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North Carolina Governor Josh Stein Featured in Documentary on PFAS Contamination Fight

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein Featured in Documentary on PFAS Contamination Fight

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein is featured in a new documentary titled 'GENX: The Saga of Forever Chemicals,' which premieres in Saxapahaw. The film explores the nearly decade-long battle against PFAS contamination in the state's drinking water, particularly in the Cape Fear River. Governor Stein served as attorney general during a significant portion of the investigation and legal actions related to these 'forever chemicals.' The documentary, directed by Eli Yetter-Bowman and Sammy Bauer, delves into the history of PFAS contamination, its impact on communities, and ongoing efforts to hold chemical manufacturers accountable. It also includes environmental attorney Robert Bilott and actor Mark Ruffalo. The film highlights the personal connection of Yetter-Bowman, who grew up in Wilmington and was exposed to contaminated water, inspiring his investigation into the broader health implications. Recent testing has revealed the nationwide extent of PFAS contamination, with nearly 197 million Americans served...

Hoosiers Urge EPA to Uphold Strong Coal Ash Regulations at Public Hearing

Hoosiers Urge EPA to Uphold Strong Coal Ash Regulations at Public Hearing

Residents of Indiana, known as Hoosiers, attended a public hearing held by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to voice their opposition to weakening coal ash regulations. The hearing addressed Indiana's proposed Coal Ash permitting program, which critics argue would allow the state to bypass federal protections in favor of less stringent statewide rules. Indiana has the highest number of coal ash dumps in the U.S., with over 100 landfills and ponds containing approximately 134 million cubic yards of toxic coal ash. Environmental groups like the Sierra Club contend that the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has a history of permitting dangerous coal ash contamination, and approving their application would leave communities vulnerable to further pollution.

Arizona County Faces Heightened PFAS Contamination Risks Amid New Mine Approval

Arizona County Faces Heightened PFAS Contamination Risks Amid New Mine Approval

Santa Cruz County, Arizona, is grappling with severe perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, ranking first in Arizona and tenth nationally for these 'forever chemicals.' Environmental activists are raising alarms as South32's Hermosa mine in Patagonia received federal approval under new fast-track 'critical mining' rules. Critics, including Robin Lucky, president of the Calabasas Alliance, fear the mine will exacerbate existing pollution by releasing arsenic and other heavy metals. The county's public drinking water systems already show unacceptable levels of PFAS in 44% of cases, according to the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. The Nogales Wash, which carries wastewater and storm runoff from Mexico, is a significant source of contamination, with PFAS not adhering to political boundaries. Despite company assurances from President Pat Risner that arsenic levels are decreasing and that a high reading for another toxic metal was due to a lab error, activists remain con...

EPA Accelerates Soil Cleanup at PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska

EPA Accelerates Soil Cleanup at PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund Site in York, Nebraska

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has successfully met its soil cleanup objectives for Operable Unit 01 at the PCE Southeast Contamination Superfund site in York, Nebraska. This achievement is part of the EPA's Superfund Solutions initiative, which aims to expedite the remediation of contaminated sites. The agency utilized in-situ thermal remediation, an innovative technology that heats contaminated soil to convert pollutants into vapor for treatment, significantly reducing the cleanup timeline by over a decade. This method proved to be more efficient and less disruptive than traditional soil removal techniques. Laboratory analyses have confirmed that tetrachloroethene (PCE) levels in the soil at Operable Unit 01 now meet the established cleanup goals. EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Macy highlighted that this accelerated approach minimizes community impact while effectively restoring the site. Cleanup goals for Operable Unit 02 were met in 2025, and efforts will now shift to addressing the con...

EPA Demonstrates New Lead Identification Technologies to Combat Exposure

EPA Demonstrates New Lead Identification Technologies to Combat Exposure

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently hosted a demonstration of emerging technologies aimed at improving the identification of lead service lines. The event took place at the EPA’s Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed in Edison, New Jersey. Researchers from Dartmouth College showcased their electromagnetic induction (EMI) technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to differentiate pipe materials like lead and copper without excavation. Drexel University’s team presented their stress wave technology, which employs mechanical vibrations to locate lead service lines by analyzing signals captured by ground sensors. These innovative methods promise to identify lead service lines more quickly, affordably, and with less disruption than traditional excavation techniques. According to Teresa Booeshaghi, associate administrator of the Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions (OASES), the test bed provides a crucial space for evaluating these technologies under controlled conditions ...

New Research Links Paraquat Herbicide Inhalation to Parkinson's Disease in Mice, Raising Regulatory Concerns

New Research Links Paraquat Herbicide Inhalation to Parkinson's Disease in Mice, Raising Regulatory Concerns

Preliminary new research from scientists at the University of Rochester and the University of Georgia indicates that exposure to paraquat herbicide through inhalation can cause neurotoxic brain effects consistent with Parkinson's disease. The study, which is a preprint and has not yet undergone peer review, exposed laboratory mice to air containing paraquat particles for 60 days. The results showed reduced dopamine neurons and impaired motor function in the mice. This research is significant because it models human exposure more closely than previous studies, which often involved dietary or injected paraquat. Deborah Cory-Slechta, a neurotoxicologist and co-author, stated that these findings strengthen the existing body of evidence linking paraquat to Parkinson's. The study also noted greater impacts in male mice, mirroring the higher diagnosis rate of Parkinson's in men. This comes as U.S. regulators are reportedly re-examining the chemical, which is banned in approximately 70 other countries, including C...

Northern Dynasty Minerals Faces Critical Alaska Court Ruling on Pebble Project

Northern Dynasty Minerals Faces Critical Alaska Court Ruling on Pebble Project

Northern Dynasty Minerals Faces Critical Alaska Court Ruling on Pebble Project

Marathon Petroleum Subsidiary Seeks Permit Change for Albuquerque Terminal, Raising Community Concerns Over Increased Emissions

Marathon Petroleum Subsidiary Seeks Permit Change for Albuquerque Terminal, Raising Community Concerns Over Increased Emissions

Western Refining Terminals LLC, a subsidiary of Marathon Petroleum Corp., is seeking to amend the air-quality permit for its Albuquerque Products Terminal. The proposed changes would increase the facility’s permitted emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 15.36 tons per year, an amount estimated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to be roughly equivalent to the annual VOC emissions of 1,100 gasoline-powered cars. VOCs contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, or smog, which can cause respiratory illnesses. The company's initial application in July listed a lower increase, but a revised application was submitted in October after city staff identified a mathematical error where 'pi' was omitted from calculations, making storage tanks appear smaller than their actual size. The proposed amendments include adding two diesel loading arms, allowing two diesel tanks to store gasoline, updating fuel specifications, and installing a temporary combustion unit for vapor burning during main...

Albany Park Launches Volunteer-Led Rat Birth Control Program to Combat Infestation

Albany Park Launches Volunteer-Led Rat Birth Control Program to Combat Infestation

Albany Park, a neighborhood in Chicago, has initiated a volunteer-driven rat birth control program to address its significant rat infestation. This program involves residents, such as Lark Digges-Elliot, who were concerned about the rat problem and sought non-toxic solutions. Volunteers are trained to maintain 40 rat birth control bait boxes distributed throughout the area. Each week, these volunteers replace plant-based sausages, made with cottonseed oil, inside the bait boxes. This method aims to reduce fertility in both male and female rats over time. Albany Park is the third Chicago neighborhood to partner with the Arizona-based company SenesTech for this initiative, following Lincoln Park and the Wicker Park-Bucktown area. The bait boxes are strategically placed in alleyways along commercial corridors and near the Kimball Brown Line train station, with entrances specifically designed for rats.

DOGE cuts cost tribes $470M, gutting funding for climate projects

DOGE cuts cost tribes $470M, gutting funding for climate projects

Two new reports from the Brookings Institution reveal the Department of Government Efficiency made significant cuts to tribal communities

EPA Demonstrates Emerging Technologies for Lead Service Line Identification

EPA Demonstrates Emerging Technologies for Lead Service Line Identification

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently conducted its inaugural public demonstration of emerging technologies aimed at identifying lead service lines. This event took place at the EPA's Lead Service Line Identification Test Bed in Edison, New Jersey. The primary goal of these technologies is to reduce the need for extensive excavation, lower costs, and decrease labor associated with identifying lead pipes. Researchers from Dartmouth College and Drexel University showcased two distinct methods. Dartmouth presented electromagnetic induction (EMI) technology, which uses electromagnetic fields to detect and analyze responses from buried metal pipes, allowing for material identification without direct exposure. Drexel demonstrated stress wave technology, which involves generating mechanical vibrations by striking an accessible service line valve. Ground sensors then capture signals traveling through the pipe and surrounding soil to differentiate between lead and non-lead materials. The EPA estab...

EPA Refines Surfactant Risk Assessment with New Non-Animal Method

EPA Refines Surfactant Risk Assessment with New Non-Animal Method

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has adopted a new approach for assessing the inhalation risk of surfactants, moving away from traditional animal testing. This refined method, known as a new approach method (NAM), utilizes the MucilAir™ 3D human airway epithelial model, a peer-reviewed in vitro platform. This lab-grown human airway tissue is exposed to chemicals to measure their effects on the respiratory tract, allowing the EPA to calculate human equivalent concentrations (HECs) for portal-of-entry respiratory irritation. This interim approach covers most common surfactant types, including nonionic, anionic, and zwitterionic, but currently excludes cationic surfactants. The EPA has also provided a guide for classifying substances as surfactants under this new framework. Two benchmark chemicals, Triton X-100 and Oleoyl sarcosine, have been used to derive occupational HECs, setting a conservative standard for future risk characterization.