WASHINGTON, D.C., January 30, 2012 – The Environmental Protection Agency’s Total Maximum Daily Load regulation (TMDL) for the Chesapeake Bay watershed establishes new controls on land use that trespass into territory Congress legally reserved for state governments, according to the opening brief for summary judgment, filed Friday, Jan. 27 by the American Farm Bureau Federation in the case, “AFBF vs. EPA.”   Read More...

The U.S. economy's growth will slow this year after a blast of stronger growth in late 2011, leaving the 8.5% unemployment rate about where it is now on Election Day, according to USA TODAY's quarterly survey of economists.    Read More...

WASHINGTON, D.C. // DECEMBER 20, 2011 // Today, the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce filed suit in federal court to block the National Labor Relations Board’s unfair “ambush” election” rule, which would radically change the process for union representation elections. The new rule effectively shortens election time frames, limiting employees’ opportunity to hear from employers and make an informed choice and diminishing employers’ due process.     Read More...

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the 2012 percentage standards for four fuel categories that are part of the agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard program (RFS2). EPA continues to support greater use of renewable fuels within the transportation sector every year through the RFS2 program, which encourages innovation, strengthens American energy security, and decreases greenhouse gas pollution.     Read More...

The House on Thursday afternoon approved legislation Republicans said was aimed at ensuring that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) cannot regulate so-called "farm dust."

The Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act, H.R. 1633, which would prevent the EPA from issuing any new rule over the next year that regulates coarse particulate matter, or "nuisance dust," passed in a 268-150 vote.   Read More...

In a case watched closely by energy companies and manufacturers, the Supreme Court is set to consider whether to blunt one of the government's chief tools for enforcing the Clean Water Act.     Read More...

President Barack Obama formally announced his rejection of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, setting up a new confrontation with Republicans who contend the project would create as many as 20,000 jobs.    Read More...

The chairman of the National Labor Relations Board hopes to have another round of regulations in place by the end of the year that would make it easier for unions to establish and win representation elections in workplaces.    Read More...

NAEDA joined with 106 organizations sending a letter to President Obama supporting the Keystone XL pipeline construction.    Read More...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the National Forest System Land Management Planning Rule.  The planning rule will create a new design for managing national forest lands in the future.  The new rule will be the fourth attempt since 2000 to update the forest planning guidelines in place since 1982.  USDA's preferred alternative would require the use of the best scientific information, while pushing for greater collaboration through public involvement and dialogue when developing new plans for land and resource development.  Some groups have expressed concerns that the new rule will weaken protections for wildlife and create an undue burden on states to meet the requirements. 
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The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has revised the hours-of-service (HOS) safety requirements for commercial truck drivers. Commercial truck drivers and companies must comply with the HOS final rule by July 1, 2013.     Read More...

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Dec. 23 agreed to postpone the date by which employers must put up posters to notify their employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect on Nov. 14, 2011, which was then changed to Jan. 31, 2012, and is now April 30, 2012.    Read More...

The renewable energy sector experienced a volatile year in 2011, confronting critics and competitors who question the validity of new, sustainable sources of power and fuels. Nevertheless renewable energy advocates surmounted many of the hurdles that were erected and continued to press forward on the long march to a clean energy future.    Read More...

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack have announced an important step in the creation of a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps (21CSC), an organization called for in President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Report. Secretaries Salazar and Vilsack named members of a newly-established federal advisory committee that will provide recommendations on how to build on the important ongoing work of local, state, federal and non-profit youth conservation corps that engage young Americans in hands-on service and job training experiences on public lands and open spaces.     Read More...

The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) have filed comments with EPA on its proposed Confined Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) Reporting Rule.  The proposed rule stems from a settlement agreement between EPA and environmental groups, and would require CAFOs, regardless of whether the facilities discharge, to report information to EPA.  In its comments, NASDA took issue with the rule, citing biosecurity concerns and concerns that EPA was overstepping its authority under the Clean Water Act.    Read More...

Minnesota will be the nation's first test site for a novel federal program designed to stem the flow of agricultural pollution that is strangling some of the country's great waterways.    Read More...

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force released its final strategy for long term ecosystem restoration for the Gulf Coast, following extensive feedback from citizens throughout the region.    Read More...

United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Canadian Minister for International Trade Ed Fast signed a two-year extension of the 2006 U.S.-Canada Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA), extending the agreement through October 12, 2015 with no changes.   Read More...

U.S. trade officials are expecting to cut a wide swath through a broad trade agenda this year, all probably before Congress leaves town in August.   Read More...

In a keynote speech given to the American Farm Bureau Federation on January 9th, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack outlined a series of efforts, called the "Blueprint for Stronger Service," that the Department is taking to streamline its operations and cut costs.     Read More...