Back

Director's Picks

EPA Orders Union Pacific to Assess Contamination in Houston’s Greater Fifth Ward Neighborhood

Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) to investigate potential contamination in and around the former wood preserving facility in the Greater Fifth Ward area of Houston, Texas. UPRR will conduct the investigation and evaluation, and EPA will oversee their work. The field work is expected to begin in early Spring 2023. The statement of work requires UPRR to conduct several actions, including on- and off-site soil sampling, vapor intrusion investigation at potentially affected residences, evaluating the off-site storm sewer system for potential contamination associated with the site, developing a proposal supporting EPA’s community involvement plan for the site, and conducting a risk evaluation. The results of the investigation will inform the next steps for engagement at and around the site. Additional ongoing investigation and cleanup of the UPRR property is being conducted by UPRR under a TCEQ Industrial and Hazardous Waste Permit.

discover more

April 12, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

As preparations for COP29 ramp up, the debate over the financial commitments of wealthy nations to support developing countries in decarbonization and disaster recovery intensifie

April 12, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The United States Department of Justice issued an amicus brief supporting claims from a Wisconsin tribe that Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is trespassing on tribal lands.

April 12, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a key organization setting standards for corporate emissions reduction, is in turmoil following its decision to allow carbon offsets t

April 11, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Grist’s examines President Biden’s ambitious environmental justice initiative, Justice40, aimed at directing 40 percent of certain federal climate and environmental

April 11, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The Biden administration's allocation of $830 million in grants to fund 80 projects aimed at strengthening the nation's infrastructure against the impacts of climate change.

April 11, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

The importance of more than just financial support for Indigenous communities in transitioning to green energy.

April 8, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

a recent study suggesting that installing solar panels on nonresidential buildings like schools and stores could substantially reduce the energy equity gap in marginalized neighbo

April 7, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

Geothermal energy, long considered a niche player in the U.S. energy landscape, is now poised for significant growth thanks to a confluence of factors including technological adva

April 6, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

Walter Moorer and other residents of Chin Street in Africatown, Alabama, have long protested against the environmental hazards posed by the Hosea Weaver asphalt plant, which emits

April 5, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

The Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice released a comprehensive report unveiling the profound social inequities exacerbating environmental issues in New York City

April 5, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

A biomass and carbon capture project slated for California’s Central Valley came to an abrupt halt after San Joaquin Renewables withdrew federal and local permits under scrutiny f

April 5, 2024
Energy Justice
Energy Justice

The Biden-Harris Administration, as part of its ambitious climate agenda, announced a $20 billion investment in clean energy and climate solutions, aimed at reducing energy costs

April 4, 2024
Climate Change
Climate Change

The imminent groundbreaking of the largest urban solar farm in the United States, located in Houston's Sunnyside neighborhood.

April 3, 2024
Environmental Justice
Environmental Justice

A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives investigated the link between long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker

April 3, 2024
Civil Rights & Human Rights
Civil Rights & Human Rights

City of Houston is obligated to return at least $45 million in federal funding to the state after failing to fulfill its commitment to construct affordable housing.