These Rochester-area Environmental Concerns Should be on your Watch List, or on your radar if you are concerned about our area's environment.  To make things easier, I've created this list of looming environmental concerns and a short description of why these particular issues should be top on your list of environmental stories to watch.  Of course, you should still be watching the developments on all Rochester Issues, but going over all these pages can be a bit daunting.  So, I've wanted to boil things down a bit with this new page. 

More than anything, I believe that we must priorities environmental issue in order to focus on those most pressing.  Too often, the public is so overwhelmed the plethora of environmental issues harped on by environmentalists and the media that it's difficult to sort them out and get a sense of what things and in what order of importance should we, or our government, address.

Spring is here.

If you have more issues that should be on our radar here in Rochester or don't like the order or something else about this list, please let me know (Frank J. Regan)

The environmental Watch List for the Rochester, Monroe County area

• Climate Change in Rochester, New York - We know our area is going to be affected by Climate Change, but we are in the learning phase as to how we here in the Rochester area will be affected: Here's some more info on changes we can expect:Climate_Change_Rochester_NY
• The Presidential Elections:  "The climate crisis is the biggest challenge facing the next president." But the media is not asking the candidates about how they would solve this world-wide problem. Go to this site, to demand that the media put the environment on their agenda: What Are They Waiting For? > Sierra Club:
• Environmental Cover-up? This story highlights the importance of our environment, the role the Internet now plays in environmental media, and why we need critical information to assess the state of our environment. If it takes a whistle blower, another country, and a citizen public watch group for us to find out what damage our way of life is having on our support system, then we need to take charge of the information we need to have a sustainable society. We don’t need cover-ups, special interests, suppression of critical health information. We need to know, free and without cost, all that pertains to our getting enough information to make wise decisions about our environment. This story makes one wonder how many other studies have been suppressed for some reason or another; and it also suggests that we should have a government and media constantly looking out for possible perils in our environment, not how characterize, obfuscate, suppress, or spin that which has already been studied, or might need to be studied for us to know whether there are dangerous toxins building up in our environment, whether an ecology is breaking down, We’ve become so used to be lied to, spun, and simply dismissed that we tend to think having a unrealistic picture of what is actually happening in our environment is the norm. Well, think about, whose interests are we trying to protect when we frame how environmental studies are conducted? Corporations? Governments? Private property? Or our children’s future? For billions of years, life on Earth depended on an accurate model of reality. If a caveman thought the shadow of a lion about to pounce was only shrubbery, he was the lion’s meal. If we think are waters are clean to drink and sustain life, when they are not, our children inherit the illusion of a future—but not an actual one.
  • Great Lakes pollution, health link denied No definitive link can be made between industrial pollution in the Great Lakes region and human health concerns, according to a revised version of a controversial federal study released Wednesday. The new version contradicts an early draft that was released in mid-March by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that showed areas around 13 former hazardous waste sites in Michigan had higher incidence rates for health problems, including infant mortality, low birth weight, premature birth, heart disease and several forms of cancer. (May 1, 2008) Detroit News Online | Detnews.com | Friday, May 2, 2008 | News, sports, features, blogs, photos and forums from Detroit and across Michigan
  • Great Lakes health threats Kirk calls for investigation of alleged suppression of report on hazard sites  -  U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, is calling for a federal investigation into alleged suppression of a report detailing health threats to communities along the Great Lakes, including Waukegan. Kirk said the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry initially refused to publish a government-funded report entitled "Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern," citing scientific concerns with the document. (March 18, 08) News Sun
  • Health Report Raises Dispute Over Great Lakes Pollution  - WASHINGTON — Top federal health officials said Wednesday that they had asked the Institute of Medicine, the government’s premier medical adviser, to referee a dispute over a report suggesting that pollution in the Great Lakes region may have serious health consequences for people who live there, including infant mortality and breast cancer. “It’s a good way to get a really high-quality and completely objective scientific review,” said Dr. Henry Falk, who oversees environmental health at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (March 13, 08) The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia
  • Congressional panel calls for release of CDC report about the Great Lakes -- chicagotribune.com A congressional committee said Thursday that it was investigating why the Centers for Disease Control has declined to release a report about health problems near contaminated sites around the Great Lakes. A spokesman for the CDC said the report was held over questions about the data it used because it was presented in a way that may be misinterpreted. Though the report lists contaminant sites and illnesses reported nearby, it does not say the illnesses were caused by toxins at the sites. (Feb 29, 08) Chicago news, sports, photos, video, blogs, Chicago weather, business, travel, tourism, entertainment and jobs -- chicagotribune.com
  • The Buffalo News: Opinion: Are we at risk? Release Great Lakes pollution report, investigate whether it was suppressed There is a government report that raises the possibility that public health threats from industrial pollution pervade the Great Lakes region. You may not have heard of this because the government, according to people who should know, has suppressed it. Rep. Brian Higgins has called for a congressional investigation into that allegation. That should occur promptly, but in any thorough investigation, that would be only the tip of the iceberg. The Bush administration has a seven-year record of politicizing science. If Americans want their facts unfiltered by partisan ideology, an investigation should document such abuses now so that future presidents will not be so quick to bury or alter scientific data they do not like. (Feb 27, 08) Buffalo News
  • Living on Earth: Toxic Info Withheld The Centers for Disease Control is postponing the release of a report detailing areas of environmental concern and human health problems in the Great Lakes region. Living on Earth host Steve Curwood talks with Christopher De Rosa, who was director of the Division of Toxicology and Environmental Medicine at the CDC and oversaw the report. De Rosa was demoted when his work on toxins in the Great Lakes, and on formaldehyde in FEMA trailers for Hurricane Katrina survivors, was publicized.Living on Earth: Sound Journalism for the Whole Planet
  • Delay Of Report Is Blamed On Politics - washingtonpost.com CHICAGO -- The lead author and peer reviewers of a government report raising the possibility of public health threats from industrial contamination throughout the Great Lakes region are charging that the report is being suppressed because of the questions it raises. The author also alleges that he was demoted because of the report. Chris De Rosa, former director of the division of toxicology and environmental medicine at the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), charges that the report he wrote was a significant factor in his reassignment to a non-supervisory "special assistant" position last year.(Feb 19, 08) washingtonpost.com - nation, world, technology and Washington area news and headlines 
  • Leaked Study Says Great Lakes Residents at Greater Health Risk - ROCHESTER, NY (2008-02-19) A study done by the Centers for Disease Control says as many as nine million people living along the U.S. side of the Great Lakes could be at higher risk for health problems because of chemical pollution. More than 300-thousand Rochester-area people fall within that study area. But people living in the Rochester area are better off than most, because the one recognized "Area of Concern" waste site in Monroe County has been cleaned up by the City of Rochester and is no longer leaking pollutants to Lake Ontario. ( Feb 2/19/08) wxxi NewsRoom
  • Leaked report on the Great Lakes is a wake-up call High levels of pollution pose a health threat. U.S., Canadian decision-makers keep public in the dark for fear of lawsuits, expensive cleanups, scientist says WILLIAM MARSDEN, The Gazette Published: 12 hours ago At least 9 million people living on the United States side of the Great Lakes basin may be in danger from high levels of chemical pollution, according to a secret study that has been withheld from the public. The study was kept secret from the public for seven months until this week when it was leaked to the Centre for Public Integrity in Washington, D.C. (Feb 14, 08) Montreal Gazette
  • Great Lakes health report withheld by agency Document has 'alarming evidence' of toxic pollutants, group says, but fed agency says it needs some fixes. Gordon Trowbridge / Detroit News Washington Bureau WASHINGTON -- Federal officials are refusing to release a scientific study that contains "alarming evidence" that toxic pollutants threaten the health of residents in Detroit and other Great Lakes cities, a watchdog group alleged Thursday. The Center for Public Integrity released on its Web site excerpts of the report, which includes information on elevated cancer levels in Wayne and Macomb counties and a Detroit landfill site that contains up to 17 tons of toxic PCBs. (February 11, 08) Detroit News Online | Monday, February 11, 2008
• VHS - Stay informed on Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) that is moving into the Great Lakes and spreading to many of our area's Finger Lakes, rivers, and streams.  Our fishing industry and waters may never be the same.
• Global Warming Locally - What may New York State experience when Global Warming takes hold? Forecast For New York by Environmental Advocates of New York & "Northeast Climate Impacts Assessment" by Union of Concerned Scientists * NEW YORK * Also, Summary for Policymakers of the Synthesis Report of the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report DRAFT COPY 16 NOVEMBER 2007 23:04 – From the source IPCC - Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 
• What to do locally in a Flu Pandemic: Bird Flu Brochure by Public Health | Monroe County, NY Though extremely unlikely that our area would be hit by a flu pandemic, like the Spanish Flu of 1918-19, this issue should be on our radar as the bird flu continually jumps from birds to humans. When this virus jumps (as most scientists agree that it has in the past and will in the future) from human to human--things could move very quickly.  We shouldn't be paranoid, we just be ready.

• Bee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) Rochester Bee Problem  It’s been news around the country for awhile now, but even though New York State and Rochester depend heavily on pollinating bees our major media has been slow on this story.

  • Bee population dying out Pollination of crops is threatened by hostile atmosphere  - Bees work hard under terrible conditions — loss of natural habitat, growing use of insecticides and spreading viruses, to name just a few. (May 6, 08) Buffalo News

• The possible sale to developers of some of the 7, 000 acres that the city of Rochester now owns around Canadice and Hemlock lakes. Many agencies and groups have worked hard to keep those pristine areas pristine.  For more information on this topic, check out the pages for Hemlock Lake and Canadice Lake.

• Great Lakes - There are several major issues dealing the the Great Lakes that should be on our radar.  Ontario Lake is the last in the chain of five Great Lakes, so usually what comes around these waters ends up at some time in our area.

  • Great Lakes Diversion  - In my opinion, it is inevitable that major amounts of waters will be diverted from the Great Lakes in the future—called ‘diversion’.  I believe so for several reasons: 1. The droughts in the West and South are so damaging that peoples in these area will soon be in great need of fresh water.  2. Because of continual population growth in these areas, there will be no political will to curb that growth and so force high water prices and draconian water saving measures that the populace in these places will be clamoring for new water sources.  3. The water in the Great Lakes already has a sort of distribution system for taking this water by the network of existing water systems throughout the country (mostly in and around major metropolitan areas) making it possible for the South and West to get connected a lot easier than most people think. 

  • Lower Lake Levels

• Consolidation of the Major Media: This is a particular concern for getting a true picture of our environment. Read Kill Your TV!  When you're in a hole, stop digging: Stop listening to the same media that misinformed you about the Iraq War and the dangers of Global Warming! If your local media is not preemptive (meaning investigative reporting) in providing you with all the environmental information you need to make informed decisions about our Rochester-area environment, contact them and let them know you think this information is vital. & Save our Environment, Save the Net

• Wind Power placement in our area. Because the federal government will not make comprehensive rules for the placement of wind turbines around the country, providing us with one of the best sources for renewable energy, most town councils have been given this critical role for each of their communities.  How are they doing? 

• Type-E botulism - The Great Lakes Have Become a Toxic Place for Fish Eating Birds - Invasive species of mussel and fish in the Great Lakes are fostering an increase in Type E botulism with a devastating impact on fish eating birds. -- from Suite101.com: an online magazine read by 7 million a month and written by professional freelance writers; the genuine article.  You can track this disease in my Great Lakes and Animals pages.

• Energy/coal issues: Because of concerns about Global Warming there are many issues on energy including conservation, alternative fuels, gas prices, etc.  But, I believe the most important concern about energy is the closing down of coal powered plants, which now provide us with most of our energy.  RG&E has taken coal off the table for Russell Station when it refurbished that plant, but the coal power station in North Tonawanda, the Huntley Station, is still going ahead with coal. All that you do for conserving energy with be for naught if you meet most of your energy needs with coal powered electricity.  And, those fighting against wind turbines in their neighborhoods should consider that they are now probably using coal and gas (which are heavily subsidies by the government) for their electricity as they complain about renewable energy wind tower in their backyard.

  • CUOMO ANNOUNCES SETTLEMENT TO CLOSE ROCHESTER GAS & ELECTRIC’S COAL-BURNING RUSSELL POWER PLANT Company Pledges to Build Cleaner, State-of-the-Art, Natural Gas Facility ~ Settlement Requires RG&E to Pay $500,000 for Clean Energy Projects in the Rochester Area ROCHESTER, NY (February 20, 2008) – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a settlement with Rochester Gas and Electric (“RG&E”) that will require the company to shut down its coal-burning Russell power plant in the Town of Greece, Monroe County. The agreement also mandates that if RG&E replaces the coal-burning facility, they must build a cleaner, state-of-the-art natural gas plant. As a result of this settlement, thousands of tons of air pollution will be eliminated in the Rochester area annually. (Feb 20, 08) Office of New York State Attorney General Andrew M Cuomo
  • ENVIRONMENT: Russell power plant to close - News & Opinion - Rochester City Newspaper Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has announced a settlement with RG&E that will require the company to shut down its coal-burning Russell power plant in the town of Greece. Under the settlement, RG&E must permanently shut down the Russell power plant following improvements to power lines and substations, which are expected to be completed in May. If RG&E builds another plant, the settlement requires that this new plant be a state-of-the-art natural gas burning facility. (Feb 20, 08) Rochester City Newspaper
  • Settlement announced to close coal-burning Russell power plant - ROCHESTER - Attorney General Andrew Cuomo Wednesday announced a settlement with Rochester Gas and Electric that will require the company to shut down its coal-burning Russell power plant in the Town of Greece in Monroe County. (Feb 21, 08) New York State News on the Net!

• Our Transportation future: Does Rochester have a plan? New York City has come up with a comprehensive plan called PLANYC 2030 to address sustainability for its future. Should we be envious of New York City's plan or do we have a good plan ourselves?Sure, we don’t have many of the issues that New York City, one of the largest cities in the world that also has to deal with the rising oceans due to Global Warming, but we are a major New York State city not too far down the road from New York City.

• Our local media is not fulfilling its responsibility: Most of us, if not all, do not have the time to proactively scour our environment to see if something potentially is endangering our way of life by compromising our environment.  That's why we have governmental agencies like the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934 for the media. Under this act, our media should be conducting itself in accordance with the public interest and what is more important than the health of our environment as a public interest?  This should mean that besides barraging us with ads, someone's political agenda, sports, traffic jams and fatalities, etc., our local media should also be providing us with in-depth reporting on the state of our environment, which means that they take a proactive stance instead of waiting for pollution or some other environmental problem to get so bad that it splashes itself on the headlines.  Potential problems, like the effects of global warming, growing concerns about air quality, water quality, etc. should also be actively pursued by our local media with the public's health and sustainability in mind, instead of protecting corporate and selfish interests.  This end could better be served if our local media employed dedicated environmental reporters who sole responsibility would be to thoroughly and continually report on our area's environmental issues. Read: "SEC. 201. [47 U.S.C. 201] SERVICE AND CHARGES. (a) It shall be the duty of every common carrier engaged in interstate or foreign communication by wire or radio to furnish such communication service Communications Act of 1934 36 upon reasonable request therefor; and, in accordance with the orders of the Commission, in cases where the Commission, after opportunity for hearing, finds such action necessary or desirable in the public interest, to establish physical connections with other carriers, to establish through routes and charges applicable thereto and the divisions of such charges, and to establish and provide facilities and regulations for operating such through routes." -- COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1934

• Bat disease: Bats in New York State are an integral part of our environmental health because they control insects and (like most small animals) are an indicator of potential problems in our environment.  If they are dropping dead in the thousands, our radar should be on.

  • Science Friday Archives: Bat Die-Off Mystery  --from sciencefriday.com - making science user-friendly

  • Bats Perish, and No One Knows Why - Researchers have yet to determine whether the bats are being killed by a virus, bacteria, toxin, environmental hazard, metabolic disorder or fungus. Some have been found with pneumonia, but that and the fungus are believed to be secondary symptoms. ( March 25, 08) http://www.nytimes.com/

  • Mystery illness hits New York bats - Rochester, NY - MPNnow Bats in New York and Vermont are mysteriously dying off by the thousands, often with a white ring of fungus around their noses, and scientists in hazmat suits are crawling into dank caves to find out why. “White nose syndrome,” as the killer has been dubbed, is spreading at an alarming rate, with researchers calling it the gravest threat in memory to bats in the United States. (Feb 25, 08) Rochester, NY - MPNnow