WIMS Environmental HotSheet 5/2/14

National / International News

 

<> Greenhouse gases continued rising in 2013; 34 percent increase since 1990 - NOAA's latest Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI), released today, Friday, May 2, 2014, shows that the warming influence from human-emitted gases continued to increase in 2013. This trend that began with the Industrial Revolution of the 1880s has accelerated in recent decades. . .

<> New Interactive Map Showing National Ambitions to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions - From UNFCC... The global ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must be raised rapidly to meet the goal of staying below an average 2 degree temperature rise. You can check to see what individual countries themselves have put forward as their current levels of ambition on this new, interactive map.

<> Rep. Chris Collins (R-NY) Leads Fight Against EPA's Expansion of Clean Water Act - More than 200 members of the House of Representatives, from both parties, are joining together and telling EPA and Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to back off its plan to expand federal control under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

<> House Democrats Introduce the Green Bank Act of 2014 - H.R.4522 would authorizing direct financing support for priority clean energy and energy efficiency projects across the United States, this legislation also recognizes and reflects the growing Green Bank movement occurring in our states by authorizing the Green Bank to partner with and provide seed funding to state clean energy financing institutions.

<> USDA Announces New Landmark Conservation Initiatives - ORRTANNA, Pa., May 1, 2014 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that applications are now being accepted for new, landmark conservation initiatives created by the 2014 Farm Bill.

<> GAO-14-375, Defense Transportation: DOD Needs to Take Actions to Improve the Transportation of Hazardous Material Shipments, May 01, 2014 - GAO Found The handling, labeling, and packaging of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) shipments are governed by a complex framework of statutes and regulations prescribed by multiple civilian and military entities. . .

<> GAO-14-367, DOE Loan Programs: DOE Should Fully Develop Its Loan Monitoring Function and Evaluate Its Effectiveness, May 01, 2014 - GAO Found The Department of Energy (DOE) has not fully developed or consistently adhered to loan monitoring policies for its loan programs. In particular, DOE has established policies for most loan monitoring activities. . .

<> Senate Hear On Propane Shortages This Winter - Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing entitled, Short on Gas: A look into the propane shortages this winter -- testimony and webcast

<> Senate & House Bills Call For Free-Market Energy Reform - Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a bill that restores free-market competition to America's energy sector by eliminating all tax credits for both renewable and traditional energy sources -- Energy Freedom & Economic Prosperity Act  -- companion to legislation -- H.R.259 -- originally sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) in the House

<> Cost of Fighting Wildfires in 2014 Projected to be Hundreds of Millions of Dollars over Amount Available - May 1, 2014--According to a Congressionally-mandated report, the U.S. Forest Service and the Department of the Interior (DOI) are projected to spend over $470 million more than is available to fight. . .

<> U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to hold public discussions on navigational aid technology and the future of America's waterways - The U.S. Coast Guard, along with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will hold public discussions nationwide on navigational aid technology and how it will. . . June 12: DoubleTree Hotel, Port Huron, MI

<> VIDEO: Administrator McCarthy Highlights Clean Air Efforts During Asthma Awareness Month / Agency Honors Community-Focused Asthma Programs - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the start of Asthma Awareness Month and highlighting the agency's efforts to improve air quality, protect public health, and take action to. . . 

<> The Supreme Court's Air Pollution Decision Is Wrong, But Don't Blame The Court - The Obama administration's war on coal scored a big win in the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday. Six of the Court's nine justices went out of their way to uphold the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's far-reaching. . .

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Friday, May 2,, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Air, Energy, Climate - Proposed Rule. U.S. EPA. Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: 2013 Cellulosic Biofuel Standard PDF | Text |

2. Air, Energy, Climate - Final Rule. U.S. EPA. Regulation of Fuels and Fuel Additives: 2013 Cellulosic Biofuel Standard PDF | Text | 

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)