Water


Report Plots Course to New Plastics Economy

It envisions a global economy in which plastics never become waste. If this systemic change can't be realized, the potential damage will be severe -- given the projected growth in consumption and a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050 the world's oceans are expected to contain more plastics than fish by weight.

Federal Emergency Declaration Signed for Flint Water Crisis

As of Jan. 16, more than 11,300 homes had been visited by the water response teams that are distributing bottled water, filters, replacement cartridges, and water testing kits.

The January 2016 final rule from NOAA will allow aquaculture operations in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

New Rule Greenlights Aquaculture in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

"While this framework is the first of its kind in federal waters, the states already support many successful and thriving aquaculture operations in their waters," said Eileen Sobeck, assistant NOAA administrator for fisheries. "Allowing this type of seafood production will not only reduce U.S. dependency on imports, but also provide a domestic source of sustainable fish protein and create jobs."

First January Atlantic Hurricane Since 1938 Forms

"Remarkably, Alex has undergone the transformation into a hurricane," the National Hurricane Center announced Jan. 14. "A distinct eye is present, embedded within a fairly symmetric mass of deep convection."

Sacramento Non-Profit Project Manager Wins Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Award for ZNE Work

Sacramento-based nonprofit, Mutual Housing California, project manager Vanessa Guerra recently received a Latina “Rising Star” award from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her work on the Department of Energy’s first zero-energy ready home for a rental development certified in the nation.

The time is right to begin looking beyond the tailpipe and instead consider the full life cycle emissions of vehicles.

Beyond the Tailpipe to Considering Life Cycle Emissions

The time is right to begin looking beyond the tailpipe and instead consider the full life cycle emissions of vehicles. The trend is not unlike what has happened in the construction industry over the last several years.

Solar Entrepreneur Among SOTU Special Guests

Mark Davis, owner of Washington, D.C.-based WDC Solar, will be among Michelle Obama's guests for her husband's final State of the Union address on Tuesday.

The study found that more than half of the surveyed home builders are building at least 16 percent of their new homes green.

Two Rooftop Solar Companies Leaving Nevada

Sunrun and SolarCity both announced this week that new rules adopted by Gov. Brian Sandoval's Public Utilities Commission have caused them to leave Las Vegas (and the rest of the Silver State).



NIST Researcher's Kit Recovers Trace Chemicals

If it can be successfully commercialized by industry, detectives, field inspectors, and others could carry with them a convenient version of NIST's "headspace analysis" technique that identifies solid or liquid compounds based on the makeup of vapors released into the air.

December's Storm Related Losses Topped $4 Billion

While preliminary data show a higher-than-normal number of disasters, overall losses were below normal, in terms of economic and insured losses. The United States represented 60 percent of all global insured losses in 2015, according to the company.

New biopesticide will help control population of lampreys while also protecting Great Lakes

Lamprey Pheromone Becomes First Vertebrate Pheromone Biopesticide

The EPA has, for the first time ever, registered a sea lamprey mating pheromone as a vertebrate pheromone biopesticide, which will be used to help collect and remove adult lampreys before they have a chance of reproducing.

The Sustainable Development Goals stress zero poverty, zero hunger, good health, clean water and sanitation, and affordable clean energy.

UN's Sustainable Development Goals Now in Place

The 17 goals build on the eight Millennium Development Goals that sought to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, reduce child mortality; ensure environmental sustainability, and more.

California Water Pretreatment Facility Gets Grant

FEMA's announcement said the pretreatment facility will filter out debris, turbidity, and heavy metals discharged into the watershed that feeds the New Hogan Reservoir.

Safety-Kleen Environmental Raising Rates for Handling Used Oils

"We are again taking the necessary steps to address the continuing rapid decline in crude oil indices and base oil pricing. These adverse energy market dynamics are decreasing the values of our re-refined products and byproducts, as well as our recycled fuel oil," said Safety-Kleen Environmental Executive Vice President Kevin Hayden.

The Cooper Drum superfund site, located just 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, has reached a $22 million settlement with the EPA in which new groundwater treatment systems will be constructed on the site as well as the company will reimburse the EPA for its past cleanups of the contaminated site.

Superfund Site in Los Angeles County Reaches Settlement with EPA

The Cooper Drum superfund site, located just 10 miles from downtown Los Angeles, has reached a $22 million settlement with the EPA in which new groundwater treatment systems will be constructed on the site as well as the company will reimburse the EPA for its past cleanups of the contaminated site.

New USGS Director Confirmed

Dr. Suzette M. Kimball has been leading the agency in an acting capacity since February 2013.

Living Shorelines Blunt Effects of Climate Change, Study Shows

"Shoreline management techniques like this can help reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere while increasing coastal resilience," said Russell Callender, Ph.D., acting director of NOAA's National Ocean Service.

DOE Resumes Search for Nuclear Fuel and High-Level Waste Repository

DOE will follow the process laid out in a strategy document from 2013. The strategy is to establish a pilot interim storage facility that mainly will accept used nuclear fuel from reactors that have already been shut down; a larger interim storage facility; and one or more long-term geologic repositories.

Using Videos to Inform Kids on Water Conservation

Save Our Water – California’s official conservation education program – has created a series of educational videos about water conservation to help keep kids informed on the current drought, and to also show them ways to conserve water themselves.

EPA Reaches Settlement with Clorox for Mislabeled Products

In 2013, Clorox attached misleading labels on their pesticide products on more than 600 occasions. The company reached a $250,000 settlement with EPA earlier this week.