Mar 14: Following an inquiry and investigation from Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-MI), the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has publicly released a study that reportedly demonstrates a correlation between pollution in the Great Lakes and health issues such as cancer mortality and higher infant mortality rates [See WIMS 2/29/08].
On February 7, the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) announced that the massive 400-page study, officially entitled, Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern [AOCs], completed in July 2007, was being withheld [See WIMS 2/8/08]. The report follows several years of work and extensive scientific peer review. CPI released an unofficial redacted copy of the report and said it had been withheld for 7 months because it contained potentially “alarming information” as evidence of elevated infant mortality and cancer rates."
Representative John Dingell issued a statement on the decision to release the report and said, “The good news is that the CDC finally decided to make the report public. The bad news is that it took the urging of this Committee to make them do it. What we still do not know is why this agency, given its historically credible reputation, has kept this report under wraps for almost a year. The Committee will continue its investigation into who made the decision to withhold the publication of the report, the basis for doing so, and how the CDC and ATSDR treated the scientists involved in conducting the study and writing the report.”
In releasing the report, ATSDR also issued what it called a 9-page, "Statement of Scientific Concerns About the Draft Report." According to the Statement Summary, "Understanding environmental conditions in the Great Lakes region and protecting residents from possible health effects is a priority for CDC and ATSDR. Community members in the Great Lakes region deserve accurate information provided in a timely manner. The decision to take additional time to improve the draft report in order to ensure its scientific quality was difficult, but it was necessary. The delay in issuing the draft report has not deprived the public of critical environmental health information because the health assessments and other environmental data on which the draft report was based already are publicly available elsewhere.
"CDC and ATSDR consistently have provided the people living in the Great Lakes states with up-to-date information to help protect them from exposures to toxic chemicals. Between January 2001 and February 2008 in the 8 Great Lakes states, ATSDR has developed and supported 756 documents pertaining to 528 sites and both ATSDR and CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health have many ongoing scientific and programmatic activities in those states. CDC and ATSDR are committed to providing useful, scientifically sound information that will help decisionmakers protect public health and the environment."
ATSDR indicates further that the intent of the draft report was to help decision-makers set future priorities for research and public health action. Accordingly, "ATSDR staff identified and assembled certain existing data related to both environmental pollutants and health, and they distributed a draft report for peer review in 2004. Between April 2004 and July 2007, the draft report underwent revision. When the draft report was reviewed by ATSDR leadership in June 2007, significant scientific shortcomings were identified. Similar concerns also were expressed by multiple levels of scientific leadership within CDC, ATSDR, and among various partners and stakeholders. The report is being rewritten to address those scientific concerns.
"The draft reports from 2004 and 2007 were provided to the Institute of Medicine -- an independent, unbiased, authoritative source of science-based health information -- to conduct an independent review of the science presented in the draft report and the decision to improve its scientific content and communication prior to release. Those drafts are made available here. When the 2008 revised draft is complete, it will also be made available here."
Access the ATSDR website for the Great Lakes report which contains extensive links to background information, the Statement of Concern, the 2004 & 2007 drafts, and more (click here). Access a statement from Representative Dingell (click here).
Friday, March 14, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Report On Climate Change & CSO Impacts In The Great Lakes Region
U.S. EPA release of a final report entitled, A Screening Assessment of the Potential Impacts of Climate Change on Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions. The document was prepared by the National Center for Environmental Assessment's Global Climate research staff. The report is a screening-level assessment of the potential implications climate change has had on combined sewer overflow (CSO) mitigation in the Great Lakes and New England Regions [See WIMS 3/29/07].
Combined sewer systems (CSSs) collect and co-treat storm water and municipal wastewater. During high intensity rainfall events, the capacity of CSSs can be exceeded resulting in the discharge of untreated storm water and wastewater directly into receiving streams. The combined sewer overflow events (CSOs) can result in high concentrations of microbial pathogens, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and other pollutants in receiving waters. Climate change in many parts of the country is expected to increase the proportion of rainfall occurring in high intensity events, resulting in increased stormwater runoff. The report indicates that these changes present a risk of increased CSO frequency and water quality impairment.
Access an overview and link to the complete 52-page report and background information (click here).
Combined sewer systems (CSSs) collect and co-treat storm water and municipal wastewater. During high intensity rainfall events, the capacity of CSSs can be exceeded resulting in the discharge of untreated storm water and wastewater directly into receiving streams. The combined sewer overflow events (CSOs) can result in high concentrations of microbial pathogens, biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solids, and other pollutants in receiving waters. Climate change in many parts of the country is expected to increase the proportion of rainfall occurring in high intensity events, resulting in increased stormwater runoff. The report indicates that these changes present a risk of increased CSO frequency and water quality impairment.
Access an overview and link to the complete 52-page report and background information (click here).
Great Lakes Protection Fund RFP For IT Prototypes
Mar 7: The Great Lakes Protection Fund (GLPF) issued a Request for Preproposals (RFP) that seeks a suite of projects to design, deploy, and evaluate information technology prototypes that permit individuals, institutions, and/or private corporations to make healthier choices for the Great Lakes ecosystem. The Fund believes that the deployment of new or existing information technology prototypes that connect behaviors and ecosystem outcomes can push the collection of individual, isolated behaviors towards a tipping point that improves Great Lakes health. GLPF said it wants to support a number of project teams willing to test this hypothesis. Submissions are due by midnight, April 20, 2008.
The RFP indicates that many of the problems plaguing the Great Lakes are the result of a large number of individual, seemingly inconsequential, disjointed decisions. These problems include: the widespread use of water at times that stress the infrastructure and lead to combined sewer overflows; the use of electricity during peak periods from power plants that are relatively high emitting facilities; purchasing, shipping, and other contract decisions that lead to the release of exotic species; and other manufacturing, planning, development, or land-use choices that result in toxic or nutrient pollution of the Lakes.
For example, the RFP cites: individual households that choose not run their appliances during a rainstorm are usually unaware of and not rewarded for the reduced stress on combined sewers. Similarly, individuals or institutions that overcool their facilities during peak summer power hours are unaware of the impacts of this decision on the region’s ambient air quality. The aggregate impact of such small choices can be significant enough to drive either degraded or improved ecosystem conditions. The Fund believes that information technology can be used to increase the transparency of these seemingly inconsequential actions and provide individuals with the opportunity to make changes on basin lands, and in basin waters, to improve the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes.
GLPF indicates that, "Ideally, projects will not only include a subset of users in demonstration or pilot settings, but also be designed with the active involvement of future, potential users or customers. This strategy has proven to be the most effective way of creating a path to scale, so that the project team can influence behavior across the set of actors that affect the health of the basin. Projects that rely on a "create and disseminate" approach -- building a prototype without the involvement of the basin-wide community of potential users and distributing reports, software or samples -- are not encouraged."
Non-profit organizations (including environmental organizations, trade associations, and universities), governmental agencies, individuals, and for-profit businesses are eligible for Fund support. Budget requests should reflect the full amount of funds necessary to complete the work. The average level of support has been $150,000-$250,000, but budgets in the past have ranged from $15,000 to $1.5M. Matching funds are not necessary.
Access links to the RFP, project ideas an FAQ document and related information (click here).
The RFP indicates that many of the problems plaguing the Great Lakes are the result of a large number of individual, seemingly inconsequential, disjointed decisions. These problems include: the widespread use of water at times that stress the infrastructure and lead to combined sewer overflows; the use of electricity during peak periods from power plants that are relatively high emitting facilities; purchasing, shipping, and other contract decisions that lead to the release of exotic species; and other manufacturing, planning, development, or land-use choices that result in toxic or nutrient pollution of the Lakes.
For example, the RFP cites: individual households that choose not run their appliances during a rainstorm are usually unaware of and not rewarded for the reduced stress on combined sewers. Similarly, individuals or institutions that overcool their facilities during peak summer power hours are unaware of the impacts of this decision on the region’s ambient air quality. The aggregate impact of such small choices can be significant enough to drive either degraded or improved ecosystem conditions. The Fund believes that information technology can be used to increase the transparency of these seemingly inconsequential actions and provide individuals with the opportunity to make changes on basin lands, and in basin waters, to improve the ecological integrity of the Great Lakes.
GLPF indicates that, "Ideally, projects will not only include a subset of users in demonstration or pilot settings, but also be designed with the active involvement of future, potential users or customers. This strategy has proven to be the most effective way of creating a path to scale, so that the project team can influence behavior across the set of actors that affect the health of the basin. Projects that rely on a "create and disseminate" approach -- building a prototype without the involvement of the basin-wide community of potential users and distributing reports, software or samples -- are not encouraged."
Non-profit organizations (including environmental organizations, trade associations, and universities), governmental agencies, individuals, and for-profit businesses are eligible for Fund support. Budget requests should reflect the full amount of funds necessary to complete the work. The average level of support has been $150,000-$250,000, but budgets in the past have ranged from $15,000 to $1.5M. Matching funds are not necessary.
Access links to the RFP, project ideas an FAQ document and related information (click here).
Friday, March 7, 2008
Great Lakes Commission Advisor Newsletter Available
Mar 6: The current issue of the Great Lakes Commission's Advisor newsletter, is now available on the Commission's website. Highlights of the issue include: Cover story: Three regions, one problem - low water levels; FY2009 legislative priorities presented to Congress [See WIMS 2/22/08]; Report on local investments in Great Lakes proection released [See WIMS 2/29/08]; Wind Collaborative to facilitate clean energy development; and Perspectives: AIS harm Native American livelihoods.
Access the latest issue (click here).
Access the latest issue (click here).
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Latest Council of Great Lakes Governors Newsletter
Mar 4: The Council of Great Lakes Governors (CGLG) announced the availability of the March 2008 edition of its quarterly newsletter, THE COMPASS. Highlights in the issue include: A Message from Council Chair, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle; Momentum Builds for Great Lakes Compact; Governors Challenge Congress to Prioritize the Great Lakes; GLBSRP Drives Ethanol Research; GLNA Holds German Sales Mission; and U.S.-Australia Treaty Generates Defense Sector Export Opportunities.
Access a link to the CGLG newsletter and past issues (click here).
Access a link to the CGLG newsletter and past issues (click here).
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
EPA's Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge
Mar 4: U.S. EPA Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager, Mary Gade, has issued a call to join in the Great Lakes 2008 Earth Day Challenge. EPA is striving to mobilize hundreds of thousands of citizens in the Great Lakes basin to connect with their environment this April by helping address the environmental impact of electronic wastes and unwanted medicines. The Challenge is meant to galvanize public participation in collection events for those wastes so that one million pounds of electronic waste can be recycled and one million pills of unwanted medicines can be disposed of responsibly.
Gade said, "I am asking you to become a partner with us in spreading the news about planned collection events during Earth Week and in creating new ones. We need your help both in identifying events to be a part of the Challenge and in getting the word out to the public about these events. If your organization wishes to partner with us, please fill out the web-based partners form you can find at our Earth Day Challenge Website . . . Our partner, Earth 911, is developing an online clearinghouse that will list collection events in the basin to be held April 19-27, 2008, to show people where they can participate near their homes. If your organization is planning a collection event, we invite you to list it by filling out the registration form that can be accessed from the Challenge Web Site.
"In addition, if your organization does not have a collection event planned, but would like to do so, we can provide technical assistance and information to help you set up your event. There will also be an opportunity for Challenge partners to share the results of these collection events to gauge whether the Challenge goal as a whole has been met."
Access the Earth Day Challenge Website for complete details (click here).
Gade said, "I am asking you to become a partner with us in spreading the news about planned collection events during Earth Week and in creating new ones. We need your help both in identifying events to be a part of the Challenge and in getting the word out to the public about these events. If your organization wishes to partner with us, please fill out the web-based partners form you can find at our Earth Day Challenge Website . . . Our partner, Earth 911, is developing an online clearinghouse that will list collection events in the basin to be held April 19-27, 2008, to show people where they can participate near their homes. If your organization is planning a collection event, we invite you to list it by filling out the registration form that can be accessed from the Challenge Web Site.
"In addition, if your organization does not have a collection event planned, but would like to do so, we can provide technical assistance and information to help you set up your event. There will also be an opportunity for Challenge partners to share the results of these collection events to gauge whether the Challenge goal as a whole has been met."
Access the Earth Day Challenge Website for complete details (click here).
Friday, February 29, 2008
House Investigates CDC Suppressed Great Lakes Report
Feb 28: Representatives John Dingell (D-MI), the Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak (D-MI), the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee, announced an investigation into the withholding of a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that reportedly demonstrates a correlation between pollution in the Great Lakes and health issues such as cancer mortality and higher infant mortality rates. On February 7, the Center for Public Integrity (CPI) announced that, "For more than seven months, the nation’s top public health agency has blocked the publication of an exhaustive federal study of environmental hazards in the eight Great Lakes states, reportedly because it contains such potentially “alarming information” as evidence of elevated infant mortality and cancer rates." [See WIMS 2/8/08].
Dingell said, “Pollution in our Great Lakes can have very real health consequences for the millions of Americans who live in and around the Great Lakes basin. If the Administration has willfully withheld a report from the public, it raises questions about whether they are putting the public health at risk and about the scientific integrity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Stupak said, “With a mission to promote health and prevent disease, CDC has an obligation to share the results of this report with the American public. Instead it appears CDC has made a concerted effort to conceal this information. The health challenges facing these Great Lakes communities will not go away by ignoring the scientific facts. This report could be a valuable tool as federal, state and local governments allocate resources for Great Lakes clean-up efforts. We intend to determine through our investigation who at CDC made the decision to withhold the report and whether the author was penalized for advocating for its publication.”
The massive 400-page study, officially entitled, Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern, was completed in July 2007, following several years of work and extensive scientific peer review. According to a recent article by the Center for Public Integrity, officials at ATSDR, blocked the study’s publication. In a letter sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dingell and Stupak asked that the Great Lakes Report be published so that the validity of its findings can be fairly evaluated. The letter also requests information on events surrounding the suppression of the study. According to the article by the Center for Public Integrity, the Great Lakes Report’s chief author, Dr. Christopher De Rosa, was demoted after working to see the Great Lakes Report released to the public.
Access a release from Dingell and Stupak with links to the letter to CDC and the draft report (click here).
Dingell said, “Pollution in our Great Lakes can have very real health consequences for the millions of Americans who live in and around the Great Lakes basin. If the Administration has willfully withheld a report from the public, it raises questions about whether they are putting the public health at risk and about the scientific integrity of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” Stupak said, “With a mission to promote health and prevent disease, CDC has an obligation to share the results of this report with the American public. Instead it appears CDC has made a concerted effort to conceal this information. The health challenges facing these Great Lakes communities will not go away by ignoring the scientific facts. This report could be a valuable tool as federal, state and local governments allocate resources for Great Lakes clean-up efforts. We intend to determine through our investigation who at CDC made the decision to withhold the report and whether the author was penalized for advocating for its publication.”
The massive 400-page study, officially entitled, Public Health Implications of Hazardous Substances in the Twenty-Six U.S. Great Lakes Areas of Concern, was completed in July 2007, following several years of work and extensive scientific peer review. According to a recent article by the Center for Public Integrity, officials at ATSDR, blocked the study’s publication. In a letter sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dingell and Stupak asked that the Great Lakes Report be published so that the validity of its findings can be fairly evaluated. The letter also requests information on events surrounding the suppression of the study. According to the article by the Center for Public Integrity, the Great Lakes Report’s chief author, Dr. Christopher De Rosa, was demoted after working to see the Great Lakes Report released to the public.
Access a release from Dingell and Stupak with links to the letter to CDC and the draft report (click here).
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