Thursday, March 27, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 3/27/14

National / International News

 

<> President Obama on energy exports to Europe & trade ageement -  ". . .the United States is blessed with some additional energy sources that have been developed in part because of new technologies, and we've already licensed, authorized the export of as much natural gas each day as Europe uses each day. . . The question is whether through our energy ministers and at the highest levels we're able to find ways in which we can accelerate this process of diversification, and this is something we're very much committed to. . ."

<> Importing Energy, Exporting Jobs. Can it be Reversed? - Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee hearing on natural gas exports; statements, testimony and webcast

<> Carbon dioxide in the tropical Pacific Ocean is increasing faster than expected - New NOAA research has revealed unprecedented changes in ocean carbon dioxide in the tropical Pacific Ocean over the last 14 years, influencing the role the oceans play in current and projected ..

<> Bishop Bill To Give Americans A Voice In Use Of Antiquities Act Passes The House - U.S. House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1459, the Ensuring Public Involvement in the Creation of National Monuments Act (222-201). 

<> WTO issues panel reports on China's rare earths exports - On 26 March 2014, the WTO issued the dispute panel reports in the case "China – Measures Related to the Exportation of Rare Earths, Tungsten, and Molybdenum"

<> Senate EPW Hearing On MAP-21 Reauthorization - Senate Envireonment and Public Works Committee hearing on MAP-21 Reauthorization: State and Local Perspectives on Transportation Priorities and Funding. Testimony and webcast

<> NRC, DOE Officials to Meet April 7 to Discuss Yucca Mountain Groundwater Report - to discuss DOE's plans to update its 2009 technical report on groundwater impacts of the proposed nuclear waste repository at Yucca Mountain, NV

<> Sen. Vitter Asks Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee (CASAC) for unbiased review of EPA's "flawed assessments" - letter relays Vitter's concerns with the continued lack of transparency by the EPA when creating and implementing air regulations and the associated health benefits

<> Testimony of EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy Before Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Proposed FY 2015 Budget - EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy testified before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works today at a hearing to discuss EPA's proposed FY 2015 

<> Government Accounting Office Report Shows Limited Cost of Environmental Litigation - Center for Biological Diversity: A report released today by the Government Accountability Office  demonstrates that litigation brought by environmental groups is not the calamity-inducing threat to the National Forest system that House Republicans have repeatedly claimed for the past three years.

  • Release Rep. Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA) - Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry & link to testimony on the impact of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and related legislation on the U.S. Forest Service.

<> Chairman Upton: We Remain Vigilant Over All Emerging Threats to the Grid - As part of the committee's ongoing commitment to the safety and security of our nation's energy infrastructure, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) hosted a briefing on grid security issues, including the attack last spring on the Metcalf substation in San Jose, California.

<> California Senate Health Committee Passes Bill to Label Genetically Engineered Foods - Committee passage is critical first step in winning statewide GE labeling Today, the California Senate Health Committee passed SB 1381, a bill to require the labeling of genetically engineered foods in California. . .

<> First e-learning tool launched to prevent illegal trade in hazardous chemicals and waste - INTERPOL and the BRS Secretariat launch e-learning module to help law enforcement officers identify and prevent illegal trade in hazardous chemicals and wastes

 

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

 

<> Organized Village of Kake v. USDA - 3/26/14. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Case No. 11-35517. The panel reversed the district court's order, which invalidated a 2003 United States Department of Agriculture regulation temporarily exempting the Tongass National Forest in Alaska from application of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule.

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Thursday, March 27, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Air Quality - Proposed Rule. EPA. Revision to the Regulatory Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds-Exclusion of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) PDF | Text |

2. Air Quality - Direct Final Rule. EPA. Revision to the Regulatory Definition of Volatile Organic Compounds-Exclusion of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) PDF | Text |