WIMS Environmental HotSheet 5/5/14

National / International News

 

<> Preserving North America's Bird Nursery - With spring migration in full flight, a new report urges greater protection for an avian haven -- the sprawling billion-plus-acre boreal forest that spans the continent from Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland and Labrador.

<> Ahead of SGs Climate Summit, Leaders Gather in Abu Dhabi to Discuss Concrete Measures and Commitments - A high-level two-day meeting will help leaders from across governments, business and civil society prepare to take action on climate change at the UN Secretary-General's (SGs) Climate Summit in September. . .

• UN Climate Chief: Raise Support Now for Accelerating Global Climate Action - Communities across the developing world have a wealth of local knowledge and ingenuity to adapt more successfully to climate change but they urgently need greater international support to unlock their ambitions. . .

<> UN Report on Fukushima - Cancer levels are likely to remain stable - A new UN report released today.  The report is titled Levels and Effects of Radiation Exposure Due to the Nuclear Accident After the 2011 Great East-Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, by the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR).

<> U.S. ethanol imports from Brazil down in 2013 - (Mon, 05 May 2014) U.S. imports of sugarcane ethanol from Brazil fell by 40% last year, to 242 million gallons. Because Brazil is the largest source of ethanol imports into the United. . .

<> Draft CASAC Air Monitoring and Methods Report - Review of EPA's Recommendation for an Additional Federal Reference Method for Ozone: Nitric Oxide-Chemiluminescence (5/1/14 Draft)

• Background, Meetings & Documents

<> EPA OIG Compliance With Retention Incentive Regulations and Policies - Although the EPA authorized retention incentive pay to Beale until 2003, the agency continued to make retention incentive payments to him until 2013.

<> Collin O'Mara Appointed President and CEO of National Wildlife Federation - "Collin is a tireless leader with a deep understanding of conservation issues and a strong, entrepreneurial. . .

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

<> Los Angeles County Flood Control District v. NRDC - 5/5/14. In the U.S. Supreme Court, Case No. 13-901. Appealed from the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit. Petition DENIED.

• Supreme Court Allows Major Southern California Water Quality Victory to Stand - (May 5, 2014) – NRDC release: A decision today by the U.S. Supreme Court will protect millions of people living near and visiting Los Angeles rivers and beaches from the harmful effects of water pollution.

<> City of Pomona v. SQM North America Corp - 5/2/14. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Case Nos. 12-55147 & 12-55193. The case involves excessive levels of the chemical perchlorate were found in a city's water system. The Panel ruled, "Because the district court abused its discretion by not allowing a jury to resolve contested but otherwise admissible expert testimony, we reverse the district court's order of exclusion, affirm the district court's denial of the defendant's motion for summary judgment on other issues, and remand for trial."

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Monday, May 5, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)