NewzIntel.com

Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI USA: Two Men Sentenced in Largest-Ever Bird Mount Trafficking Case

    Source: US State of Vermont

    $900,000 Fine is One of the Largest Ever Ordered for an Endangered Species Act Case

    A federal judge in Brooklyn today sentenced two men for trafficking protected birds and eggs into the United States in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

    Dr. John Waldrop of Cataula, Georgia, was ordered to pay a $900,000 fine — one of the largest-ever for an ESA case — and serve three years of probation. Toney Jones of Eufala, Alabama, was sentenced to six months of probation. Waldrop pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and ESA violations, while Jones pleaded guilty to an ESA charge.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Waldrop amassed an extensive collection of 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs which included:

    • Four eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act,
    • 179 bird and 193 egg species listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and
    • 212 bird and 32 egg species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This included incredibly rare specimens like three eggs of the Nordmann’s Greenshank, an Asian shorebird with only 900 to 1,600 remaining birds in the wild; no North American museum has any Nordmann Greenshank eggs in their collection.

    “Waldrop’s gigantic and rare bird collection was bolstered in part by illegal imports, where he and his enlisted co-conspirators intentionally avoided permit and declaration requirements,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We applaud the efforts of the various federal and state law enforcement entities in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

    “The scale of this investigation underscores the critical importance of protecting our natural resources,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. “Waldrop’s collection included thousands of bird specimens and eggs, many of which are among the rarest in the world. This is one of the largest bird trafficking cases in history, and the commercialization of species protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES highlights the conservation impact of Waldrop’s crimes. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding wildlife for future generations. We will remain vigilant and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit our shared natural resources for personal gain.”

    Photo of birds and other mounts, from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
    Photo of a portion of Waldrop’s egg collection, from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

    Between 2016 and 2020, Waldrop imported birds and eggs without the required declarations and permits. After USFWS inspectors at John F. Kennedy International Airport and elsewhere intercepted several shipments, Waldrop recruited Jones, who worked on his Georgia farm, to receive the packages. Jones also deposited approximately $525,000 in a bank account that Waldrop then used to pay for the imports and hide his involvement. Waldrop and Jones used online sales sites such as eBay and Etsy to buy birds and eggs from around the world, including Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

    Waldrop forfeited his collection. The USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab examined the items and determined it to be the largest seizure of bird mounts in their 37-year history. The ESA requires that all wildlife imports be declared to USFWS and have required permits, including species protected by CITES.

    Photos of a freshly killed Roseate Spoonbill (left) and mount from Waldrop’s collection (right), from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

    The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Valley Stream, New York, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Final Flight. The operation focused on the trafficking of protected birds into the United States. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources assisted with the investigation.

    Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Karamigios for the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Two Men Sentenced in Largest-Ever Bird Mount Trafficking Case

    Source: United States Attorneys General 7

    $900,000 Fine is One of the Largest Ever Ordered for an Endangered Species Act Case

    A federal judge in Brooklyn today sentenced two men for trafficking protected birds and eggs into the United States in violation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

    Dr. John Waldrop of Cataula, Georgia, was ordered to pay a $900,000 fine — one of the largest-ever for an ESA case — and serve three years of probation. Toney Jones of Eufala, Alabama, was sentenced to six months of probation. Waldrop pleaded guilty in August 2024 to conspiracy to smuggle wildlife and ESA violations, while Jones pleaded guilty to an ESA charge.

    According to court documents and statements made in court, Waldrop amassed an extensive collection of 1,401 taxidermy bird mounts and 2,594 eggs which included:

    • Four eagles protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act,
    • 179 bird and 193 egg species listed in the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and
    • 212 bird and 32 egg species covered by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This included incredibly rare specimens like three eggs of the Nordmann’s Greenshank, an Asian shorebird with only 900 to 1,600 remaining birds in the wild; no North American museum has any Nordmann Greenshank eggs in their collection.

    “Waldrop’s gigantic and rare bird collection was bolstered in part by illegal imports, where he and his enlisted co-conspirators intentionally avoided permit and declaration requirements,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We applaud the efforts of the various federal and state law enforcement entities in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

    “The scale of this investigation underscores the critical importance of protecting our natural resources,” said Assistant Director Douglas Ault of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Office of Law Enforcement. “Waldrop’s collection included thousands of bird specimens and eggs, many of which are among the rarest in the world. This is one of the largest bird trafficking cases in history, and the commercialization of species protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and CITES highlights the conservation impact of Waldrop’s crimes. We at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Office of Law Enforcement are unwavering in our commitment to safeguarding wildlife for future generations. We will remain vigilant and will continue to hold accountable those who exploit our shared natural resources for personal gain.”

    Photo of birds and other mounts, from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.
    Photo of a portion of Waldrop’s egg collection, from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

    Between 2016 and 2020, Waldrop imported birds and eggs without the required declarations and permits. After USFWS inspectors at John F. Kennedy International Airport and elsewhere intercepted several shipments, Waldrop recruited Jones, who worked on his Georgia farm, to receive the packages. Jones also deposited approximately $525,000 in a bank account that Waldrop then used to pay for the imports and hide his involvement. Waldrop and Jones used online sales sites such as eBay and Etsy to buy birds and eggs from around the world, including Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Malta, Russia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Uruguay.

    Waldrop forfeited his collection. The USFWS National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Lab examined the items and determined it to be the largest seizure of bird mounts in their 37-year history. The ESA requires that all wildlife imports be declared to USFWS and have required permits, including species protected by CITES.

    Photos of a freshly killed Roseate Spoonbill (left) and mount from Waldrop’s collection (right), from the sentencing memo in United States v. John Waldrop, et al., 1:23-cr-00378 in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

    The USFWS Office of Law Enforcement in Valley Stream, New York, conducted the investigation as part of Operation Final Flight. The operation focused on the trafficking of protected birds into the United States. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources assisted with the investigation.

    Senior Trial Attorney Ryan Connors of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna Karamigios for the Eastern District of New York prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than a Year in Prison for Dogfighting

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Sentence adjudicates first-ever federal dogfighting case in District of Massachusetts

    BOSTON – A Hanson, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing dogs at his Massachusetts home for participation in a dogfighting venture.

    John D. Murphy, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison, with the last three months to be served in community confinement, followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 and ordered prohibited from possessing pit-bull type dogs. In November 2024, Murphy pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.  

    “Dogfighting is a blood sport rooted in cruelty and greed. For years, Mr. Murphy brutalized defenseless animals for profit and sport – training them to fight, suffer and die for his own financial gain. His actions were not only illegal but deeply disturbing,” said United States Attorney Leah B. Foley. “This sentencing marks a historic moment in the first federal dogfighting conviction in Massachusetts and serves as a stark warning: those who engage in this barbaric practice will be exposed, prosecuted and punished. We will not tolerate animal cruelty in our communities.”

    “Dog fighting is a brutal and inhumane form of entertainment and is associated with other organized criminal activity, including illegal gambling,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to holding violators accountable. We commend the collaboration between federal and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

    “The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare,” said Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region.

    In 2021, Murphy was identified discussing dogfighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dogfighting target. A subsequent search of his Facebook accounts revealed Murphy’s years-long involvement in dogfighting. Murphy communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook where they discussed the results of dogfights, injuries sustained by fighting dogs, as well as breeding dogs. Murphy also belonged to private dogfighting Facebook groups used to share fight results, buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information on training and conditioning fighting dogs, among other things.

    Photos and videos found on Murphy’s Facebook account showed a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting as well as a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand. Videos from his account showed pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to different treadmill-like devices that dogfighters commonly use to physically condition dogs for dogfights. One of the videos depicted a live raccoon caged in front of the carpet mill, to serve as a stimulus for the pit bull-type dog to run faster and harder.  

    In June 2023, a search of Murphy’s residence in Hanson revealed that he was keeping nine pit bull-type dogs at his home. Several of the dogs had scarring consistent with being involved in organized dogfighting.

    Animal fighting paraphernalia was also found during the search of Murphy’s residence, including: 

    • Flirt poles, used to entice a dog to chase a stimulus;
    • Spring poles, used to build a dog’s jaw strength and increase aggression;
    • Several treadmills, slat mills and carpet mills, used to condition dogs to build stamina and muscle;
    • A jenny mill, used to develop a dog’s endurance and musculature by enticing the animal to run on a circular track;
    • Rabbit training scent for dogs;
    • Break sticks, used to force a dog’s bite open, specifically at the termination of a fight or while training;
    • A dog bite sleeve;
    • Disposable skin staplers, used to attempt to close wounds resulting from dogfights;
    • Several types of steroids and painkillers;
    • Fertility medications and a breeding stand, used to restrain female dogs during breeding;
    • Printouts of fighting dog pedigrees; and
    • Dog fighting literature, DVDs and CD-ROMs.

    A forensic examination of Murphy’s cell phone revealed significant additional evidence of his involvement in dogfighting. This included multiple dog fighting videos and WhatsApp messages between Murphy and other individuals discussing elements of dog fighting. In one of the messages, Murphy expressed his anger over having animal control called to his property and the 25 years he invested in breeding and conditioning dogs, and asserting that he will “never never never” quit what he is doing with the dogs.

    In March 2024, the United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against 13 pit bull-type dogs, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Mass., that were possessed for participation in an animal fighting venture. In September and October 2024, the Court ordered the dogs to be forfeited to the United States.

    To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.

    U.S. Attorney Foley; ENRD Acting AAG Gustafson; USDA-OIG SAC Parker; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Karen L. LoStracco, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshal’s Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston and Acton Police Departments.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office and Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 10 tunnel workers could develop silicosis, our new research shows

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kate Cole, Occupational Hygienist, PhD Candidate, University of Sydney

    Around 10% of underground tunnel workers in Queensland could develop silicosis, our new study has found.

    Silicosis is a serious, incurable lung disease caused by inhaling small particles of silica dust. You might have heard about it in people who work with engineered stone. But silica is more widespread.

    Silica is found in rocks and concrete, so workers in industries such as construction, mining and tunnelling are at high risk if proper safety measures aren’t in place.

    When silica dust is breathed in, it gets trapped in the lungs, causing inflammation and scarring. Over time, this scarring makes it harder to breathe and can be fatal.

    As symptoms of silicosis can take decades to appear, workers may not realise they’re sick until long after they’ve started working, or even after they stop.

    But silicosis is preventable.

    When silica dust is breathed in, it gets trapped in the lungs in tiny air sacs (the alveoli), causing inflammation and scarring.
    Pikovit/Shutterstock

    How does silicosis affect tunnel workers?

    Thousands of people are involved in tunnelling projects in Australia.

    Tunnelling involves breaking up large amounts of silica-containing rock with heavy machinery.

    Tunnel workers rely on advanced ventilation systems to provide fresh air underground, water systems to keep the rocks wet and suppress dust, and they wear respirators on their face to keep the air they breathe clean. But some people have raised concerns these measures do not always work properly.

    There are also national legal limits in place for silica dust exposure, currently 0.05 milligrams per cubic metre over an eight-hour work day.

    However, a media investigation last November revealed one-third of air monitoring tests from a Sydney tunnel project were above legal limits.

    While air monitoring tests are required by law, the results of routine air monitoring tests are often not made public.

    An expert taskforce has recently been set up in New South Wales to address the silica-related health risks for tunnel workers, promising to make high silica results above legal limits publicly available.

    But while attention has been focused on tunnel workers in Sydney, the problem of lung disease in underground workers is more widespread.

    Our Queensland study

    The results of air monitoring tests are important because they show whether legal silica dust limits are being adhered to.

    Another valuable use of this data is it can help us predict future disease risk. Instead of waiting to see how many workers develop silica-related diseases such as silicosis and lung cancer, this data can be used to estimate cases in advance.

    In 2017, a Queensland parliamentary inquiry raised concerns about the health of Brisbane’s tunnel workers, particularly regarding the harmful effects of exposure to silica dust.

    We worked through the parliamentary inquiry documents to uncover the results of hundreds of individual air monitoring tests conducted on three major Queensland tunnel projects between 2007 and 2013.

    We analysed this data to estimate how many workers were exposed to silica dust and at what levels. We then modelled how many cases of silicosis and lung cancer would occur over the workers’ lifetimes.

    We estimated that in a group of around 2,000 workers involved in these Queensland tunnel projects, 200 to 300 would develop silicosis over their lifetime as a result of silica dust exposure (roughly one in every ten workers).

    We also estimated between 20 to 30 workers would develop lung cancer due to their exposure.

    We had limited information on workplace conditions in the specific projects, so we made a number of assumptions based on publicly available information and our own experience. These included assumptions around the use and protective nature of masks. The fact we had to make some assumptions could be a limitation of our study. Due to the lack of data transparency we don’t know if these figures apply more broadly to tunnel workers throughout Australia.

    Silicosis can appear decades after occupational exposure.
    Marco Di Stefano/Shutterstock

    Our projected rate of silicosis, 10%, is the same as the rate of silicosis recorded by a government inquiry in 1924 which investigated silicosis among workers who built Sydney’s sewers.

    So it doesn’t seem things are any better in terms of silicosis risk in underground work than a century ago.

    We need to do more to protect tunnel workers

    Continued secrecy around silica dust data reduces our ability to understand the scale of the problem and respond effectively. Nonetheless, the small amount of data that has been made available supports the need for urgent action.

    With Australia’s ongoing infrastructure expansion, policymakers must act now. This should include enforcing stricter legal limits for silica dust exposure. There is concern among health experts that current limits don’t sufficiently protect workers’ health.

    Policymakers should also ensure protective measures such as advanced ventilation and dust suppression systems are in place for all tunnel projects, set up national tunnel worker health surveillance, and make exposure data available to workers and the public.

    There are several examples where things are done better. Internationally, Norway and Switzerland have strong systems to protect tunnel workers’ health such as air and health monitoring being conducted by an independent government agency. In Switzerland, this agency also insures the project. Noncompliance results in higher insurance premiums or, in some cases, the withdrawal of insurance, effectively stopping the project.

    Nationally, Australia’s mining industry is more heavily regulated than tunnelling, with stricter enforcement of compliance.

    Without immediate intervention, thousands of tunnel workers will continue to face serious health risks and Australia will face a growing wave of preventable occupational diseases.

    Kate Cole receives higher degree by research funding from The University of Sydney; is a member of the Asbestos and Silica Safety Eradication Council; the NSW Dust Diseases Board; the Chair of the External Affairs Committee for the Australian Institute of Occupational Hygienists; and acts as an expert witness for law firms concerning silica-related diseases in tunnel workers.

    Renee Carey has previously received funding from the Australian Council of Trade Unions. She is a member of the Occupational Lung Disease Network Steering Committee formed by Lung Foundation Australia.

    Tim Driscoll has acted as an expert witness, and written government reports, in relation to silica exposure but not specifically connected to tunnelling. He chairs the Occupational and Environmental Cancer Committee of Cancer Council Australia and chairs the Occupational Lung Disease Network Steering Committee of Lung Foundation Australia.

    – ref. 1 in 10 tunnel workers could develop silicosis, our new research shows – https://theconversation.com/1-in-10-tunnel-workers-could-develop-silicosis-our-new-research-shows-252186

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Trump administration executive order targeting state climate laws is a quid pro quo

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    A bold “Make Polluters Pay” projection lit up Houston during CERAWeek—the fossil fuel industry’s so-called “Super Bowl”—calling out Big Oil for its central role in driving the climate crisis. The campaign demands that the industry not only be held accountable for past damage, but also be forced to fund the costs of preparing our communities for the escalating impacts of climate change. © Greenpeace

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 9, 2025)– In response to the Trump administration’s executive order directing the Department of Justice to take aim at state climate laws and lawsuits, John Noël, Greenpeace USA Deputy Climate Program Director, said: “This is a pathetic and dangerous attempt by a desperate industry to cling to power while communities suffer. From the Gulf Coast to the Los Angeles area, people are being slammed by floods, wildfires, and record heat. But instead of helping Americans, Trump is launching a political attack on states that are trying to create a livable future for their people.

    “This order isn’t about ‘freedom’ or ‘energy independence’ — it’s about Big Oil CEOs using the federal government to crush states’ rights when it aligns with their fossil fuel agenda. It’s also a convenient distraction from the economic sabotage of working families and the fossil fuel industry’s covert push for blanket immunity in Congress from all climate accountability.

    “Fossil fuel companies have profited off the backs of everyday people for far too long and we have the chance to make them pay to clean up their mess. Right now, states should be leaning into climate superfund legislation, not away from it. Nothing in this order prevents states from doing so. And the many states that are already considering these types of bills, like California, should be passing them expeditiously.”

    Contact: Katie Nelson, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected], +1 (678) 644-1681

    Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Committee Moves Favorably on Rep. Titus Legislation to Safeguard Southern Nevada Water

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Dina Titus (1st District of Nevada)

    The House Natural Resources Committee today reported favorably out of committee with bipartisan support legislation introduced by Congresswoman Dina Titus to safeguard Southern Nevada’s water security while enhancing environmental conservation efforts.

    The Sloan Canyon Conservation and Lateral Pipeline Act would allow a portion of the Southern Nevada Water Authority’s (SNWA) Horizon Lateral water pipeline project to tunnel underneath Sloan Canyon National Conservation Area (NCA), increasing water reliability for over a million Southern Nevadans, fortifying the region’s water infrastructure against potential outages, and minimizing disruptions and impacts to the surrounding communities.

    The legislation also would expand the Sloan Canyon NCA by 9,290 acres to enhance the preservation of the desert landscapes and habitat unique to Southern Nevada.

    Congresswoman Titus stated, “Southern Nevada is the epicenter of the climate crisis with rising temperatures and dwindling water resources. The Horizon Lateral pipeline will protect water access for District One residents and businesses while also preserving more of our state’s unique landscapes and habitat. I look forward to working with House Leadership to bring this critical bill up for consideration expeditiously on the House floor.”

    The Southern Nevada Water Authority has affirmed its support for the legislation, emphasizing the significance of ensuring water service reliability for the Las Vegas Valley. “This legislation increases water service reliability for more than one million residents and hundreds of businesses in Southern Nevada, helping ensure the long-term viability of our regional water system while also expanding and protecting environmental resources for our community,” said John Ensminger, General Manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority

    Background:

    The proposed underground route beneath Sloan Canyon NCA is estimated to save Southern Nevadans at least $200 million while minimizing disturbances to both residents and the local environment.

    Additionally, this route ensures the water delivery system’s redundancy in emergency situations and offers flexibility to accommodate the needs of a growing community.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: B.C. makes heat pumps more affordable for people with low incomes

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    The Province is making electric heat pumps more affordable for low- and moderate-income households, including renters and those who live in multi-unit residential buildings.

    “Every British Columbian deserves reliable, affordable, and clean heating and cooling. Since our government started providing incentives for people to make the switch to heat pumps, we’ve seen a huge uptake across the province, but cost is still a barrier for many,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. “That’s why we’re prioritizing funding to make clean-energy solutions and year-round comfort accessible to British Columbians who need them most, including for owners and renters who live in multi-unit buildings.”

    The CleanBC Energy Savings Program, launched in June 2024, is funded through the Province and leverages contributions from BC Hydro and the federal government to support greater access to home energy retrofits for low- to moderate-income households, including renters. The successful program, which supports the installation of affordable heat pumps for income-qualified, single-family homes, will expand to include individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings starting mid-2025.

    With $50 million in each of the next two fiscal years – 2025-26 and 2026-27 – the Province plans to deliver as many as 8,300 new heat pump rebates to British Columbians. Households in individual suites in multi-unit residential buildings could be eligible for up to $5,500 for a ductless mini-split heat pump. In addition, the Province will partner with BC Hydro and FortisBC to expand their Energy Conservation Assistance Program to offer heat-pump installations to the lowest-income households in single-family homes and individual suites.

    “Heat pumps provide year-round comfort with efficient cooling in the summer and heat in the winter, and they can be up to 300% more efficient than electric baseboard heating,” said Chris O’Riley, president and CEO, BC Hydro. “We are pleased the Province will partner with BC Hydro and FortisBC to expand their Energy Conservation Assistance Program as we work to ensure more British Columbians have access to heat pump technology.”

    In September 2024, the Province launched a Multi-Unit Residential Building Retrofit Program to support rental, strata and equity co-op buildings to make the switch to more energy-efficient and cleaner technologies. A key feature of the new actions being announced by the Province is the expansion of heat pump rebates into individual suites, rather than the entire building.

    This action supports the 2024 Cooperation and Responsible Government Accord with the BC Green caucus, which commits the government to contribute $50 million annually toward electric heat pumps for the next two fiscal years, ensuring they are accessible to low- and moderate-income households.

    Quotes:

    Roger Dall’Antonia, president and CEO, FortisBC –

    “The Energy Conservation Assistance Program, a long-standing collaboration with BC Hydro, is one of the ways we are supporting our customers across the province. We’re proud to work together to deliver conservation and energy-efficiency programs to income-qualified customers to help them lower their energy use and associated costs.”

    Jeremy Valeriote, interim leader, BC Greens and MLA for West Vancouver-Sea to Sky –

    “Climate action should be seen as an affordable solution. And through our agreement with the government, we’ve ensured that clean-energy solutions like heat pumps are more accessible to everyone in this province, regardless of their living situation. Addressing climate change must also be affordable, and we’re pleased to see government initiatives moving in that direction.”

    Mike Nowotniak, principal, Method Air –

    “With equipment and labour costs rising, government rebates have become essential in helping families afford the comfort, energy savings and climate resilience of heat pumps. These programs empower us to deliver cleaner technology to more homes, especially those who need it most.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Since Better Homes and Better Buildings launched in 2018, the program has delivered 26,700 rebates for B.C. households, including 12,900 incentives to income-qualified households.
    • From 2019 to 2023, average heat pump sales were nearly double the average of the previous five years, and in 2022 began to exceed furnace sales.
    • Today, 13% of all B.C. households use heat pumps for heating, up from 5% in 2008.
    • Government programs have supported the establishment of strong supply chains and industry capacity, establishing a network of more than 700 heating, ventilation and air-conditioning companies throughout B.C.

    Learn More:

    To learn about programs to help with costs, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/home/benefits

    For help claiming cash benefits when filing taxes, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/income-taxes/filing-your-taxes-has-its-benefits

    More information about rebates and how to apply will be posted when available here: https://www.betterhomesbc.ca

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Chairman Capito Opening Statement on Needed Improvement to EPA’s Superfund Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito

    To watch Chairman Capito’s opening statement, click here or the image above.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, led ahearing on identifying improvements to the future management of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Superfund Program. 

    In her opening remarks, Chairman Capito detailed the importance of identifying ways to accelerate Superfund cleanups by eliminating unnecessary delays and reducing costs that do not directly contribute to environmental remediation, and began the process of examining why these cleanups often take longer and cost more than state-led or voluntary efforts.

    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) as delivered.

    “Today we will discuss challenges facing the EPA’s Superfund program and solutions to ensure it can live up to its full potential.

    “Since I’ve become Chairman, I have stressed that the EPA must refocus the Agency’s work on the core environmental missions to deliver the clean-ups and environmental solutions that most benefit the environment and Americans’ health and welfare. The Superfund program, as enacted, is one of the best examples of the EPA executing that core mission.

    “Cleaning up our nation’s most contaminated sites directly improves public health and can revitalize struggling communities. I’ve certainly seen that in my own state. Congress established Superfund in 1980 in response to several high-profile environmental disasters. The law was designed to promptly cleanup heavily contaminated sites and to make the polluters responsible for the cleanup.  These are important goals, but the EPA’s management of the Superfund program has not delivered as intended.

    “Communities now expect a Superfund cleanup to take more than a decade. I’ve already heard that from our witnesses in our informal conversations. That prolonged timeline sends a conflicting message to communities with a site nearby. You live near one of the most hazardous places in the country, but EPA will let it sit for years before they allow it to be fully cleaned up. Despite the lengthy cleanup timeline, the Superfund program has achieved some critical environmental and public health victories and restored thousands of contaminated sites across the country.

    “The reason for delays that rob Superfund of its full potential is that EPA’s implementation of the law prioritizes process over results. The complexity of the law has made it one of the most difficult environmental programs to administer.

    “In practice, the main winners in managing Superfund cleanups are the lawyers who profit from endless litigation, while communities wait for promised relief. To manage a law this complex, the EPA has built an entangled web of bureaucracy, work groups, task forces, and committees that too often slow progress instead of delivering results.

    “Cleaning up Superfund sites is, naturally, a costly endeavor, but the problems with Superfund cannot be blamed on funding alone. To better help communities get the most out of limited taxpayer funding, Congress and the EPA must identify efficiencies to accelerate cleanups. This is particularly important when considering the overall cost of Superfund cleanups.

    “Superfund’s price tag isn’t just about the complexity of environmental cleanup. There is what I call the ‘Superfund premium,’ a concept where the same environmental cleanup becomes more expensive and time-consuming under Superfund compared to a state-led or voluntary cleanup program. Whether managed under Superfund authority or through a state program, remediation is likely to involve the same core work, removing contaminated soil, treating groundwater, and restoring the land.

    “Yet, because of the ‘Superfund premium,’ we often see costs just balloon and timelines stretch once a site is listed. It’s not because the environmental standards are higher, but rather because the program’s process has replaced the law’s cleanup mission. The program’s complex bureaucracy generates enormous transaction costs that have nothing to do with actual environmental cleanup.

    “Instead of removing contaminants, limited time and financial resources are squandered on endless meetings, redundant studies, and excessive overhead costs completely unrelated to remediation. There is no shortage of responsible parties that are ready and willing to remediate these sites. Even Good Samaritans, well-intentioned individuals and organizations, are often deterred from cleaning up sites because of liability risks and financial barriers.

    “Our laws should encourage, not prevent, volunteer efforts to address legacy pollution. Accelerating the pace of Superfund cleanups does not mean cutting corners or sacrificing health protections.

    “It means defining an end goal with a clear plan that gets it to a safe, productive end-state as efficiently as possible. The ensuing cleanup is driven by that goal, to the benefit of communities and the environment. Right now, the priority is enforcement first, cleanup second, and leaving communities to wait far too long. That needs to change.

    “I look forward to hearing from today’s expert panel on how to improve the Superfund program’s efficiency and accountability.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SEE’s opening remarks on environment and ecology at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SEE’s opening remarks on environment and ecology at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting 
    Thank you, President and Honourable Members.
     
    As the Financial Secretary stated in the Budget, “Development of green industries is a major international trend and key to addressing global climate change.” To align with our country’s dual carbon targets, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government strives to halve Hong Kong’s carbon emissions before 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. After years of effort, carbon emissions in Hong Kong peaked in 2014. In 2023, Hong Kong’s carbon emissions have decreased by about a quarter compared to the peak level, and per capita carbon emissions have also dropped by nearly 30 per cent from 2014 levels, approximately one-quarter of that of the United States and 60 per cent of that of the European Union.
     
    Innovative technology can bring new industries and business models to Hong Kong, fostering economic diversification and developing new quality productive forces. Thirty-three research and development projects have been approved by the Green Tech Fund, involving a total grant of about $147 million. The projects cut across a wide array of subjects, such as production and storage of hydrogen fuel, and technology of turning waste into resources. With the support of these measures, we will leverage Hong Kong’s distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world to develop Hong Kong into a demonstration base for green technologies, helping our country go global and attract foreign investment.
     
    As for new-energy transport, the Government announced in December last year the Green Transformation Roadmap of Public Buses and Taxis, and reserved $470 million to subsidise franchised bus operators to procure about 600 electric buses, as well as $135 million to subsidise taxi owners to purchase 3 000 electric taxis. Following the announcement of the $300 million fast charger incentive scheme in the 2024 Policy Address, the scheme is planned to be launched in the middle of this year to subsidise the private sector to install an additional 3 000 fast chargers, thereby providing support to an additional 160 000 electric vehicles. This would further expand the charging infrastructure. In addition, as part of the implementation of the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, the Funding Scheme to Trial of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Heavy Vehicles also started accepting applications in December 2024. We will also introduce into the Legislative Council a bill to amend the Gas Safety Ordinance within the second quarter of this year to regulate the use of hydrogen as fuel.
     
    As regards the promotion of waste reduction and recycling, the current-term Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has put in an unparalleled level of efforts in promoting waste reduction at source, turning around the rising trend of the disposal amount of municipal solid waste (MSW) in recent years. Since 2021, the average disposal of MSW has continued to decrease for three consecutive years under the current-term Government, with the daily amount of MSW disposed of at landfills decreasing by a total of 7.5 per cent from 11 358 tonnes in 2021 to 10 510 tonnes in 2024. To continuously enhance the community recycling network, the Government will allocate an additional $180 million to increase the number of residential food waste smart bins or food waste collection facilities across Hong Kong to 1 600 within this year. Moreover, to turn waste into resources, the Government recently submitted an amendment bill to the Legislative Council last Wednesday (April 2) to establish a common legislative framework for producer responsibility schemes (PRSs). We will extend PRSs to different products gradually in the light of the actual situation.
     
    Regarding waste to energy, Hong Kong is building its first waste-to-energy (WtE) facility, I·PARK1, for treating MSW, which is expected to commence operation this year. We are also pressing ahead with the development of the second WtE facility, I·PARK2, for which an open tender was launched in December last year. With an expected MSW treatment capacity of 6 000 tonnes per day, I·PARK2 will become one of the largest advanced WtE facilities in Asia upon completion. I·PARK1 together with I·PARK2 will be able to treat 9 000 tonnes of MSW per day, marking Hong Kong’s progress towards achieving “zero landfill”.
     
    On the promotion of energy saving and green buildings, we submitted an amendment bill for the Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance to the Legislative Council on March 26 to strengthen our building energy efficiency management regime. Upon the Legislative Council’s passage, it is estimated that an additional 500 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 150 000 three-person households, will be saved in 2035 when the proposed amendments take full effect. Furthermore, we are reviewing the scale and mode of delivery of district cooling systems in new development areas, such as Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen and San Tin Technopole, to tie in with the development of the area with greater cost-effectiveness. We expect to report the review results to the Panel on Environmental Affairs in this April.
     
    On nature conservation, we officially established the North Lantau Marine Park and the Long Valley Nature Park in November last year, and plan to launch the new Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan this year to strengthen ecological safeguarding. We will commence the construction of the Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park in the Northern Metropolis in two years’ time at the earliest. The Park will be five times larger than the existing Hong Kong Wetland Park, and will enrich outdoor ecological education and recreation experiences, as well as promote the modernisation of aquaculture industry. We will also continue to enhance the attractiveness of Hong Kong’s countryside, including the Po Pin Chau Viewing Platform in the Sai Kung East Country Park and the Lin Ma Hang Lead Mine Cave Revitalisation Project in the Robin’s Nest Country Park, which were opened to the public at the end of last year. The first Countryside Harvest Festival: Kuk Po “Sound, Sight, Taste Fusion” Tour was also held from January to February this year, attracting over 12 000 participants.
     
    My colleagues and I are happy to listen to Members’ views and respond to questions.
    Issued at HKT 19:34

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SEE’s opening remarks on food safety and environmental hygiene at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    SEE’s opening remarks on food safety and environmental hygiene at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting 
         Thank you Chairman and Honourable Members.

         The Environment and Ecology Bureau is committed to ensuring food safety and environmental hygiene as well as promoting the sustainable development of the local agriculture and fisheries industries.
     
    In the 2025-26 Estimates, about $12.32 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the policy portfolio of Environment and Food, representing an increase of about $50 million (0.4 per cent) over the previous year and accounting for about 2.1 per cent of the recurrent expenditure of the Government.
    To improve environmental hygiene more effectively, we conducted a comprehensive review of environmental hygiene-related legislation and put forward relevant amendments. First, we raised the fixed penalty levels for offences such as littering and shopfront extensions to enhance the deterrent effect in 2023. In the year that followed, the number of fixed penalty notices issued against shopfront extensions was 90 per cent less than that in the previous year. In 2024, we further introduced the second-stage legislative amendments to enhance enforcement effectiveness. The amendments, if passed by the LegCo, can take effect in the third quarter of this year. Departments will then be able to handle shopfront extensions more efficiently and expedite investigations into public health nuisances such as water seepage in buildings, water dripping from air-conditioners and “garbage apartments”.
     
         As regards environmental hygiene services, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actively stepped up cleansing and enforcement at about 240 hygiene blackspots under its purview. The conditions of most of the blackspots have been markedly improved, and follow-up work will be carried out on an ongoing basis. In addition, the FEHD has enhanced its anti-rodent work. Using various tools and methods such as new design snap traps and T-shaped bait boxes, the FEHD captured 89 600 live rodents in 2024, representing an increase of about 165 per cent as compared with 2021. In the same year, the FEHD made full use of technology by adopting thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence technology in conducting rodent activity surveys, to track rodent activities in a more precise manner and carry out targeted work. Among the 90 locations with active rodent activities identified in the first half of 2024, nearly 90 per cent of the conditions have been improved. We have also continued to implement the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts among different sectors in the community, including property management companies, market/hawker stalls, the catering industry, the construction sector and the pest control trade. In 2024, we launched the Anti-rodent Charter for private residential buildings to bolster anti-rodent efforts, with 607 applications received in just two and a half months. We will continue to work hand in hand with stakeholders to create a rodent-free environment.
     
         As regards food business licences, the FEHD launched a series of facilitating measures for the trade. For example, we expanded the scope of the Professional Certification System to cover general restaurants, so that applicants may choose a “licence first, inspection later” approach and obtain a licence about 14 days earlier. Besides, we introduced the “Composite Permit” which covers multiple restricted foods, to spare shop operators the effort to apply for a separate permit for each food item. The new measure is well received, with about 100 applications received in the first quarter. We will continue to keep a close watch on the needs of the trade and proactively improve the regime.
     
    New public markets and Market Modernisation Programme (MMP)
     
         In 2024, the FEHD took forward the stall enhancement project in the Queen Street Cooked Food Market under the MMP to improve its operating environment through repair and beautification works. The Queen Street Cooked Food Market resumed operation in September 2024, with footfall increased by about 20 per cent as compared with that before the works. Stall tenants indicated that the enhancement works have improved the operating environment. Many members of the public have also expressed that the enhanced cooked food market offers a contemporary feel and a clean and comfortable dining environment. The FEHD will identify other suitable venues for similar works. In addition, the FEHD continues to take forward the new market projects in Tin Shui Wai, Area 67 of Tseung Kwan O and Kwu Tung North New Development Area, with expected completion dates ranging from end-2027 to end-2028.
     
    Agriculture and fisheries development 
         On the agriculture front, the Government has reserved land in Sheung Shui for the construction of Hong Kong’s first multi-storey modernised and environment-friendly livestock farm by the trade, the site formation works for which are expected to be completed within 2026. The AFCD will invite open applications for the construction and operation of the concerned livestock farm shortly so that interested agricultural associations/enterprises may apply. The selected organisation may apply for financial support from the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund. Moreover, to promote the development of leisure farming, the AFCD launched the Agri enJoy Scheme in June 2024 to facilitate farms engaged in commercial agricultural production to offer leisure farming activities as ancillary businesses. As at February 2025, 83 eligible farmers have joined this scheme.
     
    Furthermore, the AFCD strives to set up a unified new brand for local agricultural and fisheries products and establish production standards, farming methods, as well as a certification and traceability system in the upcoming financial year (2025-26), with a view to promoting local agricultural and fisheries products and enhancing their brand value and competitiveness in the market.
     
    Chairman, my colleagues and I are happy to answer questions from Members.
    Issued at HKT 19:17

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Shaheen, Collins, King, Kelly, Heinrich Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address PFAS Contamination in Private Wells

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen
    (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) are reintroducing bipartisan legislation to address per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in private wells. The Technical Fix for the State Response to Contaminants Program bill would ensure that states have the flexibility to use $5 billion provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for PFAS and other emerging contaminants in small and disadvantaged communities to assist private well owners.
    “Nearly half of all Granite Staters get their water supply at home from private wells—they shouldn’t have to worry that the water they’re drinking is unsafe,” said Senator Shaheen. “Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that assistance from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help communities address toxic PFAS is available to more Granite Staters, regardless of where their drinking water comes from.”
    “PFAS and other harmful contaminants have been discovered in private water systems in Maine and across the country, and contamination will only become more evident as testing becomes more readily available,” said Senator Collins. “It is crucial that the funding we provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law be executed with the appropriate flexibility not only to support public water systems but also to help address contamination for those who rely on private wells. With more than half of Maine residents getting their drinking water from private wells, and an estimated 23 million people or more nationwide relying on residential wells, it is important that the historic investments in safe drinking water help all families.”
    “Every Maine community and household deserves access to clean drinking water that is free of harsh or toxic chemicals like PFAS,” said Senator King. “The bipartisan Technical Fix for the States Response to Contaminations Program is responsible legislation that will allow states more flexibility when it comes to mitigating PFAS contamination and provide assistance to those communities that rely on private wells. I want to thank my colleagues for taking this bipartisan step forward to protecting our drinking water and shared public health.”
    “In Arizona, many families rely on their own wells for their drinking water, and they deserve to know that water is safe and free of dangerous PFAS contamination,” said Kelly. “This fix will give states the flexibility to use existing federal funding to address contamination in private wells, helping make sure families in small and rural communities have access to clean, safe water.”
    “Safe water is essential to the health and well-being of New Mexicans,” said Heinrich. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor legislation that will protect rural communities from dangerous forever chemicals by ensuring states can use funding to access new technology that detects and gets rid of water contaminants in private wells. Everyone deserves clean and safe drinking water.”
    Congress intended Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for small and disadvantaged communities to be available for states to address private well contamination. However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency initially interpreted the statute as only allowing for assistance to private wells if the purpose of the activity was to consider connecting private wells to public water systems. In the Fiscal Year 2024 government funding legislation, Senator Shaheen successfully secured language to temporarily address this issue for that year’s funding. The Technical Fix for the State Response to Contaminants Program would be a permanent fix.
    Senator Shaheen leads efforts in Congress to uncover the potential health effects related to PFAS contamination, respond to the chemical exposure and remediate polluted sites. As a lead negotiator of water provisions in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Senator Shaheen worked to secure $10 billion to specifically address PFAS and other emerging contaminants, $5 billion of which is targeted to small and disadvantaged communities. To date, New Hampshire has received more than $325 million in water infrastructure funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including $66 million to address PFAS.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Will de Freitas, Environment + Energy Editor, UK edition

    New Zealand has granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River. Ron Kolet / shutterstock

    Most rivers need some human help to stay clean and healthy and to flow freely. People have to fish out litter, block sewage, look out for invasive species and so on.

    This is obvious enough. But, as rivers are increasingly being granted legal rights of their own, they’ll need another form of human help: people willing to be their legal representatives, filing lawsuits and speaking in court.

    This roundup of The Conversation’s climate coverage comes from our award-winning weekly climate action newsletter. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed.

    The idea that nature should be granted rights similar to that of a human (sometimes described as “legal personhood”) has been around for a few decades now. Though some lakes, forests and other features have been awarded these rights, it’s rivers that are the main beneficiaries. Most recently, the River Ouse in East Sussex, England, was awarded rights by its local council, following similar moves in places as diverse as New Zealand, Ecuador, Canada and India.

    “Rivers often have strong cultural and spiritual identities as sacred living entities or life-giving beings. These existential understandings have underpinned legal actions.” That’s according to Nick Mount, a rivers expert at the University of Nottingham.

    Back in 2017, Mount travelled to Colombia to visit the River Atrato. The Atrato flows through a remote and highly biodiverse jungle, in a region which at the time remained a paramilitary stronghold. The country’s constitutional court had recently awarded the river humans rights and Mount wanted to see what that meant in practice.

    “The Atrato River has been awarded rights,” he said, “because of what it provides for human life – not because it should be equated with human life”. He continued “this places a significant burden on the Colombian state to ensure the rights are enforced – and it demands that local people are empowered to manage their river properly”.

    However, “the reality was sobering”. He found deforested riverbanks, so contaminated with chemicals that plants could not regrow. He found industrial dredging had reshaped an entire river to the point where its regular nutrient-cycling floods had broken down entirely, while whole human communities had been displaced.

    “The Atrato River in general, and [its tributary] the Rio Quito in particular, serve as a stark reminder that awarding environmental rights is not the same as realising them. Such rights don’t exist within a vacuum, of course, and they will only be fulfilled if political, socio-economic and cultural systems support them.”



    Read more:
    Can a river have legal rights? I visited the jungles of Colombia to find out

    So what might a more supportive human system involve? Oluwabusayo Wuraola is a law lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University. Writing about the recent River Ouse news, she agrees with Mount that “simply granting a river some rights isn’t enough” and adds that “we now need to think about who will actually defend these rights”.

    The River Ouse, playing hide and seek.
    Melanie Hobson / shutterstock

    “Appointing representatives who care about their own personal and property interests would be a grave mistake, as would appointing anyone who prioritises the rights of humans to a healthy environment over a more intrinsic right of nature (remember: the idea is that the River Ouse has rights in itself and shouldn’t need to demonstrate its worth to humans).”

    In her analysis, “the most effective defenders of the rights of nature in many court cases” have been people with an “ecocentric perspective”. That means an outlook that prioritises the intrinsic value of nature itself, rather than focusing on how it can serve human interests. She cites instances where the supposed advocates for a river’s rights in court were actually motivated by wanting to protect their own property downstream.

    Ultimately, though “moves to give rights to nature are promising … we’ll need a whole army of nature protectors to actually enforce those rights”.



    Read more:
    Rivers are increasingly being given legal rights. Now they need people who will defend these rights in court

    These ideas can be applied to rivers in the news right now. For instance, China recently approved the construction of the world’s largest hydroelectric dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river in Tibet.

    The dam will provide enormous amounts of clean energy – when complete, it will be the world’s largest power plant by some distance. But it will also displace people, destroy ecosystems and, of course, disrupt the river itself.

    Mehebub Sahana, a geographer at the University of Manchester, points out the effects may be especially severe downstream in India and Bangladesh, where that same river is known as the Brahmaputra and helps form a vast and incredibly fertile delta system.

    For him, the dam highlights “some of the geopolitical issues raised by rivers that cross international borders”. “Who owns the river itself,” he asks, “and who has the right to use its water? Do countries have obligations not to pollute shared rivers, or to keep their shipping lanes open? And when a drop of rain falls on a mountain, do farmers in a different country thousands of miles downstream have a claim to use it?”



    Read more:
    China plans to build the world’s largest dam – but what does this mean for India and Bangladesh downstream?

    These are crucial questions, even if they’re ultimately framed around humans. An ecocentric representative might argue the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra has an intrinsic right to flow undisturbed and to dump its sediment where it pleases.

    There may be a happy medium. Viktoria Kahui is an environmental economist at the University of Otago in New Zealand. Last year, she investigated 14 examples of rights-of-nature from around the world.

    She found a “fundamental divide between local communities and external economic interests”. In some cases, interest groups were able to overturn the provision of nature rights.

    She therefore recommends that “future rights-of-nature frameworks need to … include appointed guardians, established as separate legal entities with limited liability, as well as the support of representatives from interest groups”.



    Read more:
    Granting legal ‘personhood’ to nature is a growing movement – can it stem biodiversity loss?

    In the Yarlung Tsangpo/Brahmaputra example, those interest groups might include rice farmers and mangrove conservationists in Bangladesh, or fishermen a thousand miles upstream. They might include the millions of people who would gain electricity, or the thousands who would lose their homes. The river itself could also be an interested party, perhaps via eco-centric human representatives.

    Exactly where you draw the line in these cases is tricky. But with rivers increasingly being granted legal rights, this isn’t the last you’ll hear of this issue.

    – ref. Some rivers have ‘legal personhood’. Now they need a lawyer – https://theconversation.com/some-rivers-have-legal-personhood-now-they-need-a-lawyer-254267

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Cédric M. John, Professor and Head of Data Science for the Environment and Sustainability, Queen Mary University of London

    Were Earth’s oceans once green? 100Y Design/Shutterstock

    Nearly three fourths of Earth is covered by oceans, making the planet look like a pale blue dot from space. But Japanese researchers have made a compelling case that Earth’s oceans were once green, in a study published in Nature.

    The reason Earth’s oceans may have looked different in the ancient past is to do with their chemistry and the evolution of photosynthesis. As a geology undergraduate student, I was taught about the importance of a type of rock deposit known as the banded iron formation in recording the planet’s history.

    Banded iron formations were deposited in the Archean and Paleoproterozoic eons, roughly between 3.8 and 1.8 billion years ago. Life back then was confined to one cell organisms in the oceans. The continents were a barren landscape of grey, brown and black rocks and sediments.

    Rain falling on continental rocks dissolved iron which was then carried to the oceans by rivers. Other sources of iron were volcanoes on the ocean floor. This iron will become important later.

    Cross section of banded iron formation in Karijini National park, in the Hamersley Range, Western Australia.
    Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock

    The Archaean eon was a time when Earth’s atmosphere and ocean were devoid of gaseous oxygen, but also when the first organisms to generate energy from sunlight evolved. These organisms used anaerobic photosynthesis, meaning they can do photosynthesis in the absence of oxygen.

    It triggered important changes as a byproduct of anaerobic photosynthesis is oxygen gas. Oxygen gas bound to iron in seawater. Oxygen only existed as a gas in the atmosphere once the seawater iron could neutralise no more oxygen.

    Eventually, early photosynthesis led to the “great oxidation event”, a major ecological turning point that made complex life on Earth possible. It marked the transition from a largely oxygen free Earth to one with large amounts of oxygen in the ocean and atmosphere.

    The “bands” of different colours in banded iron formations record this shift with an alternation between deposits of iron deposited in the absence of oxygen and red oxidised iron.

    The case for green oceans

    The recent paper’s case for green oceans in the Archaean eon starts with an observation: waters around the Japanese volcanic island of Iwo Jima have a greenish hue linked to a form of oxidised iron – Fe(III). Blue-green algae thrive in the green waters surrounding the island.

    Despite their name, blue-green algae are primitive bacteria and not true algae. In the Archaean eon, the ancestors of modern blue-green algae evolved alongside other bacteria that use ferrous iron instead of water as the source of electrons for photosynthesis. This points to high levels of iron in the ocean.

    The ocean around Iwo Jima has a greenish hue.
    Phan Lee McCaskill/US Navy

    Photosynthetic organisms use pigments (mostly chlorophyll) in their cells to transform CO₂ into sugars using the energy of the sun. Chlorophyll gives plants their green colour. Blue-green algae are peculiar because they carry the common chlorophyll pigment, but also a second pigment called phycoerythrobilin (PEB).

    In their paper, the researchers found that genetically engineered modern blue-green algae with PEB grow better in green waters. Although chlorophyll is great for photosynthesis in the spectra of light visible to us, PEB seems to be superior in green-light conditions.

    Before the rise of photosynthesis and oxygen, Earth’s oceans contained dissolved reduced iron (iron deposited in the absence of oxygen). Oxygen released by the rise of photosynthesis in the Archean eon then led to oxidised iron in seawater. The paper’s computer simulations also found oxygen released by early photosynthesis led to a high enough concentration of oxidised iron particles to turn the surface water green.

    Once all iron in the ocean was oxidised, free oxygen (0₂) existed in Earth’s oceans and atmosphere. So a major implication of the study is that pale-green dot worlds viewed from space are good candidates planets to harbour early photosynthetic life.

    The changes in ocean chemistry were gradual. The Archaean period lasted 1.5 billion years. This is more than half of Earth’s history. By comparison, the entire history of the rise and evolution of complex life represents about an eighth of Earth’s history.

    Almost certainly, the colour of the oceans changed gradually during this period and potentially oscillated. This could explain why blue-green algae evolved both forms of photosynthetic pigments. Chlorophyll is best for white light which is the type of sunlight we have today. Taking advantage of green and white light would have been an evolutionary advantage.

    Could oceans change colour again?

    The lesson from the recent Japanese paper is that the colour of our oceans are linked to water chemistry and the influence of life. We can imagine different ocean colours without borrowing too much from science fiction.

    Purple oceans would be possible on Earth if the levels of sulphur were high. This could be linked to intense volcanic activity and low oxygen content in the atmosphere, which would lead to the dominance of purple sulphur bacteria.

    Red oceans are also theoretically possible under intense tropical climates when red oxidised iron forms from the decay of rocks on the land and is carried to the oceans by rivers or winds. Or if a type of algae linked to “red tides” came to dominate the surface oceans.

    These red algae are common in areas with intense concentration of fertiliser such as nitrogen. In the modern oceans, this tends to happen in coastline close to sewers.

    As our sun ages, it will first become brighter leading to increased surface evaporation and intense UV light. This may favour purple sulphur bacteria living in deep waters without oxygen.

    It will lead to more purple, brown, or green hues in coastal or stratified areas, with less deep blue colour in water as phytoplankton decline. Eventually, oceans will evaporate completely as the sun expands to encompass the orbit of Earth.

    At geological timescales nothing is permanent and changes in the colour of our oceans are therefore inevitable.

    Cedric John receives funding from the UKRI.

    – ref. Earth’s oceans once turned green – and they could change again – https://theconversation.com/earths-oceans-once-turned-green-and-they-could-change-again-253460

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Alberta finalizing flood maps at lightning speed

    Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Tuberville Speaks with DOD Nominees About Improving National Security, Saving Taxpayer Dollars

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Tommy Tuberville (Alabama)
    WASHINGTON – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) participated in a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to consider the nominations of Bradley D. Hansell to be Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security; Earl G. Matthews to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense; Dale R. Marks to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment; and Former U.S. Representative Brandon M. Williams to be Under Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Security. During the hearing, Senator Tuberville spoke with the nominees about a variety of issues including military construction, military intelligence, and nuclear security. 
    Read Senator Tuberville’s remarks below or watch on YouTube or Rumble.

    MILITARY CONSTRUCTION (MILCON):
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Chairman. Thank you, gentlemen, for being here and your willingness to serve.
    Mr. Marks, I want to talk a little bit about an issue that affects many of our installations across the country, including my home state, Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. The issue is military construction, better known as MILCON. We need to move fast, and traditional military construction processes are way, way too slow. Back at Redstone Arsenal, there are two warehouses as we speak that are going up. One, [U.S.] Military Corps of Engineers is building, and the other is by the FBI. These warehouses are roughly the same size, but the FBI facility has a lot more bells and whistles. Yet, the military warehouse is going to take double the amount of time to build and 150% over the cost of what it’s costing [to build] the FBI building.
    How on earth does this make sense? It is a disaster, and I’m sure we’re having those problems across the country. Can I get your commitment to go and look at this situation? Lieutenant General Chris Mohan, the AMC Commander down there, is really looking into this, and I think he could help us with some of this in the future. We need to cut back on the time and the cost of a lot of these buildings, Mr. Marks.”
    MARKS: “Senator, thank you for that question and I couldn’t agree more. We absolutely need to look at additional best practices on ways to speed up our MILCON to include how it aligns with our programs. And, so, if confirmed I absolutely would want to dig deeper with you on this to ensure that I see how we can potentially go faster.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you. And another quick question for you, Mr. Marks. You recently discussed drone incursions with my staff. Can you tell the committee about that conversation and your experience?”
    MARKS: “Senator, thank you. What we have seen across the country and especially there at Eglin [Air Force Base] is an increase in drone activity and, in fact, activities surrounding our installations, whether that is foreign national turnarounds or other investments, things that we need to make. And so, Senator, in the local area at the installation I currently serve at, we’ve increased our investment to increase detection capability so that we can then use the authorities that we have been provided at the installation level to defend those installations. And Senator, if confirmed, I would want to see it expanded so that we can work with the combatant commanders to ensure we are defending our local installations here in the homeland.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you, very much needed.”
    MILITARY INTELLIGENCE:
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Hansell, as you know, one of the organizations you will oversee as OUSD(I&S). If you are confirmed, is the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC), which is a component of DIA […] it’s located in Huntsville, Alabama. MSIC provides world class analysis and performance of foreign weapons systems. Mr. Hansell, can you talk a little bit about how important it is for our warfighters to assess the kind of foreign material data that the DIA and MSIC provide?”
    HANSELL: “Yes, Senator. I’d first highlight the importance of MSIC relative to the growing importance of the space domain. It becomes ever more critical to our national security, as well as, I think, critical intel from MSIC should be used to inform the Golden Dome architecture design at every stage of the milestones.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    NUCLEAR SECURITY:
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Williams, [National Nuclear Security Administration]NNSA has been plagued by cost overrun, schedule delays, project cancellations related to construction of nuclear facilities, including uranium processing facility—The Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility—and others. If confirmed, what specific steps would you take to ensure that these project management failures are not repeated in the future?”
    WILLIAMS: “Thank you, Senator. And that is right at the heart to the plutonium pit production that you mentioned in Savannah River as well in Los Alamos, you know, is the critical path to restoring our ability to make new nuclear weapons and to ensure the long-life extension of our existing stockpile. There’s a number of details, a number of classified details, that I’ve not been briefed on in that, but I commit to you, should I be confirmed, that it is absolutely a commitment to get that back and to deliver, you know, for the weapons programs.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    JAG CORPS REFORM:
    TUBERVILLE: “Mr. Matthews, if confirmed, what role would you have in advising the president and the secretary on reforming the JAG Corps?”
    MATTHEWS: “Thank you, Senator, for the question. If confirmed, I would be a legal adviser to the Secretary of Defense and not to the President unless he asked me. But if the President were to ask me, I would consider the question he asked, and in light of the facts and information available to me, I would make a recommendation. The JAG Corps, the Army, the General Corps, the Joint Force JAGs, play an important role in ensuring the delivery of military justice, ensuring compliance with the law of armed conflict, a whole myriad of activities. And, so, it’s important that we get it right.”
    TUBERVILLE: “Thank you.”
    Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP and Aging Committees.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Funding Suicide Prevention for Uniformed Personnel

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the award of 18 grants to expand resiliency and suicide prevention efforts among military veterans and uniformed personnel, including law enforcement, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel, correction officers and emergency dispatchers. Administered through the New York Office of Mental Health’s Suicide Prevention Center of New York, the CARES UP initiative will provide $60,000 over two years to four law enforcement agencies; three fire departments; three EMS services; three emergency communications organizations; two corrections agencies and three organizations serving veterans.

    “New York’s first responders and uniformed personnel routinely go above and beyond the call of duty, and often at great personal expense,” Governor Hochul said. “This funding will ensure these organizations and agencies are better equipped to cultivate resilience and mental wellness among their ranks to help properly address stress and trauma they encounter in the line of duty.”

    In addition, the Office of Mental Health (OMH) also provided awards of $40,000 over two years to 11 organizations previously funded through CARES UP to sustain their mental health and wellness initiatives. These sustainability awards were made possible after Governor Hochul successfully increased funding for the program in the FY25 Enacted Budget to $3 million annually.

    The CARES UP program provides organizations with $30,000 annually to increase suicide prevention efforts and wellness programming in their agencies. First responder agencies work closely with the Suicide Prevention Center to receive training from national subject matter experts on topics such as resiliency, mental health and wellness, suicide prevention and peer support and implement agency-specific actions to address their unique needs.

    The initiative also provides these grants to support veterans’ organizations via Onward Ops. Recipient organizations use the funding to promote social welfare of service members transitioning back to their communities after their tour of duty ends.

    New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “It is important to recognize the stress and cumulative trauma first responders and veterans experience as they do their jobs and the toll that this can take on their mental health. CARES UP works with their organizations to mitigate this stress, build resilience and support mental wellbeing. By building and expanding this program, Governor Hochul is demonstrating her commitment to the mental wellness of our veterans, first responders and their families.”

    Studies have shown the cumulative stress and trauma are common in uniformed personnel professions and have placed these individuals at greater risk of suicide. To better understand the mental health-related challenges facing individuals working in public safety fields, the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services partnered with SUNY New Paltz’s Institute for Disaster Mental Health to complete a first responder needs assessment survey of more than 6,000 individuals in law enforcement, emergency medical services, fire services, emergency communications and emergency management from every region.

    The assessment showed more than half of the participants experience high levels of stress, burnout, anxiety and depression related to their jobs, and that they may not seek help due to their fear of facing stigma. Thoughts of suicide were reported by 16 percent of respondents — a level four times higher than the general population of the state.

    Likewise, New York veterans die by suicide at a rate nearly two times higher than civilians — a rate that has remained relatively unchanged since 2012. Veterans under the age of 55 consistently experience the highest rates of suicide in New York.

    New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Commissioner Jackie Bray said, “Our first responders encounter unimaginable situations at work on a daily basis that most of us will never face, and then they go home and try to manage the normal activities of everyday life. It is vital that we work to ensure they have the resources they need to take care of themselves at work and at home. While the results of the First Responder Mental Health Needs Assessment may not be surprising, we now have specific details about the toll this work can take on people’s mental health and can work together on developing the kind of help that can make a positive difference in their lives.”

    New York State Department of Veterans’ Services Commissioner Viviana DeCohensaid, “Our courageous Service Members and Veterans are our best, brightest and bravest. Yet they often carry invisible burdens long after the uniform comes off. This critical support acknowledges those challenges and delivers real tools for healing and mental wellness. We are grateful to Governor Hochul for her steadfast leadership and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of our Veterans and Service Members. This vital funding — and the essential services it enables — will ultimately save lives.”

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “Our law enforcement officers and first responders demonstrate remarkable strength and bravery every day, but we know that their professions are filled with stress and trauma, often helping people during their worst moments. It is vital that these professionals can access the help that they need, such as confidential services and support that address their unique experiences. At DCJS, we prioritize officer wellness in our basic training requirements for law enforcement, as well as our professional development offerings. I commend Governor Hochul’s steadfast leadership and commitment to our officers and first responders and am pleased to work with the Office of Mental Health, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and other agencies on this important issue.”

    New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton said, “DEC’s Environmental Conservation Police Officers and Forest Rangers, put their lives on the line to protect New Yorkers and our critical natural resources. There’s no such thing as a routine call, they encounter unexpected and, at times, tragic circumstances in their work. We know that can take a toll on the mental well-being of our first responders that effects them at work and at home. Governor Hochul, DEC and our partners know that we need to take care of our first responders, as they care for us. We are committed to provided mental wellness tools and resources to meaningfully support our first responders and their families.”

    State Senator Samra G. Brouk said, “As Chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, I have observed how peer support can dramatically improve mental health outcomes for individuals in crisis. The CARES UP program utilizes the power of peer support and suicide prevention efforts to address the unique needs of our first responders and veterans. I applaud Governor Hochul for her continued investment in expanding mental health services for individuals who serve our communities.”

    Assemblymember Steve Stern said, “As the Chairman of the New York State Assembly Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I applaud Governor Hochul’s announcement that our local heroes, who serve all of us, will have access to the services they need and deserve. Far too many of our soldiers, veterans, first responders and law enforcement professionals have struggled with mental health challenges and take their own lives. That is absolutely unacceptable, and these grants to improve resiliency, wellness, support and suicide prevention will be an important part of saving lives.”

    Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon said, “Our veterans and uniformed personnel face a growing mental health crisis, and we must meet this moment with support and sustained investment. These grants will help address the unique mental health needs of those who have served and sacrificed by expanding access to suicide prevention and wellness programs. Thank you to Governor Hochul for supporting the organizations on the front lines of this crisis as New York State strives to strengthen our mental health services.”

    This year’s CARES UP recipients include:

    Capital Region:

    • Albany County Corrections*
    • Albany City Police Department*
    • Albany County Sheriff’s Office
    • Clifton Park & Half Moon Emergency Corps*
    • Colonie EMS*
    • Veterans and Community Housing Coalition
    • Watervliet Fire Department*

    Central New York:

    • Eastern Paramedics Inc.
    • Onondaga County Department of Communication Services

    Mid-Hudson:

    • Clarkstown Police Department*
    • Village of Mamaroneck Police Department*
    • New Windsor Police Department
    • Pleasant Valley Fire District
    • Port Chester Police Department*
    • Orange County Emergency Services Emergency Communications
    • Orange County Emergency Services – Police Services Division
    • Orange County Emergency Services – Fire Services Division
    • City of Rye Fire Department

    Long Island:

    • Nassau County Sheriff’s Department
    • Sayville American Legion Post 651
    • Suffolk County Police Department
    • Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department*

    Mohawk Valley:

    • Utica Center for Development Inc.

    North Country:

    • St. Lawrence County Correctional Facility

    Southern Tier:

    • Village of Liberty Police Department
    • Sullivan County Division of Public Safety

    Western New York:

    • Allegany County Sheriff’s Department*
    • City of Olean Fire Department*
    • Town of West Seneca Police Department

    * Denotes organizations receiving sustainability funding.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: New Recommendations on Fish Consumption for Parts of the Pawcatuck River and Grills Preserve Pond Due to PFAS Contamination

    Source: US State of Rhode Island

    The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is recommending that the public limit consumption of native fish caught in certain areas of the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton and to avoid eating any fish from the Grills Preserve Pond in Bradford. Fish caught in these areas have had high levels of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

    RIDOH is issuing the following fish consumption recommendations to protect public health:

    – Do not eat any fish caught from the Grills Preserve Pond.

    – Eat no more than 1 meal per month of native fish (i.e., perch, bass, and pickerel) caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.

    – Since PFAS tend to accumulate more in organs compared to muscle tissue, do not eat the organs of fish caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.

    – RIDOH does not currently have the data needed to make a health-based recommendation on the safety of consuming stocked trout in this section of the Pawcatuck River. Individuals concerned about PFAS should know that these species can accumulate PFAS. People can be exposed to PFAS from a variety of sources and can lower their intake from one or more sources by limiting or replacing them.

    Stocked trout were not collected in this study, so RIDOH does not have data to show how much PFAS they contain. Generally, research shows that fish take up PFAS quickly from the environment. Stocked trout are raised in a separate location and do not spend as much time in the river. Right now, there is not enough data about how fast PFAS levels increase in stocked trout. For stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River, RIDOH cannot determine if PFAS will reach levels of concern before they are fished. RIDOH is currently working with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) to get better data on whether PFAS reaches levels of concern in stocked trout. RIDEM has also changed the stocking schedule so that PFAS in stocked trout are less likely to reach levels of concern.

    “Fishing is a valued tradition in Rhode Island, and fish are a good source of protein and nutrients. However, fish in some areas can have high levels of pollutants that can harm our health,” said Director of Health Jerome Larkin, MD. “While we are still learning about the sources and effects of PFAS, it is important to take steps to lower our exposure to these chemicals. After careful consideration of the data and health risks, we are recommending that people eat only one meal per month of native fish (i.e., perch, bass, and pickerel) caught from the Pawcatuck River downstream Burdickville Road in Hopkinton.”

    RIDOH has posted signs at the Grills Preserve Pond advising people not to eat the fish. RIDOH is planning to post signs at popular fishing spots along the Pawcatuck River in the area of the advisory. The Department is also planning two public meetings to discuss the findings, hear community concerns and input, and provide guidance on reducing exposure risks. The community meetings will be scheduled in spring 2025. Sign up to be notified when the meetings are scheduled at health.ri.gov/fish.

    About PFAS PFAS are a class of chemicals that repel oil and water. They have been used since the 1940s to make products water-, grease-, and stain-resistant and in certain fire-fighting products. Some PFAS take centuries to break down in the environment. PFAS that don’t break down build up in and pollute the environment. PFAS can also build up in our bodies. People can be exposed to PFAS by eating food, drinking water, accidentally swallowing dust, or breathing air polluted with PFAS.

    Studies have shown certain PFAS can contribute to negative health effects, including: higher cholesterol levels; lower infant birth weights; weakened immune response; and increased risk of some cancer, including kidney cancer.

    More Details About the Advisory and Data RIDOH is making these recommendations based on the known health risks of PFAS and data on PFAS in fish that is available today. RIDOH, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, researchers from Roger Williams University, and the Environmental Protection Agency recently worked together to test several fish species that are native to the Pawcatuck River and Grills Preserve Pond for PFAS. The fish tested included sunfish, largemouth bass, and chain pickerel.

    Fish caught from the Grills Preserve Pond had very high levels of PFAS that could increase the risk of health effects. Based on the level of PFAS, RIDOH advises the public not to eat fish from the Grills Preserve Pond.

    Fish were collected from the Pawcatuck River in the area of the former Bradford Dyeing Association facility also had high levels of PFAS. However, levels of PFAS were lower in fish from the Pawcatuck River than the Grills Preserve Pond. Therefore, RIDOH advises the public to eat only one native fish meal per month from the Pawcatuck River downstream of Burdickville Road in Hopkinton. Upstream of this point, RIDOH does not have data to make a recommendation on the amount of fish that is safe to eat.

    Currently, there is no data on how quickly stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River accumulate PFAS from the river. There is limited data from other states and scientific studies that shows stocked trout can accumulate PFAS quickly. However, studies on this topic have used conditions that are not reflective of conditions in the Pawcatuck River. RIDOH may change this guidance if data show that stocked trout in the Pawcatuck River do accumulate PFAS to levels that cause health concerns. Similarly, RIDOH does not have the data needed to make a health-based recommendation on the safety of eating wild game and bird species near Bradford Dyeing Association. People concerned about PFAS should know that these species (e.g., stocked trout and game birds) can accumulate PFAS. People can be exposed to PFAS from a variety of sources. You can lower your exposure to PFAS by limiting or replacing common sources of PFAS. PFAS is common in many products like grease-resistant food packaging, non-stick pots and pans, and stain-resistant carpeting.

    For more information about fish consumption guidance, visit health.ri.gov/fish or contact the RIDOH Health Information Line at 401-222-5960. The full health consultation report and addendum on stocked trout are available on the RIDOH website at health.ri.gov/ehrap. For more information on PFAS and health risks, visit health.ri.gov/pfas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Locus Technologies Reaches PFAS Tracking Milestone with 3 Million Records

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Locus Technologies, the leader in sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance software, announced that as of today, Locus clients have collectively contributed 3,000,000 validated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) records to the company’s environmental database, making it the most extensive real-time, aggregated global analytical and geospatial PFAS information source. The records are secured in Locus’s sophisticated, multitenant SaaS database.

    Locus’s expansive PFAS dataset includes all 430 chemicals identified in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PFAS inventory, collected from 38,553 global sites, predominantly in the United States. By combining advanced geographic information system (GIS) tools and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, Locus provides unmatched capabilities for identifying contamination sources, tracking environmental accumulations in water, soil, and living organisms, and visualizing critical “hot spots” for strategic remediation.

    “This milestone underscores our commitment to advancing environmental safety through technology innovation,” said Neno Duplan, founder and CEO of Locus Technologies. “Our multitenant SaaS infrastructure uniquely positions Locus as the only platform capable of aggregating, analyzing, and reporting critical PFAS data in real-time. With three million records, we’ve reached an unprecedented capability for understanding and managing this global health threat.”

    Locus Technologies’ multitenant SaaS platform enables individual organizations to securely manage and report their PFAS sampling data and compliance requirements while gaining broader insights from aggregated data. The company’s unique software architecture empowers clients to stay ahead of stringent regulatory frameworks, including emerging EU directives and global ESG reporting demands, while ensuring the absolute privacy of their proprietary information.

    “Emerging research indicates the PFAS health crisis will be more significant than Asbestos, lead, and tobacco combined. Empowering organizations to effectively track and manage this data is imperative,” said Duplan. By leveraging the real-time analytical power of Locus, utilities, government agencies, and enterprises can proactively manage PFAS risks, streamline regulatory compliance, and safeguard public health and environmental ecosystems worldwide.

    To learn more about Locus Technologies, please visit locustec.com.

    About Locus Technologies
    Locus Technologies, the global environmental, social, governance (ESG), sustainability, and EHS compliance software leader, empowers companies of every size and industry to be credible with ESG reporting. From 1997, Locus pioneered enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) for EHS compliance, water management, and ESG credible reporting. Locus apps and software solutions improve business performance by strengthening risk management and EHS for organizations across industries and government agencies. Organizations ranging from medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Sempra, Corteva, Chevron, DuPont, Chemours, San Jose Water Company, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of Seattle, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, have selected Locus. Locus is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For further information regarding Locus and its commitment to excellence in SaaS solutions, please visit http://www.locustec.com or email info@locustec.com.

    Media Contact:
    Brenda Mahedy
    Locus Technologies
    media@locustechnologies.net

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: BAR Technologies Announces Wind Propulsion Strategy Amid Geopolitical Setbacks at IMO Talks

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Portsmouth, Hampshire , April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BAR Technologies, a leading developer of wind propulsion solutions for the maritime sector, today announced a strategic wind propulsion initiative in response to mounting geopolitical tensions at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) climate talks. The announcement follows the United States’ formal withdrawal from emissions negotiations, prompting BAR Technologies to call on the global shipping industry to accelerate the adoption of proven, scalable decarbonisation technologies.

    John Cooper CEO BAR Technologies

    As reported by TradeWinds yesterday (8 April), the Trump administration has formally withdrawn the United States from climate policy negotiations at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), raising the stakes for international shipping’s decarbonisation efforts. BAR Technologies today issued a call for the global maritime sector to double down on credible, proven solutions such as wind propulsion, in light of the growing uncertainty around global emissions policy.

    The withdrawal, confirmed via diplomatic communication to other IMO delegations, expressed strong opposition to the economic measures under discussion, including the proposed levy on greenhouse gas emissions and a mandatory fuel standard. The US statement described the IMO’s net zero ambitions as economically burdensome and reliant on what it characterised as “unproven fuels” while warning of potential retaliatory measures against any charges imposed on US-flagged vessels.

    Reacting to these developments, BAR Technologies’ CEO John Cooper stressed that the industry must not allow political turbulence to derail progress towards shipping’s climate goals. He stated that wind propulsion remains an essential, deployable technology that can provide immediate and scalable emissions reductions, regardless of the regulatory headwinds.

    “This latest development only sharpens the industry’s need to prioritise solutions that are already available and proven in operation,” Cooper said. “Wind propulsion is a tried and tested method of reducing fuel consumption and emissions. It is inherently zero-emission, freely available, and requires no external supply chain. With WindWings®, we’ve demonstrated that wind-assisted propulsion solution is not a theoretical concept but a working solution that can deliver commercial and environmental benefits right now.”

    BAR Technologies has long championed wind as a central pillar of shipping’s decarbonisation strategy, particularly as fuel markets remain volatile and regulatory alignment proves difficult. With vessels already operating with WindWings® installed, the company believes the maritime sector has a clear opportunity to take ownership of its decarbonisation pathway, using technologies that are resilient to the kind of geopolitical shifts currently playing out on the global stage.

    As the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee continues its high-stakes negotiations this week in London, BAR Technologies urges policymakers and industry leaders alike to acknowledge the unique potential of wind propulsion, not only as a bridge to cleaner fuels but as a cornerstone of energy transition in its own right.

    Wind remains the only energy source that can be captured and used directly onboard a ship without mining, refining, bunkering, or storing. In a time when consensus is difficult and timelines are tight, wind propulsion stands out as an immediate, inclusive and scalable solution.

    WindWings® are built on BAR Technologies’ patented three-element wing design, delivering 2.5 times more lift than traditional single-element configurations, reducing CO2 emissions by an average of 4.7t per day per wing This advanced design provides greater thrust and adaptability, enabling consistent performance across global trade routes. By unlocking the full potential of wind, a limitless, natural and zero-emission resource, WindWings® elevate wind from a supplementary aid to a primary propulsion method, offering ship operators a practical and immediate pathway to reduce fossil fuel dependency while enhancing operational resilience.

    About BAR Technologies

    With an impressive heritage, having spun out of Great Britain’s former America’s Cup Team, BAR Technologies provides a wide range of design and engineering consultancy services across commercial ships, workboats, leisure boats, and engineered solutions. The company boasts a team of world-leading naval architects, optimisation specialists, fluid dynamists, and system engineers, all focused on delivering next-generation maritime technology. BAR Technologies patented three-element wing design is unique in the marketplace, delivering 2.5 times the lift of a single-element wing. Unlike conventional wind-assisted propulsion systems, WindWings® require no continuous power for suction fans or mechanical spinning. They automatically adjust camber and angle of attack for optimised efficiency, offering a proven, scalable solution for emissions reduction.

    Press inquiries

    BAR Technologies
    https://www.bartechnologies.uk/
    Tom James
    sue@imageline.co.uk
    07770755201
    The Camber, East Street,
    Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 2JJ

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Funding to support Canberra’s tourism and hospitality businesses

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    James Souter and Alice O’Mara will use the funding to expand Beltana Farm.

    The ACT Government’s Tourism Product Development Fund will support 15 local businesses this year.

    These businesses will receive a share of close to $500,000 in funding to enhance what they can offer customers.

    Developing better visitor experiences

    The fund encourages co-investment in the tourism, hospitality and events sectors through:

    • infrastructure
    • products
    • experiences.

    Having better visitor experiences in Canberra can help boost the local economy and create jobs.

    It also enhances Canberra’s reputation as a tourism destination.

    Growing Beltana Farm

    Beltana Farm in Pialligo is one successful recipient this year.

    The small business will receive $100,000 to help it expand.

    This will go towards a shop focused on the truffle industry and other local produce. The farm will also add a training and tasting room.

    “Thanks to the support from the Tourism Product Development Fund, we have been able to expand our business offerings, turning our farm into a multifaceted destination,” Beltana Farm owner Alice O’Mara said.

    “Visitors will soon be able to enjoy engaging experiences complemented by curated farm tastings and a boutique shopping experience featuring our farm-made products as well as other Canberra-made produce and items.”

    A wide range of recipients

    Other recipients from this round include:

    • Canberra Glassworks – $10,000 to upgrade their public sound system.
    • National Capital Educational Tourism project – $50,000 for the addition of The Dinosaur Museum and Canberra Glassworks to the Book Canberra Excursions booking platform.
    • High Country Hikes – $11,000 to for the purchase of a vehicle to establish a new walking tour.
    • Gang Gang Cafe – $38,659 for upgraded outdoor dining infrastructure to host live music and cultural events.
    • Abode – The Apartment Hotel Murrumbateman – $25,000 to develop a conference space.
    • Yarralumla Play Station – $30,000 to build ‘The Canberra Maze’.
    • Share-A-Bike – $35,000 to establish a Lakeside Bike Hire pop-up bicycle rental facility.
    • Wilma – $20,000 to establish the new Canberra Region Wine Room.
    • Australian Outward-Bound Foundation – $10,000 for the purchase of a larger bus for transportation.
    • Capital Brewing Co. – $25,000 for the enhancement of an outdoor seating structure.
    • Canberra Racing Club – $25,000 for the installation of Wi-Fi at Thoroughbred Park.
    • Lunetta Trattoria – $20,000 for revitalisation of the Red Hill ground floor kiosk into a modern wine bar.
    • Midnight Hotel – $20,000 to establish the ‘Mark’ brand art hub.
    • The Truffle Farm – $80,000 to construct an additional luxury cabin.

    The fund’s background

    The Tourism Product Development Fund was set up in 2021 to help Canberra’s tourism sector recover after COVID.

    Its success in supporting local businesses and helping the recovery of the local visitor economy has seen it continue.

    Over three years, the program has invested over $4 million in total funding (this includes matched funding from the recipients).

    Some past recipients include: Squeaky Clean, Big River Distillery, Mount Majura Wines, Edgar’s and The Jetty for the enhancement of food and beverage spaces; Go Boat for Go Boat Charters; Australian National University Mt Stromlo Observatory for an astro tourism facility; Dynamic Motivation, Cycle Canberra and Woodlands & Wetlands Trust for Mountain E-bike Tours in Canberra; Cubby and Co for new vineyard accommodation; Capital Woodland and Wetlands Conservation Association for the development of the Majura Treetops Adventure Park; The Canberra Distillery for a distillery education facility.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI: VelocityEHS Named a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces Winner

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS®, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner. This prestigious award, based entirely on employee feedback collected through the Energage Workplace Survey, highlights VelocityEHS’s dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being.

    “At VelocityEHS, our people are the driving force behind our success,” said Rachel Kaiser, SVP and Chief People Officer at VelocityEHS. “Being recognized as a USA TODAY Top Workplace affirms our commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to make a meaningful impact every day.”

    More than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey, which recognizes organizations with 150 or more employees that have established outstanding workplace cultures. Winners are selected solely based on employee feedback gathered through Energage’s employee engagement survey, which measures core statements including benefits and pay, feelings of respect and support, opportunities for growth and development, empowerment to execute, overall engagement, and more.

    “Earning a Top Workplaces award is a true mark of distinction because it comes directly from employees,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “In today’s competitive landscape, fostering a workplace where employees feel heard and valued is essential. Top Workplaces achieve this, and the benefits are immeasurable.”

    For more insights and company updates, visit the VelocityEHS press page.

    About VelocityEHS

    Relied on by over 10 million users worldwide, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform sets the industry standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. Additionally, VelocityEHS offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.

    The VelocityEHS team boasts unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified professionals in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS continues to drive innovation and thought leadership in the EHS industry. The company’s stringent security protocols, including SOC 2 Type II attestation, ensure the highest levels of privacy and data protection.

    Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, VelocityEHS has additional locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.

    About Energage

    Making the world a better place to work—together.™ Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations transform employee feedback into actionable insights and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Backed by 18 years of culture research and insights from 27 million employees across 70,000 organizations, Energage provides the industry’s most accurate competitive benchmarking. With patented analytics and expert guidance, Energage enables companies to foster engaged workplaces and gain recognition for their commitment to culture.

    For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.

    Media Contact
    Jennifer Sinkwitts
    jsinkwitts@ehs.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Lustrum Beck project to boost wildlife and water quality begins

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Lustrum Beck project to boost wildlife and water quality begins

    Work has started on a project at Lustrum Beck in Stockton-on-Tees which will improve 1.5km of river for fish, invertebrates and plants.

    Some of the works starting at Lustrum Beck which will bring a boost to biodiversity in the heart of Stockton

    Wildlife and water quality at Lustrum Beck in Stockton-on-Tees will be given a much-needed boost as work begins on a significant project to enhance river habitat.  

    Historically, the beck has been heavily modified – straightened, widened and deepened – resulting in the loss of vital habitats and ecosystems as well as restricting fish movement. 

    The Lustrum Beck habitat restoration project will help recover 1.5km of the beck for migrating fish, whilst also encouraging iconic species to the area such as water vole, otters and dragonflies.

    Water quality improvements in this tributary of the Tees estuary will also be supported as part of the ongoing works.  

    This ambitious project is led by the Environment Agency in partnership with the Tees Rivers Trust and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and will be complete by summer this year.  

    Lustrum Beck forms part of the £30m Tees Tidelands Programme, a ground-breaking set of projects, officially launched in 2023, which will help the River Tees estuary and tributaries adapt to climate change, restore valuable habitat for internationally important wildlife and reconnect people to their local environment.  

    The work at Lustrum Beck includes:   

    • Installing deflectors and woody material into the channel to create a variety of flow and habitat conditions that reduce sediment build-up and encourage greater biodiversity.
    • Lowering redundant embankments to connect the beck to river side ponds and grassland.
    • Excavating scrapes at areas of existing wet grassland to provide more resilient water environments. Scrapes are shallow dips designed to hold water without increasing flood risk. They provide vital habitat for wading birds and other wildlife.

    Paul Eckersley, Project Executive for the Environment Agency, said:   

    This exciting project will bring a welcome boost to biodiversity in the heart of Stockton after decades of modification. Working with our partners, we’re restoring river features and wetland to improve biodiversity and water quality.  

    This project is just one part of the much wider Tees Tidelands programme of work, bringing multiple benefits to the area through the realigning of flood defences as well as restoring river and intertidal habitat.

    Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Leisure and Culture, said:  

    Lustrum Beck is a wonderful wildlife haven running through the middle of Stockton that is enjoyed by many people of all ages. 

    We are pleased to be working alongside our partner, the Environment Agency, on this ambitious restoration scheme to further enhance Lustrum Beck’s wildlife habitat and water quality. It aligns with the Council’s aspirations to protect and enhance the natural environment as set out in our Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Reduction Strategy.

    Ben Lamb, CEO at Tees Rivers Trust, said:

    Lustrum Beck is a fairly typical urban stream – straightened, deepened, littered and, on the surface at least – devoid of life.

    However, look a little more closely and there is plenty going on in the beck – freshwater shrimp, the occasional mayfly and other invertebrates providing a food source for minnows, stickleback and the endangered European eel, which provide food for otter, egret, heron and kingfisher – all of which can be found along the beck corridor alongside the occasional water vole. 

    However, there is a huge amount of work to be done to improve the beck and this project will create more habitat and flow diversity within the channel which will provide more opportunity for a range of species to thrive.

    The positive comments and offers of help to clean up the beck that we have received from residents around the beck have been incredible and we will be providing training and equipment to help monitor and improve the beck even more after the construction phase of the project has been completed.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: SIMPPLE Ltd. Launches New Product “SIMPPLE Vision”, an end-to-end Vision-as-a-Service (VaaS) video content analytics, and Secures Paid Pilot with a national healthcare institution in Singapore

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Singapore, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIMPPLE Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPPL) (“SIMPPLE” or “the Company”), a leading technology provider and innovator in the facilities management (FM) sector, today launched its new highly scalable end-to-end A.I. video analytics platform – SIMPPLE Vision, providing building owners and service contractors insights into facility operations and occupants’ behaviour. It brings together a set of pre-trained A.I. models from the Environmental Services and Security sectors coupling them with automated workforce management capabilities, enabling organizations to process vast amounts of video data in real-time, and instantly send alerts or work orders to the workforce to respond. This allows facility managers and workers to react quicker to situations with an enhanced level of transparency and accountability to the operations.

    With rising security concerns around unauthorised access as well as workplace safety breaches and incidents, there is a push towards evidence-based reporting and prevention. SIMPPLE Vision platform makes use of existing camera networks to deliver real-time insights through vision A.I. analytics and automated push notifications, minimising the cost of hardware upgrades and reducing reliance on manual monitoring. This is a significant upgrade, by retrofitting systems that lack modern analytics capability, therefore eliminating the need to replace existing cameras. SIMPPLE Vision processing platform can provide real-time analytics, incident logging, and audit trails for regulatory compliance, amongst many other features and related applications.

    SIMPPLE Vision applies advanced algorithms and high compute capabilities, which can be used and scaled across many sectors, such as aviation and transport safety, healthcare and hospitality monitoring, and compliance within education institutions. Data collected from such implementations can be refined over time, offering people and asset safety, and ultimately creating more personalised customer or occupant experiences within a given space. Another unique proposition SIMPPLE Vision platform offers is its ability to do both on-premises and cloud set-ups, depending on the end user requirements. This is especially important for critical infrastructure or healthcare facilities to avoid cloud risks while concurrently reducing cloud storage and transmission costs from significant bandwidth consumption, making it an ideal and cost-effective alternative solution.

    Following the announcement of SIMPPLE Vision, SIMPPLE is also pleased to announce a contract win with one of the largest public healthcare institutions in Singapore to deploy its advanced computer vision-to-workforce management capabilities as part of the initial proof-of-value initiative. Due to confidentiality, specific contract details remain undisclosed. This collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency within the healthcare premises and improve customer satisfaction. If successful, the program is set to expand across multiple hospitals nationwide with these added vision applications, marking a major step forward to incorporate cutting-edge vision technologies for the healthcare sector.

    “We are thrilled to launch SIMPPLE Vision as part of our continuing commitment to develop innovative and cost-effective solutions that can positively impact service delivery and improved reporting outcomes,” said SIMPPLE chief executive Norman Schroeder. “This domain-specific computer vision capability is a step forward to revolutionise the way assets and broad ranging facilities are managed. Being awarded one of Singapore’s national public hospitals as an initial site is a testament to our commitment and forward-looking vision. We will continue to deliver on our promise to develop fit-for-purpose solutions, as we look to expand our contribution to the healthcare sector in Singapore and beyond.”

    According to an August 2024 report by SkyQuest Technology, the global video analytics market will attain a value of $44.7 billion by 2031, with a CAGR of 22.3%, from 2024 to 2031. This rapid growth is largely driven by the growing emphasis on security enhancements and integration of artificial intelligence with video analytics solutions. Crowd management will remain as a key contributor to the growth of computer vision applications in stadiums, airports, public events, and government facilities, said the report.

    About SIMPPLE LTD.

    Headquartered in Singapore, SIMPPLE LTD. is an advanced technology solution provider in the emerging PropTech space, focused on helping facilities owners and managers manage facilities autonomously. Founded in 2016, the Company has a strong foothold in the Singapore facilities management market, serving over 60 clients in both the public and private sectors and extending out of Singapore into Australia and the Middle East. The Company has developed its proprietary SIMPPLE Ecosystem, to create an automated workforce management tool for building maintenance, surveillance and cleaning comprised of a mix of software and hardware solutions such as robotics (both cleaning and security) and Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) devices. 

    For more information on SIMPPLE, please visit: https://www.simpple.ai

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

    Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Bilirakis, Castor, Buchanan, and Soto Introduce Bill to Protect Florida’s Coasts from Offshore Drilling

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gus Bilirakis (FL-12)

    TAMPA, FL – This week, Representatives Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Vern Buchanan (FL-16), and Darren Soto (FL-9) introduced critical bipartisan legislation to permanently prohibit oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production off Florida’s coast. 

    “We’ve seen the long-lasting harm that can come from oil spills including: damage to the environment, disruption to marine life, and the paralysis of local economies that depend heavily on fishing, tourism, and recreation,” said Congressman Bilirakis.  “Protecting Florida’s pristine coastline from future oil spills is crucial for preserving its unique ecosystems.  Ensuring the health of the coastline will safeguard not only the environment but also the livelihoods of communities that rely on its natural beauty and resources.

    “Florida is a special but fragile place, and our way of life depends on clean water. Dangerous offshore drilling can devastate both our environment and our economy, posing huge risks to everything that makes Florida special. Our Florida coasts are beloved by people across the globe. Tourism is the lifeblood of our coastal economy in the Sunshine State, so we must ensure our water, beaches, wildlife, and fishing industry in the Eastern Gulf are sustained,” said Rep. Castor. “It is imperative that future generations of Floridians see our coasts preserved. We must permanently protect these waters, our planet, our pocketbooks and our people from costly oil spills and irresponsible usage of our precious land.”

    “While I support responsible investments in American energy, we must also recognize the unique importance of protecting Florida’s coastline,” said Rep. Buchanan. “The Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010 showed just how devastating an offshore spill can be to our economy, environment and way of life. As co-chair of the bipartisan Florida congressional delegation, I remain committed to working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to safeguard our state’s beautiful beaches and coastal waters.”

    “Florida’s coastline is more than a beautiful backdrop—it’s a vital part of who we are. Our beaches and marine ecosystems support hundreds of thousands of jobs, drive tourism, sustain our fishing industries, and provide a home to some of the most unique and fragile wildlife in the world,” said Rep. Darren Soto. “Offshore drilling puts all of that at risk. One spill could devastate our economy and irreparably damage ecosystems that took generations to build. This bipartisan legislation reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding our waters—not just for today, but for every generation that comes after us. Floridians deserve clean beaches, thriving marine life, and a resilient coastal economy—and that starts with keeping oil rigs off our shores for good.”

     Endorsing organizations of the Florida Coastal Protection Act include Oceana, League of Conservation Voters, Surfrider Foundation, The CLEO Institute, Defenders of Wildlife, and Environment America.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: APHA appoints new Chief Executive

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    APHA appoints new Chief Executive

    Richard Lewis will lead the Animal and Plant Health Agency in its drive to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy

    Richard Lewis, newly appointed Chief Executive of the Animal and Plant Health Agency.

    Richard Lewis has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

    His term will begin on 16 June 2025, following a competitive recruitment process. Richard will take on the role on a permanent basis, succeeding Dr Jenny Stewart, who has served as interim Chief Executive since 1 July 2024.

    Richard Lewis, newly appointed Chief Executive of APHA, said: 

    It’s a real honour to be appointed Chief Executive of APHA.

    Now more than ever, the UK needs a strong, science-led Animal and Plant Health Agency.

    From protecting our borders against animal and plant threats to unlocking opportunities for trade and growth, I’m excited to champion APHA’s vital work — and to lead alongside the world-class scientists and experts who make it possible.

    Richard Lewis biography

    • Richard has previously served as the Chief Constable for both Dyfed-Powys Police and Cleveland Police.   
    • Richard has held several national portfolios for the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and was awarded a NPCC commendation for distinguished service. 
    • In Wales, Richard has also led for the police service on rural affairs such as habitat protection, rural crime and mental health in the agricultural community.

    Notes for editors 

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Why we need a pause on new salmon farms

    Source: Scottish Greens

    09 Apr 2025 Nature Rural Affairs

    Highlands and Islands

    Housing, Communities and Rural Affairs spokesperson

    More in Nature

    Imagine if we allowed a factory to spill waste into Scotland’s rivers and lochs without taking action. Imagine if it was harming wildlife, damaging the environment, and even putting its own industry at risk. You would expect something to be done? 

    Well, that’s exactly what’s happening with salmon farming in Scotland right now. And yet, despite mounting evidence of harm, the Scottish Government is allowing the industry to keep expanding.  

    Scotland’s seas are a vital part of our landscape; supporting wildlife, local businesses, and our way of life. But our coastal waters are being damaged, potentially irreversibly, from the rapid expansion of the salmon farming industry. That’s why I’m calling for an immediate pause on new and expanding salmon farms. We need to take a step back and ensure that this industry is operating in a way that protects our environment, our wild fish, and the long-term sustainability of the sector itself. 

    Progress from the Salmon Farming Inquiry 

    One of my roles representing you is as a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Islands (RAI) Committee. We recently conducted an inquiry into salmon farming (Follow-up inquiry into salmon farming in Scotland). It confirmed what many communities and environmental groups have been saying for years: Scotland’s salmon farming industry is plagued by serious issues. Thanks to pressure from me, the report recognised the urgent need for action, with some important recommendations: 

    • Protecting Wild Salmon: The Committee backed an immediate ban on siting salmon farms near migratory routes for wild salmon, reducing the threat from sea lice and disease. 
    • Stronger Monitoring and Regulation: The Committee highlighted serious delays in environmental testing, with seabed samples from farms left unanalysed for years. 
    • Better Data for the Public: The Committee made recommendations on how the salmon farms report data, such as the number of fish deaths at farms, to make it easier for the public to see the state of the industry. 
    • Fish Welfare Standards: It was recognised that farmed fish currently have no specific statutory welfare protections, and the Committee urged the Scottish Government to introduce regulations.

    While these steps are welcome, I was one of two Committee members who felt these recommendations didn’t go far enough. Given the scale of environmental damage and poor official enforcement, I believe a temporary pause is necessary to fix these issues before more farms are allowed to expand. 

    What we achieved by having a Scottish Green Party MSP in the room 

    Scotland’s natural environment and its communities are at the heart of everything I do, both personally and as a member of the Scottish Green Party. Our landscapes, waters, and local economies are deeply interconnected, and I believe we have a responsibility to protect them for future generations.

    I spent a lot of time ensuring that the industry’s impacts on our environment, marine life, and coastal communities, were properly scrutinised. I pushed for the RAI Committee report to be written in an accessible way, with terms explained and clear graphics used so the report, as far as it could be, is easy to understand. I also ensured that the evidence we wrote in the report was a balanced view of what we heard people say to the committee. I made sure the recommendations were specific in what action to take and one we could measure. I called for stronger action on the welfare of the fish, who can feel pain, as well as the fish that are used to eat the sea lice off the salmon, penalties for escapes of farmed fish and work on analysing potential damage the farms are having on the seabed. 

    Why a Pause is Necessary 

    A pause isn’t about shutting down existing farm – it’s about ensuring the industry meets proper standards before growing further. Here’s why it’s essential: 

    1. Protecting Our Environment 

    Salmon farms release waste, chemicals, and uneaten food into the sea, damaging marine habitats. Many farms still operate under outdated environmental rules, with tighter regulations only applying to new sites. By pausing expansion, we can give existing farms time to meet higher standards and reduce their impact. 

    We also need to catch up on monitoring. Out of 210 farms, only 72 have submitted seabed survey results, and many haven’t been assessed. In some areas, it could take up to five years to collect the necessary data. Without knowing the impact on our environment, we can’t risk further expansion. 

    2. Saving Scotland’s Wild Salmon 

    Wild salmon are in crisis, and salmon farms are a major threat. Sea lice infestations from farms spread to wild fish, weakening and killing them. The Committee heard evidence calling for immediate protections, including banning farms near migration routes. Yet progress is painfully slow. 

    A pause would allow time to map out safe zones and ensure that new farms aren’t placed where they will harm wild salmon populations. 

    3. Applying the Precautionary Principle 

    Under environmental law, Scotland is supposed to follow the “precautionary principle” which means taking action to prevent harm when there’s uncertainty about risks. Yet despite clear evidence of pollution, disease, and declining wild fish populations, the industry is still being allowed to expand. 

    The Committee even agreed that existing policies don’t align with this principle. If we are serious about protecting Scotland’s natural environment, we must stop approving new farms until we have stronger safeguards in place. 

    4. Improving Fish Welfare 

    Salmon farming has shockingly high mortality rates. In 2018, a Parliamentary report said that farms with high death rates should not be allowed to expand. Yet since then, mortality rates have risen from 7% to 25%—meaning one in four farmed fish don’t survive to harvest. In any other farming sector, this would be a scandal. 

    A pause would allow time for legally enforceable fish welfare standards to be introduced. Better welfare isn’t just ethical; it leads to healthier fish, better-quality products, and a more resilient industry. 

    5. Ensuring Long-Term Industry Sustainability 

    Some argue that stopping expansion could hurt jobs, but the reality is that salmon farming directly employs relatively few people – just 1,480 in 2023, a decline from previous years. Meanwhile, the environmental damage caused by the industry threatens other coastal jobs in tourism, fishing, and recreation. 

    A poorly regulated industry risks collapsing under its own failures. If Scotland becomes known for unsustainable, high-mortality fish farming, we could face stricter export controls from other countries. A pause would give the industry time to make necessary reforms and ensure its long-term survival. 

    A Call for Action 

    Scotland’s seas and rivers are too important to be sacrificed for short-term profits. A temporary pause on new and expanding salmon farms would: 

    • Protect the environment and allow existing farms to meet higher standards. 
    • Give wild salmon a fighting chance by stopping farms in sensitive areas. 
    • Ensure fish welfare laws are in place before further expansion. 
    • Secure a more sustainable future for the industry and coastal jobs. 

    The Scottish Government and the industry both claim they are working towards improvements, but progress has been far too slow. Without decisive action, we risk losing our wild salmon, damaging our seas, and undermining Scotland’s global reputation for high-quality, sustainable food. 

    Now is the time to act. I urge the Scottish Government to implement a temporary pause and take the necessary steps to protect Scotland’s marine environment before it’s too late. 

    A temporary pause on expansion is the responsible choice. It gives us a chance to get this industry on the right track before more damage is done. 

    How you can help: 

    I’m standing up for Scotland’s seas and communities – will you join me? 

    Write to the Scottish Government to tell them you are calling for a pause on new salmon farms and the expansion of existing ones – Pause Salmon Farming 

    Join our campaign to save Loch Long from a new salmon farm here: Save Loch Long 

    Find out more by listening to my podcast on Salmon Farming here: Stream Aquaculture – EP2 – Environmental impacts of Salmon Farming – John Aitchison by Ariane Burgess MSP – Scottish Greens | Listen online for free on SoundCloud

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HK hosts APEC energy meeting

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Joint Meeting of Four Expert Groups of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Working Group (EWG) and two associated events are being held in Hong Kong for the first time this week in a schedule running from yesterday until Friday.

    Secretary for Environment & Ecology Tse Chin-wan and Director of Electrical & Mechanical Services Poon Kwok-ying spoke at today’s session.

    The joint meeting covers energy data and analysis, energy efficiency and conservation, new and renewable energy technologies, and clean fossil energy.

    The meeting is being held in conjunction with the APEC Workshop on Promoting Energy Efficiency Enhancement in Electricity Generation and the 8th Oil & Gas Security Network Forum.

    Mr Tse highlighted in the meeting that APEC economies consume approximately 60% of the world’s energy, and that energy demand and carbon emissions in the region will continue to rise as the member economies pursue rapid and ongoing economic growth and urbanisation.

    This makes it crucial to accelerate the transition to green energy, mitigate climate change risks and ensure energy security and sustainable economic development, he added.

    The environment chief also outlined that Hong Kong is striving to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050, and will cease using coal for electricity generation by 2035.

    He said that the city is actively implementing decarbonisation measures. This includes planning infrastructure to import more zero-carbon electricity from neighbouring regions, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings, developing green transportation and promoting hydrogen energy development.

    Mr Poon spoke about Hong Kong’s energy developments and stressed the importance of maintaining dialogue among APEC members to meet the challenges of climate change.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Coalition’s rubbery gas numbers can’t conceal disastrous energy plan

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Wednesday 9 April 2025 – In response to the Coalition’s newly released gas policy modelling, Joe Rafalowicz, Head of Climate and Energy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: 

    “Peter Dutton’s policy to supposedly achieve meagre changes to gas prices is a distraction from the fact that we don’t need gas and the seismic blasting, methane leaks or fracking it involves, because we already have the technology available to build affordable clean energy to power homes and businesses for the long term.

    “Gas is a dangerous fossil fuel that drives worsening floods, bushfires, cyclones and droughts. The Coalition wants to greenlight gas expansion like Woodside’s Browse project and fracking in the Beetaloo Basin, which threaten our environment and the climate. 

    “The Coalition’s energy policy and its ‘modelling’ on electricity prices simply don’t pass the sniff test. A future-proof policy is one that accelerates the transition to clean, affordable renewable energy, helps Australian businesses electrify and get off gas, and quickly phases out fossil fuels. 

    “Renewable energy is already the cheapest form of energy, and is reducing or even eliminating electricity bills for millions of Australian homes and businesses today. When it comes to reducing bills, gas simply cannot compete with renewables.

    “Australians can’t afford worsening gas-fuelled climate disasters like the Black Summer bushfires, Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and the Queensland floods that have racked up clean-up costs in the billions of dollars. 

    “The Coalition has also refused to dump its nuclear plans despite criticism from fellow Liberals, and estimates by experts which show that the cost of building nuclear reactors alone will cost taxpayers up to $600 billion. Peter Dutton has provided no plan for how the additional costs of nuclear waste management, insurance, and safety will be funded either. 

    “The enormous costs of the Coalition’s plan to expand climate-wrecking gas and build risky nuclear reactors in Australia overshadow any paltry gas savings released in its questionable modelling today.” 

    —ENDS—

    For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Vai Shah on 0452 290 082 / [email protected]. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Environment Agency opens world of construction to young people

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Environment Agency opens world of construction to young people

    Pupils from a local high school joined the Environment Agency and project partners last week on the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme in Worcestershire.

    Constructing Change team photo

    The day was part of a new social initiative Constructing Change which is encouraging young people, especially girls, to consider careers in the construction industry.

    Founded last year by Elizabeth Griffin-Bennett and supported by the Environment Agency, Constructing Change is working to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion within the construction industry.

    A number of students from Bewdley High School are pictured on site where they received careers advice from Environment Agency officers, project designers ARUP and contractors Jackson Civil Engineering and NuWeld.

    As part of the day, the group was safely escorted around the site and also joined in construction activities, such as bricklaying and surveying.

    Constructing Change team at work

    The first Constructing Change initiative was organised earlier this year by the project team for the Littleborough Flood Risk Management Scheme in Rochdale. Further events are being planned across the country.

    David McKnight, Area Flood and Coastal Risk Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

    “Constructing Change seeks to improve the diversity of the construction industry by bringing young people safely into construction sites.

    “The Environment Agency fully supports this initiative and the opportunity to provide valuable insights into the construction methods we have employed in the Bewdley flood scheme.”

    Ravi Darigala, Regional Director for Jackson Civil Engineering, said:

    “Jackson are committed to investing in the next generation, challenging stereotypes and promoting an inclusive and diverse culture.

    “We are delighted to be among the first to host a Constructing Change event, and welcome the opportunity to showcase the exciting and varied opportunities within the construction industry.

    “The Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme aims to improve flood protection for the community, and we hope that it can also help to inspire industry professionals of the future.” 

    More Information on the Bewdley Flood Risk Management Scheme

    https://consult.environment-agency.gov.uk/west-midlands/bealesfrms/

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 April 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Domain of economic activities comprising Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries and corresponding economic performance announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Domain of economic activities comprising Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries and corresponding economic performance announced 
    The process of manufacturing and production involves a variety of other economic activities, such as product design, technological development, data services and software development, testing and certification, as well as professional and technical services etc, all of which qualify as important elements in the development of new industrialisation. To facilitate the growth of new businesses, new industries and new modes of production in Hong Kong brought about by the integrated development of innovation and technology (I&T) and emerging industries, and to more effectively drive the development of new industrialisation, having considered the characteristics of economic development in Hong Kong, the ITIB has, in collaboration with the C&SD, formulated a domain of economic activities that comprises Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries.  The C&SD has also defined the corresponding statistical coverage based on the existing framework of the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification Version 2.0, with a view to reflecting the economic performance of these new industries of importance more precisely through objective statistical figures. In 2023, the value added of Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries amounted to $76.8 billion, representing an increase of 7.6 per cent over the previous year, and accounted for around 2.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product.
     
         The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, said, “Hong Kong is in the midst of a key transitional period of its economic model, and the development of I&T and a new real economy has become a broadly accepted consensus in Hong Kong society. Furthering the development of innovation technology and the integrated development of emerging industries are crucial objectives of the country and Hong Kong as of present and in the future, and are altering the economic and industrial composition of Hong Kong. Driving new industrialisation is of paramount importance to Hong Kong’s high-quality development. To assist us in formulating various policies with more precision and to effectively guide social resources towards supporting and encouraging the upgrading and transformation of the traditional manufacturing industry, as well as the development of new industrialisation in Hong Kong to realise the developmental targets outlined in the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint, we must specifically identify a range of economic activities to be covered, and from time to time conduct reviews along with the ever-changing technological and innovative landscape and the development of emerging industries. At the same time, we need to compile relevant statistics to objectively measure the progress of the development of innovation and new industrialisation.”
     
    To realise high-quality economic growth, the Government has, through a multitude of means, furthered the development of manufacturing and new industrialisation-related industries in Hong Kong, such as by launching the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme, the New Industrialisation Funding Scheme, and the New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme. The Government is also preparing to launch the Pilot Manufacturing and Production Line Upgrade Support Scheme, the Innovation and Technology Accelerator Pilot Scheme, the Innovation and Technology Venture Fund Enhanced Scheme, and the Innovation and Technology Industry‑Oriented Fund.
     
    A spokesperson for the C&SD said, “To couple with the work of the Government in driving the development of I&T and new industrialisation-related industries, it is necessary for the society to monitor relevant developments over time through objective and accurate statistical figures. The C&SD has made use of the existing framework of industry classification and further defined the statistical coverage that corresponds to the Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries, and compiled statistics as appropriate to reflect the economic performance of the relevant industries. We will continue to keep abreast of the latest developments and suitably review the relevant statistical framework from time to time with the ITIB and other stakeholders.”
     
         Manufacturing and New Industrialisation-related Industries in Hong Kong encompass manufacturing and economic activities relating to I&T and emerging industries:
     
    Manufacturing: For instance, the manufacturing of food products, pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and botanical products, computer, electronic and optical products, and new energy equipment, etc;
     
    Science, product design and technology development: For instance, industrial and product design, chip design, new drug development, AI model development and application, and technical consulting services, etc;
     
    Data services and software development: Information technology activities such as data and computing centre services, data storage and processing, related cloud services, and software development, etc;
     
    Verification, testing and certification: For instance, functional testing and verification, technical and prototype testing, and compliance certification, etc;
     
    Professional technical services: For instance, system design, integrated delivery and maintenance services, etc; and
     
    Environmental engineering and green business: For instance, sewage treatment, waste recovery, sorting, and disposal, etc.
    Issued at HKT 14:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –