Week of June 28, 2010

News from Across the USM Campuses

Bay 'dead zone' could be smaller: Reduced low oxygen area good news, scientists say (By Pamela Wood, The Capital, 6/23/10) [Article quotes Carys Mitchelmore of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Bay 'dead zone' forecast smaller this summer: Scientists differ over import of water quality in reviving Chesapeake's depleted fish catch (By Timothy B. Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun, 6/22/10) [Article quotes Bill Dennison of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science]

Summer smog better, but still with us (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 6/21/10) [Article cites the work of atmospheric researchers at University of Maryland, Baltimore County]

State of Maryland News

Programs help Marylanders save on electric bills: Incentives and discounts help consumers cut consumption and costs (By Liz F. Kay, The Baltimore Sun, 6/25/10)

Maryland installing charging stations for electric vehicles (By Tim Wheeler. The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 6/24/10)

Chefs take local produce to a new level - the roof: Chefs, inspired by local-foods movement, aren't just buying from farmers; they want to be the farmer (By Laura Vozella, The Baltimore Sun, 6/22/10)

BGE officials explore options after 'smart grid' proposal is rejected: Utility has not decided whether to re-file proposal to state energy regulators (By Hannah Cho, The Baltimore Sun, 6/22/10)

State regulators deny 'smart grid' proposal (By Liz F. Kay and Hannah Cho, The Baltimore Sun, 6/21/10)

National and International News

BP denies report that CEO Hayward resigning; Gulf storm missing oil spill but could disrupt (By Janet McConnaughey and Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press as reported by The Baltimore Sun, 6/28/10)

Cleanup Hiring Feeds Frustration in Fishing Town (By John Leland, The New York Times, 6/26/10)

E.P.A. Lags on Setting Some Air Standards, Report Finds (By Yeganeh June Torbati, The New York Times - Green Blog, 6/26/10)

Report: Toxins found in whales bode ill for humans (The Associated Press as reported by Google News, 6/25/10)

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

Containment cap again collecting oil from leak: Mishap left nothing to stem the flow of oil at its source (By NBC News and news services, MSNBC.com, 6/24/10)

Harry Reid's high-stakes climate bill gamble (By Coral Davenport and Darren Samuelsohn, Politico, 6/24/10)

Latest blunder feeds frustration in the Gulf: Sheets of oil close Florida beach, near Mississippi islands (By The Associated Press as reported by MSNBC.com, 6/24/10)

Methane in Gulf "astonishingly high": U.S. scientist - As much as 1 million times the normal level of methane gas has been found in some regions near the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, enough to potentially deplete oxygen and create a dead zone, U.S. scientists said on Tuesday (Reuters, 6/24/20)

More Oil Gushing Into Gulf After Problem With Cap (The Associated Press as reported by The New York Times, 6/23/10)

After Earlier Troubles, BP Says It Restored Cap (By Liz Robbins, The New York Times, 6/23/10)

Joe Barton and the Coming of Peak Oil (By Tom Whipple, The Falls Church News-Press, 6/23/10)

Wendell Berry, Angered Over Coal Ties, Yanks Papers From University of Kentucky (By Scott Carlson, The Chronicle of Higher Education - Buildings and Grounds Blog, 6/23/10)

BP, Transocean tap a well of Washington lobbyists and consultants (By Dan Eggen, The Washington Post, 6/21/10)

BP Gulf spill costs hit $2 billion, no end yet (By Ray Henry and Robert Barr, The Associated Press as reported by Yahoo News, 6/21/10)

Panel Is Unlikely to End Deepwater Drilling Ban Early (By John M. Broder, The New York Times, 6/21/10)

BP 'had to be forced' to act in Gulf says White House in stinging attack on energy giant (By AFP as reported by The [Australia] Herald-Sun, 6/21/10)