·:[ Environmental News Bits ]:·
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The October 2008 issue of Biodiesel Magazine is now available. Highlights include:

• Biodiesel Trade Wars
• Around the World in 60 Days
• Catalyzing Future Fuels
• Biodiesel on Campus
• Handling Hot Work Hazards
• Making the Best of Wastewater
• Spreading the Bioheat Message
• Ethanol Byproduct Could Aid Biodiesel Producers
• Field Testing Equipment Enhances Quality Assurance
• Facing the Industry’s Challenges: A Focus on Testing Standards
• Practical Advice for Creating Dynamic, Effective Teams
• Industry steps up algae efforts
• U.S. organizations move toward nontraditional feedstocks
• Report analyzes biofuels lobbying
• RFS waiver request ruled ‘unsubstantiated’
• U.K. tracks biofuels, tweaks legislation
• Researchers find new uses for glycerin
• Olympics causes plant shutdown
• Cox Enterprises switches to biodiesel hybrid vehicles
• Alternative Feedstocks Remain in Spotlight
• Biodiesel Bill Creates Triple-Win for Pennsylvania
• Growth Through Consolidation: The Customer’s Impact

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 will host the 2008 International Environmental Nanotechnology Conference: Applications and Implications, Oct. 7 – 9 at Chicago’s Hyatt Regency Hotel, 151 E. Wacker Dr.

Researchers from Asia, Australia and Europe will join U.S. scientists and government officials to discuss nanotechnology applications for environmental cleanup, pollution control and the implications of releasing engineered nanoparticles into the environment.

Opening remarks Oct. 7 at 8 a.m. will be provided by EPA Region 5 Deputy Administrator Bharat Mathur, EPA Office of Research and Development Assistant Administrator George Gray and EPA Nanotechnology Manager Jeff Morris. The conference agenda includes over 100 presentations and poster sessions. About 40 exhibitors will be represented at the poster session the evening of Oct. 9. Registration for the entire event is $475.

Partner agencies represented at the conference include the Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Science Foundation, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Department of Energy and University of Illinois at Chicago’s Great Lakes Centers for Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health.

Find more information at http://emsus.com/nanotechconf/index.htm, or contact EPA’s Warren Layne (layne.warren@epa.gov, 312-886-7336) or Charles Maurice (maurice.charles@epa.gov, 312-886-6635).

Read the full story in the New York Times.

The health industry has questions about metals like lead, mercury or arsenic being found in ayurvedic supplements.

Read the full story at News.com.

General Electric and Google on Wednesday announced a collaboration to lobby for renewable energy policies and to jointly develop clean technologies.

During the Google Zeitgeist conference in Mountain View, Calif., Google CEO Eric Schmidt interviewed GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt onstage about the maturity of renewable energy technologies and current policies.

Schmidt said that the two companies will push for government programs to modernize the electrical grid, which would enable broader use of renewable energy.

Electronic Waste:  EPA Needs to Better Control Harmful U.S. Exports through Stronger Enforcement and More Comprehensive Regulation.  GAO-08-1044, August 28.
http://www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-08-1044
Highlights – http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d081044high.pdf

Entries are now being sought for the 2008 President’s Environmental Youth Awards, which recognize individuals, school classes (kindergarten through high school) and youth organizations for protecting our nation’s air, water and land.

The program has two components: The regional certificate program and the regional award winner. Regional certificates are awarded by each of the regional offices of the EPA. Each regional office also selects one first place project as its regional award winner, and the sponsor and winner of that award travel to Washington, D.C., to receive their award.

Projects must be postmarked by Friday, October 31, 2008. Program guidelines, eligibility information and applications are available online at http://www.epa.gov/enviroed/peya/index.html. Regional award winners will be notified in January 2009.

Read the full story in Technology Review.

Last spring, on a research vessel cruising through the North Sea, Swiss scientists examined tiny vials of bacteria mixed with seawater for hints of fluorescent light. By analyzing how brightly the bacteria glowed, and with which colors, they were able to diagnose and characterize the early aftermath of an oil spill.

The latest issue of Renewable Energy Weekly is now available. Highlights include:

• SonLight Power Lights the Way to Learning
• Explosive Growth Reshuffles Top 10 Solar Ranking
• Bacteria from Compost Could Provide 10% of UK Transport Fuel Needs
• High Costs Could Prompt Premature End to Oil Production
• Solar Stocks Slide in the Midst of a Major Correction
• Renewable Energy Policies Should Put Rural Communities First
• Hurdles To Leap: Small Hydro Still has Much More to Offer Europe