Johnson County Environmental Department

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		Pollution Rates Rise As Rulings Hamper EPA March 1, 2010 New York Times Thousands of the nation's largest water polluters are outside the reach because the Supreme Court has left uncertain which waterways are protected by that law, according to interviews with regulators.

		'Server' for Cleaner Energy Unveiled February 24, 2010 MSNBC A secretive Silicon Valley startup on Wednesday took the wraps off its cleaner energy product: a fuel cell "server" the size of a parking space that it hopes will allow homes and businesses to generate their own electricity.

Statisticians Reject Global Cooling October 26, 2009 MSNBC An analysis of global temperatures by independent statisticians shows the Earth is still warming and not cooling as some global warming skeptics are claiming.

Ozone Pollution Amplifies Risk of Fatal Respiratory Illnesses March 12, 2009 USA Today For the first time, a large study shows the deadly effects of chronic exposure to ozone, one of the most widespread pollutants in the world and a key component of smog, according to a study in today's New England Journal of Medicine.

What is Indoor airPlus? Homebuyers today are increasingly concerned about the indoor air quality of their homes. Issues like mold, radon, carbon monoxide, and toxic chemicals have received greater attention than ever as poor indoor air quality has been linked to a host of health problems. Builders can employ a variety of construction practices and technologies in their new homes to help address these concerns.

State of Kansas Ozone Designation Recommendations Letter concerning the 8-hour ozone designations recommendations from former Governor Kathleen Sebelius.

Cleaner Air Adds 5 Months to US Life Span, Study Says January 21, 2009 Kansas City Star Take a deep breath and enjoy the fresh air a little longer. Americans have on average an extra five months to live, thanks to environmental regulations that have been cleaning up air pollution.

Start-Ups Put Farm Debris to Use as Fuel January 10, 2009 USAToday Want to see what you'll be pumping into your car in a few years?

California to Curb Truck Emissions December 15, 2008 The Wall Street Journal New regulations in California for heavy-duty diesel trucks could force a sweeping overhaul of the state's trucking industry and pave the way for similar changes elsewhere.

Study: Calif. Air Pollution Kills More Than Car Crashes November 13, 2008 Associated Press Lowering air pollution in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley would save more lives annually than ending all motor vehicle fatalities in the two regions, according to a new study.

Unveiling a Museum, a Pennsylvania Town Remembers the Smog That Killed 20 November 2, 2008 The New York Times When the killer smog rolled into town here in October 1948, 12-year-old Joann Crow thought it was an adventure.

N.J. Vows to 'Race to the Sea' for Wind Power October 7, 2008 MSNBC New Jersey is powering up an ambitious plan to become a world leader in the use of wind-generated energy.

One-Third of U.S. Schools in 'Air Pollution Danger Zone' August 13, 2008 LiveScience As summer vacation ends and children head back to class, they might need a new school supply: face masks.

Drilling for Oil Way, Way Offshore August 18, 2008 Time Anyone who ever doubted the centrality of oil and natural gas to the global economy should have been convinced by the political events of the past few months. As petroleum prices have risen to record levels, the spiraling price of gasoline has become issue number one in the American Presidential election.

Pacific Gas Deal Will Nearly Double USA's Solar Power August 18, 2008 USAToday Electric utilities are warming to solar power in a shift that promises to turbocharge a technology that has been hindered by high prices and slow consumer adoption.

Air Pollution May Hurt the Heart August 13, 2008 WebMD Health News Researchers say breathing in polluted air does more than damage the lungs; it harms the heart, too.

1988 Yellowstone Fires Still Have Impact August 13, 2008 MCNBC If there is a place where heaven and hell meet, it's here. Twenty years ago this summer, a series of wildfires burned 36 percent of America's first national park, scorching huge swaths of pristine forest and killing scores of wild animals. Today, there is new life at Yellowstone National Park, as trees have taken root among the burnt logs that still litter the earth.

America's Untapped Oil July 14, 2008 Newsweek Could the Rockies out-produce Saudi Arabia? Royal Dutch Shell, the international oil giant, thinks the solution to America's oil crisis may lie in the heart of Colorado.

Toyota to Add Solar Panels to Prius Hybrids July 7, 2008 MSNBC Toyota Motor Corp plans to install solar panels on some Prius hybrids in its next remodeling, responding to growing demand for “green” cars amid record-high oil prices, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday.

Honda Rolls Out a New Zero-Emission Car June 16, 2008 MSNBC Honda's new zero-emission, hydrogen fuel cell car rolled off a Japanese production line Monday and is headed to Southern California, where Hollywood is already abuzz over the latest splash in green motoring.

States, Activists Sue EPA Over New Smog Rules May 28, 2008 MSNBC Eleven states on Tuesday sued the Environmental Protection Agency in an effort to overturn what Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal called weak ozone standards.

Sanyo, VW to Develop Batteries for Hybrids May 28, 2008 MSNBC Sanyo and Germany's Volkswagen AG will develop lithium-ion batteries for hybrid vehicles as global automakers race to develop more environmentally friendly technology.

Companies Discover Going Green Pays Off May 22, 2008 USA Today A growing wave of companies in all sectors — technology, financial services, energy, retail, manufacturing — are embracing environmentally safe practices and saving hundreds of millions of dollars, according to corporate leaders and an environmental group's report Tuesday.

Endangered Destinations -- Places, like species, can vanish forever. A look at some unique, imperiled treasures May 15, 2008 US News & World Report First-time visitors to the Great Barrier Reef might think they've swum into an Impressionist painting. The reef—a living kaleidoscope of thousands of species, many unique, threatened, or both—has no equal on Earth, which explains its magnetic appeal to people the world over. Some 2 million tourists flock to northeast Australia every year to experience the wonder of the Coral Sea, and they inject $5.5 billion into the country's economy in the process.

Use of Wind Energy Expected to Grow Dramatically May 13, 2008 Associated Press Two decades from now Americans could get as much electricity from windmills as from nuclear power plants, according to a government report that lays out a possible plan for wind energy growth.

Radon: The Invisible Danger - article Radon: The Silent Killer - video May 5, 2008 NBC Action News When there is visible danger, people do what it takes to protect themselves and their loved ones. But there is a danger you cannot see, feel hear or smell and it could be in your home, slowly and silently claiming lives.

Major Report Links Smog to Death April 22, 2008 MSNBC Short-term exposure to smog, or ozone, is clearly linked to premature deaths that should be taken into account when measuring the health benefits of reducing air pollution, a National Academy of Sciences review concludes.

Spring Clean Your Air April 12, 2008 Newsweek Joe Minott says he sometimes feels like a bit player in a remake of the B-movie classic "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster." On hot, sunny days, when a blanket of smog—a noxious mix of ground-level ozone and other pollutants—darkens the skyline near his Philadelphia home, Minott is loath to venture out. He suffers from an autoimmune disorder called sarcoidosis that affects his lungs.

'Some Pollution is OK' April 3, 2008 KC Community News Johnson County senators, except Wysong, support coal-fired power plants; House members mixed

County Joins Local Leaders in Effort to Reduce Environmental Damage April 3, 2008 KC Community News Johnson County has joined the metro area's Sustainable Skylines initiative.

Hydrogen Highway Hits Roadblock March 31, 2008 Mercury News Four years ago this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order to create a "hydrogen highway" - a network of hydrogen fueling stations where California motorists could fill up fuel cell cars that release no smog, only water vapor.

EPA Tightens Pollution Standards March 13, 2008 Washington Post The Environmental Protection Agency yesterday limited the allowable amount of pollution-forming ozone in the air to 75 parts per billion, a level significantly higher than what the agency's scientific advisers had urged for this key component of unhealthy air pollution.

Olympians Air a Gripe About Beijing March 12, 2008 Los Angeles Times Fearing the pollution, some will train offshore and may wear masks; others talk of skipping all or part of the Summer Games.

Guess who's joining electric car industry? GE March 6, 2008 MSNBC All-electric vehicles got a huge boost this week when General Electric announced two investments it said are aimed at making "electric transportation practical and affordable."

GM Has Lithium-Ion Batteries for Hybrids Figured Out March 4, 2008 USA Today General Motors will begin mass production in 2010 of hybrid vehicles that use lithium-ion batteries, and in many cases, small-displacement turbocharged gasoline engines. The combination will allow the automaker to use the hybrid system on any size vehicle it produces.

Tesla: Little Electric Roadster That Could March 3, 2008 USA Today A little roadster that goes into regular production in two week is already electrifying the auto industry.

Independent-Minded Tinkerer Takes on GM's Vital Volt March 3, 2008 USA Today The future of General Motors (GM), at least the most electrifying part of it, rests on the slim shoulders of Frank Weber.

GM Pushes the Pedal on Hydrogen Fuel-Cell Power November 4, 2007 USA Today General Motors says it hopes to begin pumping hundreds of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles a year into ordinary buyers' hands through GM dealerships beginning in 2011. Though small numbers by auto-industry standards, it's the most ambitious public plan yet to bring pollution-free fuel-cell vehicles into the mainstream.

Power Plants are Focus of Drive to Cut Mercury USA Today October 29, 2007 Despite decades of government attempts to regulate it, ban it and erase it from household use, the poisonous metal mercury remains a threat to the environment and public health, especially to children and to women of childbearing age.

EPA Chief Proposes Tougher Ground-Level Pollution Standards for Ozone Washington Post June 22, 2007 Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson said yesterday that current limits on ozone air pollution do not adequately protect public health as he released a proposed regulation to lower the limit by as much as 20 percent in coming decades. The proposal came under immediate attack by business and industry groups.

Air Quality News