ENVIRONMENTAL HEADLINES, JANUARY 13 – 19

ENERGY GIANTS BACK PROGRAM TO ‘CAP AND TRADE’ CARBON EMISSIONS
Houston Chronicle 1/18/07
After years of loudly challenging the theory of global warming, a growing number of energy companies are saying the regulation of greenhouse gases in the US is inevitable and are even lining up behind proposed legislation to do so.

EXXON MEETS GREEN GROUPS AS CLIMATE FOCUS SURGES
REPORT: BP FAILED TO FOCUS ON PROCESS SAFETY
Galveston County Daily News 1/17/07
BP’s management failed to focus on overall process safety at its U.S. refinery operations, according to a report released early Tuesday.

BP’S NEIGHBORS AWARE OF DANGER

BP SAYS TO BUILD 5 WIND PROJECTS IN US

OFFICIAL TO TELL SENATE PANEL ABOUT ROYALTIES ISSUE
Houston Chronicle 1/18/07
WASHINGTON – Top officials at the US Minerals Management Service realized in 2004 the agency’s mishandling of offshore oil and gas leases could cost American taxpayers billions of dollars but responded with a “unanimous shrug.”

BUSH SIGNS BILL TO PREVENT OVERFISHING
Reuters 1/15/07
WASHINGTON – President George W. Bush on Friday signed legislation aimed at preventing overfishing in US waters.

EARTH’S SALVATION UNITES SCIENCE AND EVANGELICALS
Houston Chronicle 1/17/07
BOSTON – Some leading scientists and evangelical Christian leaders have agreed to put aside their fierce differences over the origin of life and work together to fight global warming.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES IN JEOPARDY AT UST
CLEAN January 2007
The future of a local university’s environmental studies program is in doubt after an administrative decision to terminate the major. Many University of St. Thomas students, faculty, and community members said they were shocked and angered by the decision. UST Dean of Arts and Sciences Jerry Kramer said a lack of funds for faculty and greater need in other University departments meant he had no choice but to recommend the termination.

BUFFALO BAYOU TO GET BOATHOUSE
Houston Business Journal 1/16/07
The Texas Dragon Boat Association plans to build the city’s first boathouse along Buffalo Bayou.

WILDLIFE SERVICE AGREES TO PUT REFUGE PROJECT ON HOLD UNTIL FEB 1
The Lufkin Daily News 1/15/07
The US Fish and Wildlife Service has agreed to put its Neches River National Wildlife Refuge project on hold until Feb. 1

IDLING GETS YOU NOWHERE
Green Tips, January 2007
Would you drive a car that gets zero miles to the gallon? Of course not. Yet that is your mileage whenever your engine idles. Idling wastes money and fuel, contributes to air pollution, and generates carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming. Some states even have laws limiting the amount of time cars can idle.