Results for: EPA

Bicameral lawmakers are criticizing the Biden administration for failing to adequately study the environmental impact of the abortion pill, mifepristone. In a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.) expressed concerns about the drug’s potential effects on waterways and drinking water. They noted that the only environmental assessment of mifepristone was conducted in 1996 and did not consider the impact of human fetal remains and the drug’s metabolites on wastewater systems. The lawmakers also raised concerns about the lack of information on the potential health effects of mifepristone and fetal remains on humans and aquatic animals. The EPA stated that it will review the letter and respond appropriately.

The Biden administration has rolled out over a dozen new initiatives and rules in a frantic attempt to boost its chances in the upcoming midterm elections. According to a new CNN poll, Trump is leading the president by six points, one of the biggest gaps yet. The survey also shows Trump inching ahead in several critical swing states.

The Biden administration’s flurry of activity includes new FTC rules that ban non-compete agreements, a re-write of Title IX, EEOC charges of racism against a company for avoiding hiring criminals, and more federal help on student loans.

Critics say the White House is panicked and that its policies are not well-thought-out. The Trump administration employed a similar strategy in its final months, ditching several policies rolled out late in President Obama’s second term. Biden returned the favor when he came to office.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized new rules aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, but the rules do not include specific measures to address emissions from the nation’s natural gas-fired power plants. This is a significant omission, as natural gas is the largest source of electricity generation in the United States.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan has stated that the agency is taking more time to strengthen rules for existing gas power plants, but this delay could leave the decision to a potential future Trump administration, which has previously tried to weaken environmental protections.

The EPA has also announced that it is gathering input for a possible new rule to address emissions from existing natural gas plants, but it is unclear how long this process will take. In the meantime, the agency has given power plants until 2032 to comply with the new pollution-cutting measures, which is two years later than originally proposed.

Environmental groups have welcomed the new standards but have also expressed concern about the lack of specific measures to address gas-fired power plants. They argue that a comprehensive approach is needed to meet the Biden administration’s climate commitments and protect public health.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced nearly $1 billion in grants to replace gas-powered heavy-duty vehicles and school buses with electric vehicles. The grant program aims to promote the adoption and deployment of electric Class 6 and 7 vehicles, supporting charging infrastructure, workforce development, and training. This initiative is part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s efforts to reduce emissions and create clean energy jobs. The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. and a major contributor to air pollution. Replacing older, diesel-powered vehicles with electric alternatives will significantly reduce harmful emissions, improving public health and environmental quality.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has officially designated perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two prevalent ‘forever chemicals,’ as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). This move sets the stage for the agency to enforce cleanup measures on polluters who have released these toxic chemicals into the environment.

Houston’s air quality problem, particularly in areas near chemical facilities, has raised concerns among residents and advocacy groups. Diane Olmos Guzman, a longtime resident, shares her experiences growing up near the Ship Channel and the potential health impacts she believes her community has faced. The EPA’s new ‘Safer Communities by Chemical Accident Prevention’ rule aims to address these concerns by implementing stricter safeguards and transparency measures for chemical facilities.