EPA

Close-up of bronze plaque on building with "United States Environmental Protection Agency" text.

EPA Releases Equity Action Plan

The agency is taking a more holistic approach to addressing environmental justice concerns.

March 6, 2024 - The Equation

Black plume of smoke rising from petrochemical plant fire in Houston, Texas

EPA Grant Will Fund Air Pollution Tracking in Houston

The city wants to monitor air quality and measure cancer-causing emissions near two petrochemical plants, one of which announced plans for expansion last year.

July 17, 2023 - Smart Cities Dive

Power Plant

Ways the EPA Can Still Fight Climate Change

Despite the Supreme Court’s recent decision to limit the EPA’s ability to regulate emissions from power plants, the agency still has a range of tools at its disposal for enforcing pollution controls and reducing harmful emissions.

July 18, 2022 - High Country News

Factory Emissions

Supreme Court To Hear Challenge to EPA Powers

The Court's decision could limit the agency's authority to regulate carbon emissions in the power sector.

November 2, 2021 - Bloomberg

Klamath River

Biden Administration Seeks More Protection for Wetlands

In a reversal from Trump-era policy, the Biden administration wants to reinstate protections that prevent the contamination of streams and waterways.

June 27, 2021 - The Washington Post

Ohio River Power Plant

Court's Rejection of Trump EPA Rule Clears Slate for Emissions Regulation

A D.C. circuit court struck down a rule that limited the agency's regulatory reach to emissions "at the source" in the power sector.

January 28, 2021 - Bloomberg Law

Washington D.C.

Environmental Agencies Failing at Civil Rights, Report Says

A report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Inspector General calls out state environmental agencies for a lack of civil rights enforecement and makes recommendations for resolving shortcomings.

October 15, 2020 - Grist

Factory Emissions

EPA Relaxes Environmental Rules, Cites Coronavirus

During the outbreak, the agency will allow companies to monitor themselves for pollution violations.

April 6, 2020 - The New York Times

Tailpipe

EPA Alleges Fiat Chrysler Cheated Tests Measuring Carbon Pumped Into Atmosphere

The U.S. government will sue Fiat Chrysler Automobiles over software that allowed cars to pass emissions tests while letting out more pollutants than would be allowed.

May 26, 2017 - The New York Times

President Obama

Op-Ed: Obama's Weak Climate Change Legacy

David Bookbinder argues that the Obama Administration dragged its feet on climate change, only implementing last-minute actions that will be easy to reverse.

May 18, 2017 - Vox

Scott Pruitt

California Is 'Recruiting' U.S. EPA Employees

Under the Trump Administration, federal employees dedicated to causes like climate change mitigation face uncertain prospects. They could turn to accommodating state governments.

March 28, 2017 - High Country News

Mixed-use waterfront

Lessons in Brownfields: Phase One Report Reform Ain't Working

This second of a series on brownfield remediation and development is a funny and sarcastic primer about the process and its failures. Written by Environmental attorney Richard Opper.

February 3, 2017 - UrbDeZine

Texas Wind

Is Texas Ready for the Clean Energy Rule?

With the EPA's proposed Clean Energy Rule on pause in the Supreme Court, the Dallas News takes a deep dive into the state's preparation for a new era of regulation.

October 20, 2016 - Dallas News

BABS bikes in a socking station

California's Plan For Zero Emissions Now Includes Bike Share

Funding from California's Environmental Protection Agency to put zero-emissions car sharing programs into disadvantaged communities met with strong interest last year. Now the agency is expanding the program, with the opportunity for bike shares.

August 6, 2016 - Next City

EPA Rejects Southern California Plan to Reduce Fine Particulate Pollution

The South Coast Air Quality Management District is in the news again, this time for going too easy on the region's big polluters—just what staff had warned would happen before the board fired its well-respected executive director.

March 22, 2016 - Los Angeles Times

Environmental Protection Agency Under Fire From All Sides

Expect EPA to be radically downsized and stripped of much of its authority should a Republican become the next president. Democrats haven't stepped up to their defense as one might expect after the mishandling of the Flint water crisis.

March 21, 2016 - The New York Times

Sparks Fly at Congressional Hearing on Flint Water Crisis

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy sat side-by-side at a Congressional hearing on the lead exposure suffered by citizens of Flint.

March 18, 2016 - The Hill

Protecting the Lungs of Children by Improving School Location

With the national spotlight rightfully focused on the irreversible effects of lead in the drinking water of Flint, Michigan, another insidious threat remains: motor vehicle emissions affecting children's lungs.

February 1, 2016 - EPA Connect

How the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Failed the People of Flint

While blame squarely lays with Michigan state officials, agencies, and possibly Gov. Rick Snyder himself, the EPA also played a role by both detecting the cause of the problem but not acting on the reports of improper treatment of river water.

January 31, 2016 - Huffington Post

VW Scandal Obscures Diesel's Real Problem

It's easy to focus on the sensational headlines based on the fraud committed by Volkswagen, but doing so masks the deadly and ongoing problems of diesel emissions plaguing the world's densely populated cities.

January 7, 2016 - The New York Times

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.