Latest news with #DepartmentOfEnvironmentalProtection
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Monessen mayor issues emergency declaration due to growing sinkhole
A sinkhole in Monessen, Westmoreland County, has prompted the mayor to issue an emergency declaration. A video sent to KDKA-TV shows the inside of the sinkhole when it was first discovered on Saturday between the intersection of Route 906 and Pennsylvania Avenue. The mayor says it went from a divot to a widening hole that has since been measured to be at least 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep. He says 100 tons of material is now needed to fill it. Half of that has already been brought in. The Department of Environmental Protection says this hole is the result of mine subsidence and is working with the city to repair and stabilize the ground in that area.
CBS News
19-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Meet the kayaker who's removing Pittsburghers' litter from the Ohio River
On a sunny July morning, Tom Ross of the North Hills gets in his kayak and hits the Ohio River along the city's Chateau neighborhood. His day on the way will undo the damage people are causing. Trash, litter and otherwise discarded stuff are just clumped up along the shorelines. "I think if they really knew what it looked like up close, I think they would be shocked and embarrassed," Ross said. About three times a week, Ross will go along a 2.5-mile section of the river cleaning it up. He is welcomed with scenes of trash every time. "I fill up my kayak as much as I can, and sadly, it's not even very difficult," Ross said. Litter is a problem around the world and the Pittsburgh region is no different. If you look along roadways and waterways, it's there, causing environmental damage and being unsightly. According to state Department of Environmental Protection, there are more than 500 million pieces of litter on just the roads. Ross and his wife spend part of their time in Florida and started their work there. He wondered what the litter situation was at home. "And sure enough, boy, it was way worse than I could have ever imagined," Ross said. Since the summer of 2022, Ross has been working to clean up the river and other waterways. He will find just about anything and everything: tires, barrels, kegs and even traffic cones. The most common item is plastic bottles. He picked up about 130 when KDKA-TV joined him one morning. "There's no slow in the flow. I'm not seeing any improvement. No matter how many bags I collect, I'm not seeing any improvement; it just keeps flowing in," Ross said. He estimates that he's removed more than 18,000 bottles from the Ohio River. To bring the attention of litter to others, he's created social media pages where he documents his efforts and calls on elected leaders for preventative efforts. "We cannot clean our way out of this," Ross said. And it goes beyond those in office. Ross says you don't have to go buy a kayak, but there are things we can all do, like if you see something, throw it out. "You don't have to go crazy with this. Just make a little bit of difference. If we had a lot of people making a little bit of difference, I think it would make a huge difference," Ross said. Up the creek with a lot more than just a paddle is how you will find Ross. You can follow his work on X and Instagram at TommyPicsUpTrash.
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Yahoo
Island Beach State Park at Jersey shore closed until further notice. Here's what we know
Island Beach State Park in Seaside Park at the Jersey short will be closed indefinitely, the state announced late Saturday night. The park, with its beaches and amenities, is a popular day destination in Ocean County for Bucks County beachgoers. 'We are disappointed to report that the park is experiencing sewer line blockage issues that necessitates closing all restrooms within the park. Public restrooms are required as per the New Jersey Department of Health Public Recreational Bathing Code, and without operational restrooms, it would be both unsanitary and unsafe to allow visitors into the park,' the state Department of Environmental Protection's notice read on its Facebook page at about 11 p.m. Saturday. The state said park staff are working to resolve the issue and make repairs, and would update its website and social media pages with updates. The beautiful July 4th holiday weekend weather has kept the park busy as it closed due to being filled to capacity on Saturday. Sunday is bringing what would be another gorgeous beach day with 78° and mostly sunny skies. it also closed on Friday due to capacity. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Island Beach State Park closed indefinitely at Jersey shore
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Millionaires' island is plagued with 'toxic' drinking water that's slowing infecting its inhabitants
Water supplies across a wealthy Massachusetts island have been plagued with toxic 'forever chemicals' that cause a slew of health complications. Nantucket environmental officials have been discovering alarming levels of PFAS in the ritzy enclave's drinking water. PFAS, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are long-lasting chemicals that linger in the air, soil and water. They also build up in the human body - causing cancer, high cholesterol, liver damage and pregnancy complications, according to the CDC. Before experts realized their detrimental health and environmental impact, PFAS were used in various everyday products. Starting around the 1940s, they were commonly present in non-stick cookware, cleaning supplies, dental floss, candy wrappers and firefighting foam - which easily makes its way into groundwater. While certain types of PFAS are no longer used in the US, other variations of the potentially poisoning man-made chemicals are actually FDA approved for limited use, according to the agency. Nantucket has been grappling with concerning levels of PFAS contamination for years, but experts have noticed the problem is more widespread than they thought. 'The more we test, the more we're going to detect,' Andrew Shapero, Nantucket's new environmental contamination administrator, told the Boston Globe. It was previously understood that tainted areas included Nantucket Memorial Airport and Toms Way, located mid-island. But a recent Department of Environmental Protection investigation revealed private wells are also contaminated. Last month, Shaper warned the Board of Health one particular location - the intersection Hummock Pond Road and Burnt Swamp Lane - had PFAS levels 'above the imminent hazard threshold,' the Nantucket Current reported. The state standard for the maximum amount of the substances found in drinking water is 20 nanograms of per liter. At the Hummock Pond and Burnt Swamp intersection, 124 nanograms per liter were detected. 'That is an extremely concerning concentration to see in drinking water,' Shapero told the board. Shapero has been hired with the sole intent of tackling the island's PFAS problem and minimizing its harm. While addressing the water supply contamination, Shapero contextualized the issue, explaining places across the country are in the same worrying situation. 'PFAS have been detected in many wells on the island,' he told the outlet. 'PFAS have also been detected in many water sources throughout the country. 'And so from that perspective, Nantucket has a PFAS problem that is similar to the rest of the country.' Anywhere from 71 million to 95 million Americans rely on groundwater riddled with detectable levels of the substances, according to the US Geological Survey. But what makes Nantucket's dilemma unique is the island's dependency on groundwater. 'One is that Nantucket is a sole source aquifer, so all of the water on Nantucket comes from the ground that residents live on top of, whether that's private wells or the public water supply,' Shapero told the Boston Globe. 'So Nantucket really has no alternative options.' In 1984, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) decided the Nantucket Island Aquifer would be the area's sole source of drinking water, according to the agency. 'Certainly, to some extent, there is PFAS in the aquifer,' Shapero admitted, adding it is no easy feat trying to remove some of those compounds. 'Getting it out of the aquifer is challenging. Out of people's water is a little bit easier. These are forever chemicals, as you know, but filtration is an option.' The environmental official urged residents to get their blood tested to gauge if they have consumed dangerous amounts. Two nanograms per milliliter or less of PFAS in one's blood is considerably safe, he explained. But if someone has two to 20 nanograms detected - like 91 percent of Americans do - they 'might have some effects from PFAS,' Shapero said. 'On top of that, they have a threshold of 20, where you are in kind of the elevated area,' he told the outlet. 'And so that's about 9 percent of Americans who really should be keeping an eye on potential health effects from PFAS.' Ultimately, he encouraged people to test their privately owned wells, as he believes a 'substantial portion' of them have contaminated water. 'It's not just a Nantucket problem; it is a statewide and a countrywide problem,' he asserted.
CBS News
24-06-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Drought conditions show slow improvement in central Maryland despite heavy rainfall
Drought conditions have been present in portions of central Maryland for nearly 300 days heading into the summer. The extended period of dry weather comes with a steep cost: Water. Monitoring water levels in Maryland Liberty Reservoir reached a 20-year low in late spring, prompting voluntary water restrictions. State and local officials are closely monitoring the drought's impact on both surface and underground water levels. "There is a cause for concern anytime there is a drought," said Evan Carrozza with Baltimore County's Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability. "We would consider it more of a concern at this point, not a crisis in any way," he added. "Just because we had a lot of precipitation in May, there is about a four- to six-month lag period for groundwater recharge." Drought conditions in Maryland as of June 19, 2025. Maryland has seen persistent drought conditions leading into the summer. U.S. Drought Monitor Rain brings some drought relief With the change of seasons, heavier rains have returned to Maryland, but this is just a drop in the bucket of drought relief. According to Carrozza, the area gets the least amount of groundwater recharge during the summer months. "That's because you lost a lot of evaporation, you have storm water runoff, and then you have vegetative uptake," Carrozza said. "So, plants and trees are taking a lot of that precipitation. You don't get as much recharge in the summer months." It takes a while for a drought to develop, and it can take even longer for conditions to improve. To declare a drought officially over and to get groundwater levels back to normal, Maryland needs to see frequent rainfall throughout the summer. People have an impact, too. Conserving water during drought conditions During a drought, residents are urged to be water savvy around their homes and in their gardens. Be conservative with the amount of water you use. Focus on deep, infrequent watering. Consider mulch to retain whatever moisture you do have in your garden's soil. You can also reduce water usage by incorporating more drought-tolerant plants in your yard. Inside your home, using a dishwasher to clean dishes can help limit water waste. It may seem small, but turning the water off while brushing your teeth can also reduce your water use over time. Small everyday changes can make a large difference over time. A small number of residents in north-central Baltimore County have reported having issues getting water from wells. The drought conditions could be contributing to these isolated issues. Collecting rainwater around your home will reduce the amount of well and reservoir water you use, while also reducing your water bill. Consider a rainwater storage system, like a rain barrel. Marylanders and Mother Nature will need to work together to improve drought conditions and bring water levels back to normal. Find more information about Baltimore County's well water HERE.
