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4 Ways the Sochi Olympics Are an Environmental Disaster
February 12, 2014
You may see a lot of gold, silver and bronze at the Olympics, but one color you definitely won’t see much of in Sochi is green. Years ago, Russia won its Olympic bid in large part by pledging to host the most environmentally friendly Games ever. Now, however, it’s clear that Sochi did not fulfill these promises and, in fact, has perpetrated an ecological nightmare.
You may see a lot of gold, silver and bronze at the Olympics, but one color you definitely won’t see much of in Sochi is green. Years ago, Russia won its Olympic bid in large part by pledging to host the most environmentally friendly Games ever. Now, however, it’s clear that Sochi did not fulfill these promises and, in fact, has perpetrated an ecological nightmare.
Here are four reasons even casual environmentalists will resent Sochi’s actions:
1. Illegally Dumping Waste
So much for Sochi’s “zero waste” claims: the Associated Press has proven Russia’s vow to use only renewable materials in their construction efforts and not dump waste false. Though the nation tried to hide this dumping, the press agency found literal tons of waste being dumped unsafely in a protected area.
Since the illicit spot was discovered, Russian officials blamed it on a hired company’s “error.” Still, no effort has been made to remove the dangerous waste from where it sits.
2. Damaged Water Supply
While not following through on the pledge to not dump is bad, it wouldn’t be half as awful if only they had dumped that industrial waste in actual wasteland. In a misguided attempt to hide their dumping, Russia wound up putting this hazardous material in a “water protected zone,” thereby putting Sochi’s drinking water at risk.
Japan's nuclear regulator raps Fukushima operator over radiation readings
February 12, 2014
(Reuters) - Japan's nuclear regulator has criticized the operator of the stricken Fukushima plant for incorrectly measuring radiation levels in contaminated groundwater at the site.
Almost three years since the reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi station, Tokyo Electric Power Co (Tepco) still lacks basic understanding of measuring and handling radiation, Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) Chairman Shunichi Tanaka said on Wednesday. The utility has been widely criticized for an inept response to the March 2011 disaster.
Tepco said last week that groundwater drawn from a monitoring well last July contained a record 5 million becquerels per liter of dangerous radioactive strontium-90 - more than five times the total beta radiation reading of 900,000 becquerels per liter recorded in the well, which is around 25 meters from the ocean.
INTERNATIONAL FORUM ON GROUP V OILS
On September 9 and 10, 2014, an International Forum on Group V Oils will be presented by the International Spill Control Organization to commemorate its 30th anniversary. The Forum will take place in Detroit, at the shore side facility of the Detroit Wayne County Port Authority, across the Detroit River from Windsor, Ontario. Dave Usher, President of ISCO, and Dr Merv Fingas of Spill Science in Edmonton, Alberta, will co-chair.
The Forum is being organized to discuss Group V oils and the tendency of bitumen, oil sands, lamp black, orimulsion, etc., to sink in water. What are their characteristics? What spill technologies are being used now, and what technical advances does the future hold? Both the United States Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have expressed interest in being involved.
Bill would ban tiny plastic beads in personal care products
February 12, 2014
Tiny beads used in facial scrubs, shampoos, soaps and toothpaste products would be banned under a measure drafted by the state attorney general to halt the spread of plastic pollution in New York waters.
Expected to be introduced Tuesday by Assemb. Robert Sweeney (D-Lindenhurst), the Microbead-Free Waters Act would prohibit the production, manufacture, distribution and sale of beauty products that contain plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in size.
DNR: Man dumped hazardous waste with wastewater in Muskegon, faces felony charge
January 31, 2014
MUSKEGON, MI – A Kent City man faces felony charges for allegedly mixing hazardous waste into wastewater he dumped at the Muskegon County Wastewater Management System.
Timothy O’Leary has been charged with a felony violation of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The act is punishable by two years in jail and up to $25,000 in fines for each day the offense occurred.
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