Category: Environment

MIL-OSI: NANO Nuclear Energy Announces Second Fiscal Quarter and Recent Operational Highlights and Provides Corporate Outlook
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

New York, N.Y., May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) (“NANO Nuclear” or “the Company”), a leading advanced nuclear energy and technology company focused on developing clean energy solutions, today announced its second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2025 and more recent operational highlights and provided an outlook on its expectations and goals for 2025 and beyond.

“We started 2025 with a view to build on a successful 2024, and have done just that, pursuing and executing on our objectives efficiently,” said Jay Yu, Founder, Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear. “The acquisition of the rebranded, high technology readiness level stationary KRONOS MMR^™ and portable LOKI MMR™ microreactors, which were finalized at the start of the year, has put us in a leading position in the microreactor race in U.S. We have solidified our relationship and working agreements with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) for the KRONOS MMR and are now working to construct the first research microreactor on campus grounds in the U.S. We are confident our efforts at UIUC will lead to eventual commercialization of many KRONOS MMRs being constructed throughout many industries across the world. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report for the KRONOS MMR, which is a major milestone for the commercial microreactor sector in general and crucial for the eventual construction of the microreactor system on campus grounds. In the coming months, we expect to begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, which will lead to our construction permit applications and other future project milestones.”

“In addition, NANO Nuclear has amassed dozens of domestic and international patents through our KRONOS and LOKI acquisition. We are also further expanding our current intellectual property protections with over a dozen new patent applications surrounding our microreactor portfolio, and supplementary technologies like our ALIP pump system,” continued Mr. Yu. “This year has also seen us commit to a new, multimillion dollar demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York, where the development of non-nuclear components, including commercializing the ALIP technology, will take place. Furthermore, our team has grown, and we have attracted many full-time engineers, regulatory and licensing experts, led by a world class Chief Technical Officer and Head of Reactor Development, Dr. Florent Heidet. This positive start to the year positions us well to achieve further milestones during the rest of 2025 and lays a solid foundation for achieving our longer term demonstration, regulatory licensing and commercialization goals.”

2025 Operational Highlights

Financial Achievements

Operating Activities
- $5.6 million used in operating activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, reflecting NANO Nuclear’s ongoing scale-up in operations and research and development.
Investing Activities
- $12.7 million used in investing activities during the six months ended March 31, 2025, which includes $9.1 million for the acquisition of the KRONOS and LOKI assets and $3.6 million for investment in property and equipment primarily related to the build out of NANO Nuclear’s new demonstration facility in Westchester, New York, which is now operational.
Financing Activities
- $108.4 million raised during the six months ended March 31, 2025. NANO Nuclear had cash and cash equivalents of $118.6 million as of March 31, 2025, up from $28.5 million on September 30, 2024. These cash resources demonstrate not only strong investor support, but also an efficient use of investor capital to advance the Company’s business goals since its May 2024 initial public offering. The Company also has the liquidity to drive further value going forward.
Selected for Inclusion into MSCI USA Index
- Selected to be included in the MSCI USA Index, effective as of February 28, 2025, following the February index review by MSCI Inc. The MSCI USA Index is designed to measure the performance of the large and mid-cap segments of the U.S. market. With 576 constituents, the index covers approximately 85% of the free float-adjusted market capitalization in the US.
“We have been focused while executing on our capital and technology development roadmap while putting in place cost controls and maintaining a solid financial foundation. With a strong balance sheet and strong investor support, we are well-positioned to advance our initiatives for the remainder of this year and beyond” concluded Mr. Yu.

Technological Advancements

Acquisition of Tech Ready Patented Energy Systems
- NANO Nuclear closed the acquisition of select nuclear energy technology assets on January 10, 2025, including the patented KRONOS MMR Energy System and LOKI MMR reactor from Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
  - Acquisition immediately added one of the highest technology readiness level advanced nuclear reactors in development and significantly expanded NANO Nuclear’s patent portfolio.
  - KRONOS has well-developed projects at UIUC and Chalk River, Ontario, where NANO Nuclear is seeking to be the first company in the U.S. and in Canada to build and license a microreactor intended for research and commercial use.
  - The KRONOS MMR^™ is a stationary reactor system and designed to produce power up to 45 megawatts thermal (MWth) power.
  - The LOKI MMR^™ is a compact portable nuclear reactor designed to provide between 1 MWth and 5 MWth of power.
Acquisition and Further Expansion of Intellectual Property Protections
- Series of patents that were acquired from USNC alongside its reactor technologies serve to strengthen NANO Nuclear’s intellectual‑property protections for its portfolio of modular nuclear technologies currently in development.
  - Filed four new separate utility patent applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) related to NANO Nuclear’s Annular Linear Induction Pump (ALIP) technology.
  - Filed six additional patents surrounding the components and designs of the ZEUS^™ portable microreactor on March 27, 2025.
Fabrication and Assembly of Key Non-Nuclear Components
- Engaged Thermal Engineering International (TEi), a Babcock Power Inc.^® company, to carry forward the design and fabrication of several heat exchangers for its portable ODIN™ nuclear microreactor project.
  - TEi is a leading supplier of heat transfer technology to the electric power generation industry for over 100 years.
- Assembled the first reactor core hardware of its ZEUS microreactor for initial non-nuclear testing.
  - The hardware consists of a half‑scale (1:2) block, and the initial testing phase will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical ZEUS operating conditions.
Operational Growth

Addition of Key Personnel and Leaders
- Darlene T. DeRemer transitioned into a new corporate role with NANO Nuclear as its Executive Director of Corporate Finance, having previously served as the Chairwoman of NANO Nuclear’s Executive Advisory Board for Institutional Finance. Ms. DeRemer is the Chair of the ARK Invest ETF Trust Board, co-founder of Grail Partners LLC. and has over 25 years of experience as a leading adviser in the financial services industry.
- Florent Heidet, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear as Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reactor Development. Dr. Heidet is a world-renowned expert on advanced nuclear reactor technologies, leveraging two decades of nuclear engineering and project management expertise. Dr. Heidet was previously the Head of Engineering at Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation (USNC).
- Andrew Steer, Ph.D. joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks as NANO Nuclear’s Head of Regulatory Engagement. Dr. Andrew Steer is a nuclear safety case and regulatory engagement expert with over 18 years of experience in the nuclear industry.
- Brent Hamilton was appointed as the Company’s Director of Quality Assurance. Mr. Hamilton has over 26 years of quality control, quality engineering, and quality assurance experience, primarily in nuclear construction for commercial nuclear, Department of Energy projects, and nuclear fuel manufacturing.
- James Leybourn joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Leybourn is a Chartered Physicist with over 12 years’ experience of Physics and Engineering within the U.K. nuclear industry.
- Simon Boddington joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. Mr. Boddington is a reactor physicist with over 10 years of industry experience covering pressurized water reactors as well as thermal and fast spectrum molten salt reactor designs.
- Radwan Nassim Kheroua joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Systems Engineer, Mr. Kheroua previously served as a Research Engineer in Reactor Thermal-Hydraulic Modeling at Framatome.
- Luke Godfrey joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Senior Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Godfrey previously served as Lead Thermohydraulic Engineer at Moltex, focusing on molten salt heat transfer, coupled reactor system modeling, and safety case development.
- Jake Miles joined NANO Nuclear’s U.K.-based nuclear science and engineering partner Cambridge AtomWorks. A Nuclear Engineer, Mr. Miles earned a BSc in Physics from the University of Leeds and later completed a Master’s degree in Nuclear Energy at the University of Cambridge.
Recruitment Drive
- Recruitment drive initiated with a focus on Midwestern United States to expand engineering and project development teams in proximity to UIUC and the KRONOS reactor project.
  - Effort seeks to support construction permit application activities as well as eventual demonstration and construction activities.
  - NANO Nuclear is actively recruiting top talent across a variety of critical disciplines.
New York State Demonstration Facility
- Established a dedicated, multimillion dollar, purpose-built demonstration facility in Westchester County, New York.
  - Will house demonstrations of the operation and viability of several non-nuclear parts and components of NANO Nuclear’s microreactors in development.
- Engaged aRobotics Company to oversee the retrofit and build-out of Westchester County demonstration facility.
  - aRobotics has been recognized with multiple honors, including the NATO DIANA Challenge, the NYC Department of Building Challenge, and active contracts with all major branches of the U.S. Military.
- Build-out and retrofitting of the Westchester Facility completed in early May.
  - Facility is now operational, with testing to commence shortly and continue throughout 2025, focusing on ZEUS components and the Company’s patented ALIP technology.
Canadian Demonstration Reactor
- Reestablishing KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor in Canada.
  - Positions NANO Nuclear to advance its technology efficiently from construction and demonstration to regulatory licensing and, ultimately, commercialization throughout North America.
Partnerships, Collaborations and Government Awards

SBIR Phase 1 Application
- Announced backing for a U.S. Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I proposal, submitted in partnership with the City University of New York–City College (CCNY) and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.
  - The SBIR Phase 1 proposal is “Investigation of Microreactor Cooling and Development of a Smart Alarming System for Reactor Pressure Vessel Surface Temperature Monitoring” – and aims to develop advanced cooling techniques and monitoring systems for microreactor transport safety.
KRONOS MMR^™ Construction Pathway
- Signed a strategic collaboration with the UIUC to construct the first research KRONOS MMR on a major research university campus.
  - Site has been selected and preparatory work towards a Construction Permit application has been initiated. NANO Nuclear will begin the process of geological characterization, including subsurface investigations, to support preparation of a Construction Permit Application for submission to the NRC.
    
    This preparatory work is essential to understanding the environmental parameters of the site, including critical inputs to safety analysis, to ensure the utmost reliability and safety of the facility, and support NANO Nuclear’s Preliminary Safety Analysis Report and Environmental Report.
  - Establishes UIUC as key collaborator in the licensing, siting, public engagement, and research operation of the KRONOS MMR^™.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Communication on KRONOS
- Pre‑application work on the KRONOS MMR^™ Energy System is progressing in cooperation with the UIUC following the NRC’s update to the project’s landing page (NRC Project No. 99902094), formally naming NANO Nuclear as the reactor’s designer.
- The NRC issued its final Safety Evaluation (SE) approving the Fuel Qualification Methodology Topical Report (FQM TR) to be used for the KRONOS MMR^™.
LIS Technologies and the Department of Energy Low Enriched Uranium IDIQ Award.
- Entered a collaboration to support LIS Technologies, the only U.S. origin and patented laser enrichment company, to address the fuel supply chain issues which could potentially affect the mass deployment of all advanced reactor systems for all nuclear reactor companies.
  - LIS Technologies was one of six companies selected to address the LEU supply chain, with NANO Nuclear as its principal subcontractor, responsible for addressing the conversion, mining, and milling requirements of the IDIQ award.
Shareholder Suit Dismissal
- A Clark County, Nevada judge has completely dismissed the shareholder lawsuit titled Latza v. Walker, et al., (Case No. A-24-900423-B). The judge granted both dismissal requests filed by the Company and by its officers and directors, ending the case in their favor.
Corporate Outlook

SBIR Projects
- The SBIR Phase III project surrounding NANO Nuclear’s ALIP technology will advance towards its conclusion, with the Company’s new Westchester demonstration facility expected to play a key role in its advancement.
- Company anticipates early indicators surrounding a separate SBIR Phase I project application filed in partnership with CCNY and Advanced Engineering Solutions LLC.
Advances in Demonstration Reactor Preparations
- NANO Nuclear anticipates further clarity on the advancement of its KRONOS MMR demonstration reactor plans in both the United States and Canada.
  - Next steps in the development of pre-construction permit application with UIUC anticipated this year.
    
    NANO Nuclear is currently planning drilling work at the UIUC site intended for the construction of the KRONOS reactor system, to provide the Company with the geological characterization necessary to submit a ‘Permit to Construct’ application to the NRC. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first microreactor company in the U.S. to file for this permit.
  - NANO Nuclear intends to enter the licensing process under Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) oversight and has been in discussions with the Canadian Nuclear Laboratory (CNL) about the selected site for the project at Chalk River. NANO Nuclear is aiming to be the first company to build a licensed microreactor in Canada intended for commercial deployment.
Advances in Non-Nuclear Component Development
- NANO Nuclear anticipates the receipt of, and revision & eventual finalization of TEi designs for ODIN^™ heat exchangers.
- Company intends to begin the testing phase of its 1:2 scale ZEUS™ reactor core hardware, which will evaluate its thermo‑mechanical performance under expected prototypical operating conditions.
  - Testing is expected to continue through 2025.
Hiring Drive Expectations
- NANO Nuclear anticipates making substantial progress in its hiring initiative throughout 2025, in support of additional permit and licensing advances and eventual demonstration & construction activities in Midwestern USA.
“We’ve made meaningful progress across several key initiatives in the first half of the fiscal year and we’re now focused on accelerating our efforts in the second half of fiscal 2025,” said James Walker, Chief Executive Officer of NANO Nuclear. “We have grown our technical and regulatory teams as we begin testing non-nuclear components and pursue construction permits. We have acquired and are developing a robust portfolio of patents and other IP and are planning to expand it further as the year progresses. Our ambitions don’t stop with just our reactors, we see enormous potential across the nuclear industry in areas such as nuclear transportation, fuel enrichment, and nuclear consulting services that we are actively developing to grow our business and resources. We have also made inroads in our discussions and coordination with regulatory and licensing bodies, which will play a crucial role in the near and long term. All in all, the last six months have put us on solid footing as we look to capitalize on upcoming opportunities throughout the remainder of the year.”

About NANO Nuclear Energy, Inc.

NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: NNE) is an advanced technology-driven nuclear energy company seeking to become a commercially focused, diversified, and vertically integrated company across five business lines: (i) cutting edge portable and other microreactor technologies, (ii) nuclear fuel fabrication, (iii) nuclear fuel transportation, (iv) nuclear applications for space and (v) nuclear industry consulting services. NANO Nuclear believes it is the first portable nuclear microreactor company to be listed publicly in the U.S.

Led by a world-class nuclear engineering team, NANO Nuclear’s reactor products in development include patented KRONOS MMR^™Energy System, a stationary high-temperature gas-cooled reactor that is in construction permit pre-application engagement U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in collaboration with University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (U. of I.), “ZEUS”, a solid core battery reactor, and “ODIN”, a low-pressure coolant reactor, and the space focused, portable LOKI MMR™, each representing advanced developments in clean energy solutions that are portable, on-demand capable, advanced nuclear microreactors.

Advanced Fuel Transportation Inc. (AFT), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is led by former executives from the largest transportation company in the world aiming to build a North American transportation company that will provide commercial quantities of HALEU fuel to small modular reactors, microreactor companies, national laboratories, military, and DOE programs. Through NANO Nuclear, AFT is the exclusive licensee of a patented high-capacity HALEU fuel transportation basket developed by three major U.S. national nuclear laboratories and funded by the Department of Energy. Assuming development and commercialization, AFT is expected to form part of the only vertically integrated nuclear fuel business of its kind in North America.

HALEU Energy Fuel Inc. (HEF), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is focusing on the future development of a domestic source for a High-Assay, Low-Enriched Uranium (HALEU) fuel fabrication pipeline for NANO Nuclear’s own microreactors as well as the broader advanced nuclear reactor industry.

NANO Nuclear Space Inc. (NNS), a NANO Nuclear subsidiary, is exploring the potential commercial applications of NANO Nuclear’s developing micronuclear reactor technology in space. NNS is focusing on applications such as the LOKI MMR^™ system and other power systems for extraterrestrial projects and human sustaining environments, and potentially propulsion technology for long haul space missions. NNS’ initial focus will be on cis-lunar applications, referring to uses in the space region extending from Earth to the area surrounding the Moon’s surface.

For more corporate information please visit: https://NanoNuclearEnergy.com/

For further NANO Nuclear information, please contact:

Email: IR@NANONuclearEnergy.com
Business Tel: (212) 634-9206

PLEASE FOLLOW OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES HERE:

NANO Nuclear Energy LINKEDIN
NANO Nuclear Energy YOUTUBE
NANO Nuclear Energy X PLATFORM

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release and statements of NANO Nuclear’s management in connection with this news release contain or may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “potential”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. In this press release, forward-looking statements include those related to the Company’s development, demonstration, licensing and commercial plans, goals and strategies. These and other forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For NANO Nuclear, particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following: (i) risks related to our U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) or related state or non-U.S. nuclear fuel licensing submissions, (ii) risks related the development of new or advanced technology and the acquisition of complimentary technology or businesses, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, regulatory delays, integration issues and the development of competitive technology, (iii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations, (iv) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to technologically develop and commercially deploy a competitive advanced nuclear reactor or other technology in the timelines we anticipate, if ever, (v) risks related to the impact of U.S. and non-U.S. government regulation, policies and licensing requirements, including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, including those associated with the recently enacted ADVANCE Act, and (vi) similar risks and uncertainties associated with the operating an early stage business a highly regulated and rapidly evolving industry. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement, and NANO Nuclear therefore encourages investors to review other factors that may affect future results in its filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov and at https://ir.nanonuclearenergy.com/financial-information/sec-filings. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

The MIL Network –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Resident ordered to pay more than £2,600 for fly-tipping offence

Source: St Albans City and District

Publication date: 16 May 2025

A fly-tipper has been ordered to pay more than £2,600 after a large amount of waste was dumped on a quiet country road.

St Albans City and District Council’s Environmental Enforcement team spotted the fly-tip at Drop Lane, Park Street, during a routine inspection of the area.

Among the rubbish were wooden pallets, an old sofa, plastic packaging, bottles and takeaway food bags.

The name of Mashood Hussain, of Haig Close, St Albans, was found on some of the material.

When interviewed by Council officers, he refused to make any comment and was later issued with a court summons.

Hussain pleaded not guilty to failing to properly dispose of the waste, a duty of care offence under the Environmental Protection Act.

He told St Albans Magistrates Court that he had merely ordered some garden items for a project overseen by a relative and was not involved in the disposal of the waste.

After a short trial, Magistrates found him guilty and ordered him to pay a £375 fine, a victim surcharge of £150 and a £2,163 contribution to the Council’s legal costs, a total of £2,668.

After the hearing on Monday 12 May, Councillor Anthony Rowlands, Lead for Recycling and Waste, said:

I am pleased that our Environmental Enforcement team has achieved another successful prosecution.

I know that fly-tipping greatly annoys our residents. It is not only an eyesore and a blight on the landscape, but also a potential health hazard and is costly to clear up.

This prosecution will remind people that fly-tipping is a criminal offence that can result in large fines and even a jail term in the most serious cases.

It also shows that we are determined to track down offenders and deal with them appropriately.

Photo: the Drop Lane fly-tip.

Media contact: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727- 819533; john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: More than 356,000 journeys made over Pennyburn Bridge

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

More than 356,000 journeys made over Pennyburn Bridge

16 May 2025

Pennyburn Bridge, a cornerstone of the Northwest Greenways Project, has recorded more than 356,000 journeys since May 2024, confirming its status as a vital piece of active travel infrastructure for the city.

The £2.5 million bridge and greenway project, primarily funded through external partnerships with the Department for Communities (£727,500) and the Special EU Programmes Body (£1,733,648), required a Council contribution of £83,990.

From 1^st May 2024 until 1^st May 2025 356,426 journeys were made across the bridge, with Sunday being the busiest day for pedestrians.

“The Pennyburn Bridge has transformed how people move around our city,” said Karen Phillips, Environment and Regeneration Director with Derry City and Strabane District Council. “With over 356,000 crossings in just one year, it’s clear this investment is making a significant difference to daily life in our community. The bridge is not just connecting physical spaces – it’s connecting people to workplaces, schools, leisure facilities, and each other in a sustainable way.”

The bridge has already become an integral part of city events, including the Waterside Half Marathon, and serves as a key link in the expanding greenway network.

In recognition of its design excellence and contribution to sustainable transport, the Pennyburn Bridge project has received four prestigious awards: Construction Employers Federation Transport Infrastructure Project of the Year Award (below £10M), Institute of Civil Engineers Sustainability Award, Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT) Award for Active Travel Project of the Year, and Northwest Group of Businesses (NWGN) Infrastructure Project of the Year (less than £5M).

Karen Phillips added: “The success of the Pennyburn Bridge demonstrates the Council’s commitment to developing high-quality active travel infrastructure that enhances connectivity while supporting environmental and health objectives across the city.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The 37th Book Festival has started in Mongolia

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

ULAN BATOR, May 16 (Xinhua) — The 37th book festival aimed at promoting reading culture among the younger generation kicked off in Mongolia’s capital on Friday under the auspices of Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh.

The festival is held under the motto “Let’s Read More.” The organizers are the Presidential Administration of Mongolia, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, Tourism and Youth, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the non-governmental organization “World of Book Culture” and major book publishers of the country.

The festival presents the best books by Mongolian and foreign authors, as well as books about a healthy lifestyle, personal growth and self-development, and the history and culture of Mongolia.

The festival is expected to include a book fair, meetings with Mongolian writers, and an introduction to new books by foreign authors.

The festival will run until May 18. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement on Westminster’s Carbon Offset Fund | Westminster City Council

Source: City of Westminster

Councillor Ryan Jude, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Ecology, Culture and Air Quality, said:

Westminster City Council has driven progress towards our Net Zero targets through use of the Carbon Offset Fund. As of March 2025, in addition to what the council has made in grant payments over the life of the Carbon Offset Fund, £8 Million has been committed for projects across Westminster.

Over the last 18 months alone, by working proactively with our communities and partners, the council has approved funding for 25 climate-focused projects, totalling more than £4 Million of committed grant-funding awards. These projects support carbon emissions reductions across Westminster, including projects focussed on embodied carbon innovation, social housing retrofit and cultural sector decarbonisation.

Westminster is proud to be recognised as the top-performing single-tier council in the UK for climate action, reflecting our sustained leadership and investment in environmental progress.

In line with guidance and best practice from the GLA and London Councils, at the end of 2024 the council began designing a refreshed set of criteria, branding and package of support to applicants, to further enhance opportunities for projects that will maximise the council’s Fairer Environment ambitions and harness carbon reduction opportunities in the borough.

We are excited to be embedding these enhancements in our next round of funding, due to open for applications from the end of May 2025.

To find out more visit our Climate Emergency Action Plan webpage or get in touch with climateemergency@westminster.gov.uk

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

May 16, 2025
India to conduct first biological experiment on ISS to study sustainability of human life in space: Jitendra Singh

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

India is set to conduct its first-ever biological experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to explore the sustainability of human life in space, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh announced on Thursday.

The research is part of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) policy, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and represents a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

The experiments will be conducted during the upcoming AXIOM-4 mission to the ISS, now scheduled to launch on June 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will represent India as a crew member on this milestone mission.

The first experiment will examine the effects of microgravity and space radiation on the growth of edible microalgae—a nutrient-rich potential food source for long-duration space missions.

With high protein, lipid, and bioactive compound content, microalgae also offer exceptional photosynthetic efficiency, enabling effective carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production in closed environments like spacecraft. Their short growth cycle and biomass productivity make them a promising candidate for sustainable food and air regeneration systems in space.

The second experiment will investigate the growth and proteomic responses of cyanobacteria—specifically Spirulina and Synechococcus—under microgravity, using both urea- and nitrate-based media.

Spirulina, known as a space “superfood,” is rich in proteins and vitamins and can potentially help recycle carbon and nitrogen from human waste, making it valuable for closed-loop life support systems in long-term missions or extraterrestrial habitats.

Both experiments are being developed in collaboration with scientists from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, under the broader ISRO-DBT research partnership.

Singh highlighted these developments during a visit to the newly inaugurated DBT-ICGEB Biofoundry, a state-of-the-art facility built on the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) model. The facility, which was virtually inaugurated during the 31st Meeting of the ICGEB Board of Governors, aims to accelerate synthetic biology and biomanufacturing research.

Singh praised PM Modi’s “visionary leadership” for propelling India’s biotechnology sector to global prominence and emphasized the strategic importance of the BioE3 Policy. Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, the policy seeks to drive innovation and growth across six strategic areas: bio-based chemicals and enzymes, smart proteins and functional foods, precision therapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utilization, and marine and space research.

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CFS announces results of seasonal food surveillance on rice dumplings (first phase) (with photo)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 16) announced that the test results of 47 rice dumpling samples collected under a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings (first phase) were all satisfactory.

     Rice dumplings are a popular festive food for the Tuen Ng Festival. The project aims to provide information on safe consumption of rice dumplings to consumers and the trade in a timely manner.

     “The CFS collected samples of rice dumplings from different retail outlets (including online retailers) and food premises (including restaurants and food factories) for chemical and microbiological analyses. The chemical analyses included tests for colouring matters, preservatives, metallic contamination and pesticide residues. The microbiological analyses covered coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms and Bacillus cereus,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

     The spokesman reminded members of the public to observe the following food safety tips in purchasing, preparing, storing and consuming rice dumplings:

Buying rice dumplings
————————-
* Buy rice dumplings from reliable outlets;
* When purchasing non-prepackaged rice dumplings, choose those that are securely wrapped in wrapping leaves; and
* When purchasing prepackaged rice dumplings, check the expiry date and whether the packaging is intact.

Home-made rice dumplings
——————————-
* Buy wrapping leaves from reliable suppliers and avoid leaves that are unnaturally bright green or with chemical odours;
* Wash hands and utensils thoroughly before and after handling food; and
* Handle raw and cooked food separately to avoid cross-contamination.

Storing and preparing rice dumplings
——————————————
* Consume rice dumplings as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage;
* Both the glutinous rice and stuffing should be well covered until the rice dumplings are unwrapped. Do not come into direct contact with the strings upon cooking to prevent contamination at all times;
* Store rice dumplings at 4 degrees Celsius or below, or store them properly according to the instructions on the package if they are not consumed or cooked immediately;
* Keep cooked rice dumplings that are not consumed immediately in a covered container and put them in the upper compartment of the refrigerator. Keep raw food in the lower compartment to prevent cross-contamination;
* Reheat rice dumplings thoroughly until the core temperature reaches 75 degrees C or above before consumption;
* Do not reheat rice dumplings more than once; and
* Consume reheated rice dumplings as soon as possible.

Consuming rice dumplings
——————————
* Wash hands with running water and liquid soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption; and
* Reduce seasonings such as soy sauce or granulated sugar during consumption.

     The spokesman said, “Rice dumplings in general are relatively high in energy, fat and salt. During the festival, people should maintain a balanced diet and consume rice dumplings moderately, with due consideration of their health condition. People are recommended to share rice dumplings with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste rice dumplings of different flavours and avoid over-consumption. People are also advised to make use of nutrition labels on prepackaged food to compare their nutritional contents for healthier food choices.”

     The spokesman also reminded the food trade to purchase food ingredients from reliable suppliers and maintain proper records to facilitate source tracing when necessary. They should follow Good Manufacturing Practice in the preparation of food products and comply with legal requirements when using food additives. The spokesman advised the food trade to adopt the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System to identify, assess and control possible hazards in the food production process.

     The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on rice dumplings in the second phase, the results of which will be released in due course to ensure food safety.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Abbas, Associate Dean (Research), University of Sydney

Martin Mecnarowski, Shutterstock.

Every year, Australia buries millions of tonnes of waste in landfills. But these sites are filling fast, recycling has its own limitations, and most waste export is banned. So councils and state governments are looking for alternatives.

Several large-scale incinerators have been proposed, to turn municipal solid waste into electricity. One is already up and running in Perth’s outer suburbs.

The A$1.5 billion Parkes Energy Recovery project planned for New South Wales would be Australia’s biggest. However, community backlash over potential health risks could put the plan in doubt.

As chemical engineers, we recognise the potential benefits of this technology. Modern facilities operating around the world show these processes can be efficient, safe and environmentally controlled. However, minimal risk does not mean zero risk. Understanding both the benefits and challenges is crucial to address community concerns.

What is waste-to-energy?

Waste-to-energy, also known as energy-from-waste, can transform waste otherwise destined for landfill into electricity, heat or fuel.

This does not replace recycling. Instead, it offers a solution for materials that are difficult or impossible to recycle. Care must be taken, however, to ensure waste-to-energy technologies complement rather than supplant recycling efforts.

How does it work?

There are three main types of waste-to-energy technologies:
1. Thermal: use heat to generate steam, which spins turbines to create electricity. The heat can come from burning waste, producing carbon dioxide, water and ash. Alternatively, solid waste can be turned into gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide). This process is known as gasification.
2. Biological: use microorganisms to break down organic matter in the waste stream, producing biogas, mainly methane. This is then used for power or heat generation.
3. Chemical: use processes such as pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction to convert hard-to-recycle materials into fuels or chemicals. These can feed into industrial and manufacturing processes.
What’s holding Australia back?

When most Australians hear about making energy from waste, they think of
old-fashioned incinerators. Those outdated facilities released smoke and toxins into the air.

But modern incinerators use advanced air pollution control systems that capture harmful emissions.

Some use static electricity to remove dust or smoke particles from the gas stream. Other pollution control systems include acid gas scrubbers, catalytic converters and fabric filters.

This can cut emissions of fine particles by up to 99%.

The volume of waste sent to landfill is also reduced by up to 90%. What remains includes incinerator bottom ash and fly ash. Often these can be reused in making concrete, pavement and other construction materials. But regulatory issues will need to be overcome before this can happen in Australia.

Introducing the Parkes project

The Parkes Energy Recovery project, announced in March, promises to process around 600,000 tonnes of waste a year. This should generate at least 60 megawatts of electricity – enough to power 80,000 homes.

To receive development approval, the project must comply with stringent environmental and health standards. This includes preparing an Environmental Impact Statement and Human Health Risk Assessment. The NSW Environment Protection Authority may then issue an Environment Protection Licence. Such a licence requires ongoing monitoring and frequent audits.

Extensive community consultation is underway.

Other projects around Australia

There are two waste-to-energy plants in Western Australia, one at Kwinana and another under construction at East Rockingham. A third plant has been given the go-ahead in Victoria, at Maryvale.

Kwinana received its first delivery of waste in July 2024.

Licences to build other major waste-to-energy facilities have been issued in Victoria. Various proposals are also being considered in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia.

Australia’s first standalone, large-scale waste-to-energy plant in WA | ABC News.

Taking tips from overseas

A shortage of landfill sites in cities across Europe and Asia originally promoted investment in waste-to-energy technology. These power plants are now commonplace in Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, substantially reducing reliance on landfill.

The Amager Bakke plant in Copenhagen shows how such facilities can also enrich a community. This award-winning building doubles as a public recreation space, complete with a rooftop ski slope.

In China, the proposed Shenzhen East Waste-to-Energy Plant could process 5,000 tonnes of waste a day. That works out to 1.8 million tonnes of waste a year, if run continuously.

One of the world’s largest waste-to-energy plants is in Shenzhen, China (Dezeen)

Waste-to-energy and the circular economy

Waste-to-energy technology is useful in the transition to a circular economy. This is an economy where resources are continually cycled through the system and never wasted.

Reusing, recycling and reducing waste must remain top priorities. Waste-to-energy technology should then be used as a last resort, extracting value from hard- or impossible-to-recycle materials.

It’s certainly better than sending waste to landfill. When buried underground, waste can leach toxins into soil, ground and surface water. The potent greenhouse gas methane is also released when food rots in landfill.

Over-reliance on waste-to-energy could supplant more sustainable circular recycling efforts. But incineration plants are being scaled back in Europe, as the focus shifts to reuse.

Copenhagen’s power plant is also a ski slope (The Impossible Build)

The case for waste-to-energy

Despite its potential, waste-to-energy technology remains controversial in Australia. Some local communities remain concerned about emissions and potential long-term health risks. Environmental groups also question the potential effects on recycling rates.

Nevertheless, growing awareness of the limitations of recycling, increasing landfill levies, bans on waste exports, and ambitious federal and state circular economy strategies are making waste-to-energy a more pragmatic option. Stringent regulation and community consultation will be necessary to get these projects off the ground.

Responsible use of modern waste-to-energy technology can generate electricity and heat for homes with minimal emissions, and can extend benefits that serve local communities. It can also complement Australia’s renewable energy targets while taking a better approach to managing waste.

Professor Ali Abbas is Associate Dean (Research) at the University of Sydney Faculty of Engineering. He is Australia’s Chief Circular Engineer (Circular Australia), and Founder and Executive Director Innovation at Scimita Group, a Deep Tech Innovation House working in sustainable technologies. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics.

Dominic Bui Viet is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney in the Faculty of Engineering. He has previously received funding from a Cooperative Research Centre projects grant to conduct research into pyrolysis technologies for waste management.

Eric Sanjaya is a Research Fellow at The University of Sydney, Faculty of Engineering. He has previously advised government and industry on energy-from-waste and circular economy topics

– ref. Waste-to-energy in Australia: how it works, where new incinerators could go, and how they stack up – https://theconversation.com/waste-to-energy-in-australia-how-it-works-where-new-incinerators-could-go-and-how-they-stack-up-254395
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Walking together: Council, mana whenua and community deepen conservation relationships online

Source: Secondary teachers question rationale for changes to relationship education guidelines

When you visit the newly updated Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau | Conservation Auckland website, you’re stepping into more than just a page of information; you’re entering a space where mana whenua provides guidance for community conservation within their rohe (tribal area).

It’s a powerful reminder that protecting the environment in Tāmaki Makaurau isn’t just a technical task, it’s a deeply cultural, ancestral and collaborative journey.

This important addition to the website marks the latest chapter in an evolving partnership between Auckland Council and mana whenua.

An Auckland Council Senior Community Advisor, Sandra Jack, says we’ve always known caring for the environment is about relationships.

“The new content makes it easier for people to connect with mana whenua and understand their role as kaitiaki while supporting our shared conservation goals.

“This journey recognises mātauranga (knowledge), not as an add-on, but as a foundation pillar for environmental stewardship.”

The content wasn’t created in isolation. It was co-designed with the Interim Mana Whenua Engagement Forum, with guidance from representatives Gavin Anderson (Ngaati Whanaunga) and Adrian Pettit (Te Ākitai Waiohua).

The result: a more authentic reflection of iwi values, bringing to life stories of place, practices of care and the wisdom of generations.

“Kua eke te wā, me noho mātāmua ko te whakaaro nui ki te Taiao i ngā mahi katoa.

“No longer will things happen without consideration of the impact within te taiao,” (nā Hokimai-Anahera Rosieur, Ngāti Manuhiri).

Samantha Hill, General Manager of Environmental Services, sees the website as more than a communications tool.

“This project has given us an opportunity to respond to mana whenua aspirations, learn from mana whenua and be trusted to safely share the knowledge with the wider community,” she says.

“This isn’t just about a website—it’s about how we work together,” Sandra adds.

Highlights of the initiative include relevant information on iwi of the region and how to engage with them, new imagery celebrating te taiao (the natural world), the integration of Te Haumanu Taiao tohu (emblem) of restoration and care and richer explanations of kaitiakitanga (the spiritual and cultural environmental practices).

In a world where people are increasingly aware of our environmental impact, this collaboration offers a way forward. It shows what’s possible when relationships are built on trust, respect and a willingness to partner. Mana whenua, council and community are united in care for the whenua and future generations.

For more information visit the Tiaki Tāmaki Makaurau website.

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New scheme in Oxford to protect every home and business from risk of River Thames flooding
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

New scheme in Oxford to protect every home and business from risk of River Thames flooding

Environment Secretary Steve Reed approves purchase to allow new scheme to be built
Aerial photo of Oxford City Centre

All homes, businesses and crucial infrastructure in Oxford at risk of flooding from the River Thames will be better protected thanks to a major new flood defence.

This will provide vital reassurances for more than 160,000 residents in the face of our changing climate.

In another step under the Government’s Plan for Change, Environment Secretary Steve Reed gave crucial approval to the Environment Agency and its partners to purchase land and grant rights within the flood scheme area, which has enabled the flood scheme to progress.

This project is part of the Government’s record two-year investment of £2.65 billion to build and repair flood defences across the country.

Floods Minister Emma Hardy said:

The role of Government is to protect its citizens, but flood defences were inherited in their worst condition on record.

Through our Plan for Change, a record £2.65 billion is going into building and repairing flood defences over the next two years.

The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is a vital new piece of infrastructure that will deliver economic growth in Oxfordshire, better protect homes and businesses and deliver new jobs.

Robbie Williams, Project Director for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme, said:

We’re delighted to have received approval to progress with purchasing the land needed for the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme to go ahead.

This is a major step forward for the project, ensuring we can bring this vital flood protection to the city. As we face increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather, the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is more urgently needed than ever.

We can now all look forward to starting work on putting the scheme into place.

This follows the earlier good news that Oxfordshire County Council resolved to grant planning permission for the scheme – this decision is separate from the Compulsory Purchase Order.

The Environment Agency made a Compulsory Purchase Order for the land, which – as there were objections from some of the landowners – went to a public inquiry. An independent Inspector listened to the objections and to the case for confirming the order and reported her recommendations to the Secretary of State to make a final decision.

The new scheme is designed to cope with major floods of a scale Oxford last experienced in 1947. This is far bigger in size than any of the floods Oxford has experienced in recent decades. With a changing climate, it is expected there would be more frequent heavy rainfall leading to potential flooding.

The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is designed to work with the natural floodplain to the west of Oxford, which will be lowered to increase its capacity. A new stream will be created, fed by the River Thames, meandering through gently sloping grazing meadows. People will be able to walk and cycle alongside the new stream, with views of wildflowers and wetland. The Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme aims to enhance the natural floodplain to the west of Oxford by lowering it to increase its capacity.

With the Compulsory Purchase Order confirmed, the Environment Agency can now exercise its statutory powers to acquire the rights and interests in the affected land. Once this process is complete, construction is expected to start in late 2026.

Led by the Environment Agency, the Oxford Flood Alleviation Scheme is one of the biggest flood schemes currently proposed in England.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 16 May 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murkowski to EPA: “Let me help you”

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Alaska Lisa Murkowski
05.15.25
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hosted the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in subcommittee to discuss the agency’s budget request. The Senator and Administrator Lee Zeldin discussed how the subcommittee can best serve the agency’s mission of providing clean air, water, and land for all Americans, while the Administrator committed to fostering a better working relationship with the subcommittee and Senator Murkowski’s office.
Chair Murkowski discussed a number of issues important to Alaska that she is looking forward to collaborating with the EPA on, including cleaning up PFAS contaminated lands, ensuring clarity for Alaskans on frozen or paused EPA grants, addressing the backlog of Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) projects, and investing in cleaning up lands conveyed to Alaska Natives that were contaminated by the federal government.
Click here to watch the Senator’s full remarks and questions.
The full transcript of Senator Murkowski’s opening remarks, questions and exchanges with Administrator Zeldin, and the Senator’s closing remarks can be read below.
TRANSCRIPT
Opening remarks
Murkowski: Good morning, the Committee will come to order. I’d like to welcome Administrator Zeldin to the committee here this morning. I think it is important that as we begin our budget hearings, we begin the oversight through the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee with the EPA, an area of interest, I think, for all of us, as we think about how we ensure that Americans from Alaska to Oregon, to New York to all the places in between, have the benefits of clean air, clean water for all of us.
So, thank you, Administrator, for being here to discuss the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request. We recognize that what we have seen is “skinny,” as we refer to it around here. Each year, the subcommittee holds a hearing to examine the EPA budget requests. Some years, the budget is the focus of the hearing, and others, it’s agency actions that draw the majority of the questions. I think it’s probably safe to assume that this year it’s going to be a mixture of both of these. And again, we’ve just seen the “skinny” outline of Fiscal Year 2026, we have yet to see the full details of the President’s budget request, but I have to say at the outset: looking at some of these proposed cuts, I’m looking at them and questioning whether they are serious cuts. I find many of them problematic. I’m just going to be open and honest with my words here this morning and we will have good dialogue, constructive dialogue, in this committee.
So again, while we’re waiting for additional details, I want to spend my time this morning talking about the vision for the EPA and Administrator, how you plan to use your position to continue to better provide clean air, water and land for Americans from Alaska to Florida, from California to Maine, and how a budget like the one that you propose could support that mission.
Under the Biden administration, I had some very serious concerns about the regulatory overreach of the agency. I expressed them often. I also shared the concerns that I felt were overzealous enforcement actions coming out of the agency that went contrary to the needs of Alaskans. We were able to figure out how to find common ground in certain areas to make progress, and some things that were certainly good for Alaska. I mentioned to you contaminated lands, residential wood stove testing and certification. We still have a long, long ways to go on PM, 2.5, I think we know that. PM 2.5 and 301 (h) waivers… We’ve got work to do. I think we know that.
So now we’re in a in a new administration, new administrator and perhaps a different direction here. I do appreciate many of the actions and the initiatives that we have had a chance to discuss. (I) certainly support the willingness to work with the Army Corps of Engineers to review the WOTUS rule, your reconsideration of Clean Power Plan 2.0, the vehicle emissions rules, and then, of course, a renewed focus on permitting, something I would think that all of us can come together on.
But my concern this morning, and what you will hear from me, and I think many others, is the approach that’s been taken with regards to freezing funds, canceling grants, and then the reorganization of the agency. I’m looking at it through the not only through the lens of Alaskans, but really all Americans who, regardless of how you feel about the EPA, we benefit from its data driven decision-making, the remediation efforts and the mission to protect human health and environment. And I respect, I give a lot of leeway for an incoming administration’s prerogative to implement changes in support of the policies and priorities, but it also has to be done with clear articulation of the of the goals against which such changes will be measured.
And so, it’s problematic when as a committee we’re asking questions, we don’t receive basic data that would be helpful, would be good guidance for us. And so, when we see implementation of significant changes without working or seriously communicating with us, your partners in Congress, it just makes it harder for us to do the job of supporting your mission. We are on the same side here, and so we want to work with you in so many of these areas.
I think we all can agree that there are inefficiencies and redundancies to be found throughout the federal government, some of EPA programs we know are overly burdensome. And again, I applaud the administration for seeking to find ways to help ordinary Americans cut through red tape and make programs easier to access. But the seemingly indiscriminate freezing of EPA funding, regardless of source, has caused some significant anxiety from the folks that I’m talking to in Alaska. One example is the Community Change Grants in my state, we’ve received $150 million from this program. It’s communities like the little village of Kipnuk, it’s the Native village of Kotzebue. Took a lot of work to get to the place where they were able to secure the funding, and they’ve had their grants canceled by the agency without any explanation, and so this is where some of the anxiety comes, is just not knowing why.
It’s not just in Alaska. I think members on both sides of the dais can, and probably will, talk about the benefits of the grants to their states and their communities. You’ve also proposed massive reorganizations of EPA to include the elimination of the Office of Atmospheric Programs and the Office of Research and Development. It is true that agencies funded by our bill will have the flexibility to reprogram and reorganize, and we provide that flexibility because we know – we get it. There can be urgent and exigent circumstances that warrant such actions. However, agencies must comply with the requirements and provide the committees with the requisite information, whether it’s budgetary and staffing implications, but also the rationale for the actions to include why these actions are so urgent. And so far, EPA has not adhered to our reprogramming guidelines and has been largely unresponsive to the questions. So, I would certainly expect timely and transparent responses and information. I would expect EPA to abide by the parameters that are outlined in our reprogramming guidelines. And I think, as a former member of Congress, you get it. You’ve been on the frustration end of things as well. So again, ways that we can be working together.
Now, turning our attention to the FY 26 budget proposal. In Alaska, we’ve seen on the ground examples of really good things being done with some of the programs that your budget has substantially reduced or proposed to eliminate. Example: the proposed reduction of the State Revolving Fund, reducing it from $2.8 billion down to $305 million. This is an 88% reduction. This was one of the ones when I mention unserious proposal. This is the one that I’m looking at, because it clearly is one of the most essential programs that the agency administers. And you mentioned as part of your justification for cutting this program that the account has been heavily earmarked, and this is true. The 66 members of the Senate, including 17 Republicans, making it our most bipartisan account, who requested congressionally directed spending for the SRF accounts did so in connection with the states to ensure the funding was going to critical clean water and drinking water projects. Now I would also note that in FY 25, Congress voted for, and the President signed into law, a full year CR that keeps the SRF fully funded, rather than reducing it by the amount of the CDS is.
So, I’m going to close my comments here with, I don’t know if it’s a note of sympathy or just an acknowledgement, because I get it. You are, I think, 106 days since you were confirmed and sworn in as EPA Administrator. And for an agency as key and as vital as yours, that’s really a short time to get everything up and running, from enacting the administration’s priorities to establishing a clear working relationship with us here in Congress. We know that you’re still getting your team in place, because we’re trying to move them through our process here, and it is slow, and you need those folks. You need the members of your team. So, I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt here. There’s plenty of time for us to figure out what’s working what’s not, establish open lines of communication between our teams that will mutually benefit your mission and all those that we work for. So, I’m eager to start on that. I thank you for your testimony today, your willingness to answer our questions and just the opportunity to be working with you. And with that, I turn to ranking member Merkley for his comments.
First line of questions from Murkowski
Murkowski: I will begin with my first five minutes, and again, appreciate the opportunity that you and I have had to discuss some of the particular issues. I’d like to ensure that we continue that very direct engagement, not only between us, but also with our staffs. We’ve had a conversation about transparency, partnership and responsiveness, and again, I think you come to this position really from a good place, because you’ve sat in in our seats here, so to speak. When you’ve asked questions of an agency and you get frustrated because you’re not able to get what you’re seeking.
So, there is a lot going on within the agency, as you have outlined, and as I suppose the ranking member and I have outlined. But we need to be more informed, rather than getting updates by way of tweets or stories for them from the media. The agency has issued reorganization notifications, but we’re not getting the full picture or the answers to some of the questions that we have asked. So, my direct question to you this morning is just a renewed commitment that the promise of transparency, partnership and responsiveness is there, that we’re going to be able to have meetings between your senior teams and our folks on the Appropriations side, so that we can help you. Let me help you type of an approach, and that’s what I’m seeking from you this morning, Mr. Administrator.
Zeldin: Absolutely, Madam Chair, and you uniquely amongst 535 members of Congress have a “Batphone” into my office, which I would encourage you to use at any time. We’ve spoken since my confirmation, and when we meet, you often have a very long list of priorities for Alaska, that you’re fighting for, that you’re passionate about. And to make sure that we’re working through that list at every opportunity is something that will be a priority for our team as long as I am here as administrator, and I would encourage you to reach out whenever you would like, and I’d be available to work through whatever is at the top of your list that day.
Murkowski: Very good. Very good. Let me ask about the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. I mentioned in my opening, these are probably the areas where on this committee we have more bipartisan support for a program, and we’re looking at a budget that effectively eliminates the one thing that we’re all in agreement on. So, I’d ask you to share with me and the others on the committee why the agency would move away from such a critical on-the-ground program when we’re talking about access to clean water?
Zeldin: Madam Chair, as you pointed out in your opening remarks, and as you referenced from the skinny budget that was released that we’re here to talk about today, there has been a bleeding out of funds deliberately through decisions made by Congress to earmark. I understand that when I came into this position, I inherited a lot of earmarks that many of you have fought for, and I want to be able to continue to work with each of you and your staffs. In some cases, we need to get the recipients to submit paperwork where they’re on the receiving end of big earmarks, so that we can work through this backlog as quickly as we can. It would be helpful to have a conversation about the SRF and the use of earmarks, and how that has been reducing the funding through the years.
As you all know, there’s a difference when these skinny budgets come out, whether or not something is funded at $0, or it’s funded at $1. Now that might not seem like much to the American public in understanding how these conversations go in Congress. The SRF is not zeroed out in the skinny budget – In fact, it has hundreds of millions of dollars there in it. So, as we go forward with this process, I look forward to more conversations about the SRF, and I’m sure members of the House and the Senate will be having conversations amongst yourselves as to what you believe to be the appropriate funding level for SRF, as well as the future of the program, and whether or not earmarks will continue to be used to reduce that balance. That’s obviously a decision that Congress has a very important role to play.
Murkowski: Well we do, and we can have a separate discussion about earmarks. I think we both know that earmarks don’t contribute to the top line number you are discussing here. A concern that I have raised with you, that there has been, over the years, Congressionally Directed Spending, earmarks, that have been moved through the process, authorized and appropriated to, and still not spent down. So, my time has expired. Now know that on this next round, I’m going to ask for a little more discussion about that. But I do think that given the significance of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund by so many of us… let’s have a broader discussion about how we move forward with what I would think most of us recognize has got to be a priority within the EPA.
Second line of questions from Murkowski
Murkowski: Administrator, I had asked you, we had had a discussion about the Congressionally Directed Spending projects. You have indicated that, indeed, we’ve got a backlog here that we need to address. My understanding is that since fiscal year 2022, Congress had directed 2,264 CDs projects at the EPA – only 705 have received the funding. So, I think both of us would agree, you know, we’ve got an issue here. There’s a problem. The FY 25 CR, of course, did not include the CDS projects. So, I’m looking at that and saying, all right, the agency has the balance of the fiscal year to work on catching up from this backlog of the CDSs. Can you just give me a little bit of your understanding in terms of how you’ve directed your team to expeditiously get these projects out the door in a more timely manner?
Zeldin: I appreciate the question, Madam Chair. The backlog goes back years. I’ve directed my team to both work with the members of Congress who represent those areas, the members of Congress who requested those earmarks to get assistance in the case where the recipient has not been responsive, and simultaneously, to try to engage as much as possible directly with the recipient, to try to get the recipient to submit their paperwork. We want to completely get through the entire backlog that we inherited as quickly as possible.
Murkowski: Can we help you with that?
Zeldin: Yes.
Murkowski: I’m working with my constituents right now as we’re moving forward in this year’s appropriations and getting requests for CDSs. So, can you perhaps either let me know who it is on your team that we need to be communicating directly to if there are snags on your end, or perhaps, again, you’re just not able to get in touch with the applicant?
Zeldin: 100%. As you well know, the EPA is broken down into all sorts of different program offices.
Murkowski: Right.
Zeldin: And the it might not be just one person for all grants. It might depend on whether the backlog might… we might be talking about a backlog inside of the Office of Water, where they need assistance from the members of Congress, or maybe it’s another office. Maybe it’s the Office of Air and Radiation. We would look forward to an opportunity to work with you and your team, and all members of Congress, on both sides of the aisle as much as possible, to eliminate the backlog that we inherited.
Murkowski: Good, good. Let’s do that. I think that’s a good plan.
Many members here have asked about different grants and programs, the pauses, the freezes. It’s been particularly frustrating in Alaska, when we hear there’s been a hold up in terms of the grant award. We’ve got just a limited construction season. It’s just hard. Even if not choked by ice, you might have a barge that comes up with your materials for a project, maybe once, maybe twice a season, and so it can push a project back, not just months, but by another season – another year, perhaps multiple years. It’s been hard to provide some clarity to our communities on which grants are going to be awarded, which are just going through the review process that you shared with us, which grants have been terminated.
So, I’d ask if your folks could provide a list of what’s actually been paused for review versus what has been terminated. I think we’ve heard, for instance, on the EJ (Environmental Justice) grants, that one has been perhaps more clear, but there are a lot in between. And I think it would help our communities if there was more certainty as to what has actually been terminated versus what is still in the pipeline for review. So, I’d ask for your help on that.
Zeldin: Absolutely, Madam Chair, and we will continue to be distributing funding appropriated by Congress as we go through the rest of the fiscal year that will include funds for your great, great state, and we look forward to working with you on the process. As you know, when the President first came in, there was an administration-wide pause that was lifted. The pause that was then instituted for EPA was more specific to some of the Inflation Reduction Act programs. There was a Clean School Bus program concern that was that was raised early in the administration, when Lion Electric (Company) and their bankruptcy issue caused some questions to be asked to make sure that the concerns with Lion Electric (Company) were it was just specific to Lion Electric (Company). And as it relates to the grants that were that were canceled, that’s something that if you have any questions about what was included in that we’re happy to answer any individual questions.
Murkowski: Good, okay, we’ll work with you on that list.
Third line of questions from Murkowski
Murkowski: The operating plan for FY25 we received. It’s very much in line with the previous year’s funding level for each line item. There’s a lot of changes that that have been discussed, but it sounds like you are committing to spending the funds as delineated in the agency’s spend plans. And I guess my ask to you is, if that’s not going to be the case, that the subcommittee receive a reprogramming request so that we basically follow the process if, in fact, we’re not doing the agency is not doing this spend out as we have anticipated, as these small communities understand them.
I just have two very quick follow ups. One is very easy for you, because we’ve discussed it at length, but it is a significant issue in my state when it comes to contaminated lands. The history that I have shared with you of Alaska Natives receiving their settlement of lands, being conveyed by the federal government. And basically, they were conveyed tainted lands, lands that were contaminated by various actions of federal agencies, whether it’s the land managers, or the Department of Defense. And so, we have made some good progress with EPA. And believe me, this is not EPA’s is fault or liability for the contamination. It’s the federal governments. But what we have learned is that the EPA is uniquely qualified to help us solve this issue. Over the past couple years, there’s been roughly $20 million in funding that has been directed to contaminated lands, and the agencies have been doing some really good work. I just need your commitment that we’re going to continue with this. $20 million, unfortunately, doesn’t even get the first project cleanup. We know that that these are expensive, but it is an obligation. It is a liability of our government, and we owe it, whether it’s to Alaska Natives as conveyance of their settlement, or to others. And I know that when we’re talking (EPA) Superfunds, Brownfields, contaminated lands, we just have so much work to do here. So, know that you got cooperation on my level here.
Zeldin: Yes, Madam Chairwoman, I look forward to visiting over the course of the next couple of weeks in Alaska. Might be able to have the opportunity to hear about, see about, see this firsthand, and I will, with regards to all appropriations, make sure that we are fulfilling our obligations under the law. So, if Congress appropriates the funds, we’ll make sure that it’s spent.
Murkowski: Very good.
PFAS is something that we talk a lot about in Interior Appropriations Subcommittee. Last month, you announced that EPA will “tackle PFAS from all of EPA’s program officers, advancing research and testing, stopping PFAS from getting into drinking water systems, holding polluters accountable, and providing certainty for passive receivers. You said this was just the beginning of the work that EPA is going to do to tackle PFAS, which I certainly appreciate, and I know most everyone up here does.
Can you tell me whether the operating plan and the skinny budget requests, whether they actually reflect this kind of full forward push on PFAS, and whether it includes the $10 billion that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding provided to take on PFAS contamination. I’m looking at this skinny budget, and I’m saying, good for you, let’s go on PFAS. But I’m worried about making sure that we’re actually budgeting to do so, and I’m also worried about whether or not with the RIFs that we have seen to date, as well as what is anticipated about perhaps an additional fork in the road, whether we’re going to be able to do the job. So again, this is something where you’re going to have good support from people in this committee for the initiative. But do you have the budget, and do you have the people?
Zeldin: Senator, we’re actually adding people into this effort inside of the Office of Water. As you noted, this spans multiple program offices at EPA. A lot of the PFAS work is done inside of the Office of Water. The reorganization announcement that we made a couple weeks ago includes boosting that effort inside of the Office of Water. The press release from April 28 that you referenced included a lot of different actions that we plan on taking, and everything that the agency has announced is already factored into the skinny budget that is before the committee today.
Murkowski: And so, let me just ask more directly, whether or not you’re concerned that the RIFs or the deferred resignation is going to impact your ability to execute, whether it’s on the PFAS side or contaminated lands, or any number of issues that you’ve heard here from members.
Zeldin: No, Madam Chair. This is a very important priority of ours at EPA. When I was in Congress, I was a member of the PFAS Task Force. I had voted for the PFAS action act, when I was a member of the House. I represented the district that had all sorts of different PFAS contamination issues. This is something that, in many respects, started during President Trump’s first term in office, and has continued to progress since. And we’re going to make sure that we’re hitting the ground running. That’s included in the April 28 announcement, but as we noted in that announcement, that’s just some of the many decisions and important work that’s before us. It is a very high priority.
Murkowski: So, you’ve spoken to the adequacy to meet the PFAS mission. Are you concerned about your numbers EPA wide to do your overall mission, not just specific to PFAS, but with everything else that you’re looking at? Because the reduction in staffing, is very significant, you’ve got to admit that. And so, you’ve got a big task, and we want you to be able to execute on that. So, just want to hear from you whether you have any concerns about your staffing levels right now.
Zeldin: Madam Chair, we are going to fulfill all statutory obligations. One of the things that was a surprise to me coming into the position was just how many people who are employees at the agency were not working on any statutory obligation at all. And I also want to say that there are a lot of amazing, dedicated employees at EPA. The American public might feel disconnected from agency employees who might be working in Washington, D.C., but there are a lot of people who have been there for a long time. They believe in the agency mission. They work hard every single day. One of the reforms we brought in coming in is ending COVID year remote work. And it’s great to hear noise in the building, to see the foot traffic, and to see people being productive and collaborative. But if anyone out there was tuning in and they don’t know what the agency looks like, it’s filled with a lot of amazing, dedicated workers who believe in the agency’s mission, and we’re going to work hard to make the public proud.
Murkowski: Well, I’m glad that you’ve acknowledged your workforce, because I think you do have people who are good public servants. They’re proud of the work they do, and they’re the work that they do has value. And we want to recognize that.
Closing Remarks
Murkowski: We will have further discussion about so many of these issues: the reorganization, what we’re seeing with the grants. But I appreciate, Administrator Zeldin, you appearing before the committee, responding to our questions. We will hold the record open until May 21 for additional questions from members and would look forward to your responses to those as well.
And with that, the committee stands adjourned – we’ve got to vote!

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Salinas, Guthrie, Hoyle, Merkley, Daines Champion Bipartisan Bill to Train Next Generation of Wildland Firefighters

Source: US Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06)

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), and Val Hoyle (D-OR) – along with U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) – reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act. This legislation directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) to offer specialized training, specifically wildland firefighter training, to Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center students. This would create a pipeline for young people to enter into careers fighting fires and caring for public lands.

“Wildfires are getting bigger, more dangerous, and more destructive every year due to climate change. That also means the need for more skilled wildland firefighters is greater than ever before,” said Rep. Salinas. “The bipartisan Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act would break down barriers and give the U.S. Forest Service more tools to grow its firefighting workforce. It’s a commonsense bill that will keep our communities safe from deadly blazes, and at the same time, create more job opportunities for Oregonians.”

“Wildland firefighters, in Kentucky and across the country, play an essential role in improving forestry management practices, preventing wildfires, and battling them when they occur to minimize damage to life and property,” said Rep. Guthrie. “I am proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act to expand training for wildland fire, forestry, and rangeland management at Civilian Conservation Centers. These educational programs, such as the one at Great Onyx Job Corps, are essential to maintaining and improving the health of American forests.”

“As wildfires grow more frequent and more intense, the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act would help us meet the moment by preparing young people for careers in forest management and wildfire prevention,” said Rep. Hoyle. “With a center located in Yachats, Oregon, this bill strengthens local opportunities while protecting our communities and public lands. It’s about safety, sustainability, and building a skilled, resilient workforce.”

“As climate chaos makes our wildfire seasons longer and hotter, it’s essential that we have enough wildland firefighters and trained support staff available to take on these dangerous blazes and protect our communities,” said Sen. Merkley. “The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Centers’ training efforts have built a pipeline for talented young people to develop skills that can grow into careers. By investing in these programs, we can reduce wildfire risks, strengthen our public lands workforce, and offer valuable job training that supports the next generation of conservation and fire professionals in Oregon and across the United States.”

“Montana and many states across the west face devastating wildfire seasons year after year. This legislation will invest in our Montana Job Corps Centers so that more students have access to the top-notch training and resources they need to enter the workforce as our next wildland firefighters. I’m proud to work with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to keep our communities safe from catastrophic wildfires and invest in the next generation,” said Sen. Daines.

The Job Corps is the nation’s largest job training and education program for students from 16 to 24 years of age. The U.S. Forest Service operates 24 Civilian Conservation Centers (CCCs) nationwide under this program—including three in Oregon and two in Montana—which are proving vital in the fight to protect national forests and grasslands from wildfires. In 2023, Job Corps students did work equating to an estimated $13.5 million when they constructed and maintained buildings, built trails, enhanced wildlife habitat, restored watersheds, and treated more than 30,000 acres for hazardous fuels reduction nationwide. During the 2024 fire season, CCC youth across the country completed 205,882 hours of work on wildland firefighting efforts and prescribed burns to reduce hazardous fuels and the risk of catastrophic wildfire, and 11,410 hours on other fire management support functions, including providing meals through mobile kitchens.

The Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act would further strengthen this critical program by setting a goal for both the USDA and the DOI to hire 300 students a year and providing direct hire authority specific to CCC graduates to expedite that process. It would also create a pilot program to use students at CCCs to address the lack of workforce housing for wildland firefighters.

This bipartisan, bicameral legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The National Job Corps Association, National Federation of Federal Employees, Wildland Firefighter Foundation, and Western Fire Chiefs Association have endorsed the bill.

To read the full text of this legislation, click here.

###

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: McClellan Joins SEEC Energy and Commerce Members to Slam Republicans’ Attack on American Health and Affordability
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (Virginia 4th District)

This week, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA) joined House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, slamming House Republicans’ obscene budget reconciliation plan to gut life-saving pollution reduction programs, raise Americans’ electricity bills, cut off critical support for high-tech American manufacturing, and legalize corruption for oil and gas companies. These members included SEEC Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui (CA) and Paul Tonko (NY) and were joined by their fellow SEEC colleagues Reps. Nanette Barragán (CA), Kathy Castor (FL), Yvette Clarke (NY), Debbie Dingell (MI), Kevin Mullin (CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Scott Peters (CA), Kim Schrier (WA), and Darren Soto (FL).

“I know the Trump Administration and some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don’t like the word environmental justice, but what environmental justice is designed to do is recognize that there are communities in this country — white, black, low-income, urban and rural — where energy projects were put in place with no input from the community, where the people didn’t have the resources to fight back or even knew what was happening,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “These are the same communities that have some of the poorest health outcomes in the country. We should want to help address centuries of injustice and invest in those communities, but this bill guts those programs altogether – that’s not justice.”

“Republicans’ reconciliation bill is a shameless sell-out to corporations at the expense of hard-working Americans’ health and prosperity,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This bill eliminates and defunds pollution protections and pollution reduction programs that my constituents rely on, illegally and insidiously clawing back funding that is already supporting projects in communities across this country. In my district, La Familia Counseling Center was poised to do transformative work with their Community Change Grant—but Republicans are gutting that progress to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire friends. As if that weren’t enough, Republicans’ bill contains a shocking and outrageous attempt to legalize corruption for oil and gas companies, allowing polluting corporations to simply buy all the permits they need to build a pipeline through American communities, no questions asked. This kind of bribery is how dictatorships operate. This is not how America works. We cannot allow this egregious corruption to become law.”

“My Republican colleagues claim they are going after the clean energy programs that are, in their words ‘reckless’ and favor ‘wokeness over sensible policy,’” said Congressman Tonko. “Which programs are those? Is it the $12 million in unobligated funds to reduce air pollution in schools? How about DOE money to train contractors to retrofit people’s homes? What about money to upgrade our ports with the latest and greatest technologies? These are just a few examples of commonsense investments that are being targeted today that are creating American jobs and deploying new technologies that will indeed reduce pollution. And when you start to list them out, you can see how ridiculous this proposal is. But why on Earth would Republicans be doing this? Well, we know these funds will be used to partially offset yet another round of tax cuts, the benefits of which will overwhelmingly go to the wealthiest.”

“Republican cuts to environmental justice grants will directly harm the health of our communities,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Medicaid helps many access and afford health care in vulnerable communities with clean air and water challenges. Yet, Republicans have proposed the largest Medicaid cut in history. It’s all connected and Republicans want to go backward on the environment and health care access.”

“You should hold on to your wallets, because House Republicans are coming after your electric bills to pay for a massive tax giveaway to billionaires like Elon Musk,” said Congresswoman Castor. “Because let’s face it, American families are being financially squeezed right now – especially my neighbors in Florida still struggling to rebuild from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Utility companies in at least 19 states have hiked rates as much as $40 per month since the Trump administration began. Republicans have not brought forth a single bill to lower energy costs for hardworking American families. Instead, what they’re offering today is a handout to big oil companies and polluters and the impact will be to raise your electric bill.”

“There’s nothing and no one House Republicans won’t betray just to fund obscene tax breaks for their wealthy donors,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “By taking an axe to the critical programs Americans rely on to protect them from the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and keep energy affordable, our colleagues across the aisle have once again proven they are incapable of putting the needs of their communities above the demands of their billionaire puppet masters.”

“What this bill does is create total chaos for the auto industry in repealing EPA’s emission standards for light and medium-duty vehicles and NHTSA’s corporate average fuel economy standards. What the domestic auto industry needs now more than anything is certainty. My priority is to protect American jobs, maintain our competitive edge in automotive manufacturing, ensure the United States leads in technology and innovation, and that we cede our leadership to nobody,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Our policies must reflect the priorities on the ground, prioritize consumer choice and offer a practical, ambitious path forward. To remain competitive, the US must align with the global shift towards hybrids, electric vehicles, and down the road, who else knows what other technology. Here’s a fact. The global marketplace wants electric vehicles and I will be damned if I let China beat us in that market.”

“Republicans are ramming through a disastrous, ugly budget bill that is going to cause widespread harm to Americans and our environment. Why? So they can give massive tax cuts to billionaires, corporations, and oil companies. Republicans want to strip health care away from over 13.7 million Americans who rely on Medicaid, which will raise prices for the privately insured too,” said Congressman Mullin. “The bill also cuts funding for clean energy innovation while allowing oil and gas companies to buy their way out of having to follow environmental laws. This will stagnate American progress in developing affordable, sustainable solutions to meet our energy needs. This isn’t efficiency, it’s cruelty and Republicans are making it clear that they don’t care about raising costs for working families.”

“In my time here in Congress, I have participated in investigations of large corporations that have poisoned communities across the country. A lot of times, these communities were poisoned due to large corporations that were exploiting corrupt loopholes in the law in order to poison the most vulnerable communities in America,” said Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. “And I deeply fear that there is a loophole and similar provision in this bill. This bill allows gas companies to pay $1 million in order for their project to bypass the traditional permitting process. In fact, this bill allows natural gas pipeline projects to pay a fee of $10 million to cut the line and bypass the normal permitting process. Allowing massive corporations to simply cut a check to bypass the very real reasons why permitting exists in the first place, poses a deep and grave danger to people across the country.”

“Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape,” said Congressman Peters. “Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage. Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds, if not thousands, of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?”

“This bill completely bypasses communities and landowners, and these ‘pay-to-play’ provisions put not just a thumb but an entire arm, maybe a body on the scale favoring oil and gas,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “It’s giant corporations like Shell, BP, Chevron. They’re the ones that have the wherewithal to pay to bypass all permitting requirements. This bill is more of the ‘drill baby drill’ agenda that we hear every week from our Republican colleagues. I’m all for streamlining permitting to address energy demand and infrastructure that has real impacts on our communities. But there’s ways to streamline permitting and get new energy resources online without sidelining solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower, or hydrogen projects. Streamlining permitting is key if we’re going to meet energy demand. Clean power should have the same opportunity as oil and gas and we shouldn’t be disregarding important environmental protections.”

“This is a bad deal for the South, whether it’s consumers in Florida or whether it’s all these high-paying jobs going to all these Southern states. This is a job killer,” said Congressman Soto. “In addition, adding in defunding of interstate transmission lines. I’ve heard from both sides of the aisle how often this is critical. So why in the world would you defund the interstate transmission lines? That makes no sense. That will raise energy prices. It will prevent efficiencies in the market. And it will prevent different states from specializing in new types of energy, whether it’s modular nuclear or renewable energy that’s being formulated here in Florida.”

Background

House Republicans are gutting critical pollution protections and pollution reduction programs, raising American household energy costs, pulling the rug out from under America’s manufacturing sector, and creating a brazen new “pay-to-play” bribery scheme for polluting corporations. Here’s what the bill does:
- Repeals and rescinds funding from Environmental Protection Agency programs that protect Americans from pollution and help American households save money on energy costs and medical bills. Some of these programs include:
  - Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that is dedicated to lowering energy bills and cutting pollution.
  - Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants that support disadvantaged communities to reduce pollution and pollution-related health impacts in their communities.
  - Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program to reduce pollution and waste from the oil and gas sector, improving the health and economic well-being of overburdened communities, while also saving energy.
  - Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program that helps communities replace old polluting diesel engines and vehicles—some of the dirtiest vehicles on the road—with new, clean vehicles.
  - Clean Ports Program that helps improve air quality around U.S. ports and address the public health and environmental impacts to surrounding communities.
- Repeals life-saving Clean Air Act standards for vehicle pollution and fuel efficiency that help Americans save money at the pump and improve health outcomes in our communities.
- Eliminates funding for the Department of Energy Loan Programs and the Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program that help commercialize next-generation American-made technology, bringing manufacturing back to America and creating good-paying jobs, while also developing cutting-edge technologies that save Americans money and reduce pollution in American communities.
- Creates a pay-to-play bribery scheme for polluters that allows oil and gas companies to pay a fee and bypass standard permitting, environmental reviews, and judicial review processes. Whether it’s a natural gas pipeline or a natural gas export terminal, companies can simply buy all the permits they need to build their pipeline through your community. This is blatant and unconscionable corruption.
Republicans had multiple opportunities to improve the bill and ensure that Americans’ pocketbooks, health, and livelihoods are protected, but Republicans repeatedly rejected Democratic amendments, including Democratic-led efforts to:
- Ensure that this bill does not raise energy costs for American households. Representative Castor’s amendment would have required the U.S. Energy Information Administration to publish the impacts of the Energy Subtitle of the bill on monthly energy costs for American households.
- Protect the health and safety of our families and communities. Representative Dingell’s amendment would have prevented the repeal of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
- Hold polluters accountable and prevent the legalization of corruption under this bill. Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s amendment would have required the Inspector General of the Department of Energy to certify that this bill will not increase risks of corruption or ‘pay-to-play’ politics.
- Protect American energy independence and deliver cheap energy to Americans. Representative Auchincloss’ amendment would have prevented the energy provisions from going into effect until the Secretary of Energy certifies that tariffs on energy imports are no greater than they were on January 19, 2025.
###

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Murray Grills Administrator Zeldin Over Plans to Destroy EPA

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
Murray calls out ongoing defiance of appropriations laws
***WATCH: Senator Murray’s remarks and questioning***
Washington, D.C. — Today, at a Senate Appropriations Interior Subcommittee hearing on the fiscal year 2026 budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, blasted the Trump administration’s mass firings and proposed budget cuts at the EPA and called out Administrator Lee Zeldin for cancelling grants across the country and illegally blocking funding approved by Congress.
In opening comments, Vice Chair Murray said:
“Administrator Zeldin, you helm an agency that was created by a Republican president that is responsible for making sure that Americans can drink clean water, breathe clean air, and lead healthy lives.
“It seems to me the Trump administration’s entire vision for your agency amounts to ‘burn it down.’ Now, burning down the EPA might be a great way to generate smog, but it is a terrible way to protect families’ health.
“Look at the $25 billion in federal funding you have been illegally freezing and cancelling in my state and across the country. We’re talking about investments for things like heat pumps to reduce energy costs and pollution, wildfire preparedness to prevent smoke exposure, or infrastructure upgrades to protect drinking water from floods and earthquakes.
“Blocking this funding is hurting communities everywhere, and it has prompted lawsuits, as well as investigations by the Government Accountability Office, and I have to say to you: it is unacceptable to hear from GAO that your agency has not been cooperating with those requests from them.
“And now, the President’s request would slash funding for your agency by over 50 percent—taking it back to levels last seen 50 years ago, by the way. And I should note: protecting the health and well-being of the American public does not happen on its own.
“The EPA is powered by skilled and dedicated public servants—a group you have worked to demonize for months on end.
“Now, while you proudly gut your own agency’s workforce, you leave hard-working Americans suffering the consequences.
“Your job is to make sure our kids have clean water when they turn on the tap, fresh air when they go outside. Your job is to make sure our rivers in Washington state are full of salmon, not toxic sludge. And your job is to follow the law and to get the funds out that Congress passed.
“For the past two years, this Committee has passed bipartisan spending bills to invest in the EPA, and into our communities.
“And, despite the draconian budget you have put forward, I’m going to be pushing to work with this Committee on a bipartisan agreement once again that safeguards our health and our environment.”
[EPA STAFFING & BUDGET CUTS]
Senator Murray began her questioning by calling out how Administrator Zeldin and Trump are firing EPA employees en masse and proposing draconian funding cuts. “Now, Administrator Zeldin, at the same time you propose cutting the EPA’s budget by 54%, and slashing staff by over 20%, and gutting many of the EPA’s core programs, you insist that, despite these cuts, the EPA can carry out the congressional directives of the bill we passed with bipartisan support through this committee—without compromising the EPA’s responsibilities. There is no way that could be true,” Senator Murray stated, continuing: “Do you understand, Administrator, that your job is to execute the bipartisan laws negotiated in this committee and in Congress, and carry them out faithfully? Not to gut the programs that Congress passes into law?”
“Of course, we will fulfill all statutory obligations. And I would encourage you to read the announcement that we put out the morning of the President’s 100th day that has 100 environmental wins from the first 100 days of the Trump presidency. I don’t know if you’ve had an opportunity to read it yet,” responded Administrator Zeldin.
“Well, I have had an opportunity to see your budget. And when you eliminate offices, and slash staffing, and propose cutting the budget in half of EPA—you are making certain that the government will not be able to protect the public from pollution. That is not what Congress intended,” Murray replied.
[PROPOSED CUTS TO CATEGORICAL GRANTS TO STATES]
Senator Murray then pressed Administrator Zeldin on how states are supposed to continue enforcement of federal environmental laws without funding the federal government has long provided, since the Trump budget request proposes massive cuts. “Now, the federal government has given states significant responsibility to implement our bedrock environmental laws, like enforcement of the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. EPA provides basic funding—categorical grants—to every single state so they can carry out more than 90% of the on the groundwork that is necessary to comply with environmental laws. Your budget cuts 16 of 19 categorical grant programs, which the Environmental Council of the States—a bipartisan organization of environmental agency directors from all 50 states—says will ‘incapacitate state environmental programs.’ That’s from them, not from me. We are talking about massive cuts. $843 million for Texas, $459 million for Florida, $169 million for Louisiana. It’s hard to see as this is anything other than the EPA abandoning its responsibility to states. And I wanted to ask you, have you consulted with any of the states on this proposal to eliminate almost all the categorical grant funding?” askedSenator Murray.
“Every aspect of this skinny budget was done deliberately as a result of a lot of conversation—a lot of thoughtful conversation,” Zeldin stated.
“With the states?” Senator Murray followed up.
“States are absolutely included as it relates to conversations that we take place—that conversations that take place, about our priorities,” Zeldin responded.
“Well, I will say: my state and many of the states said this would be devastating, and states cannot shoulder this burden,” replied Senator Murray. “And I look forward to working with this committee to—as we’ve done before, in a bipartisan way—make sure that we fund these programs.”
[TERMINATED EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS GRANT]
Finally, Senator Murray pressed Administrator Zeldin on the mass termination of EPA grants, including one for extreme weather and wildfire preparedness in Spokane, Washington. “Finally, your agency has been cutting billions of dollars in grants indiscriminately, irrationally, across the country including in my home state of Washington. And I want to give you an example. Wildfire and extreme heat waves. They are major threats to public health for a lot of the country. A few weeks ago, the EPA terminated a grant that would have made sure community centers in Spokane had the infrastructure needed to serve as a refuge during extreme weather and wildfire emergencies. There was no explanation for that cancelation. That is a community that saw 19 people die and over 300 people hospitalized during a heat wave a few short years ago, where wildfires are a constant threat. So let me ask you, is it woke to protect people from wildfires and heat stroke?” Senator Murray fired back.
“I don’t know if you’re going to get anyone in America to answer yes to the way you put that question out there,” Administrator Zeldin said, avoiding the question.
“Well, is it inefficient? Is it wasteful? Why was this grant eliminated?” responded Senator Murray.
Administrator Zeldin refused to answer: “Well, there are hundreds of grants. I would have to have that individual grant in front of me. One of the… while Congress sets an appropriated level on a particular type of grant, we need to make sure that over the course of the fiscal year, that that money is…”
Senator Murray interjected, stating: “Well apparently, after four months, you decided that this community—Spokane—didn’t need to deal with their extreme weather and wildfire emergencies. I don’t know whether you won’t tell me whether it’s inefficient, wasteful, whatever your word is. But you need to know that you’re abandoning communities in my state across the country. And that funding was appropriated for work exactly like this. Thank you, Madam Chair.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: New B.C. council launched to support forestry in B.C.

Source: Government of Canada regional news

The members of the Provincial Forest Advisory Council are reputable, subject-matter experts. They all have the skills and insight needed to advance stewardship of B.C.’s forests.

All committee members were jointly appointed by the Minister of Forests and the BC Green Caucus. You can read about each committee member below.

Co-chair:
Garry Merkel – Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship director, faculty of forestry, University of British Columbia (UBC)

Garry Merkel (nadi’ denezā) is Tahltan from northwestern British Columbia – what is now known as the Stikine River area. He is a great-grandfather and is a professional forester with more than 50 years of experience working in most areas of the forest/lands sector. He is the director of the Centre of Indigenous Land Stewardship currently housed in the faculty of forestry at UBC and has a long public policy history in B.C. and beyond. The most recent was co-chairing with Al Gorley the cabinet-appointed Old Growth Review Panel that produced A New Future for Old Forests, A Strategic Review of How British Columbia Manages its Old Forests Within its Ancient Ecosystems (2021). Government adopted the 14 recommendations in this review. Merkel continues as an independent mentor, coach, facilitator and adviser to support the government in its leadership role, the forest sector and ultimately the overall provincial land sector through this transition.

Co-chair:
Shannon Janzen, former vice-president and chief forester, Western Forest Products

Shannon Janzen became the first woman in Canada to be appointed chief forester of a major forest products company in 2013 and later served as a vice-president of Western Forest Products from 2015 until 2022. Now the owner of Hypha Consulting Inc., she works with Indigenous communities to support their vision for economic and environmental reconciliation. Starting in operations, she spent over a decade in silviculture and planning, later becoming a lead negotiator for the Coast Forest Conservation Initiative. Her work in the Great Bear Rainforest earned her recognition as the Professional Forester of the Year in 2009.

Janzen has negotiated agreements benefiting First Nations and implemented cost-saving initiatives including LEAN supply chain programs and LiDAR Forest Inventory programs. She has also led carbon accounting for forest products and managed environmental social governance initiatives for publicly traded companies. Once a volunteer firefighter, Janzen is committed to making business sense of doing the right thing for people and the planet, tackling complex challenges with optimism and focus.

Norah White, deputy chief forester, B.C. government

Norah White is deputy chief forester and executive director in British Columbia’s Office of the Chief Forester within the provincial Ministry of Forests, the division of the provincial government responsible for leadership in forest stewardship and sustainable fibre supply.

White has an extensive background in provincial forest stewardship policy and has led recent sector-wide change in the areas of forest planning, forest carbon, and the management of old forests and ecosystems.

She holds a bachelor of science in forestry from the University of British Columbia (2004), an executive master of business administration from Simon Fraser University (2022), and a micro-certificate in forest carbon management from UBC’s faculty of forestry (2022).

White received her registered professional forester designation in 2007 and is an active member of Forest Professionals BC. She lives within the territory of the Lekwungen peoples, also known as Victoria, B.C., with her spouse and their two daughters, ages 12 and 14.

Jason Fisher, executive director, Forest Enhancement Society of BC

Jason Fisher, a registered professional forester, is the executive director of the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC). FESBC invests the funding it receives from the Ministry of Forests to support forest enhancement projects throughout B.C. that reduce wildfire risk, enhance wildlife habitat, assist in the recovery of forests affected by fire, insects and disease, and/or reduce greenhouse emissions through enhancing the utilization of wood waste for bioenergy.

Fisher earned degrees in forestry and law, and has worked in the private and public sector, serving as a vice-president with Dunkley Lumber and Pinnacle Renewable Energy and as an associate deputy minister in B.C.’s forest ministry. He is also an instructor at the University of Northern British Columbia, where he teaches a senior-level forest policy and management course. Fisher and his family live in Prince George, located within the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh.

Jeff Bromley, chairperson, United Steelworkers Wood Council

Elected Steelworkers Wood Council Chair in 2019, Jeff Bromley was a rank and file IWA member beginning in 1994 when he was hired as an operator at the Elko Sawmill at age 25.

Bromley was born in Richmond and grew up in the mining town of Kimberley with his mother and stepfather, who was also an IWA member at the Canal Flats sawmill. He earned his associated degree at East Kootenay Community College (now College of the Rockies) with a major in history and a minor in political science.

Rising through the ranks of Local 1-405, Bromley was elected shop steward and plant committee secretary in 1999, and served as trustee from 2001 until 2008. His advocacy and political action activities have included the USW’s Stop the Killing, Enforce the Law campaign, the softwood lumber lobby effort in Ottawa and the Forest Renewal campaign in Victoria. Bromley has been a local union instructor through District 3’s Back to the Locals instructor program.

Bromley was elected third vice-president of Local 1-405 in 2008 and, in 2010, graduated from the USW’s leadership development program. Elected financial secretary in 2012, he has served the local union in a full-time staff role since 2012.

Harry Nelson, associate professor, faculty of forestry, UBC

Harry Nelson is an associate professor in the faculty of forestry at UBC, specializing in economics and policy. His research interests are in analyzing natural and environmental resource policy around how lands and resources are managed in Canada and the forces driving change in forestry, with the goal of developing solutions that can help enhance the long run sustainability of Canadian forests and the communities and businesses that rely upon them. Long-standing areas of his research include investigating the changing role of Indigenous peoples in land and resource management in Canada and assessing how forest-sector firms, governments and others are adapting to climate change impacts in forestry.

Hugh Scorah, postdoctoral fellow, UBC

Hugh Scorah is a researcher at UBC forestry and a business and finance consultant for the agricultural and forest sectors. He has worked on projects related to softwood lumber trade, small and medium-sized enterprises in forestry, community forestry, wildfire risk mitigation, economics of silviculture, hydrological risk and liability in forestry, timber auction design, the economics of sustained yield forestry and pricing of forest tenures.

Al Gorley, retired professional forester and former president, Professional Foresters Association

Al Gorley has over 50 years experience in forestry and natural resource management. Born in Burns Lake, he lived in a variety of communities in the northwest while growing up, including Queen Charlotte City (Daajing Giids), Kitwanga, Terrace, and Prince Rupert. His early career with the BC Forest Service saw him stationed in Houston, Lower Post, Ootsa Lake and Smithers.

During a second stint in Houston as forest district manager, he also served as president of the Association of British Columbia Forest Professionals and board chair for Northwest Community College. In 1994, he was appointed regional manager for the Prince George Forest Region and, for a while, worked concurrently as executive director of Forest Practices Code implementation. In 1998, he moved to Victoria to take on the role of vice-president for land and resources at Forest Renewal BC and was later promoted to chief operating officer.

In 2002, Gorley started his own consulting firm and worked with a wide variety of industries, communities and governments throughout the province, nationally and internationally, on natural resource and management matters. From 2004 until 2007, he served as president of the McGregor Model Forest and was a founding director of the Canadian Model Forest Network. He is a past member of the BC Forest Appeals Commission and Environmental Board and was chair of the Forest Practices Board from 2010 until 2013.

In 2019, Gorley was appointed to co-chair a strategic review of how old growth forests are managed in B.C., resulting in the 2020 report A New Future for Old Forests. Now retired, he continues to encourage management approaches that will support community and economic well-being within the envelope of ecosystem sustainability.

Laurie Kremsater, professional forester, biologist, researcher and educator

Laurie Kremsater is a professional forester and a professional biologist with more than 35 years experience in forest ecology and wildlife resource management. She completed her bachelor of science in forestry with honours and her master of science in forest wildlife ecology at UBC (1989).

She was a member of the Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel, was part of the 1990s Old Growth Strategy and part of the team that directed Weyerhaeuser’s Forest Strategy – the most extensive research, adaptive management and monitoring work in B.C. concerning sustaining biodiversity during forest management. Her initial research concerned black-tailed deer ecology and forest birds, then her work expanded to include small mammals, amphibians, species at risk and biodiversity more broadly. Her work now focuses on managing ecosystems as a whole, helping to develop sustainable forest management plans that maintain biological diversity. She designs landscape reserves for the Great Bear Rainforest Order area and trains others to undertake that task. She is helping incorporate Ecosystem-Based Management into planning for Sechelt Community Forest and Lakes Forest Landscape Plan.

Educating and developing training materials are passions, all aimed at sustaining biodiversity, while maintaining sustainable economic timber opportunity. Kremsater works for academia, government, industry and non-government organizations. After many years as a research associate at UBC, she became an independent consultant, then joined Madrone Environmental for a period, and now once again is consulting on her own, trying, not so successfully yet, to slow down.

MIL OSI Canada News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Severe Thunderstorm Watch 254

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Note: The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
SEL4

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 254
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
505 PM EDT Thu May 15 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
North-Central/Northeast North Carolina
Central and Eastern Virginia
Far Eastern West Virginia
Coastal Waters

* Effective this Thursday afternoon from 505 PM until Midnight
EDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY…Thunderstorm coverage is expected to increase over the
next few hours. Environmental conditions across the region favor a
cellular mode, including the potential for supercells capable of
large to very large hail. Some damaging gusts are possible as well.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 90
statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles north of
Lynchburg VA to 40 miles south southwest of Roanoke Rapids NC. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 251…WW 252…WW 253…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
29030.

…Mosier

SEL4

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Watch Number 254
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
505 PM EDT Thu May 15 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Watch for portions of
North-Central/Northeast North Carolina
Central and Eastern Virginia
Far Eastern West Virginia
Coastal Waters

* Effective this Thursday afternoon from 505 PM until Midnight
EDT.

* Primary threats include…
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 2
inches in diameter possible
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

SUMMARY…Thunderstorm coverage is expected to increase over the
next few hours. Environmental conditions across the region favor a
cellular mode, including the potential for supercells capable of
large to very large hail. Some damaging gusts are possible as well.

The severe thunderstorm watch area is approximately along and 90
statute miles east and west of a line from 55 miles north of
Lynchburg VA to 40 miles south southwest of Roanoke Rapids NC. For a
complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU4).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are
favorable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area.
Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening
weather conditions and listen for later statements and possible
warnings. Severe thunderstorms can and occasionally do produce
tornadoes.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 251…WW 252…WW 253…

AVIATION…A few severe thunderstorms with hail surface and aloft to
2 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind gusts to 60 knots. A
few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean storm motion vector
29030.

…Mosier

Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
SAW4
WW 254 SEVERE TSTM NC VA WV CW 152105Z – 160400Z
AXIS..90 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
55N LYH/LYNCHBURG VA/ – 40SSW RZZ/ROANOKE RAPIDS NC/
..AVIATION COORDS.. 80NM E/W /53N LYH – 39E RDU/
HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..2 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 29030.

LAT…LON 38117754 35897637 35897958 38118086

THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
FOR WOU4.

Watch 254 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

Note: Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

Low (10%)

Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

Low ( 65 knots

Low (20%)

Hail

Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

Mod (40%)

Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

Mod (40%)

Combined Severe Hail/Wind

Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

High (70%)

For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI: South Bow Reports First-quarter 2025 Results and Declares Dividend

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

CALGARY, Alberta, May 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — South Bow Corp. (TSX & NYSE: SOBO) (South Bow or the Company) reports its first-quarter 2025 financial and operational results and provides an update on its 2025 outlook. Unless otherwise noted, all financial figures in this news release are in U.S. dollars.

Highlights

Safety and operational performance

Recorded first-quarter 2025 throughput of approximately 613,000 barrels per day (bbl/d) on the Keystone Pipeline, with a System Operating Factor (SOF) of 98%, and approximately 726,000 bbl/d on the U.S. Gulf Coast segment of the Keystone Pipeline System.
Demonstrated strong project execution, completing construction of the Blackrod Connection Project’s 25-km crude oil and natural gas pipeline segments while achieving excellent safety performance. South Bow remains on schedule to complete the facility work and be ready for in-service in early 2026, with associated cash flows expected to increase through 2027.
Subsequent to period end, responded to an oil release at Milepost 171 (MP-171) of the Keystone Pipeline near Fort Ransom, N.D., on April 8, 2025. With approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), South Bow safely restarted the pipeline late on April 15, 2025 with certain operating pressure restrictions. See “Milepost 171 incident” of this news release.

Financial performance

Demonstrated financial resilience despite significant market volatility, owing to the Company’s highly contracted assets.
- Generated revenue of $498 million and net income of $88 million ($0.42/share).
- Recorded normalized earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation, and amortization (normalized EBITDA)¹ of $266 million. Lower demand for uncommitted capacity on South Bow’s pipeline systems resulted in an 8% decrease in normalized EBITDA from the fourth quarter of 2024.
- Delivered distributable cash flow¹ of $151 million.
Maintained total long-term debt and net debt¹ outstanding of $5.7 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, during the first quarter of 2025. The Company’s net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio¹ was 4.6 times as of March 31, 2025.

Returns to shareholders

Declared dividends totalling $104 million or $0.50/share to shareholders during the first quarter of 2025.
South Bow’s board of directors approved a quarterly dividend of $0.50/share, payable on July 15, 2025 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 30, 2025. The dividends will be designated as eligible dividends for Canadian income tax purposes.

Spinoff activities

Implemented South Bow’s new enterprise resource planning system, marking a significant milestone in fully establishing South Bow as an independent company. Exiting the Transition Services Agreement (TSA) with TC Energy Corporation (TC Energy) continues progressing with plans to implement South Bow’s new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in the second half of 2025.

South Bow’s unaudited consolidated interim financial statements and notes (the financial statements), and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2025 are available on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com, under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in South Bow’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at www.sec.gov. The disclosure under the section “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” in South Bow’s MD&A as at and for the three months ended March 31, 2025 is incorporated by reference into this news release.

^{____________________________}

¹ Non-GAAP financial measure or ratio that do not have standardized meanings under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and may not be comparable to measures presented by other entities. See “Non-GAAP financial measures” of this news release.

Financial and operational results

$ millions, unless otherwise noted	Three Months Ended
$ millions, unless otherwise noted	Dec. 31, 2024	March 31, 2025	March 31, 2024
FINANCIAL RESULTS
Revenue	488	498	544
Income from equity investments	12	13	12
Net income	55	88	112
Per share ¹	0.26	0.42	0.54
Normalized net income ²	112	98	114
Per share ^{1 2}	0.54	0.47	0.55
Normalized EBITDA ²	290	266	298
Keystone Pipeline System	250	235	277
Marketing	24	16	9
Intra-Alberta & Other	16	15	12
Distributable cash flow ²	183	151	178
Dividends declared	104	104	—
Per share ¹	0.50	0.50	—
Capital expenditures ³	28	32	12
Total long-term debt ⁴	5,716	5,719	5,924
Net debt ^{2 5}	4,901	4,910	5,421
Net debt-to-normalized EBITDA (ratio) ^{2 6}	4.5	4.6	4.8
Common shares outstanding, weighted average diluted (millions) ⁷	208.4	208.7	207.6
Common shares outstanding (millions) ⁷	208.0	208.2	207.6

OPERATIONAL RESULTS
Keystone Pipeline SOF (%)	96	98	96
Keystone Pipeline throughput (Mbbl/d)	621	613	643
U.S. Gulf Coast segment of Keystone Pipeline System throughput (Mbbl/d) ⁸	784	726	779
Marketlink throughput (Mbbl/d)	615	549	582

Per share amounts, with the exception of dividends, are based on weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.
Non-GAAP financial measure or ratio that do not have standardized meanings and may not be comparable to measures presented by other entities. See “Non-GAAP financial measures” of this news release.
Capital expenditures per the investing activities of the consolidated statements of cash flows of the financial statements.
Total long-term debt at March 31, 2025 and December 31, 2024 includes the Company’s senior unsecured notes and junior subordinated notes. Total long-term debt at March 31, 2024 includes the Company’s long-term debt to affiliates of TC Energy.
Includes 50% equity treatment of South Bow’s junior subordinated notes.
South Bow expects that its net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio will increase modestly through the course of 2025 as the Company continues to invest in the Blackrod Connection Project and incur one-time costs of approximately $40 million to $50 million associated with the spinoff from TC Energy (the Spinoff). Consistent with the Company’s outlook on leverage, South Bow anticipates exiting 2025 with a net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio of approximately 4.8 times and that the Company will begin reducing its leverage once the Blackrod Connection Project starts generating cash flow in 2026.
The common shares issued on Oct. 1, 2024 have been used for comparative periods, as the Company had no common shares outstanding prior to the Spinoff. For periods prior to Oct. 1, 2024, it is assumed there were no dilutive equity instruments, as there were no equity awards of South Bow outstanding prior to the Spinoff.
Comprises throughput originating in Hardisty, Alta. transported on the Keystone Pipeline, and throughput originating in Cushing, Okla. transported on Marketlink for destination in the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Milepost 171 incident

On April 8, 2025, South Bow responded to an oil release at MP-171 of the Keystone Pipeline near Fort Ransom, N.D., activating emergency response protocols and working closely with regulators, local officials, landowners, and the surrounding community. After receiving approval from PHMSA, South Bow safely restarted the pipeline late on April 15, 2025.
PHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO) requiring South Bow to undertake corrective actions, including operating under pressure restrictions for specific segments of the pipeline. The CAO also requires a root cause failure analysis (RCFA) and metallurgical testing, which independent third parties are currently conducting. South Bow will share the findings of these investigations in the coming months.
South Bow is actively monitoring the performance of the Keystone Pipeline to ensure safe and reliable operations and anticipates meeting its contractual throughput commitments under the CAO.
South Bow has recovered substantially all released volumes and is progressing towards complete remediation of the site by mid-2025. Environmental remediation costs are largely expected to be recovered through the Company’s insurance policies.
South Bow demonstrated its ability to respond quickly and return its assets to service following the incident. A core South Bow value is ‘We Are Safe’ and incident prevention on the Company’s pipeline systems is paramount.
- The Company’s integrity program is extensive, continuously and proactively incorporates new learnings and technologies, and upholds a commitment to maintaining safe operations.
- Preliminary remedial actions in response to the MP-171 incident include completion of the RCFA by third-party experts and implementation of its recommendations. South Bow will also work with its suppliers and industry experts to determine the failure mechanism. The Company expects to complete a combination of in-line inspection runs and investigative excavations to further advance its asset integrity and reliability.

Outlook

Market outlook

Crude oil pipeline capacity in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin continues to exceed crude oil supply. As a result, the demand for uncommitted capacity on South Bow’s Keystone Pipeline is expected to remain low in the near term. Additionally, rapidly changing global trade policies, including tariffs, have introduced economic and geopolitical uncertainty, leading to significant volatility in commodity prices and pricing differentials.

2025 guidance

South Bow’s guidance aims to inform readers about Management’s expectations for 2025 financial and operational results. Readers are cautioned that these estimates may not be suitable for any other purpose. See “Forward-looking information and statements” of this news release for additional information regarding factors that could cause actual events to be significantly different from those expected.

South Bow’s 2025 annual guidance is outlined below:

$ millions, except percentages	2025 Original Guidance ^{1 2}	2025 Guidance ²	2025 YTD Actuals
Normalized EBITDA	1,010 +/- 3%	1,010 +1% / -2%	266
Interest expense	325 +/- 2%	325 +/- 2%	83
Effective tax rate (%)	23% – 24%	23% – 24%	23%
Distributable cash flow	535 +/- 3%	535 +/- 3%	151
Capital expenditures
Growth	110 +/- 3%	110 +/- 3%	48
Maintenance ³	65 +/- 3%	65 +/- 3%	13

See South Bow’s March 5, 2025 news release “South Bow Reports Fourth-quarter and Year-end 2024 Results, Provides 2025 Outlook, and Declares Dividend”, available on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com, under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in South Bow’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.
Assumes average foreign exchange rate of C$/U.S.$1.4286.
Maintenance capital expenditures are generally recoverable through South Bow’s tolling arrangements.
- South Bow is reaffirming its outlook for normalized EBITDA of approximately $1.01 billion in 2025, underpinned by the Company’s highly contracted cash flows and structural demand for services, including solid financial performance in the first quarter of 2025. Approximately 90% of South Bow’s normalized EBITDA is secured through committed arrangements, which carry minimal commodity price or volumetric risk.
  - With market fundamentals and policy uncertainty expected to persist in the near term, and South Bow’s operational priorities in response to the MP-171 incident, the Company believes that any potential financial contributions from uncommitted capacity on the Keystone Pipeline will be limited in the near term. Accordingly, the Company is reducing the upper end of its normalized EBITDA guidance of $1.01 billion to 1%, and is increasing the lower end to -2% due to strong first-quarter 2025 performance.
  - The findings of the RCFA and South Bow’s next steps in response to the MP-171 incident may further impact the Company’s financial and operational outlook for 2025.
- Normalized EBITDA for the second quarter of 2025 is expected to be approximately 7% to 8% lower than first-quarter 2025 normalized EBITDA of $266 million, with a reduced outlook for South Bow’s Marketing segment as the Company realizes losses associated with certain positions that were unwound in early 2025 in the face of pricing volatility. Additional losses associated with these positions will be recognized in the third and fourth quarters of 2025.

Capital allocation priorities

South Bow takes a disciplined approach to capital allocation to preserve optionality and maximize total shareholder returns over the long term. The Company’s capital allocation priorities are built on a foundation of financial strength and supported by South Bow’s stable, predictable cash flows. South Bow’s capital allocation priorities include:
- paying a sustainable base dividend;
- strengthening the Company’s investment-grade financial position; and
- leveraging existing infrastructure within South Bow’s strategic corridor to offer customers competitive connections and enhanced optionality.

Conference call and webcast details

South Bow’s senior leadership will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the Company’s first-quarter 2025 results on May 16, 2025 at 8 a.m. MT (10 a.m. ET).

Register ahead of time to receive a unique PIN to access the conference call via telephone. Once registered, participants can dial into the conference call from their telephone via the unique PIN or click on the “Call Me” option to receive an automated call directly on their telephone.

Visit www.southbow.com/investors for the replay following the event.

Non-GAAP financial measures

In this news release, South Bow references certain non-GAAP financial measures and ratios that do not have standardized meanings under GAAP and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other entities. These non-GAAP measures include or exclude adjustments to the composition of the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Management considers these non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios to be important in evaluating and understanding the operational performance and liquidity of South Bow. These non-GAAP measures and non-GAAP ratios should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for financial information presented in accordance with GAAP.

South Bow’s non-GAAP financial measures and non-GAAP ratios include:

normalized EBITDA;
normalized net income;
normalized net income per share;
distributable cash flow;
net debt; and
net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio.

These measures and ratios are further described below, with a reconciliation to their most directly comparable GAAP measure.

Normalizing items

Normalized measures are, or include, non-GAAP financial measures and ratios and include normalized EBITDA, normalized net income, normalized net income per share, distributable cash flow, and net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio. Management uses these normalized measures to assess the financial performance of South Bow’s operations and compare period-over-period results. During certain reporting periods, the Company may incur costs that are not indicative of core operations or results. These normalized measures represent income (losses), adjusted for specific normalizing items that are believed to be significant; however, they are not reflective of South Bow’s underlying operations in the period.

These specific items include gains or losses on sales of assets or assets held for sale, unrealized fair value adjustments related to risk management activities, tariff charges, acquisition, integration, and restructuring costs, and other charges, including but not limited to, impairment, contractual costs, and settlements.

South Bow excludes the unrealized fair value adjustments related to risk management activities, as these represent the changes in the fair value of derivatives, but do not accurately reflect the gains and losses that will be realized at settlement and impact income. Therefore, South Bow does not consider them reflective of the Company’s underlying operations, despite providing effective economic hedges. Realized gains and losses on grade financial contracts are adjusted to improve comparability, as they settle in a subsequent period to the underlying transaction they are hedged against.

Separation costs relate to internal costs and external fees incurred specific to the Spinoff. These items have been excluded from normalized measures, as Management does not consider them reflective of ongoing operations and they are non-recurring in nature.

South Bow excludes tariff charges as they are not reflective of ongoing business conducted by the Company and are subject to uncertainty.

Normalized EBITDA

Normalized EBITDA is used as a measure of earnings from ongoing operations. Management uses this measure to monitor and evaluate the financial performance of the Company’s operations and to identify and evaluate trends. This measure is useful for investors as it allows for a more accurate comparison of financial performance of the Company across periods for ongoing operations. Normalized EBITDA represents income before income taxes, adjusted for the normalizing items, in addition to excluding charges for depreciation and amortization, interest expense, and interest income.

The following table reconciles income (loss) before income taxes to normalized EBITDA for the indicated periods:

$ millions	Three Months Ended
$ millions	Dec. 31, 2024		March 31, 2025		March 31, 2024
Income before income taxes	72		114		146
Adjusted for specific items:
Depreciation and amortization	62		62		61
Interest expense	84		83		94
Interest income and other	28		(6	)	(7	)
Risk management instruments	57		6		—
Keystone variable toll disputes	(3	)	—		—
Milepost 14 (MP-14) costs	4		—		—
Separation costs	(1	)	3		4
Tariff charges	—		1		—
Keystone XL costs and other	(13	)	3		—
Normalized EBITDA	290		266		298

The following table reconciles income (loss) before income taxes to normalized EBITDA by operating segment for the indicated periods:

$ millions	Three Months Ended Dec. 31, 2024
$ millions	Keystone Pipeline System		Marketing		Intra-Alberta & Other		Total
Income (loss) before income taxes	205		(32	)	(101	)	72
Adjusted for specific items:
Depreciation and amortization	59		—		3		62
Interest expense	(1	)	—		85		84
Interest income and other	(1	)	(1	)	30		28
Risk management instruments	—		57		—		57
Keystone variable toll disputes	(3	)	—		—		(3	)
MP-14 costs	4		—		—		4
Separation costs	—		—		(1	)	(1	)
Keystone XL costs and other	(13	)	—		—		(13	)
Normalized EBITDA	250		24		16		290

$ millions	Three Months Ended March 31, 2025
$ millions	Keystone Pipeline System		Marketing	Intra-Alberta & Other		Total
Income (loss) before income taxes	175		9	(70	)	114
Adjusted for specific items:
Depreciation and amortization	59		—	3		62
Interest expense	—		—	83		83
Interest income and other	(2	)	—	(4	)	(6	)
Risk management instruments	—		6	—		6
Separation costs	—		—	3		3
Tariff charges	—		1	—		1
Keystone XL costs and other	3		—	—		3
Normalized EBITDA	235		16	15		266

$ millions	Three Months Ended March 31, 2024
$ millions	Keystone Pipeline System		Marketing		Intra-Alberta & Other		Total
Income (loss) before income taxes	218		9		(81	)	146
Adjusted for specific items:
Depreciation and amortization	60		—		1		61
Interest expense	1		1		92		94
Interest income and other	(2	)	(1	)	(4	)	(7	)
Separation costs	—		—		4		4
Normalized EBITDA	277		9		12		298

Normalized net income and normalized net income per share

Normalized net income represents net income adjusted for the normalizing items described above and is used by Management to assess the earnings that are representative of South Bow’s operations. By adjusting for non-recurring items and other factors that do not reflect the Company’s ongoing performance, normalized net income provides a clearer picture of the Company’s continuing operations. This measure is particularly useful for investors as it allows for a more accurate comparison of financial performance and trends across different periods. On a per share basis, normalized net income is derived by dividing the normalized net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding at the end of the period. Management believes this per share measure is valuable for investors as it provides insight into South Bow’s profitability on a per share basis, assisting in evaluating the Company’s performance.

The following table reconciles net income to normalized net income for the indicated periods:

$ millions, except common shares outstanding and per share amounts	Three Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2024		March 31, 2025		March 31, 2024
Net income	55		88		112
Adjusted for specific items:
Risk management instruments	57		6		—
Keystone variable toll disputes	(3	)	—		—
MP-14 costs	4		—		—
Separation costs	27		3		4
Tariff charges	—		1		—
Keystone XL costs and other	(13	)	3		—
Tax effect of the above adjustments	(15	)	(3	)	(2	)
Normalized net income	112		98		114
Common shares outstanding, weighted average diluted (millions)	208.4		208.7		207.6
Normalized net income per share	0.54		0.47		0.55

Distributable cash flow

Distributable cash flow is used to assess the cash generated through business operations that can be used for South Bow’s capital allocation decisions, helping investors understand the Company’s cash-generating capabilities and its potential for returning value to shareholders. Distributable cash flow is based on income before income taxes, adjusted for depreciation and amortization, interest income and other, the normalizing items discussed above, and further adjusted for specific items, including income and distributions from the Company’s equity investments, maintenance capital expenditures, which are capitalized and generally recoverable through South Bow’s tolling arrangements, and current income taxes.

The following table reconciles income before income taxes to distributable cash flow for the indicated periods:

$ millions	Three Months Ended
$ millions	Dec. 31, 2024		March 31, 2025		March 31, 2024
Income before income taxes	72		114		146
Adjusted for specific items:
Depreciation and amortization	62		62		61
Interest income and other	28		(6	)	(7	)
Normalizing items, net of tax ¹	34		10		3
Income from equity investments	(12	)	(13	)	(12	)
Distributions from equity investments	20		19		20
Maintenance capital expenditures ²	(15	)	(13	)	(4	)
Current income tax recovery (expense)	(6	)	(22	)	(29	)
Distributable cash flow	183		151		178

Normalizing items per normalized EBITDA reconciliation, net of tax.
Maintenance capital expenditures are generally recoverable through South Bow’s tolling arrangements.

Net debt and net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio

Net debt is used as a key leverage measure to assess and monitor South Bow’s financing structure, providing an overview of the Company’s long-term debt obligations, net of cash and cash equivalents. Management believes this measure is useful for investors as it offers insights into the Company’s financial health and its ability to manage and service its debt obligations. Net debt is defined as the sum of total long-term debt with 50% treatment of the Company’s junior subordinated notes, operating lease liabilities, and dividends payable, less cash and cash equivalents, per the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio is used to monitor South Bow’s leverage position relative to its normalized EBITDA for the trailing four quarters. This ratio provides investors with insight into the Company’s ability to service its long-term debt obligations relative to its operational performance. A lower ratio indicates stronger financial health and greater capacity to meet its debt obligations.

$ millions, except ratios	Dec. 31, 2024		March 31, 2025		March 31, 2024
Long-term debt to affiliates of TC Energy	—		—		5,924
Senior unsecured notes	4,629		4,632		—
Junior subordinated notes	1,087		1,087		—
Total long-term debt	5,716		5,719		5,924
Adjusted for:
Hybrid treatment for junior subordinated notes ¹	(544	)	(544	)	—
Operating lease liabilities	22		21		19
Dividends payable	104		104		—
Cash and cash equivalents	(397	)	(390	)	(522	)
Net debt	4,901		4,910		5,421

Normalized EBITDA for the trailing four quarters	1,091		1,059		1,136
Net debt-to-normalized EBITDA (ratio)	4.5		4.6		4.8

Includes 50% equity treatment of South Bow’s junior subordinated notes.

Forward-looking information and statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, forward-looking statements), including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of applicable securities legislation, that are based on South Bow’s current expectations, estimates, projections, and assumptions in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends. All statements other than statements of historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as, “anticipate”, “will”, “expect”, “estimate”, “potential”, “future”, “outlook”, “strategy”, “maintain”, “ongoing”, “intend”, and similar expressions suggesting future events or future performance.

In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements, including certain financial outlooks, pertaining to, without limitation, the following: South Bow’s corporate vision and strategy, including its strategic priorities, its satisfaction thereof, and outlook; the Blackrod Connection Project, including in-service dates, and costs thereof; PHMSA approvals and completion of the CAO; expected interest expense and tax rate; expected capital expenditures; expected dividends; expected one-time costs relating to the Spinoff; expected shareholder returns and asset returns; demand for uncommitted capacity on the Keystone System; treatment under current and future regulatory regimes, including those relating to taxes, tariffs, and the environment; South Bow’s financial guidance for 2025 and beyond, including 2025 normalized EBITDA, 2025 interest expense, 2025 distributable cash flow, and 2025 capital expenditures; South Bow’s financial strength and flexibility; expected exit of the TSA and implementation of the SCADA system; expected receipt and sharing of investigative, root cause, and failure mechanism findings related to the MP-171 incident; expected ability to meet contractual throughput commitments on the Keystone Pipeline under the CAO; expectation that South Bow will ensure safe and reliable operations on the Keystone Pipeline; expected timing for the remediation of the MP-171 incident; potential financial contributions from uncommitted capacity on the Keystone Pipeline System; and impacts of the findings of the RCFA and response to the MP-171 incident on the financial and operational outlook.

The forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions that South Bow has made in respect thereof as of the date of this news release regarding, among other things: oil and gas industry development activity levels and the geographic region of such activity; that favourable market conditions exist and that South Bow has and will have available capital to fund its capital expenditures and other planned spending; prevailing commodity prices, interest rates, inflation levels, carbon prices, tax rates, and exchange rates; the ability of South Bow to maintain current credit ratings; the availability of capital to fund future capital requirements; future operating costs; asset integrity costs; that all required regulatory and environmental approvals can be obtained on the necessary terms in a timely manner; and prevailing regulatory, tax, and environmental laws and regulations.

Although South Bow believes the assumptions and other factors reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date hereof, there can be no assurance that these assumptions and factors will prove to be correct and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially, including, but not limited to: the regulatory environment and related decisions and requirements; the impact of competitive entities and pricing; reliance on third parties to successfully operate and maintain certain assets; the strength and operations of the energy industry; weakness or volatility in commodity prices; non-performance or default by counterparties; actions taken by governmental or regulatory authorities; the ability of South Bow to acquire or develop and maintain necessary infrastructure; fluctuations in operating results; adverse general economic and market conditions; the ability to access various sources of debt and equity capital on acceptable terms; and adverse changes in credit. The foregoing list of assumptions and risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the results implied by forward-looking statements, refer to South Bow’s annual information form dated March 5, 2025, available under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca and, from time to time, in South Bow’s public disclosure documents, available on South Bow’s website at www.southbow.com, under South Bow’s SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca, and in South Bow’s filings with the SEC at www.sec.gov.

Management approved the financial outlooks contained in this news release, including 2025 normalized EBITDA, 2025 interest expense, 2025 distributable cash flow, and 2025 capital expenditures as of the date of this news release. The purpose of these financial outlooks is to inform readers about Management’s expectations for the Company’s financial and operational results in 2025, and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release speak only as of the date hereof. South Bow does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information contained herein, except as required by applicable laws. All forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

About South Bow

South Bow safely operates 4,900 kilometres (3,045 miles) of crude oil pipeline infrastructure, connecting Alberta crude oil supplies to U.S. refining markets in Illinois, Oklahoma, and the U.S. Gulf Coast through our unrivalled market position. We take pride in what we do – providing safe and reliable transportation of crude oil to North America’s highest demand markets. Based in Calgary, Alberta, South Bow is the spinoff company of TC Energy, with Oct. 1, 2024 marking South Bow’s first day as a standalone entity. To learn more, visit www.southbow.com.

Contact information

Investor Relations

Martha Wilmot
investor.relations@southbow.com

Media Relations

Solomiya Lyaskovska
communications@southbow.com

The MIL Network –

May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Source: US State of North Carolina

Headline: Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores

Future Waters Gallery Opens May 23 at NC Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
jejohnson6
Thu, 05/15/2025 – 16:40

PINE KNOLL SHORES

The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores announces the grand opening of its newly reimagined Future Waters gallery, opening to the public on May 23. After three years of meticulous planning, design, and construction, the gallery promises an immersive, hands-on experience that connects guests directly with the Aquarium’s conservation and sustainability efforts. The Aquarium is part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

The highly anticipated, brightly colored, comic-themed gallery is a transformative addition to the Aquarium’s visitor experience. The gallery features interactive exhibits, a 1,500-gallon saltwater coral reef habitat called Conservation Cove, and working labs that highlight the Aquarium’s sustainable aquaculture efforts and the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (FRTRP).

“Before this gallery, much of our conservation work took place behind the scenes. This updated gallery now highlights these efforts and provides guests with interactive opportunities to experience these amazing ongoing conservation projects,” said Clint Taylor, NCAPKS director.

The Future Waters gallery was made possible by a $240,808 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the largest ever awarded to the North Carolina Aquariums by the IMLS.

Interactive Learning
At the heart of the gallery is a focus on education and future-focused conservation themes.

The design features large-scale, sculptural coral reefs, a projection mapping interactive where visitors can touch icons that trigger comic-style animations explaining each step in the aquaculture process, videos that interpret coral restoration and aquaculture, interactive microscope, a 360-degree interactive video kiosk that puts guests underwater during coral restoration, and many other tactile components.

The ACT Lab:
A major highlight of the gallery is the Aquarium Conservation and Technology (ACT) Lab. The ACT Lab invites visitors to observe aquarists as they raise marine species from eggs laid within the Aquarium’s habitats.

“Since initiating the aquaculture program across the NC Aquariums Division, the team has propagated over 23 different species collectively. Many of them have been shared with numerous facilities throughout the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) community through larval rearing programs and species survival plans,” Trent Boyette, NCAPKS husbandry curator.

The Coral Lab:
In the adjacent lab, guests can view live corals growing as part of the Florida Reef Tract Rescue Project (FRTRP). The FRTRP Lab in Future Waters will serve as a grow-out facility for endangered corals.

Currently, there are approximately eight approved spawning facilities and over 20 grow-out facilities with increasing numbers of participants every year. The ultimate goal of the FRTRP is to spawn these corals, grow them up, and then return them to the Florida Keys in hopes of restoring the area’s coral reef.

The new Future Waters gallery will open to the public on May 23. General admission and membership reservations can be made online in advance by visiting www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores.

About the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores
The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Pine Knoll Shores, N.C. 28512. The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. Its mission is to inspire the appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments and animals. The Aquarium is under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. For more information, please visit www.ncaquariums.com/pine-knoll-shores or call 252-247-4003.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.

May 15, 2025

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: May 14th, 2025 Heinrich Votes Against Advancing Nominees for the Interior Solicitor and Energy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Electricity

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, voted no against William Doffermyre’s nomination to be the Department of the Interior (DOI) Solicitor and Catherine Jereza’s nomination to be the Department of Energy Assistant Secretary for Electricity.

Last week, Heinrich pressed Doffermyre on the Interior Department’s failure to unfreeze federal funding that was passed into law and adhere to court rulings. Heinrich also questioned Doffermyre on his views on permitting reform and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Referring to his no vote on Mr. Doffermyre, Heinrich said, “I have been particularly troubled by the Acting Solicitor’s decision to summarily revoke all of the legal opinions issued by the previous Solicitor, including one issued in response to a federal court decision.”

“Similarly, I take strong exception to the Department’s decision to stop work on the Empire Wind Project, and its intention to shorten environmental reviews to an unrealistic 90 days,” continued Heinrich. “I did not get a sense from Mr. Doffermyre that he shared my concerns and would correct these matters if confirmed.”

On his no vote on Ms. Jereza, Heinrich said, “I am also unable to vote for Ms. Jereza because of her role in withholding funds for life-sustaining solar and battery energy projects at community healthcare centers in Puerto Rico in her current job as senior advisor to the Under Secretary for Infrastructure.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: May 9th, 2025 Heinrich Questions Trump Nominee on the Interior Department’s Failure to Unfreeze Federal Funding & Adhere to Court Rulings, Complying with the Law, and Permitting Reform

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for New Mexico Martin Heinrich

VIDEO: Heinrich Questions Interior Department Nominee for Solicitor William Doffermyre

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, questioned the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor nominee, William Doffermyre, on the Interior Department’s failure to unfreeze federal funding that was passed into law and adhere to court rulings. Heinrich additionally questioned Doffermyre on his views regarding permitting reform and complying with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

During his opening remarks at an ENR hearing to consider Doffermyre, Heinrich stressed that the Interior Department Solicitor does not make the law but enact law. Heinrich also highlighted that a Senior Advisor to Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Greg Zerzan, used his authority to suspend the legal opinions of the prior Interior Solicitor. Heinrich stressed that while departmental policies change from one administration to another, the laws do not. Heinrich also expressed his concerns that Zerzan had reinstated an earlier’ Solicitor’s opinion, which was vacated by a Federal District Court. Heinrich then directed his questions to Mr. Doffermyre on his nomination to serve as the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior.

Watch a video of Heinrich’s line of questioning here.

Heinrich opened his questions by discussing the disbursement of obligated funds, “Mr. Doffermyre, the Office of the Solicitor is responsible for making sure that the Department follows the law. However, right now, the Department continues to violate court orders with respect to frozen funds, and at some point, the excuse that these funds are quote “under review” begins to not hold water. If confirmed, will you ensure that appropriated funds are obligated and disbursed in a timely manner, in accordance with the law and in accordance with the Impoundment Control Act?”

Doffermyre answered, “Thank you, Senator Heinrich. I have not started working at the Department of Interior yet, so I’m not familiar with what appropriated funds have or have not been spent. But as the Solicitor, my job will be to review the facts and review the law and provide my clear advice on what the law requires, and the Impoundment Control Act and other legal requirements say that you know, Congress controls the purse strings. And I will analyze them and give the advice that if the law requires that funds be obligated and spent, then the funds will be obligated and spent.”

Heinrich then turned his line of questioning to highlight the Interior Department’s recent actions overruling decisions of a federal judge, “Last month, a Senior Advisor to the Secretary exercising the power of the Solicitor outside of the Vacancies Reform Act reinstated a legal opinion that had been vacated by a Federal District Court. The District Court vacated the prior solicitor’s opinion because the solicitor had misinterpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Notably, the Justice Department did not press an appeal to that court’s decision. Yet the Senior Advisor’s opinion purports to reinstate the vacated opinion in 93 of the nation’s 94 judicial districts. So I’m curious, do you believe that a Solicitor, or even an Advisor exercising the Solicitor’s authority can overrule the decision of a federal district judge?”

Doffermyre replied, “Thank you, Senator Heinrich. the short answer is, No. I do not believe that the Solicitor can overrule a Federal District Judge. M-Opinions, what you’re referring to, is something that I’ve learned a little about. And I look forward to learning a lot more about. But they’re the highest-level legal interpretation by the Solicitor, and they are binding. Those opinions are binding on the Department of Interior. My past, as you heard, in addition to Easter Bunny and Hannah Raft guide and other things, I was a litigator for 12 years. I’ve since gone on to the private sector, but when I first learned about M-Opinions, and took, you know, turn through a few of them, I thought, wow, this is really going to hurt them. Back to my, my litigation days, they are very long, reasoned opinions. They look a lot like court opinions, and I look forward to exercising some of those skills that I learned in order to analyze the law and the facts and provide them opinions that are that are sound and, and durable, and will stand up in court.”

Heinrich then turned to permitting reform and the necessity of meeting legal requirements throughout the process, “I want to go back for just a minute to something that the Chairman asked you about, which is complying with NEPA, with both environmental impact statements and environmental assessments in these 14 to 28 day timelines. And if you can do that and meet all the requirements of the law, I’m all for it. I think what you’ve seen in this Committee has been a bipartisan commitment to permitting reform, to getting to yes or no faster for projects. However, if you get to the end of 28 days and, and you haven’t been able to meet all the legal requirements for an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement), if at that point you publish an EIS that does not meet those requirements, it creates litigation risk. That’s the opposite of shovels in the ground. So, talk to me about how you’re going to balance that. If you can get to a high-quality legal product that does not create litigation risks for the proponents in 28 days? I’m all for that, but if you haven’t checked all those boxes, at the end of 28 days, are you going to continue forward and make sure that those products actually will withstand, legal challenge?”

Doffermyre answered, “Thank you. That’s a great question, and I do want to first say thank you very much to you and the members of this committee for the work that you’ve done on permitting reform. The Fiscal Responsibility Act, with the time limits for NEPA, as well as the work for the permitting reform bill that didn’t quite pass last year were both very, very welcome is to the industry, when it comes to…”

Heinrich interjected to speak to his colleagues, “We could still pass that law, I would just mention to all of my colleagues. I think that would be a good idea.”

Doffermyre continued, “But the short answer to your question is, well, I don’t know if there’s a short answer. What I will say is, it would do no good and would be counterproductive to publish a final EIS and a record of decision that did not, you know, entail the necessary hard look at what’s required by the statute. You know, you can get a permanent 28 days, but if two years’ worth of litigation results in a remand, that’s going to require six months of a new analysis that’s not doing anyone good, that’s not getting shots in the ground. So, we are completely aligned on that Senator Heinrich. Thank you.”

Heinrich wrapped his questions, “Thank you, I appreciate it.”

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 253

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

WW 253 TORNADO IL WI 152005Z – 160300Z

URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Tornado Watch Number 253
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
305 PM CDT Thu May 15 2025

The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

* Tornado Watch for portions of
Far Northern Illinois
Central/Eastern/Southern Wisconsin

* Effective this Thursday afternoon and evening from 305 PM until
1000 PM CDT.

* Primary threats include…
A few tornadoes and a couple intense tornadoes possible
Scattered large hail and isolated very large hail events to 3
inches in diameter likely
Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

SUMMARY…Thunderstorms are expected to develop along a warm front
and move into the region over the next several hours. Environmental
conditions support supercells capable of all severe hazards,
including large to very large hail and tornadoes.

The tornado watch area is approximately along and 60 statute miles
east and west of a line from 40 miles northeast of Wausau WI to 20
miles south southwest of Janesville WI. For a complete depiction of
the watch see the associated watch outline update (WOUS64 KWNS
WOU3).

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
and possible warnings.

&&

OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 251…WW 252…

AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
storm motion vector 21030.

…Mosier

Read more

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Progress in implementing the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030 and in protecting primary and old-growth forests – E-000682/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
1. The Joint Research Centre monitors the progress of Member States in implementing the EU Biodiversity Strategy[1] for 2030 and its targets[2]. The European Environment Agency (EEA) has published dashboards on the reported progress towards achieving 30% of protected areas coverage on land[3] and at sea[4] by 2030. For the period between 2011 and 2022, these dashboards show a doubling of marine areas designated as protected[5], but only limited progress on land[6], and hence a need for Member States to step up efforts if the targets are to be achieved by 2030.

Given that only seven Member States have submitted pledges that outline their national coverage of strictly protected areas, a reliable EU-level assessment of progress towards achieving 10% of strictly protected areas by 2030 will only be possible once the EEA has revised its reporting tool of nationally protected areas in 2026.

Regarding primary and old-growth forests, the Commission is currently analysing their mapping and protection by Member States. Members States should map their primary and old growth forests by 2025 and strictly protect them by 2029[7].

2. The Commission does not have specific information[8] on the condition of primary and old-growth forests in the EU, nor does it currently intend to undertake such an analysis, except where such forests fall under provisions of the Habitats Directive[9] or the Nature Restoration Regulation[10]. A common definition of old-growth forest was provided in the 2023 Commission guidelines[11].

3. While the Commission does not have official data on the coverage of primary and old-growth forests, of those areas mapped, 87% are within strictly protected areas[12]. However, this figure needs to be read with caution given the significant mapping deficit in certain Member States[13].

[1] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/biodiversity-strategy-2030_en.

[2] E.g. A coherent network of protected areas: https://dopa.jrc.ec.europa.eu/kcbd/EUBDS2030-dashboard/?version=1#Target%201 .

[3] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/terrestrial-protected-areas-in-europe.

[4] https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/analysis/indicators/marine-protected-areas-in-europes-seas.

[5] From 5.9% in 2012 to 12.3% in 2022.

[6] From 24.3% in 2011 to 26.1% in 2022.

[7] https://environment.ec.europa.eu/publications/guidelines-defining-mapping-monitoring-and-strictly-protecting-eu-primary-and-old-growth-forests_en.

[8] Beyond the information that is published in the scientific literature: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-021-00988-7 , https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14404.

[9] Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, OJ L 206, 22.7.1992, p. 7-50.

[10] Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2024 on nature restoration and amending Regulation (EU) 2022/869, OJ L, 2024/1991, 29.7.2024.

[11] https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/cef2f588-7c54-11ee-99ba-01aa75ed71a1.

[12] https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC124671.

[13] Estimated at ~4.4 million hectares.
Last updated: 15 May 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Committee Democrats Introduce Bill to Elevate Tribal Leadership in Land Management
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jared Huffman Representing the 2nd District of California

May 15, 2025

Washington, D.C. – Today, top Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee introduced the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act, a landmark bill that ensures Tribal Nations are full and equal partners in the management of federal lands. The legislation would direct the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate Tribal co-management into decision-making processes—affirming Tribal sovereignty and fulfilling the U.S. federal government’s longstanding trust and treaty obligations.

“As wildfires grow more devastating and climate change accelerates, we simply cannot afford to ignore the expertise of those who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial,” said Ranking Member Huffman. “For too long, the federal government has left Tribal Nations out of decision-making processes when it comes to managing public lands, but these lands often hold deep cultural, spiritual, and ecological significance for Tribal communities. This bill changes that by creating a clear framework for real, equal partnership—where Tribes help shape decisions, lead restoration efforts, and bring their knowledge to the table in a way that is respected, protected, and empowered. This bill would help build a foundation for shared stewardship that respects Tribal sovereignty, improves forest health, and strengthens our communities against climate-driven disasters. It’s long overdue.”

“Federal recognition and respect for the deeply rooted relationship between Indigenous peoples and the land is overdue,” said Vice Ranking Member Sarah Elfreth. “As the original stewards of this land for centuries, their wisdom and lived experiences in preserving ecosystems, waterways, and natural resources like our forests offer generational knowledge we cannot afford to overlook. The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act takes an important step in ensuring Indigenous communities have their rightful seat at the table.”

“Tribal Nations have been stewards of our forests and lands since time immemorial, guided by deep cultural knowledge and respect for the natural world,” said Representative Teresa Leger Fernández, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. “When we recognize Tribes authority to lead and co-manage our public lands, we not only honor their sovereignty—we also protect our forests, our water, and our future. The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act recognizes that Tribal leadership is not just a matter of justice, it is essential for a healthy planet and resilient communities.”

“I’m proud to join Ranking Member Huffman in introducing this bill to elevate Tribal voices in land management decisions. In Colorado, where many Tribes, including the Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute, have deep ties to the land, this landmark bill will improve Tribal co-management of our public lands.” said Representative Joe Neguse, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Federal Lands. “I’m excited to join my colleagues in an effort to recognize Tribal Nations as equal partners in land stewardship, and uplift their longstanding ecological knowledge.”

“Tribal Nations have managed these lands for thousands of years—they know what they’re doing,” said Representative Val Hoyle, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries. “If we’re serious about preserving our federal lands and preventing wildfires, we need to work with the people who’ve been protecting these forests long before the federal government existed. This bill gives Tribes the seat at the table they deserve and brings their deep knowledge into decisions that make our communities safer and our forests stronger.”

“Tribal Nations were stewards of their own lands for centuries before the U.S. government stepped in–they deserve an equal role in managing them now. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing legislation that affirms Tribal sovereignty and strengthens Indigenous partnerships in the management of federal lands. Our state is home to 22 federally recognized tribes; this bill ensures Tribal voices are central in shaping the future of our forests and public lands, especially as we work together to address the climate crisis,” said Representative Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Ranking Member of the Energy and Minerals Subcommittee.

BACKGROUND

Tribal Nations have stewarded these lands since time immemorial, using traditional ecological knowledge to reduce wildfire risk, restore ecosystems, and protect sacred cultural resources. Yet despite this expertise, many Tribes continue to face bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of statutory authority that limit their participation in land management decisions.

This bill seeks to change that.

The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act:
- Requires the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs to develop Tribal Co-Management Plans in coordination with the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee.
- Mandates culturally appropriate training for Department of the Interior employees engaged in Tribal Co-Management work.
- Extends statutory authority to the U.S. Forest Service to enter into co-management agreements with Tribes for activities including forest planning, ecological restoration, recreation, and research.
- Ensures regular review of Tribal Co-Management Plans and allows Tribes to request reviews following natural disasters.
- Directs agencies to incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into planning, with safeguards to protect data sovereignty and cultural integrity.
- Reduces administrative burdens on Tribes by streamlining reporting and compliance processes.
STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

“We are excited to endorse Rep. Huffman’s tribal self-determination and co-management in forestry bill. Karuk people have been managing our homelands since time immemorial and partnering with the US Forest Service for decades. We appreciate that this bill recognizes the importance of sovereign-to-sovereign co-management frameworks that enable us to do the important work of proactively managing our forests and making our landscapes more resilient to wildfire in a manner consistent with our indigenous knowledge practice and belief systems. We look forward to progressing these efforts in a bipartisan manner to enable more proactive management across multi-jurisdictional landscapes” Karuk Chairman Russell “Buster” Attebery

“The Stewardship Project supports the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act as a vital step toward reorienting federal land management around active stewardship and Indigenous leadership. This bill directly reflects recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission by ensuring Tribes are not just consulted, but empowered as equal partners in forest management.” The Stewardship Project Co-Chairs Scott Stephens, Don Hankins, and Sara Clark

“This legislation builds upon the shared stewardship authorities authorized by past Congresses to create a permanent co-management role in improving the health and resilience of federal lands. It would give tribes the ability to expand the successful models and practices used in Indian Country for the benefit of all federal land within their traditional territories. We fully support Congressman Huffman’s legislation and urge its passage by Congress.” Cody Desautel, President, InterTribal Timber Council

“Sustainable Northwest supports the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act and Representative Huffman’s recognition of Tribal sovereignty and treaty rights. Legislation designed to protect and manage federal lands must respect, uphold, and implement the legally binding obligations the federal government has to Tribal nations. This legislation paves the way for a new approach to manage and enhance federal lands, add workforce capacity, and uphold Tribal and treaty rights in land management by formally including Tribal Nations in planning and decision-making.” Dylan Kruse, President, Sustainable Northwest

“The Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition is strongly in support of the Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act which advances opportunities for Tribal co-management and co-stewardship of federal public lands. This bill is an important step in bolstering Tribal sovereignty, honoring protected Tribal rights, and bringing Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge into federal forest and grassland management. We thank Congressman Huffman for his leadership on this issue critical to the stewardship and resilience of rural communities and landscapes of the West.” Laurel Harkness, Coalition Director, Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition

“The Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission recognized co-management of federal lands with Tribes as a critical tool to achieve wildfire risk reduction. This bill expands the ability of the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to partner with Tribes to plan and accomplish much-needed restoration and risk reduction work and is an important step forward in expansion of federal co-management authority.” Tyson Bertone-Riggs, Managing Director, Alliance for Wildfire Resilience

“Tribal Co-Management Plans are an important vehicle for fulfilling our nation’s treaty and trust responsibilities to Tribal Nations and improving the overall stewardship of fire-dependent public lands. The Climate and Wildfire Institute supports The Tribal Self-Determination and Co-Management in Forestry Act as a vital pathway for addressing the wildfire crisis by upholding and advancing Tribal rights and access consistent with recommendations from the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission Report.” Marissa Christiansen, Executive Director at the Climate and Wildfire Institute

“Our forests are unhealthy, and Tribal communities are held back from applying time-tested and locally driven practices in our own homelands. This bill on co-management is a fundamental step forward to restore forests and our communities who have managed them for thousands of years.” Ryan Reed, (Karuk, Hupa, Yurok), Director of FireGeneration Collaborative (FireGen)

###

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism – A10-0085/2025

Source: European Parliament

Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety
Rapporteur: Antonio Decaro
(Simplified procedure – Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Procedure)

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

(COM(2025)0087 – C10‑0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))

(Ordinary legislative procedure: first reading)

The European Parliament,

– having regard to the Commission proposal to Parliament and the Council (COM(2025)0087),

– having regard to Article 294(2) and Article 192(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, pursuant to which the Commission submitted the proposal to Parliament (C10-0035/2025),

– having regard to Article 294(3) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

– having regard to the budgetary assessment by the Committee on Budgets,

– having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee of 29 April 2025 [1],

– after consulting the Committee of the Regions,

– having regard to Rules 60 and 58 of its Rules of Procedure,

– having regard to the opinions of he Committee on International Trade and the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy,

– having regard to the report of the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety (A10-0085/2025),

1. Adopts its position at first reading hereinafter set out;

2. Calls on the Commission to refer the matter to Parliament again if it replaces, substantially amends or intends to substantially amend its proposal;

3. Instructs its President to forward its position to the Council, the Commission and the national parliaments.

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 25 a (new)


Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(25a) The CBAM applies to importation of electricity, but it should not apply to electricity generated entirely in the exclusive economic zone of an EEA Member State and imported directly into the customs territory of the Union ;

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Article 1 – paragraph 1 – point 1 – point b a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2023/956

Article 2 – paragraph 3 b (new)


Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	(ba) the following paragraph 3b is inserted:
	3b. By way of derogation from paragraphs 1 and 2, this Regulation shall not apply to electricity generated entirely in the exclusive economic zone of an EEA Member State and imported directly into the customs territory of the Union.

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Annex I – paragraph 1 – point 1 a (new)

Regulation (EU) 2023/956

Annex IV – point 3 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 5


Present text	Amendment
	(1a) In point 3, in the notes explaining the formula for SEEg in the first paragraph, the note for EEImpMat is replaced by the following:
EEInpMat	EEInpMat
are the embedded emissions of the input materials (precursors) consumed in the production process. Only input materials (precursors) listed as relevant to the system boundaries of the production process as specified in the implementing act adopted pursuant to Article 7(7) are to be considered. The relevant EEInpMat are calculated as follows:	are the embedded emissions of the input materials (precursors) consumed in the production process. Only input materials (precursors) listed in Annex I and originating in third countries and territories that are not exempted pursuant to Annex III, Section 1 are to be considered. The relevant EEInpMat are calculated as follows:

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur declares under his exclusive responsibility that he did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

28.4.2025BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS

for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

(COM(2025)0087 – C10‑0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))

Rapporteur for budgetary assessment: Sandra Gómez López

The Committee on Budgets has carried out a budgetary assessment of the proposal under Rule 58 of the Rules of Procedure and has reached the following conclusions:

A. whereas the proposal by the Commission to simplify the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism(CBAM) aims at achieving significant savings in terms of administrative costs for EU importers of CBAM goods;

B. whereas the proceeds of the CBAM are to become an EU own resource according to the amended Commission proposal of 23 June 2023 for a Council decision amending Decision (EU, Euratom) 2020/2053 on the system of own resources of the European Union (COM(2023)0331); whereas Parliament approved this proposal in its legislative resolution of 9 November 2023 [2];

C. whereas the Council has failed to implement the steps set out in the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources laid down in the Interinstitutional Agreement (IIA), the objectives of this roadmap being to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NextGenerationEU (NGEU) debt;

D. whereas the estimated revenue from the CBAM would diminish in proportion to the CO2 emissions captured in the scope of the simplified regulation; whereas this impact would remain modest, presumably within one per cent of the overall estimated revenue;

E. whereas the Commission proposal entails additional operational expenditure in Heading 3 to be financed by means of redeployment from a budget line in Heading 4 and administrative expenditure for human resources in Heading 7 to be financed by redeployment within Heading 7;

F. whereas the penalties for CBAM declarants in breach of the regulation are, in principle, to be aligned with excess emission penalties under the Emissions Trading System (ETS); whereas the national competent authorities remain in charge of establishing and enforcing such measures based on implementing acts;

1. Takes note of the proposal to simplify the CBAM regulation in the context of an overall initiative to improve the EU’s competitiveness;

2. Recalls that Parliament has repeatedly endorsed a new own resource based on the CBAM and is keenly aware that this own resource is one of the few candidates that also enjoy tangible support from the Member States in the Council; regrets, therefore, that the embedded emissions covered under the reduced scope of the CBAM would lead to proportionately lower own resources revenue from the CBAM; acknowledges, however, that the amounts (in the order of EUR 20 million per year) and share (1 %) concerned are modest compared to the overall figures that the CBAM is expected to produce in terms of revenue;

3. Confirms that the amending regulation remains compatible with Parliament’s consultative opinion of 9 November 2023, which approves the Commission’s proposal for an amended Council decision on the system of own resources, including a new own resource based on the CBAM;

4. Considers that there are no provisions in the amending regulation that would fall under Rule 58(4), i.e. covering exclusively budgetary aspects which the committee responsible for the subject matter would not be allowed to amend; considers, furthermore, that no legislative amendments in this regard are necessary at this stage;

5. Recalls that the amendments or compromises in the course of the negotiations must not lead to any provisions contradicting Parliament’s established position on the use of CBAM revenue as an own resource; considers it necessary, therefore, to take part in the further negotiations, including the trilogues, in order to monitor the consistency with Parliament’s position on own resources and other pertinent budget-related provisions, and to ensure that the final agreement is compatible with the current MFF;

6. Observes certain flaws and errors in the Legislative Financial and Digital Statement (LFS) that should be rectified in the course of the further process, in a revised version of the Statement; questions, in this respect, the annual amounts listed in the table under Section 3.3 and, in particular, whether there will already be any revenue collected in 2026; also considers that the budget line (which is from the expenditure title) mentioned in this section is incorrect; recalls that in order to be consistent with present practice and the proposed own resources legislation, amounts indicated in this section should be shown ‘net’ of the 25 % collection costs to be retained by Member States and converted into current prices;

7. Acknowledges that the level of revenue foregone, in the order of EUR 21 million as of 2030, is non-material compared to the cost savings for companies, especially SMEs, and acceptable in view of the overall revenue expected from the CBAM;

8. Takes note of the necessary additional operational and administrative appropriations as indicated in the LFS; reiterates its long-standing position that new tasks and responsibilities should, in principle, be financed by fresh resources; deplores the limited margins available in the MFF and acknowledges that they could justify a certain level of reallocation; warns that the additional operational amounts will use a sizeable share of the remaining margin under Heading 3; also recognises that the redeployment from the instrument for financial support for customs control equipment (CCEI) implies the creation of some additional margin in Heading 4; determines that the amounts mentioned under points 3.2.1, 3.2.3 and 3.2.6 in the LFS are compatible with the MFF ceilings in Headings 3, 4 and 7, but will require adjustments in the financial programming; questions, nonetheless, whether such redeployment operations are in line with the ring-fencing logic of the MFF headings;

9. Questions why a reduction of the scope, by an alleged 90 %, of companies to be registered as authorised CBAM declarants does not lead to a lower level of administrative needs under Heading 7;

10. Acknowledges that any substantive changes in the governance of the implementation and enforcement of the CBAM, such as those related to the penalties for non-compliance, would be beyond the scope of this simplification initiative; considers, however, in light of the planned revision of the CBAM regulation, that the proceeds of the penalties could eventually be considered as general revenue for the EU budget;

11. Notes that the simplification initiative is also presented as a key enabler for a potential future extension of the scope of the CBAM; expects that such an extension would have significant budgetary implications, including for revenue flows;

12. Recalls that the Union’s budget is under strain and stresses the need for additional sustainable and resilient revenue; points to the legally binding roadmap towards the introduction of new own resources laid down in the IIA, in which Parliament, the Council and the Commission undertook to introduce sufficient new own resources to at least cover the repayment of NGEU debt; recalls its support for the amended Commission proposal on the system of own resources; is deeply concerned by the complete absence of progress on the system of own resources in the Council; calls on the Council to adopt this proposal as a matter of urgency and urges the Commission to spare no effort in supporting the adoption process; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to continue efforts to identify additional genuine new own resources beyond those specified in the IIA.

As part of its budgetary assessment, the Committee on Budgets also submits the following amendments to the proposal:

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital [10] a (new)


Text proposed by the Commission	Amendment
	([10]a). This Regulation has implications for the Union budget. Accordingly, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets adopted a budgetary assessment, which forms an integral part of Parliament’s mandate for negotiations.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for budgetary assessment declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

Title	Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
References	COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)
Committee(s) responsible	ENVI
Date announced in plenary	BUDG 31.3.2025
Rapporteur for budgetary assessment Date appointed	Sandra Gómez López 26.3.2025
Discussed in committee	31.3.2025
Date adopted	23.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	23 9 1
Members present for the final vote	Georgios Aftias, Rasmus Andresen, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Olivier Chastel, Thomas Geisel, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Monika Hohlmeier, Alexander Jungbluth, Fabienne Keller, Giuseppe Lupo, Siegfried Mureşan, Matjaž Nemec, Danuše Nerudová, João Oliveira, Ruggero Razza, Karlo Ressler, Bogdan Rzońca, Julien Sanchez, Hélder Sousa Silva, Nicolae Ştefănuță, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs, Lucia Yar, Auke Zijlstra
Substitutes present for the final vote	Stine Bosse, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jacek Protas
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Tobias Cremer, Marieke Ehlers, Julien Leonardelli, Philippe Olivier

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT

23	+
NI	Thomas Geisel
PPE	Georgios Aftias, Isabel Benjumea Benjumea, Monika Hohlmeier, Siegfried Mureşan, Danuše Nerudová, Jacek Protas, Karlo Ressler, Hélder Sousa Silva
Renew	Stine Bosse, Olivier Chastel, Fabienne Keller, Lucia Yar
S&D	Tobias Cremer, Jean-Marc Germain, Sandra Gómez López, Giuseppe Lupo, Matjaž Nemec, Carla Tavares, Nils Ušakovs
Verts/ALE	Rasmus Andresen, Rasmus Nordqvist, Nicolae Ştefănuță

9	–
ECR	Bogdan Rzońca
ESN	Alexander Jungbluth
PfE	Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Marieke Ehlers, Julien Leonardelli, Philippe Olivier, Julien Sanchez, Auke Zijlstra
The Left	João Oliveira

1	0
ECR	Ruggero Razza

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (24.4.2025)

for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism

(COM(2025)0087 – C10‑0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Karin Karlsbro

The Committee on International Trade calls on the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

The rapporteur for opinion declares under her exclusive responsibility that she did not receive input from any entity or person to be mentioned in this Annex pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
References	COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)
Committee(s) responsible	ENVI
Opinion by Date announced in plenary	INTA 31.3.2025
Rapporteur for the opinion Date appointed	Karin Karlsbro 19.3.2025
Simplified procedure – date of decision	7.4.2025
Discussed in committee	7.4.2025
Date adopted	23.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	36 2 0
Members present for the final vote	Manon Aubry, Christophe Bay, Udo Bullmann, Andi Cristea, Raphaël Glucksmann, Markéta Gregorová, Svenja Hahn, Taner Kabilov, Karin Karlsbro, Rihards Kols, Sebastian Kruis, Bernd Lange, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, Thierry Mariani, Gabriel Mato, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Daniele Polato, Kathleen Van Brempt, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, Catarina Vieira, Jörgen Warborn, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
Substitutes present for the final vote	Petras Auštrevičius, Nicolas Bay, Saskia Bricmont, Markus Buchheit, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Fabio De Masi, Jean-Marc Germain, Hana Jalloul Muro, Sandra Kalniete, David McAllister, Jessika Van Leeuwen
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Alexander Bernhuber, Daniel Buda, Fabrice Leggeri

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

36	+
ECR	Nicolas Bay, Rihards Kols, Daniele Polato
NI	Fabio De Masi, Taner Kabilov
PPE	Alexander Bernhuber, Daniel Buda, Sandra Kalniete, Ilia Lazarov, Miriam Lexmann, David McAllister, Gabriel Mato, Jessika Van Leeuwen, Jörgen Warborn, Bogdan Andrzej Zdrojewski, Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez
PfE	Christophe Bay, Sebastian Kruis, Fabrice Leggeri, Thierry Mariani
Renew	Petras Auštrevičius, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Marie-Pierre Vedrenne
S&D	Udo Bullmann, Andi Cristea, Jean-Marc Germain, Raphaël Glucksmann, Hana Jalloul Muro, Bernd Lange, Javier Moreno Sánchez, Kathleen Van Brempt
Verts/ALE	Saskia Bricmont, Markéta Gregorová, Catarina Vieira

2	–
ESN	Markus Buchheit
The Left	Manon Aubry

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (23.4.2025)

for the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety

on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism.

(COM(2025)0087 – C10‑0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD))

Rapporteur for opinion: Filip Turek

(Simplified procedure – Rule 52(2) and (3) of the Rules of Procedure)

SHORT JUSTIFICATION

The European Commission’ proposals aims at simplifying the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) obligations for small importers—primarily SMEs and individuals—by introducing a new de minimis exemption for imports below 50 tonnes mass. These importers bring in minor volumes of CBAM goods, resulting in negligible levels of embedded emissions entering the EU from third countries. Despite this exemption, approximately 99% of total embedded emissions would remain covered under CBAM, while around 90% of importers would be relieved from its obligations. For those importers who continue to fall within the CBAM scope, the proposal also includes a series of simplifications aimed at easing compliance. These measures involve streamlining the authorisation process for declarants, simplifying emission calculation procedures and improving the management of CBAM-related financial liabilities.

The initiative takes a more pragmatic approach for improving the overall functioning of CBAM, particularly by easing the obligations placed on smaller economic actors. Thus, the proposed exemption marks a necessary and welcome simplification. This, along with the accompanying set of procedural facilitations, represents a step forward in ensuring that the CBAM can be administratively manageable.

Within the Omnibus framework, it is appropriate to concentrate on the elements explicitly opened by the Commission, while awaiting the upcoming comprehensive review, which will provide a more suitable occasion to consider structural and far-reaching revisions, including concerns on the effectiveness of CBAM.

In its current design, CBAM disproportionately affects certain energy-intensive sectors and risks being an ineffective tool to ensure a level playing field for EU industries and to prevent carbon leakage. In fact, it could undermine the EU competitiveness by increasing the production costs and the administrative burdens for EU companies.

The structural revision is therefore urgent to address the risks of resource reshuffling and circumvention. Equally pressing is the postponement (or the deletion) of the phase out from the ETS free allowances, as well as the need to implement effective solutions for EU exporters. Moreover, the possible extension of CBAM to downstream products should be preceded by a thorough and comprehensive impact assessment.

While the ITRE Committee will refrain from tabling amendments to the proposal, the threshold could have merited more in-depth consideration. The de minimis exemption may in fact be too low to reflect meaningfully the reality of many SMEs and micro-enterprises. Data indicates that several businesses, including those officially categorized as “micro,” regularly exceed the threshold of 50 tonnes. Hence, a balanced solution could be raising it to at least 110 tons. This adjustment would strike a more realistic and equitable balance, enhancing the administrative feasibility of the CBAM, while continuing to capture the vast majority of emissions within the scope of the Mechanism (according to Commission estimates, still over 98%). The exemption of more importers from CBAM obligations would also generate additional cost savings, without significantly undermining the ratio of the proposal.

In conclusion, waiting for the upcoming comprehensive review, which will provide a timely opportunity to address the outstanding issues, the Rapporteur notes the willingness of the ITRE Committee to not table amendments and supports the Commission’s initiative.

*******

The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy calls on the Committee on the Environment, Climate and Food Safety, as the committee responsible, to propose that Parliament adopt its position at first reading, taking over the Commission proposal.

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS
FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR FOR THE OPINION HAS RECEIVED INPUT

Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that he received input from the following entities or persons in the preparation of the report, prior to the adoption thereof in committee:

Entity and/or person

Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic

ČEZ Group

Emerson International

Italian Confederation of Craft Trades and Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

European Express Association

Round Table on Climate Change and Sustainable Transition

Office of the Government of the Czech Republic

The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur.

Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that he has submitted to the concerned natural persons the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

Title	Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
References	COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)
Committee(s) responsible	ENVI
Opinion by Date announced in plenary	ITRE 31.3.2025
Rapporteur for the opinion Date appointed	Filip Turek 25.3.2025
Simplified procedure – date of decision	18.3.2025
Date adopted	24.4.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	73 5 6
Members present for the final vote	Wouter Beke, Tom Berendsen, Michael Bloss, Barbara Bonte, Paolo Borchia, Markus Buchheit, Borys Budka, João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Elena Donazzan, Matthias Ecke, Sofie Eriksson, Jan Farský, Niels Fuglsang, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Niels Flemming Hansen, Eero Heinäluoma, Ivars Ijabs, Fernand Kartheiser, Seán Kelly, Rudi Kennes, Ondřej Krutílek, Eszter Lakos, Isabella Lövin, Yannis Maniatis, Sara Matthieu, Marina Mesure, Angelika Niebler, Ville Niinistö, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Pascale Piera, Jüri Ratas, Aura Salla, Elena Sancho Murillo, Jussi Saramo, Paulius Saudargas, Diego Solier, Marcin Sypniewski, Beata Szydło, Dario Tamburrano, Bruno Tobback, Matej Tonin, Yvan Verougstraete, Mariateresa Vivaldini, Andrea Wechsler, Elena Yoncheva, Auke Zijlstra, Nicola Zingaretti
Substitutes present for the final vote	Christophe Bay, Adam Bielan, Marc Botenga, Andi Cristea, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Chiara Gemma, Andreas Glück, Michalis Hadjipantela, Martin Hojsík, Radan Kanev, Katri Kulmuni, Sergey Lagodinsky, András László, Marion Maréchal, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Pierre-Romain Thionnet, Francesco Torselli, Marie Toussaint
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Magdalena Adamowicz, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Krzysztof Brejza, Jaroslav Bžoch, José Cepeda, Vivien Costanzo, Ton Diepeveen, Siegbert Frank Droese, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Svenja Hahn, Andrzej Halicki, Ilia Lazarov, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Axel Voss

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL
BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION

73	+
ECR	Adam Bielan, Elena Donazzan, Chiara Gemma, Fernand Kartheiser, Ondřej Krutílek, Marion Maréchal, Diego Solier, Beata Szydło, Francesco Torselli, Mariateresa Vivaldini
NI	Elena Yoncheva
PPE	Magdalena Adamowicz, Wouter Beke, Tom Berendsen, Krzysztof Brejza, Raúl de la Hoz Quintano, Jan Farský, Kamila Gasiuk-Pihowicz, Michalis Hadjipantela, Andrzej Halicki, Niels Flemming Hansen, Radan Kanev, Seán Kelly, Eszter Lakos, Ilia Lazarov, Angelika Niebler, Jüri Ratas, Aura Salla, Paulius Saudargas, Matej Tonin, Axel Voss, Andrea Wechsler
PfE	Christophe Bay, Paolo Borchia, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Jaroslav Bžoch, Anne-Sophie Frigout, András László, Pascale Piera, Pierre-Romain Thionnet
Renew	João Cotrim De Figueiredo, Andreas Glück, Svenja Hahn, Martin Hojsík, Ivars Ijabs, Katri Kulmuni, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Yvan Verougstraete
S&D	José Cepeda, Vivien Costanzo, Andi Cristea, Matthias Ecke, Sofie Eriksson, Niels Fuglsang, Bruno Gonçalves, Nicolás González Casares, Giorgio Gori, Eero Heinäluoma, Yannis Maniatis, Thomas Pellerin-Carlin, Tsvetelina Penkova, Elena Sancho Murillo, Bruno Tobback, Nicola Zingaretti
Verts/ALE	Michael Bloss, Sergey Lagodinsky, Isabella Lövin, Sara Matthieu, Ville Niinistö, Virginijus Sinkevičius, Marie Toussaint

5	–
The Left	Marc Botenga, Rudi Kennes, Marina Mesure, Jussi Saramo, Dario Tamburrano

6	0
ESN	Markus Buchheit, Siegbert Frank Droese, Marcin Sypniewski
PfE	Barbara Bonte, Ton Diepeveen, Auke Zijlstra

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Title	Amending Regulation (EU) 2023/956 as regards simplifying and strengthening the carbon border adjustment mechanism
References	COM(2025)0087 – C10-0035/2025 – 2025/0039(COD)
Date submitted to Parliament	27.2.2025
Committee(s) responsible	ENVI
Committees asked for opinions Date announced in plenary	BUDG 23.4.2025	INTA 31.3.2025	ITRE 31.3.2025
Rapporteurs Date appointed	Antonio Decaro 10.3.2025
Simplified procedure – date of decision	10.3.2025
Discussed in committee	18.3.2025
Budgetary assessment Date of budgetary assessment	BUDG 23.4.2025
Date adopted	13.5.2025
Result of final vote	+: –: 0:	85 1 1
Members present for the final vote	Bartosz Arłukowicz, Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Anja Arndt, Thomas Bajada, Barbara Bonte, Stine Bosse, Lynn Boylan, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Pascal Canfin, Laurent Castillo, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Ivan David, Antonio Decaro, Ondřej Dostál, Viktória Ferenc, Pietro Fiocchi, Emma Fourreau, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Heléne Fritzon, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Esther Herranz García, Martin Hojsík, Pär Holmgren, Romana Jerković, Marc Jongen, Ondřej Knotek, Stefan Köhler, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Peter Liese, Javi López, César Luena, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Dolors Montserrat, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jana Nagyová, Rasmus Nordqvist, Jacek Ozdoba, Jutta Paulus, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Carola Rackete, Massimiliano Salini, Lena Schilling, Christine Schneider, Günther Sidl, Jonas Sjöstedt, Sander Smit, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Beatrice Timgren, Dimitris Tsiodras, Alexandr Vondra, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik, Tiemo Wölken, Anna Zalewska
Substitutes present for the final vote	Biljana Borzan, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Stefano Cavedagna, Susanna Ceccardi, Sebastian Everding, Michalis Hadjipantela, Paolo Inselvini, Adam Jarubas, Nora Junco García, Karin Karlsbro, Billy Kelleher, Norbert Lins, Letizia Moratti, Maria Ohisalo, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Manuela Ripa, André Rodrigues, Elena Sancho Murillo, Christine Singer, Liesbet Sommen, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Anna Stürgkh, Bruno Tobback, Raffaele Topo
Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote	Javier Moreno Sánchez, Séverine Werbrouck
Date tabled	14.5.2025

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

85	+
ECR	Stefano Cavedagna, Pietro Fiocchi, Paolo Inselvini, Nora Junco García, Jacek Ozdoba, Michele Picaro, Claudiu-Richard Târziu, Beatrice Timgren, Alexandr Vondra, Anna Zalewska
ESN	Anja Arndt, Ivan David, Marc Jongen
NI	Ondřej Dostál
PPE	Bartosz Arłukowicz, Laurent Castillo, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, Michalis Hadjipantela, Esther Herranz García, Adam Jarubas, Stefan Köhler, Ewa Kopacz, András Tivadar Kulja, Peter Liese, Norbert Lins, Elżbieta Katarzyna Łukacijewska, Dolors Montserrat, Letizia Moratti, Dan-Ştefan Motreanu, Jessica Polfjärd, Virgil-Daniel Popescu, Manuela Ripa, Massimiliano Salini, Christine Schneider, Sander Smit, Liesbet Sommen, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Dimitris Tsiodras
PfE	Barbara Bonte, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Jorge Buxadé Villalba, Viktória Ferenc, Anne-Sophie Frigout, Ondřej Knotek, Jana Nagyová, Sebastiaan Stöteler, Séverine Werbrouck
Renew	Stine Bosse, Pascal Canfin, Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Martin Hojsík, Karin Karlsbro, Billy Kelleher, Christine Singer, Anna Stürgkh, Emma Wiesner, Michal Wiezik
S&D	Sakis Arnaoutoglou, Thomas Bajada, Biljana Borzan, Christophe Clergeau, Annalisa Corrado, Antonio Decaro, Heléne Fritzon, Romana Jerković, Javi López, César Luena, Javier Moreno Sánchez, André Rodrigues, Elena Sancho Murillo, Günther Sidl, Bruno Tobback, Raffaele Topo, Tiemo Wölken
The Left	Lynn Boylan, Sebastian Everding, Carola Rackete, Jonas Sjöstedt
Verts/ALE	Pär Holmgren, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Tilly Metz, Rasmus Nordqvist, Maria Ohisalo, Jutta Paulus, Lena Schilling

1	–
The Left	Emma Fourreau

1	0
PfE	Susanna Ceccardi

Key to symbols:

+ : in favour

– : against

0 : abstention

MIL OSI Europe News –

May 16, 2025

MIL-OSI Global: How Denmark’s oysters are transforming foodies into citizen scientists

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dominique Townsend, Visiting Researcher, School of Geography and Environmental Science, University of Southampton

Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

This year 80 people put on their waders, grabbed buckets and quadrats (square metal frames), and splashed through the clear shallow waters. Once they reached one of the many sampling locations, marked by miniature floats, they threw their quadrats into the shallow water, ready to collect all the sea life that landed inside their quadrats.

No one had any idea what they might find living on the seabed until they reached into the water. Nearby, kids peered down at the seabed using underwater scopes, grandparents chuckled as they returned for a second forage.

This citizen science project combines coastal ecology and gastronomy. Our groups returned to the sorting stations to identify, count, weigh and measure each bucket of creatures and algae. A typical bucket might contain four living Pacific oysters, nine dead, a brush-clawed shore crab, four folded sea squirts and a handful of snails.

Then, we sat down together to eat a gourmet oyster dinner, prepared by Denmark’s top chefs. Organised by a shellfish gastrotourism association called Danmarks Skaldyrshovedstad, this oyster hunt (Østerjagten 2025) is a new annual festival held at the Salling Sund Bridge in the Danish Limfjorden, a 110-mile strait of water in northern Denmark.

Citizen scientists gather flora and fauna samples from the seafloor.
Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

The invasive Pacific oysters people had collected from the seabed then went on to be shucked and cooked. They were served au gratin, with wild flavour combinations, ranging from blueberry and blue cheese to shavings of prosciutto with strawberries and lime.

Most people told us they came along because of the quirkiness of this event, and the promise of gourmet food. Less than one in five people stated their interest in marine research as their reason for joining. Nobody attended the event just for the science.

As a coastal change researcher, this result was exciting – we were reaching an audience that might not normally engage. Even after participating, many people didn’t feel like citizen scientists. But when asked what they had learnt, most recalled facts about coastal ecology, as well as new ways to cook oysters.

A delicious plate of Pacific oysters served au gratin.
Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

Read more:
How citizen science is shaping international conservation

Eating aliens

Back to the basket sample contents. Pacific oyster, brush-clawed shore crab, folded sea squirts: none are native to the Limfjorden or Danish waters. So many people were shocked to find out that their baskets were full of invasive species – these “alien species” are non-native and can compete with the resident species for both food and space.

Despite an increase in the number of empty Pacific oysters shells we found this year compared to last (indicating more oyster deaths), temperatures are rising in this estuary system. This means that conditions are becoming more suitable for the Pacific oysters and the other invasive creatures, many of which originate in warmer waters.

Individual Pacific oysters were measured by hand.
Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

All oysters provide ecosystem services; improving water quality, forming new habitats and protecting coastlines from erosion by reducing wave energy. As Pacific oysters are bigger, rougher, tougher and much faster growing than native European oysters, they can have a greater impact on the environment.

This, however, is not necessarily a good thing. As Pacific oysters take over European oyster and blue mussel beds, birds which once fed on these species are left without vital food sources. The thick shells mean they have no predators once they reach a certain size. Beach goers can also be affected as the razor-sharp shells occupy previously sandy bathing areas.

Farming of the Pacific oyster has been banned in Denmark since 1998, yet despite this measure, Pacific oyster beds are now widespread and prevalent across Denmark’s estuaries. A single oyster can release between 50 and 200 million eggs during a spawning event each year meaning it is impossible to control them.

A young citizen scientist holds a small shore crab.
Lea Meilandt Mathisen, CC BY-NC-ND

While children were discovering the joy of sea squirts, other marine scientists and I could have tougher conversations with adults about climate change. We explained that warming temperatures are clearly visible in the here-and-now of local monitoring data.

The Limfjorden is made up of a series of fjords and islands in northern Denmark which link the North Sea to the Kattergat (the sea between Denmark and Sweden). This area is characterised by undisturbed coastlines and rolling hills, as well as some famous geological sites. It is a popular holiday destination for those that enjoy being in nature, some Danish hyggelig (comfort) and seafood.

But the Limfjorden is subject to numerous pressures: eutrophication (when extra nutrients in the water cause toxic algal blooms), changing climate, fishing, dumping of dredged materials and the arrival of invasive species. Its resilience to these may serve as an ecological bell weather for the rest of the world’s coasts.

Our event highlights how we’ll have to deal with environmental issues together. One feedback form still sits on my desk, the participant wrote in Danish: “Forskning er alle mands projekt og at det har effekt.” This translates to “research is everyone’s project and it has an effect”.

This edible approach offers a new way of communicating complex issues such as biodiversity and the introduction of alien species. Oyster hunt-style events such as this offer an excellent opportunity for scientists like us to provide some food for thought.

Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

Camille Saurel receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and research councils.

Pedro Seabra Freitas receives funding from the European Union, Danish Government and Research Councils, Aage V. Jensen Naturfond.

Dominique Townsend 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. How Denmark’s oysters are transforming foodies into citizen scientists – https://theconversation.com/how-denmarks-oysters-are-transforming-foodies-into-citizen-scientists-255828

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Environmentally harmful subsidies – E-001353/2025(ASW)
Source: European Parliament
Subsidies harmful to biodiversity comprise the following:

— energy subsidies harmful to the environment including fossil fuel subsidies, where there is established reporting to the Commission[1];

— and ‘other’ non-energy environmentally harmful subsidies, which would cover agricultural subsidies, where Member States are due to report for the first time in 2025. A guidance document on the methodology for doing so has been agreed based on input and discussions in an Expert Group of the Member States[2].

The Member States and the Commission have a commitment to report on these environmentally harmful subsidies as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework on Target 18 by February 2026. The Commission intends to publish an overview of environmentally harmful subsidies before this time, but this is dependent on Member States reporting to the Commission their non-energy environmentally harmful subsidies including for sectors such as agriculture, transport and manufacturing.

By 31 December 2025, the Commission will report on the assessment of the operation of the new delivery model by the Member States and consistency and combined contribution of the interventions in Member States’ Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plans[3] to achieving environmental and climate-related commitments of the Union. The Commission will examine the effectiveness of the CAP by 31 December 2026 as part of the interim evaluation.

[1] https://energy.ec.europa.eu/news/energy-subsidies-report-shows-progress-2023-2025-01-29_en.

[2] Sub group on Environmentally Harmful Subsidies and the Polluter Pays Principle (E02987/1): https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/expert-groups-register/screen/expert-groups/consult?lang=en&groupId=103352&fromMeetings=true&meetingId=50127.

[3] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/cap-my-country/cap-strategic-plans_en.
Last updated: 15 May 2025
MIL OSI Europe News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: May 15, 2025 SEEC Energy and Commerce Members Slam Republicans’ Attack on American Health and Affordability Washington, D.C. – This week, House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee slammed House Republicans’ obscene budget reconciliation plan to gut life-saving pollution reduction programs, raise Americans’ electricity bills, cut off critical… Read More
Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Kevin Mullin California (15th District)

Washington, D.C. – This week, House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) members on the House Energy and Commerce Committee slammed House Republicans’ obscene budget reconciliation plan to gut life-saving pollution reduction programs, raise Americans’ electricity bills, cut off critical support for high-tech American manufacturing, and legalize corruption for oil and gas companies. These members included SEEC Co-Chairs Reps. Doris Matsui (CA) and Paul Tonko (NY) and were joined by their fellow SEEC colleagues Reps. Nanette Barragán (CA), Kathy Castor (FL), Yvette Clarke (NY), Debbie Dingell (MI), Jennifer McClellan (VA), Kevin Mullin (CA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY), Scott Peters (CA), Kim Schrier (WA), and Darren Soto (FL).

“Republicans are ramming through a disastrous, ugly budget bill that is going to cause widespread harm to Americans and our environment. Why? So they can give massive tax cuts to billionaires, corporations, and oil companies. Republicans want to strip health care away from over 13.7 million Americans who rely on Medicaid, which will raise prices for the privately insured too,” said Congressman Mullin. “The bill also cuts funding for clean energy innovation while allowing oil and gas companies to buy their way out of having to follow environmental laws. This will stagnate American progress in developing affordable, sustainable solutions to meet our energy needs. This isn’t efficiency, it’s cruelty and Republicans are making it clear that they don’t care about raising costs for working families.”

“Republicans’ reconciliation bill is a shameless sell-out to corporations at the expense of hard-working Americans’ health and prosperity,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “This bill eliminates and defunds pollution protections and pollution reduction programs that my constituents rely on, illegally and insidiously clawing back funding that is already supporting projects in communities across this country. In my district, La Familia Counseling Center was poised to do transformative work with their Community Change Grant—but Republicans are gutting that progress to pay for tax breaks for their billionaire friends. As if that weren’t enough, Republicans’ bill contains a shocking and outrageous attempt to legalize corruption for oil and gas companies, allowing polluting corporations to simply buy all the permits they need to build a pipeline through American communities, no questions asked. This kind of bribery is how dictatorships operate. This is not how America works. We cannot allow this egregious corruption to become law.”

“My Republican colleagues claim they are going after the clean energy programs that are, in their words ‘reckless’ and favor ‘wokeness over sensible policy,’” said Congressman Tonko. “Which programs are those? Is it the $12 million in unobligated funds to reduce air pollution in schools? How about DOE money to train contractors to retrofit people’s homes? What about money to upgrade our ports with the latest and greatest technologies? These are just a few examples of commonsense investments that are being targeted today that are creating American jobs and deploying new technologies that will indeed reduce pollution. And when you start to list them out, you can see how ridiculous this proposal is. But why on Earth would Republicans be doing this? Well, we know these funds will be used to partially offset yet another round of tax cuts, the benefits of which will overwhelmingly go to the wealthiest.”

“Republican cuts to environmental justice grants will directly harm the health of our communities,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “Medicaid helps many access and afford health care in vulnerable communities with clean air and water challenges. Yet, Republicans have proposed the largest Medicaid cut in history. It’s all connected and Republicans want to go backward on the environment and health care access.”

“You should hold on to your wallets, because House Republicans are coming after your electric bills to pay for a massive tax giveaway to billionaires like Elon Musk,” said Congresswoman Castor. “Because let’s face it, American families are being financially squeezed right now – especially my neighbors in Florida still struggling to rebuild from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Utility companies in at least 19 states have hiked rates as much as $40 per month since the Trump administration began. Republicans have not brought forth a single bill to lower energy costs for hardworking American families. Instead, what they’re offering today is a handout to big oil companies and polluters and the impact will be to raise your electric bill.”

“There’s nothing and no one House Republicans won’t betray just to fund obscene tax breaks for their wealthy donors,” said Congresswoman Clarke. “By taking an axe to the critical programs Americans rely on to protect them from the climate crisis, reduce pollution, and keep energy affordable, our colleagues across the aisle have once again proven they are incapable of putting the needs of their communities above the demands of their billionaire puppet masters.”

“What this bill does is create total chaos for the auto industry in repealing EPA’s emission standards for light and medium-duty vehicles and NHTSA’s corporate average fuel economy standards. What the domestic auto industry needs now more than anything is certainty. My priority is to protect American jobs, maintain our competitive edge in automotive manufacturing, ensure the United States leads in technology and innovation, and that we cede our leadership to nobody,” said Congresswoman Dingell. “Our policies must reflect the priorities on the ground, prioritize consumer choice and offer a practical, ambitious path forward. To remain competitive, the US must align with the global shift towards hybrids, electric vehicles, and down the road, who else knows what other technology. Here’s a fact. The global marketplace wants electric vehicles and I will be damned if I let China beat us in that market.”

“I know the Trump Administration and some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle don’t like the word environmental justice, but what environmental justice is designed to do is recognize that there are communities in this country — white, black, low-income, urban and rural — where energy projects were put in place with no input from the community, where the people didn’t have the resources to fight back or even knew what was happening,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “These are the same communities that have some of the poorest health outcomes in the country. We should want to help address centuries of injustice and invest in those communities, but this bill guts those programs altogether – that’s not justice.”

“In my time here in Congress, I have participated in investigations of large corporations that have poisoned communities across the country. A lot of times, these communities were poisoned due to large corporations that were exploiting corrupt loopholes in the law in order to poison the most vulnerable communities in America,” said Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez. “And I deeply fear that there is a loophole and similar provision in this bill. This bill allows gas companies to pay $1 million in order for their project to bypass the traditional permitting process. In fact, this bill allows natural gas pipeline projects to pay a fee of $10 million to cut the line and bypass the normal permitting process. Allowing massive corporations to simply cut a check to bypass the very real reasons why permitting exists in the first place, poses a deep and grave danger to people across the country.”

“Last Congress, my Republican colleagues were insistent that we should have an all-of-the-above energy strategy, one that leveraged our natural resources, unleashed American innovation, and cut through bureaucratic red tape,” said Congressman Peters. “Which is why I am confused that we are considering a reconciliation bill that picks winners and losers, and elevates expensive, outdated, and inefficient sources like coal over cheap American-made energy like solar, wind, and storage. Why does this bill provide government-backed insurance to coal plants, as the President of the United States single-handedly kills hundreds, if not thousands, of clean energy jobs across the country by illegally targeting projects and weaponizing the permitting process?”

“This bill completely bypasses communities and landowners, and these ‘pay-to-play’ provisions put not just a thumb but an entire arm, maybe a body on the scale favoring oil and gas,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “It’s giant corporations like Shell, BP, Chevron. They’re the ones that have the wherewithal to pay to bypass all permitting requirements. This bill is more of the ‘drill baby drill’ agenda that we hear every week from our Republican colleagues. I’m all for streamlining permitting to address energy demand and infrastructure that has real impacts on our communities. But there’s ways to streamline permitting and get new energy resources online without sidelining solar, wind, nuclear, hydropower, or hydrogen projects. Streamlining permitting is key if we’re going to meet energy demand. Clean power should have the same opportunity as oil and gas and we shouldn’t be disregarding important environmental protections.”

“This is a bad deal for the South, whether it’s consumers in Florida or whether it’s all these high-paying jobs going to all these Southern states. This is a job killer,” said Congressman Soto. “In addition, adding in defunding of interstate transmission lines. I’ve heard from both sides of the aisle how often this is critical. So why in the world would you defund the interstate transmission lines? That makes no sense. That will raise energy prices. It will prevent efficiencies in the market. And it will prevent different states from specializing in new types of energy, whether it’s modular nuclear or renewable energy that’s being formulated here in Florida.”

Background

House Republicans are gutting critical pollution protections and pollution reduction programs, raising American household energy costs, pulling the rug out from under America’s manufacturing sector, and creating a brazen new “pay-to-play” bribery scheme for polluting corporations. Here’s what the bill does:
- Repeals and rescinds funding from Environmental Protection Agency programs that protect Americans from pollution and help American households save money on energy costs and medical bills. Some of these programs include:
  - Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund that is dedicated to lowering energy bills and cutting pollution.
  - Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grants that support disadvantaged communities to reduce pollution and pollution-related health impacts in their communities.
  - Methane Emissions and Waste Reduction Incentive Program to reduce pollution and waste from the oil and gas sector, improving the health and economic well-being of overburdened communities, while also saving energy.
  - Clean Heavy Duty Vehicle Program that helps communities replace old polluting diesel engines and vehicles—some of the dirtiest vehicles on the road—with new, clean vehicles.
  - Clean Ports Program that helps improve air quality around U.S. ports and address the public health and environmental impacts to surrounding communities.
- Repeals life-saving Clean Air Act standards for vehicle pollution and fuel efficiency that help Americans save money at the pump and improve health outcomes in our communities.
- Eliminates funding for the Department of Energy Loan Programs and the Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program that help commercialize next-generation American-made technology, bringing manufacturing back to America and creating good-paying jobs, while also developing cutting-edge technologies that save Americans money and reduce pollution in American communities.
- Creates a pay-to-play bribery scheme for polluters that allows oil and gas companies to pay a fee and bypass standard permitting, environmental reviews, and judicial review processes. Whether it’s a natural gas pipeline or a natural gas export terminal, companies can simply buy all the permits they need to build their pipeline through your community. This is blatant and unconscionable corruption.
Republicans had multiple opportunities to improve the bill and ensure that Americans’ pocketbooks, health, and livelihoods are protected, but Republicans repeatedly rejected Democratic amendments, including Democratic-led efforts to:
- Ensure that this bill does not raise energy costs for American households. Representative Castor’s amendment would have required the U.S. Energy Information Administration to publish the impacts of the Energy Subtitle of the bill on monthly energy costs for American households.
- Protect the health and safety of our families and communities. Representative Dingell’s amendment would have prevented the repeal of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
- Hold polluters accountable and prevent the legalization of corruption under this bill. Representative Ocasio-Cortez’s amendment would have required the Inspector General of the Department of Energy to certify that this bill will not increase risks of corruption or ‘pay-to-play’ politics.
- Protect American energy independence and deliver cheap energy to Americans. Representative Auchincloss’ amendment would have prevented the energy provisions from going into effect until the Secretary of Energy certifies that tariffs on energy imports are no greater than they were on January 19, 2025.
###

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: Greenpeace organizations challenge perverse damages in Energy Transfer lawsuit

Source: Greenpeace Statement –

Deepa Padmanabha, Greenpeace USA Sr. Legal Advisor, center, surrounded by Greenpeace legal team, staff and supporters talks to the media outside the Morton County Memorial Courthouse in Mandan, North Dakota shortly after the jury in the case rendered their verdict. © Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace

MANDAN, ND (May 15, 2025) — In the first hearing since the trial concluded in Energy Transfer’s bullying lawsuit against Greenpeace Inc., Greenpeace Fund, and Greenpeace International, the defendants argued to reduce the more than $660 million damages awarded to Energy Transfer. Arguments included the fact that damages awarded exceed what is allowed by the law and bear no reasonable relationship to Energy Transfer’s alleged damages.

Deepa Padmanabha, Senior Legal Advisor, Greenpeace USA, said: “Our fight is far from over. Today’s hearing was another step in this important legal battle to protect the rights to protest and free speech, especially as we are witnessing unprecedented attacks on these rights. As we await the Court’s decision on our motion to reduce the damages award, we will continue to fight back against all attempts to silence and intimidate those speaking truth to power.”

Kristin Casper, General Counsel, Greenpeace International, said: “While the Court reserved its ruling on today’s motions and did not enter a final judgment, we presented compelling arguments to reduce the perverse damages the jury awarded. Regardless of the outcome, Greenpeace International is committed to exhausting all legal avenues to challenge and overturn any outcome that violates our rights.”

The next hearing on May 27, 2025 will address renewed requests by Greenpeace defendants for the Court to rule in their favor — despite the jury reaching a different conclusion — because the evidence presented at trial was legally insufficient to rule in Energy Transfer’s favor. Other post-trial matters could also be raised and argued at the upcoming hearing.

Contact: Madison Carter, Greenpeace USA Senior Communications Specialist, [email protected]

Greenpeace USA is part of a global network of independent campaigning organizations that use peaceful protest and creative communication to expose global environmental problems and promote solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the country’s unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Learn more at www.greenpeace.org/usa.

MIL OSI NGO –

May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: IAM Union Joins Other Labor and Workplace Health and Safety Groups Sue to Restore Programs at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Source: US GOIAM Union

(Washington, D.C.)—Unions across nursing, education, mining and manufacturing industries, along with a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), today sued the Trump administration to reverse the illegal dismantling of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

The Trump administration and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s reckless cuts to NIOSH—made under the direction of Elon Musk’s DOGE—have shut down vital programs and will result in the firing of more than 85% of the staff by July. The chaos of dismantling, temporarily recalling, and piecemeal reinstatements of staff has wreaked havoc on workers’ lives, discontinuing services and programs altogether and creating total disruption in the benefits and protections that workers and the public depend on.

Public Citizen Litigation Group and the AFL-CIO’s Office of the General Counsel filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on behalf of unions, workplace safety experts and a PPE manufacturer. The plaintiffs include the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Association of Occupational and Environmental Clinics (AOEC), California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC), Dentec Safety Specialists Inc., the IAM Union (IAM), National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM), National Nurses United (NNU), New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), United Auto Workers (UAW), Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW).

As the complaint explains, the cutbacks directly threaten the lives of workers whose safety and health depend on NIOSH, detailing cuts to its vital, congressionally mandated work that all depend on the expertise throughout the whole of the agency, including:
- Certifying respirators and testing other PPE and technologies used by workers across industries, including in health care, mining, manufacturing, firefighting and construction, and preventing counterfeits from entering the market.
- Conducting critical mine safety research and providing medical screenings for coal miners.
- Investigating workplaces to identify and mitigate exposure to toxins and potential health hazards.
- Funding the formal training for future industrial hygienists, epidemiologists, physicians, and other occupational safety and health professionals through universities and field-based internships.
- Providing scientific and technical support to enable medical compensation for nuclear weapons workers and Sept. 11 first responders.
On Tuesday, following a sustained outcry from unions, public health experts, and lawmakers, HHS rescinded the layoff notifications for approximately 300 workers, a fraction of the total NIOSH staff of approximately 1,000 workers. The move came after a judge granted a temporary restraining order late Friday, ordering the Trump administration to stop any moves intended to implement Trump’s February executive order directing agencies to begin major reorganizations. Today’s complaint calls for all NIOSH workers to be reinstated across the agency so that NIOSH can resume its work.

“By gutting NIOSH, Elon Musk and his DOGE won’t just be cutting corners—they are cutting lives short and placing working people in danger. Working people have fought too hard for these critical protections to now watch an unelected billionaire dismantle them and take us back to a time when chronic disease and death on the job was commonplace,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “I’m proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with unions and partners today in filing this lawsuit to challenge this illegal, reckless and potentially deadly assault on worker health and safety.”

Each year, more than 5,000 workers die from injuries on the job, 135,000 workers die from occupational disease, and millions more are injured. Without NIOSH, these numbers will increase. The lawsuit follows a May 1 letter from the AFL-CIO and 27 unions urging Congress to intervene to reinstate NIOSH staff and restore its programs.

“The illegal firing of NIOSH workers and the gutting of critical safety programs by Elon Musk and the Trump administration will have devastating consequences for American workplaces,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “This reckless action threatens our preparedness for workplace violence, emergency planning, chemical and biological threats, and vital worker training. This lawsuit will help us to restore NIOSH’s mission and protect the safety and health of workers throughout our nation.”

The complaint can be found online here.

Share and Follow:

MIL OSI USA News –
May 16, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: RAMPS Newsletter – Spring 2025

Source: US Geological Survey

Opening Letter

Hello RAMPS community,

In this newsletter, we are excited to highlight the release of the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The National Seed Strategy provides a roadmap for increasing the supply of genetically appropriate native seed for restoration in the US, and this new report highlights the critical role that USGS plays in providing research, scientific expertise, and tools to support native seed development and use. Our spring newsletter also includes updates on conference presentations and recently released publications. As always, please reach out to discuss any questions or potential collaboration opportunities for research and restoration in the Southwest.

RAMPS on the Road

Conferences provide an important opportunity for RAMPS to share relevant research updates with land managers and scientists while connecting with existing and new collaborations. So far in 2025, the RAMPS Team gave invited presentations on RestoreNet at the following symposia:

The Society for Range Management and National Native Seed Conferences were attended by a broad coalition of land managers, restoration practitioners, researchers and private landowners and ranchers. At the Native Seed Conference, RAMPS coordinator Laura Shriver also presented a talk, “Bridging theory and practice to improve native seed selection for restoration” with initial results from a literature review drawing comparisons between seed selection insights from the scientific literature and federal agency guidance for seed selection in practice. Laura also presented a poster summarizing information from the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023.

Project Highlights

National Seed Strategy Progress Report

RAMPS Coordinator, Laura Shriver, joined Plant Conservation Alliance leaders to write the National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. The report showcases the contributions of federal agencies and over 300 partners across the country to advance the National Seed Strategy, a pragmatic approach to meet the growing demand for native plant seed for restoration. In addition to summarizing data and project highlights, the report includes agency summaries outlining accomplishments, including from the USGS. The USGS provides essential research and scientific expertise to support the development and use of native seed for restoration, and the RAMPS program has led reporting efforts for all three National Seed Strategy Progress Reports.

REPORT CITATION: Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA). 2025. National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, 64 pp.

Figure: Accomplishments in Native Seed Development. Submissions reflect advancements made at every stage of the Native Seed Development Process, including: Collection, where native seeds are harvested from wild populations, cleaned, tested, and banked for both long-term conservation and immediate seed increase; Evaluation and development, which involves research on species traits such as germination, pollination, and seed transfer zones; Field establishment, where agricultural protocols are developed for growing seed; Production, in which seeds are increased through agricultural practices; Procurement, where seeds are tested and purchased; Storage, where increased seeds are preserved for future restoration and rehabilitation; and Restoration, where native seeds are used to restore native plant communities. Figure from the National seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (PCA 2025).

Picture: Covers of the Plant Conservation Alliance National Seed Strategy Progress Report for 2022 and 2023 (left) and the National Seed Strategy for Rehabilitation and Restoration (right).

Research Updates – New Publications

Natural resource management under drought and wildfire

In this study, RAMPS Ecologist, Seth Munson, and others developed a conceptual framework that links the scale and severity of drought and wildfire associated ecosystem impacts with management interventions. A Northern Arizona University researcher conducted surveys and interviews of natural resource managers on the Colorado Plateau to gain insight into their perceptions of the scale of drought and wildfire impacts, ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire, relationships between the scale and severity of impacts and associated natural resource responses, and perceived barriers to implementing management actions. Results of the collaboration indicated that resource managers experienced drought more frequently than wildfire, and perceived intensifying impacts to ecosystems resulting from both stressors. Results also indicated that resource managers recognized strategies to address the widespread impacts of drought and wildfire on ecosystems, but many adaptation-specific actions remained unclear or presented barriers for implementation. To overcome these barriers, the authors suggest improving effective science communication, refining information tailored to meet adaptation goals at management-relevant scales, and providing opportunities for adaptive management that can proactively address intensification of drought and wildfire.

CITATION: Munson, S.M., Vaughn, A.L., Petersen, B., Bradford, J.B. and Duniway, M.C., 2024. Natural resource management confronts the growing scale and severity of ecosystem responses to drought and wildfire. Ecology and Society, 29(4). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15517-290417

How does trait variability affect plant performance?

In this study, researchers from the USGS, BLM, and Northern Arizona University collaborated to explore the effects of variation of plant characteristics, or traits, of different populations of the same plant species on plant performance. They examined whether variation of traits influenced plant performance both at field sites, where seeds were originally collected, and in a New Mexico common garden. They found that variation of traits within the same species at field sites did not predict variability in the common garden and that greater trait variability did not consistently yield better plant performance, suggesting that trait variability among wild populations of the same species may have limited utility for predicting plant performance responses in restoration settings.

CITATION: Samuel, E.M., Mitchell, R.M., Winkler, D.E., Davidson, Z.M., Lencioni, S. and Massatti, R., 2024. Intraspecific trait variability in wild plant populations predicts neither variability nor performance in a common garden. Restoration Ecology, p.e14322. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.14322

Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance projected in the sagebrush region

This study, led by USGS scientists and partners from other federal agencies, used an ecohydrological model to quantify the impacts of projected future climate on ecological resilience and invasion resistance in the sagebrush region of the US. Results suggest widespread decreases of resilience and resistance, especially in sagebrush ecosystems, highlighting a growing challenge for regional natural resource managers. The authors suggest that spatially explicit datasets can provide information to improve long-term risk assessments, prioritizations, and climate adaptation efforts.

CITATION: Schlaepfer, D.R., Chambers, J.C., Urza, A.K., Hanberry, B.B., Brown, J.L., Board, D.I., Campbell, S.B., Clause, K.J., Crist, M.R. and Bradford, J.B., 2025. Declining ecological resilience and invasion resistance under climate change in the sagebrush region, United States. Ecological Applications, 35(1), p.e3065. https://doi.org/10.1002/eap.3065

RAMPS is a program of the USGS Southwest Biological Science Center located in Flagstaff, AZ

RAMPS engages stakeholders within the U.S. Department of the Interior, other federal and state agencies, Tribal governments, and on private lands to provide guidance and support for effective restoration strategies across the southwestern U.S. The RAMPS network consists of over 500 individuals representing 50+ agencies, organizations, and universities working together to increase land productivity and reduce threats posed by environmental hazards.

To sign up for the RAMPS lisrserv, click here.

MIL OSI USA News –

May 16, 2025

Category: Environment

More than 356,000 journeys made over Pennyburn Bridge

What is waste-to-energy?

How does it work?

What’s holding Australia back?

Introducing the Parkes project

Other projects around Australia

Taking tips from overseas

Waste-to-energy and the circular economy

The case for waste-to-energy

New scheme in Oxford to protect every home and business from risk of River Thames flooding

Share this page

Updates to this page

BACKGROUND

STATEMENTS OF SUPPORT

DRAFT EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION

ANNEX: ENTITIES OR PERSONS FROM WHOM THE RAPPORTEUR HAS RECEIVED INPUT

28.4.2025BUDGETARY ASSESSMENT OF THE COMMITTEE ON BUDGETS

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE (24.4.2025)

OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRY, RESEARCH AND ENERGY (23.4.2025)

PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL BY THE COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE

Eating aliens

Opening Letter

RAMPS on the Road

Project Highlights

National Seed Strategy Progress Report

Research Updates – New Publications