Wednesday, March 19, 2014

WIMS Daily Environmental HotSheet 3/19/14

<> White House Launches the Climate Data Initiative - an ambitious new effort bringing together extensive open government data and design competitions with commitments from the private and philanthropic sectors to develop data-driven planning and resilience tools for local communities.

<> 16 Environmental Groups Implore Obama to End Fracked Gas Exports - The heads of 16 national and regional climate advocacy groups don't see how exporting fracked and liquefied natural gas (LNG) fits into a climate change agenda. The group says proposals to expand the country's fracking exports would undermine President Barack Obama's efforts to battle climate change.

<> New NRDC Analysis Shows U.S. Can Slash Carbon Emissions Far More Than Projected Initially Under Plan Shaping Debate on Power Plant Carbon Pollution Standards - March 18, 2014  -- Newer data and expanded analysis to be released Thursday (March 20th) during a National Press Club news event will show that far more carbon pollution can be eliminated than originally projected under the innovative approach for...

<> U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group and Ten-Year Framework for Energy and Environment Cooperation Meetings - U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group and Ten-Year Framework for Energy and Environment Cooperation Meetings March 18, 2014 A delegation of senior Chinese officials is in Washington March 17-18 for bilateral meetings with Administration officials on climate change and other environmental. . .

<> Working with stakeholders - engaging, not enraging! - Malcolm Preston, PwC Global Sustainability leader, reflects on the pressure CEOs are under to do business in the right way.  He cites the results of our on-line vote, in which we asked you to step into the shoes of a CEO, to show decisions are not always clear cut and that it's hard to keep. . .

<> EPA Calls for 2014 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award Nominations / New green chemistry technologies promote new products and markets – U.S. EPA is asking companies or institutions to nominate their innovative technologies for the 2014 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. EPA is looking for nominations from companies and institutions that have developed safer chemica...

<> EPA Celebrates 10 Years of SmartWay Partnerships / Voluntary program saves companies billions in fuel costs while cutting pollution - EPA's SmartWay Transport Partnership is celebrating 10 years as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest most energy-efficient way possible, saving businesses money while protecting public health and fighting climate change.

<> Exploring Linkages Between National and Corporate/Facility Greenhouse Gas Inventories - National and corporate/facility level GHG inventory systems can help countries address climate change. However, these systems are often developed independently of each other, and confusion exists regarding the purpose of and need for each inventory type. This working paper seeks to describe national and corporate/facility GHG inventories, highlighting major . . .

<> Brownfields K6 Grant Guidelines/Request for Proposals (RFP) - EPA's Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) will be hosting an Adobe Connect webinar this Thursday, March 20 from 2:30-4:00 PM eastern time. Proposals are due by April 18.

<> Largest North American Acid ManufacturerAgrees to Reduced NOx Emissions - LSB Industries Inc. (LSB), and four of its subsidiaries have agreed to reduce harmful emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by meeting emission limits that are among the lowest for the industry in the nation at plants in Alabama, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas. . .

<> HealthyStuff.org announces March Badness tournament to determine the MTP - Most Toxic Product - A new study finds that 7 in 10 (71%) of university-themed products sold at top retailers contain one or more hazardous chemicals, including arsenic, lead, bromine, chlorine and mercury and cadmium.

<> US Mayors Demand Action on Crude by Rail - The mayor of Albany, the capital city of New York State, has become the latest elected official of a major American city to demand that the Federal government increase the regulatory oversight of crude by rail trains. Albany's mayor Kathy Sheehan has now joined the mayors of Chicago, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Madison, amongst others. . .

<> NWF to Honor President Clinton with Lifetime Achievement Conservation Award - President Clinton will receive the award and deliver remarks at the National Wildlife Federation's Conservation Awards and Gala Event on April 30 in Washington, DC.

<> U-M survey finds surprising attitudes toward energy costs, environmental impact - Consumers, on average, believe home energy bills would have to nearly double before forcing them to make lifestyle changes to save on costs, according to ...