Category Archives: environment

Transocean Pleads Guilty in Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Criminal and Civil Fines Set at a Record $1.4 Billion by Department of Justice

Transocean Deepwater, the operator of the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, will plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act and pay a total of $1.4 billion in civil and criminal fines for its conduct during the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Continue reading

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Alaskan Contractor to Serve Time for Dumping Hazardous Waste

The former owner of a road and parking lot painting and striping business in Anchorage, Alaska will serve time in prison for dumping hazardous waste. William Duran Vizzerra, Jr., 43, was sentenced by Chief Judge Ralph R. Beistline to 15 months in prison. The court also ordered Vizzerra to pay $395,319 in restitution to two victims. Continue reading

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Honda Environmental Report Shows CO2 Cuts, Fuel Economy Gains

The eighth annual Honda environmental report just released for the North American regions show that the Japanese automaker reduced on average its output of CO2 with corresponding increases in fuel economy. During the 2012 fiscal year that ended last March the CO2-adjusted fleet-average fuel economy of Honda and Acura vehicles sold in the U.S. in model year 2011 rose 0.8 mpg, or 3.2%, to 25.7 mpg, compared to the previous model year. Continue reading

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EPA Releases Annual Enforcement Results

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA today issued its annual enforcement results, which the Agency said showed significant environmental and public health protections achieved during 2012. EPA said that there was a reduction of 2.2 billion pounds of air, water and land pollution, and 4.4 billion pounds of hazardous waste, as well as $252 million in civil and criminal penalties levied. Continue reading

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GM’s Changwon Assembly to Add 3MW of Solar Panels

General Motors’ Changwon Assembly plant in South Korea will install solar panels that can make three-megawatts of electricity on its 688,000 square-foot rooftop. When running at full capacity, the solar panels of Changwon by converting sunlight into electricity will generate enough energy to cut carbon emissions at the facility by 2,400 metric tons per year. Continue reading

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Food Fight over Ethanol as Special Interest Groups Trade Charges

Two special interest groups are sparing in public over the cost implications of a long-standing federal energy policy that mandates the use of ethanol and ever increasing amounts of bio-fuels in an attempt to free the United States from importing oil sold by terrorist supporting nations. In 2012 about 9% of all transportation fuel used will be from so-called renewable sources. Continue reading

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Louisiana Generating to Pay $14 Million for Clean Air Act Violations

Louisiana Generating has agreed to a settlement under the Clean Air Act at its Big Cajun II coal-fired power plant in New Roads, which will result in the elimination of more than 27,300 tons of harmful emissions per year Continue reading

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BP in Plea Deal Pays $4 Billion for Deepwater Horizon Gulf Oil Spill. Highest Execs Free from Criminal Charges as Stockholders Pay Fines

BP shareholders will pay $4 billion in criminal fines and penalties because of the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill that killed 11 people and caused the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history. The highest BP executive are now clear of future criminal charges as the result of the plea bargain where stockholder will pay fines for causing the monumental oil pollution that is still despoiling the Gulf Coast coast. During the disaster, BP publicly maintained that 5,000 gallons of oil were spewing forth daily into the Gulf, when in fact 60,000 gallons a day were gushing into the water and destroying the ecosystem. Continue reading

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Honda Motor Unveils Tiny EV in Tokyo – Micro Commuter

Honda Motor Company today unveiled a Micro Commuter Prototype, a tiny limited distance electric vehicle. Honda said the EV was developed in response for micro-sized mobility products that are currently being discussed under a government initiative from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in Japan. The EV also could comply with regulations for the L7 category in Europe, which is actually a motorcycle category for vehicles that weigh 400 kg or less, excluding the weight of the battery and have an electric motor output of 15 kW or less. Continue reading

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54.5 in 2025 Subject of Critical CAR CAFE Seminar

The Center for Automotive Research will examine the implications for product development of the 54.5 mpg CAFE fuel mandate that is now a federal regulation. Currently, estimates for the cost of compliance range from zero to $10,000 per vehicle for what is a difficult engineering task that has become – once again and as always – an ideological battleground, with posturing from automakers, regulators and pressure groups. The ability of product development engineers and their auto companies to meet the new standards and/or garner credits to offset some vehicle shortfalls will determine the type of vehicle you can buy, and how much you will pay for it. With safety regulations already on the books potentially adding thousands to the cost of a new vehicle, the social implications for automobility are serious; Moreover, if the implementation of CAFE regulations goes badly it could damage one of the U.S.’s best wealth and job creating industries at a time when growth is desperately needed. Continue reading

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Green Talk from EV Makers Ignores Key Buyer Concern – Cost

While existing buyers of electric vehicles are true EV believers, the vast majority of car shoppers are not. In a new study, nearly half of current EV buyers claim the best benefit of their ac/dc wheels is lower emissions when compared with emissions from gasoline- or diesel-powered vehicles, and it’s not clear if they know how their electricity is generated. However, when you get past this “puddle” of EV buyers – they don’t even form a “pool” since they comprise only about 2.5 % of the U.S. new vehicle market of 14 million – and that’s if you include hybrids as EVs; pure EVs have less than a 1% share – other people need to be brought into the clan. This assumes auto manufacturers are interested in recouping the billions invested so far in electric modes of transportation, prompted almost entirely by government regulations. Continue reading

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Ford, University of Michigan Hunt Smelly Microbes in Auto Interiors

Ford Motor Company and University of Michigan Researchers are studying microbes in automobiles that spread over interior surfaces causing discoloration and odors. Ford wants to know where microorganisms grow to develop antimicrobial additives for its coatings on interior surfaces. Continue reading

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Honda Hybrid Sales Top 1 Million. 3M More to Catch Toyota

Honda Motor Company said today that worldwide sales of hybrid vehicles have now surpassed 1 million units. This milestone was reached at the end of September after the start of sales of the first generation Insight in Japan during November 1999. At the time, Insight fuel economy was rated at 35km/liter, then the world’s highest fuel efficiency among all mass-production gasoline-powered vehicles. Continue reading

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Cadillac ELR to be Built at Detroit-Hamtramck

Development of the Chevrolet Volt-based Cadillac ELR is now underway, and GM has just confirmed that the ELR will be built at the GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck plant. The on again/off again program is based on the Converj concept first shown at the 2009 North American International Auto Show as General Motors was hurtling toward a bankruptcy reorganization. Converj, err ELR, will be GM’s second hybrid after the Chevrolet Volt/ Holden Volt/ Opel Ampera when it appears late in 2013 as a 2014 model. Continue reading

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Water Absorbing Porous Asphalt Pavement Use Increases in 2012

Porous asphalt pavement has been around for years, but its strength and durability have been improved by the use of high-performance materials and better road engineering practices. As a result, more high profile projects are underway, including one planned in New York’s Adirondack Mountains. Continue reading

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