Latest News & Events

Good Samaritan Policy & Abandoned Hardrock Mines Cleanup Update February 2013

February 5, 2013

Policy

News from Senator Mark Udall's (CO) office:

Senator Udall recently joined with his coleagues from Colorado and New Mexico to introduce legislation (S. 222), that would free up additional funds for the clean up of abandoned hardrock mines in Colorado. Following a 2006 interpretation from the Department of the Interior, certain funds under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act have been dedicated to cleanup of abandoned coal mines only, This legislation gives States and Indian Tribes the flexibility to use these funds for abandoned coal or non-coal mines as they see fit. Therefore, the legislation will return these funds to their pre-2005 usage and give Colorado the ability to allocate them to the highest priority cleanup sites, all without increasing federal spending

Good Samaritan Update: EPA released a Good Samaritan policy on December 12th. Senator Mark Udall's press statement on EPA...

The 2012 Farm Bill: Reports & Updates on House and Senate Actions

September 19, 2012

Legislative Update

House and Senate Farm Bills Call for Dramatic Conservation Program Cuts.

Click HERE to read an article detailing U.S. House action on the shortsighted stand alone drought relief bill that was passed on 8/2/12. For additional information on the 2012 Farm Bill check out our list of resources below, which includes links to fact sheets, alerts, news articles and sign-on letters. We anticipate activity on the Farm Bill to heat up again when Congress comes back from its summer recess.

Past Action: As we have previously reported, the House Agriculture Committee approved by a vote of 35-11, their version of the 2012 Farm Bill, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM). Their version includes 35 billion in 10-year savings achieved through major cuts in the food stamp and commodity programs. For the first time since...

Making News

September 5, 2012

Member News

Buffalo's waterfront made national news recently with a story on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered". The story highlighted the environmental and economic development progress on the Buffalo River. As one of the local leaders that has contributed to this revitalization, Jill Jedlicka, Rivekeeper's Executive Director talks about the river's ongoing transformation from a once biologically dead waterway to being once again recognized as a natural asset for our Great Lakes city and region.

Listen to the story online:

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NY Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act Signed into Law!

August 10, 2012

Legislative Update

NY Governor Cuomo signed the Sewage Pollution Right to Know Act into law yesterday (8/9/12). Human exposure to pathogens present in raw sewage can lead to short-term and chronic illnesses along with other health problems. This law aims to protect against the dangers of raw sewage by giving the public the right to know when sewage is discharged into public waters. This is especially important in NY, as it is the only state with ocean, estuarine, and Great Lakes coastline.