Articles by Grist staff

EPA staff supported California auto-emissions waiver, documents show

As suspected, U.S. EPA employees last year told agency Administrator Stephen Johnson that California had “compelling and extraordinary conditions” that would justify a federal waiver allowing the state to limit greenhouse-gas emissions from autos, according to EPA documents reviewed by Senate staffers this week. Nonetheless, Johnson denied the state that waiver in December. The EPA […]

China unveils plan to fix polluted lakes

China has unveiled a plan to limit pollution in its lakes by 2010 and return lakes to their original, unpolluted state by 2030. Officials have specific plans to attain their goal: strictly regulate release of wastewater, close factories that heavily contribute to water pollution, improve sewage treatment, remove or limit fish farms, and ban highly […]

Tuna sushi in New York tests high for mercury

Tuna sushi in 20 Manhattan stores and restaurants contained high levels of mercury, according to testing commissioned by The New York Times. In five establishments, fish mercury levels were so high that the seafood could legally be removed from the market. According to a 2007 survey, New Yorkers’ blood mercury levels are three times the […]

EPA documents confirm that staff supported California waiver

The U.S. EPA only turned over some documents related to its California waiver decision, but allowed Sen. Barbara Boxer’s aides to take notes on the rest. Excerpts of the unrelinquished material have been released — against the EPA’s wishes — confirming what was suspected: prior to the decision, EPA officials told agency Administrator Stephen Johnson […]