Mapping the Truth - EPA Responds To "WOTUS" Concerns

Mapping the Truth - EPA Responds To "WOTUS" Concerns - Regarding the proposed "Waters of the U.S." (WOTUS) definition rule EPA says, "The idea that EPA can use the Clean Water Act to execute a land grab or intrude on private property rights is simply false."

 

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Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future

Climate Change and Existing Law: A Survey of Legal Issues Past, Present, and Future - Congressional Research Service. August 20, 2014. The 42-page report surveys existing law for legal issues that have arisen, or may arise in the future, on account of climate change and government responses thereto.

 

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Obama Pursuing Climate Accord in Lieu of Treaty

Obama Pursuing Climate Accord in Lieu of Treaty - Source: NY Times - The Obama administration is working to forge a sweeping international climate change agreement to compel nations to cut their planet-warming fossil fuel emissions, but without ratification from Congress.

 

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GAO Report On Development of Social Cost of Carbon Estimates

GAO-14-663, Regulatory Impact Analysis: Development of Social Cost of Carbon Estimates, July 24, 2014 - The social cost of carbon (measured in dollars per metric ton of carbon dioxide) is the monetized net effects (damages and benefits) associated with an incremental increase in carbon emissions in a given year. Estimates of the social cost of carbon depend on the data and the models used to calculate them and can include a wide range of damage categories, such as projected changes in net agricultural productivity, human health, and property damages from increased flood risk due to increased carbon emissions.

Final 2014 RFS Rule Moves to OMB

Final 2014 RFS Rule Moves to OMB - (August 22, 2014) Washington D.C. – Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent the final 2014 Renewable Fuel Standard Renewable Volume Obligation rule. . .

 

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One Month Countdown Until Major Climate Marches

One Month Countdown Until Major Climate Marches in NYC and Around the World - The People's Climate March scheduled for September 21, is expected to be the largest demonstration for climate action in history and will take place just two days before President Obama and world leaders gather for an emergency Climate Summit at the United Nations.

• The People's Climate March website

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EPA Report Shows Progress in Reducing Urban Air Toxics Across the United States

EPA Report Shows Progress in Reducing Urban Air Toxics Across the United States - At 11 AM U.S. EPA released the Second Integrated Urban Air Toxics Report to Congress - the final of two reports required under the Clean Air Act (CAA) to inform Congress of progress in reducing public health risks from urban air toxics. 

Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair

Solar plant's downside? Birds igniting in midair - Federal wildlife investigators who visited the BrightSource Energy plant last year and watched as birds burned and fell, reporting an average of one "streamer" every two minutes, are urging California officials to halt the operator's application to build a still-bigger version.

Draft National Electric Transmission Congestion Study Now Available for Public Comment

Draft National Electric Transmission Congestion Study Now Available for Public Comment - August 19. The draft study is now available for review and downloading and the public comment period will close on October 20, 2014.

Energy Department Reports Highlight Strength of U.S. Wind Energy Industry

Energy Department Reports Highlight Strength of U.S. Wind Energy Industry - August 18, 2014. The U.S. continues to be a global leader in wind energy, ranking second in installed capacity in the world, according to two reports released today by the Department of Energy -- 2013 Wind Technologies Market Report; & 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report

#AskEnergy: Join the Live Q&A on Wind Energy - #AskEnergy: Join the Live Q&A on Wind Energy Energy Department experts will be answering your wind energy questions August 19 at 1 p.m. ET on Twitter.

Can Earth's and Society's Systems Meet the Needs of 10 Billion People?

Can Earth's and Society's Systems Meet the Needs of 10 Billion People? - The Earth's population, currently 7.2 billion, is expected to rise at a rapid rate over the next 40 years -- the Earth will need to support 9.6 billion people by the year 2050,

 

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New Procedures for Liquefied Natural Gas Export Decisions

Procedures for Liquefied Natural Gas Export Decisions – [To be published in the Federal Register tomorrow] Final revised procedures. U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will act on applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the lower-48 states to countries with which the United States does not have a free trade agreement requiring national treatment for natural gas only after completing the review required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), suspending its practice of issuing conditional decisions prior to final authorization decisions.

White House Methane Strategy Advances with EPA White Papers' Peer Review

 

White House Methane Strategy Advances with EPA White Papers' Peer Review - U.S. EPA publically released peer-review comments last week submitted by outside experts in response to five  technical white papers on emissions and control strategies for the oil and gas sector, a process started as part of the White House strategy to reduce methane emissions.

• White Papers on Methane and VOC Emissions
• White House strategy to reduce methane emissions

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Journalism, Science Groups Decry EPA Muzzling

Journalism, Science Groups Decry EPA Muzzling - Journalists and scientists are urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop banning leading national scientists from talking to media outlets and the public -- EPA is placing new restrictions on independent scientists who advise the agency, according to a memorandum from the EPA's chief of staff.

 

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Formaldehyde Confirmed as Known Human Carcinogen

Formaldehyde Confirmed as Known Human Carcinogen - A new report from the National Research Council has upheld the listing of formaldehyde as "known to be a human carcinogen" in the National Toxicology Program 12th Report on Carcinogens (RoC).

• ACC: The Safety of Formaldehyde Is Well-Studied and Supported By Robust Science - "To view today's NRC report in context, it is important to note that formaldehyde can continue to be safely used," said Cal Dooley, president and CEO of the American Chemistry Council (ACC). 

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WTO Appellate Body issues reports on rare earth disputes

WTO Appellate Body issues reports on rare earth disputes - On 7 August 2014, the WTO Appellate Body issued its reports in the case "China – Measures related to the exportation of rare earths

• Wyden Statement on WTO Ruling on Rare Earth Exports - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR): "The WTO delivered a resounding victory for American workers whose jobs depend on a stable supply of rare earth elements."

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USDA Final EIS for Corn and Soybean Plants Resistant to the Herbicide 2,4-D

USDA Announces Final EIS for Corn and Soybean Plants Resistant to the Herbicide 2,4-D - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a final and a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) on several genetically engineered (GE) products as part of its review to determine whether to deregulate them.

• EWG Opposes USDA Recommendation To Deregulate 2,4-D-Tolerant Corn, Soybeans - USDA recommendation to deregulate new varieties of genetically engineered corn and soybean seeds would bring a chemical manufacturer one step closer to selling a new toxic weed killer that would threaten human health and the environment.
• Next Generation of Pesticide-Promoting Crops Are Imminent - Last Chance to Stop USDA Approval of 2,4-D Crops Washington D.C. (August 6, 2014) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) issued its final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and proposed approval for new corn 

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MIT Report Expectations for a New COP-21 Climate Agreement

Expectations for a New Climate Agreement - MIT report, applying a global economic model, indicate that an agreement likely achievable at COP-21 will succeed in a useful bending the curve of global emissions; however, it will not produce global emissions within the window of paths to 2050 that are consistent with frequently proposed climate goals.

 

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U-M report: How shale gas can boost U.S. manufacturing

U-M report: How shale gas can boost U.S. manufacturing - The American shale gas boom has the potential to revitalize domestic manufacturing, and a new 43-page report from a University of Michigan-led panel recommends steps to make that happen in a responsible manner.

 

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Administration Officials Discuss Sustainable Electronics & E-cycling

CEQ, EPA, GSA, and USPS Leaders to Discuss Sustainable Electronics - Leaders from the White House Council on Environmental Quality, U.S. EPA, GSA, and U.S. Postal Service, along with electronics industry stakeholders, are holding a meeting today Monday, August 4, 2014 to discuss progress on the National Strategy on Electronics Stewardship and participation in the U.S. Postal Service BlueEarth® Federal Recycling Program.

[Note: The latest release was not available at press time. It should be available soon from the link under "Recent Additions" for 8/4/14.]

• Interagency Task Force on Electronics Stewardship

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