Environment | WPN World People News

A total of 108,750 poor rural households in four regions of Ethiopia are expected to benefit from a financial agreement signed on 2 December between the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Ethiopia to boost small-scale irrigation schemes.

An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of safety experts said Italy is committed to effective nuclear regulatory oversight but faces challenges related to resources and needs to further develop policies for nuclear safety, decommissioning and managing radioactive waste.

Scorecard summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice on December 1 announced a settlement with Slawson Exploration Company, Inc., resolving alleged Clean Air Act violations stemming from the company's oil and gas production activities in North Dakota, including on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with Canyon Plastics, Inc. to resolve federal Clean Water Act violations. The company has corrected the deficiencies found at its facility in Valencia, Calif., and obtained a stormwater permit. In addition to paying a $19,000 penalty, Canyon Plastics has committed to install new recycling equipment at a cost of $292,000.

MEPs approved €31.5 million in EU aid to repair flood damage in Bavaria in a plenary vote on Thursday. Seven people died in the May and June 2016 floods, which affected more than 47,000 people in Lower Bavaria. Over 2,000 were still unable to return to their homes two months later. Hardest hit was the Rottal-Inn district in Lower Bavaria. The aid will come from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF).

Brian Cladoosby, Swinomish Tribal Chairman, at the Fraser River. “It is time for us to turn the tide and make decisions that reflect the deteriorated state of the Salish Sea’s health and resources. Canada’s decision on TransMountain goes in the wrong direction.”

Amazon deforestation increased 29 percent from the numbers released for last year, according to data released by the Brazilian government on November 30. Brazil is losing control over the destruction of its forests because of poor policy decisions and may now have difficulty reaching its climate agreement targets.

EPA Region 7 has reached a proposed administrative settlement with Union Pacific Railroad Company to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA) at its Herington Railyard in Herington, Kan. As part of the settlement, the company has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $24,000 and complete a Supplemental Environmental Project valued at $338,100.