Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Threatens Drinking Water for more than 11 Million People

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Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Threatens Drinking Water for more than 11 Million People

The drinking water for more than 11.3 million people could be at risk of radioactive contamination from a leak or accident at the Indian Point Nuclear Facility, says a new study released today by Environment New York.

The report also shows that Indian Point Nuclear Plant threatens drinking water supplies for more than twice as many people compared to any other nuclear facility in the nation. New York City Is the largest city in the country with water supplies at risk of a nuclear accident.

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Featured Story

Teens petition Girl Scouts to ditch rainforest-destroying palm oil in cookies Teens petition Girl Scouts to ditch rainforest-destroying palm oil in cookies

More than 40,000 people have joined two Girl Scouts’ campaign on Change.org calling for the organization’s popular cookies to be made without palm oil. The two Michigan 16-year-olds, Madison Vorva and Rhiannon Tomtishen, want Girl Scouts USA to stop using unsustainable palm oil, the production of which reportedly causes deforestation, endangers species, and contributes to human rights abuses and climate change. Environmental Headlines encourages its readers to check the ingredients of products they use and 1. stop buying products made with palm oil, and 2. encourage makers of those products to stop using this ingredient, which is inherently environmentally destructive.

Road Runoff Spurring Spotted Salamander Evolution Road Runoff Spurring Spotted Salamander Evolution

Spotted salamanders exposed to contaminated roadside ponds are adapting to their toxic environments, according to a Yale paper in Scientific Reports. This study provides the first documented evidence that a vertebrate has adapted to the negative effects of roads apparently by evolving rapidly. “This adaptation is certainly encouraging for conservation,” said Steven Brady, the study’s author and a doctoral student at the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies. “But our modern footprint is fundamentally changing species in ways we don’t understand and, critically, we don’t know if these adaptive responses will keep pace with environmental change.”

CFE and Save the Sound to focus on Long Island Sound, other issues, this legislative session CFE and Save the Sound to focus on Long Island Sound, other issues, this legislative session

CFE and Save the Sound are proposing that the legislature engage in initiatives that would educate home buyers, renters and property owners about energy efficiency; encourage more investment in building energy efficiency; increase bi-state coordination between Connecticut and New York state legislators on Long Island Sound policies; create jobs and protect clean water through collaborations with Connecticut Marine Trades Association and the Clean Water Investment Coalition; support Clean Water Fund FY 2012 authorizations; ensure investments are made in new transit services and promote federal funding for rail and bus transit; promote the role of natural landscapes in mitigating the effects of floods and major storms; and defend against bills that seek to weaken or roll back environmental protections. Click on this environmental headline for the complete news from CFE.

Vermont Yankee Pollution Puts Fish in Hot Water Vermont Yankee Pollution Puts Fish in Hot Water

“The recent Vermont Yankee court decision said the State of Vermont can’t trump the federal government when it comes to issues of nuclear safety. But the same ruling affirmed Vermont’s continuing authority for oversight of other Yankee issues, like enforcement of the Clean Water Act. That’s good, because when your next-door neighbor is a nuclear power plant, their bad housekeeping is more than just a nuisance.” David Deen, Upper Valley River Steward for the Connecticut River Watershed Council writes. Click on this environmental headline for more of this opinion piece on the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.

20,000 Books on the Environment Grace the Aquarium Reading Room in Norwalk 20,000 Books on the Environment Grace the Aquarium Reading Room in Norwalk

Leading local environmental activist Remy Chevalier shares a lifetime of research at his wonderful environmental library – The Aquarium, 10 Knight Street, Norwalk, Conn. Todd Tracy reports on blog.ctnews.com.

Company Gets License to Build Tidal Plant in NYC Waters Company Gets License to Build Tidal Plant in NYC Waters

Verdant Power has been awarded a 10-year license for a tidal wave energy plant in New York City’s East River. Verdant has tested six turbines there in the tidal strait between New York Harbor and Long Island Sound. The power produced by that demonstration project powered a Gristedes supermarket and a parking garage on Roosevelt Island. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story.

Nominate your favorite Connecticut environmental volunteer Nominate your favorite Connecticut environmental volunteer

Think of a person, non-profit, or company who has made a real difference to our environment. It could be through a volunteer effort to protect our water sources. Improve air quality. Safeguard farmland. Or improve wildlife habitat. You’ll find all the criteria at the link inside. Click on this environmental headline for more information.

CEQ recommends 12 improvements to CT environmental laws

CEQ has released its recommendations for legislation, highlighting the need to step up land conservation, both in the amount of land preserved and in the state’s strategy for selecting land for preservation. Ideas for “no-cost” preservation are included. The recommendations also call for more training for members of municipal inlands wetlands agencies, for continued funding of the state Clean Water Fund, and for a financial analysis of how much money will be needed to control pollution from runoff in developed areas of the state. For more about the recommendations and links to all the details, click on this environmental headline. Don’t forget … you can click on the donate button over there on the right hand side to support this website :o) Thanks!

Galapagos tortoise back from extinction? Galapagos tortoise back from extinction?

After finding the descendants of a species of giant tortoises believed extinct from the Galapagos Islands for 150 years, Yale researchers are hoping to save the species.

Too Bright, the Night: New Film Tackles City Light Pollution Too Bright, the Night: New Film Tackles City Light Pollution

Light pollution has serious health and environmental consequences, and it just might wreak some philosophical havoc as well. These issues are explored in entertaining and insightful fashion in the new documentary “The City Dark,” that opened in New York Jan. 18.

Evicting a Visionary: CJ May leaving Yale’s recycling program | Yale Daily News Evicting a Visionary: CJ May leaving Yale’s recycling program | Yale Daily News

CJ May has been a part of the Yale community since 1988, when he started as a student at the School of Forestry & Environmental Studies; since 1990 he has coordinated Yale Recycling. He dresses like a cross between a recycler and office employee: his dark blue pants are constricted at his ankle by a
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The Keystone Pipeline Is No Victory for Environmentalism The Keystone Pipeline Is No Victory for Environmentalism

While we applaud the President’s decision, we realize that the fight against destructive tar sands extraction is far from over. Although this announcement is a big step forward, we fully expect TransCanada and their allies in Congress to attempt to resurrect this project. As such, we will continue to work to make sure the President follows through on his commitment to evaluate new pipeline proposals on their environmental and social impacts. — Colin Bennett, 350ct.org

Land

CT Agriculture Commissioner Announces New Farmland Restoration Program CT Agriculture Commissioner Announces New Farmland Restoration Program

Agriculture Commissioner Steven K. Reviczky has announced that the State Bond Commission approved $5,000,000 in funding on Monday for the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s new Farmland Restoration Program. Authorized by Public Act 11-1, this voluntary program provides matching grants of up to $20,000 for restoration activities that increase the state’s farmland resource base for agriculture, with an emphasis on prime and important farmland soils and on human and livestock food production. It is expected that the program will be able to work with over 250 farms. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story.

Legislators Call For Creation Of Agricultural Committee Legislators Call For Creation Of Agricultural Committee

Two north central Connecticut legislators are pushing for the creation of a select committee that would focus solely on agricultural issues — an area that they say deserves heightened awareness right now. The Hartford Courant reports.

29 Acres Added to the Bethany Land Trust 29 Acres Added to the Bethany Land Trust

When asked how he felt about the major decision he and his wife had made to give up this spectacular property’s development rights in a rapidly developing town, Peter Cooper said: “This gift is a dream which has been many years in the making….”

Sullivan family proud to preserve farm Sullivan family proud to preserve farm

A dean of New Milford’s farmers and his wife, Beth, 88, to whom he has been married 65 years, still live in the home they built in 1953 alongside the original farm homestead that dates back to the 1840s.Nanci G. Hutson of the Danbury News-Times reports.

Water

EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation EPA To Provide Nearly $10 Million to Clean Up Beaches Across the Nation

The agency launches improved website for beach advisories and closures WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that it will provide $9.8 million in grants to 38 states, territories and tribes to help protect the health of swimmers at America’s beaches. The agency also launched an improved website for beach advisories and
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Fairfield officials want lead, chromium cleanups of Mill River coordinated

Exide Group Inc., under orders from the state DEEP to remove the lead that was leaked from its Post Road factory for 30 years, has been conducting informational meetings with residents and town officials in preparation for a formal hearing before the DEEP in either February or March for permits for its plan. The Connecticut Post reports.

Southington: Phosphorus Fight: Balancing the Costs of Environmental Protection Southington: Phosphorus Fight: Balancing the Costs of Environmental Protection

The town of Southington is about to embark on an expensive project, courtesy of a federal mandate requiring the state to address high levels of phosphorus in its rivers and streams.

Town Settles N. Mianus Sewer Lawsuits

The residents of North Mianus have settled their protracted lawsuits against the Town of Greenwich over who should pay for the installation of sewers in that area of town. Greenwich Patch reports.

Energy

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Now that Connecticut’s electrical power has been fully restored, the typical governmental responses are kicking in: point fingers, hold hearings and propose changes to existing practices. And, as is also typical, the discussions will take place within a distinct silo of a single issue. In this case, it is the pre- and post-storm performance of Connecticut Light & Power. Jefferson B. Davies writes in The Hartford Courant.

UTC PureCell System Lands at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center’s Mount Sinai Campus UTC PureCell System Lands at Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center’s Mount Sinai Campus

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Storms be damned: Microgrids offer potential for greater energy reliability Storms be damned: Microgrids offer potential for greater energy reliability

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Biodiesel plant opens in Bridgeport Biodiesel plant opens in Bridgeport

Bridgeport Biodiesel, which converts used cooking oil into biodiesel, opened in Bridgeport’s West End neighborhood Monday.

Business

Biodiesel plant opens in Bridgeport Biodiesel plant opens in Bridgeport

Bridgeport Biodiesel, which converts used cooking oil into biodiesel, opened in Bridgeport’s West End neighborhood Monday.

Gulf Oil is looking to become an electricity supplier Gulf Oil is looking to become an electricity supplier

Northeast fuel distributor Gulf Oil LP plans to open a new division that will buy electricity and resell it in deregulated markets in which customers can shop for power suppliers.

PURA Establishes Docket, Sets Schedule for Review of Proposed NU/NSTAR Merger PURA Establishes Docket, Sets Schedule for Review of Proposed NU/NSTAR Merger

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Three Rivers, Millstone offering scholarships Three Rivers, Millstone offering scholarships

Three Rivers Community College and Millstone Station are offering 16 full scholarships for the nuclear engineering technology degree program. The application deadline for students entering the 2012 fall semester is Feb. 15.

Transportation

Get There: Public transit users face many challenges | CT Post Get There: Public transit users face many challenges | CT Post

This week, Connecticut Post reporters have been walking, biking and taking trains and cars to work and facing the challenge of getting around mass transit’s missing links. Read more about this story by clicking on this environmental headline above.

DEEP Issues Proposed Final Decision on Inland Wetlands Permit for New Britain to Hartford Busway DEEP Issues Proposed Final Decision on Inland Wetlands Permit for New Britain to Hartford Busway

The Connecticut DEEP today issued a proposed final decision recommending the issuance of an inland wetlands and watercourses permit to the Connecticut DOT required for the construction of the New Britain to Hartford busway. The proposed final decision can be accessed on the DEEP web site. Click on this environmental headline for more on this story.

Alliance for Biking & Walking Releases 2012 Benchmarking Report Alliance for Biking & Walking Releases 2012 Benchmarking Report

This week, the Alliance for Biking and Walking released its 2012 Benchmarking Report, and the timing is impeccable. As Streetsblog points out, the release coincides with the soon-to-appear national surface transportation bill, and in the tri-state region, it comes just after state legislatures have gotten into full swing. With statistics, case studies and loads of
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Shoreline Bus Usage Grows by 34% Shoreline Bus Usage Grows by 34%

Improved service hours and increased connections combined to boost ridership on the shoreline’s 9 Town Transit bus service by 34% during 2011, the largest single year increase in the agencies history, according to Estuary Transit District Executive Director Joseph Comerford.