Environment | WPN World People News

EPA and the U.S. Dept. of Justice have reached a settlement with the City of Derby, Conn., for partial reimbursement of EPA’s past costs incurred in addressing contamination at the O’Sullivan’s Island Site.

Knowledge about the sea—ecosystems, acidification, rising water levels, temperature increases etc.—has increased at an unprecedented rate over the last 15 years. The Second International Ocean Research Conference, to be held from 17 to 21 October in Barcelona (Spain), will give the scientific community an opportunity to take stock of global research and determine a roadmap for the years to come. The purpose of the event is also to help secure recognition for the important role of the ocean in the international political agenda.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed a new plan to remove mercury contamination from areas of Pompton Lake in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, including the areas where the Acid Brook flows into the lake, called the Acid Brook Delta. Areas of the sediment on the bottom of the lake have become contaminated with mercury and lead that flowed down the Acid Brook into the lake. The public is encouraged to review the new plan and provide input.

A 50-meter-wide river of lava has crossed one residential property and is now headed for the main road in a seaside town on the U.S. island state of Hawaii.

Superior Crude Gathering Inc. (Superior Crude) has agreed to pay a civil penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act stemming from a 2010 crude oil spill from tanks at Superior’s oil storage facility in Ingleside, Texas, the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced. Under the consent decree lodged in federal court, Superior will pay $1.61 million to resolve the government’s claims.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency personnel conducted inspections in northeastern Kansas in December 2013. As a result of one of the inspections, the owner of a beef feedlot, Winifred Feed Lot, LLC, has agreed to pay a $16,150 civil penalty to settle alleged violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA), according to a proposed consent agreement.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that Frontier Refining has agreed to pay $153,000 in penalties to resolve alleged violations of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) at its Cheyenne, Wyo. refinery. The agreement resolves alleged violations of the risk management planning requirements of the CAA and Toxic Release Inventory reporting requirements under EPCRA.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fined Kern Steel Fabrication, Inc. $57,100 for improper management of hazardous waste generated at its 627 Williams Street facility in Bakersfield, Calif.

The EU must step up its carbon target ahead of the climate summit in Paris in December 2015, said Greenpeace commenting on environment Council. Environment ministers met to agree the EU’s position for the international climate negotiations, based on last week’s deal on 2030 climate and energy targets.

Greenpeace announced their support of Marker Assisted Selection (MAS), or Smart Breeding, as a way to develop plant traits required to face the different challenges of agriculture: from disease-resistance to climate adaptation.