Focus
EPA officially withdraws California’s authority to set its own fuel standards
CBS News – September 19
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this Thursday formally withdrew the 2013 Clean Air Act waiver that enabled California to set its own tailpipe greenhouse gas emission standards, a move state officials have vowed to fight in the courts. The rollback is a part of the new U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and EPA “One National Program Rule,” which, as the name states, means the federal government will have one set of nationwide fuel economy and greenhouse gas emission standards for automobiles and light-duty trucks. The Automobile Alliance supported the decision in a statement, but, in July, four automakers — Ford, Honda, BMW, and Volkswagen — had agreed to meet California’s stricter tailpipe emissions standard, rather than the federal standard. Following the EPA’s announcement, California Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols stated that the four companies are sticking with their agreement despite the revocation.
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News
Newsom plans to veto bill that would have allowed state agencies to restore Obama-era environmental protections
Los Angeles Times – September 14
Governor Gavin Newsom plans to veto a bill passed by California lawmakers that would allow state agencies to adopt protections under the federal Endangered Species Act, Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and other major environmental and labor laws that were in place before President Donald Trump took office in January 2017. Debate over the legislation quickly centered on the fight over water in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, which provides water for more than 25 million people and millions of acres of Central Valley farmland. Numerous water agencies, including the influential Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, feared the endangered species provisions and delta pumping restrictions would limit their water supply at key times of the year. The Newsom administration shared some of those concerns, as did U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and four Central Valley Democrats in Congress who submitted a letter last week requesting the bill be amended.
California temporarily halts issuance of hydraulic fracturing permits
The Bakersfield Californian – September 16
Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration has imposed a de facto moratorium on hydraulic fracturing while it studies permitting procedures for the controversial technique. State records show that not one such project has been approved in California since June 28, about two weeks before Newsom ordered the firing of the head of the Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources. The dismissal was carried out partly because of a spike in hydraulic fracturing permits, which were being approved at an average of about 35 per month in the first half of this year, all located in western Kern County. Lisa Lien-Mager, deputy secretary for communications at the California Natural Resources Agency, said by email the halt in permitting is temporary.
NOAA proposes major habitat protections for killer whales
ABC News – September 18
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a proposal Wednesday to increase the critical habitat designation under the Endangered Species Act for southern resident killer whales, or "orcas," by more than sevenfold. Just 73 orcas remain in the Pacific Northwest population, the lowest number in more than three decades, due to a shortage of chinook salmon, their preferred prey, and to contaminated waters and vessel noise. The proposal calls for an additional 15,626 square miles of federally protected habitat from the Canadian border to Point Sur, California.
University of California divests from fossil fuels, calls new energy sources more attractive
San Francisco Chronicle – September 18
The University of California (UC) is divesting from fossil fuels. On Tuesday, Jagdeep Singh Bachher, UC’s chief investment officer and treasurer, and Richard Sherman, the chairman of the UC Board of Regents’ Investments Committee, said that by the end of September, the university’s $13.4 billion endowment will be “fossil free” — without a single investment in an “old” energy source they called a financial risk. Soon, UC's $70 billion pension fund will also be fossil free.
Home Depot to stop selling rugs coated with PFAS
The Hill – September 17
Home Depot announced this Tuesday that it will stop selling rugs and carpets coated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of chemicals used in a variety of nonstick and stain resistant products, including carpeting and furniture. The toxin, linked to cancer and other health issues, is known as a “forever chemical” due to its persistence in both the environment and the human body. PFAS has been a growing concern of lawmakers as contamination spreads into the water supply both from production of the chemical and the use of firefighting foam that relies heavily on PFAS. Lawmakers have added language to the defense policy bill that would help promote efforts to clean up water contaminated by PFAS. The bill would also force the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set a drinking water limit on the substance.
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