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Jun. 15, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
May. 27, 2015
The final version of the long awaited revision of the regulations which protect from pollution and degradation the streams and wetlands that form the foundation of the nation's water resources has been issued. According to the EPA and Army Corps, the final Clean Water Rule ensures that waters protected under the Clean Water Act are more precisely defined and predictably determined, making permitting less costly, easier, and faster for businesses and industry. The rule is grounded in law and the latest science, and is shaped by public input. The rule does not create any new permitting requirements for agriculture and maintains all previous exemptions and exclusions. Read EPA's press release here.
May. 27, 2015
This new search identifies instances when industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants discharge wastewater pollution in exceedance of their Clean Water Act (CWA) permit effluent limits. The results from this new search feature allow users to identify and sort effluent exceedances. These results are displayed on a webpage and are also sortable (e.g., descending order of facilities with highest effluent exceedances, most pollutant amount over effluent limits - "load over limit"). These results can be downloaded to a user's computer for additional sorting and review. The DMR Pollutant Loading Tool, including this new search, is updated weekly with DMR data from industrial facilities and sewage treatment plants. States authorized to administer the CWA permit program collect these monitoring data and share these data with EPA's national database (ICIS-NPDES).
May. 22, 2015
In October 2011, the Interagency Climate Change Adaptation Task Force published the "National Action Plan: Priorities for Managing Freshwater Resources in a Changing Climate." It was developed by the Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation Workgroup made up of federal agencies with responsibilities for water management. This recent report highlights progress made in 2014 implementing the National Action Plan and describes the specific tasks that federal agencies are planning to undertake in 2015. The work described in this report reports reflect a comprehensive, coordinated, and continuing effort by federal agencies to respond to the challenges for water resources management posed by climate change.
May. 19, 2015
Under the leadership of the U.S. EPA and USDA, the "Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators" has been released on 19 May 2015. Accompanying the Strategy document are the "Pollinator Research Action Plan,' and "Pollinator-Friendly Best Management Practices for Federal Lands."
May. 15, 2015
Teams at military academies are recent winners of DOE's Excellence in Energy Awards.
May. 13, 2015
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
May. 12, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
May. 11, 2015
EPA, in accordance with provisions of the Camp Minden Administrative Order, has notified the Louisiana Military Department (LMD) that the Agency will not exercise its right to disapprove any or all contractors and/or subcontractors outlined in the state's April 14 recommendation for the alternative disposal of materials at Camp Minden. EPA continues to support an alternative technology for disposal and is quickly working to conclude efforts necessary in helping the state finalize its plans. On March 18, EPA signed an amended action memo that allowed alternative technologies to be considered in disposing of the materials at the site. The amendment cleared the way for the Louisiana Military Department to review quotes for alternative methods and select a company to dispose of the M6 and CBI.
May. 7, 2015
EPA has released ECHO Version 2.4, featuring updated Clean Air Act stationary source data and a tailored search interface. ECHO provides information about environmental inspections, violations, and enforcement actions for EPA-regulated facilities, like power plants, factories, and federal facilities. The information in ECHO is now updated weekly, compared to monthly in the old system.
May. 7, 2015
Released on 5 May 2015, the Pesticides Dashboard will initially present three years of compliance and enforcement activity data on the regulated universe of pesticide-producing establishments, thus placing FIFRA compliance information at the fingertips of anyone with Internet access. Future screens will focus on compliance with the worker protection standards. On the dashboard, the public can view and download information about the number of pesticide-producing establishments, inspections, and the government response to these violations during the three most recent years. Data is presented for states, tribes, EPA regions, and the nation as a whole.
May. 6, 2015
A settlement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Navy will help reduce potentially harmful discharges of ozone-depleting substances and ensure the safe storage and disposal of hazardous waste at the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, where EPA alleges environmental violations occurred. Under the settlement, the Navy will pay an $83,900 penalty for violations of the Clean Air Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
May. 4, 2015
This May marks the 25th anniversary of American Wetlands Month, a time when EPA and its partners in federal, state, tribal, local, non-profit, and private sector organizations celebrate the vital importance of wetlands to the Nation's ecological, economic, and social health. It is also a great opportunity to discover and teach others about the important role that wetlands play in our environment and the significant benefits they provide -- improved water quality, increased water storage and supply, reduced flood and storm surge risk, and critical habitat for plants, fish, and wildlife. Check out ideas for how you can celebrate or participate in planned events.
Apr. 28, 2015
This April 2015 guide outlines how to ensure compliance with the sustainability requirements included in a contract. It provides best practices that can be used during both pre-award and post-award stages of a procurements to help ensure contractors deliver the sustainable products enumerated in a contract or purchasing agreement. In addition, it provides guidance and resources to check whether a contractor or lessor has provided acceptable documentation to show compliance for many of the commonly used sustainable requirements (e.g. WaterSense, EPEAT, Green Seal, SNAP).
Apr. 28, 2015
Need help understanding Executive Order (EO) 13693? Want to know more about how to take action and turn your building into a high-performance building? The Sustainable Facilities Tool can walk you through EO 13653. Click through the annotated text for definitions, strategies, and links.
Apr. 23, 2015
EPA, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Interior and NOAA, have recognized four collaborative landscape partnerships across the country where federal agencies will focus efforts with partners to conserve and restore important lands and waters and make them more resilient to a changing climate. Building on existing collaborations, the Resilient Lands and Waters partnerships located in southwest Florida, Hawaii, Washington, and the Great Lakes region will help build resilience in regions vulnerable to climate change and related challenges. They will also showcase the benefits of landscape-scale management approaches and help enhance the carbon storage capacity of these natural areas.
Apr. 23, 2015
A new report by the Pacific Institute demonstrates that water use in the United States declined in the five-year period ending in 2010. The nation saw reductions in all sectors, including agriculture; municipal and industrial; and thermoelectric power. The report reveals that nearly two-thirds of the reductions were in the thermoelectric power sector, the largest use of fresh and saline water in the United States. These water-use trends reveal overall improvements in the management of our nation's water. Although substantial progress has been made, current water use trends are not sustainable in the face of population growth and climate change.
Apr. 21, 2015
The Department of Defense (DoD) has announced the winners of the 2015 Secretary of Defense Environmental Awards. Since 1962, the awards recognize individuals, teams, and installations for their outstanding achievements and innovative work protecting the environment while sustaining mission readiness. Military Services and Defense Agencies may submit one nomination for each of the nine award categories. A diverse panel of judges representing federal and state agencies, academia, and the private sector select the winners.
Apr. 21, 2015
FEMP is excited to alert all interested in energy savings performance contracts (ESPCs) that eProject Builder is now fully active in production mode. While FEMP continues to improve the functionality, the system has passed out of the development stage and is fully capable of accepting new projects. eProject builder (ePB) produces ESPC task order schedules and provides a secure online system for easily accessing, tracking and reporting ESPC project data through the life of the contract for your portfolio of projects. Most of the work required in the form of data entry is done by the ESCO, as with the current TO and proposal process.
Apr. 20, 2015
EPA has released the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) dashboard, a user-friendly website that presents data about violations and the compliance status of public water systems. The dashboard contains interactive charts and graphs that provide information regarding the compliance of public water systems with federal drinking water regulations, as well as enforcement actions. The SDWA Dashboard provides an overview of the SDWA regulatory activities of EPA and the implementing states, tribes, and territories. The dashboard provides an easy-to-use summary of key activities to answer questions like: which public water systems are regulated, how many public water systems have been inspected, how many systems have had alleged violations identified and enforcement action taken, and how many systems have returned to compliance. Learn more.
Apr. 17, 2015
Public Works Digest is an unofficial publication of the U.S. Army Installation Management Command, under AR 360-1, The Army Public Affairs Program. The April/May/June edition covers various environment and sustainability news and activities throughout the Army. See attachment.
Apr. 16, 2015
(Washington, DC, April 15, 2015) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its 20th Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks today, showing a two percent increase in greenhouse gas emissions in 2013 from 2012 levels, but a nine percent drop in emissions since 2005.

Total U.S. greenhouse emissions were 6,673 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2013. By sector, power plants were the largest source of emissions, accounting for 31 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas pollution. The transportation sector was the second largest source, at 27 percent. Industry and manufacturing were the third largest source, at 21 percent. The increase in total national greenhouse gas emissions between 2012 and 2013 was due to increased energy consumption across all sectors in the U.S. economy and greater use of coal for electricity generation.

This year, EPA is publishing key data in a new, online Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data Explorer tool, which allows users to view, graph and download data by sector, year and greenhouse gas. EPA will be holding an informational webinar on April 22 at 1 p.m. EST to demonstrate the Data Explorer tool and its features, and provide a tutorial on common searches.

Apr. 16, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Apr. 10, 2015
Lighting accounts for over 20% of the energy used by commercial buildings. Research out of the General Services Administration (GSA) Office of Federal High Performance Green Buildings demonstrates how to save energy through integrated lighting and daylighting strategies. The research, conducted by GSA and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) at the Fort Carson Army Base near Colorado Springs, CO, evaluated opportunities for Fort Carson buildings to provide superior lighting with minimal energy use. Learn strategies - including the "layers of light" approach - to save energy through strategic use of daylighting and lighting.
Apr. 9, 2015
EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are finalizing a Clean Water Rule later this spring to protect critical streams and wetlands that are currently vulnerable to pollution and destruction. On April 3 a draft rule was sent to the Office of Management and Budget for interagency review. Read the full blog article here.
Apr. 9, 2015
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Apr. 8, 2015
EPA's National Water Program has released a 2014 Highlights of Progress Report that provides a summary of major accomplishments addressing climate change and water by the EPA National Water Program and Regional water programs during 2014. In addition, major research projects addressing climate change and water that were completed in 2014 by the EPA Office of Research and Development are also described. The Report is organized around the six long-term programmatic areas identified in the "National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change," water infrastructure; watersheds and wetlands; coastal and ocean waters; water quality; working with Tribes; and cross-cutting support.
Apr. 6, 2015
According to an EPA Region 10 press release, Fort Wainwright was fined $420 for UST violations in November 2014.
Apr. 6, 2015
"The Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid Data from the FracFocus Chemical Registry 1.0." is a peer-reviewed analysis built on more than two years of data provided by organizations that manage FracFocus, the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission. Operators disclosed information on individual oil and gas production wells hydraulically fractured between January 2011 and February 2013 and agency researchers then compiled a database from more than 39,000 disclosures. Researchers reviewed and analyzed this information to identify the chemicals and better understand the amounts of water used for hydraulic fracturing.
Mar. 30, 2015
GSA is launching a pilot to encourage its vendors and contractors to publicly disclose their company-wide greenhouse gas emissions. The new pilot - which is voluntary - will also ask about 120 of GSA's largest vendors and contractors to reduce their overall greenhouse gas emissions.
Mar. 25, 2015
Winter 2014-2015 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.
Mar. 24, 2015
EPA's Green Power Leadership Awards recognize exceptional achievement among EPA Green Power Partners and among green power suppliers. Green Power Partners and green power suppliers may apply for an award, or another party may nominate them. EPA recognizes eligible organizations and suppliers in multiple award categories including Onsite Generation, Green Power Purchasing, and Green Power Partner of the Year. Nominations will be accepted until 17 April 2015. The awards will be presented at the 2015 Renewable Energy Markets Conference.
Mar. 24, 2015
The U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit's Water Resources topic area is now live. Explore climate-related risks and opportunities related to municipal water supplies, flooding, drought, and water-related ecosystems. You'll also find tools and case studies to help manage water-related climate risk and build resilience.
Mar. 19, 2015
This is GSA's innovative green building learning simulation which is a part of GSA's SFTool. Green the Building places you in the role of a resource-constrained decision-maker, charged with greening buildings through strategic energy, waste, water and occupant satisfaction improvements. You must choose technologies, implement best-practices, support behavior changes and plan carefully to create buildings that conserve resources, reduce waste, save money and keep occupants happy and healthy. Need help? Don't worry! Embedded links connect you directly to the clear explanations you've come to expect from SFTool.
Mar. 19, 2015
The new EO, titled "Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade," revokes multiple prior EOs and memorandum including EO 13423 and EO 13514. The new EO outlines forward-looking goals for federal agencies in the area of energy, climate change, water use, vehicle fleets, construction, and acquisition.
Mar. 17, 2015
March 16 - 22 is Fix a Week Leak. Household leaks can waste more than 1 trillion gallons of water annually nationwide, so each year we hunt down the drips during Fix a Leak Week.
Mar. 13, 2015
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Mar. 12, 2015
The Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security has announced the winners of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2014 GreenBuy Awards. The following sites were recognized for demonstrating leadership in sustainable acquisition: • Gold Level Award Winners:    o Argonne National Laboratory;    o Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; and    o National Renewable Energy Laboratory (for the fourth year in a row!) • Silver Level Award Winners:    o Ames Laboratory; and    o Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant. For more information on DOE's GreenBuy Awards Program, click here.
Mar. 12, 2015
In support of the President's all-of-the-above energy strategy to diversify our nation's power supplies, the Energy Department today released a new report looking at the future of wind power through 2050 and the economic benefits that come with a robust wind industry. The report, "Wind Vision: A New Era for Wind Power in the United States", confirms that with technological advancements driving projected cost reductions, in combination with continued siting and transmission development, wind power can be economically deployed to provide renewable power in all 50 states.
Mar. 12, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Mar. 9, 2015
EPA's new label helps you identify products with safer chemical ingredients, without sacrificing quality or performance. When you see a product with this new label, it means that every ingredient in the product has been evaluated by EPA scientists against our stringent health and safety standards. Look for products with the Safer Choice label in stores later this spring. Major producers and retailers like Clorox, Walmart, Jelmar/CLR, Earth Friendly Products, Bissel, Wegmans, and hundreds of others have agreed to start putting Safer Choice products on the shelves this year. Learn about the label and find a list of safer products.
Mar. 4, 2015
The Building Technologies Office (BTO) invites you to send ideas, comments, and votes to buildings.ideascale.com[http://buildings.ideascale.com/], the new ORNL Buildings Crowdsourcing Community. Administered by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the website has been launched as part of the Energy Department's efforts to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings and enhance U.S. competitiveness" "in manufacturing. Innovators including start-ups, designers, buildings scientists, students, and other big thinkers can use the website to share ideas that could develop into new energy efficient technologies for homes and buildings. Those interested in participating can register through the ORNL Buildings Crowdsourcing Community or they can vote on their favorite entries. The best ideas will be recognized during the Energy Department's Building Technologies Office Industry Day hosted at ORNL headquarters in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in September 2015.
Feb. 27, 2015
The Winter 2014-2015 issue of Natural Selections, the DoD Natural Resources Program quarterly newsletter, is attached. The newsletter highlights training within DoD and includes updates from various DoD programs, initiatives, and partnerships.
Feb. 24, 2015
The draft 1990-2013 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is now available for public comment. To ensure your comments are considered for the final version of the document, please submit your comments by March 26, 2015. Comments can be sent to Leif Hockstad at hockstad.leif@epa.gov or Melissa Weitz at weitz.melissa@epa.gov.
Feb. 18, 2015
On February 18, 2015, Secretary of State John Kerry and EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy signed a statement of intent to launch a new air quality partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The effort will provide U.S. citizens and government personnel with better information on air quality at select embassies and consulates around the world to reduce health risks from outdoor air pollution, and will offer greater opportunities for the United States to create partnerships on air quality with other nations. Read the full release.
Feb. 13, 2015
(WASHINGTON, February 13, 2015) – As part of President Obama's Climate Action Plan Virtual Climate Resilience Toolkit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced the release of the Climate Adjustment Tool for EPA's Stormwater Management Model – a widely-used, downloadable online stormwater simulation model. The Climate Adjustment Tool allows engineers and planners to evaluate the performance of water infrastructure while considering future climate change projections, such as more frequent high-intensity storms and changes in evaporation rates of seasonal precipitation, to determine the benefits of resiliency decisions to reduce local economic burden and protect communities.
Feb. 13, 2015
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Feb. 12, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Feb. 4, 2015
The USACE Civil Works Program Strategic Plan "Sustainable Solutions to America's Water Resource Needs" for the years 2014 to 2018 is now available. The plan presents overarching strategies resulting from the five-year Civil Works Scenario-based strategic planning process. This strategic plan builds on the watershed-based systems approach introduced in the Civil Works 2004-2009 Strategic Plan by furthering Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM), as the overarching strategy.
Jan. 30, 2015
(Washington, DC, January 30, 2015) Across the country, extreme weather and other impacts of climate change are threatening the health, safety, and prosperity of our communities. This month, NOAA and NASA announced that 2014 was the hottest global year on record. And as the planet continues to warm, impacts like rising sea levels, intensified storms, and heavy downpours are contributing to an increased risk of flooding. President Obama is committed to ensuring that American communities thrive in the face of a changing climate. That is why, today, the President signed an Executive Order establishing a flood standard that will reduce the risk and cost of future flood disasters by requiring all Federal investments in and affecting floodplains to meet higher flood risk standards. By requiring that Federally funded buildings, roads and other infrastructure are constructed to better withstand the impacts of flooding, the President's action will support the thousands of communities that have strengthened their local floodplain management codes and standards, and will help ensure Federal projects last as long as intended. See attachment for the full announcement.
Jan. 30, 2015
On January 28, 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released to the public a report detailing the results of a two-year study to address coastal storm and flood risk to vulnerable populations, property, ecosystems, and infrastructure in the North Atlantic region of the United States affected by Hurricane Sandy in October, 2012. Congress authorized this report in January 2013 in the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (Public Law 113-2). The report, known as the North Atlantic Coast Comprehensive Study (NACCS), brought together experts from Federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations and academia, to assess the flood risks facing coastal communities and ecosystems and collaboratively develop a coastal storm risk management framework to address increasing risks, which are driven in part by increased frequency and intensity of storm events and rising sea levels due to a changing climate. The NACCS provides tools and information, including a nine-step Coastal Storm Risk Management Framework that can be used by communities, states, tribes, and the Federal government to help identify coastal risk and develop strategies for reducing those risks.
Jan. 29, 2015
The Consent Agreement and Final Order, signed by EPA and US DOE today, addresses two independent Resource Conservation and Recovery Act violations, which occurred in 2013. In the first case, EPA alleged that US DOE moved 136 fifty-five gallon drums of hazardous waste from a permitted area to an unpermitted area, without seeking or obtaining the required permit authorization. In the second case, US DOE submitted a closure plan (in October, 2013) for eight storage units that lacked all the required information as required under an earlier settlement. The plan did not detail how and when any remaining waste and contamination would be removed and disposed of as the project was completed. US DOE is now working with the Washington Department of Ecology to amend the plan to include the needed closure information. As part of this agreement, US DOE will pay a $44,722 penalty.
Jan. 29, 2015
EPA recognized 14 WasteWise participants this year, which include research institutes, retailers and local governments. The winner in the category for the Federal Government Partner of the Year for 2014 is the Presidio Trust. The WasteWise program helps organizations and businesses apply sustainable materials management practices to reduce municipal and industrial wastes. WasteWise participants reported preventing and diverting a total of nearly 7.6 million tons of waste from being disposed in landfills or incinerators in 2013. This amount of waste diversion represents a reduction in greenhouse gases equivalent to taking more than 2.3 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.
Jan. 27, 2015
On January 23, 2015, the White House launched the Presidential Challenge for Advanced Outdoor Lighting, calling on local governments to accelerate the adoption and use of high efficiency outdoor lighting. In addition to driving carbon pollution reductions in communities across the country, the Challenge will help cities and states cut their outdoor lighting bills by 50% or more. Read the CEQ blog, hosted by Kate Brandt, Federal Environmental Executive.
Jan. 26, 2015
EPA, Office of the Chief Financial Officer is requesting comments on the development of an E-Enterprise for the Environment portal and announcing three public meetings in the form of internet webinars. The portal, a Web site that functions as a point of access to information and tools, may provide consolidated entry points for businesses and citizens to efficiently locate, obtain access to, and interact with relevant EPA, state, and tribal environmental programs and resources. The goal is to reduce regulatory burden and optimize information technology resources across government entities. EPA is seeking comment on the value of establishing a portal and the functions that it should provide. The EPA will host a series of webinars for the public to learn about the portal, ask questions and learn how to provide comments. While open to any participants, the first webinar on 2/19/15 will be oriented towards states and other co-regulators; the second webinar on 2/23/15 will be for the regulated community; and the third on 3/5/15 will be aimed at the general public. POC is Shana Harbour at tel: 202-566-2959; fax: 202-501-0648; email: epa.gov">harbour.shana@epa.gov (Federal Register; 26 Jan 2015 [Notices], pages 3962-3964).
Jan. 20, 2015
EPA's Office of Air and Radiation's (OAR) Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (OAQPS) is hosting a community conference call about updates to several rules. January 2015 Conference Call Topics: Clean Power Plan; Ozone NAAQS; and the Methane Strategy. January 28, 2015
Jan. 15, 2015
The Administration is announcing a new goal to cut methane emissions from the oil and gas sector by 40 - 45 percent from 2012 levels by 2025, and a set of actions to put the U.S. on a path to achieve this ambitious goal.
Jan. 15, 2015
Similar to previous years, in 2013, most of the toxic chemical waste managed at industrial facilities in the U.S. was not released into the environment, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) annual Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) report. The report, published today, shows that approximately 22 billion pounds - or 84 percent - of the 26 billion pounds of toxic chemical waste were instead managed through the use of preferred practices such as recycling. Of the 4 billion pounds that were disposed of or otherwise released to the environment, 66 percent went to land, 19 percent to air, 5 percent to water, and 10 percent was transferred to other facilities. Over the past 10 years, total disposal or other releases to the environment have decreased 7 percent, despite a 15 percent increase from 2012 to 2013.
Jan. 14, 2015
EPA Region 2 is now seeking nominations for the Environmental Champion Awards, previously called the Environmental Quality Awards. Winners will be honored at an awards event on Friday, 24 April 2015. The Agency is accepting nominations for Environmental Champion Awards until 17 February 2015. The awards recognize achievement in six categories: Business and Industry; Individual Citizen; Non-Profit Organization, Environmental or Community Group; Environmental Education; Federal, State, Local or Tribal Government or Agency; and Media.
Jan. 13, 2015
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Jan. 13, 2015
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office --Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Jan. 7, 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) presents an updated series of training courses focused on the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High-Performance and Sustainable Buildings.
Dec. 30, 2014
EPA's cases resulted in $163 million in combined federal administrative, civil judicial penalties, and criminal fines. Other results include: reductions of an estimated 141 million pounds of air pollutants, including 6.7 million pounds of air toxics; reductions of approximately 337 million pounds of water pollutants; and clean up of an estimated 856 million cubic yards of contaminated water/aquifers.
Dec. 24, 2014
Roundup of the Department of Energy Environmental Management Office's significant accomplishments for 2014. See attached.
Dec. 19, 2014
Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) was required to establish guidelines for agencies to meter their federal buildings for electricity. DOE issued the guidance in February 2006. The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 subsequently established that each agency shall provide equivalent metering of natural gas and steam. See 42 U.S.C. § 8253(e). By the close of FY 2013, federal agencies collectively reported installing 96% of electricity, 96% of natural gas, and 69% of steam meters at buildings the agencies deemed appropriate.

The Presidential Memorandum, Federal Leadership on Energy Management (Dec. 5, 2013) reemphasized the requirements for installing electricity, natural gas, and steam meters, and provided an additional requirement for installing water meters. The memorandum directed the DOE Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to revise the metering guidance and include definitions for "cost effective" and "appropriate" (for determining where meters should be installed).

"Federal Building Metering Guidance (per 42 USC 8253(e) Metering of Energy Use) November 2014 Update" supersedes the February 2006 Guidance. The updated Guidance is now published on the FEMP website, with a direct link to the download page here.

Dec. 19, 2014
The latest edition of "Our Changing Planet", the U.S. Global Change Research Program's annual report to Congress, illustrates the Program's significant progress in meeting its legal mandate and fulfilling the 2012-2021 Strategic Plan. The report gives an overview of the Federal global change research enterprise and upcoming research priorities, with plain-language highlights spotlighting recent efforts to advance science and support societal needs. Among the many highlights in the report, a few examples include: new satellite missions to measure global change; progress in forecasting near-term climate; understanding natural and human factors in the carbon cycle; modeling climate impacts on agriculture and the agro-economy; delivering the 2014 National Climate Assessment; supporting climate preparedness and resilience in the federal government; and building capacity among climate change interpreters in informal education settings. To access the report, visit: http://www.globalchange.gov/browse/reports/our-changing-planet-fy-2015.
Dec. 18, 2014
As part of an ongoing effort to modernize implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act and promote effective and transparent environmental reviews, the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) has released updated draft guidance for Federal agencies on how to consider greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of climate change in their NEPA analyses, as well as final guidance on conducting programmatic NEPA reviews. These measures will increase the efficiency of environmental reviews and help agencies make informed decisions that are sound investments of taxpayer dollars and good for American communities.
Dec. 17, 2014
The Obama Administration has released final Principles, Requirements and Guidelines (PR&G) for Federal investments in water resources, marking the first update to these important guidelines in more than three decades. In addition to helping cut costs and accelerate project approvals, the modernized PR&G guides Federal agencies to support water infrastructure projects with the greatest economic and community benefits.
Dec. 12, 2014
16 December 2014 marks the 40th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Act was passed to protect your family's health by ensuring that the nation's public drinking water is safe. EPA is committed to working with states, tribes, water sector partners and other stakeholders to meet the challenges ahead in continuing to protect drinking water supplies. Read Administrator Gina McCarthy's remarks from the National Press Club celebrating the anniversary and learn how the Safe Drinking Water Act impacts you.
Dec. 10, 2014
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Dec. 10, 2014
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Dec. 10, 2014
On December 9, 2014, the White House held an event that brought together NASCAR, White House leadership, the U.S. Department of Transportation, tire manufacturers, and tire dealers to highlight common sense opportunities of properly maintaining tires, especially in regard to tire pressure. By enabling a driver to travel farther on a gallon of fuel, proper tire maintenance combined with the use of low rolling resistance tires could save a driver up to $80 per year, and avoid up to 560 pounds of annual carbon dioxide pollution, equivalent to nearly 600 miles of emission-free driving. For more information, please see the White House Fact Sheet (http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/12/09/fact-sheet-increasing-safety-and-efficiency-while-saving-money-pump) highlighting new executive actions and private sector commitments to increase awareness about tire safety and efficiency. You can also view the Department of Transportation's report, "Be TireWise: Save Money at the Pump, Increase Efficiency, and Protect Your Safety" at http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/tire_report_final.pdf.
Dec. 9, 2014
The Energy Department today recognized 25 winners across the federal government as recipients of the 2014 Federal Energy and Water Management Awards. These annual awards highlight exceptional federal agency efforts for improving the nation's energy, water, aviation and vehicle fleets. Each winner deployed cutting-edge practices that will significantly cut carbon pollution, protect the environment and strengthen national security.
Dec. 2, 2014
Monthly environmental news for DoD facilities in EPA Regions 1, 2 & 3 for October/November 2014. See attached.
Dec. 2, 2014
FINAL REMINDER - ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT TO PARTICIPATE! The White House is launching the second GreenGov Challenge! If you're a federal employee, share your idea on how the federal government can lead by example in eight different categories -- from climate change mitigation and resilience, to water conservation, to waste reduction. Submissions are open until 5 December 2014. After the submission period closes, GreenGov will release the approved submissions and all federal employees will be able to vote for their favorite ideas.
Nov. 25, 2014
DOE and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are developing a vision for future buildings a century from now based on the collective views of our forward-thinking stakeholders. Post your thoughts, suggest topic areas, and share information on their website. Attend their panel sessions and workshop to join the discussions. They are also looking for partners who are interested in taking a more active role in this vision-such as hosting a webinar, organizing a panel discussion or coordinating a workshop.
Nov. 18, 2014
The DoD Cultural Resources UPDATE is sponsored by the DoD Cultural Resource Program. This edition highlights several current initiatives, provides an overview of new and ongoing training opportunities, and features information on recently published reports relevant to the DoD CRM community. See attached.
Nov. 18, 2014
The EPA Office of Sustainable Communities recently released a report entitled, "Enhancing Sustainable Communities with Green Infrastructure," to help communities better manage stormwater while achieving other environmental, public health, social, and economic benefits. The report aims to help local governments, water utilities, nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, and other stakeholders integrate green infrastructure strategies into plans that can transform their communities. This report can help stakeholders create a vision for how green infrastructure can enhance their communities beyond reducing stormwater runoff. It also directs readers to other resources that provide more detailed information that can be tailored to communities' specific climate, goals, and circumstances. To access the report, visit: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/green-infrastructure.html. To view the related blog post, visit: http://blog.epa.gov/epaconnect/2014/10/green-infrastructure-helping-to-transform-neighborhoods-in-cleveland-and-across-the-nation/.
Nov. 18, 2014
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has offered a right-of-way (ROW) grant to Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission System, LLC (Deepwater Wind) for the Block Island Transmission System (BITS). The transmission system will serve two purposes: 1) connect Deepwater Wind's proposed 30 megawatt (MW) Block Island Wind Farm, located in Rhode Island state waters about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Block Island, to the Rhode Island mainland; and 2) transmit power from the existing onshore transmission grid on the mainland to Block Island. The ROW corridor, which is about eight nautical miles long and 200 feet wide, comprises the portion of the transmission line that crosses federal waters.
Nov. 18, 2014
This document reflects the compliance and enforcement agenda for EPA at federal facilities in FY15.
Nov. 13, 2014
This is a DoD-sponsored newsletter issued as a part of their Natural Resources Program. The newsletter updates the status of the program, provides information on training and meetings, and highlights success stories and future plans.
Nov. 13, 2014
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
Nov. 13, 2014
The Southern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions, published by the U.S. Army's Regional Environmental and Energy Office--Southern (REEO-S), is designed to provide current information to environmental decision makers, planners, and program managers regarding environmental actions and events throughout Federal EPA Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Information listed may be relevant to the U.S. Army and other Military Services' activities and operations. See attached.
Nov. 6, 2014
EPA and the USDA will host two public listening sessions to solicit stakeholder input to assist the Pollinator Health Task Force in development of a federal strategy to protect honey bees and other pollinators. The Task Force is asking for input on the types of activities that could be part of the strategy, including public private partnerships, research, educational opportunities, pollinator habitat improvements and pesticide risk mitigation. The meetings will be held November 12 and 17. For those not able to attend the sessions, there is a webinar available.
Nov. 4, 2014
Fall 2014 edition of the DoD Chesapeake Bay Program Journal, published quarterly and sponsored by the DOD/Navy Chesapeake Bay Program Office. See attached.
Nov. 3, 2014
On 31 October 2014 the DOI released its 2014 Climate Change Adaptation Plan. The 2014 Plan focuses on the Department's work to address climate change through implementation of Executive Order 13653 and the Department's Climate Change Adaptation Policy (523 DM 1). Section II of this plan explains the Department's official Climate Change Adaptation Policy and provides additional guiding principles. Section III summarizes the Department's efforts to address climate related risks. Section IV demonstrates the Department's efforts to modernize programs to support climate resilience investment.
Nov. 3, 2014
On 31 October 2014 Federal agencies released their plans for reducing their greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes. The current agency Climate Change Adaptation Plans build on the first set of plans, which was released in February, 2013, and respond to a November 2013 Executive Order on Preparing the United States for the Impacts of Climate Change that established requirements for updating and reporting on progress on agency Adaptation plans.
Oct. 31, 2014
On Oct 31, 2014 EPA released plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes. These Sustainability Plans and Climate Change Adaptation Plans coincide with the fifth anniversary of President Obama's 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, which set aggressive energy, climate and environmental targets for agencies, and detail how EPA's actions have already contributed to reducing the Federal Government's greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent since 2008 - the equivalent of permanently taking 1.8 million cars off the road.
Oct. 30, 2014
EPA has finalized an agreement with the Louisiana Department of Environmental (LDEQ), Louisiana Military Department (LMD), and the U.S. Army (Army) to dispose of 15 million pounds of abandoned explosives at Camp Minden, La. Under the final agreement, the Louisiana Military Department will control burn more than 15 million pounds of smokeless propellants in specifically designed burn trays with funding provided by the United States liability fund, on behalf of the Army. EPA and LDEQ will oversee the work and environmental safety
Oct. 28, 2014
EPA is recognizing landmark green chemistry technologies developed by industrial pioneers and leading scientists that turn climate risk into business opportunities, spurring innovation and economic development. The Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are presented in five categories: academic, small business, greener synthetic pathways, greener reaction conditions and designing greener chemicals.
Oct. 23, 2014
On October 22, 2014, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that it is on track to meet the Administration's 2020 renewable energy goal after awarding a competitive power supply contract to a commercial wind developer for the purchase of 140 megawatts (MW) of clean wind energy. The energy will come from the Walnut Ridge Wind Farm, which is currently in development in northwest Illinois, and will add more than 500,000 megawatt-hours (MWhs) of electricity to the power grid annually. The ten-year contract was awarded to MG2 Tribal Energy – a joint venture between the Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians, a federally-recognized Native American tribe, and Geronimo Energy, a commercial wind developer – and is the largest wind energy purchase from a single source in federal contracting history.
Oct. 23, 2014
Recipients of the 2014 Secretary of the Army Energy and Water Management Awards have been announced. The annual awards program -- in its 36th year -- recognizes installations, small groups and individuals from the Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard who make significant achievements in installation energy conservation and water management. Categories for the award include Energy Efficiency/Energy Management, Innovation and New Technology, Renewable/Alternatives, Water Conservation, and Demand Side Management/Load Shedding. Click here for the list of award winners.
Oct. 22, 2014
President Obama's June 2014 memorandum, Creating a Federal Strategy to Promote the Health of Honey Bees and Other Pollinators, directs Federal agencies to take steps to protect and restore domestic populations of pollinators. To help achieve this goal, CEQ issued on October 22, 2014 an addendum to its sustainable landscape guidance, Supporting the Health of Honey Bees and other Pollinators. The guidance will help Federal agencies incorporate pollinator friendly practices in new construction, building renovations, landscaping improvements, and in facility leasing agreements at Federal facilities and on Federal lands.

For additional information on the importance of the revised guidance, see Kate Brandt's CEQ blog, Good News for the Bees: Supporting Pollinators at Federal Facilities.

Oct. 21, 2014
The EIA online analysis of 2013 energy-related carbon dioxide emissions indicates U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from the consumption of fossil fuels were 5,396 million metric tons carbon dioxide in 2013, an increase of 2.5% from the 2012 level. Despite the increase in 2013, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions remain 10% below 2005 levels.
Oct. 20, 2014
The Army Sustainability Report 2014 highlights progress in FY12 and FY 13 in land management, operational energy, community partnerships, and programs.
Oct. 15, 2014
This is the text of a speech that was given on 9 October 2014 to the American Bar Association (ABA).
Oct. 13, 2014
The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions provides current information on government affairs, energy and environment relevant to Department of Defense interests in the 22 states and territories in Federal Regions 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Review is intended to be a tool useful to DoD and Army leaders, planners, and program managers in carrying out their responsibilities. The Northern Review of Legislative & Regulatory Actions monitors and targets proposed and final regulations and legislation that may affect Army or DoD operations. See attached.
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