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Obama Begins Gingerly to Attempt to Get the Ball Rolling on Tougher EPA Regulations – NY Times.com

The New York Times reports that President Barack Obama has finally decided he’s tired of waiting for Congress to start regulating greenhouse gas emissions and has authorized the Environmental Protection Agency to do just that.

The EPA will soon regulate greenhouse gas emissions from hundreds of power plants and large industrial facilities. The proposed rules, which could take effect as early as 2011, would place the greatest burden on 400 power plants, new ones and those undergoing substantial renovation, by requiring them to prove that they have applied the best available technology to reduce emissions or face penalties.

Another one of Obama’s almost adorably lofty goals will be to pass a Climate Bill this year. Let’s see how that goes.

Progressive Green thinkers hope to have the world off of Toilet Paper someday soon – Treehugger.com

Treehugger recently brought alternative bathroom hygiene to our attention and soon, with any luck, toilet paper will only be used to tp people’s houses on Mischief Night. Going without paper has proved to be healthier and it actually saves water. Still scieved out by it? Lots of people around the world get on just fine with TP.

Making a roll of toilet paper uses 1.5 pounds of wood, 37 gallons of water and 1.3 KWh of of electricity. In one day, Americans use 34 million rolls of TP which equates to 221,000 trees, 255 million gallons of water, and produces 88 million pounds of Greenhouse gases.

A new product called the Blue Bidet insists it can cut toilet paper use by 75% (the other 25% you would still need to dry your rump.) There is a toilet attachment model which only costs 69 bucks here in the US. It can reportedly be installed in a 1/2 hour. Still unconvinced? Wait for a rich friend to try it first, then make an assessment.

Just when you think it can’t get any cooler being Green, Hip Hop makes an entrance – AP

Coming to us from the Associated Press, the Timbaland boot company is teaming up with rapper and former Fugees member Wyclef Jean to create a new line of eco-friendly footware. The 16-boot collection goes on sale in November. A cut of the profits will go to help the reforestation of Haiti, Wyclef’s native country.

TOXIC NEW JERSEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FINALLY WINS RELIEF
Vapor Intrusion Controls May End Three-Year Ordeal at Atlantic Highlands

The students, staff and parents of a New Jersey elementary school suffering from an underground plume of toxic chemicals finally may be getting some help, according to documents released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). A state-approved vapor intrusion plan will be in place next month at Atlantic Highlands Elementary School in Monmouth County on the northern New Jersey shore.

For more than three years, children and teachers have been exposed to unsafe indoor toxic air pollutants that exceed state vapor intrusion levels. In announcements this week, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) says that it will oversee installation of a “sub-slab vapor mitigation system” to reduce chemical exposures within school facilities.

“While this is good news, it is long past due because the state DEP again has fallen down on the job.” stated New Jersey PEER Director Bill Wolfe, a former DEP analyst, who had been prodding the state to address the long-standing problem. “Even this new remedial action is the result of a voluntary negotiated settlement and not a state enforcement action.”

The situation does call into question how seriously the NJ DEP actually takes it’s own rhetoric about putting the health of children first.

ROZ SAVAGE ARRIVES IN TARAWA

Roz Savage, ocean rower and environmental campaigner completed stage 2 of her epic bid to become the first woman in history to row solo row across the Pacific Ocean in early Sept. She launched this stage of her voyage on May 24, from Honolulu, Hawaii. She spent 104 days at sea, bringing the total number of days alone at sea for her Pacific crossing to 203 days.

Savage uses her ocean rowing adventures to help inspire action on environmental issues. Although alone on the ocean her boat’s solar panels allow her to Twitter updates from her satellite phone providing fans around the world a unique window into a very exciting adventure.

Her journey this year from Hawaii to Tarawa targeted climate change. She is a United Nations Climate Hero, and this December Savage will travel to Copenhagen where delegates from around the world will gather to negotiate a new global agreement on climate change. Savage hopes to share video testimonials from the people she meets in Tarawa with world leaders at the Copenhagen summit, highlighting the critical importance of immediate and aggressive action on reducing global carbon emissions.