VOL. XXVIII, NO. 4 • SEPTEMBER 1997Letter

ENVIRONMENTALDEFENSE FUNDENVIRONMENTALDEFENSE FUND

3O3O1967 1997YEARSYEARS

monopoly, and few thought about how thepower was generated. With a choice of sup-pliers, however, it becomes crucial that eachsupplier disclose the source of its electricityand what emissions were produced.

“Suppliers will try to market their prod-ucts environmentally,” said Karl Rábago,EDF Energy program manager. “Unless allsuppliers follow the same standard of fulldisclosure, customers may be confused oreven deceived.”

EDF’s Energy program is working tosecure adequate disclosure standards andlabeling in California and at the nationallevel.

EDF seeks to create strong markets forgreen energy by shaping regulatory and leg-islative policy and advising new powercompanies.

In New England, EDF is working withnewly formed ReGen Technologies to devel-op its business plan to offer environmental-ly preferable electricity in New England

Many Americans Soon Can Choose “Green” Electricity

Continued on page 5.

On January 1, when utility restructuringbegins in California and parts of New

England, 30 million customers will be ableto choose their electricity supplier. Beforelong, many other Americans may also beable to choose power at a modest premiumfrom environmentally preferable sourcessuch as wind, solar, geothermal, and bio-mass.

Although few people today have accessto “green” power options, strong customerdemand will make green power more wide-ly available at increasingly competitiveprices. No energy source is completelyimpact free, but cleaner energy choiceswould benefit the environment. Mostimportant, green electricity can reduce airpollution. Fossil fuel-burning power plantsare a major source of air pollutants and thelargest source of greenhouse gas emissionsin the United States.

In six pilot projects around the U.S., 20%of electricity customers voluntarily paidmore for power generated from renewable

resources. If 20% of customers in newlycompetitive markets chose renewable powerfor half their electricity, it would be the sameas closing eight mid-sized coal-fired powerplants—a modest but important step.

Getting the Facts to Make Good Choices

Until now, people have had no choicebut to buy power from their local electric

Efficient solar panels require little maintenance andprovide electricity without emitting air pollution orgreenhouse gases.

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British Petroleum to Take Action on Climate Change

Continued on page 3.

Breaking new ground, the head of one ofthe world’s largest oil companies has

called climate change a matter for publicconcern and pledged his company will seeksolutions to it. John Browne, CEO ofBritish Petroleum (BP), said industry mustplay “a positive and responsible part inidentifying solutions to an issue which ispotentially very serious.” EDF, Greenpeace,the World Resources Institute, and otherenvironmental groups had discussed globalwarming with British Petroleum prior toBrowne’s announcement.

BP’s action plan to curb global warm-ing, outlined by Browne, includes stepswhere the company will:

• increase investment in solar and other

alternative energy technology;• set targets for further energy efficien-

cy in all BP operations;• work with EDF to develop a voluntary

emissions trading system for greenhousegases, modeled on the system already in usein the U.S. for sulfur emissions;

• take part in “joint implementation”projects with developing nations to reduceor offset greenhouse gas emissions underthe Rio Earth Summit agreement.

EDF economist Dr. Daniel J. Dudek,who spearheaded talks with BP, praised theaction. “This statement by an internationalenergy company the size of BP has thepotential to shift how government officialsJohn Browne (left), CEO of British Petroleum, talks

with EDF economist Dr. Daniel J. Dudek.

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100% Recycled (75% Post-Consumer) Paper Totally Chlorine Free Please Share or Recycle

Cleaner and Greener

Are Top-SellingChemicals Safe?

EDF’s Great Printers Project is making pollution prevention standard practice among printersin the Great Lakes region.

We lack basic health data on morethan 2,000 widely used chemicals. Are we at risk? No one knows.

Service, Preyer

Old McDonald Had a Fish

Former tennis star Jane Preyer has joined the environmental team.

Fish farming is the fastest growingsegment of U.S. agriculture and anincreasing source of protein for theworld. Is it safe for the environment?

Hawaii became the first state to pass leg-islation authorizing “safe harbor” agree-

ments to conserve endan-gered species. Developedby EDF, the safe harborapproach allows property

owners to manage their land to benefitendangered species, without fear of incur-ring additional legal liability.

Hawaii has far more endangered speciesthan any other state—more than 300—butonly four ofthese specieshave been im-proving in sta-tus. The oldHawaiian lawappeared tobe stringentbut lacked thetools for suc-cessful protection on private lands, whichcomprise five-sixths of the state.

Soon after Hawaii acted, the Kansas legis-lature also authorized safe harbor agreements.

Texas Office44 East AvenueAustin, TX 78701512-478-5161

Project Office6 Faneuil Hall MarketplaceBoston, MA 02109617-723-2996

Editor: Norma H. Watson Assoc. Editor: Tim Connor©1997 Environmental Defense Fund, Inc.Published bimonthly at NY, NY ISSN 0163-2566

Visit EDF Online at www.edf.org

National Headquarters257 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10010212-505-2100

California Office5655 College AvenueOakland, CA 94618510-658-8008

Rocky Mountain Office1405 Arapahoe AvenueBoulder, CO 80302303-440-4901

North Carolina EDF2500 Blue Ridge RoadRaleigh, NC 27607919-881-2601

Membership Line:800-684-3322Fax: 202-234-6049Internet: members@edf.org

Capital Office1875 Connecticut Ave., NWWashington, DC 20009202-387-3500

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Letter

Regional News

Led by EDF, a coalition of environmen-tal, recreational, and sportsmen’s groups

turned back attacks on theenvironment by the Coloradolegislature. Bills passed by the

legislature would have increased pollutionfrom coal-burning power plants, openedmiles of wilderness roads to off-road vehi-cles, and made it harder to enact local land-use rules to reduce sprawl.

Communicating through the newsmedia and using the new Colorado ActionNetwork—a high-tech phone, fax, and e-mail network that lets activists contact theirstate legislators quickly on urgent issues—

EDF’s Pollution Prevention Allianceworked with Illinois grassroots groups,

including Communities Againstthe Pipeline and McHenry Coun-ty Defenders, to help stop a pro-posed crude oil pipeline fromwestern Canada to Chicago. EDF

provided expert testimony before the IllinoisCommerce Commission on environmental,technical, and regulatory concerns about oilpipelines. The Commission decided therewas no need for an additional crude oilpipeline to supply Chicago area refineriesand will not grant the pipeline companyeminent domain over portions of privateland for a pipeline that likely poses a seriousthreat of pollution.

Weyerhaueser Company, North Carolina’slargest private landowner, is working with

EDF to protect and managethe 11,000-acre Parker Tract,the last remnant of a coastal

swamp forest that oncecovered 100,000 acres.A major goal is to pre-serve critical landhabitat and waterquality and restorewildlife populations,including the blackbear, grey fox, threat-ened reptiles andamphibians, and manythreatened and declin-ing migratory song-birds.

The science-based management plancalls for Weyerhaeuser to cut no trees insome portions of the swamp hardwood for-est. In other forest areas, trees may be cutonly if future research demonstrates thatdoing so benefits certain rare songbirds andother ecological values. In limited areas,Weyerhaeuser will conduct sustainable tim-ber production.

The full report, A Partnership in Conser-vation, is available for $10 from EDF Publi-cations, c/o the Washington office.

Coalition Thwarts Legislative Attack

Hawaii Acts to Protect Species

Coalition Blocks Oil Pipeline

A Partnership to Save an ImperiledForest and its Wildlife

Hawaiian goose

Grey fox

Can You Give at the Office?If you work for the Federal govern-

ment, you can donate to EDF throughyour paycheck as part of the CombinedFederal Campaign. EnvironmentalDefense Fund is listed under “EarthShare;” EDF’s code number is 0906.

If your workplace has a payrolldeduction campaign that doesn’t yetinclude environmental groups, you maystill have the option of earmarking yourdonation to EDF. Just write in “EDF,257 Park Avenue South, New York, NY10010.” Please ask to have your giftacknowledged so EDF can credit youraccount. If you’d like to help EDF gainaccess to the payroll deduction campaignat your workplace, please call or writeRory Beelek at EDF’s New York office.

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EDF teamed with a broad coalition,including Consumers Union and Public

Citizen-Texas, to defeat anelectric utility bill in theTexas legislature that wouldhave increased pollutionand severely limited oppor-

tunities for new clean energy companies.The bill would have favored older, usuallydirtier, coal-burning plants and allowed theutilities to maintain an effective monopolywith all but the very largest customers.

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The Bellport, NY, community compost-ing program featured in last November’sEDF Letter will appear on Planet Neighbor-hood, a new public television series thatlooks at down-to-earth ideas and innovativetechnologies that people are using at home,at work, and in their communities to pro-tect the environment. EDF general counselJames T.B. Tripp and founding trusteeArthur P. Cooley were instrumental in start-ing the Bellport composting program. Theprogram will air September 8 on PBS sta-tions in more than 20 major cities aroundthe U.S. (Check local listings.)

EDF Project Airs on PBS Sept. 8

Allies Defeat Bad Utility Bill

TX

the coalition helped influence GovernorRoy Romer to veto the bills. EDF also chal-lenged a bill that would have weakened thestate’s power to protect clean air in wilder-ness areas.

If it weren’t for George Montgomery, I’dhave been underwater for sure. We were onthe rocky edge of an Adirondack streamwhen I slipped on a wet spot, losing mybalance. Instantly George grabbed my armand pulled me up, safe and sound but forone soggy shoe.

George extended a helping hand repeat-edly in his seven years as Chairman ofEDF’s Board of Trustees. He has kept me

and EDF focused on “results, results,results,” saying that what counts is the envi-ronmental outcome. He has consistentlysupported EDF’s solution-oriented environ-mentalism and backed our courage to chal-lenge conventional wisdom. He has led anoften-opinionated Board to strongly feltconsensus. Time and again, he has intro-duced EDF to new allies. His interests spanthe spectrum of EDF programs and initia-tives. How does he stay current on so much?

For many years a managing director ofHambrecht & Quist in New York, Georgehas always been ahead of the technologycurve. A decade ago, before any of us hadheard of voice mail, he called to say what adifference it could make for EDF’s far-flungstaff. Of course he was right. We installedthe system and soon it was taking messagesaround the clock, some in languages ourreceptionist couldn’t have transcribed.

Since joining the Board in 1981, Georgehas helped EDF grow from a budget of $2.6million to more than $23 million today andhelped bring about many of our most last-ing achievements. Now that he has returnedto his native San Francisco, he is as active aTrustee as ever, introducing EDF to morenew constituencies and working to involvemore young people in EDF.

Thank you, George!

Fred Krupp and George Montgomery

A Toast to EDF’sGeorge Montgomery

Director’s Message Project Makes Printing Cleaner and GreenerPollution prevention is becoming

standard business practice for print-ers in the Great Lakes region as a resultof the Great Printers Project, a four-yearpartnership initiated by EDF’s PollutionPrevention Alliance. Working with theCouncil of Great Lakes Governors andthe Printing Industries of America, theAlliance created a self-sustaining effortin several states and a nationallyrespected model.

“The approach,” explained EDFeconomic analyst Carol Andress, “hasbeen to challenge printers, as well astheir suppliers, purchasers, and regula-tors, to work toward preventing pollu-tion before it occurs. And these chal-lenges are being met.”

Four Great Lakes states have createdprograms to register Great Printers, whopledge to take steps such as using alterna-tive materials that pollute less. Already 275printers have signed up: 65 in Illinois, 70 inMichigan, 23 in Minnesota, and 117 in Wis-consin.

Regulators in Wisconsin have stream-lined and consolidated their environmentalreporting requirements, first for printersand now for all businesses. The new systemsaves costs and time by replacing many sep-arate forms, and emphasizes pollution pre-vention by suggesting safer materials andprocedures. Other states are pursuing simi-lar improvements, and proposed Federallegislation would extend these reforms to allstates and industries.

Cleaner printing offers important envi-ronmental and economic savings. For exam-ple, a Minnesota printing company with 75employees reduced its ink waste substantial-ly—saving over $30,000 a year—and hasnearly eliminated the use of volatile organiccompounds, which contribute to smog.

EDF’s work on the project is now beingturned over to groups in the Great Lakesarea and elsewhere who are continuing thetasks of changing the printing industry andthe regulations that affect it.

How to Buy Great Printing

When customers ask for better printing,printers are quick to respond. If you buyprinting of any kind—stationery, newslet-ters, brochures, reports—you can play acritical role.

If you live in the Great Lakes region,look for a Great Printer or ask your printerto become one. Everyone can follow thesesix simple guidelines to better printing:

Bruce Fetterolf of McNaughton and Gunn, a Michigan GreatPrinter, carefully oversees the press run.

SIX STEPS TO CLEANER, GREENER PRINTING

•Ask your printers what they’re doing toreduce the environmental impacts of thechemicals and inks they use.

•Choose uncoated, totally chlorine freepaper with high post-consumer recycledcontent.

•Minimize paper use by specifyinglighter-weight paper and using bothsides.

•Avoid neon and metallic inks.

•Use water-based, non-chlorinated glues.

•Don’t print more than you need.

Ask for EDF’s guide to greener printing andpaper by writing EDF Publications, c/o theWashington office, or calling 1-800-684-3322.

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and other companies address global warm-ing,” Dudek said. “BP’s recognition of thelink between climate change and its causes,and their willingness to work with an envi-ronmental group to seek solutions, shouldbe a big help.”

EDF attorney Joseph Goffman added,“BP’s commitment to address the climatechange problem comes at a crucial time, as

BP’s Pledge to Act Comes at a Critical Timegovernments prepare to meet in Decemberin Kyoto, Japan, to try to reach agreementon limiting greenhouse gas emissions. TheU.S. has led other nations by proposing apractical, cost-effective plan, based on theuse of emissions trading, to meet the chal-lenge. But the Administration has failed tospecify reduction targets and now shouldbuild on the movement in the oil industryby committing to specific reductions.”

Continued from page 1.

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ColumnYou Can’t Tell the Chemical Risks Without a Scorecard

In baseball, as they say, you can’t tell the play-ers without a scorecard. For the chemicals of

modern industry, the same is true: you can’ttell about their safety without a scientificscorecard that gives you at least some basic

stats about each one.Yet even today, long

after DDT and leadand PCB’s and manyother after-the-factdiscoveries taught usthat chemicals putinto our environmentcan have disastroushealth effects, there isstill not even the crud-est scorecard for mostof the big-leaguechemicals being usedin American com-merce. The public, andthose whose job is toassess the risks ofchemicals in the envi-ronment, still cannottell whether most ofthese chemicals are

hazardous to our health or not—much lesshow serious the risks might be, or whetherthe chemicals are actually under control.

EDF research shows that results of thesimplest screening tests cannot be found,anywhere in the public record, for the healtheffects of nearly three-quarters of the top-volume chemicals in commercial use in theUnited States. These chemicals, each beingsold in the U.S. in quantities of more thanone million pounds a year, include manychemicals that we are likely to breathe ordrink, that can build up in our bodies, thatare in consumer products, and that we knoware being released from industrial facilitiesinto our air and water. Without at least basicscreening tests, the public and the expertsare equally in the dark.

This lack of information cripples everylaw that Congress and the states havepassed to control toxic chemicals in ourenvironment, and it turns every promise ofchemical safety into an exercise in eye-shift-ing and finger-crossing. A claim of safetyhas to be based on facts. And the facts aresimply not available.

Are we being hurt by these chemicalsand their high-volume use? We don’t know.In effect, we are participating in a giganticexperiment to find out, with no deadline forending the experiment. But perpetual guineapig status is not what Congress promised thepublic more than 20 years ago. Instead, itestablished a national policy that the risks oftoxic chemicals in our environment wouldbe identified and controlled.

To some experts, the fact that we lackthe most basic facts about the toxicity ofchemicals around us comes as no surprise.In the early 1980’s, the National Academy ofSciences’ National Research Council con-ducted a comprehensive four-year study,entitled Toxicity Testing, and found that 78%of the chemicals in highest-volume com-mercial use had not had even “minimal”toxicity testing. The news today is that therehas been so little improvement, 13 yearsafter that study so convincingly document-ed the problem.

All chemicals in high-volume use in theUnited States should long since have beensubjected to preliminary health-effectsscreening, with the results publicly availablefor verification, so that we would have atleast the beginning of an idea about whathealth hazards those chemicals might pose.But with so little progress for so long, it is

unrealistic to keep hoping that current laws,regulations, or voluntary industry programswill produce the facts.

For the public, the only realistic alterna-tive left is to hold the chemical manufac-turers themselves directly responsible fortesting their own chemicals, starting withthe ones being sold in the highest volume.On July 29, EDF executive director FredKrupp called on the heads of each of thetop 100 chemical manufacturers in the U.S.to commit to finish testing of all their high-volume chemicals by the beginning of theyear 2000, and to make the results publiclyavailable. He asked for a commitment bythe end of September. EDF plans to publi-cize the names of the companies that agreeto test their chemicals by the deadline, andthose that don’t.

There is already international consensuson what should be included in preliminaryhealth screening tests for high-volumechemicals. A definition was developed andagreed on in 1990 by the member nations ofthe Organization for Economic Coopera-tion and Development, with extensive par-ticipation from the U.S. chemical manufac-turing industry. Using OECD estimates, thetotal cost would be between 1/10 and 2/3 ofa cent per dollar of the top 100 U.S. compa-nies’ annual profit of $29.4 billion, on$230.5 billion of annual chemical sales.

The public is completely justified inexpecting that major chemicals should havebeen health-screened before being allowedout in commercial circulation. It is equallyjustified in insisting that chemical manu-facturers take direct responsibility for thechemicals they themselves are making andprofiting from.

The manufacturers need to do the testswithout further delay—and make theresults public—whether our laws are forc-ing them to or not. After so long, the moresports-minded among the public mighteven be forgiven for standing up and shout-ing: “Show us the data!” Not until basichealth-risk information for each majorchemical is printed on the equivalent of ascorecard, and the umpire has looked itover, will the fans even begin to be able tothink about settling back in their seats.

By Dr. William Pease, an EDF scientist who spe-cializes in toxicology, and EDF attorney David Roe,the principal authors of a new EDF study, ToxicIgnorance.

David Roe

William Pease

Americans are living in a “soup” of industrial chem-icals that have not had even minimal testing forpossible health hazards.

We are participating in a giganticexperiment to find out if we arebeing hurt by these chemicals.

Toxic Ignorance is available for $10 from EDFPublications, c/o the Washington office.

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Angeles, in which the Metropolitan Trans-portation Authority agreed to pay thelargest financial settlement in civil rightshistory (EDF Letter, April 1997). A gradu-ate of Stanford Law School, where he is anadjunct professor, García recently wrote amultimedia law school casebook, Riots andRebellion: Civil Rights, Police Reform andthe Rodney King Beating, published onCD-ROM and on the World Wide Web atwww.ldf la.org/riots.html.

Sarah M. Wade hasjoined EDF’s Globaland Regional Atmo-sphere program staffin Washington, bring-ing years of experiencein utility policy andthe use of economicincentives for pollu-tion control. Wademost recently consult-

ed on policy issues arising from deregula-tion of the energy industry. Previously,she worked on emissions trading with theClean Air Action Corporation, a privatefirm, and for both the Massachusetts andConnecticut Departments of Environ-mental Protection. Wade, who holds mas-ters degrees from Yale in EnvironmentalStudies and in Public and Private Man-agement, interned for EDF while in grad-uate school.

Major Staff Positions Filled in California and DC

Stephen W. Cochran, EDF’s new Legisla-tive Director in the Washington office,

has had broad experi-ence at the Federal,state, and local level.Cochran comes to EDFfrom a position assenior policy analyst inEPA’s Office of Air andRadiation. He workedin the House as Leg-islative Director to Rep.Charles E. Roemer, IIIfrom 1984-87, was field

director of Roemer’s successful campaignfor governor of Louisiana, and then servedas the governor’s chief of staff. Before goingto EPA, he was the first director of the LakePontchartrain Basin Foundation, an envi-ronmental advocacy group in NewOrleans.

Attorney RobertGarcía has joinedEDF’s California staffto work on transporta-tion and water issues.García, who comes toEDF from the NAACPLegal Defense and Ed-ucation Fund, helpedwin the recent victoryagainst racially dis-

criminatory bus and rail systems in Los

Stephen Cochran

Robert García

Sarah Wade

Citizens’ “Right toKnow” is Strengthened

The U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) has expanded its Commu-

nity Right to Know program, which re-quires many industries to issue public re-

ports on theirreleases andoff-site trans-fers of morethan 600 toxicchemicals. Onthe advice ofEDF and otherenvironmentalgroups, andover industryopposition, theAdministrationincluded allthe industries

EPA proposed: metal mining, coal mining,electric utilities, hazardous waste treatmentand disposal, solvent recovery, chemicalwholesalers, and bulk petroleum terminals.

EDF argued that these industries posesignificant pollution hazards and that smallfacilities that do not use or release largequantities of pollutants are already exempt.

“The expansion of this Right to Knowprogram will empower and help protectpeople all over America,” said EDF engineerLois Epstein, who, along with EDF attor-neys Karen Florini and Kevin Mills, wasinstrumental in the victory. “EPA did anexcellent job of identifying the types of pre-viously non-reporting facilities where toxicpollution can pose unacceptable threats tocommunities.”

CA Workplace Protections Upheld

In another important victory for environ-mental health, the U.S. Occupational Safetyand Health Administration (OSHA) hasaffirmed states’ right to establish strongerhealth protections than the Federal govern-ment. OSHA approved California’s work-place standards, which incorporate thestate’s Proposition 65 and include a provi-sion for direct citizen enforcement.

“Employers have waged a holy waragainst enforcement of workplace standardsby workers themselves,” said EDF attorneyDavid Roe. “This is the first time it hasreceived Federal blessing. This is a majorbreakthrough for workers’ rights.”

The stronger California standards havebeen working well since their initial adop-tion five years ago, but major industrialemployers campaigned hard for Federal dis-approval.

Lois Epstein at a bulk petrole-um terminal in Virginia.

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and beyond. EDF and ReGen aim to set ahigh standard for green power by bringingnew renewable resources into use.

In Texas, EDF crafted new standards forutility-sponsored green pricing, which theTexas Public Utilities Commission hasendorsed. In California, EDF staff areinvolved in implementing the new utilityrestructuring law.

In the Pacific Northwest, EDF is work-ing with the Environmental ResourcesTrust, a nonprofit organization created withEDF’s help, to stimulate markets for greenpower.

“The coming changes in the electricindustry should empower customers tomake informed decisions and, if theychoose, to make real environmentalimprovements,” said Rábago. “Disclosure,adequate labeling, and high standards forgreen power marketers are prerequisites tomaking the market work.”

What Your Electric Bill COULD Tell YouWhere your electricity comes from

Coal . . . . . . . . . . 55%Oil. . . . . . . . . . . . 2%Natural Gas . . . . . . 10%Nuclear . . . . . . . . 23%Hydropower . . . . . . 10%Renewable . . . . . . 0%

Emissions Information (pounds per 1000 kWh)

Carbon Dioxide . . . 1600 lbs.Oxides of Nitrogen . . 2.9 lbs.Sulfur Dioxide . . . . 3.7 lbs.Particulates . . . . . . 0.35 lbs.Heavy Metals . . . . . 0.03 lbs.

Electric bills should report not only the price ofelectricity but also how the power was generated(based on the supplier’s average historical data)and what emissions resulted. The data above areaverages for the U.S. as a whole; to find out the fig-ures for your state or region, check ENERGY atEDF’s web site, www.edf.org.

Helping to Create Strong “Green Power” MarketsContinued from page 1.

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PeopleMeet Jane Preyer, Head Coach of North Carolina EDF There are a couple of paradoxes about Jane

Preyer, the new director of the NorthCarolina Environmental Defense Fund.

One is that this solo tennis star, ranked43rd in the world in the mid-1980’s, is nowa team player, immersed in EDF’s collabora-tive approach to tackling environmentalproblems. The other is that Preyer—a 1993graduate of the University of North Caroli-na’s Master of Public Administration pro-gram—finds herself at EDF as “a generalistsurrounded by experts. And I’m the firstnon-attorney director the office has had,”she adds, alluding to former directors SteveLevitas and Melinda Taylor.

Preyer brings to EDF a unique blend ofexperience and education, along with acalm and focused personal manner and adeep concern for the environment. “Most ofthe MPA students were going into govern-ment,” she recalls, “but a small cadre of usreally wanted to work in non-profits. Thetwo areas I felt most passionate about werehuman services and the environment. Fromchildhood days of fishing on North Caroli-na lakes and rivers with my Dad, I devel-oped a serious sense of stewardship.”

Preyer’s father, L. Richardson Preyer, isthe jurist and former Congressman whochaired the governor’s Year of the Coastcommission. With her mother an originalboard member of the NC Nature Conser-vancy, and her brother, Rich, the leader of acapital campaign for the Conservancy, it isno surprise that Preyer would take a profes-sional interest in North Carolina’s environ-ment.

In 1993, Preyer was hired by North Car-olina EDF as an intern for the Paper TaskForce, an EDF partnership with four corpo-rations and Duke University to stimulate

demand for environmentally preferablepaper. “I was exposed to EDF’s teamapproach, having scientists, economists, andattorneys work together to solve problems.We toured paper mills, examined forestmanagement practices, and gathered lots oftechnical information, publishing a compre-hensive report in 1995.

“Going from intern to director of the

office has been quite a path!” she says. Shecredits her confidence in her new positionto the quality of the staff and to past direc-tor Melinda Taylor, who is now in EDF’sTexas office. “Melinda encouraged a colle-gial approach.”

Life on the Tennis Tour

The path leading Jane Preyer to NCEDFfirst led her all over the world and into thehighest levels of competitive tennis. She wasa two-time North Carolina women’s singlesand doubles champion and began touringprofessionally after graduating from theUniversity of North Carolina in 1976.

“The first couple of years on the tourwere pretty brutal,” she recalls. “But onceranked in the top 50 to 75, you had morecontrol over your schedule and knew youcould get into the major tournaments. Forme, the biggest thrill was playing Wimble-don. I played four years there and loved it.”

She also had the strong support of herfamily, and understandably so—all thePreyers were netters. Her biggest win mayhave been over Australian EvonneGoolagong, a victory heralded with pride by

her hometown paper, the Greensboro DailyNews: “Ding Dong! Ding Dong! Jane beatGoolagong!”

Later, an elbow injury and surgery madeit clear that she would not recover enoughto compete at that level. A timely openingat Duke University put her in charge of thewomen’s tennis program. Coach Preyer’steams won four Atlantic Coast Conferencetitles and became number five in thenation.

Old friend Thomas Massengale ofChapel Hill, who as founding director ofthe NC Nature Conservancy has knownPreyer and her family for more than twodecades, says, “Jane is an absolutely terrificperson, dedicated to her work and to a bet-ter North Carolina. She’s very bright, verywell organized, and has a wonderful, dis-arming, engaging style. Her style helps herto produce substantial results—especiallyin situations where there are strong opin-ions and not a lot of agreement.”

Substantial results, indeed. Preyer is par-ticularly proud of a joint project NCEDFand Weyerhaeuser Company have just com-pleted, a management plan that protects thelast remnant of the East Dismal Swamp inNorth Carolina’s coastal plain, savingimportant habitat for rare songbirds. (Seearticle on page 2.)

Another prime interest of hers is waterquality. For example, to protect water sup-plies—and neighbors—from eastern Car-olina’s burgeoning hog industry, NCEDFand eight other NC groups assembled a“hogs team” that is pushing for a moratori-um on permits for large hog facilities orexpansion of existing facilities. “We mustmove toward a different technology to han-dle hog waste,” she says, “one that works inour landscape and economy.”

Now that Preyer is, in effect, head coachof NCEDF, the competitive spirit may haveyielded somewhat to the collaborative, buther energy and interests seem to havebrought her to the right place at the righttime.

Perhaps there is a third paradox forPreyer at EDF—she is still surrounded bytennis players, including a cadre of tennisenthusiasts and doubles partners through-out EDF. So keep an eye on EDF’s newleader in the Old North State, and expect alively volley from player, coach, and conser-vationist Jane Preyer—a proven champion.

By Bland Simpson

After many years playing at the highest levels of com-petitive tennis, Jane Preyer still enjoys a friendly gamewhen time permits.

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“Jane is an absolutely terrificperson, dedicated to her workand to a better North Carolina.”

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Old MacDonald Had a Fish

Most Americans would be surprised todiscover that their last seafood meal

may have been raised on a farm, not caughtat sea. Declines in wild fish populationsand growing demand for seafood have madeaquaculture the source of an increasing por-

tion of seafood in theU.S. and the world.Although precise fig-ures are not available,virtually all the catfishand trout, roughly halfthe shrimp, andapproximately one-third of the salmonconsumed in thiscountry are raised byfish farmers. Other

aquatic species, including hybrid stripedbass, crawfish, and clams, are also beingraised in tanks, ponds, and coastal bays.

Fish and shellfish are now farmed inevery state and U.S. territory, and aquacul-ture is the fastest growing segment of U.S.agriculture. Production has increased 24%by weight and 60% in market value overthe last decade. Aquaculture’s rapid growthin the U.S. mirrors its phenomenal growthworldwide. About 25% of all fish consumedby humans worldwide is now farmed.

The growth of fish farming has oftencome at a price. EDF has focused on anumber of controversial issues involvingaquaculture in the U.S. For example:

• In Washington State, roughly 250,000Atlantic salmon have escaped from fishfarms since 1991, many of them later turn-ing up in local rivers, where they mayspread disease and compete with dwindlingruns of wild native Pacific salmon. A Wash-ington pollution board recently ruled thatescaped Atlantic salmon are a “living pollu-tant” that can be regulated in the samemanner as waste from other industries.

• In Texas, environmental degradationfrom shrimp farms has spurred lawsuits bygrassroots groups. In the mid-1980’s, Texasofficials promoted coastal shrimp farmingas a form of economic development andexempted shrimp farms from state require-ments for wastewater discharge permits.Discharges of untreated shrimp sewage andepidemics of foreign shrimp viruses onfarms may be harming local estuaries. EDFis working with a coalition of coastal resi-dents, recreational fishermen, and others toget major changes in Texas shrimp farmoperations and regulations.

Aquaculture is often promoted as away to relieve pressure on overexploit-ed wild fisheries, but it can actuallyresult in a net loss of fish and protein.Many farmed fish, such as salmon,trout, and shrimp, are wholly or partlycarnivorous. Feeding them can requirecatching more fish from the oceanthan are ultimately produced on thefarms. About three to five pounds ofwild fish, for example, are required toproduce one pound of farmed salmon.

Better Fish Farms

Aquaculture need not harm the envi-ronment, however, and some forms offish farming are inherently less pollut-ing than others. For example, farmingof filter-feeders such as clams, oysters, andother mollusks actually cleans the water. Forother farmed species, there are various tech-nologies and practices available to reduce oreven eliminate environmental problemscaused by aquaculture.

EDF recommends several policies need-ed for an aquaculture industry that is bothenvironmentally and economically sound.These include:

• Water quality standards for fish farmeffluents must be established and enforcedby the states and EPA.

• Better standards and regulations areneeded to prevent the introduction andspread of fish diseases from farms to wildfish populations.

• Fish farmers should adopt non-lethalpredator control programs, rather thanshooting predatory birds. Fish farmers legal-ly killed 51,500 birds between 1989 and1993, including about 10,000 great blueherons.

• Government and private research andpromotion programs should favor closed,recirculating aquaculture systems, whichclean and reuse their water and prevent theescape of farmed fish.

What’s a Person to Eat?

Fish farms, like commercial fisheries, varyin their environmental impact. Consumersgenerally cannot tell where their seafoodcame from unless the market provides thisinformation. Still, a few simple rules canhelp guide consumers:

1. Carnivorous farmed fish such assalmon, trout, and shrimp are fed a diet highin fishmeal and oil. Consumers can relievepressure on wild fisheries by eating predom-inantly herbivorous fish, such as catfish andtilapia, that require little or no fishmeal intheir diet.

2. Farming of clams, mussels, oysters,and scallops does little environmental harm.These mollusks require no added feed andactually benefit the environment by clean-ing water.

3. Shrimp farming tends to be highlypolluting, and most shrimp farms are locat-ed in developing countries, where their con-struction often destroys valuable coastalhabitat such as mangrove forests. Mostwild-caught shrimp also come at a highenvironmental price. The shrimp fisheryhas the world’s highest “bycatch” rate, aver-aging about five pounds of marine lifekilled for each pound of shrimp harvested.Notable exceptions are the Northern shrimpfisheries, such as in Maine, which have lowbycatch rates.

When deciding what’s for dinner, shopperscan also look beyond the fish counter. A diethigh in grains, fruits, and vegetables tends tobe a more efficient use of resources—andhealthier—than a diet high in animal protein.

By EDF ecologist Dr. Rebecca J. Goldburg, who isstudying the promise and environmental impacts ofthe growing aquaculture industry.

Rebecca Goldburg

Harvesting salmon at a fish farm.

Receive Life Income While You Help EDF

Join EDF’s popular Charitable Gift Annuity program with a gift of $10,000 or more.

In return, you will receive:• Life income. (The rates just went up!)

Sample one-life annuity rates: age 55: 6.7%;age 65: 7.2%; age 75: 8.4%; age 80: 9.4%; age 90+: 12%.

• A charitable deduction.• Our deep appreciation for your gener-

ous support of our shared mission.For information, please contact

Anne B. Doyle, Dir. of Planned Giving, EDF, Box 47, 257 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10010 (212) 505-2100.

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EDF attorney D. Douglas Hopkins has been appointed to a three-year term on the New England Fishery Management Council,

one of eight regional councils that managethe nation’s fisheries along with the NationalMarine Fisheries Service. Hopkins, managerof EDF’s Oceans program, is the only repre-sentative of an environmental organizationserving on any of the regional councils.

Hopkins thanked the many national andregional environmental groups that backedhis nomination. He also received support

from sport fishing groups, including the Recreational FishingAlliance; commercial fishermen; members of the academic commu-nity; and several members of Congress, including CongresswomanRosa L. DeLauro of New Haven.

“The challenge in joining the Council,” said Hopkins, “will be tohelp create lasting solutions to stop overfishing and rebuild deplet-ed fish populations. We must return New England’s valuable andhistoric fishing grounds to environmental and economic health.”

In a major victory for public health and the environment, EPAAdministrator Carol Browner has announced more protective stan-

dards for airborne particulate matter and smog. EDF thanks thethousands of EDF members around the country who sent messagesto Washington urging the new standards.

“Despite an unprecedented assault by industry groups,” saidEDF executive director Fred Krupp, “the Administration has comeout clearly on the side of millions of American children and elderlywho suffer from respiratory problems. Carol Browner deserves spe-cial praise for standing by America’s children during these witheringattacks.”

The new standards are not yet final. Industry groups are prepar-ing a fierce campaign to get Congress to disapprove them, and leg-islation to delay them for several years has already been introduced.EDF may be asking for members’ help again.

Not only must the standards survive in Congress, but EPA mustalso develop an effective implementation plan. EDF has proposedworkable implementation measures to help meet the standards andensure that they achieve needed pollution reductions.

Joanne Woodward will star in TV, radio, newspaper, and maga-zine ads developed for America Recycles Day, to be celebrated

Saturday, November 15.Both Ms. Woodwardand the advertisingagency McCann-Erick-son donated their ser-vices. In the past yearthe EDF-Ad Councilrecycling campaignreceived a record $46million of donated adtime and space to pro-mote recycling andrecycled products.

EDF members canhelp get the word outby asking broadcastersand publishers in theirarea to use the “Buy Recycled” ads, available to media outletsfrom the Ad Council (800-933-PSAS). More than 40 states areparticipating in America Recycles Day activities on November 15.

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EDF Oceans Attorney is Named To Fishery Management Council

Longest Tenured Employee Retires

Violet Paczka, a staff member for 27 of EDF’s 30 years, retired inJuly. For the last 24 years, she was secretary to EDF general coun-

sel James T.B. Tripp, where she became famous as “the fastest livingtypist.” Vi came to work for EDF in 1971, shortly after the groupmoved into the 100-year-old farmhouse in East Setauket, NY, that

would be its head-quarters until 1977.When EDF thenmoved to New YorkCity, Vi began a daily100-mile commuteon the Long IslandRailroad. Vi holds alot of EDF history inher memory; she willlong remain in ours.

EPA Wins New Soot and Smog Limits

Joanne Woodward Will Herald“America Recycles Day” Nov.15

Roberta Desmond, EDF public service direc-tor, and Kenneth Dowling, senior vice presi-dent of McCann-Erickson NY, developed thenew Ad Council campaign.

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Vi Paczka on her last day at EDF.