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Environmental Groups Petition EPA Against Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor Air Permit

Environmental Groups Petition EPA Against Cleveland-Cliffs Burns Harbor Air Permit

A coalition of environmental organizations has filed a petition with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to challenge an air permit issued to Cleveland-Cliffs' Burns Harbor steel mill in Northwest Indiana. The groups, including the Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environmental Integrity Project, Gary Advocates for Responsible Development, Just Transition Northwest Indiana, and Faith in Place, contend that the permit fails to meet fundamental requirements of the Clean Air Act. They argue that the permit lacks sufficient monitoring, testing, and reporting provisions, as well as corrective action, operation and maintenance, and preventative maintenance plans, which are standard for Clean Air Act operating permits. The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) issued the permit on July 6, and the petition was filed on August 21. IDEM spokesman Allen Carter stated that the agency determined the permit met all applicable state and federal requirements and that the U.S. EPA did not obj...

EPA's Waste Management Branch Researches PFAS Fate in Waste Systems

EPA's Waste Management Branch Researches PFAS Fate in Waste Systems

The Waste Management Branch (WMB) of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting research to assess the fate of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in various waste management pathways and other industrial sectors. This research involves visiting sites, interviewing experts, and reviewing scientific and technical information related to PFAS destruction efficiencies in different combustion environments, such as sewage sludge incinerators, municipal and commercial solid waste incinerators, and hazardous-waste rotary kilns. The WMB is responsible for developing rules, regulations, and policies for controlling air pollution from facilities managing hazardous and nonhazardous wastes, including landfills, publicly owned treatment works, and incinerators. The branch establishes regulations under sections 111, 112, and 129 of the Clean Air Act. The research will also examine PFAS fate in incinerators and landfills, including potential release pathways through gas, ash, and leachate, and will inv...

Illinois Manufacturers' Association Partners with Environmental Regulatory Group to Unify Voice on Environmental Policy

Illinois Manufacturers' Association Partners with Environmental Regulatory Group to Unify Voice on Environmental Policy

Illinois Manufacturers' Association Partners with Environmental Regulatory Group to Unify Voice on Environmental Policy

Louisiana Sheriffs Under Scrutiny for Opioid Settlement Fund Spending

Louisiana Sheriffs Under Scrutiny for Opioid Settlement Fund Spending

A collaborative investigation by Verite News, KFF Health News, The Current, and Gulf States Newsroom has revealed that Louisiana sheriffs are spending millions of dollars from opioid settlement funds on items not directly related to addiction treatment or prevention. While these funds are intended to combat the opioid crisis, a panel of experts reviewed reported expenditures and deemed approximately two-thirds, or $5.4 million, as inappropriate. Examples of these expenditures include crime cameras, vehicles, and officer overtime. Louisiana is unique in allocating virtually all of its $621 million in opioid settlement funds to local governments, with sheriffs receiving the largest share earmarked for law enforcement among any state. However, unlike parish governments, sheriffs' offices are not required to file annual reports on their spending, leading to a lack of public accountability. Out of 64 parishes, 43 sheriffs' departments provided expenditure lists totaling just over $8 million, leaving $10.6 milli...

Global Food Goals Off Track for 2030, Report Reveals

Global Food Goals Off Track for 2030, Report Reveals

A new report by an international team of researchers, under the Food Systems Countdown Initiative (FSCI), indicates that humanity is significantly off track in meeting most of its internationally agreed food system goals for 2030. The report, published in Nature Food, assessed 44 indicators, and of the 30 with defined global targets, only one—mobile phone subscriptions, used as a proxy for social connectedness and food system resilience—is realistically achievable by 2030. The assessment combines progress toward government and international body targets with benchmarks between countries to provide a comprehensive picture. For 22 of the indicators, fewer than a third of the 197 countries included in the report are expected to meet their applicable global target or benchmark by 2030. Notably, 'greenhouse gas emissions from food systems' is one of the worst-performing indicators, with the global average more than 75 percent away from its target. Some indicators, such as civil society participation, government...

Energy Drinks Pose Health Risks, Especially for Children and Individuals with Health Conditions

Energy Drinks Pose Health Risks, Especially for Children and Individuals with Health Conditions

Energy drinks, while popular for their stimulating effects, carry significant health risks due to their high caffeine content and other active ingredients. Concerns include increased heart rate and blood pressure, sleep disruption, anxiety, and potential dependence. For most healthy adults, the recommended upper limit for caffeine intake is 400 mg per day from all sources. However, many energy drinks contain substantial amounts of caffeine, with some single servings reaching 180 mg or more. The risks are amplified when energy drinks are consumed frequently, in large quantities, or combined with other caffeine sources. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable and are advised to avoid energy drinks entirely due to potential impacts on their developing nervous systems, sleep patterns, and sugar intake. Individuals with pre-existing health conditions, especially cardiovascular issues, face greater risks and should consult healthcare professionals regarding caffeine consumption.

UN Ocean Conference 2025 to Prioritize Sustainable Ocean Management and Conservation

UN Ocean Conference 2025 to Prioritize Sustainable Ocean Management and Conservation

The UN Ocean Conference in 2025 is set to reposition oceans as a global priority, focusing on sustainable management and conservation. This international gathering will emphasize the critical need for global cooperation to tackle various ocean-related challenges. Key issues on the agenda include deep-sea mining, the pervasive impacts of climate change on marine ecosystems, and the broader protection of marine biodiversity. Discussions will also aim to integrate ocean health into overarching global policy frameworks, promoting economic practices that are sustainable within marine environments. The conference seeks to foster a comprehensive approach to ocean governance, recognizing the interconnectedness of ocean health with global ecological and economic stability. This initiative underscores a concerted effort to address the escalating threats facing the world's oceans and to secure their long-term viability.

Morocco Faces International Scrutiny Over Western Sahara Claims and Human Rights

Morocco Faces International Scrutiny Over Western Sahara Claims and Human Rights

Morocco is facing international criticism regarding its claims over Western Sahara and its human rights record. The nation considers any challenge to its borders, including its claim to Western Sahara, a national security threat. Moroccan law prohibits public speech that criticizes the monarchy, insults Islam, or questions the Western Sahara claim, leading to arrests of activists, suppression of independent news, and crackdowns on protests. The nomadic Sahrawi people in Western Sahara are engaged in a prolonged conflict for independence. Additionally, Morocco has drawn sharp international criticism for human rights abuses along its borders, which serve as primary transit points for Sub-Saharan migrants heading to Europe. The country also disputes Spanish ownership of the coastal cities of Ceuta and Melilla. Internally, severe, multi-year droughts are exacerbating the divide between the wealthy and the poor, pushing families from rural areas into urban slums.

US officials weigh plan to shield farmers from expansion of refinery biofuel waivers, sources say

US officials weigh plan to shield farmers from expansion of refinery biofuel waivers, sources say

By Jarrett Renshaw Aug 27 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump and top U.S. officials discussed on Wednesday a plan to shield the Farm Belt from an expected expansion of waivers of biofuel laws, which his administration is considering as a way to lower gasoline prices during the Iran war, two people

Clean Air Task Force Analysis Links Coal Power Plant Pollution to Over 6,600 Premature Deaths Annually

Clean Air Task Force Analysis Links Coal Power Plant Pollution to Over 6,600 Premature Deaths Annually

A new analysis by the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) reveals that air pollution from nearly 200 coal-fired power plants in the U.S. is responsible for over 6,600 premature deaths and more than $100 billion in damages annually. The 'Toll from Coal' modeling tool, updated with 2024 emissions data, indicates that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from these plants contribute to harmful soot and smog. Beyond premature deaths, the pollution causes nearly 2,000 non-fatal heart attacks and over 15,000 new asthma diagnoses each year, leading to hundreds of thousands of missed school and work days. CATF Senior Scientist John Graham emphasized that reducing pollution from these plants is a highly effective public health measure. The analysis also highlights concerns about the U.S. Department of Energy potentially forcing plants with planned retirement dates between 2025 and 2028 to remain operational, which could lead to an additional 2,000 deaths and $28 billion in health-related costs.

Senator Hawley Launches Investigation into Flock Safety's National Surveillance Network

Senator Hawley Launches Investigation into Flock Safety's National Surveillance Network

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, R-Mo., has initiated an investigation into Flock Safety, a company operating a nationwide network of automated license plate reader cameras. As chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, Senator Hawley has formally requested information from Flock Safety CEO Garrett Langley regarding the safeguards in place to protect American citizens' data. The investigation stems from concerns over the company's extensive surveillance capabilities, which include over 120,000 cameras across 49 states, conducting more than 20 billion vehicle scans monthly. Senator Hawley highlighted instances of alleged misuse, citing a St. Charles County police officer who reportedly used Flock's system for personal searches, and similar allegations in Wisconsin, Florida, and California. He emphasized that the vast majority of individuals captured by these cameras have committed no wrongdoing, raising significant privacy concerns about the scale and scope of this national survei...

President Trump Administration Terminates 'Solar for All' Program, Impacting Low-Income Solar Initiatives

President Trump Administration Terminates 'Solar for All' Program, Impacting Low-Income Solar Initiatives

The President Trump administration abruptly terminated the 'Solar for All' federal grant program in August 2025, before allocated funds could reach states. This program, launched in 2024 by the EPA, was designed to provide $7 billion in grants to expand rooftop solar panel access for low-income households and communities that traditionally could not afford or access them. The program aimed to guarantee a 20% savings on electricity bills for participating households, with an estimated national saving of $350 million annually and the creation of 200,000 new jobs. For instance, the Veterans Benefits Clearinghouse Development Corporation (VBCDC) in Massachusetts, which sought to install solar panels on 17 multifamily housing sites, was only able to complete six projects after the program's cancellation, despite prior planning with Resonant Energy. The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and its partners have filed a lawsuit against the federal government, challenging the legality of the program's termination.