May 22, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
The Associated Press reveals the significant gaps in health outcomes between Black Americans and their white counterparts throughout their lives.
US FERC pulls back from expanded environmental reviews for gas projects
Summary
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission looks to be withdrawing from a practice of doing environmental impact statements (EISs) for most projects that add capacity and have incremental greenhouse gas emissions, which might shorten natural gas project assessment processes. The commission issued updated notifications on Jan. 27 scheduling environmental assessments (EAs) for three pipeline expansion projects, setting dates several months earlier than originally scheduled EISs. FERC's current practice of often resorting to EISs, even for some smaller projects with potential increased GHG emissions, arose from Chairman Richard Glick's attempts to determine how the commission would assess GHG and climate consequences related with gas infrastructure expansions. Glick said that completing EISs where there were additional GHG emissions would assist make FERC's decisions more legally durable in the face of legal challenges and in response to federal appeals court guidance. According to Christi Tezak, managing director of ClearView Energy Partners, the shift in dates for the three projects might be an early hint that Phillips is moving toward a middle ground on where he wants to take the gas project certificate evaluations and FERC's draft policy statements, and may concentrate on direct emissions and mitigation while disregarding indirect consequences. Still, Moneen Nasmith, senior attorney with Earthjustice, said the change in timeline for the three projects raises major concerns. Because of the disparities in the dates for parties to intervene, it presents a serious challenge for public participation for the three projects with revised timelines. Nasmith was also concerned that returning to an EA would imply a presumption that the projects will have no substantial environmental effect.
May 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Grassroots groups are collecting their own pollution data to increase accountability and demand environmental justice.
May 24, 2023
Carbon Emissions
Carbon Emissions
Three Texas oil & gas industry sites that caught fire had long violation records.
May 24, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
Houston residents protest proposed cutback in neighborhood drainage spending amid revenue surge
Carbon credits for nitrous oxide reductions could fill a key gap in international agreements and government regulations.
May 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Supreme Court ruling on May 25, 2023, has curtailed the authority of the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) to regulate millions of acres of wetlands.
May 26, 2023
Environmental Racism
Environmental Racism
This article addresses the systemic racism and environmental injustice experienced by Latino farmworkers in the US, focusing on their exposure to the herbicide paraquat.
According to the American Red Cross, 64% of African-American, 45% of Hispanic/Latino, and 40% of white children have few to no swimming skills.
May 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
This article by Somini Sengupta discusses the dangerous feedback loops that extreme heat can trigger for hospitals and clinics in the United States.
Lawmakers in the United States are currently negotiating the national debt ceiling and in the midst of these negotiations, the future of clean energy and environmental protection.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Nearly two dozen lawsuits filed by cities and states aim to put fossil fuel companies on trial for deceiving the public about climate change.
Legislatures in a dozen states have passed “right of first refusal” laws that freeze out competition in transmission line projects, raising concerns about higher energy costs.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
EPA’s upcoming climate rules are expected to rely on carbon capture technology.
April 26, 2023
Climate Change
Climate Change
Final investment decision for Rio Grande LNG project, set to be built in Brownsville, Texas by Bechtel, is set to be made in June, says its developer.
The Federal Railroad Administration launched a public database for complaints about blocked crossings in late 2019, and it has received over 28,000 reports of stopped trains.