PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

News in Brief

California Proposes Adding Two Chemicals To Prop 65 List (OEHHA)

California has proposed adding two toxics to its Proposition 65 list of toxic substances. The state proposes adding acrylamide as a reproductive toxicant and the pesticide metam potassium as a carcinogen.

(10 Mar 2010)

Most Personal-Care Products are Toxic (Durango Herald)

According to the Durango Herald, "Most toothpaste, skin lotions, sunscreens, shampoos, conditioners, soaps and cosmetics contain toxic substances you do not want in your body. All of these products also end up in our waterways to affect us a second time when we use the water." More product information is available at the Cosmetic Safety Database.

(10 Mar 2010)

White House Seeks More Transparent Environmental Reviews (OMB Watch)

The Obama administration has proposed new guidance intended to increase transparency and public involvement in the implementation of one of the nation's oldest and most important environmental laws, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

(09 Mar 2010)

EPA Announces New Action to Prevent Coal Ash Releases (U.S. EPA)

EPA will collect information from electric utilities on the structural integrity of their coal ash impoundments and conduct on-site assessments. According to EPA, "The assessment and analysis of all such units located at electric utilities in the U.S. will be compiled in a report and made available to the public." The actions are in response to the 2008 coal ash spill in Tennessee.

(09 Mar 2010)

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)

Groups Push For Safety Information for Workers (Center for Progressive Reform)

At a recent public hearing, OSHA heard testimony from the Center for Progressive Reform and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility opposing a proposed change that would limit the amount of information on chemical hazards available to workers.

(08 Mar 2010)

White House Wants More Transparency in Monitoring Environmental Impacts (Council on Environmental Quality)

The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) wants federal agencies to improve the monitoring of environmental mitigation projects approved under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and greater public involvement in ensuring mitigation efforts work. Public comments on the proposal may be sent to: Mitigation.guidance@ceq.eop.gov, or here.

(03 Mar 2010)

Millions Protected From Toxic Terrorism, Congress Must Act to Protect More (OMB Watch)

More than 40 million Americans are no longer at risk from a poisonous cloud of gas released from a terrorist attack on water treatment plants thanks to process changes at the plants, according to data analyzed by the Center for American Progress (CAP). However, millions more remain at risk and the Senate is poised to take on this issue.

(02 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)

States Push EPA, Congress to Curb Business Confidentiality Claims for Chemicals (NY Times)

States are demanding greater disclosure of alleged trade secrets related to chemicals regulated by EPA. According to one state official, "We're talking about a very basic right to know, which is needed by consumers, regulators, workers. ... If [a chemical] is in products we're going to use, we feel like people ought to have access to robust information."

(02 Mar 2010)

Public Speaks on Ideas to Open Up Environmental Agencies (OMB Watch)

Environmental agencies are seeking ideas on how to improve transparency, public participation, collaboration, and innovation, and the agencies are receiving numerous suggestions. The challenge for individual agencies is to shape the diverse ideas into the strategies and goals that will comprise their Open Government Plans.

(01 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)

How Would You Grade EPA’s Environmental Justice Role? (U.S. EPA)

The EPA is seeking the public's views on the question, "How do you feel about EPA’s current efforts toward working for environmental justice?" Citizens can join the conversation at the EPA blog.

(01 Mar 2010)

More Time to Comment on Disclosure of Pesticide Ingredients (U.S. EPA)

In response to industry requests, the EPA has extended the public comment period on its proposal to require disclosure of pesticide ingredients, including so-called inert ingredients, until April 23, 2010. "Inert" ingredients can be extremely dangerous but are usually not dislosed on pesticide labels. Submit your comments here.

(25 Feb 2010)

EPA Inspector Faults Excessive Trade Secret Protections (U.S. EPA)

EPA's IG found in a new report that EPA’s procedures for handling confidential business information (CBI) requests "are predisposed to protect industry information rather than to provide public access to health and safety studies," and the EPA should "develop CBI classification criteria to improve EPA’s transparency."

(24 Feb 2010)

Chemical Secrecy Keeps BPA in Food (Environmental Working Group)

Even makers of canned foods can’t necessarily find out if certain chemicals, including BPA, are in the liners of the cans they sell to millions of people every day.

(24 Feb 2010)