What Environmental News to Watch the Week of Dec. 5

The rush is on to pass any outstanding legislation before Congress heads out of town for the holidays. Meanwhile Republicans on Tuesday are expected to release a continuing resolution bill to keep the federal government running. Current funding is set to expire Friday, but leaders are intent on keeping the government open.

Here are some other top stories, events and other environmental controversies to watch for this week.

What’s the Latest for Energy Legislation Passage? Negotiations continue for energy legislation, and absent any progress in the next 24 to 48 hours, the package is unlikely to pass during this session of Congress. Brian Dabbs is watching.  

Water Resources Development Act -- Will It or Won’t It? Just days left for in Congress to act on a water infrastructure bill, known as WRDA.  Text is expected today. Alan Kovski is reporting.

What’s Does Dakota Access Permit Denial Mean for Other Pipelines? U.S. oil and gas pipeline developers need not worry about the Obama administration's decision to analyze the environmental impact of the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline to transport crude oil, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy says. Amena Saiyid has the story.

Waters of the U.S. Rule Continues in Court. The Army Corps of Engineers and EPA file their response Wednesday to the cert petition filed in the U.S. Supreme Court by the National Association of Manufacturers over the question of which court is best suited to hear the Clean Water Rule challenge. Amena Saiyid is covering.

NRC Spent Fuel Management Conference. Waste Control Specialists has an application under review with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission on consolidated interim storage for nuclear waste, which will be discussed Thursday at an NRC conference. Rebecca Kern is tracking it.   

Senators Press DOE on Hanford Nuclear Cleanup Improvements The Energy Department needs to speed up implementation of health and safety recommendations to protect workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in the state of Washington, say Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). Sam Pearson has the story.

Hardrock Mining Superfund Assurance Plan Released. Hardrock mine operators would be required to secure Superfund financial assurances to cover hazardous discharges, under a new EPA proposal. Brian Dabbs is reporting.

EPA Proposal Threatens Confidentiality, Chemical Makers Say. Some changes the EPA is proposing for its significant new use regulations would disclose chemical manufacturers’ confidential business information, some in the industry say. Pat Rizzuto is covering.

Carbon Standards for New Power Plants Has Court Date. The D.C. Circuit has scheduled oral arguments over the EPA’s carbon dioxide standards for new power plants for April 17, 2017.  Andrew Childers has the story.