Candles Smell Good, But They Could Be Toxic (Links)
When it Comes to Los Angeles Lawns, Brown is Golden You know it’s the silly season when a member of the Los Angeles City Council weighs in on the importance of green lawns during a drought, as the 12th District’s Greig Smith did several weeks ago. How Much Weed Killer Is Safe in Your Water Glass? New research suggests that atrazine may be dangerous at lower concentrations than previously thought, particularly for fetuses. California Moves Toward Stringent Chromium 6 Standard for Drinking Water California took the first step Thursday toward setting a drinking water standard for chromium 6 that could force cities and water districts to undertake costly treatment. E.P.A. to Set Limits for Water Pollution in Florida After a 2008 lawsuit by the Sierra Club, Florida Wildlife Federation and others, the settlement is the first time the agency has forced numeric limits on nutrient runoff on a state. California to Mandate Recycling for Businesses, Apartments California residents not living in permanent housing may no longer have to deal with the frustration of searching for recycling options. China Closes Factories Amid Growing Protests Over Lead Poisoning Chinese officials have temporarily closed at least five heavy metal smelters as concerns rise over high levels of lead found in children in nearby villages and towns. Environmental Racism? Brazil Sends Toxic Ship Back to Britain A ship supposedly carrying recyclable materials was in fact full of toxic waste, including condoms, syringes, and human waste. Sugar vs. Corn Syrup High-fructose corn syrup was invented in 1957. Calls to Tax Junk Food Gain Ground Cigarette ’sin taxes’ have turned out to be the most effective ways to reduce smoking; will the same tactic work to fight obesity? Candles Smell Good, But They Could Be Toxic Burning certain kinds of candles may generate indoor air pollutants.
Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink (Links)
Navy To Conduct Warfare Training Near Right Whale Calving Grounds The training range will be constructed near the only known calving grounds for the North Atlantic right whale, a species whose total population is thought to be around 300 individuals. On the Prowl For Water-Use Scofflaws Since June, nearly 700 citations have been issued to L.A. residents caught violating the city’s tightened water laws. San Diego Company Fined $600,000 for Groundwater Contamination Regional water pollution cops fined an industrial company $600,000 and threatened to nearly double the penalty if it doesn’t meet deadlines leading up to treatment of a contaminated groundwater plume in El Cajon. Alaska’s Kensington Gold Mine Gets Go-Ahead The Army Corps of Engineers has green-lighted a controversial plan to dump millions of tons of waste into Lower Slate Lake. U.S. Military Says to Act Now or ‘Pay Later’ For Climate Change U.S. military intelligence studies have concluded that over the next 20 to 30 years, the world’s vulnerable regions will food and water shortages, and catastrophic flooding, which could demand costly American humanitarian relief or military response. Climate Change Causing Birds to Shrink Global warming is making birds smaller. Exxon Mobil vs. New York City New York City claims that Exxon Mobil knew that a certain additive used in their gasoline would contaminate groundwater, but used it anyway. ExxonMobil Pleads Guilty to Killing Protected Birds The company will pay $600,000 in fines and fees, and most of the 85 birds that died were exposed to industrial pollution. Russian Oil Rigs Just 45 Miles From Florida? Cuba will allow Russia to look for oil and gas in its territorial waters. Biologists Demystify Elusive War Zone Bacterium The bacterium Acinetobacter baumannii causes mortality rates as high as 75 percent in the Middle East. Houshold Spices Provide Eco-friendly Pesticides for Organics Well-known spices such as rosemary, thyme, clove, and mint are becoming organic agriculture’s key weapons against insect pests as the industry tries to satisfy increased demands for organic produce. How Does College Major Affect Religious Faith? College students who major in the social sciences and humanities are likely to become less religious, while those who in education are likely to become more religious. I Say Spend. You Say No. We’re in Love. When it comes to money, opposites do attract: “spendthrifts” and “tightwads” tend to marry.
Email Lisa Jackson Over Federal Ruling on Mountaintop Removal Mining
Good times.
A federal appeals court has overturned a ruling that would have required more extensive environmental reviews for mountaintop removal coal mining, a practice that involves blasting away mountaintops to expose coal seams and dumping dirt and other debris into streams.
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Va., ruled Friday the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can issue Clean Water Act permits for valley fills without more extensive reviews.
