SkyTruth Launches Online Environmental Accident Mapper

October 19, 2011–Reporters can now get a better picture of breaking environmental pollution events via SkyTruth Alerts on air and water pollution incidents, toxic spills, and more.

EPA Finalizes 15 Additional Superfund Sites, Proposes 11 More

September 28, 2011–Sites in CA, GA, IL, IN, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NY, OR, SC, TN, and TX received a final designation of Superfund status, meaning they are among the most toxic in the country, due to contamination from industrial operations, mining, military activities, landfills, and other sources.

Proposed Rule To Target Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Mileage

September 14, 2011–By Sept. 28, 2011, EPA and the US Dept. of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they will jointly release proposed standards designed to significantly increase fuel mileage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars, light trucks, and medium-duty passenger vehicles in model years 2017-2025.

EPA Begins Collecting Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data

August 24, 2011–The system, proposed during the first months of the Obama administration, was delayed when it faced heavy opposition from industry groups and Republicans. In response, EPA reduced the number of businesses that need to report their emissions.

Contamination by Genetically Modified Rice Is Costly to Bayer

August 17, 2011–Bayer CropScience has agreed to pay up to $750 million to about 11,000 farmers to compensate for contaminating two varieties of long-grain rice. The settlement requires participation of farmers who planted at least 85% of the average 2.2 million acres of long-grain rice grown each year from 2006 to 2009.

GAO: US Water Drinkers in Dark on Violations, Contaminants

August 10, 2011–While EPA oversees the Safe Drinking Water Act programs, much of the daily responsibility is delegated to state agencies. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office says the states are under-reporting violations and contamination to EPA. Moreover, EPA has fallen behind in setting standards for known contaminants that may cause health problems.

EPA May Finally Release Final Ozone Standards

July 20, 2011–The standards were initially scheduled to be released in August 2010, then October 2010, after EPA determined that the ones approved during the George W. Bush administration weren't grounded in science, didn't protect public health with an adequate margin of safety, and didn't protect the environment.

New UN Science Panel Deals with Dwindling Natural Resources

July 15, 2011–

EPA Proposes Expanding Scope of TRI to Additional Industries

July 13, 2011–The new industries would be Iron Ore Mining, Phosphate Mining, Municipal Waste Incineration, Industrial Dry Cleaning, Petroleum Bulk Storage, and Steam-Only Production from Fossil Fuels.

EPA To Announce Secondary Standard for SOx and NOx

July 6, 2011–While primary standards are designed to protect human health, secondary standards are established to protect the environment. In the case of NOx and SOx, some of the primary targets include reduced aquatic and terrestrial acidification, and reduced nitrogen deposition on land and water.