• Complete Rice Genome Published Online
  
• Reid: Nuclear Shipping Containers Not Adequately Tested
  
• Judge Bars New Road in Montana Wilderness
  
• California Condors Could Produce Historic Hatchling
  
• $3 Million Buys Wetlands for Waterfowl
  
• Two More Nuclear Plants Boost Power Output
  
• Wasting Disease Spreads in Western States
  
• Gulf Fishing Charters to be Restricted
  
• Court Supports Restrictions on Endangered Species Imports
  
• Alaska Dam Removal Allows Fish Passage
  

Complete Rice Genome Published Online

A report on the work by two University of Washington (UW) researchers - Dr. Jun Yu, an American, and Dr. Gane Ka-Shu Wong, a Canadian - and a major new genome sequencing center in China appears in today's issue of the journal "Science." The Chinese center is making the complete genome sequence of the indica rice strain available to the public.

Another "Science" report details work on the rice genome performed at Sygenta, a biotechnology and agribusiness company. The gene sequence for japonica is available through Sygenta

The journal "Science" features the release of the complete rice genome on the cover of today's issue. (Image © Science)

Rice is a staple for more than half of the world's population. According to a national survey, cereal grains account for 67 percent of the energy intake in the Chinese diet. Yu said that rice accounts for 40 percent of the grains grown in China.

Rice has the smallest genome among the major cereal crops, and is expected to be a model for other common cereal crops, including corn and wheat, whose genomes are six to 40 times larger than rice.

Scientists say that their findings may translate into better crops that could someday help fight world hunger.

The genetic code behind rice "will speed improvements in nutritional quality, crop yield and sustainable agriculture to meet the world's growing needs," said Donald Kennedy, editor in chief of "Science."

Genetic information about rice may also set the stage for hardier, more pest resistant crops, and help improve the cereal's usefulness for brick construction, water filtration and various other uses, added Stephen Goff and colleagues at Syngenta.

The Syngenta team searched for signs of any transfer of genes between the rice and human genomes, which has become a concern since laboratories have begun genetically modifying the rice genome. Although rice and humans do share some sequence data, "there was no evidence to indicate that these genes or any genetic material had been laterally transferred to humans or human ancestors," suggesting that gene transfer from genetically modified rice would be unlikely, Goff's team said.

Reid: Nuclear Shipping Containers Not Adequately Tested

Senator Reid, a Democrat, said this week he has learned that no government tests have been conducted on full size containers intended to transport high level radioactive waste across America's roads, railways and waterways. Testing for damage caused by fire has been performed and analyzed by computer simulation alone, Reid added.

"The NRC is relying on small scale tests of model truck and train containers, and on computer simulations rather than full- cale physical tests of these nuclear waste casks," said Reid. "I'm shocked."

Senator Reid asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in a letter to provide all testing data and information on how the agency determines the safety of containers used for shipping nuclear waste. Reid said the NRC's responses showed that no tests were conducted by the NRC or the nuclear power industry on full size nuclear waste containers. The model containers ranged in size from 1/8 to ½ the size of actual nuclear waste transportation casks.

The NRC and nuclear power industry relied on computer simulations to determine the behavior of the nuclear waste transportation cask during a fire rather than submit actual casks to real life fires, Reid said.

In addition, the NRC only requires the nuclear waste transportation cask to survive a simulated 30 minute fire at 1,475 degrees. Several recent accidents involving hazardous materials have resulted in fires burning at higher temperatures and for longer periods than the government simulations.

In July 2001, a train carrying 12,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid - a hazardous material - derailed in Baltimore and was consumed in a fire that burned at temperatures greater than 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit and took days to extinguish. The Baltimore tunnel incident was referenced on Wednesday night's episode of the NBC drama "The West Wing."

Studies on the Baltimore tunnel incident suggest that a similar accident involving transported radioactive material could compromise any nuclear waste transportation cask involved in such a fire.

"It looks to me like the NRC, DOE and the nuclear industry balked at paying the bill for a full sized test of a nuclear waste cask," said Reid. "However, testing the real thing is a bargain compared to the cost of replacing a highway, river, town or city. And who could put a cost on losing thousands of American lives."

"The NRC's lack of testing is another black eye for the nuclear waste plan and presents a very real threat to thousands of communities along the shipment routes," Reid concluded.

Judge Bars New Road in Montana Wilderness

In an April 2 ruling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard Anderson concluded that existing trail and helicopter access to the landowner's property was adequate to permit use of the property while preserving "the pristine and primitive nature of the wilderness."

"This ruling protects one of our nation's most outstanding wilderness areas from a misguided road proposal, but it also represents a victory for the entire wilderness system," said Earthjustice attorney Tim Preso, who represented The Wilderness Society, Montana Wilderness Association, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Park County Environmental Council and Wilderness Watch in opposing the landowner's lawsuit.

"The law does not require destruction of the public's wilderness every time somebody buys property within a wilderness area and wants to drive to it," Preso added.

The court ruling was in response to a lawsuit filed in December 2000 by the Absaroka Trust, a trust established by Livingston resident James Sievers. The Trust sought to overturn a decision by the U.S. Forest Service denying a request to build a 20 foot wide gravel road through the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area to access a 120 acre private inholding property consisting of former mining claims.

The Forest Service estimated that 8.6 miles of new road would be required to reach the property. The Trust sought the proposed road to log and mine the inholding property, and to construct and operate a hunting and fishing lodge.

In its lawsuit, the Trust asked the Court to order the Forest Service to permit road construction and to require the taxpayers to pay all construction costs. The Court's ruling rejected that request, finding that existing non-motorized access to the property was adequate under federal law.

"When you buy land in a wilderness area, you shouldn't expect to drive to it - much less to have the taxpayers subsidize your road access," said Bob Ekey, Northern Rockies Regional Director for The Wilderness Society.

"This is an important decision that should have impacts way beyond the A-B Wilderness," added George Nickas of Wilderness Watch. "In many parts of the country private land owners are demanding motor vehicle access across wilderness lands. This ruling shows that managers can and should say, 'no.' Protecting wilderness comes first."

California Condors Could Produce Historic Hatchling

At Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, two pairs have selected nest cave locations on two cliff faces. While both cave entrances can be monitored by biologists from a plateau in the canyon, the sheerness of the canyon walls make the nests inaccessible to climbers and verification of eggs uncertain.

The Arizona pairs include females hatched at San Diego Wild Animal Park and males hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo in spring 1995. All four birds were released to the wild in May 1997, at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, 50 miles north of their current location on the Grand Canyon's South Rim.

Park Service wildlife biologist Elaine Leslie confirms that since mid-February the paired males and females have been trading off incubation shifts at their nests.

California condors lay a single egg between late January and early April. Both parents share responsibility for incubating and feeding the nestling.

"All we can do right now is faithfully watch and wait," said Chad Olson, National Park Service raptor biologist. "The parental behavior has us assuming that they're caring for eggs. As the condors continue to trade nest guarding and incubation shifts, we'll become anxious to see them succeed. Hopefully, sometime in early summer, we'll see a chick peek out of a cave opening."

In the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, northwest of Los Angeles, California biologists from the Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and San Diego Zoological Society are monitoring two nest caves, each known to contain an egg, and another cave where a condor pair appears to be trading incubation shifts.

In 1987, the last 27 wild condors were captured for safe keeping, and a captive breeding program was begun. Captive bred condors have been released to the wild almost every year since 1992.

Last spring a pair of condors at the Grand Canyon produced the first wild laid condor egg since 1986, but the egg failed to hatch.

"This species is at a real benchmark in its recovery from near-extinction," said Andi Rogers, Arizona Game and Fish Department's condor biologist. "Failed nesting attempts are not uncommon in the wild when young birds are trying to figure out reproduction and parenting for the first time."

"To feel secure in removing the condor from the list of endangered species, we need to establish one captive and two wild populations - each reproductively self sustaining and containing at least 150 individuals," said Bruce Palmer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service California condor recovery coordinator. "Today, with 182 condors on earth, we have the kernel of that numeric goal. If this year or next we have successful reproduction in the wild, we'll be making hard fought conservation history."

$3 Million Buys Wetlands for Waterfowl

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission approved the $3 million acquisition, which includes 50 acres of wetland habitat within the boundaries of Trinity River NWR in Liberty County, Texas.

"The land acquisitions approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission will protect important habitat, ensuring that the National Wildlife Refuge System continues to provide vital nesting, breeding, feeding and resting places for migratory bird populations," said Steven Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the refuge system.

"By working with state, public and private partners, the Commission continues to make sure that the 95 million acre National Wildlife Refuge System remains the world's premier network of public lands dedicated to wildlife conservation," Williams added.

The Migratory Bird Conservation Fund is supported by revenue collected from Federal Duck Stamp sales, import duties collected on arms and ammunition, right of way payments to the refuge system, and receipts from national wildlife refuge entry fees.

In Maryland, the commission authorized the acquisition of 500 acres of marsh and other wetland habitat to protect wintering areas for migratory waterfowl within the boundaries of Blackwater NWR in Dorchester County.

In Arkansas, the funds will buy 50 acres of wetlands to protect waterfowl habitat in Bald Knob NWR. In Washington, 331 acres of waterfowl habitat in Klickitat County will be added to Conboy Lake NWR.

In Tennessee, 161 acres of waterfowl habitat will be added to Lower Hatchie NWR. In California, the funds will buy 119 acres of wetlands in the North Central Valley Wildlife Management Area of Colusa NWR.

In New Jersey, 78 acres will be added to Wallkill River NWR. In Wyoming, the funds will lease 320 acres of riparian habitat within Cokeville NWR.

In South Carolina, 227 acres of waterfowl habitat will be added to Savannah NWR through land swaps and direct purchase.

The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission also approved 30 grants that will foster wetland restoration, protection and enhancement projects in Mexico and the United States under the auspices of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. Grant funds of almost $21 million will be combined with $128 million in partnership money.

Two More Nuclear Plants Boost Power Output

AmerGen Energy Company, LLC, plans to boost the generating capacity of the Clinton Power Station near Clinton, Illinois, by about 20 percent, or about 186 megawatts. The power uprate will increase the generating capacity of the reactor to about 1,116 megawatts of electricity.

The facility intends to implement the power increase in two phases beginning this spring.

Entergy Operations, Inc. plans to increase the generating capacity of the Waterford Electric Station, Unit 3, located 20 miles west of New Orleans, Louisiana, by about 1.5 percent, or about 16 megawatts.

The power uprate at the plant will increase the generating capacity of the reactor to about 1,169 megawatts of electricity. The facility intends to implement the power increase during its current outage.

The NRC's safety evaluation of the requested power output increases focused on several areas, including nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, electrical systems, accident evaluations, radiological consequences, operations and technical specification changes.

At the Clinton Power Station, the NRC determined that the licensee could safely increase the power output of the reactor by using new fuel in the core and making certain plant modifications. At the Waterford Electric Station, the NRC plant instrumentation modifications will be used to boost power output.

The two nuclear reactors join 10 others that the NRC has approved for power uprates since September 2001. The Bush administration's national energy plan, unveiled in May 2001, includes tax breaks and other incentives to encourage the expansion of nuclear energy through license extensions, power uprates and construction of new reactors.

Wasting Disease Spreads in Western States

Wisconsin wildlife officials said the total of known CWD diseased deer in Dane County, where a comprehensive survey is underway, now stands at 10, with about 197 deer tested. The disease showed up in the county for the first time in February.

CWD is a neurologic disease of deer and elk. It belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or prion diseases. Mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, which infects humans, are also TSEs.

CWD attacks the brains of infected deer and elk causing the animals to become emaciated, display abnormal behavior, lose bodily functions and die.

"This is a communicable disease among deer and based on the experiences of Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska where it already exists in wild herds, it can be expected to spread," said Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources veterinarian Dr. Sarah Shapiro-Hurley.

For more than 20 years, the disease has been documented in wild black tailed deer, mule deer, white tailed deer and elk in small sections of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Wyoming. In 1997, the disease began appearing up on elk farms.

The disease is now spreading to previously untouched areas of Colorado, Nebraska and Wisconsin.

In spite of ongoing surveillance for similar disease syndromes in humans, there has never been an instance of people contracting a disease from butchering or eating meat from CWD-infected animals.

A World Health Organization (WHO) panel of experts reviewed all the available information on CWD and concluded that there is no scientific evidence that CWD can infect humans. However, there is much that scientists still do not know about CWD, and they cannot state that transmission of CWD to humans is impossible.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection (DATCP) is taking steps to increase monitoring and surveillance of captive deer and elk within the state for CWD.

"DATCP has banned deer and elk imports from other states unless they come from herds that can document that they have been CWD free for at least five years," says DATCP assistant state veterinarian Dr. Bob Ehlenfeldt. "Currently, very few if any herds in the United States have been tested long enough to meet that standard."

Gulf Fishing Charters to be Restricted

The agency has proposed to set a three year moratorium on new charter and headboat, or for hire, permits for the reef fish and coastal fisheries in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. The proposal is part of a gulf wide strategy to help rebuild these fisheries.

"The Gulf Council has worked closely with industry to stabilize fishing effort in the for hire sector," said Dr. Joseph Powers, acting regional director of NMFS southeast region. "Between 1981 and 1998, charter boat operations in the Gulf grew by 147 percent, coinciding with a significant jump in the number of fish stocks identified as overfished or approaching an overfished state."

These stocks include some of the most stressed fish stocks in the Gulf region, including red and vermillion snapper, red grouper and greater amberjack.

If implemented, the moratorium will cap the number of vessels in those fisheries until a comprehensive approach to restoring overfished stocks is fully developed.

The proposal would also separate the for hire permitting system for Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic coastal migratory fish, now managed under a joint permit. The moratorium would cap the number of for hire vessels in the Gulf of Mexico pending further analysis of the stock abundance for species in the reef fish and coastal migratory management units.

The moratorium is part of Amendment 14 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic and Amendment 20 to the Fishery Management Plan for the Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico.

All fishing activities have contributed to the overfishing of Gulf reef fish and coastal species, but the increased rate of for hire fishing indicates that this sector may to be growing at an unsustainable rate. For example, for hire vessels accounted for 90 percent of the recreational vermillion snapper landings and 63 percent of the greater amberjack recreational landings in 1995-1996.

Court Supports Restrictions on Endangered Species Imports

The U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, denied the government's motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by The Fund for Animals, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Earth Island Institute, Argali Wildlife Research Center in Mongolia, former USFWS scientist Ronald Nowak, and Mongolian scientists Sukh Amgalanbaatar and Zundui Namshir.

The suit, filed a year ago, charges that the permits issued by the USFWS to trophy hunters violate the Endangered Species Act and other rules specific to argali sheep. The plaintiffs also argue that the government has failed to issue a final rule listing the sheep as an endangered species throughout its range in Asia.

The argali sheep is the largest species of wild sheep in the world, weighing 210-310 pounds, with spiral horns up to 75 inches long and 20 inches in circumference. The species has experienced a decline in habitat and range, due to competition by domestic livestock and hunting by foreign trophy hunters, including U.S. citizens.

The argali is listed as endangered throughout most of its range, and as threatened in the countries of Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Tajikistan. A decade ago, the USFWS issued a special rule setting forth stringent conditions that would have to be met before import of argali trophies from those three countries would be allowed.

The USFWS also proposed changing the listing from threatened to endangered because of increased concern for the survival of the species. That proposed rule has not yet been passed.

Despite the prohibition on imports, the USFWS has granted more than 550 permits for the importation of argali trophies into the U.S. since 1993.

"It is unconscionable that hundreds of animals in this imperiled species have been killed simply so wealthy American trophy hunters can add more heads to their collections," said Michael Markarian, executive vice president of The Fund for Animals. "The USFWS has acted illegally and irresponsibly by granting hundreds of import permits, by not soliciting public comment, and by leaving this proposed rule in limbo while the argali population continues to decline."

Dr. Ronald Nowak, former USFWS scientist, added: "The government claims it has no money to list additional species, yet it has thrown away legal expenses and limited resources to fight against its own responsibilities under its own regulations and to benefit a small, privileged constituency. The USFWS has created a grotesque parody of its old endangered species program."

Alaska Dam Removal Allows Fish Passage

The Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association, working in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Bureau of Land Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, and contractor Sandstrom and Sons, Inc. of Anchorage, removed the dam earlier this year.

The project restores fish passage to more than 65 miles of upstream habitat for chinook and chum salmon, as well as whitefish, sheefish, Arctic grayling, and northern pike, and creates new opportunities for recreation on the waterway.

The Davidson Ditch Diversion Dam, located on the Chatanika River east of Fairbanks, was used to produce electricity for industrial uses from the mid-1920's until the 1950's. The dam was rendered inoperable by a 1967 flood and, 12 years later, the federal license was surrendered to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Using $144,000 in federal funds, the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association oversaw the removal of 75 feet of double wall sheet pile located in the river channel.

"The Chatanika Dam project is the most ambitious fish passage restoration project yet undertaken in Alaska," said Dave Allen, Alaska regional director for the USFWS. "It was completed in a collaborative, cost effective manner by a broad public private partnership for the benefit of the Chatanika's fishery resources and the public that enjoys this accessible river."