News


DARPA 'Ocean of Things' Proposers Day Set for Jan. 4

The idea is for "smart floats" that would contain a suite of commercially available sensors to collect environmental data such as ocean temperature, sea state, and location and also data about commercial vessels, aircraft, and even maritime mammals moving through the area.

NC Water Infrastructure Authority Meeting to Discuss Fair Bluff Initiative

The authority's parent agency, the state Department of Environmental Quality, developed the initiative in response to significant wastewater infrastructure impacts from Hurricane Matthew that are affecting the economic health of the town of Fair Bluff in Columbus County.

Canadian Government Aids Software/Instrumentation Company

Maid Labs Technologies that makes monitoring, measurement, and data-logging instrumentation and software for wastewater and drinking water pumping stations.

Company Paying $99,000 Civil Penalty for Air Quality Violations

The agency reported since 2013, Cabot had excess emissions of natural gas from 267 pneumatic controllers at well sites and did not submit complete compliance demonstration reports for 20 gas wells.

New York DEC Says Hudson River PCB Cleanup Not Finished

The state wants EPA to further evaluate the need for additional removal of contaminated sediment to make sure the targeted PCB reductions in fish are met, and it is also asking EPA to start its investigation of the Lower Hudson River.

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.

$10 Million to Be Paid By Defendants in Virgin Islands Methyl Bromide Case

DOJ and EPA alleged the Virgin Islands pest control company illegally applied fumigants containing methyl bromide in multiple residential locations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the condominium resort complex in St. John where a family of four became seriously ill in March 2015 after the unit below them was fumigated.

New Director Chosen for Rutgers Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute

Brian Strom, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, said Dr. Helmut Zarbl's appointment and new faculty he will recruit "will deepen the institute's core strength and link the school and institute, as well as extend its reach to include faculty across Rutgers who are interested in environmental health. This will give EOHSI the ability to significantly impact environmental health in New Jersey and beyond."



Wettest Wet Season Still Affecting South Florida

USACE said the tremendous amount of rainfall inundated the three water conservation areas and affected the wildlife that live there.

Saudi Company Agrees to Use GE Solution in Solar and Desalination Plants

The First National Operations and Maintenance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power, will implement the APM solution at 26 thermal, wind, and solar power generation and water desalination sites in nine countries.

Carbon Dioxide Atmospheric Concentration Hits Record

"Without rapid cuts in CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, we will be heading for dangerous temperature increases by the end of this century, well above the target set by the Paris climate change agreement," said WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas. "Future generations will inherit a much more inhospitable planet.

China Growing Fastest in Nuclear Power Production

China now has 38 nuclear power reactors in operation and 19 others under construction, IAEA reports.

Canadian Forces Train for Maritime Emergencies

The exercise's scenario begins with a fire on BC Ferries' M/V Coastal Renaissance that causes passengers and crew members to evacuate. The two-day exercise simulates both search and rescue and a marine environmental response.

Higher Entry Fees Proposed for 17 'Highly Visited' National Parks

The National Park Service said the proposed new fee structure would boost national park revenue by $70 million per year, a 34 percent increase from the $200 million collected in fiscal year 2016.

NC Board to Evaluate Emerging Chemicals' Risks

Increased in size from eight to 16 members, the Science Advisory Board has a new charter and the scope of its work has expanded from toxic air pollutants to the broader focus on the impact of new and emerging chemicals, including GenX and hexavalent chromium.

GAO Estimates Benefits of Preparing USA for Climate Change

The study estimated coastal property losses from rising seas and more frequent, more intense storms could range from $51 billion to $74 billion per year late in this century.

Canadian Company Pleads Guilty to Exporting Polar Bear Skin Rugs

Environment and Climate Change Canada's wildlife enforcement officers launched an investigation two years ago and discovered a polar bear skin rug located in Canada that had previously been exported to China. The investigation found the company on three occasions illegally exported polar bear skins to China.

Duke Energy Nuclear Plant Under Increased NRC Oversight

NRC said in April, an electrical component on a Catawba Unit 2 emergency diesel generator failed during a scheduled test. NRC said its inspectors reviewed the event and determined that the plant staff had failed to adequately develop and adjust preventive maintenance activities using operating experience, maintenance history, and performance records.

First Floating Wind Farm Starts Production in Scotland

Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, officially opened the 30MW farm, which Statoil operates in partnership with Masdar. The farm is located 25 kilometers offshore Peterhead in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

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."