Squirrels, marine monuments, coal ash, environmental fugitives etc.

brought to you by Sasha Paris  

College of the Atlantic, Bar Harbor, Maine.  

Human Ecology in Action.

Last month, there was a massive spill of coal-ash sludge stored at a Tennessee power plant. Now: some resulting actions from senators, environmental groups and the power company (Associated Press).
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jdTCPflHwi9d7hNp4vb7xJ8ciTZgD95J422O0

Another of that company's plants, in Alabama, experienced a smaller spill of gypsum sulfur-remover, or maybe coal ash. (Tennesseean)
http://tennessean.com/article/20090109/GREEN02/90109016

The world's largest "solar tower plant" is under construction in Spain (Guardian).
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/24/andalucia-spain-renewable-energy-technology

The EPA has a new website enlisting the public to help search for "environmental fugitives." [Sounds like something from a movie to me.] (EPA news release.)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/dc57b08b5acd42bc852573c90044a9c4/c159e578522342838525751b0054b25e!OpenDocument

New York Times
The global aviation industry continues to seek alternative fuels, including an experimental Continental flight on Wednesday using oil made from algae and jatropha (a plant) seeds. [Liquid coal is also on the table...shudder]
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/business/07jetfuel.html?_r=1

In Britain, a movement to save native red squirrels by building a cuisine around imported gray ones.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/07/dining/07squirrel.html?_r=1&ref=dining

Bush officially designated three huge "marine national monuments" in the tropical Pacific [earning praise, skepticism and anger from various quarters].
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/us/06oceans.html?_r=1&ref=science

A more specific account of the above from an affected area--the Mariana Islands--if you're interested (Saipan Tribune)
http://www.saipantribune.com/newsstory.aspx?newsID=86699&cat=1