NRDC

New Industry and Advocate Agreement to Boost Streetlight Efficiency; Save Electricity and Money

WASHINGTON (November 3, 2009) -- A breakthrough agreement between electrical manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, will create the first national standards for street lights, parking lot lights and other outdoor lighting. The standard will save electricity and money for consumers, taxpayers and local governments.    » read more »

(Chicago, Ill. - October 19, 2009) In response to a citizen petition on Indiana's air permit modification for BP's Whiting Refinery, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced that it has accepted some issues while denying others. In August 2008, the Environmental Law & Policy Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Hoosier Environmental Council, Save the Dunes and Sierra Club petitioned EPA to formally object to the state's modification of BP’s operating permit for an expansion project to refine high-sulfur Canadian crude oil.    » read more »

New Policies Miss Opportunity to Reward Low Mileage Drivers and Reduce Pollution

SACRAMENTO, CA (October 19, 2009) –The Natural Resources Defense Council today said that new California “Pay As You Drive” insurance regulations will not likely save Californians money nor significantly reduce global warming pollution. The final regulations, which merely permit insurance companies to verify the miles their customers drive, can be found here.

“Our auto insurance policies are sorely behind the times,” said Justin Horner, NRDC transportation policy analyst. “No one should be fooled. The new regulations proposed today cannot be characterized as green. They are nowhere close to what is needed to help the environment or reduce global warming pollution.”    » read more »

Erin Brockovich, public health and environmental advocates urge State EPA to set safe standard to protect Californians

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Oct 18, 2009 – Hexavalent chromium (hex chrome), the notorious cancer-causing chemical made famous in the film Erin Brockovich, contaminates drinking water in over 500 California communities, according to environmental and public health experts. The California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA) held a hearing today to take public comment on a proposed level for hex chrome in drinking water.    » read more »

Agency Decides in Favor of Citizens and Environmental Groups

CHICAGO (October 19, 2009) - The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued an objection to the operating permit for BP North America’s refinery in Whiting, IN that will require the Indiana Department of Environmental Management to rewrite the permit.    » read more »

New Initiative provides platform for Latino community to support passage of strong climate legislation

Washington, D.C. (October 14, 2009) – Voces Verdes, an innovative platform designed to highlight the Latino community’s support for strong climate and clean energy legislation was launched today by La Onda Verde, the Latino arm of the Natural Resources Defense Council, in partnership with America Verde and Common Ground for Conservation.    » read more »

Proposed Mine Could Destroy World's Largest Salmon Run and Local Fishing Industry

LOS ANGELES (October 13, 2009) –The Natural Resources Defense Council announced today a new BioGem campaign to save Alaska’s Bristol Bay, the world’s most productive salmon fishery, from the development of Pebble Mine, one of the largest gold and copper mines ever proposed.

“There are few human activities as toxic as large-scale mining,” said Joel Reynolds, senior attorney and director of NRDC’s marine mammal protection project. “The Pebble Mine project could lead to widespread water contamination, which would destroy the salmon runs of the Bristol Bay watershed and thereby devastate the native communities and abundant wildlife the salmon have supported for thousands of years.”    » read more »

Congressional Agenda Would Complement President’s Plan to Save the Bay

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 8, 2009) -- A report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council compiles the numerous threats facing the Chesapeake Bay and examines federal solutions to save this national treasure. This analysis comes on the heels of reports commissioned by President Obama to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and a draft bill circulated by Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD.).

“It’s no secret the Chesapeake Bay has been struggling for decades to recover from a variety of threats to its health,” said Nancy Stoner, Co-Director of NRDC’s Water Program and co-author of the report. “What is less well known is that there are solutions -- many of which are finally underway.”    » read more »

Strong Action from USEPA likely informed by NRDC Report

CHICAGO (October 7, 2009) - Less than six weeks after the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a far-reaching report on the hormone disrupting pesticide Atrazine, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will take steps to re-evaluate the chemical.

A widely used pesticide known to impact wildlife development and, potentially, human health, NRDC's report pointed out that Atrazine has contaminated watersheds and drinking water throughout much of the United States. Today's announcement of a year-long review by the EPA may be the first step towards revising the chemical’s registration and availability in the United States, according to NRDC experts.    » read more »

Major Clean Energy Job Creation Boom Seen for Economically Struggling Hoosier State

CHICAGO (October 7, 2009) - Wind power, biomass, and other sources of renewable energy will bring significant job creation, economic investment and new tax revenues to Indiana’s struggling rural communities, according to a new report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    » read more »

New Report Identifies Top Threats and Recommendations to Protect Parks

Denver and New York (October 1, 2009)—Climate change from human activity is the leading threat to wildlife, plants, water and ice in 25 of America’s national parks, according to a new report by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO).

The report, NationalParks in Peril, comes on the heels of the introduction of clean energy and climate legislation in the U.S. Senate, as well as Ken Burns’ national parks series on PBS, which has put parks in the center of America’s national conscience.    » read more »

Clean Truck Fleet Key to Ending Diesel Death Zone in Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach

LOS ANGELES (October 1, 2009) – Today, a year after the Clean Truck Programs (CTP) launched at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, more than 2,000 polluting trucks are off the road and more than 5,500 clean trucks are in operation. The ports are two years ahead of their goal to reduce truck-produced emissions by 80%, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    » read more »

Energy and Climate Legislation is Designed to Provide More Jobs, Less Pollution, and More Security

WASHINGTON (September 30, 2009) – The Natural Resources Defense Council welcomes the introduction of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John Kerry (D-MA).

Following is a statement by Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

“This bill will help curb climate change, strengthen our economy, and make our country more secure. It will help generate jobs, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and create a healthier future for all of us. And it will put Americans back to work, making our country the world leader in the green technologies that are driving growth in the global marketplace.”    » read more »

Hawaiian False Killer Whale Population Faces Extinction

LOS ANGELES (September 30, 2009) – The Natural Resources Defense Council today called on the federal government to list the Hawaiian population of false killer whales as an endangered species and designate critical habitat to ensure its recovery under the Endangered Species Act. The Hawaiian false killer whale population is a small and ecologically unique population of 120 animals that has suffered a significant decline over the last 25 years.    » read more »

More than $3 billion investment over next 3 years will provide relief to Californians facing tough economic times

San Francisco, CA (September 24, 2009) – California today approved the biggest utility energy efficiency program in the country’s history that will result in lower utility bills, cleaner air for Californians, and move the state a step closer to implementing its landmark Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32), according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).    » read more »