The world's political record
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251 records in 2017
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 16 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what plans he has to create an environmental protection body with prosecutorial authority and independence from the Government; and if he will make a statement.
European Union · European Parliament · 16 November 2017
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs Water Project Streamlining Act This bill accelerates the Department of Interior's review, including environmental review, of feasibility studies for water projects for the reclamation of arid lands under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (project studies). Each future project study must have a maximum federal cost of $3 million. The bill exempts certain surface water projects, water recycling projects, and water supply projects from specified provisions of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. The bill authorizes the Equus Beds Division of the Wichita Project, the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System, the Shasta Lake Water Resources Investigation, and Phase III of the Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement Project. The bill establishes a process for Interior to deauthorize certain reclamation programs or projects for which no funds were obligated during the current fiscal year or the last five preceding fiscal years.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
North Texas Water Supply Security Act of 2017 This bill bars claims arising under federal law seeking judicial review of any environmental impact statement, environmental review, or authorization issued by an agency for the Lower Bois d'Arc Creek Reservoir Project in Fannin County, Texas, unless such claims meet certain procedural requirements.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act This bill amends the Truth in Lending Act to allow institutions with less than $10 billion in assets to waive ability-to-repay requirements for certain residential-mortgage loans. Other mortgage-lending provisions related to appraisals, mortgage data, employment of loan originators, manufactured homes, and transaction waiting periods are also modified. The bill amends the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 to exempt banks with assets valued at less than $10 billion from the "Volcker Rule," which prohibits banking agencies from engaging in proprietary trading or entering into certain relationships with hedge funds and private-equity funds. Certain banks are also exempted by the bill from specified capital and leverage ratios, with federal banking agencies directed to promulgate new requirements. The bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to reduce inspection requirements and environmental-review requirements for certain smaller, rural public-housing agencies. Provisions relating to enhanced prudential regulation for financial institutions are modified, including those related to stress testing, leverage requirements, and the use of municipal bonds for purposes of meeting liquidity requirements. The bill requires credit reporting agencies to provide credit-freeze alerts and includes consumer-credit provisions related to senior citizens, minors, and veterans.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2017 This bill amends the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 to reauthorize for FY2019-FY2023 the national harmful algal bloom and hypoxia program and the action strategy of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia. (Hypoxia is a deficiency of oxygen.) The task force must include a representative from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Each required scientific assessment of harmful algal blooms in coastal waters must examine freshwater harmful algal blooms that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal waters. In administering the program, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) must provide: (1) grants for accelerating the utilization of effective methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom and hypoxia events; and (2) technical assistance to regional state, tribal, and local governments with respect to harmful algal blooms and hypoxia events. NOAA must use cost effective methods in carrying out the Act and develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring of hypoxia. Federal officials may determine whether a harmful algal bloom or hypoxia event is an event of national significance and give funding to the affected state or local government for assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental, economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of an event of national significance.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
This bill directs the Department of the Interior, if the J.R. Simplot Company offers to convey three identified parcels of land, to convey to the Simplot Company two identified parcels of federal land within the Pocatello Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho. The bill states that the exchange of such federal and nonfederal lands shall not constitute a major federal action for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Food and Farm Act This bill reauthorizes and modifies several Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs that address: commodity support, crop insurance, conservation, food assistance, nutrition, farm credit, beginning farmers and ranchers, food waste, research and educational programs, animal welfare, and regional food systems. The bill modifies agriculture and nutrition policies to: repeal the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program and the Price Loss Coverage Program, impose additional limits on farm subsidies, extend crop insurance premium subsidies to farmers who plant crops to reduce erosion, require recipients of farm subsidies to comply with additional conservation requirements, authorize increased funding for conservation programs, authorize additional assistance under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for organic farmers, establish a loan program for conservation-based structural improvements, increase Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the food stamp program) benefits, authorize additional assistance for beginning farmers and ranchers, establish the Office of Food Waste within USDA, authorize additional funding for research and education programs, require USDA to comply with certain animal welfare standards at federal agricultural research centers, require USDA to reinstate online posting of Animal Welfare Act and Horse Protection Act enforcement records, and expand grant and loan programs for local and regional food systems.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
Safe Environment from Countries Under Repression and Emergency Act or the SECURE Act This bill permits a qualifying alien who is not inadmissible or deportable under certain criminal or security grounds or who did not participate in persecution to apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident status if such alien: (1) is in temporary protected status (TPS), (2) held TPS status, (3) qualified for TSP status at the time of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) last TPS designation, or (4) is a national of a foreign country that was at any time a TPS-designated country. TPS designation permits eligible nationals of designated counties affected by armed conflict or natural disasters to temporarily reside and work in the United States. An alien who has applied for status adjustment may work while the application is pending. The spouse, domestic partner, child, or unmarried son or daughter of an alien who has adjusted to lawful permanent resident status may also adjust to such status subject to certain conditions. An unmarried son or daughter must additionally establish physical presence in the United States for at least one year. An alien subject to a final order of removal may not be removed if the alien has a pending status adjustment application or is prima facie eligible to file an application and indicates an intention to do so. An alien who raises the defense of status adjustment eligibility may not be removed unless DHS has already denied the alien's application.
United States · United States Congress · 16 November 2017
This bill directs the Department of the Interior, if the J.R. Simplot Company offers to convey three identified parcels of land, to convey to the Simplot Company two identified parcels of federal land within the Pocatello Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management in Idaho. The bill states that the exchange of such federal and nonfederal lands shall not constitute a major federal action for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what contingency funding his Department has allocated in relation to the Government's negotiations on the UK leaving the EU for the (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20 financial y
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people have signed up to receive his Department's UK-Air email updates; and what the average engagement rate is for Tweets made from the @DefraUKAir Twitter account.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 15 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many people in his Department with responsibility for social media are employed on an (a) full and (b) part-time basis.
United States · United States Congress · 15 November 2017
Providing Land Grants and Acequias Conservation and Environmental Services Act or the PLACES Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to enter into an alternative funding arrangement under any USDA conservation program with an entity that: (1) is comprised of members who are producers that are eligible for payments under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and (2) is a local governmental entity that does not have the authority to impose taxes or levies. (An alternative funding arrangement would allow certain community irrigation associations and community land grants to receive assistance directly from the conservation programs.) USDA may also provide technical and administrative assistance under the alternative funding arrangement. USDA may enter into an arrangement if: (1) the goals and objectives of the applicable conservation program will be met by the arrangement, and (2) statutory limitations regarding contracts with individual producers will not be exceeded by any member of the entity.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 13 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with which organisations within the marine conservation sector on which dates Ministers of his Department have had meetings since the 2017 General Election.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 10 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to improve the (a) physical and (b) mental wellbeing of staff employed in his Department.
Austria · National Council · 9 November 2017
Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Michael Bernhard, Kolleginnen und Kollegen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft betreffend Verlegung des Umweltbundesamts nach Niederösterreich
Austria · National Council · 9 November 2017
Antrag der Abgeordneten Wolfgang Katzian, Kolleginnen und Kollegen betreffend ein Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Bundesgesetz über die Steigerung der Energieeffizienz bei Unternehmen und dem Bund (Bundes-Energieeffizienzgesetz – EEffG), geändert wird (EEffG-Novelle 2017)
Austria · National Council · 9 November 2017
Antrag der Abgeordneten Erwin Preiner, Kolleginnen und Kollegen betreffend gesundes Essen ohne Gift, Rettung der Insekten-Vielfalt
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2017
Improving Oversight of Women Veterans' Care Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress annually on the access of women veterans to gender-specific medical care (mammograms, maternity care, and gynecological care) provided by contracting non-VA medical providers. Each VA medical facility must report quarterly to the VA on the facility's compliance with the environment of care standards for women veterans, which are standards intended to protect the privacy, safety, and dignity of women veterans when they receive medical care. The VA must report to Congress with a plan to strengthen such standards.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2017
Klamath Infrastructure Improvement Act This bill amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to authorize the Department of the Interior to carry out activities, including entering into contracts or making financial assistance available, to: (1) plan, implement, and administer programs to align water supplies and demand for irrigation water users associated with the Klamath Project (Bureau of Reclamation project in California and Oregon), with a primary emphasis on programs developed or endorsed by local entities comprised of representatives of those water users; (2) plan and implement activities and projects that avoid or mitigate environmental effects of irrigation activities or that restore habitats in the Klamath Basin watershed; and (3) limit the net delivered cost of power for covered power uses. "Covered power use" means a use of power to develop or manage water from any source for irrigation, wildlife purposes, or drainage on land that is: (1) associated with the Klamath Project; or (2) irrigated by the class of users covered by the agreement dated April 30, 1956, between the California Oregon Power Company and Klamath Basin Water Users Protective Association and within the Off Project Area. Interior must submit a report to Congress that identifies the power cost benchmark (the average net delivered cost of power for irrigation and drainage at reclamation projects in the area surrounding the Klamath Project that are similarly situated to the project). The replacement of the C Canal flume within the Klamath Project shall be considered to be, and shall receive the treatment authorized for, qualified emergency extraordinary operation and maintenance work in accordance with federal reclamation law.
United States · United States Congress · 9 November 2017
RFG Modernization Act of 2017 This bill amends the Clean Air Act to allow states to request a waiver of the reformulated gasoline requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) if the price of gasoline is excessively high. (Sale of reformulated gasoline is required in areas with high smog levels.) In making its determination, the EPA must consider the difference in price between conventional and reformulated gasoline. Waivers are not to exceed 42 days and may be renewed.
European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 9 November 2017
European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 9 November 2017
European Union · Court of Justice of the European Union · 9 November 2017
United States · United States Congress · 8 November 2017
CRP Grazing Flexibility Act This bill amends the Food Security Act of 1985 to allow grazing to be used as a mid-contract management practice under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) without any reduction in the rental rate if the grazing is consistent with the conservation of soil, water, and wildlife habitat. The Department of Agriculture may not make cost sharing payments for grazing undertaken pursuant to this bill. (CRP provides payments to farmers who agree to remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health and quality. Farmers with certain CRP contracts are required to apply authorized mid-contract management practices to CRP land to implement the conservation plan.)
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 7 November 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government what advice they provide to farmers and food growers on protecting water quality and the management of soil and nutrients.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 7 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to identify environmental protections which may require additional legislation when the UK leaves the EU.
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 7 November 2017
926. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) regarding exclusion from the AEOS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46288/17]
Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 7 November 2017
910. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons approved into the green low carbon agri environment scheme to date; the average annual payment per person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46105/17]
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
Mme Christine Pires Beaune attire l'attention de M. le ministre d'État, ministre de la transition écologique et solidaire, sur le déploiement des compteurs Linky et leur impact négatif sur les personnes électrosensibles. En effet, si la grande majorité de la population nationale n'est ou ne sera pas indisposée par l'installation de ces compteurs, tel n'est pas le cas des personnes souffrant d'hypersensibilité électromagnétique, qui a été reconnue comme « un problème handicapant pour l'individu touché » par l'Organisation mondiale de la santé. Aussi, elle lui demande d'indiquer quelles sont les voies de recours, pour les personnes refusant l'installation de compteurs Linky.
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
Mme Christine Pires Beaune attire l'attention de M. le ministre de l'action et des comptes publics sur la situation des régimes de retraite fusionnés d'EDF-GDF et de la caisse nationale d'assurance vieillesse (CNAV). En 2005, EDF-GDF a intégré son régime spécial de retraite dans la caisse des salariés du privé, la CNAV. Cette fusion devait être neutre financièrement pour la CNAV, puisque l'opérateur énergétique s'était engagé à lui verser une indemnité pour compenser l'accroissement des charges financières liées aux prestations retraite plus avantageuses de ses agents. La Cour des comptes a toutefois pointé une erreur dans le calcul de cette indemnité. La compensation versée par EDF-GDF serait, semble-t-il, depuis plusieurs années, nettement insuffisante pour couvrir les retraites versées à ses agents. C'est pourquoi elle lui demande les mesures que le Gouvernement compte adopter afin de répondre aux attentes légitimes de la population.
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
Mme Christine Pires Beaune attire l'attention de M. le ministre d'État, ministre de l'intérieur, sur le décret n° 2016-1460 du 28 octobre 2016, portant création d'un fichier des titres électroniques sécurisés, et plus particulièrement sur les mesures relatives à la délivrance des cartes nationales d'identité (CNI). En effet, à partir du 1er mars 2017, seules les mairies équipées d'un dispositif de recueil (DR) des empreintes digitales pourront accepter les demandes de délivrance de CNI. En zone rurale, peu de communes disposent d'un tel équipement : pour le département du Puy-de-Dôme, les habitants n'auront à leur disposition qu'une seule mairie pour effectuer leurs démarches dans certaines intercommunalités. De plus, les mairies équipées vont avoir une surcharge de travail induite par cette réforme et l'indemnité proposée par les services de l'État d'un montant de 3 000 euros par an environ semble tout à fait insuffisante. Nul ne remet en cause la réforme de la délivrance des titres d'identité qui est dictée par des impératifs sécuritaires dans la période d'attentats terroristes qui a endeuillé le pays depuis deux ans mais elle lui demande d'indiquer si le Gouvernement envisage d'augmenter l'indemnité allouée aux mairies équipées du dispositif de recueil et s'il est envisagé d'augmenter le nombre de mairies équipées en milieu rural.
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
Mme Christine Pires Beaune attire l'attention de Mme la ministre des solidarités et de la santé sur le statut des conseillers conjugaux et familiaux. Les conseillers conjugaux et familiaux sont des professionnels formés pour accompagner chaque étape de la vie relationnelle, affective et sexuelle. Leurs compétences portent sur l'ensemble des questions et des difficultés liées à la sexualité, aux relations conjugales, familiales, parentales, aux questions de l'égalité et de la parité entre hommes et femmes, ainsi qu'au soutien à la parentalité, accompagnement du vieillissement, prévention des violences et des discriminations, restauration de la communication et gestion des conflits. Ils s'adressent à des publics diversifiés : personnes seules, couples, parents, familles, adultes ou jeunes. Les conseillers conjugaux et familiaux, formés à l'écoute de la dimension de la sexualité, prennent en compte les personnes dans leur globalité, en les considérant dans leur complexité et en tenant compte de leur interaction avec leur environnement social économique et familial. Tant que les conflits émotionnels et relationnels ne sont pas réglés, ils continuent à émerger sous la forme de conflits judiciaires et financiers récurrents, avec des coûts sociétaux et budgétaires conséquents. Alors que près de 70 % de ces conseillers conjugaux et familiaux exercent au sein de la fonction publique territoriale ou hospitalière, ils ne bénéficient toujours pas, faute d'une reconnaissance professionnelle, d'une inscription dans les grilles salariales et continuent d'être le plus souvent répertoriés sous leur métier d'origine. Aussi, elle lui demande si le Gouvernement entend reconnaître le statut professionnel des conseillers conjugaux et familiaux, ce qui leur permettrait de gagner en visibilité et de pérenniser leur action, indispensable auprès des jeunes et des couples qu'ils accompagnent.
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
M. Arnaud Viala interroge M. le ministre de l'agriculture et de l'alimentation sur la nécessité de redynamiser l'attractivité de la chasse notamment auprès des jeunes. La chasse et les chasseurs souffrent d'une image, trop souvent et injustement, négative. Dans l'imaginaire populaire, notamment urbain, les chasseurs sont perçus comme des personnes peu respectueuses de l'environnement, cruelles, pratiquant une activité désuète. Or dans les territoires, les chasseurs sont les premiers acteurs en relation avec l'environnement, ayant une bonne connaissance du terrain, des spécificités environnementales du domaine de chasse, et sont les premiers à alerter les autorités en cas de problèmes environnementaux et écologiques. Le rôle de vigie sanitaire et écologique est trop souvent oublié par la classe politique, or cette mission est capitale pour notre écosystème. Les chasseurs sont nécessaires à la bonne tenue des ressources cynégétiques de nos territoires. La chasse et la biodiversité sont deux éléments que l'on ne peut dissocier. Cette activité a aussi un rôle pédagogique au même titre que de très nombreuses activités en plein air. Les enfants ou jeunes adultes qui vont à la chasse sont beaucoup plus sensibles à la protection de la nature et ont une connaissance environnementale souvent beaucoup plus développée. À cela s'ajoute la transmission de traditions et de pratiques locales, trop souvent remis en cause par certaines considérations urbaines. On se rend compte que dans les régions en manque de chasseurs certaines espèces, souvent nuisibles, envahissent les zones d'habitation humaines, provocant des accidents, causant des ravages dans les cultures et pouvant poser de sérieux problèmes sanitaires. Il est important d'attirer de nouveau la jeunesse dans des activités liées à la chasse et d'assurer un bon taux de renouvellement des cartes de chasse. Cependant, le coût de ces cartes, que cela soit en forêt domaniale ou en ACCA reste fréquemment trop onéreux, cela constitue un réel frein dans le renouvellement des chasseurs. Il lui demande comment le Gouvernement compte faire pour redynamiser la chasse et assurer le renouvellement des chasseurs en incitant notamment la nouvelle génération à pratiquer ce loisir.
France · National Assembly · 6 November 2017
M. Damien Adam attire l'attention de Mme la garde des sceaux, ministre de la justice, sur le devenir du secrétariat général à l'aide aux victimes et des missions qu'il remplit. Créée en février 2016 dans un contexte de menace terroriste, cette structure vise à assurer la prise en charge des victimes d'actes de terrorisme mais aussi d'accidents collectifs, de sinistres sanitaires, industriels, alimentaires ou de santé publique, d'accidents écologiques, industriels, de catastrophes naturelles ou encore de discriminations et d'atteintes aux droits fondamentaux. Ce dispositif constitue un soutien précieux et nécessaire, notamment en matière d'information des victimes, de transparence, de simplification et d'accélération des démarches administratives, dont l'efficacité est reconnue par le milieu associatif. Depuis, le Gouvernement a annoncé la fusion de ce secrétariat avec un service rattaché au ministère de la justice, le service de l'accès au droit et à la justice et de l'aide aux victimes. Suite à cette annonce, des associations d'aide aux victimes et des familles de victimes, notamment des proches des victimes de l'incendie du bar « Cuba Libre » à Rouen, témoignent d'une vive inquiétude concernant le devenir de ce dispositif et de ses moyens d'action. Il lui demande de le rassurer sur la pérennisation de cette administration ainsi que sur le niveau de suivi et d'accompagnement qui sera garanti aux victimes et à leurs familles.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 6 November 2017
I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, also attended.I wish to update the House on the matters discussed.The Effort Sharing Regulation ...
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 6 November 2017
My Hon Friend the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment (Thérèse Coffey MP) has today made the following statement:I attended the EU Environment Council in Luxembourg on 13 October. Roseanna Cunningham MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Envir...
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 6 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff appointed after 24 June 2016 in his Department hold a post that includes work on the UK leaving the EU.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 6 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which public telephone lines for his Department's services are charged at higher rates; and how much was taken by each such telephone line in the last 12 months.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 6 November 2017
To ask Her Majesty's Government why, in its sectoral impact assessments for leaving the EU, the Department for Exiting the EU has not undertaken an impact assessment of the natural environment; and whether it intends to do so.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 3 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what proportion of his Department's spend in the last year has been with Government strategic suppliers.
United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2017
VA Asset and Infrastructure Review Act of 2017 This bill establishes the Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, which shall make recommendations to the President regarding the closure, modernization, and/or realignment of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities based upon its own and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recommendations. The President shall transmit to the commission and to Congress a report containing the President's approval or disapproval of such recommendations by February 15, 2023. Within three years after transmittal of such report, the commission shall begin to implement the recommendations approved by the President and not disapproved by Congress. The commission shall: (1) carry out appropriate environmental restoration and historic preservation in connection with facility closures or realignments, and (2) consult with state and local governments with respect to the treatment of roads or the disposal of surplus real property or infrastructure. The VA may transfer the title of a VHA facility to the facility's redevelopment authority for lease to the VA or another federal agency. The bill establishes in the Treasury the Department of Veterans Affairs Asset and Infrastructure Review Account. The bill revises the definitions of: (1) "major medical facility project," and (2) "major medical facility lease." The VA may enter into agreements with other federal agencies for the planning, designing, constructing, or leasing of shared medical facilities. The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 is amended to exclude recruitment, relocation, or retention incentives from the limitation on awards and bonuses. The bill provides funds for: (1) the Veterans Choice Program, and (2) medical facility minor construction and nonrecurring maintenance.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 2 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many and what proportion of his Department's public phone-lines charge members of the public to call.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 2 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's preparations for the UK leaving the EU with (a) an agreement on future partnership and (b) no agreement with the EU
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017
Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2017 This bill amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to require the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) identify and assess the importation, sale, and uses of, and exposures to, asbestos; and (2) impose requirements that permanently eliminate the possibility of human or environmental exposure to asbestos. The bill allows the President to exempt any use of asbestos from the requirements if: (1) the use is necessary to protect national security interests, (2) no reasonable alternative to the asbestos use exists for the intended purpose, and (3) the use of asbestos will not result in an unreasonable risk to health or the environment.
United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017
Wildfire Prevention and Mitigation Act of 2017 This bill prohibits any further consultation from being required by the Departments of Agriculture (USDA) or the Interior after the approval of land and resource management plans for National Forest System (NFS) lands or land use plans for public lands, respectively, with respect to: (1) the listing of a species as threatened or endangered or a designation of a critical habitat, if such a plan has already been adopted; or (2) any provision of such plan. Interior shall develop one or more categorical exclusions, from requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 to conduct environmental assessment and environmental impact statements, for specified vegetative management activities that are carried out to establish or improve habitat for the greater sage-grouse or mule deer. The Forest Service shall prepare an environmental assessment for each ecosystem restoration project, stewardship contracting project, and project under a good neighbor agreement on certain NFS land. Under the assessment, it shall study and describe in each project both the proposed action and a no-action alternative. The Forest Service shall establish an arbitration pilot program as an alternative dispute resolution process in lieu of judicial review for such projects. The Forest Service shall prioritize and carry out ecosystem restoration projects to accomplish one or more of specified objectives. A categorical exclusion is made available for certain forest management activities in order to: (1) expedite specified critical response actions, (2) meet forest plan goals for early seral and early successional forests, (3) improve wildlife habitats, and (4) thin forests. The bill makes permanent USDA's authority to designate treatment areas that are experiencing an insect or disease epidemic.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 1 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether his Department holds a central list of the IT and digital assets of its arm's-length bodies.
United Kingdom · UK Parliament · 1 November 2017
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what childcare facilities his Department makes available for staff; how much his Department spent (a) overall and (b) per child on those childcare facilities in the last year; and how
United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017
Preparedness and Risk Management for Extreme Weather Patterns Assuring Resilience and Effectiveness Act of 2017 or the PREPARE Act of 2017 This bill directs the President to establish the Interagency Council on Extreme Weather Resilience, Preparedness, and Risk Identification and Management (council), which shall: (1) establish government-wide goals for extreme weather resilience, preparedness, and risk identification and management (EWR); (2) develop, recommend, coordinate, and track implementation of priority interagency federal government actions related to EWR; (3) provide recommendations to the Council on Environmental Quality, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and the Department of Homeland Security on how agencies should develop or update agency extreme weather plans, remove barriers to state and local EWR in agency regulations, guidance, and policy, and avoid duplication among federal activities; (4) issue guidance to agencies on developing agency extreme weather plans and agency regulations, guidance, and policies to remove barriers to state and local EWR; and (5) publish biannually an inventory of all regional agency offices, centers, and programs that assist with EWR at the state or local level. OMB shall ensure that each agency provides adequate resources to the council. Each agency shall submit biannually to OMB and to the council a comprehensive plan that integrates consideration of extreme weather into its operations and overall mission objectives. OMB shall consolidate and submit such plans to Congress. Annual agency performance plans shall include the most recent agency extreme weather plan.