EJToday: Top Headlines

Tests of Tesla’s Lithium Refinery Wastewater Discharges Find Toxic Metals [9]

"After Texas regulators said Tesla’s lithium refinery near Corpus Christi wasn’t violating its permits by discharging what local officials reported as black wastewater into a drainage ditch, independent water testing there this month found two toxic metals and other contaminants."

Chemicals [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [17]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [23]
Source: Inside Climate News [24], 04/22/2026
- Read more about Tests of Tesla’s Lithium Refinery Wastewater Discharges Find Toxic Metals [9]
As Wildfires Worsen, Exposure To Smoke May Increase Risk Of Several Cancers [25]

"With cigarette smoking declining and fire frequency on the rise, wildfire smoke may emerge as a key driver of cancers in the United States, new research finds."

Climate Change [26]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [11]
People & Population [17]
Pollution [18]
Science [28]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: Washington Post [29], 04/22/2026
- Read more about As Wildfires Worsen, Exposure To Smoke May Increase Risk Of Several Cancers [25]
"Moderna Launches mRNA Bird Flu Vaccine Trial After HHS Cancels Funding" [30]

"The Department of Health and Human Services had canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in funding previously committed to help develop mRNA vaccines."

"Moderna is launching a large-scale clinical trial of a shot to combat bird flu in humans after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s department had canceled hundreds of millions of dollars in funding previously committed to aid in vaccine development.
Agriculture [31]
Biodiversity [32]
Consumer [33]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [34]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [17]
Science [28]
Technology [35]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: Washington Post [36], 04/22/2026
- Read more about "Moderna Launches mRNA Bird Flu Vaccine Trial After HHS Cancels Funding" [30]
Md. Bill Gives Relief on Power Bills, Locks Ratepayers into Nuclear Subsidy [37]

"Maryland lawmakers’ new solution for rising utility bills reduces a surcharge funding an effective energy-efficiency program, offers rebates by raiding the state’s clean energy fund and includes subsidies for nuclear power that advocates say may prove costly over time."

Climate Change [26]
Consumer [33]
Economy & Business [38]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Nuclear Power & Radiation [40]
People & Population [17]
Technology [35]
Public [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [41]
Source: Inside Climate News [42], 04/22/2026
- Read more about Md. Bill Gives Relief on Power Bills, Locks Ratepayers into Nuclear Subsidy [37]
"New Mexico’s Time-Honored Irrigation Canals Face Existential Threat" [43]

"As the Rio Grande dries out months early, water managers look to blessings, prayers and groundwater to save the acequias that have spread water, history and culture to farmers and families since the 16th century."

Agriculture [31]
Biodiversity [32]
Climate Change [26]
Disasters [27]
Food [44]
Infrastructure [15]
People & Population [17]
Religion, Faith and Spirituality [45]
Technology [35]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [23]
Source: Inside Climate News [46], 04/22/2026
- Read more about "New Mexico’s Time-Honored Irrigation Canals Face Existential Threat" [43]
"As Cuba’s Grid Fails, Solar Power Becomes A Lifeline" [47]

"The Trump administration’s fuel blockade against Cuba has resulted in widespread power outages, gas shortages, garbage in the streets, and a humanitarian crisis – but also a surge in solar installations."

Climate Change [26]
Consumer [33]
Disasters [27]
Economy & Business [38]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Infrastructure [15]
People & Population [17]
Planning & Growth [48]
Technology [35]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Central America & the Caribbean [49]
Source: Yale Climate Connections [50], 04/22/2026
- Read more about "As Cuba’s Grid Fails, Solar Power Becomes A Lifeline" [47]
Owner of Polluting Plastic Waste Plant Seeks To Build Another [51]

"Belching smoke from a new plastic waste processing plant in central Ohio has stirred opposition to an even larger “chemical recycling” factory planned for Arizona by the same company."

Air [52]
Chemicals [10]
Consumer [33]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: Inside Climate News [53], 04/21/2026
- Read more about Owner of Polluting Plastic Waste Plant Seeks To Build Another [51]
DOJ Files Complaint Against DC And Its Sewage Authority For Massive Spill [54]

"The Justice Department filed a complaint Monday in federal court against the city of Washington, D.C., and its water and sewer authority, seeking financial penalties for their role in a leak that led to millions of gallons of raw sewage spilling into the Potomac River."

Consumer [33]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Pollution [18]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [41]
Source: AP [55], 04/21/2026
- Read more about DOJ Files Complaint Against DC And Its Sewage Authority For Massive Spill [54]
"Environmental Groups Sue to Block BP’s Plan to Drill in Deep Gulf Waters" [56]

"Environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Monday to stop the British oil giant BP, which operated the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform that exploded in 2010, from starting a new $5 billion drilling project in ultra-deep waters in the Gulf of Mexico."

Biodiversity [32]
Chemicals [10]
Consumer [33]
Disasters [27]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Justice [12]
Environmental Politics [13]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Health [57]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [17]
Pollution [18]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
SE (AL AR FL GA KY LA MS NC PR SC TN) [58]
Southwest (AZ NM OK TX) [23]
Source: NYTimes [59], 04/21/2026
- Read more about "Environmental Groups Sue to Block BP’s Plan to Drill in Deep Gulf Waters" [56]
Green Group Warns Potomac Is Nation's Most Endangered River [60]

"The Potomac River, otherwise known as “the nation’s river,” has been named the most endangered river in the country, following a massive sewage spill earlier this year and the ongoing buildout of thirsty data centers across the watershed."

Biodiversity [32]
Chemicals [10]
Climate Change [26]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Infrastructure [15]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Mid-Atlantic (DC DE MD PA VA WV) [41]
Source: Virginia Mercury [61], 04/21/2026
- Read more about Green Group Warns Potomac Is Nation's Most Endangered River [60]
Trump Interior Dept. Unveils Emergency Plans For Colorado River [62]

"The Trump administration will pull its emergency levers to head off a major water and power crisis." "Interior said it will cut releases out of one of the river’s two main reservoirs, Lake Powell, to the minimum amount legally allowed — 6 million acre-feet — between now and October."

Agriculture [31]
Biodiversity [32]
Climate Change [26]
Consumer [33]
Disasters [27]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [34]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [17]
Planning & Growth [48]
Technology [35]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: E&E News [63], 04/21/2026
- Read more about Trump Interior Dept. Unveils Emergency Plans For Colorado River [62]
"‘The Absolute Edge Of Precedent’: FERC Prepares To Take On Data Centers" [64]

"The commission is pushing to get data centers onto the grid, and fast. The high-stakes move could tip the balance of regulatory power against the states."

Climate Change [26]
Consumer [33]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Environmental Politics [13]
Government [34]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
Planning & Growth [48]
Pollution [18]
Technology [35]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: E&E News [65], 04/21/2026
- Read more about "‘The Absolute Edge Of Precedent’: FERC Prepares To Take On Data Centers" [64]
Asia’s Longest Free-Flowing River Polluted By Arsenic From Myanmar Mines [66]

"Independent testing of the Salween River began in September 2025 after researchers found alarming levels of toxic contaminants in the nearby Kok, Sai and Ruak rivers in Thailand, much of it linked to unregulated mining in Myanmar."

Chemicals [10]
Environmental Health [11]
Fish & Fisheries [14]
Natural Resources [67]
Pollution [18]
Waste [19]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
Asia [68]
Source: Mongabay [69], 04/21/2026
- Read more about Asia’s Longest Free-Flowing River Polluted By Arsenic From Myanmar Mines [66]
Maine Tightens Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water. Are Communities Ready? [70]

"Nearly four dozen water systems that provide drinking water across Maine would be at risk of violating new limits on “forever chemicals” if the state began enforcing updated rules on the toxic substances today, showing how much work they have left to do to meet new requirements."

Chemicals [10]
Consumer [33]
Environmental Health [11]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [15]
Laws & Regulations [16]
People & Population [17]
Pollution [18]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
Northeast (CT MA ME NH NJ NY RI VT) [71]
Source: Maine Monitor [72], 04/21/2026
- Read more about Maine Tightens Limits On PFAS In Drinking Water. Are Communities Ready? [70]
"Record US Drought Sparks Worries About Fires, Water Supply And Food Prices" [73]

"Drought in the contiguous United States has reached record levels for this time of year, weather data shows. Meteorologists said it’s a bad sign for the upcoming wildfire season, food prices and western water issues."

Agriculture [31]
Biodiversity [32]
Climate Change [26]
Consumer [33]
Energy & Fuel [39]
Environmental Politics [13]
Infrastructure [15]
Water & Oceans [20]
Public [21]
National (U.S.) [22]
Source: AP [74], 04/21/2026
- Read more about "Record US Drought Sparks Worries About Fires, Water Supply And Food Prices" [73]

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