"Federal regulators under President Barack Obama have sharply shifted course on long-standing policy toward pharmaceutical residues in the nation's drinking water, taking a critical first step toward regulating some of the contaminants while acknowledging they could threaten human health."

"Reversing a decade-old decision, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Tuesday that it plans to require pesticide manufacturers to disclose to the public the inert ingredients in their products."

"In the Pacific, jumbo squid have moved to new waters, signaling changes in the ocean, scientists observe."

"A federal jury on Friday awarded more than $100 million to 10 workers who claimed they were injured in 2007 when a toxic substance was released at BP’s Texas City plant."

"A record number of endangered manatees died in Florida waters this year, according to the state's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission."

"In Yonkers last week, Mayor Philip A. Amicone announced he would veto new legislation requiring that developers of residential and commercial buildings hew to 'green' construction practices -- not because he opposes sustainable development, the mayor said, but because of legal, technical and political issues."

"The protected areas would encompass 1 million acres containing wildlife, extinct volcanoes, sand dunes and ancient petroglyphs. The senator says the bill could be enacted in late 2010."