Your Environment Update Archives

Clairton Coke Works, near Pittsburgh, is Allegheny County's largest single source of particle pollution. Photo: Reid R. Frazier

What You Need to Know About Air Quality, the U.S. Steel Settlement and Temperature Inversions

Kara HolsoppleJanuary 10, 2020

We discuss the settlement of a class action lawsuit against U.S. Steel and how the Christmas temperature inversion that made Pittsburgh's air smell like "rotten eggs, sewer backup, burning plastic and hospital waste."

HealthPollutionYour Environment Update

Trump on Earth Podcast: Strengthening Transparency or Silencing Science?

Julie GrantJanuary 10, 2020

A new rule proposed by the Trump administration would limit scientific studies that use confidential health data when setting public health regulations.

HealthPodcastsYour Environment Update

Rising Waters: Aging Levees, Climate Change and the Challenge to Hold Back the Ohio River

Liam NiemeyerDecember 18, 2019

Record rainfall and more intense storms are hitting towns along the Ohio River. With climate changing predicted to bring even more rain, will aging flood protection hold?

Climate ChangeGood RiverYour Environment Update

RiverWise Brings Sustainability to Beaver County

Kara HolsoppleDecember 13, 2019

Daniel Rossi-Keen, the group's executive director, says the debate around the ethane cracker being built in his county is predictable. Instead of being for or against it, his group is ready to "do the hard work of developing healthy and creative community together."

CultureGood RiverThe Coming Chemical BoomWaterYour Environment Update

How Much Green infrastructure Will Be Included in ALCOSAN’s $2 Billion Upgrade to Prevent Sewage Overflows?

PublicSourceDecember 13, 2019

The agency's preliminary analysis shows green infrastructure is more expensive to use to prevent sewage entering rivers than pipes and other gray infrastructure in most locations.

PollutionWaterYour Environment Update

New Book from Longtime Environmentalist Offers Advice to the New Generation Solving the Climate Crisis

Kara HolsoppleDecember 6, 2019

Larry Schweiger says the next generation of leaders needs to understand what they're facing so they can be more equipped to fight.

Climate ChangeYour Environment Update

What’s the Future of Global Climate Policies? We Talk with Obama’s Chief Climate Negotiator

Reid FrazierDecember 4, 2019

Now that President Trump has announced the U.S. is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, does Todd Stern think there's any hope for meaningful action on climate change?

Climate ChangePodcastsPoliticsYour Environment Update

After the Murray Energy Bankruptcy, What’s the Future of Coal?

Reid FrazierNovember 20, 2019

Bob Murray, CEO of Murray Energy, gave President Trump an 'action plan' to save coal. So now what?

EnergyPodcastsYour Environment Update

AP: FBI Is Investigating Wolf Administration’s Issuing of Mariner East Pipeline Permits

StateImpact PennsylvaniaNovember 13, 2019

FBI agents have interviewed current or former state employees in recent weeks about the Mariner East project, which has a long track record of drilling mud spills, fines and regulatory shutdowns.

EnergyFollow the PipelinePoliticsYour Environment Update

Trump Administration Proposes Rollbacks for Two Obama-Era Coal Pollution Rules

Reid FrazierNovember 4, 2019

The rules include an extension for the closure of unlined coal ash lagoons. A recent study has shown more than 90% of these sites are leaking arsenic and other toxins at levels exceeding EPA health standards.

EnergyHealthPollutionYour Environment Update

Full Episodes

Episode for April 18, 2025

Episode for April 11, 2025

Episode for April 4, 2025

Trump on Earth

Trump grants exemptions from mercury rules for coal-fired power plants, including several in Pennsylvania

Trump moves to quickly slash federal regulations, target state and corporate climate efforts

Advocates, environmentalists split as Trump signs orders to bolster coal industry

Your Environment Update