PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

RTKnet: Pollution

Under right-to-know laws, industrial facilities report using and releasing billions of pounds of toxic chemicals. Still greater amounts pass unreported as products and pollution. Find information on tracking chemical use and releases, and on preventing industrial pollution at the source.

Coal Ash Story Belies 'Clean Coal' Myth (Associated Press)

The long and dirty story of the fate of the toxic wastes from a Tennessee Valley Authority coal ash spill in 2008 contradicts the idea that coal can be "clean." The story also shows how difficult tracking the fate of such waste can be.

(09 Mar 2010)

EPA Seeks Public Comment on Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory (U.S. EPA)

EPA is accepting comments on its most recent inventory of US GHG emissions. The draft report shows overall GHG emissions decreased by 2.9 percent from 2007 to 2008. Total emissions from GHGs were about 6,946 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. However, emissions have grown by 13.6 percent from 1990 to 2008.

(09 Mar 2010)

EPA Proposes 8 New Superfund Sites, Adds 10 Sites (U.S. EPA)

EPA is adding 10 hazardous waste sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), and proposing to add an additional 8 sites. The proposed sites are in FL, MI, MO, MT, NC, NY, and TN.

(02 Mar 2010)

Coal Ash Problem Worse Than First Revealed (OMB Watch)

A new report from the Environmental Integrity Project and Earthjustice uncovers dozens of cases where ponds of toxic coal combustion waste have leaked into nearby wetlands, streams, and groundwater supplies.

(02 Mar 2010)

Atrazine Causing Havoc to Aquatic Life (Washington Post)

A new study shows that male frogs exposed to the herbicide atrazine -- commonly found in U.S. rivers and streams -- can make a startling developmental U-turn, turning female so completely that they can mate with other males and lay viable eggs.

(01 Mar 2010)

Manure Becomes Pollutant As Its Volume Grows Unmanageable (Washington Post)

"The way that modern megafarms produce it, [one activist] said, 'Manure is no longer manure. Manure is a toxic waste now.'" Another activist stated, "You know, somebody had to talk about this. It's like this dirty little secret.'"

(01 Mar 2010)

EPA Considers Requiring Reporting of Toxic Hydrogen Sulfide (U.S. EPA)

After a 16-year review, EPA is recommending that it begin requiring polluters to report their releases of hydrogen sulfide. Hydrogen sulfide can be released from factory farms, wastewater treatment plants, oil and gas operations, and other human activities. The public may comment on the proposal here.

(01 Mar 2010)

House Investigates Dangers of Drilling (House Energy and Commerce Committee)

The House Energy and Commerce Committee will investigate eight oil and gas companies to better understand the risks hydraulic fracturing poses to drinking water supplies, and to gather information on the chemicals used in fracturing fluids and the potential impact of the practice on the environment and human health.

(18 Feb 2010)

TAKE ACTION - Tell EPA to Strengthen Monitoring of Lead Pollution in Air (NRDC)

Urge the EPA to protect children’s health by strengthening monitoring requirements for airborne lead pollution. Exposure to lead endangers children, but the EPA does not require monitoring near all industrial sources that emit unsafe amounts of airborne lead.

(05 Feb 2010)

Report Finds Underreporting of Toxic Emissions, Increase in Benzene from Refineries (Environmental Integrity Project)

The nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project used TRI data to identify an 8% increase in benzene emissions from refineries between 2007 and 2008. But the figures may be too low due to problematic underreporting to TRI.

(05 Feb 2010)