EPA

Environment

3M dumped harmful chemicals around Decatur for years. It’s time the public knew the consequences

Every afternoon during seventh grade basketball practice, I and everyone else on the team would make as many trips as allowed to the water fountain just outside the gym doors to gulp down enough water to keep us from passing out. After school some days, we would ride our bikes to an old creek near … Continued

December 23, 2019

Protecting Alabama rivers and protecting your pocketbook

More than once in my life I’ve been reminded there is no such thing as a free lunch. I first learned that lesson from my parents and you probably did, too. Everything has a cost to someone. Whether you’re handing money to a cashier directly or paying a higher utility rate because of government regulations, … Continued

October 25, 2019

Rural Alabama is worth fighting for

Our rural communities truly are the backbone of our nation. They clothe us and feed us, and they manufacture many of the goods we use every day. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nearly 60 million Americans live in rural communities. For too long, these 60 million Americans have been fighting global forces alone. … Continued

September 17, 2019

Byrne applauds Trump Administration overturning Obama-Era “Waters of the US” rule

Thursday, Congressman Bradley Byrne (R-Montrose) said that it was “great news for Alabama farmers and landowners” in response to the announcement that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have finalized a rule repealing the Obama-era waters of the US (WOTUS) proposed rule. “Today’s announcement is great news for Alabama … Continued

September 16, 2019

We have enough oil and natural gas to last over 120 years

Consumer Energy Alliance President David Holt was in Montgomery Tuesday to brief legislators on offshore oil and natural gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Holt agreed to talk to the Alabama Political Reporter about offshore oil and gas drilling and American energy policy. Holt said the state of Alabama just received over $30 million … Continued

May 15, 2019

Andrew Brasher confirmed to federal bench; Marshall appoints new state solicitor general

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall applauded the confirmation of Andrew Brasher to serve as district judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on Wednesday. Marshall appointed Edmund LaCour to Brasher’s former position as solicitor general of Alabama. “It is hard to imagine anyone who is more qualified to take on … Continued

May 2, 2019

Clean, renewable biodiesel industry adding jobs, reducing pollution across U.S.

If only Rudolf Diesel could see highways across America today. The inventor of the Diesel engine, which ran perfectly on peanut oil not long after its debut around the turn of the 20th century, would certainly be amazed to see that biodiesel has grown into an industry that supports more than 64,000 jobs, $2.5 billion … Continued

April 1, 2019

Black Warrior Riverkeeper sues EPA to protect vulnerable streams

Black Warrior Riverkeeper filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency on Feb. 27, 2019, in an effort to ensure the protection Black Warrior River’s watersheds by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. ADEM dropped Lost Creek and Big Yellow Creek from the state’s Section 303(d) List, which features and describes bodies of water in … Continued

February 28, 2019

Shelby says that passage of funding deal is outstanding news

The Senate voted Thursday to advances an appropriations package with funding to secure the border and fund the government to try to avoid another government shutdown. U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Alabama, voted to approve a comprehensive funding package that includes the seven remaining Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations bills. “Passage of this funding legislation is outstanding … Continued

February 15, 2019

Report: Trump EPA won’t limit cancer causing chemicals found in Alabama water

Drink at your own risk. That is essentially the message that the Trump EPA is planning for citizens who might consume drinking water contaminated with cancer-causing chemicals. Politico reported Thursday that the EPA doesn’t plan to set limits on the amount of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) or perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) found in drinking water. That would … Continued

February 1, 2019