From The Sacramento Bee, in a commentary by Linda S. Adams and Karen L. Hathaway:
As early as next month, the State Water Resources Control Board could take up the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board’s recommendation for the maximum level of copper particulates allowed in Marina del Rey, one of the largest man-made harbors in the world.
The Clean Water Act, which has been on the books since 1972, has slowed the degradation of the nation’s lakes, rivers and streams by blocking polluters from using waterways as sewers.
“No crude oil from a 10,000-gallon spill in Atwater Village entered the L.A. River, officials said Thursday as they continued to clean up the slippery mess.”
“California legislators have recycled a bill aimed at making the state the first in the nation to ban plastic grocery bags — and the new effort gained momentum Wednesday despite fierce industry opposition and passionate appeals from workers who say the measure threatens their livelihoods.”
“The government has failed to inspect thousands of oil and gas wells it considers potentially high risks for water contamination and other environmental damage, congressional investigators say.”
“Six days after dead fish began appearing on the surface of Menifee Lake, little has been done to clean up the private water body. And baring any public health issues, government officials say they have little – if any – control over it.”
“The first water standard in the nation for chromium-6 has drawn fire from Erin Brockovich and residents of the town the movie about her made famous. And water providers, the chemical industry and consumer protection groups also aren’t thrilled with the new standard.”
From The Fresno Bee Earth Log blog by Mark Grossi:
“State water quality enforcers are telling farmers it’s time to join a groundwater protection program that has been in the making for many years — sign up by May 19 or face fines.”
“In Portland, Ore., city authorities decided to drain a 38 million-gallon reservoir because someone had been reportedly peeing in it. Portland is not like California; it does not lack water.”
“The California Environmental Protection Agency has released a statewide list of census tracts most burdened by pollution, providing a first-of-its-kind ranking certain to pressure regulators to clean up neighborhoods with long-standing health risks.”
From The Fresno Bee in the Earth Log blog by Mark Grossi:
“Federal scientists studied mercury contamination in 21 Western national parks for years and last week announced bad news for Yosemite National Park — the worst-tainted fish in the entire study was in a lake not far from Tioga Road.”
“San Francisco’s ban on nonrecyclable plastic bags at all retail and grocery stores survived its final legal challenge Wednesday when the state Supreme Court turned down an appeal from the bag industry.”
“The inventory of pollutants at the bottom of the Passaic River, which meanders for 90 miles through northern New Jersey, is long and truly frightening. … Now, after years of study, the Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a cleanup plan for a dangerously fetid eight-mile stretch from Belleville to Newark.”
“[Lara] Meeker, who heads the environmental group’s DrainWatch program, is overseeing a special corps of volunteers called Storm Water Assessment Teams — or SWAT — who fan out across the region to collect water samples in an effort to force polluters to clean up.”
“In drought-hit California, marijuana growers are feeling the heat, accused of using too much water for their thirsty plants and of polluting streams and rivers with their pesticides and fertilizers.”
“California’s persistent drought threatens to take a heavy toll on the environment as well as the economy. …
“The threats are as diverse as the environment itself. … Moreover, there are potential risks to water quality, fears of increased air pollution in the already dusty Central Valley, and a possible buildup of salinity in rivers that could be detrimental to fish and humans.”
“Since 2007, plastic shopping bags have been banned in nearly 100 municipalities in the state, including Los Angeles, which at the start of this year became the largest city in the country to enforce such a ban. …
“And now, lawmakers in Sacramento are trying to make California the first state to approve a blanket ban on this most ubiquitous of consumer products.”
From the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the award of $1,565,140 in 2013 Wetland Program Development Grants to six tribes in California and Arizona and four California organizations to conduct research designed to prevent and eliminate water pollution. EPA also announces it will begin today accepting applications for the 2014 Wetland Program grant cycle.
