Trump's Clean-water Rollbacks Put States at Risk

This week's investigative reporting, analysis and environmental news.
The Revelator
Wetlands

No. 120, Feb. 20, 2020

Hello Revelator readers,

The Trump administration has fulfilled its promise to roll back clean-water regulations established during the Obama era. Promised as a way to give states more control, the new version of the Waters of the U.S. rule actually puts the people and wildlife of many regions at increased risk. Tara Lohan explains why some states will be hit hard.

If we want to stop climate change, we need to tackle problems like food waste, which contributes 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Can the United States meet its ambitious goal to cut food waste in half in the next 10 years?

Good wildlife photography is about more than pretty images. Award-winning photographer Melissa Groo tells us why it also requires storytelling, compassion and ethics.

Subscriber bonus: The Wild 5

Let's go a little deeper. Here are five more stories we're watching this week.

1. News that Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos will donate $10 billion to fight climate change was met with cheers, jeers and a lot of unanswered questions.

2. For years an Oregon sheriff's office has been on the payroll of Pembina Pipeline Corp., a Canadian energy company behind a controversial proposed gas pipeline and export terminal.

3. Even utility companies are against the Trump administration's plans to roll back a regulation limiting emissions of mercury and other toxins from power plants.

4. Washington could be the first state to ban new permits for bottled-water operations.

5. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown gave her support for removing four dams on the Snake River in Washington to boost endangered salmon runs.

In case you missed it:

Let's talk about death. Traditional burial methods generate pollution and waste long after we die. Is there a better way?

What should we cover next?

Our stories rely on insight from experts and readers around the world, so we always welcome your ideas and inside scoops. Drop us a line anytime.

Coming up:

We've all seen how the EPA has suffered under the Trump administration. Is the worst yet to come? Our latest op-ed will explore the grim possibilities.

And stay tuned for our next video, a look at a potentially powerful new California law, news about endangered species and a whole lot more.

Look for our latest links in next Thursday's newsletter — or follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the headlines as they go live.

As always, thank you for reading.

John R. Platt

John R. Platt
Editor, The Revelator

 

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Photo
of Chesapeake Bay wetlands by Timothy Pohlhaus.

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