Physicians say coal undermines the health of Americans

Physicians for Social Responsibility has released a groundbreaking medical report, “Coal’s Assault on Human Health,” which takes a new look at the devastating impacts of coal on the human body. Coal combustion releases mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and dozens of other substances known to be hazardous to human health. This report looks at the cumulative harm inflicted by those pollutants on three major body organ systems: the respiratory system, the cardiovascular system, and the nervous system. The report also considers coal’s contribution to global warming, and the health implications of global warming.

Click here for an Environmental News Service story on the report.

Click here for a New England Journal of Medicine article on ozone and health.

Lawsuit Challenges Uranium Mine That Threatens Water and Wildlife of the Grand Canyon

On November 16, 2009 the Center for Biological Diversity, Grand Canyon Trust, and Sierra Club filed suit in an Arizona federal court challenging the Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the restart of a defunct uranium mine just north of Grand Canyon National Park.

The conservation groups are suing over the Bureau’s failure to update 1980s-era environmental reviews and mining plans prior to allowing Denison Mines Corporation to begin mining at the “Arizona 1” mine. The mine was partially constructed in the late 1980s and early 1990s but was closed due to market conditions in 1992 without producing any uranium ore. The Bureau of Land Management did not respond to a September legal notice from conservation groups urging the agency to correct course in order to avoid today’s litigation. The mine is within the same area that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar placed off-limits to new mining claims and operations in an order issued in July of this year.

Today’s suit cites violations of National Environmental Policy Act provisions that require the land-management agency to consider new information regarding the hydrology, spring ecology, and biodiversity of the area in order to accurately evaluate the impacts of the mine. An update to an outdated 1988 environmental assessment, as well as a more thorough analysis, is warranted given new information, circumstances, and public controversy about renewed uranium mining near Grand Canyon. The suit also cites violations of the Endangered Species Act in the federal government’s failure to ensure that new mining will not jeopardize threatened and endangered species or their critical habitat — including Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail, razorback sucker, southwestern willow flycatcher, and Mexican spotted owl.

“The Bureau of Land Management’s refusal to redo outdated environmental reviews is as illegal as it is unethical,” said Taylor McKinnon, public lands campaigns director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “It should be eager to protect the Grand Canyon and its endangered species; instead, it has chosen to shirk environmental review on behalf of the uranium industry.”

The suit also cites violations of mining laws and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act over the agency’s failure to require validity exams for the mine’s claims and a new plan of operations for the mine; the old plan expired with the mine’s 1992 closure. The Interior Department’s July 2009 one-million-acre land segregation order, now in force, and its proposed 20-year mineral withdrawal prohibit new mining claims and the exploration and mining of existing claims for which valid existing rights have not been established. Although the Arizona 1 mine falls within the segregation boundary, valid rights have not been established for the mine’s claims.

“Arizona 1’s original mine owners went bankrupt and thus never established an economically viable uranium deposit required to establish a valid and existing right,” noted Roger Clark with the Grand Canyon Trust. “It’s time for the BLM to serve the public interest by complying with the law.”

Spikes in uranium prices have caused thousands of new uranium claims, dozens of proposed exploration drilling projects, and proposals to reopen old uranium mines adjacent to Grand Canyon. Renewed uranium development threatens to degrade wildlife habitat and industrialize now-wild and iconic landscapes bordering the park; it also threatens to deplete and contaminate aquifers that discharge into Grand Canyon National Park and the Colorado River. The Park Service warns against drinking from several creeks in the Canyon exhibiting elevated uranium levels in the wake of past uranium mining.

“The Grand Canyon, other public lands, and native peoples are still suffering from the impacts of past uranium mining activities,” said Sandy Bahr, chapter director of the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. “We need to ensure that we do not repeat that history and allow harm to one of our nation’s treasures or to the millions of people who enjoy the lands and rely on the water.”

Proposed uranium development has provoked litigation, public protests, and statements of concern and opposition from scientists; city officials; county officials, including Coconino County; former Governor Janet Napolitano; state representatives; the Navajo Nation, and the Kaibab Paiute, Hopi, Hualapai and Havasupai tribes; the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, among others. Statewide polling conducted by Public Opinion Strategies shows overwhelming public support for withdrawing from mineral entry the lands near Grand Canyon; Arizonans support protecting the Grand Canyon area from uranium mining by a two-to-one margin.

Attorneys representing the plaintiff groups in today’s litigation are Amy Atwood of the Center for Biological Diversity, Neil Levine of Grand Canyon Trust, and Roger Flynn of the Western Mining Action Project.

Water and Energy forum held by H.O.P.I.

A forum on Water and Energy was held November 6, 2009, at the Hopi Veterans’ Memorial Center on the Hopi Indian Reservation, sponsored by the Hopi Organizational Political Initiative (H.O.P.I.) a non-partisan, grassroots organization on the Hopi Indian Reservation. The forum, “Water is Life”, was held to begin a dialogue on the important issues concerning coal mining activities and the use of groundwater at the Black Mesa and Kayenta Mine area. The mining area impacts the Hopi Indian Reservation and the Navajo Nation Reservation in northern Arizona.

Dedicated to the late Chairman Ferrell Secakuku and the late Nat Nutungla, both strong Hopi tribal water rights and conservation advocates, the forum was intended to educate tribal members on the history of the Black Mesa and Kayenta Mines and on the impacts of coal mining activity on tribal cultural practices, environmental impacts, and the tribal economy. Central to these discussions is the decision of (and manner in which) the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) to grant a Life of Mine (LOM) Permit to the Peabody Coal Company.

As the meeting began, a memorandum signed by Hopi Tribal Council Secretary, Mary A. Felter in the capacity as Chief Administrative Officer, was presented to the people in attendance. Ms. Felter ordered Tribal employees Herman Honanie (candidate for Vice-Chairman) and Joyce Hamilton to cancel the meeting or face disciplinary action. Those present voiced strong objections and voted to not abide by the memorandum. Tribal rangers arrived trying to enforce the letter but were told by the organizers that no tribal laws were being violated, that they had every right to attend the forum, that Felter had no authority to issue the memorandum and that the people voted to disregard Felter’s memorandum. Four candidates vying for the offices of Tribal Chairman and Vice Chairman in the upcoming tribal election were in attendance and also objected to Felter’s memorandum.

Presentations were made on the history of the Black Mesa and Kayenta Mines starting from the 1960’s, and the role of tribal attorney John Boyden, the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Hopi Tribal Council on how the leases were eventually approved. It was interesting to learn that the historical events closely parallel the current political situation at the Hopi Tribe. There was no tribal council in place to entertain and approve the leases proposed by the Peabody Coal Company so the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the tribal attorney forced a tribal council, not representative of the Hopi/Tewa people, to be formed to approve the leases. Pristine N-Aquifer water was sold at $1.67 per acre foot when the current market price at the time was around $20.00 per acre foot to as much as $50.00 per acre foot.

The role of the Office of Surface Mining as an oversight and regulatory agency was presented. Also included was how the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is intended to work and how the Black Mesa Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) violated NEPA, is flawed and should not have been approved by the Office of Surface Mining. The presentation included how coal burning produces various gases and chemicals that may be harmful to the environment, and how some of the gases can be harnessed, made safe and be used to produce alternative energy.

The forum ended with a presentation on “What the Life of Mine Permit Means to the Hopi and Tewa People” and why the decision by the Office of Surface Mining must be reversed or rescinded. The permit will commit the tribes’ coal and water resources to the Peabody Coal Company for a long time – until all the coal is gone. The Life of Mine Permit will provide for continued use of groundwater despite the objections of the Hopi and Tewa people. It will take away any leverage the Hopi Tribe has to develop its coal resources as part of its economic development program. Perhaps the most important point made was that the Federal government must be require Peabody Coal Company to do groundwater reclamation to repair damages done to the aquifers because springs on the Hopi Reservation are drying up and the water sources have become contaminated.

More forums are planned to address the cultural, economic, environmental and health impacts. Future forums will include discussions on alternative energy resources such as solar power, wind power, geothermal power and other options, and how the Hopi Tribe can harness other forms of clean energy.

H.O.P.I. is committed to educating tribal members on the various topics affecting them. The Water and Energy forum was highly successful. Those in attendance were given the opportunity to provide testimony and many viewpoints on the value of water were received. H.O.P.I. is making these presentations available to the villages, all schools, and interested citizens. We thank everyone who attended the forum, the presenters, and everyone who provided testimony and comments.

Mohave Generating Station owners reveal real reason for plant closure

Gil Alexander, spokesman for Southern California Edison, majority owner of the now shuttered Mohave Generating Station near Laughlin, Nevada revealed in an interview with the Mohave Daily News that it was shut down in 2005 because of a lack of water and coal contracts with the tribes, not because of the consent decree won by conservation organizations to control pollution at the plant. Some tribal leaders have contended since 2005 that the plant closed due to the lawsuits that resulted in the consent decree.

To read the complete story by Bill McMillen in the Mohave Daily News click here.

Senate bill would fund conservation and recreation program

On November 6th, Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Max Baucus (D-MT) introduced legislation (S-2747) that, if passed, would provide $900 million for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.

The bill is supported by Grand Canyon Trust and many other conservation and recreation  organizations.

To read the complete story from AScribe Newswire click here.

To read a NY Times editorial on the legislation click here.

Coal, Water, and Conflict

A series of three articles in the Arizona Republic begins by addressing how pollution from burning coal is tied to cheap water and electricity rates in central Arizona. It then explores how revenues from coal mining continue to cause deep divisions about the economic future of the Hopi and Navajo nations. Grand Canyon Trust program directors’ comments are quoted, suggesting how to transition to clean energy alternatives.

To view Shaun McKinnon’s November 1 story click here: “Cleaning dirty air risks costlier Arizona Water”

To view Dennis Wagner’s November 2 story click here: “Tribe’s environmental fight”

To view Dennis Wagner’s November 3 story click here: “Ecology vs. need for cash: “Power plant splits Hopis”

To view comments filed by the Grand Canyon Trust and other organizations about installing new pollution controls on Navajo Generating Station and Four Corners Power Plant, please click Four Corners NGS ANPR Comments.

PBS is currently broadcasting a documentary about the conflict over coal, water, and the economic future of Hopi and Navajo people. To learn more about “Power Paths” and when the documentary can be seen, please click here.

Trust Helps Utah Develop Beaver Management Plan to Aid Watershed Restoration

Like most western states, water quantity and quality is a problem in Utah. Finding ways to replenish the land and the aquifers that nourish it is what caused the Trust’s Utah Forests Project Manager Mary O’Brien to begin to look at beaver as a solution. The Salt Lake Tribune looked into the collaborative work Mary has been doing to bring beaver back in Utah and the complete story written by Brett Prettyman is available here.

Job opening: Utah Forest Program Associate

JOB ANNOUNCEMENT FOR UTAH FOREST PROGRAM ASSOCIATE

The Trust’s Utah Forests Program focuses on changing national forest management in the Dixie, Fishlake and Manti-La Sal National Forests to better retain and restore the forest’s native species and natural systems.

Major initiatives include improving the management and conservation of forest lands by developing compelling field evidence and providing science-based proposals to forest managers to restore cottonwood, aspen, and willow in riparian areas; bringing back dam-building beaver as keystone, hydrological engineers that help mitigate climate change impacts on stream hydrology and watersheds; establishing and using reference areas to help guide forest management; challenging ecologically damaging livestock grazing; and coordinating with the Three Forests Coalition to develop and advocate for “Sustainable Multiple Use” alternatives at all decision-making levels.  Please see the Utah Forest web pages for more information.

The Utah Forest Program Associate is supervised by Mary O’Brien, who has been the Utah Forests Program Manager since 2003.  Mary holds a PhD in botany and has been involved in toxics reform and conservation issues for 28 years.  She has worked with the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, U.S. Office of Environmental Alliance Worldwide, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, and Environmental Research Foundation.  She taught in the Graduate Environmental Studies Program at University of Montana for two years and is the author of Making Better Environmental Decisions: an Alternative to Risk Assessment (MIT Press, 2000).

The Grand Canyon Trust does not have an office in Utah and employees typically work out of their homes.  The program associate can live anywhere within Utah, but must be able to travel to the central and southern Utah forests on a regular basis.  Travel expenses are reimbursed.  While the Trust expects employees to be at work and available during regular business hours, this position will require a significant amount of time in the field, so work hours will be flexible.  The Trust will provide any office equipment needed for this job.

Click on the link at that bottom of this page for the formal job description.

The salary range for this position is $40,000 – $50,000 plus benefits, which include $6,870 that can be used to purchase Trust group health insurance, short term disability insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, medical reimbursement, and dependent care (cafeteria plan).  In addition, the Trust contributes four percent of base salary to a 401k plan.  Vacation, sick days, and personal days are also provided.

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

Cover letter that includes short paragraphs discussing:

Science-based advocacy efforts in which you have been involved

Quantitative field research you have undertaken

Your perspective on the roles of litigation and collaboration for conservation

Any role(s) you have played in developing and advocating for conservation-related policy change

Any supporting role(s) you have played in environmental litigation

How your professional goals relate to the mission and program of the Grand Canyon Trust, particularly the Utah Forest Program

Resume

One research report you have written or in which  you have played a key production role

References that can speak about your field research experience, advocacy skills, and communication skills.

Click here for a pdf of the job description.

Mail To:

Attn: Darcy Allen

Grand Canyon Trust

2601 North Fort Valley Road

Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

The Grand Canyon Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

The Trust’s Utah Forests Program focuses on changing national forest management in the Dixie, Fishlake and Manti-La Sal National Forests to better retain and restore the forest’s native species and natural systems.

Major initiatives include improving the management and conservation of forest lands by developing compelling field evidence and providing science-based proposals to forest managers to restore cottonwood, aspen, and willow in riparian areas; bringing back dam-building beaver as keystone, hydrological engineers that help mitigate climate change impacts on stream hydrology and watersheds; establishing and using reference areas to help guide forest management; challenging ecologically damaging livestock grazing; and coordinating with the Three Forests Coalition to develop and advocate for “Sustainable Multiple Use” alternatives at all decision-making levels. Please see the Utah Forest web pages for more information.

The Utah Forest Program Associate is supervised by Mary O’Brien, who has been the Utah Forests Program Manager since 2003. Mary holds a PhD in botany and has been involved in toxics reform and conservation issues for 28 years. She has worked with the Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, U.S. Office of Environmental Alliance Worldwide, Hells Canyon Preservation Council, and Environmental Research Foundation. She taught in the Graduate Environmental Studies Program at University of Montana for two years and is the author of Making Better Environmental Decisions: an Alternative to Risk Assessment (MIT Press, 2000).

The Grand Canyon Trust does not have an office in Utah and employees typically work out of their homes. The program associate can live anywhere within Utah, but must be able to travel to the central and southern Utah forests on a regular basis. Travel expenses are reimbursed. While the Trust expects employees to be at work and available during regular business hours, this position will require a significant amount of time in the field, so work hours will be flexible. The Trust will provide any office equipment needed for this job.

The salary range for this position is $40,000 – $50,000 plus benefits, which include $6,870 that can be used to purchase Trust group health insurance, short term disability insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, medical reimbursement, and dependent care (cafeteria plan). In addition, the Trust contributes four percent of base salary to a 401k plan. Vacation, sick days, and personal days are also provided.

TO APPLY FOR THIS POSITION, PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Cover letter that includes short paragraphs discussing:
• Science-based advocacy efforts in which you have been involved
• Quantitative field research you have undertaken
• Your perspective on the roles of litigation and collaboration for conservation
• Any role(s) you have played in developing and advocating for conservation-related policy change
• Any supporting role(s) you have played in environmental litigation
• How your professional goals relate to the mission and program of the Grand Canyon Trust, particularly the Utah Forest Program
• Resume
• One research report you have written or in which you have played a key production role
• References that can speak about your field research experience, advocacy skills, and communication skills.

Download a job application

Mail To:

Attn: Darcy Allen
Grand Canyon Trust
2601 North Fort Valley Road
Flagstaff, Arizona 86001

The Grand Canyon Trust is an equal opportunity employer.

Please Vote for Grand Canyon Trust Volunteer Program at Save Our Sites

Please take the time to vote for the Grand Canyon Trust’s volunteer project with the Save Our Sites program.

If we get the most votes, our project gets funded through their program.

The Save Our Sites voting page is up and running.  Please click here to cast a vote for the Grand Canyon Trust Volunteer Program. Only one vote is allowed per computer.

Thanks for your support and please tell a friend to vote as well!

Conservationists Call For Continued Protection of Fragile Utah Lands

Washington, DC (October 8, 2009) – As the Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management evaluate the impacts that oil and gas development would have on red rock wilderness lands in Utah, conservation groups are calling for ongoing protection of these treasured areas. Following the Bush Administration’s attempted last-minute auction of 77 parcels of lands last year, the courts ruled that BLM did not follow proper procedures. Today, the DOI received recommendations on the propriety of the lease sale, including recommendations to improve the decision-making process. As these recommendations are evaluated, several groups involved in the lawsuit are working to make sure that these valuable natural resources are protected.

Today’s announced report follows a decision by federal district court judge Ricardo Urbina on January 17, 2009 issuing a temporary restraining order prohibiting BLM from issuing these leases.

“This sale was a last minute scheme by political appointees to sell controversial leases in stunningly beautiful areas right before the clock ran out on the Bush administration,” said Stephen Bloch, Conservation Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, a group involved in the pending litigation. “Secretary of the Interior Salazar, together with new BLM leadership, now has the guidance and details needed to reverse a very bad decision and protect some of America’s most iconic lands, including the White River, Nine Mile Canyon, and lands close to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Dinosaur National Monument.”

Key acknowledgments and recommendations from today’s statements from the Department of the Interior and the report include:

• Mistakes Were Made: Secretary Salazar acknowledged that there was a “headlong rush” to sell these 77 leases and that Utah BLM was operating under a misconception that oil and gas leasing and development should be prioritized.  To the contrary, the Report submitted by Deputy Secretary Hayes and the Secretary’s comments confirm that this is a “new day” for the management of our public lands and that protecting wildlife, wilderness, and cultural resources are equally important.  The report notes several key flaws in the Utah resource management plans that made this sale possible.

• Air Quality Impacts Must Be Considered: The Report recognized that BLM has simply not done its homework when it comes to evaluating the impacts of energy development to air quality.  The Report correctly notes that BLM needs to work collaboratively with other federal and state agencies to obtain real data about air quality conditions and then perform a quantitative review of that data. These are critically important steps for protecting human health and the health of our natural environment.

• There Are Many Values and Uses Beyond Oil And Gas; New Guidance Is Needed: The Report confirmed that there is a crucial lack of consistency and coordination in BLM’s oil and gas leasing program and that BLM must take a more proactive role in managing it. Assistant Secretary Lewis acknowledged that there are a host of important values and uses of our public lands, of which oil and gas is one. She will be leading the effort to provide the BLM state and field offices with clear guidance for how to review nominated leases and how to balance competing resources like recreation and wildlife with energy development.

The need for new guidance was underscored by findings in the Report that field office employees believed they were obligated to give greater deference to leasing than to protection of other uses and that BLM could play a greater role in controlling the lands and conditions in leasing decisions.

“The current misunderstandings are a direct result of the Bush Administration’s policies making oil and gas the dominant use on our public lands and turning over control of leasing to the oil and gas industry,” said Nada Culver, Senior Counsel in The Wilderness Society’s BLM Action Center. “We are heartened so see the Department of Interior reclaiming its authority and responsibility to manage these lands for all Americans. We hope that the Secretary will take this opportunity to protect the irreplaceable wilderness and cultural values of these places, which overshadow their potential contribution to our nation’s need for fossil fuels.”

An analysis conducted by The Wilderness Society found that the 77 leases under review would contribute less than 2 days worth of natural gas and less than 2 hours of oil at current national consumption levels. Conservationists believe the production results are far outweighed by the damage these proposed leases could have on public lands and the values from safeguarding them.

A June 2009 report prepared by Deputy Interior Secretary David Hayes confirmed that BLM did not follow ‘standard operating procedure’ when it rushed ahead with the sale—specifically it did not consult with the National Park Service before releasing the final sale list and did not ultimately listen to many concerns raised by NPS or the Environmental Protection Agency about things like air quality. Today’s report clarifies those previous findings. “We are glad to see that the interests of the National Park Service, and really of all Americans, in protecting the experiences and values of our national parks are recognized in this report,” said David Nimkin, Southwest Regional Director of the National Parks Conservation Association. “We hope to see the Department of Interior confirm its commitment to honoring the national parks and the Park Service’s expertise in managing them, including by safeguarding them from damaging oil and gas drilling.”

BLM cannot issue any of the 77 leases without running afoul of Judge Urbina’s decision.  Pending litigation continues to focus on the underlying resource management plans that made the sale possible in the first place.  Judge Urbina said in his January order that the conservation groups had demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of the case that BLM’s resource management plans violated the law.

Following are comments from other conservation groups involved in the pending lawsuit:

“The 77 leases are the tip of the iceberg. We hope that BLM will take the time to reconsider the legal flaws in the underlying resource management plans as well,” said Robin Cooley, staff attorney with Earthjustice.

“We’re pleased to see the BLM reconsider its decision to open these lands to drilling. Drilling is not appropriate on the pristine public lands surrounding places like Arches National Park,” said Sierra Club representative Myke Bybee. “We don’t need to destroy our natural treasures with drilling. Instead of increasing our reliance on fossil fuels with more drilling, we can power America with clean energy that will create jobs and infuse new life into our economy.”

“Stopping the leasing of these treasured lands to protect them from devastation by oil and gas companies was the right thing to do,” said Amy Mall, Senior Policy Analyst for the Natural Resources Defense Council. “The Department of Interior should move forward with clean energy solutions that will protect our pristine wild lands and vital wildlife areas, and cut carbon pollution — drilling for oil and gas in America’s western lands doesn’t fit with that objective.”

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More information about the December 19 lease sale, including maps and photos