Category: Newsletter article
Individual articles for various ‘issues’ of newsletters (i.e., articles for a GREEN Newsletter or Legislative Update).
531 posts found, showing 20 per page
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 15, 2016
Natural Gas Companies Challenge “Zones of Critical Concern” for Drinking Water
You may recall that the Aboveground Storage Tank Act that was passed in response to the Freedom Industries spill subjects to "detailed scrutiny" those aboveground tanks (ASTs) located within "zones of critical concern (ZCCs)" relative to the intake of a public drinking water supply. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, DEP, Oil and gas, Regulation, Water
Natural Gas Companies Challenge “Zones of Critical Concern” for Drinking Water
You may recall that the Aboveground Storage Tank Act that was passed in response to the Freedom Industries spill subjects to "detailed scrutiny" those aboveground tanks (ASTs) located within "zones of critical concern (ZCCs)" relative to the intake of a public drinking water supply. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, DEP, Oil and gas, Regulation, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe January 15, 2016
Follow Us on Twitter!
We do our best to keep you apprised of Capitol shenanigans via action alerts and our weekly Legislative Update. Often, however, time is of the essence, say when an important bill unexpectedly appears on a committee's agenda just hours before the committee is to meet. More
Follow Us on Twitter!
We do our best to keep you apprised of Capitol shenanigans via action alerts and our weekly Legislative Update. Often, however, time is of the essence, say when an important bill unexpectedly appears on a committee's agenda just hours before the committee is to meet. More
Newsletter article Bill Price March 19, 2015
Forward
The 2015 legislative session, for the most part is done. I want to thank every citizen who called, came to a hearing, talked to the Legislator, emailed, facebooked, held a sign, brought cookies, spoke to the press, or in any way helped out. I also want to extend a huge thanks to Conni Lewis, the Legislative coordinator and the lobby team of Rob Goodwin and Vickie Wolfe who stayed at it to the bitter end. Add to that the progressive lobbyists who were present in the face of a strong wind to blow us backwards, but who never failed to try to move WV forward. Everyone tried and all worked hard. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Water
Forward
The 2015 legislative session, for the most part is done. I want to thank every citizen who called, came to a hearing, talked to the Legislator, emailed, facebooked, held a sign, brought cookies, spoke to the press, or in any way helped out. I also want to extend a huge thanks to Conni Lewis, the Legislative coordinator and the lobby team of Rob Goodwin and Vickie Wolfe who stayed at it to the bitter end. Add to that the progressive lobbyists who were present in the face of a strong wind to blow us backwards, but who never failed to try to move WV forward. Everyone tried and all worked hard. More
Issues: Category A, Coal, Mountaintop removal, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin March 19, 2015
We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up
The 2015 Legislative Session ended late Saturday night with several major bills getting killed in the final hours. The majority of the bills that died in the final hours were bad bills as the climate this session was not very conducive to even getting good bills on the agenda. There were a few major bills that consumed the majority of the lobby team’s time this session being the Coal Jobs and Safety Act, Category A Protections for the Kanawha River, HB 2004 the Anti-Clean Power Plan bill, and SB423 the roll back of the tank bill. Of these bills Category A protections for the Kanawha River and the WVDHHR Source Water Protection Planning Rules were of the few bills we could actually encourage a yes vote on. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Coal, Marcellus, Net metering
We live to fight another day as the 2015 Legislative Session Wraps Up
The 2015 Legislative Session ended late Saturday night with several major bills getting killed in the final hours. The majority of the bills that died in the final hours were bad bills as the climate this session was not very conducive to even getting good bills on the agenda. There were a few major bills that consumed the majority of the lobby team’s time this session being the Coal Jobs and Safety Act, Category A Protections for the Kanawha River, HB 2004 the Anti-Clean Power Plan bill, and SB423 the roll back of the tank bill. Of these bills Category A protections for the Kanawha River and the WVDHHR Source Water Protection Planning Rules were of the few bills we could actually encourage a yes vote on. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Coal, Marcellus, Net metering
Newsletter article Conni Lewis March 19, 2015
There’s even more to be concerned about
262 bills survived the legislative process this year and only a handful are of concern to the Environmental Council . Vickie and Rob have written passionately about the most important (and often appalling) bills. Yet there are a few that we should take note of and here they are: SB234 removes water and sewer utilities owned by political subdivisions from PSC jurisdiction. An interesting twist is the provision detailling the procedure for selling such a utility to another entity. Gee, who would want to buy a small community's water system? More
Issues: Fracking, Solid waste, Water
There’s even more to be concerned about
262 bills survived the legislative process this year and only a handful are of concern to the Environmental Council . Vickie and Rob have written passionately about the most important (and often appalling) bills. Yet there are a few that we should take note of and here they are: SB234 removes water and sewer utilities owned by political subdivisions from PSC jurisdiction. An interesting twist is the provision detailling the procedure for selling such a utility to another entity. Gee, who would want to buy a small community's water system? More
Issues: Fracking, Solid waste, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 18, 2015
ASTA Rollback: The Final Chapter
S.B. 423, "Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act," was taken up by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday evening, March 9. The Committee questioned several witnesses, including DEP Secretary Randy Huffman and Evan Hansen of Downstream Strategies. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
ASTA Rollback: The Final Chapter
S.B. 423, "Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act," was taken up by the House Judiciary Committee on Monday evening, March 9. The Committee questioned several witnesses, including DEP Secretary Randy Huffman and Evan Hansen of Downstream Strategies. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
Newsletter article Conni Lewis March 18, 2015
Spring Reflections
Baseball teaches both players and fans that failure is not only an option, it's part of the game. A team that wins 60% of its games is rare. And if like my beloved St. Louis Cardinals, it can do so frequently, it is regarded with awe. Even the best players recognize that they will leave home plate without a hit most of the time. So while I responded to this session's debacle with inappropriate language, anger and occasional despair, as a faithful baseball fan, I understand. In contrast, football expects near perfect seasons from its best teams, even amongst middle school leagues, and that distorts reality. But that sense that domination is good is widespread. More
Issues: Legislation
Spring Reflections
Baseball teaches both players and fans that failure is not only an option, it's part of the game. A team that wins 60% of its games is rare. And if like my beloved St. Louis Cardinals, it can do so frequently, it is regarded with awe. Even the best players recognize that they will leave home plate without a hit most of the time. So while I responded to this session's debacle with inappropriate language, anger and occasional despair, as a faithful baseball fan, I understand. In contrast, football expects near perfect seasons from its best teams, even amongst middle school leagues, and that distorts reality. But that sense that domination is good is widespread. More
Issues: Legislation
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 18, 2015
For the Environment: What was gained, what was lost this session
Yes, believe it or not, there were a couple of "gains." One of those was the restoration of "Category A" status to the lower 72-mile stretch of the Kanawha River, which means that that section of the Kanawha may be used as source water for drinking water facilities. The WVEC and our allies worked hard to shepherd this rule through the process. More
Issues: Aluminum, Category A, Legislation, Net metering, Recycling, Water
For the Environment: What was gained, what was lost this session
Yes, believe it or not, there were a couple of "gains." One of those was the restoration of "Category A" status to the lower 72-mile stretch of the Kanawha River, which means that that section of the Kanawha may be used as source water for drinking water facilities. The WVEC and our allies worked hard to shepherd this rule through the process. More
Issues: Aluminum, Category A, Legislation, Net metering, Recycling, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 18, 2015
More to read
From Climate Progress: West Virginia Passes Bill Rolling Back Regulations On Chemical Storage Tanks Statehouse Beat: the many low points of 2015 session And in case you missed it, the Tomblin administration appears to have had a change in attitude toward those MTR health studies: W.Va. DEP’s Huffman: Strip-mine health studies deserve ‘closer look’ ‘A […] More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Legislation, Mountaintop removal
More to read
From Climate Progress: West Virginia Passes Bill Rolling Back Regulations On Chemical Storage Tanks Statehouse Beat: the many low points of 2015 session And in case you missed it, the Tomblin administration appears to have had a change in attitude toward those MTR health studies: W.Va. DEP’s Huffman: Strip-mine health studies deserve ‘closer look’ ‘A […] More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Legislation, Mountaintop removal
Newsletter article Bill Price March 7, 2015
Reaction and Action
I went to the labor rally earlier today. Speech after speech was about the need for action. Call your legislators, register to vote, vote, get your friends registered, drive your friends to the polls, get on the street, march, and rally; do anything, but do something. What inspiring words! I was so moved when they asked that people boycott Speedway Stores because workers are on strike at the Marathon facility near Ashland, that I went on to Facebook and sent that out. More
Issues: Coal, Pollution, Water
Reaction and Action
I went to the labor rally earlier today. Speech after speech was about the need for action. Call your legislators, register to vote, vote, get your friends registered, drive your friends to the polls, get on the street, march, and rally; do anything, but do something. What inspiring words! I was so moved when they asked that people boycott Speedway Stores because workers are on strike at the Marathon facility near Ashland, that I went on to Facebook and sent that out. More
Issues: Coal, Pollution, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 7, 2015
Update on S.B. 423, “Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act”
As we told you last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee's committee substitute for S.B. 423, "Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act" passed the Senate on Sunday with only one dissenting vote. Shortly thereafter, we began to hear that some senators were under the impression that all parties to the "stakeholder" negotiations, including our contingent, had agreed to the committee substitute. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
Update on S.B. 423, “Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act”
As we told you last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee's committee substitute for S.B. 423, "Amending the Aboveground Storage Tank Act" passed the Senate on Sunday with only one dissenting vote. Shortly thereafter, we began to hear that some senators were under the impression that all parties to the "stakeholder" negotiations, including our contingent, had agreed to the committee substitute. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
Newsletter article Ken Ward March 7, 2015
Hearing focuses concerns about tank law rollback
Kanawha Valley residents, small-business owners and religious leaders joined environmental advocates Friday morning in what could be a last-ditch effort to convince West Virginia lawmakers not to roll back a strong chemical tank safety law passed unanimously by the Legislature after last year’s Elk River leak and the ensuing water crisis. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
Hearing focuses concerns about tank law rollback
Kanawha Valley residents, small-business owners and religious leaders joined environmental advocates Friday morning in what could be a last-ditch effort to convince West Virginia lawmakers not to roll back a strong chemical tank safety law passed unanimously by the Legislature after last year’s Elk River leak and the ensuing water crisis. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Water
Newsletter article Rob Goodwin March 7, 2015
Coal Gets a Tax Cut Through HB2675 Despite its Continued Drain on State Budget
Early in the 2015 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Coal Association unveiled its 2015 Coal Legislative Program. A copy of this proposal was posted and distributed to the public by Ken Ward, Jr at the Charleston Gazette on his Coal Tattoo Blog on January 29th. A key provision in this proposal was to eliminate a 56 cent per ton tax on coal paid into the Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Fund. More
Issues: Coal
Coal Gets a Tax Cut Through HB2675 Despite its Continued Drain on State Budget
Early in the 2015 Legislative Session, the West Virginia Coal Association unveiled its 2015 Coal Legislative Program. A copy of this proposal was posted and distributed to the public by Ken Ward, Jr at the Charleston Gazette on his Coal Tattoo Blog on January 29th. A key provision in this proposal was to eliminate a 56 cent per ton tax on coal paid into the Workers’ Compensation Debt Reduction Fund. More
Issues: Coal
Newsletter article Conni Lewis March 7, 2015
The Plot Sickens
Before Friday's hearing, attempts were made to "encourage" our side to cancel it. We don't know who all the players are, but if I have learned nothing else in the past 25 years, its this: if opponents of a strong SB373 didn't fear us, they wouldn't try to stop us. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Solid waste
The Plot Sickens
Before Friday's hearing, attempts were made to "encourage" our side to cancel it. We don't know who all the players are, but if I have learned nothing else in the past 25 years, its this: if opponents of a strong SB373 didn't fear us, they wouldn't try to stop us. More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Solid waste
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 7, 2015
In the media this week
Charleston Gazette, Monday: Bill would roll back chemical tank oversight, WV Public Broadcasting, Tuesday: Company Proposes Building Two Gas-Fired Power Plants in W.Va., Duke University, Wednesday: New Models Yield Clearer Picture of Emissions' True Costs, Charleston Gazette, Wednesday: ‘Cookie Lobbyist’ tries sweet-tooth approach to sway W.Va. legislators More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Natural gas, Pollution, Water
In the media this week
Charleston Gazette, Monday: Bill would roll back chemical tank oversight, WV Public Broadcasting, Tuesday: Company Proposes Building Two Gas-Fired Power Plants in W.Va., Duke University, Wednesday: New Models Yield Clearer Picture of Emissions' True Costs, Charleston Gazette, Wednesday: ‘Cookie Lobbyist’ tries sweet-tooth approach to sway W.Va. legislators More
Issues: Aboveground tanks, Natural gas, Pollution, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 7, 2015
Roundup: The Week Just Passed, The Week Ahead
On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to take up H.B. 2283. This is the DEP rules bundle that contains the rule that proposes to restore “Category A” (drinking water) status to the section of the Kanawha River that flows through Charleston. This designation is necessary before a drinking water intake could be placed on that section of the Kanawha. More
Issues: Aluminum, Category A, Clean elections, Energy efficiency, Recycling, Water
Roundup: The Week Just Passed, The Week Ahead
On Monday the Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to take up H.B. 2283. This is the DEP rules bundle that contains the rule that proposes to restore “Category A” (drinking water) status to the section of the Kanawha River that flows through Charleston. This designation is necessary before a drinking water intake could be placed on that section of the Kanawha. More
Issues: Aluminum, Category A, Clean elections, Energy efficiency, Recycling, Water
Newsletter article Vickie Wolfe March 7, 2015
CORRECTION!
The “action alert” we sent you on Friday erroneously identified the “Category A” bill being taken up by Senate Judiciary on Monday as H.B. 2289. 2289 was “bundled” into H.B. 2283. Please use H.B. 2283 in your communications with Senate Judiciary members. More
Issues: Category A, Water
CORRECTION!
The “action alert” we sent you on Friday erroneously identified the “Category A” bill being taken up by Senate Judiciary on Monday as H.B. 2289. 2289 was “bundled” into H.B. 2283. Please use H.B. 2283 in your communications with Senate Judiciary members. More
Issues: Category A, Water
Blog, Newsletter article Rob Goodwin March 1, 2015
Stinky Deal in SB27 to Bring Trash from New Jersey to McDowell County Dies in Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed as amended SB27 on Saturday to allow McDowell county voters to decide if they want 50,000 tons of out-of-state trash rolling in monthly by rail and disposed of in county. To attempt to avoid constitutional provisions prohibiting bills from only applying to a single county and with the intent of this bill to only apply to a single county, Sen. Hall (Wyoming ) agreed to amend the bill introduced through a committee substitute to only pertain to counties with populations less than 40,000 people. More
Issues: Solid waste
Stinky Deal in SB27 to Bring Trash from New Jersey to McDowell County Dies in Senate Finance Committee
The Senate Judiciary Committee passed as amended SB27 on Saturday to allow McDowell county voters to decide if they want 50,000 tons of out-of-state trash rolling in monthly by rail and disposed of in county. To attempt to avoid constitutional provisions prohibiting bills from only applying to a single county and with the intent of this bill to only apply to a single county, Sen. Hall (Wyoming ) agreed to amend the bill introduced through a committee substitute to only pertain to counties with populations less than 40,000 people. More
Issues: Solid waste
Newsletter article Bill Price February 28, 2015
Hearings Yes, But Listening is the Key
In the Wrap Up (on the WV State Legislature web page) for February 20th, Legislative leaders touted the number of public hearings that have been held on “bills of importance” this year. House Majority Leader Delegate Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan) said “Public hearings have long been a part of the process in the House for bills of heightened importance. This year we have had a great deal of input from citizens through the public hearing process. It is important to gather citizen input and this year we are considering numerous important bills to improve our state government- listening intently to the citizens.” I agree. But there’s a difference between “hearing” and “listening.” More
Issues: Social justice, Water
Hearings Yes, But Listening is the Key
In the Wrap Up (on the WV State Legislature web page) for February 20th, Legislative leaders touted the number of public hearings that have been held on “bills of importance” this year. House Majority Leader Delegate Daryl Cowles (R-Morgan) said “Public hearings have long been a part of the process in the House for bills of heightened importance. This year we have had a great deal of input from citizens through the public hearing process. It is important to gather citizen input and this year we are considering numerous important bills to improve our state government- listening intently to the citizens.” I agree. But there’s a difference between “hearing” and “listening.” More
Issues: Social justice, Water