EPA fines six East Bay cities and the East Bay Municipal Utility District $372,876 for sewer discharge into San Francisco Bay

The Wilderness Society, in collaboration with four other environmental organizations, issued a joint statement this week in response to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) final rule on methane waste. This newly released regulation is the first significant update to rules that have been in place for decades.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has lauded the draft management plan for Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, released by the Bureau of Land Management. The plan is notable for its inclusion of contributions from five Native American tribes through consultations with federal agencies, marking it as a historic initiative.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has included the Louisiana Superfund site, Exide Baton Rouge, in the National Priorities List (NPL). The NPL is a catalog of locations known to harbor toxic chemicals that pose potential threats to human health or the environment across America and its territories.

A recent poll conducted by the American Lung Association (ALA) reveals that a significant majority of American voters are in favor of stricter standards for particulate matter (PM), also known as particle or soot pollution. This finding emerges a month after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its decision to reinforce the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a new office aimed at guiding rural and agricultural communities towards economic opportunities. The initiative is designed to enhance the vitality of these communities and small towns, while also bolstering environmental stewardship.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revised a program designed to provide protective safety provisions, aiming to shield vulnerable communities from the potential dangers of chemical mishaps. The initiative is set to prevent the accidental release of hazardous chemicals.

Several governmental agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), are collaborating to reduce health risks from lead hazards, particularly among children. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have also signed agreements to spearhead this initiative.

The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has released a new study exploring how best practices from the Global South can assist nations worldwide in curbing deforestation. The findings of this report will be presented at the World Trade Organization’s Thirteenth Ministerial Conference next week.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has unveiled a $5.8 billion plan to bolster water infrastructure upgrades, courtesy of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This substantial sum forms part of an approximately $50 billion investment aimed at fortifying water projects that supply reliable drinking water to the public.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has proposed new protections for a tract of land located within the Placitas area of Sandoval County, New Mexico. The focus of these protections would be on new mining claims and mineral activity, and the BLM is currently inviting public comments on this proposal.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to remove the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard from the National Priorities List (NPL), also known as the "superfund" list. The shipyard, located in Kittery, Maine, no longer requires remediation according to the EPA.

The City of Lowell, Massachusetts, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Justice Department, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have reached an agreement regarding the renovation of Lowell's sewer system. The project is expected to cost $195 million. Additionally, city officials in Lowell have agreed to pay a fine of $200,000 for excessive sewage discharge into the Merrimack River.

Eric Moses, a spokesperson for the global chemical manufacturer OxyChem, has voiced concerns about the settlement process for the Diamond Alkali Superfund site. In a statement to Federal Newswire, Moses claimed that the process has attempted to bypass the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). The Superfund site in question is located in New Jersey and encompasses the Lower Passaic River.

Eric Moses, a spokesman for OxyChem, a chemical manufacturer, addressed Federal Newswire on Jan. 25, stating that the proposed settlement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is insufficient to address the cleanup of the Passaic River. The DOJ announced in November an extension to the timeline for the proposed settlement regarding the cleanup of New Jersey's Passaic River, which is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund site.

Eric Moses, a spokesperson for global chemical manufacturer OxyChem, indicated in a Jan. 25 statement to Federal Newswire that the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed settlement for the cleanup of New Jersey's Passaic River only covers a portion of the total funding needed for remediation. This could potentially leave taxpayers to cover the remaining costs. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection has declined to comment on this matter.