Policy Solutions: Reports & Issue Papers

All Reports & Issue Papers

A Clean Energy Economy for Arkansas
Analysis of the Rural Economic Development Potential of Renewable Resources

Issue Paper

To secure its economic future, Arkansas has the opportunity to build a strong long-term economy on the solid foundation of its bountiful renewable resources. The state's vast areas of productive farmland, ample water, windy heights and favorable climate combine to give Arkansas the potential to become a national leader in producing the clean energy that America needs.

A Clean Energy Bargain
More Jobs, Less Global Warming Pollution, and Greater Security for Less Than the Cost of a Postage Stamp a Day

Issue Paper

The United States took an important step toward economic recovery, environmental protection, and energy security when the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES). This sound climate and clean energy legislation will protect the planet for less than the cost of a postage stamp a day per household, and represents a great investment in America's future — now it's up to the Senate to turn this bill into a law.

Appalachian Heartbreak: Time to End Mountaintop Removal Coal Mining

Issue Paper

Coal is America's dirtiest energy source -- and the country's leading source of global warming pollution. Pollution from coal plants produces dirty air, acid rain, and contaminated land and water. Nowhere is the debate over how far we are willing to go for inexpensive energy more contentious than in the coalfields of Appalachia. It is there -- between the hollows of West Virginia, beyond the bluegrass of Kentucky, bordering the Blue Ridge of Virginia, and above the smoky vistas of Tennessee -- where mining companies are blowing up America's oldest mountains to get the coal beneath the peaks. Mountaintop removal mining, or MTR, is scarring the landscape and threatening communities throughout Appalachia.

Identifying Near-Term Opportunities for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in China

Issue Paper

Achieving the urgently needed emission reductions necessary to avoid the worst consequences of global warming will require efforts beyond first-resort measures such as energy efficiency, conservation, and enhancement of natural carbon sinks. Given the world's current heavy reliance on fossil fuels, nations must pursue a wide range of carbon mitigation strategies that includes Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS). China is well-positioned to be a global leader in the development and deployment of CCS technologies that — with broad support and engagement from the international community — can be an important tool for reducing carbon emissions as the world transitions to truly clean energy technologies.

A Clean Energy Economy for Indiana
Analysis of the Rural Economic Development Potential of Renewable Resources

Report

Indiana's advanced network of rail lines, interstate highways, and waterways has made it "The Crossroads of America." But the global economic downturn has hit Indiana hard, causing the loss of almost 200,000 jobs since the beginning of 2008. Facing an unprecedented set of economic challenges, Indiana stands at a new crossroads and is poised for healthy growth if it can take advantage of the enormous potential for development of its exceptional renewable resources.

Cultivating Clean Energy
The Promise of Algae Biofuels

Issue Paper

Algae-derived gasoline, diesel and jet fuel sound like the imaginings of science fiction, but a growing number of entrepreneurs, investors, academics, and policy makers are working to develop the technologies needed to provide large quantities of biofuels with potentially minimal environmental impacts. This NRDC report takes the big picture view by creating a framework for understanding the environmental challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for this nascent industry.

Seizing a Watershed Opportunity in the Chesapeake Bay
NRDC’s Plan to Clean Up the Chesapeake Bay and Its Beaches

Issue Paper

As the largest estuary in the United States -- and the third largest estuary in the world -- the Chesapeake Bay is home to a wide range of wildlife and is an important resource for the millions of people who live, play, and work in the region. On the heels of reports from seven federal agencies commissioned by President Obama to clean up this national treasure, this issue paper delves into the sources of pollution that are undermining the health of the Bay and provides recommendations for mitigating them. From dangerous algal blooms, to harmful bacteria at our beaches, plastic bags clogging tributaries and economic hardships for the crabbing industry, the Chesapeake watershed and those who rely on it are in need of help. By acting on our recommendations, Congress can bolster the work being carried out by other branches of government and make a lasting difference in improving the health of the nation's largest estuary.

Atrazine: Poisoning the Well
How the EPA is Ignoring Atrazine Contamination in the Central United States

Report

In a new report, NRDC brings together for the first time the results of surface water and drinking water monitoring required by the U.S. EPA to create a more comprehensive analysis of atrazine pollution across the Midwestern and Southern United States. We found that the U.S. EPA's inadequate monitoring systems and weak regulations have compounded the problem, allowing levels of atrazine in watersheds and drinking water to peak at extremely high concentrations.

Fighting Oil Addiction
Ranking States' Oil Vulnerability and Solutions for Change

Issue Paper

To curb America's perilous addiction to oil, we need effective government policies that will increase the availability of efficient vehicles and clean fuels and that will promote smart growth and public transit. This paper updates NRDC’s 2007 and 2008 research identifying the states that are most vulnerable to spikes in oil prices—and those states that are doing the most to break their addiction to oil.

A Clear Blue Future
How Greening California Cities Can Address Water Resources and Climate Challenges in the 21st Century

Issue Paper

This NRDC and UCSB analysis shows that implementing low impact development, or LID,  practices at new and redeveloped residential and commercial properties in parts of California can increase water supplies by billions of gallons each year, providing an effective and much-needed way to mitigate global warming’s impact on California.

Testing the Waters 2009
A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches

Report

NRDC's annual survey of water quality and public notification at U.S. beaches finds that pollution caused the number of beach closings and advisories to hit their fourth-highest level in the 19-year history of the report. The number of 2008 closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches topped 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, confirming that our nation's beaches continue to suffer from serious water pollution that puts swimmers at risk. The 2009 survey is based on information reported for 2008.

Fever Pitch
Mosquito-Borne Dengue Fever Threat Spreading in the Americas

Issue Paper

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease that may worsen with global warming. Dengue has increased over the past several decades, probably because of urbanization and population growth, rapid international travel and trade, and widespread poverty. By 2085, an estimated 5.2 billion people are projected to be at risk for dengue because of climate change–induced increases in temperature and humidity. This July 2009 NRDC issue paper finds that two types of mosquitoes capable of transmitting dengue fever can now be found across at least 28 states. As temperatures rise, the potential for transmission of this dangerous disease may increase in vulnerable parts of the United States.

A Clean Energy Economy for Missouri
Analysis of the Rural Economic Development Potential of Renewable Resources

Issue Paper

Within Missouri's borders, dispersed across the state, are vast resources of wind, land, and water—all the ingredients needed for Missouri to become a national leader in new energy development, creating tens of thousands of good jobs and substantial new sources of income for farmers. This June 2009 issue paper examines the potential for renewable energy resource development in Missouri and its benefits to rural communities.

Communities Tackle Global Warming
A Guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375)

Issue Paper

California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, or SB 375, is the nation's first legislation to link transportation and land use planning with global warming. SB 375 is an important step toward a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous California. Locating housing closer to jobs and transportation choices and creating walkable communities can reduce commute times and cut millions of tons of global warming pollution, while improving quality of life.

Global Solutions to Global Warming
Recommendations for Leaders and Policy Makers in the United States and China

Issue Paper

Two nations play a vital role in efforts to curb global warming and secure the world’s energy supply: The United States of America and the People's Republic of China. Together, they account for more than 40 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use, more than 35 percent of the world's energy consumption, and more than 30 percent of the world's economic output, making their involvement in addressing the global warming crisis critical. As both nations suffer through tough economic times and commit to extraordinary economic stimulus packages, we are presented with an excellent opportunity to turn promises into real action. In this June 2009 issue paper, NRDC recommends nine key steps for the Obama administration, the U.S. Congress, and leaders in China to strengthen U.S.–China climate change and energy engagement at this unique time.

Effective and Practical Disclosure Policies
NRDC Paper on Workshop to Identify Key Elements of Disclosure Policies for Health Science Journals

Issue Paper

Among the editors and staff of environmental and occupational health sciences journals, there is a recognized need for disclosure policies that are simple, clear, and effective. The goal of such policies is to provide sufficient information about any existing competing interests so that readers may exercise judgment about the objectiveness of the information. This June 2009 paper outlines NRDC's recommendations for effective and practical disclosure policies. Get document in pdf.

Making Every Drop Work
Increasing Water Efficiency in California’s Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (CII) Sector

Issue Paper

Reliable and adequate access to water is critical for businesses and their surrounding communities. Across the nation, water shortages are triggering growing concern and an acceleration of efforts to increase water use efficiency. Adopting water-efficient technologies and practices that reduce consumption holds great potential for commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) water users. In this May 2009 issue paper, NRDC recommends a number of available and cost-effective measures that can help stretch limited water supplies, save businesses money, reduce energy consumption, improve water quality, and protect local, regional, and statewide ecosystems.

Poison on Pets II
Toxic Chemicals in Flea and Tick Collars

Issue Paper

Americans spend more than $1 billion each year on products designed to kill fleas and ticks on household pets, especially dogs and cats. While some of these products are safe, others leave harmful chemical residues on our pets' fur and in our homes. These chemicals are highly hazardous to animals and humans, can damage the brain and nervous system, and cause cancer. The April 2009 paper Poison on Pets II details a first-of-its-kind study by NRDC showing that high levels of pesticide residue can remain on a dog's or cat's fur for weeks after a flea collar is put on an animal. Residue levels produced by some flea collars are so high that they pose a risk of cancer and damage to the neurological system of children up to 1,000 times higher than the EPA's acceptable levels.

Florida Coastal and Ocean Policy Report Card

Issue Paper

The Florida Coastal and Ocean Coalition is a group of organizations, including NRDC, working together to conserve, protect, and restore Florida's coastal and marine environment. The Florida Coastal and Ocean Policy Report Card provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the legislative and government actions taken in Florida during 2007 and 2008 toward the goals of curbing unwise coastal development, protecting coastal and marine habitats, implementing and enforcing coastal and ocean pollution laws, protecting marine ecosystems, ensuring robust and plentiful fisheries and marine species, reducing global warming pollution and strengthening coastal and ocean governance in Florida.

Deepest Cuts
Repairing Health Monitoring Programs Slashed Under the Bush Administration

Issue Paper

When it comes to protecting public health from dangerous contaminants, the Bush Administration has left a legacy of dismal failure. We rely on the government to monitor contaminants and hazardous residues to ensure that our food, water, air, communities, and consumer products are safe. For decades, federal agencies charged with safeguarding health and the environment have tracked pollution, required industry reporting, and monitored disease rates. These programs provide the foundation for all health and environmental protection. Without adequate monitoring, the public, the scientific community, and the government are unaware of the hazards around us. New NRDC research in this December 2008 issue paper shows that the Bush Administration has dangerously slashed federal environmental and health monitoring programs.

Danger in the Nursery
Impact of Tar Sands Oil Development in Canada’s Boreal on Birds

Report

Each spring more than half of America's birds flock to the Canadian Boreal forest to nest. There, tens of millions of birds -- as many as 500 breeding pairs per square mile of forests, lakes, river valleys, and wetlands -- spend the winter. Yet almost all the biggest oil companies are mining and drilling important Boreal forest and wetlands to access thick, low-grade petroleum. As much as an area the size of Florida is endangered. This December 2008 report from NRDC, The Pembina Institute and the Boreal Songbird Initiative describes how Canada and the United States must protect migratory birds and bird habitat from this new form of high-impact energy development.

Lowering the Cost of Play
Improving Energy Efficiency of Video Game Consoles

Issue Paper

Today, more than 40 percent of all homes in the United States contain at least one video game console. Recognizing that all that gaming could add up to serious demand for electricity, NRDC and Ecos Consulting performed the first ever comprehensive study on the energy use of video game consoles. In this November 2008 issue paper, NRDC provides recommendations for users, video game console manufacturers, component suppliers and the software companies that design games for improving the efficiency of video game consoles already in homes as well as future generations of machines yet to hit the shelves.

Missing Protection
Polluting the Mississippi River Basin's Small Streams and Wetlands

Report

Our nation's rivers, streams, and small bodies of water -- which have long been protected by the Clean Water Act -- are now in danger because of a series of misguided court decisions. Recent interpretations of the law suggest that many waters historically protected from pollution can now be polluted or destroyed without a permitting process to limit the environmental impact of discharges into the waters. This October 2008 issue paper discusses the particular danger of this change in interpretation in relation to the problem of nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River Basin.

An Uneven Shield
The Record of Enforcement and Violations Under California's Environmental, Health and Workplace Safety Laws

Issue Paper

California leads the nation in setting standards to protect the health of families, communities and the environment. Yet too little is publicly known about how effectively these standards are enforced, or how officials respond when violations occur. This October 2008 report examines data on known violations and law enforcement responses under six critical pollution, health and workplace safety programs, and finds that enforcement of California's environmental and health laws varies widely across the state.

Finding the Balance
The Role of Natural Gas in America's Energy Future

Issue Paper

This October 2008 issue paper discusses how investments in natural gas efficiency cost less and can bring benefits to the market faster than trying to increase supplies through drilling. The paper also provides recommendations for policy solutions that can provide short-term benefits and long-term energy solutions by incentivizing energy efficiency and supporting development of renewable energy sources.

Fish Out of Water

Issue Paper

In April 2008, state and federal agencies took the unprecedented step of completely closing the commercial fishery for Chinook salmon. And California now faces the possibility of becoming a state where salmon fishing is a thing of the past and where wild, locally caught California salmon permanently vanishes from restaurant menus and supermarkets. This July 2008 issue paper examines the operation of water management projects in the state as one of the most significant -- and reversible -- causes of the fishery collapse and provides comprehensive policy recommendations for restoring and sustaining this treasured resource.

Trout in Trouble
The Impacts of Global Warming on Trout in the Interior West

Issue Paper

Global warming is the single greatest threat to the survival of trout in America's interior west. If nothing is done to reduce human-produced greenhouse gas emissions -- the primary culprit behind global warming -- trout habitat throughout the Rocky Mountain region could be reduced by 50 percent or more by the end of the century, bringing fewer opportunities for anglers to enjoy sportfishing and resulting in serious economic consequences for those who depend on the fishing, recreation and tourism industry for their livelihoods.

Boosting the Benefits
Improving Air Quality and Health by Reducing Global Warming Pollution in California

Issue Paper

California has the opportunity to combat global warming while simultaneously improving air quality and public health throughout the state. Measures being considered under the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) could save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of other negative health impacts each year -- saving billions of dollars in healthcare costs. NRDC analysis shows that strategies for reducing global warming pollution -- cleaner cars and trucks, energy efficiency, renewable energy and smart growth -- also reduce air pollution and bring tremendous short- and long-term health "co-benefits."

The Cost of Climate Change
What We'll Pay if Global Warming Continues Unchecked

Report

New research shows that if present trends continue, the total cost of global warming will be as high as 3.6 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Four global warming impacts alone -- hurricane damage, real estate losses, energy costs, and water costs -- will come with a price tag of 1.8 percent of U.S. GDP, or almost $1.9 trillion annually (in today's dollars) by 2100. The longer we wait, the more painful -- and expensive -- the consequences will be.

Benchmarking Air Emissions of the 100 Largest Electric Power Producers in the U.S. - 2006

Report

The Benchmarking project uses public data to compare the emissions performance of the 100 largest power producers in the United States. The sortable databases provided here contain emissions data for four power plant pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury and carbon dioxide. The information presented here was compiled and analyzed in collaboration by NRDC; Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG), a New Jersey-based electric utility; Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), a California-based energy utility; and CERES, a national coalition of environmental and investor groups.

Hotter and Drier
The West's Changed Climate

Report

Human activities are already changing the climate of the American West. This report by the Rocky Mountain Climate Organization (RMCO) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), drawn from 50 scientific studies, 125 other government and scientific sources, and our own new analyses, documents that the West is being affected more by a changed climate than any other part of the United States outside of Alaska. When compared to the 20th century average, the West has experienced an increase in average temperature during the last five years that is 70 percent greater than the world as a whole. Responding quickly at all levels of government by embracing the solutions that are available is critical to minimizing further disruption of this region’s climate and economy.

Smart Cities: Solutions for China's Rapid Urbanization

Issue Paper

During the next two decades, the number of Chinese residents migrating from rural to urban areas will be roughly equivalent to the relocation of the entire current population of the United States. As China's own leaders recognize, without careful planning this urban transformation may bring disastrous consequences. Grounded in experiences in both the United States and China, this December 2007 issue paper provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for the implementation of smart growth strategies that promote more efficient use of land, services, and resources.

The New Energy Economy
Putting America on the Path to Solving Global Warming

Issue Paper

How America and the world respond to global warming and our growing demand for energy -- and whether we respond in time -- will determine what kind of planet we have for generations to come. Fortunately, many of the technologies and policy tools we need to make the shift to cleaner energy solutions already exist, and we can deploy them without harming the economy. NRDC outlines six energy-sector opportunities that can help America reduce global warming pollution. The next step is decisive action by the U.S. government to facilitate these investments and reduce our global warming pollution the necessary 80 percent, or 10.6 billion tons, by 2050.

Driving on Fumes

Issue Paper

Diesel pollution is well known to be hazardous to human health. Groups at particular risk include workers in diesel industries, such as trucking and rail, and communities located near major sources of diesel pollution, such as ports and freeways. This December 2007 issue paper summarizes the alarming findings of one of the first investigations to measure drivers' exposure levels to diesel soot inside trucks serving our nation's ports.

Drilling Down
Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production

Report

Oil and gas production releases pollution that can have serious impacts on people's health and the surrounding air, water, and land. Although these operations are frequently located near homes, schools, and other community resources, the oil and gas industry enjoys numerous exemptions from provisions of federal laws intended to protect human health and the environment. This October 2007 report provides a comprehensive assessment of these loopholes, which allow oil and gas companies to continue polluting despite the risks, and describes the available, often economical solutions for using technology to reduce environmental contamination. The report also includes personal stories from people living in communities affected by oil and gas drilling.

Safe at Home

Issue Paper

Every summer, images of wildfires dominate TV screens and newspaper headlines. Yet despite the effort -- and the money -- that goes into emergency response, fires destroy hundreds of homes and whole neighborhoods in the American West during wildfire season. This 2007 issue paper outlines NRDC's pilot study of fire protection in the Love Creek community in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and describes how Western communities and homeowners can protect themselves against fire threats with proven techniques known as "firewise" measures. In addition, we recommend changes to federal fire policy to prioritize community and resident safety.

Sneezing and Wheezing
How Global Warming Could Increase Ragweed Allergies, Air Pollution and Asthma

Issue Paper

Global warming isn't just making our planet hotter. Scientific studies have also shown that our changing climate could mean more ozone pollution in some areas and intensify the health problems stemming from allergenic pollen such as ragweed. This is bad news for allergy sufferers and asthmatics because both ragweed and ozone have been linked to respiratory problems such as asthma and to allergic symptoms in adults and children -- and studies show that people exposed to both ragweed and ozone are likely to become sicker than people exposed to just one of these pollutants. New NRDC research -- the first to map areas within the United States where ragweed and unhealthy ozone pollution overlap -- shows that 110 million Americans live in areas with both ragweed and ozone problems.

Clearing the Air: Hidden Hazards of Air Fresheners

Issue Paper

Air fresheners have become a staple in many American homes and offices, marketed with the promise of creating a clean, healthy and sweet-smelling indoor atmosphere. But this September 2007 issue paper shows that many of these products contain phthalates (pronounced thal-ates) -- hazardous chemicals known to cause hormonal abnormalities, birth defects, and reproductive problems. To protect consumers, government action to conduct more thorough tests and enact basic measures to limit exposure to phthalates is urgently needed.

Back from the Brink
How NRDC Helped Save the Ozone Layer

Issue Paper

September 2007 marks the 20th anniversary of the world’s most effective environmental treaty -- the Montreal Protocol. Back from the Brink: How NRDC Helped Save the Ozone Layer describes how a team of NRDC scientists and lawyers played a crucial role in creating this landmark environmental protection.

Katrina’s Wake: Arsenic-Laced Schools and Playgrounds Put New Orleans Children at Risk

Issue Paper

When Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans in August 2005, the levee failures inundated the city -- particularly its most vulnerable neighborhoods -- with a hazardous sea of fuel, sewage and chemicals. Two years after the storm, a team of researchers from NRDC, working in partnership with local community groups, has found that hazardous levels of arsenic are still present in the soil at several locations in New Orleans -- including schools, playgrounds and residential areas. This August 2007 issue paper reveals that people in New Orleans are still returning home to communities that have not been adequately cleaned up, and offers solutions on a federal and local level for charting a safer course for New Orleans.

In Hot Water: Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming
Water Management Strategies to Weather the Effects of Global Warming

Report

Drought and dry conditions withering the western United States are likely to persist and intensify, jeapordizing the region's water supply and water quality, compromising the health of rivers and lakes, and increasing the risk of flooding for Western communities. As stewards of these scarce resources, water managers can lead the response to the effects of global warming on water in the West. This NRDC report breaks new ground by analyzing the effects of global warming on a full range of water management tools and offering recommendations to meet the challenge. As the hotter, drier weather already afflicting the region becomes more common, officials responsible for keeping the taps flowing will need to take bold measures now, including conservation and efficiency, and supporting measures to control and reduce global warming in the future.

Driving It Home: Choosing the Right Path for Fueling North America's Transportation Future
Choosing the Right Path for Fueling North America's Transportation Future

Report

North America faces an energy crossroads. With the world fast approaching the end of cheap, plentiful conventional oil, we must choose between developing ever-dirtier sources of fossil fuels -- at great cost to our health and environment -- or setting a course for a more sustainable energy future of clean, renewable fuels. This June 2007 report explores the full scale of the damage done by attempts to extract oil from liquid coal, oil shale, and tar sands; examines the risks for investors of gambling on these dirty fuel sources; and lays out solutions for guiding us toward a cleaner fuel future.

A Golden Opportunity: California’s Solutions for Global Warming
California's Solutions for Global Warming

Report

The landmark California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known as AB 32, is the most ambitious global warming solutions law in the nation. The state’s next step: putting in place the specific measures that will bring emissions levels back to 1990 levels by 2020 to meet AB 32’s limit. This June 2007 report describes how California is protecting the state from global warming pollution while growing its economy and encouraging the innovative clean technology industry.

Nanotechnology: Small Science, Big Consequences

Issue Paper

From mascara to tennis balls to baby wipes, tiny nanoparticles are hidden in many of the products that we use every day. But much is still unknown about the effects of nanotechnology on human health and the environment. This May 2007 NRDC issue paper presents the latest research on the potential risks of nanotechnology and outlines a framework for regulating these still-untested chemicals.

Florida’s Coastal and Ocean Future
A Blueprint for Economic and Environmental Leadership

Issue Paper

With tourism, fishing and recreational sport bringing billions of dollars into Florida each year, the coast is Florida's economic engine. But now the state's unique beaches are being threatened by pollution, unsustainable development and overfishing that are leading to plummeting fish catches, outbreaks of harmful algae, dying marine life and beach closures. This issue paper, originally published in September 2006 and updated in April 2007, provides a blueprint for how local leaders and decision makers can -- and must -- take action to protect Florida’s marine and coastal ecosystems. Since its original publication, 160 businesses and organizations have endorsed the Blueprint. The 2009 Florida Coastal and Ocean Policy Report Card provides a detailed analysis and evaluation of the legislative and government actions taken in Florida during 2007 and 2008 toward the goals outlined in this issue paper.

More Integrated Pest Management Please

Issue Paper

This February 2007 issue paper recommends specific actions for how Congress and USDA can increase the quantity and quality of Integrated pest management (IPM) assistance to farmers to improve air, water, soil and habitat.

Trash Landings
How Airlines and Airports Can Clean Up Their Recycling Programs

Report

The U.S. airline industry discards enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 Boeing 747 airplanes, along with thousands of tons of plastics, magazines and newspapers. All of this waste represents unrealized potential for airlines and airports to save money, reduce global warming pollution and improve efficiency. The December 2006 report Trash Landings: How Airlines and Airports Can Clean Up Their Recycling Programs presents the findings from NRDC's yearlong study of the airline industry and outlines clear steps that airlines and airports -- and other large municipal operations -- can take to put effective recycling initiatives into place.

Losing Ground: Western National Parks Endangered by Climate Disruption

Report

National parks in the American West face an unprecedented threat from climate change. Rising temperatures, prolonged drought, severe wildfires and diminished snowfall are already affecting these parks; without action to curb climate change, cherished Western landscapes could be drastically altered.

Rooftops to Rivers: Green Strategies for Controlling Stormwater and Combined Sewer Overflows

Report

This May 2006 report is a policy guide for decision makers looking to implement green stormwater strategies to stop water pollution at its source. It includes nine case studies of cities that have successfully used green infrastructure techniques to reduce runoff and combined sewer overflow (CSO) pollution to create a healthier urban environment.

Lost and Found: Missing Mercury from Chemical Plants Pollutes Air and Water

Issue Paper

Mercury is an invisible, odorless poison that can pollute oceans and rivers, contaminate our food and seep into the air, potentially causing severe health problems when ingested by humans. A major source of this pollution is chlor-alkali chemical manufacturing plants. Not only do these plants release harmful mercury into the environment, but they also cannot account for tons of mercury "lost" each year -- mercury which likely ends up in the air we breathe. This April 2006 NRDC issue paper reveals new sampling evidence that mercury emissions near the nation’s oldest and most polluting plants sometimes exceed government safe levels for chronic exposure, raising concerns for the health of residents who live near facilities in Ohio, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Louisiana.

Harboring Pollution
The Dirty Truth about U.S. Ports

Report

Marine ports in the United States are major hubs of economic activity and major sources of pollution. This March 2004 report by NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air assesses efforts at the 10 largest U.S. ports to control pollution, and provides an overview of policy and practical pollution mitigation recommendations. For more detailed analysis and technical recommendations, see the August 2004 report, Harboring Pollution: Strategies to Clean Up U.S. Ports, which contains practical strategies and policies for port operators, regulatory agencies and community-based organizations to reduce harmful pollution.

A Hydrogen Future?
An Economic and Environmental Assessment of Hydrogen Production Pathways

Issue Paper

Hydrogen is being touted as the fuel of the future, but how it is produced matters. This NRDC issue paper identifies current and possible future sources of hydrogen, and examines the cost and environmental impacts of different methods of hydrogen production. The least expensive and most developed methods in use today are not necessarily environmentally sustainable. The analysis suggests that hydrogen will not provide an immediate solution to America’s energy and climate crises.

Sounding the Depths II: The Rising Toll of Sonar, Shipping and Industrial Ocean Noise on Marine Life

Report

Ocean noise produced by military sonar, oil and gas exploration, and shipping traffic can have impacts on marine life ranging from long-term behavioral change to hearing loss to death. This November 2005 NRDC report reviews the science, surveys the leading contributors to the problem, and suggest what might be done to reduce the impacts of noise on the sea -- before the proliferation of noise sources makes the problem unmanageable.

Position Paper: Commercial Nuclear Power

Issue Paper

This October 2005 paper examines the issues that prevent nuclear power from becoming a leading means to combat global warming pollution. In its present state, the nuclear power industry suffers from too many security, safety and environmental exposure problems, not to mention excessive costs, to be a viable alternate energy source.

After Katrina: New Solutions for Safe Communities and a Secure Energy Future

Report

The devastation and human suffering left behind by Hurricane Katrina has given America a task not faced since the Chicago fire, San Francisco earthquake, or perhaps even the Civil War -- the challenge of rebuilding one of its major cities. This September 2005 NRDC report represents the combined efforts of our best experts on public health, toxic waste, urban design, coastal protection, energy security and global warming to offer up a set of policies and practices to protect the safety and well-being of Gulf Coast residents -- and all Americans -- today, during the recovery period, and onward into a healthier, more sustainable future.

In the Tank
How Oil Prices Threaten Automakers' Profits and Jobs

Report

This July 2005 report from NRDC and noted auto industry analysts says that sales, profits and American jobs are at risk if Detroit's three big automakers continue with their SUV-reliant business strategy in the face of higher oil prices.

In the Tank: How Oil Prices Threaten Automakers' Profits and Jobs
How Oil Prices Threaten Automakers' Profits and Jobs

Report

This July 2005 report from NRDC and noted auto industry analysts says that sales, profits and American jobs are at risk if Detroit's three big automakers continue with their SUV-reliant business strategy in the face of higher oil prices.

An Environmental Agenda for the 109th Congress

Issue Paper

This NRDC policy paper, issued in early 2005, summarizes the top environmental priorities NRDC sees ahead for the 109th Congress.

Medicines from the Deep

Issue Paper

Medical research suggests that novel compounds from the deep sea hold tremendous promise for treating human disease, highlighting the need to protect the fragile deep ocean bottom from destructive fishing practices like bottom trawling.

Cleaning Up Today's Dirty Diesels
Retrofitting and Replacing Heavy-Duty Vehicles in the Coming Decade

Issue Paper

Stringent new federal standards for diesel fuel and emissions will provide significant health benefits. But these benefits will not be fully realized for 20 years unless effective programs are put in place to replace and retrofit today's fleets of dirty diesel vehicles. The most effective such programs will concentrate on urban areas, where people are exposed to more vehicle pollution, and on cleaning up the oldest, dirtiest vehicles first. This November 2004 NRDC issue paper details compelling arguments for instituting retrofit and replacement policies today and provides a roadmap for getting started.

An Alternative Path to Grizzly Recovery in the Lower 48 States

Issue Paper

This May 2004 NRDC policy paper outlines a practical plan for restoring grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 states by preserving grizzly habitat, anticipating and resolving conflicts between humans and bears and increasing public participation in grizzly protection. The paper presents an alternative to the current U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plan for grizzly protecton.

The Environmental Record of the 108th Congress

Issue Paper

The 108th Congress was called to order on January 7, 2003, and adjourned on December 8, 2004 (more than two full months after scheduled adjournment). We recount the major environmental battles and outcomes below.

Rewriting the Rules (2005 Special Edition)

Report

The Bush administration took nearly 150 actions to undermine environmental protections over the past year, consistent with its historic assault on the nation's environmental safeguards. This January 2005 NRDC report assesses the Bush presidency's first-term environmental policies, and previews battles expected during the administration's second term.

U.S. Nuclear Weapons in Europe

Issue Paper

A review of post-Cold War policy, force levels, and war planning.

Pollution Unchecked: A Case Study of Greene County, Pennsylvania

Report

Southwestern Pennsylvania's Greene County suffers from serious air and water pollution, and cancer rates in this predominantly low-income Appalachian community are substantially higher than state and national averages. This December 2004 report details the results of NRDC's investigation into the county's pollution problems, and finds that despite the obvious health risks county residents face, state and federal officials have repeatedly allowed inadequate monitoring of air and water pollution and have made no significant effort to collect data on possible health effects linked to pollution in Greene County.

Hidden Danger
Environmental Health Threats to the Latino Community

Report

Pollution in the United States poses health risks for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, language, or country of origin. A large percentage of U.S. Latinos, however, live and work in urban and agricultural areas where they face heightened danger of exposure to air pollution, unsafe drinking water, pesticides, and lead and mercury contamination. These hazards can cause serious health problems, including an increased risk of asthma and cancer; waterborne diseases such as giardiasis, hepatitis, and cholera; and neurological and developmental problems. This October 2004 NRDC report underscores the urgent need for government action on these environmental health threats.

Creating the California Cleantech Cluster
How Innovation and Investment Can Promote Job Growth and a Healthy Environment

Issue Paper

Cleantech is a relatively new industry that uses innovative technology to create economically compelling, environmentally friendly products and services -- everything from alternative energy generation and wastewater treatment to "green" consumer products. This September 2004 paper by NRDC and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) demonstrates that a cleantech cluster can be a major driver for investments and job growth in California. It offers concrete recommendations for making California a leading center for the cleantech industry.

Nuclear Insecurity: A Critique of the Bush Administration's Nuclear Weapons Policies

Report

This September 2004 report assesses the Bush administration's nuclear weapons policies and concludes that they have made the United States more vulnerable, not more secure. The report finds that these policies undermine the U.S. effort to combat terrorism by diverting resources from the real threats of our time, squandering billions of dollars on Cold War–era weapons and new nuclear warheads, and perpetuating the arms race. The report offers recommendations for a more responsible nuclear policy, including: honoring the U.S. commitment to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, scrapping plans for nuclear bunker busters, and stopping the deployment of the unproven missile defense system.

Energy Down the Drain
The Hidden Costs of California's Water Supply

Report

In the western United States, there is a close connection between water and power resources. Water utilities use large amounts of energy to treat and deliver water, and even after utilities deliver water, consumers burn more energy to heat, cool and use it. This August 2004 report from NRDC and the Pacific Institute shows how water planners in California have largely failed to consider the energy implications of their decisions, and suggests a model for how policymakers can calculate the amount of energy consumed in water use. Integrating energy use into water planning can save money, reduce waste, protect our environment and strengthen our economy.

Heat Advisory
How Global Warming Causes More Bad Air Days

Report

Comprehensive analysis by medical experts showing that global warming would cause more summertime smog and higher pollen levels, which in turn might bring more asthma attacks, more hospitalizations, and limitations on time outdoors.

Is Hydrogen the Solution?
Hydrogen fuels have long-term promise, but we need to act now to relieve dependence on foreign oil and reduce global warming pollution.

Issue Paper

Global warming pollution and dependence on foreign oil are urgent problems, and hydrogen and hydrogen fuel cells vehicles have received much attention as potential solutions. This April 2004 NRDC policy paper outlines some dangers in leaning heavily on a "hydrogen economy" in the near term, and details other solutions that will be crucial to addressing energy security, air quality, and efforts to stop global warming over the next few decades.

Weaponeers of Waste: The Bush DOE's Nuclear Weapons Complex and Stockpile Stewardship

Report

This April 2004 report from NRDC's nuclear program finds that the U.S. nuclear "stockpile stewardship" program is spending billions on nuclear weapons research and production projects that are over budget and years behind in meeting their goals. Despite the end of the Cold War, the Bush administration is spending 12 times more on nuclear weapons research and production than on nonproliferation efforts to retrieve, secure and dispose of nuclear weapons materials worldwide.

Recycling Returns: Ten Reforms for Making New York City's Recycling Program More Cost-Effective

Report

After suspending glass and plastic recycling in the summer of 2002 due to record budget deficits, New York City has restored its full recycling program. This April 2004 NRDC report, shaped by a steering committee of representatives from 10 environmental and consumer groups, recommends strategies to make recycling more economically stable, while helping to expand New York's recycling program.

Harboring Pollution
Strategies to Clean Up U.S. Ports

Report

U.S. seaports are the largest and most poorly regulated sources of urban pollution in the country. This August 2004 report by NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air provides practical strategies and policies for port operators, regulatory agencies, and community-based organizations to reduce health-endangering air and water pollution, noise and light pollution that disrupts communities near ports, and harm to marine habitats. The report also provides information on the health effects of pollution from ports and a comprehensive overview of policies governing U.S. marine ports. A companion report, Harboring Pollution: The Dirty Truth about U.S. Ports, grades the activities of the ten largest U.S. ports in the areas of air and water quality, land use, and community relations.

Swimming in Sewage
The Growing Problem of Sewage Pollution and How the Bush Administration Is Putting Our Health and Environment at Risk

Report

This February 2004 report from NRDC and the Environmental Integrity Project describes the emerging environmental and public health crisis resulting from our nation's failure to effectively treat sewage, presents seven case studies from around the country that illustrate how exposure to sewage pollution has killed or seriously injured people and harmed local economies, and recommends solutions to America's sewage problem.

Iran Develops Nuclear Technologies in Secret for 18 Years

Report

On November 10, 2003, the International Atomic Energy Agency issued a 30-page confidential report on Iran's nuclear activities. The report revealed that for the past 18 years Iran has secretly developed technologies for producing weapon-usable highly enriched uranium and plutonium. Read the report on NRDC's website.

What's On Tap? Grading Drinking Water in U.S. Cities

Report

This June 2003 NRDC study of drinking water quality in 19 U.S. cities finds that pollution and deteriorating, out-of-date plumbing are sometimes delivering drinking water that might pose health risks to some residents -- and unless steps are taken now, tap water will get worse. The report issues grades to each municipal water system studied in three problem areas -- water quality and compliance, source water protection, and right-to-know compliance -- and outlines a plan for protecting the nation's drinking water supply.

Is Landfill Gas Green Energy?

Issue Paper

This May 2003 NRDC paper looks at the health impacts from burning landfill gas, the sustainability of landfill gas, and the ability of the subsidies to promote landfilling over recycling.

Wildfires in Western Forests

Issue Paper

This May 2003 NRDC policy paper summarizes the best available science and analysis on Western wildfires and woodland community protection.

Energy Efficiency Leadership in California: Preventing the Next Crisis
Preventing the Next Crisis

Report

California's energy crisis of 2001 would likely have been much more painful and protracted had not the state's residents and businesses, nonprofit organizations, government and utilities united behind the most successful statewide energy conservation campaign in history. And today, instead of slipping back into old habits, Californians are sustaining much of the conservation seen during the crisis, even accounting for the dampening effect of a slower economy. This April 2003 report from NRDC and the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group details how California has modeled some of the best possible ways that states can protect their economies and environments by working to reduce demand for electricity. The report also spotlights untapped savings that California should also be reaching for.

Environmental Characteristics of Smart Growth Neighborhoods

Issue Paper

These studies, published in October 2000 and February 2003 for NRDC in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, suggest that the environmental benefits of smart growth are real and can be measured.

Holding the Line: The Environmental Record of the 107th Congress

Report

This December 2002 report tracks the environmental record of the 107th Congress and identifies issues to watch in the 108th.

Cape May to Montauk: A Coastal Protection Report Card

Report

The Atlantic coastlines of New York and New Jersey are imperiled today by widespread pollution and unchecked coastal development. This December 2002 NRDC study grades 169 localities and a half-dozen state and federal agencies for their effectiveness at controlling pollution and managing coastal sprawl.

Clean Water at Risk: An Assessment of Bush Administration Water Protection Rollbacks

Report

An October 2002 NRDC report -- issued on the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Clean Water Act -- that assesses the impact this landmark environmental law has had on the safety and environmental health of the nation’s waterways and documents the Bush administration's sustained attack on clean water protections.

America's Gas Tank: The High Cost of Canada's Oil and Gas Export Strategy

Report

Canada, not Saudi Arabia, is the single largest supplier of oil and gas to the United States. This October 2002 report from NRDC and the Sierra Club of Canada shows that U.S. demand for fossil fuels is destroying Canadian air, land and water resources, and recommends that Canada aggressively adopt renewable energy sources, protect wilderness areas from fossil fuel exploitation, and pass tougher laws to limit pollution from the oil and gas industry.

Fueling the Future: A Plan to Reduce California's Oil Dependence
A Plan to Reduce California's Oil Dependence

Report

California's demand for gasoline is expected to grow by 30 percent by 2020, a pace the state's refineries will not be able to keep up with. This September 2002 report says that motorists will face higher prices and volatility at the gas pump unless the state reduces petroleum demand through a combination of fuel efficiency, advanced vehicle technologies, public education and smart growth.

Wildlife Species and Their Habitat: The Adverse Impacts of Logging

Report

This supplement to NRDC's End of the Road report provides additional detail on the specific effects of logging on North American wildlife, as studied and recorded in independently peer-reviewed scientific publications.

Wetlands at Risk: Imperiled Treasures
How a Supreme Court Decision Jeopardizes Millions of Acres of Waters and Wetlands.

Report

America's wetlands, which provide critical wildlife habitat as well as pollution and flood control, are drained, filled and polluted at an alarming rate. This July 2002 report from NRDC and the National Wildlife Federation looks at the potentially damaging consequences of a January 2001 Supreme Court decision regarding "isolated wetlands," and illustrates the vital role these areas play in ecosystems across the United States.

Out of the Gutter
Reducing Polluted Runoff in the District of Columbia

Report

Every time it rains, Washington, D.C. -- like most major cities -- is plagued by stormwater runoff, which has gravely contaminated the city's three major rivers (the Potomac, the Anacostia, and Rock Creek). To clean up the pollution, the city's Water and Sewer Authority is relying on conventional stormwater management practices, which are costly and outdated. In this July 2002 report, NRDC recommends instead that WASA adopt an approach called low-impact development, which would use "green" roofs, strategically placed beds of native plants, rain barrels, and other measures to soak up rain and prevent it from washing directly into waterways. NRDC is also urging the local government and WASA to restructure the city's flat stormwater fee, protect environmentally sensitive lands, restore the urban forest, and encourage water conservation and water reuse techniques.

Environment in the Crosshairs: Assessing Federal Legislation in 2001 (107th Congress)

Report

This February 2002 NRDC report describes the battles waged by the 107th Congress over public lands, water and health. Tracking major environmental legislation throughout 2002, the report concludes that the political agenda of both the House leadership and the White House has been to weaken environmental protections and policies at every turn, and only the leadership of the Senate has prevented the worst from occurring.

The Environmental Impacts of the World Trade Center Attacks

Report

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, perhaps the worst episode in the history of New York City, also created a significant environmental health emergency. This February 2002 report lays out the facts, as best as we know them at this point, regarding both the environmental impacts of the attacks and the response of government officials to the ensuing environmental emergency. It also sets forth recommendations for improving New York's readiness for future environmental health emergencies.

The Environmental Impacts of the World Trade Center Attacks

Report

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, perhaps the worst episode in the history of New York City, also created a significant environmental health emergency. This February 2002 report examines the facts regarding both the environmental impacts of the attacks and the response of government officials to the ensuing environmental emergency. It also sets forth recommendations for improving New York's readiness for future environmental health emergencies.

Solving Sprawl
Models of Smart Growth in Communities Across America

Report

Sprawl is taking a grave toll on our environment and the way we live, giving us mind-numbing traffic, ugly strip development, fragmented communities, and loss of open space. In the seemingly disconnected jumble of subdivisions and empty downtowns, a sense of place seems harder and harder to find. But this November 2001 book from NRDC, Solving Sprawl, offers an inspiring contrast to these grim trends. Through 35 real-world stories, the book illustrates how people in cities, suburbs, and rural areas have found profitable, community-oriented alternatives to sprawl.

Feeling the Heat in Florida
Global Warming on the Local Level

Report

Accelerated climate change may seem like a remote concern to most Floridians, but in fact, global warming threatens the beautiful coastal communities and tourist-driven prosperity the state is known for. This October 2001 NRDC report finds that global warming in Florida will lead to coastal floods, saltwater contamination of underground drinking water supplies, more frequent wildfires, declining crop yields, and severe deterioration of the state's unique Everglades and coral-reef ecosystems. While the worst effects won't come for several decades, the report makes it clear that state officials should begin preparing now and reduce the pollution that causes global warming.

Stormwater Strategies: Community Responses to Runoff Pollution

Report

A report documenting some of the most effective strategies being employed by communities around the country to control urban runoff pollution, which is among the top sources of water contamination today. The collection of 100 case studies is intended to serve as a guide for local decisionmakers, municipal officials, and environmental activists; it is also a resource for citizens concerned about the quality of their local environment. Also available: a CD ROM version that includes color photographs and new case studies on "low-impact development" solutions.

Clean Getaway
Toward Safe and Efficient Vehicles

Report

No one chooses a vehicle because it gets poor gas mileage. Rather, we buy our cars and trucks to get to work, to school, to play, and to get there safely. This July 2001 NRDC report describes how proven automotive technologies now make it possible to dramatically increase the fuel economy of cars and light trucks without compromising safety, performance, or consumer choice. It also explains how raising the corporate average fuel economy (CAFÉ) standards will benefit consumers' pocketbooks, the public's health, and the nation's economy.

Cesspools of Shame
How Factory Farm Lagoons and Sprayfields Threaten Environmental and Public Health

Report

This July 2001 report from NRDC and the Clean Water Network documents how animal waste from factory farms threatens human health and our nation's rivers. Most factory farms store animal waste in open lagoons as large as several football fields. Lagoons routinely burst, sending millions of gallons of manure into waterways and spreading microbes that can cause gastroenteritis, fevers, kidney failure, and death. This report lists the track records of the largest polluters and recommends existing technology that is safer and more sustainable.

Hostile Environment: How Activist Judges Threaten Our Air, Water, and Land

Report

In the past decade, several federal judges have placed their own political agenda above the clear mandates of our environmental laws. Ignoring congressional statutes and legal precedent, they have put new hurdles in the way of environmental regulators and closed courthouse doors to citizens who would sue polluters. This July 2001 NRDC report tracks these developments, and charges that appointing new activist judges to the bench could signal a death sentence for many environmental protections.

The U.S. Nuclear War Plan: A Time for Change

Report

A June 2001 report from NRDC's nuclear program assessing the U.S. nuclear war planning process and the assumptions and logic of the SIOP, or Single Integrated Operational Plan, a Cold War relic that continues to guide U.S. nuclear war plans. Using customized computer software and a vast aggregation of declassified and open-source data to closely approximate the tools that SIOP planners use, NRDC has simulated a U.S. attack against Russian nuclear forces and attacks against Russian cities. The report includes a description of the history, evolution and working process of SIOP; detailed descriptions of the NRDC nuclear war simulation model and target database; and policy recommendations.

Slower, Costlier and Dirtier
A Critique of the Bush Energy Plan

Report

This May 2001 NRDC report is an extensive analysis of the Bush administration energy plan that was released on May 17. NRDC's energy experts found it heavily biased in favor of the most polluting fossil fuels -- coal and oil -- at the expense of the environment and public health. Furthermore, the plan would have no impact on energy prices, and no practical effect on U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil. The fact is that the United States can meet its energy needs without undermining environmental safeguards or ruining the last remaining pristine wilderness areas in the country.

California's Contaminated Groundwater
Is the State Minding the Store?

Report

Despite the importance of groundwater to its population and economy -- and ample evidence of dangerous groundwater-contamination problems that will be expensive to address -- California does not effectively monitor or protect its groundwater supplies. This April 2001 report documents the lapses in the state's data gathering, monitoring, and protection of this vital resource, and makes recommendations for reforms.

Keeping Oceans Wild
How Marine Reserves Protect Our Living Seas

Report

Marine reserves are like national parks, and they are critical to keeping the world's oceans healthy and productive. This NRDC report demonstrates how placing important ocean areas off-limits is already reaping tremendous benefits, and shows how each of us can participate in protecting marine life and habitat for the future.

The Legislative Record: Environment and the 106th Congress

Report

This February 2001 report analyzes major environmental legislative activity in the 106th Congress and evaluates progress by subject area. The report concludes that the environmental legacy of the 106th Congress lies largely in its failure to take any meaningful action to protect public health and the environment.

No Breathing in the Aisles
Diesel Exhaust Inside School Buses

Report

This February 2001 study from NRDC and the Coalition for Clean Air shows that children who ride a diesel school bus may be exposed to up to four times more toxic diesel exhaust than someone traveling in a car directly in front of it. The study found that excess exhaust levels on school buses were 23 to 46 times higher than levels considered to be a significant cancer risk according to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and federal guidelines.

Priority Ocean Areas for Protection in the Mid-Atlantic: Findings of NRDC's Marine Habitat Workshop

Report

In September 2000, NRDC organized a workshop that brought scientists together to identify specific priority ocean areas in the mid-Atlantic for protection. This report summarizes the results of the scientific workshop in order to foster better understanding, management, and protection of marine species and habitat in federal waters of the mid-Atlantic. The report includes maps reflecting priority areas recommended by each participating scientist.

Another Cost of Sprawl: The Effects of Land Use on Wastewater Utility Costs

Report

A 1998 NRDC study that adds to the growing body of literature demonstrating that low-density sprawl development is costly, inefficient, and inequitable.

Poisons on Pets
Health Hazards from Flea and Tick Products

Report

This report highlights the potential health hazards to humans and pets from flea collars and other flea and tick control products. The report recommends that the EPA ban the use of an entire class of these products -- those using organophosphates. It also offers recommendations for pet owners on combating fleas and ticks with a variety of simple non-chemical steps and/or by applying safer products, including insect growth regulators.

Drawdown: Groundwater Mining on Black Mesa

Report

For more than 40 years, Peabody Western Coal Company has been draining billions of gallons of potable, pristine groundwater from an aquifer under the Black Mesa plateau in Arizona -- water that serves as the primary source of drinking water for the area’s Hopi and Navajo residents. In 2000, NRDC published an assessment of the damage caused by this groundwater mining and determined that the Navajo aquifer showed signs of serious decline after years of pumping by Peabody. This 2006 update to the original report concludes that material damage is still present in Black Mesa and that the aquifer shows signs of continuing damage and deterioration. NRDC also considers the role of the federal government in addressing the damage and recommends actions that would help conserve Black Mesa's water supply.

Bottled Water: Pure Drink or Pure Hype?

Report

A petition to the FDA and attached report on the results of NRDC's four-year study of the bottled water industry, including its bacterial and chemical contamination problems. The petition and report find major gaps in bottled water regulation and conclude that bottled water is not necessarily safer than tap water.

When Peer Review Fails: The Roots of the National Ignition Facility Debacle

Report

A report from NRDC's nuclear program detailing serious problems with the National Ignition Facility, a laser facility under construction by the Department of Energy at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, including enormous cost overruns as well as the likely inability of the project to achieve its primary mission -- fusion ignition. The report, written by NRDC senior researcher Christopher Paine, also offers recommendations regarding the future of the NIF.

Developments and Dollars: An Introduction to Fiscal Impact Analysis in Land Use Planning

Report

This guide provides citizens, planners, local officials and others concerned with sprawling development and growth issues with tools they need to examine the likely impacts of development proposals on local taxes and municipal budgets. It also offers advice on accounting practices sometimes used to make development appear more attractive to local governments than it really is.

Unwelcome (Human) Neighbors: Sprawl and Wildlife

Issue Paper

A policy paper detailing how roads and sprawling neighborhoods are replacing pristine wildlife habitats at an alarming pace, putting the survival and reproduction of plants and animals at risk.

Paving Paradise: Sprawl and the Environment

Report

Make no mistake about it: to expand metropolitan areas into the countryside at rates many times faster than population growth, as we have been doing over the past five decades, is not good for the environment. Whether we can improve the pattern in the coming decades will be critical because, in the first half of the 21st century, the U.S. population is expected to grow by half. That anticipated growth of some 130 million people is equivalent to the current population of France and Germany combined. Where will these new citizens live, work, and shop? How important is it that we, as environmentalists who care about sustainability, bring resources to bear on the shape of America's future urban development?

Arsenic and Old Laws
A Scientific and Public Health Analysis of Arsenic Occurrence in Drinking Water, Its Health Effects, and EPA's Outdated Arsenic Tap Water Standard.

Report

A scientific and public health analysis of arsenic occurrence in drinking water, its health effects, and EPA's outdated arsenic tap water standard. A report analyzing data collected by water systems in 25 states between 1980 and 1998 and compiled by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The study finds that millions of Americans drink tap water from systems that have been shown to contain arsenic, a known toxin and carcinogen, at average levels that pose unacceptable cancer risks.

At the Crossroads: Environmental Threats and Opportunities in the 106th Congress

Report

A report offering a comprehensive review of environmental legislation Congress is expected to consider in 2000. The report includes a summary and analysis of each pending legislative proposal on the environment, a short review of various "regulatory reform" bills, charts showing the legislative status of each pending environmental and regulatory reform bill, and a list of laws and appropriations riders affecting the environment that were passed in 1999.

End of the Road: The Adverse Ecological Impacts of Roads and Logging
A Compilation of Independently Reviewed Research

Report

An annotated bibliography providing an overview of primary research, almost all from peer-reviewed journals, documenting the adverse impacts of roads and logging on North American forest ecosystems.

Preventing Industrial Pollution at its Source

Report

A report detailing a project undertaken by NRDC, Dow Chemical, and a group of five community activists to reduce waste and emissions at Dow's Midland, Michigan, chemical manufacturing plant. The project, begun in late 1996 and completed in April 1999, aimed to achieve 35 percent reductions in pollution emission through pollution prevention -- manufacturing process improvements that decrease waste before it is generated. The project exceeded that goal, achieving emissions reductions of 43 percent.

Preventing Industrial Pollution at its Source
A Final Report of the Michigan Source Reduction Initiative

Report

A report detailing a project undertaken by NRDC, Dow Chemical, and a group of five community activists to reduce waste and emissions at Dow's Midland, Michigan, chemical manufacturing plant. The project, begun in late 1996 and completed in April 1999, aimed to achieve 35 percent reductions in pollution emission through pollution prevention -- manufacturing process improvements that decrease waste before it is generated. The project exceeded that goal, achieving emissions reductions of 43 percent.

Under Attack: New York's Kensico and West Branch Reservoirs Confront Intensified Development

Report

A report finding that encroaching development and inadequate protection by city and state officials threaten New York City's two most important reservoirs.

America's Animal Factories
How States Fail to Prevent Pollution from Livestock Waste

Report

A report examining the environmental and health consequences of pollution from industrial livestock farms in 30 states, as well as the widely varying efforts to curtail it.

Damage Report: Environment and the 105th Congress

Report

A report on the action -- and inaction -- of the 105th Congress on environmental issues. In particular, the report highlights the fact that the most important environmental battles of this Congress occurred not over proposals to revise environmental statutes, but over provisions buried in federal spending bills.

Trouble on the Farm: Growing Up with Pesticides in Agricultural Communities

Report

A report examining the disproportionate exposure to dangerous pesticides borne by children of farmers and farm workers, and the related threats to their health.

Efficient Wood Use in Residential Construction
A Practical Guide to Saving Wood, Money, and Forests

Report

The online excerpts of this handbook summarize the advantages of several wood-efficient approaches to design, material selection, and construction for residential applications, and describe the extensive practical and resource information for builders, architects, engineers, developers, lenders, and insurers provided in the print version.

Endocrine Disruption: An Overview and Resource List

Issue Paper

This paper provides an introductory explanation of the ways in which synthetic chemicals in the environment can interfere with the natural hormonal systems of humans and other living things. It also describes the implications of and approaches to addressing the problem, and provides extensive print and online reference listings.

Fields of Change: A New Crop of American Farmers Finds Alternatives to Pesticides

Report

A study profiling 22 farmers from 16 states who, despite significant barriers, are switching from conventional pest management to profitable alternative agricultural practices that substantially reduce pesticide use.

Exhausted by Diesel
How America's Dependence on Diesel Engines Threatens Our Health

Report

This report describes the impacts of diesel exhaust on human health, makes recommendations and includes success stories about alternatives to diesel fuel.

Taking Stock: Worldwide Nuclear Deployments 1998

Report

A report providing, for the first time, authoritative estimates of the sizes and locations of the nuclear arsenals of the U.S., Russia, Britain, France and China. The report contains detailed descriptions, including maps and tables, of today's arsenals, and describes the events that have led to the consolidation of weapons storage sites. The authors also project likely trends for the future.

Our Children At Risk: The Five Worst Environmental Threats to Their Health

Report

A report identifying the special vulnerability of children to environmental hazards and highlighting the growing evidence pointing to a link between pollution and childhood illnesses. The report makes recommendations, at both the policy and personal levels, for the protection of the next generation.

The Rise and Fall of the Third ICF Review
A Case Study of Bias and Conflicts of Interest in a National Academy of Sciences Review of the National Ignition Facility

Report

A case study of bias and conflicts of interest in a National Academy of Sciences review of the Department Of Energy's National Ignition Facility.

End Run: The U.S. Government’s Plan for Designing Nuclear Weapons and Simulating Nuclear Explosions under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

Report

A report on the U.S. Government's plan for designing nuclear weapons and simulating nuclear explosions under the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Explosive Alliances: Nuclear Weapons Simulation Research at American Universities

Report

A report on the Department of Energy's awarding of U.S. nuclear weapons program research contracts to universities. The report includes policy recommendations on this issue.

The Internet and the Bomb: A Research Guide to Policy and Information about Nuclear Weapons

Report

A research guide documenting online resources in the nuclear weapons field -- news, government decisions, background reference materials, facts and data about a full range of U.S. government programs.

Too Good To Throw Away: Recycling's Proven Record

Report

A report detailing the environmental benefits of recycling and addressing the claims of a small but vocal chorus of special interests that have tried to cast doubt on its value.

Hook, Line, and Sinking: The Crisis in Marine Fisheries

Report

A report documenting the plight of marine fisheries worldwide, with particular emphasis on United States waters. The report gives detailed information about the status of fish populations in the U.S., evaluates the factors contributing to fish depletion both domestically and internationally, and concludes with recommendations to reverse the decline.

NRDC's Washington, DC Eco-Office
Tomorrow's Workplace, Today

Report

This report contains information on environmentally friendly and energy-efficient building materials and technologies used in the construction of NRDC's Washington, D.C. office. The report includes product listings and contact information useful to building industry professionals and others interested in "green" architecture and design.

Risky Business
Hidden Environmental Liabilities of Power Plant Ownership

Report

A ranking of the "environmental liability" for all major U.S. utilities.

Breath-taking
Premature Mortality Due to Particulate Air Pollution in 239 American Cities

Report

Excerpts from a groundbreaking May 1996 NRDC report on premature mortality due to particulate air pollution in 239 American cities.