Across state, residents join effort to transform Michigan into a renewable energy and energy efficiency powerhouse
After 30 Years of Inaction, EPA Finally Proposes Plans for Power Plant Water Pollution [5]
Includes options protecting waters from toxic pollution as well as weaker standards that maintain the status quo
Washington, D.C. – The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a number of regulatory options late last Friday night, known as steam electric effluent limitation guidelines for power plants, two of which will finally clean up water pollution from hundreds of power plants.
Power plant water discharges are filled with toxic pollution such as mercury, arsenic, lead, and selenium – heavy metals that can cause neurological and developmental damage, cause harm in utero, damage internal organs and cause cancer. Power plants are the biggest sources of water pollution in the country, yet the EPA has not reviewed regulations for this industry in more than 30 years. To address this unacceptable delay, environmental groups filed a lawsuit in 2010 to force the EPA to take action and regulate this dirty industry.
State Environmental Board Fails to Set Standards for Dumping Salt in Pennsylvania Rivers [13]
-- Gaping Hole in Rules Allows Continued Oil and Gas Wastewater Discharges --
Harrisburg, PA – The PA Environmental Quality Board (EQB) voted today to update state water quality standards at a meeting at the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) offices in Harrisburg. The EQB once again failed to include a standard for levels of salt in Pennsylvania rivers, which environmental groups had urged them to include.
15 environmental and community organizations wrote to the PA Environmental Quality Board (EQB) urging action to restore proposed standards to protect Pennsylvania rivers. While DEP had proposed a standard for salts (chlorides) in their draft proposal in 2012, the standard was completely removed by DEP in the final version sent to EQB.
Clean Energy Advocates to DTE: Stop Attacking Pollution Rules [20]
Utility ignores coal’s costly health problems in push for dirtier air
Citizens Groups Ask Fort Collins To Keep Fracking Moratorium In Place [25]
Fort Collins fracking ban was undermined by Councilmember
Fort Collins, CO – Today, three citizens groups – Clean Water Action, Sierra Club, and Frack Free Fort Collins – asked the City of Fort Collins to keep its drilling and fracking moratorium in place to protect citizens from cancer-causing fracking chemicals. The moratorium was set to expire on July 31, 2013; the vote to terminate the moratorium is set for Tuesday night, April 16th.