Regulatory Activity

EPA Seeks Public Input on Climate Change

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a request for comment on its draft report concerning the impacts of climate change to human health. The agency is seeking input from the public on “proposed plans for scoping, drafting, reviewing, producing, and disseminating the Interagency Special Report on the Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States. Comments are due March 31.

EPA Enforcement

The EPA has released analysis of its enforcement activities for FY 2013. The top five areas of civil enforcement for the year focused on pounds of pollution reduced/eliminated; hazardous waste treated/disposed; cleanup of contaminated soil; cleanup of contaminated water and the restoration/creation of stream miles, in that order. Analysis is also provided by region.

EPA to Examine Retail Waste

The EPA has also announced it will be seeking data on the retail industry concerning the production of hazardous waste. Specifically, the agency “seeks comment on existing data on the retail industry universe and amount of hazardous waste it generates, and suggestions for improving hazardous waste regulations for retail operations.

Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

Extreme Weather

Wednesday, February 12: The Senate Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Extreme Weather Events: The Costs of Not Being Prepared. The Committee will hear testimony from: David Heyman, Assistant Secretary for Policy, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Caitlin Durkovich, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security; Mark Gaffigan, Managing Director, Natural Resources and Environment Issues, U.S. Government Accountability Office and state and local officials.

Renewables

Wednesday, February 12: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Energy, will hold a hearing titled “Lessons from State Efficiency and Renewable Programs. The committee will hear testimony from state and local entities including those from Minnesota, Texas and Hawaii.

Environment and Transportation

Wednesday, February 12: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a full committee hearing to examine surface transportation funding titled, “MAP-21 Reauthorization: The Economic Importance of Maintaining Federal Investments in our Transportation Infrastructure. Senators will hear testimony from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO, American Road and Transportation Builders Association, National Association of Manufacturers and the State of Kentucky.