Complete list of press releases

EDF Hails Passage of Bi-Partisan Chemical Safety Reform
Senate Overwhelmingly Votes to Send “Landmark Reform” to President

(June 7, 2016)  Today the Senate passed legislation to fix America’s badly broken chemical safety system, sending it to the president for his signature.   The legislation provides important new protections for American families from hazardous chemicals found in everything from clothing to couches to cleaners.

Senate passage of the Lautenberg Act follows the House’s passage in May, by a vote of 403 to 12, of the same bill, which a White House statement called “landmark reform.” The bill, which updates the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) of 1976, is the first major environmental legislation enacted in more than two decades.

“Generations of American children have grown up without any real legal protection from toxic chemicals,” said Fred Krupp, President of EDF. “I am grateful to all the Senators who worked to get this legislation passed, including Senators David Vitter, Jim Inhofe, Barbara Boxer, Tom Carper, Ed Markey, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff Merkley, Cory Booker, and especially Tom Udall.  After so much hard work, we are just a signature away from a law that will finally start to give Americans the health protections they deserve.”

 “Today’s vote is an historic victory for public health,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF lead senior scientist.  “While not perfect, the Lautenberg Act fixes the biggest problems with our current law—by requiring safety reviews for chemicals in use today, mandating greater scrutiny of new chemicals before they can be sold, removing the barriers that prevented EPA from banning asbestos and other harmful chemicals, enhancing transparency, and much more. We look forward to seeing the president sign this landmark reform, so we can begin the process of restoring confidence in our chemical safety system.”

Science has linked chemicals used in everyday products such as household cleaners, clothing and furniture to serious illnesses, including cancer, infertility, diabetes and Parkinson’s. Yet TSCA hasn’t been updated for 40 years and is so weak that only a small fraction of the thousands of chemicals used in products have ever been reviewed for safety. The law leaves EPA virtually powerless to ensure the safety of common chemicals—or even to restrict known hazards, including asbestos, lead and formaldehyde. The failures of the current law have undercut consumer confidence in the safety of everyday products, leading many businesses to support a national system even if that means tougher regulation.

“Today’s historic vote shows meaningful progress is still possible in Washington,” said Elizabeth Thompson, EDF Vice President for Political Affairs. “Solutions to big problems are not easy—they require collaboration, putting aside differences and working hard to find the common ground. The result of that hard work is a major advance for public health.”

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act (HR 2576) is the product of three years of negotiations, begun by its namesake, the late public health champion, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ).

Now that both chambers have acted on the bill, the president is expected to sign the legislation into law. In May, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy calling the Lautenberg Act “an historic advancement for both chemical safety and environmental law.”

(Washington, D.C. – June 6, 2016) America is on the verge of seeing delivery trucks, buses, and garbage trucks that use less fuel and emit less climate pollution and other harmful air pollution than ever before. 

According to news reports, new Clean Truck standards to improve fuel efficiency and reduce pollution from the nation’s freight trucks and buses were formally submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) today by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation. That’s the last step toward finalizing these standards before they are issued by the agencies.

“Strong new Clean Truck standards will help keep Americans safe from climate change and from unhealthy air pollution, will reduce our country’s reliance on imported oil, and will save money for both truckers and consumers,” said EDF’s Jason Mathers. “This is another big step toward reducing climate pollution from our transportation sector – and keeping our families and communities safe from the clear and present danger of climate change. And we can do it with available, cost-effective technologies that will have economic benefits for businesses and for American families.” 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Transportation proposed the historic new measures last June. The standards build on the success of first ever heavy-duty fuel economy and GHG program, which were finalized in 2011 with broad support from truck manufacturers, labor groups, consumers, security groups, and health and environmental organizations.

The standards will apply to the freight trucks that transport the products we buy every day, as well as to buses and school buses, tractor-trailers, heavy-duty pickup trucks and vans, and garbage trucks. (They will not apply to passenger cars and light pickup trucks, which already have their own fuel efficiency standards.) These heavy-duty trucks use more than 125 million gallons of fuel every day and emit nearly 450 million metric tons of climate pollution annually. 

EDF, together with a broad coalition of stakeholders, has called for a protective cost-effective program that will reduce fuel consumption from heavy-duty vehicles by at least 40 percent by 2025 (over 2010 levels). We estimate that by 2030, with those strong standards, the first and second phase standards together could:

• Reduce climate pollution by 270 million metric tons each year

• Cut fuel use by 1.4 million barrels a day by 2030

• Save an average tractor-trailer owner $30,000 dollars per year in fuel costs

Strong standards will also benefit American families, since some of the savings will be passed on to consumers. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) found that rigorous fuel economy and greenhouse gas standards could save American households $250 annually in the near term, and $400 annually by 2035, on goods and services.  

More than 300 companies have also called for strong final standards during the rulemaking process, including PepsiCo and Walmart (two of the largest trucking fleets in the U.S.), mid-size trucking companies RFX Global and Dillon Transport, and large customers of trucking services General Mills, Campbell’s Soup, and IKEA. Leading truck equipment manufacturers, including Cummins, Eaton and Honeywell, have highlighted technology packages that can cost-effectively meet the proposed standards.

El metano, el ingrediente principal en el gas natural y un derivado común de la producción de petróleo, es un gas de efecto invernadero muy potente, con más de 80 veces la potencia de calentamiento del dióxido de carbono en un período de 20 años.

Sin embargo, la propuesta crea un laguna muy seria, conocida como una disposición de “responsabilidad limitada”, lo que permitiría a los operadores cambiar a requisitos de monitoreo menos rigurosos si no se encuentran fugas durante un número determinado de inspecciones. Esto crearía un incentivo poderoso y perverso para evitar encontrar y reportar fugas, y una razón ya preparada para evitar arreglarlas rápidamente.  

“Esta norma es un gran logro para reducir los serios riesgos a la salud y al clima asociados con el metano, pero no llega lo suficientemente lejos,” dijo Tim O’Connor, Abogado Sénior y Director de Petróleo y Gas de California en la EDF. “La cláusula de responsabilidad limitada en realidad le daría a las compañías petroleras y de gas una fuerte motivación para no encontrar o reportar sus fugas. Esto sería un gran retroceso.”

Mientras que las nuevas normativas requerirán la detección y reparación trimestral de fugas, las disposiciones de responsabilidad limitada  les permitirán a los operadores satisfacer solamente los requisitos fáciles de inspección anual tan sólo después de un año de cumplimiento. La investigación ha demostrado que las fugas provenientes de fallas de equipo y mal mantenimiento llevan a emisiones significativas que no se ven reflejadas en los inventarios de emisiones.

“Para arreglar las fugas, las tienes que encontrar. La infraestructura envejecida de petróleo y gas de California aumenta la probabilidad de que pasen fugas peligrosas en cualquier lugar en cualquier momento, por lo cual las inspecciones frecuentes son tan importantes,” dijo O’Connor. “Si bien esta es una norma fuerte, necesita tener inspecciones trimestrales obligatorias permanentes para proteger a las personas del estado y al medio ambiente.”

(May 31, 2016) The California Air Resources Board proposed an important new rule today that will reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations. If finalized, it will give California one of the most comprehensive methane standards in the world, encompassing both new and existing facilities both on land and offshore. The new policy will also cover natural gas storage facilities like Aliso Canyon, the site of one of the nation’s largest natural gas disasters.

Methane, the main ingredient in natural gas and a common byproduct of oil production, is a highly potent greenhouse gas, with more than 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe.

However, the proposal creates a serious loophole, known as a “step-down” provision, which would allow operators to shift to less rigorous monitoring requirements if it fails to find leaks over a specified number of inspections. This would create a powerful, perverse incentive to avoid finding and reporting leaks, and a baked-in reason to avoid fixing them quickly.  

“This rule is a major accomplishment in reducing the serious health and climate risks associated with methane, but it doesn’t go far enough,” said Tim O’Connor, Senior Attorney and Director of California Oil and Gas at EDF. “The step-down provision would actually give oil and gas companies strong motivation not to find or report their leaks. That’s a huge step backward.”

While the new regulation will require quarterly leak detection and repair, the step-down provision allows operators to meet only loose annual inspection requirements after only a year of compliance. Research has shown that leaks from equipment malfunctions and poor maintenance lead to significant emissions that are not reflected in emission inventories.

“To fix the leaks, you have to find them. California’s aging oil and gas infrastructure increases the likelihood of dangerous leaks happening anywhere at any time, which is why frequent inspections are so important,” said O’Connor. “While this is a strong rule, it needs to have permanent mandatory quarterly inspections to protect the state’s people and the environment.”

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:

Julie Benson, (415) 293-6069, jbenson@edf.org

Maurice Hall Joins EDF to Lead Water Program

(SAN FRANCISCO – May 31, 2016) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced today the hiring of Maurice Hall as Associate Vice President, Ecosystems – Water. In this newly created position, Hall will oversee EDF’s work to develop collaborative solutions for managing water scarcity in the American West.

“Climate change and population growth are placing enormous demands on water management systems throughout the west,” said David Festa, EDF Senior Vice President. “With his deep expertise in science, engineering and water policy, Maurice is well positioned to engage stakeholders in collaborative solutions that benefit all water users in the region, including the environment. We’re very excited to have Maurice on board.”

EDF recently revamped its water program to focus on three key goals: reversing groundwater depletion, getting water markets right to ensure benefits for the environment and disadvantaged communities, and developing incentives that reward farmers and ranchers for practices that return water to rivers.

For the past year, Hall has served as the science and engineering lead for the Water Funders Initiative, a cooperative effort to identify and activate promising water solutions through strategic philanthropic investments, starting in the American West. Previously, he managed complex water programs and provided technical and policy leadership for The Nature Conservancy, the California Department of Water Resources and CH2M Hill. A registered civil engineer, Hall holds a Ph.D. in Earth Resources, Watershed Sciences from Colorado State University.

“It’s a pivotal time in western water. Across the water community, we’re all looking at the current conditions and recognizing that we need to be bold and creative if we’re going to shape a resilient future for people and the environment,” said Hall. “I’m really excited to join the talented team at EDF and bring their collaborative solutions more fully to bear on the urgent task of rebalancing our water systems.”

A wide range of stakeholders hailed Hall’s appointment.

Timothy Quinn, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies, welcomed Hall’s appointment as “a sign of EDF’s return to the western water debate. I’ve had the pleasure of working effectively with Maurice for nearly a decade,” said Quinn. “He brings considerable on-the-ground knowledge to this new position leading EDF’s western water program.”

“Maurice has developed an uncommon blend of strong technical skills and knowledge and a deep understanding of public policy and politics,” said Lester Snow, Executive Director of the Water Foundation. “His expertise will greatly enhance EDF’s program, but his continued involvement in water policy will benefit the entire west.”

“Over the past decade, Maurice has effectively integrated his scientific and collaborative skills to develop and then foster practical solutions that improve the environment, the economy and special communities in different parts of California,” said David Guy, President of the Northern California Water Association and former Executive Director of the Yosemite Association. “We are very excited to continue our longstanding partnerships with EDF, and we look forward to working with Maurice and his team on innovative programs to manage our precious water resources.”

(Washington, D.C. — May 24, 2016) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) applauded the House passage of bipartisan chemical safety legislation, the Lautenberg Act. By a margin of 403-12, the House passed a House-Senate agreement reforming America’s badly broken chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The historic vote sets the stage for enactment of the most significant environmental legislation in more than two decades.

“Generations of American children have grown up without any real legal protection from toxic chemicals,” said Fred Krupp, President of EDF. “I am grateful to all the House members who worked hard to make chemical safety a priority, including Reps. Frank Pallone, John Shimkus, Fred Upton, Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Gene Green and Diana DeGette. The Senate should act quickly to get this bill to the president’s desk and give Americans real protection from toxic chemicals.”

 “With today’s vote, Congress took another big step forward for public health,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF lead senior scientist.  “The Lautenberg Act fixes the biggest problems with our current law — by requiring safety reviews for chemicals in use today, mandating greater scrutiny of new chemicals before they can be sold, removing the barriers that prevented EPA from banning asbestos and other harmful chemicals, enhancing transparency, and much more. While not perfect, this bill will be a dramatic improvement over current law. The Senate should act immediately to pass this legislation, so we can begin the process of restoring confidence in our chemical safety system.”

Science has linked chemicals used in everyday products such as household cleaners, clothing and furniture to serious illnesses, including cancer, infertility, diabetes and Parkinson’s. Yet TSCA hasn’t been updated for 40 years and is so weak that only a small fraction of the thousands of chemicals used in products have ever been reviewed for safety. The law leaves EPA virtually powerless to ensure the safety of common chemicals—or even to restrict known hazards, including asbestos, lead and formaldehyde. The failures of the current law have undercut consumer confidence in the safety of everyday products, leading many businesses to support a national system even if that means tougher regulation.

“Today’s broad, bipartisan vote shows meaningful progress is still possible in Washington,” said Elizabeth Thompson, EDF Vice President for Political Affairs. “Solutions to big problems are not easy — they require collaboration, putting aside differences and working hard to find the common ground. The result of that hard work is going to be a major advance for public health.”

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act would address critical flaws in TSCA. The Lautenberg Act is the product of three years of negotiations, begun by its namesake, the late public health champion Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). The House passed a streamlined bill in June of 2015 by a vote of 398-1, while the Senate passed broader legislation by unanimous voice vote in December of 2015.

Now that the House has passed the bill, the Senate is expected to move quickly to pass the Lautenberg Act. On Monday the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy strongly supporting the Lautenberg Act, indicating the president is likely to sign the bill following Senate passage.

(NEW YORK – May 24, 2016)  Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and partners today released a new guidebook that will help agricultural practitioners conduct on-farm research to foster improvements in farm management, farm profitability and sustainability. The “Farmer Network Design Manual” is a comprehensive roadmap for developing and managing a farmer network, drawing from the real-world experience of practitioners managing 11 farmer networks in 10 states.

Farmer networks consist of growers working directly with advisors, agronomists and/or scientists to conduct on-farm trials that test the yield, economic, and environmental impacts of changes in crop management, adoption of conservation practices, or use of precision agriculture products.

The data collected from these networks can help determine best practices for specific farm conditions, such as recommended fertilizer application rates, and inform future management decisions that benefit the environment and a grower’s bottom line. Farmer networks are also being used to conduct field trials for fertilizer efficiency products undergoing review through NutrientStar, a new science-based, independent program that assesses the performance of nutrient management tools on the market.

“This is the first-ever comprehensive guide written by farmer network practitioners experienced in conducting and analyzing on-farm research for nutrient management and product testing in commodity crop agriculture,” said Karen Chapman, agricultural sustainability manager at EDF and lead author of the manual. “The lessons learned from farmer networks have sparked innovation and improved efficiency on hundreds of thousands of acres, and the potential for replication is limitless.”

The Iowa Soybean Association first created the farmer network model for real-world, science-based testing of farm management practices. Over the past decade EDF, among others, established additional farmer networks across the country that have helped to reduce nitrogen losses, maintain or improve yields, and reduce costs.

The Farmer Network Design Manual includes several components to support agricultural practitioners, scientists, government agencies, conservationists, agribusinesses, policymakers, and farmers with developing farmer networks. These include:

·         Analysis of the benefits derived from farmer network research

·         Checklists and step-by-step guides on how to get started in creating a farmer network

·         Recommendations on data collection, documentation, and addressing privacy concerns

·         Roadmaps for setting objectives, engaging partners, and establishing protocols

·         Plans for how to set benchmarks and track progress

·         Sample surveys to document and incorporate participant feedback

·         Options for financing on-farm research trials

·         Six case studies from farmer networks across 10 states

Case studies in the manual focus on farmer networks designed for on-farm research in nutrient use efficiency for commodity crops, such as corn and soybeans. These networks implemented protocols from which consistent and meaningful data could be collected and analyzed:

1.       Iowa Soybean Association’s On-Farm Network®

2.      The North Carolina Agricultural Inputs Management Program

3.      The INfield Advantage Program

4.      The Maumee Farmer Network

5.       Cornell University’s Nutrient Management Spear Program

6.      Kansas State University Extension On-Farm Research Program

 “Today’s farmers face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty, but these obstacles are matched by significant opportunities for progress and efficiency,” said Tom Morris, professor of soil fertility at the University of Connecticut and lead contributor to the manual. “Farmer networks are an ideal platform for participatory research and science-based learning that sheds a light on where farm management improvements are possible. The first-hand knowledge in this manual can help farmers enhance productivity while reducing their environmental footprint.” 

(NEW YORK – May 24, 2016) Today, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps announced that 100 organizations including Best Buy and IKEA will welcome 127 fellows across their operations in the U.S. and China. EDF Climate Corps is an innovative fellowship program that embeds trained graduate students into companies, cities, schools and public institutions to accelerate clean energy projects. Over the course of the summer, fellows get clean energy projects on the fast track to accomplishment – simultaneously improving the organization’s bottom line and environmental impact.

Now in its ninth year, the program sees new trends emerging in corporate energy management practices, including steep growth in clean energy deployment and supply chain efficiency initiatives.

Since the launch of Climate Corps in 2008, global investment in clean energy has grown six-fold and many Climate Corps hosts are driving that trend. Last year’s cohort of 120 fellows recommended over $60 million of new investments in clean energy technology, and EDF anticipates this number will increase in 2016. This summer, the fellows will be deployed to develop detailed plans for onsite and offsite renewable projects, portfolio-wide demand response plans, resilient solutions such as microgrids, and to improve onsite energy efficiency performance.

“It is clear that clean energy is an increasingly necessary business imperative for companies and organizations,” said Liz Delaney, program director of EDF Climate Corps. “To meet this need, Climate Corps has evolved from primarily focusing on just energy efficiency to supporting holistic, integrated energy solutions with both efficiency and renewable components.  This year’s fellows will help our hosts reduce consumption while meeting the demand for new investment in low-carbon energy.”

EDF’s attention has turned to many of the states that not only consume large amounts of electricity, but have aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets and policies that support clean energy investment. For example, New York will be home to 33 fellows in both the public and private sector, as both the city and state work to meet the ambitious energy reduction goals set forth by the governor and mayor. A large scale, single-state deployment of this many fellows is unprecedented for the program, and represents a concerted effort to provide on the ground support for progressive energy policies.

In addition to accelerating the clean energy revolution in the U.S., EDF Climate Corps will continue its ground-breaking work in China. It is estimated that twenty-five percent of China’s carbon emissions are caused by manufacturing products that are consumed abroad – making tackling emissions at the source a crucial component to reducing greenhouse gas impacts. After a two-year pilot that uncovered the potential to reduce thousands of tons of carbon emissions, while also helping Chinese manufacturers save tens of millions of dollars, EDF Climate Corps will deploy ten Chinese fellows this summer. These students will work hand in hand with major corporations like IKEA to uncover savings for both businesses and the environment.

(NEW YORK – May 24, 2016) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps announced today that it will place 33 EDF Climate Corps fellows throughout New York this summer to help public and private institutions work towards achieving the ambitious energy goals set by Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo. EDF Climate Corps is an innovative fellowship program that embeds trained graduate students into companies, cities, schools and public institutions to accelerate clean energy projects. Over the course of the summer, fellows get clean energy projects on the fast track to accomplishment – simultaneously improving the organization’s bottom line and environmental impact.

 The Mayor’s ambitious 80x50 goals, pledging to reduce the city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050, and the Governor’s state-level target of receiving half of the state’s power from renewable energy by 2030 have set New York up as a national leader in clean energy policy. To meet these ambitious targets, both the public and private sector need to mobilize to identify and execute broad scale solutions that improve building performance and implementation of distributed energy resources. EDF Climate Corps has deliberately stepped up its presence in the state to provide hands-on support for a variety of building-level projects such as on-site renewable power generation, energy efficiency upgrades, and commercial demand response.
 
“For the first time, we are deploying almost a quarter of our fellows to one strategic location—it’s necessary given the scope of what needs to be accomplished,” said Liz Delaney, Program Director, EDF Climate Corps, “Ultimately, we want to ensure that New York creates lasting solutions and successfully transforms its energy system.”

 “Climate Corps is providing critical boots on the ground that will ultimately help both the public and private sectors accelerate and execute on New York’s clean energy goals,” said Rory Christian, Director, New York Clean Energy at EDF. “The deployment of fellows in multiple sectors will help building owners and operators turn smart energy policy into reality.”

 In addition to working with commercial real estate companies like Shorenstein Properties to green iconic buildings, Climate Corps will have a strong presence in the public sector. 17 fellows will be working with city agencies including Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS), NYC Department of Education and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).

“Shorenstein Properties is committed to reducing energy in our portfolio and helping New York City work toward its ambitious energy targets,” said Jaxon Love, Sustainability Program Manager at Shorenstein. “Our Climate Corps fellow will help us continue to lead on this issue and help New York move towards a low-carbon future.”

“Since the release of OneNYC, we’ve made great strides on everything from driving down energy emissions in buildings to increasing solar installations citywide,” said Nilda Mesa, Director, NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability. “Cutting NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050 is a high bar. It will take a continued concerted effort plus a lot of creativity to develop the path to achieve it, across many sectors of the city. EDF is making a major contribution by providing Climate Corps fellows to so many key sectors in the city. Together we can lead the way for other cities and regions in achieving our goals.”

For more information on the Climate Corps 2016 program, including a list of all 100 organizations participating, click here.

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today applauded the news of a House-Senate agreement on chemical safety reform that has now earned the support of Congressional leaders of both parties in both the House and Senate.

“We are very pleased to hear that leaders in the Senate and House have come to an agreement to reform our badly broken chemical safety system,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF Lead Senior Scientist. “This historic milestone has been many years in the making. All of those in Congress who had the courage to work across party lines to finally begin protecting American families from the dangers of toxic chemicals deserve our thanks. In particular, we must salute the leadership of Senators Udall, Vitter, Inhofe, Boxer, Carper, Merkley, Whitehouse, Booker, Markey and Durbin; as well as Representatives Upton, Pallone, Shimkus, Pelosi, Hoyer, DeGette and Green. The Lautenberg Act represents the most significant environmental legislation in decades and will, over time, dramatically improve EPA’s ability to protect the health of all Americans.”

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act addresses critical flaws in TSCA. The Lautenberg Act is the product of three years of negotiations, begun by its namesake, the late public health champion Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). The House passed a streamlined bill in June of 2015 by a vote of 398-1, while the Senate passed broader legislation by unanimous voice vote in December 2015. The agreement reconciles those two bills.

The new bill requires safety reviews for all new and existing chemicals. It fixes the safety standard that prevented EPA from banning asbestos and other harmful chemicals. It gives EPA enhanced testing authority, sets aggressive deadlines for action, reins in chemical industry trade secret claims and broadens access to chemical safety information.

The House is scheduled to consider the bill on Tuesday, with the Senate to follow soon after.

(Baton Rouge, LA– May 20, 2016) Yesterday, in a unanimous vote, the Louisiana Senate approved House Concurrent Resolution 2 (HCR -2), resulting in final passage of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority’s 2016-2017 annual plan for coastal protection and restoration through the legislature. The resolution directs $736 million toward coastal restoration and protection activities over the course of fiscal year 2017 – from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 – and outlines the state’s prioritization of projects during that period. This authorization will fund some of the 19 priority projects for restoring Louisiana’s coast as identified by the Restore the Mississippi River Delta Coalition.

In response, coalition members including Environmental Defense Fund, National Wildlife Federation, National Audubon Society, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation released the following statement:

“We applaud the Louisiana Legislature on their continued prioritization of coastal restoration and protection at this moment in our state’s history. Without consistent, determinative action outlined in the Coastal Master Plan to confront Louisiana’s land loss crisis, more communities, industries and wildlife are at risk of further destruction.

“We are grateful to Governor John Bel Edwards and CPRA Chairman Johnny Bradberry for their leadership in defending coastal dollars and prioritizing the most promising, science-based restoration projects outlined in the state’s Coastal Master Plan. We also thank Representative Stuart J. Bishop for shepherding this resolution through the legislature.

“This annual plan recognizes the importance of coastal restoration and protection as equal pillars in ensuring a resilient future for our state, its residents, wildlife and industries. We applaud the inclusion of a comprehensive suite of projects, including barrier island restoration, sediment diversions and community resiliency efforts, that can work together to address the variety of problems afflicting our coast. We are encouraged to see the advancement of restoration in some areas impacted by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and recommend CPRA further prioritize restoration of this region.

“Our coalition looks forward to working with the state and others as they finalize the 2017 Coastal Master Plan that will provide an updated roadmap for coastal restoration and protection.”

PHOENIX – May 20, 2016 - Following the news of the water level at Lake Mead hitting a record low, and a new long lead outlook from the Climate Prediction Center forecasting a drying trend in the Southwest through late spring of 2017, Kevin Moran, Senior Director of Western Water at Environmental Defense Fund,released the following statement:

“Lake Mead’s record low water level and the latest forecast of a drying trend in the Southwest over the next year are two big wakeup calls that we need to take significant action now if we’re going to secure Arizona’s water future and avoid triggering federal intervention.”

“We can no longer ignore the reality that we are overdrawing our water account. And the imbalance between demand and supply will only get worse with the ongoing drought and climate change. That’s why it’s critical that Arizona, California and Nevada continue to work together to address the looming prospect of a water shortage – so that we can solve the problem on our own terms and in a way that is flexible and fair to all who rely on the Colorado River.

“Our state has a proud tradition of innovative water management and bold conservation measures, and we will meet this challenge with the same creativity and common sense that has guided us before. We all have a role to play, and that starts with using our water wisely and expanding flexibility for water sharing agreements – so that we can protect the environment, communities and agricultural economy that depend on our finite water resources.”

NEWS RELEASE               

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) welcomes today’s announcement by Senate and House negotiators that they are very near an agreement on chemical safety legislation, the Lautenberg Act. Last year, both chambers overwhelmingly passed bills to reform America’s badly broken chemical safety law, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Today’s announcement sets the stage for enactment of the most significant environmental legislation in more than two decades.

“Generations of American children have grown up without any real legal protection from toxic chemicals,” said Fred Krupp, President of EDF. “With today’s announcement, Congress is at last poised to adopt protections for children, pregnant women, workers and all Americans that are decades overdue.”

“This agreement will be a significant victory for public health,” said Dr. Richard Denison, EDF lead senior scientist. “The Lautenberg Act fixes the biggest problems with our current law—by requiring safety reviews for chemicals in use today, mandating greater scrutiny of new chemicals before they can be sold, removing the barriers that prevented EPA from banning asbestos and other harmful chemicals, enhancing transparency, and much more. While not perfect, this will be a dramatic improvement over current law. Congress should act fast to pass this legislation, so we can begin the process of restoring confidence in our chemical safety system.”

Science has linked chemicals used in everyday products such as household cleaners, clothing and furniture to serious illnesses, including cancer, infertility, diabetes and Parkinson’s. Yet TSCA hasn’t been updated for 40 years and is so weak that only a small fraction of the thousands of chemicals used in products have ever been reviewed for safety. The law leaves EPA virtually powerless to ensure the safety of common chemicals—or even to restrict known hazards, including asbestos, lead and formaldehyde. The failures of the current law have undercut consumer confidence in the safety of everyday products, leading many businesses to support a national system even if that means tougher regulation.

“Today’s announcement shows meaningful progress is still possible in Washington,” said Elizabeth Thompson, EDF Vice President for Political Affairs. “Solutions to big problems are not easy—they require collaboration, putting aside differences and working hard to find the common ground. The result of that hard work is going to be a major advance for public health.”

The Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21^st Century Act would address critical flaws in TSCA. The Lautenberg Act is the product of three years of negotiations, begun by its namesake, the late public health champion Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). The House passed a streamlined bill in June of 2015 by a vote of 398-1, while the Senate passed broader legislation by unanimous voice vote in December 2015. The bill announced today reconciles those two bills.

The new bill will require safety reviews for all new and existing chemicals. It fixes the safety standard that prevented EPA from banning asbestos and other harmful chemicals. It gives EPA enhanced testing authority, sets aggressive deadlines for action, reins in chemical industry trade secret claims and broadens access to chemical safety information.

Once a final agreement is reached, the House is expected to pass the bill first, with the Senate to follow.

Environmental Defense Fund and Google Earth Outreach have teamed up to create interactive online maps using Google Street View mapping cars specially equipped with sensors and software that allow researchers not only to locate but also measure dozens of natural gas leaks beneath the streets in select areas of greater Dallas served by the Mid-Tex division of Atmos Energy, which has cooperated with researchers on the project.

Utilities are required to address leaks that pose safety threats promptly. However, smaller or more remote leaks can go undetected or unrepaired for long periods. Leaks like these usually don’t pose an immediate risk, but leaking natural gas – which is mostly methane – has a powerful effect on the climate, packing 84 times the warming effect of carbon dioxide over a 20-year timeframe.

“Methane leaks are a serious environmental challenge for utilities everywhere, and a waste of resources paid for by customers. Fixing these leaks is a quick way to dramatically reduce greenhouse emissions,” said Jonathan Peress, EDF Air Policy Director for Natural Gas. “Replacing old, leak-prone pipes is a necessary but expensive job, and it’s important to be both efficient and cost-effective. The technology we’re demonstrating in Dallas can help find problem spots and prioritize those efforts.”

The Dallas maps are available at www.edf.org/climate/methanemaps. A total of 17 neighborhoods from University Park and the Convention Center district to Southwest Dallas were chosen as a representative sample of the system. A video describing the project is on YouTube at http://tinyurl.com/MethaneMaps.

“Atmos Energy continues to invest more than $1 billion a year in capital projects across the eight states we serve. More than 80% of that is directed towards improving the safety and reliability of our system while reducing methane emissions,” said John McDill, Atmos Energy Vice President of Pipeline Safety.

About half the gas mains operated by Atmos Energy are at least 50 years old, according to the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. The company has already adopted advanced detection technology, and is on a schedule to eliminate all of its leak-prone cast iron pipe by 2021.

“In just the past three years, we have replaced more than 300 miles of bare steel and cast iron pipe in North Texas,” said John Paris, Atmos Energy President of the Mid-Tex Division. “Thanks to local governments and the Texas Railroad Commission, who understand the importance of funding for infrastructure replacement, Atmos Energy has been able to make significant improvements to our infrastructure.”

The researchers collected 1.5 million data points driving 705 miles of roadway, and found over 400 leaks. Some, but not all, were already known to the utility. Google cars took readings from January 2015 through February 2016. The maps therefore represent a snapshot, and may not reflect current leaks due to repairs or other changes.

Texas Making Progress Tackling Leaks

Both the State of Texas and the City of Dallas have taken several important steps to address the issue, putting Texas ahead of many other states, and Atmos Energy is working to address the challenge as quickly and efficiently as possible. But there’s still opportunity to build on that progress. EDF is calling on Texas regulators to require all state utilities to use state-of-the-art leak detection technology; improve public reporting in leak abatement efforts; and to conduct more frequent leak surveys, to advance both ratepayer interests and environmental benefits.

“Texas has a strong regulatory framework for leak repair and management. But officials should also require state-of-the art technologies to find and measure leaks more often, and use that data to prioritize leak repair and pipeline replacement efforts,” Peress said. “Leaks that are a safety threat should always be fixed immediately, but after that, utilities should be tackling those with the greatest emissions, which pose the most serious threat to the environment.”

Early detection of natural gas leaks benefits both customers and the environment, and has the potential to reduce the need for costly and disruptive emergency repairs. EDF also recommends sharing leak data with the public. Utilities in New York and California are already publishing dynamic maps of their natural gas leaks. Publically sharing geographically-located leak data can help regulators and ratepayers track utility performance, and ensure cost-efficient emission reductions.

New Technology Means Better Opportunity

The mapping project was developed in collaboration with scientists at Colorado State University. EDF has been working with utilities in cities around the U.S., including Boston, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles to validate technology to detect leaks and assess leak sizes quickly and more efficiently. Data from the project is also being used by New Jersey’s largest utility, Public Service Electric and Gas, as part of a $905 million pipeline replacement program.

The technology in this pilot project is newer and more sensitive than devices typically used by utilities to detect leaks on their systems. It is designed to find and measure leaks that wouldn’t necessarily turn up or warrant repair based on safety concerns alone, but which do add up to a major environmental issue and costs to ratepayers. EDF and researchers at Colorado State University have spent four years testing and fine-tuning the technology.