Ballot Deadline Missed For Oil Drilling Ban

Lansing, MI - Two of the state's leading conservation and environmental organizations blasted Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop for blowing today's deadline to put a permanent ban on Great Lakes drilling onto the November ballot. The lawmakers' failure to make the ballot comes as another offshore oil rig explodes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Providence—Clean Water Action is proud to announce our initial list of endorsed candidates for the 2010 city, state, and federal elections.

"Rhode Island voters have a real opportunity to support environmental candidates this year," said Sheila Dormody, Rhode Island director of Clean Water Action. "Rhode Island needs more leaders who will take action to promote clean renewable energy, create green jobs, protect our drinking water supply, and fund public transportation. These candidates have earned Clean Water Action's endorsement by demonstrating their commitment to protecting our environment."

Action Urged As Clock Ticking On Deadline for Great Lakes Drilling Ban

A Record Oil Spill Means Legislature Must Act by Sept. 2 Deadline For November Ballot

LANSING, MI - In the wake of the Kalamazoo River oil spill and an approaching deadline for ballot measures, Clean Water Action today said lawmakers should return from Tuesday's primary election and act quickly on stalled measures to put a permanent ban on oil drilling before voters in the November election.

Gulf Coast Beach Warnings Skyrocket Due to Oil, Pollution Persists Nationwide

Duluth, Minnesota (July 28, 2010) – Pollution continues to contaminate the water at America’s beaches, causing 99 advisory days for Minnesota’s Lake Superior beaches last year and 18,682 closing and advisory days nationwide. Meanwhile, as of July 23, the Gulf oil disaster had already led to 1,755 days of beach closing, advisories, and notices in the Gulf region this year, according to the 20th annual beachwater quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

Washington, DC - Clean Water Action joined with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and Story of Stuff Project to launch the startling and fast-paced <em>Story of Cosmetics</em>  expose, a 7-minute online film exposing toxic hazards from personal care and consumer products used by millions of Americans each day.
 
The film's release coincides with the introduction of the Safe Cosmetics Act in Congress. The legislation would for the first time regulate and limit the use of toxic and cancer-causing ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products.
 

Constitutional change will protect MI from oil disaster; Legislature must act now

LANSING, MI - Clean Water Action today urged the full House and Senate to pass the strongest possible proposal to ban drilling in the Great Lakes after a bipartisan Senate panel approved protections that would ensure Michigan doesn't become the next oil disaster zone with devastating consequences.

A state House committee had previously passed the measure, which will protect local communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other industries.

Philadelphia - Clean Water Action today released a report showing ten years of diminishing funding for environmental protection. Citing recent incidents in signficant pollution in the areas of wastewater treatment, food processing and natural gas drillers, the report is meant to show the urgent need for a robust agency to check polluters, look for problems and fine them aggressively for violations. In the Governor's budget deal released today, DEP would take another cut in funding. Adjusted for inflation, the agency is now two-fifths the size it was under the previous administration.

From the first page of the report:

"When adjusted for inflation, state support for environmental protection has dropped from $340,000,000 in 2000-2001 to approximately $160,000,000 today (see General Fund line item in following tables and charts, this represents what the state allocates to DEP). The 2010 – 2011 state budget is projecting to lower this even further to $145,000,000.  The story is much worse when you adjust for inflation. If the state spent as little on environmental protection in 2000 as it does today, the agency would only be receiving $130,000,000. In other words, the DEP budget is 2/5s today of what it was midway through the Ridge Administration.

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06/30/2010 - 18:25

Washington DC - On July 1, 2010 a voluntary ban on phosphates in dishwasher detergents will be implemented by many members of the American Cleaning Council (formerly the Soap and Detergent Association), a manufacturer's trade group representing most detergent companies.

Proposals in House will protect Michigan's lakes, economy

LANSING, MI - Clean Water Action today applauded a state House panel for moving forward a proposed permanent ban on oil drilling in the Great Lakes and called on the full House to act quickly ensure Michigan doesn't become the next oil disaster zone with devastating consequences to local communities dependent on tourism, fishing and other industries.

Northampton—Scientists and advocates gathered today to call on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) to phase out BPA from infant formula and baby food packaging and reusable food and beverage containers, as well as baby bottles and sippy cups.  The DPH has proposed a “limited ban on bisphenol-A (BPA) in reusable food and beverage containers intended for use by children ages 3 and under,” ie: baby bottles and sippy cups.  Scientists, parents, and advocates representing members of the Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow (AHT) coalition will offer testimony at a hearing this afternoon in Northampton demonstrating that the proposed regulation