Secretary Hails Program’s 30th Anniversary, Announces General Signup Period MILWAUKEE–(ENEWSPF)–May 29, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that an additional 800,000 acres of highly environmentally sensitive land may be enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) under certain wetland and wildlife initiatives that provide multiple benefits on the same[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 29, 2015.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed a new rule yesterday restricting the use of pesticides on crops when honey bees are present for contracted pollination services.  While the rule would apply to nearly all insecticides, including neonicotinoids that have been linked to bee population[Read More…]

WASHINGTON —(ENEWSPF)–May 29, 2015.  Today the EPA announced proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, and also proposed volume requirements for biomass-based diesel for 2017. The proposal would boost renewable fuel production and provide for ambitious yet responsible growth over[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 28, 2015.  A report released by the Canadian Senate’s Committee on Agriculture and Forestry this week acknowledges that neonicotinoids are harmful to bees, although it adds that more scientific data is needed before making any policies in response. The report was released exactly one week after a similar[Read More…]

Washington, DC –(ENEWSPF)—May 28, 2015. Today, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) sent an open letter to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy and Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shaun Donovan asking that as they finalize a proposal on renewable fuel standards, that they set strong Renewable Volume[Read More…]

Over Sixty Percent of Key Grouse Habitat on Federal Lands Under Improved Protedctions NEW YORK–(ENEWSPF)–May 28, 2015. Today, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, along with Bureau of Land Management Chief Neil Kornze and Wyoming Governor Matt Mead, announced 14 Regional Management Plans for the Greater Sage-Grouse on public lands in[Read More…]

 WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–May 28, 2015 – Following the recent ecologically devastating oil spill in California coastal waters, Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) this week voiced their deep disappointment in the administration’s decision to allow oil drilling in up to six offshore wells in the Arctic Ocean, an area[Read More…]

Hurricane forecasting evolving with new storm surge products, upgraded modeling (Credit: NOAA) Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 28, 2015. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center says the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season will likely be below-normal, but that’s no reason to believe coastal areas will have it easy. For the hurricane season, which officially runs from[Read More…]

Coalition supports planning department finding that Shell homeport violates Port of Seattle’s shoreline permit Jack Smith compels the Port of Seattle commissioners on March 24 to reverse their lease agreement with Foss Maritime.  Joe Nicholson for Earthjustice Seattle, WA —(ENEWSPF)–May 27, 2015.  A coalition of conservation organizations is seeking to[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–May 28, 2015.  The same day that trade representatives from United States met with Secretary-General Catherine Day of the European Commission (EC), she sent a letter to the EC’s Environment Director-General Karl Falkenberg telling him to scrap draft criteria that could have led to a ban on over 30[Read More…]