News


Cape Town's Day Zero Moved Back to July 9

The city's executive deputy mayor writes that "defeating Day Zero is in sight if we sustain our water-saving efforts."

3M Settles Minnesota Groundwater Pollution Case

3M has agreed to provide an $850 million grant to the state for a special "3M Grant for Water Quality and Sustainability Fund."

EPA Settles Syngenta Case for Far Less

The company will pay a $150,000 civil penalty and spend $400,000 on worker protection training sessions. EPA earlier had assessed $4.8 million in fines.

Ohio EPA Considering Discharge Permit for Huber Heights Water Plant

The agency will host a public meeting March 1 about a proposed wastewater discharge from the Huber Heights drinking water treatment plant. The permit would allow the city to discharge up to 1.3 million gallons per day of filtered reject water to the Great Miami River.

TCEQ Executive Director Stepping Down

Richard A. Hyde, P.E., is retiring effective in April.

Canada Working to Reduce Diesel Use in Rural Communities

The national government believes cutting reliance on diesel in rural and remote communities will decrease Canada’s carbon footprint, support climate change adaptation, and contribute to healthier communities.

UK Environment Agency Warns Intense Flooding Becoming More Common

The Environment Agency also has launched its Flood Action Campaign, which targets younger people through social media and online advertising to encourage them to check their flood risk, sign up for free warnings, and be prepared to take action when flooding hits.

DOJ Seeks Contempt Order Against Pesticide Manufacturer

A May 2017 court order required the defendants to comply with the 2011 consent decree, but HPI and Garvey continue to store thousands of pounds of uncharacterized, often unidentified, chemicals, some with labels indicating they have been stored for a dozen years or more, according to DOJ, which said many of HPI's facilities lack functional fire suppression equipment.



Waxman, Schwarzenegger, McCarthy Receive CARB Air Quality Awards

"Our honorees span the past 50 years of progress toward clean air. Each played a leading role in this struggle for clean air and a healthy economy," CARB Chair Mary D. Nichols said. "Individually, our honorees have conducted groundbreaking research or shaped pioneering clean-air policies.

NC DEQ Cites, Fines Swine Farm for Wastewater Violation

DEQ began its investigation after an anonymous tip. The investigators estimated that 987,440 gallons of wastewater were illegally discharged from the lagoon, with contaminants from wastewater eventually making their way to a tributary of the Trent River 1.5 miles away.

EPA Awards Houston Airport Over $1 Million for Clean Shuttle Buses

The EPA has awarded more than $1 million to the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, for electric shuttle buses. The funds will go toward reducing diesel vehicles’ harmful emissions and improving air quality.

Canada Overhauling Project Review Scheme

There will be less red tape and less duplication for project proposers to navigate, according to the officials, who said the government will expand the types of impacts studied to understand how a proposed project could affect not just the environment, but also its long-term health, social, and economic impacts, as well as impacts on indigenous peoples.

Sunoco Pipeline Agrees to $12.6 Million Penalty, State's Hold on Permits Lifted

Construction of the Mariner East 2 pipeline can resume. "DEP will continue to monitor and enforce the conditions of the permits and will take necessary enforcement actions for any future violations," said McDonnell. "If a resident should witness pollution from the pipeline affecting streams or other waterways, then please alert DEP at 1-800-541-2050."

Four Effective Processes to Treat Wastewater

Four Effective Processes to Treat Wastewater

Wastewater has a lot of impact on the natural world and it is important to treat it effectively. By treating wastewater, you don't just save the creatures thriving on it, but also protect the planet as a whole.

Land Deal for Alaska Road Draws Environmental Criticism

The road, which proponents say is necessary to connect the remote community of King Cove to a large, all-weather airport for emergency medical evacuation in poor weather, has come under criticism from conservationists.

TCEQ Fines Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Inc.

The fine was included in $1,083,788 in fines against 46 regulated entities for violating state environmental regulations.

Michigan Congressman Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act

Michigan Congressman Introduces Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act

The Great Lakes Oil Spill Prevention Act was introduced earlier this month and would “impose additional requirements on portions of petroleum pipelines that cross waters of the Great Lakes,” among other goals, according to the bill’s text.

CA Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Reduce Plastic Straw Waste

Majority Leader Ian Calderon introduced last week Assembly Bill 1884, which would require servers at sit-down restaurants to ask customers if they want a straw before providing one. The bill would not apply to fast-food restaurants.

Tennessee Panel Developing Statewide Water Plan

Expected population growth, "along with recent concerns over the utilization of the Memphis Sands Aquifer, droughts that have impacted numerous Tennessee communities, failures of aging drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and interstate battles over water rights, all stress the need to develop a statewide plan for addressing water availability," according to the governor's office.

Program Launched to Spur EV Use in California

EV adoption continues to grow in California, but lack of charging locations remains one of the biggest barriers. PG&E said its EV Charge Network will support the adoption of EVs by increasing access to charging in locations where it has traditionally been limited and where cars often sit for longer periods of time, like workplaces and apartment buildings.