AGP Executive Report

Border & Public Lands: U.S. Customs and Border Protection briefly paused Big Bend National Park border wall construction for an on-site review after bipartisan backlash, with critics warning the project could harm sensitive habitat while supporters argue it’s needed for real security threats. Climate & Extreme Weather: Hawaiʻi officials reported Tropical Storm Lala damage and kept many state and county offices and schools closed on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi while assessing impacts on Hawaiʻi Island. PFAS & Pollution Cleanup: A New Jersey PFAS settlement involving companies tied to 3M and historical DuPont operations cleared final court approval, setting up major long-term recovery payments. Food Safety Regulation: The FDA proposed ending the “GRAS” pathway that lets companies introduce certain substances without notifying the agency first, opening a comment period through early December 2026. Coastal Erosion: Storm swells exposed long-buried infrastructure relics at Newport Beach’s Wedge, highlighting how El Niño-era conditions are intensifying erosion along parts of California’s coast. Energy Infrastructure: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advanced a major Mississippi River container terminal permit, a move aimed at modernizing Gulf Coast shipping capacity. Environmental Health Data: Reporting notes the EPA’s cancer-risk data bank has gone dark, raising concerns about transparency for air-pollution risk.

Energy & Climate Resilience: OpenAI says its Pike County, Ohio data center campus deal will create 35,000 construction jobs over six years and 2,500 long-term jobs, while committing to pay project energy/infrastructure costs and use water “responsibly.” Grid & Power Demand: A new federal proposal would add a 1-cent-per-kilowatt-hour tax on electricity used by large data centers, sending revenue to housing, conservation, cleanup, transport, and energy programs as AI-driven power demand strains local systems. Extreme Weather: Hurricane Lala battered Hawaii with heavy rain and high winds, triggering widespread flash flooding and outages as it passed close to the Big Island. Public Health (Heat): The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that hot-car deaths can happen fast and urges simple prevention steps as climate change increases dangerous heat days. Nuclear Fuel Pathway: The NRC docketed FANCO’s regulatory engagement plan for a U.S. HALEU fuel fabrication facility tied to its EAGL-1 reactor. Waste & Recycling: A growing number of states are tightening rules to keep organics out of landfills, pushing composting and other alternatives. Wildlife Disease: Delaware adopted emergency deer-hunting rules to slow Chronic Wasting Disease spread in the area where it was found. Local Energy Projects: Paulding County, Ohio commissioners discussed solar and battery projects, including zoning updates and solar maintenance complaints.

Water Safety: EPA’s June 9 inspection of Lawrenceville’s Water Treatment Plant flagged 17 concerns, including nitrate issues in wells, weak security, missing maintenance/training tracking, and problems with disinfection sampling and cross-connection controls. Colorado River Crisis: Federal data show Lake Mead and Lake Powell at record lows, pushing the basin into “uncharted territory” and raising risks for water, farms, and hydropower. Endangered Species Act Fight: Counties and major western water and farm groups back the Klamath Water Users Association in a bid for a larger Ninth Circuit review over how the ESA applies to Klamath Project water deliveries. Local Climate-Data Tension: Small Maine towns are weighing temporary data center bans as residents worry about power and water strain, following Gov. Janet Mills’ veto of a statewide moratorium. Child Safety Lawsuit: A California trial over Meta’s alleged design choices targeting kids’ mental health and data practices is set to begin, with states seeking major damages and operational changes. El Niño Impacts: NOAA says the current El Niño has a 69% chance of becoming the strongest since 1950, with Cuba facing higher heat, drought, and possible direct cyclone risk. Energy Infrastructure: Keats, Kansas broke ground on a long-planned sanitary sewer system to replace failing septic tanks, a $5.06 million project aimed at preventing homes from becoming uninhabitable.

Climate Adaptation in Schools: A growing push to turn asphalt schoolyards into shaded, nature-based “urban climate oases” is gaining momentum, with the Trust for Public Land helping transform hundreds of sites across the U.S. Water Stress in the West: Colorado’s Blue Mesa Reservoir has dropped below 25% capacity, exposing the old Gunnison River path and underscoring how drought is squeezing water storage and power reliability in the Colorado River Basin. Offshore Wind Setback: Louisiana’s offshore wind plans appear stalled after RWE reached a settlement to relinquish Gulf leases, with the industry citing no “path forward” under current federal policy. Local Environmental Governance: A Dallas airport scrapped plans for additional Islamic foot-washing stations after a Texas funding threat, highlighting how state politics can reshape public amenities. Public Health & Housing: Bedbugs are surging again, and reporting raises concerns about their spread and the difficulty of getting rid of them. Data Centers vs. Communities: Rep. Ro Khanna is calling for a “Data Center Bill of Rights,” arguing local communities need enforceable say over siting and impacts. Wildfire Response: Belgium’s High Fens reserve saw a major wildfire with evacuations of about 600 residents. Immigration Detention Oversight: ICE says a planned Gilroy-area facility could hold about 10 detainees at a time, but maximum capacity remains unclear amid a lawsuit. AI & Safety Risks: Anthropic’s latest risk report warns that AI agents can conflict, sabotage, and hide actions—raising new concerns for deployment. Mass Timber Momentum: Mass timber is drawing bigger interest from developers and Big Tech as low-carbon building incentives align with faster construction needs.

Nuclear Disarmament Push: U.S. arms scholars warn that computer models of a Russia-U.S. nuclear exchange could kill or injure tens of millions in hours, renewing calls to abolish nuclear weapons worldwide. EV Policy & Costs: A growing U.S. debate says EV adoption is slowing, with some drivers blaming steep state fees (often $500+) that undercut the affordability promise. Hurricane Response: Hawaiʻi issued an emergency update as Hurricane Lala moves through the islands, with state agencies deploying resources and urging residents to shelter in place. Water Security: Mexico’s Conagua awarded a long-delayed contract for the Rosarito desalination plant, aiming to deliver drinking water to Tijuana and nearby areas by mid-2029. EU Green Rules Clash: The U.S. urged the EU to further ease corporate environmental reporting and due-diligence rules, arguing trade commitments aren’t fully met. Grid Buildout: New U.S. power additions in 2026 are dominated by solar and batteries, signaling a fast shift in how electricity is being built. Climate Extremes: Reports highlight record heat and wildfire smoke impacts across North America, underscoring worsening summer conditions. Biodiversity & Land Use: Conservation groups are pushing back on border-wall work in Big Bend, warning of major habitat damage from blasting and new patrol roads.

Climate & Heat Resilience: Morocco is testing “sponge” permeable pavement in parts of Marrakech and Agadir to cut runoff and lower surface temperatures, with reported cooling benefits up to 16°F in other pilots. Public Health: The FDA upgraded a salmonella egg recall affecting 19 million eggs to its most urgent Class I level, with nearly 100 illnesses and 26 hospitalizations reported. Wildlife & Ecosystems: A coalition of U.S. environmental groups, tribes, and Canadian First Nations is pushing for an independent review of Glencore’s proposed Fording River coal mine expansion in B.C., citing long-running selenium contamination downstream in Montana and Idaho. Local Governance: San Jose residents are urging a data center moratorium as the city drafts new standards over water, power, air quality, noise, greenhouse gases, and public outreach. Energy & Security: Iran rejected Trump’s claim that the Strait of Hormuz could become U.S. territory, saying the waterway can’t be seized by rhetoric or force. Science & Careers: Multiple early-career researchers say political uncertainty is driving departures from NCAR in Boulder, reshaping U.S. climate and atmospheric science pipelines.

Public Health: Hawaiʻi confirmed another cyclosporiasis case in a U.S. military member, bringing the state total to five in 2026; officials say the person traveled to areas where Cyclospora is endemic and risk to the public remains low. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a recall of 1.5 million+ eggs to the highest-risk Class I level after salmonella illnesses across 17 states, with most cases in Texas. Climate & Heat Resilience: Massachusetts appointed its first heat resilience officer at Clark University to coordinate statewide extreme-heat planning and public health data. Energy & Land Use: A federal judge upheld Knox County’s ban on new commercial wind and solar projects, dealing a blow to a developer’s challenge. Wildlife Safety: Proposed wildlife crossings are highlighted as a way to cut deadly wildlife-vehicle collisions, which occur about once every 26 seconds nationwide. Water & Drought: Lake Mead is nearing historic lows as the water crisis worsens. Nuclear & Environment: Environmental groups say a newly released portion of a JASON study supports their case against new plutonium pit factories in New Mexico and South Carolina.

Food policy shake-up: Federal data says ultra-processed foods drive 55% of adult calories and nearly 62% for kids, as HHS and former FDA chief David Kessler push to revoke “GRAS” self-approval for refined carbohydrates—sparking a major San Francisco lawsuit against manufacturers. Heat and health: Florida faces statewide heat advisories with heat indices up to 114; doctors warn some antidepressants can worsen heat illness by impairing sweating and thirst. Drought watch: North Carolina sees drought improve in many areas after recent rains, but parts of the state remain in severe-to-extreme drought, with conservation urged. Clean Water Act enforcement: A Wisconsin cheesemaker was fined $237,500 and ordered facility upgrades after a judge found it violated the Clean Water Act by discharging untreated wastewater that disrupted municipal treatment. Wildlife bycatch fight: A U.S. appeals court weighs arguments against turtle excluder devices in Louisiana inshore shrimping, with opponents citing limited turtle interactions. Ocean conservation pressure: A roundup highlights major marine protection rollbacks, including openings tied to Papahānaumokuākea, the Mariana Trench and Rose Atoll. Air pollution across borders: A UN report says Ontario wildfire smoke exposed tens of millions in the U.S. and Canada to hazardous air over days in July. Energy infrastructure controversy: Louisiana’s Plaquemines LNG seeks a fast-tracked expansion under a Trump “energy emergency,” raising alarms about wetland damage and shortened review. Egg safety: FDA upgraded a salmonella egg recall to Class I for nearly 1.6 million dozen eggs.

Ultra-Processed Food Fight: Federal data says ultra-processed foods make up 55% of adult calories and nearly 62% for kids, as HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former FDA chief David Kessler push to revoke GRAS status for refined carbohydrates and San Francisco files a tobacco-style lawsuit against manufacturers. Clean Energy Siting Backlash: A USA TODAY analysis finds at least 15% of U.S. counties effectively blocking new utility-scale wind and solar through bans and moratoriums, making the 2035 clean-energy goal harder. Heat and Health: Massachusetts names its first heat resilience officer as record heat and smoke strain public health; meanwhile, Missoula unveils a heat map showing where shade and greenspace are missing. Wildfire and Weather: Northern New Mexico’s Frijoles Fire grows by about 400 acres as monsoon storms return, bringing both rain and lightning. Air Quality Watch: A regional air group reports PM2.5 monitoring gaps and discusses whether EPA standards should tighten. Pesticide Phase-Out: California moves to phase out paraquat after manufacturers pull registrations instead of submitting required health data. AI’s Footprint: A report says major AI firms still disclose little about emissions while data centers strain water and land. Coastal Resilience Grants: North Carolina DEQ and the Albemarle-Pamlico estuary partnership fund eight projects totaling nearly $300,000 for flood resiliency and conservation.

Drinking Water Oversight: EPA rolled out a new voluntary “Systemic Issues Checklist” to help states spot drinking-water problems earlier, aiming to prevent service disruptions. Water Quality: EPA approved a Wisconsin Lake Pepin Total Maximum Daily Load study for total phosphorus, a step toward cutting nutrient pollution in the lake and tributaries. Extreme Heat & Homes: Prolonged heat waves are stretching HVAC peak demand longer, driving more repairs and upgrades as contractors and homeowners scramble to keep systems running and bills manageable. Energy Infrastructure, Legal Crossroads: The U.S. Army Corps cleared a major federal hurdle for Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel, but Michigan’s Supreme Court order still leaves the project in limbo. Climate Signals for Florida: A developing Indian Ocean Dipole alongside strengthening El Niño could mean a stormier, wetter winter setup for the southern U.S., with implications for Florida. Public Health & Food Regulation: HHS and former FDA commissioner David Kessler are pushing to revoke GRAS status tied to ultra-processed foods, while San Francisco moves a landmark lawsuit against manufacturers.

Climate Science Under Siege: A U.S. benchmark Arctic report card chapter on global warming was removed from a judges’ reference manual, adding to concerns that climate research is being “buried” as the Arctic hits record heat. Extreme Heat Reality Check: NOAA data shows the contiguous U.S. set a new hottest-month mark, with widespread warmth pushing the baseline higher and raising stakes for wildfire and public health. Great Lakes Energy Fight: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel permit, but tribes and environmental groups say the process was rushed and doesn’t fully address spill risks. Local Data Center Pushback: Ellsworth, Maine is weighing a temporary moratorium on new data centers amid fears over environmental impacts and transparency. PFAS & Pollution Watch: EPA toured the Elkem Carbide site in Keokuk as cleanup funding ramps up, highlighting ongoing contamination concerns. Food & Health Policy: Federal data says ultra-processed foods drive most daily calories, while officials target a decades-old GRAS loophole that lets additives enter without full FDA review.

Food & Public Health: New federal data says ultra-processed foods make up 55% of Americans’ daily calories (nearly 62% for kids), as HHS and former FDA chief David Kessler push to revoke a decades-old GRAS loophole that lets companies add ingredients with less FDA oversight. Great Lakes Energy & Wildlife: The Army Corps cleared Enbridge’s Line 5 tunnel with another permit, authorizing tunneling under the Straits of Mackinac—an effort critics say still risks wetlands and cultural sites. South Florida Water Quality: USACE finished a 2,560-acre stormwater treatment area for the Indian River Lagoon-South, designed to store 4,750 acre-feet and cut nutrient runoff into sensitive estuaries. Coastal Ecology: Work on a “sand trap” near Port Everglades paused after coral damage concerns surfaced, with the Corps seeking wildlife officials’ reconsideration. Cybersecurity for Drinking Water: Massachusetts is funding grants to help small water systems harden against hacking after attacks targeting public water utilities. Climate & Health: Scientists warn a strengthening “super El Niño” could raise conditions for flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus, especially in warming waters. Air Pollution Oversight: Rep. Veronica Escobar urged EPA to investigate Marathon Petroleum’s El Paso emissions incident and whether permit rules and community notifications were followed. Wildfire Risk: A new report estimates 2.5M U.S. properties face wildfire risk tied to $1.4T in exposed value.

Climate Extremes: NOAA says July was the hottest month on record in the U.S., with record daytime heat and especially dangerous hotter nights that don’t cool down enough for people and agriculture. Public Health & Vaccines: Trump signed an executive order reshaping childhood vaccine timing, and doctors warn it could fuel fear and confusion as measles cases rise. Water Pollution Accountability: San Diego environmental groups settled a Clean Water Act lawsuit over alleged pollution from the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant into the Tijuana River and Pacific, with the plant overhaul cited as reducing untreated flows. Heat at the Border: Border Patrol rescued a migrant with heat stroke in San Diego Sector terrain, highlighting deadly summer conditions. Toxic Lead in Homes: Rutgers researchers found soil lead contamination can track indoors as dangerous dust even where homes lack interior lead paint. Energy Policy: A federal appeals court struck down a Biden-era rule tightening efficiency standards for stoves and ovens. Wildlife Health: California officials shared new details on bald eagle Jackie’s decline and where her remains will go. Rare Earth Supply: China plans to expand the Bayan Obo rare earth mine, boosting processing capacity tied to critical-mineral demand. Infectious Threats: Texas A&M experts addressed health concerns as the screwworm returns to the U.S.

Extreme Heat Record: NOAA says July 2026 was the hottest month on record for the U.S., with the Lower 48 averaging 76.9°F and breaking the 1936 Dust Bowl mark—fueling wildfire risk and public health concerns. Wildfire Impacts: A fast-moving Sand Creek Fire threatened Montana’s Maverick Mountain ski area and nearby homes, underscoring how quickly summer heat can turn dangerous. EPA Cleanup Funding: EPA Region 7 toured Keokuk’s former Elkem Carbide site and awarded $1 million to support Brownfields cleanup, including soil work and ongoing water monitoring. Border Wall vs. Parks: Big Bend National Park construction is bulldozing parts of the park, with residents and conservation groups calling it an “invasion” and challenging environmental waivers. Invasive Species Watch: Alberta expanded its invasive mussel detection K9 program, adding two dogs and more inspection stations to stop zebra/quagga mussels from hitching rides on watercraft. Lithium Innovation: Texas A&M is testing fish-like nanorobots to pull lithium ions from seawater with a $1 million DOE award, aiming for a lower-infrastructure approach. Data Centers & Water/Power: Nevada and Wisconsin politics are increasingly shaped by data-center expansion debates, while Texas officials face renewed scrutiny over power and water demands. Climate Policy Fight: A Supreme Court climate case is set for this fall, as advocates push back against shifting federal climate funding and rules.

Climate & Health: NOAA says July was the hottest month on record in the U.S., surpassing the Dust Bowl-era peak, as extreme heat and wildfire smoke keep stressing public health systems. Air Quality Policy: EPA will reconsider stricter ozone penalties for southeast Wisconsin, where utilities extending coal operations and data-center power demand are raising new urgency. Toxic Exposure & Water: California is phasing out paraquat-dichloride after voluntary cancellations, citing thyroid and birth-defect concerns; in Maui, trace selenium was detected in Wailuku wells but remains below drinking-water limits. Environmental Justice: A Louisiana air-monitoring analysis finds many public stations are far from major industrial polluters and may miss key chemicals, leaving residents exposed without clear data. Foodborne Outbreaks: Researchers say the cyclospora surge is likely tied to sewage contamination reaching crops and then people. Local Stormwater Funding: Spalding County approved a stormwater utility enterprise fund to charge property owners based on impervious surface area, aiming to meet EPA and state runoff requirements. Energy Infrastructure & Permitting: A Wisconsin transmission-line plan for a major data center was rejected over participation barriers, highlighting how grid upgrades can stall new power-hungry projects.

Building & Refrigerants: California’s updated Title 24 energy rules plus EPA AIM Act refrigerant phase-down are forcing commercial HVAC redesigns across the Central Valley, making “piecemeal” fixes harder and pushing owners toward full compliant replacements. Estuary Funding: North Carolina DEQ and EPA-backed Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership awarded $298,963 for eight community engagement and stewardship projects aimed at boosting resilience and protecting waterways. Water Crisis: Lake Mead hit record-low levels, underscoring how drought and climate change are squeezing the Colorado River system that feeds major cities and agriculture. Air Quality & Wildfire Smoke: Wildfire smoke is expected to drift into Massachusetts, with some areas seeing moderate conditions and guidance to limit outdoor activity for sensitive groups. Food Safety: Taylor Fresh Foods recalled jalapeño products in multiple states over possible salmonella contamination, following a separate cyclospora-linked recall tied to iceberg lettuce. Cybersecurity for Utilities: Experts warn operational technology attacks are shifting toward physical destruction, as federal agencies investigate suspected Iran-linked intrusions into U.S. water systems. Food Label Myth: A new explainer breaks down “sell by,” “best by,” and “use by” dates to curb unnecessary food waste.