Category Archives: Resource Based Economy

By Kate Cough of The Maine Monitor

NEWRY The richest known hard rock lithium deposit in the world lies a few miles northeast of the ski slopes of Sunday River and not far from Step Falls, where swimmers can wade in shallow pools formed by hundreds of feet of cascading granite ledge.

Smaller deposits have been known in Maine for decades, but this recent discovery, just north of Plumbago Mountain in Newry, is the first to have a major resource potential.

And that potential is staggering: At current market prices, the deposit, thought to contain 11 million tons of ore, is valued at roughly $1.5 billion. Measuring up to 36 feet in length, some of the lithium-bearing crystals are among the largest ever found.

Formed three miles underground during the cooling of granite magma, the crystals rose to the surface over hundreds of millions of years as the mountains above them crumbled and eroded. Now partially exposed, the deposit is estimated to have a higher percentage lithium content by weight than any other in the world.

This is going to be a very important source of lithium in the future, said Dr. William Skip Simmons, a mineralogist at the University of New Orleans and co-author on a recent paper describing the findings. A more detailed sampling and analysis needs to be done, said Simmons, but the crystals are undeniably world-class.

Lithium is prized because it is lightweight and can store lots of energy, making it an important component in batteries for electric vehicles and as reservoirs for excess energy generated by wind turbines and solar panels. Demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to grow between 5- and 10-fold by the end of the decade, and the world must ramp up production quickly to move away from fossil fuels.

This find could contribute to that. But under Maines recently enacted mining laws, its unclear whether it will ever be extracted.

We know that the Maine mining laws are such that theres not one single active mine in Maine, said Mary Freeman, who owns the land with her husband, Gary, a co-author on the paper describing the find.

Wed have to get clarification from the state, said Freeman, when asked whether the couple planned to apply for a mining permit. They dont have an area of the rule that explains this kind of work.

Maines metallic mining law was designed to protect the states natural resources and keep its water clean. But the state, and its residents, will also need lithium-ion batteries to store energy from wind and solar panels, and run electric vehicles.

Yet lithium is a metal, and state regulations passed in 2017 prohibit mining for metals in open pits of more than three acres, which would be the only way to cost-effectively extract lithium at Plumbago North.

I dont know of any underground and manganese or lithium mines in the world, said Dr. John Slack, a geologist who co-wrote a separate upcoming paper on critical minerals in Maine.

Because those metals have a relatively low cost, in terms of their concentration per ton or per ounce, you need to excavate large volumes of rock cheaply in order to economically and profitably produce the metal youre interested in.

Commercial mining has resulted in a long list of disasters, from collapses and explosions to rivers dyed a sickly shade of orange.

Some of the gravest environmental concerns revolve around mining for base metals such as copper, lead and zinc which often occur in bands of rock rich in iron sulfides. When exposed to air or water, iron sulfides create sulfuric acid. And once the production of sulfuric acid has begun, it can be difficult to stop, polluting waterways for decades, a phenomenon known as acid mine drainage.

Indeed, Maines most famous mines are perhaps better known for their aftermath than what they produced.

In the late 1960s, the Callahan Mining Corporation was given permission to drain a 75-acre coastal estuary in the town of Brooksville and turn the area into an open-pit mine. The company extracted roughly 800,000 tons of copper and zinc before flooding the area, turning it into Goose Pond.

The former mine is now a Superfund site, and a 2013 study by researchers at Dartmouth College found widespread evidence of toxic metals in nearby sediment, water and fish. Cleanup costs, borne by taxpayers, are estimated between $23 million and $45 million.

With events like this in mind, lawmakers, environmental advocacy groups and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection crafted the 2017 metallic mineral exploration and mining law. It passed after years of deliberation and several failed attempts, and is considered one of the most stringent mining laws in the nation.

The law bans metallic mineral mining in, on or under public lands, lakes, outstanding rivers, coastal wetlands and high-value freshwater wetlands. Open-pit mines of more than three acres arent allowed, nor are mines that would require treatment of toxic wastewater in perpetuity or the ponds storing wet mine wastes.

In an effort to avoid what happened in Brooksville and elsewhere, the law also requires companies to set aside money for cleaning up or treating any environmental contamination for at least 100 years after the mines closure.

In the four years since the laws passage, only one company, Wolfden Resources Corp. of Canada, has attempted to go through the process. Earlier this month the company withdrew its application for a zoning change required to begin the Department of Environmental Protection permitting process after state commissioners moved to deny the application, citing numerous deficiencies.

Wolfden CEO Ronald Little told commissioners the company planned to submit a new application after hiring a consultant more familiar with Maines regulations.

Several geologists applauded the 2017 law, but said it means Maines lithium and manganese deposits (Aroostook Countys manganese reserves are thought to be the largest in the country) may never be extracted as long as open-pit mining is banned.

It starts being extremely expensive if you do underground mining. So its just not a viable way to produce a deposit like [Plumbago North], said Simmons, the University of New Orleans mineralogist.

But those reserves also would not present the same type of potential environmental issues as Wolfdens proposed project on Pickett Mountain and other base metal sulfide deposits in Maine, such as Bald Mountain. Thats because the Plumbago North deposit does not occur in, or contain, sulfide-rich rocks, said Slack and Simmons. Mining for lithium there would instead be similar to quarrying for granite or gravel.

Those rocks being exposed now have been sitting there for 200 million years and they havent dissolved away, said Simmons. I dont understand why metal mining would be applied to this type of mine at all. It doesnt make any sense to me.

Slack agreed that the deposits shouldnt fall into the same category as mining for base metals such as zinc and copper in sulfide-rich rocks.

The environmental restrictions implemented in the new Maine mining law were long overdue, he said, but unfortunately I think the law went way too far in completely banning open-pit mining for these kinds of purposes.

In an email, the DEP mining coordinator, Mike Clark, said it has been three or four years since department staff visited Plumbago North, which at that point was operating similar to a granite quarry and gemstone prospecting operation.

At less than an acre, said Clark, the quarry was small enough that it was not required to file a notice of intent.

Asked whether the new law would apply to lithium mining at Plumbago North or elsewhere, Clark wrote: The Department would evaluate a specific proposal and make that determination based on detailed information.

Acid mine drainage, however, is not the only environmental problem Maines law attempts to prevent. Many of those who spoke in favor of the law when it was passed were against open-pit mines altogether, which are often hugely disruptive to the local ecology.

The call to restrict open pit mining thats the open sore in the face of the Earth argument, said Dr. Martin Yates, laboratory manager and instructor at the School of Earth and Climate Sciences at the University of Maine. Once youve opened a hole like that, its not really going to grow back.

Nick Bennett, staff scientist at the Natural Resources Council of Maine, who was deeply involved in the most recent laws passage, said Maines mining laws were not designed to deal with lithium and manganese.

They very likely present a whole bunch of different issues, Bennett said. If those became something someone wanted to mine and process in Maine, I think wed have to look at best available practices.

Mary Freeman said the couple would wait to learn more about the reserves and speak with the DEP before deciding what to do with the find.

I think its quite exciting for Maine to have this, Freeman said. Maine has kind of stepped forward as being leaders in paying attention to the environment. You see the windmills, you see the charging stations for electric vehicles. I live down in Florida, and we dont have that.

The couple has prospected for gems in Oxford County for years and kept buying land in the area because they were interested in the type of coarse granite thats common there.

These were explored years ago. They were full of holes when we bought them, said Freeman of the land. Geologists had known of small crystal deposits of this type, but there hadnt been much active exploration for years. We just went exploring to see what was out there Lo and behold, there were these enormous crystals. We were like wow.

Freeman is aware that Maines mining laws are strict and wasnt certain if the lithium could ever be excavated. If they are able to extract it, she said, the couple would likely send the material elsewhere for processing.

Were also very interested in making sure the forests and the land are maintained, said Freeman, but if we could do something positive toward green energy, Id be honored to do that.

The Freemans arent interested in selling the property and would like to continue exploring there as long as possible.

I dont expect our find will be life-changing and, to be honest, we are happy, so we dont want to change our lives anyway, unless we can slow down aging, wrote Freeman in an email. Gary is up there every day exploring. I will be retiring soon and cant wait to spend more time up there too.

The United States has extensive lithium reserves but produces less than 2 percent of the worlds annual supply, much of it from a single large-scale mine, Silver Peak, in Nevada. Most of the worlds lithium extraction occurs in a handful of operations in Australia, Argentina, Chile and China, which also dominates the processing and battery construction industry, with other countries in Asia.

U.S. officials are attempting to change that. In March, President Bidens energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, announced $30 million in grants aimed at increasing domestic supply of critical minerals, including lithium, an important component in the batteries of electric vehicles.

America is in a race against economic competitors like China to own the EV market, and the supply chains for critical materials like lithium and cobalt will determine whether we win or lose, said Granholm. If we want to achieve a 100% carbon-free economy by 2050, we have to create our own supply of these materials, including alternatives here at home in America.

The shift to a mineral-intensive world is well underway. A typical electric car requires six times the mineral inputs of a conventional car, and an onshore wind plant requires nine times more mineral resources than a gas-fired power plant, according to the International Energy Agency.

In an email, Phil Coupe, managing partner at ReVision Energy, said Maine will require significant energy storage in the form of batteries to fill gaps when the sun isnt shining or the wind isnt blowing.

Battery storage is the fastest growing part of ReVisions business, said Coupe, who said the discovery in western Maine was revelatory and called on the legislature to study whether Maine could quickly and safely ramp up its extraction.

If we are able to extract Maines lithium deposits in a way that is not environmentally destructive, then I think we have a tremendous opportunity to help accelerate the transition to renewable energy + storage while strengthening Maines economy, Coupe wrote.

Some minerals can be substituted for others manganese has begun to appear in batteries as an alternative to cobalt but lithium appears likely to remain an important component of batteries and other appliances, from air conditioners to electric stovetops.

By 2030, the International Energy Agency estimates that supply from existing mines and projects under construction will produce only half the amount of lithium and cobalt necessary to meet international needs.

There is a role for recycling as well: Unlike fossil fuels, metals can be melted down and reused, some indefinitely. Its a resource that remains largely untapped: Less than 20 percent of electronic waste is formally recycled, according to U.N. estimates. But even with robust recycling programs, its unlikely the world will ever be able to move away from mining entirely.

The mineral requirements of non-fossil fuel technologies should not deter the world from a rapid shift away from fossil fuels, Slack said. When it comes to mining, societies will have to strike the right balance between environmental protection and their needs. Its a difficult issue that requires a lot of thought.

There are also environmental justice concerns at stake. With production of many minerals dominated by a handful of countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America many with track records of human rights and environmental abuses some are pushing for the U.S. to shoulder more of the burden for the minerals it consumes.

We are altering the environment, said Ian Lange, associate professor of economics and business at the Colorado School of Mines. If we just dont let the U.S. mine any of these things, then were going to buy them from these places that dont have the same labor and environmental safeguards the U.S. does.

Most of the worlds lithium is extracted from rocks or brine. Deposits below the salt flats of Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia together referred to as the lithium triangle are estimated to contain more than three-quarters of the worlds supply. (It may also be possible to extract lithium from seawater, but researchers have yet to find a way to compete with cheaper lithium mining on land.)

Brine extraction, in which minerals are pumped to the surface and left to evaporate in massive pools for months or years, is relatively simple and inexpensive. But the process consumes huge amounts of water in some of the driest places on earth.

There are attempts underway in California to extract lithium from underground volcanoes below the Salton Buttes. A new technology, in which the metal is extracted from brine already being used in geothermal plants to generate electricity, is being touted as an environmentally friendly alternative. But similar efforts have failed in the past and the geothermal electricity also requires billions of gallons of water for cooling each year.

Lithium is also mined using traditional methods, in open pits, from rocks like those found at Plumbago North. The reserves at Plumbago North are thought to contain roughly 11 million tons of ore far less than the 77 million tons in the worlds largest hard-rock lithium mine, in Greenbushes, Australia. Maines reserves, however, are exceptional in the size of the crystals and the richness of the deposit.

The Freemans and researchers at Plumbago North knew the crystals they found were extraordinary as soon as they uncovered them. To determine the concentration of lithium, they sent bulk samples for analysis at labs in Australia and Germany.

The results, said Simmons, were astonishing. The deposit showed an average lithium oxide content of 4.68 percent by weight. Thats three times the average concentration of the worlds top 10 hard rock lithium mines. By comparison, the worlds second-richest hard rock lithium deposit, the Bernic Lake mine in Manitoba, has a lithium oxide content of 2.76 percent by weight and contains roughly eight million tons of ore.

The Freemans have not yet filed an application to extract the deposit, which was first described last year. But with lithium in everything from stove tops to smartphones, the discovery raises the question: What role should Maine play in metallic mineral production in an increasingly mineral-intensive world?

Minerals, whether theyre critical or not, we as humans dont have a say in where they are, Slack said. We in the U.S. and Maine need to seriously discuss the issue and realize that we have to mine those metals somewhere to support renewable energy. We have to face that head-on.

It will likely take years before any lithium is produced at the site, if Maine laws allow it at all. Even without the threat of acid mine drainage, permitting a mine raises numerous environmental and social concerns.

But finding new lithium resources and quickly getting them out will also be necessary to meet our renewable energy goals.

Many very educated people who are environmentally conscious dont want mining anywhere, said Slack, and yet they fully support, in many cases enthusiastically, renewable energy. You cant have your cake and eat it, too.

This story was originally published by The Maine Monitor. The Maine Monitor is a local journalism product published by The Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, a nonpartisan and nonprofit civic news organization.

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Staggering $1.5 billion lithium deposit discovered near Newry - Bangor Daily News

As the leaders of 197 countries gather for the UNs global Cop26 summit to discuss their efforts to combat climate change, including international pressure to phase out fossil fuels, an ongoing energy crisis has left India scrambling to acquire more coal.

Power cuts and warnings of extended blackouts as a result of the potential coal shortage in Asias second-fastest-growing economy has been yet another reminder of how heavily India relies on coal for its electricity generation even after making progress in renewable energy.

More than two-thirds of Indias electricity is still generated by coal-fired thermal power plants. And it is the second-largest producer and consumer of coal after neighbouring China.

The burning of coal to generate electricity is responsible for 40 per cent of all global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, and mining it comes with a host of environmental hazards. Experts are clear that if global warming is to be kept below 2C the target of the Paris Agreement the use of fossil fuels needs to be dramatically scaled down.

At Cop26, there will be a push for large economies like Indias to commit to more ambitious climate goals and it has been confirmed that Indias prime minister Narendra Modi will be attending the summit, boosting hopes that India will use the platform to announce actions.

According to its 2015 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, India has set a target of reducing emissions intensity relative to GDP by 33 to 35 per cent by 2030, to achieve about 40 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources and enhance its carbon sink by planting trees.

While India has been able to create the worlds fourth-largest renewable energy structure, this does not automatically mean the country will be ceasing coal combustion anytime soon. Phasing out coal Indias cheapest source of electricity will have major implications for the countrys economy.

The partly government-owned Coal India Limited provides about 85 per cent of Indias domestic production of coal and is the worlds largest coal mining company, contributing revenues to the government and support to millions of people who depend on the sector for jobs and pensions.

Coal is deeply entrenched into the national economy [of India] and more so when we look sub-nationally with the mining and utilisation lens, Dr Rahul Tongia, a senior fellow at the Delhi-based think tank Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), tells The Independent.

The government recently announced India would reach the target of 175 gigawatts (GW) renewable energy generation by 2022, sounding hopeful of meeting the 2030 target of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy installed capacity including nuclear and large hydropower by 2030.

But according to World Resources Institute (WRI) Indias climate programme director Ulka Kelkar, the 450GW target is not an easy one for India.

It requires India to triple its renewable energy capacity in less than a decade, she says. Even though renewable energy has become cost-competitive compared with coal, this 450 GW target will require substantial investments, land, and the right pricing and financial incentives.

India could consider including this domestic target in its next NDC under the Paris Agreement, she adds.

Currently, Indias installed non-fossil fuel capacity is 39 per cent, close to its NDC target of 40 per cent, with the rest still coming from fossil fuels. But installed capacity refers to the maximum generation the given infrastructure is capable of, rather than actual power produced. Since generation from renewables like wind, hydro and solar varies depending upon the speed of the wind or visibility of the sun, the output remains erratic.

Dr Tongia says India should adopt a holistic approach for a smooth and timely transition. Pushing off structural changes as well as avoiding transparent accounting until later on will only make the problem that much harder in the future, he adds.

While coal is currently the cheapest energy source, the cost of renewables and battery solutions is steadily reducing meaning that even from a business perspective, reducing the amount of coal in Indias energy basket makes sense.

Not only are renewables becoming cost-competitive compared with coal, it is also getting a policy push due to Indias renewable energy targets, Ms Kelkar says.

Some Indian states like Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have announced that they will not build new coal power plants, as have major public and private electricity companies including Indias largest power utility National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), she adds.

Such a transition cannot happen overnight; there are still coal power plants being built there today. Despite the push for renewables, India is one of three countries with the largest number of planned coal power plants in the world, after China and Indonesia.

India is one the top three countries still investing in thermal coal power plants

(Statista)

India has the worlds fifth-largest proven coal reserves enough to last it for more than a century. And despite Mr Modis expressed goal of establishing the country as a global leader in green energy, the fact is that Indias energy needs are growing at a rapid rate.

India is already the third-largest carbon emitter in the world, contributing 7 per cent of global emissions in 2019, after China and the US which are responsible for 27 per cent and 14 per cent respectively. Unlike those countries, it hasnt committed to a target year for achieving carbon neutrality.

India is expected to take over China as the worlds most populous country by 2027, and up until now making electricity widely available to its massive population has been a key policy goal for the government. A village in remote Manipur officially became the last in the country to be linked up to the national grid only in 2018 though coverage remains patchy.

Indias per capita electricity consumption is just a third of the global average; bringing power to more people will be an inevitable factor in developing the country. So despite international pressure to keep it in the ground, even if the proportional share of renewables increases in India in the coming years, experts believe the total amount of coal burned will not see a peak anytime soon in the nation.

This is a very significant decade for Indias energy transition because the country is planning to meet almost all its new and unmet energy needs from clean energy sources. The country is also aiming to leapfrog to green hydrogen - a clean fuel that will be key to industrial decarbonisation.

Ulka Kelkar, Director, Climate Programme, WRI India

The growth rate of electricity from coal has certainly come down, but its premature to consider a peaking of coal-fired power. Coal dominates electricity production today, Dr Tongia notes. Even under scenarios of very high renewable energy penetration by 2030, India may just about reach the plateau of its coal generation around then.

The patchy nature of some renewables means that a lot of developed nations are utilising other non-coal fossil fuels like natural gas to help smooth their energy transitions. But the UK and US reduced their coal consumption not predominantly because of the rise of renewable energy but because they had access to a cheap source of natural gas, which India lacks, Dr Tongia says.

He suggests a more realistic goal for India might be to reduce emissions by improving the efficiency of its coal-fired power systems instead of getting rid of the resource completely. Dr Tongia says in a few years, India will have to figure out whether it requires new coal capacity beyond the few tens of gigawatts under construction already.

Dr Tongia adds that the rising demand for cooling as a result of the warming climate will also drive the need for not just new electricity per se, but electricity at the right time in a firm or dispatchable manner.

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Cop26: Can India wean itself off coal to deliver on climate goals? - The Independent

October 22, 2021 | Austin, Texas | Press Release

The Office of the Governors Committee on People with Disabilities (GCPD) today announced the winners of the 2021 Lex Frieden Employment Awards. Named for disability rights champion and Texan Lex Frieden, the awards are bestowed upon Texans who have displayed a commitment to empowering their employees, co-workers, and fellow Texans with disabilities. The awards coincide with Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month which is celebrated every October in the Lone Star State.In Governor Greg Abbott's 2021 Texas Disability Employment Awareness Month Proclamation he noted, "The often-used slogan for the Lone Star States approach to commerce is that 'Texas is wide open for business.' This openness and dedication to inclusion and diversity in business has long been a truly Texan staple of our strong economy. An important part of this workforce are Texans with disabilities: strong, resilient workers who make invaluable contributions to our state and economy on a daily basis. Not only must we enhance Texas workforce so it better serves Texans with disabilities, we must also engage in disability employment awareness to ensure all Texans have an equal opportunity to contribute to the workforce and participate in building the Texas of tomorrow."The winners will be honored during the Texas HireAbility Employer Forum and the Lex Frieden Employment Awards ceremony, which will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2021 from 9:00 AM 12:00 PM in Austin with options for either in-person or virtual attendance. Free registration is available at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN__Xp8KEELSAqFmi2_Gco1qQThe Employer Forum features employer panelists with strong diversity and disability employment initiatives and expert legal and HR resource panelists that will provide their perspective on how Texas employers can build a lasting disability inclusive workplace. The keynote speaker features Special Guest Tracy Minish, Mission Control Operations Manager at the NASA Johnson Space Center. Tracy has worked for NASAs Manned Flight Programs for more than 35-years and has been legally blind since college. While working at NASAs Johnson Space Center, Tracy has traveled the world and is a strong disability advocate. Tracy will share his story, discuss his journey at NASA, and talk about how a culture of disability-inclusion creates better teams.Large Employer Lockheed MartinLockheed Martin has been recognized as one of the best places to work for disability inclusion for the sixth straight year. This Fort Worth-based corporation received the top score on Disability:INs 2020 Disability Equality Index, which recognizes employers for creating equitable and accessible opportunities for all potential employees. Their Able & Allies Business Resource Group continuously works to increase access and opportunity for employees with disabilities, developing strong partnerships with corporate allies who are committed to advancing disability inclusion and equality across their businesses in the United States and around the world. A commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace helps drive innovation at Lockheed Martin by ensuring a range of perspectives are represented.

Medium Employer - Kumori Sushi & TeppanyakiGCPD recognizes Kumori as the 2021 Medium Employer of the Year (26 to 500 employees) for fostering a diverse and accessible workplace. They are the first Modern Japanese restaurant with 11 locations in San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley. Kumori believes everyone deserves to excel in competitive employment and treats employees as if they were family with a strong commitment to see each employee succeeds. Currently over 10% of employees at Kumori have a disability and are employed in a range of positions from cooks to HR personnel and management.

Small Employer - ServiceMaster Commercial Cleaning by LegacyGCPD recognizes Heidi Avedician, owner of ServiceMaster by Legacy as the 2021 Small Employer of the Year (25 employees or less). This El Paso cleaning and disinfecting company boasts that 25% of her staff are people with disabilities. The positions held by employees with disabilities are mainly, but not exclusively, operational support roles - the ones that the company could not succeed without.

Non-Profit Organization - Endeavors UnlimitedGCPD recognizes Endeavors Unlimited. They believe that everyone deserves a chance to obtain and maintain gainful employment in a position that fits their skills and abilities. Approximately 75% of the employees have disabilities, and Endeavors encourages all employees to grow and develop. They promote advancement through providing accessible training and learning opportunities at all levels. They have been recognized by the National Organization on Disability as a Leading Disability Employer in 2020 and 2021 due to the organizations focus and policies towards individuals with disabilities.

Entrepreneur Gregory StavinohaThe Entrepreneur award is awarded posthumously to Gregory Stavinoha. Mr. Stavinoha was legally blind and successfully operated a business in the Mickey Leland Federal Building in Houston Texas through the Federal Randolph Sheppard program from 1996 until his recent passing in September 2021. The business included food service, vending, and the production and sale of United States Passport photographs. Mr. Stavinoha was an outstanding business mentor to other aspiring entrepreneurs with disabilities wishing to achieve his same level of success.

Martha Arbuckle Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Texas ChapterIn 2017, the Texas Chapter PVA recognized the shortage of accessible parking places for people with disabilities due to the overuse of eligible Disabled Veteran (DV) license plate users by people without a mobility disability. Working with the Texas Legislature over the past four years, following many sessions providing testimony and educating the legislature on this issue, SB 792 87th Legislature was signed into law by Governor Abbott, becoming effective January 1, 2022. This law will ensure better availability of accessible parking spaces across the state for anyone with a mobility disability and valid parking placard or accessible tag.

Governor's Trophy Award Kristi AvalosThe Texas Governors Trophy award goes to Kristi Avalos, the CEO of Accessology Too, LLC. Ms. Avalos is a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, beginning her journey in 1977 when she worked at a convalescent home for children. She was later hired by American Airlines to implement the Air Carrier Access Act and in 1990 created Accessology to provide training and consulting services on ADA compliance to architects, contractors, designers, building owners, universities, municipalities, commercial lenders, attorneys, and others throughout the nation. For more than 30 years, Ms. Avalos has provided onsite direction and expert technical support to bring state and local governments into compliance through their legally mandated Transition Plans. Her entire adult life is dedicated to removing barriers for people with disabilities and bridging the gap between what people with disabilities need/want and what business or agencies can provide. As a consultant for many large projects around the country, Ms. Avalos insists upon developing advisory boards made up of individuals with disabilities, giving each group a voice within their own community.About the Lex Frieden Awards:The Employment Awards are given in four categories - Small Employer (25 or fewer employees), Medium Employer (26 to 500 employees), Large Employer (more than 500 employees), and Non-Profit Employer (any size; includes Government Agencies). Each category serves to recognize employers in Texas who have fostered a diverse and accessible workplace and who have developed innovative ways to integrate people with disabilities into the workplace, going beyond the requirements of the ADA and other laws regarding workplace practices.

The Governors Trophy Award is the Governor's Committee's highest honor and is awarded to the person who has achieved the highest success in enhancing the empowerment and employment of Texans with disabilities. The Governor's Trophy recognizes long-term commitment and outstanding efforts at both the community and state level to a professional or volunteer in the field of disability issues.

The Martha Arbuckle Award recognizes the most innovative local committee project and is presented in memory of Austin's long-time disability advocate Martha Arbuckle. The project does not necessarily have to be from a formal Mayors Committee, but from any committee, organization, or collective that works together on an innovative project that helps raise awareness of disability issues or that promotes inclusion in the community.

The Entrepreneurship Award is awarded to a living entrepreneur with a disability who has shown extraordinary ingenuity and drive to create and sustain a successful business that has created jobs, accessible services, or other aspects of benefit to people with disabilities.

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Governor's Committee On People With Disabilities Announces 2021 Lex Frieden Employment Awards Winners - Office of the Texas Governor

By Amaechi Ogbonna

The precipitous free fall of Nigerias currency particularly at the parallel segment of foreign exchange market is becoming a bitter pill that many Nigerians are finding difficult to swallow.

Indeed businesses, households and other stakeholders are not finding it funny at all, particularly against the backdrop of its negative impact on cost of living.

That however explains that the government and even the Central Bank of Nigeria are taking drastic steps to stem the tide of depreciation leading to the clampdown on bureau de change operators and lately the AbokiFX.

According to the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele, the undue interrence and manipulation of this set of operators have been partly responsible for the sorry state of the naira in recent times, hence the regulators sledge hammer.

But regardless of the logic around the development, there seems to be a strong consensus among economic experts and the business community that the strength of any nations economy can better be guaged by the strength of its currency, and further underscores the popular sentiment by Vladimir Lenin, the founder of the Bolshevik revolution who once argued that if you want to destroy a country, you destroy its currency in the first place According to Lenin, inflation is a cheat and a fraud on those who save their money in currency.

For Nigeria, the Naira exchange spike has already triggered severe panic in nearly all sectors of the economy with many concluding that all is definitely not well with the currency hence the need for urgent regulatory measures.

For those who care to know, this was the torturous path that the Zimbabwean dollar went before becoming one of worlds worthless currencies in recent years.

Amid the various monetary policies already or currently being implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria,(CBN), some commentators have observed that with the Naira exchanging at N575/$1, it has recorded its poorest run in the history of the foreign exchange policy administration, as the regulators and the business community not taking the development for granted.

It was indeed in the light of this that the apex bank recently took the battle to the footsteps of currency manipulators after baring bureau de change operators from ts official window.

But beyond efforts by the apex bank to restore the value of the currency, many have blamed the nairas recent abysmal descent and constant state of flux on the rising claim of invisibles like school fees, medical tourism, overseas training, food importation bill, building materials, electronics, luxurious lifestyle of many Nigerians, raw materials among others.

For instance, the United States Mission in Nigeria says there are more students from Nigeria in universities and colleges across America, than those from other African countries.

According to Susan Tuller, the US mission country consular coordinator, Nigeria sends students to study in the United States more than any other country in Africa. With over 13,000 Nigerians studying in the United States, Nigeria is the 11th country for sending international students to America. Thats really huge, so you guys will have lots of friends and acquaintances that come from Nigeria once you get there,.

To sustain this number in the US school system, sponsors of these young men and women would have to source forex for their fees and upkeep which would naturally put pressure on the Naira.

Its therefore quite obvious that the collapse of medical, educational and the nations manufacturing sectors over these years is a major contributory factor to the continued pressure on the currency thereby setting it for its free fall.

Indeed at no time in years past, had Nigerias growing appetite and lifestyle that now tend to fancy foreign manufactured goods to the detriment of locally made ones had mounted so much pressure on the local currency than now.

Only a fortnight ago, Leather Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEPMAAS) lamented that the high cost of raw materials used in shoe production, was threatening their production capacity and jobs in the sector.

Its president Okechukwu Williams said his members now find it difficult to produce shoes, at the current exchange rate of the dollar as six of the eight important components used in shoe production are still being imported taking the prices of finished products beyond the reach of many across with skyrocketing snd frequent spike in exchange rates.

He said: Seventy percent of the materials we use in shoe production is imported from China, Italy or other countries where shoe and leather raw materials are produced.

He further stated And for us here, it is not goodnews that in the 50 to 60 years the Aba shoe industry has existed in Nigeria, no conscious effort is made to reduce the quantity of imported raw materials used in manufacturing leather products. The industrialist lamented

Also reviewing the turn of event s in the nations economy, Dr Muda Yusuf, Economist and CEO, Centre for the Promotion of Private Sector Enterprise (CPPE) opined, What we are experiencing in the foreign exchange market today is largely the consequence of the CBN policy choice of a fixed exchange rate regime and administrative allocation of forex. It is a policy regime that has created a huge enterprise around foreign exchange round tripping, speculation, over invoicing, capital flight among others.

The responses of the apex bank largely amounts to tackling the symptoms of a problem rather than dealing with the causative factors. The the CBN does not seem to believe in or trust the market mechanism. Yet market systems are time tested as instruments of efficient resource allocation in leading economies around the world.

Yusuf further stated, Of course market failures are recognised in economics, and these are exceptions that can be identified in dealt with.

According to him Suppressing the market is like swimming against the tide. It is a difficult battle to win.

The NAFEX Window is a subsidised window.

Managing a subsidy regime is typically a herculean task. We have seen this happen with fertiliser subsidy essential commodities subsidy and petrol subsidy. The story cannot be different with foreign exchange.

The way out of this foreign exchange conundrum is for the CBN to allow the market to function. It is also imperative for the apex bank to de-emphasize demand management and focus on strategies to stimulate forex inflows. A fixed exchange rate regime is a major disincentive to inflows and and creates enormous pressure of demand for forex. It is a contradiction in terms.

The CBN needs to give the market a chance. Its current approach would continue to deepen distortions in the economy, perpetuate roundtripping, fuel speculation, suppress forex supply and boost underground economy.

While sharing his own thoughts on what the government can do to stem Nairas free fall, Daniel Dickson-Okezie, Chairman Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, SMEs subsector, said that the exchange rate challenge stems from the fact of the country is deteriorating to a net importer of all it consumes which incidentally has become the tragedy of the economy. To solve this problem, he called for the retooling of the nations production infrastructure to reduce importation manufactured goods and raw materials so as to conserve forex.

We need to improve our production particularly in the area of agriculture. If we produce, the lesser we import and that is the better. We really need to reduce our imports and export more.

In the past few years, some manufacturing companies have closed shop and relocated to nearby West African countries. If we produce more and export more our GDP will grow and the value of the naira will improve. if we import less, we will be in a better position.

One of the problems of the countrys economic management strategy clearly is its policy summersault. The CBN seems to have run out of ideas and solutions. In the past few years, the CBN governor has done a lot. I think the person handling the macro-economic side or the monetary sector of the country has not been finding things easy. What is worrisome is that devaluation of currencies, does not help in anyway. We are still a mono economy, which is the oil that is fading.

We need to improve our economy, produce better. As one of the leaders of the organised private sector in Lagos, I can tell you that this government is not doing much to encourage export. Forget what you read on the pages of the newspapers. The ease of doing business is not real. The hurdles that exporters face are too many.

This includes Corruption, bad roads and other obstacles that are discouraging and killing businesses. On the possibility of reversing CBNs ban on BDCs, he argued that the problem was not actually the BDCs but some of those commercial banks, calling on the regulators to beam their light into what the banks are doing .

Investigating commercial banks

According to Okezie most fraudulent activities pass through commercial banks and as such if the government needs to sanction anybody, it shouldnt be the bureau the change operators but the banks as there is no type of financial crime that happens in this country that does not pass through the commercial banks.

He said Most of them are creating problems in the forex market. They should be investigated. The CBN as a regulatory agency, should compel its Bank Examination department to carry out routine checks on commercial banks; check their books, transactions, and do the other real regulatory action. But corruption stalls all that.

Fiscal activities of the government

The LCCI SMEs chair also lamented the high level in most government agencies urging a frontal attack on the issue is at every level.

Also commenting Mr Garba Kurfi, a senior stock and securities trader, said For me, rather than devaluing the Naira, the two exchange rates, the official and parallel rates should be merged.

He argued once that is done, dollar will be readily available and things will be better for all.

It does not make sense to sell my dollar at the official rate price of N417/$1 when a dollar is N575. So why dont we merged these two rates to get more dollar flow and Naira will get to its level and everyone will be at peace.

Nigeria was the only country where the central bank sell foreign exchange from its reserves to0 BDC operators. The question we ask ourselves is why it took us so long to ban their operation. The only exchange rate I can recognise today is the I&E window rate, which is the rate we expect everyone that wishes to procure foreign exchange to use. I dont recognise that there are any other rates in the market, He said.

In the same vein, the Founder/Head at Probusiness Consults and an economic analyst, Chukwuemeka Iheonunekwu, said that the free fall of the Naira is a hydra-headed monster that requires diverse and intensive intervention, adding that the currency might fall to over N1,000 per dollar before 2023.

I already suspect that the gap in FX supply will push it to N600 by this December as demand increases. One of the major troubles of the Naira is that the CBN managers believe they can use a duct tape strategy to prop up its value using income from oil. They dont want market forces to determine the Naira value because it would reveal that the Naira is much weaker than they want us to believe, he said.

According to Iheonunekwu, the CBN needs to fill up the gap in FX supply as soon as possible, Nigeria needs to move towards manufacturing across whole value chains and stop relying heavily on crude and move away from an import based consumer economy to an export based economy.

Theres also the problem of the CBN printing more money to augment government spending. This sparked a controversy recently and many people said there was nothing wrong with CBN printing more money to pay salaries and support government spending. What is wrong with that is the fact that printing more money always increases inflation, which, according to recent CBN data, is at 16.63 per cent today.

Continued here:

Resolving the Naira exchange conundrum - Daily Sun

1. Purpose of this document

This document provides an overview of the draft plan for the Severn River Basin District. It focuses on how the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales coordinate the work on catchments that are close to or are part of the border between England and Wales.

This document also provides links to other information and documents which together form the draft Severn River Basin Management Plan. These are:

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are seeking your views on the proposed updated environmental objectives and summary programmes of measures to protect and improve the water environment in the Severn River Basin District. Your responses will help ensure that the actions and approaches adopted in the updated plan support a green economy, wildlife and habitats, and contribute to everyones health and wellbeing.

There is an online consultation where you can leave your responses. Alternatively, if you are unable to access the online tool you can respond by emailing RBMPconsultation@environment-agency.gov.uk

The Severn River Basin Management Plan was first published in 2009, and then updated in February 2016. This is the consultation for the next update to the plan.

The purpose of this plan is to protect and improve the water environment for the wider benefit of people and wildlife in the Severn River Basin District.

The Severn River Basin District, which covers over 21,000km2, lies both in England and Wales. It extends from the Welsh uplands, through the rolling hills of the Midlands and south to the Severn Estuary.

Over 5 million people live in the river basin district. Although predominantly rural, it includes urban areas such as Bristol, Coventry, Cardiff, the South Wales Valleys and parts of the West Midlands conurbation.

The Severn River Basin District has a particularly rich diversity of wildlife and habitats, supporting many species of global and national importance. For example, the Severn Estuary and its surrounding area are protected for their bird populations, habitats and migratory fish species such as Atlantic salmon, shad, and lamprey.

To view a map showing the boundary of the Severn River Basin District visit the catchment data explorer.

Responsibility for coordinating the planning of the future of waters in England lies with the Environment Agency. For waters in Wales it lies with Natural Resources Wales. However, The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work jointly in the Severn River Basin District.

Some waters in the river basin district form the boundary between Wales and England, or cross from Wales into England or England into Wales. Joint working on the cross border waters is therefore essential to ensure the water environment is protected and improved. The aim is to achieve this through collaborative working with the land managers and local groups.

Working together with partners increases the understanding of the priorities for action and helps to ensure that the appropriate measures are carried out.

In 2013, Defra launched the catchment based approach to help improve the quality of the water environment in England. This approach embeds collaborative working at the catchment scale, bringing a range of partners together to support integrated catchment management. This results in multiple benefits including improvements to water quality, enhanced biodiversity and reduced flood risk.

In Wales the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 outlines the policy framework to enable the environment to be managed in a more proactive, sustainable and joined up way. It includes a duty for Natural Resources Wales to produce area statements to help implement the priorities set out in the Welsh Governments Natural Resources Policy. There are seven areas or places in Wales, including the marine environment. Each area has a live area statement document summarising the challenges and opportunities relevant to that area, which were first published in April 2020. The delivery of area statements requires a new way of working and relies on successful collaboration with partners and stakeholders. The Wellbeing of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 made it a requirement for all public bodies to work towards the seven wellbeing goals and think about how their decisions will affect people living in Wales now and in the future.

There are 3 opportunity catchments in the Welsh part of the Severn River Basin District where Natural Resources Wales aim to target resources. These are: Taff and Ely; Central Monmouthshire; and Ithon. The Marine Area Statement also highlights actions to improve the quality of estuarine and coastal waters.

Catchment partnerships are now active in the Severn Uplands, Teme, and Wye helping to coordinate work across the England and Wales border. The aim of the catchment approach is to work collectively for the benefit of the whole catchment, rather than a piecemeal approach.

For example, the Wye catchment partnership is hosted by the Wye and Usk Foundation, with Natural Resources Wales and the Environment Agency working closely with the group. The partnership has a diverse membership with representatives from rivers trusts, wildlife trusts, government organisations, private forestry, farming unions, water companies, conservation trusts, and local companies, as well as interested individuals. More information can be found at the catchment based approach and the Wye and Usk Foundation websites.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales will continue to develop new projects, working collaboratively with a wide range of partner and stakeholder groups at both a local and catchment scale. Projects will be targeted in priority areas delivering a range of benefits and outcomes for people and wildlife. By taking an integrated catchment approach and through sustainable land management, the aim is to deliver reduced flood risk to local communities, improve water quality, enhance and create new habitat and protect water resources. Through the development of natural flood management pilot projects and local landowner engagement a variety of land management interventions to improve soil health have been delivered, thereby attenuating and storing more water in soils and upstream catchments. This has also reduced the risk of surface water run-off and associated diffuse pollution from agricultural sources that is currently driving many of the water quality failures, particularly phosphate.

With a changing climate, where weather extremes are becoming more pronounced and frequent, partners spanning Mid Wales, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire came together forming the River Severn Partnership in September 2019.

This partnership will look to help people, businesses and environment to prepare for and be resilient to climate change impacts. This is across the rivers Severn, Teme, Warwickshire Avon and Wye. Proposals include options for flood risk management, improving water quality, environmental enhancement and developing an integrated approach to water resource storage and management.

The Severn Estuary Partnership works with the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales (along with local authorities, environmental groups, water companies, industry, and the private sector) to develop a sustainable and integrated approach for the Severn Estuary. A new strategy was published in 2017 to provide a strategic policy framework for the Severn Estuary, inform and support decision making, and to facilitate the Marine and Coastal Access Act (2009) related to cross border integration and an ecosystem based approach to management.

Monitoring and assessment of the water environment increases understanding of the impact of pollution and other pressures. Making this information available on data sharing systems such as catchment data explorer and Water Watch Wales enables everyone to access it and determine how their individual actions can contribute towards safeguarding the water environment.

Summaries for the whole Severn River Basin District are as follows.

Differences between chemical status classification results can be seen in cross border catchments for ubiquitous persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (uPBTs) and in particular polybrominated diphenyl ethers and mercury. These differences are due to differences in the evidence that is available. The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work closely together on chemicals classification. Each organisation has developed an approach that makes best use of the available evidence. Whilst the approaches to classification may differ, the measures applied to reduce uPBTs in the water environment are broadly comparable across England and Wales and are driven from national legislation. Monitoring the reduction of these chemicals in the environment will continue to ensure that measures are appropriate.

Nitrate vulnerable zones no longer exist in Wales. The Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations (2013) have been revoked and replaced by the Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021.

There are:

There are:

The methodology and evidence used for monitoring and managing the water environment is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the best available approach. Since the last update of the Severn River Basin Management Plan in 2016 some changes have been made, including:

changes to classification tools based on advice from the UK Technical Advisory Group and other technical experts. These include revised environmental standards for nitrogen in lakes and pH (Wales only) and the list of invasive non-native species identified as high risk

minor amendments to the water body network. The proposed changes to the water body network in England can be found in the River basin planning progress report and for Wales the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) Overview Annex Wales

Many rivers, streams, lakes, estuaries and coasts are degraded and damaged by development, industry, agriculture, and modifications to provide flood protection.

The challenge of reducing flood risk is discussed in the separate consultation on flood risk management plans which will run from October 2021 to January 2022. However, work to improve the environment and reduce flood risk needs to be coordinated to deliver maximum benefits for both outcomes.

In 2019, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales consulted on the most important challenges to the current and potential future uses and benefits of the water environment, including protected areas, in the Severn River Basin District. Following the review of consultation responses, the challenges to be addressed by this river basin management plan were confirmed and are briefly described in alphabetical order below.

Further information on the challenges can be found in the English River basin planning process overview document and Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

The UK has already lost 90% of its wetland habitats in the last 100 years, and over 10% of freshwater and wetland species are threatened with extinction.

Urgent action is needed to reduce the pressures these habitats and species are facing and to increase their quantity, quality and connectedness so biodiversity can thrive. Water dependent habitat in the Severn River Basin District, for example saltmarsh in the Severn Estuary, is vital for helping to adapt to an uncertain future, particularly in helping to withstand and adapt to climate change and extreme weather conditions.

Without water none of us can survive. But how water gets to peoples taps and the effect that has on the environment is something most of us dont think about. Water taken from rivers, aquifers and reservoirs in the Severn River Basin District benefits all parts of the economy from farmers to energy producers, and society through drinking water, sports and recreation and fisheries.

There are areas where too much water is already taken. As the climate changes and population grows, demand for water will also grow. Over-abstraction damages rivers, springs, aquifers, lakes and wetlands, reducing the places where wildlife can live. It becomes more difficult for fish to reach the places where they lay their eggs (their spawning grounds) and where they feed.

Chemicals can impact human health and wildlife from direct exposure to the chemicals or from accumulation via the food chain.

Some chemicals in the Severn River Basin District are ubiquitous and are best managed at a national scale. Others are specific to an activity and their management should be focused at a local scale. Many chemicals are banned from production or use but are persistent in the environment for long periods. These continue to be monitored to demonstrate that existing controls are adequate, and concentrations are decreasing.

Climate change is and will continue to impact England and Wales through sea level rise and changes to weather patterns, such as, extreme rainfall, heat waves and drought.This will affect how our natural water assets function and reduce the services that those assets provide and the benefits that we receive as a society, such as drinking water, recreation and wellbeing.

Immediate and ambitious action to reduce the impact of climate change and put in place measures to adapt to it is vital.We need to work collaboratively to build resilience to future warming scenarios. If nothing is done the consequences for people and wildlife will be immense.

A non-native species is an animal or plant introduced, either deliberately or accidentally, into a place where it does not belong. They can hitch hike a ride on transported goods or other animals or even travel in the ballast of ships. Not all non-native species are damaging; for instance non-native food crops can have huge benefits. A species only becomes invasive if it has negative effects on the environment. Global trade, tourism and transport increase the problem world-wide. The problem is increasing every year.

The cost to society that invasive non-native species pose can be enormous. For example, Japanese knotweed grows in thick dense clusters that increase riverbank erosion and may reduce the capacity of river channels, possibly leading to increased flooding. But the effects are not just economic. Invasive non-native species can also damage wildlife habitat and human health.

Many people are more aware than ever that plastic has an impact on seas and wildlife, but its not just the plastic pollution that can be seen on beaches. Because of the way plastics (including micro-plastics) are produced, used and disposed of, these plastics can also pollute lakes, rivers and streams, soil and air.

For thousands of years rivers, estuaries, lakes and the coastline have been physically modified to support farming, industry, transport, including shipping, and by building places to live. Some of those physical changes are still essential. They help to provide protection from flooding, support the supply of drinking water and the production of food. Other changes have helped create iconic landscapes and architecture.

But as rivers have been diverted, covered, and straightened, the environment has been damaged. The legacy of structures and other changes means many of the rivers and waterways do not provide healthy and sustainable habitats for wildlife.

Rivers, streams and groundwater are an essential part of rural life and the rural economy. However, the way land and livestock are managed, including the use fertilisers and pesticides, results in pollution of rivers and groundwater.

Farming and rural land use is ever changing. We need to make soils, air and water healthier than they are now whilst growing enough food for everyone. A transition to a more sustainable agriculture will also contribute to the net zero target and climate change adaptation.

Pollution can come from the drainage off roads, transport, industries and housing. Historic pollution from factories and heavy industry has also left a legacy contaminating land, soils and water.

The climate emergency is intensifying the problems densely populated areas create. The impact of pollution from urban areas is particularly acute during heavy rainfall events following periods of prolonged dry weather. In dry weather pollutants build up on hard surfaces such as roads, and in drains. Heavy rainfall flushes all these pollutants into rivers and streams in one go which can damage wildlife.

In Wales, acidification continues to impact rivers and lake ecosystems due to the atmospheric deposition of sulphur and nitrogen compounds on sensitive upland soils. Afforestation with conifers in uplands and changes to drainage also increase the risk and impacts of acidification. The source of atmospheric pollution historically was coal-fired power stations. International controls and a shift to cleaner fuels has resulted in significant emissions reductions. Diffuse emissions from transport, domestic and agricultural sources still have a local impact.

The water industry plays a vital role in making sure that waste water from homes and businesses is safely treated and returned to the environment. Pollution from waste water has in the past damaged rivers, streams and coastal waters very badly. But the situation has improved a lot in the last 30 years. This is because the water industry have invested their customers money in better collection and treatment systems, and improved how they work with local people.

Despite these improvements, water industry activities are still one of the main reasons why waters are not in a good enough state. Work is underway to address these problems but more is needed. The water industry need to further improve their treatment systems and reduce incidents of untreated waste water being discharged to rivers and coastal waters.

Everyone can play a part in helping to reduce the effects of waste water by for example, thinking more carefully about what is poured down the sink and flushed down the toilet.

The summary programmes of measures have been reviewed to ensure the right measures are being delivered in the right place to achieve the environmental objectives in this plan. To meet the objectives, a combination of measures will need to be delivered across many sectors.

The summary programmes of measures can be found in the English draft river basin management plan summary programmes of measures and the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

Actions to reduce flood risk are discussed in the Flood Risk Management Plans. However, by taking a collaborative place-based approach, measures developed primarily to achieve different outcomes (for instance increased flood resilience) will deliver multiple benefits, including helping to achieve the environmental objectives of this plan.

For example, the Severn Valley Water Management Scheme is looking to adopt a catchment based approach to flood risk in the Severn Catchment with the promotion of nature based solutions and environmental enhancements to compliment other more formal flood risk management interventions.

It is anticipated that the initial focus will be in the Upper Severn catchment within both England and Wales using nature based solutions, land use management change, and a range of interventions to store flood water and reduce flow in the River Severn. Such an approach could alleviate pressure on existing assets, reduce emergency response requirements and provide added resilience in terms of future water resources.

Many of the waters that are on or close to the border have common reasons for not achieving their water environment objectives. Working together provides better opportunities to access funding to support innovative projects to protect and improve the water environment.

The following sections highlight areas where the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are working together with partners to control some of the main challenges in the cross border areas of the Severn River Basin District.

Throughout the cross border catchments, the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales work together to manage water levels and flows. This includes working on drought groups, the River Severn Drought Order and on abstraction licence consultations. The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales, are working together to licence new and previously exempt surface water and groundwater abstractions, ensuring the demand for water is more sustainable for the future.

Water Resources West (WRW) is one of five regional water resources planning groups set up in England. It is a joint partnership between United Utilities, South Staffs Water, Severn Trent Water and Dr Cymru with advisory support from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. Water Resources West are working to ensure sustainable use of water resources by providing a strategic oversight and co-ordination of water resource matters within the cross border river catchments, along with other catchments within the West of England. They are working with a range of stakeholders to ensure enough water is available to meet demands for people, environment and adapting to climate change.

The Environment Agency, the Wye and Usk Foundation and Natural Resources Wales are working in partnership to eradicate invasive non-native species on the River Wye. To date, they have been very successful but need to continue to remove the invasive plants on a regular and ongoing basis. The work also needs to be extended to other cross border catchments, for example the River Monnow.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are also looking to develop joint protocols that reduce the risk of an accidental transfer of invasive non-native species during work on cross border rivers, for example whilst restocking eels.

Unlocking the Severn is a project to improve passage for twaite shad up the River Severn and River Teme by removing barriers to fish migration. For the River Severn action will be needed on the Severn Vyrnwy confluence on the border with Wales.

Action is also being carried out on the River Lugg cross border catchment to remove or lower barriers and install fish passes. This work will help migratory fish (such as salmon) and needs to be extended to the River Arrow where there are more than twenty weirs.

The Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales are working collaboratively, with a range of stakeholders and partners, to address issues associated with how land and livestock are managed.

For example, the Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) Board sets out strategic direction and delivery objectives to reduce phosphate in the Rivers Wye and Lugg in line with the NMP. This is supported by a Technical Advisory Group (TAG). A number of options and measures are being proposed by the TAG to deliver the necessary phosphate reduction at key sites.

The Water Resources (Control of Agricultural Pollution) (Wales) Regulations 2021 have been introduced in Wales to reduce losses of pollutants from agriculture to the environment by setting rules for certain farming practices. The Regulations also set standards for silage making, storage of silage effluent and for slurry storage systems. They establish good practice requirements for nutrient management into one set of regulations.

Water quality modelling has been carried out for the next period of water company investment by Severn Trent Water and Dr Cymru with input from the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales. Further work is being undertaken to finalise schemes in order to maximise benefits within catchments and further improve discharges from sewage treatment works and combined sewer overflows.

In the English part of the Severn River Basin District the majority of water bodies have an objective of good ecological status. The actions planned for the period from 2021 are expected to achieve good ecological status by 2027 in 3 of the 432 water bodies that are not currently at good ecological status. For the remaining water bodies there is low confidence of meeting their objective by 2027. More information about these objectives can be found on the catchment data explorer.

Of the 287 water bodies in the Welsh part of the Severn River Basin District, 93 are already at good status. 22 water bodies will improve to good status by 2033 or 2039 as a result of the measures already in place or planned in the next cycle. An additional 147 water bodies have an objective of good status (unlikely) by 2027.

Achieving these objectives would also safeguard the quality of drinking water sources in drinking water protected areas and achieve improvement objectives for bathing waters, and the water bodies on which protected areas for the conservation of internationally important wildlife depend. More information on the objectives for protected areas can be found for England in European sites protected area summary tables and for Wales in the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document.

Information on the progress made since the last update to the plan can be accessed in the River basin planning progress report for waters in England and the Welsh part of the Severn RBMP document for waters in Wales.

Read more here:

Severn Draft River Basin Management Plan summary and cross border catchments (England and Wales) - GOV.UK

The University of Maine this week launched the Forest Economy, Sustainability and Technology, or FOREST, initiative to advance Maines forest-based economy.

The multidisciplinary initiative brings together academic, industry, government and community collaborators to create research, education and outreach solutions that enhance the economic and ecological sustainability of forest-based communities, according to a news release.

The collaborators include representatives from more than two dozen departments, colleges and organized research units within UMaine, who are coordinating with local, state, federal and international partners.

For more information, click here.

FOREST is part of a series of recently launchedUniversity of Maine System initiatives that are linked to the systems research and development plan, with an eye toward addressing the workforce and social and economic needs, Kody Varahramyan, vice president for research and dean of the graduate school, said in the release.

Maines forest resource measures over 17 million acres and covers nearly 90% of the state, and forms the largest contiguous block of undeveloped forestland east of the Mississippi.

Largely privately owned and naturally regenerated, the woods are considered an economic keystone for many rural communities. Maine is the most-forested state in the country.

Optimizing the increasingly complex relationships among resource management, harvesting practices, utilization, forest health, wildlife habitat and rural economic prosperity is a concept known as the forest bioeconomy. It bridges forest-based businesses and policies with thinking on sustainability, product applications and resource utilization.

Several recent activities within the state have focused on various facets of the forest bioeconomy. They include:

Forest Opportunity Roadmap/Maine, or FOR/Maine, a cross-sector collaboration founded in 2017 between industry, communities, government, education, nonprofits and UMaine to ensure the state adapts and capitalizes on changing markets to maintain a leading role in the global forest economy and support prosperity in the state.

Maine Climate Council, founded in 2019 to develop a statewide plan to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and at least 80% by 2050.

The state of Maine's 10-year strategic economic development plan, created in 2019 to foster collaboration among the public, private, nonprofit and education sectors to grow and diversify Maines economy.

Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan, outlining the states COVID-19 recovery strategy to make investments in solving Maines long-term challenges, to develop strategies for new opportunities, and to strengthen Maines future.

2019 Statewide Economic Contribution of Maines Forest Products Sector, an analysis of the economic impact and trends in Maines forest economy developed by the UMaine Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center.

To support the interconnected activities, FOREST will serve as a platform for available resources across UMS to advance the following goals:

Conduct research among all disciplines and fields that touch the forests, land they occupy, and people and technology they support;

Prepare tomorrows workforce across all aspects of the forests;

Deliver services to all who rely on forests and land;

Engage stakeholders to increase opportunities for scientists, businesses, communities and individuals to have an impact;

Communicate outcomes and opportunities across technical and non-technical audiences to increase overall awareness and understanding of forest-related topics.

Maine's forest industry is going to have to replace as many as 850 jobs in the next fewyears andfind workers for emerging sectors if the industry is going to grow by $4 billion, according to a study of workforce needs released earlier this year.

Follow this link:

UMaine launches initiative to advance Maine's forest-based economy - Mainebiz

ORONO The University of Maine has established the Forest Economy, Sustainability and Technology initiative, a university-wide multi-disciplinary effort to bring together university, industry, government, and community collaborators for the advancement of forest-based economy in Maine.

Comprised of representatives from more than two dozen departments, colleges and organized research units within the UMaine, FOREST is working to coordinate, communicate and collaborate across the University of Maine System with local, state, federal, and international partners to develop and deliver integrated research, education and outreach solutions that enhance the economic and ecological sustainability of forest-based communities.

UMaine FOREST is part of a series of recently launched universitywide initiatives that are strategically linked to University of Maine Systems Research and Development Plan, and are supporting the realization of an innovation-driven Maine economy for the 21st century and, as part of this, addressing the workforce, and social and economic needs, says Kody Varahramyan, vice president for research and dean of the Graduate School.

Maines forest resource is unique in many ways. Measuring over 17 million acres and covering nearly 90 percent of the state, it forms the largest contiguous block of undeveloped forestland east of the Mississippi.

Largely privately owned and naturally regenerated, this economic keystone for many of our rural communities has been continually managed for wood products since before our nations founding. It remains the highest percent forested state in the country through resource management and sustainable harvesting practices rooted in prevailing scientific understanding.

Understanding, quantifying and optimizing the increasingly complex interconnected relationship between resource management, harvesting practices, utilization, forest health, wildlife habitat and rural economic prosperity is a concept known as the forest bioeconomy. It bridges current forest-based businesses and policies with visionary thinking on sustainability, product applications and resource utilization.

To further advance this transformation, a better understanding of the trends and drivers within the global forest bioeconomy is needed. A combined knowledge of technological advances in concert with economic, social, political and environmental aspects of forest resource usage are paramount to the long-term success and prosperity of Maines forest bioeconomy.

Several recent activities within the state have focused on various facets of the forest bioeconomy. These include:

To support these complex interconnected challenges and opportunities, the FOREST Initiative will serve as a platform for available resources across UMS to advance the following strategic goals:

For more detailed information about the initiative visit the UMaine FOREST website at https://umaine.edu/forest/.

More articles from the BDN

Originally posted here:

UMaine launches the Forest Economy, Sustainability and Technology initiative - Bangor Daily News

Reduce, reuse, recycle has been an environmental mantra for decades. But for all their efforts, companies and consumers have made little progress on all three fronts.

As companies from Amazon.com AMZN, +1.20% to Visa V, +1.58% pledge to negate by 2050 the amount of greenhouse gases that humans collectively cause, known as net zero emissions, their focus is now turning to reducing landfill-clogging waste to meet those goals.

To do their part, some manufacturers are beginning to incorporate a closed-loop product design into their business models. The so-called circular economy rethinks our current product-design-and-use model that promotes single-use and planned obsolescence, replacing it with more efficient use of products and materials to reduce strains on natural resources.

Products in a circular economy are designed and optimized to be easily disassembled and reused if they are durable, such as metals and plastics, or are compostable to regenerate natural systems.

Americas throwaway culture produces heaps of materials that essentially go nowhere. Landfill gas emissions are mostly methane and carbon dioxide, and methane is 28 to 36 times more effective than carbon at trapping heat in the atmosphere, according to a 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assessment report. The Environmental Protection Agency says emissions from municipal dumps is equivalent to poison spewed by 21.6 million passenger vehicles driven in a year.

The way things are made can lead to significant improvements in their own right. Changing the system for making and using plastic has the potential to save $200 billion a year as it reduces the annual volume of plastics entering the ocean by 80% and cuts greenhouse gas emissions by 25% according to the London-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation, whose mission is to promote a circular economy.

Climate emergency

Growing interest in this new way of thinking stems from companies recognizing the urgency to combat climate change, says Sara Lindeblad Wingstrand, program manager at the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. And it focuses on the positive steps. You can have an economy that functions and keeps materials and products in use, she says.

Its also necessary. Transitioning to renewable energy and energy efficiency addresses only 55% of emissions. The foundations research shows that the other 45% can come from the circular economy and from rethinking how we produce the items we use daily.

Although recycling occurs at a certain level, the economics of recycling are not always cost-effective, Wingstrand says. It oftens costs more to collect materials than what companies get from selling the recycled material. Thats especially true after China stopped taking U.S. plastics to be recycled. Most recyclables end up in landfills.

To make recycling economically viable, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation recently launched the Extended Producer Responsibility pact, in which member companies that put packaging on the market must pay for its collection, sorting and recycling after use. Brands such as LOral, Unilever and Tetra Pak are among more than 100 businesses that have signed up. Members that put packaging in the market pay a small fee, which goes directly toward collection, sorting and recycling.

In 2018, the foundation collaborated with the U.N. Environment Program to launch the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, in which organizations agree to a common vision to eliminate unnecessary packaging, reuse packaging where relevant and create 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025. Signatories set concrete targets, and now the program represents 20% of all plastic packing produced globally.

Signers include Walmart WMT, +1.07%, Coca-Cola KO, +0.21%, Nestl and other multinational giants. The foundation publishes an annual public progress report, offering transparency on which firms advanced or stagnated on commitments. Further, the foundations Wingstrand notes that credit-reporting firm S&P uses the reports data in its Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment.

Wingstrand says as signatories look to meet their targets, some have come up with new business models to cut waste and offer a better value to consumers.

She pointed to Coca-Colas World Without Waste Strategy, which aims to make 100% of its packaging recyclable globally by 2025, use at least 50% recycled material in packaging by 2030, and collect and recycle a bottle or can for each one sold by 2030.

Coca-Cola introduced a universal bottle design in Brazil, eventually expanding it to other Latin American markets. Using the same bottle design makes collecting, cleaning and filling bottles more efficient. Thats why Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite drinks look the same in stores. In 2020 reusable bottles represented 27% of transactions sales for Coca-Cola Latin America.

Rise of e-waste

The electronics industry is looking to tackle e-waste, the fastest-growing waste stream today, says Carolien van Brunschot, manager of the circular economy program for the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, a CEO-led business organization promoting sustainability around the world. E-waste represents only 2% of solid wastes, but its responsible for 70% of the hazardous waste in landfills, she says.

To combat the problem on an industry-wide scale, the Circular Electronics Partnership was formed in 2020. The program has six partners, including the World Business Council and the World Economic Forum, which helps create a non-competitive, neutral setting among 20 industry members across the supply chain. Related companies include Google, Microsoft and Dell Technologies.

Van Brunschot says many of the partnerships members had already adopted individual initiatives. The partnership aids in eliminating systemic barriers.

In these early stages, the partnership is exploring how to establish a common understanding of requirements for each stakeholder. For example, electronics manufacturers, materials companies and recyclers need to know about one anothers processes to drive innovation.

Full lifecycle collaboration is absolutely essential, van Brunschot says.

The partnership has a six-pathway road map with short-, medium- and long-term goals to meet by 2030, including rethinking designs, driving demand for circular products and scaling responsible business models.

Competitors collaborate

Garry Cooper, CEO of Rheaply, a startup resource management and exchange platform, says it might seem odd to see companies in the same field collaborating, but the challenges of climate change require partnerships to figure out big problems. Collaboration may not be the strange bedfellows it once was, pointing out how Google and Apple worked together to create Covid-notification apps. The same thing has to happen with climate change, he says.

Rheaplys platform helps companies track inventory, enables companies to buy, sell, trade, donate or rent resources on an exchange, and create a better understanding of asset uses. Matching companies looking to offload excess products with businesses seeking to buy those items can help both sides reduce costs and prevent usable goods from going to a landfill. Its now being used by the U.S. Air Force, Google, AbbVie and others.

As climate change and reduced emissions become more important, using tracking software can help firms account for their carbon footprint. Rheaply just received $2.2 million inter-series funding from Microsofts Climate Innovative Fund and MIT Solves investment arm, Solve Innovation Future, to build reporting into the platform to measure the CO2 savings of reusing material, the first of its kind.

The circular economy can be part of what is called the just transition, meaning that people of color and economically disadvantaged communities are part of the carbon transition, Cooper says. Landfills are often located in low-income areas, contributing to poor health outcomes locally. Limiting waste reduces those harmful effects. The circular economy may also create new jobs by reducing costs and keeping material available locally.

As companies procure goods with circularity in mind, they may shed items in a similar fashion of sharing.

If I cant use it anymore, I may want to give it to a small local business and work with them, Cooper says. The large business can reduce costs, the small business will spend less to buy equipment. Another small business may move that equipment that might have gone into a landfill.

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Better than recycling? These manufacturers are taking part in a circular economy - MarketWatch

The nations cities and communities are feeling the effects of the COVID-19 delta variant, just as we were beginning to emerge from the long shadow of the pandemic. The most recent Labor Department jobs report shows the economy pumped the brakes on the employment gains wed been seeing in the past few months and yet overall demand for jobs remains high.

Harnessing this demand is at the heart of the economic revival being forged across the nations heartland the midwest. Driven from the bottom up by local initiatives and propelled by public-private partnerships between jurisdictions and local universities, medical centers, industries, economic development organizations, neighborhoods and more, strategies are focusing on the creation of clusters of talent and innovation districts that can drive sustainable growth. Anchored by a major research institution, an innovation district connects talent with industry within a livable, transit-accessible, and technically-wired location.

The new model for state-level economic strategy is to enable workable solutions tailored to and by its cities, suburbs and rural communities. These generally focus on innovation, and the diffusion of new technology into traditional manufacturing industries.

But talent attraction is key. If we want the post-pandemic period to tilt the economic playing fields in ways that work to midwestern communities favor, we must look to combine our greatest resource with our most valuable asset: People and the cost of living.

In a knowledge economy, an economic unit is a person. Unlike land or buildings, it is also highly mobile. The cost of labor is an important reality and businesses are diversifying their human capital to stay competitive. In Silicon Valley, the average wage is high. But so is the cost of living. As companies look beyond the superstar cities, they must recognize the areas where these talent bases exist in a more competitive market. Talent isnt isolated to the coasts and opportunity isnt reserved for these legacy tech hubs. Attracting talent will naturally attract companies and if the pandemic has shown us anything, this trend will only increase.

There are numerous examples of this across the country.

Ohio'sCincinnati Innovation District, for example, has leveraged the colleges and universities in and around the city, as well as local companies, from Fortune 500 corporations to startups, to grow and retain its talent base through skilling initiatives and a live, work, learn and play environment. The Ohio IP Promise unites the states public universities to help student and faculty innovators commercialize their research.

Tulsa, Okla., has sought to improve its quality of life by significant investments in amenities and quality of life, while launching its seminal Tulsa Remote initiative, which has attracted more than 1,000 remote workers to relocate to the city.

Indianapolis, Ind., recently brought two dozen potential new citizens to the city for a freeimmersiveweekend designed to get a first-hand look at theneighborhoods and amenities, meet potential employersand captureaglimpse of life in the heartland.

Bentonville, Ark., has leveraged its natural amenities to become a hotbed for talent. The local think tank Heartland Forward and regional stakeholders are developing an intentional strategy for a more inclusive recovery throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Bottom-up approaches have long been the core of midwestern economic development. Back in the 1980s, Pennsylvania and Ohio developed pioneering tech-based economic development initiatives like Ben Franklin Technology Partners and the Thomas Edison Program, which partnered with universities. Ohio upgraded and modernized traditional industries with its manufacturing extension initiatives, notably the Cleveland Advanced Manufacturing Program, which inspired a broader federal effort.

States and communities that have developed such strategies will be better-equipped to compete for the federal governments Investing in America's Communities program, which is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

COVID-19 has not so much disrupted the economy as it has accelerated key trends that were already underway. Even before the pandemic, businesses and people were starting to shift away from increasingly unaffordable coastal centers like the San Francisco Bay Area, the New York-Boston-Washington, D.C. Acela Corridor, and Los Angeles, towards other well-developed but more-affordable talent clusters like Austin, Seattle, and Miami. But now, even those communities have become unaffordable.

A post-COVID recovery strategy for the country, its states and communities has much to learn from how the heartland has revived.

David Adams is the lead architect of the Cincinnati Innovation District and Chief Innovation Officer at the University of Cincinnati.

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For COVID recovery, the nation should take lessons from the heartland | TheHill - The Hill

High-quality recycling starts with targeted collection

Published: Oct. 7, 2021 at 1:00 AM MDT|Updated: 12 hours ago

MHLHEIM-KRLICH, Germany, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to calculations by the World Bank, approximately two-thirds of household waste is still incinerated or landfilled. In its 4th global conference, industry leaders joined TOMRA, the Norwegian specialist for waste collection and sorting, to continue to set the course for sorting and recycling significantly more plastic from household waste in the future. Along with presentations and discussions, the conference also included a tour of a state-of-the-art plastic waste sorting and recycling demo plant, a joint venture between TOMRA, Borealis and Zimmermann in Lahnstein, Rhineland-Palatinate. Here, conference participants witnessed how post-consumer plastic packaging is sorted from household waste, thus safeguarding recyclable materials from being lost to incineration. The plant directly processes the plastics into high-quality recyclate of virgin material quality, replacing fossil fuels in primary production and reducing CO2 emissions.

"It's actually quite simple: decades of experience have shown time and again that any pre-sorting of waste determines the recycling result," explained Tove Andersen, the new President and CEO of TOMRA at the two-day "Closing the Loop on Plastic" conference in Frankfurt on October 5 and 6. "Our goal must be to recycle plastic waste in a way that keeps it in circulation for as long as possible. The more straightforward green legislation is, the faster we will be able to keep this material in a closed loop worldwide."

A recent study by London-based think tank Eunomia, commissioned by TOMRA, found that by significantly increasing recycling rates and improving resource management practices, greenhouse gas emissions worldwide could be reduced by 2.76 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent per year - comparable to more than 600 million cars on the road annually.

In collaboration with partners across the plastics industry, TOMRA has an ambitious plan of enabling collection of as much material for recycling as possible as well as increasing the amount of this material that is recycled in a closed loop. This would be a decisive step towards reducing CO2 emissions and conserving resources.

Register hereto receive the conference summary video.

Media Contacts:

Mithu MohrenPhone: +49 2630 9150 450Email: Mithu.Mohren@tomra.com

- Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) -

About TOMRA Circular Economy

TOMRA was founded on an innovation in 1972 that began with the design, manufacturing and sale of reverse vending machines (RVMs) for automated collection of used beverage containers. Today TOMRA provides technology-led solutions that enable the circular economy with advanced collection and sorting systems that optimize resource recovery and minimize waste in the food, recycling and mining industries and is committed to building a more sustainable future.

TOMRA has ~100,000 installations in over 80 markets worldwide and had total revenues of ~9.9 billion NOK in 2020. The Group employs ~4,300 globally and is publicly listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE: TOM).

For further information about TOMRA, please see http://www.tomra.com

SOURCE TOMRA

The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

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TOMRA's Circular Economy Conference: Collaboration to "Close the Loop on Plastics" - KKTV 11 News