Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com/media/feed_logo.gif Green Daily http://www.greendaily.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/EPA taking comments on pollution preventionhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/08/26/epa-taking-comments-on-pollution-prevention/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/08/26/epa-taking-comments-on-pollution-prevention/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/08/26/epa-taking-comments-on-pollution-prevention/#commentsThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be taking public comment on pollution prevention activities ahead of its September 3-4 Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) meeting.

The SAB meeting will focus on "consultative advice" from the EPA's Environmental Engineering Committee to the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) "on possible new approaches to measuring results of pollution prevention activities." The OPPT is responsible for oversight of programs falling under the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Pollution Prevention Act. These acts evaluate chemical safety and while "promoting the use of non-toxic or less-toxic substances, implementing conservation techniques, and re-using materials rather than putting them into the waste stream." Programs specifics can be found on the EPA website.

Given the EPA's already legendary foot-dragging on pollution standards, the need for public comment now is greater than ever.

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]]>environmental protection agencyEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyepapollutionpollution prevention actpollution standardsPollutionPreventionActPollutionStandardspublic commentPublicCommenttoxic substance control acttoxic substancesToxicSubstanceControlActToxicSubstancesMelissa SchoberTue, 26 Aug 2008 08:12:00 ESTBut information wants to be freehttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/16/but-information-wants-to-be-free/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/16/but-information-wants-to-be-free/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/16/but-information-wants-to-be-free/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Although the U.S. is responding to the worsening global food crisis via emergency food aid programs, some international agencies are concluding that biofuel production is to blame.

The Guardian, a UK newspaper, obtained a copy of a World Bank report on the effect of biofuels on food prices. According to the newspaper, the report was held in order to prevent any discomfort to President Bush ahead of the G8 summit.

Continue reading But information wants to be free

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]]>biofuelcellulosic ethanolcellulosic-ethanolCellulosicEthanolclimate changeClimateChangeethanolfood aidfood pricesFoodAidFoodPricesg8g8summitgallagher reportGallagherReportworld bankWorldBankMelissa SchoberWed, 16 Jul 2008 07:26:00 ESTEPA to everyone: Nah nah nah, you can't make mehttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/14/epa-to-everyone-nah-nah-nah-you-cant-make-me/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/14/epa-to-everyone-nah-nah-nah-you-cant-make-me/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/14/epa-to-everyone-nah-nah-nah-you-cant-make-me/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Despite a Supreme Court decision and a near-miss on a contempt of Congress citation, the Environmental Protection Agency has decided to thumb its nose at, oh, everyone by continuing to delay rule-making on greenhouse gas emissions.

The SCOTUS decision, from April 2007, ruled that the EPA improperly declined to regulate pollutants that contribute to climate change.

Rather than following the decision, or heeding repeated warning from Congress (notably the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming), Administrator Stephen Johnson issued an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR). In this case, the issuance amounts to the EPA fiddling while Rome burns.

And as if that weren't enough, the ANPR - some 580 pages - is accompanied by numerous comments urging the government to NOT regulation carbon dioxide and other gases via the Clean Air Act.


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]]>carbon dioxideCarbonDioxideclimate changeClimateChangeepafeaturedglobal warmingGlobalWarminggreenhouse emissionsgreenhouse gasgreenhouse gasesGreenhouseEmissionsGreenhouseGasGreenhouseGasespublic healthPublicHealthscotusstephen johnsonStephenJohnsonsupreme courtSupremeCourtMelissa SchoberMon, 14 Jul 2008 06:55:00 ESTShark week on Capitol Hillhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/07/shark-week-on-capitol-hill/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/07/shark-week-on-capitol-hill/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/07/07/shark-week-on-capitol-hill/#commentsFiled under: ,

As lawmakers ease back into work after the July 4 recess, they'll be considering a couple of bills of interest to the green community:

H.R. 5741, the Shark Conversation Act of 2008; H.R. 802, the Maritime Pollution Prevention Act of 2008; and H.R. 4174, the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2007.

The last bill would establish the Interagency Committee on Ocean Acidification comprised of members from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Department of Energy.

Within 18 months of the bill's enactment, the Committee would be required to issue a report to Congress on the effects of atmospheric carbon dioxide on ocean chemistry, including biological impacts. To carry out this and other related research, the bill would authorize $6 million in FY2009, $8 million in FY2010, $11 million in 2011, and $30 million in FY2012.

Continue reading Shark week on Capitol Hill

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]]>appropriationsauthorizationcarbon dioxideCarbonDioxidemaritimemaritime pollutionMaritimePollutionoceanocean acidificationOceanAcidificationsharkshark conservationSharkConservationMelissa SchoberMon, 07 Jul 2008 14:49:00 ESTClimate change bill likely D.O.A.http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/climate-change-bill-likely-d-o-a/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/climate-change-bill-likely-d-o-a/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/06/02/climate-change-bill-likely-d-o-a/#commentsFiled under: , ,

As predicted in an earlier post, the Senate is slated to take up S. 3036, America's Climate Security Act, this week. The Senate will vote this evening on a cloture motion to close debate and proceed to a vote on the measure; the bill's supporters are confident they have the 60 votes needed to pass the motion.

(The bill number is different -- it started life as S. 2191 -- and the main sponsor is now Barbara Boxer, chair of the Environment and Public Works Committee, although it is named for the original drafters, Sens. Joe Lieberman and John Warner.)

S. 3036 enjoys widespread support - from General Electric and PG&E to the Teamsters to San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to the Environmental Defense Action Fund and the Nature Conservancy.

But it appears that the bill is already a lame duck. And for reasons that make me want to ask, "Is anyone at the White House familiar with the word 'irony'?"

Continue reading Climate change bill likely D.O.A.

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]]>barbaraboxerclimate changeClimateChangeemissionsemissionsreductionsgas pricesgasoline pricesGasolinePricesGasPricesgreenhouse gasGreenhouseGasgreenhousegasesgreenhousegassesjoe liebermanJoeLiebermanjohn warnerJohnWarnernuclear powerNuclearPowerpresident bushPresidentBushwhite houseWhiteHouseMelissa SchoberMon, 02 Jun 2008 16:40:00 ESTBill to force EPA's hand approvedhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/23/bill-to-force-epas-hand-approved/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/23/bill-to-force-epas-hand-approved/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/23/bill-to-force-epas-hand-approved/#commentsFiled under: ,

This week, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee voted, 10-9, to approve S. 2555, a bill that would require the EPA allow states to set stricter-than-the-national emission limits. The vote was mostly on party lines with two exceptions -- outgoing Sen. John Warner (R-VA) voted for it; Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) voted against it.

An archived webcast of the bill's markup, including talk from I-believe-global-warming-is-a-big-hoax, Ranking Member Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) is available.

The bill is designed to overturn the EPA's 2007 decision to deny California a waiver that would have allowed the state to more stringently regulate greenhouse gas emissions from cars and other motor vehicles.

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]]>californiaemissioncontrolsemissionsemissions reductionsemissions standardsemissionsreductionsEmissionsStandardsepagreenhousegreenhouse gas emiss...greenhouse gas limitsgreenhouse gasesgreenhouse gassesGreenhouseGasEmiss...GreenhouseGasesGreenhouseGasLimitsGreenhouseGassesMelissa SchoberFri, 23 May 2008 12:47:00 ESTEPA administrator likely to be found in contempt of Congresshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/22/epa-administrator-likely-to-be-found-in-contempt-of-congress/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/22/epa-administrator-likely-to-be-found-in-contempt-of-congress/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/22/epa-administrator-likely-to-be-found-in-contempt-of-congress/#commentsFiled under: ,

Today, the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will hold a hearing examining the Bush administration's energy policy. The sole witness is Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman. The hearing will focus on the administration's strategic petroleum reserve policies, as well as its support for tax credits for oil and gas companies.

However, the real fireworks will likely precede the hearing. The committee will, immediately before considering Mr. Bodman's testimony, vote on a resolution "recommending that EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson be found in contempt of Congress for his refusal to comply with a subpoena."

Continue reading EPA administrator likely to be found in contempt of Congress

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]]>contempt of congressContemptOfCongressdepartment of energyDepartmentOfEnergyenergy independenceEnergyIndependenceepaglobal warmingGlobalWarmingoil companiesoil pricesOilCompaniesOilPricessamuel bodmanSamuelBodmanstephen johnsonStephenJohnsonMelissa SchoberThu, 22 May 2008 09:15:00 ESTSenate committee hearings on oil prices, green collar jobshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/21/senate-committee-hearings-on-oil-prices-green-collar-jobs/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/21/senate-committee-hearings-on-oil-prices-green-collar-jobs/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/21/senate-committee-hearings-on-oil-prices-green-collar-jobs/#commentsFiled under: ,

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is hearing testimony from executives at BP America, Shell Oil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Exxon Mobil on the "skyrocketing price of oil."

The Judiciary Committee's website has a link to the webcast of the hearing (once it is complete, a link to the archived webcast will be provided), as well as testimony from each of the oil executives. Chair of the committee, Patrick Leahy, has a statement online too.

Continue reading Senate committee hearings on oil prices, green collar jobs

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]]>bp americaBpAmericachevronconocophillipsexxon mobilExxonMobiloil companiesoil pricesoil productionOilCompaniesOilPricesOilProductionpatrick leahyPatrickLeahysenate hearingsenate judiciarySenateHearingSenateJudiciaryshell oilShellOilMelissa SchoberWed, 21 May 2008 12:50:00 ESTMoney forthcoming for public transit. Maybe.http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/18/money-forthcoming-for-public-transit-maybe/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/18/money-forthcoming-for-public-transit-maybe/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/18/money-forthcoming-for-public-transit-maybe/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week, the House Transportation Committee passed the Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act (HR 6052). At a time of record high gas prices - Hartford and Chicago are in the $4 gallon range with the national average not far behind - the bill would authorize $1.7 billion in grant funding for public transit.

The bill recognizes that some 37 million metric tones of carbon dioxide are saved annually by the 10.3 billion public transit trips Americans took in 2007. And, as a daily public transit rider myself, I appreciate the estimated annual cost-savings of $6,251 (as per the American Public Transportation Association).

Continue reading Money forthcoming for public transit. Maybe.

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]]>alternative energyalternative fuelalternative fuelsAlternativeEnergyAlternativeFuelAlternativeFuelsbuschicagoclean fuels developm...CleanFuelsDevelopm...ferrygasgas pricesgasolinegasoline pricesGasolinePricesGasPriceshartfordhouse transportation committeeHouseTransportationCommitteeoberstarolverpublic transportationPublicTransportationMelissa SchoberSun, 18 May 2008 13:24:00 ESTCitizen petition for nanotech regulation filedhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/citizen-petition-for-nanotech-regulation-filed/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/citizen-petition-for-nanotech-regulation-filed/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/07/citizen-petition-for-nanotech-regulation-filed/#commentsFiled under: ,

Last week, the International Center for Technology Assessment and a coalition of environmental and public health groups, including the the Center for Food Safety, Greenpeace, and Consumers Union, filed a citizen petition asking that the EPA regulate nanosilver as a pesticide under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act .

Nanosilver has been added to a host of consumer products -- everything from sheets to bus handrails to children's toys -- for its antimicrobial properties.


Continue reading Citizen petition for nanotech regulation filed

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]]>antimicrobialantimicrobialsepananosilvernanotechnologypesticidepesticidesregulationswaste waterWasteWaterMelissa SchoberWed, 07 May 2008 10:44:00 ESTFarm bill dead on arrival?http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/05/farm-bill-dead-on-arrival/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/05/farm-bill-dead-on-arrival/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/05/farm-bill-dead-on-arrival/#commentsFiled under: ,

The House and Senate are just about finished with conference negotiations over the reauthorization of the farm bill (HR 2419). The farm bill is sprawling, $570 billion piece of legislation, containing provisions on everything from Food Stamps and WIC to crop subsidies to biofuels to drought and flood aid.
This year's reauthorization looked all but dead as conferees from the House and Senate fought over protectionist subsidies and tariffs, the competing demands of a tight budget v. the need to increase food aid, conservation measures, and more.

But, after months of intense negotiations between House Agriculture Committee Chair Collin Peterson, Sens. Tom Harkin, Pat Roberts, and Kent Conrad, is the farm bill dead on arrival?

Continue reading Farm bill dead on arrival?

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]]>biofuelbiofuelscollin petersonCollinPetersoncongresscrop subsidiesCropSubsidiesfarm billfarm subsidiesFarmBillFarmSubsidiesfood stampsFoodStampskent conradKentConradpresident bushPresidentBushtom harkinTomHarkinwicMelissa SchoberMon, 05 May 2008 18:23:00 ESTUS Responds to Worsening Global Food Crisishttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/01/us-responds-to-worsening-global-food-crisis/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/01/us-responds-to-worsening-global-food-crisis/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/05/01/us-responds-to-worsening-global-food-crisis/#commentsFiled under: ,

A silent tsunami which knows no borders sweeping the world.

That is how Josette Sheeran, head of the UN World Food Program, described the worsening global food crisis. Food shortages have caused riots in Haiti, Cameroon, Indonesia and Egypt, among others.

The sharp increases in food prices are attributed to several factors, including (1) an increased demand for biofuels (corn being made into ethanol rather than sold on the food market), (2) drought (e.g., in Australia) or flooding (Bolivia, South Asia, some parts of E. Africa), (3) surging demand from developing nations like China and India, (4) shortages of fertilizer, and (5) property rights.

So what's being done to ease the burden on the world's poor?

Continue reading US Responds to Worsening Global Food Crisis

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]]>biodieselbushbush administrationBushAdministrationcameroondroughtegyptfertilizerfloodfood aidfood crisisfood shortagefood shortagesFoodAidFoodCrisisFoodShortageFoodShortageshaitiimfindonesiainternational moneta...InternationalMoneta...robert zoellickRobertZoellickworld bankworld food aid programworld food programworld food programmeWorldBankWorldFoodAidProgramWorldFoodProgramWorldFoodProgrammeMelissa SchoberThu, 01 May 2008 20:17:00 ESTAn alternative to the Climate Security Acthttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/29/an-alternative-to-the-climate-security-act/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/29/an-alternative-to-the-climate-security-act/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/29/an-alternative-to-the-climate-security-act/#commentsAmerica's Climate Security Act (S. 2191) is supposed to be coming to the floor of the Senate sometime in early June.

Even though S. 2191 hasn't yet reached the floor, an alternative is already percolating. Sen. George Voinovich plans to introduce his own climate change bill: the Incentives-Based Climate Policy Act.

The Voinovich bill -- still in draft form -- looks like an attempt at a real, middle-of-the-road compromise in the increasingly partisan debate over reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Continue reading An alternative to the Climate Security Act

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]]>capandtradeclimate changeClimateChangeemission controlsEmissionControlsemissionsemissionsreductionsgreenhouse gasgreenhouse gasesGreenhouseGasGreenhouseGasesliebermanvoinovichwarnerMelissa SchoberTue, 29 Apr 2008 15:33:00 ESTMcCain not alone in need for econ 101 lessonhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/28/mccain-not-alone-in-need-for-econ-101-lesson/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/28/mccain-not-alone-in-need-for-econ-101-lesson/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/28/mccain-not-alone-in-need-for-econ-101-lesson/#commentsFiled under:

So, it appears that Sen. McCain isn't alone in his need for an Econ 101 refresher.

Today, presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton criticized Barack Obama for not supporting the plan to suspend federal taxes on gasoline and diesel from Memorial Day through Labor Day. "I understand the American people need some relief," said Sen. Clinton.

There's no denying that the Americans are cash-strapped. As oil prices climbed toward $120 a barrel, food costs continue to skyrocket, and access to credit tightens, suspending the gasoline tax would almost certainly provide some small measure of short-term relief. But suspending the tax, in the long-term is a terrible idea.

Continue reading McCain not alone in need for econ 101 lesson

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]]>clintonfeaturedgas tax policygas tax rebategas taxesGasTaxesGasTaxPolicyGasTaxRebateinfrastructuremccainoil pricesOilPricesprofitsMelissa SchoberMon, 28 Apr 2008 15:51:00 ESTSen. McCain: In need of econ 101http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/16/sen-mccain-in-need-of-econ-101/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/16/sen-mccain-in-need-of-econ-101/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/16/sen-mccain-in-need-of-econ-101/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Presidential candidate John McCain is calling for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day moratorium on collecting the 18.4 cent-a-gallon federal gasoline tax and 24.4 cent-a-gallon federal diesel tax.

Yes, gasoline is very expensive. The price for one barrel of light, sweet crude hit $114.08 on April 15. The national average for a gallon of gasoline is $3.386; diesel is $4.119 per gallon. And yes, prices will increase as more refineries move to summer-blend gasoline, a lower evaporation formula that causes less air pollution (for more on blended gasoline, check out this Slate article.)

But reducing the cost of gasoline by reducing or eliminating the federal tax is a phenomenally bad idea.

Continue reading Sen. McCain: In need of econ 101

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]]>asthmadieseldrivinggasoline consumptiongasoline pricesgasoline taxgasoline taxesGasolineConsumptionGasolinePricesGasolineTaxGasolineTaxeshealth risksHealthRiskshighway trust fundHighwayTrustFundmccainozonepollutionsummer blendSummerBlendMelissa SchoberWed, 16 Apr 2008 16:27:00 ESTChevron might have to empty pockets in Ecuadorean lawsuithttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/11/chevron-might-have-to-empty-pockets-in-ecuadorean-lawsuit/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/11/chevron-might-have-to-empty-pockets-in-ecuadorean-lawsuit/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/11/chevron-might-have-to-empty-pockets-in-ecuadorean-lawsuit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last week, Richard Cabrera, a geological engineer, recommended that Chevron pay $8-16 billion in damages if it loses a lawsuit brought by indigenous groups.

The groups allege that Texaco, bought by Chevron in 2001, dumped tons of oil-mining waste into waterways. Chevron points to Petroecuador, in which Texaco had a minority business interest, as the culprit.

The lawsuit is garnering a lot of American interest. It was originally filed in New York in the early 90s, but the District Court ruled that it did not have proper jurisdiction to hear the case. In 2003, the lawsuit moved to Ecuador.

In February 2006, Sens. Barack Obama and Patrick Leahy, both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter to Trade Representative Rob Portman asking that his office ignore lobbying efforts by Chevron on the Andean Free Trade agreement to get Ecuador to drop the lawsuit.

They wrote, " We are writing to seek your assurances that the U.S. Trade Representative will not allow negotiations over the Andean Free Trade Agreement to interfere with a case involving Chevron that is under consideration by the Ecuadorian judiciary, particularly one involving environmental, health and human rights issues that have regional importance. While we are not prejudging the outcome of the case, we do believe the 30,000 indigenous residents of Ecuador deserve their day in court."

Continue reading Chevron might have to empty pockets in Ecuadorean lawsuit

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]]>andean free trade agreementAndeanFreeTradeAgreementbarack obamaBarackObamachevronchevron corp.ChevronCorp.ecuadorindigenous peopleindigenouspeoplelawsuitoilpatrick leahyPatrickLeahypollutantspollutionrob portmanRobPortmantexacoMelissa SchoberFri, 11 Apr 2008 15:51:00 ESTFewer Farmers Participating in Conservation Reserve Programhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/10/fewer-farmers-participating-in-conservation-reserve-program/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/10/fewer-farmers-participating-in-conservation-reserve-program/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/10/fewer-farmers-participating-in-conservation-reserve-program/#commentsFiled under: ,

As food prices continue to rise -- especially for corn given the mandate in the 2005 energy bill to produce more ethanol - fewer farmers are letting their land lay fallow and accepting payments for not planting.

The payments for not-farming come via the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). The program is designed to prevent soil erosion, reduce sedimentation and pollution in waterways due to runoff, and increase habitat for wildlife. In February 2008, some 34 million acres were part of the CRP with farmers paid between $44 and $125 per acre, on average, to refrain from farming. The upper end of the scale is from the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). CREP is for land that abuts ecologically sensitive habitat like wetland; here in Maryland, it applies to land near the barely-hanging-on Chesapeake Bay

But now, the per-acre payments are paltry when compared to wheat at $9 a bushel (yield is about 50 bushels per acre, or $450) and corn at $6 a bushel (yield is about 140 bushels per acre, or $840). And farmers want out of their decade-long contracts with the CRP.

Continue reading Fewer Farmers Participating in Conservation Reserve Program

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]]>climate changeClimateChangeconservation reserve programConservationReserveProgramcorncorn pricescorn productioncorn profitsCornPricesCornProductionCornProfitsdroughterosionfarmersglobal warmingGlobalWarmingsedimentUSDAwetlandswheatwheat priceswheat productionWheatPricesWheatProductionMelissa SchoberThu, 10 Apr 2008 13:59:00 ESTHouse to Consider Beach Protection Legislationhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/house-to-consider-beach-protection-legislation/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/house-to-consider-beach-protection-legislation/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/house-to-consider-beach-protection-legislation/#commentsFiled under: , ,

This coming week, the House of Representatives will take up H.R. 2537, a bill to reauthorize the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act of 2000, also known as the "Clean Water Act."

The bill would authorize $40 million per year through 2012 for grants to help states develop and implement for source tracking, sanitary surveys, and prevention efforts to address beach pollution.

Give your representative a ring or write them an email and urge them to support this legislation. (Don't write a letter. Since 9/11, and the Senate anthrax scare, all mail going to Congress is shuttled to an off-site facility for inspection. It takes forever for snail mail to reach offices.)

And while you're at it, urge 'em to support full funding for the bill in this year's appropriations bill. But the bill says $40 million? Doesn't that mean it will get $40 million? Not necessarily.

Continue reading House to Consider Beach Protection Legislation

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]]>beachbeach pollutionBeachPollutionclean waterclean water actCleanWaterCleanWaterActlegislationpoliticalpoliticspollutionMelissa SchoberWed, 09 Apr 2008 17:00:00 ESTBig Public Land Bill Before the Senate This Weekhttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/big-public-land-bill-before-the-senate-this-week/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/big-public-land-bill-before-the-senate-this-week/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/09/big-public-land-bill-before-the-senate-this-week/#commentsFiled under:

On April 4, Harry Reid introduced a cloture motion for S. 2739, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act. Included along with S. 2739 are S. 520, the Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2007 and S. 2483, and the National Forests, Parks, Public Land and Reclamation Projects Authorization Act of 2007. When a bill is composed of several stand-alone piece of legislation, it is usually called an omnibus).

Cloture requires 60 members to vote "yea" to close debate on a bill and move to a vote. If the Senate can't reach 60, then debate can continue indefinitely.

Some people want to call what I've termed "debate" by a different name - filibuster. I don't see it. A true filibuster is when one person holds the floor for hours and hours (think Mr. Smith Goes to Washington or Strom Thurmond reading the phone book to prevent civil rights legislation from passing). In any case, the result of debate or filibuster is the same - obstruction of final passage of the underlying measure.

The bill has been in a holding pattern because of the new "Mr. No," Senator Tom Coburn.

Continue reading Big Public Land Bill Before the Senate This Week

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]]>clotureharry reidHarryReidnational parksNationalParkspublic landspublic parksPublicLandsPublicParkstom coburnTomCoburnwildernessMelissa SchoberWed, 09 Apr 2008 14:30:00 ESTSenate to consider renewable energy tax creditshttp://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/senate-to-consider-renewable-energy-tax-credits/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/senate-to-consider-renewable-energy-tax-credits/http://www.greendaily.com/2008/04/08/senate-to-consider-renewable-energy-tax-credits/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Last week, Sens. Maria Cantwell and John Ensign introduced the Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008 as an amendment to H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act.

The CETS Act, at a cost of around $6 billion, would extend the Production Tax Credit for one year. The credit reduces the tax liability for companies that generate power from renewable sources such as hydropower, wind, biomass, etc. It also would extend for eight years a tax credit for investment in solar energy and credits for energy efficient homes, commercial building and appliances.

Unfortunately, the amendment is facing some hurdles.

Continue reading Senate to consider renewable energy tax credits

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]]>biomasscantwellhydropowerjohn ensignJohnEnsignmaria cantwellMariaCantwellpaygopoliticsrenewable energyRenewableEnergysolarsolar powerSolarPowertax credittax creditsTaxCreditTaxCreditswind powerWindPowerMelissa SchoberTue, 08 Apr 2008 07:30:00 EST