Eco Report – July 14, 2022

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HEADLINES

The Indiana Department of Health has adopted an emergency rule increasing what it considers elevated levels of the neurotoxin lead in children’s blood and has initiated family education and case management for children with lead in their blood.

—Linda Greene

WTIU reports that Indiana households have more energy insecurity than all but seven states in the country. That’s according to a survey released this week by the Energy Information Administration. Nearly 30 percent of Hoosier households surveyed in 2020 said they forgo food or medicine to pay their utility bill, have received a disconnection notice or keep their homes at unhealthy temperatures to save money.

—Norm Holy

Last year, the world pumped 36.3 metric gigatons of carbon pollution from fossil fuels into the atmosphere, a record high. This pollution was largely driven by a surge in energy production in China, which produced about a third of the world’s total energy-related carbon pollution.

—Norm Holy

IndyStar reports that homeowners in southern Indiana will see their electricity bills rise, again, in the coming years after the state approved a utility’s request to build a new power plant — one the utility says will rarely operate.

—Norm Holy

U-S Representative Mark Amodei, Republican of Nevada, has introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would destroy 750,000 acres of public land, Nevada’s Green Basin, by giving it away to the U-S Navy for bombing, mining and industrialization. The land giveway would grant the Navy full or partial control of the land, including over 300,000 acres to drop bombs.

—Linda Greene

To make major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, people need to quit eating meat and dairy. In terms of lowering emissions, in fact, plant-based alternatives to meat cause far larger cuts than other environmentally friendly efforts, according to the Boston Consulting Group, one of the world’s largest consultancy companies.

—Linda Greene

A company called Fortress Energy wants to build new floating liquified natural gas, or LNG, terminals off the coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has deemed the project incomplete, unstable and hazardous. Grand Isle is a vulnerable barrier island that was ground zero for climate crisis–supercharged Hurricane Ida.

—Linda Greene

In a 6 to 3 ruling, the nation’s highest court ruled that the Clean Air Agency does not empower the EPA to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants without prior Congressional approval.

—Norm Holy

The European Commission has proposed a new law that would cut pesticide use in half by 2030 and completely ban the use of these chemicals near schools, playgrounds and hospitals. The proposal is part of a larger set of goals to reverse biodiversity loss and restore 20% of land and seas by the end of the decade.

—Norm Holy

CALENDAR

Spring Mill State Park is hosting a Full Buck Moon Hike on Friday, July 15th, from 10 to 11:30 pm.  Meet Anthony at the Donaldson Cave parking lot for an adventurous hike under the Full Buck Moon.  Learn all about full moon lore and history.  This will be a rugged, two-mile hike.

Brown County State Park is hosting their annual Snakefest on Saturday, July 16th, from 11 am to 5 pm.  View a variety of snake species, both native and non-native.  Learn about the habits of these amazing creatures.  See a timber rattlesnake feeding, and pet some non-venomous snakes.

Bring your own kayak to a Kayak Outing at Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area on Saturday, July 16th, from 3 to 6 pm.  The Goose Pond naturalist will lead a guided tour of the wetland, pointing out various species of plants and animals.  Meet at the Thousand Islands North Parking lot.  Bring everything you will need, including life jackets.  To register, go to the Goose Pond website.

A Fossils at the Falls Hike at McCormick’s Creek State Park is scheduled for Friday, July 22nd, at Noon.  Learn about the ancient origins of the park’s landscape through a closer look of features unveiled by the forces of water.  The hike meets at the Canyon Inn entrance.

Learn all about our Marvelous Mushrooms on a hike at Spring Mill State Park on Sunday, July 24th, from 11 am to Noon.  Meet at the Lakeview Activity Center front patio.  On the hike on Trail 2 you will learn about mushrooms and why they are important.  Find out which ones are poisonous and which ones are good to eat.