en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent Pollution & Toxics headlines from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 Today, the City Council will hold a public hearing on Mayor Greg Nickels' proposal to ban foam at restaurants and grocery stores, and impose a 20-cent fee for each disposable paper and plastic bag used in the checkout line at all grocery, convenience and drugstores. Both are likely to gain council approval. Even if it's costly, Nickels says shoppers, consumers and businesses need to do right by the environment. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008038566_grocerybag08m0.html Environment Policy Pollution & Toxics Washington 07/08/2008 Seattle Times An environmental assessment of three industrial fires that struck Prince George one night in May shows that a dangerous list of petrochemicals, resins, caustic solution and batteries burned in the blazes. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/07/06/bc-prince-george-fire-chemical-list.html Environment Pollution & Toxics British Columbia Canada 07/07/2008 CBC BC Three California lawmakers called Monday for an investigation of a Mojave Desert chemical plant after a Chronicle series about a woman who has battled for a decade to convince regulators that toxic substances at the plant have harmed workers. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/07/MNQB11L5DD.DTL Environment Pollution & Toxics California 07/08/2008 San Francisco Chronicle Paper or plastic? Whatever the answer, it may start costing you extra. The Seattle City Council wants to know what you think of its proposal to add a 20-cent per bag green fee on disposable grocery bags. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1313918 Environment Green Taxes Pollution & Toxics Washington 07/08/2008 KPLU This week, the U.S. House is set to consider a bill to beef up research on the growing acidity of the oceans, an issue with major implications for fisheries. A research cruise off the west coast last summer discovered acidic waters creeping toward shore far faster than expected. http://aprn.org/2008/07/07/ocean-turning-acidic-threatening-fisheries-possible-mass-extinction/ Environment Policy Pollution & Toxics Alaska United States 07/08/2008 Alaska Public Radio Network An engineering professor at Brown University, has set out to see what could be done to reduce the risk of mercury exposure from compact fluorescent light bulbs. Together with students, he reports in Environmental Science and Technology that they have developed a material that can capture the mercury released from a broken tube. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/science/08obcfl.html?ref=environment Energy Environment Pollution & Toxics United States 07/08/2008 New York Times While city officials played down a sewage spill that last week affected the water quality of False Creek, critics say the creek has been plagued by pollution for decades and the problem could haunt the city in 2010, when Olympic athletes will be housed there in a waterfront village. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080708.BCCREEK08/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/ Environment Pollution & Toxics British Columbia Canada 07/08/2008 Toronto Globe and Mail A synthetic chemical widely used in the manufacture of computers and flat-screen televisions is a potent greenhouse gas, with 17,000 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide, but its measure in the atmosphere has never been taken, nor is it regulated by international treaty. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-climate8-2008jul08,0,3026357.story Environment Pollution & Toxics United States 07/08/2008 Los Angeles Times A recent memo from the Legislative Audit Division indicates that systemic permitting problems continue to pile up for the beleaguered State Department of Environmental quality. The memo found that a backlog of wastewater permits at the DEQ's Water Protection Bureau is affecting the agency's ability to protect Montana's ground and surface water quality. http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080708/NEWS01/807080305/1002 Environment Pollution & Toxics Montana 07/08/2008 Great Falls Tribune