News & Commentary

A Small Town’s Battle Against Radioactive Fracking Waste

January 9, 2019 DispatchKentuckyAustyn Gaffney

After an illegal dumping of close to 2,000 tons of dangerous sludge and contaminated materials across the street from two schools, a Kentucky community struggles with what to do next.

Hundreds of Workers Who Cleaned Up the Country’s Worst Coal Ash Spill Are Now Sick and Dying

December 17, 2018 DispatchTennesseeAustyn Gaffney

Ten years after the disaster at a Tennessee power plant, the cleanup crew is seeking justice. At the same time, the Trump administration is weakening protections for this toxic pollution.

Discovery of an Ancient Reef Off South Carolina Is One More Reason Not to Drill the Atlantic

November 19, 2018 DispatchSouth CarolinaRobynne Boyd

The coral system is 85 miles long and has been there for hundreds of thousands of years.

Cape Cod’s Gray Seal and White Shark Problem Is Not Black-and-White

November 9, 2018 ExplainerUnited States, MassachusettsJason Bittel

After a rare shark bite takes a life, some in this beach region want to go after the seals.

Drilling Off VA Coast: An Invitation for Climate Havoc

September 20, 2018 Expert BlogVirginiaFranz Matzner

The public is keenly aware that auctioning off public ocean waters to oil giants is not in the national interest. From catastrophic spills like the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster that oiled the entire Gulf region, to “minor” spills and almost…

The Race to Develop Offshore Wind—and Protect Endangered Whales

September 17, 2018 DispatchEast, Rhode IslandNicole Greenfield

As Northeast states make impressive commitments to this clean energy source, scientists are helping them stay out of the way of marine mammals.

It’s the 21st Century—Alabamans Shouldn’t Have to Worry About Hookworms

July 30, 2018 DispatchAlabamaNicole Greenfield

In Lowndes County, raw sewage is backing up into homes, flooding yards, and giving rise to long-eradicated parasites.

How Can I Fix Mold and Lead Paint Issues in My House on a Small Budget?

July 9, 2018 ExplainerUnited States, New York City

Both problems pose significant health risks, but many people grappling with them can’t afford major renovations—and can’t move out. NRDC attorney Albert Huang shows us the range of solutions to consider.

The Gulf of Mexico Is Sending Out an S.O.S.—a Message in a Plastic Bottle

June 4, 2018 DispatchKansas, Louisiana, MississippiRobynne Boyd

Thanks to the Mississippi River’s trash stream, the Gulf has some of the highest concentrations of plastic in the world.

Locations of High Lead Levels in Newark’s Water Identified

May 23, 2018 Expert BlogNewarkSara Imperiale, Claire Woods

The State has estimated that there are approximately 22,100 homes in Newark with lead service lines.

Cuomo Must Protect NY Tap Water from Toxic PFOA Chemicals

May 22, 2018 Expert BlogNew YorkKimberly Ong

The state has the power to protect New Yorkers from these dangerous chemicals in our drinking water when EPA will not.

Scientists Are Battling a Mysterious Pathogen Destroying Coral Reefs off Florida’s Coast

February 12, 2018 DispatchFloridaRobynne Boyd

Hope is not lost, but the cause of devastating “white syndrome”—not to be confused with coral bleaching—remains unknown.

The Emancipation of Manny-T, the Emaciated Manatee

February 1, 2018 Latest NewsFloridaJason Bittel

When an animal’s on the Endangered Species List, every life saved is a victory.

The Connection Between Mass Incarceration and Environmental Justice

January 19, 2018 ExplainerUnited States, Pennsylvania, KentuckyNicole Greenfield

The country’s prison industry has little regard for where its facilities are located—even if that means building on noxiously polluted ground.

This Is How We Stand Up to Trump

December 20, 2017 NRDC in ActionUnited States, Washington, D.C., Utah, Michigan, CaliforniaNicole Greenfield

Meet a handful of the NRDC staffers who resisted Trump’s attacks and defended our environment in 2017—and who won’t stop fighting anytime soon.

City Council to NYC Mayor: Clean Up Our Waters!

December 15, 2017 Expert BlogNew York CityLarry Levine

We Need Clean and Affordable Water for All New Yorkers

December 4, 2017 Expert BlogNew YorkLarry Levine

Over the last 15 years, increasing capital investment needs (and decreasing federal financial assistance) have caused water and wastewater rates to rise nationally at about twice the rate of both inflation and income growth.

This 13-Year-Old Gives Us Hope for the Future

November 16, 2017 DispatchConnecticut, Washington, D.C.Nicole Greenfield

From the classroom to Capitol Hill, Sena Wazer has dedicated herself to standing up for whales.

The Fight to Keep Oil and Gas Rigs Out of Our Waters. For Good.

October 3, 2017 NRDC in ActionAlaska, Florida, California, Washington, United StatesMelissa Denchak

NRDC played a key role in banning offshore drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic. Once again, it’s fighting to protect those oceans—and the rest of America’s waters.

Americans Red and Blue Unite Against Trump's Plan to Drill the Atlantic

August 28, 2017 PerspectivesEast, United StatesJeff Turrentine

Not even the Republican governors who supported him are willing to get behind it.