Friday, May 16, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 5/16/14

 National / International News

 

<>Senate GOP Blocks EXPIRE Act Including $13+ Billion For Wind Credit (PTC) - In a 53-40 vote (requireing 60 votes for approval) Senate Republican voted to block the EXPIRE Act (H.R. 3474 Substitute) which included a number of Energy Provisions and a two-year extension of the Wind PTC estimated to cost $13.35 billion over 10 years

<> EPA Proposes Updates to Emissions Standards for Refineries to Protect Nearby Neighborhoods - Proposed steps will protect public health and improve air quality and these cost-effective steps will have no noticeable impact on the cost of petroleum products at the approximately 150 petroleum refineries around the country.

<> EPW Committee Unanimously Approves Major Bipartisan Transportation Bill, MAP-21 Reauthorization Act

<> Regulators Applaud as U.S., Complying with Court Order, Suspends Nuclear-Waste Fees - For the first time in more than 30 years, consumers of nuclear power will not be charged for the nation's long-stalled nuclear-waste program. . .

<> What to watch in EPA's power plant carbon emissions proposal – From C2ES: On June 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to release its proposal to cut carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from existing power plants. This proposal is a key element of President Obama's Climate Action. . .

<> As Emissions Fall, Greens Increasingly Embrace Shale Gas - For many years, environmental activists have pushed for bans, moratoria, or other restrictions on fracking, alleging the process is a. . .

<> How One State Cut its Carbon and Created Jobs - the new President of Union of Concerned Scientists and former commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection discusses the Massachusetts law that mandated electric utilities pursue "all cost-effective energy efficiency". . .

<> GAO-14-434, National Nuclear Security Administration: Agency Report to Congress on Potential Efficiencies Does Not Include Key Information, May 15, 2014 - The National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) report to congressional defense committees describes, but does not assess, the role of the nuclear security complex sites. The act required that NNSA's. . .

<> When Dow pushes, agencies jump - "This pesticide is toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates. Do not apply directly to water… Drift or runoff may be hazardous….The use of this chemical…may result in groundwater contamination." Does this sound like a green chemical. . .

<> Groups Slam Federal Regulators over Flawed Environmental Review of Cove Point LNG Export Facility

<> Council of Canadians seeks to appeal Energy East ruling - May 15, 2014 - 4:01pm; the Canadian National Energy Board refuses to consider the upstream and downstream activities associated with the development of 'oil sands' or the end use of the oil to be transported.

<> Four SBIR Grants Awarded for Solid-State Lighting Technology - May 14, 2014Four SBIR Grants Awarded for Solid-State Lighting Technology The U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science has awarded four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants targeting advances. . .

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Friday, May 16, 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)