TOP ENVIRONMENTAL STORIES AND TRENDS OF 2003 from the Sierra Club

2003 has been one of the hottest years on record for the environment, and we're not even talking about global warming. Major events like the Northeast blackout and California wildfires thrust energy and forest policies in the national spotlight like never before, while the Bush administration's systematic dismantling of air, water, and natural heritage laws consistently raised serious questions about the administration's close ties to industry.

And while there is plenty of bad news to go around, this past year also brought reasons to be hopeful, from leadership in the courtroom to innovative technologies fueling Toyota's popular Prius.

The following are the top environmental stories and trends of 2003:

THE FIRES THIS TIME

In October, massive wildfires blazed across Southern California, consuming homes and putting hundreds of firefighters in harms' way. Interestingly, the Bush administration had spent much of 2002 and 2003 promoting a fire plan that would have done nothing to protect these communities from fire. That plan emphasized commercial logging in remote areas rather than thinning projects around communities and homes, as forest service scientists recommend. In November, the President signed into law a bill based largely on his flawed plan.

BACK IN BLACKOUT

This summer's big blackout showed how the Bush administration's obsession with energy production is particularly out of touch with America's greatest needs. Many, including the Sierra Club, called on Congress to pass an Energy Bill that would invest in a 21st century transmission system and dramatically improve energy efficiency. Instead, Congress, with strong support from the administration, offered up a bill that gives billions of dollars in subsidies for oil, gas, coal, and nuclear industries; weakens clean water and air laws; and exempts MBTE refineries from liability from toxic pollution. Fortunately, a band of courageous Senators put the brakes on the disastrous bill, which is expected to resurface early in 2004.

BETWEEN IRAQ AND A HARD PLACE

The war in Iraq offered a disturbing reminder that continued dependence on oil and other fossil fuels contributes a significant de-stabilizing influence in international affairs. It also highlighted the likelihood that the close Bush administration ties to the oil industry compromise decision-making not only on domestic environmental policy but also on foreign policy and national security issues.

LIES AFTER SEPTEMBER 11

In August, the EPA's Inspector General reported that the White House instructed EPA to give the public misleading information about the air quality in lower Manhattan after the September 11 attacks. As a result of the White House influence, guidance for cleaning indoor air spaces and information about potential health affects from the World Trade Center debris were not included in the EPA's press releases. The White House told September 11th survivors and rescue workers it was safe to go back to work, deliberately misrepresented the truth about environmental threats to New Yorker's health and safety, and put them in peril. According to Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, 78% of the Ground Zero workers they examined suffered from lung ailments.

FRIDAY FOLLIES AND HOLIDAY CHUTZPAH
Fridays and holidays were particularly tough for people charged with covering the Bush administration's environmental policies. A tally by the Natural Resources Defense Council found that 58 out of 100 actions to weaken environmental rules were taken on Fridays, the day before holidays, or even during holiday weekends. Some minor announcements with major implications included: eliminating Clean Water Act protections on 20 million acres of wetlands (Friday, Jan. 10); removing millions of acres of public land from consideration for wilderness protection (Friday, April 11); and allowing America's dirtiest power plants to avoid installing modern pollution technology (Friday, August 22).

ORDER IN THE COURTS
With today's executive and legislative branches of government uncomfortably close with commercial interests bent on weakening environmental protections, the courts became more significant than ever for defending the integrity of existing environmental laws. This month, a federal courtroom halted Bush administration's plans for snowmobiling in Yellowstone National Park. In November, a federal court in Kentucky ruled that food giant Tyson is responsible for pollution at factory farms, undercutting Bush administration efforts to allow unlimited pollution from massive animal facilities. And, both the DC Circuit and Appeals Courts rebuffed administration attempts to hide records of secret meetings between the Bush/Cheney Energy Task Force and energy executives. The emerging importance of the courts also explains why 2003 saw growing concern about the Bush administration's extremist judicial nominations.

LEAVITT TO THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
May's resignation of Governor Christie Todd Whitman as EPA Administrator revealed deep problems with the Bush administration's approach to environmental policy. Governor Whitman had to deal with extensive meddling from above, often going against her better judgment on issues like global warming and soot and smog pollution from old power plants. Her replacement, Utah Governor Michael Leavitt, had a reputation for deal-making that benefited corporate interests over public health or the environment. That made him a perfect fit for the Bush administration but a lousy fit for Americans who care about clean water and clean air. One of his first moves was to propose rule changes that would allow three times more mercury pollution from power plants than the current law allowed.

SOLUTIONS THAT WORK
In September, the White House Office of Management and Budget reported that an analysis of 107 major rules from over the last 10 years showed quantifiable benefits of between $146 billion and $230 billion, compared with costs of $36 billion to $42 billion. Four EPA rules limiting soot and other pollution from power plants, cars and trucks, fared even better than the average, generating annual benefits of between $101 billion and $119 billion as compared to costs of $8 billion to $8.8 billion.

PRIUS TURNS A PROFIT
Toyota reported that its innovative Prius sedan, powered by a revolutionary gas-electric hybrid engine, turned a profit in its first year. The auto company even credited its record earnings in 2003 to the unexpected popularity of the car. Just this month, Motor Trend Magazine named the Prius its 2004 Car of the Year. Meanwhile, Detroit automakers, with cover from the Bush administration and Congress, continue to perpetuate the myth that this is a car that can't be built