Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
november 2016
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federal agencies & administration
Obama Administration releases Resilience Opportunities report
October 31, 2016
The White House Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience recently released a report entitled Opportunities to Enhance the Nation’s Resilience to Climate Change. The report details Obama Administration accomplishments that have advanced U.S. climate resilience infrastructure. The report introduces new programs that will provide support for future climate resilience efforts.
One of the new programs, Resilience Dialogues, addresses the importance of raising awareness and disseminating information on climate change. This consulting service helps federal agencies such as the Department of Agriculture, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and others advise communities on their climate resilience planning.
The report also establishes a coalition of 97 academic institutions that will provide educational opportunities for students to ensure that future architects, engineers, urban planners, and construction professionals are equipped with the ability to accommodate variable climate impacts.
Sources: The White House Office of the Press Secretary
Donald Trump elected 45th President of the United States
November 9, 2016
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump received 279 electoral votes on November 9, defeating Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and securing his presidency. He will be officially inaugurated on January 20, 2017.
President-elect Trump has already begun appointing key members of his transition team to help vet high-level cabinet positions that will eventually oversee important geoscience research functions within the federal government.
The Department of the Interior transition will be overseen by Douglas Domenech, former deputy chief of staff at the Department of the Interior under George W. Bush; the Department of Energy transition will be overseen by Thomas Pyle, President of the American Energy Alliance; and the Department of Agriculture transition will be overseen by Joel Leftwich, majority staff director for the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Sources: Donaldjtrump.com, Washington Post, American Energy Alliance
Department of the Interior passes methane emission reduction rule, faces lawsuit
November 15, 2016
The Department of the Interior (DOI) released a final rule to cut methane emissions from oil and gas operations on federal and tribal lands. According to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, the goal of the Methane and Waste Prevention Rule is to reduce “harmful methane emissions that contribute to climate change” through economically viable actions.
The rule requires oil and gas companies to incorporate modern technologies into infrastructure planning that will reduce methane flaring events. The rule also requires companies to carry out periodic inspections of equipment for leaks and establishes limits to oil and gas storage tank venting. The rule lists guidelines on royalty amounts to be paid by operators exhibiting excessive methane gas flaring. These rates vary and can total up to, and in excess of, 12.5 percent of the production value of oil and gas at that particular site.
The Western Energy Alliance (WEA) and the Independent Petroleum Association of America have responded negatively to the new rule: the two organizations filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming. The lawsuit claims that the rule is an “unlawful and unconstitutional agency action,” on the basis that Congress previously delegated the authority to regulate air quality to the Environmental Protection Agency. The states of Wyoming and Montana have also leveled a lawsuit against DOI for the same reason.
While a hearing date has yet to be announced, WEA has submitted a preliminary injunction to stop the rule from being implemented in the meantime.
Sources: Department of the Interior, Montana Department of Justice, Western Energy Alliance
White House releases Mid-Century Deep Decarbonization Strategy
November 16, 2016
The White House released its Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization, which identifies key actions the United States must take to reduce its carbon footprint by 2050. The impetus for the report came last March when the White House released at joint press release detailing its commitment with Canada to fulfill the climate goals set forth by the Paris Agreement.
Actions proposed within the report include, investing in energy-efficient technologies, altering the electricity system by improving transmission systems and electricity storage, and adopting clean energy and low carbon fuels for transportation infrastructure, buildings, and the industrial sector. To facilitate these goals, the federal government will expand state and local carbon emission policies and provide incentives for carbon dioxide removal technologies.
The report also notes the importance of sequestering carbon through proper forest and soil management. A balance between biomass storage and critical land use priorities suggested in the report could support those practices. Artificial carbon dioxide removal technologies such as Bioenergy Plus Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) are also noted as worthwhile investments to reduce our country’s carbon footprint.
Non-CO2 emissions, such as methane and nitrous oxide, are targeted in the proposed strategy through regulatory policies, technological advances, and updated agricultural practice guidelines.
The Mid-Century Strategy for Deep Decarbonization is set to be implemented over the next 34 years.
Sources: European Biofuels Technology Platform, White House Office of the Press Secretary