Inland Empire Laboratory

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Congress and States Take Action Against PFAS

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Amid nationwide pressure to end the toxic legacy of these “forever chemicals,” a new tide of state and federal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) legislation is inundating the country. Last month, Michigan Representatives Debbie Dingell and Fred Upton, along with 25 other members of Congress, introduced a bold new PFAS Action Act to the House of Representatives. The proposed bill includes some far-reaching provisions like establishing certain PFAS as “hazardous substances” under the Superfund law--an action that remains highly controversial.

This year alone, over 180 bills concerned with PFAS will be under consideration in 27 states. Many of these laws aim to establish safe drinking water levels, phase out PFAS based firefighting foams, allocate money towards research and remediation of PFAS, and address PFAS in consumer products, particularly in food packaging. Outside California, states that have recently passed laws concerning PFAS include…

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Are the Tides Turning for the Dying Salton Sea?

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It looks like something from the beginning of a science fiction novel—dilapidated and decaying architecture protrudes from red-stained shores, swirling clouds of toxic dust whip over the desolate landscape, and a horrible smell like rotting eggs wafts from the surface of the listless water. But this isn’t a colony on Mars or an apocalyptic future Earth; this is the present-day Salton Sea in Imperial County, California.

For decades, the State of California has failed to address this accidental lake turned environmental catastrophe. The once thriving Salton Sea now faces a host of issues with receding shores, contaminated water, and an exposed playa (or lakebed) that forms massive, toxic dust storms. Although California took responsibility for maintaining the Salton Sea in the early 2000s, the state has yet to allocate the money and workforce needed to fix this brewing disaster. But after years of red tape and unfulfilled promises, the tides may be turning for the Salton Sea. In November of 2020….

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PFAS Remediation - Time To Clean Up Our Act

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With our world waking up to the realization some everyday products contain forever chemicals known as PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, scientists and engineers are working to find the most cost-effective, efficient, and environmentally responsible way to remediate them. The financial and technical challenges of remediating PFAS are cause for serious concern. With over 2,300 contaminated sites across the United States to clean-up, we need an efficient method for removing these toxic chemicals from our water, soil, and biota. But remediation efforts currently face two enormous hurdles: who will pay, and how will we clean up the environmental mess we are just beginning to uncover?

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SWB Shows Renewed Focus on Constituents of Emerging Concern

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Man-made chemicals are everywhere in our modern world—in pharmaceuticals, health care products, pesticides, and cookware. But a vast array of the same chemicals present in our household goods also contaminate our environment and aquatic ecosystems. These Constituents of Emerging Concern, or CECs, are gaining notoriety as potential hazards to marine environments, aquatic wildlife, and human health. In response to rapid advancements in testing and a growing body of literature surrounding emerging contaminants, the Southern California Coastal Water Research Project (SCCWRP) was asked by the State Water Board (SWB) in April 2020, to reconvene the CEC Ecosystem Panel. The panel, tasked with updating previous recommendations for monitoring CECs, is on track to produce a new report by…

CARB and a Green, Energized Future for Riverside

After four years of construction and a decade of planning, CARB (California Air Resource Board) will open the doors to their new facility in Riverside. The new facilities will expand CARB’s vehicle emission testing capabilities and provide vital, advanced equipment for air quality and climate change research. The facility’s close proximity to the University of California Riverside’s (UCR’s) campus also creates new opportunities for CARB and UCR to invest in cooperative environmental programs.

Since 1967, CARB has spearheaded California’s efforts to address air pollution and climate change. Prior to the creation of CARB, California had some of the worst air quality in the country. Sunny weather combined with…

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March Showers Bring More Than April Flowers to Water Conservation

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Californians have traditionally managed stormwater as both a waste product and an environmental hazard. But extreme droughts and harsh storm events have shifted perceptions over the last few decades. In regions struggling with water security, stormwater capture can increase water resiliency, protect urban developments, and safeguard water quality. Moving forward, stormwater capture will become increasingly important to water conservation efforts.

The growing importance of stormwater is intrinsically connected to the effects of global climate change on California’s water supplies and precipitation patterns. Global warming is no secret; average air temperatures have increased since 1895 and last year saw a record breaking heat wave. Nowhere is temperature rise more apparent than in the Sierra Nevada Mountains—a vital source of water for the state. The Sierra snowpack provides drinking water to 23 million Californians and feeds into several important state water infrastructure projects. The mountains serve as our frozen reservoirs during the winter, stockpiling water and gradually releasing it as snowmelt during the spring. But rising temperatures mean less snow and more rain in the mountains and an accelerated springtime melting process. Consequently, stormwater floods can overwhelm reservoirs, which are not built to efficiently capture or store large, sudden influxes of water. Snow reserves have…