[All] Harvey's Toxic Toll

Thu Sep 7 17:31:02 EDT 2017


> From: Center for Biological Diversity <bioactivist at biologicaldiversity.org>
> To: neiletaylor at sympatico.ca
> Date: September 7, 2017 at 3:07 PM
> Subject: Harvey's Toxic Toll
> 
> Center for Biological Diversity
> http://www.biologicaldiversity.org
> Endangered Earth 
> No. 896, Sept. 7, 2017
> _______________________________
> 
> Harvey: Refineries Spewed 1 Million Lbs. of Seven Air Toxics
> 
> Amid Harvey's devastation the Center for Biological Diversity analyzed
> industry data. We found that south Texas refineries and petrochemical plants
> released nearly 1 million pounds of seven dangerous air pollutants through
> flaring and spills during storm flooding.
> 
> A staggering 951,000 pounds of pollutants known to seriously harm people --
> including by causing cancer -- were emitted by Aug. 31 from oil and gas
> facilities. The pollutants are benzene, 1,3-butadiene, hexane, hydrogen
> sulfide, sulfur dioxide, toluene and xylene.
> 
> "Oil-industry facilities spewed tons of truly dangerous chemicals into
> defenseless communities, despite ample warnings about hurricane risk," said
> Shaye Wolf, the Center scientist who compiled the analysis. "The petroleum
> industry seems unwilling to take responsibility for operating safely, even as
> climate change makes storms like Harvey more destructive."
> 
> Read more in Salon. 
> 
> http://www.salon.com/2017/09/07/bigger-stronger-storms-will-mean-more-post-hurricane-pollution-does-trump-even-care/
> 
> _______________________________
> 
> Suit Fights Waiver of Environmental Laws for Border Wall
> 
> We're expanding our lawsuit against Trump's border wall. This week the Center
> challenged the Trump administration's authority to waive dozens of
> environmental laws so it can rush construction of the wall and prototypes in
> Southern California.
> 
> A study by the Center identified more than 90 imperiled species threatened by
> proposed wall construction along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. The
> 30-foot-high prototypes near San Diego would be built on land that's critical
> habitat for several endangered species.
> 
> "Trump is willing to throw environmental protections out the window to fulfill
> his divisive and destructive campaign promise," said the Center's Brian Segee.
> "What's to stop him from using this lawless approach to wreck wildlife refuges
> and beautiful public lands all along the border? We need to halt these
> unconstitutional waivers once and for all, here in San Diego."
> 
> Check out our study and learn more in our press release.
> 
> https://docs.google.com/gview?url=http://biologicaldiversity.org/programs/international/borderlands_and_boundary_waters/pdfs/A_Wall_in_the_Wild.pdf
> http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/border-wall-09-06-2017.php
> 
> _______________________________
> 
> After 40 Years Texas Grass Gets Protection
> 
> The long fight to save Guadalupe fescue, an ecologically important grass in
> Texas, is finally paying off. This week the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service put
> the grass on the endangered species list and protected more than 7,000 acres
> of its habitat.
> 
> The decision is part of the Center's 2011 legal settlement to secure
> protection decisions for 757 animals and plants. Guadalupe fescue, a type of
> bunchgrass, was first identified as needing protection in 1975.
> 
> "Cows ate this grass to the brink of extinction," said the Center's Michael
> Robinson. "I'm glad it's finally getting help."
> 
> Read more in our press release.
> 
> http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/guadelupe-fescue-09-06-2017.php
> 
> _______________________________
> 
> Ignite Change -- Are You In?
> 
> These are extraordinary times, and if we're going to save our wildlife and
> wild places, we have to mount extraordinary resistance. 
> 
> That's why the Center is launching Ignite Change, a massive, volunteer-driven
> network to challenge Trump, call out members of Congress, organize and attend
> rallies, activate locally, and be a powerful, visible, sustained voice for the
> planet. 
> 
> This is the single-largest grassroots project the Center has ever undertaken
> -- and we need you to make it successful. Take a moment today to join Ignite
> Change, and our team of trained activists will be back in touch quickly with
> the next steps.
> 
> https://ignite.biologicaldiversity.org/signup/join?source=EEO&utm_source=cbd&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ignite
> _______________________________
> 
> Check out new footage of borderlands critters. The U.S.-Mexico borderlands
> comprise one of the biggest ecosystem complexes in North America, with some of
> the most remote and important wildlife habitats remaining on the continent.
> Watch the video on Facebook or YouTube.
> 
> https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv/videos/10155502520845460/
> https://youtu.be/K3KxcwjNJh8
> _______________________________
>  
> Win in Nevada: Court Sends Destructive Pipeline Back to BLM
> 
> A judge has ruled that the Southern Nevada Water Authority's controversial
> $15.5 billion groundwater pipeline project can't move forward as planned.
> 
> After a suit by the Center and allies, represented by Earthjustice, the court
> found that the BLM broke the law by not showing how it would compensate for
> the havoc the pipeline would wreak on wetlands and wildlife. It would siphon
> 7.8 billion gallons of groundwater yearly from the eastern Nevada desert,
> including parts of Great Basin National Park and three national wildlife
> refuges. Then it would pump the water 250 miles to Las Vegas, drying up
> thousands of acres of habitat for sage grouse, elk and pronghorn.
>  
> Read more in the Las Vegas Sun.
> 
> https://lasvegassun.com/news/2017/aug/24/judge-sends-las-vegas-water-pipeline-plan-back-to/
> _______________________________
> 
> In The Revelator: New Environmental Books 
> 
> Dozens of new conservation-themed books hit the shelves this month. The
> Revelator picks eight favorites.
> 
> The timely Grand Canyon for Sale investigates efforts to undermine public
> lands and their wildlife, while Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus shows how to
> alleviate poverty, create jobs and save Earth in A World of Three Zeros. Then
> there's the amazing endangered-species art book Critical Critters, the kids'
> book How to Be an Elephant, and The Rights of Nature, about revolutionary
> cases that have granted legal rights to animals and ecosystems.
> 
> Learn more in September's "Revelator Reads."
> 
> http://therevelator.org/environmental-books-september/ 
> _______________________________
> 
> Trump's Fish and Wildlife Urged to Protect Pacific Walrus
> 
> Conservation groups including the Center have urged Trump's Fish and Wildlife
> Service to protect the Pacific walrus under the Endangered Species Act before
> the September deadline for the agency's protection decision.
> 
> That decision, due as the result of a 2011 settlement of our lawsuit, will
> determine whether the walrus will be given protection from the rapid loss of
> Arctic sea ice caused by human-induced climate change.   
> 
> "The only thing preventing the walrus's protection is politics," said Shaye
> Wolf, a Center scientist. 
> 
> Read more and take action.
> 
> http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/pacific-walrus-08-23-2017.php
> http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/dia/action4/common/public/?action_KEY=17660
> 
> ______________________________
> 
> Love the Center? Help Spread the Word on Facebook
> 
> Are we friends on Facebook? Connect with us to stay up on the Center's work to
> save wildlife and wild places. Already connected? Then help us build a
> stronger community by spreading the word on social media. 
> 
> It's simple. On our Facebook page, find the "Invite your friends" section
> under "Community" and ask friends on your list to like us. You'll feel great
> as you see how many people share your conservation passion.
> 
> https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv/
> _______________________________
> 
> Wild & Weird: The Curious Mating Dance of the Laysan Albatross
> 
> Laysan albatrosses range across the Pacific Ocean from about the latitude of
> Costa Rica to the Bering Sea. But every year, beginning in November, they
> gather in colonies in the Hawaiian archipelago on sandy islands like Laysan
> and Midway. 
> 
> There, mature pairs engage in an elaborate and curious courtship "dance" of
> coordinated movements -- touching bills, spreading wings, bobbing heads,
> pointing bills to the sky -- accompanied by horn-like calls and bill clicks.
> Once they mate, the birds' bond is broken only by the death or disappearance
> of one of them. Year after year the bonded pair finds each other on the same
> beach where they first nested. 
> 
> Watch the curious mating dance of the albatross on Facebook or YouTube. 
> 
> Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv/videos/10155517424830460/
> YouTube: https://youtu.be/kmu9DyfYIVI 
> _______________________________
> 
> Share Endangered Earth Online:
> http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/publications/earthonline/index.html
> 
> Donate now to support the Center's work:
> https://biologicaldiversity.salsalabs.com/o/2167/p/salsa/donation/common/public/?donate_page_KEY=3371
> 
> Follow Us
> 
> http://www.facebook.com/CenterforBioDiv
> https://www.twitter.com/CenterForBioDiv
> https://medium.com/center-for-biological-diversity
> https://www.instagram.com/centerforbiodiv/
> https://www.youtube.com/user/bioactivist
> 
> This message was sent to neiletaylor at sympatico.ca. 
> 
> To change your preferences or stop receiving action alerts and newsletters
> from us, click here:
> http://action.biologicaldiversity.org/p/salsa/supporter/unsubscribe/public/?Email=neiletaylor@sympatico.ca&email_blast_KEY=1319504.