Welcome to Wednesday’s Overnight Energy & Environment,Your source for the most recent news on energy, the environment, and beyond. Subscribe here thehill.com/newsletter-signup.
Today’s topic is a test for EPA regarding PFAS testing and high temperatures in Alaskan cities. Also, the political ramifications from projected gas prices.
Rachel Frazin, Zack Budryk and I are The Hill’s editors. Send us your tips: [email protected] [email protected]. Follow us on Twitter: @RachelFrazin @BudrykZack.
Let’s jump in.
Advocates are unhappy with PFAS testing
[[{“fid”:”248671″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”alignment”:””,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_url[und][0][value]”:”AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais”,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”},”link_text”:null,”type”:”media”,”field_deltas”:{“1”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”alignment”:””,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_url[und][0][value]”:”AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais”,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”}},”attributes”:{“class”:”media-element file-wysiwyg”,”data-delta”:”1″}}]][[{“fid”:”248671″,”view_mode”:”wysiwyg”,”fields”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”alignment”:””,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_url[und][0][value]”:”AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais”,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”},”link_text”:null,”type”:”media”,”field_deltas”:{“1”:{“format”:”wysiwyg”,”alignment”:””,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_url[und][0][value]”:”AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais”,”field_free_html[und][0][value]”:””,”field_free_html[und][0][format]”:”full_html”}},”attributes”:{“class”:”media-element file-wysiwyg”,”data-delta”:”1″}}]]It also stated that the chemicals were similar to 14 other chemicals in the petition and that it would test for four chemicals not requested by the groups, but that are identical to nine of them.
The EPA argued that it is covering 30 of the 54 chemicals in the petition.
The big picture This is the first concrete indication of the Biden administration’s approach to PFAS chemicals, which it had announced in October.
Some types of PFAS (perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been linked with health issues such as testicular and kidney cancer.
Initial denial by the Trump administration was made.
The complaint: Bob Sussman, a lawyer representing environmental groups, stated that the requirements are too restrictive and only seven chemicals will be studied.
“EPA says they’re granting petition. “I think if they denied it, we would basically get the same thing… 90-plus% of what we asked for are not getting,” stated Sussman. He was a high-ranking EPA official in the Obama and Clinton administrations.
The petition will outline the tests, which will include animal studies. But Sussman stated that he would like to see epidemiological research on Eastern North Carolina residents.
However, the EPA considers it an important step.The petition will help EPA gain a better understanding of the risks posed by PFAS pollution and allow it to do more to protect people. The data will also allow us to identify the source of pollution so we can hold those responsible for threatening the public accountable,” stated Michael Regan, EPA administrator. “EPA is fully committed in addressing this long-standing problem of pollution, and today we make another important step forward to protect the water and air we all depend on.
You can read more about the agency’s actions here.
Alaskan city sees record-high temperatures
Recent high temperatures in Kodiak (Alaska) have reached record levels, raising concerns about climate change.
Temperatures could soar to 67 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend They were recorded… and on Monday TuesdayThe city also set daily temperature records.
It can be difficult to link one weather event with climate change. However, heatwaves are generally linked to global warming.
Activists were concerned about the Alaskan temperatures.
“Alaska has smashed the December temperature record by eleven degrees. It would also have set a record for November, January and February or March.” TweetBill McKibben is an environmentalist. “It’s insane and dangerous.”
DEMS’ POTENTIAL GAS PRICE PROBLEM
Yesterday, we examined projections showing that gasoline prices may rise. Today we will examine what this could mean in the midterms.
Democrats, already in danger of losing seats in the midterm elections, could face additional difficulties if gas prices rise in 2022.
A new ForecastGasBuddy released Wednesday’s fuel price app GasBuddy stating that fuel prices could increase to between $3.43 and 4.13 per gallon for June.
Democrats would be unhappy if prices were to rise in a midterm year because they currently have slim majorities within the House of Representatives and Senate.
“This is 70 cent range, and which I think makes an important difference,” Brad Bannon, Democratic strategist, stated. He was referring specifically to the forecast’s range for June prices. Democrats will have a problem if it’s too high. It’s not a problem if it’s on a low side.
However, prices are expected lower later in the year. The GasBuddy analysis puts them at around $3.16 per g in October.
Bannon, who has written opinion articles for The Hill, called the expected drop between June and November “good news” for Democrats.
He stated that Americans have short memories. Everything is relative. If gas prices are $4 in June but drop to $3.50 or less in the fall then that will help Democrats a lot.
On the contrary, Ahmad Ali, the press secretary for Data for Progress, raised concerns about Democrats having to deal with people “riled up and energized” by rising prices.
He stated that the party should not ignore economic issues and instead focus on them.
He said, “So long the message becomes clear about the presidency and the Democrats being all about making people’s pockets easier, I’m certain that they can continue their support.”
The GOP? If prices rise, Republicans will likely continue to attack Biden and Democrats, as they have done before.
When asked how price news would impact its 2022 strategy, a spokesperson for the National Republican Campaign Committee suggested that Democrats should be blamed.
“Democrats have absolutely zero credibility left on the topic of rising prices after spending months claiming that inflation was transitory,” Mike Berg, a spokesperson for the Republicans’ House Campaign Organization, wrote in an email.
WHAT WE ARE READING
-
Chile Rewrites its Constitution, Confronting Climate Change Head on The New York Times reports
-
Hidden drains, secret pumps: How a Seattle firm evaded EPA to dump toxic water in Puget Sound for years MarketWatch reports
-
Fed survey: Oil firms expect rising output but warn of higher prices, according to a Fed survey Reuters reports
Finally, here’s something completely off-beat. We don’t blame them for wanting to take a break.
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Check out The Hill. Energy & Environment pageFor the most recent news and coverage. We will see you Thursday.
