Category Archives: Uncategorized

DC Circuit Court strikes down Cross State Air Pollution Rule. Tri-state health impact will be negative.

Posted on August 21, 2012 by John Blair

August 21, 2012-by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor It is truly a sad day for people in the tri-state of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky. The District Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington struck down an EPA rule designed to improve the … Continue reading →

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If the Tri-State were a State, we would be 3rd in the release of toxic chemicals to the air, nationwide.

Posted on August 14, 2012 by John Blair

August 14, 2012 – Press Release of  Valley Watch, Inc. Last week, headlines in this region showed that Kentucky placed first and Indiana fourth in the release of toxic chemicals to our air from coal plants, according to a study … Continue reading →

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Athletics and Air Pollution-a fatal mix!

Posted on August 4, 2012 by John Blair

August 4, 2012-by John Blair valley watch.net editor Every summer of late, we see stories about how local athletes deal with heat, especially football players who wear heavy protective clothing and pads. Yes, heat is problem with athletes of all … Continue reading →

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Weather Extremes Leave Parts of U.S. Grid Buckling

Posted on July 27, 2012 by John Blair

July 27, 2012-by Matthew Wald and John Schwartz in the New York Times WASHINGTON — From highways in Texas to nuclear power plants in Illinois, the concrete, steel and sophisticated engineering that undergird the nation’s infrastructure are being taxed to … Continue reading →

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Deal between environmentalists, state’s pollution regulators, steel mill raises questions

Posted on July 26, 2012 by John Blair

July 26, 2012-by Ryan Sabalow in the Indianapolis Star White-capped waves splashed along Lake Michigan’s sandy shoreline, where dozens of families played one recent afternoon in the summer sun. But just to the west, behind the bikinis, board shorts and … Continue reading →

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Cleveland councilman says ratepayers ‘getting hosed’ in electric deal involving $5 billion plant

Posted on July 17, 2012 by John Blair

July 17, 2012-by Ron Regan, News Channel 5, in Cleveland. Editors Note: Valley Watch president, John Blair traveled to Cleveland in 2007 specifically to inform Cleveland’s City Council of the bad deal they were making in buying into both Meigs … Continue reading →

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Louise Gerbing, my mentor and hero

Posted on July 12, 2012 by John Blair

July 12, 2012 – by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor Early this week came an end to an era. My “surrogate” mother passed from this Earth at the age of 91. Louise Gerbing was a warrior for nature and spent much … Continue reading →

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Air Pollution May Raise Dementia Risk

Posted on July 11, 2012 by John Blair

July 11, 2012-by Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation Can dirty air be bad for the brain? A new study suggests that smog and other air pollutants may contribute to memory loss and dementia. The findings, part of a large … Continue reading →

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The Most Sensible Tax of All

Posted on July 5, 2012 by John Blair

July 4, 2012-by Yoram Bauman and Shi-Ling Hsu in the New York Times ON Sunday, the best climate policy in the world got even better: British Columbia’s carbon tax — a tax on the carbon content of all fossil fuels burned in the … Continue reading →

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West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller admonishes coal operators to seek solutions instead of denial of the problems facing the industry

Posted on June 21, 2012 by John Blair

June 21, 2012 – West Viginia Senator, Jay Rockefeller makes an impassioned plea to his constituents to change their attitude toward EPA’s efforts to protect them and others through rule making. Yesterday, he defended EPA’s efforts to reduce toxic emissions … Continue reading →

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EPA proposes new fine particle Annual Standard. Still unclear what that will mean to SW Indiana.

Posted on June 15, 2012 by John Blair

June 15, 2012-by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor EPA proposed a strengthening of the annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard for fine particles, which depending on exactly how the rule is interpreted, could force much of the Ohio Valley, including southwest … Continue reading →

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What on Earth is the deal with Indiana Gasification? Or how do “conservatives” justify such leftist, authoritarian business models.

Posted on June 13, 2012 by John Blair

June 13, 2012 – By John Blair, valley watch.net editor It is doubtful that schemes to refine synthetic gas and liquids from coal will ever be economic, Indeed, only two countries have used such technology because they were desperate for … Continue reading →

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Environmental collapse now a serious threat: scientists

Posted on June 8, 2012 by John Blair

June 8, 2012-By Agence France-Presse Climate change, population growth and environmental destruction could cause a collapse of the ecosystem just a few generations from now, scientists warned on Wednesday in the journal Nature. The paper by 22 top researchers said … Continue reading →

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Is Indiana taking proper action against toxins in our waterways?

Posted on June 3, 2012 by John Blair

June 3, 2012-By Ryan Sabalow in Star Watch in the Indianapolis Star About a mile south of Lucas Oil Stadium in Downtown Indianapolis, Tony Chao stood fishing one recent morning on the bank of the White River. A few feet … Continue reading →

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SABIC Agrees to Reduce Harmful Air Pollution from Leaking Equipment to Resolve Clean Air Act Violations in Indiana and Alabama

Posted on May 31, 2012 by John Blair

May 31, 2012-by John Blair, valleywatch.net editor. US EPA today fined Sabic Innovative Plastics in Mount Vernon, IN nearly $1 million for failing to adequately monitor and maintain leaky valves and pipes. The settlement also impacts the Sabic facility in … Continue reading →

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