Tag:

Environmental Protection Agency

Jericho, NY
Politics
Trump Taps Billionaire Financier, Jericho Native For Commerce Secretary Trump Taps Billionaire Financier, Jericho Native For Commerce Secretary
Trump Taps Billionaire Financier, Jericho Native For Commerce Secretary President-elect Donald Trump has picked another New Yorker for a top Cabinet post. Howard Lutnick, a Long Island native from Jericho and the chairman and CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, is his pick for commerce secretary. “He will lead our tariff and trade agenda, with additional direct responsibility for the Office of the United States Trade Representative,” Trump announced on Truth Social on Tuesday, Nov. 19. Earlier Report: Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services Lutnick, a co-chair of the president-elect’s transition team, has spent …

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by Michael Mashburn
Albany, NY
Politics
Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services
Trump Selects Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary Of Health, Human Services President-elect Donald Trump tapped a controversial New Yorker to oversee public health. Robert F Kennedy Jr. is his choice for secretary of health and human services, Trump announced Thursday, Nov. 14.  "For too long, Americans have been crushed by the industrial food complex and drug companies who have engaged in deception, misinformation, and disinformation when it comes to Public Health," Trump said on Truth Social. Earlier Report: Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Suspends Presidential Bid, Backs Donald Trump "The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any A…

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by Michael Mashburn
Patchogue-Medford, NY
Politics
Former Suffolk County Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet Former Suffolk County Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet
Former Suffolk County Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a statement on Monday, Nov. 11, Trump said Zeldin "will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses," adding that Zeldin will still maintain "the highest environmental standards." In a post on social media, Zeldin said, "It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto indu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Hyde Park, NY
Schools
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hyde Park School District Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hyde Park School District
Meeting Explains New Electric School Buses Coming To Hyde Park School District Residents will have a chance to ask questions during an upcoming meeting when they will be asked to approve spending $2.27 million on electric school buses in a school district in the region. The meeting is in Dutchess County from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 6, at Franklin D. Roosevelt High School at 156 S Cross Road in Staatsburg. Hyde Park Central School District officials said attendees will learn everything about implementing electric buses during the panel discussion. Representatives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and Leonard Bus Sales …

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by Kathy Reakes
Atlantic City, NJ
News
Atlantic City Officials Mismanaged Stormwater System, EPA Says Atlantic City Officials Mismanaged Stormwater System, EPA Says
Atlantic City Officials Mismanaged Stormwater System, EPA Says Atlantic City will pay $80,000 in fines and to make upgrades after federal officials said the city mismanaged its stormwater system. Atlantic City will pay a $20,000 penalty for Clean Water Act violations, the Environmental Protection Agency said in a news release on Wednesday, Sept. 18. The city also agreed to spend $60,000 to make its stormwater infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change. An EPA review found several issues with the sewer system that discharges stormwater into bays and the Atlantic Ocean. "This settlement will lead to less pollution…

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by Chris Spiker
Mamaroneck, NY
News
Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds
Water Provider Serving Mamaroneck To Pay $1.25M After Failing To Remove Contaminants: Feds A public water provider serving 120,000 people in Westchester will be required to construct a filtration facility after failing to properly remove containments, federal officials announced.  Following a settlement announced by the US Department of Justice on Monday, June 24, Westchester Joint Water Works, which serves residents in Mamaroneck, Harrison, and parts of both Rye and New Rochelle, will be required to construct a drinking water filtration plant by July 2029.  The agreement follows a federal civil lawsuit filed by the US against the public water provider, the Town and Vil…

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by Ben Crnic
Alexandria, VA
Schools
Multi-Millions Of Federal Funding Will Bring 116 New School Buses To These Virginia Districts Multi-Millions Of Federal Funding Will Bring 116 New School Buses To These Virginia Districts
Multi-Millions Of Federal Funding Will Bring 116 New School Buses To These Virginia Districts Hundreds of new, green school buses will be purchased for 18 Virginia school districts thanks to federal funding. The Clean School Bus Program rebate competition is funded by President Biden's Investing in America agenda, helping Virginia accelerate the transition to zero-emission vehicles and replace older, diesel fueled school buses, which have been linked to asthma, the Environmental Protection Agency said. Here's how much funding and how many buses local districts will receive: Loudoun County Public Schools has been selected to receive $3,975,000 in rebate funding to purchase 25 clean …

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by Cecilia Levine
Albany, NY
Schools
$12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts $12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts
$12M For Electric School Buses Awarded To 6 Capital Region Districts A half dozen school districts in the region will receive over $12 million in federal funding to pay for electric school buses. Six districts, located in Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Montgomery, and Warren counties, were awarded nearly $12,080,000 in federal rebate funding through the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new Clean School Bus Program. The program is meant to help underserved districts transition to low or no emission buses without overburdening local taxpayers, Sen. Chuck Schumer’s office said. “This $12+ million federal boost will help power schools in the Capital Regio…

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by Michael Mashburn
Reading, PA
News
Structural Issues A Factor In Cleanup Of Lincoln Chemical Fire Site, Says Reading Mayor Structural Issues A Factor In Cleanup Of Lincoln Chemical Fire Site, Says Reading Mayor
Structural Issues A Factor In Cleanup Of Lincoln Chemical Fire Site, Says Reading Mayor (Note: This story has been updated to include a statement from Reading Mayor Eddie Moran's Office.) As authorities work to investigate the cause of the two fires at Reading's Lincoln Chemical building, safety concerns regarding the building's structure are the main priority, Mayor Eddie Moran said in a press conference on Friday, Nov. 9.  The former home of Lincoln Chemical, 600 S. 9th St., caught fire on the third floor on Oct. 31 and then again on Nov. 2, Daily Voice reported. Both blazes remain under investigation.  As a result of the fires, there are now "some concerns with the struct…

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by Mac Bullock
Mount Vernon, NY
News
Mount Vernon Let Raw Sewage Flow In Sewer System, Discharge Into Rivers: Feds Mount Vernon Let Raw Sewage Flow In Sewer System, Discharge Into Rivers: Feds
Mount Vernon Let Raw Sewage Flow In Sewer System, Discharge Into Rivers: Feds A city in Westchester will have to take action after failing to comply with environmental requirements and allowing raw sewage to enter sewers, causing it to be discharged into nearby rivers, federal officials said.  The US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday, Sept. 19 that both the United States and the State of New York entered into a civil Consent Decree with Mount Vernon to resolve ongoing litigation regarding sewage entering the city's sewers.  According to federal officials, the city failed to comply with Clean Water Act requirements for municipal storm sewers, causin…

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by Ben Crnic
Cherry Hill, NJ
News
First NJ Case Of West Nile Virus Detected In Camden County First NJ Case Of West Nile Virus Detected In Camden County
First NJ Case Of West Nile Virus Detected In Camden County A Camden County resident who tested positive for West Nile virus is the first person in New Jersey to come down with the mosquito-borne illness this year, authorities said. There have been 69 cases in 16 states nationwide with the most in Arizona, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. A Winslow Township resident contracted the virus, according to the Camden County Department of Health, which said it learned of the positive test on July 17 and launched an investigation. Additional details were not released. The Camden County case is among the first in the eastern U.S. this ye…

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by Jon Craig
Mahopac, NY
News
Severe Tickborne Disease On Rise In Hudson Valley: Here's How To Prevent It Severe Tickborne Disease On Rise In Hudson Valley: Here's How To Prevent It
Severe Tickborne Disease On Rise In Hudson Valley: Here's How To Prevent It A disease transmitted by tick bites that can cause severe illness if untreated is on the rise in the Hudson Valley, prompting officials to warn residents about precautions they can take to avoid it.  The number of cases of the tickborne disease anaplasmosis in Putnam County is higher than average, with 36 cases being reported during the first six months of 2023, the county's health department announced on Monday, July 3.  This number is similar to the counts seen during the first six months of 2021, which was the year with the highest amount of cases on record.  As a re…

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by Ben Crnic
Manassas, VA
News
Popular Marine Corps Park Reopens After Explosives Deemed It Dormant For Decade Popular Marine Corps Park Reopens After Explosives Deemed It Dormant For Decade
Popular Marine Corps Park Reopens After Explosives Deemed It Dormant For Decade Marine Corps Base Quantico's Lunga Park has been dormant for a decade, but later this month, the Triangle park will reopen to the public with a grand celebration. The original recreation area, formerly known as Lunga Recreation Area, is located on the west side of Marine Corps Base Quantico, and will reopen Friday, May 26. A grand reopening celebration featuring a BBQ cook-off, rock climbing, free fishing, free watercraft rentals, and more will be held June 3 and 4. The park spans more than 680 acres and includes the reservoir, which had been a favorite spot for local residents. “Lunga Pa…

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by Cecilia Levine
Stony Point, NY
News
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment 'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment
'Unusual Odor' In Hudson Valley Sparks Fears Of Contamination From Chemical Train Derailment This story has been updated. Environmental officials in New York are investigating multiple reports of strange odors in the air, sparking concerns they may be tied to the chemical train derailment in eastern Ohio, about 40 miles north of Pittsburgh, and its subsequent fire. In a statement to Daily Voice on Friday, Feb. 17, the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) said it is responding to reports in the Hudson Valley of an “unusual odor in the air.” “DEC has not received any reports from regulated emissions sources about releases that could contribute to the odors describe…

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by Michael Mashburn
Albany, NY
News
Elevated Lead Levels Found In Drinking Water In Capital Region Elevated Lead Levels Found In Drinking Water In Capital Region
Elevated Lead Levels Found In Drinking Water In Capital Region Officials are warning of elevated levels of lead that were found in drinking water in the region. In Rensselaer County, the City of Troy revealed that quality monitoring conducted by the Troy Public Utilities department found elevated lead levels in some of the 60 homes and buildings tested throughout the city. “Even though the source of water for the city is free of lead, the test samples taken from inside representative residential homes show an exceedance of lead possibly due to lead water service lines or interior lead plumbing,” reads a city statement posted Monday, Jan. 30. City off…

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by Michael Mashburn
Towson, MD
Business
EPA Accuses Baltimore County Police Of Failing To Clean Hazardous Waste At Gun Range EPA Accuses Baltimore County Police Of Failing To Clean Hazardous Waste At Gun Range
EPA Accuses Baltimore County Police Of Failing To Clean Hazardous Waste At Gun Range The Baltimore County Police Department is being fined nearly $16,000 by the Environmental Protection Agency in Maryland for a gun range used by officers to train that allegedly failed to clean up hazardous waste. Officials announced a $15,800 penalty for soil at an outdoor firing range that is considered hazardous due to lead concentration from bullets fired at the location that has built up and could pose a potential hazard. The announcement was made on Thursday, Oct. 6. According to the EPA, the outdoor firing range is used by county police officers for the firing practice of handguns, …

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by Zak Failla
Port Chester, NY
News
US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village Of Rye Brook US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village Of Rye Brook
US Settles With 4 Parties For Release Of Mercury In Village Of Rye Brook Four companies will pay out nearly half a million dollars to the federal government for their role in contaminating a Westchester County neighborhood with thousands of pounds of toxic mercury. As part of a consent decree settling a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday, Sept. 13, in federal court in White Plains, the four companies admitted to delivering mercury to Port Refinery, a mercury refining business in the Village of Rye Brook. Port Refinery operated out of a two-story garage that was bordered by private homes on three sides, according to the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District. Th…

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by Michael Mashburn
Gettysburg, PA
News
Crude Oil Carrying Train Cars Derail, Fall Off Bridge Into Allegheny River: Authorities Crude Oil Carrying Train Cars Derail, Fall Off Bridge Into Allegheny River: Authorities
Crude Oil Carrying Train Cars Derail, Fall Off Bridge Into Allegheny River: Authorities Injuries have been reported at trail derailment in Allegheny County, officials say. A Norfolk Southern train struck a construction vehicle along the tracks at 2400 Freeport Road in Harmar Township around 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 26, according to Allegheny County Emergency Management. Eight or nine train cars carrying train crude oil were among the 17 train cars that derailed, and approximately eight cars landed in the Deer Creek and the Allegheny River, according to emergency management officials' statement to the press. “It will take weeks to clean up,” officials said in a statement to me…

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by Jillian Pikora
Bristol, PA
News
Contaminated Water In These PA Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway Contaminated Water In These PA Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway
Contaminated Water In These PA Towns Has Lasting Health Effects, National Study Underway A national study is measuring the effects of contaminated drinking water in 10 regions of the country including towns near military bases in Pennsylvania. The contaminants, known as PFAS, are also called “forever” chemicals because they stay in bodies for many years and have been linked to potentially serious health problems. In many cases, the source of PFAS in the groundwater is likely past use of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in the area. At airports and military bases, the foam is used as a fire suppressant to extinguish flammable liquid fires such as fuel fires. The studies are bei…

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by Jon Craig
Stamford, CT
News
Shampoo, Conditioner Products Recalled Due To Levels Of Cancer-Causing Chemical Shampoo, Conditioner Products Recalled Due To Levels Of Cancer-Causing Chemical
Shampoo, Conditioner Products Recalled Due To Levels Of Cancer-Causing Chemical A company is recalling a variety of dry conditioner and shampoo spray products from well-known brands after testing found unexpected levels of a carcinogen. On Friday, Dec. 17, Procter & Gamble Company announced the recall of certain aerosol spray products from Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences and Waterless, along with previously discontinued aerosol dry shampoo products from Old Spice and Hair Food. According to the announcement, the products may have levels of benzene, which can cause cancers, such as leukemia and blood cancer, along with blood disorders.  The company said based on …

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by Nicole Valinote
Cherry Hill, NJ
News
NJ Man Dies Of West Nile Virus NJ Man Dies Of West Nile Virus
NJ Man Dies Of West Nile Virus A New Jersey man died of West Nile Virus last month, health officials confirmed. The 60-something-year-old Camden County man was admitted to a hospital on July 16 with symptoms consistent with WNV. He was discharged following treatment to a sub-acute care center, where he died, officials said. Lab results confirmed he had WNV. “West Nile Virus typically affects a small number of New Jersey residents each year, however the prevalence of the virus has been increasing recently,” said County Health Officer Dr. Paschal Nwako.  “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim and his fam…

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by Cecilia Levine
Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes, NJ
News
Firefighters Extricate Sedan Driver After Dump Truck Crash In Franklin Lakes Firefighters Extricate Sedan Driver After Dump Truck Crash In Franklin Lakes
Firefighters Extricate Sedan Driver After Dump Truck Crash In Franklin Lakes A dump truck driver escaped serious injury in a crash Friday near the Haledon Reservoir in Franklin Lakes, authorities said. Borough firefighters extricated a 61-year-old driver from Wayne after her 2017 Accord collided with the tipper on Ewing Avenue at Water View Drive shortly after 10 a.m., police Capt. Robert Lyon said. The borough Volunteer Ambulance Corps took her to St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson with injuries that weren't considered life-threatening, he said. The driver of the 1996 Western Star dump truck -- also 61, from Clifton -- didn't require hospitalizatio…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Cliffside Park-Edgewater, NJ
News
NJ Sues Honeywell Over Contamination From Notorious Hudson River Superfund Site NJ Sues Honeywell Over Contamination From Notorious Hudson River Superfund Site
NJ Sues Honeywell Over Contamination From Notorious Hudson River Superfund Site Decades of toxic pollution continues to contaminate not just a notorious Superfund site along the Hudson River in Edgewater but also the surrounding area, New Jersey state officials charged in a lawsuit against Honeywell International. Found in the groundwater, surface water, soil, wetlands and “well outside the physical boundaries” of the 15-acre of the Quanta Resources site are "vast quantities of contaminants" that include arsenic, asbestos, benzene, chromium, lead, PCBs, total petroleum hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds, the state alleges in its suit against the multi-na…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Brentwood, NY
News
48 Long Island Facilities Accused Of Environmental Violations 48 Long Island Facilities Accused Of Environmental Violations
48 Long Island Facilities Accused Of Environmental Violations Dozens of Long Island facilities have been charged with failing to adhere to federal EPA regulations regarding environmentally unsafe underground storage tanks. Federal prosecutors filed an injunction this week against Nassau County for alleged environmental violations at 48 different facilities that will require them to install equipment to assure adequate leak detection across all county facilities.   The settlement also requires Nassau to pay a civil penalty of $427,500. U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that following a 30-day public comment period, the United States will review a…

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by Zak Failla
Massapequa, NY
Lifestyle
COVID-19: Two Lysol Products Are First To Be Approved For Killing Virus, EPA Says COVID-19: Two Lysol Products Are First To Be Approved For Killing Virus, EPA Says
Covid-19: Two Lysol Products Are First To Be Approved For Killing Virus, EPA Says Two Lysol disinfectants have received federal approval as being effective against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Lysol Disinfectant Spray and Lysol Disinfectant Max Cover Mist are the first products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency for effectiveness against the virus. Both kill the virus within two minutes after contact, the EPA said. "The EPA is committed to identifying new tools and providing accurate and up-to-date information to help the American public protect themselves and their families from the novel coronavirus," the EPA said in a statement. Lysol has been…

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by Joe Lombardi
DV Plus - Westchester, NY
Politics
Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007 Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007
Greenburgh Supervisor Challenged In November For First Time Since 2007 One of Westchester County's longest-serving town supervisors is facing a rare challenge at the polls this fall. For the first time in a dozen years, longtime Greenburgh Supervisor Paul Feiner, a Democrat and former county legislator, will have an opponent on Nov. 5. Independent challenger Lucas Cioffi will be on the ballot this fall appearing on the Greenburgh Party line. Feiner has served the town as supervisor for the last 28 years. The last time he faced any opposition was in the 2013 Democratic primary election, which Feiner won. Cioffi, a 39-year-old software engineer and entrepreneur…

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by Jon Craig
Brentwood, NY
News
Long Island Drinking Water Has 'By Far' Most Contaminants In NY, Research Group Says Long Island Drinking Water Has 'By Far' Most Contaminants In NY, Research Group Says
Long Island Drinking Water Has 'By Far' Most Contaminants In NY, Research Group Says Long Island has "by far" the most detections of emerging contaminants found in drinking water of any other region in New York, said a review by New York Public Interest Research Group. The May 28 "What's in My Water" report concludes that nearly 16 million New Yorkers are served by water systems that detected one or more UCMR3 ( Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule) contaminants. The report says it is unclear if certain detections are health concerns but cited some detected contaminants that are above the Environmental Protection Agency health advisory levels. Long Island had …

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by Donna Christopher
Fairfield, CT
News
Monroe Man, Brother Sentenced For Endangering Workers’ Lives Monroe Man, Brother Sentenced For Endangering Workers’ Lives
Monroe Man, Brother Sentenced For Endangering Workers’ Lives Two property owners in the area have been sentenced for their roles in the illegal and dangerous removal of asbestos in a building they were renovating. Brothers Klinton Rakaj, 39, of Monroe and Rezart Rakaj, 35, of Ansonia were sentenced to one year of probation, fined $9,500 and will have to complete 50 hours of community service after pleading guilty to one count of illegal asbestos removal in violation of the Clean Air Act last year. In November 2015, the brothers and another family member purchased a commercial property on Wallace Street in New Haven, U.S. Attorney John Durha…

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by Zak Failla
Danbury, CT
News
Fiat Chrysler Announces Recall Of 860,000 Vehicles Fiat Chrysler Announces Recall Of 860,000 Vehicles
Fiat Chrysler Announces Recall Of 860,000 Vehicles Fiat Chrysler is recalling more than 800,000 vehicles as a result of routine testing under new emissions guidelines that have been adopted by the Environmental Protection Agency. The recall was the result of “in-use emissions investigations conducted by EPA and in-use testing conducted by Fiat Chrysler as required by EPA regulations,” the organization announced this week. In total, approximately 862,520 vehicles in the country as a result of the investigations. Among the vehicles affected under the recall include: 2011-2016 model years of the Dodge Journey crossover, 2011-2014 Chrysler 200…

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by Zak Failla
Stamford, CT
Police & Fire
Record Number Of Drugs Turned In On Take-Back Day In Stamford Record Number Of Drugs Turned In On Take-Back Day In Stamford
Record Number Of Drugs Turned In On Take-Back Day In Stamford Whipping winds, rain, and flooded roadways didn't keep Stamford residents from turning out to get rid of their old or unused prescription drugs. The department received nine large bags/boxes of unused drugs, weighing in at 215 pounds on Saturday during the national Drug Take-Back Day sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Agency, said Stamford Police Capt. Richard Conklin. "We really deemed the effort a success to help with overdoses and illegal sales," Conklin said. "Even with the weather, people turned out." The twice-yearly event, held each April and October, continues to…

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by Kathy Reakes
Fairfield, CT
News
Roadside Herbicide Spraying Starts On I-95, I-84, Other State Roadways Roadside Herbicide Spraying Starts On I-95, I-84, Other State Roadways
Roadside Herbicide Spraying Starts On I-95, I-84, Other State Roadways The Department of Transportation will conduct a roadside herbicide spraying program from June 1 through Aug. 31 along Interstates 84, 91, 95, 384, 395, 691 and all other divided highways and secondary roads in accordance with the department’s Vegetation Management Guidelines. The state DOT said it uses herbicides to safely and effectively control the encroachment of vegetation along and under guide rails, signs and barriers within the state-owned right of way. Guide rail and barrier systems along divided highways and ramps will be treated beginning in the western region of the state, follo…

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by Jon Craig