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.
"Chesapeake To Extend Public Water To Fly Ash Site"
Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 08/26/2009The city of Chesapeake, Va., will extend public water supply lines to residents around a golf course built on fly ash from a coal-burning utility. But the utility and city disagree on how much the utility will pay.
"To Some Chesapeake Crabbers, a $50 Document Is Priceless"
Wash Post, 08/26/2009A crabbing license is a cultural icon for Chesapeake Bay watermen, whose way of life is as threatened as the shellfish their ancestors harvested.
"EPA Tweets That It's Putting Bay on Pollution Diet"
AP, 08/25/2009"The Environmental Protection Agency says it's putting the Chesapeake Bay on a pollution diet. The federal agency used the Twitter social networking site to 'tweet' the message Friday to its followers on the site."
"Virginia Judge Nixes Permit for Coal Power Plant"
AP, 08/13/2009"In a victory for environmental groups, a Richmond judge on Tuesday invalidated a permit for a coal-burning power plant being built in southwestern Virginia."
"More D.C. Kids Had Elevated Lead Than Stated"
WashPost, 08/04/2009"More than twice as many D.C. children as previously reported by federal and local health officials had high levels of lead in their blood amid the city's drinking water crisis, according to congressional investigators, throwing into doubt assurances by those officials that the lead in tap water did not seriously harm city children."
"Water Problems From Drilling Are More Frequent Than PA Officials Said"
ProPublica, 08/04/2009Methane problems in drinking water wells are more common than has been acknowledge by state regulators in Pennsylvania, which is one of the states experiencing a natural gas drilling boom.
"River Project Offers New Hope For Oysters, Researchers Say"
Wash Post, 07/31/2009"Scientists say they've created something in a Virginia river that hasn't been seen since the late 1800s: a vast, thriving reef of American oysters, the shellfish that helped create the Chesapeake Bay's ecosystem and then nearly vanished from it."
"W.Va. Top Court: Judge Can Still Hear Massey Trial"
AP, 07/31/2009"Conflict-of-interest allegations are not sufficient grounds for disqualification, so a southern West Virginia judge can continue overseeing a water pollution trial involving Massey Energy and its coal slurry disposal practices, the state Supreme Court said Thursday."
"Greening The Capital City's Rooftops"
, 07/29/2009"Green roofs are increasing in popularity across the US, especially in cities, where there's not a lot of space for gardens. In Washington, DC, the city government is promoting the practice for its environmental benefits."
"Mine Operators Not Restoring Mountains, OSM Report Finds"
Charleston Gazette, 07/27/2009"Coal operators in Southern West Virginia are not restoring large strip-mining sites to their 'approximate original contour,' despite a state policy change meant to require such reclamation, according to a previously unpublished federal government report."
Toxic Vapors Seep from Ground, Threaten Baltimore Neighborhood
Baltimore City Paper, 07/23/2009Fumes from long-ago industrial activity are still seeping into the homes of some Baltimore-area residents. Those fumes include cancer-causing chemicals like trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene. The site was one of the first Superfund cleanups, but the cleanup was not thorough enough.
"Mountaintop Mining Legacy: Destroying Appalachian Streams"
YaleE360, 07/22/2009"The environmental damage caused by mountaintop removal mining across Appalachia has been well documented. But scientists are now beginning to understand that the mining operations’ most lasting damage may be caused by the massive amounts of debris dumped into valley streams."
"Will Global Warming Bill Kill Coal?"
Charleston Gazette, 07/20/2009The cap-and-trade climate bill which is the focus of West Virginia protests is packed with help for the coal industry.
"Pennsylvania To Regulate Salt Discharges"
ES&T, 07/09/2009"The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is working to regulate salt discharges that result from natural-gas drilling."
Feds Fault WV Oversight of Mining Flood Prevention
Charleston Gazette, 07/03/2009"West Virginia regulators and coal operators have not properly implemented state rules meant to keep strip mining from contributing to flooding during heavy rains over narrow mountain hollows, according to a new federal report."

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