KDHE expects Neodesha refinery cleanup study filing by late summer
Kansas regulators say a corrective-action study for the former Amoco refinery in Neodesha is being prepared, with submission anticipated between late July and August 2026.
Environment & Weather
Weather, climate, pollution, air and water quality, conservation, wildlife, natural resources, and environmental policy.
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Chelan-area fire restrictions remain in place after July wildfire activity
Chelan County banned recreational campfires in unincorporated areas starting July 1, while official records document the July Chelan Hills Fire and a later road reopening.
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Stoney Creek restoration project wins state award, bringing potential downstream benefits to Woodlyn
A vegetation-planting project along Stoney Creek in Prospect Park and Ridley Township received Pennsylvania’s 2026 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. Officials said downstream communities, including Woodlyn, will benefit.
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Wheaton Crews Clear Storm Damage After EF-0 Tornado
Wheaton crews responded to flooding and fallen trees after July 27 storms. The National Weather Service later confirmed an EF-0 tornado in the city.
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WMO warns El Niño could strengthen rapidly, raising global extreme-weather risks
The World Meteorological Organization says weak El Niño conditions developed in the tropical Pacific by March–May 2026 and could intensify into a strong event during July–September.
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Afghanistan Floods Kill at Least 26 as UN and Aid Agencies Search for Survivors
Flash floods in eastern Afghanistan killed at least 26 people, the United Nations said July 22, as search teams looked for missing residents and aid agencies assessed damage to homes, markets and roads.
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Fish and Wildlife Service finalizes Endangered Species Act regulatory changes affecting critical habitat
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized revisions to Endangered Species Act regulations, including a provision allowing some areas to be excluded from critical-habitat designations when the exclusion would not cause a species’ extinction.
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Michigan DNR to rehabilitate Houghton Lake Flats wetland controls this summer
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is rehabilitating the South Unit dike system at Houghton Lake Flats to restore water-level control in a 350-acre wetland.
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Cedar Falls receives state support for stormwater wetland along public trail
Iowa announced support for a Cedar Falls project that will convert an existing detention basin into a stormwater wetland near a public trail and elementary school.
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EPA proposes stricter residential lead cleanup plan for Butte Superfund area
A June 2026 EPA proposal would lower the residential lead cleanup level and expand the number of Butte-area homes eligible for remediation, but the threshold and implementation schedule have not been released in the approved materials.
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Western U.S. Heat Wave Keeps Record Temperatures and Wildfire Risk Elevated
A heat wave affecting parts of the western United States is driving dangerous-heat warnings, threatening temperature records and raising wildfire concerns as hot, dry and gusty conditions persist.
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African Development Bank Warns Strong El Niño Could Cost Africa Up to $20 Billion
The African Development Bank’s climate chief warned on July 26 that a potentially severe El Niño could cause $10 billion to $20 billion in economic losses across affected African countries and increase migration pressure.
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Federal agencies finalize Endangered Species Act rule changes, removing regulatory definition of “harm”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries finalized nationwide revisions to regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act, including removal of the regulatory definition of “harm.”
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NOAA Notice Outlines In-Season Recreational-Fishing Action for 2026
A new Federal Register public-inspection notice describes an in-season action affecting 2026 recreational-fishing measures, including activity that may run during August and September for up to seven days per week.
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Tinley Park schedules Aug. 13 Remediate 280 meeting
The Tinley Park-Park District will hold a Remediate 280 Committee meeting Aug. 13, creating a near-term public venue for project updates.
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Montgomery schedules emergency bulk-brush collection after Independence Day storm damage
Montgomery Public Works began emergency bulk-brush collection July 13 after severe weather downed tree limbs and branches across the village over the Independence Day weekend.
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Delaware adopts final cleanup plan for Greenville Station site in Wilmington
DNREC’s final plan for the roughly 0.4-acre former gas-station property sets long-term requirements for contamination management, groundwater use, land use and vapor evaluation.
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EPA Lists Keams Canyon Public-Water Enforcement Docket as Closed
An EPA database update says the BIA Keams Canyon Public Water System enforcement docket is closed, with payment received. The matter dates to 2013.
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Durham Keeps Stage 2 Water Response in Place During Drought
Durham’s Stage 2 water-shortage response took effect June 15 and remained listed by the city during an Aug. 7 search amid ongoing extreme drought.
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Irvine Announces Wildfire Detection Partnership With SensoRy AI
Irvine has announced a partnership with SensoRy AI to launch a wildfire detection and risk-assessment network, though key system details remain undisclosed.
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WMO Warns El Niño Could Rapidly Intensify Into a Strong Event by September 2026
The World Meteorological Organization says developing El Niño conditions in the tropical Pacific could increase risks of floods, drought, altered cyclone activity and pressure on food and water systems worldwide.
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Western heat wave keeps wildfire danger high as Washington declares emergency
An extended heat wave is bringing record or near-record temperatures and heightened wildfire danger across parts of the Western United States.