Friday, May 30, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 5/30/14

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National / International News

 

<> A Proposed Change to the Energy Department's LNG Export Decision-Making Procedures - To reflect changing market dynamics, the Department of Energy is proposing a change in the way it reviews applications to export liquified natural gas to non-Free Trade Agreement countries.

<> Slideshow from the White House Energy Datapalooza - Go behind the scenes of the Energy Datapalooza to see how entrepreneurs and government are working together to empower consumers and save energy

<> 8 State Alliance Releases Plan to Put 3.3 Million Zero-Emission Vehicles on the Road - Eight states located on the East and West Coasts released a collaborative Action Plan to develop infrastructure, coordinated policies, codes and standards and a consumer market primed to put 3.3 million zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) on the road by 2025.

<> EPA Environmental Appeals Board Denies Fracking Injection Petitions - Three petitions challenged an Underground Injection Control (UIC) permit to Seneca Resources Corporation for a Class II injection well. The "Board denies Ms. Swanson's petition because it lacks the requisite specificity, denies Highland Township's petition as untimely, and denies Ms. Hudson's petition for lack of standing."

<> GAO-14-645T, DOE Loan Programs: DOE Has Made More Than $30 Billion in Loans and Guarantees and Needs to Fully Develop Its Loan Monitoring Function, May 30, 2014

<> EWG To Ethanol Lobby: Tell the Truth on the Renewable Fuel Standard - Bob Dinneen, president of the Renewable Fuels Association, has issued a statement calling EWG's new report, "Ethanol's Broken Promise: Using Less Corn Ethanol Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions," "simply preposterous" and misrepresenting studies conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy.

  • RFA Disputes Flawed EWG Report - (May 29, 2014) Today, the Environmental Working Group released a report titled "Ethanol's Broken Promise: Using Less Corn Ethanol Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions." Bob Dinneen, president. . .

<> Moms Tell EPA to Ban Glyphosate After Residues Found in Breast Milk - Beyond Pesticides, May 30, 2014) This week, a group of concerned mothers and environmentalists met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials to discuss a recent pilot study that detected glyphosate residues. . .

<> 7 Groups Attacking The President's Plan To Cut Carbon Pollution, Even Though It Hasn't Been Released Yet - Tiffany Germain, Senior Researcher with the Center for American Progress Action Fund, contributed to this piece. . .

<> Energy Department Announces National Geothermal Data System to Accelerate Geothermal Energy Development - May 28, 2014Energy Department Announces National Geothermal. . .

<> USDA Awarding $6 Million to Prepare Farmers for New Farm Bill Programs - May 29, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is awarding $6 million to universities and cooperative state extension services to develop. . .

<> DOE Announces Webinars on Energy Efficiency Expert Evaluations, the Better Buildings Challenge and More - May 29, 2014DOE Announces Webinars on Energy Efficiency Expert Evaluations, the Better Buildings Challenge and More EERE offers webinars to the public on a range of subjects, from adopting the latest energy efficiency. . .

<> Wood-waste biofuel to cut greenhouse gas and transform shipping industry - A sustainable biofuel made from Norwegian forest wood waste could help transform the shipping industry and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

<> GE Labeling Narrowly Defeated in California Senate - Center for Food Safety Vows to Continue to Push for the Right to Know California's SB 1381 (Evans) to label genetically engineered foods was narrowly defeated in the California Senate today, with 19 votes in favor and 16. . .

<> Legal Action Taken to Reduce Wildlife Poisoning - Groups intervene in lawsuit by d-CON producers fighting California's controls on super-toxic rat poisons. . .

<> The Future of Solar Economics and Policy - Solar power is at a unique place in history. It's growing rapidly, its price is falling precipitously. Within the next 10 years, it will compete favorably with utilities for electricity sales, on price, and without subsidies.

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Friday, May 30, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

  1. Toxics - Proposed Rule. U.S. EPA. Lead - Framework for Identifying and Evaluating Lead-Based Paint Hazards From Renovation, Repair, and Painting Activities in Public and Commercial Buildings PDF | Text | 

 

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

 

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