Executive Branch Activity New Guidance Clarifying Energy Executive Order Last week, just four days before federal agencies’ initial plans were due to OMB, the White House issued a memo updating with more specifics as to how President Trump expects agencies to carry out his previously issued energy executive order (Executive Order 13783, “Promoting Energy Independence and … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity WOTUS Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicated its plans to solicit comments by June 19 as to how the agency should rewrite the “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule following President Trump’s February 28 executive order (EO) directing the agency to revise the contentious Obama Administration rule. Following the EO, EPA … Continue Reading
Executive Action USDA Secretary-Nominee Perdue Confirms Support for RFS During last week’s Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry’s confirmation hearing for former Governor Sonny Perdue to become Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), lawmakers questioned Perdue on his support for various programs affecting the agricultural sector, rural communities, and conservation efforts. Of … Continue Reading
Executive Action Waters of the US On Tuesday, February 28, President Donald Trump signed an executive order (EO) directing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to revise or rescind the Obama Administration’s controversial “waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule which defines the scope of the federal government’s regulatory … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House and Senate “Comprehensive” Energy Bills Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a markup of its comprehensive energy legislation that will be considered by the full House in the weeks ahead. In the Senate, Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) introduced … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Last week, pursuant to a request by Congress in 2010, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a draft report on the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing activities on drinking water resources in the United States. The activities covered in the assessment include: water acquisition, chemical mixing, well … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Pesticides and Waters of the United States The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting comment on its proposed data collection concerning potential changes to its permits for discharges to waters of the U.S. from biological and chemical pesticides that leave a residue. Comments are due by September 15. Ozone EPA is considering updating … Continue Reading