In a recent court settlement, EPA agreed to issue new standards by April 15, 2005, to reduce air pollution in national parks and wilderness areas. A good visibility day in Smoky Mountains National Park The effects of air pollution are apparent in this shot, taken in the same spot as shown above. The settlement stems from a lawsuit against the agency, brought by Earthjustice on behalf of

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently instructed federal land-use planners to clear the way for increased oil and gas drilling on federal lands. This action stems from a study, requested by Congress in 2000, that inventoried oil and gas resources underlying five Western basins and examined environmental restrictions on access to those resources.

The Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), an anti-regulatory group, filed the first lawsuit under the Data Quality Act (DQA) against the White House Office of Science and Technology (OSTP). The suit challenges a climate change report, “National Assessment of the Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change,” and seeks to prevent its dissemination to the public.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently lifted requirements that food containing olestra, a zero-calorie fat substitute, bear a statement informing consumers that the additive may cause gastrointestinal problems. FDA approved olestra for use in 1996 but required foods containing the fat substitute to be labeled with the following statement in a boxed format: "THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS OLESTRA. Olestra may cause abdominal cramping and loose stools. Olestra inhibits the absorption of some vitamins and other nutrients. Vitamins A, D, E, and K have been added."