• Home
• Contents
• Subscribe
• About
• Contact
• FAQ

Daily Updates for May 2010 

RochesterEnvironment.com

These Daily Updates for this month represent just one month in over a decade of connecting the dots on our area's environmental situation.

Find out what’s going on environmentally in our area—and why you should care?   GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL STORY ABOUT THE ROCHESTER, NY AREA FROM A CREDIBLE SOURCE? SEND IT TO ME! Looking for something specific. Use Control + F and search for it on this page.

These daily updates pertain to what is going on in our environment in Rochester & around the world. Although I do not see RochesterEnvironment.com, or Global Environmental Resources, as environmental activist sites, I do view them as active. They are active conduits for all the environmental news, services, links, and an on-going discovery for the potential role that I believe the Internet will play in environmentalism. Your local news media is not doing its job in informing the public on the breath and depth of our environmental problems, so you are going to have to get on the Internet. 

• 5/29/2010 - Hogweed Alert: As noted in today’s Democrat and Chronicle (Battle raging against toxic green behemoth | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle), learn to recognize and avoid contact with the Invasive Species Giant Hogweed.  Here’s information from:  Giant Hogweed - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Do Not Touch This Plant! Giant Hogweed can grow to 15 feet or more Giant hogweed (Heracleum mantegazzianum) is a Federally listed noxious weed. Its sap, in combination with moisture and sunlight, can cause severe skin and eye irritation, painful blistering, permanent scarring and blindness. Contact between the skin and the sap of this plant occurs either through brushing against the bristles on the stem or breaking the stem or leaves. This plant poses a serious health threat; see your physician if you think you have been burned by giant hogweed. If you think you have giant hogweed on your property, do NOT touch it. --from New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

• 5/29/2010 Climategate Revisited: Climate Change should not be a political debate or a media blurb:  There seems to have been much damage to the credibility of climate scientist last fall during Climategate, but that was a media frenzy, kicked up by political zealots, and was nonsense on stilts.   In the real world the efforts by scientist all over the world are trying to nail down Climate Change so we (all peoples on all continents) can address Climate Change properly.  Most scientists do not and have not doubted the reality of Climate Change for quite awhile.  If we don’t understand the science of Climate Change and how science advances, we’re simply allowing the situation to get worse, not avoiding it.  Read this short essay about certainty in the science world because we all have to ‘get it,’ not just scientists. - Certainty vs. Uncertainty: Understanding Scientific Terms About Climate Change | Union of Concerned Scientists "Understanding Scientific Terms About Climate Change Uncertainty is ubiquitous in our daily lives. We are uncertain about where to go to college, when and if to get married, who will play in the World Series, and so on. To most of us, uncertainty means not knowing. To scientists, however, uncertainty is how well something is known. And, therein lies an important difference, especially when trying to understand what is known about climate change. In science, there's often not absolute certainty. But, research reduces uncertainty. In many cases, theories have been tested and analyzed and examined so thoroughly that their chance of being wrong is infinitesimal. Other times, uncertainties linger despite lengthy research. In those cases, scientists make it their job to explain how well something is known. When gaps in knowledge exist, scientists qualify the evidence to ensure others don't form conclusions that go beyond what is known. " - Union of Concerned Scientists

• 5/28/2010 - Local farmer’s market opening for the seasoning and they are helping to recycle #5 plastics Brighton Farmers MarketThe long, wintry wait for fresh, local, and delicious is finally over. Join us for Opening Day of the Brighton Farmers' Market on Sunday, May 30, starting at 9 am. We'll celebrate the opening of our third season with the traditional Cutting of the Vine, with Brighton Town Supervisor Sandra Frankel once again cutting the vine to open the market. Music will be provided by Clamor, the irreverent musical trio that has somehow come to define music at the Brighton Farmers' Market. Color Brighton Green will return to the market this year with its popular recycling program, collecting hard-to-recycle items including #5 plastics.  

• 5/28/2010 - Two local Great Environmentalists to speak on environmental health and justice: Judy Braiman (of Rochestarians Against the Misuse of Pesticides) & Lois Gibbs ( of Love Canal fame) are interviewed on this program June 2nd on CNN Campaigns - The Center for Health, Environment & Justice "On June 2nd, CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be airing an hour-long investigative story into the environmental health and justice problems plaguing the community of Mossville, Louisiana. Nestled amidst an alarming cluster of chemical plants, Mossville is home to more PVC chemical plants than anywhere else in the entire country, and has been dubbed the Vinyl Manufacturing Capital of America. "  from The Center for Health, Environment & Justice

• 5/28/2010 - Commentary (video) of the BP Oil Spill - YouTube - Raging Grannies On Gulf Oil Spill: "BP, You Suck!"

• 5/28/2010 - Good project that takes beautifying your property up another level:  Register Your Yard as a Certified Wildlife Habitat™ - National Wildlife Federation This weekend, you have the chance to do something extraordinary: turn your yard into an amazing habitat, teeming with beautiful wildlife and lush native plants! Let National Wildlife Federation show you how to use this weekend to create a sanctuary you can enjoy all year long with our Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program! It’s fun and rewarding — you’ll not only have a beautiful yard, you’ll attract butterflies, birds and other wildlife. When you certify your yard as an official Certified Wildlife Habitat™ site, all these great benefits will be yours. --from - National Wildlife Federation

• 5/28/2010 - Getting a handle on the BP Oil Spill:  Though this interview took place several weeks ago on May 7th, during a disaster that is changing rapidly, I found it an excellent encapsulation of the possible consequences of this oil spill in all the possible ecologies related to the spill.  Click on the left sidebar to listen to the interview: Science Friday Archives: Gulf Oil Spill: Ecological Effects "Gulf Oil Spill: Ecological Effects 72-hour projected trajectory of the oil slick. NOAA image. With landfall of the oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill imminent, we'll talk about the oil's potential effects on the local ecosystem. While the spill's potential effects on commercial fish and shrimp operations have received a good deal of attention, the accident has the potential to affect organisms up and down the food chain in the Gulf. We'll get a status update, and talk about the interconnected nature of life in the Gulf ecosystem. " May 7, 2010) sciencefriday.com - making science user-friendly

• 5/27/2010 - Action on the BP Oil Spill:  What action can you take on the BP oil spill, maybe one of the worst environmental disasters in recent history?  Check out the Sierra Club’s efforts: Sierra Club: Send a message to President Obama - no more drilling! "The environmental disaster caused by BP's Deepwater Horizon explosion could be the worst in American history. But it won't be the last if we continue with plans to expand offshore drilling. "

• 5/27/2010 - Recycling more plastics:  Monroe County recycles plastics #1 and #2.  Many of our surround counties recycle more plastics, some #3- #7.  What do these numbers mean? Check it out: Earth911.com » The Numbers on Plastics Comments Feed "In recent years, the number of U.S. plastics recycling business has nearly tripled. More than 1,800 businesses are involved in recycling post-consumer plastics. "

• 5/27/2009 - New York as 41st as bicycle friendly state. Recently Rochester, NY won ‘Honorable Mention” for Bicycle Friendly Community Award, but where does the State of New York fall as a Bike Friendly State?  New York ranks 36th in the nation as a Bike Friendly State for 2010.  In 2009, we were ranked 41st.  For 2010 we are ranked 6th in bicycle Legislation, 20th in Policies and Programs, 24th in Infrastructure, 41st in Education, 24th in Evaluation, and 37th in Enforcement.  Read on… League of American Bicyclists * Bicycle Friendly States "To coincide with Bike to Work Week, the League of American Bicyclists is excited to announce our third annual Bicycle Friendly State (BFS) rankings. View entire state ranked list and a breakdown of how the states fared in each evaluation category. Click here to read more. "

• 5/26/2010 - Walking as Transportation in Jeopardy:  It is really tragic that it is unsafe to walk in one’s community.  Have we really gotten to the point in our mad focus on building for our transportation infrastructure that we have set aside our responsibility for the most basic form of transportation—walking?  Has it really gotten to the point where it is safer to get into one’s gas-guzzler to get to the convenience store around the block than walk or bike to it?  Already, we bus our kids to school many times when, years ago, they would have walked.  But, now it’s safer to pay the expense and bus them.  We are considering walking school buses to solve this issue, but shouldn’t we be redesigning our transportation infrastructure so that people come first, not our vehicles?  On a bike? On foot? Then danger's afoot -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY A new study of dangerous intersections in upstate New York highlights eight Albany crosswalks as among the most dangerous for pedestrians and bicyclists.  AARP studied intersections in five upstate New York counties, including Albany County. According to the report, between 2006 through 2008, 10 people were killed while walking or bicycling in Albany County, which is about 15 percent of all traffic fatalities there. Older people were more likely to be killed. Thirty percent of the fatal accidents involved people 60 or older, who make up some 18.5 percent of the county's population. All eight of the intersections listed in the AARP report are in the city of Albany. (May 21, 2010)  Albany NY News - Times Union - Serving Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady, Troy

• 5/26/2010 - Good article on Transportation and staying environmentally friendly as we are still in Bike Week for Rochester.   A Green Commute With parking registration and renewal period going on, this is the perfect time to think about how you get to the University every day.  Did you know that if you car pool just on day per week you could save 1,000 miles per year on your vehicle?  Make car pooling an everyday habit and you could save 5,000 miles per year.  Additionally you can get a car pool permit at a discounted rate and who doesn’t want to save money on parking?  Now that the nice weather has arrived it might be worth considering biking instead of driving.  University Facilities & Services has made biking-in more convenient than ever by placing additional bike racks throughout campus. --from The Green Dandelion "The Green Dandelion  is a blog focused on sharing recycling, energy conservation and sustainability initiatives, ideas and events through blogs and online community interaction. Our content shares the distinctive voices of University Facilities and Services bloggers and those who work to improve the environment at the University of Rochester. "

• 5/26/2010 - Ongoing reminder of 2010 International Year of Biodiversity:  Endangered Species day reminds us that we are losing species at an alarming rate.  And whether or not you like any particular species that is endangered, you surely will care if that species is critical to the running of our environment.  The loss of a keystone species or one that feeds or maintains another is a loss we may not be able to replace, or duplicate its roll.   Endangered Species Day 2010 "On May 21, 2010 the Fish and Wildlife Service will observe Endangered Species Day in order to recognize the national conservation effort to protect our nation’s endangered species and their habitats."

• 5/24/2010 - Why Bike Week in Rochester?  There are a lot of good reasons why the Rochester region should promote bicycle use as an alternative transportation option: Here are some more reasons: Biking can revitalize Rochester - RocNow.com "Bike week is May 21 to 28, and biking is a great way of getting a fresh look at Rochester and its future. Bicycling has spawned urban renaissances in progressive cities worldwide. Here’s why Rochester should kick into high gear and launch a major cycling and pedestrian program: "

• 5/24/2010 - More Rochester- are Farmer's Markets opening for the season near you: South Wedge Farmers' Market | Choose the Food Less Traveled South Wedge Farmers Market 4th Annual Grand Opening Thursday, June 3, 2010, 4-8 pm 100 Alexander St. (at South Clinton) The South Wedge Farmers Market celebrates the opening of its fourth year on Thursday, June 3 at 4 pm.  The market is held in the shade of the lovely tree-lined space behind Boulder Coffee at 100 Alexander Street, at the intersection with South Clinton Avenue.   This unique market will open with the traditional Lettuce Toss; the lucky lettuce-catcher will receive a tote-bag of treats from the market.  Music will be provided by the local jazz quintet Affinities, and pastors from neighborhood churches will offer an interfaith blessing of the market.  Kids will find a special activity in the children’s tent. The market also welcomes special guests from the South Avenue, Flint Street, and Baden Street Recreation Centers—the Mighty Liberators Color Guard and the Double Dutch Sensations will perform their precision routines during the opening ceremonies.

• 5/24/2010 - How you can help monitor our local environment: Help Lab Researchers Develop The YardMap Network! — eBird "At eBird we love when birders submit data from their backyards. Your backyard can provide excellent habitat for birds, and when many backyards are put together, an growing network of green space becomes available for birds. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is developing a new project called the YardMap Network, which will allow you to describe in great detail the habitat and conservation practices happening in your backyard. Please take 15 minutes to tell us what you think about the YardMap Network by taking this survey. Your input will be valuable for developing the project, and will help ensure that we can learn more about how birds are using your yard! "

• 5/24/2010 - The Clean Sweep 2010 for the city's Southeast section was a great success.  Each year, Mayor Duffy's spring cleaning efforts get bigger and bettering.  Check out how the Clean Sweep went in the Upper Monroe Neighborhood: UMNA Clean Sweep 2010

• 5/22/2010 - Local Farmer’s market opening for the season.  Bring your #5 (thoroughly washed) and get them recycled until Monroe County Recycling starts to collect 3-7 plastics:  Brighton Farmers Market "Brighton, NY, February 5, 2010 – The Brighton Farmers’ Market opens its third season at 9 am on Sunday, May 30. Supervisor Sandy Frankel will preside over  the traditional vine-cutting ceremony at 10 am. This lively community market has become one of the premier markets in the area, offering fresh food from local farmers and producers who practice sustainable methods of growing and producing food.    Music will be provided by Clamor, the local trio that includes Rick McCrae, Steve Piper, and Bruce Diamond, favorites of the Brighton Farmers’ Market.  Opening day festivities will also include a seed-planting project for kids in the Good Grub Club tent, offered by a Brighton Girl Scout troop.  The Brighton Recreation and Parks Department will be on hand to sign up participants for its summer programs.  Information will also be available on the Monroe Avenue Charrette, an event organized by the Town of Brighton to formulate a vision for the future development of Monroe Avenue in the Town.  Color Brighton Green will return to the market this year with its popular recycling program, collecting hard-to-recycle items including #5 plastics. "

• 5/22/2010 - ACTION - Off-Road Biking in your parks:  It’s been decided that there will be a pilot program to allow off-road biking in two Monroe County Parks, but not how.  You might want to be a part of that process to protect your parks.  All are welcome MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010 at 6:00 p.m | DOLOMITE LODGE (located behind Penfield Town Hall) 3100 Atlantic Avenue, Penfield, NY 14526 NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP -- OFF-ROAD BICYCLING PILOT PROGRAM MONROE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PARKS NOTICE OF PUBLIC WORKSHOP Help us draft and design a pilot program for off-road bicycling in Monroe County Parks Pilot sites to be located at Tryon Park and Irondequoit Bay Park West ALL ARE WELCOME MONDAY, MAY 24, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. DOLOMITE LODGE (located behind Penfield Town Hall) 3100 Atlantic Avenue, Penfield, NY 14526 COME SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS Larry Staub Director of Parks PHONE: (585) 753-PARK FAX: (585) 753-7284 mcparks@monroecounty.gov  www.monroecounty.gov/parks 

• 5/22/2010 - Learn about GLOW:  Other nearby counties have declined GLOW off-short wind farms and now Monroe County is considering the proposal.  “Legislatures in Owego, Jefferson, and Wayne Counties recently passed resolutions opposing “the New York Power Authority’s proposals to provide incentives for the siting of wind towers (Great Lakes Offshore Wind project) in Lake Ontario’s eastern basin.”” What is GLOW and what are the ‘Myths and Facts” about this project? Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (GLOW) On December 1, President Richard Kessel released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the development of utility scale (120 MW to 500 MW) wind generating projects in New York State waters of Lake Erie and/or Lake Ontario. --from New York Power Authority

• 5/21/2010 - How sure are climate scientists that Climate Change is occurring?  This sure  3 climate change reports: Set prices on carbon emissions - USATODAY.com In three reports on global warming, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences called Wednesday for limiting greenhouse gas emissions by setting a price on them. The three "America's Climate Choices" reports, requested by Congress during the Bush administration, come as roiling debate over climate and energy legislation in Washington and the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cloud future energy decisions. (May 20, 2010) News, Travel, Weather, Entertainment, Sports, Technology, U.S. & World - USATODAY.com [more on Climate Change in our area]

• 5/21/2010 - The Plan for Washington Grove Park: Several residents who live near and around the city’s Washington Grove Park attended a meeting by city officials on the new work plan for resolving some of the issues that have built up over the years.  The work plan includes: control of invasive species, replanting, trail recovery, park visitation, stewardship, and planning.  The meeting was not well attended, nor representative of concerned residents, because a couple of close-by neighborhoods (including The Upper Monroe Avenue Association UMNA) were not notified of this event.  That’s too bad because there will be some changes, including taking down several large Norway Maple trees (invasive species), that will impact those who enjoy the park regularly.   One attendee remarked that the public would better understand the efforts by the city, which include chain sawing large trees, if they were adequately informed and educated on the environmental and other issues in the park that are trying to be addressed.  If you are concerned about the new measures taken by the city, Email Mr. Brian Liberti, City Forester with questions or comments, or call the Division of Forestry at (585) 428-7581. Also, to help the city identify resident’s use of this park, complete an online survey of how you use the park: City of Rochester | Washington Grove Park Visitor Survey.  Check here for the city website on Washington Grove Park: City of Rochester | Washington Grove Workplan Development Washington Grove is a woodland area nestled on the eastern edge of Cobbs Hill Park . In 2008, a coalition of neighborhood associations, led by the Rochester Regional Group of the Sierra Club, came together to develop a management plan for Washington Grove. The group worked to identify the users of the Grove, their needs and interests, and the problems facing the area. They produced a draft management plan and provided it to City officials for their review. On May 20th, 2010, the City will hold a community meeting to present its work plan for the Grove. The work plan will be posted here afterwards.

• 5/21/2010 - Green Jobs| Green Business : If you are serious about finding that green job, you’re going to have to do your homework.  For most green jobs of the future will be retrofitted on to existing jobs.  For example, if you want to install of fix solar panels or wind turbines, you probably will need an existing background in mechanics and engineering.  It gets complicated, though I still believe that you can marshal your talents and experience and tailor them to the new green job market.  One of the best ways that I’ve found to drill down further on this issue is monitoring the green blogs.  Especially, this blog:    Green Collar Jobs: Green Collar Blog "Green Collar Blog is a resource to help people seeking jobs that focus on environmental and social responsibility.  Green Collar Blog is a service of Green Jobs Network. "

• 5/20/2010  - Think Alternative Transportation in Rochester.  A major effort is going on in Rochester for Bike week.  We need to prove that Rochester can include the bicycle as a viable alternative transportation mode in our area.  These events need your support, your attendance, to demonstrate local officials that more effort should be put into bicycling to reduce the effects of climate change, make us healthier, and reduce transportation costs.  2010 BIKE ISSUE - Guides - Rochester City Newspaper Rochester Bike Week Events All events organized by the Rochester Cycling Alliance. For more information check rochestercyclingalliance.org. Friday, May 21 (National Bike-to-Work Day) 7 a.m.: --from Rochester NY News, Events, Restaurants, Music, Entertainment, Nightlife - Rochester City Newspaper

• 5/19/2010 - Chime in on the Marcellus gas drilling issue with this blog: The Marcellus Effect "Sue Heavenrich I am a freelance journalist, writing about Marcellus gas issues, the environment and science. I live in upstate NY, surrounded by forest and fields. There is gas beneath my feet. member: Society of Environmental Journalists; Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators. "

• 5/18/2010 - Free Press and our Environment:  If you understand the crisis our media is now experiencing and believe that something can be done to improve our ability to keep the public informed about our environment, check out this document:  "Free Press has released a new paper: New Public Media: A Plan for Action. It proposes solutions about how to build a world-class noncommercial media system in the United States and offers a series of creative policies and reforms. Read it here. --from Free Press | Media reform through education, organizing and advocacy

• 5/18/2010 - Asthma Awareness Month | Asthma | US EPA "Take Action During Asthma Awareness Month Asthma is a serious, life-threatening respiratory disease that affects over 20 million Americans. Rates of asthma have risen sharply over the past thirty years, particularly among children ages 5 to 14 (read more Facts about Asthma) In response to the growing asthma problem, EPA created a national, multifaceted asthma education and outreach program to share information about environmental factors — found indoors and outdoors — that trigger asthma. Although there is no cure, asthma can be controlled through medical treatment and management of environmental asthma triggers. EPA's goal is to reduce exposure to indoor asthma triggers and improve the quality of life for 6.5 million people by 2012. " --from US Environmental Protection Agency

• 5/18/2010 - Having trouble keeping up with the Gulf Oil Spill? Check out ProPublica’s special section on: Gulf Oil Spill - ProPublica - from ProPublica - Journalism in the Public Interest "ProPublica is an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. Our work focuses exclusively on truly important stories, stories with “moral force.” We do this by producing journalism that shines a light on exploitation of the weak by the strong and on the failures of those with power to vindicate the trust placed in them. "

• 5/17/2010 - Environmental No No’s: Although environmentalists and the media speak freely of Climate Change, pollution, oil spills, invasive species and the like--though, dysfunctionally--there are two topics that often don’t get any press because they’re so toxic.  One is over-population and the other is the possible environmental links with manmade chemicals and cancer.  Over-population doesn’t get the media’s attention, because nobody knows how to approach it tastefully, even though we have probably over populated planet many times over.  Got solutions?  Get ready to be pillaged.  On environmental links to manmade chemicals and cancer it is often so difficult to link the two (though, it does seem likely) that few dare to make the connections with cancers and manmade chemicals once they escape the lab.  Mysteriously, over the decades we have assumed that if we dump terrifically toxic chemicals into our land, air, and water, our environment will neutralize them.  How does that work?  (Even our oceans seem to be hitting a limit as to what it can dilute and dissolve.)  It’s one of those assumptions that may radically ramp up the incidences of cancer.  Perhaps it has: President's Cancer Panel: Environmentally caused cancers are 'grossly underestimated' and 'needlessly devastate American lives.' — Environmental Health News "The true burden of environmentally induced cancers has been grossly underestimated," says the President's Cancer Panel in a strongly reported report that urges action to reduce people's widespread exposure to carcinogens. The panel today advised President Obama "to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives." (May 6, 2010) Environmental Health News [more on Environmental Health in our area]

• 5/15/2010 - On full disclosure: RochesterEnvironment.com has been around for twelve years and in all that time this site has been free and ad-free.  It will remain that way.  But, I have decided to post in the news some of my own articles (for example: Rochester Bike Week May 21-28 ) in which I do get paid.  There isn’t much money in this (a penny per click) but it does allow me to cover some issues on our environment that are not being adequately reported on locally. 

• 5/15/2010 - Get Energy tips and news and policy from the US Department of Energy: Department of Energy - Homepage "The Department of Energy's overarching mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex. The Department's strategic goals to achieve the mission are designed to deliver results along five strategic themes: Energy Security:  Promoting America’s energy security through reliable, clean, and affordable energy Nuclear Security:  Ensuring America’s nuclear security Scientific Discovery and Innovation:  Strengthening U.S. scientific discovery, economic competitiveness, and improving quality of life through innovations in science and technology   Environmental Responsibility:  Protecting the environment by providing a responsible resolution to the environmental legacy of nuclear weapons production Management Excellence:  Enabling the mission through sound management Within these themes there are sixteen strategic goals which are designed to help DOE successfully achieve its mission and vision. "

• 5/15/2010 - Where to Recycle Electronics: Get help from the Environmental Protection Agency on where to recycle electronic waste. Electronics Recycling | Region 2 | US EPA "Because consumer electronics like personal computers, TV's, cellphones, and stereo equipment contain lead and a variety of other hazardous materials, eCycling, the recycling of electronic equipment, helps protect the environment. And because electronics are becoming obsolete at an ever faster rate, their volume is growing two to three times faster than any other type of waste. It is projected that 500 million personal computers have been taken out of service from 2000 and 2007. "

• 5/14/2010 - Reducing Phone Books and Paper Waste: Tired of seeing all those phone books all over your apartment complexes, on streets, porches, and public hallways?  These humungous books to find phone numbers were great in their day.  However, because of the increase in online search engines and cellular phones, which store phone numbers and allow for phone searches, we see no need to for phone companies to continually produce phone books in the vast quantities they have in the past.  We understand that some disadvantaged poor do not have easy access to electronic searches and that some enjoy the coupons in the yellow pages, which are a major revenue source for Frontier.  One solution might be to let people "opt out" of receiving the full, large phone books and instead offer various sized smaller white books with just emergency or government numbers or smaller yellow books with coupons.  Also, it is quite possible that some of the expense of all that paper, printing, and distribution would offset some of the income from phone book advertisers.  To opt out of phone books you don’t need, go here:  Yellow Pages Association | Environmental "Yellow Pages publishers want their products to be welcome in your home. Please contact the following publishers to adjust the number of directories you receive or to remove yourself from directory distribution lists. If the publisher you are looking for is not listed below, please check inside the directory and call the customer service number listed. Please note, only  U.S. publishers are listed in this search. " - from Yellow Pages Association | Home

• 5/14/2010 - Toxic Environmental Chemicals:  How does our government decide what manmade chemicals are dangerous when released into our environment?  Find out here: ToxCast™ Program | National Center for Computational Toxicology | US EPA Predicting Hazard, Characterizing Toxicity Pathways, and Prioritizing the Toxicity Testing of Environmental Chemicals ToxCast™ Navigation  In 2007, EPA launched ToxCast™ to develop a cost-effective approach for efficiently prioritizing the toxicity testing of thousands of chemicals. Read more here: 05/13/2010: Pharmaceutical Companies Provide EPA 100 Drugs to Help Predict Toxicity

• 5/14/2010 - Sustainability Mobility Fair  "Future Transportation Choices for Short Trips" Just in case you did not make it to our Sustainability Mobility Fair (or did and want to experience it again), here is a great series of photos by Qian, a student at RIT.  I think she really captured the sense of the expo.  Too see the show, click on the bus:  RIT Innovation Center » Blog Archive » Rochester 2010 Sustainability Alternative Transportation Show Click on the bus and see a slideshow of this event, where many alternative vehicles were displayed at RIT. 

• 5/12/201 - DEC – New Paradigm:  We feel heartened to discover that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is taking Climate Change seriously.  So, seriously in fact they will “incorporate climate change considerations in all aspects of its activities.” Given the state of environmental affairs around the world, you would think any rational and responsible person, business, branch of government, everyone would now think Climate Change and incorporate it into all our affairs—if we want future generations to have a future that is.  But, it is not written in stone yet.  Here’s a chance for you to weigh in on this matter: “Pursuant to ECL §30301(2)(z), written comments regarding this proposed Commissioner Policy will be accepted until June 11, 2010. Comments should be submitted to David G. Barnet, NYS DEC - Commissioner's Policy Office, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-1010 or e-mailed to climatechange@gw.dec.state.ny.us. The proposed Commissioner Policy is available by writing David G. Barnet at the address above or calling (518) 402-9234. A copy may also be found on the NYS DEC website at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/regulations/65034.html . Contact: David G. Barnet, NYS DEC - Commissioner's Policy Office, 625 Broadway, Albany, New York 12233-1010, Phone: (518) 402-9234, E-mail: climatechange@gw.dec.state.ny.us.” ENB - Statewide Notices 05/12/2010 - NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation Notice of Availability of Proposed Commissioner Policy regarding Climate Change and New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Action  "Notice is hereby given that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) has prepared a proposed Commissioner Policy on climate change and NYS DEC action. In order to perform its core mission of conserving, improving, and protecting New York's natural resources and environment, the policy directs NYS DEC staff, to the extent applicable and within their existing statutory and regulatory authority, to incorporate climate change considerations in all aspects of its activities, including but not limited to decision-making, planning, permitting, remediation, rulemaking, grants administration, natural resource management, enforcement, land stewardship and facilities management, internal operations, contracting, procurement, and public outreach and education. "

• 5/12/2010 - Update on Year of Biodiversity 2010 – As you might have heard, 2010 is the Year of Biodiversity and named such because we are losing species around the world at an alarming rate-despite promises by world leaders in the past to solve this problem. That we are losing species at a very fast rate is troubling, but what does it mean to our environment beside the moral issue of leaving a planet fit for only one species? Ecologists unveil plan for 'barometer of natural life'  Paper co-authored by E O Wilson calls for thousands of scientists to collect information on 160,000 species deemed representative of life on Earth | An ambitious project to create a "barometer of life" to track the changing fortunes of the natural world will be set out tomorrow by some of the world's leading ecologists. The plan is for thousands of scientists to collect information on 160,000 of the world's nearly 2 million known species - from great mammals, fish and birds to obscure insects and fungi - chosen to be representative of life on Earth. (April 8, 2010) Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

• 5/12/2010 - Flower City Sundays: Flower City Sundays 5/16, 5/23, 5/30, 6/6, PLUS Fri 5/28 - 8am - 2pm - The EDIBLE ROCHESTER committee will be at the Public Market with information on all forms edible landscapes and companion plantings. Directions to the Rochester Public Market: City of Rochester | Public Market or Public Market - Rochester Wiki The "EDIBLE ROCHESTER" campaign being coordinated by the Center for Sustainable Living in partnership with the City of Rochester Green Team and Recreation Department, the Gandhi Institute and the Veterans Green Machine. For more information on the "Edible Rochester" campaign, contact Jerdine Johnson, of Energy Conservation & Coordinator of Green Initiatives (585)428-6288.

• 5/12/2010 - Rochester and Environment: Here is an environmental moment in Mayor Duffy’s State of the City speech:  City of Rochester | Transcript of the 2010 State of the City Address "For one example, travel with me about 40 miles south of the city, to the watershed area of Canadice and Hemlock Lakes. We have made arrangements to sell this beautiful property to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. The land will stay forever wild. The City’s primary sources of drinking water will be environmentally protected and the cash we received is helping to fund waterfront development at the Port of Rochester. "(May 3, 2010)  City of Rochester

• 5/11/2010 - Bike Week Is Coming!  Notes from a friend:  Bike Week is coming! - Rochester Cycling Alliance | Google Groups "It's really happening... Rochester Bike Week 2010 is taking place May 21-28! Check out the schedule at www.rochestercyclingalliance.org We've got a whole week of rides, workshops, and public events to get   people out on their bikes and talking about how to make Rochester a   more bike-friendly city.  If you'd like to volunteer to help out with Bike Week, we'll be   holding an informational meeting for volunteers on Tuesday, May 11th   at 7 pm at Spot Coffee, 200 East Ave. Finally, if you're on Facebook, visit our fan page at www.facebook.com/RochesterCyclingAlliance . Our new page will make it easier for Rochester cyclists to stay   informed about what's happening in our campaign to make Rochester a   better city for bicycles. "

• 5/11/2010 - Environmental Cancer Data – What does it mean?  The New York State Health Department has gone out of its way to toss in as many caveats to the new Environmental Facilities and Cancer Mapping website as they can.  I understand and appreciate the need to explain to the public that just because cancer clusters cluster around various facilities, it does not mean that the facilities caused cancers.  But, this is a start in trying to figure out the relationship between all that ‘stuff’ we are discharging into our land, air, and water—and the rise of cancer.  Much of the stuff we are discharging into our environment is known to be cancer-causing but what exactly happens to a substance once it leaves the vats in the lab and radiates out into the environment is often too complicated to ever understand without long-term and thorough research.  But, we should be on that.  We should stop assuming that because it is difficult to discover a causal relationship between a particular manmade chemical and a particular cancer (in say, rats) that it is impossible or we shouldn’t be investigating.  We need to know what is happening in our environment.  I applaud the New York State Health Department for coming out with the Environmental Facilities and Cancer Mapping and appreciate it’s a start in discovering the relationship between our environment and cancer—not the end.  Environmental Facilities and Cancer Mapping "The New York State Environmental Facilities and Cancer Mapping project is designed to answer questions many New Yorkers have about cancer and environmental facilities in their communities. It provides an interactive map which shows the numbers and types of cancer within small geographic areas. It also shows the locations of environmental facilities within the same geographic areas. This project also provides information on cancer, its possible causes, and how to interpret cancer data."

• 5/10, 2010 - Healthy Line of Vehicles: Despite the ominous dark and windy weather many came to view what had to be one of the longest displays of alternative vehicles at one time in one place in our area.  Thanks to the Democrat and Chronicle for advance notice on this project to show the public what vehicles future possible alternatives to gasoline vehicles there are now available. And thanks to the many who braved the weather and donated their time to bring their own or their organization’s vehicles to RIT's Center of Student Innovation, our host, this program was a great success. Change in how we get around and we develop our communities (people first, vehicles not first) is coming.  And, many got a glimpse of something new under the hood.     'Green' vehicles can be viewed today | democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle Co-sponsored by Rochester Institute of Technology and the Center for Environmental Information, the fair is intended to suggest new modes of short-distance transportation as gasoline prices fluctuate and concern grows about environmental and climate problems. "We want to give the public an idea what the choices are in the future," said Frank Regan, chairman of the environmental center's alternative transportation committee.  (May 8, 2010) Democratandchronicle.com | Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester news, community, entertainment, yellow pages and classifieds. Serving Rochester, New York

• 5/08/2010 - Transportation Fuel Choices: Given all the trouble extracting coal from the ground and oil from under our waters lately, it’s a good thing to know that some businesses are considering alternative transportation options.  If you have a half-hour today, why not stop by and see some electric cars, electric bicycles, electric motorcycles, hydrogen vehicles, walking school buses, Zip Car, moped bicycle, a Segway PT, and a ‘veggie’ vehicle.  There are efforts to move us away from our lethal addiction to fossil fuels, which warm the planet and provide a precarious lifestyle for some and ruin our environment. Come and see these transportation choice for short distances and get an idea of our future choices.   Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10:AM - 2 PM | The Center for Student Innovation at RIT,  1 Lomb Memorial Dr Rochester, NY 14623-5698 “Sustainability Mobility Fair - Future Transportation Choices for Short Trips" Admission is free and open to the public. When: Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 10:AM - 2 PM  Where: The Center for Student Innovation at RIT,  1 Lomb Memorial Dr Rochester, NY 14623-5698  Attendees will be exposed to what is new and now available on the market and able to experience the latest choices in Electric, Hydrogen, Biodiesel, Natural Gas, Propane, Hybrid, Plug-In, Ethanol, Walking School Buses, and cycling transportation technologies. All alternative fuel options will be on display. As more commuters become aware of travel choices, we expect to see more of them regularly choosing transportation alternatives because of the benefits. Sponsored by Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the Center for Environmental Information (CEI) for more information, surf over to CEI: Center for Environmental Information.

• 5/07/2010 - Don't forget you can do something this week to curb Climate Change in our area: Curb Your Car Week Spring 2010 is Here! When? Sunday May 16 through Saturday May 22, to coincide with National Bike to Work Week. What? Families throughout the greater Rochester area and beyond will pledge to leave their cars home for one or more trips during the week. Can you walk, bike, take the bus, carpool, telecommute, or combine trips? It can be to school, to work, to piano lessons, the grocery store, or anywhere you would otherwise normally drive your vehicle.  We will build on last fall’s success, in which participants saved over 4,413 miles, and over 190 gallons of gas! Learn more. Register! Prizes will be awarded to top mileage savers, and randomly to registered participants. Register for free at ColorBrightonGreen.org. Show your support and have your miles counted! Thank you in advance for your support.

• 5/07/2010 - Environmental Disaster Unfolding: One of the problems with trying to convince the public of the danger and immediacy of environmental issues is that they usually unfold so slowly that they go unnoticed or we get bored.  No such trouble with the Gulf Oil Spill.  It’s happening now and unfolding before your eyes.  Question arise as to whether environmentalist should take advantage of this calamity, making much of this incident with ‘I-told-you-so’s’  After all, said one senator, “Accident’s happen.”  Accidents do happen.  But, accidents like the ones your mother tries to prevent when she tells you not to run out into the streets are preventable.  Very preventable.  Drilling for oil in delicate ecological areas opens up the real possibility of a major disaster.  There’s little margin for error and so accident do happened and have continually polluted our environment.  Others say environmentalists should grow up and realize that even if we do go ‘whole hog’ and adopt renewable energy, we are still going to have to drill and get our oil to run our present energy needs for the next 30 years. But, here’s the thing: Nature doesn’t assume that human population has to grow exponentially and we all have to have a place to plug in all our devices.  Nature, the laws of physics actually, doesn’t assume any special rules or exceptions to human existence at all.  If we don’t change how we treat or planet immediately and become sustainable—we won’t (by definition) be sustainable.  Our economy, our wishes, our sense of justice, are all subservient to the laws of Nature, they always have been.  Go here to get a glimpse of catastrophe, and refrain from thinking about human political reactions to this. It’s not a ‘spin doctor’ moment.  It’s Nature at work achieving a balance. Gulf Disaster "The Center has launched a Gulf-Crisis Web site that we'll update daily with information on how big the spill is, where it's hitting shore, what species are suffering the impacts, how the rescue effort's going, what we're doing, and how it's all driving home the critical need to reverse Obama's decision to open up new areas to offshore oil drilling in Alaska, the eastern Gulf of Mexico, and along the Atlantic Coast. " - from Center for Biological Diversity

• 5/06/2010 - Climate Change changes: Along with many other environmental factors that may be affected by Climate Change, we could change because of Climate Change.  Our bodies may be more susceptible to heat stress.  Warmer planet to stress humans: study › News in Science (ABC Science) A large number of healthy people won't handle the heat if temperatures continue to increase into next century, predict researchers. The study, which appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, also suggests heat could affect more land mass than rising sea levels. The human body maintains a constant core temperature of 37°C by giving off excess heat through the skin. But, if the 'web-bulb' temperature of the air reaches 35°C, this heat dissipation stops causing the body to retain heat, resulting in heat stress. (May 4, 2010) ABC Science

• 5/06/2010 - Watching Rochester’s Air Quality: Since our area failed again in ozone air quality  (Rochester’s failing air quality)  we should keep a closer watch on our air quality. Here a tool from the EPA to do just that: Welcome to EnviroFlash! Air quality affects how you live and breathe. Like the weather, it can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. Up-to-date information allows you to make decisions based on air quality forecasts. EnviroFlash comes to you through a partnership between the US EPA and your state or local air quality agency - notifying you about air quality so you don't have to go searching for it!"

• 5/05/2010 - Asthma is an Environmental Health issue: Learn how other communities are approaching this issue: Asthma | Indoor Air | US EPA "World Asthma Day is Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Join EPA in the national effort to raise awareness. Host activities to educate people in your community about comprehensive asthma management"

• 5/05/2010 - Update on the Year of Biodiversity: Many species around the world are rapidly becoming extinct and there is a call for governments internationally to take this issue as seriously as they do Climate Change.  Given responses of governments around the world on that issue, it probably won’t be enough.  International failure to meet target to reduce biodiversity decline  Pressures on the natural world have risen since the 2002 Convention on Biological Diversity, say conservation groups | The world has failed to meet the target set by international leaders to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by this year, experts will announce next month. (April 29, 2010) Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

• 5/04/2010 -   May is National Wetlands Month - As the BP Oil Spill (Obama Pledges to Restore Gulf, BP Struggles to Control Oil Spill - ENN) moves towards precious wetlands and the media focuses on the loss of jobs, we should also note the importance of Wetlands themselves.  In the US, we have destroyed over 50% of our wetlands in development since our country began.  It’s only recently that we begin to understand the importance of our wetlands for our Environmental Health. So, this story is timely: Major wetlands report for 13 states issued just in time for National Wetlands Month May is National Wetlands Month recognizing the importance of wetlands to our environment. To advance our knowledge of wetlands, the Northeast Region's National Wetlands Inventory Program has produced a report summarizing the results of the program's 35 years of mapping wetlands from Maine to Virginia. The report briefly describes the program's history and development of special products to help improve public awareness of the challenges wetlands face and to help wetland conservation efforts.   Get the Report Wetlands of the Northeast: Results of the National Wetlands Inventory "The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) in the mid-1970s to map the nation’s wetlands and deepwater habitats. Since then, the NWI has completed at least one phase of mapping for all northeastern states, except New York where roughly three-quarters of the state has been inventoried. For most areas, NWI maps have been converted to digital geospatial data which facilitates generation of acreage summaries of the NWI findings. State reports have been published for several states (Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland) and acreage summaries published for most other northeastern states. Since these reports were published, NWI data have been updated for many areas. This report summarizes current NWI data (as of September 2090) for each state from Maine through Virginia and the District of Columbia. " April 2010 Northeast Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

• 5/04/2010 - May is Bike Month:  In Rochester we have Bike Week from May 21st - 28th  and there are lots of events hosted by the Rochester Cycling Alliance (RCA).  Bike Week hopes to demonstrate the interest Rochester has in making cycling a viable transportation option in our area.  Given that the Rochester Region just failed again for Air Quality (Rochester’s failing air quality) we should take a serious look at including cycling as an integral component in how we get around in Rochester.   Rochester Bike Week “The Rochester Cycling Alliance was formed in September, 2009 to advocate for better bicycling infrastructure and a stronger voice for cyclists in Rochester, NY. The RCA draws it members from all areas of the community and welcomes cyclists of all types.”

• 5/03/2010 - Update Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD):  We have been following since it was first discover and tried to connect the dots as to why people in the Rochester region should care.  It was predicted that it would have a bad effect on our area’s agriculture and we suggested that studies be conducted until the solution and remedy are found.   This situation does matter and it looks as if it is getting worse.   Fears for Crops as Shock Figures From America Show Scale of Bee Catastrophe | CommonDreams.org The world may be on the brink of biological disaster after news that a third of US bee colonies did not survive the winter | Disturbing evidence that honeybees are in terminal decline has emerged from the United States where, for the fourth year in a row, more than a third of colonies have failed to survive the winter.  (May 2, 2010) Latest news, comment and reviews from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk

• 5/03/2010 - ACTION: Take Action regarding Auburn Trail, and one environmentally sensitive section that should be preserved from being widened to a 10' wide stone-dust road (see PHOTOS at bottom).  The Coalition to save this area has requested a compromise that the existing 1' wide footpath in this environmentally sensitive section be widened to 3' (the minimum required by  the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)).   Victor's Proposal and Our Compromise (Railroad Mills Special Environmental Area - A Unique Part of the Auburn Trail Extension) This may be our last chance to save the Railroad Mills Special Environmental Area. Public Hearing Written Comments accepted until 5/10 at Victor Town Hall.

• 5/03/2010 - ACTION: Sierra Club: Send a message to President Obama - no more drilling! 5/2/2010 - Oil Catastrophe Worsens, President Heads to Gulf - Sierra Club Calls for Drilling Moratorium, Aggressive Clean Energy Plan: New Orleans -- As the offshore drilling disaster in the Gulf spreads to nearly 4,000 square miles and President Obama heads to the Gulf Coast, the Sierra Club is calling on the President to ramp up response efforts, to reinstate a federal moratorium on new offshore drilling, and to prevent future disasters through an aggressive plan to wean America from dirty energy. Read the full press release.

• 5/01/2010 - Invasive Species in the Great Lakes - Why this issue matters: YouTube - Asian Carp, Zebra Mussels and the Great Lakes "Thom Cmar of NRDC explains the problem of invasive species such as Asian Carp and Zebra Mussels and how they threaten the Great Lakes."

• 5/01/2010 - Another warning about our hubris: The BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill should be a warning about allowing large-scale human operations that might endanger our environment.  It should be a warning about the possibility of mistakes, but it probably won’t be.  What will probably happen is that in this case there will be large scale environmental damage.  And, then there will be finger-pointing and blame and a political tempest that will cloud the larger issue: mankind doesn’t know enough about the operations of our planet to interfere with the operations of our planet.  Murphy’s Law: “That anything can go wrong and will go wrong at the worst possible moment.”  It isn’t about “I told you so.”  It’s about acting responsibly as we continue to grow and desire more energy.  When we act out of desperation, as drilling for energy when the possibility of large-scale disaster or adopt energy sources like nuclear that allows no margin or error, we are putting our existence on a hair trigger.  Rather, we should move towards renewable energy, get our population growth down, and think about what our way of life is demanding of a planet disinclined to care.  How many disaster web sites like this will the future hold, where we have to observe us reacting to a crisis? Federal Response to BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico | US EPA This site is an online resource for anyone seeking information on the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It is intended to track EPA's ongoing work in the area and help answer questions about the incident. We will continue to update as information becomes available.

Frank J. Regan. Copyright © 1998 [RochesterEnvironment.com] All rights reserved. For problems or questions regarding this web contact FrankRegan@RochesterEnvironment.com.