In The News / Nov 6

• Ozone-destroying chemical making comeback, scientists find.

  An ozone-destroying chemical long thought to be on the decline in Earth’s upper atmosphere is making an unexpected comeback, an international team of scientists has found. Globe and Mail, Ontario

• Will UK's pollinator strategy be enough to stop bee decline?

  The government’s strategy for protecting pollinating insects, including bees, fails to adequately address one of the major threats to their health say scientists, environmentalists and opposition politicians: pesticides. The Guardian

• Oil industry polluting Ventura?

  Is the oil industry responsible for elevated levels of arsenic and other toxic substances along the northern Ventura coast, where more than 500,000 play in the sand and waves each year? Or is the runoff from the canyons next to Highway 101 just natural? Santa Barbara Independent, California

• Is your home contaminated with meth residue?

  Sick kids, thousands of dollars in cleanup costs and a home you may be forced to abandon: That’s the horrifying reality for thousands of Americans who unwittingly buy homes or rent apartments contaminated with toxic meth residue. Jacksonville WJXT TV, Florida

• Food industry wins round in GMO-labeling fight.

  While the votes mark victories for groups and companies like Kraft Foods Group Inc., PepsiCo Inc., and Monsanto Co. that have fought mandatory labeling efforts, the battles have sharply escalated the national debate over GMOs and put the industry on the defensive. Wall Street Journal

• Despite losses, GMO label backers aren't quitting.

  In the end, not even Oregon's backyard chicken owners and vegan foodies had enough money and clout to persuade voters to pass a ballot measure that would have required labeling of genetically modified foods. Associated Press

• Chevron’s $3 million backfires in Richmond election.

  Richmond, California, voters handed Chevron a resounding rejection in Tuesday’s election, defeating all four candidates supported by the oil giant despite Chevron outspending its opponents by a 20-to-1 margin. San Francisco Chronicle, California

• Republican wave unlikely to sweep away Obama's major rules.

  Despite their impressive gains on Tuesday, Republicans do not appear to have flipped enough seats to undo most of President Obama's environment and climate change agenda. Greenwire

• Denton fracking ban quickly draws two lawsuits after passing.

  A day after voters decided to make Denton the first city in Texas to ban hydraulic fracturing, the reaction by the energy industry and government was swift. By 9:09 a.m. Wednesday, both the Texas Oil and Gas Association and the Texas General Land Office had filed lawsuits to prevent the city from enacting the ordinance in 30 days. Dallas Morning News, Texas

• Fracking bans pass in 2 counties, fail in Santa Barbara.

  Measures aimed at increasing control over non-conventional oil extraction known as “fracking” passed in two California counties after Tuesday’s vote. But a similar ban failed decisively in Santa Barbara, the only one of the three places where well operators use the technique, and where they are seeking to expand it. Los Angeles KPCC Radio, California

• Florida pro-environment Amendment 1 a big hit with voters.

  The biggest winner on the ballot Tuesday wasn't one of the candidates. It was Amendment 1, the proposal to set aside some $10 billion in tax money over the next 20 years, to be used for purchasing environmentally sensitive land and protecting wildlife and water resources. Tampa Bay Times, Florida

• Nearly 100 birds land in three oilsands tailings ponds.

  The Alberta Energy Regulator is investigating after at least 96 birds landed on tailings ponds at three mines in the Athabasca oilsands. Oilsands mining companies are legally required to keep birds off tailings ponds containing toxic substances including bitumen, toluene and heavy metals. Edmonton Journal, Alberta

• Pennsylvania DEP revises proposal to limit emissions from coal-fired power plants.

  The state Department of Environmental Protection has revised a rule it proposed in April to limit emissions from coal-fired power plants that was widely panned by environmental groups and deemed “too lax” by federal environmental regulators. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pennsylvania