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.
"Canadians Fear Spill From New Kinder Morgan Pipeline, Tankers"
ENS, 01/25/2013"VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Canadian environmental groups today warned that a new proposal by Kinder Morgan pipeline company would "exponentially" raise the risk of a major oil spill in the Salish Sea's most populous region, including the cities of Vancouver and Victoria."
Study Links Coho Salmon Deaths To Stormwater From Washington Highways
AP, 01/24/2013"SUQUAMISH, Wash. — Stormwater runoff from highways appears to contain one or more unidentified compounds shown to be highly toxic to coho salmon and perhaps other salmon as well."
Portland Harbor Superfund Cleanup Plans Deficient: EPA
Portland Oregonian, 01/23/2013"A landmark report on Portland harbor cleanup alternatives drafted by key harbor property owners last year has 'many deficiencies' and needs 'substantial revision,' the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says."
"Pennsylvania Drilling Wastes Might Overwhelm Ohio Injection Wells"
Akron Beacon Journal, 01/23/2013"The volume of drilling wastes from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus shale is growing and threatening to overwhelm existing waste-handling infrastructure in Ohio and other states, according to a study released Tuesday."
"E.P.A. Extends Deadline for Navajo Plant’s Pollution Controls"
Green/NYT, 01/22/2013"In a bid to clean up one of the nation’s dirtiest coal-fired power plants without causing economic harm to the Navajo Nation that surrounds it, the Environmental Protection Agency indicated on Friday that it would give the plant’s owners five extra years, until 2023, to install expensive state-of-the art emissions reduction equipment."
Gulf Oil Spill Scientific Conference Begins Monday in New Orleans
New Orleans Times-Picayune, 01/22/2013"The largest gathering of scientists and engineers from around the world to discuss the effects of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill kicks off in New Orleans on Monday, with more than 800 people from universities, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations and industry expected to attend. The three day Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill & Ecosystem Science Conference is aimed at understanding the impacts of pollution resulting from the spill and its effect on natural systems in the Gulf and along the shoreline, and on the people who live and work there."
Antibacterial Used in Soaps and Cosmetics Tainting Minnesota's Lakes
Minneapolis Star Tribune, 01/22/2013"An antibiotic widely used in soaps and cosmetics that mostly goes down the drain is slowly converting to toxins at the bottom of many of Minnesota's lakes and rivers."
Report Finds Chesapeake Bay Contaminants Widespread, Severe in Spots
Baltimore Sun, 01/22/2013"A new federal report finds toxic contamination remains widespread in the Chesapeake Bay, with severe impacts in some places, which health and environmental advocates say lends support to their push in Annapolis for legislative action on pesticides and other hazardous chemicals."
"More Than 140 Nations Adopt Treaty To Cut Mercury"
AP, 01/21/2013"GENEVA -- A new and legally binding international treaty to reduce harmful emissions of mercury was adopted Saturday by more than 140 nations, capping four years of difficult negotiations but stopping short of some of the tougher measures that proponents had envisioned."
"EPA Sees Decline in Toxic Air Releases"
Philadelphia Inquirer, 01/18/2013"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that total toxic air releases in 2011 declined 8 percent from 2010. In the mid-Atlantic region, which includes Pennsylvania and Delaware, the agency recorded a decline of 13.8 percent or 32.5 million pounds. Among the hazardous air pollutants showing declines were hydrochloric acid and mercury, which EPA attributed to improved pollution control technologies at coal-fired power plants and a shift to other fuel sources."
"2 Reports on Oil Sands Paint a Dire Picture"
Green/NYT, 01/18/2013"Opponents of the Keystone XL pipeline and the heavy Canadian crude oil that it would carry released two reports on Thursday asserting that the environmental impacts of the project are worse than previously estimated, and urged the Obama administration to veto it."
"Rich Countries Reluctant To Help Finance Mercury Treaty: UN Officials"
AFP, 01/18/2013"Crisis-weary developed countries' reluctance to help finance a ground-breaking international treaty to rein in the use of health-hazardous mercury is threatening the accord, UN officials warned Thursday."
Wyo. Gov. Mead Disappointed By New EPA Pavillion Extension
AP, 01/17/2013"CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- Gov. Matt Mead has joined those expressing disappointment that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has extended for a third time a public comment period on a report on groundwater pollution in a Wyoming gas field rather than moving toward wrapping up the study."
"Citgo to Settle New Hampshire Gas-Additive Lawsuit"
Bloomberg, 01/17/2013"Citgo Petroleum Corp. reached an agreement with New Hampshire to be dismissed from an $816 million trial over groundwater contamination while a settlement is completed, as a witness testified that 2 percent of the state’s private wells are polluted with hazardous levels of the chemical MTBE."
"EPA Changed Course After Oil Company Protested"
AP, 01/16/2013"WEATHERFORD, Texas -- When a man in a Fort Worth suburb reported his family's drinking water had begun "bubbling" like champagne, the federal government sounded an alarm: An oil company may have tainted their wells while drilling for natural gas. At first, the Environmental Protection Agency believed the situation was so serious that it issued a rare emergency order in late 2010 that said at least two homeowners were in immediate danger from a well saturated with flammable methane. More than a year later, the agency rescinded its mandate and refused to explain why."

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