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Public can comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Sheep Mountain Uranium Project

text-Please-NoteBLM Seeks Public Input on Draft Analysis of the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project, County 10 Fremont County  (Lander, Wyo.) – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Lander Field Office seeks public input on the Sheep Mountain Uranium Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). A notice was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2014, announcing the availability of the draft EIS for public review and comment……..The public, government agencies and Tribes are encouraged to provide comment on the draft EIS during the 45-day public comment period. The BLM will host a public meeting in Lander at the Fremont County Library, 244 Amoretti St., on January 28, 2015, from 4:30 until 6:00 p.m.

The draft EIS is available for review on the project website atwww.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/lfo/sheepmtn.html.

Comments may be emailed to blm_wy_sheep_mountain_eis@blm.gov or mailed to BLM Lander Field Office, Attn: Chris Krassin, 1335 Main Street, Lander, WY 82520. Comments may also be submitted to the BLM during the public meetings. To ensure your comments and information are fully considered, the BLM must receive your input by March 2, 2015. http://county10.com/2015/01/16/blm-seeks-public-input-on-draft-analysis-of-the-sheep-mountain-uranium-project/

January 17, 2015 Posted by | ACTION | Leave a comment

Not counting Tony Abbott, Catholics in Australia are rallying for climate change action

climate-changeflag-AustraliaCatholics in Australia join global movement to curb climate change, The Age January 15, 2015  Environment Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald Australia’s Catholics are preparing to step up campaigns to address climate change ahead of an expected call to action by Pope Francis.

The Global Catholic Climate Movement, an international coalition of Catholic groups including Catholic Earthcare Australia, was launched on Thursday to bolster support for a global climate treaty at the Paris summit planned for December.

That’s going to create real change that’s really needed, and that’s great.

Jacqui Remond, director of Catholic Earthcare Australia, said Catholics numbered one in four Australians and the time is ripe for them to push for greater action on curbing global warming.

“Looking at the leadership and the governance we have in Australia right now, there isn’t a lot of hope coming from the policies and the agenda that’s set,” Ms Remond said.

However, Ms Remond said hope is coming from abroad with Pope Francis expected to release the first encyclical on ecology as soon as March. The doctrinal directive is likely to focus on the damage to humanity and ecosystems caused by climate change.

“[The encyclical] has a significant influence because it sets a benchmark for learning for everyone in the church, which includes the cardinals, the bishops, the clergy, the lay people,” Ms Remond said. “This message will have an incredible ripple effect through the church and beyond.”

Ms Remond said Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had also spoken out about climate change, with the latter installing solar panels on church buildings in Rome and making the Vatican the world’s first carbon-neutral state…….http://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/catholics-in-australia-join-global-movement-to-curb-climate-change-20150115-12qs0r.html

January 17, 2015 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

AUDIO: Economic Isolation Weighs On Iranians

Hear-This-wayAUDIO: Economic Isolation Weighs On Iranians; Desire Nuclear Talks Resolved JANUARY 16, 2015 As nuclear talks with Iran resume, Steve Inskeep talks to Thomas Erdbrink, Tehran bureau chief for The New York Times, about rhetoric and sentiment in that country. http://www.npr.org/2015/01/16/377635615/economic-isolation-weighs-on-iranians-they-want-nuclear-talks-resolved

January 17, 2015 Posted by | general | Leave a comment

The ruthlessness of radiation, and its danger to astronauts

These Are The 2 Big Hurdles To Setting Up A Mars Colony, Business Insider, JESSICA ORWIG 16 Jan 15 “…….. Ruthless Radiation

“The first [hurdle] is the radiation that you’re exposed to when you’re in deep space……….Since 2008, more than 40 scientists at institutions across the country have been studying what space radiation does to the human body and how to mitigate those effects. Moreover, NASA has established nearly a dozen specialised centres of research in this field.

The sun is primary source of harmful radiation that astronauts would face on their way to Mars. Powerful bursts from the sun called solar flares, like the one shown below, release lethal doses of radiation with the power of 160 billion megatons of TNT.

We are safe here on Earth because our planet’s magnetic field and thick atmosphere protect us from these radiation blasts, but there’s no protection in space. During deep space flights, astronauts would be bombarded by dangerous, high-energy radiation, like x-rays and gamma rays, from solar flares.

The human body can handle certain kinds of radiation in small doses, but the longer you are exposed the more likely your body will blow past those “safe” radiation levels into the danger zone. The result is a series of scary symptoms like vomiting, fatigue, changes to white blood cell count, and impaired immune system, all of which could jeopardize an astronaut’s ability to do much else.

radiation-causing-cancer

Long term, radiation exposure will increase astronauts’ risk of developing cancer and can also lead to damaged cardiovascular system, eyes, and central nervous system……….http://www.businessinsider.com.au/two-big-hurdles-to-setting-up-a-mars-colony-2015-1

January 17, 2015 Posted by | 2 WORLD, radiation | Leave a comment

Nebraska Senators Introduce Bills to Advance Renewable Energy

Senators Introduce Bills to Advance Renewable Energy in Nebraska LINCOLN, Neb. 2 KNOP, 17 Jan 15 — State senators announced Friday that they will introduce five bills intended to advance Nebraska’s renewable energy industry, increase economic development and provide property tax benefits.

“These bills will help to incentivize growth and investment in Nebraska over surrounding states and also remove barriers to renewable energy development in our state,” said Sen. Jeremy Nordquist, who is sponsoring one of the bills.

Nordquist’s bill would create a Nebraska production tax credit for renewable electric generation facilities and would allow the credit to be transferable. Surrounding states, including Iowa and Oklahoma, already offer a credit against state income tax for each kilowatt hour of electricity that a renewable energy generation facility produces.

“Without a state production tax credit in place, surrounding states have a competitive advantage over Nebraska,” Nordquist said “This would put Nebraska on a level playing field by helping our state compete for projects designed to export electricity out of the state as well as benefiting Nebraska ratepayers by providing cheaper available electricity for in-state utilities.”

“A state production tax credit is essential to leveling the playing field and enabling our state to become a net exporter of energy instead of importer,” said Jon Crane, President of Bluestem Energy. Sen. Al Davis will introduce a bill to broaden the existing Nameplate Capacity Tax to include projects using solar, biomass or landfill gas as the fuel source. In 2010, the Legislature created the Nameplate Capacity Tax, which is a flat excise tax that replaces the heavily front-loaded personal property tax that early wind energy projects paid……….

Sen. Ken Haar will introduce a bill to simplify the existing process for the Nebraska Power Review Board to consider a renewable energy export facility. …………

Sen. Heath Mello will introduce a bill to simplify the Community-Based Energy Development, (CBED) process. …….

Sen. Ken Schilz will introduce a bill that would require the Nebraska Energy Office to prepare a comprehensive, forward-looking energy plan for Nebraska by the end of 2015 that would be
updated every two years………http://www.knopnews2.com/home/headlines/Senators-Introduce-Bills-to-Advance-Renewable-Energy-in-Nebraska-288829681.html

January 17, 2015 Posted by | politics, renewable, USA | Leave a comment

Fossil fuel energy growth to be beaten by renewables in 2015

Renewable Energy Growth To Outstrip Fossil Fuels Clean Technica January 16th, 2015 by  Renewable energy consumption is set to grow over the next few years, and according to a new report from the Economist Intelligence Unit, said growth will outstrip growth in the fossil fuel industry.

Despite this growth, non-fossil fuels are faced with political challenges that may hamper their ability to flourish.

Renewables are a growing commodity that, to the surprise of nobody, is taking up a lot of the attention of utilities and energy companies the world over. Add to that the declining reliance upon fossil fuels such as coal and oil — be it for environmental reasons, or for fear of investing in an energy strategy which may very well end up stranded — and renewable energy is a sure fire win.

graph-renew-2015

However, as the report’s authors write, “non-fossil fuels lack the overarching policy support they need to make faster progress globally.”

The report, which investigated six industries and their prospects for 2015, highlighted the massive part China is having on the global energy scene…….http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/16/renewable-energy-growth-outstrip-fossil-fuels/

January 17, 2015 Posted by | 2 WORLD, renewable | Leave a comment

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