WIMS Environmental HotSheet 5/23/14

Have a safe & enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. WIMS will resume publication on Tuesday, May 27, 2014.

 

National / International News

 

<> GAO-14-430, Freshwater: Supply Concerns Continue, and Uncertainties Complicate Planning, May 20, 2014 - Key issues related to freshwater availability and use. According to state water managers, experts, and literature GAO reviewed, freshwater shortages are expected to continue into the future. In particular, 40 of 50 state water managers expected shortages in some portion of their states under average conditions in the next 10 years

<> As Congress Derails Energy-Efficiency Bill, Bipartisan Policy Center Releases Second Video in Series Encouraging Americans to Join Movement to Help End Political Dysfunction in Washington - May 23, 2014. /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This week the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) released a new "Lip Service" campaign video illustrating the partisan rhetoric on energy policy as efforts to pass an energy-. . .

<> EPA and Duke Energy enter Agreement to Cleanup Coal Ash Release in the Dan River - ATLANTA – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed an enforceable agreement with Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke) to perform a comprehensive assessment, determine the location of coal ash deposits. . .

<> SAB Advice on Advancing the Application of CompTox Research for EPA Chemical Assessments - May 22. EPA established the Computational Toxicology (CompTox) Research Program to explore and develop ways to exploit modern advances in molecular biology, chemistry, exposure science and computer science to more effectively and efficiently assess chemical hazards and along with exposure information, their risks.

• Access SAB Background, Meetings & Documents

<> Clean energy business community urge Congress to pass the EXPIRE act after holiday break - A letter was delivered to Senators earlier in the week from a broad spectrum of the business community urging speedy passage of the EXPIRE act to continue clean energy economic development in the U.S.

<> FEMP Offers New eTraining Core Course on Fundamentals of Life Cycle Costing for Energy Conservation - May 22, 2014. FEMP presents a new e-Training Core Course that providing skills to improve Federal economic-based. . .

<> How the National Labs Help Us Understand the Inner Workings of Power Plants - How the National Labs Help Us Understand the Inner Workings of Power Plants Learn more about research at the National Energy Technology Lab that's helping us understand more about what happens inside power plants.

<> Contractor sentenced to prison for environmental crime - United States Attorney Bill Nettles stated that David Braswell was sentenced in federal court in Florence, South Carolina, for violation of the Clean Air Act -- six months in prison, six months house arrest, three years supervised release and a $10,000.00 fine.

<> Survey: Climate Change Now More Divisive Than Abortion, Gun Control & Death Penalty - The University of New Hampshire didn't anticipate such a large gap. . .

<> Renault and LG sign MOU on development of next-gen long-range EV batteries - Renault and LG Chem signed an MOU to develop the next-generation of Li-ion batteries for longer-range electric vehicles (EV), reportedly with an eye to doubling current range (e.g., from about 90 miles to about 180.) LG Chem 

<> 'A Government Of Thugs': How Canada Treats Environmental Journalists - I attempted to enter Canada on a Tuesday, flying into the small airport at Fort McMurray, Alberta, waiting for my turn to pass through customs. "What brings you to Fort Mac?" a Canada Border Services Agency official asked. . . "We might have to send you back to the States," the official said, after asking if I had working papers.

<> Are you being SLAPPed? How corporations and governments try to silence public debate - The lawyers at Greenpeace International are a creative, dedicated team who tackle a wide range of duties. Part of our work is preparing legal strategies and defence for cases against Greenpeace International. 

<> Conservation Groups Urge Hillary Clinton to Speak Out Against Keystone XL - letter was signed by leaders of 30 conservation groups from around the country, including the Center for Biological Diversity, 350.org., CREDO Mobile and Friends of the Earth.

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Friday, May 23, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Toxics - PR. U.S. EPA. - Receipt of Several Pesticide Petitions Filed for Residues of Pesticide Chemicals in or on Various Commodities PDF | Text |

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)