"Health workers are piecing together a complicated puzzle in El Paso County, Colo. In January, three cities — Security, Fountain and Widefield — noticed synthetic chemicals known as PFCs in the drinking water."

"The Senate has approved a $10 billion water projects bill that includes money for Flint, Michigan — nearly a year after a public health emergency was declared there because of lead-contaminated water."

"Tens of thousands of homes lost power across Taiwan on Wednesday as Super Typhoon Meranti hit the island, a storm seen as the strongest in the world so far this year, forcing schools and businesses to close and flights to be canceled."

"The floods that hit Louisiana last month were caused by rainfall that was unlike anything seen there in centuries."

"Satellite data shows ice was close to last year’s record low confirming a long-term downward trend towards ice-free Arctic summers".

"Arctic sea ice cover could be confirmed within days as the second lowest ever recorded, the latest data suggests.

According to the US national snow and ice data centre (NSIDC) the ice which forms and disperses annually has been close to its minimum extent for the year for several days and has begun to grow again as autumn sets in.

"President Barack Obama plans to designate on Thursday an undersea range of canyons and peaks off the US Eastern seaboard as the country's first Atlantic marine national monument."

"Scientists in the emerging field of conservation paleobiology believe that the key to oyster conservation could be contained in ancient shells."

"Tropical Storm Julia formed late Tuesday night and is now spinning inland across southeast Georgia. ... The main concern from Julia will be heavy rain along the immediate Southeast coast through Thursday, which could result in flooding."

"Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation Tuesday that will outlaw orca breeding and captivity programs like the one formerly run by SeaWorld theme parks."

"Norway and Turkey were the only two of 53 countries to vote against an international ban on the dumping of mining waste at sea, at a major conservation summit in Hawaii last week."