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Do you know what this is? Read this article about controlling CO2 emissions.

Measuring the Impacts of Climate Change on North Carolina Coastal Resources”: http://econ.appstate.edu/climate?

PowerPoint presentation highlights: http://econ.appstate.edu/climate/NC_20Jun2007.pdf

The lost recreation value to local beach goers is projected to be $93 million a year by 2030 and $223 million a year by 2080 for the southern NC beaches.
The lost recreation value to local shore anglers is projected to be $15 million a year by 2030 and $17 million a year by 2080.
The value of property at risk to sea-level rise in just four counties over the next 75 years is $6.9 billion.
Business interruption losses in just four NC counties due to increases in category 3 hurricane severity’s are projected to rise by $34 million per storm in 2030, and by $157 million per storm in 2080.
A category 1 hurricane now causes about $50 million in agricultural damage, a category 2, about $200 million, and a category 3, about $800 million.
Increased forest damage associated with an increase in storm severity from category 2 to category 3 is about $900 million more in damages.

One of the study’s lead authors is John Whitehead. From 1991-2001 John served on the Board of the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation: http://www.env-econ.net/2006/08/in_case_anyone_.html.

He co-authors an entertaining yet highly respected environmental economics blog: www.env-econ.net.

John and Linwood Pendleton, Director of the Coastal Ocean Values Center (and Coastal Ocean Values Expedition) (www.coastalvalues.org) are colleagues.

Sharon Khan
Environmental Economist
Waterkeeper Alliance
50 South Buckhout Street, Suite 302
Irvington, New York 10533
www.waterkeeper.org
Phone: 914-674-0622, x18
Fax: 914-674-4560
Sharon’s message edited for inclusion on the Blog.

News and Observer Published: Jun 21, 2007 12:30 AM Modified: Jun 21, 2007 02:44 AM “This is something we have to put up with every day”, said Elsie Herring of Wallace about the smell of hog waste from a model hog farm. Staff Photo by Takaaki Iwabu Activists protest to end pig-waste pits Group uses model of feces lagoon Kristin Collins, Staff Writer Their piles of fake poop were banned and their baby pool full of hog waste didn’t smell as bad as they had hoped, but environmentalists still sent a loud message to legislators at a rally Wednesday. “Hey, hey, ho, ho, hog cesspools have got to go”! they chanted from their spot just behind the legislative building, demanding an end to the giant open pits that catch the waste of 9.5 million hogs in North Carolina. The legislature is considering a bill that would outlaw new hog lagoons and provide money to help farmers convert to more environmentally friendly waste disposal systems. The bill passed the Senate and is awaiting discussion in the House. North Carolina is the second-largest pork producer in the nation, with about 2,300 hog farms. Waste from the farms is typically collected in lagoons, then sprayed on nearby fields, and it is often cited by environmentalist groups as fouling water and air. Representatives from two dozen environmental groups, who held the rally as part of a 51-hour camp out on the Halifax Mall in downtown Raleigh, said the measure is overdue. “I’ve been fighting for this for 18 years”, said Don Webb, a former hog farmer turned environmentalist. “After 18 years, they’re still stinking up our homes. They’re still polluting the land, air and water and getting away with it”. To prove their point, rally participants created a small replica of a hog farm on the mall: two miniature barns and a lagoon crafted from a wading pool and a tarp. They turned off the pool’s makeshift sprayer, similar to those used at many hog farms, to prevent any waste from running into the grass, said Rick Dove, a spokesman for the Neuse River Foundation. The group also set up a display of fake pigs with piles of foam waste behind them, which police asked them to remove. “Artificial poop too offensive. Can you imagine that”? said Dove. “Folks all over North Carolina have feces and urine sprayed on their houses, their cars, their clothes”. Their biggest disappointment, however, came when the legislative committee that was scheduled to vote on the bill Wednesday afternoon yanked it from the calendar. Rep. Dewey Hill, a Whiteville Democrat who is leader of the House agriculture committee, said it was the third time that the Governor’s Office staff has asked him to delay discussing the bill. “The next time it’s on there, we’re going to hear it”, Hill said, promising to bring it back up in two weeks. George Givens, a legislative analyst working on the bill, said the governor’s staff is trying to work out a companion bill that some say would reduce the environmental effects of existing lagoons. That bill has the support of the pork industry. It would allow pork producers such as Smithfield Foods to profit from collecting and selling the methane gas emitted from hog lagoons. The methane would be used to make electricity and the bill would subsidize its price — an expense that would be passed on to electric customers. Those who gathered on the legislative lawn opposed the methane bill, saying it would encourage Smithfield, who controls the majority of the state’s hog farms, to keep existing lagoons. “All they’ve got to do is throw a tarp over the lagoon and capture the methane gas, and they’re home free”, Dove said. Several people who live near hog farms in Duplin County, a center of hog production in the state, took part in the rally and camp-out. Violet Branch, of Warsaw, said a farmer sprays waste just a few yards from her home. “It’s like rain”, she said. Branch, who gets by on disability insurance, said she was forced to pay to hook into the county water system after tests showed her well was contaminated. She said she can’t sit outside or dry her clothes on a line, and that the smell makes her sick. “A lot of people have talked about this for a long time and felt like there weren’t any solutions”, said Dothula Baron-Hall, who heads a Duplin County group formed to combat hog farms, the Rural Empowerment Association. “But now we have a little bit of hope”. Staff writer Kristin Collins can be reached at 919-829-4881 or mailto:kristin.collins@newsobserver.com

Although this article from the NY Times deals with climate change in Alaska the effects on us here in North Carolina will be devastating. I know we tend to think “well, 2030 is a long way down the road” but it’s only 23 years. A person born today will be facing this problem, a 30-year old today will be facing this problem, even a 60 or 70-year old could possibly face this problem.

Our biggest problem is complacency – the feeling what can I do about it? Write your legislators. Vote. Join organizations that are trying to do something about this impending disaster. If you can’t volunteer – donate.

The Senate approved legislation that would enact energy efficiency standards to begin reducing the demand for foreign oil, help reduce pollution, and lower greenhouse gases. This legislation is a result of input and negotiations between the environmental community and the energy industry. It requires that 12.5% of North Carolina’s energy come from efficient energy or renewable energy by 2021. The bill will make North Carolina a leader in solar research and technology, establish tax credits for energy efficiency, and eliminate the sales tax on energy for manufacturers and farmers.

Other legislation: Wilmington Contract Exemption, was passed this week making it easier for the New Hanover Water and Sewer Authority to make the necessary improvements to our water and sewer infrastructure.

1) Action Alert on CWRA (HR 2421): Declare Your Independence from Uncontrolled Water Pollution!

2) Dangerous CAFOs Legislation

3) Federal Farm Bill Update

4) Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452).

5) Network’s Global Warming Workgroup wants to hear from you!

6) Beach Act of 2007 Hearing

7) NRDC Beach Bums and Buddies list request.

Update on Corps Reform Network’s Website

9) News From the States..

Action Alert on CWRA (HR 2421): Declare Your Independence from Uncontrolled Water Pollution!

Congressional 4th of July Week Recess is a great time to get in-district meetings with Members of Congress to promote the Clean Water Restoration Act (HR 2421).

Dangerous CAFOs Legislation

In March 2007, legislation was introduced that would exempt hazardous substances in livestock manure and other waste generated by concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs),from the reporting and clean-up requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or “Superfund”) and the Emergency Planning Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

Federal Farm Bill Update

The federal Farm Bill is currently being re-authorized by Congress. The bill is comprehensive legislation that covers a wide array of agricultural programs and provides federal funding to farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and agri-business.

Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452)

On May 24th Congressmen Timothy Bishop (D-NY) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) introduced the Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act of 2007 (H.R. 2452).

Network’s Global Warming Workgroup wants to hear from you!Beach Act 0f 2007 Hearing on Capitol Hill

The US Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality held a hearing on June 27th entitled, “Protecting Water Quality at America’s Beaches.”

NRDC’s Beach Bums and Buddies list request

The following request for beach information is from Tonya McLean who is working with Nancy Stoner from the Natural Resources Defense Council, a long time Clean Water Network steering committee member.

Update on Corps Reform Network’s Website News From the States.

Rhode Island General Assembly Votes to Raise Runoff Standards and Protect Bay, Rivers, Lakes and Streams from Pollution.

Copyright ©2007The Clean Water Network

Special thanks to The Clean Water Network for this article posted to this Blog is its original configuration and wording.

The state House unanimously approved a bill that would exempt the City of Wilmington from public bidding requirements related to work on the Northeast Interceptor. The bill is expected to move quickly through the Senate by June 30.

Did you know that Wilmington’s sewers have spilled 7.5 million, that’s 7,500,000, gallons of waste into areas where we fish, clam, oyster and swim? This appears to happen during early July in the past two years. You can read the Star News article 

The bald eagle has recovered so completely that the Interior Department has removed the bird from the endangered species list. Some good things do happen now and then. Read more