International legal petition aims to protect Baja ecosystems under NAFTA environmental provisions

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Bob Berwyn

Petition to NAFTA environmental commission seeks investigation

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Baja California, photographed by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite. Click here to learn more on the NASA Earth Observatory website.

By Summit Voice

FRISCO — Environmental groups are testing a North American environmental treaty with a legal petition, charging the Mexican government with failing to enforce its own environmental laws when it authorized four large developments along the Gulf of California.

The petition was filed with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, established under the North American Free Trade Agreement to promote cooperation among Canada, Mexico and the U.S. on environmental issues of continental concern.

Specifically, the petition claims the Mexican government, “ignores laws requiring effective environmental impact assessment, protection of endangered species, and conservation of coastal ecosystems,” according to a statement from Earthjustice. (more…)

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Colorado: Kerber Creek cleanup gets $50K boost

Posted on March 14, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Mining damage in the Kerber Creek watershed.

Collaborative cleanup team makes progress on remediation of mine waste in Saguache County

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY —The cleanup of Kerber Creek, in the Rio Grande headwaters of Saguache County, got a big boost this month with $50,000 grant from the Commission for Environmental Cooperation that will help with the next phase of improving water quality in a stream that’s long been tainted by acid mine drainage.

Historic mine tailings have washed down through Kerber Creek and are contributing metals and acid drainage into the waterway. The groups involved in the exemplary cleanup effort have already treated about 62 acres, mostly by phytostabilization — using limestone and compost to create habitat for metals-tolerant native plants along the creek. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, rivers, water | Tagged: , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Disease from Canadian fish farms threaten wild salmon

Posted on February 11, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

Pacific salmon species.

Conservation groups seek investigation of Canadian aquaculture practices

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Diseases and parasites from industrial fish farms in British Columbia are threatening wild salmon in the Pacific Northwest, according to conservation,  fishing and native groups in Canada and the United States.

A coalition of groups this week filed a formal petition today requesting an international investigation with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation under the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation — an environmental side agreement to the North American Free Trade Agreement. The petition seeks enforcement of Canada’s Fisheries Act. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, Summit County news | Tagged: , , , , , | 3 Comments »

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