Duke University has agreed to pay the government $112.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting applications and progress reports that contained falsified research on federal grants to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Justice Department announced today. “The resources utilized […]
Trump to Nominate Andrew Wheeler, Current Acting Head of EPA, to Secretary of EPA…
President Trump said he plans to nominate Andrew Wheeler, acting head of the Environmental Protection Agency, to be the EPA’s Senate-confirmed administrator. Trump made the announcement Friday during a White House ceremony for Medal of Freedom recipients. He said Wheeler “is going to be made permanent,” adding that “he’s done a fantastic job and I […]
EPA Forced to Ban Pesticides Based on ‘Secret Science’ It Wants to End…
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fewer than 60 days to ban a commonly-used pesticide after a federal court ruled in favor of environmental activists in early August. The Natural Resources Defense council (NRDC) celebrated the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, arguing that EPA’s decision not to ban chlorpyrifos ignored “solid science” from its […]
EPA to Loosen Rules for Automobile Gas Mileage, Pollution…
The Trump administration is expected to announce that it will roll back automobile gas mileage and pollution standards. Automakers wanted the government to relax the current standards, which were imposed by the Obama administration to combat climate change. They say the rules will cost the industry billions of dollars and raise vehicle prices. But environmentalists […]
New EPA Plan to Review the Obama Climate Endangerment Finding…
In December, top aides to the president huddled in the White House with some of Scott Pruitt’s closest staffers. The message conveyed by the White House: The EPA administrator’s idea to hold a public debate on mainstream climate science wasn’t going to happen, according to a person who attended the meeting…So did the White House […]
States, Greens Sue Trump over Obama EPA Water Rule…
Ten Democratic states and a coalition of environmental groups sued the Trump administration Tuesday for delaying enforcement of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule meant to protect waterways. Led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (D), the Southern Environmental Law Center and the Natural Resources Defense Council, the challengers say EPA head Scott Pruitt […]
Obama Used ‘Illegal Propaganda’ on Americans…
The Obama administration admitted in newly obtained documentation that it used illegal propaganda to try to persuade the American people to adopt its views on environmental issues, according to the Washington watchdog Judicial Watch. “The Obama EPA knowingly did an end run around federal law to push another Obama environmental power grab,” Judicial Watch President […]
Court Strikes Down Obama EPA’s Restrictions on Earth-Warming Gases…
A federal court on Tuesday struck down an Obama administration rule that banned certain uses of certain gases used in air conditioning and refrigeration. The court said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot ban hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under a Clean Air Act provision meant to protect the ozone layer, since that section is meant…
100,000 Pages of Chemical Industry Secrets Gathered Dust in an Oregon Barn for Decades – Until Now…
For decades, some of the dirtiest, darkest secrets of the chemical industry have been kept in Carol Van Strum’s barn. Creaky, damp, and prowled by the occasional black bear, the listing, 80-year-old structure in rural Oregon housed more than 100,000 pages of documents obtained through legal discovery in lawsuits against Dow, Monsanto, the Environmental Protection […]
GM Sued For Allegedly Using Cheat Devices On 700,000 Diesel Vehicles…
Several powerful law firms filed suit Thursday accusing General Motors of installing illegal software in diesel-powered vehicles in order to maneuver around regulations on fuel emissions. The class-action lawsuit alleges GM affixed 705,000 late-model Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups with at least three so-called defeat devices to dupe air regulators. Lawyers filed the action […]