Public

"A provision tucked into the debt ceiling legislation is rekindling debate about the nation's ability to pay for soaring catastrophe losses as coastal development and carbon dioxide emissions continue to rise.

The nation has struggled for years to find an effective way to help communities rebuild homes, businesses and infrastructure after natural disasters. Now, in a collision between downward federal spending and an upward presence of catastrophes, Congress is moving to pre-fund disasters.

"Sewage routinely contaminates the Hudson River throughout the year, rendering the waterway unsuitable for swimming and other recreational activities for at least one and a half days a week, a report based on four years of water testing shows."

"Bangladesh's Supreme Court agreed on Monday to allow ship breaking yards more time to meet tougher safety and environmental rules, allowing them to operate until at least mid-October.

Judges backed a lower court's ruling two weeks ago that extended the deadline for the $1.5 billion ship scrap industry to implement strict government rules aimed at protecting workers and reducing the level of pollution.

"President Obama and truck makers reach agreement on fuel economy and pollution standards for big rigs, work trucks and other heavy-duty vehicles."

"Under Obama, the agency has delayed action repeatedly on a 2010 vow to set tougher smog standards, as critics in industry and the Republican Party argue that regulations kill jobs."

A Stanford professor is showing how many more ecological costs need to be factored in to estimates of the economic impacts of environmental actions.

"CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- State officials are insisting that a huge Alpha Natural Resources coal-slurry impoundment in Raleigh County is safe, even as new tests that might confirm that analysis have continued to be delayed, records showed Monday."

"Conservation groups asked an appeals court on Monday to strike down a move by Congress to strip more than 1,500 wolves in Idaho and Montana of federal endangered species protections."

"Salmonella Was Spotted in Arkansas Plant and in Stores as Early as 2010; Legal Rules on Bug Prevented Recall Until Aug. 3."