Environment
October 17, 2012 -
A large oil sheen in the Gulf of Mexico reported by watchdogs as far back as August 2011 has been tied to BP's failed Macondo well. Congressional leaders are demanding answers from the company about the ongoing oil release, and they also want to ensure BP pays fully for the damages caused by its 2010 disaster.
October 15, 2012 -
A study by Duke University researchers has found toxic contamination far exceeding federal standards for safe drinking water and aquatic life in lakes and rivers located near coal ash waste sites at power plants -- including the main drinking water source for Charlotte. The scientists say they hope their findings will spur better regulation.
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 10, 2012 -
The official paper trail suggests that an attorney involved in the American Tradition Institute's lawsuit against the University of Virginia seeking a prominent climate scientist's emails did not have the proper permissions to do the work from the Environmental Protection Agency, where he held a taxpayer-funded position at the same time.
October 9, 2012 -
Congressman Paul Broun (R-Ga.) is under fire for recent remarks that evolution, embryology and the Big Bang theory are "lies straight from the pit of hell" -- especially since he's a member of the House Science Committee. But he's not the only member of that group who holds beliefs that put him at odds with mainstream science.
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.
October 2, 2012 -
Unallowable expenses the utility giant submitted as part of recent North Carolina rate hike cases included lobbying, political junkets and costs related to a criminal investigation in Indiana. A watchdog group calls for an audit and penalties for improper future submissions.
