Ecosystems


World’s Largest Salmon Fishery Receives Protection

The EPA announced it will be using Clean Water Act authority to assess permanently prohibiting or restricting mine waste disposal into Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. This decision puts on hold attempts to build the Pebble Mine, which would be North America’s largest open pit gold-copper mine.

Tennessee Watersheds Get More Funding

New watershed improvement and protection projects in Tennessee will receive more than $600,000 in funding beginning in August.

Two Salamanders Now Protected by Endangered Species Act

The Georgetown and Salado salamanders, two species primarily located in central Texas, have become guarded endangered species after years of waiting for federal protection.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada sent advisory letters to North America

Global Warming and Potential Water Contamination Resulting from Fracking for Hydrocarbons: A Relationship?

Although accidents are rare, transporting crude oil and natural gas poses major risks for human habitation areas and water bodies, regardless of how they are moved.

Reprioritizing Wetland Protection Through Sequencing

Now, more than ever, aquatic ecosystem components continue to be the primary water resource targeted for development.

White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Arkansas

Arkansas becomes the 23rd state to confirm the deadly disease in bats.

California Ranchers Dread the Impacts of Water Shortage

After a water emergency was declared for California less than two weeks ago, ranchers voice their concern over the impacts the drought will have on their livestock and crops if the water shortage continues for much longer.

Communities along the pipeline route launched Texas Pipeline Watch to arm landowners and citizens with cameras to document every spill, leak, and disturbance along the risky pipeline.

Texas Pipeline Watch to Closely Monitor TransCanada’s Tar Sands Pipeline

As the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline starts to flow this week, residents around the route will be using cameras from the Texas Pipeline Watch to monitor and document all activity of the pipeline.



California Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Jan. 17, 2014, proclaimed a state of emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare for the drought conditions.

Water Emergency Declared for California

Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. on Jan. 17 proclaimed a state of emergency and directed state officials to take all necessary actions to prepare in the face of the driest year on record.

Trichloroethylene, a solvent and a volatile organic chemical, can contaminate groundwater and become an indoor air hazard.

A Perfect Storm Batters Risk Management Decisions for TCE

This new interim policy means that a chronic toxic effect could occur across a 24 hour period of time and any average 24-hour exposure measurement above the RfC is cause for prompt action. This is unprecedented and scientifically indefensible.

Permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, forms during colder climates, when average annual temperatures remain below freezing.

Permafrost… It’s Chill.

Imagine being kept below freezing temperatures for thousands of years… to be trapped with no way to escape other than to thaw out over time. Permafrost, or permanently frozen ground, forms during colder climates, when average annual temperatures remain below freezing. The soils accumulate ice and plant material from plants living at the Earth’s surface.

Uprighted in September 2013, the Costa Concordia now sits upright on a platform the salvage companies constructed. (Photo by The Parbuckling Project)

Costa Concordia Removal Set for June

The port that wins the contract to scrap the damaged cruise ship will be announced in March, according to the timetable for the remainder of the salvage operation.

Warm water in the Pacific often creates thunderstorms that become a “global chimney”, which can launch gases into the stratosphere.

Tropical Pacific May Play Huge Role in Global Warming

A group of scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) will begin a project that explores the possibility of storm activity in the Pacific Ocean may contribute to global climate change.

Will the Brazilian courts uphold constitution protections for future generations as a basis to strike down new forest laws that allow destruction of the world’s climate – protecting forests?

Brazil Repeals Forest Code and Deforestation Accelerates

Will the Brazilian courts uphold constitution protections for future generations as a basis to strike down new forest laws that allow destruction of the world’s climate – protecting forests?

FAA

FAA Announces Six Winning Sites for Drone Testing Program

Sites in six states were selected from among 25 proposals from 24 states, the Federal Aviation Administration announced Dec. 30.

BSEE Soliciting Oil Spill Response Research Papers

BSEE Oil Spill Response Division Chief David Moore said the agency hopes "to spur further innovation and to improve upon the techniques and technology available to respond to potential oil spills."

Will federal flood insurance reforms fully embrace the new reality of climate change driving frequent and intense storms?

Severe Weather Events and the National Flood Insurance Program

Will federal flood insurance reforms fully embrace the new reality of climate change driving frequent and intense storms?

Former BP Engineer Convicted in Deepwater Horizon Case

The Department of Justice announced that a federal court jury convicted Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, on one count of obstruction of justice for intentionally destroying evidence requested by federal authorities investigating the accident.

If left unmonitored, recent trends of forest loss could result in a significant loss of land conservation and water quality, and limit climate change protection.

Loss of Forest Cover Threatens Water, Climate, and Land Conservation

A recent study conducted by Harvard University urges the importance of land-use regulations to help preserve water quality, increase the amount of harvested wood, and protect wildlife habitats.

Right whales are protected by the Ship Strike Reduction Rule.

Endangered Whales Protected by Ship Strike Reduction Rule

According to the NOAA, a final rule has been issued to help keep protecting the endangered North Atlantic right whale by reducing lethal vessel collisions.