Archives

The Long Island Sound Study has released a new Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan for restoring and protecting the Long Island Sound, setting 20 ambitious targets to be achieved by 2035. Among these goals are: a reduced number of beach closures due to sewage pollution; a reduced area of the Sound with unhealthy oxygen levels; improved water clarity; restored coastal wetlands; increased open space; and a reduction in the amount of plastic marine debris in the Sound

EPA today joined state and local dignitaries to announce $5 million in federal funding to continue efforts of the Southeast New England Program for Coastal Watershed Restoration. The program brings together innovation and partnerships to apply an ecosystem approach to protecting and restoring the coastal watersheds of southeast New England from Westerly, R.I. to Chatham, Mass., including Narragansett Bay and all other Rhode Island coastal waters, Buzzards Bay, and southern Cape Cod

Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation will award three California projects with grants from this year’s Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program

Attorney General Mark Brnovich today announced that the Arizona Corporation Commission (“Commission”) joined with 23 other states in filing suit against the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") challenging the Obama Administration’s Section 111(d) Rule. The Attorney General’s Office and the Commission together are challenging the unlawful plan to radically restructure the way electricity is produced and consumed throughout the country.

In a major win for Arizona's Congressional District One, U.S. Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., has secured a competitive $15 million TIGER VII transportation grant for the city of Maricopa. Since taking office, the congresswoman has fought for the city's State Route 347 Grade Separation Project, most recently leading a delegation letter to press U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx to approve the critical funding.

Iowa clean energy business leaders, parents, public health leaders and students called on presidential candidates to learn from Iowa’s bipartisan example and embrace clean, renewable energy policies such as the Clean Power Plan and renewable energy tax credits

U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its power plant carbon rules in the Federal Register which begins a 60-day window for states and companies opposed to the rule to file lawsuits

Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 11.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000 units in September, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau

Under a settlement with the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Municipality of San Juan has agreed to make substantial upgrades to its storm sewer systems.  The upgrades and related cleaning activities are aimed at eliminating or minimizing daily discharges of large volumes of raw sewage and will minimize discharges of other pollutants into nearby water bodies, including the San Juan Bay Estuary and the Martin Peña Canal.  The estimated cost of the upgrades and actions over the life of the agreement is $180 million.

EPA has allocated $9 million to jump start cleanup activities at the Durham Meadows Superfund site in Durham, Conn. The funding will support the installation of an alternative water supply to the Superfund site area, serving over 100 residential and commercial structures, including Regional School District 13. Many of the homes and businesses to be connected have treatment systems or are being provided bottled water as a result of widespread groundwater contamination.

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat in the U.S. for children under the age of seven. The long-term effects of lead exposure to a child can be severe and may include learning disabilities, decreased growth, behavior problems, impaired hearing, and even brain damage. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to lead because lead can pass through a woman’s body into the unborn baby

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA is awarding loans and grants that will help more than 1,100 rural small businesses and agricultural producers reduce energy usage and costs in their operations. The funding is for energy efficiency improvements and/or renewable energy systems. USDA is financing projects in every state, as well as in the Virgin Islands, the Western Pacific and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

Ten communities from around the country have been selected for an initiative that will help them attract and retain residents, businesses and investment, announced NeighborWorks America, a national nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to live in affordable homes, improve their lives and strengthen their communities

The Urban Land Institute (ULI), a global research and education institute dedicated to responsible land use and sustainable community building, has been awarded an $800,000 grant from The Kresge Foundation to support efforts by the ULI Center for Sustainability to make communities more resilient and adaptable to the impacts of climate change and reduce the environmental imprint of the real estate industry.

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a hearing titled “Review of Rural Development in 21st Century America” on October 21. Witnesses in the two-panel hearing included US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) officials and industry stakeholders. The hearing focused on RD programs including Rural Utilities Service and Rural Housing Services (RHS)

U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews and Indonesian President Joko Widodo attended a ceremony today to recognize new business deals and commitments worth more than $20 billion between U.S. and Indonesian companies. A number of these projects will help more people benefit from clean electricity, while others will support transportation infrastructure and introduce new financial products

Sales of new single-family houses in September 2015 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 468,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Census Bureau. This is 11.5 percent (±11.3%)* below the revised August rate of 529,000 and is 2.0 percent (±17.9%) above the September 2014 estimate of 459,000.

The Consumers Energy Foundation announced today it has awarded 44 volunteer grants worth $20,975 to nonprofit organizations across Michigan to recognize outstanding volunteerism by Consumers Energy employees and retirees

Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (KY-01) today announced his plans to introduce resolutions under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to disapprove of two final rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for new and existing power plants. Under the CRA, a rule disapproved by Congress shall have no force and effect and an agency may not issue the same or a substantially similar rule unless authorized by subsequent legislation.

The City of Sacramento used 26.5 percent less water in September compared to the same period in 2013, just over one percent shy from meeting the water conservation savings goal of 28%.  The City is pleased with the continued water conservation efforts of our customers, however, with the temperatures dropping and the days getting shorter, the City is encouraging a drought call to action – for customers to voluntarily water no more than one day per week starting now.