Specials

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

California Natural Resources Secretary John Laird discusses the monumental project to preserve habitat in the San Francisco Bay Delta and the scandal around the State Parks’ failure to disclose it had tens of millions of dollars available while it threatened to close parks.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

By J.D. Hillard

First a look at the new gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

Then a group in Aromas is gathering signatures to ask San Benito County Supervisors for policy to protect them from oil exploration. Earlier this year Graniterock, the construction materials company that operated the Wilson Quarry in Aromas, confirmed it had conducted seismic studies. This type of stud is sometimes a preliminary to oil exploration. The company says the study was to identify where the granite it quarries at the site can be found on its property. It also says it has no intention of using the oil drilling technique known as fracking. Aromas Cares For Our Environment, a new group that formed after the study was discovered, remains concerned that oil exploration may be in the offing and that it could bring unknown hazards.

Graniterock declined an interview. The company issued this letter in July.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Santa Cruz County’s Local Agency Formation Commission was expected to okay the esxtension of Santa Cruz City water service to the north of the current UCSC campus, allowing the university to expand. Sante Cruz County District 1 Supervisor John Leopold serves on the commission. He explains his motion that delayed the approval. Monterey County emergency services manager Sherrie Collins discusses Monterey County’s preparations for tsunamis.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Around our region there are numerous groups offering activities that get students excited about science. Lillian Mongeau reports some of them are collaborating to make science a bit easier for teachers.

Also, California Secretary of natural resources John Laird inherited the Delta Restoration process from the prior administration. It’s a project that involves deciding how much water will be allowed to preserve some threatened species, water central valley crops and supply municipalities in the Bay area. Laird spoke with KUSP’s J.D. Hillard about a proposal that threatens this delicate process. He also talked about hopes for restoring salmon runs in the Klamath Basin.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

J.D. Hillard – Sierra Northern, the operator of the freight line that runs from Pajaro to Davenport, has announced it will be discontinuing that role. Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission project Manager Luis Mendez said the change results from problems in the relationship between Sierra Northern and Union Pacific. Mendez discusses the SCCRTC’s progress toward the goal of running freight and passenger trains on the line. Also, “toilet to tap,” KUSP’s Anne Turner explains San Diego’s experiment in purifying sewage. And Eric Berg’s musical holiday gift suggestions.