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What’s New? For the first time, FDA has provided guidance on how to evaluate whether metal cookware is prohibited due to lead leaching into food. As part of an investigation to find the source of elevated blood lead levels in some refugee children, the Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, Washington [1] encountered high …

What’s New? EPA recently asked its Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC), comprised of experts in the fields of toxicology and environmental chemistry, to make recommendations on implementing new approach methods (NAMs) for testing the safety of new chemicals. NAMs encompass a wide array of new evaluation strategies, including testing cell lines or invertebrates (rather than …

    What Happened? EDF and other environmental groups recently asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw the approval it issued for a group of new chemicals. This approval, also known as a consent order, allows Chevron to create fuels at its refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi, by using oils produced through a process of …

EDF’s comments outline reasons why strong standards are needed and are anchored in law, examine how the Inflation Reduction Act reinforces EPA’s action, and call on the agency to work closely with frontline communities.

By Adam Peltz and Meg Coleman Across the country, a million or more orphaned oil and gas wells threaten the climate, public health, groundwater and surface waters and hamper local economic development. Help is on the way thanks to a major federal effort to invest $4.7 billion in closing orphan wells under the Revive Economic …

By Jose Luis Chicoma and Karly Kelso Last week, global leaders gathered in Rome for the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) +2 Stocktaking Moment, a follow-up event to evaluate commitments to transforming their food systems and progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) made in 2021. In short, it was a time to gather …

Report from EDF and La Isla Network details what is needed to protect farm labor from dangerous heat.

Farmworkers are on the frontlines of heat waves. A federal heat standard will protect them and make food production more climate resilient. The post The growing threat of heat for farmworkers first appeared on Growing Returns.

By Adam Peltz and Elizabeth Lieberknecht  Recently, Louisiana, under the leadership of Gov. John Bel Edwards, became the latest state taking action to curb pollution and waste from oil and gas production. In a new proposal, the state says it will limit natural gas venting and flaring and attempt to reduce the risk of thousands …

EDF Statement from Mandy Warner, Virginia Director

A new Biden administration proposal to restore and strengthen our core environmental law will help establish new clean energy around the country, protect communities, and address the climate crisis.

The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) just released its global guidance on high-integrity carbon credits. These Core Carbon Principles (CCPs) could transform the voluntary carbon market for the better, but more work is needed to unlock its full potential to ensure carbon credits deliver true climate action.

Establishing a Chief Resilience Officer, a government position that is responsible for spearheading resilience coordination and bringing together stakeholders to build, develop and implement resilience strategies, helps leaders effectively plan at the state, county and municipal level and is a major step forward in protecting communities from future climate impacts. The post Why every state needs a Chief Resilience Officer first appeared on Growing Returns.

The Senate Appropriations Committee yesterday advanced its markup of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies funding bill, which helps meet the nation’s climate goals, promote energy security and fund government agencies at the levels agreed to during the recent debt limit negotiations. This proposal protects our clean energy progress and shows how Congress can work in a bipartisan fashion to fund the government.

Statement of Ted Kelly, EDF Senior Attorney, Energy Markets and Regulation

Report from EDF and La Isla Network details what is needed to protect farm labor from dangerous heat

What’s New? A blockbuster Wall Street Journal (WSJ) investigation showed that lead-sheathed telecom cables are releasing toxic lead into water or surface soil. We are aware of more than 2,000 of these cables across the nation—and more than 300 of those pose a threat to community drinking water sources. Recognizing the potential risks to public …

Amanda Leland, Executive Director at Environmental Defense Fund, on why supporting farmers, fishers and food producers is critical to ensuring abundant food for a growing population in a warming world.

Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp

EDF statement from Nini Gu, Regulatory and Legislative Manager

The House Appropriations Committee today completed its markup of a funding bill that would cut the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget to dangerously low levels. The proposed cut of 39% would reduce the agency’s funding to its lowest level since 1991. The Republicans' proposal includes unprecedented cuts to numerous programs designed to combat climate pollution and protect public health.

By Lucy Vogt, EDF Seafood Policy Intern Last month, Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) welcomed environmental businesses, leaders, and shakers — and one brand-new intern. CHOW investigated the intersection between the ocean and the climate by facilitating conversations about ocean opportunities. Even though the ocean covers more than 70% of the earth, produces 50% of …

Governor Katie Hobbs announced that Arizona has joined the U.S. Climate Alliance.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Below the Blue, and Clean Water Action submitted a letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan today, calling on the agency to investigate the uncontrolled release of lead into water or surface soil by more than 2,000 lead-sheathed telecom cables across the nation.

Emissions analysis, which includes impacts of transformative federal investments, finds that leadership states are projected to fall short of their goals and must adopt strong policy to drive U.S. progress.