A manufacturer-run program for collecting mercury thermostats is failing to keep the toxic heavy metal out of the trash—and the environment. Turning Up The Heat II estimates that, at most, the industry recycling program has captured 8% of mercury thermostats coming out of service in the past decade. This has resulted in the disposal of over 50 tons of mercury into the environment, which can expose people to the neurotoxin through fish consumption. 

An Analysis of Landscaping Restrictions of Austin Area Homeowner Associations

Constant drought, a changing climate, and population growth make it imperative that Texas increase conservation efforts. While Texas may ultimately need to create new sources of water by adding infrastructure such as groundwater desalination, aquifer storage and recovery, and more, and while investments in pipes and treatment plants may also be necessary to deliver this water to consumers, conservation is far more cost effective and should be prioritized.In particular it makes sense to prioritize conservation in the municipal sector.

According to the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), municipal demand is the fastest growing sector among all water use categories in the state, projected to increase from 27% of total demand in 2010 to over 38% of total demand by 2060. The TWDB projects that water providers will need nearly $27 billion in state financial assistance to meet this demand — about half of the $53 billion the TWDB says is needed to meet state needs by 2060.

Southeast Michigan Beaches Some of Most Polluted in State; Great Lakes Region Most Frequently Contaminated

Macomb, MI - Pollution from stormwater runoff and sewage overflows continue to plague America's beaches, contributing to 119 closing and advisory days in Southeast Michigan (including beaches in Macomb, Monroe, Wayne, and St. Clair counties) and the second-highest number of closing and advisory days nationwide in more than two decades last year, according to the 21st annual beachwater quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

re: Perchlorate Regulatory Determination
RIN: 2040-AF02 / 2040-AF08
January 13, 2011

Pursuant to the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA must regulate a contaminant if it may have an adverse effect on human health, if it is known to occur (or there is a substantial likelihood that the contaminant will occur) in public water systems with a frequency and at levels of public health concern; and if its regulation would present a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for persons served by public water systems.¹

Precipitous drops in Pennsylvania's support for environmental protection, inspection and enforcement, since 2000

State support for core environmental protection halved

In 2008, the Green Communities Act was passed and it set in place new energy efficiency standards that greatly expanded current programs, creating an opening for quality green jobs creation in Massachusetts. In 2009, the state’s utility companies incorporated suggestions to create good quality green jobs, provide pathways out of poverty for local residents and jumpstart global warming reductions in communities around the state. These suggestions came from the Green Justice Coalition (GJC) a group of climate activists, low-income communities and labor groups; Clean Water Action is one of these groups.

Naturally vegetated buffers along streams are good for Pennsylvania's communities, environment and economy. They help to filter out pollution from runoff, prevent erosion and flooding, and provide important habitat for aquatic life.

Clean Water Action surveyed municipalities in more than a dozen counties across Pennsylvania and found that 192 municipalities had a riparian buffer ordinance and over 30% of those ordinances required 100 foot or greater buffers on some streams.

Executive Summary

For decades, the Clean Water Act protected the Nation's surface water bodies from unregulated pollution and rescued them from the crisis status they were in during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Now these vital protections are being lost. This report details the threat to our Nation's waters by examining dozens of case studies, and highlights the urgent need for Congress to restore full Clean Water Act protections to our waters.

Less than three days after the Bush Administration left office, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has overturned the State of South Dakota's approval of the massive BigStone II coal-fired power plant. The EPA's decision comes after the state failed to require state-of-the-art pollution controls for the coal plant that would address concerns about harmful soot, smog and global warming pollution.

EPA decision on Big Stone II, part 1 (pdf, 2.12 MB)

In our annual report:

• Two years of victories
• Our priority issues: clean water, healthy legacy, Great Lakes, Global Warming and clean energy
• Staff transition updates, and strategic planning
• What's next for Clean Water: future work and key strategies

 

See our full annual report. (1234 kb, pdf)