water pollution
Credit: Friends of Family Farmers/Flickr
A Michigan court ruling may reshape how animal waste is regulated
A recent Michigan Supreme Court decision could drastically change how the state — and possibly others — regulates pollution from industrial animal farms.
Keith Schneider reports for Circle of Blue and The New Lede.
In short:
- Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) now has the authority to enforce stricter manure management practices for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs).
- The ruling is seen as a significant win for environmental advocates, who hope it will set a precedent for stronger regulations nationwide.
- CAFO waste, which contains harmful chemicals and bacteria, has been a major source of water pollution in Michigan and other states.
Key quote:
"This is a rare win for water protection."
— Sam Carpenter, executive director of the Hoosier Environmental Council
Why this matters:
With this ruling, there’s hope that we might finally see a shift toward more sustainable and responsible farming practices that protect both our environment and our health. It's a win for clean water, and a wake-up call for an industry that’s been polluting unchecked for far too long.
Read more: Peak Pig: Our series on the fight for the soul of rural America
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Credit: Peter Robbins/Unsplash
Warm winter leads to a significant decrease in road salt usage in Michigan
Michigan experiences a reduction in road salt application, benefiting budgets and the environment.
In short:
- Michigan's mild winter resulted in a 37% drop in road salt usage on state highways.
- This decrease may save the state approximately $10 million and mitigate environmental impacts.
- Experts suggest that warmer winters could reduce the future need for road salting.
Key quote:
"We’ve been trying to make a conscious effort to reduce our salt use."
— Tim Croze, statewide maintenance and operations manager for the Michigan Department of Transportation
Why this matters:
Runoff containing road salt can infiltrate freshwater systems, leading to elevated salinity levels in lakes, rivers and groundwater. This increase in salinity can disrupt aquatic ecosystems, harming or even killing plants and wildlife adapted to freshwater environments.
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Credit: Christian Ostrosky/Flickr
Argentina's wetlands under threat from new development projects
In Argentina's Paraná delta, known as "Earth's fourth lung," the push for luxury real estate threatens the region's diverse ecosystems and local communities, with private interests prioritizing spas and helipads over environmental and social health.
In short:
- The Paraná delta, a vital environmental and biological reservoir, faces severe threats from overdevelopment, including habitat destruction and pollution.
- Real estate developers are displacing local communities and altering the landscape with luxury homes and gated communities, impacting traditional livelihoods.
- Efforts to protect these wetlands are hampered by stalled legislation in Congress, reflecting a broader undervaluing of wetlands by society and political interests.
Key quote:
"We are the fourth lung of the world. Our delta gives oxygen to the planet, but today, they are damaging it terribly."
— Juan Carlos García, islander and descendant of the Indigenous Guaraní people
Why this matters:
The ongoing conflict in the Paraná delta serves as a microcosm of global environmental challenges, underscoring the need for sustainable development practices that consider health outcomes and preserve ecological integrity. We are reminded once again that in the battle for environmental conservation, "victories" are seldom permanent and forever subject to the politics of the moment.
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Credit: Will Parson/Chesapeake Bay Program/Flickr
Wisconsin judge affirms regulators can force factory farms to get preemptive pollution permits
A Wisconsin judge has affirmed that regulators can force factory farms to obtain permits before they discharge pollutants into state waters.
Newsletter
Credit: Carsten ten Brink/Flickr
The battle against illegal goldmining in the Amazon – in pictures
A year after Brazil’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, declared a humanitarian crisis among the Yanomami and vowed zero tolerance for illegal mining, environmental enforcers have said the progress since the ousting from the reservation of 80% of the wildcat miners is in jeopardy.
Newsletter
Credit: Jason Woodhead/Flickr
Canada’s tar sands are a much larger source of air pollution than previously thought, study says
The research, published in Science, found the oil operations are releasing vast quantities of compounds that can cause localized air pollution and form damaging particles that can travel across the continent.
Credit: Sosialistisk Ungdom (SU)/Flickr
Shell to divest Nigerian onshore oil operations amid environmental concerns
Shell's proposal, if approved without restrictions by the Nigerian government, could limit the oil giant's liability for decades of environmental pollution.
In short:
- Shell has agreed to sell its onshore oil business in Nigeria's Niger Delta to a consortium for $2.4 billion, aiming to reduce its West African footprint.
- The sale faces scrutiny from activists demanding Shell address longstanding environmental damages before finalizing the deal.
- The Nigerian government's approval is required for the sale, involving assets primarily owned by the national oil company NNPC.
Key quote:
“It would be a matter of very grave concern if the obvious legacy issues, especially the environmental and decommissioning issues, are not adequately and transparently addressed before and by any eventual divestment.”
— Ledum Mitee, local activist
Visit EHN's energy section for more top news about energy, climate and health.
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