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UN Report Highlights 30 Years of Toxic Pollution as Human Rights Crisis

UN Report Highlights 30 Years of Toxic Pollution as Human Rights Crisis

A new United Nations report, presented by Special Rapporteur Dr. Bethanie Carney Almroth, marks 30 years of the UN mandate on toxics and human rights. The report underscores that toxic pollution constitutes a human rights crisis, documenting how exposure to hazardous substances and waste infringes upon fundamental rights, including the rights to life, health, and a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. The report emphasizes that the burden of this pollution disproportionately affects those who are least responsible for its creation. Over the past three decades, the mandate has consistently highlighted issues ranging from 'forever chemicals' (PFAS) and plastics to toxic mining and contaminated communities. Dr. Almroth's report reviews the achievements of the mandate and identifies areas where further change is urgently needed. It concludes that despite 30 years of documenting harm, stronger action is now required to prevent future pollution and ensure justice for affected populations.
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Mayor Lurie Appoints City Hall Outsider Jake Berliner to Lead New Office of Management and Budget

Mayor Lurie Appoints City Hall Outsider Jake Berliner to Lead New Office of Management and Budget

Mayor Daniel Lurie has appointed Jake Berliner, a partner at the consulting firm McKinsey and Company, to head San Francisco's new Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This new office replaces the Mayor’s Budget Office. Berliner, who is considered a City Hall outsider, faces the immediate challenge of mastering the city's intricate budget processes to deliver an updated financial projection by the end of the year and a balanced budget by June 1, 2027. He replaces Sophia Kittler, a City Hall insider and a holdover from Mayor London Breed’s administration. Mayor Lurie stated that Berliner's 'outsider’s perspective' will be valuable in 'redesigning the budget process.' Berliner's background includes 13 years at McKinsey, where he focused on complex financial and operational change for education providers, state governments, and philanthropies. He has also served on the Board of Trustees at Gateway, a public school, and previously worked for former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson and former US Senator Di...
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EPA Seeks Research Applications for In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models to Enhance Chemical Screening

EPA Seeks Research Applications for In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Models to Enhance Chemical Screening

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is actively seeking applications for a research project focused on developing and qualifying in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) models. This initiative, based in Durham, North Carolina, is part of the EPA's broader effort to advance New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for evaluating the risks associated with environmental chemical exposures. The Risk Assessment Support Division (RASD) within the EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) aims to utilize these models to generate human-relevant information for chemical hazard and risk assessment. The project emphasizes reducing or replacing vertebrate animal testing while ensuring the accuracy and reliability of data used to safeguard human health and the environment. Researchers will gain experience in establishing and optimizing in vitro BBB model systems, conducting chemical exposure assays, and performing permeability and transport studies. The data collected will inform in vitro-to-in vi...
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EPA Reduces Environmental Oversight and NEPA Implementation Following Policy Shifts

EPA Reduces Environmental Oversight and NEPA Implementation Following Policy Shifts

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has significantly scaled back its implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and its cross-agency environmental oversight. This reduction in activity is attributed to both policy decisions and a decrease in agency staffing levels, which fell by over 13% in 2025. Historically, the EPA provided crucial comments on other agencies' environmental decisions, identifying unforeseen impacts and suggesting mitigation measures. However, recent guidance from EPA Deputy Administrator David Fotouhi in June 2026 asserts that the EPA has 'broad discretion' in commenting or choosing not to comment, emphasizing that the primary responsibility for environmental review rests with the other agencies. Consequently, the EPA has, in many instances, ceased issuing meaningful substantive comments on other federal agencies' environmental decisions, even responding with 'no comments' to significant projects like a draft EIS for a uranium enrichment facility and a pro...
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EPA Administrator Zeldin Announces $26 Million for Lead Reduction in School Drinking Water

EPA Administrator Zeldin Announces $26 Million for Lead Reduction in School Drinking Water

On October 29, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $26 million funding initiative for states and territories to address lead in drinking water at schools and child care facilities. This program, known as the Reducing Lead Where Children Learn Grant Program (also called the Voluntary School and Child Care Lead Testing and Reduction Grant Program), aims to provide safe, clean water for children. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin emphasized the importance of this funding during Children's Health Month, stating that parents should not have to worry about lead exposure in schools. In addition to the financial aid, the EPA also offers voluntary educational resources to state and local authorities through its Training, Testing, and Taking Action (3Ts) program to help them reduce lead in drinking water.
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Vermont's Lake Champlain Cleanup Falters Despite $900 Million Investment, EPA Warns

Vermont's Lake Champlain Cleanup Falters Despite $900 Million Investment, EPA Warns

Vermont's decade-long effort to clean up Lake Champlain is significantly behind schedule, despite nearly $1 billion spent on water quality projects and programs. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned last year that Vermont is "not on track" to meet its 2036 cleanup goal, needing to more than double its annual pace. Currently, the state has achieved only 35% of its target. The primary issue is excessive phosphorus, which fuels toxic cyanobacteria blooms, also known as blue-green algae. These blooms have led to pet deaths, beach closures, and negatively impacted local businesses and property values. Phosphorus enters the lake from agricultural runoff, stormwater, and sewage treatment plants. While some areas of the lake have shown minor improvements, seven of 15 sampling stations have consistently exceeded EPA phosphorus limits since 2015, and four stations recorded higher average phosphorus levels in the last decade compared to the previous one. State agencies have been slow to implement mor...
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EPA Proposes Exemptions for Article Importers and Enhanced Monitoring of Fluorinated Compounds in Environmental Compliance

EPA Proposes Exemptions for Article Importers and Enhanced Monitoring of Fluorinated Compounds in Environmental Compliance

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed revisions to environmental compliance regulations, specifically suggesting exemptions for certain article importers and modifications to other reporting requirements. These proposed changes are part of a broader effort to refine the reporting framework for substances like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) and the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). While these exemptions are proposed and not yet final, they indicate a potential shift in how certain imported goods containing fluorinated compounds are regulated. Currently, over 200 individual PFAS are subject to TRI reporting, classified as chemicals of special concern with a 100-pound reporting threshold per listed chemical or category, and are ineligible for the de minimis exemption or simplified Form A filing. This means even trace quantities of PFAS must be considered when evaluating reporting thresholds.
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FCC Review of International Section 214 Authorizations Under OMB Scrutiny for National Security Risks

FCC Review of International Section 214 Authorizations Under OMB Scrutiny for National Security Risks

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is undergoing a regulatory review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) concerning its International Section 214 Authorizations. This review, identified under RIN: 3060-AL76, was received by the OMB on November 5, 2026. The primary objective is to assess evolving national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy risks associated with these authorizations. The FCC's action is categorized as a 'Final Rule' stage in the regulatory process. This review is part of a broader effort to ensure that international telecommunications authorizations align with current U.S. national interests and security concerns. The process involves a detailed examination of existing policies and potential adjustments to mitigate identified risks. The review is not deemed economically significant, nor does it have international impacts or connections to the Affordable Care Act, Pandemic Response, or the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
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Republicans ask appeals court to overturn California EPA waiver ruling

Republicans ask appeals court to overturn California EPA waiver ruling

By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Nov 4 (Reuters) - Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other senior Republicans on Wednesday asked a US appeals court to overturn a ruling that found the Environmental Protection Agency improperly sent landmark California vehicle emissions rules to lawmakers for
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Congresswoman Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Mandate Microplastic Disclosure in Clothing

Congresswoman Nancy Mace Introduces Bill to Mandate Microplastic Disclosure in Clothing

Congresswoman Nancy Mace has introduced the Clothing Microplastic Transparency Act of 2026. This legislation aims to require clothing companies to disclose the estimated microplastic content in their products. According to Congresswoman Mace, current clothing labels provide fiber content but lack information on microplastics, which have become a growing health concern. The proposed bill mandates that companies selling clothing must use a stamp, tag, label, or similar identification to reveal the estimated mass of microplastics in each item. Furthermore, it directs the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to establish regulations within one year of the bill's enactment. These regulations will include a standardized test method for companies to estimate microplastic content. Violations of this act would be considered unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act, with enforcement handled by the FTC.
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EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces Searchable PFAS 'Navigator' for Research Updates

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces Searchable PFAS 'Navigator' for Research Updates

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has announced the upcoming launch of a searchable PFAS 'navigator' tool. This tool is designed to provide rolling research updates on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) technology. The EPA, under the Trump administration, has emphasized accelerating PFAS-related research through partnerships with external agencies and private industry. Administrator Zeldin stated that PFAS technology has seen 'extraordinary' advancements in the past 20 months. The navigator tool is a key component of the EPA's broader PFAS Technology Evaluation, Coordination, and Harmonization Strategy, which was recently unveiled. This strategy aims to inform on-the-ground decision-making by advancing pilot programs, establishing public-private partnerships, and collaborating on destruction technology research projects. Despite these efforts, the agency has faced criticism from environmental groups regarding the rollback of PFAS-related rules for drinking water and calls for more research into sewage s...
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Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk

Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk

Crowell Moring to Host Webinar on Microplastics: Science, Regulation, and Legal Risk