The Commission was established to address regional environmental concerns, help prevent potential trade and environmental conflicts, and promote the enforcement of environmental law. The new report, “Taking Stock 1997,” says a continuing decrease in on-site releases is encouraging; however, of concern are a large increase in transfers off-site and growing levels of pollution from smaller facilities. (www.cec.org)

US Climate Change
Conclusions of a new federal report, “Climate Change Impacts on the United States,” suggest a mixed bag of effects of global warming on the United States:

• Average temperatures will probably rise 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit - nearly twice the projected warming for the planet as a whole - prompting more summer urban heat waves and gentler winters across the nation.
• Agricultural production will likely surge, and forests will probably flourish, thanks to the fertilizing effect of more carbon dioxide in the air. But many long-suffering ecosystems, such as alpine meadows, coral reefs, coastal wetlands and Alaskan permafrost, will likely deteriorate further. Some may disappear altogether.
• Snowpack will probably diminish by 50 percent on average, while winter rains are likely to increase, bringing 60 to 100 percent more showers to much of Southern California and the parched Southwest.
• Total precipitation nationwide, which rose 5 to 10 percent during the 20th century, will probably increase another 10 percent by 2100, chiefly in the form of extreme storms.
• The threat of drought – especially in the western Kansas-eastern Colorado breadbasket –- will rise because hotter conditions enhance evaporation
• A doubling or tripling of heat-related deaths in Minneapolis, Chicago and other cities that rarely experience extreme high temperatures. The July heat index is likely to rise by 10 to 20 degrees in the mid-Atlantic region.
• A rise in sea level of five to 35 inches by 2100. A 20-inch rise would eliminate about 4,000 square miles of coastal wetlands in addition to the nearly 2,000 square miles lost in the past half-century. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39384-2000Jun11.html

Salmon A Keystone Supporting Other Species
More than 137 species of fish and wildlife - from orcas to caddisflies - depend on the Northwest salmon for their survival, a revelation that makes salmon recovery efforts of far greater importance than the protection of a single species. (http://ens.lycos.com/ens/jul2000/2000L-07-06-02.html)

Los Angeles Bans Diesel Buses, Adopts Solar Power
Two separate actions by Los Angeles entities last week will promote the use of clean energy in the city. The first was a landmark decision by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), adopting regulations that ban the purchase of diesel-fueled municipal buses and garbage trucks for the city.

AQMD also passed a regulation that will require government agencies in the region to purchase from among the cleaner cars, pickup trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles on the market.

The second action was taken by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), which announced a $6 million contract with AstroPower, Inc., to install solar electric systems throughout the city. The majority of the panels will be installed on the Los Angeles Convention Center, making it the largest solar-powered building in North America. The contract marks the start of a four-year, $38 million project to provide solar power to LADWP customers.

The LADWP news follows an earlier announcement that the utility will subsidize the installation of solar energy systems in its service area. The company will pay up to $5 per watt to homeowners and businesses that buy and install their own solar energy systems. (www.aqmd.gov/news1/, www.ladwp.com/whatnew/dwpnews/061500.htm, and www.ladwp.com/whatnew/dwpnews/060700a.htm)