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Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] Bloomberg BNA Wed 9/13/2017 12:29:29 AM Sep. 13 - Daily Environment Report
Daily Environment Report
September 13, 2017 - Number 176
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Leading the News
Enforcement EPA Adds Agents to Guard Pruitt, While Fewer Fighting Crimes The EPA has 151 federal law enforcement officials working environmental crimes cases--49 short of the number set by a 1990 law--and there is no indication their ranks will increase.
News
Air Pollution Canadian Potash Producers Guided on Emissions Monitoring Fertilizer and animal feed companies in Canada should monitor and report particulate matter emissions from their production as the world's largest supplier of potash cracks down on pollution.
Chemical Security EPA to Probe Arkema Plant's Safety Procedures After Explosion The EPA is opening an investigation into whether Arkema's chemical plant in Crosby, Texas, was in compliance with existing regulations when explosions occurred at the plant after it suffered flooding from Hurricane Harvey.
Chemicals Furniture Industry Has Grave Concerns Over EPA Solvent Ban The furniture industry would be destroyed if the Environmental Protection Agency enacts a broad ban of a common paint-stripping chemical, business owners told the agency Sept. 12.
Climate Change Exxon Must Disclose Accounting Details in N.Y. Climate Probe
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000906-00001
Exxon Mobil Corp.'s attempt to use "accountant-client privilege" to avoid handing over audit documents in a politically charged climate-change probe was dealt a final blow by New York's top court.
Climate Change wn Climate Change in Suit Against Exxon: Judge
A federal judge said he wanted to avoid having "the Scopes Monkey Trial of the 21st Century," and ordered an environmental organization to remove claims based on climate change in its lawsuit against Exxon Mobil Corp.
Emissions Trading
EU Said to Mull Markir
~bon Permits in Contingency Plan
The European Commission will propose marking carbon allowances issued by the U.K. as of
January 2018 as part of Brexit-related rules to make the world's biggest emissions market
resistant to potential supply turmoil.
Energy Proposed Maryland Offshore Winr1 tom to ws Diverse Opposition A proposal to ban offshore wind projects in Maryland waters is attracting opposition from a band of unlikely allies, with oil company representatives front and center.
Hydraulic Fracturing Delaware River Basin Fracking Talks Could Be Revived A de facto moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in the Delaware River basin--in place since December 2010---could be up for discussion again before a multistate watershed commission.
Motor Vehicles China Solar-Cell Maker Explores Electric Cars With World No. 2 Golden Concord Group Ltd., a Chinese energy conglomerate, said it's seeking opportunities in electric vehicles, joining investors like billionaire Li Ka-shing who are pushing into the sector as the government works on a plan to phase out internal-combustion autos.
Renewable Energy
German Coastal States Urge Merkel to Raise Offshore Wi
gets
Germany's coastal states and cities urged Chancellor Angela Merkel to raise the nation's
offshore wind power target to take advantage of the technology's plummeting costs.
Renewable Energy Solar Developers Hoarding Panels as Threat of U.S. Tariffs Looms Solar developers are suspending construction as the looming threat of U.S. import tariffs has driven up prices and spurred hoarding, crippling panel supplies.
Renewable Energy Utility-Scale Solar Hits Cost Goal, Focus Turns to Reliability The solar industry has met the Energy Department's goal to reduce the average price of utility-scale solar to 6 cents per kilowatt-hour---three years ahead of the agency's 2020 target.
Sustainability Evian Aims to Deflect Water Criticism by Going Carbon Neutral Evian aims to become the first major spring water brand to go carbon neutral amid criticism that packaging water from the French Alps and transporting it around the world in plastic
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000906-00002
bottles causes unnecessary environmental damage.
Sustainability
Tyson, Carg
I Nestle on Water Conservation, Study Shows
Agricultural giants such as Cargill Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. are trailing their counterparts
and customers in the food and beverage industries when it comes to using, tracking and
conserving water, according to a report from a climate-change researcher.
Water Pollution StarKist to Pay $6.3 Million to Settle Samoan Water Violations StarKist Co. will pay $6.3 million and bring its tuna processing plant in American Samoa into compliance with federal environmental laws under a Sept. 12 agreement.
Hillwatch
Air Pollution DIESEL EMISSIONS (S. 1447) The bill would reauthorize the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act, the popular federal clean air program commonly known as the DERA program, for targeting emissions from older diesel engines. The bipartisan bill would reauthorize the program through fiscal year 2022 at its current funding level of $50 million. The program provides grants and rebates to states and localities to move away from diesel engines and upgrade or replace older diesel engine ...
Air Pollution OZONE STANDARDS (H.R. 806, S. 263) The legislation would postpone deadlines under the Environmental Protection Agency's updated ozone air pollution standards. Both called the Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017, the bills would give the EPA another eight years to determine which areas of the country do not meet the 70 parts per billion ozone standards set in 2015. The legislation also would extend from every five years to every 10 years ...
Brownfields BROWNFIELDS (H.R. 1758, S. 822) These bills would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Program, which provides grants and training to redevelop contaminated land. The House bill would add grant considerations for brownfields contaminated by petroleum products and reduce the amount of a grant that can be used for administrative costs. The Senate bill specifies that small and rural communities should be considered for a subcategory of program grants, emphasizes ...
Climate Policy CARBON CAPTURE (S. 1535) The Furthering Carbon Capture, Utilization, Technology, Underground Storage, and Reduced Emissions (FUTURE) Act would increase tax credits for carbon capture and sequestration under Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Climate Policy CARBON TAX
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
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(H.R. 3420, S. 1639) The American Opportunity Carbon Fee Act would put in place a carbon tax of $49 per metric ton of greenhouse gas emissions, to be collected by the Treasury Department. The fee would be applied to all fossil fuels when mined, processed, refined, or imported, and would be increased 2 percent annually to adjust for inflation.
Coal Mining COAL MINE CLEANUP (H.R. 1731, S. 728, S. 738) The RECLAIM Act (all three bills) would draw $1 billion from the federal Abandoned Mine Land fund and deliver the money to coal states so they can clean up their most polluted or dangerous old mines. Money in the fund comes from a tax on coal production. The bills are also meant to promote economic revitalization, diversification, and development in economically distressed communities. The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation ...
Energy ENERGY POLICY The Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 (S. 1460) would require the Energy Department to expedite approval of liquefied natural gas export projects, while authorizing $90 million in annual spending for safeguards against cybersecurity attacks. The nearly 900page bill also includes a range of energy efficiency, power grid modernization, and pipeline measures.
Energy )L
(H.R. 1311, S. 517) Both bills, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, would allow sales of transportation fuel containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) in the summer months.
Energy NUCLEAR. POLICY (H.R. 590, H.R. 1320, S. 512) H.R. 590, the Advanced Nuclear Technology Development Act, would direct the Energy Department and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to create a regulatory framework specifically for advanced reactors. H.R. 1320, the Nuclear Utilization of Keystone Energy Act, would change the structure for the annual fees nuclear companies pay the NRC, including limiting the amount of funding for NRC administrative support....
Energy NUCLEAR RESEARCH (H.R. 431, H.R. 589, S. 97) The Nuclear Energy Innovation Capabilities Act would expand private and public institutions' research and development of advanced nuclear energy technologies. Those efforts would include partnerships with Energy Department national laboratories. Advanced reactors are cooled by substances other than water, such as liquid metals and sodium, and reportedly have a stronger safety profile and lower costs than current reactors.
Pesticides PESTICIDE REGISTRATION (H.R. 1029) The bill would reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency to collect fees from industry to license pesticides, review their risk to health and the environment, and provide funds for farmworker training programs. The Pesticide Registration Improvement Extension Act would reauthorize the 2003 version of the law for three more years. The bill would allow the EPA to raise up to $31 million---an increase from $27.8 million--to maintain the ...
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000906-00004
Pesticides PESTICIDE USE (H.R. 953, S. 340) These bills would block the Environmental Protection Agency from requiring pesticide applicators to obtain Clean Water Act discharge permits before they apply pesticides into, over, or near bodies of water. The EPA's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System program requires permits for pollutant discharges into federally protected waters. Pesticides are registered for use by the EPA under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,...
Water Infrastructure WATER INFRASTRUCTURE (H.R. 3387) This bill would amend the Safe Drinking Water Act by reauthorizing a key infrastructure loan program at a higher funding level, providing funding to remove lead from school drinking fountains, and giving the EPA more authority to force small water utilities to consolidate, among other measures.
Water Infrastructure WATER RIGHTS (H.R. 2939, S. 1230) The bills would forbid the Forest Service and other permitting agencies from demanding that a business operating on federal lands relinquish its water rights in exchange for a permit. They were introduced in response to a 2014 draft proposal from the Forest Service that suggested the agency should acquire private water rights to improve its management of groundwater on federal lands.
Water Pollution BALLAST WATER (H.R. 1154, S. 168) These bills would direct the Coast Guard to establish national regulations for ballast water discharges under the National Invasive Species Act. The resulting standards would supersede the Environmental Protection Agency's ballast water regulations under the Clean Water Act and preempt most rulemaking at the state level. The EPA regulates ballast water and other incidental discharges from ships, such as gray water and rainwater runoff from decks.
Water Resources RURAL WATER ASSISTANCE (S. 518) The Small and Rural Community Clean Water Technical Assistance Act (S. 518) would authorize $75 million in training and assistance funds for publicly owned wastewater utilities to comply with federal regulations.
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Daily Environment Report for EPA
Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906
ED_001523_00000906-00005