National (U.S.)

"A federal court [Thursday] scrapped the so-called Stream Buffer Zone Rule promulgated under President George W. Bush to govern strip-mining activities."

"A Democratic fundraiser last week at billionaire Tom Steyer’s home amounted to a summit between Washington’s liberal elite and San Francisco’s climate intelligentsia."

"Starting Monday, a federal judge in Waco will hear arguments from the Sierra Club that Luminant Generation Company, the state’s largest electric generator, has been spewing far more pollution into the air from an East Texas coal plant than is allowed by federal and state law."

"Dozens of freight trains roll through downtown Parkville each day, their blaring horns annoying to anyone with ears. But the chief of the Southern Platte Fire Protection District, Richard Carrizzo, has far more chilling concerns these days."

"WILLIAMSTON — Water is seeping through a coal ash dam in the foothills of South Carolina, raising concerns about the structure’s stability and whether a failure would contaminate the Saluda River."

"The Obama administration is moving forward with another fuel efficiency rule that would cost automakers more than $14 million each year, according to government estimates."

"Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz traveled to Waynesboro, Ga., Thursday to announce the finalization of a $6.5 billion loan guarantee for the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant -- the first nuclear loan guarantee that the Obama administration has completed."

"WASHINGTON — President Obama in recent days has been announcing muscular executive actions to address climate change, making good on his promise to act on pressing problems “with or without Congress.” On Monday, the Supreme Court will consider the limits of that approach, in a case on greenhouse gas emissions."

"Farm workers, children and other people working or living near farm fields would have more protection from hazardous pesticides under changes proposed on Thursday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency."

"If an oil train explosion on the scale of last year's deadly crash in Quebec roiled a U.S. town, would railroads have enough emergency personnel and equipment ready to respond? In most cases, transportation regulators don't know."