Today's Connecticut Environmental Headlines Update

STATE

New recycling trucks bear anti-litter message - The Advocate: "STAMFORD - Graphics added to the city's new fleet of eight recycling trucks yesterday are part of a campaign to advertise to teenagers that littering has consequences."

StamfordPlus.com News - Governor Rell to lead nation’s governors in signing of Declaration on Climate Change: "Governor M. Jodi Rell will welcome governors from across the country on Friday to a conference on global warming and to sign a Declaration on Climate Change. The historic conference and signing will take place at Yale University in New Haven on Friday, April 18."

Corporate Fight Lets Toxics Flow to Long Island Sound | Environmental News Service: "HARTFORD, Connecticut, April 17, 2008 (ENS) - Connecticut officials are seeking an order against two disputing companies whose inaction and ongoing argument they allege is allowing PCB contamination to jeopardize Bridgeport Harbor and Long Island Sound. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Gina McCarthy said Monday that the state has requested a temporary injunction against The Sergy Company LLC and Magnetek, Inc."

Fairfield Minuteman - Exide cleanup questioned: "Recent correspondence among Fairfield Conservation Department Director Thomas Steinke, the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection and Exide Group, Inc. regarding the cleanup of the Mill River, has drawn some ire, causing First Selectman Ken Flatto to intercede with a letter to the DEP."

Schwarzenegger Host Has Big Ideas About Climate -- Courant.com: "Arnold Schwarzenegger brings his California-can-do aura to Yale this week for a conference on climate change, but one of his hosts, Dean James Gustave Speth, is the man with the big ideas."

New Haven Independent: "I Say, 'Tear It Down'": "John Norquist tore down a “connector” in Milwaukee more than twice as long as New Haven’s lamentable Mayor Richard Lee Highway — and a viable and prosperous streetscape arose in its place. He came to New Haven to tell us how to do it ... Calling the Route 34 connector, the “Disconnector,” Norquist also provided some concrete advice: “First, don’t contemplate the project to death. It’s not going to be extended, it doesn’t justify itself by carrying much traffic. So get on with it, build the pressure, and get it done, so it can be an example to other cities, especially Hartford."

Recycle For The Earth -- Courant.com: "Another Earth Day approaches. Think of it as a nudge to do something about that broken computer looming on a shelf in the back hall."

Pictorial Gazette - State Rep Giuliano supports fuel cell bill: "Giuliano represents the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook and coastal Westbrook in the General Assembly. House Bill 5681 has three objectives: produce 40 new transit buses that are powered by fuel cells; power Bradley International Airport by using fuel cells, making Bradley the first 'green' international airport in the world; and establishing up to three hydrogen-refueling hubs in the state."

NorwalkPlus.com News - Department of Public Health recognizes public health laboratory professionals: "Hartford – The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) is recognizing the important contributions of Public Health Laboratory professionals during National Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, April 20-26, 2008."

TAX

Tim O'Brien: Why property tax reform is needed.: "The property tax system is unfair. It is an unreasonable and inadequate way of funding local services and it does harm to cities like New Britain. But the problems that arise from the property tax system in our state are not just limited to New Britain and are even not just limited to central cities. Our over-reliance on property taxes causes problems for towns like Newington and, in fact, the whole state."

Town Times - Kane vows to fight state tax increase: "HARTFORD - Senator Rob Kane (R-32) on Wednesday, April 9 joined other Senate Republican legislators in promising to fight the Democrats' proposed tax increases during upcoming state budget negotiations."

The Orange Bulletin - Turning Connecticut's economy around: "With the entire nation on the verge of an economic downturn, Connecticut's unfriendly business environment has become a greater liability than ever. The policies that the Democratic majority has put in place over the years have had a gradual, increasing negative impact on the state economy, and when financial times are less than good, the evidence of it is clear."

FAA

Fed no-show at Greenwich meeting fuels fight against FAA | Greenwich Post: "The Federal Aviation Administration’s lack of presence at Monday night’s community forum at Town Hall fueled an already blazing fire under lawmakers representing the region, who vowed to stand together and continue their fight against the agency’s proposed airspace redesign, which shifts airplane traffic over Fairfield County."

Rally Lays Out Fight Against FAA Rerouting Plan - Westport News: "GREENWICH Residents and elected officials gathered in Greenwich Town Hall Monday night to challenge the Federal Avia­tion Administration's (FAA) right to reroute and increase air travel."

EVENTS

TheDay.com - Region Has Plan To Focus Rep. Oberstar's Attention: "When one of the country's most powerful transportation official comes to New London on Friday, fresh off of wrangling with the Federal Aviation Administration and fighting airline mega-mergers, how will the region turn, and keep, his attention to this small corner of a small state?"

NorwalkPlus.com News - Northeast Community Church invites community to clean up Calf Pasture Beach: "Northeast Community Church , the newest of churches in Norwalk, CT, invites community volunteers to join in its 1010Project Earth Day Beach Cleanup. Church members and community volunteers will team up to clean up Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 19."

Treatment Plant Open House -- Courant.com: "SIMSBURY - The Simsbury Water Pollution Control Facility is inviting the public to an open house May 10 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. The facility recently completed a $26 million renovation. Tours of the facility and a fact sheet explaining the details of the water pollution control process, its importance to the town and the environment will be provided."

NATIONAL

Bush Sets Greenhouse Gas Emissions Goal - New York Times: "WASHINGTON — President Bush called Wednesday for the United States to stop the growth of greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and challenged other countries, including major polluters like China and India, to abandon trade barriers on energy-related technology and commit to goals of their own."

Bush, in Reversal, Won't Seek Cut in Emissions of Carbon Dioxide: "WASHINGTON, March 13 — Under strong pressure from conservative Republicans and industry groups, President Bush reversed a campaign pledge today and said his administration would not seek to regulate power plants' emissions of carbon dioxide, a gas that many scientists say is a key contributor to global warming."