Asian leaders call for tougher measures vs air pollution (INQ7.net) YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia -- Asia's rapid economic expansion in the past decade has turned its skies into some of world's most polluted and is blamed for more than 500,000 premature deaths annually, delegates told a clean air conference. [News Source]

Governors hear talk on nuclear power.

Nuclear power must be considered as part of the effort to combat global warming, a panelist argued at a National Governors Association meeting in Wilmington on Wednesday.

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Drop in acid rain altering Appalachian stream water. Drops in acid rain may be changing biological activity in the Appalachian hardwood forests and hiking dissolved carbon dioxide in forest streams. [News Source]

Wayne businessman embarks on a mission for cleaner energy. Despite opposition from local officials at some of his proposals, Rob Burke is committed to transforming his carwash into a sustainable, eco-friendly operation. [News Source]

EPA gives state green light to enforce tough new smog rules for yard equipment. Catalytic converters have been used for years to curb smog-forming exhaust belched from vehicles, and on Jan. 1, the devices will make their debut on lawn mowers and other small engines. [News Source]

Salem’s ozone-level restrictions may be relaxed. State environmental officials might loosen emission restrictions on new or expanding large industrial facilities in Salem because ozone levels have not exceeded the federal standard in a decade. [News Source]

Alabama power using rate increase to improve environment. Alabama Power says part of its new 5.29 percent rate increase will be used to help the environment by paying for upgrades at the company's six coal plants. [News Source]

Va. panel orders power plants to cut components of smog. Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board voted unanimously last week to require by 2009 emission reductions in nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, both linked to smog, haze and acid rain. [News Source]

Ottawa cracks down on mercury in vehicles. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose has told junkyards and auto makers that they're going to have to remove all mercury light switches from millions of old cars before scrap metal from the vehicles can be recycled. [News Source]

Tories urged to get greener. Former prime minister Brian Mulroney urged the Conservative government to make substantial improvements on its environmental policies as he made a surprising return into the political debate Wednesday. [News Source]

Asian city air pollution data are released. A study of 20 major Asian cities shows hundreds of millions are breathing such heavily polluted air they are at risk for major health problems. [News Source]