A NEW PFAS RESEARCH STRATEGY: The Biden administration has released a new research strategy for “forever chemicals,” with the aim of expanding research on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – otherwise known as PFAS – and reducing the chemicals’ contamination and pollution in humans and the environment.
The details: The plan lays out strategic goals to help prevent the release and expand clean-up of PFAS, and outlines research and development strategies to help fulfill those aims.
These strategies include: Understanding PFAS exposure pathways to individuals and communities; addressing the challenges in measuring PFAS through the development of standards, advanced sampling, and analytical methodologies; understanding how PFAS affects humans and the environment; developing technologies for the removal and destruction of PFAS; and identifying alternatives for the chemicals.
The result of the research could inform federal policy-making and educational efforts.
Why this is important: The man-made chemicals are pervasive throughout the environment – and some of which have been linked to serious health problems, such as cancer. A focus of the plan would be to categorize PFAS individually or by categories according to chemical structure, properties, toxic effects, and other factors – which could lead agencies to set limits on different “classes” of PFAS, rather than placing regulations on each individual chemical. Read the report here.
Welcome to Daily on Energy, written by Washington Examiner Energy and Environment writer Nancy Vu (@NancyVu99). Email nancy.vu@washingtonexaminer dot com for tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. If a friend sent this to you and you’d like to sign up, click here. If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email, and we’ll add you to our list.
DOE APPROVES FIRST LNG EXPORT LICENSE SINCE JANUARY PAUSE: The Biden administration issued the first liquefied natural gas export license since the Energy Department instituted a pause in January, amid a legal effort from the agency to keep the moratorium in place, Bloomberg reports.
The details: DOE approved a five-year license on Tuesday to New Fortress Energy, which is launching an offshore plant known as Fast LNG near Mexico. The approval of the plant would aid export developers to sell LNG to countries in Europe, Japan, and China.
Some context: The agency announced at the beginning of this year that it would enact a temporary pause on LNG exports to analyze the environmental, economical, and national security implications of exports. However, the move angered a number of Republicans and industry players, who sued to overturn the pause. A federal judge lifted the pause in July, after several GOP states filed a lawsuit. DOE is appealing the ruling.
But: A number of environmental groups cheered the LNG pause, arguing that exports exacerbate climate change. Natural gas producers, on the other hand, argue the moratorium would make allies more dependent on adversaries such as Russia for natural gas, and threaten investment in projects.
“It’s ridiculous that the Department of Energy would issue this license despite the administration’s ongoing, incomplete public interest review of such exports,” Mitch Jones, a managing director at progressive green group Food & Water Watch, said in a statement. “The department is under no obligation to approve these ill-advised proposals, now or ever.” Read more on that here.
LEGIONELLA OUTBREAK IN EPA BUILDINGS: Bacteria that can cause severe lung infections have been found in several EPA buildings across the country, a new E&E News report shows.
What’s happening: Several water sources, such as sinks and expansion tanks, have been closed in the William Jefferson Clinton Federal Building after they tested positive for Legionella. A sink in an EPA laboratory in Houston also tested positive for the bacteria.
An EPA spokesperson told the publication that GSA, which manages most EPA buildings, has been facilitating drinking water tests at its facilities across the U.S.
Why that’s important: Exposure to Legionella can cause a pneumonia-type illness called Legionnaires’ disease and a mild flu-like illness called Pontiac fever. Outbreaks often occur in large buildings where the water isn’t properly maintained, according to the CDC.
And just last week: A separate report detailed that a federal building in Chicago had an outbreak of the bacteria, prompting the union for EPA employees to file a formal complaint, alleging that both agencies have failed to protect workers’ health and safety, violating the union’s contract. Representatives from both GSA and EPA said they have responded quickly to the issues. Read more on that here.
HARRIS VOICES OPPOSITION TO U.S. STEEL SALE: Vice President Kamala Harris is aligning with President Joe Biden in stating the U.S. Steel Corporation should remain owned and operated by the United States, another blow to the proposed sale of the company to Japanese-owned Nippon Steel.
During a Labor Day event in Pittsburgh yesterday, Harris stated it is “vital for our nation to maintain strong American steel companies” and vowed to strengthen America’s manufacturing sector.
“And I couldn’t agree more with President Biden — U.S. Steel should remain American-owned and American-operated, and I will always have the back of America’s steelworkers and all of America’s workers,” Harris said.
Harris had not disclosed her stance on the deal. Biden has pledged that U.S. Steel would remain domestically owned, although he hasn’t worked to block the deal. Harris’s opponent, former President Donald Trump, has also called for the acquisition to be called off.
Why that’s important: Since the deal was announced in December, the bid by Nippon Steel to buy the U.S. company has faced bipartisan opposition, including from the United Steelworkers union, which is based in Pennsylvania, a purple state. The union said a foreign company’s acquisition of an American steel company could have national security implications and expressed concerns that the purchase could lead to layoffs or the closing of plants. Read more from Nancy here.
RUNDOWN
E&E News DC Circuit environment and energy cases to watch
Politico Harris campaign hires Thorndike as climate engagement director
Financial Times More cleantech companies fail as fundraising challenges emerge