National Park, NJ - Environmental groups joined Governor Christie, Congressman Andrews, Senate President Sweeney and DEP Commissioner Martin on the dais today to applaud their strong stance against the proposed Delaware River deepening proposal. The bi-partisan event demonstrated strong opposition to the project on environment, health and safety grounds on the day New Jersey formally filed its opposition to proponents' latest legal effort to railroad the project through and run roughshod over environmental protections and states' rights.

[Minnesota] –Minnesota agricultural producers and rural community leaders today firmly expressed their support for the passage of strong, comprehensive federal climate and clean energy legislation in 2010.

The leaders spoke during a conference call organized by 1Sky Minnesota and Clean Water Action. The call was part of a 1Sky-organized nationwide effort this week to profile the urgency of climate solutions and to shine a spotlight on attempts to weaken the ability to use the Clean Air Act to crack down on dirty coal plants.

Trenton, NJ -- The NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF) released the following statement in response to BPU's approval this afternoon of a massive, new, and expensive dirty coal power line through the Highlands and the Governor's deficit reduction plan this morning.

"Today the air New Jerseyan's breathe, already too polluted, just got worse, suffering a double whammy!

HOLYOKE – Last night the Holyoke City Council passed a Resolution supporting statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). EPR is a new approach to reduce, reuse, and recycle that shifts the financial cost of managing discarded products and packaging from the cities and towns to the brand owners who design and market the products.

Councilor Rebecca Lisi, who introduced the Resolution, said, “Holyoke taxpayers shouldn’t have to pay to dispose of toxic or hard-to-recycle products. The companies that put these products into the marketplace should be responsible for these costs.”

Manufacturers’ Collection Falls Short

Hartford - Today Clean Water Action released a report, Turning Up The Heat documenting that thermostat makers have collected less than 5% of the thermostats coming out of service over the last 10 years. Therefore, Clean Water Action is calling on the Connecticut General Assembly to pass a state collection program that includes incentives to recycle and performance standards to ensure meaningful progress.

Providence – Today Clean Water Action released a report documenting that Rhode Island is below the national average for preventing mercury pollution from thermostats and far behind the national leaders. The report, Turning Up The Heat, also finds that thermostat makers have collected less than 5% of the thermostats coming out of service over the last 10 years. The House Committee on Environment and Natural Resources is scheduled to hear a bill that would prevent mercury pollution from thermostats on Thursday, February 4 at the rise of the House in room 205.

Legislators, advocates, call for new, effective strategy

Boston--Thanks to the 2006 passage of the much acclaimed Mercury Management Act, you can no longer purchase a mercury-containing thermostat in Massachusetts, but thousands of them remain in use on the walls in the homes, businesses and institutions of the Commonwealth.  Today Clean Water Action released a report documenting that thermostat makers have collected less than 5% of the thermostats coming out of service in the United States over the last 10 years.

Trenton, NJ -- The NJ Environmental Federation (NJEF) released the following statement in response to Governor Christie's pick today to head the BPU.

New toxics laws would make Americans healthier, wealthier

Worcester-- Environmental health organizations and city officials celebrated the clean-up of diesel school buses to protect the health of school children and the public. The Massachusetts Diesel Pollution Solution Coalition called for urgent action to clean-up diesel WTA buses, trash trucks, and construction vehicles.