Rhode Island legislature commits to 100% of state’s electricity from renewable sources by 2033
The Rhode Island legislature has passed legislation that would set the fastest timeline for any state in the nation to procure 100% of its electricity from renewable energy sources.
Environmental, public health groups to Senate: Act on toxic PFAS in drinking water
Eighty-two organizations, including Environment America and U.S. PIRG, delivered a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee calling for comprehensive federal legislation to protect Americans’ drinking water from contamination by the toxic class of chemicals known as PFAS. The organizations, which hail from 30 states, asked the EPW Committee to designate all PFAS as hazardous substances, prohibit their use in firefighting foam, and direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue drinking water standards and stop the dumping of PFAS into our nation’s waterways.
Over one hundred environmental and community groups urge U.S. Supreme Court to uphold federal clean water protections
Environmental and community organizations from across the nation Friday urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the longstanding scope of the Clean Water Act and reject industry attempts to eliminate federal clean water protections that have kept families, communities, and rivers and lakes safe from pollution for decades. Environment America and several of its state affiliates are among the 113 groups signed onto the brief filed by Natural Resources Defense Council and the Southern Environmental Law Center, in support of the Environmental Protection Agency in the case, Sackett v. EPA.
U.S. Interior Department to phase out sale of single-use plastic products in parks, public lands
WASHINGTON --- Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland issued an order on Wednesday, World Oceans Day, to phase out single-use plastic products on lands managed by the Department of the Interior by 2032. The order is intended to reduce -- and eventually eliminate -- plastic and polystyrene food and beverage containers, bottles, straws, cups, cutlery and disposable plastic bags at national parks and on other public lands.
Advocates urge EPA to deliver clean trucks for Wisconsin
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments on its federal clean trucks rule until Monday May 16. Ahead of the deadline, Wisconsin Environment, Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action, and Masters Gallery Foods presented a webinar on Thursday, Clean Trucks for Wisconsin, that highlighted the benefits of cleaner trucks for the state.
In a victory for marine life, climate, Biden administration cancels three oil leases in ocean waters
WASHINGTON – Taking action to protect ocean wildlife and U.S. coasts, the Biden administration on Wednesday ditched plans for three offshore oil and gas lease sales.
Natural Resources Committee to consider strengthening roadless area protections
The U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands will hold a hearing on Wednesday to consider the Roadless Area Conservation Act. Introduced in 2021 by Reps. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Diana DeGette of Colorado, this bill would reinforce the landmark 2001 Roadless Rule, which was enacted under the Clinton administration. Indigenous leaders and conservation advocates expressed support for the Roadless Area Conservation Act because it will establish more permanent protections for critical forests, including the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska.
Environment America joins coalition to deliver 80,000 public comments in support of protecting Chaco Canyon
Environment America joined conservation groups and advocates to deliver more than 83,000 public comments to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Friday in support of the agency’s proposed mineral withdrawal for the federal lands within 10 miles of Chaco Culture National Historical Park. T