Environmental Politics

Spurt in Hydro Relicensing To Leave U.S. Awash in Environmental Stories

Hundreds of hydropower dams in the United States will see their licenses expiring in the next decade, generating years-long federal relicensing processes. That prospect calls for close local and regional coverage of the complicated balance between renewable energy needs with negative environmental impacts. The latest TipSheet explains the licensing process and the dam backstory, along with a dozen story ideas and reporting resources.

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"White House Unveils Plan To Accelerate Power Grid Expansion"

"The Department of Energy created a one-stop shop for federal permitting, helping transmission developers avoid the lengthy patchwork of regulatory approvals that has slowed major projects. The program makes the department the lead agency in permitting and finalizes a yearslong, multiadministration effort to coordinate the work of at least nine agencies with a hand in permitting power lines."

Source: E&E News, 04/26/2024

Oil, Chemical Lobbyists Flood UN Talks On Cutting Plastic Pollution

"Nearly 200 fossil fuel and chemical industry lobbyists plan to join this week's United Nations negotiations on the first global treaty to curb plastic pollution — a 37% jump from the previous gathering in November, an analysis released on Thursday showed."

Source: Reuters, 04/26/2024

EPA Could Allow 10x as Much of Toxic Pesticide on Your Tomatoes and Celery

"Against the guidance of scientific advisory panels, the EPA is relying on industry-backed tests to relax regulations on acephate, which has been linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. “It’s exactly what we recommended against,” one panelist said."

Source: ProPublica, 04/25/2024

"California, 21 Other States Back EPA Vehicle Emissions Rules"

"A group of 22 states led by California and five cities are backing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new tailpipe emissions rules after 25 Republican-led states sued the agency last week claiming the new regulations were unworkable and unlawful."

Source: Reuters, 04/24/2024

"Biden Admin Vows To Restore 8M Acres Of Wetlands"

"The Biden administration announced a goal Tuesday to protect and restore 8 million acres of wetlands over the next six years in an effort to counter development pressures and recently weakened federal regulations."

Source: E&E News, 04/24/2024

"Global Plastic Pollution Treaty Talks Hit Critical Stage In Canada"

"Thousands of negotiators and observers representing most of the world’s nations are gathering in the Canadian city of Ottawa this week to craft a treaty to stop the rapidly escalating problem of plastic pollution."

Source: AP, 04/24/2024

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