Chinese city drops plans to build copper alloy plant after three days of protests. Leaders in the southwestern China city of Shifang made the announcement today after protests, which included violent clashes with police, underscored the public’s concerns about the $1.64 billion project. It also reflected how concerns about environment and health issues have spread from wealthy coastal areas to smaller and less-developed cities. Shifang is located in the largely poor Sichuan province. The showdown appears to be the nation’s most severe environmental protest since around 12,000 demonstrators last August protested a petrochemical facility in the northeastern city of Dalian. The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian
States limit solitary confinement for juvenile offenders. Last year Mississippi tightened limits on solitary confinement for minors in adult prisons. Montana, likewise, agreed not to put juveniles into solitary or “behavior management” isolation for more than 72 hours unless a warden approves. This spring West Virginia joined six other states in prohibiting solitary confinement for minors in detention, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry warned that the practice deepens depression, psychosis and suicidal tendencies. But in California a proposal to require, every four hours, mental-health evaluations of minors “segregated” from other wards died in a Senate committee. The Center for Public Integrity
New auto technologies appear to reduce crashes. A study by the Highway Loss Data Institute, which is financed by the insurance industry, drew that conclusion after looking at collision, property damage and injury claims on 2000-2011 model cars. One of the apparently most successful innovations were adaptive headlights that pivot to shine light around corners. The other technologies that seemed to help drivers the most were forward collision avoidance systems, particularly those enabling cars to automatically hit the brakes to avoid rear-end crashes. However, lane departure warning systems didn’t appear to reduce accident claims. In fact, some cars with such systems had higher property damage claims. The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Consumer Reports
Record $3.7 million civil penalty proposed for Michigan oil spill. Federal authorities are seeking the penalties against Enbridge Inc. for the July, 2010 oil spill that closed 36 miles of the Kalamazoo River for nearly two years. At least 1 million gallons of diluted bitumen, tar sands oil from Canada, spilled into wetlands near Marshall, Mich., after a pipeline ruptured. A small section of the river remains closed while the cleanup continues. Most of the proposed federal fines stem from Enbridge’s failure to deal with corrosion problems it knew about before the spill. An investigation by InsideClimate News found that in the year before the accident, Enbridge failed to repair 329 defects it had detected on the pipeline. InsideClimate News, Detroit Free Press
North Carolina lawmakers override veto of fracking bill. The override led by Republican lawmakers lifts the state ban on drilling for natural gas with the controversial technique known as fracking. The new law sets up a commission that, by October 2014, is to write regulations clearing the way for fracking to begin, pending another vote by lawmakers. Democratic Gov. Beverly Perdue vetoed the bill Sunday, citing environmental concerns. But the North Carolina House delivered a one-vote margin in favor of the override after Rep. Becky Carney, a Democrat who opposes fracking, pushed the wrong button and accidentally voted with Republicans. A legislative maneuver then prevented her from changing her vote. The Charlotte Observer, The Associated Press
California safety inspectors accuse San Diego-area recycling firm of 7 violations. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health proposed $111,935 in penalties against EDCO Waste and Recycling Services, which the agency said had a history of safety violations. The new charges stem from an accident Dec. 31 that severely injured a worker who was standing on a compactor inside a garbage truck when it accidentally was activated. “EDCO violated critical safety standards requiring that machinery be de-energized and equipment locked down to prevent movement during maintenance work,” a Cal/OSHA official said. “EDCO was given prior orders to fix these serious hazards and failed to do so.” Cal/OSHA
Recalls: Audi Q5 crossovers, Discovery Kids lamps, Pedigree dog food
Compiled by Stuart Silverstein
