Heat pumps to replace burners and open fires (Scoop.co.nz) Heat pumps to replace burners and open fires and reduce Timaru air pollution Environment Canterbury will provide funding for an initiative by Line Trust South Canterbury to run a heat pump project in Timaru this winter. [News Source]

Petition falls on deaf ears (The Star Online) THREE months have passed since a petition on noise and air pollution was sent to the Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) and, so far, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. [News Source]

Pollution In People. Each of ten people tested in Washington state for contaminants tested had at least 26 and as many as 39 toxic chemicals in his or her body. [News Source]

Finally feeling the heat. Based on the data I'm now switching sides regarding global warming, from skeptic to convert. [News Source]

Valley deserves protection from toxic chemical. At a hearing Thursday in Sacramento, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) will consider how to deal statewide with perc in dry cleaning. Unfortunately, CARB does not take this problem seriously enough. [News Source]

Keep mercury emissions in check. To its credit, Georgia is one of nine states considering stricter mercury controls that would exceed the federal mandates. [News Source]

Proposed liquefied gas projects. The West Coast's increasing appetite for natural gas has led to proposals for five California receiving points, including one as yet unspecified location off the north coast. [News Source]

Chemical spill near downtown St.Paul leads to tense moments. Police and fire crews blocked off roads along the riverfront and evacuated workers from several businesses. There was concern that the toxic hydrochloric acid gas might drift into nearby neighborhoods. [News Source]

Acid leak contained. Hydrochloric acid leaked Tuesday from a rail car outside a plant east of downtown St. Paul, prompting an evacuation of nearby buildings and forcing six people to go through a hospital decontamination chamber. [News Source]

PGE plant contributes to haze in three states, study shows. A new federal study shows that a coal-burning power plant in Eastern Oregon causes pollution in 10 protected parks and wilderness areas, spanning three states. [News Source]

Warming trend also breeds ozone. While residents look forward to warm weather and sunshine, they also need to beware that the air they breathe may not be clean. [News Source]