environmental health

January 8, 2013 - Federal lawmakers trumpeted last week's passage of the Drywall Safety Act of 2012. But thanks to the efforts of U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) on behalf of the industry lobby, the bill doesn't actually set enforceable standards to prevent contaminated drywall from ending up in people's homes.

January 2, 2013 - Speaking today at the N.C. Bankers Association's 2013 Economic Forecast Forum, incoming Republican Gov. Pat McCrory said he would waste no time in joining with Virginia, South Carolina and Georgia to begin negotiating with the federal government to drill offshore for gas and oil.

December 3, 2012 - High-profile disasters like the BP spill aren't the only way the oil industry is harming the health of Louisiana residents. A new report finds that toxic pollution from refinery accidents is increasing and urges action by companies and regulators.

November 16, 2012 - The oil giant has agreed to pay the largest criminal fine in U.S. history, and three of its managers were indicted on charges including felony manslaughter. But the company says it plans to "vigorously defend" itself against pending civil claims, even while its spilled oil still washes ashore and people and sea life continue to suffer.

November 12, 2012 - A federal judge ejected a group of Gulf Coast activists from last week's hearing on the fairness of the proposed class-action settlement for the BP oil spill after they were accused of live streaming the event -- a charge they deny.

October 11, 2012 - The Southern Environmental Law Center has filed a complaint on behalf of four environmental advocacy groups asking state regulators to require cleanup of documented groundwater contamination from coal ash storage ponds at 14 power plants owned by Duke Energy and its Progress Energy subsidiary.

October 3, 2012 - Protesters are sitting in trees in northeastern Texas in an effort to halt construction of a controversial pipeline designed to carry tar sands oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries.