Ecosystems


Fish and Wildlife Targets Spread of Invasive Mussels in the West

Invasive mussels can clog water intake and delivery pipes and dam intake gates, among other thiings.

Chemtura OKs $26M Bankruptcy Settlement for CERCLA Liabilities

The specialty chemicals producer last year filed for bankruptcy and, at that time, was potentially responsible for cleanups at Superfund sites in 14 states.

AMEC and Dakota Technologies Work on Groundwater Contaminant Detection

A laser-induced fluorescence tool may help map denser than water contaminants such as trichloroethylene and perchloroethylene.

'Free' Fertilizer May be Adding Arsenic to Field Runoff

Agricultural Research Service scientists have linked arsenic levels in stormwater runoff on Delmarva Peninsula to chicken litter storage and use.

USDA: A Bucket of Live Bait Can Carry Deadly Disease

The U.S. Department of Agriculture warns fishing enthusiasts that transporting baitfish from one lake to another can also carry viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus into the water.

Forest fires affect the organic content of soil.

Studies to Investigate Fire Effects, Mercury and Water Links

"We're trying to learn how biochemical molecules that microorganisms produce can attack mercury that is bound to natural organic matter and minerals, and release it back to the water," explained Kathryn Nagy, a University of Illinois professor.

Researchers Learn More about How Plants Deal with Water Stress

University of Wisconsin professor says these small steps in understanding plant dehydration effects may eventually help in the development of crops that can withstand this type of stress.



Virginia Tech Team Explores Geometry of Gulf Coast Cleanup

Faculty researchers hope to determine if the shape of crude oil remnant – be it a flat syrupy sheet or a tar ball – can affect natural deterioration rates.

Coating Will Keep Dust from Solar Panels, Increase Efficiency

Boston University's Malay Mazumder suggests applying technology used to clean solar-powered rovers on Mars to large-scale solar installations on Earth.

Cheese Maker to Pay $315K for Polluting Creek in Idaho

According to DOJ, the company, which treats wastewater in a facility separate from its cheese-making plant, repeatedly violated its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit over a period of three years, affecting a waterway that flows into the Boise River, a salmon habitat.

Runoff Forecasting May Stem Fertilizer Nutrients from Chesapeake Bay

U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists are analyzing how runoff measurements in different Pennsylvania regions correlate with different National Weather Service data sets for the same areas.

Group Wants DOE to Prepare EIS for Proposed Plutonium Facility

The Los Alamos Study Group has sued the government for its alleged failure to follow the National Environmental Policy Act for a planned $4 billion plutonium warhead core plant.

DEP Orders Baykeeper to Remove Oysters from Contaminated Waters

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection was ordered by the Food and Drug Administration to safeguard public health.

GE dredges Hudson River for PCB in 2009

Panel Says Hudson Dredging Performance Standards Cannot be Met

After the independent panel issues its final report, GE and EPA will be discussing possible modification of Phase 2 dredging of PCBs in the river.

Bayer to Discontinue Aldicarb Uses in United States

EPA toxicity data indicates that this pesticide does not meet food safety standards.

Tanco Kansas City Storage Facility Settles Multiple Violations

The company agreed to pay $97,000 for failing to document storage of sulfuric acid and prepare a Facility Response Plan to prevent spills.

new Titi monkey

Expedition Discovers Unique Titi Monkey in the Amazon

Javier Garcia found 13 groups of the species using a GPS and listening for their distinctive calls.

Kansas Home to 1,387 Bodies of ‘Impaired’ Water: EPA

"The Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s extensive monitoring system helps locate waters in need of our attention. We now must take action to clean them up,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Karl Brooks.