Government News For Montana: 10/8/17

Friday, October 13, 2017

“But I pledged that, in a Trump administration, our nation’s religious heritage would be cherished, protected, and defended like you have never seen before. That's what’s happening. That's what’s happening. You see it every day. You're reading it….Among many historic steps, the executive order followed through on one of my most important campaign promises to so many of you: to prevent the horrendous Johnson Amendment from interfering with your First Amendment rights. (Applause.)”

26 U.S. Code § 501 - Exemption from tax on corporations, certain trusts, etc. (Johnson Amendment)

“(3) Corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes, or to foster national or international amateur sports competition (but only if no part of its activities involve the provision of athletic facilities or equipment), or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided in subsection (h)), and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office.”

Missoulian: The Latest: Industry warns against Trump health care plan
Remarks by President Trump at Signing of Executive Order Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition

Presidential Executive Order Promoting Healthcare Choice and Competition Across the United States

S.1569 - A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to eliminate the non-application of certain State waiver provisions to Members of Congress and congressional staff.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Zinke's Energy Speech, Bristol Bay Mining, Funding the Census

Missoulian: Zinke earns Four Pinocchios for domestic energy production claims
Zinke Speech at the Heritage Foundation (speech starts at 13:37, talks on energy 18:14)

Missoulian: Democrats call EPA's Bristol Bay move 'inconsistent with basic logic'

2017 Proposal to Withdraw Proposed Clean Water Act Restrictions on Mining Pebble Deposit
“EPA's 2014 Clean Water Act Proposed Determination would have placed restrictions on the discharge of dredged or fill material from the potential mining of the Pebble deposit in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. EPA agreed to initiate a proposed withdrawal process pursuant to policy direction from EPA’s Administrator, and as part of a May 2017 settlement agreement with the Pebble Limited Partnership, whose subsidiaries own the mineral claims to the Pebble deposit.”

An Assessment of Potential Mining Impacts on Salmon Ecosystems of Bristol Bay, Alaska

“Even in the absence of accidents or failures, the development of a mine at the Pebble deposit would result in the destruction or modification of streams, wetlands, and ponds. Local habitat loss would be significant, because losses of stream habitat leading to losses of local, unique populations would erode the population diversity key to the stability of the overall Bristol Bay salmon fishery (Schindler et al. 2010).”

Missoulian: Commerce Secretary: Billions more needed for 2020 Census

Hearing on the 2020 Census

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Ohio Fish Kill and Farm Pollution

Heat map showing dead zones in Lake Erie, from the Old Women Creek Technical Bulletin #3

Missoulian: Ohio hands out fines over fish kills caused by farm manure

Lake Erie’s Dead Zone
“In the late summer, a hypoxic zone, an area with depleted oxygen, develops at the bottom of the central basin of Lake Erie. Massive algal blooms cause opaque green water to cover the surface of western Lake Erie every summer. These algal blooms are fed by agricultural and urban run-off.”

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Canadian Coal Mine Polluting River, California on Fire

Missoulian: Canadian coal firm fined $1.4 million for water pollution affecting Montana

Exporter of steelmaking coal fined for Fisheries Act violations at Line Creek in British Columbia’s

Elk River Valley
“Today, in the Provincial Court of British Columbia, Teck Coal Limited pleaded guilty to three counts of contravening the Fisheries Act. The court ordered the company to pay a penalty of $1,425,000, which will be directed to the federal Environmental Damages Fund, and used for purposes related to the conservation and protection of fish or fish habitat or the restoration of fish habitat in the East Kootenay region of B.C. Additionally, Teck Resources will post information regarding this conviction on its website. As a result of this conviction, the company’s name will be added to the Environmental Offenders Registry.”

Selenium
“Selenium is a naturally occurring mineral element that is distributed widely in nature in most rocks and soils.”

ToxfAQs for Selenium
“Selenium is a trace mineral needed in small amounts for good health, but exposure to much higher levels can result in neurological effects and brittle hair and deformed nails. Occupational inhalation exposure to selenium vapors may cause dizziness, fatigue, irritation of mucous membranes, and respiratory effects. This substance has been found in at least 508 of the 1,636 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).”

Missoulian: The Latest: Official: Person dies fleeing California fire

California Statewide Fire Summary
“17 large wildfires that started in the past 24 hours continue to burn across California and have burned over 115,000 acres.”