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Exxon Mobil Slapped With $6.1 Million Fine

WASHINGTON - Exxon Mobil Corp. has agreed to pay an additional $6.1 million penalty after it reneged on a promise to cut air pollution from four refineries in California, Louisiana and Texas, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

Posted in epa, pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2008
11:30 AM

CONTACT: Food and Water Watch

Patty Lovera or Erin Greenfield
(202) 683-2500

Bush Administration Exempts Factory Farms From Regulation

Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch Executive Director

WASHINGTON - December 18 - “The latest in a long list of midnight regulations released by the Bush Administration to undermine federal environmental standards is the Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule, published today, that will let factory farms off the hook from reporting hazardous air emissions. This move to exempt confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from reporting requirements sends a clear message that EPA is no longer interested in doing its job.

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Food & Water Watch is a national consumer advocacy organization based in Washington, DC. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.

Posted in epa, factory farms, Food/Water, pollution

US Agency Posts 'Most Wanted' List for Eco Crimes

LOS ANGELES - More than half a century after the FBI launched its "Most Wanted" list, the US environmental protection agency has produced an eco version. Its criminal investigation division yesterday listed 23 fugitives accused of anything from dumping hazardous waste to importing excessively-polluting cars.

"Do not attempt to apprehend any of these individuals," warns the EPA website in red letters. Concerned citizens are invited instead to file an online Fugitive's Location form.

Posted in Environment, epa

White House Backs Down on Easing Air-Pollution Rules

$In this 2005 file photo, visitors view Half Dome from Glacier Point at Yosemite National Park, Calif. Mark Wenzler of the National Parks Conservation Association said citizens, members of Congress, the National Park Service and EPA scientists all were \"expressing outrage\" about the rule change that would have eased the way for power plants near national parks and wilderness areas. Wenzler's group had fought the rule for two years. (AP Photo/Dino Vournas, File)$

WASHINGTON - The Bush administration on Wednesday abandoned efforts to relax pollution controls on coal-fired power plants and industries it started with Vice President Dick Cheney's energy plan in 2001, bringing to a sudden end a long White House fight with environmental groups.

However, the Environmental Protection Agency also finalized a third rule that would allow for more polluted dust from mines, animal farms and other sources.

Posted in Environment, epa, pollution

Obama Urged to Fund Watchdog Agencies

SAN FRANCISCO - As George Bush's presidency draws to an end, watchdog groups are calling for President-elect Barack Obama's administration to fully fund federal agencies that relaxed monitoring of water, air quality and the safety of the food supply and consumer products in the past eight years.

Posted in Environment, epa, Government Oversight, pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2008
1:50 PM

CONTACT: Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

Jennifer Andreassen, 202-572-3387, jandreassen@edf.org

EPA's Latest Chemical Proposals Get It Half Right, Recent EPA Toxics Advisor Says

EPA offers sound approach to update the Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory, but throws good money after bad into another voluntary testing program

WASHINGTON - December 8 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed one good and one bad "enhancement" to its Chemical Assessment and Management Program (ChAMP) during a public meeting today, according to Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

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Posted in Environment, epa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 19, 2008
2:55 PM

CONTACT: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Serena Ingre, 202/289-2378 or 703/296-0702 (cell)

New EPA Rule Leaves US Waterways at Risk

Proposed pollution control standards fall short for construction and building sites

WASHINGTON - November 19 - In another blow to our nation's waterways, the Bush Administration proposed a rule that would leave streams, rivers and lakes nationwide vulnerable to contamination by development and construction runoff, including metals and other toxic pollutants.

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The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has 1.2 million members and online activists, served from offices in New York, Washington, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Beijing.

Waterkeeper Alliance is an international network of 182 member programs on six continents dedicated to cleaning up rivers, lakes and coasts through legal advocacy and grassroots action. Waterkeeper programs patrol and protect more than 67,000 miles of rivers, streams and coastlines, and represent the interests of more than 200,000 members. For more information, go to http://www.waterkeeper.org/.

Posted in epa, pollution, water quality

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 17, 2008
11:43 AM

CONTACT: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER)

Carol Goldberg (202) 265-7337

How to Resuscitate the US Environmental Protection Agency

EPA Employees Want Committed Leaders Able to Resist Political Pressure

WASHINGTON - November 17 - Rebuilding a battered Environmental Protection Agency will require more than merely importing a new set of politically-connected technocrats, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) which today proposed a “Green Dream Team” for the agency. Besides the top slot, PEER urges the Obama administration should look at whistleblowers and proven reformers as catalysts to transform this large, complex and increasingly demanding organization.

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CommonDreams.org

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