Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Virtual Newspaper for an Aquatic World~

Proposed Changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard: Where Things Stand

The Renewable Fuel Standard (or RFS) program was created under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and established the first renewable fuel volume mandate in the United States. The alternative fuel-use mandate was updated by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. In November 2013, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed changes to the RFS for the 2014 calendar year, marking the first time since the RFS was put in place that EPA suggested that the nation reduce its mandated minimum level of usage. The RFS changes would apply to cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel.

Because the RFS and EPA's proposal to change the standard have broad economic and environmental ramifications, EPA's proposal has been followed closely by agriculture, land use, biofuel, petroleum-based fuel, environmental and food stakeholders, among others (see related articles, below, under "Resource Development").  The demand for those fuels can drive agricultural land use decisions by farmers throughout the U.S., particularly in the Midwestern corn belt states, where plentiful corn and soy can be used as feedstocks for biofuels.   Over 140,000 comments were submitted during the proposal's 60-day comment period. The EPA has said that it intends to complete a review of those comments and make a decision regarding its proposal in June. In anticipation of the agency's decision, we provide an overview of the history and status of the RFS here.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Water Quality -

• LEAD STORY: EPA Administrator argues that Clean Water Act rule would provide certainty to those whose work encroaches on wetlands, streams http://ow.ly/vvumG
• Republican agriculture-state senators question EPA Administrator over Clean Water Act rule proposal, priorities http://ow.ly/vC0Dl
• Fifteen Senate Republicans say that the USEPA is using the wrong legal justification for a proposed Clean Water Act regulation http://ow.ly/vvv1N
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approves bill to prevent EPA from retroactively vetoing Army Corps Clean Water Act permits http://ow.ly/vC17y
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources to increase inspections of coal-ash ponds in wake of high-profile accidents http://bit.ly/1fRH0ZW
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeks comments on Upper Mississippi River water quality improvement report, protection plan http://ow.ly/vyYVj
• Activist group says Iowa is limiting input on proposed water quality rules http://ow.ly/vC2jq

Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -

Proposed New Madrid levee system is cited by American
Rivers as one reason for listing (click to enlarge)

• LEAD STORY: American Rivers places Middle Mississippi River among "America's Most Endangered Rivers for 2014" - threatened by outdated flood management http://ow.ly/vASJ6 (related articles: http://ow.ly/vASM3 http://ow.ly/vASNx)
• Grassroots effort could revive Grand Kankakee Marsh (Kankakee River Basin) http://ow.ly/vwsHN
• Minnesota Department of Natural Resources launches project to study sustainability of groundwater use in three Central areas of the state http://ow.ly/vwpoI
• MPR: Minnesota  farmers irrigating without permits as groundwater levels drop http://ow.ly/vydat
• U.S. Coast Guard on Tuesday closed the Mississippi River at Sabula, Iowa after a barge struck a railroad bridge http://ow.ly/vAPhf
• After barge accident in Iowa, Mississippi River traffic may reopen Friday http://ow.ly/vDxTF
• Speakers blast Ameren plan for ash landfill in Missouri River floodplain http://ow.ly/vC2Aq
• Report: Louisiana leads country in domestic maritime industry due to proximity to Lower Mississippi River http://ow.ly/vDxd0
• Corps of Engineers: Missouri River runoff higher than average, but not concerning http://ow.ly/vDyM6
• Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) introduces four bills designed to encourage use of and improve water efficiency measures http://ow.ly/vDGew

Agriculture -

• Last winter, U.S. beekeeping industry lost nearly half of its bee colonies, and the numbers keep falling - why Congress should care http://ow.ly/vy7gP
• The five states with largest share of farm bill direct payments and crop insurance payouts over the 2004-2013 crop years http://ow.ly/vG0cj
• Farmers, ranchers can sign-up for USDA farm bill disaster assistance programs beginning April 15 http://ow.ly/vy6Wb
• 28 national groups urge House, Senate Agriculture appropriators to oppose cuts to farm conservation programs http://ow.ly/vvrvV
• Wildlife and environmental groups are claiming victory for conservation practices in the new farm bill http://ow.ly/vvt3h
• Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) wants U.S. Department of Agriculture to designate Lower Mississippi River Valley as Critical Conservation Area http://ow.ly/vvtsZ

One-month drought change map
(click to enlarge)

Climate and Weather -

• United States drought grew slightly in March, endangering more crops and creating Dust Bowl-like conditions http://ow.ly/vB5xP
• NOAA/NWS weekly drought monitor update: improvements in Midwest drought; expansion in Plains http://ow.ly/q3w3u
• Windy, dry conditions prompt National Weather Service to issue "critical fire danger" warning across parts of Midwest ow.ly/vERnp

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Republican and Democratic divisions over how to update 40-year-old Endangered Species Act surface during hearing http://ow.ly/vB54d
• Divisive House GOP bill would promote sale of federal lands to fund endangered species habitat improvements http://ow.ly/vDGWf
• Kentucky officials have called a retreat in their five-year battle to contain the invasive emerald ash borer http://ow.ly/vwqi2 

  

  Alligator Snapping Turtle

• Wisconsin wildlife officials want to give the state's invasive species list its first overhaul http://ow.ly/vws5e
• Bald eagles continue their comeback in Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River, with at least 48 nesting pairs http://ow.ly/vG2js
• Alligator snapping turtles are at risk in Mississippi River, other rivers draining into the northern Gulf of Mexico http://ow.ly/vG2Gd
• New USGS-developed DNA Tool Helps Scientists Identify Invasive Species of Aquatic Plants ow.ly/vESjs
• Three environmental groups plan to sue Interior Department to force stronger protections for lesser prairie chicken ow.ly/vER60
• Upper Arkansas River fishing is better than ever before, after nearly 30 years of work ow.ly/vDQLD

In the Cities -

• LEAD STORY: Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative mayors meet with decision-makers in Washington to push River environmental and economic sustainability http://ow.ly/vB0f5
• LEAD STORY: Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative mayors' 2014 federal policy platform: http://ow.ly/vB2cQ (PDF file)
• In  search for water and money, Wichita City Council looks for new water sources and ways to pay for it http://ow.ly/vz12K
• Editorial: No perfect water supply solutions presented at Tuesday’s Wichita City council workshop, but solution needed http://ow.ly/vDyjx
• Park restoration is changing Minnehaha Creek (Twin Cities Metro area - Minnesota) http://ow.ly/vDy5a
• Some costs, funding for Tusa's Arkansas River stormwater projects still uncertain http://ow.ly/vG2Zp

Louisiana Coastal Region-

• Louisiana State Legislators urged to drop legislation prohibiting levee authorities from filing wetland damage suits http://ow.ly/vwqJb
• Louisiana regulators suing oil, gas companies propose waiving fees due from companies if they agree to begin settlement negotiations http://ow.ly/vC1sY
• Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) says she doesn't support a south Louisiana levee authority's lawsuit against oil and gas companies http://ow.ly/vARAt

Forestry -

• Senate Agriculture Committee approves bill to designate 20,000 acres of wilderness in Tennessee's Cherokee National Forest http://ow.ly/vAQS0  (see bill here: http://ow.ly/vARaZ)

Resource Development -

• Advanced biofuels supporters tell Senate Agriculture Committee to stick with advanced, cellulosic biofuels Renewable Fuels Standard http://ow.ly/vAPGb
• Biofuels proponents find sympathetic ears among agriculture senators during Renewable Fuel Standard proposal hearing http://ow.ly/vB4EO
• Biofuel executive says Obama administration has halted investments in advanced biofuels plants http://ow.ly/vAQ9W
• State bill would delay Minnesota's soybean-fuel mandate http://ow.ly/vwru3
• NRDC: Fracking in the Bakken threatens Missouri River watershed health http://ow.ly/vDxKh

Federal Budget -

• House passes Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) federal fiscal year 2015 budget in a tight 219 to 205 vote ow.ly/vEnsZ
• Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.): good chance that Congress will reduce administration’s proposed Army Corps of Engineers budget cut http://ow.ly/vATmg
• Testimony of EPA Administrator before Senate Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee http://ow.ly/vBZV6

Events -  Information on all past and future events listed here can be viewed in the on-line calendar (here as a stand-alone calendar)

• Association of State Wetland Managers Wetland Mapping Consortium webinar April 16, 3 PM ET http://ow.ly/vDuAo
• Arkansas River Basin Water Forum set for April 22; Otero Junior College in La Junta, Colorado http://ow.ly/vDxv2
• Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee will meet on April 23 in New Orleans re: navigation safety http://ow.ly/vydC3
• 2014 Cooperative Extension Centennial Convocation; May 7-8, Washington, DC http://ow.ly/vBZtg
• Conference: How large-scale restoration can stimulate sustainable development; May 29-30, Washington D.C. ow.ly/vEf6w

e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -

• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's Waterfront Bulletin for April 2014 http://ow.ly/vzPCG
• Pennsylvania Environmental Council Spring 2014 "Forum" e-newsletter http://ow.ly/vBcD0
• Basin Alliance for the Lower Mississippi in Minnesota (BALMM) "Currents" e-newsletter http://ow.ly/vBZ1x
• Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy April 8 TUWaterWays edition http://ow.ly/vDv0A (PDF file)
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council's Watershed News: April 10 ow.ly/vEQia

Other news-

• Pennsylvania Environmental Council and and Dominion honor local groups at Western Pennsylvania Environmental Awards http://ow.ly/vBcjL
• Center for American Progress: The Economic Case for Restoring Coastal Ecosystems http://ow.ly/vDwU9
• Barren River Area Development District says the Green River (Kentucky) hasn't been living up to its tourism potential http://ow.ly/vDyCN
• Interior Secretary unveils new landscape-level mitigation strategy across millions of acres of federal land ow.ly/vEQHI
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issues its fiscal year (FY) 2014 to 2018 Strategic Plan ow.ly/vEeE4

Politics and People-

• Businessman Aaron Miller selected by GOP delegates to challenge U.S. House incumbent Democratic Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN-1) http://goo.gl/HsoGSv
• Eight members selected by USDA to serve on National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory Board http://ow.ly/vyYhV

Last Word -

“Reserving judgments is a matter of infinite hope.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby, first published on April 10, 1925 by Charles Scribner's Sons.