REPORTS: AVOIDING ANTIBIOTICS, BUYING LOCALLY CONTRIBUTE TO HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT
by Sarah Morgan

With the holidays approaching, many are already planning their menus, and environmental and health groups are encouraging shoppers to read labels and shop locally to avoid antibiotics and limit air pollution and fuel consumption.

An Iowa State University study from 2001 found that food is traveling farther each year. From the place of production to your plate, foods traveled an average of 1,581 miles in 1998, up 22 percent from 1981.

The distances traveled affect the amount of fuel used. The study found that the traditional system of shipping foods cross country resulted in up to 17 times the amount of fuel that would be consumed in a local system in which food traveled fewer miles. This excess fuel use results in an estimated 5 to 17 times more CO2 released into the air, depending upon the mode of transportation.

Purchasing locally grown produce is becoming easier and more popular as farmers’ markets pop up around the city.

Another concern gaining national attention is the overuse of antibiotics. According to Environmental Defense, a national nonprofit, "most poultry sold in this country is raised on antibiotics to prevent disease within the crowded confines of industrial-scale farms, and slightly to speed the birds' growth." The practice is also common in beef and pork production. Some claim that this "misuse" increases germs’ resistance to antibiotics, which eventually could render the antibiotics useless.

Commonly, antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial problems, from skin infections to pneumonia and meningitis. But the Union of Concerned Scientists now estimates that 70 percent of all antibiotics in the United States are administered to "healthy pigs, poultry, and beef cattle."

What this adds up to, Environmental Defense says, is humans developing drug-resistant infections. This, in turn, leads to increased health care costs, up by as much as $4 billion per year in the United States, according to Keep Antibiotics Working, a nonprofit group concerned with these effects. This group also cites studies showing that Salmonella bacteria, for instance, are now resistant to more than five different antibiotics. In response to these results and others, the World Health Organization, the American College of Preventative Medicine, and the American Public Health Association are all encouraging the use of fewer antibiotics in meat production.

Environmental Defense suggests that instead of pre-dosing animals, meat producers should reserve antibiotics for treating only confirmed infections, helping to make sure that the drugs remain effective. Some food producers are already changing their practices. Even McDonald’s adopted a new purchasing policy to decrease unnecessary antibiotic use.

But until more meat producers heed the warnings, poultry, meat, and fish raised with fewer antibiotics are available. To find out where to buy these products, Environmental Defense recommends the Eat Well Guide's zip-coded database of shops, farmers and online resources. This guide can be accessed at http://www.eatwellguide.org/holiday.cfm. Another option is simply to buy organic foods, which are monitored using standards that require the foods to be free of antibiotics.

EPA SOLICITS PUBLIC COMMENT FOR CLEAN AIR MERCURY RULE
by Sarah Morgan

The US Environmental Protection Agency released a Notice of Data Availability for its proposed Clean Air Mercury Rule last week. The NODA summarizes the more than 680,000 formal public comments the agency received this year concerning mercury and solicits further comment to help EPA evaluate which regulatory approach will best reduce mercury emissions from power plants. The NODA is part of the EPA process toward delivering a final mercury rule by March 15, 2005. Initially proposed on Jan 30, 2004, the Clean Air Mercury Rule would reduce mercury emissions from power plants for the first time ever.

In December 2003, EPA proposed two alternatives for controlling mercury. One approach would require equipping power plants with maximum achievable control technology, under section 112 of the Clean Air Act. If implemented, this proposal would reduce mercury nationwide by 14 tons or about 30 percent by early 2008. Currently, nationwide mercury emissions from power plants amount to about 48 tons per year, according to the EPA.

A second approach would create a market-based cap and trade program that, if implemented, would reduce nationwide power plant emissions of mercury in two phases. Beginning in 2010, the first phase would reduce power plant mercury emissions by taking advantage of co-benefit controls – mercury reductions achieved by reducing SO2 and NOx emissions under the Clean Air Interstate Rule. In 2018, the second phase of the mercury program sets a cap of 15 tons. When fully implemented, mercury emissions would be reduced by 33 tons (nearly 70 percent), according to the EPA.

EPA will take comment on this action for 30 days. For more information about the NODA, visit
http://www.epa.gov/mercury/control_emissions/noda.htm;
about the Clean Air Mercury Rule, visit
http://www.epa.gov/air/mercuryrule/;
and about the Clean Air Interstate Rule, visit
http://www.epa.gov/interstateairquality/.

GREEN HOMES 101 WORKSHOP: NATIVE PLANTS

Just as successful green homes must work in harmony with the natural environment, so must the flora used around the homes. Native vegetation can thrive without added water or fertilizers. Using native vegetation greatly reduces the homeowner's need for landscape maintenance, eliminates the use of pesticides and fertilizers, and can eliminate water bills. Native landscaping also helps preserve a site's existing wildlife. Cultivate Green and the Houston Area Research Center are hosting a workshop to educate area residents to ways to have healthier home habitats that use a lot less energy and how to save money in the process. The workshop will feature some of the most well-known, experienced native plant practitioners in the Houston area, who will teach the basics and much more from 6 to 9 pm Wednesday, Dec 15, at the University of Houston’s Gerald D. Hines School of Architecture Building, Room 150. To attend this free workshop, please notify Terri Kurtin at (281) 363-7926, or tkurtin@harc.edu.

MOTHERS FOR CLEAN AIR INFLUENTIAL IN EPA SUPERFUND DECISION

The Fifth Ward Chapter of Mothers for Clean Air, a nonprofit, community-based environmental group, has scored a major success in the clean-up of a hazardous waste site in its community. Comments made by the chapter in response to an Environmental Protection Agency’s clean-up proposal have influenced the EPA to decide on a more extensive clean-up than originally planned of the Many Diversified Interests Superfund site, which sits directly across the street from an elementary school. The chapter worked with a consultant, hired through an EPA grant, to submit its technical comments. Chapter members wrote their own comments and also asked other interested parties to write letters. In response, the site will now be cleaned up to a level that will support the redevelopment proposed by the community.

EPA SOLICITS APPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCHANGE NETWORK

The US Environmental Protection Agency is soliciting applications for the 2005 Environmental Information Exchange Network Grant Program. The Exchange Network is a nationwide information systems network that facilitates the electronic reporting and exchange of environmental data. The Network makes it easier for EPA, state, tribal, and territorial partners to obtain data when making decisions concerning the environment and human health. Coastal states have been using the Network to support their beach monitoring and public notification activities, as well as exchanging water quality data between states. The grants will be provided to states and territories to develop the information management and technology capabilities they need to participate in the Network. The deadline for applications is January 15, 2005. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/Networkg.

HOUSTON WINS 1,000 ‘NO BIRTHDAYS’ FROM SNAP

Houston won the Spay-Neuter Assistance Program’s nationwide "1,000 No Birthdays" contest. With 12,309 votes out of the total 42,168 votes cast, Houston has won 1,000 Neutersol applications for male dogs in the community. Neutersol is the first and only FDA approved injection for sterilizing male dogs.

BUFFALO BAYOU RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDS FOR IMPROVEMENTS

Buffalo Bayou Partnership has received federal funding for two Buffalo Bayou projects in the 2005 omnibus bill. Linda Shead and others with the Trust for Public Land were influential in securing $1.2 million in funding for the East Sector land acquisition. Also, the partnership has received $500,000 in transportation funding for improvements in the Buffalo Bayou/ San Jacinto area downtown.

HARC RESEARCH ASSOCIATE

The Houston Advanced Research Center is a nonprofit organization located in The Woodlands, Texas, with a mission of promoting sustainability. HARC has an opening for a research associate in the area of Sustainable Transportation and Heat Island Programs. This staff position will be part of a new HARC initiative being launched in 2005 entitled The Transportation and Air Quality Forum. The position requires an advanced degree in environmental sciences or related fields, with two or more years of experience. The research associate will also be involved in urban heat island mitigation programs at HARC, including forestation and carbon sequestration projects. For more information or to submit a resume, see http://www.harc.edu/jobs.

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