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Issues: U.S. Law and Policy

The Whole Enchilada - A Summary of the Water Bills

November 6, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in U.S. Law and Policy

Here is an excellent summary of the water reform package passed by the state legislature on Nov. 4, as well as a summary of the water bond – with links to the final language.  My colleagues and I will be...continued

On Leadership and the Water Package

November 6, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
bay-delta, bills, california, california assembly, california senate, delta, Jared Huffman, legislation, package, policy, pro Tempore, reform, Steinberg, water

A great deal has been written about the substance of the water reform bills that was passed by the legislature in the wee hours Wednesday.  Here’s NRDC’s statement on the three key bills.  And here’s a thoughtful editorial from the Los Angeles...continued

A Great Environmental Steward

November 5, 2009

Posted by Peter Lehner in U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
epa, judithenck, lisajackson, obama

President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson today appointed Judith Enck as the head of EPA's key region two office, the office that handles environmental issues in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and seven Tribal...continued

Off to Cleveland Today to Testify for Great Lakes and Oceans

October 29, 2009

Posted by Thom Cmar in Reviving the World's Oceans , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
ballastwater, cleveland, greatlakes, invasivespecies, obama, oceans

I'm off to Cleveland this morning to testify at the Great Lakes regional meeting of the National Ocean Policy Task Force.  As a native Ohioan, I am excited to return to my home state and take this important opportunity to...continued

Why do some water users object to the state constitution?

October 28, 2009

Posted by Barry Nelson in U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
california, californiaconstitution, legislation, waterconservation, waterpolicy

In general, the direction of the legislation currently under consideration in the state legislature is encouraging. However, in addition to the positive developments, a remarkable debate is taking place in the legislature today. Some water users and legislators have asked...continued

The Wheels of the Clean Energy Economy

October 28, 2009

Posted by Colin Peppard in Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
CEJAPA, energyandclimate2009, globalwarming, greenjobs, kerry-boxer, pollution, senate, smartgrowth, transportation

In a previous post, I asked why we don't consider the federal transportation bill a major energy bill. Leaving that question aside, on Friday, Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer introduced a bill that couldn't be mistaken for anything else:...continued

Investor’s Business Daily Misleads on Polar Bears

October 27, 2009

Posted by Andrew Wetzler in Moving Beyond Oil , Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
biogems, criticalhabitat, investorsbusinessdaily, polarbears

Investor’s Business Daily just published a foolish editorial about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's recent proposal to designate over 200,000 square miles of Alaskan coast and sea ice as “critical habitat” for the State’s beleaguered polar bear population.  The...continued

Americans are Dying to Support our Fossil Fuel Habit

October 26, 2009

Posted by Andy Stevenson in Curbing Pollution , Health and the Environment , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
airpollution, capandtrade, climateandenergy2009, coalfiredpowerplants, costofinaction, hiddencosts, kerryboxer, nationalacademyofsciences, nationalsecurity

A new report from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reveals that our energy bills are $120bln higher than they appear due to the "hidden costs" associated with the air pollution created by burning fossil fuels. The...continued

In An Important Step, U.S. Designates Polar Bear Critical Habitat

October 22, 2009

Posted by Andrew Wetzler in Saving Wildlife and Wild Places , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
arctic, biogems, criticalhabitat, drilling, oil, polarbears

It’s been a good couple of weeks for polar bears.  First, the Department of the Interior announced that it would propose tighter international regulations of polar bear trophy hunting and trade under international law and, today, the Department of the...continued

U.S. Offshore Wind Development Stymied Once Again

October 21, 2009

Posted by Brandi Colander in Green Enterprise , Moving Beyond Oil , Solving Global Warming , U.S. Law and Policy

Tags:
capewind, deepwaterwind, energy, energysecurity, fossilfuels, nationalgrid, offshorewind, renewableenergy, wind, windindustry, windpower

"Massachusetts blown away in wind power development race" says the Boston Herald, "Stop delaying the process of approving Cape Wind" shouts the Cape Cod Times, "National Grid rejects power offer from Deepwater Wind" reports the Providence Business News.  What is...continued

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