Beluga whales | Summit County Citizens Voice

IHT Rendezvous: And the Weatherman Says There’s More to Come June 19, 2013

Europe has been enduring another year of unseasonable weather, and climate scientists warn that the pattern of cold winters and wet summers could last for years. Is it a natural phenomenon or does man-made climate change play a part?

High Level of Radioactive Strontium Found in Groundwater Near Fukushima Plant June 19, 2013

Tokyo Electric Power said it had found strontium-90 at 30 times Japan’s safety limit in groundwater, raising concerns that the plant’s storage tanks are leaking contaminated water.

Jerusalem Journal: A-List Celebration Traces Leader’s Trajectory, and Israel’s June 19, 2013

Dignitaries and celebrities gathered on Tuesday to fete President Shimon Peres of Israel, already the world’s oldest leader, who turns 90 in August.

Afghanistan Rejects Talks With Taliban and the U.S. June 19, 2013

Angered over the way that a Taliban political office was opened in Qatar, the Afghan government backed away from discussions, while separately breaking off talks on military ties with the United States.

NOAA issues draft study for Arctic Sea oil drilling

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A bearded seal pup on the Arctic ice. PHOTO COURTESY NOAA.

Obama administration under political pressure to permit new drilling in fragile Arctic Ocean ecosystem; public comment taken through Feb. 13

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Federal officials say plans to drill for oil in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska will cause only “minor to moderate” impacts to rare bowhead and beluga whales — despite the potential for another spill on the scale of the Deepwater Horizon disaster and no good way to clean it up.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released a draft environmental impact statement on the drilling plan just before Christmas, outlining the potential impacts, as well as mitigation measures that could be implemented to minimize effects on the marine environment. The draft EIS is open for public comment through Feb. 13. All the documents for the project are online here. (more…)

Filed under: endangered species, energy, Environment, federal government, Marine biology, oil drilling, Summit County news | Tagged: Arctic oil drilling, Beluga whales, bowhead whales, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Chukchi Sea, Deepwater horizon oil spill, Environment, Marine Mammal Protection Act, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | 1 Comment »

Court rejects efforts to strip beluga whale protections

Posted on November 22, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A pod of Beluga whales. PHOTO COURTESY NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES SERVICE.

Decision offers some hope for dwindling populations of endangered cetaceans

By Summit Voice

A federal judge this week rejected an attempt by Alaska to strip Cook Inlet beluga whales of Endangered Species Act protections. Last spring, the National Marine Fisheries Service designated critical habitat for the whales despite state’s lawsuit.

“Today’s decision again clarifies that the belugas are in serious trouble. Now it’s time to get serious about finding solutions. Legal sideshows by the state are getting us nowhere,” said Sue Libenson, executive director of the Alaska Center for the Environment.

“This is clearly a case where science and the rule of law prevailed,” said Taryn Kiekow, staff attorney with Natural Resources Defense Council. “The Cook Inlet belugas are an iconic species in Alaska and it is now absolutely essential that we protect them and their habitat if the population is to survive.” (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, Summit County news | Tagged: Alaska, Beluga whales, biodiversity, Center for Biological Diversity, Cook Inlet Beluga whales, Defenders of Wildlife, endangered species, Environment, national marine fisheries service, Natural Resources Defense Council, Summit County News | 1 Comment »

Toxic pollution building up in dolphins and whales

Posted on May 12, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Concentrations of toxic pollutants are building up in bottlenose dolphins living in coastal waters near urban areas.

Marine mammals living along urbanized coasts are most affected by PCBs and other industrial compounds

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — The tissue and blood of dolphins and whales living in waters near urbanized areas are showing increased concentrations of toxic pollutants known to cause cancer and disrupt endocrine and immune systems as well as neural development.

One team of researchers with the Hollings Marine Laboratory, a government-university collaboration based in Charleston, S.C., studied levels of persistent organic pollutants in bottlenose dolphins living along the the U.S. East and Gulf of Mexico coasts and Bermuda. Another team looked at concentrations of perfluorinated compounds in beluga whales in Alaskan waters. (more…)

Filed under: Environment, Marine biology, Summit County news | Tagged: Beluga whale, Beluga whales, bottlenose dolphins, Chukchi Sea, Cook Inlet, Environment, PCBs, Persistent organic pollutant, PFCs, pollution, Polychlorinated biphenyl, POPs, Summit County News, toxic chemicals in marine mammals | 1 Comment »

Beluga whales get critical habitat protection in Alaska

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A pod of beluga whales.

State challenging feds on listing of genetically distinct population of marine mammals near Anchorage

By Summit Voice

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SUMMIT COUNTY — Despite a pending challenge from the State of Alaska, the National Marine Fisheries Service last week took a huge step to protect the endangered Cook Inlet beluga whale by designating 3,013 square miles of critical habitat in upper Cook Inlet, near Anchorage, Alaska. The rare white whales are protected under the Endangered Species Act.

The rule finalizes critical habitat first proposed in December 2009, following a notice of intent to sue by the Center for Biological Diversity. The designation means the federal government can’t approve any action that would adversely modify the habitat. Environmental groups say endangered species with critical habitat protections are more than twice as likely to recover than those without it.

“The designation of critical habitat for the Cook Inlet beluga whale gives this highly imperiled whale a real chance of recovery,” said Rebecca Noblin, Alaska director at the Center. “The Fisheries Service has thrown Cook Inlet belugas a much-needed lifeline.” (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, Marine biology | Tagged: Beluga whales, biodiversity, Center for Biological Diversity, Cook Inlet, Cook Inlet Beluga whales, endangered species, endangered species act, national marine fisheries service, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, wildife | 2 Comments »

Denver Post News

Fire victims were members of Air Force Space Command June 19, 2013

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Gaylord financing plan could aid critics June 19, 2013

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Colorado Senate President John Morse recall petitions certified June 19, 2013

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Gold leaves for Colorado Capitol building dome return from Italy June 19, 2013

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Sudanese man's family wins right to bring lawsuit against 911 operator June 19, 2013

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Famous Brands finds new direction from Broomfield headquarters June 19, 2013

Since Famous Brands International — the parent company of cookie store Mrs. Fields and The Country's Best Yogurt — moved its headquarters to Broomfield a year ago, it has worked to revitalize the businesses.

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NOAA issues draft study for Arctic Sea oil drilling

Court rejects efforts to strip beluga whale protections

Toxic pollution building up in dolphins and whales

Beluga whales get critical habitat protection in Alaska

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