News 24/7

'The Price Is Right' goes green for Earth Day

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:30:54 -0800

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Green prizes are coming on down at "The Price Is Right."

In observance of Earth Day, Wednesday's episode of the CBS game show will feature environmentally friendly products including cell phones made of recycled materials, solar charging equipment and a recycling cabinet.

Environmentalist and actor Ed Begley Jr. will introduce a showcase that includes an electric bike, golf cart and Toyota Prius hybrid car. Trips offered during the show will be paired with donations to offset carbon emissions.

CBS soap operas will recognize Earth Day within their sudsy plots, and Lesley-Anne Down of "The Bold and the Beautiful" will appear in a public service announcement.

- The Associated Press

Climate change discussion brought to Joshua Tree National Park

Wed, 08 Apr 2009 20:26:01 -0800

A federal spotlight was on Joshua Tree National Park this week during a congressional subcommittee hearing to discuss how climate change is affecting the country's parks.

Eight parks, conservation and wildlife experts testified at the three-hour hearing, which was chaired by Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz. It was intended to be an information-gathering meeting to possibly help shape future legislation.

All but one expert said that global warming is a huge detriment to national parks, which already are showing impacts such as growth of invasive plants, a shift in habitat range of plants and animals, decreasing rainfall and abnormally large wildfires.

There are more than just wilderness refuges at stake.

Healthy parks help support nearly 6.5 million jobs and generate $88 billion in state and national tax revenues, said Michael Cipra, the nonprofit National Parks Conservation Association's California Desert Program manager. A 2006 Outdoor Industry Association study said that outdoor activities like hiking, fishing and wildlife watching annually contribute $730 billion to the U.S. economy.

The most passionate testimony, however, focused on what is happening within national parks.

One study estimates that there may be no Joshua trees left in Joshua Tree National Park within the next century because fires and old age are wiping out the existing trees, and not many new ones are sprouting.

"Joshua Tree National Park without (Joshua) trees scares me. It's hard to imagine, it's hard to contemplate," said park spokesman Joe Zarki. "The Joshua tree is a symbol of the Mojave Desert. I don't know what would be left, but it would be somewhat diminished."

Source: Fuel efficiency standard going up

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:21:09 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Obama administration plans to raise fuel efficiency standards by 2 miles per gallon to 27.3 mpg for new cars and trucks in the 2011 model year, marking the first increase in passenger car standards in more than two decades.

Under the changes, which are slightly less stringent than those proposed by the Bush administration, new passenger cars will need to meet 30.2 mpg for the 2011 model year and pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, and minivans will need to reach 24.1 mpg, an administration official told The Associated Press on Thursday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak in advance of an announcement expected Friday.

The fuel efficiency rules are the first step in meeting a 2007 energy law that will require car makers to meet at least 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over the current standard of about 25 mpg.

Tire inflation: From campaign joke to Calif. rule

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:17:45 -0800

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- An issue that briefly brought President Barack Obama ridicule on the campaign trail last year is gaining traction with California air regulators.

The state Air Resources Board adopted a resolution Thursday requiring auto repair shops to check tire pressure every time drivers bring in their vehicle for maintenance and smog tests.

Board members say mandating properly inflated tires will reduce fuel consumption -- saving 75 million gallons of gasoline a year statewide -- as well as greenhouse gas emissions.

Republicans ridiculed then-candidate Obama last summer for suggesting that properly inflated tires would save oil.

It's no laughing matter to California regulators, who hope the idea spreads to other states. They will develop detailed rules to implement the mandate, which will take effect in July 2010.

- The Associated Press

Congress votes to expand wilderness in 9 states

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 16:43:19 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Congress has voted to set aside more than 2 million acres in nine states as protected wilderness -- from California's Sierra Nevada mountains to the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia.

The legislation, which opponents, mostly Republicans, called a "land grab" that would block energy development on vast swaths of federal land, is on its way to President Barack Obama for his likely signature.

The House passed the bill, 285-140, Wednesday, the final step in a long legislative road that began last year.

Feinstein seeks monument status for desert swath

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:57:39 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- More than 500,000 acres in the Mojave Desert would be off-limits to wind or solar energy production under legislation Sen. Dianne Feinstein intends to introduce. The land is coveted by companies seeking to develop alternative energy, setting up a potential clash with one of the more powerful members of Congress.

The land would seem ideally suited for solar energy production. Nineteen companies have submitted applications to build solar or wind facilities on the property, but such development would violate the spirit of what conservationists had intended when they donated much of the land to the public, said Feinstein, the California Democrat.

The Wildlands Conservancy orchestrated the government's purchase of the land between 1999-2004. It negotiated a discount sale from the real estate arm of the former Santa Fe and Southern Pacific Railroad and then contributed $40 million to help pay for the purchase. David Myers, the conservancy's executive director, said the solar projects would do great harm to the region's desert tortoise population.

Obama says energy research will create jobs

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 12:39:13 -0800

POMONA (AP) -- President Barack Obama says his administration's plan to invest heavily in energy research now during hard times will create the kinds of jobs and technology the United States needs to survive economically.

Obama told employees at an electric-car plant in Southern California Thursday that there are days when progress seems fleeting and days when it feels like you're making no progress at all. The president said the point is that sometimes great discoveries don't happen in a flash of brilliance, but rather as the result of a deliberate effort over time.

UC Regents committee approves energy overhaul

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 18:37:14 -0800

RIVERSIDE (AP) -- A University of California Regents' committee has approved a program to work with the state's utilities to boost energy efficiency at UC campuses and medical schools over the next three years.

The plan to reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions was approved Tuesday by the UC Regents' grounds and buildings committee. Approval by the full board is expected Thursday.

The program will fund about 900 energy-efficiency projects at nine of UC's 10 campuses and four medical schools. When complete, it's expected to reduce UC's annual utility costs by $36 million, or almost 10 percent.

The utilities will provide about $61 million for the $247 million program, while most of the remaining $186 million will be financed through by revenue bonds.

NOAA fisheries proposes protection for smelt

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:43:13 -0800

SEATTLE (AP) -- NOAA Fisheries Service has proposed listing Pacific smelt as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

The agency said Thursday that fish is declining throughout its range from Northern California into British Columbia. A final decision on its listing could come next year.

Smelt, also known as eulachon or candlefish, are small, oceangoing fish with a historic range stretching from California to the Bering Sea.

The Cowlitz Tribe in Washington asked the agency in 2007 to list smelt populations in Oregon, Washington and California for protection. The tribe cited sharp drops in smelt runs along the Pacific Coast and possible local extinction in Oregon and California.

Volunteers needed to count Bald Eagles in San Bernardino National Forest Saturday

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:55:28 -0800

The San Bernardino National Forest's staff is looking for volunteers to help count Bald Eagles Saturday.

Volunteers will be stationed at lakes in the San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains. They will map and make note of bald Eagles spotted during a one-hour period.

Volunteers don't need experience but should bring binoculars, a watch and warm clothes. Volunteers are needed at Big Bear Lake, Baldwin Lake, Little Green Valley Lake, Lake Gregory, Lake Arrowhead, Silverwood Lake and Lake Hemet.

Forest officials had to cancel previous counts in December and February because of the weather.

For more information, call Robin Eliason at (909) 382-2832 to be stationed at most lakes. Contact Heidi Hoggan at (909) 382-2945 if you are interested in being stationed at Lake Hemet and Kathy Williams at (760) 389-2303 to be stationed at Silverwood Lake.

Redlands officials find oil and other debris illegally dumped near Santa Ana River Wash

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:29:29 -0800

Redlands officials found Tuesday afternoon material that was illegally dumped on Texas Street near the Santa Ana River Wash.

Forty to 50 gallons of oil and other debris were found around 2 p.m., said Redlands fire Batallion Chief David Graves.

Redlands fire and county Hazmat teams were at the scene, he said.

It is not yet clear when the material was dumped.

Obama puts Bush species rule on hold

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:12:19 -0800

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama says he wants to resume full scientific reviews of projects that might harm endangered wildlife and plants.

In a visit to the Interior Department on Tuesday, Obama said he signed a presidential memorandum to restore the scientific process in endangered species decisions. Obama said the process was undermined by a last-minute regulation by the Bush administration.
Obama's memo puts on hold a last-minute Bush regulation until the Interior and Commerce departments complete a review.

The Bush-era regulation made optional the consultations federal scientists have performed for 35 years on projects. Their input helped to determine if a project harmed endangered species.

State board fines High Desert transit authority

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:53:08 -0800

A state agency has fined the Victor Valley Transit Authority after finding it did not properly inspect its diesel bus fleet in 2006.

State law requires the owners of truck and bus fleets to inspect the vehicles on a regular basis to make sure emissions do not exceed state standards, according to a news release from the California Air Resources Board.

The board fined the transit authority $3,500 as part a settlement.

The settlement also calls for a number of other steps, including training courses for employees and documentation during the next four years that the inspections are taking place.

Recent storms boost below-normal snowpack

Mon, 02 Mar 2009 15:40:37 -0800

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Several weeks of storms have deepened the Sierra snowpack, but California remains well below what it needs to replenish water supplies.

The state Department of Water Resources says the snowpack is about 80 percent of its usual depth across the 400-mile-long mountain range. That's short of the 120 percent target state water officials estimate is needed by next month to fill the state's major reservoirs.

The findings are part of the third snow survey of the season.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last week declared a state drought emergency, saying three years of below-average rain and snowfall have drained California's key reservoirs to the lowest levels since 1992.

Schwarzenegger has urged Californians to cut back their water use by 20 percent.

Schwarzenegger declares Calif. drought emergency

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:36:05 -0800

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency Friday after three years of below-average rain and snowfall in California, a step that urges urban water agencies to reduce water use by 20 percent.

Mandatory conservation is an option if that and other measures are insufficient.

"This is a crisis, just as severe as an earthquake or raging wildfire, and we must treat it with the same urgency by upgrading California's water infrastructure to ensure a clean and reliable water supply for our growing state," he said in a statement.