Thursday, March 06, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 3/6/14

<> EPA Extends Comment On Proposed GHG Rule From New EGUs – U.S. EPA announced that the period for providing public comments on the January 8, 2014, proposed "Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units" and on the February 26, 2014, notice of data availability soliciting comment on the provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is being extended by 60 days.

<> ACEEE Statement on the Passage of the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014 (HR 2126) – March 5, 191 Republican and 184 Democratic members of the House joined to pass the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014 (HR 2126), sponsored by Representatives David McKinley (R-WV) and Peter Welch (D-VT). The bill includes several provisions to save energy in buildings: The Better Buildings Act to encourage commercial building tenants to save energy. . . 

<> House Votes to Block Historic Safeguards Against Carbon Pollution - (March 6, 2014) – The House today passed a destructive bill to block the first-ever national safeguards against carbon pollution, which would represent a major weakening of the Clean Air Act, the Natural Resources Defense Council said.

<> EPA's IG responds to memo from agency's Deputy Administrator challenging 'context' of responses to Sen. Vitter's questions

<> Groups Sue EPA for Disclosure of Pesticide Inert Ingredients on Product Labels - (Beyond Pesticides, March 6, 2014)  Yesterday, Center for Environmental Health, Beyond Pesticides, and Physicians for Social Responsibility, represented by Earthjustice, filed a complaint against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to complete rulemaking that would require pesticide manufacturers to disclose the inert ingredients on their pesticide product. . . 

<> Keystone Supporter Ed Schultz Now Opposes The Pipeline, Tells President Obama To Go To Nebraska - Ed Schultz, host of MSNBC's The Ed Show, has changed his mind and become the latest prominent opponent of approving the Keystone XL pipeline. Schultz had angered Keystone opponents by taking the State Department environmental analysis at face value, arguing that the oil is going to come out of Alberta anyways, and the pipeline could be better for the climate. The report left. . .

<> Coal Companies and Subsidiaries to Spend Estimated $200 Million on Treatment and System-wide Upgrades to Reduce Water Pollution - Alpha Natural Resources, Inc. (Alpha) , one of the nation's largest coal companies, Alpha Appalachian Holdings (formerly Massey Energy), and 66 subsidiaries have agreed to spend an estimated $200 million to install and operate wastewater treatment systems and to implement comprehensive, system-wide upgrades to reduce discharges of pollution from coal mines in KY, PA, TN, VA, & WV

<> Energy Department Announces $10 Million for Innovative Commercial Building Technologies and Unveils New Commercial Buildings 101 Video - March 5, 2014Energy Department Announces $10 Million for Innovative Commercial Building Technologies and Unveils New Commercial Buildings 101 Video The Energy Department today announced a $10 million funding opportunity to help demonstrate and deploy energy efficiency technologies for commercial buildings, including projects that will bring next generation building. . 

<> Using climate data to protect growers and ranchers - Working with private companies, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Risk Management Agency uses precipitation data from NOAA's Climate Prediction Center as part of an insurance program for ranchers and those who grow hay or other livestock forage. This video describes how it works.

<> EIA now delivers coal data through new interactive browser - (Thu, 06 Mar 2014) Last week, the U.S. Energy Information Administration launched an interactive, online Coal Data Browser that brings together in a single tool comprehensive data on the U.S. coal industry.

<> Report Exposes How the TTIP Could Expand Fracking in U.S. and Europe - As the U.S. and European Union (EU) governments continue negotiating the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), environmental organizations are growing more concerned about a loophole that could leave the door open for expanded fracking in both regions. According to a report released today from Friends of the Earth Europe, the Sierra Club. . .

<> Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data, Now Available by Smart Phone - WRI is launching a fully mobile-accessible version of its Climate Analysis Indicators Tool, or CAIT 2.0.

<> The Economic Benefits of Green Infrastructure - U.S. EPA report -- A Case Study of Lancaster, PA. Cities across the US are using green infrastructure to meet water quality goals and provide more livable communities. . .

<> Free e-Course: Everything You Need to Know About Climate Change in a Nutshell - new UN CC:Learn e-Course on climate change; self-paced e-learning course covers 6 modules including climate science, policy, adaptation, mitigation, finance and planning.

<> EPA Did Not Conduct Thorough Biennial User Fee Reviews - A report from EPA's Office of Inspector General (OIG); Report No. 14-P-0129

<> GLOBE launches Climate Legislation App and digital edition of 4th Climate Study - 4th edition of GLOBE Climate Legislation Study now available on the Apple App Store and on the GLOBE website. The App aims at making all GLOBE publications accessible in a mobile format starting with the 700-page 4th edition of the GLOBE Climate Legislation