Environment

January 24, 2014 - Before he became infamous for the murder of President Lincoln, the Confederate sympathizer from Maryland was an oilman who used explosives to boost well production. The technique -- refined by another man whose Civil War experiences inspired what he called the "petroleum torpedo" -- was the rock-shattering prototype for modern hydraulic fracturing.

January 23, 2014 - Sacrificing the health of the people and planet, 590,000 additional barrels of oil will now flow to refineries on the Gulf.

January 21, 2014 - Incidents including a train derailment that led to a major crude spill near Aliceville, Ala. have federal regulators talking about improving oil train safety. But regulators also need to address the need for better cleanup efforts in places like Aliceville, where spilled oil continues to contaminate wetlands two months later.

January 17, 2014 - The drinking water crisis that began unfolding last week in West Virginia shows why the notion of regulatory excess is ridiculous.

January 15, 2014 - Since North Carolina regulators have failed to stop hog pollution from flowing into the state's rivers, environmental groups have announced plans to sue a massive hog farm that provides pork for Chinese-owned Smithfield Foods unless it cleans up its act within 90 days.

January 13, 2014 - Most Americans are aware of the pollution hazards associated with the mining and burning of coal. The water contamination disaster unfolding in West Virginia highlights another hazard inherent in coal power: the chemical-intensive coal cleaning process.

January 6, 2014 - The oil and gas industry says fracking does not endanger groundwater supplies. But an Associated Press review of data from several states offers the latest evidence that the industry's claims are not true.