Environmental, Health and Safety News | Volunteer EHS News Network Dedicated to Protecting People & Our Planet

#HopeActLiveWI: Wisconsin Awarded Nearly $3 Million to Combat Opioid Epidemic

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today it has received $2.8 million from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to continue the fight against the state’s opioid epidemic . The funds will be used to enhance and strengthen opioid public health prevention efforts in Wisconsin. One million dollars of the...
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Another Wisconsin County Added to the List with Confirmed Cases of Severe Bleeding Linked to Synthetic Cannabinoids

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that Racine County now has a confirmed case of severe bleeding linked to synthetic cannabinoids tainted with rat poison. There are now 67 confirmed cases in Wisconsin and 16 probable cases. Other counties with confirmed cases are Dane, Fond du Lac, Milwaukee, Outagamie, and Rock....
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#HopeActLiveWI: Wisconsin Awarded Nearly $24 Million to Fight Opioid Epidemic

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced this week the state has been awarded a two-year federal grant totaling nearly $24 million to support a comprehensive response to Wisconsin’s opioid crisis . The funding is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) State Opioid Response grant program. “We will...
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DHS Wants Wisconsin to Avoid a Serious, Deadly Flu Season This Year

With a new flu season fast approaching , health officials are reminding people of the toll last year’s season took on Wisconsin residents, and encouraging everyone to get a flu shot to protect their families, communities, and themselves. “The dangers of the flu are real, especially for the very young, for older adults, and...
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The Pistoia Alliance Calls for Greater Collaboration to Realise Benefits of Innovation and Announces Winners of the 2018 President’s Startup Challenge

Solutions in data management and breast cancer diagnosis are awarded for innovation while attendees discuss ways to help translate startup … The post The Pistoia Alliance Calls for Greater Collaboration to Realise Benefits of Innovation and Announces Winners of the 2018 President’s Startup Challenge appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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More Than Half of Life Science Organisations Already Using or Experimenting with Blockchain, up from Less Than a Quarter in 2017

While adoption of blockchain is on the rise, lack of skilled staff is hampering its development in the life science … The post More Than Half of Life Science Organisations Already Using or Experimenting with Blockchain, up from Less Than a Quarter in 2017 appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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President’s Challenge 2018 – Finalists Announced

We are delighted to announce the 5 finalists for the Pistoia Alliance President’s Startup Challenge 2018. This year we … The post President’s Challenge 2018 – Finalists Announced appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Farewell to the GREAT Gary Greenberg…he will be missed.

I am sad to announce that Gary Greenberg, has passed away. Gary has been a part of Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics since the early 90’s. I can not speak highly enough of Mr. Greenberg as a person. He gave his all to help others…what more could this world ask. Gary Greenberg, MD. was...
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Canada is “High”….giving employers impossible enforcement task with impaired workforce

On Tuesday morning, WorkSafeBC sent out a news release reminding employers that they must not allow anyone who is impaired to do work that could endanger a co-worker or anyone else. Great advice. But how does an employer do that when there is no good test for impairment and “Health Canada says that in...
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EPA ” found dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside than outside

EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s “Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study” found levels of about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were located in rural or highly industrial areas. TEAM studies indicated that while people are using products...
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U.S. military is exploring the possibility of deploying insects to make plants more resilient by altering their genes.

Phys.Org: A research arm of the U.S. military is exploring the possibility of deploying insects to make plants more resilient by altering their genes. Some experts say the work may be seen as a potential biological weapon. In an opinion paper published Thursday in the journal Science, the authors say the U.S. needs to...
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Consumer Reports’ testing shows concerning levels of arsenic, cadmium, and lead in many popular baby and toddler foods

ConsumerReports: A recent study in the journal Lancet Public Health suggests that low levels of lead from food and other sources contribute to about 400,000 deaths each year, more than half of them from cardiovascular disease. Getting too much methylmercury can cause nerve damage, muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and impaired vision and hearing....
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New Tool Measures Effectiveness of Workplace Safety and Health Programs

NIOSH: As more organizations offer increasingly comprehensive programs for workplace safety and health, researchers and organizations alike look for the best examples and tools to measure their effectiveness. With so many programs available, how do organizations know which one is best? Through a NIOSH-funded study at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, scientists...
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Job Design Linked to Participation in Workplace Wellness Programs

NIOSH: Workplace wellness programs often offer an array of health-improvement activities, including courses to quit smoking, exercise or physical fitness classes, nutrition or stress management education, and ergonomic testing of work conditions and equipment. In 2017, 39% of private industry workers and 63% of state and local government workers had access to such programs,...
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Exposure to Flame Retardants in Foam Found among Gymnastics Coaches

NIOSH investigators measured gymnastic coaches’ exposure to 22 flame retardants in four gymnastics studios, at the request of the owner who expressed concern about foam blocks. First, investigators showed coaches how to wipe their hands using hand wipes. After the coaches wiped their hands, investigators sent the wipes to a laboratory for testing. Investigators...
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NIOSH: Controlled Fire Study Finds High Levels of Airborne Chemicals

NIOSH: What do plastic, polyester, and foam have in common? They are synthetic materials found throughout most modern homes in everything from toys to furniture to appliances. Unlike wood, cotton, and other natural materials, synthetic materials are made in laboratories through chemical processes. During a fire, these chemicals can burn hotter and faster, and produce...
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Banned or severely restricted drugs appearing in the U.S. meat supply more often than was previously known.

ConsumerReports: Ketamine, a hallucinogenic party drug and experimental antidepressant. Phenylbutazone, an anti-inflammatory deemed too risky for human use. Chloramphenicol, a powerful antibiotic linked to potentially deadly anemia. All these drugs are prohibited in beef, poultry, and pork consumed in the U.S. Yet government data obtained by Consumer Reports suggest that trace amounts of these...
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EPA Meets Important TSCA Milestone by Finalizing Last of Four Chemical Safety Framework Rules

Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final fees rule under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), ensuring that resources are available to the Agency to complete chemical reviews and actions in a timely, transparent manner while maintaining high scientific standards. “With today’s action EPA has once again met another important milestone...
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Delaware to Distribute Potassium Iodide (KI) Tablets in a program initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The State of Delaware is distributing free tablets on Thursday, October 4, 2018…. The State of Delaware received the tablets when it chose to participate in a program initiated by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Potassium iodide does not protect against external radiation, but can help protect the thyroid gland from ingested or inhaled...
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EPA Publishes SNURS for 28 Chemical Substances

(ACA – Paint.org) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Sept. 17 published in the Federal Register its intent to promulgate significant new use rules (SNURs) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for 28 chemical substances that were the subject of premanufacture notices (PMNs). The SNURs are effective on Nov. 16, 2018. Under the amended TSCA, persons who...
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The bill, co-written by Congresswoman Susan Brooks, would streamline the process how hospitals gets money to treat those who have contracted diseases such as Ebola.

WASHINGTON, DC – Streamlining how hospitals and the Centers for Disease Control handle terror attacks, natural disasters and disease outbreaks would be made possible through a bill that has passed the U.S. House and co-written by Indiana Congresswoman Susan Brooks. The Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2018 (PAHPA) would...
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More Cases of Severe Bleeding in Wisconsin Linked to Synthetic Cannabinoids

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has confirmed 16 additional cases of severe bleeding caused by the use of synthetic cannabinoids containing rat poison. That brings the total number of people affected in this outbreak to 80. The counties with confirmed cases include Dane, Milwaukee, Outagamie, Rock, and now Fond du Lac. These...
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State, Counties, Tribes Commit to Transformation of Behavioral Health System for Children

At a meeting today in the Wisconsin Dells, more than 400 behavioral health professionals furthered their commitment to Wisconsin’s Children’s System of Care, a Department of Health Services (DHS) initiative to enhance the public behavioral health system’s care and treatment services for children…(see release)
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#HopeActLiveWI: Program Guides Opioid Overdose Survivors to Health and Healing

A program that helps opioid overdose survivors avoid another overdose and encourages them to stay engaged in treatment has expanded to cover 22 hospital emergency departments through a grant from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). ED2Recovery is managed by Wisconsin Voices for Recovery. “ED2Recovery helps opioid overdose survivors understand that addiction is...
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Staying Emotionally Healthy When Disaster Strikes

As parts of the state continue to face new and extended flooding conditions, it is important to remember to take care of yourself physically and mentally. Storms and floods not only damage property, they can affect your emotional well-being. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) offers these tips to help people cope with...
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If Data is the currency of AI, are we doing enough around data quality?

AI and machine learning (AI/ML) are certainly at peak hype at the moment around the current and future impact on … The post If Data is the currency of AI, are we doing enough around data quality? appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Pistoia Alliance adds a Startup Support Day for this year’s President’s Challenge Finalists

In our drive to encourage and support the informatics and technology focused life-science startup community and bring the best of … The post Pistoia Alliance adds a Startup Support Day for this year’s President’s Challenge Finalists appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Coca-Cola CEO sees solutions in plastic recycling, sugar reduction

Source: Food Business News, 9/10/18. As a leader in the soft drink industry, the Coca-Cola Co. understandably looks for ways to reduce sugar. James Robert B. Quincey, president and chief executive officer, also explained how the handling of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottles could help Coca-Cola solve plastic environmental problems.
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Eight More Cases of Severe Bleeding and Hospitalizations Due to “Fake Weed” in Wisconsin

Wisconsin continues to see cases of severe bleeding following the use of synthetic cannabinoids, often called “fake weed,” “K2,” and “spice.” The bleeding occurs as these products contain rat poison (brodifacoum). Overall, Wisconsin has seen 54 cases since March of this year, with 40 confirmed and 14 probable. Counties with confirmed cases include Dane,...
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Department of Health Services Reminds Residents in Flooded Areas to Take Steps to Make Sure Their Water is Safe to Drink

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) wants to encourage residents in flooded areas to make sure their drinking water is safe, whether a resident has a private well or is on municipal water service. Private well owners: Do not use water from a private well that has been or is flooded. If the...
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Flood Recovery: Replacement Benefits Available for FoodShare Members

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is working to assist residents affected by severe weather throughout much of the state, including record-breaking rainfall, widespread flooding, and extreme storms including damaging straight-line winds and possible tornadoes. Governor Scott Walker has declared a statewide State of Emergency and directed all state agencies to assist in...
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Flooding, Storm Damage, and Labor Day Weekend: Keeping Your Family Healthy and Safe

For many people, the Labor Day Weekend is a last chance to get in family trips and activities before school begins and summer turns to fall, but holiday weekend falls on the heels of extreme weather conditions leading to widespread flooding and storm damage. Governor Scott Walker has issued a statewide disaster declaration, directing...
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Division of Public Health Receives National Accreditation

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Division of Public Health is now nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), state health officials announced today. Wisconsin’s Division is now among only 200 health departments (out of 3,000) to achieve this level of quality. Hospitals, day care centers, schools, and universities have long seen...
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President’s Startup Challenge – Deadline extended until Friday 7 September

We have decided to extend the deadline for applications this Friday 7th September. This was due to a number … The post President’s Startup Challenge – Deadline extended until Friday 7 September appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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The Pistoia Alliance Announces Number of Reactions in its Chemical Safety Library Service has Increased Four-Fold

The Alliance is seeking a strategic partner to develop the CSL Service in its next phase to support the Lab … The post The Pistoia Alliance Announces Number of Reactions in its Chemical Safety Library Service has Increased Four-Fold appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Monocl Supporting this year’s President’s Startup Challenge

We are delighted to announce in addition to our cash awards and mentoring, 2016 finalists Monocl are providing a … The post Monocl Supporting this year’s President’s Startup Challenge appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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Updates to Wisconsin Porposed SPS 330-Fire Department Safety and Health Standards

Update on proposed SPS 330 SPS 330-Fire Department Safety and Health Standards The Department of Safety and Professional Services is pleased to announce legislative approval of CR-17-067 regarding SPS 330 Fire Department Safety and Health Standards. The rule will be published at the end of September 2018 and become effective October 1, 2018. Here...
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EIA & FERC DATA SHOW RENEWABLES PROVIDING MORE ELECTRICITY THAN NUCLEAR IN 27 U.S. STATES AND MORE THAN COAL IN A THIRD

(NIRS) Washington DC – Citing concerns about “national security” and “grid reliability,” the Trump Administration is weighing options for subsidizing and preventing the closure of environmentally polluting nuclear and coal plants made uneconomic by growing competition from renewable energy and natural gas. However, an analysis by the SUN DAY Campaign of recent data from the...
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WHMIS 2015: We’re Almost There!

The multi-year WHMIS 2015 transition is getting closer to the deadline. Now it’s not too late to make sure that employers and workers are up to speed with courses and information to help them understand the system. Remaining Transition Phases Phase 2 From June 1, 2018 to August 31, 2018 Distributors can continue to...
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ChemTRAC: Pollution prevention in the GTA

Source: CollisionRepairMag.com, 8/21/18. The automotive refinishing sector within the Greater Toronto Area has experienced challenges in diverging from traditional practices and in identifying key priority chemicals used in the industry. To address these continued challenges, Toronto Public Health collaborated with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to promote the ChemTRAC pollution prevention (P2) program....
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HELM is now a FAIR standard

Public information is only useful if it is Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable (FAIR). The Pistoia Alliance was pleased to … The post HELM is now a FAIR standard appeared first on Pistoia Alliance.
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#HaveYourSay On the Prevention of Harassment and Violence in the Workplace

he Government of Canada made a commitment to Canadians through Bill C-65 to help ensure that federally regulated workplaces, including Parliament Hill, are free from harassment and violence. On July 24th, 2018, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, invited Canadians to voice their opinion on the proposed regulatory framework to...
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EPA Facts and Figures Report available and A to Z Directory!

Data Update to Facts and Figures Website and Fact Sheet EPA has released its most recent Facts and Figures data on national municipal solid waste (MSW), which is for the year 2015. EPA published these data on its Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling website and in a summary fact sheet,...
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EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposal to Reconsider RMP Rule Amendments

PAINT.ORG – On July 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register a notice of data availability and extension of the comment period for its May 30 proposed rule to reconsider the final Risk Management Program (RMP) amendments. The extension follows an inquiry from nonprofit EarthJustice, which questions 2017 RMP data that EPA collected from industrial...
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Energy Department Releases Request for Information on Multi-Sector Uses of Hydrogen

DOE – today’s H2@Scale project kickoff meeting in Chicago, EERE’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Steven Chalk announced the release of a request for information (RFI) soliciting stakeholder feedback on opportunities to enable high volume production and multi-sector use of hydrogen. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and a feedstock used in industrial applications today including petroleum refining, ammonia production...
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Senate Passes Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2018

PAINT.ORG: On July 26, the U.S. Senate approved the Miscellaneous Tariff Bill Act of 2018 by a voice vote with amendments offered by Finance Committee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-UT). The measure now returns to the U.S. House of Representatives. If the House concurs with the Senate amendments, the legislation would be cleared for the...
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CARB investigation leads to nationwide recall of 500,000+ Cummins heavy-duty trucks

Owners of 2010–2015 model-year vehicles must replace faulty emissions components SACRAMENTO – The California Air Resources Board announced today that 500,000 heavy-duty trucks manufactured by Cummins Inc. will be recalled due to excess emissions caused by defective catalysts. Cummins worked collaboratively with CARB on the voluntary recall which constitutes the largest such effort for...
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California Wine Is Testing Positive for Radioactive Material from the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

ESQUIRE: French scientists just released a study that found trace amounts of radioactive material in California wines from 2011 that are a direct result of Fukushima—in case you had a taste for some slight radiation along with those tannins. The scientists vaporized bottles of California cabernet and rosé from 2009 to 2012 and studied the ashes...
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Regulate to reduce chemical mixture risk

Source: Science, 7/20/18. Humans and wildlife are continuously exposed to multiple chemicals from different sources and via different routes, both simultaneously and in sequence. Scientific evidence for heightened toxicity from such mixtures is mounting, yet regulation is lagging behind. Ensuring appropriate regulation of chemical mixture risks will require stronger legal stimuli as well as...
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DHS Announces New Grants to Support Access to Health Care in Rural Areas

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced the recipients of grants totaling more than $300,000 to help rural health care providers increase the number of physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses. The grants support the development of eight training sites and will help ensure access to quality health care in rural...
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“NASA Chief: ‘No Reason To Dismiss’ Recent UN Climate Report”

“The head of NASA bucked President Trump this week, saying that he sees no reason to reject the findings of a major climate change report from the United Nations.”...
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“The California Indigenous Peoples Using Fire for Agroforestry”

“Prescribed burning is the main tool in the Karuk and Yoruk tribes’ agroforestry systems, which encourages proliferation of traditional foods, herbs, and medicines.” Agriculture Forests People & Population California...
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Kinder Morgan Cancels Fracked Liquids Pipeline Plan, Pursues Another

“The company has dropped the idea of pushing hazardous gas liquids through an old pipeline that ran the other way. But it still wants to ship fracked natural gas.”...
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“Trump Administration Wants Phase-In Of U.N. Rules On Maritime Fuel”

“The Trump administration wants pollution limits on ship fuels that a United Nations maritime agency will implement in 2020 to be phased in to protect consumers from any price...
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Groups Sue Interior For Withholding Details On Trophy Permits

“The Interior Department is facing a lawsuit after failing to release electronic copies of elephant and lion trophy hunting permits, documents that animal conservation groups say are part of...
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“EPA Withdraws Proposed Obama-Era Rule Change For Uranium Mining”

“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday it has withdrawn a regulation proposed in the last days of the Obama administration that aimed to tighten health and safety...
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Everglades: Climate Change Threatens Work To Reverse Manmade Damage

“Report warns that rising temperatures threaten the Everglades, including changing rainfall patterns and accelerating sea-level rise.” Agriculture Climate Change Natural Resources Pollution Water & Oceans SE (AL AR FL...
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Trump Wants To Cut ‘Red Tape,’ Hasten Water Projects In West

“President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the government to speed up environmental reviews and streamline regulations that he says are hindering work on major water projects in California and...
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14-Year Oil Spill In Gulf May Become One Of The Worst In US History

“An oil spill that has been quietly leaking millions of barrels into the Gulf of Mexico has gone unplugged for so long that it now verges on becoming one...
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“Climate: Supreme Court Pauses Kids’ Case In Win For Trump”

“The Supreme Court today halted a federal climate change lawsuit brought by a group of young people, handing the Trump administration at least a temporary victory in its...
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‘The posterchild for entangled marine mammals around the globe:’ Q&A with author of ‘Vaquita’

Earlier this year, Mongabay reported that there might be as few as 12 vaquita left in the world, down from 30 in 2017. The vaquita population has been driven...
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47,000 Ticks on a Moose, and That’s Just Average. Blame Climate Change.

“The biggest number of winter ticks that Peter J. Pekins ever found on a moose was about 100,000. But that moose calf was already dead, most likely the victim...
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“Canada’s Ban On Asbestos To Take Effect But Mining Residues Are Exempt”

“Canada’s new asbestos ban will not prevent companies in Quebec from sifting through the waste left over from decades of mining asbestos to look for magnesium.” Chemicals Environmental Health...
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Iowa Regulators Ask If Dakota Access Pipeline Has Enough Insurance

“The Iowa Utilities Board is questioning whether the builder of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline has adequate insurance coverage to protect Iowans from potential oil spills.” Disasters Economy &...
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AMS: Trump Claim About Climate Scientists ‘Misleading And Very Damaging’

“In his interview with Lesley Stahl on Sunday night, President Trump said that climate scientists who find that human activities are driving climate change have a “very big political...
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“Endangered Species: FWS Recommends Shielding Some Records From Public”

“The Fish and Wildlife Service is recommending that staffers ‘withhold’ certain documents requested by the public on Endangered Species Act decisions in cases where the service can ‘foresee harm’...
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Air Pollution: US Chamber’s Pick Landed Gavel Of Key EPA Advisory Panel

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which regularly opposes tougher environmental regulations, last year succeeded in placing one of its candidates on a key EPA air quality committee, newly released...
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“Energy Policy: FERC Chairman Expected To Step Down — Sources”

“The chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission was conspicuously absent from an agency meeting today as speculation mounted that he may soon relinquish his post.” Energy & Fuel...
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Zinke’s Approach To Wife’s Travels Raised Red Flags, Report Finds

“Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s approach to his wife’s travel and activities sparked concerns among the department’s ethics officials, according to a report issued Thursday by Interior’s inspector general office.”...
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“Interior: Controversial IG Candidate Now Out Of Picture”

“In the latest bizarre twist of an already strange saga, the Interior Department announced late today that a political appointee from the Department of Housing and Urban Development won’t...
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Bolivian coca crops follow a planned highway through indigenous lands

Matilde Noza says she has never chewed a coca leaf. Noza, an indigenous woman, lives in the Nueva Galilea community of the Isiboro Sécure National Park and Indigenous Territory,...
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Trump Praises Republican Lawmaker Who Body-Slammed a Reporter

“MISSOULA, Mont. — President Trump praised a Republican candidate’s assault last year on a reporter and fumed over his Democratic opponents here on Thursday night in a freewheeling rally...
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In other news: Environmental stories from around the web, October 19, 2018

Tropical forests Insect numbers plummet in Puerto Rico, alarming scientists (The Independent, Gizmodo, Nature, The Scientist). Cameroonian authorities have approved the country’s first combined marine-terrestrial national park (Rainforest Trust)....
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