Preview Newsletter
PM ACC Clips Report - January 24, 2019
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(ACC Blog) Now Live! A New Resource to Help Families Understand Good Chemistry
Jan 24, 2019 | American Chemistry Matters
Do you know the important benefits of antimicrobials? These great products of chemistry do more than you think! Antimicrobials, also known as biocides, help prevent the growth and spread of microbes. Different classes of... -
(ACC Mentioned) Industry Groups: Lift 232 Tariffs so We Can Help Get USCMA Through Congress
Jan 23, 2019 | Inside US Trade
A broad coalition of industry groups is appealing to the Trump administration to remove steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico so they can turn their attention to getting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement through Congress. -
(ACC Mentioned) US Logistics Handle PE Export Demands
Jan 24, 2019 | ICIS
For the most part, the ports and railroads in the US have been able to handle the influx of polyethylene (PE) capacity that companies have been adding during the past couple of years, barring the hiccups that typically come when so... -
Shutdown Elbows Energy and Commerce Climate Hearing
Jan 24, 2019 | E&E - Greenwire
By George Cahlink
The latest victim of the federal government shutdown is an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on climate change that has been widely anticipated by environmentalists. Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone ... -
Pallone Announces Hearing on Government Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Tiffany Stecker
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Jan. 31 on the government shutdown’s effect on the agencies it oversees, including the Environmental Protection Agency. The hearing, the committee’s first in the 116th... -
Ewire: White House Assessing Effect of Months-Long Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | Inside EPA
The White House is asking federal agencies to describe the effects of the current partial government shutdown extending to March or even April, according to one report, a sign that the Trump administration could be preparing for... -
Chemical M&A Rebounded in 2018
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical & Engineering News
By Melody M. Bomgardner
Chemical firms spent $100 billion on mergers and acquisitions in 2018, up 56% from 2017 but far short of the $193 billion they spent in 2016, according to the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The number of acquisitions was... -
KFC Boosts Sustainability Efforts in Plastics Packaging
Jan 24, 2019 | Plastics News
By Jim Johnson
A well-known fast-food restaurant is taking a big step beyond the straw debate with a commitment to make all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging recoverable or reusable by 2025. KFC said the decision comes as... -
(ACC Mentioned) US Chemicals Industry Prepares for Increased TSCA Oversight
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Kelly Franklin
The US chemicals industry is preparing for increased Congressional oversight of TSCA in the coming year, Chemical Watch has learned. And, in recent interviews with industry representatives, it is clear a number of other policy... -
Shutdown-Related Delays Could Compromise TSCA Statutory Deadlines
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Lisa Martine Jenkins
The partial shutdown of the US government has hamstrung the EPA’s implementation of amendments to TSCA, and could threaten the agency’s ability to continue meeting the law’s statutory deadlines, according to legal experts. -
US Business Group Issues Call for ‘Sustainable Chemistry Technologies’
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
US based business group the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) has called for start-up companies to pitch their chemicals, materials, products and manufacturing technologies to its panel of investors and major companies. -
Echa Round-Up
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
Germany has submitted a restriction intention on the manufacture and placing on the market of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and related substances. The expected submission date for the dossier... -
UN Project Addresses Chemicals in Products, Lead in Paint
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Leigh Stringer
UN Environment has started a project that aims to better manage chemicals in products and accelerate the global phase-out of lead in paint. The project, named "Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern... -
ECJ Rules Echa Was Right to Identify DEHP as EDC for Environment
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Clelia Oziel
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed an appeal against Echa's decision four years ago to identify the phthalate DEHP as an endocrine disruptor for the environment. In a ruling on 23 January, the ECJ upheld the General... -
MEPs Blast Commission over Lack of Practical Measures on EDCs
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Luke Buxton
The European Commision has come under fire from MEPs who accuse it of continuing to drag its feet over action on regulating endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCS). Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament's environment... -
Canada Floats Further Phase-Outs on Long-Chain PFAs, Flame Retardants
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
The Canadian government is proposing to fully phase out the use of several flame retardants and long-chain perfluorinated compounds as part of its effort to protect endangered whales. Release of the proposed regulatory... -
French Agency Finds Unsafe Levels of Chemicals in Babies' Nappies
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Vanessa Zainzinger
The French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) has found hazardous chemicals at levels exceeding EU safety thresholds in some disposable nappies on the market. In a report published... -
Trump Plots Action on Energy
Jan 24, 2019 | E&E - Greenwire
By Niina Heikkinen, Hannah Northey and Ariel Wittenber
The Trump administration is considering executive actions to boost the proliferation of pipelines across the United States and limit state interference on water permitting, according to multiple industry sources familiar with the discussions. -
Democrats Probe Trump ‘Favoritism’ of Oil Industry in Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy
Lawmakers are intensifying their scrutiny of the Interior Department’s decision to keep churning out drilling permits and restart work on offshore oil leasing despite the government shutdown. At best the activity represents unfair... -
Freight Railroads Have Implemented PTC on over 80 Percent of Required Miles
Jan 24, 2019 | American Journal of Transportation
At the end of 2018, the nation’s largest freight railroads were operating positive train control (PTC) across the vast majority – 83.2 percent – of the required Class I PTC route miles nationwide according to newly released data from... -
(ACC Mentioned) Microplastics Inundate Oregon Coast - 760 Pounds Taken Off One Beach
Jan 24, 2019 | BeachConnection.net
If there's enough really tiny pieces, they can become a gargantuan problem. (Microplastics photo above courtesy Newport Chapter of Surfrider Foundation). That's just what happened after a run of recent storms on the Oregon... -
Court: EPA Doesn’t Have to Provide Update on Climate Rule During Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | Politico Pro - Energy Whiteboard
By Alex Guillén
A federal court today said EPA doesn’t need to provide any update on its ongoing work to roll back the Clean Power Plan until the shutdown is over. The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals gave EPA 14 days from the end of the shutdown to... -
EPA Polluter Penalties Fall to Lowest Level Since 1994
Jan 24, 2019 | The Hill - E2 Wire
By Timothy Cama
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levied the lowest civil penalties against polluters in nearly a quarter century last year, a new analysis of agency data found. The $72 million in penalties for breaking the law in fiscal year... -
Moderate and Coastal-State Republicans Seek Climate Panel Slots
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Tiffany Stecker and Dean Scott
Six spots on the House’s new climate panel are reserved for Republicans. So who wants a seat at a table that Democrats historically have dominated? A handful of House Republicans—including moderates from the Northeast... -
Trump's Energy Policies Have Inspired a Global Climate Movement
Jan 24, 2019 | Bloomberg
By Eric Roston
An architect of the Paris Agreement on climate change thanked President Donald Trump yesterday for his policies supportive of fossil-fuel industries, because they effectively provoked companies, investors and cities into cutting... -
Green New Deal Needs Climate Panel Input, House Leader Says
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Dean Scott
Backers of a Green New Deal might consider talking to the House’s new select climate committee before asking the chamber to vote on their ideas to combat climate change, the House’s second-ranking Democrat said Jan. 23.
Industry and Association News
TSCA News
Chemical Management News
Energy News
Chemical Security News - There are no clips to report at this time.
Transportation and Infrastructure News
Environment News
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(ACC Blog) Now Live! A New Resource to Help Families Understand Good Chemistry
Jan 24, 2019 | American Chemistry Matters
Do you know the important benefits of antimicrobials? These great products of chemistry do more than you think! Antimicrobials, also known as biocides, help prevent the growth and spread of microbes. Different classes of antimicrobials kill many disease-causing viruses, bacteria, and fungi, support material preservation and prevent microorganism growth in manufacturing and industrial processes.
In short — from helping stop the spread of disease, to treating drinking water, to preserving home goods — antimicrobials help keep families safe. That’s why the Center for Biocide Chemistries (CBC)recently launched GoodChemistryLivesHere.com, a consumer-oriented website that provides important, factual information about antimicrobials.
This easy-to-understand resource provides information on the benefits of antimicrobials, explaining how they are used in the home, public spaces, such as healthcare facilities and schools, and industrial settings. The new website helps advance CBC’s mission of promoting the benefits of antimicrobials and protecting public health.
Key features of the new website GoodChemistryLivesHere.com include:
-Global, scientific perspective: Learn how and why antimicrobials are used in homes, medical facilities and public spaces, from the CBC, a leading international science and industry group. Established in 1986, the CBC represents more than 50 companies that manufacture and/or formulate antimicrobial products.
-Key benefits of antimicrobials: From ensuring safe drinking water to destroying harmful bacteria and viruses in healthcare facilities and homes, antimicrobials are vital tools that protect public health. Beyond their uses as disinfectants, antimicrobials play an important role in promoting sustainability by preserving products to extend their useful lives.
-Important safety information on antimicrobials: Because antimicrobial product safety is a number one priority, antimicrobials are continuously evaluated by their producers and are highly regulated by the government. Learn more about current regulations.
-Mobile experience: Optimized, streamlined web pages on GoodChemistryLivesHere.com provide an easy way for users to scroll for antimicrobial information, whether viewing on mobile devices or desktop.
The CBC wants the public to have access to information, especially when it comes to ensuring people understand the safe and effective use of antimicrobials. We encourage you to check-out this great resource for you and your family. Visit GoodChemistryLivesHere.com today!
https://blog.americanchemistry.com/2019/01/now-live-a-new-resource-to-help-families-understand-good-chemistry/
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(ACC Mentioned) Industry Groups: Lift 232 Tariffs so We Can Help Get USCMA Through Congress
Jan 23, 2019 | Inside US Trade
A broad coalition of industry groups is appealing to the Trump administration to remove steel and aluminum tariffs on Canada and Mexico so they can turn their attention to getting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement through Congress.
In a brief letter to Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, the groups – representing a wide variety of sectors – say they “wish to underscore the importance of lifting tariffs on steel and aluminum imports and the removal of all retaliatory tariffs on trade among the parties.”
“For many farmers, ranchers and manufacturers, the damage from the reciprocal trade actions in the steel dispute far outweighs any benefit that may accrue to them from the USMCA,” the letter states. “The continued application of metal tariffs means ongoing economic hardship for U.S. companies that depend on imported steel and aluminum, but that are not exempted from these tariffs. Producers of agricultural and manufactured products that are highly dependent on the Canadian and Mexican markets are also suffering serious financial losses.”
“We urge you to take all necessary steps to resolve this matter so that zero-tariff North American trade can resume, and we can turn our attention to working with you to gain prompt Congressional approval of the USMCA,” the letter concludes.
Signatories include the American Apparel & Footwear Association, the American Chemistry Council, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, the National Corn Growers Association, the National Foreign Trade Council, the National Retail Federation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
https://insidetrade.com/trade/industry-groups-lift-232-tariffs-so-we-can-help-get-uscma-through-congress
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(ACC Mentioned) US Logistics Handle PE Export Demands
Jan 24, 2019 | ICIS
For the most part, the ports and railroads in the US have been able to handle the influx of polyethylene (PE) capacity that companies have been adding during the past couple of years, barring the hiccups that typically come when so many new plants are starting up in a relatively short time span.
Earlier in the decade, there had been concerns that the new PE plants would overwhelm the logistics in the US.
Some problems have emerged. The port of Houston, for example, has a shortage of containers, said Paul Bjacek, chemicals research lead at Accenture. The US also has a shortage of truckers.
But the export statistics put together by Accenture show that shipments of ethylene polymers increased sharply, which not have happened had the US lacked the ability to export the resin.
Consultants have spent much of this decade warning about potential shipping bottlenecks.
Bjacek noted that Accenture organised a panel discussion with the American Chemistry Council (ACC) during the first part of this decade about the topic.
In fact, Accenture had started warning about possible logistical constraints back in mid-2013 followed by reports and blogs on the topic. The consultancy made presentations with CEOs and the ACC in 2014.
In 2017, consultancy PwC published a report warning that logistical constraints could cost the chemical industry billions of dollars. The industry apparently took the warnings to heart.
PLASTICS EXPORT PACKAGING SITES
Rail companies such as Union Pacific (UP) have invested in new capacity.
Hillwood, BNSF Railway Company (BNSF) and Packwell have agreed to build a plastics export packaging facility at the AllianceTexas industrial and distribution park in Fort Worth, Texas.
That deal followed a similar plastics packaging and export facility, which is being built in Dallas by the Union Pacific railroad and global logistics firm Katoen Natie (KTN).
The development of packaging and export facilities in Dallas and Fort Worth will make it easier for Gulf Coast PE producers to ship material to ports on the East and West Coasts of the US.
From there, they can reach overseas customers.Chemical companies have also taken steps to prepare for the additional capacity. Chevron Phillips Chemical bought 3,000 rail cars.
These steps were important because most of the new PE capacity was built to initially serve overseas markets, and those shipments will rely heavily on trains and ships, according to James Ray, senior consultant at ICIS.
From what Ray has heard, these two modes have reported relatively few bottlenecks given the amount of new capacity that has been added.
WEST COAST ROUTE TO ASIA
In addition, the rail and packaging improvements have made it easier for Gulf Coast producers to export product from the West Coast.
For shipments destined for China, this route takes less time than shipping directly from the Gulf Coast.
There are several reasons behind this. Gulf Coast shipments destined for China have to pass through the Panama Canal, which is a bottleneck that can further delay deliveries, Ray said.
The West Coast route is more dependent on trains, which travel faster than ships, he noted.
In all, Ray has heard of companies shaving five days off of their delivery times by relying on West Coast deliveries to China.
Bjacek brought up some other benefits of the West Coast ports.
These sites have a surplus of empty containers because they receive massive amounts of shipments from Asia.
Plastic pellets are shipped in containers, so this surplus of containers makes it easier to export the material out of the West Coast, Bjacek said.
Also, the West Coast terminals have a much easier time loading directly from trains to ships.
Gulf Coast terminals often load from trucks to ship, which could be a potential challenge given the shortage of truckers.
Bjacek also noted that ports near Chicago have also been handling shipments from the Gulf Coast.
None of this is meant to disparage Gulf Coast ports. These are much closer to the PE plants, providing producers with proximity and other benefits.
As the Accenture statistics show, ethylene polymer exports increased substantially from the Gulf Coast, indicating the ports were more than capable of handling the higher demand for PE exports.
Instead, it is meant to show that Gulf Coast producers have options other than local ports to reach their foreign customers.
They could ship material from the East Coast and the West Coast as well as from the Gulf Coast.
The US will have to continue adapting. Companies plan to start up more PE plants, which will put more strain on the infrastructure of the US.
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2019/01/24/10310501/us-logistics-handle-pe-export-demands/
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Shutdown Elbows Energy and Commerce Climate Hearing
Jan 24, 2019 | E&E - Greenwire
By George Cahlink
The latest victim of the federal government shutdown is an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on climate change that has been widely anticipated by environmentalists.
Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said this morning the climate hearing will no longer be the panel's first meeting. Instead, he said, the committee will hold a hearing next Thursday on the ongoing impacts of the partial federal shutdown.
"I do think it's important because so many of the agencies that are shut down, like the EPA and the Consumer Protection Commission, are within our jurisdiction," said Pallone, who said he has yet to decide what witnesses will be called to testify on the closure's ongoing impact.
Pallone stressed that the climate change session would be held soon and would remain the first hearing the panel will hold after the meeting on the shutdown. He did not offer a specific date, though other lawmakers suggested it would occur in early February.
Pallone had announced that the climate hearing would be the first of the new Congress, shortly after House leaders said they were creating a Select Committee on the Climate Crisis.
Pallone and other E&C Committee leaders opposed the select panel, insisting they could tackle the issue, and an early hearing was meant to show they were focusing on it.
Today's move is the latest sign that House Democrats see political gain in highlighting the impact of the government shutdown.
Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), head of the Interior-EPA Appropriations Subcommittee, announced yesterday that she would hold hearings on the shutdown's impact on the Interior Department and National Park Service. And later today, Democratic leaders are encouraging members to head to the House floor to talk about the impact of the shutdown in their district.
Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said he's not yet concerned the shutdown is affecting climate legislation, noting that the committee just organized for this Congress.
"You've got to get the government open before you can do anything," he added.
Getting organized
Energy and Commerce met for the first time this morning, formally adopting by voice vote its rules for this Congress and approving subcommittee names and rosters.
"We retained practically all the committee rules from the last Congress," said Pallone, who noted that one change follows a new House rule that blocks counting Saturdays, Sundays and holidays for legal noticing requirements.
Under the rules, Pallone would have broad subpoena authority that could help with expected oversight of EPA and the Energy Department.
Rep. Greg Walden of Oregon, the ranking Republican on the panel, joked that the rules "look an awful lot" like the ones for the last Congress.
He urged Pallone to be judicious with subpoenas, stressing that even the threat of one can get a witness to testify or an agency to release information.
Walden noted that he issued a subpoena only once in his two years as chairman, while his predecessor, Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), used it five times.
Pallone said he would follow committee rules, which require him to consult with the minority before sending a subpoena and make public notice within a week.
https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/01/24/stories/1060118509
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Pallone Announces Hearing on Government Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Tiffany Stecker
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Jan. 31 on the government shutdown’s effect on the agencies it oversees, including the Environmental Protection Agency.
The hearing, the committee’s first in the 116th Congress, won’t affect the timing for other planned hearings before the panel, including one on the environmental and economic effects of climate change, because the committee wasn’t supposed to meet next week, Committee Chairman Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) told reporters.
“The Republicans were supposed to go on retreat next week,” Pallone said. “The hearings that we previously told you about couldn’t be done next week.”
“Those were not planned for next week because we assumed we were going to be out of here by Wednesday,” he said.
The Congressional Institute announced Jan. 23 that the annual Republican three-day retreat, planned for Jan. 30 through Feb. 1 in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., would be postponed because of the government shutdown. The shutdown will be in its sixth week during the week of Jan. 28.
The committee announced Jan. 3 it would hold three hearings: one on climate change, another on a Texas judge’s decision to strike down the Affordable Care Act, and a third on family separations at the U.S.-Mexico border.
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/pallone-announces-hearing-on-government-shutdown
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Ewire: White House Assessing Effect of Months-Long Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | Inside EPA
The White House is asking federal agencies to describe the effects of the current partial government shutdown extending to March or even April, according to one report, a sign that the Trump administration could be preparing for the funding standoff to continue for several more weeks.
The request by White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney shows that officials are “preparing for a lengthy funding lapse that could have snowballing consequences for the economy and government services,” according to the Washington Post.
One official told the Post that the request does not signal that the White House believes the shutdown will last to March.
However, some agencies are growing increasingly concerned about conducting basic functions when more staff are refusing to show up for work while they are not being paid, while the administration has mostly been focused on lengthening security lines at airports, the report says.
Federal workers are poised to miss a second paycheck Jan. 25, given expectations that the Senate will be unable to pass either of two funding bills that will be voted on Jan. 24. A bill backed by President Donald Trump includes his demand for $5.7 billion for his signature border wall, in exchange for temporary protections for illegal immigrants brought to the country as children and restrictions on those seeking asylum.
Democrats' plan would provide funding for shuttered agencies through Feb. 8 but no money for the wall.
Both measures face a 60-vote threshold, and observers expect neither to pass. The House is planning to adjourn for the weekend Jan. 24.
Trump late Jan. 23 agreed to postpone his State of the Union address, which had been scheduled for Jan. 29, following a high-profile spat with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who said he was not welcome to deliver the speech in the House chamber while the shutdown is ongoing.
The shutdown is also having increasingly large effects in the environment arena. If it continues for several more weeks, it could delay major aspects of the Trump EPA's agenda, including its rollbacks of climate rules for power plants and vehicles, a plan to allow summertime sales of 15 percent ethanol blends and other measures.
States are also growing concerned, warning that the shutdown is undermining key federal reviews of state permits and water quality measures, joint air quality planning for the upcoming wildfire season and possibly certifications for state air quality monitoring equipment.
Federal courts are also at risk of significantly curtailing services, as many courts are slated to run out of reserve and fee funding Jan. 25. Some courts have delayed litigation involving EPA due to the shutdown, while others have rejected the agency's request to delay filing deadlines.
https://insideepa.com/daily-feed/ewire-white-house-assessing-effect-months-long-shutdown
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Chemical M&A Rebounded in 2018
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical & Engineering News
By Melody M. Bomgardner
Chemical firms spent $100 billion on mergers and acquisitions in 2018, up 56% from 2017 but far short of the $193 billion they spent in 2016, according to the consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The number of acquisitions was down 8% last year compared with 2017.
Overall, 2018 was a solid year for snapping up pricey assets, PwC says. Average deal size jumped 59% to $213 million. And a large number of acquisitions were priced above $1 billion. One likely reason for the big spend was the cut in US corporate tax rates, enacted in December 2017.
The most popular businesses to buy were in specialty chemicals, including some worth more than $5 billion—what PwC classifies as megadeals. AkzoNobel sold its specialty chemical business to the private equity firm Carlyle Group for $12.6 billion in order to focus on its core paint business. In another example, US-based International Flavors & Fragrances agreed to pay $6.4 billion for Israel’s Frutarom. Frutarom had itself acquired a long list of smaller flavors firms in recent years.
Years of M&A is having an impact on the market, PwC says. “Consolidation in the specialty chemicals industry has reduced the overall pool of larger, high-quality targets,” the firm notes. That has caused prices of businesses for sale to go up, particularly as private equity firms have also gained a taste for specialty chemical businesses.
Even sectors that are normally the purview of large, R&D-intensive chemical corporations are ripe for acquisitions these days, PwC says. They include nutrition ingredients, plastics compounding, coatings, adhesives, and specialty materials.
By the fourth quarter, trade disputes had put a damper on deal values, which were down 65% compared with the same quarter in 2017. But PwC anticipates upbeat deal activity this year as specialty chemical businesses continue to be popular with buyers. The specter of slowing economic growth will only fan the acquisition flames, PwC says, as companies look outside their current businesses to boost sales.
https://cen.acs.org/business/mergers-&-acquisitions/chem-mna-rebounded-2018/97/i4
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KFC Boosts Sustainability Efforts in Plastics Packaging
Jan 24, 2019 | Plastics News
By Jim Johnson
A well-known fast-food restaurant is taking a big step beyond the straw debate with a commitment to make all plastic-based, consumer-facing packaging recoverable or reusable by 2025.
KFC said the decision comes as restaurants in certain markets already are working to eliminate plastics packaging.
The restaurant chain, formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, operates more than 22,000 restaurants in more than 135 countries. That includes about 4,100 locations in the United States.
"KFC is in a position to have a real impact on how the industry approaches waste and packaging management overall," CEO Tony Lowings said in a statement. "With environmental sustainability as a core aspect of how we do business, this commitment represents a public acknowledgment of the obligation we have to address these serious issues."
KFC says it already has a road map toward making the changes that includes working with suppliers to identify plastic alternatives in each market.
The company also will conduct audits of current restaurant systems to hone in on ways to reduce plastic waste.
Plans also include "partnering with suppliers to identify sustainable packaging alternatives for items like straws, plastic bags, cutlery and lids," the company said. Work also will include "market-specific goals to reduce, reuse and recycle."
With thousands of restaurants around the globe, KFC said work will include supporting local sustainability goals to address unique needs in different areas.
KFC is owned by Yum Brands Inc., which also includes owns the food chains Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
https://www.plasticsnews.com/article/20190124/NEWS/190129943/kfc-boosts-sustainability-efforts-in-plastics-packaging
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(ACC Mentioned) US Chemicals Industry Prepares for Increased TSCA Oversight
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Kelly Franklin
The US chemicals industry is preparing for increased Congressional oversight of TSCA in the coming year, Chemical Watch has learned. And, in recent interviews with industry representatives, it is clear a number of other policy priorities are rising to the surface.
The American Chemistry Council and speciality chemicals group Socma both said that they are expecting a significant uptick in oversight efforts, with the Democrats having retaken control of the US House of Representatives for the first time since the law’s 2016 update.
In recent months several Democrats have joined a vocal NGO community in criticising implementation of amendments to the law under the current administration. This is likely to result in increased Congressional focus on such aspects of TSCA as the EPA’s interpretation of what constitutes a substance’s ‘conditions of use’ under the law, as well as the agency’s use of discretionary authorities to act on specific substances, like methylene chloride and trichloroethylene (TCE).
Socma’s vice president of legal and governmental relations, Robert Helminiak, said there are positives and negatives to this increased focus on TSCA. The new chemicals programme remains a "major struggle", he said, which is something Congress could potentially help with – as could the fresh leadership of Alexandra Dunn, who was recently confirmed to head up the agency’s chemicals office.
The speciality chemicals group also sees an opportunity to change the course of the new chemicals programme through the updates slated for the EPA’s decision-making framework. A recent letter from acting administrator Andrew Wheeler signalled that such updates are in the works for this year.
Meanwhile, industry is closely watching the first ten risk evaluations under the reformed TSCA – which must be finalised by December – and the prioritisation of the next 20 high-priority substances, which will represent the next batch subject to assessment.
Looming large over all of these TSCA-related activities, however, is the government shutdown, which has gone on for over a month. Concerns abound about what the delays will mean for an already-high backlog of new substance reviews and for the EPA meeting its statutory deadlines later this year.
Additional issues
Beyond TSCA, other issues active in 2018 are expected to continue into the new year. PFASs, for example, are likely to remain prominent in 2019 at both the state and federal level.
The ACC said it supports a range of policy actions in this area, and that it plans to continue advancing "appropriate regulations and industry stewardship activities". This includes urging the EPA to "adopt a robust management plan that is responsive to the issues identified through EPA’s PFAS Leadership Summit and the follow-up listening sessions held around the country."
But it also is pressing for regulators to recognise that PFASs cover a broad range of substances with different characteristics and uses. "It is vital that regulators utilise sound science when evaluating and establishing standards for both legacy substances and new PFAS technologies," it added.
State-level efforts around chemicals are also featuring prominently on industry’s agenda. Efforts to ban or restrict substances in products, or to require ingredient disclosure, are strongly expected to carry on.
Meanwhile, trade agreements – and the opportunity to seek better regulatory alignment through them – are also top of mind for industry groups.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73672/us-chemicals-industry-prepares-for-increased-tsca-oversight?q=%E2%80%9CAmerican+Chemistry+Council%E2%80%9D
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Shutdown-Related Delays Could Compromise TSCA Statutory Deadlines
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Lisa Martine Jenkins
The partial shutdown of the US government has hamstrung the EPA’s implementation of amendments to TSCA, and could threaten the agency’s ability to continue meeting the law’s statutory deadlines, according to legal experts.
The longest shutdown in US history is now in its fifth week. And Martha Marrapese, a partner at Wiley Rein, told Chemical Watch it could be hitting the TSCA programme especially hard because of the deadlines imposed on the EPA by the Lautenberg Act. These include several milestones under section 6 of the law – which deals with existing chemicals – that are coming due before the year’s end.
"The longer the shutdown goes on, all bets are off on EPA being able to meet the new TSCA deadlines," she said. "It could take up to another year for the programme to normalise."
The requirement that the agency finalise its first ten risk evaluations by December is one area of concern, as the law stipulates certain peer-review and comment periods as part of the process.
The EPA released a draft evaluation for the first of the ten substances, pigment violet 29, in November, and was widely expected to issue the remaining nine starting in January.
But it has already seen the PV29 evaluation by the EPA’s Science Advisory Committee on Chemicals (SACC) – scheduled for the last week of January – postponed. And Javaneh Nekoomaram, an associate with Keller & Heckman, said on a recent webinar that with the shutdown delaying the release of the remaining nine drafts, it "will put a strain on EPA's ability to meet these statutory deadlines".
The law allows the agency to seek a six-month extension on this deadline, but doing so could cut into the available time it has to finalise applicable risk management rules for substances it determines pose an unreasonable risk.
Another deadline potentially threatened by the shuttered government is the selection of 20 high-priority substances subject to risk assessment, and 20 low-priority substances that do not currently merit one. These are also due by December 2019.
The selection process was underway when the agency closed on 29 December 2018, and the EPA was expected to release its candidates before the end of January to begin the statutorily mandated public review process.
Lynn Bergeson, managing partner at Bergeson & Campbell, said that the shutdown is stretching the limits of what the EPA is capable of completing in terms of TSCA implementation.
"I am concerned simply because we all live in the real world, and we have people who are now, by law, not able to work," she said.
"Even for deadlines that are not running on a meter, the agency has many obligations under Lautenberg," she added. "That will necessarily have an impact on the deliverability and the timing of the risk assessments and any other planned activities" from the agency’s chemicals office.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73665/shutdown-related-delays-could-compromise-tsca-statutory-deadlines
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US Business Group Issues Call for ‘Sustainable Chemistry Technologies’
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
US based business group the Green Chemistry and Commerce Council (GC3) has called for start-up companies to pitch their chemicals, materials, products and manufacturing technologies to its panel of investors and major companies.
The fourth GC3 Startup Network’s Annual Technology Showcase will see startup companies compete for the opportunity to pitch their technologies to the likes of Apple, BASF, Best Buy Company, New Balance, Patagonia, and Target.
These, along with ten other major companies, have contributed to a list setting out their needs for new chemicals and technologies that can improve human and ecological health impacts, enhance energy efficiency, reduce environmental emissions and cut waste generation.
The companies are seeking solutions in a range of categories, including adhesives, coating technologies, fabric finishes, plasticisers, surfactants and fragrance raw materials for formulated consumer products.
Applications must be submitted online by 1 February.https://chemicalwatch.com/73690/us-business-group-issues-call-for-sustainable-chemistry-technologies
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Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
New restriction intention
Germany has submitted a restriction intention on the manufacture and placing on the market of undecafluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), its salts and related substances.
The expected submission date for the dossier is 27 September.
PFHxA and its precursors are human-made chemicals without known natural sources, Echa says. PFHxA-related substances degrade to PFHxA in the environment, where the substances are ubiquitous. Emissions from multiple uses occur at each stage of the lifecycle.
They are found in consumer articles.
Targeted consultation on CLH of copper compounds
Echa's Committee for Risk Assessment (Rac) has been requested to develop and adopt an opinion on the M-factors for long-term aquatic hazard for ten copper-containing substances listed under the CLP Regulation.
In addition, the targeted public consultation aims to receive comments on the M-factor for ‘copper flakes (coated with aliphatic acid)’ also harmonised in Commission Regulation (EU) 2016/1179.
The agency says: "In line with the adopted opinion on the substance, transformation/dissolution protocol (T/Dp) data need to be taken into account when deriving the ecotoxicity reference value (ERV). Depending upon the choice of loading rate (1 mg/L vs. 0.1 mg/L), the resulting chronic M-factor would differ by a factor of ten. Since based on the approach(es) outlined in the CLP Guidance (version 5.0, July 2017) more than one outcome is possible on this aspect, comments on this issue are welcome."
The deadline for comments is 4 February. Any received will be forwarded to the European Commission for inclusion in the existing regulation.
CLH proposals
The agency is seeking comments on the following harmonised labelling and classification proposals: tetrafluoroethylene. Ireland proposes a harmonised classification of carcinogenicity 1B, H350. The substance is largely used in the industrial preparation of polymers; and (3aS,5S,6R,7aR,7bS,9aS,10R,12aS,12bS)-10-[(2S,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dihydroxy-5,6-dimethylheptan-2-yl]-5,6-dihydroxy-7a,9a-dimethylhexadecahydro-3H-benzo[c]indeno[5,4-e]oxepin-3-one; 24-epibrassinolide (EC -; CAS 78821-43-9). The substance has no existing harmonised classification and labelling in Annex VI to CLP.
The deadline for comment is 22 March.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73632/echa-round-up
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UN Project Addresses Chemicals in Products, Lead in Paint
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Leigh Stringer
UN Environment has started a project that aims to better manage chemicals in products and accelerate the global phase-out of lead in paint.
The project, named "Global best practices on emerging chemical policy issues of concern under the strategic approach to international chemicals management (Saicm)" has been given $8.2m by the Global Environment Facility, an international funding platform. An additional $21.3m will be provided by governments and other organisations, including NGOs and international bodies. The aim of the project is to establish government policies and supply chain initiatives that address related environmental and human health concerns.
These measures will be implemented in more than 70 countries over a four year period.
CiP action
To address the lifecycle of chemicals in products, the project will focus on helping governments and supply chains establish measures to track and control chemicals used in building products, electronics and toys.
The project identifies a lack of: transparency in supply chains and the limited uptake – particularly in developing and emerging regions – of available tools to monitor and report the presence of hazardous chemicals; economic and market based incentives for producers to track and manage hazardous chemicals in their products and supply chains; regulatory drivers for increased transparency: "There is a lack of regulations globally requiring disclosure or phase-out of hazardous chemicals in products, apart from a few chemicals, for example POPs or heavy metals; and quantitative sustainability assessment of hazardous chemicals and their alternatives, which leads to ‘regrettable substitutions’.
To address this, the project will: create incentives for supply chains to act via public procurement and sustainable finance measures; develop quantitative lifecycle assessment tools to compare chemical alternatives and avoid regrettable substitutions; and enhance the ambition of, and compliance with, regulatory requirements on chemicals of concern.
Lead in paint
UN Environment says there is a lack of capacity in developing countries to introduce and enforce regulations to phase out lead in paint. However, even in countries with regulations, there is evidence that small paint manufacturers struggle to comply, as they have "limited technical capacity or resources to formulate lead free paint," it adds.
To tackle this, the project aims to help 40 countries regulate and establish legal limits for lead in paint. In addition, it will seek to have at least 50 SME paint manufacturers in eight countries phase out lead from their production processes.
A third aspect of the project will look into information sharing and stakeholder engagement. It will establish an "effective global network of EPI [emerging policy issues] experts" which will "lead to engagement of stakeholders from other sectors and agendas" and encourage the development of collaborative initiatives. It will also develop a platform to provide data and progress on the project at a regional, national and global level.
The project was discussed at a workshop in Geneva last week, where details and plans were finalised and agreed. UN Environment will present initial project results to the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5) in 2020.
Why CiP and lead?
Chemicals in products and lead in paint are two ‘emerging policy issues’ identified by the UN’s global voluntary chemicals programme, the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (Saicm). The other EPIs are EDCs, nanotechnology, highly hazardous pesticides, hazardous electronics, pharmaceutical pollutants and perfluorinated chemicals.
The project focuses on chemicals in products and lead in paint because they "present particular environmental and health problems".
A UN document, outlining plans for the project, says that only a few chemicals in products are regulated or banned under the Stockholm and Minamata Conventions. The former is a treaty for controlling persistent organic pollutants (POPs), while the latter deals with mercury.
Hazardous chemicals, it says, are found in consumer products all over the world, resulting in exposure to workers during manufacture, consumers during use, women and children through unregulated recycling and disposal operations and to the environment via wastewater and sewage sludges.
In addition, "toxic contaminants in products can also be a barrier to a shift towards a circular economy".
Efforts to eliminate lead exposure have been ongoing for decades. Lead is a "cumulative toxic element particularly harmful to young children and pregnant women," the document says. The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has estimated that in 2015 lead exposure accounted for 494,550 deaths due to long-term effects on health.
Lead paint is a major source of childhood lead exposure, for example through contaminated dust in homes that can be inhaled or ingested. "Even relatively low levels of exposure to lead can cause serious and irreversible neurological damage, there is no known safe level of lead exposure," it adds.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73689/un-project-addresses-chemicals-in-products-lead-in-paint
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ECJ Rules Echa Was Right to Identify DEHP as EDC for Environment
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Clelia Oziel
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) has dismissed an appeal against Echa's decision four years ago to identify the phthalate DEHP as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
In a ruling on 23 January, the ECJ upheld the General Court's conclusion of 2017. This had rejected Czech manufacturer Deza's legal action challenging Echa's 2014 decision on the chemical.
Deza had disputed the classification because the chemical was already designated a substance of very high concern (SVHC) and on the REACH candidate list since 2008 due to its reprotoxic potential.
DEHP, together with three other phthalates, BBP, DBP and DiBP, is also on the candidate list due to its endocrine-disrupting properties for humans. Of the four, DEHP is the only one also on the list for its potential harm to the environment.
The company's appeal rested on four legal grounds. It alleged that in its 2017 decision, the General Court had: committed an error in law in interpreting and applying the REACH Regulation, by holding that Echa had powers to supplement an existing identification of DEHP. Deza also disputed whether the agency followed proper procedure in taking the decision; misinterpreted and misapplied the principle of legal certainty, even though Echa's decision led to an unclear, imprecise and unpredictable legal situation for the company; failed to have regard to the extent of its power to review the decisions of EU institutions, and that evidence was distorted; and infringed Deza's fundamental rights.
Rejections
The court rejected all four grounds. In its verdict it said that Deza's second, third and fourth claims were "unfounded", "ineffective" and "inadmissible" respectively. It ordered the company to bear its own costs, as well as pay those Echa had incurred.
Denmark and Sweden, which together with Norway and the Netherlands supported Echa in the appeal case, will pay their own costs. Denmark made the initial proposal that the substance be classified as an endocrine disruptor for the environment.
Last December, the European Commission adopted a Decision to restrict the use of the four phthalates in consumer products on the EU market. The restriction, which will take effect from 8 July 2020, was unanimously agreed by member states.
Echa is currently consulting on a draft recommendation to amend their REACH authorisation list (Annex XIV) entries to include their endocrine-disrupting properties.
The Danish EPA welcomed the ECJ's appeal ruling, which it said confirmed the "Danish authorities were right" in nominating DEHP for the classification.
Phthalates are used as plasticisers in a wide range of plastic products such as sandals, shower curtains and vinyl floors.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73694/ecj-rules-echa-was-right-to-identify-dehp-as-edc-for-environment
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MEPs Blast Commission over Lack of Practical Measures on EDCs
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Luke Buxton
The European Commision has come under fire from MEPs who accuse it of continuing to drag its feet over action on regulating endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCS).
Speaking at a meeting of the European Parliament's environment committee (Envi) on 22 January, DG Sante’s director for food and feed safety and innovation Sabine Juelicher presented the EU executive’s long delayed strategy for EDCs.
Its aims, set out in a Communication released in November, are: minimise overall exposure to endocrine disruptors; accelerate development of a thorough research basis, building on existing knowledge and focusing on areas where gaps exist; and promote active dialogue with all stakeholders via an annual forum.
Pavel Poc, MEP and vice chair of Envi, said it "is not the strategy the European Parliament has been calling for many years. Under the term ‘strategy’ I would imagine more measurable results and indicators and clear allocated funds."
Meanwhile, MEP Jytte Guteland said what the Commission is doing now "is not enough. It’s not forceful enough. We should be much more forceful in our battle" against the effects of EDCs.
Another MEP, Anja Hazekamp, said the EU executive talks about forum and a fitness check "but I don't think that amounts to an ambitious strategy". The focus, she added, "seems to be on guidance and training for risk managers and interests appears to be "more in the world of the internal market than in the field of public health".
MEP Bas Eickhout agreed, saying the Commission has taken steps towards controls on EDCs that were "so tediously slow" because it is "very clear the industrial interests are prevailing".
Ms Juelicher replied that it had became "very clear some of the difficulties in the work are related to the difficulties we have on the scientific front - we do simply not understand everything."
And, she added, on anything that is public-health related "it is very difficult to construe that we have been taking industry concerns in any way higher than public health concerns".
Forum
Member of the European Parliament concentrated criticism on the usefulness of the annual forum, which Ms Juelicher said would take place at some point in 2019.
Ms Guteland said the forum just means "extending the process, making it longer. That’s not good enough. We need to apply the precautionary principle and need to have tangible legislation in place." She questioned when Commission would put forward an action plan with a timetable and measures.
And Mr Poc asked about what issues the forum would deal with, who would organise and attend and what output was expected. "My fear is it’s only going to be a discussion forum where people and experts will talk and talk [but] no practical measures are taken."
Replying to the questions, Ms Juelicher said the model is "one that is inclusive reaching out very widley to a broad range of stakeholders [...] where best practices can shared where we can learn from each other".
The Commission is now preparing to implement its fitness check process on EDCs as planned under the strategy. A roadmap will go out for a three-month public consultation and this will be supported by a targeted stakeholder consultation "within a couple of weeks" or at the latest a "few months", Mr Juelicher said.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73686/meps-blast-commission-over-lack-of-practical-measures-on-edcs
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Canada Floats Further Phase-Outs on Long-Chain PFAs, Flame Retardants
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
The Canadian government is proposing to fully phase out the use of several flame retardants and long-chain perfluorinated compounds as part of its effort to protect endangered whales.
Release of the proposed regulatory approach follows an initial consultation last autumn about imposing new or additional restrictions on several substances under the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations. These are: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA); and perfluorocarboxylic acids (LC-PFCA), and ; the brominated flame retardants hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); and the flame retardants dechlorane plus (DP) and decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE).
HBCD, PBDEs and the PFAS substances have already largely been barred from the Canadian marketplace, with some exceptions to allow specific market sectors to transition to alternatives. The proposal calls for eliminating those exemptions, with the exception of allowing the PBDE decaBDE to be used in spare automotive parts through 2036.
In the case of DP and DBDPE, the proposal calls for imposing a prohibition on their manufacture, import use and sale, including in products that contain them. This, however, is contingent on future publication of a final risk assessment confirming their draft evaluations’ findings that they meet toxicity criteria under schedule 64 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (Cepa). The final assessments are expected this spring.
The government has outlined specific information needs for each of the substances, particularly around ongoing uses. Comments will be accepted through 18 February.’
It expects to publish the proposed regulatory amendments towards the end of 2020.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73717/canada-floats-further-phase-outs-on-long-chain-pfass-flame-retardants
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French Agency Finds Unsafe Levels of Chemicals in Babies' Nappies
Jan 24, 2019 | Chemical Watch
By Vanessa Zainzinger
The French Agency for Food, Environment and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses) has found hazardous chemicals at levels exceeding EU safety thresholds in some disposable nappies on the market. In a report published on 23 January, the agency called for regulatory action to tackle the problem.
Anses tested various nappy brands on the French market, between 2016 and 2018, on an assignment from the French Directorates General for Health, for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control, and for Risks Prevention.
Concentrations of various substances which could pose a risk to infant health, exceeded threshold values "under realistic conditions of use", Anses found. The chemicals are: fragrances butylphenyl methylpropional and hydroxyisohexyl 3-cyclohexene carboxaldehyde; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); PCB-126; DL-PCB; dioxins; and furans.
Anses also detected traces of other fragrances, glyphosate, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde. But these did not exceed health thresholds, it said. The agency also pointed out traces of pesticides that are banned for sale, such as hexachlorobenzene or quintozene.
Some of the substances found – such as fragrances – are added to nappies intentionally, the agency said. Others – such as the PAHs, VOCs and formaldehyde – are generated during the manufacturing process or come in through contaminated raw materials.
Because they may pose a health risk to a sensitive population, Anses recommended "eliminating the chemicals found in single-use baby nappies, or reducing them as much as possible".
It called for restrictions under REACH and French national regulation to make nappies safer.
And the agency asked nappy manufacturers to revise their manufacturing processes. It recommended they should also improve controls of raw materials and cease using fragrances in nappies.
At the same time, Anses added, chemicals in disposable nappies already on the market should be more closely monitored.
Different findings
Edana, the trade association representing most manufacturers of baby nappies in the EMEA market, said that nappies on the EU market "meet or exceed all applicable national and European regulations".
Responding to Anses’ report, the trade body said two other recent studies have found nappy products complying with EU law.
It referred to a 2017 study by the Swiss Federal Office for Food Security and Veterinary Affairs, which concluded that nappies "do not contain any substances or chemicals that may pose a health risk to infants". And a 2018 market study by the Belgian Federal Public Health Service came to the same conclusion Edana said.
While Anses’ study "merits further research and scrutiny", Edana added, "it does not demonstrate that any product has exceeded existing safety thresholds and no regulatory action has been recommended".
Meanwhile, Belgian consumer group Test Achats released some results of its own nappy test, due to be published in full next month. It found no allergens or PAHs, and only "tiny traces" of glyphosate, which it said pose "no need to worry".
The differences between its test results and Anses "are probably explained by the fact that the substances researched are not identical, and that the brands of diapers differ from one market to another," Test Achats said.
https://chemicalwatch.com/73693/french-agency-finds-unsafe-levels-of-chemicals-in-babies-nappies
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Jan 24, 2019 | E&E - Greenwire
By Niina Heikkinen, Hannah Northey and Ariel Wittenber
The Trump administration is considering executive actions to boost the proliferation of pipelines across the United States and limit state interference on water permitting, according to multiple industry sources familiar with the discussions.
The expected actions have been delayed by the partial government shutdown now surpassing a month, sources said, and would potentially touch on everything from boosting pipeline approvals out of areas like the Permian Basin to potential action on liquefied natural gas exports.
Another focus: reforming states' ability to block permits under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act.
Details for now remain sparse, and sources cautioned that the actions are far from settled. Leading the effort is Francis Brooke, a senior energy adviser to President Trump who left Vice President Mike Pence's office to replace former White House energy aide Mike Catanzaro. The White House said it would not be providing comment on the expected orders.
Politico, which first reported on the executive actions, cited a senior administration official who said the push was aimed at showcasing the United States' energy strength before Russia.
An attorney and lobbyist who has represented energy companies in Washington for over two decades said there had been reports about the administration using executive action to address energy infrastructure issues.
The attorney said action from the administration would be welcome and noted the challenge of meeting the administration's goal of "energy dominance" without taking more direct action on improving energy infrastructure. Lack of adequate and predictable infrastructure is also hampering U.S. companies' expansion into foreign markets, said the attorney.
"Hopefully, an executive order can set that appropriate tone on pipelines, transmission, LNG and related topics. Of course, agencies must implement any changes in priorities. And in some cases, Congress must act as well. But executive action can concentrate attention," the attorney said.
Another industry source with direct knowledge of the executive action said such an order could touch broadly on energy issues, even though it is billed as being focused on energy infrastructure.
"The Trump administration has taken great strides to grow America's energy renaissance into an asset in ways it never has been, but there's lots of work left to be done. Industry is looking for President Trump to build on his past actions to make permitting more predictable, transparent and, frankly, sane," the source said. "This is a golden opportunity to maximize the potential of all the energy resources and technology America has developed to help us at home and abroad."
An executive action could help the Trump administration appease both energy producers pushing back on Trump's steel tariffs and Republicans who for months have been looking at potential legislation and administrative changes to stop states from using their authority under the Clean Water Act to halt or slow natural gas pipelines.
But it would also run into stiff opposition from environmental groups and Democratic governors like New York's Andrew Cuomo, who have used state authority under the Clean Water Act to block controversial gas projects.Where are the details?
Sources expect the executive order to broadly apply to energy infrastructure permitting, with a focus on easing transport of fossil fuels from the wellhead to market, either domestically or internationally. Doing so could include facilitating construction of pipelines across international borders, as well as LNG exports.
The industry source with direct knowledge of the executive action noted that its broader focus was to leverage "energy dominance" both geopolitically and to enhance the U.S. economy. The administration is looking at a variety of ways to eliminate or ease obstacles to those objectives.
"It's important for people to appreciate how ever-present infrastructure is throughout the entire energy economy, which is to say actions focused on infrastructure is much more than pipelines and export facilities," the source said.
The executive action is meant as a tool to focus attention and prioritize energy-related issues within the Trump administration.
"It can facilitate a process, but it cannot add authority inconsistent with underlying statutes," the attorney said.
The order would build on previous efforts early on in the Trump administration to promote infrastructure improvements. Among those is Executive Order 13807, which was aimed at increasing accountability in environmental review and the permitting process for infrastructure projects.
That executive order established the "One Federal Decision" process, in which one agency is responsible for making sure a project moves through interagency review and sets a unified timeline across those agencies.
Another industry source noted the Trump administration had previously put out a comprehensive list of improvements to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and on permitting changes.
"There's a lot of good ideas in that. To the extent they operationalize that, that would be fantastic."
Among the items some industry members would like to see change is to enable federal agencies to run concurrent environmental reviews of a project, instead of requiring each agency to conduct reviews one after the other, with no specific deadline of when the reviews had to be completed.
"A simple fix is to require them to work all at the same time. We would like to see that become mandatory," the source said.
An administration official had signaled last year the president would focus on energy infrastructure in 2019.
Larry Kudlow, director of the National Economic Council, told attendees of an October event at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., that the administration would be continuing to make progress on its infrastructure agenda. He noted the need for more pipelines for natural gas.
"We need infrastructure, including pipelines. We need east to west, we need west to east," he said, according to reporting by The Hill.
Clean Water Act
Energy companies have pushed the administration for help reforming states' authorities under the Clean Water Act since New York and Washington refused to permit two high-profile projects in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
The law's Section 401 clearly grants states the right to "certify" that projects requiring Clean Water Act permits comply with both the act and their own water quality standards. That means projects being permitted federally by EPA, the Army Corps of Engineers or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also must be approved, denied or approved with conditions by states.
EPA water chief David Ross told the Environmental Council of States' annual meeting this fall that the agency is considering changing policies for how much time states have to make their certification decisions — a move that many state groups including the Western Governors' Association, Association of State Wetland Managers and Association of Clean Water Administrators have already expressed concerns about.
Sources at the meeting said Ross didn't comment on whether the policy change would come via an executive order, agency guidance or formal rulemaking, but Senate Environment and Public Works Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) has requested the agency update Obama-era guidance on 401 certifications.
Under the Clean Water Act, if states don't make their certification decisions "within a reasonable time" set by federal agencies, they waive their authority and a project can proceed without state action. The law itself is vague about when that clock starts, and EPA has previously interpreted it to mean the countdown begins once a state decides a permit application is complete.
Critics have argued that schedule allows states to run out the clock to get more time for review, telling project developers at the last minute their applications are incomplete and states will have to deny the application if they don't get more information, which would restart the clock. Both New York and Washington state engaged in similar requests before denying permits for the Constitution pipeline and a terminal from Millennium Bulk Terminals, respectively.
The administration could place a limit on what is considered a "reasonable time" for state decisions, and determine that the clock starts ticking when applications are filed.
State groups have already pushed back in a letter to Ross against "any changes to agency rules, guidance and/or policy that may diminish, impair or subordinate states' well-established sovereign and statutory authorities to protect water quality within their boundaries."
Experts have also warned that, faced with tight timelines, overtaxed state regulators might be forced to deny permits they would otherwise approve if they had more time or information to consider them.
"It could be a classic case of be careful what you wish for," said Cynthia Taub, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP who leads the firm's National Environmental Policy Act practice.
Talks of potential executive action arrive after a legislative fix from Senate Republicans failed to make it to the floor last Congress.
The bill, sponsored by Barrasso, would have required states' certification decisions to be based only on water quality concerns from the project in question, not other sources, and require states to publish clear requirements for water quality certification requests (E&E Daily, Aug. 1, 2018).
The bill is unlikely to be taken up again with a Democratic-controlled House.
https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/01/24/stories/1060118515
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Democrats Probe Trump ‘Favoritism’ of Oil Industry in Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Jennifer A. Dlouhy
Lawmakers are intensifying their scrutiny of the Interior Department’s decision to keep churning out drilling permits and restart work on offshore oil leasing despite the government shutdown.
At best the activity represents unfair favoritism for the oil industry, Democrats argued Jan. 23, and at worst it’s a violation of federal laws that generally bar agencies from spending money they don’t have except in emergencies.
“There are serious questions about the legality of these and other actions by the administration,” said Rep. Betty McCollum, a Democrat from Minnesota, who heads the House appropriations subcommittee that sets funding for the Interior Department.
A separate panel that oversees the agency, the House Natural Resources Committee, has scheduled a hearing Thursday to examine “the Trump administration’s blatant favoritism towards the oil and gas industry during the government shutdown.”
The lawmakers’ responses played out as the U.S. Senate prepared to vote on rival Democratic and Republican plans to end the impasse, which entered its 34th day on Thursday. Both measures are expected to fail.
Permits Continue as Parks Close
The Interior Department, which oversees oil and gas development on federal lands and waters, has taken pains to ensure that the permits and other initiatives are immune from the shutdown—even as it closes parks, halts work on endangered species initiatives, and cancels meetings on a proposed renewable energy project off the Massachusetts coast.
For instance, Interior’s Bureau of Land Management has issued more than 150 permits to drill on public land since federal funding for more than a dozen major government agencies lapsed on Dec. 22—a reversal of the approach taken during the 2013 shutdown, when the Obama administration halted work on drilling permits and canceled at least one lease sale.
And now Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is summoning 11 furloughed employees back to work to prepare documents necessary for upcoming oil lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico. According to an agency contingency plan updated Jan. 8, bureau personnel also are on call to help develop a new five-year plan for selling drilling rights in U.S. coastal waters from mid-2019 through mid-2024. A
All of that activity was excluded from the ocean energy bureau’s earlier, December 2018 contingency plan.
Fourteen Senate Democrats on Jan. 22 demanded to know what prompted the change as well as the legal justification for it, casting the move as a blatant bid to shield the oil industry from the budget standoff that has shuttered a quarter of the federal government.
‘Troubling Picture’
“The newfound characterization of these projects as essential paints a troubling picture of an agency dedicated to mitigating the consequences of the shutdown for a powerful and well-connected corporate lobby at the expense of the American people,” the senators, led by Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Ed Markey of Massachusetts, said in a letter to Interior Department officials.
“While the oil industry might view a delay in the approval of new offshore drilling as an emergency, the American people deserve regulators who prioritize safety and environmental protection over political expediency and the wishes of moneyed special interests,” the senators said.
Under the 1870 Antideficiency Act, agencies generally are barred from spending money Congress hasn’t awarded them, except where there are imminent threats to “the safety of human life or the protection of property.”
Democrats and environmental advocates argue that that threshold hasn’t been cleared.
McCollum said she has already asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to testify about Interior Department spending decisions amid the shutdown, “so my fellow appropriators and members of the public can determine whether Trump administration actions constitute a misuse of taxpayer dollars under the Antideficiency Act or other provisions of law.”
‘Intent of Congress’
“I’m troubled about the Trump administration changing the rules in the middle of the shutdown to bring back certain furloughed employees to ensure oil and gas drilling permits and the companies benefiting from them don’t feel the pain of the shutdown,” McCollum said in an emailed statement Wednesday.
Legal experts say there’s not much ordinary Americans can do to stop questionable shutdown spending. The responsibility for prosecuting violations of the 1870 Antideficiency Act falls to the Justice Department—and no one’s ever been taken to court to account for flouting the law. Antideficiency Act experts say it’s not clear anyone else would have standing to challenge agency spending and activities that continue despite a broad government shutdown.
One possible exception: Congress, which could mount its own legal battle by voting to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of agencies spending money it hasn’t appropriated. Even without that step, intensifying congressional scrutiny of Interior shutdown decisions could signal trouble for the agency in getting spending approval down the road.
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/democrats-probe-trump-favoritism-of-oil-industry-in-shutdown
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Freight Railroads Have Implemented PTC on over 80 Percent of Required Miles
Jan 24, 2019 | American Journal of Transportation
At the end of 2018, the nation’s largest freight railroads were operating positive train control (PTC) across the vast majority – 83.2 percent – of the required Class I PTC route miles nationwide according to newly released data from the Association of American Railroads. With this progress, the Class I railroads met the 2018 statutory requirements and are well on their way to meeting the final deadline for full implementation and validation, December 31, 2020. Over the next two years, the Class I railroads will focus on testing to ensure that PTC systems are fully interoperable and work seamlessly across operations as railroads regularly run across each other’s tracks.
“Each day, the freight railroads expand PTC operations, further reducing the risk of accidents on the nation’s rail network,” said AAR President and CEO Ian Jefferies. “By the end of 2018, the Class I railroads had installed and were operating PTC on the vast majority of their required networks, met all other statutory PTC requirements and remained on track to fully implement this critical safety technology by the final 2020 deadline. The railroads’ commitment to safety is unwavering, and this industry is proud of its accomplishments in this immense undertaking.”
As of December 31, 2018, the Class I railroads had invested $10.5 billion in the development, installation and implementation of PTC and had the technology in operation across 44,695 miles of their 53,732 miles of PTC required track. All seven railroads also had 100 percent of the necessary wayside, back office and locomotive hardware installed; had all spectrum in place; and completed all necessary employee training as required by the law.What is required by law?
PTC as mandated by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (RSIA) must be designed to prevent four major types of train accidents:
• Train-to-train collisions.
• Derailments caused by excessive speed.
• Unauthorized incursions by trains into sections of track where maintenance activities are taking place.
• Movement of a train through a track switch left in the wrong position.
The statutory deadlines established by Congress required that by December 31, 2018 Class I railroads must have:
• All hardware installed.
• All radio spectrum acquired.
• Over 50 percent of PTC territory or route miles implemented.
• All required employee training completed.
Class I railroads that met the 2018 installation deadline could obtain an additional 24 months to test and ensure the system is fully interoperable. Interoperability means that the system works with any PTC-equipped locomotive running on any of the railroad tracks through the United States where PTC is required. By December 31, 2020, all Class I railroads must have:
• Testing completed.
• Full PTC implementation across the network.
Who are the Class I railroads?
The Class I freight railroads own the majority of mileage in the North American rail network and include:
• BNSF Railway Company
• Canadian National Railway Company (CN): US operations
• Canadian Pacific (CP): US Operations
• CSX Transportation, Inc.
• Kansas City Southern (KCS)
• Norfolk Southern Company (NS)
• Union Pacific Railroad (UP)https://www.ajot.com/news/freight-railroads-have-implemented-ptc-on-over-80-percent-of-required-miles
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(ACC Mentioned) Microplastics Inundate Oregon Coast - 760 Pounds Taken Off One Beach
Jan 24, 2019 | BeachConnection.net
If there's enough really tiny pieces, they can become a gargantuan problem. (Microplastics photo above courtesy Newport Chapter of Surfrider Foundation).
That's just what happened after a run of recent storms on the Oregon coast, as an unusually large inundation of microplastics smothered many beaches. Some stretches of beach were a few layers high of the teeny, tiny stuff, and these patches were several feet to yards long and in width.
In one spot, volunteers dragged a staggering 760 pounds of microplastics off the beach in recent days.
At least one group of Portlanders were shocked enough to create a cleanup project of their on the north Oregon coast. In other areas, Oregon State Parks and Recreation (OPRD) and the Newport chapter of the Surfrider Foundation have been working frantically to clear the sands of the unsightly messes.
Charlie Plybon, a Newport resident and the Oregon Policy Manager for Surfrider, said this is stark and unusual.
“What we’re seeing occurring is a strong episode of marine plastics,” Plybon said. “It is quite substantial and more than a lot of people are used to seeing.”
It’s not out of the ordinary to have storms wash up a lot of debris, including microplastics. Plybon said heavy storm activity coupled with flood waters really did a number on the Oregon coast this time, however.
“Certain areas, like Otter Rock – and we see this at jetties and headlands as well – we just end up with circulation patterns and eddies in the water that provide for greater accumulation than in other areas,” Plybon said.
It was Otter Rock where the 760 pounds of tiny debris was found by Surfrider volunteers. That little area – which hosts the Devil’s Punchbowl – is an area where more debris is found on average, anyway. But nothing like this.
“This one caught some attention of folks in the media and rightly so,” Plybon said. “It’s a pretty big episode.”
After the tsunami in Japan in 2011, the Oregon coast saw surges of microplastics. There are simply episodes where this occurs. Plybon said much of the culprit in many instances has been big westerly flows as well. These are also responsible for other oddities like those runs of velella velella in winter and spring. Recently, many parts of the coast saw a run of moon jellyfish hit the beaches.
Behind this kind of environmental incident, however, is just the greater numbers of plastics.
“Plastics and plastic pollution are on the rise in general, with greater demand and greater consumption,” Plybon said.
Plybon and Surfrider have been the spearhead behind a lot of efforts towards changing this, both by policies regarding plastics and via cleanup efforts. The Newport chapter has been engaging its volunteers a lot by organizing debris removal parties, but it’s also heavily involved in educating the public.
“Our big flagstone has been our way of engaging the every day person in not just the problem but the also solution,” he said.
The group has been behind the scenes pushing state policy towards more plastic bag bans or cutting down on straws, but it’s also hoping to chip away on the supply end of things by trying to work with larger companies and the American Chemistry Council on alternatives and more choices.
This gnarly occurrence of plastics has resulted in some grassroots action, including Portland’s Kellie Southworth O'Shaughnessy. She and a handful of friends organized a beach cleanup in Cannon Beach this Sunday. It starts at 10 a.m. - meet at the access ramp in front of Wayfarer Restaurant.
“Bring gloves, bags, sifter/strainers and pack a lunch,” she said.
In Seaside, there was already a regularly cleanup scheduled.
The Treasure the Beach Cleanups happen every first Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. This one is put on by Seaside Aquarium, City of Seaside, Seaside Downtown Development Association, Inn at the Seashore, and SOLVE. Sign in at The Seashore Inn on the Beach, 60 N. Prom, Seaside. Get your bag, and when done, drop it by trash receptacle along the Prom.
https://www.beachconnection.net/news/micropl012419_515.php
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Court: EPA Doesn’t Have to Provide Update on Climate Rule During Shutdown
Jan 24, 2019 | Politico Pro - Energy Whiteboard
By Alex Guillén
A federal court today said EPA doesn’t need to provide any update on its ongoing work to roll back the Clean Power Plan until the shutdown is over.
The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals gave EPA 14 days from the end of the shutdown to provide an update in the lawsuit over the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan. EPA’s status updates in that case have highlighted its work to repeal and replace the Obama rule with its less stringent Affordable Clean Energy rule.
EPA’s most recent update in the case came Dec. 21, the day the Justice Department shut down and a week before EPA ran out of money. EPA said at the time that it hoped to finalize the ACE rule this spring. The shutdown seems likely to push that timeline back as the agency has halted regulatory work not connected to specific court-ordered deadlines.
WHAT’S NEXT: EPA must provide an update to the court two weeks after the government re-opens.
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/energy/whiteboard/2019/01/court-epa-doesnt-have-to-provide-update-on-climate-rule-during-shutdown-2549600
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EPA Polluter Penalties Fall to Lowest Level Since 1994
Jan 24, 2019 | The Hill - E2 Wire
By Timothy Cama
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) levied the lowest civil penalties against polluters in nearly a quarter century last year, a new analysis of agency data found.
The $72 million in penalties for breaking the law in fiscal year 2018 was the lowest since 1994 and more than 85 percent below the two-decade average of $500 million, when adjusted for inflation. That's according to the analysis by Cynthia Giles, who led the EPA’s enforcement office under former President Barack Obama.
Fiscal 2018, which ran from Oct. 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018, was the first full fiscal year of the Trump administration, but nearly half of the penalties came from cases whose settlements were reached before President Trump took office.
Giles’s analysis, based on publicly available data from the agency, was first reported by The Washington Post Thursday. She is a guest fellow at Harvard University’s Environmental and Energy Law Program.
“The public expects EPA to protect them from the worst polluters,” she told the Post. “The Trump EPA is not doing that. What worries me is how industry will respond to EPA’s abandonment of tough enforcement.”
Acting EPA chief Andrew Wheeler defended the Trump administration’s strategy of avoiding penalties, saying last week that the agency instead prefers to make companies compliant with the law.
“We are working very hard on compliance assurance, and I think the agency has for a number of years,” he said at the Senate hearing on his nomination to be the EPA’s official leader.
“The more compliance assurance that we have, fewer enforcement actions we need to take.”
He also highlighted a recent $305 million penalty against Fiat Chrysler Automobiles for cheating on diesel emissions tests. That penalty is part of the fiscal 2019 figures.
EPA spokesman John Konkus said Thursday that the agency is focused on enforcement no matter who is president.
“EPA’s career enforcement staff work continuously to initiate and conclude cases, regardless of administration,” he said. “We are proud to continue work that was initiated in prior administrations and to celebrate that good work when it is complete.”
Konkus also said that the EPA's annual enforcement figures for 2018 — which it plans to release after the government shutdown ends — will show an increase in criminal cases opened by the agency.
https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/426769-epa-polluter-penalties-fall-to-lowest-level-since-1994
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Moderate and Coastal-State Republicans Seek Climate Panel Slots
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Tiffany Stecker and Dean Scott
Six spots on the House’s new climate panel are reserved for Republicans. So who wants a seat at a table that Democrats historically have dominated?
A handful of House Republicans—including moderates from the Northeast along with lawmakers from coastal states affected by sea-level rise—are raising their hands.
The lawmakers have introduced legislation to address rising temperatures and extreme weather through carbon fees and other mechanisms. They say the new panel—which lacks the power to subpoena witnesses or write bills—nonetheless could present an opportunity to discuss an issue important to them.
“I would love to serve on it if [House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy] wants me,” Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.) told Bloomberg Environment.
Rooney, who is slated to co-chair the bipartisan Climate Solutions Caucus in the House, has sponsored bills to price carbon emissions, address harmful algal blooms, and ban sugarcane burning. He was one of just three Republicans to co-sponsor a carbon tax bill introduced late last year (H.R. 7173).
Another Florida Republican, Rep. Brian Mast (R-Fla.), is also interested in a spot. He was one of 17 Republicans who signed a 2017 resolution acknowledging that “human activities” have had an impact on the global climate and resolving to create and support “economically viable” mitigation efforts.
“When the announcement was made, we started talking about it immediately,” Mast, who cites environmental concerns as a top issue for him, said.
Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), a former coastal protection official in an oil-producing state, is another contender, as is Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), who co-sponsored carbon fee legislation in the last Congress.
McCarthy will announce the members of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis once the standing committee rosters have been finalized this week, according to his office.
AOC: Panel Must Be ‘Effective’The new climate panel resurrects a select committee that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi launched in 2006. The committee died when Republicans took back the chamber in 2011.
After the 2018 midterm elections handed the House majority back to Democrats, climate advocates including the Sunrise Movement and new member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tried to convince the party to give the committee more authority, including the tools to develop a Green New Deal to phase out fossil fuel energy.
The committee’s lack of power has deflated the enthusiasm of some lawmakers such as Ocasio-Cortez, who asked that the committee’s members refuse campaign contributions from the fossil fuel industry and for the panel to have subpoena power and the ability to draft legislation.
“We thought those were three things that were pretty common sense in order for it to be effective,” Ocasio-Cortez told Bloomberg Environment. “So we’re trying to see to what extent it can be impactful and if it is, potentially joining it.”
Rep. Greg Walden (R-Ore.), the ranking Republican on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, told Bloomberg Environment he recommended members of that panel.
But it’s unclear who would serve on a committee with no legislative power when they could write bills through Energy and Commerce. Both Republicans and Democrats on the committee said they weren’t very interested in the select committee.
“If asked to serve, I would serve,” Rep. Bill Flores (R-Texas), who represents a district that sits on the oil-rich Eagle Ford shale play, said. “But I’m not seeking it.”
A ‘Skeptical’ CaseIt’s also unclear whether McCarthy will appoint members of the party’s right wing, which has denied or underplayed the threat of climate change. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) who served as ranking member on the last select committee on climate change, is seeking a spot on the climate panel, his spokesman Chris Krepich said.
Sensenbrenner has questioned whether the planet is warming and opposed action to curb U.S. emissions of heat-trapping gases and is the only House Republican left from the previous climate panel Pelosi created in 2007
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) was recommended by House Freedom Caucus chairman Rep. Mark Meadows (R-S.C.) for the committee. Massie runs his home on solar panels and drives an electricity-powered Tesla but questions that climate change is a “crisis.”
Massie doesn’t see increasing carbon dioxide in the air as a bad thing for the environment. Increasing carbon dioxide stimulates plant production, Massie said—a point often made by skeptics of climate science that mainstream scientists refute.
“I think I could present a very good skeptical case for questioning climate change,” Massie said.
https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/moderate-and-coastal-state-republicans-seek-climate-panel-slots-1
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Trump's Energy Policies Have Inspired a Global Climate Movement
Jan 24, 2019 | Bloomberg
By Eric Roston
An architect of the Paris Agreement on climate change thanked President Donald Trump yesterday for his policies supportive of fossil-fuel industries, because they effectively provoked companies, investors and cities into cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
“Every time we hear yet another inexplicable attack on someone or something or some social value or some environmental value, it causes the opposite reaction,” said former UN climate chief Christiana Figueres at a Bloomberg conference held in Davos during the World Economic Forum.
She calls Trump’s White House “the dark house” because of what she describes as an executive mansion absent of enlightened policy.
Figueres, who operates an initiative called Global Optimismsaid research since late 2015 has shown there to be a more substantial difference than diplomats knew between their high- and low-end warming goals.
An October report by the UN-backed Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for the first time addressed how keeping warming to the more ambitious goal of 1.5 degree Celsius would affect temperature, sea-level rise, drought and precipitation relative to a hotter world. Business-as-usual emissions would push the planet past 4 degrees -- well beyond what scientists have long considered to be dangerous.
“Unfortunately, the U.S. is no longer the reference point in the world for climate action,” said Johan Rockstrom, an Earth system scientist and incoming co-director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, who appeared with Figueres.
The two supported a strategy report last year that suggested how nations, companies and individuals can meet the extraordinarily ambitious goal of cutting global greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030.
They appeared with Suzanne DiBianca, executive Vice President for corporate relations and chief philanthropy officer at Salesforce.com Inc. She described a three-pronged approach to corporate sustainability that includes transparency, entrepreneurship, and cleaning up operations, including supply chains. She oversees a $50 million investment fund that next year is expected to double.
DiBianca said that recent U.S. actions in the climate arena motivated both Salesforce and her personally to accelerate their transformation into a clean-economy company.
“The second thing that I’m seeing that has been a huge gift, as a result of the federal government stepping aside, is cities,” she said. “The leadership of cities has been incredibly impressive, and I don’t think probably would have taken such direct, fast action if they were waiting for federal programs.”
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-24/trump-s-energy-policies-have-inspired-a-global-climate-movement
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Green New Deal Needs Climate Panel Input, House Leader Says
Jan 24, 2019 | BNA Daily Environment Report
By Dean Scott
Backers of a Green New Deal might consider talking to the House’s new select climate committee before asking the chamber to vote on their ideas to combat climate change, the House’s second-ranking Democrat said Jan. 23.
“Look, we have a select committee,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told Bloomberg Environment, as well as a “very bright” new chairman at its helm in Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.).
Castor, tapped to chair a new House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, will be working with other Energy and Commerce Democrats “and I think they will come out with some good suggestions” on what climate policies should move in the House, Hoyer said.
Hoyer (D-Md.) was responding to a plan detailed by the Green New Deal’s most prominent supporter in the House, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), that would put a nonbinding resolution on the floor that she said would “define the scope of the Green New Deal.”
The idea, Ocasio-Cortez said Jan. 22, is to gauge the level of House support for the green deal’s climate solutions as a sort of test run for specific climate legislation that would follow.
Hearings Expected QuicklyOther than to suggest any such effort be coordinated through the climate committee, Hoyer declined to weigh on whether he would support such a resolution, given that it is still being drafted.
But he said Castor’s climate panel would proceed quickly with climate-related hearings “probably here and around the country” in the months to come. He added that he has discussed ways to coordinate climate efforts between Castor and Rep. Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.) a senior House Energy and Commerce member, who is chairing a new Subcommittee on Environment and Climate Change.
Ocasio-Cortez said Jan. 22 she’s still mulling the possibility of serving on the new select climate committee, whose roster will be decided by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
“We’re trying to see to what extent it can be impactful” on climate action, given the panel wasn’t given subpoena power or the authority to move legislation, she said.
Republican Welcomes ResolutionMore than 40 House Democrats back the Green New Deal, which calls for moving the U.S. to 100 percent renewable energy in a decade, bolstering green jobs, and other action to address what its supporters say is a climate crisis that demands bold action.
The green deal is backed by many freshman Democrats who helped the party capture control of the chamber, but also some longtime members.
Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), who has expressed interest in one of the six Republican slots on the select climate panel, said he’d welcome the Democrats’ resolution.
“I love when people come in and challenge conventional wisdom and make you think through problems differently,” he said, even though he considers the Green New Deal ideals “a fairy tale” that he said “is a utopic dream.”
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a Rules Committee member who has endorsed the Green New Deal, said he sees some merit in a resolution. But like Hoyer, he said any resolution should be coordinated with the new select climate panel.
“I’d support a statement that presumably our select committee comes up with, stating that there is no greater emergency facing our people and our civilization than climate change,” Raskin told Bloomberg Environment.https://news.bloombergenvironment.com/environment-and-energy/green-new-deal-needs-climate-panel-input-house-leader-says
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