Trickle-Down Taxation: Maryland Residents Facing 'Rain Tax'
Faced with EPA orders to reduce stormwater runoff into the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland has required its 10 largest counties to institute a so-called rain tax on property owners.
Environmental Protection Agency
Exxon Cleaning Up Major Canadian Oil Pipeline Leak in Arkansas
Exxon Mobil was working to clean up thousands of barrels of oil in Mayflower, Ark., after a pipeline carrying heavy Canadian crude ruptured in a major spill.
New Mileage Standards Would Double Fuel Efficiency
To meet the standard, automakers will need to introduce new technology to improve gasoline-powered engines. And they'll need to sell more alternative fuel vehicles. Critics say the rules will add thousands to the price of new cars and make them unaffordable for many.
Is President Obama Trying to Kill King Coal?
Republican lawmakers are alleging that the EPA's new greenhouse gas regulations would kill the U.S. coal industry by making it too expensive to build new coal-fueled power plants. But even if that's true, how will it impact you?
8 Easy Ways to Slash Your Food Bills by $2,000 or More
Odds are you overpay for food much more often than you realize, and that can add up to thousands of dollars of wasted money over the course of a year. Check out these overpriced edibles, and how you could save a bundle on them.
EPA's Christmas Gift to You: Fewer Toxins in Your Air
Last week, the EPA unveiled rules that establish the first national limits on power plant emissions of a host of poisonous airborne pollutants. It's estimated that they'll save the country billions of dollars in health care costs.
The Financial Landscape: Wins for Wal-Mart, Utilities
The Supreme Court kept up its corporatist streak Monday, handing down two key decisions that were certain to please the Chamber of Commerce. The first helped Wal-Mart quash a massive class action sex discrimination suit; the second stopped states from suing power companies over greenhouse gas emissions.
Radiation Risk to U.S. Very Low, Top Expert Explains
As the crisis at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant continues, some worry that radiation from the damaged reactors will reach U.S. shores. Dr. Edward Maher, president of the Health Physics Society, and an environmental science expert at Harvard, explains why we should breathe easy.
Chrysler Rolls Out Plans for a Hybrid of a Different Kind
Chrysler has finally decided to jump on the hybrid bandwagon, announcing Wednesday that it is working with the EPA to develop a hydraulic hybrid powertrain for its vehicles. The system, which stores energy derived from vehicle braking as pressure, could improve fuel economy by 30% to 35%.
Cleaning Up the Toxic Legacy of Closed Military Bases
The U.S. Air Force and Navy both rank among the top 100 polluters in America, and many of their now-abandoned bases have been declared Superfund sites by the EPA. Here's how two of these bases tackled the toxic stews left behind.
New Fuel Economy Labels Proposed for Electric Cars
For everyone who wants to know how fuel efficient electric and hybrid cars really compare to gas-powered vehicles, the EPA has released two fuel-economy label proposals that would translate electricity usage into an equivalent in miles per gallon.
Legal Briefing: Obama Backs Utilities in Climate Change Case
Eight states, New York City and three groups won the legal right to sue greenhouse-gas emitting utilities. The companies appealed to the Supreme Court, and the Obama administration has filed a brief supporting them. Find out the implications of this move.
Military Base Closures and the Towns They Leave Behind
The U.S. will close 20 major bases by September 2011. What happens then depends on the base's location. But the ripple effect is always felt throughout the surrounding area. Often, families lose neighbors, businesses lose customers and workers lose jobs.
Using EnergyStar to Save Money? Buyer Beware.
Energy Star, the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) efficiency-rating program for appliances, is under fire for making dubious claims, mislabeling products, or insufficiently verifying manufacturers' claims.
For Food Business, BP Oil
Spill Is a Recipe for Disaster
As the Deepwater Horizon oil spill continues to devastate the Gulf coast fishing industry, worries are growing that contaminated seafood may find its way onto the dinner table. Will crude oil and chemical dispersants infiltrate the food chain for years to come?
