Toxics / Public News Service

BP's refinery in Whiting, IN covers 1,400 acres in northwestern Indiana, just a few miles from the Chicago loop. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, December 8, 2021

BP, Feds Reach Settlement over Pollution from NW Indiana Refinery

WHITING, Ind. -- International oil-and-gas producer BP will pay more than $500,000 to the federal government as part of a legal settlement over air …

Local, state and federal agencies are working to electrify the Caltrain cars that go from San Jose to San Francisco, which will lower carbon emissions, allow more ridership and reduce congestion. (Caltrain)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Post-Glasgow, Local Governments Join Race to Zero

LOS ANGELES -- A new report found American cities and counties should make it their goal to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 63% by 2030 in order to…

Oil and natural-gas production is the largest industrial source of methane pollution in the country. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Pennsylvanians Make Voices Heard During EPA Methane-Rule Hearing

PITTSBURGH -- Pennsylvanians were overwhelmingly present during three days of virtual public testimony to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) la…

An estimated 5,500 miles of Pennsylvania streams have been polluted as a result of abandoned-mine drainage, according to the state Department of Community and Economic Development. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, December 6, 2021

Infrastructure Mine-Reclamation Funds Promising for PA

ASHLEY, Pa. -- The trillion-dollar infrastructure bill passed by Congress last month includes $11.3 billion for abandoned-mine reclamation and …

New Mexico and Colorado are considered leaders among states trying to curb air pollution from oil fields. (blogs.edf.org)

EPA Concludes Public Hearings on New Methane Rules

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- People who live on the Navajo Nation near the San Juan Basin are closely following work by the Environmental Protection Agency (…

There are hundreds of natural-gas processing facilities in the nation, and more than half of these plants would meet the Toxics Release Inventory's chemical reporting thresholds for 21 different toxic chemicals, according to the EPA. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA Rules: Natural-Gas Facilities to Show Air-Pollution Data

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Natural-gas processing plants in West Virginia and around the country will soon have to start publicly reporting the chemicals …

Methane emissions have been linked to negative health outcomes, such as headaches, nausea, memory loss and other issues. (Denys Prykhodov/Adobe Stock)

Methane-Detection Vehicles to Help Utility Prevent Leaks

LANSING, Mich. -- A public utility in Michigan is launching a pilot program to reduce its methane emissions. Consumers Energy has what it calls the …

Oil and gas companies dispose of liquid waste in injection wells. (eleonimages/Adobe Stock)

Groups Say Ohio Needs to Strengthen Rules for Oil and Gas Waste

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Groups say new draft rules proposed by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) do not go far enough to properly regulate …

Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30% and 50% by 2030. (Renew Oregon)

Front-Line Communities Applaud OR "Clean Truck" Rules

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Communities on the front lines of climate change are expected to benefit most from new rules in Oregon to move the state toward …

Between 2010 and 2019, taxpayers lost out on $12.4 billion in revenue from drilling on public lands. (Adobe Stock)

Conservatives Call for Oil and Gas Reforms on Public Lands

CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- The Build Back Better Act making its way through Congress includes reforms for oil and gas production on public lands first …

The Four Corners Power Plant, built in 1962, is one of the largest coal-fired generating stations in the U.S. (serc.carleton.edu)

NM Utility Provider Under Fire Over Aging Power-Plant Investments

SANTA FE, N.M. -- Critics of a plan by New Mexico's largest utility company to abandon one of the oldest coal-burning plants in the country say …

Galveston Bay will receive settlement funds from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to build oyster reefs made mostly from limestone, recycled oyster shells or concrete. (ancolek1998/Pixabay)

Deep Horizon Oil Spill Settlement Funds to Help Restore TX Oyster Reefs

HOUSTON -- Storm damage, pollution and other factors, some related to climate change, are reducing the oyster population, but settlement funds from …

A 2020 report by the Environmental Working Group identified the presence of PFAS chemicals in the tap water of dozens of U.S. cities where contamination was not previously suspected. (Adobe Stock)<br /> — A 2020 report by the Environmental Working Group identified the presence of PFAS chemicals in the tap water of dozens of U.S. cities where contamination was not previously suspected. (Adobe Stock)

EPA’s PFAS Roadmap Could Soon Improve WV Communities' Water Quality

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The federal government said it soon will begin taking steps to study and restrict the use of so-called "forever" chemicals …

A majority of Ohio's housing stock was built prior to the prohibition of lead-based paint. (AdobeStock). <br /> — A majority of Ohio's housing stock was built prior to the prohibition of lead-based paint. (AdobeStock).

"There's No Safe Level of Lead in Kids"

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There is a heightened effort this week to inform Ohio families about the dangers of a silent poison. Because lead is invisible and …

Studies have shown that pesticide exposure in childhood can affect neurological and behavioral development. (Adobe Stock)

Wrongful Pesticide Use on OR School Grounds Worries Public-Health Advocates

HILLSBORO, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Agriculture recently completed an investigation into a suburban Portland school for the misuse of toxic …

According to a Siena College poll published in April 2021, 64% of New Yorkers reported being "very concerned" about water pollution in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Proponents of NY Drinking Water Protection Seek Hochul's Approval

ALBANY, N.Y. - Environmental groups want Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that mandates monitoring the state's drinking water for "emerging …

In a new poll, 71% of all registered voters support strengthening rules to reduce oil and gas methane pollution, including 73% of Independents and 50% of Republicans. (Adobe Stock)

Survey: Voters Want Methane Rules to Include Smaller Wells

CASPER, Wyo. - A strong majority of voters across party lines say they want national rules similar to those passed in Wyoming to reduce methane …

Some consumer groups say stainless-steel cookware is safer than nonstick pans, some of which can contain toxic PFAS chemicals. (auremar/Adobe Stock)

Merrimack Residents: Stop the Source of PFAS "Forever Chemicals"

MERRIMACK, N.H. -- This week, both Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are taking action to combat a class of so-called "forever …

Some consumer groups say stainless-steel cookware is safer than nonstick pans, some of which can contain toxic PFAS chemicals. (Faithie/Adobe Stock)

Consumer Groups Urge Faster Action on PFAS “Forever Chemicals”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- This week, both Congress and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are taking action to combat a class of so-called …

Like many across the country, the Benton Harbor water distribution system is more than 100 years old. (Adobe Stock)

MI Community Faces Water Crisis, Calls for Lead Pipe Replacement

BENTON HARBOR, Mich. -- As Congress continues to negotiate infrastructure and social safety-net bills, advocates for environmental justice say …

Kentucky has a backlog of more than 1,000 abandoned mine land sites that qualify for federal assistance for cleanup. (Adobe Stock)

Looming Uncertainty Over Future of Abandoned Mine Land Cleanup

WHITESBURG, Ky. -- Congress has allowed the Abandoned Mine Lands (AML) program to expire, and advocates said nationwide on both state and tribal …

There are more than four times as many dairy cows in Idaho today as there were 40 years ago. (Cat/Adobe Stock)

Report Finds Contaminant Concern in Magic Valley Ground Water – Again

TWIN FALLS, Idaho -- An annual report finds poor groundwater quality continues to be an issue for the Magic Valley. The Idaho Conservation League …

The Canadian company Enbridge Energy has built a new oil pipeline in northern Minnesota that has capacity of 760,000 barrels per day. (Adobe Stock)

Line 3 Sparks Conversations on Faith, Fairness in Climate Fight

PARK RAPIDS, Minn. -- Oil will soon be flowing through the Line 3 pipeline replacement for northern Minnesota. Supporters are applauding completion…

Doctors say medicines given to livestock, including ivermectin, frequently contain other ingredients that are not meant for human consumption. (carola68/Pixabay)

New Mexican Residents Die Treating COVID-19 with Ivermectin

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A veterinary drug doctors call unsafe for treating COVID-19 has caused the deaths of two people in New Mexico, according to the …

Electricity use is the second-largest source of carbon emissions in Oregon. (Beyond Toxics)

Groups Push for Stronger Action in OR Climate-Protection Program

Corrected 9/28/21, 2 p.m. MDT, to clarify that the Climate Protection Program was not directly created by executive order; and that it is unclear how …

Companies behind a proposed natural-gas plant for Wisconsin hope to break ground by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Economics of WI Gas Plant Proposal Questioned

SUPERIOR, Wis. -- Legal proceedings continue involving a proposed natural-gas plant for northwestern Wisconsin. The plans have been approved by state …

Analysts say carbon capture facilities and underground pipelines would require hundreds of billions of dollars in investments, but are likely to fall short of emission-reduction goals. (Adobe Stock)

Plans for Carbon Sequestration Pipeline for IA Questioned

DES MOINES, Iowa -- This fall, the Iowa Utilities Board is hosting meetings to inform the public about a proposed underground pipeline, which would …

The iconic New Mexico chili pepper is under threat from climate change as extreme heat and drought result in dwindling water supplies. (Wikipedia)

Climate Week Follows Unprecedented "Code Red" Predictions

SANTA FE, N.M. - A nonpartisan group of mothers and climate scientists is on a nationwide education campaign to engage more people about the effects …

In 2018, there were an estimated 1,115,000 career and volunteer firefighters in the United States, according to the National Fire Protection Association. (TheHilaryClark/Pixabay)

PFAS: A Plague for Humans, Especially Firefighters

DALLAS -- Lawmakers and regulators are increasingly mobilizing behind efforts to crack down on so-called "forever chemicals" known as Perfluorinated a…

The definition of "waters of the United States," identifies the waters covered by the Clean Water Act. (lasacequias.org)

Undoing of Trump-Era Clean-Water Rule Creates Optimism, Uncertainty

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Opponents of rollbacks to the Trump-era Clean Water Act say 90% of New Mexico's waters were left unprotected and hope a recent …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says it will stop the use of the pesticide chlorpyrifos on all food, citing specific risks to children and farmworkers. (Adobe Stock)

EPA’s Chlorpyrifos Ban Spotlights Future of Agricultural Pesticide Use

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Experts say most agriculture producers in Kentucky won't be affected by the Environmental Protection Agency's recent decision to ban …

People in states where air quality plummets due to smoke from wildfires are advised to close windows, doors and vents. (folio flare-designer/Pixabay)

Wildfires Make Outside, Inside Air Quality Unhealthy

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- Smoke from the massive wildfires, along with the summer heat, is driving millions of Americans indoors. Experts advised people …

The latest report by the world's top climate scientists confirms less than a decade remains to dramatically cut greenhouse-gas emissions from fossil fuels to avoid catastrophic impacts, such as those inflicted by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. (andrewtheshrew/Pixabay)

Report: Media Complacent in Not Linking Extreme Weather, Climate Change

AUSTIN, Texas -- New research suggests the nation's most trusted news sources are dropping the ball when it comes to helping voters in Texas and …

An agreement between Maine People's Alliance and Mallinckrodt U.S. LLC will not go into effect unless the Federal District Court in Maine approves it. (peter/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Input on Mercury Removal Proposal for Penobscot River

BANGOR, Maine -- A proposed settlement for cleaning mercury out of the Penobscot River is in its 90-day public-comment phase, with court hearings set …

This summer's unprecedented heat waves, droughts, fires and severe storms are occurring now, where global temperatures have only risen 1.2 degrees Celsius. Scientists project that average temperatures will rise by 2 degrees Celsius in the next two decades. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Less Than a Decade Remains for Action on Climate Change

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Less than a decade remains to avoid potentially catastrophic impacts of a warming planet, according to the latest report from top …

The Piney Point property has received 22 inches of rain since the start of June, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protections' motion to request to transfer control of the troubled former phosphate plant from its owners, HRK Holdings. (Pixabay)

Piney Point Pollution Could Overflow with Storms, Hurricanes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Due to the recent tropical weather systems threatening the region, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is …

Tara Houska, founder of Giniw Collective, has worked with other tribal activists such as Winona LaDuke in trying to stop the Line 3 oil pipeline project. (Photo courtesy of honortheearth.org)

With Line 3 Nearing Finish Line, Tribal Opponents Continue Speaking Out

GRAND RAPIDS, Minn. -- The Line 3 oil pipeline for northern Minnesota could begin operating by as early next month. The latest update comes as …

During the industrial era, the U.N. says, methane emissions have accounted for nearly 30% of global warming. (Adobe Stock)

U.N. Report Reinforces Methane Concerns in ND

MANDAREE, N.D. -- The climate-change threat has been described as a "code red for humanity" as part of a new United Nations report on global warming…

A new report predicts massive blazes such as the Dixie fire will become more common if the world fails to control carbon pollution. (NASA Earth Observatory)

Advocates: CA is Ground Zero in Wake of U.N. Climate Report

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Advocates contended a new United Nations report Climate change report United Nations 08/09/2021 waving red flags on climate …

Climate scientists predict a significant jump in extreme weather events over the next 20 or 30 years, according to a new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (Hermann/Pixabay)

Climate Scientists: Window Closing to Stabilize Global Temperatures

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- According to a new United Nations report, it has never been more important to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, but it probably …

A clean closure of the Michigan City Generation Station could create roughly 70 jobs in the surrounding area. (Larry Lawhead/Adobe Stock)

Report: Remove Coal Ash to Clean Up Toxic Pollution of IN Groundwater

INDIANAPOLIS -- A new study reinforces the view of many Indiana environmentalists the best way to clean up toxic coal ash is by removing it, rather …

A recent report shows PFAS levels greater than the EPA health advisory level in water treatment plants for Westminster and Hampstead, Md. (Adobe stock)

U.S. Bill on Toxic "Forever Chemicals" Could Help Maryland

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A bill to tackle contamination from so-called "forever chemicals" known as Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) is …

If passed, New York could become the third state in the country to amend its state Constitution to guarantee that "each person shall have a right to clean air and water, and a healthful environment." (Adobe Stock)

Push is On for NY to Add Environmental Rights to State Constitution

ALBANY, N.Y. - A ballot measure could give New York residents the constitutional right to a healthy environment, and on Tuesday a group of state …

There are no state or federal regulations for toxic PFAS chemicals found in drinking water. (AdobeStock)

Congress Takes Action on Toxic "Forever Chemicals"

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A bill to tackle contamination from so-called "forever chemicals" known as Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) is …

Nearly 6% of workers telecommuted in 2018, up from 2% in 1980, according to a New York Times report. Researchers project that 20% of work will be done from home post-COVID. (Adobe Stock)

Tips for Colorado Companies to Reduce Air Pollution Post-COVID

DENVER -- As offices and businesses begin to open their doors after COVID-19 shutdowns, a new guidebook offers ways for CEOs and other commuters to …

A class of toxic chemicals known as PFAS have been used in products such as firefighting foam. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Could Restrict WI Cities From Suing Over 'Forever Chemicals'

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin policymakers are looking to provide more aid to towns and cities faced with contamination cleanup of so-called "forever …

Cover crops can improve water infiltration into the soil and some, like legumes, also are natural fertilizers. (bmargaret/Adobe Stock)

Report: Indiana Farmers Planted More Cover Crops than Ever

INDIANAPOLIS -- There's good news for soil conservation efforts in a new survey by the Indiana Conservation Partnership: Farmers in the state planted …

U.S. Steel's Clairton plant is the largest coke manufacturing facility in the United States. (Roy Luck/Wikimedia Commons)

Study Details Health Implications of PA Coke-Plant Fire

PITTSBURGH -- In southwestern Pennsylvania, the health effects of an industrial fire more than two years ago are just now coming to light. A new …

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Toxics