ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JULY 8 – 14
STUDY: BIRTH DEFECT RATE HIGH IN CORPUS AREA
Houston Chronicle 7/13/06
CORPUS CHRISTI – Babies born in the Corpus Christi area are more likely to have birth defects than those born in other parts of Texas, according to a newly released state study.
EAST END AREA’S AIR IMPROVES; OTHERS WORSEN
Houston Chronicle 7/8/06
The air in one of Houston’s most polluted neighborhoods is getting cleaner, but levels of hazardous air pollutants in other Ship Channel communities are rising, a preliminary analysis of the latest state air quality data shows.
NEW ASSESSMENT OF DIOXIN CANCER RISK NEEDED
Reuters 7/13/06
WASHINGTON – The cancer risk from the chemical dioxin – present in some US soil, food supplies, and most Americans’ bodies – needs to be reassessed by the Environmental Protection Agency before it sets a new standard for cleanup, a US scientific panel reported Tuesday.
ETHANOL WON’T SOLVE ENERGY PROBLEMS
Environmental News Service 7/11/06
WASHINGTONÂ – Ethanol is far from a cure-all for the nation’s energy problems. It’s not as environmentally friendly as some supporters claim and would supply only 12 percent of US motoring fuel – even if every acre of corn were used.
USDA QUESTIONS SUGAR-TO-ETHANOL PROFITS
EAST END ACCESS
Houston Chronicle 7/10/06
Noisy protests over a possible light rail line on Richmond have eclipsed a quieter discussion of where to put rapid transit in the East End, a historic neighborhood in the midst of economic revival and on the threshold of gentrification.
RAILROAD QUIET ZONES
Houston Chronicle 7/12/06
Residents who live along the Union Pacific railroad tracks from Memorial Park to Willowbend might be able to get a better night’s sleep once a rule prohibiting most train horns begins Aug 1.
BATTLESHIP TEXAS WILL SEEK SOLID GROUND
Houston Chronicle 7/8/06
The historic Battleship Texas fought and won two world wars but is losing its current fight with a more relentless enemy ó water.
COASTAL OFFICIALS TRY TO BATTLE EROSION
Brazosport Facts 7/8/06
SURFSIDE BEACHÂ – To attract vanishing federal dollars to fight beach erosion, counties will need to combine their efforts, some Surfside Beach officials say.
OVERFISHING A PROBLEM IN GULF
Houston Associated Press July 10, 2006, 11:48PM
MOBILE, ALA. – For years, millions of people have traveled to summer retreats along the Gulf of Mexico, with many ultimately putting down permanent sandy roots on the coast.
OPPOSITION STRONG AGAINST SPACEPORT AT FORUM
Brazosport Facts 7/12/06
LAKE JACKSON – Hundreds crowded the Lake Jackson Civic Center on Tuesday evening during a public forum on the local spaceport project which primarily drew opposition to the development.
WHEN MOSQUITOES BUZZ, LOVE BLOOMS
Galveston Daily News 7/11/06
To a mosquito, that irritating buzzing sound that zips past your ear in the middle of the night could be the sweet sound of seduction.
OFFICIALS IN BASTROP WORK TO SHOO AWAY VULTURES
Houston Chronicle 7/10/06
BASTROP – Officials will close a Lake Bastrop park this week while they work to reduce the population of black vultures, which are an increasing annoyance with their habit of scratching vehicles and picking rubber objects.
INTERVIEW – ENVIRONMENT BECOMING NEW HEDGE FUND PLAY
Reuters 7/10/06
NEW YORK – Clean energy projects may not only reduce global warming, but could also help patient hedge funds make money, according to an author of a book on funds.