coastal pollution News
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Why is US Senate delaying on ship pollution legislation?
It’s understandable that there would be an aggressive Democratic response to the calls by President Bush and John McCain to drill off the coasts. But inaction on a separate coastal pollution issue seems harder to explain: I’m referring to a delay by the U.S. Senate in taking up legislation — already passed by the House of Representatives and a Senate committee — to ratify an international treaty ...
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ICZM approaches not always implemented despite adoption
A recent international study has compared different Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) methods and suggests that improved enforcement and compliance would increase implementation of key strategies. It also highlights the potential for environmental impact assessments (EIAs) to develop science and policy integration. In 2002, the European Parliament and Council adopted a Recommendation on ...
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New report reveals threats to reefs in the Coral Triangle
The Coral Triangle, an area stretching from southeast Asia to the edge of the western Pacific, is one of the most biologically diverse marine regions on earth. The area holds 30 percent of the world’s coral reefs and 75 percent of all known coral species. The region’s coral reefs provide food and livelihoods to more than 130 million people living within the Coral Triangle, as well to ...
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NOAA, EPA seek public comment on proposal to disapprove Oregon’s Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Program
Today, NOAA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announce the opening of a 90-day public comment period on the agencies’ proposal to disapprove the State of Oregon’s coastal nonpoint pollution control program. The two agencies have found that Oregon’s program falls short in three key areas. Under the terms of a settlement agreement, EPA and NOAA are required to ...
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Sea salt worsens coastal air pollution, according to new research
Air pollution in the world's busiest ports and shipping regions may be markedly worse than previously suspected, according to a new study showing that industrial and shipping pollution is exacerbated when it combines with sunshine and salty sea air. In a paper published in the journal Nature Geoscience, a team of researchers that included University of Calgary chemistry professor Hans Osthoff ...
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EPA, NOAA disapprove Oregon’s coastal nonpoint pollution control program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have disapproved the state of Oregon’s coastal nonpoint pollution control program because it does not sufficiently protect salmon streams and landslide-prone areas from logging impacts or reduce runoff from forest roads built before 1971. All coastal states that participate in the ...
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Rising ocean acidity worst for Caribbean and Pacific
The current trend of increasing ocean acidification, which threatens fisheries around the world, is driven mainly by man-made changes and is higher even than that seen at the end of the last ice age, some 11,000 year ago, a study has said. Much of the carbon released by human activity ends up in the oceans, increasing their acidity and reducing the growth of corals and molluscs, which in turn ...
By SciDev.Net
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EPA, Product Stewardship Institute, and University of California Launch Toolkit to Reduce Marine Debris
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Product Stewardship Institute, and the University of California announced the launch of a new Marine Debris Campus Toolkit designed to help college campuses and other institutions cut their plastic waste to help reduce marine debris and coastal pollution. The toolkit, funded by an EPA grant, resulted from a successful two-year pilot project by ...
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Record drop in water quality at Britain`s top beaches
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) have announced a 10% drop in the number of bathing beaches recommended for excellent water quality in its annual Good Beach Guide, compared to last year. In total, 443 (57%) UK beaches are ‘MCS Recommended' this year out of 778 tested, compared to 495 last year. This is the biggest year-on-year fall in the Good Beach Guide's 21 year history. The latest ...
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Environment and Climate: Commission invests EUR 281.4 million in new environment and climate projects
The European Commission has approved funding for 248 new projects under the LIFE+ programme, the European Union's environment fund. The projects cover actions in the fields of nature conservation, climate change, environmental policy and information and communication on environmental issues across all Member States. Overall, they represent a total investment of some EUR 556.4 million, of which ...
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New report reveals threats to world’s most important reefs
With more than 75 percent of the world’s coral species and twice the number of reef fish found anywhere else in the world, the Coral Triangle is the center of the world’s marine biodiversity. Stretching from central Southeast Asia to the edge of the western Pacific, 130 million people in the Coral Triangle region depend on marine resources for food and livelihoods. In this way, the ...
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New analysis: coral reefs provide great value to Jamaica`s economy
Coral reefs provide significant value to the Jamaican economy, including tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection, according to new analysis released today. The study finds that reef-related fisheries contribute $34.3 million (USD) annually to Jamaica’s economy. The study also revealed that beach erosion due to the loss of coral reefs could result in $23 million (USD) in lost tourism ...
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Southern Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket seek to protect coastal water from boat pollution
EPA is considering a proposal to designate the coastal waters of Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds and the Islands as a “No Discharge Area.” If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the town boundaries of Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, Gosnold, Falmouth, Mashpee, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Chatham and ...
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BP penalty trial dredges up gloomy images of 2010 Gulf spill
Images of oil-coated birds and testimony about "widespread sociocultural harm" opened the third phase of a trial to establish penalties BP must pay under the federal Clean Water Act for spilling millions of barrels of crude into the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The government wants the oil giant to pay another $13.7 billion for harming not just the birds and fish, but the business climate and social ...
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European Commission welcomes EP vote on water quality standards
The European Commission welcomes the European Parliament's second reading vote approving the agreement reached with the Council on the proposed directive on environmental quality standards in the field of water. The directive will better protect rivers, lakes and coastal waters against pollution from a range of chemical substances. European Environment Commissioner Commissioner Dimas said: 'This ...
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Seaweed could effectively monitor metal pollution in coastal waters
Seaweed may prove to be a valuable tool to monitor metal pollution in coastal waters, new research has found. Spiral wrack seaweed (Fucus spiralis), which is common to rocky coastlines across western Europe, was found to contain concentrations of metals that rose and fell in line with concentrations in the surrounding seawater. This makes it a good candidate for inclusion in the European ...
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Hunt Building agrees to resolve stormwater violations at construction sites at the United States Air Force Academy
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced that Hunt Building has agreed to resolve alleged Clean Water Act violations at two military housing construction sites at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The company will pay a civil penalty of $310,000. Today’s agreement resolves alleged stormwater permit violations discovered through EPA ...
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Six cape cod towns, plus the national seashore seek to protect coastal water from boat pollution
EPA is considering a proposal to designate the coastal waters of six towns and the Cape Cod National Seashore as a “No Discharge Area.” If approved, discharges of treated and untreated boat sewage would be prohibited within the town boundaries of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown. The area also part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. On behalf of the ...
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River quality in UK improving but still fail to meet EU standards
Water quality in England and Wales has improved for the nineteenth year in a row the Environment Agency announced this week. As a result, more rivers are becoming home for species that were once thought to be in terminal decline in them, such as salmon, eel and otters. The improvement has been achieved mainly through investment by water companies, tougher action on polluters, changing farming ...
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Waste water treatment: European Commission sends final warning to Italy
The European Commission is sending Italy a final written warning for not complying with EU legislation on urban waste water treatment. Some 299 towns and cities have been listed as not having waste water treatment up to EU standard. Discharges of untreated urban waste water are the most significant source of pollution in coastal and inland waters and Italy faces the prospect of being brought ...
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