How agencies charged with protecting our wildlife continue to betray our trust

By Jim Wiegand

June 13, 2016 (San Diego) - It is difficult to read that word “harvest” without thinking of harvesting crops, grown for the purpose of feeding humanity. In this case, however, we are talking about one of our most iconic species, one of our most magnificent raptors – and the “harvesting” is to be done by “grim reaper” machines: wind turbines.

East County News Service

June 12, 2016 (Casa de Oro) – Nearly 100 Casa de Oro residents and businesses joined forces yesterday to clean up the Campo Road business corridor and strengthen community engagement in a neighborhood that is turning things around for a better future.  Following the work they celebrated the first-of-its-kind event with a barbecue and raffle, while also thanking the many business sponsors who made the event possible.

By Jim Wiegand

“…FWS (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) announced a plan on 5/6/2016 that would allow wind energy companies to legally kill or injure up to 4200 bald eagles  annually without penalty.  If they can get away with this, the industry would also pocket untold billions while doing it.” —Jim Wiegand 

To comment on this proposed rule change visit : https://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=FWS-R9-MB-2011-0094-1052  and hit comment



June 9, 2016 (San Diego) -- Since 2008, I have been sharing my knowledge of wind industry impacts with the public. Even though I had been studying raptors and wildlife for decades before, that was the year I first became aware of the industry's bogus research and the terrible fate coming to our eagles. Since then, I have written many articles pointing out how the wind industry has been using fake research to hide the slaughter to eagles and other species. I have also made my opinions very clear about the ongoing collusion that has existed for decades between the wind industry and Interior Department.

East County News Service

June 3, 2016  (Sacramento) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has completed reviewing petitions to list nine species in California and Nevada under the Endangered Species Act and a petition to delist one species.  The Service determined the petitions to list the California spotted owl, Inyo Mountains salamander, Kern Plateau salamander, lesser slender salamander, limestone salamander, Panamint alligator lizard, Shasta salamander, southern rubber boa, and tricolored blackbird contained substantial information and warrant more in-depth review of these species’ conservation status.  The petition to delist the Stephens’ kangaroo rat, an endangered species, did not provide substantial information to indicate delisting is warranted.

By Miriam Raftery

June 1, 2016 (San Diego) -- Smoking or vaping at state beaches and parks, or disposing of tobacco products at these locations, may soon be illegal under Senate Bill 1333, a measure authored by Senator Marty Block, a San Diego Democrat.  The measure passed the State Senate by a 25 to 11 bipartisan vote this week and next heads to the Assembly.

By Miriam Raftery

May 26, 2016 (San Diego) – Today after clinching the number of delegates needed for the Republican nomination, billionaire Donald Trump gave a speech at a petroleum industry conference in North Dakota.  There he told oil executives he would eliminate regulations on the fossil fuel industry and also weaken clean water protections, the Bismark Tribune reports.

“We’re going to cancel the Paris Climate agreement,” he said of the United Nations Accord signed by over 195 nations.

Promising “complete American energy independence” he vowed to roll back Obama administration limits on coal power plant emissions, global climate accord reached in Paris, approve the Keystone XL pipeline and rescind protection of waterways from industrial pollution. He has also called for an increase in fracking and has said he believes climate change is a hoax, despite 97% of climate scientists worldwide agreeing that climate change is real and caused by the burning of fossil fuels.

East County News Service

May 23, 2016 (La  Mesa) –Climate change has impacts on everything from water to transportation issues.   La Mesa Conversations invites you to a discussion on The Future of Climate Change in La Mesa.  The discussion will be moderated by San Diego Union-Tribune environmental reporter Joshua Emerson Smith.

Panelists will include Amber Albrecht, senior communications manager for SDG&E, Kerry Davis, vice president of sales and marketing for Terra Steward/Foshay Solar Energy, and Kayla Race, director of operations and programs for Climate Action Plan.

Image: Aerial over Shell Spill Monday, May 16, 2016. Miles of sheen before even a single skimmer boat is seen. Photo courtesy Dr. Ian MacDonald / Bonny Schumaker

East County News Service

May 21, 2016 (San Diego) -- Mark Manning, director of The Road to Fallujah, has been covering the BP Oil Spill for six years. Being immersed in the communities suffering severe health circumstances following that spill and the risky ‘clean-up’ operations using chemical dispersants prompted him to act on the current response to the Shell spill off the Louisiana coast last Thursday.

East County News Service

May 19, 2016 (San Diego) -- Sagan Industries LLC, a San Diego manufacturer and distributor of consumer water filtration products, has launched its newest product, the Sagan AquaBrick™ Water Filtration System, the company announced.

“The AquaBrick is perfect for outdoor and recreational adventures, emergency preparedness and humanitarian aid,” “said Rick Muir, CEO, Sagan Industries. “We feel honored and privileged to play a part in maintaining the health of people everywhere.”

By Norma-Jeanne Hennis

May 9, 2016 (Los Angeles) - On Saturday, May 14th, many San Diegans will head to Los Angeles along with thousands of other Californians to participate in a mass rally in downtown L.A. to Break Free from Fossil Fuels.

From the Editors of E - The Environmental Magazine

Photo: Tesla's sporty new all-electric Model 3 can go 215 miles per charge and will cost consumers less than $30k after federal tax rebates when it rolls off California production lines in 2017.

May 7, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – Dear EarthTalk: I’m finally ready to make the switch from my old gas guzzler to an electric or plug-in hybrid car. What are the best bang-for-my-buck deals on these newfangled vehicles?

-- Mickey LaMonte, Boston, MA

By Miriam Raftery

May 6, 2016 (San Diego) – California Attorney General Kamala Harris, who is running for the U.S. Senate, let the statute of limitations run out without filing charges over secret meetings in Poland between a Southern California Edison executive and then-president of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)  Michael Peevey.   The secret meeting appeared to be illegal and instrumental in formation of a deal that forced ratepayers to foot the bill for billions of dollars related to the San Onofre nuclear power plant settlement.

“What Kamala Harris is doing is like a copy who witnessed a bank heist and did nothing,” Charles Langley, public advocate at Public Watchdogs, told East County Magazine.

But Michael Shanes, San Diego Consumer Action Network, defended Harris' actions. In an e-mail to ECM, he wrote, "...there was no criminal activity and Harris did the obvious by declining to press charges."

By Molly Kirkland

May 3, 2016 (San Diego) -- Not long ago, I spoke with a renter who told me about some trouble he was having with a smoke detector in his San Diego apartment.

By Miriam Raftery

May 2, 2016 (San Diego) – The San Diego Association of Governments  (SANDAG) board voted last week to send a ballot measure that would fund transit, freeway and infrastructure improvements to voters in November.  Next up, Supervisors must decide whether to let voters have the final say.  If approved the $18.2 million plan would raise county sales tax a half cent to fund freeway projects, road repairs, public transit, open space management and complying with state water quality mandates.

East County News Service

Photo by Miriam Raftery:  Bison in Yellowstone National Park

April 27, 2016 (San Diego's East County) - It’s rare for Congress to agree on anything these days. But this week, in a rare show of bipartisanship, Congress voted to officially designated the bison as America’s official national mammal.