WIMS Environmental HotSheet 3/5/14

<> President Obama Announces His 2015 Budget - President Barack Obama signs copies of the FY 2015 Budget as Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Director, Office of Management and Budget, and OMB staff look on in the Oval Office, March 4, 2014. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza) Today, after sending his 2015 budget to Congress, President Obama visited a local elementary school to discuss what he called a "roadmap" for the. . .

·        Remarks by the President Announcing the FY2015 Budget

·  The President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2015

·  Fact Sheet: Building a Clean Energy Economy, Improving Energy Security, and Taking Action on Climate Change

<> EPA's FY 2015 Budget Proposal Focuses on Delivering Core Environmental and Health Protections-  The Obama Administration proposed a Fiscal Year 2015 (FY 2015) budget of $7.890 billion for U.S. EPA. This request is $309.9 million below the EPA's enacted level for Fiscal Year 2014. . .

·  100-page EPA FY 2015 Budget in Brief

·  Detailed EPA FY 2015 Congressional Justification Available March 11

<> President Proposes $11.9 Billion FY2015 Budget for Interior - Secretary Jewell announced President Obama's fiscal year 2015 budget request of $11.9 billion for the Department of the Interior, saying it makes key investments to maintain 

<> President Requests $711.0 Million for Fossil Energy Programs- March 4, 2014President Requests $711.0 Million for Fossil Energy Programs President Obama's FY 2015 budget seeks $711.0 million for the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) to advance technologies related to the reliable, efficient, affordable and environmentally sound use of fossil fuels as well as manage the Strategic Petroleum Reserve and Northeast Home Heating oil Reserve to provide. . .

·  Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Justification documents to support Department of Energy Budget Request to Congress 

<> Vitter: President's Spending Agenda Lacks Necessary Reforms, Accountability for EPA

<> President Obama's Irresponsible Budget By the Numbers - Speaker Boehner's Press Office: Today, President Obama released his 2015 budget, which Speaker Boehner called "perhaps his most irresponsible" yet. The plan would spend too much, borrow too much, and tax too much, growing government at the expense of the middle class. Below is a joint analysis of the numbers behind the president's budget, courtesy of Republicans on the House and Senate Budget. . .

<> Green Investments: National Environmental Groups Highlight Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on Conservation and Natural Resources - Green Investments: National Environmental Groups Highlight Impact of Federal Budget Cuts on Conservation and Natural ResourcesMichael ReinemerMar 4, 2014Washington Citing damage to the environment, the economy, drinking water supplies and more, The Wilderness Society, along with other national groups across the U.S., is urging the President and Congress to end. . . 

<> API: Obama Budget Adds to Deficit of New Ideas, Repeats Calls for $97 Billion Oil & Gas Tax Hike - March 4, 2014 – The president's FY 2015 budget proposal contains no new ideas in the oil and natural gas sector, recycling earlier calls for tax hikes that would hurt job creation, energy production, and government revenue, said API President and CEO Jack Gerard.

<> External peer review of draft health effects documents for PFOA and PFOS - U.S. EPA is initiating an external peer review of the agency's draft human health effects documents for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).

<> GAO-14-74, Climate Change: Energy Infrastructure Risks and Adaptation Efforts - According to assessments by the National Research Council (NRC) and the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), U.S. energy infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to a range of climate change impacts -- particularly infrastructure in areas prone to severe weather and water shortages. Climate changes are projected to affect infrastructure. . .

<> DOE issues Finding of No Significant Impact for the Environmental Assessment on Resumption of Transient Testing of Nuclear Fuels and Materials at Idaho National Laboratory

<> Preparing Now for Our Climate Future – CEQ indicates: Our climate is changing.  We are not just seeing global increases in air and ocean temperatures, we are seeing changes across the United States:  extended periods of unusual heat, a greater number of heavier downpours, more severe regional drought and wildfires in parts of the American West, permafrost thawing in Alaska, ocean acidification, and sea-level rise threatening coastal

<> Webinar for Water Utilities on Planning for Climate Change Impacts - On March 19 from 1 to 2 p.m. ET, EPA's Climate Ready Water Utilities program will host a webinar to help water utilities analyze risk and make decisions under uncertainty when planning for climate change.

<> Webinar: Who caused climate change? - Is it possible that the courts could one day find that large-scale greenhouse gas emitters have "caused" rising sea-levels, extreme weather events and other climate-related damages?  The problem of causation is one of the most challenging for lawyers interested in lawsuits for climate-related damages. Friday, April 11. 

<> EPA Stops Illegal Import of Vehicles That Fail to Meet Pollution Standards - A Chinese powersports company and its related U.S. distributor have agreed to recall and replace fuel tanks that will better control gasoline vapors in approximately 1,000 vehicles and take other steps to control pollution stemming from the illegal import of over 12,000 recreation...

<> NREL Aims to Improve Building Energy Performance with New Web-Based Tool - The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a web-based tool to help consumers better understand the energy performance of building-related products. The Technology Performance Exchange™ (TPEx™) is a portal that helps manufacturers and other organizations that measure and test products easily share performance data with. . .

<> NREL Examines Solar Policy Pathways for States - The Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has published a report that aligns solar policy and market success with state demographics. By organizing the 48 contiguous states into four peer groups based on shared non-policy characteristics, the NREL research team was able to contextualize the impact of various solar policies on photovoltaic (PV). . .

<> The NRC's Annual Regulatory Information Conference Goes Mobile - The NRC is now offering a new mobile-friendly website loaded with information about this year's Regulatory Information Conference – the RIC.

<> Greenpeace report says that ageing nuclear reactors threaten a new era of risk for Europe - Paris, 5 March 2014 – A new report commissioned by Greenpeace from an independent group of nuclear energy experts (1) has exposed the decrepit state of Europe's nuclear reactors showing that ageing is an urgent issue in most European countries that have nuclear power plants. Analysis for the report shows that 44% of European nuclear reactors are over thirty years old.

<> API urges focus on the strategic importance of U.S. LNG exports- March 5, 2014 ─ Recent unrest in Ukraine has sparked renewed calls for the Department of Energy to quickly approve long-delayed exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). API Director of Upstream and Industry Operations Erik Milito welcomed the focus on LNG exports and reiterated that U.S. exports would serve as a valuable option for U.S. allies in Europe and. . .

<> Energy-Efficiency Measure Is a Win-Win for Manufacturers - March 4, 2014 – National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse issued this statement in support of passage of H.R. 2126, the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2014, which would promote a number of energy-efficiency measures:

·  H.R.2126 - Better Buildings Act of 2013

<> Manufacturing Coalition Announces Principles for Effective Alternative Assessments - A diverse coalition of manufacturing associations unveiled a set of principles that will help establish a meaningful, effective program for assessing chemicals in consumer products and identifying possible alternatives.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 3/4/14

<> Opportunity For All: Middle Class Tax Cuts In The President's FY 2015 Budget - The President's FY2015 budget released today will show how to achieve real, lasting economic security and expand opportunity for all so that every American who is willing to work hard can get ahead.   The President's budget will show in real terms the choices we can make to expand economic opportunity and strengthen the middle class, like closing unfair tax loopholes so we can invest. . .

<> Here's What They're Saying about EPA's Final Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards - EPA summarizes reaction to its final standards that it says will significantly reduce ground-level ozone, particulate matter, benzene and other air toxics in the air we breathe.

<> Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2012 - Latest facts and figures current through calendar year 2012. Americans generated about 251 million tons of trash and recycled and composted almost 87 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.5 percent recycling rate. . .

·  Complete 2012 details and previous reports

<> PJM report finds system could cope with 30% wind and solar, suggests new measures - a new report by PJM on integrating up to 30 percent renewable energy onto the grid, in Texas, wind finds a friend in rail, and Massachusetts is reshaping New England's energy landscape

·  PJM Renewable Integration Study (PRIS)

·  Comment from Union of Concerned Scientists

<> A Map of Every Wind Turbine in the U.S. — Interactive USGS Map Shows Locations of More than 47,000 (and Counting) - The USGS WindFarm interactive web map shows the locations of the more than 47,000 wind turbines installed in the U.S. as of mid-2013. WindFarm and the data behind it cover all 50 states.

<> Drought and Global Climate Change: An Analysis of Statements by Roger Pielke Jr - The President's Science Advisor, Dr. John P. Holdren, published a 6-page analysis rebutting Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL)  and Dr. Roger Pielke, Jr., a University of Colorado political scientist regarding testimony on the Administration's Climate Action Plan. . .

<> California Carbon Tax Study - An aggressively-priced carbon tax in California, with revenue returned to the public, would actually grow the state's economy and increase jobs, according to a new study released by Citizens Climate Lobby prepared by Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI)

<> Enbridge to Undertake $7 Billion Mainline Replacement Program - The company announced they have received shipper support for a $7 billion investment in their Canadian and U.S. mainline system running from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. The Line 3 Replacement (L3R) Program will complement the existing Line 3 segment replacement program and include all remaining segments of Line 3 between Hardisty, Alberta and Superior.

<> Congressional Research Service Report On CCS R&D - Carbon Capture and Sequestration: Research, Development, and Demonstration at the U.S. Department of Energy

<> U.S. Forest Service Study Of Winter Freeze & Emerald Ash Borer - study was designed to assess the cold hardiness of emerald ash borer larvae, the overwintering stage of the insect.

·  Washington Post article

<> UNEP's Global Environmental Alert Service (GEAS) - Empowering people with engaging environmental information in a near-real time mode is now in the realm of reality. Using the Internet to provide people with online access to compelling and dynamic information about environmental changes as they occur.

<> Secretary Jewell, NPS Director Release New Report Showing National Parks Remain Strong Economic Engines, Support 243,000 Jobs Nationwide- More than 200,000 of the jobs supported by national parks in 2012 were in local 

<> Ohio wind turbine shutdown raises issue of migratory bird safety - Environmental groups have won what they call a victory for birds with the suspension of a plan to build a wind turbine in Ohio.

<> Sierra Club Challenges Inadequate Federal Review of Cameron LNG Export Proposal - Sierra Club, along with Gulf Restoration Network and RESTORE, filed comments on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's draft environmental review for the Cameron liquefied natural gas (LNG) export proposal in Louisiana.

<> Insurers Have Huge Role As Clean Energy Investors - Conversations about climate change and the insurance industry usually focus on catastrophic storms and their damaging financial ripples for insurance providers. Given skyrocketing extreme-weather losses in recent years, it's surely a legitimate issue that should be making insurers re-think their business models. But insurers have another important role on the climate issue. . .

<> New Report Outlines Climate Costs of Relaxing Crude Oil Export Regulations - A new analysis published today by Oil Change International shows that eliminating existing regulations on crude oil exports could result in additional greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 42 coal fired power plants.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 3/3/14

<> EPA Sets Cleaner Fuel and Car Standards, Slashing Air Pollution and Providing Health Benefits to Thousands - Based on extensive input from the public and a broad range of stakeholders, including public health groups, auto manufacturers, refiners, and states, U.S. EPA today finalized the Tier 3 standards emission standards for cars and gasoline that will significantly reduce harmful pollution and prevent thousands of premature deaths and illnesses, while also enabling efficiency improvements in the cars and trucks we drive.

• Why EPA's Tier 3 Final Rule Makes Sense to Global Automakers - WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 3, 2014 – The Association of Global Automakers praised the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today with the release of its final rule on Tier 3 vehicle emissions and fuel standards.  "Reducing sulfur in gasoline brings instant benefits to consumers and the environment," said Michael J. Stanton, president and CEO of Global Automakers.  "This rulemaking. . .
• New Gasoline and Auto Pollution Standards Will Clean Our Air, Protect Our Health and Save Money - EPA's new standards for gasoline and vehicle emissions announced today will dramatically reduce harmful air pollution such as smog-forming chemicals and dangerous soot. 
• Rule to Clean up Gasoline and Lower Tailpipe Emissions Finalized- The Obama administration today finalized a new rule to clean up gasoline and reduce harmful emissions from passenger vehicles, a move that will protect public health and create new jobs, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.

<> EPA Moves to Protect Bristol Bay Fishery from Pebble Mine - U.S. EPA is initiating a process under the Clean Water Act to identify appropriate options to protect the world's largest sockeye salmon fishery in Bristol Bay, Alaska from the potentially destructive impacts of the proposed Pebble Mine.

<> U.S. EPA's Reg DaRRT - The Regulatory Development and Retrospective Review Tracker (Reg DaRRT) focuses on priority rulemakings and retrospective reviews of existing regulations. Includes rulemakings that have not yet been proposed, those that are open for public comment, those for which EPA is working on a final rule, and those that have been recently finalized.

<> Stimulus Dollars Advance Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy In America's Cities - The nation's mayors this week released the results of a new survey pointing to city successes in using Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

<> CERCLA Contribution; The Confusion Continues - In the words of Justice Thomas in United States v. Atlantic Research Corp., the Circuit Courts have "frequently grappled" with the interplay between Sections 107(a) and 113 of CERCLA. These are the two provisions of the Statute that enable "covered persons", commonly referred to as potentially responsible parties or "PRPs", to recover response costs from other PRPs. In Atlantic Research, the Court. . .

<> First-Ever World Wildlife Day Spotlights Far-Reaching Impact of US$19 Billion Illicit Trade in Flora and Fauna - Economic, Social and Environmental Consequences Suffered as a Result of Wildlife Crime; The third of March was also the day of adoption of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1973.

<> New Report Shows Path Forward on Cutting Methane Emissions - Environmental Defense Fund recently commissioned a detailed economic analysis of opportunities to cut methane emissions from the U.S. oil and gas industry.

<> Who Pays For Climate Regulation? - The heaviest burden for climate change regulation costs falls on people – especially lower income groups – and not corporations, according to new Stanford research.

<> Committee Approves Bill to Prevent, Mitigate Damage from Windstorms- a bipartisan bill (H.R. 1786) introduced by Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas) to reauthorize and improve a multi-agency program that supports research to better understand and prepare for tornadoes, hurricanes and other windstorms.

<> Hundreds of Students Arrested in "XL Dissent" Action - President Obama may be facing the biggest international crisis of his leadership with the Russian invasion of Crimea, but he still faces domestic headaches at home. Yesterday, several hundred students from over 80 colleges across the United States were arrested outside the White House as they took part in "XL Dissent" – a major demonstration against the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

• Keystone XL White House protests end with 398 arrests - Final decision from President Obama expected in summer as battle over tar sands pipeline heats up. . .
• The Keystone XL comment period deadline is fast approaching  

<> Prospects for climate agreement boosted by survey of national laws - Sixty-six countries have legislation governing climate mitigation and adaptation plans, revealed a newly released United Nations-supported study that aims to boost progress towards a new universal agreement on climate. . . 

• Keynote Address by Achim Steiner UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director at the Second GLOBE Climate Legislation Summit 

<> USDA Releases Updated "Food Environment Atlas" - Last week, the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) released an updated and expanded Food Environment Atlas, with 2012 data for many variables and 2013 data for farmers' markets.  New variables include SNAP policy variables, the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), very low household food security, and 2012 State-level obesity rates. The Food Environment Atlas is an. .

<> Walmart Starts Promised Chemicals Policy - Walmart has informed dozens of product manufacturers throughout its supply chain that it is implementing its new chemicals policy that will phase out hazardous chemicals from its consumer products. Walmart announced the policy last year. The Policy on Sustainable Chemistry in Consumables provides a description of what it calls priority chemicals. Priority chemicals are substances with certain hazardous properties. . .

<> New Report Connects Climate Change & Food Insecurity - The report, "Food and Climate: Connecting the Dots, Choosing the Way Forward," outlines the climate requirements for successful food production, and examines two competing food production methods – industrial and organic. . .

<> Illinois Sustainable Technology Center studies energy potential of non-recycled plastics - Given our nation's need to improve energy security, a diverse energy supply is more important than ever. That diversity includes technologies that derive energy from waste, enabling us to harness the power of this underutilized resource. A new report released earlier this month revealed in greater detail the energy that can be derived from used plastics through a process called pyrolysis.

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/28/14

<> All-of-the-Above is Making a Difference Across America - A cross-post from Energy.gov. During his recent State of the Union address, President Obama reiterated the importance of American energy: "One of the biggest factors in bringing more jobs back is our commitment to American energy. The all-of-the-above energy strategy I announced a few years ago 

<> Rep. Shimkus Unveils Discussion Draft of Chemicals in Commerce Act - draft legislation to modernize the regulation of chemicals in commerce.

• House Chemicals Bill Would Undermine Health and Safety - WASHINGTON (February 28, 2014) – A House bill to overhaul federal oversight of the chemical industry would do more harm than good, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council.
• ACC Welcomes Draft House Legislation to Update TSCA - We applaud Chairman Shimkus' commitment to creating a more effective chemical regulatory system and welcome the draft Chemicals in Commerce Act of 2014.

<> Updated legislation will save energy, protect the environment, save consumers money, create jobs - U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) today renewed their push for a national energy efficiency strategy by reintroducing an updated version of the Shaheen-Portman Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act (ESIC). 

• ACC Urges Senate Passage of Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill - ACC commends Senators Shaheen and Portman for their tireless efforts to secure passage of this bipartisan legislation.

<> CATF Releases Plan to Achieve Significant Reductions in Carbon Pollution from Existing Power Plants at Affordable Cost - displacement of power generation from the highest-emitting coal-fired power plants by generation from under-utilized, efficient natural gas plants, at minimal cost.

<> Congressman Holding Applauds Passage of Bill to Reduce Regulatory Burdens - House passage of H.R. 2804, the "ALERRT Act" (236 – 179) which cuts back unnecessary regulations, and ensures that where regulations are necessary, they are achieved in an efficient, less costly way. 

• House Approves Reckless Package of Anti-Regulatory Bills - Legislation would hobble agencies charged with protecting public health Today, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a package of anti-regulatory bills that would impede the work of agencies charged with protecting the public's health, safety, and welfare. Under the legislation—called the "Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency Act" (H.R. 2804)
• H.R.2804 Bill Summary & Status

<> GAO-14-365T, Critical Infrastructure Protection: Observations on DHS Efforts to Identify, Prioritize, Assess, and Inspect Chemical Facilities - What GAO Found In managing its Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a number of efforts underway to identify facilities that are covered by the program, assess risk and prioritize facilities, review and approve facility security plans, and inspect facilities to ensure compliance with security regulations.

• House Hearing: H.R. 4007, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014

<> House Hearing On Staffing To Manage & Oversee Oil & Natural Gas Activities - GAO Report says Continued Attention to Interior's Human Capital Challenges Is Needed

• GAO Testimony Report

<> BOEM Environmental Review for Geological and Geophysical Survey Of Atlantic Coast Offshore Energy Resources - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published a final environmental review of geological and geophysical (G&G) survey activities off the Mid- and South Atlantic coast that establishes multiple mitigation measures designed to minimize the impacts to marine life while setting a path forward for survey activities that will update nearly four-decade-old data on offshore energy resources in the region.

<> USDA Report Cites Concerns with GE Crops as the Agency Approves New Uses - (Beyond Pesticides) A report released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) considers the trends of genetically engineered (GE) crops over the past 15 years, since they were first introduced. Responding to increasing GE use, USDA also points to major concerns such as increasing herbicide resistance and higher levels of. . .

• USDA Report: Genetically Engineered Crops in the United States

<> Subcommittee Examines Access to Affordable and Reliable Electricity - The Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) today began its hearing series on the "Benefits of and Challenges to Energy Access in the 21st Century" with a focus on electricity. The subcommittee examined the benefits of access to affordable and reliable electricity as well current challenges to expanding electricity access.

• Democrats Website for the hearing  

<> DOE Announces Webinars on Adding Solar to Your Building Portfolio, How to Use DOE's Newest Facilities, and More - February 27, 2014DOE Announces Webinars on Adding Solar to Your Building Portfolio, How to Use DOE's Newest Facilities, and More EERE offers webinars to the public on a range of subjects, from adopting the latest energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies to training for the clean energy workforce.

<> U.S. Drought Monitor Update for February 25, 2014 - According to the February 25 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to exceptional drought covers 36.1% of the contiguous U.S. 

<> Sierra Club, et al action to stop pollution coming from three valley fills at two former mountaintop removal sites - Litigation argues that landowning companies are responsible for ensuring that inactive mountaintop removal sites still meet Clean Water Act protections

<> Ohio Moves Closer to Banning LEED's Green Building Standards - Ohio is one step closer to banning the nation's premier green building evaluation process from rating its properties. The Ohio Senate on Wednesday passed  Ohio Senate Concurrent Resolution 25 (SCR 25), which would prohibit the use of the LEED v4 green building rating system on public buildings in the state if it gets approval from the state's House of. . .