Obama sets stage for pollution limits with new reporting rule

September 16th, 2009 EPA limits pollution from medical incineratorsWASHINGTON — About 50 medical waste incinerators nationwide will have to reduce their air pollution under new regulations announced Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said that the new rules, which require better monitoring and tighten emissions limits, will reduce toxic pollution from the burning of medical waste by 390,000 pounds annually and likely result in no new incinerators being built.

September 16th, 2009 EPA tells court it will redo Bush-era smog ruleWASHINGTON — The Obama administration signaled Wednesday that it would scrap a controversial Bush-era rule that set stricter limits for smog but fell short of scientific recommendations. In a notice filed Wednesday in a federal appeals court, the Justice Department says there are concerns that the revision made by the Bush administration does not adhere to federal air pollution law.

September 15th, 2009 EPA to place limits on power plant water pollutionWASHINGTON — For the first time in nearly 30 years, the Environmental Protection Agency plans to limit the quantity of toxic metals that coal-fired power plants release into waterways. The agency said Tuesday that equipment required to reduce pollution in the air has increased harmful contaminants in water discharged by power plants, particularly heavy metals such as selenium, cadmium, mercury and lead.

August 6th, 2009 FTC issues rule policing oil price manipulationNEW YORK — The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday it would begin policing the petroleum industry with new penalties for anyone attempting to manipulate energy prices. The rule, which will go into effect in November, targets anyone dealing with crude oil, gasoline and petroleum distillates.

July 1st, 2009 EPA proposes regulations to cut ship pollutionWASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing tougher rules to reduce air pollution from large oceangoing ships, including oil tankers and cargo vessels. The agency announced Wednesdays it is beginning work on a regulation that would cut harmful chemicals releases from smokestacks of ships within 200 miles of the U.S.

June 27th, 2009 House rejects GOP energy alternativeWASHINGTON — The House has rejected a Republican alternative to a Democratic climate bill. The vote set the stage for passage of a bill that for the first time would limit U.S.

May 27th, 2009 WASHINGTON - The level of carbon emissions into the Earth's atmosphere will surge nearly 40 percent by 2030 if the governments can't force more limits on pollutants blamed for global warming, a US report said Wednesday. The Energy Information Administration (EIA) projected that energy consumption will increase 44 percent between 2006 and 2030, mainly because of higher demands from the developing world.

May 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A US House panel debating climate change legislation has rejected by a 36-23 party-line vote a Republican attempt to delay a cap on US greenhouse gas emission levels until India and China adopt similar standards. Republican member Mike Rogers' proposal in the House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday, would have allowed limits in the US only if those two countries adopt greenhouse gas emission standards that are 'at least as stringent'.

May 20th, 2009 WASHINGTON - In a new research, scientists at the University of Lancaster, UK, have determined that urban trees use their leaves to measure microscopic particles of pollution. According to a report in ABC science, they are so precise in this task that Professor Barbara Maher and a group of scientists at the University of Lancaster are turning to them as reliable, street-level pollution monitors.

May 1st, 2009 Obama: Souter successor should be seated by Oct.WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he will nominate an individual who is "dedicated to the rule of law" to replace retiring Justice David Souter on the Supreme Court. The president interrupted his press secretary's regular White House briefing to tell reporters he had just spoken by phone with Souter (SOO-ter).

April 21st, 2009 Labor Department seeks to cancel rule on unionsWASHINGTON — The Labor Department moved Tuesday to rescind a regulation approved during President George W. Bush's last days in office that would have increased scrutiny of union finances to help root out financial corruption.

March 25th, 2009 PANAJI - The Goa government Tuesday sealed three offshore casinos, which were under the scanner for violating pollution norms. The casinos - Rio, Caravela and Maharaja - had failed to obtain the necessary licence from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB).

February 12th, 2009 RAIPUR - The Chhattisgarh government has served notices to as many as 37 industrial units in the past two years, including the Vedanta-controlled Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd.(Balco), for violating industrial pollution norms, the state assembly was informed Friday. 'The government has either moved court or issued notices to 37 industrial units for ignoring pollution norms in Raigarh and Korba districts, including Balco (based in Korba town),' Revenue Minister Amar Agrawal told the house in a written reply to a question by Leader of the Opposition Ravindra Choubey.

January 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - People in cities and towns across India remained glued to their TV sets well into the night, not wishing to miss witnessing the history in the making, as Barack Obama took the oath of office as US president. Most Indian TV news channels started telecasting the inauguration ceremony live from 9 p.m.

December 26th, 2008 BHUBANESWAR - At least 26 industrial units in Orissa were closed and eight others served show-cause notices this month for causing pollution, a state government official said Saturday. The Orissa State Pollution Control Board ordered the closure of 26 units and issued show-cause notices against the others in the first week of December, B.K.