A seismograph at the Point Reyes visitor center, near the San Adreas Fault. By Dvortygirl (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL, via Wikimedia Commons.

These are some of the stories we’ve been following this week.

  • More than 150 tons of oil were spilled into the Bay of Bengal, which is much higher than the initial reports of just two tons of oil initially reported by authorities.
  • Luxury property values are dropping in Taipei, Taiwan. The monthly House Price Index dropped to levels not seen since 2013 as the market was beginning to recover.
  • Chinese citizens are suing several government entities over the country’s polluted air. The attorneys filing the lawsuit hope their actions will spur China’s government to do more to improve the air quality.
  • Residents in Lumberton, North Carolina who live near a coal ash site have been offered $5,000 if they agree to not sue Duke Energy, the operators of the site. The utility is also working to provide the residents with new sources of clean water.
  • This year could have fewer big earthquakes in the central and eastern areas of the country, according to the United States Geological Survey. The drop in strong seismic activity could be related to fewer wastewater injection wells operating in those areas.
  • The Dakota Access Pipeline, which has faced strong opposition, could be finished and transporting oil within a few days, according to the company. The pipeline would generate more than $110 million in tax revenue for the state of North Dakota.
  • A bill introduced in the Colorado legislature aimed at reforming the state’s construction defects law died in committee. The failed bill would have given developers the chance to repair an error before a homeowner could sue.