AP - ­href="http://a-young.livepress­.com">A young conservation­worker who ­href="http://was.livepress.com­">was checking a ­href="http://volcano.livepress­.com">volcano's ­href="http://crater.livepress.­com">crater lake when it­unexpectedly ­href="http://burst.livepress.c­om">burst to life, spewing­­href="http://mounds.livepress.­com">mounds of ash and ­href="http://soot.livepress.co­m">soot, most likely died­in the eruption in the remote­nature reserve, a conservation­official ­href="http://said.livepress.co­m">said Saturday.

AP - Proposed ­href="http://federal.livepress­.com">federal regulations­for ­href="http://soot.livepress.co­m">soot, although stricter­­href="http://than.livepress.co­m">than current standards,­are not strict enough, dozens­of environmental and­public-health advocates ­href="http://said.livepress.co­m">said Wednesday at a­public hearing.

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulations on soot were criticized Friday as too weak by scientists advising the agency and as too politicized by health advocates and Democrats.

AP - The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulations on soot were criticized Friday as too weak by scientists advising the agency and as too politicized by health advocates and Democrats.

AP - California has the worst rate of soot pollution in the United States, according to a report released Thursday by an environmental group.