Harmless levels of radiation detected in Bay Area

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/18/2011

UC Berkeley scientists detected very low, harmless levels of radiation in the Bay Area, they said during a press conference on Thursday. At the same time California heath officials said no level of radiation had been detected. They also criticized the United Nation’s prediction that negligible amounts of radiation from Japan would arrive in the Bay Area on Friday. [Read more - San Jose Mercury News]

Funding cuts to state parks approved

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/18/2011

The California Legislature approved significant budget cuts on Thursday that further reduced funding to state parks and will lead to more closures. The approval addresses $14 billion of the state’s $26.6 billion funding gap. Next week lawmakers will continue to debate the most contentious budget issues, including the elimination of redevelopment agencies [Read more - San Francisco Chronicle]

Finding room for 2 million more and cutting Bay Area greenhouse gases

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/18/2011

As the Bay Area population swells from 7 to 9 million people over the coming 25 years, planners must find ways to reduce the region’s carbon footprint and dependence on automobiles in order to meet state greenhouse gas reduction mandates. A report just released by the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Association of Bay Area Governments lays out a transit-centered vision for meeting the requirements. Public workshops to discuss the plan begin in April. [Read more - Oakland Tribune]

UN forecasts radiation from Japan to reach West Coast

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/18/2011

The United Nations predicted that radiation from Japan’s nuclear crisis would reach the West Coast on Friday afternoon, based on weather patterns. It stressed that the amount would be very low, and the New York Times reported that “at worst, [it] would have extremely minor health consequences in the United States.” The calculations were made Tuesday and weather patterns have continued to change since then. [Read more - New York Times]

Nitrate water contamination persists as state drags its feet

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/18/2011

For the past 15 years nitrates from fertilizers have polluted the drinking water of two million Californians, but most of the funds approved by voters in 2006 have still not been allocated to solve the problem, according to a report by the Pacific Institute. Nitrate-polluted water can harm babies. Industrial-sized dairies are the primary culprit and only eight of the 75 most risky dairies have gone so far as to install monitors. [Read more - California Watch]

EPA to add more West Coast radiation monitors

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/17/2011

The Environmental Protection Agency is adding more radiation monitors to its RadNet system along the West Coast following concern over Japan’s nuclear crisis, although officials will not reveal how many monitors or their location. The 124 monitors currently in the RadNet system track in real time the radiation levels in the air, drinking water, and milk. Anyone can obtain RadNet data by registering with the EPA’s Central Data Exchange. [Read more - CBS San Francisco, Way Out West]

State GOP lawmakers will support budget proposal if environmental laws overhauled

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/17/2011

Five Republican lawmakers are attempting to strong arm Governor Jerry Brown into overhauling California’s Environmental Quality Act in exchange for their votes to pass his proposed budget. The senators’ proposal would significantly change the environmental review process for urban development and the ability to challenge the reports, as well as exempt telecommunications companies from various environmental building ruls. The final proposal has not been made public, but the LA Times obtained a copy of a draft proposal. [Read more - Los Angeles Times]

PG&E could face fines of $1 million daily

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/17/2011

Furious with PG&E’s lack luster response to provide safety records for gas pipelines throughout the state, the California Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday threatened the utility with fines of up to $1 million a day until the documents are provided. CPUC executive director Paul Clanon called PG&E’s behavior “willful noncompliance” of a direct order and “inexcusable” behavior. [Read more - San Jose Mercury News, San Francisco Chronicle]

San Francisco makes Lonely Planet readers’ list of 10 best walking cities worldwide

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/17/2011

The travel book publisher Lonely Planet surveyed its readers for their 10 favorite cities in the world in which to take a stroll and our fair, foggy home made the list. Grist offers a slide show of the ten winners. [View more - Grist]

If a massive tsunami hit, a look at how the Bay Area would fare

By Victoria Schlesinger

03/17/2011

In a hypothetical worst-case scenario, in which a 9.0 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami, the Bay Area could see waves between 8 and 30 feet high, depending on the location, say scientists. The Bay Citizen has produced simulated animations of how much water various areas along the California coasts would have to face should a tsunami strike. [Read more - The Bay Citizen]