Water / Public News Service

Consumer advocates say higher grocery prices are no longer the result of supply-chain issues, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Group blames corporate greed for MT food price gouging

Farm advocates say price gouging on meat and poultry are taking a toll on Montanans. A farm group cites U.S. Department of Agriculture data as …

Built in 1953 and outlasting its original lifespan, Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline transports 22 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily across 645 miles of terrain through Michigan and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, November 18, 2024

Controversial Line 5 project faces more legal action in WI

A legal challenge is expected since the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has granted key permit approvals to a Canadian energy company to rer…

The Susquehanna River is Chesapeake Bay's largest tributary, contributing 50% of its fresh water. The river is nearly one mile wide at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and has a normal flow of 18 million gallons per minute at Havre de Grace, Maryland. (Khairil/Adobe)

Report: Chesapeake Bay cleanup deadline looms as officials propose next phase

Despite some progress, Pennsylvania and other states in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are unlikely to meet their 2025 pollution commitments to reduce …

The Buffalo River Watershed Alliance was created to help preserve and protect the scenic beauty and pristine water quality of the Buffalo National River by opposing and preventing the construction and operation of industrial concentrated animal feeding operations within the Buffalo River watershed. (ODell Outside/Adobe Stock)

AR nonprofit works to protect Buffalo National River from contamination

Members of the Buffalo River Watershed Alliance are supporting two moratoriums on concentrated animal feeding operations to be voted on today by the A…

An Emmy award-winning television spot features regenerative ranching practices in grasslands on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. (Ron Nichols)

SD PSA on grasslands wins regional Emmy award

Native grasslands are the most threatened ecosystem in North America. A South Dakota advocacy group hopes its educational campaign will reach a …

The latest Census of Agriculture renewed concerns about the growing size of farms around the United States, prompting more calls for farmers to embrace climate-smart practices. (Adobe Stock)

Successful ballot question in MN seen as way for more climate-friendly farming

Minnesota voters this week signed off on giving a longer shelf life to a funding tool helping protect the state's natural resources and its backers se…

Four companies control 85% of the beef processed in the United States, according to data just released by the advocacy group Farm Action. Consolidation continues to grow in the agriculture industry. (Adobe Stock)

Montana's agriculture industry becomes more consolidated

Advocates for a fair, sustainable and healthy food system have released a report showing increasing consolidation in Montana's agriculture sector…

Animal-rights advocates are testing whether asking for people's votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas) Animal rights advocates are testing whether asking for people�s votes can be more effective than asking people to change their diet. (Galatas)

Denver could become first city to ban slaughterhouses

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

The pesticide Dacthal is often used on vegetable farms for crops like cabbage and onions. (Adobe Stock)

EPA bans weedkiller Dacthal, used on WV farms

The Environmental Protection Agency has banned the pesticide dacthal, frequently used on farms in West Virginia and other states. Mounting evidence …

A proposed refinery project would be located at Port Westward near Clatskanie, Oregon. (Sam Beebe, Ecotrust/Wikimedia Commons)

Proposed refinery on Columbia River draws objections from public

A proposed project to build a refinery on an estuary along the Columbia River is getting pushback from the public. NEXT Renewable Fuels is proposing …

The Wisconsin State Division of Hearings and Appeals has the power to modify permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or require the agency to include stronger terms and conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Kewaunee County residents take legal action against dairy CAFO

Some northeast Wisconsin residents are challenging a wastewater permit issued by the state to a large dairy operation. The Wisconsin Department of …

This year, Michigan introduced new tools to boost voter confidence, such as a system for tracking absentee ballots that alerts voters to any issues that might affect acceptance.<br />(Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofit pushes for ecofriendly legislation in MI

With Election Day near, the League of Conservation Voters is pushing for Michigan legislation to protect democracy, air, land and waterways across …

The Klamath River was once home to the third largest salmon run on the West Coast. (Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Adobe Stock)

After 100 years, salmon return to Upper Klamath River

Wild Chinook salmon have returned to the Upper Klamath River less than two months after the largest dam-removal project in U.S. history to remove …

Critics of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations said the manure from sites is often kept in open-air lagoons, where it is stored until it is sprayed to fertilize farm fields. Any excess manure not soaked up by crops or grasses ends up in aquifers and waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Legal case highlights concern factory farms get a free pass from EPA

By Nina Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

Researchers at the World Resources Institute said the average American can cut their environmental footprint in half by reducing dairy and meat consumption. (Molly Condit/Sinergia Animal/We Animals)

Congressional briefing promotes dairy digesters to curb methane emissions

By Dawn Attride for Sentient.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for California News Service reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaborat…

Atlantic salmon is the dominant type of fish farmed globally. (Parilov/Adobe Stock)

Although banned in WA waters, fish farming could still pose threat

October is National Seafood Month and the fish on your plate might not be coming from where you think. The U.S. imports 90% of the seafood it …

Because of their remote nature and limited capacity to access financial help, many of New Mexico's colonias rely on water wells not built to code. (GAO)

NM's colonias need oversight to improve water, wastewater systems

Federal funding for infrastructure improvements in colonias, predominately rural, Hispanic communities near the U.S.-Mexico border, including 150 in …

Around 9% of children in Syracuse have high lead levels in their blood. Even low-level lead exposure can harm a child's ability to learn and is linked to attention deficit disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Experts: Syracuse water contains dangerously high lead levels

New data show lead levels in Syracuse's drinking water are higher than those in Flint, Michigan, and Newark, New Jersey. The city's tests show lead …

Three sinks show wastewater after it goes through each purification step at a water treatment plant in Orange County, Calif. (Matt Vasilogambros/Stateline)

Colorado water districts explore methods to recycle sewage water

Colorado is one of a handful of states to allow water utilities to purify sewage for use as tap water and cities like Castle Rock are preparing to mak…

After Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio in February 2023, officials set aflame 116,000 gallons of vinyl chloride into the region, citing explosion risk. (Adobe Stock)<br />

EPA to consider vinyl chloride ban; public comments through Oct. 23

The Environmental Protection Agency began an in-depth review of the health risks of vinyl chloride last year, part of a process required to limit or …

New York State has one of the highest rates of lead pipes in the U.S. (Adobe Stock)

NY begins work to remove lead pipes under new EPA rule

A new Environmental Protection Agency rule means New York and other states will have ten years to remove all lead service lines. The Lead and …

A large majority (80%) of Pennsylvania voters said they'd support solar power, 73% support wind energy, and 84% approve of allocating public funds to expand clean energy alternatives. (FreezeFrames/Adobe Stock)

Poll: 9 in 10 PA voters support stricter regulations on fracking

Southwestern Pennsylvania is a major U.S. hotspot for gas extraction through fracking, but new polling reveals overwhelming public support for …

A recent report gave Wyoming low marks for its efforts to reduce exposure to lead in K-12 schools. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Feds set deadline to replace lead water pipes; schools excluded

Groups that advocate for clean water are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on replacing lead pipes - but they warn that the dr…

An algal bloom is seen near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel in Virginia in August 2021. (Photo courtesy Wyatt Young/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Could Mississippi River benefit from East Coast water-quality strategy?

By Bennet Goldstein for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Service…

There is no safe level of lead in a person's blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Scientists note even low lead levels have been shown to affect IQ, the ability to pay attention and academic achievement. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New EPA lead rule leaves ME schools with clean water homework

Clean water advocates in Maine are applauding the Environmental Protection Agency's new rule on lead pipe removals but warned drinking water in school…

Water purification in Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System involves three steps: microfiltration, reverse osmosis and advanced oxidation. (Adobe Stock)

CA facilities could turn sewage into tap water, but public acceptance lags

By Matt Vasilogambros and Kevin Hardy for Stateline.Broadcast version by Kathleen Shannon for California News Service reporting for the Solutions Jour…

A study by Women for a Healthy Environment found more than 90% of Pennsylvania school districts that tested for lead in their drinking water reported contamination. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Study: PA schools fail to protect kids from lead in drinking water

Concerning levels of lead have been detected in the drinking water at some Pennsylvania schools, according to a new report. The investigation …

New federal legislation would allow land managers to prioritize the needs of wildlife during critical times, including calving season. (Adobe Stock)

GORP Act would conserve 730,000+ acres of public lands in Colorado

New legislation making its way through the U.S. Senate would conserve more than 730,000 acres of federal public lands in and around Colorado's …

Farm runoff contributes to nitrate pollution in nearby waterways. (Reagan/Adobe Stock)

WA advocates push back on animal operation pollution

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collab…

Salmon species in the Northwest have been struggling because of increasing temperatures. (Cavan/Adobe Stock)

Salmon habitat set to benefit from updated Northwest Forest Plan

Struggling salmon and other fish species could benefit from an updated Northwest Forest Plan. The U.S. Forest Service is set to release a draft …

$A fracking waste impoundment pond site. Research shows radioactive waste from fracking can spread to groundwater. (FracTracker/Flicker)$

WV lawmakers consider new rules on radioactive waste

West Virginia lawmakers are pushing legislation forward to pave the way for state management of the transport, storage and disposal of potentially …

Colorado State University researchers found snowpack in areas burned by the Cameron Peak Fire disappeared 7 to 11 days earlier than unburned areas. (Adobe Stock)

Study: Wildfire burn areas see faster snowpack melts, disrupt water resources

As a warming climate brings bigger and more frequent wildfires, burn scars left behind at high mountain altitudes are seeing snowpack melt much …

The Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association said more than two-thirds of Wisconsinites rely on groundwater for drinking water. If private or community wells become contaminated, there are different levels of state rules on contamination levels for state financial assistance. (Adobe Stock)

With nitrates lurking, WI program helps with well replacement

Running your kitchen faucet and suspecting the water is contaminated can be a scary thought. A number of Wisconsinites are familiar with this…

State environmental officials in North Dakota said large bodies of water such as Devil's Lake have not seen many fish kills or other harmful effects because the state has not seen a lot of factory farms in the region. But changes to the law are being pursued to boost animal agriculture in North Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

'I feel on the edge': ND communities navigate factory farm movement

A North Dakota task force meets again next month as it considers updating the scope of local zoning laws dealing with factory farms. It is an issue …

Critics of Project 2025 allege it would put water at greater risk of pollution and contamination for the sake of corporate profits. (wckiw/Adobe Stock)

NM news org identifies impacts of 'Project 2025' on state residents

A New Mexico nonprofit news organization wants voters to know what is included in "Project 2025" and how it could potentially change the course of the…

The Environmental Protection Agency said aviation in the United States accounts for nearly 10% of greenhouse-gas emissions from the transportation sector. (Adobe Stock)

Cruising at 30,000 feet with cleaner jet fuel: MN part of sustainability efforts

Some Minnesotans might already be booking flights for the upcoming holiday season. In the future, they could end up flying on a jet relying on …

A Hispanic Access Foundation poll showed Latinos are extremely concerned about pollution in the Mississippi River and view the presence of microplastics, trash, chemical waste and PFAS, or

Latino voters in AR call on Congress to clean up Mississippi River

Some Latinos in Arkansas were among 400 residents across 10 states polled about the health of the Mississippi River. Both registered Republicans and …

Utah voters with higher levels of education were more likely to prioritize air quality and the Great Salt Lake as more significant issues than crime and immigration, according to the Utah Foundation's 2024 Priorities Project. (Adobe Stock)

Research probes health effects of dust from Great Salt Lake

Utah's Great Salt Lake is shrinking, exposing more of its playa and lifting more potentially harmful dust particles into the air. A new study seeks …

Analysts project the public health and climate benefits of new EPA clean air rules will exceed compliance costs by trillions of dollars through 2050. (Adobe Stock)

Report: EPA clean air benefits include 200,000 lives saved

New air pollution standards issued by the Environmental Protection Agency over the past four years should bring $250 billion in economic benefits each…

Retention basins are artificial ponds often used on farms to manage water and prevent fertilizer and other contaminants from reaching nearby waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Flooded farm fields no longer the norm for some MN producers

Minnesota has had a dry start to the fall but saw record rain this past spring. One farmer said changes to his land made it easier for the crop …

Some 899 of 936 public comments on the plan for the proposed West Fork Dam, or 96%, opposed the West Fork Battle Creek Dam project, according to a tally by Wyofile. (Adobe Stock)

Feds ask WY to recalculate cost of proposed West Fork Dam

A federal agency is requiring Wyoming to update cost estimates for a large proposed dam in Carbon County, which has been under feasibility studies …

In 2019, Formosa Plastics settled a $50 million lawsuit after a plant in Texas dumped billions of plastic pellets into Lavaca Bay. (Adobe Stock)

Plastics production highlighted during Pollution Prevention Week

This is Pollution Prevention Week and advocates are renewing their call on one plastics manufacturer to clean up its act. An August demonstration at …

A proposed industrial complex in St. James Parish would be one of the largest plastic complexes of its kind. (Adobe Stock)

Plastics firm's expansion cited during Pollution Prevention Week

This is Pollution Prevention Week and advocates are renewing their call for one plastics manufacturer to clean up its act. An August demonstration …

Arundo was initially introduced to the Western United States for erosion control and aesthetics, according to Watershed Management Group. (Adobe Stock)

Southern AZ nonprofit removes invasive plants to restore riparian areas

By Hunter Fore for Cronkite News.Broadcast version by Alex Gonzalez for Arizona News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public …

One year of nuclear weapons spending could fund an estimated one-third of the costs for climate change adaptation in developing countries, and solarize more than 16.5 million homes. (Hamara/Adobe Stock)

TN group echoes global call: No money for nuclear weapons

A Knoxville-based environmental group is raising awareness about increasing U.S. nuclear weapons spending and supporting this week's global effort to …

One cow can produce up to 264 pounds of methane every year, and it's estimated that livestock production is responsible for 30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions. (Adobe Stock)

How livestock farming fuels climate change

By Seth Millstein for Sentient.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collabora…

Lead contamination poses serious health risks, especially to children, and has been linked to<br />developmental issues and organ damage. (Adobe Stock)

Indianapolis neighborhood fears ongoing lead contamination Superfund site

By Enrique Saenz for Mirror Indy.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the Mirror Indy-Free Press Indiana-Public News …

As it travels under the Straits of Mackinac, Enbridge's Line 5 diverges into two, 20-inch diameter, parallel pipelines. (ehrlif/Adobe Stock)

Indigenous water protectors protest aging pipeline

Indigenous water protectors and allies met at Michigan's Straits of Mackinac last week, to spotlight the dangers of the 71-year-old Line 5, deemed …

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