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159,000 Disney-Branded Pogo Sticks Recalled
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 159,000 pogo sticks due to fall and laceration hazards. Distributed by Bravo Sports, the agency said “the bottom rubber tip attached to the pogo stick frame can wear out prematurely, posing a fall hazard to consumers. Also, the end caps on the handlebars can come Read More
Thermostats Recalled Due to Overheating Risk
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 77,000 electric baseboard and fan heater thermostats imported by Honeywell International Inc. The agency reported that the thermostats can overheat and begin to smoke and burn. There have been 16 reports of the thermostats melting but no injuries occurred. Carter Stein
Toy Wagons Recalled by Fischer-Price
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 208,000 children’s toy wagons imported by Fischer-Price. The agency said the plastic handle on the back of the wagon may pose a laceration hazard if a child were to fall on it. The company is aware of seven incidents in which children suffered lacerations, five Read More
Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Votes to Ban Injection Wells in Area Near the Guy-Greenbrier Fault
On July 27, 2011, the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission voted to place a moratorium on injection well activities in a large area stretching from North of Heber Springs to South of Conway. The area has experienced over one thousand earthquakes since companies began disposing of fracking fluids in injection wells in the area. A Read More
Child Safety Outlet Covers Recalled
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced a recall of 37,000 child safety latches and outlet covers due to problems with the products’ screws. The agency said the screws can break, giving children easy access to electrical outlets. There have been four reports of screws breaking, but no injuries have occurred, the company said. Carter Read More
Safer Toys for Children on the Way (Hopefully)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted 5-0 on July 20 to approve new third party testing requirements, through a notice of requirements, to ensure the safety of children’s toys. While the toy industry has had to comply with mandatory toy safety requirements for more than two years, the Commission voted to give manufacturers, Read More
Poseidon Energy Services fined for dumping fracking sludge
The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has fined Poseidon Energy Services for a variety of violations present at its fracking waste disposal facility in White County. The ADEQ has inspected the facility three times in the past 90 days, noting violations each time. The facility was not storing the fracking sludge properly, and had Read More
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Lowers Lead Paint Limits in Children’s Goods
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has lowered the limit for the amount of lead that may be present in children’s goods. The 3-2 vote will lower the acceptable ceiling from 300 parts per million to 100 parts per million. The dissenters in the vote claimed that the new regulations will “add costs to businesses Read More
Drunk Driving: A Deadly Problem in Arkansas
Drunk Driving is a deadly but preventable problem in Arkansas. In 2009, the most recent year for which information and statistics are available, 36% of all traffic fatalities in Arkansas involved alcohol. Of the 211 traffic fatalities involving alcohol in Arkansas in 2009, nearly 80% involved a driver or pedestrian with a blood alcohol content Read More
Arkansas Rule Requiring Fracking Fluid Disclosure Receives Final Approval
A committee of the Arkansas Legislature has given final approval to Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission Rule B-19. This rule requires disclosure of fracking fluid contents. Fracking fluid contents disclosures, to date, can be found here: https://www.aogc.state.ar.us/Well_Fracture_Companies.htm