This week on The Allegheny Front, a pageant queen who values renewable energy as much as her crown. A new study finds diets in the U.S. lower in carbon footprint tend to be more healthy. In Ohio, lawmakers may reconsider a bill to loosen rules for a de-icer made from drilling waste found to contain radium. And a study finds waterways are getting saltier.
LISTEN to the full episode (29:00)
The Pageant Queen on an Environmental Mission - People come at environmental problems in various ways. A Pittsburgh area pageant contestant does it with big, sparkly earrings and a platform that promotes renewable energy and clean water.
Ohio River Compact Decides to Keep Pollution Standards - ORSANCO commissioners agreed to maintain their water quality standards, not eliminate them as proposed. A new plan will be out in the coming weeks.
Freshwater Mussel Hatchery Aims to Reestablish Colonies in Pennsylvania Waters - Mussels are a natural filter, cleaning up muddy water and allowing more sunlight into the water. A new hatchery hopes to raise a half a million mussels a year for the Delaware and Susquehanna watersheds.
Despite Radium in Road De-Icer, Ohio Considers Easing Rules - The product, AquaSalina, which uses gas drilling brine, was found to contain radioactivity. Ohio lawmakers considering a bill that would loosen regulations.
America’s Freshwater is Getting Saltier. And That’s Not Good. - Contributing to the problem is all that rock salt we put on sidewalks and roads.
EPA Says it Will Begin to Regulate PFOA and PFOS This Year - Long-awaited Action Plan will also look at whether to regulate other PFAS chemicals, step up monitoring. 
Environmental Groups Plan to Sue U.S. Steel After Clairton Fire - Groups say U.S. Steel is not following air permit requirements after a December fire knocked out some pollution controls.
Study: Healthier Diets Lower in Greenhouse Gas Emissions - Many people assume a healthy diet is also good for the environment. According to a new study, they might be right.
