EJToday is SEJ's selection of new and outstanding stories on environmental topics in print and on the air, updated every weekday. SEJ also offers a free e-mailed digest of the day's EJToday postings, called SEJ-beat. SEJ members are subscribed automatically, but may opt out here. Non-members may subscribe here. EJToday is also available via RSS feed. Please see Editorial Guidelines for EJToday content.
"Interpol Targets Criminals Who Subvert Carbon Markets"
ENS, 08/13/2013"LYON, France -- Securities fraud, insider trading, embezzlement, money laundering and cybercrime – the intangible nature of the global carbon trading markets puts them at risk for exploitation by criminal networks, according to a new law enforcement guide produced by Interpol."
Shoddy Science Almost Led US FWS To Use Flawed Map in KXL Review
Greenwire, 08/09/2013"A year ago, the Fish and Wildlife Service was poised to use a scientifically flawed range map for the American burying beetle during a preliminary assessment of the Keystone XL pipeline's effect on the endangered insect."
"Industry Influence Found in Food Additive Reports"
Reuters, 08/08/2013"NEW YORK -- All of the notices U.S. regulators received to vouch for the safety of common food additives between 1997 and 2012 were submitted by people who had a vested interest in the outcome of those assessments, according to a study published in JAMA Internal Medicine on Wednesday."
"After Flicking Away Lawsuits, Lead Industry Goes for a Final Knockout"
Fair Warning, 08/08/2013"In April, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention raised to 535,000 its estimate of the number of American children with potentially dangerous levels of lead in their blood."
"‘Ag-Gag’ Reflex"
CJR, 08/07/2013"State legislatures are pushing to stifle farm investigations, and some news associations are fighting back."
"Chevron To Pay $2 Million Fine for SF Bay Refinery Fire: Official"
Reuters, 08/06/2013"Chevron Corp agreed to pay $2 million in fines and restitution after pleading no contest to six misdemeanor charges on Monday stemming from the August 6, 2012 explosion and fire at its San Francisco Bay refinery, according to the local district attorney."
"Nebraska Trial Could Delay Keystone XL Pipeline"
Wash Post, 08/05/2013"While environmentalists, energy executives and elected officials across North America await the State Department’s critical decision on the Keystone XL pipeline, a little-noticed trial scheduled for next month in Nebraska could spell problems for the $5.3 billion project."
"Obama Orders Review of Chemical Plant Rules"
AP, 08/02/2013"WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered federal agencies to review safety rules at chemical facilities in response to the deadly April explosion at a Texas fertilizer plant."
OMB Tries To Water Down EPA Controls on Coal Ash Wastewater Pollution
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 07/24/2013"After a three-decade delay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the first controls that would significantly curb power plant discharges of toxic coal ash and sludge into the nation's waterways, according to a report by five national environmental organizations."
"JPMorgan in Talks to Settle Energy Manipulation Case for $500 Million"
NY Times, 07/18/2013"JPMorgan Chase, the Wall Street giant whose reputation in Washington has eroded in a matter of months, is now moving to avert a showdown over accusations that it manipulated energy prices."
"Many Mishaps Among Drillers, But Few Fines"
EnergyWire, 07/16/2013"If Kristi Mogen causes a crash on the road, she knows she'll probably get a ticket and have to pay a fine. So she's frustrated that Wyoming officials didn't fine Chesapeake Energy Corp. for an April 2012 blowout near her home outside Douglas, Wyo. The ruptured gas well spewed gas and chemicals for three days, forcing her and her neighbors to evacuate their homes." ...
"Keystone XL Environmental Consultant ‘Lied’ About TransCanada Ties"
ENS, 07/12/2013"WASHINGTON, DC -- The latest environmental assessment of the controversial TransCanada Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is flawed because the contractor hired by the U.S. State Department to write the review 'lied' on its conflict of interest disclosure form about its past work for TransCanada, finds research released Wednesday by two environmental groups."
"Shell Cuts Deal With U.S. To Cut Pollution at Houston Refinery"
Reuters, 07/11/2013"Royal Dutch Shell Plc has agreed to cut pollution at its joint-venture 327,000 barrel per day (bpd) refinery in the Houston suburb of Deer Park, Texas, according to an announcement on Wednesday by the U.S. Justice Department and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."
Sen. Boxer Faults Regulators for Lax Chemicals Oversight
Bloomberg, 07/10/2013"Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Barbara Boxer, citing lax oversight, urged regulators and states to do more to curb threats caused by poor storage of ammonium nitrate in the wake of April’s deadly explosion in Texas."
Eastman Sues 2 Small Labs for Saying Its Plastics May Be Unsafe
Inside Higher Ed, 07/10/2013"On its face, Eastman Chemical’s lawsuit against two small Texas labs that have said its plastics may be unsafe for consumption looks like a David and Goliath kind of fight (in fact, that’s how the labs are describing it). Corporate giant attempts to silence scientists -- including a professor at the University of Texas at Austin -- from publicizing research that runs counter to its commercial interests."

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