Over the past several weeks, 36 people have died and more than 500 others have been infected with fungal meningitis from tainted steroids obtained from a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts. This industry prefers state regulation of its practices and has been fighting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight for more than a decade. Some, including Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) and FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg, are now calling for clear FDA oversight authority over compounding pharmacies.

As of Oct. 15, oil and gas operators must notify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via e-mail two days in advance of extracting natural gas from a hydraulically fractured or refractured well. This notification requirement is part of EPA's new Clean Air Act (CAA) standards, which will reduce emissions from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released during natural gas production by requiring "green completions" after January 2015. Industry opposes the standards, but a new report shows they are crucial to protecting the public.

Oct. 18 marks the 40th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, a crucial law that protects the nation's water from pollution. Congress passed the landmark legislation at a time when much of our water was so contaminated by industrial waste and other pollutants that it was unfit for public use. By setting ambitious goals for the cleanup of contaminated waters, the Clean Water Act led to dramatic improvements in water quality and serious reductions in industrial pollution. As we celebrate the significant successes of the Clean Water Act, however, we must remain focused on responding to current and future threats to water quality.