Tuesday, April 14, 2015

[WIMS] Environmental HotSheet 4/14/15

 

National / International News

<> Explaining climate change science & rebutting global warming misinformation Skeptical Science is website & mobile apps to explain what peer reviewed science has to say about global warming -- skeptic arguments are stated, documented and explored for their scientific integrity.

<> EIA's Annual Energy Outlook will be released later today - (Tue, 14 Apr 2015) At 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, EIA will release the Annual Energy Outlook 2015 (AEO2015), which presents long-term projections of energy supply, demand, and prices through 2040.

<> Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2016 Energy and Water Appropriations Bill - The House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year 2016 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which will be considered in subcommittee tomorrow.

<> GAO-15-522T, Government Efficiency and Effectiveness: Opportunities to Reduce Fragmentation, Overlap, and Duplication and Achieve Other Financial Benefits, April 14, 2015 - This statement discusses (1) new opportunities GAO identifies in its 2015 report; (2) the status of actions taken to address the opportunities GAO identified in its 2011-2014 reports; and (3) existing and new tools available to help executive branch agencies and Congress reduce or better manage fragmentation, overlap, and duplication.

<> Energy-Focused Trade Mission Will Yield Positive Effects for American Businesses and the Global Environment - The Department of Energy and Department of Commerce have teamed up for a joint trade mission to China focused on smart cities and green infrastructure.

<> API: Industry has led safety improvements for blowout preventers - April 13, 2015 – Proposed federal regulations released today for well control and blowout preventers (BOPs) follow upon wide-ranging work by industry to improve offshore safety, said American Petroleum Institute.

<> House Subcommittee Hearing: The Crude Oil Export Ban: Helpful or Hurtful? – Hearing website with witness testimony

<> This cement alternative absorbs CO2 like a sponge - Cement has been called the foundation of modern civilization, the stuff of highways, bridges, sidewalks and buildings of all sizes -- but its production comes with a huge carbon footprint.

<> The Guide to Sustainable Homes 2015 - The second edition of the British Blue & Green Tomorrow's Guide to Sustainable Homes exploreS how homes are adapting to cope with the changing environment and the sustainable steps that can be implemented.

<> All-Out Media Campaign: The Guardian Goes Activist - The Guardian newspaper, based in the U.K, decisively pro-action stance on climate change is a break with conventional media insistence on 'objectivity.' Or is it?

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

<> Stabenow, Peters Introduce Resolution Opposing Storage of Nuclear Waste in Great Lakes Basin - U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a Senate resolution (S.RES.134) urging the administration to oppose a Canadian proposal to build a permanent nuclear waste repository in the Great Lakes Basin. 

  • S.RES.134

<> Fish follow edges of erratic dead zones in Great Lakes - Dead zones caused by oxygen depletion can be extremely variable and fast-moving in Lake Erie, but fish tend to cluster around the zone edges, according to new research from the United States Geological Survey.

<> Great Lakes Mud - Residents living near sediment remediation projects can now stay up-to-date on cleanup goals and milestones with GreatLakesMud.org. Developed by Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, the comprehensive website provides information on waterways selected for cleanup and restoration through the Great Lakes Legacy Act.

<> Utility to cut sulfur emissions at Lake Superior coal plant - The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has come to an agreement with Minnesota Power on a timeline to update a sulfur dioxide (SO2) air pollution permit for Taconite Harbor Energy Center in Schroeder.

<> Film covering threat of incoming invasive carp into Great Lakes to be shown in Trenton - The eye-opening film will show viewers the threat and complicated fight against the Asian carp, an invasive species of fish that's making its way toward the Great Lakes.

Michigan News

<> Reminder: Governor's Recycling Summit & Conference May 5-7, Register Now! - Kalamazoo Radisson; Register by 5pm, April 14th and save

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

<> MI Earth Day Fest highlights sustainable efforts of businesses and community organizations to make Earth Day every day - Upon Earth Day's 45th anniversary on April 22, the city of Rochester is hosting its 10th annual MI Earth Day Fest -- attracting more than 50,000 unique guests each year.

<> Greening of Detroit plans to plant 4,000 trees across city this year - Associated Press - A nonprofit that supports urban reforestation efforts is planting about 4,000 trees across Detroit this year and has new software to track its plantings.

<> Electricity competition may be on way out in Michigan - Michigan's experiment with partially deregulating its electricity market could be over -- bills to rescind the law which allows 10% of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy customers to leave for an alternate (i.e., cheaper) supplier are moving through the State House.

<> Take Cover Michigan: Statewide Tornado Drill on April 16

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).