Regulatory Activity

Greenhouse Gas Rule

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) anticipated Proposed Rule concerning greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for existing coal and natural gas fired power plants will be released to the public on Monday, June 2, at 10:30 am. To advance public awareness of the proposed rule, the President devoted his Saturday radio address to the topic. The President has directed EPA to complete work on the final rule before his term ends. The battle over the proposed rule is likely to be one of the most significant of his final two years in office.

Chemicals in Hydraulic Fracturing

EPA has issued an Advance Notice of Public Rulemaking for “Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals and Mixtures.” EPA is seeking comment on “information that should be reported or disclosed for hydraulic fracturing chemical substances and mixtures and the mechanism for obtaining this information.” Comments are due by August 18.

Climate Change

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has submitted a request for approval to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a new information collection concerning assessments of “the vulnerability of various natural resources and societal assets to climate change.” USGS intends for these assessments to be made public on the web. Comments on the information collection request are due June 20.

Ozone

EPA will hold an annual meeting of its Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) to decide upon performance standards to reduce ozone precursors from electric utilities and oil and gas boilers serving utilities. The meeting will also discuss reduction practices for vapor recovery at gas stations, large above ground storage tanks, seaports, non-road idling and related activities. The June 11 meeting is open to the public.

Legislative Activity

This Week’s Hearings:

Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Development

Tuesday, June 3: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Subcommittee on Subcommittee on Water and Power, will hold a legislative hearing on S. 2379, the Klamath Basin Water Recovery and Economic Restoration Act of 2014. The legislation enjoys broad support among a diverse group of stakeholders as a means of addressing water, economic development, conservation, and fisheries issues in the Klamath Basin, an area that covers nearly 16,000 square miles of southern Oregon and northern California.