Environmental Politics

Calif. Hazardous Waste Rules Slammed as Years Late and ‘Polluter-Friendly’

"Wherever they turn, residents in and around Santa Fe Springs, California, contend with toxic hazards." "Proposed hazardous waste oversight changes are years behind schedule and fail to account for a community’s health risks from pollution, environmental groups warn."

Source: Capital & Main, 05/19/2026

"Data Centers Drive 76% Surge In PJM Power Prices"

"The findings highlight inflationary pressures on electricity costs in mid-Atlantic and Midwestern states. “The price impacts on customers have been very large and are not reversible,” the grid market monitor said."

Source: E&E News, 05/19/2026

Oily Sludge Is Flooding Their Dream Home. Okla. Regulators Don't Help.

"The Merediths were forced to abandon their house after it filled with black goo, reaching gas concentrations at explosive levels. Despite evidence of oil and gas pollution, the state “wanted to act like it would go away,” the family says."

Source: Frontier/ProPublica, 05/19/2026

"E.P.A. to End Some Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water"

"The Trump administration announced Monday that it will drop some limits on “forever chemicals” in drinking water that officials had determined can cause cancer and other serious health problems — angering some key activists who had supported President Trump’s campaign."

Source: New York Times, 05/19/2026

"Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy"

"The board said the administration is taking “a significant step backwards” on preventing chemical disasters."

Source: New York Times, 05/19/2026

Reporters Expose Failed Systems After Hurricane Ian, Maui Fires

In the wake of two major disasters, beat reporters at The Washington Post examined systemic failures in response and recovery, and the human toll for affected communities. Journalist Brianna Sacks shares what she learned from those investigations, which won a large market award for beat reporting from the Society of Environmental Journalists. Read our Inside Story Q&A.

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Appeals Court Weighs Legality Of Orders Keeping Michigan Coal Plant Open

"Michigan’s Department of Attorney General and several environmental justice groups presented oral arguments on Friday before a panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, arguing that emergency orders that kept the J.H. Campbell coal plant from retiring were illegal applications of federal law."

Source: Michigan Advance, 05/18/2026

"New York Plastics Law Advances Amid Debate Over ‘Chemical Recycling’"

"Legislation that would reduce plastic waste in New York is advancing in the state Legislature amid a contentious debate over chemical recycling." "Environmentalists and some state lawmakers say the process does more harm than good. Plastics producers are pushing back."

Source: Inside Climate News, 05/15/2026

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