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CHEMICAL BILL UNVEILED IN SENATE: A pair of senators Tuesday launched an effort to overhaul and modernize how the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates toxic chemicals.
Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and David Vitter (R-La.) said their legislation would shift the EPA's focus for regulating chemicals solely toward protecting public health and the environment and away from the "least burdensome" requirements of the Toxic Chemicals Safety Act of 1976.
"This is a law that's outdated and the administrator needs the full authority to be able to proceed under the law to protect the public and protect vulnerable populations like children and pregnant women," Udall said.
Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) criticized the legislation, saying it'd be worse for human health than the current law.
"This means there will be fewer protections from the most dangerous chemicals for communities and families," she said, pledging to work to improve the legislation.
Read more here.
ON TAP WEDNESDAY I:
The Senate Environmental and Public Works Committee will hold its second hearing in as many months on the EPA's climate rule for power plants.
Wednesday's hearing will turn the panel's attention to how states have responded to EPA's June proposal to cut carbon emissions 30 percent from the power sector.
Expect Republicans to use the hearing to show how much responsibility the EPA is putting on states, and how the states predict the rule will affect their electricity rates, economies, employment and other factors.
Witnesses at the hearing will represent Wisconsin, Wyoming, Indiana, California and New York. Judging from the comments the states have submitted to the EPA, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Indiana oppose the rule, while California and New York support it.
ON TAP WEDNESDAY II:
EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will speak Wednesday at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations.
The EPA said McCarthy will speak about the international effects of climate change and how the power plant rules fit into the world's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Rest of Wednesday's agenda ...
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) will continue its Regulatory Information Conference Wednesday, meant to discuss the NRC's ongoing and future work with regulations. NRC Commissioner Jeff Baran will give a morning speech, followed by various specific technical sessions and networking opportunities.
The Diesel Technology Forum and the U.S. Coalition for Advanced Diesel Cars will hold a Capitol Hill briefing on policies to encourage the use of diesel-fuel vehicles. It will feature representatives from both groups and from various companies that produce diesel vehicles.
The American Petroleum Institute, the Environmental Working Group and ActionAid USA will give a conference call briefing for Wednesday on their opposition to the federal ethanol blending mandate and efforts to repeal or change it.
The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace will host an event Wednesday to release its "oil-climate index," designed to quantify the climate impacts of various types of crude oil.
AROUND THE WEB:
Conservatives are split over an effort in Florida to make it easier for consumers and businesses to install rooftop solar panels, with two major groups staking out opposite positions, the Huffington Post reports.
The Coast Guard is estimating that it will take several more days to clean up oil from a ship collision in the Houston Ship Channel, leaving part of the waterway closed, the Associated Press reports.
Honolulu Civil Beat took a deep dive into efforts to restore Honolulu's eroding Waikiki Beach.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Check out Tuesday's stories ...
- Beer brewers call for climate change policies
- Bill would give Nevada veto over Yucca nuclear waste dump
- Senate launches chemical reform push
- Wind, gas, solar dominate new power plant installations
- Florida gov denies he banned employees from using 'climate change'
Please send tips and comments to Timothy Cama, tcama@thehill.com. Follow us on Twitter: @Timothy_Cama, @thehill
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