The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has tightened its standard governing ozone levels to 70 parts per billion from the current 75 ppb, a move that sparked strong criticism from industry groups and only modestly positive comments from environmentalists.

Construction’s unemployment rate dropped again in September from August’s level and also was down sharply from its year-earlier rate, the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics has reported.

A wide-ranging plan to restore damaged Gulf Coast wetlands and other environmentally sensitive areas has received a boost with oil giant BP’s agreement to pay federal, state and local governments $20.8 billion to resolve civil claims stemming from its massive 2010 Gulf oil spill.

A federal appeals court has blocked an Army Corps of Engineers-Environmental Protection Agency rule that aimed to clear up the murky definition of which bodies of water fall under federal regulation.