Protect the Willamette

Courting Disaster: Long Lake's Uncertain Future 2/10/2010

Streams and wetlands in Oregon are at risk of unlimited pollution, according to a national report released today by Environment Oregon, Courting Disaster: How the Supreme Court Has Broken the Clean Water Act and Why Congress Must Fix It.

Courting Disaster: How the Supreme Court Has Broken the Clean Water Act and Why Congress Must Fix It 2/10/2010

For decades, the Clean Water Act protected the Nation’s surface water bodies from unregulated pollution and rescued them from the crisis status they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Now these vital protections are being lost. This report details the threat to our Nation’s waters by examining dozens of case studies, and highlights the urgent need for Congress to restore full Clean Water Act protections to our waters.

Plug-In Cars: Powering America Toward a Cleaner Future 1/23/2010

America’s current fleet of gasoline-powered cars and trucks leaves us dependent on oil, contributes to air pollution problems that threaten our health, and produces large amounts of global warming pollution. “Plug-in” cars are emerging as an effective way to lower global warming emissions, oil use, and smog. A plug-in car is one that can be recharged from the electric grid. Plug-in cars come in two types: plug-in hybrids that are paired with small gasoline engines, and fully electric vehicles that consume no gasoline at all.

Rulings Restrict Clean Water Act, Foiling E.P.A. 2/28/2010

Thousands of the nation’s largest water polluters are outside the Clean Water Act’s reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.

Session Watch: Greenhouse Gas Bill Goes To Governor 2/24/2010

The House approved SB 1059, a bill that lowers greenhouse gas emissions from car and light trucks. The Oregon Environmental Council says the vote was 32-26. The Senate approved the bill yesterday, all that’s left is getting the Governor’s signature.

Oregon Senate, NASA scientists agree: Fewer car trips key to healthy cities 2/24/2010

A new study by NASA and a bill passed by the Oregon Senate yesterday have at least one thing in common. They both sound the alarm that transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions (a.k.a. too many cars and trucks on the road) are harmful to the planet and they need to be curtailed.