{"id":322,"date":"2010-05-24T17:27:01","date_gmt":"2010-05-24T21:27:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/?p=322"},"modified":"2010-05-24T17:27:01","modified_gmt":"2010-05-24T21:27:01","slug":"center-for-biological-diversity-ocean-acidification-letter-to-epa-signed-by-over-60-organizations-and-40-members-of-congress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/2010\/05\/24\/center-for-biological-diversity-ocean-acidification-letter-to-epa-signed-by-over-60-organizations-and-40-members-of-congress\/","title":{"rendered":"Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean acidification letter to EPA signed by over 60 organizations and 40 members of Congress"},"content":{"rendered":"

Miyoko Sakashita of the Center for Biological Diversity advises us that a\u00a0group letter to the US EPA on ocean acidification has over 60 organization signatories.\u00a0 She noted that: It was wonderful to have everyone speak up on this important issue.\u00a0Below is a final version of the letter.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, 40 members of Congress also endorsed a letter to the EPA in support of action on ocean acidification.\u00a0 <\/em><\/p>\n

Here’s the letter:<\/p>\n

Planet 1 Ocean * 1Sky * 350.org * Alaska Center for the Environment American Fisheries Society * Blue Climate Solutions * Blue Frontier Campaign Blue Ocean Institute * California Coastkeeper Alliance * Campaign to Safeguard America\u2019s Waters * Caribbean Conservation Corporation * Casco Baykeeper Center for Biological Diversity * Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration Citizens Campaign for the Environment * Clean Ocean Action * Clean Water Action Climate Protection Campaign * Conservation Law Foundation * Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) * CORALations * Cry of the Water * Defenders of Wildlife * Earth Island Institute EcoLaw Massachusetts * Environmental Defense Center * Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) * Friends of the Earth * Global Exchange * Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice * Greenpeace USA * Gulf Restoration Network Hawaii Preparatory Academy * Humane Society of the United States * Humboldt Baykeeper International Center for Technology Assessment * International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute * International Rivers * KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance * Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center * Living Oceans Foundation Marine Conservation Biology Institute * Mass Audubon * Natural Resources Defense Center (NRDC) * Niijii Films producers of <\/span>A Sea Change * <\/span><\/span>Northcoast Environmental Center * Oceana * Ocean River Institute * Pacific Environment * Palm Beach County Reef Rescue * Rainforest Action Network * Reef Relief * Sailors for the Sea San Diego Coastkeeper * San Francisco Baykeeper * Santa Barbara Channelkeeper Snorkel Bob Foundation * Spirit of the Sage Council * SustainUS * Turtle Island Restoration Network * Waterkeeper Alliance * Western Nebraska Resources Council Wildcoast * Wild Fish Conservancy * Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation <\/span>May 21, 2010 <\/span><\/span><\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Clean Water Act Section 303(d):<\/p>\n

Notice of Call for Public Comment on 303(d) Program and Ocean Acidification<\/p>\n

Environmental Protection Agency<\/p>\n

1200 Constitution Ave., NW, Mailcode: 4503\u2013T<\/p>\n

Washington, DC 20460.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Re: Protect our oceans from acidification under the Clean Water Act<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>On behalf of our organizations and millions of members, we write to support the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taking action to address ocean acidification. Specifically, we urge the EPA to issue guidance to address ocean acidification under the Clean Water Act.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Protecting our oceans from the threat of ocean acidification<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>The world\u2019s oceans are becoming more acidic from absorbing carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere to the tune of 22 million tons each day. Surface waters have become 30% more acidic since the industrial age, and scientists predict that if carbon dioxide emissions continue unabated seawater acidity will increase 100-150% by the end of the century (<\/p>\n

Ocean acidification impairs the ability of marine animals \u2014 including corals, plankton, and shellfish \u2014 to build the protective shells they need to survive. Scientific evidence shows that ocean acidification may harm many marine organisms, and some of these impacts are already underway.<\/p>\n

Studies of certain corals, shellfish, and plankton show that they will have difficulty building and maintaining their structures under future conditions of acidification (<\/p>\n

Slower growth rates have already been observed in some corals, and many corals could be lost within a few decades due to global warming and acidification (<\/p>\n

Pacific Coast oyster hatcheries are experiencing difficulties that may be related to acidification, and two of the largest hatcheries report production rates down by as much as 80% (<\/p>\n

Some plankton are growing thinner and weaker shells in polar regions, which are more vulnerable to ocean acidification (<\/p>\n

Studies show that exposure of fish, squid, and other animals to future levels of ocean acidification may disrupt metabolism and other biological functions (<\/p>\n

Ocean acidification could have serious impacts on marine biodiversity, as well as the coastal communities and economies that depend on our oceans. The marine ecosystems threatened by ocean acidification provide valuable services ranging from fishing and shellfish harvesting to coastal tourism and protection. To prevent some of its worst consequences it is imperative that EPA take swift action to address ocean acidification.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Nature <\/span><\/span>437:681-686). Thus, ocean acidification is becoming one of the greatest threats to seawater quality. <\/span><\/span>Limnol. Oceanogr<\/span><\/span>. 54(6):2072\u20132080, <\/span><\/span>J. of Marine Sci. <\/span><\/span>65: 414\u2013432, <\/span><\/span>Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst<\/span><\/span>. 10:Q07005). <\/span><\/span>Science <\/span><\/span>323:116-119<\/span><\/span>, Marine Pollution Bull. <\/span><\/span>58:1428-1436). <\/span><\/span>PLoS ONE <\/span><\/span>4(5):e5661). <\/span><\/span>Nature Geosci. <\/span><\/span>2:276-280). <\/span><\/span>J. of Oceanogr. <\/span><\/span>60:705-718; <\/span><\/span>PNAS <\/span><\/span>105:20776-20780; <\/span><\/span>J. of Oceanogr. <\/span><\/span>60:731-741). <\/span><\/span>EPA leadership and guidance on ocean acidification is needed<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>We support EPA implementing the Clean Water Act to address ocean acidification. The Clean Water Act\u2019s objective is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the nation’s waters. It has successfully reduced water pollution and must be fully employed to address ocean acidification. Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act is well suited to address ocean acidification because it was designed for water pollution problems originating from various sources, including the atmosphere.<\/p>\n

EPA should direct prompt action while such efforts can still avert the worst impacts of ocean acidification. Under the Clean Water Act, EPA can and should develop a framework coordinating state and federal action to prevent ocean acidification. Specifically, we urge EPA to:<\/p>\n

Issue guidance on how to address ocean acidification under the Clean Water Act, including precautionary strategies for addressing this water quality problem.<\/p>\n

Work with states to ensure the use of the best available science on ocean acidification when establishing water quality standards, identifying threatened and impaired waters, and calculating and implementing total maximum daily loads.<\/p>\n

Provide guidance for state, tribal, and territorial governments on how to monitor ocean acidification and its ecological consequences; as well as promote management and adaptation planning for coastal and marine areas.<\/p>\n

EPA guidance would fulfill a critical need because as ocean acidification becomes more severe, all coastal regions will have to confront its impacts. Ocean acidification is already becoming apparent in vulnerable regions, including the entire West Coast, Alaska\u2019s productive waters, and the Caribbean, which could soon threaten Florida\u2019s coral reefs (<\/p>\n

EPA action is needed to protect our coasts and oceans from the alarming impacts of ocean acidification. Moreover, approaches to ocean acidification under the Clean Water Act can and will complement local, state, and federal efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. We thank you again for your leadership on environmental issues and support EPA\u2019s efforts to protect America\u2019s oceans and coasts from ocean acidification.<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>Science <\/span><\/span>320:1490-92, <\/span><\/span>Oceanogr. <\/span><\/span>22: 160-171, <\/span><\/span>J. of Geophys. Res. <\/span><\/span>113:C10031). EPA guidance should inform strategic responses to ocean acidification. <\/span><\/span>Most sincerely,<\/p>\n

<\/span>David Guggenheim, Ph.D., President 1 Planet 1 Ocean<\/p>\n

Gillian Caldwell, Executive Director 1Sky<\/p>\n

May Boeve 350.org<\/p>\n

Toby Smith, Executive Director Alaska Center for the Environment<\/p>\n

Gus Rassam, PhD, Executive Director American Fisheries Society (AFS)<\/p>\n

Steven Lutz, Executive Director Blue Climate Solutions<\/p>\n

David Helvarg, President Blue Frontier Campaign<\/p>\n

Carl Safina, Ph.D., President Blue Ocean Institute<\/p>\n

Sara Aminzadeh, Programs Manager California Coastkeeper Alliance<\/p>\n

Gershon Cohen Ph.D., Project Director Campaign to Safeguard America\u2019s Waters Project of Earth Island Institute<\/p>\n

David Godfrey, Executive Director Caribbean Conservation Corporation<\/p>\n

Joe Payne Casco Baykeeper<\/p>\n

Miyoko Sakashita, Oceans Director Center for Biological Diversity<\/p>\n

Andrew J. Gunther, Ph.D., Executive Director Center for Ecosystem Management and Restoration<\/p>\n

Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director Citizens Campaign for the Environment<\/p>\n

Cindy Zipf, Executive Director Clean Ocean Action<\/p>\n

John DeCock, President Clean Water Action<\/p>\n

Mike Sandler, Co-Founder Climate Protection Campaign<\/p>\n

Christopher M. Kilian, Vice President Conservation Law Foundation.<\/p>\n

Brian Huse, Executive Director Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL)<\/p>\n

Mary Ann Lucking, Director CORALations<\/p>\n

Stephanie Clark Cry of the Water<\/p>\n

Noah Matson, Vice President for Climate Change and Natural Resources Adaptation Defenders of Wildlife<\/p>\n

John A. Knox, Executive Director Earth Island Institute<\/p>\n

Margaret E. Sheehan, Partner EcoLaw Massachusetts<\/p>\n

Linda Krop, Chief Counsel Environmental Defense Center<\/p>\n

Scott Greacen, Executive Director EPIC – the Environmental Protection Information Center<\/p>\n

Bradley Angel, Executive Director Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice<\/p>\n

Marcie Keever, Clean Vessels Campaign Director Friends of the Earth<\/p>\n

Kirsten Moller, Executive Director Global Exchange<\/p>\n

Damon Moglen, Global Warming Campaign Director Greenpeace USA<\/p>\n

Cyn Sarthou, Executive Director Gulf Restoration Network<\/p>\n

Marc R. Rice Director, Science and Technology Hawaii Preparatory Academy<\/p>\n

John W. Grandy, Ph.D., Senior Vice President Humane Society of the United States<\/p>\n

Pete Nichols Humboldt Baykeeper<\/p>\n

Andrew Kimbrell, Executive Director International Center for Technology Assessment<\/p>\n

David Phillips, Director International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute<\/p>\n

Payal Parekh, Climate Scientist International Rivers<\/p>\n

Marti Townsend, Program Director KAHEA: The Hawaiian-Environmental Alliance<\/p>\n

Lesley Adams, Rogue Riverkeeper Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center Philip G. Renaud, Executive Director Living Oceans Foundation<\/p>\n

John Guinotte, Ph.D., Marine Biogeographer Marine Conservation Biology Institute<\/p>\n

John J. Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations Mass Audubon<\/p>\n

Bradford H. Sewell, Senior Attorney Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)<\/p>\n

Barbara Ettinger, Director Niijii Films, Inc. producers of<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span>A Sea Change: Imagine a World without Fish <\/span><\/span>Tara Stetz Northcoast Environmental Center<\/p>\n

Jeff Short, Pacific Science Director Oceana<\/p>\n

Rob Moir, PhD, Executive Director Ocean River Institute<\/p>\n

David Gordon, Executive Director Pacific Environment<\/p>\n

Ed Tichenor, Director Palm Beach Reef Rescue<\/p>\n

Rebecca Tarbotton, Acting Executive Director Rainforest Action Network<\/p>\n

Paul G. Johnson, State Programs & Policy Director Reef Relief<\/p>\n

Dan Pingaro, CEO Sailors for the Sea<\/p>\n

Jill Witkowski San Diego Coastkeeper<\/p>\n

Jason Flanders San Francisco Baykeeper<\/p>\n

Kira Redmond, Executive Director Santa Barbara Channelkeeper<\/p>\n

Robert Wintner Snorkel Bob Foundation<\/p>\n

Leeona Klippstein, Executive Director Spirit of the Sage Council<\/p>\n

Kyle Gracey, Chair SustainUS<\/p>\n

Teri Shore, Program Director Turtle Island Restoration Network<\/p>\n

Kristine Stratton, Executive Director Waterkeeper Alliance<\/p>\n

Buffalo Bruce, Staff Ecologist Western Nebraska Resources Council<\/p>\n

Serge Dedina, Executive Director Wildcoast<\/p>\n

Kurt Beardslee, Executive Director Wild Fish Conservancy<\/p>\n

Scott Black Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Miyoko Sakashita of the Center for Biological Diversity advises us that a\u00a0group letter to the US EPA on ocean acidification has over 60 organization signatories.\u00a0 She noted that: It was wonderful to have everyone speak up on this important issue.\u00a0Below is a final version of the letter.\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, 40 members of Congress also endorsed a … Continue reading Center for Biological Diversity: Ocean acidification letter to EPA signed by over 60 organizations and 40 members of Congress<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-posts"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=322"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":323,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/322\/revisions\/323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.reefrelieffounders.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}