Delaware Sierra News

A Sierra Club Newsletter about Environmental Matters Important to Delaware February - March 2006
State Needs To Refocus Controls on Development Hope Springs Eternal on Waste.....
by Marlene Rayner
by Dave Keifer
As in many things, land development oversight is different in Delaware (1) 290 ft
from most everywhere else. The State gave planning and zoning
authority to the counties in the late 1960's but forgot it took back the (2) 190 ft
roads from the counties in the 1930's. So the counties can approve
developments and gain real estate tax revenues while the state scratch-
es around to find money to build the roads to service the development.

The State has made halting steps to inject itself into the land develop-
Future “Mount Cherry Island” heights illustrated (1)original proposal; (2) recent
ment control business. They are doing this when the things they are
DNREC approved height in stabilization and expansion project. Photo taken in August,
responsible for, specifically roads, schools, and related public facilities,
2003 by Debbie Heaton and first appeared in September, 2003 Delaware Sierra News.
are largely unplanned.
To say I am personally disappointed about recent state decisions concerning
waste in Delaware is an understatement. The decision by DNREC to allow any
The State must recognize its responsibilities, refocus its direction, estab-
Cherry Island Landfill (CIL) expansion and the Legislative Sunset Committee's
lish meaningful dialog with the counties and municipalities and provide
decision to do nothing about reining in the Delaware Solid Waste Authority
mandatory direction. Currently, facilities are not being constructed at a
(DSWA) are disconcerting. At best they suggest a lot of "behind the scenes"
pace equal to demand. Counties and municipalities can raise adequate
discussion that "others" (private citizens, environmental groups) are not privi-
funding with low real estate taxes but the cost of infrastructure is a bur-
leged to. At the worst, the decisions suggest collusion. The decisions are an
den borne solely by the State. The status quo must be realigned lest
abomination to the communities affected by CIL.
our future infrastructure costs exceed a point which the taxpayers can
The DNREC expansion announcement couched in terms of "Cherry Island
sustain. closure is finally set…" is disingenuous. This decision allows CIL expansion
with the original berm/stabilization plans for the original (higher!) landfill.
The only people benefiting from this mess are the developers who know This means CIL can be built-up higher sometime in the future, because it
exactly what they need to do to make money. There is nothing wrong already has the base for it. The Sunset Committee decision to pass on any rec-
with that as long as the rules they must live within are clear, account for ommendations for the DSWA because "DSWA is showing improvement..."is
all of the public sector costs that must accompany growth, and safe- ridiculous. Imagine in today's goal oriented world, a job (like that provided by
guard the natural resources that make Delaware a good place to live. DSWA for the State of Delaware) that requires review only every 6 years!
It is greatly hoped that DNREC, the Governor, the Sunset Committee, and
The law requires that the counties and towns update their plans and our legislators have some secret plan which would force accountability onto
implementing ordinances on a fixed schedule. They are in that process the DSWA to accomplish what most Delawareans want - landfill waste mini-
now. The State must work with them cooperatively to assure outcomes mization, greatly improved recycling, curbside pick-up, and proper disposal of
that the citizens can live with. More importantly, the citizens need to waste. Instead we got a recycling rate in the bottom half of the bottom half of
show up at planning commission, town council, levy court, and a host of the US and a costly mess to clean up at CIL.
State government workshops and hearings to keep all of these groups Now we have to worry about the re-emergence of incineration (under the
moving in the same direction. see “state needs” continued on page 7 guise of multiple names), which was banned in the 1990s, presently being dis-
cussed seriously in the Governor's Task Force on Waste!
Table of Contents page
Hope Springs Eternal on Waste 1
Refocuse Controls on Development 1 Delawar e Chapter
Sierra Executive Committee Members; Committee Chairs 2 NON-PROFIT
100 West 10th St., Suite 1107 U.S. POSTAGE
Letter From New Chair/New Ex Com Members 2 Wilmington, DE 19801 PAID
Delaware City Refinery Issues Continue 3 WILMINGTON, DE
High Noon for Natural Gas 4 PERMIT NO. 740
Power Plants Health Effects 4
Proper Disposal for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs 5
Plan Your Spring Garden Now for Wholesome Food 5
What is methane? 6
Helping Delaware’s Birds 6
Curb Global Warming 7
Sierra Calendar: Meetings and Events 8
 Delaware Chapter and
Southern Delaware
New Chair’s Message
Group Leaders By Dave Keifer, Sr.

Chapter Office: I have been agonizing over how to write this so it does not sound like every other new Chair's first message of the New
2742 Hazlettville Rd Year. If I do not get something written quickly the Newsletter Chair will rain hot coals down on my head so here goes.
Dover, DE
302-678-2712 The simple fact is that we are facing a very difficult year at all levels. The Administration in Washington is attempting to
Chapter Executive Committee
drill for hydrocarbons in Alaska and in the Outer Continental Shelf, reduce control over air and water pollution, and gener-
Rich Anthony 645-1732 ally reduce us to the quality of life of the late 1800's while simultaneously ignoring the clear and overwhelming evidence of
Dick Bewick 736-1670 global warming.
Steve Callanen 539-0635
Kathleen Davis 286-0642 The folks in Dover are growing, Cherry Island, bemoaning the problems of unplanned growth while not realizing the com-
Lorri Fencer 530-0391
pelling need of the State government to service the growth that has occurred or is already approved.
David Keifer 678-2712
Tim O’Connor 697-7466
Chad Tolman 478-3516 It is a target rich environment for people who prefer clean air and water, open space that is not just State subsidized golf
Matt Urban 636-0628 courses, and a sane energy policy. We will be working to focus our efforts to maximize results, significantly improve our
Chapter Appointed Officers communications with our members and the public to expand our cadre of activists, and work to accelerate the education of
Chapter Chair: Dave Keifer 678-2712 elected officials at all levels of government.
Vice-Chair: Kathleen Davis 286-0642
Conservation: Rich Anthony 645-1732
Litigation: Carl Solberg 492-1225 We appreciate your support in the past and encourage your active participation in the future. You may reach me at
Land Use: Carl Solberg 492-1225 phone: 302-678-2712
Anti-Pollution: Al Denio 455-0389 email: dave.keifer@delaware.sierraclub.org.
Outings: Jennie Egan 453-0827
Membership: Ron Zink 735-8996
Newsletter: Marlene Rayner 571-8097 New Executive Committee Members!
Southern Delaware Group(SDG) Lorri Fencer
Rich Anthony 645-1732
As a lifelong Delawarean, I am happy to serve on the Executive Committee of the Delaware Chapter of the
Carrie Bennet 732-3358
Terri Usuki 436-4042 Sierra Club. Most of my activities with Sierra have involved pollution issues, particularly at the Delaware City
Matilda Purnell 945-1317 Refinery. These activities include attending monthly meetings at the refinery's Citizen Advisory Panel, reviewing
Sallie Callanen 539-4733 refinery air permits, attending public hearings and providing comment. This focus will continue.
SDG Appointed Officers In any club or organization, members are the most important resource. Involved, informed and active mem-
Chair: Rich Anthony 645-1732 bers contribute greatly to an organization's strength. As a member of ExCom, I am hoping to continue with
Vice-Chair: Sallie Callanen 539- 0635
Conservation: Terri Usuki 436-4042
Sierra efforts in this direction.
Secretary: Carrie Bennet 732-3358 On a personal note, I am an avid runner and hiker, am married with a 12 year old daughter and am a CPA
Chapte Delegate: Steve Callanen 537-4733 who works in the insurance industry.

Web Editor: Mike Casale

www.delaware.sierraclub.org
Chad Tolman
I came to Wilmington in 1965 as a young PhD to work for DuPont Central Research as a physical chemist.
The Delaware Sierra News is published five times a
year by the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club.
After retiring from DuPont in 1996, I taught for a year at Delaware Technical and Community College and the
This publication is written and produced entirely by University of Delaware, including a course in environmental chemistry. Then I spent three years in Washington
volunteers. If you would like to help with its publica-
tion, please contact the editor (302-571-8097). The
in the Chemistry Division at the National Science Foundation (NSF) and two years in the Division of Earth and
deadline for materials for the next issue Life Sciences at the National Research Council (NRC). My work there involved studies of air pollution, air quali-
(February15, 2006) is January 19, 2006.
We reserve the right to edit materials submitted
ty management, and chemical terrorism.
for publication. Send Materials and Letters to the I have followed the area of global warming and climate change for over 15 years, and have written and
Editor to: marlenerayner@yahoo.com or the Sierra
Club Office.
spoken extensively on the subject. I currently lead an interdenominational group, the Coalition for Climate
Ideas expressed in the Delaware Sierra News Change Study and Action, which meets monthly at 7:30PM on the second Wednesday at the First Unitarian
are those of the columnists and do not necessarily Church in Wilmington. I recently formed a group calling itself Citizens Alarmed about Global Warming, which is
reflect the position of the Sierra Club. While effort is
made to check for accuracy, time constraints and working to get the major political parties to formulate policies on energy and climate change so that these
limited all-volunteer staff do not allow for complete
data corroboration.
important subjects can become part of the public political debate in congressional and presidential elections.
Editor: Marlene Rayner Our monthly electronic newsletter, Climate Change News, is available at
Editorial Committee: JeanBauer, Sallie climate_change_news@yahoogrooups.com.
Callanen, Mike Casale, Marsha Holler, Anne I am interested in networking with organizations that support educating the public and taking action to avert
Kirby, Doug Reppa the worst impacts of climate change on natural ecosystems and human societies. I am a member of the Global
This newsletter was printed on recy-
cled, post-consumer paper with soy-
Warming Working Group of the UU Ministry of Earth, and the Advocacy Committee of the Delaware Nature
based ink by the Dover Post Society.
Company, Dover, DE.

Delaware Chapter Sierra Club February-March 2006 2

Delaware City Refinery Environmental Issues Continue......
The Sierra Club continues to monitor ongoing pollution control efforts
at the refinery. Key projects are Motiva remediation activities; Consent
Decree requirements; Coastal Zone Permit
Motiva Remediation Activities
Motiva maintains permits for refinery solid and hazardous
waste units. Remediation activities involve three areas:
industrial waste landfill closure, flyash settling ponds and
Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) corrective
actions for soil and groundwater contamination.
DNREC is reviewing a closure plan for a 17 acre refinery
industrial waste landfill. By Spring 2006, a clay cover will limit
leachate generation from this lined disposal unit, inactive
since 2004. Permanent closure, to occur by Fall 2007,
includes a multi-layer soil and geosynthetic cover system.
DNREC is also reviewing a closure plan for two 10 acre
flyash settling ponds, inactive since 2002. Final closure will
be completed by Fall 2008 also with a geosynthetic cover system.
We will call DNREC to understand the specific by-products contained
in these units, when the public notice will occur, who retains responsibili-
ty after final closure and post-closure monitoring.
In September 2003 DNREC issued Motiva a RCRA corrective action
permit for groundwater/soil contamination from spillages and leaks occur-
ring over the years. According to DNREC, contamination sources are:
the tank farm, various production units, a solid waste basin and its near-
by solid waste disposal area. The basin served as a settling area for oily
sediment from refinery storm water sewers.
RCRA corrective action requires an investigation to identify contami-
nant nature and extent. Identified so far, a site wide plume of BTEX
(benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene & xylene) and MTBE extends south to
Dragon Run Creek. Benzene has been detected in the upper Potamic
sands (100-150 feet). Motiva claims that contaminants detected in the
clay south of the refinery are low and the extent is currently being
defined. Creek surface and sediment samples contained MTBE and
toluene at levels below state standards. Facility wide wells are being
monitored to determine extent of refinery contamination and potential for
migration. In the spring of 2005 DNREC tested well water samples of 10
nearby homes. Nine homes had no hydrocarbon constituents, but a 10th
had xylene and ethyl benzene at levels below state standards.
Two remediation zones at the southern fence line of the refinery have
been established to cut off the plume. These units use oxygen and bac-
teria to encourage contaminant degradation. Free phase hyrdrocarbon
recovery is occurring at the wells.
Once the contaminant study is complete a work plan to
clean up the site will be submitted to DNREC for approval. At
this point, the public will have an opportunity to review and
comment. An online EPA report states that public interest in
the site has not been extensive, that the public did have an
opportunity to review and comment on the RCRA corrective
action permit issued 9/03 and will be given review/comment
opportunity for future clean up activities. Motiva has said that
final clean up will take 5-10 years.
According to DNREC and Motiva, this contamination is from
historic, not current releases. How can we be assured that
this is not current? DNREC claims that in 2001 regulations
Delaware Chapter Sierra Club
by Lorri Fencer
were passed improving procedures for above ground tank storage. In
addition, the storm water sewer system is routing water flow through the
waste water plant instead of directly to the guard basin. Final destination
is the Delaware River. However, many questions remain and additional
follow up with DNREC will occur.
Consent Decree
For past air pollution offenses, federal and
state regulators required the refinery to install pollu-
tion controls to decrease sulfur dioxide (SO2) and
Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) emissions. DNREC con-
firmed that the selective non-catalytic reduction
(SNCR) technology to decrease NOX emissions is
now operative. The decree also requires an SNCR
optimization study to define best operating parame-
ters. This is on target. Construction (required com-
pletion date 6/06) continues on the wet gas scrub-
bers to capture and recycle SO2 on the coker, a major refining unit.
Valero has proposed design changes to a coke handling/storage facili-
ty originally negotiated by Premcor with DNREC. Not technically a part
of the consent decree, DNREC required changes to coke handling/stor-
age. Primary changes are: storage will occur in a silo not a warehouse
and the coke will be moved entirely by pneumatic chutes rather than
conveyor belts. Both DNREC and Valero claim that chute transportation
of coke dust is totally enclosed and will greatly reduce particulate matter
emissions. Belts are only partially enclosed. DNREC would not provide
further details as this issue is now part of a settlement agreement for vio-
lations of ambient air quality standards.
Coastal Zone Decision
Valero applied for a Coastal Zone status decision to install new
equipment to utilize ethyl alcohol rather than MTBE as a gasoline addi-
tive. Not withstanding the fact that MTBE is a potential carcinogen and
a known source of groundwater contamination, both ethyl alcohol and
MTBE are added to gas as oxygenates which reduce carbon monoxide
emissions. However, the scope of the CZA review process is limited
and not the venue for arguing the utilization of such pollutants.
Consequently, since this project should not increase production, we did
not request a hearing.
February-March 2006 3
“High Noon for Natural Gas” Too?
Julian Darley is author of the 2004 book, "High Noon for Natural Gas,"
in which he argues that the era of cheap and plentiful gas, like that of
cheap oil, is coming to a close. Humans began tapping the Earth's
deposits of oil and natural gas a little over a century ago. We've been
exhausting the planet's oil reserves more quickly than gas reserves,
because oil is easier to pump, transport and use. The planet's gas
endowment will last longer, but the world is now using more each year
than is being discovered -- an ominous sign. Accelerated consumption
across the globe, says Darley, will continue to drive up natural gas
prices, deplete reserves, and trigger chronic shortages.
“The petroleum industry is pushing hard to build large numbers
of liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers, along with the requisite high-tech
port facilities in the major producing and consuming nations. That will
make it easier for a big energy-using nation like the U.S. to suck not
only from gas pipelines on its own continent but from wells almost any-
where on the planet, as we currently do to feed our oil habit.
“Building and operating a global LNG system will require vast
amounts of energy -- much of it supplied by gas, of course.For the
power required to haul liquefied gas across oceans while keeping it
cooled to about -260 degrees Fahrenheit, LNG tankers draw on their
own cargo. And an explosion at a LNG terminal could produce a fireball
a mile wide -- qualifying LNG as a potential WMD.
“The process of extracting oil from sands in the Canadian
province of Alberta -- often looked to as a key new resource in a "safe"
part of the world -- requires natural gas, and a lot of it. Darley predicts
that if the oil sands are to satisfy even one-eighth of North America's
demand, they will have to absorb a quarter to a half of Canada's natural
gas production!
“Hydrogen is often hailed as a fuel of the future, but today, most
hydrogen is manufactured from -- what else? -- natural gas. Hydrogen
could be generated by, say, using solar energy to split water molecules,
but don't count that happening on a large scale as long as gas is avail-
able. President Bush's well-hyped 2003 FreedomCar initiative relied
mostly on gas-derived hydrogen.
From High Noon for Natural Gas by Julian Darley 2004
Why Nuclear Power is a Bad Idea for EnergyProduction
"… A 40 year study of USA nuclear reactors shows that reactors con-
sume considerably more energy than they produce for consumers….”
Nuclear generated power is a very expensive and energy inefficient way
to produce energy. If we calculate the energy used in: mining; transport;
enriching fuel; constructing plants; supplying plants (including associat-
ed transport); maintenance; decommissioning; and waste management,
the amount of energy used is much, much more than the energy the
plant will produce in it's life. Renewable Energy, on the other hand,
does not need fuel of any kind, and once built, provides energy for life,
with a low maintenance cost.
"Energy audit of nuclear fuel cycles By R. Ashok Kumar,B.E,M.E
(Power),Negentropist, Flat 1/13, Telec Officers' CHS.,Ltd.,Plot 30,
Sector 17, Vashi, Navi Mumbai-400705. Tel:7896209.
Delaware Chapter Sierra Club
The Real High Cost of Energy
Public Health and Economic Consequences of
Methyl Mercury Toxicity to the Developing Brain
Leonardo Trasande; Philip J. Landrigan; Clyde Schechter
Methyl mercury is a developmental neurotoxicant. Exposure results principally
from consumption by pregnant women of seafood contaminated by mercury
from anthropogenic (70%) and natural (30%) sources. Throughout the 1990s,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made steady progress in
reducing mercury emissions from anthropogenic sources, especially from
power plants, which account for 41% of anthropogenic emissions. However,
the U.S. EPA recently proposed to slow this progress, citing high costs of pollu-
tion abatement. To put into perspective the costs of controlling emissions from
American power plants, we have estimated the economic costs of methyl mer-
cury toxicity attributable to mercury from these plants. We used an environ-
mentally attributable fraction model and limited our analysis to the neurodevel-
opmental impacts-specifically loss of intelligence. Using national blood mercu-
ry prevalence data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, we
found that between 316,588 and 637,233 children each year have cord blood
mercury levels > 5.8 µg/L, a level associated with loss of IQ. The resulting loss
of intelligence causes diminished economic productivity that persists over the
entire lifetime of these children. This lost productivity is the major cost of
methyl mercury toxicity, and it amounts to $8.7 billion annually (range, $2.2-
43.8 billion; all costs are in 2000 US$). Of this total, $1.3 billion (range, $0.1-
6.5 billion) each year is attributable to mercury emissions from American
power plants. This significant toll threatens the economic health and security of
the United States and should be considered in the debate on mercury pollution
controls.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/504642
The Sierra Club is seeking a full time temporary grassroots organizer
based in Virginia for the next two to three months (position could be
extended and relocated). Organizer would reach out to citizen groups
and businesses that would be concerned with the impacts of off shore
drilling for gas and oil off the Virginia and Atlantic Coast. Strong grass-
roots organizing skills including public speaking, organizing phone
banks, rallies and media events are required. Organizer would coordi-
nate with Sierra Club lobbyists, program staff in Richmond and DC
offices of Sierra Club and with Sierra Club coastal volunteers on targets,
messaging and strategy. This an exciting position engaged in a major
campaign to defeat a key element of the Bush-Chaney Energy Plan.
This position would start as soon as possible. Please e-mail inquiries
with resumes to glen.besa@sierraclub.org. Sierra Club is an equal
opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.
Glen Besa, Regional Director, Sierra Club Appalachian Region
6 N. 6th Street, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23219
O-804-565-4950; F-804-225-9114; C-804-387-6001
February-March 2006 4
Proper Disposal of Compact fluorecsent Bulbs
by Chad A. Tolman
Don’t Pollute!
Most of the electricity used in the United States is generated by
burning coal. Burning coal adds about 0.25 metric tonnes of C as CO2
to the atmosphere for each MWh (megawatt-hour) of electrical energy
used. (One MWh is 1000 kWh, the amount of electricity used in a
month by a family with an electrical bill of $100.00 at a typical price of
$0.10/kWh. A 100-watt light bulb uses one kWh in 10 hours.) Carbon
dioxide is the major contributor to human-caused global warming.
Burning coal also adds mercury, NOx and SOx to the atmosphere.
Mercury is a neurotoxin, especially in infants and small children, while
NOx and SOx add to air pollution in the forms of fine particulate matter,
smog, and acid rain.
The Sierra Club, along with many other organizations concerned
about climate change and air pollution, has been urging people to
switch from the old fashioned incandescent lights, which work by heat-
ing a tungsten filament to a white heat (most of the energy goes to heat
rather than light) to modern compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which
last much longer, use only about a quarter as much energy to produce a
given amount of light, and save money as well as CO2 emissions.
Since all fluorescent lights contain mercury, you should be concerned
about what happens to it at the end of their useful life.
Because CFLs contain mercury, though the amount in each is
small (4 mg), they should be treated as hazardous waste and not be
sent with regular trash into the landfill. The State of Delaware has four
locations where hazardous waste can be taken four times a year, from
8:00 AM to 4:00 PM on the first Saturdays of April, May, September and
October, as follows.
Date Location
4/01/06 Pine Tree Corners Transfer Station (South of Odessa)
5/06/06 Jones Crossroads (Georgetown)
9/02006 Curtis Paper Mill (Newark)
10/07/06 Cheswold Collection Station (near Dover)
The bulbs should not be broken. For more information see
http://dswa.com.
Even though there is some mercury in CFLs, the EPA has found
that the typical CFL over the course of its life is responsible for putting
less mercury into the environment than an incandescent light because
coal burning is the major source of mercury emissions into the environ-
ment. The data shows that CFLs are much better for the environment
than standard incandescent bulbs-especially if the CFLs are properly
disposed of.
I am grateful to Bill Shafarman of the U of D for providing
information.See:http://www.energystar.gov/ia/products/lighting/buyers_
guide/Mercury.pdf.
Delaware Chapter Sierra Club
Plan your spring Garden Now!!
Teach your children, get exercise, and wholesome and cheaper food
Rising oil prices aren't just raising prices at the gas pump, they're also
expected to dramatically increase the cost of conventional foods.
According to the Earth Policy Institute, 80% of the energy currently used
in the U.S. food system is consumed AFTER the food leaves the farm
(transporting, processing and packaging the food). With the average food
item traveling a full 2,000 miles from farm to fork, high oil prices will
translate into higher food prices. Non-organic crops may also become
prohibitively expensive. In the U.S., roughly three quadrillion Btu's of
energy annually goes into making conventional fertilizers, which are
made from natural gas. That's equivalent to a third of France's total
annual energy consumption. As a result of escalating food costs, some
market economists are predicting a renaissance of traditional American
food production practices, such as sourcing organic foods from local
farms and gardening at home.
http://www.organicconsumers.org/Politics/security101105.cf
How to start a garden at home or in a community venture
Take stock of growing space available. Most vegetables need a mini-
mum of six hours of direct sunlight. Lettuce and berry plants can get by
with fewer hours of light. By cooperatively sharing space, the gardeners
can make the most of the garden area available.
Make a plan for the garden, deciding which plants you will be growing.
Save vegetable and fruit scraps for compost. Grass clippings and leaves
are also useful for a compost pile.
(http://www.state.de.us/planning/livedel/information/ln_compost.shtml)
To eliminate toxic fertilizers and pesticides, consider gardening organi-
cally. A good source for organic gardeners is
www.organicgardening.com.
Delaware Garden Resources:
Delaware Center for Horticulture /www.dehort.org/whatwedo/gardens.php
The Community Garden program supports gardens in vacant lots and public
spaces in Wilmington.
Delaware Cooperative Extension
http://ag.udel.edu/extension/
Delaware Chapter Change of Address Form
A ttach mailing label here
Name
New A ddress
City
State Zip
Membership # (see label below)
Please send this coupon to Sierra Club,P.O. Box 52968, Boulder, CO 80322-2968.
February-March 2006 5
 Today’s Science Moment
W h a t i s M E T H A N E ?
by Dennis Rayner
Methane is the simplest organic compound of carbon and
hydrogen (formula CH 4 ). It exists as a colorless, odorless, and
flammable gas at room temperature and pressure.
Methane is naturally produced
It is found naturally in petroleum reserves (oil) and coal
deposits. It was produced there naturally during the anaerobic
(without oxygen) decomposition or breakdown of plant and ani-
mal matter that lived and died millions of years ago. Natural
gas produced as such may contain from 85-99% methane.
Methane is also produced today by the same anaerobic bacte-
rial decomposition of vegetative material in swamps, rice pad-
dies, the stomachs of ruminants (e.g., cows and sheep), and
landfills. Landfill produced methane gas is only about 50%
pure methane; the mixture contains methane plus carbon diox-
ide, water, and small amounts of sulfur and nitrogen com-
pounds, which can be quite smelly. Methane from landfill gas
would need to be somewhat purified before burning to gener-
ate energy.
Methane is easily liquifiable
Methane is easily liquefiable or partially solidified as a slush
(liquefied natural gas or "LNG") for transport from a source to
distant places by sea. Today most natural gas is transported
directly overland via pressurized pipelines or in gas cylinders.
The LNG transport issue has been the subject of considerable
controversy in Delaware and New Jersey, since British
Petroleum (BP) has proposed an LNG terminal on the New
Jersey shore across from Claymont, Delaware. Any structures
extending in the Delaware River would be in Delaware, in vio-
lation of its Coastal Zone Act. The flammability and explosive
nature of methane represents a huge hazard potential.
Methane is the most potent greenhouse gas
Molecule for molecule, methane has a more potent green-
house effect than carbon dioxide by a factor of 23 Since the
Industrial Revolution methane in the atmosphere has
increased by a factor of about four and is thought to be
responsible for about 20% of global warming today caused by
trace greenhouse gases. (More than half of the greenhouse
effect is caused by water vapor.)
Helping Delaware’s Birds
by Doug Reppa
The world's bird populations are declining faster than ever due to human
activity. At least 103 bird species have gone extinct since 1800, and
some 1,200 species face extinction in the next century. Because birds
are wide-ranging in habitat distribution and tend to be at or near the top
of the food chain, their declining numbers are valuable environmental
indicators.
The threats to birds can be seen all around us in Delaware. Poorly regu-
lated suburban development has led to unprecedented habitat loss.
Chemical threats, such as 2004's Athos 1 oil spill, are obvious threats,
but pollution sources like agricultural pesticides are just as devastating.
Non-native species of animals, plants, and insects compromise fragile
populations further, with feral and domestic cats killing one billion birds
annually, just within the United States.
Delaware is fortunate to have a unique resource for birds that fall victim
to human-related activity. Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, located on
Possum Hollow Road in Newark, was founded in 1976 following a
series of oil spills on the Delaware River. Its staff of professionals and
volunteers responds to wildlife at risk from oil spills around the country,
and rehabilitates injured and orphaned wild birds for release back into
wild breeding populations. Humane medical and biological research that
directly benefits native birds is conducted. Recent studies include screen-
ing patients for West Nile Virus antibodies, obtaining baseline blood lead
levels in wildlife species, and providing feathers for DNA analysis.
Spring is one of the busiest times of year for Tri-State Bird's staff of pro-
fessionals and volunteers, when hundreds of injured or orphaned baby
birds are brought in by concerned residents from Delaware,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. For information on what to
do if you find an injured or orphaned bird this spring, visit Tri-State's
website: www.tristatebird.org. For immediate assistance, contact Tri-
State at 302.737.9543 or a local wildlife rehabilitator immediately.

Methane burns easily

Pure methane burns cleanly in air (oxygen) to produce carbon
dioxide and water. It is a far cleaner burning than coal or sul-
fur-contaminated oil. When methane is burned without insuffi-
cient oxygen present, water, carvon dioxide, and carbon
monoxide are produced. It was methane gas that exploded and
carbon monoxide that killed all but one coal miner in the Sego
Mine West Virginia.

Delaware Chapter Sierra Club February-March 2006 6

from “state needs” on page 1
People living south of the Canal like to say how
much better they have it than the poor folk in
Northern New Castle County. Without concerted
action they will have a very short time remaining to
enjoy it. Eighteen-wheelers are beginning to use
Hazlettville Road as an alternate to the growing
congestion on Route 8. A bypass of US 13 around
the congestion in Seaford and Lewes will surface in
the not far distant future. The school construction
needs appear to be totally without a statewide plan.
Eastern Sussex County is about to sink under the
resort home and tourist explosion.
The solid waste problems are unsolved with Cherry
Island growing and trash from the southern New
Castle County transfer station no longer allowed at
Cherry Island. Does that mean it will move to Kent
County? This in itself presents an interesting devel-
opment because it begins moving the trash prob-
lem Statewide where it must be addressed in a
meaningful way and not a northern New Castle
County problem. Interestingly, the decision came
on almost the same day that the Legislative Sunset
Committee decided to end the review of the Solid
Waste Authority.
There is a new program to deal with flooding, that
is, surface water drainage, another problem that is
not isolated, but follows from land use decisions. It
is unclear how this program will positively impact
development. Development controls that protect
stream flows and drainage areas and provide ade-
quate systems for storm water run-off are critical
for the long term and require close cooperation
between the State and local governments.
The impacts of land use on our transportation sys-
tem have resulted in adverse impacts on air quality
and are partially responsible for the current finan-
cial morass facing DelDOT.
The list can go on and on. Traditionally, conserva-
tion organizations have dealt with these problems
singly, as the State is doing now. The task is to
view them in the continuum they really are.
The state needs a comprehensive proactive pro-
gram that deals with organization so that good leg-
islation stands a chance of actually making a differ-
ence. Legislation intended to encourage rational
development and protect natural resources needs
to be clear and straight-forward to maximize the
possibility of its being effective.
see National Sierra Initiative:
http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/
Delaware Chapter Sierra Club
Curb Global Warming
A National Sierra Initiative
National Sierra has an initiative to promote solu-
tions to global warming using current and cutting-
edge technology that will reduce our use of fossil
fuels. By switching to energy efficient cars and
trucks, and clean, renewable energy, we can curb
global warming pollution, save consumers money
and curtail our reliance on oil.
http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/
Global Warming Gains Speed
The rate of global warming is increasing. Carbon
dioxide has been monitored instrumentally at the top
of Mauna Loa, an 11,400 foot peak in the Hawaian
Islands, since 1958. The annual increase in the CO2
concentration during most of that time was 1.3 ppm.
The annual increase rose to 1.6 ppm in the late 1990s,
to 2 in 2002 and 2003, and to 2.2 in the first 10
months of 2005. This rapid recent growth cannot be
explained just by increases in the rates of fossil fuel
burning. Two possibilities are: 1) a smaller fraction
of CO2 emissions is dissolving in the ocean as sea
surface temperatures increase, or 2) more CO2 is
coming out of the ground as microorganisms in the
soil increase their rates of breakdown of organic mat-
ter. If that process is anaerobic (e.g., in soggy thaw-
ing arctic tundra), methane can also be produced-one
molecule for each molecule of CO2. Methane is over
20 times as effective as CO2 in enhancing the green-
house effect. Earth's mean temperature increased by 1
F during the past century; the increase during the next
is likely to be in the range of 3-10 F.
See:
http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/arti-
cle338689.ece
Climate Change News
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on energy and climate change science and policy, you
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February-March 2006 7