Classroom Clutter and Pests Go Hand-in-Hand
By Marcia Anderson Schools and childcare centers, by their nature, are prone to the accumulation of boxes, papers, posters and books that are utilized by teachers. Unfortunately, some of the nation’s finest school teachers have reputations for being pack rats. The use of multiple materials for…
EPA and Unilever: Teaming Up to Advance Chemical Safety
By Rusty Thomas There are somewhere around 80,000 chemicals listed or registered for use in the United States (plus an additional thousand more introduced every year), of which only a small percentage have been significantly tested for their relative safety. That’s because we are still largely…
Want Climate Action? Time to Pick Up Your Megaphones
By Victoria Mills Experts are saying 2015 may turn out to be the hottest year on record . But thankfully, as my colleague Tom Murray predicted earlier this year, 2015 is also shaping up to be a year for action – by businesses and governments alike – to bend the curve on the emissions that cause…
This Week in EPA Science
By Kacey Fitzpatrick It’s unofficially the last weekend of summer so it’s totally acceptable to lounge around for three days, enjoying every last bit of sun. Take advantage by kicking back and relaxing with this week’s Research Recap. Here’s what we’re highlighting this week. Are Some…
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: September 4, 2015
Louisiana must have oil, gas royalties to help save our coast: Editorial The Times-Picayune. September 3, 2015 " Louisiana and the other Gulf states are the ones that have paid the environmental and infrastructure costs of energy production. Yet they have gotten essentially nothing to help…
In My Grandfather’s Footsteps: A Worthwhile Summer Spent at EPA
Every summer, EPA brings in students to work, learn practical environmental skills, and enhance their educational experience through our Pathways Intern Program. The Big Blue Thread is proud to feature several blogs written by these interns, focusing on what motivates them to work in the…
Great Lakes Successes – Part 2
We’ve all made remarkable progress in the first five years of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI), much of it visible. (see Opinion) But behind every official success there are many other successes. Here a few of the unofficial successes that aren’t required for reporting, but are just…
Cutting 50 Percent from California’s Petroleum Consumption can Lower Fuel Prices and Price Volatility While Keeping the Economy Strong
By Tim O'Connor Keep reading for an overview or dig right into a new Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) policy brief on transportation fuel prices and the proposed 50 percent fossil fuel reduction for more details. If you are a movie buff, you might remember Groundhog Day in which Bill Murray’s…
Broad Set of Voices Agree: EPA’s Proposed Methane Pollution Standard is Common Sense
By Felice Stadler Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the first-ever nationwide standards to reduce methane pollution from the oil and gas industry. It’s a common sense move: With its potent global warming power and low-cost solutions, cutting methane is the biggest…
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: September 3, 2015
State conservation group commends decision to hold Corps liable for MRGO wetlands restoration *features Rebecca Triche, LWF WVUE. September 2, 2015 " This is a big win for the greater New Orleans area and the state of Louisiana," said Rebecca Triche, executive director for Louisiana…
Safety First!
by Virginia Thompson Swimming at our local pool is one of my favorite summer activities. As I recently reflected on the accomplishment of logging 1,000 laps annually for nearly a decade, it dawned on me we often don’t give a second thought to the water we’re swimming in. Ironically, many of us…
Are Some People More At Risk from Air Pollution?
By Dina Abdulhadi I’m driving in rush hour traffic, waiting for the slow crawl of cars to reach the speed I would be moving had I biked home. My heart rate rises slightly; it’s a beautiful summer day and I’m thinking of the many things I’d rather be doing than sitting in traffic. The…
Three Technologies that will Keep Energy Costs in Check
By Jim Marston Many American households and businesses saw energy costs soar this summer with July being the hottest month in Earth’s hottest year on record. Utilities rely on “peaker plants” during these record-setting heat waves to avoid blackouts. Such plants are more expensive and often…
How Energizing Renewables can Spur Carbon Pricing
By Jim Marston To avoid the worst effects of climate change, we must do more to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, we still do not have a price on carbon, one of the most prevalent greenhouse gases in the world and the biggest contributor to climate change. Despite knowing that a carbon price…
Three Ways Texas’ Latino Communities can Fight Climate Change and Protect Health
By Virginia Palacios Para leer este artículo en español, haga clic aquí . Daily Ozone Air Quality Index in Texas for August 28, 2015 via AIRNow. Orange indicates that air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups. Growing up in the heat of South Texas, praying for rain was a daily ritual.…
Latest Mississippi River Delta News: September 2, 2015
‘Natural’ river diversion at center of coastal restoration conflict (video) *features John Lopez & Theryn Henkel, LPBF By David Hammer, WWL-TV. September 1, 2015 " It was coastal scientist John Lopez of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation who first dubbed this cleft Mardi Gras Pass,…
Take Action: Tell President Obama to Veto Extinction
We need to make sure that the science is right, hold impacting industries accountable, and direct funds quickly and effectively to impacted habitats.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: It's Time for Smart Conservation
We need to make sure that the science is right, hold impacting industries accountable, and direct funds quickly and effectively to impacted habitats.
Product Design: Where the Rubber Hits the Road on Safer Chemicals
By Jennifer McPartland The call for safer chemicals and products has reached a tipping point in the marketplace. A recently released report from the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) and the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) lays out compelling market trends for safer chemicals…
MRGO Must Go Coalition Applauds $3 Billion Court Decision Moving Critical Restoration Forward
For Immediate Release: Contact: John Lopez, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, 504-421-7348, jlopez@saveourlake.org Samantha Carter, National Wildlife Federation, 504-264-6831, carterS@nwf.org MRGO Must Go Coalition Applauds $3 Billion Court Decision Moving Critical Restoration Forward 10…