WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/5/14

<> Farm Bill Passes the Senate - David Rogers reported yesterday at Politico that, "The long-tortured farm bill cleared Congress on Tuesday, ending a two year struggle that split the old farm-food coalition as never before and dramatized the growing isolation of agriculture and rural America in an ever more urban House. "Written off as dead just months ago, the giant five-year measure won final approval. . .

·          Senate Approves Senator Stabenow's 2014 Farm Bill, Legislation Heads to the President - The U.S. Senate today voted overwhelmingly to approve the bipartisan Farm Bill authored by U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture. . .

• American Farm Bureau Statement Regarding Senate Passage of Farm Bill

<> U.S. to launch 'climate hubs' to help farmers face climate change - (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's administration will announce on Wednesday the formation of seven "climate hubs" to help farmers and rural communities adapt to extreme weather conditions and other 

<>EPA's 2012 Toxics Release Inventory Shows Air Pollutants Continue to Decline (HQ)- Total releases of toxic chemicals decreased 12 percent from 2011-2012, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report released today. The decrease includes an eight percent decline in total toxic air releases, primarily due to reductions in hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions

<> E.P.A. Staff Struggling to Create Pollution Rule - The new regulation would primarily affect the country's 600 coal-fired power plants, like this one in Texas, and could ultimately shutter hundreds of them. Tom Pennington for The Texas Tribune — In marathon meetings and tense all-day drafting sessions, dozens of lawyers, economists and engineers at the Environmental Protection Agency are struggling to create. . .

<> National Award for Smart Growth Achievement - EPA announced the winners of the 2013 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. This year's award recognizes five winners and two honorable mentions in five categories. The Award ceremony is today and recognizes and supports communities that use innovative policies and strategies to develop in ways that protect the environment, provide housing and transportation choices, and strengthen their economies

<> GAO-14-140, Coal Leasing: BLM Could Enhance Appraisal Process, More Explicitly Consider Coal Exports, and Provide More Public Information, December 18, 2013

<> House Democrats Request Hearing on Crude Oil Exports - House Democrats Request Hearing on Crude Oil Exports Request comes on eve of Republican hearing on energy production on public lands. Today, Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee Peter DeFazio (D-OR) sent a letter to Chairman Doc Hastings. .  .

<> EPA finalizes first of two E-Manifest rules - Barnes & Thornburg LLP has issued an Environmental Alert on EPA's requirements governing the use of electronic manifests (or e-Manifests) as a means to track hazardous waste under RCRA. The final rule, announced Jan. 13, has not yet been published in the Federal Register and will become effective 180 days after publication.

<> Electricity Reliability and Affordability Act of 2014 - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK), introduced the Electricity Reliability and Affordability Act of 2014 (S.1988). The bill would allow states to permanently waive any federal regulation regarding electric generating units for the purpose of power reliability and affordability.

Pipeline rupture report raises questions about TransCanada inspections - A CBC News investigation has unearthed a critical report that the federal regulator effectively buried for several years about a rupture on a trouble-prone TransCanada natural gas pipeline.

<> United Arab Emirates to host meeting ahead of UN chief's climate summit - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Minisiter of State and Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, have announced that the Gulf country will host a high-level meeting in May to generate momentum for concrete actions to be taken at a climate summit Mr. Ban will convene four months later in New York.

<> Tons of illegal waste seized under Operation Demeter III- Customs officials continue to demonstrate leadership in preventing and combating the illegal trafficking of hazardous wastes. A joint global Customs initiative across Europe and the Asia Pacific region netted more than 7,000 metric tons of illegal waste, including hazardous waste, used vehicle parts and tyres, textiles, and e-waste.

<> C40 Releases Landmark Research Detailing a Clear Trend of Expanding and Accelerating Climate Action in the World's Megacities - C40 cities deliver on climate action, nearly doubling reported activities compared to 2011 and proving C40's collaborative, global model is working. . . The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) released landmark research today...

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/3/14

<> Keystone XL Pipeline Project: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) - US Dept. of State Final Supplemental EIS; Fact Sheet; and US DOS: Keystone Project Site.

·   Remarks on the Release of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Keystone Pipeline - Remarks on the Release of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Keystone Pipeline; Kerri-Ann Jones Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Via Teleconference January 31, 2014

·   TransCanada Corporation welcomed the U.S. Department of State's latest environmental analysis of the Keystone XL Pipeline

·   Keystone pipeline: Obama?s unpleasant options 

·   White House: Obama awaits more Keystone reviews; timing unclear -

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama still wants to hear from other federal agencies before deciding whether to accept the State Department's finding that the Keystone XL pipeline would have no major impact on climate change, his top aide said on Sunday.

<> Friends of the Earth Responds to Keystone XL Environmental Impact Statement - Today the State Department will release its Environmental Impact Statement for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline. Below is a statement from Friends of the Earth President Erich Pica: "The State Department’s environmental review of the Keystone XL pipeline is a farce. Since the beginning of the assessment, the oil industry has had a direct pipeline into the agency. Perhaps

·   President Has All Information Needed to Reject Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline- The following is a statement by Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, international program director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, on the State Department’s final environmental impact statement for the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline

·   Obama Administration Pushes Disastrous Keystone XL Closer to Approval

<> Committee Leaders Respond to Final Keystone XL Environmental Impact Statement - WASHINGTON, DC – House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders responded to the U.S. State Department’s release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the Keystone XL pipeline application, which includes the proposed reroute through Nebraska. “Finally, after months of unexplained delays, the State Department has issued its fifth and final environmental. . .

·          Boehner: President Obama Out of Excuses on Keystone Jobs - House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement today after the State Department issued its latest report on the Keystone XL Pipeline: “President Obama is out of excuses.  The fact that he has let a final decision on the Keystone pipeline project – and the more than 100,000 jobs that come with it – languish for more than five years is 

·   Sen. Murkowski Comments on State Report on Keystone XL - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) commented on the Obama administration’s release of the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) on the Keystone XL Pipeline 

<> Keystone XL Pipeline Passes Supplemental EIS - AFPM Calls on President Obama to End Delay of Approval - Keystone XL Pipeline Passes Supplemental EIS - AFPM Calls on President Obama to End Delay of Approval 2014-01-31 American Fuel &amp; Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President Charles T. Drevna issued the following statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline Supplement EIS. . .

·          Obama administration moves closer to approving Keystone XL - American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Jack Gerard welcomed the outcome of the Department of State’s Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on the Keystone XL pipeline.

<> Senator Boxer's Statement on the Latest Development on Keystone XL Pipeline

<> Senate Continues Farm Bill Consideration Monday, February 3, 2014 - The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, February 3, 2014. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R.2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013. The time until 5:30pm will be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders or their designees. . .

<> The Global Climate in Context — 2013 in Review - In a not-so-extraordinary 2013 calendar year, IPCC’s higher estimate of potential sea-level rise by 2100 — in a worst case, up to one meter — may be the most notable in terms of the planet’s overall climate developments. 

<> Lake Ice In Northern Alaska Shows A “Dramatic” Decline In 20 Years, Study Finds - Mendenhall Lake in Juneau, Alaska. CREDIT: AP Photo/Becky Bohrer Winter ice cover on Alaska’s lakes has declined over the last 20 years, a new study has found. The study, published in The Cryosphere, looked at radar satellite radar imagery from lakes in Alaska’s North Slope and found a decrease in “grounded ice” — or ice frozen completely to the bottom of a lake — of 22 percent. . . 

<> Natural Gas: A Bridge to the Future or Bridge to Nowhere? - In his latest State of the Union address, President Obama once again called natural gas a "bridge" to the clean energy future. But is the resource really all the industry claims? We'll take a nuanced look at dynamics in the natural gas market, and ask whether it's helpful or hurtful to renewable energy. We'll also discuss the energy and climate piece of Obama's State of the Union Speech,

<> Nuclear vs. renewables: Divided they fall - Climate activists have split into two warring camps. That plays right into the hands of fossil fuel interests. . .

<> Canadian Arctic Warming Unprecedented In 120,000 Years - Recent warming has been unprecedented in speed, scale, and cause. Last year, we reported on a study that found the rate of warming since 1900 is 50 times greater than the rate of cooling in the previous 5000 years, which threatens to destroy the stable climate that enabled civilization. . .

<> Solutions for a Sustainable Future - What are the 100 solutions that can make real a sustainable society? Sustainia and partners now launch a global campaign to find the questions. The goal is to identify a guide to the world’s 100 leading sustainability projects and technologies across sectors as food, fashion, energy, smart homes.

<> World Wetlands Day 2014 Focuses on Wetlands and Agriculture - February 2nd each year is World Wetlands Day, the Ramsar Convention chose Wetlands & Agriculture as the World Wetlands Day theme for 2014.

<> SAB Report- Science Advisory Board (SAB) Consideration of EPA Planned Actions in the Spring 2013 Unified (Regulatory) Agenda and their Supporting Science

<> SAB Report - Concern about the Future of the Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Fellowship Program

<> Final report of CRC-9 meeting released - The final report of the ninth meeting of the Chemical Review Committee has been published in the six official UN languages.

<> Lower emissions cap for Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative takes effect in 2014 - (Mon, 03 Feb 2014) Initiative (RGGI) cap and trade program for carbon dioxide (CO2) decided to lower the program's emissions cap by 45% starting in 2014. RGGI is intended to limit CO2 emissions from electric power plants in the Northeast.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/31/14

<> Broad Coalition of Stakeholders Announce Effort to Ensure Affordable and Reliable Energy- The Partnership for a Better Energy Future, which comprises groups representing consumers and businesses from sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, refining and mining, will serve as the leading voice in support of a unified strategy and message in response to the Obama Administration's GHG regulatory agenda.

<> EPA Commits to Deadline for Final Action on Coal Ash Rule - EPA will take final action on coal ash standards by the end of the year, according to a settlement reached by EPA and groups involved in a lawsuit against the agency. The consent decree, filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, requires EPA to publish notice of a final action by Dec. 19, 2014.

• Committee Leaders Respond to Coal Ash Consent Decree -

WASHINGTON, DC – House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders responded today to the consent decree filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia that establishes a deadline of December 19, 2014, for the Environmental Protection Agency to take a final action on the coal ash rule that was proposed in June 2010. The committee leaders called on the Senate to. . . 

<> EPA Releases Climate Assessment Update To National Stormwater Calculator (HQ) - EPA released phase II of the National Stormwater Calculator and Climate Assessment Tool package. The updated calculator includes future climate vulnerability scenarios. The calculator is a desktop application that estimates the annual amount of stormwater . .

<> EPA and Freddie Mac to Cut Carbon Pollution and Increase Affordability of Multifamily Buildings (HQ) - WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Energy Star program and Freddie Mac have signed an agreement that will help to cut carbon pollution while increasing the affordability of multifamily housing properties. The agreement outlines strategies to save water, energy and money for multifamily property owners and residents. . .

<> White House Releases Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region- Today the White House released the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for the Arctic Region. The Administration solicited input from Alaska Natives, the State of Alaska, Congress, academia, industry and others to develop an Implementation Plan that sets forth the guidelines for Federal Departments and Agencies to execute the National Strategy for the Arctic Region.

<> Ground-breaking new study reports double-digit growth in market performance of "eco-labels"- GENEVA—January 31, 2014—Private sector sourcing commitments are driving major market growth for sustainable commodities, according to the State of Sustainability Initiatives (SSI) Review 2014 published today by an alliance of international organisations.   The SSI Review 2014 provides a bird's eye view of market and performance trends of the 16 most prevalent. . .

Cardin, Collins Lead Senate Effort To Protect Advanced Biofuel Incentives That Move Beyond Corn-Based Ethanol - Writing in support of advanced biofuel incentives that move beyond corn-based ethanol, U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) and eight of their senate colleagues have urged Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy to reconsider proposed reductions to the volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

<> Ban Ki-moon selects Bloomberg as cities and climate change envoy - Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg will be announced as the UN's special envoy for cities and climate change in the next 24 hours.

<> Rep. Henry A. Waxman Announces Plans to Retire from Congress - Rep. Henry A. Waxman, a senior Democrat from California, who has played a leading role in the enactment of major health, consumer protection, environmental, telecommunications, and good government laws, released the following statement announcing his decision not to seek reelection to the House this fall.

·          Statement from the President on the Retirement of Representative Henry Waxman - Early in the 20th Century, Henry Waxman's grandparents came to America, the land of opportunity, and found a place where they could build a better life for themselves and their families.  Over the course of 40 years in Congress, their grandson has fought to give every American family that same chance.  Thanks to Henry's leadership, Americans breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water. . .

<> Human cause of global warming is near certainty, UN reports - 30 January – Global warming is unequivocal, human influence has been the dominant cause since the mid-20th century, and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, already at levels not seen in at least 800,000 years, will persist for many centuries, the final version of the latest United Nations report on climate change warned today.

<> Securing crop biodiversity is key to feeding world's growing population– UN study - 30 January – Seeking to ensure that the world can feed a fast growing population, expected to exceed 9 billion by 2050, the United Nations today published voluntary international standards to improve conservation of the crops that are crucial to food security by preserving biodiversity in gene banks and in the field.

<> Launching scientific advisory board, Ban urges bridging gap between science, policy - 30 January – The United Nations must use science and technology to strengthen its policy-making on sustainable development, reducing inequality and eradicating extreme poverty, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today said launching his advisory board of scientists.

<> Next up for Keystone XL: the question of national interest will show that the tar sands pipeline must be rejected – NRDC's Susan Casey-Lefkowitz, Director International Program, Washington, D.C. As the assessment of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline enters the final stages with the release of the final environmental review, there are a lot of questions about what we can expect. Bottom line: the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is a project that brings risk with no reward.

• Keystone pipeline review looming, likely to show little climate risk -

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department is poised to issue an environmental review of the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline that will likely say the project will not appreciably increase carbon emissions, sources said late Thursday, forcing President Barack Obama closer to a tough decision.

<> China sets new world record for solar installations - Source: Guardian - China installed a record 12GW of solar power in 2013, doubling its rate of solar installations, according to preliminary figures. This is more than has ever been installed by any country in a single year and means that China installed three times more solar energy in 2013 than the total UK solar capacity.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/30/14

<> FULL COMMITTEE HEARING: U.S. Crude Oil Exports: Opportunities and Challenges- Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee. The purpose of this oversight hearing is to explore opportunities and challenges associated with lifting the ban on U.S. crude oil exports

• New Study: U.S. Exports can save American consumers up to $6.6 billion annually by 2020 - Preliminary results from a new study on exports of crude oil show that consumers can save money at the pump, according to American Petroleum Institute (API) Vice President for Regulatory and Economic Policy Kyle Isakower.

<> Farm Bill Conference Report Passes House - David Rogers reported yesterday at Politico that, "Given up for dead just months ago, a new five-year farm bill easily cleared the House Wednesday morning, raising hopes that Congress can send it to President Barack Obama next week. "The strength of the House's 251-166 vote makes this easier, and it's now expected that when the bill papers arrive in the Senate Thursday, cloture. . .

• House-Senate Negotiators Announce Bipartisan Agreement on Final Farm Bill– From House Ag Committee: House and Senate agriculture leaders announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a five-year farm bill that will reduce the deficit, grow the economy and provide certainty to the 16 million Americans whose jobs depend on agriculture. The Agricultural Act of 2014 contains major. . .
• House-Senate Negotiators Announce Bipartisan Agreement on Final Farm Bill -  From Senate Ag Committee

<> Shell To Stop Alaska Exploration Program In 2014 - New Shell CEO Ben van Beurden updated on the company's priorities and indicated that the recent Ninth Circuit Court decision against the Department of the Interior raises substantial obstacles to Shell's plans for drilling in offshore Alaska. As a result, Shell has decided to stop its exploration programme for Alaska in 2014.

<> Mayors from 10 major US cities unite to boost energy efficiency in buildings - The mayors from 10 major U.S. cities and Natural Resources Defense Council announced they will undertake a united effort -- new City Energy Project -- to significantly boost energy efficiency in their buildings, a move that combined could cut as much climate change pollution as generated by 1 million to 1.5 million passenger vehicles every year, and lower energy bills by nearly $1 billion annually.

<> New Energy Efficiency Standards for Metal Halide Lamp Fixtures to Save on Energy Bills and Reduce Carbon Pollution - Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz announced that the Department has finalized new energy efficiency standards for metal halide lamp fixtures

<> Divest-Invest: Philanthropy initiative launched - A group of like-minded foundations have come together in a new initiative to divest our assets from fossil fuels and to invest in climate solutions in the new energy economy.

<> Oversight Hearing: NRC's Implementation of the Fukushima Near-Term Task Force Recommendations and other Actions to Enhance and Maintain Nuclear Safety - Senate Environment & Public Works Full and Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety hearing

<> Press Conference: Labor, Environmentalists, Elected Leaders to Oppose Secret Trade Agreement, Trans-Pacific Partnership – Friday groups will host a press conference in solidarity with the International Day of Action surrounding the highly secretive global trade agreement, Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

<> California Facing Worst Drought on Record - The most populated state in the country is facing what may be the worst drought in a century of record-keeping. The last week of January is the midway point of the winter wet season, and accumulated precipitation since July is the lowest on record.

<> Negotiating a Post-2020 Climate Agreement in a Mosaic World - As we approach the end game of serious negotiations for a post-2020 international climate regime, Brian Flannery a scientist at Resources for the Future describes the difficult road ahead.

<> United States joins push for transparency in Extractive Industries - The United States is now preparing to participate in the EITI, Clare Short and panelists representing implementing countries, mining companies, and civil society will discuss this and other high profile changes to the transparency regime.

<> Emmett Center Files Amicus Brief in U.S. Supreme Court GHG Case on Behalf of South Coast Air District - UCLA's Emmett Center filed an amicus curiae brief yesterday  in Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG)  v. EPA, the U.S. Supreme Court case that will determine whether EPA's greenhouse gas emissions rules under the Prevention of Significant Deterioration section of the Clean Air Act are valid.   Arguing on behalf of the South Coast Air Quality. . .

• Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG)  v. EPA

<> Coral or coal decision looms for Australia's Great Barrier Reef - MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia's Great Barrier Reef watchdog is to decide by Friday whether to allow millions of cubic meters of dredged mud to be dumped near the fragile reef to create the world's biggest coal port and possibly unlock $28 billion in coal projects.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 1/29/14

<> President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address - Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, Members of Congress, my fellow Americans: Today in America, a teacher spent extra time with a student who needed it, and did her part to lift America's graduation rate to its highest level in more than three decades. An entrepreneur flipped on the lights in her tech startup, and did her part to add to the more than eight million new jobs our. . .

·  President Obama's 2014 State of the Union Address - President Barack Obama delivers the State of the Union address in the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Jan. 28, 2014 (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy) Tonight, President Obama delivered the 2014 State of the Union Address to Congress and the nation. If you missed it, be sure to watch the enhanced broadcast of his address, featuring charts, 

·  The State of the Union Fact Sheet: Opportunity for All - The State of the Union Fact Sheet: Opportunity for All can be found here and below. Opportunity for All: Key Executive Actions the President Will Take in 2014 The President's top priority remains ensuring middle class 

<> Upton Responds to State of the Union Address - WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) issued the following statement this evening following President Obama's State of the Union address: "We face great challenges. . .

<> McConnell Comments on State of the Union Address - "If the President really wants a 'Year of Action,' there are plenty of good ideas that the two parties can agree on: passing House-approved jobs bills in the Senate designed to get Americans back to work, revenue-neutral tax reform, trade promotion legislation, and the Keystone pipeline. "The President also tried to put a positive spin on the disaster that is Obamacare, but the American. . .

<> Boehner Statement on the State of the Union Address - WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement in response to the president's State of the Union Address and the Republican Address to the Nation. "In one of the great traditions of our. . .

<> Earthjustice Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address - "We are encouraged that President Obama made climate change a centerpiece of his speech tonight. We applaud his commitment to facing this challenge, for the benefit of our children and grandchildren. . . While the President touted natural gas, we shouldn't be committing ourselves to a future fueled by gas. . .

<> Manufacturers: A Year for Action Must Translate to a Year for Growth -

National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons issued this statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union address. . .

<> ACC Comments on the President's 2014 State of the Union Address -

As President Obama embarks on his 'year of action,' we hope he will remember that promoting innovation is one of the most effective ways to grow our economy, create opportunity and transform society.

<> U.S. Chamber's Donohue Comments on State of the Union - U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue issued the following statement ahead of President Obama's State of the Union Address

<> T. Boone Pickens' Statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address and The Call for Expanded Use of Natural Gas in U.S. Transportation

<> Pathways to Near-Zero-Emission Natural Gas Heavy Duty Vehicles - report examining the critical role that ultra-low-emission heavy-duty (HD) natural gas engines can play in helping California achieve its air quality, climate protection and petroleum-displacement goals.

<> Obama on Energy and Climate Policy in 2014 State of the Union -

(InsideClimate News) Here are the parts of President Obama's 2014 State of the Union address that were about energy and climate change issues, taken from the delivered text. In his remarks, Obama defended his "all-of-the above" energy strategy—pursuing all power sources, fossil and clean fuels—crediting the policy with bringing the nation closer to energy independence. 

<> New Video on Abrupt Climate Change - Watch a new 4+ minute video on the findings of the recent National Academy of Sciences, National Research Council report Abrupt Impacts of Climate Change: Anticipating Surprises.

·  The Report

<> New Farm Bill Contains Massive Taxpayer Handouts To Big Ag, Last Minute Deal Removed Even Modest Taxpayer Savings - this bill would put taxpayers on the hook for another five years of billion-dollar handouts to huge, profitable agribusinesses.

·  Final Farm Bill: A mixed bag - Eleventh-hour changes — behind closed doors — stripped the bill of some real reforms that had already been agreed upon by both the House and Senate. 

·  Farm Bill To Amend Clean Water Act - a rider in the compromise Farm Bill that significantly weakens the Clean Water Act by exempting certain silvicultural activities from permitting under the Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. 

<> Is the Senate Energy Committee being handed to Big Oil? - A game of political musical chairs has set off a transition that will hand Big Oil the keys to the influential Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. What's worse, the whole thing is being orchestrated by democratic leadership in an attempt to help Senator Landrieu (D-LA) with her upcoming re-election campaign. As with most things these days, it all comes down to. . .

<> Development of Unconventional Hydrocarbon Resources in the Appalachian Basin: Workshop Summary – A summary of a workshop convened by the National Research Council to examine the geology and unconventional hydrocarbon resources of the Appalachian Basin; technical methods for producing unconventional hydrocarbons and disposing of wastewater; the potential effects of production on the environment; relevant policies and regulations; and priorities for future scientific and engineering research.

<> Entrepreneurs Looking For 'Windfall' Cash In On Climate Change - Journalist McKenzie Funk looks into how some entrepreneurs and even some nations stand to benefit from a changing climate.