Water


NYC Mayor Ending City's Purchase of Single-Use Plastics

The mayor's executive order will reduce the city's carbon emissions by approximately 500 tons per year, decrease plastic pollution, and reduce risks to wildlife, with the city estimating it will reduce the purchase of single-use plastics by city agencies by 95 percent.

Understanding LEED, WELL, and the Differences

The WELL program was started by many of the same people involved in the original LEED program established by the U.S. Green Building Council back in 1998. The WELL program was created far more recently, in October 2014, which is likely one reason few of us are familiar with it.

Miami-Dade County Hosting First Sea Level Rise Workshops

Local experts will be available at the workshops to answer questions and to guide small group conversations to learn more about sea level rise in the county and to devise strategies to address anticipated impacts.

CDC, ATSDR to Fund PFAS Studies

The agencies are soliciting research applications to conduct a multi-site study on the human health effects of exposures to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through drinking water.

CARB Hosting Event for Truckers on Clean Air Rules

State air quality experts will provide truck drivers and fleet owners with the latest information to help them comply with the clean air requirements and upcoming rule deadlines.

Consent Order Signed as Hawaiian Dairy Closes

The order was completed to address numerous discharges of wastewater containing manure from the dairy to state waters during the past two years that were documented by the department, and it requires Big Island Dairy's owners to terminate their dairy operations.

NYC Mayor Cutting City's Vehicle Fleet

The city will eliminate least 1,000 vehicles from its fleet by June 2021 and will reduce the number of take-home vehicles by at least 500 vehicles, curtail the reliance on SUVs in the city fleet, and promote increased vehicle efficiency by using advanced data collection.

More Federal Loan Guarantees Given for Vogtle Expansion

U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry was on hand for the announcement of the closing of approximately $1.67 billion in additional Department of Energy loan guarantees for the Vogtle 3 and 4 units, which Georgia Power has predicted will cost about $25 billion to complete, or nearly twice their original estimated cost.



Virginia Governor Signs Coal Ash Cleanup Bills

"The potential risks to public health and water quality posed by unlined coal ash ponds in the Commonwealth are far too great for us to continue with business as usual," said Gov. Ralph Northam. "This historic, bipartisan effort sets a standard for what we can achieve when we work together, across party lines, in the best interest of all Virginians."

Houston-Area Petrochemical Terminal Fire Extinguished

The fire at Intercontinental Terminals Company's Deer Park terminal was fully extinguished by 3 a.m. March 10, the company reported.

Registration Available for 2019 Hanford Tours

The public tour program focuses on environmental cleanup and gives participants with a look at key projects that support the ongoing cleanup of the Richland, Wash., site.

Sacramento's Electric Car Share Program Expanded to All Residents

"Gig is thrilled to bring the largest all-electric car sharing service in the United States to Sacramento, a city that's becoming recognized as a worldwide leader in zero-emission energy," said Jason Haight, president of GIG Car Share.

UN Official Calls for Urgent Action on Climate Change

United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed decried what she called the negative consequences of the current "take, make, and dispose" global economic model, citing harmful environmental and health impacts associated with the extraction of metals used in mobile phones, plastic waste flowing into the oceans, and the huge amount of electronic waste generated every year.

SEC Charges Volkswagen, Former CEO with Defrauding Investors

The complaint alleges that Volkswagen made false and misleading statements to investors and underwriters about vehicle quality, environmental compliance, and VW's financial standing and that, by concealing the emissions scheme, Volkswagen obtained hundreds of millions of dollars in benefit by issuing the securities at more attractive rates for the company.

GM Dials Up More Wind Power in Michigan

At this point, GM has contracted or invested in a total of 1.71 terawatt hours of clean energy power in North America, equivalent to the power consumed by more than 145,000 U.S. households.

IMO Trains Caribbean Oil Spill Managers to Boost Response Capacity

The March 11-14 course has showcased success stories of several countries in ratifying relevant international preparedness and response conventions, adopting national oil spill legislation, and developing oil spill response capacity.

Pennsylvania DEP Promoting Governor's Infrastructure Plan

"Unexpected flood repairs can drain a municipality's budget. Restore Pennsylvania will provide financial relief to make necessary repairs and allow communities to return to normal," Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Southcentral Regional Director Joe Adams said when he visited York County to talk with local leaders about the plan.

Ohio Landfill Misses First Deadline for Odor Control

The first key deadline required Sunny Farms Landfill LLC to ensure parts of the landfill, not currently accepting waste, were covered with 3 feet of soil by Feb. 28, but an inspection on March 1 by Ohio EPA inspectors found many areas where the facility failed to provide adequate soil cover.

Texas Agency OKs $30 Million for Water, Wastewater Projects

The Texas Water Development Board on March 5 approved financial assistance totaling $30,024,161 for water and wastewater system projects located in three counties. Part of the funding, $4,739,161, was approved for rural projects.

Resident Inspectors Chosen for New Vogtle Units

Nuclear Regulatory Commission officials in Atlanta recently announced the selection of Kenya Carrington and Patrick Heher as resident inspectors for the construction of Vogtle Units 3 and 4, new units being built near Waynesboro, Ga.