News

March 7, 2022

New document: EPA proposes stricter emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing stricter standards to reduce greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from model year (MY) 2027 and later heavy-duty vehicles and engines, and is seeking input on whether to issue even stricter rules in the future.

If finalized, the EPA estimates that the standards could cut truck NOx emissions by up to 60 percent in 2045, leading to as many as 2,100 fewer premature deaths, 6,700 fewer hospital admissions and emergency department visits, 78,000 fewer lost days of work, 18,000 fewer cases of asthma onset in children, and 1.1 fewer lost school days for children.

March 7, 2022

Another PCB lawsuit targets Monsanto

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer set a press conference on Monday to announce a new lawsuit seeking “environmental justice” from Monsanto, the former chemical and seed company now owned by Bayer AG.

According to Feuer’s office, Monsanto and two affiliated companies polluted area waterways with toxic polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), chemicals shown to cause cancer along with an array of other health problems for people. PCBs have been shown to remain in soil and the sediment under rivers, lakes and other water bodies for years, and are often found in fish and shellfish.

March 4, 2022

Syngenta’s Monsanto moment

Five years ago the once seemingly invincible Monsanto Co. was dealt its first searing courtroom loss over allegations that its glyphosate weed killer causes cancer and Monsanto worked to hide the risks. That loss was followed by another, and another, and the global recognition of damning internal Monsanto documents that ultimately led Monsanto owner Bayer AG to agree to pony up more than $11 billion to settle thousands of cancer claims. The litigation still lingers as Bayer wrestles with angry investors and plans to remove glyphosate-based products, such as the widely used Roundup herbicide, from the US consumer market.

Now it’s Syngenta’s turn.

March 3, 2022

Hard to swallow? The FDA moves to take a tougher stance on PFAS in food

The Food and Drug Administration is “responsible for protecting the public health.” Or so says the first line of the agency’s mission statement.

As part of that mission, the agency has been positioning itself as taking a tougher stance with companies involved in the manufacturing and use of a harmful group of widely used industrial chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, short-handed as PFAS. The substances are used to make products resistant to water, grease and stains along with an array of other applications.

March 2, 2022

Biden’s State of the Union sidesteps environment, despite ambitious agenda

President Joe Biden’s first State of the Union address largely sidestepped discussion of the climate crisis, despite the administration’s ambitious agenda that includes potential greenhouse gas rules for power plants and efforts to tackle water contamination.

Save for a few sentences, the March 1 speech to Congress was largely devoid of any in-depth mentions of energy or environmental issues. Instead, it focused heavily on healthcare, infrastructure, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and other topics.

March 1, 2022

Justices question scope of EPA’s power to regulate utility greenhouse gases

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on February 28 in a case debating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Act power to regulate greenhouse gases, a case in which the ruling is likely to have significant implications for the Biden administration’s plan to fight the climate crisis.

A West Virginia-led coalition of states wants a ruling from the court that would curtail the EPA’s authority, but faces pushback from the agency and some of its unlikely utility industry allies.

February 22, 2022

A not so appetizing report on weed killer in our food

New testing of food products from Iowa groceries finds “alarming” levels of glyphosate

Researchers reported Tuesday that they found “widespread” contamination of common grocery store items with the controversial weed killing chemical called glyphosate, known popularly by the brand name Roundup.

In a test of 86 food products sampled from groceries in Des Moines, Iowa, more than half – 45 – of the products were found to contain what the researchers called “alarming” levels of glyphosate. Whole wheat breads contained the highest levels, with chickpeas and Quaker Oats also showing high levels, according to the report.