Air


NC Seeks Ideas for Spending VW Settlement Money

The state expects to get about $92 million from a $2.9 billion settlement that was reached following an investigation launched in 2015 into Volkswagen for making and installing illegal software devices to help some vehicles defeat emission tests.

First 'eHighway' Demonstration Project Under Way

Siemens and the South Coast Air Quality Management District are managing a 1-mile, zero-emission demonstration in Carson, Calif., this month. Three field trials of the eHighway technology on German highways are planned for 2019.

Port of Long Beach Makes Air Filter Grants

"The selected projects will provide high-performance air filters and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning upgrades at facilities most impacted by port operations," said Harbor Commission President Lou Anne Bynum. "We've made tremendous progress in reducing air pollution through our Green Port Policy."

Banking on Big Data

Sophisticated tools capable of collecting and analyzing massive data sets and then displaying the results in visual form are no longer an option. They are becoming a necessity.

ExxonMobil Announces More Efforts to Cut Methane Emissions

XTO recently completed a pilot project in the Midland Basin that tested new low-emission designs that use compressed air instead of natural gas to operate pneumatic equipment that helps regulate conditions such as level, flow, pressure, and temperature

StarKist Paying CWA Penalty, Improving American Samoa Plant

"Today's agreement will help prevent hazardous releases at the StarKist facility, protect workers and the local community, and reduce pollution discharged into Pago Pago Harbor by more than 13 million pounds each year," said Alexis Strauss, acting regional administrator with EPA's Pacific Southwest Region. "Working with our partners at American Samoa EPA, we will monitor the company’s progress toward full compliance with all federal environmental rules."

New York Offers ZEV Rebates to Municipal Fleets

The state promises that its zero-emission vehicle and infrastructure investments will advance Gov. Cuomo's clean transportation and climate change goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

California Taking Comments on Updated Chlorpyrifos Risk Assessment

DPR scientists believe chlorpyrifos may pose a public health risk as a toxic air contaminant based on its assessment of the latest studies in the scientific community. That finding must go through a public comment period and be independently evaluated by other scientists, however.



DOI Orders Study of Mountaintop Removal's Health Effects Halted

The National Academies said it would go forward with previously scheduled meetings for the project in Kentucky on Aug. 21-23 "and we stand ready to resume it as soon as the Department of the Interior review is completed."

California Ports Looking for Cleaner Engines in Harbor Craft

The request under the Technology Advancement Program offers $500,000 for one or two demonstrations of technologies that will upgrade engines to Tier 3 or Tier 4 standards, which means the engines are as much as 70 percent cleaner. Proposals are due by Sept. 21.

CARB Approves First VW Electric Vehicle Plan

Volkswagen will invest $800 million on zero-emission infrastructure in the next decade, part of its settlement with state and federal agencies for using a "defeat device" that caused in 2009-2016 diesel cars to emit far more nitrogen oxide than allowed.

White House Details Plan to Roll Back Environmental Regulations

White House Details Plan to Roll Back Environmental Regulations

The Trump administration provided details for its aggressive plan to roll back environmental regulations.

Lawsuit Claims Texas Loopholes Allow Illegal Air Emissions

Lawsuit Claims Texas Loopholes Allow Illegal Air Emissions

An environmental group is trying to tighten Texas air pollution control permits.

Idaho DEQ Seeks Comments on West Silver Valley Emissions Inventory

The state agency began developing a State Implementation Plan in 2015. But based on certified air quality monitoring for 2014-2016, the area has attained national air quality standards, which qualifies it for a clean data determination, according to DEQ.

Examples of the $1.2 billion in investments to date include electric transit buses and charging stations in the San Joaquin Valley.

California State Leaders File Legislation to Extend Cap-and-Trade Program

"The Legislature is taking action to curb climate change and protect vulnerable communities from industrial poisons," said Gov. Jerry Brown.

Air Emissions Fine Included in TCEQ Penalties Totaling $875,769

The commission issued agreed orders for the following enforcement categories: seven air quality, one industrial hazardous waste, three industrial wastewater discharge, two municipal solid waste, seven municipal wastewater discharge, nine petroleum storage tank, 16 public water system, three water quality, and one waste disposal well.

DC Circuit Vacates Methane Rule Rollback

The 2-1 decision on July 3 vacates EPA's decision to stay implementation of a final rule setting new source performance standards for fugitive emissions of methane from oil and gas wells.

CARB Reviewing 2016 Enforcement Report This Week

The report will include highlights of 2016 enforcement activities in key programs including truck and bus requirements, vehicle certification and aftermarket parts, consumer products, and ocean-going vessels. Staff also will discuss the division's goals for 2017 and beyond.

Rwandan Project Sets Stage for Smart City Initiatives

To demonstrate IoT's transformative potential, Inmarsat and its partners will deploy technology demonstrations around Kigali, including air quality sensors, a smart bus equipped with satellite Internet, and a precision farming initiative to increase crop yield and better manage water resources.

California Reaches $599 Million in Zero-Emission Vehicle Investments

So far, California Climate Investments have supported electric school buses in Sacramento, electric yard trucks in Fontana, hydrogen-powered buses in the Coachella Valley, and a fleet of electric delivery trucks for Goodwill Industries in the Bay Area.

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