[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 4/9/15

 

National / International News

<> EPA sends controversial water pollution rule to White House - U.S. EPA on Monday sent to the White House its controversial regulation to redefine the extent of its authority over water pollution control. EPA Clean Water Rule: WOTUS Field Hearing #2: Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments and Stakeholders Field Hearing #1: Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments and Stakeholders

<> Nation's first federal combined solar power purchase - U.S. EPA, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Energy and General Services Administration announced the first ever federal partnership to purchase solar power -- the President's order last month requires federal agencies to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent and increase their renewable energy use to at least 30 percent over the next 10 years.

<> Neonicotinoids Adversely Affect Biodiversity, According to New Report - A new report released April 8, by the European Academies Science Advisory Council on neonicotinoid insecticides finds that "[T]here is more and more evidence that widespread use of neonicotinoids has severe effects on a range of organisms that provide ecosystem services like pollination and natural pest control, as well as on biodiversity." The report, Ecosystem Services, agriculture and neonicotinoids

<> E-Manifest: Partnering to Build a 21st Century Solution for Hazardous Waste Tracking - E-Manifest will save industry an estimated $75 million per year, improve inspection and enforcement by EPA and the states, and improve public safety by providing timely and better quality information on hazardous waste transport to emergency responders.

<> EPA seeks to ban fracking wastewater from going to public treatment plants - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to ban publicly owned wastewater treatment facilities from taking untreated waste fluids from the unconventional oil and gas industry in a move that would guarantee the end of a disposal practice that the industry and states have already abandoned. EPA Proposed Rule: Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Oil and Gas Extraction Point Source Category - Comments on this proposed rule must be received on or before  June 8, 2015.

<> Increased levels of radon in Pennsylvania homes correspond to onset of fracking - Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health researchers say that levels of radon in Pennsylvania homes - where 42 percent of readings surpass what the U.S. government considers safe - have been on the rise since 2004, around the time that the fracking industry began drilling natural gas wells in the state. "Predictors of Indoor Radon Concentrations in Pennsylvania 1989-2013"

<> Why fracking is splitting environmental groups apart - Green-minded supporters of fracking will usually agree that there are problems with the practice — like water pollution — but they'd prefer to focus on patching those problems rather than banning it altogether. Bloomberg criticizes New York fracking ban - Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg criticized the state's ban on hydraulic fracturing, describing the move as "misguided" and instead touting the benefits of natural gas.

<> March 2015 U.S. Climate Report - During March, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 45.4°F, 3.9°F above the 20th century average —the 12th warmest March on record and warmest since 2012.

<> What Scientists Are Currently Telling Us About Dolphins and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill - Several studies on bottlenose dolphins conducted since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill present a picture of chronic poor health, failed pregnancies, and increased mortality in the aftermath and footprint of the spill.

<> USDA Awards Funds to Expand and Accelerate Wood Energy and Wood Product Markets in 23 States - The award of over $9 million to expand and accelerate wood energy and other wood product markets is combined with $22 million in investments from partners, resulting in a total investment of $31 million in 23 states -- AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, IL, LA, MA, MI, MN, MT, NC, NE, NV, OR, PA, SC, SD, UT, VA, VT, WA, & WI

<> Los Angeles Releases Sustainability Plan, Sets Example for Cities across the US - Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) applauds the City of Los Angeles and Mayor Garcetti on the release of one of the most ambitious sustainability plans of any major city. LA Sustainability Plan

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

<> Gulf Restoration Network, et al v. Gina McCarthy (USEPA) - 4/7/15. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit, Case No.13-31214. In the case a group of environmental organizations petitioned the EPA to "use its powers [pursuant to section 1313(c)(4)(B)] to control nitrogen and phosphorous pollution" within the Mississippi River Basin and the Northern Gulf of Mexico.      The Appeals Court ruled that it had jurisdiction and that U.S. EPA was not required to make a "necessity determination."

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

<> AGRICULTURE, WATER - Final Rule. USDA - Changes to Existing Conservation Program Regulations

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

Great Lakes News

<> Opinion: Protect Our Sacred Water - Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians Tribal Councilor Derek Bailey discusses perspectives of Indigenous People who are now becoming more vocal and active in the preservation of our waters.

<> U-M researchers track the toxicity of Lake Erie cyanobacterial blooms - University of Michigan marine microbiologist and oceanographer Gregory Dick is leader of a multidisciplinary project that applies state-of-the-art genomics and environmental chemistry techniques to the Lake Erie problem.

Michigan News

<> Enviros Pressure Schuette On Straits Pipeline Decision - The Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force (MPPTF) will decide this spring what to do about Line 5 -- Sierra Club is partnering with allies at Food & Water Watch, Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation and Michigan Land Use Institute to make it clear to Attorney General Schuette that the "ONLY option is shutting Line 5 down." Michigan Petroleum Pipeline Task Force – Complete background and presentations to the Task Force

<> 2015 Michigan Eat Safe Fish Guides help residents plan meals, learn more about local fish - The Toxicology and Response Section at MDCH tests only the portions of fish that people eat – typically the fillets – and uses results from the laboratory to determine what is safe for people to consume over the long-term. 2015 Eat Safe Fish Guide

<> Have a question about a DEQ program? Call the Environmental Assistance Center - Based on EAC phone statistics, most callers speak to an operator within 16 seconds, if not immediately -- an average 1,250 calls per month

<> MSU to stop burning coal at campus power plant - In a move that will reduce emissions at its T.B. Simon Power Plant as well as significantly advance its Energy Transition Plan, Michigan State University (MSU) is taking steps to stop burning coal by the end of 2016, with a majority of coal purchasing and burning ending in 2015.

<> DNR says fish kills may be common during spring thaw - MDNR says, "Winterkill is the most common type of fish kill. Given the conditions this winter with thick ice and deep snow cover, it will be particularly common in shallow lakes and streams and ponds -- kills are localized and typically do not affect the overall health of the fish populations or fishing quality."

<> Energy optimization and efficiency are vital to more secure, reliable energy future for Michigan – A discussion with Stanley "Skip" Pruss, co-founder of the clean energy technology consultancy, 5 Lakes Energy, and previously the director of the Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and Michigan's chief energy officer.

<> Plan B or no Plan B, here's what happens if road proposal fails - The governor is telling voters there's no alternative to Proposal 1 -- lawmakers counter that there's always a Plan B, but fear it might be worse.

<> Volunteers needed to help guard Michigan's sturgeon - The Black Lake Chapter of Sturgeon for Tomorrow in Cheboygan County is seeking volunteers to join in its effort, in partnership with the Department of Natural Resources, to help protect lake sturgeon from illegal harvest during the annual spawning run.

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

[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 4/8/15

 

National / International News

<> Remarks by the President After Roundtable on the Impacts of Climate Change on Public Health - Howard University Washington, D.C. 3:31 P.M. THE PRESIDENT:  I just had the opportunity to have a terrific conversation with our outstanding new Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, our EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, but also some incredible activists from different walks of life in the public health arena.

<> EPA Releases New Website Enabling the Public to Track Compliance Status of Public Water Systems – U.S. EPA released the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) dashboard, a user-friendly website that presents data about violations and the compliance status of public water systems. Access the SDWA dashboard

<> New Maps & Data section on Climate.gov offers easy-to-understand maps and entry-level information on climate data - Easy-to-understand climate maps, a visual catalog of popular climate products, and instructional pages that cover the fundamentals of measuring climate variables and processing and using climate data.

<> EPA, NASA, NOAA and USGS Creating Early Warning System to Detect Harmful Algal Blooms – U.S. EPA announced that it is developing an early warning indicator system using historical and current satellite data to detect algal blooms.

<> Sen. Murkowski Amendment Ensures Smart, Well-Balanced Public Lands Policy - U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), issued a response to groups who have been misrepresenting the facts surrounding her amendment to the budget resolution, which was approved by the Senate  on March 26. S.Amdt. 838 to S.Con.Res. 11

<> Smith Requests Advocacy Group's Communications with EPA Administrator - Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to the League of Conservation Voters requesting all communications they have had with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy regarding the Keystone XL pipeline.

<> Analysing the lifecycle of today's mobile phone - It is estimated that in 2014 over two billion mobile phones were sold worldwide -- 1 billion of which were smartphones -- an astonishing 150,000,000 are trashed each year globally.

<> USDA Awards Grants to Address Water Quality, Availablity in Agriculture Communities - WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 21 grants totaling more than $10 million have been awarded to universities to support critical water problems in rural and agricultural watersheds across the United States.

<> Scientists probe methane mystery in Four Corners - A team of scientific investigators is now in the Four Corners region of the U.S. Southwest, an area where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah meet at one point, aiming to uncover reasons for a mysterious methane hotspot detected from space by a European satellite.

<> Bloomberg Philanthropies Reinvests in Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign - Building on a successful, state-driven strategy that has made it possible for the U.S. to be a world leader in aggressive emission reductions, the new round of funding builds on a previous commitment of $50 million, raising the foundation's overall investment in the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign to $80 million.

<> China's National Coal Cap Policy Could Save Nearly 50,000 Lives and $6.2 billion Every Year by 2020 - BEIJING (April 8, 2015) – China's proposed national policies to curb coal use will provide enormous air quality and health benefits to the public and coal industry workers, saving 49,000 lives and $6.2 billion in 2020, according to a new study released today by the China Coal Cap Project, a joint initiative of academic, governmental and non-profit researchers, with the support of the Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).

<> Groups Challenge Major USDA Change to Organic Rule - (Beyond Pesticides, April 8, 2015)  Organic stakeholders have filed a lawsuit in federal court, maintaining that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) violated the federal rulemaking process when it changed established procedures for reviewing the potential hazards and need for allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances used in producing organic food.

<> Ohio TV Ad Criticizes Sen. Portman for Siding with Polluters - (April 7, 2015) – A new statewide television ad chastises Ohio Senator Rob Portman for leading the charge in Congress to let power plants keep fouling our air with pollution that contributes to "catastrophic climate change" and leads to childhood asthma attacks. Portman Offers Amendment Returning Power to the States Regarding EPA Regulations - U.S. Senator Rob Portman (R-OH), a member of the Senate Budget and Finance Committees, offered an amendment to the Senate Budget Resolution that would establish a reserve fund for legislation to give any state the option to opt-out of greenhouse gas regulations from U.S. EPA if the state determines the regulations would increase retail electricity prices, threaten electricity reliability, or have a negative impact on the state's economy.

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

<> HAZARDOUS WASTE - Final Rule. U.S. EPA - Response to Vacaturs of the Comparable Fuels Rule and the Gasification Rule [Links to the vacaturs are below] Sierra Club v. EPA - 6/27/14. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, Case No. 08-1144. Natural Resources Defense v. EPA - 6/27/14. In the U.S.Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, Case No. 98-1379.

(click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

Michigan News

<> Eagle Mine – Humboldt Mill surface water discharge permit renewed - MDEQ announced it has approved revisions to the surface water discharge permit for the Humboldt Mill near Marquette which they say will safeguard wetlands and the middle branch of the Escanaba River The permit and the responsiveness summary

<> Senator Stabenow Applauds Selection of Michigan State University for Grant to Address Water Quality - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today applauded the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) announcement that Michigan State University has been awarded a $900,000 grant to work with farmers to address critical water problems in rural communities and agriculture watersheds. USDA Awards Grants to Address Water Quality, Availablity in Agriculture Communities

<>  Consumers Energy warns of looming electricity shortage in 2016 and beyond - Rolling blackouts and electricity shortages may become the new norm, as the state's two largest utilities will shutter coal plants under federal mandates and a partially deregulated market leaves them skittish of new energy investment, officials warned in a recent [last November] report. Electric Reliability in Michigan: The Challenge Ahead report last November by Public Sector Consultants'

<> DNR's Eastern Upper Peninsula Citizens' Advisory Council to meet April 16 in Newberry

<> Public Comment Period for the Draft 2015 Michigan Consolidated Plan - The purpose of the 2015 Consolidated Plan is to describe programs and activities that will be undertake in conjunction with HUD programs funded with Federal Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15) dollars.

<> Green Labs Workshop in Grand Rapids, May 11, 2015 - The final workshop of the Michigan Green Labs Initiative and the launch of the West Michigan Green Labs Pilot, participants will learn how green lab programs promote green practices and environmentally-friendly, sustainable technology in laboratories that have been proven to reduce energy use by 30 to 50 percent.

<> Detroit leaders to unveil app for infrastructure complaints - The city of Detroit is launching a cellphone application that will make it easier for residents to file complaints about infrastructure.

<> API-Michigan Hires Katharine Hoeksema to join effort on growing energy priorities in state - LANSING, Mich., April 6, 2015 – The Associated Petroleum Industries of Michigan (API-Michigan) announced that Katharine Hoeksema has joined as legislative analyst.

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