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The article offers updates related to environmental protection initiatives in the U.S. President Barack Obama and his administration has expressed their intention to strengthen air pollution and mercury policies for the optimization of environmental enforcement. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed implementation of the 1997 8-Hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality standards. The McIlvaine Co. reveals that the $6 billion stimulus package for water industry is expected to improve and expand water infrastructure projects which includes clean and purified water.

The article discusses several state rules in the U.S. It says that the proposed amendment on watersupply regulation in Alabama addresses the new groundwater facilities' physical requirements. It adds that Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed two bills for the mercury management in thermostats and vehicles. It mentions that an operating permit from federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was issued to Blue Plains Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility in Virginia that limits nitrogen waste.

The author reflects on the changes made to the environmental regulation in the U.S. He mentions that as carbon emission became the main issue in the Congress, sooner there will be requirements to monitor and tally all carbon emissions from a facility, new rules for mining companies and electric utilities and a discharge limit of water. He states that these changes to environmental regulation will soon lead affected industries to go after Congressional Committee or a federal agency.

The article reports on a delayed announcement of Steven Johnson, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator (EPA) on a new smog standard that lowered the acceptable ozone levels from 80 to 75 part per billion released by EPA in March 2008. It is stated that EPA wanted to make the standard tougher and that Office of the Management and Budget objected with regards to its cost that caused the standard to be weakened. Furthermore, setting new standards confused the agency. Johnson states that U.S. President George Bush let him made the final determination.

The article offers information on the Semiannual Regulatory Agenda of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The document is issued twice a year which contains EPA regulations, existing policy initiatives and policies completed/cancelled in the previous agenda. The author expresses that the agenda condense and organize the information into useful, accessible resource. She adds that the agenda are organized according to pre-rulemaking, proposed rulemaking, final rulemaking and long-term rulemaking so that people may be aware of the policies and actions developed by EPA.

This article states that after the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Nov. 1, 2006 in a complex Clean Air Act case, attorneys who faced the justices' questions did not want to predict the outcome. A ruling in the case, Environmental Defense v. Duke Energy Corp., is expected by July 2007. The case involves Environmental Protection Agency "new source" rules under the clean air law that take effect when modifications to existing plants increase emissions of pollutants.

The article reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued new standards for recycling cathode ray tubes or CRTs. The EPA simplified federal hazardous waste management requirements for CRTs and CRT glass for recycling. The streamlined standards were issued to increase collection and recycling of CRT and thereby save energy, conserve resources, allow recovery of lead to be reused and reduce lead sent to landfills. EPA Assistant Administrator Susan Bodine said the new rule will encourage reuse and recycling of CRTs for productive use rather than being sent to landfills. Under the new rule, used, unbroken CRTs are not classified as hazardous wastes as long as they are not stored for more than a year.

This article examines the new rules on low-sulfur diesel fuels published by the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S. in May 2006. The newest addition to the agency's compliment of rules affecting the diesel fuel industry was motivated by the need for additional changes to the regulations. The rules mandate the use of lower-sulfur fuels in diesel engines beginning in 2006 for highway diesel, and 2007 for nonroad diesel fuel. Refiners and importers are required to produce highway diesel fuel meeting a 15-ppm maximum requirement starting in June 2006.

The article presents information on the environmental policy in the United States. In 1990, Congress amended the Clean Air Act (CAA). Recently, a federal appeals court blocked Environmental Protection Agency (EPP) from going forward with new regulations that many claimed were more apparent to increase pollution. According to the court, EPA's changes violated the language of the CAA, and ruled that any such change can only be authorized by Congress. The court has given the Congress an opportunity to step up and clarify some of the legal language in the CAA.

Reports on the environmental policies of various states in the U.S. Arkansas; Florida; Indiana; Massachusetts; Maryland; New Hampshire; Oregon; Utah; Washington.

Reports on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency administrator Mike Leavitt's disclosure of his guiding principles, plans and aspirations for the agency. Environmental protection philosophy that Leavitt intends to follow; Preview of his 500-day action plan to significantly improve the nation's air quality.