Environmental protection

May 14, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) praised the House Natural Resources Committee for its approval today of two House companion bills to Senate legislation she introduced to protect and conserve more than 300,000 acres of pristine public land in California.

Senator Boxer said, “I am pleased that the House Natural Resources Committee has approved these two measures, which are critical to protecting California’s wilderness.”    » read more »

May 12, 2008 -- "Mr. President, today my colleagues from the Great Lakes and I are introducing the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 in order to reauthorize the Great Lakes Legacy Act. The Legacy program has been a program that has delivered real results in the Great Lakes and has broad support.

Lighthouses on Lake Michigan: Photo by Luiz Castro (CC)    » read more »

May 8, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., and Senator George Voinovich, R-Ohio, co-chairmen of the Senate Great Lakes Task Force, today introduced the bipartisan Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2008 to expand on legislation passed six years ago. The bill aims to clean up contaminated expanses in the Great Lakes known as “Areas of Concern” within 10 years.

Lake Michigan breakwater: Photo by Tom (CC)    » read more »

Kicks off week with awards for environmental excellence and pollution prevention

April 21, 2008 -- MONTPELIER, Vt. – With Earth Day events planned around the globe on April 22, Vermont Governor Jim Douglas has proclaimed this week to be Vermont Earth Week, with a call to Vermonters to celebrate and honor our environment’s role in our livelihood.

Vermont mountains, fall: Photo by Paul Moody (CC)    » read more »

April 21, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed several pieces of legislation into law today, including a measure that strengthens consumer rights against unfair business practices by insurance agents and another bill that will help preserve Colorado's rivers, streams and lakes.

House Bill 1228 was sponsored by Rep. Gwyn Green and Sen. Ken Gordon. It authorizes the insurance commissioner to order an insurance agent or company to pay restitution to a consumer for violating state insurance laws or for engaging in unfair business practices. It passed the House 65-0 and the Senate 26-8.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today testified before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests on the California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act, bipartisan legislation that will protect and conserve approximately 200,000 acres of pristine land in Riverside County.

Desert in Riverside County, California: Photo by gerry la londe-berg (CC)    » read more »

Terre Haute, Indiana (April 15, 2008) - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels today announced that more than 1,200 acres of floodplain will be restored to wetlands and wildlife habitat thanks to a partnership between the state and Vigo County.

"Our efforts since 2005 have resulted in twice as many protected acres of wildlife habitat than in the previous five years. This joint effort will conserve another beautiful habitat as well as enhance the quality of life for Hoosiers," said Daniels.

Savanna wetlands, Indiana: Photo by destabee (CC)    » read more »

March 27, 2008 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the 2005 National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) rule for new and existing hazardous waste combustors.

The EPA has revised or clarified several compliance and monitoring provisions and has also corrected several omissions and typographical errors. This action will reduce compliance uncertainties and will improve understanding of the final rule requirements.

The rule should be published in the Federal Register within the next two weeks.

More information on the NESHAP amendments: epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/combust/finalmact/index.htm

Source: EPA

Boston, Mass., March 17, 2008 – Nearly $5.4 million in grants and innovative financing are available to Northeastern communities and organizations working to significantly reduce diesel emissions and improve public health.    » read more »

03/17/2008 -- On Tuesday, March 18, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson will give the keynote address at the Global Chemical Regulation Conference, attended by more than 300 chemical industry regulatory, environmental and health officials, in Baltimore, Md. The administrator will outline the agency's commitment to the North American chemical cooperation goals included in the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Meeting last August in Montebello, Canada, between President Bush and his Canadian and Mexican counterparts.    » read more »

Atlanta, Ga., March 17, 2008 -- As part of EPA’s Clean School Bus USA program, EPA will present a grant for $241,500 to the South Carolina Department of Education. The Department of Education, with the cooperation of the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), will install anti-idling devices and retrofit crankcase filtration systems on 500 school buses throughout the state. The grant is one of three being awarded in the Southeast this year, totaling $680,000.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., March 17, 2008 -- The Good Neighbor Environmental Board (GNEB), an independent Presidential advisory committee to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will announce a new report Wednesday in Washington on how U.S. and Mexican officials can improve their cooperation in coping with floods and other natural disasters and their effect on the environment along the border.    » read more »

Dallas, Texas, March 14, 2008 -- Today the Port of Houston is the site of a national announcement of new tough emissions standards for locomotive and marine diesel engines. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Stephen L. Johnson signed the Locomotive and Marine Diesel Engines Rule that will slash diesel emissions helping Americans to breathe cleaner air.    » read more »

EPA Clears the Air

Washington, D.C., March 14, 2008 -- New tough emissions standards will slash pollution from locomotive and marine diesel engines by up to 90 percent, helping Americans to breathe cleaner air as soon as this year.    » read more »

Faced with Overwhelming Scientific Evidence, Government Continues Delay on Endangered Species Act Listing Due to Global Warming

WASHINGTON (March 10, 2008) – Today the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace sued the Bush administration for missing the legal deadline to issue a final decision on whether to list the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act due to global warming.    » read more »