Historic ‘mercury and air toxics standards’ meet 20-year old requirement to cut dangerous smokestack emissions

Actions by the Environmental Protection Agency to set emission standards for power plants to reduce mercury and other toxic pollutants will result in healthier lakes, streams and fish.

EPA estimates that “the new safeguards will prevent as many as 11,000 premature deaths and 4,700 heart attacks a year. The standards will also help America’s children grow up healthier – preventing 130,000 cases of childhood asthma symptoms and about 6,300 fewer cases of acute bronchitis among children each year.”
Mercury and other power plant emissions damage our environment. These compounds pollute our nation’s lakes and streams poisoning fish and the people and animals that rely on them for food. Other power plant emissions such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) can react in the atmosphere to form a haze of fine particle pollution and smog that reduces visibility in our nation’s scenic vistas and treasured national parks, and damages sensitive natural ecosystems.

The final Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) will significantly reduce power plant mercury emissions. The equipment used to comply with MATS will also reduce emissions of SO2 and directly emitted fine particle pollution.

Emissions of SO2 from power plants can react in the environment to form weak acids that fall to earth as rain, fog, snow, or dry particles. They can cause lakes and streams to become acidic and unsuitable for many fish, damage forests, and cause deterioration of cars, buildings, and historical monuments. Sulfur deposition may also increase the rate of mercury methylation and the impact of mercury poisoning on fish and wildlife.

Once mercury from the air reaches water, microorganisms can change it into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish. As larger fish eat many smaller fish, mercury concentrations increase in their body tissues. Mercury contamination affects populations of numerous fish species – trout, bass, salmon and others. Waterfowl and mammals that eat fish, including loons and otters, and songbirds, bats, and amphibians that feed on insects can be exposed to high levels of mercury. Birds and animals suffering from mercury exposure behave differently and have less reproductive success. Over time, these new emission standards will help reduce the levels of mercury in fish.

Sportsmen and women played a major role in calling for these changes in the way we treat the environment. Clean air and water are the basis for the quality of life we enjoy and strive to preserve for our descendants.

Thank you for your support.

NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.

Happy Holidays

If you put E-15 in your boat, beware the consequences

By: Frank Sargeant, B.A.S.S. Times

Dec 14, 2011

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — Understand upfront that proponents of E-15 gasoline, containing up to 15 percent ethanol, are not pitching the fuel as suitable for marine engines. In fact, it is a violation of federal law to use it for that purpose.

But E-15 is probably coming soon to a pump near you. Suppose you have a brain infarction and fill your boat with the stuff, which is just the push of a button away.

Not a good thing, based on tests concluded in June by Mercury Marine for the U.S. Department of Energy. Two of three outboards run on E-15 in Merc’s standard 300-hour, full-throttle endurance test failed to complete the run and showed severe internal damage, according to David Hilbert, thermodynamic development engineer for Mercury.

A 300-horsepower Verado experienced three damaged exhaust valves near the end of the E-15 run. Hilbert said the damage likely was caused by operating temperatures considerably higher than those recorded in a similar engine run in the same test on ethanol-free gasoline.

And a 200-horse 2.5 EFI 2-stroke in the test had to be shut down after 256 hours because of bearing failure. Hilbert said more testing would be required to determine if ethanol in the fuel caused a reduction in effective lubrication and brought on the failure, but an identical engine run on standard gasoline had no similar issues throughout the 300-hour run.

Martin Peters at Yamaha agreed that E-15 must not be used in any of the company’s outboards, but he reiterates that E-10 is fine for all late-model motors.

“Accidental one-time use of E-15 will not void your Yamaha warranty,” said Peters. “But for sure, it’s not a fuel you would ever put in your boat on purpose.”

Bottom line is that, while E-10 is acceptable as a fuel for all modern outboards, E-15 is not.

Note that the tests involved fresh fuel used immediately. They did not take into account the issues ethanol causes when it sits for weeks or months in a fuel tank and absorbs condensed water. Nor did they consider the accumulation of dissolved solids that might clog a fuel system.

In fact, the best gasoline for your outboard has no ethanol, and some states still allow service stations to stock straight gasoline. In Alabama, for example, gas stations advertising ethanol-free gasoline generate long lines of bass anglers on weekends.

Floridais considering a rule that would allow service stations to sell gasoline without ethanol, thus letting market demand control the amount of ethanol drivers choose to use. The state’s Senate Communications, Energy and Public Utilities Committee recently voted 10-1 to approve SB 238,which would end the ethanol requirement that has been in place since 2008.

Ethanol alternative

Jeff Wasil, engineering tech expert at Evinrude/BRP, said the company has been involved in recent tests of butanol, a biofuel created from fermentation similar to ethanol, but with fewer issues in outboard engines.

“Butanol is much less likely to create phase separation with water in fuel tanks, and it’s not nearly as likely to dissolve varnish and other sediment in tanks and lines,” said Wasil. “Plus, it can be transported by pipeline, just like petroleum fuels, so the cost of getting it to a blending facility will be lower. Ethanol causes corrosion issues in most pipelines.”

Wasil said butanol can be used in higher concentrations (up to 16.1 percent) in gasoline mixes while delivering the same performance as 10 percent ethanol fuels.

“It’s still more expensive to make than ethanol, but improvements in technology are bringing prices down, and several ethanol plants are being converted to butanol,” he said. “We’re likely to see more of this product in the future.”

The final event for the 2011 Five County Bassmasters season took place on November 19th 2011 on beautiful Kerr Lake. A cool start to the morning greeted the anglers, but the cold temps didn’t stop the fish from biting as several anglers brought a limit of largemouth to the scales.

Grabbing another late fall win on Kerr was Tim Gardner. Tim bagged a solid five fish limit worth 13.92 lbs which also included the lunker for the event at 4.94 lbs. Keying in on rocky points near the main lake, Gardner used a couple variations of crankbaits to cover both shallow and deep water searching for fish feeding on nearby shad.

Following in the second position was Ed Collier with a five fish limit tipping the scales at 13.07 lbs. Joey Worley nailed down the third spot with his five fish limit weighing 12.31 lbs. Finishing in the fourth position was Jeff Narron with five fish worth 11.76 lbs. Andy Evans rounded out the top five with yet another five fish limit giving him a total of 10.15 lbs. Another notable five-fish limit included Wayne Worley with his sixth place finish where he was able to bring 8.04 lbs to the scales while fishing in the rear of the boat, behind third place Joey Worley.

With his win and bonus points collected from the event lunker, Tim Gardner vaulted himself from third place in points into a tie with Ed Collier for Angler Of The Year awards. Congratulations to you both on your accomplishment!!!

Clean Water Act Protections Under Attack

Take Action!

Duck hunters and anglers know the value of wetlands, and streams.  These places provide the opportunity for sportsmen to hunt and fish and enjoy our outdoor sporting heritage and traditions.
Immediate action is needed to stop an amendment to the federal Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill (HR 2354) that bars the Corps of Engineers from restoring longstanding Clean Water Act protections to isolated water bodies and wetlands that are critically important to fish and wildlife resources.  This disabling amendment also erodes the Corps’ ability to clarify the Clean Water Act’s jurisdiction to include these valuable isolated water bodies and wetlands under protections of the Act.
Isolated water bodies and associated wetlands provide habitat for waterfowl, woodcock, fish, and furbearers and enable sportsmen and women to enjoy the outdoor traditions of fishing, hunting, canoeing and wildlife watching.  North Carolina is blessed with an abundance of riverine and estuarine waters and wetlands.  The Clean Water Act protects them.  We need to continue this strong stewardship of protecting our natural resources for now and into the future.
From the Smokies to the Outer Banks, streams, wetlands and the wildlife that call them home contribute to the state’s treasured landscape.  They also contribute to our outdoor recreation economy.  In 2006, residents and non-residents spent $2.7 billion on hunting, fishing and other wildlife-related recreation in North Carolina.
Please TAKE ACTION NOW and urge Senators Burr and Hagan to protect hunting and fishing by voting NO on crippling amendments to HR 2354.
The House passed HR 2354 on July 15, 2011 with a similar provision prohibiting funds to be used by the Corps to restore Clean Water Act protections.  So, if the Senate adopts this harmful amendment too, the provision has a good chance of becoming law, to the detriment of our streams, wetlands, and fish and wildlife.
Now, more than ever, North Carolina needs Clean Water Act protections clarified and applied to ensure the health and prosperity of our people, our economy and our natural resources.

NC Camo Coalition is a project of the NC Wildlife Federation.

Story: Randy Parker (Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club Director)

Six members of the Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club competed in the NC State Youth Tournament October 29 at High Rock Lake.

Kevin Peppers, Drew Honeycutt, Ethan Howard, Max Prince, Brock Johnson, Hunter Mizeur.

Max, Brock, and Ethan all fished in our Five County Bassmasters club tournament at Kerr Lake in September.

For Kevin, Drew, and Hunter this was their first bass tournament. Brock, Kevin, and Max weighed in one fish each.

Ethan and his father went down Friday. The rest of us left the Clayton Walmart at 3 AM for our trip to High Rock. Kevin plays football for Clayton. They had a game Friday night and then got about an hour of sleep and fished a 7 hour tournament. That shows his passion for the sport.

Conditions were less than ideal. It rained steady up until blastoff. Air temps were in low 40’s and about midday winds picked up to 10-15 mph

• Brock caught his on spinnerbait
• Max on shakey head
• Kevin on crankbait

The Clayton High B.A.S.S. Club is part of the Five County Bassmasters.

How four anglers juggle careers and their pursuit of the Classic trophy

It takes a lot of planning ahead to climb the Classic ladder

By John Neporadny Jr., B.A.S.S. Times

Oct 13, 2011

If there was a ladder that could lead you directly to the Bassmaster Classic stage in contention for the trophy, would you climb it? Of course you would!

For many bass anglers, the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation is that ladder.

Although some Federation Nation anglers strive to turn pro someday, others such as Tom Jessop, Brian Maloney, Joe Matt and Chuck Murray have succeeded at keeping a full-time job and qualifying multiple times for the Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. These four amateur anglers offer the following tips on how to keep your day job and consistently go deep into the Federation Nation postseason.

Chuck Murray emphasizes that having your family support your fishing habit is essential to moving up in B.A.S.S. Federation Nation competition

#1

Juggle your schedule.

Jessop, a member of the Texas B.A.S.S. Federation Nation, is a self-employed cattle buyer and runner who does some of his work on the evenings of the tournaments. “I do a lot of my business over the phone on-site,” said Jessop. “When I get done with a tournament, though, I am completely exhausted because I am trying to keep up with what is going on at work.”

Jessop will get to experience that exhaustion again next month during the 2011 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. There, he’ll compete against eight other anglers in his division for a spot in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River.

Like Jessop, New York B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member Joe Matt also has to plan ahead to allow for his part-time fishing career. As a funeral director, Matt can build up some comp time that he saves for Federation Nation postseason events. “I do have a little bit of a flexible schedule, but it is not as easy as it looks,” he said. “I put in tons and tons of hours when I am not fishing, especially in the wintertime when I cover the business pretty much 24/7.”

#2

Gain family support.

“Having your wife’s support is the No. 1 thing,” said Matt. “I try to incorporate some of the tournaments such as the championship as a vacation for my family. It’s a nice reward for them. I will also go up ahead of time at the divisional and take one of my sons with me to practice.”

Serving as finance director for Franklin County, N.C., has allowed North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member Chuck Murray to build up five weeks of vacation. “Four of those are spent fishing, and my wife is very supportive of this,” said Murray, who does work out a compromise with his vacation time. “One week I definitely have to spend at the beach.”

Murray won the North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Eastern Regional/State Championship in spring 2011, qualifying him for the 2012 Bassmaster Federation Nation Southern Divisional presented by Yamaha and Skeeter. That means at least one week of next year’s vacation will go toward competitive fishing, and if he does well there, he’ll need another week for the Federation Nation Championship. His wife may need to consider booking the family’s time at the beach now to block out that time on Murray’s calendar!

#3

Do your homework.

After working as an AT&T design engineer by day, Brian Maloney spends his free time in the evenings searching the Internet, reading maps and consulting his diary to gather as much information as he can about his next tournament destination. “You can eliminate so much more by the time you get there,” said the Missouri B.A.S.S. Federation Nation member.

Maloney said he also avoids listening to dock talk and advice from local experts on what they would do. “That is what they would do,” he said. “My success in divisionals has been fishing my strengths and not getting wrapped up in having to throw this type of bait or work that type of area.”

Researching fisheries also gives Jessop a head start for his postseason practices. “I read a lot on anything that I can find out about a lake, its past history and tournaments and what part of the lake is usually best,” said Jessop.

Yearly Event Has Multiple Benefits

The annual Take A Kid Fishin’ Day event recently took place on October 1st near Louisburg, NC. Intended as a fund raising event for the Franklin County (NC) Community Foundation, this event serves as more than just a platform for generating grant money for area non-profits, it is also an opportunity for our future outdoor enthusiast to enjoy a day of great fishing and family fun.

Located on Mort Harris road, the property is covered with multiple ponds that allow the individuals to spread out and enjoy their own personal time of fishing enjoyment. The private location is only open to the public once per year for this event and usually draws a good crown of anxious locals dreaming of an opportunity at a “Mort Harris Monster”. Many anglers look forward to the chance at hooking one of the “Big Ones”, but most are just as happy to enjoy the offerings of many species of fish from these beautiful ponds.

As an incentive to introduce a child to the sport of fishing, each team competing in the event was required to consist of one adult and at least one child. Two children per team were allowed. Prizes for the largest Bass, Sunfish, Crappie, Catfish, and most fish total were awarded. All fish were weighed using equipment from local North Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation Nation (NCBFN) clubs. The NCBFN set up multiple weigh stations around the ponds for easy access for the participants. Each team was provided with a weigh bag so that all fish could be brought to the weigh stations alive, weighed, and then released back into the water.

Story From: Bassfan.com

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently allowing fuel companies to increase the amount of ethanol found in gasoline from 10% to 15%, the move could mean more damaged boat engines for unsuspecting owners who use the fuel. Ethanol increases the acidity of the fuel, which in older boats and motors can dissolve fuel tanks and lines, which can in turn ultimately damage, clog and stall engines.

A recent survey conducted by AnglerSurvey.com found most anglers who boat were unaware of the increase in ethanol and the threat the change poses. Asked if they were aware of the increase in permissible ethanol levels, 55.9% of respondents said “no,” while only 41.2% reported being aware of the change.

Asked if they agreed with the change, nearly 60% said “no.” Virtually the same amount of those surveyed said the amount of permissible ethanol should be reduced back to 10%.

“It is important that boaters educate themselves on the specific damage fuels mixed with ethanol can pose to certain boat motors and take steps to minimize harm to their engines,” said Rob Southwick, president of the company that designs and conducts surveys at AnglerSurvey.com, HunterSurvey.com and ShooterSurvey.com. “Many boaters will simply want to avoid using fuels that include the higher percentage of ethanol and need to pay attention when fueling.”

To check out several articles on ethanol at BoatUS.com, click here.

(L to R: Hayes, Barnes, Collier, Evans, Joyner. Kneeling: Howard)

Danny Hayes showed yet another dominating performance at event number five for the Five County Bassmasters. Originally scheduled for the Tar/Pamlico rivers, the event was moved to Kerr Lake due to the affects of hurricane Irene on the NC coastal rivers. Hayes and team partner Eugene Barnes took home the top spot with a five fish limit of 13.10 pounds. Their kicker fish of 3.29 pounds earned Hayes five bonus points for angler of the year standings. Hayes stated that most of their fish came off of windy points early in the day using top water lures. Once the wind calmed and the top water bite dwindled the team quickly moved to deeper points with stumps.

Taking home the second position with 9.99 pounds was Ed Collier and rookie partner Ethan Howard. Collier noted that the team caught multiple fish throughout the day and was able to cull and upgrade a few different times. Collier also stated that his young partner settled in very nicely and was able to contribute several fish to the teams overall weight. I think we can all look to see Ethan at future events and hopefully as part of our youth club.

Finishing in the third position was the team of Wayne Joyner and Andy Evans with 8.98 pounds. Evans stated that the loss of two quality fish cost the duo some additional weight and at least the runner-up position for the event.

Filling the fourth position was the pairing of Randy Parker and his rookie partner Brock Johnson. Parker and Johnson netted 8.64 pounds for their effort with Johnson contributing to the catch also. Johnson is currently a member of our youth club with Parker being the youth director. Obviously Randy is doing a great job of mentoring to these youth anglers considering the initial performance and the introduction of current youth members Brock Johnson and Max Prince to our club events.

Rounding out the top five included the team of Jeff Narron and Jason Skinner. Narron and Skinner were able to bring 8.18 pounds to the scales for the event.

With only one event remaining in the season the points battle has really tightened up. Jeff Narron and Ed Collier are now tied for the top spot with 459 points each. Tim Gardner follows in the third position with 449 points. Curtis Johnson sits in the fourth position with 445 points and Randy Parker holds the fifth spot with 439 points but is followed very closely by Scottie Braswell in sixth spot with 436 points. Each of these anglers have a mathematical shot at the angler of the year race going into the final event making for one great finish to the season.

Update From NC Wildlife Biologist Chad Tomas:

Oxygen levels continue to remain at 0 milligrams per liter in most of our coastal systems. The fish kills are ending, as most fish within the impacted areas have now died. Decomposition at these water temperatures occurs quickly, and carcasses will be less frequently observed by boaters. Return to normal oxygen levels will only occur as water temperatures cool, and/or if we get some rain (but not tropical storm amounts) to help push the dead water out of the systems. We anticipate this may take several more weeks. We are monitoring the gauges on the Roanoke, and NC State has employed water quality monitors on a few creeks. As oxygen conditions begin a return to more normal conditions I will let you know. In the meantime, anglers should be advised that if they launch in areas where dissolved oxygen levels are very low, and then travel significant distances (or to other systems) to catch fish, any fish released back at the launch will likely die within a few hours. Hopefully fall will come quickly and the major portions of our rivers will be inhabitable by fish again. Our staff will begin post-hurricane fish sampling in late October.