KPBS News: Environment

Tribe Seeks Injunction To Stop Desert Wind Energy Project

Jill Replogle — Wed, 16 May 2012 11:27:51 -0700

The Quechan Indian Tribe is seeking an injunction to stop a large wind project adjacent to Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The tribe says the federal government has ignored its concerns about potential damage to cultural and archeological sites.

New Scrutiny For San Onofre Nuclear Plant As Restart Looms

MIchael Blood, Associated Press — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:34:54 -0700

The idled San Onofre nuclear power plant is facing new scrutiny from Congress as the utility that operates it moves closer to proposing a fix to get the twin reactors back in service.

La Jolla Children's Pool Rope Meant To Protect Seals Removed Today

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:07:11 -0700

A rope barrier designed to discourage people from disturbing harbor seals at the Children's Pool during pupping season was removed today.

Activists' Study Doubts Safety At San Onofre Nuclear Plant

Associated Press — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:42:24 -0700

A report commissioned by an environmental group warned Tuesday that running California's San Onofre nuclear plant at reduced power would not resolve problems with badly worn tubing that have kept its twin reactors offline for more than three months - and might make it worse.

Thousands Of Marine Mammals May Be Harmed By Navy Sonar

Peggy Pico — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A new report by the U.S. Navy predicts its use of explosives and sonar may hurt or kill thousands more marine mammals than previously thought.

Washed Ashore Project

Beth Accomando, Katie Euphrat — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:00:00 -0700

The Chula Vista Nature Center re-launched last month as the Living Coast Discovery Center. Its first exhibit under its new moniker is Washed Ashore: Plastics, Sea Life and Art. Take a tour of the exhibit with its creator. Listen to the radio feature or watch the video.

SDG&E Pledges $20,000 To Palomar Mountain State Park

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Thu, 10 May 2012 12:45:04 -0700

San Diego Gas & Electric has pledged $20,000 to help keep Palomar Mountain State Park open, it was announced today.

SD Scientists Say Increase In Plastic Trash Is Altering Ocean Habitats

Associated Press — Wed, 09 May 2012 06:40:40 -0700

An increase in plastic debris floating in a zone between Hawaii and California is changing the environment of at least one marine critter, San Diego scientists reported.

Pesticides Contribute to Bee Colony Collapse, Report Suggests

Kathleen Masterson, California Capitol Network — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:32:47 -0700

An environmental advocacy group released a report today finding a common pesticide is contributing to the collapse of honeybee colonies. Bee losses have averaged 30 percent annually for the last four years, double what's normal.

New Budget Proposal Could Save 50 State Parks

Amy Quinton, California Capitol Network — Tue, 08 May 2012 16:26:50 -0700

Two democrats in the state senate say they’ve found a way to keep up to 50 of the 70 California parks slated to close off the chopping black.

Local Environmental Groups Don't Like Governor's Water Plan

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Mon, 07 May 2012 17:04:14 -0700

Three San Diego-based environmental organizations expressed opposition today to a plan by Gov. Jerry Brown to consolidate state regional water quality control boards in Southern California.

No Timetable For San Onofre Nuke Plant Restart

Associated Press — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:28:58 -0700

The chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said Monday there is no timetable for restarting the sidelined San Onofre nuclear plant on the Southern California coast and a federal review of its troubled tubing will take whatever time is necessary to complete.

NRC Reviews Its Own Procedures For Checking New Steam Generator Design

Alison St John — Fri, 04 May 2012 15:40:02 -0700

Southern California Edison plans to ask federal regulators later this month if it can restart the San Onofre nuclear power plant in June. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants a final conclusion on the cause of the problems in troubled steam generators before the plant can go back on line.

Fault Line Study Near San Onofre Will Be Made Public

Alison St John — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A tentative ruling says Southern California Edison does not need the same independent review of earthquake studies near San Onofre as other studies involving Diablo Canyon, a nuclear power plant farther north. But scientists who will conduct the research say they plan to make the evidence public.

Squirrel On Palomar Mountain Tests Positive For Plague

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:53:54 -0700

A ground squirrel trapped during routine monitoring at the Cedar Grove Campground on Palomar Mountain tested positive for plague, the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health reported today.

Environment Groups Stage Elaborate Events for Climate Change Awareness

Kathleen Masterson, California Capitol Network — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:14:12 -0700

Across California and around the world, environmental groups are staging demonstrations on Climate Impacts Day tomorrow. Local groups will head to the vulnerable levees to send a message about climate change.

SDG&E Won't Pay Blackout Claims

Associated Press — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:29:27 -0700

San Diego Gas & Electric says it won't pay claims filed over last fall's power outage that affected millions of people in Southern California, Arizona and Mexico.

Report On SD Water Rates Is Flashpoint

Maureen Cavanaugh, Pat Finn, Amita Sharma — Wed, 02 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

A report on San Diego County water rates sounds like dry stuff. But as far as the Metropolitan Water District and the San Diego County Water Authority are concerned, it's the latest salvo in a decades-long feud.

Report: Poor Planning, Communication To Blame For Massive 2011 Southwest Blackout

CITY NEWS SERVICE — Tue, 01 May 2012 12:45:55 -0700

Last September's historic Southland blackout, which left communities from northern Mexico to Orange County and Arizona without electricity for almost 12 hours, stemmed from inadequate preparedness and subpar coordination among the agencies that operate the region's power systems, according to a government-industry report released today.

San Diego Clean Up Nets 100,000 Pounds Of Trash

Erik Anderson — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:19:34 -0700

About 5,500 volunteers helped pick up trash in San Diego's canyons and creek-beds this past weekend.