Latest news with #environmentalimpact
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Oakdale PFAS project would divert water around former 3M dump
State officials are accepting comments on the environmental impacts of a project proposed by 3M Corp. to collect surface water upstream of a dump in Oakdale in order to reduce polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in stormwater discharge from the site. The Abresch Disposal Site is the largest of three former disposal locations that comprise the Oakdale Disposal Site, a state and federal Superfund site. 3M is working with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to remediate soil and groundwater at the site. The project is proposed to further reduce PFAS impacts to stormwater discharge from the site, according to an environmental review of the project. The proposed project would collect surface water upstream of the site and divert it to a three-acre flood-retention basin, where water would then be reintroduced into the natural flow of the watershed, according to the environmental assessment worksheet. A three-quarter-mile conveyance pipe would bypass the Abresch Disposal Site, thus bypassing PFAS detected within the site, according to the EAW. 'This would reduce the discharge of PFAS in surface water and improve downstream surface water quality in the Twin Cities east metropolitan area,' the EAW states. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is accepting comments until 4:30 p.m. June 26 on the EAW. A copy of the EAW is available on the project page of the DNR website; a print copy may be requested by calling 651-259-5522. The EAW is also available for public review at the Oakdale Library, the DNR Library and the Minneapolis Central Library. 'An absolute privilege': Darts President Ann Bailey offers advice, reflects on 10 years in Dakota County aging services Mahtomedi school board adds second referendum question to fall ballot Forest Lake detours begin as MnDOT undertakes $17M Highway 97 reconstruction project Forest Lake School Board hears input on possible contentious policy changes artOPENer Studio Tour hits 19 St. Croix Valley stops Comments on the EAW must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. June 26. Email comments should be sent to with '3M surface water diversion' in the subject line. Comments can be mailed to Becky Horton, EAW Project Manager, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 500 Lafayette Road, Box 25, St. Paul, MN 55155-4025. Anyone providing a mailing address or submitting comments via email will receive a copy of the subsequent decision document, which will include responses to comments, according to the DNR. Because all comments and related information are part of the public record for the environmental review, commenters' names and email or postal addresses will be published and publicly available as they appear in the materials commenters submit.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Authorities make disturbing discovery after searching man's vehicle at US-Mexico border: 'We are committed to holding accountable ...'
In San Diego, authorities arrested a man for smuggling protected birds from Mexico into the U.S., according to a report by Patch. Twelve orange-fronted parakeets were concealed among his belongings, stuffed inside his boots and between the seats of his car. Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office reported that Mexican citizen Naim Lajud Libien was caught trying to smuggle a dozen parakeets across the U.S.-Mexico border at the Otay Mesa port of entry in San Diego. Of the 12 birds, at least two have died, one that officials believe to have a broken neck, and the rest are in "poor health." When authorities found the parakeets, the birds' feet were tied, which may have caused some harm. Orange-fronted parakeets are a protected bird species native to western Mexico and Costa Rica. In order to be legally transported into the U.S., the birds must be quarantined before crossing the border. Libien faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for attempting to smuggle the parakeets into the U.S. The animals being trafficked are often held captive in small, awful conditions, resulting in injuries and even death. Cases like this not only endanger the animals being trafficked but also the entire ecosystem. When species are illegally transported into a new country, they can become invasive and disrupt the balance of the food chain. Though it may not seem like it, biodiversity impacts our everyday lives. When an invasive species throws off an ecosystem, native species can decline, threatening the pollinators that protect our food supply. Libien faces "charges of importation contrary to law," Patch reported. "Smuggling at the border takes many forms, but the tragic impact on animals forced into such perilous conditions is deeply troubling," U.S. Attorney Adam Gordon said in a statement, per Patch. "We are committed to holding accountable those who endanger wildlife and public health through these reckless and inhumane smuggling practices." Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Landowner disputes erupt as fishermen are pushed off beach: 'We are not doing this by choice'
Fishermen in the coastal state of Goa, India, have found themselves fighting a surprising battle over the ability to park their boats as an ever-imposing sea takes over more and more land. For generations, reports O Heraldo, fishermen in the village of Benaulim, located on Goa's coast, have parked their boats along the beach at the end of each day. However, the ocean's continued encroachment has forced them out of their traditional parking spots and onto private property. This has prompted the owner of that land to issue a formal complaint, demanding that the fishermen remove their boats. The fishermen have appealed to the Fisheries Department to protect them, according to a mid-May report. "We are not doing this by choice. The sea is claiming more of the beach every year," one fisherman told the local outlet. "We're requesting the government to intervene and help us before this situation worsens." While this may seem like little more than a simple land dispute, it points to a much bigger issue. As our planet warms due to the production of heat-trapping gases like methane and carbon dioxide, one of the biggest threats to humanity and to the environment is rising sea levels. Extreme heat is melting glaciers, the water from which is causing our oceans to rise, with the most recent data indicating a rate of 4.5 millimeters per year, according to a 2024 paper published in Nature. That kind of rapid rise is quickly altering the coastlines of countries around the world, and small island nations have been among the first to feel the most serious threats. As time goes on and with sea levels set to continue their upward trajectory, many more regions will face ocean incursion, flooding, powerful storm surges, and displacements. Currently, marginalized groups, such as lower-income fishing communities, are being disproportionately impacted. The displaced fishermen have called on the Fisheries Department to allocate a designated area for boat storage to avoid further conflicts with private landowners, per O Heraldo. They also want help for those who are struggling due to a lack of facilities. Coming together to support pro-environment policies and global investments in resilient infrastructure for communities in need can make a big difference for those on the front lines of climate change. Another way to help in the fight against rising temperatures is to reduce the use of dirty energy sources that produce heat-trapping pollution. One option for homeowners is to install solar panels to generate clean energy. A solar system can also bring monthly power bills down to close to $0, and EnergySage's free tools can not only make it easy to compare quotes from vetted local installers but can also help save homeowners up to $10,000 on installations. Staying up to date on the worldwide impacts of our warming world can be useful, especially in having conversations with friends, family, and community members about catalyzing actions closer to home that can still have far-reaching effects. Organizing a ride-share program, for example, is just one small activity that can help to curb the higher temperatures that drive sea level rise. Do you think gas stoves should be banned nationwide? No way Let each state decide I'm not sure Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Multiple men face serious consequences after authorities uncover illegal destruction in protected area: 'It is a hazard to our nation and the region'
Eight people in eastern Ghana have been arrested for illegal mining, according to Joy Online. The mining had been polluting local water supplies, but miners had continued regardless. The local government's Eastern Regional Security Council confiscated 24 excavator batteries, 16 pumping machines, a chainsaw, three monitors, five control boards, three single-barrel guns, two pump-action rifles, cartridges, and cash in the police action. While the exact type of mining wasn't announced, Ghana is the sixth-largest gold producer in the world, per and another mining operation was recently shut down for illegally harvesting gold. Extractive industries have deep human and environmental tolls. Child labor has been employed in other African nations for mining, while tailing ponds have rendered rivers poisonous in others. Some mining operations have destroyed great ape habitat, adding more pressure on stressed populations. Regulations can help improve working and ecological conditions. South Africans, for example, are calling for improved regulations to lessen environmental impacts, per the Conversation. Artisanal mining is especially dangerous since it lacks safety protocols and government oversight, but properly regulating it may yield better working standards by documenting the chain of custody of minerals, the Atlantic Council revealed. Maintaining robust enforcement and strong laws against illegal mining can help preserve ecosystems and vital water supplies used by nearby communities. Gold mines in Australia and Idaho are just a few that have faced the legal limits of their operation. While arresting eight illegal miners is good news, there's more progress to be made. Ghana's president has already committed to banning mining in protected forests. Ghanaian authorities were resolute in continuing to crack down on ongoing illegal mining operations. "For the past days, we have been combing the Eastern region with our military and police to make sure the mandate by the president is obeyed," said regional minister Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, per Joy Online. "If you go around, our waters are so bad, the environment is destroyed, pits are uncovered, our forest is being destroyed. It is a hazard to our nation and the region, so for the few days our men have been on the ground and here you are with several excavators that have been seized from them." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mail
21 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Peter Dutton is roasted over very common travel act: 'This is brilliant'
Aussies have ripped into former Opposition leader Peter Dutton after footage emerged of him catching a commercial flight weeks after his election loss on May 3. A passenger shared a video to TikTok on Friday of Dutton on board a Virgin flight. The short clip showed Dutton briefly spotting the camera while he put his luggage in the overhead locker. 'Peter Dutton literally went from almost being Prime Minister of Australia to flying commercial,' the caption read. 'Peter Dutton in the only seat he could get.' Several social media users were quick to slam Dutton with the footage being viewed almost 1million times. 'This is brilliant,' one wrote. 'Look says it all,' a second added. Another said: 'So satisfying.' 'I would definitely put my seat back or push my knees into the seat in front. continuously. back and forth..... in and out!!!' a fourth chimed in. Others applauded Dutton for flying commercial and reducing his environmental impact. 'If he flew private you would hate him for that as well,' one wrote. 'Good on him! He can obviously afford first class but is humble,' another said. 'Good on him for flying commercial, unlike Greens leader Adam brandt who used millions of taxpayer money to fly private jets,' another wrote. 'In fairness he is no longer a public figure or elected member of parliament so he can probably have some privacy now,' another said. The video comes just days after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Brisbane's Nova FM radio station he had 'an okay relationship, a professional relationship, if you like' with Dutton. 'It's really tough for him and his family as well,' Albanese added. 'I'm not sure what he will do, but I'm sure he'll be successful in other arenas as well.' Dutton suffered the ultimate indignity on election night when he not only led a failed campaign but was ousted from his own seat of Dickson in Brisbane's outer-northern suburbs - which he had held since 2001 - by Labor's Ali France. In a reflection of the respect the two men held for one another - even if they traded barbs on the campaign trail - Dutton gave a gracious concession speech in which he revealed he had rung Albanese to tell him how proud his late mother would have been of his victory. The Prime Minister said politics was an 'honourable profession' but acknowledged it came with huge downsides. 'You expose yourself publicly, particularly with social media,' he told the radio station. 'Don't read the comments out there, folks. It can be really brutal, and you've got to be resilient.' Dutton had yet to commit to what he will do next, but vowed not to be a commentator sniping from the sidelines. 'The best model I've seen is where leaders, former, make a graceful exit from politics and maintain their graceful silence, so that'll be my model,' he said recently. Dutton reportedly made $30million of property transactions over 35 years. He purchased his first home at 19, before going on to buy and sell 26 pieces of real estate, according to an analysis of property and corporate records, parliamentary registers and real estate data carried out by the Sydney Morning Herald. Dutton turned a healthy profit from his various real estate investments, with property purchases totalling $12million and sales of $18.8million. The properties include luxury city apartments, childcare centres, a shopping plaza, a beachfront mansion and a farm. At his peak he owned five properties at the same time across Queensland, in addition to a flat in the ACT.
