On The Horizon

EPA moves closer to tackling climate change

Tarkan Rosenberg — Mon, 12 May 2008 16:40:00 GMT

The EPA's Office of Water hosted a live webcast last week to discuss a recently released draft strategy that aims to address the effects of climate change on the nation's water resources.

Jeff Peterson, an EPA scientist from the Office of Water, detailed some likely impacts of climate change in the coming century, stating that globally, average annual precipitation levels are expected to increase. In the United States this will mean that precipitation will increase in the Northeast and decrease in the Southwest. Snow seasons will shorten in duration and levels of snow depth will decrease, causing an early Spring runoff in many areas.

In terms of water impacts, this will likely mean that droughts will increase causing limited water availability in areas where rainfall is expected to decrease. Increasing rainfall will result in higher storm water runoffs that will greatly tax efforts to maintain low pollution standards in water bodies.

The webcast was intended to provide an overview of the draft strategy, which in addition to identifying climate change-related water issues, outlines possible response strategies. It also aimed to clarify the contents of the document for the public.

"The ideas and response actions outlined here are the product of a cooperative effort among EPA Water Program managers and national and regional offices," said Benjamin Grumbles, the Office of Water's Assistant Administrator.

"Climate change will have many diverse impacts," he continued, "including effects on human health, natural systems and the built environment. As we looked at the expected impacts of climate change, we found that a significant number of them relate to water resources."

Grumbles further stated that climate change can make itself felt on water resources in various ways, among them an increase in water pollution, more extreme storms and water events, as well as rises in sea levels, stronger storms and changes in ocean chemistry.

Grumbles' deputy assistant, Michael Shapiro, summarized a list of goals outlined in the draft strategy that aim to improve the National Water Program's responses to climate change. The first goal seeks to reduce greenhouse gases by, among other things, increasing energy efficiency at waste and drinking water facilities.

Shapiro said this can be accomplished by better adapting the water program to climate change. This would involve increasing program effectiveness by improving water safety standards and providing better infrastructure support.

"Adaptation is important," he said, " because even with a very successful effort to reduce greenhouse gases, the climate will continue to change and we will need to respond appropriately."

Other goals include creating a better link between EPA water programs and climate change research, providing outreach and education for water professionals and stakeholders, and building climate change into future budgeting and planning initiatives as well improving coordination with other federal agencies.

The panel concluded by taking questions from listeners, and once again urged members of the public, as well as federal employees and stakeholders, to submit their responses, concerns and questions regarding the draft strategy no later than May 27. The document as well as information on how to respond can be found at the Water Office's climate change website.

Ethanol under fire in Congress

Andrew B. Einhorn — Wed, 07 May 2008 15:17:00 GMT

As global food prices for meats, vegetables, and bread surge worldwide, Republican lawmakers in Congress are calling for a change in the Renewable Fuels Standard passed in December. The bill called for a fivefold boost in biofuel use by 2022, and mandates to use ethanol blended from corn as a gasoline additive.

Ethanol, once considered by many to be the perfect alternative to gasoline, has received significant opposition lately as prices for commodities, including corn and soybeans, have risen to record highs. Members of Congress are considering revising the Renewable Fuels Standard to eliminate ethanol mandates, though others caution that revising a carefully crafted and debated bill will cause even more unintended consequences than the original.

EPA finally addressing climate change

Tarkan Rosenberg — Fri, 02 May 2008 04:32:00 GMT

The Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water has released a public draft strategy aimed at identifying the impacts of climate change on national clean water and drinking water programs, and possible approaches for dealing with them. The Office has also issued a memorandum asking for public comment on the strategy.

The document, National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change, addresses the growing scientific consensus on climate change and identifies problems that may occur as a result of Global Warming. These include the strong possibility of encroaching shorelines due to rising sea levels, changes in ocean chemistry that will affect natural habitats and fisheries, changing patterns of rain and snowfall that will impact drinking water supplies, and an increase in polluted water runoffs due to more intense storm activity.

While the document acknowledges the uncertainty that still exists surrounding the issue of climate change, it also asserts that long-term scientific studies have resulted in a more broadened consensus on the impact of Global Warming on water resources. It stresses the urgency with which the "National Water Program and its partners need to assess emerging climate change information, evaluate potential impacts...on water programs, and identify needed responses."

The report identifies five long-term strategy goals for the National Water Program. These include efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through more energy efficient water treatment and delivery systems, tailoring existing water programs in response to increasing climate change, deeper involvement in climate research, educating partners and water professionals on the issues, and an expansion of the National Water Program's climate change management capability.

Although water shortages have historically been linked to "third world" regions, the problem may be coming home to roost for developed countries like the United States. Climate change impacts on water resources are becoming increasingly difficult for us to ignore. Last year hosted one of the driest summers on record, particularly in the Southeastern United States-a region normally associated with abundant rainfall-where an unprecedented drought affected crops, lowered river levels and sparked a water supply crisis in Atlanta, Georgia. It was deemed by many to be the worst summer since the Dust Bowl years of the 1930s. And as global temperatures continue to rise, causing hotter summers by the year, we may only be seeing the tip of the iceberg.

The Office of Water is urging the public to get involved and welcomes comments on the document. It will also host a live Webcast on Thursday, May 8th to discuss the draft strategy and to address related questions.

For more information on how to register for the Webcast or where to send comments to the EPA, visit http://www.epa.gov/water/climatechange/.

Congress to foreign countries: take back your criminals

Eliza Krigman — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:55:00 GMT

While the U.S. may be unable to come to a consensus on what to do with the majority of the 12 to 20 million illegal immigrants in our country, few would argue that those convicted of crimes deserve a chance to stay here. The problem is their native countries won't take them back. To address this issue and take a step forward in immigration reform, which has been all but paralyzed, Senator Arlen Specter (D-PA) introduced the Accountability in Immigrant Repatriation (AIR) Act in March 2008.

The AIR act would suspend all pending visa petitions from countries refusing to take back or repatriate criminal aliens. It would also direct the State Department to withhold funds under the Foreign Assistance Act to countries that persist in this refusal-an enforcement mechanism deemed necessary by Specter, who has stepped in personally to push countries to accept their deportees.

Included in Specter's press release about the bill is a copy of a letter he sent to the President of Egypt beseeching his support to repatriate a criminal alien, Mr. Abdel Fattah. Convicted of an aggravated felony in 2002, Mr. Fattah's detention cost Pennsylvania over 250,000 dollars in 2007 alone. Since Fattah lacks an Egyptian passport, Egypt won't recognize him as a citizen and accept him back into the country. And despite the fact that Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) is certain of his origin and that Mr. Fattah has called Egypt his country, Egyptian officials won't issue him a new passport.

The AIR bill aims to combat stalemates such as the one with Egypt over Fattah. It requires reports to Congress every 90 days on the countries that deny repatriation. Once received, the report triggers denial of foreign aid as well as suspension of visa issuances to the listed countries. However, the President does have the option of requesting a waiver for the sanctions if doing so is accepted to be in our national security interests.

On April 10th, Representatives Michael Castle (R-DE) and Charlie Dent (R-PA) joined Specter's efforts by introducing H.R. 5761, the House companion of The Accountability in Immigrant Repatriation Act. Neither bill has been scheduled for debate.

Castle identifies eight ‘problem' countries - Laos, Iran, Eritrea, Vietnam, Jamaica, China, India, and Ethiopia - that are refusing to repatriate over 139,000 aliens. The situation is not just a financial drain on the U.S. detention system, but it's also a safety issue.

Once a criminal illegal immigrant finishes serving their sentence, immigration can only hold him or her for six months. After that, if his/her home country refuses to take them, he/she is released back into the general US population. In a press conference held on April 10th, Castle stated that over 18,000 criminal aliens who served time in U.S. jails and prisons have been released "onto the streets."

"...I think what we're doing here is helping establish a reasonable priority, getting people out of the country who should be out of the country," said Castle. "It will free up resources so that ICE and others can use those resources to process others who are in the country unlawfully."

Specter is optimistic that Democrats will support the bill.

"We have a lot of concern about the undocumented immigrants, how to handle them, the 12 to 20 million or however many there are," said Specter. "But where somebody's been convicted of a crime, there's no question that they ought to be deported. And their home countries have a responsibility to take them back."

Specter, Castle and Dent are aware that there may be objections to a mandatory denial of visas on the grounds of foreign relations. However, they see it as the force needed to resolve an unnecessary financial burden on US taxpayers and a public safety issue, which everyone can rally around. If passed, the AIR act may show that the best chance for immigration reform is through incremental rather than comprehensive legislation.

Congress working hard at getting visas for models, singers and athletes

Andrew B. Einhorn — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 14:19:00 GMT

In the midst of a heated national debate on immigration, which is fueling animosity between and within political parties, members of Congress have turned their attention to less polarizing facets of the debate, such as finding ways to get more visas in the hands of the rich and famous.

Bills to make it easier for athletes, fashion models and performers to work in the United States are flowing through Congress like alcohol at at a pre-rehab Amy Winehouse party, who by no coincidence is on the list of potential beneficiaries of new visa laws being proposed.

At this year's Grammy awards ceremony, Winehouse, a British singer best known for her one-hit wonder "Rehab," was forced to accept her award via satellite since her visa could not be processed in time for the event. The anecdote prompted action in Congress and this month, the House approved a bill to expedite visa processing for foreign artists and musicians.

A similar bill sponsored by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Lakewood) would ease immigration restrictions on professional athletes by lifting the 10-year cap on visas they hold. Advocates of the bill, like Sanchez, complain that these days, a decade just doesn't give athletes enough time to reach their peak physical performance. Just ask Roger Clemens. Ok, bad example.

And in a final act of pure philanthropy in support of disadvantaged foreigners desperate to pursue a better life in the US, Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) proposed a bill to create a new H1-B visa category for supermodels. The new category would ensure that the models seeking entry into the US wouldn't have to compete with lesser "aliens of extraordinary abilities" like mathematicians, scientists, and engineers to obtain one of the 65,000 H-1B visas handed out annually.

Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) doesn't see the same genius in the "Weiner Bill" as others. He told the L.A. Times that he could picture Weiner "in a posh downtown New York City hotel celebrating the passage of this bill surrounded by hundreds of energized, wildly ecstatic fashion models. And you know for a fact he's going to have an annual celebration. It's almost too much to bear...but not too much to oppose the bill."

Greening the Gov: How the Air Force is reducing its 'addiction to oil'

Tarkan Rosenberg — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:15:00 GMT

The United States Air Force is using its influence as the biggest consumer of energy in the country to drive a number of innovative environmental initiatives and projects aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions and converting waste to energy.

Some ideas to reduce energy use and carbon offloading involve the possibility of constructing waste-to-energy plants on two major Air Force bases in Nevada and Florida, as well as the use of synthetic fuels derived from non-petroleum sources.

"We see ourselves because of our size as a customer. And customers can drive the market," says William C. Anderson, the Air Force's Assistant Secretary for Installations, Environment and Logistics. "The Air Force [purchase] of jet fuel every year represents 10 percent of the entire US domestic jet fuel market. When you're that big you can use your clout as a customer to move the market."

One idea for fuel production involves deriving liquid fuels from either coal, natural gas, or biomass, although Anderson believes the most likely source will be "clean" coal.

"Currently in this country, the best alternative is coal," he says. "The largest deposits of coal are in the United States. The United States is referred to (by the energy industry) as the Saudi Arabia of coal."

The process of clean coal production involves "gasifying" coal—a fossil fuel—in order to remove and capture intrinsic impurities such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which are harmful by-products of coal combustion. Although the coal industry has been touting the use of clean coal as an energy source, many environmental groups like the Sierra Club claim there can be no such thing as clean coal. And since clean coal production does nothing to offset harmful carbon dioxide emissions believed to amplify Global Warming, the solution is unacceptable.

On the flip side of the argument is Anderson, who contends that carbon dioxide emissions from coal can be isolated, stored, and later recycled for use in producing jet fuels.

"What we are suggesting is that it can be captured," said Anderson. "Carbon still has energy in it. How can you use the CO2 to create more energy? One alternative is to combine it with hydrogen and you can make more jet fuel.

What I'm talking about will not reduce the emissions out of the tailpipe. It significantly reduces the emissions in the manufacturing process. We're trying to ratchet it down. We're not going to eliminate all CO2, obviously."

But it’s not all about coal. In addition to being the largest purchaser of wind energy in the country, the Air Force also hosts a 14-megawatt solar panel array—the largest in the Americas—at its Nellis base outside Las Vegas, Nevada. The site of the array is located on a 140-acre former landfill. Cheap land plus a cheap fuel source (the sun) equates to cheap energy…and that’s something everyone can agree is a good idea.

As Air Force bases are the size of small towns, energy management is a critical component of the base’s day-to-day operations and a major contributor to its costs. With alternative energy technologies becoming cost competitive and outstanding Executive Orders to reduce energy use wherever possible, energy management efforts in the Air Force are getting a second wind.

"We have people living, working, going to school, day care, fire stations, police stations and retail,” said Anderson. “So it allows us to pursue energy projects like a city would, and we've been doing that. We spend a billion dollars a year on installation energy."

Negotiations are currently underway to build two large, commercial-scale waste-to-energy facilities at bases in Abilene, Texas and Destin, Florida. Although still in the very early planning stages, the project moves the Air Force one step closer to sustainability by allowing it to host waste energy production facilities on its own land. In the past, the Air Force bought the energy produced from combusted landfill waste from third parties.

"We keep jamming [waste] into landfills, and the world is running out of landfills," Anderson says. "If you can find a way to safely burn the trash you in essence do two things: you reduce the load on landfills—which is a real goodness—and you generate more energy—another goodness."

The Air Force also lauds the security benefits of using domestically produced energy and jet fuel, claiming that bases will be less dependent on the power grid, which can be vulnerable to attack or failure. Once more, domestic energy facilities are more easily defended than international ones.

"If we can find domestically produced fuel sources, reduce our dependency on foreign oil—no matter where it comes from—it puts us in a better strategic military position," he says. "And if we can install generation capacity on our bases...that will make it much more secure."

Among the top 25 purchasers of alternative energy in the country, the Air Force’s environmental efforts have garnered praise from other feds. In 2006, the Environmental Protection Agency, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), awarded them the Green Power Leadership Award for the advancement of green power initiatives.

"The Air Force is very proud of its 30-year commitment to environmental stewardship," says Anderson. "We've got to look at these new energy sources through an environmental lens. And we believe if we do the right kind of research...we can make cleaner energy out of every energy source, including coal. We are not out there just to mess with the environment. We are out there to find cleaner ways to use energy sources that are available."

Government collecting DNA samples from everyone arrested

Andrew B. Einhorn — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 13:30:00 GMT

In an effort to improve crime fighting and conviction accuracy in court, the federal government plans to collect samples of DNA from anyone arrested and store them in a massive database.

Laws passed by Congress in 2005 and 2006 granted the Justice department authority to expand the collection of DNA from a case by case basis to an as-needed basis to all those arrested. In addition, the feds will collect DNA samples from foreigners who are detained, i.e. illegal immigrants and suspected terrorists.

Justice Department officials expect to collect 1.2 million samples of DNA each year, once the final proposed rule is published in the Federal Register and given the required thirty day public comment period.

You can bet the rule will receive plenty of public comments. Privacy advocates worry the database will be abused to exploit personal information such as family ties or genetic conditions. Imagine the difficulty of trying to get a job as an X-felon with a known family history of mental disease with a snooping employer. Or perhaps one day those telemarketing callers might begin asking you if you're interested in various discounted prescription drugs or homeopathic remedies for that awful family history of skin cancer. Even scarier is the possibility that the database could be exploited for research on biological weapons.

While this Orwellian future may seem a stretch, it's difficult to imagine just how the DNA database could be abused in the future, given the speed with which our technologies and medical knowledge is expanding. These days, science fiction seems to be driving science. Need proof? The military is now using lasers and unmanned spy planes - two weapons once only considered possible in the realm of science fiction and Star Wars movies.

On the flip side, DNA evidence has proven one of, if not the most useful tools for crime fighting. And as any CSI watcher knows, crimes committed in years past can now be solved because of advancements in DNA research. Not only would the Justice Department's DNA database enable more crimes to be solved, it would also help keep innocent people out of prison and off of death row.

Just last week, a Texas man was exonerated of all charges after serving 23 years in prison, thanks to DNA evidence. Had he been arrested today instead of 23 years ago, he would've had his whole life in front of him.

It's government's job to protect people, but how does one way potential future threats against those of today? There's no magic formula, but just as in rocky terrain, the best approach is to walk slowly and cautiously forward, while keeping our eyes on the horizon for future problems.

The week's best column: 'Abolish All Taxes'

Andrew B. Einhorn — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 12:18:00 GMT

The following was abstracted from Richard Conniff's column, "Abolish All Taxes," that appeared in the New York Times yesterday. We liked it so much, we just had to make sure you read it.

It’s time to take a page from the conservative playbook, the one where they reframe the debate by changing the language — for instance, calling the “estate tax” a “death tax,” or making equal rights for same-sex partners a “protection of marriage” issue. I propose we stop saying “taxes” and start calling them “dues.”

So this will be an uphill struggle. But we need language to remind us that this is our government, and that we thrive because of the schools and transit systems and 10,000 other services that exist only because we have joined together. Instead of denouncing taxes, politicians would do better to appeal to the patriotic corners of our hearts that warm to phrases like “we the people.” “Taxation” is a throwback to the time when kings picked our pockets. “Paying my dues,” a phrase popularized in the jazz music world, is language by which we can stand together as Americans.

ICE to deport all immigrants with criminal backgrounds

Andrew B. Einhorn — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:50:00 GMT

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency is working to expand a program that checks the immigration status of prison inmates to the entire prison system, said ICE assistant secretary Julie Myers this week.

Under the new system, fingerprints taken during booking would automatically be checked against Department of Homeland Security databases to access immigration history. Assuming the database is accurate - it currently yields a 4 percent error rate - the program could prove extremely cost effective.

Average annual costs for housing and caring for inmates exceeded $24,000 in 2005. In some states like Rhode Island, costs were as high as $45,000 per inmate. Even if you add court costs to process the illegals to the $1,000 average transportation cost to actually deport them, the return on investment would have even Warren Buffet looking to back the ICE program.

Myers said it would take about 3.5 years before the program could reach all the country's jails. But in the end, the "Secure Communities" initiative would ensure illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds aren't simply released back into the U.S.

Hopefully, ICE will ensure the database used to check the legal status of criminals is completely accurate through pilot programs like the one in Irving, Texas before launching the program nation-wide. Otherwise, wrongfully accused, or even worse, wrongfully deported citizens will be rightfully filing lawsuits against Uncle Sam at the expense of Joe taxpayer.

Big brother is watching D.C.

Andrew B. Einhorn — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:43:00 GMT

The next time you're in Washington, D.C., you may want to rethink making any personal adjustments in public. D.C. city officials unveiled a plan Tuesday to grant police access to 5,200 closed-circuit video cameras scattered across the capital that monitor traffic, schools and public housing.

The plan places D.C.'s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency in charge of the Video Interoperability for Public Safety (VIPS) program, which allows city agencies to share video feeds and provide the city with a network that is actively monitored 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Not surprisingly, the new plan has raised a debate between civil liberties groups advocating for greater privacy laws and city officials who feel the new program will improve public health and safety by enabling better crime and incident monitoring and response.

Proponents of the plan, which include the city's mayor and police chief, argue that the cameras reduce crime and enable greater response to traffic and emergency needs as well.

Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier testified before the D.C. Council last week that the 92 cameras already under surveillance by D.C. police reduced violent crime by 19 percent within 250 feet of the cameras and 4 percent within 1,000 feet.

Opponents of the plan feel the cameras are an invasion of privacy and do not prevent crime so much as they displace it into areas not covered by cameras.