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Polyvinyl Wants a Crackdown

The European Union opened debate yesterday on more restrictions for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic, a commonly used but controversial material. The EU has already banned some baby toys made with PVC because the chemicals used to soften the plastic may pose health problems for children. Now the EU is considering cracking down on PVC products […]

Ford Fiesta!

Ford Motor Co. hopes to green its image today by announcing plans to increase the fuel economy of its SUV fleet by 25 percent, or about 5 miles per gallon, over the next five years. Ford now sells about 800,000 SUVs a year, and its 3.5-ton Excursion, the world’s biggest SUV, averages just 12 mpg. […]

It's Not Easy Being Spotted

Marking the first time the agencies have come together to help preserve a declining amphibian species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife yesterday announced a 10-year agreement to study and protect the beleaguered Oregon spotted frog. Historic populations of the red-bellied frog have […]

Not Allot of Water

The long-running and bitter conflict over Southern California’s overuse of water from the Colorado River may be nearing an end as officials from seven states today present a compromise deal to Interior Department officials. Under the plan, California would agree to put conservation measures in place and reduce its consumption of river water over the […]

Baca to the Future

Ending 40 years of negotiations, President Clinton signed a bill yesterday that will have the federal government pay $101 million to acquire the Baca Ranch in northern New Mexico, a 95,000-acre site rich in wildlife. The area, which some call “the Yellowstone of the Southwest,” contains the 14-mile-wide collapsed crater of an ancient volcano and […]

The Yicky Lake Show

Toxic pollution in the Great Lakes has reached such high levels that the International Joint Commission (IJC), a U.S.-Canada scientific advisory board, is warning people against eating fish from the lakes. Several states in the region routinely advise residents not to consume too much fish, but about 5 million people still fish in the Great […]

Nothing Could Be Refiner

Thanks to an EPA crackdown on the oil refining industry, two of the largest oil refiners in the U.S., BP Amoco and Koch Industries, have reached a breakthrough agreement with the government under which the companies will spend nearly $600 million to tackle air-pollution problems at 12 facilities around the nation. EPA Administrator Carol Browner […]

A Manatee of His Word

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) surprised enviros yesterday by taking a tougher stance on protecting manatees than had been expected. He announced that the state won’t approve any more boat slips unless counties have strong plans in place to protect the endangered sea animal, which Bush said is his favorite mammal. Ten years ago, under […]

Tanning Their Hides

For the first time, a Mexican factory yesterday was fined for violating a U.S. environmental law. Maquiladora Chambers de Mexico, a leather belt manufacturer south of the Arizona border, consented to pay a $3,164 penalty for improperly disposing of hazardous waste in the U.S. and agreed to train its personnel in waste disposal laws. Two […]

Beyond Belief

BP Amoco unveiled a plan yesterday to spiff up its image and portray itself as a progressive, eco-friendly energy company. A new motto, “Beyond Petroleum,” is accompanied by a new sunburst logo designed to evoke thoughts of the company’s investments in solar energy. The company will open up a line of new gas stations that […]