Wednesday, February 19, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 2/19/14

<> Remarks by the President on Fuel Efficiency Standards of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles- In my State of the Union address, I said that this would be a year of action, and I meant it. . .  today, America is closer to energy independence than we've been in decades. . . goal is to develop fuel economy standards for heavy-duty trucks that will take us well into the next decade, just like our cars. 

·  Kicking Vehicle Efficiency into High Gear

<> EPA Takes Action To Protect Public From Harmful Lead Exposure – U.S. EPA announced enforcement actions that will require 35 home renovation contractors and training providers to take additional steps to protect communities by minimizing harmful lead dust from home renovation activities, as required...

<> C2ES highlights findings from 16 plug-in electric vehicle initiatives - Feb. 19, 2014; C2ES highlights findings from 16 plug-in electric vehicle initiativesWASHINGTON -- Cities and states are building the expertise needed to encourage mass market adoption of electric vehicles, according to a new report prepared by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)

<> Thinking Appropriately About Climate Change - . . . saying that climate change is a "fact" is a disservice to the public because it invites people to think about the issue in a misleading and unproductive way.

<> Methane Emissions Far Worse Than US Estimates, But Study Concludes Natural Gas Still Better Than Coal - Emissions of the potent heat-trapping gas, methane, the main component of natural gas, are likely 50 percent higher than U.S. government has estimated in its official greenhouse gas inventory, says a new study that is the most comprehensive effort yet to assess the problem.read more. . .

<> Smith Statement on President's Billion Dollar Climate Fund - Washington, D.C. – Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the following statement following a speech by President Obama announcing a new $1 billion "Climate Resilience Fund" that will be included in his administration's budget proposal next month. Chairman Smith: "In order to push his costly climate change agenda, the. . . 

<> EWG's 2014 Shopper's Guide To Avoiding GE Food - the U.S. government does not require labeling of GE foods or ingredients so that shoppers can make informed decisions.

<> RFA Unveils 2014 Industry Outlook and Pocket Guide - (February 18, 2014) ORLANDO, Fla. — The Renewable Fuels Association released its annual 2014 Ethanol Industry Outlook and 2014 Pocket Guide to Ethanol providing an in-depth look at the current state of the ethanol industry at the National Ethanol Conference in Orlando, Fla. "Last year was a tough year for the industry as misguided attacks on the RFS came from all angles. 

<> UN Thematic Debate on Water, Sanitation and Sustainable Energy - Water, sanitation and sustainable energy are at the core of sustainable development and the overarching goal of poverty eradication, and are closely linked to the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

<> Environmental profit and loss: The new corporate balancing act - Efforts to assess environmental issues in financial terms are starting to take off. 

<> Nebraska Landowners Purchase Anti-Keystone XL Radio Ads - Bold Nebraska will be running a new ad on a local Sandhills radio station to counter the misinformation being spread by TransCanada among Nebraska landowners and citizens.

<> Linking U.S. and Canadian Border Waters – USGS Seamless digital maps of surface waters completed along the Canada and United States International Boundary. . . 

<> Vitter: EPA OIG Has Failed Congress in Recent Investigations