Author: alnel

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“EPA Closes 2025 with Significant Progress Remediating Residential Yards in the Nation’s Heartland | US EPA.” US EPA, 12 Jan. 2026, www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-closes-2025-significant-progress-remediating-residential-yards-nations-heartland?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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EPA Region 7 made significant progress cleaning up lead contaminated residential properties in states including Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska in 2025. The agency removed more than one million cubic yards of hazardous waste from mining areas such as Old Lead Belt, Viburnum Trend, Tri-State Mining District, and former smelter sites. Since the beginning of these efforts, EPA has addressed over 29,000 residential properties and removed 45 million cubic yards of waste. This work protects public health, particularly children. They also educate communities about the health risks of lead exposure, and how to prevent it. EPA plans to continue this work into 2026.

 

This work keeps hazardous material from harming the environment by removing it. Not only that, but it educates people about this problem. By raising awareness we might be able to have more of these kind of projects in the future. It is important for us to make these places safe to live in by removing the material. It is impressive that they were able to remove waste from so much land. After all this effort to get rid of all this waste, we must make sure that we dont repeat our mistakes. Not only does it take effort but also money to restore these environments.

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Villanova, Joseph. “Vernon Prepares for Vacant Mill Cleanup and Redevelopment.” CT Insider, 25 Jan. 2026, www.ctinsider.com/journalinquirer/article/ct-vernon-daniels-mill-redevelopment-21311315.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

‌ A 6.8 million dollar cleanup of the former Daniel’s Mill is being prepared to begin in Vernon, Connecticut. Daniel’s Mill is an abandoned industrial site. This restoration is a key step in the Rockville Mill complex project, which aims to transform Daniel’s Mill and nearby properties into housing and more. Because of the Mill being a industrial site there may be contaminated land. This project includes removing and containing hazardous substances to make this land more safe. The project is expected to create about 200 residential units and 20,000 square feet of commercial space. 

 

This project may not seem like an environmental restoration project because they are planning to develope the line but by removing hazardous substances from the site they are keeping pollutants from continuing to hurt the soil. It is making the environment a more safe place, and taking away those unsafe materials left behind from the industrial site. Although maybe it would be a better pro environmental project if they didn’t develope the land after, they are going to develope land somewhere, so they might as well use the land that was abandoned. This keeps from developing more land than necessary. 

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Bakuli, Ethan. “Detroit River Nonprofit Targets Wetlands Loss with Island Habitat Restoration.” Planet Detroit, PlanetD, 28 Aug. 2025, planetdetroit.org/2025/08/detroit-river-wetlands-restoration/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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The Detroit River was once heavily degraded by industrial pollution. It is now undergoing significant restoration led by the nonprofit Friends of the Detroit River (FODR). The river is has great ecological importance and has had severe loss of coastal wetlands caused by decades of industrial use, erosion, and high water. It was a designated area of concern in 1987. The river has had major restoration progress through partnerships with federal, state, and local agencies. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010. Since then nearly all 14 priority habitat restoration projects have been completed. Although, millions of cubic yards of contaminated sediment remain. Fully cleaning this up is estimated to cost 1 billion dollars, and finished in 2030.

 

This project works to help restore a natural area that is very important to its surrounding ecosystem. This restoration project has been worked on for a very long time. This shows how sometimes these projects take a long time to complete well. Also this project is incredibly expensive. This tells us that restoring the land we ruin is very expensive. Because of this we must be careful not to destroy much more land, because eventually we are going to have to pay for that damage. Many times companies and people destroy the environment because its the cheaper way out. Although it is only cheap in the short term.

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Sustainability, and Maryellen Zbrozek. “Beneath the Surface: The Cleanup Transforming the Genesee Riverbank – Sustainability.” Sustainability, 22 Sept. 2025, www.rochester.edu/sustainability/beneath-the-surface-the-cleanup-transforming-the-genesee-riverbank/?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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New York State’s Brownfield Cleanup Program constructed a tree removal and construction activity along the Genesee RiverBank. This program aims to remove longstanding industrial contamination, restore habitats, and replant native species so the area can be safe for use of the community. This habitat contains soil contaminated with petroleum related chemicals and heavy metals. These cleanup efforts started in 2015 and have multiple stages. The current stage they are in is focused on taking out contaminated soil and replacing it with clean material. Officials say that the area remains safe for public use during this process. This project reflects the efforts across New York to turn contaminated industrial land into parks and other community land.

This project helps restore this riverbank by transforming the industrial land into non-dangerous public land. Not only does this build more community places, it also restores more natural places in such a industrial dense state. I think this project is a very good example of what many states should be doing with their land. It is important for us to bring back the nature in our industrial dense world. Not only is it good for the environment but also helping more people have better access to clean natural places is important for peoples mental health. Being in natural places helps people feel more calm. People should have access to that instead of being trapped in a industrial city.

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“EPA to Take Lead of Emergency Response at Smitty’s Supply Fire in Roseland | US EPA.” US EPA, 25 Aug. 2025, www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-take-lead-emergency-response-smittys-supply-fire-roseland. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.

‌EPA has now taken the lead on responding to the fire in Smitty’s Supply Inc. in Roseland, Louisiana. EPA took charge hours after being notified by Smitty’s Supply. While first responders were fighting the fires EPA was the lead agency on site. Now EPA is in charge of containing hazardous material, recover unburned materials from the ditches, ponds. EPA will dispose these hazardous material at EPA approved facility. EPA monitored the air quality hours after gaining responsibility. EPA understands that no single agency would be able to tackle a problem like this, and it is important that they provide support for this company. EPA is working with the state, Parish, and federal partners to restore and help the community recover.

With our technology today these emergencies happen more frequently, and we will see these situations more in the future. Because of that it is important that we have a good reaction to these situations. This emergancy is an example of that. When these situations happen we must have an effective response to restore and protect the environment around it. In this situation I appreciate that the company was able to ask for help from the EPA. It is good that EPA understood the urgency of the situation and responded very fast. These situations need to be responded to quickly before they escalate or get harder to recover from. 

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Berkeley North Basin project engages community

 

Berkeley North Basin Project | San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority. (2025, July 7). Sfbayrestore.org. https://www.sfbayrestore.org/projects/berkeley-north-basin-project

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The Berkeley North Basin Project has the goal of conducting community engagement and making preliminary designs for the restoration of shoreline habitats. To do this EBRPD (East Bay Regional Park District) will conduct environmental studies that will find solutions, and then create a design for this project. They will also have community engagement meetings to help create a design. This project will explore new ideas for nature-based flood protection options. Also during this project they will replace current shoreline infrastructure. This includes concrete debris that was made to keep trails from flooding but are old and now need to be replaced. 

 

This project will only be possible with the study of environmental science to be able to complete their goals. It is a great opportunity for the community to become involved with the environment around them, and learn more about how to restore damaged habitats. I think it is important for people to be able to have these opportunities to become more aware of the needs of our planet and how we can contribute to meet them.

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Martin Luther king Jr. Regional Shoreline restoration and flood management project

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline Restoration and Flood Management Project | San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority. (2025, July 7). Sfbayrestore.org. https://www.sfbayrestore.org/projects/martin-luther-king-jr-regional-shoreline-restoration-and-flood-management-project

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional shoreline restoration and flood management project is a project that plans to restore 25 – 28 acres of tidal marsh and other shoreline habitats. They plan to update one mile of bay trail, and implement nature-based flood management features such as bio wales. This project plans to include the community in its decisions. They even plan for students from Oakland Unified School District to be brought on the work site to brainstorm ideas of how to approach and complete this project. This project will also raise opportunities for studying other restoration projects and solutions. The project design will be based on feasible studies and community engagement.


 This project will not only help restore tidal marshes but also help raise more conclusions for environmental issues as they study environmental science to complete this project. Also I find it very interesting that they are giving students opportunities to have a say in a big project like this one. Giving those students that opportunity can lead to those students becoming more curious and aware of environmental science. Also the community will also have opportunities to become more curious and aware of environmental science. Having more awareness will help bring more people together to make decisions for the better of our environment.

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Restoration convention in California

SYRCL at SERCAL 2025: Advancing Restoration Across California • SYRCL. (2025, June 2). South Yuba River Citizens League. https://yubariver.org/posts/syrcl-at-sercal-2025-advancing-restoration-across-california/

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In April, there was a conference – called SERCAL 2025 – of the California Society for Ecological Restoration. This convention was joined by SYRCL’s Watershed Science team, 300 restoration professionals, agency representatives, academics, NGO’s, and students in Sacramento. There were presentations given at this conference about restoration. Anne Marie Holt gave a presentation on the importance of protecting aspen groves. Rose Ledford gave a presentation on the conditions of meadow systems and explained treatment techniques. Overall the convention showed that restoring our environment is a collaborative work that needs many people to be done. The purpose of this convention was to educate more people how to help restore the environment in different ways.

 

This convention was all about educating people on environmental science. Specifically how it can help us preserve our environment, and save habitats. I think that it is good that they are making these efforts to educate people and bring awareness to specific projects. 

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California restoring wetlands

California reaches major restoration milestone at the Salton Sea | Governor of California. (2025, May 22). Governor of California. https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/05/22/california-reaches-major-restoration-milestone-at-the-salton-sea/

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On May 22, 2025 Governor Newsom announced that a big milestone was passed at Salton Sea, which is California’s largest inland water body. The Salton Sea has shrunk in recent years due to reduced inflows of water, leading to exposed seabed and destroyed habitats. This milestone Newsom was announcing was that they filled the East pond expansion of Salton Sea with water to restore habitats that were destroyed by lack of water. The state has a 10-year plan for Salton sea to restore habitats and improve air quality. Air quality has worsened because of the exposed dry seabed that releases dust. This project has so far been funded in a total of 245 million dollars.

 

This project is important to reverse the damage caused by our environmental issues. It relates to Environmental science because they have acknowledged that the environment is worsening and are using their knowledge to try and fix it. In my opinion this article is very bias. In the last half it starts talking about how great Governor Newsom is because of this project and made me question if this article was credible and what was over exaggerated. Also this article is on Governor Newsom’s website so its purpose is to highlight what’s great about him.

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EPA Southern California Wildfires management

Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, February 7). 2025 Southern California Wildfires | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/california-wildfires

 

On January 7, 2025 there were many horrific wildfires in Los Angeles county. The EPA (environmental protection agency) was given the task of disposing of hazardous materials from all burned areas. This task is the first step to a cleanup after a natural disaster. This cleanup was the largest hazardous materials cleanup in the history of EPA. EPA workers disposed of more than 1,000 lithium ion batteries from cars, houses, and other battery powered objects. The EPA made a group with partners from utility, federal, and county in charge of overseeing the operation of drinking water, and identifying the needs in the water sector. By March 25, 2025 eight of nine affected public water systems were restored. The EPA plans to rebuild Los Angeles communities with the goal of making the communities more prepared for future natural disasters.

 

This article shows the operations that California has put in place for when natural disasters strike, specifically wild fires. With the climate getting warmer and California struggling with droughts becoming more frequent and severe, the amount of wild fires is increasing. Using environmental science we can know how to clean up after these disasters. Using environmental science the EPA will be able to learn from this disaster and build communities more equipped and ready for the next wild fire. I think we learn a lot of how to stop the elements that are affecting the wildfire frequency, but it is equally important to plan for when these disasters do happen. That’s what will save lives until we come up with an effective solution.