RTKnet: Waste

PROTECTING ACCESS TO ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION

Coal's Toxic Sludge (Rolling Stone)

Rolling Stone reports on the hazards of coal waste, and industry efforts to thwart regulations. The article draws on TRI data and also describes the Bush administration's efforts to conceal information on the hazards of coal ash.

(26 Mar 2010)

EPA Initiates Hydraulic Fracturing Study: Agency Seeks Input From SAB (U.S. EPA)

The EPA is beginning a study of the dangers posed by the natural gas drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, which has been linked to the contamination of surface and drinking water nationwide. A committee of the agency's Science Advisory Board (SAB) will hold a public meeting to consider the design of the study April 7 and 8 in Washington, DC.

(18 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 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)

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)

Tell EPA How to Clean Up Closed Auto Industry Sites (U.S. EPA)

COMMENT NOW on EPA's blog: What can EPA do to help communities understand the environmental conditions at former auto sector sites? And what can EPA do to help communities revitalize those sites?

(05 Feb 2010)

More Public Participation at EPA (OMB Watch)

The EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) is expanding public participation this month, launching a new online discussion forum on the EPA's blog and planning a "video town hall discussion" to discuss the Superfund.

(08 Dec 2009)

New Superfund Sites Added

The EPA is adding 11 sites to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL) and proposing to add an additional 10 sites.

(23 Sep 2009)