Thursday, June 28, 2012

Breaking News! No News Next Week!

The U.S. Congress will observe a July Fourth recess next week, and your FNB (Friendly Neighborhood Blogger) has it on good authority from unnamed but very reliable sources that absolutely no Mississippi River Basin water news will be forthcoming next week, either.

So the Mississippi River Basin water resource news team will take some time off, as well. Our entire staff will spend the week in Great Britain; celebrating colonial independence day and basking in the UK's liquid sunshine!

Watch this space for new Mississippi River Basin water resource related news and views starting again on Monday, July 9. Cheers!

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week-Early Edition

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

EPA-Interior  Should Pass Out of Committee Today
The House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday began its mark up of its version of the Ficsal Year 2013 Interior and Environment appropriations bill. The Committee will take up the bill again this morning (Thursday, June 28), when it is expected to easily pass and be sent on to the full House for consideration (possibly as early as the week of July 9). Among other things, the bill would cut the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) budget by about $1.4 billion, a 17 percent reduction from the current year's approved spending level. The legislation would also cap EPA’s personnel numbers at their lowest level since 1992.    The Committee's EPA budget cuts are largely targeted at environmental regulatory programs that the Republican majority has gone on record as opposing, such as greenhouse gas regulations relating to new power plants.

Among other funding cuts are those to the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Riders to the spending bill include one that would prevent the EPA from clarifying the scope of its regulatory jurisdiction relating to "navigable waters" and the Clean Water Act. The provisions of the House bill effectively have no chance of passing the Senate, since the Democratic majority there will vote for much higher agency funding, and push for the removal of contentious riders from any final legislation.

House USDA Appropriations and Farm Bills' Scheduling Uncertain
Meanwhile it's becoming less and less clear when the full House will end up considering the House's versions of the Farm Bill and the USDA-FDA fiscal year 2013 appropriations bill. House Agriculture Committee Chair Frank Lucas (R-OK-3) has scheduled his Committee to begin mark-up of the Farm Bill on July 11 (a process that should take several days to complete). But Lucas has also said that he does not want the Farm Bill and the farm spending bill (already approved by the House Appropriations Committee) hitting the House floor at the same time. Unclear House leadership floor scheduling signals have contributed to the uncertainty, according to House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN-7), who has said that
House leadership “has not been forthcoming” about floor time for either the Farm Bill or the agriculture appropriations bill, adding, “The only thing that’s going to screw this up is if we don’t get floor time.”

A Fragmented River Reality Perpetuated
That the people, cultures and institutions connected with the Mississippi River system are fragmented cannot be argued with a straight face. For all of its greatness, the region’s waters flow through a fragmented bureaucratic and social reality, whose functions and structures are equally fragmented. Recent calls to unify our approaches to how human society lives with the River are laudable and promising, giving hope for a future of inclusion and integration. But we have a long way to go. Two upcoming September conferences, the Upper Mississippi River Conference and the America’s Great Watershed Initiative Summit, offer wonderful examples of how far we have come - and how far we have yet to go - in bridging the gaps that separate River stakeholders.  Read more in this commentary.

No News Next Week!
The U.S. Congress will observe a July Fourth recess next week, and your FNB (Friendly Neighborhood Blogger) has it on good authority that no Mississippi River Basin water news will be forthcoming next week, either.  So the Mississippi River Basin water resource news team will take some time off, as well.  Our entire staff will spend the week in Great Britain; basking in its liquid sunshine!  Our next issue will be posted on Friday, July 13.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Farm Bill-
  • A full breakdown of Senate Farm Bill roll-call amendment votes can be found here (June 19-21): http://1.usa.gov/KH72ne
  • NY Times: A look at the Senate Farm Bill and assessment of Farm Bill fate int he House http://nyti.ms/KDpXzP
  • Conservation compliance & crop insurance Farm Bill amendments unlikely to be in final if not included in House version bit.ly/KXCj7s
  • Chair of House Ag General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee: Senate Farm Bill lacks regional balance http://bit.ly/Og8u1w
  • NY Times editorial board: Senate Farm Bill version takes "disproportionate whack from environmental programs" http://nyti.ms/KXDtzL
  • Statement from USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack on U.S. Senate Approval of Farm Bill http://ow.ly/bK0WB
  • House Ag Committee Chair Frank Lucas discusses major differences in approach between Senate and House on Farm Bill http://bit.ly/LsflPy
  • Sen. Grassley (R-IA) on why he voted against Farm Bill amendment linking conservation compliance to crop insurance: http://bit.ly/LsgzKt
  • House Agriculture Committee schedule for farm bill markup uncertain; House GOP leadership signals mixed http://bit.ly/LvJ9uE
Agriculture -
  • Much of the Midwest faces a drought expanding in size & intensity, damaging crops & raising fire threat concerns on.wsj.com/KXDMuj
  • July 2 EPA public info meeting for livestock producers re: concentrated animal feeding operation inspection program http://1.usa.gov/MP7iyv
  • For 3rd week in a row, US corn and soybean conditions declined on USDA’s weekly Crop Progress and Condition report http://bit.ly/MPaE4y
  • U.S. Midwest drought has pushed up corn prices 28 percent since June 15 http://bloom.bg/LvKotF - drought may rival 1988 "scorcher"
  • U.S. corn supplies declining at fastest pace since 1996 just as a Midwest heat wave hits http://bloom.bg/LvKNw9
  • Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) sees EPA aerial flyovers of confined animal feeding operations as "unfair to Iowa farmers" http://bit.ly/LsiQ8A
Water Quality -
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • Officials raise questions about major new segments of Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans area hurricane levees http://bit.ly/NrEUF0
  • MO Coalition for the Environment calls for support of USACE Jameson Island Shallow Water Habitat Restoration Project http://bit.ly/MV0y3X
  • National Flood Insurance Program is high on the week's US Senate agenda http://bit.ly/MmRaW0
  • Senate seems set to approve new flood insurance reform bill in major victory for Sens. Tester (D-MT) and Vitter (R-LA) http://bit.ly/Kz3z5U
  • Senate flood insurance reform bill delayed as GOP decides which non-germane amendments to push http://bit.ly/MzPRUO
  • Center for Climate and Energy Solutions report: US flood insurance program faces "looming climate deficit" http://bit.ly/MPf7UN
  • Question of whether to use federal money to raise flood-prone homes or improve drainage return in 
    Jefferson Parish, LA http://bit.ly/NMSwe8
  • Senate marks time on flood program reform while trying to cut student loan/transportation deals behind scenes http://1.usa.gov/t7I8j. In the end, the bill to reauthorize the national flood insurance program for 5 years may be wrapped into the transportation/student loan bill fxn.ws/LvHaGF
Forestry -
  • Minnesota Conservation Volunteer magazine releases new app featuring four treasured MN natural resources: http://ow.ly/bPtyG (via @MyMNwoods)
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Minneapolis limits access to lakes in order to fight invasive species http://bit.ly/KDrZjz
  • New FWS web-based interactive endangered species map for every state. State stories, podcasts and videos http://1.usa.gov/JZKR7s
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • House votes to give Gulf states billions more in offshore oil revenue http://bit.ly/KCMOvu
  • U of New Orleans professor to take on new job as Water Institute of the Gulf chief scientist http://bit.ly/KXFo7v
  • US Senate EPW Committee passes bill that extends the Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Act bit.ly/Kz2Y4g
  • Army Corps of Engineers clears way to design/build $428 M project to restore parts of Louisiana's Gulf coastline http://bit.ly/Kz47Jd
  • Study: BP oil spill hastened loss of Louisiana coastal marshes http://wapo.st/MP4ZLE
Resource Extraction -
  • Coal (made up largely of dead things, it should be noted) is "dying" says a West Virginia author http://bit.ly/KXGdNy
  • Energy leaders defend hydraulic fracturing for gas and oil development in Ohio http://bit.ly/Kz2PxG
  • Special Reuters Report: Chesapeake Energy Corp. and its top fracking rival conspired to suppress land prices http://reut.rs/L9WgTT
  • EPA reviewing information from 9 oil and gas companies for its study of fracking impact on drinking water http://bit.ly/MS4fqX
In the States -
Federal Budget -
  • House USDA Appropriations bill unlikely to hit floor until after House Agriculture Committee of farm bill markup bit.ly/LvJ9uE
  • Pessimism growing on potential for a Federal budget sequestration deal to avert deep cuts to Pentagon spending http://bit.ly/Kz3jEc
  • Highway conference committee members says no money exists in land and water conservation fund for Congress to raid http://bit.ly/Kz4OSI
  • House Appropriations Committee releases report accompanying FY 2103 EPA, Interior Department spending bill http://1.usa.gov/MPVga3 (PDF)
Events-
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • Latest edition of "Delta Dispatches" with news on Coastal Louisiana restoration and conservation: http://bit.ly/KDp8qN
Other news-
Political Scene - 
  • Democratic polling shows former senator Kerrey (D) down double digits to state Sen. Fischer (R) in NE US Senate race http://politi.co/KDrc1S
  • IL Democrats select Bill Enyart for ballot vacancy in southern IL US House district held by retiring Rep. Costello http://bit.ly/MmXblp
  • Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL-2) on medical leave for exhaustion trib.in/MP8lyv
  • US Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK-1) loses reelection bid in a surprise GOP primary loss to a political newcomer http://bit.ly/MzO6qQ
  • New Democratic poll shows Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN-6) could face a competitive race to retain her seat in November http://bit.ly/L0aOtO
Last Word 
"I think the people have gotten dumber." - Soon-to-be-retired Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), expressing frustration with the highly charged, partisan Congressional atmosphere he will be leaving behind, and with the public whom he claims is contributing to that condition by their ignorance.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

A Fragmented River Reality Perpetuated from Within

That the people, cultures and institutions connected with the Mississippi River system are fragmented cannot be argued with a straight face. For all of its greatness, the region’s waters flow through a fragmented bureaucratic and social reality, whose functions and structures are equally fragmented. Recent calls to unify our approaches to how human society lives with the River are laudable and promising, giving hope for a future of inclusion and integration. But we have a long way to go. And recent developments among those institutions who should know better serve to illustrate the point well.

Two conferences, the Upper Mississippi River Conference and the America’s Great Watershed Initiative Summit each offer a wonderful example of how far we have come in bridging the many divisions that separate River stakeholders. Wonderful because individually they both have as a goal bridging divides, mending fences, overcoming fragmented approaches and unifying a vision for the River Basin.

But together they also represent a somewhat frustrating example of how far we have to go in working together toward achieving those common River system goals. Both meetings, each important and critical in its own right, both hoping to include participants who share a common vision and seek common goals for the River, and together representing promising steps toward an inclusive vision for the watershed, have been scheduled on the same dates and in Mississippi River cities over 190 miles apart. The Upper Mississippi River Conference is set for September 26-28 in Moline, Illinois, and the America’s Great Watershed Initiative Summit is planned for September 26-27 in St. Louis, Missouri.

This article isn't meant to point fingers, apportion blame or suggest fault. The planning conflict is simply and wonderfully the result of our being human, and I'm sure that the list of reasons that could be provided to explain the overlapping scheduling would easily fill this space. And this is admittedly only the most recent of all too many examples of fragmentation that have come before. 

What this instance does clearly illustrate is that the fragmented status quo with respect to the Mississippi River Basin is deeply embedded in the very groups, initiatives and institutions that desire to change that status quo. And until we and how we interact with one another reflect the very integrated and inclusive Mississippi River Basin reality we hope to attain, that reality will never be achieved.

Monday, June 25, 2012

The Week Ahead in the U.S. Senate and House

Several water resource-relevant hearings and bill mark-up meetings are scheduled for the week ahead in the U.S. House and Senate.  They include (with links to respective Committee web pages):

Wednesday, June 27
Thursday, June 28
All times are Eastern.

National Flood Insurance Program on the Week's Senate Agenda

This week the Senate is scheduled to consider S. 1940, a bill reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program (or "NFIP"); a task necessary before the NFIP expires at the end of July. The bill, sponsored by South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson (D), was passed by the Senate Banking Committee unanimously on September 8, 2011. A Senate procedural vote last Thursday to move on to the bill effectively placed full consideration of the legislation on the Senate's calendar today (Monday), when the Chamber will continue consideration of its motion to proceed, shortly after reconvening at 2:00 PM (Eastern).

On May 30, the House voted to pass H.R.5740, the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act, by a voice vote, concurring with an earlier Senate action, and sending the measure on to the President for his signature. That action extended the authority of the NFIP from May 31 until July 31, 2012, and gave Congress two more months in its years-long process of deciding on a long-term reauthorization and reform strategy for the debt-burdened NFIP; a program that provides insurance for homes and businesses in areas subject to flooding. The NFIP has been subject to legislative impasse on this issue since 2008, the last time a NFIP re-authorization bill was passed. Since then, Congress has passed 17 short-term extensions to keep the program solvent. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is pushing to fast-track consideration of the flood insurance legislation so the Senate can begin negotiating with the House over competing versions of a five-year NFIP reauthorization and reform. The House passed its version of the flood insurance legislation, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 1309), last summer.

Among the Senate bill's provisions is one that would direct FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which runs the program) to incorporate best available estimates regarding changes in future flooding risks into its floodplain mapping efforts, effectively bringing climate change and global warming into the flood forecasting process. The House bill does not include any such flood risk change language. Apart from that climate change language and Senate wording that requires homeowners living behind levees to buy flood insurance, the House and Senate bills are very similar, with each mandating higher policyholder insurance rates in the more flood risk-prone areas, updating mapping, and increasing income into the over-prescribed and debt-ridden flood insurance program. Despite the similarities, some House members may target the Senate's climate change language for elimination, should it survive in the Senate bill.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Farm Bill

In a rarely demonstrated example of political bipartisanship, 16 Republicans joined with 46 Democrats and two Independents in the Senate (roll call vote list here) to pass a 2012 Farm Bill (see link to bill here). The legislation would cut more than $23 billion from the Federal budget deficit over a ten-year period, by eliminating direct payments to farmers and landowners, and replacing some of those eliminated payments with an enhanced version of crop and income insurance subsidies. The $969 billion bill would fund agriculture, farm and nutrition programs over the next five years. Farm Bill attention now shifts to the House, where its Agriculture Committee has announced a delay in consideration of the bill from next week, as originally-intended, until July 11, following the Congressional July 4 week recess.

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) noted yesterday that the farm bill he plans to offer will have "differences" from the Senate version, but was generally congratulatory in his statement regarding the Senate's passage and its bipartisan approach. Such apolitical support for the Farm Bill is a more problematic venture in the House, where conservative lawmakers have expressed their intent to cut the food stamp (or SNAP) program much more deeply. You can read more news coverage on the Senate actions, anticipated House activity and other Farm Bill news, below. And for a thorough review of Thursday's Farm Bill action and where the Farm Bill stands now, see this FarmPolicy.com synopsis.

USDA Mississippi River Basin Initiative Project Funding Announced
On Tuesday, USDA Secretary Vilsack announced the funding (at $8.4 million) of 23 projects in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin to protect Mississippi River Basin water quality under the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) MRBI (“Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative”). The projects are funded through NRCS’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. A complete listing of the 23 projects and their funding levels can be seen here.

National Flood Insurance Reauthorization and Reform
Passage of the Farm Bill cleared the way in the Senate for it to consider S. 1940, a bill reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program, before the NFIP expires at the end of July. The bill, sponsored by South Dakota Senator Tim Johnson (D), was passed by the Senate Banking Committee unanimously on September 8, 2011. A Senate Thursday procedural vote to move on to the bill effectively placed full consideration of the legislation on the Senate's calendar next Monday.

On May 30 the House voted to pass H.R.5740, the National Flood Insurance Program Extension Act, by a voice vote, concurring with an earlier Senate action, and sending the measure on to the President for his signature. That action extended the authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) from May 31 until July 31, 2012, and gave Congress two more months in its years-long process of deciding on a long-term reauthorization and reform strategy for the debt-burdened NFIP; a program that provides insurance for homes and businesses in areas subject to flooding. The NFIP has been subject to legislative impasse on this issue since 2008, the last time a NFIP re-authorization bill was passed. Since then, Congress has passed 17 short-term extensions to keep the program solvent.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is pushing to fast-track consideration of the flood insurance legislation so the Senate can begin negotiating with the House over competing versions of a five-year NFIP reauthorization and reform. The House passed its version of the flood insurance legislation, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 1309), last summer.

Appropriations
In what is setting up to be a prelude to the eventual House Farm Bill vote, the House Appropriations Committee this week (June 19) passed a USDA and FDA fiscal year 2013 spending bill, sending on to the full House for its likely consideration next week. The $19.4 billion discretionary funding legislation would cut $365 million from the spending levels in last year’s passed legislation and represents a cut of $1.7 billion below the President’s budget request. Here is the Committee statement that accompanied the bill's passage. And for those interested in all of the details, here is the complete Appropriations Committee report language accompanying the spending bill.

In a separate action, the House Appropriations Committee also approved a $28 billion Interior and Environment spending bill that included deep cuts to EPA program and to the Department of Interior's popular land and water conservation fund. Several riders attached to the spending bill would, according to the Republican majority's bill release statement "rein in various problematic, costly, and potentially job-killing regulatory actions by the Administration, including provisions related to the “stream buffer rule,” changes to the definition of “navigable waters” under the Clean Air Act, and “silviculture” regulations."

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Farm Bill-
House Status
  • House Republican leaders want a pause to consider how to proceed on Farm Bill this summer; delay bill consideration http://bit.ly/LEL0hu
  • House Committee decides to not markup farm bill next week after talks with Majority Leader Cantor: an ominous sign http://politi.co/KlgOHq
  • House Agriculture Committee Chair Lucas statement on Senate approval of Farm Bill 1.usa.gov/KBofz8
  • House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Peterson statement on Senate approval of Farm Bill http://bit.ly/LIt0Yj
  • Farm policy overhaul clears Senate but farm bill faces acrimonious path in House as sequestration looms http://bit.ly/MbfvA4
Farm Bill Opinion
  • Cato Institute op-ed piece: "Will the House block the Farm Bill pig-out?" http://bit.ly/L0MQbo
  • Washington Post editorial: eliminated farm bill direct payments replaced by enhanced subsidized crop insurance system http://wapo.st/LEKQqo
Senate Activity
  • Senate passes massive farm bill by a vote of 64-35, as 16 Republicans vote with Democrats http://bit.ly/NVkqFX
  • Farm Bill rice and peanut grower amendment dropped for now; to be pursued in Conference Committee http://bit.ly/KMbVNB
  • Senate votes to link crop insurance coverage eligibility to farm incomes and meeting conservation rules http://bit.ly/Li93bq
Agriculture -
Water Quality -
  • NY Times editorial: "Where Are the Clean Water Rules?" http://nyti.ms/LFlHff
  • Coast Guard: miles-long Mississippi River pollution sheen came from southwestern Mississippi storage tank http://bit.ly/KzKOp0
  • Op-ed on impacts of surface coal-mining operations on Eastern KY waterways: "EPA protecting our right to clean water" http://bit.ly/M7fGsw
  • USDA Mississippi River Basin Initiative funding announced for 23 nutrient reduction projects bit.ly/L1okae
  • USDA funding Sauk River (MN) watershed conservation as part of Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative http://on.sctimes.com/KAPJou
  • Leaf-litter study aims to narrow gap between existing methods of monitoring nutrient pollution in streams http://bit.ly/KAUHSb
  • University of Michigan forecasters predict second-smallest Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' http://bit.ly/MyEGtf
  • NOAA-supported scientists: 2012 Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone could range from between 1197 and 6213 sq mi http://on.doi.gov/KnwqKC
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves series of water and wildlife bills; sends on to full Senate http://1.usa.gov/KCNXmG
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
Forestry -
  • BBC: Healthy forests key for green growth, says UN report http://alturl.com/fn7v9 (via @PeoplePlanet)
  • American Forest Foundation launches My Land Plan to assist family forest owners to map; protect; enjoy forests http://bit.ly/LuGcv6
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Emerald ash borers begin to wreak havoc on Louisville’s (KY) plentiful ash trees http://cjky.it/NDo9rE
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves series of water and wildlife bills; sends on to full Senate http://1.usa.gov/KCNXmG
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Louisiana legislation will direct Deepwater-Horizon-BP oil spill money toward coastal protection & restoration programs http://bit.ly/NDojz9
  • $14.5 billion flood defense now in place around New Orleans, 7 years after Hurricane Katrina http://nyti.ms/LrgcRo
  • Interior Secretary Salazar repeats administration's commitment to using BP money rebuild Louisiana wetlands http://bit.ly/MNdC7N
  • Congress hasn't decided on BP spill fines distribution to help Gulf Coastal restoration http://bit.ly/MNdEMP
Resource Extraction -
Federal Budget -
Other news-
  • Does "green growth" – an attempt to improve often destructive relationship between development & environment - work? http://econ.st/NENGSo
  • Harvard's annual State of Nation's Housing report says more sprawl is inevitable http://bit.ly/LxeORS report link here: http://bit.ly/Lxecvz
  • River-oriented artists wanted for St. Paul MN-based art-science collaboration. Stipend! Apply by 7/9 http://bit.ly/M7g91D (via @RiverLifeUMN)
  • Landscapes for People, Food & Nature Initiative looks to bring back dead rivers, barren landscapes; increase farm yield http://bit.ly/KASsOH
  • $15M in federal funds to Memphis will in part enable people to bike along and over historic, scenic Mississippi River http://bit.ly/KnvqGc
  • EPA Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Program money to go to New Orleans, LA and AR groups http://1.usa.gov/LFlau1
Political Scene -
  • New George Washington U study: How to communicate effectively with Congress http://politi.co/KxTvve (hint: email, don't meet)
  • Roughly half of nation's 7,383 state legislators could have 2 or less years of experience after 2012 elections http://usat.ly/L0Nztd
  • Poll: Nebraska state Sen. Fischer (R) ahead of former Sen. Bob Kerrey (D) by a large margin for US Senate seat http://bit.ly/KkdPyN
  • GOP seeks to punish four vulnerable Mississippi River Basin Senate Democrats on EPA mercury rules vote http://bit.ly/KATavk
  • Missouri (August 7) and Wisconsin (August 14) US Senate primaries are among the summer's hottest races http://politi.co/KATrhQ
  • Republicans in Wisconsin's 1st district pondering options if Rep. Paul Ryan ends up as GOP VP candidate http://bit.ly/KAU0YX
  • Former WI Gov. Thompson leads closest competitor in Republican Senate primary by margin of almost 20 points http://bit.ly/KAUbU7


Last Word - "That'll do pig. That'll do."
What better way to end a hectic week of Farm Bill activity in the nation's capitol than this quote from farmer Arthur H. Hoggett (played by actor James Cromwell) in the 1995 film "Babe."


Tuesday, June 19, 2012

USDA Mississippi River Basin Initiative Project Funding Announced


Click for larger view
USDA Secretary Vilsack today announced the funding (at $8.4 million) of 23 projects in Arkansas, Iowa, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin to protect Mississippi River Basin water quality under the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) MRBI (“Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative”). The projects are funded through NRCS’s Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative (CCPI).

A complete listing of the 23 projects and their funding levels can be seen here.   

Through the MRBI, NRCS works with producers to implement voluntary conservation practices to manage nitrogen and phosphorus use in agricultural fields to minimize runoff and reduce downstream nutrient loading. Participating MRBI states include Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.  An overview of and more details on the MRBI can be found here

Senate Reaches Farm Bill Amendment Deal - Voting Starts Today

Senate Democrats announced last evening that the Senate had reached a Farm Bill amendment deal and that floor debate on the amendments would start this afternoon (Tuesday), with a goal of bill passage by Friday. The amendment package, which was agreed to by unanimous consent, includes measures both germane and non-germane to the farm bill. Details of the 73-amendment agreement and amendment vote floor schedule are here.  Tuesday afternoon's floor consideration kicks off three days of brief debates and roll call votes on 58 of the farm bill amendments. Fifteen amendments will be made by voice vote.  Sixty votes will be needed to attach non-germane proposals to the final farm bill ("non-germane" amendments such as Republican proposals to cut federal funding for political conventions and ban food aid to North Korea). The most contentious germane amendment would do away with proposed cuts to food stamps (also known as SNAP) and make up for the $4.5 billion SNAP cost with cuts to subsidized crop insurance.

Here is a Roll Call article from last night on the deal: Senate Agrees onWay Forward on Farm Bill. And here is a Politico article on the agreement: Big breakthrough on farmbill.

Monday, June 18, 2012

This Week in the House and Senate-Action Relevant to Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Issues

Senate Farm Bill
The Senate currently has no significant hearings or markups scheduled. The Senate is set to convene at 5 PM EDT on Monday, and begin consideration of the nomination of Mary Geiger Lewis, of South Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina. The Farm Bill (S. 3240) is technically on the Senate's calendar for the week; however, whether or not it is actually considered depends on if a deal can be reached within the next day that will set a limit on the number of amendments (germane and not) to be considered and that clears the way for passage of the Senate’s version of the legislation by week's end. If not, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will likely pull the bill, rather than attempt and fail at a cloture vote.

House
The U.S. House is back in session this week, after a one-week recess, and has scheduled several hearings and legilstion markup sessions with a direct or indirect impact on Mississippi River Basin water resources. They include (with links to the respective hearing or meeting web page):

Friday, June 15, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Farm Bill Stumbles on Senate Floor over Amendment Impasse
A flood of farm bill amendments and an inability of Senate Democrats and Republicans to agree on which of the many amendments to formally consider brought farm bill activity on that chamber's floor to a standstill this week.  Many of the (as of this morning) 283 farm bill amendments thus far proposed have very little, if anything, to do with the agricultural and nutrition core purposes of the legislation. Behind the scenes Republicans continue to press their demands that the Senate consider several high-profile, non-agriculture amendments, including an amendment to stop aid to Pakistan, and several that would limit EPA's regulatory authority. On Tuesday, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) detailed five regulatory issues on which Republicans want to force farm bill amendment votes, including proposals associated with financial derivatives, Clean Water Act and non-navigable waters, and work safety rules for children.  Because of this amendment glut and political impasse, with the exception of several procedural votes on a handful of amendments, there was no real substantive action on the farm bill this week on the Senate floor, and on Thursday, a frustrated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that there would be no more votes in the Senate at least until next week, announcing from the Senate floor that "A few senators are holding this up and that’s too bad."  To read more details on the stalemate and prospects for resolving it, see here and explore the news articles linked in the "Farm Bill" section, immediately below.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Farm Bill-
Senate Status
  • Farm Bill stalled in Senate by amendment stalemate; Majority Leader defers consideration into next week at earliest buswk.co/LXhnZi
  • Regional divides and food stamps are the 2 major obstacles to passing farm bill before current law expires http://wapo.st/KBlc6v
  • Sen. Conrad (D-ND) files compromise farm bill amendment aimed at getting southern farm state senators to back bill http://bit.ly/MWalHi
  • Sen. McConnell (R-KY) sees must-pass Farm Bill as prime opportunity to enact wish list of anti-regulation legislation http://bit.ly/KBkWo9
  • GOP Sens. Heller, Barrasso, Inhofe & Sessions file Farm Bill amendment on Clean Water Act jurisdiction. video: http://youtu.be/ABgrQ8V2AFs
  • Shaheen-Toomey Farm Bill amendment would cap crop insurance premium subsidies at $40,000 http://bit.ly/MWdQNR
  • DTN: Expect a strong Senate floor Farm Bill debate over Adjusted Gross Incomes and crop insurance premium subsidies http://bit.ly/LizR5U
  • Senate Majority Leader Reid working on deal on which farm bill amendments could come up for vote bit.ly/MnYBwf
  • Senate farm bill off to rough start on the Senate floor  http://politi.co/M1zqMc
  • Senate rejects Farm Bill food-stamp cut amendment that mirrors House GOP proposal http://politi.co/MCAUNw
  • Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) prepared to block further farm bill amendment votes unless he can secure votes on his amendments http://bit.ly/M6TFYS
Opinion and Advocacy
  • Senators Stabenow and Roberts outline key reforms contained in Senate Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill  http://bit.ly/M6Uu3K
  • Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Farm Bill update http://bit.ly/MBF9gk
  • Saint Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial: "Farm bill redux" looks at crop insurance issues http://bit.ly/L3DOzU
  • Food and farm policy leaders to form new nonprofit to track Congressional votes on range of Farm Bill issues http://bit.ly/MW5XrN
  • National Sustainable Ag Coalition to Senators: complete consideration of farm bill, reject all non-germane amendments http://bit.ly/M6U7Gu
  • 94 conservation groups send letter urging Senate to adopt Cardin Soil and Wetlands Conservation Amendment http://bit.ly/M6VsgA
  • Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) op-ed on Farm Bill: "A cost-effective Farm Bill with a strong, market-based safety net" http://bit.ly/M6QyjJ
  • Senator John McCain (R-AZ) releases his "Top Ten List” of what he calls Farm Bill pork http://bit.ly/M03s6U
House Status
Agriculture -
  • Federal conservation officials use aerial photography to help ensure Iowa farmers are complying with conservation rules http://bit.ly/M7Yu6t
  • Preproposal deadline for NFWF-USDA $10 million Conservation Partners grants is June 18; includes N Great Plains focus http://bit.ly/L7l82d
  • Proposal for Iowa 2,294-capacity hog confinement facility has been withdrawn http://dmreg.co/LfzlHz
  • 2/3 of IA farm soil abnormally dry, stressing corn and eroding bumper crop predictions http://dmreg.co/KOUtIb
  • Reports of low-level EPA surveillance aircraft flying over IA livestock operations generate complaints; controversy http://dmreg.co/M7tOjA
  • ND will lose > 0.5 million acres in Conservation Reserve Program this fall, resulting in lost wildlife/game habitat http://bit.ly/MW6HNw
Water Quality -
  • EPA issues final draft of "Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework" PDF here: http://1.usa.gov/KtUMZ1
  • Miners and environmentalists gather at EPA hearing in Kentucky; focus on coal mining, water quality and jobs http://bit.ly/MBN3Xb
  • Survey: Aging infrastructure; capital costs are most pressing challenges facing water and wastewater industries http://bit.ly/KOXnwC
  • Deal reached between residents and coal company over West Virginia water pollution http://bit.ly/L7gzF8
  • WI regulators seek civil penalties vs MN-based mine operators for water, wildlife damage from 2 large sand spills http://bit.ly/L7gSzX
  • Heavy May rainfall leads to more pollution in Minnesota rivers as erosion and sedimentation spike http://bit.ly/M7sEVh
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • 40 speakers testify at MO Clean Water Commission hearing on Army Corps' MO River Jameson Island restoration project http://bit.ly/KP3CAh
  • Army Corps: no double standard in decision to put excavated soil into MO River in proposed habitat restoration project http://bit.ly/KP4G7i
  • Video of MO Clean Water Commission’s 6/12 hearing on contentious Army Corps' Missouri River restoration project http://youtu.be/Rb3rv0RZSNA
  • In southern KS farm country permits for scarce water soar to highest level in 30 yrs; as fracking needs escalate http://cnnmon.ie/KP1Jng
  • US Gulf Coast communities from Louisiana to FL Panhandle struggle amidst record flooding http://reut.rs/KP2Ao3
  • Senate bill to amend National Flood Insurance Act; restore flood insurance fund solvency likely to floor next week http://1.usa.gov/KTEKYg
  • University of Wisconsin launches 5-campus water technology initiative http://bit.ly/Lzm2lG
  • MO River Recovery Implementation Committee stakeholder membership applications now being accepted; on-line application: http://bit.ly/MD2TN1
Forestry -
  • New AFF website offers landowners interactive tools for managing woodlands: http://bit.ly/KZghPh (via @AmForestFndn)
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • IN AG wants to know what Federal steps are being taken to protect state waterways from invasive Asian Carp http://bit.ly/L3G6yZ
  • Investors planning plant in Grafton, IL (SW IL along Mississippi River) to process Asian carp http://bit.ly/L3GqOh
  • Asian carp remain a threat to the Wabash River's (IN) health http://bit.ly/M7XDmg
  • Iowa officials: deadly bat disease known as white-nose syndrome discovered in state park near WI border http://bit.ly/M7tktE
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Louisiana State University scientists: Gulf Coast energy, fishing industries should adapt now to climate change http://bit.ly/L5FvKi
  • New law will link coastal restoration with jobs for Louisiana locals http://bit.ly/LJoaJK (via @EDF_Louisiana)
Resource Extraction -
  • EPA sues Indian multinational company for illegal mining in Kentucky http://cbsn.ws/MBHYy6
  • Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (OH) decides to stop selling water to drillers for use in hydraulic fracturing http://bit.ly/LfA8bh
  • OH Governor signs state law that includes new rules on drilling for natural gas and oil http://bit.ly/KP3d0R
Federal Budget -
  • Senate Finance Chair Baucus: Dems and GOP quietly negotiating to find agreement avoiding impending "fiscal cliff" http://bit.ly/N0L6Wq
Events-
  • Hold the dates: Missouri River Recovery Implementation Committee (MRRIC) meeting: July 31-August 2, Billings, MT http://bit.ly/MBEbR6
  • June 23 - Tennessee Clean Water Network  Annual Membership Meeting; Nashville  http://bit.ly/MBEyvh
  • USGS Webinar: Better Access to Statistical and Assessment Methods for Water Quality; June 21, 11 EDT  http://bit.ly/MBIWdG
  • Upper MIssissippi River Conference - September 26-28; Moline, IL http://bit.ly/lp0jXH
  • Free native prairie plant and birding event; June 30; Rice and Goodhue counties, MN http://ow.ly/1NC2uM
  • EPA Nutrient Reduction Strategies Webcast: IN Soil Health Strategy; 6/26, 11 EDT info: 1.usa.gov/KTrMcU register bit.ly/KTrsuJ
  • Pollinator Week Briefing & Break; Washington DC; June 18; 3:30 PM; register here: http://bit.ly/KBpcE0
  • Pollinator Festival at the USDA Farmers Market in Washington DC on Friday, June 22 from 10-2 1.usa.gov/KBp8nD
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • The Horinko Group's June monthly "sustainabulletin" enewsletter is available: http://bit.ly/L79u7A
Other news-
  • UN report: world's top river basin regions have vital role in sustaining economic growth http://bbc.in/L7fSvD
  • NOAA: May’s average global temperature made it second-warmest since record-keeping began in 1880 bit.ly/LXoJfi
  • Journal of Wildlife Management: Cougars are making a comeback in the Midwest http://bit.ly/MJLbbh
Political Scene -
  • In January, US Capitol will be home to one of the least-experienced Congresses in decades http://politi.co/LLcNzw
  • Encouraged and emboldened by Scott Walker's victory, Wisconsin GOP aims for US Senate seat http://politi.co/MByyTg
  • Poll: US Senate candidate & former WI Gov. Thompson leads presumptive Democratic nominee US Rep. Baldwin (D-WI) http://bit.ly/Nq5JvA
  • Democratic US House nominees emerge in Arkansas 1st and 4th districts http://bit.ly/M6SA37
  • Democrat Enyart jumps into open-seat race for retiring Rep. Costello's (IL-12) seat http://bit.ly/M6T21z
Last Word - “I’m the real Joe Walsh.” - Rock singer-guitarist Joe Walsh (former Illinoisan, Grammy-winning musician and guitarist for supergroup the Eagles) in throwing his endorsement behind Democrat Tammy Duckworth in her race against Republican Rep. Joe Walsh for incumbant Walsh's 8th District U.S. House seat.

That sounds to me like a good enough excuse to enjoy a live performance of Walsh's "Life's Been Good" (that's the singer-Walsh, not the House Member-Walsh).

Thursday, June 14, 2012

UPDATED: "Popcorn is Doing Just Fine" But Farm Bill Progress Slows in the Senate

Senator John McCain (R-AZ), in explaining to reporters why he's introduced an amendment to strike 31 words of popcorn support language from the Senate's version of the farm bill that it is considering this week, noted wryly on Monday that "Popcorn is doing just fine," adding, “This popcorn carve-out is a perfect example of farm bill politics. There isn’t a kernel of evidence that shows they need this support from the taxpayers."

The squabble over 31 legislative words concerning popcorn subsidies is also symptomatic of the uncertain fate facing the 1,000-plus-page farm bill, because McCain's amendment is only one, as of Friday morning, of about 283 potential amendments to the legislation have been queued up by Senators. And many of those 283 have very little, if anything, to do with the agricultural and nutrition core purposes of the legislation.

Behind the scenes, Republicans continue to press their demands that the Senate consider several high-profile, non-agriculture amendments, including an amendment to stop aid to Pakistan, and several that would limit EPA's regulatory authority. On Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) detailed five regulatory issues on which Republicans want to force farm bill amendment votes, including proposals associated with financial derivatives, Clean Water Act and non-navigable waters, and work safety rules for children. Because of this amendment glut and political impasse, with the exception of several procedural votes on a handful of amendments, there has been no real substantive action on the farm bill so far this week on the Senate floor, and on Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) announced that there would be no more votes in the Senate this week.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow and Ranking Member Roberts continue to negotiate a resolution to the impasse, at the urging of  Reid. Both Stabenow and Roberts have expressed optimism at the chances of reaching some accord, and moving the bill forward in the Senate.  Stabenow indicated late on Thursday that she expects to be able to to present a consent agreement for completing the farm bill early next week and that she believes "it’s very possible" to win passage of the farm bill without a difficult cloture vote.  Earlier in the week, Stabenow told reporters, “Every step of the way, people have said we couldn’t get this done. I would suggest that people not underestimate the number of folks in the Senate who care about these issues, who want deficit reduction, who want reform, who want an agricultural policy that works for our country. And we’re just going to keep on working.”

If the Senate cannot reach agreement on which amendments to consider, the bill could stall despite the strong bipartisan support. Reid is essentially faced with three alternatives for moving the bill ahead this year: (1) hope that Stabenow and Roberts can reach some sort of agreement with each other and among their peers on a select (and manageable) number of amendments that will be considered by the Senate; (2) slog through each and every one of the amendments one at a time (an option that Reid to date has said is not an option); or (3) let the bill die for now, and take it up later in the Congressional session (i.e., following the November election). The last option would require some sort of farm bill extension before the current law's authority expires at the end of September.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Conservation Partners Grant Program Preproposal Deadline Nears

The deadline for preproposals for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Partners Program is 5:00 PM EDT, Monday, June 18.
   
The Conservation Partners Program is a $10 million grants program with individual grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000. The grants will be provided on a competitive basis to support field biologists and other habitat professionals (botanists, ecologists, foresters, etc.) working with NRCS field offices in providing technical assistance to farmers, ranchers, foresters and other private landowners to optimize wildlife conservation on private lands. Funds may also be used for outreach, capacity-building and CRP sign-up activities. Higher usage of Farm Bill conservation programs in program priority areas is a major goal of the Conservation Partners Program.  The program priority areas for the summer 2012 round of funding are:
  • Northwest Salmon Rivers 
  • Northern Great Plains
  • California Sierras and Bay Delta
  • Lesser Prairie Chicken
Organizations interested in applying for this competitive grant opportunity should look at the program support information and the Request for Proposals, which can be found here. Organizations submitting preproposals who are invited back to submit a full proposal will face an August 1, 2012 full proposal deadline.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

House Committee Passes Bill Restricting Agency Ability to Implement Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Policy
On Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee considered and passed a bill impacting clean water act jurisdiction (H.R. 4965, "A bill to preserve existing rights and responsibilities with respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes"). The bill (passed on a vote of 33-18, largely along party lines in the Republican controlled Committee) would prevent the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from rewriting their guidance clarifying which waters of the United States fall under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, and, by some accounts, might also prevent those agencies from enforcing a related Clean Water Act jurisdiction guidance that was put in place by the second George Bush Administration.  Passage nows clears the way for the bill's consideration before the full House.

House Agriculture Appropriations Bill Moving Through Committee
On Wednesday, the House Appropriations Committee's Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies subcommittee passed on a voice vote a fiscal year 2013 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The proposed bill would provide discretionary funds for various FDA and USDA programs, including agriculture research, food safety, animal and plant health, rural development and farm services, nutrition, and  various Natural Resources Conservation Service conservation programs. In total, the legislation provides for $19.4 billion in discretionary funding, which would be a cut of $365 million below last year’s appropriated level, and $1.7 billion below the President’s 2013 budget request. More details can be found in this Committee press release, and in this draft of the subcommittee's bill.  The bill now moves on to the full Appropriations Committee.

House Approves Energy and Water Fiscal Year 2013 Spending Bill
Also on Wednesday, the The House easily approved the fiscal year 2013 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (on a vote of 255-165). The bill provides funding for the Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program and for the Department of Energy, and would provide those agencies with $32.1 billion in funding; $965 million below the President’s budget request. There were several amendments approved by the House that are especially relevant to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues, including those that would:
  • add $10 million in funding for the Army Corps of Engineers Louisiana Coastal Area ecosystem restoration project
  • add $2 million to the Corps of Engineers Construction account to address numerous flood control needs
  • make a symbolic funding transfer within the Army Corps of Engineers that highlights the issues surrounding the Missouri Flood Study and to encourage the prioritization of maintenance projects on the Missouri River
  • prohibit funding to continue the “Missouri River Authorized Purposes Study” (there was no funding for the study in the bill in any case)
Links to the bill language, accompanying report, and the measure's amendments can be found on this Appropriations Committee web page.

It's good to keep in mind that during this election year, in particular, these individual spending bills have much more to do with election position posturing than with any actual spending ability that Federal agencies will see anytime soon.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Farm Bill-
  • Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute report on Senate Agriculture Committee’s 2012 farm bill proposal http://bit.ly/LspYmX (PDF)
  • NY Times editorial: US Farm Bill - Where the Trough Is Overflowing http://nyti.ms/K3Tqzg
  • House Ag Committee Chair Lucas sets goal to get Farm Bill through his Committee before July 4 recess http://bit.ly/KEhB9R
  • Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow ‘very optimistic’ about getting Farm Bill through the Senate by end of June http://bit.ly/KM6OLd
  • American Farm Bureau Federation raises concerns about Senate version of the farm bill. http://bit.ly/JIGxJy
  • US food and health leaders urge Congress to cut crop insurance subsidies; redirect money to nutrition; conservation http://lat.ms/L9BViC
  • Salt Lake Tribune Editorial: Farm Bill does little to encourage food better for you in ways better for the Earth http://bit.ly/LDvC5D
  • Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Stabenow: broad ‘universe’ of Farm Bill amendments are planned just from Democrats http://bit.ly/KM6kVj
  • Likely floor assault from Congressional Members (both parties; various regions) threatens to kill final Farm Bill deal http://bit.ly/KM8jJp
  • North-South divide complicating attempts to overhaul federal farming subsidies; trim federal spending http://on.wsj.com/MhLOwa
  • Midwestern Governors Association releases "Midwestern Recommendations for Farm Bill Reauthorization" http://bit.ly/M3Yvan
  • Senate began consideration Tuesday of Farm Bill; expected to debate over several weeks http://wapo.st/LpHdqR
  • Amendment to limit crop insurance premium subsidies to largest farms one of some 30 pending Farm Bill amendments http://bit.ly/MhMzW3
  • Farm Bill remarks by Ag Committee Chair Stabenow on the Senate floor Tuesday http://bit.ly/LDserB
  • Senate floor Farm Bill remarks by Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Pat Roberts Tuesday http://bit.ly/MhL9e8
  • Thursday's 90-8 Senate vote officially begins Farm Bill debate http://bit.ly/Ls0KIP
  • Obama administrations says it's looking forward to working with Congress on Farm Bill, "avoids any veto threat." http://politi.co/Kldk72
  • Sen. Debbie Stabenow issues strong warning against senators attaching unrelated amendments to farm bill http://bit.ly/KleEqw
  • As of Thursday, more than 30 amendments have been filed to the 2012 Senate farm bill http://bit.ly/KleRu2
  • Obama supports passage of Senate’s farm bill but wants more cuts to support payments to farmers; position statement-http://1.usa.gov/KlfhAl
Agriculture -
  • After damning research, France proposes banning pesticide linked to bee collapse http://bit.ly/L70Ilv
  • "Startlingly high" US Midwest corn prices signaling that US will run short of corn this summer http://reut.rs/KM8DIb
  • Downpours in MN show need for more conservation on farm land http://bit.ly/MhUS3W
  • New research: Reintroduction of farm ponds could significantly reduce agricultural pollution in streams and rivers http://bit.ly/Mexdy2
Water Quality -
  • House defeats attempt to protect clean water guidance http://bit.ly/Mrg2ip
  • EPA's Integrated Risk Information System ammonia health assessment open for public comment (used in ag fertilizers) http://1.usa.gov/K4ZKVe
  • EPA defends aerial surveillance of NE & IA livestock operations as legal and cost-effective way to protect streams http://bit.ly/LsIUBB
  • Several southern Illinois cities qualify for share of $105 million atrazine settlement http://bit.ly/LsL4kM
  • Minnesota water pollution debate increases the divide between rural and city residents http://bit.ly/LsMc8b
  • EPA approves KS list of impaired waters: removing 561 waters from previous impaired waters list; adding 121 http://1.usa.gov/MevvMW
  • EPA settles alleged Clean Water Act (storm water) violations with the City of Huntington, WV http://bit.ly/KZpSW9
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, etc.) -
  • Feet of sand dropped by Missouri River leave Iowa, Nebraska farms a wasteland year after flood http://bit.ly/LsIuex
In the States -
  • Pennsylvania Environmental Council Policy Update highlights numerous threats to PA environmental funding/programs: http://bit.ly/K6P6UC
  • Indiana clean water advocates say state needs to step up fight against pollution; IN officials cite progress http://indy.st/LsI2gs
  • Editorial: Indiana's water cleanup efforts a trickle compared to other states http://indy.st/Klg2cN
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Nominations solicited for participation on the Federal Invasive Species Advisory Committee http://bit.ly/L7j5qj
  • Aquatic invasives: MN posts more inspectors; starts mandatory roadside checks; doubles fines and increases decon units http://bit.ly/LY0k80
  • AR man transports  live Asian carp from Arkansas breeding ponds to sell in Michigan; charged with felonies  http://bit.ly/KupUr6
  • Mississippi and Illinois rivers have more Asian carp than anywhere else; more than China where they came from http://bit.ly/LDE3xT
Gulf Coastal Area-
  • PBS: In coastal Louisiana, rising seas threaten Native American land http://to.pbs.org/LsOtQw
  • Before and after: 50 years of rising tides and sinking marshes. to.pbs.org/Lstei4 (via @EDF_Louisiana)
  • Louisiana Legislature unanimously approves 2012 Louisiana Coastal Master Plan for restoring/protecting coastal wetlands http://bit.ly/Kwl59U
  • Deepwater Horizon disaster fine $$ to go directly into Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund http://bit.ly/M41Xl4
  • Louisiana coastal officials want speedier wetlands work by Army Corps of Engineers http://bit.ly/M42iEq
Resource Extraction -
Federal Budget -
Events-
  • Register here for June 14 EPA Webcast on Section 319 Agricultural Nonpoint Source "success stories" from OK, VA and WI http://bit.ly/Mrg1Lu
e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -
  • $2.99 on Kindle: Xerces Society Guide to Conserving North American Bees and Butterflies and Their Habitat http://ow.ly/bkz70
  • The latest issue of Delta Dispatches is out, with Coastal Louisiana restoration news and updates http://bit.ly/KM4ZOw
  • Clean Water America Alliance June newsletter http://t.co/TOLfe3Gd
Other news-
  • Data show US is experiencing hottest year on record thus far in 2012 and hottest 12-month stretch http://bit.ly/KlfCmM
  • Report: Humans near tipping point that could dramatically change Earth http://bit.ly/Ls4nys
Political Scene -
Last Word