Johnson & Johnson has delivered a letter to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics laying out commitments and timelines for its plan to reformulate all of its baby products worldwide to remove formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, and phthalates.
The commitment to remove these chemicals of concern does not apply to Johnson & Johnson's adult products.
Read the press release here.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Newest Wetland in Salt Pond Restoration Project
Oldest Bay Area salt flat turned into wetland
Caroline Jones, SF Chronicle, September 14, 2011
A construction crew ripped through an old levee just south of the San Mateo Bridge, allowing water from Old Alameda Creek to flow into the Eden Landing salt flat for the first time since the 1850s. Eventually a levee to the west of that flat will be breached to reconnect the 630 acres to San Francisco Bay.
Tuesday's levee breach was the first salt-flat restoration in the East Bay. It is part of the 15,000-acre South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest wetland restoration program on the Pacific Coast, which has so far been concentrated on the salt ponds around Alviso.
"These salt ponds took away the lungs of the Bay. Today we're giving them back," said Carl Wilcox, manager of the Bay-Delta region for the California Department of Fish and Game.
Salt flats have been a fixture of the shoreline at least since the Gold Rush. Ohlone Indians harvested salt along the waterfront, but then commercial outfits such as Leslie and later Cargill took over. In the late 1990s Cargill sold most of its Bay Area salt ponds to the state and federal governments for wetland restoration.
Read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/14/MN8L1L44HA.DTL
Caroline Jones, SF Chronicle, September 14, 2011
A construction crew ripped through an old levee just south of the San Mateo Bridge, allowing water from Old Alameda Creek to flow into the Eden Landing salt flat for the first time since the 1850s. Eventually a levee to the west of that flat will be breached to reconnect the 630 acres to San Francisco Bay.
Tuesday's levee breach was the first salt-flat restoration in the East Bay. It is part of the 15,000-acre South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project, the largest wetland restoration program on the Pacific Coast, which has so far been concentrated on the salt ponds around Alviso.
"These salt ponds took away the lungs of the Bay. Today we're giving them back," said Carl Wilcox, manager of the Bay-Delta region for the California Department of Fish and Game.
Salt flats have been a fixture of the shoreline at least since the Gold Rush. Ohlone Indians harvested salt along the waterfront, but then commercial outfits such as Leslie and later Cargill took over. In the late 1990s Cargill sold most of its Bay Area salt ponds to the state and federal governments for wetland restoration.
Read more here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/14/MN8L1L44HA.DTL
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Infrastructure Sustainability Rating System
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), the American Public Works Association (APWA) and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) recently joined together to create the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) to develop a new infrastructure rating system to assess the sustainability of civil-engineering projects.
ISI’s "EnvISIon" rating system aims to do for infrastructure projects what the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program does for buildings. EnvISIon is just one of many initiatives currently underway by a variety of professional organizations (such as SURF) and academic institutions that are studying and measuring sustainability. Through the creation of guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable design, construction, maintenance and remediation practices, these new tools will allow risk managers, corporate executives and directors to make better decisions.
EnvISIon is now available for public comment through December 9, 2011. Practitioners and interested parties may critically review the tool and its assumptions and make comments or suggestions prior to its actual release for commercial use early in 2012. All comments will be reviewed and considered in confidence by the ISI Technical Committee.
ISI’s "EnvISIon" rating system aims to do for infrastructure projects what the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program does for buildings. EnvISIon is just one of many initiatives currently underway by a variety of professional organizations (such as SURF) and academic institutions that are studying and measuring sustainability. Through the creation of guidelines and performance benchmarks for sustainable design, construction, maintenance and remediation practices, these new tools will allow risk managers, corporate executives and directors to make better decisions.
EnvISIon is now available for public comment through December 9, 2011. Practitioners and interested parties may critically review the tool and its assumptions and make comments or suggestions prior to its actual release for commercial use early in 2012. All comments will be reviewed and considered in confidence by the ISI Technical Committee.
Friday, July 8, 2011
ARB Workshop on Draft Changes to California's GHG Reporting and Cap-and-Trade Regulations
The California Air Resources Board is holding a public workshop to discuss draft changes to the proposed greenhouse gas cap-and-trade and mandatory greenhouse gas reporting regulations.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 2011
TIME: 9 am to 3 pm
LOCATION: Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Cal/EPA HQ
Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento
WEBCAST: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/?BDO=1
During the workshop, stakeholders may e-mail questions to ccworkshops@arb.ca.gov.
The cap-and-trade program covers major sources of GHG emissions in the State such as refineries, power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation fuels. The proposed regulation includes an enforceable emissions cap that will decline over time. The State will distribute allowances, which are tradable permits, equal to the emissions allowed under the cap. Sources under the cap will need to surrender allowances and offsets equal to their emissions at the end of each compliance period.
The discussion drafts are now available for download.
Staff’s presentations will be posted in advance of the workshop on ARB’s website.
You can also call (916) 322-2037 with general questions about the workshop or the proposed cap-and-trade regulation, or (916) 322-5350 with questions about the mandatory GHG reporting regulation.
DATE: Friday, July 15, 2011
TIME: 9 am to 3 pm
LOCATION: Byron Sher Auditorium, 2nd Floor, Cal/EPA HQ
Building, 1001 I Street, Sacramento
WEBCAST: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/broadcast/?BDO=1
During the workshop, stakeholders may e-mail questions to ccworkshops@arb.ca.gov.
The cap-and-trade program covers major sources of GHG emissions in the State such as refineries, power plants, industrial facilities, and transportation fuels. The proposed regulation includes an enforceable emissions cap that will decline over time. The State will distribute allowances, which are tradable permits, equal to the emissions allowed under the cap. Sources under the cap will need to surrender allowances and offsets equal to their emissions at the end of each compliance period.
The discussion drafts are now available for download.
Staff’s presentations will be posted in advance of the workshop on ARB’s website.
You can also call (916) 322-2037 with general questions about the workshop or the proposed cap-and-trade regulation, or (916) 322-5350 with questions about the mandatory GHG reporting regulation.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban Waterways
A new federal partnership aims to stimulate regional and local economies, create local jobs, improve quality of life, and protect Americans’ health by revitalizing urban waterways in under-served communities across the country.
Urban waters impact large populations in the adjacent, upstream, and downstream communities. Reconnecting people with urban waterways results in economic, environmental and social benefits to communities. Healthy and accessible urban waters have the potential to be treasured centerpieces of urban revival, help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, and social opportunities in the communities through which they pass. Many urban waters provide drinking water to cities and towns, but because they may receive pollution from sources like parking lot and roadway runoff, they become vital to protecting the public and environmental health of those communities.
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies, will focus its initial efforts on seven pilot locations. UWFP is committed to working with local communities to restore waterways and reconnect people in underserved communities with their rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, estuaries, bays, and oceans. Specifically, UWFP aims to:
Urban waters impact large populations in the adjacent, upstream, and downstream communities. Reconnecting people with urban waterways results in economic, environmental and social benefits to communities. Healthy and accessible urban waters have the potential to be treasured centerpieces of urban revival, help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, and social opportunities in the communities through which they pass. Many urban waters provide drinking water to cities and towns, but because they may receive pollution from sources like parking lot and roadway runoff, they become vital to protecting the public and environmental health of those communities.
The Urban Waters Federal Partnership (UWFP), an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies, will focus its initial efforts on seven pilot locations. UWFP is committed to working with local communities to restore waterways and reconnect people in underserved communities with their rivers, lakes, wetlands, aquifers, estuaries, bays, and oceans. Specifically, UWFP aims to:
- Break down federal program silos to promote more efficient and effective use of federal resources through better coordination and targeting of federal investments.
- Recognize and build on local efforts and leadership, by engaging and serving community partners.
- Work with local officials and effective community-based organizations to leverage area resources and stimulate local economies to create local jobs.
- Learn from early and visible victories to fuel long-term action.
- This partnership aligns with President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, which calls on agencies to support innovative community efforts to provide safe, healthy and accessible outdoor spaces.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Orange County Wildflower Hikes
OC Parks is offering several wildflower tours to the public. The next Wildflower Hike is on Saturday, June 12.
Wildflower Hike
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Call 949-923-2235 to make reservations. Parking $3, plus $2 donation.
Learn more about where to find wildflowers in Orange County with this interactive multimedia presentation.
Also, check out the entries from the Orange County Register’s wildflower photo contest. This year's contest is over, but there's always next year!
Wildflower Hike
Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, Willow Staging Area, 20101 Laguna Canyon Road
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Call 949-923-2235 to make reservations. Parking $3, plus $2 donation.
Learn more about where to find wildflowers in Orange County with this interactive multimedia presentation.
Also, check out the entries from the Orange County Register’s wildflower photo contest. This year's contest is over, but there's always next year!
Climate Action Facilitator Training
Monday, June 13, 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Ecology Center
Gain skills for engaging people about climate change. Join the Ecology Center for a free Climate Action Workshop Facilitator training session. You'll receive materials and information to involve your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or others in taking action on climate change through community workshops. The Ecology Center will also provide ongoing support for you to plan and hold your own workshop series. No experience is necessary to participate.
The Ecology Center is located at 2530 San Pablo Avenue, near Dwight Way, in Berkeley. It is accessible by the 49 and 72 AC Transit bus lines.
RSVP to debra@ecologycenter.org. For more info, visit www.ecologycenter.org.
Via the Sustainable Business Alliance.
Gain skills for engaging people about climate change. Join the Ecology Center for a free Climate Action Workshop Facilitator training session. You'll receive materials and information to involve your friends, family, neighbors, coworkers, or others in taking action on climate change through community workshops. The Ecology Center will also provide ongoing support for you to plan and hold your own workshop series. No experience is necessary to participate.
The Ecology Center is located at 2530 San Pablo Avenue, near Dwight Way, in Berkeley. It is accessible by the 49 and 72 AC Transit bus lines.
RSVP to debra@ecologycenter.org. For more info, visit www.ecologycenter.org.
Via the Sustainable Business Alliance.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Bike to Work - May 12, 2011
Thursday is Bike to Work Day, an annual event with the goal of getting people to try commuting via bicycle.
Bike to Work Day was initiated 16 years ago to address congestion and pollution...long before greenhouse gas emissions and climate action plans were incorporated into policies and regulations. With the California's Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 (AB32), cities and counties are now required reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Nearly 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions are transportation-related, so biking to work has a real and measurable impact towards meeting California’s goals. Plus, you’ll get a little extra exercise and Northgate staff will receive A SMALL GIFT as a token of appreciation for helping to reduce our company’s carbon footprint.
There are lots of freebies and events to enjoy during and after your commute as well. Check out the East Bay Bicycle Coalition’s and San Francisco Bicycle Coalition’s websites for information about energizer stations, free repairs, commuter convoys, raffles, and after parties.
In Southern California you get a whole week to enjoy your bike commute! Check out Orange County Transportation Authority’s website for more information and to sign up for Bike to Work Week--May 16-20, 2011. With your pledge to commute via bicycle at least one day you’ll be entered to win cool prizes, like gift certificates, bicycles, accessories, movie tickets, and more.
Monday, May 2, 2011
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