Mongabay. (2023, December 13). Philippines oil spill may reverberate long after cleanup declared complete. Retrieved from https://news.mongabay.com/2023/12/philippines-oil-spill-may-reverberate-long-after-cleanup-declared-complete/

There was an oil spill that was almost completely cleaned in the Philippines but later on they found out there might be longer lasting effects. This area was heavily reliant on their marine life but if the oil spill contamination is going to have long-term effects all of it could go wrong. The marine life could all die which could cause problems for everyone living in that area with them needing to rely on a new way of getting their food and other necessities.

I think that problems that we don’t see as often like this are going to harm a lot of people. When they were all believed to have cleared out their waters only to later have them be found to be still dirty and possibly harmful to their marine life. I think what the article talks about in that the government needs to step in and take control of this area is needed as they may be the only ones who have the necessary resources to save the marine life and life around it.

Motter, S. (2023, October 31). Nearly 1 year after Mill Creek Oil Spill, water once again flows naturally. Retrieved from, https://www.wibw.com/2023/10/31/nearly-1-year-after-mill-creek-oil-spill-water-once-again-flows-naturally/

On October 13th, 2023, an oil removal project was completed and water had begun to run normally through the river. 14,000 barrels of oil were spilled into the creek and caused a rupture in a keystone pipeline. Luckily, people from all over came to help and over 6,000 hours of work were done to the creek to help allow it to flow again. More than 650,000 gallons of oil was recovered so we were able to save the creek and not just waste all the oil that was originally spilled. 

It is a great sign to see that even after such a large spill of oil people can come in from different places and help respond to such a large problem. From the pipeline not working and water being unable to flow to 650,000 gallons of oil being saved and removed it shows the amount of help that we can do. We allowed the water to begin flowing in the creek again and that is a big help for the ecosystems that relied on this water source. With saving this creek it shows the effectiveness that people can have on these environments and how we can still help save the bigger problems too.

Orange County Coastkeeper. (2023, October 5). Coastal Cleanup day 2023 Results. Retrieved from, https://www.coastkeeper.org/coastal-cleanup-day-2023-results/

On September 23, 2023, coastal clean-up day, people from all over the US came to Orange County to help clean up areas close to the ocean. This clean-up gained a lot of attention and allowed for 5,375 volunteers to come out and help clean up parks, beaches, and the streets. The 35 different groups were spread out and were able to remove 21,350 pounds of trash. This kept 10 tons of debris from reaching the ocean.

The amount of trash and debris these people saved from getting into the ocean was amazing. This amount of trash being stopped from entering our oceans will end up playing a crucial role in keeping our marine ecosystems safe. It will also have a big impact on pollution as we are saving all the debris from entering into the ocean. This clean-up will also show future organizations that it is possible to have such a large impact on the environment and that it is possible to help protect our ocean from trash.

Surfrider Foundation. (2024). Retrieved from, https://cleanups.surfrider.org/results/

The Surfrider foundation has already had 319 volunteers help clean up oceans and beaches across the United States. There has been a combined total of 1,629 pounds of trash cleaned and removed by this foundation. They are finding mostly cigarette butts and several different types of plastics like water bottles and bags to clean.

I think that this foundation is great and what they have already been able to do this year is amazing. They are moving so quickly with cleaning the ocean which is great to see because we can know that the ocean is always being cleaned if this many people have already started going this year. In the year 2023, they were also able to clean 239,000 pounds of trash which shows the future that is ahead for the rest of this year.

World Cleanup Day. (2023, November 14). World Cleanup Day 2023 – celebrating successes. Retrieved from https://www.worldcleanupday.org/post/world-cleanup-day-2023-celebrating-successes#:~:text=During%20the%20six%20World%20Cleanup,1.1%25%20of%20the%20global%20population.

World Cleanup Day has increased in size by 9 new countries and territories. The total is now up to 206 countries and territories and it is still growing. It gained 19.1 million volunteers this year. This event became the second-largest volunteer event ever and has gained government involvement to help increase help. 

I like this because it is bringing everyone together and to still have this giant organization expanding just means that there is more good to look forward to. Also, the inclusion of the government allows for this to become an even larger event and I believe they could also provide more money for more materials to make this event clean the environment even more.

The San Diego Uninion-Tribune. (2023, May 29). 580 tons of trash removed from San Diego homeless encampments. Retrieved August 11, 2023, from https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/homelessness/story/2023-05-29/daily-services-has-removed-580-tons-of-trash-from-encampments

The city of San Diego started a hot spot program where in the first seven months they were able to collect 580 tons of trash. The trash was collected on the streets and in homeless encampments. The program requires people to temporarily move all their possessions away from the sidewalks and roads as that is where the cleaning crews are going to come and clean everything that they can. There were multiple sides to the cleaning as some homeless people thought the workers were doing a good thing and some believed they were stealing their belongings.

As noted, the homeless encampments are making trash problems and air pollution problems even worse. They are increasing the amount of air pollution so this program is trying to help out the environment. I think this program is a great thing as they are really helping decrease air pollution from people who may not have the ability to throw something away in a trash can. The text says “We’re looking at things like their purses, their wallets, their keys,” and this demonstrates how the cleaning crews are not just taking anything they find but are actually trying to take the things that could end up hurting the environment. 

Harris Personal Injury. (2023, April 06). Californians Cleaning Up Roadways and Local Streets. Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://harrispersonalinjury.com/californians-cleaning-up-roadways-and-local-streets/#

The California Department of Transportation organized a highway and road cleanup in over 600 different places in an 11-day span. This event created thousands of jobs and engaged the communities to help transform their public spaces. Over the 11-day span, 10,500 volunteers helped clean up trash which totalled 64 million pounds. This program since 2021 has 1.45 million cubic yards of trash on state highways. The decrease in trash on the highways has already begun to keep the roads safer for all drivers as they no longer swerve or make immediate stops.

Cleaning up highways and roadways is helping the environment by keeping the animals safe and also keeping people safe. Having the streets clean can also prevent soil and water pollution. Also, with the reduction of trash, we help lessen the amount of harmful particles and air pollution. It is nice to have people cleaning up the highways and roads in so many places because they are really preventing a growth in air pollution. Not only that but they are also keeping plastics and trash out of the ocean as we in California are as close as it gets to the water.

CBS News. (2023, April 15). Volunteers came together for the 33rd annual ‘Great LA River Cleanup.’ Retrieved August 10, 2023, from https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/volunteers-come-together-for-the-33rd-annual-great-la-river-clean-up/

Every year the LA River cleanup gathers thousands of volunteers. Volunteers come from all over to help clean up a span of 51 miles and allow the river to be much more attractive. They were able to clean 50,000 pounds of trash and plastic out of the river. This is now known as the largest urban river cleanup in the country. The volunteers also clean trash out of the trees along the river and help with habitat restoration.

As the amount of trash is decreasing in the LA River, it is helping decrease the water pollution. This makes an overall healthier environment and improves the ecosystem. By removing the trash, it can also decrease the amount of chemicals that are being let out into the water. It is good to see that people will come from different places to clean and protect a river that is full of trash.

Los Angeles Times. (2023, June 5). Editorial: Cleaning up California’s oil fields may cost $21.5 billion. Taxpayers shouldn’t get the bill. Retrieved August 8, 2023, from https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-06-05/la-ed-oil-cleanup-costs-california-billions

Companies that are responsible for idle wells and tanks are facing challenges. They have fallen short on money by $15 billion and believe the way to obtain that money is through taxpayer funding. California’s Department of Conservation Geologic Energy program raised concerns about the priority of needing to pump oil out due to it releasing methane,  greenhouse gasses, and health-damaging air pollution. A carbon tracking report found that the oil companies overestimated their funding needs. Public officials are ensuring that oil companies are held accountable for their mistakes.

With the release of methane and greenhouse gasses, the air is being polluted and creating a health risk. Along with this problem created by the oil companies, overestimating the amount of money they were going to need from the taxpayers seems very unjust due to the effects it has on environmental health. The Department of Conservation Geological Energy Program claims to be exploring a 2019 Law. This law would set aside $30 million per operator. Knowing this, the taxpayers would still need to pay taxes toward the oil spills but with the amount of money they are gaining from this 2019 Law, it would be more balanced and reasonable. I think it is great to see the steps that have been taken to address the environmental concerns. The idea of the 2019 Law acquiring $30 million is great as it will further help the environment and also benefit the taxpayers.

Briscoe, T. (2023, February 20). California’s biggest environmental cleanup leaves lead contamination and frustration. Retrieved by August 7, 2023, from https://phys.org/news/2023-02-california-biggest-environmental-cleanup-contamination.html#google_vignette

The failure of a $750 million California environmental clean-up project to remove lead from the soil in the yards of southeast Los Angeles residents has left questions on the department’s ability to keep the residents safe. Six years after the clean-up, a group of researchers at the University of Southern California and Occidental College found an exceeding amount of lead in the soil that had passed the California threshold. The Department of Toxic Substances claims to have addressed the issues and is pressing forward on removing lead from 1,500 properties by 2025. 

The contamination of lead from the plant has been hurting not only the environment but also the people of southeast Los Angeles County. Families are not allowing their young children to even leave their homes so they won’t breathe in the toxic air that they have already been dealing with. This toxic air can be especially harmful to young children and to people who are already not healthy. The Department of Toxic Substances is working on this environmental cleanup by removing all lead from the soil to allow the residents to have a safe and healthy breathing life. It is great to see that the city is cleaning the lead from the soil to give the residents their life back. However, the Department of Toxic Substances will hopefully be able to figure out a better way to stop the plant from having a lead leak again than just laying concrete over contaminated soil.