Trump administration allows PFAS “forever chemicals” in pesticides used on food and eliminates asbestos testing in cosmetics
By Alexander J Schorr Image: Harmful health effects of PFAS, via European Enviornmental Agency November 30, 2025— The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently approved new pesticide products containing “forever chemicals” (PFAS) for use on major food crops, sparking significant controversy. The approvals, announced this month, have been met with criticism from scientists and […]
Trump administration’s impact on California’s enviornment and the agencies that work to protect it
Federal budget cuts have closed an EPA office and pose significant threat to California’s clean air, water, and clean energy sources By G. A. McNeeley July 25, 2025 (Washington D.C.) — On Thursday, July 10, California’s top leaders in wildfire response, water resources, natural lands and clean energy assembled to discuss budget cuts, staff […]
EPA ALLOCATES HALF MILLION DOLLARS FOR CLEANUP OF POLLUTED SITES IN EL CAJON
East County News Service May 27, 2023 (El Cajon) – The Biden-Harris administration has announced over $4.8 million in grants to Southern California to cleanup polluted brown field sites and provide technical assistance. That includes a $500,000 grant to the East County Economic Development Council Foundation to address contamination cleanup in the city of El […]
CALIFORNIA SUES TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO PROTECT CLEAN AIR AND AUTO EMISSION STANDARDS
By Miriam Raftery May 2, 2018 (Sacramento) – California announced Tuesday that it will join 16 other states in a lawsuit against the Trump administration to stop Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Scott Pruitt from reversing fuel efficiency standards to protect clean air and reduce greenhouse gasses fueling climate change. Transportation is now the […]
EPA SUED FOR REMOVING SCIENTISTS
By Andrea Sears, Public News Service Photo: The new chair of the EPA Science Advisory Board denies the scientific evidence that smog causes asthma. (12019/Pixabay) December 22, 2017 (Washington, D.C.) – Doctors, scientists and professional organizations are suing EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt for replacing publicly-funded scientists with others who advocate for polluting industries. According […]
GOLD MINE SPILLS TOXINS, THREATENING WATERWAYS ACROSS SOUTHWEST
By Miriam Raftery Updated August 11, 2015 with a statement from the Metropolitan Water Authority. August 10, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – More than 3 million gallons of toxic waters contaminated with heavy metals from the King Gold Mine in Colorado were accidentally released by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency employees working at the site. […]
ENVIRONMENTALISTS SUE EPA TO PROTECT MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
By Miriam Raftery February 27, 2015 (San Diego’s East County) – The Natural Resources Defense Council has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claiming the federal agency ignored dangers to Monarch Butterflies posed by glyphosate used in Monsanto’s Roundup and other herbicides. The suit claims the EPA has refused to review […]
HIGH COURT TO WEIGH GREENHOUSE GAS REGULATIONS
By Miriam Raftery February 24, 2014 (Washington D.C.)–This week, the U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments in a case that could determine whether or not the Environmental Protection Agency has the right to regulate greenhouse gas pollutants emitted by coal-fired power plants, oil refineries and chemical facilities. The EPA has argued that it has […]
EARTHTALK®: ALLERGIES AND UNHEALTHY INDOOR AIR
January 31, 2013 (San Diego) — Dear EarthTalk: My family has bad allergies and I’d like to improve our indoor air quality. What are some steps I should take? — Marcia Lane, Scranton, PA Even for those of us without allergies, poor indoor air quality is an often overlooked health issue. Recent research has shown […]
EPA MAPS THOUSANDS OF SITES IN CALIFORNIA FOR “REPOWERING” AMERICA
September 21, 2012 (San Diego’s East County)—The goal of renewable energy is positive. But putting industrial-scale wind and massive solar projects on protected public lands has attracted opposition from environmentalists and outdoor enthusiasts. Now the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mapped out 11,000 sites where renewable energy projects could be located on California land […]