The Washington Word

Democrats Ramp Up Calls for Live Primary Debate on Climate Change

Washington Post

May 29, 2019

Democrats are talking a lot more about climate change compared to past presidential campaigns.

And increasingly, they have a new demand: They want the chance to do it in front of a national network audience.

A growing number of Democratic politicians and environmental activists are demanding a live televised primary debate dedicated to climate change. The calls are coming as Democratic voters — especially young ones who stand to see significant global warming in their lifetimes — are increasingly revved up about the foreboding environmental crisis.

Such a debate, in which White House hopefuls would try to outdo each other in their commitments to tackle climate change, would also be a way for Democrats as a group to further distinguish themselves from their main opponent, President Trump, who often dismisses climate change as a hoax. More . . .

Buildings Can Be Designed to Withstand Earthquakes. Why Doesn’t the U.S. Build More of Them?

New York Times

June 5, 2019

Japan, Chile, China, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Turkey and other countries vulnerable to earthquakes have adopted seismic-resistant technologies to varying degrees.

But with notable exceptions, including Apple’s new headquarters in Silicon Valley, the innovations have been used only sparingly in the United States. Seismic safety advocates describe this as a missed opportunity to save billions of dollars in reconstruction costs after the inevitable Big One strikes. More . . .

Centrist Dem Pitches Plan for Pe ntagon to Tackle Climate Change

The Hill

June 6, 2019

A centrist freshman Democrat is pushing a plan for the Pentagon to tackle climate change that he is billing as more attainable than progressive proposals to address climate issues.

Rep. Jason Crow (Colo.) unveiled Thursday morning an initiative to confront the intersection of climate change and national security, starting with a provision he successfully inserted into this year’s annual defense policy bill.

In an interview with The Hill this week, Crow emphasized that his plan, dubbed the “Sustainable Power Initiative,” is not in opposition to liberal proposals, but argued it stands a better chance of becoming law. More . . .

NEW IN CONGRESS

NEW BILL: H.R.3120 - To require the Secretary of Energy to establish an energy efficiency materials pilot program, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)

Introduced: June 5, 2019

NEW BILL: H.R.3079 - To amend the National Energy Conservation Policy Act to encourage the increased use of performance contracting in Federal facilities, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Peter Welch (D-VT)

Introduced: June 4, 2019

NEW BILL: H.R.3051 - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend by 2 years the energy efficient commercial buildings deduction .

Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (D-NJ)

Introduced: May 30, 2019

NEW BILL: H.R.3041 - To amend title 10, United States Code, to require the inclusion of information regarding military installation resilience in master plans for major military installations, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)

Introduced: May 30, 2019

AGENCY ACTION

Office of Federal High-Performance Buildings; Green Building Advisory Committee; Notification of Upcoming Teleconference

GSA

June 6, 2019

Notice of a teleconference/web meeting, is being provided according to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This notice provides the schedule for a teleconference/web meeting of the Green Building Advisory Committee (the Committee). This meeting is open for the public to either listen to or observe. Individuals interested in attending this meeting must register to attend as instructed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

The Committee will hold a teleconference/web meeting on Thursday June 20, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EDT), to 4:00 p.m., EDT.

Final Modification to National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges From Construction Activities

EPA

May 25, 2019

All ten of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions today are issuing a final modification to the 2017 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) general permit for stormwater discharges from construction activities, also referred to as the “2017 Construction General Permit (CGP)” or “2017 CGP,” which became effective on February 16, 2017. The modified permit, hereinafter known as the “modified 2017 CGP” or “final modified permit,” replaces several conditions in the original 2017 CGP and relevant fact sheet sections. The scope of the modification is limited to only these conditions; all other conditions remain the same. The permit term also remains the same, meaning the modified 2017 CGP will still expire on February 16, 2022.

This Federal Register notice describes the final permit modification and changes that were made from the proposed modified permit to the final modified permit based on public comments. The modified 2017 CGP and accompanying fact sheet can be found in the Docket (EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0828) as well as on the EPA's construction stormwater website at https://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater-discharges-construction-activities .