Latest Pollution Headlines
All the headlines from our Pollution Topic Page, ordered by recency.
FBI Joins Investigation into Lead Contamination of Flint Water System
Feb 3 2016 // The FBI is working with a multi-agency team investigating the lead contamination of Flint’s drinking water, alongside Environmental Protection Agency investigators who can tackle criminal violations of federal...
Officials Expect Zika Virus in U.S. by April; Outdoor Spraying Called Ineffective
Feb 3 2016 // Health experts are bracing for Zika virus to spread to the United States by April or May, borne by a mosquito that craves human blood, feeds during the day and lives under beds and inside closets. Until now, the best...
Freedom Industries Official Sentenced for West Virginia Chemical Spill
Feb 3 2016 // A former environmental consultant at a chemical distributor was sentenced to three years’ probation and fined $10,000 Monday for a 2014 chemical spill that fouled the drinking water supply of 300,000 West...
UCPM Launches Online Environmental Consultants Program
Jan 31 2016 // UCPM, Inc., an environmental insurance provider, has entered into an agreement with Rockhill Insurance Co. to offer a comprehensive insurance package for environmental consultants that includes commercial general...
Lawsuit Seeks Replacement of Lead Pipes in Flint, Michigan
Jan 28 2016 // Environmental and civil rights groups are asking a federal judge to order the prompt replacement of all lead pipes in Flint’s water system to ensure residents of the Michigan city have a safe drinking supply. A...
Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance Increases Marine Pollution Liability Capacity
Jan 27 2016 // Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance, a provider of vessel pollution liability insurance, has expanded its carrier partnerships to include Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI) and Argonaut Insurance Co. Safe Harbor...
Survey of Economists Shows Climate Change Impact Sooner, More Severe
Jan 21 2016 // The impact from climate change is more imminent than most believe, and it’s going to take a big economic chunk out of a lot of bottom-lines. That’s according to a recent report from the Institute for Policy...
Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Leads to Federal Emergency Order
Jan 19 2016 // President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration Saturday that clears the way for federal aid for Flint, Michigan, which is undergoing a drinking water crisis. The White House also said the Federal Emergency...
Brazil Police Accuse Vale, Samarco of Environmental Crime for Mine Disaster
Jan 15 2016 // Brazil’s Federal Police accused Vale SA and its Brazilian joint venture with BHP Billiton Ltd of environmental crime related to a November dam collapse that destroyed a city in the country’s southeast and sent...
Judge OKs Duke Energy Environmental Compliance Plan in North Carolina
Jan 14 2016 // A federal judge is approving two Duke Energy plans describing how the country’s largest electricity company says it will comply with environmental laws. The statewide and nationwide environmental compliance plans...
Liberty International Underwriters Appoints 3 Senior VPs
Jan 12 2016 // Liberty International Underwriters (LIU), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance, has hired William Bell as senior vice president of U.S. Environmental. LIU also announced two promotions: Mike Nukk to senior vice president of...
Mississippi Town Sued by Environmental Group for Sewage Overflow
Jan 8 2016 // Sewage overflows during heavy rains have fouled a poor neighborhood in Centreville, Miss., for years because the city has failed to fix its sewage system, a lawsuit alleges. The lawsuit was filed against Centreville on...
Its Own Scientists Question EPA Claim Fracking Is Safe for Drinking Water
Jan 7 2016 // A landmark study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that concluded fracking causes no widespread harm to drinking water is coming under fire — this time, from the agency’s own science advisers. The...
U.S. Sues Volkswagen, Seeks Up to $80 Billion in Penalties
Jan 5 2016 // The U.S. Justice Department sued Volkswagen AG for installing illegal devices meant to defeat emissions testing, and laid out claims that could push penalties into the tens of billions of dollars — an opening salvo...
ACE Offers Renewable Energy Environmental Protection Policy in U.K. & Ireland
Dec 31 2015 // ACE Group has launched ACE Renewable Energy Environmental Protection, a dedicated environmental policy for companies in the renewable energy industry in the U.K. and Ireland. ACE Renewable Energy Environmental Protection...
Louisiana Whistleblower to Receive $750K
Dec 22 2015 // A whistleblower who lost his state contract after reporting his concerns that a state-funded dredging project violated environmental laws is set to receive $750,000 after a Baton Rouge jury ruled in his favor. Dan Collins...
Fitch: Overall P/C Reserves Adequate; Prior Years’ Favorable Trend Continues
Dec 18 2015 // Property/casualty insurers continued to take down loss reserves for prior years in 2014, which marked the ninth straight calendar year of favorable development for the industry in aggregate, according to a new report from...
VW Owners Nominate Feinberg to Manage Potential Emissions Settlement
Dec 14 2015 // Consumer lawyers suing Volkswagen AG over economic losses tied to vehicles rigged to cheat emissions tests have nominated Kenneth Feinberg as a special settlement master. Feinberg handled General Motors Co.’ ignition...
Allianz Global Names AIG’s Williams Environmental Liability Manager for North America
Dec 11 2015 // Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) reported that Thomas Williams has been named regional practice leader, Environmental Impairment Liability (EIL), for North America. Based in Atlanta, he will report to Dieter...
Kentucky Mining Company Fined for Clean Water Act Violations
Dec 10 2015 // Kentucky’s Energy and Environment Cabinet has agreed to levy a stiff fine against a coal mining company that acknowledged thousands of Clean Water Act violations, effectively barring the company from operating in...
