Complete list of press releases

(London, UK)—The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and C40 – a network of cities committed to bold action on climate change – have launched a cutting-edge new project to better understand Londoners’ exposure to air pollution aroud the city. Sensors will measure harmful pollution in tens of thousands of locations, making London’s new air quality monitoring network the most sophisticated in the world.  

Air pollution is threatening the health of Londoners, with most areas of the capital regularly breaking limits for safe levels of air pollution. Scientists estimate that thousands of Londoners’ lives end sooner than they should each year because of unclean air. And that the yearly cost of that dirty air to London’s economy is £3.7 billion.

London already has one of the best networks of air quality monitors of any city. Despite this, the network still does not cover enough of London. More sensors and more data are needed to say for sure which actions to tackle air pollution are working best. More sensors will also help explain how air quality changes not just because of the amount of traffic, but also because of other factors such as weather and road layout. 

From July, new fixed and mobile sensors will be rolled out across London’s streets. 100 fixed sensors will be fitted to lampposts and buildings in the worst affected areas and sensitive locations, and two dedicated Google Street View cars will be driving across the city, mapping air pollution at an unprecedented level of detail. The two Google Street View cars assigned to this project will take air quality readings every 30 metres, building up a picture over the course of a year, and identifying pollution “hotspots” that the existing network of fixed monitors might miss.       

With this new ‘hyperlocal’ data, the Mayor will be able to track what actions are making the biggest difference to people’s health. Whether that’s more electric vehicles, or improvements to public transport, robust science means we will know more than ever about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to cleaning up our air. 

Online maps showing data in real time will give Londoners information on just how dirty the air they breathe really is as they move around the city. These new tools will help the capital take action to tackle the most dangerous environmental threat to people’s health. The study will improve the accuracy of air pollution forecasts for the coming three days, making it possible for people to plan and respond to high pollution warnings.    

The project will be run by a team of air quality experts led by the charity Environmental Defense Fund Europe, in partnership with Air Monitors Ltd., Google Earth Outreach, Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants, University of Cambridge, National Physical Laboratory, and the Environmental Defense Fund team in the United States. King’s College London will also be undertaking a linked study focused on schools that will form part of the year long project.

The project is the result of a partnership between the Greater London Authority and C40 Cities. 

The results from this initiative will be shared with the 96 members of the C40 Cities network, with the ambition of improving air quality for hundreds of millions of people living in cities around the world.

The announcement comes just a day after the Mayor brought together city leaders from across England and Wales for a national air quality summit, and unveiled that London will have the largest pure electric double-deck bus fleet in Europe.

The Mayor of London and C40 Vice Chair, Sadiq Khan, said: “London’s toxic air is leading to the premature deaths of thousands of Londoners every year so I am pleased that we are embracing the very latest smart technology to monitor hot-spots and demonstrate how effective our policies to combat this global issue are.

“I’m doing everything in my power to tackle London’s lethal air including cleaning up our bus and taxi fleets, introducing the Toxicity Charge for the oldest polluting vehicles in central London and bringing forward the introduction of the world’s first Ultra-Low Emission Zone to start in April 2019.

“I am delighted to be joining up with C40, the Environmental Defense Fund, Google and the rest of the team on this exciting project that will provide a treasure trove of new data and information to improve air quality here in London, and deliver an approach that can be replicated across the world.”

“This project will provide a step change in data collection and analysis that will enable London to evaluate the impact of both air quality and climate change policies and develop responsive interventions,” said Executive Director for Environmental Defense Fund Europe, Baroness Bryony Worthington.  “A clear output of the project will be a revolutionary air monitoring model and intervention approach that can be replicated cost-effectively across other UK cities and globally, with a focus on C40 cities.” 

Mark Watts, C40, Executive Director said: “Almost every major city in the world is dealing with the threat of toxic air pollution, which is taking an incredible toll on the health of citizens, public finances, quality of life and contributing to climate change. London is already a world leader in responding to this global threat and with this initiative it will set a new global standard for how street level air quality monitoring can inform strategic policy making. Cities across the C40 network and around the world will be watching closely to understand how this street level air quality monitoring can deliver cleaner air for their citizens.”
 

(MIAMI, FL) – A new Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) survey found that a vast majority of Floridians believe that access to clean and renewable energy for businesses and homes is critical for the future of the state and will help mitigate the effects of climate change. Business leaders and residents polled for the survey also eagerly noted a growing need to create opportunities that will put Florida on the path towards more energy choice.
 
“Floridians understand that as the fourth largest economy in the country and ground zero for climate change, their state must drive innovative and common sense solutions for clean and renewable energy resources”, said Jake Hiller, manager with EDF+Business. “Business leaders are uniquely positioned to steer this effort because the approach they take towards development today will set the bar for how we build environmentally sound and sustainable communities tomorrow.”  
 
The poll surveyed 1200 likely midterm election voters in South Florida and the I-4 corridor on their attitudes and perceptions towards clean and renewable energy. The results showed:
 

• Two-thirds of business owners believe that adopting clean and renewable energy practices is a prudent economic decision for their business and is also the right thing to do. 
• A large majority of business owners and other residents believe that adopting energy efficient practices is important, with more than two-thirds already taking steps towards becoming more energy efficient in their homes and their businesses.
• More than half of those polled are considering installing solar energy in their homes and/or businesses.
• By double-digit margins, people believe that the business community is poised to lead on the issue of clean energy.

“As we face increasing threats from climate change and sea level rise, particularly in South Florida, it is imperative that the business community accelerates its collective response and begins to focus on innovation that brings forth energy independence while allowing us to adapt and mitigate the effects of sea level rise,” said Terra Group president and co-founder David Martin. “We will need to find a way to fund resilience infrastructure projects, including advancing more clean and renewable energy solutions, if we are serious about being competitive and sustainable as a region.”
 
In addition to these findings, voters agreed that there is a strong need for action on climate change and that clean and renewable energy can play an important role in helping to mitigate the increasing threats from climate change in the State of Florida.
 
“As an emerging technology leader of the United States, Orlando is quickly becoming a hub of innovation for tech start-ups, autonomous vehicle research and several other bleeding-edge technologies,” said esaSolar CEO Lindsay Latre. “Each year, the regional market demand increases for energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. However, businesses that are ready to make a commitment to energy independence are often inhibited by a state that lacks support for Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards, third party financing mechanisms and local incentives. The result is a stagnant growth to an otherwise thriving clean energy economy across the United States.”
 
The poll results are reflective of similar trends nationwide. A recent Deloitte study on energy management and consumption views from businesses showed that business leaders are taking the lead to address climate change and are reviewing or changing their energy management policies as a consequence. Companies in that survey noted that they are developing new ways of reducing and managing their energy consumption levels, while expanding or integrating renewable energy sources into their operations, as a response to consumer demand for cleaner energy.  

“Environmental Defense Fund is dedicated to building a world in which nature and people – especially those most vulnerable to public health and environmental harms – can thrive together. We are compelled to speak when harm and abuse are cruelly inflicted upon children, and when America's very decency and values are in jeopardy.

“We are deeply disturbed by and strongly oppose the Trump administration’s immoral separation of children from parents at the southern border. Our nation’s treatment of these families must respect their humanity. We strongly believe that children should be protected from trauma and abuse. We vigorously oppose measures that compound the suffering of those who have already endured great adversity. And, as we work to build a sustainable world, we are heartened by the resounding rejection of this policy by so many millions across America, from both parties and all walks of life. We stand with them for the dignity and the humanity of the children being separated from parents by government action.”

      Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – June 19, 2018) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) gave the Environmental Protection Agency notice today that they intend to sue EPA and Administrator Scott Pruitt over air pollution from landfills.

 

The groups plan to sue over the agency’s to implement 2016 emission guidelines for municipal solid waste landfills. The guidelines are a long-overdue update to clean air protections for the hundreds of existing landfills affecting communities across the country. 

 

“Each day that EPA fails to perform the Agency’s mandatory duties delays the Landfill Rule’s promised emission reductions … EPA’s failure to approve or disapprove any state plans or impose a federal plan on states that have failed to submit state plans forestalls those pollution reductions indefinitely, depriving the public of the climate and human health protections afforded by the Landfills Rule.” (Notice of Intent to Sue, page 2)

 

Landfills are the nation’s third-largest source of climate-destabilizing methane pollution. They also discharge numerous hazardous air pollutants – including those known to cause cancer, such as benzene.

 

EPA estimates the updated protections would reduce approximately 285,000 metric tons of methane pollution and 1,810 metric tons of health-harming and smog-forming non-methane organic compounds each year by 2025. The updated protections would provide annual benefits of $390 million, over and above any compliance costs.

 

EPA has publicly stated that it does not intend to implement the program, even though it committed to a clear timetable for doing so almost two years ago at the conclusion of an extensive rulemaking process.

 

A coalition of seven states, the California Air Resources Board, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has also challenged EPA for its failure to enforce the landfills emission guidelines. The coalition filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on May 31.

 

A copy of EDF and NRDC’s 60-Day Notice of Intent to Sue is available here.

(June 18, 2018) Colorado today formally joined the states that will create and enforce a clean cars program – a sharp turn away from the Trump administration, which is trying to undermine America’s national Clean Car Standards.

 

“Governor Hickenlooper’s announcement today will be a win-win for all Coloradans. It will help provide cleaner air and climate security, and will save Colorado families hard-earned money at the gas pump,” said EDF president Fred Krupp. “At a time when the Trump administration is attempting to throw our most effective pollution control measures into reverse, Colorado is showing that states can step up and maintain the protections we need.”

 

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper announced an executive order today that will “ensure that the State of Colorado maintains the progress made in achieving a cleaner motor vehicle fleet.”

 

For half a century, states have played a key role in spurring the development and deployment of clean car solutions like smog-fighting catalytic converters. Under long-standing provisions in the Clean Air Act, California has the authority to set its own vehicle pollution standards, and other states can adopt those standards. Today more than a third of U.S. new car sales are covered by the coalition of states that have already committed to protective clean car standards: California, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Vermont.

 

National clean car standards in place since 2012 are providing benefits to all Americans – reducing climate pollution, spurring fuel efficiency gains, and saving families money at the gas pump.

 

But the Trump Administration and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt are now advancing a proposal to radically weaken these protections (17 states and a coalition of environmental groups, including EDF, are asking the courts to protect the Clean Car Standards).

 

In stark contrast to the administration’s actions, Colorado will now join the states that are setting clean air standards to protect their citizens from air pollution from cars. A recent EDF study found the health and climate benefits of Colorado’s decision will be extensive – and will be one of the most cost effective steps the state can take to ensure cleaner air for communities.

 

A new report by M.J. Bradley and Associates shows today’s decision will have substantial economic benefits for Colorado families. The report found a Colorado family could save up to $400 each year on gas – up to $5,000 over the life of a new car or $8,000 over the life of an SUV or passenger truck.

 

Today’s announcement is expected to have widespread support in Colorado. Earlier this month, the state’s Regional Air Quality Council urged Gov. Hickenlooper to protect clean cars in Colorado.

 

Nationally, an American Lung Association poll found that more than two-thirds of Americans support the Clean Car Standards.

 

Even major auto makers are not anxious to weaken the national Clean Car Standards. In March, Ford publicly disavowed any rollback, Honda has urged that any changes to the program be made “without a reduction in overall stringency,” and General Motors recently affirmed its commitment to “improve fuel economy, reduce emissions” and advocate for maintaining a single national program.  

(Washington, D.C.) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced a new “find and fix” virtual reality (VR) experience that will debut at the World Gas Conference in Washington, D.C. next week. The “Methane CH4llenge” simulation, which was informed by peer-reviewed science and developed in collaboration with oil and gas experts, takes users into a digitally-simulated wellsite to show the ease and efficiency of controlling key sources of methane emissions, an increasingly important challenge for the oil and gas industry.

The Methane CH4llenge VR is the latest example of EDF’s unique approach in working with businesses to find practical solutions to urgent environmental problems. For more than thirty years, EDF has collaborated with leaders across industries – including oil and gas – to help companies improve their environmental performance. EDF’s goal is simple: zero in on the opportunities that offer the biggest benefit to the environment soonest. Reducing methane emissions across the global oil and gas supply chain is one such opportunity.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas that is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide in the first two decades after its release. It is also the main ingredient in natural gas and is a saleable product when captured. Methane emissions from human activity are responsible for 25 percent of the warming our planet is experiencing now. Worldwide, the oil and gas industry is one of the largest sources of these emissions. Yet, cutting oil and gas emissions is straightforward and inexpensive.

“Reducing methane across the oil and gas industry is one of the fastest, most cost effective ways to slow the rate of warming today,” said Mark Brownstein, EDF Senior Vice President of Energy. “For industry, methane emissions are also a critical challenge – one that will only grow as policymakers and investors worldwide increasingly focus on methane’s outsized climate effects, and as competitive threats from cleaner alternatives intensify.”

Each year about 75 million metric tons of methane escapes from global oil and gas operations. Over $30 billion is lost or wasted through leaks, flaring or other emissions. Fortunately, there are many cost-effective technologies to detect and control these emissions to keep methane in the system and out of the atmosphere, several of which are featured in the Methane CH4llenge VR.

Working with FLIR Systems, Inc., SENSIT Technologies and Rebellion Photonics, EDF experts spent more than 1,000 hours designing and developing the simulated wellsite, and conducting extensive fieldwork to ensure accurate depictions of methane plumes.

“A Qatari oil and gas facility might be completely different than an American facility, but methane challenges are the same across all geographies,” said Craig R. O’Neill, business development manager for FLIR Systems, Inc. “Our optical gas imagers are utilized worldwide because they give industry a sixth sense to see otherwise invisible gas leaks. Technology highlighted in the Methane CH4llenge empowers industry to protect the environment, meet regulatory compliance standards, improve worker safety, and capture potentially lost profits.”

Methane CH4llenge users will be equipped with knowledge and technology widely available to industry today, including FLIR’s infrared cameras. With guidance from “Bella” the EDF bot, they will have the opportunity to find and fix multiple methane leaks, affording them the unique experience to help industry avoid harmful methane emissions.

Taking Monitors on the Road, Into Space

"EDF is also working to accelerate the development and deployment of mobile methane detection solutions through the Mobile Monitoring Challenge, a joint effort between EDF and Stanford University with technical guidance from ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, Shell, and others. Previously, EDF worked with oil and gas companies, tech developers and entrepreneurs to advance the market for stationary, continuous methane monitors now being tested by Shell, Equinor (formerly Statoil), and Pacific Gas & Electric Company.

"In April, EDF announced it is building a satellite purpose-built to locate and measure methane emissions from human-made sources worldwide, starting with the oil and gas industry. Data from the satellite – available to everyone – will give both countries and companies robust information to spot problems, identify savings, and measure progress over time.

To experience the methane simulation, registration for the World Gas Conference exhibition is required (and free of charge): www.edf.org/wgc2018.

What Industry Leaders are Saying About Methane

Shell, ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum, and a host of other producers recently committed to continuously reduce methane emissions across the natural gas value chain. As investor pressure to improve methane performance and better manage long-term risk continues, and as leading companies like BP continue to announce stringent, quantitative methane reduction targets, industry leaders and entrepreneurs are speaking out about methane.

Baker Hughes, a GE Company (BHGE)

“Sensor technologies are going to be a very critical piece for the environmental and sustainability programs for industry in general and oil and gas in particular because it’s the digital age and it’s becoming more and more that information drives decisions – and that drives action.”
Nasr Alkadi, Ph.D., Augmented Oilfield Leader, BHGE

BP

"With the expertise of the industry, a stable and encouraging policy environment – and constructive challenge from EDF and others – we can meet the methane challenge.”
Paul Jefferiss, Head of Policy, BP

Equinor

“Cooperation with groups like EDF can help shape and take methane science and innovation to a very new level.”
Bjorn Otto Sverdrup, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Equinor (formerly Statoil)

Hermes Investment Management

"“It is clear that companies are seeing advantages in managing methane – as well as cost savings and revenue increases. There are distinct benefits to being a responsible producer… such as greater credibility with stakeholders and reduced legal and reputational risks.”
Tim Goodman, Director of Engagement, Hermes Investment Management

NEI

"But it seems evident methane might be a fairly significant blind spot for the industry. The more I talk to companies, the more clear it becomes that industry doesn’t have a good feel for the full scope of the problem.”
Jamie Bonham, Manager of Corporate Engagement at NEI

Rebellion

“Innovation in methane detection technology is instrumental to solving the challenge on a global scale. Showcasing these solutions through tools like virtual reality can help accelerate and globalize the message that solutions like our continuous and automated gas imaging systems are ready today to help oil and gas companies operate safely, responsibly, and efficiently.”
Robert Kester, Chief Executive Officer at Rebellion Photonics

Robeco

“We see the methane issue more as a business opportunity than a risk. What we often say to companies is that methane is a potential revenue source. It would be a waste if companies do not use it.”
Sylvia van Waveren, Senior Engagement Specialist, Robeco Institutional Asset Management

Schlumberger

“Studies by EDF scientists and others are showing that a significant fraction of upstream methane emissions arise from a small number of super-emitters, and airborne detectors may be the most effective way to detect those.”
Drew Pomerantz, research scientist at Schlumberger

SeekOps, Inc.

"There’s an enormous opportunity for utilization of unmanned aerial systems for detection and characterization of methane emissions in the oil and gas sector."
Andrew Aubrey, Ph.D., Founder and CEO at SeekOps, Inc.

Sensit

“Methane detection and quantification instruments are available today to help the oil and gas industry cost-effectively reduce emissions. Virtual reality simulations like this one allow everyone to experience our technology first hand and see for themselves that solutions like ours are easy to use and ready for global deployment now.”
Scott Kleppe, President & CEO at SENSIT Technologies

Stanford University

"The oil and gas industry accounts for about a third of all methane emissions in the United States. Eliminating this especially in an era of low natural gas prices require mobile, low-cost and fast solutions to detect methane leaks.”
Adam Brandt, assistant professor of energy resources engineering at Stanford University’s Natural Gas Initiative

XTO Energy

“Developing innovative solutions will be instrumental in reducing methane emissions. The Mobile Monitoring Challenge lays the groundwork to leverage novel and cost-effective technologies that could help companies find and manage emissions in a faster, more efficient way.
Sara Ortwein, president of ExxonMobil affiliate XTO Energy

(New York, NY – June 15, 2018) Ontario’s Premier-designate Doug Ford today announced the province would end its cap-and-trade program and withdraw from the Western Climate Initiative (WCI). By adopting cap and trade, the province chose a proven, cost-effective approach to reduce dangerous greenhouse gas emissions, and the revenue it generates is reinvested into the province. Ontario linked its market with Quebec’s and California’s when it joined the WCI last year, and both of the auctions of greenhouse gas allowances held since then sold out, demonstrating market stability and driving significant revenue to Ontario.

“Climate change is an urgent threat to the planet and human health, and Ontario took an important step toward addressing it with its cap-and-trade program. The Premier-designate’s decision to abandon Ontario’s market when it was showing clear signs of stability and success is a significant step backward for the province, and the ‘go-it-alone’ approach will cost Ontario more down the road. California and Quebec will continue their successful linkage, and will continue to drive emission reductions and grow the low-carbon economy.”

• Nathaniel Keohane, Senior Vice President for Climate, Environmental Defense Fund 

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 13, 2018) A U.S. District Court today ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act on the State of Maryland’s request that EPA protect millions of Marylanders from dangerous air pollution that blows across their state’s borders.

 

“The court today told EPA to do its job and enforce America’s clean air laws. That’s great news for the people of Maryland, and for all Americans who want cleaner, safer air to breathe,” said EDF Senior Attorney Graham McCahan. “Smog is a health hazard that EPA should be working to reduce, but Administrator Scott Pruitt has been dragging his feet on those efforts.”

 

The state of Maryland asked EPA to enforce the “good neighbor” provisions of the Clean Air Act and protect its citizens from second-hand pollution. When EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt did not answer that petition for months, Maryland filed suit.

 

EDF and a coalition of health, environmental, and Maryland citizens groups also filed suit in support of Maryland.

 

Today the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland ruled that EPA has been derelict in its duty under the Clean Air Act. In today’s decision, the court stated that it was:

 

“troubled by EPA’s apparent unwillingness or inability to comply with its mandatory statutory duties within the timeline set by Congress.” (Opinion, page 14)

 

The court gave EPA three months to act on Maryland’s petition, which requests that EPA require that coal-burning power plants in five upwind states operate their pollution control equipment to reduce contributions to interstate pollution that causes dangerous smog levels in Maryland.

 

Last week, EPA issued a notice proposing to deny Maryland’s petition and a similar petition from Delaware. The agency will accept public comment on that proposal until July 23, and will hold a public hearing on the proposal on June 22 in Washington, D.C.

 

Under today’s court order, EPA must make a final decision about Maryland’s petition by September 15. Given the flaws in EPA’s proposed denial and the court’s recognition today that timely action is required to address this urgent public health problem, EDF will submit comments urging the agency to fulfill its duty to protect public health and grant Maryland’s petition.

 

Today’s decision is the fourth time this year that a court has ordered EPA to stop delaying actions to reduce smog. The three earlier decisions were:

• On February 7, a district court in Connecticut held that EPA had unlawfully delayed action on Connecticut’s petition for relief from the interstate pollution that contributes to unhealthy ozone levels.
• On March 12, a U.S. District Court in California ordered EPA to move forward with implementation of the health-based 2015 Ozone Standards. Ground-level ozone is a key component in smog. EDF was also a party to that case.
• On June 12, a federal district court in Manhattan found that EPA had violated statutory deadlines to issue plans to reduce interstate air pollution from five upwind states that causes unhealthy smog in New York and Connecticut. 

Also, late last year EPA issued a rule delaying its obligations to designate ozone attainment and nonattainment areas by a year – only to withdraw the rule shortly after being sued in the D.C. Circuit by multiple states and environmental groups including EDF.

 

About 70 percent of Maryland’s smog problem originates from air pollution in upwind states. Smog is associated with premature deaths, hospitalizations, asthma attacks and long-term lung damage.

 

Maryland’s Department of Environment has spent decades trying to reduce smog and other dangerous pollution in the state, but its efforts have been undermined by 36 coal-fired power plant units in five upwind states – Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The pollution from those units is blowing across state borders, adding to Maryland’s smog problem and endangering its people.

 

All of those 36 coal plant units have already-installed modern pollution controls – but have chosen not to run them.

 

Maryland submitted a petition to EPA under section 126 of the Clean Air Act – a section that is a central part of the Act’s “good neighbor” provisions, which exist to protect states from upwind air pollution originating in other states. The petition asked EPA to require those power plant units to take the common sense step of running their already-installed pollution controls. EPA never responded to Maryland’s petition even though it is legally required to do so.

(WASHINGTON, DC) The Senate farm bill, scheduled for markup this week, will modernize the measurement of conservation practices and their contribution to farm productivity. It demonstrates strong bipartisan commitment to conservation programs.

“With a focus on soil health, technology and innovation, the Senate bill is truly a farm bill for the 21st century. It maintains full funding for core conservation programs and brings the digital revolution to the farm.

“For the first time, land-grant university researchers can use farm-level data to calculate how conservation practices impact crop yield and risk – insights that can help farmers decide whether to invest in precision conservation technologies, while maintaining their privacy.

“The bill also ensures that farmers who use innovative stewardship practices and technology maintain eligibility for crop insurance safety nets, and it increases funding for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, which pairs public and private dollars to scale impact. Collaborations like these will incentivize an estimated $2.5 billion in additional private sector funding for conservation.

“The Senate stepped up at a critical moment for farmers and the environment. We thank Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and ranking member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) for their leadership and commitment to bipartisanship, and we thank their colleagues, including Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Thune (R-S.D.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), who introduced bipartisan policy proposals that are reflected in the bill.”

• Callie Eideberg, Senior Policy Manager, Sustainable Agriculture

(HARRISBURG, PA – Jun. 7, 2018) Cleaning up natural gas pollution in Pennsylvania advanced one step further today, with Governor Tom Wolf finalizing new requirements that limit methane pollution from new and modified unconventional natural gas infrastructure. The requirements are a key component of Gov. Wolf’s methane reduction plan, and place Pennsylvania among other leading states that are tackling pollution that directly affects communities near oil and gas facilities.  

“Pennsylvanians can breathe easier once these methane safeguards are in place,” said Fred Krupp, EDF President. “This progress toward cleaner air must continue with concrete steps to reduce pollution from the hundreds of thousands of existing oil and gas facilities across the state.”

Emissions of methane – essentially natural gas itself – waste a valuable energy resource as they pollute the atmosphere and warm the climate. Second only to Texas in natural gas production, Pennsylvania is a major methane emitter, but with Gov. Wolf finalizing these new requirements, he is positioning Pennsylvania to be a leader when it comes to managing those emissions.

“With millions of Pennsylvanians affected by oil and gas pollution, Gov. Wolf is taking the right step by standing up to protect residents of the commonwealth,” said Andrew Williams, Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs for EDF. “Gov. Wolf should be commended for listening to his constituents and taking effective and responsible action to rein in the environmental and public health impacts of oil and gas development.”

The governor has committed to reduce methane emissions further by addressing the thousands of existing sources of oil and gas methane pollution, which will continue to make up the bulk of Pennsylvania’s methane problem over the next decade. According to a recent EDF analysis, these oil and gas facilities emit approximately 520,000 tons of methane every year – five times more than what companies report to the state.

Cost-effective technologies already exist to control methane emissions – another recent analysis by the International Energy Agency found operators can cut 40 to 50 percent of emissions at no net cost. Tackling the state’s methane emissions will ultimately make Pennsylvania more competitive, healthier and a leader by applying reasonable and responsible oil and gas controls.
 

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives today passed House Bill 2154, which seeks to roll back critical oil and gas protections to where they stood in 1984. 

 

While drilling and production continue apace in Pennsylvania, and more and more residents are exposed to the risks of this development, it is astonishing that the House would vote to scale back protections of the state’s public health and environment.

If enacted, HB 2154 will roll back standards for water quality, well blowout prevention and track fluid disclosure, among other provisions. It is a brazen attempt to do the bidding of the oil and gas industry at the cost of the health of millions of Pennsylvania families. 

A recent EDF analysis estimates emissions of methane and smog-forming volatile organic compounds to be five and nine times higher, respectively, than what industry reports to the state. Now is the time to improve safeguards, encourage innovation and bolster the state’s environmental protections, not blindly roll them back. 

 

“Pennsylvania lawmakers should place the interests of Pennsylvania families and communities over the interests of the oil and gas industry. This bill walks back decades of environmental progress in Pennsylvania and is not the solution to Pennsylvania’s energy challenges.”

• Andrew Williams, Director of Regulatory and Legislative Affairs, U.S. Climate and Energy

(June 4, 2018) Today, a divided panel of the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals declined to block a district court order staying portions of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) standards to reduce the waste of natural gas on public and tribal lands. The court will now hear the appeal on the merits.

 

The 2 to 1 decision by the Tenth Circuit means that certain aspects of the standards will remain paused while the court considers a lower court decision halting the standards.

 

“The Waste Prevention Rule saves natural gas, reduces toxic and smog-forming pollution, and delivers economic benefits to people across the West,” said Peter Zalzal, Lead Attorney for Environmental Defense Fund, which is a party to the case. “Today’s ruling is not a decision on the merits of these valuable safeguards, and we look forward to continuing our appeal to fight for these vital protections for families and communities across the West.”

 

Writing in dissent, Judge Matheson noted the legally flawed nature of the district court stay:

 

“Under this court’s precedent, the district court should have analyzed the traditional four factors in deciding whether to stay the Waste Prevention Rule (effective January 17, 2017) under Administrative Procedure Act § 705, 5 U.S.C. § 705.” (Order, page 7)

 

BLM’s Waste Prevention Standards require oil and gas companies operating on federal and tribal lands to take common sense measures to reduce preventable leaks of natural gas. Between 2009 and 2015, those companies wasted enough natural gas to supply more than 6.2 million homes for an entire year.

 

The waste of natural gas on public and tribal lands costs taxpayers millions of dollars. Preventing that waste means more royalty money for Western communities and tribes – money that can be used for roads and schools.

 

Natural gas that is wasted through leaks, venting or flaring also allows large amounts of unhealthy pollution into our air – including methane, which is a potent driver of climate change.

 

The Trump Administration has repeatedly tried to suspend the Waste Prevention Standards in both the courts and Congress. Most recently, in February, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California preliminarily enjoined an attempt by BLM to suspend the standards. Industry opponents have also launched a series of legal challenges to these needed protections.

 

Today, the Tenth Circuit declined a request to stay a lower court order that temporarily suspended portions of the standards, pending appeal of that order. Separately, the court rejected requests by industry groups and the states of Wyoming and Montana to dismiss the appeal, meaning the appeal of the lower court order will now move forward on the merits.

 

The states of California and New Mexico are supporting the standards, along with a group of 15 national, regional, tribal and local public health and environmental groups – including EDF.

 

The standards are being challenged by the Attorneys General of Wyoming and Montana, North Dakota and Texas, as well as oil and gas industry groups the Western Energy Alliance (WEA) and Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).

 

You can find more information – including all legal documents – on EDF’s website.

(SACRAMENTO, CA – June 4, 2018) Governor Jerry Brown has appointed Quentin Foster, Director for California Climate at Environmental Defense Fund, to the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee serving the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). Foster joined EDF in 2016 and led its successful advocacy around 2017 legislation extending California’s cap-and-trade program to 2030 (AB 398) and accelerating improvements in air quality (AB 617). The five-member committee, established in AB 398, evaluates and reports annually to the California Air Resources Board and the legislature on the environmental and economic performance of cap and trade and other relevant climate policies.

“I am honored Governor Brown has appointed me to the Independent Emissions Market Advisory Committee. This is an opportunity to ensure that the environmental integrity in California’s landmark cap-and-trade program remains a priority. 

“California is a longtime leader on climate issues, in large part due to its cap-and-trade program that’s successfully limited climate pollution and is helping the state meet its ambitious climate goals. The revenues generated from cap and trade also allows California to drive investments into communities that are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This is important because, as a native of South Los Angeles with deep roots in the environmental justice community, I’ve seen first-hand the need to address our air quality and protect our environment. 

“The committee will play a key role in evaluating California’s cap-and-trade program’s performance, providing insight that will support California in achieving its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. California and the world face an unprecedented threat from climate change, and I look forward to this opportunity to help California continue to lead the way on ambitious climate action.”

•    Quentin Foster, Director, California Climate
 

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) President Trump today directed Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to take steps to bail out uneconomic coal and nuclear plants. The Defense Production Act and Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act will likely form the basis of President Trump’s directive. However, these obscure laws are intended to protect national security and reserved for rare, isolated instances of emergency – not for bailing out power plants that can no longer compete in our nation’s electricity markets.

“Trump’s directive today seeks an unprecedented, illegal government handout and we look forward to forcefully opposing it every step of the way. Americans should not have to pay for dirty, uneconomic coal plants that pollute our environment and make people sick – especially when there are cleaner, more affordable energy options available.”

Trump’s directive today goes against a recent determination by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that no resilience or reliability crisis exists, voluminous evidence from grid analysts that supports this finding and a statement by the regional grid operator, PJM, that “there is no immediate emergency.” Trump’s directive seeks to undermine the nation’s competitive power markets and aims to increase electricity bills by billions of dollars a year.

• Michael Panfil, Director of Federal Energy Policy and Senior Attorney

(Washington, DC – June 1, 2018) EPA today revealed its severely flawed approach to reviewing the risks to health and the environment posed by the first 10 chemicals being evaluated under the newly reformed chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).  These chemicals were selected in 2016 because of their potential dangers to the health of American families, but the Pruitt EPA has chosen to ignore many sources of exposure to the chemicals and, in doing so, will severely underestimate their actual risks. 

“EPA is both ignoring the law and endangering public health.  The approach it is taking – designed by an appointee who came straight from the chemical industry’s lobbying arm – ignores millions of pounds of toxic pollution,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF lead senior scientist.  “Pruitt’s EPA won’t examine the real extent of exposures to these chemicals – and that will put at risk the lives and health of Americans.” 

An analysis by Environmental Defense Fund reveals that EPA will ignore more than 68 million pounds of seven of these 10 chemicals released to the nation’s air, water, and land every year.  Among the chemicals are known killers such as asbestos and other toxic chemicals such as trichloroethylene (TCE) that cause cancer and are linked to developmental and neurological disorders.

Download or view the above table at this link. 

This new assault on TSCA implementation is illegal and could make TSCA even weaker than it was before the 2016 reforms.  It also flies in the face of the science that informs what we know about how chemicals can affect our health and that of our environment – frustrating Congress’ mandate that EPA conduct broad risk reviews of chemicals and use the “best available science” when assessing chemical risks under TSCA.  The move provides yet more evidence of this Administration’s unrelenting war on science.

The documents released today demonstrate EPA’s illegal approach to chemical reviews, going even beyond that set forth in its 2017 rule that laid out the details of how EPA will conduct chemical risk evaluations under TSCA.  The approach adopted in that rule, which closely mirrored the demands of the chemical industry, is currently being challenged in the courts.

EPA asserts that the potential exercise of authority under another law EPA administers – such as the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act – allows EPA to ignore known releases of and exposures to a toxic chemical when assessing its risks under TSCA.  In doing so, EPA will effectively assume that such exposures to known toxic chemicals pose no risk whatsoever to people or the environment.  EPA will also entirely exclude known exposures arising from “legacy” uses and associated disposals of asbestos and HBCD from their risk evaluations.

Yet the science tells us that the combined, long-term, and even low-level exposures resulting from multiple uses and sources of exposure to a chemical are what matter.  Assessing all of these exposures is essential to considering differential vulnerabilities of particular subpopulations such as infants, pregnant women, workers, the elderly and disproportionately exposed communities.

Pruitt’s EPA now intends to weaken the implementation of a new law Congress made stronger by breaking it up into pieces and distributing those pieces to other parts of the agency – the authorities of which Pruitt is working relentlessly to dismantle – with no obligation for those other EPA offices to act.  Not only will EPA ignore known sources of exposure to toxic chemicals, it is also abdicating its obligation under TSCA to protect the public, including vulnerable subpopulations, from those chemicals where their combined exposures present unreasonable risk. 

Click here for more background on the serious flaws in EPA’s approach.