Monday, April 14, 2014

WIMS Environmental HotSheet 4/14/14

National / International News

 

<> Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change - Berlin. 13 April – A new report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates it would be possible, using a wide array of technological measures and changes in behavior, to limit the increase in global mean temperature to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

<> Ohio DNR Links Eartquakes With Fracking Activity - Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Director James Zehringer announced new, stronger permit conditions for drilling near faults or areas of past seismic activity. The new policies are in response to recent seismic events in Poland Township (Mahoning County) that show a probable connection to hydraulic fracturing near a previously unknown microfault.

<> A new DOE proposal would cement a big leap in lighting efficiency, but Congress is preventing even bigger savings - New energy-saving standards for certain types of incandescent and fluorescent light bulbs proposed by the Department of Energy (DOE) last Friday mark another important step in improving lighting efficiency in the United States.

<> Energy Department Announces $4 Million for University Consortium to Advance America's Water Power Industry - April 11, 2014Energy Department Announces $4 Million for University Consortium to Advance America's Water Power Industry The Energy Department today announced $4 million to engage America's research. . .

<> Co-Chair Governor Whitman Highlights Importance of CASEnergy Coalition at the Bloomberg Future of Energy Summit - Governor Whitman speaks at the Bloomberg Future of Energy Summit in New York City. CASEnergy Coalition Co-Chair Governor Christine Todd Whitman wrapped up a busy day on Tuesday at the Bloomberg Future of Energy. . .

<> Urbanization: The city of dreams or an urban nightmare? - Over the last few months, PwC have been working with clients to understand the big changes that are disrupting their organizations - and the economy as a whole. PWC - PriceWaterhouse distilled what they've learned down into five global shifts - the megatrends which are already driving change, and will continue to do so over the coming decades.

<> Agriculture's greenhouse gas emissions on the rise, warns UN agency - From farming to forestry and fisheries, agriculture greenhouse emissions have nearly doubled over the past 50 years and may increase by another 30 per cent by 2050, according to new estimates out today from the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

<> GuLF STUDY Gears Up for Second Round of Health Exams - Research continues four years after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health, leading the largest health study ever conducted on the potential health effects of an oil spill, are encouraging participants to stay involved in this long-term project.

<> A Concept for Optimizing Strategic Energy Infrastructure? - A timely new report published by the World Economic Forum in April 2014 titled "Strategic Infrastructure Steps to Operate and Maintain Infrastructure Efficiently and Effectively" addresses an important area for necessary investment globally: infrastructure.

<> Union threatens retribution for House Dems opposing Keystone - A top building trades union is launching a midterm-election assault on House Democrats who oppose construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. A letter distributed Friday by the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)

<> World's largest crop art to be created in opposition to Keystone XL - Cowboy and Indian Alliance Send Pres. Obama #NOKXL Message from Corn Field World's largest crop art to be created, kicking-off the Reject and Protect events Who: Cowboy and Indian Alliance, artist John Quigley, Bold. . .

<> Center for Media and Democracy 23 Min Film On KXL Pipeline - Addresses the claims of proponents of the Keystone XL pipeline regarding jobs, energy security, gas prices, safety, and climate change

 

Federal Register Highlights 

The following is an alert of Environmental Federal Register announcements that may be of interest for: Monday, April 14, 2014.  (Click here to access today's complete Federal Register index with links to complete announcements).

 

1. Nothing We're Tracking Today (click for the complete Energy & EPA announcements)