Friday, January 30, 2015

What We Learned This Week - "Civilized" is in the Eye of the Beholder

Over 100 U.S. House members believe that the Obama administration is practicing "regulatory overreach" with its proposed clean water act rule, and proposed a bill to stop that.  The Senate Agriculture Chairman pledged to work with the President to resolve farmers' concerns about that proposed rule. The Des Moines Register editorial board believes that a Des Moines Water Works lawsuit would be a "civilized approach" to resolving a public health threat.  That opinion isn't universally held.  The U.S. Senate passed a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline - a bill that is highly unlikely to become law, assuming the House passes the Senate version. Seventy-two dams were removed across the U.S. last year, including nine in the Mississippi River Basin.  A Federal judge ruled in favor of the U.S. EPA in an agribusiness information privacy case; a ruling quickly appealed by the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Pork Producers Council. The cost projections for new farm bill risk management programs are higher than anticipated; and Minnesota's Rep. Collin Peterson expects criticism of those high costs to follow.  A new study predicts a rise in the frequency of climate change-induced extreme weather events.  Minnesota's statehouse Republicans are eager to scale back environmental regulations that they say hinder economic growth. The U.S. Senate fell one vote shy of permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund.  The World Resources Institute reports that the world cannot both meet its future food needs and produce bioenergy.  The Electric Power Research Institute was recognized with a "water prize" for its Ohio River Basin water quality trading project.  And last but not least, there are officially over 70 kinds of cheese, but there's no such thing as "nacho cheese."
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Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~
Next Week

The U.S. House and Senate are both scheduled to begin their work weeks on Groundhogs Day, with the House planning for four days, and the Senate five days of activity. The week will start off with a scheduled Monday release of the Obama administration's fiscal year 2016 budget proposal (which will be found at this White House OMB page after its release).  The President has already said that his proposal will peg government spending at seven percent ($74 billion) over caps agreed to in a bipartisan "sequestration," deficit-reduction agreement reached three years ago.  That hint of what the budget will entail has already drawn fire from Republicans, and its release will kick off a series of House and Senate hearings, including a House Ways and Means Committee hearing already scheduled for next week.  You can find all of the Capitol Hill activities currently scheduled next week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources on this web page.

The budget proposal announcement is just the opening move in a series of maneuvers that has become an annual Washington ritual, symbolic in recent years of the partisanship that has characterized Washington, DC relationships. We will post an analysis of the Administration's proposal with respect to Mississippi River Basin natural resources in this blog site once details become available.

 Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • Over 100 U.S. House members cosponsor "Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act" (H.R. 594) http://ow.ly/IcVl2
  • Regulatory reform and the Obama Administration's proposed clean water jurisdiction rule will be top issues for Senate Agriculture Committee http://ow.ly/I96fp
  • Senate Agriculture Chair Roberts pledges to work with Obama administration to resolve farmers' concerns about proposed clean water rule http://ow.ly/IcPEr
  • Federal appeals court: Clean Water Act shields coal mining company from liability for selenium releases (Kentucky case) news article: http://ow.ly/I2sVs ruling: http://ow.ly/I2seW
  • West Virginia federal court judge rules that Consol Energy subsidiary is liable for elevated levels of conductivity in regulated waterway http://ow.ly/I94zY
  • Des Moines Register editorial board: Des Moines Water Works lawsuit would be a "civilized
    Des Moines, Iowa
    approach" to resolving a public health threat http://ow.ly/HWH0J
  • Des Moines Water Works lawsuit reopens debate over how best to manage nutrient flow from U.S. farms into streams http://ow.ly/IcJfP
  • Wisconsin’s frac sand industry is big business and big trouble for the state’s waterways http://ow.ly/HWeVI
  • Thousands of Greenbrier County (WV) residents, businesses without water after a diesel spill contaminates Greenbrier River http://ow.ly/HWBga and http://ow.ly/HWCEN
  • Pipeline source of oil spilled into Montana's Yellowstone River lies exposed on riverbed, not buried at 8 feet http://ow.ly/HYlam
  • EPA reduces estimate for amount of oil spilled into Yellowstone River from pipeline from 40,000 to 30,000 gallons http://ow.ly/I2vWv
  • Yellowstone River shovelnose sturgeon and emerald shiners to be tested for exposure to oil from January 17 spill http://ow.ly/I1cfr
  • Major North Dakota brine pipeline spill's contamination reaches Missouri River; wildlife and

    drinking water supplies not affected http://ow.ly/HYm78
  • Environmental Protection Agency approves Minnesota's amendments to State Water Quality Standards addressing eutrophication of rivers and streams http://ow.ly/I1v1A
  • "Nutrient Roadmap Primer: The Future of Nutrient Removal and Recovery," now available from Water Environment Federation http://ow.ly/I2Bcy
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Department of Energy releases update to modeling tool evaluating water consumption associated with fuel production http://ow.ly/HWilo
  • Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) decries "closed-door, multiagency efforts" to update flood risk
    American Rivers' Dam Removal Map (1936-2014)
    standards for federal investments http://ow.ly/I0NVz
  • Four flood-prone Missouri River properties purchased to make room for a now-scrapped North Dakota levee to be auctioned off http://ow.ly/I12Os
  • What makes Baton Rouge's drinking water so good? And is the region at risk of losing it? http://ow.ly/I13vv
  • EPA awards $1 million in National Wetland Program Development Grant funds to six projects designed to bolster state and tribal capacity to protect and restore wetlands http://ow.ly/I350W
  • American Rivers' report: 72 dams were removed across the U.S. last year, including (in the Mississippi River Basin) 5 in Iowa, 2 in Illinois, and 2 in Tennessee http://ow.ly/I4Ws3 (related story below)
  • National Geographic News: Movement to take down thousands of dams goes mainstream http://ow.ly/I9iI2
Agriculture -
  • Federal judge rules in favor of EPA in agribusiness information privacy case: ruling: http://ow.ly/I9cqI article: http://ow.ly/I9cDi (related story below)
  • American Farm Bureau Federation, National Pork Producers Council appeal court CAFO privacy ruling http://ow.ly/IcPnd
  • USDA issues Conservation Innovation Grants Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Announcement for Program Funding; Pre-proposal deadline February 24 http://ow.ly/HXNMc (USDA CIG funding press release: http://ow.ly/HXUu2)
  • Drop in North Dakota dairy farm numbers leads to scrutiny of state law allowing only family members to form farming corporations http://ow.ly/HWxKt
  • Minnesota Rep. Peterson (ranking member on the House Agriculture Committee) expects criticism of high farm bill costs http://ow.ly/HWFKy
  • Unmanned drones could play key roles in food supply: "Herding cattle. Counting fish. Taking an animal's temperature. Applying pesticides" http://ow.ly/I0To3
  • Neighbors worry about Sonstegard Foods plans to open six-million-chicken facility in South
    Dakota near Vermillion River http://ow.ly/I11Cq
  • Nebraska tries to attract out-of-state dairy farmers with promises of abundant land, plentiful water and feed, agriculture-friendly rules http://ow.ly/I14hv
  • USDA workshops being held to help organizations submit Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program grant applications http://ow.ly/I2qDY
  • USDA Farm Service Agency: non-irrigated "pivot corners" now eligible for Conservation Reserve Program habitat creation http://ow.ly/I2up2
  • USDA kicks off "Organic Survey" to gather detailed data on U.S. organic agriculture production http://ow.ly/I2IYF
  • Drone to be used for Clark State Community College's precision agriculture program (west-central Ohio) http://ow.ly/I4ZCx
  • EPA loosens restrictions on, sets permissible level of sulfoxaflor: pesticide used for agricultural purposes http://ow.ly/I4SgZ
Climate and Weather -
  • U.S. Midwest's climate future: Missouri like Arizona, Chicago like Texas http://ow.ly/HWfCv 
  • US weekly drought update: improvements along Louisiana Gulf Coast; another dry and warm week over the Midwest and High Plains http://ow.ly/wmTdv
  • NOAA Climate Prediction Center monthly drought outlook for February (will be published on Friday at 3 PM Eastern time) http://ow.ly/q3yAx
  • New study based on climate modeling predicts rise in frequency of extreme weather events http://ow.ly/I1qJz
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Petition seeks habitat protection by FWS for Ohio River Basin's freshwater clubshell mussel, and 8 eastern species http://ow.ly/HWjEe (see figure to the right →)
  • Minnesota’s battle against aquatic invasive species is going local http://ow.ly/HXTZ6
  • Bald eagles return to Iowa again as they migrate south http://ow.ly/HY9pq
  • Congressional Republicans aim to revamp key Endangered Species Act requirements http://ow.ly/I0MPa
  • Coalition asks Fish and Wildlife Service to reclassify nearly all U.S. gray wolves as threatened http://ow.ly/I4YaT
In the Cities -
  • Baton Rouge, La., Polk County, Iowa and Cincinnati, Ohio among 22 communnities to receive EPA technical assistance to pursue sustainable development strategies http://ow.ly/I1KZm
In the States-
  • Former Missouri Department of Natural Resources employee: DNR lacks "political appetite" to enforce state laws http://ow.ly/I2xDh
  • Two Missouri bills introduced to eliminate, decrease Conservation Sales and Use Tax that funds state conservation http://ow.ly/I9awI and http://ow.ly/I9aCF
  • Interactive 2015 states' Legislatures' session map http://ow.ly/HY9Yr and legislative calendars table http://ow.ly/HYa3W
  • Minnesota's House GOP is eager to scale back environmental regulations that they say hinder economic growth http://ow.ly/I19YL
  • Minnesota Governor's proposal prompts lively discussions on vegetative buffer strips along streams http://ow.ly/I99dC
  • Ohio appeals court rules that Oxford Mining Co. is authorized to operate in protected wetlands in east-central Ohio http://ow.ly/HQgqj
  • Ohio House committee holds public meeting "to discuss water quality, nutrient management, and the important role Ohio farmers play in protecting our aquifers" http://ow.ly/I93cQ and http://ow.ly/I93eD
  • Newly-introduced Indiana state legislation would mandate a Wabash, White, and Ohio Rivers aquifer study http://ow.ly/HYgCm
  • Montana lawmakers introduce state bills targeting landowners who illegally block access to public land http://ow.ly/HYmCz (House Bill 304 http://ow.ly/HYmTq and House Bill 286 http://ow.ly/HYmZm)
  • Wisconsin Natural Resources Board votes to conduct a "strategic analysis" of the frac sand mining industry http://ow.ly/IcLtm
  • Pennsylvania Governor Wolf to sign moratorium on new gas drilling leases in state parks, forests http://ow.ly/IcMcB
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • New FEMA elevations causing some Iberia Parish (Tete Bayou, Louisiana) residents to buy flood insurance http://ow.ly/I4YRt
Forestry -
  • Report examines the efficacy of Forest Stewardship Council standards for conserving bat habitat in Minnesota http://ow.ly/I0OUS
Resource Development -
  • World Resources Institute: world cannot meet future food needs and produce bioenergy at the same time http://ow.ly/IcL3h
  • Senate on Thursday passed by a vote of 62 to 36 legislation to approve TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone XL oil pipeline http://ow.ly/IcNxl
Federal Budget -
  • Congressional Budget Office annual budget outlook: federal deficit will begin to rise in 2017 and expand with an aging population http://ow.ly/I0S2Y
  • CBO report: Falling crop prices are raising cost projections for new farm bill risk management programs http://ow.ly/IcTtR
  • Obama fiscal year 2016 proposed budget will “fully reverse” sequester cuts to the domestic budget http://ow.ly/I8X85 and http://ow.ly/IcNWc (budget to be released February 2)
Events - Information on all past and future events listed here each week can be viewed in the on-line calendar, located above and to the right (and here as a stand-alone calendar)
Click to enlarge
  • Great Mississippi River Photo Shoot; February 1 http://ow.ly/I0QjV (details to the right →)
  • March 6 Capitol Hill briefing will highlight USGS report on groundwater quality across the nation http://ow.ly/I1XcP
  • 10th Annual Regional Stormwater Seminar: new developments in stormwater practices and permit policies; April 17; Atlanta (southeast region includes TN, KY, MS) http://ow.ly/I1d8r
  • Mississippi River Research Consortium solicits platform, poster papers for its 47th Annual Meeting, April 22-24 http://ow.ly/I9f2o
  • Penn State Extension Green Infrastructure Webinar Series: free events 2-3 times monthly into June (with more to follow) http://ow.ly/HPt8a (link to flyer: http://ow.ly/HPtGx)
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -
Other news-
  • U.S. Water Alliance gives U.S. Water Prize to Electric Power Research Institute for its Ohio River Basin water quality trading project http://ow.ly/I2z6m
  • Four Mississippi River Basin areas receive USDA rural development loans for small businesses in poor, underserved areas http://ow.ly/HPpnt
  • Job: University of Montana Department of Society and Conservation in the College of Forestry and Conservation seeks Assistant Professor of Water Policy http://ow.ly/HQiBX
  • Safe Food Act of 2015 introduced by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) would establish Food Safety Administration http://ow.ly/I90XR (link to bill: http://ow.ly/I9gQG)
  • Petroleum spills may promote the release of naturally-occuring arsenic to groundwater http://ow.ly/IcImC
  • Senate comes up one vote shy of permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund http://ow.ly/IcJTX
Politics and People-
  • Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chair Agriculture Committee, announces new Subcommittee assignments for 114th Congress http://ow.ly/I95Q1
  • House Agriculture Committee Chair Conaway (TX-11) announces subcommittee assignments http://ow.ly/I9e7U
  • Senate Appropriations Committee announces full roster of its 12 subcommittees http://ow.ly/IcOa7 (Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) to chair Agriculture Subcommitee)
  • Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes (D) announces she will seek re-election this year, sidestepping other state races http://ow.ly/I0Ma2
  • New Pew Research Center poll: Republicans dislike U.S. EPA even more than they did a year ago; Democratic support up; article: http://ow.ly/HQeMT and EPA table: http://ow.ly/HQeuh
  • Despite progress, U.S. still lags many nations in women leaders, including national legislators http://ow.ly/HWVZ4
Your Moment of Zen -
Eric Gaillard/Reuters
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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Updated: Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. House will be in session Monday through Wednesday, this week, while the Senate is scheduled for a full work week, when that chamber most likely finish its consideration of S.1, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline (and any offered amendments). Pipeline proponents say that 63 senators will support the bill; more than the 60 needed for a filibuster-proof majority.

Below are the House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Links are provided to the relevant hearing and meeting web pages, and, where appropriate, to pieces of legislation.  Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.  This page will be updated as warranted. 

Tuesday
Wednesday
  • House Appropriations Committee organizational meeting; 9:15 AM, room 2359 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • House Natural Resources Committee organizational meeting; 9:45 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
  • Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee organizational meeting; 4:00 PM,  President's Room (S-216) of the U.S. Capitol. (UPDATED LOCATION)
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Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Capitol Hill Briefing Will Highlight USGS Report on Nationwide Groundwater Quality

Friday, March 6, 2015
10:00 to 11:30 AM
Capitol Visitors Center Congressional Meeting Room North

The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program will present a public and Congressional briefing on findings from its ongoing evaluation of water quality in the principal aquifers of the United States on March 6, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. on Capitol Hill, Washington, DC. The briefing is cosponsored by the Northeast-Midwest Institute and Water Environment Federation.

Background
The USGS Office of Groundwater has identified 62 principal aquifers in the U.S. (please see this NAWQA web site for further background). About one-third of those principal aquifers have been the historical focus of water-quality assessments at a regional scale by NAWQA. On January 21, NAWQA released, "Water Quality in Principal Aquifers of the United States," a compendium summarizing groundwater quality trends based upon regional- and national-scale assessments conducted in principal aquifers between 1991 and 2010.  The briefing will highlight nationwide and regional findings from that comprehensive report.

Nationally, NAWQA found that groundwater from 22 percent of sampled wells contained at least one chemical constituent at a concentration greater than a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level or other human-health benchmark (see figure to the right). Nitrate was the only human-sourced constituent from that exceeded its human-health benchmark in more than one percent of wells.

Speakers for this briefing include:
  • Moderator Patrick Leahy, Executive Director, American Geological Institute
  • Barbara Mahler, Ph.D., Scientist for the NAWQA Program 
Following Dr. Mahler's presentation, time will be provided for questions from and discussion with the audience.

The briefing is free and open to the public. Please RSVP to cbarbour@usgs.gov if you plan on attending.

Established in 1991 by Congress, the NAWQA program mission is to produce surface and ground water quality information for Federal and state resource managers.
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Friday, January 23, 2015

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~

USGS Releases Report on Water Quality in Principal United States Aquifers
On Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey's National Water-Quality Assessment Program released a summary of findings from its ongoing evaluation of water quality in the principal aquifers of the United States.  Entitled "Water Quality in Principal Aquifers of the United States," the compendium summarizes groundwater quality trends based upon regional- and national-scale assessments between 1991 and 2010, and includes several notable findings for aquifers supplying irrigation water and drinking water within the Mississippi River Basin.  To see more regarding the report and its River Basin-specific findings, see here.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Water Quality -
  • February 4 Senate Environment and Public Works Committee joint hearing is scheduled with House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on "Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments" http://ow.ly/HIkTj (hearing web page: http://ow.ly/HKUCi)
  • EPA faced with analyzing nearly 800,000 public comments as it finalizes waters of the United States rule early this year http://ow.ly/HCUJf
  • Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) plan to reintroduce bill to limit U.S. EPA's permit veto power under Clean Water Act http://ow.ly/HKQvF
  • USDA Secretary Vilsack: ‘holistic’ conservation approach to curbing fertilizer runoff will work quicker than litigation http://ow.ly/HCTMD
  • Des Moines utility’s water contamination lawsuit plans may have broad ramifications for state and U.S. farmers http://ow.ly/HCSLj
  • Iowa agriculture secretary thinks ripple effects of potential Des Moines Water Works lawsuit would extend far beyond farmers http://ow.ly/HOC95
  • Watershed Management Authority to develop plan to clean up Walnut Creek: tributary of the Raccoon River (Iowa) http://ow.ly/HOUJ7
  • Traces of a major (50,000-gallon) oil spill along the Yellowstone River detected in public water supplies http://ow.ly/HCBVr and http://ow.ly/HCvwl
  • Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks officials attempt to gather baseline data on effects of Yellowstone River oil spill http://ow.ly/HKWZm
  • Montana Governor declares state of emergency after Yellowstone River oil spill http://ow.ly/HIbhd
  • Montana city gets OK to drink water after 40,000-gallon oil spill into Yellowstone River http://ow.ly/HP3tW
  • West Virginia company, Lexycon, cited for similar spill containment environmental violations as Freedom Industries http://ow.ly/HCHI8
  • Report: West Virginia drinking water sources at risk of contamination from more than 20,000 aboveground storage tanks http://ow.ly/HCKiI
  • Online interactive site outlines history that lead up to West Virginia spill and water crisis of 2014 http://ow.ly/HP5LI
  • Minnesota Pollution Control Agency seeks comments on Sauk River Watershed restoration and protection report http://ow.ly/HCT8r
  • Nearly three million gallons of saltwater generated by oil drilling have leaked from North Dakota pipeline http://ow.ly/HKW1T
  • Unknown chemical sheen in Ohio River possibly from a leaking barge http://ow.ly/HOIlu
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
  • Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon will fight plan to deliver Missouri River water to western Kansas through an aqueduct http://ow.ly/HORrN
Click to enlarge
Agriculture -
  • Two maps reveal how U.S. agriculture actually works: lucrative food crops per state and food vs. animal feed crops per state http://ow.ly/HCEgE
  • House Agriculture Committee sets its agenda for 2015 in organizational meeting http://ow.ly/HOMpm
  • An EPA farm advisory committee met this week to discuss soil health, and soil impact on air and water quality http://ow.ly/HGH0P and http://ow.ly/HGGNg
  • Growing farm-to-table movement has yet to provide Louisiana farmers with the financial backing they’d like http://ow.ly/HGQf1
  • U.S. farmland values are in a downward correction mode http://ow.ly/HOBJv
  • Iowa Farmers Union wants U.S. Department of Agriculture to increase penalties for careless pesticide applicators http://ow.ly/HIa6T
  • Dwight Koops, president of Kansas-based Crop Quest: Five Agriculture Trends Worth Watching http://ow.ly/HKRt1
  • USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service releases its Congressional District Rankings from the 2012 Census http://ow.ly/HOMY4
Climate and Weather -
  • New climate change study: rising temperatures could sharply reduce Midwest agriculture production and reshape U.S. agriculture industry http://ow.ly/HOLgR
  • US drought update: dryness continues in central OK, southern and eastern KS, into MO; moderate drought expands in southwestern TN, northeast AR, and  adjacent MO http://ow.ly/wmTdv
  • NOAA and NASA: 2014 Earth's warmest year on record for both land, ocean surface http://ow.ly/Hs7Gk
  • Risk of an El Nino event in the coming months drops after indicators ease http://ow.ly/HGQO1
  • Senate votes 98-1 that “climate change is real and is not a hoax” (Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker (R) voted “no”) http://ow.ly/HKERJ
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • Genetic testing confirms two larval (endangered) pallid sturgeon found in Missouri River near St. Louis, heartening researchers http://ow.ly/HIlDZ
  • Asian carp DNA detected in the Chicago River not a huge worry for Illinois Department of Natural Resources officials http://ow.ly/HOT7S
In the Cities -
  • EPA launches center to help communities improve wastewater, drinking water and stormwater systems http://ow.ly/HCMQh
  • Urban Institute interactive tool maps population change out to 2030 down to local "commuting zones" http://ow.ly/HKKKv
  • Iowa Public Radio: "Exploring Mississippi River Towns" http://ow.ly/HOV3j
In the States-
  • Minnesota Governor Dayton to propose bill requiring state waterways be buffered with grass or other cover strips http://ow.ly/Hs5Ou
  • Arkansas bill would authorize establishment and regulation of water quality trading programs http://ow.ly/HKLvo (bill: http://ow.ly/HKLyL)
  • Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission state funding draining away; result of decline in licenses for flotation devices http://ow.ly/HOTGy
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • EPA Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative releases storm surge inundation map http://ow.ly/HKMIS
  • Louisiana coastal scientists release findings on best location for additional lower Mississippi River sediment diversions http://ow.ly/HOUcc
Resource Development -
  • Nebraska farmers, ranchers sue over constitutionality of state law allowing governor to pick Keystone XL oil pipeline route http://ow.ly/HCGrt
  • State Department informs eight agencies they have until Feb. 2 to comment on Keystone XL pipeline and the national interest http://ow.ly/HCLCO
  • U.S.  Senate on Tuesday began what is expected to be a weeks-long debate on the Keystone XL pipeline project http://ow.ly/HGK65
  • Senate's marathon Keystone debate ends for the week in anger after midnight early Friday morning http://ow.ly/HOyPA
  • Proposed "Corn Ethanol Mandate Elimination Act of 2015" would remove corn ethanol from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) http://ow.ly/HCNJ7
  • Declining northern long-eared bat may put proposed Sandpiper oil pipeline in jeopardy http://ow.ly/HEens (Minnesota)
  • House approves controversial bill to fast-track federal natural gas pipeline approval despite White House veto threat http://ow.ly/HKNIa (bill: http://ow.ly/HKNCG)
  • Group challenges proposed Forest Service plan prohibiting oil and gas wells atop federal lands in northeast Colorado's Pawnee National Grasslands, seeking stronger protections http://ow.ly/HKOiP
Federal Budget -
  • Republicans are weighing a "plan B" on immigration that will provide Homeland Security (and FEMA) funding past Feb. 27 http://ow.ly/HI7eo
Events - Information on all past and future events listed here each week can be viewed in the on-line calendar, located above and to the right (and here as a stand-alone calendar) 
  • Farm Foundation Forum: "Tools to Fund Agricultural Research"  Jan. 28, 9:00 AM, Washington, DC http://ow.ly/HKFEU
  • Webinar: "Green Infrastructure and Flood Resiliency-Land Use Management as an Adaptation Strategy in the Built Environment" January 29, noon ET http://ow.ly/HKHCc
  • EPA Webcast: Lessons Learned from Ten Years of Watershed Assessment in USDA’s Conservation Effects Assessment Project, Feb. 5, 1 PM ET http://ow.ly/HKSeQ
  • American Water Resources Association Climate Change Adaptation Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana, June 15-17 http://ow.ly/HKIgz
  • Floatzilla 2015 - August 15; Davenport, Iowa (Quad Cities area) on the Mississippi River http://ow.ly/HOX15
  • Webinar: Integrating Oceans into the Landscape Conservation Cooperative Network; Elsa Haubold (USFWS); Feb. 12, 1 PM ET http://ow.ly/HGI6u
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -
Other news-
  • Job announcement: The Nature Conservancy’s Missouri Chapter seeks a “Watershed Restoration Specialist” http://ow.ly/HE72M
  • Job: Tennessee TNC Chapter seeks to hire Program Director for its new Tennessee-Cumberland Rivers Program http://ow.ly/HGOQs
  • National Great Rivers Research and Education Center has 21 internship openings for this summer http://ow.ly/HGPnO (Alton, Illinois)
  • Congressional Republicans hope that seldom-used Congressional Review Act can help in attack on federal regulations http://ow.ly/HDalu
  • Center for American Progress: The Government Should Begin to Measure America’s Powerful Outdoor Economy http://ow.ly/HI0wO
  • Citing nuclear proliferation, climate change, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists sets doomsday clock to three minutes to midnight http://ow.ly/HOzvh
  • GOP reintroduces controversial REINS Act to block major rules from the Obama administration http://bit.ly/1CVugxW
Politics and People-
  • Former Kentucky senator and Democratic whip, Wendell Ford, died early Thursday http://ow.ly/HOJps
  • New Senate Appropriations energy and environmental subcommittee chairs named for 114th Congress http://ow.ly/HGLhc, including Senators Moran of Kansas (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration); Alexander of Tennessee (Energy and Water Development)
  • House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Peterson names 19 Democrats to serve on Committee for the 114th Congress http://ow.ly/HKN4a
  • Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) new Ranking Member of the Appropriations subcommittee on Interior and Environment http://ow.ly/HKPEP (other Democratic subcommittee assignments also listed)
Your Moment of Zen -
Photograph: Sandra Bartocha/Guardian 2010 Wildlife Photographer of the Year

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What We Learned This Week - "Big Block of Cheese Day"

Iowa's agriculture secretary and many others are watching a potential Des Moines Water Works water pollution lawsuit very closely.  U.S. Senators Vitter and Manchin plan to reintroduce a bill to limit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's permit veto power of projects under Clean Water Act. A newly-introduced Arkansas bill would authorize the establishment and regulation of water quality trading programs.  Authors of a new climate change report suggest that rising temperatures could sharply cut Midwest agriculture production.  All but one U.S. Senator voted that “climate change is real and is not a hoax”, although the majority voted that the change is not caused by human activity.  The White House celebrated virtual "Big Block of Cheese Day." Oil from a large spill along the Yellowstone River was detected in public water supplies may impact fish and wildlife. Nearly three million gallons of brine wastewater have leaked from North Dakota pipeline.  Researchers were buoyed by the finding of two endangered, larval pallid sturgeon in the Missouri River near St. Louis. Republicans reintroduced the highly controversial REINS Act to give them the ability to block major Obama administration regulations.  The USGS reports that groundwater from 22 percent of wells sampled nationally contained at least one chemical at a concentration greater than a U.S. EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or other human-health benchmark.  And last but not least, the Baby Boom is over; it's the “Millennial” generation's time to rule.
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Wednesday, January 21, 2015

USGS Releases Report on Water Quality in Principal United States Aquifers

Click to Enlarge
On Wednesday, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program released a summary of findings from its ongoing evaluation of water quality in the principal aquifers of the United States.  Entitled "Water Quality in Principal Aquifers of the United States," the compendium summarizes groundwater quality trends based upon regional- and national-scale assessments conducted between 1991 and 2010, and includes several notable findings for aquifers supplying irrigation water and public drinking water within the Mississippi River Basin.

Background

The USGS Office of Groundwater has identified 62 principal aquifers in the U.S. (see here for background). About one-third of those principal aquifers have been the historical focus of water-quality assessments at a regional scale by NAWQA. Of the principal aquifer systems1 historically evaluated and presented in the compendium, several lie completely or partially within the Mississippi River Basin, including the High Plains aquifer in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming; the sands and gravels of the glacial aquifer system, in the northern U.S.; the sandy aquifers in the southeastern and southcentral U.S. (including the Mississippi Embayment-Texas Coastal Uplands aquifer, and Mississippi River Valley alluvial aquifer); the Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge aquifers; and the Denver Basin deep sandstone aquifer system.

Exceedances of human-health benchmarks (click to enlarge)
Nationally, NAWQA found that groundwater from 22 percent of sampled wells contained at least one chemical constituent at a concentration greater than a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Maximum Contaminant Level or other human-health benchmark (see figure to the left). Nitrate was the only human-sourced constituent from that exceeded its human-health benchmark in more than one percent of wells.

 Mississippi River Basin Regional Findings

High Plains Aquifer
The thick, extensive sediments of this aquifer supply one-third of the Nation's groundwater pumped for irrigation.  Recently-recharged shallow groundwater, especially beneath irrigated cropland, exhibits higher dissolved solids and nitrate concentrations than deep groundwater, and the aquifer has little natural capacity to attenuate those nitrates. High-capacity pumping can cause shallow and deep groundwater to mix, drawing contaminants from human sources into deeper parts of the aquifer and altering groundwater geochemistry.

Glacial Aquifer System
Contaminants from geologic sources (including arsenic and manganese, in more than 10 percent of sampled wells) were present in some areas at concentrations of potential concern for human health. This is especially so in oxygen-depleted groundwater, which is more common in this aquifer than in many others.  Agriculture, especially in the upper Midwest, is a source of nitrate and pesticides to groundwater, although low-permeability soils and artificial drainage reduce the aquifer’s vulnerability to contamination in some areas.

Mississippi Embayment-Texas Coastal Uplands Aquifer; Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Aquifer
These sandy aquifers are pumped heavily for irrigation and public supply, but have few anthropomorphic contaminants.  Concentrations of nitrate are low, despite large surface fertilizer applications because of low recharge rates and a capacity for fairly rapid natural attenuation. 

Piedmont, Blue Ridge, and Valley and Ridge Aquifers
Geology largely determines where contaminants occur in these aquifers, which supply a large suburban and rural population.  Fecal-indicator bacteria were detected in half of the drinking-water sources sampled.  Carbonate-rock aquifers are particularly susceptible to contamination from human activities on the land surface because of karst (solution) features. Concentrations of nitrate in the carbonate-rock aquifers were among the highest in the Nation.

Denver Basin Aquifer System
Groundwater in the deep sandstone layers of this aquifer system provides high-quality drinking water to the Front Range urban corridor of Colorado, but shallow groundwater quality has been degraded by irrigation and other human activities.

NAWQA Principal Aquifer Coordinator, Barb Mahler (512-927-3566, bjmahler@usgs.gov) can be contacted with questions regarding the report.
______________________________________
1 The USGS defines a principal aquifer as "a regionally extensive aquifer or aquifer system that has the potential to be used as a source of potable water. An aquifer is a geologic formation, a group of formations, or a part of a formation that contains sufficient saturated permeable material to yield significant quantities of water to wells and springs. Aquifers are often combined into aquifer systems."
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Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. House and Senate will reconvene on Tuesday, with potential floor votes happening later in the week on the Keystone XL pipeline and Homeland Security (including FEMA) funding on the Senate side, and on a " "Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act" in the House.   Also on Tuesday, at 9:00 PM, President Barack Obama will deliver his State of the Union speech from the floor of the House of Representatives in the U.S. Capitol. Freshman Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst will deliver the GOP response following the President’s address.  The House has an "off-day" on Friday, following its three-day long workweek.

Below are the House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the remainder of this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  Many committees are still in the process of organizing, which involves formalizing membership, appointing subcommittee members, chairs and ranking members, and outlining committee oversight activities for the session.  Some of the business and organizing meetings listed below are of that nature.  Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages, and, where appropriate, to pieces of legislation. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.  This page will be updated as warranted. 

Tuesday
Wednesday
  • House Science, Space and Technology committee organizational meeting; 11:00 AM, room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building. POSTPONED
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee organizational meeting; 10:30 AM, room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Thursday
  • House Budget Committee organizational meeting; 9:00 AM, room 210 Cannon House Office Building. 
  • House Agriculture Committee organizational meeting for the 114th Congress; 10:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy hearing on EPA’s 2014 Final Rule: Disposal of Coal Combustion Residuals from Electric Utilities; 10:00 AM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.
  • Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs business meeting; 10:00 AM, room SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building.
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Friday, January 16, 2015

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource Weekly News

~Most of the Water News - None of the Spin~

USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program Conservation Projects Include Significant Mississippi River Basin Representation
On Wednesday, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the awarding of $372.5 million for 115 conservation projects to be implemented across the nation under USDA's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a program newly authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.  At least one project was selected in each of the 50 states, including numerous projects within the ten main-stem Mississippi River states.  Twenty-four of the selected RCPP projects are focused within eight "Critical Conservation Areas" (CCAs) named in 2014 by NRCS, with five of those 24 designated as Mississippi River Basin CCA projects.  For additional background and more watershed-specific details, see our RCPP announcement summary.

Next Week in Congress and Elsewhere
Monday is a Federal holiday, and the U.S. House and Senate will reconvene on Tuesday (to hear the President's State of the Union address), with potential floor votes happening later in the week on the Keystone XL pipeline and Homeland Security (including FEMA) funding on the Senate side, and on a " "Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act" in the House.  Many Congressional committees are still in the process of organizing, which involves formalizing membership, appointing subcommittee members, chairs and ranking members, and outlining committee oversight activities for the upcoming session. Most of the committee action outlined in our weekly preview of watershed-related Hill activities are of that nature.

Also next week, look for the release of USGS National Water-Quality Assessment Program findings from its ongoing evaluation of water quality in the principal aquifers of the United States, including several notable findings for aquifers supplying irrigation and public drinking water within the Mississippi River Basin.

Noteworthy @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week  

Water Quality -
  • EPA releases final scientific report that underpins the Obama administration's  proposed clean water rule news article: http://ow.ly/Ho8PJ Federal Register notice: http://ow.ly/Ho8nT EPA web site: http://ow.ly/Ho8A9
  • Opposition to Obama Administration's proposed clean water rule is a key theme at Farm
    Photograph of water drainage swale with lower 10% planted in
    perennial grass rather than annual crops
    Bureau annual meeting http://ow.ly/Hf454 (see related article link under "Agriculture," below)
  • Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) calls on EPA and Army Corps to withdraw proposed clean water jurisdiction rule http://ow.ly/HiJTS
  • House  Transportation and Infrastructure Committee plans February 4 hearing on "Impacts of the Proposed Waters of the United States Rule on State and Local Governments"  http://ow.ly/Hqw5e
  • Draft Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy public comment period open until January 24; news: http://ow.ly/HomKv   Illinois EPA: http://ow.ly/HomY5
  • Vice President Biden to announce on Friday three new federal drinking and waste water system infrastructure spending initiatives http://ow.ly/HqmDw
  • Potential precedent-setter: federal judge rules Oregon dairy farm manure poses significant public health risk from contaminated water Article: http://ow.ly/Hoaud and ruling: http://ow.ly/Hoa6l
  • NPR Morning Edition: Iowa's largest city sues over farm fertilizer runoff in rivers http://ow.ly/HaMxu
  • Federal authorities allege company knew about spill-containment dike problems at Elk River (West Virginia) facility years before 2014 spill http://ow.ly/H3p26
  • 2014 spill of coal-cleaning chemical into Elk River in W.Va., traveled farther than first thought http://ow.ly/Hau61
  • Tennessee's environmental regulator sues the Tennessee Valley Authority over unlined coal ash ponds http://ow.ly/H4xgp
  • Study: many of world’s smaller bodies of water at risk from climate change, nutrients, land use practices  http://ow.ly/Hc0nk
  • Researchers find elevated levels of ammonium and iodide in fracking wastewater released into Pennsylvania and West Virginia streams http://ow.ly/Hj91w
  • Perennial filter strips can reduce nutrient loading, including nitrates, to water bodies and, ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico http://ow.ly/HkqEE
  • North Dakota Department of Health: Brine spill reached the Missouri River http://ow.ly/HqHRR
Water Resource Management (Floodplains, Dams, Navigation, Wetlands, Flooding, Supplies, etc.) -
Click to enlarge
  • Researchers say barges, rail cars and crews are spread thin as U.S. freight shipments reach record levels http://ow.ly/HiP1C
  • Louisiana's Plaquemines Parish Council denies building permit to controversial Mississippi River coal export facility http://ow.ly/H4wvi
  • West Virginia coalfield communities see few options to address chronic water quantity, quality and infrastructure issues http://ow.ly/Hf8XR
  • First USDA 2015 forecast shows near average near normal streamflow forecast for Missouri River http://ow.ly/HnsAw
  • Building 360-mile aqueduct to reroute Missouri River water to irrigate western Kansas crops could cost $18 Billion http://ow.ly/Hqs3M
Agriculture -
  • DTN-Progressive Farmer: “USDA is changing the way it funds conservation"
    http://ow.ly/HmADh (Regional Conservation Partnership Program)
  • Emotions run high in Indiana industrial hog farm siting fight http://ow.ly/H3sF7
  • Proposed hog confinement project creates controversy in Dickinson County, Iowa, on the Iowa/Minnesota border http://ow.ly/HqJMt
  • Underground and on rooftops, farms set roots in big cities http://ow.ly/H3pTF
  • USDA makes over $18 million available through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program for training and development http://ow.ly/HeUK2
  • American Farm Bureau: Excessive federal government regulation threatens the viability of farming and ranching http://ow.ly/HeVJp
  • American Farm Bureau Federation 2015 strategic plan includes opposing Clean Water Act jurisdiction expansion; advancing legislation to reform Endangered Species Act http://ow.ly/HqteN
  • Fully and partially autonomous farming systems are close to becoming a reality http://ow.ly/HqqYo
  • Latest farmland value survey of high-quality ground: prices level off and even decline in many geographies http://ow.ly/HqrAD
Climate and Weather -
2012 drought
  • National Drought Mitigation Center: “How the 2012 central U.S. drought evolved from the floods of 2011: A state-by-state assessment” http://ow.ly/HeU4X
  • US drought update: Kentucky and Tennessee: abnormal dryness expanded, drought introduced; Northern Plains and Midwest: broad-scale abnormal dryness, some moderate drought http://ow.ly/wmTdv
  • NOAA: 2014 U.S. slightly warmer than average; Arkansas, Louisiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana each had one of 10 coldest years on record http://ow.ly/H42Qz (data sets available here http://ow.ly/GVf3O)
  • Senate to vote on whether climate change is happening http://ow.ly/HiEWd
Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -
  • eDNA results imply that Asian carp may have reached the Chicago River beyond a carp barrier separating it from the rest of the Mississippi Basin http://ow.ly/Hn64z
  • Fish and Wildlife Service releases strategic growth policy to guide expansion of   National Wildlife Refuge System http://ow.ly/Hobm1
  • University of Missouri researchers: businesses can contribute to raptor preservation with less lawn development, more native grasslands, woodlots http://ow.ly/H3ZKt
  • Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries awards $103,448 grant to  Southeastern Louisiana University professor to study bee communities in conservation habitats http://ow.ly/H44UW
  • Food groups  urge the Obama administration to suspend the use of "bee harming pesticides" http://ow.ly/HiHWt (copy of food groups' pesticide letter to Obama administration http://ow.ly/HiIge)
  • Goats fighting America's plant invasion: Eating machines enjoying a US smorgasbord of invasive plants http://ow.ly/HeOOe (In case you need a goat to fight invasive plants, here is a map literally depicting every goat in the US ow.ly/HeYnJ)
In the Cities -
  • Six ways city landscapes can be more flood resilient - in pictures http://ow.ly/H3SNg
  • Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative mayors plan for March 17-19 meetings in Washington, DC http://ow.ly/H3xBc
In the States-
  • Missouri state Senate bill would require DEQ to submit Clean Air or Clean Water Act rule
    implementation plan for Legislature and governor review http://ow.ly/Hf22R  (more) Missouri Rep. Mike Moon (R) plans to introduce a more sweeping bill http://ow.ly/Hf2F4 barring state agency rule implementation without Legislature's approval
  • Proposed Missouri tax credit legislation aimed at enlisting beginning farmers http://ow.ly/HiHtl
  • Report: West Virginia had inadequate regulations to prevent, and sufficient training and planning to respond to Elk River spill http://ow.ly/HamLm
  • Increased USEPA scrutiny led to better West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection water pollution permit application reviews http://ow.ly/Hf9FE
  • West Virginia groups oppose move to strip state streams of their designation as potential drinking water sources http://ow.ly/HaoZb
  • Indiana Senate bill would block local governments from placing restrictions on large livestock facilities in most rural areas http://ow.ly/HappN
  • Stakeholders to gather for fifth anniversary Minnesota Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment celebration and forum http://ow.ly/HbZf7
Gulf Coastal Region-
  • Environmental group sues Obama administration for refusing to release documents re: extent of Gulf of Mexico fracking http://ow.ly/HojfP
  • Louisiana Gov. Jindal asks state Supreme Court to uphold law banning wetlands damage suit against oil companies http://ow.ly/Hanrp
  • Louisiana coastal tourism group wants oil and gas industry to pay for marketing campaign, after its BP money runs out http://ow.ly/Hfb86
  • BP will face maximum fine of $13.7 billion under Clean Water Act for 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill (smaller than government claimed) http://ow.ly/HqIwL
Resource Development -
  • In a victory for Keystone XL proponents, Nebraska Supreme Court upholds 2012 law giving governor permitting authority for major oil pipelines like Keystone XL http://ow.ly/H3MMs
  • Following state court ruling, Keystone XL pipeline company could face new legal challenges from Nebraska ranchers http://ow.ly/HfajF
  • House passes bill to approve Keystone XL pipeline construction, hours after pipeline-favorable Nebraska court ruling http://ow.ly/H4vC4 (Here is the House 266-153 roll call vote breakdown for passage of the Keystone XL pipeline approval bill http://ow.ly/H4xTL)
  • Patriot Coal Corp., which has 8 mining complexes in WV and 2 in western KY, moves headquarters from St. Louis to WV http://ow.ly/HatmR
  • Senate agrees to debate Keystone XL pipeline, setting stage for more energy battles http://ow.ly/HeLGX
  • Democrats poised to make Republicans cast series of tough votes on legislation approving the Keystone XL oil pipeline http://ow.ly/HeLhI
Federal Budget -
  • National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition: What to expect in 2015 from Congress - budget and appropriations http://ow.ly/HaBUu
Events - Information on all past and future events listed here each week can be viewed in the on-line calendar, located above and to the right (and here as a stand-alone calendar)
  • Upper Mississippi River (UMRBA and UMRR-EMP CC) meetings scheduled for February 10-11; Rock Island, Illinois http://ow.ly/HiMp6
  • Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and Ecosystem Science Conference; Houston, Texas, February 16-19 (highlighting oil spill and ecosystem science research during the five years since the Deepwater Horizon oil spill) http://ow.ly/Hg8d2
  • Annual International Water Management Modeling conference, Marriot Courtyard Toronto Brampton, Feb 25-26 http://ow.ly/HmvdR
  • 2nd Colorado Water Summit; March 3-5, Denver, to cover Colorado Water Plan, Public Private Partnerships, other water management issues http://ow.ly/HiSPU
  • National Ground Water Association Upper Great Plains Groundwater Conference; September 22-23; Cheyenne, Wyoming http://ow.ly/HeWY7
e-Newsletters, Publications, Journals, Multimedia  -
  • Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 272, January 9: "A Muddy Guitar String 1,000 Miles Long" http://ow.ly/H40o6
  • Winter edition of Army Corps' "Our Mississippi" magazine http://ow.ly/Hc15z (PDF file)
  • New report: “The Conservation Social Sciences: What?, How? and Why?” http://ow.ly/HePmp
  • Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy January 14 TUWaterWays e-newsletter http://ow.ly/HmzQW
  • Lower Mississippi River Dispatch No. 273, January 15; "Bittersweet Twinges in a Watery Wilderness" http://ow.ly/Ho1Qn
  • Montana Watershed Coordination Council's January 15 Watershed News http://ow.ly/Hqnr6
  • Gulf Restoration Network January 15 "Gulf Waves" e-magazine http://ow.ly/Hqqmn
Other news-
  • Journal Science paper authors suggest the Earth could soon cease to be a "safe operating space for humanity" http://ow.ly/Hqoe9
  • GAO: sue-and-settle lawsuits brought by environmental groups have only a "limited" impact on U.S. EPA regulations http://ow.ly/HmyMW
  • Job announcement - Director, Therkildsen Field Station at Emiquon, Lewiston, IL (search closes February 28 http://ow.ly/H3X3O)
  • Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee Conservation Award nominations due February 13 http://ow.ly/H4za9
  • How paved surfaces define the U.S. (in state-by-state maps) http://ow.ly/HaoaR (related national map on the right)
  • U.S. House passes legislation that would require federal agencies to estimate the economic costs of regulations http://ow.ly/HiJa6 (roll call tally: http://ow.ly/HiJ2Q) (see related article, below)
  • White House threatens to veto House bill designed to curb some of Obama administration’s most costly regulations http://ow.ly/HeVnU
  • Many Minnesota public safety workers say they are not prepared to deal with an oil train or pipeline accident http://ow.ly/HqIUQ
Politics and People-
  • Mike Boots, acting White House Council on Environmental Quality chairman, plans to leave the position in March http://ow.ly/HiN2J
  • Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) said Monday that she won't run for governor in 2016 http://ow.ly/Hfnox
  • National Great Rivers Research and Education Center recruits six scientists to serve as faculty fellows for 2014-2015 academic year http://ow.ly/HauJ7
  • Many candidates lining up for November 3, 2015 Kentucky gubernatorial election as filing deadline approaches  http://ow.ly/HaEsM
  • Pennsylvania Governor-Elect will appoint John Quigley as Department of Environmental Protection Secretary and Cindy Dunn as Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary http://ow.ly/HgcEH
  • House Natural Resources Chairman Rob Bishop announces creation of a new Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations http://ow.ly/HiOp1
  • Rep. Tim Huelskamp of Kansas new chair of once-prominent House Tea Party Caucus http://ow.ly/HmJKp
  • PBS NewsHour Morning Line: the 113th Congress wasn’t as unproductive as we gave them credit for http://ow.ly/Hn4A8 http://ow.ly/Hn4m2 
  • Pew Research graphs proportion of women in Congress, state legislatures alongside those in high corporate positions http://ow.ly/HmvYh
Your Moment of Zen - 
Photograph: Ian Plant/Solent News

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What We Learned This Week - "The Airing of Grievances"

Opposition to the Obama Administration's proposed clean water rule was a recurring theme at the Farm Bureau's annual meeting, where attendees suggested that excessive federal government regulation threaten the viability of the nation's farms and ranches. Soon thereafter, the EPA released a final scientific report that sets forth the scientific basis for the proposed rule.  A court ruling in an Oregon dairy farms' case may set a legal precedent for similar manure-water contamination incidents.  Congressional Republicans retreated to Hersey, Pennsylvania on Thursday and Friday, where, as one Senator put it, it was "time to air the differences."  Federal authorities allege that the company in charge knew about spill-containment dike problems at its Elk River, West Virginia facility years before a massive 2014 coal-cleaning chemical spill.  Chemicals from that spill traveled farther down-river than initially thought. Tennessee's environmental regulator sued the Tennessee Valley Authority over its unlined coal ash ponds, and an environmental group sued the Obama administration over its refusal to release Gulf of Mexico fracking documents. The Government Accountability Office found that so-called sue-and-settle lawsuits brought by environmental groups have only a "limited" impact on subsequent U.S. EPA regulations. The GAO also told the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that it should plan for a gap in reliable weather data because of a satellite monitoring network that is stretched thin. The USDA is "changing the way it funds conservation" through its new Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The Senate may vote on whether climate change is happening (no response on the record, yet, from the climate). Following a state court ruling, the Keystone XL pipeline could face new legal challenges from Nebraska ranchers who disagree with its Governor-approved route. The U.S. House likes that route, though, and passed a bill approving the pipeline's construction. Meanwhile, the Senate has agreed to debate the topic. And last, but not least, maybe the 113th Congress wasn’t as unproductive as people think.
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