Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of May 10, 2010

News from Across the USM Campuses

March 12^th - Dr. Glenn Moglen,Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,Virginia Tech - "Projecting Future Growth in Maryland and its Consequences on Nutrient Loadings to Maryland Streams and to the Chesapeake Bay." Seminar will be held on Friday at 2pm in the Technology Research Center, Room 206, on the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. The seminar, which is a part of the CUERE Seminar Series, is free and open to the public. Registration is not required. Visitor parking passes for the TRC lot may be purchased for $4.00 in the CUERE office in TRC 102/105 on the UMBC campus shortly before the seminar.

May 20^th - Students to host science symposium - The students in Easton High School's AP biology and AP environmental science (APES) classes, along with APES students at St. Michaels High School, have completed projects requiring an in-depth approach to scientific issues. They have heard guest speakers, participated in field studies, and completed laboratory research. Many students have had the benefit of supervision by research scientists and educators at the Cooperative Oxford Laboratory, Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, Phillips Wharf Environmental Center and other environmental education facilities. As part of their course of study, the students will present "Environmental Issues: A Student Science Symposium" to be held Thursday, May 20, at Horn Point Laboratory (AREL building). (The Easton Star Democrat as reported on the UMCES web site, 4/26/10) [Article quotes the staff of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Horn Point Laboratory]

Two UM Scientists Honored (The Capital, 5/8/10) [Article cites Dave Secor and Margaret Palmer of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Attempt to cap oil leak is complicated (WUSA9 TV, 5/7/10) [Report quotes Dr. Donald F. Boesch, President of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Region Not Ruled Out Of Oil Spill's Reach (By Shawn J. Soper, The Dispatch, 5/7/10) [Article quotes Bill Boicourt of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

UM launches center to process fuel (The Gazette, 5/7/10)

Gas Prices Climb Ahead of Summer Travel (By Ko Im, WBOC News - Channel 16, 5/6/10) [Article quotes Dr. Danny Erwin of Salisbury University]

Can the oil spill make its way to Eastern Shore? (By Michelle Basch, WTOP Radio, 5/6/10) [Article quotes Bill Bolcourt of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Chemical dispersants an unknown quantity in addressing oil spill (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 5/6/10) [Article quotes Carys Mitchelmore, of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Researchers worry about oil dispersants' impact, too (By Renee Schoof and Anita Lee, McClatchy Newspapers as reported by The Miami Herald, 5/6/10) [Article quotes Carys Mitchelmore, of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

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Is BP's remedy for the spill only making it worse? The chemical dispersants BP is dumping in the Gulf of Mexico are a cosmetic solution only. And they're toxic (By Joseph Romm, Salon.com, 5/5/10) [Article quotes Carys Mitchelmore, of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

University scores well for environmentalism: As Princeton Review praises campus, students call for further progress (By Dana Cetrone, The Diamondback Online, 5/5/10)

Oil Spill May Impact East Coast Barrier Islands (WJZ-13 TV News, 5/4/10) [Article quotes Bill Bolcourt of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Princeton Review names UMBC as among the greenest colleges  (By Tilly Ingleby, The Retriever Weekly, 5/4/10)

State of Maryland News

Adventures in urban farming (By Christy Zuccarini, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 5/7/10)  

City Council to hear pro-bicycle bills: Measures seek to make streets safer for those on two wheels (By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun, 5/5/10)

Coal ash permit delay sought: Arundel exec seeks delay in Baltimore coal-ash dumping (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun, 5/5/10)

EPA proposes coal-ash curbs: Nationwide rules similar to Maryland's (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun, 5/4/10)

Sharing the road with bicycles is hardly a hardship: Nobody's time is so important they can't look out for the little guy (By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun, 5/3/10)

Could Gulf oil leak tar Atlantic, Bay beaches? (By TimWheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 5/3/10)

National and International News

The Crisis Comes Ashore: Why the oil spill could change everything. (By Al Gore, The New Republic, 5/8/10)

Report: Environmentally Induced Cancer Grossly Underestimated - Americans 'Bombarded' with Cancer Causes: Government Panel (By Maggie Fox, Reuters as reported by Commondreams.org, 5/6/10)

EPA's new coal-ash rules - a punt, or a feint? (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 5/5/10)

Dispersant 'may make Deepwater Horizon oil spill more toxic': Scientists fear chemicals used in oil clean-up can cause genetic mutations and cancer, and threaten sea turtles and tuna (By Suzanne Goldberg, The [UK] Guardian, 5/5/10)

Fox refuses climate ad (By Ben Smith, Politico, 5/5/10)

EPA Announces Plans to Regulate Coal Ash: Agency proposals would address risks of unsafe coal ash disposal, while supporting safe forms of beneficial use (Environmental Protection Agency, Press Release, 5/4/10)

New online network aims to bridge climate "collaboration gap" (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 5/4/10)

Flame retardants impact fertility, children's IQ, new studies suggest; EPA improves access to chemical risks data (By Bryant Furlow, The New Mexico Independent, 5/3/10)

Coastal fears for oil's impact on fishing, resorts (By Simon Mann, The Sydney [Australia] Morning Herald, 5/3/10)

Officials' forecast grim about massive oil spill as Obama tours part of the Gulf Coast (By Joel Achenbach and Anne E. Kornblut, The Washington Post, 5/3/10)

Environmental certification becoming increasingly crowded and contested field (By Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post, 5/3/10)