Sen. Hufstedler's bill would require PFAS notification to public treatment works Senate Bill 538 would require manufacturers or large dischargers to notify municipal wastewater systems if PFAS compounds are being sent to publicly owned treatment works; witnesses said disclosure would aid local planning and prevent unrecognized contamination of effluent and biosolids.

A new Senate bill aims to enhance transparency by requiring manufacturers to notify municipal wastewater operators about PFAS discharges, sparking hope for better local planning and contamination prevention.

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#GA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #GeorgiaWastewater

Comisión de la Cámara abre investigación sobre canalización del río Piedras; municipio de San Juan exige transparencia y convoca mesas comunitarias La Comisión de Adultos Mayores y Bienestar Social de la Cámara de Representantes inició la investigación ordenada por la Resolución de la Cámara 438 sobre el proyecto de canalización del río Piedras; el municipio de San Juan pidió información clara, entregará comunicaciones solicitadas en cinco días y solicitará reunión con el Cuerpo de Ingenieros.

La Comisión de la Cámara de Puerto Rico inicia una investigación crucial sobre la canalización del río Piedras, mientras el municipio de San Juan exige transparencia y participación comunitaria.

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#US #SanJuanCommunities #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency

Virginia Senate water subcommittee advances bill to limit PFAS in biosolids The Water Subcommittee voted 3-0 to report a substitute for House Bill 1443 to the Senate Finance Committee after testimony that the measure would set tiered PFAS thresholds (25–50 micrograms/kg annual average), require retesting for spikes at 75 micrograms/kg and create a work group to monitor and tighten standards over time.

Virginia's Senate Water Subcommittee just took a crucial step in tackling harmful "forever chemicals" by advancing a bill that sets strict limits on PFAS in biosolids!

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#VA #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #VirginiaBiosolids #WaterQuality

Advocates press DEP for more air, soil and lead-pipe transparency; DEP points to mapping tools Community groups asked for more air monitoring and transparent lead-pipe data; DEP highlighted the PLEM lead-exposure mapping tool, a contaminated-sites explorer and stationary and mobile air monitors as resources and encouraged community-led monitoring and partner organizations for technical support.

Residents are demanding better access to crucial environmental data as they tackle the hidden dangers of lead and PFAS contamination in their communities.

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#NJ #CitizenPortal #NewJerseyEnvironment #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalTransparency #CommunityMonitoring

Experts urge mandatory disclosure and financial assurance for refinery cleanup costs Researchers, Water Boards and environmental attorneys told the committee that refinery operators often do not disclose asset‑retirement obligations and that the state should adopt standardized cost estimates and financial assurance to prevent liabilities shifting to communities.

Senate experts reveal shocking gaps in refinery cleanup cost disclosures, warning that communities may bear the brunt of hidden liabilities.

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#CA #FinancialAssurance #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #PublicHealthSafety

Panel weighs repeal of Fish and Wildlife fee‑setting authority amid access concerns Legislative counsel told the committee the miscellaneous tax bill would remove the commissioner of Fish and Wildlife’s delegated authority to set fees for use of lands, roads and facilities; environmental advocates urged transparency and warned fees could restrict public access. The department will report back with recommended fees in January 2027.

A proposed tax bill could strip the Fish and Wildlife commissioner of the power to set fees for public lands, raising serious concerns about access and equity for all Vermonters.

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#VT #CitizenPortal #VermontFishAndWildlife #EnvironmentalTransparency #PublicAccess #FeeReform

Flood Zone 9 liaison warns FEMA ruling delays removal of fish ladder and other projects; county pledges more transparency Flood Zone 9 liaison Chris Martin told the council FEMA will not approve removal of Building Bridge 2 or the Ross fish ladder until downstream mitigation measures are completed; the county had known about the ruling before the advisory board meeting, prompting calls for better transparency.

FEMA's recent ruling has thrown a wrench in crucial flood-risk projects in Ross, leaving residents and officials scrambling for solutions and clarity.

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#RossMarinCounty #CA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #PublicSafety #RossFloodManagement #CommunityPlanning

Residents press Hempstead board for stronger battery storage rules as moratorium review continues At the Feb. 10 meeting residents urged the Hempstead Town Board to extend protections, issue a positive declaration and adopt strict setbacks for battery energy storage systems (BESS), citing an Island Park permit and safety concerns; the board said the moratorium had been extended through August and research is ongoing.

Residents are demanding stronger regulations for battery energy storage systems, highlighting safety concerns and a lack of transparency from the Hempstead Town Board.

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#NY #CommunityEngagement #CitizenPortal #NewYorkBatteryStorage #EnvironmentalTransparency #PublicSafety

Carbon-credit bill draws extensive public comment; committee adopts amendment and holds HB 185 for more work Representative Shelly's bill to tax and regulate carbon-credit sales drew lengthy testimony from state officials, rural and agricultural stakeholders and industry. The committee adopted Amendment 1 to the second substitute and then voted to 'hold' the bill to allow further stakeholder engagement and drafting changes.

A contentious carbon-credit bill in Utah faces pushback from agricultural stakeholders as lawmakers pause for further negotiations after adopting key amendments.

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#UT #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #StakeholderEngagement #AgriculturalRegulation

Subcommittee lays on table bill requiring 24‑hour public notice after extended generator events After debate and testimony from environmental and industry witnesses, the subcommittee voted 9–1 to lay on the table HB154, which would have required public notice within 24 hours when data‑center backup generators run beyond routine testing.

A proposed bill in Virginia aimed at ensuring public transparency on data-center backup generator use was laid on the table despite strong advocacy from environmental supporters.

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#VA #VirginiaCommunities #CitizenPortal #CivicEngagement #EnvironmentalTransparency #PublicDisclosure

Neighbors press Augusta officials on health, noise, water and transparency around QTS plan Residents at a town‑hall near Haines Station raised concerns about generator noise and emissions, water use, property‑value impacts and inadequate notification of rezoning; city planners and QTS promised follow‑ups and an additional meeting in May.

Residents of Augusta are demanding answers on health and noise concerns as a new data center plans to set up just feet from their homes—will their voices be heard?

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#AugustaCityRichmondCounty #GA #PublicHealth #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #AugustaHainesStation

State Water Board adopts 2026 Integrated Report and 303(d) impaired waters list, adds new '5‑bio' subcategory for benthic effects The board unanimously adopted the 2026 Integrated Report/Section 303(d) list after staff refined benthic community assessment methods and added a new subcategory, 5‑bio, for waters with degraded benthic biology and at least one associated pollutant; staff will submit the list to US EPA by April 1, 2026.

California's State Water Board just made a groundbreaking decision by adopting the 2026 Integrated Report and introducing a new '5-bio' subcategory to tackle water bodies with degraded benthic biology!

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#CA #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency #WaterResourceManagement

House panel backs HB 296 to let water suppliers include Great Salt Lake commitments in conservation plans HB 296 would allow retail water suppliers and conservancy districts to record commitments of water to the Great Salt Lake within their required conservation plans, a change sponsors say improves transparency and could spur more aggressive conservation and reuse planning.

A new bill in Utah aims to transform how water suppliers manage their resources by committing to conservation efforts for the Great Salt Lake, potentially revolutionizing water usage in the region.

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#UT #ResourceManagement #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency

TCEQ adopts public‑participation rule changes after one public criticizes package The TCEQ adopted amendments to 30 TAC Chapters 39 and 55 to expand and clarify public‑participation procedures required by the Sunset bill; Public Citizen criticized the final package as weakened and insufficiently responsive to community comments, while OPIC and staff defended the adopted changes.

The TCEQ's recent rule changes aim to enhance public participation in environmental decisions, but critics argue they still favor industry over community voices.

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#TX #CommunityEngagement #PublicCommentAccess #TexasPublicParticipation #EnvironmentalTransparency

Data‑center siting and transparency bill debated; committee ultimately refers measure to local government after reconsideration Senate Bill 552 would require applicant‑funded site assessments and statewide standards for large data centers, plus public hearings and utility‑infrastructure disclosure. Environmental groups supported transparency; the data‑center industry and trades opposed duplication and competitiveness impacts. After procedural activity and reconsideration, the committee reported and referred the bill to Local Government.

Senate Bill 552 is sparking fierce debate as it aims to impose stringent requirements on large data centers, balancing environmental concerns with industry pushback.

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#VA #SustainableDevelopment #EnvironmentalTransparency #VirginiaDataCenters #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal

Granbury council approves annexation of 2,090 acres despite residents’ water, health and transparency concerns Granbury City Council adopted ordinance 26-02 to accept Granbury Ready Land Partners’ petition to voluntarily annex 2,090 acres known as Knox Ranch at 2801 W. Highway 377. Residents urged delay, citing water use, proximity to schools and calls for environmental studies; staff said no development application has been filed.

Granbury City Council just approved the annexation of 2,090 acres of Knox Ranch, igniting fierce public outcry over potential health and environmental risks near schools and nursing homes.

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#GranburyHoodCounty #TX #PublicHealth #GranburyEnvironment #EnvironmentalTransparency

Residents demand transparency and studies as council hears objections to Puerto Verde bridge and Rio Grande work Multiple residents and local groups urged the Eagle Pass City Council to delay action and demand full disclosure about the Puerto Verde bridge project and federal buoy/river work, citing potential environmental harm, reduced public access and unassessed health and economic impacts.

Residents in Eagle Pass are raising alarms over a controversial bridge project, claiming it could jeopardize public access and the health of the Rio Grande.

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#EaglePassMaverickCounty #TX #PublicAccess #EaglePassEnvironment #EnvironmentalTransparency #CitizenPortal

Public raises concerns about sewage trucking, county staff say deep injection wells were used and permitted Public commenters asked where sewage trucked during wet-weather events went and whether the county complied with treatment and reporting requirements; county staff said the loads were routed to Sykes Creek deep injection wells and that processes were permitted, while some commenters alleged overcapacity and consent-order issues.

Residents are raising serious concerns about the county's sewage trucking practices and the potential environmental impact—what's really going on with Sykes Creek?

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#BrevardCounty #FL #SewageManagement #PublicHealth #BrevardCountyEnvironment #EnvironmentalTransparency

Community groups urge clear application limits and public data on crop acreage and nitrogen use Public commenters urged the panel to identify regional final application limits, to phase provisional limits down to protect drinking-water users, and to publish surface-area data and more granular producer-level information to assess policy effectiveness.

Community advocates are demanding urgent action to set strict limits on nitrogen use and push for transparency in data reporting to protect California's drinking water.

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#CA #WaterQuality #AgriculturalPolicy #EnvironmentalTransparency #CitizenPortal

State Water Board reviews FY24-25 performance report, notes dip in permitting targets State Water Resources Control Board staff presented the FY24-25 web-based performance report, highlighting interactive dashboards and statewide results: inspections met 83% of targets, permitting met 42%, and other targets met 56%. Staff cited a recent Supreme Court ruling, regulatory transitions, and staffing limits as causes for a temporary dip.

The State Water Resources Control Board just unveiled an interactive performance report that reveals a concerning dip in permitting targets—what does this mean for California's water management?

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#CA #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #DataDrivenDecisions #EnvironmentalTransparency

Water Board to publish BeachWatch postings, stations and monitoring results to California Open Data Portal State Water Board staff said they will publish four BeachWatch-derived datasets (postings/closures, monitoring-station locations, beach metadata, and monitoring results) to the California Open Data Portal and demonstrated prototype visualizations for county- and statewide advisory trends.

The California State Water Board is set to release crucial BeachWatch datasets that will enhance public access to beach safety and availability information.

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#CA #CitizenPortal #OpenData #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalTransparency

State Water panel weighs CVSwap modeling, crop-based metrics and interim nitrate targets for irrigated lands An expert panel convened by the State Water Resources Control Board reviewed modeling choices (CVSwap), debated metrics for measuring nitrogen losses from irrigated lands and discussed interim benchmark ranges (roughly 80–90% in some proposals), while public commenters urged stronger interim limits and greater acreage transparency.

California's expert panel is tackling how to effectively measure and reduce nitrate discharges from agricultural lands, but the debate over benchmarks and transparency is heating up!

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#CA #CitizenPortal #AgriculturalSustainability #WaterManagement #EnvironmentalTransparency

Nonattainment-area air pollution mitigation enterprise board approves draft FY27 budget, affirms grant awards and dashboard plans The Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Enterprise board approved a draft fiscal 2027 budget 4–0, discussed previously awarded grants totaling $17.3 million to 11 grantees, received a legal update on an appeal in the Americans for Prosperity challenge to SB 21-260, and reviewed plans for a public accountability dashboard.

The Nonattainment Area Air Pollution Mitigation Board just approved a $17.4 million budget for FY27, paving the way for significant clean transportation initiatives and enhanced public transparency!

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#CO #CitizenPortal #EnvironmentalTransparency

Public commenters press board on EPA document access, Bay‑Delta voluntary agreements and worker safety During public forum, conservation and community groups raised concerns about EPA instructions to withhold a document from a regional commission, urged the board to reject voluntary agreements for the Bay‑Delta plan, and asked the board to consider presentations on waste‑worker fatalities and workplace safety nexus with water quality.

Public forum attendees are demanding transparency and regulatory action to protect the Bay-Delta, while raising alarming concerns about worker safety and environmental degradation.

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#CA #CitizenPortal #WildlifeProtection #WorkerSafety #EnvironmentalTransparency

Residents raise environmental and transparency concerns as redevelopment staff explain LLCs and $450,000 payment tied to solar and data center projects Public speakers pressed the council over alleged pollution, backup generators and noncompetitive land deals linked to Project Maze. City redevelopment counsel and staff said two short‑term LLCs were created to meet statutory rules for an economic improvement district (EID), that the developer pledged $450,000 for housing, and that deeds reflecting“

Residents of Michigan City are sounding the alarm over potential pollution and lack of transparency tied to redevelopment projects, demanding immediate action from the council.

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#MichiganCityLaPorteCounty #IN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #EnvironmentalTransparency

Division Establishes Database for Transparency in Environmental Product Declarations Legislation mandates development of a public database for environmental product transparency by 2029

Massachusetts is paving the way for a greener future by mandating a public database for environmental product transparency by 2029!

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#MA #CitizenPortal #SustainableProducts #LegislativeInnovation #EnvironmentalTransparency

Conservation Committee Reviews Wetland Boundaries in Cranberry Bog Site Near Route 44 Committee seeks confirmation of wetland boundaries and differences in NRAD approvals.

The Lakeville Conservation Commission is diving deep into the mysteries of wetland boundaries in a vital conservation area—will they clear up the confusion surrounding the unlocated NRAD?

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#MA #CitizenPortal #WetlandProtection #EnvironmentalTransparency #HabitatConservation

Congratulations to our founder and CEO John Amos for being named one of Forbes' 2025 Sustainability Leaders!

See Forbes’ full list here: www.forbes.com/sites/elisab...

#ForbesSustainabilityLeaders #SkyTruth #EnvironmentalTransparency #SatelliteMonitoring #Sustainability #ClimateLeadership

A new study reveals that 'independent' auditors may overvalue carbon credits due to hidden incentives, risking the integrity of these environmental efforts. 🌍🔍 Link: https://tinyurl.com/22svzsry #CarbonCredits #ClimateAccountability #EnvironmentalTransparency

Massachusetts Legislation Mandates Cost Benefit Statements for Water Regulations New law requires EEA to assess financial impacts of water-related regulations for transparency.

Massachusetts is paving the way for smarter environmental regulation by mandating cost-benefit analyses for water-related rules, ensuring communities can make informed financial decisions!

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#MA #CitizenPortal #WaterInfrastructure #EnvironmentalTransparency #SustainableRegulations