Davenport, C. (2024, April 19). E.P.A. Will Make Polluters Pay to Clean Up Two “Forever Chemicals.” The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/climate/epa-pfas-superfund-cleanup.html

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The Biden Administration declared PFOA and PFOS “forever chemicals”as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. This shifts the responsibility for their cleanup from the taxpayers to the polluters, the companies that produced or used these chemicals. These chemicals are part of a larger family of chemical substances, PFAS, that are linked to various health risks and are found in various products (firefighting foams to children’s toys). These chemicals accumulate in the body and the environment. The chemical is detected in the blood of almost every person in the United States and is present in nearly half of the nation’s tap water. This is part of a largert effort to reduce PFAS in drinking water although groups warn of potential litigation and negative economic impacts.

This article shed light on the impacts of forever chemicals not only on our environment but on our communities health, especially low income and communities of color. This articel made me think about all the chemicals that we are unaware of in our drinking water and ultimately invading our bodies. It was not clear to me why groups thought the new law would cause litigation and have negative economic consequences. This article raised concern about firefighting foam, how frequently it is used and the health effects it might have on our emergency response personnel.

Sherriff, L. (2024, August 16). Florida is building the world’s largest environmental restoration project. Bbc.com; BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240815-floridas-everglades-reservoir-will-clean-the-states-water 

Florida is facing a big issue with not enough fresh-water sources and a growing population. To try and solve this problem, they are working on building The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) reservoir which will be located south of Lake Okeechobee. This reservoir will also help reduce the algae-causing discharges that shut down beaches and caused mass dead zones for fish. This plan also includes building stormwater treatment areas, other smaller reservoirs and water control structures to restore other issues in Florida. This plan is being implemented because many fresh water sources are vulnerable to be contaminated with sea water due to the rising sea levels. Florida also has issue around polluted sources of freshwater as more than 70% of the nitrate found in the state’s natural springs comes from agricultural runoff. This plan will solve all of these issues and give Florida its needed safe freshwater.

This article relates Florida to many environmental issues regarding freshwater. For example it explains how an increase of algae can harm and kill fishes which creates an unbalance in ecoystems. Additonally sea levels rising can destabalize freshwater ecosystems and contaminate the water, hurting both animals as their living conditions are changed and humans as their source of water is no longer useful. Florida also has issues with nitrate polluting their water from fertilizers in farming. All of these issues show how an unbalanced ecosystem can affect humans and the environment. It makes me grateful for the resources we have now and more willing to protect them so we can prevent these issues. Water is a key survival essentail for all humans, which means we need to protect it to save these sources and continue to have fresh, safe drinking water. 

NOAA Fisheries. (2024, January 11). Ox Creek Restoration Key to Environmental Justice in Benton Harbor, Michigan. NOAA. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/ox-creek-restoration-key-environmental-justice-benton-harbor-michigan 

In Benton Harbor, Michigan, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is pushing for Ox Creek, a once beautiful creek for people to enjoy, to be restored and fixed up as it is now suffering from pollution and other damage. This pollution has hurt impoverished families as their home enviornment is not healthy and they do not have access to unpolluted, swimable, fishable water. The community has been struggling with only 9,000 residents. This restoration will be economically beneficial because it will create healthy outdoor gathering places that will upgrade the enviornment and the communities. 

This article hones in on the economical side of restoration by using the example of Ox Creek in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Because of pollution and other issues, the creek was at first unswimable and unhealthy. This affected both the organisms living in the creek and humans living around because it was so dirty and contaminated. The NOAA thought that fixing up the creek could benefit everyone, as the organisms would have a balanced ecosystem and humans would have an enjoyable place to be. It also could help with the low population as this restoration can make it more appealing for others looking to move. Overall, this article taught me the difference a contaminated ecosystem can make, as it harms everything around it. This makes me realize just how beneficial it could be if I take action and fix up other bodies of water around me. This will not only benefit the creatures living in it but my community as it can be a fun place to spend time. 

Foose‌, M (2024, June 3) Readying for a remediation and restoration “moonshot.” (2024). Michigan.gov. https://www.michigan.gov/egle/newsroom/mi-environment/2024/06/03/readying-for-a-remediation-and-restoration-moonshot

Some territories in Michigan, called areas of concern, are listed as the most polluted areas of the Great Lakes. Michigan’s Areas of Concern program is teaming up with Public Advisory Councils to delist areas that are suffering with pollution. This whole project is called the “moonshot” goal and is being partly funded by the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It is progressing by removing all Beneficial Use Impairments in these areas with about 53 BUIs left. The remainder left is cleaning up contaminated sediments from 200 years of industrial development. Projects are being implemented to remove these contaminants and strive toward a healthier environment. 

This article dives into the process for restoring certain areas struggling with contamination and pollution. Michigan as the example has many areas that are unclean because of the negative impact of industrialization. These human actions have severely affected the ecosystems in Michigan which is overall bad for the whole environment, humans and animals. Additionally, the article describes the steps Michigan is taking to undo their bad actions. For example they are removing environmental problems called BUIs through many projects to try and help this area reach a cleaner state. These images of restoring the environment through human enforced projects allow me to think of ways that I can help my own community. I understand more deeply the purpose of being mindful and careful so that pollution does not worsen and change the enviornment for both humans and organisms. 

Danelski, D (2024, May 8) New “forever chemical” cleanup strategy discovered | UCR News | UC Riverside. (n.d.). News.ucr.edu. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2024/05/08/new-forever-chemical-cleanup-strategy-discovered 

PFAS chemicals are most commonly found in fire suppressant foam which have been used to stop fuel fires in many military sites and commercial airports since 1960. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are now realizing that these chemicals can be linked to cancer and other maladies. To try and restore this issue, the EPA is restricting that water utilities to reduce contamination levels if needed, which ultimately affects these military bases that use fire extinguishers. They found that UV-based treatments help uncomtaminate the water which can help keep groundwater clean of these chemicals. 

This article similarly explains the dangers of PFAS chemicals in fire suppressant foams and how it can seep into the groundwater and effect populations. PFAS is not normally in water, and is spread only through human influence. This directly relates to environmental science because it expains how one everyday human action like using these foams can ultimately hurt the environment by contaminating water. This polluted water can then affect us by potentially increasing the likelihood of others getting cancer. When reading this article, I was very suprised that something commonly used by the government since 1960 is actually so harmful. It makes me wonder what other items have possible chemicals that negatively affect our lives and the environment. This makes me more aware of the chemicals in water and more cautious of what I am drinking and how that could hurt me. 

Moran, B. (2024, April 19). EPA will force polluters to pay for PFAS cleanup | WBUR News. Wbur.org; WBUR. https://www.wbur.org/news/2024/04/19/forever-chemicals-pfas-superfund-cleanup-toxic 

The water in Massachusetts contained two PFAS chemicals, PFOS and PFOA, which were declared by The Enviornmental Protection Agency as “hadarzous substances”. These chemicals contaminated the water and put surrounding communities at risk, especially low-income areas near industrial or waste sites. To contain these chemicals, the EPA enforces the Department of of Defense to clean up pollution at these bases since PFAS chemicals seeped into the groundwater. The EPA also took action by suing polluters and using the money to help solve the issue. These federal acts helped maintain cleaner air, water, and land. 

This article explores the restoration process when water becomes contaminated with costly PFAS chemicals. This directly connects to environmental science because it demonstrates an action, using PFAS chemicals in thousands of products including waterproof jackets and firefighting foam, and how that affects the environment by damaging the resources needed for both humans and natural ecosystems. This is a problem because PFAS chemicals don’t break down easily so their impact is more long-term. The article also gives solutions to this issue by diving into what the EPA did to try and recover from the chemical pollution. When reading this article, I thought it did a good job at educating me specifically about environmental restoration with water pollution. It illustrated both the cause of the pollution and how they solved it. This allows me to ponder on my own water and how it could be polluted with harmful chemicals which gives me more incentive to take action and restore water and the enviornment in general. 

Staggs, B. (2023, December 29 ). Here’s your 2024 timeline for California climate and 

environmental issues. Retrieved January 22, 2024, from https://www.ocregister.com/2023/12/29/heres-your-2024-timeline-for-california-climate-and-environment-issues/ 

This article written by the OC Register, a southern californian publication, highlights some key dates for environmental issues this year. From recycling laws to bans on fluorescent light bulbs and lawnmowers, California has a lot in store for 2024. One important date that highlights environmental clean up is on October first. The South Coast Air Quality Management District is thinking about putting regulations on ports to help clean up pollution in those areas. This would help clean the water and natural habitat around ship ports along California’s coast. 

This article showcases what California is doing to take initiative and help the environment. California has always been a trendsetter for other states in the climate change arena. With laws and regulations protecting our environment and our citizens from damage. These new laws that will come into effect in 2024 will just continue to help the environment even if it is in small ways, like banning fluorescent light bulbs. Everything makes a difference. 

Rode, E. ( 2023, december 7). Salton Sea restoration projects get $72 million boost from feds, a historic first. Retrieved January 22, 2024, from https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/environment/2023/12/07/salton-sea-restoration-projects-federal-funding/71818181007/ 

In early december the Desert Sun publication, wrote this article summarizing the Salton Seas new restoration project. The Salton Sea located in southern california, has been longing for restoration for years. Finally the Biden-Haris administration has provided money to back the project. $250 million dollars goes toward restoration with $72 coming from the Inflation Reduction Act. The project hopes to restore shallow and deep water lost to the receding shoreline, and improve salinity.  The funding from the federal government will expedite the 10 year plan to restore 30,000 acres to the habitat.

This article highlights the importance of federal funding in efforts to restore habitats. With the starters complex laws and regulations it can be difficult to find funding for big projects like these. It is reassuring to know that the federal government cares about the future of our state and wants to help. 

Rogers, P. ( 2023, September 22). Beach Bounce Back? California’s Largest Volunteer Event Seeks to Restore Former Glory after Covid Downturn. Retrieved January 22, 2024, from 

https://www.montereyherald.com/2023/09/22/beach-bounce-back-californias-largest-volunteer-event-seeks-to-restore-former-glory-after-covid-downturn/ 

In September, The Monterey Herald wrote this article about the struggle to find volunteers after covid. Coastal Cleanup Day has been California’s largest volunteer event since 1985. However, after the pandemic less and less people have been showing up for coastal cleanups. Before covid there were nearly 75k volunteers cleaning up trash, however that number has been cut in half in years following the pandemic. The California Coastal Commission is conducting a paid social media promo in order to try and recruit more volunteers. California has a plethora of beaches and they need the help of citizens to stay clean and healthy. 

This article exemplifies the importance of environmental volunteer work. In California especially we have so many habitats that need protection and restoration. You don’t have to be a lawmaker to help fix things, anyone can go out and volunteer. When I went out to beach cleanups I felt very good about myself and had a fun time. It is a great way to learn more about the environment hands on. I think that California residents really have the capability to make a difference. 

Mcewen, L. ( 2023, November 25). Going to the source: Can meadow restoration beef up California’s water supplies and reduce flooding?. Retrieved January 22, 2024, from 

https://www.bakersfield.com/news/going-to-the-source-can-meadow-restoration-beef-up-california-s-water-supplies-and-reduce/article_7808096e-8961-11ee-b2aa-d33681c3e062.html

Published recently in January 2024, this article written by a Bakersfield publication highlights the importance of meadows. California’s Sierra Nevada is home to hundreds of thousands of meadows. The meadows act as a sponge of water, slowing it down and filtering it. However more than 50,000 meadows are in need of restoration. Proposition 1 includes meadows in its plan to fight climate change in California. Restoring 1 acre of meadow increases water yield by half an acre-foot per year. People can help clean up meadows by removing forest debris, like one local Fresno group did recently. 

This article was surprising to me because I didn’t know how much of an impact meadows had on the environment. By restoring meadows we can really help climate change effects.This connects to sea level rise, a soft engineering approach is by creating marshes to soak up water. Meadows do the same thing for mountain water runoff.