WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/17/14

 National / International News

 

<> Building on Our Progress in Solar Deployment –White House Blog: Since President Obama took office, we have made significant advances in clean energy. Last year alone was record-breaking for new installations, and the amount of solar power. . . The White House will announce a $15 million program today and is also calling, for new commitments from the private sector and non-profits to support solar deployment and jobs.

• FACT SHEET: Building on Progress – Supporting Solar Deployment and Jobs - White House Celebrates Leadership on Solar and Calls for Commitments to Support Solar Deployment and Jobs To advance our nation's energy 
• Energy Department Announces $15 Million to Help Communities Boost Solar Deployment - April 17, 2014Energy Department Announces $15 Million to Help Communities Boost Solar 
• White House Solar Champions of Change - Watch Now - April 17, 2014White House Solar Champions of Change - Watch Now Today, the White House is honoring solar deployment Champions of Change from throughout the United States.

<> An Analysis of the President's 2015 Budget - Enacting the President's proposals would, CBO and JCT estimate: for 2014 and 2015, the deficit would be about $500 billion, or 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). . . Deficits would be smaller than the amounts in CBO's baseline each year from 2017 through 2024. . . under the President's proposals the deficit would remain close to 3 percent of GDP throughout the decade—which is similar to the average deficit of 3.1 percent experienced over the past 40 years. By the end of the 10-year period, the deficit under the President's budget would be below the projections in CBO's baseline by nearly 1 percent of GDP.

<> Wind Energy Threat to Birds Is Overblown - Wind energy is one of the cleanest, most abundant, sustainable and cost-effective ways to generate electricity. It's also one of the fastest growing U.S. electricity sources. At the end of 2013, there were enough wind turbines 

<> Fueling a New Order? The New Geopolitical and Security Consequences of Energy - Brookings Institution: The United States is poised to overtake Saudi Arabia and Russia as the world's largest oil producer and, combined with new developments in natural gas, is on track to become the dominant player in global energy markets. . .

<> U.S. EPA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Permit for Carbon Sequestration Injection Well in Decatur, IL - would allow Archer Daniels Midland to inject carbon dioxide deep underground at a facility

<> Draft Report From Clean Air Committee - 4/16. CASAC Review of the EPA's Integrated Science Assessment for Oxides of Nitrogen – Health Criteria. There are several recommendations for strengthening and improving the document. . .

• Access the Review Panel website for background, documents and meetings

<> Closing In on Finishing the ESBWR Design Review - Michael Mayfield Director, Advanced Reactor and Rulemaking Program   After a lot of technical discussions, the NRC is ready to take the next step in considering whether GE-Hitachi's Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR). . .

<> Waste to work: Penn State researchers use industrial waste in hydraulic fracturing - Penn State University researchers say they have discovered how to use industrial waste products to make the controversial practice of fracking more sustainable.

<> Waxman and Whitehouse Submit Formal Comments on Keystone Pipeline - As Secretary of State John Kerry continues to consider the fate of the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. . .

<> National Climate Assessment Due to be Released - The final edition of the National Climate Assessment, which was released in draft form about a year ago, is expected to reflect some approaches designed to make it more accessible for the public and more useful for decisionmakers. 

<> Website Launched On U.S. Global Low-Emission Assistance - USAID, U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory have launched a website that provides useful and easily accessible information about how the US Government assists over 20 partner countries in the development and implementation of low emission development strategies.

<> ConocoPhillips Announces Resumption of Exports from the Kenai LNG Facility - The company announced it has received authorization from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to export liquefied natural gas over a two-year period to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) countries and non-FTA countries, and plans to resume exports of LNG this spring. 

<> Energy Department Announces $4.4 Million to Support Next-Generation Advanced Hydropower Manufacturing - April 16, 2014Energy Department Announces $4.4 Million to Support Next-Generation Advanced Hydropower Manufacturing The Energy Department today announced $4.4 million to support the application of advanced. . .

<> Redford Urges Americans to "Join Me in Standing Up to Big Oil" - (April 17, 2014) – In a nationwide appeal, environmental activist Robert Redford today called on the American public to help put the Arctic Ocean off limits to oil industry drilling plans.

 

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

 

<> NRDC v. Jewell - 4/16/14. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Case No. 09-17661 involving multiple parties. The en banc decision addresses the Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirement that federal agencies must consult with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service (Service) prior to taking any agency action that could affect an endangered or threatened species or its critical habitat. The Panel says: "We reaffirm that Section 7(a)(2) requires such consultation, so long as the agency has 'some discretion' to take action for the benefit of a protected species." Reverse and remand.

• NRDC: Court Unanimously Agrees Feds Unlawfully Renewed Unsustainable Water Supply Contracts in the Bay-Delta - A unanimous eleven-judge panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals overturned two earlier court rulings that upheld the federal government's renewal of several dozen long-term. . .
• Judges Overturn Long-Term Central Valley Water Contracts Citing Endangered Species Protection - Court unanimously throws out earlier rulings that failed to consider imperiled delta smelt  An eleven-judge panel of the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals today unanimously ruled that the federal Bureau of Reclamation was required  

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Thursday, April 17, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/16/14

National / International News

 

<> EPA Publishes 19th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory - The Inventory, showing a 3.4 percent decrease in 2012 from 2011, is submitted annually to the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

<> Department of Energy Issues Draft Renewable Energy and Efficient Energy Projects Solicitation to Foster Clean Energy Innovation - April 16, 2014; the solicitation is expected to make as much as $4 billion in loan guarantees available to help commercialize technologies that may be unable to obtain full commercial financing.

<> Parents Return Walgreens Products Tested for Toxic Chemicals - Concerned parents and health professionals descended on nearly 50 Walgreens stores nationwide today, saying the company has failed to take action on toxic chemicals in their products.

<> EPA Needs to Clarify Its Claim of "No Net Loss" of Wetlands - EPA Office of Inspector General report to determine how the U.S. EPA verifies that the application of the wetlands protection and restoration guidelines achieves "no net loss" of wetlands.

<> Vitter Announces Growing Support for Bipartisan TSCA Reform Bill - U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, announced additional support for the Chemical Safety Improvement Act (CSIA), which he coauthored and introduced with the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).  Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) has taken over as the lead democratic Senator working with Vitter to reform the outdated Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

<> Energy Department Announces $10 Million for Technologies to Produce Advanced Biofuel Products from Biomass - April 15, 2014, Energy Department Announces $10 Million for Technologies to Produce Advanced Biofuel Products from Biomass.

<> Free Webinar on Water Quality Mobile Website "How's My Waterway" - EPA will be hosting a free webinar on April 23 from 1:00pm- 2:00pm Eastern Time to detail the new enhancements to How's My Waterway, a mobile friendly website that enables users to easily access water quality information for their local lakes, rivers, and streams.

• How's My Waterway website

<> BP Announces Active Shoreline Cleanup Operations from Deepwater Horizon Accident End - $14 billion and 70-million man-hours expended, 778 miles cleaned milestone marks major step toward honoring BP's commitment to the Gulf

<> Personal travel growth significantly influences projected transportation energy demand - (Wed, 16 Apr 2014) Personal travel, measured in light-duty vehicle miles traveled per licensed driver, reached 12,900 miles per year in 2007 and decreased to about 12,500 in 2012. This shift in travel behavior is important. . .

<> Clean Energy Investment Rises 9%, Led by Solar Power - April 16 -- Clean energy investment rose by 9 percent in the first quarter from a year earlier on surging demand for rooftop solar panels from the U.S. to Japan. New investment in renewable power and energy efficiency rose. . .

<> US highway construction fund could run dry by late August - Better Roads MagazineUS highway construction fund could run dry by late August -DOTReuters"The surface transportation program continues to outlay (funds) at a greater pace than receipts are coming in," the DOT said. . .

• Administration is proposing a $302 billion, four-year surface transportation reauthorization proposal

<> US Forest Service Finalizes Policy to Promote Year-Round Recreation on Ski Areas - WASHINGTON, April 15, 2014 - The U.S. Forest Service finalized policy guidelines that will open opportunities for ski areas to promote year-round recreation activities that are natural resource-based and that will create. . .

<> GAO Report: National Environmental Policy Act: Little Information Exists on NEPA Analyses, April 15, 2014 - GAO Found Government-wide data on the number and type of most National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses are not readily available, as data collection efforts vary by agency. Requested by a number of GOP committee leaders.

<> Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Research Call - April 15, 2014Cybersecurity for Energy Delivery Systems (CEDS) Research Call The Department of Energy's (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy. . .

 

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

 

<> White Stallion Energy Center v. U.S. EPA - 4/15/14: In the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, Case No. 12-1100, consolidated with over two dozen cases. The split Panel denied the challenges to EPA's emission standards for mercury and a number of listed hazardous air pollutants emitted by coal- and oil-fired electric utility steam generating units.

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Wednesday, April 16, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/15/14

National / International News

 

<> Administration Moves Forward on Methane Emissions - U.S. EPA released five technical papers today, initiating the first stage in a multifaceted process that is part of the White House methane strategy.

<> GAO Report: Petroleum Refining: Industry's Outlook Depends on Market Changes and Key Environmental Regulations - Requested by Sen. vitter and Inhofe, the report examines: (1) major changes that have recently affected the industry and (2) the future of the industry.

<> EPA Needs to Demonstrate Whether It Has Achieved the Goals It Set Under the National Petroleum Refinery Initiative - April 15, 2014. EPA Office of Inspector General Report

<> Environmentalists Could Win the Keystone XL Battle and Still Lose the War - Will the KXL fight be environmentalists' Vietnam?

<> EPA Administrator to Travel to Taipei and Hanoi to Highlight Environmental Education and Cooperation - Gina McCarthy will be in Taipei and Hanoi April 14-16 to highlight environmental cooperation between the United States and partners within the Asia-Pacific region, and to underscore the importance of environmental education.

• China Angered by U.S. Environment Chief's Visit to Taiwan

<> Enbridge Posts 2013 Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report Following 2013 Annual Report - CALGARY, ALBERTA-- April 15, 2014) - Enbridge Inc. (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) today published its 2013 annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report (csr.enbridge.com/Downloads) which... Read News Release. . .

<> NRC Proposes to Amend the Licensing, Inspection and Annual Fees Rule - The Nuclear Regulatory Commission seeks public comments on proposed changes to its regulations for the licensing, inspection, and annual fees it charges applicants and licensees for fiscal year (FY) 2014.

<> Twelve states produced 80% of U.S. wind power in 2013 - In 2013, 12 states accounted for 80% of U.S. wind-generated electricity, according to preliminary generation data released in EIA's March Electric Power Monthly report -- TX, IA, CA, OK, IL, KS, MN, OR, CO, WA, ND, WY.

<> Over 200 State Legislators Call on President Obama for Continued Action to Protect America's Public Lands - In anticipation of National Parks Week, 230 state legislators from around the country today released a letter calling on President Obama to continue to fulfill his State of the Union promise to use 

<> Toward a better understanding and quantification of methane emissions from shale gas development - Large emissions averaging 34 g CH4/s per well were observed from seven well pads determined to be in the drilling phase, 2 to 3 orders of magnitude greater than US Environmental Protection Agency estimates for this operational phase.

<> China set to elevate environment over development in new law - BEIJING (Reuters) - Smog-hit China is set to pass a new law that would give Beijing more powers to shut polluting factories and punish officials, and even place protected regions off-limits to industrial development, scholars with. . . 

<> Moth study suggests hidden climate change impacts - A 32-year study of subarctic forest moths in Finnish Lapland suggests that scientists may be underestimating the impacts of climate change on animals and plants because much of the harm is hidden from view.

<> Ohio State Webinar To Discuss Climate Change and Extreme Weather - The Ohio State University Climate Change Outreach Team will present "Climate Change and Extreme Weather: recent events and future forecasts" on Thursday, April 24, 2014, from 12 PM to 1 PM (ET). Attendance is free.

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

 

<> Communities for a Better Environment v. U.S. EPA - 4/11. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit, Case No. 11-1423. "Petitioners argue that EPA's decisions concerning both the primary and secondary standards for carbon monoxide were arbitrary and capricious. We conclude that EPA acted reasonably in retaining the same primary standards for carbon monoxide, and that petitioners lack Article III standing to challenge EPA's decision not to set a secondary standard for carbon monoxide."

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Tuesday, April 15, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/14/14

National / International News

 

<> Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change - Berlin. 13 April – A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates it would be possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behavior, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

• Statement by Secretary Moniz on IPCC's Working Group Report on Climate Change Mitigation - April 13, 2014Statement by Secretary Moniz on IPCC's Working Group Report on Climate Change Mitigation Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz issued a statement on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's Working
• Statement by John P. Holdren on the IPCC's Working Group Report on Climate-Change Mitigation - Statement by Assistant to the President for Science & Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy Dr. John P. Holdren on the Release of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Working 
• UN Climate Chief: IPCC Science Underlines Urgency to Act Towards a Carbon Neutral World

<> Ohio DNR Links Eartquakes With Fracking Activity - Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director James Zehringer announced new, stronger permit conditions for drilling near faults or areas of past seismic activity. The new policies are in response to recent seismic events in Poland Township (Mahoning County) that show a probable connection to hydraulic fracturing near a previously unknown microfault.

<> A new DOE proposal would cement a big leap in lighting efficiency, but Congress is preventing even bigger savings - New energy-saving standards for certain types of incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) last Friday mark another important step in improving lighting efficiency in the United States.

• Proposed Energy Conservation Standards for General Service Fluorescent Lamps and Incandescent Reflector Lamps

<> Energy Department Announces $4 Million for University Consortium to Advance America's Water Power Industry - April 11, 2014Energy Department Announces $4 Million for University Consortium to Advance America's Water Power Industry The Energy Department today announced $4 million to engage America's research. . .

<> Co-Chair Governor Whitman Highlights Importance of CASEnergy Coalition at the Bloomberg Future of Energy Summit - Governor Whitman speaks at the Bloomberg Future of Energy Summit in New York City. CASEnergy Coalition Co-Chair Governor Christine Todd Whitman wrapped up a busy day on Tuesday at the Bloomberg Future of Energy. . .

<> Urbanization: The city of dreams or an urban nightmare? - Over the last few months, PwC have been working with clients to understand the big changes that are disrupting their organizations - and the economy as a whole. PWC - PriceWaterhouse distilled what they've learned down into five global shifts - the megatrends which are already driving change, and will continue to do so over the coming decades.

<> Agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions on the rise, warns UN agency - From farming to forestry and fisheries, agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates out today from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

<> GuLF STUDY Gears Up for Second Round of Health Exams - Research continues four years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, leading the largest health study ever conducted on the potential health effects of an oil spill, are encouraging participants to stay involved in this long-term project.

<> A Concept for Optimizing Strategic Energy Infrastructure? - A timely new report published by the World Economic Forum in April 2014 titled "Strategic Infrastructure Steps to Operate and Maintain Infrastructure Efficiently and Effectively" addresses an important area for necessary investment globally: infrastructure.

<> Union threatens retribution for House Dems opposing Keystone - A top building trades union is launching a midterm-election assault on House Democrats who oppose construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. A letter distributed Friday by the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)

<> World's largest crop art to be created in opposition to Keystone XL - Cowboy and Indian Alliance Send Pres. Obama #NOKXL Message from Corn Field World's largest crop art to be created, kicking-off the Reject and Protect events Who: Cowboy and Indian Alliance, artist John Quigley, Bold. . .

• Aerial Image #1; Aerial Image #2

<> Center for Media and Democracy 23 Min Film On KXL Pipeline - Addresses the claims of proponents of the Keystone XL pipeline regarding jobs, energy security, gas prices, safety, and climate change

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Monday, April 14, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)

 

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/11/14

National / International News

 

<> UN: greenhouse gas emissions nearly doubled in first decade of 21st century - Leaked draft shows emissions grew nearly twice as fast from 2000-10 as in previous 30 years – despite economic slowdown

<> Sebelius Resigns After Troubles Over Health Site - Kathleen Sebelius, the health and human services secretary, is resigning, ending a stormy five-year tenure marred by the disastrous rollout of President Obama's signature legislative achievement, the Affordable Care Act.

<> FERC Acting Chairman Cheryl A. LaFleur's Testimony before the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee - "Keeping the Lights on – Are We Doing Enough to Ensure the Reliability and Security of the U.S. Electric Grid?"

• Hearing website with statements, all testimony and webcast

<> House Hearing - Department of Energy Science and Technology Priorities - GOP website with background, statements, webcast and testimony of Ernest Moniz, Secretary of Energy, U.S. Department of Energy

• Smith: Research, Not Subsidies, Key to Energy Success - The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology today held a hearing with Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to examine the Department of Energy's (DOE) science and technology priorities. . .
• DEMS release on the hearing

<> EPA Releases Top 25 List of Cities with Most Energy Star Buildings - The Top 10 cities on the list are: Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; New York; San Francisco; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Philadelphia; and Houston; Detroit ranks 23^rd.

<> The Production Tax Credit is Key to a Strong U.S. Wind Industry - New report from Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory finds the production tax credit has been critical to the growth of the U.S. wind industry.

<> GM's 'Climate Declaration' Speaks Louder than Words - In the year following the Climate Declaration signing, General Motors continues to prove there is economic opportunity in tackling climate change. . .

<> EPA Awards Over $9 Million to Universities for Research to Help Predict the Implications of Chemicals on Human Health and the Environment - grants to Arizona State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara to better understand the impacts of chemicals and nanomaterials throughout their life cycle — from design, manufacture, use and disposal.

<> IUCN and WBCSD join forces to improve business understanding of biodiversity management - Montreux, Switzerland, 10 April 2014– The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today released a new guide. . .

<> Eco Economy Indicator - World Wind Power Poised to Bounce Back after Slowing in 2013 - At the end of 2013, the wind farms installed in more than 85 countries had a combined generating capacity of 318,000 megawatts, which would be enough to meet the residential electricity needs of the European Union's 506 million people. . .

<> Artificial cooling tricky topic for climate panel - Source: AP - It's Plan B in the fight against climate change: cooling the planet by sucking heat-trapping CO2 from the air or reflecting sunlight back into space. . .

<> The Truth About Nuclear Power - Part Ten - Subtitle: Nuclear plants require costly upgrades after 20 to 30 yearsSteam generators inside containment structurePurple-cutaway view.source: NRCOne of the favorite arguments of the nuclear proponents is that. . .

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Friday, April 11, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Highlighting Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)