Two major environmental organizations are calling on Congress today to come back to the negotiating table to protect the public from toxic “forever chemicals.” Environment America and the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) denounced the recent decision by lawmakers to drop critical protections against these chemicals from the National Defense Authorization Act. Original Source
Environment Missouri hosts event in honor of Congressman William Lacy Clay’s support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund at Tower Grove Park. Original Source
Environment America Research & Policy Center is submitting comments on behalf of 102 organizations today, urging the Environmental Protection Agency to dramatically reduce the massive levels of pollution dumped by agribusiness facilities into America’s waterways. The comments are in response to the agency’s decision not to update permit standards for meat and poultry plants — …
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released two proposals today to roll back clean water protections against waste from coal-fired power plants. The first proposal would overhaul wastewater rules, drastically weakening safeguards that prevent utilities from discharging toxic pollutants like arsenic, lead and mercury into America’s waterways. The second proposal would significantly extend closure dates for …
Congress advanced major bipartisan legislation today to improve America’s clean water infrastructure. The U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure approved H.R.1497, the Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2019, which would invest more than $16 billion in clean water infrastructure over the next five years. Original Source
In response to a growing set of pollution threats and to mark today’s 47th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, Environment America Research and Policy Center and the Clean Water for All coalition have launched a new website — “Voices for Clean Waterâ€� — that features photos and testimonials from a wide array of individuals …
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its long-awaited proposal to update to the federal Lead and Copper Rule. As proposed, EPA’s long-awaited update to the Lead and Copper Rule falls far short of the decisive action needed to “get the lead outâ€� of our drinking water. And in a few critical provisions, the proposed …
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to repeal the Clean Water Rule today, revoking the landmark 2015 environmental protections. The Clean Water Rule had reestablished safeguards for more than 20 million acres of wetlands and half of the nation’s streams, which help provide drinking water to more than 117 million Americans. By repealing the …
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The U.S. House approved a host of provisions today to address widespread drinking water contamination from toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The annual defense spending bill would phase out the military’s use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams by 2025 — a major source of drinking water contamination. The bill would also designate all PFAS chemicals …
The U.S. Senate passed its annual defense policy bill today with a host of provisions to address widespread drinking water contamination from toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). One key provision would phase out the military’s use of PFAS-containing firefighting foams — a major source of pollution — by 2023. By incorporating our request to adopt …
A new bill filed yesterday by Sens. Tom Udall, Senator Martin Heinrich, Senator Tina Smith, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Senator Angus King will put the U.S. on track for at least 50 percent renewable electricity nationwide by 2035.The Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Act of 2019, which requires all states to steadily increase their use of …
A new bill filed yesterday by Sens. Tom Udall, Senator Martin Heinrich, Senator Tina Smith, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Senator Angus King will put the U.S. on track for at least 50 percent renewable electricity nationwide by 2035.The Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Act of 2019, which requires all states to steadily increase their use of …
Trump administration’s replacement to Clean Power Plan sends U.S. in the wrong direction on climate change The Trump administration announced today its rule to replace the Clean Power Plan, which was put into place in 2015. The Clean Power Plan was set to cut carbon pollution from the electric power sector by 32 percent by …
The U.S. House Committee on Armed Services approved provisions in the annual defense policy bill early this morning that would phase out the military’s use of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. Right now, Congress has a critical opportunity to stamp out a major threat to our public health. Millions of people across …
The U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held a hearing this morning on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to replace the Clean Water Rule. The proposed rule would roll back protections for much of America’s network of waterways. The administration’s ‘Dirty Water Rule’ would leave vast networks of America’s rivers, lakes and …
The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services today announced legislation to phase out the military’s use of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. As part of the annual defense spending bill, called The National Defense Authorization Act, the Pentagon would be restricted from purchasing PFAS foams after 2022, and prohibited from using …
Congress is holding three hearings today to address widespread drinking water contamination from toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). It’s encouraging to see lawmakers cross the aisle to tackle threats to the environment and public health together. Today’s hearings and the recent flurry of activity around PFAS demonstrate the public’s pervasive concern about these toxic chemicals. …
Three years after candidates from both parties made infrastructure a key presidential campaign issue, it’s finally the long-awaited “infrastructure week.” Democratic congressional leaders and the White House announced two weeks ago that they would commit $2 trillion to the cause. But a new report from Missouri PIRG Education Fund, Environment Missouri Research & Education Center and Frontier …
Environment America submitted a letter to the Senate and House Armed Services Committees today, calling on Congress to pass legislation to phase out military firefighting foams that contain toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within three years. Sixty-five environmental, veterans and community groups signed on to the letter. “Families from Michigan to West Virginia are drinking poisoned water …
The United States now boasts more than two million solar panel installations, according to data released today by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). While it took decades to reach one million in 2016, the next million took just three years. Original Source
U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell of Florida introduced a bill today that utilizes green infrastructure to prevent wastewater and stormwater pollution. This legislation, called the Water Infrastructure, Sustainability and Efficiency (WISE) Act, ensures federal money for clean water projects that promote green infrastructure, water or energy efficiency improvements and other environmentally innovative activities. It also advances …
Five Congressmen introduced a bill this week to combat toxic drinking water pollution from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). While PFAS chemicals are putting the drinking water of millions of Americans at risk, EPA has failed to set a clear limit to drive cleanup of contaminated water. This bill would jump-start the process of creating an overall …
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a new interpretation of the Clean Water Act on Monday that fails to protect against pollution that passes through groundwater before reaching our waterways. The EPA is grossly misinterpreting the Clean Water Act and putting our waters at risk by opening loopholes for pollution. This change would leave the public vulnerable …