Saturday, May 26, 2012

News of Note

EPA Not Mandated to Update Clean Air Rules

Courthouse News
The Clean Air Act does not require the Environmental Protection Agency to revise its air quality protection rules just because national standards for ozone have changed, a federal judge ruled.

WildEarth Guardians, Sierra Club, and Midwest Environmental Defense filed a series of actions under the Clean Air Act's (CAA) citizen suit provision to force Lisa Jackson, Administrator of the EPA, to review and modify the way it regulates air pollution from ozone.  
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U.S. Government Has Spent Nearly $70 Billion on Climate Activities Since FY08

Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service estimates that since 2008 the federal government has spent nearly $70 billion on “climate change activities.


 
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GAO and Notre Dame Law Studies Find Major Flaws in Equal Access to Justice Act

Representative Cynthia Lummis
Over the last several weeks, more data has come out indicating problems with how the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA) is working.  Studies from both the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Notre Dame Law School show funds are flowing to environmental groups contrary to Congressional intent.   Read More ...

Wyoming Mineral Leases: Activists File Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lawsuit

Huffington Post
Citing global warming, environmental groups are asking a federal judge to call a halt in Wyoming to one of the largest coal-mining plans ever approved by the U.S. government.  In a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., the Sierra Club and WildEarth Guardians said the federal Bureau of Land Management failed to consider the impact of greenhouse gases that will be emitted when coal from four government mineral leases in Wyoming is burned in power plants across the nation and in Asia.

The leases contain roughly 2 billion tons of coal in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin, a geologic region in northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana that produces about 40 percent of the country's coal.  
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In The Spotlight

Utah Launches Lawsuit to Secure Rights to Public Roads

St. George News
The Utah Attorney General’s Office filed lawsuits last week accusing the federal government of illegally taking control of nearly 4,000 state and county roads in 13 counties. The 13 separate complaints allege the federal government’s actions have hurt public access, damaged the economy and put motorists at risk.   Read More ...

WY Governor Mead Looks to Establish CO2 Pipeline Network

Wyoming Business Report
Currently, anyone who wants to build a carbon dioxide pipeline on federal lands needs to work through the patchwork quilt of nine Bureau of Land Management offices throughout Wyoming. Gov. Matt Mead aims to change that by prepping pre-approved pipeline corridors that "would protect open spaces and minimize environmental impacts."   Read More ...

Engage Now to Help Stop Finalization of EPA/Corps Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Guidance 

Western Business Roundtable
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) / Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are seeking to finalize guidance that would significantly broaden the scope of federal authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) by expanding the definition of "waters of the United States."   The proposed guidance is now being considered for finalization by the White House Office of Budget and Management (OMB).  
 
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USDA and CO Governor Release Final EIS for CO Roadless Rule

U.S. Department of Agriculture
U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper today announced the release of the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Colorado Roadless Rule.  The rule will impact an estimated 4.2 million acres of National Forest roadless areas within the state.  Today's announcement is the culmination of a seven-year process.   Read More ...

For Our Members

Capitol Hill Wrap-Up: Key Actions by Congress Impacting Western Energy & Resource Sectors -- May 18th Edition

Western Business Roundtable
Welcome to the May 18th, 2012 Western Business Roundtable's "Capitol Hill Wrap-Up Report," a weekly snap-shot report featuring short summaries regarding some key recent developments in Congress.   Read More ...

Roundtable Federal Regulatory Tracking Calendar -- May & June Comment Opportunities

Western Business Roundtable
Welcome to the May, 2012 edition of the Western Business Roundtable's "Federal Regulatory Tracking Calendar."   Read More ...

Engage Now to Help Stop Finalization of EPA/Corps Clean Water Act Jurisdictional Guidance 

Western Business Roundtable
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) / Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are seeking to finalize guidance that would significantly broaden the scope of federal authority under the Clean Water Act (CWA) by expanding the definition of "waters of the United States."   The proposed guidance is now being considered for finalization by the White House Office of Budget and Management (OMB).  
 
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Capitol Hill Wrap-Up: Key Actions by Congress Impacting Western Energy & Resource Sectors -- May 11th Edition

Western Business Roundtable
Welcome to the May 11th, 2012 Western Business Roundtable's "Capitol Hill Wrap-Up Report," a weekly snap-shot report featuring short summaries regarding some key recent developments in Congress.   Read More ...

 

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