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Criminal' lack of cash leaves nine in 10 high-risk toxic sites unchecked

BBC investigation finds nine out of ten high-risk contaminated areas have not been tested.

'Criminal' lack of cash leaves nine in 10 high-risk toxic sites uncheckedTomos MorganBBC Wales InvestigatesPaul LynchBBC Shared Data UnitGetty ImagesSites with possible contaminated land could be where old factories, power stations, railway lines or landfill sites once wereThousands of sites potentially contaminated with toxic chemicals have never been checked by councils, a BBC investigation has found. Nine out of 10 "high-risk" areas have not been tested by councils responding to a BBC Freedom of Information request, and scientists fear they could pose a health risk.The sites are thought to contain substances such as lead or arsenic.The BBC Shared Data Unit found of 13,093 potentially toxic sites that councils have identified as high risk, only 1,465 have been inspected.The UK government has said that local unitary authorities have a statutory duty to inspect potentially contaminated sites but councils claim they do not have the money to do it.The research comes after the release of new Netflix drama Toxic Town which tells the story of families fighting for justice following one of the UK's biggest environmental scandals.The BBC's findings raise fresh questions about what exactly has been left beneath our feet from the UK's heavy industrial past."What we don't do in this country is do a full economic evaluation on the cost of things, including health and that feels almost criminal," said Dr Ian Mudway, a leading expert on the effect of pollution on human health."I'm not even certain we've achieved the point of scratching the surface."Contaminated land is a site that might have been polluted from its previous use - it could have been a factory, power station, a railway line, landfill site, petrol station or dry cleaners.If you live in a property constructed after 2000, any contamination issues should be covered by updated planning laws. How much land is contaminated in the UK?But if you live in a property built before 2000, the rules are less clear.The Environmental Protection Act requires councils to list all potential contaminated sites, and inspect the high-risk ones to make sure people and property are not at risk.But after contacting all 122 unitary authorities in Wales, Scotland and England about their contaminated land, 73 responded to the BBC's Shared Data Unit Freedom of Information request which revealed there were 430,000 potential sites identified in the early 2000s.Of those, 13,093 were considered to be potentially high-risk, which experts said should have then been subject to physical testing. Yet, more than 11,000 of them remain unchecked to this day.Half of Wales' 22 councils told the BBC they could not or would not give us figures - but those that did, identified 698 high-risk sites of which 586 have not been inspected.Despite the stunning backdrop, the River Ystwyth that flows through Cwmystwyth in mid Wales is among the most heavily polluted rivers in the UK due to the area's industrial pastWhere Robin Morris lives is home to more than 400 of Wales' 1,300 abandoned metal mines and its three rivers, the Ystwyth, Rheidol and the Clarach, are some of the most heavily-polluted in the UK.The Cwmystwyth mines in north Ceredigion date back to the Bronze Age and were abandoned in 1950, but spoils including a high level of zinc, cadmium and lead scatter the landscape and have polluted the River Ystwyth below.Many Cwmystwyth locals, like Robin, have filtration systems installed if they receive their water from the hills where the old mines were."We installed an advance filtration system and were assured it would take absolutely everything," he said.'Alarm bells'The BBC took a soil sample from Robin's garden on the banks of the Ystwyth and it revealed a very high reading of lead - well above the recommended safe level for gardening."It causes alarm bells to ring," Robin told BBC Wales Investigates."In light of the figures from your soil sample, we should have stopped growing vegetables long ago."It's just one sample, but other things that have happened in the past now seem to make more sense.Robin Morris added a water filtration system to his home's water supply so he can drink clean water"We had ducks and chickens, a couple of the ducks went lame and we did consult the vet, he thought it was because of lead contamination," added Robin.Ceredigion council said it was liaising with Wales' environmental body National Resources Wales to continually assess the health impact from the area's mining legacy.Dr Mudway insists there was "no safe level" of lead and told the BBC it could impact children's development as well as kidney and cardiovascular disease in adults. "Nothing is more of a forever chemical than lead," added the environmental toxicologist at Imperial College London."This is a hazard that has not gone away and is still a clear and present danger to the population.Dr Ian Mudway wants to raise public awareness of lead and other toxic chemicals"It's one of the few chemical entities for which we can calculate a global burden of disease - between half a million to just under a million premature deaths per year because of the release of lead into our environment."When you talk about the cost of ensuring that land is safe... that costs money up front."The costs of potential health effects, especially if they contribute to chronic diseases which people live with for 10 or 20 years, or the costs of remediating land, after when you realise that it's a high-level, dwarf the profits made at the other end of that cycle. That feels almost criminal. "The health cost is hardly considered at all."Huw ChiswellHuw Chiswell believes his daughter was most likely poisoned at their homeWhen Manon Chiswell was a toddler she suddenly stopped talking - doctors advised her family she was showing lots of autistic traits."I do have memories of being very closely monitored in Meithrin [nursery]... I always had an adult with me," said Manon, now 20. "I couldn't speak... they had to use a traffic light system, and yes or no cards to redirect me and help me communicate."But a blood test later found high levels of lead in Manon's blood.She was not autistic, she had been poisoned.Her father, Huw Chiswell, believed Manon was most likely poisoned at their home in Cardiff, which was near an old industrial site.A blood test found high levels of lead in Manon's blood"She used to eat earth [as a toddler] in the garden," he said. "There were railway sidings not far from where we lived at the time, so it's difficult to draw any other conclusions really, because once she'd stopped the eating, she got better."But it is not just about lead - a government report suggests that sites posing the greatest health risks were also contaminated by chemicals such as arsenic, nickel, chromium, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) found in soil or water.PA MediaAn inquest into Zane Gbangbola's death concluded he was killed by carbon monoxide but his parents dispute the coroner's verdictCampaigners want a new law forcing councils to keep a public register of all potential contaminated sites.It is led by the parents of a seven-year-old boy who died from poisonous gas after the River Thames flooded their home in 2014, and they believe the fumes came from a nearby landfill.Zane's law - named after Zane Gbangbola - also calls for measures such as more money for councils to identify and test possible sites."You have to know that it exists before you can protect yourself," said Zane's dad Kye Gbangbola, who was left paralysed after the gas poisoning."Until we have Zane's Law people will remain unprotected."When tighter regulations on dealing with potentially contaminated land became law 25 years ago, the minister that pushed them through wanted just that.Now John Selwyn Gummer feels UK government funding cuts has meant far fewer inspections.John Selwyn Gummer, now Lord Deben, was secretary of state for the environment between 1993 and 1997"There is no way in which local authorities can do this job without having the resources," said Lord Deben."Successive governments have under-provided for the work that we need to do."'There's a possibility some people's health is being threatened'Several councils have told the BBC that funding is the reason they had stopped checking possible contaminated land.Phil Hartley was one of hundreds of officers across the UK that used to check potential sites and Newcastle's former council contamination officer.He said the central government grant removal had led to a "collapse" in checks."Since the money dried up very, very few councils proactively go out looking for contaminated land sites because the council doesn't want to take the risk of finding them," said Mr Hartley."There's a possibility that some people's health is being threatened, which is not great."The UK government said local authorities had a statutory duty to inspect potentially contaminated sites, require remediation and maintain a public register of remediated land. "Any risk to public health from contaminated land is a serious matter," a spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said.They also asked the Environment Agency to produce a new state of contaminated land report to provide the "best possible baseline of data to measure future policies related to contaminated land against".The bodies that represent councils in Wales and England both said a lack of cash meant they could not fulfil their duty.The Welsh Local Government Association said while Wales' 22 councils took their responsibility to check sites "seriously", progress was "increasingly constrained by a lack of dedicated funding and specialist resources".England's Local Government Association said: "Without adequate funding, councils will continue to struggle to provide crucial services - with devastating consequences for those who rely on them."You can watch Britain's Toxic Secret on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Thursday 13 March at 20:30 GMT

Why Europe is going ‘car free’

At a time when New York City and the Trump administration are battling over a congestion pricing program, Europe is dramatically scaling back its relationship with cars.

ROME — European cities are dramatically scaling back their relationship with the car.They are removing parking spaces and creating dedicated bike lanes. They are installing cameras at the perimeter of urban centers and either charging the most-polluting vehicles or preventing them from entering. Some are going so far as to put entire neighborhoods off-limits to vehicles.In Norway, Oslo promotes “car-free livability.” Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo touts the “end of car dependence.” And while those ideas might sound radical to car-loving Americans, they are fast becoming the norm across the Atlantic, where 340 European cities and towns — home to more than 150 million people — have implemented some kind of restrictions on personal car usage.Such programs “are taking over Europe,” said Barbara Stoll, director of the Clean Cities Campaign, part of the Brussels-based Transport & Environment advocacy group. “I think large European cities are realizing that the car has dominated our lives for way too long.”In the popular imagination of tourists, European cities — with their postcard piazzas and narrow footpaths that predate the automotive age — might seem like a seamless fit for such moves. But until several decades ago, European cities were in fact being colonized by vehicles, with engineers devising massive highways and tunnels aimed at easing car access to urban cores.The new policies, then, point to the increasingly assertive way this continent is rethinking the design of cities — and the priorities of health and climate.At least one American city is trying to follow suit. In January, New York began enforcing a first-in-the-nation fee — typically $9 — for drivers trying to enter Lower and Midtown Manhattan during peak hours. The goals were both to thin traffic and pump revenue into the busy and creaking city transit system. Advocates quickly called the program transformative, saying it resulted in less congestion without bruising the economy.But the congestion pricing program has sparked anger from commuters in outer boroughs. And last month the Trump administration moved to halt it, with Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy calling it a “slap in the face” to working-class drivers and small-business owners.The program’s future now hinges on a legal showdown.Only a few other American cities — Chicago, San Francisco and Washington — have transit networks to make major car-reduction policies potentially viable. Some have floated the idea but not implemented it.Outside of Europe, Singapore stands out for one of the most rigorous plans, involving vehicle quotas and charges during peak hours.“The city’s development pattern has to be dense in order to make this work,” said Steven Cohen, a Columbia University vice dean who specializes in sustainability, politics and environmental management.In Europe, some of the programs are framed in explicitly environmental terms, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As of 2022, the transport sector accounted for one-quarter of emissions in the European Union. Many cities also highlight the importance of reducing air pollution, including fine particulate matter, which policymakers describe as a silent urban killer.But whatever the rationale, virtually every major European city is imposing some kind of rule. Milan has a system similar to New York’s, charging for access to the city core — while entirely banning older, highly polluting vehicles. London charges vehicles that don’t meet emissions standards, in what it calls the “largest clean-air zone in the world.” The programs are not just the purview of liberal Western Europe: Warsaw, Poland, and Sofia, Bulgaria, recently adopted similar schemes.Even little Italian villages have added vehicle restrictions to reinforce their historic feel.And the Netherlands just broke ground on a 12,000-person neighborhood that will be entirely car-free. The neighborhood, known as Merwede, will be connected by public transport to Utrecht, a medium-size city that — perhaps no surprise — has a low-emissions zone of its own.“We think we can create much more quality in every sense to place the cars out of this area,” said Mirjam Schmüll, a program manager involved with the Merwede project. Residents, she said, could have access to garages outside the neighborhood, but ideally wouldn’t need them very often.Perhaps the most elaborate and transformative effort has come in Paris, where Hidalgo, a Socialist, was elected mayor in 2014. Since then, Paris has banned the most-polluting vehicles from the city, eliminated 50,000 parking spaces and added hundreds of miles of bike lanes. It turned a bank of the Seine from a busy artery into a pedestrian zone, and closed off the famed Rue de Rivoli to traffic.The latest step came in November when four central arrondissements, or districts, were closed to through traffic.Journeys by car in Paris have dropped by about 45 percent since 1990.The city has now become a source for striking before-and-after photos: of clogged streets that have transitioned into tree-lined areas where people can walk and play.“The radical transformation in the recent 10 years is essentially to transform the lifestyle of Parisians,” said Carlos Moreno, a professor at Paris’s Sorbonne University who has advised Hidalgo and who devised the concept of the “15-minute city” — putting residents within walking, bicycling or transport distance of everything they need.For Europeans, the personal car isn’t quite the totem of liberty it is in America. But the car crackdown has still been met with outcry: raucous town-hall meetings, protests, even the vandalism of cameras used for enforcement. Conservative papers in Britain have described a “war on motorists.” In his 2023 book, London Mayor Sadiq Khan described an “extensive campaign” on social media to drum up opposition to London’s “Ultra Low Emissions Zone.” Khan also wrote that he was sent a bullet in the mail amid protests over the program.In Sweden, Stockholm several months ago had wanted to designate a 20-block upscale area as a “Zero Emission Zone” — meaning, essentially, that it could be accessed only by electric vehicles. But the plan was held up by a legal challenge from a business group, which cited the risk of “reduced attractiveness of city centers” and job losses.Indeed, Stockholm was one of the first European cities to introduce vehicle restrictions — in 1996, a time when the continent was first confronting the problem of heavy smog. In 2008, the European Union’s parliament set air-quality limits, including for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can burrow into lungs and cause respiratory disease.“We are a continent of regulation. We regulate, and then things happen,” Stoll said.London says that PM2.5 levels have fallen, and that nitrogen dioxide — a pollutant stemming from combustion — is 53 percent lower than it would have been without the restrictions. One recent study, examining the English city of Bradford, attributed a reduction in hospital admissions for respiratory cases to the city’s clean-air policies.Moreno advises cities to think about transportation options stacked in a pyramid, with the best choices — walking, cycling, public transportation — at the wide bottom.“It’s not about a war on cars,” he said.But yes, he said, cars should be the option of last resort.

Tonnes of microplastics infiltrate Australia’s agricultural soils each year, study shows

Without swift and effective action, composting may become an environmental crisis, rather than a solution.

Gary D Chapman/ShutterstockCompost applied to agricultural soils in Australia each year contains tonnes of microplastics, our research has revealed. These microplastics can harm soil and plant health and eventually enter food crops, potentially posing a risk to humans. In Australia, more than 51% of organic waste – including garden and food waste from households – is recovered and processed. Much of it is turned into compost. However, every kilogram of compost we sampled in our study contained thousands of tiny pieces of plastic, invisible to the naked eye. They come from a range of potential sources, including compostable waste bags used by households to store food scraps. Without swift and effective action, composting may become an environmental crisis, rather than a solution. The research revealed every kilogram of compost contains thousands of tiny pieces of plastic. SIVStockStudio/Shutterstock The problem with microplastics in compost As Australia’s landfill sites become exhausted, finding new uses for organics waste has become crucial. Composting is widely promoted as a solution to managing organic waste. It is comprised of decomposed plant and food waste and other organic materials, which is applied to farms and gardens to enrich the soil and improve plant growth. Many local councils provide residents with kitchen caddies and “compostable” plastic bags to collect food waste. These bags can also be bought from supermarkets. These bags usually contain some plant-based substances. However, some contain fossil-fuel based material. Others may contain “bioplastics” such as that made from corn starch or sugarcane, which require very specific conditions to break down into their natural materials. Research shows some compostable bags are a source of microplastics – plastic particles smaller than 5 millimetres. Some compostable bags are a source of microplastics. Hurricanehank/Shutterstock Once applied to soil, microplastics can accumulate over time, posing risks to soil health. For example, research shows microplastics can alter soil structure, limit plant growth, hinder the cycling of nutrients and disrupt microbial communities. This in turn may affect farm productivity. Microplastics can also further degrade into “nanoplastics” small enough to be absorbed by plant roots. From there they can enter stems, leaves, and fruits of agricultural products consumed by humans, posing potential health risks. Internationally, evidence is growing that compost can introduce significant amounts of microplastics into soil. However, little is known about whether organics applied to farm soils in Australia contain microplastics. This study sought to shed light on this. What we found My colleagues and I investigated microplastics in processed organic waste. We took samples from 11 composting facilities in Victoria. We found every kilogram of compost contains between 1,500 and 16,000 microplastic particles. In weight, this equates to between 7 and 760 milligrams of microplastics per kilogram of compost. In Australia, about 26% of compost produced at organic waste processing facilities is used in agriculture. So, we estimate that between 2.7 and 206 tonnes of microplastics is being transported to Australian agricultural land from compost each year. Most microplastic particles we found were “microfibres” and “microfragments”. Microfibres usually derive from synthetic fabrics. Microfragments come from larger plastics, such as packaging material. We then analysed bin bags marketed as compostable or biodegradable, and found their physical and chemical characteristics were very similar to some microfragments we found in organic waste. The microfragments may be coming from other sources as well, such as plastic containers and bags, and plant string scooped into the bin when people collect garden waste. Various microplastic particles from compost samples as seen under the microscope. Hsuan-Cheng Lu Where to now? This study provides the first evidence of microplastics in processed organic waste in Australia. It underscores the need to better understand what happens to microplastics during the composting processes, and how microplastics affect soil health. Policies such as the National Plastic Plan and the National Waste Policy Action Plan promote composting as a key strategy for reducing landfill waste and supporting a circular economy. But these policies do not adequately address the risks of contaminants such as microplastics. In fact, there are no national standards in Australia regulating microplastics in processed organics. The absence of clear guidelines leaves composting facilities, waste processors, and end users vulnerable to unintended plastic pollution. To address this serious environmental issue, urgent action is needed. Authorities should take steps to limit the flow of microplastics into compost, including developing guidelines for composting facilities, waste management companies and households. Monitoring should also be used to track microplastic levels in processed organics, identify their sources and assess the impact on soils and food safety. Shima Ziajahromi receives funding from EPA Victoria, EPA NSW, Water Research Australia, Queensland Government through an Advance Queensland Industry Research Project, co-sponsored by Urban Utilities, Sydney Water, SA Water, Water Corporation (WA) and Eurofins Environment Testing Australia. This project was funded by EPA, Victoria.Frederic Leusch receives funding from the Australian Research Council, EPA Victoria, EPA NSW, Qld DESTI, Water Research Australia, Seqwater, Urban Utilities, Sydney Water, SA Water, Water Corporation and the Global Water Research Coalition. This project was funded by EPA Victoria.Hsuan-Cheng Lu receives funding from EPA Victoria. This project was funded by EPA, Victoria.

A Breakdown of Major EPA Deregulatory Moves Around Water, Air, Climate

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday announced nearly three dozen deregulatory moves that he said would spur the U.S. economy by rolling back rules that have unfairly burdened industry

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin on Wednesday announced nearly three dozen deregulatory moves that he said would spur the U.S. economy by rolling back rules that have unfairly burdened industry. Many of the moves would affect landmark regulations aimed at protecting clean air and water.Here's a look at some of the 31 regulatory changes Zeldin announced: Reconsider power plant emissions standards The Biden administration set limits on planet-warming emissions from existing gas and coal-fired power plants – a major step in the administration’s effort to reduce greenhouse gases from the heavily polluting energy sector. Trump has long opposed such tough, climate-friendly limits and has instead promoted oil and gas development. Zeldin said the agency would reconsider the Biden administration standards to avoid constraining energy production. Reconsider toxic emission limits on power plants Coal plants emit toxic metals like mercury and the Biden administration issued a rule to severely limit those pollutants. Officials at the time said technology had progressed enough for these plants to do better. The EPA on Wednesday said nearly two dozen states had sued, arguing the rule was costly and a major burden, especially to coal plants. They also considering offering industry a two-year compliance extension while officials reconsider the rule. Reconsider wastewater rules for coal and other power plants Hazardous metals like mercury and arsenic end up in the wastewater of steam-powered electric generating power plants like coal. These can have serious health effects including increasing cancer rates and lowering childhood IQ scores. The Biden administration tightened regulations of this wastewater. The EPA said it will revisit those “stringent” rules that are costly to industry and therefore may raise residential energy bills. New uses for oil and gas wastewater Currently, treated wastewater generated from oil and gas drilling can be used in limited ways in certain western lands, such as for agriculture. Environmentalists say there can be a broad range of contaminants in the wastewater, some of which might not be known. The EPA said it will reconsider those rules and look at how the treated water could be used for other purposes like cooling data centers, fighting fires and other ecological needs. They say the current rules are costly, old and don’t reflect the capabilities of modern treatment technologies. ​​Reconsider petrochemical emergency planning The Biden administration tightened safeguards against accidents for industrial and chemical plants that millions of people live near. The agency’s risk management program added planning and reporting requirements for facilities and forced some to implement new safeguards. Accidents at these plants can be severe – a 2019 explosion at a Texas facility, for example, forced tens of thousands to evacuate, for example. Industry associations have criticized parts of the rule, such as requirements to publicly report sensitive information.Zeldin said Biden administration officials “ignored recommendations from national security experts on how their rule makes chemical and other sensitive facilities in America more vulnerable to attack.” The EPA is reconsidering the rule. Reconsidering greenhouse gas reporting requirements The EPA said it was reconsidering its mandatory greenhouse gas reporting program, which requires thousands of major industrial polluters to tell the agency about its emissions. Zeldin said the “bureaucratic government program” costs hundreds of millions of dollars and doesn’t help air quality. Until now, the EPA said the data helped businesses compare their emissions to competitors and find opportunities to reduce them and lower costs. Reconsider light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty vehicle regulations Zeldin vowed to review his agency’s emissions standards for cars and trucks, calling the tightened emissions rules the “foundation for the Biden-Harris electric vehicle mandate.” Nothing the Biden administration implemented required automakers to make and sell EVs or for consumers to buy them. Loosening standards would allow vehicles to emit more planet-warming greenhouse gases, but many automakers have already been investing in making their vehicles more efficient. Reconsider 2009 Endangerment Finding and regulations that rely on it The scientific finding, under the 2009 Clean Air Act, determined that planet-warming greenhouse gases endanger public health and welfare. It has been at the core of the nation’s action against climate change. Trump had already directed the EPA to consider the finding’s “legality” in an executive order. Experts say the impacts of climate change on human health and the environment are already clear, and that upending the finding would be devastating. Reconsideration of technology transition rule This program enforced strict rules to reduce the use of hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent and planet-warming greenhouse gases used in refrigerators, air conditioners, heat pumps and more. HFCs, as they are known, are thousands of times more powerful than carbon dioxide and leak through equipment that uses compressed refrigerants. Dozens of countries around the globe have pledged to slash their use and production of the chemicals. Ending ‘Good Neighbor Plan’ This rule was intended to limit air pollution by restricting power plant smokestack emissions, and those from other industrial sites, across 11 states. Eliminating it would especially impact downwind neighborhoods that are burdened by pollution from ground-level ozone, or smog, that is out of their control. However, the Supreme Court had already put a hold on the rule last summer, ruling that states challenging it were likely to prevail. Reconstitute Science Advisory Board and Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee These seats have long been politicized given how influential they can be in setting national environmental policy. The board reviews “the quality and relevance of the scientific and technical information being used by the EPA or proposed as the basis for Agency regulations” and agency research programs. Congress directed the agency to establish the board to provide the Administrator science advice in 1978. The committee can give “independent advice” to the agency’s Administrator specific to the nation’s Ambient Air Quality Standards. Reconsider Particulate Matter National Ambient Air Quality Standards Power plants and industrial facilities release particulate matter, or soot, that can easily pass through a person’s lungs and into their bloodstream. Last year, the Biden administration tightened standards regulating soot in response to scientific research indicating existing regulations were insufficient. At the time, the EPA estimated its stronger regulations would save thousands of lives and prevent hundreds of thousands of cases of asthma and lost workdays annually. The Trump administration’s EPA says these regulations are “a major obstacle” for companies and that the U.S. has low levels of soot. Reconsider national emission standards for air pollutants for American energy and manufacturing These EPA standards apply to pollutants known or suspected to cause cancer, birth defects or other serious health problems, such as asbestos and mercury. Industrial facilities are required to follow strict standards to monitor, control and limit the amount of these chemicals they release into the air. Restructure the Regional Haze Program For decades, this EPA program has required states to reduce pollution that threatens scenic views in more than 150 national parks and wilderness areas, including in the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. Zeldin said that the U.S. has made strides in improving visibility in national parks and that the program is being used as justification for shutting down industrial facilities and threatening affordable energy. Overhauling ‘Social Cost of Carbon’ The social cost of carbon is an EPA tool to weigh the economic costs and benefits of regulating polluting industries by putting a price tag on climate-warming carbon dioxide emissions – set at $190 per ton under the Biden administration’s EPA. That calculation is used in cost-benefit analyses, and was intended to account for greenhouse gas emissions’ impacts including natural disasters, crop damage, health problems and sea-level rise. Under the first Trump administration, carbon was pegged at around $5 per ton. An executive order Trump signed on his first day in office directs the EPA to consider eliminating this calculation entirely to advance his “Unleashing American Energy” policy. Prioritizing coal ash program to expedite state permit reviews and update regulations After coal is burned, ash filled with heavy pollutants including arsenic, lead and mercury is left behind and typically stored in giant pits under federal regulation. The EPA says it is now seeking to rapidly put regulation “more fully into state hands,” which environmental groups fear could lead to weaker standards. Last year, the Biden administration closed a gap that had allowed companies to avoid responsibility for cleaning up inactive coal ash pits – a policy that environmental groups say could now be repealed.The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Photos You Should See - Feb. 2025

Dead and dying Port Pirie birds and bats exposed to lead at 3,000 times acceptable levels

South Australia’s EPA did not open a formal investigation into the source of the lead poisoning, despite referral from the Department of Primary IndustriesFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSouth Australia’s Environment Protection Authority did not open a formal investigation into what may have killed dozens of birds in Port Pirie, despite tests showing some of the animals had been exposed to 3,000 times the acceptable level of lead.In July 2024, residents of the industrial town raised the alarm when they found dead and dying native birds and flying foxes in local parks and green spaces. Continue reading...

South Australia’s Environment Protection Authority did not open a formal investigation into what may have killed dozens of birds in Port Pirie, despite tests showing some of the animals had been exposed to 3,000 times the acceptable level of lead.In July 2024, residents of the industrial town raised the alarm when they found dead and dying native birds and flying foxes in local parks and green spaces.Pictures of dead and sick animals were posted on social media, and testing by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia (Pirsa) later confirmed they had died from acute lead toxicosis.Autopsy reports on two bats, a lorikeet and a honey eater obtained via freedom of information (FoI) requests show the animals died with massive amounts of lead in their systems.Notes from one of the bats’ autopsies recorded “the nasal passages are distended by fine pale white gritty material admixed with red exudate”. Testing on one bat’s kidney showed about 3,000 times the acceptable level of lead, while another showed about 1,500 times acceptable levels.Wayne Boardman, an associate professor of wildlife, biodiversity and ecosystem health at the University of Adelaide, said that in his opinion the testing showed that “the scale of the exposure was highly significant” and that it was probable the animals died within 24 to 48 hours of exposure.“It’s not surprising these animals died acutely and were easily found by members of the public,” Boardman said. “It also indicates that, at the time, humans, other wildlife species, dogs and cats, livestock and marine wildlife would likely have been exposed to significant levels of lead in the air.”“This is a public health issue and potentially an animal welfare issue. This lead exposure should not be taken lightly.”Boardman, who has experience in forensic investigations and working with bat populations, said the evidence suggested that at some time towards the end of July or early August, lead dust had probably settled on flowering plants that attract flying foxes. When these plants blossomed, the animals ingested the dust as they fed.He said it was probable that a lack of rain meant the lead remained in the environment and that “given a timely” investigation comparing Bureau of Meteorology weather data and known bat feeding locations, “the site of the source of the lead on flowering contaminated plants and trees could have been determined”.Other documents reveal that Pirsa first contacted the EPA on 10 October 2024 to alert it to the test results and ask whether it would undertake an investigation. Pirsa’s authority to investigate extends to disease control within animal populations, not heavy metal pollution or regulatory issues, which fall under the EPA’s remit.The EPA declined. In a response marked “sensitive” sent a day later at 4.19pm, the EPA said that “to contemplate any involvement” it would require the full disclosure of all available evidence.“Any specific lead point source that may have caused this ‘event’ would likely be extremely difficult to locate/identify, and the EPA would not be in a position to offer assistance to Pirsa in this regard,” it said.Port Pirie is home to one of the world’s largest lead refineries operated by the Belgium-based Nyrstar that serves as the major employer in the town. It has been in continuous operation since 1889.In response to questions from Guardian Australia, an EPA spokesperson said the agency was “made aware of this incident by Pirsa as part of their investigations”.Documents obtained under freedom of information laws from the EPA show that 13 days later the agency began to consider the issue more closely after it was raised by the South Australian Chief Veterinary Officer. Management within the EPA then assigned an officer to make additional inquiries.“This is pretty random – but I am wondering if you can help me with it?” the request said.These inquiries appear to have involved following up with six contacts suggested by the chief veterinary officer over three weeks, with the final contact made on the day the officer reported back to management. The officer was told the EPA’s leadership did not want them to “raise [it] with anyone from Nyrstar at this point in time”.An EPA spokesperson later told Guardian Australia: “The EPA followed up on this matter by interviewing stakeholders, including Pirsa, the local council, vets and relevant animal welfare NGOs but was unable to establish any leads as to the specific source of the acute lead toxicity,”FOI documents show these inquiries concluded with a report to EPA management that recommended “no further investigation should be undertaken by EPA staff in relation to this matter, other than discussions as needed between Nyrstar staff and the Principal Adviser - Port Pirie and Nyrstar and the Senior Environmental Advisor - Port Pirie and Nyrstar”.“In relation to the Nyrstar lead and multi-metal smelter, the EPA’s primary role is to ensure compliance with the licence issued under the Environment Protection Act. The EPA continues to monitor Nyrstar’s compliance with its licence,” an EPA spokesperson said.Nyrstar was contacted for comment. The company reissued a statement it provided to Guardian Australia last December saying: “We understand that the source of lead has not been able to be determined.”South Australia’s chief veterinary officer and chief health officer were contacted for comment.

Luxury hiking developments look picture-perfect, but could stop everyday Australians from accessing national parks

While many opt for deluxe alternatives to a backpack and tent, they can also stop independent hikers with smaller budgets from accessing national parks.

Leah-Anne Thompson/ShutterstockLuxury hiking developments are popping up around Australia – fancy lodges, hot showers and extensive walking infrastructure. While many opt for these deluxe alternatives to a backpack and tent, they can also stop independent hikers with smaller budgets from accessing national parks if not carefully planned. National parks are open to all and are arguably some of Australia’s least locked-up lands. They are fundamental to Australia’s tourism offerings with 53 million domestic visits to national parks in New South Wales alone. National parks are meant to support nature and community. Can remaking sections of them for a select clientele get in the way of these goals? Why do we have national parks? The primary purpose of national parks is to conserve nature and cultural heritage. A secondary purpose is for people to engage with and enjoy nature. Parks agencies use many tools to support conservation and recreation, including building infrastructure or limiting the number of visitors. Outdoor infrastructure – such as raised boardwalks on hiking trails and cabins for accommodation – can increase visitor comfort and improve physical access. It also helps protect habitat and reduces soil damage and problem behaviours by visitors. Capping visitor numbers can prevent crowding and lessen physical and social impact. For example, visitors to Lord Howe Island is limited to the number of guest beds. Infrastructure such as raised boardwalks can serve to protect the environment by reducing soil erosion and compaction — the Overland Track, Tasmania. Alex Cimbal/Shutterstock Society is changing – and so is hiking The number of Australians accessing national parks is growing. But society is changing and people are engaging with nature differently than they used to. Today’s national park visitors come from diverse backgrounds. They increasingly use parks as meeting places and have less outdoor survival experience. There is also a growing number of people seeking – and willing to pay for – “hero” experiences - exciting luxury activities that showcase unique aspects of a place. This means parks agencies must cater to a broad audience. To do this, they are diversifying their offerings from basic experiences to include higher-cost adventures. An example of the latter includes multi-day hiking routes, such as the Three Capes Track in Tasmania and the Milford Track in New Zealand. They take place on well-established, high-quality trails maintained by parks agencies and catering to a limited daily number of independent fee-paying walkers. can you please say how much they cost, with a link? Readers will be interested. Often, the trips are guided by private operators at extra cost. While these projects may boost tourism, some fear they may exclude visitors on a budget.can we please attribute this - who holds these fears, and can we please provide a link? Everyday Australians may find it increasingly difficult to enjoy national parks — Wilsons Promontory National Park, Victoria. I. Noyan Yilmaz/Shutterstock Privatisation by stealth? One of the main concerns with these developments is that private businesses profit from public assets with little benefit to conservation, the primary purpose of national parks. Private operators are building luxury lodges and being granted concessions to operate guided hiking experiences in national parks. Independent hikers can still visit the Three Capes Track in Tasmania, though the experience is no longer as accessible, affordable or spontaneous as it once was. Increased infrastructure on the Three Capes Track in Tasmania has reduced accessibility for some hikers. Mandy Creighton/Shutterstock The Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing master plan People are raising similar concerns about the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing master plan. This master plan proposes a multi-day walking experience across the Victorian Alps. It is a clear example of the tension between tourism development and accessibility. A 2022 community consultation by the Victorian government noted “high levels of concern” for the plan. It centred on increased visitor numbers, the prospect of unprepared and inexperienced walkers, environmental damage, and the costs to stay in huts. The proposal includes a longer walk, environmentally sensitive track upgrades, and new campsites. The inclusion of commercially operated huts “tailored for those who desire an added level of comfort” is a concern for those opposed to the development. Concerned community members worry the Falls to Hotham Alpine Crossing master plan will negatively impact the environment and attract unprepared and inexperienced walkers. Ainslie Holland/Shutterstock Are there pros to development? Advocates argue private investments in protected areas can support well-managed, sustainable tourism opportunities while generating revenue for conservation. License fees from luxury lodges and guided tours may help fund park maintenance. Visitor caps and track upgrades protect against environmental degradation and offer controlled access that minimises visitor impact and reduces seasonality of visitation. But opponents worry these projects prioritise profit over public access. If national parks become exclusive spaces for wealthier visitors, they risk losing their purpose as places for all Australians to enjoy. Sustainable tourism The primary and overriding purpose of national parks is nature conservation. Recreation and tourism are secondary and should not undermine the park’s environmental and cultural integrity. Visitor caps and serviced experiences are part of the toolkit to cater to an increasingly diverse population while protecting the very attraction visitors come to see. Tourism development in protected areas, however, needs a social license and local community engagement is an important sustainability principle. For national parks to operate as they are intended, free or low-cost options and access must be available alongside premium experiences. This means that low-cost experiences such as facilitated by tent platforms or simple shelters need to be part of the spectrum of offerings. National parks belong to everyone and their management must reflect this. While tourism developments can offer benefits, they must not come at the cost of accessibility, affordability, or most importantly, environmental integrity. Often, taxpayer money is invested in establishing these experiences. Pascal Scherrer has received research funding from the NSW NPWS in the past. Isabelle Wolf has received funding from the NSW NPWS in the past.Jen Smart receives funding from the NSW NPWS Hawkweed Eradication Program for her PhD Scholarship.

El Salton Sea es el lago más amenazado de California. ¿Puede una nueva reserva natural frenar la situación?

Una nueva entidad de conservación supervisará las obras para mejorar la vegetación, la calidad del agua y el hábitat natural en Salton Sea.

Read this story in English La neblina se cernía sobre el lago Salton Sea en un reciente día de invierno, mientras las cigüeñuelas de cuello negro y los kildeer vadeaban en las aguas poco profundas, picoteando crustáceos.  Algo más surgió unos pasos más cerca de la orilla del lago: un hedor a huevo podrido y salado que flotaba desde el agua.  Salton Sea está casi el doble de salado que el océanoargado de escorrentía agrícola y susceptible a la proliferación de algas que expulsan sulfuro de hidrógeno, un gas nocivo. También es un refugio para más de 400 especies de aves y una parada clave en la ruta migratoria del Pacífico, una de las principales rutas migratorias de aves de América del Norte.  Los funcionarios estatales han luchado con el deterioro de la condición del mar a medida que sus aguas se vuelven más sucias y su huella se reduce, exponiendo el polvo tóxico que flota a través de la región.  Este año, el estado dio un paso hacia una solución: creó la nueva Reserva de Salton Sea y destinó casi 500 millones de dólares para revitalizar el cuerpo de agua en deterioro. Si bien los fondos ayudarán a restaurar la vegetación nativa y mejorar la calidad del agua, algunos organizadores comunitarios creen que, en última instancia, se necesitarán decenas de miles de millones de dólares para salvarlo. Y la reserva por sí sola no puede abordar el impacto de su contaminación en la salud humana, incluyendo las elevadas tasas de asma entre los residentes de la zona.  “El Salton Sea es una de las crisis de salud ambiental más urgentes en el estado de California”, dijo el Senador estatal Steve Padilla, el demócrata de Chula Vista que escribió el Proyecto de ley para crear la entidad conservacionista el año pasado. “Es un desastre ecológico y de salud pública… Salton Sea Conservancy garantizará la permanencia de nuestras inversiones en limpieza y restauración”. El bono climático de California, aprobado por los votantes en noviembre, destina 170 millones de dólares a la restauración del Salton Sea, incluyendo 10 millones para establecer la reserva. El Fondo Estatal para la Reducción de Gases de Efecto Invernadero también destina 60 millones de dólares y la Oficina Federal de Recuperación aportará otros 250 millones, según Padilla. Se espera que el gobernador Gavin Newsom, la Legislatura, los distritos de agua locales, los gobiernos tribales y las organizaciones sin fines de lucro designen a 15 miembros para la entidad conservacionista antes del 1 de enero.  La nueva entidad conservacionista administrará los derechos sobre la tierra y el agua y supervisará el trabajo de restauración detallado en el Programa de Gestión de Salton Sea de 2018, un plan de 10 años para construir 30,000 acres de hábitat para la vida silvestre y proyectos de supresión de polvo.  “La conservación es necesaria para garantizar su finalización, pero también para mantener y gestionar permanentemente esa restauración”, dijo Padilla. “Esto no es algo que se hace solo una vez y listo”. Con 35 kilómetros de largo y 15 kilómetros de ancho, Salton Sea es el lago más grande de California. Su forma más reciente se formó en 1905, cuando el río Colorado rompió un canal de riego y millones de litros de agua dulce inundaron la cuenca, creando un lago interior que abarca los valles de Coachella e Imperial. Los pelícanos alzan vuelo en el Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre Sonny Bono Salton Sea en Calipatria el 15 de julio de 2021. Foto de Marcio José Sánchez, AP Photo Pero ese no fue realmente su comienzo. Aunque Salton Sea tiene fama de ser un accidente agrícola, se ha llenado y drenado de forma natural durante los últimos milenios.  Versiones antiguas de lo que se llamó Lago Cahuilla han aparecido cada pocos siglos desde tiempos prehistóricos. En sus configuraciones más antiguas y grandes, los nativos americanos colocaron trampas para peces a lo largo de la costa. Se llenó tan recientemente como en 1731, estudio de hidrología de la Universidad Estatal de San Diego encontrado. Esa historia natural demuestra su valor para la región, dicen los defensores. “Necesitamos tratar Salton Sea como un ecosistema importante para el medio ambiente en el que vivimos”, dijo Luis Olmedo, director ejecutivo del Comité Cívico del Valle, una organización comunitaria con sede en Brawley. Durante su apogeo en la década de 1960, el lago salado era un zona de juegos acuática para las celebridades del Rat Pack, incluyendo a Frank Sinatra y Dean Martin. A finales del siglo pasado, su salinidad aumentó y la calidad del agua se desplomó, lo que provocó… muertes masivas de peces y aves, incluidos los pelícanos pardos en peligro de extinción.  Residentes del área sufren de problemas respiratorios, mientras el polvo del lecho del lago expuesto se arremolina en las comunidades vecinas. El año pasado, un estudio realizado por la Universidad del Sur de California descubrió que casi una cuarta parte de los niños que viven cerca de Salton Sea padecen asma, aproximadamente entre tres y cinco veces el promedio nacional. Un próspero punto de encuentro para las aves A pesar de su contaminación, el lago sigue siendo un hábitat clave para la vida silvestre. Un conteo de aves de Audubon en agosto de 2023 arrojó un récord de 250,000 aves playeras avistadas en un solo día, según Camila Bautista, gerente del programa de Salton Sea y el desierto de Audubon California. Si bien la contaminación del agua del mar y la disminución de la pesca lo hacen menos acogedor para las aves piscívoras, como los pelícanos, las aves que anidan en el suelo, como los chorlitos nevados, proliferan en la costa en expansión.  “El Salton Sea sigue siendo un lugar de gran importancia para las aves, y estos proyectos de restauración son importantes para garantizar que siga siendo así”, afirmó Bautista. El Programa de Gestión de Salton Sea de California enumera 18 proyectos de restauración, incluyendo algunas iniciativas clave que ya están en marcha. Estas incluyen proyectos masivos de restauración acuática, así como iniciativas de revegetación, según la subsecretaria de la Agencia de Recursos Naturales, Samantha Arthur, quien supervisa el programa de gestión. En el extremo sur del lago, el proyecto estatal de conservación de hábitats ha añadido casi 5,000 acres de estanques, cuencas y otras fuentes de agua, según el rastreador de proyectos del programa de gestión. Las imágenes del sitio parecen un mundo acuático de ciencia ficción, donde la maquinaria de movimiento de tierras transforma la costa en una red de pozas de 10 metros de profundidad.  Los trabajadores mezclarán agua altamente salina del mar con agua dulce de su principal afluente, el Río Nuevo, para alcanzar una salinidad objetivo de 20 a 40 partes por mil, explicó Arthur. A ese nivel, el agua puede albergar al pez cachorrito del desierto, un pez importado adaptado al agua salobre que antaño prosperaba en todo el mar.  “Estamos diseñando una salinidad objetivo para sustentar a los peces y luego atraer a las aves”, dijo.  Cubrir el suelo expuesto con agua también debería mejorar la calidad del aire al suprimir el polvo, afirmó Arthur. Ese proyecto comenzó en 2020 y está previsto que finalice este año. Una ampliación del hábitat de conservación de especies añadiría 14,900 acres adicionales de hábitat acuático para aves piscívoras, con islas de anidación y descanso y estanques de distintas profundidades. Se prevé su finalización en 2027.  El plan de manejo también incluye plantar vegetación nativa alrededor de la costa o fomentar las plantas que ya existen allí.  “Vemos 8,000 acres de humedales que han surgido naturalmente a lo largo de la orilla del mar”, dijo Arthur. “Lo mejor de esto es que proporciona un hábitat permanente para las especies de aves”. El estado está ayudando a lograrlo plantando vegetación nativa en el lado oeste del mar, para crear hábitat y reducir el polvo. Creando soluciones basadas en la naturaleza Bombay Beach es una aldea artesanal situada en el lado este del Salton Sea, salpicada de remolques oxidados, automóviles abandonados e instalaciones de arte emergentes. Primera foto: El mar de Salton en Bombay Beach el 4 de febrero de 2023. Segunda foto: Gente en el Mar de Salton en Bombay Beach el 4 de febrero de 2023. Fotos de Ariana Drehsler para CalMatters También es el sitio de un proyecto de restauración encabezado por Audubon California, que añadirá 564 acres de humedal para 2028. Creará bermas en la costa para permitir que el agua se acumule de forma natural, formando estanques poco profundos que atraen aves acuáticas y playeras, dijo Bautista. “El mensaje de este proyecto es hacer que sea lo más autosuficiente posible y trabajar con soluciones basadas en la naturaleza para que no sea algo superdiseñado”, dijo Bautista. Estos proyectos forman las primeras fases de un esfuerzo de restauración más grande, dijo Arthur.  Mientras los funcionarios estatales y los socios sin fines de lucro están apuntalando los humedales y plantando vegetación, el Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército está estudiando soluciones a largo plazo para Salton Sea Olmedo cree que los 500 millones de dólares asignados ahora son sólo una pequeña parte de lo que en última instancia se necesita para salvar el mar.  “Todo cuesta más y no es descabellado pensar que tenemos un pasivo de 60 mil millones de dólares”, dijo. “Quiero ver miles de millones de dólares invertidos en infraestructura”. Silvia Paz, directora ejecutiva del grupo comunitario Alianza Coachella Valley, con sede en Coachella, señaló que la reserva se centra principalmente en la restauración del hábitat, pero que los riesgos para la salud humana derivados de su contaminación aún requieren atención. Desea que se incluyan más estudios y servicios de salud pública en los planes a largo plazo para Salton Sea “Es un gran logro que hayamos establecido la reserva”, dijo. “En cuanto a abordar los impactos generales en la salud, el medio ambiente y la economía, la reserva no fue diseñada para eso, y aún tenemos mucho camino por recorrer para encontrar la manera de abordarlo”. Este artículo fue publicado originalmente por CalMatters.

Trump’s FBI Moves to Criminally Charge Major Climate Groups

The FBI is moving to criminalize groups like Habitat for Humanity for receiving grants from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration. Citibank revealed in a court filing Wednesday that it was told to freeze the groups’ bank accounts at the FBI’s request. The reason? The FBI alleges that the groups are involved in “possible criminal violations,” including “conspiracy to defraud the United States.”“The FBI has told Citibank that recipients of EPA climate grants are being considered as potentially liable for fraud. That is, the Trump administration wants to criminalize work on climate science and impacts,”  the capitol hunters account wrote Wednesday on X. “[A]n incoming administration not only cancels federal grants but declares recipients as criminals. All these grantees applied under government calls FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, were reviewed and accepted. Trump wants to jail them.“The Appalachian Community Capital Corporation, The Coalition for Green Capital, and the DC Green Bank are just some of the nonprofits being targeted. “This is not fraud. This is targeted harassment,” Capital Hunters continued. “The idea of criminalizing community climate work wouldn’t have originated at the FBI - it likely comes from EPA director Lee Zeldin, who today cut all EPA’s environmental justice offices, which try to reduce pollution in poor and minority communities.”Zeldin’s order eliminates 10 EPA regional offices as well as the headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The FBI is moving to criminalize groups like Habitat for Humanity for receiving grants from the Environmental Protection Agency under the Biden administration. Citibank revealed in a court filing Wednesday that it was told to freeze the groups’ bank accounts at the FBI’s request. The reason? The FBI alleges that the groups are involved in “possible criminal violations,” including “conspiracy to defraud the United States.”“The FBI has told Citibank that recipients of EPA climate grants are being considered as potentially liable for fraud. That is, the Trump administration wants to criminalize work on climate science and impacts,”  the capitol hunters account wrote Wednesday on X. “[A]n incoming administration not only cancels federal grants but declares recipients as criminals. All these grantees applied under government calls FOR ENVIRONMENTAL WORK, were reviewed and accepted. Trump wants to jail them.“The Appalachian Community Capital Corporation, The Coalition for Green Capital, and the DC Green Bank are just some of the nonprofits being targeted. “This is not fraud. This is targeted harassment,” Capital Hunters continued. “The idea of criminalizing community climate work wouldn’t have originated at the FBI - it likely comes from EPA director Lee Zeldin, who today cut all EPA’s environmental justice offices, which try to reduce pollution in poor and minority communities.”Zeldin’s order eliminates 10 EPA regional offices as well as the headquarters in Washington, D.C.

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