Features


NOAA Revises Rainfall Qualifying as 100-Year or 1,000-Year Events in Texas

In Austin, 100-year rainfall amounts for 24 hours increased as much as three inches, up to 13 inches. 100-year estimates around Houston increased from 13 inches to 18 inches and values previously classified as 100-year events are now much more frequent 25-year events.

California Agencies Testify Against Administration's SAFE Vehicles Rule

"There is nothing safe about this proposal. It turns its back on decades of progress in cleaning up cars and trucks, ignores available and cost-effective clean vehicle technology, wastes gasoline, and pumps more climate-changing gases into the atmosphere," said Mary D. Nichols, chair of the California Air Resources Board.

Pennsylvania Offers Grants for EV Charging Stations

The funding comes from Pennsylvania's $118 million settlement with Volkswagen Group of America for cheating on EPA emissions tests, and the grants and rebates are available through Gov. Tom Wolf's Driving PA Forward initiative, which aims to permanently reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution from vehicles.

What EPA's New e-Manifest System Means for Businesses in Every Industry

While the e-Manifest is overall beneficial for the entire waste management industry, there is a lot to understand about the new system and other ever-changing regulations.

World's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Opens

Walney Extension's 87 turbines have a total capacity of 659 MW, sufficient to power almost 600,000 UK homes.

The Greening of the Printing Industry

The Sustainable Green Printing Partnership, a nonprofit organization little known outside of the printing industry, certifies a printing facility's operations as sustainable. Such organizations can be crucial in helping an entire industry become greener and more sustainable.

Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in 11 More Missouri Counties

Missouri Department of Conservation Forest Entomologist Robbie Doerhoff urged Missourians who own ash trees in areas where EAB has been found to make a plan now to either treat or remove those trees.

NYC's Javits Convention Center to Feature Rooftop Solar Panels

The New York Power Authority is administering the solar photovoltaic Request for Proposals on behalf of the Javits Center that seeks to select a developer to design, construct and own the solar PV system through a Power Purchase Agreement.



U.S. drinking water system operators have been preparing for the federal lead-free law to take effect in January 2014. Four states already have laws in place that comply with or exceed its requirements.

Wisconsin Drinking Water Report: 99+ Percent of Public Systems Meeting Standards

During 2017, more than 99 percent of Wisconsin's public water systems provided water that met all health-based standards for regulated contaminants. "In addition to monitoring, measuring system compliance is part of the overall strategy for managing a sustainable supply of safe drinking water," said Adam DeWeese, DNR section chief of the Public Water Supply Section.

CAL FIRE announced that law enforcement investigators concluded a faulty gas water heater sparked one of the fires that merged to become the Rocky Fire, one of 16 active wildfires in the state as of Aug. 19, 2015.

High Fire Danger Causes Target Shooting Ban in Washington State

On average, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources responds to 22 wildfires annually on lands it manages that are caused by shooting, a number that includes illegal explosive targets and target practice.

Ammonia Emissions Rising, UK Environment Agency Reports

"Urgent action is needed if we are going to tackle the hidden blight of ammonia emissions. These emissions are having a detrimental impact on the environment, precious habitats, and wildlife. As custodians of the land, farmers must take the lead by changing their land management practices," said Emma Howard Boyd, chair of the agency.

Washington State Strengthens UST Compliance Rules

Changes the state Department of Ecology has adopted will make the program more effective by streamlining requirements and aligning the rule with state and federal laws.

EPA, NM Sign Agreement on Increased Recycling of O&G Wastewater

"New Mexico is currently the third largest oil producer in the United States, and that oil is accompanied by even larger quantities of water. Clarifying the state and federal regulatory frameworks associated with its recycling and reuse is of the utmost importance," said New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Cabinet Secretary Ken McQueen.

Facing Growing Water Demand Without Aquifers

With the demand for water in this country and around the world growing significantly every year, we won't have the luxury of waiting thousands of years for these aquifers to carry water again.

California became the first state to require solar panels to be installed on almost all new homes built after 2020.

Top Tips to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient

The development of renewable energy technologies has given us plenty of new and energy-efficient products used for homes and home appliances.

Scientists Analyzing Smoke of Western Wildfires

The project brings together scientists from five universities and the NSF-funded National Center for Atmospheric Research. "This is a challenging field campaign," said atmospheric scientist Emily Fischer of Colorado State University. "It's not like measuring the plume from, say, a power plant."

Senate Hearing Looks at Shark Research

"Sharks and the scientists who study them have led us to improvements in aerodynamics, renewable energy, electrical sensors, and health and medical research. Innovative shark research can benefit marine ecosystems and continue to raise public awareness about these important species," said committee Chairman John Thune, R-S.D.

Creating a Sustainable Water Source with Wastewater Reuse

Monitoring is a key facet in water reuse facilities, and very sophisticated systems are used to track the water quality in every part of the process.

Authorities Worldwide Target Wildlife, Timber Smugglers

"Operation Thunderstorm has seen significant seizures at global level, showing how coordinated global operations can maximize impact," said INTERPOL Secretary General Jürgen Stock. "Operation Thunderstorm sends a clear message to wildlife criminals that the world's law enforcement community is homing in on them."

Second EPA Great Lakes Meeting Set for June 21

The second of six informal public engagement sessions on the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Action Plan III is taking place in Rochester, N.Y.