EPA Takes Aim at US Chemical Emissions That Are Likely Carcinogens
Video Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories - Duration: 01:31s - Published
EPA Takes Aim at US Chemical Emissions That Are Likely Carcinogens
EPA Takes Aim at, US Chemical Emissions, That Are Likely Carcinogens.
'The Independent' reports that over 200 chemical
plants in the United States will be required
to reduce toxic emissions under a new rule.
.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
released the new rule regarding toxic
emissions likely to cause cancer on April 9.
The rule is meant to deliver critical health protections
for communities faced with industrial pollution from
dangerous chemicals, such as chloroprene and ethyl oxide.
The rule will significantly reduce
emissions from the Denka Performance
Elastomer facility in LaPlace, Louisiana.
The facility is the largest producer of
chloroprene emissions in the U.S., according
to EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
Every community in this country
deserves to breathe clean air.
Thatâs why I took the Journey
to Justice tour to communities
like St.
John the Baptist Parish,
where residents have borne
the brunt of toxic air for far too long, Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, via 'The Independent'.
We promised to listen to folks that
are suffering from pollution and act
to protect them.
Today we deliver
on that promise with strong final
standards to slash pollution,
reduce cancer risk and ensure
cleaner air for nearby communities, Michael Regan, EPA Administrator, via 'The Independent'.
According to officials, the changes
are meant to reduce ethylene oxide and
chloroprene emissions in the U.S. by nearly 80%.
'The Independent' reports that the rule updates
several regulations on chemical plant emissions
that have not been altered in nearly 20 years.
The EPA said that the new rule will reduce a total of over
6,200 tons of toxic air pollutants annually in an effort
to address health risks in neighboring communities
US Water System May Be , Vulnerable to Cyberattack, by China, Russia and Iran.
CNBC reports that the United States
water system has been the target of a series
of cyberattacks over the past few years. .
In response, the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has been forced to issue an alert warning
that 70% of water systems do not comply
with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
According to the EPA, some have âalarming
cybersecurity vulnerabilities,â including
unchanged default passwords and former
employees who retain access to vital systems.
In February, the FBI issued a warning to
Congress that Chinese hackers have embedded
themselves into the U.S. cyber infrastructure. .
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Those hackers have targeted water treatment
plants, the electrical grid, transportation
systems and other vital infrastructure.
Water is among
the least mature
in terms of security, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Stuart Madnick, an MIT professor of engineering
systems and co-founder of Cybersecurity at
MIT Sloan, warns that an attack that shuts off
water to the population is the main concern.
We have demonstrated in our
lab how operations, such as
a water plant, could be shut
down not just for hours or
days, but for weeks, Adam Isles, head of cybersecurity
practice for Chertoff Group, via CNBC.
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
Recently, EPA Administrator Michael Regan and
National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan sent a letter
to governors stressing the urgency of the threat. .
CNBC reports that budgets, outdated
infrastructure and an overall reluctance to take
action may prevent necessary fixes from
being made before a serious attack.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EPA's New Limits on PFAS , in Drinking Water Could Be , Upended by the Supreme Court.
'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court
is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put
in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
'Newsweek' reports that the United States Supreme Court
is scheduled to hear a case against new water rules put
in place by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In April, new national limits were placed on per-
and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the nation's
drinking water, otherwise known as PFAS. .
Also known as "forever chemicals,"
PFAS have been linked to a number of
health concerns, including cancer.
According to the EPA, of the 66,000 public drinking water
systems impacted by the new limits, an estimated 6% to
10% will need to make updates to meet the new standards.
According to San Francisco, the EPA's new
"narrative" regulations fail to meet the Clean Water
Act's requirement to lay out clear restrictions.
The lawsuit headed to the Supreme Court accuses the EPA of setting vague rules without quantifiable standards.
Rather than specify pollutant limits
that tell the permitholder how much
they need to control their discharges
as required by the CWA, these
prohibitions effectively tell
permitholders nothing more than
not to cause 'too much' pollution, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
These generic water quality terms
expose San Francisco and numerous
permitholders nationwide to
enforcement actions while failing
to tell them how much they need
to limit or treat their discharges
to comply with the Act, Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
We simply want to know in advance
what requirements apply to us, and
we want the EPA to fulfil its duty
under the Clean Water Act to
determine those requirements. , Lawyers representing San Francisco, via 'Newsweek'.
'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against
the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled
6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda. .
'Newsweek' points out that the Supreme Court has sided against
the EPA in the past, most recently in 2022 when it ruled
6-3 against the Biden administration's climate agenda.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
EPA Issues , National Drinking Water Warning.
On May 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a countrywide alert urging water utilities to take immediate action to safeguard drinking water from cyberattacks. .
On May 20, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a countrywide alert urging water utilities to take immediate action to safeguard drinking water from cyberattacks. .
The agency said that recent inspections indicate that 70% of water systems in America don't comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act, 'Newsweek' reports. .
Some water utility systems have "critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities, such as default passwords that have not been updated and single logins that can easily be compromised.".
Cyberattacks have the potential to disrupt water treatment and storage, damage equipment.
and change chemical levels to dangerous amounts.
In many cases, systems are not doing what
they are supposed to be doing, which is to
have completed a risk assessment of their
vulnerabilities that includes cybersecurity
and to make sure that plan is available
and informing the way they do business. , EPA Deputy Administrator Janet McCabe, via press release.
According to the EPA's warning,
countries like China, Russia and Iran.
have "disrupted some water systems with cyberattacks and may have embedded the capability to disable them in the future.".
Drinking water and wastewater systems
are an attractive target for cyberattacks
because they are a lifeline critical
infrastructure sector but often lack
the resources and technical capacity to
adopt rigorous cybersecurity practices, Michael S. Regan, EPA administrator, and White House National Security
Adviser Jake Sullivan, via March 18 letter to all 50 U.S. governors.
The EPA is offering to train water utilities
at no cost to correct some of the issues, .
but other issues are more complex and costly,
which many utilities companies aren't equipped for. .
Certainly, cybersecurity is part of that,
but that's never been their primary expertise.
So, now you're asking a water utility to
develop this whole new sort of department, Amy Hardberger, water expert at Texas Tech University, to AP
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
ISS Crew Forced to , Take Shelter , After Russian Satellite Breaks Apart.
'The Independent' reports that astronauts aboard the
International Space Station (ISS) took shelter due to
the danger of debris from a broken up Russian satellite.
Crews aboard the ISS were ordered to board
their respective spacecraft in case debris
struck and damaged the orbital laboratory.
According to experts, the ever-increasing number of
satellites in orbit around Earth has magnified the risk of
collision and other potential problems for space crews.
It remains unclear what caused
the RESURS-P1 Russian Earth
Observation satellite to break apart. .
According to NASA's Space Station office, the event
occurred near the space station, prompting astronauts
to take shelter in their spacecraft for about an hour. .
Mission Control continued to monitor the path of the debris, and after about an hour, the crew was cleared to exit their spacecraft and the station resumed normal operations, NASA statement, via X.
Space-tracking firm LeoLabs said that U.S. radar
detected the decommissioned satellite releasing a
cloud of debris in low-Earth orbit late on June 26. .
Shortly after 9 p.m. EDT, NASA
instructed crews aboard the space
station to shelter in their respective
spacecraft as a standard precautionary
measure after it was informed
of a satellite break-up at an
altitude near the station, NASA statement, via X.
According to U.S. Space Command, the Russian satellite created , "over 100 pieces of trackable debris.".
USSPACECOM has observed no
immediate threats and is continuing
to conduct routine conjunction
assessments to support the safety
and sustainability of the space domain, U.S. Space Command statement, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Taylor Swift Addresses Dave Grohlâs Claim , That She Doesnât Play Live.
Taylor Swift Addresses Dave Grohlâs Claim , That She Doesnât Play Live.
On June 22, Grohl referred to the
Foo Fighters' show in London as the
"Errors Tour," according to 'The Independent.'.
His comment stemmed from having a
"few more eras and more than a few f------ errors.â.
The 55-year-old frontman went
on to say, âwe actually play live.â.
Swifties took to social media
to slam Grohl's comments.
Oh Tayvoodoo is coming for him and he
deserves it. Canât handle that a woman
is more talented and successful, Taylor Swift fan, via X.
Wow Grohl so washed he has to
use Taylorâs name for free pr?
Embarrassing thought he was
better than that what a shame, Taylor Swift fan, via X.
On June 23, Swift seemed to address Grohl's comments on stage while performing at Wembley. .
She said that her band
deserves "so much" praise.
What you just did is an unforgettable moment
in not just my life, but every very single one of
our crew. The band thatâs going to be playing
live for you for three and a half hours tonight, Taylor Swift, via 'The Independent'.
They deserve this so much and so does every
one of my fellow performers, and you just gave
that to us so generously. Weâll never forget it, Taylor Swift, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Julian Assange , Reaches Plea Deal With , US Government.
'The Independent' reports that Wikileaks
founder Julian Assange has been released
from Belmarsh prison as part of a plea deal
with the United States Justice Department.
Assange will be flown out of the U.K. as part
of the deal before he makes a guilty plea deal
that could end the years-long legal battle.
On June 24, Assange boarded a flight at Stansted airport
ahead of a scheduled appearance later this week in the
Mariana Islands, a Western Pacific U.S. commonwealth.
The U.S. government has charged the
Wikileaks founder with conspiracy to obtain
and disclose national defense secrets.
The charges stem from one of the largest leaks of
classified information in U.S. history, disclosing tens of
thousands of reports regarding the war in Afghanistan.
The disclosure, which occurred between 2009 and
2011, included unfiltered diplomatic cables that
potentially endangered the safety of confidential sources. .
The leak also included significant
activity reports related to the war in Iraq
and information regarding Guantanamo Bay.
According to the latest DOJ filing, Assange is expected
to plead guilty and be sentenced to 62 months of time
already served, thus avoiding U.S. imprisonment. .
This is the result of a global campaign
that spanned grass-roots organizers,
press freedom campaigners,
legislators and leaders from
across the political spectrum,
all the way to the United Nations, Wikileaks statement, via X.
After more than five years in
a 2x3 metre cell, isolated 23 hours
a day, he will soon reunite with his
wife Stella Assange, and their children,
who have only known their
father from behind bars, Wikileaks statement, via X
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Important Things to Know , About Dangerous Ocean, Rip Currents.
'The Independent' reports that rip currents pose
the greatest danger to beachgoers,
accounting for the most beach rescues every year. .
Over a recent two-day period in Florida,
six people drowned in rip currents.
Every year, about 100 people drown
because of rip currents in the United States
according to the U.S. Lifesaving Association.
Over 80% of beach rescues
involve rip currents every year.
So far in 2024, the National
Weather Service has listed 16 deaths
from rip currents in U.S. waters. .
A rip current is a narrow column of water that
flows rapidly away from the beach, which are capable
of pulling swimmers a fair distance from the shore.
Rip currents normally form
at low spots along the beach
or along jetties and piers.
While sometimes associated
with stormy weather, they can
also occur on sunny, clear days.
Rip currents are also difficult to
detect as the surface water near
them often appears to be calm. .
'The Independent' reports that the best advice to escape a
rip current is to try and swim parallel to the shore and not
to tire yourself out before having to swim back to land. .
'The Independent' reports that the best advice to escape a
rip current is to try and swim parallel to the shore and not
to tire yourself out before having to swim back to land.
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
FAA Investigating Southwest-Operated, Boeing 737 , That Flew Dangerously Low.
'The Independent' reports that a Southwest Airlines
passenger jet flew extremely low over a suburb of
Oklahoma City, triggering an altitude alert on June 19.
According to Flightradar24, the Boeing 737-800
descended to just 525 feet above the ground
on its way to Will Rogers World Airport.
Approximately nine miles from the airport,
the plane was passing over Yukon when it triggered
an automated warning around 12:05 a.m. local time. .
Altitude alerts are triggered when an aircraft
descends to within an unsafe distance
to terrain, obstructions or other aircraft. .
'The Independent' reports that the pilots quickly
regained altitude and circled around for a safe
landing on another runway shortly after midnight.
The incident, which sparked concern
in communities it passed over,
is now being investigated. .
On June 20, Southwest Airlines
confirmed that it was in contact
with the FAA regarding the situation.
Southwest is following
its robust Safety
Management System
and is in contact with the
Federal Aviation Administration.., Southwest spokesperson, via 'The Independent'.
... to understand and address any
irregularities with the aircraftâs
approach to the airport. , Southwest spokesperson, via 'The Independent'.
Nothing is more important
to Southwest than the safety
of our customers and employees, Southwest spokesperson, via 'The Independent'
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
Gypsy Rose Blanchard's trying to move on from her estranged husband Ryan Anderson, but her pregnancy and a Louisiana law are complicating that, and prompting her.. TMZ.com
Supreme Court Sides
With Biden Administration , in Social Media Case.
Attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and other right-wing individuals, .
Attorneys general in Louisiana and Missouri, and other right-wing individuals, .
previously brought a lawsuit against the government, alleging that it had influenced what social media companies allow on their sites.
In particular, plaintiffs in the case of Murthy v. Missouri questioned whether the Biden administration violated free speech protections amid the pandemic when social networks were instructed to remove COVID misinformation.
In particular, plaintiffs in the case of Murthy v. Missouri questioned whether the Biden administration violated free speech protections amid the pandemic when social networks were instructed to remove COVID misinformation.
On July 4, 2023, Louisiana Judge Terry Doughty
agreed with the plaintiffs and restricted members of the Biden administration from interacting with social media companies in an attempt to moderate their content.
The U.S. Supreme Court struck
down the lower court's ruling by a vote of
6-3 on June 26, 'The Guardian' reports. .
The plaintiffs, without any
concrete link between their injuries
and the defendantsâ conduct, , Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
... ask us to conduct a review of the
years-long communications between dozens
of federal officials, across different agencies,
with different social-media platforms,
about different topics, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
This courtâs standing doctrine
prevents us from âexercis[ing such]
general legal oversightâ of the
other branches of government, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, via majority opinion.
Ultimately, Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote that the lower court "glossed over complexities in the evidence" and
"also erred by treating the defendants, plaintiffs
and platforms each as a unified whole.".
Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas
and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas
and Neil Gorsuch dissented.
For months, high-ranking government officials
placed unrelenting pressure on Facebook to
suppress Americansâ free speech, Justice Samuel Alito, via dissenting opinion.
The Court, however, shirks that duty and thus
permits the successful campaign of coercion in
this case to stand as an attractive model for
future officials who want to control what
the people say, hear, and think, Justice Samuel Alito, via dissenting opinion
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:31Published
More Severe Weather , Forecast for Texas Following , String of Extreme Storms.
'The Independent' reports that nearly a quarter
of a million people remain without power
in Texas following a series of severe storms. .
The National Weather Service has warned
that more heavy rain and dangerous
winds are forecast for the area. .
According to utility company Oncor,
work to restore power remains ongoing. .
Heavy rain, thunder, lightning and
flooding are impacting several of
the communities where Oncor teams
are working to restore these outages, Oncor website, via 'The Independent'.
Storms on May 28 killed a 16-year-old
worker in the Houston suburb of Magnolia. .
In Houston, streets remain flooded from
the same storm, as more severe thunderstorm
watches were put into effect on the morning of May 31. .
According to National Weather Service
meteorologist Josh Weiss, the May 31 storm system , "does look like it's going to be encompassing Texas again.â.
Weiss added that other areas are
also at risk of experiencing severe
storms and potential flash flooding.
Southern Arkansas, northern
Louisiana, Mississippi are likely
to see strong winds and hail, Josh Weiss, National Weather Service
meteorologist, via 'The Independent'.
At the same time, the weather service has issued
a heat advisory for several areas, including
Corpus Christi, Laredo and McAllen
Credit: Wibbitz Top Stories Duration: 01:30Published
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