News & Commentary

EPA “Action” on Toxic Chemicals: Thanks, but No Thanks

November 27, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

EPA continues to use administrative stalling tactics to avoid taking real action to protect the public from the whole class of Teflon "forever" PFAS chemicals and the acutely toxic methylene chloride.

Bipartisan HFC Phasedown Bill Introduced in U.S. Senate

November 25, 2019 Expert BlogDavid Doniger

With support spanning from NRDC to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 32 Senators—16 from each party—have cosponsored a bill to phase down the powerful climate-changing chemicals called hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Electrifying Trucks Would Save Lives and Grow the Economy

November 20, 2019 Expert BlogPatricio Portillo

California’s new Advanced Clean Truck Rule is big. $11 billion in economic and health savings big. But is it enough to save lives and help the state reach its climate action goals?

Trump EPA’s Industry-Friendly TSCA Policy Starts to Unravel

November 15, 2019 Expert BlogDaniel Rosenberg

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the agency cannot ignore legacy uses of a chemical, and that its regulations do not allow it to pick and choose amongst uses of a chemical and sources of exposure as…

Indiana Dunes Finally Gets Its Due, but Conservationists Are Clamoring for More

November 7, 2019 DispatchIndianaSusan Cosier

After a century of advocacy, the Hoosier State has a national park, and its immense popularity is making a case for more protected lakeshore.

Coal Plants Get a Pass to Pollute Our Waterways

November 4, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesNRDC

The EPA just moved to weaken two critical rules that protect our water.

Lowe’s Joins Home Depot to Tackle Toxic PFAS in Carpets

October 30, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

The home improvement company is taking the right step in addressing the problem of these harmful “forever chemicals,” which can now be found in the blood of virtually every American.

Rocket Fuel Chemical Doesn’t Belong in Food Packaging

October 29, 2019 Expert BlogNRDC

Perchlorate has been shown to impair the development of fetuses and young children—and yet the FDA refuses to act. So NRDC is taking the agency to court.

CA’s Advanced Clean Truck Rule Is a Start but Falls Short

October 28, 2019 Expert BlogPatricio Portillo

The California Air Resources Board recently proposed the Advanced Clean Truck Rule to bring more medium- and heavy-duty electric trucks to market. It’s a start but ultimately lags rather than leads the industry.

Perry’s Odd Definition of Progress on Nuclear Waste

October 22, 2019 Expert BlogCaroline Reiser

Rick Perry boasts that under his leadership the Energy Department made progress cleaning up the highly radioactive and chemical waste that is the product of nuclear weapons development. In reality, the Energy Department only weakened standards and reneged on promises…

Protecting California From the Realities of Nonfloating Oil

October 16, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaJosh Axelrod

AB 936, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on October 12, 2019, takes proactive steps to prepare California for the risks of a nonfloating oil spill.

AB 936: The Path to California’s New Oil Spill Protections

October 16, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaAnn Alexander

It is our fervent hope that the cleanup preparation measures required by AB 936 never become necessary, as California moves toward transitioning away from oil.

Bipartisan Bills Aim to Get the Lead Out of School Water

October 15, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesCyndi Roper

On October 15th, Michigan became the first state in the U.S. to introduce with bipartisan support NRDC’s Filter First model legislation to protect kids from lead in schools and daycare facilities.

America’s Dairyland May Have a PFAS Problem

October 11, 2019 DispatchMidwest, Wisconsin, MaineSusan Cosier

The toxic chemicals have been showing up in milk around the country, prompting midwestern farmers to take a closer look at their land.

Landmark Victory: California Ditching Chlorpyrifos in 2020

October 10, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, CaliforniaMiriam Rotkin-Ellman

The bold move will protect children's health in the state and across the country—as well as get the ball rolling for other states to follow suit.

Amid National Drinking Water Crises, EPA Moves to Weaken Lead Protections

October 10, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesNRDC

The agency’s proposed revisions of the Lead and Copper Rule fall far short of the overhaul that is needed to protect millions from lead-contaminated water.

Michigan's New Lead Rule Exposes Drinking Water Inequality

October 7, 2019 Expert BlogUnited States, MichiganJeremy Orr

New drinking water sampling protocols required by Michigan's revised Lead & Copper Rule are exposing inequalities in safe drinking water enforcement.

EPA Gets an Earful on Proposed Toxic Coal Ash Rollback

October 3, 2019 Expert BlogInternationalBecky Hammer

At yesterday's public hearing, NRDC joined communities around the country to oppose the EPA's proposed rollback of health and safety standards for toxic coal ash.

Is Your Favorite Waterway Facing the Threat of Toxic Algae?

September 23, 2019 Expert BlogUnited StatesKate Poole

As the DOE Abandons a Toxic Mess Threatening the Columbia River, the Yakama Nation Fights Back

September 18, 2019 DispatchWashingtonLora Shinn

The DOE wants to dodge its cleanup duties by reclassifying the nuclear waste contaminating a site along Washington’s Columbia River. Not only is it a reckless move, but it may violate treaty-protected indigenous rights.