Monthly Archives: August 2014

Top 5 Myths About Coal

By Susan Stephenson

Interfaith Power & Light

From Pittsburgh, PA to Denver, CO people of faith across the country are speaking out in support of the EPA carbon pollution standards. But Big Coal continues to spread myths and fear about what will happen when the health of our communities gets in the way of their profits.

Here are the top five myths they are promoting, and why they are so outrageous.

The Top 5 Myths About Coal:

Myth #1: Curtailing coal will have a devastating effect on American jobs

In 2013, 89,838 individuals were employed by the coal industry compared to 142,698 individuals employed by the solar industry (1). Coal jobs have been decreasing, but this is largely due to increased automation and efficiency in coal mining: While coal jobs in two major coal states, Kentucky and West Virginia, have decreased from 79,000 in 1983 to 41,000 in 2012, the states’ combined coal output has remained steady, dropping from 245 million short tons in 1983 to 240 short tons in 2011 (2). Coal workers are losing their jobs, in part, to horrific “efficiencies” like mountain top removal, where the top of the mountain is blown off to get at the coal seams.

In fact, every dollar invested into clean energy creates approximately 3 times as many jobs as a dollar invested into fossil fuels. (7)

Myth #2: There is such a thing as “clean coal”

This idea relies heavily on new methods such as “Carbon Capture and Sequester” (CCS) which will store carbon pollution from coal-fired plants in underground geological formations, a method that will use 10%-40% of the energy created by the power plant (5). This, and the added cost of creating a CCS system, will almost double the cost of creating new coal-fired power plants. Most importantly, CCS won’t be available at a large scale until 2030 and even oil giant Shell, “doesn’t see CCS being widespread until 2050.” Unfortunately, CCS is still a hypothetical solution, not a reality. With approximately 6,000 to 10,700 deaths attributed to air pollution from coal-fired power plants each year, (4) we can’t afford to wait.

Myth #3: The federal government is waging a “war on coal”

The federal government has been ordered by the Supreme Court to enforce the Clean Air Act and rein in global warming pollution. Power plants are the nation’s largest emitter, so the EPA’s first-ever proposed limits on carbon pollution will address all power plants. The decline in coal jobs is nothing new; in fact, coal jobs have been declining since 1983, long before the current administration and long before the EPA carbon rules (2).

Myth #4: EPA limits on carbon pollution will cause electricity rates to skyrocket

This is the standard old saw the industry uses every time a new regulation is proposed, whether to limit air pollution or require more renewable energy sources. In the long run, greater efficiency and greater reliance on renewables whose fuels (sunlight and wind) are free will reduce electricity rates. The American Wind Energy Association published a study that found that consumer rates declined over the past five years in the eleven states with the most wind powered electricity, while all other states saw a collective increase in rates. Americans will save money through reduced health care costs as well. The EPA estimates that the new carbon rules will help avoid 2,700 to 6,600 premature deaths and 140,000 to 150,000 asthma attacks each year. This means that for every $1 invested in clean energy, Americans will reap $7 in health benefits. (8)

Myth #5: Mountain top removal coal mining is good for wildlife

Yes, this is an actual claim of some pro-coal groups (6). They say animals thrive in the open landscape. Let’s get our facts clear: Mountain top removal has destroyed more than 500 mountains, encompassing 1.2 million acres – roughly the size of Delaware. (8) With the destruction of their habitat many birds are in danger, including the cerulean warbler whose population has steadily declined by 70%. Fish such as the blackside dace have also been severely impacted by mining waste that has filled nearly 2,000 miles of Appalachian streams. According to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, “The most significant factor in the decline of the blackside dace has apparently been habitat degradation from siltation, particularly in relation to surface mining.” (8)

You can stand up to Big Coal by telling the EPA that you support the carbon pollution standards and educating your friends and family about the effects of coal.

There is no debate: Coal is bad for our health, our economy, and Creation. Tell the EPA you support the Carbon Pollution Standards today.

Footnotes:

1. http://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/solutions_summer_2014_final.pdf

2. http://www.nationaljournal.com/new-energy-paradigm/coal-country-s-decline-has-a-long-history-20131031

3. http://www.peri.umass.edu/fileadmin/pdf/other_publication_types/green_economics/ economic_benefits/economic_benefits.PDF

4. http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/news-and-blogs/news/new-greenpeace-report-exposes/

5. http://www.edf.org/sites/default/files/9553_coal-plants-health-impacts.pdf

6. http://www.kentuckycoal.org/index2.cfm?pageToken=mtmIssues

7. http://appvoices.org/end-mountaintop-removal/ecology/

8. http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-06/documents/20140602ria-clean-power-plan.pdf

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

Stripped Skun by Dan DZurisin

Stripped Skunk by Dan DZurisin

Striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis).  Photo by Dan Drzurisin.

Skunks don’t care that you can see their conspicuous black & white stripes. They know you are aware of there potential for spraying you with a disgusting thiol laced liquid from their anal scent glands. Bears leave them alone. But Great horned owls have no problem hunting them. This smell is apparent even when you drive over a skunk carcass in the road. They are frequently the victim of vehicles because their sense of sight is so poor. Nevertheless, they have excellent senses of smell and hearing. They even make good pets. Skunks eat insects, larvae, earthworms, grubs, lizards moles, eggs and small rodents. They can even eat bees since their thick fur protects them from stings. The eastern spotted skunk has whites spots instead of strips and is rare in Kansas.

Sierra Club challenges loss of ozone pollution monitor in Flint Hills.

Here is an excerpt from Tim Carpenter of the Topeka Capital-Journal who wrote about the topic on August 11th (2014).

“The Sierra Club in Kansas asserted Monday that Kansas State University and the state’s health regulatory agency sought the shutdown of an ozone pollution monitoring site near Manhattan to block collection of data that might support federal limits of Flint Hills grassland pasture burns.

Air-quality equipment positioned on the Konza Prairie was taken offline April 5, 2013, in advance of the burn season after the Kansas Department of Health and Environment urged Kansas State, which manages the Konza, to help silence gear that had collected ozone information for more than a decade.”

To read the rest of the article, visit:

http://cjonline.com/news/2014-08-11/sierra-club-challenges-loss-ozone-pollution-monitor

Katydid (Pterophyla camellifolia)

Katydid. Photo from  http://www.leaps.ms

Katydid. Photo from http://www.leaps.ms

Katydid (Pterophyla camellifolia) Photo from http://www.leaps.ms

The katydid’s wings resemble a leaf that operates as excellent camouflage in the tops of deciduous trees (especially Oak & Hickory) where they spend most of their lives. They can only fly short distances. They eat leaves, flowers, bark and seeds but some species are omnivorous and also eat other insects. In Kansas they are found mostly in the eastern third of the state.

Its “Katy-did, she-did” chirping is created by the male rubbing its wings together (stridulation). The male uses wingstrokes to rub a scaper on the base of one front wing over a file on the base of the other front wing. They are capable of hearing through a tympanum located just below the knee on their front leg.

Before dying in the early frost of October or November, the female lays rows of dark grey, oval-shaped eggs on vegetation.

The eggs survive the winter and hatch in the spring. The young are similar to adults but have less-developed wings. They begin chirping around July. Although they resemble grasshoppers, katydid are more closely related to crickets. Katydids have much longer antennae than grasshoppers.

Topeka Shiner

Topeka Shiner photo by Joel Sartore.

Topeka Shiner photo by Joel Sartore.

Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka)  Photo by Joel Sartore

The Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka) is a small minnow, less than three inches in total length. It is an overall silvery color, with a well defined dark stripe along its side, and a dark wedge-shaped spot at the base of the tail fin. Males develop additional reddish coloration in all other fins during the breeding season.

The Topeka shiner occurs primarily in small prairie (or former prairie) streams in pools containing clear, clean water. Most Topeka shiner streams are perennial (flow year-round), but some are small enough to stop flowing during dry summer months. In these circumstances, water levels must be maintained by groundwater seepage for the fish to survive. Topeka shiner streams generally have clean gravel, rock, or sand bottoms. It is currently listed as Federally-endangered.

Farming Practices, Climate Change At Root of Toledo Water Pollution

Suzanne Goldenberg

US environment correspondent

theguardian.com

The toxins that contaminated the water supply of the city of Toledo – leaving 400,000 people without access to safe drinking water for two days – were produced by a massive algae boom. But this is not a natural disaster.

Water problems in the Great Lakes – the world’s largest freshwater system – have spiked in the last three years, largely because of agricultural pollution. Toledo draws its drinking water from Lake Erie.

Residents were warned not to drink the water on Saturday, after inspectors at the city’s water treatment plant detected the toxin known as microcystin. The toxin is produced by microcystis, a harmful blue-green algae; it causes skin rashes and may result in vomiting and liver damage if ingested. It has been known to kill dogs and other animals and boiling the water does not fix the problem; it only concentrates the toxin.

The current bloom of microcystis is concentrated in MaumeeBay in Lake Erie’s western basin, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). A second, smaller bloom has appeared in SanduskyBay.

Read the rest of the story in The Guardian here: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/03/toledo-water-pollution-farming-practices-lake-erie-phosphorus

Simply stated, if you put fertilizer on cropland, you grow crops; if you put fertilizer on your yard, you grow grass; and if you put fertilizer in water bodies, you grow algae.

Kansas Waterfowl Dates to Be Set at August 21 Commission Meeting

Duck and goose seasons, popular with Kansas hunters, will be set during the next Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meeting at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE K157 Hwy, Great Bend. The August 21 meeting is open to the public and will run from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and reconvene at 6:30 p.m. for the evening session.

The afternoon session will begin with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period. Topics covered in the general discussion include: Secretary’s remarks regarding agency and state fiscal status, an update on the 2014 Pheasant Tour, and an update on tourism division activities.

Workshop topics for the afternoon session include items that were covered under general discussion during the June meeting. Workshop topics, which will be discussed for potential regulatory action at a future meeting, include 2015 turkey regulations, park regulations, fishing regulations, and the five-year review of the Kansas Threatened and Endangered Species List.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 6:30 p.m. at the same location to discuss any remaining workshop items and begin the public hearing. Public hearing items open for discussion during the evening session include legal equipment and taking methods of big game, and late migratory bird seasons.

KDWPT staff will make recommendations for duck and goose seasons based on frameworks provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), which were released in late July. The frameworks include number of days available for hunting, earliest starting dates and latest closing dates, as well as bag and possession limits. Department staff recommends Kansas seasons based on migration chronology, harvest history, and hunter survey results. Staff recommendations are included in the August 21 Commission Meeting Briefing Book, which will be posted online Aug. 12. Go to www.ksoutdoors.com and click on “Commission” under “KDWPT Info.”

Time will be available in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on non-agenda items. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., August 22, to complete any unfinished business.

Commercial-free live video and audio streaming of the meeting will be broadcast through www.ksoutdoors.com.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for October 16, 2014 at Martinelli’s Restaurant Meeting Room, 158 S Santa Fe Ave., Salina.

Cottontail Rabbit

Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) photo by Harvey Henkelmann

Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) photo by Harvey Henkelmann

Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus) photo by Harvey Henkelmann

The cottontail has a stubby tail with a white underside. They have flat molars for grinding food. Their eyes are located on the sides of the skull for a wider field of view to locate predators. At birth, they are blind and deaf. But after a week, they can see and hear; and, after roughly two weeks they leave the nest. Although mainly nocturnal, rabbits are active in the early morning and at dusk. During the day, cottontails often remain hidden in vegetation.Predators include coyotes, foxes, weasels, eagles, owls and hawks. Cottontails are herbivores that eat grasses, clovers, sedges, legumes, fruits asters, fleabanes, sedges, horse nettle, cinquefoil, strawberry, clovers, & alfalfa, sumacs, foxtail, tall thistle, timothy, dandelion and even poison ivy. In agricultural areas, they’ll eat corn and soybeans.In the winter they’ll eat the bark and buds of shrubs and trees. The best rabbit habitat includes dense vegetation for escape cover like sumac and blackberry & plum thickets. Unfortunately, agricultural land today doesn’t often retain this kind of vegetation required for optimal habitat. Vast areas planted with single crops and modern tastes for mowed grass landscapes have reduced cottontail populations. Rabbits make a great pet for teaching responsibility to kids. The Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation is an excellent source of information about rabbit habitat. http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/bookstore/pubs/4H1004.pdf

Constitutional amendment to set aside a portion of oil taxes for parks, clean water and wildlife habitat.

On Monday, August 4, the Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks Committee filed over 41,000 signatures with the North Dakota Secretary of State in order to place the our initiative on the November ballot.  The Secretary of State has until September 8 to review the signatures and certify the measure of the ballot. They only need 25,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot so they’re absolutely confident the Secretary of State will qualify the measure.

The filing of the signatures represents a significant accomplishment in several ways.  Over the last 10 months they have put together a really good staff that has built a volunteer network across North Dakota. Over 500 people volunteered their time to help collect signatures.  They have also put in place a voter file that allows them to build everyone who signed petitions into a data base that will aid their get out the vote effort this fall.  Finally, even as they were collecting signatures and building a volunteer network they have been fundraising for the fall campaign.  They are confident they can pivot to a vigorous and effective campaign that will begin as soon as the Secretary of State certifies the measure for the ballot.

Below are links to some of the news coverage received in filing the signatures.

Conservation measure supporters submit signatures

Dave Thompson, Prairie Public, 8/4/2014

Conservation petitions turned in

Nick Smith, Bismarck Tribune, 8/4/2014

Education groups join push against outdoor fund

Helmut Schmidt, 8/5/2014

Jaeger receives support for Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks Fund

KFYR (video), 8/4/2014

North Dakotans come together in support of Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks

Outdoor Wire, 8/5/2014

Let’s vote on conservation initiative

Dan Sobieck, Grand Forks Herald, 8/5/2014

CWPPA won’t protect our precious resources

Jessica Unruh, Grand Forks Herald, 8/5/2014

Dickinson recreational opportunities need broader appeal

Daniel Duletski, Dickinson Press, 8/4/2014