Haudenosaunee Environmental News Report
May/June 2003
This month's report contains 3 articles and a Website Review. The first article discusses some good news about EPA Region 2 Office switching to emission-free wind power. The second article is about spring songs of survival. The article examines the importance of the red-winged black bird and spring peeper, their songs, habits, and the importance of looking at the health of these species as a reflection of the well-being of our marsh lands. The third article is a note concerning the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). The article discusses current changes to the civil penalties part of the rule for museums that fail to repatriate items. The Website of the Month is written about the National Tribal Environmental Research Institute.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
1.
EPA Region 2
Office Switches to Emission-free Wind Power
2.
Spring Songs
of Survival: Red-winged Blackbirds
and Spring Peepers
3.
A Note:
Native American
4.
“The Website
of the Month” National Tribal Environmental Research Institute
1.)
EPA Region 2
Office Switches to Emission-free Wind Power
EPA chose Earth Day, which was nationally celebrated on
The regional 2 office’s electricity will be being generated by the
Fenner Wind Power Project. The Wind
Farm is located in the town of
Interestingly, some environmentalists argue that risks to birds and bats associated with wind turbines make wind power not so environmentally friendly. However, with proper environmental assessment, the selection of sites and simple adjustments to wind power equipment can significantly minimize risks. For example, some ways to minimize risks are to not build wind power farms within known bird migratory paths and to paint lines on the blades of wind turbines so as to prevent bird collisions.
Region 2, the
The environmental benefits, the reduction in pollution, from Region 2’s
switch to emission-free wind power is quite impressive.
EPA’s commitment is equivalent to the reduction of over 1000 barrels of
oil and more than 7 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) that would be emitted
into the atmosphere annually. The
CO2 reduction is equivalent to the amount removed from the air by 450,000 trees
or the amount emitted by cars driven 6.3 million miles annually.
In addition, the switchover will reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide by an
estimated 34,500 pounds and nitrogen oxides by 12,000 pounds annually. (EPA New
Release #03040,
EPA hopes their commitment to green-power and emission-free wind power will spark other offices, agencies, and businesses to make the switch. Congratulations to EPA Region 2 for their leadership in undertaking this precedence setting switch to green power.
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