Trump EPA proposes loosening restrictions on toxic coal ash disposal
Federal regulators this week proposed a rule that would loosen restrictions on the storage of toxic waste that is created by burning coal to produce electricity, a move that critics say favors industry interests over public health.
Mega manure digester project in Washington state meets community resistance
A proposal to build a mega-manure digester in a small Washington state community is sparking uproar among citizens who say the project to convert waste from dairy cows into fuel will add to the region’s already significant pollution problems.
USDA pause on manure-to-gas loans extended through the year
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) extended its moratorium on loans for anaerobic digesters — many of which are issued for large-scale farms that turn animal waste into gas — through the end of 2026 due to “persistent and escalating concerns.”
Groups cite potential “devastation” ahead of looming Supreme Court pesticide case
America could face foreign attacks, food shortages, and agricultural “devastation” if the US Supreme Court rules against Monsanto in a closely watched case over pesticide regulation that is set for arguments later this month, according to a series of legal briefs supporting the company.
EPA flags microplastics as “priority” contaminants in drinking water
Federal regulators are moving to add microplastics to a list of drinking water contaminants marked for research, funding and possible regulation in the future.
Higher cancer rates in counties with more CAFOs, study finds
People living near concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs, in California, Texas and Iowa suffer from higher rates of cancer, suggesting that the air and water pollution from the massive farms may be playing a role, according to a new study.
New study advances science linking pesticide exposures to cancer
A new study of pesticide exposure in Peru finds a mechanistic association between exposure and cancer, and shows how “complex pesticide mixtures” can contribute to the development of cancer in people, even at exposure levels currently deemed safe.
Even when EPA finds a pesticide cancer risk, agency rarely requires warnings
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is failing to put warnings on pesticides linked to cancer — even when the agency itself determined a product’s ingredients are carcinogenic, according to two new analyses of federal data.
Proposed EPA rollbacks would put communities at greater risk for chemical disasters, workers and advocates warn
WASHINGTON — Workers, lawmakers and environmental advocates gathered this week to speak out against a proposed federal rule that would roll back protections for people who live near hazardous facilities across the country.
Scientists call for urgent action on glyphosate, citing strong links to cancer
US and European regulators should take urgent action to more tightly regulate glyphosate, the world’s most widely used weed killer, in light of strong scientific evidence that the pesticide can cause cancer and other health problems, a group of international scientists said on Friday.