NMFS Says U.S. Fisheries May Meet Whale Standard
New federal analyses suggest U.S. fisheries could satisfy the standard for protecting North Atlantic right whales.
Live Poll
Do you think federal fishing rules are fair to working fishermen?
U.S. Environmental News
This section covers environmental science in the United States — climate research, ecosystems, biodiversity, pollution and the scientific findings that inform environmental policy. Reporting takes in both the science and the regulatory and political responses to it.
Recent news
November 7, 2026
Citizen Scientists Spot New Spiders in Virgin IslandsPhotographs uploaded to iNaturalist document burrowing spiders never before recorded in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
November 6, 2026
EPA Sets December 2026 Deadline to Close Web ArchiveThe agency plans to decommission its online archive of tens of thousands of documents by year's end, after delaying an earlier shutdown.
November 6, 2026
Nylon Fibers Raise Trout Virus Death RiskA controlled laboratory study found rainbow trout exposed to nylon microfibers were twice as likely to die from a viral infection.
November 6, 2026
Offshore Wind Reshapes Atlantic Marine Food WebsA new modeling study finds sediment-dwelling invertebrates and mussels are especially influential as turbine foundations alter seabed ecosystems.
November 5, 2026
Lenses Found in Sewage Sludge NationwideCrews recover about one pair of contact lenses for every two pounds of sewage sludge from American treatment tanks.
November 5, 2026
Marginal Wells Drive 40% of Oil and Gas MethaneA study finds low-output US wells, which supply about 5% of production, account for a large share of methane emissions from the sector.
November 5, 2026
Most U.S. Rivers Remain Untested for Water QualityA University of Florida study finds monitoring of the nation's river network has been sparse and has declined since 2010.
November 5, 2026
Sierra Club Urges Congress to Make Polluters PayThe environmental group released a policy blueprint for the incoming Congress, as Democrats take control of both chambers.
November 5, 2026
Carbon Removal Alliance Urges Congress on CDRThe nonprofit coalition released a statement after the 2026 midterm elections, as Democrats took control of the Senate and House.
November 4, 2026
Climate.us Revives Offline Federal Climate ResourcesFormer Climate.gov staff have launched a new site offering climate data, graphs, explainers, and blogs after the federal site went offline.
More in Environmental
Research findings on climate change, ecosystem health, species population data, pollution studies and carbon capture and removal technology developments are the recurring subjects in this coverage. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston and Phoenix are among the metropolitan areas where air quality, water systems and climate resilience receive the most sustained local attention, and findings that affect those regions generate coverage that connects the national scientific picture to specific places. Long-term studies produce some of the most durable stories in this area, since their findings update on multi-year timelines and each revision generates new coverage in the context of prior readings. The gap between scientific findings and regulatory response has become a standing subject in environmental coverage, as the pace of rulemaking rarely matches the pace of research.