Environmental Regulation
The EPA Won't Have to Hold Mining Companies Responsible for Clean-Up Costs, a Federal Court Rules
The agency claims modern mining practices have reduced the risk of pollution going unaddressed. Will taxpayers still have to pay a price?
Thousands of People Live Closer to Underground Gas Wells Than Previously Thought
Most of the wells are more than half a century old, and some residents might not even be aware of the hidden energy infrastructure beneath their own backyards.
The Trump Administration Waives Environmental Regulations (Again) for Border Wall Construction
The Department of Homeland Security is bypassing dozens of laws to speed up the construction of several miles of fencing in Texas.
Missouri Outlaws Rural Residents' Last Line of Protection Against CAFOs
Under the new law, local standards regulating industrial-scale livestock operations cannot be stricter than any of those set by the state.
A New Report Documents the Carbon Footprint of Plastics
Here's what some cities, states, and countries are doing about it.
Maine Is the First State to Ban Styrofoam
Maryland, Oregon, Vermont, and Connecticut are also considering polystyrene bans as resistance to single-use plastic increases.
An Oil Company Is Being Fined More Than $3 Million for the 2015 Santa Barbara Oil Spill
Plains All American, the company responsible for the spill, said the fine would not damage the $17 billion company's bottom line.
A New Study Reveals Diesel Filters' Unintended Effects
The study shows that the chemical reaction used in diesel filters can increase the presence of nitrogen dioxide—and worsen common allergic reactions.
Trump's 2020 Budget Would Slash Funding for EPA Programs
Though the Trump administration's attempted deep cuts have had historically minimal impact on the agency's budget, they offer further evidence of the Trump administration's lack of concern for federal environmental protection.
Is the EPA 'Soft on Environmental Violators'? The Data Suggests Yes; the Agency Says No.
During a hearing, the EPA's top official for enforcement defended the agency's low performance figures.
Senators Grill Trump's Nominee to Head the Environmental Protection Agency
As acting administrator, Andrew Wheeler has worked to ease environmental regulation.
EPA Policing of Environmental Violations Plummeted in 2018
Environmental Protection Agency enforcement fell to 10-year lows in 2017, but 2018's numbers may be even lower.
How the Trump Administration Is Accelerating Climate Change
The Trump administration is doing the opposite of what a new report says is needed to keep global climate change to a minimum.
The Trump Administration Calls for More Water and Less Regulation in California's Central Valley
The announcement prompted the California State Water Resources Control Board to postpone its vote on a proposal restricting agricultural water use in the Delta.
Opponents Show Up in Force at a Hearing for the EPA's Controversial 'Secret Science' Rule
The rule's architects aren't really seeking better science, opponents argue.
The EPA's New Leader Promises a More Conventional—but No More Strongly Regulated—Future
Andrew Wheeler pledges to listen to staffers, and to speed up regulatory processes.
Families Sue European Union to Take More Action on Climate Change
A group of 10 families is taking the European Union to court in an attempt to get its member states to take more drastic action on climate change.
Federal Judge Sides Against Oakland's Ban on Coal Shipments
A federal judge in California blocked the city of Oakland's attempt to prevent the shipment of coal through a proposed cargo terminal.
What Scientists Are Saying About the EPA's 'Secret Science' Rule
Leaders in the scientific community fear Scott Pruitt's new directive would severely limit the use of research in policymaking.
The Indonesian Government Is Forcing Private Companies to Pay for Damaging Its Forests
The government hopes to use the collected penalties to fund restoration efforts in the degraded Indonesian land and forests. Without the penalties, no restoration work can start.