Complete list of press releases

On the eve of an important decision amid the spreading coronavirus, an analysis published today by Environmental Defense Fund cautions the International Civil Aviation Organization’s governing Council against making fundamental changes that would weaken the Carbon Offsetting and Reductions Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
 
“Coronavirus/COVID-19 is a global crisis that has hit public health and the world’s airlines are facing real economic and structural threats. But U.N. climate action is not one of them. That’s because there will be plenty of high-quality credits available to help airlines meet their carbon limits in CORSIA’s initial years – and because CORSIA includes provisions, thanks to ICAO foresight, that give airlines flexibility to deal with the COVID-19 crisis without sacrificing climate protection.  

“EDF’s new analysis finds that the amount of credits that would be available to airlines to use in CORSIA would still be 2.5 to 3.5 times the amount the airlines need for the first three years of the program. These credits would be in addition to any reductions that may be available as airlines begin to shift to sustainable aviation fuels. 

“For the sake of the world, communities, companies, and countries, we hope the COVID-19 crisis passes swiftly. If it does, and if air travel rebounds sharply in the ensuing years, confronting airlines with higher-than-expected offset obligations, CORSIA includes a provision that would allow airlines to calculate their offset obligations for the years 2021, 2022, and 2023 based on their 2020 emissions, rather than their emissions in those high-rebound years. 

“As they move forward to implement CORSIA, ICAO governments may wish to consider invoking this flexibility provision and may wish to convene an expert panel to examine the longer-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on CORSIA’s base years.

“In the coming days ICAO is likely to come under pressure to change the fundamentals of CORSIA in an attempt to lessen the financial hardship airlines face from the coronavirus. Our analysis shows the best course of action is for the ICAO Council to act with integrity and follow the recommendations of its technical advisors. Standing up CORSIA with integrity will result in an ample supply of post-2016 credits available to airlines, even considering the most pronounced effects of the coronavirus. The existing CORSIA rules provide flexibility to governments to address suppressed activity in 2020, without any need to renegotiate the measure in a drawn out political discussion. 

“As EDF has said repeatedly - if CORSIA is peppered with bad quality, double-counted emissions units, its effectiveness will be fundamentally weakened, as will the credibility of the UN’s ICAO Council and the world’s airlines. Our ability to tackle climate change will have taken a backward step.”

EDF’s analysis builds on a recent analysis by Ecosystem Marketplace, which examined the available supply of credits if ICAO’s governing Council filters old, questionable carbon credits out of CORSIA, and considers the COVID-19 scenarios published on March 5, 2020, by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), and the travel restrictions announced on 11 March 2020.


 

(NEW ORLEANS, LA) As the 10th anniversary of the Gulf oil spill approaches on April 20, Restore the Mississippi River Delta released a report today with nine recommended strategies for advancing critical ecosystem restoration in the delta, maximizing the investment opportunities of the oil spill settlement and engaging local communities for a more resilient future.  The recommendations, titled “A Decade After Disaster,” were compiled by conservation policy and science experts from the Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. These organizations have worked collectively to advance science-based coastal restoration and build community resilience in Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita and the Gulf oil spill.   

“As we reflect on one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history, we do so with a clear recognition of the loss of life and damages to our coasts and communities,” said Steve Cochran, campaign director for Restore the Mississippi River Delta. “Louisiana has made significant progress since the Gulf oil disaster, and we can honor these losses by continuing to act with urgency on ongoing recovery and in the face of land loss and climate change.”   

In the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon explosion, which killed 11 men and dumped more than 134 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, BP and other responsible parties settled to pay $20.8 billion to the impacted Gulf states – the largest environmental damage settlement in U.S. history. Louisiana will receive more than $6 billion from the settlement, providing funding that has allowed the state to advance key Coastal Master Plan restoration projects that have been planned for decades.

“The Gulf oil spill settlement provided a down payment for restoration.  But this jumpstart – as essential as it has been – will not be enough to restore and sustain the Mississippi River Delta over time,” said Brian Moore, National Audubon Society’s Vice President for Gulf Policy. “It is absolutely vital that Louisiana identify consistent, long-term funding to restore and protect its coast for all who depend on it.”

Throughout the summer of 2010 and beyond, coastal wetlands around the Mississippi River Delta bore the brunt of the oil as it reached the shore, exacerbating a coastal land loss crisis that had already claimed 2,000 square miles since the 1930s. The state has committed considerable research and resources to addressing its land loss crisis. There are currently 24 restoration projects that have been completed, are in construction or are moving toward implementation using funds from the oil spill settlement, including the Caminada Headland Restoration Project and the Louisiana Outer Coast Restoration Project.

“Since Louisiana was at the heart of the oil spill that exacerbated a severe land loss crisis, the state has an urgent need to help recover and restore coastal ecosystems and wildlife habitat,” said Alisha Renfro, coastal scientist with the National Wildlife Federation. “Projects like the Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion and Barataria Basin Habitat Restoration Plan can help Louisiana’s deteriorated habitat and wildlife not only recover from the oil spill but also increase their resilience to sea level rise and climate change.”

Last month, the Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council) voted to approve $130 million to fund a critical diversion project in Louisiana’s Maurepas Swamp. The River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project would use restoration funds from the oil spill to reconnect one of the largest forested wetlands complexes in the nation with the Mississippi River to prevent further wetland loss and habitat degradation.

“Louisiana has prioritized science and large-scale restoration to address land loss and protect critical ecosystems, such as the Maurepas Swamp,” said John Lopez, director of the coast and community program at Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. “As a result of available funds and smart decision-making by the state and the RESTORE Council, one of our state’s most important swamps will be protected.”

In addition to spending wisely and implementing science-backed projects, Louisiana and its residents have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to coastal restoration efforts, providing a strong foundation for future progress. A recent poll shows that a vast majority of voters, 72 percent, believe coastal land loss will directly impact them in the next five years. Voters are also largely in agreement about how the state tackles its land loss crisis with 97 percent wanting Louisiana elected officials to protect existing funding for coastal restoration and protection and 92 percent supporting an approach that balances restoration of coastal wetlands with protection efforts, such as levees.

“Coastal Louisiana is home to millions of people whose futures depend on ongoing restoration efforts,” said Corey Miller, director of community resilience for the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana. “We must work directly with communities to identify and advance solutions that can create a more resilient future, while ensuring that the economies and ecosystems of Louisiana’s coast continue to thrive for decades to come.                                                                                                                           

To read the complete report, visit MississippiRiverDelta.org/DecadeAfterDisaster.

(Salem, OR. – March 10, 2020) Swiftly following through on last week’s strong commitment, Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed an executive order today designed to guarantee Oregon delivers reductions in carbon pollution consistent with scientific recommendations.

Most critically, the order sets clear emission reduction targets of at least 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 80% by 2050, and directs the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to expeditiously develop regulations that will cap pollution from the state’s major sources—including industrial emitters, transportation fuels, and natural gas usage—consistent with achieving these reduction targets. The order underscores the urgency of the problem, directing that regulations be in place no later than January 1, 2022—the exact same implementation timeline outlined in the broadly-supported Clean Energy Jobs legislation that was blocked by scorched-earth and undemocratic tactics of a small minority of legislators.

“The climate crisis requires decisive action. In the face of Oregon’s broken legislative process, Governor Brown showed why she is at the front of the pack with a bold directive that includes a critically-important declining limit on pollution as its centerpiece,” said Pam Kiely, senior director of regulatory strategy for Environmental Defense Fund.

“State clean air agencies have successfully cut pollution for decades, using time-tested approaches to cap and reduce emissions. Governor Brown’s plan sets a new bar for her colleagues across the nation, demonstrating how to swiftly and fully mobilize state agencies with the near-term ambition that this climate crisis demands.”

Oregonians overwhelmingly support strong action to protect the health and economic future of their state from climate change. Legislative leaders had secured all of the votes needed for passage of a comprehensive climate proposal in the House and the Senate—the centerpiece of that policy effort being an enforceable, declining limit on carbon pollution. Such pollution caps are critical for achieving the climate goals laid out by Governor Brown, and for meeting Oregon’s commitment under the U.S. Climate Alliance. As DEQ moves forward to develop options for capping and reducing emissions—due to Governor Brown by May 15th—the agency can draw from that comprehensive policy framework that effectively balanced the interests, and won the support of, business owners, labor groups, farmers, outdoorsmen and women, consumer advocates, Tribes, and community leaders.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – New polling released today shows that a majority of African-Americans across the United States are personally affected by disease and extreme weather made worse by climate change, and support a transition to a 100% clean economy to curb climate pollution.

Lincoln Park Strategies conducted the nationwide poll that surveyed 1,000 African-Americans about their first-hand hardships with climate change, and identified support for a solution to the climate crisis that is gaining traction on Capitol Hill.

The poll was commissioned by Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) in coordination with Moms Clean Air Force to measure the nationwide support for a transition to a 100% clean economy. EDF and Moms Clean Air Force know that communities of color are especially vulnerable to air and water pollution and the deadly health risks made worse by climate change.

EDF and Moms Clean Air Force have endorsed legislation on Capitol Hill that puts the country on a path to achieve a 100% clean future where all Americans have better jobs and live in thriving communities.

“This data falls right in line with what we hear from our members: African Americans are concerned about the impacts of climate change and want solutions that don’t pour more pollution into already overburdened communities,” said Heather Toney, National Field Director of Moms Clean Air Force. “A 100% clean economy is a solution that looks to insure fair and equitable future to black communities and Moms Clean Air Force strongly supports legislation that moves us in that direction.”

“This data is an opportunity for us to recognize that Black people must be key partners in the response to climate change,” said Elise Nelson EDF’s Campaign and Partnerships Manager. “EDF is working to expand our reach and provide resources that reflects the concerns and voices of people on the front lines of climate impacts. To be successful we need to strengthen our relationship with Black communities. This data will serve as a tool to help us move the conversation and do the work.”

The chief findings of the poll include:

• A majority of African-Americans are affected by severe heat and extreme storms that are made more dangerous by climate change.
• A 57% majority of African-Americans think that climate change is getting worse.
• Achieving a nationwide, 100% clean economy is a solution to climate change that is supported by a 77% of African-Americans surveyed.

A complete summary of the finding is available HERE.

(SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) hoy  presentó sus comentarios en relación al Plan de Recursos Integrados (IRP por sus siglas en inglés) de la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico (PREPA por sus siglas en inglés). La organización aboga por el rechazo del IRP en favor de un plan modificado que reduzca la dependencia de Puerto Rico en las plantas centralizadas de combustibles fósiles y optimice los recursos energéticos disponibles que permitan construir resiliencia y, en última instancia, ayuden a que la isla pueda obtener el 100% de su energía de fuentes renovables para el 2050.

Entre las recomendaciones que EDF dio a PREPA para que mejore el plan, están las de adoptar energías renovables lo más pronto posible, eliminar los planes para construir nuevas y costosas plantas de gas que son innecesarias, e implementar soluciones descentralizadas y rentables que cuenten con una mejor capacidad de respuesta a las necesidades de electricidad de los usuarios. La organización también solicitó que la compañía de servicios públicos empodere a que sus clientes ayuden a impulsar la transición energética de la isla y que también faciliten las soluciones del lado de demanda incluyendo la eficiencia energética, la satisfacción de demanda y la generación distribuida de energía – tal como las microrredes y las plantas de energía virtuales – para proporcionar electricidad limpia, confiable y asequible a las comunidades de Puerto Rico.

“Transformar el sistema eléctrico de Puerto Rico puede ayudar a proteger a la isla de futuras tormentas y grandes interrupciones, mejorar la vida de su gente y fortalecer su economía – pero debe hacerse bien. La Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica de Puerto Rico y la Agencia de Energía de Puerto Rico deben seguir adelante con un Plan de Recursos Integrados que reconozca y aproveche el valor de la energía más limpia y descentralizada, y que permita proporcionar acceso a la energía que todas las comunidades en Puerto Rico merecen”.

• Agustin Carbó, Gerente, Microrredes

Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) está desarrollando un proyecto innovador para demostrar la viabilidad de los recursos energéticos distribuidos, como las microrredes, que pueden reducir la dependencia de la isla en los combustibles fósiles. Estas mini estaciones de servicio de energía pueden maximizar la energía renovable generada localmente, como la energía solar, y pueden funcionar respaldadas por almacenamiento de batería y software inteligente. Estos sistemas, al estar vinculados a la red eléctrica más grande, pueden proporcionar energía limpia, asequible y confiable todos los días. Los sistemas también pueden ser diseñados para desvincularse de la red durante las emergencias, como fue el huracán María. Esto permitirá mantener las luces encendidas en las partes de la isla que más las necesitan. Para más información, visite www.edf.org/PuertoRico.

(SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today filed comments on the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority’s (PREPA) Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), advocating to reject the IRP in favor of a modified plan that reduces Puerto Rico’s reliance on centralized fossil fuel plants, and that optimizes readily available energy resources to build resilience and to ultimately source 100% of the island’s power from renewables by 2050.

Among EDF’s recommendations for PREPA to improve the plan are to pursue renewables as early as possible, while eliminating plans to build expensive, unnecessary new gas plants and implementing decentralized, cost-effective solutions that are more responsive to customers’ electricity needs. The organization also called for the utility to empower customers to help drive the island’s energy transition and to facilitate demand-side solutions including energy efficiency, demand response and distributed generation. – such as microgrids and virtual power plants – to providing clean, reliable and affordable electricity to Puerto Rico’s communities.

“Transforming Puerto Rico’s electric system can help protect the island from future storms and major disruptions, improve people’s lives and strengthen its economy — but it has to be done right. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority and the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau must forge ahead with an Integrated Resource Plan that recognizes and leverages the value of cleaner and decentralized power to provide all of the island’s communities with the energy access they deserve.”

● Daniel Whittle, Senior Director, Caribbean Initiatives

Environmental Defense Fund is developing an innovative project to demonstrate the feasibility of distributed energy resources, including microgrids that can reduce the island’s dependence on fossil fuels. These mini-energy service stations can maximize locally-generated renewable energy, such as solar power, and can run backed by battery storage and intelligent software. Linked to the larger grid — ensuring the delivery of affordable, clean and reliable energy everyday — these systems will be designed to also separate from the grid during emergencies, like Hurricane Maria, to keep the lights on in the parts of the island that need it most. For more information, visit www.edf.org/PuertoRico.

(Oakland, CA) This week, EDF joined a broad coalition of health, environmental, and tribal citizen groups, along with the states of California and New Mexico, to present oral argument before the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, asking the court to reinstate protections that reduce energy waste and pollution on our nation’s public and tribal lands.

The Trump administration has gotten rid of a rule that would have reduced the waste of American natural gas, saving taxpayers money while cutting harmful toxic pollution and emissions of methane, a potent climate pollutant.

Lawyers from California’s Office of the Attorney General, EDF and Earthjustice presented arguments to the court that the Trump administration’s rescission of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Waste Prevention Rule is unlawful and should be overturned.More than $2.5 billion of American taxpayer-owned natural gas has been wasted through leaks or intentional venting and flaring since 2013 – money that could have gone toward schools, healthcare and other vital public projects across the West.

“The Trump administration’s rescission of the Waste Prevention Rule means fewer resources for Western and tribal communities, and more pollution for everyone,” said EDF Attorney Rosalie Winn, one of the attorneys who presented oral argument at Wednesday’s hearing.

The Waste Prevention Rule required operators to control the venting, flaring, and leaks that waste natural gas, using proven and widely-available technologies that are already in use in the industry and already required by leading states. But former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke eliminated all measures of the Waste Prevention Rule that would result in natural gas savings, even though his own agency found that rolling back the rule will cost Americans more than one billion dollars.

The 2016 BLM methane rule has wide support from key stakeholders including local elected officials, business groups, methane mitigation companies, Latino organizations, agricultural groups, sportsmen groups, veterans, public health experts, clean air advocacy organizations and taxpayer organizations.

You can read more about the BLM Waste Rule, including all legal briefs, on EDF’s website.

Today, people from communities across the country impacted by the cancer-causing chemical trichloroethylene (TCE) sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials demanding the agency hold a public meeting on TCE. The nearly 300 individuals, from 18 states, are calling for the meeting to engage directly with EPA around their deep concerns with the agency’s inadequate draft risk evaluation of TCE and failure to adequately protect public health.

TCE is a highly toxic chemical that is linked to a wide range of adverse health impacts – including birth defects from even low levels of prenatal exposure and cancer. Among other problems, EPA’s draft risk evaluation dramatically underestimates the risks of TCE by ignoring all exposures the general public experiences from releases of the chemical to air, land and water – nearly 3 million pounds per year. Additionally, the draft excludes fetal heart defects from determinations of health risks of TCE exposure – a long-held wish of the chemical industry that ignores decades of science and best public health practice.

“For years, we have fought to get answers and action on the trichloroethylene contamination and high pediatric cancer rates in our community,” said Stacie Davidson and Kari Rhinehart of Franklin, Indiana. “EPA ignoring the exposures we face is absolutely unacceptable; the agency is turning its back on us and our children. A public meeting is the chance for us to tell our stories and demand the agency step up to protect communities like ours.” 

A recent investigative story from Reveal highlights deep political interference with the draft risk evaluation for TCE and the chemical industry’s vast influence on the Trump EPA’s activities. The article exposes the role of conflicted political appointees in undermining evidence linking TCE exposure to fetal heart defects and abandoning an established safety benchmark for the chemical. 

“This letter is an important reminder that EPA’s activities on toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene have very real consequences for families across the nation,” said Dr. Jennifer McPartland, Senior Health Scientist at Environmental Defense Fund. “The strong support for a public meeting speaks to the burden of TCE on communities across the country and underscores the urgent need for EPA to fix significant flaws in its draft risk evaluation.”

The letter states, “Our families and our communities are among those that have been significantly impacted by TCE. We are concerned that, if finalized as drafted, this evaluation would lead to inadequate public health protections from this toxic chemical – leaving communities across the country still at risk of harm.”

With hundreds of concerned community members calling on EPA, the agency should move swiftly to organize a public meeting to engage with stakeholders and take action to protect health. The signers are asking for an answer from EPA officials by March 19.  

(AUSTIN, TX) Today the Electric Reliability Council of Texas released its Seasonal Assessment of Resource Adequacy, which offers a prediction of how much generating capacity will be available to meet the forecasted summer peak demand. Recent ERCOT data have shown that solar, wind and storage make up 95% of new generating capacity waiting to be connected to the grid.

“Texas’ competitive electricity market continues to lead the nation in providing clean, affordable and reliable power. ERCOT’s assessment demonstrates the critical role that new solar, wind and storage resources will play in ensuring Texans have the power they need during the hot summer months ahead.”

• John Hall, Director of Regulatory & Legislative Affairs, Environmental Defense Fund

(Washington, D.C. – March 4, 2020) Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to expand the scope of its already dangerous plan to limit the science the agency can consider when developing critical public health and environmental safeguards.

EPA’s original “Censored Science” proposal, released in April 2018 by former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, would effectively bar the agency from considering critical research when making decisions around protecting human health and the environment. The newly-released supplemental proposal would apply these restrictions to an even wider array of scientific studies, further imperiling EPA’s ability to protect our health and ecosystems from environmental harms including climate change, air pollution, water pollution and other toxic chemical exposures.

“This new version does nothing to fix the fundamental problems with the original Scott Pruitt proposal,” said EDF Senior Health Scientist Dr. Jennifer McPartland. “In fact, it’s an even more expansive attack on science that endangers the health and well-being of American families.”

“This unlawful proposal would bar EPA from considering the best available science when making decisions about our health and environment, and ignores a chorus of opposition from our nation’s leading researchers and scientific institutions,” said EDF Attorney Ben Levitan. “We will do everything in our power to defeat this latest effort by the Trump Administration to undermine health and environmental protections.”

Proposed under the guise of transparency, the Censored Science rule would bar EPA from using critical scientific studies when underlying data are not publicly available. As with the original proposal, the supplemental proposal ignores legitimate legal, ethical, and practical reasons such data may not be publicly available; ignores well-established, existing procedures for vetting scientific research; and fundamentally fails to identify a problem needing to be solved. The net effect is to put American health and our environment at risk.

Environmental Defense Fund previously submitted comments on the original proposal, pointing to the numerous ways in which the proposal departs from acceptable scientific practice; would degrade the quality of scientific decision-making at EPA; and violates EPA’s obligations under the Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, and other federal laws to consider the best available science.

EPA developed the original proposal without consulting with its own Scientific Advisory Board. A draft report by members of the Science Advisory Board, released by EPA on New Year’s Eve, warned that the original proposal “could easily undercut the integrity of environmental laws” and “is not consistent with sound scientific practice.” Just this week, Sen. Tom Carper sent a letter to EPA’s Inspector General asking for an investigation of key procedural defects in the development of the 2018 proposal, including the agency’s failure to make crucial information about the rule available to the public, consult with its Science Advisory Board prior to releasing the original proposal, and undertake proper interagency review. 

The original proposal has also been widely criticized by prominent scientific organizations, academic institutions, and public health and environmental organizations. Editors of the nation’s leading scientific journals, the Presidents of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, nearly one hundred leading Harvard scientists and medical experts, and other scientific experts have previously voiced significant concerns about the proposal—in many instances recommending that EPA withdraw it entirely—which is premised on failed anti-science legislation that has been stalled in Congress for years. The supplemental proposal in no way addresses these concerns. 

(Washington, DC – March 4, 2020) Today, American University’s Center for Environmental Policy (AU) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) released a report finding that programs relying on customers to pay to have their lead pipe fully replaced put low-income and African American households at greater risk of lead exposure. Using data on Washington, DC, researchers found that residents in wealthier areas were over two times more likely to pay to have their lead pipe fully replaced during water utility infrastructure projects. Fortunately, DC has a new policy that takes steps to resolve the problem and presents a model for other communities moving forward. But this study reveals major environmental justice concerns that need to be addressed in the Environmental Protection Agency’s updated Lead and Copper Rule. 

Regular water infrastructure work can disturb service lines, which poses an issue when the pipe is one of the 9.3 million lead service lines (LSL) that still provide water to homes across the country. While the best approach to protect residents from lead exposure is to fully replace the LSL and take special precautions, communities typically expect households to pay to replace the portion of the pipe on private property to avoid a partial replacement. Partial replacements can significantly increase short-term lead in water levels and fail to provide the long-term benefits of a full replacement. 

Since low-income households may be unable to pay for a full LSL replacement, this practice raises health equity and environmental justice concerns. AU and EDF evaluated these concerns using data on more than 3,400 LSL replacements conducted in Washington, DC between 2009 and 2018.  

“We found striking differences between the neighborhoods in the patterns of lead pipe replacement,” said Dr. Karen Baehler, the lead AU researcher. “In the wealthiest areas, two-thirds of households fully replaced their lead pipes during ongoing infrastructure projects, compared to only one quarter in areas with the lowest median incomes – a 2.3-fold difference.  We also saw environmental justice concerns with full replacements initiated by residents outside of infrastructure work, with such replacements largely taking place in wealthier, predominantly white areas of the city.” 

“With its new program, Washington, DC continues its leadership role in developing innovative lead pipe replacement policies,” said Tom Neltner, EDF’s Chemicals Policy Director. “Utilities in Denver, Cincinnati and the Indiana and Pennsylvania subsidiaries of American Water also serve as models for the 11,000 communities in cities, suburbs and rural areas across the country with lead service lines. Cities like Chicago, Cleveland, and New York City – each with over 100,000 lead service lines – should take heed.” 

The study findings have particular relevance because EPA is in the process of updating the federal Lead and Copper Rule that regulates lead in drinking water. The proposed revisions could result in many communities adopting programs similar to those implemented in Washington, DC during the period we studied. This new analysis demonstrates that wealthier customers will be more likely to participate in such programs, leaving low-income and minority households with increased risk of harm from lead. If this concern is not addressed, the final rule could make health equity and environmental justice disparities worse, not better, than under the current rule.  

“Replacing lead pipes across the country is critical to protecting children from lead, but we need to ensure that the work treats all residents – regardless of race or income – equitably,” said Sarah Vogel, Vice President, EDF Health. “This study underscores the need to make sure these programs don’t leave low-income and minority households behind.”

See the full report for more details on our analysis of Washington, DC and how states and communities can better protect residents by equitably supporting LSL replacement.

(Washington, D.C. - February 28, 2020) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) issued the following statement on the Environmental Justice for All Act:

“EDF would like to thank House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) for their leadership on the EJ for All Act. America’s low-income communities, communities of color, and indigenous communities are especially vulnerable to air and water pollution, and to the damages caused by climate change. The engagement process piloted by these Members has been critical to receiving direct input from vulnerable communities. The work they have put into this bill is an incredible reflection of transparency and inclusivity. EDF looks forward to supporting communities and community leaders in their work with Chairman Grijalva and Rep. McEachin to advance equitable and just environmental protections.”

• Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

(WASHINGTON, DC - February 27, 2020) “Environmental Defense Fund supports S.2657, the American Energy Innovation Act, introduced by Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Joe Manchin. Spurring innovation in a wide range of low- and zero-carbon technologies will be a critical component of fighting climate change efficiently while investing in America’s economy.

“At a time of increasing polarization in Washington, bipartisan leadership on climate is all the more crucial, and we applaud the Senators for their initiative on this effort to support clean energy innovation.

“We look forward to working with them as the bill moves forward – as well as with leaders on the House Space, Science and Technology Committee, who are working on a similar package – to improve the bill by giving more weight to renewables, energy efficiency and sustainable transportation technologies like electric vehicles. We think these changes would make the bill even stronger.

“We also look forward to working with Congressional leadership to implement a comprehensive climate package to achieve a 100% clean economy by 2050.”

• Elizabeth Gore, Senior Vice President, Political Affairs

Key policy issues and considerations in the package

• EDF strongly supports bipartisan leadership to increase clean energy innovation funding and believes it is critical that such investment support a diverse set of clean energy technologies, including renewable energy, electric vehicles, energy storage, grid modernization technologies, industrial decarbonization technologies, energy efficiency, carbon dioxide removal technologies like direct air capture and the suite of ARPA-E technologies.
   
• The bill could be strengthened by taking a more balanced approach to a range of technologies. The potentially long timeline for advanced nuclear and carbon capture technologies and potential limits to where it can be deployed to achieve significant emissions reductions makes it vital that Congress boost funding for a wider range of technologies including renewables, energy storage and energy efficiency – which together have the potential to reduce emissions dramatically in both the near and long terms.
   
  • The bill authorizes billions of dollars in new funding for nuclear alone, and commits the government to demonstration of four to seven advanced reactors, construction of a dedicated test facility, and production of advanced reactor fuel. Another nearly $5 billion over five years is authorized for coal and natural gas power carbon capture and sequestration.
     
  • In comparison, funding for renewables remains relatively flat compared to FY2020 appropriations. Wind would receive no new funding authorization, solar would receive $10 million less in authorized funding than was appropriated in FY2020, and geothermal and marine would receive a combined bump of under $400 million over five years.
     
• Support for clean energy innovation should be part of a comprehensive package to move the United States to a 100% clean economy no later than mid-century, along with policies that put strong declining enforceable limits and a price on carbon pollution. Such policies will also create and sustain the robust market demand necessary to realize the full potential of the technological innovations that this bill will support.

 (Washington, DC – Feb. 27, 2020) Today, EDF was one of over 40 organizations requesting that state and federal lawmakers in New York and New Jersey fund and improve the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) New York New Jersey Harbors and Tributaries Study (NYNJHATS). The Corps has worked on NYNJHATS since Superstorm Sandy devastated the region in an effort to identify solutions for dealing with storm surge. This week, the Trump administration announced that it would halt federal funding for the study.

“Millions of people and billions of dollars in infrastructure in New York and New Jersey are at extreme risk from future storms and sea level rise if we do not act,” said Natalie Snider, Senior Director, Coastal Resilience, EDF. “Sea walls will not protect the region from sea level rise, so these states need a comprehensive study to identify what solutions can best protect residents and property in the face of very real and imminent challenges.”

“We’re deeply concerned with the Trump administration’s decision to halt funding for this critical study,” said Mark Rupp, Director, State-Federal Policy and Affairs, EDF. “Given investments made to date and the urgent need to better protect New York and New Jersey residents against storms and sea level rise, we believe the study can and should be improved. The Trump administration should actively work to identify and fund solutions, such as natural infrastructure, that can build resilience of this and other coastal regions.”

Since its inception, NYNJHATS has focused on hardened infrastructure, such as large gates and walls in the harbor, as a way to reduce risk. In a letter to state and federal lawmakers, EDF and a broad coalition of over 40 organizations called on decision-makers to provide additional direction and resources to improve the study beyond these measures and to account for a future with sea level rise. According to a recent study by Rutgers University, seas could rise by an additional six feet by 2100 in New Jersey. With this level of future threat, the study must expand its focus to incorporate natural and nonstructural solutions to protect the people, economy and livelihoods of the region.

In the letter, the signers acknowledge “the study and outreach surrounding it falls far short,” yet also express concern over the indefinite postponement of the study. Instead, signers provide a detailed list of recommendations for how to improve the study going forward including:

— Asking Congress to expand the scope of NYNJHATS to incorporate and plan for sea level rise, fund and allow the Corps to implement its 2013 Principles & Requirements to prioritize environmental justice and nature, improve outreach and engagement by funding this work through updates to the Water Resources Development Act.

— Asking the States of New Jersey and New York and the City of New York to prioritize and support natural and nature-based and non-structural strategies to build resilience, as well as dedicating resources to outreach in order to improve transparency, equity and public engagement of the study.

Read the letter delivered to state and federal lawmakers with recommendations to improve the NYNJHATS study and access the full list of signers here.

(SAN ANTONIO, TX) The National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund today launched the Success in Stewardship Network at Commodity Classic to celebrate and accelerate the use of agricultural conservation practices on U.S. corn farms.

The network will showcase success stories from the many farmers and state-level programs putting stewardship into practice, with the goal of building an ever-growing network of corn farmers who are also conservation leaders. Today, NCGA and EDF recognized the Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program and the Illinois Corn Precision Conservation Management Program for their farmer-supported efforts to deliver clean water, healthy soils and farm profitability.

“The Success in Stewardship Network will break down the notion that conservation is only for an elite group of farmers,” said Callie Eideberg, director of agricultural policy and special projects at EDF. “Practices that protect the land and water and increase climate resilience are more prevalent than many think, and this network will bring farmers and agricultural organizations together to continue making conservation commonplace.”

“Farming practices are rapidly evolving with sustainability in mind. We have reached a tipping point where we have an opportunity to begin recognizing corn farmers more broadly for their efforts to stay productive and profitable, manage the challenges of climate change, all while accelerating sustainable farming practices,” said Kevin Ross, NCGA president. “A regular drumbeat about the value and importance of stewardship and local examples can drive this movement.”

The network will celebrate and connect the farmers and programs that are already driving change with proven conservation practices. This is not an annual award program, but rather an ongoing recognition initiative for all farmers who meet the initiative’s criteria.

“2019 was an undeniably difficult year for U.S. agriculture, but the first programs to be recognized by the Success in Stewardship Network exemplify how stewardship can create bright spots even in the midst of difficult times for U.S. farmers,” said Eideberg.

Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program

The Minnesota Corn Innovation Grant Program from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association allows farmers to test their ideas and examine how those ideas might be replicated on other farms. To date, the program has invested nearly $600,000 in farmer-led research projects about nutrient management and water quality improvements.

“This program is grower led and grower funded, with the mission of identifying novel solutions that promote environmental responsibility while being practical,” said Bryan Biegler, a board member with the Minnesota Corn Growers Association. “In the first four years of the program, projects have included novel approaches to cover crop systems, state-of-the-art drip irrigation for spoon-feeding nitrogen and evaluating variable-rate nitrogen programs.”

Illinois Corn Precision Conservation Management Program

The Precision Conservation Management (PCM) program from the Illinois Corn Growers Association is a farmer-led effort to address natural resources concerns across five watersheds in Illinois and Kentucky on a field-by-field basis and in a financially viable way.

“PCM is farm-centric, data-driven and farm-specific, utilizing aggregated and anonymized farmer data to serve farmer needs in a way that demonstrates how conservation practices affect both society and farm income,” said Travis Deppe, director of Precision Conservation Management. “This program is promoting real change for all farmers in Illinois and Kentucky thanks to the hard work of our Precision Conservation Specialists and the willingness of our farmers to try new practices and measure their results. To date, 325 farmers and 300,000 acres have been enrolled in the water quality program.”

How to get involved

We encourage any stewards who participate in a recognized program or adopt conservation measures on their own to become part of the network.

Those who are selected will gain networking and learning opportunities, as well as free membership in state corn grower associations and NCGA.

For more information about the network’s benefits and selection criteria, please contact stewardshipnetwork@ncga.com. For the latest on NCGA and EDF’s partnership, listen to this podcast: https://ncga.com/stay-informed/media/podcast.