Environment Reporter: Current Developments Index-Summary

BACTERIA

– Drinking water, EPA SAB panel recommends water system management improvements, 2198
– Swimming pool microbes pollutants under Fla. pollution exclusion clause (S.D. Fla.), 2077

BALI ACTION PLAN

– Copenhagen Communication, EU official tells House panel clean energy funding could coax China, India into agreement, 275
– Copenhagen meeting, Gore calls on Congress to pass legislation prior to talks, 222

BALLAST WATER MANAGEMENT

– Allowable discharges of living organisms, proposed Coast Guard rule sets standards, 2135
– Global Industry Alliance launched to prevent species transport, IMO announces, 569
– Minn. discharge permit upheld (Minn. Ct. App.), 1863
– N.Y. requirements, shipping industry challenge dismissed (N.Y. Sup. Ct.), 1327
– Oregon

– – Governor signs bills to prevent spread of invasive species, 1866
– – Inspections by state agencies, governor signs bill, 1669
– – Sample collection, governor signs bill authorizing collection by inspectors, 1329

BANKRUPTCY

– Asbestos

– – Libby Asbestos Site, Mont., zonalite insulation class settlement receives preliminary approval (Bankr. D. Del.), 228
– – Vermont Asbestos Group Mine site, former chrysotile mine owner to pay $25.6M for remediation work (Bankr. D.N.J.), 1640

– Auto fluff illegally dumped, settlement calls for $8.3M reimbursement to EPA (Bankr. N.D. Ill.), 1252
– Electronics maker liable for $9M in cleanup costs at N.M. superfund site (6th Cir.), 931
– Hydrocarbon plume cleanup in Ill., cost of RCRA compliance not dissolved (7th Cir.), 2120
– Mining, Asarco settles CERCLA claims at 54 sites, agrees to pay more than $1B (S.D. Tex.), 699; settlement approved, 1367
– Pollution reporting, injunction blocks N.J. suit against W.R. Grace during proceedings (D. Del.), 715
– Restructuring, federal authorities allege company attempted to evade cleanup liability at Federal Creosote Site (Bankr. S.D.N.Y.), 1250
– Steel wire and rod maker settles Conn. violations, federal criminal charges stemming from toxic wastewater discharges (Conn. Super. Ct., D. Conn.), 80

BANS

– Coal mining, Pa. law preempts township from barring activities (W.D. Pa.), 2260
– Cyanide heap-leach mining, county ban preempted by state mining law (Colo.), 194
– Depleted uranium disposal, Utah regulators to examine implications of moratorium, 1204
– Low-level radioactive waste imports

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 515, S 232

– Mercury exports, DOE seeks facilities capable of storage, 765; DOE seeks comments on proposed locations, 1643; DOE to hold additional meeting, In Brief, 1844
– Roadless Rule banning development in national forests and grasslands

See NATIONAL FORESTS

BASEL CONVENTION

– Harmonization of U.S. standards, OMB reviews rule, 2352

BATTERIES

– Electric vehicles

See ZERO-EMISSION VEHICLES

– Fees, Idaho governor signs bill, In Brief, 959
– Rechargeable batteries, Va. governor signs bill restricting disposal if recycling programs exist, 851

BAYS

– Chesapeake Bay

See CHESAPEAKE BAY

– San Francisco Bay, Cal. utility district agrees to limit wet weather sewage discharges (N.D. Cal.), 178

BEACHES

See also COASTAL ZONES
– Erosion control, Fla. law does not constitute taking (U.S., rev sought), 783; (rev grant), 1456; federal government may present argument (oral arg), 2469
– Exxon Valdez oil spill, lingering effects discussed at conferences, 391
– Water monitoring

– – Closings, advisories decline in 2008, fourth highest level in 19 years, NRDC reports, 1847
– – Grant reauthorization

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2093, S 878

– – Quality holds steady for third consecutive year, EPA reports, 1308
– – San Diego County to finance program, In Brief, 793

BENZENE (71-43-2)

– Ambient concentration regularly exceeds EPA health thresholds, study finds, 1046
– Refineries, EPA cites Ind. facility for releases from wastewater, 1280

BEST TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE

– Cooling water intake structures, EPA may consider costs to utilities (U.S., reversed and rem), 770; environmental groups will press for stronger rule to protect fish, waterways, 771; Sotomayor defends appellate decision, 1723; EPA plans to issue proposed rule mid-2010, 2127

BEVERAGES

– Bottler agrees to $7.6M fine to settle alleged Cal. discharge violations, 351
– Container recycling

See RECYCLING

BIFs

See BOILERS AND INDUSTRIAL FURNACES (BIFs)

BIODIVERSITY

– EU, Swedish presidency cites as top priority, 1433

BIOFUELS

– Biodiesel blends, Or. rule, In Brief, 1978
– Biomass future uncertain due to politics, questions about definition, 1500
– Biotechnology, entrepreneurs tell conference synthetic organisms, algae could yield green fuels, 1767
– Charcoal derived from biomass could be used as tool in carbon offset programs while creating jobs, income sources, Vilsack tells conference, 1947
– Deforestation linked to development of agro-fuels, U.N. agency reports, 845
– Development of advanced biofuels hampered by financial downturn, raw materials shortages, 2563
– Electric power generation, proposed consent decree modification includes R.E. Burger plant retrofit to burn biomass fuels, 1939
– Ethanol

See ETHANOL (64-17-5)

– Forest biomass energy demonstration, In Brief, 1799
– Industry seeks loan guarantees, increased blend limits, officials say at House hearing, 480
– Okla. House approves bill to encourage use, 651
– Renewable fuels standard

– – Environmental impact assessment of production, GAO says more thorough analysis may be needed, 2345
– – EPA withdraws pending regulation for review, 243; EPA sends proposal to OMB following review, 344; industry seeks increased limit, 345; industry seeks quick implementation, officials say at House hearing, 480; 10 percent blend cap limits industry growth, development of advanced biofuels, Clark says, 546; association seeks administration support for increasing limit in gasoline, 694; groups urge EPA to quickly release proposal, 759; EPA to take comment on petition to increase content, 916; EPA proposes rule, 1047; Peterson (D-Minn) says proposal would cripple industry, Holden (D-Pa), others seek comment period extension, 1057; EPA extends deadline for comments, In Brief, 1172; ethanol industry critical of EPA approach for determining which fuels are renewable, 1243; administration supports move to advanced biofuels, but ethanol must remain viable, Obama says, 1290; EPA postpones deadline for 60 days, 1638; peer review generally supports EPA analysis of life cycle GHG emissions, 1948
– – Land use, EPA should not consider indirect changes in calculating GHG emissions for standard, 619; House Democrats say OMB review must contain analysis of land use changes to conform to existing law, 810; ethanol industry seeks release computer models used to determine indirect emissions from land use changes, 1291; industry, environmental advocates differ over calculation at EPA hearing, 1364; industry groups say EPA should end analysis of indirect impact, 2290
– – Lower blend needed for older cars even with waiver for higher blends, EPA says, 1111
– – Manufacturers say engines, equipment may be damaged if ethanol levels increase, 1761
– – Oil refiners join environmental groups opposed to raising limit, 14

– Stationary combustion turbines, EPA amends emission NSPS, 673
– Va. governor signs bill providing incentives, 851

BIOSOLIDS

– Permit process, reform bill sent to Va. governor, 403
– Poultry waste

– – Cherokee Nation required party to litigation, monetary claims dismissed (N.D. Okla.), 1777
– – Okla. appeals denial of injunction against producers over Illinois River watershed damage (10th Cir.), 72; denial of injunction affirmed, 1184
– – Phosphorus compounds, waste subject to CERCLA, RCRA enforcement, Okla. argues (N.D. Okla.), 630; poultry litter regulated as solid waste, motion for summary judgment denied, 2065

– Sludge from Cal. town must meet EPA standards, In Brief, 392
– Va. citizen panel prompts upgrade of state regulation, 257

BIOTECHNOLOGY

– Biofuels, entrepreneurs tell conference synthetic organisms, algae could yield green fuels, 1767
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/16/09) S–42; SplRpt (1/16/09) S–42

BISPHENOL-A (80-05-7)

– N.Y. Assembly approves bill banning sale of products containing, 1090

BOILERS AND INDUSTRIAL FURNACES (BIFs)

– EPA developing definition of nonhazardous solid waste to assist regulating emissions under MACT, 61
– MACT, Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/16/09) S–5; SplRpt (1/16/09) S–30
– Mich. university boiler permit remand for GHG review (EAB), 456

BOTTLED WATER

– Consumer protections

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 2749

– Container recycling

– – N.Y. governor signs bill expanding returnable container law to include water bottles, 851; injunction granted (S.D.N.Y.), 1327; injunction lifted on most provisions of bill, retained against deposit provision, 2026; injunction lifted, 2534
– – Or. program expanded, 36

– Procurement, N.Y. governor signs order phasing out agency purchases of single-use bottled water, 1090
– Source water testing for total coliforms, FDA tightens standards, 1305

BRAZIL

– Climate change, divided responsibility approach to international negotiations proposed, 988

BROWNFIELDS

– Cal. governor signs bill, 2420
– Chemical manufacturing plant owner agrees to spend $2.6M for cleanup of Mo. site, 2355
– Due diligence, EPA final rule offers ASTM site assessment standard as option for larger properties, 16
– Economic Development Initiative

– – FY2010 budget, administration proposes termination, 1078
– – Grants, $20M available, 1067

– Economic stimulus package offers broad funding opportunities, impact analysis finds, 428
– Grants

– – ARRA funds

See AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ARRA)

– – Atlanta receives $1M, In Brief, 1304
– – Combinations, EPA rule gives states, tribes flexibility, 1437
– – Economic development initiative, $20M available, 1067
– – Guidelines, EPA announces 2 significant changes, 1958
– – Training, In Brief, 176; EPA accepting applications for program development, 2359

– Groundwork USA announces drafting of bill authorizing it as federal program, 631
– HUD appropriations

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3288

– Internet forum suggests issues for face-to-face discussion, EPA official plans meeting, 1180
– Multifamily units allowed on less-than-pristine sites under recent policy change, 2516
– New York City mayor signs bill establishing cleanup program, 1145
– Outlook 2009, SplRpt (1/16/09) S–19
– Oversight of cleanup, N.J. governor signs privatization bill, 1144
– Seller faces strict liability for cleanup costs and damages stemming from failure to obtain pre-sale no further action letter (N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div.), 1956
– Sites did not meet N.Y. statutory definition, denial of applications upheld (N.Y. App. Div.), 400
– Successor liability, common-law claims barred by statute of limitations, Environmental Legal Action statute claim timely (Ind.), 252
– Tax incentives for remediation

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 3260

BUDGET, U.S.

See also specific agencies and departments
– Continuing appropriations act

See LEGISLATION, FEDERAL, HR 1105

– FY2010

– – Conferees remove obstacles to emissions trading, authorize carbon capture and storage fund, 1050
– – Energy provisions addressing independence, climate change will spur job creation, economic growth, Obama says, 678

BUSES

– Heavy-duty engines, Cal. revises onboard diagnostics rule, 1322

1,3-BUTADIENE (106-99-0)

– Ambient concentration regularly exceeds EPA health thresholds, study finds, 1046