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NRC receives license application for a mixed-oxide fuel fabrication facility in South Carolina WASHINGTON (10/05/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received an operating license application from Duke, Cogema, Stone & Webster (DCS) for a proposed mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel fabrication....

Gov. Schwarzenegger signs landmark greenhouse gas emissions legislation SACRAMENTO, CA  (10/05/06) --  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed landmark greenhouse gas emission legislation last week.  AB 32 by Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) would establish a....

Draft economic analysis of proposed critical habitat for two endangered plants released WEST VALLEY, UT  (10/04/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released an analysis that estimates costs related to the designation of critical habitat for two federally endangered plants, the Shivwits milk-vetch and....

$67 million in grants for endangered species land acquisition and conservation planning announced WASHINGTON (10/04/06) -- Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne  announced more than $67 million in grants to 27 states to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for threatened and endangered fish....

California and Nevada receive $26 million to support endangered species WASHINGTON (10/03/06) -- Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne has announced more than $26 million in grants will go to California and Nevada to support conservation planning and acquisition of vital habitat for....

New York building to be World's largest built with recycled industrial materials WASHINGTON (10/02/06) -- A major commercial development in Syracuse, N.Y., will be the world's largest sustainable structure to be built with recycled industrial materials, incorporate energy efficient features, and....

EPA adds 5 and proposes 6 sites to Superfund list WASHINGTON (10/02/06) -- The U.S. EPA is adding five new hazardous waste sites that pose risks to human health and the environment to the National Priorities List of Superfund sites....

Corps of Engineers seeks comments on proposal to renew and revise nationwide permits WASHINGTON (09/29/06) --The U.S. Corps of Engineers has begun seeking comments about a proposal to renew and revise nationwide permits for work in wetlands and other waters that are regulated by Section 404 of the....

New study suggests global warming trends are uneven WASHINGTON (09/29/06) -- Average ocean water temperatures cooled slightly between 2003 and 2005 after a decade-long warming trend, according to a study recently released by the National Oceanic and....

Mary Gade appointed Administrator of U.S. EPA Region 5 CHICAGO, IL  (09/28/06) -- Mary Gade, an environmental attorney with a wealth of federal, state and private sector experience, has been appointed as regional administrator of U.S. EPA Region 5....

EPA strengthens U.S. air quality standards WASHINGTON (09/28/06) -- The U.S. EPA has announced the strongest national air quality standards in the country's history. These National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) address fine and coarse particle....

Sierra Club challenges continued use of perchloroethylene WASHINGTON (09/27/06) -- The Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, has filed a lawsuit in federal court that challenges the Environmental Protection Agency's refusal to phase out the use of perchloroethylene....

No change in listing status for Banbury Springs lanx BOISE, ID (09/27/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced its five-year status review for the Banbury Springs lanx, a mollusk that was listed as endangered in 1992....

Energy Dept. releases Climate Change Technology Program Strategic Plan WASHINGTON (09/26/06) --The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released the Climate Change Technology Program (CCTP) Strategic Plan, which details measures to accelerate the development and reduce the....

California AG files suit against automakers for global warming damages SACRAMENTO, CA (09/25/06) -- Attorney General Bill Lockyer has filed a lawsuit against leading U.S. and Japanese auto manufacturers, alleging their vehicles’ emissions have contributed significantly to....

Federal court reinstates roadless rule SAN FRANCISCO, CA (09/25/06) -- A federal district court has ordered the reinstatement of the Clinton era roadless rule to protect almost 50 million acres of wild national forests and grasslands from road building....

NRC offers new service for e-mail notification WASHINGTON (09/25/06) -- In an effort to expand communications with the public, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has initiated a free automated "list serve" program to provide information and documents when....

Fish and Wildlife Service conducts  five-year review of Bruneau hot springsnail BOISE, ID (09/22/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced it is conducting a five-year review of the Bruneau hot springsnail, (Pyrgulopsis bruneauensis), a mollusk that....

Draft Recovery Plan released for Rota bridled white-eye HONOLULU, HI (09/22/06) -- A draft recovery plan outlining the recovery strategy for the endangered Rota bridled white-eye has been released by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for public comment....

EPA proposes additional options for car A/C systems WASHINGTON (09/21/06) -- The U.S. EPA is proposing to expand the list of choices car manufacturers have when choosing non ozone-depleting refrigerants for use in vehicle air conditioning systems....

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service publishes recovery plan for rare California plant YREKA, CA (09/21/06) -- A recovery plan for the endangered Yreka phlox (Phlox hirsuta), one of California's rarest plants, has been published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service....

Recovery plan released for Hawaiian snail HONOLULU, HI (09/20/06) -- A recovery plan that identifies actions to restore populations of the threatened Newcomb's snail, one of the few freshwater snails native to Hawaii, has been released by the....

Gov. Schwarzenegger signs ocean protection and enhanced water quality legislation SACRAMENTO, CA (09/20/06) --Gov. Schwarzenegger has signed seven bills that will extend the state’s leadership in protecting the ocean and improve the state’s water quality....

NRC issues new edition of Information Digest WASHINGTON (09/19/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has issued its 2006-2007 edition of the Information Digest containing up-to-date information about the agency, domestic and worldwide....

Ren Lohoefener named Director of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region WASHINGTON (09/18/06) -- Ren Lohoefener has been named Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Pacific Region, which includes Idaho, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and the Pacific Islands....

Funding for wetlands projects, additions to National Wildlife Refuges announced WASHINGTON (09/18/06) -- The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved $28.9 million from the North American Wetlands Conservation Fund for 30 conservation projects in 17 U.S. states and 12 Canadian....

Updated list of candidate species for ESA protection released WASHINGTON (09/15/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released its updated Candidate Notice of Review, a yearly appraisal of the candidate species list detailing those plants or animals that may warrant....

Draft economic analysis of critical habitat designation for the Canada lynx released HELENA, Montana (09/14/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released an analysis estimating costs related to the proposed critical habitat designation for the Canada lynx....

Revised critical habitat proposed for marbled murrelet LACY, WA (09/14/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued a revised proposal to designate 221,692 acres of critical habitat for the marbled murrelet, a threatened species protected under the....

Migratory bird named candidate for Endangered Species Act protection WASHINGTON (09/13/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the red knot, a migratory bird, as a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection....

New England cottontail named candidate for Endangered Species Act protection WASHINGTON (09/12/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has designated the New England cottontail as a candidate for Endangered Species Act protection....

Critical habitat designated for Rota bridled white-eye HONOLULU, HI (09/12/06) -- A final rule designating critical habitat for the endangered Rota bridled white-eye on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has been released by the....

EPA proposes improvements to improve New Source Review WASHINGTON (09/11/06) -- The U.S. EPA is proposing improvements to three specific areas of its New Source Review (NSR) permitting program....

FWS publishes Draft Template Safe Harbor Agreement for Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits SPOKANE, WA (09/11/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has published a Notice of Availability of the Draft Template Safe Harbor Agreement, Draft Environmental Assessment and Receipt of Applications for....

EPA renews the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council charter WASHINGTON (09/08/06) -- The U.S. EPA is renewing the charter for the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC), the federal advisory committee that provides it with advice and....

EPA proposes regulation requiring increased use of renewable fuels WASHINGTON (09/07/06) -- Projecting annual cuts up to 3.9 billion gallons in petroleum use and 14 million tons in greenhouse gas emissions, the Bush Administration has proposed a Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS)....

EPA data shows decline in methyl bromide inventory WASHINGTON (09/07/06) -- The U.S. EPA has released data showing a steady decline in the aggregate methyl bromide inventory held by companies in the United States since 2003, when the Agency began....

FWS releases proposed draft Safe Harbor agreement for California watershed SACRAMENTO, CA (09/06/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has released a draft Safe Harbor agreement aimed at encouraging landowners in the Cottonwood Creek watershed in Shasta and Tehama counties....

EPA requires new manifest form for all handlers of hazardous waste WASHINGTON (09/05/06) -- Effective Sept. 5, 2006, all hazardous waste generators and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities must use EPA's standardized hazardous waste manifest form....

Groups, States file opening brief in global warming case WASHINGTON (08/31/06) -- A wide array of states, cities, and various public health and environmental organizations have filed an opening brief in one of the biggest clean air cases ever to come before the....

Sonoran Desert bald eagle will remain a threatened species PHOENIX, AZ (08/30/06) -- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reviewed a petition to designate the Sonoran Desert-nesting population of the bald eagle as a distinct population segment and reclassify the....

Judge declares Bush administration pesticide rules for endangered species are illegal SEATTLE, WA (08/29/06) -- A federal judge in Seattle has overturned new Bush administration rules that made it easier for pesticide makers to ignore the effects of their products on endangered plants and animals....

EPA seeks comments on portions of MACT rule WASHINGTON (08/28/06) -- The U.S. EPA is requesting comments on some aspects of the national emission standards for hazardous air pollutants (NESHAPs) for new and existing hazardous waste combustors....

Canada adds forty-two species for protection under SARA OTTAWA, Canada (08/25/06) -- Canada's Minister of the Environment, Rona Ambrose,  has announced the addition of 32 land-based species and 10 aquatic species to Schedule 1, the list of species protected under....

Arlen Lancaster appointed chief of Natural Resources Conservation Service WASHINGTON (08/24/06) -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns has announced the appointment of Arlen Lancaster as Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)....

EPA releases draft guidance to reduce mechanics' exposure to asbestos WASHINGTON (08/24/06) -- The U.S. EPA is updating its guidance to protect the health of auto mechanics with the release of a draft brochure entitled....

Cleaner burning diesel introduced early in California SAN FRANCISCO (08/23/06)  --  At a new fueling terminal near Sacramento yesterday, U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Wayne Nastri joined state and local air quality regulators, engine manufacturers and....

EPA takes next step in controlling air pollution from animal feeding operations WASHINGTON (08/23/06) -- The U.S. EPA has received approval to take the next step in gathering air emissions data from agricultural animal feeding operations (AFOs)....

Agreement reached on seamless approach to protect nations natural resources WASHINGTON (08/22/06) -- A General Agreement has been signed between the Department of the Interior and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to increase the coordination of Parks, Sanctuaries....

Secretary Kempthorne approves Master Agreement for Arizona Water Settlements Act WASHINGTON (08/22/06) -- Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne has approved the Master Agreement for the Arizona Water Settlements Act, paving the way for reallocating water from the Central Arizona Project (CAP)....

Schwarzenegger signs Million Solar Roofs Plan bill SACRAMENTO, CA (08/21/06) -- Concluding a two-year effort to help make California the nation’s leader in solar energy, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed SB 1 by Senator Kevin Murray (D-Los Angeles), putting the finishing....

John B. Askew appointed new EPA Region 7 Administrator KANSAS CITY, KS (08/18/06) -- EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson has announced the appointment of John B. Askew, president of the Iowa Soybean Association, as the new EPA Region 7 Administrator....

NRC appoints new enforcement chief WASHINGTON (08/17/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has appointed Cynthia A. Carpenter as Director of the agency's Office of Enforcement. She will succeed Michael Johnson, who is now the....

EPA annnounces program to reduce mercury emissions from scrap vehicle light switches WASHINGTON (08/16/06) -- The U.S. EPA has announced a national program aimed at helping to cut mercury air emissions by up to 75 tons over the next 15 years....

California Climate Action Team releases summary report SACRAMENTO, CA (08/16/06) -- The California Climate Action Team has released a summary report of 17 scientific studies examining the potential impacts of climate change on California....

EPA proposes cuts in air toxics emissions from degreasers WASHINGTON (08/15/06) -- The U.S. EPA is proposing options to reduce air toxics emissions by up to 70 percent from halogenated solvent cleaning operations. Halogenated solvents, also known as degreasers, are....

First air quality permit requirements proposed for industry in 'Indian Country' WASHINGTON (08/15/06) -- The U.S. EPA is proposing a plan to help protect air quality in areas under tribal jurisdiction, without slowing the areas' economic growth....

NRC names directors for new reactors, national materials offices WASHINGTON (08/14/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's Executive Director for Operations, Luis Reyes, has announced the appointments of four program office directors as part of the agency's reorganization....

Federal court finds EPA's air toxics efforts "grossly delinquent" WASHINGTON (08/11/06) -- A federal court has found the U.S. EPA's efforts to protect public health from toxic air pollution to be "grossly delinquent." Deciding a lawsuit brought by Sierra Club against EPA Administrator....

Stacey Gerard appointed first PHMSA Assistant Administrator/Chief Safety Officer WASHINGTON (08/11/06) -- Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino has announced the appointment of Stacey Gerard as the assistant administrator and chief safety officer of the Pipeline and....

Chemical found in air fresheners may reduce lung function WASHINGTON (08/10/06) -- New research shows that a chemical compound found in many air fresheners, toilet bowl cleaners, mothballs and other deodorizing products, may be harmful to the lungs....

Report calls attention to growing evidence of health risks from TCE WASHINGTON (08/10/06) -- A new report from the National Academies' National Research Council recommends research to improve understanding of how the environmental contaminant trichloroethylene causes cancer....

GAO report finds EPA's implementation of the air toxics program inadequate WASHINGTON (08/09/06) -- A report issued today by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes the Environmental Protection Agency's implementation of the....

Proposed rule would expand NRC's authority over radioactive material WASHINGTON (08/09/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is seeking public comments on a proposed rule to incorporate newly added radioactive "byproduct" material into its regulatory framework as....

Container ship owners to pay $3.25 million in National Marine Sanctuary settlement WASHINGTON (08/08/06) -- The owners and operators of the foreign-flagged container vessel Med Taipei have agreed to pay $3.25 million to resolve allegations that the 15 containers lost overboard in 2004 resulted in....

NRC reorganizes to create an Office of New Reactors WASHINGTON (08/07/06) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has announced it is reorganizing the Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) to create an Office of New Reactors (NRO)....

Senator Inhofe welcomes report on New Source Review WASHINGTON (08/07/06) -- Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Chairman of the Environment & Public Works Committee, has welcomed a report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) National Research Council....

Report recommends broader approach to New Source Review rules WASHINGTON (08/04/06) -- A new report from the National Academies' National Research Council illustrates a broader, more comprehensive approach the U.S. EPA's should use to evaluate changes to....

California air board funds $5 million in air pollution research SACRAMENTO, CA (08/04/06) -- The California Air Resources Board (ARB) has approved over $5 million in funding for air pollution research. The funding supports 21 projects for research on....

Senator Jeffords introduces climate change bill WASHINGTON (08/03/06) -- U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.), ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has introduced sweeping legislation that would set the United States on a path to....

GAO report finds EPA's implementation of the air toxics program inadequate WASHINGTON (08/03/06) -- A report issued by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) concludes the U.S. EPA's implementation of the Clean Air Act air toxics program has been inadequate, with substantial....

New Yucca Mountain timetable wins bipartisan support of House panel WASHINGTON (08/02/06) -- In recent testimony before Congress, an Energy Department spokesman said he now hopes the national nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain will be operational by 2017....

House Resources Committee passes Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act WASHINGTON (08/01/06) -- The House Resources Committee has voted 17-10 to support the Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act....

Major wetlands conservation act passes House committee markup WASHINGTON (08/01/06) -- The House Resources Committee has approved H.R. 5539, which reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), by unanimous consent....