~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~
Water Policy and Money Mix on Capitol Hill
One Waters of the United States Bills Introduced; One Delayed
At a Thursday morning press conference, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
At a Thursday morning press conference, Senate Environment and Public Works Committee
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| Sens. Inhofe (right) and Barrasso (left) introducing Senate bill blocking "Waters of the U.S." rule |
Just the day before, the Administration issued a veto threat for a companion House bill (H.R. 1732) that would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw the current proposal within 30 days and then within three months to consult with state and local officials on the issue. H.R. 1732, the "Regulatory Integrity Protection Act of 2015," was initially on the House schedule for this week, but floor action has now been delayed until after next week's House recess.
Senate-House Conference Budget Plan Passed by House
The House on Thursday passed a joint House-Senate budget conference plan that aims to balance the federal budget within 10 years by cutting over $5 trillion in spending over the next decade, including $496 billion in discretionary funding for domestic programs, and $4.2 trillion in mandatory spending. The GOP-crafted budget would limit appropriators to using only $19 billion for making changes to mandatory programs (known as "CHIMPS") during fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (mandatory farm bill conservation programs, for example, have often been subject to "CHIMPing"). For fiscal year 2016, the plan sticks to a $1.017 trillion discretionary budget cap set in a 2011 budget compromise, although it would circumvent that deal's defense spending cap by increasing a so-called war fund to around $96 billion. A Senate vote is expected next week. To see what else the Senate has on tap for next week relating to Mississippi River Basin's water resources, see here.
Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Water Quality -
Gulf Coastal Region-
- Des Moines Water Works taps into groundwater source as river source nitrate levels exceed federal regulations http://ow.ly/MnpW7
- Senate opponents of water rule drafted "Federal Water Quality Protection Act" with goal of attracting moderate Democrats http://ow.ly/MlBQ3
- New Minnesota Pollution Control Agency report reaffirms agricultural and urban runoff as
significant contributors to waterways' impairment; news release: http://ow.ly/Mi23b (also see MPR News: http://ow.ly/MkuGA)
Photo: MPCA - Congressional Budget Office: House legislation killing Obama administration's controversial waters of the U.S. rule would cost about $5 million http://ow.ly/Mfikz
- House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health to explore possible national ban on microbeads this Friday http://ow.ly/MaB6A
- Indianapolis Nature Conservancy office's stormwater system demonstrates best practices in rainwater harvesting, filtration http://ow.ly/MaKqy
- Minnesota sewer facilities are aging; expected to cost over one billion dollars in state revolving loan funds to update http://ow.ly/MbI5j (statewide clean water project priority list: http://ow.ly/MbImq)
- Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission administrator: people should still care about the Illinois River; despite pollution progress, problems remain http://ow.ly/MdUJn
- Three million gallons of sewage released into Kansas River after Topeka pump station power outage and backup generator failure http://ow.ly/Me6aG (related story below, under "In the Cities")
- States remain concerned about forthcoming coal mining, stream protection rule direction and their involvement after meeting with EPA http://ow.ly/Mimhl
- Plan to divert Canadian water south into the Columbia, Missouri, Mississippi and Colorado River systems is being discussed anew http://ow.ly/Mfhfi
- Corps of Engineers grants permit for controversial second track through the La Crosse River
marsh http://ow.ly/MdLAp
Photo: Peter Thomson, LaCrosse Tribune - Oak Ridge National Laboratory report: U.S. has over 77 gigawatts in undeveloped hydropower potential; two-thirds of which is concentrated at 100 sites, mostly owned by the USACE and located on the Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas rivers http://ow.ly/MdBNA
- U.S. Transportation Department designates three new Marine Highway Projects, including Mississippi and Illinois Rivers' container-on-barge service http://ow.ly/Mkdmm
- New House Republican bill would streamline the licensing process for nonfederal hydropower projects http://ow.ly/MaQSr
- Missouri Department of Natural Resources accepting public comments on Statewide Groundwater Restoration Plan http://ow.ly/MdITT (plan: http://ow.ly/MdIWu)
- The Oklahoman editorial: Arkansas River basin study should be of keen interest to Oklahoma policymakers http://ow.ly/MdReO
- Judge rejects federal request to delay Hurricane Katrina flood damages' lawsuit settlement conference http://ow.ly/MdStf
- Lower Mississippi River Conservation Committee coordinator: partner collaboration has been key to lower Mississippi River health rebound http://ow.ly/MdXRQ
- NRDC: Three reasons why new federal flood protection standards are a good idea http://ow.ly/Mhk1M
- Natural Resources Conservation Service extends deadline to comment on Agricultural Conservation Easement Program interim rule until May 28 http://ow.ly/MdL1K
- Newly-introduced "Flexibility to Farm Act" would allow states to opt out of Federal
regulations that pose "a significant adverse effect" on agriculture operations; bill: http://ow.ly/Mab3F and story: http://ow.ly/Mab2z
Click to enlarge - Department of Justice won't challenge a federal court ruling that USDA and SBA violated environmental laws in providing loans to large hog farm in northwest Arkansas http://ow.ly/MbCU9
- Federal economist uses land records, Census data, satellite images to estimate continental US, each state's land value http://ow.ly/MdDRJ (see chart to right)
- Environmental Working Group report: "Boondoggle: 'Prevented Planting' Insurance Plows Up Wetlands, Wastes $ Billions" http://ow.ly/Me7TM (PDF file) Related article: Group blasts prevented planting insurance in Prairie Pothole region http://ow.ly/MfiHH
- Dynasty Trust succession-planning strategy enables families in some cases to keep farm operations within their bloodline http://ow.ly/Mflot
- US weekly drought update: severe drought plaguing the West and High Plains continued to expand into Minnesota; dryness eased in Tennessee, Iowa and Illinois http://ow.ly/wmTdv
- NWS Monthly Drought Outlook for May: outlook for the Plains states and Midwest is uncertain with improvement less likely in the north and across Upper Mississippi Valley http://ow.ly/MlQD9
- New study links weather extremes to climate change; news coverage: http://ow.ly/MgTbh (study: http://ow.ly/MgT8Y)
- New study finds that the U.S. experienced a hurricane "drought" over the last nine years http://ow.ly/MlE68
- Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment for Cat Island National Wildlife Refuge (Louisiana) available for public review/comment http://ow.ly/Mnl0a
- Ecological Monographs paper: "Fragmentation and dewatering transform Great Plains stream fish communities" story: http://ow.ly/Mh0iB (link to abstract: http://ow.ly/Mh0t8)
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee research: Male minnows exposed diabetes drug ubiquitous in wastewater effluent feminizes and impacts fertility of male fish http://ow.ly/Mh8fl
- USDA confirms that highly pathogenic H5N2 virus is present in Kentucky wild birds within the Mississippi Flyway http://ow.ly/Mh18c
- Twenty Mississippi River paddlefish being fitted with transmitters to track them, better understand population dynamics http://ow.ly/MhpSl
- Snake lovers visit Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois for annual reptilian migrations http://ow.ly/Mhqi5
- North American Bird Conservation Initiative released its 2014 Farm Bill Field Guide to Fish and Wildlife Conservation this week http://ow.ly/MhxMt
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designates critical habitat for two freshwater mussel species: the Neosho mucket http://ow.ly/Mkmsu (483 river miles in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) and rabbitsfoot http://ow.ly/Mkmog (1,437 river miles in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee) Federal Register notice: http://ow.ly/Mkmap (related story below)
- Critical habitat area for two types of freshwater mussels is smaller than originally proposed by Fish and Wildlife Service http://ow.ly/MnpwH
- US Fish and Wildlife Service: "Healthy Prairies Mean Healthy Monarchs; Welcoming Fire Back to the Landscape" http://ow.ly/MlG7v
- House Republicans introduce new legislation seeking to reshape Endangered Species Act http://ow.ly/Mnh55
- America’s atomic legacy still haunts St. Louis area, including Coldwater Creek and its floodplain (Missouri River tributary) http://ow.ly/Mktg0
- Obama Administration announces eight additional "promise zones" to build community
Photo: Ryan Schuessler prosperity; including Indianapolis, Minneapolis, and St. Louis/St. Louis County in the Mississippi River Basin http://ow.ly/Mfg9j - Town of Wyoming, Minnesota is taking legal action against six makers of "flushable" wipes over clogged sewers http://ow.ly/MbHDE
- Vicksburg's Mississippi Riverfront Park erosion problems mount; could lead to park relocation http://ow.ly/MdWgU
- Opposition expected against proposed Kansas City, Missouri ordinance requiring large building owners to measure, disclose water and energy use http://ow.ly/MheFM
- Lawrence, Kansas taking precautions to protect drinking water after Topeka sewage leaks into Kansas River http://ow.ly/Mh9eF
- Bass Pro Shops opens megastore, tourist destination in Memphis Pyramid http://ow.ly/MhiVk
- Whistleblower lawsuit alleges that Leavenworth, Kansas defrauded FEMA over flood payments, illegally dumped sewage http://ow.ly/MhoWv
- POLITICO: "Mayors to Washington: Do something" - workforce education, crumbling infrastructure top mayors' wish list http://ow.ly/MdKvl
- Minnesota House passes $787 million omnibus environment finance bill, would create
States in the News independent peer review of some water quality standards, legislative approval of others http://ow.ly/MaJre (45 environmental and conservation groups line up against "dirty water" provisions of the bill http://ow.ly/Mbubh) - Minnesota state House passes legacy fund bill providing $540 million for environment, arts, parks, trails, other state resources http://ow.ly/Mnjqi
- Iowa House and Senate subcommittees advance bills limiting use of eminent domain on pipeline and transmission projects http://ow.ly/MhaPB
- Oklahoma House passes bill calling for statewide vote on whether right to farm, ranch shall be "forever guaranteed" http://ow.ly/MnlEa (link to bill: http://ow.ly/MnlRX)
- North Dakota State Water Commission budget will provide $4 million for Bismarck area flood levee projects http://ow.ly/MnqrZ
- Pennsylvania rejects oil and gas association call to remove four members from DEP oil and gas policy advisory board http://ow.ly/MaWVA
- State senator angered over recent Nebraska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission wastewater decision proposes studying Commission's dissolution http://ow.ly/MdZzP
- Texas bill would scale back process allowing the public to challenge industrial applications for environmental permits http://ow.ly/MkxAT
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| Photo: NASA |
- New website allows visitors to see where Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill restoration projects are taking place http://ow.ly/MfhFv
- Geological Society of America: Engineering a better future for the Mississippi Delta depends on accurate estimates of current subsidence rate http://ow.ly/Mhr3p
- Trout Unlimited says proposed Tintina Resources' Montana copper mine project could harm trout-spawning Smith River tributary (Missouri River Basin) http://ow.ly/MlEXX
- Risks to rivers are a concern leading into public meeting on Enbridge Energy plan to increase oil flow through Wisconsin pipeline http://ow.ly/MhrSJ
- South Dakota Public Utility Commission postpones decision on renewing expired Keystone XL pipeline permit http://ow.ly/MdYy6
- Oklahoma Geological Survey scientists suspected oil and gas activity-earthquake link as early as 2007; kept quiet to avoid upsetting industry http://ow.ly/Me0cM
- Big Ox Energy begins construction of $30 million, South Sioux City anaerobic digestion plant that will convert ag-food organic waste into methane http://ow.ly/Me545
- Environmental group Appalachian Voices releases new online mapping tool in fight against mountaintop mining http://ow.ly/MgV9r
- USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack expresses frustration at repeated Agriculture budget cuts http://ow.ly/MdFzw
- House and Senate Republicans reveal deal that aims to balance budget within 10 years http://ow.ly/MiB2G (agreement and related links: http://ow.ly/MiBnO)
- House passes Republican House-Senate budget plan by a 226-197 margin http://ow.ly/Mnibl (link to congressional budget concurrent resolution http://ow.ly/MniJw)
- Free Stroud Water Research Center webinar: Tips for Success in Establishing and Maintaining Forested Stream Buffers; May 5, 12 pm ET http://ow.ly/MhgkS
- USEPA Webcast: Getting More Green for your Stormwater Infrastructure; May 5, 1 pm – 2:30 pm EDT http://ow.ly/MgTVZ
- Dialogue for Agricultural Policies in the Americas, Washington, DC, May 6, 11 am-1 pm (streaming live here: http://ow.ly/MdGkN)
- Mississippi River Forum, May 8, 8:30 AM-12:30 PM CT, Science Museum of Minnesota, 120 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN http://ow.ly/Mlkqe (agenda: http://ow.ly/MlktW)
- EPA public meeting on potential state and public water system actions to prepare for and respond to cyanotoxin health risks in drinking water; May 11, Arlington, Virginia or online via webinar http://ow.ly/MdA43
- Public meeting: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Technical Mapping Advisory Council; May 12–13, Reston, Virginia (related to flood mapping in support of the National Flood Insurance Program) http://ow.ly/MaNV9
- EPA Webinar: “Interpreting and Using Water Quality Models,” June 3, 1 pm Eastern http://ow.ly/Mb1vq
- Annual cooperative Water and Natural Resources Tour; Republican River Basin; Nebraska, Colorado, June 23-25 http://ow.ly/MdI2D
- Tribal Lands and Environment Forum, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, August 17-20; Call for Proposals open http://ow.ly/Mne2i
- Annual Meetings of the Entomological Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America co-located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, November 15-18 http://ow.ly/Mb6yu
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| Book jackets :The James (1939), Lower Mississippi (1942), and The French Broad (1955) |
- J of Freshwater Biology Special Issue: Synthesizing Ecosystem-Level Effects of Consumer- Driven Nutrient Dynamics in Fresh Waters http://ow.ly/Mb7oO
- Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Library features new digital exhibit celebrating the Rivers of America series of books http://ow.ly/MgZvp
- Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy's April 29 TUWaterWays e-newsletter http://ow.ly/Mi889
- Association of State Floodplain Managers April "News and Views" http://ow.ly/MiDfz
- Green Lands Blue Waters April 30 e-newsletter on efforts to advance Mississippi River Basin agricultural land continuous living cover http://ow.ly/Ml6Vt
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Watershed Connections - April 2015 https://lnks.gd/2/Ldjm6
- Missouri Coalition for the Environment's spring 2015 newsletter; "The Alert" http://ow.ly/MlDDt
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passes S. 544, Secret Science Reform Act by 11-9 vote; Committee Press Release: http://ow.ly/Mfjhe (link to bill: http://ow.ly/MfjF3) (also see two related items below)
- White House threatens to veto Secret Science Reform Act http://1.usa.gov/1GC2hZM
- Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passes GOP bill targeting "secret science" underlying USEPA regulations http://ow.ly/MgUp3
- DOT gears up for Friday release of rule strengthening tank car and operating standards for trains carrying crude oil http://reut.rs/1GIBhYx
- U.S. ports see costly delays as cargo ships and volumes grow http://ow.ly/MkPBZ
- Rep. Betty McCollum wins Sen. Al Franken's 5th Annual Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hotdish
Competition with "Turkey, Sweet Potato, and Wild Rice Hotdish" http://ow.ly/MhWXC
Annual Minnesota Congressional Delegation Hotdish Competition - US EPA invites nominations for its Science Advisory Board (nomination deadline May 27) http://ow.ly/MaN4x
- Pew Research Center: Conservatives are among the most politically active Americans http://ow.ly/MdEVz
- Indiana Gov. Mike Pence indicates he is more broad-minded about climate change, although he remains skeptical http://ow.ly/Me1MB
- Democratic New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announces he won't run for governor http://ow.ly/MedDF
- Jay Martin hired as Director of Ohio State University "Field to Faucet" water quality program (program to ensure safe drinking water, maintain agricultural productivity in the state) http://ow.ly/Mh3VM
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| Photograph: Dave Haylock/REX Shutterstock |
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