New Legislation Could Tighten Penalties for Environmental Crimes
June 18th, 2010 | 
Author: by Lori Brown
Published on June 18th, 2010 (via Earth911)
As the oil spill in the Gulf continues to dominate headlines, environmental legislation has become an even more hot-button issue in Washington as well.
One of the newest pieces of legislation introduced to the Senate is the Environmental Crimes Enforcement Act (ECEA). Introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the bill aims to hold companies accountable for environmental crimes and to protect victims of environmental crimes by mandating restitution for criminal violations of the Clean Water Act.
The ongoing spill in the Gulf resulting from the April 20 explosion of an offshore oil rig has brought renewed attention to corporate accountability for recovery costs and restitution of those affected by environmental disasters.
The ECEA directs the Sentencing Commission to amend sentencing guidelines for environmental crimes to reflect the severity of those crimes.
“Currently, restitution in environmental crimes- even crimes that result in death- is discretionary, and only available under limited circumstances,” stated Leahy during his June 9 introduction of the bill.
“Under this bill, those who commit Clean Water Act offenses would have to compensate the victims of these offense for their losses. That restitution will help the people of the Gulf Coast rebuild their coastline and wetlands, their fisheries, and their livelihoods should criminal liability be found.”
Full Article Link: http://bit.ly/dhRbLf
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Start a Work Recycling Program
by Trey Granger
Published on May 31st, 2010
For many of us, home recycling is a pretty easy process. Our city provides us with a recycling bin, and we have Earth911 to tell us what to put in it.
Plus, more programs now allow us to throw everything in one place, so you don’t even need to sort. This convenience can also make recycling outside of the home a challenge.
However, it’s important to remember the same reasons you recycle at home still apply at places like your job.
In fact, the U.S. EPA estimates that 40 percent of all waste is generated in the workplace, so your business could be doing a lot by recycling.
But where do you start when there’s no bin at your curb? This handy guide will break down the process for you, and have you recycling at the office in no time.
1. Know what to throw (in the bin)
2. Follow the leader
3. Share the wealth
Full Article: http://earth911.com/news/2010/05/31/start-a-work-recycling-program/
New York becomes 23rd state to adopt e-waste recycling law
Almost halfway there: New York becomes 23rd state to adopt e-waste recycling law
By Heather Clancy | June 11, 2010, 12:10pm PDT
Summary:
If you live in New York state and have neglected your spring cleaning, you may want to hold onto your old electronics doo-dads a bit longer: Your state just passed what some are calling the “most progressive” electronics waste recycling law in the country.
There are a couple of things that make this law unique (New York obviously learned from other progressive states on this matter, including Washington and Minnesota:
- Technology manufacturers will be required to reuse a certain amount of electronic waste each year. The amount that they have to reuse will be based on market share.
- Manufacturers that collect more stuff than they have to, will get recycling “credits” for doing so. If a manufacturer doesn’t reach its quota, it faces fines.
- Consumers have five years to get used to this idea: After Jan. 15, 2015, they will be prohibited from dumping computers, printers, televisions, DVD players, MP3 players and such into landfills. Big appliances such as refrigerators or microwaves, however, are exempt.
Link to Article:
New York Passes Strict E-waste Law
by Amanda Wills
Published on June 9th, 2010
It has been hailed as “the most progressive, best researched e-waste bill in country” by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
While New York is the 23rd state to pass an e-waste law, this new legislation is more stringent, holding both manufacturers and consumers responsible for disposing electronic waste.
Starting in April 2011, manufacturers across the state must offer free programs allowing consumers to drop of their items for proper disposal. Manufacturers will also be prohibited from dumping e-waste in landfills. That same rule will go into effect for consumers starting Jan. 15, 2015.
According to The New York Times, the state will mandate the amount of electronic waste each company is required to recycle or reuse annually. This number is based on each manufacturer’s market share of electronics sales in New York.
Companies that don’t meet the recycling standards will be ordered to pay fines that will be used to fund state-run recycling programs. “Recycling credits” will be rewarded to companies that collect more waste than required, an aspect of the law that has been called an “unfortunate loophole” as these credits can be traded or sold.
Full Story:
Copy Machines, a Security Risk?
Digital Photocopiers Loaded With Secrets
Your Office Copy Machine Might Digitally Store Thousands of Documents That Get Passed on at Resale
By Armen Keteyian
(CBS) At a warehouse in New Jersey, 6,000 used copy machines sit ready to be sold. CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports almost every one of them holds a secret.
Nearly every digital copier built since 2002 contains a hard drive – like the one on your personal computer – storing an image of every document copied, scanned, or emailed by the machine.
In the process, it’s turned an office staple into a digital time-bomb packed with highly-personal or sensitive data.
If you’re in the identity theft business it seems this would be a pot of gold.
“The type of information we see on these machines with the social security numbers, birth certificates, bank records, income tax forms,” John Juntunen said, “that information would be very valuable.”
Buffalo Reacts to CBS News Investigation
Juntunen’s Sacramento-based company Digital Copier Security developed software called “INFOSWEEP” that can scrub all the data on hard drives. He’s been trying to warn people about the potential risk – with no luck.
Link to Article: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/19/eveningnews/main6412439.shtml
