Week of June 21, 2010

News from Across the USM Campuses

UMCP Sustainability Literacy Assessment Graduate Student - The Office of Sustainability at the University of Maryland, College Park, seeks a graduate student to assess the Sustainability Literacy of students, faculty, and staff of the University of Maryland.  The purpose of the study is to analyze attitudes about sustainable behaviors and assess gaps in critical knowledge about sustainability.  Results from this project may be published in the University of Maryland Sustainability Metrics Report and findings may influence University efforts to "green" the curriculum.  The project may also lead to a separate publication for the student. Applicant must be a current graduate student at the University of Maryland. Students in any graduate program are welcome to apply.  Applicant should be knowledgeable about sustainability, familiar with research methods(especially survey techniques), and adept at analyzing data. To apply, send a cover letter and resume to Mark Stewart, Coordinator, Office of Sustainability, at stewartm@umd.edu.  In the cover letter, please address why you are interested in this project, how it connects to your graduate studies, what skills you bring to the project, and your plans following graduation.  Applications are due by July 31, 2010.

UMCP's Federal Semester Program - This program at the University of Maryand, College Park, is still accepting applications for the
2010-2011 concentration in Energy and Environmental Policy!  A selective, year-long experience, Federal Semester seeks academically capable rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who are interested in studying how federal policy on energy and the environment is shaped and implemented by organizations and government agencies in order to become active practitioners and agents of change themselves.  Combining a fall seminar on federal policy with a spring internship in Washington, the program also offers numerous out-of-class activities such as workshops, trips to Capitol Hill, conversations with policy leaders, and valuable professional development opportunities.  A final reception and presentation for participants, instructors, and federal internship supervisors culminates this unique and rewarding experience. For more information about the program visit:

http://www.federalsemester.umd.edu/aboutfs.html, or contact:  Dr. Joan
Burton, Director, jburton1@umd.edu, 301-314-1920.  APPLY NOW!:

http://www.federalsemester.umd.edu/application.html.

Blue-Green Microbe Converts Sunlight to Electricity, Pollution-Free (News at UMB, 6/16/10)

Doubts over safety tests on Gulf oil dispersants (By Peter Aldhous, The New Scientist, 6/16/10) [Article cites Carys Mitchelmore of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Alumnus appointed to national commission on oil spill (By Staff, College of William and Mary News and Events, 6/15/10) [Article cites the appointment of Dr. Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to President Obama's Commission on the Gulf oil spill]

Maryland scientist brings experience to oil spill panel: National commission charged with recommending procedures to prevent similar incidents (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun, 6/15/10) [Article cites the appointment of Dr. Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to President Obama's Commission on the Gulf oil spill]

UM's Boesch named to oil spill panel (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 6/15/10) [Blog entry cites the appointment of Dr. Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to President Obama's Commission on the Gulf oil spill]

UMUC's Center of Academic Operations achieves LEED Gold Certification (Corridor, Inc. - Daily Edition, 6/14/10)

UMCES Statement on the Appointment of Dr. Donald Boesch to the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling (University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, News and Events, 6/14/10)

President Obama names members of Deepwater Horizon oil spill commission (By Staff, The Press-Register, 6/14/10) [Blog entry cites the appointment of Dr. Donald Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, to President Obama's Commission on the Gulf oil spill]

State of Maryland News

Attack ad, callers upset Ehrlichs' WBAL show (By David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun - Z on TV Blog, 6/19/10)

Experts question spill preparedness in Chesapeake: Quick-fire response teams needed, scientists and environmentalists say (By Sharon Behn, The Baltimore Sun, 6/17/10)

Ehrlich's transit stand risks backlash: Position irks business but could attract light rail foes (By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun, 6/16/10)

Federal Hill students cut waste at school, home: Recycling program may be model for city schools (By Meredith Cohn, The Baltimore Sun, 6/14/10)

National and International News

Regulators Failed to Address Risks in Oil Rig Fail-Safe Device (By David Barstow, Laura Dodd, James Glanz, Stephanie Saul and Ian Urbina; The New York Times, 6/20/10) [Video and article]

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

• Practices
• Programs
• Policies

• Presentations
• Climate Change Definitions
• Facilities Master Planning
• Statewide Sustainability Efforts
• ACUPCC National Benchmarking
• Useful Links and References

Is BP burning endangered sea turtles alive with oil from spill? What can be done to stop them? (Gather.com - National Public Radio, posted 6/20/10)[Video and blog post]

BP's Hayward takes time off for yacht race (By John Letzing, MarketWatch, 6/19/10)

Senior Senate Dem to unveil plan to overhaul offshore drilling  (By Ben Geman, The Hill, 6/19/10)

BP oil spill caused by 'negligence or misconduct', says drilling partner: Anadarko says BP should foot entire bill for cleanup as new estimates show spill could last for up to four more years (By David Batty and Suzanne Goldenberg, The [UK] Guardian, 6/19/10)

Oil spill full of methane, adding new concerns: Scientists say gas could suffocate marine life, create 'dead zones' (The Associated Press as reported by MSNBC.com, 6/18/10)

Gulf oil spill puts industry-friendly Republicans in tight spot (By Karen Tumulty, The Washington Post, 6/18/10)

Apologies and anger dominate gulf oil-spill hearing as BP goes before Congress (By Steven Mufson, The Washington Post, 6/18/10)

Chevron - We won't be difficult on oil-spill cleanup costs: Oil giant says taxpayers won't get the bill; 'We won't be satisfied until it's done,' mayor's spokeswoman says. (By Derek Jensen, The Salt Lake Tribune, 6/18/10)

BP Funds Front Group Claiming Oil Spill Jobs Are Better Than ‘Normal' Ones, Storm Will Clean Up Oil (By Lee Fang, Think Progress Blog, 6/18/10)

Clean the Gulf, Clean House, Clean Their Clock (By Frank Rich, The New York Times - Op Ed, 6/18/10)

A Tricky Balance for Oil-State Politicians (By David M. Herzenhorn and Eric Lichtblau, The New York Times, 6/18/10)

Cracks Show BP Was Battling Gulf Well as Early as February (By Allison Fitzgerald and Joe Carroll, Bloomberg News, 6/17/10)

Expedited mine permitting suspended in Appalachia (By Tim Huber, The Associated Press as reported by The San Diego Union Tribune, 6/17/10)

A Bad Day for BP and Mr. Barton (The New York Times - Op Ed, 6/17/10)

Rockefeller: Abandon climate legislation for now (By Ben Geman, The Hill, 6/17/10)

Environmental Engineer:  Dispersants Have to Stop Now (By Bill Riales, WKRG News Channel 5, 6/17/10)

First 4,400 Chevy Volt buyers to get free chargers (By Weston Sedgwick, The Examiner, 6/17/10)

BP's Gulf leak boosts interests in oil-eating microbes (By Fred Tasker, The Miami Herald, 6/17/10)

Niger Delta becomes a cautionary tale for U.S.: Region has endured equivalent of Exxon Valdez spill every year for 50 years (By Adam Nossiter, The New York Times as reported by MSNBC.com, 6/17/10)

BP CEO pilloried by lawmakers at spill hearing: 'I am not stonewalling,' Tony Hayward tells congressional panel (MSNBC.com News Services, The Associated Press and Reuters,  6/17/10)

Sea creatures flee spill, gather near shore: Scientists say phenomena may signal polluted habitat, loss of fish (By Jay Reeves, John Flesher, Tamara Lush; The Associated Press as reported by MSNBC.com, 6/16/10)

Obama administration doubles transportation funding for bicycling, walking projects (By Joan Lowy, The Associated Press as reported by The Baltimore Sun, 6/16/10)

BP's records on ill workers tell only part of the story (By Marisa Taylor, McClatchy Newspapers as reported by the Miami Herald, 6/15/10)

Polar Heat Bringing Harder Winters (By Stephen Leahy, IPS News, 6/15/10)

NOAA - May Global Temperature is Warmest on Record: Spring and January-May also post record breaking temps (NOAA Press Release, 6/15/10)

Scientists: Oil leaking up to 2.52M gallons daily (By Ray Henry, The Associated Press as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle, 6/15/10)

Obama accuses BP of 'recklessness': Speech comes as poll shows majority in U.S. disapprove of his response (MSNBC.com News Services, The Associated Press and Reuters,  6/15/10)