U.S. Environmental Protection Agency News

Losses from Colorado Mine Spill Could Be Far Less than Feared

Economic damage from a Colorado mine waste spill caused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency may be far less than originally feared after attorneys drastically reduced some of the larger claims, The Associated Press has learned. Farmers, business owners, residents …

EPA: East Chicago Residents Should Assume Lead Water Lines, Use Filter

Federal officials say all East Chicago residents should assume they have lead water lines and use a properly certified filter. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientist Miguel Del Toral repeated the recommendation on Feb. 3 after initially making it last month …

Trump vs. California Climate Battle Brewing

California vs. Trump, so to speak, is shaping up to be a heavyweight match. On one side is the world’s sixth (or so) largest economy – home to Disneyland, Hollywood and Big Sur. On the other is the reality show …

Miami Explores Using Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes to Fight Zika

Officials in Miami trying to stop the outbreak of Zika are exploring the use of mosquitoes infected with bacteria that inhibit the insects’ ability to transmit the virus. The Miami Herald reports that Florida’s surgeon general has been notified that …

Group Suing Chemical Giant Dow over Pesticide Used in California

Chemical manufacturing giant Dow fails to warn people in farming communities throughout California when a potentially dangerous pesticide is applied to nearby fields, health advocates claimed in a lawsuit filed Tuesday. Telone is among the most commonly used pesticides in …

Feds Investigate Illinois Firm Fined for Exposing Staff to Asbestos

U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration proceedings against an Illinois construction company fined for allegedly importing Mexican workers to remove asbestos are on hold as federal officials look into possible criminal activity by the company. OSHA last year fined Joseph …

8 Suits Filed over Crude Oil Spill along Louisiana’s Bayou Teche

Eight lawsuits have been filed by people seeking damages from a Texas industrial services company that spilled about 12,500 gallons of crude oil in March along and into the Bayou Teche in Louisiana. The Advocate reports the suits against Houston-based …

Massachusetts Firm to Pay EPA $199K Over Hazardous Waste Claims

A Massachusetts company that manufactures materials used in laboratory analysis has agreed to pay $199,500 to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it violated state and federal hazardous waste laws. Waters Technologies Corp., based in Taunton, …

EPA Nails Tesoro’s Washington Oil Refinery for Safety Violations

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has fined the Tesoro oil refinery in Anacortes, Wash. nearly $720,000 for alleged safety violations. The EPA said last week it filed a complaint seeking penalties for violations found during two facility inspections in 2011. …

American Lung Association Says California Has Nation’s Dirtiest Air

Millions of Californians live in places with dirty air, according to an annual report card issued this week that ranks two major urban areas in the state as the nation’s most polluted. Bakersfield tops the list for having the most …