Latest Pollution Headlines

All the headlines from our Pollution Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Most Critical Infrastructure Sectors Haven’t Adopted NIST Cybersecurity Framework

Feb 16 2022 // A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found most of the country’s critical infrastructure have yet to take steps toward adopting a nearly decade-old framework to improve cybersecurity.Just...

Earthquakes in Texas Doubled in 2021. Scientists Cite Years of Oil Companies Injecting Sludgy Water Underground.

Feb 9 2022 // MIDLAND — One local said it sounded like a pickup truck had rammed into the side of their house. Another said it sounded like the air conditioner fell off the roof. A third compared the experience to getting off of a...

School District in Washington Offers $34M in Toxic Exposure Case

Feb 9 2022 // The Monroe, Washington, School District offered a $34 million settlement to students and parents exposed to toxic chemicals on a public school campus.The Seattle Times reports the district proposed the settlement in...

Judge Awards $40 Million to Lawyers in Flint, Michigan Water Settlement

Feb 8 2022 // A judge awarded about $40 million to the lead attorneys in a $626 million settlement for Flint residents and property owners whose water was contaminated with lead, but millions in additional legal fees will also be carved...

3 Firms to Pay $65M to Settle Upstate New York Water Pollution Class Action

Feb 8 2022 // HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — A federal judge has approved a $65 million settlement in a class action lawsuit with three companies over chemical contamination of the water supply in an upstate New York village.The Times...

People Moves: Philadelphia Insurance Promotes 11 to Vice President

Feb 7 2022 // Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) announced the promotion of 11 leaders in its Underwriting, Marketing, Risk Management, Insurance Operations and Human Resources departments:Lynn Bencivenga has been promoted to vice...

Commercial Auto Among Lines With Flattening Rates in 2022, USI Forecast Predicts

Feb 7 2022 // Although it wasn’t the headline of a commercial insurance broker’s market pricing report last month, the report’s observation that “commercial auto liability coverage rates are starting to...

Declarations

Feb 7 2022 // “In these five years, PG&E has gone on a crime spree and will emerge from probation as a continuing menace to California.”— U.S. District Judge William Alsup said the utility poised to emerge from...

Michigan Farm’s Beef Found to Contain Toxic Chemicals

Feb 1 2022 // Beef produced at a small Michigan farm was found to contain toxic “forever chemicals” after the cattle were fed crops grown with fertilizer made from contaminated wastewater biosolids, state officials said Jan....

EPA to Conduct Unannounced Inspections in 3 Gulf Coast States

Jan 27 2022 // The Environmental Protection Agency is taking a series of enforcement actions to address air pollution, unsafe drinking water and other problems afflicting minority communities in three Gulf Coast states, following a...

Princess Cruise Lines Pleads Guilty to Probation Violation in Waste Dumping Case

Jan 14 2022 // Princess Cruises has pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating its probation related to previous environmental crimes.Company officials signed a plea agreement in Miami federal court, according to court records. The company...

EPA Targets Coal Ash Storage Ponds for Closure

Jan 13 2022 // The Environmental Protection Agency is taking its first major action to address toxic wastewater from coal-burning power plants, denying requests by three Midwest power plants to extend operations of leaking or otherwise...

West Penn Power Settles Coal Ash Discharge Complaints With Environmental Agencies

Jan 12 2022 // West Penn Power of Greensburg, Pennsylvania will pay a $610,000 penalty under a settlement to resolve water discharge violations at two coal ash landfills in southwestern Pennsylvania.The settlement was announced by the...

Sioux City Sued by Iowa Over Wastewater Scheme, River Pollution

Jan 10 2022 // The state of Iowa said Jan. 7 that it is suing Sioux City over what it says was the city’s manipulation of wastewater testing results and dangerous pollution of the Missouri River in a scheme that saw the wastewater...

Harmful Soot Unchecked as Big Oil Battles EPA Over Testing: INSIGHT

Jan 7 2022 // A deadly form of soot pollution from U.S. refineries has gone unregulated for decades because of a dispute between the U.S. oil industry and federal environmental officials over how to measure it, according to documents...

EPA to Revisit Bayer Dicamba Herbicide Risks After 3,500 Reports of Crop Damage

Dec 22 2021 // The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is assessing whether the herbicide dicamba can be sprayed on soybean and cotton plants genetically engineered to resist the chemical, without the procedure posing...

California Attorney Suing Walmart for Illegal Disposal of Hazardous Waste

Dec 21 2021 // California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a statewide lawsuit against Walmart for the illegal disposal of hazardous waste.Bonta was joined by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and 12 district...

Connecticut Governor Signs Sweeping Order on Climate Change, Pollution

Dec 21 2021 // Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a sweeping executive order aimed at reducing pollution and addressing climate change Thursday, a month after pulling back his support of a regional climate initiative amid concerns it...

EPA Releases $1 Billion to Clean Up Toxic Waste Sites in 24 States

Dec 20 2021 // Nearly 50 toxic waste sites around the U.S. will be cleaned up, and ongoing work at dozens of others will get a funding boost, as federal environmental officials announced a $1 billion infusion to the Superfund program.The...

People Moves: Aon Recruits WTW’s James as Chief Broking Officer, Commercial Risk UK; Allianz’ Strong to WTW as Head of Environmental; AGCS Promotes Yee for TMT

Dec 17 2021 // This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Aon, Willis Towers Watson and Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS).A summary of these new hires follows here. Aon Recruits James from WTW as...