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| Headline |
Author |
Published |
Section |
Aw, Shucks
Ethanol ain't all it's cracked up to be, new study says |
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11 Jul 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Aw, Shucks Ethanol ain't all it's cracked up to be, new study says A new study casts serious doubt on ethanol's status as a green wonder-fuel. In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers lay out a series of grim findings about corn-based biofuel. Runoff from large-scale corn cultivation contaminates waterways with nitrogen, phosphorus, and pesticides. As a motor fuel, corn-based ethanol g ... |
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| Topics: food and agriculture, news, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Ag Reflex
Factory farms let off the hook for water pollution, activists say |
Amanda Griscom Little |
30 Jun 2006 |
Muckraker |
| The Bush administration wants to let factory farms determine whether the animal excreta that oozes from their facilities into waterways should be regulated, environmentalists say -- and they argue that the plan, well, stinks. The cow factor. Photo: iStockphoto. Agriculture has long been a top source of water pollution in the U.S., but in the last two decades the scale of the problem h ... |
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| Topics: agriculture, industrial ag, Muckraker, politics, regulation, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Getting Fresh
A chat with freshwater experts Peter Gleick and William K. Reilly |
David Roberts |
30 Jun 2006 |
Main Dish |
| The world's freshwater systems are in crisis, beset by everything from global warming to population growth to corruption. Though it doesn't get the media attention that's lavished on energy issues, many experts predict that water will be the central resource issue of the coming century. Water, they say, is the new oil. To the last drop. Photo: iStockphoto. Few know more about water than P ... |
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| Topics: water conflicts, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Nice Package
UPS will test new hydraulic hybrid trucks |
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27 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Nice Package UPS will test new hydraulic hybrid trucks If you thought the muscled deliveryfolk in tight brown shorts were hot, wait 'til you get a load of their trucks. UPS drivers in Detroit will be testing new hybrid delivery trucks developed by the U.S. EPA, which the agency claims will boost fuel efficiency up to 70 percent in stop-and-go traffic. The "hydraulic hybrid" trucks -- also intriguing to ... |
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| Topics: news, placemaking, US EPA, 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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The Electric Tide
Tidal-energy project could come to Nantucket Sound |
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13 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| The Electric Tide Tidal-energy project could come to Nantucket Sound Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod in Massachusetts are awash in alt-energy proposals: in addition to two offshore wind projects (with which loyal Grist readers are all too familiar), a third developer is now considering a tidal-energy project off the coast of Martha's Vineyard. Seven other sites across the U.S. are also being considered for t ... |
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| Topics: Massachusetts, New England, news, 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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Man Hatin' Transfer
EPA declines to regulate polluted water transfers |
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02 Jun 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Man Hatin' Transfer EPA declines to regulate polluted water transfers Corporate farms and other businesses would not need to obtain a Clean Water Act permit in many water-transfer cases, under a rule proposed by the U.S. EPA yesterday. The rule would apply regardless of how polluted the water is -- but hey, corporate farming always produces clean water, right? Coincidentally, only not, the EPA proposal comes during ... |
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| Topics: Florida, news, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Thames the Breaks
England declares emergency drought, mandates conservation |
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30 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Thames the Breaks England declares emergency drought, mandates conservation Thanks to 18 months of below-average rainfall, English officials have declared the country to be in an emergency drought. Homes and businesses in southeastern England face criminal prosecution and $9,000 or more in fines for nonessential water use like filling swimming pools or watering golf courses. Ironically, golf courses are staying luxuri ... |
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| Topics: news, United Kingdom, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Soon We Can Just Call It the Styx
Yangtze River so polluted it's on the verge of death |
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30 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Soon We Can Just Call It the Styx Yangtze River so polluted it's on the verge of death The Yangtze River is "cancerous" with pollution -- mainly industrial waste and agricultural runoff -- according to reports in China's state media. Experts estimate that within five years, up to 70 percent of its water may be unusable, particularly as drinking water for the 186 cities that borde ... |
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| Topics: China, news, pollution and waste, water pollution, Yangtze River (all these topics) |
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Going With the Flow
Underwater turbines to be tested in New York river |
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22 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Going With the Flow Underwater turbines to be tested in New York river Avoiding the bickering over wind power and biofuels, a Virginia-based company is seeking clean energy in the watery deep. Within a few weeks, Verdant Power will submerge turbines in New York's East River to draw energy from the tides. The first phase of the project will run for 18 months, with six turbines supplying energy to a ne ... |
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| Topics: New York, news, rivers and watersheds, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Let Him Without Synfuel Cast the First Stone
Air Force tests synfuel in jets |
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16 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Let Him Without Synfuel Cast the First Stone Air Force tests synfuel in jets The Air Force consumes more than half the fuel used by the entire U.S. government; in fiscal year 2005, it guzzled 3.2 billion gallons of jet fuel at a cost of $4.7 billion. Under a directive from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the military is conducting tests to determine whether jets can fly on fuel blended with a synthetic liqui ... |
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| Topics: Department of Defense, news, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Not Wade Away
U.S. streams in sad shape, says EPA analysis |
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08 May 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Not Wade Away U.S. streams in sad shape, says EPA analysis It's Monday and most of the streams in the U.S. are in bad shape. Can we go back to bed? A U.S. EPA study finds that 42 percent of "wadeable" U.S. streams are in poor condition, 25 percent are fair, and only 28 percent are good (OK, math geeks, 5 percent were not analyzed because of sampling problems). Streams running between the Appa ... |
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| Topics: news, rivers and watersheds, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Something Fishy: World Water Day
A celebration of all things H2O |
Sarah van Schagen |
22 Mar 2006 |
Gristmill |
| Ahoy, me hearties! Arrrr you excited about World Water Day? Well ... arrrr ye? Begad, mateys! Do tell me ye know what the fuss is all about? Why, today is the one day a year wherein we celebrate the briny (and non-briny) deep as we should all year. I daresay, 'tis the best holiday of 'em all. (OK, perhaps the second best.) So sing a chantey, grab a noggin of rum, and let's yo-ho-ho, if ye know what I mean. Recognized formally for the first time in 1993, the Worl ... |
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| Topics: water pollution (all these topics) |
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For Those About to Barack
Barack Obama chats with Grist about energy independence and ethanol |
David Roberts |
21 Mar 2006 |
Main Dish |
| The weight of much hope and expectation rests on the narrow shoulders of Barack Obama, the first-term Democratic senator from Illinois. Barack Obama. His eventual presidential run is seen as inevitable (some pundits even hype a 2008 bid). He's a phenomenon, and everyone wants to see him up close. That's fundraising manna for the Democrats: He was in Seattle this past weekend ... |
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| Topics: Barack Obama, Illinois, politics, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Critical Mass
Massachusetts proposes tough standard for perchlorate in drinking water |
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16 Mar 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Critical Mass Massachusetts proposes tough standard for perchlorate in drinking water In a not-so-subtle jab at the Bush administration, Massachusetts has proposed a strict drinking-water standard for the toxic chemical perchlorate, which can disrupt metabolism, growth, and development, particularly in children. There is currently no federal limit on perchlorate in drinking water, though the U.S. EPA ... |
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| Topics: Massachusetts, news, toxics, US EPA, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Bicker Agua
World Water Forum to get controversial kickoff this week in Mexico City |
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15 Mar 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Bicker Agua World Water Forum to get controversial kickoff this week in Mexico City If you're going to be in Mexico City on Thursday, don't drink the water. Oh, and you might want to swing by the World Water Council's not-very-creatively-named World Water Forum -- or a protest march timed to coincide with its opening. Dozens of government ministers, hundreds of water companies, and thousands of other water-i ... |
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| Topics: Mexico, news, water conflicts, water pollution (all these topics) |
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State of the planet's wildlife and water
Courtesy of PBS |
Chris Schults |
14 Mar 2006 |
Gristmill |
| While most television networks lack programming in the environmental arena, at least we have PBS, which will air a few green specials just in time for Earth Day. First we have 'Planet H20': PLANET H2O, a two-part television special premiering in April, is an excellent resource to introduce young people to water conservation. Told through the stories young people, it explores issues regarding fresh water systems around the world. Check local listings for dates and ... |
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| Topics: TV, water pollution, wildlife (all these topics) |
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How do you define "environmentalism"?
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Chris Schults |
07 Mar 2006 |
Gristmill |
| Dave's environmental ethics post addressed an issue that has become more and more apparent here in Gristmill: the term 'environmentalism' means something different to each one of us. This is exemplified in today's Soapbox by Oliver Bernstein on environmental issues along the U.S.-Mexico border: Laguna La Escondida in Reynosa, Mexico, a water source for the surrounding community whose name means Hidden Lagoon, is also an important migratory bird stopover point. Re ... |
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| Topics: Mexico, Texas, waste, water pollution, wildlife (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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Walk This Way
A virtual walking tour of Columbia, Miss., with Charlotte Keys of Jesus People Against Pollution |
Mary Wiltenburg |
13 Feb 2006 |
Main Dish |
| Click image to take the tour. Photo by Mary Wiltenburg. In 1977, a factory in Columbia, Miss., that had been manufacturing Agent Orange was rocked by an explosion. The owner, Reichhold Chemical Inc., shuttered the facility and abandoned or buried thousands of barrels of toxic waste near the water supply of the pr ... |
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| Topics: environmental justice, Mississippi, Poverty and the Environment, religion and spirituality, waste, water pollution (all these topics) |
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What Goes Sup
Wenonah Hauter, director of Food and Water Watch, answers readers' questions |
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03 Feb 2006 |
InterActivist |
| Wenonah Hauter, director of Food and Water Watch. If city tap water is full of chemicals and bottling spring water damages ecosystems, what on earth is a health-conscious environmentalist supposed to drink? -- Molly Miller, Denver, Colo. In many places, healthy people can drink the water out of the tap. You can request testing results from your utility. If you are concerned and don't want to ... |
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| Topics: food and agriculture, InterActivist, interview, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Some Like It Hauter
Wenonah Hauter, director of Food and Water Watch, answers Grist's questions |
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30 Jan 2006 |
InterActivist |
| Wenonah Hauter. With what environmental organization are you affiliated? I am the executive director of Food and Water Watch, a brand-new consumer advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. What does your organization do? We're focused on protecting two critical essentials: food and water. Our mission is to challenge the economic and political forces that are promoting industrialized food p ... |
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| Topics: food and agriculture, InterActivist, interview, water pollution (all these topics) |
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Kernel Ganders
Ethanol decent on efficiency but not on greenhouse gases, study finds |
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27 Jan 2006 |
Daily Grist |
| Kernel Ganders Ethanol decent on efficiency but not on greenhouse gases, study finds The heated debate over biofuels took another sharp turn this week: New research in the journal Science claims that replacing fossil fuels with corn-based ethanol is energy-efficient (contrary to some previous studies), but doesn't do much to cut greenhouse-gas pollution. Researchers from UC-Berkeley determined that ethanol resul ... |
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| Topics: food and agriculture, news, water pollution (all these topics) |
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