"Powerful puffs of natural gas, called kicks, are a normal occurrence in many deep-ocean drilling operations. But one intense kick of natural gas caused the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig to be shut down because of the fear of an explosion just weeks before a similar release succeeded in destroying and sinking the platform and sent millions of gallons of oil on a collision course with Louisiana and the rest of the northern coast of the Gulf of Mexico."

"A U.S. Senate compromise bill aimed at battling global warming would cut emissions of greenhouse gases 17 percent by 2020, according to a summary given to senators and obtained by Reuters on Tuesday."

"Lawsuits attacking U.S. EPA's first greenhouse gas standard are expected to start rolling in after the Obama administration's suite of new automobile standards was published Friday in the Federal Register."

"Federal regulators are expanding their investigation into children's jewelry that contains the toxic metal cadmium, promising that a recall announced Monday of 'Best Friends' charm bracelets will not be the last."

"Far too many of the world's plants and animals -- and the wild places that support them -- are at risk of collapse, a U.N. report finds, despite a global goal set in 2002 for major improvement by this year."

When it comes to environmental law, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan's positions are largely a mystery.

"Federal and state investigators began closed-door interviews Monday in their probe of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, as a federal judge considered a suit filed by the United Mine Workers and two disaster victims who want the questioning done during a public hearing."

"Law clinics at universities across Louisiana fear a state senator's proposal could force them to close, leaving their impoverished clients without free legal services in cases ranging from child support to water pollution."

"Businesses with significant stakes in the outcome of climate and energy legislation ramped up lobbying spending earlier this year as they worked to shape the Senate bill scheduled to be unveiled this week."