MYSTERIOUS CONTAMINATION IN WARREN'S BEAR CREEK SPARKS INVESTIGATION

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In Warren, Michigan officials are attempting to identify an unknown substance that spilled into Bear Creek. The contamination that federal and state environmental monitorsd are assessing was confirmed to be leaking from an unoccupied building in an industrial part of the town. It was first reported due to discoloration in the water.

NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT GRANTS $6.6 MILLION TO CLEAN UP OLD LANDFILL SITES

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The New Zealand government has granted $6.6 million to clean up four historic landfill and dump sites that are vulnerable to extreme weather events and coastal erosion. These sites are located in Tairāwhiti, Southland, Canterbury and Nelson. Environment Minister Penny Simmonds states that “These sites are in low-lying coastal areas and near river margins, leaving them at risk of being compromised by storm surges, rainfall events, high river levels and flooding.”

Additionally, he stated that the Ministry for the Environment will work with regional councils to assess historic landfills as well a provide funding for councils to develop a tool to evaluate climate change risks for landfills and contaminated sites. Simmonds says, “These assessments will help councils make decisions on how to manage the risks associated with vulnerable landfills and contaminated sites, such as reducing the level of contamination, better containing the sites, or removing the contents of landfills.”

MAINE RECEIVES MAJOR DISASTER DECLARATION FOR DECEMBER STORM AND FLOODING

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President Joe Biden has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for ten Maine counties after a storm caused large amounts of damage from December 17 through December 21, 2023. The storm caused flooding, power outages and property damage across central and western Maine. The assistance will not only be for infrasctructure repairs such as roads but also for families and individuals that experienced severe property damages.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) will establish Disaster Recovery Centers which will help affected communities apply for disaster assistance, learn about disaster programs, and other FEMA related assistance. Individual assistance will be provided to eligible families that meet the federal governmant’s statutory financial threshold.

FEMA estimated that the storm created $20 million in public infrastructure damage. Their assessment identified 13 destroyed, 106 major, 65 minor, and 31 affected properties across the five hardest hit counties.

SIX CHILDREN DIED IN AN INDIANA FIRE AFTER A FAILED INSPECTION

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A house that failed a federal safety inspection caught fire in South Bend killing six children. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Six months prior to the fire the home failed federal safety inspections where the inspector reported ten violations. Homeowners are recommended to have an inspection before buying a home as well as every three to five years afterwards.

'TOXIC MENACE' | AG TONG FILES 2 COMPLAINTS AGAINST 28 CHEMICAL COMPANIES OVER PFAS USE IN CONNECTICUT

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In Connecticut Attorney General William Tong filed lawsuits against 28 chemical manufacturers. The lawsuits claimed companies are responsible for knowingly contaminating waters with PFAS. The complaint aims to have companies dispose of toxic chemical stocks, disclose research and compensate the state for past and future remediation and testing. The complaints say that companies knew PFAS chemicals were toxic as early as the 1950s.

Tong stated that PFAS has contaminated water systems in places such as Manchester and Norwalk. The prescence of PFAS have been detected in rivers such as the Connecticut river, the Farmington river and the Hockanum river. The Connecticut Department of Health has released PFAS-related consumption advisories for fish caught within areas of these and other rivers.

RADIOACTIVE CONTAMINATION INCIDENT ON U.S. HIGHWAY 66: MALLINCKRODT CHEMICAL WORKS IDENTIFIED AS SOURCE

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An incident along U.S. Highway 66 near Lambert-St. Louis Field resulted in radioactive dirt spilling onto the highway after a dump truck overturned. According to the Atomic Energy Commission's St. Louis area manager, the hazardous material originated from a project at Mallinckrodt Chemical Works.

Emergency responders arrived at the scene and worked to contain the spread of radioactive material and mitigate risk to the public and the environment. Traffic was diverted away from the scene to prevent further exposure and public health officials monitored air and water quality.

Investigations will be looking into how the spill occurred and will likely spark potential discussions around strengthening regulatory oversight and enhancing protocols for similar projects.

NEW FLORIDA BILL COULD REQUIRE SELLERS TO DISCLOSE FLOOD RISK INFORMATION AT OR BEFORE THE TIME OF THE SALE

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A new bill in Florida would require sellers to disclose flooding information about a home at or before the time of the sale. Requirements in the bill include a form titled “flood disclosure” and it has to include flood insurance disclaimers specifically how the homeowner’s insurance doesn’t include flood damage, if the seller has filed claims for flood damage to the property either through insurance or the National Flood Insurance Program or if the seller received federal assistance for flood damage including assistance from FEMA.

According to Mark Freidlander with the Insurance Information Institute, “Many homeowners today don’t realize that they don’t have flood insurance”. In addition, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, homeowners who purchase a home with undisclosed flood damage can incur bills up to tens of thousands of dollars to repair the damage.

EPA TO TEST FOR SOIL CONTAMINATION NEAR U.S. FIREWORKS SITE IN MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE

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A press release from the EPA was released regarding potential contamination of residential soil around the former United States Fireworks Company in Memphis, Tennessee. The investigation will test soil samples the week of April 15, 2024.

Soil sampling is being offered at no cost to homeowners and tenets in the 34-acre study area. An open house with sampling permission forms and additional information will be available to residents. The soil samples will look for heavy metals such as lead and arsenic and the results are expected to be available by the end of summer 2024. Depending on the results the study area could be expanded.

LANDSLIDE DAMAGES AT LEAST 3 HOMES IN SHERMAN OAKS, SOME RESIDENTS EVACUATED

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At least three homes in Sherman Oaks suffered damages after a portion of a hillside slid causing a landslide. Two homes were inhabited at the time of the landslide but evacuated safely, while a third home was under construction. Two homes were red-tagged and one was yellow-tagged.

A home down the street had part of its hillside drop-off, splitting a portion of the backyard. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, concrete from the backyard was separated down slope approximately 30 feet from its original spot. A concern going forward is the stability of the damaged homes, the stress on the hillside, and the safety of the homes below.

WATER CONTAMINATION OBSERVED AT FORMER MCLOUTH STEEL SITE

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Highly contaminated water is again leaching from the site of a former steel plant into a creek that feeds into the Detroit River. Jeff Johnston, a spokesman for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, stated that the discharge should not threaten drinking water supplies, but that it is too dangerous for direct human contact. Initial tests indicated the concentration of pH in the discharge was approximately the as household bleach. The contamination appears to be entering the creek from a drain pipe adjacent to the north end of the McLouth site.

A LANDSLIDE OF CONTAMINATED SOIL THREATENS ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER IN DENMARK

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At a Nordic Waste reprocessing plant in Denmark, 100 million cubic feet of soil contaminated with heavy metals and oil products is moving at a pace of 16 inches per hour toward a stream connected to the Baltic Sea. Authorities are working to stop the slow-moving landslide from reaching the nearby water source. Nordic Waste gave up on getting the landslide under control after nine days. Randers Municipality took on the task of rerouting the stream to allow the landslide to pass safely. A report by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland said the continuous deposit of soil on top of a sloping clay pit at Nordic Waste was the main cause for the landslide.

BUSINESSES ALONG OCEAN EDGE IN PORTLAND ASSESS DAMAGE, HAZARD PAY IN WAKE OF STORM

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Portland, Maine experienced its highest recorded sea level ever. Businesses experienced limited flooding. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills declared a state of civil emergency on Jan. 11. It triggered a Portland hazard pay statute, requiring businesses to pay employees at least one-and-a-half times the minimum wage.

BREAK-IN AT COLORADO SUPREME COURT BUILDING CAUSED $35 MILLION IN DAMAGE, LEFT 3 FLOORS UNUSABLE

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A man from Arizona was accused of breaking into the Colorado Supreme Court’s building and causing an estimated $35 million in damage. Three floors were rendered unusable due to the damages. A fire was started on the seventh floor of the courthouse. Water from the sprinklers seeped through the building to the basement. The most severely damaged floors will likely be closed for at least a year.

COASTAL MAINE DRIES OUT – AND BEGINS CLEANING UP – FROM HISTORIC STORM

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A powerful wind and rainstorm battered the southern Maine coast with waves of up to 20 feet, wind gusts up to 60 mph and historic high tides. Piers and buildings along the Portland waterfront were damaged. Businesses and homes in many communities were also affected.  High tide in Portland peaked at 14.57 feet at the Ocean Gateway, exceeding the previous record high tide of 14.17 feet set on Feb. 7, 1978. Some residents were rescued from flooded homes. Harpswell experienced unprecedented and catastrophic damage.

EPA CLEANUP OF CONTAMINATED SOIL IN ST. CLAIR SHORES

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Efforts to clean up the Ten Mile Drain Superfund site in St. Clair Shores advance as the EPA plans to excavate a polluted storm sewer system summer 2024. PCB contamination, linked to illegal dumping, poses health risks and threatens Lake St. Clair.  Lake St. Clair provides recreational boating access for approximately 125 homes and is also used for swimming and fishing.

Cleanup, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, targets residential and commercial properties. PCBs, banned in 1979, persist in the environment, posing health hazards. The costly cleanup aims to mitigate these risks and safeguard public health.

AFTERMATH: LOOKING AT FLOOD DAMAGE ACROSS SAN DIEGO FOLLOWING HISTORIC RAINFALL

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A recent historic rainfall wreaked havoc in Southcrest and National City, leaving behind unimaginable damage. Residents recount scenes of terror as Chollas Creek overflowed, inundating streets and homes. Clogged and damaged storm drains exacerbated the deluge, leading to widespread destruction. For many, like Greg Montoya, this catastrophe is a recurring nightmare, despite warnings to authorities.

In National City, off Paradise Valley Boulevard and East 8th Street, a strip of homes was completely washed out almost a year later to the day when it suffered another flood. Mayor Todd Gloria, now assessing the devastation firsthand, acknowledges the grim reality: some homes are irreparable losses. The aftermath is a testament to the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and community support.

FIREFIGHTERS ESTIMATE $1M IN DAMAGE TO HOME AFTER BLAZE IN ANCASTER, ONTARIO

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A residential fire in Ancaster, Ontario, caused an estimated $1 million in damages to a one-story home on Fallingbrook Drive. Hamilton Fire battled the blaze early Jan. 22, with flames erupting through the roof of an attached garage. Chief Dave Cunliffe stated an occupant was rescued twice during the incident, as they re-entered the burning structure to find their cats.

The roof of the home eventually collapsed during the fire. Nearby homes sustained heat damage, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation. No serious injuries were reported.

STATE REACHES $2.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT OVER FORMER DRY CLEANER HAZMAT SITE IN HARTFORD

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Vermont AG settles $2.35M case over hazardous materials. A decade-long dispute concerning a former dry cleaner site in Hartford, VT, has concluded with a $2,350,733 settlement. The agreement, reached with the estate of a former property owner, resolves claims for the remediation of hazardous materials.

The site, at 7 Union Street, had been contaminated with tetrachloroethene, affecting neighboring properties. The Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) conducted initial sampling in the area in 2006 and installed sub-slab depressurization systems in eight homes to divert soil gas vapors away from the indoor air to the outside. ANR will use funds to investigate and mitigate contamination, with property owners granting easements for safety measures.

COASTAL MAINE DRIES OUT AND BEGINS CLEAN UP FROM HISTORIC STORM

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Southern Maine's coastal communities grapple with the aftermath of a fierce storm that swept through the region, leaving a trail of property damage in its wake. With waves reaching up to 20 feet and wind gusts topping 60 mph, the storm caused flooding and destruction. From flooded piers in Portland to historic fishing shacks washed away in South Portland, residents face daunting cleanup efforts.

The hardest hit appears to be concentrated along the southern coast but was damaged in the Midcoast and areas to the north as well. Destruction included flooded piers and buildings along the Portland waterfront to damaged businesses and homes in many communities.

LA HABRA APARTMENT BUILDING RED-TAGGED AFTER RAIN CAUSES WALL COLLAPSE

Amin Eshaiker | La Habra Circle Shopping Center at 1925 W La Habra Blvd, La Habra, California. | https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:La_Habra_Circle_Shopping_Center,_La_Habra,_California_%282021-06-25%29.jpeg |  Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en

In La Habra, California a Las Lomas Gardens apartment building was evacuated after a wall collapsed damaging multiple cars. Work began after heavy downpours caused a portion of a 10-foot retaining wall that separates the parking lot and building to collapse. While there were no injuries three parked cars were damaged. Structural engineers and contractors assessed the damage at the scene. Overall, 31 people were forced out from their homes.