Articles Tagged With ‘Environment’




Historic proposed state policy against use of sea water

By JACK McCURDY A landmark new state policy that for the first time would restrict and phase out use of estuary, delta and ocean water for cooling coastal power plants has drawn the adamant opposition of the Coastal Alliance on... (Continue reading)

Smoking ban at beaches and parks approved

California lawmakers voted Monday to ban smoking at 278 beaches and state parks in one of the nation’s far-reaching regulation of tobacco. [Los Angeles Times] The new legislation calls for fines up to $100 for those caught smoking at a... (Continue reading)

Dunes air pollution debate continues this week

The recent study by the Air Pollution Control District (APCD), linking poor air quality on the Nipomo Mesa to offroad vehicles in the Oceano Dunes, is on the agenda at several public meetings this week. The South County Advisory Council... (Continue reading)

Santa Monica sushi restaurant closes after whale meat controversy

The Santa Monica restaurant  facing federal charges for illegally serving endangered whale meat appears to be closed. [Los Angeles Times] On Friday, the management of The Hump, an upscale eatery at the Santa Monica Airport, posted an announcement on its... (Continue reading)

Weed Killer turns boy frogs into girls

Atrazine, a commonly used weed killer in California, turns male frogs into reproducing female frogs, according to a study performed by University of California at Berkeley researchers. [Reuters] First, atrazine-exposed male frogs develop female features – termed hermaphroditism. Then a... (Continue reading)

Otter relocation program dubbed a failure

An attempt to draw a line in the ocean to separate sea otters from fisherman is not working because the otters have failed to cooperate, causing several different groups to fight over proposed changes to the 23-year-old policy. [ABC] Fish... (Continue reading)

Oil company, environmental groups in secret deal

Three major Santa Barbara environmental groups allegedly agreed to support a controversial offshore oil drilling project in 2008, in exchange for $100,000 and other benefits. [Associated Press] The confidential agreement involved Plains Exploration & Production and local environmental groups, including... (Continue reading)

ECOSLO official charged with embezzlement

The executive director of ECOSLO, a prominent Central Coast environmental group, is being charged with embezzlement. [New Times] Morgan Rafferty, who has served as executive director of ECOSLO since 2006, is alleged to have embezzled more than $33,000 as the... (Continue reading)

Governor seeks to terminate environmental restrictions

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wants 100 major construction projects across the state exempted from California environmental laws. [Capitol Weekly] The plan, already coming under heavy attack, would block the power of the courts to review 25 projects each year, from 2011... (Continue reading)

The climate change challenge

BY DR. RAY WEYMANN In a recent essay on this web site, (“The Climate Change Hoax”), Matt Kokkonen correctly calls attention to three facts regarding climate change and global warming and manages to draw erroneous conclusions from each of them:... (Continue reading)