The Trump administration has proposed legislation that will make any act “inhibiting the operation” of a gas or oil pipeline punishable for up to 20 years in prison. Current federal law already makes any attempt or action of damaging or destroying a pipeline punishable by prison. The administration now wants to expand on current legislation to any pipeline opposition that prohibits the productivity in construction of a pipeline. Some states have already been enforcing such strict laws on protesters; however, environmental activists question if the law is an encroachment on First Amendment rights. Read More.
Category: News Archive
Represnetative Brian Baldridge proposed a bill that will prohibit Dayton, Ohio fire departments from training with PFAS infused foam. The dangerous chemical has been found to have contaminated an aquifer underneath the fire training center that sources the city’s drinking water. The bill still allows for the use of the foam in necessary fire fighting circumstances; however, departments must find an alternative training source by January 1, 2020. Read More.
The Portland City Council approved an ordinance on Wednesday, September 11 to appropriate $2 million towards a cleanup plan for the Willamette Cove Superfund Site. Established as a Superfund site in 2000, the contaminated river has experienced slow cleanup, despite having a total of 150 known potentially responsible parties. City officials have predicted that the plan will take three to four years to complete and a total of $8.1 million that will be divided evenly among at least four of the responsible parties. The city hopes this plan will create greater collaboration with the EPA and encourage other responsible parties to get involved in the cleanup. Read More.
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Rue Mapp – Outdoor Afro Wins Heinz Award
Rue Mapp received the 24th Heinz Award in the Environment category for her role in developing and training a national network of African American conservation leaders, for building a more diverse voice in natural resource stewardship and for inspiring African Americans to rediscover their historic connections to the outdoors.
Through her work, Ms. Mapp is challenging the historical narrative that has caused many African Americans to be wary of the great outdoors as a place where racial violence took place. Outdoor Afro is addressing the legacy of mid-20th century, discriminatory Jim Crow laws that discouraged African Americans from visiting public parks and enjoying outdoor amenities. By overcoming these narratives, Ms. Mapp and the leaders she is training are using nature as a vehicle for black communities to address the violence in their past and present. Leadership training summits focused on developing African American leaders in conservation, outdoor activity and management are held annually, with attendees learning how to advocate for natural resources; the health benefits of nature; trip planning; proper clothing and gear; leave-no-trace principles; and community organizing approaches. Once trained, leaders volunteer to organize local meetups in their home regions for hiking, biking, camping, skiing and more, as well as larger destination trips to national parks and historical sites.
Launched by Ms. Mapp to establish a framework and community for African Americans to connect with and organize outdoor activities, Outdoor Afro has grown into a national nonprofit with more than 35,000 participants and volunteer leaders building communities in 30 states around the country. Its digital platforms reach more than 50,000 followers each day with stories, photos and events.
Ms. Mapp consults with the outdoor industry, environmental nonprofits and the national park system, as well as national and state administrations to increase inclusivity and has been instrumental in helping shape national leaders’ understanding of how federal public land policies affect people of color.
To learn more about the remarkable contributions of these individuals, please visit www.heinzawards.net/2019.
In a decision that could have implications for Pennsylvania landowners in the path of PennEast’s $1 billion natural gas pipeline, a U.S. appeals court on Tuesday barred the company from using federal law to seize properties controlled by New Jersey. New Jersey, which opposes construction of the 120-mile pipeline, did not consent to PennEast’s condemnation of 42 properties preserved by the state for farmland or open space. Read More.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the completion of the Superfund Task Force and issued the Task Force’s report on Superfund work within the last two years. The announcement was made on Monday at a sight visit to Superfund site, American Cyanamid, of Bridgewater, New Jersey. Present at the site was EPA Assistant Administrator, Peter Wright, and Regional Administrator, Pete Lopez, who presented the Task Force’s targets for continued site cleanups. Read More.
The Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Act would give states facing public health crises from lead in drinking water the flexibility to make a one-time transfer, up to $100 million, of the federal funds in their Clean Water State Revolving Fund to their Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for projects that will remove lead from drinking water. Read More.
A number of houses surrounding the Consumer Energy J.H. Campbell Coal Plant in West Olive, Michigan found high levels of radium, arsenic, and lead in the local water supply. It is currently unclear if the contamination is a result of groundwater leakage from the plant’s coal ash pond. Further testing is needed to determine the exact source of contamination and how it entered into the groundwater supply. Read More.
The Environmental Protection Agency has paused operations at three Superfund sites in North Carolina that are projected to be in the direct path of Hurricane Dorian. Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station in Craven County, and Camp Lejeune and ABC One Hour Cleaners in Onslow County all pose potential health risks with the coming storm. The EPA is taking precautionary steps to prevent further toxic release accidents, similar to those resulting from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. Read More.
The Environment Integrity Project released a report assessing the impact of Houston’s current plastics industry and the industry’s projected expansion. The report reviewed a total of 90 plants in the area revealing that nearly two-thirds of the facilities do not meet current compliance standards. Further, a total of 48 expansion proposals for plastic producing facilities in Houston are projected to add thousands of more tons of pollutants into the air over the next few years. Read More.