Environmental Politics

"Two decisions handed down July 19 in DC Superior Court affirmed climate scientist Michael Mann’s right to proceed in his defamation lawsuit against the Competitive Enterprise Institute and the National Review Online for their statements accusing him of data manipulation and fraud. The Court is not buying the Defendants arguments in their Motion to Dismiss that their statements are protected speech under the First Amendment, mere 'opinion,' 'rhetorical hyperbole,' or 'fair comment.'"

"WASHINGTON -- Rep. Marsha Blackburn is not a fan. The Tennessee Republican says new regulations on energy efficiency will overly burden businesses in her district."

"After a three-decade delay, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed the first controls that would significantly curb power plant discharges of toxic coal ash and sludge into the nation's waterways, according to a report by five national environmental organizations."

"Federal judges today upheld U.S. EPA's ozone air standard in a challenge from public health groups that said the agency ignored a scientific consensus pointing to a stricter limit."

"VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Port of Vancouver commissioners voted Tuesday to approve a lease for a Columbia River terminal that would take in crude oil by train from North Dakota and ship it to West Coast refineries."

"NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has denied Transocean’s stay of judgment involving its refusal to turn over subpoenaed documents to the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB)."

"The regional levee authority overseeing East Bank flood protection will file a lawsuit Wednesday against dozens of oil, gas and pipeline companies aimed at forcing them to repair damage to a buffer zone of wetlands and ridges 'that helps protect the greater New Orleans region from catastrophic flooding,' according to a press release from the agency."

"The U.S. program that pays farmers to idle fragile cropland soon will protect the smallest amount of land in a quarter-century, the government said on Monday, the result of several years of sky-high commodity prices that have encouraged farmers to plant as much as possible."

"House Republicans proposed cutting the Environmental Protection Agency's budget by a third and denying funds for a key part of President Barack Obama's plan to combat global warming."

"PITTSBURGH -- The boom in natural gas drilling has cast two opposing documentary filmmakers in unlikely roles."