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New Study Finds PFOA Is Carcinogenic: What Are the California Proposition 65 Implications?

/in , , /by /Law.com The Recorderby Jeffrey Dintzer and Greg Berlin

The National Toxicology Program for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released a Technical Report that found evidence of carcinogenic activity in laboratory rats exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid. The NTP Technical Report may result in the listing of PFOA under California’s Proposition 65 as a carcinogen. Private toxic tort plaintiffs may also attempt to rely on the Technical Report in PFAS contamination lawsuits.

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Bill That Allows California To Apply For Swamp Rat-Eradication Funding Passes House

/in , /by /CBS Sacramento

California is one step closer to being able to apply for millions of dollars in its fight against nutria, giant swamp rodents.

In 2003, Congress passed The Nutria Eradication and Control Act, which established a fund to help Maryland and Louisiana battle the animals. Recently, the House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation that now allows California to also receive support. The bill now heads to the Senate.

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Central Valley Could Get Federal Aid for Drinking Water Crisis. Will Trump Support It?

/in , , /by /The Fresno Beeby Monica Vaughan

Central Valley neighborhoods are a step closer to new money to fix broken water systems and access clean, safe drinking water — if the White House and Congress agree on an infrastructure package currently moving through the U.S. House of Representatives.

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Road to Recovery Includes Alternative Design Solutions Resulting in New Ways to Procure and Deliver Services

/in , /by /Engineering Inc.by Allan Crockett

As the world resets for a long-awaited post-coronavirus existence, new realities for business and life in general are taking shape. Amid a plethora of forecasts on changes involving how and where post-COVID-19 business will be conducted, it is a safe bet that employees and overall public health will be a primary influencer as the evolution to the “next normal” begins.

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NOAA’s La Niña Watch Could Signal a Dry Winter for Los Angeles

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a La Niña watch earlier this month, meaning that conditions are favorable for development of a La Niña in the next six months.

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Why Wastewater Testing is Critical in the Fight Against COVID-19

/in , , /by /Treatment Plant Operators Magazineby Tim Dobbins

Almost certainly you’ve seen headlines about wastewater treatment plants around North America joining the fight against COVID-19 by testing wastewater in an effort to predict viral hotspots. Our industry is well positioned to be a key player in the fight through this kind of routine testing during the pandemic.

Researchers have confirmed that the COVID-19 virus can be detected in the untreated waste of positive patients, and numerous treatment facilities across the U.S. are taking advantage of that and working to help track the spread of the outbreak.

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Groundbreaking Study: Earth Will Warm 4.9 to 7 Degrees F

/in , , /by /E&E Newsby Chelsea Harvey

How much warming will greenhouse gas emissions cause in the coming years? It’s one of the most fundamental questions about climate change — and also one of the trickiest to answer.

Now, a major study claims to have narrowed down the range of possible estimates.

It presents both good and bad news. The worst-case climate scenarios may be somewhat less likely than previous studies suggested. But the best-case climate scenarios — those assuming the least amount of warming — are almost certainly not going to happen.

It’s “the most important climate science paper that’s come out in several years,” according to climate scientist Andrew Dessler of Texas A&M University, who was not involved with the study.

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As Flood Season Settles In, Experts Shed Light on Dam Safety Problems

/in , , /by /Engineering News-Recordby Jonathan Keller

U.S. dam safety frameworks have helped to prevent major calamities, but the May collapse of the 95-year-old Edenville Dam in Michigan illustrates that key failure risks remain—often involving many causes, according to a study of dam safety risk assessments by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

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California Still Doesn’t Have a Plan to Bring Back Clean Energy Jobs Lost to COVID-19

/in , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Sammy Roth

Ever since it became clear the COVID-19 pandemic would send the U.S. economy into a tailspin, there’s been lots of talk about using government stimulus funds to create clean energy jobs rather than propping up fossil fuel companies whose business model is fueling the climate crisis.

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House Sends Lands Bill to Trump Against Political Backdrop

/in , /by /E&E Newsby Emma Dumain

The House yesterday cleared a sweeping public lands package to be signed into law — a historic achievement that could have long-standing political repercussions in both parties and chambers.

The House’s 310-107 passage of the “Great American Outdoors Act” came nearly a month after the Senate advanced its version, 73-25.

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