Maryland's Public System of Higher Education

Week of July 4, 2011

News from Across the USM Campuses

Prince George's farmers launch campaign to promote locally grown meat: Initiative highlights transition from tobacco (By Erich Wagner, The Gazette.net, 6/30/11)[Quotes Janna Howley of the University of Maryland Extension Service]

Loh sets plan to improve College Park: Task forces to study transportation, housing issues (By Rebecca Lurye, The Diamondback Online, 6/29/11)

Mid-Atlantic States' Unique Plan to Replace Dirtiest Trucks: UMD-Regional Air Management-Led Program Targets Trucks at Four Ports (UMD Newsdesk, 6/28/11)

Red Line gets federal go-ahead for next phase: East-west rail line project for city clears a crucial hurdle (By Michael Dresser, The Baltimore Sun, 6/27/11)

State of Maryland News

Take the Maryland Cycle Survey - The Maryland Office of Tourism, Department of Transportation, and State Highway Administration are conducting a bicycle user survey to learn more about cyclists in Maryland and what products they would find most useful to help plan bicycle trips. We hope to gain knowledge that will be used to improve cycling products and services. The survey will is expected to take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete. After you are finished, you may enter your name and contact information to be entered into a prize drawing. Prizes will be chosen at random and answers do not affect your chance to win. If you have any questions about this survey, please contact Rebecca Goldman, Research Manager, at the Maryland Office of Tourism at (410) 767-6285.

$495 million award from Exxon in Balto. Co. gas spill could grow: Jury returned sealed verdict on damages Tuesday, discussing punitive award (By Arthur Hirsch, The Baltimore Sun, 6/29/11)

Builders group sues EPA over Bay cleanup plan: NAHB joins farm groups in claiming federal over-reaching (By Tim Wheeler, The Baltimore Sun - B'More Green Blog, 6/28/11)

USM Environmental Sustainability and Climate Change Initiative

• Practices
• Programs
• Policies

• Presentations
• Climate Change Definitions
• Facilities Master Planning
• Statewide Sustainability Efforts
• ACUPCC National Benchmarking
• Useful Links and References

 NOAA report shows warmer weather in U.S.: Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration indicates that the new 30-year normal has raised half a degree Fahrenheit. Some experts call it further proof of global warming. (By Ashlie Rodriguez, The Los Angeles Times as report by The Baltimore Sun, 6/30/11)

Car Clash: Europe vs. the U.S. -  Europeans are working hard to discourage drivers, cars and parking in their cities. Why is American city planning different? (The New York Times - Opinion Pages, 6/29/11)

Shaping how the future will look: The work of a self-taught structural designer envisions sustainable, energy-efficient cities (By Steven Heller, Salon.com - Imprint, 6/29/11)

Average U.S. temperature increases by 0.5 degrees F: New 1981-2010 'normals' to be released this week (NOAA News, 6/29/11)

Report highlights poor water quality at nation's beaches (By Harriet Baskas, MSNBC.com, 6/29/11)

UN Climate Panel To Examine Extreme Weather Events' Link To Climate Change (The Associated Press as reported by the Huffington Post - Green Blog, 6/29/11)

Did ExxonMobil Break Its Promise To Stop Funding Climate Change Deniers? (By Kate Sheppard, Mother Jones - Blue Marble, 6/29/11)

Group Condemns Harassment of Climate Scientists (By Joanna M. Foster, The New York Times - Environment, 6/29/11)

Obama To GOP: End Tax Breaks For Millionaires, Oil Companies (VIDEO) (The Associated Press as reported by The Huffington Post - Politics Blog, 6/29/11)

Peak oil is ‘getting closer' but the world is not ready: The end of cheap oil has got governments panicking to control prices rather than planning for a post-oil era. (By Tom Levitt, The Ecologist, 6/28/11)

State Of The Climate Report: World Continues To Warm, Making Extreme Weather Events 'More Likely' (By Randolph E. Schmid, The Huffington Post - Green Blog, 6/28/11)