Water & Oceans

Dams Full Of Toxic Mining Waste, Dotted Around The World, Often Burst

"As soon as the barrier broke, a flood of poison brought death to the river. Gushing through the fragile wall built to hold back mining waste in Zambia’s copper belt in February 2025, more than 50m cubic litres of acid and heavy metals poured into the Chambishi stream – a tributary of the Kafue River, the country’s longest waterway."

Source: Guardian, 03/16/2026

First US Critical Minerals Mine Nears Approval in AZ Biodiversity Hotspot

"The U.S. Forest Service said it plans to approve South32’s Hermosa project in Patagonia, Arizona, despite the water problems the mine is already causing."

Source: Inside Climate News, 03/16/2026

Energy Secretary Directs Oil Company To Restore Operations Off California

"U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright directed a Texas-based oil and gas company Friday to restore operations in waters off southern California that were damaged by a 2015 oil spill, invoking the Defense Production Act."

Source: AP, 03/16/2026

"Trump Administration Approves Ultra-Deepwater Oil Drilling Plan"

"The Trump administration on Friday approved a $5 billion oil drilling project in ultradeep waters of the Gulf of Mexico over protests from Democrats and environmental activists who said the venture posed significant risks to wildlife and communities."

Source: NYTimes, 03/16/2026

"Big Bend Wall Opponents Ask Congress To Block Funds"

"In a map update posted last month to U.S. Custom and Border Protection’s website, the agency charted a major expansion of the border wall. It included terrain belonging to one of America’s most iconic wild areas, Big Bend National Park, an 800,000-acre desert landscape that includes the entire Chisos mountain range and more than 100 miles of the Rio Grande."

Source: Public Domain, 03/13/2026

"Can Hydropower Ride the Wave of the Energy Boom?"

"The International Energy Agency’s executive director has called hydropower a “forgotten giant,” and has urged governments to do more to remember it. U.S. President Donald Trump has said hydropower is “fantastic,” a sharp contrast to his disdain for wind and solar."

Source: Inside Climate News, 03/13/2026

Human Waste Backing Up In Basements Shows US Infrastructure Problems

"At least 18.7 million people are served by one of roughly 1,000 utilities that are in serious violation of pollution limits. At least 2.7 million live with a system that violated federal clean water rules continually over the last three years, according to an Associated Press analysis of federal data."

Source: AP, 03/12/2026

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