Environmental Protection Agency

Donald Trump's energy projects face risk from the Environmental Protection Agency’s veto authority under Section 404(c) of the Clean Water Act. This power allows EPA to block or limit material disposal even after permits are issued by the Army Corps of Engineers, potentially undermining ongoing construction. Industry groups are advocating for Congress to pass legislation, such as the PERMIT Act, to constrain this broad regulatory authority.

Wildfire smoke from sources like Ontario, Canada, caused unhealthy air pollution levels across Washington, D.C., and Lititz, Pennsylvania. Due to high Air Quality Index readings, childcare centers were forced to keep children indoors. This recurring hazard marks a new reality for places in Pennsylvania that must adapt as wildfire smoke becomes a common summer threat.

More than half the yards in a section of Omaha, Nebraska, near an old lead smelter still show contamination levels that can pose risks to children. Current EPA policy for the Superfund site only requires cleanup when lead concentrations exceed 400 parts per million, even though scientific research shows lower exposures can cause serious health issues like IQ loss and heart attacks.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm led by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm has limited immigration law expertise, and the previous contract with Acacia Center for Justice expired after disputes over client information.

Courts ruled the Trump administration cannot cancel $22 billion in climate grants, including $20 billion in clean energy grants to nonprofits and $1.6 billion in climate justice grants. A federal appeals court and a district judge blocked the EPA's termination of these grants, citing unlawful actions and potential harm to communities.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Houston-based firm founded in 2023 by Marcella Burke, a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to 24,000 unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after tensions over client information, and the new firm has limited immigration law expertise. The contract, starting August 15, 2023, allows subcontracting and follows a decline in legal representation access for immigrant children since December.

The Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to the Burke Law Group, a Texas firm run by a former Trump administration official, to provide legal aid to unaccompanied immigrant children. The firm replaces the Acacia Center for Justice, whose contract expired, and has limited immigration law expertise, with only two of its nearly 30 lawyers specializing in immigration and asylum law.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plans to award a $150 million contract to Burke Law Group, a Texas-based firm with limited immigration law expertise and ties to a former Trump administration official, to provide legal services to unaccompanied immigrant children. The contract replaces a previous agreement with the Acacia Center for Justice, which expired after disputes over client information sharing.

Two courts ruled against the Trump administration's attempt to cancel climate grants, ordering the EPA to reinstate $22 billion in funding for environmental and climate justice programs. A federal appeals court blocked the termination of $20 billion in clean energy grants, while a district judge mandated the restoration of $1.6 billion in grants after finding the EPA's withdrawal unlawful.

Courts blocked the Trump administration from canceling $22 billion in climate grants, with rulings against the EPA's termination of $20 billion in clean energy grants and $1.6 billion in climate justice grants. A federal judge ruled the EPA must reinstate the funds, citing unlawful termination of Biden-era grants under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The Ninth Circuit ruled that the EPA improperly granted an exemption to California's air quality plan for the San Joaquin Valley, violating the Clean Air Act by inserting an unpermitted feasibility-based exemption. The decision remanded the issue to the EPA, with one judge dissenting over the feasibility consideration.

A $150M contract for child immigrant legal services has been awarded to Houston-based Burke Law Group, which has ties to the Trump administration. Marcella Burkey, a founder of the firm, was a Trump appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior, and Jeffrey Hall, a founding partner, was recently appointed to serve in the EPA.

Residents in Omaha, Nebraska, have found inconsistent responses from the city and EPA regarding lead contamination cleanup in their yards, despite tests showing levels exceeding EPA thresholds. Some properties received retesting and cleanup, while others were denied based on EPA rules or location in non-priority zones.

A federal appeals court ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency improperly terminated $20B in 'green bank' financing, potentially leading to a Supreme Court case over a Trump administration action against a Biden-era climate program.

A divided federal appeals court ruled the Trump administration improperly terminated a climate program to fund clean energy projects, a win for nonprofits under the Biden administration. The court's decision halts immediate funding access for groups like Climate United Fund while the EPA seeks Supreme Court intervention.

The EPA has labeled its Omaha lead cleanup as successful, but recent tests reveal many yards still exceed lead levels deemed safe. Despite a $273 million cleanup effort since 1999, 1 in 10 remediated yards tested by ProPublica and Flatwater Free Press showed lead above original guidelines, and nearly a quarter met criteria for further study under new Trump-era standards.

The 11th Circuit ruled a lawsuit against Georgia Power Company and Honeywell International for mercury and PCB pollution must be heard in federal court under the federal officer removal statute, as the companies' cleanup obligations are directed by the EPA. The case, initially sent to state court, involves a 2016 EPA consent decree requiring a $29 million cleanup of a polluted marsh site.

Wildfire smoke from central Utah and the Pacific Northwest has caused a haze over Denver and the Front Range, leading to unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. The smoke is linked to health symptoms like eye irritation and breathing difficulties, with weather shifts expected to temporarily clear the air before more smoke arrives. High temperatures are forecasted to return by the weekend.

Trump blames Governor Tim Walz for cyberattacks on Minnesota's water systems, while the FBI, EPA, and CISA suggest Iran is likely responsible. Trump denies the cyberattack occurred, contradicting the FBI's warning about spreading attacks on infrastructure.

Michigan regulators approved Marathon Petroleum's air quality permit for a Detroit refinery expansion, despite concerns about increased emissions in an environmentally burdened community. The decision follows a July power outage that caused gas flaring and health concerns. The permit includes extended air monitoring and conditions addressing external utility losses.

Journalists from KFF Health News discussed the Anthony Fauci Senate hearing, potential FDA changes to peptide drug restrictions, and the impact of children's caffeine consumption on health. Additional topics included the Affordable Care Act enrollment in New Mexico and the effects of losing EPA grant money.

Hackers have launched a coordinated cyberattack on water systems in multiple US states, prompting boil-water advisories and manual system operations. US officials, including CISA, FBI, and EPA, are working to secure facilities, with Iran suspected as a potential culprit but no formal attribution confirmed.

Wildfire smoke poses health risks due to tiny airborne particles, and experts recommend using high-efficiency air filters (MERV 13 or higher), HEPA air purifiers, or DIY box fan filters to maintain clean indoor air. The University of Oregon’s Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice advises running central AC systems in recirculation mode and avoiding ozone-generating devices.

A coordinated cyberattack on over 30 Minnesota community drinking water systems disrupted automated control functions but did not affect water quality. Affected systems in Braham, Maple Plain, Plymouth, and South St. Paul required manual operations, with some declaring states of emergency. The attack’s source is under investigation by state and federal agencies, including the FBI.

A U.S. District Judge ruled that federal agencies cannot cancel already awarded grants to states like Vermont based on shifting executive branch priorities. The decision followed the abrupt termination of an EPA grant for infrastructure projects in northern Vermont, which had been halted when the agency claimed it no longer aligned with government goals.

D.C. experienced two instances of the worst air quality in the world this month, including a 6.7-fold spike in PM2.5 levels after Fourth of July fireworks and a code purple alert due to Canadian wildfire smoke. A heat dome and high temperatures also contributed to elevated ozone levels, a recurring issue in the District.

President Trump expanded the Ratepayer Protection Pledge to include power companies, datacenter developers, cooperatives, and state governments, aiming to prevent rising energy costs from affecting household bills. The initiative, now covering 80% of US power delivery, requires entities to cover costs of energy demands from datacenters, with over 200 additional signatories joining the effort.

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has caused air quality alerts across the U.S., prompting health advisories and disrupting outdoor activities. The article calls for legislative solutions like the FIRE Act and FENCES Act to address wildfire prevention and foreign emissions under the Clean Air Act.

President Trump expanded his 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' to include 23 Republican governors and 200 stakeholders, aiming to prevent data centers from increasing utility costs for consumers. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry highlighted Meta's full funding of a data center project in his state, while experts noted the pledge remains voluntary and non-binding.

Donald Trump announced that nearly 200 entities have signed a non-binding 'Ratepayer Protection Pledge' to prevent US consumers from bearing AI datacenter costs. The pledge was discussed at the EPA headquarters with Lee Zeldin, Chris Wright, and governors including Brian Kemp, Mike DeWine, Spencer Cox, and Jeff Landry.

President Donald Trump is urging governors and electricity companies to join a voluntary pledge to prevent rising utility bills caused by data centers, as backlash grows over AI-driven infrastructure costs. The expanded pledge, covering 80% of US power delivered to households and businesses, aims to address concerns about affordability and competition for resources with tech companies.

President Donald Trump is expanding a voluntary pledge with governors and electricity companies to prevent high utility bills from AI data centers, amid public concerns about affordability and environmental impact. The pledge, covering 80% of U.S. power delivery, faces bipartisan opposition as data center growth drives electricity demand and economic growth risks.

President Donald Trump is expanding a voluntary pledge with governors and electricity companies to address rising utility bills caused by AI data centers. The pledge, which now includes nearly 200 stakeholders, aims to cover 80% of U.S. power delivered to households and businesses, but concerns remain about affordability and competition for resources.

A $19.8 million EPA grant aimed at improving environmental health in Thomasville's Dewey City neighborhood was revoked under Trump's second presidency due to a crackdown on DEI programs. The grant, part of a $2 billion Biden-era initiative, was intended to address aging infrastructure and contaminants in a historically Black community. Environmental advocates argue the decision undermines public health for marginalized populations.

North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson opposes the EPA's proposal to loosen restrictions on four PFAS chemicals in drinking water, joining 17 states and the District of Columbia in urging the agency to rescind the rollback. The proposal would eliminate federal requirements for testing these toxic substances, including GenX, linked to health risks like liver and kidney damage.

A coalition of 18 state attorneys general sued the Trump administration over the EPA's decision to weaken regulations on hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), powerful greenhouse gases used in refrigeration. The lawsuit challenges the extension of compliance deadlines for industries, reversing a Biden-era rule aiming to reduce HFC use by 85% by 2036. The American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, passed in 2020, established the original framework for phasing out HFCs.

The EPA is proposing to weaken the Risk Management Program (RMP), established after the 1984 Bhopal disaster to prevent chemical accidents. The RMP currently regulates only 140 chemicals in large quantities, excluding hazardous substances like MMA and ammonium nitrate, which have caused recent disasters near schools, putting millions of children at risk.

A federal judge ruled the Environmental Protection Agency failed to implement strengthened 2024 air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, ordering the agency to issue designations by February 6, 2027. Environmental advocates and states had sued the EPA after it missed its February 2026 deadline, with the court emphasizing the need to prioritize public health.

The article outlines methods to maintain indoor air quality during wildfires, including using high-efficiency air filters (MERV 13 or higher), HEPA air purifiers, and DIY box fan filters. Experts from the University of Oregon and the Environmental Protection Agency recommend sealing AC units, running systems in recirculation mode, and creating 'clean rooms' with portable filters to mitigate health risks from wildfire smoke.

Chicago's air quality worsened to 'unhealthy' levels due to Canadian wildfire smoke, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 134. The city ranked second worst globally for air quality at one point, surpassing cities like Minneapolis and Detroit. An air quality alert remains in effect, and past conditions had broken Cook County's AQI record at 638.