The western United States is experiencing a historically persistent drought.

Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act (S. 2219) on October 29.

The National Park Service (NPS) has proposed a rule giving the agency greater oversight over the exercise of non-federal oil and gas rights on NPS land.

On July 22, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment heard testimony on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program and discussed potential improvements to the initiative.

On July 8, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee heard testimony on the Administration’s plans for the 2015 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris. As part of the conference, the Obama Administration intends to commit America to reducing carbon emissions by 26 percent by 2025.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a hearing on June 2 to assess drought conditions and water challenges in the western United States.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues an El Niño Advisory announcing that conditions for El Niño have been established.

The 2015 Consortium for Ocean Leadership Public Policy Forum on Predicting and Preparing for a Changing Arctic took place on March 4.

A National Academy of Sciences panel called for more research into geoengineering as a method to combat climate change in two reports released on February 10.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA released reports (NOAA, NASA) showing that 2014 was the warmest year on record for temperatures of both land and ocean surfaces. Japan’s Meteorological Agency confirmed that their records also show 2014 as the warmest year.