NRDC

NRDC President Beinecke: Sandy-Impacted Senators Send Powerful Message to President to Get Moving on Climate Change

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 13, 2013) – Senators from states that suffered major damage from Hurricane Sandy sent a letter with a forceful message to President Obama today calling on him to follow up on his promise to take bold action now against climate change.

Supreme Court Rules Against Port of Los Angeles Clean Trucks Program

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 13, 2013) -- The Port of Los Angeles may not implement its “off-street parking” and “placard” requirements contained in the Port’s pioneering clean truck program, according to an opinion issued today by the U.S. Supreme Court. The remaining parts of the Port’s clean truck program adopted in October 2008, including its requirements that cleaner, less polluting trucks serve the port, and that the trucks be properly maintained, are not affected by the Court’s decision and remain intact. The Court also underscored that the Port may bar trucks that do not comply with the clean trucks program from doing business at the Port

Craft Brewers Call on the President to Protect American Waters—And Beer!

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

CHICAGO (June 12, 2013) – The first outreach effort from the “Brewers for Clean Water” campaign calls on America’s most visible home brewer—President Obama—to move forward long-delayed safeguards under the Clean Water Act. The campaign is a partnership between the Natural Resources Defense Council and some of the nation’s most respected craft brewers aimed at protecting and bolstering America’s bedrock water protection law. 20 brewers signed onto a letter sent to the White House today in favor of protecting American streams, wetlands and headwaters.

Interior Department Must Stop Coal Industry Giveaway

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 12, 2013) – A scathing new Inspector General’s report on the Department of the Interior’s coal management program shows that the agency must act quickly to end improper giveaways to the coal industry, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Bloomberg Braces Big Apple for Mounting Costs of Climate Change

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (June 11, 2013) – Mayor Michael Bloomberg today unveiled an ambitious vision for protecting New York against growing risks associated with climate change.

Robert Redford Calls on President to Fight Climate Change Now with Limits on Power Plant Carbon Pollution

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 11, 2013) – In a new multimedia campaign, Robert Redford is challenging President Obama to act now on climate change by reining in carbon pollution from the nation’s biggest source, coal-fired power plants.

Mega Rail Project Would Threaten Years of Green Growth at Port of Los Angeles

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (June 7, 2013) – The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit today in Los Angeles Superior Court on behalf of Harbor residents living within the shadow of the largest development on Port of Los Angeles property in more than a decade. The Plaintiffs contend the proposed Southern California International Gateway rail yard project violates the California Environmental Quality Act and the state and federal Civil Rights Acts, and will increase cancer rates, chances of children developing asthma, and add to chronic air pollution plaguing the region.

National Wolf Delisting: Feds Quit Before the Job is Done

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON, DC (June 7, 2013) – Gray wolves would lose most federal protections under a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal announced today. Dr. Sylvia Fallon, senior scientist and director of the wildlife conservation program with the Natural Resources Defense Council, made the following comments:

NRDC: Dingell Has Fought for Landmark Environmental Safeguards

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 7, 2013) – Today, Rep. John Dingell, D-MI., became the longest-serving member in the history of the United States Congress. NRDC President Frances Beinecke made the following statement:

San Onofre Nuclear Plant Closing Shows Transition to Renewables, Energy Efficiency Is Working

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

LOS ANGELES (June 7, 2013) – Southern California Edison today announced plans to close the 40-year-old San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) which has been offline since January 2012 because of safety issues.

Interior Secretary Jewell Rules out Atlantic Offshore Leasing Until 2017; Seismic Protections Needed

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

NEW YORK (June 6, 2013) – Interior Secretary Sally Jewell today ruled out any Atlantic Ocean oil and gas lease sales before 2017, effectively rejecting calls for new Outer Continental Shelf leasing in the region.

Sen. Frank Lautenberg’s Legacy: Healthier Children and Safer Environment

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (June 3, 2013) – Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) the oldest senator and last World War II veteran in the United States Senate, passed away today.

Fracking Bill Clears Illinois General Assembly

Fri, 31 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

SPRINGFIELD, IL (May 31, 2013) – In the waning hours of the Illinois General Assembly’s 2013 session, legislators passed a bill that would impose new regulations on high volume hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) in the state.

Feds fail to protect endangered Cook Inlet Beluga whales in Alaska

Thu, 30 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA (May 30, 2013) –The federal government’s decision to allow oil and gas exploration in Alaska’s Cook Inlet violated three federal statutes, including the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act, according to an opinion issued Tuesday by U.S. District Court Judge Sharon L. Gleason.

New Campaign Chops Down Growing Trend of Burning American Forests for Energy

Tue, 28 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

May 28, 2013 – Southern forests are being burned for electricity, and a new campaign announced today aims to put an end to it. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Dogwood Alliance have launched “Our Forests Aren’t Fuel” to raise awareness of an alarming and rapidly growing practice of logging forests and burning the trees as fuel to generate electricity

NRDC: Toxic Reform Bill Needs to be Improved to Protect Public from Dangerous Chemicals

Fri, 24 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (May 24, 2013) – Senators Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and David Vitter (R-LA) announced this week they have reached a bipartisan agreement on a bill to update the Toxic Substances Control Act, which hasn’t been modernized since it was passed in 1976.

California Adopts New Recycling Measure for Mercury-laden Thermostats

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (May 22, 2013) – The state of California issued new rules today that will greatly reduce the amount of dangerous mercury sent to landfills and incinerators each year due to the improper disposal of old mercury-laden thermostats. The new rules will require thermostat manufacturers to collect and recycle the vast majority of discarded mercury thermostats in California. Over the next five years, this will keep nearly 2 tons of the toxin out of garbage trucks, landfills and incinerators where the mercury can be released from crushing or burning, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, the California Product Stewardship Council, and the California Sierra Club.

NRDC: President Retains Responsibility for Keystone XL Tar Sands Decision

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

WASHINGTON (May 22, 2013) – A majority in the U.S. House today voted for Nebraska GOP Rep. Lee Terry’s legislation, The Northern Route Approval Act,” that seeks to speed up approval for the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by eliminating the need for a presidential permit.

Rejected Toll Road Again Threatens Popular Southern California State Park

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:00:00 GMT

SAN DIEGO, CA (May 22, 2013) – The first five-mile segment of a planned 16-mile toll road through south Orange County and northern San Diego County fails to account for a range of ecological and economic impacts, according to a new lawsuit filed by the Save San Onofre coalition today. The suit asserts that the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (TCA)’s approval of the flawed toll road project is in violation of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) for not meeting basic environmental review.