Environmental Politics

"Don't expect Congress to quickly wrap up fiscal 2020 Interior-EPA funding, despite the Senate overwhelmingly backing a broad package yesterday."

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is blaming a component of its controversial new public records policy on recommendations made by an advisory board, according to an email shared with The Hill."

"The decision this week by several major automakers — including General Motors, Toyota and Fiat Chrysler — to back the Trump administration in a high-stakes legal fight with California over fuel-efficiency standards has fractured an industry that has long prided itself for speaking with a single voice in Washington."

"The Trump administration is expected to roll back an Obama-era regulation meant to limit the leaching of heavy metals like arsenic, lead and mercury into water supplies from the ash of coal-fired power plants, according to two people familiar with the plans."

"A ProPublica-New Yorker story about black land loss was cited by the legislation’s sponsor before the near-unanimous vote."

"Two environmental groups sued the Trump administration on Wednesday over its plan to open up more than 720,000 acres (291,370 hectares) of federal land in California for oil and gas development."

"Union leaders say the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is refusing to go back to the bargaining table with employees after a federal union regulator said the agency may have violated the law by imposing its latest contract on workers."

"The Grand Canyon Centennial Protection Act, which passed the House today [Wednesday] by a vote of 236–185, would permanently withdraw more than 1 million acres of public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon from new mining claims."

"One of the most polluted regions of the country is being overrun by a new glut of oil and gas facilities, including one that will emit as much carbon as three coal-fired power plants".

"Monday’s surprise move by General Motors, Toyota and other auto giants to back President Trump in his fight with California over pollution rules came after days of White House pressure to support one of the administration’s biggest efforts to weaken climate regulations."