Articles by Grist staff

Reef Riff

Despite objections from environmental groups and local governments, the California state legislature passed a bill on Friday that would allow abandoned offshore oilrigs to be converted to underwater reefs. If Gov. Gray Davis (D) signs the bill, oil companies will save millions of dollars; currently, they must dismantle and take away the rigs when drilling […]

Derailed

As a consequence of last week’s terrorist attacks, the U.S. Energy Department has cancelled a shipment of high-level nuclear waste that was scheduled to be transported from New York state to Idaho by train this summer. Anti-nuke activists had dubbed the shipment a “mobile Chernobyl” and were planning to raise a ruckus when the freight […]

Ayatollah You So

Iran is in the midst of its worst drought in 30 years, heightening problems caused by poor water management, climate change, and rapid population growth. The country’s largest body of freshwater, Lake Hamoun, is now desert and 100 nearby villages are disappearing beneath sand. Drinking water is being rationed in more than 30 cities, including […]

Fondest Schregardus

Facing an uphill battle, Donald Schregardus, President Bush’s choice to head the U.S. EPA’s enforcement division, withdrew his name from consideration yesterday. Schregardus told Bush in a letter that it was clear that his “nomination will not be considered by the U.S. Senate in a timely manner.” He was right to think so. Earlier this […]