NewzIntel.com

Category: Environment

  • MIL-OSI USA: State secures L.A. firestorm areas ahead of rain, crews lay 60 miles of specialized protective materials

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 2, 2025

    What you need to know: At Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, crews have been working around the clock to install nearly 60 miles of emergency protective materials in the recent Los Angeles-area burn scars.

    Los Angeles, California – As another storm system is expected to reach California this week, work continues in Southern California to ensure communities impacted by the recent firestorms in Los Angeles are protected.

    At Governor Gavin Newsom’s directive, crews have been working around the clock to install nearly 60 miles of emergency protective materials in the recent Los Angeles-area burn scars. Through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), the California Department of Water Resources, California Conservation Corps, CAL FIRE, Caltrans, and the California Department of Conservation have coordinated and conducted comprehensive watershed and debris flow mitigation efforts to safeguard public health and protect the environment in affected communities.

    Our top priority is to protect people and the environment from the cascading effects of wildfire damage. Through coordinated collaborative efforts, we are reducing the risk of debris flows and maintaining the integrity of our natural resources.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    To date, the state has conducted mitigation efforts on 5,795 affected parcels with the use of protective barriers, laying over 310,150 linear feet of materials – equivalent to more than 58 miles.

    On the Palisades Fire, task force members have installed 7,350 linear feet of straw wattle, 157,675 linear feet of compost sock, and 6,500 linear feet of silt fence for watershed protection efforts. On the Eaton Fire, task force members have installed 8,275 feet of straw wattles, and 130,350 linear feet of compost sock. 

    According to the National Weather Service, a storm system will bring widespread rain to the area Tuesday into early Friday, along with gusty southerly winds. While moderate rainfall across the area is the most likely scenario, there is a 10-20 percent chance of moderate debris flows if heavier rain moves over one of the recent burn scars.

    Wildfires significantly alter the landscape and burned debris leave behind contaminants, leaving areas vulnerable to erosion, flooding, and debris flows, particularly during subsequent rain events. These hazards can compromise drinking water sources, damage infrastructure, and pose serious risks to both human health and wildlife habitats.

    Residents in affected areas are urged to stay informed about potential debris flow risks, especially during storms, and to follow guidance from local emergency officials. For resources and information specific to the Los Angeles firestorms, visit CA.gov/LAfires.

    Preparing the state for storms 

    Governor Newsom has deployed resources and thousands of personnel to communities throughout California in anticipation of the storm system. 

    Newly deployed resources include swift water rescue crews and fire engines in at least 12 counties: Butte, El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Nevada, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne. More resources will be deployed to further help protect communities.

    Previously, Governor Newsom directed the Cal OES to coordinate state and local partners to deploy emergency resources to support impacted communities. State officials are urging people to take precautions now before the storm arrives, and to stay informed. 

    Go to ready.ca.gov for tips to prepare for the incoming storm.

    Speeding recovery 

    This is part of the state’s ongoing work to help Los Angeles families recover from the January firestorms, including reopening Pacific Palisades to residents, surging CHP patrols along the Pacific Coast Highway, supporting impacted workers and businesses, and launching a unified recovery initiative to support rebuilding efforts, among other efforts. 

    Additional actions to aid in the rebuilding and recovery efforts include:

    • Providing tax relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline.
    • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants and homeowners. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline the construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms. For homeowners, California has worked with five major lenders, as well as 270 financial institutions, to provide mortgage relief to their customers.
    • Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate the risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. 
    • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
    • Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers.  
    • Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
    • Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.

    Get help today

    For those Californians impacted by the firestorms in Los Angeles, there are resources available. Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government.  

    Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:

    If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

    Recent news

    Feb 1, 2025

    News LOS ANGELES — As recovery efforts continue in the wake of the early January firestorm, Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the deployment of additional state law enforcement resources to help Los Angeles maintain checkpoints and keep the Pacific Palisades…

    Feb 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: At the direction of Governor Newsom, the state is augmenting flood fighting and swift water resources across Northern and Central California to protect communities from the significant wet weather event expected through the upcoming days….

    Feb 1, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s executive orders to extend price gouging prohibitions protect Los Angeles firestorm survivors. Los Angeles, California – Protecting Los Angeles firestorm survivors from nefarious actors, Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US
    CFS urges public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from US
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         ​The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (February 3) urged the public not to feed infants with several kinds of prepackaged baby food imported from the United States (US), as the products may pose a choking hazard. The trade should stop using or selling the affected products immediately if they possess any of them.     Details of the products are as follows:Product name:(1) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Strawberry Apple (Net weight: 90 grams per pack)(2) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Banana (Net weight: 90g per pack)(3) Gerber Soothe ‘N’ Chew Teething Sticks – Banana (Net weight: 45g per pack)Brand: GerberPlace of origin: USBatch: all lotsImporter: Nestle Hong Kong Limited     ​A spokesman for the CFS said, “The CFS noted notices issued by the Food and Drug Administration of the US and the Canadian authorities respectively that the above-mentioned products are under recall as they possess a choking hazard. The CFS confirmed that the above-mentioned importer has imported the products concerned into Hong Kong.”     The importer has stopped selling and removed from shelves the affected products and initiated a voluntary recall. Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2179 8333 during office hours for enquiries about the recall of the products concerned.     ​The CFS has alerted the trade to the incident, and will continue to follow up and take appropriate action. The investigation is ongoing.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 3, 2025Issued at HKT 16:02

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Labor’s dumping of Australia’s new nature laws means the environment is shaping as a key 2025 election issue

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University

    Controversy over land clearing at the Lee Point (Binybara) housing development site, near Darwin, highlights the urgent need for environmental law reform. Euan Ritchie

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has shelved the proposed reforms to Australia’s 25-year-old environment laws, citing a lack of parliamentary support for the changes.

    The decision breaks Labor’s 2022 election commitment to overhaul the protections. The Albanese government is now the latest in a string of governments that have tried and failed to reform the law known formally as the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

    This is despite two major independent reviews calling for wholesale change.

    Labor’s capitulation does not, however, change the facts. Australia’s natural environment is deteriorating rapidly. Laws are urgently needed to protect our nation’s valuable natural assets.

    Establishing effective laws is an investment that will benefit Australia’s biodiversity, economy, cultural values, health and wellbeing. Nature is now a key 2025 election issue.

    How did we get here?

    An independent review of the EPBC Act, known as the Samuel Review, was completed in 2020 under the former Coalition government. It found that without urgent changes, most of Australia’s threatened plants, animals and ecosystems will become extinct.

    Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek promised to act on the review’s recommendations, via a plan Labor badged as “Nature Positive”.

    The centrepiece of reform is to set national environmental standards that would be overseen by an independent regulator and watchdog called Environmental Protection Australia (EPA). But reform was split into three stages.

    Stage one legislated for national markets in nature repair and expanded the requirement to assess potential impacts on water resources under the EPBC Act. The so-called “water trigger” now captures “unconventional gas” projects such as shale gas recovery in the Northern Territory’s Beetaloo Basin. The law passed in December 2023, but the markets are not yet functioning.

    Stage two of the reforms, including establishing a federal EPA, came before the Senate in late 2024. Plibersek had reportedly made a deal with the crossbench to secure passage. But this deal was scuttled by Albanese at the eleventh hour.

    Stage two was relisted for discussion in the upcoming first parliamentary sitting week of 2025, this week. But on Saturday, Albanese told The Conversation the government would, again, not be proceeding with the reform this term.

    The reforms have been delayed for so long that we are now closer to the next statutory review of the laws, due in 2029, than to the last one.

    Stage three, which covers the bulk of substantive reform recommended in the Samuel Review, is yet to be seen publicly.

    What will happen after the next election?

    Albanese must go to the polls by May 17, but there is speculation the election may be as early as March. So what is the likely fate of these environmental reforms in the next term?

    A Roy Morgan poll on Monday found if a federal election were held now, the result would be a hung parliament. So the result is looking tight.

    Government control of the Senate is rare. So whoever is in power after the election is very likely to rely on crossbench support for any reforms.

    Albanese has ruled out forming a coalition with the Greens or crossbenchers in the event of a hung parliament. However, Opposition Leader Peter Dutton says he would negotiate with independents to form government.

    A returned Albanese majority government would probably revisit the scuttled deal on stage two. With elections in the rear-view mirror, Albanese may be prepared to wear some political pain early in the next term to secure a deal. He would also still need to roll out the bulk of the Nature Positive reforms, the detail of which remains hidden behind a vague “stage three” banner.

    A minority Albanese government may face a tougher ask: demands from an environmentally progressive crossbench for major commitments to environmental reform in return for promises of support on budget and confidence.

    A Coalition government would be coming from a very different angle. Dutton has painted Nature Positive as a
    “disaster” for the economy, expressing particular concern about impacts on the mining sector.

    The Coalition’s environmental agenda is increasingly focused on “cutting green tape” – in other words, reducing bureaucratic hurdles for developers – and repealing bans on nuclear power stations. Finding crossbench support in the Senate for this agenda could be challenging.

    The Greens have vowed to make environmental protection a key election issue, urging voters to cast their ballot for nature this election.

    A recent poll published by the Biodiversity Council shows 75% of Australians support strengthening national environmental law to protect nature. Only 4% are opposed and the rest are undecided.

    But converting a high level of broad support into votes is another thing altogether – especially during a cost-of-living crisis.

    Crystal clear consequences

    The political crystal ball remains cloudy. But when it comes to the state of Australia’s environment, the picture is clear.

    The environment continues to decline and the consequences are increasingly serious. These consequences extend beyond further irreversible loss and the increasing cost of environmental repair, to include the economic and social consequences of losing more of the natural assets on which our quality of life depends.

    The building blocks of successful reform are all on the table, where the Samuel Review put them in 2020.

    When will governments accept that kicking the can down the road is selling us all down the drain?

    Peter Burnett is affiliated with the Biodiversity Council, an independent expert group founded by 11 Australian universities to promote evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis.

    Euan Ritchie receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Action. Euan is a Councillor within the Biodiversity Council, a member of the Ecological Society of Australia and the Australian Mammal Society, and President of the Australian Mammal Society.

    Jaana Dielenberg was employed by the now-ended Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Program, which led an earlier stage of this research. She is a Charles Darwin University Fellow and is employed by the University of Melbourne and the Biodiversity Council.

    – ref. Labor’s dumping of Australia’s new nature laws means the environment is shaping as a key 2025 election issue – https://theconversation.com/labors-dumping-of-australias-new-nature-laws-means-the-environment-is-shaping-as-a-key-2025-election-issue-248872

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Poison baits were used on 1,400 feral cats, foxes and dingoes. We studied their fate to see what works

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pat Taggart, Adjunct Fellow in Ecology, University of Adelaide

    Bee Stephens, CC BY

    Poisoned baits are the main way land managers control foxes, feral cats and dingoes. Baiting is done to reduce livestock and economic losses, or pressure on endangered wildlife.

    Millions of baits are laid annually. But we still don’t understand how effective baiting actually is. Current evidence paints a mixed picture. That’s a problem, because baiting can have unintended consequences, such as killing native animals we don’t want to target. Some research suggests baiting can actually increase attacks on livestock, or that poisoning dingoes can increase feral cat and fox numbers and worsen the damage to native wildlife.

    We need better evidence on what baiting does and doesn’t do. Our new research draws on data from 34 previous studies assessing baiting effectiveness. In total, these largely Australian studies summarised the fate of more than 1,400 cats, foxes and dingoes. We used these data sets to conduct the most comprehensive analysis of baiting effectiveness to date.

    Biosecurity officers drying meat baits for a baiting program in Broken Hill in 2019.
    NSW Government, Local Land Services, Western Region, CC BY

    Baiting is ubiquitous

    Baits can be purchased commercially or produced in-house. In some states, land managers can bring meat baits to government authorities to have poison added free of charge. They are then distributed by vehicle along tracks and roads or dropped from aircraft across vast areas of Australia, New Zealand and islands worldwide.

    Single baiting programs can sometimes cover areas larger than 9,000 square kilometres – a land area similar to Puerto Rico or Cyprus.

    So how can we best undertake these baiting programs?

    1. Baiting does work

    Across the 34 studies, baiting cut predator survival in half (51.7%) – substantially higher than the death rate in unbaited areas (16%).

    This finding was broadly consistent regardless of whether baits were placed along tracks and roads or scattered over broader areas.

    In some cases, predator numbers can recover rapidly following baiting. Under favourable conditions, feral cat and fox populations can double in a year, while dingo populations can grow 50% annually. But, under average conditions, such high rates of population increase are likely uncommon.

    Predators from outside the control area can rapidly repopulate areas after a baiting program. For example, multiple studies have found no change in fox numbers even when baiting was conducted at monthly intervals. Similar results have been found after intensive fox shooting.

    But there are also examples where prolonged, broad-scale baiting has worked well. To protect the threatened yellow footed rock wallaby, researchers baited around wallaby populations in New South Wales and South Australia and largely eliminated foxes from large areas. Wallaby numbers then increased.

    2. Feral cats take baits too

    Feral cats are opportunistic ambush predators and hunt a wide range of prey. They’re visually driven and prefer fresh meat. For these reasons, it’s long been thought they are less likely to eat poisoned bait than foxes and dingoes.

    Feral cats are silent, stealthy hunters who prefer to hunt rather than scavenge.
    Vanessa Westcott, CC BY

    But our analysis doesn’t support this – feral cats appeared to be just as susceptible to baits as foxes and dingoes. That’s good news for wildlife.

    Significant and ongoing work has been put into designing better baits for feral cats to increase consumption rates. The most widely known of these baits is Eradicat, a sausage-style bait.

    While this bait is aimed at feral cats, our analysis didn’t provide strong evidence showing Eradicat actually killed more feral cats than other poison bait recipes. This suggests any bait is more effective than no bait when it comes to cat control.

    Eradicat baits have to be sweated to bring out the oils and make them more appealing.
    Luke Bayley, CC BY

    3. Blanket coverage works better

    In land manager circles, there’s a long-running debate over how best to bait. Some advocate putting out more baits over the same area, while others suggest more frequent baiting is better.

    So which is it? Our analysis shows more baits in an area is likely to equate to better control of predators, while distributing baits more frequently may not have the same effect.

    Why is this? Like people, animals are individuals, with their own behavioural tendencies. Wary animals may never take baits. Some foxes are known to store baits to eat later, by which time the baits may be less toxic, sickening rather than killing the animal.

    This is believed to lead to bait aversion, where foxes avoid baits in the future due to previous bad experiences – just as we might avoid foods which made us sick.

    A single, more intensive application of bait is likely to work better because susceptible predators eat the bait and die, and there is limited opportunity for bait aversion to develop. In contrast, more frequent baiting in a short period of time are of limited benefit because animals learn to avoid them.

    Dingoes have been routinely baited for decades.
    Ian Mayo, CC BY

    Fresh baits have long been believed to be eaten more readily than dry baits.

    But our analysis shows this may not always be true. Overall, the type of bait had little impact on whether or not it led to reduced predator survival.

    Optimising baiting

    More efficient control of predators will mean fewer baits are needed to achieve the same result. That, in turn, means less risk of harming other native animals, as well as reducing how much work and money it costs to control feral cats, foxes and dingoes.

    Our research shows baiting does indeed cut the number of predators prowling an area. But it also shows many factors we thought were important in making a baiting program effective may only have a limited effect.

    The goal of poison baiting is to reduce the damage predators do to livestock and wildlife. Baiting is an important and effective tool in reducing predator pressure on threatened species. But its efficacy – and the risk other animals could take the bait – means we have a responsibility to continually optimise its use and ensure its application is targeted.

    Pat Taggart receives funding from the federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

    Daniel Noble receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Yong Zhi Foo receives funding from the the Australian Research Council.

    – ref. Poison baits were used on 1,400 feral cats, foxes and dingoes. We studied their fate to see what works – https://theconversation.com/poison-baits-were-used-on-1-400-feral-cats-foxes-and-dingoes-we-studied-their-fate-to-see-what-works-246324

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Labor governments quash nature protection at behest of miners  

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Monday 3 February 2025 — Greenpeace Australia Pacific has slammed the Albanese government and WA Cook government for quashing promised national nature law reforms this term, a move it says is caving to mining and fossil fuel interests. 

    This follows reports of the government pulling debate of the proposed reform Bills in the Senate this week off the back of concerted pressure from major fossil fuel and mining companies, as well as WA Premier Roger Cook.

    Glenn Walker, Head of Nature at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said:

    “Australia’s environment is in serious decline; we have one of the worst rates of deforestation in the world, and we are sending our wildlife extinct, including the iconic koala. 

    “The Albanese government promised to end the extinction crisis and deliver a strong new nature law this term backed by an independent environment watchdog with teeth. The crossbench and environment groups stood ready to support a compromise deal to deliver part of the reforms through the Senate this week. It is deeply disappointing that the government has now walked away.

    “Rather than standing up for nature and wildlife, Prime Minister Albanese and Premier Roger Cook have caved to big fossil fuel and mining executives railing against environmental protection in the interest of profits. The outcome will be devastating — more forest and habitat destruction, more wildlife killed, and a diminished natural environment for all Australians. 

    “As it heads into the next election, it’s critical the Albanese government makes it clear that these reforms will be a priority in the first 100 days of parliament if elected. We cannot have another wasted three years as wildlife continues to go extinct and our forests keep getting bulldozed.”

    —ENDS—

    High res images and footage of deforestation can be found here

    For more information or to arrange an interview contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Kaptur, Murray Demand Answers on Trump Administration Freezing Energy Department Investments to Lower Americans’ Energy Costs

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Ranking Member wrote a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Department of Energy demanding answers about the Trump administration withholding critical investments to lower energy costs for American families and businesses, spur innovation, and strengthen our energy security. 

    In the letter, Kaptur and Murray state: “We write expressing deep concerns regarding the Department of Energy’s recent unlawful actions to halt programs that are imperative to the Department’s mission of ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing the nation’s energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.”

    “The Department’s actions to halt these programs will immediately contribute to rising energy costs for families and businesses, and they are a dereliction of the Department’s responsibility to carry out duly enacted spending laws,” Murray and Kaptur continued.  

    Kaptur and Murray note that President Trump’s executive order illegally freezing Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding is creating unacceptable chaos, confusion, and harm. 

    In particular, they note that the order and a variety of other actions the administration has taken will hurt American families and businesses: “Stopping these programs is taking money from the pockets of Americans. For example, the Home Energy Rebates programs, funded by the IRA, has been putting money directly back in the hands of American households. The rebates help consumers save money on select home improvement projects that can lower energy bills by providing up to $14,000 per household in rebates. It is estimated that these programs will save households up to $1 billion per year on energy bills and support over 50,000 U.S. jobs. The President’s attempt to freeze the Home Energy Rebates Program means these costs will fall back on American consumers..” 

    Kaptur and Murray press the Department for answers about what funding it is currently freezing and other actions it is taking to halt critical programs, and concluded: “We hope you will work with us—not against us—to lower energy costs and help create good-paying jobs, but we demand that you follow the law as intended.” 

    A timeline of President Trump’s actions to freeze critical federal funding is available HERE. Fact sheets detailing how presidents lack power to unilaterally override spending laws and deny enacted funding to communities through impoundment can be found HERE and HERE.

    Full text of the letter is available HERE and below:

    January 31, 2025

     

     

    Ingrid C. Kolb

    Acting Secretary

    U.S. Department of Energy

    1000 Independence Ave., SW

    Washington, DC 20585

    Acting Secretary Kolb:

    We write expressing deep concerns regarding the Department of Energy’s (DOE) recent unlawful actions to halt programs that are imperative to the Department’s mission of ensuring America’s security and prosperity by addressing the nation’s energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. The Department’s actions to halt these programs will immediately contribute to rising energy costs for families and businesses, and they are a dereliction of the Department’s responsibility to carry out duly enacted spending laws.

    President Trump’s January 20, 2025, Executive Order 14154 seems to direct all agencies to immediately pause the disbursement of any funds appropriated through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) or the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The President’s Executive Order has abruptly frozen funding for an extremely broad array of investments in American communities, causing widespread chaos and confusion for American businesses and communities and threatening to raise energy costs for American families. The Trump administration’s memo freezing vast swaths of federal funds, its failed attempt to clarify the scope of the memo, and its subsequent rescission of the memo have created mass chaos and added to the confusion about what investments are currently being blocked. Today, our understanding is that much of the Departmental funding is still frozen. Moreover, the attached Department of Energy’s Secretarial Order on January 20, 2025, and the attached follow-up January 27, 2025, memorandum, paused all personnel actions; procurement announcements and actions; funding actions; release of reports, studies, congressional correspondence, and public announcements; Federal Register notices; and actions under the National Environmental Policy Act. Together, these actions halt a vast array of the Department’s essential programs—programs American families and businesses are counting on. 

    These actions will devastate programs that reduce energy consumption and increase affordability. Your administration will be raising energy costs for families and businesses and threatening to kill thousands of jobs. Continuing to freeze these investments—or permanently blocking them—will unravel critical progress the Department has made and cost American households and businesses dearly. Since 1980, energy efficiency technologies and improvements—made possible by programs like those currently halted by this administration—have saved Americans approximately $800 billion in energy costs. 

    Stopping these programs is taking money from the pockets of Americans. For example, the Home Energy Rebates programs, funded by the IRA, has been putting money directly back in the hands of American households. The rebates help consumers save money on select home improvement projects that can lower energy bills by providing up to $14,000 per household in rebates. It is estimated that these programs will save households up to $1 billion per year on energy bills and support over 50,000 U.S. jobs. The President’s attempt to freeze the Home Energy Rebates Program means these costs will fall back on American consumers. 

    In addition to raising energy costs for American families, the President’s Executive Order is illegal. The President may not unilaterally decide to ignore the laws passed by Congress and stop funding for programs just because he disagrees with their goals. The Government Accountability Office, the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel (including in an opinion written by future Chief Justice of the Supreme Court William H. Rehnquist), and the Supreme Court of the United States have all disavowed the notion of some “inherent Presidential power to impound,” as some in the Administration, as well as pending Administration nominees, have tried to argue without legal or textual basis.

    Not only does the Constitution vest the power of the purse with Congress and provide no power to the President to impound funds, but there have been several bedrock fiscal statutes enacted to protect Congress’ constitutional power of the purse and prevent unlawful executive overreach, including the Antideficiency Act and the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (ICA). The ICA prohibits any action or inaction that precludes Federal funds from being obligated or spent, either temporarily or permanently, without following the strictly circumscribed requirements of that law. 

    Given the importance of these programs, the unlawful actions ordered by this Administration, and the dubious actions that have been undertaken by the Department, we request additional information about the Department’s implementation of Executive Order 14154, the referenced Secretarial Order, and other related actions.

     

    Regarding Executive Order 14154, please provide answers to the following questions:

    Regarding the Secretarial Order dated January 20, 2025, please provide answers to the following questions:

    • Is ongoing work for operations at the National Labs, facilities, and other DOE sites permitted at this time or are these facilities under review as well? If so, how long will this review last? Will these labs, facilities, and sites be notified of the scope of the review?
    • Please provide a list of obligations already incurred by DOE for which the Secretarial Order now prohibits liquidating legal liabilities already incurred by the Federal government.
    • Will DOE reimburse non-Federal recipients for invoices submitted for work already performed that predates the Secretarial Order? What about for ongoing or halted work that has not yet been invoiced? If reimbursements will not be provided in either case, please provide the legal justification for failing to meet the obligations of contracts with non-Federal recipients.
    • What is the status and scope of the reviews of studies, reports, and announcements?
    • What is the guidance on processing internal and external reprogramming actions?
    • What is the status of reviewing routine reauthorizations of existing contracts and cooperative agreements?

    Additionally, please provide answers to the following questions:

    • Have any federal employees been terminated since January 20, 2025? If so, how many and in which organizations?
    • Have any federal employees been furloughed since January 20, 2025? If so, how many and in which organizations?
    • Have any federal employees been put on administrative leave since January 20, 2025? If so, how many and in which organizations?
    • Have any federal employees received notices of future required administrative leave, furloughs, or reductions in force since January 20, 2025? If so, how many and in which organizations?

    We ask for your response to our questions no later than February 7, 2025.

    Finally, we want to remind you of your oversight obligations under appropriations law.  Members of Congress of both parties have worked together to craft provisions instituting common-sense transparency and accountability measures. All executive branch agencies must proactively alert the Appropriations and other appropriate House and Senate Committees when apportionments are not made in required time periods, are approved only with conditions, or may hinder the prudent obligation of apportionments or the execution of a program, project, or activity. Agencies are also required to report all violations of the ICA to Congress. Finally, agencies may not prohibit or prevent any federal employee from having direct communication with any Member, committee, or subcommittee of Congress. All federal employees must be free to communicate directly with Congress, whether Congress has requested that communication or not.

    We hope you will work with us—not against us—to lower energy costs and help create good-paying jobs, but we demand that you follow the law as intended.

    Sincerely,

    Marcy Kaptur

    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development House Committee on Appropriations

    Patty Murray

    Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development Senate Committee on Appropriations

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Weber Named to Key Committees & Chairman for the 119th Congress

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Randy Weber (14th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14) announced that he will continue to serve on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C)  and the Science, Space, and Technology (SST) Committees. Additionally, he has been named Chairman of the SST Energy Subcommittee and the Vice Chairman of the E&C Energy Subcommittee, where the committee focuses on advancing policies to secure America’s energy future and foster innovation. Rep. Weber was also named the Vice Chair of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT) under the Republican Study Committee, where he’ll champion energy policies that empower domestic producers, leverage an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and restore America’s energy dominance on the global stage.

    “It’s an honor to continue to serve as a member on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee and to support the growth of our space exploration and energy distribution efforts—both are critical to the future of Southeast Texas,” said Rep. Weber. “My Gulf Coast district is an energy powerhouse with seven ports, seven of America’s largest petroleum refineries, three LNG plants, and 60% of the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Texas’ 14th Congressional District will provide a crucial voice as I take on these roles. Our mission is clear: to reverse the damaging policies left behind by the Biden administration and rebuild what has been broken for Southeast Texas and our nation.”

    “I am excited to name Congressman Randy Weber as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy. Congressman Weber is a friend, a trusted colleague, and a strong conservative who is dedicated to serving our nation and protecting our values,” said Energy and Commerce Chairman Brett Guthrie (KY-2). “As Vice Chairman, Congressman Weber will help to strengthen our domestic energy production while addressing the high costs of gas and electricity that have impacted families over the past four years. I look forward to working together on behalf of the American people.”

    “I am thrilled to have fellow Texan Rep. Randy Weber as the Vice-Chair of the House Energy Action Team,” said RSC Chairman August Pfluger (TX-11), who led the Task Force in the 118th Congress. “Randy’s proven track record of fighting for American energy dominance makes him an invaluable addition to the HEAT team. I look forward to working with him in the 119th Congress.”  

    “Congressman Weber’s energy expertise and values could not be more critical to the success of the SST Committee,” said Chairman Brian Babin (TX-36). “He’s a great friend, fellow Southeast Texan, and staunch ally in the fight to ensure America leads from the front. I’m looking forward to working alongside him this Congress.”

    Rep. Weber will serve on the following subcommittees:

    • Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee on the Science, Space, and Technology Committee
    • Vice Chair of the Energy Subcommittee on the Energy and Commerce Committee
    • Environment on the Energy and Commerce Committee
    • Oversight & Investigations on the Energy and Commerce Committee

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Casten Hosts Roundtable Discussion on Climate Action Under Trump Administration

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Sean Casten (IL-06)

    January 31, 2025

    Lisle, IL — Today, U.S. Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) convened Illinois stakeholders, leaders, and advocates for a roundtable discussion on how a federal funding freeze impacts climate action, as well as what needs to be done to protect the Inflation Reduction Act and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act from the Trump Administration.

    “It is no secret that the Trump Administration prioritizes the wants of energy producers over the needs of American energy consumers,” said Rep. Casten. “A federal funding freeze would limit Americans’ ability to access cheaper, cleaner energy sources. American consumers would feel the brunt of a freeze, but President Trump’s friends in the fossil fuel industry will thank him for their soaring profits.”

    “It is illegal and unconstitutional for the president to impound funds that have been appropriated by Congress,” continued Rep. Casten. “Every American should be alarmed that the president has shown he does not feel constrained by the law or the constitution.”

    Photos from the event can be found here.

    In addition to Rep. Casten, the following people participated in the roundtable discussion:

    • Sarah Wochos, VP of Policy and Business Development, New Leaf Energy
    • Linda Sullivan, Member, River Prairie Group of the Sierra Club
    • Jack Darin, Chapter Director, Sierra Club Illinois Chapter
    • Tucker Barry, Communications Director, Illinois Environmental Council (IEC)
    • Chelsea Biggs, Chief of Staff, Illinois Environmental Council (IEC)
    • Jordan Berman-Cutler, Director of Government Affairs, Invenergy
    • Kevin O’Rourke, SVP of Development and Public Affairs, American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE)
    • Jonathan Sack, Midwest Government Affairs Director, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
    • John Moore, Director, Sustainable FERC Project, Climate & Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
    • Madeline Semanisin, Illinois Policy Director, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
    • Barry Matchett, Head of External Affairs, Midwest and Gulf, Clearway Energy Group
    • Bill Parsons, Chief Advocacy Office, Americans for a Clean Energy Grid (ACEG)

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Crown shows commitment to Ngāpuhi settlement

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The Crown has today shown its commitment to settling with Ngāpuhi by initialling the proposed transfer of Kororipo Pā to Ngāti Rēhia, Treaty Negotiations Minister Paul Goldsmith and Conservation Minister Tama Potaka say.

    “This initialling is an important step in beginning to provide reparations to Ngāpuhi and will be the first redress the Crown provides,” Mr Goldsmith says.

    “Ngāti Rēhia has long sought the return of Kororipo Pā, and since 2022 Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust has formally engaged with the Crown on its proposed early vesting. The Trust intends to hold the site as kaitiaki on behalf of Ngāpuhi.

    “I need to emphasise that public access to the reserve will not be affected.

    “Initialling the deed is a significant milestone. Before the deed can be signed, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust will seek support for the proposed vesting from its hapū members.

    “This initialling demonstrates our commitment to reaching a comprehensive Ngāpuhi Treaty settlement, which remains a high priority. I would like to commence negotiations with Ngāpuhi as soon as possible. 

    “Kororipo Pā will transfer to Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Rēhia Trust as a historic reserve and on-account of a future comprehensive Ngāpuhi settlement.”

    “This has been a long journey and I thank Ngāti Rēhia and others for their ongoing commitment to reaching a resolution,” Mr Potaka says. 

    “The Department of Conservation – Te Papa Atawhai and Ngāti Rēhia have a long-standing partnership and I’m glad that mahi will continue to protect the significant historic taonga and conservation values of Kororipo Pā.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EPA Issues Advance Notice To Protect Salmon From Toxic Chemicals 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to gather information on the potential risks associated with the chemical 6PPD and its transformation product, 6PPD-quinone or 6PPD-Q.  

    The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Yurok Tribe, and the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe submitted a petition asking EPA to establish regulations prohibiting the manufacturing, processing, use and distribution of 6PPD in tires. EPA granted this petition in November 2023 and committed to publishing an ANPRM by Fall 2024 in order to gather more information that could be used to inform a subsequent regulatory action. 

    “Salmon are a keystone species and research shows that the 6PPD-Q chemical which runs off from vehicle tires into our waterways is lethal to their survival, and our marine ecosystem,” said Strickland. “As co-chair of the Puget Sound Recovery Caucus, I have secured funding to find solutions to this problem, and the U.S. EPA is taking an important step forward to help us.” 

    “Toxic stormwater runoff is one of the biggest threats facing Puget Sound salmon recovery,” said Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06). “I am grateful that the EPA has been responsive to the petition filed by Tribes from across our region who are helping to lead the effort to better understand how 6PPD and 6PPD-quinone get into our waterways, how they impact our environment and our health, and how we can get these chemicals out of local ecosystems. We have an obligation to protect salmon in the Pacific Northwest in order to honor the federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribes in the region. I am excited that the EPA is moving forward with this rulemaking as an important step toward salmon recovery.” 

    “Today, we’re following through on the commitment we made to our Tribal partners to gather more information about this chemical used in rubber products to help protect coho salmon,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff. “We’ll use the information we get on the health and environmental risks to determine next steps to protect people and the planet.” 

    The chemical 6PPD has been used in motor vehicle tires for more than six decades to make them more durable and can also be found in other rubber products such as footwear, synthetic turf infill and playgrounds. 6PPD reacts with pollution in the air to form a transformation product called 6PPD-Q, which may be present in stormwater runoff that may be washed into streams and other bodies of water during rain events. As a result, aquatic organisms can be exposed to the chemicals. Concentrations of 6PPD-Q in stormwater in the Pacific Northwest were found to be lethal to coho salmon after only a few hours of exposure. 

    EPA is soliciting the following information regarding the chemicals:

    1. Environmental effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems,
    2. Potential human health effects,  
    3. Environmental fate and transport,  
    4. Exposure pathways,  
    5. Persistence and bioaccumulation,  
    6. Additional uses of 6PPD and potential releases from consumer products such as sneakers, playgrounds, rubber-modified asphalt, reused tire or other rubber products.  

    EPA is also seeking comment and information related to alternatives to 6PPD, as well as potential chemical transformation products associated with potential alternatives. 

    For example, there are data showing that 6PPD-Q is toxic to fish, with coho salmon being the most sensitive species studied to date. However, there are still uncertainties about the potential impacts of 6PPD-Q on human health, as well as the potential for exposure from other sources of 6PPD-Q. 

    U.S. Representative Marilyn Strickland serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is whip for the Congressional Black Caucus, a member of the New Democrat Coalition, and one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump Admin. Poised to Rollback Environmental Protections, Congressman Maxwell Frost Introduces the Youth Climate Leadership Act to Ensure Young People Have a Seat at the Table to Fight the Climate Crisis

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Maxwell Frost Florida (10th District)

    November 14, 2024

    Bicameral Bill Would Codify the Existence of the Youth Advisory Council at the EPA and Establish Youth Councils at Key Environmental Agencies

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) introduced a new bill in the House of Representatives, the Youth Climate Leadership Act, legislation to cement the existence of the National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and to create more youth advisory councils at relevant federal agencies. Frost’s bill comes as President-Elect Donald Trump has vowed to gut and rollback climate protections once back in the White House.

    Under President Biden, EPA Administrator Regan created the Youth Advisory Council with the goal of ensuring the next generation of Americans had a seat at the table when it came to tackling the climate crisis and ensuring the U.S. is a global leader in the fight to protect our environment. Since then the council has been composed of young people from all over the country who are focused on putting forth comprehensive solutions that can be implemented at the federal level.

    The Youth Climate Leadership Act has already been introduced in the Senate by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). Frost’s introduction now means that both the Senate and the House could act swiftly to pass the legislation and ensure the President can sign it into law. 

    “By creating the Youth Advisory Council at the EPA, we ensured that for the first time ever, young people would be centered and heard in our fight to tackle the climate crisis. This is about leaving the planet a better place than we found it, for our present and for our future,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “The incoming Administration has made it clear that saving our environment is not a priority. The work the Youth Council and the EPA have done has changed our country for the better and put young people at the helm. We must act swiftly to do everything we can to protect the progress we have made.”

    “The decisions we make – or don’t make – today to address our climate crisis will have lifelong impacts on the youngest Americans. To prepare for the future, the next generation of leaders must take a seat at the table now,” said Senator Laphonza Butler. “The Youth Climate Leadership Act will make sure that the federal government listens to young people’s voices as we fight to achieve our nation’s climate goals.”

    The Youth Climate Leadership Act directs the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Energy, and Interior, as well as the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to establish Youth Advisory Councils made up of young people between the ages of 16 and 29 for the purpose of providing recommendations regarding environmental issues as they relate to youth, including:

    • Recommendations regarding programs to help local governments address environmental issues in disadvantaged communities;

    • Recommendations regarding performance measures to quantify the impact of climate change and other environmental harms that affect youth communities; and

    • Researching, writing reports on, and making recommendations with a focus on environmental justice, climate change mitigation and resilience, and pollution reduction.

    The bill provides $250,000 annually to each agency for the purposes of operating the Youth Advisory Councils, for total annual funding of $1.25 million.

    The legislation has also been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Environmental Defense Fund, Center for Biological Diversity, River Kidz, Florida Native Plant Society, Latino Outdoors, Moms Clean Air Force, California Environmental Voters.

    “Youth voices must be uplifted when it comes to climate policy,” said Jackie Ostfeld, Campaign Director of Sierra Club’s Outdoors for All. “Not only will this provide valuable experience to put our young people in a good position as the next generation of decision makers, these policy decisions have a direct impact on their futures. They deserve to play a part in deciding what that future is. We have already seen the ambition and drive young climate activists have. This is a wonderful move by Representative Frost to invest in the nation’s future and acknowledge the role that youth voices can have in shaping climate policy.”

    “It is so critically important that the voices of young people be heard, and given serious consideration, by our lawmakers. The future belongs to all of us, and the youngest among us have the most to gain – or lose – in the fight to address climate change. They will inherit the results of Congressional action – or inaction,” said Eugene Kelly, President of Florida Native Plant Society.

    “The River Kidz are youth advocates who are part of the Rivers Coalition and are dedicated to championing a safe, healthy, and ecologically balanced St. Lucie River Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. We proudly endorse the Youth Climate Leadership Act and recognize the critical importance of young voices in shaping environmental policy, ensuring a healthy environment for all to thrive. We thank Representative Frost for introducing this bill and look forward to seeing River Kidz and other passionate young leaders serve on these newly established Youth Advisory Councils,” said Casey Darling Kniffin and Kelli Doré, River Kidz Co-Leads.

    “It’s imperative that youth voices are centered in discussions of federal climate mitigation and adaptation strategies. Young Americans face a future dominated by climate catastrophe because we’ve failed to rapidly and equitably transition away from fossil fuels,” said Camden Weber, climate and energy policy specialist at the Center for Biological Diversity. “I’m thankful for Rep. Frost’s leadership on the Youth Climate Leadership Act, which will uplift and empower this generation of passionate climate leaders. Their role in sculpting this country’s climate plan is most needed in these perilous times.”

    “Uplifting often unheard voices is an important part of what we aim to do at Latino Outdoors. The Youth Climate Leadership Act would do precisely that for youth, particularly for those in disadvantaged communities,” said Luis Villa, Executive Director of Latino Outdoors. “It would help demonstrate to young people that their voices matter and that they belong in the conversation about our collective future. We are grateful to Congressman Frost for proposing this legislation and for the opportunity to voice our support.”

    “As a member of Gen Z, I believe youth advisory councils will serve a crucial role in providing young people a long-overdue voice in government decision-making and cultivating the intergenerational collaboration necessary to create equitable climate solutions,” said Sam Schmitz from Moms Clean Air Force. “Young people have already witnessed the dire impacts and injustices of climate change which has catalyzed us to be a generation full of passionate climate leaders eager to inform the decisions that will dictate our future. Moms Clean Air Force applauds this important step toward creating a healthy, prosperous, and equitable environment for my generation and all those to come.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India’s Growing Focus on Youth and Sports

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 FEB 2025 2:49PM by PIB Delhi

    “I and you, we should all encourage people for a Viksit Bharat. We should motivate especially young minds to realize this dream.”

    ~ Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi

     

    Introduction

     

    India has the largest youth population in the world, with about 65% of its people under the age of 35. Recognizing the potential of this demographic dividend, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports plays a crucial role in youth development and sports promotion. It focuses on personality-building, skill enhancement, and fostering national integration through various initiatives. The Ministry operates through two key departments:

    • Department of Youth Affairs – Engages youth in leadership, employment, and community-building programs.
    • Department of Sports – Develops infrastructure, supports athletes, and promotes competitive sports.

    Over the years, the Ministry has launched several initiatives to empower youth, enhance sports participation, and improve India’s international standing in sports.

     

    Overview of Budget Allocation

     

    Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, the Government of India has prioritized sports and youth affairs, boosting the ecosystem with comprehensive support. The Budget allocation for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has seen a significant rise, from Rs. 466 crores in 2004-05 to Rs. 3397.32 crores for FY 2023-24. This marks an 11% increase compared to FY 2022-23 and is the highest since 2010. The allocation is over three times that of 2011-12 and nearly double that of 2014-15.

     

    Khelo India – National Programme for Development of Sports

    The Khelo India Scheme, launched in 2016-17, has seen significant financial growth over the years, reflecting the government’s commitment to promoting mass participation and excellence in sports across India. The scheme aims to foster sports culture and achieve sporting excellence nationwide

    It encourages sports participation throughout the country, leveraging sports’ holistic influence for the development of children and youth, community development, social integration, gender equality, a healthy lifestyle, national pride, and economic opportunities related to sports development.

     

    2017-18 to 2019-20:

    • Financial outlay of Rs. 1756 crore approved for three years to revamp the scheme.

     2020-21:

    • Budget of Rs. 328.77 crore allocated for one

    2021-22 to 2025-26:

    • Financial outlay increased to Rs. 3790.50 crore for five more years, marking a significant boost in funding to support a broader range of activities and enhance sports infrastructure.

    These increasing financial allocations over the years highlight the growing importance of sports development in India, with a clear focus on long-term growth and sustainability in the sector.

    Key Achievements:

    • 323 new sports infrastructure projects approved, totaling Rs. 3073.97 crore.
    • 1041 Khelo India Centres established for athlete training and development.
    • 32 Khelo India State Centres of Excellence notified.
    • 301 sports academies accredited for quality training.
    • 2781 Khelo India Athletes (KIAs) provided coaching, equipment, medical care, and monthly Out of Pocket Allowance (OPA).
    • 5939 national records and 1424 international records set by KIAs.
    • 124 KIAs contributed to India’s 42 medals, including 9 Golds, at the 2022 Asian Games.
    • 28 KIAs included in India’s contingent for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

    KHELO INDIA AT A GLANCE

    KIRTI (Khelo India Rising Talent Identification) is a government initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing sports talent across India. Launched in March 2024 with Phase 1, it focuses on identifying athletes from grassroots levels and combating issues like drug addiction and excessive screen time among children aged 9 to 18. Phase 2 inaugurated by Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, on 19 July 2024 in New Delhi. The programme uses modern ICT tools and global best practices to create an accessible, athlete-centric talent identification system.

    The programme’s goal is to achieve 20 lakh assessments in the FY 2024-25 by onboarding all states and treating districts as units of assessment. The aim is to create a pool of talent capable of winning medals at global competitions like the Olympics and Asian Games.

    Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS)

    Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan launched in 1972 with the aim of empowering rural youth and involving them in nation-building while enhancing their skills and personality. In 1987, the Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan (NYKS) was formed as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports to oversee these Kendras. NYKS is one of the largest grassroots-level youth organization globally, focusing on voluntary participation, self-help, and community involvement. Through a network of youth clubs in villages, NYKS actively engages young people in developmental activities, promoting community empowerment and youth leadership.

    Key Objectives:

    The primary objective of NYKS is to mobilize, organize, and empower rural youth to contribute to nation-building and community development. Its focus areas include:

    • Education, health, and sanitation
    • Awareness on social issues
    • Women empowerment and civic education
    • Disaster relief and rehabilitation
    • Skill development and self-employment​.

    Financial Outlays:

    • The budgetary allocation for NYKS has varied across years. As per 2024-25 Budget estimates, the allocation for NYKS stood at ₹ 426 crore.
    • 2008-09: ₹ 50.68 (Plan) and ₹ 38 crore (Non-Plan)​.
    • Restructured in 2016 under Rashtriya Yuva Sashaktikaran Karyakram (RYSK) for better resource utilization​.

    Key Achievements:

    1. Youth Skilling & Employment Support

    • 28,275 youth trained in vocational skills.
    • Career counseling conducted for job opportunities.

    2. Sports & Cultural Promotion

    • 11,263 youth clubs received sports materials.
    • 437 District Yuva Utsav programs held, involving 1.31 lakh youth.

    3. Clean India & Environmental Initiatives

    • 1.55 crore kg of waste collected across 1.68 lakh villages under Clean India 2.0.
    • 596 Swachhata Abhiyan drives conducted with 4.12 lakh youth volunteers.
    • 1.55 crore people engaged in Catch the Rain water conservation efforts.

    4. Community Engagement & National Programs

    • 4.04 lakh volunteers mobilized for community development.
    • 1,942 volunteers trained in disaster risk reduction with NDRF.
    • Namami Gange programs conducted across five states for river conservation.

    5. Major Celebrations & National Events

    • 19.71 lakh youth participated in National Unity Day.
    • 9.38 crore citizens reached through Har Ghar Tiranga.
    • 3.5 lakh youth celebrated National Youth Day across 10,305 activities.

     

    These initiatives have significantly contributed to youth empowerment, skill development, sports promotion, environmental conservation, and nation-building.

     

    Conclusion:

     

    India’s strategic focus on youth empowerment and sports development continues to yield remarkable results, with substantial investments and initiatives shaping a brighter future for the nation’s youth. The increasing budget allocations, along with successful programs like Khelo India and Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, underscore the government’s commitment to fostering talent, promoting sports culture, and ensuring that opportunities are available for all, regardless of gender or geographic location. With continued emphasis on grassroots-level development and elite athlete support, India is poised for sustained growth and success on both the national and international sporting stage.

     

    References:

    India’s Growing Focus on Youth and Sports

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    Santosh Kumar/ Sarla Meena/ Gouri S/ Anchal Patiyal

    (Release ID: 2098454) Visitor Counter : 31

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: NZ’s gene technology reform carries benefits and risks – a truly independent regulator will be vital

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sylvia Nissen, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Policy, Lincoln University, New Zealand

    Getty Images

    Genetic modification is back on the political agenda in New Zealand. The issue may not be as hotly contentious as it once was, but big questions remain about the way forward.

    Last year, the National-led coalition government signalled its intent to reform genetic modification laws to provide more “enabling” and “modern” regulation. The subsequent gene technology bill was introduced in December and is currently before select committee.

    The bill comes on the back of growing calls for New Zealand’s regulatory frameworks to become less restrictive.

    One of the arguments often made is that the current system, in place since the 1990s, is holding back gene technology research by restricting it largely to laboratory-based experiments. By this account, New Zealand is falling behind in knowledge and expertise, while missing out on the benefits of these technologies.

    Those benefits are said to span a wide range of areas, including agriculture, health, conservation and climate change.

    There are some applications of genetic modification that have potential long-term public benefit and few or no alternatives. These includes the control of invasive wasps or the production of insulin. But plenty of challenges remain for many emerging forms of gene technology, not least the technical complexities.

    There are also difficult questions that must be asked. Who benefits and who carries the risks of harm? What might be other hard-to-anticipate implications, spanning health, social, cultural, ethical, environmental, economic and trade concerns?

    In conservation, for instance, questions need to be asked about how interventions might spread or interact with ecosystems that are already under strain or beyond our shores.

    Genetic modification is a controversial political topic for good reason. As with many other technologies, the devil is in the detail. We should not fall for overly simple narratives that it is all about benefits, with little to no risk. Context matters, as does robust and responsible governance.

    The production of insulin is among the gene technology applications with potential long-term public health benefits.
    Getty Images

    A not-so-independent regulator

    It is important to take a close look at how decisions about genetic modification might be made under the proposed bill.

    The suggested model is loosely based on Australia’s approach of a single gene technology regulator, which has been in place for two decades and is widely considered to be successful.

    But there are crucial – and troubling – differences between the Australian model and what is proposed for New Zealand.

    In Australia, the regulator is fully independent. The law is clear: the regulator “is not subject to direction from anyone” in making decisions about genetic modification.

    The regulator has a charter which frames decisions, an office and biosafety committees that support their work, and they report to parliament as a whole (not just the government of the day).

    In contrast, the proposed New Zealand bill claims the regulator is independent, but also says they are “subject to general policy directions given by the minister”.

    It is worth looking deeper into what this means. The bill’s coversheet explains:

    Government needs a mechanism to intervene if the regulator acts contrary to its policy objectives.

    These objectives would be provided through general policy directions and would “ensure the regulator acts consistently with reform objectives”, including by changing risk tolerance.

    Although a minister cannot intervene in decisions about specific applications, they would have the ability to change the parameters of the regulator’s decisions, with no apparent requirements for wider consultation.

    This is not true independence by any stretch of the imagination – and a long way from the Australian approach.

    A note of caution

    If a minister is able to change the parameters of a regulator’s decisions at will, it is important to consider what doors might be opened that we may wish, in retrospect, remained shut.

    For example, the recently released first report of the Science System Advisory Group calls for “attracting multinational corporations to undertake research and development in New Zealand”. The report alludes to genetic modification research as a key area to expand.

    Put this together with the decision-making model proposed under the bill. It is not a stretch to see how a regulator, who was subject to the general policy direction of a minister, could be provided with a scope that facilitated multinational genetic modification research in New Zealand.

    There is ample reason to be cautious of opening New Zealand to this. Numerous international scholars have highlighted that genetic modification research is “firmly dominated” by elite US-based or European science teams.

    It is also increasingly funded by private philanthropists, corporations and the military, who often implement their experiments in distant countries or islands with relatively minimal regulation.

    This practice has been given a specific term: “ethics dumping”.

    Science might progress, but local communities are left with the unpredictable and unintended consequences of these experiments, usually without meaningful prior consultation.

    It is therefore important that any changes to New Zealand’s genetic modification regulation ensure truly independent decision-making. There can be benefits of these technologies, but a system that can be changed at short notice to suit the government of the day could set the scene for more harm than good.

    The devil really is in the detail. To have responsible governance, a few changes in the new law will make a significant difference.

    Sylvia Nissen receives funding as a researcher on the MBIE Endeavour-funded project ‘Whatu raranga o ngā koiora: Weaving cultural authority into gene-drives targeting wasps’.

    – ref. NZ’s gene technology reform carries benefits and risks – a truly independent regulator will be vital – https://theconversation.com/nzs-gene-technology-reform-carries-benefits-and-risks-a-truly-independent-regulator-will-be-vital-248535

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: World Wetlands Day 2025, themed ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’, celebrated at Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh

    Source: Government of India

    World Wetlands Day 2025, themed ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’, celebrated at Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh

    The celebration of World Wetlands Day here will give Parvati Arga an international recognition: UP CM Yogi Adityanath

    A new nature-culture tourism corridor will be developed between Ayodhya and Devi Patan: MoS (MoEFCC) Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh

    Posted On: 02 FEB 2025 6:40PM by PIB Delhi

    It was a historic day for Gonda (Uttar Pradesh), as the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) organised the World Wetlands Day 2025 celebrations at the Parvati Arga Ramsar Site, on 2nd February, 2025. The event was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, in the presence of senior dignitaries from both the Union and State Governments.

    The event highlighted the critical role of wetlands in environmental conservation, biodiversity, and sustainable livelihoods, aligning with this year’s theme of ‘Protecting Wetlands for our Common Future’. This year’s theme underscores the need for collaboration and foresight, as it calls for valuing and protecting these richly biodiverse, productive ecosystems and taking inspiring action on their behalf – together, we can safeguard our common future and wellbeing.

    Addressing the event, UP CM Yogi Adityanath appreciated Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh’s dedicated efforts towards preservation and conservation of ecology of Gonda District, which is blessed with Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary, and Tikri forest area. He mentioned that due to their proximity to Ayodhya, both the sites have the potential to be developed as eco-tourism hub attracting large number of tourists, providing an opportunity to them to connect to the nature. He also welcomed the initiative of linking the wetland with Sarayu canal for sustaining water flow in the wetland. He pointed out that Parvati Arga has long been known for its rich biodiversity, and now, it is gaining global recognition. Talking about the importance of Ramsar Sites in the country he explained the importance of migratory birds, which travel thousands of kilometers to Parvati Arga, playing a vital role in environmental balance.

    On the occasion of World Wetlands Day 2025, reaffirming Government’s commitment to protect Wetlands for the future, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav took to social media and expressed gratitude towards PM Shri Narendra Modi for his unprecedented emphasis on preserving wetlands. “It is because of this approach that our tally of Ramsar sites has reached 89. With a consistent rise in Ramsar sites, India is showing the commitment to both conserve and enrich nature”, the Minister stated.

    https://x.com/byadavbjp/status/1885951859904675897?t=_0eVPnMO1B6kGwIjN0C1og&s=08

    Addressing the august gathering in Gonda, Union Minister Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh emphasized that the comprehensive development of Parvati Arga is progressing under CM Yogi Adityanath’s leadership. He announced plans for a new nature-culture tourism corridor between Ayodhya and Devi Patan, which will boost employment opportunities. He highlighted the importance of Parvati Arga for aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity and explained that Indian culture has always valued nature conservation. He further mentioned that Gonda district with over 100 wetlands, has strong potential to be recognized as a ‘Wetland City’. He further mentioned that to promote eco-tourism, UP government is developing Tikri Jungle as an open safari zone, which will enhance tourism in the Awadh region.

    During the event the dignitaries on the dais launched four publications including the ‘Integrated Management Plan of Parvati Arga Ramsar Site’, ‘Factbook of India’s 85 Ramsar Sites’, ‘Development of Van Taungya Villages’. The Integrated Management Plan of Parvati Arga Ramsar Site outlines a comprehensive strategy for biodiversity conservation, sustainable wetland management, and community engagement, ensuring an adaptive management approach for wise use of the wetland. The ‘Factbook of India’s 85 Ramsar Sites’ provides information on the values, benefits and threats of 85 Ramsar Sites of India including information about the species of conservation significance.

    During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Amazon and ARGA, an initiative of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, to empower women entrepreneurs in and around Gonda district. As part of the MoU, Amazon will support women-led businesses associated with ARGA through its Saheli program. This includes providing training in digital and performance marketing, product listing optimization, and advertising methods. Women entrepreneurs from the region will also gain access to data-driven insights and metrics to better understand customer expectations and market opportunities. The dignitaries also launched a video on the World Wetlands Day with a call to save the unique ecosystems, the Amrit Dharohars (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJ1dm7FRoPQ)

    The winners of the Painting, Quiz and Nukkad Natak competitions on the theme of ‘Protecting wetlands for our common future’ were also felicitated. The winning team of the Nukkad Natak competition, AP Inter College, Mankapur, Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, performed their skit in front of the dignitaries. The Ramsar Site managers of the newly designated four Ramsar Sites of India namely, Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai in Tamil Nadu and Khecheopalri in Sikkim were also congratulated and were presented with the Ramsar certificates of these sites.

    The event kicked-off with the inauguration of an exhibition by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh. The exhibition saw participation from over 25 exhibitors representing different States, technical organisations, Government departments. The exhibition included stalls focusing on water hyacinth and bamboo-based products, Mission LiFE, Green Skill Development Programme by the Government, EIACP centres and wetland conservation efforts in India by MoEFCC and knowledge partners. It also showcased the outreach activities conducted by the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) under the ‘Save Wetlands Campaign’. To showcase the efforts of young minds the winning paintings of the Nation-wide painting competition were also exhibited.

    Regional Workshop for Northern States:
    On the eve of World Wetlands Day, on 1st February, 2025, the Ministry organized a regional workshop for Northern states, with participation from nine States and Union Territories. The workshop brought together knowledge partners and private sector organizations. This was the fourth regional Sahbhagita workshop of 2024-25, after Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Gangtok. The workshop served as a platform to enhance collaborative efforts and highlight innovative approaches to wetland conservation and management. (Press Release: https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2098813 )

    About World Wetlands Day (WWD):
    World Wetlands Day is observed on 2nd February every year worldwide to commemorate the signing of the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 1971. India is a party to the Convention since 1982. India has recently increased its tally of Ramsar sites (Wetlands of International Importance) to 89 by designating four more wetlands as Ramsar sites. Udhwa Lake in Jharkhand, Theerthangal and Sakkarakottai in Tamil Nadu and Khecheopalri in Sikkim. These are the first Ramsar Sites of Sikkim and Jharkhand. With the addition of these wetlands to List of Wetlands of International Importance, the total area covered under Ramsar sites is now 1.358 million ha. Tamil Nadu continues to have maximum number of Ramsar Sites (20 sites) followed by Uttar Pradesh (10 sites).

    About Amrit Dharohar initiative:
    Amrit Dharohar initiative, part of the 2023-24 budget announcement, was launched by MoEFCC during June 2023 to promote unique conservation values of the Ramsar Sites in the country while generating employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods. This initiative is to be implemented over three years in convergence with various Central Government ministries and agencies, State Wetland Authorities, and a network of formal and informal institutions and individuals, working together for a common cause. The initiative focuses on four key components, Species and Habitat Conservation, Nature Tourism, Wetlands Livelihood and Wetlands Carbon.

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  • MIL-OSI USA: Debris Removal Right of Entry Forms Available for Los Angeles County Residents Impacted by Wildfires

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: Debris Removal Right of Entry Forms Available for Los Angeles County Residents Impacted by Wildfires

    Debris Removal Right of Entry Forms Available for Los Angeles County Residents Impacted by Wildfires

    LOS ANGELES – Debris cleanup for the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles County started this week. FEMA assigned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps of Engineers) to survey, remove, and dispose of debris from properties burned by the wildfires.As part of this effort, Los Angeles County established a Debris Removal website for fire-impacted residents to obtain information and resources regarding debris clearance. Although most hazardous materials will be removed from private property by the EPA in Phase 1, full clearance of properties in Phase 2 by USACE will require a Right of Entry (ROE) form which is provided on the county website. Signing up for the debris removal program via the ROE will NOT impact a survivor’s ability to receive other FEMA disaster assistance programs. If a survivor opts-out of the ROE program, they become responsible for all costs, permits, inspections and other associated debris removal costs. Coverage for debris and hazardous tree removal may be provided under your insurance policy. For information about insurance reimbursement, visit pages 3 and 4 on the ROE form.Although hazardous debris will be removed by EPA without any action from the homeowner, general debris removal must be selected by the property owner by signing a ROE form. The ROE form allows property owners to give permission for USACE to access their property for cleanup activities.What is the Debris Removal Program?The Debris Removal Program has two phases: removal of household hazardous material followed by removal of other fire-related debris and trees that a certified arborist determines are dead or likely to die within five years due to the fire.Phase 1: Removing Hazardous MaterialsOn January 16, teams of experts from California’s Department of Toxic Substance Control and EPA began assessing properties in the burn areas to remove any household hazardous material that may pose a threat to human health, animals, and the environment such as batteries, paint, cleaners and solvents, oils, and pesticides. These teams specialize in identifying and removing hazardous substances from properties for safe disposal. This phase is automatic and is done at no cost to residents.EPA will only remove hazardous materials. This includes lithium-ion batteries from vehicles, homes, and other products. Examples of household items with lithium-ion batteries include electric/hybrid vehicles, power tools, power banks, home alarms, drones, and tablets.For more information, please visit: 2025 California Wildfires | US EPAPhase 2: Debris RemovalOnce the EPA clears properties of hazardous materials, the Corps of Engineers, alongside FEMA, will coordinate to remove fire damaged metal, ash, and other fire debris to help foster reconstruction. The Corps of Engineers will also remove foundations when property owners opt to include foundation removal on the ROE. Phase 2 will generally occur concurrent to Phase 1 as ROEs are collected, validated by the County and FEMA, and given to the Corps of Engineers to begin Phase 2 debris removal. One of the critical components of Phase 2 will be the collection of ROEs as residents opt into the program which can be done by visiting the county website. For the latest information about California’s recovery, visit fema.gov/disaster/4856. Follow FEMA Region 9 @FEMARegion9 on X or follow FEMA on social media at: FEMA Blog on fema.gov, @FEMA or @FEMAEspanol on X, FEMA or FEMA Espanol on Facebook, @FEMA on Instagram, and via FEMA YouTube channel.California is committed to supporting residents impacted by the Los Angeles Hurricane-Force Firestorm as they navigate the recovery process. Visit CA.gov/LAFires for up-to-date information on disaster recovery programs, important deadlines, and how to apply for assistance.
    barbara.murien…
    Sat, 02/01/2025 – 00:15

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: State continues to protect LA firestorm survivors from price gouging

    Source: US State of California 2

    Feb 1, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Newsom’s executive orders to extend price gouging prohibitions protect Los Angeles firestorm survivors.

    Los Angeles, California – Protecting Los Angeles firestorm survivors from nefarious actors, Governor Gavin Newsom’s executive orders in January strengthen protections against exploitation.

    Using the price-gouging protections triggered by the state of emergency and extended by  executive orders, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) has already filed two charges against real estate agents attempting to price gouge families that evacuated due to the Eaton Fire. The DOJ has sent more than 650 price gouging warning letters to hotels and landlords.

    In the days following the Los Angeles firestorms, we worked quickly to protect Los Angeles survivors from any form of exploitation. The state has the tools in place to not only block price gouging during this emergency, but also to prosecute bad actors.

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    Protecting survivors

    One executive order extends provisions of California law that prohibit price gouging in Los Angeles County in building materials, storage services, construction, and other essential goods and services, to January 7, 2026. The other executive order extends protections against price gouging in hotels, motels, and rental housing to March 8, 2025. These laws generally prohibit charging a price that is more than a 10 percent increase in the price charged before the emergency.

    “In the face of natural disaster, we should be coming together to help our neighbors, not attempting to profit off of their pain,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “I urge the public to report any such incidents to local authorities, or to my office at oag.ca.gov/report or by reaching out to our hotline at (800) 952-5225. May this announcement serve as a stern warning to those who would seek to further victimize people who have lost everything in the face of Southern California’s wildfires: We won’t stop until the price gouging does.”

    Violators of the price gouging statute are subject to criminal prosecution that can result in a maximum penalty of one-year imprisonment in county jail and/or a fine of up to $10,000. Violators are also subject to civil enforcement actions including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per violation, injunctive relief, and mandatory restitution. The Attorney General and local prosecutors can enforce the statute.

    Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.

    Speeding recovery 

    This update adds to the Governor’s work to cut red tape, remove onerous permitting requirements, and help speed rebuilding and recovery from the Los Angeles firestorms. On January 12, Governor Newsom issued an executive order to streamline the rebuilding of homes and businesses destroyed — suspending the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the California Coastal Act permitting requirements and review. 

    Additional actions to aid in the rebuilding and recovery efforts include:

    • Providing tax relief to those impacted by the fires. California postponed the individual tax filing deadline to October 15 for Los Angeles County taxpayers. Additionally, the state extended the January 31, 2025, sales and use tax filing deadline for Los Angeles County taxpayers until April 30 — providing critical tax relief for businesses. Governor Newsom suspended penalties and interest on late property tax payments for a year, effectively extending the state property tax deadline.
    • Fast-tracking temporary housing and protecting tenants and homeowners. To help provide necessary shelter for those immediately impacted by the firestorms, the Governor issued an executive order to make it easier to streamline the construction of accessory dwelling units, allow for more temporary trailers and other housing, and suspend fees for mobile home parks. Governor Newsom also issued an executive order that prohibits landlords in Los Angeles County from evicting tenants for sharing their rental with survivors displaced by the Los Angeles-area firestorms. For homeowners, California has worked with five major lenders, as well as 270 financial institutions, to provide mortgage relief to their customers.
    • Mobilizing debris removal and cleanup. With an eye toward recovery, the Governor directed fast action on debris removal work and mitigating the potential for mudslides and flooding in areas burned. He also signed an executive order to allow expert federal hazmat crews to start cleaning up properties as a key step in getting people back to their properties safely. The Governor also issued an executive order to help mitigate the risk of mudslides and flooding and protect communities by hastening efforts to remove debris, bolster flood defenses, and stabilize hillsides in affected areas. 
    • Safeguarding survivors from price gouging. Governor Newsom expanded restrictions to protect survivors from illegal price hikes on rent, hotel and motel costs, and building materials or construction. Report violations to the Office of the Attorney General here.
    • Directing immediate state relief. The Governor signed legislation providing over $2.5 billion to immediately support ongoing emergency response efforts and to jumpstart recovery efforts for Los Angeles. California quickly launched CA.gov/LAfires as a single hub of information and resources to support those impacted and bolsters in-person Disaster Recovery Centers.  
    • Getting kids back in the classroom. Governor Newsom signed an executive order to quickly assist displaced students in the Los Angeles area and bolster schools affected by the firestorms.
    • Protecting victims from real estate speculators. The Governor issued an executive order to protect firestorm victims from predatory land speculators making aggressive and unsolicited cash offers to purchase their property.

    Get help today

    For those Californians impacted by the firestorms in Los Angeles, there are resources available. Californians can go to CA.gov/LAfires – a hub for information and resources from state, local and federal government.  

    Individuals and business owners who sustained losses from wildfires in Los Angeles County can apply for disaster assistance:

    If you use a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, give FEMA the number for that service.

    Recent news

    Jan 31, 2025

    News California extends law enforcement resources, financial support, and mutual aid coordination to support local agencies in fire-impacted area What you need to know: The Governor is significantly increasing the California Highway Patrol’s presence along the Pacific…

    Jan 31, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:Kimberly Rutledge, of Sacramento, has been appointed Director of the Department of Rehabilitation, where she has been Deputy Director of Legislation and Communications since 2022. She…

    Jan 31, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom issued an executive order to maximize the capture and storage of additional water from upcoming storms in Northern California. SACRAMENTO — In anticipation of a multi-day, significant atmospheric river in Northern…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MoS (MoEFCC), Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh inaugurates the ‘Regional Workshop on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands’ at Ayodhya, under the Sahbhagita Mission for States of North India

    Source: Government of India

    MoS (MoEFCC), Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh inaugurates the ‘Regional Workshop on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands’ at Ayodhya, under the Sahbhagita Mission for States of North India

    On World Wetlands Day 2025, a national-level programme to be held at the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary in Gonda, UP tomorrow

    Posted On: 01 FEB 2025 9:28PM by PIB Delhi

    In the run up to the celebration of scheduled on 2nd February, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Forest, Environment, and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh presided over the Regional Workshop on Conservation and Wise Use of Wetlands, held in Ayodhya today. The workshop, under the Sahbhagita Mission for States of North India, witnessed the presence of PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Anuradha Vemuri; JS (MoEFCC), Shri Rajat Agarwal; and Member Secretary, Uttar Pradesh State Wetland Authority, Shri Neeraj Kumar, along with senior officers from nine States/UTs of North India, Ramsar Site Managers and representatives of various institutions.

    Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed that India now has 89 wetlands of international importance (Ramsar Sites), with four new sites added on Friday. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, unprecedented decisions have been made for the conservation and enhancement of wetlands, with a strong focus on their preservation of ecosystem. The Minister also informed that on the occasion of World Wetlands Day, Government of India organizes various national and state-level programmes across the country every year to raise awareness on wetland conservation. This year, the honour goes to the Ramsar site ‘Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary’ in Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh. In this context, the workshop for North India, covering nine states, was held in Ayodhya today, he added.

    MoS Shri Singh further informed that the Ministry initiated ‘Mission Sahbhagita’ in 2022, focusing on mainstreaming wetland conservation in development planning and ensuring sustainable development. India’s wetland conservation approach, through this Mission, focuses on stakeholder involvement and integrating wetland conservation into development programmes. Uttar Pradesh is home to 1,33,434 wetlands, covering 5.16% of the State’s total geographical area. The state has ten Ramsar Sites, including the first Ramsar Site ‘Upper Ganga River’ to the latest ‘Haiderpur Wetland’. UP has the second-largest number of Ramsar Sites after Tamil Nadu. Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary is one of the largest wetlands in the natural floodplain area, providing shelter to over a lakh birds. This wetland is rich in vegetation and biodiversity. Under MoEFCC’s National Aquatic Ecosystem Conservation Plan, 13 wetlands are being conserved in UP. The State Wetland Management Committee of Uttar Pradesh has instructed relevant departments to identify and protect important wetlands at the district level, it was informed.

     

    On 2nd February, with the cooperation of the Uttar Pradesh government, a national-level programme will be held at the Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary where Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath will be the chief guest. On this occasion, the UP government will hand over the Integrated Management Plan for Parvati Arga Wetland to the MoEFCC. A nationwide awareness campaign on wetland conservation has been running for the last month, led by the National Museum of Natural History, with over 2,000 school and college students participating in painting, street plays, and quiz competitions. An awareness programme of a similar scale was also held in Gonda. During the workshop, Ramsar Site Managers from five States and four Union Territories of India – Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu & Kashmir, and Ladakh – shared their experiences and thoughts. On the occasion, MoS Shri Singh also released a booklet and launched a poster on ‘Seven Steps for Wetland and Pond Conservation’.

     

     

     

    The workshop commenced with the lighting of a lamp by the MoS (MoEFCC). The guests were welcomed by presenting them with Rudraksha plants. Dr. M. Ramesh, Scientist (F), (MoEFCC), welcomed the attendees of the workshop and briefed them about the objectives of the workshop and the upcoming February 2 event at Parvati Arga Bird Sanctuary. Following this, Joint Secretary Shri Rajat Agarwal elaborated the importance of wetlands conservation and sustainable use, discussing the various plant and animal species found in wetlands. Following this, Ms. Anuradha Vemuri, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Uttar Pradesh, provided a comprehensive discussion on wetlands conservation and development.

     

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR BOATING DIVISION CONDUCTING POST-STORM CLEANUP

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR BOATING DIVISION CONDUCTING POST-STORM CLEANUP

    Posted on Jan 31, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    STATE OF HAWAIʻI

    KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

     

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.
    GOVERNOR

    DAWN CHANG
    CHAIRPERSON

     

    DLNR BOATING DIVISION CONDUCTING POST-STORM CLEANUP

    Crews Also Managing Numerous Boat Groundings

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    January 31, 2025

    HONOLULU — Crews from the DLNR Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) are out statewide, in full force, dealing with the impacts of Hawai‘i’s latest severe weather event.

    Ala Wai Canal and Small Boat Harbor

    A temporary trash boom, installed late Wednesday, has diverted much of the rubbish and debris from upstream into a permanent trap on the makai side of the Ala Moana bridge.

    Very little rubbish got beyond either of the traps, preventing junk from washing into the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and the ocean. DOBOR Administrator Meghan Statts says the temporary boom on the mauka side of the bridge will be left in place through the weekend.

    The permanent trap, on the mauka side of the bridge, was cleared on Thursday. By this morning it was completely full of a seemingly infinite variety of household and industrial trash, logs, and other vegetation. Caught up in the muddy soup was a large dead puffer fish, a bean bag chair, gas canisters, and a mattress with the pillow still on top.

    This morning, a DOBOR contractor was again using heavy machinery to lift rubbish out of the trap and into roll-off dumpsters. The equipment operator started at 6 a.m. and will be working throughout the day to clear the permanent trap.

    DOBOR is working with other agencies and experts to develop a permanent solution for addressing the rubbish and debris that flows through the Ala Wai Canal and ultimately ends up in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor and ocean waters.

    Maunalua Bay

    The popular East O‘ahu boat ramp at Maunalua Bay was unusable this morning, with both sides full of floating vegetation brought in by the weather event. A three-person DOBOR crew used a small front loader, shovels, and brooms to clean up the mess and they expected to have the ramp cleared by the end of the day.

    Boating Groundings

    DOBOR staff is coordinating the salvage of a number of grounded boats: one on Kaua‘i, one on Hawai‘i Island, and three on Maui.

    Most notable is the grounding of the 65-foot catamaran, Hula Girl, which ran aground overnight in the Honolua-Mokulē‘ia Marine Life Conservation District on the northwest side of Maui. The vessel’s owner reportedly sought safety in the bay during the storm and ended up on the shoreline.

    The owner of Hula Girl has been fully cooperating with DOBOR to develop a salvage plan to remove the boat with close attention to preventing damage to sensitive coral reef structures in the area. Work will be done after consultation and in collaboration with the DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), which has responsibility for protection of coral reefs in state waters.

    Coast Guard Marine Safety Team Maui personnel were also on scene, assessed the area and reported no signs of pollution.

    “We are working closely with the State Department of Health Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office and the DLNR to monitor the situation and mitigate any hazards to the environment. The beach and waters in the surrounding area remain open, but people should maintain awareness of any potential signs of pollution such as strong smells of diesel or discoloration on the surface of the water.

    The other Maui groundings included a power boat, Hinatea, which went ashore on the beach near Kamaole Beach Park One in Kihei. DOBOR staff is working to reach the owner to arrange removal. The third Maui Nui grounding was on Moloka‘i and involved a 28-foot trimaran which went adrift off Kaunakakai Harbor. DOBOR previously reported that the boat’s owner had passed away. Staff are working to secure the vessel once strong winds abate.

    The Kaua‘i grounding involved a 30-foot vessel on the rocks within the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor in Līhuʻe. Its owner was able to secure the vessel and safely move it into a slip in the harbor.

    On Hawai‘i Island, a vessel sunk in Hilo Bay. DOBOR reports that its owner is currently assessing the situation and working with staff to remove it.

    In light of the groundings, Statts reiterated that boat owners and operators should pay attention to weather forecasts, avoid going out in advance of storms, and check that their lines are secure in harbors or while tied to moorings.

    # # #

    RESOURCES

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR)

    HD video – Ala Wai Canal temporary trash boom (Jan. 31, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/lx6pddximxlg6o296zzh4/Ala-Wai-Canal-Temporary-Trash-Boom-Jan.-31-2025.mov?rlkey=0usthx4qa8lypgikoty9dwygx&st=g14zak4b&dl=0

    HD video – Maunalua Bay Ramp post-storm cleanup (Jan. 31, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/yv870z46nxp2fkni3gw68/Maunalua-Bay-Post-Storm-Cleanup-Jan.-31-2025.mov?rlkey=egumq332mf55yh78m7x1k6236&st=nydkm4xm&dl=0

    HD video – Debris trap deployment (Jan. 29, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/mj5pu43b3wge5fapmnipc/Ala-Wai-Additional-Boom-Jan.-29-2025.mov?rlkey=kk4seljgia9ts9ruvndjig6ej&st=3k5r58j1&dl=0

    (Meghan Statts SOTS transcript attached)

    Photographs – Ala Wai Canal temporary trash boom (Jan. 31, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jfj7ce0mfimzau54ka0f6/AFLrcu7HUkhTA944bWfGVZo?rlkey=7sbd0g00vugwnwptoe4q7p3bs&st=95hjuf4o&dl=0

    Photographs – Maunalua Bay Ramp post-storm cleanup (Jan. 31, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/njhb9dwob1qxki708m0z5/AI027pb0jR0BWyY8EFHzHAU?rlkey=w9frc7ufypbcijw72iwmd1fcw&st=rfk69njg&dl=0

    Photographs – Hula Girl boat grounding (Jan. 31, 2025):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/p2v3yj8abuw8ucxksnpyx/AHauK5gKMKVTsA4Bc3nMa6E?rlkey=v7vaaa2thrkcpi19nj7dnxmkh&st=1nz4vrj9&dl=0

    Media Contact:

    Dan Dennison

    Communications Director

    808-587-0396

    Email: Dlnr.comms@hawaii.gov

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: New housing on track for Croydon

    Source: New South Wales Premiere

    Published: 3 February 2025

    Released by: Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

    More homes are on the way for Sydney’s Inner West with new planning controls being introduced around Croydon Station.

    The new planning controls to be introduced this week around Croydon Station in the Inner West local government area (LGA) will provide capacity for more than 2,700 new homes over the next 15 years.

    The Croydon Transport Oriented Development (TOD) precinct sits across two LGAs with Inner West Council to the south and east of the railway line, and Burwood Council to the north and west of the station.

    Croydon’s TOD State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP) provisions will be triggered for Inner West Council as Council did not meet the strategic planning deadline to provide their own masterplan with equal or greater housing outcomes before 31 January 2025.

    Burwood City Council meanwhile has taken up the Minister’s challenge to produce its own detailed master planning in place of the TOD SEPP on the western side of the Croydon precinct.

    Council’s plan seeks to concentrate higher and mid-rise density development on the northern side of the rail corridor between Croydon and Burwood Town Centres, while protecting existing important heritage and character areas to the southern section of Burwood North.

    The plan recommends changes to land use zones, building heights, and density within the Croydon Masterplan Investigation Area. It also aims to improve the public domain by expanding open spaces, ensuring appropriate setbacks, planting street trees, and enhancing parking and active transport facilities.

    Public consultation was undertaken by Council with feedback considered before final plans were submitted to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) by the January deadline.

    DPHI is now assessing Council’s plans to ensure they meet the requirements of the agreement between Council and the NSW Government.

    You can view Burwood Council’s proposed plans for the Croydon TOD SEPP precinct here.

    Inner West Council and Burwood Council will continue to assess, consider and weigh up the merits of the impacts of proposed developments during the development assessment stage, unless a proposal is assessed through a State Significant Development pathway.

    Croydon’s new TOD SEPP planning controls in the Inner West LGA can be viewed on the NSW Government Spatial Viewer once the changes are notified early in February.

    Housing affordability is the single largest cost of living concern for people of NSW with the impacts being felt across the state, whether it be students, workers, young families or people looking to downsize later in life.

    The TOD Program is just one part of the Minns Labor Government’s efforts to confront the housing crisis by speeding up the planning system, investing in social and affordable housing, and reforming NSW rental laws.

    TOD provisions now apply to 29 stations across Greater Sydney with only 5 stations remaining to be scheduled between now and June 2025. These stations include Cockle Creek, North Wollongong, St Marys, Punchbowl and Wiley Park.

    Up to 37 locations were identified as being suitable for inclusion in the TOD SEPP program. Eighteen of the station precincts were adopted on 13 May 2024 with the remaining 19 deferred for further strategic work to be rolled out between now and June 2025.

    Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

    “Sydney’s inner west has always been bustling with activity and these planning changes will mean more people get to enjoy its great location and connectivity.

    “Croydon provides an ideal strategic location to leverage the benefits of Inner West living, while being close to public transport and essential services in and around Croydon and Burwood. 

    “Burwood Council has suggested a planning solution that means more homes near a train station, near services and the community.

    “Croydon now stands ready for an exciting new chapter in its long-storied history whereby thousands of new residents will get to experience the great cosmopolitan lifestyle this suburb offers.”

    Member for Strathfield Jason Yat-Sen Li said:

    “Burwood Council’s draft masterplan was the product of months of detailed consultation between the council and the community.

    “The Masterplan represents a sound blueprint for Croydon’s future. It balances the urgent need for more quality homes close to transport with the community imperative to protect long-established heritage conservation areas such as the Malvern Hill Estate, Cintra Estate and the Strand.

    “The Masterplan will also aim to improve amenity by expanding open spaces, providing appropriate setbacks, planting street trees, and enhancing parking and active transport facilities.

    “I would like to thank Burwood Council and the many residents who made their voices heard during this important process.” 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Federated Farmers calls for doubling of QEII Trust funding

    Source: Federated Farmers

    Federated Farmers is calling on the Government to double its funding for the QEII National Trust to ensure it can continue to meet demand from farmers.
    “The QEII Trust has a stellar track record of working with landowners to permanently protect special areas of bush, wetland and biodiversity,” Federated Farmers vice president Colin Hurst says.
    “It’s an utter disgrace that QEII’s base government funding has remained unchanged at $4.3 million for a decade, despite rising demand for its help.
    “In real terms, that’s a huge cut in funding.”
    The QEII National Trust was established in 1977, with Federated Farmers dairy chair (the late) Gordon Stephenson a key instigator.
    Its core function is to encourage protection of natural and cultural features on private land. The trust partners with landowners who voluntarily protect their land without selling or donating it.
    Covenants ensure threatened species and special areas of bush and wetland are protected for future generations, in perpetuity. Subsequent landowners can’t alter this protection.
    Covenants now cover 187,774 hectares – the vast majority on farms. That is an area of land over double the size of Tongariro National Park.
    The QEII Trust celebrated its 4000 th covenant in 2014/15. Now, nearly 10 years later, it has 5,200 covenants to be managed and monitored – a 28% increase in demand, with no change in government base funding.
    For comparison, the Department of Conservation’s funding went from $470m to $718m over that same 10-year period.
    “With that big hike in the amount of covenanted land, there is clearly huge buy-in from farmers,” Hurst says.
    “Voluntary initiatives like the QEII Trust have huge support in rural communities and are a far better approach than heavy-handed and impractical SNA rules.”
    The trust leverages outside funding and bequests, and works with district and regional councils. In 2021 it also secured $8m of Jobs for Nature funding, spread over four years.
    But that runs out in June this year and the trust is warning it will have to scale back the number of new covenants it can support.
    A 2017 study by Waikato University’s Institute for Business Research found that covenanting landowners together spend an estimated $25 million of their own money every year to protect native species and special areas in their QEII covenants
    Loss of potential income from other alternative uses of land under covenant was estimated to be between $443-$638 million between 1977 and 2017.
    Farmers and other landowners pitch in with environmentalists, volunteers and council staff to carry out planting, pest control, fencing and other work on covenanted sites.
    “It represents farmer commitment, and great bang for buck, on conservation.
    “The Government needs to step up its contribution to keep up the pace,” Hurst says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone Awarded the William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award for Advancing E-Waste Recycling in Pennsylvania

    Source: US State of Pennsylvania

    January 31, 2025 – East Norriton, PA

    Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone Awarded the William M. Heenan, Jr. Recycling Markets Development Award for Advancing E-Waste Recycling in Pennsylvania

    Pennsylvania Senator Amanda Cappelletti, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley and Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder joined representatives from Reworld™ and Goodwill Keystone. Reworld™ – a leading sustainable waste solutions company – and Goodwill Keystone proudly accepted the William M. Heenan, Jr. Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Development Award. The award recognizes the successful partnership that has expanded access to fee-free electronic waste (e-waste) recycling across 22 counties in Central and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

    “The Governor and I believe in the GSD motto – that stands for ‘getting stuff done.’ This partnership truly got stuff done – 1.4 million pounds of electronic waste was recycled and now won’t be going into landfills,” said Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis. “That helps create jobs here in the Commonwealth, with Goodwill Keystone and Reworld, and we’re getting all this done at no cost to consumers.”

    “This program provides an avenue for responsibly disposing electronic waste for millions of Pennsylvanians – reusing products that still have some life in them, and keeping the rest out of landfills,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “The 1.4 million pounds collected is an amazing accomplishment for Goodwill and Reworld, and is a fantastic outcome for Pennsylvania.”

    Speakers Include:
    Bob Bylone – PA Recycling Markets Center
    PA Senator Amanda Cappelletti
    Gordon Burgoyne – Reworld
    Edward Lada – Goodwill
    Acting DEP Sec. Jessica Shirley
    Montgomery County Commissioner Jamila Winder

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management for Georgia

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    Rationale

    The objectives of the coaching workshop on “Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management for Georgia” were:

    • to identify the status of national and international forest reporting in Georgia;
    • to analyse the needs, benefits and potential of criteria and indicators (C&I) development for Georgia;
    • to discuss and select national C&I for a preliminary set;
    • to assess the process plan and the best approach for implementation.

    This was achieved through

    • A. REVIEW. To review progress, challenges and lessons with regards to national and international forest reporting in Georgia with a specific focus on lessons from previous C&I related processes and outcomes.
    • B. WHY and WHAT. To ensure clarity on what the principles purpose, processes and definitions, related to C&I for SFM are.
    • C. HOW. Drawing upon international and national best practice to strengthen skills on how to practically develop C&I.
    • D. DRAFT and PLAN. To draft an initial set of C&I for SFM and develop a process plan of how to test and select them.

    Meeting hours

    29 November 2017, Wednesday: 8.30 – 17.30

    30 November 2017, Thursday: 9.00 – 17.30

    01 December 2017, Friday: 9.00 – 17.30

    Meeting venue

    Justice House  Training  Centre, A.Politkovskaya  Str.  3, Tbilisi, Georgia

    Contact

    Should you have any questions, please contact Secretariat.

    More information

    Visit the project’s website.

    Topic Language Document
    Programme ENG-GEO PDF
    ECE/FAO Guidelines for the Development of a Criteria and Indicator Set for Sustainable Forest Management 
    Методические Рекомендации по Разработке критериев и показателей ведения лесного хозяйства    		 ENG-RUS ENG
    RUS
    Workshop Report ENG-GEO ENG
    GEO
    Pictures   flickr
    Press Release ENG UNECE press release
    Needs Assessment ENG Word

    Information on Georgia

    		    
    FRA Country report ENG PDF
    Forestland Governance in Georgia Assessment of legislation and practice ENG PDF
    Georgia Country Environmental Analysis ENG PDF
    National Forest Concept for Georgia ENG PDF
    Presentations Speaker PDF
    Facilitator Presentation Day 1 V. Melikyan ENG-GEO
    Facilitator Presentation Day 2 Morning V. Melikyan ENG-GEO
    Facilitator Presentation Day 2 Afternoon V. Melikyan ENG-GEO
    Facilitator Presentation Day 3 V. Melikyan ENG-GEO
    Project overview T. Loeffler ENG-GEO
    Introduction to Criteria and Indicators E. Yazici ENG-RUS
    Overview of Forests and Forest Sector of Georgia K. Chiburdanidze ENG 

    GEO 
    National Principles, Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management L. Giorgadye

    ENG

    GEO
    IBiS First National Forest Inventory of Georgia L. Dzadzamia ENG

    GEO
    National examples of SFM C&I processes and outcomes, lessons and recommendations Turkey T. Otrakcier ENG
    National examples of SFM C&I processes and outcomes, lessons and recommendations Austria S. Linser ENG
    National examples of SFM C&I processes and outcomes, lessons and recommendations Estonia M. Valgepea ENG 

    RUS 

    The table below provides an overview of useful material and information about Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management in English and Russian. This material can be used as a source of information and inspiration to develop national Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management. The table is not exhaustive. If you are aware of relevant material that is not yet listed kindly inform the project manager.

    В таблице ниже представлены полезные материалы и информация о критериях и индикторах для устойчивого леспользования на английском и русском языках. Эти материалы могут быть использованы в качестве информации и вдохновения при разработке национальных критериев и индикаторов для устойчивого лесопользования. Таблица не является полной. Если Вы знаете какие-либо подходящие материалы, которые не представлены в данной таблице, пожалуйста, проинформируйте координатора проекта.

                                                                                          Topic/
    Тема    		 Language/
    Язык    		 Document/
    Документ
    General information
    Общая информация    		 ECE/FAO Guidelines for the Development of a Criteria and Indicator Set for Sustainable Forest Management 
    Методические Рекомендации по Разработке критериев и показателей ведения лесного хозяйства    		 ENG- RUS ENG pdf
    RUS pdf
      The System for the Evaluation of the Management
    of Forests (SEMAFOR) Система оценки управления лесами (СЕМАФОР)    		 ENG- RUS ENG pdf
    RUS pdf
      Sustainable Forest Management definition
    Определение устойчивого лесопользования    		 ENG-RUS pdf
      Criteria and Indicator definitions
    Определение критериев и показателей    		 ENG-RUS pdf
      Useful links
    Полезные ссылки    		 ENG-RUS pdf
      FAO Voluntary Guidelines on National Forest Monitoring ENG pdf
      CIFOR Guidelines for Developing, Testing and Selecting Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management
    Руководство по разработке, тестированию и выбору критериев и индикаторов для устойчивого лесопользования    		 ENG pdf
    Examples for C&I
    Примеры КиИ    		 Criteria and Indicators for SFM in Austria
    Критерии и индикаторы для УЛП в Австрии    		 ENG pdf
      Criteria and Indicators for Low Forest Cover Countries
    Критерии и индикаторы для слаболесистых стран    		 ENG pdf
    Forest Europe Process
    Процесс Леса Европы    		 Pan-European Indicators for SFM
    Общеевропейские индикаторы для УЛП    		 ENG pdf
      State of Europe’s Forests report
    Отчет о состоянии лесов Европы    		 ENG pdf
      Pan-European Questionnaire
    Общеевропейский вопросник
    More information here
    Дополнительная информация здесь    		 ENG-RUS ENG Excel

    RUS Excel
      Relevant Terms and Definitions for Pan-European Indicators
    Соответствующие термины и определения для Общеевропейских индикаторов     		 ENG pdf
    pdf
    Montreal Process
    Монреальский процесс    		 Montreal Process Criteria and Indicators
    Критерии и индикаторы для Монреальского процесса    		 RUS pdf
      Booklet
    Брошюра    		 RUS pdf
      Factsheet
    Фактологический бюллетень    		 ENG pdf
      Montreal process: criteria and indicators for conservation and SFM of the temperate and boreal zones 2008
    Монреальский процесс: критерии и индикаторы сохранения и УЛП умеренной и бореальной зон 2008    		 RUS pdf
    Other publications
    Прочие публикации     		 Forests in the ECE region 2015
    Леса региона ЕЭК 2015    		 ENG-RUS ENG pdf
    RUS pdf
      Global Forest Resource Assessment, Synthesis Document
    Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, обобщающий документ
    More information here
    Дополнительная информация здесь    		 ENG-RUS ENG pdf

    RUS pdf
      Global Forest Resource Assessment, Summary tables for quantitative variables
    Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Сводные таблицы для количественных переменных    		 ENG-RUS ENG pdf

    RUS pdf
      Global Forest Resource Assessment, Terms and Definitions
    Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Термины и определения    		 ENG ENG pdf
      Global Forest Resource Assessment, Questionnaire
    Глобальная оценка лесных ресурсов, Вопросник    		 ENG ENG pdf

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s driving north Queensland’s deadly, record-breaking floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    A flooded street in Townsville John Wilkinson/Facebook

    Record-breaking floods across north Queensland have now turned deadly, with one woman drowning while being rescued on Sunday morning. And the floodwaters are still rising, with rain set to continue.

    Over the 48 hours to Sunday, there were reports of up to 1 metre of rainfall in parts of northeast Queensland. The torrential rain continues, particularly in the Herbert Coast region and north to around Tully.

    Major flooding in northern Queensland rivers, as of 12.45pm February 2.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Residents of Ingham and nearby towns, about 100km from Townsville, are witnessing flooding from the nearby Herbert River. This morning, it was at 15 metres and rising. With more heavy rain forecast for the next 24 hours, the Herbert River is likely to break the 1967 record of 15.2 metres later today.

    Queensland Premier David Crisafulli – who grew up on his family’s sugar cane farm in Ingham – has said the floods will be a “once in a century” event for the town. To make matters worse, authorities say the town has lost power and an extended outage is likely.

    The atmospheric factors behind these floods are very similar to recent floods in the region – and climate change is no doubt playing a role.

    The flood level for the Herbert River at Ingham set in 1967 was 15.2 metres. It’s likely to be breached this afternoon (Sunday February 2).
    Australian Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    Where are the floods hitting?

    For many people in Townsville – the largest city in Northern Australia – the unfolding emergency will bring back memories of the devastating February 2019 floods, which caused A$1.24 billion in damage. Residents have been asked to evacuate from several low-lying suburbs which were inundated in 2019.

    Authorities in Townsville asked all residents in the low-lying black zone to evacuate by midday Sunday February 2. Floodwaters could reach second-storey heights in this zone. Residents in pink suburbs have been asked to be on standby.
    Townsville Council, CC BY

    It is too early to say if this flood event will be worse. Fortunately, water levels in the city’s Ross River Dam are much lower than 2019. Townsville Airport has recorded 545mm of rain over the past 48 hours, with many northwest suburbs recording much higher levels. The township of Rollingstone – 60km northwest of Townsville – recorded a whopping 702mm over the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

    Further north in the Cairns to Daintree region, residents are watching with concern, with many still raw after the record-breaking floods of December 2023.

    What’s behind these floods?

    The ongoing 2025 extreme rainfall event, the 2019 Townsville floods and the 2023 Cairns and Daintree floods are remarkably similar in many ways.

    What triggered each of these floods was prolonged heavy rain falling on the southeast flank of a stationary tropical low weather system. Normally, tropical lows bring wind and rain, but move through quite quickly. But in recent years, we have seen a tendency for these systems to stall, sitting in place over or near land and dumping huge volumes of rain.

    Last week, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that five tropical lows were forming around northern Australia. Most tropical cyclones form from tropical lows embedded in the region’s monsoon trough, a large low pressure band which forms over summer and draws in warm, moist air from the adjacent tropical seas.

    But significant rain events like this one don’t necessarily require a tropical cyclone. Slow-moving deep monsoon lows over land can also deliver huge amounts of rain and widespread flooding.

    These atmospheric conditions allow intense rain bands to form between converging winds: warm, moist winds from the northeast and southeast winds originating from the Coral Sea. As the winds collide, they push the moist air up into the cooler parts of the atmosphere where it condenses and falls as torrential rain.

    More extreme rainfall and higher frequencies of flooded rivers and flash floods around the world have a clear link to climate change and ongoing global heating.

    The main drivers behind these events include warming of the atmosphere. For every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water vapour. Recent research suggests this figure could be even higher for short duration rainfall.

    Hotter oceans hold more energy, meaning they can also amplify the global water cycle when atmospheric conditions are suitable.

    This year’s latest ever monsoon

    This year, sea surface temperatures in the northwest Coral Sea are 1-2°C above average. Ocean temperatures have risen because of a lack of cloud cover and rain last month. In northwestern Australia, this has given rise to an intensifying marine heatwave.

    This ocean heat is likely to be driven by the Australian monsoon’s latest ever arrival. The monsoon brings heavy rains to northern Australia, triggering the wet season. When it arrives, sea surface temperatures generally drop due to a combination of high cloud cover and the cooling effect of rainwater.

    After a slow start, the North Australian monsoon season is now in full swing.

    The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring an active monsoon trough for any low pressure systems, which may develop into tropical cyclones over the next week or so. If any cyclone does form, it will gain energy from warmer than usual sea surface temperatures.

    What’s next for north Queensland?

    The flood emergency in north Queensland is far from over. All global circulation models predict heavy rain to continue in the region, extending up towards Cape York and the Gulf Country as an active monsoon surge moves in from Indonesia.

    As river catchments get saturated, more and more water will run off and engorge rivers. Forecasts are for rain to continue well into tonight and the next few days. We are likely to see more flooding in more places this week.

    For the latest updates, check the Bureau of Meteorology’s Queensland flood warnings, ABC Emergency or local ABC radio stations.

    Steve Turton has received funding from the Australian Government.

    – ref. What’s driving north Queensland’s deadly, record-breaking floods? – https://theconversation.com/whats-driving-north-queenslands-deadly-record-breaking-floods-248847

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What’s driving north Queensland’s record-breaking, deadly floods?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    A flooded street in Townsville John Wilkinson/Facebook

    Record-breaking floods across north Queensland have now turned deadly, with one woman drowning while being rescued on Sunday morning. And the floodwaters are still rising, with rain set to continue.

    Over the 48 hours to Sunday, there were reports of up to 1 metre of rainfall in parts of northeast Queensland. The torrential rain continues, particularly in the Herbert Coast region and north to around Tully.

    Major flooding in northern Queensland rivers, as of 12.45pm February 2.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Residents of Ingham and nearby towns, about 100km from Townsville, are witnessing flooding from the nearby Herbert River. This morning, it was at 15 metres and rising. With more heavy rain forecast for the next 24 hours, the Herbert River is likely to break the 1967 record of 15.2 metres later today.

    Queensland Premier David Crisafulli – who grew up on his family’s sugar cane farm in Ingham – has said the floods will be a “once in a century” event for the town. To make matters worse, authorities say the town has lost power and an extended outage is likely.

    The atmospheric factors behind these floods are very similar to recent floods in the region – and climate change is no doubt playing a role.

    The flood level for the Herbert River at Ingham set in 1967 was 15.2 metres. It’s likely to be breached this afternoon (Sunday February 2).
    Australian Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    Where are the floods hitting?

    For many people in Townsville – the largest city in Northern Australia – the unfolding emergency will bring back memories of the devastating February 2019 floods, which caused A$1.24 billion in damage. Residents have been asked to evacuate from several low-lying suburbs which were inundated in 2019.

    Authorities in Townsville asked all residents in the low-lying black zone to evacuate by midday Sunday February 2. Floodwaters could reach second-storey heights in this zone. Residents in pink suburbs have been asked to be on standby.
    Townsville Council, CC BY

    It is too early to say if this flood event will be worse. Fortunately, water levels in the city’s Ross River Dam are much lower than 2019. Townsville Airport has recorded 545mm of rain over the past 48 hours, with many northwest suburbs recording much higher levels. The township of Rollingstone – 60km northwest of Townsville – recorded a whopping 702mm over the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

    Further north in the Cairns to Daintree region, residents are watching with concern, with many still raw after the record-breaking floods of December 2023.

    What’s behind these floods?

    The ongoing 2025 extreme rainfall event, the 2019 Townsville floods and the 2023 Cairns and Daintree floods are remarkably similar in many ways.

    What triggered each of these floods was prolonged heavy rain falling on the southeast flank of a stationary tropical low weather system. Normally, tropical lows bring wind and rain, but move through quite quickly. But in recent years, we have seen a tendency for these systems to stall, sitting in place over or near land and dumping huge volumes of rain.

    Last week, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that five tropical lows were forming around northern Australia. Most tropical cyclones form from tropical lows embedded in the region’s monsoon trough, a large low pressure band which forms over summer and draws in warm, moist air from the adjacent tropical seas.

    But significant rain events like this one don’t necessarily require a tropical cyclone. Slow-moving deep monsoon lows over land can also deliver huge amounts of rain and widespread flooding.

    These atmospheric conditions allow intense rain bands to form between converging winds: warm, moist winds from the northeast and southeast winds originating from the Coral Sea. As the winds collide, they push the moist air up into the cooler parts of the atmosphere where it condenses and falls as torrential rain.

    More extreme rainfall and higher frequencies of flooded rivers and flash floods around the world have a clear link to climate change and ongoing global heating.

    The main drivers behind these events include warming of the atmosphere. For every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water vapour. Recent research suggests this figure could be even higher for short duration rainfall.

    Hotter oceans hold more energy, meaning they can also amplify the global water cycle when atmospheric conditions are suitable.

    This year’s latest ever monsoon

    This year, sea surface temperatures in the northwest Coral Sea are 1-2°C above average. Ocean temperatures have risen because of a lack of cloud cover and rain last month. In northwestern Australia, this has given rise to an intensifying marine heatwave.

    This ocean heat is likely to be driven by the Australian monsoon’s latest ever arrival. The monsoon brings heavy rains to northern Australia, triggering the wet season. When it arrives, sea surface temperatures generally drop due to a combination of high cloud cover and the cooling effect of rainwater.

    After a slow start, the North Australian monsoon season is now in full swing.

    The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring an active monsoon trough for any low pressure systems, which may develop into tropical cyclones over the next week or so. If any cyclone does form, it will gain energy from warmer than usual sea surface temperatures.

    What’s next for north Queensland?

    The flood emergency in north Queensland is far from over. All global circulation models predict heavy rain to continue in the region, extending up towards Cape York and the Gulf Country as an active monsoon surge moves in from Indonesia.

    As river catchments get saturated, more and more water will run off and engorge rivers. Forecasts are for rain to continue well into tonight and the next few days. We are likely to see more flooding in more places this week.

    For the latest updates, check the Bureau of Meteorology’s Queensland flood warnings, ABC Emergency or local ABC radio stations.

    Steve Turton has received funding from the Australian Government.

    – ref. What’s driving north Queensland’s record-breaking, deadly floods? – https://theconversation.com/whats-driving-north-queenslands-record-breaking-deadly-floods-248847

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Delayed monsoon and a stalled tropical low: what’s behind north Queensland’s record-breaking floods

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steve Turton, Adjunct Professor of Environmental Geography, CQUniversity Australia

    A flooded street in Townsville John Wilkinson/Facebook

    Record-breaking floods across north Queensland have now turned deadly, with one woman drowning while being rescued on Sunday morning. And the floodwaters are still rising, with rain set to continue.

    Over the 48 hours to Sunday, there were reports of up to 1 metre of rainfall in parts of northeast Queensland. The torrential rain continues, particularly in the Herbert Coast region and north to around Tully.

    Major flooding in northern Queensland rivers, as of 12.45pm February 2.
    Bureau of Meteorology

    Residents of Ingham and nearby towns, about 100km from Townsville, are witnessing flooding from the nearby Herbert River. This morning, it was at 15 metres and rising. With more heavy rain forecast for the next 24 hours, the Herbert River is likely to break the 1967 record of 15.2 metres later today.

    Queensland Premier David Crisafulli – who grew up on his family’s sugar cane farm in Ingham – has said the floods will be a “once in a century” event for the town. To make matters worse, authorities say the town has lost power and an extended outage is likely.

    The atmospheric factors behind these floods are very similar to recent floods in the region – and climate change is no doubt playing a role.

    The flood level for the Herbert River at Ingham set in 1967 was 15.2 metres. It’s likely to be breached this afternoon (Sunday February 2).
    Australian Bureau of Meteorology, CC BY

    Where are the floods hitting?

    For many people in Townsville – the largest city in Northern Australia – the unfolding emergency will bring back memories of the devastating February 2019 floods, which caused A$1.24 billion in damage. Residents have been asked to evacuate from several low-lying suburbs which were inundated in 2019.

    Authorities in Townsville asked all residents in the low-lying black zone to evacuate by midday Sunday February 2. Floodwaters could reach second-storey heights in this zone. Residents in pink suburbs have been asked to be on standby.
    Townsville Council, CC BY

    It is too early to say if this flood event will be worse. Fortunately, water levels in the city’s Ross River Dam are much lower than 2019. Townsville Airport has recorded 545mm of rain over the past 48 hours, with many northwest suburbs recording much higher levels. The township of Rollingstone – 60km northwest of Townsville – recorded a whopping 702mm over the 24 hours to 9am Sunday.

    Further north in the Cairns to Daintree region, residents are watching with concern, with many still raw after the record-breaking floods of December 2023.

    What’s behind these floods?

    The ongoing 2025 extreme rainfall event, the 2019 Townsville floods and the 2023 Cairns and Daintree floods are remarkably similar in many ways.

    What triggered each of these floods was prolonged heavy rain falling on the southeast flank of a stationary tropical low weather system. Normally, tropical lows bring wind and rain, but move through quite quickly. But in recent years, we have seen a tendency for these systems to stall, sitting in place over or near land and dumping huge volumes of rain.

    Last week, the Bureau of Meteorology warned that five tropical lows were forming around northern Australia. Most tropical cyclones form from tropical lows embedded in the region’s monsoon trough, a large low pressure band which forms over summer and draws in warm, moist air from the adjacent tropical seas.

    But significant rain events like this one don’t necessarily require a tropical cyclone. Slow-moving deep monsoon lows over land can also deliver huge amounts of rain and widespread flooding.

    These atmospheric conditions allow intense rain bands to form between converging winds: warm, moist winds from the northeast and southeast winds originating from the Coral Sea. As the winds collide, they push the moist air up into the cooler parts of the atmosphere where it condenses and falls as torrential rain.

    More extreme rainfall and higher frequencies of flooded rivers and flash floods around the world have a clear link to climate change and ongoing global heating.

    The main drivers behind these events include warming of the atmosphere. For every 1°C of warming, the atmosphere holds 7% more water vapour. Recent research suggests this figure could be even higher for short duration rainfall.

    Hotter oceans hold more energy, meaning they can also amplify the global water cycle when atmospheric conditions are suitable.

    This year’s latest ever monsoon

    This year, sea surface temperatures in the northwest Coral Sea are 1-2°C above average. Ocean temperatures have risen because of a lack of cloud cover and rain last month. In northwestern Australia, this has given rise to an intensifying marine heatwave.

    This ocean heat is likely to be driven by the Australian monsoon’s latest ever arrival. The monsoon brings heavy rains to northern Australia, triggering the wet season. When it arrives, sea surface temperatures generally drop due to a combination of high cloud cover and the cooling effect of rainwater.

    After a slow start, the North Australian monsoon season is now in full swing.

    The Bureau of Meteorology is monitoring an active monsoon trough for any low pressure systems, which may develop into tropical cyclones over the next week or so. If any cyclone does form, it will gain energy from warmer than usual sea surface temperatures.

    What’s next for north Queensland?

    The flood emergency in north Queensland is far from over. All global circulation models predict heavy rain to continue in the region, extending up towards Cape York and the Gulf Country as an active monsoon surge moves in from Indonesia.

    As river catchments get saturated, more and more water will run off and engorge rivers. Forecasts are for rain to continue well into tonight and the next few days. We are likely to see more flooding in more places this week.

    For the latest updates, check the Bureau of Meteorology’s Queensland flood warnings, ABC Emergency or local ABC radio stations.

    Steve Turton has received funding from the Australian Government.

    – ref. Delayed monsoon and a stalled tropical low: what’s behind north Queensland’s record-breaking floods – https://theconversation.com/delayed-monsoon-and-a-stalled-tropical-low-whats-behind-north-queenslands-record-breaking-floods-248847

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: New self-registration system for Sunshine Coast dock, boathouse owners goes live

    A new self-registration system is now available for private dock and boathouse owners in the marine area of the shíshálh swiya, offering a simple way to secure temporary authorization for existing structures.

    The system ensures that owners can continue to enjoy uninterrupted water access, while the Province and shíshálh Nation work on finalizing the shíshálh swiya Dock Management Plan (DMP) for the region.

    The self-registration system provides a seamless, straightforward process for residents to register their existing docks and boathouses quickly. Upon completion, owners will receive an interim general permission authorization, granting them continued use of their water structures during a transition period in which a review of self-registered docks and boathouses will occur before issuing a 20-year, long-term renewable authorization.

    Important information:

    • Eligibility: The self-registration system is mandatory for all existing private dock and boathouse owners in the marine area of the shíshálh swiya, regardless of whether their structures currently have tenure.
    • Temporary tenure: The general permission tenure provided upon registration ensures that owners can maintain access to their docks and boathouses during the transition period.
    • Long-term plans: Over the next three years, these temporary authorizations will be reviewed and eligible structures will be transitioned into long-term, 20-year renewable authorizations in alignment with the final DMP.
    • Environmental requirements: Starting September 2024, owners will have 10 years to replace Styrofoam flotation systems and float decking with environmentally friendly alternatives such as encapsulated or non-Styrofoam materials and light-penetrating decking options. In cases where Styrofoam is actively breaking apart, dock and boathouse owners will have two years to replace it with encapsulated Styrofoam or a non-Styrofoam flotation system that ensures light penetration through the structure to the sea floor.

    The self-registration system is only for existing marine private moorage docks and boathouses in the shíshálh swiya.

    Learn More:

    For other forms of moorage and information for those who have applications in queue for new structures, visit the Land use – moorage page.
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/crown-land-water/crown-land/crown-land-uses/residential-uses/private-moorage

    For more information about the registration process, future requirements, and the transition to long-term authorizations, refer to the Existing Dock and Boathouse Owners section in the swiya Fact Sheet:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/natural-resource-use/land-water-use/crown-land/crown-land-uses/regional-initiatives/shishalh-shared-decision-making/factsheet.pdf  
    and the Frequently Asked Questions:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/farming-natural-resources-and-industry/natural-resource-use/land-water-use/crown-land/crown-land-uses/regional-initiatives/shishalh-shared-decision-making/faqs_dmp.pdf

    To start the registration process, visit the Self-Registration System:
    https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/crown-land-water/crown-land/regional-crown-land-initiatives/pender-harbour-project

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Politics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese dumps Nature Positive legislation and considers shrinking the electoral reform bill

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dumped – for the second time – the government’s controversial “Nature Positive” legislation, which had run into strong opposition from the Western Australian Labor government.

    Albanese, speaking on The Conversation’s Politics podcast ahead of a fortnight parliamentary sitting starting next week, said there was not enough support for the legislation, which had been on the draft list of bills for next week, circulated by the government.

    This is the second time the Prime Minister has pulled back from the legislation. Late last year he also said it did not have enough support, despite Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek believing she had a deal with the Greens and crossbench for its passage.

    The legislation would set up a federal Environment Protection Agency, which has riled miners who claim it would add to bureaucracy and delay approvals.

    In recent days WA premier Roger Cook, who was instrumental in heading off the legislation last year, has been lobbying the federal government again. WA faces an election on March 8.

    In an interview on Saturday, Albanese told The Conversation: “I can’t see that it has a path to success. So at this stage, I can say that we won’t be proceeding with it this term. There simply isn’t a [Senate] majority, as there wasn’t last year.

    “The Greens Party on one hand have changed their views”, making another demand during the week, he said. While the Liberals – who began the review of the present Environment Protection Act – “have chosen an obstructionist path,” he said.

    Albanese said the government would continue to discuss the issue with stakeholders in the next term of parliament.

    “Does the environment and protection act need revision from where it was last century? Quite clearly it does. Everyone says that that’s the case. It’s a matter of working to, in a practical way, a commonsense reform that delivers something that supports industry.

    “I want to see faster approvals. We in fact have speeded up approvals substantially.

    “But we also want proper sustainability as well.”

    Albanese also flagged the government might cut back its legislation to reform rules covering electoral donations and spending in order to get a deal to pass it.

    Special Minister of State Don Farrell and the Liberals had been on the brink of a deal in the final week of parliament last year, but negotiations imploded at the eleventh hour.

    Albanese told The Conversation he hoped the legislation could still be passed. “I spoke with [Farrell] today, he is consulting with people across the parliament.

    “What I would say is that we are looking to get reform through. Now whether that is a bigger, broader reform or whether it needs to be narrowed down, we’ll wait and see.

    “But we’re very serious about the reform which would lower the donation declarations, that would put a cap on donations, a cap on expenditure, that would lead to more transparency as well. It’s an important part of supporting our democracy.

    “We see overseas and we’ve seen people like Clive Palmer here spend over $100 million on a campaign. That’s a distortion of democracy – if one person can spend that much money to try to influence an election and we don’t find out all of that information till much later on.”

    The reforms would not start operating until the next term of parliament.

    Albanese said he thought the reform would have “overwhelming support” with the public “and I hope that it receives overwhelming support in the Senate as well”.

    Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Politics with Michelle Grattan: Albanese dumps Nature Positive legislation and considers shrinking the electoral reform bill – https://theconversation.com/politics-with-michelle-grattan-albanese-dumps-nature-positive-legislation-and-considers-shrinking-the-electoral-reform-bill-248848

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla Demands Answers from Trump Administration After Army Corps Orders Central Valley Dams Open to Dangerous Flood Levels

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla Demands Answers from Trump Administration After Army Corps Orders Central Valley Dams Open to Dangerous Flood Levels

    Administration ordered two dams in Tulare County open without adequate notification to local officials, threatening Central Valley communities

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the United States Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) directed unscheduled water releases from Lake Kaweah and Success Lake in Tulare County, purportedly to assist in fighting Los Angeles County fires that are already almost fully contained.

    Local officials warned the Corps that releasing water at the levels the Corps planned to would have flooded both the Kaweah and Tule rivers, posing a flood risk to communities and farms down river and wasting water that could have been used for irrigation over the summer. The decision followed President Trump’s Executive Order directing federal agencies to maximize water deliveries in the state, falsely claiming that statewide water policy was to blame for the devastating Los Angeles County fires.

    “Unscheduled water releases require close coordination with local officials and safety personnel, as well as downstream agricultural water users, in order to reduce flood risks to communities and farms. Based on the urgent concerns I have heard from my constituents, as well as recent reporting, it appears that gravely insufficient notification was given, recklessly endangering residents downstream,” wrote Senator Padilla.

    Padilla asked Secretary Hegseth the following four clarifying questions in response to Trump’s post:

    1. Who directed that these releases be made?

    2. If the purpose of these releases is to help fight wildfires in Los Angeles County (which are already almost fully contained), what is the plan to transport this water to Los Angeles rather than let the water simply be discharged into Tulare Lake where it will evaporate?

    3. What type of notification, and how much advanced notice, was given to irrigation districts and public safety personnel to prepare for these increased flows?

    4. What impact will these releases have on Tulare Lake communities, including private landowners?

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Secretary Hegseth,

    I write regarding the troubling unscheduled release of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following President Trump’s Executive Order falsely linking statewide water policies to the wildfires in Los Angeles. As I’m sure the Administration is aware, the rivers into which this water was released do not actually flow into Los Angeles.

    Unscheduled water releases require close coordination with local officials and safety personnel, as well as downstream agricultural water users, in order to reduce flood risks to communities and farms. Based on the urgent concerns I have heard from my constituents, as well as recent reporting, it appears that gravely insufficient notification was given, recklessly endangering residents downstream. Therefore, I ask that you respond in writing to the following questions:

    1. Who directed that these releases be made?

    2. If the purpose of these releases is to help fight wildfires in Los Angeles County (which are already almost fully contained), what is the plan to transport this water to Los Angeles rather than let the water simply be discharged into Tulare Lake where it will evaporate?

    3. What type of notification, and how much advanced notice, was given to irrigation districts and public safety personnel to prepare for these increased flows?

    4. What impact will these releases have on Tulare Lake communities, including private landowners?

    Clarity and transparency on these matters are crucial to ensure that the public is properly informed, that proper procedures are followed, and that any actions taken in the name of protecting against natural disasters will have the intended impact. 

    I look forward to your prompt response to these questions.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Call on EPA Administrator Zeldin to Provide Valid Legal Basis for Dangerous EPA Funding Freeze

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)

    Padilla, Schiff, Colleagues Call on EPA Administrator Zeldin to Provide Valid Legal Basis for Dangerous EPA Funding Freeze

    Zeldin rubber stamps Trump’s crippling funding freeze and violates federal law, threatening jobs and jeopardizing infrastructure projects

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) and all Democratic members of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee in demanding answers from newly confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin about the agency’s freezing of congressionally appropriated funds, including those that have already been obligated.

    According to public reporting, EPA sent letters to grant recipients explaining it was pausing “all funding actions related to” the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Not only are these funding cuts already having devastating effects on communities — with reports of jobs in jeopardy and essential infrastructure projects on the chopping block — but failing to allow grant recipients to access funds that have already been obligated violates federal law.

    “We write concerning troubling reports that the Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to claw back funds that have already been obligated to grant recipients. We believe that this is contrary to federal law,” wrote the Senators. “… Many of us have also been contacted by grantees in our states reporting that they no longer have access to the grant money that has been obligated to them.”

    “Federal law and regulations require that obligated funds be provided to grantees absent proof of misuse of funds,” continued the Senators. “We further note that the Solar for All program furthers several goals, all of which are part of EPA’s core mission, which you support. It is designed to help reduce carbon pollution, air pollutants, and household energy costs by financing community and rooftop solar in low-income communities. It will further help drive American manufacturing, boosting the economy and creating jobs.” 

    The Senators further pressed Administrator Zeldin on his failure to abide by the commitments he made to members of the EPW committee during his confirmation hearing. When asked if he believed the President or executive branch could ignore congressional appropriations decisions and instructions, then-nominee Zeldin responded, “If confirmed, I pledge to respect all of Congress’ duly enacted statutes.” When asked if he pledged to respect congressional appropriations decisions and instructions and resist any efforts within the executive branch to circumvent them, he reaffirmed his commitment to executing EPA’s mission and recognized Congress’ power of the purse, stating “Particularly as a former Member of Congress, I appreciate and respect the congressional funding process. I commit to fully following the law.”

    But it appears that in his first days as EPA Administrator, Zeldin is already allowing President Trump to pull the strings at EPA by failing to address these funding freezes that undermine EPA’s core mission and run contrary to federal law. 

    Accordingly, the Senators demanded that Administrator Zeldin provide a valid legal justification for the funding freezes and explain when he plans restore the availability of the funds to grant recipients.

    In addition to Senators Padilla, Schiff, and Whitehouse, the letter is also signed by Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

    Full text of the letter is available here and below:

    Dear Administrator Zeldin:

    We write concerning troubling reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is attempting to claw back funds that have already been obligated to grant recipients. We believe that this is contrary to federal law.

    On January 30, 2025, Politico’s E&E News reported that the EPA had sent letters two days prior to recipients of funding through the Solar for All program informing them that their grants had been paused until further notice. EPA’s letter went on to explain that it was pausing “all funding actions related to” climate and infrastructure laws enacted during the Biden Administration, citing President Donald J. Trump’s “Unleashing American Energy” Executive Order. Many of us have also be contacted by grantees in our states reporting that they no longer have access to the grant money that has been obligated to them.

    During your confirmation before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, you were asked:

    “Several statutes give effect to Congress’s constitutional power of the purse, reflecting its responsibility to provide appropriations to federal agencies, and its prerogative to place limitations on the availability of those appropriations, specifically, their availability as to purpose, amount, and time. Among these, the Antideficiency Act prohibits agencies from spending in advance, or in excess, of an appropriation. There is also a statutory framework for the execution – that is, the obligation and expenditure – of appropriations, as well as procedures for use when the President or executive branch disagrees with the policy embodied in an appropriation and therefore does not wish to obligate available funds. Do you believe that the president or executive branch can ignore congressional appropriation decisions and instructions?”

    You responded: “If confirmed, I pledge to respect all of Congress’s duly enacted statutes.” You were further asked:

    Do you pledge to respect congressional appropriation decisions and instructions and resist any efforts within the executive branch to circumvent them?

    You responded: “Particularly as a former Member of Congress, I appreciate and respect the Congressional funding process. I commit to fully following the law.”

    Federal law and regulations require that obligated funds be provided to grantees absent proof of misuse of funds. We further note that the Solar for All program furthers several goals, all of which are part of EPA’s core mission, which you support. It is designed to help reduce carbon pollution, air pollutants, and household energy costs by financing community and rooftop solar in low-income communities. It will further help drive American manufacturing, boosting the economy and creating jobs. Even President Trump’s Department of Energy continues to acknowledge that “[i]nvesting in energy innovations creates well-paying jobs, drives economic growth, and makes our industries more competitive,” and that the “growing global market for renewable energy technologies and innovations is projected to be worth at least $23 trillion by 2030.”

    Accordingly, in order to assist in our understanding of EPA’s actions, please respond to the following questions:

    • On what legal grounds did EPA pause already-obligated grants to grantees under the Solar for All program? Please cite to specific statutory or regulatory authority. We note that any executive orders do not qualify as such statutory or regulatory authority, as they are neither statutes nor regulations, and all potentially relevant executive orders clearly state in any case that they “shall be implemented consistent with applicable law,” thereby clearly acknowledging that they cannot supersede or contravene statutory authority.
    • When do you intend to lift the pause on the already-obligated funding under this program?
    • As many of our offices have also received reports of other EPA grant programs that seem to have been “paused” or where obligated funds may have been cut off, please provide us a list of all EPA grant and other programs that are currently paused. Please further note whether this pause applies only to future grant-making, to post- award but pre-obligation grants, and/or to already obligated grants.
    • For each of these programs, when do you intend to lift the pause(s)?

    We are cognizant that EPA’s initial decision to pause funding appears to have been taken before you had been confirmed as EPA Administrator. Perhaps you intend to reverse this pause immediately in accordance with applicable law. If not, however, please provide your detailed responses as soon as possible.

    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: EPW Democrats to Zeldin: Provide Valid Legal Basis for EPA Funding Freeze that is Threatening Jobs and Jeopardizing Infrastructure Projects

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey
    During his first days on the job, EPA Administrator Zeldin rubber stamps Trump’s crippling funding freeze and violates federal law
    Washington (January 31, 2025) – Today, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and all Democratic members of the Committee in demanding answers from newly-confirmed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin about the agency’s freezing of Congressionally appropriated funds, including those that have already been obligated.  According to public reporting, the EPA sent letters to grant recipients explaining it was pausing “all funding actions related to” the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.  Not only are these funding cuts already having devastating effects on communities, with reports of jobs in jeopardy and essential infrastructure projects on the chopping block, but failing to allow grant recipients to access funds that have already been obligated violates federal law.
    “We write concerning troubling reports that the Environmental Protection Agency is attempting to claw back funds that have already been obligated to grant recipients. We believe that this is contrary to federal law,” wrote Senators Whitehouse, Markey, Sanders, Merkley, Kelly, Padilla, Schiff, Blunt Rochester, and Alsobrooks. “Many of us have also been contacted by grantees in our states reporting that they no longer have access to the grant money that has been obligated to them.”
    The Senators further pressed Administrator Zeldin on his failure to abide by the commitments he made to Members of the Committee during his confirmation hearing. When asked if he believed the president or executive branch could ignore congressional appropriation decisions and instructions, then-nominee Zeldin responded, “If confirmed, I pledge to respect all of Congress’s duly enacted statutes.” When asked if he pledged to respect congressional appropriation decisions and instructions and resist any efforts within the executive branch to circumvent them, he reaffirmed his commitment to executing on EPA’s mission and recognized Congress’s power of the purse, stating “Particularly as a former Member of Congress, I appreciate and respect the Congressional funding process. I commit to fully following the law.” 
    But it appears that in his first days as EPA Administrator, Zeldin is already allowing President Trump to pull the strings at EPA by failing swiftly to address these funding freezes that undermine EPA’s core mission and run contrary to federal law. 
    “Federal law and regulations require that obligated funds be provided to grantees absent proof of misuse of funds,” wrote the Senators.  “We further note that the Solar for All program furthers several goals, all of which are part of EPA’s core mission, which you support. It is designed to help reduce carbon pollution, air pollutants, and household energy costs by financing community and rooftop solar in low-income communities. It will further help drive American manufacturing, boosting the economy and creating jobs.” 
    Accordingly, the Senators demanded that Administrator Zeldin provide a valid legal justification for the funding freezes and explain when he plans restore the availability of the funds to grant recipients.
    The text of the letter is below, and a full version (with footnotes) is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –