Press release issued 11/ 1/ 17
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=4740E9D6-A7F9-4744-96F7-AE2294C12AD2
(Washington, D.C.) – Led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), top Democrat on the Senate education committee, 10 U.S. Senators sent a letter today to Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin urging him to uphold the VA’s responsibility to protect veterans from being taken advantage by predatory for-profit colleges that have insider relationships with VA employees and regulators.
“We are pleased that VA withdrew the prior proposal to provide blanket waivers to any employee with any financial relationship to a for-profit college,” wrote Senator Murray and her colleagues. “However, VA has also indicated that it intends to develop a more narrowly tailored policy to address its perceived concerns with employees in complying with the law. In doing so, we urge VA to consider that for-profit colleges continue to pose risks to veterans and taxpayers and seek to use their financial resources to influence federal policies and procedures. We strongly urge you not to take any action that would allow predatory for-profit colleges to take advantage of our nation’s veterans.”
On October 4, Senator Murray sent a letter urging Secretary Shulkin to suspend efforts to issue a blanket waiver allowing conflicts of interest among the Department and for profit-colleges. The letter warned against weakening protections preventing for-profit colleges from taking advantage of members of the military and questioned the Trump Administration’s motives behind the waiver. VA then agreed to rescind the blanket waiver, but is still considering a new version of the waiver. In today’s letter Senator Murray urges VA to continue to listen to veterans, advocacy groups, and Congress when making decisions and to continue to keep protections in place to guard veterans and members of the military from predatory for-profit colleges.
OUR PARKS AND FOREST...
News from the US Interior Dept:Secretary Zinke and Interior Leadership host First-Ever Public Lands Access for Veterans Meeting at Interior
Press release issued 10/ 27/ 17
WASHINGTON – As part of “National Hunting and Fishing Month” today, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke hosted a first-of-it's-kind meeting with veteran service organizations to share experiences and ideas to make public lands more accessible to veterans with and without disabilities. The Hunting and Fishing Access for Veterans roundtable discussion was hosted by Secretary Zinke and included members of his leadership team. More than 20 veteran advocates participated, including many who specialize in hunting and fishing therapy for returning warriors.
“Hunting and fishing are more than a pastime. They are a way for us to connect with the land and the people we're with, while also helping recharge body, mind, and soul in the solace of nature," said Secretary Zinke. "Hunting and fishing present such an incredible healing opportunity for our veterans who return home with physical and emotional wounds. Unfortunately, many of our public lands are either inaccessible to individuals with various physical disabilities, or we just don't offer programs to encourage veterans to access and use them. I want these warriors to be able to return home from their service and enjoy the very lands they fought to protect. I want to make sure hunting and fishing on public lands is easily accessible and available. Hearing ideas from leaders in the veteran community about how to achieve this goal has given my team some much-needed insight as we move forward.”
Army Green Beret John Wayne Walding and Benghazi warrior Mark "Oz" Geist, both motivational speakers and combat veterans, shared their personal stories about how hunting on public lands helped them recover from battlefield injuries and strengthened the bonds with their families. Walding spoke of the first hunt he took in Alaska after having his leg amputated, which proved to be the motivational force for him to reenter the military and return to duty. Geist spoke about the bond developed between him and his WWII veteran father stalking and hunting on Colorado public lands.
https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/secretary-zinke-and-interior-leadership-host-first-ever-public-lands-access-veterans
Landowners in Deep South Protect 700,000 Acres of Wetlands with USDA Help
USDA BLOG Post dated 10/ 27/ 17
Private landowners in Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana have protected 700,000 acres of critical wetlands in the past 25 years, which accounts for one-third of all wetlands under USDA conservation easements in the country. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and several conservation partners recently celebrated this milestone by visiting one of the landowners who used a conservation easement to restore and permanently protect the wetland.
Conservation easements enable landowners to receive cost-share payments for wetland conservation that not only benefit the landscape, but also landowners by giving them opportunities to take less-profitable, marginal croplands out of production.
Since 1992, many landowners in these three states have used more than 2,100 conservation easements to protect hundreds of thousands of acres of wetlands. This includes landowner, Perry Pitre, who hosted the celebration with NRCS, Ducks Unlimited, the Mississippi River Trust, The Nature Conservancy, local soil and water conservation districts, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and a host of other partners.
Wetlands improve water quality, protect people and property from flooding and provide habitat for wildlife, and are among the most productive ecosystems in the world.
Many of the wetlands restored in these three states were in the alluvial plain of the Mississippi River, which boasts some of the country’s most fertile farmland. On lands not suitable for cropping, conservation easements enabled landowners to restore bottomland hardwood forests, which has had tremendous benefits for many species, including the once-endangered Louisiana black bear.
https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2017/10/27/landowners-deep-south-protect-700000-acres-wetlands-usda-help
Perdue Statement on House Passage of Resilient Federal Forests Act
USDA Press release issued 11/ 1/ 17
https://www.usda.gov/media/press-releases/2017/11/01/perdue-statement-house-passage-resilient-federal-forests-act
(Washington, D.C., November 1, 2017) - Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017 (H.R. 2936) as an important step toward better management of national forests. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Bruce Westerman (AR-04), seeks to implement proactive management standards for forests and paves the way for a solution to the problem of U.S. Forest Service funding. In this record wildfire season, Secretary Perdue has repeatedly called for a fix to the “fire borrowing” problem, which siphons off forest management dollars to pay for firefighting. This year, the Forest Service has spent in excess of $2.5 billion fighting wildfires.
Perdue issued the following statement:
“Proper, proactive management of our national forests is essential so that we may preserve them as functional, productive forests that support the environment, economic development, and tourism. At the same time, we must care for our forests in a manner which mitigates the severity of the inevitable wildfires. To that point, this legislation helps facilitate the conversation about Forest Service funding, which continues to be a problem as we face escalating costs in battling wildfires. For too long, the Forest Service has had to borrow from prevention programs in order to fight fires, meaning that we risk leaving a heavy fuel load in the forests for future fires to burn. As the legislative process continues, I look forward to working with Congress as we all seek a comprehensive solution to put America’s forest back to work again.”
At the State level...
Commission adds 1,300 acres of wildlife land east of CascadesPress release issued 10/ 30/ 17
http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/oct3017a/
OLYMPIA – The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission approved the purchase of approximately 1,300 acres of land to protect wildlife habitat and support outdoor recreation east of the Cascade crest at a public meeting here Oct. 27-28.
The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), also took action on issues ranging from a land transfer at Wells Hatchery to new rules for commercially caught seafood.
The Simcoe Mountains property, the largest of two land acquisitions approved at the meeting, includes 1,150 acres off Highway 97 near Goldendale in Klickitat County. Reaching an elevation of 3,500 feet, the property includes stands of Oregon white oak and ponderosa pine, and supports a variety of species including mule deer, burrowing owls, and threatened western gray squirrels.
WDFW will pay Western Pacific Timber, LLC the assessed market value of $851,000 for the property, which is part of a multi-phased plan to acquire 18,745 acres from the company in the Simcoe Mountains area.
"This addition to the Klickitat Wildlife Area will permanently protect prime wildlife habitat and provide public access to hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for the people of our state," said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW land manager.
Wilkerson said the department is also working with area conservation districts to ensure that the land will continue to include compatible timber and grazing activities that benefit the local community.
Farther north, the commission also approved the purchase of 142 acres in Kittitas County as part of the "Heart of the Cascades" project, a partnership formed in 2007 by WDFW and the Nature Conservancy to restore timberlands in central Washington for wildlife and outdoor recreation.
The department will pay the private owner $142,000 for the wooded parcel, which is part of a migration corridor for elk and includes a forest road that provides public access to thousands of acres previously acquired through the partnership.
In other action, the commission authorized WDFW to:
Transfer two acres of land, including three employee housing units, at Wells Fish Hatchery to Douglas County PUD in transitioning to a new management structure at the facility.
Align WDFW rules for buying and selling seafood with new state legislation scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2018.
Move forward on a forest restoration plan at the Scatter Creek Wildlife Area in Thurston County, where a wildfire burned across 345 acres in August.
In addition, commissioners received an update on state and tribal efforts to control the spread of invasive northern pike into the upper Columbia Basin. They also received a briefing on the results of a two-year study by the Wild Fish Conservancy (WFC) on the operation of an experimental fish trap in the lower Columbia near Cathlamet.
Banned in Washington state since 1934, fish traps can play an important role in future fisheries, said Adrian Tuohy, a WFC biologist involved in the study. Preliminary results presented to the commission showed that the experimental trap was highly effective in catching fall-run salmon and steelhead and releasing them unharmed.
Commissioners expressed a high degree of interest in the study, but agreed that additional feasibility studies – and policy deliberations – would be needed before they could consider supporting the return of fish traps to Washington waters.
"There's a lot to think about," said Commission Chair Brad Smith.
OUR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH...
News from the EPA:EPA Recognizes Excellence and Innovation in Clean Water Infrastructure
Press release issued 11/ 1/ 17
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-recognizes-excellence-and-innovation-clean-water-infrastructure-5
(Lenexa, Kan., Nov. 1, 2017) - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized 28 clean water infrastructure projects for excellence and innovation within the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. Honored projects include large wastewater infrastructure projects to small decentralized and agriculture projects.
EPA’s Performance and Innovation in the SRF Creating Environmental Success (PISCES) program celebrates innovation demonstrated by CWSRF programs and assistance recipients. The CWSRF is a federal-state partnership that provides communities a permanent, independent source of low-cost financing for a wide range of water quality infrastructure projects. Over the past 30 years, CWSRF programs have provided more than $125 billion in financing for water quality infrastructure.
“For decades, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund has supported critical water infrastructure projects that help grow the American economy and support our way of life,” said Mike Shapiro, acting assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Water. “These projects are a testament to the power of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund in leveraging investment to meet the country’s diverse clean water needs.”
New Haven Conn. Group Awarded EPA Grant to Help Air and Water Issues
Press release issued 11/ 1/ 17
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/new-haven-conn-group-awarded-epa-grant-help-air-and-water-issues
BOSTON - A Connecticut organization working to address water and air pollution issues in New Haven was one of three groups in New England to receive an EPA grant award of $30,000 each, to help communities directly address local environmental concerns.
The New Haven Urban Resources Initiative won the Environmental Justice Small Grant award for a project that involves planting trees and taking care of community parks, as well as maintaining landscaped areas called "bioswales" that are designed to drain silt and pollution from surface water runoff. Tree plantings will be targeted for low tree canopy areas in underserved neighborhoods.
The Initiative's GreenSkills program will address local air and water quality issues in New Haven, and also will provide green job training for about 38 New Haven residents. The New Haven area suffers from both water and air pollution due to combined sewer overflows and high levels of particulate matter in the air. The program hopes to plant 500 street trees, engage 300 residents to take care of the trees, and maintain 20 bioswales.
"When the community takes part in protecting the environment, the changes are more sustainable," said Deb Szaro, regional administrator of EPA's New England office. "EPA provides funding so these communities can participate in protecting their own environments."
EPA's Environmental Justice Small Grants provide critical support to organizations that otherwise lack the funding and resources to address the environmental challenges in their community. The 2017 grants will help organizations in 30 states, and Puerto Rico, carry out projects that will educate residents about environmental issues that may impact their health, collect data about local environmental conditions, and work collaboratively to address environmental justice challenges in their communities. Environmental justice means the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income, in the environmental decision-making process.
The grants support activities that not only address a range of community concerns, but also support activities that educate and empower youth and the next generation of leaders in STEM-related job sectors and environmental stewardship. Specific grant projects will focus on reducing exposure to lead and other water pollutants, developing green infrastructure and sustainable agriculture projects, implementing basic energy efficiency measures in low-income households, and increasing overall community resiliency.
EPA Announces Public Hearing on Proposed Repeal of Clean Power Plan
Press release issued 11/ 2/ 17
https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-public-hearing-proposed-repeal-clean-power-plan
WASHINGTON (November 2, 2017) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public hearing on the proposed repeal of the Clean Power Plan in Charleston, WV on November 28-29, 2017. All persons wanting to speak are encouraged to register in advance.
“The EPA is headed to the heart of coal country to hear from those most impacted by the CPP and get their comments on the proposed Repeal Rule. The agency looks forward to hearing from all interested stakeholders,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt.
What: Public hearing on proposed repeal of the Carbon Pollution Emission Guidelines for Existing Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units (commonly known as the Clean Power Plan).
When: November 28-29, 2017. The hearing will convene each day 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and will conclude at 5:00 p.m. If the EPA receives a high volume of requests, we may continue the public hearing to November 30, 2017. The EPA may also hold an additional hearing to be announced at a later date. See the website for updates about the hearing.
Where: West Virginia Capitol Complex, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, West Virginia 25305.
Contact: Registration information will be posted at: https://www.epa.gov/stationary-sources-air-pollution/electric-utility-generating-units-repealing-clean-power-plan
Pre-registration to provide an oral presentation will begin when the notice is published in the Federal Register and close on November 16, 2017. People will be contacted about speaking slots via email starting on November 17, 2017.
AT THE STATE LEVEL...
DOE: Long-term environmental plan proposed for part of South Park Landfill site
Press release dated 10/ 25/ 17
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2017/082.html
Public can review and comment through Dec. 13; informational meeting Nov. 28
SEATTLE – The public has an opportunity to review and comment on a proposed environmental cleanup plan and legal agreement for the closed South Park Landfill in South Seattle. The maintenance and monitoring plan would establish long-term protections for public health and the environment.
The Washington Department of Ecology seeks public comment through Dec. 13, 2017 – and will host an informational meeting on Nov. 28, 2017 – on the plan for 30 acres of the 40-acre landfill. People also can comment on an updated public participation plan and earlier studies. The studies evaluated environmental conditions for the entire site and cleanup options for the 30 acres.
The city of Seattle operated the landfill from the 1930s to 1966 when the city opened a transfer station on part of the property.
Contaminants of potential concern in soil at the site include arsenic, lead, diesel, and oil. Environmental studies performed at the site have detected groundwater contamination from arsenic, iron, manganese, vinyl chloride, and possibly dichloroethene and benzene. Landfill gas – mostly methane and carbon dioxide – also is present at the site but is not getting into nearby buildings.
The site originally belonged to King County, but now has several owners. Two of them have received Ecology approval to perform interim cleanups on their respective properties, which prepare their parts of the former landfill for long-term maintenance and monitoring. South Park Property Development LLC (SPPD) completed a 19-acre interim cleanup in 2015, and the city is preparing to begin cleanup work on its 11 acres.
Both projects are designed to isolate the landfill waste from human contact, keep stormwater out of the landfill with pavement or buildings, and to build systems that keep landfill gases out of buildings on or near the site. These are typical cleanup requirements for closed municipal waste landfills.
Ecology proposes long-term plans and a legal agreement with the city and SPPD, plus King County. The agreements would settle their legal liabilities for their portions of the landfill. The plans would require monitoring; five-year inspections; programs to maintain the gas controls and landfill covers; restrictions on future use of the properties; and contingency plans in case of future gas or groundwater problems.
WORLD AND NATIONAL HEADLINES FROM REUTERS...
Syria declares victory over Islamic State in Deir al-ZorBEIRUT (Reuters) - The Syrian government declared victory over Islamic State in the eastern city of Deir al-Zor on Friday, a big blow to the jihadists as their last stronghold in Syria crumbles.
Jailed Catalonia leader Santi Vila to leave jail after paying bail
MADRID (Reuters) - Jailed Catalonia leader Santi Vila, among the nine Catalan leaders ordered to be held in custody on Thursday pending a potential trial over the region’s independence drive, was free to leave jail after paying bail, a court document showed.
Israel's Netanyahu expresses hope for U.S. peace push in Middle East
LONDON (Reuters) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday he hoped a U.S. peace initiative will work and praised President Donald Trump for taking a fresh approach to bringing the Israelis and Palestinians back to negotiations.
Republican tax plan a blow to Democratic states, officials say
NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Democratic-leaning states are set to bankroll a big chunk of the tax cuts unveiled in a Republican tax plan on Thursday, as the plan slashes deductions used the most by residents of states that voted against Donald Trump in the 2016 elections.
U.S. judge orders former Trump aides to stay under home arrest
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge on Thursday ordered President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort to remain under home arrest and wear an electronic monitoring device for now as he awaits a tentative trial date on money-laundering and other charges.
Trump, dogged at home, heads on longest presidential Asia trip in years
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Beset by challenges at home, President Donald Trump on Friday embarks on the longest trip to Asia by an American president in more than a quarter century, looking for help to pressure North Korea to stand down from a nuclear crisis.
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Romans 13:1 NKJV
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