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Arizona – Governor Changes State Climate Change Policy

  Arizona is opting out of the Western Climate Initiative's cap-and-trade system. Gov. Jan Brewer has issued an executive order, stating that such a system would damage the state's economy as compared with other participating states. The state's new climate change policy is to expand the use of solar and nuclear power and other renewable energy resources. The state plans to remain a member of the initiative.      

Colorado – Renewable Energy Standard May Increase

  Colorado may up the renewable energy standard by 50 percent. The increase would give the state the best clean-energy requirement in the Rocky Mountain West and one of the highest in the nation. Legislators hope it will create thousands of new jobs and lead to 100,000 solar rooftops in the next 10 years.      

Florida – DEP Submits Regional Haze Plan

  DEP submitted Florida SIP revisions to the EPA to include a Regional Haze Plan. Regional haze is pollution caused by air pollutants, including NO_X, SO₂ and particulate emissions, which impair visibility over a large region. The Clean Air Act has a goal of returning visibility in designated Class I areas to natural conditions by the year 2064.      

Iowa – Water Pollution Reduced Water

  pollution in state waters was reduced in 2009 due to increased conservation efforts to keep soil out of Iowa's streams and lakes, according to the DNR. Each year, DNR funds a number of local watershed projects that aid state residents in water improvement projects. In fiscal year 2009, 43 projects reported constructing a total of 577 conservation practices.      

Louisiana – UST Regs Amended

  Louisiana DEQ recently amended the training requirements for UST operators. The amendments require training for all operators of UST facilities by August 8, 2012. The rule defines the classes of operators (Class A, Class B and Class C), lists the acceptable training and certification processes for each class, establishes a phase-in schedule for training, and requires that UST owners maintain documentation of certification of operators.      

Massachusetts – Draft Permit MS4s

  Three draft general permits for small municipal separate storm sewer systems (MS4) in north coastal Massachusetts have been published by EPA's Region 1. According to the agency, the draft general permits build upon the previous MS4 general permit, which expired May 1, 2008, and had been administratively continued.      

Ohio – Scrapping the Tire Piles

  Property owners are taking advantage of OEPA's Scrap Tire Management Program to eliminate tire piles that pose a threat to human health, public safety and the environment. In January 2010, almost 7,000 scrap tires from 10 illegal dumps in Gallia, Jackson, Meigs and Vinton counties were cleaned up and recycled under the program, which is funded by a $1 fee imposed on all new tire sales in the state. However, an estimated 2 million scrap tires remain in illegal dumps in Ohio.      

Tennessee – Accepting Biofuels Grant Applications

  The Tennessee DOT (TDOT) is now accepting applications for the next round of Green Island Corridor Network grants. The deadline to apply for the grants is April 30, 2010. The grant program is a competitive-funding opportunity available to retail fuel station owners and farmer co-ops interested in promoting and selling biofuels.      

Texas – Penalty Payments to Be Stretched Out

  TCEQ is in the process of amending enforcement regulations to allow a longer time for payment of civil and administrative fines. Existing rules allow small businesses to pay fines in installments over 12 months. The Texas legislature passed a law (SB 1693) in 2009 extending the penalty payment schedule for any person to 36 months. It also allows periodic installments depending on the amount of the penalty owed and the size of the business oweing it.