TOP STORY

Run-Aground Sue
States, green groups to sue EPA for not regulating plane or ship emissions

Two separate coalitions of states, environmental groups, and state and local pollution regulators announced Thursday their respective intents to sue the U.S. EPA over its failure to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions from ships and planes; the group of states and pollution regulators is also suing over emissions from agricultural and construction equipment. The states, agencies, and green groups have each tried to spur the EPA to determine whether emissions from marine vessels, planes, and other equipment endanger public health and welfare, but so far the agency has dodged the question (much as it has in the case of passenger vehicles). The two coalitions' cases hinge on the Supreme Court ruling last year that ordered the EPA to decide whether greenhouse-gas emissions endangered public health or welfare. "More than 15 months after the Supreme Court's order, EPA, once again, has ignored its legal and moral obligation to act quickly to protect the health and welfare of Americans," said Martin Wagner of Earthjustice. If no action is taken by the agency in 180 days, the groups will launch formal lawsuits, but with a new, possibly more climate-friendly administration as the defendant.

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sources: Earthjustice, Associated Press, Reuters

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TODAY'S NEWS

Practice What You Teach
Princeton Review rates green colleges

With the Princeton Review's newly released college rankings and ratings for 2009, prospective students can suss out a school's academics, dorm quality, party scene -- and greenness. In partnership with marketing agency ecoAmerica, the review rated 534 U.S. colleges on their commitment to environmental responsibility, provision of "healthy and sustainable" campus life, and preparation of students for "citizenship in a world defined by environmental challenges." The review graded on factors including energy use, buildings, transportation, food, recycling, and classes. The highest-scoring schools, in alphabetical order: Arizona State; Bates (Maine); Binghamton (N.Y.); College of the Atlantic (Maine); Emory (Ga.); Georgia Institute of Technology; Harvard (Mass.); U. of New Hampshire; U. of Oregon; U. of Washington; and Yale (Conn.). Arizona State and U. of New Hampshire also made the review's list of top 20 party schools -- we assume that students there guzzle only organic beer.

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sources: The Princeton Review, GreenerBuildings, Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times
straight to the ratings: Green Rating Honor Roll
see also, in Grist: Grist's list of 15 green colleges and universities, College and university presidents sign on to climate pledge

Blast From the Mast
Groups sue Navy over underwater explosions

Environmental groups are up in arms about training exercises conducted by the U.S. Navy -- not sonar this time, but underwater explosives. The Wild Fish Conservancy and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility have filed a federal lawsuit against the Navy, saying its practice of training divers to explode dummy mines in Washington state's Puget Sound poses an unacceptable hazard to salmon, orcas, sea lions, birds, and other wildlife. The National Marine Fisheries Service conducted an environmental review of the practice, and the Navy has made some alterations to lessen its impact, but the groups say more could be done. Pointing to one training exercise that blew up at least 5,000 fish, the groups suggest that the training be conducted in the open ocean instead of shallow harbors and canals. "We are not trying to block Navy demolition exercises," says PEER's Adam Draper. "We are simply trying to induce the Navy to train without creating needless carnage."

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sources: Associated Press, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Kitsap Sun, PNW Local News, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility

Turf's Up
CPSC finds artificial turf not harmful to children despite releasing lead

Artificial field turf does not expose young children to harmful levels of lead, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded Wednesday. "Our message is: go out and play," says a CPSC spokesperson. Because it's durable, easy to maintain, and doesn't require pesticides, synthetic turf has increasingly replaced grass fields across the U.S. Manufacturers insist that the lead that gives the green "grass" its color cannot leach out or become airborne; however, concerns about turf toxicity came to a head in the fall when New Jersey officials found worrisome lead levels in a handful of fields. The CPSC found that while lead exposure does appear to increase over time as synthetic grass fibers break down, none of the fields the agency tested "released amounts of lead that would be harmful to children." However, the agency did ask industry to develop voluntary standards to keep lead out of future turf products. "I have concerns about the conclusions drawn in their evaluation," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.). "It is particularly disconcerting that at the same time they are saying the synthetic fields are safe, they are urging that voluntary guidelines be developed."

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sources: USA Today, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, GeneralSports Venue, USA Today, Newsday
straight to the report: CPSC Staff Analysis and Assessment of Synthetic Turf "Grass Blades" [PDF]

In Brief
Snippets from the news

• ExxonMobil posts highest quarterly profit ever by a U.S. corporation.

• U.S. passes Germany as world's top wind-power producer.

• U.N. turns down the AC and encourages less clothing.

• McCain talks energy in Nevada.

• South Africa outlines climate-change plans.

• Coal shortage brings fear of China electricity crisis.

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Read more news ...

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GRIST COLUMNS AND FEATURES

From Vegan to Hog Butcher
Getting to the meat of the matter with Boston chef Jamie Bissonnette

When Roz Cummins attended a hog-butchering workshop to test her ideas about meat, she was shocked to learn that the man blithely cutting up the dead pig had once been a vegan. The instructor was chef Jamie Bissonnette, a celebrated figure in Boston for his classic charcuterie (French-style sausages and pates) and offal. So Roz tracked down Jamie to find out how he went from rejecting meat to embracing the whole beast. She got an earful about his past as a punk rocker in the "straight-edge" movement -- and a recipe for a decidedly gourmet take on tripe.

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new in Grist: Getting to the meat of the matter with Boston chef Jamie Bissonnette

Climate gets religion
Richard Cizik chats with Grist about evangelicals demanding climate action

Evangelical leader Richard Cizik made waves in both the Christian evangelical community and environmental circles when he joined with other conscientious religious folks to take a stand, urging the faithful to embrace the climate cause. That stance hasn't made him popular among conservative religious leaders, but his focus on preserving creation has meant finding common ground with green groups. So when Cizik was in Seattle recently for an art exhibit on the plight of wildlife in a warming world, he dropped by Grist headquarters to chat about religion, "creation care," presidential politics, and trying to push the Republican Party to take climate change seriously.

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new in Gristmill: Climate gets religion

Granite State rematch
Grist talks to New Hampshire Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen

"We can't depend just on oil," says Democratic Senate candidate Jeanne Shaheen. "I think people want choices. They understand that we've got to address this issue and they want some leadership to get it done." The former New Hampshire governor is running to represent her home state in the Senate, attempting to unseat Republican incumbent John Sununu. Shaheen's made energy and climate issues a centerpiece of her campaign, calling for closer regulation of the oil industry, increasing investment in renewable energy, and earning endorsements from a handful of green groups along the way. Shaheen spoke to Grist about climate, energy, and jumping back into politics.

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new in Gristmill: Granite State rematch

Coming Friday: Author Claire Hope Cummings talks about the future of seeds

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