News and Articles


Executive Order Signed to Protect California Communities from Wildfires

The order will double the land area actively managed through vegetation thinning, controlled fires, and reforestation from 250,000 acres to 500,000 acres.

ANSI Launches Accreditation Program for EPA Formaldehyde Testing Rule

ANSI is one of four accreditation bodies recognized by EPA to provide accreditation services under the final rule, which is intended to reduce exposure to formaldehyde emissions from certain wood products produced domestically or imported into the United States.

How Industrial Facilities Can Transfer from Water Use to Water Efficiency

In coming years, the industrial sector will be pressed harder to reduce water consumption and use water more efficiently. With water- and sewage-related costs increasing, they will want to reduce consumption even further.

Largest-Ever Cholera Vaccine Campaign Announced

By mid-June, oral cholera vaccine will be provided to more than 2 million people through campaigns in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan, and Nigeria.

California Investing in Cleaner School Buses

In all, California Climate Investments will fund about 150 cleaner school buses across the state, including zero-emission battery electric models and conventional models using renewable diesel. The year-old Rural School Bus Pilot Project has received $25 million in cap-and-trade funding to fund as many as 60 of those new school buses statewide in rural areas.

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Xylem Hosting Workshop on Modernizing Water Infrastructure

"Technology is revolutionizing the way the water industry manages their infrastructure. This workshop will feature industry thought leaders discussing groundbreaking solutions to managing water infrastructure. Our goal is to provide attendees with actionable insights and management best practices that can be used within their organizations and put to good use," said Albert Cho, vice president and general manager of Advanced Infrastructure Analytics at Xylem.

Nominations Sought for 2018 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

Nominations for innovations in six categories are due by July 2, 2018. The categories are academic, small business, greener synthetic pathways, greener reaction conditions, designing greener chemicals, and climate change.

Efforts Accelerate to Protect North Atlantic Right Whales

During 2017, NOAA documented the deaths of 17 right whales within U.S. and Canadian waters. With an estimated population of only 450 right whales remaining in existence, only 25 percent identified as breeding females, the impact of these deaths is a major blow to conservation efforts and vitality of the species.

California to Help Farmers Buy Cleaner Heavy Equipment

"Although tough new engine standards are in effect now and will eventually lower emissions, most agricultural equipment lasts for decades. We cannot wait for the older dirtier equipment to phase out naturally, so we are taking action to improve air quality sooner by helping farmers to buy cleaner farm equipment now," CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey said.

LEGO Shooting for 100 Percent Sustainable Packaging by 2025

The company's goal had been to accomplish this by 2030, but it has now moved up that goal.

Grant Funds Available for Development of Abandoned Mine Land in WV

Applications are being accepted for a portion of $25 million in grant funding available for economic development projects. The projects must be located on or adjacent to mine sites that ceased operations prior to the signing of the Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act on Aug. 3, 1977.

Boeing Honors 13 Suppliers for Outstanding 2017 Performance

Supplier of the Year Award winners for 2017 include Watson Furniture Group, receiving the Environment Award, and Airgas USA, LLC, receiving the Safety Award.

Siemens Gamesa to Build Australian Wind Farm with Storage Battery

The company's contract with the renewable energy company Neoen calls for Siemens Gamesa to build the entire complex and then maintain it for 25 years.

Construction of California WaterFix Project Approved

"For decades, we have sought a solution to the problems of the Bay Delta, problems that put Southern California's water supply at risk," said Randy Record, chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California board of directors. "We finally have that solution, California WaterFix. We simply could not jeopardize the opportunity to move this long-sought and much-needed project forward."

Montana Issues Bid Package for First Phase of Butte Cleanup

Gov. Steve Bullock on March 28 announced the next steps for the Parrot Tailings Waste Removal Project in Butte, saying the Montana Natural Resource Damage Program has issued the bid package for the first phase of the project.

GAO Recommends Eliminating Coal Mine Operators' Self-Bonding

GAO found that state agencies and OSMRE report they hold approximately $10.2 billion in surety bonds, collateral bonds, and self-bonds as financial assurances for coal mine reclamation. The stakeholders GAO interviewed identified several challenges OSMRE and state agencies face in managing financial assurances, citing industry bankruptcies and lower coal demand.

NNSA Team Wins Project Management Award

The presentation took place during the 2018 DOE Project Management Workshop held in Arlington, Va. The TWF project at Los Alamos National Laboratory is NNSA's first Hazard Category 2 Nuclear Facility project completed under budget.

New Compliance Date for EPA's Formaldehyde in Composite Wood Products Regulation

The new compliance date is June 1, 2018, for its formaldehyde emissions regulation for composite wood products, under Title VI of the Toxic Substances Control Act.

West Virginia Debuts Webpage on Pipeline Projects

Information available on the page includes maps of the proposed pipeline routes and a link to WVDEP's searchable online database where additional information, such as any inspection and enforcement actions and any permit modifications, can be found.