Environmental Justice / Public News Service

April's Clean Water Lobby Day was held by Oregon Rural Action and the Stand Up to Factory Farms Coalition in Salem. (Oregon Rural Action)

Environmentalists: OR's new groundwater law too diluted to be effective

Environmental groups say Oregon's new groundwater law, meant to curb pollution, has been diluted to the point they can no longer support it. …

Good news accompanies NM's 80th anniversary of Trinity atomic bomb test

Today's 80th anniversary of the Trinity nuclear bomb test in New Mexico comes weeks after Congress agreed to include the state in the Radiation Exposu…

The Democratic Republic of Congo is estimated to hold $24 trillion in natural wealth, yet workers in cobalt mines still live in extreme poverty. (Erberto Zani/Adobe Stock)

New CA documentary examines the harms of mining 'critical minerals'

A new documentary looked at ways to reduce the human and environmental harms stemming from the mining of "critical minerals." Without minerals like c…

The Natural Resources Defense Council points to a large body of research showing communities of color are disproportionately exposed to fumes, toxic dust, ash, soot and other pollutants from hazardous facilities in their neighborhoods. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental justice activism finds energy in MN's Latino communities

Minnesotans are cooling off after last weekend's extreme heat but communities bearing the brunt of environmental injustice said there will be more cli…

Despite the area's beauty, a decades-old waste disposal site lies underwater around Bonneville Dam, leaching toxic levels of mercury and lead as well as industrial chemicals known as PCBs. (thecolorpixels/Adobe Stock)

Some fish around Bonneville Dam remain unsafe to eat

As outdoor recreation picks up for summer, a clean-water advocacy group reminds people that some fish around Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River are …

Thermal imaging of emissions rising from Total's Bruder drill site in Arlington, Texas. (photo courtesy EARTHWORKS)

'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' could mean big changes for TX environment

As Congress continues to debate specifics of the budget reconciliation bill, also known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," environmental rights …

The average cost for a gallon of regular gas is about $3.24 in Pennsylvania, according to AAA. (Dusan Petkovic/AdobeStock)

Survey: Gasoline burden highest among Black and Latino drivers in PA

As federal electric vehicle incentives face potential rollbacks, a new study highlighted the burden of gasoline costs on Black and Latino …

New Mexico's Bandelier National Monument, where many of its Ancestral Pueblo structures date back to 1150 and 1600, is the oldest in the state, designated in 1916. (recreation.gov)

Las Cruces, Taos host rallies in support of national monuments, public lands

New Mexicans will gather in Las Cruces, Taos and other locations tomorrow for a day of action to defend national monuments and public lands. The …

The average cost for a gallon of regular gas is about $3 in Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Blacks, Latinos disproportionately burdened by gas costs

As federal electric vehicle incentives face potential rollbacks, a new study is highlighting the burden of gasoline costs on Black and Latino drivers …

While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has not declared glyphosate itself carcinogenic, some toxicologists have said the components in the pesticide Roundup, a herbicide which includes glyphosate, make it 50 times more toxic than glyphosate alone. (Adobe Stock)

Cancer 'Gag Act' sputters in Iowa, federal push continues

Groups advocating for clean, safe water are pushing back on proposals to revive a pesticide labeling law introduced last year in Congress which would …

As part of Illinois' Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, consumers can receive rebates of up to $4,000 for electric vehicle purchases. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Black, Latino drivers burdened as ‘superusers’ of gasoline

As federal electric vehicle incentives face potential rollbacks, a new study is highlighting the burden of gasoline costs on Black and Latino drivers…

Landfill regulations are managed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. In Harris County, 78% of the methane emissions come from three privately owned landfills over which the city has no jurisdiction. (rob245/Adobe Stock)

Houston officials look at options for growing trash problem

By Elena Bruess for Houston Landing.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service reporting for the Houston Landing/MIT Climate Change Engage…

A study from Community Partners in Asthma Care analyzed attendance and environmental data from three academic years in Clairton City schools and found within two miles of the school and near the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, asthma affected 16.6 percent of students, based on nurse records. (Natalie Schorr/AdobeStock)

PA climate advocates criticize possible partnership between U.S. Steel, Nippon

A possible partnership between U.S. Steel and Japan's Nippon Steel is drawing publicity but some environmental groups in Pennsylvania are raising …

A 2022 Colorado law bans the use of PFAS, or forever chemicals, but a new report has raised concerns about their continued use at oil and gas wells. (Adobe Stock)

Oil and gas companies fail to disclose toxic chemicals at Colorado well sites

In 2022, Colorado passed a law requiring oil and gas operators to let the public know what chemicals were being used underground. Chemicals are …

Along Minnesota's Iron Range, taconite mining is one of the heavily scrutinized industries in the push to protect surrounding resources, like Lake Superior. (Adobe Stock)

How will Great Lakes region fare with diminished EPA enforcement?

Minnesota has its own carbon emissions reduction goals in place but under a changing federal Environmental Protection Agency, it is an open question …

Researchers found between 2010 and 2018, more than 60% of solar projects faced National Environmental Policy Act-related litigation. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

House budget bill would streamline environmental permitting in WI

The budget bill passed by the U.S. House and now under consideration in the Senate would reform environmental permitting in Wisconsin and nationwide…

Created in 1970 by Congress, the NIOSH Mining Program has been the only federal agency supporting the mining industry through health and safety research. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Loss of federal mining program could harm workers, researchers

Loss of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Mining Program will reverse decades of progress in preventing disease, injury and …

$According to reporting from Sentient, a tiny fraction of farmland is for organic production but because demand is high for those types of goods, there is concern the amount of land use required for organic farming could further harm the environment. (Adobe Stock)$

Is organic food more sustainable? It’s complicated

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Greater Dakota News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborati…

Among species protected under the Endangered Species Act, 99% have been saved from extinction, including the bald eagle. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado celebrates Endangered Species Day

Today is Endangered Species Day and people in Colorado and across the nation are celebrating successful efforts to save bald eagles, brown pelicans…

The Trump administration's fiscal year 2026 budget would eliminate $1.3 billion in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration grants and research, targeting climate and education programs. (Monica/Adobe Stock)<br />

Trump's proposed budget threatens Chesapeake Bay Restoration efforts in PA

Environmental advocates have warned President Donald Trump's proposed budget could cripple restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. Federal agencies have …

In New Mexico, 89% of those responding to the 2025 Colorado College poll said existing national monument designations from the last decade should be kept in place. (Randy/Adobe Stock)

NM's Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks targeted for energy development

The sale of public lands along with a rollback of protections for national monuments is back on the table now that Republicans control both houses of …

Around 67% of Ohio adults support stricter carbon limits on coal plants but congressional staffers underestimate public support by up to 50 percentage points. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Why many in Ohio stay silent on shared climate worries

Most Ohioans, like people across the globe, are concerned about climate change but think others around them are not. The revelation comes from a new …

West Virginia is the nation's fifth-largest energy producer, largely from fossil fuels, according to federal data. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Experts: Plans to loosen environmental rules will hurt West Virginians’ health

West Virginia is the only state in the country where the Trump administration has overturned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's previous …

In Kentucky, 11.7% of adults and 6.8% of children suffer from asthma, according to state data. (Adobe Stock).

EPA rollbacks could trigger higher asthma, cancer rates in Kentucky

A new data dashboard from the Sierra Club showed more Kentuckians would be at risk for higher exposure to air and water pollution if the U.S…

Alfalfa farms consumed a third of Colorado's entire Colorado River allocation in 2024, enough to supply the city of Denver for 38 years. (Adobe Stock)

More than 2 trillion gallons of Colorado River water tapped by alfalfa farms in 2024

As Colorado and other Basin states relying on the shrinking Colorado River work to reduce water use, new data showed just how much water is helping …

Power companies plan to shut down more coal plants in 2025, cutting about 5% of the country's coal power capacity. (DimaBerlin/Adobe Stock)

Missouri Sierra Club launches dashboard tracking impact of EPA rollbacks

The Missouri Sierra Club has unveiled a new mapping tool they said shows how rolling back U.S. Environmental Protection Agency safeguards on coal …

Along with bamboo, plastic alternatives are biodegradable and can be made from vegetable fats and oils, cornstarch, straw, woodchips, sawdust and recycled food waste. (Jaimie/Adobe Stock)

Tariffs hit OR plastic alternatives market

Tariffs are disrupting supply chains from China, making it harder for reusable alternatives to compete with single-use plastics. Jeffrey Delkin…

Coal plants in Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia could release more than 138 million additional tons of CO2 if federal greenhouse gas limits are repealed, according to the Sierra Club. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's Gavin coal plant among top polluters in new mapping tool

A new Sierra Club dashboard highlighted how Southeastern Ohio coal plants could face sharp increases in pollution if several federal environmental rul…

The Environmental Protection Agency said it will roll back 31 environmental rules including a scientific finding which has long been the central basis for U.S. actions against climate change. (Simon/Adobe Stock)

New dashboard shows effects of possible EPA rollbacks on TX environment

A new mapping tool from the Sierra Club showed how proposed rollbacks on coal-pollution safeguards could affect the Texas environment. The Trump …

Public utilities in Iowa cite high infrastructure investments as an impediment to installing nitrate treatment systems. Currently, only 4% of utilities have such measures. (Adobe Stock)

New research shows effects of nitrates on Iowa's most vulnerable

New research at Iowa State University shows elevated nitrate levels have an outsize effect on the state's most vulnerable populations. Studies show …

The Sierra Club said pollutants can worsen heart conditions, asthma and other respiratory illnesses, especially on days when air quality drops. (Adobe stock)

New Sierra Club dashboard tracks IN coal pollution

Indiana residents now have a new way to track pollution from coal plants across the state. The Sierra Club's new online national dashboard shows how …

A hunter stands in the Minnesota Heritage Forest Project area, which is protected from heavy industrial use under a new land deal covering nine counties. (Photo courtesy of Jay Brittain)

Mighty Mississippi in MN gets extra shield thanks to land deal

The Mississippi River is the drinking water source for 20 million people and its starting point in northern Minnesota has new protections following co…

The Biden administration's Inflation Reduction Act included tax credits and incentives to promote electric vehicle adoption in New Mexico. (See Less/Adobe Stock)

U.S. veterans who hold elective office want environmental investments restored

A bipartisan group of current and former elected officials said the continued use of fossil fuels threatens global security and they want funding for …

Nebraska emitted about 81 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2021, 26th highest in the country, according to the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy. (Adobe Stock)

New report stresses EVs for Nebraskans' lung health

A new report from the American Lung Association found air pollution continues to be a problem even as Congress stymies efforts to bolster the electric…

More than three in four Utahns polled believe current oil and gas development fees on national public lands should not be reduced. (Adobe Stock)

House panel eyes boosting oil, gas drilling; most Utahns don't agree

This week, the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee is considering overhauling Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas leasing which could affect …

The nonprofit Elected Officials to Protect America is holding a two-day Energy Security Summit this week in Washington D.C. (Benjamin Wong)

CA elected officials, advocates decry proposed cuts to climate programs

Elected officials spoke out Tuesday at an energy security summit in Washington D.C., calling on Congress to protect federal climate investments and …

Pollution in PA worsens amid ongoing clean-vehicle policy debate

Air pollution in Pennsylvania is getting worse, according to a new report citing transportation emissions as the primary culprit. The American Lung …

As WA air quality worsens, Congress rolls back protections

Air pollution in Washington is getting worse, according to a new report citing transportation emissions as the primary culprit. Eight of the 12 …

A number of Virginia cities in rural parts of the state, such as Charlottesville, Lynchburg and others, rank nationally for high air quality and low air pollution levels. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Resistance to stricter vehicle emissions will affect air quality

A new report found the country needs cleaner vehicles to combat worsening air quality across Virginia but Republican lawmakers are looking to repeal s…

Almost three in four Nevada voters polled believe current oil and gas development fees on national public lands should not be reduced. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Nevadans oppose ramping up oil, gas development

The U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources will consider reversing Biden-era restrictions on oil and gas leasing in states like Nevada on Tuesday…

Bloomington, California, residents protest a warehouse project proposed for their neighborhood in September 2024. (Concerned Neighbors of Bloomington)

Environmental groups fight plan to add warehouses in CA's Inland Empire

A big warehouse project proposed for the Inland Empire is being challenged in court Wednesday by a coalition of environmental justice groups…

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, passenger vehicles emit about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, on average. (Chris Ahern Photo/Adobe Stock)

Detroit area pollution worsens, as 'clean vehicle' debate rolls on

Air pollution in the Motor City area is getting worse, according to a new report citing transportation emissions as the primary culprit. The …

Maricopa, Gila, Pima and Pinal counties all received a letter grade of

AZ has some of nation's dirtiest air. Tailpipe pollution is part of problem

Arizona is ranked as having some of the worst areas for polluted air, according to a new report by the American Lung Association and advocates said …

Air pollution harms everyone's health but is a particular danger to babies, the elderly, people with heart or lung disease and people who work outside. (mmg1design/Adobe Stock)

13 CA counties get 'F' in new clean air report

California has some of the dirtiest air in the nation, according to the American Lung Association's new State of the Air report. Researchers looked …

Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed to hold corporations and trade associations accountable for climate damages, including a case in Colorado against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy. (Adobe Stock)

Study lays out scientific path to recoup climate costs

As Boulder and local governments across the U.S. turn to courts to pay for rebuilding after wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events linked …

Churchill, Clark and Washoe counties all have received a letter grade of

NV gets poor grades for air quality. Advocates urge strong emission standards

Nevada's counties have ranked as having some of the poorest air quality, according to a new report by the American Lung Association and advocates …

According to Food and Water Watch, animals raised for food in the United States generate about 941 billion pounds of manure each year from a population of 1.7 billion. (Adobe stock)

Indiana water at risk as manure fuels hidden contamination

By Nina B. Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

Among those surved, 70% of Nevadans believe inadequate water supply is a serious problem, according to Colorado College's State of the Rockies Conservation in the West Poll. (Kit Leong / Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA water rule could affect NV's water quality

Both water quantity and quality are important in the dry climate of Nevada. Now, a proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency could roll back …

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