DEC Forest Rangers - 2025 Actions and Deployments

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released a review of Forest Ranger actions in 2025, detailing 362 search and rescue missions, 2025 wildfires, and over 1,100 arrests and tickets. The report also highlights deployments to other states and specific rescue incidents.

DEC Environmental Justice Listening Session Announced

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced an environmental justice listening session to be held in Plattsburgh on March 11, 2026. This session is part of a series aimed at enhancing engagement with communities facing environmental justice concerns and prioritizing future outreach efforts.

DEC Conducts Prescribed Fire at Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced it will conduct a prescribed burn at Wilson Hill Wildlife Management Area. The burn, planned for February 27, 2026, aims to improve wetland habitat by controlling invasive Phragmites.

DEC Environmental Justice Listening Session in Elmira

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced an environmental justice listening session in Elmira on March 17, 2026. This session is part of an ongoing series to enhance engagement with communities with environmental justice concerns and to prioritize future outreach efforts.

Illinois EPA Funding for Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water

The Illinois EPA announced over $40 million in grant funding for small or disadvantaged communities to address emerging contaminants like PFAS and Manganese in drinking water. Applications are due by August 31, 2026, with a maximum award of $15 million per applicant.

Illinois EPA Issues Health Advisory for 6:2 FTS in Groundwater

The Illinois EPA has issued a health advisory for 6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTS) in groundwater, based on sampling of community water supplies. This advisory provides a guidance level for the chemical, which lacks a specific groundwater standard, and supplements existing PFAS advisories.

Illinois EPA Notifies Dupo Water System of PFOS Detection

The Illinois EPA has notified the Village of Dupo Community Water System that recent sampling detected PFOS at 4.5 parts per trillion, exceeding the federal MCL and state groundwater quality standard of 4 ppt. The notice triggers Right-to-Know requirements for the water system to inform its customers of the detection and potential exposure risks.

Illinois EPA Notifies Elburn Water System of PFOA Detection

The Illinois EPA has notified the Elburn Community Water System that PFOA was detected in groundwater samples at levels exceeding federal and state standards. The notice triggers Right-to-Know requirements for the water system to inform its customers about the detection and potential exposure risks.

Illinois EPA Offers $7M for Wastewater Resilience Grants

The Illinois EPA is offering $7 million in grant funding through the Resilient Energy for Wastewater Infrastructure (REWI) Grant Program. Publicly owned wastewater treatment plants can apply for awards ranging from $200,000 to $2,000,000 to enhance energy resilience with solar energy systems and battery storage. The application period closes on April 30, 2026.

MassDEP Fines Company $21,000 for Waste Oil Spill

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has fined N.R. Underwood & Sons Enterprises, Inc. $21,000 for violating waste oil spill reporting and cleanup regulations. The company failed to promptly notify MassDEP of a spill and began cleanup without proper authorization and oversight.

MassDEP Launches Real-Time Ocean Monitoring in Boston Harbor

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has launched a new real-time ocean monitoring system in Boston Harbor. This system, part of the Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS) network, will provide data on currents, winds, and weather to aid navigation and prevent oil spills.

Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Approves $41.8M in Loans

The Massachusetts Clean Water Trust approved $41.8 million in new low-interest loans for water infrastructure projects at its February 4, 2026 meeting. These loans will fund projects aimed at improving water quality, ensuring drinking water safety, and protecting public health in communities across the Commonwealth.

MassDEP Fines Geraghty Associates for Illegal Dumping

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) has fined Geraghty Associates, Inc. $17,400 for violating solid waste disposal regulations by illegally dumping mattresses. The company, which manages hundreds of apartment units, was caught on surveillance cameras dumping mattresses on city-owned property.

MassDEP and DPH Statement on Trump Administration Climate Finding Rollback

The Massachusetts Departments of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Public Health (DPH) issued a joint statement criticizing the Trump Administration's decision to eliminate the endangerment finding for greenhouse gases. The agencies argue this rollback dismantles a key tool for public health protection and will disrupt progress in addressing climate change and improving air quality in Massachusetts.

ISF (USA), LLC Enforcement Action Comment Period

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has opened a comment period for a proposed enforcement action against ISF (USA), LLC concerning violations of water control statutes and regulations. The public can submit comments on the proposed Consent Order from February 9, 2026, to March 11, 2026.

Gemini Inc. Enforcement Action Proposed

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has proposed an enforcement action against Gemini Incorporated for violations of air pollution control laws. A public comment period is open from February 9, 2026, to March 11, 2026, regarding the proposed Consent Order.

MHF Properties LLC Enforcement Action Comment Period

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has opened a public comment period for a proposed enforcement action against MHF Properties, LLC. The action concerns alleged violations of water control statutes and regulations at their facility in King William County, Virginia. The comment period runs from February 9, 2026, to March 11, 2026.

Nestle Purina Enforcement Action - Air Pollution Violations

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has proposed an enforcement action against Nestle Purina PetCare Company for alleged violations of air pollution statutes and regulations at its King William County facility. A public comment period is open from February 11, 2026, to March 13, 2026, regarding a proposed Consent Order.

Scottsville Estates LLC and Mr. Sunil Kappor Enforcement Action

The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has proposed an enforcement action against Scottsville Estates LLC and Mr. Sunil Kappor for violations of State Water Control Law and permit regulations. A public comment period is open from February 12, 2026, to March 14, 2026.

California Hazardous Waste Management Plan Approved

The California Board of Environmental Safety has approved the Department of Toxic Substances Control's 2025 Hazardous Waste Management Plan. The plan aims to modernize hazardous waste systems, reduce hazardous waste generation by 40%, and divert waste from landfills through recycling and other circular economy techniques.

DTSC Strengthens Environmental Protections for Ecobat Lead Recycling Facility

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued strengthened 10-year operating and post-closure permits for the Ecobat lead recycling facility in Los Angeles County. The decision includes expanded environmental monitoring, facility upgrades, and increased financial accountability, following extensive community input.

DTSC Finds Chiquita Canyon LLC Out of Compliance, Subject to Penalties

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued a Determination of Non-Compliance to Chiquita Canyon LLC, Chiquita Canyon, Inc., and Waste Connections US, Inc. The companies face daily fines of $25,000 until they provide an adequate plan to address ongoing environmental threats from the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

DTSC Orders Emergency Cleanup of Toxic Contamination

The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) has issued an order to Magellan Aerospace and Market Creek Plaza LLC requiring immediate cleanup of trichloroethylene (TCE) contamination in San Diego. The order mandates vapor mitigation, sampling, and investigation of soil, soil vapor, and groundwater.

TCEQ Approves $1.9 Million in Environmental Fines Against 71 Entities

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved penalties totaling $1,909,731 against 71 regulated entities for violations of state environmental regulations. The fines cover various categories including air quality, wastewater discharge, and public water systems.

TCEQ Approves $747,064 in Environmental Fines

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has approved penalties totaling $747,064 against 63 entities for violations of state environmental regulations. The fines cover various categories including air quality, water quality, and waste management. These actions represent final enforcement orders.

TCEQ Fines Totaling $426,198.73 Against 65 Entities

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved penalties totaling $426,198.73 against 65 entities for violations of state environmental regulations. The penalties include agreed orders for multi-media, wastewater, and petroleum storage tank violations, as well as default orders for multi-media and solid waste violations.

TCEQ Approves $661,093 in Environmental Fines

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) approved penalties totaling $661,093 against 69 entities for violations of state environmental regulations. The fines cover various categories including air quality, wastewater discharge, and solid waste management.

FDA Draft Guidance on Medical Gases Certification Process

The FDA has issued draft guidance for industry on the certification process for designated medical gases. This guidance explains the certification process and annual reporting requirements, aiming to reduce regulatory burden for the medical gas industry. Comments are due by April 13, 2026.

FDA Guidance: Plausible Mechanism Framework for Individualized Genetic Therapies

The FDA has issued draft guidance outlining a plausible mechanism framework for developing individualized genetic therapies. This framework provides recommendations for generating substantial evidence of effectiveness and safety for these novel treatments. The comment period for this draft guidance closes on April 27, 2026.

FDA Draft Guidance Q&A on Food Traceability Records

The FDA has issued draft guidance in a Q&A format to help industry understand the requirements for additional traceability records for certain foods, as established by a final rule in 2022. Comments on this draft guidance are due by May 21, 2026.

FDA Guidance on Antimicrobial Drug Durations for Food Animals

The FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has issued guidance for sponsors of new animal drug applications concerning medically important antimicrobial drugs used in food-producing animals. The guidance aims to facilitate voluntary changes to define durations of use for these drugs to mitigate antimicrobial resistance.

Korn v. Meta Platforms - Personal Injury Product Liability

A civil case, Korn v. Meta Platforms, Inc. et al, was filed on February 27, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case involves personal injury and product liability claims against Meta Platforms, Inc., ByteDance, Inc., Google LLC, Snap, Inc., and others. The filing includes a complaint detailing the allegations.

Go Raw LLC Expands Cat Food Recall for Low Thiamine Levels

Go Raw LLC is expanding its voluntary recall of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe products due to low thiamine levels. The company is also stopping the sale of all Quest products until the issue is resolved. The expanded recall affects products distributed nationwide.

EPA Adds PFAS to Toxics Release Inventory

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) beginning with the 2026 reporting year. This final rule mandates reporting for facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use these chemicals.

EPA Proposes Illinois Regional Haze Plan Approval

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed approving Illinois's regional haze plan for the second implementation period. This action addresses the interstate transport of air pollution related to the 2012 PM2.5 and 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The public comment period for this proposed rule closes on March 30, 2026.

EPA Proposes Clean Data Determination for Cleveland Ozone Area

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a clean data determination for the Cleveland, Ohio area concerning the 2015 ozone standard. This action is part of the EPA's air plan approval process for Ohio. The public comment period for this proposed rule closes on March 30, 2026.

EPA Proposes Indiana VOC RACT Alternative Control Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a rule to approve an alternative control rule for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) in Indiana. This proposed rule is open for public comment until March 30, 2026.

EPA Proposes Ohio SIP Approval for VOC/NOX RACT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed approval of Ohio's State Implementation Plan (SIP) revisions concerning Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT). This proposal includes source-specific RACT requirements and SIP strengthening measures for Ohio.

EPA Extends 2025 GHG Reporting Deadline

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the deadline for reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for the 2025 reporting year. Facilities now have until October 30, 2026, to submit their reports, an extension from the original deadline.

EPA Revises Pyridate Pesticide Tolerances

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published a final rule revising tolerances for the pesticide pyridate. This action amends existing regulations regarding pesticide residue limits on various crops, impacting food manufacturers and agricultural firms.

EPA Proposes Michigan Air Rules for VOC/NOx RACT

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed new air quality rules for Michigan concerning Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) related to the 2015 ozone standards. The proposal is open for public comment until March 30, 2026.

NIST Report on Adjoint Methods for Sensitivity Analysis

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has published a report detailing the physical interpretation of adjoint methods for sensitivity analysis in computational modeling. This document, Part I of a series, aims to demystify the adjoint method for engineers and scientists by grounding it in physical principles.

Automated Polymer Library for Materials Science Literature Curation

NIST has published a notice detailing an automated approach to curating materials science literature, specifically for dynamic polymers. This method aims to streamline data extraction for AI model training and trend identification in materials science research.

Influence of Ligament Size on Charpy Impact Test Results

NIST published a study on the influence of ligament size and tolerances on Charpy impact test results. The study supports a proposal to revise ASTM standards to align with ISO 148-1 regarding ligament length specifications.

NIST Develops New Gas Flow Standard

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has developed a new Semiconductor Low Flow Standard (SLowFlowS) capable of measuring gas flows as low as 0.01 standard cm³/min. This development aims to improve accuracy in determining small volumes for ultra-low flowrate measurements.

End-effector Pose Extrapolation using Wireless Channel State Information

NIST has published a paper detailing a method for end-effector pose extrapolation using wireless channel state information. The research demonstrates improvements in physical robot performance by adapting to real-time radio frequency channel conditions, potentially leading to wider adoption of wireless technology in industrial settings.

Shao v. US Dept of State - Other Immigration Actions

The US District Court for the Northern District of California has filed a new civil case, Shao v. US Dept of State, Case Number 5:26-cv-01434-NC. The case involves 'Other Immigration Actions' with the US Government as a defendant. A proposed summons was filed on February 27, 2026.

Gender Recognition (Disclosure of Information) Order 2026

The UK Secretary of State has issued the Gender Recognition (Disclosure of Information) (England) Order 2026, effective March 20, 2026. This order permits authorized disclosure of protected information for a specific data linkage study related to gender identity services and revokes a previous order from 2022.

FTC, State AGs reach $100M Walmart settlement for deception

The FTC and 10 State Attorneys General have reached a $100 million settlement with Walmart over allegations of deceiving drivers and customers in its Spark Driver Program. Walmart will pay drivers up to $79 million and implement an earnings verification program for 10 years.

NHTSA Automated Vehicle Safety Public Meeting

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced a public meeting on automated vehicle safety to be held on March 10, 2026. The meeting aims to gather input on the safety aspects of automated driving systems. Registration is required by March 5, 2026.