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Senator Cantwell does right by wild salmon. Let’s send her some thanks.

By Alan Septoff

September 16, 2011

Say thanks to Senator Cantwell for her support of Alaska’s Bristol Bay

Salmon spawing in the Bristol Bay watershed.
Photo: Nick Hall

This week Senator Cantwell (WA) sent a letter to the EPA urging the agency to protect Alaska’s Bristol Bay – home to our nation’s largest wild salmon fishery.

10 billion tons of toxic mine waste

The Bristol Bay watershed is at risk from the proposed Pebble Mine, which would dispose of up to 10 billion tons of toxic mine waste at its headwaters.

EPA protection Needed

The Senator has asked the EPA to use its authority under section 404c of the Clean Water Act. This provision gives it authority to prohibit or restrict the disposal of mine waste into rivers, streams or wetlands, if science shows it will harm the fishery.

Natural gas: a detour on the way to a clean energy economy

By Alan Septoff

September 8, 2011

Count U.S. National Center for Atmospheric Research researchers among those questioning the value of switching to natural gas as a "bridge" fuel from greenhouse-gas-intensive coal to a clean energy future.

[NCAR researcher] Wigley's computer simulations indicate that a worldwide, partial shift from coal to natural gas would slightly accelerate climate change through at least 2050, even if no methane leaked from natural gas operations, and through as late as 2140 if there were substantial leaks. After that, the greater reliance on natural gas would begin to slow down the increase in global average temperature, but only by a few tenths of a degree.

Along with the Cornell study and EPA analysis, 2011 may be the year that shows that -- far from a bridge -- natural gas is actually a detour on the road to a clean energy economy.