Environmental Writing 2012

Ramapo College, May 2012                       (photo/Jan Barry)

Are electric cars the wave of the future? Why are bomb squads frequent visitors to a New Jersey business park? What’s up with both solar panels and natural gas pipelines spreading across the Garden State landscape? These are just some of the timely and essential ecological issues that 15 student-reporters at Ramapo College of New Jersey explored in the Spring 2012 Environmental Writing class.

Here’s a sampling of insightful passages on topics the students researched and reported in magazine-style final writing projects, which are posted on our class website, ramapolookout.blogspot.com, along with a wide array of other eco-themed assignments.

“In April it was predicted that as the election pressures become more intense and gas prices rise, the president and administration may accelerate the review process and allow the northern leg of the pipeline to move forward more quickly. However, gas prices are currently in decline and have been for the past five weeks, as reported on Friday by the Huffington Post.

“According to the Los Angeles Times, ‘that day when hundreds of thousands of barrels arrive from Canada is at least a decade away, however, and much of the gasoline refined from Canadian oil would probably be exported, industry analysts say.’ ”

--from “New Keystone Pipeline Plan: What’s It Mean for the 2012 Elections?” by Lauren Haag

“Fort Detrick, a military base located in Fredrick, Md, was the main testing and research center for herbicides used in Agent Orange.  In recent years, area residents have raised concerns about what they see as a cancer cluster in the nearby neighborhoods surrounding Fort Detrick. Government officials deny there is a cancer cluster, although the state health department and a National Academy of Science panel are now taking a look at it.

“There is much skepticism as to whether the military will take any responsibility or admit to any wrong-doing. Randy White, the founder of the Kristen Renee Foundation, named after his daughter who died of brain cancer, has raised concerns about a possible cancer cluster based on surveys of residents of the area. White said that he had no confidence in the Department of Defense or a National Academy of Science review getting to the bottom of the issue in Fredrick.”

--from “The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange” by Deshaun Mitchell

“You’re a devoted recycler. You’ve installed solar panels in your house. You drive a hybrid car. You have a homemade compost pile in your backyard. You live an eco-friendly life, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. But what happens when you leave your personal green kingdom for a summer vacation trip with the kids or a weekend getaway with your spouse? Do you abandon your green morals for a few days, or do you stick to your roots?

“Staying green while traveling can be a challenge, but in recent years more and more eco-friendly hotels have been popping up, and classic hotel chains like the Marriott and Hilton have been adapting practices that cut back on water use and air pollution.”

--from “Go Green: Eco-Friendly Hotels” by Diana Stanczak

“The students also found that vapor intrusion from the VOCs in the groundwater is a real threat to nearby buildings.  The area where the contaminants are found is right where a movie theater and parking lot are proposed.  This means careful investigation is needed to determine if vapor intrusion is a threat to indoor air quality.  Mitigation measures include a vapor barrier and venting systems.

…

“More suggestions include solar panels on buildings or in parking lots to reduce heat and produce clean energy.   Additionally, using LED parking lot lamps with special covers to reduce light pollution and in the long run, save on electricity and maintenance costs.  The use of native plants for landscaping was suggested, and not just for the bio-retention basins.  Native plant usage reduces water, fertilizer and maintenance needs, but also eliminates the threat of invasive species infiltrating the valuable wetland and riparian river habitat nearby.  They also stressed the importance of an efficient waste cycling program with the goal being zero-waste, which seemed to intrigue the members of the Environmental Commission and residents at the public hearing presentation.”

--from “Ramapo College Students Assess Proposed Mall’s Environmental Impact” by Barbara Bodden

“There obviously are serious concerns with the mega-million project, including damage to the pristine land--tearing through the Ramapo Reservation--and also the problems that come with fracking for natural gas for the pipeline. I wonder what is the point of reserving land if you’re going to destroy it anyway. Reservations are turning into layaways for companies. The same way department stores used to let customers put products on reserve to buy them at a later date, is what going on here. People and other businesses can’t build on this land. How strange that a gas-related project gets precedent over everything else.”

--from Tennessee Gas Pipeline Project: Why Is It Allowed in Preserved Parkland?” by Thomas Babcock

“The installation of solar panels in New Jersey ranks among the highest in the country and is set to continue to grow. Over the past couple of years, solar panels have exploded onto the New Jersey landscape. They were most commonly seen in multiple-acre solar farms, on rooftops, and car ports. But now they quite likely line the streets of your local neighborhood.

“Behind a majority of New Jersey’s solar energy projects is its largest utility provider, Public Service Gas and Electric (PSE&G). It is recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) as the nation’s third most solar connected utility, ranking behind only Pacific Gas and Electric in California and Florida Power and Light Company.”

--from “Solar Panels Spreading Across New Jersey” by Joseph Pianese

“In a time where IPhones and fast cars are celebrated more than natural things, it is safe to say that humans have drastically affected this planet. It is hard for people to remember that we were not always the superior species to walk this vast realm, but that before us Earth belonged to the animals.

“Is it a scary statistic to learn that almost 99% of living organisms that were here when the Earth was created are no longer in existence. Every day, more and more of our beloved creatures are forced out of their homes and into extinction. Although oftentimes not a primary concern to most humans, there are plenty of reasons and statistics proving why they should be concerned.”

--from “Animals: Pertinent to Our Survival” by Alexis Lopez

“Last summer, Tennessee Gas expanded the existing pipeline from 30 feet in width to almost 200 feet.  In these areas where the pipeline already exists, specifically in the region off of Clinton Road, waterways were flooded with excessive runoff, motor oil and other fluids from bulldozers and construction vehicles used in the projects, and wetlands along its route have been contaminated, say residents who were directly affected.

“The Monksville Reservoir, which is the starting point for the extension, holds up to a billion gallons of water, and serves as the backup water supply during droughts for the Wanaque Reservoir. Approximately 3 million people are served by this water system. The plan is to drill under the reservoir, minimizing its impact to the water body, which extends 505 acres, and is a popular fishing spot.”

--from “Gas Pipeline to Mahwah Set Off Alarms” by Victoria Ahlers

“Over thirty years ago, it all started with just 12 farmers in a parking lot on 59th Street and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan. Now it has grown to become the biggest and most diverse outdoor urban farmer’s market system in the country. There are now 53 markets, over 230 family farms and fishermen participants, and over 30,000 acres of farmland protected from development.

“Since the creation of the greenmarket, the relationship between farmers and city residents has changed rural communities and urban spaces. There is an improvement in consumer health and people who are in need of fresh and nutritious food can get it through the organizations EBT/Food Stamp and Youth-market program. The market has also helped support immigrant farmers, educate school children and city residents about regional agriculture importance, provide an opportunity for medium sized farms, and influenced chefs and local eaters in one of the most popular and famous cities in the world.”

--from “Bringing Farm Life Back to New York City” by Vanessa Camargo

“Since the concept of environmental justice was recognized over three decades ago, the issue has been growing in size and importance.  However, it is still far from where it needs to be.  Environmental Justice issues are largely under-reported, and hardly ever show up in local, state, or national political debate.  This is because residents of poor and minority communities have little to no representation in government, and therefore have little to no voice.  

“As it stands now, environmental justice issues are all too often left to be discovered and advocated for by the residents of the affected communities and environmental groups.  In these cases, the residents and environmental organizations are usually up against large corporations whose financial status and sheer size give them the upper hand.  The fact is, the task of discovering toxic waste and other harmful pollutants in communities should not be left to the residents.  It is the responsibility of government, specifically on the local level, to protect the interests and well-being of its people; therefore, it is they who should be held responsible.”

--from “Environmental Justice: A Growing Issue” by Bliss Sando

“In most towns, the discovery of a misplaced military explosive would have been big news, but this incident in Edison went by without a peep from the media or government officials.  This was not the first time a shell was found in the ground below bustling Raritan Center. 

“They only found one this time,” said Lieut. Salvatore Filannino, the public information officer at the Edison police department.  

“Raritan Center is one of the largest business parks on the East Coast of the United States, and the biggest in Middlesex County, NJ.  It contains approximately 100 buildings and a daytime population of 45,000 workers.  Raritan Center includes several hotels, banks, a day care center, and the main studio and newsroom of News 12 New Jersey. So this issue of old munitions may affect all different types of people in Edison, according to the Army Corps of Engineers.

“In years past, it was home to the Raritan Arsenal, a sprawling military base…”

--from “Bomb Squads at a Business Park: Another Day at the Office” by Richard Fetzer

 “The odors have become more noticeable to Middlesex residents for the past three years. Some residents describe the odors as unpleasant, and some say the odors are not that bad. The overall issue that the Board of Health is concerned about is if these odors are safe.

“There has been no confirmation that the odors produced are dangerous to the residents, officials said. In fact, all of the products that Spray Tek converts are consumable products by manufacturers that are highly regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency.”

--from “Fragrance Company and Town at Odds over Odors” by Molly Rothberg

“I remember driving into Pennsylvania for a weekend away some months ago and seeing signs on every lawn in the neighborhood I was driving through. Each sign read “FRACK” circled and crossed.

“I had thought “FRACK” was someone running for office that no one seemed to like; my friend told me otherwise. He informed me what hydraulic fracturing was, but I didn’t believe him that these people were lighting their sinks on fire and so I had to Youtube it.”

--from “Hydraulic Fracturing: A Brute Enemy to Water” by Samuel Arnowitz

“Electric cars are beginning to become more popular and are said to be better for the environment. With the rise of this, it is important to understand what an electric car is, the difference between electric and gasoline powered cars, and if they really are better for the environment.”

--from “Are Electric Cars the Way to Go for the Environment?” by Amanda Daley

“The Ramapo River is a popular destination for trout and fly fishermen and a retreat for families in the summer. Part of the Passaic River Basin, it is the most populated river in Northern New Jersey.

“On the surface, the river looks to be in great condition and a safe haven for wildlife. However, looked at more closely, the river is heavily polluted due to commercial development over the last few decades. Also, according to the New York Department of Environmental Conservation, industrial companies used the river as a hazardous waste disposal site.”

--from “State of the Ramapo River” by Luan Madani

New Keystone Pipeline Plan: What's it Mean for the 2012 Elections?

By LAUREN HAAG

"TransCanada is still pushing the same dirty tar sands pipeline over the Sandhills, over the Ogallala Aquifer, and endangering Americans' drinking water,” Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune said in a statement. "They think that if they redraw the map they can fool the people whose land and livelihoods would be threatened by this dangerous pipeline."

A 1,170 mile long pipeline costing $7 billion to construct, from the tar sands of Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast, will bring in 830,000 additional barrels of oil per day, create 20,000 jobs, potentially pollute underground water systems and worsen global warming. This is the Keystone Pipeline, and it is one of the major controversies of the 2012 election campaigns.

Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s campaign is clearly for the construction of the Keystone Pipeline, whereas Democratic nominee Barack Obama holds an interesting stance on the issue. Obama’s energy policy is openly called “all of the above.” His energy policy is considered diversified in interest of increasing production of traditional energy sources such as oil and natural gas while increasing investment in alternative sources such as solar, wind, and hydrogen power.

The Keystone Pipeline was designed to provide a greater volume of oil to refiners from bottleneck sites where oil is being produced more quickly than it can be transported. Currently, oil is transported by trucks and trains, which is potentially dangerous and less efficient than it would be to travel by a pipeline. Environmental concerns involve the impact of potential oil spills into the surrounding area from the pipe, as well as tar sands impact on global warming

In January, President Obama denied a permit to construct the pipeline along a projected route because the administration felt the State Department didn’t have adequate time allotted to study related environmental and safety concerns. Obama said, “the rushed and arbitrary deadline insisted on by Congressional Republicans prevented a full assessment of the pipeline’s impact.”

A major factor in the pipeline denial was due to issues with constructing the pipeline through Nebraska and its groundwater-rich Sandhills region.

Republicans Blast Obama Stance

This among other stances Obama has had on energy lead Republicans to believe that Obama’s “all of the above” policy is simply a campaigning ‘stunt’ to hold neither side on the issue. Republicans point out Obama stating oil as “the fuel of the past” at a North Carolina campaign stop in March, pledge of windfall profits tax on oil and gas companies for more than 15$ billion a year in 2008, and criminal indictment against Continental Resources oil company, and others, over deaths of a ‘small’  number of migrating birds.

In February, TransCanada, the company looking to create the pipeline, announced plans to build the southern portion of the pipeline from Cushing, Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico in order to address a bottleneck effect occurring in Cushing.

White House press secretary Jay Carney said the White House welcomed the news of the southern pipeline plans. stating “Moving oil from Midwest to the world-class, state-of-the-art refineries on the Gulf Coast will modernize our infrastructure, create jobs, and encourage American energy production.” 

On March 21st Obama paid a visit to the Cushing, Oklahoma pipeline site and investigated the conditions there. His visit was said to emphasize his “all of the above” energy policy and strengthen the side of it that supports American oil production. He made an announcement regarding the pipeline that he would expedite construction of the southern portion of the pipeline from Oklahoma. His announcement was made in front of a row of pipes, and green and copper-colored piping segments. “The White House relished the setting and clearly wanted the photo-op,” reported Jeff Mason of Reuters. 

Obama Hails Southern Route

“Today I’m directing my administration to cut through red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles, and make this project a priority,” Obama said.

Still Republicans view his approval of the southern portion of the pipeline as a ploy to appear to support traditional energy projects. Environmentalists fear if reelected Obama will approve construction of the pipeline, while Republican prediction that Obama will kill the pipeline remain.  Arguments are also that Obama’s announcement at Cushing involving approval of the southern pipeline is just to take credit for its progression which doesn’t require his approval and will have progressed regardless. 

Federal agencies play a role in the approval process and permit allowance; states, however, have a more direct say in approving the route. Republicans consider his approval announcement hype because the project was scheduled to start in June, with or without him.

“The American people can’t afford more half measures on energy from the president,” said Kirsten Kukowski, a Republican National Committee spokeswoman.

Susan Casey-Lefkowitz of the Natural Resources Defense Council said it was “downright foolhardy to cut corners on safety reviews for permitting, especially when the industry has a history of oil spills.”

“This is the energy policy equivalent of admitting to an experiment with marijuana but not inhaling” reported Dan Schnur from the New York Times.

In April TransCanada submitted a new application to the US Government with changes in the route through Nebraska. The proposed new route veers east around the Sandhills region.  Some in Nebraska are reported as still opposed to the plan.

According to the Associated Press, “a senior State Department official said US officials would conduct a thorough review of the new application, with a final decision not expected until early near year – well after the presidential election.”

A Gallup poll showed in March that 57% of Americans back the construction of the Keystone Pipeline, however, 20% follow the issue closely. A Fox News poll also in March showed 67% of registered voters support building the pipeline.

“The most likely outcome is that Canada will still build a pipeline, but rather one that goes westward to the Pacific Ocean north of the United States border and then ships Canadian oil to China instead of into this country,” according to Schnur.

In April it was predicted that as the election pressures become more intense and gas prices rise, the president and administration may accelerate the review process and allow the northern leg of the pipeline to move forward more quickly. However, gas prices are currently in decline and have been for the past five weeks, as reported on Friday by the Huffington Post.

According to the Los Angeles Times, “that day when hundreds of thousands of barrels arrive from Canada is at least a decade away, however, and much of the gasoline refined from Canadian oil would probably be exported, industry analysts say.”

For more information:
usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/04/11539096-reworked-keystone-pipeline-application-back-for-us-review
www.huffingtonpost.com/tim-profeta/the-climate-post-keystone_b_1507312.html
www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/22/us-usa-campaign-obama-pipeline-idUSBRE82L0UU20120322
campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/the-president-gas-prices-and-the-keystone-pipeline/
www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/22/obama-in-oklahoma-backs-southern-pipeline-leg/
news.yahoo.com/obama-defends-handling-keystone-pipeline-154231425.html
content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/05/obama-team-faces-new-keystone-pipeline-application/1#.T7IGONX7SHc
www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/20/obama-keystone-xl-pipeline_n_1368271.html
www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/03/19/obamas-upcoming-visit-to-keystone-pipeline-site-so-hypocritical-and-so-ironic/
articles.latimes.com/2012/mar/22/nation/la-na-obama-energy-20120323

Lauren Haag is a senior at Ramapo College majoring in Biology.

Experiential Journal: Ramapo Students in Costa Rica for Alternate Spring Break

By Lauren Haag


For Spring Break 2012, ten Ramapo College students arrived in Aranjuez, Costa Rica in province Puntarenas, on the Pacific Ocean side of the country. Students arrived on March 17th and traveled back to the US on March 24th. Costa Rica was one of two international alternate spring break programs offered by Ramapo College, the other being in Ecuador. There were also national locations in North Carolina, Arkansas, and Massachusetts. Of 60-plus students who applied for the opportunity to spend their break in Costa Rica, ten were selected, which I was one of.

Alternate Spring Break is a program hosted by many universities and colleges as well as outside programs to give undergraduate students an opportunity to travel for spring break in an altruistic sense. Each program offers a specific volunteering purpose and only a small portion of time is dedicated to recreation purposes, and no alcohol consumption is allowed. Volunteer initiatives can involve building homes, schools, working with children, and sustainability.

In Costa Rica students were hosted at a macaw sanctuary, El Mantial Sanctuaria de Lapas, run and created by Rodolfo Orozoco. The sanctuary was located in a more remote area of Costa Rica where various exotic animals were housed and cared for. The sanctuary has a rich history of its conservation and establishment experience.

Rodolfo Orozoco began his sanctuary originally in a less remote area where animals were constantly stressed by the city life and neighbors annoyed by the presence of the animals. About a decade prior to Ramapo’s visit Orozoco had purchased the land now known as the sanctuary. The land was very open and renovations started small. Orozoco planted many trees and created many extravagant homes for the animals to have shelter and protection. The sanctuary was originally an effort to breed Scarlet and Great Green Macaws which are native macaw species endangered in Costa Rica, however, many other species now call the sanctuary their home. Various domesticated and smuggled animals have made their home in the sanctuary because of police confiscating animals owned illegally and presenting them to Orozoco to care for.

At the sanctuary there are now two species of Tucans, various parakeet species, various macaw species, Eclectus parrots, African Grey parrots, Australian Cockatoos,  Marmaset, Spider, and Tamarin monkeys, and Tapirs. His new location and extension of land allows him to adequately house and take care of all these various animals that can’t easily call other places home because of their acquisition to the Costa Rican environment or domesticated life.

A big aspect of the project is the community’s involvement in the sanctuary. Various community members volunteer or work for the sanctuary taking care of the animals and promoting the values and vision of the sanctuary. In this way the sanctuary can give back to the community by providing jobs, and the community can give back to the sanctuary by understanding its purpose and facilitating it.

The Ramapo community was involved in taking care of the animals – feeding and cleaning, creating a small canal, planting trees, collecting seeds, and composting. A big part of the pictures of the sanctuary are sustainable techniques. All materials are composted, and hardly any garbage is not able to be composted because fresh products are always used. Electricity and water are conserved as much as possible as well.

Ramapo students began a project to build a canal system to move useable water from a flood zone into the sanctuary in order to be used as a resource. Composting work involved picking up leaf litter from the trees and carrying onto new land that will be used for farming. The leaf litter can be used to enhance the soil quality and also must be removed to eliminate predators from hiding in it and potentially harming the animals. Trees were planted to create more privacy in certain locations for the animals.

In the future Orozoco hopes to implement a craft program where single women from the nearby community can learn the craft and sell it in his souvenir shop at the sanctuary in order to help provide for them and become involved in the sanctuary. His dream is to unite the importance of the sanctuary with the needs of the people so they can learn to use the land and each other to promote overall success.

Orozoco has also recently purchased a new amount of land next door to his sanctuary where the Ramapo composted materials were being placed. The new land is going to be used to grow and farm important fruits that the animals need, in order to cut cost and increase sustainability and efficiency of his sanctuary.

Video created by Ramapo student Steven Shaw on the various Ramapo alternate spring break adventures:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrGPpODXU-M&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

The Lingering Legacy of Agent Orange

By DESHAUN MITCHELL

During the Vietnam War, the U.S. military sprayed a specially formulated herbicide that was stored in drums with orange stripes painted on them. They called it Agent Orange. Used to kill vegetation that hid enemy soldiers, this deadly chemical spray also affected many American soldiers as well as Vietnamese. Many Vietnam veterans have become ill with cancer and other diseases that have been linked to a contaminant in the herbicide.

.

Fort Detrick, a military base located in Fredrick, Md, was the main testing and research center for herbicides used in Agent Orange.  In recent years, area residents have raised concerns about what they see as a cancer cluster in the nearby neighborhoods surrounding Fort Detrick. Government officials deny there is a cancer cluster, although the state health department and a National Academy of Science panel are now taking a look at it. 

There is much skepticism as to whether the military will take any responsibility or admit to any wrong-doing. Randy White, the founder of the Kristen Renee Foundation, named after his daughter who died of brain cancer, has raised concerns about a possible cancer cluster based on surveys of residents of the area. White said that he had no confidence in the Department of Defense or a National Academy of Science review getting to the bottom of the issue in Fredrick.

A February 2011 news article in the Frederick News-Post quoting White's concerns noted that "Greenhouse tests of Agent Orange between August 1961 and June 1963 -- which the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has acknowledged as a cause of health problems for veterans who served at Fort Detrick at the time and for which it is currently paying disability claims -- are outlined in a classified report, the preliminary report says, so details about those tests have not yet been made available to the Corps of Engineers." The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the News-Post reported, found that "Fort Detrick tested an estimated 16.82 pounds of Agent Orange and similar defoliants between 1944 and 1951" on fields on the military post.

According to the law firm Brayton & Purcell, Agent Orange’s most harmful component is dioxin. They suggest that Agent Orange was made more dangerous due to an increased dioxin component in the military mixture of herbicides.

The US Environmental Protection Agency on its website page on dioxin states, "Dioxins refers to a group of toxic chemical compounds that share certain chemical structures and biological characteristics.  Dioxins can be released into the environment through forest fires, backyard burning of trash, certain industrial activities, and residue from past commercial burning of waste.  Dioxins break down very slowly and past releases of dioxins from both man-made and natural sources still exist in the environment.” The E.P.A. also notes that most living creatures have been exposed to dioxin at one time or another and that studies  found that exposure to high levels of dioxin can cause various health defects, including cancer.

The fact that dioxin takes so long to break down only makes it all the more dangerous. Especially in places like Frederick County and Fort Detrick where the effects of numerous years of alleged excessive testing and dumping of Agent Orange are still being sorted out. The investigation in Fredrick, Md is on-going, though results thus far have been inconclusive.

For more information:

cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/CFM/nceaQFind.cfm?keyword=Dioxin

www.armytimes.com/news/2011/02/ap-agent-orange-fort-detrick-022411/

www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=117158

www.braytonlaw.com/practiceareas/agentorange.htm

Deshaun Mitchell, a junior at Ramapo College, is a communications major with a concentration in writing. Raised in New Jersey, he is a Newark native and graduate of Arts High School in downtown Newark.  Currently, Mitchell is working on obtaining his bachelor’s degree and finishing his first novel.

Go Green: Eco-Friendly Hotels

By DIANA STANCZAK

Marriott Baltimore Waterfront Hotel
(photo/Jan Barry)

You’re a devoted recycler. You’ve installed solar panels in your house. You drive a hybrid car. You have a homemade compost pile in your backyard. You live an eco-friendly life, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. But what happens when you leave your personal green kingdom for a summer vacation trip with the kids or a weekend getaway with your spouse? Do you abandon your green morals for a few days, or do you stick to your roots?

Staying green while traveling can be a challenge, but in recent years more and more eco-friendly hotels have been popping up, and classic hotel chains like the Marriott and Hilton have been adapting practices that cut back on water use and air pollution. Read on to see what each of these companies have done:

Marriott:

This hotel chain giant, one of the largest companies in the world, is making efforts to “go green” by improving energy efficiency and conserving water. This initiative began after Marriott calculated its carbon footprint and estimated that 59.4 pounds of Carbon Dioxide was emitted per every guestroom. In 2009, the hotel chain reduced its energy consumption in America by 5 percent.

Other steps the Marriott has taken includes partnering with eco-conscious energy brand Energy Star, educating staff about waste reduction, and encouraging guests to cut back on energy consumption by reducing the amount of towels they use on a single stay.

Lubov Stanczak, 42, of New Jersey, recently stayed at a Marriott resort on a family vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico.  “I didn’t book the hotel specifically because it was green, but it certainly was nice to find out afterwards. Once I realized how much effort the Marriott has put forth into saving the environment, I vowed to only stay in eco-friendly hotels,” Stanczak said.
   
Hilton:

Another key player in the hotel game, Hilton hotels are making big strides toward eco-friendly lodging with their Hilton Garden Inns. These specialty hotels pride themselves on taking major steps in reducing their carbon footprint. For example, each Hilton Garden Inn uses recyclable room keys, energy efficient lighting, and a unique Garden Sleep System Bed, which is built from recyclable materials designed to never end up in a landfill.

The Future

While the Marriott and Hilton, along with dozens of smaller hotels, are working towards reducing waste and carbon emissions, it is not enough. Popular amenities like pools and spas will continue to be vacuums of energy. However, until a solution is proposed—be sure to use your towel more than once while on vacation.

For more information:
Mariott.com
Hilton.com

Diana Stanczak practices eco-friendly journalism at Ramapo College of New Jersey.

Experiental Journal: Finding a Useful Experience

By Diana Stanczak


When it comes to Ramapo College’s Curriculum Enhancement Component (CEC), it’s the same drill every semester: most students wait until the last possible moment before scrambling to either watch a movie, attend a lecture, or read a book that will count for the five hours of required learning outside the classroom. I’ll admit that I’ve been guilty of this in the past.

But this semester, two of my classes overlapped, making the CEC less of a hassle and more of an actual, valuable learning experience.

I’m going to be honest: I’ve reached the point in my college career where I’m taking classes that I’m not particularly interested in, but I have to take to fulfill requirements. My anthropology class, World Cultures, was completely out of my scope of interest—but it fulfilled a General Education requirement, another one of Ramapo’s gems, so I signed up for it. I thought that maybe I could show up, do the reading, do the homework, and pass the class. If only I knew what I was in for. I’ll elaborate on this later.

The second class I took because it fulfilled a requirement was Environmental Writing. Don’t get me wrong—I like the environment. I like writing. But I am not an environmental activist. Still, I figured it wouldn’t be too difficult.

Well, was I in for a surprise. World Cultures opened my eyes to so many issues regarding the way indigenous people were mistreated, some right in Ramapo’s backyard, in Mahwah, NJ. I learned so much about a gas pipeline that was threatening to destroy nearby land. I was also learning about some of these issues in Environmental Writing, forcing me to think about the subject matters twice as much.

The issue of the gas pipeline really began to eat away at me. Besides ruining the land by running straight through the Ramapo Reservation, dangerous side effects of fracking were also a risk. So I decided to use my skills to help the protest against the pipeline, using the writing techniques I learned in Environmental Writing, along with the information from World Cultures. I wrote an article for the Ramapo News to inform the student body about the pipeline, and what faculty members and students were doing to protest it.

Writing the article took a few steps: I interviewed Chief Mann of the Ramapough Lenape Indian tribe, as well as a few students. Then, using local newspapers as resources, I researched facts about the pipeline. Finally, I combined it all together into an article about 500 words long. If  I had to make any changes to my CEC project, I would probably try to add a picture to my article.

Overall, I felt like my CEC project actually was useful, not just work to be done for the sake of work. It combined two of my classes, taught me a lot about an issue affecting my community, and allowed me to relay that information to my fellow students.

Ramapo College Students Assess Proposed Mall's Environmental Impact

By BARBARA BODDEN

Ramapo River in Mahwah, NJ at site of proposed mall
(photo/Jan Barry)

                                    

Have you ever wondered how development projects, with negative impacts that are obvious even to the lay person, were ever approved?  Many of us trust our town planners to make the right decision and mitigate any social, economic or environmental impacts that new developments could have on the surrounding community.  We elect these individuals with the assumption that they are protecting our health and safety.  We also tend to think that if any developments threatened the environment, there must be environmental activists or scientists advising decision makers on how to protect our very valuable environmental resources.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case. 

Community groups and activists are often the ones to protest a proposed mall or roadway project when they believe it could threaten their health or disturb some special habitat or endanger a species.

Such is the case for the proposed Crossroads retail development in the Township of Mahwah, N.J., a semi-rural suburb known for its 5,000 acres of county and state parkland just 30 miles from New York City.  Developers have put in a proposal to the planning board to build a 500,000 square foot retail development on the property of the Sheraton Crossroads hotel.  Residents protested to the board that the property was not the ideal spot for the development given the proximity to the merge of Routes 17 and 287 and its location in a nook of the Ramapo River, but also because of the history of toxic contamination on the property from the former Ford Motor Company’s automobile manufacturing activity. 

After several heated planning board meetings, Mahwah’s Environmental Commission suggested having an Environmental Impact Statement for the site prepared by Ramapo College students in Professor Michael Edelstein’s Environmental Assessment Capstone class.

An Environmental lmpact Statement (EIS) is a planning tool that helps to analyze the ecological, socio-economic,  and physical impacts that an action could have on the community.  Its purpose is to inform decision-makers of the potential short and long term impacts of an action whether it is a mall, a bridge, or a new gas pipeline.  An EIS will typically compare the impacts of four land use scenarios, one typically being a “no action” scenario, because properties in their current state can have costly impacts too.  In that case, a development could be beneficial.  Ramapo students were told to compare the current Crossroads retail proposal with a regional hospital, a 2,000 person residential development, and “no action.”

Usually a costly endeavor, the township decided that utilizing Ramapo College students would not only provide a fresh prospective but also identify areas that would need further investigation by a paid expert.  As in most Environmental Impact Statements, for every potential impact the students were to identify mitigations that could lessen the negative effects of a development on the property.  The mitigation section is the heart of an EIS, in that it provides an avenue to continue with a project but with more intelligent planning tools.

Environmental Impact: Traffic

So what did the students find?  One of the biggest threats they found was what citizen activists were worried about all along-–traffic.  There are six major issues that with any development, and particularly with the proposed retail mall, would worsen already congested conditions.  First, the section of the highway is already a bottle neck with two three lane highways, Route 17 and 287,  merging into one three-lane section with an immediate split to get onto New York State’s major highway,  the NY Thruway.  

All three of these highways are used as major commuter arteries; this section adjacent to the Sheraton Crossroads has extremely congested conditions on the southbound side during morning peak hours, and then during evening peak hours, the northbound side becomes backed up.   The area is even worse during the summer when vacationers headed to upstate New York create even more congestion, not to mention those headed south to the Jersey shore.  Not only will these main highways get more congested if a mall brings in more people, the side roads like Route 202 and Franklin Turnpike will receive more traffic by drivers trying to avoid the highway congestion.  

In addition, the new mall proposal has one entrance and exit to the property that will utilize the existing Mountainside exit that is the only access Stag Hill residents have to their homes.  At one public hearing, a Stag Hill resident said that even now she has issues getting her kids to soccer games and other after school activities during commuter traffic.  She also worries about emergency services having access to those residents.

The students believe any mitigation measure for the traffic problems would only be a bandaid; it would not eliminate the increased traffic.  The first and least expensive is increased mass transit options, and/or a shuttle bus that brings people from the surrounding train stations to the center.  Also, they suggest commuter lanes that would encourage more bus and carpool commuters.  The students also suggest building a fly-over entrance before the Mountainside exit to relieve those residents of more congestion but this would involve purchasing property from Suburban Propane and more construction costs.

Environmental Impact: Air Quality

Another impact that residents didn’t think of but is highly correlated to traffic increases is air quality.  Any increase in traffic volume will create an equal percent increase in carbon dioxide.  Carbon dioxide is a major contributor to ozone levels, and currently the Ramapo Mountain monitoring station indicates that the area is in exceedance of healthy levels.  Other hazardous pollutants accompanied with traffic are particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, VOCs, carbon monoxide, and hydrocarbons.  All of these pollutants increase the risk of asthma, birth defects and cancers.

An increase in visiting cars is one thing but if there is congestion, it is even worse.  In fact, an idling vehicle emits 29 times more pollution than a similar vehicle traveling at 30 miles per hour.  This would include the vehicles trying to find parking.  Even more, delivery trucks will emit carbon monoxide and soot, major contributors to asthma and asthma related deaths. 

Mitigations are similar for traffic issues, but the students suggest installing an air monitoring station to help encourage better practices and identify existing issues.  Also, enforcement of New Jersey’s Idling Law could help to reduce diesel engine pollutants.  More tree lined parking can also reduce the heat island effect that increases smog and ozone.

Environmental Impact: Water Quality

A third major impact that the students identified is tied to the Ramapo River that defines the eastern border of the property.  The Ramapo River is in a floodplain and contains riparian and wetland habitat.  Riparian buffers help to filter out pollutants, reduce erosion, and stabilize the river bank, which helps reduce flood damage.

Given this section of the river experiences severe flooding like that from Hurricane Irene last August, flood mitigation is important.  Wetlands also mitigate flood issues by slowing down the flow and storing excess water and releasing it in times of drought.  They also play a special role in filtering out contaminants, which is important because the Ramapo is the surface water source that feeds the Ramapo Sole Source Aquifer (SSA).  This aquifer system is dependent on the river for groundwater recharge, and is the only source of drinking water for several New Jersey towns including Mahwah, Ramsey, Oakland, Franklin Lakes, Allendale and Pompton Lakes.

The property is also directly within a groundwater recharge zone, and impervious surfaces from buildings and parking lots could prevent proper recharge of the aquifer.  Contamination of this sand and gravel aquifer would be a direct threat to human health because four public wells lie just downstream along the river.

Any development on this property would negatively affect the river because of the increased impervious surfaces that will pollute storm water that will be channeled to the river; pollutants like oils, anti-freeze, gasoline, litter, sand, salt, fertilizers, pesticides, pet droppings and suspended solids like litter and sediments.  Although wetlands filter out pollutants, they can accumulate and over run the wetlands' capacity.  The site’s storm water management plan makes use of dry detention basins which mostly filter out 80-90% of total suspended solids.  It also has a sand filter planned that will filter out some contaminants, and they require regular maintenance. 

The wetlands also support many unique species of plants and animals including a species of special concern, the Great Blue Heron.  Not far down river, there are is a state threatened species, the Wood Turtle, and a state endangered species, the Bobcat.  The parking lot altered water can disrupt the ecosystem from the bottom to the top and further stress these important species. 

The mitigation measures the students proposed to protect the river, aquifer, wetland habitats, and drinking water are as follows: First, pervious asphalt can be used which allows storm water to infiltrate the soil and recharge groundwater.  It can even filter out some contaminants.  Also, they suggest bio-retention basins, swales and rain gardens that use native plants that are good at filtering out certain pollutants, absorbing excess storm water, and allowing for water to percolate back to groundwater.  This use of vegetative basins filters more pollutants than traditional ones, and they provide food and habitat for migrating birds.  They also are plants typical of floodplains and wetlands which provide for continuity of the adjacent landscape, and could help ensure the success of native plant populations within these communities, further helping to combat invasive species that are typical of edge habitats and areas of development.

Another possible complication to the water-related issues is the presence of toxic contamination on the site.  Ford Motor Company operated what was its largest automotive plant for 25 years on this property, leading to several big cleanups after they closed in 1980.  Volatile Organic Compounds have contaminated the soil and groundwater, as well as lead-based paint sludge.  Most of it has been remediated, according to official documents, but groundwater contamination still exists below the site, at levels low enough to be left to natural remediation.

However, the students pointed out that given Ford’s reputation of illegal dumping and incomplete remedial actions, and the infancy of environmental regulation during remedial activities, there could be possible issues from contamination left on the site.  Further site investigation is recommended to help protect residents from release during construction.

The students also found that vapor intrusion from the VOCs in the groundwater is a real threat to nearby buildings.  The area where the contaminants are found is right where a movie theater and parking lot are proposed.  This means careful investigation is needed to determine if vapor intrusion is a threat to indoor air quality.  Mitigation measures include a vapor barrier and venting systems.

Other Environmental Impacts

The Ramapo College environmental students also considered issues of energy usage, visual impacts, and the psycho-social, cultural and historic impacts, especially those of the Ramapo Lenape people.  The Ramapo Mountain pass where the site resides has a long history of Indian inhabitants and is said to be a “meeting place,” which is the loose translation of the word Mahwah.  The students thought that it would be nice to include a community  center to pay tribute to the historical and cultural identity of the Rampoughs and that of the town as well.  They even suggested naming the complex, “The Meeting Place,” which would fit in with the developer’s idea of creating a “down-town feel” or “lifestyle center.” 

In addition, the students found that the big-box stores planned for the rear of the property near the river would negatively impact the view shed of the West Mahwah residents.  Their views would no longer be vegetation; it would include the unattractive loading dock of a big-box store. They would also have to deal with the loud loading and unloading of delivery trucks and their headlights at all hours of the night.  Mitigation measures suggested by the students are to move the big-box stores to the highway side of the property, and have the more beautifully designed and landscaped “lifestyle center” nearest to the residents.  They also suggest planting a vegetative barrier, specifically evergreen trees, so that it maintains effectiveness throughout the year.

More suggestions include solar panels on buildings or in parking lots to reduce heat and produce clean energy.   Additionally, using LED parking lot lamps with special covers to reduce light pollution and in the long run, save on electricity and maintenance costs.  The use of native plants for landscaping was suggested, and not just for the bio-retention basins.  Native plant usage reduces water, fertilizer and maintenance needs, but also eliminates the threat of invasive species infiltrating the valuable wetland and riparian river habitat nearby.  They also stressed the importance of an efficient waste cycling program with the goal being zero-waste, which seemed to intrigue the members of the Environmental Commission and residents at the public hearing presentation.

Public Hearing for Student Report

The public hearing was a success in the eyes of the residents that attended, and the Environmental Commission said that the students raised many questions and concerns that they didn’t think about themselves because the issues are not typically considered even though should be a part of intelligent planning.  The Environmental Commission is not the decision-makers in the process, but they are advisors to the Planning Board who are the decision-makers.  Members are preparing to present the top ten concerns to the planning board at their next meeting. From there, the board will decide whether they need to hire experts to do an official analysis. 

At the students’ final presentation at Mahwah’s Town Hall, to the dismay of the residents, the Mayor confirmed that he didn’t foresee the plans being denied by the planning board unless there was proof that the proposal will pose a direct threat to the health and safety of the community.  Although it may seem obvious that increased congestion and accidents, polluted waterways, air and groundwater, and exposure to toxic substances are all threats to health and safety, proving it within the letter of the law is another thing.  

It is now up to the persistence of community activists to keep pressure on the decision-makers to do what’s best for the community.  It has been their vigilance that most likely led the Mayor and the Environmental Commission to even consider listening to liberal, non-expert college students.  And what came out of it was a beautiful collaboration of the different facets of this community plus a fresh, idealistic look at sustainable planning and development.  In the end, the residents are happy and feel they have made an impact, and the decision-makers can now make informed decisions.  

Barbara Bodden is a senior at Ramapo College majoring in Environmental Studies.

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Project: Why Is It Allowed in Preserved Parkland?

By THOMAS BABCOCK

Ramapo Valley Reservation   (photo/Jan Barry)

Tennessee Gas Co. wants to build a pipeline that will tear through land that is reserved. The gas line project proposed to be built from Asylum, PA to Mahwah, NJ has a feeling of inevitability. This is one of  those things where the powers-that-be, I think, will have their way no matter what the general public has to say. One thing I have taken away from studying environmental issues is that the general public--especially the less wealthy--and environment play second fiddle to money and corporations. There’s hope, of course, that the people will stand up and say, no this isn’t happening. But, how many people will come to do that?

There obviously are serious concerns with the mega-million project, including damage to the pristine land--tearing through the Ramapo Reservation--and also the problems that come with fracking for natural gas for the pipeline. I wonder what is the point of reserving land if you’re going to destroy it anyway. Reservations are turning into layaways for companies. The same way department stores used to let customers put products on reserve to buy them at a later date, is what going on here. People and other businesses can’t build on this land. How strange that a gas-related project gets precedent over everything else.

The reason I say this feels like an inevitable project is because Tennessee Gas claims they are at capacity with their current gas line. This means they have little choice if they want to expand their business; and when it comes to business or the public’s concern, I think history has made it clear that business wins out more often than not. Much like how toxic sludge was left behind in poor neighborhoods, forests and riverbanks, people need to remember that businesses are businesses first and care what other people say second.

What I dislike the most about this project is that it would go through the Ramapo Reservation. It’s called a reservation for a reason. We’re supposed to reserve and cherish the beautiful land that we are quickly gutting for selfish and irresponsible reasons. I understand where the public outcry is coming from. If this were my backyard or hometown, I would feel the same way. 

Ford Motor Co. already ruined an unknown but very high number of lives, tainted several areas of watershed lands and stayed completely negligent about it for decades. Why are we going to allow another vehicle/gas related company come in and possibly further the damage even more? 

To appreciate just how nice that land is, you have to go up there and take a walk through the woods and check out the river. Then, you need to imagine what this land would look like all dug up. Then you need to also remember how the potential hazards could always be there.

What I would propose is some ingenuity in finding other ways. Anytime people can resort to not tearing apart land is a solution I can back. Much like the Ramapough who were very persistent--along with a team of activists and friends, they got the ball rolling in reporting what was going on with paint sludge. Those people got their story out and it lead to other towns' pollution being cleaned up. So now the public needs to stand up and say no to this pipeline project, before it’s too late.

Thomas Babcock hones his writing and critical thinking skills at Ramapo College. 

Experiential Journal: A Conversation with Ivy Payne

By Thomas Babcock


Ivy Payne spent most of her childhood running away from the stigma that followed her surname. Many within the Ramapough Lenape Nation, which she is a part of, have spent their lives unsuccessfully running away from the toxic sludge Ford Motor Co. notoriously left behind.

These are the micro and macro problems of a Ramapough tribe member.

Payne, who currently works at Ramapo College, is a graduate of Kaplan University, a mother of one and a proud member of the Ramapough Nation. She wasn’t always that way, however. Growing up, Payne remembers being stereotyped in high school, not by students, but faculty.

“I was prejudged in school by the teachers because of my last name," she said. "It made me so upset and resentful that I could not wait to graduate.”

Payne did not want to address the negative stereotypes, stating, “If I do talk about those things, it just keeps them alive. It’s better off to just dismiss them and not discuss it.”

She did, however, credit her Ramapough heritage with also having a positive impact on her childhood: “I grew up as a dancer in the tribe, which I did right up until I had my son seven years ago. We have a strong sense of community.”

The community of Rampough Indians is a group of about 5,000 people who reside in the Ramapo Mountains of northern New Jersey and southern New York. There is a history to the tribe being mistreated and discriminated against. The most famous example would be the lasting “toxic legacy” Ford Motor Co. has left, plaguing, arguably, countless lives.

During the 1960s, a Ford car factory in Mahwah, NJ dumped millions of gallons of paint sludge in a rural section of Ringwood, NJ that was populated predominately by the Ramapough. The after-effects of the dumping have caused many people who lived there to become sick, many fatally.

While Payne has not been directly affected, she knows many who have. “There’s a street where three people have died of kidney failure. My brother-in-law, who lived on that street, died out of the blue at the age of 21 from kidney problems," she recalled. "I also have a close friend who lives in Ringwood; she has a child with a rare muscle tone disease and we believe it was caused by the sludge. ”

And that is just a very small sample size.

Payne believes because that section of Ringwood was heavily Native American, it influenced the way Ford reacted to cleaning up the sludge once it became obvious problems were transpiring.

“I don’t think they really cared. Because the community wasn’t as wealthy or rich, to them it didn’t really matter. It‘s been a half-hearted response. It‘s really terrible.”

The situation did eventually warrant heavy media coverage, including the HBO documentary Mann V. Ford, which shows tribe member Wayne Mann’s fight for justice to be served. Payne believes news coverage has helped, but the problems still remain.

“The media definitely helped out, but a lot of the financial settlements provided by Ford were $3,000 or $5,000, which is not enough to cover the medical expenses these families have," she said. "My friend‘s son needed a rod to be placed in his back so he can breathe. That money was not enough for them.”

The frustrating part, for many, is the inability to pinpoint these problems to Ford’s toxic sludge. Even for Payne, who lives in nearby Hillburn, NY, there are anxieties about the uncertainty of who has been affected.

“It scares me, I’m too close to all of this with my son. He recently tested positive for lead in his system. We have no idea where it came from.”

Payne’s son is healthy now, but with a history of many becoming ill around her it’s easy to understand why she worries.This is something all Ramapough members living in the area have had to live with.

Being a Ramapough tribe member has heavily influenced Ivy Payne’s life, for better or worse. The negativity she received as a child for her name drove her to succeed in life to prove those people wrong. However, she will always have to live under the constant threat of sudden illness and being under-compensated financially, if one of her family members become sick from the toxic sludge.

Despite all of that, Payne wouldn’t trade her heritage or Ramapough upbringing for anything.

“It has made me who I am today.”

Solar Panels Spreading Across New Jersey

By JOSEPH PIANESE

Teaneck, NJ          (photo/Jan Barry)

The installation of solar panels in New Jersey ranks among the highest in the country and is set to continue to grow. Over the past couple of years, solar panels have exploded onto the Garden State landscape. They were most commonly seen in multiple-acre solar farms, on rooftops, and car ports. But now they quite likely line the streets of your local neighborhood.

Behind a majority of New Jersey’s solar energy projects is its largest utility provider, Public Service Gas and Electric (PSE&G). It is recognized by the Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA) as the nation’s third most solar connected utility, ranking behind only Pacific Gas and Electric in California and Florida Power and Light Company.

The same report by SEPA also shows that PSE&G ranks second nationally in providing solar watts per customer with 35.2 watts to over 2.1 million customers. The previous year PSE&G ranked only 11th, propelling nine places in just one year. In first is California- based Silicon Valley Power, which distributed 39.9 watts per customer but is a much smaller company and provides for a total of only 52,000 customers.

Another New Jersey company, Atlantic City Electric Company, is also on the list at ninth. New Jersey and California are the only two states in the country to have more than one utility company in the top ten, showing that New Jersey’s solar program is absolutely among the elite.

PSE&G is pursuing a two-track approach to developing 80 megawatts of grid connected solar power, which is the first and most comprehensive of its kind in the country. The projects are funded by a $515 million investment under a state mandate that by 2021 power providers receive 22.5% of their electricity from renewable sources.

The mandate is part of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan, which originated in 1977 and has seen periodic updates. The law requires a regularly updated plan to address the production, distribution, consumption, and conservation of electricity in New Jersey. The last update was in 2008 under Governor Jon S. Corzine, which put the solar program into effect, and went under analysis by the Christie Administration last year.

Magawatts from Solar Panels on Utility Poles

To meet the demands of the mandate, PSE&G launched its two track program called “Solar 4 All.” This program is backed by the company’s $515 million investment towards adding 80 megawatts to the grid through new solar farms, carports, and roof systems along with utility pole solar units. The total of 80 megawatts is to be evenly (50/50) distributed among different sources. On the first track lie solar farms, roof systems and carports, which together will add 40 megawatts to the grid. The second track is the installation of utility pole solar units throughout three-quarters of the entire state, which will also add an additional 40 megawatts. As of mid-September 2011, more than 44 megawatts were already in service.

Although solar panels provide the state with a renewable energy source, are they the best option? Especially with the utility pole attachments, which have created quite a stir among citizens in various PSE&G serviced towns, what are the solar panels providing, exactly?

Well, solar capacity more than doubled last year in the state and now totals approximately 305 megawatts, which is enough to power approximately 45,000 households. The Solar 4 All program alone, when completed, will provide enough power for another 13,000 homes.

The program has also led to the recycling of unused brown fields into green, energy producing solar farms. PSE&G alone operates three solar farms (Trenton, Silver Lake/Edison, and Linden) while another is being built in Hackensack. If the entire Solar 4 All program consisted of only solar farms, it would require 340 acres of land, or about 110 football fields, which brings to the point why solar panels are even being attached to local utility poles.

PSE&G is alleviating the process of purchasing large amounts of land, possibly wooded areas, to build solar farms by opting for the use of utility poles instead. It makes perfect sense. The company doesn’t have to buy any real estate at its customer’s expense because they already own the utility poles. By attaching solar panels, they generate electricity in a timely manner and of little expense to the customer that goes right into the local system rather than being concentrated in one offset area.

The utility company has received many complaints in regards to the solar panels popping up on local streets. Even Governor Chris Christie has called the plan to implement the panels “extremely aggressive.”

Many have called them “ugly” and “eyesores” and even requested that panels to be moved to a different pole.  The trouble with this is that moving the panels is very difficult due to the requirements of a pole to even be eligible to house one. Only a quarter of PSE&G’s 800,000 utility poles are eligible. The largest factor is if the panel is facing south and has the potential to reach as much sunlight as possible in order to generate the maximum amount of energy.

Despite the complaints of the panels being “too ugly,” they are providing the foundation for a larger network of clean and renewable energy in New Jersey. Whether or not the utility poles continue to be given more solar panels, the state is certainly headed in the right direction and will only provide a better, greener future.

Joseph Pianese is a junior at Ramapo College majoring in Communication Arts.

Experiential Journal: Anthony Cortese on Sustainability

By Joseph Pianese


          The lecture held in Friends Hall on April 12th was very interesting, to say the least. I had never heard of Anthony Cortese or Second Nature before, but it was easy to tell that this was a great organization pretty much right from the start. The way Cortese explained what “sustainability” is really changed my viewpoint on the whole subject. I always thought it was mostly, if not all, about the environment but he explained that it was really about being able to support a growing worldwide population.
          One of the most interesting points for me was when he explained how the human population is now big enough to be the biggest impacting factor on the planet. This alone was enough for me to agree that the issue of sustainability is of utmost importance.
          Another point made was that 25% of the world’s population uses 70% of the world’s resources. In order for the entire world to live like that 25%, it would require 5 planets. This statistic is just astounding. It’s pretty clear that the way the population is currently living is just not sustainable.
          Cortese explained that since the average cost of a gallon of gas is about $4, its really costing about $8-$12 when environmental impact, military intervention, health, military intervention, etc. is taken into account.
Another interesting point was that the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico costs money, and that money goes into the national GDP, making it seem like the national well-being is somehow rising when it isn’t. He explained that this type of system is not helping the world to see the true nature of the world’s sustainability.
          Overall, I think it was the best lecture we attended this semester. I definitely learned the most from this lecture, mostly because it was on something I was somewhat familiar about. I hope to see that Second Nature is able to fulfill its goals and that Ramapo College can meet its environmental goals as well.

Animals: Pertinent to Our Survival

By ALEXIS LOPEZ


In a time where IPhones and fast cars are celebrated more than natural things, it is safe to say that humans have drastically affected this planet. It is hard for people to remember that we were not always the superior species to walk this vast realm, but that before us Earth belonged to the animals.

Is it a scary statistic to learn that almost 99% of living organisms that were here when the Earth was created are no longer in existence. Every day, more and more of our beloved creatures are forced out of their homes and into extinction. Although oftentimes not a primary concern to most humans, there are plenty of reasons and statistics proving why they should be concerned.

Even in a basic environmental science class, you learn that all life forms have a purpose. Even still, some people have no regard or comprehension as to how even bacteria serve a purpose in keeping things going smoothly. Animals serve a superior meaning than just being cute and adorable and fun to look at behind glass. They are a key component in our survival and people should be very concerned about the growing numbers of animal extinction.

Alexa Baldecchi, a junior at Ramapo College, said that she understands that animals are important for the deeper reasons. “We rely on them to pollinate our foods, population control of other animals, and to maintain our ecosystem.”

Baldecchi also said that she is very concerned about the mistreatment of many habitats. A concern of hers is not only what the destruction will mean to one species, but also what it will mean for thousands of species including human life. Using the terminology of a “domino effect,” Baldecchi pointed out how everything is dependent on something else in some way.

Wildlife's Role in the Global Ecosystem

Our wildlife needs to remain robust and lively now and for years to come. Animals and other wildlife help to maintain the food chain and keep the ecosystem at a neutral place. If we so carelessly eliminate one species and think to ourselves, “it is just one species,” then we are not looking at the larger picture. Even destroying one species could have serious impacts on several others; and this is a large concern today.

Some scientists are concerned for reasons many people would not consider – an example: species and plants that have not yet been discovered that can serve for medicinal purposes. The continuing of habitat and species destruction could lead to irreversible damage to the well being of humans. Again, it is important to understand that all living things serve a purpose, sometimes even after they are not living anymore; and even more shockingly, animal feces.

There are certain organisms that actually ingest and recycle feces from other animals and depend on it to survive. This is a perfect example of how even the “littlest” things are important for the ecosystems of this planet. Everyone should get familiar with the three categories in which an ecosystem is divided into – producers, consumers, and decomposers.

Producers are the green plants that are supplementing our ecosystems. They serve many purposes, like providing air and food for other living organisms. Consumers are animals that according to www.nhptv.org, get their energy from producers. Already the two are connected. The third living organism category is the decomposers. They are the plants and animals that break down dead plants and animals into organic materials that are recycled back into the soil. In an ecosystem, nothing is to be wasted or used in vain. Survival is the common law, whereas humans forget this fact.

Although many components of this issue are beyond our control, there are still things that can presently be done to counteract destructive acts. Firstly, there are plenty of organizations that one can join to activate against the destroying of habitats and endangering of animals. Also, donations can be made to many organizations that support this cause. Additionally, it is important to be informed and help inform others. 

Truthfully, some people are just not aware of how bad the situation is and can get. Oftentimes, unless someone is looking for this type of information, it will not just fall into his or her lap. The more people that talk about this subject and bring it to the forefront, the better the chances are of a positive following.

It is never a wrong time to stand up against something that you feel strongly about. Some people are under the impression that you cannot support this cause if you don’t recycle every item, or compost your garbage, or use cloth diapers instead of store bought ones; however, that is factually false. Even the smallest of efforts can make big differences. Similarly, one good act or step towards preserving our creatures’ habitats can lead towards other causes.

“This is a cause I feel strongly about,” Baldecchi said. “I’m going to do some research, and see what I can do to help this cause, even if it’s just lecturing people.”

Alexis Lopez is a junior at Ramapo College majoring in Communication Arts with a focus on journalism.

Experiential Journal: Seeing Paint Sludge First Hand

By Alexis Lopez

Prof. Stead showing paint sludge in Hillburn
(photo/Jan Barry)

          For my experiential report, I want to talk about the trip we took to look at paint sludge from Ford’s dumping over thirty years ago. Even though this was technically “class time,” I want to talk about it as my course enrichment component because I felt more impacted by that short trip to Torne Valley in Hillburn, NY than I did listening to any of the speakers.
          Even though we’ve been taught about what happened all of those years ago, it was a totally different experience to view it first-hand in person. Seeing that alien substance in what should be a natural environment was disheartening. It is one thing to hear about it, but it’s a whole other ballgame to view it in person.
          When Professor Chuck Stead was describing how the men dumped the sludge from one site onto the one we were standing on, I could literally picture the men transporting this toxic material. Even though the men did not know the health issues it would cause them later in life, I am shocked that they had no regard to the health risks they were inflicting on the land and the organisms that live off of it.
          When I went home from our little “field trip,” I couldn’t stop telling my roommate all about it. That was how I knew that what I saw really affected me. I kept telling her what Ford did and how the effects are still very much lingering. I was pleased to see that she too was concerned and now I know why people like yourself and Chuck are so passionate about what you do. It was a nice feeling that someone could listen and comprehend and even for a moment feel how you’re feeling.
          I felt very sad to think that humans do such damage to natural beauty. I remember Chuck saying how there are sites like this one all over the United States and that statement did resonate with me. I think at that moment it hit me how bad it could be and how bad it could get. I loved how Chuck still never failed to mention “there’s always something you can do to help.”
          I am very glad that we went on this trip and even though I felt sad at times during this experience, I am thankful that I am not naive to the truths that are out there, and that I am more prepared having had gone to do my part in standing against it.