After the Biden administration released a new rule setting standards to limit exposure to silica dust, Appalachian advocates argued it is not enough to stem the region s black lung epidemic. The new rule shrinks in half the allowed exposure limit for crystalline silica during an eight-hour shift. Rebecca Shelton, director of policy for the Appalachian Citizens Law Center, who represents miners in federal black lung disability claims, said while the rule is beneficial since silica dust exposure standards have not been updated in decades, miners are cutting through increasing amounts of rock to get to coal seams, breathing in more and more toxic dust. .
The North Carolina Utilities Commission is giving residents a chance to voice their opinion on a plan which could influence how their electricity is generated and impact costs for years to come. The state is updating its Carbon Plan, and in it Duke Energy is proposing a large-scale expansion of a methane gas plant. The expansion is raising concerns among residents and environmental advocates. .
United Nations experts are raising concerns about chemical giants DuPont and Chemours, saying they ve violated human rights in North Carolina. At a virtual news conference this week, a UN representative said these companies have been releasing harmful PFAS chemicals into the environment near the lower Cape Fear River. Emily Donovan, co-founder of the group Clean Cape Fear, said more than 300 different chemicals in their water led them to seek help from the UN. .
Spokane has joined a lawsuit against the manufacturers of toxic chemicals known as PFAS after the discovery of the chemicals in parts of the city s drinking water. PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are linked to cancer and other health effects and have been found at high levels in the West Plains near Spokane International Airport. Chuck Danner lives in the area and said a test found he had twice the average rate of the chemicals in his blood. .