Judges on the D.C. federal appeals court said during oral arguments of the case Sierra Club v. EPA that Congress was clear when it passed a law mandating monitoring, and EPA did not have the authority to create an exemption.

The EPA has introduced e-NEPA, a new online system that allows federal agencies to submit environmental impact statements (EISs) electronically.

Wisconsin has had an electronics recycling law in place since 2009, however a new survey shows only 40% of the state population reports being aware of the E-Cycle Wisconsin program.

A recent blog post from the U.S. Energy Information Administration provides data on the amount of energy used by the industrial sector in a unique way that encourages consumers to think about the energy that goes into products used every day. The blog may have you thinking about kilowatts the next time you make a trip to the grocery store.

The U.S. Government Accountability Office has won an award for the study named in the title of this post. Whether the honor is something to celebrate is open for debate.

The DNR is in the process of developing a statewide nutrient reduction strategy to more effectively reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the state’s waters, and it is looking for input from a variety of stakeholders.

The Groundwater Coordinating Council has released its annual report to the legislature. This year’s report calls for Wisconsin to evaluate the prevalence in groundwater and groundwater wells of viruses and other microbial contaminants, and to develop appropriate responses. The report also discusses pollution and highlights emerging issues for groundwater including frac sand mining, metallic mining and dairy industry expansion and concentration.

Through an editorial published in The Hill, Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) has drawn the nation’s attention to the EPA’s new mandate requiring a minimum four-gallon purchase at service station pumps selling a new 15% blend of the fuel additive ethanol (E15) from the same hose and nozzle as the current 10% blend (E10).

First signed in 1972 and last amended in 1987, the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement was recently amended by the United States and Canada in an effort to further protect the world’s largest surface freshwater system.

Landmark case tests DNR’s Public Trust authority: Lakeland Times, September 14, 2012.

Lake Koshkonong ruling could set precedent: Janesville Gazette, September 6, 2012.

Lake Koshkonong level before Supreme Court: Jefferson County Daily Union, September 6, 2012.

A recent article in the New York Law Journal summarizes the variety of powers and techniques state public utility commissions use to advance energy efficiency. Click here to read State Public Utility Commissions’ Powers to Advance Energy Efficiency by Michael B. Gerrard.
 

A recent blog post from the Energy Information Administration notes that  electric generating units that rely on water for cooling are closely monitoring the impact the current drought could have on the nation’s electric generating ability. An EIA map shows that many generators in Wisconsin rely on fresh water cooling.

A recent article in the Wisconsin Potato & Vegetable Growers Association's newsletter, Working on Water: Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Lead the Way, provides an inside look at the efforts association members put into preserving and protecting the state's water supply.

The EPA has announced an extension of the public comment period for the first draft assessment documents related to the review of the national ambient air quality standards for ozone.

A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, EPA Regulations and Electricity: Better Monitoring by Agencies Could Strengthen Efforts to Address Potential Challenges, says the implementation of four environmental rules will likely pose electric “reliability challenges.”

Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Mining has announced plans for three informational hearings on mining in Wisconsin. According to the Senator’s announcement, the hearings will serve to create a greater context for the issues involved in reforming Wisconsin’s mining laws and detail the roles other government entities play in the mining permitting process.

The committee meetings will be Sept. 18, Sept. 20 and Sept. 25 in Room 411 of the Capitol. The hearings will be informational, and only invited speakers will testify.

The DNR has completed its legislatively-required analysis of the economic impact of the new phosphorous and shoreland zoning rules. Though these studies are limited by their methodology and the emphasis on benefits over costs, they are the most thorough look to date at the costs and economic benefits of the rules.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) has announced it will begin reviewing a proposal to build what would be the nation's first floating wind farm.
DOI's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proceeding with an assessment of Statoil North America's Hywind Maine project.

The proposed wind farm, located about 12 nautical miles off the coast in water about 500 feet deep, would have a 12-megawatt capacity from four wind turbines.

BOEM is seeking public comment on environmental issues related to the proposed leasing, construction, and operation activities in the offshore area.

This post was authored by GLLF staff attorney Emily Kelchen.
 

NERA Economic Consulting, has released the results of a study commissioned by the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), examining the cumulative impact of major federal regulations on the US economy in general and the manufacturing sector in particular. The report, Macroeconomic Impacts of Federal Regulation of the Manufacturing Sector, focused on five types of regulation that have the most significant impact on the manufacturing sector: financial, labor, energy, environmental, and transportation.

Contact: Andrew Cook

Status: Wisconsin Supreme Court oral arguments held September 5, 2012.

Summary: On September 5, 2012, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case that will determine whether the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is required to consider evidence of a navigable water level’s effect on property values when deciding whether to grant a petition to raise or lower water levels.