Cleaning up the Matanza-Riachuelo River in Argentina

The Matanza-Riachuelo River divides Buenos Aires City from the Province of Buenos Aires and runs into the Rio de la Plata which provides drinking water for the million of inhabitants in this region.  Translated, its name means the Slaughter River.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanza_River
For decades the authorities have been attempting to clean up the river, but to no avail.  [...]

China’s MEP vows to clean up Yangtze River

The China Ministry of Environmental Protection announced a major initiative to study discharges and pollution loads on the Yangtze River and to undertake major enforcment actions against violators.   Since the Chinese structure gives the real power to the provincial offices, it will be interesting to see what happens.
http://www.chinaenvironmentallaw.com/2009/02/18/yangtze-river-pollution-campaign/
Also, check out this commentary on the structure [...]

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 [...]

Argentina Closes Six Facilities for Polluting River

The Environment Secretariat of Argentina closed a poultry feed maker, a petrochemical company, three metalworking firms and a recylcing center on the contaminated Matanza-Riachuelo River basin.  They previously closed 80 facilities, but most were reopened after correcting violations.  The moves are part of a $1.8 billion cleanup of the river basin ordered by the Argentine [...]

To bottle water or not

Interesting story in Business Week on Nestle’s attempt to build a bottled water plant in an old lumber town in northern California.   Nestle would use the spring water for bottled water.  Opponents in town are leary of drawing down the water levels, and the promised economic benefits.  Nestle claims their plants use less water than [...]