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Too Little to Lakes?
Obama details $5 billion plan to help restore Great Lakes |
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18 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 11:08 AM on 18 Sep 2008 Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama proposed a $5 billion trust fund this week to clean up and restore the Great Lakes -- a move that may help him win votes in Michigan and Ohio. The fund would be aimed at restoring area wetlands, cleaning up contaminated sediments, curbing the spread of invasive species, and fixing leaky sewers that often empty into the lakes. Money for th ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, presidential race 08, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Life's a Beach and Then It's Closed
EPA to update health-hazard reporting standards for U.S. beaches |
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11 Sep 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:48 AM on 11 Sep 2008 The U.S. EPA has agreed to update its 22-year-old criteria for reporting beach-related health hazards to the public thanks to a new settlement with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Right now, the EPA's criteria for assessing ocean-water and beach health are based on the likelihood of beachgoers contracting gastrointestinal illnesses, but apparently that's j ... |
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| Topics: litigation, news, politics, United States, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Food plight
Sen. Gordon Smith's frozen-foods plant violates environmental regs |
Kate Sheppard |
19 Aug 2008 |
Gristmill |
| Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith (R) is in hot water over a water-quality violation at his family's food-processing plant. Wastewater from Smith Frozen Foods in eastern Oregon overflowed into a creek recently while the plant was processing corn, a violation of state environmental regulations. This is bad timing for Smith, who has been touting his eco-credentials in what's shaping up to be a tight race against Democratic challenger Jeff Merkley this November. Smith is th ... |
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| Topics: elections, Muckraker, news, Oregon, politics, US Senate, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Water We Supposed to Do?
Lag in water-pollution enforcement traced to muddled court decision |
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08 Jul 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 2:58 PM on 08 Jul 2008 The U.S. EPA has neglected to pursue hundreds of potential violations of the Clean Water Act because of regulatory uncertainty, according to an internal memo. The lack of clarity stems from a 2006 Supreme Court ruling that left plenty up in the air about the types of waterways and wetlands that fall under EPA jurisdiction. The confusion has had "a significant impact ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, regulation, US EPA, water pollution, wetlands (all these topics) |
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Just Wrapping Up Loose Ends
White House decides to check in on environment |
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17 Jun 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 5:12 PM on 17 Jun 2008 A mere 2,705 days after President George W. Bush was inaugurated, the White House has decided to check in on how the environment is doing. Four federal agencies have been directed to develop environmental indicators that will ostensibly be used to analyze national trends and evaluate policies. The first project, which won't be released until 2009, will track amount and quality of U.S. wat ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, scientific research, water pollution, White House (all these topics) |
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Rocket Bottle
EPA not super-interested in keeping rocket fuel out of drinking water |
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06 May 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 3:53 PM on 06 May 2008 There is a "distinct possibility" that the U.S. EPA will pass on restricting perchlorate in the nation's water supplies, an agency official said Tuesday. Perchlorate, a rocket fuel ingredient that has been found at some 400 places in 35 states, can muck up normal thyroid function. But Benjamin Grumbles, the EPA assistant administrator for water, told the Senate Environm ... |
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| Topics: food, news, politics, toxics, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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More on Gade ouster
Bush supporter apparently fired for doing her job |
Kate Sheppard |
02 May 2008 |
Gristmill |
| An EPA controversy brewing in the Midwest calls to mind the U.S. attorneys scandal, as Brad Johnson noted yesterday. Top officials in the agency have forced Mary Gade, head of the EPA's Region 5 office in Chicago, to step down from her post or be fired by June 1. The ouster comes after Gade pressured Dow Chemical to clean up the dioxin-saturated soil and sediment extending 50 miles downstream from its Michigan headquarters. Gade is also the former director of the ... |
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| Topics: Muckraker, news, politics, shenanigans, toxics, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Nay, Cap'n
Ship pilot charged in San Francisco oil spill |
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17 Mar 2008 |
News |
| Posted at 4:58 PM on 17 Mar 2008 The pilot of the ship that spilled more than 50,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay in November has been charged with criminal negligence, harming federally protected birds, and violating the Clean Water Act. If found guilty, Capt. John Cota could face up to 18 months in jail and more than $100,000 in fines. source: Associated Press see also, in Grist: Group urges Congress to ban bunker fuel in ... |
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| Topics: endangered species, energy, litigation, news, oil, politics, San Francisco, water pollution (all these topics) |
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They're Busy Not Enforcing the Clean Air Act
EPA not enforcing Clean Water Act, says report |
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12 Oct 2007 |
News |
| Posted at 1:35 PM on 12 Oct 2007 The U.S. EPA is not so much enforcing the Clean Water Act, says a new report from green group U.S. PIRG. According to EPA data, 57 percent of the country's industrial plants and municipal wastewater facilities dumped more than the allowable level of pollutants and sewage into waterways at least once in 2005, the most recent year that records are available. The average vio ... |
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| Topics: Indiana, news, politics, regulation, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Clean Water Is Highly Overrated
Bush administration limits reach of Clean Water Act |
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07 Jun 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Clean Water Is Highly Overrated Bush administration limits reach of Clean Water Act If you assumed the federal Clean Water Act should apply to all bodies of water in the U.S., well, you have made an ass out of u and me. The Bush administration unveiled guidelines this week that say only bodies of water large enough to float a commercial boat in and their adjacent wetlands will get automatic protection un ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, US EPA, water pollution, wetlands (all these topics) |
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Use the Enforce, Kook
Environmental enforcement has declined under Bush, says new report |
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25 May 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Use the Enforce, Kook Environmental enforcement has declined under Bush, says new report Well, knock us over with a feather: since the Bush administration began running the joint, industries committing environmental violations have been investigated less, penalized less, and sued less, says a new report from watchdog group Environmental Integrity Project. The Department of Justice has filed few ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, George Bush, news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Wave of Futilation
U.S. House, at odds with White House, passes $1.7 billion wastewater bill |
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08 Mar 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| Wave of Futilation U.S. House, at odds with White House, passes $1.7 billion wastewater bill The U.S. House made waves yesterday by passing the first of three water-quality bills it will consider this week. Faced with White House disapproval, feisty U.S. reps voted 367-58 to spend $1.7 billion over five years to modernize wastewater systems and stem sewage overflows across the country. ... |
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| Topics: Congress, news, politics, regulation, water pollution, White House (all these topics) |
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It Takes a Vilsack to Raise Our Hopes
Presidential candidate Tom Vilsack outlines bold energy and climate plan |
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15 Feb 2007 |
Daily Grist |
| It Takes a Vilsack to Raise Our Hopes Presidential candidate Tom Vilsack outlines bold energy and climate plan If Democratic presidential long-shot Tom Vilsack had his way, the U.S. would embrace a mandatory cap-and-trade system to slash greenhouse-gas emissions 75 percent by 2050, break its oil addiction, and create hundreds of thousands of clean-energy jobs. This week, the former Iowa governor became the first presidentia ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Bio Partisan
President Bush promotes energy independence, snuggles up to Democrats |
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10 Nov 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Bio Partisan President Bush promotes energy independence, snuggles up to Democrats Word is President Bush will unveil an "energy independence" initiative to support ethanol and other biofuels -- and to show the world that he's, you know, down with the progressive agenda. (Which would be a lot more convincing if major ethanol investors didn't include oil giants like BP and Royal Dutch Shell. But we digress.) Alan H ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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A Ploy Named Sue
With feds asleep at the wheel, states sue to protect air and water |
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28 Aug 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| A Ploy Named Sue With feds asleep at the wheel, states sue to protect air and water Frustrated by federal inaction, states and localities are increasingly suing companies and even each other in attempts to curb air and water pollution. Oklahoma, for instance, has filed suit against eight companies that operate chicken farms in neighboring Arkansas, cha ... |
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| Topics: air pollution, Arkansas, environmental justice, Kentucky, news, Oklahoma, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Muddy Waters
Supremes divided on wetlands protection under Clean Water Act |
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20 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Muddy Waters Supremes divided on wetlands protection under Clean Water Act The Supreme Court ruled yesterday neither to sharply restrict the Clean Water Act nor to leave its current broad interpretation untouched. Instead it did ... something else. Spurred by two Michigan property-rights cases, the high court's contentious decision states that wetlands must at least be adjacent to a tributary that flows into a ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, regulation, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Touched by an Angelo
Bush admin weakens water-pollution rules after oil exec intervenes |
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13 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Touched by an Angelo Bush admin weakens water-pollution rules after oil exec intervenes When Clinton administration regulators announced they were working on a rule that would require special EPA permits for oil and gas drilling sites, to prevent water pollution, the oil and gas industry lumbered into action, lobbying furiously to thwart the rule. Then the Bush administration came into office, and their job got eas ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Bring in Da Illinois, Bring in Da Hunk
Obama speechifies for energy independence, chemical-plant security |
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01 Mar 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Bring in Da Illinois, Bring in Da Hunk Obama speechifies for energy independence, chemical-plant security Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is calling for a bipartisan effort to create a cabinet-level national director of energy security, who would coordinate federal policies to cut U.S. dependence on foreign oil. In a Tuesday speech to U.S. governors, Obama touted several policies to promote oil-free ene ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, Illinois, news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Dipping Alito in the Water
Clean-water cases go before Supreme Court |
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21 Feb 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Dipping Alito in the Water Clean-water cases go before Supreme Court The Supreme Court will hear two cases with immense consequences for federal clean-water protections this week. Both were brought by Michigan developers who were unable to build on parcels of land when they were denied Clean Water Act permits. The legal challenges amount to a frontal attack on the scope of the CWA; if successful, mor ... |
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| Topics: environmental justice, news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Hapless Wetlands
Supreme Court will hear two Clean Water Act cases |
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13 Oct 2005 |
Daily Grist |
| Hapless Wetlands Supreme Court will hear two Clean Water Act cases The first U.S. Supreme Court session under Chief Justice John Roberts will feature two cases pitting government regulatory power against private property rights -- precisely the area where greens most fear Roberts' jurisprudence. Both cases originated in Michigan, and ask whether the federal government has jurisdiction under the Clean W ... |
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| Topics: Michigan, news, politics, water pollution, wetlands (all these topics) |
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Taking It All Offset
House GOPers want to cut enviro and other programs to pay for rebuilding |
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27 Sep 2005 |
Daily Grist |
| Taking It All Offset House GOPers want to cut enviro and other programs to pay for rebuilding Rebuilding the Gulf Coast after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita is expected to run the feds around $200 billion. A group of House Republicans called the Republican Study Committee has unveiled an "Operation Offset" plan with proposed budget cuts to pay for the massive expenditure. While this nostalgic exerci ... |
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| Topics: health, news, oceans, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Mr. Hanky
Bush touts biofuels and his energy bill |
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17 May 2005 |
Daily Grist |
| Mr. Hanky Bush touts biofuels and his energy bill With his approval ratings plunging due in part to high gas prices, President Bush is fighting back by ... sniffing a hanky. Let us explain. Yesterday, Bush visited a biodiesel refinery in West Point, Va., to tout the alternative-fuel subsidies in his energy bill, which the Senate will begin considering this week. He praised biodiesel as a clean-burning fuel, even ... |
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| Topics: news, politics, Virginia, water pollution (all these topics) |
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A Granholm Don't Come for Free
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm shows D.C. Dems how to do it |
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10 Feb 2005 |
Daily Grist |
| A Granholm Don't Come for Free Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm shows D.C. Dems how to do it With Beltway Democrats in a tizzy trying to figure out how to appeal to the working class, and Beltway environmentalists in a tizzy trying to figure out how to appeal to Beltway Democrats, both groups might want to check out the State of the State speech delivered this week by Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm (D). In the f ... |
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| Topics: Michigan, news, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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