Northern California’s Environmental Magazine
Articles by Mary Vance
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Essential Reads
State surveillance; corporate chow; pest-control primer.
Measure H Clones Abound — But They’re GMO-free
Voters in four counties can take a step this November to make California a GMO-free zone, by banning genetically modified organisms within county limits.
Burning Bridges
The City of Alameda feels misunderstood. Frequently lauded for its success at recycling and food waste collection, it is now fending off criticism of its plans to fire up an incinerator in the inner Bay Area.
Poison with a Promise
This fall, the California Department of Fish & Game will begin poisoning a section of Alpine County’s Silver King Creek, home to the native Paiute cutthroat trout, the rarest trout in America. The idea is to eliminate the nonnative trout that pose dangers to the Paiute of hybridization and competition for food.
Contra Costa’a Lost Valleys
Contra Costa Water District (CCWD) voters will decide on March 2 whether to expand Los Vaqueros, a 100,000-acre-foot reservoir in eastern Contra Costa County.
Brew of Champions
Stepping into the city of Berkeley’s recycling yard, I am greeted by the sweet scent of fresh brewing biodiesel—and by two enthusiastic scientists and a respirator-clad Dave Williamson, head of curbside recycling for the Ecology Center.
Red Star Falls
Following pressure from community and environmental activists, West Oakland’s LeSaffre Yeast (formerly Red Star Yeast) closed its doors in April after nearly a century in operation.
Precaution in Berkeley
After “fierce opposition” from Berkeley City Council members, environmental and public health advocates have postponed a proposal for a city-wide precautionary principle ordinance.
Medical Incinerator Shut Down
Stericycle, the largest medical waste treatment company in the US, has closed its medical waste incinerator on the Gila River Indian Reservation, in Arizona, in the wake of protests over health threats.
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