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Daily Archives: March 9, 2008

AP: Pharmaceuticals Found in Watersheds of 28 Major Metro Area

AP Investigation Details Pharmaceuticals Found in Watersheds of 28 Major Metro Area: “A vast array of pharmaceuticals — including antibiotics, anti-convulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones – have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans, an Associated Press investigation shows…the concentrations of these pharmaceuticals are tiny, measured in quantities of parts per billion or trillion, far below the levels of a medical dose. Also, utilities insist their water is safe…In the course of a five-month inquiry, the AP discovered that drugs have been detected in the drinking water supplies of 24 major metropolitan areas – from Southern California to Northern New Jersey, from Detroit to Louisville, Ky.”

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Building the World's First All "Green City"

Building the world’s cleanest city – In a Persian Gulf desert, a U.S. engineering firm drives clean tech forward: “If all goes according to plan, Masdar – financed with $15 billion in oil money – will become a showcase for smart urban planning, green building, renewable energy, sustainable materials and advanced recycling…” See the Masdar… Continue Reading

British Royal Society Report: International information sharing needed to prevent nuclear threats

News release, March 8, 2008: “Information about the characteristics of nuclear and other radioactive materials stored and used by countries needs to be shared globally to combat the illicit trafficking of nuclear materials and nuclear terrorism, says a report published by the Royal Society. The report which looks at the issues surrounding the detection of… Continue Reading

Street-View Image-Gathering Banned on Military Installations

News release: “A new Defense Department policy prohibits the commercial gathering of detailed street-view imagery on U.S. military bases and installations. U.S. Northern Command issued the policy message Feb. 28 after detailed images of Fort Sam Houston, in San Antonio, appeared on the Google Map Web site, said Navy Lt. Cmdr. Gary Ross, a NORTHCOM… Continue Reading

DOJ Opens Contract Fraud Rule Review

News release, March 6, 2008: “U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill…expressed her concern with a loophole included in a Bush Administration proposal that would exempt overseas federal contractors from being required to report criminal activity, including contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan. In a letter to Jim Nussle, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, McCaskill conveyed… Continue Reading

Salaries of Members of Congress: A List of Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2008

CRS Report: Payable Rates and Effective Dates, 1789-2008, Updated January 8, 2008. Ida A. Brudnick, Analyst in American National Government, Government and Finance Division. “Under the annual adjustment procedure, Members were scheduled to receive a 2.7% increase in January 2008. The increase was revised to 2.5%, resulting in a salary in 2008 of $169,300, to… Continue Reading

Request For Public Comment On Proposed Revisions To Code Of Conduct For United States Judges

News release: “The Committee on Codes of Conduct of the Judicial Conference of the United States seeks public comments on proposed revisions to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. The proposed revisions are based in large part on revisions adopted by the American Bar Association in February 2007, amending the ABA Model Code… Continue Reading

United States WatchList of Birds of Conservation Concern

News release: “The United States WatchList, a joint project between American Bird Conservancy and the National Audubon Society, reflects a comprehensive analysis of all the bird species in the United States. It reveals those in greatest need of immediate conservation attention to survive a convergence of environmental challenges, including habitat loss, invasive species, and global… Continue Reading