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Congress v. The Environment: The House Is On Fire
As I write this, members of the House of Representatives continue to debate and move their way through votes on hundreds of amendments to the chamber’s government spending bill. The voting and debate has been a marathon process, stretching from morning through late at night for the last three days, and looks to carry on…
Read MoreLetter and Op-Ed Take House to Task For Environmental Assault
This month, Earthjustice endured many attacks on clean air, including efforts to undo air protections that would slash mercury and other air pollution from cement kilns. In January Rep. John Carter (R-TX) began his protracted assault, starting with a resolution under the Congressional Review Act to kill these important safeguards. Last night as the House…
Read MoreHouse Votes to Undo Cement Kiln Protections
Here is a quick update on the spending bill nonsense taking place in the U.S. House of Representatives: Last night, as House leaders continued their marathon vote of their budget bill, they voted to dismantle a crucial set of air rules that would save up to 2,500 lives and slash mercury and other air pollution…
Read MoreChevron Must Pay $8 Billion For Despoiling Amazon in Ecuador
On Monday, a court in Ecuador told Chevron it owes $8 billion for environmental contamination in the Amazon. This is Ecuador, where oil companies wield economic power and political influence. Yet, this didn’t cloud the court’s independent eye when faced with the facts of uncovered toxic waste pits in the pristine Amazon. This is Chevron,…
Read MoreFriday Finds: Soda's Sickeningly Sweet Side
Soft drinks’ light hue may have a dark side Soft drinks have been under heavy scrutiny lately for their use of aspartame, a fake sweetener that, though calorie-free, may just also give you cancer. Unfortunately, that’s not the only carcinogen found in pop (or soda, if you’re the coastal type). A recent Center for Science…
Read MoreIn Dark House, A Few Lights Shine
The U.S. House of Representatives is a dark place right now. Many of its Republican members are maniacally focused on dismantling scores of health and environmental protections, using a budget bill to stowaway anti-environmental amendments that would never get passed on their own. As Earthjustice’s Patti Goldman quipped: “Like fleas, they come with the dog,…
Read MoreEra of Mortars and Artillery Shells Ends For Makua
The Army’s announcement in January that it is abandoning plans to resume the most destructive type of live-fire training at Makua Military Reservation on O‘ahu represents a major step forward in Earthjustice’s longstanding effort to protect Makua’s unique biological and cultural treasures. Makua, which means “parents” in Hawaiian, is home to more than 40 federally…
Read MoreNature Is Up For A Vote Today In Congress
Forty years of environmental progress is under attack today by a vote in the House of Representative on a stop-gap funding measure to keep the federal government running. Unfortunately, that measure—called a continuing resolution—is loaded with amendments and provisions that would slash the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget, and seeks to override the rule of law…
Read MoreWe're Rolling Out The Red Carpet For 2 Oscar Nominees
As Oscar season enters full swing, two nominees are taking a break from the action in Hollywood to visit Washington, D.C. tomorrow (Thursday) and educate the public and members of Congress about the dangers of gas drilling. Director Josh Fox is up for a Best Documentary award for GASLAND, a searing indictment of the hazards…
Read MoreWhat!? Florida Congressman Acts In Support of Toxic Slime
As you’ve read in this space before, the EPA’s new water pollution limits are designed to control the public health threat posed by the green slime that continually breaks out on Florida waterways.
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