Environmental News

No Recoverable Oil From Massive Spill Off Southern California Coast

No recoverable oil remains in the water after a sheen was reported off the Southern California coast, but the cause remains unclear, officials said. Authorities detected the 2.5-mile long oil sheen Friday morning. Crews recovered about 85% of it, roughly …

Oregon Judge Refuses to Dismiss 2015 Climate Lawsuit Filed by Youth

A judge in Oregon rejected a U.S. Department of Justice request to dismiss a 2015 lawsuit brought by young people that alleges the federal government knew the dangers posed by carbon pollution but that it has continued through policies and …

Crews Work to Contain Gas Pipeline Spill in Washington

Responders set up a containment boom after a gasoline spill from the weekend failure of part of a pipeline in northwest Washington, but federal regulators reported no signs of any fuel reaching the Skagit River. About 25,660 gallons of gasoline …

California Trucking Group Challenges State’s Zero-Emissions Rule

The California Trucking Association (CTA) has asked a federal judge to stop a state rule that would require truckers to switch to zero-emissions vehicles by 2042, calling it “a vast overreach” that threatens the survival of industry. The trucking group …

Gas Leak Forced Evacuation of Southern California Homes

A Southern California neighborhood was evacuated for more than six hours early Thursday due to a large leak of natural gas from an underground pipe, authorities said. The leak was detected around 1:30 a.m. in unincorporated West Whittier, about 10 …

Kaiser to Pay $49M in California for Dumping Private Medical Records, Medical Waste

Kaiser Permanente has agreed to pay $49 million as part of a settlement with California prosecutors who say the health care giant illegally disposed of thousands of private medical records, hazardous materials and medical waste, including blood and body parts, …

California Regulators OK More Gas Storage Capacity at The Site of Massive Methane Leak

California regulators last week approved a controversial proposal to greatly increase storage capacity at the site of the nation’s largest known methane leak, which sickened thousands of families and forced them from their Los Angeles homes in 2015. Despite opposition …

Petroleum Asphalt Remains in Yellowstone River in Montana After Train Derailment

Two months after a railroad bridge collapse sent carloads of hazardous oil products plunging into Montana’s Yellowstone River, the cleanup workers are gone and a mess remains. Thick mats of tarry petroleum asphalt cover portions of sandbars. Oil-speckled rocks and …

California Voting on Increasing Storage At Site of Massive Methane Leak Despite Risks

California officials are expected to vote on a proposal to increase storage capacity at the site of the nation’s largest known methane leak that sickened thousands of families and forced them from their Los Angeles homes in 2015. The proposal …

California Firm to Pay $1M for Selling Devices to Thwart Truck Smog Controls

A California company will pay $1 million for violating federal environmental laws by making and selling devices that defeated smog controls on diesel trucks, prosecutors announced. Sinister Manufacturing Co., Inc. of Roseville, doing business as Sinister Diesel, pleaded guilty Tuesday …