"Forestry experts have a dire warning for California: the conditions are ripe for more catastrophic fire seasons like the one last fall. And an arcane federal funding arrangement is making it a lot harder for forestry officials to do something about it. Instead of fixing the problem, however, Congress just punted — again."
"The two-year budget deal reached by congressional leaders would set up the biggest sale in history from the nation’s emergency oil stockpile."
"The budget deal that [passed early Friday morning] includes the one-year, retroactive renewal of a host of expired tax breaks." They included extension of tax breaks for renewable energy.
"House Democrats on Thursday called for $1 trillion in federal dollars for an infrastructure overhaul, a proposal that comes just days ahead of the announcement of President Trump’s long-awaited infrastructure proposal."
"The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday released annual data about how it is enforcing the nation’s environmental laws, saying it had racked up nearly $5 billion in criminal fines and civil penalties, as well as significant commitments from companies to clean up contaminated sites around the country."
"A bipartisan group of 19 Western governors said Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke did not consult with them about major plans for reorganizing the agency, and have asked him to delay implementing the proposal until he speaks with them."
"U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, has introduced legislation that would ensure all cosmetics marketed to children are proven asbestos-free, or else they must carry warning labels."
"Toxic substances including arsenic may be leaking from unlined pits and contaminating groundwater at hundreds of coal ash storage facilities nationwide, according to an analysis by the environmental law organization Earthjustice."
"The U.S solar industry, after at least six years as a sizzling job creator, lost almost 4 percent of its jobs last year, according to a survey out today. Most business owners said they expect growth to resume this year."
"A group of Democratic senators is demanding that Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt recuse himself from repealing one of President Obama's signature environmental rules, which is intended to curb the release of greenhouse gases from the nation’s power plants."
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