A proposed EPA rule that would sharply restrict the studies the agency can use when regulating faces pushback from the agency’s Science Advisory Board and a bipartisan group of more than 100 Congress members. The agency has extended the comment period and scheduled a hearing, but still seems determined to move ahead with a deeply flawed rule.
Environmental Health
EPA’s Pruitt ignores firefighters, proposes repeal of chemical disaster prevention rules
Scott Pruitt announced is plan to repeal regulations designed to prevent chemical releases and explosions. Fire fighters support those rules, but Pruitt swears allegiance to the chemical industry not to local emergency responders.
Residents who live near a concentrated swine feeding operation succeeded in their lawsuit against a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods.
Last week, EPA administrator Scott Pruitt announced a proposed rule that would dramatically shrink the pool of high-quality evidence EPA can use in regulations. Pruitt claims the rule will advance transparency, but it will really just make it harder to protect public health.
My neighbor his addicted to his leaf blower. It’s noisy and air polluting, but must satisfy some need that I don’t understand.
A new analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists examines the functions of federal science advisory committees over the past year and reports “an unprecedented level of stalled and disbanded scientific advisory committees, cancelled meetings, and dismissed experts” – with profound consequences for our safety and health.
An Oklahoma rehab center funnels forced free labor into private industry; the National Labor Relations Board reconsiders Obama-era union election rules; farmworkers at risk from California’s wildfire smoke; and domestic workers organize for greater labor rights in Seattle.
Local efforts help California nail salons create healthier working conditions; California court ruling a win for farm workers and labor unions; Milwaukee institutes new safety measures after a city employee is shot and killed; and flight attendants chronicle sexual harassment in the skies.
Environmental Health
Protecting the workers rebuilding Houston: ‘We must see them as full human beings who deserve fairness’
Even before the rains of Hurricane Harvey let up, Marianela Acuña Arreaza was mobilizing to protect the workers who would dig out and rebuild the city of Houston after catastrophe.
The 22-person editorial board of an occupational and environmental health journal resigns in protest. They are rejecting the publisher’s interference in the board’s decision-making and scientific independence.