Policy

EPA Toughens Rules on Chemicals Used to Break Up Oil Spills

EPA Toughens Rules on Chemicals Used to Break Up Oil Spills

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced stricter standards governing the response to offshore oil spills and releases of hazardous substances into the waters of the United States and its adjoining shorelines, a press release from the EPA said. The new standards under the National Contingency Plan (NCP) encourage the development of products like […]

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    7 of the Greenest Small Towns in America

    7 of the Greenest Small Towns in America

    Much of the coverage of environmental policy focuses on the actions of countries, states or major cities like New York or Paris. But a community doesn’t have to be large to make a difference for the planet or their local ecosystems. Here are seven of the U.S.’s greenest small towns and cities. Ithaca, New York […]

    ‘Globally Significant Moment for Ocean Conservation’: Australia to Phase Out Gill Net Fishing in Great Barrier Reef

    ‘Globally Significant Moment for Ocean Conservation’: Australia to Phase Out Gill Net Fishing in Great Barrier Reef

    The Australian and Queensland governments have introduced a more than $160 million package to phase out the commercial gill net fishing that damages the Great Barrier Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world, as well as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Area. […]

    Arizona Restricts Home Construction in Phoenix Area Amid Lack of Groundwater

    Arizona Restricts Home Construction in Phoenix Area Amid Lack of Groundwater

    Pressures on water supply around Arizona, along with an ongoing megadrought made worse by climate change, have been addressed by recent limits placed on the construction of new homes around Phoenix. The restrictions are meant to limit projects that would rely on groundwater, as the groundwater supply is already needed by existing properties. Most of […]

    Colorado Increases State EV Tax Credits to $5,000

    Colorado Increases State EV Tax Credits to $5,000

    Beginning this July, vehicle shoppers in Colorado will get a major incentive to buy an EV or hybrid, as the state is increasing its EV tax credits from the $2,000 current maximum up to $5,000. These incentives are available in addition to federal tax credits for those that meet the qualifications. Earlier in May 2023, […]

    South Korea and Pacific Islands to Collaborate on Conservation and Development

    South Korea and Pacific Islands to Collaborate on Conservation and Development

    Following the two-day Korea–Pacific Islands Summit, which ended Tuesday, Seoul agreed to double its development assistance to the island nations by 2027. In addition to development, leaders of the nations came to an agreement to bolster cooperation on security. “Korea and the Pacific Islands Forum, recognising shared universal values including freedom, democracy, the rule of […]

    Supreme Court Ruling Against EPA ‘Undoes a Half-Century of Progress’ in Protecting Waters of the United States

    Supreme Court Ruling Against EPA ‘Undoes a Half-Century of Progress’ in Protecting Waters of the United States

    A U.S. Supreme Court decision on Thursday will further limit the regulatory reach of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by implementing a strict new test for the declaration of wetlands protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The case involved a couple, Chantell and Michael Sacket, who had purchased property in Idaho with plans […]