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To: From: Sent: Subject: Jackson, Ryan[jackson.ryan@epa.gov] Bloomberg BNA Thur 6/8/2017 12:06:44 AM June 08 - Daily Environment Report Daily Environment Report June 08, 2017 - Number 109 The Bloomberg BNA Daily Environment Report is brought to you by EPA Libraries. Please note, these materials may be copyrighted and should not be forwarded outside of the U.S. EPA. If you have any questions or no longer wish to receive these messages, please contact Josue Rivera-Olds at riveraolds.josue@epa.gov, 202-566-1558. Leading the News Chemicals Bathtub Refinishers' Deaths Renew Debate: Label Products or Ban? Federal and state agencies have attributed the deaths of at least 17 bathtub refinishers since 2000 to the workers' exposure to the paint stripper methylene chloride, prompting government actions. Enforcement Advocate for Clients Such as BP d Environment at Justice President Donald Trump's choice to lead the environment section at the Justice Department is a Washington litigator known for his advocacy on behalf of clients such as BP PLC in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in opposing EPA climate regulations. Enforcement Justice Memo Leaves Environmental Settlement Projects C g A June 7 Justice Department policy memo that prohibits including payments for third-party, not-for-profit groups in settlements could limit the inclusion of certain environmental projects, reversing a decades-long practice, attorneys told Bloomberg BNA. News Agriculture Environmental Group Push ` ck on Calls to Expand Farm Program A new report from the Washington-based Environmental Working Group takes aim at a USDA program that pays farmers annually to remove sensitive land from production. Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00002507-00001 Air Pollution Peru Loosens / rution Rules After Min,, r. ' mplain Peru's Environment Ministry modified the country's air quality standards, increasing permissible levels for sulfur dioxide emissions. Budget Senators Troubled by Proposed Cuts to Forest Service Budget U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell is pinning some of his budget hopes on the prospect of a wide-ranging federal infrastructure spending plan that could address many issues--including some shortfalls in the Trump administration's budget request for his agency. Chemicals Butter Flavoring, Solvent Hazards Mulled in Draft Reports A butter-flavoring agent blamed for causing lung disease in workers and a solvent are summarized in draft technical reports the National Toxicology Program released for public comment and peer review. Climate Change How Australia Survived a Climate Policy Reversal Australian businesses and organizations say they know firsthand the damage that can be done if a national government retreats from climate commitments--and they have some suggestions for U.S. companies on how to respond. Climate Change If Trump Gets His Way, World May Not Know If U.S. Emissions Rise President Donald Trump's critics argue that pulling the U.S. out of the Paris climate accord will lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Coal Mining Lawmakers, Regulators Stress Urgency to Renew Mine Cleanup Fee Congress is already behind schedule in renewing a fee on coal companies that's essential for cleaning up the $10.5 billion worth of abandoned mines across the country, lawmakers and state regulators said June 7. Coal-Fired Power Plants Utilities Seek Ohio Subsidies Even as Coal Falls From Power Mix American Electric Power and other electricity companies want Ohio ratepayers to prop up two of their aging coal-fired power plants until 2040 despite AEP's predictions that coal will drop in its mix for electricity generation. Compliance Programs VW U.S. Court Monitor to Triple Staff to Halt Rerun of Scandal Volkswagen AG's U.S. court-appointed monitor might roughly triple the number of experts supervising the German car manufacturer to 60 staffers as investigations into its diesel emissions scandal weigh on the company almost two years after the cheating emerged. Congress House Panel Approves Energy Bills as Pallone Urges Climate Action A House panel unanimously approved a slew of energy bills June 7, including a measure to increase workforce education and training for energy and manufacturing-related fields. Drinking Water Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00002507-00002 Cancer Study Finds No Link to PFOA Exposure in N.Y. Town A study of Hoosick Falls, N.Y. residents by the New York State Health Department found no statistically significant incidents of cancers normally associated with exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Endangered Species Interior to Review Sage Grouse Poli< isider Changes The federal government will review conservation plans for the greater sage grouse to determine how it can work more closely with states and use more flexibility and innovation to protect the bird in 11 Western states, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said June 7. Energy Dark Clouds Hang Over Nuclear Town Torpedoed by Green Energy In an eerily quiet nuclear reactor hall in southern Sweden, new copper and steel machinery stretching 50 meters and weighing hundreds of tons is just sitting idle. Energy Key Shale-Boom Booster Threatened by Trump's Spending-Cut Plans An agency instrumental to America's surge in energy production would lose half its funding in President Donald Trump's proposed federal budget. Energy Top German Court Blocks Nuclear Fuel Tax Germany's Constitutional Court said June 7 the federal government overstepped its powers when introducing the national nuclear-fuel tax in 2011. Enforcement U.S. Ends Bank Penalty Practice Called `Slush Fund' by GOP The U.S. Justice Department is ending an Obama-era practice of allocating some Wall Street settlement money to advocacy groups that Republican lawmakers claimed were backing liberal causes. Price Fixing Epic Gas Trading Cartel Case Ne ~k in the Road Natural gas companies including Xcel Energy Inc., CMS Energy Corp., and Dynegy Inc. may be headed to trial over allegations of fixing prices in the early 2000s, bringing to a close a massive 14-year effort to resolve discovery and other pretrial disputes (In re Western States Wholesale Nat Gas Antitrust Litig. (Learjet, Inc. v. ONEOK Inc.), D. Nev., No. 2:03-cv-01431- RCJ-PAL Case No. 2:06-cv-00233-RCJ-PAL Case No. 2:07-cv-00987-RCJ-PAL, 6/5/17). Radioactive Waste Private Storage is Fastest Nuclear Waste Option: Sen. Alexander The quickest---and possibly least expensive--solution for storing the country's used nuclear fuel would be at privately run interim storage facilities, the Republican heading the Senate panel on the Energy Department's budget says. Regulatory Policy Committ } ' ' ' orably on Rao as Regulatory Chief A Senate committee asked technical, friendly questions of Neomi Rao, who is being considered as administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, which reviews all significant federal regulations. Toxic Substances Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00002507-00003 Australia Could Overhaul Chemical Assessments, Ban Animal Tests Six bills introduced to Australia's Parliament would recast the country's assessment regime for industrial chemicals and ban animal testing for cosmetics. Vehicle Fuels Electric Car Market Gc ' o to 2 Million in Five Years The number of electric vehicles on the road rocketed to 2 million in 2016 after being virtually non-existent just five years ago, according to the International Energy Agency. Podcast & Webinar Chemicals Webinar: Reviewing New Chemicals Under Amended TSCA Bergeson & Campbell, P.C. and Bloomberg BNA present a free webinar Monday, June 12, "Reviewing New Chemicals Under Amended TSCA: Impact on Innovation." Speakers include Lynn Bergeson, managing partner of Bergeson & Campbell; Richard Engler, senior chemist at Bergeson & Campbell; Charlie Auer, senior regulatory and policy adviser at Bergeson & Campbell; Jeffery Morris, director of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics at the EPA; Beth Bosley, president of... EPA PODCAST: What Happens When Empty Desks Run the Government President Donald Trump blamed Democrats June 5 for "taking forever" to approve his administration's appointees in a tweet, saying that "They are nothing but OBSTRUCTIONISTS!" But, Trump hasn't moved the quickest of the last few presidents on vetting and getting appointees through the confirmation process--in fact, he is the slowest of the last four presidents, according to data collected by the Partnership for Public Service. Of the 559 key positions ... Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Manage Your Email | Contact Us 1801 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202 Copyright 2017 The Bureau of National Affairs, Inc.. Daily Environment Report for EPA Sierra Club v. EPA, 1:17-cv-01906 ED_001523_00002507-00004