[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 3/20/15

National / International News

<> Arctic sea ice maximum reaches lowest extent on record - The National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC) indicates that Arctic sea ice appears to have reached its maximum extent for the year on February 25 at 14.54 million square kilometers (5.61 million square miles) -- this year's maximum ice extent is the lowest in the satellite record. Analysis & Overview of conditions

<> Senator McConnell Urges Nation's Governors to "Carefully Review the Consequences" Before Submitting a Plan to Implement EPA's New Regulation - McConnell's letter to Governors says EPA's proposal raises "serious legal and policy concerns" -- he called on the Nation's Governors to reject U.S. EPA's proposed regulation that requires states to dramatically restructure their electricity systems based on how the agency thinks electricity should be produced and used in each state. Senate Majority Leader McConnell's Letter to Governors

<> Agriculture Committee advances bill to protect producers from duplicative regulations and permit requirements - The House Committee on Agriculture approved H.R. 897, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015. This legislation (H.R. 872 in the 112th Congress and H.R. 935 in the 113th) would clarify Congressional intent regarding pesticide regulation in or near waters of the United States. H.R. 897: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2015

<> Florida Environmental Staffer Says He Was Reprimanded For Talking About Climate Change - A Florida state employee is in hot water for speaking about climate change at an official meeting and keeping notes of that discussion in official minutes, according to a complaint filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) -- in response, his superiors at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued him a letter of reprimand, ordered him to take two days leave and then told him not to return until he had medical clearance of his fitness for duty.

<> Studying the air above oil and gas production areas in the western United States - NOAA and Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) researchers and their colleagues are studying what escapes to the air—and how it is transformed in the atmosphere and affects air quality and climate.

<> EPA Awards Clean Diesel Grants in 21 States, Puerto Rico - EPA has awarded $8 million to communities in 21 states and Puerto Rico to reduce emissions from the nation's existing fleet of diesel engines through the agency's Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA) program. In Michigan, Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision is replacing five short-haul trucks and one crane

<> Energy Department Announces $20 Million to Develop Advanced Components for Next Generation Electric Machines - DOE announced up to $20 million in available funding to spur the development of high speed industrial motors and drives, using high power-density designs and integrated power electronics to increase efficiency.

<> GAO Report: On DOE  transfer of 83 facilities at six of its eight sites for disposition - GAO indicates that Better Prioritization and Life Cycle Cost Analysis Would Improve Disposition Planning, GAO-15-272, March 19

<> These 15 animal species have the lowest chance for survival - Climbing rats, seabirds and tropical gophers are among the 15 animal species that are at the absolute greatest risk of becoming extinct very soon.

<> Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index Corporate Adaptation Survey - The survey is expected to clarify best practices, barriers, enablers, and effective strategies to prepare for climate change in the corporate world and will inform a State of Corporate Adaptation Report to be released in May. What are businesses doing to prepare for climate change? - Climate change has brought millions of dollars of damages to businesses over the past years, yet little is known about how businesses are preparing and planning for the physical impacts of climate change going forward.

<> 11 States' Governors Write EPA Opposing Ozone Proposal - 11 state Governors -- AR, GA, ID, IN, LA, ME, MS, OK, SC, TX, WI -- signed on to a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy saying the "proposed change to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ground-level ozone jettisons these free market policies in favor of an onerous, job-crushing standard.

<> Cameroon: An example of the work needed to combat illegal logging - In May 2014, Greenpeace Africa published the report "Licence to Launder" that revealed how US palm oil company Herakles Farms was, via the front company Uniprovince and with the knowledge of some Cameroonian authorities, commercialising timber even though much of it had been felled illegally using a permit obtained without following due process of the law.

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

<> Sierra Club v. EPA - 3/18/15. In the U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, Case Nos. 12-3169, 12-3182 & 3420.      Sierra Club challenged EPA's particulate matter attainment status and redesignation of the Cincinnati-Hamilton metropolitan area to "attainment" status and said the agency had acted illegally with respect to both actions, and it filed a petition for direct appellate review. The parties dispute both Sierra Club's standing to challenge the agency action and the correct interpretation of the relevant statute, the Clean Air Act.      In a significant decision, the Appeals Court rules, "We find that the Club has standing, and we agree with its claim that "reasonably available control measures" are a prerequisite to redesignation. Therefore, we vacate EPA's redesignation of the Ohio and Indiana portions of the Cincinnati area."

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).

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

Great Lakes News

<> Great Lakes Economic Forum - The Council of the Great Lakes Region will host the premier Great Lakes Economic Forum on April 26-28, 2015. The Forum will provide a venue for Great Lakes leaders to share ideas and insights that will help shape economic policy, boost the region's competitive edge and secure its long-term success.

<> OH lawmakers near compromise on Lake Erie algal bloom bill - Lawmakers on the House Agriculture and Rural Development Committee plan to restore language that prohibits dumping of dredge material in all of Lake Erie by 2020, which was changed in the House version of the plan. Ohio House Bill 61

Michigan News

<> MDNR director approves Graymont's eastern U.P. land transaction proposal - Following a recommendation from MDNR officials, Director Keith Creagh announced  his approval of the direct sale of approximately 1,781 acres of state-owned land and 7,026 acres of mineral rights to Graymont which is planning a limestone mining operation in the Upper Peninsula's Mackinac County, near the town of Rexton. Land transaction application Background & details on the Graymont Land Transaction

<> CRC Releases Analysis of Proposal 15-1: Sales and Motor Fuel Tax Increases Related to Transportation Funding - The Citizens Research Council of Michigan has released its analysis of Proposal 15-1, which will appear on the statewide ballot at a special election on May 5, 2015 Statewide Ballot Issue: Proposal 15-1 (Summary) Statewide Ballot Issue: Proposal 15-1 (32-page report) Statewide Ballot Issue: Proposal 15-1 (webinar, March 25, 2015 at 2:00 PM EDT) Gov. Snyder: 'No Plan B' if Proposal 1 fails

<> Businesses recognized for Environmental Leadership - MDEQ honored 20 facilities as Michigan Environmental Leaders for their outstanding, voluntary environmental stewardship -- the newly awarded facilities represent the first group of facilities to receive this honor.

<> Charlevoix and Port Huron Selected as newest Michigan Main Street Communities - Gov. Snyder announced that Charlevoix and Port Huron have been selected as Michigan Main Street communities by MSHDA.

<> Army Corps pressed for Soo Locks study - Practically all of Michigan's members of Congress signed a letter Tuesday urging the Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize consideration of a long-awaited replacement of a key shipping lock at Sault Ste. Marie, saying a failure at the Poe Lock would devastate Great Lakes shipping traffic. Rep. Benishek: Soo Locks Must be a Priority - Dr. Dan Benishek led a bipartisan, bicameral effort to encourage officials at the United States Army Corps of Engineers to publically release new information related to the Soo Locks

<> MDEQ Wastewater Treatment Technology Webinar - Apr 23, 10:00 - 11:30 AM. This webinar explores general wastewater treatment technologies and teaches the physical, chemical and biological process of wastewater treatment.

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 3/19/15

 

National / International News

<> White House FACT SHEET: Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Federal Government and Across the Supply Chain - Today President Obama will issue an Executive Order that will cut the Federal Government's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 40 percent over the next decade from 2008 levels -- saving taxpayers up to $18 billion in avoided energy costs -- and increase the share of electricity the Federal Government consumes from renewable sources to 30 percent. Obama Takes New Actions to Curb Carbon Pollution - President Obama today signed an executive order that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions produced by the federal government by 40 percent from 2008 levels over the next 10 years.

<> House Speaker John Boehner discussed Republicans' pro-growth, balanced budget - "Our budget will balance, but it's also about growing our economy, growing jobs and building economic strength for our future." Budget Chairman Tom Price (R-GA) Op-Ed in The USA Today – "we balance the federal budget in less than ten years by reducing spending by $5.5 trillion — without accounting gimmicks or higher taxes." House GOP Fiscal Year 2016 Balanced Budget White House FACT SHEET: House Republican Budget Resolution: Same Failed Top-Down Economics - With more than 12 million private-sector jobs created over the last 60 months, it is clear that the President's middle class economic agenda is working. QUIZ: If You Were In Charge of the Nation's Budget, What Would You Do?

<> February 2015 Global Climate Report - The globally averaged temperature over land and ocean surfaces for February 2015 was second highest for the month.

<> Voices of Experience: Insights into Advanced Distribution Management Systems report - DOE formed the Advanced Distribution Management Systems (ADMS) Working Group by assembling a leadership team of representatives from the utility industry with the mission to collect the experiences, insights, and lessons learned from implementing these systems.

<> "Winter" in Alaska - The extreme atmospheric pressure pattern that favored record-breaking snow totals across parts of the U.S. East left Alaskans asking, "Where's winter?"

<> NOAA Regional Land Cover Change Reports - NOAA's Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) has released reports for U.S. coastal regions summarizing land cover status in 2010 and land cover changes over the previous decade and a half -- covering Great Lakes; Gulf Coast; Northeast; Southeast; and West Coast

<> U.S.-China Ten-Year Framework for Energy and Environment Cooperation and Climate Change Working Group Meetings in Beijing, China - U.S. Special Envoy for Climate Change Todd Stern, Acting Assistant Secretary Judith Garber for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Jonathan Elkind, travel to Beijing, March 18–20, 2015 for a series of meetings on climate change and environmental cooperation.

<> House Hearing On Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act - The Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy hearing on "H.R. ___, Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015" - background, webcast, testimony Citizens Excluded From Hearing On Bill That Would Weaken Ash Rules - One hundred and forty three people who live near coal ash dumps in 19 states sent a letter to complain that they are being excluded from a hearing tomorrow on a bill that would weaken federal coal ash regulations

<> Energy Department Selects 11 Tribal Communities to Deploy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technologies - DOE announced that 11 tribal communities will receive nearly $6 million to accelerate the implementation of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies on tribal lands. [no Michigan-based tribes included]

<> Minnesota Governor: Farmers should 'look into their souls' on buffer plan - Laying the blame for many of the state's polluted waters squarely at the feet of agriculture, Gov. Dayton asked Minnesota farmers to "look into their souls" and support his proposal to buffer nearly every public water in the state from row crops and their associated runoff. Governor Proposes Buffer Initiative to Protect, Improve Water Quality

<>  Final Suit Routing Genetically Engineered Crops and Related Practices from Refuges - (Beyond Pesticides, March 19, 2015) A federal court ruled Monday against the use of neonicotinoid insecticides linked with destruction of bee colonies and other beneficial insects in national wildlife refuges in the Midwest region.

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).

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

Great Lakes News

<> Great Lakes land cover change chronicled in new NOAA report - A new NOAA report says four percent of the U.S. Great Lakes region saw changes to its land cover--paved surfaces, trees, forests, grasses, and wetlands--from 1996 to 2010 -- that figure represents 7,144 square miles, almost the equivalent of Lake Ontario's surface area. Additional Lake Michigan Basin Land Cover Change Report - A special basin-focused report covering 1985 to 2010

<> Corps to host "Waterways, Wetlands, and You!" informational forum - This event, facilitated by the Corps' Regulatory staff, will provide an overview of the Corps' Regulatory Program and give the public an opportunity to ask questions directly to the team members that review permit applications and enforce permit laws and regulations. Fort Wayne, Indiana, Thursday, May 14, 2015, 1:00PM

<> Bipartisan group in Congress urges no Great Lakes fund cuts - Members of Congress from both parties are lobbying colleagues not to cut funding from a key Great Lakes environmental program

<> Issue 3, Vol. 3, of the IJC Newsletter - The International Joint Commission (IJC) latest newsletter

<> WI State Senate passes bill to ban "microbeads," tiny bits of plastic in soap and toothpaste - Wisconsin is joining the nationwide push to ban a key plastic exfoliant in soap, toothpaste and other personal care products out of fear it's leading to water pollution.

Michigan News

<> Gov. Snyder: Michigan Agency for Energy will guide state work toward affordable, reliable solutions - The Governor said, "Michiganders need to know they'll have access to affordable, reliable energy long into the future, and a new agency will focus on coordinating efforts and decisions as the state looks to replace retiring plants with newer, cleaner sources." Executive Order 2015-10 – A major restructuring of some state bodies and creating the Michigan Agency for Energy within the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, to be headed by Valerie Brader, now a deputy legal counsel and senior policy advisor specializing in energy issues

<> Snyder lauds 'thoughtful' U-M report on hydraulic fracturing - Gov. Rick Snyder praised a recent University of Michigan hydraulic fracturing report last week and said its findings helped shape changes to state rules regarding the natural gas and oil extraction process commonly known as fracking. Hydraulic Fracturing in Michigan Integrated Assessment Report - The deadline for submitting comments was March 13; the final report is expected this summer.

<> MI Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development passes resolution supporting investment in state's roads - During its regular meeting, the Michigan Commission of Agriculture and Rural Development passed a resolution supporting investment in the state's roads and infrastructure Sierra Club Endorses Proposal 1

<> Rover Pipeline LLC Notice of Applications - FERC notice of application for a 711-mile new interstate pipeline through the States of West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Michigan -- how to become involved in the FERC review

<> Michigan Sea Grant Fisheries Workshops - The 5 workshops in April at various locations in Michigan, focus on current research and information related to the regional status of Great Lakes fisheries.

<> Michigan Tech Celebrates World Water Day - Water is a natural resource none of us can live without. Every year, in recognition of this vital resource and the challenges it presents to people all over the world, Michigan Tech celebrates World Water Day.

<> Billionaire Matty Moroun needs a Detroit park for his new bridge to Canada - The Ambassador Bridge owner, despite years of losing court battles and public backlash, still wants to build a second span over the Detroit River, and over Riverside Park in Detroit

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).

 

Daily Activity (3/18/15)

IN THE SENATE

SB 0217 of 2015 Property tax; classification; reference to qualified forest in qualified agriculture definition; remove. [COMMITTEE]