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Words to Ponder

By Gen. Colin Powell

This comment was made during a discussion to track down lost nuclear materials and scientists who were unaccounted for after the break up of Russia:

"Finding Russian scientists may be a problem being that

Russia does not have a Social Security System, as here in

America that allows us to monitor, track down, and capture an American citizen."

(Former) US Secretary of State Colin Powel

http://rense.com/general77/colin.htm

Silver and Largescale Silver Carp Importation and Transport Banned

The USFWS reports importation and interstate transport of live silver and largescale silver carp will be banned under a final rule published in last week's Federal Register by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. A petition to the Service signed by 25 Members of Congress outlined the impacts of silver carp to humans and native aquatic species in waters of the United States. The final rule--advanced under the injurious wildlife provisions of the Lacey Act--addresses these concerns and will become effective on August 9, 2007.

"Slowing the spread of these carp is necessary to protect our native aquatic species," said H. Dale Hall, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Although silver carp are established in parts of the Mississippi watershed, we will work to keep their impacts minimized and prevent additional populations from taking hold."

Silver carp, native to Asia, were introduced in the United States in the early 1970s for use as algae control agents in sewage lagoons and fishery production ponds, but escaped into

surrounding waters. The silver carp have established themselves in the Mississippi River Basin but are not currently cultured in the United States. Silver carp are difficult to handle and transport because of their tendency to jump: growing up to three feet long and 60 pounds in weight, silver carp have leaped into moving boats injuring people and damaging equipment.

Biologists are concerned that silver carp could spread throughout large rivers and lakes in the U.S. and compete with native species for food and habitat, having both ecological and economic impacts and threatening, for example, the multimillion-dollar Great Lakes fishery.

Largescale silver carp, native to parts of China and Vietnam, are a distinct species related to the silver carp and warrant prohibition as well. While not yet known to be in the U.S., largescale silver carp could also directly compete with native aquatic species for food and habitat and may hybridize with silver and bighead carp, both of which are already in U.S. waters.

Scientists have simple way to stop invasive species

American scientists have a simple way to stop invasive species from sneaking into the Lake Erie aboard oceangoing ships -- just add salt water. Scientists say vessels should be required to flush their tanks with full-strength seawater before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway. Doing so would kill many organisms that were scooped up in foreign ports where salt

levels are low. Even those that survive might be swept into the ocean, instead of winding up in the Great Lakes.

At least 185 invasive species have been found in the lakes, including zebra mussels which clog water pipes and cause millions of dollars in damage a year.

ICAST 2007 New Product Showcase �Best of Show� Competition

More than 600 innovations in tackle and gear entered

Las Vegas�The E21 Carrot Stix, a freshwater rod, was voted by buyers and media on July 12 as the most innovative product in the ICAST50 New Product Showcase in both the Freshwater Rod category and the overall �Best of Show.�

This year, the 50th year of ICAST, the New Product Showcase was more competitive than ever. Sponsored by Fishing Tackle Retailer, 180 companies entered more than 600 tackle products and accessories into the New Product Showcase. The showcase is the flagship feature of the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST), the sportfishing industry�s premier trade event produced by the American Sportfishing Association (ASA). The 50th annual show was held at the Las Vegas Convention Center,

July 11-13, 2007.

Buyers and media representatives judged the products based on their levels of innovation, execution, workmanship and practicality to select �Best of Show� honors in 17 categories, as well as the overall �Best of Show� winner.

In 2008, ICAST will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center, from July 16-18, 2008. ICAST 2009 will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida, from July 15-17, 2009.

2007 ICAST New Product Showcase Award Winners

Ship ballast rules inadequate for protection,

study says

Current rules for minimizing invasive species entering the Great Lakes through oceangoing ships are not adequate, according to a study released July 10 by the University of Michigan and several other U.S. and Canadian institutions.

The three-year report, �Identifying, Verifying and Establishing Options for Best Management Practices for No Ballast on Board Vessels� was funded by the Great Lakes Protection Fund, the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.

In the report, researchers from the Ann Arbor-based Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, the University of Windsor, Old Dominion University, the Smithsonian

Environmental Research Lab and Jenkins & Associates Ltd. recommend that ships be required to rinse their ballast tanks with deep-ocean water before entering the St. Lawrence Seaway, in addition to current requirements.

The practice, referred to as �salt water flushing� is an inexpensive alternative that would likely help while other approaches for sanitizing ballast water, such as chemicals, heat, ozone and ultraviolet radiation are being explored, UM said in a release.

At least 185 nonnative aquatic species have been identified in the Great Lakes, and ballast water is to blame for about 60 percent of them, Thomas Johengen, a UM nutrient chemist and co-leader of the study, said in a release.

Carp Corral nets twice as many as last year

This year's carp corral, an annual survey conducted by the USFWS, netted more than twice as many Asian carp at the same location as last year: 241, compared with 110. "They haven't moved much upstream since 2002, but their numbers are increasing," FWS, project leader Pam Thiel said.

Right now dozens of bighead and silver carp are staging about 50 miles from Chicago's lakefront. The round-up which has been conducted annually in June by FWS since 1996, has been alternatively called the goby round-up or carp corral, depending on the gravity of invasive species poised to pierce the electronic barrier. Both are serious invaders to native ecosystems, one poised to enter the Great Lakes the other - round gobies, heading downstream to the Mississippi River basin.

FWS, along with a score of state and federal agencies and volunteer groups, monitors the advance of invasive critters including the Asian carp and movement of gobies, with their annual round-up, in which workers count these critters netted at specific points along the canal and the Illinois River.

The underwater barrier has outlived its predicted five-year life 

span; with three of its steel cables burned out and the others on their last leg but still working.  Half of the new barrier, known as Barrier 2A, is completed, but it cannot be turned on because our federal bureaucracy is bogged down by alleged safety issues and tests being run by the US Coast Guard, including a "man overboard" scenario, and sparks seen jumping between barges. The sparks issue that was resolved four years ago by experts including the Army Corps of Engineers, contractors Smith-Root and resource managers, but because of theoretical lawsuits that could be generated over any careless incident, the Coast Guard has barred the Corps from turning on the new barrier.

With typical bureaucratic bungling, Coast Guard Commander Paul Mehler III, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago is dragging his feet, even though the US Congress approved legislation that was signed into law by President Bush mandating the construction and operation of the electronic barrier some 5-6 years ago.

The Barrier committee meets July 24 to also deal with the funding shortage confronting this project.

Coast Guard again seeks live-fire exercises

Wisconsin Public Radio reports the US Coast Guard wants to bring back its live ammunition fire zones to each of the Great Lakes, but has learned that the proposal is considerably scaled down. The original proposal last August rocked a lot of boats around the Great Lakes. It called for 34 live-ammunition firing zones for Coast Guard gunboat target practice. The proposal was withdrawn late last year.

Coast Guard spokesman Robert Lanier says a new preliminary proposal would have just one live fire zone in each of the Great Lakes. He says they would train in early spring or late fall when few boaters are out and they would use reduced 

lead bullets. He says these are called �environmentally friendly� bullets, referred to as �green bullets� by some.Lanier says this is just a preliminary proposal awaiting approval from the Coast Guard�s top brass, but when it is finalized, it will be distributed to concerned parties. Lanier expects public hearings later this year so people can comment on the new live ammunition proposal. He says they are aware that whatever solution is developed may not please everyone. But he says they are really trying to come up with the best solution that provides safety and security in the Great Lakes.

The live ammunition fire zones are part of the Homeland Security directive to protect the U.S./Canadian border.

Great Lakes Mayors Set Goal for Water Conservation

Call for immediate action on Invasive species

Grand Rapids, Michigan, July 12, 2007--Mayors from U.S. and Canada urged the federal government to 'modernize' bi-national agreements on Great Lakes and include the St. Lawrence River

At its fourth annual meeting held in Grand Rapids, MI, members of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative on July 12 announced significant progress with its Water Conservation Challenge. After only one year, twenty-eight cities have committed to a goal of 15% reduction in water consumption by 2015.

Cities Initiative past-chair Mayor David Miller of Toronto says water conservation is a win-win for cities. �It conserves a precious resource, and it drastically reduces our energy use, which reduces greenhouse gases and saves us money,� Mayor Miller said. �I�m proud of what the Cities Initiative�s water conservation challenge has achieved in such a short time. We have already conserved enough water to fill 85,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Collectively, we intend to change the nature of water consumption in the Great Lakes and St.

Lawrence basin.�

The mayors attending the Cities Initiative�s annual conference also called on the Canadian and U.S. governments to pass comprehensive invasive species and ballast water control legislation immediately, with mandatory measures for ships carrying ballast water and those with no ballast on board. �There is consensus right across the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence basin, from environment groups to cities, from shippers to fishermen, says newly elected Cities Initiative chair Gary Becker, mayor of Racine, Wisconsin. �We need immediate Canada-US action now on invasive species legislation. There is too much at stake for further delay.�

Responding to the deadline for comments on the review of the Canada-US Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, Toronto Mayor David Miller stated: �We are pleased to see Canadian authorities take action on areas of concern.� We call on the Canadian and U.S. Governments to open the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement for renegotiation. It is twenty years out of date. We need a modernized approach to Great Lakes and St. Lawrence protection.�

Weekly Great Lakes Water Levels for July 13, 2007

Weather Conditions

Hot and humid conditions existed across the Great Lakes basin early this week, with many locations topping out in the 90s.  A very strong cold front swept through the region on Tuesday leading to many instances of severe weather and much cooler air.  A mixture of sun and clouds is on tap for the weekend.  A few areas may see a scattered shower or thunderstorm, before the heat returns to start the workweek.

Lake Level Conditions

Currently, Lake Superior is 11" below its level of a year ago, while Lakes Michigan-Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are 2 to 5" lower than last year�s levels.  Lake Superior is predicted to rise 2" over the next 30 days. Lake Michigan-Huron is expected to decline an inch, while Lakes St. Clair, Erie, and Ontario are projected to drop 4" over the next month. All of the lakes are forecasted to be below their water levels of a year ago during the next few months. 

Current Outflows/Channel Conditions

Outflow from the St. Marys River is predicted to be well below average for July. Flows through the St. Clair and Detroit Rivers are also predicted to be lower than average this month. Flows in the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers are expected to be below average as well.

 Alerts

Due to abnormally dry conditions on the Lake Superior basin over the last several months, | Lake Superior�s water level is currently below chart datum and is expected to remain below datum over the next six months.  Users of the Great Lakes, connecting channels and St. Lawrence River should keep informed of current conditions before undertaking any activities that could be affected by changing water levels.  Mariners should utilize navigation charts and refer to current water level readings.

BP's Indiana Refinery gets ok to pollute

Lake Michigan

State approval means pollution and fish kills in the lake

A huge oil refinery in Whiting, IN is planning to dump state approved ammonia and industrial sludge into Lake Michigan, a decision made  by British Petroleum, (a foreign corporation), that goes counter to years of Great Lakes clean-up efforts, and has sportsmen and environmentalists outraged.

The Whiting BP refinery has received a break from state environmental laws, allowing it to increase the amount of ammonia and sludge released into Lake Michigan, approximately 54% more ammonia and 35% more sludge per day. BP is already one of the largest polluters in the Great Lakes. Why stop now, huh? State regulators justified the move by noting the project will create 80 new jobs. They didn't say anything about the crap BP will be dumping into Lake Michigan fouling a fragile ecosystem already under stress from an invasion of foreign critters.

The refinery is preparing a $3.8 billion expansion to allow processing of heavy Canadian crude oil. This would include current oil production as well as crude obtained from tar sands extraction.  There is a good deal of variability in crude oils from around the world, so a refinery is usually geared to accept only a small subset of crudes to minimize equipment costs.  This refinery has been around since the days of Standard Oil, being constructed way back in 1889.  This is also estimated to bring 80 additional jobs into the plant.

It was companies such as BP that helped prompt Congress to pass the Clean Water Act in 1972; now with the help of the Indiana Dept of Environmental Management we all will be taking a major step backward. For 80 jobs, and no guarantee that gas prices will be lowered in the Midwest.

According to the state and federal regulators mentioned in the

July 15 Chicago Tribune report, the refinery does not have the

space to add enough wastewater treatment capacity for the expansion (which likely involving ripping up some old equipment), so state regulations are being relaxed and the refinery will be allowed to emit sludge at federal maximums along with more ammonia.  This will bring the refinery's allowance up to 1,584 lbs of ammonia and 4,925 lbs of sludge to be dumped into Lake Michigan per day.  To get around regulations preventing an increase in water pollution around a point source, BP will install some piping around 200 ft offshore to bring in clean water to mix with effluent, thus lowering them back into legality. 

If you enjoy walking a beach plan on removing tar from your shoes- this is something you can expect a lot of thanks to the additional sludge dumping.  The ammonia will likely be gobbled up by algae blooms, which can suck the oxygen out of the local water resulting in fish kills.

Complaints should be directed towards state and federal environmental agencies with authority in the area as well as legislators. Click on:

Indiana Environmental Management Water Permits Branch

Indiana DNR Water Division
E-Mail your questions or comments to:
[email protected]  
Mailing address for the Division of Water:
Indiana Department of Natural Resources
Division of Water
402 West Washington Street, Room W264
Indianapolis, IN 46204

www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-pollute_15jul15,1,647384.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true

Settlement results in Scenic Land Acquisition for Illinoisans

Scenic Middle Fork connects State Fish and Wildlife Area to State Park in Vermilion County

Officials of the Illinois DNR and representatives of Dynegy, Inc., last Friday announced the State of Illinois� recent acquisition of scenic property along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River. Dynegy transferred the land to the state as part of a major clean air settlement reached in 2005.

IL DNR Deputy Director Leslie Sgro announced that 1,135 acres of undeveloped land, across the river from Dynegy�s Vermilion power station near Oakwood, have been officially turned over to the State of Illinois. The acquisition forms a natural connection between the state�s Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area to the north and Kickapoo State Park to the south. The land is primarily wooded and dominated by a large, forested ravine system, which also contains seep-spring wetlands and other geologically significant areas.

The newly acquired property also connects the Vermilion County Conservation District�s 3,000 acre Kennekuk County Park to Kickapoo State Park and the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area. The area features more than two miles of frontage along the Middle Fork of the Vermilion River.

�The Middle Fork is a unique area and offers some of the

highest quality habitat in the state. This acquisition will help to preserve its natural beauty, and eventually provide greater recreational opportunities for the area,� said Sgro.

The property will provide better management and control of the Middle Fork by controlling the watershed quality and preserving the high quality bottomland forest along the river corridor. The property contains high quality mining lakes, upland habitat and wooded area that will provide recreational, hunting and fishing opportunities. In addition, the area provides habitat for a wide variety of wildlife including the wavy-rayed lamp mussel, an endangered species. IDNR biologists are evaluating the area and limited access to the area may be available to the public later this year.

Dynegy deeded the acreage to the State of Illinois on March 28, 2007, as part of the May 2005 settlement between Dynegy, Madigan�s office, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and citizen environmental organizations that included the American Bottom Conservancy, Health and Environmental Justice-St. Louis, Inc., Illinois Stewardship Alliance and Prairie Rivers Network. The Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) of Chicago represented Prairie Rivers Network and the other environmental organizations that intervened in the suit.

Do's and Don'ts about Coyotes

♦ Do not feed coyotes

♦ Avoid intentional feeding or leaving pet food or garbage out at night

♦ Avoid having large bird feeders which attract rodents and squirrels, and consequently, can attract coyotes.

♦ Do not let pets run loose, especially domestic cats.

♦ When hiking in urban parks, keep dogs on leashes.

♦ Do not run from a coyote. When you encounter a coyote,

shout or throw something in its direction.

♦ Repellants or fencing help. Repellents may involve remotely activated lights or sound-making devices.

♦ Report aggressive, fearless coyotes to local animal control immediately.

♦ For more info on the Urban Coyote Ecology and Management publication, contact Buckeye Publications at 614/292-1607 or a PDF file of the document can be downloaded at http://ohioline.osu.edu/b929/pdf/b929.pdf

DEC Seeks Input from Hunters and Anglers with Disabilities

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis has announced that the Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources is undertaking a comprehensive review of hunting and fishing recreational opportunities for people with  disabilities. This review of hunting and angling opportunities for people with disabilities will help DEC assess current opportunities as well as future needs.

"New York State has a rich hunting and fishing heritage that should be available to all people who enjoy hunting on a crisp fall morning or wetting a line in a crystal clear lake," said Commissioner Grannis. "We are looking for recommendations to make these opportunities even better."

With proper permits and licenses, people with disabilities can now access certain state lands to hunt and fish via roads and trails designated accessible. Boat launches and fishing sites across New York provide additional recreational opportunities.

As the population ages and life expectancy increases, hunters

and anglers with disabilities will increase, prompting a need for greater access. This outreach effort is intended to determine how the state can better accommodate all hunters and anglers with disabilities.

DEC is seeking input about existing programs, licenses, permits, and accommodations to better meet the needs of hunters and anglers with disabilities. New ideas are welcomed, as are comments regarding the availability and delivery of information for hunters and anglers with disabilities. Hunters and anglers interested in submitting comments can contact the Department by mail, phone, or e-mail. The comment period will end August 8, 2007.

By Mail:

Kelly Stang

NYSDEC, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4754

By Phone: (518) 402-8862

By E-mail: [email protected]  (Type "Access Input" in the subject line)

Public comment sought on adding wild brook trout to action plan

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is inviting public comment on adding naturally reproducing eastern brook trout to the  State Wildlife Action Plan, the document that prescribes conservation measures for species and their critical habitat before they become more  rare and more costly to protect and restore.

The brook trout�s historic range and abundance has been considerably reduced throughout the east coast, including Pennsylvania. Habitat and water quality degradation caused by urbanization, acid mine drainage, acid deposition, and poor land use practices have contributed to the decline. The addition of the species to Pennsylvania�s State Wildlife Action Plan, if approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would highlight the status of the Commonwealth�s state fish. But it�s more than a symbolic move. Including brook trout in the state�s Wildlife Action Plan would provide the Commission with more flexibility to fund, or receive funding for, projects that benefit the species.

The native range of the eastern brook trout extends along the Appalachians from Georgia to Maine and encompasses 17 states. Of these states, 12 currently include the eastern brook trout in their Wildlife Action Plans. The need for special attention to wild brook trout was documented by Pennsylvania and others as part of the Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV), a regional project of the National Fish Habitat Initiative. In a 2006 report, the EBTJV noted that brook trout populations have been eliminated or greatly reduced

throughout more than 70% of their historical habitat in

Pennsylvania. These results reflect the condition of brook trout across their entire Eastern range, according to the assessment.

�Based on stream surveys by the PFBC conducted since 1976, wild brook trout populations have been documented in 1,524 stream sections covering a total of 5,044 miles of streams. Although this is a considerable wild brook trout resource, much of this resource is fragmented and primarily exists in first and second order headwater streams,� said PFBC Executive Director Doug Austen. �Adding wild brook trout to Pennsylvania�s Wildlife Action Plan is a logical step in conserving and enhancing our state fish.�

The Fish and Boat Commission is specifically recommending that eastern brook trout be added to the Action Plan at "Conservation Tier 5 - Maintenance Concern Level." Conservation Tier 5 contains species that are considered relatively abundant and fairly secure in Pennsylvania, but have undergone declines.

Pennsylvania�s Wildlife Action Plan can be downloaded from the Commission web site at www.fishandboat.com [located on our State Wildlife Grant program page]. The proposed brook trout plan amendment is also posted online, as is a form that allows the public to comment on the proposal. Public comment will also be accepted in writing through 4:00 PM, August 3, 2007. Direct mail to: Brook Trout/WAP/Public Comments, c/o Dave Day, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, P.O. Box 67000, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7000.

New publication describes options for too many geese

MADISON � A new free brochure describing options for managing increasing numbers of resident Canada geese in communities on golf courses, school grounds and in parks is available at Department of Natural Resources Service Centers and from USDA-Wildlife Services.

The brochure is also available online or by calling the DNR Bureau of Wildlife Management at (608) 266-8204.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/hunt/waterfow/managegoose.pdf  

Two different populations of Canada geese are found in Wisconsin. The Mississippi Valley population nests in northern Ontario and spends fall and winter in Wisconsin. The resident giant Canada geese nest and raise young in Wisconsin and most frequently become the nuisance.

Wisconsin�s resident Canada goose population has been growing an average of 13 % per year since 1986 when DNR began monitoring the population. As their numbers have grown, so have complaints. The department has taken several steps to address the growing problem, including implementing and expanding an early September goose season that targets the problem geese, said Van Horn. He hastens to add that all populations of Canada geese are

protected by treaty, as well as federal and state law, so specific guidelines must be followed when seeking to reduce human/goose conflicts.

Decisions on how to respond to a resident Canada goose problem are up to the communities but DNR is available to study communities� goose problems, explain their options, and assist them in implementing solutions, Van Horn said.  In other situations, controlling populations through killing nuisance geese or destroying their nests may be necessary. In some cases, adult geese killed as part of a control program can be donated to food pantries.

Wildlife managers and the state Natural Resources Board also have created hunting seasons that focus on the resident goose populations causing the majority of the complaints. The first of the targeted hunting seasons was implemented in 1990 with an early-September Canada goose hunting season in southeast Wisconsin. That early date meant that migratory geese returning from their Hudson Bay summer range were not yet in Wisconsin in any great number. As the resident Canada goose population continued to grow, the early season was expanded statewide in 2000 and lengthened in 2005.

The early Canada goose hunting season for 2007 is Sept 1-15.

Coast Guard rescues three near Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- The Coast Guard rescued three people in the water near the  Oak Creek power plant at approximately 10:15 p.m. Saturday, July 8, 2007 after their boat sank.

Coast Guard Station Milwaukee's crew launched their 41' utility boat and a 25' response boat and pulled the three people out of the water. The Coast Guard received a report of a vessel taking on water at approximately 9:35 p.m., then received a report of three flares. 

After the Station Milwaukee crew had Frank Affatigato, 46, John Paine, 46 and Jennifer Paine, 29 on-board they were able to confirm that they had launched the rescue flares; the Coast Guard crew noted that each rescued person was wearing a life-jacket.   The rescue crew transported the boaters to shore where Emergency Medical Services were waiting, they all refused medical treatment. 

The Coast Guard recommends that boaters carry flares to alert rescue personnel and to always wear a life-jacket.