National (U.S.)

"NEW YORK -- Ben Wootton was just getting ready to bring his company out of bankruptcy last month when word from Washington stopped him in his tracks."

"WASHINGTON -– The bipartisan budget deal unveiled Tuesday night includes a provision that would open up new parts of the Gulf of Mexico for oil and gas drilling."

"Two former BP Plc supervisors won the dismissal on Tuesday of some of the manslaughter charges facing them over the Gulf of Mexico drilling rig explosion that killed 11 people in 2010."

The Obama White House announced that newly appointed Keystone XL opponent John Podesta would recuse himself from any decisions about the controversial pipeline. But documents have shown that ERM, the company that produced a favorable report on the pipeline for the State Department, had serious conflicts of interest, which were hidden by both ERM and the State Department.

EPA announced on December 11, 2013, that it was adding nine new contaminated sites to the National Priorities List (NPL) for the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup program. Another eight sites are also being proposed for addition to the NPL.

"If drug companies follow guidance issued Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration, within three years it will be illegal to use medically important antibiotics to make farm animals grow faster or use feed more efficiently."

"If you feel a little queasy after last night's dinner out, you're probably not alone."

"Saying it wants to focus on the biggest polluters, the EPA proposes to cut federal inspections by one-third and reduce civil enforcement cases 23%. Environmental groups are alarmed."

"The U.S. environmental regulator argued in court on Tuesday that its rule limiting mercury and hazardous air pollutants is 'appropriate and necessary,' not an improper interpretation of the federal Clean Air Act as industry groups and some states contend."

"John Podesta, a vocal opponent of the Keystone XL pipeline, is returning to the White House to shore up U.S. President Barack Obama just as the administration weighs whether to approve the project."