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Umair Irfan

Umair Irfan

Former correspondent

    Latest articles by Umair Irfan

    Climate
    EPA watchdog: turns out Scott Pruitt didn’t need 20 security guardsEPA watchdog: turns out Scott Pruitt didn’t need 20 security guards
    Climate

    The former administrator’s bloated security detail was unwarranted, the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General found.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    California has 129 million dead trees. That’s a huge wildfire risk.California has 129 million dead trees. That’s a huge wildfire risk.
    Climate

    But no one can afford to cut them all down.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Hurricane Lane weakens to a tropical storm as heavy winds and rain continueHurricane Lane weakens to a tropical storm as heavy winds and rain continue
    Climate

    The storm has already dumped more than three feet of rain on the Big Island.

    By Emily Stewart and Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Breathing Seattle’s air right now is like smoking 7 cigarettes. Blame wildfires.Breathing Seattle’s air right now is like smoking 7 cigarettes. Blame wildfires.
    Climate

    Major wildfires are delivering choking haze to much of the western United States.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    EPA analysis of its own new climate proposal: thousands of people will dieEPA analysis of its own new climate proposal: thousands of people will die
    Climate

    The Trump administration is proposing to replace Obama’s Clean Power Plan with a much weaker rule.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Ryan Zinke’s claim that “environmental terrorists” are to blame for wildfires, explainedRyan Zinke’s claim that “environmental terrorists” are to blame for wildfires, explained
    Play
    Climate

    Poor forest management is a key driver of fires, but it’s not activists that are standing in the way.

    By Umair Irfan
    Explainers
    The EPA refuted its own bizarre justification for rolling back fuel efficiency standardsThe EPA refuted its own bizarre justification for rolling back fuel efficiency standards
    Explainers

    The agency claims it will save lives by making safe cars more affordable. Internal emails showed that the proposal would be more dangerous.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    The West is on fire ... againThe West is on fire ... again
    Play
    Climate

    The fire season now runs almost year-round, and 2018 is already worse than usual in California, Colorado, and Oregon.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Why the Carr Fire in Northern California is so severeWhy the Carr Fire in Northern California is so severe
    Play
    Climate

    Heat, wind, and drought conspired to create a ferocious, deadly fire.

    By Umair Irfan
    Climate
    Donald Trump has a weird soft spot for asbestosDonald Trump has a weird soft spot for asbestos
    Climate

    His EPA is imposing new restrictions but won’t ban it.

    By Umair Irfan