News


Hanford Sets Meeting on Tunnel 2 Plans

A public meeting has been scheduled for March 14 at 5 p.m. in Richland, Wash., so area residents can learn more about the plans to finish filling and stabilizing two large tunnels there that have been used to store contaminated waste.

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.

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.

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.

L.A. Breaks Ground on North Hollywood West Groundwater Treatment Project

The project is supported by $44.5 million in state funding and it a key part of Mayor Eric Garcetti's goal to source 50 percent of L.A.'s water locally by 2035. The North Hollywood West site is the first of four planned remediation projects in the valley and is expected to be completed by early 2020, according to the city.

BSEE Increases Maximum Civil Penalty Amounts for Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Violations

The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement announced Wednesday that the maximum civil penalty rate for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act will increase from $42,704 to $43,576 a day for each violation.

Canadian Coast Guard Seeks Proposals for Bulk Oil Removal from Wrecked Freighter

Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of Bays – Central – Notre Dame, announced Wednesday that in the coming months the Canadian Coast Guard will be seeking proposals from qualified marine salvage companies for bulk oil removal from the wreck of the Manolis L.

DEP Penalizes Energy Corporation of America for Drilling Violations

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has collected a $1.7 million civil penalty prescribed in a consent order and agreement with Energy Corporation of America (ECA) for violations at 17 well sites in Greene and Clearfield counties.

LANL Cleanup Public Meeting Set for Jan. 16

NMED will host the meeting and the Environmental Management Los Alamos field office will present information concerning cleanup work completed in fiscal year 2017 and the coming year's cleanup milestones and target dates.

EPA Awards $2.1 Million to Protect, Restore California Wetlands and Streams

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded more than $2.1 million in grants to protect and restore wetlands and streams across California.

Ohio EPA Offers Alternative Fuel Vehicle Conversion Grants

A new grant from Ohio EPA will reimburse owners of large diesel or gasoline vehicles for a portion of the cost of the conversion or replacement of engines to use compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas such as propane or butane, including bi-fueled or dual-fueled vehicles that can run on both an alternative fuel and on gasoline or diesel fuel.