Deposition of Air Pollutants
Pollutes Water
Though our pollution control laws are structured around different
media, such as air and water, pollutants can move around and have different
effects to different degrees in different parts of the environment. The
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
describes in a report
how deposition of air pollutants can affect water quality. In addition, it
shows how the media-specific approach to pollution regulation makes it
difficult for the Environmental
Protection Agency to address this issue.
Coal Here to Stay
GAO published a study
of changes coming to coal-fired
electrical power generation. Though aging facilities and environmental
regulations will be changing it, coal is expected to remain part of the
American energy portfolio.
Coal energy is an issue that demonstrates that politics is local. President Obama
has faced opposition from his own party for Congressmen
and Senators
that represent areas that benefit from burning coal for energy (see this article
from The Daily Caller).
Senate Committee Hears Navy
Energy Nominee
The Senate Armed
Services Committee questioned retired Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn as a nominee
for Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations and Environment. Naval alternative
energy programs were one of the issues of concern.
Related artice: Navy
Energy Chief Likely to Be Confirmed After Smooth Hearing (Tracy, R., Wall Street Journal, July 25, 2013)
Government Looks at Milage Fees
IW has posted
several items about the dwindling Highway
Trust Fund. One idea that has been floated for raising revenues for
highways is to switch from fuel taxes to
fees on miles driven. GAO studied the concept for Congress.
It’s report includes a
review of milage fee program in several countries and pilot programs in the
United States.
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