tagged w/ enviro news
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Records of the Environmental Protection Agency show that companies with direct financial stakes in a weed-killer sometimes found in drinking water paid for thousands of studies federal regulators are using to assess the herbicide’s health risks. Many of these industry-funded studies, which largely support atrazine’s safety, have never been published or subjected to an independent scientific peer review.Records of the Environmental Protection Agency show that companies with direct... more
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A sobering new report warns that the oceans face a "fundamental and irreversible ecological transformation" not seen in millions of years as greenhouse gases and climate change already have affected temperature, acidity, sea and oxygen levels, the food chain and possibly major currents that could alter global weather.A sobering new report warns that the oceans face a "fundamental and irreversible... more
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BP continues to spray a product called Corexit in the Gulf of Mexico despite demands from federal regulators to switch to a less-toxic dispersant to break up the oil from its massive offshore spill.BP continues to spray a product called Corexit in the Gulf of Mexico despite demands... more
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Local environmental officials throughout the Gulf Coast are feverishly collecting water, sediment and marine animal tissue samples that will be used in the coming months to help track pollution levels resulting from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Hundreds of millions of dollars are at stake, since those readings will be used by the federal government and courts to establish liability claims against BP. But the laboratory that officials have chosen to process virtually all of the samples is part of an oil and gas services company in Texas that counts oil firms, including BP, among its biggest clients.Local environmental officials throughout the Gulf Coast are feverishly collecting... more
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Reuters reports that as oil flows into the Gulf of Mexico at an unthinkable rate, BP is urging Canada to drop regulations in their country for offshore drilling. Exasperated Canadian legislators grilled the head of BP’s Canadian unit last week, concerned about the risks of the company's plans to drill in Arctic waters after the catastrophic Gulf spill.Reuters reports that as oil flows into the Gulf of Mexico at an unthinkable rate, BP... more
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Scientists are finding enormous oil plumes in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico, including one as large as 10 miles long, 3 miles wide and 300 feet thick in spots. The discovery is fresh evidence that the leak from the broken undersea well could be substantially worse than estimates that the government and BP have given.Scientists are finding enormous oil plumes in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico,... more
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Two weeks ago, the government put the estimated size of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico at 5,000 barrels a day. But scientists and environmental groups are now saying the rate is closer to 25,000 to 80,000 barrels a day. They also criticize BP for refusing to use well-known scientific techniques that would give a more precise figure. A barrel is 42 gallons.Two weeks ago, the government put the estimated size of the oil leak in the Gulf of... more
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The New York Times reports that the federal Minerals Management Service gave permission to BP and dozens of other oil companies to drill in the Gulf of Mexico without first getting required permits from another agency that assesses threats to endangered species — and despite strong warnings from that agency about the impact the drilling was likely to have on the gulf.The New York Times reports that the federal Minerals Management Service gave... more
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A new testing method by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reveals that pollutants such as arsenic, antimony, chromium and selenium can leach from coal ash at levels dozens and sometimes hundreds of times greater than the federal drinking water standard. According to the EPA’s new data, pollution from coal ash can shatter the "hazardous waste" threshold.A new testing method by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reveals that... more
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In a new report, the President’s Cancer Panel emphatically reinforced what public health officials and activists have been saying for decades: Toxic chemicals in the environment are killing people.
Scolding regulators for taking a reactionary rather than a precautionary approach, the panel, attached to the National Institutes of Health, noted that only a few hundred of the 80,000 chemicals used in the United States have been tested for safety.In a new report, the President’s Cancer Panel emphatically reinforced what... more
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Since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded on April 20th, the Obama administration has granted oil and gas companies at least 27 exemptions from doing in-depth environmental studies of oil exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico.Since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded on April 20th, the Obama... more
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During his time in the Senate and while running for president, financial disclosure records show Obama received a total of $77,051 from the oil giant and is the top recipient of BP PAC and individual money over the past 20 years.During his time in the Senate and while running for president, financial disclosure... more
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Experts will announce this month the world has failed to meet the target set by international leaders to reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by this year.
Professor Joseph Alcamo, chief scientist of the United Nations Environment Program told the London Guardian: "Since 1970 we have reduced animal populations by 30%, the area of mangroves and sea grasses by 20% and the coverage of living corals by 40%. These losses are clearly unsustainable, since biodiversity makes a key contribution to human well-being and sustainable development."Experts will announce this month the world has failed to meet the target set by... more
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A distinguished panel of independent scientists has given a resounding vote of confidence in the credibility and integrity of the key studies into climate change that have emerged over the past 20 years from the embattled Climatic Research Unit, or CRU, at the University of East Anglia.A distinguished panel of independent scientists has given a resounding vote of... more
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A major unpublished study for the United Nations has found that the cost of pollution and other damage to the natural environment caused by the world's biggest companies would wipe out more than one-third of their profits if they were held financially accountable.A major unpublished study for the United Nations has found that the cost of pollution... more
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A new report by environmental think-thank the New Economics Foundation warns that continuing global economic growth is not possible if nations are to tackle climate change.A new report by environmental think-thank the New Economics Foundation warns that... more
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New surface temperature figures just released by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration show the decade ending in 2009 was the warmest on record.New surface temperature figures just released by the National Aeronautics and Space... more
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Four protesters were arrested after locking themselves to a 1.5 million pound generator on its way to a Duke Energy coal plant in Rutherford County, North Carolina. The protesters were aiming to prevent the generator, which had been traveling on a flatbed trailer from reaching the coal plant.Four protesters were arrested after locking themselves to a 1.5 million pound... more
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Three leading scientists who have just released a report documenting the accelerating pace of climate change say the so-called scandal that has erupted over hacked emails from climate scientists is nothing more than a smear campaign aimed at sabotaging climate talks in Copenhagen in December.Three leading scientists who have just released a report documenting the accelerating... more
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