WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/23/14

<> Supreme Court Briefs Filed in Carbon Pollution Permits Case - David Doniger, Policy Director, Climate and Clean Air Program, Washington, D.C. On Tuesday, NRDC and other environmental groups filed their brief in the latest Supreme Court case about climate change.  This case, called Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, will decide whether the Clean Air Act's permitting requirements apply to major industrial sources of the carbon pollution that. . .

• Docket, Briefs & News

<> TransCanada's Keystone Pipeline's Southern Leg to Begin Transporting Oil to U.S. Gulf Coast - TransCanada announced today the start up of the 485-mile southern segment of the Keystone XL, now called the Gulf Coast Pipeline, which runs from Cushing, OK, to refineries on the Gulf Coast of Texas. In anticipation of TransCanada's announcement, Texas landowners launched a new oversight network today, Texas Pipeline Watch, to arm landowners and citizens along the route. . .

<> Business Rallies Action on Climate Change at World Economic Forum in Davos- The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and partners will engage in several high-profile events to rally action on key sustainability issues -- including climate change and water security -- among the world's top business leaders.

<> Wind's Outlook Remains Strong - The following op-ed by T. Boone Pickens ran in the Des Moines Register on Wednesday, January 21, 2014. In 2008, I launched the Pickens Plan to help get America off OPEC oil. Our reliance on Middle East oil has been the number one threat to our national security and economy. Thanks to advances in the oil industry's discovery and recovery technologies, the U.S. energy picture is. . .

<> The Social Benefits of Carbon - America has long relied on fossil fuels for economic growth and technological advancement. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) released a study, "The Social Costs of Carbon? No, The Social Benefits of Carbon," which demonstrates the vast benefits valuable fossil fuels, like coal, play in our day-to-day lives. The study demonstrates that reliable and affordable energy from fossil fuels not only provides. . .

<> The State of the Climate - C2ES' Eileen Claussen: As President Barack Obama prepares to deliver his State of the Union address, we believe it's a good time to take a look at the state of our climate: the growing impacts of climate change, recent progress in reducing U.S. emissions, and further steps we can take to protect the climate and ourselves. . .

<> Global Warming, Winter, and the President's Climate Action Plan -

Dan Lashof, Program Director, Climate & Clean Air, Washington, D.C. It's snowy and cold today in the Eastern United States. Yesterday NASA and NOAA announced that 2013 was among the 10 hottest years on record globally. Last week, I testified at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing titled "Review of the President's Climate Action Plan," but Senators. . . 

<> CA Governor Brown Delivers 2014 State of the State Address - The Governor renewed his call for all Californians to conserve water, laid out the key elements of the state's long-term water plan and noted the work ahead to fight climate change and build on historic reforms to the state's school funding and criminal justice systems.

<> Cleantech venture APATEQ announces its first oil-water separation product- delivery for a large customer in Europe. The unit will treat produced water from oil production and hydraulic fracturing, requiring virtually no chemicals for operation using a proprietary technology. The Luxembourgish water and wastewater specialist expects extensive follow-up orders after successful field tests of the initial unit.

<> "Litigation Forecast 2014: What Corporate Counsel Need to Know for the Coming Year," a Crowell & Moring LLP publication – Includes environmental and energy sections

<> Developing nations express dismay at "disappointing" EU climate package - Small Island States and Least Developed Countries say science demands higher level of ambition than 40% target. . .

• Europe, Facing Economic Pain, May Ease Climate Rules - Source: NY Times - For years, Europe has tried to set the global standard for climate-change regulation, creating tough rules on emissions, mandating more use of renewable energy sources and arguably sacrificing some economic growth in the name of saving the planet. 

<> A united call for action on climate change (by Kofi Annan)

<> American solar employers condemn China's retaliatory trade action against U.S. industry - The Coalition for American Solar Manufacturing (CASM) protested the government of China's imposition of duties against U.S. and Korean producers of polysilicon, the main raw material for production of photovoltaic solar cells and panels.

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/22/14

<> Why we need to talk about the weather - Here's a stat that should scare you: only one in three Americans say they have occasionally talked to family and friends about climate change in the last year. That's down 8% since 2008, according to a Yale study released in September. Read more blogs for the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos 2014.

<> New Web Platform Launched to Accelerate Green Economy Transition -

A robust, state-of-the-art knowledge-sharing platform was launched today by the newly established Green Growth Knowledge Platform (GGKP), a diverse consortium of leading institutions and organizations working in areas related to green growth and green economy.

<> One Week from Today: State of the Union 2014 - One week from today, President Obama will head to the Capitol to lay out his plan for the upcoming year of action in his fifth State of the Union address. The President's State of the Union address to Congress is part of a tradition that dates back to our Founding Fathers. Hear what Denis McDonough, White House Chief of Staff, had to say about why the speech is so important. . .

<> U.S. Delegation to Press Issues Like Climate Change and Syria -

Source: NY Times - When the American delegation arrives in Davos, Switzerland, this week, it will be with a more triumphalist message than in years past.

<> EPA needs to end the delay and protect public health from ozone - Today, the American Lung Association asked a federal court to compel the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to complete the review of the national air quality standards for ozone as required by the Clean Air Act. The longer Americans must wait for the EPA to strengthen the standards, the longer they must breathe air pollution that shortens their lives, worsens lung 

<> EPA Announces Nearly $5 Million in Grants to Support Research to Protect America's Urban Watersheds with Green Infrastructure

<> China's international trade and air pollution in the United States - Chinese air pollution related to production for exports contributes, at a maximum on a daily basis, 12–24% of sulfate pollution over the western United States. 

<> EPA Administrator to Address World Economic Forum in Davos/Will highlight business and economic opportunities in addressing climate change

<> Chairman Smith Names Rep. Schweikert Chairman of Environment Subcommittee - Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today announced that Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) will be the new Chairman of the Subcommittee on Environment. Chairman Smith: "The Obama Administration has presided over a massive expansion of government that has invaded every part of our daily lives and nowhere is this more evident than at the EPA.

<> Alaska's U.S. Senator Begich Opposes Pebble Mine: "Wrong Mine, Wrong Place" - Joel Reynolds, Western Director, Senior Attorney, Santa Monica, CA Relying on the comprehensive Watershed Assessment completed last week by EPA, Alaska U.S. Senator Mark Begich announced on Sunday that he is opposed to development of the Pebble Mine.  "Wrong mine, wrong place . . . Too many potential long-term impacts . . . ."  A threat to a world-class fishery not only. . .

<> Yet another chemical identified as present in West Virginia chemical spill - By Richard DenisonRichard Denison, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist. Just when you thought this story couldn't get any weirder or worse, it has just been revealed that another chemical substance was present alongside the crude MCHM mixture that leaked into the Elk River and contaminated the drinking water of 300,000 West Virginia residents. 

<> January 29 Webinar to Highlight the Latest Developments in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy- January 29 Webinar to Highlight the Latest Developments in Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy Attend this webinar to gain insight into how the various technologies are competing in the marketplace and how Tribes can use them separately and in combination to the greatest benefit.

<> Alberta to co-host World Economic Forum meeting - The Redford government will co-host a World Economic Forum regional meeting on energy, climate change and innovation in Lake Louise on April 24 and 25.

<> Exposure to Pesticides Results in Smaller Worker Bees - (Beyond Pesticides, January 22, 2014) Exposure to a widely used pesticide causes worker bumblebees to grow less and then hatch out at a smaller size, according to a new study by Royal Holloway University of London. The research, published this week in the Journal of Applied Ecology, reveals that prolonged exposure to a pyrethroid pesticide. . .

<> The Economic Cost of Global Fuel Subsidies - UC Center for Environmental and Energy Economics / by Lucas Davis. By 2015, global oil consumption will reach 90 million barrels per day. In part, this high level of consumption reflects the fact that many countries provide subsidies for gasoline and diesel. This paper examines global fuel subsidies using the latest available data. . .

<> Lawsuits for climate disasters? - Lawsuits against private firms for climate disaster compensation may not be winnable yet, but important groundwork is being laid. In groundbreaking peer-reviewed research, researcher Richard Heede of the Climate Accountability Institute offers the most complete picture to date of which institutions have extracted the fossil fuels that have been the root cause of global warming. . .

<> IEA: 2013 U.S. Oil Demand Growth Outpaces China - The International Energy Agency's monthly oil market report is always closely watched by energy market analysts and insiders.  Today's report is particularly compelling and contains findings that should be of interest to, well, basically everyone. And not because it's full of good news. First, the report revealed that United States oil demand reversed years of decline in 2013. .

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/21/14

<> Powering Forward: Presidential and Executive Agency Actions to Drive Clean Energy in America - In last year's State of the Union address, President Barack Obama told Congress that if it didn't act on global climate change, he would. Now, with the next State of the Union message coming up next week, a diverse and influential group of leaders from beyond the Beltway has presented Obama with more than 200 ideas on how he can continue acting on that promise. The report, titled Powering Forward. . .

<> Regulatory-uncertainty-stymies-corporate-investment - Regulatory uncertainty stymies corporate investment in supply chain sustainability: New report from Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and Accenture. The CDP Global Supply Chain Report 2014, 'Collaborative Action on Climate Risk', contains a wealth of information on how leading companies are managing the significant risk that climate change poses to the globalised supply chain model. 

<> Minnesota Takes Steps to Protect Bees, Beekeepers Demand Stronger Action - (Beyond Pesticides, January 21, 2013) Two Minnesota state agencies are creating plans they say will address declining pollinator populations in the state. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is developing best management practices for managing and increasing pollinator habitat and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is developing a plan to study the. . .

<> The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate - Energy independence, climate change and national security are interrelated global challenges. U.S. dependence on foreign sources of energy constitutes a serious threat—militarily, socially and economically. Download the latest report.

<> Federal Government's Advice on Seafood Consumption Inconsistent and Dangerous - "The federal government's advice on seafood consumption fails to give people what they desperately need – precise, detailed information about foods that provide sufficient omega-3 fatty acids with minimal mercury contamination."

<> FCS and CDP Debut New Supplier Climate Performance Leadership Index- The debut publication of the Supplier Climate Performance Leadership Index (SCPLI), a new evaluation and benchmarking tool for Carbon Disclosure Project supply chain members and suppliers.

<> Meeting of the SAB Environmental Justice Technical Guidance Review Panel Meeting – 1/30/14 to allow panel members to learn about the public comments received by the agency on the EPA's Draft Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis (May 1, 2013) and to develop responses to the charge questions. 

<> Celebrating 16 years working together for water and wetlands: the Danone Group, Evian and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands - The Ramsar Convention was the first international convention to promote the engagement of the business sector directly in the conservation and wise use of wetlands. 

<> Horn of Contention – Reviewing the Deadly Cost of Rhino Horn -

Publication Date:  Fri, 01/17/2014 Image:  The only certainty of the impact of legalizing trade in rhino horn in an attempt to save rhinos from poachers, is uncertainty, a review of economic reports on the legal and illegal markets in horn has found. Commissioned by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) in late 2013, the report Horn of Contention. . .

<> Jukka Uosukainen Appointed Director of New Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN)- CTCN, the operational arm of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Technology Mechanism, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve resilience to changing weather patterns, drought, soil erosion, and other impacts of climate change in developing nations

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/17/14

<> Environmentalists to President: Embrace Climate Action over "All of the Above" - As reported in an exclusive to the Washington Post today, eighteen environmental, environmental justice, and public health advocacy groups sent a letter to President Obama, calling on his administration to embrace clean energy and climate action over an "all of the above" energy plan.

<> McConnell to File Resolution of Disapproval Against EPA War on Coal Regulation - U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell will file a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to stop the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from imposing its anti-coal regulation by ensuring a vote to repeal it. The CRA provides Congress with the ability to eliminate onerous regulations imposed by the executive branch

<> Climate Change in the American Mind: Americans' Global Warming Beliefs and Attitudes in November 2013 - The most recent national Climate Change in the American Mind survey found that 1 in 4 Americans think that global warming is not happening, and half say they are "worried" about it. There has been an increase in the proportion of Americans who believe global warming is not happening (23%, up 7 percentage points since April 2013).

<> Climate Change in the Vortex of America's Bi-Polar Politics - Conservative, liberal, and moderate editorial cartoonists' biting takes on the early-January 'polar vortex' and the spectacle of a Russian research vessel ice-bound while researching climate change in Antarctica will make readers. . .

<> Reps. Waxman and Tonko sent a letter to Eastman Chemical Company Chief Executive Officer Mark J. Costa to request that Eastman release studies on the potential health and environmental effects of exposure to and releases of MCHM

<> Year's First National Water Forecast Predicts Limited Supply West of the Continental Divide - WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2014 – A limited water supply is predicted west of the Continental Divide, according to the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) data in its first forecast of 2014. The NWCC also predicts normal water supply east of the Continental Divide and will continue to monitor, forecast and update water supplies 

<> 200+ Groups Call on Obama to Keep Campaign Pledge: Label GMOs

<> Record of Decision Issued for the FutureGen 2.0 Project - January 15, 2014Record of Decision Issued for the FutureGen 2.0 Project The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has decided to provide financial assistance to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance (the Alliance) for the FutureGen 2.0 

<> Study: New reality of affordable, abundant and efficient natural gas requires visionary thinking to increase use

<> Increasing the Efficiency of Existing Coal-Fired Power Plants - US Congressional Research Service. Coal has long been the major fossil fuel used to produce electricity. However, coal-fired electric power plants are one of the largest sources of air pollution in the United States, with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from burning of fossil fuels believed to be the major contributor to global climate change. 

<> Is the Mega-Module the Future of Rooftop Solar? - Integrated racking and pre-assembled rooftop systems are emerging as ways to save time and money in solar installation.  Recent time-and-motion studies of solar installations conducted by DOE's SunShot BOS Cost 

<> Report: SAB Recommendations for EPA's FY2012 Scientific and Technological Achievement Awards- Recognizing EPA employees who have made outstanding contributions to the advancement of science and technology through their publications in peer-reviewed literature or books.

<> Maine regulators give thumbs up to offshore floating wind project -

Stressing the project's potential benefits for the local economy, Maine regulators have approved the terms of a pilot offshore wind development spearheaded by the University of Maine, a significant step forward for the industry in the state's deep but windy waters. Maine Aqua Ventus 1 GP LLC, a consortium including the University of Maine and two partner companies, Emera Inc. and. . . 

<> Atrazine Ban Will Result in an Economic Benefit to Farmers - (Beyond Pesticides, January 17, 2014) A new economic study, Would banning atrazine benefit farmers?, published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health demonstrates that eliminating the herbicide atrazine, widely used on U.S. corn crops, will economically benefit corn growers. The study examines the research produced by the Atrazine Benefits

<> Rep. Waxman Calls on EPA to Protect Wetlands and Tributaries

<> New! Carbon Footprint Maps - Interactive carbon footprint maps from he CoolClimate Calculator. Find out how you compare to local averages and create a personalized climate action plan for you or your community. 

<> FY 2014 Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Source Reduction Assistance Grant Program- Proposals are due March 11, 2014. The full solicitation is available.

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/16/14

<> Landrieu and Canadian Foreign Minister Discuss Urgency To Construct Keystone XL Pipeline - January 15, U.S. Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., and Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird discussed the urgent need to construct the Keystone Pipelines to secure North American energy independence.

• Landrieu's Rise to Energy Panel Chair Seen Boosting Oil - Bloomberg - Dec 23, 2013 - Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana will probably become the chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee
• Heitkamp, Canadian Foreign Minister Meet To Strengthen Energy Ties- U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) met with Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird to discuss and further strengthen the energy relationship between North Dakota and Canada. Heitkamp and Baird, who were also joined by Canadian Ambassador to the United States Gary Doer, discussed ways to improve rail transportation safety and the importance of the Keystone XL Pipeline to energy interests on both sides of the border.

<> House Approves Fiscal Year 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Package - House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers today applauded the House of Representatives for passing legislation to fund the government for the remainder of the 2014 fiscal year. The House approved the spending package on a vote of 359-67. "This legislation is one of our highest priorities as Members of Congress and it is critical to our ongoing economic stability and the safety and well-being. . .

• Chairman Rogers Floor Statement on Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus
• Republican rider in omnibus spending bill would tighten rules on waste - A GOP rider in the $1 trillion omnibus racing to President Obama's desk would prevent the administration from tightening rules on waste materials that mining companies can dump in streams. It is one of several riders in the bill approved by the House...

<> EPA Releases Bristol Bay Assessment Describing Potential Impacts to Salmon and Water From Copper, Gold Mining / Agency launched study after requests for action to protect Bristol Bay watershed from large-scale mining - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Bristol Bay Assessment describing potential impacts to salmon and ecological resources from proposed large-scale copper and gold mining in Bristol Bay, Alaska. The report, titled "An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska," concludes that large-scale mining in the Bristol Bay watershed poses risks to salmon and Alaska Native cultures. Bristol Bay supports the largest sockeye salmon fishery in the world, producing nearly 50 percent of the world's wild sockeye salmon with runs averaging 37.5 million fish each year.

• EPA Study Warns of Potentially "Catastrophic" Impacts to Bristol Bay Alaska Salmon Fisheries - Completing a three -year scientific peer-reviewed process, EPA issued its final Bristol Bay Watershed Assessment today, concluding that Pebble Mine would have "significant" and even "catastrophic" impacts – including the certain dewatering, destruction, and pollution of the Bristol Bay watershed.

<> Safeguarding Future Retirement Funds - Time for Investors to Move Out of High-Carbon Assets Says UN's Top Climate Official - The UN's top climate change official Christiana Figueres today urged investors to accelerate the greening of their portfolios as one crucial step towards a low-carbon economy that can better cope with the threats and seize the opportunities from climate change

<> EPA Proposes Updates to Air Standards for Newly Manufactured Woodstoves and Heaters/Updates would make the next generation of woodstoves and heaters significantly cleaner and more efficient 

<> EPA Takes Important Step in Implementing the Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest Establishment Act (HQ) - WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today issued a final rule that is a crucial step in the development of a national electronic manifest (e-Manifest) system, which will upgrade the current paper-based system of tracking hazardous waste to an electronic one

<> Major Companies Disagree with Trade Groups on Climate Policy -

Several companies on the boards of powerful trade associations disagree with these groups on climate policy, according to a new report from the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).

<> New Study: Corn Ethanol Reduces GHG Emissions by 37-40% Compared to Fracking and Tar Sands - (January 15, 2014) WASHINGTON — A comprehensive new study (with appendix) conducted by Life Cycle Associates found that the carbon footprint of corn ethanol continues to shrink, while the carbon impacts associated with crude oil production continue to worsen as more marginal sources are introduced to the fuel supply.  According to the report, "As the average carbon intensity of. . .

<> Chamber's Energy Institute Unveils Comprehensive New Energy Works for US Platform- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for 21st Century Energy today unveiled its comprehensive new Energy Works for US platform that reflects the new reality of America's energy revolution. Energy Works for US consists of 64 specific, actionable recommendations in nine key areas.

<> Five minutes is too close - A careful review of threats leads the Bulletin's Science and Security Board to conclude that the risk of civilization-threatening technological catastrophe remains high, and that the hands of the Doomsday Clock should therefore remain at five minutes to midnight.

<> New industry report touts enhanced pipeline safety and performance -WASHINGTON, January 15, 2014 ─ Pipelines are extremely safe and efficient for transporting energy across the United States, the industry's continual efforts to improve the safety of the nation's network of crude and petroleum product pipelines have reduced pipeline incidents by 62 percent from 2001-2012, according to a new report by API and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines.

<> Major Breakthrough for E15: MAPCO to Offer E15 in 2014

<> Press release - Plastic waste: Parliament sounds the alarm - The most hazardous plastics and certain plastic bags should be banned by 2020, as part of an EU strategy to reduce plastic waste in the environment, says the European Parliament in a resolution voted on Tuesday.

<> President Obama Announces New Public-Private Manufacturing Innovation Institute- North Carolina headquartered consortium of 18 companies and 6 universities partnering with the federal government to strengthen U.S. manufacturing WASHINGTON, DC – The President announceD new steps with the private sector to strengthen the manufacturing sector, boost advanced manufacturing, and attract the good paying jobs that a growing middle class 

• FACTSHEET: Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute - FACTSHEET: Next Generation Power Electronics Manufacturing Innovation Institute The Obama Administration announces the selection of North Carolina State University to lead a public-private manufacturing innovation institute for next generation power electronics.

<> Blue Sky Roadmap Report II: Real-time Disclosure Begins - The Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs and partners release the China Blue Sky Roadmap– Atmospheric Pollution Investigation Phase II Report, which finds that based on the real time disclosure of on-line monitoring data, a group of major emitters, including thermal power plants and steel factories, are seriously exceeding pollution discharge limits

• China's big polluters exceed emission limits - report - BEIJING (Reuters) - Online emissons figures reported by most coal-fired power plants and factories in China surpassed government limits, a group of NGOs and research institutes said, warning that the situation is likely to worsen in July, when targets get tougher.

<> Bracewell & Giuliani Launches ShalePlay App - HOUSTON, Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the shale energy boom taking place in the United States and around the world, Bracewell & Giuliani LLP announced today it has launched the ShalePlay app. Powered by the firm's energy law and environmental law...

<> Investing in the Clean Trillion: Closing The Clean Energy Investment Gap - In 2010 world governments agreed to limit the increase in global temperature to two degrees Celsius (2 °C) above pre-industrial levels to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. To have an 80 percent chance of maintaining this 2 °C limit, the IEA estimates an additional $36 trillion in clean energy investment is needed through 2050—or an average of $1 trillion more per year compared. . . 

• Closing The Clean Energy Investment Gap Executive Summary
• Leading Global Investors Gather at UN on Urgency for Boosting Clean Energy to Curb Climate Change

<> Green Groups: Leaked Trans-Pacific Partnership Environment Chapter Unacceptable- WikiLeaks posted a draft environment chapter of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) that governments have negotiated in secret for nearly four years. TPP nations have billed the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement as an "ambitious, 21st-century trade agreement." However, a joint analysis of the WikiLeaks document, dated November 2013. . .

<> Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs: West Virginia Water Disaster Shows Need For Strong Environmental Standards - Every time we hear weaker regulation means a better economy, we should remember what  happened to the Elk River and the effects of the spill on working families in West Virginia.