National (U.S.)

Two authors of the book "Slow Death by Rubber Duck" used themselves as subjects in a science experiment about the dangers of chemicals in everyday consumer products.

"Manure is nitrogen rich, which makes it a great fertilizer. But by applying every last bit of ma nure to their fields, California dairy farmers—and non-dairy farmers as well—are dosing their crops with more nitrogen than the plants can absorb. The excess nitrogen is causing serious air and water pollution problems and may even be threatening the health of the soil."

"During his first year in office, President Barack Obama won praise from environmental groups for a wide range of decisions, ... But now there's grumbling on his green flank. A growing number of environmentalists are clashing with the administration over its management of America's struggling wildlife populations and what they call its reluctance to use the nation's most powerful environmental law, the Endangered Species Act, to stand up to industry."

"Thirteen national labor organizations are urging Vermont’s Senate to take a timeout and to not vote on whether Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant should be allowed to continue to operate after its original license expiration date in 2012."

"Sam Hamilton, the director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, died Saturday after suffering chest pains at a ski resort in Colorado, officials announced."

"Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack urged Congress on Thursday to reinstate the $1 a gallon biodiesel tax credit, calling it "an important credit" and "a support mechanism" for renewable fuels."

"A last-ditch attempt at passing a climate change bill begins in the Senate this week with senators mindful that time is running short and that approaches to the legislation still vary widely, according to sources."

"A North Carolina congressman said Thursday that he wants an investigation into reports that levels of a cancer-causing chemical in tap water at a Marine Corps base were downplayed and then omitted from official documents."

"State and federal officials were, at one point, looking at almost a complete loss of support from Asarco for projects to clean up contaminated sites. Then, a dramatic recovery of copper prices lead to benefits for Tacoma, Everett, and elsewhere in the state."