Environment | WPN World People News

According to an administration fact sheet, President Trump will sign a sweeping executive order attempting to undo President Obama’s protections of large parts of our coast and oceans from offshore oil drilling.

Corals, sponges and other organisms observed on the 2011 seamounts expedition in the South West Indian Ocean.

Advocates lauded the release for public comment of a new format companies must use to disclose ingredients in cleaning products made for home and commercial use. Under a law passed in 1971, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has the authority to require disclosure of ingredients. This action by the DEC is the first time such companies will be required to divulge just what their products are made of. In his release, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reiterated his commitment to assess this program as a model for disclosures for other products.

On April 25th, U.S. Senator Jon Tester introduced legislation to protect more than 30,000 acres of public land bordering Yellowstone National Park. These public lands in Montana’s Park County are the targets of two industrial scale gold mine proposals, which would threaten the national park, the clean water of the Yellowstone River, wildlife and the local economy. The legislation does not affect any recreational use of the land including hunting or fishing.

On April 19th, at the behest of Big Oil and Gas, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is reopening and intends to delay key aspects of its Methane Pollution Standard. This rule, finalized in May 2016, requires the oil and gas industry to reduce methane emissions using commonsense, cost-effective tools.

Westward Seafoods Captain’s Bay Facility in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The seafood processing plant is powered by three diesel-fueled electric generators and produces steam for fish production with two diesel-fired boilers, all operated under Clean Air Act permits issued by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation. (U.S. EPA, 2011)

The Unified Command comprised of the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, North Slope Borough, and BP Exploration Alaska (BPXA) will stand down its Unified Command as it moves into the cleanup project phase monitored by ADEC and the NSB.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 19th, announced the availability of grant funding to modernize the nation’s diesel fleet by retrofitting or replacing vehicles with cleaner, more efficient diesel engines. EPA anticipates awarding at least $11 million in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grant funding to eligible applicants, subject to the availability of funds.

The Cheswick coal-fired power plant in Pennsylvania. It is among the hundreds of power plants likely covered by the Mercury & Air Toxics Standards.

Waimea River and Canyon.