Toxics
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Portland oil refinery faces massive fines
A Portland oil refinery must properly dispose of PCB-contaminated oil or pay a federal penalty. Oil Re-Refining Company, or ORRCO, received the Environmental Protection Agency's order this week. ORRCo…
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Greener goods help paint happier, healthier picture
Just 20 years ago, paint manufacturers struggled to fill demands from pro-environment contractors who requested paints with low quantities of volatile organic compounds. Yet when federal legislation finally…
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Tennessee Valley Authority faces Clean Water Act lawsuit
The Southern Environmental Law Center has issued a letter announcing a lawsuit against the Tennessee Valley Authority over a possible violation of the Clean Water Act due to coal burning at the Colbert…
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Obama may call for tougher rules on emissions
President Barack Obama in next week’s State of the Union speech will lay out a renewed effort to combat climate change that is expected to include using his authority to curb emissions from existing…
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Metro releases second annual sustainability report
Metro announced Monday that the regional government published its second annual sustainability report, marking progress in key areas at its facilities around the Portland region. Metro officials report…
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Sustainable products need innovative materials
Innovating for the athlete is an exhilarating process. As designers, we get to imagine and create products that make athletes better. But we’re not just innovating for the athlete — we’re trying…
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EPEAT reports 30 percent increase in sales
EPEAT announced its impacts for 2011, reporting a 30 percent increase in sales of electronics registered by the Portland organization. Last year more than 120 million EPEAT-registered electronics were…
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OSU: Metals industry can use sugar to reduce toxics
Oregon State University researchers have found that simple sugar could replace toxic binders in the multi-billion dollar metals foundry industry. Experts in adhesion science at the OSU College of Forestry…
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Living Future Institute starts label for green building materials
In response to questions about harmful substances found in building materials, the International Living Future Institute on Wednesday announced the launch of a new nutrition label-like certification for…
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A new economic model for Oregon
Last month, I had the pleasure of helping to launch the Oregon BEST Red List Design Challenge, a competition that my organization, the International Living Future Institute, is running in collaboration…
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Portland and Multnomah County break ground with sustainable purchasing initiative
Portland City Council unanimously passed an initiative Wednesday that will put a program in place for city officials to require chemical ingredients to be disclosed before goods are purchased. The Healthy…
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UO study: Cooling coal emissions could lead to cleaner air
An analysis by a team of University of Oregon physicists found that cooling the emissions from coal-fired power plants could significantly drop the levels of dangerous chemicals dispersed into the air. The…
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Texas startup eyes greener roads
A University of Texas-backed startup has developed a more environment-friendly alternative to a common paving material, and it has raised $1.65 million from investors to help it crack the multibillion-dollar…
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Alima Pure grows in U.S., overseas
Alima Cosmetics Inc. intends to take the phrase "natural beauty" beyond euphemism and turn it into a growing brand. When Kate O’Brien’s teenaged daughter started getting interested in makeup in 2004,…
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Report claims Nike, Adidas Euro jerseys contain 'worrying levels' of chemicals
A European consumer watchdog group this week said several of the jerseys to be worn in the European championships starting Friday contain harmful toxic substances, including a Nike Inc. made shirt it said…
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Costco fined $3.6M for hazardous waste
Costco Wholesale Corp. will pay $3.6 million in fines in a settlement that regulators announced Monday over improper storage, handling and disposal of hazardous waste and pharmaceutical waste products…
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Oregon getting $2.1M for brownfields cleanup
The state of Oregon and five other local governments will receive $2.1 million to clean up contaminated properties. The Environmental Protection Agency dished out the funds to Oregon, the cities of Eugene,…
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Intel outlines 2020 sustainability goals
Intel Corp. on Thursday said it plans to cut greenhouse gases by 10 percent per chip by 2020, while in the same time making notebook computers 25 times more efficient. Those ambitions are among several…
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Willamette Superfund cleanup could put $2B up for grabs
When the federal government and Willamette riverfront businesses finally get around to cleaning the Portland Harbor Superfund site, the project will take hundreds of millions, if not close to $2 billion,…
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EPA finds six Oregon violations in Q1
The Environmental Protection Agency released a list of 35 enforcement actions taken in the Pacific Northwest region between January 1 and March 31, including six in Oregon. The EPA collected $183,020…
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Kitzhaber signs order in support of green chemistry
Gov. John Kitzhaber gathered with Oregon business representatives and members of the environmental community Friday morning to sign an executive order calling on state agencies to support the development…
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Oregon beekeepers: No quick fix for colony collapse
A recent study linking the mysterious disappearance of bees known as colony collapse disorder to a Bayer pesticide is causing a stir. The study by Harvard researchers is claiming to have found convincing…
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Mass. startup to make photo-degradable bags
Billerica startup GXT Green is using $3 million in angel investment to get its green products into the hands of consumers and help businesses reduce their carbon footprint. Founded in 2009, GXT Green…
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Apple CEO defends supply chain record
Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook strongly defended his company’s actions Tuesday regarding treatment of workers by its suppliers in the wake of consumer outrage about reports that huge factories in China exploit…
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DEQ fines Umatilla disposal operator for violations
Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality announced Tuesday it intends to collect $46,800 in penalties from the operator of the Umatilla Chemical Agent Disposal Facility in Hermiston. The penalties…
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