields, and their research is revealing new insight into the behavior of sharks. http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/local/los_angeles&id=8823629

Article courtesy of KABC-TV Los Angeles by Marc Brown 

Solar Energy Farm to Transform Hackensack Brownfield

New Jersey’s Public Service Electric and Gas will invest $883 million in Hackensack to transform a former hazardous-waste storage site into a solar energy farm. The project is part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Brownfield and Land Revitalization Program. Over 225 megawatts of solar capacity will be installed, and 300 direct jobs per year will be created over the next five years.
To learn more: http://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/8-2-2012/pseg-solar-project-hackensack-nj-12613418.shtml#.UEFyxe5_ocQ.gmail

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Los Angeles Launches Fifty Parks Initiative

Los Angeles Mayor Villaraigosa recently announced the city’s Fifty Parks Initiative. The city is acquiring land for fifty new parks, predominantly in park-poor, population-dense neighborhoods. The new city parks will feature a number of sustainability features, including less turf, more mulch, and more permeable pavers in place of concrete.
For more information: http://la.streetsblog.org/2012/08/24/villaraigosa-announces-ambitious-initiative-for-50-new-parks/#.UDzevf0Hocw.gmail

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Phoenix Tests Sustainable Strategies to Mitigate Heat Waves

Planners in Phoenix are working to reduce the impacts of increasingly frequent summer heat waves. City officials hope to make Phoenix a laboratory for testing strategies to mitigate increased urban temperatures. Ideas being considered including covering 25 percent of Phoenix with shade trees, and zoning for higher and more-dense buildings.
To learn more: http://www.planetizen.com/node/58070

article courtesy of Smart Growth online

California Communities to Receive $9.3 Million for Sustainable Development

The California Sustainable Strategies Pilot Program has announced that it will award $9.3 million to thirteen California communities. Funding for each community will go to implement, test and document sustainable development strategies in the course of a specific project. Program Director Lynn Jacobs said that "This pilot program will provide valuable insights to allow the state to implement best practices and strategies as we move forward with our sustainable development goals in California."

http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=vyomgzaab&v=001u9MKVAvAK1xqMUwiKMDZfCU-hFggYkqH6SBH6j7orBZZltUb-P5hNu_o6Sv8VA4UQJi1KnzDHFHSJ9JcjAsmFrzsssOKLwhy1wD_IVpEbnEE4s1GkbUOcJvtwfoz6oJB1opXBsQHz9on73oMm3X0frJFNxCY__3nDnY5JMBTzIbqSQTQHdH6whf-J8Mh0zQJG9qdiW_FL6dulgiFK5Nc65-44AiEDsnndBtcD47M8x3hAtE2jK9ieNpZXHsc6Hvu

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online

Smart Growth Curbs Car Use, Greenhouse Gas Emissions

A new study from San Francisco State University found that cities that adopt smart growth approaches could substantially reduce the number of miles that residents drive in a year. The nationwide study found that a 10 percent increase in a city's smart growth features—including housing density, jobs per capita, and public transit infrastructure—would lead to a 20 percent decrease in the number of vehicle miles traveled per household, per year  http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?llr=vyomgzaab&v=001u9MKVAvAK1xqMUwiKMDZfCU-hFggYkqH6SBH6j7orBZZltUb-P5hNu_o6Sv8VA4UQJi1KnzDHFHSJ9JcjAsmFrzsssOKLwhy1wD_IVpEbnEE4s1GkbUOcJvtwfoz6oJB1opXBsQHz9on73oMm3X0frJFNxCY__3nDnY5JMBTzIbqSQTQHdH6whf-J8Mh0zQJG9qdiW_FL6dulgiFK5Nc65-44AiEDsnndBtcD47M8x3hAtE2jK9ieNpZXHsc6Hvu

Article courtesy of Smart Growth online