Neglected river to get lifeline. In a historic legal settlement expected this month, environmentalists, farmers and federal water officials say they will unveil an agreement to release billions of gallons of water back into the San Joaquin River. [News Source]

NM launches environmental justice effort. Officials from state agencies, along with representatives from environmental groups, business and industrial interests and tribes, have met for the first time to prepare a report on how New Mexico can address environmental justice issues. [News Source]

Mercury emissions controls face uncertain fate at Capitol. Minnesota may be on the verge of dramatically beefing up its mercury emissions rules for large coal-fired power plants, but passage of the plan is by no means certain. [News Source]

Six swine CAFO permits sought. A grassroots organization in Randolph County, IN is fighting plans to construct at least six swine CAFOs in the county. [News Source]

Stricter regulations passed on refinery flaring. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District in California has strengthened a refinery flare control rule by requiring that all flares be investigated. [News Source]

EPA joins beef producers in criticizing air study. The EPA has joined a beef producers' group in criticizing a 10-year study by California health officials that found more people died in the Coachella Valley on dusty days than clear ones. [News Source]

Dirty air deals. To make way for more fossil-fueled power plants and imports of oil and gas, the South Coast Air Quality Management District is preparing to sell air-pollution credits reserved for essential government services. [News Source]

Future of transportation: Burning fat and freight shuttles. A vision of the future, discussed at the University of Arkansas' supply chain management conference on Wednesday, could improve air quality and reduce the United States' dependence on foreign oil. [News Source]

LaPorte County ozone OK. LaPorte County's air no longer exceeds federal standards for ozone pollution. [News Source]

Report: Southern Co. nation’s No. 2 polluter. Southern Co. also was the No. 2 emitter of SO2, NOx and CO2, but was the No. 1 emitter of mercury. [News Source]

Southern Co. nation’s number 2 polluter. A new study of U.S. power plant pollutants shows certain harmful emissions fell between 1990 and 2004, but global warming emissions climbed during the same period and one culprit was Southern Co. [News Source]