UPDATES

Congress:

House

On Tuesday, May 14, House Energy and Power Subcommittee marked up H.R. 271, “Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2013.” This bill takes the unprecedented step of authorizing total civil and criminal amnesty from all federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations for electric power producers that are under special orders from the Department of Energy to continue operating their plants to ensure a reliable supply of electricity. The community sent a letter of opposition. The bill could be voted on suspension as early as this week.

Senate

On May 9, the Senate Environment and Public Works committee was scheduled to vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, but Republican members of the Senate, led by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), boycotted the nomination. The vote was rescheduled, and on May 16, the committee approved McCarthy’s nomination by a 10-8 vote along party lines. The next step in the process is a vote by the full Senate. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) has placed a hold on the nomination and could filibuster.

ACTION ALERTS

Ask Obama: How Much Longer for Climate Action?

It’s been months since President Obama said we’d “respond to the threat of climate change” during his State of the Union address. The president has shown he’s serious about climate change by proposing limits on carbon from new power plants. And he’s nominated Gina McCarthy, the senior Environmental Protection Agency official responsible for moving those safeguards forward, to run the EPA.

But the EPA has missed its deadline to put those limits in place and is still reviewing the three million comments you helped submit last summer in support of those limits. Since then, we pumped over one billion tons of carbon dioxide—the greenhouse gas responsible for the extreme floods, storms, wildfires and droughts that threaten our families—into our atmosphere. We can’t wait for these standards to be finalized—we need Obama’s leadership on climate action now. Please consider taking individual action and/or sending an action alert to your own organization’s members and supporters.

It’s time for a plan. Ask President Obama what he will do to protect our families from climate change.

Ask Obama: How much longer for climate action? Natural Resource Defense Council Action Alert

Show Your Support for the Proposed Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (“Tier 3”)

On March 29, EPA proposed standards for cleaner gasoline and vehicles. While vehicles are now cleaner than they used to be, this is still significant news. With plans to finalize this proposal in 2013, EPA is expected to establish more stringent tailpipe standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017. The benefits have been compared to taking 33 million cars off the road, and these results can be achieved for a penny or less per gallon of gasoline.

These proposed standards are supported by a diverse coalition of organizations and industry—and a majority of Americans, too—because they will reduce air pollution, save lives, and create thousands of new jobs in an ailing economy. However, oil companies and their allies in Congress are working hard to stop the proposed standards, making misleading, discredited claims regarding the impact the standards will have on consumers. There is still time to make your voice heard. We encourage you to participate in the public comment period before it ends on June 13, 2013. In addition to taking individual action, consider sending an action alert to your members and supporters either via your own organization’s action alert or the links provided below.

Stand up for clean air and submit your official comment for cleaner gasoline and tailpipe standards now!

Kids Don’t Deserve Asthma: Take Action for Cleaner Tailpipes!, Sierra Club Action Alert

Breaking News: EPA Proposes Tough New Standards, American Lung Association Action Alert

Urge the EPA to Move Ahead with Clean Fuel and Tailpipe Standards, Union of Concerned Scientists Action Alert

Call to Action: Support the Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (Tier 3), Great round-up of resources and ways to get involved from the Union of Concerned Scientists

Tell the EPA: Cleaner Air is Worth a Penny, Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert

NEW MATERIALS

Republican Bills Would Obstruct Enforcement of Environmental Laws, RegBlog by John Walke, 5.20.13

Free E-Book! Asthma Triggers: A Guide for Parents, Teachers, Doctors and Nurses, Moms Clean Air Force E-book, 5.16.13

BlueGreen Alliance Commends Committee Approval of EPA Nominee Gina McCarthy, BlueGreen Alliance Press Release, 5.16.13

Benchmarking Air Emissions, Ceres and Natural Resources Defense Council Report, 5.15.13

Joint Letter Opposing the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2013 (H.R. 271), Sign-on Letter, 5.14.13

Small Businesses Support Clean Energy Standards and Want Congressional Action on EPA Nominee, Small Business Majority Poll, 5.8.13

Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.26.13
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.8.13
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.22.13

Bonn Climate Talks Conclude Amid Projections of Record High Atmospheric CO2 Levels Photo credit: Flickr, Creative Commons: Adopt a Negotiator The second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP2)—the latest intersessional of the international climate change negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)—concluded last week in Bonn, Germany.  The intersessional, held from April 29 to May 3, 2013, was divided into two workstreams: Workstream 1, which focuses on the scope, legal architecture and design, process and timeline for a new global climate agreement, set to be agreed upon at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP) 21 in Paris in 2015, and go into force in 2020; and Workstream 2, which focuses on pre-2020 emissions reductions pathways. The work of the ADP2 was under an increased sense of urgency, with the recent release of the latest climate data from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, which projected atmospheric carbon dioxide levels to soon surpass the 400 parts per million mark for the first time in recorded history. Furthermore, on May 2, 2013, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released its Statement on the Status of the Global Climate in 2012, which indicated that 2012 was the ninth warmest year on record, since record keeping began in 1850. Initial worries that the ADP2 would prove an extended “agenda fight” did not manifest, with the overall tenor of the negotiations being characterized as “positive” and “constructive.” Both the session format, consisting primarily of workshops and roundtables, as well as the single focus on one negotiating track within the Framework Convention, appeared to help foster improved dialogue amongst Parties. Still, despite the improved tone of the negotiations, many of the ‘tough’ decisions were postponed until the next intersessional, scheduled to take place in Bonn from June 3-14. The June intersessional will include the third meeting of the ADP negotiating track, along with additional negotiation track meetings, including the Subsidiary Body for Implemention (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA). Both the April and June intersessionals will help to lay the groundwork for COP 19, to take place in Warsaw, Poland from November 11-22, 2013. Some of the more contentious and unresolved areas of the international climate talks include technology transfer, adaptation, and climate finance—including the means and pathways to scale up to the $100 billion per year by 2020 pledged by developed nations in 2010. Further, considerable differences prevail around the preferred architecture of a new 2015 agreement, including whether it would be a top-down, “binding” legal architecture, or a bottom-up “pledge and review” process with voluntary emissions reductions targets under periodic review. The United States—along with Japan, Canada, and Russia—supports a “pledge and review” process in which nations would have the flexibility to choose their own emissions reductions targets, which would later undergo review. Meanwhile, many others reject this approach, for fear that voluntary targets will not achieve the level of mitigation ambition the science suggests is necessary to meet the critical threshold of maintaining below a two degree Celsius global average temperature rise. On the heels of the ADP2, international climate policy discussions continued outside of the formal UNFCCC negotiations, in the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, a summit of 35 environment ministers, convened by the German and Polish ministers of the environment. The Petersberg Climate Dialogue, held from May 5-7 in Berlin, Germany, also holds important implications in terms of political will, and context setting for future negotiations at COP 19 in Warsaw in November. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during her keynote address for the Dialogue, forewarned the global community that doing nothing is “not an option.” The links below provide a round up of USCAN member reactions and press coverage of the Bonn climate talks: US Urges Light-touch Regulation of Emissions as Climate Heats Up, The Irish Times Article, 5.4.13 Successful Week of Talks in Bonn Looks Towards Finalising ‘Dynamic’ Climate Deal in 2015, The Irish Times Article, 5.4.2013 Nations Seek Flexible Climate Approach, but no Breakthrough in Bonn, Reuters article, 5.3.13 Climate Negotiators Inch Closer to Global Pact, Deutsche Welle Article, 5.3.13 World Leaders Lack Political Will to Make Progress at Climate Negotiations in Bonn, Union of Concerned Scientists Press Release, 5.3.13 New Focus on Injecting Fairness into Climate Talks a Cause For Hope, Climate Action Network Press Release, 5.3.13 3 Encouraging Signs Of Progress from The Bonn Climate Talks, WRI Insights Blog, 5.3.13 Countries Focus on ‘Concrete Solutions’ to Build New UN-backed Global Climate Accord, UN News Centre, 5.3.13 Climate Vulnerable States Call for Greater Ambition at UN Talks, Responding to Climate Change (RTCC) Article, 5.3.13 Daily Tck: Signs of “Convergence” at Bonn Climate Talks?, Daily Kos Blog, 5.3.13 Countries Can Agree to More Global Action on Climate Change by 2015: Five Reasons (at least), Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 5.2.13 Low-key U.S. Plan for Each Nation to Set Climate Goals Wins Ground, Reuters Article, 5.2.13 UN Envoys Consider 2050 Carbon Target in Climate Deal Talk, Bloomberg Article, 5.2.13 Five Reasons We Need a New Global Agreement on Climate Change by 2015, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 4.28.13 2 Big Issues to Watch at this Week’s Bonn Climate Talks, WRI Insights Blog, 4.28.13 Summaries and Newsletter Collections: Find Climate Action Network-International’s press releases, blog posts, ECO newsletters, and other publications related to the recently concluded Bonn Intersessional here: http://www.climatenetwork.org/event/adp-second-session-2013 Third World Network (TWN) Bonn News Updates, Third World Network, 5.2.13 IISD Earth Negotiations Bulletin ADP2 Final, 5.6.13 Written by Jennifer Perron, International Policy Coordinator/Adaptation Coordinator Climate Action Hotline is produced by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.

Related posts:

1. Bonn 2012: So We Have an Agenda, Now What? Hotline 5.31.12
2. Special Bonn Edition, Hotline 5.18.12
3. Durban Climate Talks End with a New Deal, Hotline 12.12.11

UPDATES

Congress:

The Senate Environmental and Public Works committee is expected to vote on the nomination of Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, in the next couple weeks, possibly May 8. The final step in the confirmation process is a vote by the full Senate.

Administration:

A group of states, led by Texas, has petitioned the US Supreme Court to review the June 2012 decision by the DC Circuit that upheld EPA’s authority to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions. The petitioners charge that EPA has overstepped its authority under the Clean Air Act. The other signers are the attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina and South Dakota, as well as the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. The state of Virginia and a coalition of industry and utility groups have also filed petitions challenging the 2012 decision. (Source: Energy & Environment, April 22, 2013, subscription required).

“State of the Air” Report:

Released on April 24, the American Lung Association’s annual “State of the Air” report finds that air quality nationwide continues the long-term trend to much healthier air. The strongest progress came in lower levels of year-round particle pollution across much of the nation. Still, many cities that ranked among the most polluted had more unhealthy days of high ozone and short-term particle pollution than in the 2012 report.

“State of the Air 2013” is the Lung Association’s 14th annual, national air quality “report card.” It uses the most recent air pollution data, compiled by the EPA for the two most widespread types of pollution: ozone (smog) and particle pollution (PM 2.5, also known as soot). The report grades counties and ranks cities and counties based on their scores for ozone, year-round particle pollution and short-term particle pollution levels. Is your city on America’s most polluted list? Or are you in one of our cleanest cities? Find out here.

ACTION ALERTS

Ask Obama: How Much Longer for Climate Action?

It’s been months since President Obama said we’d "respond to the threat of climate change" during his State of the Union address. The president has shown he’s serious about climate change by proposing limits on carbon from new power plants. And he’s nominated Gina McCarthy, the senior Environmental Protection Agency official responsible for moving those safeguards forward, to run the EPA.

But the EPA has missed its deadline to put those limits in place and is still reviewing the 3 million letters you helped submit last summer in support of those limits. Since then, we pumped over one billion tons of carbon dioxide—the greenhouse gas responsible for the extreme floods, storms, wildfires and droughts that threaten our families—into our atmosphere. We can’t wait for these standards to be finalized—we need Obama’s leadership on climate action now. Please consider taking individual action and sending an action alert to your own organization’s members and supporters.

It’s time for a plan. Ask President Obama what he will do to protect our families from climate change.

Ask Obama: How much longer for climate action?, Natural Resource Defense Council Action Alert

Show Your Support for the Proposed Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (“Tier 3”)

On March 29, EPA proposed standards for cleaner gasoline and vehicles. While vehicles are now cleaner than they used to be, this is still significant news. With plans to finalize this proposal in 2013, EPA is expected to establish more stringent tailpipe standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017. The benefits have been compared to taking 33 million cars off the road, and these results can be achieved for a penny or less per gallon of gasoline.

These proposed standards are supported by a diverse coalition of organizations and industry—and a majority of Americans, too—because they will reduce air pollution, save lives, and create thousands of new jobs in an ailing economy. However, oil companies and their allies in Congress are working hard to stop the proposed standards, making misleading, discredited claims regarding the impact the standards will have on consumers. There is still time to make your voice heard. We encourage you to participate in the public comment period before it ends on June 13, 2013. In addition to taking individual action, consider sending an action alert to your members and supporters either via your own organization’s action alert or the links provided below.

Stand up for clean air and submit your official comment for cleaner gasoline and tailpipe standards now!

Kids Don’t Deserve Asthma: Take Action for Cleaner Tailpipes!, Sierra Club Action Alert

Breaking News: EPA Proposes Tough New Standards, American Lung Association Action Alert

Urge the EPA to Move Ahead with Clean Fuel and Tailpipe Standards, Union of Concerned Scientists Action Alert

Call to Action: Support the Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (Tier 3), Great round-up of resources and ways to get involved from the Union of Concerned Scientists

Tell the EPA: Cleaner Air is Worth a Penny, Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert

EVENTS

Public Hearings and Public Comment Period

The second public hearing for the Tier 3 proposed rulemaking will be held on April 29, 2013 at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile, 300 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611. To sign up to testify, call (734) 214-4454. Public comments must be submitted on or before June 13, 2013. For more details, please see the second action alert above.

NEW MATERIALS

State of the Air Report: 2013, American Lung Association

EPA Hearing: Citizens Urge Agency to Finalize Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 4.25.13

Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.8.13
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.22.13
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 5.20.13

UPDATES

Administration:

Last Monday, April 15, was the legal deadline under the Clean Air Act for finalizing the landmark carbon pollution standards for new power plants that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed one year ago. A record-breaking 3.2 million Americans raised their voices in public comments in support of the proposed standards, which would assure that all new power plants use modern technology to limit their dangerous carbon pollution.

The president has rightly said that it is our obligation to curb the dangerous carbon pollution that is driving climate change. He has committed his administration to deliver on that obligation. So it is regrettable that EPA will not meet this statutory deadline. EPA has indicated that it is continuing to work on the standards but has not indicated when it expects to finalize them.

A number of states and environmental organizations have notified EPA that they will take legal action to enforce the agency’s obligation if the standards are not issued within 60 days, i.e., by mid-June. This 60-day notice is required under the Clean Air Act before an enforcement lawsuit may be filed. We hope the administration will use this time to complete work on these critical standards.

Hearings:

Last Thursday, the Environmental and Public Works committee held a confirmation hearing for Gina McCarthy, President Obama’s pick to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. Given her track record of protecting America’s families from toxic pollution, her confirmation will help us all breathe easier. Throughout her decades of public service, McCarthy has proven to be a pragmatic and inclusive defender of environmental protections. She has worked both at state agencies and the EPA and has consistently demonstrated her commitment to public health and climate action. While the hearing itself went smoothly, it is expected that she will face opposition on the Senate floor. The next step is for the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to vote to confirm McCarthy, possibly in the next couple weeks, sending the nomination to the floor for consideration by the full Senate.

ACTION ALERT

Show Your Support for the Proposed Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (“Tier 3”)

On March 29, EPA proposed standards for cleaner gasoline and vehicles. While vehicles are now cleaner than they used to be, this is still significant news. With plans to finalize this proposal in 2013, EPA is expected to establish more stringent tailpipe standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017. The benefits have been compared to taking 33 million cars off the road, and these results can be achieved for a penny or less per gallon of gasoline.

These proposed standards are supported by a diverse coalition of organizations and industry—and a majority of Americans, too—because they will reduce air pollution, save lives, and create thousands of new jobs in an ailing economy. However, oil companies and their allies in Congress are working hard to stop the proposed standards, making misleading, discredited claims regarding the impact the standards will have on consumers. There is still time to make your voice heard. We encourage you to participate in the public comment period before it ends on June 13, 2013. In addition to taking individual action, consider sending an action alert to your members and supporters either via your own organization’s action alert or the links provided below.

Stand up for clean air and submit your official comment for cleaner gasoline and tailpipe standards now!

Kids Don’t Deserve Asthma: Take Action for Cleaner Tailpipes!, Sierra Club Action Alert

Breaking News: EPA Proposes Tough New Standards, American Lung Association Action Alert

Call to Action: Support the Cleaner Gasoline and Tailpipe Standards (Tier 3), Great round-up of resources and ways to get involved from the Union of Concerned Scientists

EVENTS

Public Hearings and Public Comment Period

The public hearings for the Tier 3 proposed rulemaking will be held on April 24, 2013 at the Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia, 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and April 29, 2013 at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile, 300 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611. To sign up to testify at one of the public hearings, call (734) 214-4454. Public comments must be submitted on or before June 13, 2013. For more details, please see the action alert above.

NEW MATERIALS

Oil Industry Inflates Cleaner Gasoline Cost Claims with Windfall Profits, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 4.22.13

America Needs Clean Transportation, Not Just Clean Cars, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 4.19.13

Clean Vehicles: Saving Oil & Reducing Pollution, USCAN Webpage with Tier 3 Materials, 4.18.13

Costly Climate Impacts Show Why We Need Power Plant Carbon Standards, Union of Concerned Scientists Blog, 4.12.13

EPA Proposes Stronger Standards on Gasoline and Cars to Reduce Smog, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 3.29.13

EPA Proposes Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission and Fuel Standards, Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet

Above is a sampling of the most recent resources related to upholding the Clean Air Act. Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 2.1.13
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.26.13
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.8.13

UPDATES

Congress:

Congress has been in recess for two weeks, reconvening this week.

Senate:

During the night on March 22, the US Senate voted on dozens of amendments and passed a blueprint for next year’s federal budget (S. Con. Res. 8).  Senator Inhofe (R-OK) offered an amendment that he described as prohibiting further greenhouse gas regulations for the purpose of addressing climate change.  The amendment failed 47-52. For more information on this and other Senate budget resolution votes, and on contacting your Senators regarding how they voted, please see USCAN’s March 29 Climate Action Hotline.

On Thursday, April 11, at 10:30 am, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to be the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency.  To learn more about McCarthy’ s qualifications for the position, visit the Stand with Gina website.

Administration:

On March 29, EPA published a proposal to tighten gasoline and vehicles standards (“Tier 3”) with plans to finalize the standards by the end of 2013. The proposal will establish more stringent tailpipe standards and reduce the sulfur content of gasoline beginning in 2017. By using a systems approach (regulating fuels and vehicle as a single system), the Tier 3 standards are able to achieve the greatest emission reductions at the lowest cost to society. These standards are supported by a diverse coalition of industry, consumer, public health, environmental, labor, and science-based organizations because they will reduce air pollution, save lives, and create thousands of new jobs in an ailing economy.  Oil companies and their allies in Congress are working hard to stop these standards, making misleading, discredited claims as to the impact these standards will have on consumers.

On the same day that EPA issued proposed Tier 3 standards, the EPA also issued its final reconsidered new source mercury and air toxics limits for power plants. As expected, these standards are somewhat weaker than their first iteration.

Finally, environmental groups submitted a petition for certiorari to the Supreme Court, asking the court to review the D.C. Circuit Court decision overturning EPA’s Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). We expect the high court to rule on this petition by mid-summer.

ACTION ALERT

Show Support for Veteran Clean Air Advocate Gina McCarthy

Recently Nominated as the New Environmental Protection Agency Chief

By nominating Gina McCarthy to be the next EPA administrator, President Obama is showing America that he understands how vital this job is—and that he’s ready to take bold action for clean air, public health and climate change solutions. As head of the EPA’s clean air division, McCarthy fought hard to get strong safeguards across the finish line, and she was instrumental in placing emissions limits on new power plants and requiring better vehicle fuel efficiency. She’s helped secure historic public health safeguards, including life-saving standards to restrict soot, mercury and other toxic—safeguards that will avert thousands of heart attacks and premature deaths each year and prevent tens of thousands of asthmas attacks annually.

You can make a difference by participating in a petition drive to support Gina McCarthy as the new EPA chief.

Below are a few examples, templates, and action alerts. If you need additional messaging materials, sample language, or plan to create a petition, please contact Marie Risalvato at mrisalvato@climatenetwork.org.

Tell Your Senators to Help Put a Clean Air and Public Health Expert at the Helm of the EPA, Environmental Defense Fund Action Alert

A Clean-air Champion for the Climate Fight, Sierra Club Action Alert

Sample Email Alert Template, Sierra Club Email

Thank President Obama for Appointing Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator, Moms Clean Air Force Action Alert

EVENTS

Public Hearings and Public Comment Period

The public hearings for the Tier 3 proposed rulemaking will be held on April 24, 2013 at the Sonesta Hotel Philadelphia, 1800 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103 and April 29, 2013 at the Doubletree Magnificent Mile, 300 E. Ohio Street, Chicago, IL 60611. To sign up to testify at one of the public hearings, call (734) 214-4454. Public comments must be submitted on or before June 13, 2013.

NEW MATERIALS

A Penny For Prevention: The Case For Cleaner Gasoline And Vehicle Standards, American Lung Association Report, 4.4.13

EPA Proposes Tier 3 Motor Vehicle Emission And Fuel Standards, Environmental Protection Agency Fact Sheet, 3.2013

Cleaner Cars, Cleaner Fuel: EPA’s Tier 3 Program, Union of Concerned Scientists Fact Sheet

Cleaner Gasoline And Vehicles Survey January 2013, American Lung Association Survey, 1.30.13

Above is a sampling of the most recent resources related to upholding the Clean Air Act. Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.26.13
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 5.20.13
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.22.13

How Did Your Senators Vote On Climate Amendments Last Week? In case you missed it: All through the night on Friday and into the wee hours of Saturday morning (March 22-23)—while many of us were sleeping—the US Senate voted on dozens of amendments and finally passed a blueprint for next year’s federal budget (S. Con. Res. 8). The early morning action itself was noteworthy as it was the first time in four years a budget resolution has passed in the Senate. Senators filed hundreds of amendments to the budget resolution, and several climate-related amendments received votes. The number of amendments considered by the Senate was remarkable: 101 amendments, with 70 of those receiving votes in the overnight “vote-o-rama.” Many of those who stayed awake to watch the votes probably did so because this was the first opportunity to see votes on climate change in the new Congress. Even though the budget resolution does not become law, votes on the amendments are important indicators of Senators’ views. These votes focused on important issues such as the Keystone XL pipeline, carbon taxes, and EPA’s ability to safeguard public health. What is the budget resolution? The budget resolution, which sets out aggregate levels of spending, revenue, and public debt over five years, is not signed by the President and does not have the force of law; rather, it establishes parameters within which Congress can consider legislation dealing with spending and revenue. We encourage you to check your Senators’ votes on climate-related amendments and express your thanks or concerns about the positions they took. Below you will find descriptions (published by various USCAN members and allies) with the final vote tallies for several negative amendments related to climate and energy, as well as a link to the official roll call for each vote so you can see how your Senators voted. From ThinkProgress: “Blunt #261: This amendment would have blocked future legislation to impose a carbon tax or fee to reduce industrial carbon pollution and raise revenue. Specifically, the amendment would create a “point-of-order” against any carbon tax measure that could only be overcome with a three-fifths vote of legislators. While it would have been a mostly symbolic move, the fossil fuel industry’s friends in the Senate are reiterating their opposition to government action on climate pollution. However, the impacts of climate change have already been felt across the country — in 2011 and 2012, the United States suffered from 25 climate related storms, floods, heat waves, drought, and wildfires that each caused at least $1 billion in damages, with a total price tag of $188 billion. The Blunt amendment would allow these damages and costs to grow unchecked. Result:  FAILED 53-46“ (Source:  7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate, Climate Progress Blog, 3.24.13) “Coats #514: This amendment would have struck down key Clean Air Act protections by authorizing the President to exempt any industrial facility from complying with air toxics standards for two-year periods. Essentially, the amendment would have given a free pass to coal-burning power plants from EPA’s 2011 Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which were put in place due to the well-documented health risks of mercury, arsenic, and the millions of pounds of additional hazardous chemicals. Methylmercury from coal pollution accumulates in fish, poisoning pregnant women and small children. Mercury can harm children’s developing brains, including effects on memory, attention, language, and fine motor and visual spatial skills. Upgrades to the aged and dirty coal plants will also significantly reduce harmful particle pollution, preventing hundreds of thousands of illnesses and up to 17,000 premature deaths each year. “The ‘monetized’ value of these and certain other health benefits would amount to $37–90 billion per year,” the Environmental Protection Agency determined. Republicans are once again trying to protect the dirty energy industry over our children’s health. Result:  FAILED 46-53” (Source:  7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate, Climate Progress Blog, 3.24.13) “Inhofe #359: This amendment would “[prohibit] further greenhouse gas regulations for the purpose of addressing climate change.” This would have prevented the EPA from enforcing the Clean Air Act as interpreted by the Supreme Court, which ruled that EPA is required to regulate carbon and other climate change pollutants that endanger public health and welfare. EPA proposed the first carbon pollution standard for new power plants in 2012. After it is finalized, EPA must set limits on carbon pollution from existing power plants — responsible for two-fifths of U.S. carbon pollution. Such reductions are essential to stave off the worst impacts of climate change. Result:  FAILED 47-52” (Source:  7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate, Climate Progress Blog, 3.24.13) From Natural Resources Defense Council and Oil Change International: Hoeven #494: This amendment supported the approval and construction of the dirty and dangerous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. It did not approve the pipeline, nor did it direct the president to approve it. It was instead an attempt to rattle the cage and obtain a vote count on behalf of Big Oil. The Keystone XL tar sands pipeline threatens American homes, farms, and ranches with tar sands oil spills. And it threatens all of us by driving the expansion of the giant tar sands reserve and worsening climate change. Ahead of the Senate’s vote, Oil Change International released analysis showing that the ten original co-sponsors of the Hoeven amendment received an average of $807,517 from the fossil fuel industry, 254% more than the average non-sponsoring Senator, for a total of $8 million dollars from the industry based on data from DirtyEnergyMoney.org. Result: PASSED 62-37 (Sources: Vote NO on Proposed Hoeven Amendment Endorsing Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 3.22.13; Senators Supporting KXL Took Nearly $31 Million From Fossil Fuel Industry Before Vote, Oil Change International Press Release, 3.22.13) To Find Your Senators’ Contact Information: • Visit http://www.senate.gov/ • Call the United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. A switchboard operator will connect you directly with the Senate office you request. But Wait, There’s More: For more information read this Climate Progress blog: 7 Deadly Amendments That Would’ve Protected Dirty Energy And Trashed The Climate. The blog includes even more descriptions of amendments that didn’t come to a vote but covered important issues such as the wind production tax credit, federal public lands, and the Antiquities Act (passed in 1906). Additional Resources: Obama’s Achilles’ Heel On Climate: Senate Democrats, Politico, 3.25.13 Senate Energy And Climate Change Votes Point To EPA As Key Decider, NBC News, 3.25.13 2014 Budget Resolution Climate Amendments Vote Chart, Tuscon Climate Action Network, 3.28.13 Climate Action Hotline is produced by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.

Related posts:

1. The Gulf’s Exploding Platform Underscores Week of Menace and Surprise, Climate Action Hotline 9.2.10
2. This Week We Celebrate, Mourn and Continue to Forge Ahead, Climate Action Hotline 4.25.11
3. Dirty Air Act Vote Tests Senate’s Direction on Climate, Clean Energy

UPDATES

Congress:

Budget Resolution:

This week, Congress is working to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of FY2013. Current government funding expires on March 27th and if a CR isn’t passed, the government would be forced to shut down. The House has passed a CR, and the Senate is debating its own version. Both versions of the CR would continue the “sequester,” sharply cutting federal funding. For more information on the sequester, see Digest from March 6 and Climate Action Hotline from February 22.

At the same time, both chambers are considering their budget blueprints for the next fiscal year (FY2014), which begins on October 1.

Both the House and Senate are considering their versions of the Budget Resolution, which sets out aggregate levels of spending, revenue, and public debt over five years, this week. The Budget Resolution is not signed by the President and does not have the force of law; rather, it establishes parameters within which Congress can consider legislation dealing with spending and revenue, including the annual appropriations bills.

The Senate Budget Resolution, as prepared by Budget Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and passed by the Budget Committee last week, recognizes the value of public health and environmental programs such as those which enforce the Clean Air Act, in sharp contrast to the House Budget Resolution. The Senate is expected to vote on dozens of amendments on a wide range of issues, including amendments attacking various environmental programs including provisions of the Clean Air Act.  We encourage you to contact your Senators and them to vote against any Budget Resolution amendments attacking the Clean Air Act, public health, and the environment.

Draft Carbon-pricing Legislation:

On Tuesday, March 12, Congressmen Waxman (D-CA) and Blumenauer (D-OR), and Senators Whitehouse (D-RI) and Schatz (D-HI) released draft carbon-pricing legislation aimed at curbing climate change. Section 8 of the discussion draft leaves other provisions of law unaffected (this would include the Clean Air Act). The authors are looking for comments from stakeholders and the public. For more information, see:

http://democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/index.php?q=news/waxman-whitehouse-blumenauer-and-schatz-release-carbon-price-discussion-draft

ACTION ALERT

Tell Your Senators to Protect Our Health and Environment in the 2014 Budget

This week, the Senate will likely vote on Senator Patty Murray’s budget plan, but Republican leaders want to add destructive provisions on a wide range of issues, including amendments attacking various provisions of the Clean Air Act.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your Senators and ask them to support Senator Murray’s budget plan and reject any amendments that put our health, environment and future at risk.

We encourage you to urge your members to do so as well. Please see NRDC’s action alert below.

Protect Our Health and Environment in the 2014 Budget, Natural Resource Defense Council Action Alert, 3.18.13

Need more information or additional template language? Please contact Marie Risalvato at mrisalvato@climatenetwork.org.

NEW MATERIALS

Letter in Support of Murray Budget, Sierra Club Letter, 3.18.13

Murray and Ryan Budgets: Careful Stewardship Versus Mishandling of Environment, Health and Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council Press Release, 3.13.13

Making the Clean Air Act Even Stronger, Moms Clean Air Force Blog, 3.8.13

Above is a sampling of the most recent resources related to upholding the Clean Air Act. Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 2.18.11
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 3.3.11
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 3.11.11

UPDATES

Congress:

Energy Production and Project Delivery Act of 2013 (S.17)

Last week, Senator Vitter (R-LA) and Congressman Bishop (R-UT) introduced the “Energy Production and Project Delivery Act of 2013,” S. 17. This bill repackages many of the last Congress’ legislative attacks on our air, water, and lands. In particular, the bill would prohibit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from curbing carbon pollution under the Clean Air Act until China, India, and Russia take “substantially similar” action. Under the guise of protecting jobs, the bill would also require EPA to perform an economic analysis of the employment effects of using the Clean Air Act to cut carbon pollution. Finally, S. 17 would expedite the permitting of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline.

REINS Act (S.15, H.R 367)

Last week, Senator Paul (R-KY) reintroduced the “Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (’REINS’) Act,” S. 15/H.R. 367. The House version was reintroduced by Rep. Young (R-IN) in January. These bills would allow one chamber of Congress to block enforcement of existing statutory protections—from worker safety, to public health, to Wall Street reform, undoing more than 100 years of safeguards. This would make Congress the required arbiter of every technical question and business dispute and would allow a single chamber of Congress to stop any regulation, regardless of the facts. The REINS Act would effectively rewrite virtually every regulatory statute, including environmental statutes, making their requirements unenforceable.

Administration:

Drastic across-the-board federal budget cuts known as the “sequester” went into effect at 11:59 p.m. on March 1, 2013, after embittered budgetary debates between Congress and the President ended in impasse. These cuts, a blanket 5.3% trimmed across all discretionary funds, pose serious threats to a suite of economic, environmental and social provisions and will hamper the ability of many federal agencies to implement their programs. Widespread and serious budgetary shortfalls are expected to cause significant layoffs and furloughs at many agencies. Funding levels for the Environmental Protection Agency, for example, will be reduced to their lowest levels since the 1980s under the sequester. Weather forecasts, too, are expected to suffer, as funding delays the launch of polar satellites critical for observing the path and potential severity of climate change-fueled storms like Sandy. Despite the many threats posed by the effects of the sequester, a recent blog highlights some of the financial tolls climate disruption, too, takes on US taxpayers.

On March 4, the Obama Administration announced its picks to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy. Gina McCarthy, currently head of EPA’s Air and Radiation Office, was tapped to serve as EPA Administrator, and Ernest Moniz, a MIT nuclear physicist and professor, as Energy Secretary. Many welcomed McCarthy’s nomination, since she has focused significant efforts on enacting standards to protect public health from harmful air pollution.

ACTION ALERT

Show Support for Veteran Clean Air Advocate Gina McCarthy

Recently Nominated as the New Environmental Protection Agency Chief

By nominating Gina McCarthy to be the next EPA administrator, President Obama is showing America that he understands how vital this job is—and that he’s ready to take bold action for clean air, public health and climate change solutions. As head of the EPA’s clean air division, McCarthy fought hard to get strong safeguards across the finish line, and she was instrumental in placing emissions limits on new power plants and requiring better vehicle fuel efficiency. She’s helped secure historic public health safeguards, including life-saving standards to restrict soot, mercury and other toxic—safeguards that will avert thousands of heart attacks and premature deaths each year and prevent tens of thousands of asthmas attacks annually.

You can make a difference by participating in a petition drive to support Gina McCarthy as the new EPA chief .

Below are a few examples, templates, and action alerts. If you need additional messaging materials, sample language, or plan to create a petition, please contact JP Leous at jpleous@climatenetwork.org.

Tell Your Senators to Help Put a Clean Air and Public Health Expert at the Helm of the EPA, Environmental Defense Fund Action Alert

A Clean-air Champion for the Climate Fight, Sierra Club Action Alert

Sample Email Alert Template, Sierra Club

Thank President Obama for Appointing Gina McCarthy as EPA Administrator, Moms Clean Air Force Action Alert

NEW MATERIALS

Stand with Gina, Webpage, 3.5.13

Compilation of Reactions to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy Nominations, US Climate Action Network Webpage, 3.4.13

Sequester This: U.S. Consumers Paid a 2.7% Climate Disruption Tax in 2012, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 3.1.13

Above is a sampling of the most recent resources related to upholding the Clean Air Act. Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 4.8.13
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 5.27.11
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 7.22.11

Take Action: Tell Congress Not to Sequester Clean Energy and Climate Action Without Congressional action, drastic, automatic across-the-board budget cuts are due to take effect on March 1, 2013. These cuts, also known as the ‘sequester,’ were punted back from their original start date of January 1, 2013. The action earlier this year provided no solution to the sequester, merely delaying the potentially devastating economic and environmental impacts should the cuts go through. While most of the media has focused on the economic impacts of budget sequestration, many civil society organizations are focusing on the environmental and human health impacts. On February 11, 2013, 3,200 national, state, and local organizations sent a letter urging Congress to support a balanced approach to deficit reduction that does not include further cuts to discretionary programs. Still, as the deadline looms, Congress needs to hear as many voices as possible. If the federal government tumbles over the new ‘fiscal cliff,’ funding levels for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be reduced to their lowest levels since the 1980s. National parks and wildlife programs could close, and research and development programs would lose some funding. Weather forecasts, too, may suffer, as funding delays the launch of polar satellites critical for observing the path and potential severity of climate change-fueled storms like Sandy. Our elected leaders need to hear from the people who will suffer most if these crucial sources of funding are lost. Below we’ve compiled some resources to assist you in taking individual action or creating an action alert for your organization. Natural Resources Defense Council Action Alert: Tell Your Representative: “Time is running out. Sacrificing the environment won’t balance the budget! The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is asking U.S. residents to, “Tell Congress to reduce the deficit by ending wasteful tax loopholes—not by allowing cuts that could risk public health and threaten our air, water, and land.” Defenders of Wildlife Action Alert: Tell Congress and the President: “Caring for the wild isn’t about politics. It’s something all Americans want.” As Congress and the President work to forge a final budget agreement, it is crucial for them to hear from you about protecting funding for programs that conserve wildlife and habitat from any further cuts. Prevent the budget axe from falling on wildlife The following links contain information on the sequester and potential impacts: Fact Sheet on Sequester Impacts, Natural Resources Defense Council Federal Fiscal Crisis Webpage, Natural Resources Defense Council Protecting Our Park Funding, Website from National Parks Conservation Association Outline Potential Impacts of Sequester on Clean Water and Air Monitoring Programs, Letter from EPA, 2.6.13 Your Guide to the Looming Spending Cuts: Where They Came From and What They Will Mean, ThinkProgress, 2.20.2013 The Impacts of Sequestration (compilation of letters), U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, 2.14.2013 The Insiders: Sequestration is the President’s Frankenstein, The Washington Post Blog, 2.19.2013 Understanding the Sequester—in 4 Great Infographics, The Washington Post Blog, 2.19.2013 NOAA Head: Weather Forecasts at Risk Over Budget Cuts, Climate Central, 2.15.2013 3200+ Groups Urge Congress to Avoid the Sequester in Non-Defense Discretionary United Sign-on Letter, 2.11.2013 For more information and/or materials, please contact JP Leous, Outreach Director, at jpleous@climatenetwork.org. Written by Caroline Selle, US Climate Action Network Intern   Climate Action Hotline is produced by the US Climate Action Network. Let us know what you think.

Related posts:

1. National TV Ad Urges Congress to Pass Clean Energy Act

UPDATES

Congress:

On Wednesday, Senator Boxer, Chair of the Environmental and Public Works Committee, held a briefing on the latest climate science. All Senators were encouraged to attend. The briefing featured four climate scientists who presented on the latest trends and scientific evidence related to the growing impacts associated with climate change. You can watch the video here: http://www.senate.gov/isvp/?type=live&comm=epw&filename=epw021313

On February 13, 2013, Representative Ted Poe (R-TX) re-introduced H.R. 621, the Ensuring Affordable Energy Act, along with 25 original co-signers. This bill aims to deny federal funding for the implementation or enforcement of a cap-and-trade program or other provision to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. This bill, which has been introduced in prior congressional sessions, is an effort to undermine the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ability to protect public health under the Clean Air Act. As found in the landmark 2007 Supreme Court decision, Massachusetts vs. EPA, EPA must regulate pollutants with risks to human health. In its 2009 Endangerment Finding, EPA determined that greenhouse gas emissions do threaten public health and welfare, a finding upheld by the United States District of Columbia Court of Appeals in June 2012, which ruled that the Agency was “unambiguously correct” in its interpretation of the Clean Air Act.

Administration:

In his State of the Union Address on February 12, 2013, President Obama issued a strong declaration on climate change, stating, “If Congress won’t act soon to protect future generations, I will. I will direct my Cabinet to come up with executive actions we can take, now and in the future, to reduce pollution, prepare our communities for the consequences of climate change, and speed the transition to more sustainable sources of energy.” Read a transcript of the full speech here. Using executive authority, the President has the power to enact significant measures under the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions , such as enacting standards for existing power plants, the largest source of domestic emissions. Polling conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council and Environment America immediately following the Address revealed that a majority of Americans (60 %) support the use of executive authority to reduce industrial carbon pollution. In fact, recent polling from the League of Conservation Voters indicates that a majority of American voters (57 %) believe that such limits on emissions from power plants already exist.

NEW MATERIALS

Black History Month: Climate Change is Changing Our History, Moms Clean Air Force Blog, 2.15.13

Senate Briefing on the Latest Climate Science, Video, 2.13.13

Compilation of Reactions to President Obama’s 2013 State of the Union, US Climate Action Network Webpage, 2.13.13

TV Ad Campaign to Support President’s Plan to Address Climate Change, Environmental Defense Fund Video, 2.13.13

Recent Polling on Climate Change, Polling Memo Prepared for League of Conservation Voters, 2.12.13

Post-State of the Union Poll: Majority of Americans Support Presidential Action to Fight Climate Change,
Natural Resources Defense Council Webpage, 2.12.13

EPA Letter Outlines Effects of Sequester on Clean Water, Air Monitoring Programs, Environmental Protection Agency Letter, 2.6.12

Carbon Pollution Data Put Power Plants Front and Center, Natural Resources Defense Council Blog, 2.5.13

Above is a sampling of the most recent resources related to upholding the Clean Air Act. Don’t forget USCAN has a series of pages that compile items like these and much more:

Congressional Attacks on the Clean Air Act

Industrial Carbon Pollution Standards

Standards for Power Plants and Other Major Emitters

Clean Vehicle Standards

Clean Air Act Digest is a publication put together by US Climate Action Network and Natural Resources Defense Council. Please contact Lara Levison at llevison@climatenetwork.org for more details. Click here for past issues.

Related posts:

1. Clean Air Act Digest, 2.3.11
2. Clean Air Act Digest, 2.18.11
3. Clean Air Act Digest, 2.23.11