Oregon Officials Want to Ban Toxins from Children's Products. A Federal Bill Could Stop Them.
Leaded gasoline. Lead-based paint chips. Bisphenol A (BPA) in baby bottles. These are a few things parents no longer have to worry about, thanks to government standards and safeguards. But we still have a long way to go in protecting our children from hazardous chemicals. Manufacturers can still use toxins in children's products – without disclosing them to consumers.
Are U.S. Oil Refineries Prepared for Climate Change?
Mar 2, 2015 by Amanda Starbuck
It's been a bad month for oil refineries. The nationwide strike against unsafe working conditions and other unfair labor practices is in its fifth week, with more than 7,000 workers participating.
What Are We Doing to Our Children's Brains?
Feb 17, 2015 by Guest Contributor
The numbers are startling. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1.8 million more children in the U.S. were diagnosed with developmental disabilities between 2006 and 2008 than a decade earlier. During this time, the prevalence of autism climbed nearly 300 percent, while that of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder increased 33 percent. CDC figures also show that 10 to 15 percent of all babies born in the U.S. have some type of neurobehavorial development disorder. Still more are affected by neurological disorders that don't rise to the level of clinical diagnosis.
Dollar Stores Found Selling Toys, Earrings, and More Containing Lead and Other Toxins
Feb 5, 2015 by Amanda Starbuck
Target and Walmart made headlines in 2013 when both companies pledged to phase-out certain hazardous chemicals from their supply chains, good news for the millions of Americans who rely on these stores for household and personal care products. But discount retailers known as "dollar stores" have yet to follow suit, putting the communities they serve at risk of toxic chemical exposures.
Settlement in Public Interest Lawsuit Should Improve Fracking Disclosure in Wyoming
Drilling companies nationwide have been keeping the identities of many fracking chemicals a secret by simply stamping them "confidential business information," also known as "trade secrets." In Wyoming, regulators had long accepted these claims with little validation, and residents were left in the dark about the toxic chemicals being injected into the ground near their homes, schools, and water supplies. A recent settlement agreement in a lawsuit filed by public interest groups, including the Center for Effective Government, will change this practice.
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing: Bill Promotes Big Industry Interests in the Guise of Helping Small Business
Jan 27, 2015 by Ronald White
Under the cynical guise of helping small businesses, on Jan. 27, the House Judiciary Committee will mark up, and the House will soon likely pass, the Small Business Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2015 (SBRFIA, H.R. 527).
Toxic Industrial Releases Rose 14 Percent in 2013, Primarily Due to Metal Mining Wastes
Data from the Toxics Release Inventory released last month reveals significant increases in toxic pollution across the country in 2013. Toxins released from industrial facilities into surrounding communities increased by more than 500 million pounds, or 14 percent, between 2012 and 2013. This is the most significant increase in toxins in years. (See our Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET) website).
Wyoming to Strengthen Fracking Chemical Disclosure in Response to Citizen Pressure
CASPER, WY, Jan. 26, 2015—Under a settlement agreement approved late Friday (Jan. 23), the Wyoming Oil & Gas Conservation Commission must adopt more rigorous policies for scrutinizing industry requests to keep the identities of fracking chemicals secret.
WATCH: Inside A Coal Ash Community That Can't Use Its Tap Water
Jan 26, 2015 by Guest Blogger
When Sherry Gobble gets anxiety, she's generally not thinking about work or money. She's thinking about something most Americans rarely consider: her tap water.
UPDATE: Three Reasons the REINS Act Must Be Stopped (Again)
If passed, the REINS Act would require congressional approval of all major rules, potentially endangering the most important safeguards to our health, safety, environment, and economy.