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Boston Globe
24 minutes ago
- Boston Globe
US and Mexico sign deal to stop sewage release into Tijuana River
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, who traveled to Mexico to sign the memorandum of understanding with Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Mexico's environment secretary, wrote in a statement that the countries are aiming for a 'permanent, 100% solution.' Under the deal, Mexico agreed to complete an allocation of $93 million toward sanitation infrastructure, and complete all projects by Dec. 31, 2027, the EPA said. The United States, which had withheld funds for water infrastructure improvements on the border, will release money to complete the rehabilitation of a pump station and other projects. Advertisement 'The Trump administration is proud to deliver this massive environmental and national security win for Americans in the San Diego area who have been living with this disgusting raw sewage flowing into their communities for far too long,' Zeldin said in a statement. Advertisement Bárcena Ibarra said in a statement the agreement 'strengthens collaboration to address environmental and health challenges along the northern border.' San Diego County residents have suffered acutely. The Office of the Naval Inspector General this year found that more than 1,100 Navy recruits contracted gastrointestinal illnesses after training in southern San Diego waters. And nearly half of the 40,900 households in the region have experienced health problems, including rashes and shortness of breath, that were most likely attributable to the sewage, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agreement comes three months after Zeldin visited San Diego to begin negotiations with Mexico. It drew praise from local officials, including from Democrats, but some environmental advocates said more needs to be done. Jim Desmond, a Republican supervisor of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, wrote on the social platform X that the announcement 'marks a significant step forward.' He said the federal government had previously failed to hold Mexico accountable for the sewage flowing into California. 'Our beaches must be clean, safe, and open year-round — anything less is unacceptable,' he wrote. Todd Gloria, the mayor of San Diego and a Democrat, thanked Zeldin on X and called the deal 'a huge step toward ending this crisis.' Matthew Tejada, senior vice president of environmental health for the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group, called the agreement a good start. 'It's great that we're starting to roll up our sleeves' on this issue, he said. But he added that the waste-water improvements are enormous and complicated infrastructure projects that are likely going to be hit with unexpected problems, including worsening levels of runoff and sewage exacerbated by climate-fueled storms. 'These are really tough projects to implement, with really elusive outcomes,' he said. Advertisement This article originally appeared in
Newsweek
7 hours ago
- Newsweek
Americans Advised To Avoid the Sun in 16 States
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Americans in at least 16 states could see heightened levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on Friday, according to a forecast published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Why It Matters The EPA cautions that elevated UV radiation levels can increase the risk of skin burns, eye damage and long-term health problems such as skin cancer. What To Know The UV index ranges from 1 to 11. The levels, and their corresponding advice, are: 1-2: Low (minimal risk from UV rays for the average person) Wear sunglasses on bright days. In winter, snow can reflect UV rays and nearly double exposure. Use SPF 15+ sunscreen if you burn easily. 3-5: Moderate (moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure) Cover up, wear a hat and sunglasses. Use SPF 15+ sunscreen. Stay in the shade near midday when the sun is strongest. 6-7: High (high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure) Seek shade during the midday hours. Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and SPF 15+ sunscreen. 8-10: Very High (very high risk of harm; sun protection is essential) Take extra precautions, including wide-brimmed hats and long sleeves. Minimize exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Be aware: white sand and similar surfaces reflect UV rays and increase exposure. 11+: Extreme (extreme risk of harm) Try to avoid sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reapply SPF 30+ sunscreen every 2 hours. Seek shade, wear full coverage, and use sun protection. An EPA forecast map shows which areas could see the highest UV levels on Friday. An EPA forecast map shows which areas could see the highest UV levels on Friday. Environmental Protection Agency According to the EPA's UV index forecast for solar noon—when the sun is at its highest point in the sky—parts of the following states could see levels of at least 11 on Friday. California Nevada Utah Wyoming Arizona Colorado New Mexico Texas Oklahoma Louisiana Mississippi Alabama Georgia Florida North Carolina South Carolina What People Are Saying Antony Young, emeritus professor of experimental photobiology and dermatology at King's College, London, previously told Newsweek: "The UV index [UVI] is a measure of the sunburning power of higher the UVI, the shorter the time you need in the sun to burn." Richard Weller, a professor of medical dermatology at the University of Edinburgh, previously told Newsweek that sunlight can cause photoaging, the premature aging of the skin as a result of prolonged and repeated exposure to UV radiation. "Sunburn is a risk factor for melanoma skin cancer, which is the most serious of the skin cancers." What Happens Next Each day, the UV index forecast map is created using data provided by the National Weather Service, the EPA says.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The Environmental Protection Agency wants to bring back the weed killer dicamba
The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed allowing the weed killer dicamba for genetically engineered soybeans and cotton, two crops that are grown extensively in the United States. This week's recommendation comes after the first Trump administration made the same move, only to have courts block it in 2020 and 2024. This is the first year since 2016 that dicamba has not been allowed to be used on crops, according to Nathan Donley, the environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity, a national conservation nonprofit. Environmental groups say they will once again go to court to try to block it. 'This is an unfortunate roller coaster ride that the country has been in for about 10 years now, and it's just incredibly sad to see our Environmental Protection Agency being hijacked by this administration and facilitating decisions that are objectively going to make our environment less healthy," Donley said. The EPA said via email that it 'will ensure that farmers have the tools they need to protect crops and provide a healthy and affordable food supply for our country' and the agency is 'confident these products won't cause issues for human health or the environment.' The EPA added that the proposal will be open for public comment for 30 days and included a list of proposed guidelines on the use of the three dicamba-containing products in question. Dicamba is a common weed killer and has been used for over 50 years in the U.S., but it has become more widespread on farms in the past decade, according to data from the EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey. Researchers have been working to better understand the health risks it might pose to humans. A 2020 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology found that dicamba exposure was linked to some cancers, including liver cancer and a type of leukemia affecting the blood and bone marrow. Dicamba can also drift far from its intended targets to kill other plants on neighboring farms and in local ecosystems, posing threats to wild flora and fauna, according to the National Wildlife Federation. An agency can tweak a decision after a court strikes it down, and then dicamba would be approved until a new legal challenge succeeds. Past court rulings on dicamba have taken years, 'leaving many farmers with questions and uncertainty in the middle of the growing season,' National Agricultural Law Center staff attorney Brigit Rollins said in a background summary of dicamba legal cases. ___ Follow Melina Walling on X @MelinaWalling and Bluesky @ ___ The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at Melina Walling, The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
