Environment

City of Richmond Proposed Consent Order for Water Violations

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) has proposed a consent order addressing violations of State Water Control Board statutes and regulations and applicable permit conditions at the City of Richmond's Richmond WWTP wastewater treatment facility in Richmond, Virginia. The proposed consent order is available on the DEQ website, and the agency is soliciting public comments through April 8, 2026. Affected parties may submit comments to Kristen Sadtler at the VA DEQ Central Office during the 30-day comment period.

Illinois EPA Announces Seven Spring Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events

Illinois EPA Acting Director James Jennings announced seven Spring Household Hazardous Waste one-day collection events scheduled across seven Illinois communities from March 21 through June 6, 2026. Each collection operates from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., requires pre-registration for specified time slots, and provides residents with a free opportunity to safely dispose of unused or leftover hazardous household products. Events are coordinated with local co-sponsors including county health departments, chambers of commerce, and community organizations across East Peoria, Griggsville, Kankakee, Morrison, DeKalb, Lake in the Hills, and Carbondale.

DEC Awards Over $677,000 in Smart Growth Grants to Catskill Region Projects

Seven organizations in the Catskill Region will receive a total of $677,294 through DEC's Smart Growth Grant program. Awardees include the Community Foundation of Orange County, Towns of Middletown, Prattsville, and Shandaken, the Village of Tannersville, RUPCO, and the Catskill Center for Conservation and Development. Funded projects address affordable housing, recreational infrastructure, wastewater feasibility, trail accessibility, bridge replacement, and comprehensive zoning planning, supported by New York State's Environmental Protection Fund.

Memas Country Store Delivery Prohibition Proceeding VA DEQ ID 7022017

VA DEQ has initiated a delivery prohibition process for Memas Country Store located at 1036 Hitesburg Church Rd., Virgilina, VA 24598, due to unresolved compliance issues first noted during underground storage tank inspections conducted on December 8, 2021 and again on August 14, 2025. A virtual proceeding is scheduled for Monday, March 30, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. to address the compliance violations before any final delivery prohibition order is issued.

State Cleanup Enables 43 New Affordable Homes at Legacy Court Richmond

California DTSC celebrated the grand opening of Legacy Court in Richmond on March 6, 2026, marking the completion of state-funded environmental cleanup that enabled 43 new affordable homes. Thirteen units are reserved for individuals exiting homelessness. The site was formerly a junkyard and was remediated through DTSC's Equitable Communities Revitalization Grant program. The three East Bay projects (Legacy Court, Nellie Hannon Gateway in Emeryville, and Native American Health Center in Oakland) will collectively provide 209 affordable homes statewide, with DTSC investing over $130 million for cleanup at more than 150 sites.

Keepmoat Homes Limited Environmental Permit Application Consultation

The Environment Agency is consulting the public on Keepmoat Homes Limited's environmental permit application for Farington Mews, Leyland, Lancashire, reference EPR/QP3923MF/A001. The consultation invites comments on the application which relates to waste operations, installations, water discharge activities, or medium combustion plant. The EA will decide whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include if granted. Comments may be submitted during the consultation period.

Environment Agency Consults on Sydney Wheeler Environmental Permit Application

The Environment Agency has published a public consultation notice regarding environmental permit application EPR/GP3429ML/A001 submitted by Sydney Wheeler for Mork Corner Cottage, Lower Cinderhill, Lydney, GL15 6QF. The consultation invites public comments on the application, which relates to waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators. The Environment Agency will decide whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include if granted.

Angus Fire PFAS Reduction Permit Variation Consultation Opens

The Environment Agency has opened a 27-day consultation on its 'minded to' decision to grant a permit variation to Angus Fire Limited for an effluent treatment plant at its High Bentham site in North Yorkshire. The facility previously manufactured firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which contaminate rainwater on site; the proposed treatment plant would reduce PFAS levels in collected and future rainwater before discharge to the River Wenning. Interested parties may submit comments until 1 April 2026, after which the Environment Agency will issue its final decision on the permit variation.

Risk Assessment Committee Adopts Opinion on Universal PFAS Restriction Proposal

ECHA's Risk Assessment Committee (RAC) has adopted its scientific opinion on the universal PFAS restriction proposal covering all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and their uses. The opinion draws on an extensive evaluation of PFAS hazards, volumes, emissions, risks, and the likely effectiveness of a restriction as well as its practicality and enforceability, based on a proposal submitted by Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden on 13 January 2023. The adopted opinion will be published in full, while the Socio-Economic Analysis Committee (SEAC) is expected to agree its draft opinion next week, opening a 60-day public consultation, with a final SEAC opinion expected by the end of 2026. The European Commission will then propose a restriction for discussion and vote in the REACH Committee.

ECHA BPC Adopts Six Opinions on Biocidal Active Substances

ECHA's Biocidal Products Committee adopted six opinions on active substances and two on Union authorizations at its February 23–25, 2026 meeting. The committee supported approval of ethanol for product-types 1, 2, and 4, did not support DMDMH for product-types 6 and 13, and supported renewal of hydrochloric acid for product-type 2. The European Commission together with EU Member States will take the final decisions based on the BPC's opinions.

Midway Grocery Delivery Prohibition Enforcement Meeting Scheduled

DEQ has initiated a delivery prohibition process for Midway Grocery due to unresolved compliance issues first documented during a formal underground storage tank inspection on April 12, 2024, and again on Nov. 14, 2025. The enforcement proceeding is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. as a virtual meeting. Affected petroleum storage tank operators should note that DEQ's enforcement process can result in delivery prohibitions that restrict a facility's ability to receive petroleum products until compliance issues are resolved.

W. Henry Hardy Inc. Danville Enforcement Meeting

VA DEQ has scheduled a virtual enforcement meeting for W. Henry Hardy Inc. in Danville on March 25, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. The proceeding addresses unresolved compliance issues identified during a formal underground storage tank inspection on March 20, 2025. DEQ has initiated a delivery prohibition process for this facility located at 1913 Westover Dr., Danville, VA 24541.

California Fines TheBeadChest.com $17,000 for Excessive Lead

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control fined TheBeadChest.com, a Santa Monica-based online retailer, $17,000 for selling jewelry containing excessive lead levels in violation of California law. The enforcement action extends DTSC's prior brick-and-mortar enforcement to online retailers. Operators of TheBeadChest.com have agreed to immediately cease offering jewelry for sale that does not comply with state lead limits and pay the penalty. Jewelry with excessive lead poses severe health risks to children, including irreversible brain damage, developmental delays, organ failure, and death.

Action Skip Hire Limited Pays £9,495.50 for Contempt of Court Over Waste Removal

Action Skip Hire Limited was found in contempt of Birmingham Magistrates Court for failing to comply with a court order to remove all waste from land off Oxford Street, Digbeth, Birmingham, by 7 October 2025. Environment Agency officers inspected the site on 8 October 2025 and found waste still present despite the deadline. The company, which had previously been ordered to pay over £48,000 for operating a waste site without an environmental permit, pleaded guilty on 2 March 2026 and was ordered to pay £9,495.50.

WA Ecology Bike Grants Fund E-Bikes and Safety Classes in Three Cities

Washington State Department of Ecology awarded Climate Commitment Act (CCA) grants for three bike-focused projects in Shoreline, Tacoma, and Wenatchee. Shoreline distributed 125 free e-bikes with gear and safety classes to overburdened residents; Tacoma provided over 200 e-bike rebates plus Learn to Ride classes; and Sustainable NCW in Wenatchee conducted community engagement, safety workshops, and refurbished bike giveaways. Ecology estimates these programs will annually reduce over 330 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, 250 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 13 pounds of fine particulate matter — equivalent to taking approximately 95 cars off the road.

DEC Forest Rangers – Week in Review: Search and Rescue, Training, and Patrol Operations

New York State DEC Forest Rangers conducted multiple search and rescue operations across Essex, Hamilton, and Clinton counties between February 24-28, 2026, including the recovery of a deceased 51-year-old Florida hiker on Crane Mountain and the successful hoist rescue of a hypothermic 58-year-old hiker from the Dix Range. Rangers also completed shallow water egress training with NYSP Aviation, provided fire merit badge instruction to 81 Scouts at FASNY Museum, and conducted joint snowmobile patrols covering 70 miles with the Clinton County Sheriff's Office.

DEC and Team Rubicon to Improve Trail System at Braddock Bay WMA

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Team Rubicon, a veteran-led humanitarian organization with nearly 6,500 volunteers in New York, announced plans to remove hazardous trees at Braddock Bay Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the Town of Greece, Monroe County. The Cranberry Pond Trail and Owl Woods/Rose Marsh trail will be closed on March 21 and March 28, 2026, to allow completion of the project, which aims to improve public access and safety at the WMA.

Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Approves $7 Million in Loans and Grants

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees approved $7,046,000 in new low-interest loans and grants at its March 4, 2026 meeting. The largest allocation is a $7,031,000 loan to Provincetown (Loan No. CW-25-27) at 1.5% interest for the Provincetown Satellite Treatment Facility. A $15,000 School Water Improvement Grant (SWIG-26-02) was also awarded to Saint Joseph School for five fixtures. The Trust works with MassDEP and the U.S. EPA through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds, which have provided approximately $10.4 billion in water infrastructure financing since 1989.

United Utilities Water Limited Environmental Permit Application Advertisement - Lostock Close CSO

The Environment Agency has published an advertisement for environmental permit application EPR/EB3942KW/A001 submitted by United Utilities Water Limited for Lostock Close / Chale Close CSO, located at Lostock Street, Lostock, Miles Platting, M40 7LW. The application pertains to water discharge and groundwater activities under the environmental permitting regime. The public may view the application and submit comments to the Environment Agency, which will determine whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include if granted.

Andy Pink Environmental Permit Application, TA4 4DJ, Taunton

The Environment Agency has published a public consultation notice for an environmental permit application (EPR/YP3020MR/A001) submitted by Andy Pink for Wissahickon Quantocks Head, Taunton, TA4 4DJ, published 4 March 2026. The consultation covers applications for waste and mining waste operations, installations, water discharge and groundwater activities, and medium combustion plant and specified generators. The public may submit comments, and the Environment Agency will decide whether to grant or refuse the permit and what conditions to include.

$5.5M Grant Adds 1,600 Acres to Stewart Mountain Community Forest

Washington State Department of Ecology awarded a $5.5 million streamflow restoration grant to the Stewart Mountain Community Forest Initiative, adding 1,600 acres to the 2,166-acre forest in the Nooksack Basin. The acquisition, combined with $3 million from the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office Community Forest Program and funds from Whatcom Land Trust donors, reached a $9 million purchase price. Partners including Whatcom County, Whatcom Land Trust, Nooksack Indian Tribe, and Evergreen Land Trust cooperated to secure permanent protection of the forestland, which was previously commercially timbered by six companies over 30 years. The fifth round of competitive streamflow restoration grants is currently open through March 17, with up to $40 million available statewide.

United Fuel Corporation Proposed Consent Order - Hopewell, VA

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VA DEQ) has proposed a consent order for United Fuel Corporation addressing violations of the State Water Control Law and associated regulations at the Oaklawn Shell facility located in Hopewell, Virginia. The proposed consent order is available for public review and comment from March 4, 2026 through April 3, 2026, a period of 30 days. VA DEQ's Tidewater Regional Office is accepting comments from any affected or interested party during this consultation window.

Yorkshire Waste Site Permit Revoked After Appeal Dismissed

Mineral Processing Ltd had its environmental permit revoked by the Environment Agency after the Planning Inspectorate dismissed the company's appeal on 2 March 2026. The operator must cease all activities allowed by the permit and remove all waste from the South Elmsall site by 31 August 2029. The EA is also investigating suspected offences committed since a suspension notice was issued to the operator in June 2024. Carly Chambers, Area Environment Manager for the EA in Yorkshire, stated the company had shown total disregard for regulatory efforts and the impact on local residents and the environment.

Om Anaya Inc Proposed Consent Order Hanover VA Comment Period

The Virginia DEQ has proposed a consent order against Om Anaya, Inc. for alleged violations of State Water Control Board statutes and regulations and the applicable permit at the 7 Day Convenience Store facility in Hanover, Virginia. The proposed consent order is available for public review, and written comments will be accepted through April 2, 2026. Contact Cara Witte at the DEQ Piedmont Regional Office for additional information.

Illinois EPA Offers $1.5 Million for Water Supply Energy Efficiency Upgrades

The Illinois EPA Office of Energy announced up to $1,500,000 in grant funding through the Public Water Supply Energy Efficiency (PWSEE) program, with individual awards ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 and a 10–20% match requirement based on geographic location. Applications close at 5:00 pm on May 4, 2026. Funded through U.S. Department of Energy IIJA funds, the program prioritizes cost-effectiveness, energy cost savings, energy rate, and benefits to environmental justice communities. Eligible projects include pump and motor equipment upgrades, variable frequency drives, energy demand management enhancements, and HVAC and lighting improvements, all based on third-party energy efficiency assessment recommendations.

Environment Agency Stops Suspected Illegal Waste Activity

The Environment Agency has taken enforcement action against Blackpole Recycling Ltd in Worcester for suspected illegal waste activity. The agency issued suspension and restriction notices, seized cash, and is conducting wider investigations into waste crime.

Christopher Bates Environmental Permit Application Advertisement

The Environment Agency has published an advertisement for an environmental permit application submitted by Christopher Bates for a site at CV7 7LB. This notice informs the public about the application and the process for submitting comments.

Church Minshull Marina Environmental Permit Application Advertisement

The Environment Agency has published a notice regarding an environmental permit application from Church Minshull Marina Limited. This notice serves as an advertisement for the application and informs the public about the consultation process for environmental permits.

NY Sues Harbourview Realty to Stop Pollution Discharges

NY DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton and NY Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Harbourview Realty LLC, MRL Realty Corp., and Mary Hauptman to force cessation of alleged illegal pollution discharges from Harbourview Shoppes in Roslyn, Nassau County. The complaint alleges violations of the Clean Water Act through an unpermitted French drain system discharging grease, oils, suds, fecal coliform, and bacteria-contaminated runoff to the municipal storm sewer affecting Hempstead Bay. The State seeks injunctive relief to eliminate illegal discharges and civil penalties for discharging pollutants into waters of the United States.

Washington State Coastal Resilience and Nature-Based Solutions

Washington State's North Cove community in Grays Harbor County has reversed nearly a century of beach and bluff erosion through a dynamic revetment project. Ecology provided $600,000 in 2018 to construct a 1.2-mile rock revetment, which stopped erosion by 2021 and helped 232,000 cubic yards of sand accumulate by 2024 in one 3,000-foot protected section. NOAA awarded a $13 million grant in 2025 to Pacific Conservation District and Washington State Department of Transportation to extend protections along State Route 105, with the project protecting North Cove's cranberry bogs that produce two-thirds of Washington's cranberries.

Court Order Restricts Access to Wigan Waste Site

The Environment Agency obtained a Restriction Order from Wigan Magistrates' Court on 25 February 2026, prohibiting anyone from importing waste to land known as 'The Old Cricket Ground' in Bickershaw, Wigan. The order also restricts access to the premises for six months, subject to exceptions for Environment Agency access and waste removal; failure to comply constitutes a criminal offence. The order forms part of an ongoing criminal investigation into illegal waste dumping at a nearby site at Bolton House Road, where scrap metal waste was found being moved onto adjacent land. The EA is working in partnership with Wigan Council, Greater Manchester Police, and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and has already interviewed individuals under caution and served formal notices requiring waste removal.

Direct Energy Settles MA Telemarketing Violations with $101,750 Donation, One-Year Marketing Ban

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities entered into a settlement (Informal Remedial Plan) with Direct Energy Services, LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, Inc., for failing to use required introductory marketing scripts during 407 telemarketing calls between July 2024 and June 2025. As part of the settlement, Direct Energy will donate $101,750 to Boston Medical Center's Clean Power Prescription program and must cease all outbound telemarketing activities in Massachusetts for one year, effective December 19, 2025.

Washington Water Supply Update - Drought Conditions Persist

Washington State's Water Supply Availability Committee reports that water year 2026 is the warmest on record since October, yet snowpack remains critically low at 52% of normal — the third lowest on record for this time of year, with some basins as low as 35%. The ongoing drought declared in April and expanded in June continues indefinitely, and Bureau of Reclamation forecasts for Yakima Basin water availability are expected in early March 2026.

NY DEC Forest Rangers Week in Review: Search and Rescue, Wilderness Recovery, Prescribed Burns

NY DEC Forest Rangers completed multiple search and rescue and wilderness recovery missions across Essex, Dutchess, and Suffolk counties between February 12–15, 2026, including a hiker fatality on Mount Marcy and several successful rescues on Haystack, Phelps, Basin, and Whiteface mountains. Rangers also conducted a 0.3-acre prescribed burn at Napeague State Park in partnership with OPRHP to reduce invasive southern pine beetle fuel buildup and participated in a public outreach event at John Jay High School. In 2025, DEC Forest Rangers conducted 362 search and rescue missions, extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres, and participated in 68 prescribed fires across 1,649 acres.

DEC Forest Rangers – 2025 Actions and Deployments

NY DEC Forest Rangers performed 362 search and rescue missions and extinguished 202 wildfires covering 840 acres in 2025. The report also documents 68 prescribed fires that served to rejuvenate 1,649 acres of land, more than 1,100 tickets and arrests, and 41 Forest Rangers deployed to fire assignments in 10 different states. February 2026 incident reports describe five separate wilderness search, stranded vehicle, and training operations across Rensselaer, Schoharie, Essex, Fulton, Otsego, and Clinton counties.

DEC Announces March 11 Environmental Justice Listening Session in Plattsburgh

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced a sixth environmental justice listening session scheduled for March 11, 2026, at SUNY Plattsburgh's Warren Ballroom, 101 Broad Street. The event, organized by DEC's Office of Environmental Justice and regional staff, will run doors-open at 5 p.m. with formal remarks at 6 p.m., providing community members direct access to technical experts and opportunities to provide input on environmental justice issues affecting disadvantaged communities in the North Country.

Prescribed Fire at Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced a prescribed burn at Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area in St. Lawrence County, planned for February 27 with additional burns considered for the week of March 1 or early spring. The approximately 4,000-acre wetland adjacent to the St. Lawrence River will undergo burning to control invasive non-native Phragmites, reduce biomass, and stress root systems to allow native vegetation to reestablish in shallow marshes and shoreline wetlands. DEC Forest Rangers and trained personnel will conduct the burns under detailed burn plans in coordination with the National Weather Service.

DEC Announces March 17 Environmental Justice Listening Session in Elmira

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the seventh in its series of environmental justice (EJ) listening sessions, scheduled for March 17, 2026, at Elmira College in Stephans Lounge, Meier Hall. The session aims to support meaningful engagement with communities that have EJ concerns, with doors opening at 4:30 p.m. and formal remarks beginning at 6:30 p.m. Attendees can participate in a resource fair and round-table discussions on climate adaptation, green and sustainable remediation, and access to public lands, while DEC will also present information on available grant and technical assistance opportunities.

Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Approves $41.78M in Loans at February 2026 Meeting

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees approved $41,780,305 in new low-interest loans at its February 4, 2026 meeting. Falmouth received $41,296,305 at 0% interest for Phase 1 of its traditional wastewater alternatives project, while Nahant received $84,000 at 2% interest for an infiltration and inflow study. Bridgewater received $400,000 at 2% interest through the Community Septic Management Program. The Trust, in partnership with the US EPA and MassDEP, helps communities finance water infrastructure through the Massachusetts State Revolving Funds.

MassDEP Fines Geraghty Associates $17,400 for Illegal Mattress Dumping in Mattapan

MassDEP assessed a $17,400 penalty to Geraghty Associates, Inc. for illegal mattress dumping in Mattapan, Boston. The Environmental Strike Force deployed hidden surveillance cameras on Livermore Street after the City of Boston recovered and disposed of approximately 150 mattresses from the area over the past year. The cameras captured vehicles registered to Geraghty Associates dumping mattresses on City-owned property on at least three separate occasions.

MassDEP and DPH Joint Statement on Trump Administration Climate Finding Rollback

MassDEP Commissioner Bonnie Heiple and DPH Commissioner Robbie Goldstein issued a joint statement on February 12, 2026, responding to the Trump Administration's decision to eliminate the endangerment finding. The statement condemns the rollback as dismantling a critical tool for protecting public health and pledges continued commitment to reducing asthma and improving air quality in Massachusetts. The commissioners warn that seniors, children, and asthma sufferers will bear the brunt of increased pollution from the federal action.