LOS ANGELES (December 28, 2008) -- After years of litigation with the U.S. Navy over its refusal to prepare environment impact statements (EIS) for sonar training exercises, a settlement announced Saturday commits the Navy to complete a schedule of full environmental reviews on major training exercises around the world, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The settlement also requires disclosure of previously classified information regarding the Navy's sonar use and commits the Navy to fund nearly $15 million in new marine mammal research designated by NRDC and co-plaintiffs. The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed in 2005, which challenged the Navy's lack of environmental review prior to deploying mid-frequency active sonar during training exercises carried out around the world.  The Navy acknowledges that sonar can be deadly to marine mammals, causing permanent injury and temporary deafness.

Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), made the following statement on the appointment of Congresswoman Hilda Solis to lead the Department of Labor: “President-elect Obama’s selection of Hilda Solis to head the Department of Labor signals his commitment to restoring America’s economy by creating a robust, green workforce. Throughout her career, Congresswoman Solis has fought for the environment and environmental justice. As a member of Congress, Solis has been an advocate for advancing both labor rights and global warming solutions. She is a proven leader on green jobs and she recognizes the importance of ensuring that no workers are left behind. At this pivotal moment for our economy and our environment, she is an excellent choice who will bridge the gap between these challenges to build a strong, clean economic future.”

WASHINGTON (December 19, 2008) – In a move that could save 100,000 acres of pristine Utah wilderness from destruction, an agreement between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and a coalition of environmental and preservation groups was filed in court late last night. The deal will temporarily prevent BLM from issuing leases on 80 contested parcels of Utah wilderness, including land adjacent to national parks, for 30 days (until January 19). Although BLM will go forward with today’s auction, the agency has agreed not to issue the contested leases. This will give Judge Urbina of the U.S. District Court time to hear the case.

WASHINGTON (December 19, 2008) – As a new administration transitions into the White House and Congress gears up to move an economic recovery package early next year, energy and environmental groups today issued a set of recommendations to boost the nation’s energy efficiency, create green jobs, and save energy and money. The groups urged Congress to incorporate many of the proposals into legislation to be considered in early 2009.

Peter Lehner, Executive Director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, made the following statement on the expected appointment of Ray LaHood to lead the Department of Transportation: “President-elect Obama’s choice of Ray LaHood to head the Department of Transportation highlights the need for bipartisan efforts to fix our broken transportation system. Congressman LaHood will face some of the greatest transportation and infrastructure challenges in our nation’s history...

WASHINGTON (December 18, 2008) -- Late this afternoon, Stephen Johnson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, issued a memorandum declaring that it would not, and need not, regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) pollution from power plants or any other industrial facility.  This decision disregards a previous landmark decision reached by EPA’s Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) that rejected the same arguments repeated by Johnson today, according to experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

LOS ANGELES (December 18, 2008) – A treasured state beach visited by millions of people annually will remain protected thanks to a decision from the U.S. Department of Commerce today. The Secretary of Commerce upheld objections by the California Coastal Commission over the Transportation Corridor Agency’s (TCA) plans to build a six-lane, 16-mile highway through one of the most ecologically diverse state beaches in California’s state parks system.

 SAN FRANCISCO (December 18, 2008) -- A group of more than 30 leading growers, suppliers, buyers, technical experts and environmental and public interest organizations today announced the formation of the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops. Through an inclusive effort, the group will develop and share a comprehensive system for measuring sustainable performance across the supply chain -- at farms, processors, distributors, food service providers, and retailers. The project will address the unique needs of specialty crop stakeholders while demonstrably improving environmental and social impacts. “Specialty crops” are defined to include fruits, vegetables, nuts and horticulture.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 18, 2008) – A report released by the National Research Council today calls on the Environmental Protection Agency to look at the combined effects of a variety of chemicals found in everyday products, rather than looking at each chemical’s individual health risks, as it has done in the past.

Following is a statement by Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): “Jane Lubchenco would be an outstanding appointment for Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. She is a world-class scientist who understands that urgent action is needed to reverse the decline in the health and productivity of our oceans. She would bring the best science to bear in developing and implementing effective management and conservation strategies to revive both U.S. and global fisheries, prepare for the impacts of global warming, and protect endangered marine wildlife.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. (December 17, 2008) – The D.C. City Council voted yesterday to ban the use of harmful coal tar sealants on paved surfaces. Runoff from the sealants carries toxic chemicals into the metro-area’s stormwater system, harming fish and posing health risks to people.  A statement follows from Nancy Stoner, the Director of the Clean Water Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, on the passage of the Comprehensive Stormwater Management Enhancement Amendment Act of 2008

San Francisco, CA – Environmentalists and commercial fishermen are fighting to protect the Endangered Species Act regulations from last-minute changes by the Bush administration that will dramatically weaken and limit the use of the landmark wildlife protection law, according to legal experts and scientists. The Bush plan has been roundly panned for eliminating science from federal agency decision making and ignoring objections from hundreds of thousands of concerned citizens across the country. In an effort to maintain protection for wildlife, a coalition of groups filed suit today to halt the last-minute rules.

On the appointment of Ken Salazar as Secretary of the Department of the Interior, Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), made the following statement “President-elect Obama has made another strong selection in rounding out his energy and environmental team by naming Ken Salazar as head of the Interior Department. Salazar has demonstrated leadership in Congress as a supporter of clean, renewable energy, as opposed to unsustainable, destructive energy sources. In this role, Salazar will be in an important position to protect public land and bring diverse interests together to benefit our country and its natural resources. The Interior Department will be one of the key agencies in moving America toward clean energy, which will cut global warming pollution and restart our economy.”

WASHINGTON (December 17, 2008) – Robert Redford joined members of Congress and a coalition of environmental, preservation and business groups to stop the Interior Department from auctioning Utah wilderness to oil and gas companies. Congressmen Baird (D-WA), Hinchey (D-NY), and Holt (D-NJ) are leading the charge on the Hill to stop the auction, which is scheduled to take place on December 19. At a press event today, the environmental and preservation groups—led by Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, and Earthjustice—announced that they are taking legal action against the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to halt the leasing of more than 110,000 acres of land near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon.

ASHEVILLE, NC (December 16, 2008) – Fresh from a court order forcing Duke Energy to comply with the Clean Air Act limiting air pollution from the 800-megawatt addition to its Cliffside coal-fired power plant, the company is again attempting to dodge tighter pollution controls. Earlier this month a federal judge sided with conservation groups challenging Duke’s failure to obtain pollution limits to adequately control toxic air pollution. Duke has responded with a request for less stringent permits based on changes to their pollution calculations that environmental groups and even some of Duke’s own vendors do not believe the company can meet. The company also has claimed pollution gains for closing facilities that are effectively required to be shuttered already by state regulations.

SAN FRANCISCO (December 15, 2008) – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) says the delta smelt, already listed as a threatened species, needs greater protections if the species is to survive, according to a biological opinion released today.

President-elect Obama is expected to officially announce his appointments to federal environment and energy personnel later today. In response, Frances Beinecke, President of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), issued the following statements: “With these critical selections, President-elect Obama is launching the country in a bold new direction on energy and the environment. President-elect Obama has assembled a great team with the expertise, experience and political skills to make significant advancements to the country’s pressing environmental issues. With these selections, Mr. Obama is putting words into action that he will move toward clean energy solutions, take on global warming and jump-start the economy. These are individuals who will restore scientific integrity to the federal government, protect public health and defend our country’s natural resources.”

POZNAN (December 12, 2008) – The 14th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change came to an end with the framework for 2009 climate negotiations in place. Two weeks of talks included strong signals for action by developing countries.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (December 12, 2008) – Big rigs and virtually every other heavy-duty diesel vehicle running on California roads – about a million in total – must clean up their pollution, according to two regulations passed today by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The regulations are designed to reduce global warming emissions from the roughly one million diesel vehicles servicing California.

Boston, MA and Washington DC (December 11, 2008) -- Clean energy, environmental and public health groups call on the administration to move forward without delay on the Cape Wind project. These groups were outraged today by what appears to be further political meddling with the final approval for Cape Wind in Nantucket Sound, MA.