Cash for Clunkers

Member states of Europe have been jump starting car sales by providing subsidies for the purchase of new fuel efficient cars, replacing older cars.
Of course, in Europe, fuel costs are higher than the US and Europe has also started carbon taxes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/business/global/01refunds.html
This idea has also been proposed in the US and Congress is working on the [...]

California Targets Big Screen TVs

The California Energy Commission issued proposed new rules that will require newly manufactured televisions to be more energy efficient.  Beginning in 2011, televisions sold in California will consume an average of 33 percent less energy than they do today.  In 2013, televisions would have to consume 49 percent less energy on average.
This is being proposed [...]

Barrel Recycling Plant Owner Fined for and Imprisoned for RCRA Violations

Alan Hersh, the 70 year old former owner of a barrel recycler, was sentenced to prison and fined for hazardous waste violations in February, 2009.  He was ordered to spend 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release.  He was also ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitutionf or clean up [...]

USEPA’s most wanted list

The United States EPA debuted its “Fugitive Environmental Criminal List” in December of 2008.
Check it out here:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/criminal/fugitives/index.html

American Farm Bureau v EPA

The DC Circuit Court of Appeals handed down an opinion on Feb. 24th of the validity of EPA’s designation of particulate matter of varying sizes as an air pollution contaminant.  You may ask me, what does that mean?  Think dust and soot.   EPA had determined standards for how much particulate matter should be in the [...]

USEPA’s Most Wanted List

The United States EPA debuted its “Fugitive Environmental Criminal List” in December of 2008.
Check it out here:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/criminal/fugitives/index.html
Do any of our worldwide readers know of a similar public posting in their country?

Vog: nature can pollute too!

Volcanic eruptions can be cause serious air pollution issues.  Check out these links:
This is happening in Hawaii:
http://volcano.wr.usgs.gov/kilaueastatus.php
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gAZ8zB9AM756uRRnvQ9xTzpBRRfQD90FOQV00
Here is Chile:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24483158/
Maybe we should put scrubbers on those…

Ski resorts and artificial snow

Another issue to consider, is artificial snow good or bad for the environment?
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE2DF1431F937A25752C1A962958260
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2008/gb20080421_199362.htm
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CYP/is_/ai_77276469

So what do you know about vapor intrusion?

No, it is not somebody’s cheap cologne wafting into your space and causing your allergies to act up. 
It is a relatively new issue that arises in hazardous site cleanups and brownfield redevelopment.  After the source of the contamination is removed, the groundwater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundwater; http://www.groundwater.org/) remains.  Groundwater is found at different depths in different climates. The [...]

The Supremes Confirm Landlord has to clean up tenant’s mess

The United States Supreme Court declined to hear a case questioning whether a tenant has to reimburse the landlord for the cleanup of hazardous waste it left behind.  Therefore, the opinion of the lower court stands as the rule of law.
Intracel was a pharmaceutical company that held a ten year lease.  It stopped paying rent [...]