Congressional Republicans have passed a FY19 Interior-EPA spending bill as part of an appropriations ‘minibus.’ The legislation threatens environmental and conservation programs across the board and includes a 42% cut to the endangered species listing program and $65 million cut from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If agreed to by the Senate, the spending package would also continue the assault by Republican leadership on the EPA, slashing the Agencies' budget by at least $100 million.
In addition, Republican leaders stuffed the bill at the last minute with anti-environmental poison pill riders that further endanger our public health and the environment.
Washington, DC -- Today, the EPA’s Office of the Inspector General released its findings that the Agency must strengthen its oversight of state drinking water programs. The report comes as Flint, MI residents are still without clean, safe drinking water after failures on the state and federal level.
This morning, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Kevin McIntyre announced plans to speed federal approvals for proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminals.
Washington, DC-- Today, under the leadership of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with NOAA Fisheries proposed three rule changes that would effectively dismantle the Endangered Species Act. E&E released a leak of the proposed modifications to the rule that will make it increasingly difficult to hold wildlife agencies accountable, lessen opportunity for public input and weaken protection of threatened species.
On Tuesday, July 17, Madison Gas and Electric filed an application at the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to finalize the electric and natural gas rates Madison customers would pay for service years 2019 and 2020. This proposal was filed as a “settlement” pursuant to a new Wisconsin statute, section 196.026, that allows utilities to seek consensus in advance of their rate proposals in order to get expedited approval for their new rates. Sierra Club was the only intervening party that did not join in MGE’s proposed settlement.
Washington, DC -- Tonight, it was reported that Department of the Interior’s Inspector General has opened a formal investigation into Ryan Zinke’s real estate dealings with Halliburton’s chair, David Lesar.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, under the cover of the ongoing Supreme Court process, the Senate voted 50-49 to confirm right-wing extremist Andrew Oldham to the the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Oldham is one of the youngest of Trump’s judicial appointees and now holds a lifetime appointment to the bench. Including Oldham, Trump has confirmed 23 judges for lifetime appointments to Courts of Appeals.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, the House will hold a floor vote on the FY19 Interior-EPA spending bill as part of an appropriations ‘minibus.’ This Republican spending minibus threatens environmental and conservation programs across the board, including a 42% cut to the endangered species listing program and 65 million from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. The spending package would also continue the assault by Republican leadership on the EPA, slashing the EPA’s budget by at least $100 million.
PHOENIX -- Rep. Gosar (R-AZ) has introduced an amendment to an Interior Department funding bill that would withhold funding to manage Ironwood Forest National Monument, de-facto stripping the area and its resources of protections afforded by the monument.
Washington, DC -- Today, the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a temporary stay in response to a lawsuit brought yesterday by the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, and Center for Biological Diversity, ordering Andrew Wheeler’s Environmental Protection Agency to continue to enforce glider truck requirements while the parties brief the merits of the case. The EPA must file a response to the motion by 4pm on July 25.