Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

The Budget, the Recess and Reconciliation
House members have been sent off to their various home districts for the next two weeks after voting yesterday to adopt the Paul Ryan (R-WI) budget (see various stories under "Federal Budget," below). Although the House Budget Resolution will never be considered by the Senate, some of its provisions may very well influence deficit reduction discussions on Capitol Hill in the weeks and months to come. Specifically, the Resolution instructs six House committees (Agriculture, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means) to engage in what's being called a “shadow reconciliation” process when their members return from Spring recess. Resolution instructions direct those committees to collectively (by April 27) come up with $261 billion in spending cuts over ten years from mandatory Federal programs. Following the committees' work, their recommendations will be voted on by the House, likely in early May; a vote (and passage) that will pressure Senate Democrats to respond.  That response would come either before the November general election or during the subsequent lame duck session, when Congress will have a scant seven weeks to come up with a budget-cutting agreement that will make moot the automatic sequestration (across-the-board spending cuts) scheduled to kick in on January 1 under terms of the August  2011 deficit reduction agreement.  For more background on the Federal budget and sequestration, see the lead-in to our overview of the President's Fiscal Year budget proposal, here.

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week 

Agriculture -

• Many now questioning whether rewards of using increasingly more crop chemicals are worth the risks http://reut.rs/HaxnEZ
• Minnesota Dept of Agriculture commissioner promotes water quality certification initiative http://bit.ly/H0LstP
• USDA conservation staff to go mobile and add Web tools; will be more accessible to customers http://bit.ly/H0LMsH
• Nature Conservancy's Global Freshwater Program director urges use of water-efficient agriculture http://bit.ly/H0LVw6
• Commission on Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change releases report on best sustainable farming policy measures http://bit.ly/GXKR6w

Farm Bill-

• National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition releases its 2012 Farm Bill policy platform http://bit.ly/H3F0Si
• Yale Environment 360: Can reforming the 2012 Farm Bill help change US agriculture?  http://bit.ly/GKlLZ9
• Former Agriculture Secretaries support attaching conservation compliance to crop insurance premium subsidies http://bit.ly/H1w7U0
• Senate Ag Committee Chair Stabenow hopes Farm Bill is completed by committee and ready for Senate by early May http://on.wzzm.com/HaOCb5
• House Ag committee hears testimony from two panels of producers from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, and Minnesota http://1.usa.gov/GHiFDX
• Farmers offer wish lists for upcoming Farm Bill at House hearing http://bit.ly/HaNKmO
• Overhauling the Farm Bill: The Real Beneficiaries of Subsidies - Daniel Imhoff - The Atlantic http://bit.ly/Hamyo9 via @InvasiveNotes
• Op-ed: Iowans should support Farm Bill's Conservation Reserve Program http://dmreg.co/GQaOcL via @DonEWG
• Farm Bill process in the House is complicated by the budget reconciliation process http://bit.ly/H3aPZ3
• House Agriculture Committee posts witness testimony & other info for this week's Arkansas Farm Bill field hearing http://1.usa.gov/GZ6I0M
• Signs of life for Farm Bill: Senate Ag Committee Could Markup by End of April http://t.co/lx4X4h9a via  @ChrisClaytonDTN

Water Quality -

• Public News Service - MO: Gulf Dead Zone "Buck Stops Here" – on Missouri Farms http://bit.ly/GQJVme
• Illinois' Significant Contribution To The Gulf Of Mexico Dead Zone http://bit.ly/GQK1dN
• EPA orders poultry operation to stop discharging pollutants from process wastewater lagoon Into surface waters http://1.usa.gov/H6KkzJ
• Agriculture and Sewage Dead Zone: Taking on Nutrient Pollution in the Mississippi River Watershed http://bit.ly/HhlLVt
• Environment Missouri report: > 12.7 M lbs of chemicals released into Mississippi River in 2010 http://bit.ly/H0MLZL & http://bit.ly/H0N1rT

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

• Senate bill introduced to stop EPA "from taking over all private water in the US" http://bit.ly/H3bhGs bill: http://1.usa.gov/HkFYr8
• House Water Resources subcommittee ranking member Bishop calls for roundtable to address inland waterway 'crisis' http://1.usa.gov/HkH4TK
• Op-ed: "Fix the (MIssissippi River) levees" http://bit.ly/GRNV9P
• Guest commentary: Lessons from the 2011 Missouri River flooding http://bit.ly/H0NnyI
• U of IL Study: Missouri farms would have faced 2011 flooding anyway, even without Army Corps levee breach http://bit.ly/H0uz2s
• Army Corps Ohio River lock and dam project running decades late and $ billions over budget http://bit.ly/H0NzOk

In the States -

• Environmental Council of the States decries potential EPA budget cut impact on states http://bit.ly/HkC5nd (Word doc of press release)
• Minnesota setting health standards for emerging contaminants in water supplies/drinking water http://bit.ly/HiM39Q

Forestry -

• New Sustainable Forestry report: Forests of the United States: Understanding Trends and Challenges http://bit.ly/GYFFTs

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Free iPhone/iPad app based on USGS guide allows users to quickly look up a plant to see whether it's invasive http://bit.ly/GGgeXP
• 'Bio-bullet' under development would arguably kill Asian carp, leave other fish unharmed; concerns raised http://trib.in/GTzEWu
• Minnesota Reps Kline and Peterson seek bill to manage MN cormorant population http://bit.ly/H1vzNS

Gulf Coastal Area-

• New Gulf Restoration Network video on the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone: http://bit.ly/GYG6NJ
• With tweaks, $50B, 50-year plan to preserve, restore La. coastal land heads to state lawmakers http://bit.ly/H0M6HN and http://bit.ly/H0Mbv7
• State officials: Photos document BP oil still contaminating so-called "cleaned" Louisiana marshes http://bit.ly/H6F7Xp

Resource Extraction -

• TN state lawmakers set aside further consideration of a bill to ban mountaintop mining http://tnne.ws/HkJ8LB

Federal Budget -

• The House Budget Plan: A different vision for Energy and Agriculture than current policies http://bit.ly/GHV5xs
• Ryan (GOP House) Budget would reduce Ag farm spending by $33 Billion over 10 years http://bit.ly/GQrE83
• FY2013 Republican Budget Resolution cuts $179.4 Billion total from farm bill programs, including SNAP, over 10 years http://bit.ly/H3aDsK
• House approves 2013 budget resolution from Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) http://bit.ly/HmdnCS
• House unanimously rejects budget proposal based on Obama's 2013 plan http://bit.ly/GXM7Kx
• Senate Finance Committee Chair Baucus (D-MT) determined to defeat House Budget proposal because of deep farm bill cuts http://bit.ly/GYRbhN
• House Ag Committee Ranking Member Peterson statement: Republican Budget Creates Uncertainty for Rural America http://bit.ly/H1u8z3

Events-

• Registration Now Open 2012 Ohio Stormwater Conference; June 7-8; Toledo http://bit.ly/GRNjRC
• EESI Briefing slides/video: Conservation, Energy Security and Jobs with Biomass Crops? A Question for the Next Farm Bill http://bit.ly/yQV2Uq
• 2012 Upper Mississippi River Conference and 2nd Annual Youth Summit; Sept 26-28; Moline, IL http://bit.ly/lp0jXH
• Natural Resources Leadership Academy; June 18-22 and 25-29; Corvallis, Oregon http://bit.ly/twag9i
• Pre-registration open for 4th Annual Chapter Mtg: Midwest-Great Lakes Society for Ecological Restoration; May 4-6 http://bit.ly/HktpMK

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• EESI weekly e-newsletter on Sustainable Bioenergy, Farms and Forests is out http://bit.ly/H0NOsR

Other news-

• Call for Environmental Conservation papers re: Politics, science and policy of reference points for resource management http://bit.ly/GUoWQ5
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change releases Special Report on managing climate change risks http://bit.ly/HkLJoO (PDF)
• Planet Under Pressure conference message: urgent action needed to face threats to water, food, bio & other resources http://bit.ly/HhmXbj (PDF)
• Scientific American: Is Human Impact Accelerating Out of Control? http://bit.ly/GWVC8d
• U of NC study: Since 1974 conservatives' trust in science has plummeted from the highest to now the lowest http://bit.ly/H1wMVm (PDF)

Political Scene -

• Washington Post: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s recall: Big money pours into big-government fight http://wapo.st/GQAM0o
• Joe Walsh's (D-IL) decision to run for reelection guarantees him toughest battle of his career http://politi.co/GYKxrB
• Kansas House poised to pass new legislative district map this week http://bit.ly/H3au8E
• Poll: Former WI governor Tommy Thompson continues to look like GOP’s best bet for state’s open Senate race http://bit.ly/GYWM7B

Last Word - From a new Etch A Sketch ad capitalizing on its new-found political popularity

U.S. Congressional Hearings for the Week Relevant to Mississippi River Basin Issues

Here is the current schedule for this week's U.S. House and Senate hearings that are relevant to Mississippi River Basin water and natural resource issues, along with links to the respective hearing web page (or relevant committee or subcommittee page, if hearing details are not yet posted):

• House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry hearing on the U.S. Forest Service Land Management: Challenges and Opportunities for Achieving Healthier National Forests; Tuesday, March 27, 10 AM EDT; room 1300 Longworth House Office Building
• House Transportation and Infrastructure  Committee Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2013 budget proposal; Tuesday, March 27, 10 AM EDT; room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building 
• House Natural Resources Committee Water and Power Subcommittee hearing on the Bureau of Reclamation's 2013 budget proposal; Wednesday, March 28, 10 AM EDT; room 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building
• House Transportation and Infrastructure  Committee Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2013 budget proposal;  Wednesday, March 28, 10 AM EDT; room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building  
• Senate Appropriations Committee Energy and Water Subcommittee hearing on the Army Corps of Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation's 2013 budget proposals; Wednesday, March 28, at 2:30 PM EDT; room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Agriculture Committee Farm Bill Field Hearing; Friday, March 30, Arkansas State University, State University, Arkansas

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

Early Edition
Your FNB ("Friendly Neighborhood Blogger") will be out of the "electronic office" tomorrow, which accounts for this earlier than usual edition of the "Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week."  But it is chock-full of news stories none-the-less.  Enjoy!

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week
Agriculture -

• Editorial: Iowa should follow MO lead to reduce nutrient pollution; improve Iowa waterways http://dmreg.co/GHhXGK
• UW Water Resources Institute evaluating characteristics of different biofuel crops and their ecological impacts http://bit.ly/GHSRvf
• Iowa State U research provides 5 measures that show promise for reducing nitrate loss from farmland http://bit.ly/GHhEvx

Farm Bill-

• Bipartisan group of senators introduce bill calling for tighter farm payment limits http://1.usa.gov/GN4cJj
• House Agriculture Committee announces witness list for March 23 IL field hearing on Farm Bill http://1.usa.gov/GHiFDX
• House Ag Committee Ranking Member Peterson (D-MN): GOP budget plan "all but guarantees" no Farm Bill this year http://bit.ly/GD2x8x
• Ryan’s budget proposal puts pressure on House Ag Committee to cut crop insurance subsidies when writing farm bill http://bit.ly/GHTBAk
• Commodity title remains most contentious Farm Bill piece; making it difficult for Senate Agriculture Committee to agree http://bit.ly/GBHp5j
• Crop insurers dismiss Environmental Working Group crop insurance study http://bit.ly/wsMle5 (EWG study here: http://bit.ly/FRw5zd)
• Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): Senate will pass farm bill this summer that cuts $23 billion over 10 years http://ohne.ws/yEdckW

Water Quality -

• March 28 meeting set to announce partnership for pollutant reduction plan to restore Hinkson Creek MO water quality http://1.usa.gov/GD2721
• Environmental organizations sue coal companies over contaminated water From West Virginia mines http://huff.to/GJdUtS
• 2 WV coal mines targets of federal lawsuit alleging violations of Federal Water Pollution Control and Clean Water acts http://bit.ly/GGH4Ol
• TN Clean Water Network files 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue in Federal Court vs Teknor Apex over water pollution http://bit.ly/GD1uW2 (PDF)
• ConocoPhilips refinery (Roxana, IL) plans to defend itself "vigorously" against air/soil/water pollution lawsuit http://bit.ly/GGGFvk and http://bit.ly/GGGQXv

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

• Supreme Court rules unanimously against EPA in wetlands enforcement case http://bit.ly/GFjOOH (PDF file)

Forestry -

• Happy World Forestry Day everyone (March 21).  Go hug a tree today!  http://bit.ly/GErx1g
• Northern Forest Futures Project: a window on tomorrow’s Northeast and Midwest forests and trends  http://bit.ly/xu5DBD

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• Asian Carp made way up Missouri River tributary during 2011 floods; threaten to spread into Iowa Great Lakes http://dmreg.co/GD0QYw
• Research implies link between Honeybee deaths and corn insecticides http://abcn.ws/yksppL and http://bit.ly/GMQmGR
• MN lake groups sue DNR over its zebra mussel policy http://kare11.tv/GGGf8i

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Revised LA hurricane protection- coastal restoration plan to give new priority to major hurricane protection features http://bit.ly/GHSCkV
• Southern Louisiana marshlands lose more than foot against the sea; 2 inches in last 16 months http://wapo.st/xgsfO9

Resource Extraction -

• Tennessee Senate delays vote on mountaintop removal coal mining ban legislation http://bit.ly/GD1iG4
• Jindal administration tries to broker deal between Louisiana landowners and oil/gas industry over “legacy lawsuits" http://bit.ly/GD1UM6

Federal Budget -

• House Republicans are seeking to cut $261 billion now to forestall automatic spending cuts next January http://politi.co/GAtolD
• House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-WI)  Budget Plan restarts budget wars http://bit.ly/GDKIU5
• House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's (R-WI)  budget plan would cut $5.3T in Federal spending over next decade http://bit.ly/GAHL8z
• House Budget Committee approves Chairman Ryan's 2013 budget resolution by 19-18 vote http://bit.ly/GGgHYL and http://politi.co/GNFzv5
• House scheduled to vote next week on Paul Ryan federal budget resolution http://wapo.st/GN4DTJ

Events-

• Water Protection Network holds its Annual Meeting in Saint Louis,  MO http://bit.ly/A7EXv5
• EPA Water Quality Standards Basic Course: April 30 - May 4, Washington DC http://bit.ly/GB3vn1
• March 28 meeting set to announce partnership for pollutant reduction plan to restore Hinkson Creek MO water quality http://1.usa.gov/GD2721
• MN DNR Stream Habitat Program - May and July, 2012 Workshop offerings viewable here: http://bit.ly/GDbdux

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• Tennessee Clean Water Network March 20 e-newsletter is out http://bit.ly/GD1IMX
• EPA's March Watershed e-Newsletter Now Available http://1.usa.gov/GD1V31

Other news-

• EPA releases “Identifying and Protecting Healthy Watersheds: Concepts, Assessments, and Management Approaches”  http://1.usa.gov/iiWqi4

Political Scene -

• Poll: Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) is barely leading his GOP Senate primary opponent, state Treasurer Richard Mourdock http://bit.ly/zDTRyE
• Illinois US House primaries: Democrats Jackson Jr., Duckworth and Schneider win big; Bustos headed to victory  http://bit.ly/GD1sgY
• MO State Auditor Schweich no longer considering entering the GOP primary for US Senate http://bit.ly/GD1Jk1
• Dems add 5 of their new nominees in IL to program for top congressional challengers and open seat candidates http://bit.ly/GHihW0

Last Word - "Always look on the broight soide of loife." - the Monty Python gang (click on the link for the related YouTube music video).

U.S. Congressional Hearings for the Week Relevant to Mississippi River Basin Issues

Below is the current schedule for this week's U.S. House and Senate hearings that are relevant to Mississippi River Basin water and natural resource issues, along with links to the respective hearing web page:

• House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the proposed Obama Administration FY 2013 budget for BLM and Forest Service; Tuesday, March 20, 10 AM EDT, Room 1300 Longworth House Office Building 
• House Appropriations Committee hearing on the proposed Obama Administration FY 2013 proposed Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies budget; Tuesday, March 20, 2 PM EDT; Room in 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building 
• House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the proposed Obama Administration FY 2013 budget for the USGS water resource program; Tuesday, March 20, 2 PM EDT, Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building 
• House Appropriations Committee hearing on the proposed Obama Administration FY 2013 budget for Commerce, Justice, Science; Tuesday, March 20, 2:30 PM EDT, Room H-309, U.S. Capitol Building 
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on several public lands bills; Thursday, March 22, 2:30 PM EDT, Room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building 
• House Agriculture Committee field hearing on the future of U.S. farm policy as it relates to formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill; Friday, March 23, 2012 – 9:00 AM CDT; Galesburg, IL 

Mississippi River Basin Water Resource News for the Week

EPA Sued Over Mississippi River Pollution and Associated Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone"
On March 13, a coalition of environmental organizations filed two separate legal actions against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The lawsuits address nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) pollution in the Mississippi River Basin, and the associated, low-oxygen hypoxic zone or “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. One of the lawsuits, challenges EPA’s denial of a 2008 petition asking EPA to establish numeric water quality limits (or standards) for and stream restoration plans relating to nitrogen and phosphorous pollution. A second lawsuit seeks to compel EPA to respond to a 2007 request (or "petition") that the agency update its wastewater treatment plant water quality standards to include provisions for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorous. For more details, including links to the two lawsuits and to over 20 related news releases and articles, see here.

Army Corps Developing Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy - Comments Due by April 15
The Panama Canal expansion will almost triple the size of container vessels able to transit the canal. In anticipation of a projected 2014 completion of the canal expansion effort, on December 21, 2011, Congress directed the Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources (IWR) to submit a report by June 20, 2012 to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees “on how the Congress should address the critical need for additional port and inland waterway modernization to accommodate post-Panamax vessels.”

In response to that directive, the IWR is investigating the impacts of the Panama Canal expansion on future U.S. marine transportation system needs. Specifically, IWR is evaluating the costs associated with deepening and widening deep-draft harbors; ability of inland waterways and ports to enhance export initiatives benefiting the agricultural and manufacturing sectors; current and projected population trends that might predict regional port maintenance and expansion needs; availability of inland intermodal access; and environmental impacts resulting from the modernization.

The IWR study team will accept additional information and feedback through April 15 for consideration in its initial drafts of the strategy document. Interested persons can visit this U.S. Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy web page for further information. 

Notable @UpperMiss Twitter Postings for the Week

Agriculture -

• New report on the "complex and dynamic local food systems in Minnesota" http://bit.ly/wb4Zhq (PDF file)
• USGS in Journal of Environmental Quality: herbicide atrazine poses little threat to rural groundwater http://bit.ly/w5fZ5k  (PDF)
• Much of 6.5M acres in USDA's conservation reserve program will likely return to cropland after Sept 30 CRP  expiration http://bit.ly/y3AnJb
• USDA's ERS releases updated map on direct payments & possible role for federal farm program environmental compliance http://1.usa.gov/AjEHci
• USDA’s Economic Research Service releases “The Future of Environmental Compliance Incentives in U.S. Agriculture” http://1.usa.gov/xtAI9R
• Construction starts on Iowa cellulosic ethanol plant http://bit.ly/zgOYy0 and  http://bit.ly/AxPhIq
• Kane County Illinois Farm Bureau president: ethanol is responsible for holding corn prices up http://bit.ly/wFrBCy
• GOP Presidential Candidate Romney's agriculture policy group is decidedly non-corn http://bit.ly/wITZDm
• Farmgateblog: Farmland an investment like any other and its value can erode over time-literally http://bit.ly/w0oHpI
• Value of Iowa farmland continues to grow at an average annual rate of > 20% http://dmreg.co/xAWvHR

Farm Bill-

• Sen. Harkin (D-IA) hedges just a bit: "possibly a good chance" "outside chance"  "we could pass a farm bill this year" http://bit.ly/wc3M9k
• Former NRCS official: we no longer have consensus that programs to support various agri commodities should be the same http://bit.ly/z1dWpq
• Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE): If a Farm Bill passes the Senate, a bill will take place this year http://bit.ly/xDLQsO
• Big city mayors send letter on Farm Bill priorities to House and Senate Ag Committee leaders http://bit.ly/w6FcvD (PDF file)
• Commodity groups oppose linking conservation compliance to crop insurance but issue is missing from Farm Bill debate http://bit.ly/zFQ96t
• 13 witnesses testify at Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on risk management/commodities and next Farm Bill http://bit.ly/y0Pn74

Water Quality -

• EPA launches new nutrient pollution policy and data website for information on EPA & state nutrient control efforts http://1.usa.gov/wqewC5
• Chicago and the Gulf Dead Zone: NRDC Lawsuits Address Downstream Damage http://bit.ly/xImUDc
• Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Water pollution from agriculture costing $ billions/yr http://bloom.bg/wioehs

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

• Army Corps U.S. Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy environmental issues meeting synopsis http://bit.ly/w9w0m5 (PDF)
• Two constructed Ohio wetlands, one planted & one left to nature, turn out the same after 15 years http://nyti.ms/wXc1wx
• Feast-or-famine rainfall in TX and Lower Mississippi River valley in line with broad climate change projections http://bit.ly/ybSkdK
• Louisiana Legislature prepares to vote on restoration plan that would cut Army Corps levees http://lat.ms/xWnKBK
• Mississippi River breaks through eastern bank at Bohemia Spillway (LA), creating natural diversion http://bit.ly/yLzw0y
• Cost rising for massive Army Corps Ohio River Olmsted Dam project project http://bit.ly/FPsKxz

In the States -

• Coal industry backs WV bill removing WV water pollution provision requiring compliance with all water quality standards http://bit.ly/yt8c4u

Biodiversity, Wildlife and Invasives -

• 100 environmental organizations petition USEPA to regulate lead in ammunition as toxic substance http://bit.ly/yZKR49
• http://bit.ly/ywzXHy
• MN DNR expects to see large numbers of bald eagles returning to state http://bit.ly/ybrMQX
• Federal and state officials continue to press plan for closing Minneapolis lock to thwart invasive Asian Carp advance http://bit.ly/AtX0Th
• Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge (KY) seeks to expand existing boundary to advance ecosystem  goals http://1.usa.gov/A1ILRO
• Retired Illinois Dept of Natural Resources biologist: Effects of Asian carp on Illinois rivers hard to find http://bit.ly/yD1WlO
• Mild, dry winter means problems for Wisconsin walleye http://bit.ly/wfqfYq

Gulf Coastal Area-

• Senate passes bill to direct 80% of BP spill fines to improve Gulf Region environment & economy; similar to House-passed http://bit.ly/we2xo8

Resource Extraction -

• MN Public Radio "primer" on the costs and benefits of frac sand mining in WI and MN http://bit.ly/yMru7p
• Geologists say Iowa could be home to one of the world’s largest untapped pools of oil http://dmreg.co/AadQxh
• Mailings to Ohio landowners from shale gas developers setting stage for Utica Shale leasing http://bit.ly/woMAHk

Federal Budget -

• Congressional Budget Office releases March baseline update: 10-yr deficit accumulated by 2022 will fall by $186 B http://1.usa.gov/z9OPyR
• GOP likely to unveil budget plan next week to cut 2013 federal spending below level 2 parties negotiated in 2011 http://on.wsj.com/xbA3dM

Events-

• Free EPA Watershed Academy Webcast on Clean Water Act history and evolution; March 21, 1-3 PM EDT http://1.usa.gov/dCcmO0
• March 26 DC EESI briefing: The Next Farm Bill: Conservation, Energy Security and Jobs with Biomass Crops? http://bit.ly/yQV2Uq
• Urban Water Sustainability Leadership Conference; Oct 15-17, Cincinnati, OH http://bit.ly/yJQodd
• Nebraska Concrete & Aggregates Assoc 1-day Pervious Seminar for April 26;  Omaha, NE http://bit.ly/xJspKC (PDF registration form)

e-Newsletters, Publications and Journals -

• EDF's March 14 issue of Delta Dispatches is now available, with latest news on Gulf of Mexico coastal restoration http://bit.ly/x6mPUo

Other news-

• Ecology and Evolution Journal article: Criteria for assessing climate change impacts on ecosystems http://bit.ly/xcmr2X
• EPA proposes EVR-Wood Treating/Evangeline Refining Co site near Jennings, Acadia Parish, LA for superfund list http://1.usa.gov/whBnOW
• EPA adds Rogersville, MO Compass Plaza Well TCE Site to superfund list http://1.usa.gov/zw4Bul
• Europe's water resources 'under pressure' - threatening Europe's economy, productivity and ecosystems http://bbc.in/xRYDD6

Political Scene - 

• Former MN state senator Tarryl Clark (D) decides to run in Dem primary in hopes of facing Rep. Chip Cravaack (R-MN-8) http://bit.ly/yi4kxN
• Moderate Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) faces hostile Tea Party in battle to keep Senate seat http://bit.ly/Akp8hF

Last Word

"We could have saved the Earth but we were too damned cheap." - Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Army Corps Developing Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy

Click here to enlarge

Public Comment Period Open Through April 15

The Panama Canal expansion will almost triple the size of container vessels able to transit the canal. In anticipation of a projected 2014 completion of the canal expansion effort, on December 21, 2011, Congress directed the Army Corps of Engineers Institute for Water Resources (IWR) to submit a report by June 20, 2012 to the Senate and House Appropriations Committees “on how the Congress should address the critical need for additional port and inland waterway modernization to accommodate post-Panamax vessels.”

In response to that directive, the IWR is investigating the impacts of the Panama Canal expansion on future U.S. marine transportation system needs. Specifically, IWR is evaluating the costs associated with deepening and widening deep-draft harbors; ability of inland waterways and ports to enhance export initiatives benefiting the agricultural and manufacturing sectors; current and projected population trends that might predict regional port maintenance and expansion needs; availability of inland intermodal access; and environmental impacts resulting from the modernization.

The IWR study team will accept additional information and feedback through April 15 for consideration in its initial drafts of the strategy document. Interested persons can visit this U.S. Port and Inland Waterways Modernization Strategy web page for further information. 

UPDATED: Legal Action Filed Against EPA Over Mississippi River Pollution and Gulf of Mexico "Dead Zone"

On March 13, a coalition of environmental organizations filed two separate legal actions against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The lawsuits address nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) pollution in the Mississippi River Basin, and the associated, low-oxygen hypoxic zone or “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico.  One of the two separate lawsuits, filed with the U.S. District Court - Eastern District of Louisiana (lawsuit copy here) challenges EPA’s denial of a 2008 petition asking EPA to establish numeric water quality limits (or standards) for and stream restoration plans relating to nitrogen and phosphorous pollution.  A second lawsuit, filed with the U.S. District Court - Southern District of New York (copy here) seeks to compel EPA to respond to a 2007 request (or "petition") that the agency update its wastewater treatment plant water quality standards to include provisions for the removal of nitrogen and phosphorous.  Copies of both lawsuit filings and associated appendices can be found on this Natural Resources Defense Council web page.

The lawsuit filing was announced by the organizations on the morning of March 14 during an on-line media briefing. Below is a representative sampling of many of the articles published concerning the lawsuits.

March 13:
Iowa Environmental Council Press Release

March 14:
Bleeding Heartland Blog: "Environmental groups sue EPA over inaction on "Dead Zone" pollution"
Chicago Business article: "Environmentalists blame Chicago sewers for Gulf of Mexico pollution"
Prairie Rivers Network Press Release
U.S. News and World Report
Houma Today (Louisiana)
KMOX - CBS Television (Saint Louis, MO) 
Reuters
Des Moines Register
Daily Comet Thibodaux, LA

Blog posts by Natural Resources Defense Council staff:

• http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/jdevine/were_going_to_court_to_cut_dea.html 
• http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/tcmar/nrdc_taking_legal_steps_to_pro.html 
• http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/aalexander/chicago_and_the_gulf_dead_zone.html 

March 15:
St. Louis Post-Dispatch 
The Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA)
Thibodaux Daily Comet (Louisiana)
CTV News (Canada)
KTKZ-AM Radio Sacramento, CA
Ag Professional News
Headline Local, St. Joseph, MO
Courthouse News Service
New York Times (blog)
Chicagoist

March 16:
Southeast Missourian