Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Data The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to publish data it has collected from industry and related parties under the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program. The agency is seeking comment on its plan to publicly release information by aggregating in order to protect the confidentially of entities that provided information. Comments on … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Clean Power Plan” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from existing power plants will fundamentally shift the nation’s energy economy for generations to come. Broadly speaking, the proposal would require state governments to implement plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) from existing power plants by … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity DOE Proposes to Amend Procedures for LNG Export Application Review On Thursday, May 29, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Fossil Energy proposed to amend the agency’s review process for applications to export liquefied natural gas (LNG) to countries that are not party to a free-trade-agreement with the U.S. The Department plans … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Shaheen/Portman Energy Cloture Vote Fails On Monday, May 12 the Senate voted against a motion to invoke cloture and end debate on S. 2262, the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014,” after Senate leaders were unable to reach a deal to consider a group of energy-related amendments. While Senate Majority Leader … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Shaheen/Portman Energy Cloture Vote Scheduled for Monday On Monday, May 12, the Senate will consider a motion to invoke cloture to end debate on S. 2262, the “Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2014,” a comprehensive energy efficiency bill introduced by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH). As of this … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate to Consider Environmental Nominations On Tuesday, May 13, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a full committee hearing to evaluate President Obama’s nominations for key environmental positions. Dr. Monica Regalbuto is being nominated for Assistant Secretary of the Department of Energy (DOE) to oversee the department’s Office of Environmental … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Ozone A court order issued last week instructs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue its proposed rule concerning ozone by December 1, 2014, and a final rule by October 1, 2015. This action would finalize the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) that are expected to significantly impact cities, counties, transportation systems … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House E&C Committee to Vote on LNG Export Legislation On Wednesday, April 30, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will consider H.R. 6, the “Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act.” The legislation, which enjoys the support of the Committee’s senior most Republican leadership and appears headed for the House floor for a vote … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Clean Water Act The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have finally published for public comment their proposed rule defining the scope of waters protected under the Clean Water Act (CWA). As we previously noted in the Capital Thinking Report, the proposed rule is potentially likely to have … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Emissions The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a panel to consider proposed rule changes to amend and extend the medium- and heavy-duty vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards beyond the model year 2018. According to the EPA, the proposed changes are likely to include “more stringent engine and vehicle GHG … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity Climate Change Announcement The White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has announced the creation and launch of www.data.gov/climate which is intended to collect information related to climate change in order to help cities and the business community prepare to become more resilient to climate change. Initially focusing on sea level rise … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Emissions The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is extending the public comment period on its proposed Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources for Electric Utility Generating Units until May 9. Lead and Copper EPA has announced public meetings of the National Drinking Water Advisory Council Lead and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Schedules “Energy Week” for Legislative Debate This week, the House Republican leadership has planned a thematic “energy week” to organize legislative debate on the floor. The House will consider three rules bills and several non-controversial bills under suspension of the rules. The three rules bills include: (1) H.R.3826, the “Electricity Security and … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity FY 2015 Budgets On Tuesday, March 4, the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Interior will release their budget requests for Fiscal Year 2015. Oil and Gas Activity The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is creating a proposed rule concerning managing activities of non-federal oil and gas development in the National … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings Wednesday, February 26: The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Natural Resource Adaptation: Protecting Ecosystems and Economies.” Wednesday, February 26: The House Natural Resources Committee will hold an oversight hearing titled, “American Energy Jobs: Opportunities for Veterans.” Thursday, February 27: The House Energy and Commerce … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity EPA To Propose New GHG Emissions Rule for Oil and Gas Facilities The EPA is proposing revisions to the greenhouse gas reporting rule for oil and gas facilities that will revise calculation methods, monitoring and data reporting requirements, terms and definitions including confidentiality determinations. Affected parties are likely to include: pipeline transportation of … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Energy Committee Approves Bill to Limit EPA GHG Regulatory Authority On Tuesday, January 28, the House Energy and Commerce Committee voted to favorably report H.R. 3826, the “Electricity Security and Affordability Act,” to the full House by a near party-line vote of 29-19, with only two Democrats – Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Future Climate Scenarios The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released phase-two of its National Stormwater Calculator. EPA highlights that “the updated calculator includes future climate vulnerability scenarios.” Primarily used to estimate the annual amount of stormwater runoff from a specific location, EPA notes that the tool also includes “changes in seasonal precipitation levels, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Lawmakers Request EPA to Revise Corn Ethanol Volume Targets On Thursday, January 16, a bipartisan group of 30 House members sent a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting the agency to reverse course on its latest proposal to revise the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume obligations for corn ethanol. In the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Energy and Commerce to Consider Bill to Limit EPA’s Regulatory Authority On Monday, January 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a markup vote on H.R. 3826, the “Electricity Security and Affordability Act.” The legislation seeks to curtail the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) ability to control … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House to Consider Environmental Regulatory Reform Legislation This week, the House will consider H.R. 2279, the “Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act.” The legislation consolidates three bills that were favorably reported by the Energy and Commerce Committee last year dealing with the Solid Waste Disposal Act (the “SWDA”), the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Wind Turbine Funding Opportunity The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Wind Program intends to release a funding opportunity in early 2014 targeting the development of taller wind turbines. According to DOE, “the funding opportunity is expected to focus on innovative designs and processes for wind turbine tower manufacturing and turbine system installations that … Continue Reading
