January 17, 2011
Apparently, at the Golden Globe awards, actors dined on “eco-friendly beef tenderloin.” What does that mean?
I suspect it means grass-fed and locally sourced in California. I’m completely fine with folks eating a little beef, especially if the animal is on a pasture and has only one bad day, but to say that it’s environmentally friendly to serve beef to hundreds of people is a bit much.
January 16, 2011
So says the title of this article in the Burlington Free Press.
January 15, 2011
First Scott Walker kills high-speed rail in Wisconsin, and now he tries to kill wind power. See article here. The byline:
“A proposal by Gov. Scott Walker, praised by some as a strong defense of property rights, would erect the biggest hurdle to wind farm development in the nation, industry leaders said Friday.”
January 14, 2011
On the good side, last night I finished the book Game Change, and started the book Lost Moon (which has literally been sitting on my shelf for literally 17 years since I met fellow Milwaukeean Jim Lovell and he signed a copy for me). After reading Game Change, two things stuck out: (1) Did John Edwards really think he could become President given her personal affairs?, and (2) Regardless of your views of Sarah Palin, she did energize the Republican base and really was not well-supported by McCain campaign due the very quick vetting process (if you can call it that).
Today was an absolutely crazy/busy day. With my partner at Yale, I walked the dogs, got the kids (who still have jetlag from the China trip) up and dressed, walked the older kid to school with younger kid in tow, took care of the younger kid all day, picked up older kid with younger kid in tow, dropped off car for partner downtown so she has it when bus gets in, took kids for snack, walked home (note: it’s cold in Vermont and sidewalks are still in poor condition from Wednesday’s snow), cooked dinner, gave kids bath, read stories and put kids to bed. During this day, I received too many emails to count, I’ve sent 59 emails so far, I had three work phone calls, and I’ve scheduled a dozen meetings for the next two weeks…it’s a good thing my younger daughter is very good at playing by herself when Daddy is on the phone.
In other news, here’s the NY Times article about the EPA actually using their Clean Water Act section 404 veto authority to stop a coal mining project. Additional commentary at Green Law. In my forthcoming book, in the chapter on sprawl, I write:
In terms of federal enforcement, EPA must more readily exert the veto authority granted to it under the Clean Water Act. Rather than acquiesce to what can become almost routine issuance of wetlands fill permits by the Corps, EPA could more actively review the effects of permit issuance for “unacceptable adverse effects.” EPA generally has been too reluctant to exert this authority.
Finally, in light of the ridiculously busy day, I refuse to do work tomorrow night. Go Pack.
January 14, 2011
Preliminary Schedule of VJEL 2011 Symposium:
China’s Environmental Governance: Global Challenges and Comparative Solutions
This year, the Vermont Journal of Environmental Law, in collaboration with U.S.-China Partnership, will be hosting our annual Symposium, entitled China’s Environmental Governance: Global Challenges and Comparative Solutions. The Symposium will take place on Wednesday, March 2, 2011. It will bring together scholars from China, the United States, and the local community, with panels on Comparative Solutions to Climate Change, Enforcement Remedies to Environmental Issues, and Adjudicative Remedies to Environmental Issues. John C. Nagle of the University of Notre Dame will be the keynote speaker.
9:00 AM — Breakfast
9:30 AM — Welcoming Remarks by Professor Siu Tip Lam (Vermont Law School)
9:45 AM — Panel One: Comparative Solutions to Climate Change
Including: Adam Moser (Vermont Law School), WANG Mingyuan (Tsinghua University), Jennifer Turner (Woodrow Wilson Center), LI Yanfang (Renmin University)
11:10 AM — Coffee Break
11:20 AM — Panel Two: Enforcement Remedies to Environmental Issues
Including: WANG Canfa (China University of Political Science and Law), Jingling Liu (Vermont Law School), Patricia McCubbin (Southern Illinois University School of Law)
12:45 PM — Lunch
2:10 PM — Panel Three: Adjudicative Remedies to Environmental Issues
Including: Robert Percival (University of Maryland), Honorable Merideth Wright (Vermont Environmental Court), LI Zhiping (Sun Yat-Sen University Law School), ZHANG Jingjing (Public Interest Law Institute)
4:00 PM — Keynote Address by Professor John Copeland Nagle (University of Notre Dame)
January 13, 2011
I just love it when the EPA actually decides to uses its veto power under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Holly Doremus at Legal Planet has commentary here.
January 13, 2011
January 13, 2011
A friend sent back this photo from China. He says that see saw this van parked out front of his building, with (among other services) “home appliance recycling” offered on back window. (It is reported that one of goals of national program is to eventually force such informal recycling activities, which can have severe environmental impacts, into the formal (regulated) sector).
Can any readers provide a full translation?
January 12, 2011
January 11, 2011
The APA (American Planning Association) Divisions Council and the Environment and Natural Resources Division of APA are offering two $500 scholarships for student research papers. To participate in the writing contest prepare a paper of 2,300 – 2,500 words on some aspect of Food Systems Planning.
Send papers to: Terry Holzheimer, FAICP at tholzheimer by COB February 11, 2011. Papers should be in a Word or PDF format.
Awards for the for best student papers on Food Systems Planning will be announced on or about March 1st so students will have an opportunity to arrange to attend the APA Annual Conference and a special dinner on April 10, 2011. The Divisions Council will publish the winning papers on the APA website under Divisions Initiatives.
JASON J. CZARNEZKI 