5 picks for sustainable activewear.
Check out these five eco-conscious brands that put the Earth first: Yogiiza, which produces activewear for both men and women, prides itself on using organic cotton, recycled materials and fair trade labor in its manufacturing process.
We are peaceful warriors that are super-aware protectors of Mother Earth," said CEO Mark Oliver.
Dual-gender brand Atayne describes its products as "performance with a point of view."
For several years, the company has been recognized as among the "Best for the World" for overall environmental impact.
Atayne said it kept 8 tons of plastic bottles out of landfills, conserved over 119,502 kilowatt hours of energy and conserved 42,000 liters of drinking water in 2016.
The company, which makes clothing, yoga mats and other accessories, uses organic cotton, recycled wool, hemp, recycled polyester and responsibly raised down in its products.
The brand supports responsible, sustainable cotton farming that uses no toxic heavy metals and is better for the air, soil and water.
"Our mission is to change the apparel industry for good," the company said.
The brand uses 60% less water in its washing process, supports organic and eco-friendly fabrics, uses only non-toxic dyes and stands for recycling poly plastic and other materials.

2943 amends the Water Code to clarify the state water pollution control revolving fund’s purpose as being the provision of financial assistance to persons for projects eligible for assistance under certain provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, including water quality control projects provided by the bill.
The bill requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), in conjunction with or separate from the account in the revolving fund for nonpoint source pollution control and abatement projects, by rule to establish a program to promote the acquisition by eligible applicants of conservation easements and requires TWDB to adopt the rules not later than January 1, 2018.
The bill changes the time frame by which a loan is to be fully amortized from not later than 20 years after completion of the treatment works to not later than the expiration date of the term of the loan.
The bill requires certain projects financed through the revolving fund to have a demonstrable impact on water quality control, as determined by TWDB.
Amends Section 15.601(a), Water Code, as follows: (a) Requires that the state water pollution control revolving fund (revolving fund) be used to provide financial assistance to persons for projects eligible for assistance under Section 603(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
Section 1383(c)), including nonpoint source pollution control and abatement and water quality control projects described by Sections 15.603(h) (relating to a revolving fund for providing financial assistance to persons for nonpoint source pollution control and abatement projects) and (h-1) of this code (Water Code), in accordance with the capitalization grant program established under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
(1) to make loans on the conditions that: (A) the loan is made at or below market interest rates, including an interest-free loan, at a term not to exceed the lesser of 30 years or the projected useful life, as determined by TWDB, of the project to be financed with the proceeds of the loan, rather than those loans are made at or below market interest rates, including interest-free loans, at terms not to exceed 20 years; (B) principal and interest payments will begin not later than one year after completion of the project to be financed with the proceeds of the loan and the loan will be fully amortized not later than the expiration date of the term of the loan, rather than not later than one year after completion of any treatment works and all loans will be fully amortized not later than 20 years after completion of the treatment works; (C) and (D) makes no changes to these paragraphs; (2) through (7) makes no changes to these subdivisions; (8) to provide financial assistance to persons for a nonpoint source pollution control or water quality control project under Section 319 of the federal act or Section 15.603(h) or (h-1) of this code, rather than for a nonpoint source pollution control project under Section 319 of the federal act or for an estuary management project under Section 320 of the federal act; and (9) and (10) makes no changes to these subdivisions.
(c) Requires that a project financed through the revolving fund, other than a project authorized under Section 603(c)(1), (5), or (11) of the federal act (33 U.S.C.
Amends Section 17.0821(c), Water Code, to require TWDB to use the revolving fund in accordance with Section 15.604(a)(4), rather than Section 15.604(4), of this code and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, Section 603(d)(4), as a source of revenue to be deposited in accordance with this chapter for certain payments.
Requires TWDB to adopt rules under Section 15.603(h-1), Water Code, as added by this Act, not later than January 1, 2018.

Health Dept.
warns Beulah residents of water contamination.
"There’s a lot of damage up and down there–a whole lot," said Walt Bassett who lives on North Creek Road.
And cleaning up the debris–that’s as bad as anything," he added.
North Creek Road was one of the worst hit areas last week.
"Everybody’s driveways usually end up here in the creek," said Janie Bass, who motioned to the creek in her backyard.
Bass also lives off North Creek Road, but didn’t suffer much flood damage on her property.
The Pueblo County Health Department is urging anyone whose well may have flooded not to wait, but instead use their free testing kit to check for contamination.
"It’s a 24 hour test, so results would be available the next day," said Kathy Nelson, the Program Manager in the Environmental Health and Emergency Preparedness division.
Health officials hope more people will take advantage of the free water testing.

EPA partners with Texas to eliminate water pollution; Awards $2 Million Grant to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
DALLAS – (May 15, 2017) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently awarded $2 Million to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to support the state’s water pollution control program.
The grant will also help prevent, reduce and eliminate water pollution through monitoring, standard setting, enforcement and compliance activities.
“Protecting America’s water resources is one of the highest priorities for the EPA and the Trump Administration,” said Administrator Pruitt.
“This grant empowers Texas to protect their cherished water resources.” “Texas continues to demonstrate the value of state and federal partnerships,” said Acting Regional Administrator Sam Coleman.
“This initiative will help water related environmental issues in the state.” The Clean Water Act provides funding to water pollution control programs to build and sustain effective water quality programs that ensure the health of our nation’s water bodies.
The funds are awarded under section 106 of the Clean Water Act.
EPA provides this financial assistance to build and sustain effective water quality programs that ensure the health of our nation’s water bodies.
The objective of the Clean Water Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation’s waters.
Programs under the act support monitoring, assessment, protection, and prevention of polluted runoff in waterways.

Lawmakers to propose tax to clean Delaware’s waters.
Experts say they know how to fix Delaware’s polluted waterways.
A state task force plans to propose an income tax surcharge of up to $40 per person and a new fee on business licenses that they say would raise $20 million annually to clean up Delaware waters.
It’s going to use up the oxygen that’s in the water, and that makes it worse for the fish.” Reducing nutrient pollution is one reason legislators plan to propose the Clean Water for Delaware Act, asking Delawareans to shell out $40 annually and placing a $45 surcharge on business license fees to fuel a fund that would support a slew of clean water projects.
This should be model legislation for how you administer key infrastructure decision-making.” Some balk at tax proposal But not everyone supports a tax increase for clean water projects.
My business that supports families does not need any more taxes to draw funds to help clean things up.” Baxter said legislators should look at cutting other expenses before asking Delawareans to cover the costs of cleaning the state’s waterways.
Jack Markell proposed a clean water tax based on property taxes, which would have made large landowners pay up to $25,000.
“Regardless of how much tax it is, it’s still a tax,” he said.
At Green Acres Farm – better known as Hopkins Farm Creamery – on Route 9 in Lewes, a relatively inexpensive fencing project has made a huge impact on water quality and livestock health.
They’re only going to get worse, and we have got to step up as a coastal state.” More about the proposed bill Individuals would pay a 10 percent surcharge through their personal income tax not to exceed $40 each, and couples filing jointly would pay up to $80, according to draft legislation.

pollution Panaji, May 15 (PTI) The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) today directed the mine lease holders operating in North Goas Sonshi village to furnish bank guarantee, which will be forfeited if they cause air and water pollution.
The GSPCB today held a meeting under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma to decide on whether to grant consent to operate 39 mining leases, including 12 in Sonshi village.
Several residents of Sonshi had protested last month stating that there was a rise in air pollution, after which the mining operation in this area had been suspended.
"The board today refused to allow the mining operations at Sonshi till further orders.
The mining firms have been asked to furnish bank guarantee, which will be forfeited if they cause pollution," GSPCB member secretary Lavinson Martins told reporters.
The mining operations in Sonshi has been shut since April 28 after the lease holders were found to be involved in violation of pollution norms.
He said the guarantee amount will be based on the area of the lease.
"It is most likely to be Rs 50 lakh for mining leases that have area above 100 hectares; Rs 25 lakh for mining lease with area between 50 and 100 hectares and Rs 12.5 lakh for mining lease area below 50 hectares," he said.
"If lease holder fails to control the air and water pollution in the vicinity, the bank guarantee will be seized by the Board," he said.
PTI RPS NP

BISMARCK, N.D. – Governor Doug Burgum signed legislation on April 7 separating the Environmental Health Section from the North Dakota Department of Health to create a standalone Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
Most states already have a DEQ separate from their health department, and establishing a DEQ streamlines government and acknowledges the importance of environmental protection in North Dakota by elevating that responsibility to a cabinet-level agency whose director is appointed by and reports directly to the governor.
“In the spirit of reinventing government, this new agency maintains existing staffing and program levels while giving our environmental team the autonomy it needs to be more efficient, flexible and better able to implement federal regulations.” According to Dave Glatt, section chief for the Environmental Health Section as part of the North Dakota Department of Health, when the Health Department was initially established, environmental and public health issues were handled by the same people (medical doctors, sanitary engineers, etc.).
“In essence, the Environmental Health Section was operating as a separate agency due to the complexity of environmental regulations and all the technology and technical expertise that was required.
Since it has become so specialized, it made sense to break it out into its own agency.” The bill gives the Department of Health until July 1, 2019, to obtain the approvals and amend the agreements necessary to ensure the state maintains strong primacy over all federal and state regulations that protect North Dakota’s clean air, water and land.
Glatt noted how it became clear when they started looking into breaking the department up that there were a lot of misconceptions to if there was even an environmental program within the state.
“People will not only be more aware that there is environmental protection going on within the state, but they’ll know that there is a state agency implementing those programs,” he said.
“We won’t have to go through a health officer, but instead everything goes directly through the governor, so we’ll be more responsive in that area and we’ll be able to set priorities more directly related to environmental health.” The DEQ will be overseen by a new 13-member Environmental Review Advisory Board, created through the consolidation of the existing Air Quality Advisory Board and the Water Pollution Control Advisory Board.
“On that board there are three representatives from agriculture – one for the livestock industry, crop agriculture and one that gets into agronomy and soil sciences.
We’ll have broad based representation and input into the state’s environmental programs, and I see that as a positive for the agriculture industry,” Glatt concluded.

Groundwater contamination spurs $139,000 increase to east side water main project.
GOSHEN — Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety members Monday approved a $139,000 contract increase with HRP Construction needed to remedy groundwater contamination concerns related to a water main replacement project along Monroe Street on the city’s east side.
According to Sailor, the Monroe Street portion of the project, which got started in early March, needed some significant modification due to recent word from Goshen Brownfield Coordinator Becky Hershberger that groundwater contamination from the former Johnson Controls industrial site, 1302 E. Monroe St., had been found in the path of the Monroe Street portion of the project.
Sailor said the contamination was in the form of trichloroethylene (TCE), which can migrate through the traditional gaskets and plastic piping the city normally uses for such water main projects.
During Monday’s meeting, Sailor informed the board that HRP Construction has completed installation of the upgraded Viton gaskets and copper piping, with the total cost of the upgrade coming to $139,281.
However, Sailor noted that his office has been in contact with Johnson Controls about the contamination issue, and the company has agreed to reimburse the city for the increased project cost.
So we’re just asking for this to be approved by the board so that we can pay the contractor.” The request was approved unanimously.
Johnson Controls operated the plant at 1302 E. Monroe St. from 1937 to 2007.
The suit alleges Tocon has not remediated the pollution.
• Approved temporary closure of the Cottage Avenue railroad crossing from May 22 through May 25 to allow for continued work on the city’s Logan Street, Monroe Street and Cottage Avenue water main replacement project.

Perry visits NM, Interior wants your opinions–and EPA reaches out to states on clean waters rule & coal ash.
U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Rick Perry traveled to New Mexico last week, visiting Los Alamos National Laboratory and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant.
In southern New Mexico, Perry toured the Energy Department’s Carlsbad Field Office and the underground nuclear waste repository.
Last month, the president signed an executive order director Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review national monument designations made under the act since 1996.
Coal ash “flexibility” Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told states it’s working on guidance for state programs that will allow “flexibility” in permits for the disposal of coal combustion residuals, a byproduct from coal-fired power plants, which is also called “coal ash.” According to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: EPA continues to support the environmentally sound recycling of coal ash.
Pruitt to guv’s: About those waters… According to a story in The Hill, Pruitt is also asking governors for their “input and wisdom” on which bodies of water within their states should (and presumably, shouldn’t…) be regulated under the Clean Water Rule.
Under that 2015 rule, which applies to navigable waterways and their tributaries, a tributary doesn’t need to be a continuously flowing body of water.
Fish and Wildlife Service lands.
Shooting ranges can also be found on public lands, including New Mexico’s.
One last thing on the EPA The agency just awarded more than $215,000 to the New Mexico Environment Department to support the state’s water pollution control program.

How El Niño forecasts can help prevent cholera deaths in Africa. The Conversation, May 14, 2017. Since it first emerged from the Ganges River delta 200 years ago, cholera has killed tens of millions of people around the world. It causes acute diarrhea that can kill quickly without proper treatment. Before the 1970s it was not unusual for healthy adults to die of dehydration within…