[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 4/6/15

 

National / International News

<> Solar, Wind Industries Release 'How-To' Handbook For Cutting Carbon Emissions - For states looking to meet new obligations under the EPA's Clean Power Plan, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) have jointly published a handbook detailing how to incorporate renewable energy into state plans to cut carbon emissions from existing power plants. A Handbook for the States: Incorporating Renewable Energy into State Compliance Plans for EPA's Clean Power Plan – 184-page report released by SEIA and AWEA interprets the more than 1,000 pages of the draft EPA rule and technical support documents and provides step-by-step guidance to states on how to incorporate renewable energy into their state compliance plans.

<> Sen. Murkowski: We Will Continue to Fight Administration's Restrictive Actions Against Alaska - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, criticized the Obama administration for unilaterally advancing a new wilderness designation in the coastal plain of Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) despite overwhelming, bipartisan opposition from Alaska's elected leaders; she indicated that in a classic news dump late on this Good Friday afternoon, the administration finalized the Record of Decision for its misguided ANWR land management plan and announced its formal transmittal to Congress. Record of Decision (ROD) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement (CCP/FEIS) - Friday, April 3, 2015, Geoffrey Haskett, Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska, signed the Record of Decision (ROD)

<>  New U.S. Chamber Report Highlights Need for Truth in Regulating - A report released by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reveals that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has obscured critical details about the specific pollutants that certain rules would control, and how much it actually costs.

<> EWG Calls on Monsanto to Retract Remarks on WHO Weed-Killer Report - "It's unfortunate that junk science and this kind of mischief can create so much confusion for consumers," said Hugh Grant, Monsanto's chairman and CEO, during a call with investors. EWG said Mr. Grant was referring to the unanimous conclusion reached by 17 of the world's leading cancer experts who reviewed hundreds of government and independent studies of the potential health risks from exposure to glyphosate – the main ingredient in Monsanto's top-selling herbicide, marketed as RoundUp.

<> Technical options for processing additional light tight oil volumes within the United States - This report examines technical options for processing rapidly expanding light tight oil (LTO) volumes within the United States which would enable an increase in petroleum product exports from the United States -- unlike crude oil, products are not subject to export limitations or licensing requirements.

<> Moving Beyond Vitriol and Demonization in the Climate Change Debate - A Conversation with University of Michigan's Dr. Andrew Hoffman regarding his new book "How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate"

<> LEED Recognizes Living Building Challenge Energy, Water Requirements - The US Green Building Council says it will now recognize energy and water requirements from the Living Building Challenge green building system within the LEED green building program -- projects achieving the energy and water requirements in Living Building Challenge will be considered as technically equivalent to LEED.

<> Waste Industry Applauds Arizona Legislation that Promotes Fair Competition Between Municipal and Private Waste and Recycling Services - Law Signed by Governor, Requires Municipalities to Make Payments in Lieu of Taxes When Competing Outside of Their Political Boundary  Arizona Senate Bill SB 1187, Services outside municipal boundaries; requirements

<> Big energy's campaign cash keeps solar down in Florida - The Miami Herald reports that ". . .lawmakers and lobbyists say that anyone who has attempted to expand the rooftop solar industry has been ostracized. The reason, some lawmakers say, is that Florida's largest utilities have invested heavily in state political campaigns to fend off competition.

Federal Register Highlights  The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

<> TOXICS - Proposed Rule. U.S. EPA - Chemical Substances When Manufactured or Processed as Nanoscale Materials; TSCA Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

Great Lakes News

<> EDITORIAL: Congress must reel in Army Corps on dump of toxic dredge in Lake Erie - The Ohio congressional delegation need to show the Corps that following the law, and doing the right thing for public health, are not optional.

Michigan News

<> Environmentalists Outraged By New Mineral Lease To Eagle Mine - MARQUETTE — Save the Wild U.P. (SWUP) has learned MDNR has granted another mineral lease to Eagle Mine, LLC — this time, for a controversial 40 acre parcel along the Yellow Dog River

<> MDEQ Environmental Calendar for April 6, 2015

<> 2015 Renewable Zoo Implementation Grant RFP - The Michigan Energy Office (MEO) is offering grants for renewable energy implementation projects at nonprofit zoological parks in Michigan that have identified energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental sustainability as priorities in their master plan. April 30, 2015 - proposal submission deadline

<> Michigan Sierra Club Chapter Update April 5, 2015 - The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter is calling for a complete ban on high-volume, hydraulic fracturing in Michigan to meet the challenge of climate change and avoid public health and environmental risks -- this and more in the latest issue

<> NRC Schedules Public Meeting Apr. 9 to Discuss Performance of Palisades Nuclear Power Station - A public meeting Apr. 9 to discuss the annual safety performance of the Palisades Nuclear Power Station operated by Entergy Nuclear Operations Inc. and located in Covert, MI, five miles south of South Haven -- 5-6 p.m. EDT.

Michigan Legislative Tracking  Newly introduced bills and bills that are moving, if any, are listed below. Click on the bill number for complete status, full text, & analyses. Uppercase is Senate action; lowercase is House action. Otherwise, for a complete list of environmental legislation this session (click here).