R.I. beach closures declined sharply this year – Ocean State Stories, ecoRI

Sandy beach, ocean, and distant lighthouse.

By Rob Smith. Originally published by ecoRI News, a nonprofit newsroom covering environmental news in Rhode Island. Republished by Ocean State Stories, a journalism initiative at Salve Regina University, and RINewsToday. Read more at ecoRI.org Last year, closures were highest since 2006. Rhode Island beaches were much healthier this summer, at least when compared to…

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Tobacco: Poisoning our planet

Tobacco poisoning our planet.

The World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday revealed new information on the extent to which tobacco damages both the environment and human health, calling for steps to make the industry more accountable for the destruction it is causing. Every year the tobacco industry costs the world more than 8 million human lives, 600 million trees, 200,000…

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Major oil/gas companies to pay $17M+ to Rhode Island for polluting soil, groundwater with gas additive (MTBE)

Fuel pumps at a gas station.

Rhode Island’s combined recoveries from settlements as part of Rhode Island’s ongoing MTBE litigation total over $17 million PROVIDENCE, RI – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that his office has resolved Rhode Island’s lawsuit against three of the nation’s largest refiners of gasoline. The State’s case, filed in September 2016, alleged that Shell,…

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UPDATED: Where is the urgency to clean up toxic Allens Avenue?

RINewsToday

Attorney General Neronha, DEM Director Gray issue statements following successful effort to shut down operations at Rhode Island Recycled Metals until further notice Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Director Terrence Gray today issued the following statements after today’s decision by Providence Superior Court Justice Brian P. Stern granting the…

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In goes the bad air…

RINewsToday

Richard Asinof, ConvergenceRI.com What happens when an elementary school is inundated with polluted air from a highway in Providence? ConvergenceRI Editor’s Note: Here is an in-depth story by Grace Kelly, explaining why it is not always a beautiful day in the neighborhood at Vartan Gregorian because of the persistent, toxic air pollution from the nearby…

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