Wednesday, February 26, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/26/14

<> EPA OIG Responds to Open Letter from Sen. Vitter, February 24, 2014 - EPA Office of Inspector General (OIG) has recently posted a News Release responding to a letter signed and released to the public February 18 by U.S. Sen. David Vitter, Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, with questions about an investigation and ongoing audits involving former EPA employee John Beale.

<> DOT Issues Emergency Order Requiring Stricter Standards to Transport Crude Oil by Rail- the 4th emergency order or safety advisory on crude oil in the last seven months

<> EPA Honors Corporate Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions - U.S. EPA's Center for Corporate Climate Leadership announced the third annual Climate Leadership Award winners in partnership with the Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO), the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry (TCR).

<> State CO2 Emissions – EIA. These estimates of energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) are based on the States Energy Data System. The state data include a summary table with total energy-related CO2 by state beginning in 1990, a table with emissions by fuel in 2010 and a table with emissions by sector in 2011. Detailed tables for individual states provide emissions by fuel and sector for. . .

<> Coal Data Browser - The U.S. coal data is collected and prepared for release by the Office of Oil, Gas, and Coal Supply Statistics, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), U.S. Department of Energy.

<> Remarks at the Economist World Ocean Summit - Remarks at the Economist World Ocean Summit Remarks; John Kerry, Secretary of State Via Video Teleconference February 25, 2014

<> Agriculture Secretary Announces $3 Million for a New Program to Improve Pollinator Health - The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide close to $3 million in technical and financial assistance for interested farmers and ranchers to help improve the health of bees, which play an important role in crop production. The funding is a focused investment to improve pollinator health and will be. . .

<> Accounting for scientific uncertainty in a dangerously warming world - Most people at some point develop a "Plan B" – in case their first choice of college doesn't accept them, or it rains on the day of their planned outdoor party, or the deal for the house they wanted falls apart. The same principle applies for more dire situations, such as a city having plans in hand for an orderly evacuation in case of a large-scale disaster. We hope such an event will never. . . 

<> Senate EPW Subcommittee on Oversight hearing entitled, "Natural Resource Adaptation: Protecting Ecosystems and Economies" - Webcast, witness testimony and statements. . .