3 Dangers of Artificial Turf

Originally written by me, Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, as guest blogger for Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, posted at http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/.

Artificial Turf on Radnor Township, PA
being used and pooped on by geese raising other health issues

Covering our community and school fields with plastic grass and rubber soil is a disturbing and concerning trend. It has become a status symbol for many communities, where they are all too willing to raid already tight education budgets and sacrifice good education for an artificial field.

While the science is far from settled, there is enough information to demonstrate that artificial turf may pose significant environment, health, safety and quality of life threats to our communities. So far, the studies have found that artificial turf is…

Leaching Toxins in Our Environment: Studies have concluded that artificial turf has the potential to pollute our environment with dangerous toxins like Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and lead. As a result, runoff from an artificial turf field that drains to a local creek can pose a risk of toxic effects. And kids playing on these fields are exposed to leaching and off-gassing chemicals known to have carcinogenic, reprotoxic, mutagenic and endocrine disrupting effects.

Increasing Sports Injury Severity: Researchers are studying the effects of artificial turf on increasing sports injuries, including increasing the frequency and severity of head injuries, increasing the potential for infection and skin burns

Creating Heat Islands: Artificial turf gets much hotter than grass. Studies have found temperatures on artificial turf exceeding temperatures on nearby natural grass in ranges of 39° F to 95° to even 140° F hotter. The result is artificial turf fields, where kids and adults are expected to play their best, at temperatures 117 to 157 degrees and even hotter.

Decisionmakers need to recognize that until the full impacts of artificial turf are studied, understood and known, they need to make the protective decision, the risk averse decision, the decision to keep natural grass in place.

While grass fields are not as environmentally beneficial as forests, wetlands, or meadows, they are many times better than plastic and rubber turf. Grass is a natural pollution filter and stormwater management system, preventing increased storm runoff and cleaning rain water as it flows to our creeks and streams -- artificial turf provides no such benefits.

Plus, with so much artificial nature and artificial play already in the lives of kids, providing living lawns, where a child can quietly pull blades of grass while talking to friends, that will cool their backs as they lay back to watch the clouds blow by, or cushion a fall during a sports game, is a small but significant quality we should protect in their lives.

Maya K. van Rossum is the Delaware Riverkeeper, and has led the Delaware Riverkeeper Network (DRN) since 1994. The DRN is a regional nonprofit advocacy organization that monitors the river and all of its tributaries for threats and challenges, and advocates, educates, and litigates for protection, restoration, and change.

Deepening Deception by Army Corps a Travesty - Act Now

Delaware Riverkeeper Maya van Rossum
delivers a voluminous set of comments
against deepening to the Army Corps

The Army Corps is playing a bait and switch.  They have been unable to get an approval from the State of Delaware for the controversial deepening project and so have now submitted application materials for "maintenance dredging" but, surprise surprise, their maintenance dredging application asks to take the River down to 46 feet, the exact maximum depth of the Deepening Project.

This is the worst kind of deception — a public agency funded with public dollars trying to hoodwink the public.

Please send your letter today.  http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/act-now/urgent-details.aspx?Id=119 

Tell Delaware to deny the applications from the Army Corps.

As a nation we stand for good government, for honest government — our federal agencies need to be held to the highest standard — and a bait and switch on the public doesn't do it.

The Importance of Trees

Originally written by me, Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, as guest blogger for Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, posted at http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/.

"Trees are dirty and they take my open space." Those were the complaints of a homeowner who forced a community and conservation organization to remove 400 of the 1,300 trees they had just planted.

How do you respond to a complaint that trees are dirty? Perhaps trees are dirty, perhaps they do take up space in the landscape, but what would our world be without them?

From the first breath we take on Earth, we benefit from the existence of trees: That first lungful of clean, life-instilling air is made possible by the existence of lots and lots of trees. 

As children we enjoy the adventure that trees bring—tree houses, tree-climbing, trees as imaginary castles or the home of a gnome taking us to magical places of play. And research has shown that exposure to trees and time in nature help diminish the harms of attention-deficit disorder in kids and adults alike.

As parents we appreciate sitting in the cool shade of a tree on a hot summer day while we read books to our kids or watch them play, all the while enjoying the protection from the sun and the musical rustle of the leaves.  

By soaking up water, trees prevent unnatural flooding that can destroy homes and put lives at risk; whether we are talking about catastrophic floods or water in your basement, trees can help prevent the harm. As one expert once told me, "Trees are the best water pumps we have." Trees in just four Philadelphia-area watersheds saved a combined $6.5 billion in otherwise-needed stormwater infrastructure. Tree roots along a bank prevent the erosion of land and protect bridges, roads, and other infrastructure from being undermined.

Trees sequester carbon from the air, helping to slow global warming. Trees filter pollution that would otherwise contaminate our drinking water, pollute our air, and pollute the waters we swim in and eat fish from.  Each tree we plant can provide oxygen for two people for the rest of their lives. By investing $1 to $1.5 billion in protecting the watershed that feeds New York City's drinking water source (the Upper Delaware River), the city avoided spending $10 billion for a water-filtration plant and has some of the best-tasting water in the country. Trees did that!

Need more numbers? Over a 50-year lifetime, a tree generates $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000 worth of air-pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250 worth of soil erosion.

The mere presence of trees can increase the market value of our homes by as much as 15 percent, even 38 percent in one documented case. Not only do homeowners benefit, but so do towns; according to one study, more than "$1.5 billion per year is generated in tax revenue for communities in the U.S. due to the value of privately owned trees on residential property."

Trees have value beyond measure. Every aspect of our lives is touched and enhanced by trees. 

Here are 5 things you can do to help the trees:

1. Plant a native tree, treat it with care, feed it fresh water and give it clean air, protect it from axes that hack and neighbors who gripe, and plant another tree the day after that. 
2. Read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss to your kids. The original book is much nicer and more meaningful than the recent adaptation found in the movies. Where Once There Was a Wood, by Denise Fleming, is another lovely book that helps children understand the value of nature and trees, and what we lose when trees are gone.
3. Read Last Child in the Woods, by Richard Louv, and learn how exposure to trees and nature enhances the learning capacity of children and helps address the challenges caused by attention-deficit disorder. 
4. Encourage your municipality and school district to plant native trees on public lands and school properties.
5. Urge your municipal officials to pass an ordinance that requires at least a 100-foot vegetated buffer, filled with trees to the greatest degree possible, between streams and new development to prevent unnatural flooding, flood damages, and pollution, and to enhance the habitats of the fish, birds, bugs, and wildlife that also grace our Earth and lives.

(1)  See “Last Child in the Woods” by Richard Louv

(2)  American Forests. 2003. “Urban Ecosystem Analysis Delaware Valley Region: Calculating the Value of Nature.” March 2003. 

(3)  USDA Forest Service Pamphlet #R-92-100

(4)  (McAliney, Mike.  Arguments for Land Conservation; Documentation and information Sources for Land Resources Protection, trust for Public Land, Sacramentao, CA, December 1993.

(5)  Center for Watershed Protection, Better Site Design: A Handbook for Changing Development Rules in Your Community, August, 1998 Citing two studies by Morales and Weyerhauser.

Delaware Takes Important Step to Protect From Flooding and Pollution

Over $53 million has been paid out to Delaware communities from the National Flood Insurance Program to help pay for damage caused by floods.  Our neighboring states have similarly received tens of millions, in many cases hundreds of millions, to help respond to the damages caused by floods. 

Unnatural flooding, water pollution and erosion that washes away parks and private properties are often the result of inappropriate development practices. 

Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is taking a proactive step to help protect our communities from these avoidable harms.  DNREC has proposed new Sediment and Stormwater Regulations that are designed to put in place modern day standards for protecting communities and waterways from the non-natural flooding, pollution and erosion caused by inappropriate development practices.  Unfortunately, Developers are coming out against these reasonable regulations that are designed to protect our communities from avoidable harms. 

The more than reasonable regulations DNREC is proposing will reduce the volume of runoff that is created by new development – it is the volume of runoff that is responsible for growing flood damages in our communities.  The regulations encourage use of development practices that protect vegetated landscapes and focus on soaking water back into the ground rather than letting it run off the land. The regulations ensure that the aquifers that provide us drinking water and feed the streams and wetlands which make Delaware such an enviable place to live are recharged through how development is managed.  The regulations will minimize unnecessary pollution that would otherwise be dumped into our waterways and environments.  And the regulations provide the level of detail and guidance developers, municipalities and citizens need to make sure we are doing all of this in a way that is most protective of our communities.  After all, it’s much cheaper to protect a community than to have to restore it once polluted, flooded, damaged or otherwise harmed – just ask the National Flood Insurance Program which is $18 billion in debt because of such payouts.

DNREC needs citizens to speak out in support of its scientifically based, modern day, and reasonable approach to ensuring new development and redevelopment projects contribute positively to our communities, and don’t do us harm.  The deadline for comments is April 1.  For more information on where to submit comments:  www.delawareriverkeeper.org

What Americans Get from Fracking

Originally written by me, Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, as guest blogger for Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, posted at http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/.

Americans get a lot out of the new technological process called hydrofracking (fracking) – but most of what we get, we absolutely don’t want. 

Fracking is the process used to blast natural gas from the ancient rocks that serve as the foundation of our surface lands.  Each “frack” of a gas well, used to explode the underground rock in order to release the bubbles of gas it contains, requires an average of 5 million gallons of water per well, all of which gets infused with a toxic slurry of some subset of over 500 chemicals.  As much as 80 percent of this water gets trapped underground were this chemical infused brew can slowly migrate through cracks and boreholes (natural and now manmade) including into aquifers that serve as drinking water for people.  What does return to the surface contains dangerous chemicals as well as a host of harmful substances it has pulled from the geology it has passed through, including radioactive materials. 

With as many as 32,000 to 64,000 wells over the Marcellus Shale formations that lie within the Delaware River watershed (that includes 8,784 square miles of Pennsylvania and New York) that is as much as 160 billion to 320 billion gallons of water that is lost for safe human consumption in just this one corner of the country.  The chemicals that are added to the fresh surface water comprise anywhere from .5 to 2 percent of the volume of that “frack” water, meaning 25,000 to 100,000 gallons of chemicals are introduced to the earth from just one shale gas drilling well – multiply that by 64,000 wells and you have a lot of dangerous chemicals. And that’s just the water pollution.

Each well requires 3 to 5 acres of land disturbance for each well pad, plus miles of roads and pipeline.  According to a new study, in just Pennsylvania, 60,000 to 150,000 acres of forest could be lost to the pipelines alone. Each drilling well also requires over 1,500 truck trips to service it – trucks burning dirty diesel fuel.  And now we learn, that all this new drilling is also inducing construction of new liquefied natural gas facilities (LNG facilities) intended to ship the gas to foreign countries for a higher price than can be had in the U.S.  In fact, according to a statement out of the U.S. Department of Energy, 10 percent of our daily consumption of natural gas has already been approved for shipment overseas with another 10 percent being decided upon within the next few months and likely to receive export approval.

Invasive drilling operations, pollution spills, laws that strip municipalities of their zoning authorities, and laws that force homeowners to allow drilling under their private lands are among the insults that U.S. residents are suffering in order to service the gas drilling industry.

Our children need the clean water, the fresh air, the healthy forests that we had as children – in fact, I think they deserve even better than we had as kids.  It is time for this country to make a genuine commitment to sustainable energy, sustainable development practices, and a healthy future for our kids.  Nature is a life sustaining gift passed down from generation to generation – let us be sure that our gift to future generations includes an energy path that will provide for all of their needs – the power they need to live a modern day life, but also the water, air and forests they need to live, grow and thrive.

What can you do?

The evidence against gas drilling grows every day.  The reason why legislators in Congress and a number of states are attempting to take action on this issue is because people are getting informed and speaking up.  So do all you can to stay connected to the issue and to take action whenever the opportunity arises.  A few key ways to speak up right now that will make a difference:

• At the Federal level, in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, The FRAC Act, which would remove the gas and oil industry’s exemption from the Safe Drinking Water Act, is under consideration. The US Congress will also be considering the BREATHE Act which would remove exemptions and ensure critical Clean Air Act provisions apply to gas drilling.  We need to tell our Congressmen and Senators we support these efforts to ensure our drinking water and air are protected from pollution by gas drilling.  Write your Congressman and Senators and urge them to sign on as co-sponsors of the FRAC and BREATHE acts.  

• In Pennsylvania, new legislation has passed that strips municipalities of their right to control drilling, through zoning, in their communities.   The power to prevent drilling sites within 300 feet of a school, for example, has been taken from community officials.  Write your Pennsylvania legislator and tell them you oppose any steps that prevent a community from protecting themselves from gas drilling.  

• The Delaware River basin continues to be frack free due to a moratorium in place that prohibits drilling unless and until the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) passes regulations that allow it.  This is setting important precedent for the country and ensuring the protection of the drinking water for over 15 million people, including those living in New York City and Philadelphia.  Help keep the pressure up and send your letter to the DRBC today urging them to keep the Delaware River and its watershed frac free.

• Consider adding your family to the photo album of folks who want to be protected from gas drilling that will be shared with the Governors of NY, NJ, PA and DE, as well as the Army Corps Colonel who represents the President at the Delaware River Basin Commission  -- there is nothing more powerful than a picture.  Add your picture at http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/act-now/urgent-details.aspx?Id=86

President Obama -- Don't Fund Deepening

Originally written by me, Maya van Rossum, the Delaware Riverkeeper, as guest blogger for Maria Rodale, CEO of Rodale, posted at http://www.mariasfarmcountrykitchen.com/

For over 20 years I and my organization, the Delaware Riverkeeper Network, have been challenging the Army Corps of Engineers’ proposal to deepen the Delaware River’s main channel by 5 feet for 102 miles from Philadelphia to the Ocean.  And in the next few days President Obama is going to decide whether or not to spend our tax dollars on this project by including it in his 2013 Presidential budget. But, deepening the Delaware River could devastate communities  that depend on this fragile ecosystem for jobs; it would destroy the habitat for countless populations of fish, shellfish, and migratory birds; and it will damage the wetlands that for years have provided safety from catastrophic storms. 

We, a non-profit organization, have found ourselves representing the citizens, fisherfolk, boaters, birders, and river communities and facing off against the mammoth agency that is the Army Corps of Engineers’ along with big corporations who favor the project.

For years the Delaware River deepening project has been kept alive with dribs and drabs of money by the congressional earmark process – with just a few Pennsylvania politicians keeping it on the taxpayer infusion line. Since last year’s ban on congressional earmarks should have cut off the corporate welfare fund for this project these very same politicians have lobbied for creation of a “slush” fund that can be used to fund congressional pet projects, like this one, and they are also trying to twist the arm of President Obama with direct lobbying and heavy handed messaging to force him to fund the project through his presidential budget.

Since President Obama has made jobs and community health a political priority, he should soundly reject the Delaware River deepening. Here are a few reasons why:

·      Deepening jeopardizes jobs. The jobs that depend upon a healthy and clean Delaware River would be threatened if the Army Corps has its way. Jobs in the oyster industry, for example, would be disrupted, and these jobs generate 80 million dollars of income and economic return every year. Income for every day Americans who use that hard-earned money to support their families and their communities.

·      Deepening damages the wetlands. Wetlands help protect communities from storm damage and deepening the Delaware will cause the River to erode away these amazing natural areas.

·      Deepening threatens wildlife. Horseshoe crabs from the Delaware River provide an essential national function: their blood (drawn non-lethally) contains a substance needed to test vaccines used across the country to make sure they are free of contamination.  Horseshoe crab spawning success is also critical for successful migration of many species of birds including 4 already on the path to extinction. The migratory bird and horseshoe crab phenomenon generates $34 million annually from ecotourism in the region.

·      Deepening destroys the health of the river. Dredging the bottom of the river and disposing of these contaminated “spoils” on land will cause the reintroduction of toxins and heavy metals long held captive in sediments on the river floor.

In these and other ways deepening the Delaware violates our obligation as good stewards of the earth, and threatens the health of our communities.  Congress’ independent investigative arm, the Government Accountability Office, has three times challenged claims that deepening will benefit business in the area and even the Army Corps has said it will not bring increased goods up the river. Army Corps documents confirm that the ports of the region can be equally served at the current 40-foot depth, and likely for less cost. Deepening, however, will cost taxpayers $277 million and according to a nationally recognized expert, will likely lose taxpayer money. 

For all of these reasons, President Obama should not provide any funding to deepen the Delaware River.  His decision on whether or not to do so is being made within the next few days as he prepares to release his proposed Presidential budget – it is critial he decide to keep the Delaware River deepening out of his proposed budget.  So please, take a moment to let the President know that deepening the Delaware is not how you want your tax dollars spent.

Sign our letter to the President today to say – No funding for the Delaware River Deepening – it hurts the environment, it hurts people, and it hurts jobs. http://www.delawareriverkeeper.org/act-now/urgent-details.aspx?Id=100 And share this with as many people as you can. Our voices, together, can make a difference.

 To learn more about the project go to www.delawareriverkeeper.org

The Dance of the Birds

I've been reading "Last Child in the Woods", a fabulous book about the healing, educational, nurturing, learning and soothing power of nature in the lives of children, families and really all people.  The level of scientific and real world documentation on the value of nature for helping people learn, grow and deal with health and learning disabilities (including ADHD) is phenomenal.

As much as I am out in nature for my work and in my personal life, enjoying this book is a powerful reminder that I need to be sure that I and my children are taking the time to learn from the earth, which of course reminds us why it is so powerful and important to protect it from harm.

The book is inspiring me to take extra effort to appreciate nature with my family.

It was on this past weekend while I was doing just that when i witnessed a spectacular bird display -- exceeding the beauty of any fireworks display in its moving majesty.  And I wanted to share -- so we can all be reminded that when we take the time to look, nature is always more than willing to inspire us to be better people with its beauty and power.

(Watch video below or click on "The Dance of the Birds" title to this blog post to see it on youtube and be able to make it full screen -- and be sure to watch as the show builds with more and more birds, so much that you can hear the swoosh of their wings.)