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National / International News
<> EPA Proposes Approval of New Climate-Friendly Refrigerants - EPA is proposing to increase the options for refrigerants in the United States that offer better climate protection without harming the ozone layer. This is the agency's first action that addresses refrigerants under the Climate Action Plan, which calls on EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program to identify and approve additional climate-friendly chemicals. . .
<> House Approves Bill to Lower Gasoline Prices and Create over One Million New American Jobs - The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4899, the Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America that Works Act, with a bipartisan vote of 229-185. This legislation would help ease the pain at the pump. . .
<> The Renewable Fuel Standard: Issues for 2014 and Beyond - Using the rising amounts of renewable transportation fuels required by the Renewable Fuel Standard will be difficult. In this 38-page report the Congressional Budget Office looks at how those requirements and alternatives would affect fuel and food prices and greenhouse gas emissions.
<> CASAC Review of the EPA's Second Draft Policy Assessment for the Review of the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards - "The CASAC advises that, based on the scientific evidence, a level of 70 ppb provides little margin of safety for the protection of public health, particularly for sensitive subpopulations. . ."
<> House Hearing On Management Failures: Oversight of the EPA - House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing with testimony and webcast of Sens David Vitter (R-LA) & Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI); and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy
<> Energy Department Launches Microgrid Competition to Support Resiliency in Communities Across America - The Challenge encourages organizations with operational microgrids, such as hospitals and water treatment plants, to submit their microgrid designs and operational data – such as when and how long the microgrid was disconnected from the traditional grid -- deadline for applying is August 29, 2014.
<> Senators: EPA's Attempts to Expand Authority Now Affecting Military Bases - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, led a group of seven Senators in sending a letter to Nancy Stoner, Acting Assistant Administrator of the Office of Water at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), regarding EPA's attempts to impose stormwater regulations upon American military bases and the Agency's controversial proposal to expand their federal authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA).
<> Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces the 2014 National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge Grants to Support Climate Resilience and Green Infrastructure - June 26, 2014 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the 2014 USDA Forest Service's National Urban and Community Forestry Challenge grant recipients.
<> Sen. Murkowski Advances Legislation to Improve Coordination on Energy-Water Issues - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) advanced legislation -- the Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability (NEWS) Act (S. 1971) -- to improve the efficiency of the federal government in addressing issues related to the interdependence of energy and water.
<> Murkowski: United States is Only Advanced Nation to Ban Oil Exports - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) released a report that finds that the United States is the only advanced nation in the world with a ban on oil exports. The report – A Ban for One: The Outdated Prohibition on U.S. Oil Exports in Global Context – shows that of the 34 member countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the U.S. is the only member to prohibit oil exports.
<> Public Interest Groups Call on Obama to Cease Delays and Finalize Hazardous Waste Requirements - A large coalition of 200 environmental justice, public health and green organizations in a letter Thursday called on President Obama to fulfill a consent decree by finalizing a proposed rule that would strengthen safeguards governing billions of pounds of hazardous waste that were excluded from regulation in 2008.
<> NASA To Launch First CO2 Observing Satellite - Scheduled for launch July 1, 2014 at 2:56 AM, Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) will be NASA's first dedicated Earth remote sensing satellite to study atmospheric carbon dioxide from Space.
<> EPA's Climate Justice in Action Map & Stories - Over summer of 2014, EPA has launched the Climate Justice in Action blog series to focus on the unequal burdens climate change places on low income and minority communities – add your story. . .
Federal Register Highlights
The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Day, Month, date, 2014. (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).
1. Water – Final Rule. U.S. EPA. - Expedited Approval of Alternative Test Procedures for the Analysis of Contaminants Under the Safe Drinking Water Act; Analysis and Sampling Procedures PDF | Text |
(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)
