The 48 mines are also linked by the fact that most of their owners have been legally delaying action on the violations through appeals of the citations. The Mine Safety and Health Administration is faced with a backlog of approximately 16,000 appeals.
"The famous Hollywood sign above Los Angeles, theatened by a development of luxury homes, has been saved and will become part of a public park."
"Industry officials applauded the Obama administration plans to open East Coast waters to oil exploration Tuesday while coastal residents warned about dangers to wildlife, natural beauty and tourism."
"Political pressure continues to build on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar as he prepares to announce his decision this week on the fate of a proposed wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod, Mass., that has been stalled for nine years."
Several journalists have raised questions about why more was not known publicly about the safety defects that led to the deaths of 29 miners at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine in April 2010.
An in-depth look at the Grand Canyon ecosystem reveals an unprecedented convergence of threats.
National Geographic takes a breathtaking look at Mount St. Helens, and the Washington ecosystem around it, both as it was before the devastating volcanic eruption of 30 years ago and as it is today after recovery.
Here are several resources for localizing this 40th anniversary event.
"Seventy-five years have passed since the worst of the Dust Bowl, a relentless series of dust storms that ravaged farms and livelihoods in the southern Great Plains that carried a layer of silt as far east as New York City. Today, the lessons learned during that era are more relevant than ever as impending water shortages and more severe droughts threaten broad swaths of the nation."
"The drying up of the Aral Sea is one of the planet's most shocking environmental disasters, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sunday as he urged Central Asian leaders to step up efforts to solve the problem."
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