News and Articles


EPA Scrapping GHG Emissions Rules for Cars, Light Trucks

He said EPA is beginning a joint process with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to develop a notice and comment rulemaking to set more appropriate GHG emissions standards and Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. The California Air Resources Board's chair, Mary D. Nichols, issued a statement condemning Pruitt's decision.

Fumigation Air Quality Permit Request Dropped in NC

The division had planned to hold a new public comment period and public hearing to enable additional input for the draft air quality permit. DEP reported that most of 1,100 comments received since Feb. 23 were opposed to issuing the permit.

U.S. Steel Settles CWA Case Involving Wastewater Spill

A consent decree was filed in federal district court in the Northern District of Indiana that requires U.S. Steel to pay more than $600,000 as a civil penalty and to reimburse EPA and the National Park Service for response costs incurred after an April 2017 spill of wastewater containing hexavalent chromium that entered a waterway flowing into Lake Michigan.

U.K. Government Announces Drink Container Deposit Return Scheme to Reduce Litter

“It is absolutely vital we act now to tackle this threat and curb the millions of plastic bottles a day that go unrecycled,” Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. “We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on plastic bottles to help clean up our oceans.”

Deadline Nears for Michigan Energy Excellence Awards

Anne Armstrong Cusack, Michigan Agency for Energy acting executive director, says the contest "is a chance to celebrate leaders in innovation all over the state. Past winners have cut energy usage without sacrificing productivity or comfort. They have seen firsthand that the cheapest, most reliable, and greenest energy is the energy you don't need."

A nuclear waste cask is loaded onto a barge during the Sandia National Laboratories "triathlon." (Photo courtesy Sandia National Laboratories)

Sandia Details 'Transport Triathlon' Results

The eight-month test involved a waste transportation and storage cask fresh off the assembly line being loaded with three surrogate fuel rod assemblies from the United States, Spain, and South Korea and then traveling from Spain to Colorado and back again by truck, ship, and train.

State Study of Mohawk River Ice Jams Announced

The study will analyze storm and ice-jam flood mitigation needs in high-risk areas, including Schenectady, N.Y., which experienced ice-jam flooding in February 2018. The study will include recommendations to mitigate future hazards on the Mohawk River and other waterbodies across New York state.

Analysis Links West Texas Ground Movement to Oil Drilling

Alarming movement is linked to prolonged oil production and is a danger to residents, roads, railroads, levees, dams, pipelines, and groundwater, the authors concluded.

The researchers successfully tested the method at a Colorado well field containing place methane leak sources. (Stephanie Sizemore and Ian Coddington/NIST illustration)

New Method Shown for Detecting Methane Leaks Inexpensively

As described in their paper, the researchers tested this method successfully on a Colorado well field containing placed methane leak sources.

Volvo's Sales of Electric Buses Top 4,000

Volvo Buses has now sold more than 4000 electrified Volvo buses to customers around the world, the company announced March 14, saying its latest order is for 90 hybrid buses from Brussels.

Vestas Signs Agreement for Composite Blades Made in China

The V150-4.2 MW turbines' blades are 73.7 meters, or 242 feet, long, and they have the industry's tallest steel tower, according to Vestas.

CARB Awards Grant for Ultra-Low NOx Truck Demonstration Project

California's ultra-low NOx emissions standard is 0.02 grams per brake horsepower-hour. This program will demonstrate the first diesel engine to comply with this state standard.

Drought Declaration Signed for Klamath County, Oregon

Gov. Kate Brown's news release said at the end of February, the snow-water equivalent in Klamath County was 40 percent of a normal water year, and forecasted water conditions are not expected to improve. Drought, severe weather conditions, and the upcoming fire season are significant threats to the local economy, agriculture and livestock, natural resources, and recreation in the county.

Canada Funds $1.3 Million for Removal of Abandoned Boats

"Abandoned boats are not just an eyesore; they are a safety concern and a financial burden to communities," Minister of Transport Marc Garneau said.

California Officials Preparing for the Next Disasters

The governor and legislative leaders are partnering on solutions this year that will make California more resilient against the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

Home Depot to Pay $27.84 Million for Hazardous Waste and Record Disposal Violations

The company's stores and facilities were found to have improperly managed the disposal of aerosol cans, batteries, electronics, pesticides, paint, and other items, as well as customer information.

EPA Settles Idaho Mining Case

As part of the settlement, Bunker Hill Mining Corp. will pay EPA up to $20 million, on behalf of Placer Mining, in satisfaction of EPA's past costs claim against Placer Mining, and Placer Mining agrees drop its "takings" case against the United States. BHMC can return the mine to production after a hiatus of more than two decades.

Lodu Dime was convicted by Nepalese authorities following the seizure of wildlife products in Nepal during INTERPOL

Tiger Trafficker Arrested in Nepal

Lodu Dime, 40, had been convicted in absentia by Nepalese authorities after the seizure of wildlife products in Nepal during INTERPOL's Operation Prey IV in 2013.

EPA Announces Plan to Combat Harmful Algae Blooms in Lake Erie

The action plan summarizes the actions federal agencies and state are taking to achieve the targets for phosphorus reduction adopted by the U.S. and Canada under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement in 2016 and provides a mechanism for tracking progress.

Florida DEP Presents 2017 Plant Excellence Awards

Each year, the department presents awards to domestic wastewater and drinking water facilities around the state that demonstrate excellence in operation, maintenance, innovative treatment, waste reduction, pollution prevention, recycling, or other achievements.