lax regulation
Credit: Waterkeeper Alliance Inc./Flickr
Illinois faces challenges in addressing coal ash contamination
Despite Illinois passing a law five years ago to manage coal ash contamination, progress has stalled, leaving environmental advocates concerned.
In short:
- In 2019, Illinois passed a law to regulate coal ash and required plant operators to submit plans to clean up or shut down.
- Despite finalized rules, permits for the coal ash pits in Waukegan have yet to be approved, delaying remediation.
- Federal rules have intensified scrutiny of coal ash, aiming to reduce its environmental impact and safeguard communities.
Key quote:
“When it comes to the implementation of these rules, it’s 2024 and we don’t have permits yet. And I don’t think anyone was expecting that.”
— Celeste Flores, co-chair of Clean Power Lake County
Why this matters:
Coal ash contains hazardous substances that can leach into groundwater, posing serious health risks. The prolonged delay in issuing permits for cleanup leaves communities exposed to potential pollution, heightening the urgency for regulatory action. Read more: Former coal plant near Pittsburgh is poisoning groundwater.
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Credit: frankieleon/Flickr
Kentucky House passes bill limiting power of Louisville's air pollution authority
The Kentucky House passed a bill blocking Louisville’s air pollution authority from issuing fines against industries that self-disclose violations.
Credit: Bureau of Land Management/Flickr
Orphan well backlog grows in Texas, even as federal funds flow
Abandoned oil wells that need to be plugged in Texas numbered almost 8,200, a 3% increase since federal funding started flowing in 2022.
Credit: Ted Auch, FracTracker Alliance/Flickr
Texas grapples with environmental fallout from frequent oil and gas wastewater spills
Produced water spills in Texas are causing significant environmental damage, but in a fossil-fuel friendly state known for lax environmental regulations, remedies are few.
In short:
- Texas faces widespread environmental damage from fracking wastewater.
- The regulatory body, Texas Railroad Commission, resists implementing stricter spill management rules.
- The spills pose threats to wildlife, groundwater safety and land integrity.
Key quote:
"They didn’t line the pit, and they didn’t pay attention to the leak detection of their tank.”
— Carl Craigo, Midland, Texas, Utility Director
Why this matters:
Oil and gas wastewater spills in Texas are an environmental crisis affecting water quality, wildlife and land health. With few regulations and scant reporting requirements, harmful practices mostly go unchecked and unpunished.
The fracking industry is notoriously tightlipped regarding chemical disclosures, but recently proposed changes to Pennsylvania fracking regulations offers some future hope.
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Craig Pittman: FL lawmakers love developers so much, they want to put us at risk of being killed by hurricanes
That’s what you get when the people who are supposed to represent us in Tallahassee decide they love their campaign contributors in the development industry more than life itself.
| BigStock Photo ID: 8400922 |
| Copyright: gwhitton |
Should toxic wastewater from gas drilling be spread on Pennsylvania roads as a dust and snow suppressant?
Members of a gas industry advisory council would like the Department of Environmental Protection to consider the practice. The DEP has yet to be convinced.
Research by public health experts shows ‘damning’ evidence on the harms of fracking
The natural gas industry answers with its own reviews of research, finding a lack of evidence to establish a clear link between fracking and negative health outcomes.
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