Regulatory Activity EPA Continues to Review Air Quality The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the availability of its draft plan for the agency’s review of secondary national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur (NOX/SOX). For information on accessing the draft, click here. Comments are due December 30. … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity US/Europe Energy Relations On Thursday, November 5, the U.S. House of Representatives and the European Parliament will jointly discuss energy security issues. The House Energy and Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold an “Energy Security Roundtable” with European members of the Transatlantic Legislators’ Dialogue. The event will be co-chaired by … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Clean Power Plan Last week, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) finally published in the Federal Register the final Clean Power Plan. This regulatory action is one of the keystones of the Obama Administration climate change initiative, which it sees as an important part of the President’s legacy. With this announcement, the EPA is … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Oil and Gas The Department of the Interior has issued a Proposed Rule to establish “minimum standards for accurate measurement and proper reporting of all gas removed or sold from Federal and Indian leases.” The proposal excludes the Osage Tribe. Comments are due December 14. Legislative Activity This Week’s Hearings: On Tuesday, October … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House “Comprehensive” Energy Bill and Crude Oil Export Legislation The leadership of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce is expected to put forth a new version of its comprehensive energy bill this week on Tuesday, and will likely hold a full committee markup of the legislation on Thursday. In addition, the Committee … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Proposed Rules for Vehicles to Control GHG The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Transportation have announced proposed rules to create a “comprehensive Phase 2 Heavy-Duty National Program” intended to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel consumption for new on-road heavy-duty vehicles. The program focuses on phasing in new technology … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Local Government Input for EPA EPA has announced its upcoming meeting of the Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) to be be held Thursday, July 30 and its meeting for the Small Communities Advisory Subcommittee, which will be held on Friday, July 31. According to the agency, the LGAC will discuss “issues pertaining to protecting … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gases from Aircraft The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has announced its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking upon the release of its “Proposed Finding That Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Aircraft Cause or Contribute to Air Pollution That May Reasonably Be Anticipated To Endanger Public Health and Welfare.” EPA will hold a public hearing … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Deepwater Horizon Spill Restoration The Department of the Interior’s draft Phase IV Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessments regarding the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill currently proposes 10 early restoration projects. The Department is extending the public comment period on its draft until July 6. Greenhouse Gas On Friday, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of … 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 Waters of the U.S. Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers announced the issuance of their final rule defining “Waters of the U.S.” However, according to the EPA, the rule could take up two weeks to be published in the Federal Register. Once published, the rule will … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Clean Water Act The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will extend its public comment period on the proposed “Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule for the Analysis of Effluent” until May 20. Background on the proposed rule can be found here. Mineral Activity on the OCS The Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Following the regulatory process, on Friday, April 3, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent its proposed rule concerning the “Definition of the Waters of the U.S” to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review. At that time, EPA also released a statement about the proposed … Continue Reading
Executive Branch Activity Wind Energy Expectations The White House has released its updated study by the Department of Energy on the future of U.S. wind energy titled, “The Wind Vision Report.” The report contains a revised expectation from 2008 with wind powering 10 percent of electricity in 2020, 20 percent in 2030, and 35 percent in … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Clean Water Proposed Rule The Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) has announced a proposed rule that would allow “changes to pollutant analysis methods that are used by industries and municipalities to analyze the chemical, physical, and biological components of wastewater and other environmental samples that are required by regulations under the Clean Water Act.” … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Waters of the U.S. Last week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee held a joint hearing to discuss the “Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments.” The hearing addressed concerns with the proposed rule including costs, definitions … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Upcoming Ground-Level Ozone Hearings The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold three upcoming public hearings located in Texas, California and Washington, D.C. to address issues related to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Ozone. The hearings will be held on January 29 in Texas and Washington, D.C. and on February 2 … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity 2015 Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water is seeking comments on an information collection regarding identifying infrastructure needs of public water systems for the next 20 years, from January 2015 through December 2034. This is a renewal of an information … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity EPA Extends Comment Period for Proposed Rule on Clean Power Plan The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the public comment period for its Clean Power Plan proposed rule which would limit carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The comment deadline which was formerly October 20 is now December 1. Read our … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity EPA to Hold Public Hearings on Clean Power Plan This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold public hearings in Washington D.C., Atlanta, Denver and Pittsburgh to receive comments on its proposed Clean Power Plan. EPA’s Clean Power Plan intends to reduce carbon emissions from existing power plants to 30 percent below … 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
Regulatory Activity Greenhouse Gas Pursuant to President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will soon propose to prohibit certain chemicals contributing to emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a class of greenhouse gases. According to EPA, the “proposed action would change the status of certain high-global warming potential (GWP) HFCs that were previously listed … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity EPA Approves New Measurements for Ozone In significant news for entities attempting to maintain or attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQSs), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it has approved four new testing methods that are now allowed for measuring ozone and related pollutants in determining compliance. The alternative tests can … Continue Reading
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
