"The world is enduring the hottest year on record, according to a U.S. national weather analysis, causing droughts worldwide and a concern for U.S. farmers counting on another bumper year."
Some 60 investigators from the former Minerals Management Service tried to deal with 12,087 oil-related incidents in the gulf reported over the past five years. Those incidents included 30 worker deaths, 1,298 injuries, 514 fires and 23 blowouts that left wells out of control. The investigations were spotty -- few resulted in big fines, and MMS let some companies investigate themselves.
"The Delaware River Basin Commission hasn't heard the last word on natural gas drilling in northeast Pennsylvania. It agreed last week to hold further hearings there on its drilling moratorium."
"New Jersey has seriously neglected patrolling its shellfish grounds for years, with inadequate enforcement on more than two-thirds of its waters, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration."
"Closed-door meetings between a select group of environmentalists and a handful of electric utility executives may determine the fate of climate change legislation in the Senate."
"A day that seemed destined for success ended in ambiguity Sunday. The blown-out well at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico remained shut for the fourth day, but the national incident commander reported concerns about seepage around the well and ordered BP to improve its monitoring of possible problems."
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