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US efforts to turn farm animal poop into biofuel spark scrutiny
By Shannon Kelleher
Industrial-sized livestock operations have long been known for contaminating the environment and mistreating animals. Now, amid growing government incentives to turn the manure generated at these operations into climate-friendly biofuels, there are mounting concerns that the efforts could make industrial farming bigger and more dangerous.
Flaws in carbon credit programs for farms draw concerns
As fears about climate change grow, a new “gold rush” of carbon credit programs are incentivizing US farmers to slash greenhouse gas emissions generated by the practices they use growing crops and raising livestock. But experts say the programs face difficulty in ensuring that the credits provided truly match emission cuts.
After repeated air pollution violations, Shell plastics plant hit with federal lawsuit
By Dana Drugmand
A unit of the British multinational Shell plc is repeatedly violating state and federal air pollution rules and harming the health of area residents, according to a lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court by an environmental group after a series of air permit violations at the company’s new plastics production plant in Pennsylvania.
EPA move to allow new pesticide use on food crops worries health advocates
Federal regulators are poised to allow US farmers to start applying a pesticide currently restricted to non-food uses on fields producing an array of food crops in a move that scientists and advocates say could threaten human and ecological health.
Outrage over fresh chemical leak at Shell plastics plant
By Dana Drugmand
When Shell Chemical Appalachia announced the start of a massive plastics manufacturing facility last November in western Pennsylvania, the subsidiary of oil major Shell described it as “world-class,” and touted the company’s “strong and innovative safety focus.”
Groups seek emergency action from EPA on nitrate pollution in Minnesota
A coalition of environmental groups is petitioning federal regulators to take emergency action to protect residents of southeastern Minnesota from “imminent and substantial endangerment’ to their health from the contamination of drinking water sources by a pollutant linked to cancers and other health problems/
EPA orders Chemours to address toxic PFAS near ‘Dark Waters’ town
By Shannon Kelleher
In the first-ever such enforcement action, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered the chemical company Chemours to curb pollution from toxic chemicals its West Virginia plant dumps into the Ohio River.
Postcard from California: A phantom lake rises again
By Bill Walker
At the start of the California Gold Rush in 1849, Tulare Lake was the largest body of fresh water west of the Mississippi River: In wet years, the shallow inland sea that is fed by four rivers covered 800 square miles or more of the lower San Joaquin Valley.
Beyond East Palestine, report finds widespread toxic vinyl chloride pollution
By Dana Drugmand
When the Norfolk Southern train transporting hazardous material derailed in East Palestine, Ohio on February 3, the subsequent release and explosion of chemicals fouled the air and exposed the community to a toxic cocktail of contaminants, including a substance known to cause cancer called vinyl chloride.
Battle lines being drawn as Farm Bill looms
With the upcoming expiration of the US Farm Bill in September, lawmakers are drawing battle lines over numerous issues that impact the lives of millions of people, from food assistance to farm subsidies and more.