From ggallon@ecolog.com Thu Aug 26 17:13:03 2004
Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2004 12:55:20 -0400
From: ggallon@ecolog.com
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Subject: Gallon Newsletter
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THE GALLON ENVIRONMENT LETTER
Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
Fisherville, Ontario, Canada
Tel. 416 410-0432, Fax: 416 362-5231
Email editorial: info@cialgroup.com
Email circulation: ggallon@ecolog.com
Vol. 9, No. 16, August 24, 2004
Honoured Reader Edition
****************************************************
HONOURED READER EDITION
This is the honoured reader edition of the Gallon Environment Letter and
is distributed at no charge. To add or delete your email from this free
edition send a note with Add or Delete and your email to Email
circulation ggallon@ecolog.com. Paid subscribers receive a more complete
edition without subscription reminders and with extensive links to
further information following almost every article.Organizational
subscribers also receive the monthly Sustainable Technology & Services
Supplement. If you would like to subscribe please visit
www.cialgroup.com/subscription. Individual subscriptions are only $30
including GST. Organizational subscriptions are $184 plus GST and provide
additional benefits detailed on the web site. If you feel you should be
receiving the paid subscriber edition or have other subscriber questions
please contact us at info@cialgroup.com .
****************************************************
ABOUT THIS ISSUE
With the focus that the federal government is currently putting on
cities, GL thought it might be a good time to look at some leading edge
municipal sustainability initiatives from cities around the world.
Hopefully any new federal funding for municipalities, whether for capital
projects or operating costs, will continue to apply pressure for greater
municipal movement towards sustainable development.
Writing about municipalities also gives us a chance to remind you about
our Eco-Councillor contest to find the environment and sustainable
development leaders among municipal politicians in Canada. We are asking
you to nominate an elected municipal politician (mayor, alderman,
alderperson, councillor, member of municipal council) who has performed
outstanding environmental service in a neighbourhood, municipality, or
province. Details are provided later in this issue.
In case you missed it, the Mackenzie Valley Pipeline, subject of one of
the most extensive Royal Commissions ever, is now back on the agenda.
Sierra Club has been asking some relevant questions. Coal bed methane
poses some environmental challenges: we give you a quick primer later in
this issue. We also look at environmental shopping for back to school,
local bans on genetically modified products in California, some lessons
from Hurricane Charley, and present one of our most interesting
interviews ever: Beatrice Olivastri changed places with the CEO of a
major forest products company and shares her perspective on why she did
it and what she learned. To conclude we end with an article which
includes awards, water filters, and dung. Now there's a combination!
Our monthly Sustainable Technologies and Services Supplement, provided
for our organizational subscribers only, looks at IJC Job Opportunities,
Enviro News from Monterrey Mexico, PCBs: the Next Asbestos?, White
Biotechnology, the Business Week Cover Story on Global Warming, Smart
Growth Is Smart Business, Business Opportunities in Cuba, Funding for
Climate Change Tech Transfer, NEIA Supports P3 on Waste Management,
Plastic Bottle Recycling in Canada, and Burnside Newsletter Features
Community Innovations.
While you are enjoying this issue we'll be looking at a feature on noise
pollution for our next issue. Some people think that noise should not
even be characterized as pollution. Next issue, see what Gallon
Environment Letter thinks! And of course we'll have all of our regular
articles as well as another update on the Sustainable Technologies and
Services Summit. See you there!
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SUMMIT UPDATE
Canada's first Sustainable Technologies & Services Summit will be held at
the Chateau Laurier Hotel, Ottawa, November 14 - 16, 2004. For
information, sponsorship opportunities, exhibitor information,
registration forms, and program announcements visit www.stss.ca
Program announcement: Summit organizers are pleased to announce that a
keynote address on the state of the environment industry in the United
States will be presented by Grant Ferrier, President, Environmental
Business International, Inc., and Editor, Environmental Business Journal.
Watch this space and www.stss.ca for further program announcements.
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ENVIRONMENT CANADA HAS BEEN ON VACATION
Since the June 28th federal election, federal department web sites report
the total number of press releases and media advisories issued as
follows:
Department of National Defence
36
International Trade Canada:
20
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
20
Public Works & Government Services Canada
17
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada:
15
Industry Canada
8
Environment Canada
7
Colin Isaacs
Editor
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NIAGARA FALLS GONDOLA RIDE SCRAPPED
On August 20th, following overwhelming public opposition, the Niagara
Parks Commission announced that it is cancelling plans for a Niagara
Gondola Ride (GL Vol. 9, No. 15). While very welcome, the announcement
does not change the fact that the Parks Commission still seems to view
Niagara Falls more as the star attraction of a commercial theme park than
as an outstanding and unique natural resource to be protected for the
benefit of future generations.
In continuing research on the now cancelled gondola ride GL was dismayed
to find that the original official announcement of the highly unpopular
and environmentally pathetic gondola ride had been made not by the
Commission but by Ontario Tourism Minister Jim Bradley, often lauded as
the best Environment Minister Ontario has ever had. In a June 22 press
release Bradley was quoted as saying "this new attraction will lead to
further investment, increased visitations and tourism revenues here in
Niagara Falls and across the region." Nothing in the release about how
awful the ride would be for the natural environment. Ontario's new
Tourism Strategy, released by Bradley on June 22nd, does state that
"tourism interests need to be balanced with environmental principles" but
then gives no indication of how to achieve that objective. In any case,
GL dislikes the concept of "balance" because it suggests that
environmental considerations are a barrier to development rather than an
opportunity for more sustainable development.
Niagara Falls is still a national treasure, not the private plaything of
a group of unaccountable local entrepreneurs. Perhaps Bradley's
environmental values were accidently swept over the Falls this time. The
only solution is for Parks Canada to take over responsibility for this
national treasure.
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Implementing Sustainable Development in Cities
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EUROPEAN SUSTAINABLE CITY AWARDS RECOGNIZE INTEGRATING SUSTAINABILITY
The European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign recognized three
cities for its 2003 awards. The cities of Ferrara, Italy, Heidelberg,
Germany, and Oslo, Norway get to call themselves European Sustainable
City 2003. The campaign is linked to Local Agenda 21 which seeks to have
local government adopt and adapt the Agenda 21 document agreed to by
nations at the 1992 Earth Summit.
The overall integration of sustainability into all aspects of local
policy and action is demonstrated by the work done in these cities. The
award criteria considered that the cities had:
* Implemented all three dimensions of sustainable development: social,
economic and environmental.
* Adopted innovative approaches and reached out to their citizens.
* Established regular, effective and meaningful dialogue with their
citizens.
* Embedded sustainability in the institutional culture and practices.
* Applied good practices serving as a showcase for European cities.
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ECO-INDUSTRIAL PARK KALUNDBORG, DENMARK
One of the first eco-industrial parks was developed in Kalundborg,
Denmark by eight partners including the municipality. The partners are
BPB Gyproc, a plasterboard manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, pharmaceutical and
biotechnology company and Novozymes which produces enzymes, Energy E2
which operates Asnaes Power Station (Denmark's largest power station),
A/S Bioteknisk Jordrens, a soil remediation company, Noveren, an
inter-municipal waste treatment plant processing 125,000 tonnes a year
and Statoil refinery (Denmark's largest oil refinery). Kalundborg also
has the advantage of a harbour for shipping. Environmental and economic
benefits arise from the exchange between the companies of by-products
which serve as raw material for the receiving company. Among the 20
exchanges are:
* Asnaes Power produces district heat for the town replacing 3,500 oil
furnaces and produces process steam for Statoil, Novo Nordisk and
Novozymes. Cogeneration of heat and power increases efficiency of
fuel use by 30%. The power plant's cooling water is used for a fish
farm producing 200 tonnes of trout and salmon each year.
* Process water is reused as much as possible reducing total
consumption by 25%.
* Flare gas from Statoil refinery is sold to Asnaes for fuel to replace
coal and oil. Gyproc buys butane from Statoil.
* Sulfur removal using gypsum from flue gases at Asnaes results in
about 200,000 tonnes of gypsum sold to Gyproc to replace extracted
gypsum.
* Noveren receives waste products from local residents and businesses
for recycling including paper, rubble and cement for recrushing, yard
and park waste for soil amendments, organic waste such as food for
compost and biogas production.
A summary of what makes an ecopark effective includes:
* The companies must be diverse and in the right combination so that
one company's by-products is raw material for another.
* They must be near each other as the transport of residuals creates
environmental problems and increases costs. While some by-products
can be transported, closeness is particularly important when
exchanging energy.
* Companies must be open in terms of communication and trust. The fact
that Kalundborg is a small community (pop. 20,000) is seen as
enhancing the intimate working relationship between the partners.
For readers interested in Eco-Industrial Networking, the North American
Eco-Industrial Networking Roundtable will be held September 17 & 18, 2004
in Vancouver, BC. http://www.eco-industry.org/
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CONTAINING URBAN SPRAWL
The focus article in Environmental Health Perspectives August 2004
describes the health risks associated with urban sprawl. These include
poor air quality from vehicle emissions, water pollution and a built
environment which limits people's ability to take a walk. This leads to
obesity, heart disease and other medical problems.
Author Charles Schmidt gives examples of cities which are modelling
sprawl containment. Portland Oregon set a urban growth boundary in 1980
which was very controversial because initially it seemed to lead to high
housing costs. Costs are now said to be similar to other West Coast
cities. The city invests in ensuring that public transit connects homes,
schools and businesses. Walking and hiking paths connect neighbourhoods
which contain parks and other green spaces.
Atlanta, Georgia, after being out of compliance with the Clean Air Act,
chose a Livable Centres Initiative with planning focussed on mixed land
uses, affordable housing and alternative transportation funding. When
Atlanta made changes for the 1996 Summer Olympics by improving public
transit and reducing access to vehicles in certain areas, a study showed
morning peak traffic fell by 22%, childhood asthma attacks fell by 44%
and ground level ozone declined by 28%. Thomas Weyandt, director of
planning for the Atlanta Regional Commission said that they are studying
local zoning ordinances. Many of these perversely ban the very actions
which can lead to sustainable communities such as mixed use and high
density.
Three Canadian cities are listed on the top ten of "Most Sprawling World
Metro Regions": Calgary at number 5, Vancouver at number 6, and Toronto
at number 9. The top four cities on this list are in Australia.
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TANKING UP TO REDUCE WATER DEMAND IN AUSTRALIAN CITY
Water-saving has become a priority for Gold Coast City. This year the
city's drought communication Watch Every Drop received a national Banksia
Award which recognizes Australians for environmental action. The campaign
began in 2002 during the worst drought on record and succeeded in
reducing water consumption by 25% in the first three months. Reduced
consumption continues today.
Concern about future water shortage has led the city council to hire WBM
Oceanics Australia to model ideal water tanks for household use. The
study will be completed soon. The plan is to require all new homes to use
rainwater for bathroom, laundry and hot water to reduce the demand for
drinking water. A secondary benefit will be a reduction in the load on
storm sewers since more water will be retained in household rainwater
tanks.
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MOBILITY IN DEVELOPING CITIES
Transportation industry members of the World Business Council, such as
automobile manufacturers, BP, Norsk Hydro, Royal Dutch/Shell and
Michelin, have participated in a report on mobility issues in developing
country cities. Unlike industrialized countries, increased mobility in
the developing world generally means greater use of public
transportation.
Rapid change is affecting developing cities. In China, urban land now has
a price which means that cost of land is now a factor in determining
where both businesses and residents will locate. In Mexico, political
changes may affect transportation. For example, public buses are often
not allowed to cross state lines. Population increases in Middle East
cities makes it difficult for governments to keep up with infrastructure
and transit.
Most developing cities are much more dense than cities in industrialized
countries. Shanghai has densities five times that of Manhattan, the
highest in the US. This density provides a high volume for public transit
but any trend towards automobiles creates huge pressures. Ironically some
cities are encouraging a trend towards motorization (automobiles, two or
three wheelers with motors). For example, in some Chinese cities,
bicycles are discouraged because they are seen to interfere with traffic,
take up road space and reduce customers for public transit. In Beijing,
the city has gone one step further by restricting motorized two wheelers
so that a proportion of the people move up to cars. In Taipei, a large
manufacturing centre for bicycles, the roads are made for motor vehicles
with a side lane for two-wheelers, almost all of them motorized. To
survive in the city, few people use bicycles.
The type of land development has a crucial effect on mobility. A planned
city, Pudong, began in 1995 across the river from Shanghai. It balances
the residential population of about 1 million with offices and industries
providing employment. It is connected to Shanghai with public transit and
tunnels. Pudong appears to work well.
Bus rapid transit modelled on the busways in Curitiba, Brazil has buses
travelling on exclusive roads and is being funded by the World Bank. In
Canada, Ottawa is an example of the success of such a system. In
Curitiba, 70% of people ride the large capacity (200-300 people) buses
which provide a frequent service and load fast because of a prepaid fare
system.
World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Mobility 2030: The
Sustainable Mobility Project. Full Report. Stevenage, England: WBCSD c/o
SMI (distribution services) Ltd., 2004.
http://www.wbcsd.org/web/publications/mobility/mobility-full.pdf
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VANCOUVER'S BUS RAPID TRANSIT AMONG AWARD WINNERS
The Canadian Urban Transit Association recently recognized a number of
transit achievements. Among these were promotional events such as
Montreal's "Public transit...you have choices", green technologies such
as the Carmanah Technologies Inc. solar-powered i-STOP bus stops, and a
traffic-light priority system for transit vehicles in Longueuil.
Environment Canada helped to fund Windsor's free transit on smog days.
Halifax's Metro Transit was recognized for the role drivers and buses
made during the State of Emergency due to Hurricane Juan on September 28,
2003 including evacuation of a large apartment complex.
Also recognized was Vancouver's B-Line bus system. It has limited stops,
frequent service all day and specially painted low-floor buses on three
routes which in the future could become rail transit. The newest route
begins with a 2.5 km landscaped median busway in Richmond, and ends on a
one kilometre bus lane in Vancouver. Technology includes automatic
vehicle location, on board visual and audio bus stop announcements, next
bus information at stops, and distinctive bus shelters. The service
reduces travel time by 20% compared to previous transit. Automobile
reduction is estimated to be 8 million kilometres annually; according to
passenger surveys, all three lines have 20-23% of riders who used to use
their automobile. The B-Line service requires 25% fewer vehicles and
saves capital and operating costs for the Greater Vancouver
Transportation Authority. Benefits exceed costs by 30%.
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LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF WASTE MANAGEMENT
The original 15 countries in the European Union generate two billion
tonnes of waste each year. In April, the European Commission hosted a
workshop to promote the use of integrated waste management and life cycle
assessment. Presentations covered many aspects including a life cycle
inventory model for thermal treatment of municipal solid waste, energy
footprint analysis, and life cycle impacts of waste management options
(e.g. recycling, burning, landfilling) for specific material such as
newspapers, construction and demolition waste and electronic waste.
Dr. Forbes McDougall, Corporate Sustainable Development, Procter & Gamble
UK, defined sustainable waste management as environmentally effective,
economically affordable and socially acceptable. Integrated waste
management optimizes waste management practices through a range of
treatment options and takes into account the entire solid waste stream.
The concept encompasses collection and sorting, biological treatment,
thermal treatment, materials recycling and landfill. There is now a trend
towards a broader concept from waste management to resources management.
Life cycle assessment helps to make integrated waste management
sustainable. LCA provides measures for:
* Inputs such as waste, energy, other materials, and money.
* Outputs such as air emissions, water emissions and residual landfill
material.
* Products such as recovered/secondary materials, composts and usable
energy.
* Based on the above data, compiled information such as effect on
landfill capacity and net environmental impact of different options.
LCA helps to characterize the waste, provide data on the total amount of
waste, the impact on landfill space and the environmental impacts so
management decisions are better than arbitrary. Without this tool, scarce
money is wasted on systems which fail to deliver the services need and
which pollute the environment.
McDougall gave examples of use of LCA in developing cities. In Puerto
Ordaz, Venezuela, a comparative LCA (2001) evaluated the burden of an
existing waste management system to future alternative developments of
the system. A study in Valle de Bravo, Mexico using LCA modelling to
characterize the waste is expected to be completed in 2004. A previous
study in another city has not been applied because the Mayor changed but
Valle de Bravo's Mayor has just been re-elected for three years. The
results of an LCA in Jeddah, Saudia Arabia, are expected to guide
alternative integrated waste management systems there.
Subscribers see a link to more information here.
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AVOIDING WASTE IN THE URBAN FOREST
According to a 2001 book, 200 million cubic yards of urban tree and
landscape residue are generated annually. The logs alone could produce
3.8 billion board feet of lumber or 30% of total US production of
hardwood lumber. Reasons for tree removal may be storms, insect damage,
or urban development. Disposal of these valuable resources represents a
waste of money and a waste of resources for municipalities and their
citizens.
The book explores sixteen projects with the aim to encourage
municipalities to look at higher value-added products from urban trees,
many of which are exotic hardwoods. Among ways to generate revenue are:
* Marketing sawlogs from street tree removals.
* Using portable sawmills to produce lumber for local use such as
picnic tables, landscape ties, community centre flooring, wildlife
viewing platforms, shelters and panelling. One town used ash trees
for outdoor tables which were almost indestructible saving costs in
maintenance for the long term.
* Trees to furniture programs. Woodworkers buy good quality wood such
as cherry.
* Artisan wood products. For example, Urban Forest Woodworks makes
handcrafted jewelry and corporate boxes often with six different
woods.
* Separating logs so they can be sold for their highest and best use
e.g. sawlogs, pulpwood, firewood sold at municipal campgrounds, chips
for erosion control and municipal landscaping or for use by
homeowners.
Subscribers see a link to the report here.
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THE FORT WORTH WAY WITH ASBESTOS IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS
When Fort Worth, Texas City Council designated about 50 facilities
including old bowling alleys, taverns, grocery stores, automotive service
stations, church, shopping malls and multi-family residences as needing
to be demolished immediately, the costs of removing asbestos, as required
by the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants
(NESHAP), were high. The city had 3,250 abandoned structures. While some
of these could be rehabilitated, many of them would need to be demolished
some time. The problem is one shared by many cities, large and small,
with one estimate being that 18% of urban structures in US cities are
unused. Projects in Fort Worth indicate that asbestos removal from
commercial buildings can be as much as 57% of the cost of the demolition.
In residential cases, asbestos can account for as much as 76% of the
cost. For example a house demolition costing $13,880 included $10,535 in
asbestos removal costs.
The City has budgeted $650,000 in year 2004 for demolition but one site
alone, the Cowtown Inn, would cost twice this annual budget. The City
sees abandoned buildings having serious negative effects: fire hazards,
criminal activity, disease from rodents and insects, safety problems,
lowered property values, lost tax revenues, wasted resources and economic
and social problems in neighbourhoods fragmented with these dilapidated
buildings. Buildings may also represent environmental hazards if they
contain abandoned chemical drums or other remnants of previous industrial
activities.
The Asbestos NESHAP allows for the demolition of buildings without
removal of asbestos if they are "in danger of imminent collapse." Rather
than wait that long, Fort Worth has filed an application with the US EPA
for regulatory flexibility for what it calls the Fort Worth Method. If
granted, this will allow demolition before the building qualifies under
the danger of imminent collapse clause. Some of the asbestos as well as
hazardous wastes, lighting, cleaning products and air conditioning
coolant will be removed. The area will then be kept wet to stop remaining
asbestos fibres from being released to the air. The community is involved
in a stakeholder process.
US EPA is trialing the Fort Worth Method.
Subscribers see a link to more information here.
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A LEG UP FOR ONE-TONNE CHALLENGE
The London (Ontario) Energuide Partnership program was launched on July
15 to meet the federal government's One-Tonne Challenge for reducing
greenhouse gas emissions by one tonne a year. The partnership includes
the City of London, the London Home Builders Association, the Government
of Canada, the Province of Ontario, London Hydro, Union Gas, the London &
St. Thomas Real Estate Board, and EnerQuality Cooperation. The project is
intended to promote energy efficiency to businesses and residents by
raising awareness of programs such as EnerGuide for Houses, which rates
houses for energy efficiency, and ENERGY STAR(R)), which ensures
equipment such as refrigerators and windows meets energy efficiency
standards. Two London area homebuilders, Fusion Homes and Reids Heritage
Homes are providing energy-efficiency upgrades to new home buyers.
Subscribers see a link to more information here.
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CARBONNEUTRAL NEWCASTLE
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the North East of England, has committed to a
campaign for climate change. City council in association with Future
Forests has established a non-profit agency, CarbonNeutralNewcastle.
Clean energy projects and tree planting will be funded by individuals and
companies. Payments are tax deductible.
The project has a protocol for assessment of greenhouse gas emissions,
and auditable trails to substantiate the CarbonNeutral claim and to track
the emission reductions purchased or achieved. About 3000 homes and 200
business have switched to green energy as part of the campaign. Various
organizations and businesses have undertaken CarbonNeutral events, one
recycler made the curbside recycling vehicles CarbonNeutral and even a
local band Funk Conspiracy became CarbonNeutral.
Projects are chosen with three things in mind: improvement to the local
economy and environment, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and long
term sustainable development of the region. One project involves
supplying affordable warmth to about a third of Newcastle's homes for the
next three years. Three locally accessible forests are being planted with
indigenous trees. A solar power project for about 25 homes is being
installed in a housing block. Participants are encouraged to switch to
Scottish Power's green energy to "help make Newcastle the world's first
CarbonNeutral city!"
Subscribers see a link to more information here.
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CALIFORNIA MENDOCINO COUNTY VOTERS SAY NO TO GMO
On March 2, 2004, voters in Mendocino County approved Measure H, the
first-in-the-nation local GMO-free resolution. Measure H made it
"unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to propagate, cultivate,
raise, or grow genetically modified organisms in Mendocino County." One
of the supporters of the measure was Fetzer Vineyards which is the
county's largest wine producer and which was among the first to introduce
organic wine. Voter approval spurred anti-biotech groups to encourage
other communities around the world to follow suit and a number of
California counties have a GMO-free resolution on the ballot for
November. An activist group, the Organic Consumers Association, supports
the anti-GM initiatives. OCA lists Maude Barlow from the Council of
Canadians as one of its advisory board.
The industry, represented by Croplife America, wants to stop such
policies by getting the state or federal governments to prevent the local
governments from regulating biotech products through local bans. Since
the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration approve the crops, the
industry believes that such legal products cannot be banned by local
jurisdictions.
Subscribers see a link to more information here. Subscriptions cost only
$30 per year for individuals. To subscribe please visit
www.cialgroup.com/subscription.
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****************************************************
HONOURED READER EDITION
This is the honoured reader edition of the Gallon Environment Letter and
is distributed at no charge. To add or delete your email from this free
edition send a note with Add or Delete and your email to Email
circulation ggallon@ecolog.com. Paid subscribers receive a more complete
edition without subscription reminders and with extensive links to
further information following almost every article.Organizational
subscribers also receive the monthly Sustainable Technology & Services
Supplement. If you would like to subscribe please visit
www.cialgroup.com/subscription. Individual subscriptions are only $30
including GST. Organizational subscriptions are $184 plus GST and provide
additional benefits detailed on the web site. If you feel you should be
receiving the paid subscriber edition or have other subscriber questions
please contact us at info@cialgroup.com .
****************************************************
****************************************************
OUR ECO-COUNCILLOR CONTEST
GL cannot possibly know all of the municipal councillors across Canada,
but you, our readers may know of some who are making a strong
contribution to the environment. We are looking to set up an Honour Roll
of Eco-Councillors and to give top honours to the best. Here is what we
are asking you to do:
1) Nominate an elected municipal politician (mayor, alderman,
alderperson, councillor, member of municipal council) who has performed
outstanding environmental service in a neighbourhood, municipality, or
province. The outstanding environmental service should be connected to
the person's role as a municipal politician and maybe in the form of
pushing for an excellent environmental policy or program or running an
outstanding environmental project. We leave the definition of what
constitutes an environmental project to you, except to note that GL
particularly likes the concept of Sustainable Development which
incorporates environmental, economic, and social aspects.
2) Send a brief description, no more than 300 words, describing the
outstanding environmental performance performed by the individual.
3) Include the name of the politician, their municipality, position, and
contact information. Also include the name and contact information of the
nominator.
4) Unfortunately we must limit nominations to elected politicians in
Canadian municipalities.
5) To ensure we find the very best of Canada's environmentally-oriented
municipal politicians, we will accept self-nominations. However,
politicians who nominate themselves should include third-party
endorsation either in the form of a letter from a local environmentalist
or a copy of an article from a newspaper or independent newsletter
describing their work.
Send your nominations by email to colin@cialgroup.com with the subject
line Eco-Councillor contest. Attachments containing supplementary
information are acceptable but should consist of no more than 2 pages.
Deadline for entries is September 30th. Remember, only municipal
councillors who are nominated can make it on to the Gallon Letter Honour
Role of Eco-Councillors.
The winning entries will be announced at the Sustainable Technologies and
Services Summit, to be held in Ottawa in November, and the top
Eco-Councillor in Canada will be invited to Ottawa to receive a
presentation at the Summit.
The judging panel will be announced in the next issue of Gallon
Environment Letter.
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FERNIE BC IN CENTRE OF BORDER DISPUTE
Fernie, a small resort town just 3 hours from Calgary, is featuring large
in a US-Canada dispute about potential water pollution from drilling for
coalbed methane projects. The projects are being promoted by the BC
government but are opposed by the municipal council in Fernie as well as
by Fernie's US neighbours.
According to the Union of BC Municipalities, the province has promoted
the exploration and development of coalbed methane by providing
incentives and has sold $50 million in drilling rights. Coalbed methane
poses high risk to groundwater because of the large volumes which result
from methane extraction. The water can be contaminated with salt and
sulphur and during disposal may pollute the groundwater. The Union says
that the BC government has not completed baseline studies in the
watershed or developed the necessary policies, procedures, regulations
and enforcement tools to protect communities.
The fact that Fernie is against the development is an oft-quoted fact by
those in the US who are asking that the International Joint Commission
review the BC plans for the transboundary environmental impacts on US
watersheds. Governor of Montana Judy Martz has requested Canada's
Environment Minister Stephane Dion and Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre
Pettigrew to ensure that a comprehensive environmental assessment is
done. Because the sales are licenses rather than actual projects, Richard
Neufeld, BC Minister of Energy and Mines, says there is nothing to
assess. He also said that BC environmental standards are high and besides
Montana already has 300 coalbed methane wells of its own.
A Christian Science Monitor article by Todd Wilkinson adds other examples
which indicate there is a growing conflict between Canada and the US on
transboundary pollution. This mirrors the situation along the US Mexico
border. Stephane Dion should be busy.
Subscribers see a link to more information here. Subscriptions cost only
$30 per year for individuals. To subscribe please visit
www.cialgroup.com/subscription.
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COALBED METHANE WELLS
Coalbed methane extraction supplies 8% of US natural gas needs but is
controversial because of a history of environmental degradation. In a
typical move (if you can't solve the problem change the name) the
Canadian Coalbed Methane Forum has dropped the coalbed methane name and
now prefers the term Natural Gas Production from Coal (NGC). It has also
renamed itself the Canadian Society for Unconventional Gas. CSUG states
that the poor environmental history does not have to be repeated in
Canada.
Specific environmental concerns being addressed by the industry are:
* The high number of wells, usually 2 to 8 but sometimes as high as 16
per square mile. Technologies such as directional drilling may reduce
well density.
* Disturbances to wildlife and habitat. The industry says it is working
on reducing the surface impacts of wells and pipelines and reclaiming
the sites afterwards.
* High water generation due to depressuring the coal seam. The water is
in the seam and is pumped out to reduce the natural pressure in the
coal bed. The amount and quality of the water varies. If the water is
salty, it can sometimes be reinjected into a deep saline aquifer as
is done in oilfields. Fresh water can be used or disposed of in a
number ways to be decided with stakeholders and regulators.
* Private property effects. Rights of access to private land produce
noise, dust, traffic and aesthetic changes to the landscape. The
industry is working on reducing incremental cumulative effects for
example by using existing roads and pipeline routes. The industry
commits to responsible development of this resource using the best
available technologies and taking into account the social,
environmental and economic impacts of development.
Estimates of coalbed methane in Canada vary from 150 trillion to more
than 3,000 trillion cubic feet of gas. In 2003, EnCana became the first
company to commercially develop CBM with over 300 wells on lands east of
Calgary producing 10 million cubic feet per day by the end of the year.
New technologies such as injecting CO2 into underground coal seams have
the potential to store the greenhouse gas while extracting methane.
Subscribers see a link to more information here. Subscriptions cost only
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www.cialgroup.com/subscription.
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MACKENZIE VALLEY PIPELINE ON THE AGENDA AGAIN
Prime Minister Paul Martin visited Inuvik, population 3,500, in
mid-August. One purpose of the trip was to discuss the proposed Mackenzie
Valley pipeline for carrying gas south from the Beaufort Sea with
Northwest Territories Premier Joe Handley. Handley wants to ensure that
northern peoples gain from the development. Inuvik would be at the start
of the pipeline. Land claims and environmental issues are challenges.
Inuvik's Igloo Church, a northern landmark, reflects the Inuit culture in
its large scale resemblance to the snow shelters. Buildings in the far
north require construction techniques which ensure that the permafrost
remains frozen. Homes are usually built on pilings so the warmth of the
building is separated from the ground. The Igloo Church is built with a
unique technique using a metre deep gravel foundation.
A former arena has been converted to a greenhouse - the most northern
commercial greenhouse in North America, now in its fifth year. The
extension of the growing season makes a big difference to a town where
spring doesn't come until June and summer could be over in August. The 24
hour days from late May to mid-July help speed plant growth indoors. The
greenhouse includes 70 community garden plots for rent and a 4,000 sq.
ft. commercial greenhouse. Although fertilizers are allowed, pesticides
and herbicides are banned. A community compost program is planned to
improve the soil. In a place where fresh produce is extremely expensive,
growing your own can reduce the food bill and promote better health.
GL's editor has great memories of driving the Dempster Highway from near
Dawson City (KM 0 with the next service point at KM 365) to Inuvik,
overnighting at the campsites along the way. Spectacular mountain
scenery, grizzly bears in their element, First Nations' people in fish
camps, and harvesting traditional country food such as berries, and
crossing the Arctic Circle are just a few of the highlights. That
wolverine which jumped onto the hood of the car just after we got back
inside was rather memorable too!
Subscribers see a link to more information here.
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SIERRA CLUB QUESTIONS PM ON MACKENZIE GAS PIPELINE
While the Prime Minister was in the North, the Sierra Club asked him to
ponder a couple of questions related to the Mackenzie Gas Pipeline before
meeting Premier Handley in Inuvik.
Question 1: How will Canada meet its Kyoto Protocol targets given that
Mackenzie gas will be used to extract oil from the Alberta tar sands?
TransCanada Pipelines' agreement with the Dene Tha' First Nation will
result in the Mackenzie gas being carried to extract oil from tar sands
which generate 2.5 times the greenhouse gas emissions of conventional
oil.
Question 2: How will massive fossil fuel industrialization triggered by
the MGP advance the sustainability of Mackenzie communities and
ecosystems?
The Mackenzie River as Canada's wildest big river has huge tracts of
undisturbed ecosystems and the MGP would have environmental effects which
include melting of permafrost, loss of boreal forest and habitat. Other
options such as alternative energy may be better for the future
sustainability of northern communities.
Sierra Club of Canada. Sierra Club of Canada. Mackenzie Gas Project: Two
Questions for the Prime Minister. Press Release. August 12th 2004.
http://www.sierraclub.ca/pipermail/scc-issue-alerts/2004-August/000038.html
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GREENER BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPING
According to ACNielsen, Canada's biggest retail seasons are Christmas,
spring and back-to-school.
A US Back to School Guide by the Center for a New American Dream provides
some tips on how students can make a statement with their new gear: I
care about the planet. A buying guide recommends that if last year's
school supplies cannot be reused, that students not only buy better
products which reduce natural resource use and are socially responsible
but also become activists to influence the market such as suggestion
cards and talking points to discuss with store managers, school
administrators and school parent councils.
Examples of products with specific brand names are:
* Paper with a high post-consumer recycled content, and chlorine-free
processing. Example: Treecycle Earth Friendly.
* Pencils & Pens made from high post-consumer content or wood certified
by the Forest Stewardship Council. Example: Dixon Ticonderoga pencils
and Wheely's Pens.
* White Tape. Avoid White Out. Use white tape instead. Example:
Post-It.
* Scissors, Rulers, Binders. Look for no PVC and recycled content.
Example: Kleen Earth Recycled Stainless Steel Scissors and Recycled
Plastic ruler, TuffStuff Recycled binders.
* Backpacks and lunch bags - Avoid PVC and go for recycled rubber,
organic cotton, wool or hemp. Example: Green Earth Office Supply
lunch bags.
* Shoes and Clothing. Sweatshop free or organic cotton. Example:
American Apparel, Patagonia.
Note that not all the products mentioned may be available in Canada.
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www.cialgroup.com/subscription.
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BIG WIND REQUIRES IMPROVED BUILDING STANDARDS
In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused 61 deaths and $26.5 billion dollars in
damages in Florida. Although Florida implemented higher building
standards after Andrew, some feel that overall the US lacks adequate
standards for buildings resistant to high winds. Current Florida
standards are intended to be adequate for 100 - 110 mile per hour winds.
Hurricane Charley was a Category 4 hurricane with winds of more than 145
mph. Trailer parks are at particular risk and did not have a chance even
if the homes themselves met the code.
In 2000, Dr. Bo Kasal, professor of wood engineering and mechanics as
North Carolina State University, said that current building codes contain
only minimal requirements to protect frame wood buildings from hurricane
force winds. While the standards might mean that a low-rise box-type
house survives, the standards are not written to protect the complex,
large, multilevel houses now commonly built in coastal areas.
Lack of code enforcement and deficiencies in construction exacerbate the
hazards. Kasal recommended performance standards rather than prescriptive
standards as long as the plan is approved by a structural engineer.
Performance standards would reduce the amount of material used and foster
construction techniques to reinforce the structural integrity, for
example more interior load-bearing walls and continuous load paths to
transfer the wind loads to the foundation. He predicted that the impacts
of hurricanes is going to be more severe due to the increased population
density on the coasts.
Kasal said the US federal government spends only $5 million a year on
encouraging practices and policies to prevent damage from wind disasters
but huge amounts afterwards. Spending more before hand to improve
national building standards able to resist high winds would reduce the
negative impacts on society.
Subscribers see a link to more information here. Subscriptions cost only
$30 per year for individuals. To subscribe please visit
www.cialgroup.com/subscription.
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DON'T WASTE THAT TREE DEBRIS
A New York company, Green Energy Resources, has asked the Florida state
government to chip trees and fallen branches from Hurricane Charley
rather than dump or burn the storm damaged waste wood as is usually done
in emergency clean-up. Company CEO Joseph Murray committed to buying 1
million tons of the woodchips for renewable energy projects. Murray
suggests that urban trees represent a huge resource. If an urban tree
certification system were put in place this wood could become preferred
among buyers who seek certified wood.
Green Energy Resources, Inc. Encourages Recycling of Wood Waste Following
Hurricane Charley, to Offset Damage Costs. Huntington, NY: August 16,
2004. http://www.nyill.com/pages/2/index.htm [Thanks to the Recycling
Council of Ontario for this lead. One of the benefits of RCO membership
is a daily email of headlines of half a dozen stories on waste and
recycling.]
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FOE HEAD BEATRICE OLIVASTRI TRACKS A FOREST INDUSTRY LEADER
Last GL we mentioned a job exchange between World Wildlife Fund Canada
CEO Monte Hummel and Inco CEO Scott Hand. In May the corporate social
responsibility magazine Corporate Knights arranged a similar exchange
between Beatrice Olivastri, CEO of Friends of the Earth Canada, and Frank
Dottori, CEO of Canadian forest products company Tembec. GL talked to
Beatrice Olivastri.
GL: What attracted you to participate in this exchange?
BO: I had met Toby Heaps, the editor of Corporate Knights, at a
conference. He suggested I do an exchange with the CEO of a mining
company but FOE is very interested in renewable resources, especially
biomass and biofuels. A major forestry company was a better match.
Although FOE has cited Tembec as one of many examples in a complaint to
the NAFTA Commission for Environmental Cooperation regarding forest
products industry non-enforcement, I recognize the company also shows
environmental leadership.
GL: Tembec is far from the worst polluter. Wouldn't it have been better
to pick a company with a poorer environmental reputation?
BO: We didn't want to learn about the worst offenders or the dark side of
polluters - I've seen enough of those!
To give Tembec credit, a less environmentally responsible company might
have been unwilling to participate. Even some Tembec people were not one
hundred per cent comfortable with my presence but the company managed
well on their side. The forest sector presents a huge opportunity in
building a restorative economy by not only protecting but enhancing
natural capital.
GL: I thought that the objective would be to show the company the
benefits of being environmentally responsible but you seem to be saying
that you wanted to see what makes a company choose to be environmentally
responsible?
BO: If we were doing this twenty years ago, it could have been seen as
the good guys showing the bad guys how to do it right. Now it is two
forces in society learning from each other to apply the best of their
abilities for the benefit of the planet. I wasn't planning to teach them:
FOE does not have the holy grail on sustainable development. The exchange
took place not at a plant but at a meeting of 250 executives from all the
units worldwide. Now we have a relationship with the company, I am going
to be visiting their high tech pulp mill in Temiscaming.
GL: What insights do you have from the exchange?
BO: Two main insights. One is the huge disconnect between what they do
and what their shareholders value. It makes me wonder how long they can
afford to invest in environmental improvements if neither the investors,
the community or the marketplace see such improvements as having value.
They have a major contract with Home Depot but relying too much on one
big customer is a potential problem.
The second insight is on the internal objectives which outsiders often
have difficulty evaluating. At Tembec, there are two very aggressive
targets. One is the Forever Green programme for harvesting and the other
is a Zero Emission Commitment which involves effluent as well as being
100% off fossil fuels by 2008. These require major investments and
present the company with a major challenge. I urged them to continue to
work towards these targets but I recognize that achieving them will be
difficult.
GL: What benefit do you think you offered the company?
BO: For example, I suggested that they consider the opportunities of
generating their own electricity; they were on that track already. In the
wrapup, I challenged the company to stick to the targets but, because it
is expensive and lonely to be out in front, they might at some point
consider giving the program to the industry association to develop into a
Responsible Products program.
It is not appropriate for FOE to say "Buy Tembec" but we are going to
work on revitalizing customers and consumers to be more vigilant and
encourage them to invest in or buy from companies which are environmental
leaders.
GL: What were the benefits for FOE?
BO: The exchange has developed a lot of goodwill between FOE and Tembec.
One project we will do together is on endocrine disrupters and pulp
sludge. Tembec has many policies and practices in place which FOE has
been talking about. They opened up a lot of confidential discussions
(which were not taped) but a lot of the exchange was taped for a future
television program. Of particular interest is the use of performance
recognition bonusing for improved environmental performance.
FOE's approach addresses industry leaders and laggards and what needs to
be done to level the playing field to bring the laggards along. By
learning about the internal aspirations of this company, we can learn
more about what drives other companies and how those of us pressuring
from the outside can influence them towards sustainable development.
It is also useful to benchmark the internal programs to external programs
such as the Forest Stewardship Council certification. It is not a case of
one or the other but that a number of programs are needed to fill the
gap.
I was very interested in the closeness of the positions that Frank and I
have on the importance of regulations. We both support the need for
regulations. This is not a common position within the industry.
GL: What are the risks to FOE?
BO: I am concerned about my comments being taken out of context in the
future. CBC taped 20 hours and will do a documentary of 15 minutes and we
trust them to take the most useful parts of the exchange. As CEO of
Friends of the Earth, I am careful about my commentary concerning
corporations. For FOE International, FOE Canada's multistakeholder
relationship with corporations may be closer than is comfortable.
We are not and we do not want to be seen to be aligning our campaigning
with Tembec's issues but we recognize where we have areas of mutual
interest. In the future, the risk is that we might be seen to have been
co-opted by Tembec but in this exchange and with the investment of time
and goodwill, we want to see some value, even if it is just building the
value of two organizations on parallel tracks.
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AWARDS, WATER FILTERS, AND DUNG!
David Salt, editor of the Materials Monthly newsletter for the Australian
National University Centre for Science and Engineering, recently won the
2004 Eureka Prize for Engineering Journalism. The award, including
$10,000 Australian, recognized the journalist for excellence in
presenting science and engineering issues for engineers, scientists and
the public.
The July issue of Materials Monthly discusses how ANU's new Focused Ion
Beam is used to cut nanoscale patterns. One of the challenges faced by
the researchers is the lack of a nanotechnology clean room. While a
normal clean room eliminates dirt and particles, clean rooms for
nanotechnology have to be free of electromagnetic activity, temperature
changes and vibrations. Another article reviews the research being done
in East Timor on use of cow dung and local clay for manufacture of
ceramic water filters to remove silt from drinking water.
The 22 Australian Museum Eureka prizes, totalling $220,000 dollars,
recognize research on environmental and sustainability issues. The awards
are a result of partnership between governments, private sector and
educational institutions. One of the prizes was innovative. Plantic
Technologies, which won in the Industry and Innovation category for
compostable plastic, will have a newly discovered fly species named after
it - Krakatauia planticorum.
Subscribers see a link to more information here. Subscriptions cost only
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WHINING MAYORS TO GLOBE AND MAIL: DON'T CALL US BUMPKINS
Toronto's garbage is an issue that won't go away, mostly because everyone
has an opinion on what should or should not be done. When city mayors
belonging to the Southwest Ontario Trash Coalition met with David Miller,
Mayor of Toronto, to discuss how to avoid having Toronto's garbage go to
their landfills if anything should happen to the garbage crossing the
border to Michigan, John Barber, Globe and Mail columnist, called them
whiners and "blissfully uninformed and amazingly presumptuous bumpkins".
Barber went on to write "One can only assume that lecturing Toronto plays
well down there in bumpkin land."
GL tends to agree with Barber that the closing of the border to garbage
is unlikely, partly because the US is shipping large quantities of toxic
waste to Canada, something that most commentators on the garbage issue
fail to mention. Barber also says that the Republic contract requires the
company to find alternate sites in the US if the Michigan landfill is
closed to Toronto's garbage and then to use private operators in Canada.
But Barber's ridicule of smaller urban areas was just so exemplar of the
big smoke, big city Toronto, it could not go unanswered.
One mayor sent Barber an email beginning with "Greetings from Bumpkin
Land" and "Deer Mr. Barber: I'm not too good at reeding and writing..."
(sic) He tells Barber that opposition to the garbage is all an act and
those bumpkins really like those "red Toronto garbage trucks..putting
them purty clouds of black smoke into the sky." Not to speak of the
honking horns, and the big crashes which they enjoy when they are not
busy at tractor pulls. Signed Mayor Mike Bradley, Sarnia, Bumpkin County.
Barber, John. Everybody's jumping on the Garbage Wagon. Globel and Mail.
August 10, 2004. pA8http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040810/BARBER1
/Columnists/Columnist?author=John+Barber [free registration required]
Martin, Chip. Bradley Answers Trash Talk. August 14, 2004.
http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/LondonFreePress/News/2004/08/14/581990.html
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HONOURED READER EDITION
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Canadian Institute for Business and the Environment
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