ENVIRONMENT

How to prevent food waste: 27 tips for community leaders

New Republic -   The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that federal agencies and courts have been misinterpreting a major environmental law for the last half-century, casting doubt on whether a key White House agency can actually write binding regulations on environmental policy.In an unsigned 2–1 decision, a three-judge panel concluded that the Council on Environmental Quality, or CEQ, had been issuing binding regulations in error since the late 1970s. It held that the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, also known as NEPA, did not grant rulemaking authority to the agency—which it had nonetheless wielded since the Carter administration.

The panel sounded almost surprised that it had to reach this conclusion in the first place. “The separation of powers and statutory interpretation issue that CEQ’s regulations present is thus unremarkable,” it noted in its ruling. “What is quite remarkable is that this issue has remained largely undetected and undecided for so many years in so many cases.”

Tuesday’s ruling in Marin Audobon Society v. Federal Aviation Administration is a complicated one, and it will likely come under intense scrutiny on appeal. Even the panel majority acknowledged that it is somewhat at odds with the Supreme Court’s own rulings on the matter. Nonetheless, its conclusions could have far-reaching implications for how the federal government writes new regulations—and how it considers environmental issues when doing so.

American Seeker - A national study has revealed alarming levels of “forever chemicals” in U.S. groundwater, highlighting the urgent need for action to address this growing public health threat. Known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these synthetic compounds are found in everyday items like nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, and water-resistant fabrics.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that 71 to 95 million Americans may rely on groundwater contaminated with detectable levels of PFAS for drinking water. Dubbed “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to breakdown, PFAS have been linked to chronic health problems, including cancer and fertility issues.