EPA review of new chemicals slows

It's been six months since Congress made major changes to the Toxic Substances Control Act , the law that governs the use of chemicals in industrial and household products in the U.S. One unanticipated outcome of the overhaul is a backlog of new chemicals waiting to be reviewed by the Environmental Protection Agency. Chemical manufacturers are up in arms about the delays, claiming EPA's slowness is impeding their innovation.

Utah Supreme Court hears 2nd refinery expansion challenge

A second challenge to a refinery expansion proposed along the Wasatch Front wound up on the desks of Utah Supreme Court justices, but it remains a big question mark if there will ever be a legal probe of the actual merits of the case. The Utah Supreme Court, in a decision last year, rejected an appeal by environmental groups over Tesoro's planned action, and Wednesday the justices were asked to look at the case involving HollyFrontier Corp. in Woods Cross.

U.N. environment chief concerned at climate science skeptics among Trump picks

Erik Solheim, executive director of the UN Environment Programme , speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jakarta, Indonesia December 14, 2016. Erik Solheim, executive director of the UN Environment Programme , speaks during an interview with Reuters in Jakarta, Indonesia December 14, 2016.

Trump’s Secretary Of State Nominee Could Face Criticism From Anti-Exxon Crusaders

Rex Tillerson, chairman and CEO of ExxonMobil, testifies about the company's acquisition of XTO Energy before the House Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in Washington in this January 20, 2010 file photo. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/Files President-elect Donald Trump's choice for secretary of state will likely face the ire of Democrats who believe the oil man helped hide decades-worth of climate research.

Businesses see key ally coming to White House

Yet much of corporate America appears to view Trump not as an adversary but as a powerful friend. For all his bullying stance toward some companies, businesses have been cheered by his vows to slash taxes and soften Obama-era rules that were designed to protect workers, the environment and the financial system and by his choices to lead the Labor Department and Environmental Protection Agency.

Trump’s Cabinet will serve corporate interests, not the chumps who voted for him

To understand what kind of president Donald Trump will be, do not listen to what he says, watch what he does. In a series of campaign-style events, he has repeated all the favorite lines that convinced millions of voters that he was on the side of Americans who feel abused by the establishments on Wall Street, K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Trump defends cabinet as hardline picks criticized

President-elect says secretarial picks will be 'one of the greatest cabinets' ever assembled, says members 'committed to advancing common good' US President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a Victory Tour Rally, on December 8, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. Trump is taking time time to speak several of the states that helped him win the election .

Biden calls on Trudeau to defend international ‘rules of the road’

U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to be a defender of the international "rules of the road" to help shepherd the world through a period of deep uncertainty. Biden delivered that message in a stirring speech at a state dinner in his honour in Ottawa on Thursday night, in which he singled out the fight against climate change as the most important issue of this generation.

Trump cons the media on climate

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to members of the media in the lobby at Trump Tower in New York, Dec. 6, 2016. CREDIT: AP Photo/Andrew Harnik This week, President-elect Donald Trump met with some of the biggest names in climate activism: former vice president Al Gore and actor Leonardo DiCaprio.

Trump picks climate sceptic Pruitt

ELECT Donald Trump has tapped Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, criticised as a climate change denier and a staunch fossil fuel ally, to head the Environmental Protection Agency. The announcement on Thursday morning comes after Leonardo DiCaprio met with Mr Trump on Wednesday to discuss how jobs centring on preserving the environment can boost the economy.

Trump settles on Oklahoma’s attorney general to lead EPA

President-elect Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that he will nominate Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, a global warming skeptic, to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, which he has repeatedly sued and derided for pursuing an "activist agenda." "My administration strongly believes in environmental protection, and Scott Pruitt will be a powerful advocate for that mission while promoting jobs, safety and opportunity," Trump said in an early morning statement.

Anson: How Al Gore convinced Miguel Torres to fight climate change in wine

In the week of an unlikely meeting between Al Gore and US president-elect Donald Trump, Jane Anson talks to Spain's Miguel Torres Snr about the influence of Gore on his own battle against climate change in wine. 'We don't know what is going to happen in politics over the next few years, but we do know that the pattern of global warming is not going away.

Trump chooses hardliners but talks softer on immigration

Donald Trump embraced new Cabinet officers Wednesday whose backgrounds suggest he's primed to put tough actions behind his campaign rhetoric on immigration and the environment, even as he seemed to soften his yearlong stance on immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. It's clearer by the day, underscored by Trump's at-times contradictory words, that his actual policies as president won't be settled until after he takes his seat in the Oval Office.

Environmental groups seek to defend federal methane rule

Environmental groups are seeking to defend a new federal rule that would restrict how oil companies burn off excess natural gas extracted from public lands. Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota are pressing a federal lawsuit in Wyoming seeking to block a rule that President Barack Obama's administration issued in November requiring certain companies to capture natural gas instead of burning it off.

Trump’s planned rollbacks not easy

Once sworn into office, Donald Trump will be in a strong position to dismantle some of President Barack Obama's efforts to reduce planet-warming carbon emissions. But experts say delivering on campaign pledges to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and bring back tens of thousands of long-gone coal mining jobs will likely prove far more difficult for the new president.

Trump rollback of Obama climate agenda may prove challenging

Once sworn into office, Donald Trump will be in a strong position to dismantle some of President Barack Obama's efforts to reduce planet-warming carbon emissions. But experts say delivering on campaign pledges to abolish the Environmental Protection Agency and bring back tens of thousands of long-gone coal mining jobs will likely prove far more difficult for the new president.

Google’s Alabama Power Plant Conversion Project May Be Off-Schedule

An ambitious effort by Google to repurpose the Tennessee Valley Authority's old Widows Creek power plant in Jackson County, Alabama , just across the Tennessee River from Chattanooga, does not appear to be proceeding on schedule. Travis Leder, a reporter for the local ABC-TV affiliate, may not have been the first to notice, but he was the first to say that if Google intends to begin reconstruction as scheduled during 2016, there's only one month left.

Activists Take Myron Ebell Protest Directly to the EPA

Climate activists projected huge images and text onto the front of the Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington this evening, calling on President-elect Donald Trump to not appoint climate change denier Myron Ebell as head of the agency. Using a high powered projector, activists with 350.org, ClimateTruth.org, and the Sierra Club projected an image of the Earth and oil rigs, along with messages like, "Don't Let A Climate Denier Take Over the EPA" onto the front of the building.

Perdue names leadership in acting roles as USDA reorganization takes shape

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has named three individuals who will take on leadership roles as the U.S. Department of Agriculture continues the reorganization announced on May 11, 2017 . In accordance with a directive in the 2014 Farm Bill, USDA created a new Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs as part of a realignment of several mission areas.

Sustainable Saturday: The Danger Trump Poses to the Environment, Global and Local

Similar s truggles have been erupting between environmental watchdogs and business interests since the 1973 Endangered Species Act became law. The Tennessee Instead of uniting Americans in an eco-conscious quest to protect and preserve Earth, some of these battles have been deeply divisive.