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Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the coal industry and its allies to curtail the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to tackle climate pollution from existing fossil fuel power plants. This setback makes action in Michigan and in states across the country – where governors and regulators have powerful tools to …

Tom Neltner, Senior Director, Safer Chemicals This is the third in our Unleaded Juice blog series exploring how the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets limits for toxic elements like lead, arsenic, and cadmium in food and the implications for the agency’s Closer To Zero program. FDA’s move to establish action levels on lead in juice …

Maria Doa, Ph.D., Senior Director, Chemicals Policy EPA has made the important and long-awaited decision to propose banning nearly all remaining uses of chrysotile asbestos in the United States. EDF submitted comments supporting this proposed ban (with some caveats) because of the high risk of cancer and fatal respiratory diseases for individuals who import, process,

EDF’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Cumulative Risk Assessment (CRA) Framework illustrates how EPA can conceptualize and apply comprehensive cumulative risk evaluations in a way that is pragmatic and protective of public health, especially for those at greatest risk.

EDF statement from Natalie Snider

Chris Kuzdas, co-lead of the Water for Arizona coalition and Senior Manager, Climate Resilient Water Systems at Environmental Defense Fund, issued the following statement about the critical need to pass the Inflation Reduction Act.

Last week, Senator Joe Manchin and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced their agreement to an investment package including $369 billion in climate and energy programs over the next ten years (see summary). This is a remarkable turnaround after negotiations on these provisions seemed to stall earlier this month. Senate Democrats continued efforts to get them …

Environmental Advocates Ask to Intervene in Legal Challenge to Fuel Economy Standards

The new $369 billion agreement represents the largest piece of climate legislation in U.S. history.

U.S. Representative A. Donald McEachin (VA) today introduced the “Technology Assessment for Air Quality Management Act” to strengthen hyperlocal air quality insights and improve understanding of the health impacts of air pollution.

Agreement Presents Opportunity for Historic Climate Action in Senate

Schumer, Manchin Announce Deal That Could Bring Climate, Clean Energy Action in the Senate

There is no single fix to the climate, air quality, political and economic challenges facing California, but the state’s early action to electrify its fleet of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles is one example of smart policy that can move us in a positive direction. As California’s legislative session concludes in August, lawmakers and the California …

The Iowa Watershed Approach offers a strategy for reducing flood risk and improving water quality in the state of Iowa. The post Iowa’s Watershed Approach provides a model for tackling big challenges on the Mississippi River. first appeared on Growing Returns.

After months of negotiations, the Arizona Legislature passed a major water spending plan last month with funding for new conservation efforts to address deteriorating water supply conditions. However, for the fourth year in a row, state leaders failed to pass legislation to address unlimited groundwater pumping, missing an opportunity to enable a water secure future for 1.5 million rural residents and the state as a whole. The post A conservation win and groundwater loss: Arizona ends 2022 session with mixed water record first appeared on On the Water Front.

Donny Hicks, a longtime almond farmer near Modesto, participated in the Water Leadership Institute to better understand groundwater issues in his area. Read on to learn what Donny gained from the institute and how he is adapting to water scarcity by working with another institute graduate to test a new innovative irrigation system. The post This almond industry expert participated in the Leadership Institute to learn more about groundwater. Now he’s sharing that knowledge. first appeared on On the Water Front.

Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp

The last two months have seen encouraging momentum in the effort to tackle emissions of methane — a greenhouse gas that drives over a quarter of current warming — and the practice of flaring, which is a major source of energy waste and methane pollution. Starting with last month’s Major Economies Forum, one of the …

New analysis from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Rural Beacon Initiative (RBI) shows that joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) can be an integral tool for North Carolina to cost-effectively reduce emissions and meet the state’s carbon reduction goals.

New analysis from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Rural Beacon Initiative (RBI) shows that joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) can be an integral tool for North Carolina to cost-effectively reduce emissions and meet the state’s carbon reduction goals.

U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today reintroduced the Public Health Air Quality Act of 2022, a bill that would strengthen air quality monitoring in communities near industrial sources of pollution.

Critical funding for more zero-emission trucks in Texas is on the way. For the first time ever, a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant program that provides incentives to replace heavy-duty diesel vehicles will guarantee that at least half of the funding awarded will go to projects that include zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty trucks.

EDF, EarthJustice and other organizations urge the placement of permanent leader in this critically important enforcement role.

Environmental Defense Fund and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) are launching a joint ad demanding climate action through the clean energy investments Congress is considering. The ad amplifies President Biden’s urgent call to reduce climate pollution and ensure clean air and water for everyone while creating millions of good jobs.

On May 19, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced four incongruous actions in response to petitions submitted by EDF and others asking the agency to ban the use of more than two dozen ortho-phthalates (phthalates) in food packaging and processing equipment.