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

Managed Care Organizations Selected for State Family Care Programs

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that based on results from a recent procurement, Inclusa and Lakeland Care managed care organizations (MCO) have been selected to provide the Family Care program in Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, and Shawano counties beginning January 1, 2020. Incumbent managed care organization Care Wisconsin...
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Older Age Groups Now Included in Investigation of Lung Disease Among People Who Reported Vaping

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) continues to investigate cases of people with severe lung disease who all reported recent vaping or dabbing (which is vaping marijuana oils, extracts, or concentrates). While cases in the investigation initially included only teens and young adults, we now have confirmed cases in older age groups. In...
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New Cases Identified in Investigation of Lung Disease Among Teens and Young Adults Who Reported Vaping

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has received 11 cases of teenagers and young adults hospitalized with severe lung disease that has been linked to recent vaping. Seven other cases are under further investigation. Counties with confirmed cases include Door, Racine, Walworth, Dodge, Waukesha, and Winnebago. “We are currently interviewing patients, all of...
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Department of Health Services Shares Coping Tips for People Affected by Recent Storms

Storms don’t only damage property, they can affect your state of mind, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has tips to help people cope with the stress and unexpected changes natural disasters can create. Talk with others who understand how you feel. Don’t isolate yourself. Exercise. Even something simple like stretching or...
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Severe Weather Recovery: Replacement FoodShare Benefits Available Until August 19, 2019 for Many Wisconsin Counties

The Department of Health Services (DHS) announced today that replacement FoodShare benefits are available for an extended period of time for most of western, northern, and central Wisconsin. DHS requested and received approval from the federal Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to extend the time in which persons affected by the severe weather and...
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The Pistoia Alliance to Develop a Toolkit to Support Implementation of the FAIR Guiding Principles

Boston, 17 July, 2019 – The Pistoia Alliance, a global non-profit that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, today announced the launch of its FAIR Implementation project, backed by pharmaceutical companies including Roche, Astra Zeneca, and Bayer. The first project milestone by the end of 2019 will be the release...
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Russian Titanic released 100 times more radiation in Europe than 2011’s Fukushima disaster.

Mysterious radioactive leak that swept Europe came from Russia, study confirms despite Kremlin denial The source of a mysterious radioactive leak that swept Europe in 2017 has been traced to a nuclear processing plant in the southern Ural mountains in Russia, a new study confirms. Scientists analysed more than 1,300 data points all over...
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Scientists Have Discovered a Sea of Fresh Water Under the Ocean

Quartz: Thousands of years ago, glaciers covered much of the planet. Oceans receded as water froze in massive sheets of ice blanketing the North American continent. As the ice age ended, glaciers melted. Massive river deltas flowed out across the continental shelf. The oceans rose, and fresh water was trapped in sediments below the...
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Stay Safe During Heat Wave

High temperatures are expected over much of Wisconsin during the next several days, and the Department of Health Services is reminding residents to take steps to stay cool during this heat wave. “ Hot temperatures and humidity can be dangerous and even deadly,” said Jeanne Ayers, State Health Officer. “During this heat wave, it’s...
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Department of Health Services, Department of Natural Resources, and Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Work to Make Groundwater Cleaner

Working together to make sure the water you drink is safe, the Department of Health Services (DHS), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) have reviewed key compounds that can be in Wisconsin’s groundwater and the effects they could have on health. State health officials today...
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Fight the Bite! Take Action to Prevent Tick and Mosquito Bites

With the unofficial start of summer behind us, many Wisconsin residents are looking ahead to warmer weather and all the resources our state has to offer. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has launched a statewide campaign to help everyone Fight the Bite and avoid tick and mosquito bites this season. Many people...
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Teens, Young Adults Visit Emergency Rooms More than Others for Heat-Related Illnesses, New Data Review Finds

A new look at data from Minnesota and Wisconsin found that teens and adults 15 to 34 years old in both states are the most likely to visit the emergency department for heat-related illness. This finding was somewhat surprising as the majority of public health alerts during heat waves focus on the very young...
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Foodborne Illness Advisory: Del Monte Vegetable Trays Pose Potential Salmonella Risk

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Minnesota Department of Health, and Wisconsin local health departments are working with the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to investigate an ongoing multi-state outbreak of salmonellosis linked to consumption of certain Del Monte vegetable...
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Inspirational 2019 UX conference for the life sciences

The User Experience for Life Science team held their 2nd Pistoia Alliance User Experience for Life Sciences Conference on the 8th-9th May 2019 at GSK, Stevenage, UK. It attracted 120 delegates, from over 50 organisations along with some special guests, who gathered for two days of sharing knowledge and hands-on workshops. The conference was...
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Background information and news about AI and ML – for novices and not only

What is the difference between AI, ML and Deep Learning? How to set-up image recognition in TensorFlow? Why many AI methods are considered “black boxes” that defy explanation of the results they provide, and what can be done to overcome this? Answers to these and many more questions of potential interest to both...
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AI in life sciences still being held back by data issues and skills shortage

Recent Press Release: Boston & London, Wednesday 15 May, 2019 – The Pistoia Alliance, a global non-profit that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, today announced new survey results showing access to data (52 percent) and lack of skills (44 percent) are the biggest barriers to the adoption of AI and...
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AbVance – new publication submitted

Pistoia Alliance AbVance: focus on advancing the state of the art in antibody complex modelling for drug discovery. Review on ‘Computational approaches to therapeutic antibody design’ submitted for publication. Members of the Pistoia Alliance AbVance initiative have recently submitted a review entitled “Computational approaches to therapeutic antibody design: established methods and emerging trends” for...
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Data Sharing challenges and AI

With the rise of AI & ML within Life Sciences & Health, it’s become obvious that a key blocker to success is not the maturity of the AI tools and techniques but access to data in sufficient volume and quality for the AI & ML methods to analyse. In this blog we discuss some...
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Three new use cases identified from Pistoia Alliance blockchain workshop

Jake Dreier, Pistoia Alliance discusses the outcomes from our Blockchain Use Case Analysis workshop. The Blockchain Use Case Analysis Workshop on 12 March 2019 was an incredibly exciting experience to be a part of. Representatives from companies around the world gathered to collaborate, analyze, and develop use cases for blockchain technology in Life Sciences...
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CoE for AI in Life Sciences – seeks input to future priorities

The Pistoia Alliance is looking at future priorities for our CoE for AI in Life Sciences and Health. Building on the feedback after our recent London workshop Mar 2019 and the webinars & events over the last few months. Our current list is below and we welcome your views on the priorities here and...
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Business Analysis and User Experience

The roles of User Experience Designer and Business Analyst in Life Sciences In recent years Business Analysis and User Experience Design have been in demand in Life Sciences organisations. Companies are increasingly relying on these two complementary disciplines when it comes to designing and implementing digital solutions. Business communities are actively taking crossover...
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HELM Peptide Monomer Guidelines released

The HELM team is pleased to announce the publication of monomer guidelines for peptides. Monomers are the building blocks of bio-molecules and HELM adopters need to decide what monomers they want to use very early in their journey with HELM. Until now there has been guidance on nucleotide monomers, but limited information on...
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The Pistoia Alliance Calls for Greater Focus on ‘Science not Geography’ in Push for Global Collaboration

Three-day EU conference covering range of topics examines how technology is driving change in life sciences R&D and improving patients’ health London, 18th March, 2019 – The Pistoia Alliance, a global, not for profit alliance that works to lower barriers to innovation in life sciences R&D, is urging industry stakeholders worldwide to focus...
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Federal Black Lung program is failing to prevent new illnesses AND running out of money.

By Joe Davidsonhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/07/11/black-lung-disease-cases-grow-while-federal-programs-financing-suffers Like the miners who work underground in dark and dangerous conditions, black lung disease is, for many, largely out of sight, out of mind. But for folks such as Gary Hairston, who spent more than 27 years in the mines around his Beckley, W.Va., home, the ailment is ever-present. He lives...
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550,000 Acres on Fire in Alaska

Two small communities near Anderson, Alaska were ordered to evacuate late Thursday due to a wildfire, as the state’s summer of heat and smoke continues. The Kobe Fire was reported at 6:45 p.m. Thursday and by 10:50 p.m. had grown to 600 acres, The Alaska Division of Forestry reported. There are no reports that...
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Updated Consolidated List of Lists under EPCRA/CERCLA/CAA 112(r)

EPA revised the consolidated list of chemicals subject to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA); and Section 112(r) of the Clean Air Act; also known as the List of Lists. The List of Lists is available as a PDF file and as an Excel...
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Protecting pregnant employees who work with chemicals

Lists for pregnant employee chemicals to avoid. When reviewing (SDS) safety data sheet’s, in addition to Section 11, Toxicology, Also review the hazard statements in Section 2, Hazards Identification, where you may see something like “H360 May damage fertility or the unborn child.” While there is not ONE definitive list of reproductive toxinS,...
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Study: fertilizer is root cause for increased global methane emissions, not cows

While the cattle industry is repeatedly accused of being the main culprit for increased global methane emissions (and a leading cause for climate change), a new study shows that the fertilizer industry is the root cause. The report by researchers from Cornell, published in Elementa, shows that emissions of methane from the industrial fertilizer...
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Anesthetic Gas: A Risk for Veterinary Workers

There is increasing evidence that exposure to isoflurane, the anesthetic gas commonly used in veterinary practice, may pose health risks, including nervous or reproductive system harm. A new Workplace Hazard Update, Isoflurane May Harm Veterinary Worker Health (PDF), details how staff are exposed. It also provides guidance for minimizing exposure. A California Department of...
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DOE Releases New Study Highlighting the Untapped Potential of Geothermal Energy in the United States

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Department of Energy released a groundbreaking analysis detailing how the United States can benefit from the vast potential of geothermal energy. The analysis culminated in a report, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet, which summarizes findings showing that geothermal electricity generation could increase more than 26-fold from...
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In case you forgot…60,000 tons of dangerous radioactive waste still sits on Great Lakes shores

More than 60,000 tons of highly radioactive spent nuclear fuel is stored on the shores of four of the five Great Lakes — in some cases, mere yards from the waterline — in still-growing stockpiles. “It’s actually the most dangerous waste produced by any industry in the history of the Earth,” said Gordon Edwards,...
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Work-Related Asthma in the ER

Most people who go to work don’t expect to end up at the emergency room for asthma. According to a Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program (WRAPP) pilot study, an estimated 1 in 4 adults who wound up in the ER for asthma in 2016 were there because of their exposures from work. The study also...
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EPA to Hold First Meeting of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will hold the first meeting of the Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (Lautenberg Act), for Pigment Violet 29 (PV29), the first...
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EPA to Propose Revisions to Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule

(PAINT.ORG), EPA provided notice in the Federal Register that it will be releasing a proposed rule to revise its Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) rule. The agency said the proposed amendments would support Agency data collection efforts, align reporting with amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by requiring that confidentially claims be substantiated, and make...
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EPA and federal partners seek public input on draft GLRI Action Plan III

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its federal partners are seeking additional input from the public on developing the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Action Plan III. The plan will outline priorities and goals for the GLRI for the years 2020-2024. Input will be received until May 24, 2019. Last summer, EPA received...
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CSB Calls on EPA to Update HF Study in Wake of the 2017 Husky Refinery Fire

Washington, D.C. April 24, 2019 – Today, the US Chemical Safety Board released a letter calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to review its existing Hydrofluoric Acid (HF) study to determine the effectiveness of existing regulations as well as the viability of utilizing inherently safer alkylation technologies in petroleum refineries. CSB Interim Executive...
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The rise of Candida auris embodies a serious and growing public health threat: drug-resistant germs.

(NewYorkTimes) Last May, an elderly man was admitted to the Brooklyn branch of Mount Sinai Hospital for abdominal surgery. A blood test revealed that he was infected with a newly discovered germ as deadly as it was mysterious. Doctors swiftly isolated him in the intensive care unit. The germ, a fungus called Candida auris,...
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Post Fukushima – 23 countries still have bans on food imports from Japan because of the nuclear incident.

In 2015, the Japanese government filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization. Japan said all the seafood it ships is safe because it meets strict standards on radioactive substances. Japan called South Korea’s actions unfair and discriminatory. A WTO dispute panel supported Japan in February last year and recommended South Korea correct its...
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U.S. Green Building Council Launches LEED v4.1

Source (PAINT.ORG) On April 2, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that the new version of the LEED green building program – LEED v4.1 – is now available for cities, communities and homes. According to USGBS, LEED v4.1 certification recognizes leadership by emphasizing performance monitoring, fully integrated design, social equity and human health factors. Green...
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Update: Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule

Source (PAINT.ORG) In response to a number of Supreme Court cases that have complicated what constitutes WOTUS, or the “waters of the United States,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers pursued a rulemaking during 2014 and 2015 to revise the regulatory definition of WOTUS. In May 2015, EPA...
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EPA Publishes List of 40 Chemicals for Prioritization Review under Amended TSCA

(Source PAINT.ORG) On March 21, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register its list of 40 candidate chemicals for high and low priority under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The list designates 20 high priority and 20 low priority candidates. Several of the high priority chemicals are used in...
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Update: AIM VOC Rulemakings in New York, Colorado and California

From (PAINT.ORG) Colorado and New York are proposing to adopt the Northeast Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Phase II model rule limiting volatile organic compound (VOC) content for AIM (Architectural and Industrial Maintenance) coatings. In addition, the OTC states will likely begin working on the OTC Phase III AIM model rule in the next year...
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A Mysterious Infection, Spanning the Globe in a Climate of Secrecy

” In the United States, two million people contract resistant infections annually, and 23,000 die from them, according to the official C.D.C. estimate. That number was based on 2010 figures; more recent estimates from researchers at Washington University School of Medicine put the death toll at 162,000. Worldwide fatalities from resistant infections are estimated...
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Giant Daily Drivers and Cellphones have U.S. Pedestrian Deaths Still Climbing

According to the National Highway Association, 6,227 people were killed on the road last year, more than any year since 1990. The upward trend in pedestrian deaths started at the beginning of this decade and shows no signs of slowing down. Bigger cars and distractions from cellphones are two leading causes of this growing problem. Read...
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OSHA’s Occupational Medicine Resident Elective

The Office of Occupational Medicine and Nursing (OOMN) in OSHA serves as an instructional site for current resident physicians who are receiving training in occupational and environmental medicine, general preventive medicine, and aerospace medicine. At any time throughout the year, OOMN may host up to four resident physicians for an eight week training rotation....
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OSHA’s new webpage Available on Radiation Emergencies

SHA’s new webpage on radiation emergency preparedness is intended to help protect the health and safety of workers during situations ranging from small, isolated incidents in laboratories to potentially catastrophic radiation releases at nuclear facilities. The webpage also provides resources on health and safety planning, medical monitoring and dosimetry, and other relevant topics. OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/emergencypreparedness/radiation/
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DOE Announces Up to $26.1 Million to Advance Hydropower and Marine Energy

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Daniel Simmons announced up to $26.1 million in funding to drive innovative industry-led technology solutions to advance the marine and hydrokinetics (MHK) industry and increase hydropower’s ability to serve as a flexible grid resource. The Water Power...
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Trader Joe’s Phasing Out Single-Use Plastics Nationwide Following Customer Petition

By Madison Dapcevich As the world suffocates from its plastic addiction, a growing number of businesses are stepping up to the plate to reduce their plastic waste. Most recently, Trader Joe’s announced that it will be taking steps to cut back on plastic and other packaging waste after a petition launched by Greenpeace harnessed nearly 100,000 signatures. At the end...
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EPA Identifies 40 Chemicals to Prioritize for Risk Evaluation

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is publishing a list of 40 chemicals to begin the prioritization process – the initial step in a new process of reviewing chemicals currently in commerce under the amended Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). “EPA continues to demonstrate its commitment to the successful and timely...
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Preventing Illness from Silica Dust

Workers in construction and manufacturing jobs are often exposed to respirable crystalline silica, which is released when cutting or drilling into stone and concrete. Breathing silica dust is dangerous and can lead to serious and often fatal illnesses. There are steps employers must take to protect workers by reducing exposure to dust. These steps...
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Is the rhino horn trade a cartel? Economic analysis suggests it works like one

When economist Adrian Lopes read a recent report by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), a question popped into his mind. The report, which described rhino poaching and counter-poaching measures,...
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Sri Lanka pushes for protection of sea cucumbers amid overexploitation

In the early 1980s, a common sight along the still unpolluted beaches of southern Sri Lanka was that of fisherfolk sun-drying small, blackish, cylindrical objects. They called them sea...
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Tests show multi-rotor UAVs can improve cetacean behavioral studies

A New Zealand-based research team assessing the utility of small, multi-rotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to survey and study humpback whales determined that video data collected from a UAV...
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Gov’t takedown of illegal gold mining in Peru shows promise, but at a cost

PUERTO MALDONADO, Peru — Luis Hidalgo Okimura, the new governor of Peru’s Madre de Dios region, entered his conference room in the regional government building here carrying a half-empty...
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“Politics: Climate Critics Escalate Personal Attacks On Teen Activist”

“Greta Thunberg, at age 16, has quickly become one of the most visible climate activists in the world. Her detractors increasingly rely on ad hominem attacks to blunt her...
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“Oil And Gas: Republicans Push DOT To Quash Wash. Crude-By-Rail Law”

“A group of House and Senate Republicans are pressing the Department of Transportation to intervene against a Washington state law that they say could prevent the shipment of Bakken...
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Insect ‘Apocalypse’ In U.S. Driven By 50X Increase In Toxic Pesticides

“America’s agricultural landscape is now 48 times more toxic to honeybees, and likely other insects, than it was 25 years ago, almost entirely due to widespread use of so-called...
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“Offshore Drilling: Trump’s Leasing Plan Faces New Court Challenge”

“Environmentalists yesterday mounted a new legal attack against the Trump administration’s efforts to lease as much offshore acreage as it can to oil and gas developers.” Energy & Fuel...
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“Neutralization Of Hydrofluoric Acid To Begin At Philly Refinery”

“Workers at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery in South Philadelphia began neutralizing tens of thousands of barrels of a highly toxic chemical this week. The refinery is shutting down...
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“EPA Won’t Approve Labels That Say Roundup Chemical Causes Cancer”

“The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it will not approve labels on products containing glyphosate that link the chemical to cancer. The move is directed at California.” Agriculture...
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“Revealed: FBI and Police Monitoring Oregon Anti-Pipeline Activists”

“Law enforcement groups, including the FBI, have been monitoring opponents of a natural gas infrastructure project in Oregon and circulated intelligence to an email list that included a Republican-aligned...
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“Trump Administration Authorizes ‘Cyanide Bombs’ To Kill Wild Animals”

“The Trump administration has reauthorized government officials to use controversial poison devices – dubbed “cyanide bombs” by critics – to kill coyotes, foxes and other animals across the US.”...
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Indigenous-managed lands found to harbor more biodiversity than protected areas

New research bolsters the case for indigenous-led land management as a crucial conservation solution. The study, published in the journal Environmental Science & Policy last month, focused on land...
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“Revealed: How Monsanto’s ‘Intelligence Center’ Targeted Journalists”

“Monsanto operated a “fusion center” to monitor and discredit journalists and activists, and targeted a reporter who wrote a critical book on the company, documents reveal. The agrochemical corporation...
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“Booker Floats ‘Nature-Based’ Climate Strategy”

“Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) on Thursday unveiled draft legislation to encourage tree-planting, sustainable agriculture and other ‘nature-based’ strategies to address climate change.” Agriculture Climate Change Environmental Politics Forests National...
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Peru: Invaders claim their first victim at the Macuya Forest Investigation Center

An invasion of the Macuya Forest has claimed its first victim. Julio Crisanto López was the last person keeping watch at the Macuya Forestry Investigation and Training Center (Centro...
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In other news: Environmental stories from around the web, August 9, 2019

Tropical forests An anthropologist tried to fight off poachers’ dogs going after chimpanzees in Uganda (The Atlantic). Agri-giant Chiquita says it will take steps to protect biodiversity (Produce News)....
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Next CSB Public Business Meeting September 17th at 11 am

CSB September 2019 Public Business Meeting
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Forests: A key piece of the land and climate puzzle (commentary)

The vital contribution of forests in protecting biodiversity, regulating the climate, and enhancing human well-being is being recognized as never before. Forest-related responses to tackling the climate crisis are...
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“Florida Expands Python-Hunting Into Federal Swamplands”

“Florida will send snake hunters into remote federal swamplands to kill exotic Burmese pythons threatening native wildlife.” Wildlife SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC...
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Enviros Seek Injunction To Halt Construction Of Trump’s Border Wall

“An Arizona-based environmental group is hoping to stop construction of President Donald Trump’s long-promised U.S.-Mexico border wall in protected Arizona wilderness that harbors dozens of endangered or threatened species.”...
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“Conservation Groups Sue To Block Road In Alaska Refuge”

“Nine conservation groups on Wednesday sued the U.S. Interior Department over its latest proposed land trade that could lead to a road through a national wildlife refuge in Alaska.”...
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“Court Revokes Atlantic Coast Pipeline’s Fish And Wildlife Permit”

“A federal court has overturned a permit needed for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to continue its path across West Virginia and Virginia, where some say construction would impact endangered...
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Trump Admin Throws Cold Water On Climate Change Threat To Coral Reefs

“When pollsters informed President Donald Trump that he faces political exposure in the 2020 election with swing voters on environment policy, he decided to respond with a White House...
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Trump EPA Appoints Former Oil Executive to Head South-Central Region

“The Trump administration named a former oil executive who has voiced doubts about man-made global warming as the top Environmental Protection Agency official in the South-Central United States, a...
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“Exxon Accused of Pressuring Witnesses in Climate Fraud Case”

“New York’s attorney general wants a judge to stop the oil giant from subpoenaing documents from investors, saying it would ‘discourage them from testifying’. “ Climate Change Laws &...
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“Six States Sue EPA Over Pesticide Tied To Brain Damage”

“Several states sued the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Wednesday over the agency’s decision to allow further use of a pesticide linked to brain damage.” Agriculture Chemicals Environmental Health...
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“Warren Would Pay Farmers To Fight Climate Change Under New Plan”

“Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) would pay farmers to fight climate change if elected president under a new policy proposal released Wednesday.” Agriculture Climate Change Environmental Politics National (U.S.) Public...
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Climate Change Threatens the World’s Food Supply, United Nations Warns

“The world’s land and water resources are being exploited at “unprecedented rates,” a new United Nations report warns, which combined with climate change is putting dire pressure on the...
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Forests and forest communities critical to climate change solutions

How we use the planet’s land, including forests, will make a huge difference in determining the path of climate change in the future, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on...
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Indonesian flooding disaster bears the hallmarks of agriculture and mining impacts

TAPUWATU, Indonesia — Muhammad Arfa says he thinks a miracle saved his home. A wave of mud that swept through this riverside village on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi...
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Protecting the strange sea pangolin and other animals: Q&A with deep sea biologist Chong Chen

When Chong Chen was in high school, he came across a paper published in 2003 that described a peculiar species of snail from the Indian Ocean, thousands of feet...
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Photo essay: Madagascar’s disappearing dry forests (insider)

The dry forest of western Madagascar is famous for its wildlife and baobab trees, including the tourist destinations of Baobab Alley, Tsingy de Bemaraha, and Kirindy Forest. Among the...
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Bolsonaro can bully on deforestation, but he can’t hide from satellites (commentary)

In response to rising international criticism over a surge in forest clearing since the beginning of the year, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and officials in his administration have recently...
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“USDA May Have Flouted Congress In Agency Relocations”

“The Department of Agriculture may have exceeded its spending authority when it moved forward with plans to relocate two of its research agencies, an inspector general review said.” Agriculture...
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Texas Sues Exxon Mobil Over Environmental Violations From Baytown Fire

“The state of Texas is suing Exxon Mobil for environmental violations, including releasing millions of gallons of firefighting wastewater into the Houston Ship Channel after the petrochemical giant’s most...
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Interior Took Notes From FBI While Developing Controversial FOIA Policy

“The Interior Department took notes from the FBI, which handles reams of classified material and is known as a slower responder to public records requests, while developing its controversial...
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US States Face Water Crisis As Global Heating Strains Supplies

“A handful of US states – including New Mexico and California – are facing significant strains on their water supplies that will only intensify with global heating, according to...
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The wolf of Bangladesh: A true story

For Muntasir Akash, it all started with a photo in a news report in early June. The photo showed a canine-like animal, beaten and dead, legs splayed, hanging from...
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‘The forest is our life’: Hope for change in Guyana’s forests (commentary)

First, an American company came knocking. Then an Indian firm. A Chinese corporation soon followed. “Ten years doing logging? The amount of machines they wanted to bring… I said...
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Audio: Environmental justice and urban rat infestations

Today we speak with Dawn Biehler, an associate professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, whose research focuses on the history and public health impacts of rats and...
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Indonesia agrees to attempt Sumatran rhino IVF with eggs from Malaysia

JAKARTA — The governments of Indonesia and Malaysia have agreed to carry out in vitro fertilization of Sumatran rhinos, heralding a breakthrough in a decades-long effort to breed the...
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Haze from fires, Indonesia’s national ‘embarrassment,’ are back

Three years after forest fires in Indonesia sent huge volumes of smoke billowing into Malaysia and Singapore, the Southeast Asian neighbors are dealing with a repeat of the “embarrassing”...
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New orchid species from Japan lives on dark forest floor, never blooms

From Japan’s Amami-Oshima and Tokunoshima islands, researchers have described a new-to-science species of orchid that produces dark brown flowers that likely never bloom. Kenji Suetsugu of the Kobe University...
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Forestry companies warned over environmental policies

Forestry companies that manage huge areas of rainforest in the tropics have failed to commit themselves to policies of “zero deforestation,” according to an analysis of their environmental policies...
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