Air Pollution / Public News Service

More than 80 national park units, including Rocky Mountain National Park, sit next to public lands managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 6, 2024

New BLM rule could help protect America's national parks

As critics work to roll back new Bureau of Land Management rules, public lands advocates are defending the agency's move to put conservation uses on …

There are more than 31,000 orphaned oil and gas wells within 30 miles of National Parks nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Wyoming leaders push back on new BLM rules

New rules on how the Bureau of Land Management oversees more than 18 million acres of public lands in Wyoming have drawn criticism from Gov. Mark …

Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles that can be harmful to the lungs. (Jacob/Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 6, 2024

Air quality awareness week arrives as wildfire season nears

Agencies are raising awareness about air quality around the country this week. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Air Quality …

It is estimated 30% to 40% of the world's population now has some form of allergy, everything from hay fever to eczema and asthma. (auremar/AdobeStock)

Ignoring effects from New Mexico's seasonal allergies could lead to asthma

Toughing it out during spring allergy season is not in your best interest if you want to avoid asthma later in life. New Mexico has plenty of grass …

Despite many Connecticut counties ranking poorly for air quality, Hartford was the only city to improve enough to move off the list of the worst 25 cities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

Several Connecticut counties rank poorly in the latest State of the Air report by the American Lung Association. Four counties measured for ozone …

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has finalized clean air standards affecting heavy-duty trucks starting with the 2027 model year. (Adobe Stock)

Communities close to big box warehouses face health fallouts

A recent study by the Environmental Defense Fund showed communities near mega warehouses are exposed to more polluted air. More than 2 million …

According to the American Lung Association, nearly four in 10 people in America live in places with unhealthy levels of air pollution. (Pcess609/AdobeStock)

PA groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

Earthjustice data show 94% of coal ash ponds in the United States are unlined. (Adobe Stock)

New EPA rules target Georgia legacy coal-ash ponds

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized a rule to close a significant loophole in coal ash disposal regulations. The Coal Combustion …

Individuals present during atmospheric nuclear weapons testing could qualify for a single, substantial financial payment as compensation. (Hamara/AdobeStock)

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

A Knoxville-based environmental group is advocating for the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act expansion, currently awaiting House approval…

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, methane is the second most abundant anthropogenic greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide, accounting for about 16 percent of global emissions. (Adobe Stock)

North Carolina weighs in on Duke Energy's methane gas proposal

The North Carolina Utilities Commission is giving residents a chance to voice their opinion on a plan which could influence how their electricity is g…

New Mexico has yet to adopt setback rules governing oil and gas wells near schools and other educational institutions. (Courtesy Becca Grady)

NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry

New Mexico members of the group Elected Officials to Protect America are renewing their call for rules regulating how close fossil fuel companies can …

Protests in May 2023 called for cleaner air at the ports. State data show ships idling at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in 2021 during the pandemic emitted as much diesel particulate matter pollution as 100,000 big rig trucks per day. (Pacific Environment)

Clean-air activists to hold 'die-in' Friday at LA City Hall

A coalition of climate groups seeking cleaner air at the rail yards and ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will hold a "die-in" rally tomorrow at Los…

A GeoHealth study reveals census tracts with high Hispanic and Latino populations accounted for 40% of 73,000 childhood asthma cases. (Hihitetlin/Adobe Stock)

Study: PA ranks high for health impacts of oil and gas flaring emissions

A new study raised red flags about respiratory health in Pennsylvania, particularly for those living near oil and gas activity. The study by …

The Land of Enchantment has plenty of sunshine and some of the best solar incentives in the U.S. (Kristina Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Personal energy electrification plans offered at NM Earth Day event

Saving New Mexico residents money as they adapt to climate change is the goal behind an Earth Day event in Albuquerque Sunday. The Rio Grande …

Environmental advocates are asking California's next state budget to prioritize climate mitigation and cut tax breaks for fossil fuel companies. (The Climate Center)

Climate groups seek to remove tax breaks for oil and gas companies

As state budget negotiations continue, groups fighting climate change are asking California lawmakers to cut subsidies for oil and gas companies …

According to research from Virginia Commonwealth University, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative created 2,115 local jobs in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Virginia's General Assembly will consider budget amendments to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, known as RGGI. Gov. Glenn Youngkin …

From 2017 to 2019, Ohio ranked 46th among 50 states for pollution exposure, including exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Recent data ranks Columbus as the most polluted major city in the U.S., highlighting concerns about common pollutants, like smog and vehicle …

Despite a looming 2030 deadline to dramatically reduce fossil fuel emissions in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, PacifiCorp has ditched plans to invest big in wind and solar. (Adobe Stock)

Pacificorp throws a lifeline to Wyoming coal and natural gas industry

PacifiCorp's updated energy roadmap throws a lifeline to Wyoming's coal industry but critics said the new Integrated Resource Plan is a major setback …

According to the West Virginia Historical Society, the state had among the highest concentrations of chemical plants in the United States for nearly a century. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: EPA chemical plant emissions rule a win for WV communities

Chemical plants in West Virginia and other states will be required to curb emissions of toxic, cancer causing pollutants - such as ethylene oxide…

Gas flaring has persisted from the beginning of oil production more than 160 years ago. (supakitmod/Adobe Stock)

TX faith, environmental groups hopeful about new EPA methane rule

Oil and gas companies have until 2025 to reduce the emissions they release into the air through the practices known as venting and flaring. You may …

A 412Justice report reveals many nearby communities experience higher rates of childhood asthma and more emergency room visits during bad air days, which are happening more frequently. Residents also have experienced higher risk of cancer. (Breathe Project)

Environmental groups rally at U.S. Steel for 'voice at the table'

People working for environmental justice are rallying today at the downtown Pittsburgh headquarters of U.S. Steel, voicing their concerns to company …

Colorado is the fourth largest oil producing state in the country and eighth largest gas producing state. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Methane pollution from oil and gas production greatly underestimated

Data from new satellite-based technology show that the amount of methane pollution impacting communities living near oil and gas facilities is far gre…

$A new fracking well pad visible from the property of Ohio resident Randi Pokladnik. (Randi Pokladnik) <br />$

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Ohio's Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments - and will answer questions in virtual sessions today and tomorrow, on a draft …

More than 90% of available land in the Greater Chaco region, former home of Ancestral Puebloan civilizations, is dotted with oil and gas wells, according to WildEarth Guardians. (WildEarthGuardians.org)

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

Tribal communities, including those in New Mexico, can now apply for grant funding and direct assistance to clean up orphaned oil and gas wells …

InsideClimatenews.org ranked U.S. Steel's Gary Works, in Gary, Indiana in 2022, as the largest greenhouse gas emitting iron and steel plant in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

IN legislators pause on federal environmental plan

States are working to find solutions to make their air and water cleaner and safer for their communities but the path is not always clear-cut…

Decades of policies like redlining, that forced people of color into neighborhoods surrounded by industrial polluters, have led to a host of negative health outcomes, including cancers and premature death. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado lawmakers eye ways to reduce pollution in vulnerable communities

In 2021, Colorado lawmakers took a first step toward addressing decades of toxic pollution disproportionately impacting low-income neighborhoods and …

Washington state's program to combat climate change raised $2.2 billion in its first year. (jdoms/Adobe Stock)

WA carbon cap program faces initiative challenge on November ballot

By Kate Yoder for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration For…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg says

TX watchdog group targets pipeline leaks, Railroad Commission priorities

A Texas group is on a mission to reform how the state monitors and repairs oil and gas pipeline leaks. More than 480,000 miles of pipeline run …

The 460 megawatt Merrimack Station's particulate matter emissions allegedly exceeded EPA limits by 70% in February 2023. A successful smoke stack retest has not been completed since, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environment Services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH groups celebrate planned closure of New England’s last coal plant

Environmental activists in New Hampshire are celebrating the planned closure of New England's last coal-fired power plant. Granite Shore Power said …

At least two thirds of plastics plants examined in a new Environmental Integrity Project report (32 of 50) that have been built or expanded over the last decade have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth a total of nearly $9 billion. (Adobe Stock)

KY plastics plant ranks in nation's top ten emitters of chlorine

A western Kentucky plastics plant is among the top 10 emitters of chlorine air pollution, according to a new report by the Environmental Integrity …

At least two-thirds of plastics plants examined in a new Environmental Integrity Project report, or 32 out of 50 built or expanded over the last decade, have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth a total of nearly $9 billion. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Fast-growing plastics industry major source of air pollution

The plastics industry is releasing illegal pollution but rarely faces discipline for environmental permit violations, according to a new report by …

The Mario Atencio v. the State of New Mexico lawsuit is the first to focus on a 1971 environmental clause included in the state's constitution. (Austin/Adobe Stock)

NM oil and gas pollution lawsuit gets Santa Fe hearing

A court hearing is scheduled this week in a lawsuit claiming New Mexico is violating residents' rights to a clean and healthy environment by not holdi…

Summit Carbon Solutions had initially hoped to begin construction this year on its carbon dioxide pipeline project for several Midwestern states. However, most of the actions so far have centered around public hearings, legal arguments and regulatory setbacks. (Adobe Stock)

Controversial Midwest pipeline plan still in play

New public hearings and legal decisions are expected in the coming weeks and months about a controversial pipeline project in the upper Midwest…

Dakotas among states still weighing controversial pipeline plan

New public hearings and legal decisions are expected in the coming weeks and months about a controversial pipeline project in the upper Midwest…

According to the American Lung Association, children face special risks from air pollution because their airways are small and still developing, and because they breathe more rapidly and inhale more air relative to their size than do adults. (Adobe Stock)

Nurses voice support for new EPA light/medium vehicle air pollution rules

The Environmental Protection Agency has set new air pollution standards under the federal Clean Air Act for cars and light/medium vehicle models from …

A wide body of research has linked traffic pollution to premature death, lung cancer, asthma and other negative health impacts. (Adobe Stock)

Nurses, environmental groups welcome Biden's clean car standards

On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced new tailpipe pollution standards that will give automakers more time to ramp up production of zero-…

An estimated 3 million Californians live within 3,200 feet of an oil or gas well. (MSPhotographic/Adobestock)

CA referendum would lift ban on new oil wells near homes

A referendum on the ballot this fall gives California voters the chance to either uphold or reject a law which would require oil and gas wells to be s…

New EPA rules on vehicle emissions aim to save drivers money through reduced fuel and maintenance costs of electric and hybrid vehicles. (Tongpatong/Adobestock)

Environmental advocates cheer new EPA clean-car rules

Clean-air groups are calling the Biden administration's new rules on vehicle pollution the single biggest action the Environmental Protection Agency h…

Experts: New EPA air pollution standards a win for public health

The Environmental Protection Agency has set new air pollution standards under the federal Clean Air Act for cars and light/medium vehicle models from …

Motor vehicle emissions contribute to ozone, particulate matter and air toxics, which are linked with premature death and other serious health impacts, including respiratory illness, cardiovascular problems and cancer. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

EPA offers longer rollout for emissions rules on light-duty vehicles

The Environmental Protection Agency is setting stricter limits on vehicle tailpipe emissions through 2032 and giving automakers an additional three ye…

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure the funding for the Western Michigan University project. (VectorMine/Adobe Stock)

WMU secures $2.25 million grant for carbon capture research

Western Michigan University has gotten a significant funding boost, with a grant of more than $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The …

Arizona is now among the top 10 states with the most electric vehicle registrations. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA rule aims to increase EV sales

In Arizona, four in every 1,000 people have electric cars and a federal rule soon to be finalized could increase those numbers. It is gaining support …

In 2023, operators plan to retire 15.6 gigawatts (GW) of electric-generating capacity in the United States, mostly gas-fired (6.2 GW) and coal-fired (8.9 GW) power plants, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY bill would limit renewables, keep aging power plants longer

Kentucky House lawmakers are considering a bill that could make it harder to close aging coal-fired power plants. At the Kentucky Resources Council…

In November 2023, the Financial Times reported that Trump was

Report: Second Trump term would add 4 billion tons of climate pollution

As Coloradans begin to weigh their options in this year's presidential election, a new Carbon Brief analysis projects that a second Biden term would …

As of June 2023, the World Resources Institute estimates there are 2,277 electric school buses on order, delivered, and operating in the U.S. (Adobe Stock

VA school districts, parents working to get electric school buses

By Elizabeth McGowan for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Edwin J. Viera for Virginia News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

In addition to not having as many EV charging stations as some neighboring states, analysts said Wisconsin lacks fast-charging stations for the public to access. (Adobe Stock)

WI poised to hit fast track in adding EV charging stations

Wisconsin has lagged behind neighboring states in adding electric vehicle charging stations, but the Badger State is about to take a big leap forward …

Renewable energy land-lease payments to Nebraska landowners total nearly $38 million annually, and wind and solar projects bring Nebraska more than $17 million annually in state and local taxes. (Bryan Kelly/Adobe Stock)

Nebraskans for clean energy, rural development say bill would harm both

Roughly 35% of Nebraska's electricity is produced from renewable sources and advocates of clean energy development are concerned about the changes a b…

According to the American Lung Association, more than 63 million Americans live in areas with unhealthy spikes of soot pollution. (BCH Photo/Adobe Stock)<br />

TN groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

The Environmental Protection Agency has finalized stronger air quality standards for soot pollution and one regional organization said it is a step in…

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Air Pollution

New BLM rule could help protect America's national parks

Wyoming leaders push back on new BLM rules

Air quality awareness week arrives as wildfire season nears

Ignoring effects from New Mexico's seasonal allergies could lead to asthma

Report: CT counties rank poorly for air quality

Communities close to big box warehouses face health fallouts

PA groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards

New EPA rules target Georgia legacy coal-ash ponds

RECA expansion bill impacts Tennessee, awaits House approval

North Carolina weighs in on Duke Energy's methane gas proposal

NM officials press for setbacks amid pushback from oil and gas industry

Clean-air activists to hold 'die-in' Friday at LA City Hall

Study: PA ranks high for health impacts of oil and gas flaring emissions

Personal energy electrification plans offered at NM Earth Day event

Climate groups seek to remove tax breaks for oil and gas companies

VA General Assembly considers RGGI budget amendments

Researchers link air pollution with dementia risk

Pacificorp throws a lifeline to Wyoming coal and natural gas industry

Experts: EPA chemical plant emissions rule a win for WV communities

TX faith, environmental groups hopeful about new EPA methane rule

Environmental groups rally at U.S. Steel for 'voice at the table'

Study: Methane pollution from oil and gas production greatly underestimated

Ohio considers opening 40,000 acres in Wayne National Forest to fracking

Orphaned wells: Environmental, visual pollution for SW Indian Country

IN legislators pause on federal environmental plan

Colorado lawmakers eye ways to reduce pollution in vulnerable communities

WA carbon cap program faces initiative challenge on November ballot

TX watchdog group targets pipeline leaks, Railroad Commission priorities

NH groups celebrate planned closure of New England’s last coal plant

KY plastics plant ranks in nation's top ten emitters of chlorine

Report: Fast-growing plastics industry major source of air pollution

NM oil and gas pollution lawsuit gets Santa Fe hearing

Controversial Midwest pipeline plan still in play

Dakotas among states still weighing controversial pipeline plan

Nurses voice support for new EPA light/medium vehicle air pollution rules

Nurses, environmental groups welcome Biden's clean car standards

CA referendum would lift ban on new oil wells near homes

Environmental advocates cheer new EPA clean-car rules

Experts: New EPA air pollution standards a win for public health

EPA offers longer rollout for emissions rules on light-duty vehicles

WMU secures $2.25 million grant for carbon capture research

Proposed EPA rule aims to increase EV sales

KY bill would limit renewables, keep aging power plants longer

Report: Second Trump term would add 4 billion tons of climate pollution

VA school districts, parents working to get electric school buses

WI poised to hit fast track in adding EV charging stations

Nebraskans for clean energy, rural development say bill would harm both

TN groups monitoring soot pollution pleased by new EPA standards