Budget heads toward reconciliation; House committees consider climate provisions
The US House and Senate have both adopted fiscal 2022 budget resolutions, paving the way for a budget reconciliation process that has the potential to include plans for an expansion of Medicare, child and elder care, family and sick leave and more in the $3.5 trillion dollar package. House committees have been given budget numbers for some climate-related provisions within the broad framework:

The Agriculture Committee—$135 billion for

• Agriculture conservation, drought, and forestry programs to help reduce carbon emissions and prevent wildfires
• Rural development and rural co-op clean energy investments
• Agricultural climate research and research infrastructure
• Civilian Climate Corps funding
• Child nutrition
• Debt relief

The Energy Committee—$198 billion for

• Clean Electricity Payment Program
• Consumer rebates to weatherize and electrify homes
• Financing for domestic manufacturing of clean energy and auto supply chain technologies
• Federal procurement of energy efficient materials
• Climate research
• Research infrastructure for DOE National Labs

Committee on Environment and Public Works—$67 billion for

• Clean Energy Technology Accelerator that would fund low-income solar and other climate-friendly technologies
• Environmental justice investments in clean water affordability and access, healthy ports, and climate equity
• EPA climate and research programs
• Federal investments in energy efficient buildings and green materials
• Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration economic development and transition programs
• Investments in clean vehicles
• Methane polluter fee to reduce carbon emissions

US infrastructure measures include some climate mitigation funding
The US Senate passed a bipartisan infrastructure package on August 12. Part of the $767 billion highway and water reauthorization bill, the $550 billion package includes increases for climate mitigation and adaptation.

Some infrastructure upgrades related to climate change included in the package:
$65 billion to upgrade and expand power lines and renewable energy use
$50 billion for climate resiliency to protect critical physical and natural infrastructure
$39 billion to modernize public transportation
$7.5 billion for electric vehicle charging stations
$3.4 billion for wildfire risk reduction
$2.1 billion for ecosystem restoration
Up to $30 million per state in grants for methane reduction stemming from orphaned wells and mines
The House is slated to vote on its infrastructure bill by September 27.

USDA to amp up surveillance for emerging and zoonotic diseases
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service invites public comment on a Strategic Framework that outlines how the Agency will focus its efforts to prevent, detect, investigate and respond to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as other emerging and zoonotic diseases that could pose a threat to both people and animals. APHIS will tap into $300 million to conduct disease surveillance and build an early warning system to alert public health partners of potential threats. Using a holistic approach, the agency seeks to implement a risk-based, comprehensive, integrated disease monitoring and surveillance system domestically, and enhance collaborations with national, regional, and global partners. Comment on the Strategic Framework (docket number APHIS-2021-0061) by October 8.

EPA to ban chlorpyrifos in food
The Environmental Protection Agency will ban use of chlorpyrifos, an insecticide linked to neurological damage in children, from use on food crops. In compliance with a court order, the final rule (docket HQ-OPP-2021-0523) that revokes all tolerances for food use will be published without public comment, and will be effective six months after it is published in the Federal Register. More.

EPA reverses course on paraquat use
In an interim final decision August 2, the Environmental Protection Agency renewed the approval of the herbicide paraquat, and allowed its use on a broader range of crops than its initial proposal in October 2020, when EPA sought to ban its use except as a desiccant for cotton. The change in course was driven in part by data supplied by Agricultural Handler Exposure Task Force (AHETF), a consortium of chemical corporations, including purveyors of paraquat. An extremely toxic herbicide, previous studies have linked it to Parkinson’s Disease, and ingesting even small amounts of paraquat can be deadly to human and other animals.

Biological evaluations reveal neonicotinoids likely to adversely affect certain animals and plants
EPA reviews show that three neonicotinoids (clothianidin, imidacloprid and thiamethoxam) are likely to adversely affect certain species on the Endangered Species Act list or their critical habitats. Done as part of the reregistration process for pesticides, the draft biological evaluations for these three neonicotinoid insecticides are available for comment on regulations.gov as part of docket number EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0575-0001 until October 25. A finding of ‘likely to adversely affect’ means that EPA reasonably expects that at least one listed individual animal or plant may be exposed to the pesticide at a sufficient level to have an effect, which will be adverse. More.

Food Labeling Modernization Act to define ‘natural’
The latest version of the Food Labeling Modernization Act, a 35-page bill introduced to both Houses of Congress August 3, 2021, seeks to define ‘natural’ by directing the Secretary of Health and Human Services to include regulations on the use of the term ‘natural’ on food labeling. If passed, the bill also calls on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to establish a standard front-of package labeling system for all FDA-regulated food products. Among other changes, the bill would require nutrition information at the online point of sale, would change standards of identity to allow salt substitutes in some foods, and would require amounts per serving for products making claims about healthy ingredients. More.

Comment on OMRI Standards Manual
The Organic Materials Review Institute is accepting comments on its next update of the OMRI Standards Manual until September 17. As part of continuous improvement, OMRI is especially interested in the following sections of the manual:

• Introductory paragraphs in Appendix A: Livestock Vitamins and Minerals that include references to 21 CFR and AAFCO. Are these references complete and accurate?
• Generic livestock feed restrictions currently included in some, but not all, GML categories in the Livestock Feed Ingredients (LF) class. OMRI staff are considering removing all generic livestock feed restrictions for these categories and expanding on the §205.237(b)(2) restriction in the LF class description.
• Definition of “humates” in the Glossary of Terms. Following NOP clarification, OMRI staff recognize that allowed humate sources are not limited to leonardite, lignite and coal; additional allowed sources include peat and shilajit.
• Policy change concerning final pesticide products that formulate with synthetic 2004 EPA List 4 inerts

To submit comments, complete OMRI’s Policy and Standards comment form and submit to info@omri.org by September 17. Comments should identify the commenter, clearly state the proposed revision, and describe the purpose of and need for the proposed revision.

Natural Products Expo East adds health and safety requirements
Slated for September 22-25 in Philadelphia, the Natural Products Expo East trade show will require masks and either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID tests within 72 hours of all participants. Open sampling will require gloves, sneeze guards and handwashing kits. More.

Get up to speed on climate issues
The Climate Collaborative offers sessions on “Global Warming: Moving from Overwhelmed to Action” and “Fighting Climate Change by Reducing Food Waste: Strategies for Action” starting at 10: 15 am Friday September 24 at Natural Products Expo East. More.