Regulation
The Environment and Your Sex Life
This being Valentine’s Day, it seemed like a good time for a posting on endocrine disrupters. Not being an expert on the topic, I first turned to the EPA’s website. There I was reminded that a 1996 statute requires EPA to screen chemicals for this effect. Proceeding at its usual hectic pace, ten years later …
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CONTINUE READINGThe Reverse Wimpy Effect
Does anybody remember Popeye? His friend Wimpy liked to say, “I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!” The Missouri Legislature is considering pulling a Reverse Wimpy. The Jefferson City solons are considering a bill that would let an electric utility say “I would gladly give you a power plant “tomorrow” if you …
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CONTINUE READINGBridging a Browner-Summers Gap?
Much has been made about a potential feud between White House Economic Advisor Larry Summers and White House Energy and Climate Advisor Carol Browner over how fast to cut carbon emissions. Summers has been vocal in expressing concerns over the economic effects of a tough climate policy. Browner, by contrast, is a strong advocate for …
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CONTINUE READINGYou won’t see this in the stimulus package
Just announced: A new UK program to give all homes an energy efficiency retrofit by 2030. This from the Guardian: All UK households will have a green makeover by 2030 under government plans to reduce carbon emissions and cut energy bills. Cavity wall and loft insulation will be available for all suitable homes, with plans …
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CONTINUE READINGDon’t Know Much Biology
As a famous biologist once said, “without evolution nothing in biology makes sense.” And biological science is obviously basic to a lot of environmental policy. Thus, it is dismaying to learn that only four out of ten Americans believe in evolution. Trying to understand environmental policy without believing in evolution is like trying to understand …
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CONTINUE READINGMidnight regulations and how the Obama administration can improve federal regulation
There has been a lot of talk about “midnight regulations” issued or initiated by the Bush administration in its final days (including the one that is the subject of this post by Holly). Outgoing presidents, starting at least with Jimmy Carter, have had a practice of issuing many new regulatory decisions in a hurry as they leave office, with …
CONTINUE READINGCalling All Nanotubes
California is out in front on emerging environmental issues once again. Using authorities provided under AB 289, the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) recently issued a call to manufacturers for information relating to carbon nanotubes manufactured in or imported into California. Carbon nanotubes have received significant attention of late given their growing level of …
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CONTINUE READINGGoodbye CCELP, Hello CLEE
Three years ago, the U.C. Berkeley Law School launched a new research center devoted to environmental law and policy: the California Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CCELP). From its inception, CCELP has worked on a variety of energy matters. However, since 2006 the intersection of energy and environmental policy has become both more obvious …
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CONTINUE READINGHow do we decide what is a “Water of the United States”? Rapanos revisited
Ever since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinions in Rapanos v. United States in 2006, it has been unclear exactly how the U.S. is to go about evaluating which wetlands and tributaries of navigable waters are subject to federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. Until recently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers asserted federal …
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CONTINUE READINGCan NEPA save the world?
New Scientist‘s blog, Short Sharp Science, reports that repairs on the proton-smashing Large Hadron Collider at Europe’s CERN may be complete by September. What’s the environmental law connection? You might recall that before the LHC was briefly fired up in September 2008 (it only worked for 9 days before crashing), a lawsuit was filed in …
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