WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/6/14

<> 2014 Farm Bill Drill Down: The Bill by the Numbers- With the 2014 Farm Bill about to become law, NSAC is doing a seven-part series here on our blog that delves into the details of the bill for sustainable food and farming systems.  This first post summarizes the big picture funding decisions reflected in the final bill.  Coming posts will look at specific issues within the farm bill in more detail.  A post from last week provided a broad

<> Secretary Vilsack Announces Regional Hubs to Help Agriculture, Forestry Mitigate the Impacts of a Changing Climate - Feb. 5, 2014 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the creation of the first ever Regional Hubs for Risk Adaptation and Mitigation to Climate Change at seven locations around the country. Seven major hubs and 3 Sub-Hubs including one in Houghton, MI

<> Sarbanes Announces Broad Coalition of Support for Government By the People Act- An unprecedented coalition of reformers rallied behind legislation to end big money politics and empower everyday Americans to take back their government. Introduced by U.S. Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.), the bipartisan Government By the People Act (H.R. 20) has been endorsed by over 35 national organizations advocating for the environment, education, labor, civil rights, clean government and more.

<> Smith: EPA Should Allow States Flexibility to Regulate - The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee today held a hearing to focus on the scientific justification and cumulative impacts of regulations, policies and practices promulgated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their effects on state sovereignty. The hearing specifically focused on Texas as a case study. Chairman Lamar Smith. . .

• Committee Majority Assault on EPA – Science Democrats Stress EPA's Role in Protecting Public Health - The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, "Examining the Science of EPA Overreach: A Case Study in Texas."  Testifying for the Committee Majority were representatives from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the Railroad Commission of Texas, the Texas Farm Bureau, and the Maguire. . .

<> Senate EPW Hearing On West Virginia Drinking Water Crisis - "Examination of the Safety and Security of Drinking Water Supplies Following the Central West Virginia Drinking Water Crisis"

<> Vitter: EPA Takes First Step Toward Evaluating Full Economic Impacts In Future Regulations - EPA announcement to proceed with a review and examination of whole-economy modeling and its ability to capture more complete regulatory impacts of air regulations across the economy.

<> Rep. Waxman and the Safe Climate Caucus to Launch New Initiative -

Rep. Henry A. Waxman and members of the Safe Climate Caucus will announce Thursday their new initiative to take action to respond to the threat of climate change.  They will discuss the climate change and environmental issues facing Congress and the country in the coming year. Rep. Waxman formed the Safe Climate Caucus in February 2013 to bring attention to the urgent need. Link to video statement

<> In Austin, Energy Secretary Moniz Announces New ARPA-E Solar Projects - In Austin, Energy Secretary Moniz Announces New ARPA-E Solar Projects $30 Million "FOCUS" Program Supports 12 Projects that Develop Cost-Effective Solar Energy. . .

<> NRDC Experts: EPA Carbon Pollution Limits for New Power Plants Workable, Popular and Would Address Climate Change - (February 6, 2014) – The Environmental Protection Agency's proposed limits on carbon pollution from future power plants are realistic, would deliver real results and have attracted broad support nationwide, experts at the Natural Resources Defense Council will say today in a public hearing.

<> W.R. Grace Pays Over $63 Million Toward Cleanup and Restoration of Hazardous Waste Sites in Communities Across the Country (HQ) -

WASHINGTON – Today, Columbia, Md.-based W.R. Grace & Co. under its bankruptcy plan of reorganization, paid over $63 million to the U.S. government to resolve claims for environmental cleanups at approximately 39 sites in 21 states, the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. Includes N-Forcer Site - Dearborn, Mich.

<> EPA to Hold Public Hearing on Carbon Pollution Standards for New Power Plants (HQ) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on Thursday, February 6, 2014 on the proposed carbon pollution standards for new. . . 

<> Senior Obama Administration Officials to Join Governor Brown, Mayor Garcetti, Other Leaders in L.A. for Climate Task Force Meeting (HQ) - On Thursday, February 13, senior Obama Administration officials, including White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, White House Director of Intergovernmental Affairs David Agnew, U.S. EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. . . for the second meeting of President Obama's Task Force on Climate Preparedness and Resilience.

• Task Force Information

<> KXL "Contractor Controversy" About to "Get Heated" - When the State Department's long-awaited Final Environmental Impact Statement into the controversial Keystone XL (KXL) pipeline was published last week, the report argued that KXL would not significantly add to global warming. It therefore supposedly passed the test that Obama outlined in a speech last summer when he said he would only approve the pipeline if it. . .

• ERM Global Code of Business Conduct and Ethics

<> IMF chief Lagarde warns of "merciless" climate change - Speaking in London, International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde says UN emissions deal and fossil fuel subsidies cut are now global priorities. . .

<> EPA Launches WaterSense H2Otel Challenge to Encourage Water Savings- U.S. EPA launched the WaterSense H2Otel Challenge to encourage hotels to assess water use, learn about the best management practices for reducing water in hotels, and track their results.

<> Current drought reduces hydro generation forecast for California -

(Thu, 06 Feb 2014) Forecasts for the water supply at nearly every major water gauge in the states of California and Nevada were less than half of average seasonal norms as of February 5. The water supply situation has not materially improved since the governor of California declared a state of emergency on January 17. The driest December on record has resulted in nearly 60% of.