First On 2014 Congressional Agenda: Dismantle EPA Protections That Save Lives
After nearly a month off, U.S. elected officials returned to Washington, D.C. this week. And just as they so often do after returning from vacation, one of their first legislative actions was to dismantle portions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The U.S. House of Representatives passed a legislative packet that will greatly reduce the […]
Range Resources Spokesman Matt Pitzarella Misrepresented Education Credentials, Never Received Business Ethics Degree
This is a guest post by Amanda Gillooly, originally published on Marcellus Monitor. Range Resources Director of Corporate Communications Matt Pitzarella has long listed a master of science degree in leadership and business ethics from Duquesne University as one of his educational accomplishments – one he claimed to have earned in 2005. That degree is listed under his educational experience […]
New Carbon Rules for Power Plants A Missed Opportunity To Rein in Natural Gas Emissions, Critics Say
One of the linchpins of the Obama administration’s high-stakes plan to address climate change moved one step closer to implementation this week, as the EPA officially published proposed new carbon emissions standards for power plants, drawing fire from environmentalists who say the rules for natural gas power plants are too lenient. The proposed rules cover both […]
Retraction and Apology for Incorrect Claims About West Virginia Chemical Origins
DeSmogBlog regrets the incorrect claims made in an article published late Sunday night regarding the origins of the chemical spilled into the Elk River in West Virginia. The piece incorrectly asserted that the chemical was produced by Georgia-Pacific. In fact, it was produced by Eastman Chemical. DeSmogBlog sincerely regrets the error and has retracted the piece.
Recommended Reading: The Agony of Frank Luntz in The Atlantic
This is a worthwhile read about a morally confused guy who would, if he continues to do what he does so well, make the problem he is distressed about worse. He seems unable to see his own hand in all of this polarization and promotion of goofy ideas. I suspect that most of us looking at what […]
Coal Chemicals Taint Water Supply of 300,000 In West Virginia, Hundreds Sickened
Early Thursday, a chemical spill along West Virginia’s Elk River contaminated the tap water of as many as 300,000 West Virginia residents across nine West Virginia counties. The chemical spill occurred at a storage facility for Freedom Industries less than two miles from a major water treatment plant. Freedom Industries produces chemicals that are used widely […]
Koch Industries Hires Tobacco Operative Steve Lombardo to Lead Communications and Marketing
Q: What does Koch Industries do when it needs better PR? A: Hire a veteran helper of the tobacco industry. At O’Dwyer’s, Kevin McCauley writes January 9 in ”Koch Bros Lure Burson PA, Crisis Chair”: “Steve Lombardo, PA/crisis chair at Burson-Marsteller in Washington since April, is moving to Koch Industries next month for the chief communications/marketing officer […]
Steve Lipsky Responds To Report Clearing EPA of Wrongdoing in Fracking Water Contamination Study
Steven Lipsky’s phone was busy on the morning of Christmas Eve. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Inspector General had just released its report concluding the EPA was justified in intervening to protect drinking water from hydraulic fracturing in Weatherford, Texas, despite assertions to the contrary from the oil and gas industry and Congressional Republicans. In 2010, Mr. Lipsky alerted the agency […]
Is the Smart Money Bailing on Northwest Coal Exports? Goldman Sachs Sells Stake in SSA Marine
This is a guest post by Eric de Place, originally published at Sightline Daily. The news is everywhere: finance titan Goldman Sachs is selling off its stake in SSA Marine, the would-be coal exporter of Whatcom County. (To be precise, Goldman Sachs Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of the big firm, is selling its stake in FRS Capital Corp and Carrix, […]
Why Climate Deniers Have No Scientific Credibility: Only 1 of 9,136 Recent Peer-Reviewed Authors Rejects Global Warming
This is a guest post by James Lawrence Powell. I have brought my previous study (see here and here) up-to-date by reviewing peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals over the period from Nov. 12, 2012 through December 31, 2013. I found 2,258 articles, written by a total of 9,136 authors. (Download the chart above here.) Only one article, by a single author […]