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Editor's
Notes:
Happy Valentines Day from F. X.
Browne, Inc.!
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Winter Hibernation
It’s no coincidence
that I’ve mentioned the word hibernation more than a few times over the
past few months. Though I appreciate winter and know its worth in our
ecosystem, I’m not a big fan of the cold. I’m not the only one. There
are many species in our ecosystem that hibernate throughout the winter
months.
A true hibernator,
like a chipmunk, can reduce its body temperature to near freezing and
reduce its heart rate from 350 beats to 4 beats per minute within
hours. A bear is not a true hibernator, though their hear beat is
reduced to 50 beats per minute during its winter dormancy. After
several months, it may drop to 8 beats per minute. A bear’s body
temperature does not reduce during these periods, allowing them to wake
quickly. A pregnant bear will wake mid-winter to give birth. They then
go back to sleep while their cubs nurse. Rodents that are true
hibernators wake every few weeks to eat and pass wastes. The largest,
the Woodchuck or Groundhog, can spend more than half its life sleeping.
Source:
http://enature.com/articles/detail.asp?storyID=409
Animals have some
amazing tools to survive the winter months. Penguins save energy
and heat by using special nasal passages when they exhale to reclaim the
warm air. Honey bees, bats and ladybugs will all cluster together
with their own species to keep warm. Macaques monkeys (from Japan)
take baths in volcanic springs to keep warm (I’m so jealous!).
Some plants utilize snow to trap heat and insulate from winter winds.
Some fish use a natural anti-freeze in low temperatures.
Source:
http://blogs.nwf.org/arctic_promise/2008/02/animals--the-ma.html?20100118_WLO_January_Edition
~ Lisen Cummings, Sustainable Environments Editor/Designer
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News Clips:
Discovery of Algae's Toxic Hunting Habits
Could Help Curb Fish Kills
Recently there have been massive fish kills caused by an algae (Karlodinium
veneficum) found in the Chesapeake Bay and waterways around the world.
More...
Philadelphia’s ‘Sustainable Skylines’
Initiative Begins
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) program ‘Sustainable Skylines’ is
focused on improving air quality and promoting sustainability.
More...
Unused Pharmaceuticals: a Waste Management
Time Bomb
The
disposal of unused prescription medications has become a waste management
issue for water systems, sewer systems, and landfills. More...
Managing Runoff One Sprout at a Time
The
Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) opened the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant
Conservation Science Center in September 2009. It includes a 16,000 square
foot green roof garden.
More...
Ten Steps for a Recycling Campaign
This
article presents 10 steps for developing or invigorating a recycling public
education campaign.
More...
Phragmites Partners With Microbes to Plot
Native Plants' Demise
Phragmites
australis is an invasive species from Eurasia that has had dire effects on
its cousin native to North America.
More...
Valentine’s Day Mating Call Ringtones
Have some fun this year with your Valentine’s Day ringtone. Free
wildlife ringtones by eNature show your love of wildlife and sense
of adventure. You can listen to examples, learn about
courting/mating behavior and send your favorite ringtone to your
cell phone.
http://wild.enature.com/ringtones/
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Policy
Updates:
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Preliminary 2010 Effluent Guidelines Program Plan
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) published this plan in the Federal Register on December 29, 2009.
It does not contain regulatory requirements, but outlines the process
that the EPA will use to revise or establish new effluent guidelines
(technology-based water pollution control regulations). Comments will
be accepted for 60 days. For more information, visit
www.epa.gov/guide/304m/.
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Potential Rule to Strengthen Stormwater
Regulations
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is discussing a potential rule to
strengthen stormwater regulations and to create a program to reduce
stormwater caused by new development and redevelopment. The EPA will
accept written comments until February 26, 2010. Subjects of the rule
include the following goals: expand the area subject to federal
stormwater regulations; establish specific requirements to control
stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment; develop a
single set of consistent stormwater requirements for all municipal
separate storm sewer systems; require those sewer systems to address
stormwater discharges in areas of existing development through
retrofitting the sewer system or drainage area with improved stormwater
control measures; and explore specific stormwater provisions to protect
sensitive areas.
For more information, visit
http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking
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EPA Seeks Public Input on Interim
Guidance for Dioxins in Soil Cleanup Goals
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on draft
interim preliminary remediation goals (PRGs) for cleanup of dioxins in
soil. Dioxins are contaminants that may cause negative health effects.
EPA’s recommended levels for dioxins are proposed to be decreased from
1,000 part per trillion (ppt) to 72 ppt for residential soils and from
5,000-20,000 ppt to 950 ppt for commercial/industrial land. Another
change includes discussion of the potential of skin exposure to
dioxins. Public comment will be accepted for 50 days from publication
in the Federal Register, on January 7, 2010. The final interim PRGs are
expected in June 2010. For more information, visit
http://www.epa.gov/superfund/policy/remedy/sfremedy/remedies/dioxinsoil.html
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EPA's Effluent Guidelines: The Final Rule
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the final “Effluent
Guidelines for Discharges from the Construction and Development
Industry”. The guidelines will limit effluent discharges from a
construction site, such as stormwater runoff. For sites of 10 acres or
more, nephelometric turbidity units (NTU) have been limited to a daily
average of 280. It will not apply to days with a storm larger than the
two-year, 24-hour storm.
By Janice Kaspersen, Erosion Control Magazine, January-February 2010
http://www.erosioncontrol.com/january-february-2010/epa-effluent-guidelines.aspx
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“Eyes on Drilling” Tipline
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency is providing the “Eyes on Drilling”
tipline for the general public to report non-emergency suspicious
activity related to oil and natural gas development. You can call
1-877-919-4EPA (toll free) or e-mail
eyesondrilling@epa.gov if you observe suspicious activity and/or
see illegal disposal of wastes. For emergencies or hazardous
spills, call the National Response Center at
1-800-424-8802.
Report the location, time
and date of the activity, materials, equipment and vehicles involved
and any observable environmental impacts. If possible, also take
photographs.
http://www.epa.gov/region03/marcellus_shale/tipline.html
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Working Woodlands Model Forest
Conservation Program
Working
Woodlands provides assistance to those who enter into a long-term
non-development agreement. Assistance includes a full forest and
carbon inventory, a 10-year forest management plan, enrollment in
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, 100% of all FSC
certified timber and wood biomass revenues, and more. For criteria,
visit
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/pennsylvania/forests/
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Link of the Month:
“Ask a Soil Scientist”
Provided
by the Soil Science Society of America, this program is for students and
teachers of all ages. You can find answers to questions about soils, soil
science, and careers in soil science. Questions are submitted to a Soil
Science Society of America member in your region. You can also request for
a soil scientist to visit your classroom. It may take 24-48 hours for a
response.
www.soils.org/lessons/ask
BMP of the Month:
Infiltration Basin
An
infiltration basin is an impoundment area that stores and
infiltrates stormwater runoff through permeable soils.
Typically flat and shallow, infiltration basins allow water to
percolate through the soils, often to the groundwater table.
Infiltration basins reduce stormwater runoff volume and peak rate
control and increase water quality and groundwater recharge.
To view the Pennsylvania Stormwater Best Management Practices
Manual, visit
http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/View/Collection-8305
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Rosa palustris, a native
wildflower that thrives in wet areas.
Photo credit (above): mullica on
Flickr.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mullica/3652279638/ |
Tools and
Publications:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Status Report
for the National Wetlands Inventory Program 2009
This report
provides an overview of the National Wetlands Inventory program, whose focus has
been on wetland mapping and producing geospacial wetland data within the United
States. To view the report, visit
http://www.fws.gov/wetlands/_documents/gOther/StatusReportNWIProgram2009.pdf
Flood Pulsing in Wetlands: Restoring the Natural
Hydrological Balance
This book,
written by Beth A. Middleton, discusses flood pulsing and its important role in
seed dispersal and successful long term restoration management. Flood pulsing
is a natural occurrence in ecosystems of rivers, streams, and cypress swamps. To
download this e-book, go to:
http://ebooks4science.blogspot.com/2010/01/flood-pulsing-in-wetlands-restoring.html
New Ecosystem-based
Management (EBM) Roadmap Website
This website
provides practical support for ecosystem-based management. It provides
readings, case studies, methods, tools and data on EBM. For more information,
visit
http://www.ebmtools.org/roadmap.html.
USDA Forest Service – Information and Tools for
Land Managers
The Climate
Change Resource Center (CCRC) is a reference website for resource managers and
decision makers addressing climate change in planning and implementing
projects. The site provides information, basic climate modules, maps,
simulations, case studies, and toolkits. It is a joint project of the Forest
Service Research Stations and the Environmental Threat Assessment Centers.
http://www.fs.fed.us/ccrc/
Taking a National Approach to Finding Local Low
Impact Development Projects
This new web
atlas provides examples of innovative low impact development (LID) projects such
as vegetated swales, green roofs, rain barrels and more. The LID Atlas was
launched by the National NEMO Network. You can search for a project name,
specific LID practice, by state, or by land-use type.
http://clear.uconn.edu/tools/lidmap/
Small Drinking Water
System Case Studies on System Partnerships for Achieving Sustainability
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
is providing “Gaining Operational and Managerial Efficiencies Through Water
System Partnerships”, a collection of case studies that show how small drinking
water systems have improved their technical and financial status by partnering
with other water systems. There are many potential benefits of partnerships.
To view the document, visit
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/smallsystems/financialhelp.html.
You can also order hard copies by contacting the National Service Center for
Environmental Publications (NSCEP) at 1-800-490-9198 or
nscep@bps-lmit.com.
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Newsletter Editor/Design and Layout:
Lisen Cummings
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F. X.
Browne, Inc. – Environmental Consulting
Engineers – Planners – Scientists
31 Years of Excellence & Innovation
Corporate
Office: Lansdale, PA
Pocono Office: Marshalls Creek, PA
New York Office: Saranac Lake, NY
For more information, call us at (215) 362-3878 or visit:
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