Upper Roanoke River Roundtable 2010 Annual Membership Meeting

Roanoke River Basin

Upper Roanoke River Roundtable 2010 Annual Membership Meeting

When: December 2, 2010, 6:00 to 8:00 pm

Where: Virginia Western Community College Natural Science Center, Roanoke (see map below)

Who: Open to the Public (Only members can participate in the elections)

Agenda

6:00 pm Reception (light refreshments provided)

6:30 pm Welcome and Introduction (URRR Board Chairman, C.J. Mitchem)

Presentation on “Spatial Analysis of Relations among Conservation Practices, Aquatic Ecosystem Services, and Human Well-being in the Albemarle-Pamlico Basin” – Quantifying conservation measures and their social benefits in our watershed (Paul L. Angermeier ,Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Virginia Tech)

7:15 pm Business of the membership (project updates, committee reports, etc.)

7:30 pm Board elections

What are the Best Eco-Friendly Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps?

Choose from several eco-friendly dishwasher and laundry soaps or mix your own
By Larry West, About.com Guide

Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps Can Pollute Water, Cause Harmful Algae Blooms
Perhaps the most worrisome of these pollutants, phosphates, can cause large build-ups of algae and bacteria that rob water bodies of oxygen and thus choke out other life forms. In response to just such a problem occurring in Lakes Ontario and Erie in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the U.S. and Canada signed the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 1972. The agreement banned the use of phosphates in laundry detergents and dish soaps used in the region, and resulted in a significant decrease in algae blooms throughout the Great Lakes.

Chemicals in Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps Pose Health Risks
Despite the success of the agreement, phosphates and other synthetic chemicals continue to be widely used in laundry and dish soaps throughout the world. Aside from their effect on water bodies, these ingredients also trigger allergies, irritate the skin and eyes and carry other health risks.

Consumers Can Choose Eco-Friendly Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps
Fortunately, consumers now have more environmentally friendly choices than ever. Companies such as Seventh Generation, Ecover, Bioshield and Naturally Yours make safer dishwasher and laundry soaps that do not contain phosphates or other harmful synthetic chemicals. Many of these greener options are available at retail stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats as well as online from websites like Kokopelli’s Green Market and a host of others.

Check Ingredients in Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps
According to Seventh Generation CEO Jeffrey Hollender, consumers interested in doing the right thing for the environment should look at ingredients, not slogans. “Just because a product says it is natural doesn’t mean it is nontoxic,” he says. Environmentally friendly ingredients to look for include grain alcohol, coconut or other plant oils, rosemary and sage. Synthetic ingredients to avoid include butyl cellosolve, petroleum, triclosan and phosphates. It is also best to avoid detergents that employ fragrances, as they can contain chemicals known as phthalates that have been linked to cancer.

Mix Your Own Eco-Friendly Dishwasher and Laundry Soaps
Although household-cleaning chores can often be accomplished with non-toxic, homemade alternatives—such as water mixed with borax, lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar or washing soda—laundry and automatic dishwashing soaps are not so easily replaced with home concoctions. However, Emily Main, senior editor at The Green Guide, recommends adding one-quarter cup of baking soda or white vinegar to clothes washes to act as a fabric softener, and for stain removal suggests soaking fabrics in water mixed with either borax, lemon juice, hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar. As to home recipes for dishwashing, some hardcore homesteaders recommend trying an equal mix of borax and baking soda, but this is probably best used only in a pinch as the abrasiveness of such a mixture can scratch glassware over time.

GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/
or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com

Read more:
http://environment.about.com/od/greenlivinginyourhome/a/laundry_soaps.htm?nl=1

RTI International to Evaluate Potential Impacts of Proposed Danville Area Uranium Mine, Mill

RTI International - News Release - 11.11.2010

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C.—RTI International has been awarded a contract to evaluate the potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts of a proposed uranium mine near Danville, Va.

As part of the contract with the Danville Regional Foundation, RTI's research team will study potential impacts of the mine and mill on employment, regional business development and competitiveness, and consumer spending and confidence.

Researchers will also evaluate potential pollutant releases to the environment under different mining, milling, and waste management technologies. They will then analyze how those pollutants might move through the environment and how they might affect residents, plants and animal life.

The project will last through December 2011.

"This project will provide area decision makers and residents with scientifically sound information about the potential direct and indirect impacts of the mine and mill within a 50-mile radius of the Coles Hill site," said Katherine Heller of RTI's Energy, Technology, and Environmental Economics program and the project's director. "The study's findings will be made available to the public and policy makers so they can make informed choices about the mine and mill."

Researchers will explore perceptions of the region and will assess changes in the region's quality of life and reputation from the development and operation of the Coles Hill mine and mill.

The research team will also study the impacts the mine and mill might place upon county and local infrastructure and government services and county and local government finances.

The proposed mine would be developed by Virginia Uranium, Inc. and located between the towns of Chatham and Gretna in Pittsylvania County, Va.

The uranium deposit at Coles Hill was discovered more than 30 years ago, and has been described as one of the richest undeveloped deposits of uranium in the United States. However, the Commonwealth of Virginia has had a moratorium on uranium mining in Virginia since 1982, and thus no development has occurred at the site.

A summary of RTI's planned approach to the study is available from the Danville Regional Foundation's website.

http://www.rti.org/news.cfm?objectid=320F6173-5056-B100-0CB1B509834EE7AA

Cleaning Supplies Can Contaminate Classroom Air

Ordinary school cleaning supplies can expose children to multiple chemicals linked to asthma, cancer, and other documented health problems and to hundreds of other air contaminants that have never been tested for safety, a study by the Environmental Working Group shows. Laboratory tests done for EWG found that a typical assortment of cleaning products released 457 distinct chemicals into the air.

EWG’s findings come at a time when childhood asthma and many childhood cancers are on the rise.

Lax labeling requirements mean that schools often don't know what they're purchasing.

In response to these concerns, many schools have turned to safer cleaning supplies that have been independently certified to meet protective health and safety standards.

Eight states have passed legislation requiring or encouraging use of these green cleaning products in schools. Many other forward-thinking school districts have adopted green cleaning policies, replacing toxic products with safer, effective alternatives with no increase in costs.

Read more:
http://www.ewg.org/schoolcleaningsupplies/overview

NAS Meeting 3: Uranium Mining in Virginia

Meeting 3: Uranium Mining in Virginia
December 13, 2010 - December 15, 2010
Danville vicinity; TBA

The National Academies Board on Earth Sciences & Resources, and Water Science and Technology Board will hold a meeting to discuss Uranium Mining in Virginia on December 13-15, 2010. If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open to the public or need more information please email Courtney Gibbs or call (202) 334-2744. More information can also be found by visiting The National Academies website.

Tentative Agenda:
Monday, December 13, 2010
Open Session
8:30 am - 3:00 pm
Stakeholder and Local Interest Group Presentations

Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only)
3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Open, Town Hall Meeting
6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Town Hall will provide an opportunity for the public to address the committee in an open forum. Sign-up for public comment will be only available at the town hall meeting, the day of the meeting beginning at 5:00 PM on a first come, first serve, in person basis.

We request that those that plan to attend the open sessions and/or the town hall session, please register with Ms. Courtney Gibbs at (202) 334-2744 or via email cgibbs@nas.edu.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Possible Morning Open Session
8:00 am to 11:00 am

Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only)
11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only) in its entirety.

Read more:
http://pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/1,266,3488,-1,html

The History of Thanksgiving and its Celebrations

Comment:  Happy Thanksgiving and see you on Monday!

Thanksgiving 2010: November 25

Throughout history mankind has celebrated the bountiful harvest with thanksgiving ceremonies.

Before the establishment of formal religions many ancient farmers believed that their crops contained spirits which caused the crops to grow and die. Many believed that these spirits would be released when the crops were harvested and they had to be destroyed or they would take revenge on the farmers who harvested them. Some of the harvest festivals celebrated the defeat of these spirits.

Harvest festivals and thanksgiving celebrations were held by the ancient Greeks, the Romans, the Hebrews, the Chinese, and the Egyptians.

The Greeks

The ancient Greeks worshipped many gods and goddesses. Their goddess of grains was Demeter who was honored at the festival of Thesmosphoria held each autumn.

On the first day of the festival married women (possibility connecting childbearing and the raising of crops) would build leafy shelters and furnish them with couches made with plants. On the second day they fasted. On the third day a feast was held and offerings to the goddess Demeter were made - gifts of seed corn, cakes, fruit, and pigs. It was hoped that Demeter's gratitude would grant them a good harvest.

The Romans

The Romans also celebrated a harvest festival called Cerelia, which honored Ceres their goddess of grains (from which the word cereal comes). The festival was held each year on October 4th and offerings of the first fruits of the harvest and pigs were offered to Ceres. Their celebration included music, parades, games and sports and a thanksgiving feast.

The Chinese

The ancient Chinese celebrated their harvest festival, Chung Ch'ui, with the full moon that fell on the 15th day of the 8th month. This day was considered the birthday of the moon and special "moon cakes", round and yellow like the moon, would be baked. Each cake was stamped with the picture of a rabbit - as it was a rabbit, not a man, which the Chinese saw on the face of the moon.

The women baked special moon cakes which were distributed to every family. In each cake was a secret message which contained the time for the attack. When the time came the invaders were surprised and easily defeated. Every year moon cakes are eaten in memory of this victory.

The Hebrews

Jewish families also celebrate a harvest festival called Sukkoth. Taking place each autumn, Sukkoth has been celebrated for over 3000 years.

Sukkoth is know by 2 names - Hag ha Succot - the Feast of the Tabernacles and Hag ha Asif - the Feast of Ingathering. Sukkoth begins on the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Tishri, 5 days after Yom Kippur the most solemn day of the Jewish year.

Sukkoth is named for the huts (succots) that Moses and the Israelites lived in as they wandered the desert for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. These huts were made of branches and were easy to assemble, take apart, and carry as the Israelites wandered through the desert.

When celebrating Sukkoth, which lasts for 8 days, the Jewish people build small huts of branches which recall the tabernacles of their ancestors. These huts are constructed as temporary shelters, as the branches are not driven into the ground and the roof is covered with foliage which is spaced to let the light in. Inside the huts are hung fruits and vegetables, including apples, grapes, corn, and pomegranates. On the first 2 nights of Sukkoth the families eat their meals in the huts under the evening sky.

The United States

In 1621, after a hard and devastating first year in the New World the Pilgrim's fall harvest was very successful and plentiful. There was corn, fruits, vegetables, along with fish which was packed in salt, and meat that was smoke cured over fires. They found they had enough food to put away for the winter.

The Pilgrims had beaten the odds. They built homes in the wilderness, they raised enough crops to keep them alive during the long coming winter, and they were at peace with their Indian neighbors. Their Governor, William Bradford, proclaimed a day of thanksgiving that was to be shared by all the colonists and the neighboring Native American Indians.

The custom of an annually celebrated thanksgiving, held after the harvest, continued through the years. During the American Revolution (late 1770's) a day of national thanksgiving was suggested by the Continental Congress.

In 1863 President Abraham Lincoln appointed a national day of thanksgiving. Since then each president has issued a Thanksgiving Day proclamation, usually designating the fourth Thursday of each November as the holiday.

Read more:
http://www.holidays.net/thanksgiving/story.htm

CARD Press Release: Powertech Files Suit Against State of Colorado

Comment:  Is this Virginia's future?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

On Monday, November 1, 2010, Powertech Uranium Corp., a Canadian uranium prospecting company, filed a lawsuit against the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board and Mike King, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. The lawsuit, filed through its South Dakota subsidiary Powertech (USA) Inc., claims that recently adopted rules and regulations implementing House Bill 08-1161 and Senate Bill 08-228 are arbitrary, capricious, and exceed Colorado statutory authority. The action was filed in Denver State District Court.

The lawsuit challenges a list of specific rules, each designed to ensure ground water protection as well as require public and local government involvement in the mine permit process. The rules were crafted over a two-year process and were supported by a diverse range of groups, including C.A.R.D., Environment Colorado and other conservation groups state-wide, Denver Water, along with multiple local governments and affected communities.

Long-time Powertech mine opponent and Weld County land owner Robin Davis, whose ranch is adjacent to the proposed mine site, had this to say after learning of the lawsuit, “Powertech has told us from the very beginning they could and would restore our water. Now that we have regulations in place that will hold them accountable to their word, they sue the State of Colorado for protecting its resources. It’s insulting. If it can't fulfill its promises of protecting our precious water supplies, Powertech should abandon this risky project.”

This is second time in recent weeks the uranium mining industry has sued state mine regulators to weaken ground water protections. On September 24, 2010, Cotter Corporation sued the Mined Land Reclamation Board in an attempt to fight clean up orders at its Schwartzwalder Mine, which drains into Denver Water supplies on Ralston Creek near Golden. “The uranium mining industry in Colorado is wrong to keep fighting water quality protections and better public involvement. The people of Colorado have a right to be heard and will not accept mining projects that cannot protect the water,” said Jeff Parsons, Senior Attorney with the Western Mining Action Project, who represented local communities in the rulemaking process. “Frankly, we expect better from the Colorado mining industry, both because of the real threats they can pose and their repeated promises about protecting water and communities.”

Powertech’s lawsuit contrasts with recent public statements about the new rules made by President and Chief Executive Officer Richard Clement. As recently as October 27, 2010 in an interview with Dan MacArthur of the North Forty News, Clement stated about the rules, "We can live with them." In the same interview, Clement responded, "They are not fatal to the project" when asked about an earlier comment made in an August 6, 2010 written submission to the Mined Land Reclamation Board. At that time, Powertech claimed a requirement to collect baseline water quality data before commencing prospecting “would be fatal to any serious potential in situ recovery project.”

Powertech’s lawsuit comes on the heels of a recent announcement by major shareholder and investor Synatom that the Belgian firm is exploring options for selling its stake in Powertech. Synatom owns 19.6% of Powertech and has loaned roughly $25 million to the company. On October 25, Powertech announced the resignation of two Synatom officials from Powertech’s board of directors.

Adding to the uncertainty for Powertech is the August 2010 release of a Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Centennial Project. CARD believes various sections of this report reveal serious technical issues such as low hydraulic conductivity/transmissivity, insufficient hydraulic head, vertical communication between aquifers, and the fact that much of the uranium mineralization resides above the water table.

C.A.R.D. is a diverse group of citizens concerned about the health, environmental, and economic impacts of uranium mining related activity. The organization’s goal is to protect Northern Colorado’s valuable resources, especially our water, for future generations.

Contact:
COLORADOANS AGAINST RESOURCE DESTRUCTION (C.A.R.D.)
Jay Davis
(970) 897-2209 (home)
(970) 219-4763 (cell)
Jeff Parsons
(720) 203-2871 (cell)

Read more:
http://www.nunnglow.com/latest/card-press-release-powertech-files-suit-against-state-of-colorado.html

Clean Water – A Basic Human Right

Posted on August 30, 2010

Americans tend to think of water shortages, lack of access to safe drinking water and deadly droughts as problems that occur elsewhere in the world. And it is true that many places on earth are much more seriously impacted by these conditions.

In fact the United Nations General Assembly recently passed a resolution put forward by Bolivia, and co-sponsored by 35 countries, to affirm “the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights.”

Clean Water Action applauds this statement on the need to protect the global commons and relieve human suffering.

This is a non-binding resolution, but a powerful statement by the international community that water is not a commodity to be owned by a nation or corporation. It is not a resource to be used to carelessly wash away pollutants and the waste of agricultural and manufacturing processes.

When the Clean Water Act of 1972 was signed into law by President Nixon, the United States reversed direction and established regulation of our water resources, remediation of polluted bodies of water and universal access to drinkable, swimmable and fishable water.

Although we continue to move in the right direction, we have many ongoing challenges to address in protecting our country’s drinking water. As water advocates, our challenge is to build support for better systems and policy.

Clean Water Action is currently working on an exciting project with the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA is working with us, water utilities, health organizations and other constituents to develop a much better and more effective set of Drinking Water Principles. This effort is long overdue and could move us much farther along the river in our journey to prevent pollutants from getting into our water in the first place.

Water is a basic human right. For those of us in the United States it’s a case of there, but for environmental law, go we. The world has a long way to go to realize the aspiration of the UN’s resolution and the United States is no exception.
Read more:
http://blog.cleanwateraction.org/2010/08/30/clean-water-a-basic-human-right/

Legislative Interim Meeting Notice: Coal and Energy Commission Uranium Mining Subcommittee

Legislative Interim Meeting Notice

Coal and Energy Commission Uranium Mining Subcommittee

Posted on: Tuesday, November 23, 2010

*New Meeting*

Subject: MEETING NOTICE

Meeting Date:  Wednesday, December 8, 2010

End Date:  Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Meeting Time: 02:30 PM

Location: House Room D, General Assembly Building

Address: 901 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219

Public Parking: Metered public parking spaces (2 hours) on streets throughout the downtown area. Pay parking decks are nearby on 8th and Grace Street (St. Paul’s Episcopal Church) , 9th and Broad (Library of Virginia) and 7th and Marshall Streets.

Contact: Ellen Porter, Division of Legislative Services (804) 786-3591
Bill Owen, House Committee Operations (804) 698-1540

Information: The Uranium Mining Subcommittee of the Coal and Energy Committee will meet at 2:30pm in House Room D on Wednesday December 8, 2010. Comments from subcommittee members should be provided directly to Delegate Lee Ware Prior to December 8, 2010.

*Additional study information including Membership may be found on the website for the Coal and Energy Commission Uranium Mining Subcommittee .

Read more:
http://dela.state.va.us/Dela/ComOpsStudy.nsf/FB72CC61CD3B2450852577990056CC19/6C2104F9411E9B37852577E300685BC9?OpenDocument

Questions abound for the NAS

By The Editorial Board
Published: November 21, 2010

To the editor:

The National Academy of Sciences is accorded a reputation for authority and ethics that rivals the Ten Commandments, which is the reason its study on uranium mining in Virginia cannot be ignored.

Someone testified before the committee the in situ mining method is the popular technique for the mining of uranium (Register & Bee, Nov. 16, page A1). This person apparently held forth at length about the virtues of in situ leach as opposed to conventional underground or open pit mining and about this oversight by Virginia Uranium Inc.


The World Nuclear Association states this about the in situ process and I quote: "Uranium deposits suitable for ISL occur in permeable sand or sandstones, confined above and below by impermeable strata, and which are below the water table."("ISL" stands for "in situ leach" being the term used by WNA). WNA also stated about 18 percent of the world uranium sources is hosted in sandstone.

The Coles Hill uranium deposits are "hosted within a fault-bounded wedge of Precambrian or Paleozoic myolinitic quartzo-feldspathic gneiss and some amphibolite" according to a document entitled "Technical Report on the Coles Hills Uranium Property," page 8, dated Nov. 6, 2007, prepared by PAC Geological Consulting Inc,, for Virginia Uranium, Inc.

Further, the author of this report stated he collected a sample of the uranium deposit from a ditch along side the road.

That appears to mean the Coles Hill deposit is located in quartz and feldspar rocks and is certainly not located below the water table if samples were collected from a roadside ditch.

Since the World Nuclear Association states it is "the international organization that promotes nuclear energy and supports the many companies that comprise the global nuclear industry" (quoted from its Internet site), one would assume it is an authority on the industry.

Therefore, based on the WNA statements about ISL, it seems Coles Hill is not a candidate for the in situ leach process. Only a conventional underground or an open pit mining technique can be used.

Since the NAS study will not be site specific, how will the NAS committee determine this testimony is irrelevant? Does NAS intend to do a geological study of the hosting of uranium deposits in Virginia compared to the mines in the West?

HILDRED C. SHELTON
Danville, VA

http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/nov/21/questions-abound-nas-ar-665482/

Home solar electric systems grow popular

By PETER BACQUE

TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Published: October 31, 2010
Richmond, Va. --

In a world where worries about energy are common, John Roberts has more than enough electricity for his needs.

"I'm currently generating more than double what I use in a year," he says.

Roberts can do that because he's installed a 2-kilowatt solar electric system on his house on Richmond's North Side.

The photovoltaic system, which makes electricity from sunlight, cost Roberts $13,400, but he received a $3,500 federal tax credit and a $2,700 state renewable energy rebate that together reduced his expenditure to $7,200.

"And I did all the work myself" under the direction of a licensed electrical contractor, Roberts said.

Roberts uses only 1,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity for an entire year. "Most people use much more electricity than I do," he said. "I do heat with gas and I do have a gas stove, and I don't use much air conditioning."

But the sun's energy powers homes that consume much more electricity than Roberts' does.

Tim Dolan's Newport News house uses almost 10,000 kilowatt-hours a year, he said.

The 8.1-kilowatt solar electric system Dolan uses cost $55,000. That was offset by a $16,100 federal tax credit and $14,000 from the state's renewable energy rebate program he received, bringing his price down to $24,900.

"Even on an overcast day . . . it's still making more than I'm using," Dolan said.

Solar power can be used to generate electricity through photovoltaic cells or to produce hot water, and Virginia has sunshine for those uses. The state estimates solar energy could produce 11,000-13,000 megawatts in Virginia.

But 2-kilowatt systems are what Blue Crump's company, Urban Grid Solar Inc. of Richmond, typically installs, Crump said, at a cost of about $15,000.

Though solar technologies are too costly for widespread use in wholesale power applications, the U.S. Energy Department's Energy Information Administration said, government and utility incentives for renewable energy encourage small-scale solar-electric generation, which is expected to grow rapidly over the next 25 years.

Read more:
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2010/oct/31/sola31-ar-618771/

How to Go Green: Thanksgiving Day

[by Rachel Sarnoff]

With all the planning, cooking, and cleaning, the last thing you want to think about is greening your Thanksgiving, right? But this is the perfect time to reflect and reassess your holiday preparations with a nod to sustainability.

It's not as hard as you might think: Do you typically put a wreath on your door and a cut flower arrangement on your table?

Try buying organic, or better yet, find living succulent wreaths for both. Is your centerpiece a turkey? Find a heritage breed, or consider a vegetarian alternative. Find out how to shop your local farmers' markets for your feast, and find recycled elements for your holiday decor.

We've broken it down to make Thanksgiving an easy, eco-friendly, and fun holiday for all involved.

Follow our countdown and you can make an easy transition to a more sustainable holiday tradition. With extensive tips on menu planning, decorating, shopping, cleaning and more, we've got you covered from now 'til leftovers.

We've got the answers and lots more questions about Thanksgiving in our quiz: Do You Give Thanks With Minimal Impact? Click on over to get started and learn tons of great green knowledge along the way:  http://planetgreen.discovery.com/games-quizzes/give-thanks-green-quiz/index.html

Read more:
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/go-green/thanksgiving-day/

Cotter's defunct uranium mine could draw new slaps for contamination

Comment:  Look at this, very telling: "The attorneys for Cotter offered to submit a PowerPoint presentation to the board to explain "the impossibility of compliance."

By Bruce Finley
The Denver Post
Posted: 11/18/2010 01:00:00 AM MST

Colorado mining regulators squared off against Cotter Corp. on Wednesday, weighing whether to levy additional fines, declare new violations and order the company again to clean up its defunct uranium mine west of Denver that threatens water supplies.

Cotter's attorneys conceded that Cotter has not taken a step toward complying with an existing state order to pump out and treat toxic water filling the Schwartzwalder mine.

That mine sits upstream from Denver Water's Ralston Reservoir, which supplies drinking water to 1.3 million metro-area residents.

State inspectors have found uranium  contamination more than 10 times higher than health standards for drinking water.

Brown argued that the required corrective actions are broad and unclear and that Cotter would need time to move in equipment and have a place to put the water it removes.

"Cotter, maybe, should have asked these questions right after the order came out," board attorney Jillian Allison said.

Colorado Department of Natural Resources deputy director Bob Randall asked three times whether Cotter has begun removing the water.

Brown finally answered: "No."

The attorneys for Cotter offered to submit a PowerPoint presentation to the board to explain "the impossibility of compliance."

Board members will continue their hearing today, when they will decide whether to impose additional fines of up to $1,000 a day for 78 days, issue new violations and a "cease and desist order" that essentially repeats state demands.

Cotter separately has taken its case to Denver District Court, filing a lawsuit against the state.

It asks that a judge block state efforts to order the cleanup and impose fines and accuses the state mined lands board members of abusing their discretion.

A subsidiary of San Diego-based defense contractor General Atomics, Cotter also is embroiled in disputes with state regulators over a contaminated uranium mill near Cañon City and a uranium mine in western Colorado.

Read more:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_16643804?source=rss

NAS Meeting 3: Uranium Mining in Virginia

Comment:  Everybody needs to attend, make your reservations today!

Meeting Information:Project Title: Uranium Mining in Virginia

PIN: DELS-BESR-09-06

Major Unit: Division on Earth and Life Studies

Sub Unit: Board on Earth Sciences & Resources

Water Science and Technology Board

RSO: Feary, David

Subject/Focus Area: Earth Sciences

Meeting 3: Uranium Mining in Virginia

December 13, 2010 - December 15, 2010

Danville vicinity; TBA

If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open

to the public or need more information please contact:

Contact Name: Courtney Gibbs

Email: cgibbs@nas.edu

Phone: 202-334-2744

Fax: 202-334-1377

Agenda: Tentative Agenda

Monday, December 13, 2010

Open Session

8:30 am - 3:00 pm

Stakeholder and Local Interest Group Presentations

Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only)

3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Open, Town Hall Meeting

6:00 - 9:00 pm

The Town Hall will provide an opportunity for the pulic to address the committee in an open forum.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Possible Morning Open Session

8:00 am to 11:00 am

Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only)

11:00 am - 6:00 pm

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Closed Session (Committee and NAS Staff Only) in its entirety.

We request that those that plan to attend, please register with Ms. Courtney Gibbs at (202)334-2744 or via email cgibbs@nas.edu

Read more:

http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?key=49253&MeetingId=4646

Sides debate effectiveness of uranium rules

By Tara Bozick
Published: November 16, 2010

WASHINGTON — Regulations and guidelines for conventional uranium mines and mills are decades old and updated standards are needed, environmental interests said.

The National Academy of Sciences’ provisional committee studying uranium mining in Virginia heard from both sides on Tuesday at the Melrose Hotel in Washington.

Understanding the regulatory framework for uranium extraction is key if Virginia leaders would like to determine whether uranium mining and milling can be done in a way that safeguards the public health and environment, said Katie Sweeney, general counsel for the National Mining Association.

Virginia would regulate the uranium mine. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission would regulate the mill (where ore becomes yellowcake). The Department of Energy would own, watch and maintain the mill site after reclamation is complete.

The Environmental Protection Agency sets protection standards, like for radium in soil, groundwater restoration and radon from tailings.

While the regulatory framework may be confusing, the complementary involvement of the agencies and the rigorous and numerous permitting processes ensure heavy regulation of the U.S. uranium industry, Sweeney said.

For instance, the mine would need an extensive operating plan and various associated permits (like for air and water quality). Before the mill can get a license, the NRC commences a site-specific evaluation including everything from waste management and financial assurance to environmental monitoring and historic and cultural impacts.

Over the years, the regulations for conventional mining and milling evolved and improved to protect against hazards, like with the passage of the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act of 1978, Sweeney said.

Yes, there exists a “complicated mosaic” of necessary permits, agreed Geoffrey Fettus, senior project attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council in Washington.

But the uranium industry has an “abysmal” track record of regulation and enforcement, Fettus said.

“Conventional uranium mining was essentially unregulated for decades,” Fettus said.

Regulations that evolved are “patchy and holey,” he told the committee. Standards that haven’t been updated for more than 20 years need to change and in a way that shows the country what the tradeoffs are for uranium extraction, he added.

States have the right to require stricter standards, but rarely do so, although Colorado and New Mexico are on the right path, Fettus said.

Meeting attendee Olga Kolotushkina, representing the Roanoke River Basin Association, said presenters showed that while the uranium industry claims a long history, the standards haven’t been updated in years.

“I think the current regulations are antiquated,” she said.

The NAS study is due to state leaders by December 2011. The study committee scheduled town hall meetings in Danville for Dec. 13 to Dec. 15.

For more info, visit www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/ and search Project Title “Uranium Mining in Virginia.”

Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/nov/16/sides-debate-effectiveness-uranium-rules-ar-657940/

11 Healthy Pregnancy Tips

Pregnancy is a critical time. A mother’s chemical exposures can adversely affect her baby in many ways. Here are some simple but important steps you can take to reduce the risks during pregnancy - and beyond.

1.Go organic and eat fresh foods
Use EWG's Shoppers Guide to Pesticides to determine which fruits and veggies you should always buy organic and those with the least pesticide residue that are ok to buy conventionally grown. Choose milk and meat produced without added growth hormones. Limit canned food, since can linings usually contain the synthetic estrogen called bisphenol A (BPA).

2.Drink safer water
It's important for pregnant women to drink plenty of water. Use a reverse osmosis system or carbon filter pitcher to reduce your exposure to impurities such as chlorine, perchlorate and lead. Don't drink bottled water, which costs more and isn't necessarily better. If you're out and about, use a stainless steel, glass or BPA-free plastic reusable container. Mix infant formula with fluoride-free water.

3.Eat low-mercury seafood
Choose low-mercury fish such as salmon, tilapia and pollock, rather than high-mercury tuna and swordfish.

4.Get your iodine
Use iodized salt, especially while pregnant and nursing, and take iodine-containing vitamins. Iodine buffers against chemicals such as perchlorate that can disrupt your thyroid system and affect your baby’s brain development during pregnancy and infancy.

5.Choose better body care products
Just because the label says "gentle" or "natural" doesn't mean a product is safe for pregnancy.
6.Wash maternity clothes before wearing
Clothing is often coated with chemical treatments in the factory.

7.Identify lead sources and avoid them
Test your tap water for lead and avoid any home remodeling if your house was built before 1978, when lead house paint was banned.

8.Avoid painting.
When getting your nursery ready, avoid painting and other chemical-intensive jobs.

9.Clean greener
Household cleaners, bug killers, pet treatments and air fresheners can irritate kids’ and babies’ lungs – especially if they have asthma. Check out less toxic alternatives. Some ideas: vinegar in place of bleach, baking soda to scrub your tiles, hydrogen peroxide to remove stains. Use a wet mop/rag and a HEPA-filter vacuum to get rid of dust – which can contain contaminants.

10.Avoid gasoline fumes
Ask for your partner's help to fill the gas tank, or use full service..

11.Pick plastics carefully
Some plastics contain toxic chemicals, including BPA and phthalates. Don't reuse single-use containers or microwave food in plastic containers.

Read more:
http://www.ewg.org/Health-Tips/10HealthyPregnancyTips

Only pennies for renewable energy

Sunday, November 7, 2010; 7:44 PM

The Nov. 5 news story "Obama shifting climate strategy after GOP gains," about President Obama taking a different approach to pushing energy legislation, mentioned Sen.-elect Rand Paul's Web site, which states that "we should not be subsidizing solar and wind power."

In 2008 the fossil fuel industry received close to $557 billion in tax breaks and subsidies, while renewable sources of energy received about a tenth of that. Virginia has a coal production tax credit that costs the state $35 million in tax revenue yet only modest solar incentives for manufacturing and none for installation of systems.

The solar industry is not asking for special treatment but simply a level playing field. If we shift some of the handouts away from the fossil fuel industry and boost renewables that collect free energy, we will enjoy savings in energy costs and increased national security.

Kent Baake, Alexandria

Read more:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/07/AR2010110704297.html

NAS committee reviews uranium regulations in Virginia

By Tara Bozick
Published: November 15, 2010

WASHINGTON — So-called conventional uranium mines and mills in the United States are no longer the industry norm.

In-situ recovery — or removing uranium straight from the ore with solution — is the more popular method now, experts say.

Conventional methods use underground or open pit mining to remove the rock. That’s then delivered to the mill, where the rock is crushed and the uranium is leached and concentrated to form yellowcake.

Yet, Chatham-based Virginia Uranium Inc. proposes to use conventional methods to extract uranium from the 119-million-pound ore body at Coles Hill in Pittsylvania County. Company scientists ruled out in-situ recovery as a viable method because of the impermeable rock.

All of this is what the National Academy of Sciences’ provisional committee heard at an information-gathering session Monday at the Melrose Hotel in Washington.

The Virginia Coal and Energy Commission asked the NAS to study the scientific aspects of uranium mining in Virginia, including best practices, improvements and state and federal regulatory framework.

The comprehensive report, due in December next year, will help state leaders determine whether uranium mining can be done safely in Virginia.

Colorado is reviewing the only application since then, he added. Texas, Colorado and Utah regulate their uranium recovery operations as they entered strict agreements with the NRC.

The NRC would regulate uranium milling in Virginia, while the state would regulate the mining, he said.

The White Mesa Mill in Utah is the only currently operating conventional mill in the United States, von Till said.

Yet, the NRC has more than 30 years of experience with mills and there have been a lot of improvements — like liners, tailings management and groundwater monitoring — to protect the public from mill sites, von Till said.

Committee member Jill Lipoti, director of the Division of Environmental Safety and Health at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, asked if there were more modern mills.

Von Till said the agency doesn’t have an example for mills after groundwater regulations took effect in the 1980s

James Weeks of the Mine Safety and Health Administration told the committee there is a strong regulatory presence in mines across the country, including with inspections, but the agency hasn’t had a lot of experience with uranium mines. MSHA is responsible for the health and safety of the nation’s miners.

If uranium mines were to come back, the agency would need to gear up its capabilities, Weeks said in response to committee member questions.

Uranium mines could use better monitoring and workers need better education about potential health hazards if a resurgence occurs, said Larry Elliott of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health at the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

Yet, the nation doesn’t have many experienced uranium miners who understand radiation exposure risks, he added.

NIOSH would like a national registry of workers, better record-keeping and tools like personal dosimeters used to detect and measure radiation in real time. The agency also recommends a lower exposure limit for radon than currently exists, he said.



“We welcome that,” Wales said.

Yet, the presentations to the committee showed Cale Jaffe, senior attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center, how little modern experience the nation has in conventional mining and milling.

“We are heading into uncharted territory,” Jaffe said. “That’s a sobering proposition.”

Read more:
http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2010/nov/15/nas-committee-reviews-uranium-regulations-ar-655439/

HUD ANNOUNCES PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOMES

HUD No. 10-251
Brian Sullivan
(202) 708-0685

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

HUD ANNOUNCES PILOT PROGRAM TO HELP HOMEOWNERS PAY FOR ENERGY IMPROVEMENTS TO THEIR HOMES

New FHA PowerSaver Program to offer low-cost financing to credit-worthy borrowers

WASHINGTON – Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced a new pilot program that will offer credit-worthy borrowers low-cost loans to make energy-saving improvements to their homes. Backed by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), these new FHA PowerSaver loans will offer homeowners up to $25,000 to make energy-efficient improvements of their choice, including the installation of insulation, duct sealing, doors and windows, HVAC systems, water heaters, solar panels, and geothermal systems.

HUD and FHA developed PowerSaver as part of the Recovery Through Retrofit initiative launched in May 2009 by Vice President Biden’s Middle Class Task Force to develop federal actions that would expand green job opportunities in the United States and boost energy savings by improving home energy efficiency. The announcement is part of an 18-month-long interagency effort facilitated by White House Council on Environmental Quality with the Office of the Vice President, 11 departments and agencies and six White House offices.

Vice President Biden said, “The initiatives announced today are putting the Recovery Through Retrofit report’s recommendations into action – giving American families the tools they need to invest in home energy upgrades. Together, these programs will grow the home retrofit industry and help middle class families save money and energy.”

“HUD and FHA are committed to lowering the cost and expanding the availability of affordable financing for home energy retrofits,” said Secretary Donovan. “PowerSaver will help more homeowners afford common sense, cost saving improvements to their homes, and will create jobs for contractors, installers and energy auditors across the country.”

More homeowners are interested in making their homes energy efficient, according to industry forecasts. Yet options are still limited for financing home energy improvements, especially for the many homeowners who are unable to take out a home equity loan or access an affordable consumer loan. HUD today published a notice seeking the participation of a limited number of mortgage lenders in the two-year pilot program slated to begin in early 2011.

“PowerSaver provides lenders with a new product option to serve a potentially growing market,” said David H. Stevens, FHA Commissioner. “We believe there are a number of lenders who will be interested in working with us to help save energy and money for homeowners, while creating jobs and cutting greenhouse gas emissions”

Lenders will be selected to participate in the PowerSaver pilot based on their capacity and commitment to provide affordable home energy improvement financing. Lenders will be required to serve communities that have already taken affirmative steps to expand home energy improvements. HUD will help lenders identify such markets – which exist in many suburban, rural and urban areas across the country.

PowerSaver loans will be backed by the FHA – but with significant “skin in the game” from private lenders. FHA mortgage insurance will cover up to 90 percent of the loan amount in the event of default. Lenders will retain the remaining risk on each loan, incentivizing responsible underwriting and lending standards. FHA will provide streamlined insurance claims payment procedures on PowerSaver loans. In addition, lenders may be eligible for incentive grant payments from FHA to enhance benefits to borrowers, such as lowering interest rates.

“Home energy retrofits are good investments that save families money,” said Ginnie Mae President Ted Tozer. “As the financing arm of HUD, we are proud to support this important home-improvement segment of the housing market and look forward to working with lenders and FHA to develop appropriate secondary market options.”

PowerSaver has been carefully designed to meet a need in the marketplace for borrowers who have the ability and motivation to take on modest additional debt to realize the savings over time from a home energy improvement. PowerSaver loans are only available to borrowers with good credit, manageable overall debt and at least some equity in their home (maximum 100% combined loan to value).

To read the full text of FHA’s notice, visit HUD’s website:
http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/press/press_releases_media_advisories/2010/HUDNo.10-251

NAS Study II: Uranium Mining in Virginia

NAS Meeting Information:

Meeting of the COMMITTEE ON URANIUM MINING IN VIRGINIA

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Division on Earth and Life Studies National Research Council of the National Academies

November 15-16, 2010

Melrose Hotel

2430 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20037

Project Title: Uranium Mining in Virginia

PIN: DELS-BESR-09-06

Major Unit: Division on Earth and Life Studies

Sub Unit: Board on Earth Sciences & Resources

Water Science and Technology Board

RSO: Feary, David

Subject/Focus Area: Earth Sciences

Meeting 2: Uranium Mining in Virginia

November 15, 2010 - November 16, 2010

Keck Center

500 5th Street, NW

Washington D.C. 20001

If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open

to the public or need more information please contact:

Contact Name: Courtney Gibbs

Email: cgibbs@nas.edu

Phone: 202-334-2744

Fax: 202-334-1377

Agenda:
DRAFT AGENDA (Subject To Change)

Day 1: Monday, November 15, 2010 ROOM TBD

8:00 am -1:30 pm CLOSED SESSION [Committee and NRC Staff Only]
1:30 pm-5:30 pm OPEN SESSION
1:30-1:40 pm Welcome and Introductions

Federal Agency Presentations

1:40 pm U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2:40 pm Mine Safety and Health Administration
3:10-3:30 pm BREAK
3:30 pm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4:30 pm National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety
5:00 pm ADJOURN

Day 2: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 ROOM TBD

8:00 am -10:10 am OPEN SESSION
8:00-8:30 am Breakfast in meeting room
8:30-8:40 am Welcome and Introductions

Presentations
8:40 am TBD
9:10 am TBD

9.40-10:10 Open Comment Period
{Sign-up list for public comments is available and those who have signed-up will be given priority; comments will be time-limited}

10:10 am-5:30 pm CLOSED SESSION [Committee and NRC Staff Only]

This meeting is being held to gather information to help the committee conduct its study. This committee will examine the information and material obtained during this, and other public meetings, in an effort to inform its work. Although opinions may be stated and lively discussion may ensue, no conclusions are being drawn at this time; no recommendations will be made. In fact, the committee will deliberate thoroughly before writing its draft report. Moreover, once the draft report is written, it must go through a rigorous review by experts who are anonymous to the committee, and the committee then must respond to this review with appropriate revisions that adequately satisfy the Academy's Report Review committee and the chair of the NRC before it is considered an NRC report. Therefore, observers who draw conclusions about the committee's work based on today's discussions will be doing so prematurely.
Furthermore, individual committee members often engage in discussion and questioning for the specific purpose of probing an issue and sharpening an argument. The comments of any given committee member may not necessarily reflect the position he or she may actually hold on the subject under discussion, to say nothing of that person's future position as it may evolve in the course of the project. Any inference about an individual's position regarding findings or recommendations in the final report is therefore also premature.

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Meeting
The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the meeting:
The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:
The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:
Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

Read more:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=4645&MeetingNo=2

THE ROANOKE RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING

THE ROANOKE RIVER BASIN ASSOCIATION FALL MEETING

WHEN: NOVEMBER 13, 2010 AT 10:30 AM

WHERE: C& E’S RESTAURANT,2201 West Gretna Road, Gretna, VA 24557-2489

 HWY 40, 1 MILE WEST OF GRETNA, VA

　

AGENDA:

10:30 AM CALL TO ORDER AND WELCOME--HAROLD CARAWAN, PRESIDENT

10:45 AM INTRODUCTION OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR--GENE ADDESSO, VICE PRESIDENT

11:00 AM INTRODUCTION OF ANNE ZENESKI, SECRETARY/TREASURER

11:15 AM DEMONSTRATION OF THE RRBA WEBSITE

11:30 AM INTRODUCTION OF OLGA KOLOTUSHKINA, ADVISOR FOR LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY AFFAIRS.

11:45 AM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REPORTS

12:00 AM OLD BUSINESS

12:15 PM LUNCHEON PROVIDED BY RRBA

1:00 PM GUEST SPEAKER, MR. NATHAN LOTT, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VIRGINIA CONSERVATION NETWORK

2:00 PM NEW BUSINESS OR ADJOURN

3:00 PM GUUIDED TOUR OF THE PROPOSED URANIUM MINE SITE AT COLES HILL.

THE TOUR WILL BE BY CARAVAN, WITH A COUPLE OF STOPS ALONG THE ROAD FOR DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS. COLES HILL IS JUST SOUTHEAST OF GRETNA APPROX. 10 MINUTES FROM THE RESTAURANT AND LESS THAN 10 MINUTES FROM US 29.

http://www.rrba.org/ 

NAS Meeting II: Uranium Mining in Virginia

NAS Meeting Information:

Meeting of the COMMITTEE ON URANIUM MINING IN VIRGINIA

Board on Earth Sciences and Resources

Division on Earth and Life Studies National Research Council of the National Academies

November 15-16, 2010

Melrose Hotel

2430 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20037

Project Title: Uranium Mining in Virginia

PIN: DELS-BESR-09-06

Major Unit: Division on Earth and Life Studies

Sub Unit: Board on Earth Sciences & Resources

Water Science and Technology Board

RSO: Feary, David

Subject/Focus Area: Earth Sciences

Meeting 2: Uranium Mining in Virginia

November 15, 2010 - November 16, 2010

Keck Center

500 5th Street, NW

Washington D.C. 20001

If you would like to attend the sessions of this meeting that are open

to the public or need more information please contact:

Contact Name: Courtney Gibbs

Email: cgibbs@nas.edu

Phone: 202-334-2744

Fax: 202-334-1377

Agenda:
DRAFT AGENDA (Subject To Change)

Day 1: Monday, November 15, 2010 ROOM TBD

8:00 am -1:30 pm CLOSED SESSION [Committee and NRC Staff Only]
1:30 pm-5:30 pm OPEN SESSION
1:30-1:40 pm Welcome and Introductions

Federal Agency Presentations

1:40 pm U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
2:40 pm Mine Safety and Health Administration
3:10-3:30 pm BREAK
3:30 pm Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4:30 pm National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety
5:00 pm ADJOURN

Day 2: Tuesday, November 16, 2010 ROOM TBD

8:00 am -10:10 am OPEN SESSION
8:00-8:30 am Breakfast in meeting room
8:30-8:40 am Welcome and Introductions

Presentations
8:40 am TBD
9:10 am TBD

9.40-10:10 Open Comment Period
{Sign-up list for public comments is available and those who have signed-up will be given priority; comments will be time-limited}

10:10 am-5:30 pm CLOSED SESSION [Committee and NRC Staff Only]

This meeting is being held to gather information to help the committee conduct its study. This committee will examine the information and material obtained during this, and other public meetings, in an effort to inform its work. Although opinions may be stated and lively discussion may ensue, no conclusions are being drawn at this time; no recommendations will be made. In fact, the committee will deliberate thoroughly before writing its draft report. Moreover, once the draft report is written, it must go through a rigorous review by experts who are anonymous to the committee, and the committee then must respond to this review with appropriate revisions that adequately satisfy the Academy's Report Review committee and the chair of the NRC before it is considered an NRC report. Therefore, observers who draw conclusions about the committee's work based on today's discussions will be doing so prematurely.
Furthermore, individual committee members often engage in discussion and questioning for the specific purpose of probing an issue and sharpening an argument. The comments of any given committee member may not necessarily reflect the position he or she may actually hold on the subject under discussion, to say nothing of that person's future position as it may evolve in the course of the project. Any inference about an individual's position regarding findings or recommendations in the final report is therefore also premature.

Closed Session Summary Posted After the Meeting
The following committee members were present at the closed sessions of the meeting:
The following topics were discussed in the closed sessions:
The following materials (written documents) were made available to the committee in the closed sessions:
Date of posting of Closed Session Summary:

Read more:
http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=4645&MeetingNo=2

America Recycles Day - November 15th

America Recycles Day - November 15th
Recommit to recycling for the health of the planet

PHILADELPHIA (November 9, 2010) - - Everyday Americans recycle their trash because they know it’s an important activity that can have a positive impact on the environment.

But once a year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets aside November 15 to remind everyone that recycling plays a dramatic role in reducing pollution. It’s a great day to recommit to recycling, and to consider adding some additional recycling activities to our daily routines.

The average American discards about 4.5 pounds of trash, also known as solid waste, every day. This trash goes mostly to landfills, where it is compacted and buried. Thirty-three percent of solid waste, or 83 million tons, is recovered and recycled or composted; and 54 percent, or 135 million tons, is disposed of in landfills.

But within your trash are many valuable resources which can be recycled and reused, such as glass bottles and jars, plastic detergent jugs, aluminum cans, paper containers and packaging, yard clippings and even food scraps. As the population grows and the amount of trash continues to grow, so will pressure on our landfills, our resources and our environment.

There is nothing new under the sun, according to the National Recycling Coalition. “Before the 1920s, 70 percent of U.S. cities ran programs to recycle certain materials. During World War II, industry recycled and reused about 25 percent of the waste stream.”

America Recycles Day helps to raise awareness of the importance of recycling today. The nation's composting and recycling rate rose from 7.7 percent of the waste stream in 1960 to 17 percent in 1990 and is currently hovering around 33 percent.

Your contribution matters. In 2008 -- the latest recycling statistics available -- recycling and composting 83 million tons of waste saved the equivalent of more than 10.2 billion gallons of gasoline.

To bring the idea of what can be saved closer to home, think about this: By tossing one aluminum soda into the recycling bin, you’ve just saved enough energy to run your TV for two hours.

It all comes back to our individual efforts. Reduce, reuse, and recycle!

Contact: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113 or heron.donna@epa.gov
For more information on recycling go to: http://www.epa.gov/reg3wcmd/solidwasterecycling.htm
For more information on America Recycles Day go to: http://www.nrc-recycle.org/americarecycles.aspx
Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

Federal Disaster Designations for 60 Localities

Commonwealth of Virginia

Office of Governor Bob McDonnell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 10, 2010

Office of the Governor

Contact: Stacey Johnson

Phone: (804) 225-4260

E-mail: Stacey.Johnson@Governor.Virginia.Gov  

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Contact: Elaine Lidholm

Phone: (804) 786-7686

E-mail: Elaine.Lidholm@VDACS.Virginia.Gov

Governor McDonnell Announces Federal Disaster Designations for 60 Localities

Droughts and Excessive Heat Caused Severe Reductions in Farm Production

2010 Drought Covered More Than Two-Thirds of the Commonwealth; Had Negative Impact on Agricultural Crops and Livestock

RICHMOND – Governor Bob McDonnell today announced that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture has designated fifty-nine Virginia counties and the city of Suffolk primary natural disaster areas because of reductions in farm production caused by drought and excessive heat that occurred in 2010. These disaster designations make farmers eligible for low-interest loans and any supplemental relief that might be provided by Congress in the future.

Farmers in the independent city of Suffolk, as well as in the following counties, have received primary natural disaster designation and may also be eligible for federal assistance:

Accomack Clarke Halifax Montgomery Rappahannock

Albemarle Culpeper  Hanover Nelson Richmond

Amelia Cumberland Isle of Wight Northampton Rockbridge

Amherst Dinwiddie James City Northumberland Shenandoah

Appomattox Essex King and Queen Nottoway Southampton

Bedford Fauquier King George Orange Spotsylvania

Brunswick Fluvanna King William Page Stafford

Buckingham Franklin Lancaster Patrick Surry

Campbel lFrederick Louisa Pittsylvania Warren

Caroline Goochland Lunenburg Powhatan Westmoreland

Carroll Green Mecklenburg Prince Edward York

Charlotte Greensville MiddlesexPulaski

Commenting on the designations, Governor McDonnell noted, “Excessive heat and drought reduced crop yields in many localities causing farmers hardship and impacting their operations. With approval by the USDA, they are now eligible to be considered for assistance by the Federal Government.”

An additional 24 counties and 19 independent cities received designations as contiguous disaster areas because of their location next to a primary disaster area. Those include the counties of Alleghany, Augusta, Bath, Bland, Botetourt, Charles City, Chesterfield, Craig, Floyd, Giles, Gloucester, Grayson, Henrico, Henry, Loudoun, Madison, Mathews, New Kent, Prince George, Prince William, Roanoke, Rockingham, Sussex and Wythe and the independent cities of Bedford, Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Chesapeake, Danville, Emporia, Franklin, Fredericksburg, Galax, Hampton, Lexington, Lynchburg, Newport News, Petersburg, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Radford, Williamsburg and Winchester.

Disaster declarations make farm operators in both primary and contiguous areas eligible to be considered for low-interest emergency loans from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, provided they meet certain eligibility requirements. This assistance includes FSA emergency loans and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program. Farmers in eligible counties have eight months from the date of a disaster declaration to apply for emergency loan assistance. FSA will consider each application on its own merits by taking into account the extent of the losses, security available and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers with additional information.

Requests for primary disaster designations are currently pending for these seven counties: Botetourt, Charles City, Craig, Gloucester, Henrico, Matthews and New Kent. These counties already have received a contiguous designation but are seeking a primary declaration in case Congress appropriates direct aid.

Heroes : Veteran's Day

Heroes

By Jared Jenkins

In war, there are lives risked and lives taken

Men and women giving their best to defend what they love

They defend their country

Their honor

Their people

Some call them soldiers

Others call them heroes

Our veterans have risked their lives for us

They have lived through hell and fought with honor

Many have killed

And regret doing so

For every life, there is a soul

For every soul, there is a life

For those who have died, we show great appreciation and remembrance

For those who live, along with them live the horrific memories of battle

Some, memories of defeat

Some, memories of victory

Our veterans were more than soldiers

They were, and still are heroes