These are some of the stories we’ve been following this week.
- Residents of Flint, Michigan affected by the lead-contaminated water are considering joining lawsuits that could reach a billion dollars in claims and damages.
Home damaged by Oklahoma earthquake; photo courtesy of USGS.
- The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit to reduce wastewater injection from hydraulic fracturing in Oklahoma. The non-profit stated in the lawsuit that disposal of fracking wastewater is causing earthquakes in the state.
- California Governor Jerry Brown proposed $177 million to clean up as many as 3,000 homes in East Los Angeles contaminated with lead from a former Exide battery recycling plant.
- Railroad officials say train cars carrying oil in Minnesota are now much safer. However, some residents who live near train tracks want to see more done to protect those close to the tracks.
- Last year the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program was re-authorized through September 2016. In the meantime, legislators are looking into ways to improve oversight and protect against fraud. Two representatives introduced the bipartisan EB-5 Integrity Act bill last week, just before the House Judiciary Committee Hearing on the EB-5 program.
- Approximately 170 Chinese nationals might lose their chance at permanent residency in the U.S. if a failed EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program project is liquidated. What was supposed to become a hotel and apartment building in Seattle has never been finished. A judge is set to decide the future of the project.
- The average house price in the United Kingdom hit over £299,000 in January 2016. However, many analysts believe the rapid price increases will soon slow, because new construction is increasing and many potential buyers are unable to afford the higher costs.
- The average cost of a property damage claim in the United Kingdom has doubled in the last decade. Widespread flooding has caused problems for property owners and insurers.
- OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers have discussed freezing oil production at January 2016 levels, but even if the deal goes through, it may not do much to boost oil prices.
- Environmental regulators are targeting methane leaks at new shale gas well sites.
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