Under the agreement Google News users will be able to find original text stories and photos from the online services of a number of epa’s eleven agencies.

Josh Cohen

"This new approach not only enhances the experience for users, it also gives proper recognition to journalists and publishers who work hard to break the news," said Josh Cohen, Business Product Manager of Google News.

"We are delighted to work with epa and through it with eight of Europe’s leading national news agencies."

News agencies that are members of the European Pressphoto Agency will run contextual ads along side articles that appear on their Google News-hosted sites. Google introduced ads on Google News search results last month in the U.S.

In the coming months, Google will now be able to link to the source of the news agency content. Before Google News would display multiple versions of the same news agency articles and photos, with separate links to various sites according to Cohen. Google News will now link directly to the original article, on a page hosted by Google.

Users will also have the option to click on other copies of these articles allowing them to click through to those publishers Web sites and see additional content.

"The importance of this agreement is that the news agencies are recognized for the original content they create, and can generate new revenue through the advertising revenue share split with Google for all hosted articles on Google News," said Walter Grolimund, Chairman of epa’s Supervisory Board.

If the air in your area is hazy or smells odd, the product of this partnership – a KML file – may help you find out why.  With hourly updates, it shows not only the levels of air pollution, but also the sources of all the unpleasantness.

“Select a given location and view placemarks of all of the companies in the area,” writes Google’s own Steve Miller on the LatLong Blog.  “Tilt the earth until you’re at ground level and check out the collection of placemarks; they vary in height based on pollutants emitted at their particular location.  Click on a company of interest to read about their eco-history.”

The companies that are being “outed” by this development aren’t likely to appreciate it, but the move should make Google (and/or Google Earth) even more popular with environmental types.  It also puts the EPA in what might be a more friendly and accessible position than it was in the past.

Lastly, there’s a pleasant surprise when you actually look at the KML file: much of the U.S. appears to be in better shape than one might expect.

Google’s mapping products might have been a more popular choice; we certainly seem to hear more about them on a day-to-day basis.  The EPA’s decision is an even greater win for Microsoft, however, given that background.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with the EPA to deliver the agency’s common operational mapping platform through a combination of Software plus Services,” said Curt Kolcun, vice president of the Microsoft’s Federal Division.  The word “thrilled” shows up surprisingly often in press releases, but that’s still an interesting statement.

And so we (and/or the appropriate government agencies) should see Virtual Earth used in conjunction with “topics ranging from superfund sites and oil spills to waterways and the quality of beach water.”  No dates of implementation have been made public, but, in an interview with Bloomberg’s Melita Marie Garza, a technology manager for the EPA said something interesting.

“We wanted to get our feet wet with the technology, without spending a fortune,” acknowledged Pat Garvey.  “The Google offering didn’t seem to be as sharp, and Microsoft offered us unlimited use for one year.”

The scientific advisory panel to the EPA will submit the report next month revealing the results of their investigation of a common compound used in creating non-stain, non-stick material for products like frying pans and pizza boxes.

PFOA is a synthetic chemical sometimes called “C8.” Companies use PFOA to make fluoropolymers, substances with special properties that have thousands of important manufacturing and industrial applications, according to the EPA website.

Consumer products made with fluoropolymers include non-stick cookware and breathable, all-weather clothing.

The upgrade in status is the result of studies on how the carcinogen enters the bloodstream and affects health. Though no conclusions have been made regarding the cancer risk posed in humans, experiments by the scientific advisory panel on male and female rats and mice have shown the development of four different kinds of tumors in those who were exposed to the chemical.

The panel says that is enough to consider it a likely carcinogen.

The change in status will lead to stricter regulations and be the basis for legal action against manufacturers such as DuPont Co., which produces PFOA. The EPA is seeking millions of dollars in fines from DuPont, accusing the company of withholding 20-years worth of information about health and environmental problems linked to the compound.

Last year, DuPont settled a class-action lawsuit filed by residents living near its Parkersburg, West Virginia plant for $300 million. DuPont still denies any wrong doing or health threat posed by PFOA.

DuPont spokesman, R. Clifton Webb says there is no link between PFOA and cancer.

“Based on an evaluation of human health and toxicology studies, DuPont believes that the weight of evidence suggests that PFOA exposure does not cause cancer in humans and does not pose a health risk to the general public,” Webb said. “To date, no human health effects are known to be caused by PFOA, even in workers who have significantly higher exposure levels than the general population.”

The area’s smoggy air is in violation of United States health standards.

According to a Washington Post article,

The court ruling, issued Tuesday by U.S. District Judge James Robertson, was the Sierra Club’s fourth legal victory on the issue in three years. The environmental group contends that the EPA repeatedly missed deadlines and allowed localities to do less than required. The group, represented by Earthjustice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, filed its latest suit in December.

In his ruling, Robertson noted that the EPA said it expected to act by May 3. Despite the assurances, he said he felt that it was necessary to issue an order because of the “EPA’s unblemished record of nonperformance in this corner of the Clean Air Act.”

The EPA says that action will be taken by the deadline.

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