The US Department of State issued an environmental impact assessment on the Keystone XL pipeline last week. The assessment includes a comprehensive review of the revised route including an environmental impacts analysis. The White House does not have a deadline to approve or deny the permit and is waiting for Secretary of State John Kerry to provide an official recommendation. The New York Times published a summary of the new report Friday. Continue reading
Keystone XL Pipeline Environmental Impact Statement released
Posted in Energy, Environmental data, EPA, Industry news, Oil & gas, Regulatory issues
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40 years of the Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973 marked its 40th anniversary on December 28, 2013 prompting reflection on the health of our ecological systems – particularly on the impact of the ESA over the last 40 years. As with many regulatory statutes, there are critics on both sides: those that believe the Act has become watered down with business-friendly amendments over the years, and those who believe the Act is still too restrictive and unnecessarily prevents economic development.
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Posted in Analysis, EPA, Regulatory issues
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Personal drones: The latest data resource for Phase I ESAs?
It may sound crazy, but drones could soon be serving as a vital research tool for environmental consulting firms and relied upon as an information source similar to the historical sources that are currently utilized in Phase I environmental site assessments (ESAs).
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Posted in Aerial photography, Analysis, Geomapping
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EPA final rule includes E1527-13 as AAI compliant
On December 30, 2013 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took final action and amended the “All Appropriate Inquiries Rule” (AAI) to reference ASTM E1527-13. This amendment clarifies that the new standard should be used to comply with the AAI rule. EPA also announced intentions to amend the AAI rule to remove reference to ASTM E1527-05. The agency plans to propose this amendment separately to allow public comments.
Posted in Environmental data, EPA, GIS, Industry news
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Happy New Year from the Banks team!
On behalf of our environmental data team, I would like to wish you a happy and prosperous 2014!
Environmental Prose will return next week with more news and insights from the environmental data industry.
See you then!
Jordan Schmidt 
Editor
jschmidt@banksinfo.com
Posted in Environmental data
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North Dakota’s Bakken Shale seen from the sky
Last week we showed how the landscape has evolved in the booming oil town of Williston, North Dakota by looking at historical aerial photos. In this week’s post I decided to strap you in the passenger seat of a Cessna airplane to get a pilot’s view of the modern day gold rush, as photographed by Ben Garvin of Black Gold Boom.
Can’t see the slideshow below? Click here.
Happy holidays from the Banks Environmental team!
Jordan Schmidt
Editor
jschmidt@banksinfo.com
Posted in Aerial photography, Energy, Hydraulic fracturing, Oil & gas
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