[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 5/21/15

National / International News

<> Obama tells Coast Guard grads climate change menaces U.S. - Rising seas and thawing permafrost caused by warmer global temperatures threaten U.S. military bases and will change the way the U.S. armed services defend the country, President Barack Obama said on Wednesday 'Time is running out' to slow climate change, Obama tells Coast Guard grads Remarks by the President at the United States Coast Guard Academy Commencement

<> America's Trade Ambassador: Tackling Environmental Challenges Through Trade - Two decades ago, environmental provisions under NAFTA were relegated to a side agreement, with only a single enforceable obligation to "effectively enforce your own environmental laws" -- in contrast, the most recent trade agreements contain extensive, enforceable environmental commitments.  USTR Report: Standing Up for the Environment: Trade for a Greener World Sierra Club Statement on USTR's Misleading Environmental Report

<> Despite Veto Threat House Approves COMPETES Bill - The House of Representatives approved the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 (H.R. 1806), which GOP members called "a comprehensive, pro-science, fiscally responsible bill to keep America competitive and reestablish the federal government's primary scientific role to fund basic research." H.R. 1806: America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 – Roll Call vote 217-205 – 217 Republicans in favor; 182 Democrats & 23 Republicans opposed.

<> USDA to Give Priority Funding for Regional Economic Development Projects - The new Regional Development Priority (RDP) policy will make it easier for rural communities to access resources to invest in long-term community development efforts by giving priority to applications for Rural Development programs that include regional partnerships and strategies. Ranking Member Stabenow Applauds New USDA Policy Prioritizing Partnerships for Regional Development - The new policy will apply to four key rural development programs: the community facilities program, the business & industry loan guarantee program, water and environmental program, and the rural business development grant program.

<> House Passes Several Science Committee Bills - The House of Representatives passed H.R. 874, H.R. 1162, H.R. 1119, H.R. 1156, H.R. 1561, and H.R. 1158 by voice vote under suspension of the rules. The bills had strong bipartisan support -- most of these bills passed the House last Congress and were not taken up by the Senate.

<> The IMF says we spend $5.3 trillion a year on fossil fuel subsidies. How is that possible? - The IMF report is using "subsidy" to refer to the fact that users of oil, gas, and coal don't pay the full price for all the environmental damage these fossil fuels cause. IMF Working Paper - How Large Are Global Energy Subsidies?

<> Stabenow, Peters, Alexander Introduce Vehicle Innovation Act - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Gary Peters (D-MI), along with Lamar Alexander (R-TN), today introduced the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act (VIA) to promote investments in research and development of clean vehicle technologies that will create more fuel efficient vehicles, reduce dependence on foreign oil and support American auto manufacturers. S. 1408: A bill to provide for a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy

<> EPA: Launching a New Era of State, Tribal, Local and International Partnerships - EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy highlights some best practices, innovative solutions and successes in building partnerships.

<> House Hearing On Issues Facing Civilian and Postal Service Vehicle Fleet Procurement - Witness Testimony and webcast

<> FEMP Seeking Public Comment on Draft M&V Guidelines - The measurement and verification (M&V) document provides guidelines for measuring and verifying energy, water, and cost savings associated with federal energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs).

<> New Initiatives to Accelerate the Commercialization of Nanotechnology - May 20, the National Economic Council and the Office of Science and Technology Policy held a forum at the White House to discuss opportunities to accelerate the commercialization of nanotechnology.

<> Oil Giants Band Together to Add Voice to Climate Debate - Europe's largest oil companies are banding together to forge a joint strategy on climate-change policy, alarmed they'll be ignored as the world works toward a historic deal limiting greenhouse gases -- a public announcement expected as early as next month

<> TransCanada's Keystone Pipeline Network Under Investigation by U.S. Fed Regulators - A month after revealing that TransCanada is under acompliance review for the Keystone 1 Pipeline, the Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)disclosed it is also investigating the operations of KeystoneXL's southern route, renamed the Gulf Coast Pipeline when the project was split in half -- the results of these investigations could play a part in President Obama's final decision on the Keystone XL permit that TransCanada needs to complete its Keystone pipeline network.

<> From Small Cars to Pickup Trucks, Automakers Aren't Just Meeting Efficiency Standards, They're Exceeding Them - The emissions and efficiency standards for vehicles have been a big success, according to a new analysis by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

<> Groups File Lawsuit Calling for Federal Government Action on Soot Pollution - Physicians for Social Responsibility-Los Angeles and Sierra Club, represented by Earthjustice, filed a lawsuit today in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to act on the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD) plan to reduce particulate matter, or soot.

<> NOAA Study Confirms BP Oil Spill Led to Dolphin Deaths in Northern Gulf of Mexico - Environmental groups said since the BP oil disaster five years ago, ongoing findings deliver truths omitted by BP's ads: the oil disaster's negative effects are increasingly clear, present and far from resolved. NOAA peer-reviewed study

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

<> Committee for a Better Arvin v. U.S. EPA - 5/20/15. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Case No. 11-73924 & 12-71332. Petitioners, a contingent of environmental and community groups, bring serious challenges to the State of California's plans to improve air quality in the San Joaquin Valley, an area with some of the worst air quality in the United States -- i.e. whether U.S. EPA erred in approving California's State Implementation Plans.      The Appeals Court ruled, "We hold that by approving California's plans even though the plans did not include the state-adopted mobile emissions standards on which those plans rely to achieve their emissions reductions goals, EPA violated the CAA. We also hold that EPA did not violate the CAA by not requiring inclusion of other state mechanisms in its plans, and that other control measures approved by EPA are enforceable commitments as the CAA requires."

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).

<> Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

Great Lakes News

<> U-M Researchers win Award for Paper on Phosphorus in Lake Erie - Lead author Donald Scavia, and a team of researchers will receive the Chandler-Misener Award for the most notable paper, Assessing and addressing the re-eutrophication of Lake Erie: Central basin hypoxia, in the 2014 edition of the Journal of Great Lakes Research. [Link to the paper]

<> Spring water levels of Lake Huron highest since 1998 - An unseasonably cool and wet summer last year started the rise, which didn't stop; Lake Huron skipped its usual seasonal decline, which, on average, begins in July.

<> Early forecast says toxic algae could be lighter at Lake Erie - In an early projection released on Tuesday, scientists said that so far, the Maumee River is carrying less phosphorus to the western part of the lake.

Michigan News

<> Target budget agreement includes additional money for Michigan roads, schools - Gov. Rick Snyder and legislative leaders agreed today on spending targets for the fiscal year 2016 budget that includes an additional $400 million in General Fund money to help repair Michigan roads and bridges while work continues on a long-term solution to the state's infrastructure needs.

<> House panel approves Rep. Lauwers resolution for GMO food labeling - The MI House Committee on Agriculture  approved House Resolution 89, introduced by state Rep. Dan Lauwers (R-Brockway Twp), urging Congress to adopt a national label program for genetically modified food.

<> MDNR Accessibility Advisory Council to meet June 2 in Okemos - The council's purpose is to make recommendations to the department director and staff regarding accessibility, as well as provide input, advice and guidance on the development, management and planning associated with providing accessible recreation opportunities to all users statewide.

<> Business expansion, community improvement project win state approval - The Michigan Economic Development Corporation today announced Michigan Strategic Fund approval of a business expansion and a community improvement project that are expected to generate $5.5 million in investments and create 88 new jobs.

<> Detroit Training Institute of Technology students renovate historic Belle Isle shelter in preparation for return of public transportation - Through partnership efforts with the Department of Natural Resources and the State Historic Preservation Office, the Detroit Training Institute of Technology and its students are renovating the historic structure, which will serve as an island transportation stop this summer for Pedicab and horse-and-carriage ride services.

<> MDOT's Steudle makes list of top public sector innovators - Kirk Steudle, director of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), was recently listed as one of the "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers" by Government Technology magazine.

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).

 

Daily Activity (5/20/15)

IN THE HOUSE

HB 4093 of 2015 Appropriations; zero budget; department of environmental quality; provide for fiscal year 2015-2016. Creates appropriation act. [House conferees named]

HB 4449 of 2015 Environmental protection; air pollution; air emission fees; modify. [3rd Read]