Pam McFarland

Legal

Nation’s Top Court Limits EPA's Authority in Clean Air Case

The ruling comes as court justices change and as the agency prepares to issue a new carbon reduction strategy

June 30, 2022

In a 6-3 decision, justices said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency overstepped its authority to set a broad greenhouse gas emissions reduction mandate.

Federal Budget

House Appropriators Call For FY23 Hikes in Many Construction Programs

Tom Ichniowski

Pam McFarland

June 27, 2022

No Comments

Committee seeks boosts for GSA buildings, EPA water projects, military construction and overall Corps civil works programs.

Infrastructure

G7 Nations to Invest $600B in Developing Nation Infrastructure

Funding will support, among other things, solar projects in Angola and small modular reactor study in Romania

Pam McFarland

June 27, 2022

No Comments

Funding will support, among other things, solar projects in Angola and small modular reactor study in Romania

Legal

High Court Nixes Expanded Workers' Comp at Hanford Cleanup Site

Pam McFarland

June 21, 2022

No Comments

US Supreme Court justices rule that 2018 Washington state law allowing more federal and federal contractor employees to claim benefits related to cleanup work at US Energy Dept nuclear site violates the US Constitution.

Water Report

Where Parched California Is Finding New Water Sources

California boosts funds and people power to clean up groundwater and push recycling and desalination

Pam McFarland

June 9, 2022

2 Comments

As drought-plagued western states watch their water sources literally dry up, California is digging deeper.

Sustainability

Corporate Leaders Seek Feds' Help to Meet Climate Emissions Reduction Pledges

More funding for technology development and research; tax incentives will go a long way, they say.

Pam McFarland

Debra K. Rubin

May 27, 2022

No Comments

New ERM study also reveals what 40 public firms spend to disclose their climate risks, as the SEC proposes to make that reporting a new requirement.

Drinking Water

California Coastal Commission Rejects $1.4B Desalination Project

Controversial Huntington Beach water plant would have been second large one for developer Poseidon Water

Pam McFarland

May 13, 2022

One Comment

Huntington Beach proposal was too "problematic" to move forward, California Coastal commissioners said.

Government

Justice Dept., EPA Ramp Up Environmental Justice Enforcement

Administration to resume use of supplemental environmental projects as an enforcement tool

Pam McFarland

May 6, 2022

No Comments

Justice Department sets up new office of environmental justice enforcement.

Santa Clara Inmates training program.jpg

Workforce Development

White House Funding Boosts Job Options for Former Inmates

New federal grants would support work-readiness for pre-apprentice programs

Pam McFarland

April 29, 2022

No Comments

Biden administration would invest $145 million over the next year for skills training to support job-readiness for pre-apprentice programs and other work re-entry options.

Water Pollution

Biden Administration Amps Up Efforts to Reduce Aquatic Trash

Pam McFarland

April 22, 2022

One Comment

The U.S. government will spend nearly $900 million in the next five years to address aquatic trash, a problem that vexes municipal stormwater agencies.