National (U.S.)

"“There's a message: If you want to prosper, don't make waves.”"

"U.S. EPA's science advisers are criticizing the agency's June announcement dismissing the dangers to drinking water from hydraulic fracturing."

"The Obama administration said Wednesday it is continuing a review of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, despite a request by the project's developer to suspend the review."

"For years, the company operating oil wells in New Mexico’s Aztec National Monument was exempt from being regulated by the National Park Service, which manages the site to protect ancient Pueblo structures. As a result, a dirt access road to one of the wells runs directly over buried ruins. A park archeologist once watched as a grader resurfacing the deeply rutted road exposed archeological remnants."

"The Senate voted Tuesday to advance a measure to block the Obama administration’s new regulation asserting federal authority over small waterways." But if the measure ever reaches President Obama's desk, he is likely to veto it, and the Senate seems unable to override a veto.

"President Obama [Tuesday] ordered five federal agencies to streamline regulations for offsetting environmental harm and to promote independent mitigation efforts."

EPA's conclusion that glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup (and the most widely used herbicide in the world) was not an endocrine disruptor was based largely on studies conducted by Monsanto. Independent studies found more health-related problems with glyphosate. Most pesticide registrations rely primarily on health studies paid for by companies.

"The White House on Tuesday said President Obama had no intention of bowing to a request from the company behind the Keystone XL oil pipeline to delay a decision on the project, saying he wanted to take action before his tenure ends."

"Four members of the House want the Securities and Exchange Commission to look into whether the oil giant violated the law."