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Spring/Summer 2002 Newsletter
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News & Notes
Mercury Pollution Cited
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports in a national study of
mercury contamination that Georgia has more fish consumption advisories than
all but a few other states, and most of these are caused by mercury. Citing
the EPA work, a recent article from the American Chemical Society states:
"To determine the true scope of contamination, environmental chemists must
analyze the entire ecosystem for trace mercury. It's particularly important
to accurately analyze fish tissue, because consuming fish is the major
source of human exposure to [the more toxic forms of mercury]." Physicians
for Social Responsibility estimates that over 400,000 birth defects and
cases of mental retardation are caused by mercury exposure every year in the
United States. Note that this is an especially significant problem in
coastal Georgia due to the chemistry of our rivers, which converts mercury
to its more toxic form, methyl mercury. The single largest source of mercury
is fossil-fuel burning power plants (coal and oil). There are three plants
in Georgia that are in violation of Clean Air Act standards and numerous
others in the Southeast. [See: http://fish.rti.org/formCountsRpt_map.htm and
the Center's website, www.sustainablecoast.org ]
Docks Killing Salt Marsh Grasses
A South Carolina study reports that docks in the Lowcountry are killing salt
marsh grasses that are essential for crabs, fish, and other small marine
life. A Study by the SC Department of Natural Resources said that the surge
in dock construction over the past ten years has exterminated about 150
acres of salt marsh habitat. They found that, although the percentage lost
is small compared to total tidal marsh in the state, without proper
controls, loss in some areas, like tidal creeks, could be critical
ecologically. The same study predicts that the number of docks in the state
will double in the current decade, bringing the total to around 14,000.
[Note: Since Georgia has similar rapid growth in dock building, we can
expect equally troublesome consequences here.]
Assistance for Local Water Monitoring
The Global Rivers Environmental Education Network website offers help with
monitoring and data analysis for groups doing water sampling and assessment.
There is no fee for using the services, and trained staff is available to
assist in using the site. For further information, log on at
http://www.green.org
National Watershed Report Released
Recommendations are available from EPA based on a forum held last year that
addressed diverse issues related to protecting and restoring U.S. rivers and
streams. Topics covered include data management, source water protection,
using TMDLs (Total Maximum Daily Load criteria), protecting endangered
species and their habitats, land planning for water protection, funding
watershed projects, and education. The report is available online at
www.epa.gov/owow/forum.
Non-Point Pollution Program Launched
The Brunswick office of the Marine Extension Service (UGA) has started an
education program intended to reduce non-point source water pollution caused
by land development. Urban planner Lee Sutton was hired to help officials
and developers make better decisions about site selection and design.
Through this training and assistance, development will be made more
environmentally responsible while still meeting the diverse needs of our
growing region. For more information about the Non-point Education for
Local Officials call Lee at 912-264-7306.
New Growth Drains Public Funds
A recently completed study of six Georgia counties found that residential
development cost an average of $2.23 in local services and facilities for
every dollar of taxes produced by the same land uses. In such cases, this
means that the existing tax base is unfairly subsidizing new growth. There
are several ways to remedy this problem, including adoption or increase of
impact fees, creation of special service districts, or other appropriate
forms of targeted assessment. The report is available at
http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/cfb/ or directly from the Center in
limited quantities. We urge all communities to carefully evaluate how much
is being spent to support new development compared with the tax revenues
being generated by it. Cost analysis should include roads, sewer and water
lines, schools, public drainage (projects and operation/maintenance). The
Center will be glad to assist in organizing such an evaluation. In the past
nationwide research has led to similar findings, but this is the first study
of its kind in Georgia.
Extinction Always Risky
Recent research at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UC, San Diego)
found that extinction of any species, no matter how seemingly negligible,
could cause serious damage to related ecosystems. Due to the sheer
complexity of natural systems, it is not evident how removal of any one
species will affect those that remain. Although the new study centers on
the marine environment, researchers believe the findings also apply to
terrestrial and aquatic ecology.
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