WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/15/14

<> Risky Business Co-Chairs Announce Members of U.S. Climate Risk Committee - The co-chairs of the national Risky Business initiative announced the members of a Risk Committee who will oversee an analysis of the economic risks of climate change in the United States. Risk Committee members will join Risky Business co-chairs Michael Bloomberg, Hank Paulson, and Tom Steyer, who also sit on the Risk Committee and are the founding partners of the initiative.

·   Official Statements from Members of the U.S. Climate Risk Committee

<> Boxer, Whitehouse, and Senate Colleagues Kick Off New Initiative to "Wake Up Congress" on Climate Change- During a press conference today, Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), announced the members of a newly formed Senate Climate Action Task Force and discussed their plans to take action on climate change.

<> Sen. Murkowski Urges President to Lift Crude Oil Export Ban - Rising Domestic Production Creates Opportunities to Expand Energy Trade WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to lift the prohibition on exporting crude oil produced in the United States. Doing so, Murkowski wrote, will allow American producers to access global markets, which will boost production, protect 

<> New Report Recommends Methods for Investing in Transportation During Economic Downturns- A new report from the National Research Council's Transportation Research Board provides guidance for federal and state officials on the best ways to use stimulus funds for. . .

<> UN climate chief calls for tripling of clean energy investment-

Source: Guardian - The United Nations climate chief has urged global financial institutions to triple their investments in clean energy to reach the $1 trillion a year mark that would help avert a climate catastrophe.

<> Congress Advances Health and Environment Safeguards, but Spending Measure Still Carries Unwise Limits on Climate and Energy Efficiency -

WASHINGTON (January 14, 2014) –  Congress has moved forward on a catch-all spending bill that restores some needed funding for health and environment safeguards the American people depend on, while also advancing misguided provisions on climate and energy that deserve to be stricken in subsequent budgets.

·   Sierra Club Statement on Omnibus Appropriations Bill

<> The Costs and Consequences of Clean Air Act Regulation of CO2 from Power Plants- Resources for the Future discussion paper. . .

<> Subcommittee Advances Bipartisan Electricity Security and Affordability Act - WASHINGTON, DC – The Subcommittee on Energy and Power today advanced H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, authored by subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV). The bipartisan, bicameral legislation provides a reasonable alternative to EPA's proposed greenhouse gas standards for new power plants and the. . .

<> Farm Bureau Delegates Set Public Policy Positions for 2014- Voting delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 95th annual meeting today approved resolutions that will provide the organization with authority from its grassroots members to push Congress toward the goal line on unfinished issues like the farm bill and ag labor.

<> Vitter: Administration Fails to Implement President's Signature Environmental Legislation- Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, sent a letter to President Barack Obama regarding the Administration's failure to fully implement the Mercury Export Ban Act of 2008, which was sponsored by then-Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill).

<> January and February PSERC Webinars on CERTS Research- January 13, 2014January and February PSERC Webinars on CERTS Research The Power System Engineering Research Center (PSERC) is offering a free, public webinar series based on past and ongoing research coordinated by the Consortium for Electric Reliability Technology Solutions (CERTS) with funding provided by the Department of Energy. The webinars will run through April

<> Improved Regulations to Protect Human Research Subjects Would Reduce Burden on IRBs While Better Protecting Study Participants-

Proposed updates to federal regulations that protect human research subjects need additional clarification when applied to the social and behavioral sciences, says a new report from the National Research Council. The report reviews an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, issued in July 2011 to strengthen protection for. . .

<> Hansen puts out a call for help in testimony by pipeline engineering experts and climate scientists wrt tar sands development consequences- There is a request from Lansing, Michigan, for expert assistance in trials of young protestors who blocked reconstruction of a pipeline that caused a major oil spill. They want to use the necessity defense, their actions being required to protect the environment and their own future.

<> Dow Chemical, Jones Lang LaSalle and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Sign On for Smart Energy Wins with EDF Climate Corps - Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)'s Climate Corps expands its scope to address the growing variety of smart energy needs for businesses and organizations nationwide

<> NRDC Study Shows More Than 1.8 Million Thermostats Containing 8 Tons of Mercury Need Safe Recycling In Illinois - CHICAGO (January 14, 2014) –There are more than 1.8 million thermostats containing eight tons of mercury in Illinois homes and buildings, according to a study by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Clean Water Fund, which are calling for  stronger state rules this year to speed up safe recycling of these  thermostats.

<> ACC's Plastics Division Forms New Plastics-to-Oil Technologies Alliance - ACC's Plastics Division views the new Alliance as a complement to its existing programs to increase plastics recovery and as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce, reuse, recycle and recover plastics.

<> Major Investors Dump Pebble Mine, Time to Abandon Project Once and For All - Frances Beinecke, President of NRDC, New York City A few weeks ago, mining giant Rio Tinto said it was considering pulling out of the disastrous Pebble Mine proposed for Alaska's Bristol Bay. This came on the heels of the September announcement that Anglo American—the 50 percent owner of the Pebble Mine—was dumping the project. Mitsubishi had already walked away three. . .

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/14/14

<> GAO-14-80, Clean Water Act: Changes Needed If Key EPA Program Is to Help Fulfill the Nation's Water Quality Goals, December 05, 2013 - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the states each have responsibilities for developing and implementing pollution targets, known as total maximum daily loads (TMDL). EPA oversees states' TMDL efforts by establishing in regulations minimum requirements TMDLs need for approval, providing funding, and furnishing technical assistance. States develop TMDLs and. . . 

<> U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions in 2013 expected to be 2% higher than in 2012- (Mon, 13 Jan 2014) Once all data are in, energy-related CO₂ emissions in 2013 are expected to be roughly 2% above the 2012 level, largely because of a small increase in coal consumption in the electric power sector. 

<> Fiscal Year 2014 Government Funding Bill Released - House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, House Appropriations Ranking Member Nita Lowey, and Senate Appropriations Ranking Member Richard Shelby today announced the release of the fiscal year 2014 consolidated appropriations bill. The bill meets the terms set by the Ryan-Murray

• Access details

<> Monsanto critics denied U.S. Supreme Court hearing on seed patents

• Farmers vs. Monsanto: Family Farmers File Brief in Final Appeal to U.S. Supreme Court - The Public Patent Foundation  recently filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case, Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association et al v. Monsanto

<> State Coal Imports Drain Billions from Local Economies - The Union of Concerned Scientists released a report showing that power providers sent more than $19 billion across state lines and overseas in 2012 to import coal, creating a drain on local economies when they could be boosting local economies by investing in homegrown clean energy sources.

<> BTLaw Alert: EPA Publishes Proposed Rule to Cap Carbon Emissions from New Power Plants - U.S. EPA's long anticipated proposed rule for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from new power plants was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 8, 2014. Barnes & Thornburg LLP.

• AIR, CLIMATE – PR. EPA. Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units PDF | Text | 

<> 60 Minutes Reply: Cleantech Rocks - Posted in Cleantech Investment Insight, by Sheeraz Haji | January 12th 2014, my belief that 60 minutes missed the mark and inspired me to write this blog on why cleantech is essential, massive, vibrant, and desired. [Includes many links to referenced information]

<> Northeastern US states tighten carbon trading scheme - Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative announces 45% cut in size of emissions cap in bid to boost market prices. . .

<> Study Indicates "Memory" of Benzene Remains in Marsh Sediment and Affects Its Future Degradation - a Louisiana marsh area where the study authors collected sediment samples for analysis the researchers have known that pollutant exposure alters the ability of ecological systems to degrade those pollutants upon encountering them again.Troy University scientists have shown that this principle holds true for Gulf coast. . .

<> New study finds toxic monsters lurking in children's clothing - Beijing, 14 January 2014 – Hazardous chemicals have been found in children's clothes and shoes made by major brands including Disney, Burberry and Adidas, according to a new investigation released today by Greenpeace East Asia 

<> Agrichemical Companies Sue to Halt Kauai Restrictions of GE Crops and Pesticides

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/13/14

<> President Obama Signs West Virginia Emergency Declaration - The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of West Virginia and ordered federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts due to the emergency conditions resulting from a chemical spill beginning on January 9, 2014, and continuing. The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency 

·   Freedom Industries ordered to empty remaining tanks - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Waste Management (DWWM) is requiring Freedom Industries Inc. to remove the contents in the 11 remaining above-ground storage tanks at its Etowah Terminal inCharleston.

·   Cease Operations Order Issued to Freedom Industries - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Waste Management has issued a Cease Operations Order to Freedom Industries

·   Cease Operations Order issued for well pad in Tyler County - The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Oil and Gas (OOG) has issued a Notice of Violation, as well as a Cease Operations Order, to Jay-Bee Oil & Gas in connection with the company's Lisby gas well pad in Tyler County.

<> Green Bond Principles Created to Help Issuers and Investors Deploy Capital for Green Projects - Bank of America Corporation (NYSE: BAC), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE: C), Crédit Agricole CIB (EN Paris: ACA), JPMorgan Chase (NYSE: JPM), BNP Paribas (PA: BNP), Daiwa (JP: 8601), Deutsche Bank (NYSE: DB), Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), HSBC (LSE: HSBA, NYSE: HBC, HK: 0005), Mizuho (NYSE: MFG), Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS), Rabobank and SEB (SS: SEBA) A consortium of 

<> AEA Sends Letter to Sec. Moniz Urging Him to Reconsider Approval of New NatGasExport Applications - January 9, 2014, Dear Mr. Secretary: It is our understanding that the Department of Energy may be on the verge of approving another application to export American natural gas to non-FTA nations.  If permitted, it would mark the sixth. . . With all due respect, we are very concerned that exporting such a large volume of this strategic commodity, which is vital to U.S. competitiveness, is contrary to the national interest.

<> Battery Storage Breakthrough at Harvard Could Play Huge Role in Future of Renewables - By Tim Radford Scientists in the U.S. think they may be on the track of a new kind of battery technology that could store huge reserves of energy. One of the great problems of renewable energy generators such as photovoltaic cells and wind turbines is that they can't respond to demand. 

<> Leaked Wisconsin DNR report says mine poses threats to human health, water - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' research bureau produced the report to brief agency regulators on what scientific literature says about extensive testing and environmental monitoring that are typically needed to prevent serious damage from acid runoff into streams and mercury emissions into the air.

<> McDonald's aims to begin purchasing verified sustainable beef in 2016 - "We cannot do this alone, so we will listen, learn, and collaborate with stakeholders from farm to the front counter to develop sustainable beef solutions."

<> Major win for the climate: Voluntary Market closes door to HFC-23 projects - WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA): In a major win for the climate, the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS), the world's leading voluntary greenhouse gas program, has announced that it will no longer approve or accept for consideration...

<> Predicting the future of global water stress - The MIT researchers expect 5 billion (52 percent) of the world's projected 9.7 billion people to live in water-stressed areas by 2050. They also expect about 1 billion more people to be living in areas where water demand exceeds surface-water supply.

<> Fuel economy of vehicles sold last year at record-high - Gas mileage of new vehicles sold in the U.S. was 24.8 mpg in December, the same as the average for all of 2013 -- the best annual mark ever, say researchers at the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute.

<> More oil trains means more risk - The Columbian. More oil trains means more riskThe ColumbianData from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, an arm of the U.S. Department of Transportation, show that crude-by-rail incidents climbed to 108 last year from 9 in 2010.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/10/14

<> Presidential Memorandum -- Establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review - MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SUBJECT: Establishing a Quadrennial Energy Review Affordable, clean, and secure energy and energy services are essential for improving U.S. economic productivity, enhancing our quality of life, protecting our environment, and ensuring our Nation's security.

·   Obama Administration Launches Quadrennial Energy Review - First QER Will Focus on Transmission and Distribution Infrastructure Today, President Obama signed a Memorandum directing his Administration to conduct a Quadrennial Energy Review (QER).  This first QER will focus on the development of a comprehensive strategy for the infrastructure involved in transporting, transmitting, and delivering energy.

·   New Steps to Strengthen the Nation's Energy Infrastructure - Today, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing the federal government's first Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) process, fulfilling an important commitment from his Climate Action Plan and ensuring that federal energy policies continue to meet the nation's economic, environmental, and security goals. Over the next four years, the QER will provide a comprehensive 

<> House Approves Committee Legislation to Modernize Environmental Law and Increase State Authority - WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives approved H.R. 2279 by a vote of 225 to 188. The legislation is a product of a series of bills advanced by the Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act, the Federal and State Partnership for Environmental Protection Act, and the Federal Facility Accountability Act. 

<> Whitfield and Manchin Introduce Bipartisan Electricity Security and Affordability Act - WASHINGTON, DC – Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) formally introduced the Electricity Security and Affordability Act today in the House and Senate. The lawmakers put forward a draft of the legislation last fall to offer a reasonable alternative to the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed greenhouse gas standards 

<> Rockefeller and Wyden Demand Investigation, Review of Crude Oil Transportation Safety Practices and Regulations - WASHINGTON, D.C.— In the wake of a series of explosive train derailments containing crude oil – including two in the last two weeks – Senators John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-W.Va.), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, wrote a letter to. . .

<> Chairman Boxer and Senator Sanders Op-ed: Congress Should Put a Price on Carbon Pollution

<> Is China really committed to addressing climate change? - Source: RTCC - What do Chinese leaders and energy experts really think about climate change? It's a critical question, as without a strong low-carbon drive from China there is no chance of the planet avoiding dangerous levels of global warming.

<> Energy Committee Senators Demand Interior Nominee End Flawed Rulemaking - U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Mike Lee (R-UT) called on the Department of the Interior (DOI) nominee Janice Schneider to commit to ensuring that the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) does not "rig" job loss estimates associated with OSM's proposed stream rule.

<> Energy Department Updates Home Energy Scoring Tool for Advancing Residential Energy Performance - January 9, 2014Energy Department Updates Home Energy Scoring Tool for Advancing Residential Energy Performance As part of the Energy Department's commitment to helping families across the U.S. save money by saving energy, the Department announced today its first major software update to the Home Energy Scoring Tool. . .

<> Deadline Extended for Public Comment On BP Spill Restoration  - The Trustees have released a draft plan for the third phase of Early Restoration. The draft plan proposes more than $625 million in new early restoration projects across theGulf states

<> DeFazio, Holt, Pallone, and Garcia Express Concern Over Impacts of Offshore Oil Exploration - For Immediate Release: January 9, 2014 Contact: Jen Gilbreath (Resources),  DeFAZIO EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER IMPACTS OF OFFSHORE OIL EXPLORATION Washington, D.C. –Representatives Peter DeFazio (D-OR), ranking member of the House Committee on Natural Resources, led a letter to the Department of the Interior (DOI) and NOAA. . .

<> GAO-14-187R, Air Emissions: Status of Regulatory Activities and Permitting on Alaska's Outer Continental Shelf, January 09, 2014 -The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2012, amended the Clean Air Act to transfer regulatory authority for air emissions on the outer continental shelf (OCS) off Alaska's north coast, including the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the Department of the Interior. Since the act was passed on December 23, 2011, there has been limited activity 

<> Texas Supreme Court Favors Landowner Over TransCanada in Keystone XL Eminent Domain Case - The Texas Supreme Court ruled in favor of landowner Julia Trigg Crawford, ordering TransCanada to submit information by Feb. 6 as the justices weigh arguments to hear the case regarding eminent domain abuse.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/9/14

<> White House: We the Geeks: "Polar Vortex" and Extreme Weather - at the White House, while we're beginning to thaw from this week's bone-chilling deep freeze, our discussions about the science of weather extremes are heating up. We know that no single weather episode proves or disproves climate change. Video and Friday January 10,  2:00 PM ET

<> The Clean Energy Economy in Three Charts – White House: The simple fact is that key clean energy technology costs are continuing to come down, and these technologies are producing more American energy than ever before.

¨      Competitive Enterprise Institute Criticizes Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard - WASHINGTON, D.C., JAN, 8 – Today, the Competitive Enterprise Institute criticized EPA's proposed Carbon Pollution Standard, a regulation which would effectively ban the construction of new coal-fired power plants. The regulation was published in today's Federal Register, thereby kicking off a 60 day comment period. CEI's initial comments on the proposal, submitted today, 

¨      Today: EPA to Publish Rules For New Power Plants After Delay- (Huffington Post) The Environmental Protection Agency will finally publish notice of new proposed rules limiting greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants on Wednesday, more than three months after announcing the rules last September. Read original story

1.    AIR, CLIMATE – PR/Withdrawal. EPA. Proposed Standards of Performance: Withdrawal of Proposed Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating UnitsPDF | Text | 

2.    AIR, CLIMATE – PR. EPA. Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions From New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units PDF | Text | 

<> CRS report outlines PTC phaseout allowing wind, gas parity - The renewable energy production tax credit is gone for now and, even if it is reinstated this year, there are growing calls to replace the current system of year-to-year extensions with a more definitive path meant to phase out the credit altogether. To that end, the Congressional Research Service last month produced a report weighing the pros and cons of various phaseout proposals. . .

<> Paper: Shining a Light on Fossil Fuel Subsidies at the WTO: How NGOs can contribute to WTO notification and surveillance - Liesbeth Casier, Robin Fraser, Mark Halle, Robert Wolfe - Fossil fuel subsidies undermine efforts to mitigate climate change and damage the trading system. However, multilateral discussion is hampered by inconsistent definitions and incomplete data. Members do not notify such subsidies as much as they should under the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing measures 

<> U.S. Ethanol Export Opportunities Abound - (January 8, 2014) WASHINGTON — U.S. ethanol exports surged to 82.4 million gallons (mg) in November, with large volumes finding their way into new or emerging markets such as China and India, as well as the Philippines, Tunisia, Panama, and Mexico, according to government data released this week. Total exports were up 54 percent from October, reaching the highest 

<> UN urged to recognize benefits derived from mountain regions as essential for sustainable development - As United Nations-led talks on outlining the future global development agenda continue to progress, UN agency officials joined representatives of mountain countries and organizations today at Headquarters to encourage mountain-specific policies in sustainable development strategies, with a particular focus on plans for adaptation and mitigation of climate change.

<> Road Map to Clean Energy and Climate Initiatives in Governor Cuomo's 2014 State of the State Report - Governor Cuomo announced some significant new clean energy and climate initiatives.  In case you didn't have time in listen in, or to pore through the 219-page State of the State report that the Governor's office released 

<> The Koch brothers political empire continues to metastasize - what a Washington Post investigative article on January 5 calls "a far-reaching operation of unrivaled complexity, built around a maze of groups that cloaks its donors"

<> USDA Extends Deadline for Conservation Stewardship Applications- Related ATTRA Resource:Accessing the New Conservation Stewardship ProgramThe U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has extended the deadline for new enrollments in the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

<> China sets targets for curbing air pollution - BEIJING (Reuters) - China has set new targets for its provinces to reduce air pollution by 5 to 25 percent, state media said lateon Tuesday, underscoring the government's concern about a source of public anger.

<> Net metering controversy: How to calculate the true value of solar

<> First-Year Report: Market Strong for Cap and Trade in California

<> Bird Conservation Groups Announce Intention to Sue Over Ohio Wind Turbine in Key Bird Migration Corridor - The Ohio National Guard facility at Camp Perry, near Port Clinton in northern Ohio, is the focus of possible legal action by American Bird Conservancy and Ohio's Black Swamp Bird Observatory, which today announced the intention to sue the Ohio National Guard in connection with violations of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) and other federal laws

<> Senator Vitter: EPA Basing New Carbon Rule on Impracticable Technology

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/8/14

<> API's Gerard outlines election year campaign in State of American Energy event - WASHINGTON, January 7, 2014 - API President and CEO Jack Gerard outlined API's advocacy and messaging priorities, issued a new report, and launched a new advertising campaign during his 2014 State of American Energy speech, which focused on the impact of future policy decisions on America's energy revolution.

·   API begins election year with launch of new website, campaign video - The American Petroleum Institute has begun the election year with a campaign video that promotes domestic energy production as a driver of economic growth 

<> Debate grows over whether U.S. should end decades-long ban on oil exports

·   Murkowski calls for end to US crude oil ban - Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) officially came out in favor of ending a decades-old ban on crude exports on Tuesday. At a conversation hosted by the Brookings Institute on Tuesday the ranking member on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources.

<> Oregon Legislation To Restrict Home Use of Bee-Killing Pesticides -

(Beyond Pesticides, January 7, 2014) An Oregon state representative, Rep. Jeff Reardon (D-Portland), plans to introduce legislation in February that will effectively ban for home and garden use certain neonicotinoid pesticides implicated in mass bee deaths this summer. This legislation is part of the growing national effort to ban or restrict the use of neonicotinoid pesticides. 

<> Cold Snap Will Be a Killer for Birds, Group Warns - American Bird Conservancy is reminding people that we're not the only ones suffering in the cold gripping much of the nation. This weather can be deadly to birds, some of which are being driven farther south than normal in search of open water and sources of food.

<> Ocean Acidity is Increasing for Reasons Beyond CO2 Emissions: PLoS Study – [Abstract] Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) from anthropogenic sources is acidifying marine environments resulting in potentially dramatic consequences for the physical, chemical and biological functioning of these ecosystems. Yet, there is also substantial temporal variability in pH and other carbon system parameters in the ocean resulting in regions that already experience change that exceeds long-term projected trends in pH. 

<> New method for assessing nanoparticle toxicity in cells - Read the full story at Safenano. Researchers from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland have developed a novel method, based on optical techniques, for measuring the level of oxidative stress induced by nanoparticles in cells.

<> Ford to Introduce First Solar-Powered Car - Ford C-MAX Solar Energi Concept is first-of-its-kind sun-powered vehicle with the potential to deliver the best of a plug-in hybrid without depending on the electric grid for fuel.

<> Leaked Document Reveals Big Food Lobby's Plans to Preempt State GMO Labeling - Grocery Manufacturers Association pushing legislation after spending millions against state ballot initiatives Center for Food Safety (CFS) today strongly criticized the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), after Politico revealed the lobbying group intends to carry through with legislation aimed at blocking states from mandating labeling of genetically engineered foods 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/7/14

<> Updates & Information Request For Executive Order 13650: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security - The Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, is seeking feedback on rules and regulatlions.

·     ACC Comments on Release of Federal Agency Report to Improve Safety and Security at Chemical Facilities - The Working Group formed as a result of Executive Order (EO) 13650 on Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security has released a report of their initial options to accomplish goals set in the EO.

 

<> National Law for the Implementation of the Basel Convention - The objective of this webinar is to present tools, including the model legislation and other legal instruments or tools as adopted by Parties to implement the Basel Convention, and to see how these could be linked or integrated with the provisions of overarching national legal frameworks that regulate hazardous chemicals and wastes, looking at the benefits of an integrated approach to. . .

 

<> State Department Releases 2014 Climate Action Report - Monday, January 6, 2013 On January 1, the State Department submitted the 2014 U.S. Climate Action Report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The report details actions that the U.S. is taking domestically and internationally to address climate change.

·     Secretary Kerry Aggressively Pursues Major Climate Pact, Could Close Door on Keystone XL Pipeline - The tubes have been buzzing over a new New York Times report on Secretary of State John Kerry's aggressive pursuit of a new global climate agreement, which  has some clear implications for approval of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline. 

 

<> EPA Funds LSU Study to Protect Bees from Pesticides - DALLAS – (Jan. 6, 2014) Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will present a grant for more than $167,000 to Dr. Kristen Healy of the Louisiana State University AgCenter at a ceremony on Wednesday, January 8. The grant will fund a study to assess the impact of mosquito-control methods on honey bees. The study will look at development and application of. . . 

 

<> House Energy Committee to release report on natural gas exports - The House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to release a report this month focusing on natural gas exports.It's the latest move in the accelerated debate on the nation's booming new fossil-fuel abundance. The report will discuss the...

 

<> Upton Releases Report Chronicling Energy and Commerce Accomplishments in 2013 -WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today released a report on the work of the committee in 2013. The end-of-session update continues the tradition of reports issued throughout the 112th Congress

 

<> Energy Department Announces $3 Million to Support Clean Energy Businesses and Entrepreneurs - January 6, 2014Energy Department Announces $3 Million to Support Clean Energy Businesses and Entrepreneurs The Energy Department today announced $3 million to support clean energy business incubators that provide critical services to entrepreneurs and small businesses and accelerate the commercialization of clean energy technologies.

 

<> Report: Logging Would Impede Rim Fire's Benefits for Wildlife, Water, Forest - Center for Biological Diversity - New Report: Logging Would Impede Rim Fire's Benefits for Wildlife, Water, Forest - Center for Biological Diversity (press release)

 

<> Sen. Alexander: Ending Wind Subsidy a Good Way to Celebrate New Year, Reduce Federal Debt and Save Tennesseans $52 Million – He said: "The massive taxpayer subsidy to windmill developers expired Jan. 1. A good way to celebrate the New Year would be to not renew it and to reduce the federal debt by $60 billion, an amount about equal to the spending in the recent budget agreement." 

Udall Presses Congress to Pass Critical Job-Creating Tax Extenders Package, Extend Wind Production Tax Credit

 

<> 2014: Export of American Oil Is Contentious Industry Goal After 4-Decade Federal Ban -Lure of greater profits from global markets on collision course with national security goal of keeping supplies at home and protecting domestic gas prices. By Elizabeth Douglass Emboldened by the recent boom in U.S. crude production, oil company executives and others closed the year by launching a highly public push for the right to freely export U.S. crude oil.

 

<> UN Applauds China Efforts to Combat Illegal Ivory Trade - Six Tonnes of Ivory Destroyed at Landmark Event in China

·     International Community Hails China's Destruction of Ivory - Mon, 01/06/2014:  Today in Dongguan, Guangdong Province, the Chinese Government destroyed over 6 tons of confiscated elephant ivory and ivory products in a symbolic act to help stop the illegal wildlife trade. read more

 

<> USDA Seeks Comment on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Herbicide-Resistant Corn and Soybeans - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) as part of its review to determine whether to deregulate genetically engineered (GE) corn and soybean pla…

 

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet, January 6, 2014

<> UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw keeps governments on a track towards 2015 climate agreement - UN Climate Change Conference in Warsaw keeps governments on a track towards 2015 climate agreement

• Warsaw Talks Provide Just Enough to Move Process Forward on Path to Paris - Climate talks in Warsaw, Poland today reached agreement on a pathway to Paris in 2015, where they have committed to adopt a new, comprehensive, post-2020 agreement to address the climate crisis

<> Conservative Donors Pump $1 Billion A Year Into Climate Denying Groups, Study Finds.

<> Top Clean Energy and Climate Breakthroughs in 2013

<> EPA Releases Chemical Screening Data on 1,800 Chemicals/Agency improves access to chemical data and announces ToxCast Data Challenges (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the release of chemical screening data accessible through the new interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability or iCSS Dashboard. The iCSS Dashboard provides access to data from innovative screening technologies for chemicals that are found in industrial and consumer products, food 

<> Fuel Economy of New Vehicles Sets Record High / Fuel Economy Gains to Continue Under President Obama's Clean Car Programs (HQ) - WASHINGTON – EPA issued its annual report that tracks the average fuel economy of vehicles sold in the United States. The report shows that model year 2012 vehicles achieved an all-time high fuel economy of 23.6 miles per gallon (mpg). This represents a 1.2 mpg increase over the previous year, making it the second largest annual increase in the last 30 years.

<> EPA Seeks Environmental Education Grant Applications (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently accepting applications for environmental education projects under the agency's Environmental Education Grant Program. The program works to engage communities across the country through a wide variety of educational projects that have a lasting impact on people's health by facilitating environmental 

<> EPA Appoints New Scientific Integrity Official (HQ) - Washington, DC – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has appointed Dr. Francesca Grifo as the agency's new scientific integrity official. Dr. Grifo's responsibilities in her new role include coordinating and carrying out EPA's scientific integrity policy and chairing a standing EPA scientific integrity committee

<> EPA Proposes 2014 Renewable Fuel Standards / Proposal Seeks Input to Address "E10 Blend Wall," Reaffirms Commitment to Biofuels (HQ) -

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed for public comment the levels of renewable fuels to be blended into gasoline and diesel as required by Congress under the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Developed with input from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S

<> EPA Releases Agency Plans for Adapting to a Changing Climate (HQ) -

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans for public review and comment. In support of President Obama's Climate Action Plan and Executive Order on Preparing theUnited States for the Impacts of Climate Change announced today, the Implementation Plans provide detailed 

<> EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities / Carbon pollution from power plants declines 10 percent from 2010 due to growing use of natural gas (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its third year of greenhouse gas data detailing carbon pollution emissions and trends broken down by industrial sector, greenhouse gas, geographic region, and individual facility. The data, required to be collected annually by Congress, highlight a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as more

<> Department of Energy Releases $8 Billion Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects - ◊Department of Energy Releases $8 Billion Solicitation for Advanced Fossil Energy Projects The Energy Department published a solicitation today, making up to $8 billion in loan guarantee authority available to support innovative advanced fossil energy projects that avoid, reduce, or sequester greenhouse gases

<> Energy Department Releases Grid Energy Storage Report - Energy Department Releases Grid Energy Storage Report Detailed Discussion of Benefits, Challenges, and Next Steps for Wider Adoption onto the Nation's Electric Grid

<> Energy Department Invests $12 Million to Slash Red Tape and Speed Solar Deployment for Homes and Businesses - Energy Department Invests $12 Million to Slash Red Tape and Speed Solar Deployment for Homes and Businesses Through Rooftop Solar Challenge , Eight Teams Streamline and Standardize Solar Installation Process to Cut Costs, Save Time

<> Executive Order -- Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change -  EXECUTIVE ORDER - - - - - - - PREPARING THE UNITED STATES FOR THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to prepare the Nation for the impacts of climate change by undertaking actions to enhance climate preparedness and resilience, it is hereby ordered as follows: Section 1. Policy.

<> FACT SHEET: Executive Order on Climate Preparedness - President Obama Establishes a Task Force on Climate "We're going to need to get prepared.  And that's why this plan will also protect critical sectors of our economy and prepare the United States for the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid.  States and cities across the country are already taking it upon themselves to get ready… And we'll partner with communities seeking help to prepare