[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 5/1/15

National / International News

<> Statement by the Press Secretary on S. 535, "Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015" - On Thursday, April 30, 2015, the President signed the bill into law Portman-Shaheen Energy Efficiency Bill Signed Into Law Upton Welcomes New Energy Efficiency Law - House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) today welcomed the president's signature on S. 535 S. 535: Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015

<> Full House Adopts Prohibition For Incandescent Light Bulb Standards - By a roll call vote of 232 - 189, the full house adopted Amendment 192, to prohibit the use of funds to implement or enforce the standards established by tables contained in section 325(i)(1)(B) of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act with respect to BPAR incandescent reflector lamps, BR incandescent reflector lamps, and ER incandescent reflector lamps. [link to roll call vote] H.R.2028 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2016 – House Floor action with all amendments to date. [final passage is expected today]

<> House Science Subcommittee on Energy Hearing On Innovations in Battery Storage for Renewable Energy – Background, statements, testimony and webcast

<> U.S., Japan and Canada Miss Green Climate Fund Donation Deadline - The head of the UN's flagship Green bank has warned it cannot start work as planned because leading backers including the U.S., Canada and Australia have not delivered funds. Status of Pledges for GCF's Initial Resource Mobilization (IRM) as of 30 April 2015 - The Green Climate Fund has signed US$ 4 billion equivalent in contributions as of 30 April 2015, representing 42 percent of the 10.2 billion that was committed during the Fund's initial pledging conference in 2014.

<> Texas Lawmakers Move to Stop Local Fracking Bans - Just as new scientific reports are reinforcing links between fracking and earthquakes, Texas legislators are moving to limit cities' control over oil and gas drilling in their communities.

<> While Most Wait for the Federal Government, California May Have Just Broken the Methane Puzzle Wide Open - While we wait for the Environmental Protection Agency to release draft federal methane rules this summer, the California Air Resources Board has just released a draft of the most comprehensive and forward thinking regulations to cut methane pollution from oil and gas yet. Apr 22 CARB Proposal: Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards for Crude Oil and Natural Gas Facilities

<> Experts Call for Modernizing Outdated Federal Coal Leasing Program - At an event today at the National Press Club, policy experts from the Sierra Club, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Center for American Progress, and law professor Mark Squillace called on the Obama administration to reform and modernize the federal coal leasing program.

<> US, Canada to jointly announce crude-by-rail regulations - US and Canadian officials on Friday will jointly announce new tank car safety standards for trains carrying crude oil, ethanol and other flammable liquids, the US Department of Transportation said Thursday.

<> The Science Does Not Support the Call to Remove Phthalates from Vinyl Flooring – The American Chemistry Council (ACC) says, "We urge retailers and their customers to closely examine the misleading claims, rather than allowing scare tactics to distort the facts about phthalates used in vinyl flooring."

<> Sierra Club releases nationwide baseball-themed Congressional scouting report - The Sierra Club released "Scouting the 114th Congress: Polluters Are Out Of Their League," a new report examining how this Congress has performed so far.

<> The Toxic Truth About A New Generation of Nonstick and Waterproof Chemicals - Ten years ago, DuPont was forced to phase out a key chemical in making Teflon, after revelations that for nearly 45 years the company covered up evidence of its health hazards, including cancer and birth defects -- a new EWG investigation finds that the chemicals pushed by DuPont and other companies to replace the Teflon chemical and similar perfluorinated compounds, or PFCs – already in wide use in food wrappers and outdoor clothing – may not be much – if at all – safer.

<> Groups, along with More Than 200,000 Individuals, Call for Ban on Dangerous Pesticide - EPA received a strong message from labor, community, and environmental health groups as well as more than 200,000 people, calling for a ban on the widely-used neurotoxic pesticide chlorpyrifos that interferes with brain development in fetuses, infants and children.

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

<> Groups appeal water pollution permit for Waukegan coal plant on Lake Michigan - The Sierra Club, Environmental Law & Policy Center and other environmental organizations appealed Illinois EPA's water pollution permit for NRG's Waukegan coal plant, arguing it falls far short of implementing necessary protections for Lake Michigan.

<> Researchers: Cleaning plastic from the Great Lakes could cost nearly $500 million - Researchers have found a plastics litter problem in the Great Lakes that they say is just as bad as the mess in the ocean, and waterfront communities could spend $486 million per year if they want to clean it up.

<> Monitor Lake Michigan weather through new buoy off South Haven, MI shore - The buoy is one of a growing network of nearshore buoys from Ludington to Michigan City, Ind. to increase boating and swimming safety along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

<> Plummeting alewife population threatens salmon, Great Lakes - Lake Michigan's salmon population could be on the verge of a cataclysmic collapse because the largest bioengineering experiment in the history of the Great Lakes has run wildly out of control, biologists say.

<> COMMENTARY: A greedy look at Lake Michigan - If anyone wants to live, work or invest in a place with a reliable supply of fresh water, it's right here, in Chicago and on the Great Lakes. It's time we started cashing in on this bonanza.

Michigan News

<> Attorney General v. MPSC, Consumers Energy - 4/30/15. In the Michigan Court of Appeals, Case Nos. 317434 & 317456 (unpublished). The Attorney General et al., appeal a June 28, 2013 order issued by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) approving an application by Consumers Energy Company (Consumers Energy) for a rate increase to continue funding, among other things, its advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) programm, and approving tariffs for customers who elect to opt-out of the AMI program.      The Appeals Court rules, ". . .we affirm the stipulation and order for the rate increases in Docket No. 317464, but because of the numerous issues raised on appeal in Docket No. 317456 concerning tariffs for customers who elect to opt-out of the AMI program, we remand those issues to the PSC and direct the PSC to conduct a contested case hearing on the opt-out tariff. We direct the PSC to issue a detailed opinion with sufficient facts and conclusions of law that allows this Court to review the entire scope of the unusual opt-out tariff."

<> Snyder joins bus tour at bridge site to tout Proposal 1 - Gov. Rick Snyder and other leaders ramped up their efforts to sell a proposal tax increase on Tuesday's ballot to the public with more examples of dilapidated roads and bridges that they say probably won't get fixed without new funding.

<> Michigan Green Party Urges "No" Vote On Proposal 1 - While many environmental organizations are supporting Proposal 1, the Green Party of Michigan (GPMI) has taken a unanimous stand urging Michigan citizens to vote NO on Tuesday, May 5 and reject a Constitutional amendment which would raise state sales and use taxes from 6% to 7%.

<> Detroit River cleanup brightens gateway to Michigan - Cleaning up Detroit and its river could be a key in revitalizing and re-creating Michigan as a state, state officials say.

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 4/30/15

 

National / International News

<> Senator McConnell Questions EPA Administrator on War On Coal - U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today during a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing Webcast: Interior Subcommittee Hearing: FY16 Environmental Protection Agency Budget Administrator McCarthy Testimony McConnell has new argument for EPA climate rule

<> EPW Republicans Block All Amendments to Strengthen Toxic Chemical Bill - Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, issued a statement after the Republicans' "stunning action" to block all of the amendments offered to strengthen the new Vitter toxic chemical bill. Hearing to markup S. 697, The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act – statements and webcast

<> Inhofe Announces Bipartisan Press Conference on Waters of the United States Rule - U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) and others held a press conference Thursday at 10:45 AM EDT to announce legislation authored by Sens. Barrasso (R-WY) and Donnelly (D-IN) regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's and the Corps of Engineers' attempt to expand the definition of the Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Federal Water Quality Protection Act reaffirms the federal-state-local partnership in protecting water resources Senate Proposal Would Block Clean Water Protections

<> House hearing to review the National Forest System and active forest management – House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry statements, testimony, webcast

<> Senate ENR Hearing on the Administration's Quadrennial Energy Review (QER) - Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing with statements, testimony and webcast

<> House Hearing on The Impact of EPA's Proposed Ozone Standards on Rural America - House Science Subcommittee on Environment hearing background, statement, testimony and webcast

<> Science Academies of G7 Nations Call for Action on Antibiotic Resistance, Tropical Diseases, and the Future of the Ocean - Today the national science academies of the G7 countries issued three statements to their respective governments for discussion during the G7 summit to be held in Germany this June.

<> Phasing in Aquifer Storage and Recovery in the Everglades Could Help Answer Remaining Questions - Although uncertainties about ecological impacts are too great to justify near-term, large-scale implementation of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) in the Everglades, ASR could be phased in to answer several important scientific questions and provide some early restoration benefits, says a report from the National Academy of Sciences' National Research Council.

<> Bioenergy Technologies Office Peer Review Papers Available - BETO hosted the 2015 Project Peer Review from March 23–27, 2015 in Alexandria, VA -- More than 380 attendees participated in reviewing 190 of BETO's projects, representing more than $400 million in funding.

<> Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces New Private Funds to Make Investments in Rural America - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the launch of two new private funds, known as Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs), which make equity investments in rural businesses. . .

U.S. Appeals Court Environmental Decisions

<> EPA Environmental Appeals Board Re: FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc. - 4/28/15. Petitioners petitioned the Environmental Appeals Board to review four Class VI Underground InjectionControl permits that the U.S. EPA Region 5 issued to FutureGen Industrial Alliance, Inc.       In an Order denying review EAB rules that petitioners have identified no clear error of fact or law, abuse of discretion, or matter of policy warranting the Board's review under 40 C.F.R. § 124.19(a)(4).

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

<> Lake Huron Restoration Regional Meetings - 4 meetings/locations join colleagues to discuss restoration progress in the U.S. Lake Huron basin and hear about plans to develop the Lake Huron Lakewide Action and Management Plan (LAMP) under the newly updated U.S-Canadian Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.

<> Mirages captured over the Great Lakes - A rare phenomenon was captured by a Michigan photographer -- a mirage of the Chicago skyline upside down across Lake Michigan.

<> Great Lakes water levels: One lake to be almost 1 foot higher this summer - Lake Michigan and Lake Huron are expected to be 11 inches higher this July as compared to last July, while the other Great Lakes should be lower than last summer.

Michigan News

<> NRC Concludes Hearing On Fermi New Reactor, Combined Licensed To Be Issued - NRC concluded its mandatory hearing on DTE Electric Company's (DTE) application for a Combined License (COL) at the Fermi site adjacent to the company's existing reactor near Newport Michigan -- finding the staff's review adequate to make the necessary regulatory safety and environmental findings, clearing the way for the NRC's Office of New Reactors to issue the license.

<> Are you ready? Tuesday kick's off the Summit & Conference ! - May 5-7, Kalamazoo. The Governor's Recycling Summit & MRC Conference marks the end of the first year of Governor Snyder's two year push to double Michigan's recycling rate and there's no time to waste. Proposal 1 - Vote absentee!

<> Gov. Rick Snyder: City of Flint ready to move forward as financial emergency resolved – The Governor indicated that the financial emergency in the city of Flint has been resolved and a Receivership Transition Advisory Board has been appointed to ensure a smooth transition to local control and continued financial stability for the city

<> Volunteers needed in May for stewardship in southeastern Michigan - MDNR recently announced the May schedule of volunteer stewardship workdays at state parks in southeastern Michigan -- link to workday details, maps and directions on the MDNR website

<> Michigan mayor backs off call for fracking moratorium - Some colleagues said term-limited Mayor George Heartwell couldn't get support for something they called a non-issue for the city.

<> Pro-Proposal 1 ad's claims go beyond facts, drawing a foul – "(Proposal 1) fixes Michigan's more than 1,000 dangerous bridges and repairs our roads, because a third of the fatal or serious accidents are due to poor roads" -- both claims are not entirely accurate.

<> Foul for misleading ads attacking Proposal 1 - "(Proposal 1) gives Michigan one of the highest sales taxes in the nation. Lansing politicians say the tax is for roads… but nearly forty percent goes to special interests." -- True but misleading; Should Proposal 1 pass, the sales tax would rise from 6 to 7 percent, joining five other states at that level, second-highest in the country.

<> Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail - Construction of Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is rolling! The planned completion date for the new stretch of the trail from Glen Arbor to Port Oneida is June 1st, weather permitting.

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 (4/29/15)

IN THE SENATE

HB 4441 of 2015 Environmental protection; other; water pollution, sewerage, solid waste, and recycling fees; extend sunset. [Passed, COMMITTEE]

HB 4448 of 2015 Natural resources; inland lakes; inland lakes and streams application fees; modify. [Passed, COMMITTEE]