EPA
Deciding When Regulation Cost Too Much
Nearly everyone agrees that government needs to regulate. How much to regulate is the question. Reason Magazine looks at several current regulatory issues concludes that the regulatory pendulum "has swung too far."
EPA's $9.6 Billion Holiday Gift To Environmentalists
The EPA issues its first national standards for mercury pollution from power plants, requiring a dramatic reduction of pollutants 90% by 2016.
Best Smart Growth Projects in America
This year, the Environmental Protection Agency looked at "articulate" city plans that aimed for a more sustainable future. There were five plans across that nation that were awarded for "achievement in smart growth."
Chicago to Upgrade Their River System
Notification from the EPA has allowed Chicago to adopt new standards that "will help to further the transformation of the Chicago river system from sewage canal to valuable recreational and economic asset," says Regional Administrator Susan Hedman.
Death from Air Pollution is 2m Each Year, Says New Report
World annual death toll due to particulate pollution from indoor and outdoor sources is 2 million people each year, according to a new report from the World Health Organization.
Obama Axes New Ozone Rules
President Obama has directed EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to drop proposed regulations that would have reduced ozone (smog), handing a victory to Republicans and industry that had opposed them, to the dismay of the environmental community.
Cleaner Air for East Coast Residents
The EPA announces new emissions standards for power plants that will "improve air quality for 240 million Americans living in states where the pollution is produced or where it travels downwind."
Rust Belt Mayors Are Greening Brownfields
With the unlikely help of a group called the Mayors Automotive Coalition, down-at-the-heels towns are reinventing themselves - in various shades of green.
EPA, DOT Release New Fuel Economy Stickers for New Cars
The new stickers offer significantly more useful information for comparing a new vehicle's gas mileage to other cars, including how much a year's worth of gas will cost you and the impact of that car on the environment.
TOD is Greener Than Green
It's official, says the EPA: Living in a TOD reduces greenhouse gas emissions more than living in a green, single family home and driving a Prius. The study places major emphasis on local land use decisions in an effort to fight climate change.
Energy Efficiency is about Location, Location, Location
A new peer reviewed study reveals that housing located in compact, transit-oriented and location efficient developments are more likely to consume less energy than developments in low density suburban areas.
The Best Greens for Your Green Roof
The Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State has indentified five particular species of plant that work well in semi-arid climates for green roofs.
First Mountaintop Mining Permit Expected To Be Revoked
A major mountaintop mining permit is likely to be rejected after an environmental review found "unacceptable" impacts on water quality and wildlife. This would be the first major rebuke to the mining practice, and could foreshadow its end.
Motorists To Pay Ozone 'Penalty' in Central Valley
In a unanimous vote on Oct. 21, the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District approved another 'first' air quality measure not done elsewhere: They supported charging Valley motorists for paying the $29 million ozone penalty set by the E.P.A.
Can The Feds Make Sustainability Happen?
The Obama administration is trying to rein in suburban sprawl. But is it any match for 70 years of unsustainable development?
Combined NHTSA & EPA Standards for New Cars Issued
Normally fuel economy standards are set by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Due to the 2007 Supreme Court ruling on the Clean Air Act, the new rules are jointly issued by the EPA to regulate tailpipe emissions as well as CAFE.
EPA Plots Plan to Restore Great Lakes
With heavily polluted waters and eroding shorelines, the Great Lakes are undergoing a rapid deterioration in health. The Environmental Protection Agency has unveiled a 5-year plan to restore the lakes.
The Federal Government's Sustainable Urbanism Challenge
Sustainability is going federal through a new collaboration between HUD, EPA and DOT. Anthony Flint takes a look at the new coordinated effort and some of the challenges it faces.
DOT, HUD and EPA All Trumpet Smart Growth
Anthony Flint reports from the New Partners for Smart Growth Conference, where the Feds all spoke about coordinating at the federal level to implement smart growth policies.
EPA Recognizes Land Use/Global Warming Connection
For possibly the first time, the EPA has issued a report the directly links climate change mitigation with local land use strategies, says Patty Salkin.
Pagination
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